Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ A Continuing Threat ❯ chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
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"Good morning Orihime-chan!"
When Ichigo answered the door to Inoue's apartment that morning he was not expecting his father, who promptly pushed him aside and ran to Orihime. She was sitting on the couch having Shuno and Ayame finish healing her.
"Good morning Kurosaki-san. How are you today?"
"I'm wonderful but I should be asking you that my dear. How are you feeling this morning?"
She dispelled her technique and Shuno and Ayame returned to their place in her hairpins. "I'm fine thank you. I just finished up healing my other injuries and I'm ready to go now." she replyed enthusiastically.
"She's good now so move it old man, we've got to get going if we are going to be on time for school." Ichigo grabbed his bookbag and headed for the door.
"You go on ahead Ichigo. Orihime-chan, I want you to come back to my clinic with me and let me examine you." Isshin replied.
"That's really not necessary Kurosaki-san." Orihime was waving her hands in front her trying to dissuade the doctor. "I'm really feeling fine now."
"I'm afraid I'm going to insist Orihime-chan. It's not that I don't trust your powers but you nearly died yesterday." She lowered her head at this and Ichigo's normal scowl grew more prominent. "I would really feel a lot better if you would let me take a look at you."
"She already said that's not necessary old man!"
She turned towards the now angry teen. "Kurosaki-kun, it's okay. He's right. What would it hurt anyway?"
He studied her face for a moment. Ichigo knew she tried to do anything to please people but she didn't seem to be very much against the idea so he relented. "Alright, I'll see you at school then."
"Thank you Kurosaki-kun."
"Don't worry my boy!" he clapped his son on the shoulder. "I'll escort your beautiful friend to school when I'm done. She won't be in danger."
"You damn well better old man." he narrowed his eyes to his father letting him know without words that if something happened to her he would be in a world of pain.
Isshins' grin only widened at his son's threats. He lowered his voice so that only Ichigo could hear. "Oh don't worry. I wouldn't let something happen to someone who is obviously so important to you. You didn't get a head start on those grandchildren I suppo..."
Ichigo cut off his fathers statement with a strong punch to his jaw that sent the older shinigami flying into the wall.
"Kurosaki-san!"
"Don't worry about that old pervert Inoue." he opened her door and went to leave. "Be careful okay?"
She smiled at him and his heartbeat increased. "I will. Thank you Kurosaki-kun."
"I-I'll see you at school." he shut the door behind him and raced off.
"What the hell is up with me?"
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"Well, I have to say I am beyond impressed Orihime-chan. Absolutely everything checks out. Your healing powers are amazing." Isshin said as he returned his equipment to his bag.
Orihime 's smile was very wide as she thank him for his compliments.
"There is one thing that I think we do need to talk about though."
"Oh? What's that Kurosaki-san?"
Isshin turned to her and though his tone was gentle she could tell he was very serious. "Forgive my daughter but she only worries about you. When we got home last night Karin told me you've been having nightmares ever since you've been back."
Orihime paled a bit under his gaze. She was surprised Karin had told her father about her nightmares but she wasn't mad at the girl. She knew she was just worried about her.
"Yes, I have been."
"Orihime-chan, you need to discuss this with somebody. I won't even begin to speculate what you went through when you were there but I know it wasn't pleasant and it was something you should have never had to go through. Everybody needs a way to deal with these things. I don't imagine you'd be the kind of person who'd need to go drinking or fighting for a night to open up about everything."
She had to giggle at the image. If Rangiku-san had heard that she was sure she would have her in a bar with a bottle of sake in no time. "No Kurosaki-san, I'm not a drinker nor do I like the thought of fighting just for the sake of fighting."
He smiled at her. "I didn't think so. In that case you really need to talk with someone about your nightmares. Sometimes just talking about them, and the feelings that are making you have them is enough."
"Thank you Kurosaki-san. I will think about it seriously." she slid off the exam table and grabbed her bag. "Everyone in this family is so kind."
He scoffed at her statement. "Everyone? Did you forget that orange haired kid of mine?"
She laughed again. "Kurosaki-kun is very kind. He just has a different way of showing it."
Isshin laughed at that. "Well I'm glad you are able to see it Orihime-chan. Come on, I'll walk you to school. You'll probably be on time for third period."
"That's really not necessary Kurosaki-san."
"Don't worry about it." He ushered her out of the door and fell in step beside her. "I have a meeting with someone near your school shortly anyway. Plus, I'd hate to give Ichigo a reason to lay into me. You know, that kid can hit. I think I trained him too well." he looked over at her when she laughed again. She was smiling but he could see the hesitation in her face. "Orihime-chan, what is it?"
