Hello again everyone! :)
Please say hi to Chapter XXXI
Disclaimer, reminder and warnings all as per usual:
Friendly reminder: this story will be slightly AU and some characters might be OOC. For anyone who is not into YAOI, please do not read any further, this is not going to be your cup of tea :) By now, all of you who are continuing to read on and supporting me, I know you know what this story is about, so fear not and please read on :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters, they all belong to Tite Kubo-Sensei etc., etc.
WARNINGS: Spoiler alert for anyone who is not up to date with the manga and only watched the anime! Somewhere along the way might contain, but is not limited to include: dark themes, suicidal thoughts, heavy sexual contest, yaoi (again xD) and some other themes not suitable for under-age reader. Read at your own risk and discretion! :3
This is it people! A star is born!
Please enjoy :D
Chapter XXXI
When Masaki next opened her eyes, she was hoping to see any familiar scene. Her home, family, school, friends or even the Ishida's and their place. Alas, that was not to be the case, for she was met by none other than the terrifying Hollow's head she last saw. Compared to a little while ago, it was dangerously close and ready to devour.
Ok, now she was getting preoccupied. There was a little voice in the back of her head telling her everything would be fine… yet for whichever reason, she had her doubts. She had not expected to die so young. Judging by those sharp teeth, it was unavoidable. Desperate try to stop the inevitable, she attempted to call forth her bow and arrows.
To her distress, nothing happened. Why couldn't she make her weapon? What was blocking her powers? Shoot! She was already near the open mouth… in a matter of seconds she would be no more…
As the jaws descended on her unprotected frame, something weird occurred. A second cranium formed out of nowhere and charged at the one that had been ready to make a meal out of her. A scuffle ensured, where the two heads collided and tried to chew each other off…? Odd and more than a little disgusting… but at least the two things had completely forgotten about Masaki or so she hoped.
The altercation soon ended with the newcomer being the victor. The drifting monstrosity faced her head-on… pun totally intended… and just floated there, doing nothing. It was just staring at her as though it had never seen anything beforehand. There they were, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by darkness, neither daring to make a move.
The last notion was quickly cast-off, when the humongous head started opening its maw all over again.
Masaki was sure, that was it. She resigned herself to her fate, never noticing she was not moving forward into the mouth of the beast, nor that the creature was merely trying to communicate. She shut her eyes in fear and crossed her hands to her front, hoping she would at least be spared of the gruesome sight and hopefully the pain.
Neither came, however, as a strong and gentle arm enclosed around her waist making her left side collide with someone's torso. To say it was sudden and unexpected, would be a grave understatement. It shocked her to the bones and made her open her eyes instantly.
Turning her head towards her savior, she was met with a familiar person. Ha! It was the Shinigami from the other night! The Shinigami must have found her and came to help her out… that was nice… he didn't have to.
Two sets of brown eyes met quickly and the kind smile on the Shinigami's face chased all her worries away like petals in the wind.
"Yo! I came to save you."
It was fortunate the other was holding he tight, otherwise she may have melted like ice-cream on a summer day. Even better, his head turned forward to gaze at the Hollow.
"Oi, there mister Hollow. You know, now that I am here, I won't let you lay a finger on her!"
The Hollow made a light growling noise in the back of its throat as if saying it wasn't funny. The Shinigami must have caught on, if his next sentences made any sense.
"What's that face for? Do you think it's weird for me to talk about fingers when you only have a levitating head? Alright, fine I confess, it may have been a poor choice of words. Not that you'll get the chance for a comeback."
Another rumble was all the Shinigami allowed before he took his already unsheathed sword and made a slashing move in the direction of the large head. Just when did he pull out that sword? Was it there the whole time? Did he create it out of Reishi like Quincies? Then why wasn't she able to use her skills?
Vaguely lost in unanswered questions, she nearly missed the words which spelled the Hollow's demise.
"Getsuga Tenshou!"
Wow that was awesome! The attack was much cooler than a single arrow. It was huge and thick and warm and… ok she may have to reconsider her words play. It started to sound awkwardly hot. Anyway, the point is, it was an amazingly powerful attack made out from blue reiatsu. The raw strength behind the assault… overwhelming. Confidence and seriousness radiated from the Shinigami in blazing flames.
Not surprisingly, without the possibility to dodge or move out of the way, the onslaught hit the Hollow straight on, cutting it in half and disintegrating it on sight. With the danger out of the way, Masaki finally relaxed enough to start her own barrage of queries.
"AH! You're the Shinigami from the whole incident!"
Her sudden movements caught the Shinigami off-guard. The poor sap… his efforts to keep the young girl still were to no avail. Her shifting sure did make the job that considerably more difficult.
"Hold… Hold on a second!"
Ignoring the stutter and the cute embarrassed expression, Masaki pressed on.
"Great! I wanted to see you again! I've been meaning to ask you a few things. Did they get angry at you when you got back to Soul Society? Wait, no, are you ok?! Are your wounds fully healed?!"
The hapless Shinigami barely had enough time to let go of the girl and watch her in bewilderment. He made it his mission not to glance anywhere below the neck. Focusing as much as he could, he put a stop to Masaki's rambling with a few good points.
"Stop! Just wait a minute! A woman in her birthday suit should not be acting so casually!"
Masaki was so ecstatic she turned a deaf ear to the unsuccessful scolding and energetically jumped with her hands high in the air, demanding answers from the Shinigami
"I want to know your name. Please tell me!"
Isshin never got the chance to respond, since at that precise moment he sensed a tug at his back and for a moment, he was engulfed in darkness. As soon as his vision returned he saw Masaki laying motionlessly on the futon she had been placed upon. Her breathing steady, albeit she showed every sign of having ran a marathon.
Not that he himself was in any better shape. He could feel the sweat all over his new body. Speaking of the new shell… it must have suddenly gained extra weight, for it was rather heavy. All his movements were sluggish at best. He would have to assume he lost all his powers and was actually moving exactly like a human.
Dead, dear. It will take some time to adjust to everything. Speaking of adaptations, he'd have to check with Urahara Kisuke what to do next. Hopefully everything went well and his Getsuga did not cause more trouble than good. His worries were of no value as the extravagant male made a cheerful noise right behind him. The sound startled Isshin to the bone and made him jerk around so quickly, he was sure his whole figure would suffer from whiplash for a whole month.
"Soul unification complete! Your souls are officially tied. She is going to be perfectly fine now. She is not in mortal danger."
The happy-go tone and the two victory signs were like a balm to Isshin's turbulent soul. Involuntarily, Isshin closed his eyes and resumed his previous position of standing next to the sleeping girl. With the heavy weight removed and the lethargic feel of the Gigai he occupied, he slumped his shoulders repeatedly chanting over and over again.
"I see… that's good… that's a really great…"
He did not get the opportunity to be at ease for long, mind you, as Masaki took that moment to sleepily murmur.
"He-he-he… he threw a fit because he saw my boobies."
With that said, the temperature in the room went considerably out of charts. Unable to resist any further, Urahara pulled his famous paper fan, covering his astonishment and speechlessness. He was happy he had asked the Quincy King and Shirosaki-san to wait outside until after the surgery. He dreaded to even consider what the outcome would have been, should Kurosaki-sama have heard Masaki's last statement.
Isshin was simultaneously flabbergasted and annoyed which he promptly displayed by giving Masaki a light punch to the head. Nothing too hard but good enough to make a point. He proceeded to grind the enclosed fist on her forehead while growling back.
