OooOoOooO

"Temporary Solution"

Chapter 7

"GOOD MORNING, ICHIGO!"

A loud voice broke through the exhausted teen's sleepy mind. Then as the owner of the voice registered in his brain, brown eyes snapped open and Ichigo instantly caught his father's foot that was about to collide with his face.

He directed his disgruntled glare to the man.

"What the hell goat-face!" He yelled before pushing the foot away and kicked his father in the gut, sending him crumpling to the floor.

"Oho, you're reflexes are becoming sharp, my son!" Isshin rejoiced as he cried.

Ichigo's first reaction was to give another kick to the man but then he blinked as he looked at his father.

No blood, not even a sign of an injury, still loud, and relatively fine.

He frowned to himself.

'Was last night just a dream then?' He wondered to himself. 'But… it felt so real, and what about Naruto? Karin! Yuzu!' He immediately turned his attention to the dark haired man who was still bawling on the floor on how his son was growing up.

Ignoring the antics with great difficulty, Ichigo looked directly into the man's eyes seriously.

"How are Karin and Yuzu's injuries? Are they alright?" He instantly asked with worry, his brows furrowing with concern.

Isshin's fake sobs suddenly ceased as he looked back at Ichigo with a confused stare. He stood and scratched the back of his head, before giving Ichigo a critical eye. The man surprised the teen when he suddenly closed the proximity of their faces by a mere inch.

"Now, what are you talking about?" He asked as a grin spread on his face.

Ichigo instantly pushed Isshin's face away from his, an eyebrow twitching.

"The attack last night!" He yelled angrily at his father.

Now Isshin's confusion became more evident as he eyed Ichigo with narrowed eyes. Then his eyes brightened with realization that inwardly relieved Ichigo, hoping to get some answers.

"Oh! You must be talking about that incident! Thankfully, no one got hurt but a truck crashed into our house last night!" He made an exaggerated motion of his arms. "It created a hole in our wall! Though I'm surprised you know about it, I was under the impression that everybody slept through it." The man proceeded to rub his chin thoughtfully.

Ichigo froze as he stared at his dad with wide eyes.

'A truck crashed into our house? What the hell? Was last night just really a dream then?'

But he didn't let the thought linger as he dashed out of his room to check on his sisters. Ichigo saw them in the kitchen, eyeing the giant hole with wonder. He eyed the hole then his surroundings, it really looked like something crashed through it but the teen was still skeptical if it really was a truck. It still looked exactly how it had been when that hollow attacked.

"Onii-chan!" Yuzu called as she bounded to Ichigo.

"Yuzu, you're alright?" He asked almost numbly.

His sister gave him the same confused stare Isshin had a while ago.

"Yes, Karin-chan and I were in our room. Though we're lucky that no one got hurt!" She beamed at him with a smile.

Karin approached them with a miffed look on her face.

"But I'm still puzzled on how we could have slept through that. At least one of us should have been woken up. This isn't exactly a subtle accident yet our neighbors had also somehow been asleep when it happened." She commented with a frown as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"We should just be thankful that all of us are fine!" Yuzu insisted with a pensive look.

Karin snorted before walking out of the kitchen without a word, a contemplative look on her face.

Ichigo sighed, relieved but at the same time bewildered. It was a good thing that his family was safe but he still had a hard time believing that it was just an accident. But if it had been a dream, then where did Naruto fit into this?

Ruffling Yuzu's hair, he smiled.

"I'll be getting ready for school." He simply said before going back to his room.

Ichigo ignored the urge to tie his sisters to his side just for sure if that monster hadn't been a dream. But he needed to at least find some sense into what really happened. Not to mention, there was so much blood and Ichigo was still worried for the blonde haired kid.

"Okay, Onii-chan!"

The day had passed too quickly for his liking.

His classmates and friends had hovered over him about the supposedly "Truck Accident" that happened. But Ichigo couldn't help but be suspicious and a little leery talking about it. Somehow it still didn't sit right with him, like he was missing something.

And that something was waiting for him at the front gate of his school after class.

His eyes widened when he saw a small figure with a tuft of spiky blonde hair. Before he even knew what he was doing, he left his friends Mizuiro, Keigo, and Chad who was walking with him to go home and ran to the boy standing there.

Cerulean blue eyes stared up at him with surprise.

