Chapter Six
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
After the long talk that revealed Truths about his mother and her connection to one Uryu Ishida. To say Ichigo was shocked would be an understatement. As he makes his way downstairs to watch a movie with his sister's he's deep in thought. "Mom was a Quincy, she's the reason I can see pluses." As he continues to think over what he's learned he remembers something Kisuke said to him the day before.
(Flashback start)
Kisuke is sitting at the table while Ichigo is enjoying his lunch. "Ichi before we go see your sisters tomorrow I need to tell you. As you already know our end goal is to awaken the power that sleeps within you, however we've left out what exactly those powers are." Ichigo looked up at him. "You know what powers I have locked up inside me, but you and Yuro said it was a mystery." Kisuke brought out his fan in front of his mouth. "We figured it was too early to tell you so we hid it from you but now we believe you are ready. You ichigo are a being with incredible powers, you're a culmination of all three worlds. You Ichigo are a hybrid of Hollow, Quincy and Soul Reaper. Our plan was to awaken your Shinigami powers first before training with your Quincy or Hollow powers but we didn't predict that your Hollow would manifest first. When you talk to your father remember these words. You're not just a quincy but a hybrid.
(Flashback end)
Ichigo turns around on the stairs before walking back to his father's room. " dad I have something to ask you." Isshin turns to his son. "What is it Ichigo?" "Dad I know what I am and I know mom was a full-blooded Quincy. That has to mean I got my shinigami powers from you. I need you to tell me who you really are and I need to know the truth of my mother's death." Isshin sighed in defeat. " You're too smart for your age. Fine I'll tell you who I am but I can't tell you the truth of your mother's death." Ichigo's lips turned to a scowl. "Why can't you tell me about the real reason my mother is dead?" Isshin put his hand on Ichigo's head. " If I told you the real reason your mother died you'd only be filled with rage and white would take advantage of that rage." "Wait a minute, who is White?" "White is the hollow that I fought against when I Met Your Mother. It infected her even though we killed it. He lived on inside your mother's soul before joining with you. I gave up my Shinigami powers to save your mother. My real name is Isshin Shiba, former clan head of the Shiba and former Tenth Division Captain. I wield the Zanpakuto Engetsu." Ichigo stares at his father surprised. "Former Captain and former clan head of one of the four great noble clans. I can't believe I'm a noble. Why didn't you say anything?" Isshin's features soften. " I didn't want you to fight. I wanted you to live a normal life. You Were never supposed to learn about your powers however I couldn't care for you. I know how to handle the girls but you were always by Misaki's side. I never really learned how to be a father to you." Isshin places his hand atop Ichigo's head. "Listen Ichigo, I've screwed up alot in my life. Not getting to know you better is one of those screw ups. However as your father I'll always love you and always have your back." Ichigo gives his father a huge grin thanks dad." Ichigo turns to leave before being stopped by his father. "One more thing Ichigo, here's some advice. Never forget what and who you fight for because once you forget those then you've truly lost your way." Ichigo nods before running out the door and down the stairs to see the girls waiting. "Ichi what took you so long?" Karin and Yuzu said in unison. "Sorry girls dad and I had quite a bit to talk about but I'm here. Now let's get to those movies.
(Several hours later)
With the movies finished and the girls sleeping upstairs Ichigo is left to think about what he's learned. 'My father is a former shinigami and I'm some kind of perfect hybrid. Does this mean I can't have a normal life with my sisters and Tatsuki once Aizen is defeated. Am I fated to live in the spiritual world once I've completed my goals and protected everyone. It might…" before Ichigo could finish his train of thought he heard a loud bang on the front door. He rushed to open the door only to find a girl around his age with long auburn hair carrying a much older man with black hair. What caught Ichigo's attention the most was a large wound around the man's stomach area. "Dad, Kisuke come quickly, we have a badly wounded man." Ichigo yells up the stairs as he grabs the man's other arm and brings him to the clinic and lays him on a cot. Isshin and Kisuke come in both with a serious look on their faces. Kisuke turned to Ichigo. "Take her to the living room and stay with her." Ichigo nodded before leading her out. Kisuke turns to Isshin. "It's no use his soul already left his body. Looks like a hollow attack." Isshin banged his fist on the table. "Damn hollows" Isshin felt a hand on his shoulder. "I'll tell her you just stay here and calm down." Isshin nodded as Kisuke turned to leave.