"Why are you still playing that scenario in your head? Even worse, you appear like you enjoyed and are still relishing in watching me squirm."
Not easily discouraged, Masaki played along, pretending to be hurt both physically and emotionally.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark… aw… you're no fun."
A knock on the door brought all three occupants back to the present and their ongoing situation. Not waiting for an invitation, the commanding presence of the elder Quincy made his entrance. Without delay, he made his way to the youngest member, worry firmly etched on his wise features. There was no need to express his thoughts as Masaki read through them with little efforts.
"I'm fine. Thank you. He-he, sorry for scaring you."
At least she did have the common sense to be apologetic and sheepish. Shaking his head in disbelief with a touch of exasperation, the impressive man merely got down to Masaki's eye level and gave her a firm one-armed hug. Not expecting the embrace, Masaki took several seconds before she responded in kind, only she used both her hands.
From the doorway, Shirosaki was watching the current events. Ossan was sure giving his best in not showing just how concerned he had been. Although, everything was very clear if one was to just take a proper look at his left hand. It was squeezed in a tight fist, so much so that it was a miracle he did not cut open his palm. Meh, he'd let it slide for now. After all, it was the reincarnation of his daughter and King's mother therefore, Shirosaki would give him some slack.
The Shinigami watched the exchange carefully. There were no lies nor mistakes, the dangerous looking man was truly related to Masaki. It was written all over his aura. Now that wouldn't bother him much but the Hollow's attendance was leaving much to be desired. He was still trying to figure out why it helped them? Yes, the bite stopped the hole on Masaki's chest from growing even bigger and the beast he had faced within Masaki's soul had been the most docile creature he had ever seen. That did not answer his questions though and before he could stop himself the inquiry came out.
"Why did you offer to help?"
The interrogation request for an answer came out of the blue and reminded everyone of the fact that Shirosaki was nearby. None, though, considered him a threat since they were familiar with the pale Hybrid. Sending his most chilling demonic grin at the Shinigami, he replied in an upbeat manner.
"What's the matter Shinigami? Afraid, are we? He-he. Can't blame you for that, I can be a downright spine-chilling, terrifying monster when provoked. Chill! I'm not in the mood. Besides, Ossan here would try to beat me senseless if I don't behave. Thus, at the moment, you're fine. Also, even though I am partly Hollow, I do care about Masaki-chan. It was the least I could do for her."
It was official, any semblance of possessing a mind were utterly destroyed by those words. Isshin was having a hard time processing the given info. Though, there were several things he concluded from that little chat.
First, the Hollow was strong. It didn't say that he would be hurt until he lost consciousness. Instead he said, the big Quincy male would 'attempt' to do it. Second, the hell did the creature mean by saying he was 'part-Hollow'? It's not like you can take it as a part-time job. You either are or are not a Hollow. Third… why couldn't he detect such an obvious false statement. There was no way the pale thing was capable of feelings, let alone those which were aimed at others. Or could it?
With his mind fuming, he neglected to notice Urahara's visibly relaxed posture. Moving his fan up and down, he chastised the Hollow in a playful banter.
"Ma, ma Shirosaki-san. Your endeavors to sound intimidating are long gone. May I suggest for the future not to actively assist ladies in distress when you want to impersonate the bad guy? You totally ruin the game."
Rolling his eyes at the other's antics, Shirosaki shrugged with his shoulders before continuing.
"Meh. No matter what I do or how, it won't stop people from thinking me a monster on sight. Trust me, it gets old in less then a decade. Consequently, instead of behaving like the good guy, I pretend to be the antihero. Berate me all you want, yet, in all of my lifetime, this method has yet to bore me."
Masaki's giggles made everyone turn in her direction. And, before anyone could react, she jumped out of the futon and ran to hug Shirosaki around the waist. Never ceasing her chuckling, she proceeded to astonish everyone around her.
"Aw… I missed you too Shirosaki-san."
The Hollow's demeanor made a 180-degree change. The manic grin was gone and replaced by a kind smile, which was not eating his whole face. The firm posture, became lax and the air around him, became more tranquil. He proceeded to put his left hand to Masaki's back, while he used the right to gently pat her on the head.
"There, there. I missed you too squirt. Sorry we couldn't come visit you. These past few days have been hectic at best. How is school? Did you make tons of friends already? I bet everyone is flocking around you. Probably have a whole lot of admirers too."
The last sentence had an added hint of teasing which made Masaki lightly blush. Never before had she thought about possible love candidates and here she was falling hard for a Shinigami of all people. Would Shirosaki's words scare the Shinigami off? Was he taken by a lovely Shinigami lady? Would he consider her at all? Oh! So many questions, not enough answers… What could she possibly do?
"Shirosaki enough with the jokes. She is barely out of bed. It will be sometime before she is fully recovered."
Was Masaki ever so thankful Kurosaki-sama was on her side. The older male rarely spoke but whenever he did, it was either something important or to save her from dying of embarrassment.
'Thank the Lord of Kurosaki-sama!'
"Che! Fine. Have it your way. Oh! By the way, you may want to catch the Shinigami. I think we broke him."
Sure enough, Isshin was swaying and barely holding himself straight. The statement brought him out of his stupor and instinctively, crossed his hands to the chest a little peeved at having his image messed-up. He had all intentions of courting Masaki when she became of age if she was not already fully grown-up. He wasn't much of a creep and would never degrade himself to such low levels. Yet, the girl had captured him in ways he had never felt beforehand.
"It will take much more than a single overly-talkative Hollow to put me out of commission. But I confess, you did spark my curiosity. You all seem a little too chummy with each other. Since there are two Quincies, two Shinigami and a Hollow, it would make sense if we were all battling instead of chatting and fooling around. Don't think I didn't catch on that you are all to familiar with one another. I can understand Masaki and her guardian. But how did you, a Hollow, manage to pry your way into the equation? Urahara here, I won't even count. I don't know enough to make up my mind about his intentions. For all I can tell, he might have set everything up just to conduct an experiment of some sort."
The Tenth Taichou was not that off the mark when it came to Urahara. In the past, he might have given a helping hand just for the sake of seeing something new. Regardless of his past, Urahara had taken Hollowfication as a serious issue and wasn't pleased at being accused for crimes he did not commit. The white paper fan made a quick disappearance. Urahara's whole composure became rigid and solemn, trying to portrait all the pent-up fury bottled for about a century.
"Isshin-san, I'd appreciate it if you were a bit more considerate to the one who helped you out. I have never performed an experiment on a living being human, soul or otherwise… I have no inclination of starting anytime soon. Nevertheless, I do understand your skepticism. Being a member of the Tenth Division, not to mention it's Taichou, I am well aware of the intelligence you may have gathered on me. Though, for being gone from Soul Society for over a century now, I am impressed you even considered investigating my trial. Dare I conclude that something made you specifically look into my file?"
It was a reasonable deduction and yes, Isshin had not been a Taichou when the whole incident Urahara spoke about occurred. Hell, he had been a seated officer on a mission and missed the entire event. The only reason he had gone through the data, was because Aizen's name had been mentioned.
"I did not mean to offend you. Still, you are correct. Too many things have been going on in Soul Society… shady and out of the ordinary… It is difficult not to be suspicious of every moving person, let along one known to have been a criminal in the past. Although, that too had been an obscured affair… made me wonder if you were convicted of an offence you never committed. But, you sure are difficult to read. Even now, I can't tell for sure if you did or did not do the things you were accused for."
