The next day, Ichigo woke up to find Orihime next to him and Yumai was still asleep but in a shihakusho now, so Ichigo thought Orihime or someone helped her change. He got up to go see the progress of his barracks and took two steps and tripped over something soft. After slamming his face into the floor he got up and noticed Rangiku, passed out in between the two beds. After her woke her up and yelled at her, which woke the other two girls up, he threw her out the door, and he followed. Keigo had been woken up by the yelling and was outside Ichigo's room watching what he was doing.
"Ichigo! Why do you get to share a room with such beautiful women! It's not fair!" Keigo was complaining to Ichigo as usual. Yuzu and Karin didn't come out because they didn't care for Keigo's complaints.
"I didn't know that one was still in my room! I'm getting married to Orihime, and the other girl, Yumai, is an old friend of ours and she's blind so she's staying with us." Ichigo went back into the room when he heard Yumai calling for him.
"Can we go back to the lake today? You had to bring me back because of that man you found, right?" she was sitting up and Orihime looked puzzled, since she had no idea what happened yesterday, other than Ichigo dragging someone to squad ten with his Bankai.
"Yeah, but first I have to go see my barracks and help clear the debris. Maybe Orihime can take you while I'm doing that, and I'll meet you there." Ichigo gave Orihime a kiss and Yumai a hug.
"I would like that. How will you know if we're still there?" Yumai was now sitting next to Orihime who jumped to the other bed.
"I guess you two should stay there the entire day then, and wait for me…" Ichigo said his goodbyes and left. He left the barracks after greeting his sisters. He was on his way to his barracks when he ran into the guy he caught yesterday.
"Captain Kurosaki…Forgive me…" The man held his head in shame. Ichigo walked toward him slowly.
"Go fuck yourself." Ichigo punched him in the stomach and kept walking while the man hunched over and fell. Ichigo stopped and turned back to him. "Why don't you go drag yourself to fourth squad? If you can face Unohana. She knows who you are." He noticed that the man had put his hand on his zanpakuto, as if he was thinking about what would happen if he drew a blade on one of the strongest people anywhere near there, wanting to keep his limbs, organs, and life, he removed his hand from the hilt. Ichigo just sighed in pity. "You did not deserve a second chance, you are in one of the thirteen squads whose job it is to protect. You make me sick. If I ever see you touching another woman who looks even remotely bothered by you, I will remove your arms, with my hand." He announced this louder, since he noticed a large group had assembled around him. "Whatever the hell your name is, know this…ask me for forgiveness again, and I will remove your head where you stand." He turned and continued walking as if nothing happened, only making eye contact with a few members of his own squad who happened to be there. There were a few people from squad ten who were in the group and rushed over to the man. Ichigo made it to where he thought his barracks were. The tents for his squad were there, but where the ruins were, there was nothing.
"What…where?" Ichigo couldn't form a sentence for what he wasn't seeing. He went to find Koko who was in charge of the squad while he wasn't with them. He went to her tent and she was asleep. He woke her up and asked where the barracks went.
"I did that last night, while you were busy hanging around with the blind girl, instead of helping clear, like you should have been. I used my Shikai." She explained then went back to sleep, which was weird because every other squad member who didn't live somewhere else was awake and awaiting her orders. Ichigo turned and said that there will be no training or anything until after the wedding. They all started to disperse but he stopped them.
"Wait. Before you all go off and do what it is you are going to do…how about a new game!" When Ichigo mentioned a new game every squad member disappeared, he turned to look at Koko's tent and she was gone too. "Well, they're getting good at this…" Ichigo went to go tell Shunsui that the ruins were cleared, but he remembered that he, Sui-Feng and Kenpachi would be gone for a while, but promised to come back on the third. He took off towards the lake but was stopped by Ikkaku and Yumichika, who dragged him back to their barracks and half the squad took turns fighting him. About three hours later he came out of the squad eleven barracks covered in blood with a pissed off face. He hated how he had to fight one after another every time he went there. At least Kenpachi wasn't there to try to kill him this time.
'I swear Kenpachi probably knows I was here.' Ichigo thought to himself as he found his way to the lake, what he saw, was a rare sight indeed. Orihime was wearing a bikini and Yumai was also wearing one, the lake was only four or five feet deep for the most part, only getting nine feet deep in the center, so Orihime felt it was okay for them to swim. Ichigo approached slowly as the pain was bothering him. Orihime was wearing a light blue bikini, which wasn't too thin, but still was generous. She removed her bandages since only a few people were ever seen anywhere near this lake, and Yumai couldn't see her scars. Yumai's bathing suit was much more conservative than Orihime's but still attractive, it was a deep red, with some yellow stripes in the bottom. Ichigo came out of the trees and spoke.
"I'm here! Orihime, Yumai!" He tripped over a fallen tree before Orihime saw him, so he was on the ground.
"What happened!? You look horrible!" she announced loudly not getting out of the water.
"Squad eleven decided it would be fun to fight me today." Ichigo removed his coat and shihakusho, and was left in bandages and boxers. He walked into the lake and swam over to the two girls. "I didn't expect to come back to this…" He said as he kissed Orihime and took Yumai's hand which she held out to try and find him.
"Well, let's say it's a gift. And I remembered that you met Yumai-san after seeing her swimming in a lake, so…I went and found some bikini in our sizes!"
"I'm really enjoying this…right, is there any news on if that guy is working on fixing my eyesight, if he will or not?" she said as she tackled Ichigo which made him fall into Orihime.
"I don't know, he does not like me, so probably not, but he's afraid of Retsu, so maybe he will, can't say." Ichigo pulled away from her and started swimming around.
"Yumai-san, you have such a nice body…I really couldn't see it under that white robe Unohana-san had you in." Orihime took her hand and led her out of the water to sit on some rocks, since they had been in the water for two hours now.
"Oh, thank you…as you know, I have no Idea what I look like, or even what Ichigo looks like now…I didn't even meet you until after I went blind." She was blushing and she had a sad look on her face.
"Well, when that scientist fixes your eyes you can see us!" Orihime said with a happy tone. Ichigo started swimming over. "Hold on this will be fun…" she whispered something into Yumai's ear to which she nodded slightly.
"Am I missing anything important?" Ichigo came out of the water and say next to Orihime.
"Nothing. Yumai-san has a nice body doesn't she?" Orihime had a smirk on her face, which made Ichigo uncomfortable.
'This is a test. This is a test…' Ichigo thought to himself as he went over the consequences of answering this question at all. Ichigo just sat there staring at the two girls, who had small smiles on their faces.
"I mean, she was dressed in that white robe when you saw her, and now that she's in this bikini, you can see it. Isn't it nice?" Orihime kept pressing him. Yumai blushed and Ichigo's eye twitched.
"Well Ichi-dono?" Now Yumai was playing along much to Ichigo's annoyance. Ichigo was silent for a few seconds, regretting having come over there.
"Yes. She does have a nice body, I'd be blind to not notice, no offence." Ichigo answered quickly then put his arm around Orihime. Yumai smiled but blushed heavily. Ichigo turned to Orihime.
"But…I like yours better, even though you're covered in scars, which I am sorry about." He kissed her and ran his fingers over a scar on her stomach.
"You always seemed to be the kind of guy to give a girl a scar than still has her want to marry you." Yumai said quietly as she turned to the two of them.
"What is that supposed to mean by that Yumai?" Ichigo said turning to her, and Orihime ran her finger down Yumai's back which made her shudder a little and blush.
"Ichi-dono! Why did you just do that to me!" She screamed at him from the other side of Orihime.
