Stand in the Rain
Shadow of an Echo
A/N Yay! I'm getting into the meat of this story, the plot will progress fairly rapidly at this point. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy what you find!
Chapter Fifteen
No More Sorrow
It was an aching and exhausted pair of Shinigami stumbling their way out of the training grounds for the first time in nearly two weeks. It was over. They had been pushed, and tested, and put through their paces many times over in the last few days. Ichigo having them up and fighting as much as they could manage; their stamina had increased by leaps and bounds. Ichigo's own weakened state drastically improved in the process of teaching them. So rather than wore down, Ichigo actually felt better than he had in a very long time, since before Aizen had captured him.
"Go back to your squads, let your Captains know you survived, then go get some rest. You deserve it." Ichigo ordered. He had worked them hard, but boy had his effort paid off, he knew the rest of the Seireitei was not going to believe the changes in the two often overlooked Shinigami.
"Thank you Ichigo for all that you've done," Hanataro responded honestly, "We would not have gotten nearly this far in centuries if it weren't for you."
"What have I told you about selling yourself short?" Ichigo reminded, a playful edge to his voice. "You two would have done great without me, but I'm glad I was able to help get you there faster."
"We couldn't have asked for a better teacher," Rikichi insisted. "Besides I'm glad we were able to help you get your strength back. You look like you're feeling a lot better now."
"Thanks Rikichi, and I am feeling good, more like my old self again. You two really did keep me on my toes, and I needed to get better quick or Shunsui would have carried out the threat to bar me from executing my plan. I have something to prove." Ichigo revealed.
"Ichigo be careful you don't push yourself too fast, you were always warning us about that so make sure you take your own advice," Hanataro cautioned. He didn't want to see Ichigo hurt any more than he did Rikichi or himself. That last comment raised a red flag that Ichigo wasn't working at his own pace, but the one he thought he needed to keep Shunsui from holding him back; even if it was for his own good.
"I'm being good, I've made too many promises about that to start screwing up now. I'll be fine," He assured, not blowing off Hanataro's concerns. They were extremely valid and he knew not to take his words lightly. Hanataro knew what he was talking about when it came to the hurt and sick.
Hanataro smiled at him, "That's all I wanted to hear. Now, you told us what to do after this, but what are you going to be doing?"
"I was going to track down Shunsui and Jyuushiro, I want to let them know how well you have done and that our training is officially over. Haven't seen either one of them for a few days." He had stayed with the other two the last few nights so they could get as much practice in as possible.
"Sounds good, we won't keep you any longer; I don't think we need a guide to get back to our squads." Rikichi urged. A lot had changed in the past ten days, he wasn't afraid to walk the streets any more despite the attack. He along with Hanataro could now take care of themselves, and it was all thanks to Ichigo.
Ichigo sent them off with a wave, before flash stepping his way back to the Eighth deciding to pick up Shunsui first before bringing him along to the Thirteenth.
When he arrived at Shunsui's barracks he was a little startled to find him actually working, although the scowling Nanao hovering behind him might have had something to do with that. Putting a finger to his lips to keep the Lieutenant quiet once she spotted him, he started sneaking up on Shunsui, intending on surprising him. The plan backfired when as he leaned down to kiss his neck, Shunsui reached out yanking the off balance Ichigo around and into his lap and proceeded to kiss the life out of him.
"Cheater," Ichigo managed to say breathlessly when they broke apart for air.
Shunsui chuckled, the deep sounds vibrating in his chest hard enough for Ichigo to feel, "Now how am I the cheater when you were the one sneaking up on me?"
"You knew I was there!" Ichigo protested, "How'd you do that?"
Shunsui kissed his temple, "Ichigo I am always going to know you are near me, just like I know when Jyuushiro is close. I don't need an alarm of Spiritual Pressure to know you are beside me where you belong,"
Ichigo melted into his embrace, the words relaxing him beyond belief. "It's nice to belong somewhere," He responded simply.
