AN: I'm soooorry guys, but it's summer. i have different things in mind. This chapter was ready for a while, but it doesn't really fit, it think. But well. I skipped some time, since it would be boring. I'm just picking a few situations from Academy until now. Since Ichigos main aim is to prevent the Winter War, right? But i'm getting to that! No worries!
From now on, Byakuya will play a more important role, and i'm going to bring his live into the story as well, since i've come up with quite a good story for him! Be prepared! ;D
Oh! one thing; new fanart is on it's way! I started drawing Shikari and Ichigo, but i have a little to less time to finish it at the moment. Even though i'm waiting for my copic markers... they should arrive soon, and when i got them, i promise, you'll get fanart!
Chapter 12 – Friend
During the first month of academy, something strange happened. Byakuya and Ichigo stopped hating each other, and became something like friends. They learned together and were on top of the advanced class. They stuck to themselves, because others thought they were weird. Both unbelievable talented in Shinigami Arts, and neither of them looked too friendly, so other students didn't even try to annoy them in any way. There sure were fan girls, but nobody cares about them, right?
All in all, Academy went surprisingly well for Ichigo. He didn't even blew his cover at any point, and the weirdest thing: he liked it. Ichigo really enjoyed his time at the academy. Considering that he already knew all of the stuff they taught the students, he found time to fool around, and live a life he never had before, because of Aizen.
But times of living easy ended soon.
It was weekend, and they had no extra classes, because they were going to get their Zanpakuto next week. Everyone was excited about this. Everyone, except Ichigo. This was the day he feared most. He feared that as soon as he gripped an nameless Zanpakuto, the necklace where his Zanpakuto was sealed in, would explode or something else terrible may happen.
Ichigo was on his way to visit Kisuke in order to find a good solution for this rather tricky issue. But the bad thing about visiting his "father" was, that he actually had to go into Seireitei. Cursing his luck, Byakuya needed to go to the mansion as well, so they were walking beside each other, heading for the Seireitei, with a uncomfortable silence in the air. Byakuya seemed to notice his tense behavior.
"Ichigo, would you please tell me what is wrong with you? You haven't said anything. Nor have you teased me about the fact that you were better in Kido, again. This isn't normal.."
"Look… Byakuya… I-I'm a bit excited about the Zanpakuto-thing. I don't know what to expect, since I haven't heard anything in my mind yet… unlike some others." Ichigo lied fluently. He looked at his companion with a worried glance. Byakuya told him, that he already had dreams of a samurai in a thick armor, standing in a beautiful garden with many sakura trees. Ichigo knew that he already met his future Zanpakuto Senbonzakura, but he couldn't tell him.
Since Ichigo didn't know what to do about his Zanpakuto he told everyone the lie, that he knew nothing about his Zanpakuto. No voice, no dreams.
Byakuya obviously felt sorry for him.
The rest of the way was silent again, and they only wished the other a nice day as their journeys parted.
Ichigo strolled through the familiar streets of Seireitei without paying much attention to the people around him. Luckily he didn't tackle someone to the ground or something like this.
Some Shinigami were giving him weird looks, maybe noticing the similarity to his "father", but Ichigo just kept on walking until he reached the Research and Development Institute of the 12th Division.
Just as he wanted to knock at the door, Kisuke ripped the door open and was about to storm out of the building. As he saw Ichigo standing right in front of him with a retarded look on his face he stopped.
"Oh, Ichigo…"
"Hey, Kisuke…"
After moth of nearly no contact they hugged each other. They were glad that everything went okay. But Ichigo wasn't there without reason.
"Kisuke, we have a problem. Can we go inside and I tell you what my visit is about."
"How about tea, 'my son'?" Kisuke asked with a cheery smile.
"Wonderful!" Ichigo laughed as they went inside the building.
A few minutes later:
"So, why are you here? Did someone found out about you?" Kisuke asked.
"No, No! Everything is fine… I'm doing good at Academy. Can you believe that Byakuya Kuchiki considers me a close friend now?" Ichigo said with a proud smile.
"Okay… I certainly didn't expect this to happen." Kisuke answered a little shocked, but started laughing soon after, because the thought was just too funny.
