Disclaimer: I do NOT own bleach. Get this into your thick heads already!
"Normal speech"
'Thoughts'
Flashback
#11#
The room was silent. The only noise disrupting the choking silence being the tea poured into cups. The nice smell filled the lounge with an aroma of green tea. Once the cup was filled, the man pouring the tea placed the pot down and pushed the cup towards the person adjacent from him. The raven haired man shifted in his place, moving to sit Indian styled as he lifted his own tea and took a deep sniff before drinking a small gulp. He exhaled, eyes closed as he awaited in peaceful silence for the hush to end. The man placed the cup down once more before opening his aquamarine eyes to stare at his orange-haired son which had yet to touch his tea. He eyed the Shiba heir critically, his eyes scanning the deep lines of exhaustion lining the other's amber eyes and the bandages around his arm.
"Are you sure you don't want to lie down, Ichigo?"
Ichigo stiffened slightly at the implication before relaxing his shoulders into a somewhat normal posture. He didn't look up however, and only grasped his cup before taking a small drink.
"No, it's just a superficial wound. It'll heal easily."
Ryōtarō tightened his jaw in retaliation.
"You know I'm not talking about the burn."
This time, Ichigo was prepared and didn't show any external motion to show how affected he was by the raven head's words. He simply took another sip before placing the cup back onto the table.
"Do you remember that night… 250 years ago?"
Something oddly similar to grief made its way onto the Shiba head's features before it smothered out into a sad smile.
"Yes, of course I do." He stopped, just for a second before his expression darkened just slightly "What about it?"
Ichigo didn't answer right away, and Ryōtarō didn't push him either. He waited, knowing that when Ichigo was ready he would talk and not wanting to push his luck. Either way, the orange head never started a conversation unless he was entitled to finish it, so the raven head had no rush what so ever.
"Remember how… you said… you wouldn't ask what I don't want to answer?"
He received a nod in response, and Ichigo was doing everything in his power to not run away and forget about this whole situation. But he had come to a decision, and when he started something, he'd be damned if he didn't finish.
"Would you like to ask…? I'll answer so… Would you ask…? I owe you- no, I think you earned the right to know. Therefore… Would you be willing to ask?"
Ryōtarō honestly didn't know what to think about his current situation. Ichigo had looked dead pale when he had caught him on the roof. He had honestly appeared to be on the verge of tears and that nearly killed the shit out of him. The young Shiba heir hadn't even said a word when the raven head had inquired on his wellbeing. Hadn't even looked him in the eye when he had treated his wounds. Yet now, after he had hauled Ichigo into the compound and served him a cup of tea, the orange head was asking him if he was willing to ask. Willing, not wanted or liked to. He had used willing for some strange reason. Like if asking was a challenge itself. And maybe it was. Who knew? It all came back to a single point.
Was he willing to ask?
"What will I find if I decide to ask?"
The orange head shrugged, expression hidden and oddly unreadable even as he took a sip of his tea.
"You could find the past, or maybe the future. You can find the truth, or maybe a lie. It depends whether you're willing to risk asking and on what you ask."
The raven head gulped as he wet his dry lips. He was uncharacteristically nervous and didn't know why. Maybe it was because of the tension. Maybe it was because Ichigo was actually trusting him with something Ryōtarō had long given up on knowing. Who knew? But now, he was going to know.
But first.
"Why now?" He tried to elaborate when all he received was a raised eyebrow "Why are you letting me ask know? What has changed?"
Ichigo stayed silent as he gazed into his tea. The swirling liquid reflecting his image in a mirror-like way.
"It has nothing to do with the way everything's changed. I thought I'd make it through the pain."
Ryōtarō furrowed his eyebrows in response "What?"
The orange head lifted his gaze and stared directly at the raven-haired man. He had decided, so no backing down.
"If you're willing to ask, than you might just learn why. Even if nothing can be explained."
Ryōtarō took a stifling breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose and returned the stare. He'd be damned if he was outdone by his own son!
"Then I'll ask." He decided "Even if I don't understand your pain, you're-"
"-not alone, right?" Ichigo interrupted with a grim smile "Yeah, you told me that back then as well."
"Right… of course I did…" The raven head stilled, trying to find a good question before deciding and going forth "Where did you come from? You always used to imply Rukongai, but you never really admitted it."
