Ichigo and Rias are standing in the kitchen doing the dishes, Rias humming a tune as she sways her hips to the imaginary score in her head. Ichigo can only chuckle to himself as he places another dish into the rinse water for her. Next to Rias is Yuuto who dries the dishes and hands them to the young neko, whose hair is now white after Venelana helped her wash the dye out before dinner. Akeno is sitting at the kitchen counter making bentos with the leftovers as is Grayfia, who is glaring daggers into the back of Ichigo.
It had started after Ichigo and Rias rejoined the rest of the family and Ichigo apologized to them for his rude behavior. He gave no other excuse other than he was over reacting and had jumped to conclusions. To his relief he was quickly forgiven and told that he shouldn't worry about it any more. At least dinner had been peaceful after that, even with Akeno and Venelana giggling conspiratorially with Akeno's cell phone. Rias just gave her mother and her best friend a snort and turned her nose up at them, effectively ignoring them for the better part of the dinner hour, at least until dessert arrived. Then all the girls, including mothers and wives, shouted with joy when a double chocolate and fudge cake arrived. That was the last of the peace at the table.
The opening skirmish was when Grayfia nearly had a fit when Ichigo got up with his and Rias's empty plates and started towards the kitchen. When she voiced her objection, he nearly set off the battle with the silver-haired sister-in-law when he told her he wasn't a cripple and could do his own dishes. She told him to sit and let the servants take care of it and that's when the war nearly started when Ichigo scoffs at her and tells her he isn't above doing his own chores. She tried to start to lecture him on the duties of the household staff as that was what they were being paid to do. That is when Ichigo told the maid that came to get the dishes to leave them alone, he was going to do his own and that was final.
'Grayfia dear, I think maybe we should leave this to them. This is after all their home.' Her husband interjects.
Then Ichigo understands why even her husband cringes in fear as the wife of Sirzech turns on her husband with a smile that even, he at the age of sixteen, knows means trouble for any man alive. 'Dear, when I wish for you to tell me how to run a household, I will. However this mansion does fall under our domain as property of the Gremory Clan as such it falls under my purview. Now Ichigo.' Grayfia turns her gaze back on to him. 'You will let the ser…'
'No.' He stares hard at the woman, his earlier anger leeches through finally.
All heads turn and look at the now dead-man walking when he cuts off the woman standing in front of him. Her eyes begin to bulge out and before she can even think of retaliate against him; he cuts her off again with a smirk.
'Grayfia, you may run the property per say but we are going to do things differently from now on. Yes the staff can stay on and help but when it comes to chores that we can handle, like doing our own dishes, cooking our own meals, even cleaning our own rooms, we are going too from now on. I know we can't clean the whole place, so that will be the staff's responsibilities, but anything else we are on our own. Now if you will excuse me, I have to start cleaning up soon.' With that Ichigo slides by the now catatonic woman and heads off into the kitchen.
Soon a few of the other chairs slide back and Yuuto, Akeno and finally Rias get up and follow Ichigo into the kitchen where a few shouts are again heard and then the sudden exodus of the kitchen staff follows.
'He…kicked…us…out.' Harumi says with disbelief.
Venelana and Hugo begin to laugh uncontrollably then. Soon Sirzech and Amyntas follow the other two in fits of open merriment, only for the younger husband to quiet somewhat when a pair of silver eyes zero in on him. Holding his hands up in surrender he does the smart thing and grabs his son as a shield. Millicas at first is confused, but when he follows his father's eyes, he shows his father how much smarter he is than him. He quickly jumps out of his father's lap and runs for his grandmother and hides in her arms.
'Traitor.' His father grins at him.
He smiles at his dad and mouths back to him. 'I'm not that crazy.'
'Fine. If that is how Ichigo wants it, then I will show him how it will be done.' A head of silver marches her way into the kitchen and shortly afterwards a few more shouts are heard and then a quick silence follows afterwards. Each of the remaining devils, watch the doorway to the kitchen warily, including the staff. Grayfia is seen being scooted out by Rias who is shaking her head in objection to her sister-in-law demands.
'He said you can help with the bentos when we are done with the majority of the dishes Grayfia, and that is all you are going to be allowed to do. Now stay with Mother and Father and help keep Ichigo's uncle company. You are here only for the night; we get to see him all weekend.'
And that is how the current situation was created. Ichigo hiding his smirk from Grayfia, Rias happy that he is doing what he promised her, Yuuto and Koneko finding the situation amusing and Akeno secretly happy that Ichigo is making her best friend happy. But also those two were bound to give her loads of material to share with the Gremory peerages', if they do become a couple, back in the Underworld.
When the last dish was put away, the bentos put in the fridge for school next week, Rias leds everyone else out into the living room to end the night with a family gathering. Ichigo soon has Koneko sitting in his lap with Rias on his right and Akeno sitting on his left. After a while the talk turn towards school, how it was doing, how was Ichigo adjusting to the courses and so on. As the night begins to get late, Koneko is the first to go to bed and surprisingly Millicas follows the white-haired girl to bed. Giving his roommate a glance, she whispers into his ear.