The kid was dressed in a plain orange t-shirt, black shorts, and white sneakers adorning his feet. Though the large orange-tinted goggles decorating his forehead confused Ichigo, as well as the black backpack slung over the boy's small shoulders.

"Naruto!" He called as he skidded into a stop in front of the small boy, panting a little but with a relieved smile on his face.

"Ohayo, Ichigo!" The blonde waved with a grin.

"So it wasn't a dream then?" Ichigo questioned hopefully.

Naruto shook his head though there was a trace of amusement on his face.

"Not one bit."

"You're alright? What about your injuries?" Ichigo instantly asked worriedly as he looked at the blonde with concern.

This time, Naruto was stunned that he didn't answer.

"Well?" The teen demanded with a scowl.

The blonde shrugged.

"I'm fine." He simply answered as Ichigo sighed with relief.

So it wasn't a dream. Shinigamis were real and a hollow really attacked their house. Now Ichigo would always stay on guard in case it happens again, he couldn't let anything happen to his sisters. And this kid, who looked a little younger than Yuzu and Karin had just saved his family. Even took an attack meant for him.

"Oi, Ichigo, you know him?" Mizuiro inquired as soon as they neared the teen.

"What's with the kid? You're cousin or something? Why didn't I know about that!" Keigo complained as he stared at Naruto with accusation, as if it was his fault the brunette teen didn't know about him.

"Uh, I met him a while ago. He was in some scuffle so I helped." Ichigo replied smoothly, scratching the back of his head.

But Naruto's attention wasn't on them any longer. Instead, his cerulean eyes were looking way up to meet Chad's eyes with interest and child-like wonder. The blonde blinked as the giant stared down at him blankly. Though he should be annoyed since he was practically a dwarf compared to this teen, he was beyond astonished and a little awed.

So without pre-empt, Naruto firmly approached the Mexican teen and held his hand out.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto." The blonde introduced with the same curiosity simmering in his eyes.

Ichigo stared at the blonde, perplexed.

Then to further the others' surprise, Chad had bent down a little and took Naruto's small hand and shook it slowly. His lips tilted up slightly into an almost smile.

"Yasutora Sado." The giant simply said.

At that, Naruto grinned at Chad openly. Then he went back to Ichigo's side, grabbing the orange haired teen's hand and pulled him along.

"Nice to meet you three but Ichigo here owes me a favor!" He shouted over his shoulder as he dragged the protesting teen behind him. Mizuiro waved back at the blonde boy with a pleasant smile while Keigo was crying his heart out.

"Why didn't he ask me my name?" He whined to his friends.

Chad didn't say anything as he continued on his path, Mizuiro and Keigo falling in step with him.

"Hey, hey, hey! You can let go now!" Ichigo growled as he pulled his hand out of the boy's grasp. "And how were others able to see you now?" He asked suspiciously as he narrowed his eyes.

The blonde scoffed at him as he fidgeted.

"This is just a false body, you idiot." The boy deadpanned. "It's called a Gigai, I have to be in this while I wait for my powers to come back. And I can't go back to Soul Society since only Shinigamis could."

At this, the teen frowned lightly. Feeling the slight prickling sensation of guilt in his gut. Then he turned an inquiring stare to the blonde.

Naruto looked at him with tired eyes and sighed. They were far enough from anyone at this moment so he could discuss with Ichigo what he really was here for in the first place. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I need your help." He stated with a nervous smile.

This surprised Ichigo.

"What for?" He questioned readily but with some hint of wariness.

"You see, I only meant to give you a portion of my powers. But somehow, you took all of it. That's why I can't go back." Naruto started as he shuffled on his feet awkwardly, unable to meet the teen's eye. "And I can't do my duties without my powers."

Ichigo recoiled back as understanding dawned on him.

"And you want me… to take over for you? Am I right?" The teen asked for confirmation.

The blonde slowly nodded.

"Yes. I would be in a lot of trouble if it looked like I abandoned my job, so yeah… that's what I'm asking, I guess." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, not bothering to mention that he was already so deep in it.

"I see." Ichigo replied quietly.

"So?" Naruto eyed him with anxiety.

"I'll do it." The teen affirmed with a resolute nod, his face oddly blank. Before Naruto could start to thank him and cheer, he added. "But don't expect me to always go out of my way for strangers, my friends and family are my main priority. I'll do what I can until you get your powers back."