Something between a sadistic smile and a grim expression settled itself onto the orange head's features. He lifted is arm to perch his elbow on the low table before supporting his head by the cheek.
"No, I didn't. And that's because I'm not from Rukongai or Soul society. I'm from the human world."
Ryōtarō's eyes went comically wide as he stared at his son with unhidden surprise. He was trying to find the right words to say before chocking out his biggest question.
"But how?"
'What a predictable question.' Thought Ichigo in the depths of his mind.
"That's because I was originally human… Some-what human."
The raven head stilled as he rubbed his eyes and tried to calm down. This was important and he'd be damned if he went ballistic when his eldest son was telling him such important and painful things. Besides, he had things he's been wanting to ask about since a long time ago.
"I noticed, after you released your shikai, that you're blade never changed. Not even the hilt. Since when did you know Shikai?"
Ichigo gave a funny smile in response, one that looked grievous and weighted with so much hardships that Ryōtarō had a hard time not grimacing.
"Two hundred and fifty years ago, I traveled to the past. You could say I've had my Shikai for nearly three centuries."
The raven head clenched his jaw to avoid gapping in response. Right now, what he needed was a calm mind.
"How is that possible?"
"I told you didn't I? My hell that lasted twenty years. It was a war. Our scientists had much motivation. Anything is possible."
"Who are you, really?"
Ichigo glanced solemnly to look at the raven head. His head was held high but his eyes expressed grief, and Ryōtarō could almost see the bloody images flashing through his amber eyes.
"Here? I am no one. I am simply Shiba Ichigo, a shinigami third seat of the first division which happens to be the heir to one of the great noble clans. There? I was a captain, a Shinigami-Human-Quincy-Hollow hybrid that was ignorant to his true heritage the first 15 years of his life. I am a part of the Shiba clan and regarded as one of the strongest person to have ever set foot in any world." He paused, searching the raven head for any hint of uncertainty. A single tip to insinuate he didn't believe him before glancing down towards his tea "But I was just another survivor as well."
"Let me guess, we lost."
Ichigo gave a humorless chuckle as his grip tightened around the cup. His eyes were tired and almost vacant in a way that showed nothing but pain.
"Yes, we did." He turned back to look at his pseudo father "But you know what's the worst part of it? That we didn't even know it. We fought and fought and fought and fought and we just Kept. Getting. Up!"
He was tired. Dead tired. He just wanted to curl up in bed and never wake up. Sleep, and not dream with scream filled terrors and bloodstained fields. But it was too much to ask. It was his burden.
Ryōtarō on the other hand didn't know what to think. He was pretty sure it hadn't sunk in yet, but right now he couldn't find it in himself to care. His son, his eldest son was suffering- had been suffering this whole time. His own blood –and wasn't that a shocker, Ichigo was from the Shiba clan. The Shiba head would rather practice Seppuku* than leave Ichigo the way he was.
The orange head had said so in the beginning I thought I'd make it through the pain. Well obviously, he hadn't. So here he was now, giving nothing but bones to feel a little lighter. Opening his soul to his great, great, great, great, great, great, grandfather (?) Honestly, Ryōtarō hardly had it in himself to feel pity. Because that wasn't what Ichigo needed. No, he only needed someone at his side. Someone that knew –no matter how little.
"The war is coming, right? Or did you see something familiar?"
Ichigo stiffened slightly, shoulders rising barely an inch before settling back to their normal position.
"I-I saw someone. A good friend. I've seen others but…" It's not the same.
"We aren't alive" The tone was quivering, stiff at best. And Ichigo almost gave himself a whiplash as he stared wide-eyed at the raven head.
"You were weary of me. You didn't recognize me. That just means I'm not alive. But… Haruka and Wataru, are they alive?"
"I… I don't know." The orange head shook his head, almost like if he couldn't believe it "The Shiba clan is a mess, scattered out throughout the whole Rukongai because of some issue. The only Shibas I know are two cousins, my dad and my sisters."
Ryōtarō looked relived as Ichigo gave his answer. At least there was hope for his kids. Some sort of possibility that they were still okay. That was something he could live with.
"Ichigo?" He asked, uncertainty lacing his voice as he stared at his cold tea.
"Yeah?"
"Is the war drawing near?"'
Silence, reluctance and apprehension is what happened next. A whole ten minutes spent in fear as he awaited an answer and Ichigo went through all the possibilities that could come forth from giving this information.