"He always sleeps with Koneko when he stays over, ever since he was four."
Soon Yuuto is saying his goodnights as well and when Ichigo gets up to see if wants company walking home. "Thank you but no Ichigo, I can manage. I don't really live to far from here and the streets are a lot safer here then other parts of the town."
Sirzech and Grayfia decide that they should go home as well and soon Ichigo watches as the family give each other hugs and kisses. Akeno and Rias promising them they will take care of Millicas until Sunday night for them. As they leave Grayfia sends one last look at Ichigo and what he sees makes him take a double take. She is actually smiling at him.
'Strange.' But he gives her one in return.
After they watch the car carrying the older brother and his wife leave the driveway, Hugo and his wife are soon following Akeno upstairs to a guest room leaving Rias, Ichigo and his Uncle Amyntas alone in the sitting room. Each have a glass of wine, much to Ichigo's surprise when he learns that the family allows them to consume small amounts at and after dinner.
"Ichigo, I trust you are doing okay now?" His uncle chimes after sipping his wine.
"Yes Uncle. I'm sorry by-the-way for making you leave work because of me."
"You are my nephew Ichigo."
"Still Uncle, I should have…been careful."
"Nonsense Ichigo. From what I understand you saved the proprietor of the shouten that was being robbed. Who can say what would have happened if you didn't, the youth today, very prone to violence anymore. Makes heroes like you a rare breed Ichigo."
Almost spitting out his wine, Ichigo stares at his uncle like he just grew a new head. "Hero? I'm no hero Uncle Amyntas, nowhere near. Heroes are people that…"
Rias speaks then. "People like you Ichigo. You didn't hesitate, didn't think about your own welfare and you acted to save an old man and his livelihood. You are a hero Ichigo, I believe you are one."
"Hear, hear Rias. See Ichigo even Rias-chan thinks you are one. It's a good thing you had all those lessons."
"I wish I could remember them. I wonder what else I can't remember."
His uncle chuckles then. "You have extensive hand to hand combat training Ichigo. Plus some kendo and fencing courses. And if I heard right, you are running again. Before your accident, you used to run a lot as well, I think around ten miles every other day."
"I'm running around six miles a day now Uncle, so I guess I'm improving."
"That you are. So tell me what was it like Ichigo, how did you feel honestly after you apprehended those two?"
Staring into his glass, he gives a soft sigh. "I didn't really feel anything Uncle. I just reacted without emotion or thought. It wasn't until Kazuhiro gave me the water that I began to think again. And the only thing I could think at the time was 'fuck, what did I just do?' Uncle Amyntas I didn't hesitate, no thought, and no remorse for either of those two men. Now that I think about it, what else was I taught?"
"Your sensei taught you a very unorthodox form of unarmed combat Ichigo; I don't even know what it's called. She also…"
"She? My sensei was a woman?"
Now a grin forms on his uncle's face when he looks at his nephew. "Yes, a woman Ichigo, and she was quite the looker."
Rias gives Ichigo a hard stare that he picks up on. "ICHIGO!"
"Hey are you trying to get me beat Uncle? Damn."
His uncle starts laughing at his nephew's suddenly jealous roommate, if you can even call Rias Gremory a roommate now that it's out that he is her new bedtime accessory. His sniggering at his thoughts makes the sudden irate Rias turn her hard eyes on the devil sitting across from them. "Uncle Amyntas is there something you wish to add?"
Shaking his head and getting his laughter under control, the older man just looks at his nephew. "Ichigo, Rias you two should enjoy yourselves as much as you can. Time has a way of making things work out in the end if you are patient enough to wait. But before I go to bed, one last thing Ichigo."
Giving his uncle a look. "Yeah."
"If you do find someone, you don't need me to tell you what to do." Before they can ask him any more questions, he leaves the room as he sips the last of his wine.
Ichigo and Rias sit on the couch staring at the wall across from them. Each sipping their wine in silent reflection's of the events of the day.
"Ichigo."
"Ehmm Rias."
"I think we should get to bed soon. It's been a long one already."
"Yeah, I guess your right." He gets up and turns around with his hand out-stretched.
She gives him a gentle smile but declines his offer. "I'll be up shortly Ichigo; I just want to sit here for a few moments if you don't mind?"
Ichigo bends down and squats in front of her. "Rias, I meant it. I will help you get out of it. No matter what I have to do, I'll help you find a way to get you out your engagement."
"I know you will Ichigo." She leans down and gives him a kiss on his cheek again. "Thank you."
Staring at her, he finally nods and with one last look, he leaves her alone in the sitting room.
She waits until he is gone before turning to a shadow in the room. "You can come out now Mother."
Her mother smiles at her daughter's astuteness. "Rias, I didn't think you would notice me."
"I almost didn't. Not until you choked when I kissed him."
Her mother makes her way around the couch and sits next to her daughter. Pulling her until her head lays on her shoulder the older Gremory woman gives a content sigh. "He is very handsome Rias and I can see why you are attracted to him now. Not many men are that honorable and noble Rias, so I will allow you some lead way with him, but if by the time University finishes and nothing comes of it, I won't be able to stop it."
