Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Seireitei Monogatari ❯ Substitute ( Chapter 27 )

Title: Substitute

Pairings/Characters: Isshin, Jyuushiro/Ichigo, Jyuushiro/Kaien (onesided)

Rating: T

Warning: Implied Yaoi, Serious Isshin, Spoilers for Episode 111

Words: 942

Description: Father's are supposed to protect their sons, but even Isshin knows when it's time to let go. Isshin's POV.

 

He had to find out from someone else.

 

His own son had said nothing, just flitted off into the night in his shinigami form, completely convinced that his father knew nothing of his other life. Admittedly, Isshin hadn't told him that he used to be a captain and a shinigami as well. But the damage had been done.

 

He was getting older; Isshin had realized this. Getting past the age that he actually needed to chastise his son for everything. Ichigo had always been closer to Masaki than his father, but Isshin had hoped that his son would talk to him. Not that he ever had before.

 

Rukia had let it slip; purely by accident, he was sure. She wasn't even talking to Isshin, but to Kon, explaining why Ichigo's absences had been so lengthy lately. Or more like screaming since Kon seemed to inspire a sort of annoyed fury in her that Isshin never wanted to experience for himself. Ever.

 

But no one had told Isshin a thing. Urahara had to fill in the rest of the blanks.

 

He wasn't surprised to find that his son sought affections in other men. He knew Ichigo, knew that his eldest never really looked twice at women or females, for that matter. But he had been surprised to learn just who he had chosen. Isshin knew Ukitake Jyuushiro. He knew him very well from his own time as a captain, and he couldn't help but worry.

 

It's in a father's nature to worry.

 

Obviously, no one had told Ichigo; otherwise, he would probably question it. Isshin admired Jyuushiro for his strength, but the man was also a coward. He was certain the white-haired shinigami neglected to tell Ichigo just who he resembled for fear that Ichigo would leave him. It wasn't a secret, but no one was telling him. No one explained that were it but for a shade of hair, Ichigo would look exactly like the man Jyuushiro could never have.

 

Shiba Kaien had been a man who was easy to love: harsh where it counted and strict but also incredibly kind to everyone. And though he was a member of a formerly noble family, he hadn't carried it around like a mantle as did most of the others. He had been loud and boisterous, far more energetic than Ichigo, and he definitely scowled a hell of a lot less. It had been hard to find Kaien without a smile on his face.

 

He had always been close to his captain; they were the best of friends. Kaien had been good for him, taking charge when Jyuushiro was too ill to move and oftentimes supporting him when Shunsui could not. Still, it had been plain to see that there was much simmering beneath the surface, at least to anyone who had eyes and knew where to look. Kaien had remained peacefully oblivious to the longing that had glinted in Jyuushiro's dark eyes. It hadn't been his fault that he was happily married.

 

And that was what had always been the problem.

 

Now, Isshin feared that Jyuushiro was only his using his son as a Kaien substitute. There was no denying how the two eerily resembled each other. Admittedly, their personalities were nearly polar opposites, but to Jyuushiro's eyes, they might have been the same person. Isshin didn't want to see his son being held up to expectations he couldn't fulfill.

 

No matter how much Ukitake wished it, Ichigo wasn't Kaien and never would be.

 

He wanted to say something, to tell Ichigo that he knew of his liaisons with the older shinigami, that he knew they were courting or whatever the kids were calling it these days. He watched as his son came down for breakfast, looking as if he had been up all night but with an undeniable look of happiness in his eyes. It wasn't so noticeable as a big smile or a chipper expression, but Isshin knew his children.

 

Something in the boy had changed.

 

The words were on the tip of his tongue. They were there, waiting to be spoken, waiting for him to say something, anything, warning Ichigo away from what was certain to be a broken heart. Karin even seemed to realize something was up, her eyes flickering to her brother. Yuzu remained oblivious, chirping in her usual happy tone as she served breakfast.

 

Isshin knew it was his duty to protect his son, even if it meant from himself, and honestly, he planned on it. He had thought about it, carefully choosing the words in his mind.

 

But to do so would have required so many other explanations. All the truths that Isshin had been hiding would be forced into the light, and he wasn't ready for that. He didn't know if he would ever be prepared for that.

 

With a sigh, he lifted his gaze to his son, who was absentmindedly eating, his thoughts clearly somewhere else. Isshin had something to say, searching for the words. Some kind of warning, some kind of disproval, some kind of something.

 

“What?” Ichigo was scowling at him now.

 

The look in Isshin's eyes was solemn, probably speaking volumes that his tongue couldn't. A moment of silence passed before Isshin grinned and promptly threw himself at the table.

 

“Wake up, call!” he roared, nearly throwing dishes to the ground.

 

A foot met him in the face.

 

“I'm awake already, dumbass,” came the surly response as Isshin crashed to the floor.

 

Maybe some things were better left for him to find out for himself. Besides, Isshin wasn't so out of practice that he couldn't kick Ukitake Jyuushiro's ass if needed.

 

- - - - -