"𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴 𝙸𝚂 𝙽𝙾 𝙴𝚇𝚀𝚄𝙸𝚂𝙸𝚃𝙴 𝙱𝙴𝙰𝚄𝚃𝚈 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 𝚂𝙾𝙼𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙶𝙴𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙿𝙾𝚁𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽."
— Edgar Allan Poe
"Ligeia"
»«»«»«»«»«
The sun rose quickly past the suburban houses and green parks. The majority of life comes alive and awake to begin the day while the remainder laid down and sleep until the late evening to begin their lives.
The sunlight touches and brings life to the lazy and usually nocturnal Naruki City before finally overhanging the diurnal Karakura Town. It slowly crawls up urban hills when it begins to touch the densely forested areas south of Naruki City and southwest of Karakura Town. The rays of light are mainly blocked by the heavy mist of the forest, but few manage to pierce through, bringing an eerie wake up call to the crepuscular creatures that live in the normally lifeless forest.
Normally hidden stone paths, overrun and unkempt, are slowly revealed to the eyes of people, if human beings manage to force themselves to trek into the forest; and usually they do, for medical help. The paths all begin with a miwa torii, most of them ancient with the red paint chipping and falling away, but still well-taken care of. Shimenawa decorated with pine twigs and shide are tied between each of the miwa torii. Further along the paths are more torii, mostly daiwa torii with each path consisting of four of them leading up to the only standing structure inside the forest. The Kurosaki Estate and one of the oldest shrines in Karakura Town.
Trickling in from the first daiwa torii onwards are dozens of tombstones, all shrouded in atropa belladonna, even as the flowers slowly curl away from the few sun rays. From the third daiwa torii–where it had grown over the pillars and even across the shimenawa tied between it–started the end of the gloriosa superba, the flame lilies growing more in abundance the deeper the path goes and closer to its origin. Past the last daiwa torii and across the entire area of the estate and shrine was the asphodelus, most abundant around the tombstones of the Kurosaki.
Vines of the gloriosa superba stretched and latched onto the main buildings of the inner estate as well as the shrine centered in front, spreading out like infinite spiderwebs. A single vine slowly slithers through the flower covered garden and up onto the somewhat rotting wood of the engawa. It grips onto one of the shoji doors, opened for any and all seeking medical attention, and climbs up towards the second floor.
It flinches, hissing–if it had a voice–when a ray of sunlight manages to pierce through the deep mist and targets the fiery lilies. It pushes through the discomfort and slowly crawls around the main manor, towards the back garden. The completely destroyed wall is ignored as the gloriosa superba momentarily climbs up onto the ancient roof before it stops above its destination.
The working kōshi-mado to a bedroom is closed, unlike the many others that stayed open for the gentle summer breeze. Soft snores escape the unblocked panel, even when a ray of sunlight shines through. The vine of flowers slowly eases downwards and stops before the closed kōshi-mado. It tilts the tip of its vine as it peeks through the wooden lattice.
A lump, covered by a black blanket and surrounded by pillows and different kinds of black plushies, slowly rose up and down. Scarlet hair peeked out from the edge of the blanket, messy and sprawled out like a halo, with scarlet fox ears lazily twitching resting on top.
The kōshi-mado slides open and the vine crawls through.A small murmur escapes the futon at the creaking noise before the lump curls up more. The blanket moves down to reveal a porcelain face. The vine crawls over and lightly pokes the pale cheek of the teenager sleeping.
"Mmrrmphf." The porcelain expression scrunches up and moves away from the vine. Determined to wake up the teenager, the vine moves towards the blanket and pulls it back.
"Mm." Gold eyes blink awake when a ray of sunlight manages to pierce through the mist, hitting them directly and making them glitter.
"Darling, what are you doing?" Sleep obscures the soft voice as tired eyes dilate and focus on the vine. It perks up, hovering over the porcelain face and shivers in greeting.
"A pity then. I was hoping it would be another dreary day like ereyesterday," Ichigo sighs softly while pushing up against the futon. Fox ears twitch and Ichigo pauses from sitting up before focusing on the vine.
"It's a mess down there, isn't it darling?" Ichigo asks softly. The vine pokes Ichigo's forehead before it suddenly zips back out of the bedroom and back where it was first resting. Ichigo sighs quietly at the answer and leans back to stare at the old ceiling.
"I wonder where they are..." Ichigo can't feel the reaper that had trespassed the Kurosaki territory, yet received immense favor on the same night. Well, she would be in need of a gigai... and that means Ichigo will be seeing her around at some point today.