But Naruto still grinned at him. He even jumped and pumped his fist in the air to indicate his joy.

"Thanks-ttebayo!" The blonde said to him sincerely. "I couldn't have asked for more."

Seeing the genuine gratitude and happiness made Ichigo's lips tilt up into a smirk. He approached the boy and ruffled his hair almost like how an older brother would. The blonde swatted his hand away with a frown.

Before Naruto could voice his protest, there was a loud beeping sound heard.

He dug into his backpack and brought out the same phone-like device last night (or Denreishinki) and a red glove with a flaming skull design.

"Hey, I thought that was malfunctioning?" Ichigo demanded heatedly, it wouldn't do to always be running around with false alarms because of that thing. But Naruto's expression darkened at being reminded of it.

"Tsk, this isn't the same as last night. That one was rigged according to my supplier here." He replied distractedly as he looked intently at the phone. "Oi, crouch down for a sec." Naruto requested–or more like ordered as he gazed at Ichigo sternly.

The teen rolled his eyes but did as the boy said.

Naruto grinned slyly for a moment before punching the teen on the forehead with his red glove.

Ichigo yelped as he appeared out of his body in his Shinigami garb. He looked stunned for a second when he saw his body crumple to the ground before looking at Naruto with wide eyes. Then it narrowed as he stomped to the boy with a scowl and proceeded to smack him behind the head.

"Itai!" The blonde said as he rubbed his head. "What the hell was that for, teme?" He glared daggers at the teen.

"You could've warned me first, you brat!" Ichigo berated as his eye twitched in annoyance. Though a hand reached up and touched the soft material that was a crimson scarf wrapped around his neck. "Huh? So it's still here?" Then he sniffed. "Wait, is that blood?"

Instead of his nose wrinkling at the smell, Ichigo was surprised that it didn't come off as unpleasant to his nose. It was just like a sweet tang at the back of his mouth. He could feel it but not taste it.

"That's Arashi's mark when you took some of his powers." Naruto informed him pensively. Then as he looked down at the phone in his hands, he grimaced. "Let's go, you could hide your body in a bush or something. There's a hollow near the park." He stated urgently as he ran to the direction.

Ichigo cursed and laid his body in a random shrubbery before running after the blonde boy.

As he caught up, he eyed the blonde from the corner of his eyes.

"And who the hell is this Arashi anyway?" He asked quietly as the boy tensed. He was taken a little aback when Naruto glared at him almost menacingly.

"Arashi or Ryūketsu Arashi is my zanpakutō," The blonde answered blankly. "He was the sword you destroyed last night or just took some of the powers from."

This made Ichigo blink.

"Your zanpakutō has a name?" The teen asked, his voice laced a bit with incredulity.

"Every zanpakutō has their own name. They're sentient beings that represent the powers of each Shinigami." The boy informed him as his eyes shifted to Ichigo's large zanpakutō. "Even yours." He pointed out.

"Really?" Ichigo's hand flew to the handle of his sword, feeling warmth and wonder. He felt a little astounded when he felt it vibrate a little under his grasp, as if answering his call. "Whoa!" He exclaimed with amazement.

"Yes, that's great but you have to take care of that hollow!" Naruto reminded him insistently as he pointed to the beast that looked like a bug or spider and was currently chasing after a little brown haired boy. "And go for the head." The blonde added almost absentmindedly.

Ichigo nodded as he ran up to the hollow and sliced its legs, making it lean on its side with a shriek before blurring slightly out of their sight.

"You could have gone straight for its head." Naruto remarked as he approached the small shaking boy.

But the teen just rolled his eyes before slicing the mask of the hollow twice after it reappeared and stabbed his large weapon through it. Its shriek died as it dissipated into black spirit particles and faded thoroughly. That went smoothly than he expected.

"Hey, it's alright." He heard Naruto reassuring the boy. "See that guy over there? He's going to send you to heaven so you could rest peacefully." The boy placated the other boy with a grin which the brown haired one returned somewhat unsurely.

He then turned to the teen.

"Oi, strawberry!" He called loudly. "You need to perform a Konso on this one."

Ichigo twitched at the nickname.

"Don't you think I know that, fishcake!"

"Well, I could have been wrong." Naruto shrugged nonchalantly as Ichigo silently seethed.

The orange haired teen then squatted down in front of the brown haired boy as his expression softened. His lips almost tilting up into a smile that he tried to suppress.

