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: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone reading and reviewing this!
I have a fun time writing Shinso. I had this mental image of him of being a Medusa-like character, half-human, half-snake to illustrate his dangerous unpredictable nature. It also highlights how underneath his monstrous appearance, he retains a part of his humanity (especially in regards to Matsumoto).
Logically, Ichigo knew that entering a place where it was full of shinigami, he should have expected to see several mix-and-match zanpakuto or strangely dressed zanpakuto after having dealt with Zabimaru and Senbozakura. But still, he didn't expect it to be a freaking circus. Especially his encounter with his first shinigami and their zanpakuto in Soul Society.
Urahara had explained that since he was entering the spirit world, even someone as spiritually insensitive as him would be able to see shinigami and spirits to a certain extent due to the accumulated reiatsu in the air. And true enough, Ichigo was able to see better defined shapes and forms of the spirits that resided there, even if their edges remained blurry when they moved or shifted too quickly for his eyes to follow.
It felt strange to finally see and hear what Orihime, Chad and Ishida could so easily see, as naturally as they breathed. He almost laughed out loud when he saw the giant guardian Jidanbo at the same time as the others, nearly mistaking him as a shinigami in his glee.
The old man was quietly amused by his excitement (how could I not? he shot back. I now know what you can see. And Karin and Yuzu. And everyone else!). But hidden deep within the old man, Ichigo somehow was able to sense a lingering melancholy, like a smothering edge of regret. What that meant Ichigo had no time to ask because Jidanbo soon challenged them in a fight to gain entry into Seireitei which the old man and Ichigo were all too willing to join to show off their new found prowess to the others and revel at their combined strength. And not too long after the battle was concluded, an actual shinigami arrived.
The perpetually smiling man was introduced as Gin, a captain of the shinigami. His pale and thin appearance resembled his zanpakuto – the human part at least, the rest of it had glistening scales and a serpentine tail. The human was bare-chested and muscular with birdlike talons instead of hands. Dark, twisting hair dangled past his shoulders, resembling coiled emerald snakes.
Be alert, the old man cautioned. Gin may be as dangerous if not more than Kuchiki Byakuya. We must not let the same mistake occur twice.
Try as he might, Ichigo happened to be a bit more preoccupied with Gin's zanpakuto whose large body slithered uncomfortably close to him.
" So you are the human boy that Zabimaru was talking about," he said, his forked tongue poking out, close enough to almost touch the old man's cheek. " What shall we do with such an interesting person?" He deliberately drew out his 's' in a taunting manner.
The old man stood a little closer to Ichigo, eyes narrowing. His sword was tilted just enough to shield Ichigo from any unexpected attacks. His face remained focused on Gin but his eyes flicked towards the zanpakuto in frequent intervals.
Ichigo on the other hand fidgeted awkwardly, wondering how much Rukia, Renji and Byakuya had told the other shinigami about his ability. Or what Sode no Shirayuki and Zabimaru had reported to the other zanpakuto. Urahara had warned him about being so laxed and nonchalant about his ability so he dared not say anymore in front of Gin. Gin's zanpakuto might be as honest as any other zanpakuto could be but Ichigo didn't trust Gin one bit.
" You don't need to worry," said zanpakuto grinned. " The shinigami including my own only know about you being able to summon him." He jerked his head towards the old man. " They don't know about you being able to see us. The name is Shinso by the way," he added with a drawl.
Regardless, that didn't provide much comfort to Ichigo, especially since Shinso appeared to be taking enjoyment watching him squirm uneasily as he edged around Ichigo's personal space, just keeping his tail and body out of it as if to mock Ichigo.
" It is all right if you don't talk. I just want you to listen." Shinso finally settled on one spot next to Ichigo. " It took some time but we finally got the juicy details out from Sode no Shirayuki. She's quite protective of you, by the way. She actually threatened harm if any one of us did anything to you. And she was supposed to be one of the nicer zanpakuto." He raised a prying eyebrow at Ichigo as if that would reveal more secrets. " If I didn't know better, I'd say she fancied you. Now that caused a bit of an uproar among us."
