Izuru slogged through his paperwork with an air of despair. His week-long vacation request had been rejected by Gin, despite being caught up to the point where the captain could nap more than he worked.
"I'd miss ya, Izuru! A week is too long!"
The blond was starting to regret his talk with Gin about being there for him. Masaki just had the twins and they need as much help as possible. Poor Ichigo looked like a tired wreck when they last visited. But now his captain has become… clingy, to say the least.
Speak of the devil and he'll smile down at you… Gin approached his desk and tapped on the wood with a long, spindly finger. Once, twice, thrice.
A walk. Of course.
"Captain Aizen invited us for tea~"
Izuru made a dramatic show of slamming his face onto his desk, boosting the amusement of his captain. "Yes, sir…" With reluctance, he got up.
As Izuru followed Gin to Squad 5's grounds, he couldn't help but ponder just how often Gin and Aizen spent together once the former became a captain? If he recalled correctly, the manga seemed to portray Gin and Aizen's relationship as tense in the Seireitei, or was that just a later thing?
No matter.
"Captain Ichimaru, how about we make a bet?" Izuru nearly stumbled over his feet when Gin looked over his shoulder, not once changing his pace.
"Oh? What kinda bet, Izuru?" Gin grinned widely.
Izuru took a deep breath. "I bet you that I can make Captain Aizen uncomfortable during our visit."
"That's a strong bet, Izuru. In the centuries I'd known him, Captain Aizen never showed signs of bein' uncomfortable." Gin stopped walking and turned to face the blond. "Whatcha get if ya win?"
"If I succeed, you have to approve of my vacation request." Izuru squared his shoulder, shutting off all submissive body language. He had Gin's attention and he was going to use this to his advantage.
"Oh, that won't do. I said no to it. It's not good to keep botherin' me when I say no," Gin spiritual pressure slowly leaked out, wrapping around Izuru's throat and sitting there. "What do I get then?"
"Free entertainment during the visit and if I fail, I will do all of your paperwork for three months straight, no breaks." Izuru recently came across a tea that could keep him awake like someone injected him with pure caffeine. This was the perfect time to see how much he could get done if sleep deprived.
Inside his head, Kira wept. Not that Izuru could blame him. His body was starting to make weird noises due to his sleep-decisions.
"Much of the paperwork I gotta do requires my signature," Gin said, tucking his arms into his sleeves.
"I said: I will do your paperwork," Izuru stressed, and it took all he had to not crack under Gin's growing smile. Did the man not have muscle limitation?
"Yer creepy sometimes, Izuru," Gin commented, but nodded his head. "I agree. Whatcha gonna do to Captain Aizen?"
"My lips are sealed, sir." Right, tell Gin and then he prattles to Aizen in secret? Heck no.
When they reached Squad 5's captain's quarters, they were greeted by Momo, who flung open the door with bright eyes. "Izuru! You came too!"
"Hi, Momo…" Izuru greeted weakly. Great, he had the sunshine child here too. He took off his sandals, following the trio into the main room, where Aizen was skillfully pouring tea. A serene air hung about him, like he wasn't a homicidal maniac hellbent on tossing everything into chaos.
… That was his goal, right? Ugh. Izuru needed to check with Rukia the next time he saw her about that. Maybe that was the Quincy guy's goal…
"Hello, Captain Aizen~!" Gin sang out, happily plopping his butt next to the other man. "Been a while since we had a lil' get together!"
'Captain Aizen just asked how you were doing.' Kira's voice echoed inside Izuru's head.
Wh- damnit. Why couldn't Aizen just ask that himself?! "Oh, living the dream," Izuru responded to the non-existent question.
"That's a new turn of phrase," Aizen commented smoothly. His eyes shone a curious glint. "Did you pick that up while visiting the World of the Living?"
Izuru resisted the urge to swallow. Of course, Aizen would know of his outings with Rukia. Gin would tell him. "Yes. I'm picking up odd habits from the youths. Kuchiki-san and I feel it's best to pick up languages so we can blend in better."
