A/N: I'm so sorry for the late update again. School and work take up my time. But I'm also a procrastinator. I'm also very easily sidetracked. If I start reading a book and play a game I can't stop until I finish it. Anyways enjoy.
The Outcast
Tatsuki would be lying to herself if she said that she hadn't been worried. She had felt Chad and Orihime's father's reiatsu flaring up and colliding with such force that she could image that the place they had been fighting was scarred. The raven haired girl also felt Ichigo and Uryū stop when Kasumi's reiatsu appear before them. All and all she had been a bit tense and Suzume's silence hadn't help.
Now that everyone was present she could relax a little. Tessai was looking over Chad's wounds, which didn't look that bad actually. Some bruises and small cuts but not anything that seemed extensive. They were all sitting in a semicircle in front of Kisuke and Suzume. The two of them seemed to want to wait for Tessai's check up to be finished before explaining anything.
In their silence Ichigo, Uryū and Chad filled it with discussing what had happen with them before they got to each other. Ichigo going over his contact with Kasumi earlier, Uryū and his detection of the battle and Chad and his fight with Osamu before Ichigo and Uryū's arrival. While Tatsuki watched their conversation go on she noticed the stares that Suzume occasionally sent towards Ichigo. Normally she would just brush such an action of but these stares were different from what she was used to seeing Ichigo get.
Usually he got glares of disgust from people who thought him nothing more than a punk. But the stares that the older woman was sending seemed to be one of suspicion and distrust. This didn't make sense to the raven haired girl. She knew in discussions that Orihime had with her aunt that her friend always painted Ichigo as a good and kind person. Suzume was able to read between the lines that her niece had deeper feelings for her friend. Tatsuki had assured that despite the punk facade that the orange haired idiot had was a good person and the older woman seemed to be content with it. But now Suzume seemed to view Ichigo with limited hostility.
"You should be fine, Sado." Tessai statement broke her train of thought, she returned her attention to the others to see the form Kidō Corps Captain stepping away from Chad, who was putting his shirt back on.
"Oh righty then." Kisuke said in his annoying cheerily voice. "Now that we can have everyone's attention let's get started."
"First I want know how Orihime is doing?" Suzume asked. "How aware is she of what is going on?"
"Orihime is quite fine." The former captain said before Tatsuki could bring up her friend's headaches, she took a moment to think about it and figured that it could be nothing to do with what was going on. People got headaches all the time and despite her good health, Orihime was no exception. So she figured it wasn't worth mentioning.
"As for her awareness," Kisuke continued, "I've made sure has remained unaware." Tatsuki saw the older woman send a glare at the blond haired man. Clearly she wasn't happy with that answer.
"You used that damn memory alteration thing on her again, didn't you?" She said more as a statement then a question. "I thought I made it clear that I didn't want that used on her again."
"It was Sora's wish that she remained oblivious to her heritage." The blond said.
"Sora was foolish to believe that would work forever."
"Excuse me," Uryū spoke up, "but what is your involvement in all of this, Miss Inoue?"
"My involvement has been to keep my niece safe from the clan." She stated. "I was the only relative that Sora could trust. He kept me informed of his plans before he left. The plan was for him and Orihime to put as much distance between them and the others before I would make contact and we would go from there. But thing didn't go according to plan."
"Miss Inoue," Tatsuki wanted to ask something that was bugging her, "you said earlier that you and Sora were ostracized. What did you mean by that?"
"The clan takes great pride in the powers that they have." The older women said with a sigh. "Sora and I… we were both one in a generation born without powers. It is not known why that happens only that ever generation seems to have someone born that way. The most we got was food on our plates and a roof over our heads. I think being part of the chief's line made things worse for me and Sora."
"Wait," Ichigo said, "the chief's line? You mean that Orihime is…"
"A decedent of the main line." The auburn haired women finished, Tatsuki caught the quick stern look that she sent towards Ichigo. She was beginning to wonder if he had done something to Orihime's aunt. "After her mother she is next in line to take over the clan, which is most likely the main reason my sister and brother-in-law are after her."
"Well that's news to me." Kisuke said. "Now why didn't you tell me any of this before?"
"Because I don't trust you." Suzume stated. "As I've told you countless times I was against the memory alteration from the start. It is better that Orihime knows rather than remain oblivious."
"I think many of us agree." Uryū said. Tatsuki and the others nodded in agreement.
"Be that as it may," the blond said, "I've chosen to respect Sora's wishes. Now do we have any more questions?"
"They don't know that Sora is dead, do they?" Uryū asked.
"No, they don't." Suzume answered with a sigh. "As far as they know I don't know where they are. So I can't tell them."
"Just another safety measure." The former Captain said. "Anyone else got a question."
"There is something that is bugging me." Ichigo said. "You look a lot like Kasumi. I know that siblings can sometimes look similar but you look almost identical to her. Why is that?"
Really Ichigo? Tatsuki thought to herself. That's your priority.
"That's because she is my twin sister." Suzume answered him.
"But, you look so much older." The substitute Soul Reaper said tactlessly. Tatsuki quickly responded by elbowing him in the gut. "Oof, what was that-" He didn't a chance to finish before Chad slapped the back of his head.
"Couldn't you be a little more respectful you idiot!" She yelled.
