The three adults sitting around the orange-haired youth as he lays unconscious on a futon wait upon the fourth. He has been here for the last three weeks lying here in the shouten owned by the one person who forever changed his life all those years ago. Looking down the boy's father holds back the tears that wanted to fall as he looks down at his son's sleeping form. His baby boy the victor of the worst war that Soul Society had fought in over a thousand years has to be exiled. The purple haired woman standing next to him keeps wiping her tears away as they have kept guard over him until the last person in the room finally announced his preparations are done.
"I'm finished boss, whenever you're ready to start." The corn-braided man spoke with a hint of anger.
"Isshin, I'm sorry but this is our only choice now. You heard what Central Forty Six said." The bucket-hat man spoke with his own anger being suppressed.
"FUCK 'EM KISUKE!" The former Squad Two captain spit out venomously.
Holding his son's hand for the last time before he would be erased, the head of the Kurosaki family stands up and places his hand on his old friend's shoulder. "We have no choice Yoruichi. It's like Kisuke said. They were going to execute him. At least…At least this way he gets to live."
"Isshin you call this living!? We're going to erase his memory forever! Don't you get it? This is the end of your son!" The woman next to him seethes.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT ME TO DO YORUICHI!? KILL HIM FIRST!? I FUCKING HATE THIS AS MUCH AS YOU DO BUT HE GETS TO LIVE! THEY FEAR HIM, FEAR HIM BECAUSE HE NOT ONLY KILLED THAT FUCK BUT DESTROYED THE HŌGYOKU! SOMETHING THAT COULDN'T BE DONE BUT HE DID IT, DID IT WHILE HE WAS…!"
"While he was in his Vasto Lorde form." Kisuke finishes for his friend.
However he left out the most important part. The fact was that Ichigo tore Aizen apart wasn't the problem, it was how it was done, with something not possible. It was only until he spoke to Isshin in private later did he learn the truth of Ichigo's true heritage. A secret that Masaki's family kept even from her. It was only after her death that Isshin was approached by Masaki's grandfather just after the funeral. Kisuke hid his surprise when he finally added everything up and then used it to come up with the last-minute plan to save Ichigo. The plan that they where now going to execute right now.
He was furious as was much of the Gotei Thirteen when they learn that the newly reinstated Central Forty Six wanted Ichigo executed because they feared his power. It wasn't until Kisuke offered them a way out, one that all the Captains agreed with, it was better than the possibility of civil war between the Squads. The plan was complete erasure of Ichigo memory and then to replace them with new ones. Isshin ended the debate when he openly agreed to it in the last Captain's meeting.
Placing his hand on his distraught friend's shoulder, Kisuke gave it a squeeze before he nudges his friend and gives his best friend a look to make her back up. Moving to middle of the boy's body on one side, he looks up to see his comrade take off his glasses and wipe the moisture away as he moves to the opposite side across from him.
Swallowing the desert in his throat, Kisuke finally rasps out his question. "Tessai are you sure?"
"Yeah boss. Let's give him a second chance at a normal life."
"Isshin?"
"Goodbye my son. I'm sorry none of us were strong enough to save you."
With that the two Kidō masters began to channel their reiatsu into the forbidden kidō with a special seal to wrap the young man's mind in. Soon the light grew bright and as suddenly as it began it was over. The boy was no more.
'I'm sorry Masaki, but I have to give him away to your family now.'
As he wipes his own tears away, he walks out into the night before taking out a piece of paper. Channeling a small amount of reiatsu, he watches as a phone number illuminates on the old piece of parchment. Taking out his cell phone he dials the number and patiently waits until a voice picks up on the other end.
"Hello." He waits for a reply.
"I need you to come to Karakura, it's important."
"It's about Ichigo. I need you to take him." He closes his eyes at the angry voice on the other side.
"It's better if you come here and let me explain. I had to do something."
"Give me a minute before you come."
Walking back into the shouten, Kisuke, Yoruichi and Tessai are still sitting around Ichigo. His face calm as he lies in a kidō induced coma, the one he has been in since the end of the Winter War. Not even his friends know where he has been since Kisuke spirited him away from the battlefield that day. Taking one last look at his son, Isshin speaks one last time into the phone.
