Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters.
Title: in awe of that which cannot be seen
Rating: K+
Summary: Kurosaki Ichigo can't see ghosts like his sisters but he doesn't really mind because at least he could see the old man.
Author's Notes: I had an interesting time writing Benihime. We had a lovely portrayal of her in "Sight" and I hoped I wrote her character well. Most of her personality came from the fact Urahara himself stated Benihime was "not nice".
I thought it would be interesting to have Rukia and Urahara realize and discover Ichigo's power early on. It sets up a unique dynamic where Ichigo doesn't have his immense power but has something even rarer than that. Besides Ichigo can be a pretty terrible liar.
Ichigo fidgeted uncomfortably, being under the gaze of several people – some that happened to be unwanted. Urahara and Rukia might be only aware of the three of them sitting there but Ichigo had to endure an additional three pair of eyes.
The old man had settled himself in the corner. Sode no Shirayuki was sitting next to Rukia. Who happened to be a lot shorter (and more short-tempered) than Ichigo had expected. She explained to him earlier before this meeting that she was currently inhabiting the body of a gigai, allowing her to interact with the human world and let humans see her.
But the most interesting one was the figure behind Urahara.
She was dressed entirely in red, her face hidden a veil. Her long deadly-looking nails, clasped neatly at her lap, were painted a blood red. The way her head was held high and how she sat perfectly positioned just shouted out she was royalty and she made sure everyone else knew it. And once in a while, she would sigh and tap her fingers restlessly against the flawless skin of the back of her hand.
" So Kuchiki-san tells me that you have an unusual ability," Urahara smiled cheerily, a contrast to the impatient woman that Ichigo guessed was his zanpakuto.
Two could play at that game. " Yeah, I suppose so."
" She mentioned that you had a habit of rambling to yourself, speaking to thin air. And later on, a man appeared to save your life from the Hollow, wielding a zanpakuto." He leaned forward, interest piqued in his calculating eyes. " Yet I don't sense any notable amount of reiatsu in you. And while it is quite obvious you cannot see spirits and you are not a shinigami, I wonder who was it that you were talking to and how this mysterious zanpakuto was able to come to your aid."
He didn't know what to say, so he gave a noncommittal shrug.
Urahara continued blithely. " And if this zanpakuto is in fact yours, how is it possible that a zanpakuto was able to gain a corporeal form on their own accord to fight a Hollow when no zanpakuto has yet to appear in a physical form outside the command and power of their wielder? From what Kuchiki-san has told me, this zanpakuto appeared on their own accord to protect you."
Ichigo remained silent. The red woman made a disapproving cluck of her tongue. " Impertinent child," she said in a biting tone.
" He is simply being cautious," Sode no Shirayuki unexpectedly came to his defence. " He doesn't know if he could trust us yet." She turned to face Ichigo and nodded towards the old man to allow him to see that she was including him too. " Rukia-dono and I don't mean any harm to either of you. We – and Urahara-san – are simply trying to understand the situation."
" We don't have the time to wait for the human to blither about," the zanpakuto scornfully said. " I'd say we should get my master to force the answers out of him and his zanpakuto the easier way. I'd be happy to oblige. It has been a long, long time since we've had a decent warmup." Her lips curled in sudden bloodlust and the need to decimate something.
" I don't believe that would be the most productive method, Benihime-san," Sode no Shirayuki said, looking slightly alarmed. " We are trying to persuade him that we are his allies, not enemies."
" Then this is all a waste of time," she sighed distastefully. " As far as I am concerned, he is a clueless idiot who doesn't know the severity of his situation."
Sode no Shirayuki shot an apologetic look towards Ichigo. " Ichigo is – "
" – A mere human able to see zanpakuto when no being, living or dead, has before." The zanpakuto gave a derisive chuckle. " What a joke it must be that out of countless souls more suitable and worthy, this clown is the one that is chosen." Without wasting a breath, she dragged in the old man too. " As for him, I don't know what he is. He does not have the presence of a zanpakuto yet he behaves like one." She eyed him suspiciously. " His nature is far more abnormal and aberrant in nature compared to this silly boy."
" You don't need to talk like we're not here," Ichigo finally snapped. He was tired of that zanpakuto treating him like he was a fly on the wall. And from the way the old man bristled, he too was getting irritated.
" We, Kurosaki-san?" Urahara innocently inquired and Ichigo winced, realizing he just gave himself away. Things were far more easier when he only had the old man to contend with! At least the old man was acquiescent and didn't make a fuss like the red zanpakuto was doing, making him lose his temper like that.
" Who are you talking to?" Rukia cut in. She leaned forward like Urahara earlier but not with the intent of examining and investigating every inch of him.
" You can tell Rukia-dono," Sode no Shirayuki nodded earnestly, her silvery hair bobbing with each movement. " She wants to help." Her honest sincerity reflected in the shinigami's eyes.
Before he could come to a decision, the old man drifted next to Ichigo without so much as a sound and from the way Rukia's eyes widened and Urahara sat up straighter, the old man had revealed himself.
" How curious," Urahara breathed. Even his zanpakuto arched an elegant eyebrow.
Sode no Shirayuki looked excited, like a child who was about to introduce a new friend to their group. " Who are you?" Rukia finally asked.
The old man made no effort to reply. " He isn't that talkative," Ichigo unnecessarily said to cover up the silence.
" Much like his master," the red zanpakuto sniped. " If you truly are his master."
Ichigo was about to growl out an insult but the old man frowned. " I am Ichigo," he said, as if that alone was enough of an explanation.
" He is your shinigami then?" Urahara pressed.
The old man shook his head. " Ichigo is not a shinigami but I am his."
Confusion reflected off the remaining five people, including Ichigo. " Interesting," Urahara smiled, his eyes sparking with something that none of them – except the red zanpakuto, she was the only one sighing and muttering about more nights of lost sleep – fully understood. " Would you care to elaborate on Kurosaki-san's other ability? I do feel a lengthy conversation occurred between you and a few others while I and Kuchiki-san were excluded."
Ichigo gave the old man a sideways glance, wanting to gauge his reaction. He dipped his head in quiet agreement. " I can see zanpakuto spirits," Ichigo muttered.
" Zanpakuto?" Rukia repeated, stunned. " You can't see spirits or shinigami but you can see zanpakuto?"
" I guess so?"
" You are certainly a fascinating person, Kurosaki-san," Urahara chuckled. " May I ask who are the other zanpakuto that you were speaking with?"
" There is Sode no Shirayuki and a Hime something."
" Benihime," Urahara and Benihime herself automatically corrected. It was strange hearing perfectly aligned their intonation was, even if Urahara was amused while Benihime was annoyed.
Rukia was frowning, chewing the bottom of her lip in uncertainty. " Tell her," Sode no Shirayuki quietly said, understanding her wielder's feelings. " Tell her that she first heard my voice after the first of her three friends died and I told her that death is only another adventure for her and her friends to partake."
He scowled. Was he now a messenger for the zanpakuto or something? Nevertheless, he relayed the message as best as he could. " Sode no Shirayuki said you two met the night your friend died and she told you that death is another adventure for you to take."
She gave a soft gasp at his words. Her mouth dropped before closing up immediately. What appeared to be a battle of several emotions at once danced across Ruka's face before she finally settled on wonder at the sword lying next to her. " Sode no Shirayuki?" she whispered in awe.
The smile that Sode no Shirayuki gave could have shamed the sun.