(A FEW MINUTES EARLIER)
Ichigo brought the girl to the living room and sat down with her on the couch. He didn't know what to say so he just held her hand until she decided to speak. A few minutes later he heard the girl whisper something before deciding to ask her. "Are you alright?" She broke from her mumbling and stared at the boy before beginning to sob uncontrollably while saying it's all my fault. Ichigo decided the best thing to do was hold her until she calmed down. After she stopped crying Ichigo asked her what she meant that it was her fault. She then told him about their argument and showed him the hairpins. Ichigo told her about a big brother's duty to a little sister. While talking, he fastened the hair clips into her hair. As he pulled away he stopped when he heard six distinct voices. All saying the same thing. Don't leave her. She must be trained, awaken the fairy spirits within. Ichigo dropped his arms as he looked over her. "They make you look cute." He said with a smile. She smiled back "Thank you, my name is Orihime Inoue. It's nice to meet you." Ichigo gave her another smile. "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki Shihoin."Ichigo sticks out his hand and gestures for Orihime to shake it. Orihime shyly reaches and gives his hand a small Shake. Ichigo goes to say something before Kisuke walks out of the clinic with a serious but sad look on his face. " Excuse Me Miss I'm sorry to inform you but there's nothing we could do about your brother's wound. The injury was fatal and there wasn't enough time." Orihime's eyes go wide Before turning towards Ichigo and crying once more. as Ichigo holds her tight he flashes Kisuke a signal that he recognizes as the Sleep kido. Kisuke activates it before quickly touching the back of her neck. as soon as Orihime goes under and Ichigo lays her down he looks up to Kisuke with a serious look. " she's not a normal human, her hair pins hold 6 Celestial Spirits. They want us to train her. This is a good opportunity to gain another member of my group, she just lost her brother and now she has nowhere to go. So if you don't mind we'll bring her to live with us and train her to use her powers effectively." Kisuke gives it some thought before agreeing to the plan.
( half hour later)
Orihime wakes up and shoots off the couch before looking around. She looks behind her to find Ichigo still sitting on the couch and motioning her to sit down next to him. She looks around once more before taking a seat next to him. "Are you feeling a bit better now Orihime?" She looks down before nodding her head. "Good, I'm glad you had me worried when you suddenly passed out like that." She looked up before apologizing. He gave her a smile while waving his hand playfully. "It's fine but I have to ask what are you going to do now." Her features become depressed before she just shakes her head. "I'm honestly not sure. My brother worked so hard to make sure I had a house and food but now i'm all alone." as she said that she started to tear up again. She was quickly wrapped into a hug by Ichigo who just comforted her as she cried once more. Once she stopped Ichigo pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "Would you like to stay with me and my guardians?" Orihime looked surprised. "Won't you have to ask your guardians first? He shakes his head. "Nah I talked with them well you were sleeping. They dont mind plus we have plenty of room." Orihime starts to cry again. " Why, why are you doing this for me? We just met so why." she continues to cry as Ichigo wraps her in a hug once more. " I look at you and I see a girl who knows the pain of losing a loved one. I know that pain and I don't want to see you suffer alone." Orihime looks up from his shoulder and gives a wide grin. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Ichigo just pats her head. "It's fine you've had a long day. I think it's time we head home." He grabs Orihime's hand and leads her to the front door. He opens it to find Kisuke waiting outside. "We are ready, KIsuke, did you move the box to the house?" "Of course little Ichi and miss Inoue's room has been prepared as well." Ichigo nods. "Alright let's go to Orihime's and grab her stuff.