Instead of turning even more upset at Isshin's words, Urahara gave off the impression of being elated. Finally, someone with common sense! Now, if only Isshin was a bit more open about what he actually thought, that would be great. Taking his shut fan, he used it to point at the Shinigami with renewed vigor.
"As expected from the Taichou of Squad Ten! You are more astute than what people give you credit for. Naturally, that is due to your usual goofiness, which might I say, is a superb cover. Since you have it summed up so close to home, I will clear your first doubt. I am, indeed, mostly innocent."
Receiving a disbelieving raised eyebrow from Isshin made him explain further in a serious tone.
"I did not perform Hollowfication examinations on Rukongai citizens nor on the Taichou-level Shinigami sent to investigate the previously known 'disappearing souls' case. On the contrary, I was fervently working on a solution to prevent the situation from happening. Subsequently, I was accused by the one who committed the crime. Due to the strength of his alibi, I was unable to properly defend myself or Tessai-san. Central's men found the affected comrades in my division's barracks where we had taken them to try and save their lives. Things did not go too well but in the end, we managed to push through and get to the Living World. I now work from the shadows and I won't stop until the monster responsible for the whole mess is either destroyed or imprisoned."
The way the other spoke left no space for second guessing. And yet, there was still something decidedly suspicious.
"You said 'mostly' before. Why would you say that if you were not guilty in some way?"
"Because that would not be entirely true. You see… I didn't do it per-se… but my research on Hollowfication and other methods to strengthen the soul of a Shinigami assisted in causing the problem. It would be useless to deny such facts. After all, how else would a handsome store-owner know anything about Hollowfication or how to counter it?"
There was no deceit… no self-justification… all the shopkeeper had said sounded authentic. His stance spoke of years of self-castigation at having accidentally contributed to the illegal Hollowfication tests. But, wait! If it had not been Urahara… then who? The other said he had been accused by the real culprit and that was…
Recognition flashed on Isshin's figure a name slipping through his lips… "Aizen!"
"Ah. I see you have put two-and-two together. That's going to make my clarifications that much easier. May I safely presume you have lately been distrustful of Aizen Sosuke?"
"Recently is putting it lightly… No, I've been wary since the first time I've met the smug… erm… weasel."
Control… Isshin had to keep cool… there was a lovely young lady in the room… she did not need to be introduced to profanities at her age… or ever for that matter.
Still by the exit and holding Masaki tight to himself, the Hollow was openly snickering at Isshin's discomfort. One day, he would even the score. But not today… Masaki was for whichever reason mesmerized by the Hollow, holding it and even going as far as being friendly with the fiend.
Isshin started to understand Urahara and his intelligence on Hollowfication. What he was still coping up with, was the Hollow and the cordial behavior surrounding it. As though reading his mind, the Quincy elder stood up and confronted him on the subject.
"Apologies. We have yet to introduce ourselves. Kurosaki Juhabach, Kurosaki Masaki's distant relative and a Quincy. My companion over there with Masaki is Shirosaki Ichirou. Don't let his outer appearances fool you. Yes, there is Hollow blood in him, but there is also Shinigami, making him a true-born Hybrid. I would greatly appreciate it if the two of you were to see eye to eye. I can assure you he is not your everyday monster. Quite the opposite, he is far more altruistic than you could imagine."
Affronted by the mere idea, Shirosaki scoffed and released his hold on Masaki's back. Though, he refused to completely let go of the little one, deciding to lower his right hand to her shoulder when she turned to face the remaining people in the room.
"Oi! Don't push it Ossan! I may not be the devil himself. But altruistic? Yeah right! Maybe a long time ago when he was alive… now… not so much. More like the occasional Samaritan."
Ignoring his partner's loud mouth, Ossan extended his hand to the still astounded Shinigami. Belatedly, Isshin took the hand in a firm shake, presenting himself formally.
"Shiba Isshin, Tenth Division Taichou of the Gotei Thirteen and Head of the Third Branch to the Shiba Clan. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
'Well, well, well. Masaki sure knows how to pick-them. A noble, eh?'
Shirosaki was impressed. He already figured out that Masaki had a little crush on the Shinigami. At least this one was not a douche like Soren. The guy also just renounced on all his powers to save her life. That, along with the fiery temper earned his approval. Lowering himself to Masaki's ear, he quietly whispered.
"Ho-ho, Masaki-chan. You sure chose wisely. He is ok, so I'll give you my blessing. Still, do be patient for a few more years. You wouldn't want to give Ossan a heart-attack."
Masaki blushed a deep crimson. Turning around, she started to throw as many punches at Shirosaki as she could. Not realizing the reactions her blush and consequent tantrum had caused.
Ossan was motionless and in the process of figuring out how things stack up. Isshin was losing hope in winning Masaki over. She had not been embarrassed at all when he saw her in the nude, while Shirosaki managed to agitate her to such an extent with little to no efforts. He'd have to up his game and get to know her better before having a standing chance. Urahara was amused. The near disaster had turned to be a blast. He'd have to see what to do with Isshin, since the other would not be able to return to Soul Society anytime soon. Though, it looks like it was going to be entertaining.
In a last-ditched hope of separating Masaki from the Hollow, Isshin make a sudden question.
"Oh! By the way, where is the other little Quincy? I thought he would be wondering about Masaki-san's health."
Masaki paused her punching volley, surprised to hear Ryu-chan had been here. Searching behind Shirosaki, she tried to see if the other was perhaps hiding in the hallway. Not finding her cousin anywhere around, she continued with her senses. From what she could tell, Ryuken was already almost home… and Katagiri was with him. 'What a relief… he is not alone.'
Shirosaki thought it appropriate to leave the girl to her own devices and answered for everyone's sake.
"Nah! Ossan and I updated him as much as we could. Of course, we also gave him a quick Hybrid one-on-one explanation. With the new insight, as soon as the operation was over, we gave him a few choices and propositions. Personally, I don't think he heard half of what we told him. He said he would leave Masaki with the Shinigami. Before long, he was gone. Little brat, could at least say hi or bye."
The new information saddened Masaki. It was also possible Ryuken was mad at her for everything. Aunty sure had been pissed. No matter how much she tried, she could not remember how she ended up wherever they were in the first place.
"I see. It must not have been an easy decision. Poor guy… and after all he did to bring Masaki-san here. He is probably feeling guilty for not being able to save her himself."
That hurt even more. Masaki was regretting having caused so much harm to her cousin. Even so, she knew she would not have changed anything. No matter how sorry she was for aggravating the Ishida's, she was also that much happy and overjoyed at having saved the Shinigami's life. Pain could be dulled and in time would pass. But a lost life could never return. She knew that from her own experience… her family was never coming back. Kurosaki-sama moved forward and knelt down on one knee in front of her with a sorrowful appearance.
"You need not worry yourself or feel remorseful Masaki. You did what you considered to be right. In doing so, you created your own path and I, for one, could not be prouder. Still, I will be honest and straight with you. Quincy cannot stand Hollows. Our blood does not mix well with one another. When you got injured, you lost your privileges as a pure-blood Quincy. That is something not even I can change. However, whether you are a true-blood or not matters not to me. Since we met, all I ever wanted was to keep you happy and safe. If anyone should to feel ashamed, it should be me. I should have checked on you sooner. Will you ever be able to forgive this old fool I have become?"
Seconds flew by in a breeze and as soon as Masaki grasped what the Emperor was saying, she made her decision. Without uttering a single syllable, she rushed at the other and squeezed him as hard as she could muster. She tried to show him, she could never be upset. Not at the person who saved her from certain death. The mansion's underground passage did have a storage, but how long would she have survived down there?