"It wasn't me, although I think you seduced me fiancé…" he trailed off and received a light slap from Orihime.
"Maybe." Orihime quickly and quietly said, and earned a simultaneous 'What!?' from the both of them, and then she stood up and took Yumai's hand pulling her up, she put her hands on her cheeks and slowly put her face closer to Yumai's and whispered. "Oops!" And she pushed her into Ichigo's lap.
"Yumai, are you okay?" Ichigo asked the girl in his lap, she just nodded but wouldn't get up.
"I wonder if Orihime is a-" Ichigo cupped his hand over her mouth and whispered something in her ear to which she giggled and nodded.
"Orihime! I'll be right back! Come sit with Yumai!" Ichigo got up and ran off when Orihime came and sat down. Ichigo was hidden in a nearby tree and used that 'tattoo' he had and hid his presence. Yumai felt around for Orihime's hand and eventually found it. She held it tightly and leaned on her, Orihime didn't move, Yumai started moving her hand up Orihime's arm slowly. Orihime backed up a little but didn't get away, Suddenly Yumai started rubbing her back, to which Orihime blushed and moved away a bit more. Eventually Yumai pushed Orihime down and lay on top of her. Orihime didn't struggle, which made Ichigo think about her in a new way, but when she didn't move even after Yumai moved, he realized that she was unconscious. He quickly jumped down from his tree and picked her up. He held her rubbing her head until she woke up.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt her? Is she okay, did she hit her head? She wasn't moving!" Yumai was panicking. And after a couple minutes of silence Orihime woke up.
"Yumai-san…What were you doing?" Orihime asked frantically when she realized she had blacked out.
"We here playing a little joke on you, but I didn't expect her to tackle you down like that. I'm sorry Orihime." He kissed her forehead while she looked at the blushing blind girl in front of her.
"Since you teased Ichigo, he thought about putting you in an awkward situation. And I can be quite the temptress I've noticed." She let out a childish giggle.
"And…a-and yeah." Orihime blushed as she couldn't form a sentence.
"Wait, did you…like that, Orihime?" Ichigo asked with a raised eyebrow
"No, I didn't want to hurt her feelings by pushing her away…and my head still hurts…can we go back now? I've had enough swimming for today, if that's okay with Yumai-san." Yumai nodded and Ichigo leaned in to whisper something in her ear.
"Are you a lesbian?" she shook her head in response.
"I'm straight." Yumai whispered back.
"Alright then, Orihime can you walk?" Ichigo stood up with Yumai holding his hand.
"Yes, let's get dressed and go back." Orihime smiled as they went over to their clothes, Orihime and Yumai borrowed the white robes from the barracks, and Ichigo put his bloody clothes back on. Orihime was clinging to his left arm and Yumai was holding his other hand. Eventually they made it back to the barracks. Orihime and Yumai, changed, Ichigo had waited outside the door for them to finish. Eventually he went in and grabbed Yumai's hand.
"I'm going to take her to Mayuri, see if I can force him to help her if he can."
"All right, just make sure he doesn't mess with that pretty face of hers!" Orihime said in a joking tone. Ichigo knew it was going to be a weird day, every day, as long as those two girls were together. She held onto his hand as they started walking to the rarely visited squad twelve. After a few minutes he was approached by Renji who looked angry.
"Ichigo! What the fuck are you doing? Who is this? You're cheating on Orihime!?" Renji grabbed Ichigo and Yumai clung to his arm. Ichigo used his free arm to push Renji off.
"You dumbass! This is my friend Yumai! A victim of one of the El… never mind that! I'm holding her hand because she's blind! I'm heading to see Mayuri to see if he can do something about it." Ichigo threw Renji off and stared at him with disgust. "If you think for one second that I would do anything to hurt Orihime, you're dead wrong. Now…I do have a question for you though." Ichigo pat Yumai's head so she would calm down.
"What is it?" Renji had a dumb smile and was scratching the back of his head.
"How is it with Rukia? Is she as loud as when she lived in my closet?" Ichigo gave a chuckle and Renji sighed.
"She's just the right amount of loud." Renji said with a smirk.
"I don't like the way that sounds, Renji. Wait until marriage; she seems like an old fashioned girl." Ichigo continued walking past Renji who just sighed and nodded. After more walking Ichigo and Yumai came to squad twelve, Ichigo knocked on the door, which is normally locked. Nemu came and opened it.
"May I help you, Captain Kurosaki?" Her bland voice was tiresome to Ichigo.
"Nemu, I need to speak to your captain, can we come in?"
"I will ask, please await my return." She shut the door and came back a minute later.
"He said no because he doesn't need hollows running amok in his labs. Is there anything else that you need?"
"Well, I was hoping he could make something that could help her see, she's blind." Ichigo pointed to Yumai who was still holding onto his arm.
"If that was all, why didn't you say, we have a visor that was made for Tosen so that he could see; we have no use for them since he is dead. And there aren't many blind souls in the ranks." She shut the door again and came back with three silver visors and gave them to Ichigo and shut the door.
"Yumai. Do you want to put it on now, or when we get back to Orihime?" Ichigo said with a smile that she was also wearing.
"I want to wait to see you both at the same time!" she couldn't hide her excitement and gripped his hand tightly.
"Hold on tight, I'm going to carry you." He put her on his back and she wrapped her arms around him. Within a few minutes he was back at squad four, he put her down and pulled her inside, he found Orihime reading one of Nel's books, Nel was with Koko doing something. "Orihime… come here." He sat Yumai down on one of the beds and he and Orihime sat on the other, he slipped the visor over her eyes and behind her ears after some adjusting. After a few seconds of blinking, Yumai started to cry.
"Ichi-dono! Hime-san!" she jumped up and threw her arms around them for a tight hug. After a few minutes of tears and looking at everything in the room. She noticed that Ichigo's clothes were covered in blood and ripped. "Why are you covered in blood?" She spoke quickly as she looked him over.
"I have an image to uphold I guess!" he scratched his head and gave her a smile.
"Either way, Ichi-dono, I'm glad I get to say this, you are much better looking now, covered in blood suits you better than normal clothes the last time I saw you." Ichigo thanked her and she turned her attention to Orihime. "I did manage to feel your figure earlier, but I never imagined you like this!" she made a motion of her hands at Orihime who just blushed. After the emotional greeting, Ichigo took her around with Orihime and introduced her to Ichigo's sisters, and Keigo. Who she immediately shot down when he said she was pretty. For the next few hours they walked around with her showing her all the things and eventually they went to back to squad four. After a bit, Ichigo decided to head to the world of the living to assist.
…
He came out of the Senkaimon to see Kenpachi holding Sui-Feng by the throat and stabbing her in the heart. Ichigo stood in shock, then confusion as the body fell to the ground and transformed into a tall woman with completely white skin, white hair and white eyes. He immediately flash stepped to Kenpachi.
"What the hell was that!?" Ichigo asked still confused from this.
"When the hell did you get here?" The battle happy man roared.
"When you stabbed…her…" Ichigo was pointing to the dead body under him. "Where are Sui-Feng and Shunsui!?" Ichigo started looking around then saw a massive explosion.
"Over there, dealing with the hundreds of Menos we attracted, while I dealt with this bitch." Suddenly Sui-Feng came flying at Ichigo and threw him to the ground. She was thrown back by her Bankai's massive explosion. "And now she's here." Kenpachi went and sat down looking bored.
"Ichigo!? What the hell are you doing here?" She stood herself up and leaned against a nearby wall.
"Do I need a reason? Better question, what was that explosion and what the hell is she?" Ichigo got himself off the ground and motioned towards the dead body.
