Chapter 109: Ichigo's Relatives.
Kyōraku's introduction sent a shock through those who didn't know the background. Renji, who had only become Sixth Division Vice Captain a month before Rukia was stationed in Karakura Town, stared in disbelief, as did his peers Kira and Hinamori Momo. Even Isane and Shūhei, who were more senior, widened their eyes.
"Shiba… Isshin? Is it that Shiba?"
"The former Captain of the Tenth Division… you've got to be kidding."
"Ichigo kun's father? He's actually a Shinigami? How is that even possible…!"
Muffled exclamations rippled through the room.
Kurosaki Isshin ignored them all and instead objected to Kyōraku's wording, putting on a show of dissatisfaction.
"It's Kurosaki. Kurosaki Isshin. How do you keep getting someone's surname wrong?" He waved a hand. "And don't bring up my glorious past to show off in front of the youngsters. That's embarrassing."
"Sorry, sorry. I thought it'd be more convenient that way." Kyōraku smiled lazily. "Anyway, that's the situation. Anyone object?"
"I object."
A chair scraped across the floor. Toshiro stood up and glared at Isshin.
"A guy who vanished for twenty years without a word has no credibility, even if he used to be a Captain. Besides, Ichimaru, Tōsen, Urahara, and Yoruichi were also Captains, and every one of them was trouble."
"That's a fair point."
Instead of getting angry, Isshin stroked his chin in agreement and gave Toshiro a thumbs up.
"As expected of the one I picked as the next Captain. You've gotten more and more reliable, Toshiro. As your former superior, I'm so moved I could cry."
"Don't say it like you personally handed the position to me!"
A vein throbbed on Toshiro's forehead.
"I'm just relieved to see you so full of energy. And man, it's been so long, but you haven't changed at all. You eating properly? Don't only work. Leave the paperwork to your Vice Captain."
Toshiro and Rangiku: "Shut up!"
Isshin shrugged after being yelled at, then greeted the other familiar faces with a grin.
"Still, it's good to see everyone doing well."
"Captain Shiba… no, should I call you Mr. Kurosaki now?" Unohana replied softly. "You've changed quite a lot. I almost didn't recognize you just from your face."
"That can't be helped." Isshin scratched his cheek. "I'm not as good at keeping myself youthful as you are. Plus, I've been raising a brat who's always running around."
"Hey! Who are you calling a brat who's always running around?!"
The Captains watching the father and son bicker all reacted differently.
"I was wondering who it was," Mayuri said, eyes gleaming with interest, "but I didn't expect it to be you. You secretly went to the Human World and had a child. How did you manage that?"
"Obviously, that was Urahara's doing." Isshin answered smoothly, then neatly avoided the real point. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed so quickly to watch the house the moment Captain Kyōraku said you were going to Hueco Mundo to cause trouble for Urahara."
The explanation landed at the perfect time. It was enough to temporarily settle the doubts in the room, and they let the deeper questions go.
But that alone still wasn't quite enough.
Takeru spoke up at the right moment.
"Leaving everything else aside, the reinforcement Captain Kyōraku found is Ichigo's father. Based on that alone, I believe he won't let everyone down."
"Seconded," Suì Fēng said. She couldn't stand Ichigo, and Isshin had vanished long before she took office, so she didn't know his character. Still, she trusted Takeru's judgment.
"I share that view," Aizen added, voice heavy with emotion. "Urahara has involved too many innocent people. We can't condemn those who were misled and harmed because of him. Yoruichi and Mr. Isshin are the clearest examples."
"Doesn't matter." Kenpachi rested his chin on his hand, looking at Ichigo and Isshin with little interest. "So he's the son of an old acquaintance. No wonder he's so agreeable. I thought a fated rival showed up, so I kept wanting to fight Ichigo. Hey, Ichigo, you got me excited for nothing. You owe me a duel."
"Is that my fault?!"
"No problem, Kenpachi. I'll agree for him!" Isshin said, slapping his palm confidently.
At that moment, Byakuya rose to his feet, calm as ever.
"If everything has been said, then I shall take my leave."
Kyōraku nodded. "Right. We can't keep taking everyone's valuable time. Since no one objects, we're dismissed."
Byakuya led Renji toward the main gate first. But as he passed between Yoruichi and Isshin, he spoke without looking at them.
"Whether Shiba or Kurosaki, regardless of the reason, anyone willing to fight for Seireitei is our comrade. That is beyond doubt."
"Is it just me," Yoruichi muttered, brows knitting, "or did the kid get friendlier?"
"Friendlier?" Isshin blinked. "How could he not be? Before, he said me staying behind was just a stopgap and looked down on me. But with you, it's suddenly comrade I can trust my back to?"