She glanced over at the older man. "There's something I would like to ask you but I'm afraid it would be too personal and you would think I was rude."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"
"Umm..well, I was wondering what...what your wife was like." she kept her eyes on the ground as she asked.
"That could never be a rude question Orihime-chan. If there's something I never get tired of talking about it's my lovely wife Masaki." he said.
"Yes she was. I've seen her picture in your house a few times."
"She was so beautiful, both inside and out. A woman totally devoted to her family. Our children were her life. She made every day special and made sure each one of them knew how much she loved them." he paused as they passed a couple walking towards them. "Why did you ask?"
"Oh well, I just...I had been thinking about it for a while. When I saw you for the first time in your shinigami robes I saw the captains haori over your left shoulder. I know that Urahara-san and Shinji-kun were thrown out of Soul Society but they never wear their robes." Isshin had raised his eyebrows at her speech but did not interrupt her. "Also, when I found out that you had known about Kurosaki-kun becoming a shinigami and going to Soul Society and you never said anything to him about it or tried to stop it I thought maybe you weren't upset with Soul Society like they were. I came up with a theory. Kurosaki-san," she turned to look at him fully, "did you leave Soul Society for Masaki-san?"
Isshin regarded her as she awaited his answer. Never would he have thought this girl...
"Yes I did." she didn't say anything but continued to watch him. He sighed. "I met her when I came down one night because of a menos that was trying to cross into this world. I couldn't believe she could see me. She never asked what I was though. After she watched me destroy the menos she thanked me and went on her way. I was beyond shocked. This human woman had just watched me destroy something that I assumed she had never seen before, watched me pull out my zanpakto and release my reiatsu and she never asked me a single question! I came to the human world a few more times after that. I had to start getting creative with my reasons. Soul Society just doesn't let captains run around willy-nilly ya know."
She laughed at that and they crossed the street before he continued. "I met up with her each time. She still never asked what I was nor where I was coming from but....she was so trusting of me. We would talk for hours about everything and nothing at all. I think I fell in love with her the first time I met her. Being with Masaki was the only thing I looked forward to anymore. Of course, it was a problem for me. She was a human and couldn't go to Soul Society and shinigami's weren't supposed to mingle with humans. My decision was easy though. Urahara had left Soul Society about a year before that; I found him easily enough and asked him for a special gigai I knew he had been working on. I got the gigai, met up with Masaki and told her I would be staying around. It was another year before we married."
Isshin stopped walking as they reached the gates of school and turned to look at Orihime. He found she had tears rolling down her face. "What is it Orihime-chan?"
"I-I'm sorry. It's just that....that..."she was trying to speak through her tears, "That was the most beautiful, most romantic story I've ever heard!"
Isshin couldn't help but embrace the beauty and soon he was crying dramatically right along with her. "I knew you would think so as well! Oh Masaki I will soon introduce our newest family member to you!"
Orihime was confused by his statement but couldn't help but smile at his dramatic speech. She was slowly getting used to Kurosaki Isshin. He liked to be a kind of over the top person but he was thoughtful of other people's feelings and was definetly more observant than he let on. The pair continued to hold each other as they calmed down, unaware of the stares they were receiving through the windows.
"Thank you so much for sharing that with me Kurosaki-san."
"Your welcome Orihime-chan. I'm glad to have shared it with someone who truly appreciated the beauty of my love." his large goofy grin was once again plastered on his face. "Have a good day at school and you know you can always come over to the house to tutor Karin."
"Thank you but I think Karin said she had a reason for wanting to come to my place."
"She probably said something about me didn't she?" he crossed his arms over his chest and placed a pout on his face.
The school bell rang saving Orihime fron having to try and answer his, correct, observation.
"I've gotta get going. Thank you so much again Kurosaki-san." she waved over her shoulder as she ran for the building.
Isshin smiled as the beauty left his sight. Such a wonderful, sweet girl. Ichigo better pull his head out of his ass soon.
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"Yo, Kurosaki! Since when did Inoue-chan and your dad get to be so close?"
Ichigo turned to look at the student, whose name he couldn't remember, but that wasn't anything new for him. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Well, it's just that me and a bunch of other people saw them in front of the school gates hugging each other. It looked like she had been crying as well."
Ichigo mentally cursed before running off to find Inoue. Knowing his old man there was no telling what he had said to her.
Orihime was trying to discretly wipe away her remaining tears while heading for the bathroom next to her locker. Thankfully, she had arrived to school just as lunch time came so she had plently of time to compose herself before class.
"Oh, Inoue-chan, what happened?"
"Who could have possibly upset our lovely Inoue-san?"
Orihime looked up to find two boys from the class below her giving her sympathetic looks. They were nice guys even if they tended to bother her a bit too much. "No, it's nothing you guys I'm fine."