"We're ready."
XXXX
Several months later.
Rias Gremory is sitting in her family's sitting room outside of her father's study, while waiting for him to finish an important meeting with a devil from another family. Sitting next to her is her queen, the black-haired Akeno Himejima; both of them were summoned not more than an hour ago by Grayfia Gremory, the family maid. She also goes by two other titles, the Strongest Queen and wife to Sirzech Lucifer, her brother the current Maou Lucifer of the New-Satan faction. Now they are waiting for an audience with her father to find out what is so important for them to be called back home to the family estate in the middle of a school day.
Akeno looks at her friend and her master with an expression bordering on boredom. "Do you think this has to do with your engagement Buchou?"
A flash of anger darts across the crimson-haired heiress of the Gremory Clan face before she answers. "I am not going to marry that womanizing Rizer; I don't care what my father and brother say otherwise. I will marry for love Akeno and that's final."
Smiling softly as she looks at her best friend, Akeno gives her encouragement. "We have at least six to seven years before we are done our schooling Buchou, maybe by then a better solution will present itself to you."
Sighing softly, Rias looks at her friend and whispers to her. "I hope so Akeno. I don't think I could survive being his wife. I…I don't want to marry him even if he is one of the few pure-bloods left. I'd rather marry a human before I marry him."
Before Akeno could console her master, a brief but powerful wave of magic comes from the study of Lord Gremory. Soon after Grayfia opens the door and waves for the two of them to enter. Getting up together, Rias and Akeno walk into the room to finally see what Gremory Clan's current head wants of them. As they walk in, they are treated by a pleasant surprise; sitting next to Lord Gremory is Sirzech Lucifer.
"Brother!" Rias says as she makes her way to give him a hug.
The current leader of the four Satan's smiles as his sister hugs him. "How is my cute little sister doing today?"
"I'm still mad at you and father, brother."
The three adults in the room share a joint grimace at her declaration. Looking at his wife before she can say anything, Sirzech's shakes his head fractionally to keep her from saying anything. The silver-haired maid keeps a neutral look on her face as she gives a responding shake back to him. She then moves to the center of the room and speaks to all of them.
"Rias-sama, Akeno-chan, have a seat please. We have something we wish to discuss with you." She waves to the chairs now arranged two-a-side around a table in the middle of the study.
When everyone has taken a seat, the head maid serves everyone a cup of tea before she goes and stands behind the head of the family and the Maou. At this point, her husband begins the discussion about why his sister and her queen have been called to this emergency meeting.
"Rias, we have been asked an unusual favor from an old family acquaintance of ours, which we would like your help in facilitating for us." Sirzech says without hesitation.
Rias and Akeno look at one another; both find it odd that they would be asked to help in a family matter on such short notice. Rias then looks at her brother and asks. "What can I do for you Lucifer-sama?"
"Now, now sister. No need to be so formal, I'm still your brother first even if…OWWW!" The sudden pinch to his face ends his sentence as the woman standing behind him finishes her punishment.
"You are the Maou of the Devils, as such you must remember your place, even now Sirzech-sama."
Giving his wife a sheepish look, he begins again. "As I was saying Rias, we have been approached by a family acquaintance for a favor. One that normally we would have said no to, but this case is special because of who asked and why."
Rias scrunched her brows together as she first looks at her brother, then her father before looking at the ever stoic maid of the family. Giving her queen a quick look, shows that Akeno is very interested in what the favor could be, so she looks back at her crimson-haired brother and gives a nod of her head.
"Thank you Rias. Now I will tell you what we want you to do for us. As I just said, usually we would have passed on this but the person asking needs our family's help in fulfilling his request. And that is for us to take care of the son of an old family friend. A human."
Master and Queen give each other a look before Rias begins her questioning of her brother. "Why us and why do we need to watch over this human brother?"
Sitting back in his chair, her brother gives a shake of his own head. "This human has recently experienced a serious head injury and lost most of the memories of his life. The only thing he seems to remember is his name and his schooling. Other than that, he has no recollection of his life except for the past few months as he recovered in a hospital in Europe."