"It's alright, Tatsuki." Suzume said but her tone seemed to suggest otherwise. "To answer your question to my sister's youthful appearance, that has to do with her abilities. The reiatsu she absorbs can be used for regenerative properties, and she likes to use it to reduce the speed of her ageing."
"Quite the ability for the future leader of a clan." Uryū pointed out.
"Indeed it is." The older woman said.
"What else can you tell us about the clan?" Uryū asked.
"There is a hierarchy within the clan." She began. "It is called the Inner Chamber; it can have ten to thirty members at any given time."
"Why so many?" The raven haired boy asked.
"The Inner Chamber is separated into two groups." She said. "The highest ranking members are called the Inner Circle, this is at least ten members, but can include their spouses. The other group is the Outer Circle and they are made up of Inner one's apprentices, so at most there are ten members there."
"My, my." Kisuke said with is usually annoying cheer. "You being more informative then you have been in fourteen years."
"Because I get the feeling things are going to get worse." She said.
The young man walked down the well lite hallway. Another man walked just behind him. Until recently he never walked this path so much. His new position of espionage in the clan brought him a great amount of pride but also gave a great deal of responsibility. A "responsibility" he wished to soon add to.
He and his tag along came up to a large pair of large guarded marble doors. The two guards were wearing red cloaks and holding steel spears, which were more of a formality than anything else. They remained at attention with their spears crossed each other.
"Chief Inoue has asked for my presence." He stated to the guards.
"Chief Inoue only requested your presence, Sir Shun." One of the guards said. "Apprentice Ayumu will have to stay here." Shun turned to his apprentice, a black haired just slightly younger then himself man.
"Go about you duties." He told him.
"Yes, master." Ayumu said before he turned around and walked away. The guards opened the doors and allowed him to walk into the Chamber. He walked over to room to the side and entered the Chief's office. The elderly man was sitting at his marble desk going through a particular file.
"You called for me Chief Inoue?" Shun asked as he bowed.
"Yes." The Chief said tiredly as he put the file always. "I believe I need to set up a backup plan if Kasumi and Osamu are unable to retrieve Orihime in the next few days. Due to your… future position I believe you should lead a second team."
"I am honored, Chief." Shun said while holding back a smile.
"I want you to pick four members of the Outer Circle and prepare them. When I give the order your team will leave. Your first priority will be those who are keeping Orihime from us."
"Thank you for this opportunity." Shun said.
"You may take-." Suddenly the older man began to cough up a storm. He reached for a bottle of pills, pop a couple into his mouth and drank from a glass of water. His coughing began to grow smaller.
"Do you need any assistance, Chief." The younger man asked. The elder waved him off telling him to leave. He left the Chamber behind and a smile crossed his face. He would soon have what he wanted.
Ichigo was walking down the street having finished the meeting at Kisuke's shop. It felt like things had just gotten more complicated from the information that Suzume had given them. With what she said the chances of it just being Orihime's parents being involved had dropped quite a bit. If the Inoue Clan sent an army of people he could imagine that it wouldn't be easy to hold them back. He arrived at a bakery just as his friend was walking out.
"Ichigo," Orihime said in surprise, "what are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was just walking by." He said with a smile. He really wanted to tell her what was going on but now wasn't the right time. "Are you just finishing here?"
"Yeah, I just finished my shift." She said.
"Good I can walk you home." Ichigo offered.
"What?" Orihime squeak. "Oh, that's not necessary Ichigo, I don't live that far from here."
"Then it shouldn't be a problem." He said calmly.
"Well if you insist." The two of them walked down the street in relative silence. Ichigo was starting to feel a little awkward about walking with his friend and not being able to bring anything up to talk about.
"So… how has you day been, Orihime?" He figured a simple question would do.
"It's been okay." She said. "I have been having headaches but that's about it."
"You," Ichigo said in surprise, "headaches?"
"Tatsuki had the same reaction. Although she had a stranger reaction when she saw me in front of a pharmacy." She said. "How's your day been?"
"It's been eventful to say the least." He left it at that and thankful Orihime didn't pry. They continued to walk in silence and Ichigo had to admit that it was rather nice. Orihime had always been a good friend and her presence had always been warming. If it wasn't for the current situation he could actually get use to this.
When they got to her apartment he was going to prepare his goodbye but once they got to her floor the idea left his head. There standing at her door was Suzume. Ichigo was about let out an outburst but stopped himself when Orihime ran forward.
"Auntie Suzume." The auburn haired girl wrapped her arms around the older woman. "It's so good to see you. What's brought you here?" Ichigo saw the kind smile spread on Suzume's face as she returned the hug.
"It's good to see you to Orihime." She said. As she hugged the girl Ichigo caught the quick stern look that got sent towards him before she returned her attention to her niece. "As for why I'm here. What I can't just come and see my niece for a while."
"Of course you can." Orihime said happily. Then she looked back at him. "Where are my manners?" She started to drag her aunt towards him.
Well this is going to be awkward. Ichigo thought.
"Aunt Suzume, this is my good friend Ichigo Kurosaki." She said happily. "Ichigo, this is my aunt Suzume."
"Hello, Ichigo." The older woman said with a smile and offered her hand. He couldn't detect any of the hostility that she had been giving him all day in her voice. "It's nice to finally nice to meet you."
She's good. He thought and took her hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you to Suzume."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed.