Disclaimer: Not mine
Talk of miscarriage
I'm sick, right in time for Christmas. Summer cold thanks to the fluctuating heat and humidity. Not fun. So not sure how quick updates will be on anything till I get over this.
Chapter 5
Isshin walked towards the hospital, Ichigo just behind him. Having him behind him had part of Isshin wanting to draw Engetsu while another said it was natural to have Ichigo at his back, and he didn't understand why. He opened the door to the hospital and nodded at Ryūken when he saw the Quincy waiting for him. He saw the other man's eyes widen when he saw Ichigo behind Isshin. He waved him off, leading the boy to one of the few rooms they had separated from the main area. Without needing to be asked Ichigo grabbed the gown and went to change, coming back to sit on the table, hands clenching the edges hard as he stared at the wall.
"Relax, there's nothing invasive in the exam," he offered, and Ichigo nodded but didn't relax. Isshin began taking down general things like body temperature, height, weight… "You're a bit underweight for your height, not surprising if you've been living rough for a while."
,
Ichigo snorted at that. "I don't remember when I last had a proper meal," he admitted. "It's been...years." Not since Seireitei had fallen, after that there had never been enough supplies or enough time really. Meals had been whatever was close at hand and could be shoved down quickly.
"Well, we can fix that," Isshin promised as he kept working. "Heart and lungs…" he blinked and checked again. "How…you have a body…not a gigai…" Isshin stared dumbly at him and Ichigo shrugged. That was a familiar expression which was kind of nice but also painful. This Isshin was more like the one he had known in the last years of the war than the man he had grown up with.
And yeah, he'd figured out he had a body very quickly, as well as the fact he no longer had to leave it to use his powers. It was handy since it meant he wasn't leaving his defenceless body lying around when he fought but it had been a shock. His body was long dead and now he had it back? No, his body had died at eighteen, he was now twenty-eight and his body looked maybe early twenties. The only thing he could think of was the evil marble. It had been cracked by his attack, not destroyed, and he'd definitely been holding it when whatever it was activated, yet it was gone when he arrived in this world.
,
Was there no end to the questions this boy raised, then again, if he was still tied to his body then he wasn't really a boy, was he? "You really need to eat more then, to sustain your body," he offered before shifting the gown off his back only to freeze as he saw the mass of scars littering tanned skin.
Some were obviously from battle but the rest? He knew what torture and experimentation looked like. He recorded what he saw and checked his chest, unsurprised to find more of the same scaring.
"I'm going to use Kaidō now," he warned, and Ichigo nodded, thankfully not fighting Isshin's power as he gently scanned him. "Do you have high speed regeneration?"
"Yeah, but there are ways of impeding it," he answered, obviously realising that Isshin was asking due to his scars.
"Alright, we're done," Isshin wrote up his findings and then put them in the filing cabinet. "I'll show you to the dining hall and we'll get you a meal."
,
"Thanks." Ichigo changed back into his clothes and followed his alternate dad from the hospital to one of the larger buildings. It had been renovated inside to provide a large hall with tables and a kitchen where a familiar form was hard at work. He froze, eyes wide, as he stared at Yuzu who was happily working away in the kitchen.
,
Isshin paused, feeling the fluctuation coming from Ichigo and turned to see him staring at Yuzu with wide eyes…full of pain. It was like he had seen a ghost but why? "That is my daughter, Yuzu," he explained, and then he swallowed. Oh. "Ichigo…where is your family?" Isshin whispered, not liking what he suspected.
Ichigo blinked and looked away. "Dead," he whispered, and Isshin reached out to grip his shoulder, offering support without thinking. Startled amber eyes met his and he felt Ichigo relax under his grip, offering a sad smile to him before stepping away.
Isshin bit back a sigh, what was it about Ichigo that drew him to the boy and made him want to protect him? Isshin moved further in and Yuzu looked up, smiling when she saw him and then she saw Ichigo and quickly dished up two trays of food.
"Welcome back Dad," she greeted as she put the trays on a table for them.
He reached out and hugged her tightly, needing physical proof she was safe after seeing Ichigo's scarred body. He felt her surprise, but she happily returned the hug. "Yuzu, this is Ichigo, he's just joined us," he introduced them, and he knew she would understand the warning of him having just joined up.
,
Ichigo couldn't stop staring at Yuzu... who looked exactly as she had the year he'd become a Substitute Shinigami, but she was definitely still alive and not a spirit so how? Unless he'd been thrown into the past of another world? As she turned to greet him, he forced himself to swallow and breath, this wasn't his sister…his sister had been innocent at this age. "Hello," he forced out of a constricted throat.
,
Yuzu heard her Dad's warning, any time someone new joined up or someone came back from too long an absence it meant ensuring she was never alone with that person, or even just with Karin since she was still struggling to get her powers to where she could actually use kido. She was shocked by how much he looked like her Dad, even though she knew he had other relatives but hadn't they all sided with Soul Society?