"Then I have my work cut out then Mother because there is no way I am marrying Riser Phenex, in this life time or the next. I want to fall in love with my future husband Mother, not have him forced on to me."
"Then do what I said Rias. Take what you want."
Turning to look at her mother, she point blanks asks. "If I want Ichigo?"
"Then take him, but be discrete about it Rias. Prove that he is worthy of your hand if you so chose, but be ready for the consequences if you do this."
"Damn the consequences. Right Mother?"
"Damn the consequences."
XXXX
Monday comes too quickly for the teens and adults at the mansion. Ichigo and his uncle spent most of the days talking about his past. He learned that his father's name was Daisuke and his mother's name was Mikoto. Both had died in a car accident when he was only one year's old. His uncle had taken him in as his only living relative and raised him the best he could. He was home schooled until he was fifteen and then sent to a boarding school in Europe until his accident. His free time had been spent studying martial arts and kendo with a woman named Tomoko Kinjo until he went to Europe for school.
Ichigo honestly didn't remember any of it and when he got to school Monday morning, the first thing he did was seek out Yuuto in his homeroom. Knocking on the frame, he gains the entirety of the girls in class when his baritone voice asks for the young man.
"Excuse me is Yuuto here by chance?"
All the girls fawn at this point except one who stands ups and admonishes the rest of the class. "Mind yourselves girls, he is your senpai. Sorry about them Shiba-sama, but Yuuto-kun doesn't come until the last second." She waves to the girls to prove her point to him.
"Ah thanks. Ah…"
"Sorry senpai, I'm Momo Hanakai, class-representative. If I may offer a place for you to look, try the court-yard, he can sometimes be found there."
"Thanks then Momo." As he turns away he waits until he is out of sight of the class before leaning heavily on the wall next to him.
'Fuck, again?'
Looking around to make sure nobody saw him, he pushes off the wall as he makes a bee-line for the court-yard. He thinks about the brief spell just now and why the hell he reacted to her name. Deciding that he must have known a Momo at one time or another, he begins to feel a bit better as he passes the numerous fan-girls calling out to him, but he doesn't even respond. He has since learned to tune them out after only a few minutes since his arrival or else he'd just give both Akeno and Rias ammunition to use on him. Thinking if anyone found out about his new sleeping arrangement made him chuckle.
Now that the weekend had passed, the only one still at the mansion was Venelana, who wanted to spend time with her daughter and wasn't needed at home for at least a few weeks before her husband required her to attend some upcoming function for his businesses. It also made for an awkward first morning after his and Rias agreement when the she walked into their room and Ichigo woke up with his head firmly entrenched somewhere. Before he could remove his head or say anything, he heard that damnable click again, but this time he almost fainted by who took the picture. The mother of the girl in his bed gave him a wink and made her way out of their room without so much as a word.
'She's right; I guess I have no choice.' He smiles though as he walks out into the court-yard.
Glancing around, he finds Yuuto pretty quick by the large pack of girls not so hiding their actions of spying on the cutest boy among the first years. He decides to shake things up by walking up behind all the fawning girls and give them a scare.
"Hey Yuuto!"
Several dozen girls scream in fright by the loud voice coming from behind them. Turning to see who it is disturbing their gazing, they see the formidable and imposing figure of the scowling second year Shiba staring at them. He gets the desirable effect when the scramble away mumbling apologizes to him.
"Sorry Shiba-san."
"Ah excuse us Shiba-san."
"We're late for homeroom Shiba-san."
Yuuto walks up to Ichigo and watches the fan-girls basically scamper away from them.
"Thanks senpai."
"It's Ichigo, Yuuto. Use it please. We are after all friends, right?"
"I guess we are Ichigo. So what can I do for you then?"
Turning towards the first year, he begins to grin. "I hear you help out with the girl's Kendo team."
"Yes I do. Why may I ask?"
"Do they have any equipment that would fit me? I want to spar with you to see what I can remember if you are up to it."
Yuuto begins to smile then at the thought. Most of the team consisted of young teen girls that he would never harm, even if they wanted to spar with him. He knew his strength would most likely harm any of them but Ichigo, he had a feeling he would get a good match out of the taller man. However he quickly remembers his mistress's warning and as such he voiced them.
"Ah Ichigo Buchou…"
"She'll allow it Yuuto. She and I came to an understanding this weekend. So are you up to it or not?"
"I'm pretty good Ichigo. Are you sure about this?"
"Only one way for me to see how much I remember don't you think?"
"The only way Ichigo."
"Good see you after school and don't worry I'll talk to Rias so you don't get into trouble."
"Thanks Ichigo. I'll see you at practice then."
Ichigo watches the young blonde move away before his smile falters. Now he had to tell the Crimson rage.
'I am so screwed.'
XXXX
"NO! NO! NO!" He cringes at her shouts. They are in the stairwell between classes when he tells her.
"Rias, it will be alright, I'll be wearing equipment including a men. So please calm down."