"Nothing better," Shunsui agreed. "Now are you just treating me to the pleasure of your company, or did you have a purpose for coming?"
"As much as I'd like to say I'm just here for your enjoyment, I was thinking of dragging you to the thirteenth and let you two know the results of the training." Ichigo explained.
"Hmm, sounds good," Shunsui then turned to look at his Lieutenant who was still averting her eyes to give the pair some privacy, "Have I done enough for today? Ichigo intends to kidnap me." He asked, giving her his best begging expression.
She rolled her eyes, "If it wasn't for Ichigo you'd be staying in that chair for the rest of the day. As it is I know he hasn't seen you because of the training session; so yes you may leave but be prepared to work twice as hard tomorrow." She warned.
Shunsui looked at Ichigo lovingly, "Worth it, see you tomorrow Nanao."
With that Shunsui and Ichigo quickly left Shunsui's office, not tempting fate, or rather not giving Nanao the chance to change her mind. All she could do was shake her head at their antics, and wonder at how much Ichigo's students had changed since the last time they fought. Isane and herself had barely managed to keep ahead of them as it was, and there was no doubt Ichigo had pushed them as hard as he could since then. That made for interesting, if not a little scary, musings. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Nanao sat down at Shunsui's vacated desk, intent on getting the day's work done and plotting exactly how she was going to make her Captain pay for skipping out early again.
Meanwhile Ichigo and Shunsui had arrived at the Thirteenth, finding Jyuushiro relaxing with a cup of tea as unlike Shunsui he had gotten his work done for the day. He was soon glomped by both his loves, one on each side, kissing up his neck and jaw; a particularly sensitive spot for him.
He basked in their attention, having missed it from Ichigo due to training, and from Shunsui due to Nanao's insistence that he get caught up on the work that had been piling up. He was nearly purring at the long overdue affection.
After a few minutes he started returning the favor, and they spent the next little while getting reacquainted with each other.
Eventually though the bonding session slowly ended, leaving them in a tangle of bodies to maximize the contact with each other. "Welcome back Ichigo, how did the training go?" Jyuushiro mustered up the will to speak first.
"Better than I had expected to be honest, they really put all their heart and soul into it. I was afraid I would have to push them so much they would start to hate me, but they handled everything I dished out, even requesting we spar for longer when I was ready to call a break for them." Ichigo explained with pride, they really had done an amazing job learning what he had to show them.
"Can't wait to see it for myself, they must be a sight to see by now with you teaching them," Jyuushiro complimented, enjoying the small blush creeping up Ichigo's neck.
"They are going to surprise a few people definitely, and I don't think they have to worry about anyone attacking them short of a Captain or Espada." Ichigo claimed proudly, wanting his students' achievements known to the people that cared.
Shunsui smirked, "I would be interested in testing that." He had seen the promise locked inside the two Shinigami, and preferred seeing the changes in action.
"You'd make their day if you did that," Ichigo informed, "They have been star struck by you two since the demonstration. It definitely helped motivate them to get better."
"Glad we could help," Jyuushiro responded honestly, feeling a buzz of happiness settle in his chest.
"It's just in time too, while you were busy training them, our orders came in from Yamamoto; well mine did anyway. I bet yours will come very soon now that the three of you have been spotted back in the Seireitei." Shunsui warned. "I am to leave for the Living World at the beginning of next week."
"So you will be gone in four or five days," Ichigo noted. "Do you think they will send me at the same time?"
"There is a good possibility," Shunsui guessed, "You completed everything Yamamoto asked for in the beginning. All that you need now to be sent back is a health clearance from Retsu. You better hope you pass that, if we find out you pushed yourself too hard training them and delayed your own progress you will have a lot of explaining to do. Oh, and I haven't forgotten what I said before, if she doesn't say you are one hundred percent healthy there is no way I am going to let you confront any of the Espada."