"The explosion, my Bankai. This is Emira jizuzuka. The other Eletera, unless your friend noticed another one was gone. This one can take the form of anyone she's seen before, dead or alive. She transformed into the First espada at one point, and seems to copy memories and personalities, when he and Shunsui talked for an hour…" She finished talking and Ichigo finished trying to think what kind of person the first espada was for him to be on somewhat good terms with Shunsui. Shunsui appeared next to Ichigo and the others saying the Menos are gone.
"Ichigo, why are you here and when did you get here?" Shunsui being the third to ask the same question.
"I'm not answering that again. Whats going to happen…" Ichigo started to ask about the body and it dissolved into dust. "Never mind. Let's go back, Yumai wants to see you Shunsui, she said she likes your voice." Ichigo started walking over to the wall Sui-Feng was sitting against and helped her up.
"Isn't she blind? Did that Mayuri fix her?" Shunsui said surprised at the scientist helping Ichigo.
"No, Nemu gave us some of those visor things that they made for Tosen, her eyes are still grey, but she can see somehow." Ichigo explained as he opened a garganta. "I'll go see if another one disappeared I'll see you there." And he stepped through.
…
"Orihime, have you and Ichigo thought about kids yet?" Rukia was sitting in the room with Orihime drinking tea that Unohana made.
"Yes, the other night we talked about that. We agreed that we want two around the same age…" she trailed off into her thoughts and didn't hear Rukia's entire question.
"…yet?" only the last word of Rukia's question was heard.
"I'm sorry, I spaced out! What was the question?" Orihime had a feeling she knew what it was.
"Did you and Ichigo have…sex yet?" Rukia looked a little embarrassed to have to ask again. Orihime just smiled and shook her head.
"No, we're waiting until after marriage…Although Rangiku keeps trying to tell me all these positions and maneuvers…I think she made up half of them…" Orihime blushed when she remembered something Rangiku told her about. "She said something about a move called 'Screaming Ferret Hammer' I don't think that's real." When she said that Unohana had come back with more tea and when she heard what Orihime said she almost tripped over herself, set down the tea and ran out leaving both girls with a shocked and confused expression. "I…"
"Moving on, you two should get a house somewhere so you don't have to live in the barracks."
"We like it living in the barracks…" Orihime said in a small voice.
"But you two won't have any privacy!" Rukia had that smirk on her face. Orihime blushed heavily as thoughts of being interrupted during her fist time raced through her head.
"Kuchiki-san! Why would you say that!" Orihime was flailing her arms around and her face was bright red, then she heard the sound of a garganta open next to her. Ichigo opened a garganta in their room and stood there as it shut. Rukia was rolling over laughing at his excellent timing and Orihime buried her face in the bed.
"I guess I made quite an entrance for this reaction." Ichigo sat down and pat Orihime's back which made her shiver.
"Orihime was just thinking about you taking her vir-" Rukia was cut off by a pillow hitting her in the face, which Orihime threw at her.
"Orihime, come here…" Ichigo pulled her from the bed and held her close to him, and she started laughing.
"I don't know what I'm getting so worked up about it, I mean, it's going to happen eventually, but Rukia said we wouldn't have privacy and I imagined people walking in." She returned the embrace Ichigo was giving her when Yumai and Shunsui walked in laughing. He left her there and walked away, and she in an instant stopped laughing.
"He's such a pervert…he tried to get me drunk." Yumai said quietly and Rukia, Orihime, and Ichigo just looked at her and nodded. The four of them talked and eventually Ichigo's sisters and Keigo joined them. After a while there was a knock on the door.
"Is Captain Kurosaki in there?" the voice belonged to a girl who Ichigo didn't recognize. Ichigo got up and opened the door, to be met with a girl around the height of Tatsuki with pale blue hair, and dark blue eyes, she had a scar along the left side of her face that went from her hairline down to her chin over her eye. She was looking him in the eyes and shaking. She screamed and got down on her knees.
"What is it? Whats wrong, I'm Captain Kurosaki!" Ichigo said as he bent down to the girl.
"yo-you s-s-startled me! Everyone in your squad said you were kind of scary…and they were right!" She started to get up, and backed up a bit refusing to look him in his eyes.
"Who are you? And I'm only scary when I want to be. Come in." he put his claw on her shoulder to see what she would do, she just tensed up and glanced at it repeatedly. He pulled her in and sat her next to Orihime.
"My name is-is Mera. I don't have another name. I'm new in your squad today…I recently graduated from the…" Her eyes fell on Nel who had come in after her and she jumped up and attacked her hitting her with her zanpakuto, with little progress, it was just bouncing off her skin. "Why aren't you attacking the arrancar!?"
"Her name is Nel, she is friendly." Ichigo grabbed the blade with his claw and kept it from poking Nel more. Mera calmed down and realized that Nel could probably hold her own against a few captains if they were letting her stay. "Now, did you say you're new in my squad?"
"Yes, Third seat Kurosaki told me where you were…" She still refused to look him in the eyes.
"Well, Mera…welcome to squad five." He introduced her to Orihime, who she actually made eye contact with.
"Are you going to attack me Captain?" She spoke meekly as she put her hands on her knees and gripped them hard.
"What? No! Why would I attack you?" Ichigo said quickly and sternly.
"Well…I heard some people talking about how you blew up your entire barracks in a fight with your ninth seat…"
"Ignore that, I'll explain when the barracks are rebuilt. Have you achieved your Shikai?" Ichigo started to get suspicious of the girl, remembering that the Eletera appear as a weak Shinigami.
"Yes, I can create a clone of someone by sacrificing my own means of attack." She took out her zanpakuto which was completely red except for the hilt which was white. The guard was a diamond. The blade started to dissolve into dust and the dust formed a copy of Yumai.
'I'm not sure if she's the Eletera or not…wasn't there for anything other than the killing blow.' Ichigo thought to himself as she explained, the dust clone dispersed and her blade formed again, and she sheathed it.
"So I can assume that you have a constant release type?" Ichigo said as he turned to see that everyone except him, Orihime, and Yumai were gone.
"Correct, I don't even know its name."
"Just like Kenpachi…" As Ichigo said that he noticed she drew her sword on him. Instinctively Ichigo reached for his zanpakuto. "What the hell are you doing!?" Ichigo demanded as he bound her with Hainawa using his other hand.
"Don't…EVER. Compare me to that monster!" She struggled against the kido and a look of hate crossed her face.
"You just threatened your captain, but since I don't like punishing someone unless they deserve it, it's okay." Ichigo released the kido on her and she sheathed her sword and apologized.
"I'm sorry, I…also heard a rumor or at least what I hope is a rumor…I heard someone say that you are a hollow…" She was shaking and refused to even look his direction.
"Yes, that isn't a rumor, Look." He held out his arm that had the claw on it and transformed it. She screamed and ran out of the room. "I guess she really is scared of me…which I'm not sure if she's an Eletera or not…maybe coincidence, but I don't know the originals abilities." Ichigo looked back to the two girls and they were whispering something giggling. Ichigo knew that there would be something interesting following.
"That can be decided when she tries to kill you or not! So how about around midnight, we go back to the lake and swim some more!" Orihime suggested much to Yumai's 'surprise' and Ichigo, as much as he wanted to right now, couldn't say no to her.
"Fine…" Ichigo lay back on the bed where they were sitting and started thinking of what they were going to try and do. His face grew red, but shook away the thought that caused it. during his thoughts, Zangetsu for the first time in who knows how long, actually spoke to him without Ichigo going into his inner world and bother him personally, zangetsu wasn't one for light conversation.