More so, the older did everything in his powers to give her a new family. He even went as far as to have her adopted in the Ishida's household. Wops! She, probably will not have a second opportunity to stay with her relatives anymore. But that wasn't important. She had Kurosaki-sama, Shirosaki-san, all her friends at school…and with any luck, she also had these two Shinigami. With so many people around her, she could never feel alone. Her hug was returned in kind and the Quincy King conveyed all his feelings into it.
The affectionate display touched everyone's heart. Not being one for long mushy scenes, Shirosaki brought everyone out of their inner thoughts.
"Alright, that's enough you two! Enough with all the lovey-dovey. Time to man up and get things done. Masaki-chan, want to check the store with me? While at it, we can go and meet Tessai-san and grab something to eat. Don't know for you but I'm famished! After that, you can help me find the most creative way of making Tessai-san give us some extra futons for the night. It's you, me and Ossan all over again."
His enthusiasm was a well-played trickery. Which was confirmed when gold on black eyes crossed with reddish-brown. The silent conversation barely lasted two seconds. Those seconds being all they required. Right on time too, as the overly happy Masaki eagerly agreed. Grabbing the Hybrid by the hands, she used all her might to persuade him into moving along and doing exactly as he told. It goes without saying that the two soon abandoned the room and three figures behind.
With a soft exhale, Ossan rose to his full height and silently conveyed his thoughts with Urahara. Receiving a nod as a confirmation, he faced Isshin head-on.
"I believe it will be for the mutual benefit if we brought you up-to-speed with all the unusual occurrences surrounding the World of the Living, Masaki, Shirosaki and myself. It will take a while, so we might want to make ourselves comfortable. Urahara-san, mind if we discussed this in your mini-conference room? A drink, too, would be highly appreciated."
Urahara nodded once and opened the door leading the way to the same chamber they have been using for all their meetings thus far. Isshin could prove to be yet another asset to their steadily growing group. Though, he had the fleeting sensation he had missed something crucial. Meh, his speedy brain was probably just going in overdrive. Whatever it was, it would surely come up when it became important.
Crestfallen, Ryuken was roaming around Karakura with no particular destination in mind. Everything he found out, all the revelations at the Shoten were openly haunting his mind. Even as he put more and more distance from the accursed place, he did not have it in him to return home. How could he? His disregard for Masaki's wound had caused him to lose her. Else would never accept her back. Not after what she had witnessed.
Lost in thoughts, he never realized he was drenched to the bones. Heck, he didn't even feel the cold rain which was weeping alongside him, washing all his shunned tears for him. Subconsciously, he was moving in the direction of a familiar… pleasant presence. About ten steps before reaching whomever was out there, he raised his head to face the person.
It was Katagiri. Her face betrayed no emotions, no feelings whatsoever. Perhaps, the sensation was a reflection of his own emptiness. There she stood… open white umbrella and her servant's clothes… Waiting for a command… an order.
With a lumped posture, he moved passed her, not meeting her eyes. He would have continued on had it not been for her soft voice.
"You left Masaki-sama with the Shinigami?"
The query did not need an answer, all the same, he confirmed with a barely audible "Yes."
Using the same monotonous tone, he decided to make her a final request.
"Go back home and tell my mother that I, Ryuken, am not fit to lead the Quincy."
He had it in mind never to return. What would be the point? His mother was probably perturbed beyond words. Katagiri had been disloyal… He himself, had acted like a spoiled brat and hurt all those around him. If he was to go back, he would end up causing even more trouble.
"I shall do no such thing."
That was a first. Though, he was feeling too much grief to consider the meaning of those words. With more heat, he restated.
"I said, go home."
He had not anticipated a comeback as his tone left no room for discussion.
"I refuse. I will not leave you alone young Master."
That was the final drop. Katagiri was continuously defying his ultimate demand.
"Katagiri!"
Before he could howl his anger, he was stopped by Katagiri's glum and detached voice.
"Ryuken-sama, need I remind you that it is my duty to protect you at any and all costs? From the very moment we have met… I have devoted my entire life and soul to you. That's why I implore you… do not despair… don't be sad… because seeing you this way breaks my heart… Your…"
There was naught but heartache, melancholy… despair. Was he really such a dumb idiot incapable of feeling anyone else's emotions? So, Selfish and despicable… With an inaudible sigh, he stopped her in her tracks.
"Katagiri… I'll be okay… Let's go home."
Even though, he never turned around, he knew he had surprised her. Simultaneously, he caused her even more anguish. He solemnly swore to do his best and to someday bring a smile to her teary face.
"O… of course, …as you wish young Master."
The two resumed their journey back to the household, neither saying anything further and yet, both felt somewhat comforted. Maybe just being in each other's presence was causing the unruly sensation… Perhaps in time they could be at peace or better…
Giving Isshin a full count on everything between the Kurosaki's, Shirosaki, Urahara and his group of misfits had taken several hours. During that time, Shirosaki had managed to distract Masaki just as he had planned. Only when the two had readied the chamber with three futons, did they join the others in the meeting room.
By that point, everything had been said and done. Isshin took his while in accepting all the claims. Though, being the ever-perceptive man, he soon agreed to assist as much as he possibly could. He did give them in turn the information related to the investigation and the detail that several Taichou were going to be around the Academy opening ceremony.
Just then a cheerful Masaki entered bringing tea for everyone, Shirosaki tagging along behind her, while Tessai just waited by the door for the tray holding the drinks. As soon as everyone was served, Masaki returned the borrowed plate and showed to have one extra cup meant for the glasses-wearing giant.
Her kindness moved Tessai to tears of joy and he quickly made himself scarce. It wouldn't do for his boss to see him crying. Besides, there were many things he had to prepare. The day had been a busy one indeed. There were barriers to raise, Hollows to exterminate, machinery parts to bring to the laboratory and a training ground to reinforce. None of these tasks would be done by themselves. That's why Tessai was around. With a skip in his step, he got down to business.
Not wanting to be cruel, Ossan went ahead and told Masaki the bare necessity. Meaning, he explained her situation, the possibility of choosing again where she would like to reside with the options being: the Shoten, an apartment, a house or any other solution she might have in mind.
As Isshin said he would stay at the store for some time, Masaki made her decision fairly quickly. She was curious about the other and wanted to get to know him better. With that out of the way, Ossan pressed on. Describing Aizen as a terrible man who needed to be stopped before more people got hurt, he resolved to tell how Shirosaki and he himself, would be going on a prolonged undercover mission to Soul Society.
It had not been easy, as Masaki was very disheartened. Despite everything, she understood. And though, she was deflated, she let it pass. The excitement in Shirosaki's eyes at the prospect of some action was the sole reason she did not put up much of a fight. Since they met, she had not seen him act like that. Actually, every time she saw him, she learned something new. He was a very complex individual and although, his anguish was still visible, it had slowly decreased in the span of a few days. If this was going to make him feel happy, then she too will be content for him.
On the downside, if she understood correctly, she was not going to see either Kurosaki-sama or Shirosaki-san for several years. She did have friends and she did find an amazing person in Tessai-san… Urahara-san, too, seemed like a fun individual. But she would miss the 'pale phantom' and the regal Kurosaki-sama. She swore to spend every remaining minute with them until they would leave for Soul Society. With no school on the following day, she aspired to make that promise a reality.
Do you ever wake up knowing it was going to be an unproductive day?