One of the boys handed her a tissue. "Nonsense Inoue-chan, why don't you tell me all about it and let me comfort you." he went to place his arm around her shoulders but was stopped by a rough hand gripping his wrist.
Both boys whipped around to find a very pissed off Kurosaki Ichigo staring them down with murder in his eyes. They were afraid they had just shortened their life span considerably.
"And just what exactly were you going to do?" he asked not caring at all that he had the attention of the students who had filed into the hallway.
"N-n-nothing Kurosaki-san."
"We were just leaving." the other replied before grabbing his friend's hand and scurrying down the hallway.
Ichigo only watched them for a moment before grabbing Inoue's hand and pulling her along behind him. "Come on Inoue."
Orihime couldn't stop her blush. People were looking at them as he gently but firmly pulled her along the hallway. "Where are we going Kurosaki-kun?"
He didn't answer but continued on until they were standing in an empty corridor. He released her hand and turned to look at her. "What did my dumbass old man do?"
Her confusion showed on her face. "Huh?'
"I know he had you crying in front of the school so what did he do?"
Orihime smiled gently before using the tissue one of the boys gave her to dry her eyes. "It's nothing like that Kurosaki-kun. He simply told me how...he just told me a beautiful story and I got over emotional. That's all."
Ichigo watched her for a moment. He caught where she had changed her story in mid sentence; he wouldn't put it past his father to have, even inadvertently, said something to upset the gentle woman. She obviously didn't want to tell him but he was going to know one way or another. "What was the story?"
"Eh?" she squealed.
"What was the story about Inoue?" he asked again.
"Oh...it wasn't anything..." she began.
"Inoue." his voice and look were both stern causing the healer to gasp.
She knew that determined look of his, having it turned on her though, she now could appreciate some of what his enemies went through. "Okay," she let out a sigh. "It's just that he was telling me how he met your mother."
That was the last thing Ichigo had expected to come out of her mouth. "Really?" he said for lack of anything better to say. Wait, he had heard that story before, he may not be the most sensitive guy around but he really didn't see anything overly romantic about that story. "Are you sure that's what you were talking about?" his skepticisim apparent in his voice.
"It's true! Well, I kinda asked him about it. I hope you don't mind."
"No it's fine it's just that I've heard him tell the story to Yuzu before, about them meeting when she was walking home from work and then how they kept meeting up after that and talking. They just kinda hit it off. It's doesn't sound like the kind of story to make you cry like that."
Wow, he and his dad really don't talk at all do they?
"The story is true it's just that he left something out."
"What?"
She didn't answer but looked to his shinigami badge instead. He followed her gaze and the answer was slow coming to him.
"Wait, you don't mean..."
A slow, soft smile graced her features.
"He...." he looked around them to make sure they were still alone. "He left Soul Society for mom?"
She confirmed his answer and he felt a new found respect for his goofy father.
"See, I told you it was the most romantic story I had ever heard." Tears had gathered in her eyes once more. She dabbed them away once again. "I'm sorry if I offended you by talking with your father about that."
"It's okay. I just never thought about it myself." he and his father never really talked about his shinigami status. He had never asked any questions about it. Like he had told his father when he found out, he just didn't know how to ask the questions without offending him in some way. No matter his reason, Ichigo knew that the discussion would, in some way, wind up being a heated one.
He pulled himself from his thoughts. "Come on Inoue. We need to talk to Chad and Ishida. They need to know whats going on."
Her expression turned serious as she followed him. "Yes we do. I almost hate to do it."
He let out a long sigh, "I know what you mean."
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"Kurosaki, it's about time you showed up. Get over here." Ishida said as the pair got to the roof.
Ichigo ignored the frantic Quincy as he nodded to Chad who already sat on the ground. "We need to talk guys."
"Your right we most definetly do." Ishida pushed his glasses higher on his nose. "You need to explain a few things to us. I felt a horrible reiatsu yesterday but just as I was going to investigate it, it disappeared. Later on I felt what I knew was your reiatsu but I knew that couldn't be possible. However it never disappeared. Seeing you now only confirms that."
Ichigo mentally sighed. He should have known Ishida would have already been aware of some things. Damn Qunicy was too smart.
"I went by your house this morning to talk to you on the way to school but you weren't there." Chad stated.
"Sorry about that. I was at Inoue's." his statement caused his two friends to gape at him. "Oi, don't look at me like that! That's part of what we need to discuss."
Ishida cleared his throat and pushed at his glasses again. "I'll be alright without openly discussing that part of your life with you Kurosaki."
Both teens blushed furiously at Ishida's poorly vield comment. "Shut the hell up Ishida!"
"Make me Kurosaki." Both guys were now standing nose to nose and Orihime worried that a fight would insue. After Hueco Mundo, Ishida had gotten more aggressive.
