Chapter 8

Ichigo was a Shinigami. He had mastered shunpo in record time, and his Bankai granted him incredible speed. Therefore a run across town with Rukia clinging to his back should have been accomplished effortlessly. Unfortunately for Ichigo, this particular run, prompted by the fear that his family was, even now, being used as target practice by Rukia's stone-faced brother, was made more difficult by two factors. First, Ichigo's worry for his family, and especially for Yuzu and Karin, was figuratively strangling him, making it more difficult to breathe, and therefore more difficult to run. Second, Rukia's worry for the Kurosaki family, and her apprehension over her brother's reaction caused her to reflexively tighten her arms around Ichigo's neck, literally strangling him.

As they turned onto Ichigo's street, both were surprised by the complete lack of carnage. Although neither would have admitted it, both had been expecting, and dreading signs of destruction, and were unsettled by the outward evidence that life might actually be proceeding as usual.

"Are you sure that bug was right?" gasped Ichigo, still lacking air.

Rukia released Ichigo's neck to smack him upside his head. Although this action allowed him a much-needed breath, he was far from grateful, "What the hell?" he yelled.

"Are you seriously going to tell me that after all this time, after achieving Bankai, after defeating half the Shinigami in Seireitei, you still are incapable of sensing Reiatsu that strong when its only a block away?"

"I've had more important things to do, " shot back Ichigo, "like saving your sorry ass for one thing."

"Are we going to save your family or what?" Rukia replied, clearly unimpressed.

Ichigo headed towards the house, muttering all the while about ungrateful midget Shinigami, which earned him several more blows from his increasingly irritated passenger.

Entering the house, Rukia finally relinquished her hold around Ichigo's neck, and her place on her back. The sound of conversation drew them further into the house and into the kitchen, where both were taken rather aback by the scene that met their eyes.

"I expected blood," whispered Ichigo, none too quietly, "I did not expect Tea."

Rukia, recovered her equilibrium rather better than Ichigo, Ignoring his commentary, and with a completely fake smile on her face, she greeted her brother. "Nii-sama, how nice of you to come visit."

"What the hell are you doing here Buyakua" interjected Ichigo.

Rukia surreptitiously stomped on his foot, grinding her heel for extra damage.

Thankfully Isshin, for once, saved the day, "he's here to discuss the wedding of course" he exclaimed, with even more enthusiasm than usual.

"What wedding?" shot back Ichigo, letting his mouth run well before his brain, and regretting the words for their sheer idiocy the moment they left his mouth.

"Ours you moron" shouted Rukia, punctuating her statement by backhanding her fist into his face.

Ichigo shook off the blow. "Stop hitting me!" he countered back at Rukia, moving in so close that he was practically yelling down her throat.

"I'll stop hitting you when you stop deserving it."

"Isn't it wonderful to see young love" crooned Isshin to Buyakua.

"Wonderful," deadpanned Byakuya. He attempted to get his sister's attention, but to no avail. Ichigo and Rukia were far too caught up in their personal squabble to pay any attention to anyone else. It wasn't until Isshin wrapped both of them in a bear-hug that they were finally recalled to their surroundings. Rukia, immediately smoothed her hair, pasted on a smile, and attempted to look innocent, whereas Ichigo turned his irritation on his grinning father and the stone-faced Byakuya.

Rukia, seeing that Ichigo had transferred his ire, attempted to avoid his most likely reaction. "Why are you discussing a wedding Nii-sama?" she asked sweetly, and with unconvincing naiveté.

"I was informed that one was necessary"

"Who in the hell …" started Ichigo,

Rukia cut him off with a well-placed elbow and a winning smile. "Who told you that?"

"Shihouin Yoruichi"

"I'm going to kill her" muttered Ichigo

Rukia assessed her brother. Nothing about this made any sense. She wasn't too surprised that Yoruichi had passed along the news. After all, she was beginning to almost expect the meddling orchestrations of her and Urahara. However, her brother's reaction was completely unexpected. He seemed to be relaxed, unconcerned, and surprisingly forthcoming, which was not only the complete opposite of his normal disposition, but was diametrically opposed to the reaction she would have expected from him to a relationship between Ichigo and her. She recognized that there was some vital fact that she was missing, but she had no idea what unknown factor could so alter things.

Ichigo wasn't at all confused about Byakuya's reaction. As far as he was concerned, the sneaky bastard was playing nice so that he could gain the element of surprise.

Isshin, grabbing Ichigo and Rukia again, pushed them over to the kitchen table. "Let's all sit down and talk," he enthused. He shoved Ichigo into a chair, and then, with overdone politeness, pulled out a seat for Rukia. Both sat reluctantly, as Byakuya reseated himself. "I'll just go see if Yuzu and Karin have found those weeding books. My own son, getting married" he gushed to himself as he half-danced out of the kitchen, leaving Ichigo and Rukia facing Byakuya over the suddenly-smaller kitchen table.

Rukia attempted to paste on another smile, but her face more resembled that of a deer caught in the headlights, rather than any feelings of pleasure or happiness.

Ichigo didn't even attempt to conceal his feelings. He scowled at Byakuya with an intensity that suggested that he hoped that he could eliminate the Sixth Division Captain through glare alone.

Byakuya surprised the hell out of both of them by allowing a curve of his mouth to mar his customarily impassive features. On another person, such an expression might have been a smile, but on Byakuya, whatever it was, it was damn creepy. "Welcome to the family, Ichigo" he said, seemingly sincere.