"It's not that Ichigo. It's because Yuuto despite his small size is no push-over. He could seriously hurt you." She says forcefully.
"You promised me Rias." He hates using doing it but he needs to know.
Glaring suddenly, she gets in his face and in a low but dangerous voice she lets him know. "If you get hurt, I'll personally nurse you back to health, my way."
His eyes bulge out then, this weekend she had also informed him of her only condition to their agreement. One she knew he would fight, but lose against.
"You wouldn't?" He replies.
"Not a stitch." She haughtily responses.
"She-demon."
"Carrot-top buffoon."
"Red-headed menace."
"Orange-headed drooler."
"Oh would you two just kiss and get it over with already." Souna Shitori says as she and her queen walk past them down the stairwell.
"What!?/Hey!"
A new voice joins the class-rep as Akeno walks up behind Souna. "Fufufu Buchou, Ichigo. A lovers quarrel already? It's only been what, three days and trouble in paradise surfaces."
Two very red faces turn on the dark-haired woman who hides her laughter behind her hand. The Occult Research Club's president begins to tick violently as she stares at her vice-president.
"Akeno if you know what's good for you…"
"Ara, ara Buchou, everyone can see you two would make a great couple. Why deny it?"
Akeno doesn't miss the tightness around Ichigo's eye when she says that. She then turns her attention to her Mistress and gives her a pointed stare then. Rias stares back but nods so slight no one not looking for it would miss it. Ichigo doesn't miss it.
'So Akeno knows.'
Souna and Tsubaki stop at the top of the last set of stairs and watch the three as they stand there not saying a word. She decides to break-up the dead-lock by reminding them they do have class to get to. Seeing that there is no point in arguing with Ichigo anymore, Rias huffs out as she lets Akeno grab her arm and leads her down the stairs. As she does so, she shoots one last glare at her family's charge.
"If you get hurt Ichigo, I will keep my end of our bargain."
"Yeah, I know." Deciding to see how much he could get away with, he pushes his luck. "Maybe I should get hurt."
"Nice try Ichigo, but I have one thing you don't have."
"What's that Rias?" He is still smiling.
"Akeno."
"Fuck me.'
XXXX
Ichigo is scowling in disgust. Somehow word got around that he and Yuuto were going to spar after school. And it seems that almost the entire student body had decided that they had nothing better to do but watch the most popular first year and the only second year student's match. Looking at the shinai that Yuuto gave him, Ichigo takes a few practice swings to get used to the weight. Standing behind him is Rias, who is helping him, put on the various pieces of his equipment.
"You're pretty good at this Rias." Ichigo finally comments.
Pulling tight on his Dō, she hides her smile. "Thank you Ichigo, but it's only because I've helped Yuuto in the past that I know how to do this."
"Still thanks."
"There, you're done Ichigo. Turn around so I can check one last time."
Knowing it's useless to argue with her, he turns around and lets her inspect him one last time. She pulls and pushes on each piece and when she seems satisfied, she hands him his men. Then she gives him one last look, but the look she gives him makes him smile. She is smiling as she steps away.
"Be careful Ichigo, and please avoid head blows."
"Yes ddeeaarr." Her eyes fill with amusement.
Turning, he sees that Akeno is finishing with Yuuto and he is standing there waiting for the older teen. Walking up to the smaller teen, Ichigo asks him how he wants to do this.
"So Yuuto, I think I remember the basics, so how about we just spar and see how it goes. No standard rules unless of course you want to."
"You just want to go head to head then? No time or points?"
"I'm fine with that."
"Okay then Ichigo."
Both teens walk to opposite sides of the mat they are using and then place their respective men on, they bow to each other and then to Rias. She shakes her head and then gives them their start. Everyone watching sees two explosions of speed then and some don't even see that.
Ichigo launches himself into a downward strike that Yuuto blocks easily but underneath his men, his eyes widen at the strength that his older partner hit him with. Pushing aside Ichigo's shinai, he tries to follow-up with his own strike only to find empty air. He dodges forward and barely misses getting hit by the next downward swing. Still rolling forward he regains his feet and blocks Ichigo's overhead swing by getting his own shinai diagonal to his head. Twisting in place while his shinai still holding Ichigo's strike away, he steps back letting the strike follow through and steps to the side and swings down catching Ichigo in the back once he stumbles by Yuuto.
"Nice Yuuto."
"Thanks Ichigo." Yuuto is grinning behind his men. No one at the Academy has put up much of a challenge until now.
Both teens face off once again and this time Yuuto makes the first move but finds Ichigo somehow anticipated his actions. Yuuto finds not only a shinai aiming for his knees but Ichigo down to one knee as well. Yuuto has no choice but to stick his shinai straight down suddenly to block the swing that never comes. His eyes shoot wide when he sees it coming straight down suddenly.
'When did he change direction?' Is all he can think when the blow hits him lightly.
Ichigo had seen Yuuto's feet shift slightly before he charged, indicating a horizontal strike coming, so he dropped down to force him to either take the hit or somehow get his shinai down in time to block a nonexistent strike. The moment he saw the shinai shifting downwards, he spun his own blade in his hand for a downward strike. He smiles behind his own men when he knows that Yuuto can't block it and at the last second he pulls back on his own strength just to drop him to the mat without injury.