The few rays of sunlight that managed to pierce through the mist are finally obscured and blocked. A giggle echoes throughout the bedroom as a wide grin splits a porcelain face in half.
"I think it's time I call the rest of the family. This will truly be an interesting adventure to trek," Ichigo speaks to the empty air, still smiling. Now... where did he put his crystal ball?
»«»«»«»«»«
"Kurosaki–I-I thought you wouldn't be here today!"
"Kurosaki! Kurosaki...kun? How–how are you?"
"Kurosaki isn't wearing the uniform... again."
"I don't even understand why the teachers are so scared of him!"
"No he's a boy? Why does anyone follow that shit?"
"Shh! Kurosaki will hear you!"
Linen black fabric dragged across the halfhearted cleaned linoleum floor while black heeled boots ghosted across the floor. The corset skirt was tied tight over the crimson red ruffled blouse. The tight sleeves ballooned out at the elbow and continued up to the shoulders. A slim neck was covered up to the chin by the crimson fabric with a silver choker pressed tight against the jugular; where an amethyst sun charm sat centered above the silver buttons of the blouse.
Black painted talons lightly brush against the wall of the school hallway as waist length scarlet hair, braided into two french braids, swing back and forth from the silent momentum towards the unfortunate destination.
Gold eyes, surrounded by winged black eyeliner and a hint of black eyeshadow, glance around for a particular face in the somewhat busy hallway. Normally pale lips are painted crimson and are stretched into a wide smile, cheerful and strange on a normally passive face.
Stares are pointed at the back of Ichigo and stares follow after. Just an every day occurrence when Ichigo enters the school. To be fair though, Ichigo had come in late. Those two massive holes in the living room would bother everyone living in the manor, alive and dead, if it weren't fixed.
Ichigo enters the classroom without fanfare, barely receiving any head turns. Everyone in the class was either too terrified or too used to Ichigo and the... oddness that follows.
"Kurosaki! Ah! It's Kurosaki-kun today? Good morning!" The bubbly and cheerful voice of Inoue Orihime brings more attention to the teenager.
Ichigo smiles, hands elegantly held in front. "Good morning, Inoue-dono. How is everything going for you?"
"Wonderful! I'm trying a new recipe for lunch today! How are you doing today?" Orihime states brightly, hands clasped together and chocolate eyes closed with a bright smile.
"Oh, I'm doing wonderful!" Ichigo exclaims, just as cheerful. Walking further into the classroom, Ichigo glances around for a mental headcount. Eyes become dilated as the gaze pauses on familiar raven locks and solanum xanti eyes.
"Oh! Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime grabs Ichigo's hand and carefully walks towards the woman. "We have a new transfer student! Kuchiki-chan, this is Kurosaki Ichigo-kun! Kurosaki-kun, this is Kuchiki Rukia!"
"Wonderful to meet your acquaintance, Kurosaki-san!" Rukia gives a deep and archaic curtsey towards the teenager.
Ichigo giggles when she stands back up and bows in return, grabbing a pale hand. Ichigo gently presses crimson painted lips against the pale knuckles, liquid gold eyes staring up through long eyelashes.
"An honor to meet such a beauty once more, Kuchiki-dono. No need to call me by my father's title," Ichigo greets smoothly, standing up straight and releasing Rukia's limp hand.
"Then–then–you... you don't have to call me by that–that title either," Rukia stutters out with a cherry red face.
Ichigo hums and nods once. "Of course then... Rukia."
"Have you two... met before?" Orihime asks, glancing between the two with wide eyes.
"Oh... just a passing visit last night. I had no idea you would be transferring to my school," Ichigo mentions vaguely, smiling widely once again.
"Well, it was an... odd night. I apologize for not staying any longer," Rukia states calmly, even when her eyes get colder in her solemnity.
"Oh, it's quite alright, Rukia. I owe you a boon, so everything else is behind us both."
Rukia raises an eyebrow at the odd choice of words. A boon?
"Will we be able to discuss it after school?" Ichigo asks curiously.
Rukia blinks, making Ichigo smile even wider when the recollection hits them. "A-ah... we can discuss it now... if you'd like."
"Hm. Follow me." Ichigo turns around with a swish of a skirt and walks back out of the classroom. Rukia blinks before scrambling to follow after the quick-footed teenager.