"What he said is true, so I need to send you there or more of those hollows will come. Good luck." He stated before tapping the plus on his forehead with the handle of his zanpakutō. The boy smiled at them as he glowed.

"It's warm."

Ichigo nodded as the spirit disappeared.

"You know," Naruto commented thoughtfully. "You're a fast learner."

The teen just grunted as he tugged on his scarf lightly.

'Just what the hell are you, Kurosaki Ichigo?' Naruto wondered.

They were currently on their way home.

"Oi, strawberry." As soon as Naruto discovered that the name ticked Ichigo off, he had stuck to it. "My supplier helped me in applying as a helper in your school's cafeteria. Something about being a working student or something."

The teen rounded on him with a scowl.

"Why the hell do you need a job?" Ichigo demanded a bit miffed.

"It's not really the job but I need to be close so I can keep an eye on you. Or that you're easily accessible when I need your help." Naruto answered almost nonchalantly as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yeah, but still. A kid like you shouldn't be really working. Shinigami duties should have been enough." Ichigo grumbled as they made their way home.

"Can't help it. I couldn't enrol in your school since I looked nothing like a high school student. So I take what I can. Besides, even if I look like a damn kid, I'm still older than you." The blonde reprimanded exasperatedly.

"I won't be able to treat you like an adult if you look younger than my sisters, not to mention act like it."

Naruto glared at him.

"Teme…" He growled.

That made Ichigo smirked.

"Brat." He had to admit, the blonde kid's not really that bad.

Then something occurred to him.

"Wait, where the hell are you even staying now, anyway?" Ichigo questioned the kid beside him with a demanding look on his face. But there was also a hint of concern since he thought that the blonde had no money with him and he would keel over first before he let the blonde brat sleep on the streets.

"I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out on my own." Naruto emphasized as he adjusted the goggles on his head.

"Do you even have the money to figure it out on your own?" Ichigo asked dryly as he stopped in the middle of the street and regarded the blonde with scrutinizing eyes.

That made Naruto blush in slight embarrassment.

"I'll also figure that out." He finally said before laughing nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

Ichigo crossed his arms over his chest.

"Right." The teen stated, unconvinced.

"So…" Naruto started to step back to escape. "I just need to be somewhere…"

But Ichigo would have none of it. So grabbing the boy's arm, he all but dragged the blonde to the direction of his house with a determined look on his face. Although it shifted to a scowl after when the blonde boy kept squirming out of his grip.

"Oi! Let go of me, teme!"

"I'll do as soon as I'm sure that you would be coming with me." Ichigo stated firmly.

Naruto mirrored the teen's scowl.

Anyone looking at them right now would mistake them for brothers judging from the bright hair color, spiky hairstyle, and identical scowls on their faces.

"Alright." Naruto conceded grudgingly.

"You're not going to run away?" Ichigo questioned seriously as they stopped but his grip was still tight.

The blonde gritted his teeth as his eyebrow twitched.

"Yes." He bit out.

Ichigo looked at him for a minute before nodding to himself, satisfied as he let go of the boy. As soon as the older looking boy let him go, Naruto proceeded to kick him on the shin. But not running away since he didn't go back on his word.

"What the hell was that for you shrimp?"

"Idiot." Naruto grumbled before looking at the teen cautiously. "But… I have someone with me." He admitted.

Before Ichigo could ask what or who he meant, the backpack slung over the blonde's shoulder started to shift and budge slightly, until it became relentless that Naruto took it upon himself to open the bag already.

The orange haired teen squawked in surprise when something jumped out of the bag and landed on Naruto's head.

Golden eyes stared at him boredly.

"C-Cat?" Ichigo asked, bewildered.

Naruto just nodded as he petted the black animal sprawled on his head lazily, its front paws hanging in front of his eyes almost limply. Though he stroked its fur in apology since he almost forgot that he even had it in his bag.

"Ichigo, this is Yoruichi."

AN: I know I'm posting so soon but if I don't, I might lose interest sooner too. And as for the Red Hair, I'm still finding my motivation to continue it. I've been in a situation where I was forced to stop continuing it for a while and I lost a little interest...so I'm rebuilding it (hopefully it'll come back) to resume it.

Please leave some reviews. I know others might not like where the plot was going but I've been planning this from the start. Sorry for those who are disappointed in advance. :(