"Guys please calm down." they both backed off at her request. "We need to talk about the reiatsu you felt last night."
"Did something happen Inoue?" Chad asked.
Ishida and Chad watched their companion's hands grasp her skirt before she smiled at them assuring them that everything was okay.
Ichigo simply scoffed, "Yeah, now she is."
Chad couldn't help but note the concern that laced his friends voice and eyes as he watched Inoue. He had known Ichigo for years and was able to read him well. Something bad had happened. "Ichigo, your reiatsu?"
"Yeah, I've got it back." he replied.
"Well, it does seem we have much to discuss." Ishida commented.
"I think we should wait til after school. Perhaps we could talk at Urahara-san's shop." Orihime suggested.
The implication of that was not missed by Ishida and Chad. They looked at each other a moment before responding.
"Alright Inoue-san. We'll meet you there after school."
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"Oh my! What a pleasant surprise this is! So many old faces have graced my humble home." the shopkeeper said as he waved his fan in front of his face.
Ichigo stepped into his shop with his normal scowl present. "Save it Urahara-san. I'm sure you know why we're here."
Urahara Kisuke lowered his fan and led the group inside. "That I do Kurosaki-san. Tessai, some snacks for our guest please. We'll be inside."
"Of course. Inoue-dono, it's so lovely to see you again. I have a fresh batch of red-bean muffins I think you'll love." Tessai grabbed her hands in his.
Her face lit up at the promise of her favorite treat, "I'm so glad to see you again Tessai-san and you know I can't resist your cooking!"
Ichigo watched as she and Tessai talked for a moment more. She had been genuinely smiling and laughing on the way over. Even more so now talking to the shop owner and his workers who he didn't think she had seen since Aizen's capture. Her happiness was almost contagious, regardless of their less than pleasant reasons for coming.
Everyone took a seat around the table and waited as Tessai served muffins and tea.
"Well, let's begin this shall we." Urahara said. He took his cane and hit Ichigo on the forehead, prompting his soul to seperate from his body.
"What the hell man! You could have at least warned me! Now my face has muffin all over it."
Chad and Ishida ignored his rant and simply studied their friend's now soul-less body drapped over the table. Ichigo, in his shinigami form, stalked around the room ranting at Urahara.
"I knew it but seeing it again is just shocking." Ishida finally commented.
"You're acting as if this is the first time you've seen me as a shinigami." Ichigo said, finally claming down. He moved his body to the corner and resumed his seat.
"It's been a while and the change was overnight, give me a break Kurosaki."
"Yes, this has happened extremely fast. Can you tell me what transpired to cause this Kurosaki-san?" Urahara had his fan up again.
The group listened intently as Ichigo and Orihime described what happend with the new Arrancar and his regaining his powers. No one spoke until they were finished. They had spared no detail, not bothering to talk about their discussion concerning his hollow, but that was private between them; but Ichigo had skimmed over Inoue's wounds, telling them only that she had been injured. He didn't really want to think about it again. Saying it aloud would only make the memory real again for him.
Ishida, however, seemed to catch his hesitation at that part.
"Inoue-san, how badly were you hurt?"
Orihime looked at Ishida. She didn't want to be rude but she could feel the tension rise in Kurosaki-kun at the question. She didn't bother to add her input when he had been describing her injuries. She could tell talking about it made him mad. Her heart swelled a bit at the knowledge but she forced it down. He cared about all his friends and he would be upset if any of them were hurt.
"It doesn't matter Ishida-kun. I'm fine now." she avoided the question.
"Inoue-dono, was it truly that bad?" Tessai asked.
"Are you sure your okay?" same from Chad.
"Were you really that.."
Ichigo's fist banging on the table stopped the questions. "It doesn't matter 'cause it won't ever happen again." he ignored the shocked look of the other males.
"Damn straight it won't. We'll kill anybody who goes near our bitch."
Once again Ichigo ignored his hollow. He had been speaking too informally of Inoue lately but he couldn't deny that he agreed with most of the over-protective statements his hollow made.
Urahara cleared his throat and the tension around the table receeded. "Of course Kurosaki-san. Well, be careful going home everyone and I will see what I can find out regarding this new situtation. Let me say though, it is good to have you back Kurosaki-san."
"Thanks. Come on Inoue. I'll walk you home."
"It's okay Kurosaki-kun you don't have to do that." she tried to protest with a small blush.
"Inoue."
She sighed. She was getting used to that stubborn look of his. It meant no matter what she said or did he was going to get his way. She got up and followed him outside.
Chad looked over at Ishida. "Did he just growl at her?"
"I think so. Well, that's another new development they didn't tell us about."
"I don't think Ichigo even recognizes that one himself."