There is no sound from any of the spectators, just the grunts and the sounds of their shinai hitting either the mats or the rare occasion, the padding of their respective sparring partner. For close to forty minutes the two teens move across the mats in a dance of fluid motions. Each seek but fail to find any opening from the other to exploit. Yuuto however is smiling internally. Ichigo feels alive. Neither wants this to end but soon an end has to come to the two peaceful combatants.
"One last time Yuuto?"
"One more Ichigo. How about we go all out?"
"Okay."
Neither hears the shout of Rias as they rush one another and in the final display of power and finesse, Yuuto scores the final hit but he hits the wrong spot. He was aiming for Ichigo's arm, but he sees Ichigo trips on a small tear in the mat. The younger man can only watch as his shinai smashes into the head of Ichigo, who falls to the mat as dead weight.
"ICHIGO!/ICHI-KUN!"
Yuuto is next to the older teen's side quickly; gingerly he turns Ichigo over and begins to remove his men as both Rias and Akeno rush to his side. Looking up he sees the head of the Sitri Clan looking at them.
"Shitori-sama, please get the nurse if she is still here. I think I hit him hard."
Rias wants to grab Ichigo but her queen stops her. "Buchou if he is seriously hurt, we shouldn't try to move him to much. We should wait for the nurse."
Blue-green eyes bore into Yuuto's own blue eyes. "Yuuto-kun what happened just now? Why did you hit him in the head?"
"Buchou I didn't mean it. He stumbled at the last second and I couldn't stop in time. I'm sorry Buchou."
Rias closes her eyes; she is desperate in trying to calm herself at Ichigo's recklessness. "Fool. Now…He…Is…Mine."
"Forget it Rias, it's gonna take more than a twig to knock any sense into my head." Ichigo's voice breaks her out of her victorious gloating.
"Ichigo Shiba you damn fool!" She shouts so loud everyone in the gym hears her. Soon snickers and suppressed laughter drifts throughout the space.
Giving a glare towards the assembled student body quickly marks the end of the exhibition. However there is one thing for certain, Ichigo and Yuuto's popularity rose to new heights among the fairer sex that day.
Laying there on the mat makes Ichigo restless but as he raises his head, he finds himself his head being directed elsewhere. Someone's lap. Rias Gremory's lap. Looking up at her face as she stares down at his, he wants to cringe when she smiles devilishly at him.
"Sorry Ichigo-kun but until the nurse checks you out, I can't risk you moving."
"Rias. I 'm fine, honest."
"No moving Ichigo or…" The rest is lost as she whispers into his ears.
"Fine! Fine! You win Rias." He mumbles the rest to himself.
"Buchou, Ichi-kun, are you sure you don't want to wait until you get home to…"
"Say it and you're going to get it Akeno." Rias directs her glare towards her best friend only for that damnable click to sound again.
"Ara, are Buchou. Such an intimate position you two are in." Akeno skips out of range.
Before either red or orange can retaliate, the school nurse arrives; following in her wake is Souna with most of her peerage in tow.
"Shiba-kun what happened?"
"Ah, I tripped and took a blow to the head but I'm fine." He says from his noticeably comfortable position.
Taking out a small flashlight, the nurse waves it in front of one eye and then the next eye. Seeing what she is looking for she holds out her fingers. "How many do you see?"
"Two."
"What did you eat for breakfast?"
"Usual. Rice, some fruit and a piece of toast."
"What is the capital of Japan?"
"Really? Fine, Tokyo."
"Whose lap are you on?" This she says with a smile.
"My pain-in-the-ass..." He doesn't finish when he sees her eyes go wide.
That makes the group of teens and the school nurse break out in snickers and snorts.
"Well you are fine Shiba-kun; you can get up…if you want." She gives him a small grin.
Looking up at the evil floating in a set of eyes belonging to the woman he has to share his room with, he slowly gets up without so much as a complaint. Turning towards the worrying Yuuto, Ichigo holds his hand out.
"Nice spar Yuuto. Anytime you get bored or need someone to practice with, give a shout."
Looking over Ichigo's shoulder, he can see the promise of pain if he agrees. Swallowing he tries his best to keep his composure. "I would like that Ichigo, hopefully sometime in the future will be fine."
"Quit it Rias, even I can feel your glare and I don't need to look to know."
Throwing her hands up in frustration, she spins on her heels and walks away. The spew of curses and comments about his lack of brains and his stubbornness follow in her wake, leaving Ichigo and Yuuto staring at the back of the departing red-head. Soon only Ichigo and Yuuto are in the now empty gym before the younger teen turns to the older teen.
"So."
"Next time we spar in a private dōjō and we don't tell anyone Yuuto. No one."
"Agreed."