"A head injury is very serious brother, I'm not really sure if Akeno or I should be the ones to help this young…"
"His name is Ichigo Shiba, Rias. And yes I think you and Akeno are more than capable for this. The only stipulation is this, he must stay with you for the time being and he will be going to school with you as well."
"A boy?" Akeno asks in disbelief.
Grayfia then speaks. "Yes Akeno-chan, a young man. He is as Sirzech said a member of a human family that served our friend's family a few generations ago. At this point he is the last living descendent of that family, and they hold a special place in the heart of the Devil asking for our help. So do you think you can do this Rias-sama?"
Looking at her sister-in-law to see if there is anything she is hiding and seeing no hint of deception, Rias gives her answer. "Of course we will try and do our best for this human if you so wish Grayfia-san. But father why us exactly? I mean why me and Akeno, wouldn't of any other Clan have been acceptable?"
Her father speaks finally. "No Rias, we are the only ones he would approach in regards to the care of this human. As such we said yes after listening to the story he told us and of course we did ask for and receive proof as such. The young man is all that survives of this family now and our friend would like to make sure he is taken care of. As for his expenses, they will be handled by Grayfia and a monthly allowance will be sent to his account. All we want for you and Akeno-chan to do is allow him to stay with you and to help him get acclimated to Kuoh Academy and the town."
"Then we will do as you ask Father. Is there anything we should know before we meet him?"
The question brings a mixed reaction from the three adults. Rias's father and brother both hold back a chuckle, while Grayfia clicks her tongue in exasperation. Sensing something is being withheld, Akeno dares to ask.
"Is there something the matter Grayfia-sama?"
The silver-eyed woman glares at the two Gremory men as she answers bluntly. "Yes, beware of his manners. They are severely lacking."
"Come now my lovely wife." Sirzech says as he dodges her hand deftly. "He isn't that ill-mannered, just not used to nobility is his problem."
"I beg to differ Sirzech. I watched the same thing you and Lord Gremory did as well. His lack of tact and his utter disdain for his elders and superiors is horrifying. I can only hope your sister and Akeno-chan don't send him to oblivion for his impudence."
Shrugging his shoulders, the Maou looks at his sister and her queen again. "There is one last thing Rias, Akeno-chan. That is he must never see you using your powers, if he does you must not use any magic on him. As I said any more injury or shocks to his brain may cause irreversible damage to him."
"If that should occur, what do you want us to do brother?" Rias says with a small amount of worry.
"You will send me a message and I will take care of it Rias. It is very important that we let this human live as normal a life as possible. I know this will be very hard for you and peerage but I must insist that you try to do your best."
Sighing heavily, Rias asks one last question of her brother. "Is there anything else we should know Oniisama?"
"Yes, he will be arriving at your school tomorrow and his belongings will be delivered to your house then as well Rias. We are counting on you and Akeno to do this for us."
Akeno and Rias both get up and bow to the three elder Devils before Akeno creates a magic circle and transports them back to Kuoh Academy.
Frowning Lord Gremory looks at his son and daughter-in-law. "I'm not sure if they are up to this Sirzech. What happens if they find out who he really is?"
Sirzech looks at his father and responds in a serious manner. "Then we will show them why our enemies fear us and our Power of Destruction Father. We owe this young man and his family for failing in their protection all those years ago. I will not let it happen again."
XXXX
Akeno is standing at one of the windows in homeroom with Rias as they watch the courtyard full of students going their way to class for the last semester of the year. Watching her crimson-haired friend intently, she notices Rias chewing her bottom lip as she waits for the announcement from the principle. Today they are going to finally meet the human that has the Gremory Clan bending over backwards to help. She sighs as she goes back to staring out the window as well where she sees their first-year member Yuuto Kiba as he walks with a pack of fan girls behind him.
She laughs silently as she watches him do his best to ignore the seven or so girls' right behind him as he makes his way to his own homeroom. She waves when he notices her and Rias standing at the window looking over the first boys ever to come to Kuoh Academy. None have caught her attention, most being intimated by the beautiful teenagers that make up a majority of the school's population. Well the three do promise to offer some entertainment at least, the Three Hentai, as the girls call them already. Hopefully their new roommate will be different than all the other boys and change that.
