Rukia breathed in deeply, trying her best to get her anxiety under control. Ru-Ru was doing her best to coax her into a more level-headed state. She paced outside her brother's office and frowned. 'Ru-Ru, he's gonna die.' she thought, trying her best to not snicker at the very thought of her brother becoming flustered.
'Yeah I know, but you know, it's been 40 years… you've been dancing around the topic for so long now, you might as well just drop it and run,' Ru-Ru commented, the smirk audible.
"Okay!" She turned and flung her brother's office door open, surprising the man inside.
"Nii-chan!" She chirped. "I'm gonna have a boyfriend before dinner time!" She closed the door with a slam. She could hear her brother sputtering in the room and she shunpoed away before he could ask her what she was thinking.
Rukia paced around in front of Renji's door. She could sense him in his small barracks room. He was probably wondering what she was doing outside at this current time of day. Especially since around this time, she was normally trying to get Kaien to do his paperwork at this time.
"What do you want Rukia?" Renji opened his door, staring down at the tiny raven with his arms crossed as he leaned against the door frame.
"Ah…" Her eyes glanced at his bare arms, then to his chest. He wasn't even wearing his shihakusho properly, the top was hanging around his hips. "Shouldn't you be embarrassed?" She teased. "Standing half naked in front of a noble girl."
Renji's face went beet red, matching his hair and he slammed his door shut. Rustling could be heard and he opened it again, now dressed properly. "Now what do you want, Rukia…" He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Rukia took in a deep breath, going over the reenactment she and Kaien had practiced just so she could say the words bouncing around her head. "Renji…" She murmured, shuffling on her feet, her face red and eyes downcast.
Renji raised a tattooed brow and cocked his head to the side. "What? Spit it out already."
"Will you go on a date with me?!" She blurted out all at once, eyes squeezed shut, fists clenched tightly at her sides.
When he didn't respond, Rukia felt her heart flutter nervously. She peeked one eye open, and when she saw the look on his face her body relaxed and both her eyes opened. "Renji?"
He was gaping like a fish, eyes wide, face a scarlet red. "Wh-What did you just say?" He asked softly.
"I… I want to go on a date." She said, squaring her shoulders and tilting her chin up a bit. "With you."
"Uh-huuh…" He seemed as though his legs were about to give out. "Why?"
She blinked owlishly at him. Almost as though she had no answer to his question, really she did… but she didn't expect him to ask her that. "B-because… I like you." She said softly. Ru-Ru was squealing, as though she was watching her favorite scene from her favorite movie. It left Rukia's head reeling. She shook her head quickly. "Why else would I ask you out?"
"Right…" Renji said, his face was blank. He had no idea how he should react. His heart was racing as he turned his gaze down to the dark-haired girl. "Okay. Yeah." He nodded, "Where… Where did you have in mind?"
"Ummm." Rukia blanked. Her eyes wide. "Oh! Why don't we go on a picnic…?" She trailed off, her words trailing into a question. "Maybe tomorrow?"
"That… sounds nice actually," Renji muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "A date? So like… does that make me your b-boyfriend?"
Rukia giggled almost manically, practically vibrating where she stood. "It also makes me your girlfriend!" She smiled brightly.
Renji's smile was a sunny day. "Yeah… it does." He reached out, as if to pat her head but retracted his hand. He coughed into it. "D-Do I need to prepare anything, or- you, have like… expectations?"
"Just be yourself… and bring you," Rukia said softly.
"Bring me?" Renji repeated. "Y-Yeah, of course I can do that. Um… If I'm your boyfriend, can I uh… do something, really quick?"
Rukia blinked stupidly. "Yes?"
Renji stepped out of his quarters. He looked right, left, right again, and then completely twisted his body to get a good look at his roof; it was as if he was looking for something. Seemingly not finding whatever it was, he straightened up, stiffly bent down.
And planted a rather noisy kiss on Rukia's cheek.
The shorter girl squeaked with surprise, but didn't jerk away. With Ru-Ru absolutely cheering her on, Rukia leaned into the kiss. When Renji pulled away, she took her chance and returned with a dainty peck on his nose.