In the Throne room of the Wandenreich one Soren had the feeling he was the only one to get those vibes. Quincies always found a thing or two to do during their day. Accompanied by the many missions he himself had issued and the commands made by Haschwalth, it was really only natural.
After the busy day and even more demanding night, he returned to Wandenreich and his personal chambers, falling instantly asleep on his king size bed.
Soren had slept in late. As anticipated though, what with his late night and meetings. Truly, he was surprised to have awoken at all. Once he did raise from the comforts of his bed, he had in mind to speak with Haschwalth and prod the other for data.
There must have been some sort of activity in the World of the Living. Should Haschwalth deny such facts, he would be a hundred percent sure the other was conspiring against his person. As if Soren would let him do as he pleased.
On the other side, he had been unable to get a hold of Haschwalth the whole day. Must be due to the detail that the Second in Command was enjoying his day off. What? Yes, even Sternritters have some time off. It's not like they work in tourism where every day is a working one, with no rest until the end of the season or contract. Depending where you got stuck at.
The agreement was that even on his off-time, Haschwalth was not allowed to leave Wandenreich. Soren already knew that this arrangement was not broken. After all, his trusty spy had already started following Haschwalth around. Thanks to PePe, he was well aware Haschwalth had gone training. What surprised him was the set of orders Haschwalth had placed on the troops prior to taking his leave of absence. Bazzard Black, Robert Accutrone, the Lloyd's brothers and several other Sternritters were sent to the Living World in various directions and positions.
Looking at the strategic design for the millionth time, he concluded the other must be searching for something. All those in the Human World were close to each other, yet far enough not to notice their separate presences. They were all tasked to the same zone and were to send periodical reports from the exact same location. The timing was perfectly created in such way there would be no possibility for them to stumble on one another.
The more he watched the distribution and requirement to keep their respective reiatsu to the minimum, the more he believed Haschwalth was trying to achieve a certain goal. Judging by everything, he dared say Haschwalth was trying to distinguish who was loyal and who might be giving false accounts.
Brilliant! Understanding the motive behind such an intricate plot was not easy. But now, Soren had to tip his hat to the Grandmaster's genius. According to the log, each Sternritter had been given the task at a different time and while they were completely separated from one another. Remarkable! This is exactly why he wanted the blonde to become a member of his ranks. More so, with his influence, Soren would be able to overpass the annoying Throne rule.
Yes, he must have him and he would no matter the cost. Either Hubert will prove his coercing skills or PePe would get him with his talent. Either way was fine in Soren's books. Haschwalth would become his stepping stone to reaching his goals. Once he became the ruler, he would start his next set of plans.
Oh yes, the future seemed really bright. He was looking forward to becoming the sole Emperor to the Quincies and Shinigami alike. Yamamoto would not be an easy opponent to defeat. Nonetheless, his blood-connection will certainly help him in overpowering the ancient one. Heh! The fool will regret the day he refused his mother from Soren's first lifetime.
In another lifetime, Soren's mother had been head-over-heels in love with the well-known and scary Shinigami. Being from a noble clan, she was not allowed to pursue her infatuation. Not that the laws kept her desire at bay. Although famous, Yamamoto was just a Shinigami with no connections nor wealth.
If only the Clan Elders had known the man they considered nothing more than common trash would become the most powerful man in all of Soul Society, perhaps they would have been a bit more inclined to the idea. Unfortunately, that had not been the case and his mother could do nothing but admire the make from afar.
In the years to come, she vehemently turned down all her suitors, which brought forth the anger of the Clan members. Without her knowledge, they arranged a marriage between her and one of the heirs to the noble Kyoraku family. She would have remained oblivious to the Clan's agreement had it not been for her sister.
The 'generous' soul forewarned her of the imminent wedding and suggested her sister to give up on the idea of being married to Yamamoto, especially since the other was not interested in relationships whatsoever.
Not being one to be deterred easily, Soren's mother rebuffed with such vigor it left his aunt stupefied. Playing the devils' advocate, his aunt second proposition was much more to Soren's mother's liking. Get Yamamoto drunk, sleep with him and make a child. The timing had to be absolutely perfect and during her fertility period. Needless to say, she made it. Choosing the right date, she called Yamamoto for a casual outing, while hiding her identity. Getting the man of her dreams intoxicated was a piece of cake. The sleepover had been the tricky part, but she pushed through and made it.
Obviously, the Elders were infuriated beyond words. For committing the crime of adultery prior to being married, she lost the first-born privileges which befell upon her sister's shoulders. She was not banned nor asked to abort the child, for it would have brought even more shame to the family. However, she was punished to care and raise the child all on her own.
They would consent to the marriage between her and Yamamoto only if Yamamoto officially recognized and accepted the child along with all the responsibilities of leading the Clan. Yamamoto had had absolutely no idea he had been with anyone and refused to acknowledge being the father to the unborn child. As per his words, his job was too dangerous to be fraternizing or taking even more 'unnecessary' responsibilities.
Let's just say, he had acted out like a real ass and back then, he was considered one. A criminal, murderer and the most power-hungry monster the world had ever seen. The only thing keeping his wild personality at bay was the knowledge that there were two more individuals even stronger than Yamamoto himself. The Soul King and the Quincy Emperor.
How ironic fates played with the lives of the unfortunate souls.
Soren's mother did take it upon herself to raise the child and never again made any issues for the Clan. Her heart broken by the hurtful rejection, she consented to any and all rules the Elders imposed on her at the sole exception of marriage. Even after the devastating realization that Yamamoto would never be her, she was still fond of the tyrant declining any matrimonial proposals.
The wedding between Soren's mother and the Kyoraku head had been cancelled. Her sister promised to one the many Shiba family branches. His aunt's involvement in the conspiracy had been discovered and since she birthed only females, she lost the benevolence of her Clan. Not that it bothered her much, having been embraced by the Shiba' welcoming hands.
In time, Soren was recognized as the legitimate heir to their Clan and according to traditions wedded a beautiful maiden from the Kuchiki Clan, giving both families offspring's they yearned for.
It was when his wife passed away and his children grew-up that he had abandoned the Clan and moved to the Living World. There he met the only woman he had ever loved, Masaki. His matrimony to the Kuchiki's had been a political one with no love nor care.
He had willingly and docilely accepted the deal solely for his mother's benefit. He had made the Elders an offer they could not have refused even though they wanted to. Using all his intellect, skills and status as the last remaining male heir, he made sure to be fully recognized as the family head. Once that had been taken out of the way, he was well aware he had to continue the family legacy and have children. What better way to show-off than to marry one of the ladies from the most noble Clan houses?
In short, the Elders had been elated. They had wanted a connection to the Kuchiki's for generations and Soren had given them exactly that. In return, his mother was treated like a queen, her misdeeds fully forgotten and she was permitted to live as she pleased. Yes, Soren had played a good game and came on top. After all, blood is blood and with no males the Clan would have been lost.
Soren had pulled all information regarding the Clan, his birth and much more from his mother at a very young age. As a preteen, he felt the case had been unjust and swore he would one day redeem his mother's privileges. His dreams of glory, grandeur, majesty and riches were always at the top of his head, reminding him that if he wanted something, he had to fight for it. Being fair was rarely on the table, as it was much easier and faster to cheat his way around.
The Hollow incident had not been an easy subject for his poor mother. Apparently, she was on her way to do some shopping and simultaneously stalking her unrequited lover when she saw the demon. Though, pregnant, she felt nauseated by its presence. Worst of all, the humanoid beast had not even deemed her worthy of a proper fight. Instead it bit her and disappeared.