XXXX
The blonde-hair man stares at the board in front of him. Across from him is his friend of close to twenty years Isshin Kurosaki or formerly known as Isshin Shiba, former shinigami, former Captain of Squad Ten, self-exiled uncle of the Shiba siblings. Now the two men are staring at the shōgi board in front of them, passing time before the doctor of the Kurosaki Clinic has to go home to deal with two still grieving twins.
"They still haven't come around Kisuke. I thought that maybe after a few months they would at least start to come around but they haven't. Yuzu while she acts cheerful in the day, I can hear her crying almost every night. And Karin, my baby won't talk but a grunt or two and her grades are beginning to suffer as well. She is taking on the things her brother used to do at her age, but she doesn't have his strength. I…I don't know how much more they can take."
"I'm sorry Isshin. I can't tell you how sorry I am."
The man leans back on to his hands and stares up at the ceiling. "What choices did we have? What choices did he have? Fucking Central Forty Six. Who the fuck are they to take away my son? They accept Shinji and the others back. They ended yours, Tessai's and Yoruichi's exile and exonerated you all. But my son, NOOO, they sentence him to death. He fucking saves their ungrateful asses and that's the fucking thanks he gets. A death sentence."
"Isshin you of all people know why they fear your son. He did the impossible and I know it's impossible because I made that damn orb. The only thing that they don't know is how he did it. If they had found out, I don't think anything would have stopped them in time. That Isshin is our only saving grace."
"Now he is living with them Kisuke. I hope and pray for my son's safety everyday. He is literally living with the very race that killed his mother's entire family. Only Amyntas and Masaki survived that day but how much longer before they find a way to get rid of Amyntas? And what happens if they find out who Ichigo really is? I have made nothing but foolish mistakes since his birth."
"Stop it Isshin. You are not the only one at fault here. I am the one most at fault and I alone caused all this to happen. If I didn't let my curiosity get the better of me, the Hōgyoku would never had been created and Aizen would never have had the power to challenge the Soul King let alone the Gotei Thirteen. No Isshin, I have a greater burden in Ichigo's fate more than you. You did what any father in your position could do. Saved your children, all of your children, the best way you could."
"We should have fought harder for him."
"Yeah we should have but hopefully things will turn out for the better."
"I hope so Kisuke because this game you're playing is more dangerous than Aizen. Does Yoruichi know?"
"She suspects I think. I do know she checks on him frequently though." Both men snort then.
Isshin shakes his head then. "A bit older and I think she would have taken a run at him."
Opening his fan, Kisuke drops the bomb on his old friend. "She has teased him enough but I don't think she ever would have crossed that line, not with him. You know how she feels about Ichigo, but it didn't stop her from transforming in front of the hapless lad a few times."
"WHAT!? My boy got to see the Goddess of Flash nude? Oh Masaki our boy got to see his first naked woman finally!"
The two men quiet down after that and as they set upon the board, the black-haired doctor looks up at the blonde-haired scientist. "Kisuke you realize when it happens we are both dead men, right?"
"I know that's why I created specially made gigai for us."
"EH!?"
"Two programmable gigai that I hope will throw Ichigo and Yoruichi off our trail for at least a day or two. This way we can give them both the time needed to calm down."
"I'm not just worried about them. Karin can pack it when she wants too."
"Sucks to be you Isshin, you and Masaki have some incredible kids."
"Yeah, she would be proud of them."
"Come on Isshin, time for one more game."
XXXX
Two weeks later:
Blue-green eyes and brown orbs are fighting a battle of wills; the man is slowly giving ground judging by the smirking woman's demeanor. He knows if he gives in, it's all over for him, part of him wants too. A big part of him does want to lose, but his pride demands she earn what she wants. His eyes watch as her hands make the final move towards her back to releases her final weapon on him, only then does he give in.
"Gahh woman, you win dammit. We'll watch Casual Soul Realm Assault Trip with that freak. Now put your clothes back on."
"Yeeaahhh! Thankyouthankyouthankyou Ichigo!" She gives him a kiss on his cheek while she pulls her shirt back on.
"You know stripping is not legal warfare for deciding what to watch on the damn television, especially for a rerun at that."
"But Ichigo, you like it. Don't deny it."
"One of these days."
"One of these days what?"
"One of these days things are going to go to far Rias." He says quietly.
"And?" She doesn't hide her smile or blush.
She can't hear what he says as he stands up and leaves their room, turning back he gives her a look but it's followed by a smile. She smiles back at him. He can't say what he is thinking because it honestly scares him. He is beginning to see her more and more as something else lately; he knows that sooner or later it's going to come-to-a-head between them. Since the day of the spar, they have been inseparable from each other; they don't do anything alone except club. She and Akeno sometimes come home late at night, but he has Koneko to take care of. With Venelana still staying with them as well, he doesn't mind too much when Rias comes home late. The younger teen waits everyday for him to walk her home, of course they hit the shouten everyday as well, and then he makes them dinner and helps Koneko with her homework.
The first day she went to school without her dyed hair, he dropped her off but didn't leave right away; he hung out keeping an eye on her. That's when he saw what she had talked about when a group of boys started to tease her. Ichigo's temper flared and as he quickly came up behind them, he wanted to make sure everyone heard him that day.