"When do you want me to go to her?" He was ready to prove he had listened to their warning and taken care of himself.
A sly smile, "Tomorrow." Shunsui urged, "Nanao gave me today off, but she will drag me back tomorrow; go see Retsu then."
Jyuushiro agreed as well, "That works for me too, I have finished my work for today, but I never know what will land on my desk in the morning. It's best to relax when I can."
Instead of staying in the convenient but less private Captain's quarters in the Thirteenth, Jyuushiro brought them to his family's estate Ugendo. The time it took getting there became a willing tradeoff for the seclusion it provided. It was Jyuushiro's resting place after a particularly violet attack; unless there was a dire emergency they would not be disturbed by even Sentaro or Kiyone.
Free to interact and speak about whatever crossed their minds without worry, the night passed in a torrent of words and touches. The long overdue reunion coupled with the looming separation of at least one of the members drove them to enjoy everything they could from this one special night.
Needless to say Nanao was a little irritated, and Retsu surprised, when the stray Shinigami stumbled in when it was nearly noon. Shunsui withstood the tongue thrashing he got while Nanao marched him to his desk, the memories of the night before putting a smile on his face.
In Ichigo's case he was brought to an exam room, Retsu checking him over for any leftover traces of Seki Seki, as well as for any damage that may have come to his system due to stress. As she worked she began to speak, "I have heard Isane's report on your healing lesson, and she was very impressed with your skill." Retsu complimented.
"It wasn't what I expected, but I did enjoy it, I'm very thankful to her," Ichigo admitted.
Retsu laughed quietly, "Yes, healing is a very different art compared to what most Soul Reapers are trained in. Not many have the patience to learn it on top of their normal Kido lessons."
Ichigo tilted his head in confusion, "I didn't think it was that hard? I mean it wasn't easy and I'll need a lot of practice, but the method wasn't hard to pick up when it was explained as well as Isane did."
His confusion only increased Retsu's amusement, "You still have no idea just how unique you are, don't you? For most Shinigami healing is much more difficult to learn than Kido that uses Incantations. For us it is difficult to do something by instinct that we are taught to do by force; and that's the inherent difference between the two styles of power. If you want a measure of how rare it actually is for us to know healing; Jyuushiro and Shunsui can't do it. I barred Jyuushiro from learning, healing takes more stamina to do than I felt comfortable with him knowing how to do it; he would push himself into healing one too many patients if he had the knowledge to do so. In Shunsui's case, his power is too destructive to perform the delicate task of healing, he simply cannot harness it correctly." She informed, hoping it might get through to Ichigo.
"They really can't do it?" Ichigo was admittedly shocked at hearing that. "With how long they have been part of the thirteen squads I thought they would at least know the basics."
"Everybody is a little different, Shunsui's case is not as rare as it might sound. There are plenty of Shinigami that have Spiritual Pressure naturally more attuned to fighting than healing. That can make it nearly impossible to learn no matter how much power they possess. Most of the Second, Eighth, and Eleventh Squad members fall into this category, and even a good portion of the Seventh." She explained, Shunsui's difficulties much more common than Jyuushiro's health restrictions.
"Why can I do it when Shunsui can't? All I've ever done was fight, and that includes the time before I brought out my Shinigami powers?" Not to mention his Hollow, but he figured he didn't need to tell Retsu outright for her to factor Junichi in.
"You are different, even when it comes down to you fighting in a battle with your Zanpakuto it is still a far more impulsive and instinctive style due to you being relatively new to your blade. The fact you learned differently than the rest of us turned your technique to one nearly completely opposite the normal pattern. This could have gone either good or bad, but you managed to turn it to your advantage, it makes you able to do things that might otherwise be difficult. It also makes you unpredictable to those of us that fight in a fixed pattern. Plus even Hollows can learn to heal, you told me yourself it was one of the Espada healing you; not one of the traitor Shinigami."