Red trailed Renji's body until steam spewed from his ears. "Uh… I'll pick you up at 2 o'clock at the Squad 13 Barracks!" He then rushed inside his quarters, the shoji screen slamming shut behind him.
Humming happily to herself, Rukia skipped off back home to request a delicious feast for her and her boyfriend tomorrow. "Boyfriend~ Heehee!"
Then the cooks asked Byakuya for permission, all they received was "Design the picnic as if the Kuchiki family reputation was on the line."
The food was, indeed, delicious and beautiful. Sparkly, would be the best word describing the cuisine.
Izuru ran to Squad 5's barracks, towards Aizen's quarters. This was probably a dumb move, but he was going to have a panic attack if he didn't find someone reasonably an adult! Specifically, an adult that can take on Gin if things get violent.
Conveniently, he slammed right into the back of the person he was looking for.
Aizen looked over his shoulder. "Izuru? I normally don't see you by yourself. What's the matter?"
"Forgive my rudeness, Captain Aizen, but I need your help," Izuru pointed in the direction of where the 3rd Squad's barracks were, waving his arm wildly. If he wasn't so busy trying to keep Aizen's attention, he would have laughed at how the traitor's eyebrows shot up in alarm. "It's Captain's Ichimaru, he's… I don't know what's wrong with him and- and… I don't know what to do!"
"Easy…" Aizen soothed, placing a hand on Izuru's shoulder. He kept a patient smile as if he wasn't aware that Izuru went stiff. "Show me what's wrong with Gin and I'll see what I can do to help him. Where is he?"
"His office. At least that's where I left him. I should have knocked him out before I left," Izuru ran his fingers through his bangs and inhaled. "Please follow me."
Izuru led Aizen to Gin's office, and he pointed at the door. "Careful, it's… disturbing."
Aizen shook his head slowly, opening the door. "Gin?"
"Ah~ Cap'n Aizen, how nice-" A hiccup, then a giggle. "Of shya ta join meh… where'sh Ishuru? He'sh shapposed ta drink with meh." Gin practically threw himself on top of his desk, sending papers flying everywhere, giggling with each breath. In his hand was a large bottle of sake.
Aizen didn't say anything to Gin, but Izuru could see his eyes darken before looking at the blond Lieutenant with warm understanding. "I'll take care of him, Izuru."
Take care of him how? Was what Izuru wanted to ask, but he held his tongue as Gin being drunker than a skunk on fermented crabapples was not enough incentive to kill him. "Would it be okay if I stay near and watch how you handle him, Captain Aizen? I may need to do this again in the future."
"Of course, I'll teach you how to take the alcohol away from him." Aizen entered the office and Izuru followed behind him.
'Kira, tell me what you see through my eyes.' Izuru thought as he watched Aizen mercilessly rip the bottle of Gin's grasp, the silver-haired captain too lost to even care.
'He coaxed Captain Ichimaru saying he would like to have a sip but didn't want to risk spilling any of it, then took the bottle.'
'I love that you're still under hypnosis.' Izuru pretended to look as if he was taking mental notes, watching Aizen closely. In reality, he was just letting Kira fill in the information he was missing.
"Aw, yer no fun, Cap'n Aizen," Gin whined, now sitting somewhat properly in his seat. That is, until he spotted Izuru and threw himself over the desk again, waving like an excited toddler. "Ah! Ishuru! There shya are!"
Izuru bowed to Aizen, "Thank you, Captain Aizen. He kept threatening me with his Zanpakuto if I tried to take the sake from him and then proceeded to laugh for several minutes. He even tried to hug me and make me drink with him." He shivered, not enjoying practically sitting in the captain's lap.
"It's quite all right. A captain should never cause more problems for his Lieutenant. Though, he should probably drink water…" Aizen eyed Gin sharply when the latter pouted at the mention of the forbidden drunk liquid.
"Oh, I know how to do that. May I see the bottle, please?" Izuru took the sake bottle, and, with Aizen following out of curiosity, went to the sink in the offices' mini kitchen. Pouring out the remaining sake, Izuru rinsed out the bottle, twice, then filled it with water.