Soon a familiar presence makes her way to the two girls at the window. Souna Shitori with her black hair and glasses covered violet eyes let them know that it won't be long before Rias has to meet with the new student. Coming to a stop next to the other two devils, Souna quietly speaks to them.
"I saw your new housemate Rias and I must say he is quite the specimen." A blush actually adorns the usually serious class-rep's face.
Rias can't help herself as she whispers back. "Well what does he look like Sōna?"
At hearing her real name, the girl decides to bait her friend some. "I think it would be best for you to see for yourself Rias. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise your brother and Grayfia-sama have arranged for you and Akeno-chan."
"Ara, ara Souna that's not kind. Holding out like that is very unsporting of you." Akeno says while smirking at the class-rep and future heir of the Sitri Clan.
Still blushing, the hidden devil turns towards her fellow devils and gives them a wink. "All I can say is this. He isn't like anyone I have ever met before Rias, Akeno-chan. He is definitely a man among boys."
Before anyone could speak a word, an announcement is made.
"Rias Gremory report to Principle Yamato's office. Rias Gremory report to Principle Yamato's office."
"Well Buchou I guess that is your cue to meet our housemate. I can't wait to see what he looks like now." Akeno's eyes glinting dangerously.
"Have fun Rias, I'm sure you and Akeno-chan will need it. By the by, if you ever tire of him, let me know. I…WILL…TAKE…HIM…GLADLY."
Both Akeno and Rias can only stare at her as she walks away to join with her own queen, Tsubaki Shinra, at her desk. They see her bend down and whisper into the queen's ear and both begin to giggle as they turn to look back at their friends and rivals. Akeno sighs as she grabs her Master by her shoulders and starts pushing her towards the door.
"It can't be that bad Buchou, let's just do as Sirzech-sama has asked and get this over with. I will take notes while you get this Ichigo. So take your time."
Nodding as she walks out the door, Rias can only wonder if her friend is joking or being serious. She has never seen Sōna ever act the way she just did. If it wasn't logical, she usually had nothing to do with it. As she walks down the hallway towards the principle's office, she has to deal with the many admirers both female and male. Putting on a genuine smile, all she can do is try and feel happy as she walks the hallways. This school and her home in the human world are the only two places she can feel happy and be herself. When she is at home in the underworld, she has to be the Heiress of the Gremory Clan, a fake model of happiness when in the presence of other nobles.
Now that her family has arranged her marriage to Riser Phenex, all she has left is school and a hope that a miracle will occur or else she will have to marry that pig of a man. For a second a frown forms on her face thinking about the first time she met the overbearing man. He was standing with both his sister and his queen at a formal dinner party and she had to watch as he felt up each member of his peerage. It was a few weeks after that first meeting her family informed her that he would be her future husband. No matter what she said to them that night, they wouldn't budge, saying that they had already agreed to the marriage. The only concession she got was that the marriage wouldn't be until after she graduated from University.
Before she knew it, Rias was standing in front of the principle's office in no time. Knocking first and then entering after an older woman's voice told her to come in, Rias doesn't see anyone other than the secretary at her desk. The woman while typing doesn't even look up as she motions for Rias to enter Principle Yamato's office. Knocking before entering the room, she can't see anything of the new student as he sits in a high-back chair opposite of Yamato-sensei desk. Soon that changes as she finally makes her way to the second chair and comes even with it and the other chair's occupant.
She does everything she can to keep from exclaiming as she sets her eyes upon Ichigo Shiba for the first time. The first thing she notices is his bright orange hair that sits on top of a well-defined face. His face is richly defined, not an ounce of fat evident as his chest bulges against the white shirt he is wearing is anything to go by. His jacket is casually laying over one of the arms of the chair he is sitting in. Her next impression comes as he stands to greet her; he seems to tower over her at just over two meters. As he stands she finally gets to see his eyes, his brown orbs searing into her soul, as he gives a small bow in greeting. As she extends her hands, she can't but help but think one thing.