(One hour later)
Back at the house Orihime is settling in with the help of Yoruichi. Ichigo is putting the chest away in his closet. He makes sure to pull the manual out first. "Alright let's see." The first thing a Quincy must achieve is manipulating the reshi around them to form a bow around their cross. "Hmm that shouldn't be a problem." Ichigo closes his eyes to feel for the ambient reshi in the air. He finds it easier than he imagined. He begins to pull the reshi towards his outstretched hand. He opens his eyes when he feels weight being applied he's surprised as he watches a bow form in his hand. He's disappointed when the bow deforms before breaking back into reshi. "Darnit I thought I had it. I wonder if mom left any notes on how to help form the bow." He looks through the book a bit more until he stumbles upon his answer. "Oh I see I have to visualize the type of bow I want and then hold that image as I gather the reshi. Alright test number two." Ichigo visualizes a standard short bow in his mind as he gathers the reshi around him. He watches as the bow forms and then solidifies. "Alright I did it now how do I make an arrow." Ichigo reads on until he finds the passage and reads it. "Here goes nothing."He grabs the string and visualizes knocking an arrow. As he pulls it back the arrow forms. Ichigo is surprised at how fast he was able to form the arrow as he went to shout out in joy. He releases the arrow and it breaks through his window before connecting with the concrete wall. "Oh shoot Yuro's gonna kill me." Yuroichi comes into the room to see a worried Ichigo and a broken window. "Ichigo how did you break the window?" He looked away. "Sorry Yuro it was an accidental arrow shot from me forming my first bow and arrow." Yuroichi looks stunned. "Wait, you already formed your first Quincy bow and arrow? Ichigo rubbed the back of his head. "Yea it wasn't that difficult. All I did was pull reshi from the air to form the bow and then the arrow. "Yoruichi just nodded. "How?"
"I'm not sure it just felt natural. The moment I felt for the reshi in the air it just responded I didn't have to manipulate it to form the bow it just kind of complied and moved to create it." Yuroichi rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Okay well Orihime is settled in. why don't you go get cleaned up and go spend some time with her. She needs a friend her own age." Ichigo nods and goes to gather his clothes before heading to the bathroom.
(Later That Night)
Ichigo knocks on Orihime's door waiting for the okay before he walks in. "How do you feel Orihime?" She looks up and gives a half hearted smile. "I'm not really sure how to feel I lost my brother and moved into a new place all in one day. My mind is jumbled but there is this sense of safety I feel here. It's similar to how I felt with my brother." Ichigo gives a wide grin. "Well this is the safest place for you to be. Kisuke and Yuroichi will be here for you and I'll be here as well to make sure you don't fall to the darkness that comes from losing a loved one." Orihime begins to cry before she wipes them away and gives a grin that matches Ichigo's. "That's the spirit Orihime. When times get tough always stand tall and hold that defiant grin on your face and nobody will ever break your will." With those words Ichigo walked out the door with a good night and a wave of his hand.
(The next morning)
Ichigo woke to the sound of his alarm clock. He rolled over to notice that it's eleven in the morning. He was about to jerk forward when he felt a heavy weight on his chest. He looked down to see the sleeping face of Tatsuki. Ichigo flushed red before shaking her. "Tatsuki wake up." She didn't budge. "Hey wake up, Tatsuki." He called her name a few more times before she finally started to stir. "Wha- oh good morning Ichigo." "Why were you in my bed and when did you even get here?" she sat up and stretched. "To answer your second question I made it here around nine this morning. Now your first question. I came to wake you up to spar with me but when I got here you looked so peaceful so I couldn't help but climb into the bed with you." Ichigo just smiled as he rubbed the back of his head. "Tatsuki have you met our new house guest yet?" Tatsuki looks at him confused. "New house guest?" Ichigo got out of bed. "Her name is Orihime. She's our age. Come on, I'll introduce her." She follows Ichigo out of the room and down the hall. He knocks again and waits. Once he hears the come in he opens the door and steps in Tatsuki trailing right behind him. "Good morning Orihime, how did you sleep?" "I slept well thanks for asking." She turns around "Oh who is this?" Ichigo stepped back to let Tatsuki step forward. "Hello my name is Tatsuki Arisawa. It's a pleasure to meet you." Orihime gives a bow " My name is Orihime Inoue the pleasures all mine." Ichigo then turns around. "Alright you two I'll leave you be for now I figured you both could use a female friend." he walks out the door and shuts it before turning to his side to see Yuroichi. "Are you ready?" He nods "Then let's begin.
Author Note No real excuse. I didn't have the drive to write but I finally got this chapter out. I'm sorry for the long wait. I hope you guys and gals enjoy the chapter. I'll get started immediately on the next one. Until next time. Comment if you like.