" Us?" Ichigo muttered, resolutely staring forward at Gin, pretending to ignore the little creaks and clacks of Shinso's scales as they rubbed together with every tiny motion.
" The zanpakuto. We've never had one like you before. We are all itching to meet you, the human who could see us. And the human that has managed to enamour Sode no Shirayuki so much. Wondering what is so special about you."
Shinso smiled, a duplicate feature on his face to match his wielder. Suspiciously cheerful yet obscurely unreadable. Ichigo frowned, refusing to say any more out of fear that Gin would get curious and start asking questions.
What do you think? he asked the old man instead.
While Shinso may not be telling us the entire picture, he is certainly disclosing a certain truth, the old man mused and Ichigo mentally sighed. Leave it to the old man to be his usual cryptic self.
Forget about Shinso. We need to find a way to get past Gin. Jidanbo can't hold the gate up much longer.
" I hope I'm not boring you?" Gin himself politely interrupted without realizing he was interrupting them. " Because I never had the impression that I was a dull person."
" No, you're not," Ichigo answered a little too quickly.
" He isn't," Shinso chipped in. " Gin will play nice with you but once you no longer have any use to him, he will eat you, bones and all. He is a very, very dedicated person. Once he commits himself to one goal, he will follow it through to the end and anything and anybody in his way will get torn to pieces."
He flexed his clawed fingers, almost bringing them to the side of Ichigo's face, making him flinch. The old man tensed, gripping his sword, ready to retaliate. " I hope you and your zanpakuto don't make an adversary out of Gin. He can be a reliable ally or your worst enemy. And I do want us to continue to stay on good terms. Especially with you, Kurosaki Ichigo. You are an interesting person. I particularly want to see what you are capable of doing."
Something must have reflected Ichigo's discomfort, whether through his facial expression or body movement, because Gin decided to comment on it. " You seem distracted." He smiled even wider, casually twirling a knife that definitely wasn't there a second ago between his fingers with ease. " I am curious as to what is so interesting that your attention has been focused on it so readily instead of me."
Ichigo gulped. " Nothing," he said, decidedly not looking at the sweetly smiling Shinso as if he wasn't making any threats earlier.
" I'm happy to hear that," he pleasantly said. " But back to task, I'm afraid I can't let you pass, Kurosaki Ichigo."
" Watch your stomach," Shinso idly piped up and that was only warning they got before Gin's 'knife' shot forward like a bullet.
The old man instinctively brought up his sword but it wasn't enough as the sword sent him, Ichigo and Jidanbo flying backwards in quick succession. Ichigo managed to caught a glimpse of Shinso cackling madly at his shocked expression before he and the others landed in a tumbling heap of limbs on the ground.
With his breath knocked out of him, Ichigo could only remain lying there, sandwiched between the old man and the motionless Jidanbo. A questioning concern pressed against his skull and he hurriedly tried to convey that he wasn't hurt. I'm fine! Jidanbo cushioned my fall. You?
I am mostly unhurt. The old man frowned thoughtfully. That shinigami never had any intent to do lasting injury to us.
What? Ichigo incredulously exclaimed. Didn't you see him attacking us?
If he wanted to do more damage, he would have aimed for our heads. And Shinso would not have made an attempt to warn us. After all, a zanpakuto is the reflection of a shinigami's soul.
He is just as bad as his wielder, he petulantly conveyed. Why do all of them have to act like such annoying brats?
" The gates!" someone yelled, jolting Ichigo and the old man out from their thoughts and back to the present.
The large door began their rapid descent and there was nothing the others could do to prevent it. Shinso stood next to Gin, imitating Gin's mocking wave from the other side.
" Don't disappoint us, boy!" the zanpakuto called out, just as the gates slammed back down to the ground with a thundering crash.