A.N. : I wrote this chapter because it takes care of some loose ends. the next chapter things start to pick back up.
Warnings: Ichigo deals with some issues and basically just the normal stuff.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bleach.
Ichigo woke from what he thought was a pleasant dream. It had been a long time since he had been able to sleep and dream so soundly. But the one thing that made his dream become reality was the note from Kisuke informing him that the Queen had grounded him. it said nothing else.
True to her word of grounding Ichigo the orangette found himself stuck in his room. It was a surprise when he woke up and was told that he was grounded and he didn't know why. He had spent the next few hours trying to get out but it would seem that Masaki was ten steps ahead of him. A barrier had been placed on his door and windows.
It didn't help that both Zangetsu was enforcing the punishment and he knew that Shiro Zangetsu was having a field day keeping the reason why from Ichigo. The two refuse to allow him into his inner world or to summon them.
'what the hell; what I do and why am I grounded? I am not a kid damn it,' he growled mentally.
Everyone would disagree with him though. Ichigo was the youngest of his new family. So deciding to wait till someone came to visit Ichigo sat by one of the windows. The time spend drew up things that the orangette himself had been repressing.
With nothing to distract him the teen was force to face the hidden fears that he had pushed to the back of his mind. The sadness of losing his home, friends, and his family. The fear of it happing again to the ones who want him to be part of theirs. He is aware of what he said to Kaien it was him given in to a selfish desire. He was out of his element in this new world where he could and couldn't do the things that made him a power house in his old world. And add in the new abilities.
"I don't want to be alone anymore," he said to the air.
It was truth that he was wanting something stable but the idea that he would be replacing his family with another held him back from fully accepting the new one. Though he blamed it on that he would be replacing their dead son. Both were true though. But what Ichigo didn't figure was that he wouldn't be replacing his dead family and none of the royals wanted him to. just like he wouldn't be a replacement from Mugetsu.
So it was these fears that Ichigo faced while alone in his room. When Isshin came to check up on him Ichigo was still in his spot by the window head bowed. The King sighed he didn't remember any of his son's being so full of angst. Isshin wasn't going to let Ichigo wallow here so he yanks the orangette up earning a surprise yelp and pulls him out of the room and to one of the training fields.
Ichigo stared at him confused when the man tossed him a wooden sword. He was more confused when Isshin took one up as well.
"Come let's get all the heavy feeling out of you," then without given a single Isshin charged.
Their sparring lasted to what felt like hours but in truth it was only thirty minutes. One thing was clear Ichigo was getting his ass handed to him. he did manage to get a few hits of his own in but it meant nothing once Isshin gave a fatal blow that had the orangette landing on his ass.
"Too much thinking can cloud you vision in a fight where spilt second counts. So Ichigo what has your head so full?" Isshin asks taking a small break on the railing.
"It's nothing," Ichigo says robotically.
"Do actually think I would believe that? I helped raise three sons who went through their teens there is nothing that you can hid from me," the King said before sighing. "Is it your past?"
He knew he hit the nail on the head by the way Ichigo tried to hid his flinch. The way the teen wouldn't look him in the eye.
"I see well I think I know just what you need. So get clean up and meet me back here when your done I have something to show you."
Ichigo watched the man walk away; he sat there for a few more minutes before doing what he was told. He was trying to decide if he was curious or surprised. Curious at what the King was going to show him and surprise that the man could guess close to what he was over thinking about.
When he was all cleaned up Ichigo ran back to the training field he waited for Isshin to show up when he found that he beat the man there. He didn't have to wait long before the King was hovering over him.
"we're going to combine this into a training exercise. So get out your wings and lets fly," he grins down at the scowling orangette.
It took a while before Ichigo was aloft and following, though slowly, the King to out of the castle grounds and into the surrounding country side. They had to take a few breaks since Ichigo was still getting use to his wings. He had more crash time then actual flying. His wings were more like a dragons compared to Isshin's feather ones and the new appendages required a different style of flying.
Isshin had made the comment that Ichigo should ask Toshiro to help him learn how to use the full extent of his wings. The teen hadn't known the flying was so strenuous on the body. He felt like he just went through several rounds of sparring all with a certain insane Captain while dodging Byakuya's Senbonsakura.
