Ehem. I'm back! Thank you for all the comments! I appreciate them all. Sorry for the delay. Had to take university related stuff out of the way. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
Once again, a very big thank you for EternalDream for being the best!
The Ties that Bind 3
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter 3
Renji looked at the boy who called himself Kakei. While it had burst forth like an open flame moments ago, his reiatsu was now undetectable. Only a slight trace of residue was left, but even that little bit had been enough of such an enormously powerful reiatsu to draw Rukia and himself here.
"It doesn't look like he means any harm," Rukia said quietly.
Renji looked at Rukia and shrugged.
"Perhaps. But there's something about that boy."
Renji eyed Kakei with light suspicion.
"Yes, I agree. How did he get here anyway, and where did he say he was from?" the female Shinigami asked as she tried not to smirk in amusement at the scene before them.
A fierce battle of wills was ensuing as little Sora was trying playfully to yank the mask off Kakei, and the older man tried with some frustration to give Sora his milk.
"Why did Orihime let this boy hold Sora?" Renji asked, deliberately avoiding Rukia's question because he himself had no answers.
Rukia smiled and turned to Renji.
"She thought it would be cute."
He rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"That woman's gonna one day get herself into a lot of trouble over things that are 'cute'."
Rukia playfully nudged him.
"Back off. I think it's cute too, so there."
Renji raised his eyebrow and did his best to hide his own smile. Somebody had to have some sense of caution around here, after all.
As the two younger Shinigami went back to observing Sora and Kakei, Isshin and Toushiro watched the scene from the roof.
"His reiatsu is unbelievable," the 10th captain observed, his voice filled with a hint of awe and respect. "It's nothing like I've ever felt before. This boy can give your son a run for his money."
Isshin nodded his head. Orihime was too trusting of this Kakei, and yet he found himself willing to trust this boy too.
"He's not from Soul Society?" Isshin inquired.
"No. If he is, his clan could've left or been exiled. Either way, I have no knowledge about this boy or the other hostile ones." Hitsugaya replied as his hand gripped the hilt of his sword. "Your daughters?"
"Yuzu will be fine, once she gets over the shock. Karin was never injured, thanks to you."
Toushiro nodded and tried to think of a way to ask his next question.
Isshin guessed what was going through the young captain's mind and said, "We don't know where Ichigo is, and I've met with the Vizards. They also claimed to know nothing of his whereabouts."
"Do you believe them?"
Isshin nodded resolutely.
"Ichigo was with them for about three months after he disappeared, and then he left. Now, even they don't know where he is."
Toushiro glanced briefly to where Orihime and Karin were tending to Yuzu, who had fainted from shock, before fixing his eyes on Isshin.
"I'll give my report to Soul Society, and perhaps we will be able to find out the identity of your attackers."
"Thank you, Hitsugaya-taichou."
Toushiro nodded and started to walk away, but Isshin called his name. He turned and raised his eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"Karin is old enough to date. You have my permission."
Isshin tried not to roar with laughter as the young captain turned red in embarrassment and hastily disappeared. The elder Shinigami opted for a sly smirk instead and returned his own gaze to Sora and Kakei. His smirk slowly turned into a full-blown grin as he listened to a flustered Kakei try to plead with Sora to drink his milk.
"Come on, quit yanking on my mask you little…" Kakei gently but firmly attempted to pry Sora's hands away from his mask with one hand. The situation was getting ridiculous. "I couldn't possibly have been this difficult. Yuzu-nee told me I was a complete angel!"
"Kakei-kun?" a soft voice called from behind.
He turned around and felt his heart beat in absolute panic as Orihime walked towards him. She hadn't heard him talking to himself, had she?!
"I'm sorry, has Sora been difficult?" the beauty inquired innocently.
"Uh, no, not at all!" Kakei replied and handed Sora back to his mother.
Relief wafted through his entire being the moment Orihime took the baby back. She obviously hadn't heard him talking to himself like an idiot.
"I'm so sorry to bother you Kakei-kun, but Yuzu…" the young mother trailed off.
"It's okay, really. I don't mind," he replied and tried not to stare at Orihime and Sora too long. "I should go."
"Thank you," Orihime said quietly. "For everything today."
"It's not a problem, O…Orihime-san."
Orihime smiled, and Kakei felt like he was home again.
"Don't you want to stay for dinner?" she questioned eagerly. "I'm cooking pasta."
"NO!" Kakei replied a little too loudly. He turned red underneath his mask. "I mean, that's not necessary. I have to go home now."
"Where is home, anyway?" Isshin asked from above. He jumped down and approached the three. "You never did tell us where you were from."
"I'm sorry, but you don't need to know that," Kakei replied as respectfully as possible while he bowed to Orihime and then to Isshin. "Thank you for your hospitality."
Before any of them could say anything, Kakei was gone in the blink of an eye. Isshin couldn't help but be impressed with the young man's speed.
"Hmmmm, I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of this Kakei," he said to himself as he scratched his beard thoughtfully.
0-0-0
Not that far from the clinic, Kakei leaned against an alley wall and let out a thankful breath that he hadn't known he'd been holding. He looked around before he removed his mask.