"Maybe they are going to reward you with a lap dance." Zangetsu's voice rang in the back of Ichigo's head.
'How do you even know what that is…and what if you're right!?' Ichigo was about to have a wonderful conversation with a voice he couldn't ignore.
"As you know, you could visit Sode No Shirayuki if you wanted to, so can I, and she is many things besides beautiful." This new information burned Ichigo's mind, he had met Sode No Shirayuki a few times before during that sword rebellion thing, and she didn't seem to be one for 'entertaining.'
'I promised Rukia that I wouldn't bother her zanpakuto!'
"I didn't promise anything, and plus if she didn't like it, she wouldn't let me in, in both senses of the word." Zangetsu was now openly bragging about his spiritual sexcapades, knowing full well Ichigo had to listen.
'Since when are you like this!?' Ichigo started to question his zanpakuto.
"Well, since you got your power from her, we have had some fun times over in that icebox of an inner world Rukia has."
'Now I think you're just trying to make me get my ass in a bunch…'
"Nonsense, and besides she doesn't mind when I start-"
'No, if you please keep out all the details, I won't tell Rukia about you and Sode No Shirayuki.'
"Deal." Zangetsu stopped after that. Orihime saw Ichigo's eye was twitching and took his hand.
"Ichigo, you look pale, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be let's go to the lake now! It's dark, and we can stay for hours let's GO!" Ichigo spoke quickly as he ran out the door and made it to the lake a little bit later.
"Yumai-san, It's time to have some fun, let's get our bikini's again." Both girls changed and made their way to the lake.
…
"Dammit Zangetsu! Why are you doing that with her…" Ichigo was waist deep in water not paying attention to the outside world.
"Doing what with who?" there was a man standing behind him holding his zanpakuto.
"Put those down!" Ichigo demanded from the water.
"I like these swords, I think I'll keep them!" The man started to walk away when Ichigo appeared behind him and grabbed his shoulder with his white claw. "What the hell is that?" The man spun around and a wide grin appeared on his face when he saw who the swords belonged to. "Ichigo!"
"Wait…" Ichigo was starting to remember the man. "Are you…"
"Oh come on, you don't remember me!?"
"I got nothing." Ichigo said blankly, as he took his swords back and went back into the lake.
"It's me Ganju!" The man screamed loudly and expectantly.
"Oh, hey Ganju, didn't recognize you, why are you in a third district? Tell me later, I'll come back, but now leave, I'm waiting on someone." Ichigo waved to the man behind him. Much to Ganju's dislike he left. After another ten minutes of silence and resentment towards Zangetsu, Orihime and Yumai appeared in the same bikinis as earlier.
"We're here!" The two girls came into the water and Orihime kissed him and Yumai gave him a tighter than usual hug. "So, Ichigo, I noticed you didn't have a bachelor party…" Orihime said slowly.
"I didn't, why?" Ichigo knew this was a trap, but he played along.
"I was just wondering…Maybe I could get Rangiku to come?" Orihime was tapping her chin trying to think.
"NOPE, I'm fine without one!" Ichigo said waving his arms back and forth, he finally got Rangiku to stop trying to seduce him, and he couldn't even count the times when she spiked his drink, he could tell when she did, she would pay for the drink herself.
"I'm proud of you Ichi-dono! You didn't be unfaithful!" Yumai shouted with joy as she splashed around in the water. Orihime came over and planted a kiss on Ichigo's lips, and Yumai Came up and grabbed him from behind in a hug. He didn't notice where her hands were until it was too late. The two girls ran out of the water holding his boxers.
"I knew you two had something planned! I'm so stupid!" Ichigo gave himself the face palm of all face palms because he accidentally used his claw and almost broke his nose. He started to look around; nothing would keep his decency at this point. He smirked and stood up and started walking to them in proud strides
"Holy…" Yumai managed to say before Orihime took the visor off of her before covering her own eyes. During this occurrence, at the squad ten barracks, Ichigo's dad was passed out under Rangiku, and in his sleep he said the words 'That's my boy…' Ichigo had a chill run up his spine at that moment. He walked over to the girls, not bothering to hide his pride in anyway, and took the boxers and put them back on.
"Well, That's all for the show, you can open your eyes and give her the visor." Orihime complied and put the visor back on Yumai. "Well, are we going to continue our little outing?"
"I wouldn't call it little…" Yumai had said earning her an elbow to the ribs from Orihime who just nodded and went back into the lake blushing heavily.
"Well, you reap what you sow I guess…" Yumai spoke slowly as she went and started to splash around at Orihime, Ichigo joined a little later after scolding Zangetsu for his outburst of laughter, which sounded like a walrus, Ichigo thought. Ichigo and Orihime eventually found themselves on some rocks off to the side, locking lips for about an hour, much to Yumai's annoyance, who had splashed them multiple times.
"If you're so jealous Yumai, I'm sure if you go out with Shunsui-Damn watch it!" Ichigo decided to play with her a little, but nearly got decapitated by a rock the size of a bowling ball.
"Anyone, but him." She made her point clear with the rock.
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask you, why do you call me Ichi-dono?" he slid off the rocks and into the water and leaned back against them.
"Well, Ever since I went blind, I've thought of you as someone deserving of the title and I think…you are…" She spoke softly and got closer to him and lightly put her hand on his chest and started making her way down. "Gullible!" with one quick motion she got his boxers again, and this time she and Orihime ran away.
"I'm not sure if I like this or not…I should really wear the swim trunks that I…blew up in my barracks…Damn It." he said under his breath as he put his clothes back on, minus a pair of boxers. He started to chase them, but just slow enough to be a couple of feet behind them. After their swim and by the time they got back it was very early morning. Yumai and Orihime went to sleep within five minutes of getting into the barracks. Ichigo however, put on dry clothes and went to see the sun rise, he went to his usual spot on the roof and waited, eventually he heard Isane come out of her quarters and sit in front of them. 'This could be fun…' he thought to himself as he concealed his presence, and slowly crept up behind her and sat down.
"Why do I have nightmares like that?" Isane complained to herself and started to breathe heavily. Ichigo decided it wasn't a good idea to lean in and whisper 'boo!' so instead he spoke quietly.
"Like what?" Ichigo spoke into her ear, which caused her to jump and nearly punch him in the throat.
"Why do you torment me like this!?" She looked like she was on the verge of tears and shaking.
"Because I was waiting for the sunset up there, and I saw you come out." Ichigo said with a chuckle, she stopped shaking after a little.
"Why did it take almost two years for us to become good friends?" Isane said turning to him.
"I'm not too sure, I mean, we were friendly to each other, but never hung out, same with Unohana." Ichigo kept staring at the sky when he heard a voice that startled the both of them.
"What's the same with me?" Unohana said from her spot on the other side of Isane.
"Why do you both like to sneak up on me?" Isane cried crossing her arms.
"It's easy when your mind is wrapped around something else. And Ichigo, I must applaud your boldness." Unohana spoke quietly and turned away.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ichigo was now leaning around Isane to get closer to the quiet captain.
"I-Nothing. Have you seen your father recently?" She looked embarrassed; the calm and collected Unohana was embarrassed.
"Other than sexually harassing Rangiku so…no…at least not after my trip to Hueco Mundo." Ichigo sighed and paled a bit after the thought, and so did the other two with him.
"Tell him if he gets her pregnant I'm not giving the abortion." She sounded angry, like if something were to touch her, it would burst into flames. Ichigo and Isane's jaw dropped at the outburst and Ichigo just nodded slowly. "Which reminds me…You asked if Yumai was pregnant, No she isn't, however, she is oddly attached to you…did something happen?"
