Title: The Road to Hell
Summary: Isshin never used to regret his actions. Now his good intentions may just be his undoing. [Character Study]
Spoiler Warning: If you haven't read the manga in the last year and/or have only seen the anime, then here there be spoilers.
Disclaimer: Bleach isn't mine. This is purely a work by a fan for fans.
Author's Note: Inspired by the question "Why did Isshin never attempt to inform Ichigo about the afterlife?".
Shiba Isshin was never one for regretting anything he did. Kurosaki Isshin, however, has had to constantly stop himself from falling headlong into it. It had been easy to give up his life as Captain of the 10th Division for a chance to repay a debt. It had been easy to fall in love and start a family. It had been easy to pretend the afterlife had nothing to do with him. To let Masaki stealthily protect Ichigo and the girls from everything spiritual. To ignore Ichigo's increasing aptitude for seeing and attracting all things ghostly. To live as normal a life as he'd never been able to before. To love and be loved unconditionally.
Then it had all gone horribly, utterly wrong.
Masaki had died. With her death, Isshin had thought the strings binding his soul would break and he'd have full access to his powers once again. That he could take up the duty of protecting his family. That they could still lead the normal life he had always craved. The life he'd gotten for so short a time.
The truth had almost destroyed him. The ties weren't gone. They'd shifted. Shifted to Ichigo. Urahara had attempted to explain in detail but Isshin didn't need detail. Didn't want detail. He'd stormed off and gone home to tend to his children.
Trying to put the pieces of Ichigo's fragile mind back together took precedence over hollows and ghosts. Over guilt and blame. Burdening his son unnecessarily with information on the afterlife seemed cruel. Isshin wasn't sure Ichigo could endure the truth. So he kept quiet. Let Ichigo learn at his own pace. Taught him what he could about life. Hoped it would be enough. That Ichigo could accept his decisions if not forgive them.
Tried hard not to let himself regret.