"I can believe some of that but other parts, I'll have to take your word on," Ichigo accepted a bit reluctantly, he was caught between his faith in Retsu and his usual underestimation of his own skill. "There is one thing wrong with what you said though, I'm not unpredictable, at least not to everyone."
Hearing his voice change from its usual serious and confident tone, into the faraway one he used to distance himself from the memories brought back through the words, made Retsu prompt him further in the hope she could help him confront and eliminate a few more of the shadows haunting him. "Which of the Espada could read you?" It wasn't difficult to figure out what prompted his response, and she learned from earlier conversations if she wanted to reach him once he had fallen into this state, direct questions worked best.
"Starrk was never wrong, Harribel could when she focused on it, and Ulquiorra figured it out some of the time. The others were pretty hit or miss. Either their style didn't match mine, or they were simply not interested in trying to outsmart me considering how limited my range was in the arena." Somehow talking to Retsu was a lot easier than most others. He felt safe with her knowing his secrets, that faith was only matched when it came to Jyuushiro and Shunsui.
Retsu reached a conclusion quickly, "Most of those names are top Espada, I remember that much, but you missed the second didn't you?"
"Yeah, Barragan was pitted against me the least of all of them. Aizen was probably afraid he would kill me out of spite. Grimmjow hates Aizen for controlling him, but Barragan is passive aggressive against him since Aizen usurped his position. He had been essentially the lord of the Hollows before Aizen came along. That much was told to me by Aizen during our 'conversations' he thought by familiarizing me with the Arrancar there, I would be that much easier to break since I would know what I was dealing with." The more he explained, the better Ichigo was beginning to feel.
"The fear of the unknown would be removed, a powerful source of motivation to keep you from submitting to his wishes," Retsu observed, that wasn't a real surprising tactic considering what she knew of Aizen's manipulations due to her work on helping Momo recover from his mental attacks.
"Essentially yes," Ichigo confirmed, "One of the most common topics he touched on was to explain all the virtues of staying in Las Noches. A part of that was also bringing up anything and everything wrong in Soul Society to persuade me his way was the better choice." He admitted.
Hearing that Retsu was even more impressed that he had held up so long against Aizen. That had to have been hard to stomach; Soul Society had many demons he would have no doubt unearthed while hiding behind the benevolent Captain façade. "Sometimes the hardest trial you will have to face is making a choice between evils, and I have a feeling he made you feel like that was exactly what you had to do."
Ichigo shook his head, "Not really. Most of what he told me about Soul Society was things I either already knew, or had at least guessed at before he got to me. I knew there were many problems here, but at the same time I am willing to fight on your side because I believe despite the number of problems, the type of things wrong were things that could be fixed given time and the right person heading the fight for change."
This time Retsu was unable to hide her shocked expression that had not been expected at all, "Ichigo I am going to say it again, you have no idea how unique you are. I doubt anyone else would have been able to take that position in the situation you were dealing with. I believe it would be rare even when not under duress."
"I believed what was right and stuck behind it," Ichigo confessed, "That was one thing I absolutely had to do if I wanted to withstand his manipulations."
"And thank goodness you did," She assured. "You would have been sorely missed, and we wouldn't have had the opportunity to get to know you even better as we did while you recovered here."
"I wouldn't have had the chance to get close to Jyuushiro and Shunsui, I think that is the part I am most glad for that happened because I didn't give in." He admitted.
"I'm not surprised," Retsu responded with a smile, "Those two have done a world of good for you, and you for them. It's wonderful to see how happy you three make each other. Now to change the topic, I'm giving you a clean bill of health. You really have recovered well, and your Spiritual Pressure is back to its old strength; possibly a touch higher than it had been. You always did blossom the most while you were fighting against something." She had healed him a number of times during his past escapades, it was fairly easy for her to measure his strength.
"So I can go back to the Living World with Shunsui?" He didn't bother to cover up his excitement.
"If the Head Captain wants you to, than yes I don't see any reason to stop you," His enthusiasm was infectious and she found herself smiling with him.