"Lately, she and Orihime have had it in their minds that it's fun to 'tease' me, but the reason she's so attached is because is because I took care of her for a few years, before she went to America for a special school."
"I see, is she attracted to you, in a physical way?"
"Probably, if so, Orihime knows and is using that against me. I'm so nervous about the wedding…"
"Well, I've never been married so I have no advice for you, maybe ask Byakuya." Unohana chuckled a bit and Ichigo glared at her. The three of them sat until the sun came up, and Ichigo went back to his room and slept alone, because the two were taunting him even further by sleeping in the same bed.
…
Ichigo woke up to a kick to the face from Kenpachi, it was a light kick, by Kenpachi's standards, but still sent Ichigo flying across the room.
"It's too early to fight!" Ichigo said as he felt his face to see if his nose was broken or not.
"Not why I'm here, come on." The large angry man stomped out of the room, Ichigo followed a few seconds later, after putting his clothes on. Kenpachi literally dragged him out of the barracks complaining he was too slow Ichigo didn't even have his zanpakuto with him. Kenpachi dragged him halfway to his barracks before getting bored. "I'm bored with this, get your ass to squad six now, Kuchiki wants you." And he flash stepped back to his own barracks.
"What could he want that's so important as to make Kenpachi come get me…?" Ichigo started walking, hoping he would be awake enough when he got there. When he was almost there, he was approached by his dad and Rangiku.
"That's my boy!" Isshin put his arm around Ichigo's neck, causing Ichigo to start struggling.
"What do you want!? Stop chocking me!" Ichigo managed to get free after a while, and then Rangiku did the same. "Why are you doing this!?" He managed to yell before she let him go and slapped him.
"That's for blowing up my nap spot!" She was referring to him blowing up his barracks.
"If that's your thoughts, fine…And why are you saying 'That's my boy!' all of a sudden?" Ichigo turned to his father and rubbed his face when Rangiku slapped him, leaving a giant red mark.
"I woke up last night with the thought that you did something worthy of praise…I don't know… anyway, hurry over to that stuck up squad six captain, he's going to get you something to wear at the wedding.
"That's good, as much as I hate to admit it, he does dress well…" Ichigo punched his dad in the face and waved to Rangiku before flash stepping away. He got to the sixth's barracks and opened the door, immediately he was grabbed by Rukia and Renji then pulled into Byakuya's office.
"Stop struggling fool, now take your clothes off!" Rukia demanded as she pulled off his coat.
"I swear if this is a bachelor party, I want a different girl!" This earned him a knee to the groin from Rukia who was now in front of him, untying the sash he had holding up his Hakama. He fell over on the ground in a pool of hate. "My god, you're like an annoying little sister." He said from the ground as Rukia put her foot on his back, standing in triumph.
"And you're like that big brother that won't listen to me!" Renji pulled Rukia down from her triumphant stance and turn to Byakuya who had a smug look on his face, thinking Ichigo got what he deserved.
"Rukia, he needs that for later, Captain, shall I go get the selection from your mansion?" Renji stood professionally in front of Byakuya, while Rukia returned to her triumphant position after kicking Ichigo again. Byakuya nodded and Renji was gone.
"Rukia, continue, but be less abusive, after all, what he said was correct, Kurosaki does need that for later." Byakuya said from behind a smirk, which bothered Ichigo.
"Yes, Nii-sama! Ichigo, get up! I'm not done!" Rukia kept barking orders at him until he finally stood up and put his claw on her head, which probably bothered her a lot since she tensed up and froze.
"Why do you have to undress me!? I can do it myself!" She was about to argue when he moved his claw slightly and she shut up and sat down. Byakuya sighed and put his head in his hand.
"Do it." Byakuya nodded at Rukia's request.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura." The million pink blades flew at Ichigo, and when they subsided he was wearing nothing, but a few cuts and which Rukia quickly healed, her level of healing kido was enough for a few cuts. She stopped healing once she noticed what was hanging about a foot from her. She quickly yelped and jumped back hiding behind Byakuya who was wide eyed, trying to look away but couldn't.
"What's wro…?" Ichigo started to speak when he looked down and saw what they were reacting to. He immediately pulled his coat from the corner of the room and covered himself. "That's the second time this happened to me today…" this caused Rukia and Byakuya to raise an eyebrow at the same time. Rukia came out from behind her brother blushing.
"Don't hurt Orihime." Rukia took the coat from him and threw a white robe at him that was hanging on a hook near Byakuya. Ichigo put it on and gave Rukia a smirk.
"Thank you." Ichigo had said to Rukia who blushed even harder and quickly went back to her brother, who not even he could hold his laughter. Renji came in and was startled to see Byakuya finishing a laugh.
"Captain! You know how to laugh!?" Renji had five black kimonos with assorted color accents.
"Renji, not the time for questioning me. Hang those up and bring me the one labeled 'one'" Byakuya stood up and took the Kimono with a paper attached that had a one on it. he walked up to Ichigo, and told him to remove the robe as he turned around, eventually he turned back around making sure not to make the same mistake as Rukia.
"Nii-sama, I don't think that one is good…" Rukia was referring to the black Kimono with bright red stripes that faded near the bottom.
"I look like a failed art project…" Ichigo said as he looked himself over, he looked at the other kimono hanging off to the side, each of which a more obnoxious combination of red, black and orange. Except for the fifth, which was black, and from feet up was a gradually fading red, which went to the chest and turned black, then after a little strip of black, it was a fading white over the shoulders and sleeves. "I like this one." He was pointing to the fifth one, which Renji handed to Byakuya.
"I like this one, what do you three think?" Ichigo had finished looking himself over and looking at his claw, which was the exact shade of white as the sleeves.
"It looks like a fancy version of how you normally look. Black, white, and bloody." Renji had snickered from the corner, Rukia walked around him and looked him over.
"I like it…Don't end up hurting her, in any way." She had a smile on her face that is usually reserved for when she isn't plotting anything.
"Thank you, Rukia, I think of you as a third, annoying, sister. And Byakuya…that creepy uncle who wants to kill me. Thank you for helping me with this, I was going to go insane if I had to find something like this on my own. Renji, thank you for everything aswell." Ichigo turned back to Rukia after putting the white robe back on. "I won't hurt her, not even if it cost me my life." Ichigo was being dead serious, looking her in her eyes, not blinking, not so much as even moving.
"I look forward to there being another married Captain." Byakuya spoke as he turned his attention from Ichigo.
"Now, can any of you explain to me…why Rukia had to undress me?" Ichigo was facing Byakuya, hoping for him to explain his ideas.
"I decided as the maid of honor, I should make sure that you look your best on the wedding day!" Rukia spoke up as she handed the Kimono back to Renji who hung it up.
"Isn't that what you're supposed to do with the bride?" Ichigo was annoyed at the raven haired girl in front of him who was wearing a wide smile.
"Well, since Renji has no sense of style…Me and Byakuya wanted to help you, instead of putting you through doing this yourself or with him. And Retsu and Rangiku are helping her with how she looks. I'll be joining them shortly, you should go do something and stay out of their way." Rukia handed him his coat and sat down in front of Byakuya's desk, and Renji left to go do something.
"Yeah, I guess, I should…I'll go see what Keigo and my sisters are doing." Ichigo was walking out the door when Rukia spoke up.
"No, they are with Urahara and your father setting up the actual wedding." Rukia let him know which made him stop and come back in.
"Is that so…Is Yumai, helping with Orihime?" Ichigo asked as he leaned against the wall.