"Well, he probably said it for Ichigo's sake." Yoruichi smirked. "Hey, Kuchiki, I forgot to say it earlier, thanks for taking care of my idiot son."
Isshin cupped his hands and shouted after Byakuya's retreating back.
Byakuya paused, then, for some reason, his steps seemed to quicken.
"What is that idiot dad even shouting?" Ichigo wanted to bury his face in his hands. "Who took care of me?"
"It's etiquette, etiquette!" Isshin waved him off, then turned to the others with sudden sincerity. "You've already become a Vice Captain and you still don't know how to behave. And to everyone else, thank you for taking care of Ichigo too."
He drew a breath, and his expression sobered.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me for leaving without a word back then, or for abandoning my duties as a Gotei 13 Captain. I only hope you won't change your view of Ichigo because of me. I kept this brat in the dark the whole time."
Then Isshin bowed deeply to everyone present.
No one could miss the sincerity in it.
"Dad…"
Ichigo's feelings twisted in a knot.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't upset about his father hiding the truth. But he also knew there had to be a reason Isshin couldn't speak of.
And now there was one more reason, clear as day.
The one who doesn't know is innocent.
If even his own son had been kept in the dark, outsiders would have nowhere to direct their anger.
"It's… kind of embarrassing." Ukitake rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "We all owe Ichigo a lot. Especially me. I pulled him into Thirteenth Division, then became a hands off boss, and he still worked hard without complaint, ahaha…"
The words stirred memories in many people. Thinking back on everything Ichigo had done since arriving in Soul Society, their expressions softened with complicated emotion.
"Let's not talk like strangers, Mr. Kurosaki." Takeru stepped forward and helped him up. "You can see from everyone's reaction that Ichigo fits in well here. He barely even goes back to the Human World."
"So that's how it is." Isshin clicked his tongue. "Even with such a good thing going on, he still runs back just to complain to Yuzu and Karin so he can enjoy his sisters coddling him."
He coughed and struck a grand pose.
"Captain Shimiya, young people need tempering. He should rack up more achievements so he can stand on his own sooner and become a reliable man like me."
Isshin's attempt at solemnity made the room's expressions turn wonderfully colorful.
Shūhei: "Was Mr. Isshin always this… doting?"
Kira: "So this was Vice Captain Matsumoto's former superior. No wonder she slacks off now, it's revenge."
Hinamori: "Ichigo kun… has it rough."
Ōmaeda: "Is it really okay to let him watch the house? Vice Captain Sasakibe won't be driven to death by anger, will he?"
"Stupid dad, what are you saying?!" Even Ichigo couldn't take it anymore.
"Kurosaki."
Since the meeting was over, Toshiro also left his seat. But instead of leaving immediately, he walked up to Ichigo and spoke seriously.
"I don't want to talk badly about someone's elder, but this man is the one person you must never learn from."
"Exactly, exactly!" Rangiku chimed in. "Dumping the division's work on a subordinate so he can go have fun, then sleeping on a tree, that's too much."
"Matsumoto, you're not one to talk!"
"Ehehe."
Toshiro stormed off with Rangiku.
They left quickly because Isshin, hearing someone badmouth him, came over aggressively to size his opponent up by lifting him by the armpits.
Rangiku, meanwhile, laughed happily.
Toshiro looked like he was one second away from drawing his sword to slash these two idiots.
"By the way, Captain, did you know all along?" Ichigo asked as they watched them go.
"What are you referring to?" Takeru replied.
"Don't play dumb. The relationship between Captain Shiba and me."
"I'm not Kyōraku or the Commander in Chief of the Onmitsukidō. How would I know that?" Takeru said. "However…"
"However?"
"I could sense something in his Reiatsu, but the surname threw me off. When I saw Kurosaki today, and his face looked more mature than I expected, the suspicion returned. Even so, I never intended to pursue it. There had to be a reason he dropped everything and hid himself away, so I chose to pretend I knew nothing."
"Reiatsu? I didn't feel a thing." Ichigo frowned. "Are you saying I'm too slow? Don't forget it was me who dragged you onto the right path back then!"
"When did I call you slow? How did we even end up on that topic?"
"I'm so sad. I'm going to sleep hard when I get back." Takeru sighed theatrically. "Right, I'll try sleeping on a tree too. A slacking method Captain Shiba liked can't be that bad."
"I told you not to learn from him!"
Their voices faded as they left First Division.
In the blink of an eye, everyone was gone.
But a few people remained.