"Sh-shouldn't you be wearing the school uniform, Kurosaki-san?" Rukia strikes up a conversation once she catches up, still in her sickly sweet persona.
"They won't allow me to wear the uniforms I prefer when I prefer them, so I'm rebelling against this school's administration by wearing what I want when I prefer to wear it," Ichigo explains simply and cheerfully. "My middle school gave in halfway through the third year. I'm hoping for the high school to give in sooner than that."
"How was Inoue-san able to tell that you're a... boy today?" Rukia asks another question, slowly picking the right words. Ichigo makes a noise of surprise before suddenly turning around. Rukia trips over her own feet in her attempt to stop herself from running face first into Ichigo's chest.
"Things were quite chaotic last night. It completely slipped my mind to mention it!" Ichigo leans closer to Rukia and presses a talon against the amethyst sun attached to the choker.
"I have four pendants for this choker. Sun means boy. Moon means girl. Sun and Moon mean both. And the Star means neither," Ichigo continues cheerfully while Rukia reaches up to inspect the pendant closer.
"Strange... but it's a wonderful idea," The Shinigami murmurs to no one in particular. Violet eyes blink and widen before Rukia takes a step back.
A pretty red flush brings color to their cheeks as they quickly pull up a mask of solemnity. "This... boon as you put it... what is it?"
"Hm. Last night you saved my family and my territory. Not only that, but you also... awakened a side of my soul with the help of your powers. That grants you a boon... a favor from me, or a blessing. Within reason, I can grant you just about anything. Of course, some things may take time," Ichigo explains, still speaking in a tone of simplicity despite the heavy topic.
Boons are rare for a normal kitsune. And Ichigo's only given two in his short lifetime.
"...I..." Rukia pauses and stalls, unsure of her thoughts or this discussion. Ichigo just smiles before holding out a hand.
"Since you've helped me so much, you may keep thinking about this boon. Should you have an answer for me, you may tell me anytime. And, as a gift," Ichigo taps Rukia's nose with a talon, "I will be in your service until your powers return. You have no way of contacting Soul Society for a replacement, yes?"
Rukia startles and snaps her eyes up to stare into liquid gold. Ichigo grins just a bit wider at the answer to those assumptions. It's quite adorable how predictable these Shinigami are! Oh, Ichigo might have a bit too much fun messing with them all.
"...would that not be a boon?"
"Is paying back a debt considered a favor?" Ichigo asks instead, making the young woman pause. "There is a difference between being favored and being indebted. It's best to always remember that."
Rukia stays quiet at the advice the teenager gives her... the warning in case of future dealings that probably won't deal with Ichigo.
"...I'll try to remember that, thank you. Now, is that all we'll be discussing?" Rukia questions, arms crossing and eyes not backing away from Ichigo's piercing stare.
Gold eyes dilate before a wide grin forms on Ichigo's face. Fantastic.
"We may go back to class. If you're going to be hanging around me, there's a few people I'd like you to meet–some friends of mine." Ichigo walks past and gently slides an arm around Rukia's shoulders. "Oh, and you never answered my question from last night. Do you know how to cook Hollow? I've been dying for a taste!"
»«»«»«»«»«
A small hum leaves crimson painted lips while pale fingers meticulously finish off the white knot to the omamori resting on the old desk. A warbling sound echoes against the ancient wood and brings a beaming smile on a pale and freckled face before slitted pupils glance up towards the crystal ball sitting on the corner of the desk.
"Ichigo Asphodel, old man! It's been too long since we've last called!" The bright and suave sounding English of Gomez Addams breaks and shatters the deathly silence that had filled Ichigo's bedroom.
"It has, Oncle Gomez. Good evening, Zia Morticia," Ichigo greets the best side of the family–only having the title because Ichigo's yet to meet the other side.
"Good evening, Ichigo. How are little Yuzu and Karin? And Isshin? Is he doing well?" Morticia asks, perfectly poised and beautiful even through a crystal ball.
"Yuzu and Karin are doing wonderful! Dad is his usual self. A bit more spastic because of last night, unfortunately," Ichigo teases even with the adult not in hearing range.
Ichigo leans forward with a wide grin and bright eyes. "My reaper powers have been awakened."
Morticia looks over at Gomez with love and pride, hands gracefully clasping together before Gomez covers them. They both turn, beaming with pride for the teenager.
"Oh, what wonderful news! And you're still alive too!"
"How did it feel? Was it insufferable? Did it scar? Did it want to make you scream until your throat bled?" Gomez asks in frantic excitement.