"Yes, actually, I could let Rangiku, Yumai and Unohana deal with it, and we could go do something, I want to hang out with my friend before he gets married." She jumped out of her chair and dragged him out the door and barracks
"What do you have in mind, but can we run by squad four; I don't want to wear this robe." The two made their way to squad four; Ichigo changed, grabbed his zanpakuto, and went back to Rukia. "Well, did you decide?"
"Maybe, just come on." She grabbed his arm and dragged him for a little before he got free and walked next to her.
"I can't remember the last time we did something just us." Ichigo said as he looked at the sky, nervously awaiting the next day.
"Same, hey, do you like swimming?" Rukia raised an eyebrow and Ichigo didn't respond, so she kicked him in the shin.
"What the hell! Why are you so abusive?" Ichigo said as he limped onward.
"Someone's got to beat you sometimes, and Orihime wouldn't even think of doing anything that might hurt you." Rukia grabbed his arm and started running and Ichigo just sighed. "You never answered, do you like swimming?"
"Yes, but I've had enough swimming for today."
"Is that why you said…second…what the hell did you do?" Rukia was ready to assault him again.
"Yumai and Orihime." Ichigo was mentally scolding himself for even speaking. "That's all you get to know."
"That... Do you remember the day we went ice skating? And I was horrible at it?" Rukia had stopped and turned to Ichigo. He couldn't hold back his chuckle at the memory of her struggling so much. "Don't laugh, I want to know, do you want to go ice skating?" Ichigo didn't even get an answer before she started running pulling him with her.
…
"Rukia, how are we going to ice skate, no blades?" Ichigo asked as she brought him to a small pond somewhere in a forest.
"You fool, I'm not stupid, and I was going to bring you here either way, hold on." She left him at the pond and jumped up into a tree, coming down with two pairs of ice skates. She threw the larger pair to Ichigo who put them on, even though there was no ice.
"Rukia, there's no…" Before he could finish Rukia had frozen the pond and Ichigo made his way over to her.
"I'm always a step ahead of you." She smirked as she went out to the frozen pond. "I've been practicing; I believe that I'm getting better…" Ichigo skated over to her and pushed her slightly which would have made her fall, if Ichigo wasn't holding her up.
"And I'm always three steps ahead of you. I do see that you've gotten better. But, I still have to hold you, come on Ru-ki-chan." Ichigo taunted her, knowing she hated it when he called her that, even though she did the same thing to him with 'Strawberry' she glared at him and swung at him, but he got away, causing her to fall on the ice. "Right on your ass, I've seen this before!" Ichigo laughed as he helped her up. "Hey…Rukia, I want to thank you for today, is there anything I can do to repay you?"
"Actually, yes, there is." Rukia looked away from him and closed her eyes a little.
"Well…What is it?" Ichigo put his hand on her shoulder. "Speak up, or I won't help you up next time."
"I want you to promise. Promise me that you will protect Orihime from harm, from anything that would hurt her. I really don't want you to end up like nii-sama. I don't want you to be like Byakuya as emotionless shells." She had a serious look in her face, to which Ichigo just gave a little smile. "I'm being serious, please be serious for once, I really…" She was silenced by Ichigo pulling her into a bear hug.
"You know, you really don't have to worry about that, I would protect her from everything even if we weren't getting married tomorrow. Your brother just hides his emotions; he chooses to not let others see them. Rukia, listen to me, I will always put her life before mine, I always have, there is nothing that anyone could do that would make me betray that. I will never hurt her."
"Thank you. Now that that's out of the way! I want you to attend my wedding too!" She had a wide smile on her face as she skated a circle around him.
"Oh, haven't you and Renji only been together a year?" Ichigo said as he skated up to her.
"We basically picked up after forty something years of nothing." Rukia almost fell again, but caught herself. Ichigo managed to hold back his chuckling this time.
"Right, you two were basically together back then; I forgot you told me that. I was going to go, whether you asked me or not."
"What if I didn't want you there?" Rukia said with a smirk on her face.
"It would take a lot to keep me away from somewhere I really wanted to be."
"I'm sure, if someone tried to stop you, I'm positive there will be a fight and an explosion, of some sort, Kido or your own…Oh, Is Orihime okay with Yumai hanging all over you all the time?" Rukia stopped and crossed her arms at him.
"They are kind off working together in some twisted game they have going on. I feel as though Orihime is a different person lately, but it's probably nerves, and she just wants fun to calm herself."
"Yeah, sounds like you have your hands full. Does Yumai show any spiritual power, if she does she should enroll at Shino Academy?"
"I'm not sure, maybe she does, and seeing as I have no idea what it takes to get into the academy, you know, you should be able to tell, you went there." Ichigo grabbed her arm and pulled her back to skating, she fell from the sudden movement, and Ichigo caught her.
"Stop making me fall!" Rukia screamed at him since she knew it was on purpose.
"Then keep practicing, you said you wanted me to attend your wedding…does that mean Renji finally proposed?"
"Nope, but he promised he would." She seemed very happy, the rest of the outing was quiet and peaceful, they eventually made their way back, and Ichigo saw that construction of his new barracks had started. Rukia went back to her barracks, and Ichigo went to go see if Orihime was done.
…
"Ichi-dono!" he heard Yumai call from down the hall as he went into his room. "Unohana asked me to take you somewhere, to keep you out while she and Rangiku finish!"
"Alright, where do you want to go? I'm up for anything." Ichigo turned from his door and got tackled by her, she wrapped her arms around him, then pulled him outside.
"I want to see you fight! The three of them said you're one of the best fighters here!" She let go of his hand and for some reason pointed to the sky.
"As much as I'm going to regret this…" He put her on his back and he flash stepped to squad eleven. He let her down and they walked in, she was a few steps behind him because he already had his swords drawn, expecting to be attacked on sight. "Stay behind me, until we get to their combat hall, where you can just sit down." He rounded a corner to be confronted with Yachiru.
"Ichi! Who's your new friend!" The small girl jumped over Ichigo and landed in front of Yumai.
"My name is Yumai, what's yours?" Yumai bent down to talk to her. Ichigo put the sheatheless sword on his back, but kept the other one out, because normally he would be attacked on sight in these barracks.
"I'm Yachiru! Bye!" She continued running down the hall laughing. The two continued down the halls until they got to a large room with a fight going on, which stopped when they noticed Ichigo.
"I'm here for a fight, anyone want to test their skills?" Ichigo sat Yumai down off to the side, and as someone approached her with a 'hungry' look in his eyes, Ichigo stopped him then turned. "None of you are to bother her. Or you will be dealing with Captain Unohana." Even members of squad eleven feared the woman.
"I've never fought you, but they all seem to like you, so let's go! And plus, my sister is scared of you!" It was a member who he had never seen before. He was a little shorter than Ichigo, with short green hair, and green eyes, and a standard uniform. With a zanpakuto sheathed on his right.
"All right, what's your name? And who's your sister?" Ichigo and the man went into the middle fo the room, Ichigo drew his swords and the other his.
"Mera, she's my sister, my name is Zekka, and I want to fight you! But actually let's all go outside, I don't want you blowing up this room, I like it here." Ichigo agreed and everyone followed them outside into a training ground. "No holding back, fight at full power, okay?"
"Are you sure?" Ichigo said holding up his left hand.
"Not entirely, but either way fight at full power…just don't kill me!"
"Fine, don't hold it against me for doing this…" Ichigo's arms turned into Hollow Form. "BANKAI!" after the black pillar subsided, his head was now covered in the skull with horns. "Getsuga Tenshou!" An 'x' shaped wave of energy barely missed Zekka as he dodged it, only to be hit by Byakurai.