Takeru lingered outside the meeting hall with Ichigo, looking far too entertained, as if he were watching a three way conference. The kind that happened at Human World high schools after enrollment, where parents, students, and teachers sat down to discuss academic plans.
Takeru was the outsider.
Ichigo was the student.
As for the parent and the teacher, no introduction was needed.
"Captain Aizen… no, Teacher Aizen, it's been a long time."
Isshin smiled brightly, but it felt thin, like paper that could tear at a touch. His eyes, however, were heavy with emotion.
"It has indeed been a long time, Captain Shiba… no, Mr. Kurosaki." Aizen smiled back and extended his hand, returning the Human World etiquette.
Isshin let out an exaggerated sigh.
"I never expected Ichigo to have the honor of becoming your disciple. He hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?"
"How could he?" Aizen replied smoothly. "Your son is excellent, just as excellent as Mr. Kurosaki was back then. He hasn't caused me trouble at all. He's only brought me endless surprises."
Aizen's words made Isshin's expression stiffen slightly.
"So please don't thank me," Aizen continued. "I should be thanking you instead. Thank you, Mr. Kurosaki, for allowing me to have a disciple I can be proud of."
"Ah, is that so…" Isshin gave a hollow laugh. "Then you really should be grateful to me. Just saying thank you is too insincere."
"Hey, old man…" Ichigo started, unable to watch this any longer.
Aizen waved a hand gently, stopping him.
"Mr. Kurosaki and I are old friends. He's joking. I won't mind."
"Right, right. Just joking. No need to make a fuss."
Isshin turned and, without hesitation, hooked an arm around Aizen's shoulder like they were truly old pals.
"Back when I went to the Human World on a mission, Aizen even owed me a favor."
"You must be mistaken, Mr. Kurosaki," Aizen said pleasantly. "The one who owes you a favor is Urahara Kisuke."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"…."
Isshin stared.
Aizen's expression did not change in the slightest.
So Isshin finally gave up.
With nothing left to say, Aizen greeted Takeru and Ichigo, then left leisurely with Hinamori.
"This guy…" Isshin clicked his tongue, face turning solemn.
"Old man, you and my teacher have beef, don't you?" Ichigo frowned. "Don't lie. I can tell."
"Beef… my feelings are conflicted, yeah." Isshin sighed. "I don't know whether to be grateful to him or hate him…"
"It's because of romance, right?" Takeru said, sitting on the corridor railing, just like when he'd discussed the Hōgyoku's transformation with Aizen and Ichigo before.
Behind him, the courtyard wasn't filled with bleak autumn wind anymore, but biting winter air. It felt like snow would come within a few days.
"Romance…?" Ichigo's mind took a wrong turn, and his face twisted. "Wait, does it have something to do with Mom?"
"That's true, but it's not what you're thinking!" Isshin snapped instantly.
Ichigo remained deeply skeptical.
"In any case," Takeru said calmly, "we shouldn't meddle in the previous generation's issues. Let them solve it themselves, right, Mr. Kurosaki?"
"Captain Shimiya is right." Isshin nodded. "Ichigo, don't stick your nose into things that don't concern you. Just act like you always do."
"Whatever you say." Ichigo huffed, then suddenly froze. "Wait. Shimiya, is something wrong with how you're addressing us?"
"What's wrong?" Takeru asked innocently.
"Of course there's something wrong! You call me Brother Kurosaki, and you call him Brother Kurosaki too. How does that make sense?!"
"Doesn't it?"
Takeru looked at Isshin, genuinely confused.
Isshin raised an eyebrow and answered righteously.
"I don't see any problem. Captain Shimiya is a Captain, and I'm a former Captain and his senior. What's wrong with calling me Brother?"
"And your relationship is obvious." Isshin gestured at Ichigo. "By age, I'm older than you. What's wrong with him calling you Brother?"
"No wonder Ichigo is so outstanding," Takeru said solemnly, "he had a sensible father guiding him from the start."
"No, no, no." Isshin waved that away. "Family education matters, sure, but without Brother Shimiya, he wouldn't have made it this far in one piece."
"That's exactly why, Mr. Kurosaki, I understand your feelings so well."
"Brother Shimiya," Isshin said, eyes shining with shameless warmth, "when you have kids in the future, I'll teach you everything I know. Boy or girl, doesn't matter. And if you ever get the chance, come visit our house. Yuzu and Karin will definitely like you as much as they like me."
"…."
Ichigo took a deep breath. A painfully deep breath.
Then he laughed, purely out of exasperation.
"Like Shimiya as much as they like you? Shimiya will get locked outside by Yuzu and Karin and refused entry, guaranteed."
"Oh, right!"