"No…" A whispered murmur, timid and unsure but still there "About seven centuries before the first move is given. It's still some time away."
A reluctant sigh, somewhat between relief and misgiving
"How old are you, really?"
He received a lopsided grin in response. Something that looked rather amused yet still carrying lines of remorse.
"288 years old."
Ryōtarō almost chocked with his own saliva "Two hundred and eighty eight?! B-but you've been with us for 250. And you said it all started 20 years ago. So that means you were 18!"
"And I achieved bankai when I was fifteen. Surprised?"
"I think that's an understatement." He muttered, voice laced with bewilderment "So that just means you really are a prodigy!"
Ichigo couldn't help but give a dry laugh at that.
"In all but kido and technicality."
"That's just a mere side note in comparison to the rest. A mix of all races! Ha, now I've seen it all!"
Ryōtarō stood up, liking how they were keeping on happier topics and not concentrating on the everything-went-to-hell thing. Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows in confusion before the raven head settled down right beside him and pulled him into a half hug around his shoulders.
"I'm the proudest man in the whole worlds!" he exclaimed, tone transfixed with enthusiasm and understanding "I'll be right by your side until my last breath, Ichi. You remember that. Anything at all, I'm right here."
Ichigo gave a small and almost insignificant smile in response. He felt lighter now that he had told somebody. And he was pretty sure Ryōtarō would keep quiet until Ichigo was willing to talk. This was the best outcome. Wise psychologists would say that the best way to deal with your problems was talking –to bad most of them were dipshit insane. But it still worked! Which might just mean he's crazy as well -which oddly enough, doesn't bother him as much as it should.
But right now, all Ichigo could think of, was how he didn't feel that visible pain in his very soul. At least for now.
"Oh, by the way, Haruka came back."
"WHAT?!"
#11#
It wasn't a surprise that Ichigo couldn't sleep that night, nor the next, or the night after that one. Actually, he was lucky in being able to sleep 21 hours that week in total –three hours per night. And when he arrived at the first squad barracks one week later, it didn't come as odd when the whole division avoided him like the plague –his scowl alerted anyone of what a bad mood he was in. However, when it came down to it, the other two third seats didn't seem to care –because obviously they'd notice- about his foul mood. No, they actually pestered him like no tomorrow. Actually, Shunsui did. And the worst part of it all, was the fact that Shunsui almost looked desperate for answers. Nearly demanding after receiving nothing for a whole week. And the very thought just made him shiver.
"Aw, c'mon Ichigo, why're you in such a bad mood? Does it have to do with last week? Are you mad at Shin? We deserve an explanation, right? Aren't we supposed to be friends? Can't we talk about it" When he received no response but a grumbling later, Shunsui scowled and finally snapped "Stop giving us the cold shoulder, Ichi."
Ichigo had had enough. He turned around, clenched his jaw, tightened his fist and stroke the brunet with an open palmed punch right in the middle of his chest. Said person flew back a good ten feet before abruptly stopping thanks to a post. The third seat grunted, his body falling with a dull thud on the veranda as he twitched painfully on the floor.
"WILL YOU KEEP QUIET, YOU ASSHOLE! YOU'RE BOTHERING THE WHOLE DIVISION!"
"Me?" Shunsui said while picking himself from the floor "I'M NOT THE ONE WHO'S YELLING FOR NO REASON!"
"Oh yeah?" Ichigo debated back "WELL I'M NOT THE IDIOT WHO'S BOTHERING WHEN I'M OBVIOUSLY IN A BAD MOOD!"
Shunsui flinched, most likely affected by the harsh truth before his eyes hardened to steel gray.
"AND WHO'S THE ONE THAT DECIDED TO LEAVE IN A FLASH AND STARTED TO IGNORE US TODAY AS WELL?!"
This time, Ichigo stiffened, and Jūshirō started noticing the tell-tale signs that things were getting ugly before the orange head scowled once again. His eyes were set in a cold glare, and Shunsui was sure that if he hadn't been victim to it so many times before, he would have turned tail and run off a long time ago.
"I left to treat my injuries." Ichigo said, in a low and threatening voice. They had gathered a crowd by now. "You were there. You should know." His voice stayed even, and if Jūshirō knew something about Ichigo, it was that his usual annoyance and loud self, is nothing compared to his silent ire.
"Yes I was. And even I noticed that wasn't all there was to it." Shunsui down-right said. He was starting to get pissed at Ichigo when before it was all just curiosity mixed with indignation.