Reapers in the Addams Family were so very rare nowadays, and all of them were dead and could only visit every few decades.
"Oh, it was such a magnificent suffering! I can't even put it into words, Oncle Gomez! I passed out only a few moments afterwards," Ichigo exclaims with such fervor and longing. It was the third best experience in the 15 years Ichigo's been alive! Right under that first kill and the first time lightning had struck and electrocuted all three Kurosaki siblings.
"I have a feeling that things are about to get exceptionally horrific over here. You must come visit!"
"Oh yes, things sound absolutely dreadful." Morticia nods in agreement before looking off to the side. "A summer vacation sounds just wonderful, doesn't it Gomez? Wednesday does miss Ichigo dearly, and Pugsley loves playing Catch the Grenade with little Yuzu."
"Yes! And with Fester back, he can finally meet Aunt Heloise's family!" Gomez agrees loudly and triumphantly.
Ichigo smiles brightly with a chuckle. "I look forward to meeting that legendary uncle of mine, and listening to the story of how he came back."
"Now then, tell us what happened last night. It must have been quite a strange night for you to call us so soon after," Morticia gets them all back on track, curious of all the events leading up to Ichigo's fully awakened soul.
"Well, it all started with Karin's darling wanting to be trimmed..." Ichigo regales the tale of the night before. The omamori sat clasped in talons, finished and awaiting to be given.
»«»«»«»«»«
"So. You're the reaper." Two black fox ears flick rapidly while obsidian eyes stare into violet ones.
"The Shinigami, yes. My name is Kuchiki Rukia," Rukia introduces herself, trying desperately not to glance up at the fox ears.
"You don't look like much," Kurosaki Karin continues with a small downturn to her mouth.
A noise, sounding like a growl makes Karin look up towards her older brother. She sighs heavily with an eye roll, but focuses back on Rukia with a small incline to her head.
"Sorry..." Ichigo nods in satisfaction at the apology before focusing back on cooking.
Soft black hair fell down to pale shoulders, fine and straight. Fox-like eyes, somehow holding oblivion as a color, dilate the longer they stay focused on Rukia.
"It's okay. It will take time for my powers to return, so I won't be able to do much of anything for a bit." Rukia accepts the apology with a small smile.
"You've never met kitsune before, have you, Rukia-dono? You keep wanting to look at my ears," Karin asks with a small smirk, watching Rukia continue to keep her eyes focused away from the twitching fox ears.
"...there is talk of them. In Soul Society. It's not a good idea to interact with one, so they're avoided or ignored by the Gotei 13. And please, just call me Rukia," Rukia carefully speaks instead of an answer to Karin's inquiry. The careful choice of words brings a sudden lull in the atmosphere.
"Once you return, what will you tell them?" Yuzu glides into the conversation, having an inkling as to what Rukia was implying. Even Ichigo turned towards the dining table, eyes narrowed while watching the Shinigami's back.
"It's likely that you two are shinketsu along with your brother. Actually, it's the only possibility. Your father was once a Shinigami and it's said that it only takes a certain amount of foreign reiatsu and a near-death experience to awaken a shinketsu's innate powers. It's safe to assume that a Hollow that had given me trouble would have been the cause of Ichigo's awakened powers and it's not unheard of for souls to have an aura that can... affect their surroundings–like fire," Rukia continues with her head slightly turned to give Ichigo a pointed look.
Ichigo stays quiet and follows his sisters in silent contemplation. Karin swishes her black tail back and forth, scowling at the clear message behind Rukia's explanation.
Central 46 is either scared of yōkai, or despises them. And it's most likely both. Rukia is being careful with their words when saying that kitsune are avoided or ignored by the Gotei 13. Which means, outside of the Gotei 13, interacting with kitsune, or just yōkai in general, is either easier to get away with or Central 46 doesn't care when it comes to normal pluses.
So, this problem is likely only in Seireitei. Where the powerful souls are. Central 46 fears a power they cannot and can never control or use for themselves. Not without giving something in return, and they were much too arrogant of their own wealth and influence for that. Thank Inari-sama that their father taught them about the politics of this messed up realm.
"We are not messengers of Inari-sama, but the Kurosaki Shrine is a shrine of theirs. Foxes come and go as they please, so it shouldn't be a problem if there's a fox or two in any part of the estate. Should any Shinigami come around and question a two-tailed or a four-tailed fox running around... the excuse is more than accurate and plausible," Ichigo cuts through the tension before it could become thicker.