She met his eyes and almost gasped as she saw the pain as he looked at her and she knew, without anyone having to say a thing, he'd had a sister, it was there in the way he was looking at her. She smiled at him and he managed a weak one in return.
"It's nice to meet you, Ichigo. Now both of you eat before it gets cold," she scolded before leaving them alone.
,
Isshin watched the interaction and saw the same pain Yuzu had, Ichigo had said his family was dead and he was willing to bet that meant more than parents. They sat down and began eating in silence, Isshin didn't know what to say at the moment and was content watching Ichigo as he ate. He was pleased to see he didn't have to warn him to eat slowly to give his stomach time to adjust.
"What have you been living off?" he couldn't help asking and Ichigo shrugged.
"The river has fish; the old school still has vending machines, he answered. "This is amazing, she's a good cook."
"Takes after her Mother that way."
"You're married?" Ichigo asked, and Isshin smiled sadly.
"I was."
,
"Oh, sorry." There went the very slim hope his Mother was still alive in this world.
They finished eating and Ichigo followed Isshin around as he pointed out important places to remember, Ichigo trying to ignore the eyes watching them…watching him really. They had no reason to trust him, he knew that, didn't stop it from hurting. They finally approached another building and Ichigo could feel the other Visored inside.
"You'll be living in here, the Visored have been together a long time but I'm sure they'll get to know you in time," Isshin offered as he opened the door and dodged an attack from Hiyori, moving inside and Ichigo followed him. Everyone inside froze and Isshin bit back a sigh, so much for Shinji warning them. "This is Ichigo, Shinji said he can stay with you."
,
The Visored as one stared at first Isshin and then Ichigo, all recognising him as the one who'd been helping them and who had saved Shinji. Was that why Shinji had offered him a bed in their place when no one else was ever offered?
Mashiro bounced over and smiled at Ichigo. "Hi, I'm Mashiro."
"Hello," Ichigo smiled slightly at her, and when she offered her hand, he took it.
They watched him closely, he had to know what they were, he'd seen their masks after all, and yet he showed no hesitance or fear. Then again with the power they'd seen and heard described, they were likely not a large threat individually.
"Why did baldy say you can stay?" Hiyori demanded, glancing from Ichigo back to Isshin.
Isshin waited but Ichigo remained silent so he cleared his throat. "Ichigo, is a Visored," he answered.
,
That definitely got their attention even as Mashiro moved to Kensei's side and he stepped slightly in front of her. Ichigo hid the hurt that caused, they had no reason to trust him, not yet. He'd saved Shinji and he figured that was what was at last keeping them from attacking. But an unknown Visored? There was no way they would trust him, not right away, maybe not for a long time.
Then again, they hadn't trusted him last time, even as they trained him at Kisuke's request. It'd taken time, stuck in that warehouse together. It hadn't helped that he'd known they would kill him if he couldn't get control. But he had control, maybe even more than they did.
,
"Impossible," Lisa stated. "Those experiments were stopped. No one would be crazy enough to recreate them."
Isshin fought to keep his face blank, feeling sick at her words after seeing the scars that covered Ichigo's body. He wasn't so sure someone hadn't tried and succeeded using Ichigo. A human soul was still malleable, it would probably be easier making one a Visored than attempting it on a Shinigami. "It's true, he summoned his mask and Shinji confirmed it."
,
Ichigo shifted, fighting down nerves. He couldn't tell them the truth, they'd think he was crazy, but he also didn't want to risk being caught in a lie. He hadn't mentioned being part Quincy but that was pretty easy to hide, he'd been using Blut subconsciously for years, it was part of how he'd always managed to handle gang attacks without injury until his skills had gotten good enough to take them down. The Old Man had begun training him in how to utilise them consciously and to the best effect but there was rarely time to train. He couldn't form a Heilig Bogen and doubted he'd ever be able to, he just had too much power and not enough control, but he did carry a Quincy Cross, it had been his Mother's and Isshin had given it to him a few months before he'd regained his powers.
"Prove it," Kensei ordered, the Visored shifting to spread out a bit more.
Ichigo nodded and shifted away from Isshin before raking his hand across his face, his mask forming, settling over his face.
,
Isshin watched as Ichigo summoned his mask again…after moving to ensure Isshin was not in the line of fire if the Visored attacked. It was hard to keep any level of suspicion when he did things like that without appearing to even think about it.
They stared at the eerie white and black mask, seeing Hollow eyes behind it and they tensed but he remained where he was, hands shoved in his pockets.
"How long can you hold it?" Love asked, that would give them an idea how long ago he had undergone Hollowfication.
,
"As long as I need too," he answered, by the end they had all been able to hold their masks indefinitely. Obviously in this world they couldn't…because they hadn't had him and his relationship with Shiro to learn from?
He dismissed the mask, keeping his hands in his pockets, trying to ensure he was as unthreatening as possible. The last thing he wanted was to fight them. He looked back at his D…Isshin and shrugged. "I can sleep anywhere, all I need is a corner of floor somewhere," he didn't want to cause trouble.