Aizen looked amused, like a parent watching their child about to do something harmless, but stupid.
The duo returned to the office where Gin still sat in his chair, sulking.
"Captain Ichimaru~!" Izuru switched his tone, holding certain syllables like one would to a small child. "Captain Aizen, and I, agreed you could have one more cup."
"I knew you were mah favorisht!" Gin slurred with a laugh.
Izuru decided to not question those words, pouring the water into the sake cup. He took several steps back, practically hiding behind Aizen as Gin downs the cup. He let out the breath he didn't know he was holding when Gin let out a pleased sigh.
"Ishuru, that was the beshtest!" Gin declared. "Whe'd ya gets dis shtuff?"
Something in the back of Izuru's mind told him that Gin was getting drunk purely from a placebo.
Cautiously, Izuru stepped away from the 5th Squad captain and squared his shoulders. "From the pools of Amaterasu-Kamisama's endless seas." Technically speaking, all water comes to the ground because of the sun. Gin grinned widely and resumed giggling. Izuru looked up at Aizen. "Captain Aizen, can I be honest with you?"
"Why of course, Izuru. What is it?" Aizen asked.
"I've tried that on literally every drunk person I've encountered so far, and that has never failed me… I fear for the Soul Society's pallet if they can't tell the difference between plain water, and sake."
"Oh? Every drunk person?" Aizen's tone was more testing than Izuru was comfortable with.
"Yes. Hisagi-san, Abarai-kun, Kuchiki-san, Lieutenant Shiba and his whole family, 3rd seat Madarame, 5th seat Ayasegawa, Lieutenant Matsumoto, Captain Kyōraku… Add in Captain Ichimaru-" Izuru looked at his hands, trying to count how many people openly act drunk in front of him. "Captain Aizen, I think I need to stop attending birthday celebrations."
Izuru stiffened when a hand landed on top of his head and he forced himself to relax. It wasn't like he hated his head being patted, it was just he's stuck in a room with two deadly killers and one of them wasn't drunk.
"You're keeping everyone safe. I'm sure they appreciate the care when they wake up. Let's get Gin to bed. It's not right to keep you awake when your captain is incapacitated."
Izuru prayed that Aizen never use the word "incapacitated" again.
Aizen was the one to hoist Gin to his feet, something Izuru was grateful for. Not only was Gin taller than Izuru, but he'd probably turn into a ragdoll just to make the blond's job more difficult.
"Ishuru~!" Gin called, and when Izuru looked over his shoulder to stare at the captains, Gin waved with the hand not being held captive by Aizen. "Hi~!"
Izuru didn't reply, instead opening the door to Gin's quarters and letting the two captains in while he set up the futon. He covered his mouth to hide the snort when Aizen unceremoniously dropped Gin onto the bedding. Izuru made sure Gin was on his side, using extra blankets as barriers to keep him from rolling over just in case he vomited in the middle of the night. "Okay, Captain Ichimaru. Say 'night night' for Captain Aizen."
"Night night, Cap'n Aishen!" Gin giggled, shooting his arm out. Izuru had mere milliseconds to throw himself back before Gin's arm swiped just where he once sat.
Izuru scrambled to his feet and rushed back to the semi-safety that was Aizen, hiding behind the taller man.
It was terrifying to see how amused the captain was while he watched this ordeal.
Izuru stepped away, coughing into his hand. "Thank you, Captain Aizen. I'll… uh… take over from here, now that things have calmed down."
"It was no problem, Izuru. Gin should know better than to act like this," Aizen shot Gin a dark glare, which seemed to sober the man for all of 5 seconds. After giving the blond another pat on the head, he left.
Izuru only breathed a sigh of relief when he could no longer feel the man's immense spiritual energy. Then, his captain spoke.
"I really liksh ya, Ishuru~" Gin declared rather brightly. "Like a whoooooooole buncha!"
"That's nice, Captain Ichimaru," Izuru responded automatically. He began digging through the man's cabinets to look for hangover cures he could pre-prep.