"I heard that you use powerful kido without talking…Byakurai isn't a great example of that." Zekka was holding his shoulder where it hit him. Ichigo continued to be silent as if he couldn't speak, he was fighting cautiously, a new member challenged him to a fight at full power, and he didn't even activate his own Shikai. Suddenly Ichigo disappeared. "What the hell?" Zekka couldn't find him at all, even his spiritual pressure was gone. Suddenly he heard Ichigo's voice from above him.
"Cero." And a massive red beam shot out of his horns. Zekka managed to dodge it slightly before it crushed his right arm.
"Now that's just not fair. I guess it's time. Screech, Umi Yari!" His zanpakuto transformed into a black trident with barbed prongs and he held it in his left arm. He sprinted at Ichigo and stabbed at him, only to be blocked by the right sword and he dropped the left one, which started moving and wrapped around him Ichigo used his left hand to grab the trident and move it away from him, he kicked Zekka and sent him flying, taking chain with him. Ichigo held out his left hand and the chain unwrapped him.
"Bakudo no 61, Rikujokoro!" the six beams hit him, and he fell to the ground. Ichigo held out his right hand next to the left and around ten pink beams of energy started to form. Every member of the squad retreated to a safe distance; Ikkaku had shown up during the fight and took Yumai to a safe distance. Suddenly the lights disappeared and Ichigo kneed Zekka in the chest, knocking him out, and the trident returned to its normal state. "I hope he's still alive!" Ichigo shouted over to the onlookers as they rushed over, Yumai was being dragged by Ikkaku, who looked at Ichigo with surprise.
"I think you should use that hollow thing you do more. Makes it fun to fight something as strong as your Bankai with that." He pushed Yumai into Ichigo's arms as they reverted. "Don't bring her around here anymore, it's too dangerous."
"Be careful man, this is my friend."
…
They came back to squad four barracks with Zekka, to give him to Unohana, instead Mera was there asking Orihime something, she ran out when she heard Ichigo say his name.
"C-Captain! What happened to Zekka!"
"You have an interesting brother, Mera. He's unconscious because he wanted to fight me and insisted I used my full strength." She was shaking out of worry, or fear, Ichigo couldn't tell. "He'll be fine. Don't worry." Unohana came out and took him to a room, Mera followed close behind.
"Ichigo!" Orihime came out of the room and gave Ichigo a kiss. "I hope Rukia wasn't too grabby, she said she wanted to make you as uncomfortable as she could before the wedding."
"Never mind about that, we went ice skating after she helped us. I hope you did something fun after you got your clothes."
"Me and Rangiku went swimming!" She pulled him into the room with Nel and Yuzu.
"Hey, Nel, Yuzu, where's Karin and Keigo?"
"I don't know where Keigo went, he followed someone named Jushiro somewhere, and Karin went back to Toshiro with Rangiku." Yuzu replied as she was brushing Nel's hair while she read a book.
"I think those two are very close. They might have something for each other." Orihime was talking as she sat on Ichigo's legs.
"She can do what she wants, she isn't a child…but nothing will save him if he hurts her."
"Ichi-nii! I can't wait for tomorrow! We even got Nel a nice kimono!" Yuzu said as she happily brushed Nel's long hair, Nel seemed to be enjoying it too.
"You know, it's still rather early…Is there anything that we should do?"
"Swim?" Yumai suggested, to which Ichigo shot a glare that said 'nope.' Yumai and Orihime were both laughing at this, and the other two just looked lost.
…
Ichigo somehow wound up swimming with them. Yuzu in a purple one piece, Nel not really understanding modesty, was in a skimpy Bikini, something Rangiku gave her no doubt. And Orihime and Yumai in the same ones.
"How did I end up here?" Ichigo sat on the rocks with Nel.
"Because you can't say no to Orihime!" Nel looked really happy, because Shunsui said she could stay.
"That is true…How did you get Shunsui to let you stay?"
"Isn't it obvious? I asked him, he said I was too cute to say no to." She gave an innocent smile which Ichigo couldn't help but smile back.
"I guess he's right, wait did he say he was going to put you in one of the squads or just let you stay?" Ichigo was wondering if Central 46 would let her join a squad or not.
"He said something about squad ten. I've never met the captain from there, but oh well."
"Ichi-dono! Come in the water with us! Nel too!" Yumai swam over to him and started pulling his leg. He jumped into the water, followed by Nel. "Let's go sit in that grotto over there, we never went in…"
"It's too dark in there, won't be able to see anything. You just got your sight back; do you want to go back to darkness?" Ichigo asked as he swam up to Orihime and grabbed her, pulling her around into a long kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too. Now who wants to play a game?"
'Crap, her games are worse than mine…'
…
"I don't think having her as a squad member would be bad, but she is a former espada…" Toshiro said under his breath as he was lost in his paperwork.
"Ichigo trusts her though!" Rangiku said from behind him, causing him to jump.
"Matsumoto! When did you get in here!? Weren't you taking Karin back?"
"I got here a few seconds before you started talking to yourself. And since it's late, I took her back fast." She replied as she fell over onto the couch in the office. "Why don't you like the idea of her? Is it because she's pretty? Is it because I'm the prettier one?"
"It has nothing to do with how either of you look." He sounded annoyed at her pestering.
"Is it because she's friends with the other third espada? Or just the fact that she was a third espada?"
"Both of those bother me equally. But if Kurosaki trusts her, I guess I could too." He buried himself back into his paperwork.
"You still didn't answer me captain…" She sat up on the couch and turned to him, pressing her arms together to make her chest seem larger. "Who is the prettier one?"
"Since you insist on keeping this going, her." He didn't bother to look up from his papers to acknowledge the little show she was performing.
"Why!?" Rangiku sounded like a little girl who was just told she can't play with her friends.
"She's not you." He had a smirk on his face that made Rangiku mad and she threw a shoe at him, only to miss by a few inches. He was about to scold her about being professional when there was a knock at the door. "Enter."
"Excuse me, are you Captain Hitsugaya?" Nel was standing in the doorway, with her arms wrapped around a book.
"Yes, what do you need?" Hitsugaya looked up his papers to see her standing there.
"Captain Commander Kyoraku said I would be in your squad…I want to spend time with my captain since I've never been around you much." Nel was trying to be more formal.
"Very well. Does Kurosaki know that you are being put in my squad?" His eyes were fixed on the remains of her mask
"Yes, I mentioned it to him, and he wanted me to ask you if you were Karin's date to the wedding?" She took a seat next to Rangiku and smiled.
"Did he say he approves of us being together, I don't want to face the wrath of him being angry?" He paled a bit as he spoke, knowing that Ichigo was protective of his sisters and friends.
"He said she isn't a little girl anymore, and that she's free to do what she wants, but he did say that no one can save you if you hurt her." Nel was leaning back on the couch next to Rangiku and holding her book.
"I am taking his sister, yes." He looked away from the two and thought for a moment.
"Nel, do you like to drink?" Rangiku said with a hopeful smile.
"Alcohol? Not really, I can, a little but I prefer to spend my time reading if I can help it." Nel said as she held up a nameless book.
"That's fine with me, did Ichigo like that little gift I gave you?" Rangiku winked at her and Toshiro picked his head up from the desk and looked at them with an eyebrow raised, which Rangiku noticed without looking at him. "Oh, captain, are you curious about your new squad member, that's unprofessional!"
"I'm not interested in her body! Or yours! I'm wondering what you gave her to bother Kurosaki." His face was red and he was looking away.
"I'm wearing it under this; I was planning on going swimming later tonight before going to sleep." She started stripping in front of them, Toshiro's face was bright red and he couldn't look away. Rangiku was laughing at her captain's response.