Before Takeru or the about to retort Isshin could respond, Ichigo remembered something important.
"Old man, Captain Kyōraku called you here to watch the house for us. That means you won't be able to go back to the Human World for a while. What about Karin and Yuzu?"
"I told them someone was desperately begging me to come treat an illness, so I had to go on a business trip." Isshin shrugged. "It also happens to be their winter break at the end of the month, about ten days. I'll stay in Seireitei, and they'll stay at someone else's house."
He grinned.
"Basically, it's the same as visiting relatives in the countryside for the holidays."
"Countryside relatives?" Ichigo muttered. "More like we have relatives in Soul Society. Wait, Shiba. Shimiya, doesn't Kūka ku's surname also Shiba?"
"Exactly," Takeru nodded. "You and Kūka ku are relatives. By seniority, she should be your older cousin."
"Then that means…" Ichigo's tone sank heavily. "The lieutenant of Thirteenth Division before me was also…"
"Kaien," Isshin said quietly. "He's Kūka ku's older brother, so naturally he's your older brother too. Ukitake probably knew, which is why he invited you into Thirteenth Division."
Isshin looked both sentimental and helpless.
"Forget it. We'll do a proper visit later. Putting relatives aside, Kūka ku is the head of the Shiba Clan now, and I'm from a branch family. I should be the one to greet her."
"…She won't get so mad you changed your surname that she kicks you out, will she?" Ichigo asked warily.
"That was just so I could hide my identity more easily. It doesn't mean I married into the family!" Isshin snapped. "Or are you dissatisfied with the surname Kurosaki?!"
"What are you even talking about? How could I be dissatisfied with my own surname?!" Ichigo shot back. "If you get kicked out by Kūka ku, don't expect me to put in a good word!"
"No need! They admire me!"
Takeru, who'd been quietly watching, finally cut in.
"I hate to say it, but aren't we drifting off topic?"
"…" "…."
Father and son looked at each other, then both glared as if to say, You talk too much.
Ichigo sat down and asked with forced casualness, "The family you found to look after Karin and Yuzu, are they really reliable? If not, ask Orihime to take them."
"Orihime?" Isshin asked.
"Yes. She protects the souls in Karakura Town." Ichigo frowned. "But there are times she can't watch everything. With you not by their side, it'll be trouble if a Hollow gets drawn in by their spiritual power."
"That's fair," Isshin said easily. "But just like you said, there are times she can't watch everything. What if a Hollow draws her away and then attacks Yuzu and Karin?"
"This…"
"So, brat, you still have a lot to learn from Brother Shimiya." Isshin smirked. "Look at him. He looks like he trusts me completely."
Ichigo stared at Takeru in disbelief.
Takeru replied calmly, "It's not exactly trust. It's that I believe a father who has lost a son won't tolerate his daughters being harmed again. So even if the other party is reluctant, you'd still send them there."
"As expected of Brother Shimiya!" Isshin slapped his knee. "Right on the mark. But you guessed one thing wrong. The other party wasn't reluctant."
"So who did you find?" Ichigo demanded, more confused by the second.
In Karakura Town, in the Human World, who could protect Yuzu and Karin better than Orihime?
"Didn't I say?" Isshin chuckled. "Like relatives. Kind people."
Human World, Kitakawase.
In a wealthy district where Western style houses lined the streets, there was one residence known almost everywhere. A nameplate hung at the entrance.
Ishida.
Its owner could, in a sense, influence the health of the entire town. To put it bluntly, he worked in a profession that stole lives away from Shinigami.
A doctor.
The director of Karakura General Hospital.
Yet as the director's son, Uryu's life was extremely strict. No pocket money, no indulgence, and many things had to be handled himself.
Even though training with Ryūken had drawn them slightly closer, that reality hadn't changed.
Carrying discounted goods in both hands, Uryu hurried home with a heavy heart. Coming back this late meant he wouldn't have enough time to prepare for training. Entering the training ground half prepared led to disastrous outcomes.
Then he saw Ryūken's car parked outside.
That meant his father was already home.
Uryu's mood sank further.
He stepped into the hallway and saw a maid carrying black tea into the living room. Confused, he followed. The moment he entered, he saw Ryūken seated on the sofa and spoke first.
"Sorry. I had some things to handle today, so I came back late. I'll prepare right away. I won't waste your time."
"No need." Ryūken's voice was as sharp as ever. "I wasn't planning to waste time on you today anyway."
"What did you say…"
The familiar bite in Ryūken's tone irritated Uryu, but at that moment, two more figures came into view on the sofa.
No, they'd been there from the start. The sofa's backrest was high, and they were small, which was why he hadn't noticed.