"Is there something wrong with my imoutosan's hair color punks?" His voice growled out.
Turning to see who was behind them, he secretly grins to himself, seeing the punks began to shiver and shake at the menacing orange-haired brother of their so-called victim standing behind them. He must have made the impression permanent because she hasn't complained once since that day. Even some of the other girls in her class wanted to know how to get the color for themselves. The new thing he noticed that everyday afterwards when he dropped her off, a new group of fan-girls were waiting for him and fan-boys for Koneko. She doesn't mind, he does.
Also since the spar things have become uneventful for him and the rest of the house. Everyday he wakes up with her mop of crimson hair in his face, she has even kept her word about wearing clothes to bed but they were getting thinner and thinner every other day he notices. Soon it won't matter what she wears, she will be where she wants to be.
He smiles though as he walks down to the kitchen, most of the staff is asleep or in their own rooms now that the teens have started doing a majority of their own chores and cooking. Rias and Akeno assemble most of the lunch bentos, with him and Koneko slowly learning how to cook better. Yuuto comes over a lot of nights to eat dinner with them, especially if club runs late and even has his own room for the really late nights. As for him, his nightly runs have increased from six to eight miles in length. He has thankfully learned most of the town's streets and knows many of the shop owners on sight, since almost every time he gets text messages for various things to pick-up from the girls, mostly sweets.
Arriving in the kitchen, he turns on the light and almost freaks out seeing Venelana sitting at the counter. A glass of wine in her hand and a smile on her face when she faces him, she asks innocently.
"Jumpy Ichigo?"
"Venelana, did anyone ever tell you not to sit in the dark like a damn creeper?"
His answer is her infectious laughter. "Now, now Ichigo, it's not polite to call your elders such names."
"Sorry but damn, you could give a ghost a run for its money." He says as he opens the fridge and pulls out a juice for Rias and water for himself. Seeing the bag of grapes he opts for them as well.
Turning to see the woman still sitting there, he notices her watching him over the rim of her glass. Her eyes trail him as he makes his way around the kitchen, gathering glasses and two bowls. Finally satisfied that he has everything, he turns to the Gremory Mistress and gives a nod.
"Good night Venelana."
"Ichigo."
"Yes Venelana."
"You will do well."
"Huh? Venelana?"
She gets up from her stool and glides over to Ichigo and as she passes him, she cups his chin and whispers into his ear. "Good night Ichigo." She kisses his cheek before she leaves him standing there dumbfounded.
'What the…'
He slowly turns around and robotically walks back to his room, his thoughts shut-down except one.
'What the…'
Entering the room, his face must have still had the same expression since his run-in with Rias's mother. He numbly walks to the bed, hands Rias her drink and a bowl before he gets in on his side. During this time Rias has watched him with a worried look before she breaks the silence.
"Ichigo what's wrong?"
He turns to her and tells her what happened. "Your mother told me I'd do well and then she kissed my cheek."
"She…kissed…your…cheek?"
"yeah."
Neither says a word after that for the rest of the night.
XXXX
The next morning there is a note of the fridge for the kids from Venelana.
'Rias, Ichigo, Akeno, Koneko.
Hugo and I have a business getaway to attend. I'll see you all in a few weeks and I'll be staying until the end of the school year. Please keep your grades up, eat good meals and take care of each other. Also have fun.
Love,
Venelana.'
"Well I guess we are on our own again." Ichigo says while making his and Koneko's bentos for the day.
"Ara, ara Buchou. Venelana-sama will be staying for the rest of the year. Unusual."
Rias chews on her thumb-nail as she looks over the note. She knew her mother approved of Ichigo but could she do it? Could she when the time came, could she find it in herself to change him, would she even want to? Looking at him as he packs Koneko's bento with the things she wants for the day makes her wonder what his uncle would think of her trying to make him a part of her peerage. Would he even allow it? All she knows is at one time his family served the Naberius Clan in some capacity or another, but how or what she didn't know.
All Ichigo knew of his uncle and his business was that he travels a lot and that they only got together for a few holidays according to Amyntas. The rest of the time, they led separate lives from one another. Ichigo said he mustn't have minded because now he has them to keep him company instead of strangers. Rias looks at him and sees him looking at her, a smile on his face. She smiles back because over the weeks his scowl had slowly disappeared to be replaced by the happy face now watching her.
'I think…'
"Buchou, Ichigo we should get going. Koneko you are staying with your friends tonight for a study session, and Buchou and I have an overnight with the club at that haunted house the town over. So let's get going before we are late." Akeno begins shooing them out the kitchen.
"Ichigo what are you going to do tonight?" Rias asks as she leads the way.
"I have to finish that project for English Lit and then I have to get our notes done for both math and history. After that I think I'll just watch some movies. You know guy things."
He knows he made a mistake when the black head of Akeno stops and she slowly turns around with her grin.
'Oh shit, where's Koneko?' Ichigo panics trying to find his walking partner before she hears the sexually charged comment he knows is coming.
Seeing the white head behind Rias, he desperately points to her but its too late.