"My Izuru is so smart!" Gin praised like he would a dog. "Thinkin' three steps ahead."
"I see. Tell me," Aizen asked, sliding tea cups to Gin and Izuru. "How is the World of the Living doing?"
So, Izuru shared some stories- namely focusing on the growth in technology and the shift of traditions. His discovery of stationary -"So that's where yer getting those colors"- and buying cakes for Gin to enjoy. In a moment of planning, Izuru pulled a white lie.
"I guess people think Kuchiki-san and I are a couple," Izuru said flippantly. "We have parents that recognize us and ask us to watch their kids all the time when we pass the parks. I don't even like children. They think I'm an American and being around me will improve their children's English."
Aizen hummed in a dismissive tone. Good. If he catches Izuru with Ichigo, he'll just think it's some babysitting gig.
Seeing a lull in conversation from all parties, Izuru took his shot. "Captain Aizen, may I ask you a particularly stupid question, please?" Izuru had to take a sip of his tea to hide the smirk when Gin perked up. It was… sort of cute. A fox that spotted a mouse, cute.
"I'm sure it's not a stupid question, Izuru. Please, speak freely," Aizen said graciously, a smile as warm as a witches' oven that just had children tossed into it. "There's no need for formalities when we are amongst friends."
"Well, I am a pseudo-member of the Soul Reaper Women's Association. Something that I have learned about you, is that you are one of the top three most popular captains in the Soul Society," The blond started, side-eyeing Momo when he spotted the poor girl's cheeks flushing red. "And it's made me curious. You're one of the most popular Captains in both personality and appearance, you've had a successful career for the last century…"
'Please stop what you are about to ask right now,' Kira begged within Izuru's mind.
"Why are you not married yet?"
Haha, success! Aizen choked on his tea!
"Izuru!" Momo gasped, covering her mouth in both horror and embarrassment.
"No, Momo, I'm being serious here! The fact that none of the captains are married is absolutely ridiculous. You weren't at the meeting, but everyone spent over two hours debating on which captain would have the cutest children," Izuru said and gestured an entire hand to Aizen. "Do you not realize how many times they kept going back to talking about Captain Aizen?!"
"What did they say about me?" Gin chirped in, his grin now showing his teeth. To Izuru, this seemed like a ploy to get the conversation off of the wide-eyed Aizen.
"The kids would look like their mom because genetics says everything about you is recessive," Izuru answered coldly then turned his attention back to Aizen. The captain was sitting there, like his genius brain was almost struggling to reach for a plausible answer. Meanwhile this tiny, easily-killable Lieutenant, stared him down with a raised eyebrow.
"I haven't found the right person just yet," Aizen finally answered, giving Izuru a closed-eye smile. "I've dedicated my life to the Soul Society, and haven't found the time to settle down with a partner."
Izuru side-eyed Momo and held out the teapot to her. "Would you make some more tea, Momo? Please?"
"Oh…. um, sure," Momo muttered out. Bowing to the two captains and then quickly retreating out of the room.
Izuru waited a moment for her to be out of earshot when he continued, "Sorry, this wasn't meant to reach her ears. But I think I know what your type is and why you probably never found the 'right person', Captain."
Gin was snickering behind his hand.
"What would that be?" Aizen asked, shifting slightly in his posture. Oh yeah, Izuru's vacation was guaranteed.
"I believe you fancy… the less fair sex."
Bullseye! Aizen's jaw fell slack.
Gin fell backward in a full cackle.
'Whatever you did, he's flabbergasted.' Kira explained.
Izuru raised his hands in mock surrender, "It's totally understandable, Captain Aizen. Sometimes it just takes some of us a few centuries to accept our sexualities. We're all friends here."
Izuru leaned forward and placed a gentle hand atop Aizen's.
Izuru made sure to pull every sympathetic muscle in his face. "Don't worry. I am an ally of the alphabet soup gang. Your secret is safe with Captain Ichimaru and I."
"Alphabet…?" Aizen muttered, eyes glazing over.
Who knew out of everything Aizen could ever plan for, someone questioning his marital status was something that never came up? That or implying he was gay.