"What the hell!?" exclaimed Ichigo, completely thrown off-guard. In none too quiet a tone he 'whispered,' "Has your brother gone completely insane?" to an almost equally stunned Rukia.

"Nii-sama?" asked Rukia, unable to begin to form a more coherent question or response.

Byakuya leaned back a little, seeming to enjoy their confusion. "Although I'm none too pleased about the way this came about," he said, glaring at Ichigo, "and believe me, Kurosaki Ichigo, I hold you completely responsible, and you and I will be discussing the . . . circumstances that led to this betrothal later, I am at least relieved that Rukia appears to have chosen a husband that won't completely disgrace the Kuchiki name."

Ichigo and Rukia exchanged glances, both wondering if they had somehow wandered into another reality.

Byakuya addressed Ichigo, "You are impulsive, uncouth, irreverent, and undeserving, but you are nevertheless, the son of noble house and the son of a former captain. Therefore, despite your deficiencies you are…"

Byakuya was interrupted by Ichigo's laughter "He's completely flipped" Ichigo explained to Rukia.

Even Rukia was amused, though a little worried for her brother's sanity. "Who told you all that Nii-sama?" she asked, predicting a quick death for whoever was stupid enough to lie so blatantly to her brother.

Byakuya was starting to get annoyed. He rounded on Ichigo, who was still grinning, "Do you mean to tell me that your idiot father never told you of your heritage?"

Isshin displayed either remarkably good or remarkably bad timing by choosing to return to the kitchen at that moment, loaded with books and magazines and accompanied by an excited Yuzu and a reluctant Karin. He dumped his armful of reference material on the table between the seated trio, and greeted them enthusiastically. 'Look what Yuzu found, " he exclaimed, waving one particular magazine at Ichigo, "Don't you think my future daughter-in-law would look beautiful in this dress?"

Ichigo reacted predictably, by planting his fist in his father's face.

Isshin recovered quickly, tears in his eyes he waved the, considerably more crumpled magazine, "Masaki," he wailed, "our son has no fashion sense."

Ichigo was irritated enough to completely disregard the presence of his sisters. "You've been lying to me" he accused pointing his finger angrily at Isshin's chest. With his other hand he waved towards Byakuya "He said I'm the son of a former captain and part of a noble family, a Shinigami noble family."

Isshin dropped all pretense. He shrugged, "So?" he asked with complete unconcern.

"You mean it's true?" exclaimed Ichigo incredulously.

Isshin smiled, pulling out a chair from the table, reversing it, and sitting on it backwards, "You didn't really think that all your talent was natural did you?"

Isshin was only saved from Ichigo's wrath because Karin beat him to it. "I can't believe this." She shouted, "First Ichigo runs around fighting things, disappearing for weeks at a time, keeping a girl in his room, and meeting with all kinds of crazy people, and now you're mixed up in this too? " she stormed towards the door, dragging a confused Yuzu behind her "I'm going to school." She informed them in a tone that not only brooked no argument, but informed everyone just how inferior she found them all. She slammed the door behind them.

Ichigo, feeling that Karin had stolen his thunder, but willing to pound Isshin into a pulp anyway, made a move towards his father, but was dragged back into a seat by Rukia. "Sit down and shut up," she told him, and Ichigo decided that he could always beat his father up later.

Once everyone was seated, Rukia took control, dropping all pretense of girlishness. "Let's get this over with," she ordered. "I assume that the two of you know one another."

An answer wasn't really necessary at this point, but Isshin and Byakuya both nodded.

"And you're actually happy about this wedding?" she asked Byakuya, not even attempting to hide the doubt she felt.

"I wouldn't say that I'm happy," replied Byakuya, "but I am satisfied with your choice, and he's certainly a better option than my idiot subordinate."

Rukia chose to ignore the pointed reference to Renji, but beside her, she could feel that Ichigo had tensed, she figured that she had better wrap this conversation up before Ichigo lost his temper again. "So the two of you are unlikely to kill one another at the moment." She asked pointedly.

"True," replied Isshin.

"So there's nothing that Ichigo or I need to take care of right away?"

"No." admitted Isshin.

"Good. Then all details such as when or where the wedding will occur, or who wants to kill who can be worked out between the two of you," she told them. " Ichigo and I have other things to take care of. So you can let us know what you decide later. We may be unreachable for a while." Rukia pushed back her chair, and Ichigo belatedly followed. Just before leaving she turned, pasted on a smile and dropped a curtsey, which was made even more ridiculous due to her lack of a skirt. "We'll see you later." She added.

Moments later, Isshin and Byakuya heard footsteps retreating upstairs. Isshin took out a packet of cigarettes, offered them to Byakuya, who refused, and then took one out, rolling it between his fingers. "They'll be good for one another"

"If they don't kill one another first"

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A/N: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my sister (with the hope that she never has to deal with such crazy in-laws as poor Ichigo and Rukia) I finally got her to watch anime by showing her the first two episodes of Bleach three weeks ago, and she is now completely caught up with the anime and reading the manga (I'm so proud)

Also, I'm so sorry for the delay (again). This has been written and awaiting editing since last Tuesday and I just didn't have time to finish it until today. Thank you so much for everyone who has been reading and reviewing. I really appreciate all your support. Please everyone wish me luck in my midterms (which start today).