"Do you liksh me?" Gin asked in a childish tone.
"Sure, Captain Ichimaru." Granted, Gin was more of Rukia's type than Izuru's- least in terms of when they were both Tanner and Luna. But his personality was entertaining.
Aha! Izuru found some ingredients with the help of Kira's instructions.
"Goosh, becaush I don' want ya tah die~" Gin giggled out. "Becaush I liksh ya too mach."
"Of course, Captain Ichimaru," Izuru muttered absentmindedly, not at all hearing what the man was slurring out. Once the concoction was made, he set the cup down near the futon, but slightly out of reach. He had to jump back when Gin, once again, tried to take a swipe at him. Giving the giggling drunk a glare, he ran off to his own quarters.
"Guess what?" Izuru told Rukia, sitting next to her and offering a stick of dango.
"What's up?" She asked, taking the dango stick happily.
"Guess who got their… bankai," Izuru emphasized each syllable with a massive grin.
Her eyes lit up. "No way! Original Izuru never even achieved that in Canon!" She was excited. "That's so cool! What's his name?"
"Wabisuke Kusai-Gyou, The Wretched Seeks Salvation," Izuru recited poetically. "You should see the kanjis it takes to write that all out, talk about big yikes. I guess when I broke down in front of Gin after… You know, Masaki's death, Wabisuke decided I had enough despair. He presented me with his true name a few months later." He shrugged his shoulders. "I would have told you sooner, but we were trying to work out the kinks. Sadly, it's not really meant to kill normal Hollows… most Hollows, actually. I need sentient creatures. Shuuhei is the only other person who knows."
Rukia smiled warmly. "I'm glad you told me." She murmured.
"Also, when I use it my hair grows like 5 feet in length," Izuru added like it was an afterthought. He reached up and ran his fingers through freshly-cut hair. "At least I automatically qualify to become a captain once… ya know. Stuff happens."
Rukia nodded and sighed. "I still only have Shikai." She sighed, frowning lightly. "You're so lucky, Yuki says I'm not ready for Bankai yet."
"Hopefully she teaches you how to be the humansona of dry ice before you have to fight the Quincy."
Rukia laughed lightly. "I hope so… Yuki's Bankai is so pretty." She sighed. "I'd dare say it's more powerful than Hitsugaya's ice bankai." She grinned.
"Hitsugaya gets fancy wings- at least until he gets that upgrade," Izuru deadpanned. His eyes trailed to the side. "Gin's been acting weird… er."
Rukia snorted. "Weirder how?" She asked curiously. "Cuz you really can't get weirder than Gin."
"Well, first he kept saying he liked me when he got black-out drunk. I had to get Aizen to help me with that fiasco- absolutely terrifying. Now at least once a day he keeps going 'Don't worry, I still like ya' and sometimes he pats my head like I'm a dog." Izuru turned a shade of green.
Rukia cackled. "It really seems like he genuinely likes you, Zuru-kun." She smiled cheekily. "Honestly, drunk people are more open and honest with the people around them." She said softly.
There was a pause. A very, very long pause.
"Good one, Rukia!" Izuru punched the tiny girl in the arm, laughing. "Oh, that is the funniest joke you have told me all week! No no no, can't be that- all Gin has on his mind is taking his Zanpakuto, and driving it through Aizen's heart, in a bad way. We're gonna go through the story, let him and Aizen do their thing, and there's a 50% chance I can use my speed to save his life. With him alive, he can be a useful tool in ensuring the Quincies are buttered toast."
Rukia didn't sense any hesitation or doubt in Izuru's voice or posture. Just pure confidence.
Rukia's smile twitched, rubbing her arm. "Right." She said, laughing slightly. "A joke."
After all these decades, she'd forgotten her friend was like this. Completely oblivious and uninterested in relationships. Luna had told her as much.
"Speaking of liking- has Byakuya given Renji a shovel talk yet?"
Rukia laughed nervously. "Ah… not yet… Speaking of Renji… I finally asked him out!" She chirped. "After 40 years of fawning over him, you know?"