Just as Momo returned with the tea, Izuru returned to his regular posture. "Momo! Welcome back! We were just discussing Captain Ichimaru's approval of my vacation!"
Momo beamed, passing tea around with a happy squeal. "That's great! I know you've been working so hard for it! Thank you Captain Ichimaru- um… Captain Aizen?"
Aizen still looked broken.
Gin was choking on his laughter.
Izuru drank his tea in victory.
Rukia carefully rocked a crying Karin, while Yuzu laid in her bassinet sleeping peacefully. Rukia knew Karin was going to be a handful seeing as she was considered a crybaby like Ichigo when he was little, until their mom passed away.
She frowned sadly. In just a short 5 years her friend was going to pass. She had to make sure they made it on time to save her soul. If they didn't… it would eat her alive for the rest of eternity.
5-year-old Ichigo was watching his babysitter closely. "Do you think she's hungry?" He asked, curiously. "She sounds like she's hungry."
Rukia blinked at the boy and smiled warmly. "You know what, Ichigo-chan? Yeah. I think you're right." She stood up with the baby and walked to the kitchen. "Keep an eye on Yuzu-chan for me will ya?"
Ichigo nodded eagerly and moved to sit next to the bassinet and watch his sister closely.
Rukia made a bottle for the baby in a way that said she's had years of experience. She finished making the bottle while rocking Karin. She came back to the living room and sat on the couch. She began to feed the infant but it didn't seem as though she really wanted to eat. Rukia frowned and sighed, placing the baby on her chest and patting her butt like she used to do with Ichigo. It usually worked but this time around she just didn't seem to want to settle.
Just as Rukia sighed in defeat, the front door opened.
"Finally here," Izuru announced his presence. "I had to give Aizen the panic of the millennia just to get approved vacation ti-"
He stopped as the piercing wail of Karin reached his ears. He followed the sound until he was standing amongst a stressed child, Rukia, and a crying Karin. "Um…?"
Rukia sighed, stood up, and gave him a tired smile. "Want to try getting her to settle? I've tried everything. She's just so fussy today." Rukia seemed exhausted. She had been at it for a few hours now.
"Sure. Gimmie," Izuru said and took the infant, tucking her against his chest. "Let's see… Feeding, changing, singing… Oh! Maybe…"
Slowly swaying his body, Izuru hummed deeply in his chest only familiar to him, and vaguely to Rukia. With a free hand, he began to lightly stroke the baby's face. From the top of her hairline, a single finger trailed down to the tip of her nose. Over and over, following her breathing pattern while occasionally blowing a soft puff of air onto her warm face.
Within a few minutes, the wails became a softer cry. The cry then, just as slowly turned into a whimper… and then silence.
Rukia breathed a sigh of relief.
"I learned this from a Disney movie," Izuru said with a grin.
"I didn't think of that… That's something I used to do with…" She paused as she remembered a brief glimpse of a small blond-haired, green-eyes boy. "Ah, never mind. Anyway." She chirped quietly. "You get her down and I'll go make lunch for Ichigo." She smiled lightly, a sad glint in her eyes.
Izuru maneuvered over and gave Rukia a sympathetic bump of his arm. "I'm positive he's being cared for, hun." He walked away, keeping the same swaying motion until Karin was placed beside her sister.
"Yes, but by now he's gotta be almost 50." She laughed lightly. "With grandkids of his own."
"Technically," He dropped his voice even lower. "Neither of us would be so much as a thought for several years… who knows? Maybe only a day has passed in our home world. He's probably with your cousin waiting for you to come home and tell him to stop cutting up paper."
Rukia paused. She reached up to wipe away a tear threatening to fall. "How do you know what to say?"
"Simple: I don't focus on myself."
Rukia quickly fixed a light warm lunch for the small boy. It was almost naptime and she knew he slept better with warm food in his belly.
Ichigo watched closely as the two maneuvered around the space. It was like they were always here even though it was only every once in a while… Really he felt like it was forever ago that they were last here.
