Breath of Life
Upside Down~
The sunlight in the Rukongai shown down on the heads of the orange haired substitute soul reaper and the dark haired member of the Kuchiki clan. Just ahead of them they could see the typical structure that Kukaku happened to construct outside of the Shiba household. Ichigo felt the corners of his mouth twist downwards upon seeing it. "Same as always I see."
"You know, if she is your aunt, you should be more respectful." Rukia turned to look at her friend, giving him her own frown.
"If it isn't master Ichigo!" One of the guards blurted out.
"It is good to see you again!" The other cried out.
"Hi. We're here to speak with Kukaku-san." The boy raised up his hand. "It is rather important."
"Follow us master Ichigo!"
"Lady Kukaku will be glad to see you!"
The two begin to follow the two down the stairs to the large room filled with mats. The guards announced their presence and opened the door. The woman glanced up. "Ahh... hello you two. What brings you here today?"
Ichigo followed Rukia as she went and knelt in front of her. The shinigami made a quick bow while the orange haired substitute stared at her. The small female then rose up. "We came to ask about your brother."
"Which one?" Kukaku tapped her pipe a couple of times.
The teenager suddenly pointed at her missing arm. "How did you come to lose your arm?"
"Ichigo!" Rukia shook her head. "If I am not mistaken, you have an older brother and you have a younger brother."
"Yes." The woman folded her arms across her chest as she watched Ichigo carefully.
The younger female let out a deep breath. "See Ichigo. I told you that the Shiba family had only two sons. She just confirmed it."
The orange haired teen stared at the older woman as he thought things over. "No. She didn't admit that she had only two brothers."
Rukia shook her head. "Ichigo... Kaien-sama is her older brother and Ganju is the younger."
"No... Kaien's her twin brother." The boy folded his arms as he frowned at the woman. "I know this because Yuzu and Karin don't refer to each other as being older or younger then each other."
Kukaku narrowed her eyes. "Why exactly are you prying into the Shiba family like this?"
"Does the name Isshin mean anything to you?" The substitute shinigami placed his hands at his sides.
"I'm going to ask how much he's told you." The woman let out a deep sigh as she fiddled with her pipe.
Rukia blinked a couple of times. "Wait... how long did you know that Ichigo's father..."
The woman frowned at the two. "I knew as soon as I saw Ichigo. Our uncle knew as soon as he saw you as well. You look to much like Kaien."
"Wait... what uncle?" Ichigo shook his head.
"The man in the Rukongai. He's the one who told Ganju that he shouldn't be picking a fight with you." Kukaku folded his arm. "Seriously though Ichigo, how much do you know?"
"Actually..." Rukia opened her mouth. "There is something we should tell you."
"Tell me what you know first."
"Dad actually didn't tell me that he was a Shiba. The only thing he's told me is that he's a shinigami, and in reality he didn't tell me. He just showed up during the battle with that person and I found out then. I'm not exactly pleased with the fact he's not telling me stuff, but I can live with that." Ichigo stated. "But something is going on that... well."
"Ichigo... did you think this through at all?" Rukia shook her head. "Did you just come to confirm that?"
"No. Not really." Ichigo took a deep breath. "My father's probably going to be mad about letting you know this. And I'm not sure how it is possible, but..."
"I think Mayuri is possible and it has something to do with something he found and left out of the reports."
Kukaku took a deep breath. "Come on you two. Just spit it out."
Ichigo took a deep breath and scratched his head. "This is going to sound weird, but oji-san seems to be alive."
"No... I've had a weird feeling for that last couple of days or so. As you figured out Kaien is my twin, so I'm able to sense that he's around."
"But it can't possibly be Kaien-dono." Rukia frowned. "I mean... I know he's dead, and I killed the Arrancar that mimicked him."
"Oh, I know that two. I kept feeling Kaien until you took care of the Arrancar. I can't explain why I'm feeling him now, as he should have finally passed into the cycle of rebirth, but it is his soul, or so I think." The woman frowned at the two. "By the way... where is the captain of the tenth division?"
"Hitsugaya Taicho?" Rukia blinked a couple of times. "He's actually the one investigating in the living world right now. Why?"
"That's not good. If he finds out..." Kukaku closed her eyes and shook her head.
Ichigo frowned. "You don't trust Toshiro? I trust him not to say anything if he found out."
The woman opened them up. "Oh, I trust that child not to say anything either. Actually, I would love to see my aniki having to deal with that child going into a panic attack over this. Not that I would wish for the boy to go into a panic attack mind you, but this is going to be a major shock. Isshin used to bring the boy home for dinner while he was still here in soul society."
"So Hitsugaya Taicho knows Ichigo's dad and Kaien-dono?" Rukia frowned and got a nod from Kukaku.
"I don't care whether Isshin wants me to tell you this or not, but Toshiro used to be his third seat back when he was the tenth division captain.
Ichigo suddenly stifled a laugh and the small shinigami glared at him. "What's so funny?
"I just thought about how if Toshiro likes Karin..."
"He does not..."
"I said if he did... how it would be even more amusing due to the fact my dad was his former taicho."
"Idiot."
The corner of Ichigo's mouth suddenly turned up. "By the way... how did you lose your arm? And what am I supposed to call you?"
"First off, despite me being your aunt that is none of your business. Second, Kukaku-san will do."
"It feels as if I am forgetting to tell you something that is very important, but I'm not sure what that would be."