The orange head clenched his jaw, balled his fists and turned around before walking forth in a predatory stalk. His entire posture just screamed rage but he had decided to leave before saying something he might later regret.
"Hey Ichigo! I'm not done with you just yet! Get back here! We-!"
"Shunsui." Jūshirō suddenly cut in. But it was too late. Ichigo stopped and slowly turned around before giving a deadpanned expression. One lacking any type of humanity, much less emotion.
"Is there really a we in your arguments, Kyoraku?" said person flinched "Did you consider Jūshirō or me by any chance?" Ichigo turned back forward, his voice barely above a whisper "You sure didn't."
And with that last phrase, the orange head kept walking before turning a corner and disappearing into the crowd. Shunsui, which looked wide-eyed and horrified with himself stood silently before Jūshirō grasped his shoulder and made him turn his way. The white haired third seat held nothing but silent disappointment.
"I would have thought better of you, Shu. And now you just went and fucked over you're friendship with Ichigo."
Shunsui grimaced. Jūshirō mostly never cursed.
But before he could even utter a word, the white haired man left and followed the orange head's path.
The division had the sympathy to scramble away when Shunsui was left all alone.
"What have I done?" He muttered to himself, the things he said repeating themselves over and over before everything went back to the emotionless expression on Ichigo's face. He had always hated that, and now he had caused it. He really was acting like a whimsical brat.
#11#
"Ichigo!"
Said person barely even paid hide to the voice of his white haired friend as he kept walking. He looked at Jūshirō from the corner of his eye and was glad to only find him following behind. Ichigo slowed down ever so slightly so that the third seat could catch up before they both walked side-by-side in a comfy yet tense silence.
Ichigo was merely glad his friend was a mute presence at his side and proceeded to control his raging emotions.
It had hurt. It had honestly hurt. And not because of what Shunsui had said, or what he hadn't. It was because his friend didn't seem to know when to leave the topic be and stay on the sidelines. Yet at the same time, Ichigo hated himself.
Nothing new, really. He had always hated himself one way or another. In the beginning, for his mother. Now, for so many things. He honestly didn't know where to start.
But still, that hadn't been the point. Shunsui had honestly crossed a line Ichigo wasn't ready to cross yet. Simple as that.
"I'm leaving today."
He didn't know why he had decided to speak out of nowhere, but Jūshirō was waiting for something, so Ichigo should at least respond.
The white haired boy looked positively alarmed "B-but why?"
Ichigo closed his eyes for a second "My transfer date is today. Talk about ironic."
He opened his eyes to glance at his side only to find the white-haired man's understanding gaze –filled with honest relief.
"I thought you were leaving, leaving." He muttered timidly.
Ichigo had the gall to laugh, a small and vacant chuckle "I thought so. But no, I'm just going to the tenth as planned."
"Well that's good." A silent pause, one completely respected by nature's usual tunes "Are you mad at him?"
Ichigo didn't even miss a heartbeat "I'm disappointed in him, not mad… Though I am pissed he didn't stop to think about us I guess. But not really mad, mad. Just annoyed."
"Would you be willing to talk to him?"
"No." A pause "Not unless he approaches me first, I won't."
"But you would?" It was more of a statement.
"Yeah" The orange head gave a grim smile "Yeah, I would."
Jūshirō gave a court nod "Than that's all I needed to know."
#11#
"So you had a fight with Shunsui-kun and now you're sulking like an egocentric brat." Ryōtarō said in-a-matter-of-fact tone.
Ichigo made a face between a scowl and a pout, further emphasizing Ryōtarō's point.
"I'm not sulking." He said while crossing his arms over his chest "I'm just analyzing the whole situation and trying to get him to understand."
"So you're whining." The raven head pointed out as he looked up from his paperwork to stare at his orange-haired son "I don't think that'll help you find a solution."
Ichigo was about to open his mouth to retort when Ryōtarō's glare shut him up.
"No Ichigo, I'm serious. Shunsui can't understand you if you don't even tell him what's wrong. You, aren't considering them either. What's the big deal about telling them? You told me. Unless there's something stopping you."
The orange head looked downright miserable "I can't; it's different. You're a wise old man that knows how to react calmly and rationally. What guarantee do I have that it'll end as well as it did with you? Besides, they were there. Millennium old men, battle hardened with centuries of experience and knowledge. You can't compare them. They aren't ready."