Izuru reached down and picked up the child once he had his fill, carrying him on his hip. "Okay, little man. Do you want pajamas for your nap or your play clothes?"
"Does it really even matter if I change my clothes?" He asked with a frown. "You're weird." He said with a lilt to his voice that indicated he was teasing the adult in a way he could only have learned from Rukia… Or his father.
"..." Izuru, without a word, placed a hand on top of Ichigo's stomach. "Good, it's settled."
And promptly flipped the child upside down.
"Little twerps get carried upside down," Izuru explained without needing a question and took him upstairs. Ichigo got the flight of his life when, upon entering the bedroom door, the small child was tossed a good 3 meters into the air. He landed in the middle of the bed with enough force to make him bounce a few times.
The entire time he was squealing, laughing as he bounced on his bed.
Rukia finished with what she was doing and frowned when she noticed the blond and the orange-haired child were missing. "Did you forget he just ate!" She called up the stairs. "If he throws up you're cleaning it up!" She could hear the commotion.
"He hasn't thrown up since that time Masaki fed him leftover sushi!" Izuru's voice rang from upstairs.
Rukia made a face. "I still can't believe she did that…" She made a YECH motion and noise and shook her head. She turned to go and clean up the kitchen and dining area.
Soon it was time to properly feed the twins. Ichigo napped heavily just like Rukia thought he would and the house was quiet for once when the parents returned home from their date night.
They tiptoed into the house when they noticed the silence. The twins were fast asleep in their bassinet and Ichigo was still fast asleep for his nap. "You guys are miracle workers." Masaki breathed. "I can't believe we get to keep you for a week."
"I can't believe every baby you have had has liked me," Izuru countered with a grin.
Masaki laughed slightly. "Honestly I'm not, you're rather chill when it comes to the kids."
"Masaki said 'Chill'…" Rukia said with wide eyes.
Izuru fist-pumped. "Booyah, I'm winning." He reached into his pocket and popped a soul candy. "I'm going to patrol the town. If Karin wakes up, Rukia- show them what I did."
Rukia nodded and proceeded to pick up Yuzu who was an easy baby. She stayed asleep. Rukia then showed them while explaining quietly. "He ran his finger down Karin's face like this to get her to settle down. She just didn't want to stop crying until he did so."
Masaki was in awe. "Why have we never thought of that?" She asked her husband who shrugged dramatically.
"Honestly. I think we've just been too tired to think about it…" He murmured as quietly as he could.
Masaki nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think so too." She whispered.
Meanwhile, by the bassinet, Izuru's gigai stood by little baby Karin… just… staring forward.
With the biggest, creepiest grin any of the three adults have seen. Two of them have spent their years killing Hollows too. The gigai looked as if its skin was tearing from the force of the smile.
Rukia smiled nervously. "Can you calm down the smile?"
"I'm not smiling." The soul candy responded blankly.
"Um…" Rukia mumbled… "This one is definitely one Izuru designed…" She laughed nervously. This one somehow reminded her of the bus driver…
The gigai's neck cracked unnaturally at the sound of Karin whimpering awake. Instinctively, he picked up the small baby. Without breaking the manic smile, he resumed the humming, soothing Karin back asleep.
"Ahahahahaaa…." Rukia laughed nervously, before looking at the parents who seemed miffed about the sudden change in Izuru's Gigai…
"What happened to the other one he had?" Masaki asked. "The pervy one?"
"Well, I think he deemed that one too inappropriate to be around children." Rukia had to agree with that statement, It was wayyyyy too inappropriate.
"Did he have to bring one so creepy? I swear I've seen a horror movie with that face…" Isshin commented. The only reason the gigai hasn't been ripped apart right now, was because Karin seemed perfectly fine with the situation. "Let's hope Ichigo doesn't see this."
"Oh…" she looked at it closer and realized something. "He designed this one after someone specific… Though, I hope he took out the more terrible parts of the character's personality…"
"Like what?" Masaki asked.
"You don't want to know," Rukia promised lightly with a smile.
"I can assure you I have been designed with the idea of protecting children to my utmost ability…" The gigai paused only to put Karin back down. "While also looking like a sleep paralysis demon."