Shortly after his wife's death, he had encountered a spectacular maiden. Soren never loved the girl but did lust after her beauty. His many attempts to sway the young lady in his chambers had all been in vain. At first, he blamed it on his lineage. It was a common fact that he was an illegitimate by no matter his status as Clan head and member of the Kuchiki by way of marriage. Much later, rumors about his prey associating with an unknown pale male spurred Soren's interest. More so, when the lady had remained pregnant. Soren had taken great joy and pleasure in bringing shame to the unsuspecting family and had struck both the maiden and her lover down. Getting the mod fired up had been plain sailing.
To think she had fallen for a beast instead of a human. How could she have chosen a Hollow over him? Neither of the two had ever been seen or heard from again. Not too long following the incident, Soren took his leave and met Masaki. What he had felt for the Quincy girl, had been unknown and foreign. His marriage had been a blessing like no other. She was brave, gorgeous, intelligent, stupendous in every single imaginable way. She was perfect. And he somehow won her heart.
Being one of the two only daughters of the Quincy King had just been an added bonus. In Soul Society, no matter how much influence he had, it never felt real. Yes, he had accomplished a lot and made sure his mother was treated well. But all in all, he was always considered to be lower than the rest. Forever pegged as a peasants' bastard. It was something that would never change. In the Living World though, there were no such rules and Emperor Bach had been more than accommodating toward his daughter's wishes. Soren finally had the chance to become a King. A much higher position than a noble, with more privileges and authority and influence.
His marriage with Masaki had been the first step to the Monarch's ruin. Soren had been so sure of his supremacy and future right to rule. He was married to an amazing woman he actually desired and loved, he was second in line to the Throne as Masaki's sister had married into a family, meaning neither she nor her children would get in line for the title of Sovereign. His life had made a huge change for the best. Everything was coming together much better than he would have ever imagined.
Until his son's birth. The little pest was not even a day old when he started causing him problems. The scoundrel nearly killed Masaki during childbirth and managed to conquer the affection of the Quincy King without even trying. It was so wrong. Compared to Soren, who had tried time and time again to win the other's favor, the small tyke won with naught but a laugh… a smile.
From that day forth, Soren had never seen his son as anything more than a nuisance. Naturally, that was not common knowledge. He had been a particularly good player and, in public, managed to disguise his true emotions towards his own kid. In private though, when no one was around or awake…well… that was an entirely different story.
Regrettably, he did not manage to kill the infant. Masaki had been all over the mongrel as were the Emperor and, surprisingly, Haschwalth. It was clear he had to thread carefully. For one, he made sure to love Masaki as much as possible. Soon, a daughter was born. Since the boy had grown up a bit, Masaki started to dedicate a lot of time to the newborn. Not that she neglected the lad, but she was not glued to him anymore. In turn, that gave him the possibility to find other means to make the young one's life miserable to the point of subtly suggesting it to run from home.
It had been a stroke of genius. Sensing the many Hollows lurking outside the castle grounds on a lovely late afternoon, he had managed to scare the living daylights out of the mini-imp, forcing it to flee. Soren had been so sure it would not live long enough to see the rise of that evening's moon. Imagine his stupor when he found out not only that the sprout was brought back to the castle alive, but that it also managed to return unhurt. He did not consider bruises and scratches as injuries, so sue him.
The event had been an eye opener for Soren. The squirt was frighteningly powerful. He had been aware of the tricksters reiatsu. After all, the reason Masaki had so many difficulties in carrying and birthing the delinquent was its surreal reiatsu. Soren fully grasped the concept of just how strong the thing was thanks to that particular incident. It is useless to say that he had doubled the 'punishments' he so blissfully forced on the boy. His side efforts to have the child killed by anything and anyone who could not be connected back to him, had also exponentially increased around that period.
Actually, now that he thought about it, it was astonishing it took so long for the Emperor and the Second in Command to discuss the need to hire a permanent bodyguard. Soren's attempts to dissuade them, by then, had been futile. Thus, to expedite his son's demise, he had payed a group of mercenaries to put an end to its life. The plan was so simple yet so precise it was laughable.
First, during the candidate's interview, he had to get the young one drugged. Once asleep, it would be taken to a nearby room so it could rest. Knowing where the meetings would be held, Soren had calculated the closest chamber, thus, he was able to predict where it would be sent to. Leaving the window unlocked the night prior was a natural and an effortless course of actions. The assassins had to merely escalate the window, enter, kill the boy and be done with it. For the amount he had given them, it was supposed to be a piece of cake. A smooth hit.
Soren should have known by then, things were never that straightforward whenever the orange-headed menace was involved. And sure enough, the execution had failed. First the narcotic had ended up being an overpriced low-quality brew.
When he purchased the damned sedative, he had been assured it was strong enough to knock-out even the most vigorous man for several months. Because of that miscalculation, the impudent teen woke-up prematurely and, from the received intel, even managed to put up a decent fight. From that point onward, things spiraled out of control. One of the candidates heard what was going on and helped the mutt, becoming its guardian in the process.
That was the first time he came in contact with The White Monster. An appropriate nickname of Soren's personal creation. Seriously though, the fiend was pale as paper with white hair and creepy eyes. At least it was human. Soren was forced to lessen the attacks, hoping to prove that a bodyguard was unnecessary. Still, no matter how much he tried, the Emperor did not relent nor lowered his watchful eyes.
In a last-ditch effort to do away with the escort, he attempted to manipulate his young daughter into requesting Shirosaki was given to her instead. Yet another spectacular idea. During the time it took to either agree or arrange for a different protector, Soren made his assault. Hell, it had been a well-organized attack.
As the heir to the Quincy kingdom, the brat was sent to do a task in the capital. While on the road, Soren had commissioned a legion of sturdy Hollows and Shinigami under his influence. It was supposed to be a picnic, a walk in the park. Hundreds of opponents against a single target and two low-leveled escorts. Ultimately, the result was the same. The kid managed to get out of the ambush intact and Shirosaki's post became irrevocable and permanent.
That had been the last straw. Any and all shots were henceforth put at bay. Being a patient man, Soren waited for the perfect occasion. The opportunity presented itself soon after. The Quincies and Shinigami were working on an alliance and a squad from each race was supposed to meet and work together as a test trial.
It had been a spectacular gift from destiny itself. This time around, Soren helped in making sure the youngster was selected for the job. Things happened and he managed to get his hands on the rascal. He had infected the vast majority of the Shinigami in the assigned group and bribed their leader. Whatever happened later was still fuzzy and unclear.
He'd have to visit his lab soon. Having blurry memories was not good for his health. Somehow, he knew, the minor escaped… the Quincy King got sealed away… there was a battle… he had created a device to annihilate Shirosaki… but then why was the monster alive…? A fight… he clearly recalled an epic match against his son…
'Damn it! Even after all these years, I'm still having problems remembering my full past! Curse that orange pain in the neck. I hope it suffers agony like no other.'
Swearing like a sailor and damning the kid for all ages, always managed to placate Soren's rage. This time… it was no different.
His first marriage with the Kuchiki aristocrat had been a blessing in disguise. Specifically, because of the many descendants. Had he not had descendants in which to be reborn, he might have been the one lost for eternity.