"Sora, you stupid egghead!"
Sora never had a chance to move before a fist collided with his cheek.
"Oww! What the hell are you doing here?! I told you to stay at the gate!"
Hisana Abarai stuck her tongue out at her friend.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do? I had to come to watch your back and make sure you didn't mess anything up!"
"If they felt your reiatsu, it's game over!"
"You're not the only one who can hide reiatsu!" Hisana glowered.
As the two continued to bicker, they barely noticed the appearance of a newcomer.
"Ehem," the intruder coughed politely.
"YOU!" the pair shouted in surprise.
Kisuke Urahara shook his head at them.
"What part of 'covert operation' is so hard to understand?"
Hisana and Sora glared at each other, each of them silently place the blame on the other. With a patient sigh, Urahara walked towards them and handed Sora a bag.
"The danger to your mother is not over," he informed them, his voice serious. "You need to stay here."
"What about me?" Hisana asked as she watched Sora look through the bag.
Urahara shook his head.
"You can't stay here, Hisana. You're needed home. Sora is the only one who is safe. None of you exist in this time. If your parents find out…" Urahara sighed deeply. "Well, let's hope we won't ever have to cross that bridge."
Hisana pouted and looked at Sora.
"You better be fine, jerk," she said in a rough, albeit affectionate tone.
Sora nodded, and the two males watched Hisana disappear.
Urahara turned to Sora.
"You did well today."
"Thank you, Urahara-san."
"Your father will be proud."
"Tch," Sora sneered. "Whatever."
Urahara ignored the familiar bitterness.
"Remember the mission. You can't let anyone know who you really are. The future has already been changed."
"Oka-san—" Sora began worriedly.
"Your mother is safe. Everyone is safe. We are still winning the war. But one mistake, Sora. One mistake and Soul Society will fall. Time was never meant to be trifled with."
"But you—"
"I tried to save a life, and I failed."
Sora opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. Instead he stood straighter and gave Urahara a confident smile.
"I won't fail."
Urahara returned the smile and ruffled his hair.
"I know you won't. You take care of things here, and I promise you that we won't let anything happen to your mother while you are away."
Sora nodded and watched Urahara walk away with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Where are you going?"
Urahara didn't stop as he answered Sora's question.
"To see a friend."
Sora sighed when Urahara walked out of his sight. He looked at the bag again and took a blue baseball cap and placed it on his head to hide his hair.
"Suppose it's better than that stupid mask," he muttered.
He took the map from the bag and followed the directions to where he was going to stay. His hands reached into his pocket, and he held the precious locket he was hiding.
"I'm going to protect you, Oka-san. I swear."
0-0-0
Far from Karakura, in a location unknown, Nadeshiko cowered as her master approached her.
"I thought I made my instructions clear, Nadeshiko."
"Seishiro-sama…" she trembled.
The man called Seishiro smiled venomously as he walked closer.
"Consider yourself lucky Orihime was not harmed. Your punishment would've been severe."
Nadeshiko felt cold as Seishiro lifted her chin and stared at the scars that marred her once perfect face.
"It seems Orihime can fight on her own after all," he observed, his smile widening.
He released her face and walked away from Nadeshiko.
"I'll be expecting you in the War Room after dinner. We have a new strategy to discuss."
With a flick of his wrist, the scars on Nadeshiko's face disappeared.
Nadeshiko touched her face, and she couldn't feel a single scar.
"Seishiro-sama—" she began.
"Disobey my orders again Nadeshiko, and I will do more than destroy your face. Am I clear?"
Nadeshiko nodded obediently and tried to not to scream in anger.
"Yes, Seishiro-sama," she replied thickly, hoping her heated tone was disguised enough for her master to not notice. "It won't happen again."
With that, Seishiro closed the door and acknowledged Kusanagi, who was waiting for him.
"You healed her?"
"She will be useless otherwise. Where is Hideyoshi?"
"Training. He was disappointed with his performance today."
"He's alive. He faced the original child prodigy and survived. He may not be so lucky the next time."
Kusanagi nodded and followed Seishiro in the War Room.
"How did Sora find out?" Kusanagi inquired.
"Urahara," Seishiro said with disgust. "That man is more trouble than he is worth."
"The man who created the time machine?"
Seishiro nodded.
"Did you know he originally created it to save some child?"
Kusanagi shook his head.
"He failed of course; the child still died. At that time it was in much different circumstances, but he still failed."
Kusanagi said nothing for a moment before voicing a question that had been nagging at him for a while.
"Seishiro-sama?" What do you plan to do once you reclaim Soul Society?"
"I will rule that place they way it was meant to," he replied lightly, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Seishiro-sama!" a hurried voice yelled in the distance.
Kusanagi and Seishiro turned to look at a young soldier who looked out of breath.
"Kurosaki…Ichigo Kurosaki has been spotted!"
"Where?" Seishiro demanded sharply.
"Karakura. The Ichigo Kurosaki from the past, where Kusanagi-san and the others were. He is on his way home!"
Seishiro grinned broadly at the news.
"Prepare the gate. I will be leaving for Karakura."
End Chapter