"I can tell." Rukia smiled wider. "That face will haunt my dreams." She shook her head. "You guys have a good date?" She asked the two other adults in the room.
"Oh yes, we had a pleasant time." Masaki smiled.
"We got to try this restaurant we have been dying to try for months! Masaki couldn't eat there because the smell didn't cooperate with her pregnancy!" Isshin flashed a wide grin. "It was absolutely lovely, then we went for a walk, and then a local concert, and-"
And so the man began his lengthy essay about the date in full detail.
Rukia nodded along, happy to listen to his ramble, it was nice to have an adult conversation that didn't center around the children. As much as she loved them.
Izuru returned, looking more frazzled than when he left. "Gillians are the most annoying thing in the world. Turned this one into a slinky." He rubbed his eyes and scanned the room. Then checked his pocket, producing the soul candy capsule with the red deer mascot. "Um… where's my gigai?"
His question was answered by the screams of Ichigo who seemed to almost trip over himself to get out of bed and down the stairs to his parents. "Monster!" He shouted in fear. Practically monkey climbing up his dad's body to cling to his shoulders.
The gigai followed, smile still going strong. "Not a monster. I'm just a really freaky piece of candy."
Izuru slammed his palm against his forehead. "Back to the drawing board… Maybe I should just do a friken Care Bear instead."
"Why, so it can stare a hollow to death?" Rukia snickered. "I think this one is just fine… maybe if his smile was a little less intense…" She said softly. "He did a great job getting Karin to calm down. He probably shouldn't have stood over poor Ichigo while he was sleeping…" She laughed lightly.
"I'm not smiling," The gigai replied automatically. "This is just my face."
"Sure buddy," Izuru took over the body, the soul candy collected and put away. Immediately, Izuru cried out in pain. "Ow! My face hurts!"
"That kind of smile… I'm not surprised." Isshin said, soothing his son. "Look, it's just Izuru." He pointed and Ichigo hiccuped, rubbing his eyes as he looked at the tall blond.
"Oh… Why were you smiling like that, Izuru?" He asked curiously.
Izuru groaned, rubbing his cheeks, "You know how sometimes I'm like… see through?" He waited for the child to nod. "Well, I gotta keep this body standing and moving. So, I eat this funky candy and something else controls this body. Like… remember when we played Mario, and you had to go to the bathroom, so you let me finish the level?"
Ichigo slowly nodded, remembering that fun game.
"It's like I gave the controllers to someone else until I was done." Izuru went to the fridge and placed ice against his cheeks.
Rukia yawned widely. "Man, being in a gigai is exhausting. Do you guys mind too terribly if I head to bed?" She asked. The twins' bedroom was made up as a guest room, seeing as they were still young enough to sleep in their bassinet in their parents' room. Two separate futons for the guests. Obviously.
"No, no, go get some sleep! I don't miss those days of wearing one like that," Isshin responded. "Izuru, you going to bed too?"
"... What's sleep?" Izuru asked… there was no sarcasm in him.
Rukia laughed lightly. Obviously amused by that comment. "You know, you lay in bed and close your eyes for 3 seconds before getting up to go back to work? That thing you usually do?"
"..." Izuru slowly blinked. "I haven't used my futon in five years. I sleep on my desk." The group could hear Izuru's spine crack as he twisted it.
Rukia frowned. "You deeply needed this vacation. Let's go lay on the futons and experience the bliss of sleep."
"I'm alphabetizing your paperwork if I can't sleep." Izuru challenged the Kurosakis before going up the stairs first.
Rukia blinked. "Oh man, he'll do it." She said seriously. "Alright! Good night!"
The Kurosakis waved as the pair moved upstairs and disappeared into the guest room.
Izuru was asleep on the futon before he was even done taking off his socks. Dead to the world. No service. Absolutely blue-screened.
Rukia chuckled and changed into pajamas before crawling under the covers of her futon and quickly fell asleep.
Thanks for reading! Sorry for the late update I got so busy with work. Drop a review if you enjoyed!