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"Good morning Orihime-chan!"
When Ichigo answered the door to Inoue's apartment that morning he was not expecting his father, who promptly pushed him aside and ran to Orihime. She was sitting on the couch having Shuno and Ayame finish healing her.
"Good morning Kurosaki-san. How are you today?"
"I'm wonderful but I should be asking you that my dear. How are you feeling this morning?"
She dispelled her technique and Shuno and Ayame returned to their place in her hairpins. "I'm fine thank you. I just finished up healing my other injuries and I'm ready to go now." she replyed enthusiastically.
"She's good now so move it old man, we've got to get going if we are going to be on time for school." Ichigo grabbed his bookbag and headed for the door.
"You go on ahead Ichigo. Orihime-chan, I want you to come back to my clinic with me and let me examine you." Isshin replied.
"That's really not necessary Kurosaki-san." Orihime was waving her hands in front her trying to dissuade the doctor. "I'm really feeling fine now."
"I'm afraid I'm going to insist Orihime-chan. It's not that I don't trust your powers but you nearly died yesterday." She lowered her head at this and Ichigo's normal scowl grew more prominent. "I would really feel a lot better if you would let me take a look at you."
"She already said that's not necessary old man!"
She turned towards the now angry teen. "Kurosaki-kun, it's okay. He's right. What would it hurt anyway?"
He studied her face for a moment. Ichigo knew she tried to do anything to please people but she didn't seem to be very much against the idea so he relented. "Alright, I'll see you at school then."
"Thank you Kurosaki-kun."
"Don't worry my boy!" he clapped his son on the shoulder. "I'll escort your beautiful friend to school when I'm done. She won't be in danger."
"You damn well better old man." he narrowed his eyes to his father letting him know without words that if something happened to her he would be in a world of pain.
Isshins' grin only widened at his son's threats. He lowered his voice so that only Ichigo could hear. "Oh don't worry. I wouldn't let something happen to someone who is obviously so important to you. You didn't get a head start on those grandchildren I suppo..."
Ichigo cut off his fathers statement with a strong punch to his jaw that sent the older shinigami flying into the wall.
"Kurosaki-san!"
"Don't worry about that old pervert Inoue." he opened her door and went to leave. "Be careful okay?"
She smiled at him and his heartbeat increased. "I will. Thank you Kurosaki-kun."
"I-I'll see you at school." he shut the door behind him and raced off.
"What the hell is up with me?"
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"Well, I have to say I am beyond impressed Orihime-chan. Absolutely everything checks out. Your healing powers are amazing." Isshin said as he returned his equipment to his bag.
Orihime 's smile was very wide as she thank him for his compliments.
"There is one thing that I think we do need to talk about though."
"Oh? What's that Kurosaki-san?"
Isshin turned to her and though his tone was gentle she could tell he was very serious. "Forgive my daughter but she only worries about you. When we got home last night Karin told me you've been having nightmares ever since you've been back."
Orihime paled a bit under his gaze. She was surprised Karin had told her father about her nightmares but she wasn't mad at the girl. She knew she was just worried about her.
"Yes, I have been."
"Orihime-chan, you need to discuss this with somebody. I won't even begin to speculate what you went through when you were there but I know it wasn't pleasant and it was something you should have never had to go through. Everybody needs a way to deal with these things. I don't imagine you'd be the kind of person who'd need to go drinking or fighting for a night to open up about everything."
She had to giggle at the image. If Rangiku-san had heard that she was sure she would have her in a bar with a bottle of sake in no time. "No Kurosaki-san, I'm not a drinker nor do I like the thought of fighting just for the sake of fighting."
He smiled at her. "I didn't think so. In that case you really need to talk with someone about your nightmares. Sometimes just talking about them, and the feelings that are making you have them is enough."
"Thank you Kurosaki-san. I will think about it seriously." she slid off the exam table and grabbed her bag. "Everyone in this family is so kind."
He scoffed at her statement. "Everyone? Did you forget that orange haired kid of mine?"
She laughed again. "Kurosaki-kun is very kind. He just has a different way of showing it."
Isshin laughed at that. "Well I'm glad you are able to see it Orihime-chan. Come on, I'll walk you to school. You'll probably be on time for third period."
"That's really not necessary Kurosaki-san."
"Don't worry about it." He ushered her out of the door and fell in step beside her. "I have a meeting with someone near your school shortly anyway. Plus, I'd hate to give Ichigo a reason to lay into me. You know, that kid can hit. I think I trained him too well." he looked over at her when she laughed again. She was smiling but he could see the hesitation in her face. "Orihime-chan, what is it?"