His landing left much to be desired as he landed on his face. He was panting so much the Ichigo just stayed how he landed trying to regain what energy he just spent. Once he got his wind back the teen sat up and stood swaying before walking wobbling over to the log that Isshin was sitting on.
"How much further," he panted out.
The King feeling a little sorry for him gave the out of breath teen his water canteen. He was glad that he brought several as he watched Ichigo down the entire contents.
"Not far, in fact we can walk the rest of the way." he answered. "We'll stay the night in the nearby town so you can rest up. This was your first full flight that you were conscious of."
"are you going to tell me where your taking me?" the orangette finally asks.
"It's something you need," was all he said.
Ichigo scowled at the answer but he didn't say anything in favor of regulating his breathing back to normal levels. Once that was done they walked for about fifteen minutes until they came upon a large hold in the ground. Ichigo thought if felt familiar and to his surprise tried to keep himself from crying. He didn't know why this place made him feel grief all of a sudden.
"This is where I found you that day," Isshin broke the silence.
Ichigo continue to stare at the hold.
"It is also where your father died."
Ichigo broke.
oOooOooOooOo
He stared into the ceiling of the room at the inn that he and Isshin were staying at for the night. Ichigo couldn't remember how he got there but he figures that Isshin carried him after his blackout. Sitting up Ichigo made a decision. Getting dressed before slipping out of the window Ichigo headed back towards the crater.
From his own window King Isshin watched the orangette go. He signals for a guard to shadow him for his own protection. The King knew that this was going to happen and was going to allow Ichigo to finally get it out of his system.
He had plan on showing the teen the gravestone that the guardsmen placed before they made their way back that day. But it might be better that Ichigo fines it all on his own. For now, Isshin will wait for the teen to return.
oOooOooOooOo
Ichigo felt cold and numb staring into that dark hole. It had gotten too cloudy since he has been out so he couldn't use the moonlight anymore. He wanted to see it even if time had erased all evidence of anyone being in there.
The orangette fell to the ground flashes of his past life run through his mind and since the death of his mother Ichigo let the tears fall.
"I didn't get a chance to say good-bye," he cried.
The loss of not just his father but everyone since the war started had hit him. the pain was making it hard to breath and not even the shouts of Zangetsu could reach him. Ichigo would have fallen more if not for a ghostly touch to his head.
Ichigo whip his head up but he saw no one. He did however catch a scent that at first he thought that he King had follow him but a quick scan revealed nothing but the shadow that was keeping its distance. The teenager started to stand but a wave of dizziness had him crashing to the ground and slipping unconscious.
When he opens his eyes he was in his old bedroom in his destroyed house. Thinking that it was a trick set up by some unknown Ichigo quickly shot out of his bed and landed in a defensive stance. The teen tiptoe around the upper part of the home before that same scent drifted under his nose. He quietly went downstairs and it was then that he notices that the house was quiet. No sounds of Yuzu in the kitchen or Karin listening to the t.v. nor his dad hollering like he would normally do.
It was when he made it to the kitchen that he saw the one person that he had wanted to see. His mother.
"Ichigo you've grown so much," she said gently.
Ichigo however was trying to see any deception. Thousands of scenarios ran through his head on how the woman in front of him was an illusion. But Ichigo couldn't find any. Every cell in his body was telling that this was his mother.
"Mom…y-you're here but how," the teen whispered.
"Oh son I'm here because you needed me," she smiles gently.
"needed?"
She nods her head before giving Ichigo hug that the teen returns tightly. He doesn't want to let go. They stayed that way till Masaki pulls away.
"Ichigo what's wrong?" she asks as she pulls the teen along to one of the table chairs. "Making such a face when your smile is the best."
"I…don't know," he says sullenly.
"I see; you have been through a lot since that day. Oh Ichigo I wish that you didn't have to live through that."
"It okay it made me who I'm today but I really wish I could have gotten more time with you."
"I know just like I know that your father sent you here. You been having a hard time huh," she giggles as the other blushes.
"it's not like I want to keep getting kidnap," Ichigo mutters.
"But I see that you have new friends helping you when you get into trouble. As well as the King and Queen wanting to accept you into their family." She says. "So what's holding you back?"
"I-
"Is because that you think that you'll be replacing us and that they see you as a replacement for their son? Or is it because you are afraid of all that plus the fear of losing that all over again feeling powerless to stop it?" she says gently but firmly.