'Oh my God! He's hot!' She winces slightly but suffers the pain of using HIS name.
"Ichigo Shiba." His baritone voice finally snaps her out of her stupor.
"Ah sorry, Rias Gremory." She replies.
The man sitting behind the desk finally speaks to the two teens. "Now I understand Gremory-chan that Shiba-kun will be staying with you and Himejima-chan for the time being. I am aware of his medical condition, so if there is an emergency we have his medical records from your family. Also he will be in all of your classes this year as well. So why don't you escort him to his first class and get him up to speed with our fine school."
"Hai Yamato-sensei. Shiba-kun if you will, follow me please."
"Sure."
After leaving the office, Rias decides she is taking the long way back to class so she can ask her new housemate a few questions.
"So Shiba-k…"
"It's Ichigo."
"Huh?"
The male walking next to her glances at her as he walks beside her easily. "Ichigo is fine."
"Okay then Ichigo. I've been told that you are recovering from a head injury." She says as they walk the now deserted halls.
"Yeah, I guess. I don't really remember anything. All I know is that I woke up in an Austrian hospital. I don't even remember how I got there or what I was doing. The only thing I remember was my name and I was a second year in high school. The only other thing is I have a guardian that lives in Japan who came for me as soon as I was well enough to travel. We had to take a train from Austria all the way to the coast of China, and then a private charter took us the rest of the way. Something about the air pressure could cause me to relapse into a coma."
Just as the two pass a window, Rias looks up at her taller companion head and has to yet again suppress her delight towards her new roommate. His orange hair lights up brightly like spun gold as the sun's light filters through his spiky locks. Turning her head forward and hoping he doesn't see the red bleeding into her cheeks, she distracts him with yet another question.
"So Ichigo, are you okay with staying with me for a few months until the doctors clear you?"
The young man looks at his guide and shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly. "It doesn't bother me Gremory-san. It's what my guardian has arranged for me because he can't take care of me himself. His job has him traveling all the time and according to him, your family and his are close. So I guess I'll have to deal with it."
"Tsk, tsk Ichigo. If I have to call you Ichigo then you must call me Rias. I insist." She says while a smile forms on her face.
"Okay then Rias. So is there anything I should be aware of? This is a new school for me, so I'd like to know if there any quirks or social taboos I need to know about."
"Nothing major Ichigo, except that the male to female ratio is very lopsided, this used to be an all-girls private academy up until last year. So there are not many boys who qualified to get in this year."
Ichigo looks down at Rias with a raised eyebrow. "How many boys are there exactly to girls?"
"Oh I guess for every boy there are about thirty girls give or take." She replies with a grin at seeing his face go blank.
Soon they pass the first set of girls as they walk down the opposite of the hall and Ichigo gets a hint of exactly who Rias is to the school.
"Did you see that? Rias-senpai is with a hottie too."
"AWW! Why does she get him?"
"Is his hair really that color or do you think he dyes it?"
Rias wants to laugh as she sees his calm demeanor rapidly gaining a scowl on his face, which she finds looks cute on him oddly. Taking an extra hallway, she leads him away from their class by taking the Northern stairs instead of the Southern set. Gaining an extra few minutes she accidentally passes Yuuto's classroom and sees him stepping just out of his room.
"Ah Buchou, I didn't see you." The young blonde-hair male says.
Both Rias and Ichigo stop as she introduces the older male to the younger one. "Yuuto Kiba this is Ichigo Shiba. Ichigo this is Yuuto."
"How do you do Shiba-senpai?" Yuuto says as he sticks his hand out.
Taking the hand of Yuuto, Ichigo answers honestly. "I am doing as well as I can Yuuto, and Ichigo is fine."
As they release hands, a new face appears behind Yuuto and the others. The brown-hair male goes wide eyed as he sees Rias and Ichigo standing in the hallways. Ichigo shifts to stand in front of Rias as he sees the new male's eyes never go above her chest. An odd feeling takes over Ichigo as he glares at the first year student.
"Hey, her eyes are not on her chest asshole, I suggest you look up more." His tone allows no argument.