"Well, at least it's not like in canon where it took you all… When did they originally become a thing? Post Aizen or post Yah-Witch?"
"Ee-wock." She nodded, "Pretty sure."
"Huh… weird…" Izuru shrugged and finished his dango. "Wonder if that was always Kubo's plan, and was just doing the Kagome-Inuyasha route, or he was indecisive on who Ichigo would end up with."
Rukia wrinkled her nose, "That's not something I'd rather think about."
Izuru shrugged.
"What do you mean I can't go to the World of the Living?" Rukia blurted out, gaping at her brother whose calm demeanor had not changed.
"I mean it, Rukia." He said calmly. "You need to focus on your duties."
She bristled. In the last… 18 years or so he has never once intervened. In fact, he practically encouraged it. So why was he intervening now?
"My duties? Aniki. You never cared about that stuff when it came to my days off before. Why can't I go to the World of the Living?" She slammed her hands on the table.
Byakuya didn't answer and instead sipped his tea. Rukia huffed and stood up from where she was sitting, and stormed out of the room.
Four years. It had been four years since Izuru went to Karakura town and three years for Rukia- all because people couldn't mind their businesses.
For a soul that could live a long time, Izuru was still bitter about the whole thing.
Finding the Hollow and killing it, also known as making it crush itself until it croaked, was easy enough. Slowly, Izuru looked around. No Aizen… no Gin… realistically, no one was expecting him back for a few hours. He hadn't been here in so long… Usually, his missions took him all the way up to Hokkaido.
Izuru grinned and hightailed towards the park. He examined the space with a nostalgic sigh. The slide was new, as was the water fountain. It pleased him to know the community kept this place looking presentable and fun for children. He found himself on a park bench, tilting his head back. No one could see him anyway… and it wouldn't be right to just waltz into the Kurosaki house after so long.
He'll just… take a little… nap…
"Aniki…" A stunned, somewhat familiar voice called out. "Izuru?" It was a bit deeper, likely due to puberty but it was still familiar to his ears.
"Huh?" Izuru said intelligently, snapping his head up from sleep. He blinked a few times, looking up at a familiar head of orange hair. "Hi, Ichigo. Long time no see, buddy."
"It is you Aniki!" He shouted, diving down at the blond with his full weight onto his stomach, his arms wrapping his midsection the best he could. "Where the hell have you been?!" He hit him upside the head. "You had us all worried!"
Behind Ichigo stood the twins. Yuzu had her hair shorter than before, and Karin had her straight bob. They were also taller than before. Definitely a pair of 9-year-olds.
Izuru ran his fingers gently through Ichigo's hair. "It's… complicated. Do you want the gentle answer or the straightforward one?"
Ichigo gave him a look. "Straight forward, duh." he frowned.
"Alright, alright fair. So, context, my rank is a lieutenant. I am the second-in-command for a team of Soul Reapers, my captain… is the right-hand-man of someone who, if he thought your existence would get in his way… would kill you." Izuru ripped that news like an old bandaid. "It's not in my place to tell you why. But someone brought your spiritual energy to the man's attention. I had to distance myself… so my captain didn't use me to have you or your sisters hurt- or become tools."
Ichigo huffed. "Stupid Aniki. I can handle myself, you know!" He ground out, gritting his teeth and glaring at the blond in front of him. He had his arms crossed and he sat next to him
"No, you couldn't. The man is strong enough to stop a theme song." Izuru chuckled a little at his own joke. "He could snap you in two just by looking at you funny… because the one you were looking at wasn't actually him. The real him… was standing behind you all that time."
Izuru grasped Ichigo's face gently, kissing the boy's forehead. "Neither I nor Rukia could adequately protect you. At most, we'd just be bodies for him to step over. We had no choice… should there be a time you have to fight… him. A man with brown hair, glasses, and a false smile… never look at his sword. If you do… grab it, and never let go. Understood?"
Ichigo gulped, nodding slightly. "Yeah…" He murmured, eyes wide. The boy seemed almost traumatized by his explanation… "Wait, hold on. Are you in soul form right now?" He asked, noticing his shihakusho.