She glanced over at the older man. "There's something I would like to ask you but I'm afraid it would be too personal and you would think I was rude."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"
"Umm..well, I was wondering what...what your wife was like." she kept her eyes on the ground as she asked.
"That could never be a rude question Orihime-chan. If there's something I never get tired of talking about it's my lovely wife Masaki." he said.
"Yes she was. I've seen her picture in your house a few times."
"She was so beautiful, both inside and out. A woman totally devoted to her family. Our children were her life. She made every day special and made sure each one of them knew how much she loved them." he paused as they passed a couple walking towards them. "Why did you ask?"
"Oh well, I just...I had been thinking about it for a while. When I saw you for the first time in your shinigami robes I saw the captains haori over your left shoulder. I know that Urahara-san and Shinji-kun were thrown out of Soul Society but they never wear their robes." Isshin had raised his eyebrows at her speech but did not interrupt her. "Also, when I found out that you had known about Kurosaki-kun becoming a shinigami and going to Soul Society and you never said anything to him about it or tried to stop it I thought maybe you weren't upset with Soul Society like they were. I came up with a theory. Kurosaki-san," she turned to look at him fully, "did you leave Soul Society for Masaki-san?"
Isshin regarded her as she awaited his answer. Never would he have thought this girl...
"Yes I did." she didn't say anything but continued to watch him. He sighed. "I met her when I came down one night because of a menos that was trying to cross into this world. I couldn't believe she could see me. She never asked what I was though. After she watched me destroy the menos she thanked me and went on her way. I was beyond shocked. This human woman had just watched me destroy something that I assumed she had never seen before, watched me pull out my zanpakto and release my reiatsu and she never asked me a single question! I came to the human world a few more times after that. I had to start getting creative with my reasons. Soul Society just doesn't let captains run around willy-nilly ya know."
She laughed at that and they crossed the street before he continued. "I met up with her each time. She still never asked what I was nor where I was coming from but....she was so trusting of me. We would talk for hours about everything and nothing at all. I think I fell in love with her the first time I met her. Being with Masaki was the only thing I looked forward to anymore. Of course, it was a problem for me. She was a human and couldn't go to Soul Society and shinigami's weren't supposed to mingle with humans. My decision was easy though. Urahara had left Soul Society about a year before that; I found him easily enough and asked him for a special gigai I knew he had been working on. I got the gigai, met up with Masaki and told her I would be staying around. It was another year before we married."
Isshin stopped walking as they reached the gates of school and turned to look at Orihime. He found she had tears rolling down her face. "What is it Orihime-chan?"
"I-I'm sorry. It's just that....that..."she was trying to speak through her tears, "That was the most beautiful, most romantic story I've ever heard!"
Isshin couldn't help but embrace the beauty and soon he was crying dramatically right along with her. "I knew you would think so as well! Oh Masaki I will soon introduce our newest family member to you!"
Orihime was confused by his statement but couldn't help but smile at his dramatic speech. She was slowly getting used to Kurosaki Isshin. He liked to be a kind of over the top person but he was thoughtful of other people's feelings and was definetly more observant than he let on. The pair continued to hold each other as they calmed down, unaware of the stares they were receiving through the windows.
"Thank you so much for sharing that with me Kurosaki-san."
"Your welcome Orihime-chan. I'm glad to have shared it with someone who truly appreciated the beauty of my love." his large goofy grin was once again plastered on his face. "Have a good day at school and you know you can always come over to the house to tutor Karin."
"Thank you but I think Karin said she had a reason for wanting to come to my place."
"She probably said something about me didn't she?" he crossed his arms over his chest and placed a pout on his face.
The school bell rang saving Orihime fron having to try and answer his, correct, observation.
"I've gotta get going. Thank you so much again Kurosaki-san." she waved over her shoulder as she ran for the building.
Isshin smiled as the beauty left his sight. Such a wonderful, sweet girl. Ichigo better pull his head out of his ass soon.
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"Yo, Kurosaki! Since when did Inoue-chan and your dad get to be so close?"
Ichigo turned to look at the student, whose name he couldn't remember, but that wasn't anything new for him. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Well, it's just that me and a bunch of other people saw them in front of the school gates hugging each other. It looked like she had been crying as well."
Ichigo mentally cursed before running off to find Inoue. Knowing his old man there was no telling what he had said to her.
Orihime was trying to discretly wipe away her remaining tears while heading for the bathroom next to her locker. Thankfully, she had arrived to school just as lunch time came so she had plently of time to compose herself before class.
"Oh, Inoue-chan, what happened?"
"Who could have possibly upset our lovely Inoue-san?"
Orihime looked up to find two boys from the class below her giving her sympathetic looks. They were nice guys even if they tended to bother her a bit too much. "No, it's nothing you guys I'm fine."