"Do you think he would want me back in the field?" She was the best judge of Yamamoto's decisions, she had been working with him for even longer than Shunsui and Jyuushiro.
She took a moment to think about it before responding, "I think he will send you back. He has no good reason to keep you here anymore."
"Good, I'm ready to see my family, and at least Shunsui will be with me," Ichigo was looking forward to returning to his family and friends. Hopefully they had been updated on what had happened so they didn't think he had been killed or had abandoned them.
"You will get to see Jyuushiro, he coordinates the Living World missions. I know it won't quite be the same, but it is better than being separated from him completely." She reminded, having no illusions how hard it would be to leave Jyuushiro behind; for both of them.
"Yeah, I almost forgot about that." Ichigo replied sheepishly, "And yes it's better than no contact at all. By the way do you know what my family was told, or if anyone even bothered to get word to them at all?"
"Your father was told, whether or not he informed your sisters was up to him," She informed. "He was told both that you had been captured, and that you were returned to us."
"That saves me the stress of explaining myself," Ichigo said with relief. "I'm guessing Kon probably took control of my body. He wouldn't fool my close friends, but he could probably pull off the deception with everyone else."
"I don't know the exact means, but your body had to have been preserved in some way, or you would have been brought to us in the form of your death." There was no way to sugar coat that information, but at least it had been avoided.
"About that, Byakuya told me something interesting about Shinigami, that there are two forms." At her confirming nod, he continued. "I was wondering if there was a way to tell which one I was?"
"I already know," She admitted.
"How? And what am I?" Now Ichigo was curious.
Retsu was expecting those questions, and was able to answer quickly, "I can tell by the way your power flows when I heal you. There is a distinct difference between the two classes. You are a born Shinigami, and you are probably curious about this too; Shunsui is natural, Jyuushiro born." This particular bit of information was neutral, it couldn't be used to harm anyone if found out, thus it wasn't a restricted topic like exact power levels or the form a Shinigami's Zanpakuto took when released.
"Wait if I am a born Shinigami, doesn't that mean I won't end up in Soul Society when I die?" He remembered that part of Byakuya's lesson.
"I don't really know," Retsu admitted, "I'm going off the assumption since you are only part Shinigami your other portions of power might balance out the typical way we die. It's your human side that gives me hope you would come to us. Now if you were killed after arriving here you would probably dissipate like we do. You wouldn't have the protection of your human blood." She reasoned.
"I never want to leave Jyuushiro and Shunsui alone," He confessed his worry.
"It is just as possible you will come here as not. For all we know if your body died nothing would change with your spirit. You already do leave it behind when travelling here, that may just continue on without the ability to return." Retsu comforted, knowing the pain that kind of parting would inflict on the trio.
"So essentially my body could just be a form of gigai? Ichigo guessed.
"I've never studied a case like yours through to the end before, there has been one other Substitute Soul Reaper, but he has yet to die. The fact his lifespan was increased so dramatically tells me it is definitely possible all your spirit is doing is animating an organic gigai." At least she hoped so, that would actually be the best case scenario. It meant that Ichigo would have that much more chance at becoming a regular Shinigami when he died.
"What would happen to my body should I decide to live in Soul Society before I pass?" His curiosity was not satisfied yet.
That took a few minutes for Retsu to come up with a plausible reaction, "If it was unoccupied for too long I suspect it would begin to degrade, if that happened it would force your death to happen soon after."
"Do you think the risk would be worth it?" He trusted her instincts, they hadn't steered him wrong before.
A deep breath, knowing he would go with whatever she said. "Yes, I think it would be worth it. I truly believe you would be given a second life here. You would not be reincarnated back into the Living World once your body died, but your soul would survive here."
"King, she is right." Junichi's sudden interruption had him jumping. "We are already much more of a Soul then a human. There is just enough to animate our body. We would come here first, because we are already partially dead if you want to look at it literally. Since our soul is intact despite our change, then yes we would be safe."