Ryōtarō gave him a pointedly look "And you were ready to charge into a war at the age of what, 18?"
"No, I wasn't. But I didn't have a choice. Here they do. Which is why I'm not telling them until later. Until it's necessary and I can't postpone it any longer."
"Fine." He said in reluctant acceptance "Have it your way. But what about the captain commander? What excuse do you have for him? He's too old? He's too naïve? He's too ignorant?"
Ichigo actually had the decency to wince "Uh, no. It's just… Yamamoto is Yamamoto. You should get the gist of it by saying just that."
Ryōtarō gave a blank face "Okay, you have a point. He might judge us crazy and throw us in the maggot's nest."
The orange head gave him a pointedly expression that clearly conveyed his disbelief.
"Alright, alright, he would throw us in the maggot's nest. Not might."
"You see my point now?"
Ryōtarō sighed as he went back to his paperwork "Yes, I see your point. Now keep your whining to yourself and let me finish this. I'm almost done."
Ichigo scoffed as he rolled his eyes but stayed quiet as he was told. He relaxed in his seat and perched his elbow on the table. The orange head could hear the many noises the 10th division made in their training and couldn't help but feel tranquil. It was rather nice to have nothing to do. But the peace was only ever so bearable before tragedy would come along. At least right now, all he could do was wait.
Suddenly, the raven head stood up with a childish grin as he handed Ichigo a scroll. The orange head took a deep breath and received it before opening it, and reading it. At the end, there were three lines used for signing. One had Yamamoto's signature, the other Ryōtarō's and the last was still empty.
"Just sign there and you'll officially be my lieutenant."
Ichigo looked up at his father while raising an eyebrow "Do I have a choice?"
Ryōtarō replied with an enthusiastic smile "Nope! You finally agreed, now you're screwed."
"Why do I put up with you?" the orange head grumbled; even as he was signing the papers.
Once he finished, he passed it back to the grinning man before said person shoved the lieutenant's badge in his face. Ichigo sighed as he received it and tied it around his arm.
"Great, now I'll have to see you 24/7."
"Don't be so grouchy." The tenth squad captain waved him off "This was bound to happen sooner or later."
"Of course it would." He complained.
Ryōtarō grinned. Ichigo just gave up.
#11#
"Are you sure the brat is still in Rukongai?"
"Yes sir. I'm positively sure young Wataru is still there."
"Have the assassin's been sent yet."
"Of course my lord." Responded a third person "They were sent yesterday at dawn."
The first one grinned evilly "Than everything's going according to plan." He paused for a second "Has our dear heir been promoted to lieutenant yet?"
"Yes sir. Just this evening."
"Than everything's advancing smoothly. It was annoying to always find him with those other two brats all the time. Now, at least the two Shibas are likely to be in each other's company. At least there shall be no witnesses left."
"Are you planning on openly killing them, my lord?"
"Like if. Make it look like an attack. Just like the rest of the main family."
"I hope you know what you're doing." A fourth said solemnly "Because if you screw up, don't think I will back you up, Gen.
"Remember I am your superior and you must treat me with respect!"
The previous person scoffed "I like to avoid as much wastefulness as possible" He answered in a monotone voice "Speaking politely consumes more time and energy."
"What?"
"For example 'If you would be so kind' and 'Wouldja' takes .09 and .03 seconds each to say. That's a whopping .06 difference. Supposing I ask you something ten times per day, it could cut out to two thousand seconds from the course of a year. Convert two thousand seconds to minutes, and it's about thirty-three minutes. What can be done in thirty-three minutes depends on the person, but still, that's a huge difference. As such, let's not concern ourselves with trivialities, and put all your efforts into your lousy intents at overthrowing the Shiba Clan."
Gen growled "Let's see if you're all high and mighty by the time I succeed."
"On the contrary. If you don't succeed, I'm sure you'll be discovered, and I'll be freed from your clutches."
Gen smiled darkly as he stared at the young man sitting before him; tall, lean, with raven black hair and steel gray eyes in a beautiful, bright shade, his hair held up in a low ponytail, while two kenshikin decorated the left side.
"I will not, Kuchiki Ginrei."
To be continued…
Seppuku: Ritual suicide by disembowelment carried out by samurai. Literally means "stomach cutting."
Tan, tan, tan~
Cliffhanger?