She was used to pools of blood, knew how to maneuver her way around them to not leave any trails. It was no different in her feline form, her paws steady under her as she tiptoed around. Today was different though, she didn't mind soaking her fur as she lay next to the barely alive body of Isshin. Her golden eyes were downcast, her sorrow and disappointment evident in her gaze. Isshin gave her a small, bloody smile, his eyes trying to focus on her. His shallow breaths sounded far too wet and Yoruichi forced her mind away from the sound.
"I-I'm just glad you even made it at all." He coughed, nearly choking on the blood that was filing his lungs. A pained wheeze coming after, trying to take in any breaths that he still could.
Yoruichi swallowed, ignoring how her throat clenched. "Of course, I'm just sorry that I was too late." Her gaze slid to Ichigo's body, his little arms twisted in a grotesque way. The baby blue of his blankie was nearly black with the dried blood. She had looked for him, desperately searched, but she could only assume a hollow had gotten him.
"He's f-f-" Isshin coughed again, his eyes unfocused. "Fine." He gasped, his breaths stuttering. Yoruichi forced herself to watch, latching on to the small information that gave her some hope for the family. Upstairs, Masaki was already dead, her surprise still etched on her face.
"Where?" She flicked her tail, droplets of blood flicking off.
"With-" Isshin coughed again, the whites of his eyes reddening with the popped vessels. She leaned forward, desperate to hear if he said any more. He tried to speak but nothing came out and she understood the look in his eye. He was regretful, but content. Ichigo was fine. But how.
Her ears flattened back towards her skull, Isshin giving her a final smile before he stilled. Yoruichi closed her eyes, willing her heart away as she stood and watched. Isshin still had the soul of a Shinigami, albeit a powerless one. He would die like they all did, his soul becoming reishi to return to the cycle of reincarnation. She saw the white orbs of his soul gather and rise, disappearing into the air just as the door slammed open. A panting Kisuke took in the scene, his eyes wide and face grief stricken before he schooled his features into a mask of calm.
They had both been too late.
Shunsui carried Ichigo in his arms as he made his way to his office. The black cloth that surrounded the sleeping baby keeping him warm against the chill of the morning. It had been two days since he saw Unohana and was glad that Ichigo had made a full recovery. He and Jushiro had been pleasantly surprised when they found out that Ichigo did not cry. He gave them a sort of watery pout and an unpleased squeal when he didn't get what he wanted, but he didn't cry. He had asked Unohana and she had shrugged, saying that everyone was different.
He looked down at Ichigo's sleeping face and smiled fondly, today he would be filling out the paperwork to add the boy as his adoptive son, and he was terribly excited about it. He knew Isshin would have wanted the same, even if it pained him to think of his late cousin.
"Taichou!" Nanao's voice carried on the breeze and he paused to wait for her. She nodded in greeting at him and frowned at where Ichigo was hiding in the folds of his clothes.
"That better not be sake!" She striked at him, quick as lightning but Shunsui couldn't afford for her to accidentally hit Ichigo. He snatched her arm by the wrist and held firm, looking at her from under the brim of his hat. She stilled, startled. He had never stopped her from taking his sake in such a way and it must have confused her as to why he did now.
"Taichou?"
He shook his head and slowly released her wrist. Her brows furrowed and followed his gaze as he slowly moved the fabric away to reveal a shock of orange hair. She gasped, taking a closer look at the bundle in his arms.
Babies were rare in soul society, and he couldn't fault her for being at such a loss.
"Taichou," she whispered, her light blue eyes flickering between him and the child. "Where did you get him?" She straightened when he motioned for her to move and they continued their walk to the division.
"My cousin's child. He passed away and I intend to adopt him."
She pushed her classes further up her nose, the lenses catching the light and blocking her gaze. "I see."
They continued on in silence, each lose in their own thoughts. The maze of streets passed by him in a blur, having seen their twisting halls for nearly a century.
"Taichou," she began hesitantly. "Don't you have someone else to look after him? It will be hard to accomplish your duties with him, no?"
Shunsui frowned, not liking the idea of Ichigo being out of his sight. The one time he had left the child… He cleared his mind from those thoughts and shook his head. "No, he will be fine."
She accepted that answer and remained quiet the rest of the walk.
As soon as they both settled into the office Shunsui was quick to get to work, organizing papers and making sure Ichigo was tucked securely between his folded legs. He glanced at the child more than once, watching as he used his thigh as a pillow and drooled soundlessly in his sleep. He looked up, savoring Nanao's sputtering face as she watched him organize his duties for the day.