"Now, that's not what I wanted to tell you. I have a little problem. Next week, we're going to get our nameless Zanpakutos and are expected to know the actual name of our Zanpakuto soon after… I'm not sure what to do? Should I use Zangetsu? What will happen if I'm still wearing that necklace? I'm a bit worried about my reiatsu level if I use Zangetsu again…." Ichigo trailed off.
"This is bad, but I can't give you an answer. I'd suggest not to use Zangetsu, since he would bomb all your surpressors when you simply use one small Getsuga Tensho. I don't have a clue about that weird sword you carried around in the real world, so, I'd be best if you figure that out with Zangetsu and your Hollow, ne?" Kisuke answered truthfully, and added."You can use the cave beneath Sogyoku Hill. I assume you know where the entrance is, but don't let yourself get caught. I can't explain my 'secret son' running around in Seireitei, smashing the Sogyoku into pieces, since you're supposed to be at the academy, right?"
Ichigo smiled at his friend and disappeared into a blur.
At the Kuchiki-Mansion:
Byakuya slid into the family mansion unnoticed and since he was a little early, none of the servants were waiting for him. He knew how to avoid meeting anyone as he made his way to the huge garden, into a small memorial, framed with beautiful plants and trees. He slid the heavy wooden door open without making a sound.
The room was dimly lit on the inside, there were no windows, only dozens of candles flooded the room into a warm light. Byakuya walked across the room. His attitude changed from cocky but classy, to a more depressed one. He knelt down before one huge picture. It showed a woman with beautiful black hair, that reached her mid back in soft waves. She wore a brilliant smile and had the most amazing blue eyes you could imagine. It was the most beautiful woman to him. Next to her was a man with black hair, that reached his shoulder blades in slick strands. He had steel gray eyes and looked like he was satisfied with the world. To Byakuya it was like looking into a mirror.
"Hello Mother, Father. I am sorry that I could not visit you any sooner, but you know, I am at the academy now, and soon I will be a Shinigami like you and Grandfather. He does a great job by the way. He truly is a good teacher. Next week we are going to get our Zanpakutos. I am so excited.
I like the academy. I even made a friend. He doesn't care about me being a Kuchiki, and he is son of a Captain as well. He helps me a lot and…"
"Byakuya?" his grandfather called. "Why didn't you tell me that you arrived already? "
Byakuya felt uncomfortable about the situation, so he blushed and looked at the floor, but he didn't say anything.
"Come on, we talk over a nice cup of tea. The servants prepared it already, and you can tell me about your scores in academy."
Byakuya followed his Ginrei without any complains. He knew that it was important for the clan, that Byakuya will be able to lead a Division some time, since his parents died so early, and never had the change to reach captaincy.
As they sat in the garden they talked about the academy. Mostly about Byakuyas scores.
Ginrei wasn't too pleased about the fact that his grandson only was second in his class. He couldn't think of someone who would surpass him, since he had an excellent training. Just then he remembered what Byakuya said at the grave of his son: "he is son of a Captain as well."
"Byakuya, tell me. Who is that friend of yours you spoke about?"
"His name is Urahara Ichigo, he is the son of…"
"Urahara Kisuke?"
"…"
"Excuse me Byakuya, I have clan issues to attend to." With that Ginrei left his grandson and stormed to one of their servants.
"Give me every information we have about Urahara Kisuke and Urahara Ichigo."
"Yes, sir!"
At Sogyoku Hill, in Ichigos mind scape:
"So, aibou. What's the matter?" Shiro asked.
"Don't play dumb, snowflake. You know why I'm here. You're always listening." Ichigo retorts.
"Ahh, why do you always ruin my fun, King-o."
Ichigo just let his Hollow be as he turned to Zangetsu, only to be jumped at by a happily squealing Shikari.
"Ichi's baaaaack!"
"Hey, Shikari." Ichigo smiled at the child.
"Ichigo, we know why you're here. We have thought of something. It is impossible to hide your Zanpakuto. I think you are aware of that. So, here's the plan:…
What do you think? :) Please review! [ Visit me on deviantart! - Username is the same... mspauly - Or you simply search for" hunting a ghost " ! must be somewhere on the first page.
Love, mspauly.