,
"Nope, you're staying with us," Shinji called from behind Ichigo as he slouched his way into the building. "I'll show you where," he motioned for Ichigo to follow him, glad when he did.
He'd meant to beat them back, to warn the others, but he'd gotten caught up in planning with Sōsuke. He led Ichigo to his own room and indicated the bottom bunk, all the rooms were fitted with bunkbeds in case they had to double up. So far, they hadn't needed to since no one wanted to share with them and they didn't have the numbers to force the need to share.
Shinji could have foisted the kid off onto one of the others but he was the oldest, the better at foiling blades in the dark. So, it was best if Ichigo roomed with him.
,
Ichigo looked around, seeing the touches that screamed Shinji, and dropped the bag he always carried with him onto the mattress….a real mattress, how long had it been since he'd slept on one of those? Sharing a room with Shinji was going to be interesting. Out of everyone, he felt the most at home with the other Visored and that was dangerous, he couldn't afford to relax too much and give something away.
,
Shinji watched Ichigo as he accepted his new living arrangements. He didn't think Ichigo was a plant, if he was then Yamamoto needed better recruiters because he stood out too much. He wanted Ichigo to be the real deal, not just because they needed the help but because the kid obviously needed a family and maybe they could be that for him in time. If he was a plant then best that he be kept near since it would take another Visored, or several of them, to take him down.
"It's getting late, get some sleep," he offered the kid a way out of having to deal with the others until morning, and Ichigo nodded, sitting to remove his shoes. Shinji went to the cabinet he stored his things in and tossed some clothes to him since whatever he had in that bag likely wasn't the cleanest.
"Shower's at the end of the hall, we even have hot water," he grinned as Ichigo practically flew down the hall. He sighed and headed back into the main room to talk to the others.
,
Ichigo stood under the boiling hot water, head bowed as he let it wash away the sweat and grime. His only method of bathing since arriving had been quick dips in the river with no soap and never feeling safe enough to strip. He grabbed the soap and scrubbed his body, three times just to be sure. Then he ran it through his hair as well, shoving the mess back while it was wet, he needed to see who could and would be willing to cut it for him. He could do it himself, if necessary, but it always ended up a disaster even if it was out of his eyes and not of easily grabbable length.
Finally, he got out and dried off, changing into the loose pants and top Shinji had lent him. A little tight, Shinji had always been very skinny and Ichigo had more muscle as well, but serviceable. He went back to the room and collapsed on the mattress, not caring there were no sheets, and closed his eyes, hoping the nightmares wouldn't come but doubting it since he'd seen so many of those he'd failed.
,
Shinji flopped on the couch with a bowl of soup, feeling the others eyes on him. "Yes, that is the Ichigo that saved my life and has been helping us. Isshin managed to talk him into coming back with us. Ichigo, no last name, around twenty-eight years old and Visored," he recited the information Sōsuke had asked for. "So, we've got a powerful fighter who can also double as medical, once he's fully cleared."
"Did he say how he became one of us?" Rose asked from where he was working on some sheet music.
"No. Sōsuke is pondering if it's possible for one to occur naturally, that if he was a human put into a deadly enough situation…his soul may have gained both powers," Shinji shrugged, not sure what he thought of that hypothesis, surely there'd be evidence of it happening before… unless the Gotei 13 'handled' them?
"Either that or they've started experimenting again. I know he looks like a Shiba, but he said he isn't one so Sōsuke is pondering an experiment were Shiba genes were added and…well," he didn't even want to think about something like that. If it was true then it was still possible Ichigo was genuine, because something like that would have been pure torture and could easily make someone willing to switch sides.
"You want to trust him," Hachi offered, watching him, and Shinji nodded.
"I don't know why…there's something about the kid," he admitted with a shrug. They'd see what he meant with time.
,
Isshin sat on the roof, smoking, and staring at the stars. Yuzu would scold him if she caught him and Karin would scowl but he needed it tonight. He'd gone back and filled out Ichigo's medical file further and he wished he had access to a medical lab…he really wanted to run Ichigo's DNA in comparison to his own, see if he really was a Shiba and how closely they were related. While the results of the exam were confidential, he had given a report, Ichigo was physically fit to be fighting as long as he ate better. His wounds were too old to be healed further or to have not been compensated for.
There was something about him…Isshin could easily imagine that if their son would have been like Ichigo. They'd never told a soul, but the twins had not been the first pregnancy. Four years before the girls had been born, Masaki had fallen pregnant. She'd made it to 18 weeks before she had gone into labour. He'd rushed her to the hospital, but they hadn't been able to stop it and their son had been born after eight hours. He had looked so perfect…except he was already dead. He'd never been able to bring himself to tell anyone, it had hurt too much.
He sighed and got rid of the cigarette before heading inside to get some sleep, there was no use dwelling on memories and what if's.
TBC…