He chuckled under his breath and went back to the paperwork, silently savoring her disbelief.
By the time lunch rolled around Ichigo was waking, his tiny squeaks of hunger making his easy smile broaden into a grin. He abandoned his work and picked up his soon to be adoptive son, looking at his frustrated brown eyes and cooing softly at him.
"Hungry, Ichi-chan?" He smiled and laid him against his wide shoulder, the baby immediately latching on to him with a cry of delight. He could see Nanao looking at him again, her gaze soft.
"Come Nanao-chan, I think it's time we take a break."
She nodded at him and soon they were on their way to the thirteenth division, Ichigo growing more and more fussy by the second.
"Shunsui," Jushiro greeted warmly, reaching out to take Ichigo when offered. The white-haired man rocked the baby in his arms, his snowy hair spilling over his face as he rubbed noses with the tiny boy. A smile of delight stretched across both their faces and Jushiro moved away, grabbing the food that he had stocked up on.
Shunsui stretched and plopped on the couch, watching lazily as Jushiro fed his son with a delighted air. It still felt strange to think of Ichigo in such a way, his heart twisting in something he couldn't name, but he supposed he had time to get used to it. Brown eyes looked up to meet his.
"Shunsui, have you told the soutaichou yet?"
He swallowed and looked away, his answer clear enough. He didn't think his grandfather would harm the boy, but Shunsui wanted to make sure Ichigo was officially adopted before he went about any introductions. His clan would be eager to have a Shiba, disgraced as they were, but that wasn't why he was doing it, though it did make the whole thing easier. Taking care of him would be more challenging, it would be hard to take care of Ichigo if they were summoned to a captain's meeting. He frowned, not having thought of that.
"Taichou" Nanao began, taking a seat next to him. "I do believe I am right to say this. Should you ever need any help, the Shinigami Woman's Association will be more than happy to help you." Her glasses flashed and her bun bobbed on her head with her sharp nod.
He smiled at her, tilting his hat back and out of the way so he could lean his head against the back of the couch comfortably. "Ah Nanao-chan, you're kinda scary when you do that."
She didn't reply, but Shunsui could see the pleased smile that tugged at her lips. He rubbed a hand over his stubble, glancing back at Ichigo before continuing.
"Thank you, though I was actually thinking of sending him off to stay with his family half the time."
She furrowed her brows at him, not understanding. "I thought you didn't want him to have to be taken care of by your clan?"
Jushiro was looking at him with furrowed brows, having been privy to their conversation. "Do you think that's a good idea?" Jushiro knew Shunsui wasn't talking about his clan.
He shook his head, "I don't think I have much of a choice. If they catch wind that I have him, even by request, they'll murder me for sure. I rather not trifle with them if necessary." Shunsui gestured for Ichigo and Jushiro stood, giving him back reluctantly. The baby was squealing, a bright smile on his face and a tummy full of food. He grabbed at Shunsui's large hand and he let the baby tug at his digits while he stroked the soft orange hair.
Nanao was looking thoroughly confused but patient, running a finger down the baby's cheek and wincing when the tiny thing almost bit her.
"Ma Ichi-chan! So vicious!" Shunsui's playful voice boomed and Ichigo clapped his hands excitedly, his legs kicking as he smiled up at the older man.
Jushiro rolled his eyes but smiled at his friend's antics. "I hope you won't spoil him like that forever, he's going to be a huge troublemaker already if his lineage is anything to go by."
Nanao cleared her throat pointedly, staring right into Ukitake's soul. She raised a brow and he held his hands up placidly. No wonder Shunsui was afraid of the woman. He glanced at his old friend and sighed when he saw he would have to be the one to break the news.
"He's a Shiba."
Nanao choked, her hand flying to her chest. Ichigo whimpered at the change in atmosphere and tried to bury his head into Shunsui's hand.
The captain of the eighth smiled down at him and wrapped him in his floral kimono, carefully ignoring his lutenist's surprise.
"Ah, I think I will go after I signed all the forms later today."
A chuckle left Jushiro. "So they can't say no anyways? You know they'll do anything to get him back."
Shunsui didn't look away from the baby busy rubbing his face into the silk of the kimono, drool dripping down his cheek as he slowly began to drift off. He didn't have anything against the Shiba's, but he had made a promise.
He cupped a tiny cheek, his eyes softening. Shunsui jolted when he recalled the crimson blood that had been splattered across his tiny body, the way his reiatsu had flickered in death. He swallowed, willing the images away. His eyes hardened and his lips turned down in a slight frown.
"They can try."