Yoruichi was used to impossible situations. The lessons that had been pounded into her brain were now ingrained as muscle memory and instinct. For all her vast training though, it did not prepare her for this. She dug her claws into the tatami, her body crushed under an impossible weight as she tried to squeeze her way out from the form crushing her. The childish babble that squealed above her only added insult to injury as her tail was roughly grabbed and played with. It took everything she had in her to keep het claws from batting at the baby and even more so to keep the meowl of pain from escaping. It was sunset and Ichigo was supposed to be asleep, but the baby had woken when she had gotten too close, eyes lighting up with something that made her fur shiver in horror.
With a final yank she managed to drag herself away from the baby and take in a deep breath, flickering her ears furiously and swiftly removing her tail from grubby hands when Ichigo took the bait. He pouted at her, big brown eyes shimmering, and she felt her eyes widen in panic. She flicked her tail again from side to side, hoping to hypnotize him and sighed in relief when he began to giggle.
The door snapped open and they both jumped, turning around to see Kukaku looking down at them with a sly smirk. "I knew you couldn't resist coming here for long, don't ya think I already knew you were lurking?"
Yoruichi would have bristled her fur if she hadn't known Kukaku so long. It wasn't that she was sensed, but that she would have heard about the new baby that Kukaku was taking care of and made herself known. Her curiosity was her downfall after all, it was the reason why she and Kisuke got along so well. She gave Kukaku her best glare, dodging away from grubby hands at the last second to jump up on her shoulder and watch Ichigo from a safer distance. Or it would have been safer if Kukaku hadn't picked Ichigo up to rock him back to sleep. Honey brown eyes met hers and she let her fangs peek through, warning him silently not to touch.
A rumbling laugh left the black haired woman as she saw their silent stare down and raised a brow at her. "I thought you'd be used to kids by now, considering how much time you spent with Byakuya."
She refused to answer that question, not willing to admit any of her weaknesses. Kukaku rolled her eyes and continued the gentle sway, both of them watching as Ichigo was lulled to sleep.
"He's family, ya know? Isshin's son." Her whisper was soft and Yoruichi would have missed it if she wasn't perched on her shoulder. The tenderness that lined Kukaku's face wasn't something that she was used to seeing and she committed it to memory, looking back down at the baby that brought such an expression to her best friend's face.
"It was a lot too take in. But, I'm glad he's here now." Kukaku laid Ichigo down on the fluffy pile of blankets and pillows that had scattered in her earlier desperate attempts of escape. She gave him a kiss on the forehead and Yoruichi shifted her weight around on her shoulders to keep her balance.
They made their way over the next room, tea and a bowl of milk ready for them. She settled herself in front of the low table across from Kukaku, lapping at the milk with a delighted purr.
"Have you added him to the registry?" Yoruichi already knew about the situation, but she wanted to hear it from Kukaku herself.
"Yeah, he's there now too but," Kukaku trailed off and her lips twisted down in a frown. "Kyoraku adopted him into his clan. I was furious, but" she let out a resigned sigh and took a sip of her tea. "It's better this way. Ichigo will have the protection of a noble, better than what Ganju and I still have. I won't compromise his safety just so that we can keep him in the clan officially." Her pale blue eyes lit up as she smirked. "Besides, he's a Kyoraku-Shiba now, so it's not like he can forget his real clan."
Yoruichi nodded, abandoning her tray of milk to slink to her friend's side. She knew it must be rough on her, having lost everything, but she was glad something good could come out of such a horrible situation.
"He's different than us," Kukaku stroked her fur as she settled herself on her lap, paws tucked under her neatly. Yoruichi already knew that too, but she feigned ignorance and filed an ear in mock curiosity.
"Oh? How so?"
Kukaku gave her a look but shook her head. "He's… his mom was a quincy, and somehow, he's got part hollow in him. I-" Kukaku cut herself off and cast a concerned look in the direction of Ichigo's room. "We don't know how. Unohana said his soul is in harmony, but we don't know if that could change, if he could…"
Yoruichi nuzzled her head into Kukaku's hand, prompting the woman to continue stroking her when she had stopped. It was a small comfort for both of them.
"I just don't want something like what happened to Kaien happen to Ichigo."
She could understand that. Kukaku would never be afraid of Ichigo, just worried that he may lose himself and get hurt. She wondered if the other's would get mad at her offering up their services but decided that it would be worth it so help ease Kukaku some. She was already aware of the visored, and it could help bridge the gap of her protective instincts if she could trust them to help her nephew.
"Do you remember the visored?"
Kukaku quirked a brow at her in question, nodding. Before Yoruichi could continue her eyes widened in realization and both her brows shot up. "Do you think they can help him?"
Yoruichi let out a contented purr at her friend's intellect and nodded. "Maybe, Ichigo is slightly different than them, but if they meet him they might be able to determine if his reiatsu signature is similar enough for them to do anything." Yoruichi stiffened as Kukaku bumped her up to her shoulder as she stood.