"Yes," he says looking away from his mother who takes his chin and turns it back to her.
"it's alright to feel those things Ichigo it's normal. As long as you understand that just like how you cannot replace their son they cannot replace us nor do they wish too. I would be happy to know that you are being taken care of and so would all your friends." She says before giving Ichigo a kiss to his forehead. "Don't try to bare everything yourself and take this second chance. Though I do not like how you risk your life such as you do but I wouldn't change who you are either."
Ichigo sigh as it felt like a weight had been lifted. He was about to say something when his mother started to glow. Reaching out as her body begins to fade Ichigo's hands fazes through hers. He looks pleadingly at his smiling mother.
"I was only given a short time to talk to you and I can see that you have found your answers." She says as the fading reached her neck. "Smile for me Ichigo and live out your life fill with things that make you happy."
Her voice echoes as Ichigo's vison starts to blur. His last vison of his mother is her gently smile.
He wakes to the concern faces of Isshin and several guards. The feeling of something wet on his cheeks has him rubbing them and realizing that he had been crying. Ichigo could still feel his mother's presence and did the one thing that shocked everyone there. He got up and hug Isshin tightly.
The King is surprise but quickly snaps out of it as he returns the hug.
"I see that you fixed what needed to be fixed," he says.
"yeah; I…it might take me awhile to call you or the Queen mom and dad…but I don't won't to be alone anymore," Ichigo's voice was muffled but Isshin heard every word.
"That's fine," he says with a smile. "Welcome to the family Ichigo."
oOooOooOooOooOo
Masaki was close to throttling her husband and Ichigo. Both had disappeared days ago and no one would either tell her or didn't know where they were. She was about to go harass Shiro and Kaien when in the distance she saw a group of flyers one of which was an orange dot.
She had a long thought out thrashing ready when Isshin landed sweeping her up in his arms. She sees Ichigo soon land, well, more like drops only to catch himself at the last minute. He gives her a cheeky grin.
"Any landing you can walk away from," he says.
"Ah my lovely wife I am sorry that you were not inform of my attempt of fixing our new moody son. But look now he can come out of the darkness and has wish to join out loving family!" Isshin shouted much to Ichigo's annoyance.
The orangette was quick to grab the loud mouth in a head lock. "Shut up ya damn goat!"
Masaki was happily surprised and couldn't contain her laughter. Whatever her husband did to the boy she was glad and because of this she wouldn't throttle them. Ichigo however was still grounded and Masaki quickly took charge of the orangette before he could do anymore damage to Isshin.
"Well I am glad that everything worked out but Isshin darling next time please tell me so I won't worry. Ichigo your still grounded so off you go back to your room young man. Maybe later this afternoon you can come out to the garden for tea and snacks." She says firmly.
Ichigo grumbles a yes mam glaring at the ones who snicker. He walks towards the oak doors before turning slightly back to his new parents. He snickers at Masaki berating Isshin on something before he is ushered by a guardsman to continue.
'maybe I can get use to this again,' he thinks with a grin.
It's when he gets to his room that he meets an irate Toshiro who grumbles about idiot orange hair humans before the dragon takes the teen to a desk piled high with books.
"This is all of the stuff you have to read and study. I was told that it is for your benefit that you learn everything about you home. or whatever that means."
Ichigo stared unbelievably at the mountain of books before slamming his head on the desk.
"Aw man," he groans. His action causes the mountain to collapses.
"Damn it!" he shouts from under the piles of books and scrolls.
"What is with you being buried by books," Toshiro asks smirking from his chair not in the least worried about the orangette headed teen. "Just to remind you; you still have training with me later. I can't trust you with Hyorinmaru's power with your poor excuse of control. You flying is also terrible."
"Shut up," Ichigo growls.
Its near evening when Ichigo is able to drag himself out of his room. He knew that he was still grounded and that Masaki hadn't called of him but he was going to go crazy being stuck in there with all that homework. A quick trip outside wouldn't hurt he be back before anyone even noticed.
He was just sitting by one of the bridge cover ponds when Kaien and Shiro found him and sat on either side of him.
"So are ya a free man yet," Shiro teases.
"Or did you escape?" Kaien adds when Ichigo didn't say anything.
The orangette side glances at each Prince before sighing. "I wanted some fresh air."
