Shirou felt really uncomfortable as he sipped his tea. Somehow Rukia had been staring hole at him since they left the underground area.
"Hey, Ichigo. Do you know why your Shinigami friend is glaring at me?" He whispered to his brother, who was now back to his human form.
"I dunno." Ichigo shrugged. "Maybe she fell for you?"
"Are you serious? She said she was 10 times older than me. Do you think I would be happy if a grandma fell in love with me?"
"Made sense. She did mention that when we first met too."
"Cough!"
A loud cough interrupted their conversation. Rukia sat across from them, narrowing her eyes at both of them.
"I could hear that, you know?"
The two flinched and went silent, drinking their tea again.
She cleared her throat before speaking once again, "Anyway, Ichigo... Now that you have awakened your Shikai, I will look forward to your work as a substitute Shinigami. I can rest easy knowing Karakura town has you to protect everyone in this town."
"Huh? Work?" Ichigo perked up and stared confusedly at her. "Wait, what do you mean exactly?"
"As a Substitute Shinigami, you have to complete my work while I recover my powers. You see, you took all my power that night so you have to take responsibility as my replacement." Rukia explained plainly.
Shirou glanced at them and sipped his tea again. He was interested in the conversation since it would directly involve his brother and, by extension, him.
'Substitute Shinigami?' He noted mentally.
"What?!" Ichigo raised his voice indignantly. "You are kidding me!"
"Not at all."
"No freaking way! Why should I care about taking over someone else's job?! This isn't even part of mine anyway!" The orange head argued fervently, clenching his fist tightly.
"Well too bad!" Rukia exclaimed defiantly. "If you don't do the job, the Hollows will keep multiplying. That means more spirits are going to be eaten, and they could as well target people with high spiritual awareness. Maybe they will even attack our school or our neighbors!"
"Urghk!..." Ichigo faltered slightly, unable to retort her argument further.
It made sense, honestly. If those monsters kept appearing everywhere and devouring souls indiscriminately without regard whether their victims were innocent civilians or not, it might eventually reach a certain breaking point sooner or later where many lives could end tragically at once because no one was there to stop these creatures.
And Ichigo knew that his family, including his sisters, had high spiritual power after that night.
However, someone didn't stay silent after hearing that.
"Are you threatening my brother, Kuchiki-san?" Shirou suddenly cut off, crossing his arms over his chest coldly, fixing her glare icy enough to freeze Hell itself solid.
"No, I'm just explaining things!" she retorted hastily, quickly shifting focus from herself toward the young man sitting next to him.
"Shirou, it's alright..." Ichigo put his hand on Shirou's shoulder, "I am fine with it. She's right. I don't think she's threatening me either. That night, the reason why she got injured was because she protected me. So now, I need to protect others like she did to me."
Shirou paused momentarily before letting out an exasperated sigh. He slouched down slightly, his brother reminded him of his past self, which he couldn't say no to.
"... Do whatever you want then, Ichigo." He relented begrudgingly. "But remember this; If something goes wrong, tell me immediately. Don't be reckless."
"Tch. Says someone who is reckless every single day of his life," Ichigo grumbled under his breath. Still, he couldn't hide the tiny smile tugging on the corners of his lips. "I promise."
Getting Ichigo's promise, Shirou finally smiled and his expression softened.
He turned to the Shinigami and said, "I'll trust you with my brother's safety."
Rukia gave a curt nod in affirmation, acknowledging his words sincerely.
***
Shirou returned home after bidding goodbye to Urahara and the others. He had Ichigo stay in the shop to learn more about Shinigami from Rukia and the shopkeeper.
When he opened the front door of the Kurosaki Clinic, the first thing he noticed was Isshin waiting for him with Masaki standing by his side.
"Yo, Shirou. Having a long day?" His father greeted him with a wide grin plastered across his face.
"Ah yes. Just went to Hat and Clog's place to drop Ichigo," Shirou replied shortly, setting aside his schoolbag by the entrance. "Were you waiting for me?"