But that didn't explain it.
Even if he couldn't see them, he should have sensed strangers in the room.
He hadn't sensed a thing.
Uryu stared, stunned, as he met the eyes of two unfamiliar little girls.
"The one with brown hair is Yuzu. The one with black hair is Karin." Ryūken spoke flatly, as if reading a report. "They will stay here until the end of winter break."
Uryu's mind stalled.
Ryūken stood, walked over, and placed a hand on Uryu's shoulder.
"The Kurosaki family and the Ishida Family are relatives. You will look after them like they're your own younger sisters. If you do a poor job, you can move out."
?!
Uryu stared at him.
Putting aside where these relatives came from, what was with that attitude?
Who was the biological child here?
"Tonight's training is canceled," Ryūken added. "Show them around so they can get used to the house. I'm going back to the hospital."
Then he left.
The moment the door closed, Uryu, Yuzu, and Karin were left staring at each other in silence.
Yuzu and Karin were very polite, though. They bowed with careful respect toward the young man who looked around the same age as their deceased older brother.
"I'm Yuzu Kurosaki."
"I'm Karin Kurosaki."
"Nice to meet you. Please take care of us."
"Uh… I'm Uryu Ishida. Nice to meet you too…"
Uryu bowed back on reflex.
"Wait… Kurosaki?"
He snapped his head up, staring at them in shock.
Then he noticed the pentagram pendants hanging from their necks.
"That pendant is…"
"Uncle Ryūken gave them to us," Yuzu said. "He said they're charms so evil spirits won't notice us."
"Yuzu, why did you just blurt that out?" Karin grumbled under her breath.
"I know we're not supposed to say it because people won't believe us," Yuzu complained, "but he's Uncle Ryūken's son."
"Uh…"
Karin looked helpless.
"Don't worry," Uryu said, finally finding his voice. "Even if Ryūken and I don't get along, I won't take it out on you. And honestly, even if he hadn't said anything, I would still take care of you."
"Why?" Karin's guard went up instantly.
"…Do you know Ichigo Kurosaki?" Uryu asked.
"Eh? Are you an acquaintance of Brother Ichigo?" Yuzu brightened.
"…I thought so." Uryu exhaled. "So you really are Kurosaki's family. No wonder you need pendants that isolate reishi and presence. Otherwise, you'd attract Hollow attacks."
"So what's your relationship with Brother Ichigo?" Karin pressed.
"…I owe him my life," Uryu said simply. "That's all. So no matter how much I look after you, it's only right."
Yuzu and Karin exchanged a look, then seemed to accept it.
"I see."
"Someone Brother Ichigo saved probably isn't a bad person."
"…."
Uryu went quiet.
He hadn't expected to earn their trust for such a reason.
"Anyway," he said, sitting down while still holding his bags, "whether we're actually relatives or not, if you have any problems while you're here, tell me. I'll help you."
Because of the connection to Ichigo, and because Uryu looked like a top student but didn't act arrogant, Yuzu and Karin relaxed. They began talking to him.
Of course, every question they asked was about Ichigo.
Uryu told them everything he knew, which satisfied their curiosity immensely.
Then Yuzu noticed the needlework and dolls in the bag on the table. Her eyes lit up.
"Does Brother Uryu like stuffed animals too?"
"This?" Uryu adjusted his glasses, composed. "Someone asked me to sew these. It's just a hobby, but I'm confident in it."
"Can I see?"
"Go ahead."
As he handed them over, Karin noticed the pendant on his wrist swaying and quietly let out a breath.
"Brother Uryu has one too. That's good."
"What do you mean?" Uryu asked.
"No, I just thought you might feel bad because Uncle Ryūken gave us gifts."
"I wouldn't." Uryu frowned. "And our pendants aren't even the same. Mine is a weapon that can destroy evil spirits. Yours just masks your presence."
"Really? I don't feel any difference."
Karin took hers off to examine it more closely.
She focused too hard, and the moment the pendant left her neck, her spiritual power reacted.
In the next instant, the pendant transformed in her hand into a blue Spirit Bow.
It was identical in shape to Ginrei Kojaku, only smaller, like a simplified version for beginners.
Eh…?!
This…!
"Amazing!" Yuzu gasped. "Karin, how did you do that?!"
"I don't know!" Karin panicked, gripping the bow. "Brother Uryu, how do I turn this off? Brother Uryu?!"
…
Uryu froze, mind nearly blank.
For the first time in his life, he felt a crushing doubt toward the title he'd inherited.
The Last Quincy.
And at the same time, he no longer doubted Ryūken's claim that they were relatives.
.....
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