"Ah sorry. I'll be on my way then. Sorry." The boy begins to sprint down the hallway, sending a glance over his shoulder as he rounds the corner.
"Yuuto who was that just now?" Rias asks as her eyes follow the boy until he disappears.
Scratching the back of his head, the blonde boy chuckles as he looks down the same hallway the boy ran down. "I think his name is Issei Hyoudou Buchou. He is part of that 'crowd'."
Ichigo however is glaring in the same direction. He shakes his head wondering why that just bothered him; an odd feeling had come over him as he saw the boy leering at the crimson beauty who is escorting him to class. He turns back around and stands there listening to the young woman as she speaks to the other student.
"Well Yuuto, Ichigo and I have to get to class. I'll see you at club after school, okay?"
"Of course Buchou. Nice meeting you Ichigo."
"Yeah same here."
Rias takes Ichigo's arm and once again begins to lead him towards the stairway when she hears a question coming from the taller man.
"Why did he call you Buchou? Are you in a club?" He asks.
"That's because I am the president of the Occult Research Club Ichigo. We search the local towns for ghost stories to see if they are real or not. I was able to get it reinstated my first year here because I have a fascination with them. What about you Ichigo, do you believe in ghosts?"
Shaking his head while walking, he answers. "Nah. Don't believe in the afterlife."
Quirking an eyebrow at that, she smiles at him. "Well maybe you should go with us one time, just to see maybe."
"Sure, if I got nothing better to do, why not."
"Good, you'll have a lot of fun, I guarantee it Ichigo."
Coming to the stairway they begin their ascent up Rias looks again at Ichigo, she wonders why he did what he did so she asks him about it.
"Ichigo, I know we just met but why did you do that to the first year?"
Ichigo stops and looks at Rias with disbelief in his eyes as he talks. "You're kidding right? You didn't see how hard he was staring at your breast just then did you?"
'Wow, I've never had anyone defend me like that except my peerage.'
"Well I get that all the time Ichigo; I guess it doesn't bother me as much any more. But thank you for what you did." Rias says as she gives him a smile.
Grunting before starting back up the stairs, she gets a surprise with his next comment. "If it happens again when I'm around, I'll run them off again Rias."
"My own knight in shining armour then Ichigo, I'm flattered." She giggles as they make it to the top of the stairs.
Soon they are walking down the long hallway and it hits Ichigo as to where their class is. He gives his guide a look and sees her smiling right back at him when he sees their class is right next to a stairway closer to the principle's office. He stands outside shaking his head, while Rias goes in and gives her sensei his paperwork. Soon a female voice asks him to come in after telling the class that they have a new transfer student joining the class. As he walks in, he immediately sees he is the only male in the class, and the only empty seat happens to be by the window right next to Rias.
The teacher hands him a piece of chalk so he can write his name on the blackboard. After he is done he turns around and makes his formal introduction to the class.
"Hello my name is Ichigo Shiba. I hope we get along and we can take care of each other." That is the wrong thing to say he finds out.
"Yeah, you can take care of me all night Ichi-kun."
"Ehmm, Berry-tan you look delicious."
"Even if you dye your hair, I like what you are offering."
Thankfully a voice saves him as Rias suddenly voices her objection. "Ichigo is staying with my family."
Soon a chorus of groans and complaints are heard from the female students. Except three he notices right away. The first is the one sitting directly behind Rias. He sees her black hair is tied back into a simple pony-tail and it reaches almost to her feet. Her violet eyes are slightly lidded as she looks him over from the feeling he gets. Next to her and one seat behind is another black-haired girl wearing a pair of oval-shaped glasses that don't hide her contemplating violet eyes. The last girl is directly next to her in the next row; her square rimmed glasses also don't hide her heterochromatic eyes, one being light brown the other violet like the other two. She also has black hair as do most of the girls in his class have.
"Ichigo please take a seat by Rias and we can continue our lesson." His new homeroom teacher says.
Nodding and then making his way down the last row, he feels almost every set of eyes on him, including his sensei as he catches her watching as he sits down. Internally smirking, he takes out a notebook and a pen and begins to copy the notes from the board. A hand touches his and when he looks over he sees Rias mouth to him.