"All this secret talk about politics is making my head hurt, Nīsan. Are you finished cooking yet?" Karin almost whines with a pouting scowl. She was starving!
"Drink some of your tea if your head hurts, Karin. You may just be thirsty, so be patient." Ichigo flips the fish in the pan with a small smile. "I talked with Oncle Gomez and Zia Morticia last night. I've told them the news and they'll be coming for the summer, and Uncle Fester will be with them."
"Pugsley-chan will be coming?!" Yuzu yips in excitement, her tail fluffing out. She yips again, more animalistic this time and leaps towards her big brother, tackling his back in a hug. Ichigo barely budges and uses one of his tails to pat Yuzu on the head.
"Uncle Fester really is back? Is Thing going to be with them? And Lurch?" Karin rushes through her questions with wide eyes. It's been almost two years since they last saw the best side of their family.
"Oyaji! Oyaji!" Yuzu shouts loudly, running out of the kitchen and towards where the clinic is set up. "Oyaji, Oncle Gomez and Zia Morticia are coming for the summer!"
"Who is this... Go-mez and Mort-ic-ia?" Rukia spells out the syllables of the two names, their English somewhat impressing Karin. Clearly they weren't fluent, not by a long shot, but they clearly knew how to speak the language.
"Our grandmother on Mama's side, Nanna Heloise, comes from the Addams Family. Oncle Gomez and Zia Morticia are her nephew and niece-in-law. They live in America, but they try and come over for either the summer or the winter holidays. They couldn't come the past two years due to a plane crash in Australia and a sudden outbreak of the plague in their home state," Ichigo explains for the Shinigami. He sighs softly in reminiscence and slight longing.
"They were so lucky to spend their vacation in Australia! Wednesday got some super cool spiders as pets!" Karin exclaims with a pout, making Ichigo chuckle.
"It's a shame we weren't there to see the plague sweep the entire state. At least Pugsley's better with his pet rats."
"...are they also... kitsune–or yōkai?" Rukia asks, her nervousness unnoticed by both Kurosaki siblings.
"Oh no! They're just simply Other. But don't worry, shedding human skin usually only happens every five years, so if you're here for that long you won't have to go demented in their true presence!" Ichigo states cheerfully, giving the Shinigami a bright smile.
Rukia pales and glances towards Karin, staring at her bright smile too. Karin giggles as she thinks about the Other appearances. They were so cool!
"We'll need to get more entrails, right? I know Grandmama loves those. Well, we have time. Karin, go get Oyaji and Yuzu. Dinner's almost ready!" The orange haired teenager takes the pan off the stove after turning it off. Karin makes a chuffing noise before running down the same hallway Yuzu went through.
"Y-you're family sounds... lovely..." Rukia speaks weakly, her skin a little green.
Ichigo giggles and walks over to the table, placing the plate piled with fish down. "They're the best! Now, go on and start filling up your plate with however much you want. You poor thing look like you'll keel over from hunger any moment!"
Rukia startles out of her slight terror and unease. Her wide eyes stare at the receding back of Ichigo as he goes to get the rest of the food. She stares back down at the fish and swallows back a sudden tightness in her throat.
Her shaking chopsticks reach over and grab two fish fillets. They tap against each other uncertainly before finally grabbing one more. Violet eyes rapidly blink back the sudden glossy film over them as the shock of being given food slowly dissipates.
Some cultural habits are impossible to break... especially when living in a place for a century...
»«»«»«»«»«
Hey! I hope you all like the new chapter! A bit of an introductory chapter, but we've got to get most of the characters in the field.
Are the Addams Family going to have some presence in the coming chapters and in Soul Society? Hm... it's a waiting game to find out!
Also, major headcanon that anyone from the REALLY bad parts of the Rukongai kind of formed a culture around food being given or kept from certain people. Like if food is given to someone, especially with how rare it is, it means the person with the food cares about the other so much, that they're willing to go hungry (if they have enough spiritual energy) or give up the luxury of having food for them. I don't know, just a little thought of mine.
Another thing as to why I've made this chapter more of an introductory instead of going to the next thing (Orihime and her brother). I haven't decided on how I'm going to go about these parts of the story. I think I've decided to change them, but I don't know what to change them to. Or I have an idea, but I don't know how it will flow. Anyways, I hope you all understand!
I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! Bye.
WhovianWhoudini