One of the boys handed her a tissue. "Nonsense Inoue-chan, why don't you tell me all about it and let me comfort you." he went to place his arm around her shoulders but was stopped by a rough hand gripping his wrist.
Both boys whipped around to find a very pissed off Kurosaki Ichigo staring them down with murder in his eyes. They were afraid they had just shortened their life span considerably.
"And just what exactly were you going to do?" he asked not caring at all that he had the attention of the students who had filed into the hallway.
"N-n-nothing Kurosaki-san."
"We were just leaving." the other replied before grabbing his friend's hand and scurrying down the hallway.
Ichigo only watched them for a moment before grabbing Inoue's hand and pulling her along behind him. "Come on Inoue."
Orihime couldn't stop her blush. People were looking at them as he gently but firmly pulled her along the hallway. "Where are we going Kurosaki-kun?"
He didn't answer but continued on until they were standing in an empty corridor. He released her hand and turned to look at her. "What did my dumbass old man do?"
Her confusion showed on her face. "Huh?'
"I know he had you crying in front of the school so what did he do?"
Orihime smiled gently before using the tissue one of the boys gave her to dry her eyes. "It's nothing like that Kurosaki-kun. He simply told me how...he just told me a beautiful story and I got over emotional. That's all."
Ichigo watched her for a moment. He caught where she had changed her story in mid sentence; he wouldn't put it past his father to have, even inadvertently, said something to upset the gentle woman. She obviously didn't want to tell him but he was going to know one way or another. "What was the story?"
"Eh?" she squealed.
"What was the story about Inoue?" he asked again.
"Oh...it wasn't anything..." she began.
"Inoue." his voice and look were both stern causing the healer to gasp.
She knew that determined look of his, having it turned on her though, she now could appreciate some of what his enemies went through. "Okay," she let out a sigh. "It's just that he was telling me how he met your mother."
That was the last thing Ichigo had expected to come out of her mouth. "Really?" he said for lack of anything better to say. Wait, he had heard that story before, he may not be the most sensitive guy around but he really didn't see anything overly romantic about that story. "Are you sure that's what you were talking about?" his skepticisim apparent in his voice.
"It's true! Well, I kinda asked him about it. I hope you don't mind."
"No it's fine it's just that I've heard him tell the story to Yuzu before, about them meeting when she was walking home from work and then how they kept meeting up after that and talking. They just kinda hit it off. It's doesn't sound like the kind of story to make you cry like that."
Wow, he and his dad really don't talk at all do they?
"The story is true it's just that he left something out."
"What?"
She didn't answer but looked to his shinigami badge instead. He followed her gaze and the answer was slow coming to him.
"Wait, you don't mean..."
A slow, soft smile graced her features.
"He...." he looked around them to make sure they were still alone. "He left Soul Society for mom?"
She confirmed his answer and he felt a new found respect for his goofy father.
"See, I told you it was the most romantic story I had ever heard." Tears had gathered in her eyes once more. She dabbed them away once again. "I'm sorry if I offended you by talking with your father about that."
"It's okay. I just never thought about it myself." he and his father never really talked about his shinigami status. He had never asked any questions about it. Like he had told his father when he found out, he just didn't know how to ask the questions without offending him in some way. No matter his reason, Ichigo knew that the discussion would, in some way, wind up being a heated one.
He pulled himself from his thoughts. "Come on Inoue. We need to talk to Chad and Ishida. They need to know whats going on."
Her expression turned serious as she followed him. "Yes we do. I almost hate to do it."
He let out a long sigh, "I know what you mean."
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"Kurosaki, it's about time you showed up. Get over here." Ishida said as the pair got to the roof.
Ichigo ignored the frantic Quincy as he nodded to Chad who already sat on the ground. "We need to talk guys."
"Your right we most definetly do." Ishida pushed his glasses higher on his nose. "You need to explain a few things to us. I felt a horrible reiatsu yesterday but just as I was going to investigate it, it disappeared. Later on I felt what I knew was your reiatsu but I knew that couldn't be possible. However it never disappeared. Seeing you now only confirms that."
Ichigo mentally sighed. He should have known Ishida would have already been aware of some things. Damn Qunicy was too smart.
"I went by your house this morning to talk to you on the way to school but you weren't there." Chad stated.
"Sorry about that. I was at Inoue's." his statement caused his two friends to gape at him. "Oi, don't look at me like that! That's part of what we need to discuss."
Ishida cleared his throat and pushed at his glasses again. "I'll be alright without openly discussing that part of your life with you Kurosaki."
Both teens blushed furiously at Ishida's poorly vield comment. "Shut the hell up Ishida!"
"Make me Kurosaki." Both guys were now standing nose to nose and Orihime worried that a fight would insue. After Hueco Mundo, Ishida had gotten more aggressive.