"See, you are just a growing boy! It's natural to be curios, and Nel, I'm going to teach you something called modesty." Rangiku put her hands over Toshiro's eyes, and Nel blushed a little.
…
"Keigo-kun, why are you still following me?" Ukitake was walking through his barracks looking for Rukia.
"Because I can't look at Unohana-san without feeling like I'm dying." Keigo crossed his arms behind his head and Ukitake just laughed as he knocked on a door.
"Rukia, can you come out for a moment. There's something I need." He coughed a little and a few seconds later, Rukia opened the door, her hair in a mess, and eyes slightly shut. She had obviously been sleeping. "I'm sorry for waking you, but did you get my Kimono from your bother?" When he said this, her eyes widened.
"I'm so sorry! I'll go fetch it now!" She started running down the hall only to be stopped by Ukitake.
"Wait, take Keigo-kun back, and take Ichigo's to him. I doubt he would be asleep so early like you." He motioned Keigo to go with her and coughed a little before turning around and leaving.
"Yes, captain. Come on, Keigo." Rukia shoved Keigo out of the barracks and started walking with him to her brother's mansion. "Keigo, did you get something nice to wear?"
"I got a yellow and blue Yukata." He said as he followed Rukia closely.
"I think you'll be the only one in a yukata, instead of a kimono." She said laughing at him.
"Really!?" He looked surprised, Rukia just laughed and nodded, giving him a smile.
"Actually, I think Sui-Feng might be wearing a black Yukata she got from Orihime, so you won't be the only one."
"Whatever…Hey, Rukia, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Was it Ichigo's choice, or was he forced to stay here?" He had stopped walking and she turned to face him.
"It was his choice, he said, 'I've saved your assess enough, having to go back and forth wouldn't be practical, I would like to join one of the squads.' He said that after about a year of thinking, he made a deal that he could go back to the world of the living for a couple days every few weeks, unless ordered. I don't think it was easy for him to leave anyone, he told me, on the day Orihime died, that she had finally said to him that she loved him. It must have torn him inside…The one you love, confessing to you, then being torn from you. I can't imagine how horrible he felt, and what he felt when he found her crying a few days later in Rukongai. I'm sorry I got off topic…why do you ask?" she had tears forming in her eyes at the thought of what he went through. Keigo had a horrified look on his face, he never knew this.
"It's alright, I can't share any of the feelings the same way, and I don't have anyone who loves me like that. I just wanted to know if he was forced into staying." Keigo sighed as they continued on to Byakuya's mansion.
"Rukia, I suppose you and Ichigo are pretty close right?" Keigo asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Yeah, you know that. I think you already know, but I slept in his closet during my 'visit'"
"I know that, but did it bother you when he started going out with Orihime…You two were almost inseparable whenever I saw you."
"Oh, you mean close like that. No I never felt for him like that, I look at him as an annoying brother that I never had, well I have a brother, but you get what I'm saying…Ok, we're here…can I trust you to behave?" she asked him as they came to the gate of the mansion. Keigo was speechless.
"I…its huge! Yeah I'll be good!" He followed Rukia through the gate, only to be stopped by guards.
"We're sorry, he cannot come in. Miss Kuchiki, however, you may enter." Said one of the guards to Rukia, pointing at Keigo.
"Fine, but if you don't get my brother, you will have to answer to Captain Kurosaki, for interfering with his wedding affairs." When Rukia said this, the two guards looked like they were frightened enough to do even the stupidest of tasks, if it meant not getting on Ichigo's bad side.
"Yes, right away!" one of the guards disappeared and came back with Byakuya.
"Yes, Rukia, what do you need?" Byakuya said blandly.
"Well, since these two won't let us in to see you about Captain Ukitake's and Ichigo's Kimonos, I told them to bring you here and ask you to bring them to me."
"Very well, I will return with them." he was gone and back with them within two minutes. "Is there a reason that Kurosaki's friend is with you?" When Byakuya said that Keigo was one of the humans that Ichigo brought they looked even more scared.
"Captain Ukitake told me to escort him back to squad four and get the Kimonos for him and Ichigo. I figured it would be easier to make two trips instead of more." Rukia took the Kimonos from her brother and glared at the two guards. "Thank you, nii-sama!" She grabbed Keigo and flash stepped away until Keigo told her to stop. "What is it now Keigo?"
"That makes me feel sick, can we just walk?" Rukia didn't even answer his question when she grabbed his arm with her free arm and flash stepped to squad four. The two walked in and Keigo went off to the room he was staying in, and Rukia went to Ichigo, Orihime, and Yumai's room. When she walked in, Yumai was reading one of Nel's books, Orihime and Ichigo were sitting on the bed, kissing.
"I'm not interrupting am I?" Rukia spoke with a smirk as she draped the Kimono over the other bed, it was in a grey bag as for no one to see it.
"What if I said you were?" Ichigo shot a similar smirk back to her, which made her twitch, she didn't want to go back and forth with him right now, she just wanted to get the Kimono to her captain, and go back to sleep since skating with Ichigo proved more tiresome than anything she had done recently.
"Then I wouldn't have stood here for your response. Anyway, don't let either of them see the kimono until tomorrow, hang it up somewhere for it to be kept safe. I'm going back to my squad, see you at the wedding." She turned and started to walk out of the room.
"Rukia, wait." Ichigo got up and grabbed her arm. "Thank you. For everything." He pulled her into a long embrace. He had a smile on his face that made her smile too, Orihime eventually joined them. "I use to hate you for giving me this power, spending so much time with me, then leaving for almost two years. But after that, I had the chance to join this whole thing. I took a year for me to decide what to do. I made the right choice, Thank you." Ichigo let her go and she looked at him, when she met him he always had a scowl on his face, but now he was smiling a lot more. He has been through hell and back…literally…to save his friends. And he still wears a smile. She looked at his eyes, and she could see all the pain and sacrifice he had to endure to save his friends, to save everyone.
"You're welcome. But I should be the one thanking you…" Rukia paused and looked at the floor for a second before looking him in the eyes again. "But you know what I would say if I thanked you, so I'll just say this instead…" She turned to Orihime. "I never thought of either of you as a brother, or a sister…I did at first when I saw how you both wanted to fight to protect the ones you were close to. I actually look to you two now as parent figures to me, I look up to you in hopes that one day I'll be like you. The both of you will be amazing parents to however many children you have. Never change the way you are. Always stay like this, happy with each other, proud, no matter how many sacrifices you make or how you may look…" She looked at Ichigo's claw at his side. "The way you are, no, the way you always were. Never change that. I love you both." She was in tears at this point. Orihime pulled her into a quick hug. Yumai had left the room a while ago to let her have a private moment with them. Ichigo was speechless, opening his mouth and closing it again, not knowing what to say to her, which hardly ever happened. "I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders after saying that." Rukia walked over to the door and put her hand on it. "I have a surprise for you after your wedding." She left the two to wonder about what she could have. After a moment Yumai came back in with her book, she closed it, set it on a chair and climbed into her bed.
"Ichigo, it's late, let's go to sleep to be ready and awake for the wedding!" Orihime sounded excited and nervous at the same time as she pulled him into the bed. He lies behind her and wrapped his arm around her and used his other hand to push her hair out of his face. "Goodnight, I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Goodnight Yumai, we wouldn't forget you!" Yumai said after waiting a few seconds. The other two apologized and started laughing at her as she turned over and feigned sleep.
"Sorry!" Ichigo managed to say, somehow a chuck of Orihime's hair ended up in his mouth.