"Oh really not going to try flying alone again," Kaien asks playfully while Shiro laughs.
Ichigo blushes at the memory.
"Dad has been going non-stop about you being our new brother and all I can say," Kaien pauses. "Is about damn time."
"No kidding I thought that we would have to get Kisuke to so something," Shiro says.
"Wha-what!?"
"Yeah we've all wanted you to join the family but we also were giving you some space till you sorted out all your shit," Shiro says before Kaien.
"We just wanted you to feel like you weren't alone, you have this new life and it can be overwhelming coming out of losing everything to gaining more back to back. I glad our patience's paid off."
"Whatever," said Ichigo but his tone had no bite to it.
"At least I don't have to go through all that baby stuff like I did with the twins; this is the best I get a brother already half grown!" Kaien yelled before grabbing Ichigo into a hug.
The orangette growled struggling to get out of the raven's hold. Shiro was laughing at the scene he was going to add to the teasing when a feeling of dread and a looming shadow made all three tense. Standing above then was a smiling Masaki. Her smile didn't reach her eyes and the air around them had gotten colder.
"Ichigo, aren't you supposed to be in your room right now?"
Ichigo too afraid to speak nodded.
"I rather hear your voice Ichigo."
"yes mam I was just taking a short break and fixing to head back in right now," the orangette says before getting up and calmly walking away.
He could feel his new mother's eyes on his back until he reached the door. Ichigo gave one quick glance back at Kaien and Shiro, both were huddling together before running all the way to his room. He was not ashamed to be afraid of Masaki when she was doing a perfect impersonation of Captain Unohana.
Once he was in the safely of his room two screams made him jump. Knowing the owners Ichigo clap his hands together.
"Kaien; Shiro you will be missed."
He went back to the dreaded text books which seemed to have grown in the few minutes that he was gone. Sighing he got back to work until he was called for dinner. He held back a snicker at the downcast looks of his new brothers.
"Where is goat face," asks Ichigo.
"There was an important issue that needed his attention, he'll be joining us when it's been dealt with," Masaki said giggling at the nickname Ichigo has given her husbend. "If it was important enough you two would have been summon but it didn't warrant your present."
"Yes mam," two voices echo each other.
Ichigo wondered but pushed it to the back of his mind, he instead with back to eating adding to the conversation when needed but otherwise enjoyed the atmosphere.
oOooOooOooOooOooOo
King Isshin threw a long weather worn piece of parchment. It was from the Sereitiei and it was the one thing that Isshin knew was coming but wished it wasn't.
"So they finally declared war on us," Isshin sighed.
"It would seem so though they did say that they would reconsider if we hand over Ichigo," Kisuke said seriously.
"like hell," Isshin huffed. "They are just using him as an excuse. That old bastard has wanted our lands before Kaien was born."
The throne room was silent all present thinking over the declaration and the future. Many going through list of things needed or already had. Isshin was thinking more of his sons. While Kaien and Shiro were no strangers to war with living beings Ichigo may have been in wars but those looked to be different based on the information they had on Ichigo's past. It worried him that he would have to send the teen off to war. But they needed all the bodies they could get and the teen was experienced.
"Someone get a hold of Conrad Walker, tell him he is coming out of retirement and tell him that he is getting a new student." Isshin finally said.
"Would this new student be a certain orange headed Prince?" Kisuke smiled his fan waving.
"Ichigo could use the polishing and I want him to be near someone who has this kind of experience in dealing with new kids to war."
"Sire?"
"Yes Ichigo has seen war but not with living bodies. I think it might be a little bit different and he might have flashbacks at the wrong time."
"As you wish sire," Aizen bowed before leaving.
Isshin leaned back his crown felt twice as heavy. The throne much colder. This was not how he wanted to welcome Ichigo to the family.
"Kisuke! Recall all Vizards and any Espada's not guarding the border. General Maverick recall all other soldiers and get us some new blood from the knights camp."
"Yes Sir!"
"If you say so."
"I want Kaien and Shiro to report to me as soon as possible and tell Ichigo to join us too. He needs to hear this."
"Sir!" one soldier saluted before running off.
The Isshin had slip from father to King. He had more to worried about then his sons. His country needed him to get them through this oncoming storm.
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Chapter End.
Thank you for reading. Sorry for all the heavy issues at the beginning the story picks back up next chapter.