"Let's go then!"
Her eyes widened and she sputtered, even as Kukaku went back into the other room and secured Ichigo against her side.
"I have Ichigo for the rest of the night, so we can take our time."
Any protests Yoruichi had died on her lips as Kukaku stared her down, daring her to say no. She let out a sigh and nodded, "fine."
Shinji was up and standing the moment Hachi informed him that someone was at the door, and with company. Only a select few people knew where their hideout was, and if Urahara thought it prudent to lead someone else here then it must have been for a very good reason. Not to mention the fact that it was late into the night. He flung the door open, acutely aware of the others eyes on him as they watched.
"Shinji-san!" Urahara's fan was out and flapping as he sent him a beaming smile, his eyes hidden under his hat. Shinji frowned at him and tilted his head to the side, eyeing the woman that Yoruichi was perched on.
"Who's this?" He ignored Urahara's pout and eyed the woman warily. She didn't feel terribly strong, but her eyes held a fierce determination that made him edgy.
"This is Kukaku, you can trust her. Before I say more though, it's best if we head inside." Yoruichi's deep voice rumbled around them and he stood still for a moment longer before sighing and letting them inside.
He trusted Urahara to know who was trustworthy or not, and just by here being here was enough for Shinji to know that. They settled themselves down across various couches and Shinji raised a brow at the careful way the woman sat, making sure not to disturb what she held in the crook of her left arm. She caught him staring and gave him a smirk, unwrapping the bundle and tilting it slightly so he could see.
"This is Ichigo."
His eyes flew open in surprise, he had not expected a baby and apparently no one else had either.
"Oi!" Hiyori's sandal was flying across the room and smacking into Urahara's head the second she saw the baby. "What are ya doin brining a baby here, hah!?" Shinji winced at the volume and saw Kukaku frown sharply, her blue eyes blazing.
"Hey!" Kukaku took the stray sandal that had fallen next to her and smacked Hiyori across the back of her head, stopping the blonde woman's assault on the green clad man. "Keep your voice down idiot! There's a sleeping baby here!" Her roar contradicted her statement and Shinji wondered if the baby had ever managed a wink of sleep with that woman.
A bubble of laughter silenced everyone as they saw Ichigo clap his hands in excitement, eyes bright and full of innocent joy. Shinji wasn't really a baby person, he thought them loud and smelly, but Ichigo sure was one cute kid. It was like he could light up the entire room just with his eyes.
"Now look at what you did!"
Shinji sweat dropped and looked at Urahara for an explanation as the two woman continued to banter with one another.
"As loud as she is, Hiyori's got a point. This ain't exactly the best place fer a kid." He couldn't even begin to wonder why Urahara had brought them here. The only reasonable thing he could think of was that they were on the run and needed a place to stay for a bit. He waited as Urahara gathered himself from the vicious attack and narrowed his eyes as he saw the man's shoulders slump slightly.
"Ichigo he's.." He tilted his hat down and Shinji was suddenly aware of the silence in the room. "He's one of you."
His breath stopped for a moment and he reeled back in shock. He and the others were now all looking at Ichigo and Kukaku tightened her grip on him, dropping Hiyori's sandal at her side.
"Now then! We were hoping if you could see if his powered feels similar enough to yours, maybe you'll be able to teach him one day?" Urahara's chirper voice belayed the weight of the situation.
Shinji heard what he didn't say. If he looses control. He swallowed hard, uncomfortable with the fact that a baby was subject to the same instinctive hatred they had all had thrust into them. It didn't stop him from moving forward though, noting the heavy gaze that the black-haired woman gave him even as she offered him Ichigo. His honey brown eyes were wide and round, staring up at him unflinchingly. He was light in Shinji's arms, and the blinding smile that the child sent him made him close his eyes from it. He knew the other visoreds felt the weight of his life in a way that was different from each other. He hesitantly brushed his reiatsu against Ichigo's and felt the baby respond on instinct, a soft babble of joy leaving his tiny body as their energy brushed against one another. He felt the tell of shinigami, followed by the dark twist of hollow. He swallowed and nodded at the woman, giving his confirmation that he was like them. It was close, slightly different than their own power, but Shinji was positive that they could at least help him.
As he passed Ichigo back, something bright brushed against his senses and he almost dropped the baby in shock. Kukaku caught him quickly and scowled at him but he was too mind boggled to offer her an apology.
He rounded on Urahara, watching as the man tilted his hat down and knew that the man was aware. "Kisuke," he began slowly, calmly, drawing the attention of the visored from the baby to him. "What-" He cut himself off, unable to put the words in order on his tongue. The blonde's fan was up with a snap of his wrist, hiding the rest of his face.
"Masaki, his mother, was a quincy."
Shinji looked back at the baby and wondered what cruel joke fate had been spinning when she had made the boy.
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Almost finished setting up the framework. A few more chapters of utterly defenseless baby Ichi before time skips will start happening. Thanks for the reviews!