'Don't let it bother you too much; they'll stay away from you now.' Her smile makes him nod back to her and soon the class picks up and he is lost in his writing.
XXXX
The lunch bell rings and Ichigo leans back stretching his arms high over his head, not realizing once again he is on display until his crimson-haired shield stands up and puts an immediate end to it with a glare. Once she does that, it will spread that he is off-limits, at least she hopes. Turning back she can see him packing his books away and looking up at her from his seat.
"Ah Rias can you take me to the cafeteria, I didn't have time to stop for a bento."
She grabs his arm and pulls him from his seat as she guides him from the classroom. Right behind them are the three girls he had noticed earlier that had watched him differently than the rest of the class.
"Buchou are you going to introduce us properly?" Akeno asks with a hint of jealousy as she walks behind the two.
"Yes Rias, you should show some proper etiquette with our newest student." Souna says with a smirk.
Stopping in the middle of the hallway, she turns on the three following them and in a very hard voice she replies. "I was going to do so once we got to the cafeteria and allowed him to at least be sitting. But if you insist, Ichigo this is Souna Shitori, Akeno Himejima and Tsubaki Shinra."
"Ah nice to meet you all." Ichigo says as he stands next to the fuming Rias.
"Nice to meet you as well Ichigo-kun, I'm Rias's vice-president for the Occult Club." Akeno chimes in as she extends her hand for him.
Shaking her hand and then shaking Souna and finally Tsubaki's hand, he gives a quick glance at his informal guide to see her eyes narrowing dangerously for some reason. Instinctively he backs up a step and waits for her to blow. He isn't too far off his mark.
"Akeno, keep your hands off him. He is still recovering and I don't think your ideas of fun would be beneficial to him, do you?"
Pouting at that, the secret sadist rebuts. "But Buchou you are already…"
A stare-down begins between the two best friends at that point. Rias wins.
"Fine you can have him for now Buchou, but sooner or later…" Akeno says in a sing-song voice as she walks around Ichigo, sliding a finger down the length of his arm. "I'm your other roommate Ichigo; I hope you and I can become good friends as well."
"Akeno." A now villainous Rias as she voices her objections.
"Ara, ara Buchou don't you think we should get to lunch now?" The smile reminds Ichigo of a shark circling a drowning man.
A sudden jerk on his arm has Ichigo once again moving down the hallway. The mutterings coming from the crimson head of hair next to him and her choice of words even has him trying to stifle his laughter for her imaginative vocabulary. Deciding it would be best to appease his new roommates, he finds that keeping quiet is the best course of action. However his smile becomes a scowl as the passing comments to his current piece of decoration hanging off his arm makes him a fearsome sight. Together the hallway clears a path for the five students all the way to the cafeteria. No one wants to make the scowling red or orange even more pissed than they seem to be already.
As soon as Ichigo enters the cafeteria almost every head swivels towards them to see the number one, two, three and four school idols with the newest male student. Everyone collectively groans when they see him arm and arm with Rias Gremory as they make their way to the lunch line. Soon the talking starts up again and most of the student-body wisely ignores the normally smiling Crimson Princess and her entourage. Glancing down at the food seems to have a positive effect on Ichigo as he sees a lot of Japanese cuisine being served. After eating out of store-bought bentos, he is really happy to see fresh cooked food finally.
Once he fills his plate he follows Rias and Akeno to a window table and sits down to eat.
"Itadakimasu." He says quietly to himself.
The first few minutes are spent in silence as he eats before Akeno picks up her chopsticks and asks her first question. "So Ichigo how is your first day going so far?"
Swallowing first and then he answers. "It's okay I guess, I don't think I'll have a problem catching up it looks like. Most of the subjects are like my old school, if I could remember it at least."
Rias gives him a look before she jumps in with the next question. "So is there anything you need to tell us about your condition other than what your guardian included in his letter to us?"
"Nope, not that I know of. Listen Rias, Akeno don't treat me like an invalid please; I've had enough of that the past few months already. Between the doctors and nurses, I was getting pretty sick of the looks of pity and false words of sympathy from them. So please treat me normally."