Those kids in Soul Society grew-up to have children of their own, who in turn, had their toddlers and so on… they multiplied and sprang up like mushrooms and all just to let him come back once more. How opportune that he was reborn from a marriage between his family and the Shiba Clan. It was comical, ludicrous really, for him to return to life into those two households. Coincidentally enough, he was precisely a child derived from a long line of his own and his aunt's offspring's.
No wonder Masaki showed signs of liking the Tenth Division Taichou, they were distantly related. With any luck, he would soon reclaim her and her affections. It's weird, really, how time flies by. Yet again, he had spent most of the day lost in his thoughts which was besides the point. Though, his stomach started to make unruly sounds, reminding him that sustenance was an important need which required his attention. Exhaling to nothing in particular, he sent the irksome Throne a heated glare… Someday, he would either be able to sit down onto the lousy thing or find a way around it. It was just a matter of enduing the mild mental torture until a solution presented itself. Unless…
A new dazzling idea bloomed… what would happen if… oh, this was good, nay… it was superb! With an unseen demonic smile stretched across his masked-wearing-face Soren embraced the new concept with all his might. The life to come is about to become… fascinating…
Hmm… he will require a completely new kind of 'guinea pigs'. Unfortunately, due to the two wars, Quincies were decreasing in numbers. Maybe with an astute plan, he could get a hold of a few scattered around the globe? Absentmindedly, he started his well-known routine of pacing in circles.
The next day came too soon for a lively Masaki. It was the last day she would get to spend with Kurosaki-sama and Shirosaki-san. Refusing to show her disdain or sadness at the thought of not getting to see them once they infiltrated Soul Society, she made sure to be as euphoric as possible.
Their first stop was to visit the Ishida's. Their goal: to properly clear out any misunderstandings and or ill feelings. With Soken still nowhere in sight, it was hard to justify Shirosaki's true blood. Though a bit affronted, Else remained composed. She did not appreciate the original misinformation. Yet, she did admit that she would have exaggerated had she been told the truth on that first occasions. She had spent the rest of the previous night with her son, who in turn, confessed everything he had either seen or had been told.
Ryuken appeared like one who did not sleep the whole night. But after a long chat with Masaki, Shirosaki and the Emperor, he resolved to forgive them. Still, he did request for the three not to stay over, if avoidable.
More than anything, it was for Katagiri's and his well-being. Katagiri, who had been at his side ever since he left the Shoten and declined to move from his door the entire night. With no other pure-blood lines and no pressure in carrying forward the Quincy bloodline, he felt rejuvenated and for the first time ever, he was able to openly select with whom he wished to spend the rest of his life with. It was too soon for him to make a choice at this point. But the future appeared brighter than ever.
With her jolly attitude, Masaki lightened-up the household and its inhabitants. No hard feelings stayed behind and none felt repulsion nor anger. Satisfied that the matter had been positively resolved, the Emperor quietly offered Else a piece of advice. Whatever he said left an impression on everyone, for Else flushed a beautiful scarlet.
Prior to leaving the Ishida's, the Quincy King made a last-minute inquiry to the Lady of the House. Being a sensitive subject, she requested privacy. Masaki and Shirosaki were sent with Ryuken and Katagiri to wit in the gardens with an added demand to not cause any trouble. The appeal had been given with the addition of a piercing gaze at Shirosaki, giving the pale one the opportunity to show his disdain and lifting the mood to new heights.
The children and one Hollow, all wondered what was going on in the Emperor's mind. Once they started speculating, they forgot all about rules and titles, acting out like curious kittens. Their musing was broken by a loud noise originating from within the house. Running towards the source, like the devil was behind them, they ended up on the second floor and the Lords' bedchamber.
They were met with a fascinating scene. Else was crying her heart out on the Emperor's chest, holding him as thought the other was her last lifeline. At first, all four were taken-back. That is, until they realized that she was crying because she was overwhelmed with joy.
The Quincy King was not able to pure her blood, just like he couldn't do it for Masaki, but he did remove the pain and the leftover poison from her wound, thus, allowing her to regain proper mobility which had been lost all those years ago. It was such a nice gesture and one that would remain remembered for ages to come.
Afterwards, for Masaki's sake, they went to the park. It was a beautiful day and with Masaki dressed in a light pink short-sleeved shirt, a knee-length lapis lazuli blue shirt and white gladiator sandals they were sure it would become even better. Her radiant smile was the biggest possible reward for her two escorts.
Morning flew by in a breeze and soon it was time for Shirosaki and Ossan to prepare for their trip to Soul Society. Having calculated the time difference and how much it would take them to reach the sign-up desk, they would be left with barely any time to study for the entrance exam. Thankfully, Yoruichi had prepared all the relevant notes and along with Isshin's intel they made quick work of all the data, storing it for the upcoming test.
As soon as they were ready, Urahara showed them to his laboratory, where he had prepared their Gigai. Creepily enough, the doll-like things already had a form. One of them was an almost identical replica of Shirosaki, if a little shorter, by an inch and a half. It had tan skin and long black hair with short fringes. Basically, the same as his current looks, only with some extra coloring. Anyone in it would appear like a teenager on the verge of reaching full maturity.
The other one was notably smaller. At barely 5'8'' maybe 5'7'', it was definitely bordering between a child and mid-teen. With a slim built and short wavy black hair, it was definitely a big contrast to either one of the candidates who were to occupy the shell. Both bodies were already dressed in the standard Shinigami uniform, thus removing yet another nuisance from the to-do-list.
Feeling generous, Urahara gave Shirosaki a slight push, making the other fall right on top of the 'bigger' Gigai. As soon as Shirosaki's skin touched the Gigai, the pale individual disappeared.
Regaining his wits, Shirosaki promptly started chasing the hat wearing maniac. Figuring the rest for himself, Ossan entered the left-over object. The moment he opened his eyes, he concluded he'd have to get used to the lack of height. Leave it to Urahara to make things difficult where it was not needed.
Although, he had to admit he did not feel that much changed if not for feeling shorter. He would never confess it, but the body brought a sense of nostalgia. Going over to the nearest reflective surface, he realized that he looked just like when he had been around fifteen. That was surely several lifetimes ago. The only difference were his eyes. As a youngster, his eyes had been ruby-red. But not these… the orbs he used to glance all over were an astonishing sapphire blue. The whole set-up should have made him appear younger, less serious, probably a bit child-like. Yet, it appeared like his personally stuck with him even in another body.
Gazing at Shirosaki's new form, though, was really challenging. It reminded him too much of Ichigo. Change those red-wine eyes to soft chocolate brown, the hair to orange and he'd feel as if he had come back from the dead. Not wanting to feel pain at every occasion, he decided to try the same method he used for Shirosaki. Focusing on the minor difference and opposite personality always did the trick.
Shirosaki, on the other hand, had it really rough. He was used to his snow-white skin. Seeing the same tan shade Ichigo had, was torture. Still, he couldn't find it in him to be mad at Getabōshi. The other had no idea how Ichigo had looked like. Hell, they never gave him a name to work with. Their Ichigo was exactly that, theirs.
Once everyone calmed down, namely Shirosaki, the two shared a group hug with Masaki. Only to pass through to Soul Society via Ossan's special skill, the shadows, with Yoruichi's reiatsu on the other side as a guiding beacon.
Masaki bravely endured the farewell, but as soon as the two disappeared from the room, silent tears slid down her cheeks. Unaware of the wetness on her face, she continued to hold her smile. Affected by Masaki's display, Isshin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, giving her all his support, whispering kind and reassuring words.
