For him, everything began with a summons from the new central forty-six. And since they were a governing party in the Soul Society, he saw no point in attempting to get out of going. Especially since it might have to do with a secret mission of some kind, and he was curious to know what the old codgers were scheming.
The second that he walked into the massive chamber; he began to regret his decision to come.
First of all, he was startled to find that he wasn't the only one that had been summoned. His eyes locked onto the tense, and very displeased forms of both the head Captain as well as Captain Kuchiki. Yet despite the many questions that were already flitting through his mind, he held his tongue and simply walked up to stand between the two other men and simply waited to be addressed.
Luckily, or unluckily depending on whom one asked, he didn't have to wait for very long.
"Shunsui Kyoraku," A voice boomed out of nowhere, eliciting the almost overwhelming need to flinch from him. "Do you know why you are here?" He took a moment to debate on whether or not he wanted to jokingly say yes. But considering the fact that no one among the elders he stood before had a sense of humor- it probably wasn't worth it.
"No, I do not."
"Very well then, we will explain the reason why you have been summoned before us today." He took a moment to cast a curious glance at both of his silent companions, absently noting that up close they looked a lot more than just very unhappy.
They looked flat out pissed. Which didn't bode well for him at all since he was pretty sure that he was going to be just as pissed as the other two by the time the elders were finished explaining things to him.
And man, oh man, was he right.
From the beginning explanation to the very end of it, he had had a growing sense of dread that had gradually morphed into a not-so-easily concealed rage.
Especially since the subject involved a certain ginger haired Substitute Soul Reaper and a marriage. Their marriage.
Apparently, the elders of Central forty-six in all their wisdom, had deemed poor Kurosaki Ichigo far too powerful to be left to her own vices. And as such, she needed to be brought to heel and kept firmly under control.
He at least managed to argue at one point that the girl was human and not just any human either but a child. And as such she should not be subject to their orders nor their rule.
However even that argument didn't seem to persuade the elders to give up their foolishness. Thay had a plan around that! A plan that involved keeping their plans for the girl a secret until she came of age, and he could marry her without regrets.
He wondered if any of them knew just how close they were to having their heads taken off by him.
His anger at them was a palpable thing. It hung in the air around them like the threat of a thunderstorm that could easily turn into a tornado or hurricane. Though he tried to stay very still and process what he had just been ordered to do- to a sweet and kind girl that he actually liked and respected- he could feel both the head Captain's and Kuchiki's hands on his arms.
Their grip was biting and painful, yet it grounded him enough to not draw his sword and lunge for the closest elder to make what he was feeling known to everyone in the room.
So, that was something at least. Though it was of very little comfort to him at the moment.
Their lack of conscience in regard to the girl and her life was more than a bit disturbing to him.
Especially when they intended for him to be married to her against her wishes and afterward would use him and her affection for Soul Reapers and Human's alike as a means to force her to do anything that they asked or demanded of her. No matter how soul crushing or humiliating their demands may be.
Don't get him wrong, he liked Ichigo. Truly he did.
She was a sweet kid and had been a good friend and allie. Not just to him but to everyone that she had ever come into contact with or worked alongside during the short time that she had spent as their Substitute Soul Reaper. All of whom would gladly draw their sword and kill for her if it meant that she would be safe!
He also knew that the girl was one of the most frightening people to cross. And honestly, he almost wanted to go and look for her right then and tell her exactly what the Central forty-six intended for her since he knew that it would...upset her.
He was already sure that the bloodshed would be epic and definitely worth watching. At a safe distance of course. He wasn't overly fond of the splash zone due to all of the stains that he usually wound up with on his clothing.
It took more than ten minutes for him to manage to push his anger and rage aside just to be able to ask the elders if that was all they had summoned him for.
Unfortunately, the fools knew of his reputation for bending and breaking rules, so they decided to give him a bit of incentive to make sure that he bent to their will without any more of a fight.
If he failed to do as they said, then not only would the girl be killed- and suffer from Soul enslavement- a practice that had been taboo and outlawed for nearly twice as long as he had been alive. They specified that if he didn't do as they bid him, that they would send special orders to squad two and Ichigo, her human family, and friends would all be hunted down and killed.
Not only that but his precious Nanao, and Jushiro, his brother in everything but blood- would both also suffer for his failure as well.
Needless to say, that short of murdering the elders, he could see no way out of this. So, he merely nodded his head in understanding and allowed himself to be dragged from the chamber.
He should have felt moderately better once he was finally outside again. But he didn't. Instead, he just fell to his knees and vomited as Byakuya asked the head Captain if there was anything that they could do to stop this.
He breathed a few times, waiting and hoping against hope that the head Captain could think of something but those feelings were quickly dashed when he heard the elder say in an exhausted tone. "No. I'm afraid that we cannot stop this. The order is absolute. All we can do at this point is what we can to push back the time frame that the others have set and do what we can to prepare Ichigo for the future."
Shunsui's stomach churned dangerously as he stayed perfectly still and tried to think of something. On one hand, the head Captain was right. Central forty-six's orders about Ichigo were absolute. Anything that could be seen as an attempt to willfully disregard their orders would result in swift and painful retaliation. Which would likely result in death or something much, much worse.
And frankly...he didn't want the unnecessary pain and suffering of one of his friends- or more of them- on his conscience. He stayed where he was until his stomach settled a bit before finally saying in a gravelly tone. "I'll do it, dammit. I'll marry Ichigo and rip her human life away from her." The words, I sure as hell won't like it though, hung unsaid between he and the other two as he slowly got to his feet again before then saying, "Head Captain, I have a request."
"Ask it, Shunsui."
"I would like to go to the human world for the next two years." He said as he looked at the old man. To his credit the head Captain didn't look phased by his words. Though he did seem pretty curious about his reasoning. So, Shunsui decided to fill him in.
"At present, Ichigo is seventeen years old. And while she isn't old enough to marry just yet. I can at least be close enough to protect her from harm as well as take the time to court her."
"Ah," Yamamoto said with a small, strained looking smile. "Of course. I will allow it. You will leave as soon as the arrangements can be made."
"Yes, head Captain." Shunsui said as he gave the old man a small bow and then straightened his spine so that he was standing at his full height again and turned to go and make the appropriate arrangements.
But was given pause when he heard the head Captain called out, "Take Jushiro with you! He will do wonders for you as a buffer."
As if I need to be told that. Shunsui thought as he tugged the rim of his hat down over his eyes to hide them for a while. He didn't want anyone to see just how truly upset he was at the moment.