"Of course." Masaki chirped cheerfully behind her husband. "We rushed back from vacation when Urahara-san said that Ichigo had turned into a Shinigami. Right, dear?"
"That's right, honey!" Isshin winked playfully at his wife and chuckled heartily.
Then he shifted his attention towards the oldest son of his.
His playful mood suddenly disappeared, replaced by seriousness. "I can no longer suppress Ichigo's power from getting stronger, that's why the Hollow is coming for him. Though the fact he would meet and awaken as a Shinigami was something I didn't expect either."
Shirou looked at his father with a conflicted expression. He surely knew something about Ichigo's transformation- no, awakening -into a Shinigami, but how far?
"You knew Ichigo would change?" Shirou asked warily.
"Yes. Because that child is-"
Isshin sighed tiredly, scratching his head while staring deeply into Shirou's amber eyes. He pondered for a while before continuing.
"-well, my son. And I was a former Shinigami before getting married to Masaki here. It seemed like Ichigo inherited some of my traits even though I have a Gigai covering most of my Spiritual Power."
"A Shinigami?" Shirou repeated in surprise, dumbfounded by this revelation regarding his old man whom had always been goofy and silly.
He turned to his mother, who nodded firmly.
"Yes, Dear. It's true," She confirmed calmly, smiling fondly at her husband affectionately. "Isshin here was originally Captain of 10th Division of Gotei 13."
"A captain?"
"Yep." Isshin rubbed the tip of his nose proudly.
"I have many subordinates, you know? But that was all in the past. Being with Masaki and watching you kids grow up makes me forget everything about that life and replace it with happiness. Now my division probably has another captain replacing me. I wonder how they are doing after years passed since my resignation. Hahahaha! They must have forgotten all about their useless captain."
The truth bomb that Shirou experienced for the past few days had been endless.
First there was his younger brother becoming Shinigami and then the existence of Soul Society that apparently was an actual realm where Souls went after dying (or purified).
Now he learned his father was part of a military force in Soul Society known as Gotei 13. And a Captain at that.
Despite having difficulty digesting information after another, Shirou still listened intently while attempting to piece together the story as best he possibly could given his current state of mind overwhelmed with emotion.
With Ichigo awakened, and the fact his brother couldn't really suppress or control his reiatsu, Hollow's attacks would become a regular occurence.
Fortunately, he already prepared a countermeasure. He would actively join Ichigo and learn everything he could from Rukia and his parents so he could protect his loved ones.
Isshin began to explain his love story to Shirou after they moved to the living room, much to his oldest child's embarrassment. And then...
"With my suppression lifted, my Shinigami power should return soon. It's embarrassing, but I am counting on you until then, Shirou." Isshin grinned widely while rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
Shirou narrowed his eyes and let out a soft chuckle, amused at seeing his normally energetic father acting nervous around him despite usually acting childish most of the time.
He replied simply, "Don't worry Dad. Leave everything to me."
Masaki smiled proudly at her son. Her son had grown up so strong, it seemed he was dependable when they needed support.
This child... the strongest pillar between them. Even if they crumbled, Shirou would never let anyone harm his family.
"Fufufu, you look like one of the Heroes from the anime you loved when you were a child." Masaki giggled happily.
Meanwhile, Shirou felt conflicted.
Hero... A dream he once had. One that he inherited from Emiya Kiritsugu, and one that he held dear until the end.
To become a hero of justice.
Unfortunately, that wish would remain forever unrealized. His ideal was flawed beyond repair, even after everything happened to him during the 5th Holy Grail War.
Yet, perhaps... Perhaps he could try anew. Even Archer found a new goal at the end of the Holy Grail War, trying his best again. No one said Shirou couldn't try it again.
Smiling warmly, Shirou gave a brief yet firm nod to both his parents.
"I'll do my best."
***Chapter end***