"Sorry Ichigo, we didn't mean to. Your guardian left pretty vague instructions but he wanted us to keep you out of any of the clubs that are physical for the time being. Other than that, he didn't leave anything more specific." Rias says to him between bites.
"I see, thanks then for helping out. I really can't tell you anything honestly. The first thing I remember is waking up in a hospital with doctors and nurses speaking a language I didn't know. It took them two days to find a translator for me and then it was two weeks later I found out I was in an accident from my guardian. He told me I had been on holiday and fell off a steep cliff while I was walking a mountain trail. That's all I know from that point, anything before is a blank slate."
Akeno gives a predatory look that Rias knows all-to-well but can't stop her queen. "Well then we will just have to make sure your new memories are…memorable then Ichi-kun." She finishes by licking her straw slowly.
"Akeno, what did I say?" Rias voice once again regaining her earlier venom.
"Buchou I was just saying that he shouldn't have to worry about bad memories when he starts living with us."
Ichigo watches with amusement as the crimson-haired Rias duels with her best friend, the black-haired Akeno, over what is to be deemed proper or not. Soon the argument causes him to break out in a chuckle as they start listing the bad habits each of them have. Then they begin reminding each other of the practical jokes they have played on each other. He almost spits out his tea when one brings up one the oldest and funniest but also messiest jokes. He forgot that plastic wrap and toilet seats don't mix well.
"Ichigo. Ichigo. Hey are you there Ichigo?" Rias is in his face when he realizes he must have zoned out.
Not moving an inch, he looks into her blue-green eyes and finds himself staring deep into them. "Ah sorry Rias, I guess listening to you was helping me feel normal. Sorry."
Sitting back down, Rias keeps her eye on him as he sits there eating. A ghost of a smile forms on his face as he looks between the two girls. She blushes as does her queen when she also sees his smile.
'He is so hot/ I can't wait for tonight.'
XXXX
Rias stares out the window at the top of the center stairwell, she is watching Ichigo as he walks towards the gate, satchel in hand as he reads a piece of paper. The direction to their house was well written by Yuuto so he wouldn't get lost hopefully, but in case she had Yuuto write all of their phone numbers down on it, just in case. Soon her queen is standing behind her, as is the class-rep, Souna, as well as Tsubaki.
"So Rias what do you think?" Souna says as she joins her rival at the window.
Not blinking or moving, Rias sighs. "I don't know Sōna. He is friendly enough and he isn't having trouble with the school work, but there is just something off with him. I admit he is handsome but there this underlying vibe I'm getting from him. The last thing that bothers me, for someone with a serious head injury, I haven't seen a scar."
"Well tonight you and Akeno-chan will get better answers. I suspect once he is living with you, he'll relax and his true colors will show." The serious-minded woman says.
"I hope he isn't a danger to Koneko-chan, she is very young." Rias says as she watches Ichigo disappear around the wall.
"I would feel sorry for him then. Koneko is very strong; no human should be able to harm her."
"Hopefully he proves himself. I asked him to pick her up from middle school and escort her home. I left a message with the school telling them someone new would be picking her up today."
Sōna then spots Rias's familiar making her way out the gate as well, following discretely behind the young man. She gives a sideways glance at the Clan Heiress with a small amount of respect. At least she has someone watching over him even if she can't be there; someone will be there as back-up for the young neko.
"I'm not a complete fool Sōna." Rias says with a smirk.
"I never said that Rias."
"But you were thinking it."
"Come Tsubaki, we have a student council meeting to attend. Rias, Akeno-chan."
Akeno bows slightly to the two departing teenage women. Turning back to her Master, she speaks up.
"Are you sure of this Rias? I mean we are supposed to watch over him for your brother and father."
Finally leaving the window and heading down the stairwell with Akeno following in her wake, Rias softly speaks. "I have a feeling Akeno that Ichigo Shiba is more than what he appears to be, but I don't think he will harm us. I have this feeling that he is a good person, even for a human he is very nice."
"At least we get to see what he is like when we aren't around." Akeno speaks up.
"It should be interesting to see how he reacts to Koneko."
"I think he will melt just like everyone else."