"Yeah, I'm on the clock, technically." Izuru shrugged. Suddenly, he grinned and hoisted the boy in the air for a tight hug, letting the long legs dangle. "You called me Aniki! Come here, girls." He grabbed the twins, easily holding all three children in his arms as he gave them all head kisses.
"Onii-chan, what's going on?" Yuzu asked, feeling soft fluttering on her head. It was gentle and familiar.
"It's Izuru!" Ichigo said seriously. "He's back, can't you tell?" He paused, and thought about his words carefully. "Oh, right, you can't see spirits. Karin, can you see him?"
"I only accept that I see him because it's Aniki," Karin said plainly, accepting the affection she was receiving.
"Oh, sorry," Izuru set the kids down, and easily slipped into his familiar gigai for Yuzu. "Ta da~"
Yuzu's eyes widened excitedly. "It is Aniki!" She cheered, tackling the man in a hug.
He caught the small girl easily, "I also have some good news. You'll see Rukia in…" Izuru did some mental math. "I'd say 'bout a year from now. In… May. Yes… May. If things go well in our favor. May sounds right in my head. Before you're 16, Ichigo… just tell your father 'the crazy stuff happens in May' and he'll know what I mean."
Ichigo nodded. "I don't want to know how you know all that stuff." He said seriously. "Just so long as it doesn't end up being some kind of fluke."
"I'm like 99% sure Rukia has been making arrangements with her captain… Just… Look, I'm used to Rukia telling me to shut up right now." Izuru chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Saying too much, anyway. Just know that, the next time you see me… I won't be the Izuru you've always known."
"Because of your captain?" Ichigo guessed, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly. Can't exactly be helpful if I'm dead," Izuru explained weakly. He flinched, spotting a hell butterfly heading his way. "I have to go…"
"Really, Aniki?" Yuzu protested, her eyes wide and shiny with tears. "Please stay!"
Izuru put Yuzu down, giving each one of them a kiss on the foreheads. "You three be good. I promise, I'll return again for a visit."
"You better! Four years is too long!" Ichigo shouted with a grin. "Also, I should mention I've made some good friends while you're gone. I think you'd like Chad!"
Izuru smiled. "Yes… I think I would… bye." He shunpoed away and out of the children's viewpoints.
The return to the Seireitei was quiet, with no one approaching him for questions or pesters. When he reached his office he began to fill out the reports. Hollow type, method of extermination, and if the Hollow was purified or just killed. In all his time as a Soul Reaper, Izuru has never purified a Hollow- he always designated someone else to do it. It was… too difficult, taking down a Hollow without making it suffer, only to then purify it.
His thoughts were cut short by approaching footsteps. Familiar ones.
"So~" came the voice of Gin. He sauntered into the room, resting his elbow on Izuru's shoulder. He was seemingly taking full advantage of the shorter man's leaning position. "How was ta mission? Yer smiling rather big-like."
"..." Izuru set his pen down and looked up at his captain. He raised a hand…
And punched Gin square in the jaw. The action barely hurt the captain, but his eyes did spring open nice and wide.
"I'm really, really happy," Izuru explained without an apology. He robotically returned to his report. Finishing it off with his stamp. "I had a good experience during the mission."
Gin rubbed his jaw. "Well… If this is ya happy… Ya must be very scary when yer ecstatic!"
"One could say that… Oh, I brought you a treat from that bakery." Izuru reached under his desk and produced the still-chill takeaway box. "They got a shipment of persimmons again and made some cakes. This one is an upside-down yogurt cake."
Gin took the cake with a toothy grin. The soreness of his jaw was immediately forgiven and forgotten. "See, this is why yer my favorite! I still like ya, Izuru."
"Uh huh, that's nice, Captain Ichimaru," Izuru responded automatically. He bound his report in mint green cords and set it amongst the pile of paperwork he'll need the seated members to take care of.
He could not wait to tell Rukia of his newly minted title of "Aniki".
This chapter was so fun to write! My favorite scene was Rukia asking Renji out xP what was yours?