"Are you sure?" This was not something Ichigo was comfortable gambling on, but Junichi and Retsu's words gave him hope.
"Positive, we are far too deep into this world for us to be completely a part of the Living World and still be as we are. We beat the rules King, because they were never designed for someone like us." Junichi was being unusually reassuring, and he caught that thought from Ichigo before he had a chance to voice it. "You don't think I wouldn't miss Jyuushiro and Shunsui too? We've been over this, I am half your soul, the things you love and desire I also do. If you've forgotten it was me who tried to persuade you into pursuing them in the first place."
"Sorry, wasn't expecting that," Ichigo admitted.
Junichi smirked back into his much more typical personality, "Didn't think you would. You've got a lot to learn King."
"Apparently I do." Ichigo agreed. "But at least now I'm willing to learn."
"I'm just leaping for joy that you finally came to your senses," There was genuine sentiment hidden deeply under the sarcasm.
"I remember you beating me into this mindset." He remembered.
Junichi chuckled, "What other way would I use to get through your thick skull? I am still a Hollow despite the fact I'm tied to you. I will never be completely domesticated." He warned almost viciously.
"I wouldn't be suicidal enough to try. Besides I might just miss you if you weren't around to aggravate me." There was some affection in the statement despite the pseudo insult.
"Jeeze King, you just made me blush," The flippant and sarcastic tone totally ruined what could have been a mushy sentence.
"Glad I could make you happy," Ichigo wondered if Junichi could sense the eye roll that accompanied the words.
"Don't get used to it," Junichi advised before going silent allowing Ichigo to turn his attention back to Retsu.
"Sorry about that, Junichi was answering our question. According to him we are already too far into the Spirit World for us to be completely alive. He said the portion of us still human was only strong enough to animate our body, not much more. That means we will end up here if our body degrades." Ichigo informed.
Retsu let out a sigh of relief, "At least he knew what was going to happen. It does make me wonder just how much of our traits you now possess."
"If what Junichi believes is true, I'm guessing most of them." Ichigo theorized. "And it's probably true with my Hollow side too. He is just as much a part of me, so it would stand to reason I would pick up just as many of their traits as Shinigami. I already know I can fire a cero, I can be taught to use sonido, and possibly pesquisa. The last two were only according to Aizen who had a hand in creating the first Visoreds. Cero is the only one I have actually done myself." That incident had been when Aizen had first captured him, the collar he used then was strong enough to suppress his Shinigami side, but Junichi had still been able to act at a limited capacity. That was quickly remedied by a thicker collar of Seki Seki, a backup Aizen had made just encase that very thing happened.
"I think it would be useful if you could develop the others though," Retsu encouraged. "That would definitely be something you could use to throw off your opponents. I have to admit I am curious about pesquisa that is one of the least studied Arrancar abilities."
"If I get it figured out, you will be the first one I show," Ichigo promised, it was the least he could do for her in return for all she had done for him.
"Thank you Ichigo, I appreciate it." A new thing to study would be invigorating. IT had been awhile since she had a new subject to look into.
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door, and a young Shinigami coming in upon invitation with a Hell butterfly balanced on his finger. To their surprise the creature flew over to Ichigo instead of Retsu once in the room.
It carried a message from Yamamoto, "Ichigo Kurosaki you are to report to the First Squad headquarters, you will receive further instructions upon arrival." The message repeated once, before the Hell butterfly followed the Shinigami who brought it out of the room.
"Looks like it's time to find out if I will be going with the team or not," Ichigo noted.
"Yes, now you shouldn't keep him waiting." Retsu warned.
"I'll leave right now, thank you Retsu." He responded with a rare smile.
She was glad to see the expression but didn't call attention to it, "You're welcome, now go before he gets irritable." She dismissed, Ichigo leaving right after she spoke.
"Good luck," She spoke quietly to herself.