"Guys please calm down." they both backed off at her request. "We need to talk about the reiatsu you felt last night."
"Did something happen Inoue?" Chad asked.
Ishida and Chad watched their companion's hands grasp her skirt before she smiled at them assuring them that everything was okay.
Ichigo simply scoffed, "Yeah, now she is."
Chad couldn't help but note the concern that laced his friends voice and eyes as he watched Inoue. He had known Ichigo for years and was able to read him well. Something bad had happened. "Ichigo, your reiatsu?"
"Yeah, I've got it back." he replied.
"Well, it does seem we have much to discuss." Ishida commented.
"I think we should wait til after school. Perhaps we could talk at Urahara-san's shop." Orihime suggested.
The implication of that was not missed by Ishida and Chad. They looked at each other a moment before responding.
"Alright Inoue-san. We'll meet you there after school."
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"Oh my! What a pleasant surprise this is! So many old faces have graced my humble home." the shopkeeper said as he waved his fan in front of his face.
Ichigo stepped into his shop with his normal scowl present. "Save it Urahara-san. I'm sure you know why we're here."
Urahara Kisuke lowered his fan and led the group inside. "That I do Kurosaki-san. Tessai, some snacks for our guest please. We'll be inside."
"Of course. Inoue-dono, it's so lovely to see you again. I have a fresh batch of red-bean muffins I think you'll love." Tessai grabbed her hands in his.
Her face lit up at the promise of her favorite treat, "I'm so glad to see you again Tessai-san and you know I can't resist your cooking!"
Ichigo watched as she and Tessai talked for a moment more. She had been genuinely smiling and laughing on the way over. Even more so now talking to the shop owner and his workers who he didn't think she had seen since Aizen's capture. Her happiness was almost contagious, regardless of their less than pleasant reasons for coming.
Everyone took a seat around the table and waited as Tessai served muffins and tea.
"Well, let's begin this shall we." Urahara said. He took his cane and hit Ichigo on the forehead, prompting his soul to seperate from his body.
"What the hell man! You could have at least warned me! Now my face has muffin all over it."
Chad and Ishida ignored his rant and simply studied their friend's now soul-less body drapped over the table. Ichigo, in his shinigami form, stalked around the room ranting at Urahara.
"I knew it but seeing it again is just shocking." Ishida finally commented.
"You're acting as if this is the first time you've seen me as a shinigami." Ichigo said, finally claming down. He moved his body to the corner and resumed his seat.
"It's been a while and the change was overnight, give me a break Kurosaki."
"Yes, this has happened extremely fast. Can you tell me what transpired to cause this Kurosaki-san?" Urahara had his fan up again.
The group listened intently as Ichigo and Orihime described what happend with the new Arrancar and his regaining his powers. No one spoke until they were finished. They had spared no detail, not bothering to talk about their discussion concerning his hollow, but that was private between them; but Ichigo had skimmed over Inoue's wounds, telling them only that she had been injured. He didn't really want to think about it again. Saying it aloud would only make the memory real again for him.
Ishida, however, seemed to catch his hesitation at that part.
"Inoue-san, how badly were you hurt?"
Orihime looked at Ishida. She didn't want to be rude but she could feel the tension rise in Kurosaki-kun at the question. She didn't bother to add her input when he had been describing her injuries. She could tell talking about it made him mad. Her heart swelled a bit at the knowledge but she forced it down. He cared about all his friends and he would be upset if any of them were hurt.
"It doesn't matter Ishida-kun. I'm fine now." she avoided the question.
"Inoue-dono, was it truly that bad?" Tessai asked.
"Are you sure your okay?" same from Chad.
"Were you really that.."
Ichigo's fist banging on the table stopped the questions. "It doesn't matter 'cause it won't ever happen again." he ignored the shocked look of the other males.
"Damn straight it won't. We'll kill anybody who goes near our bitch."
Once again Ichigo ignored his hollow. He had been speaking too informally of Inoue lately but he couldn't deny that he agreed with most of the over-protective statements his hollow made.
Urahara cleared his throat and the tension around the table receeded. "Of course Kurosaki-san. Well, be careful going home everyone and I will see what I can find out regarding this new situtation. Let me say though, it is good to have you back Kurosaki-san."
"Thanks. Come on Inoue. I'll walk you home."
"It's okay Kurosaki-kun you don't have to do that." she tried to protest with a small blush.
"Inoue."
She sighed. She was getting used to that stubborn look of his. It meant no matter what she said or did he was going to get his way. She got up and followed him outside.
Chad looked over at Ishida. "Did he just growl at her?"
"I think so. Well, that's another new development they didn't tell us about."
"I don't think Ichigo even recognizes that one himself."
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