Urahara took that as his que to leave the two alone. They were so cute together. He opted to watch carefully from a safe distance how the situation would develop from there onward. One thing he was sure of, it was that the two belong with one another. They sure did make a great couple.
It took him no time to occupy his mind with other jobs and tasks. Several minutes later, booming laughter vibrated through the entire shop. It was a contagious one for sure, as he could feel a smile gracing his own features. Wherever Tessai was at that moment, he was sure the sensation must be mutual. Oh boy! He only hoped Kurosaki-sama would approve. Thinking back to the man in question, from what he could tell, the other wanted nothing but the best for Masaki-san. Therefore, he should not worry much about it. After all, whatever made the girl happy, must be worthy of her affection. Even if that something was in all actuality a now, ex-Shinigami.
True to his prediction. Masaki did spend a lot of time with Isshin. While in the shop, she did grace them with marvelous cooking and a spotless home. She did attend school and before anyone noticed, she finished with flying scores, giving her the chance to enroll in college on a one-of-a-kind scholarship.
As for Isshin, he had shown great medicine knowledge and with a bit of tutoring from Urahara, the ex-Taichou managed to open the 'Kurosaki clinic'. When asked why he used the name Kurosaki, he said he kind of felt indebted to both Masaki and her guardian. In the few years it took him to achieve a valid doctorate and acclimate to the Human World, Masaki had been there for him and along with the shopkeeper, helped him get used and start to love his newfound life.
Urahara teased him that his and Tessai's contribution should be placed in the equation, since they had helped along the way. With a sheepish smile, Isshin responded that from the little he knew about the two, it was not necessary. They had been able to support both Isshin and Masaki, thus, by getting them out of the metaphorical nest should be considered their greatest achievement. Not to mention, the help they received around the Shoten. Masaki with her cleaning and cooking skills, Isshin with the rest and the more mundane jobs, like fixing stuff and repairs on every corner. What with Urahara and his experiments, not a single day passed without at least three explosions. It had given Isshin much work indeed, but a lot of experience on the everyday life of a human.
Once in college, Masaki started to visit the clinic more and more often. It goes without saying that in the many years spent together, the two got to know each other very well. Several months after she started college, Isshin managed to finally grow a pair and asked her out on a date. His 'date-research-material' had been extensive and quite intense. On their first outing, he took her out for dinner and a movie. During the second, he took her shopping with a quick trip to the beach. The third had been at the end of her semester, when he took her to skiing. That one had been a disaster, as neither knew how to ski to save their life.
Masaki kept in touch with Kurosaki-sama and Shirosaki-san. But as weeks moved to months and months turned to years, she spent less and less time calling them or asking for updates. She wanted to give them their space and in turn asked for the same.
The festivity for attaining a Bachelor's degree had been a blast. Isshin had gone out of his way to earn a luxury trip for the two of them. The journey consisted of a stay in a remarkable Onsen. There were several outside natural springs in which they could swim and or relax, a nice jogging track and even rafting through streams. In the vicinity there was a zip-line park with 'floating' bridges and 'hidden' paths. Having spent the morning and majority of the day exploring or sightseeing, they concluded the evening with a toast to a bright future together. Isshin putting the final statement as complete by proposing Masaki.
The two love-birds extended the clinic by turning it into a working and living space. Making two guest rooms in case of friendly visits and overnights. On the upper floor, there were the two guest rooms, their shared chamber and a spacious bathroom. A secondary smaller bathroom was located on the ground floor, along with the kitchen, the living space and a storage basement situated between the entrance and the living room.
Adjoined, there was a mini-hallway which took them to the clinic. The clinic itself was not overly large, but spacious enough to accommodate up to seven patients. It was modernly equipped and out of the seven beds, two were in separate rooms. Those were rarely used but came in handy for those who were badly injured, but not in mortal danger and required either rest or an extra infusion fluid.
Not long after settling down they were met with a drastic and sudden change. Masaki became pregnant. With the amount of work and the fast-paced life, they figured that one out rather late. Soon after, they married wanting to assure the up-to-come child would have a stable and happy home.
Well, with Isshin's goofy nature, it was a given. In all the time spent with the juvenile male, Masaki had noticed a few things. First and foremost, her now wedded husband, was a lunatic. But that was one of his greatest strengths and she adored him for his over-reactive personality. Second, when needed he could make a complete transformation into the calmest and steadiest person she had ever seen. The third one, was more of a mystery.
She would catch him lost in space from time to time. Every time she attempted to bring him out, he would say he did not remember anything. At times that worried her. Yet he never gave her a reason to pursue the matter in more details.
With the pregnancy moving at a stable pace, she soon realized their child was going to become a powerhouse. It was getting harder and harder to maintain the gravidity, as the child was taking everything out of Masaki. Not wanting to alarm Isshin, she turned to Urahara and asked for advice. Urahara took a few days to create special supplement pills which helped her greatly.
Still, the pills did not do anything for her stomachaches nor nausea. The constant Hollow attacks were also a big distraction. Most of her dizzy spells did occur whenever a Hollow was close-by. It was as if the child could sense the danger and did everything it could to prevent her from chasing after the Hollow.
Just days before her set date, a large grasshopper-looking Hollow assaulted them in their home. It was fortunate Urahara had been on his way for a check-up and eliminated the beast. However, Masaki got severely injured and with Isshin blind to Hollows, he had been unable to help much. He did what he could and guarded her with his body, but the Hollow did manage to land a hit regardless of his endeavors. With one of the two front sets of legs, the creature swiped Isshin out of the way, with the second, it grabbed Masaki and attempted to cut her belly.
Luckily, Urahara made his entrance before the monster made too much damage. The stress and the pain were enough to render Masaki unconscious. With barely any time to spare, Urahara and Isshin took the senseless girl down to the clinic, deciding to start the delivery at once.
With Masaki being unresponsive, it too the two several hours to complete the parturition. Nonetheless, they were blessed with a newborn's cry. It was a boy with a striking feature. It had orange hair, which was visible even while covered in blood and grime. Masaki and Isshin had remodeled one of the guest rooms into a nursery. And so, Isshin cleaned up and wrapped his son in a warm blanket, taking him straight to the baby's room. Even though the child was delivered, Masaki was not getting better.
In his panic to save Masaki, he left the baby all alone in the crib and returned to the clinic to attend to his beloved wife. Urahara, too busy trying to bring the young mother from the brink of death, never realized that Isshin had taken the little one away. Thus, neither bore witness the horrific creature that materialized in the boy's chamber.
Looking forward to any and all criticism.
Reminders: English is still not my mother language. If I made a mistake along the way, please let me know. Sorry for repeating the same parts all over again xD
Hear, hear! It's finally happening. We have a little Ichi! xD
Shooting stars! It's late and I have a long journey ahead of me in less than four hours!
I do hope you'll love this chapter. I tried to do my best to pack it up with tons of activities and even a fast-forward button xD xD xD
Next chapter will start off a little intense…
I'll give you a heads' up – it will also contain the reason why Ichigo couldn't be reborn until now :3
I'd really like to know what you think about the fraction of Soren's past you saw:D
Not trying to make him mean, but he is – at least in my eyes… those of the author x3
Shame on me! Rambling and talking badly about a character of my own creation (-_-)
A quick revelation, I am sure you caught on… Shirosaki's Gigai looks like Ichigo in his Mugetsu form, I just took an inch away. Ossan being Tensa Zangetsu. I really wanted to use those two forms sooner rather than later x3
Still thinking on their fake names. Any suggestions?
Oh, well. Until next time. Wishing you all the best :D