"Fufufu Ichigo, a boy alone at home watching movies while his pretty bed-mate is gone for the night. I think we will have to check and make sure there are no white stains tomorrow."
"AKENO!"
"Oniisan?"
"Dammit!"
XXXX
"Oniisan what did Akeno-san mean by white stains?" The young teen asks the now red-faced man walking her to school.
Looking down at the young girl, he tries desperately to think of a lie but he can't think of anything that would work, so he wings it. "Your neesan is a very naughty person Koneko, my suggestion is to ignore her when she speaks to me about anything. It's safer that way and I'm not sure how much Rias wants you to know about… well about those things."
"What things?" She asks innocently. She is grinning internally because despite her appearance she knows the sadist true nature, but its fun having oniisan try and get out of this conversation.
"How about we save it for when Rias is around, because well because I'm not comfortable with you know."
"No, I don't know oniisan."
"Koneko. Ah dammit, why can't anything be easy?"
"Oniisan."
"Yeah Koneko."
"I already did my sexual education course for the year, so if you need me to explain anything to you, I'll be more than willing to teach you oniisan." She keeps her face its usual stoic self, even when her older chaperone stumbles over nothing and falls flat on his face.
"I live with…with…"
"Get up oniisan or I'll be late."
XXXX
Rias and Akeno watch Ichigo leave the school grounds going towards town today instead of his usual route to pick up Koneko. Soon a magic circle appears behind them in the room that serves as their club and meeting room for their nightly gathering, Yuuto and Koneko both arrive via that magic circle and quickly find a seat in front of Rias's desk. Koneko having some extra sweets passes some to both Yuuto and Akeno who has tea already made sitting on the coffee table.
"Buchou, we can't risk him finding out. These orders come from the Maou Lucifer, your brother, to find out who these new arrivals are without being discovered."
"I know Akeno; we will proceed at midnight and find out who these people are. No one is to approach, only observe. I just hope who ever they are; they aren't here to cause trouble."
"Of course Buchou. I'll let Harumi know Ichigo will be by himself tonight and to make sure he is well guarded."
"Thank you Akeno."
XXXX
Ichigo was doing the one thing he never thought he would ever do in his life. Moping. He was moping because everyone else was spending the night doing something that kept them away from the mansion. That left him alone with just Harumi, Nobvi the grounds keeper, and the now bored and restless chef, Jean. He had finished his homework, the notes and his English project hours ago and now he was dressing to take another run. Changing into his dark sweats and grabbing his sneakers, he makes his way the genkan to grab his keys.
"Ichigo are you going out for a run?" Harumi asks as she sees him walk by the staff room.
"I am Harumi. You guys need anything while I'm out?" He asks as he stands in the doorway to their room.
He sees the blonde-haired woman, Jean; shake her head no, while the brownish-black head of Nobvi also shakes his head no. Harumi tilts her head and smiles at him when she does ask him.
"Can you stop by the shouten and see if Kazuhiro has my order in yet. I plan on making homemade fudge ice cream for the girls when they return tomorrow."
"Yeah I'll stop by for you. Well, I should be back in an hour or so." With that he makes his way to the genkan and puts on his sneakers, puts his earbuds in and walks out the door.
Jean's blue eyes follow Ichigo as he leaves the mansion, her vision settles on the green eyes of Nobvi as he too follows the direction that the young man run had started. Both turn to see Harumi talking to her shadows and gave them their instructions.
"Follow Ichigo-dono closely but allow no one to sense your presence. You may act if the young master's life is jeopardy. Now be good and behave."
Jean smirks then. "Still having trouble with them Harumi-chan?"
As the head maid watches the shadows all disappear under the door-jam, she turns back to face her fellow devil. "Sometimes they are worse than children. Most nights I can't even find them, other nights they just don't leave me with one second of peace."
Nobvi stands at this point and stretches. "I think I'll go to bed now. If anything happens, just get me."
The two women servants both wave to him as he makes his way deeper into the staff's portion of the mansion. Once alone the two settle in for the night watching their favor dramas, all the while Harumi is watching Ichigo on his run.
'Human or not, he is a catch.' Her giggling makes the other woman shoot her a questioning gaze that is never answered.
XXXX
Eating the night away again as he ran, Ichigo paid no mind to his surroundings. As he passes the fountain marking the halfway point of his run, to his surprise he sees two people walking along the same path. What was noticeable to him was that they didn't look like a normal couple by the fact that one was wearing a drabby violet trench-coat and a cheap fedora on his head. His companion was a much younger woman with long silky black hair and her violet eyes seem to dismiss him as he ran by the two, not hearing the woman say something to him in passing.
Ichigo doesn't see the indignation that shows itself when the woman turns and raises her hand. Before she can do anything the man stops her and points to the shadows.
"He is not worth jeopardizing our mission. He is only an ignorant human boy who probably didn't even hear you. Now come, we have to search three high schools in this area to find this sacred gear holder."
"You could have at least let me have some fun you know. Nobody would have missed him, judging by his hair I would venture he is part of a local gang. But still, if this has to be done in secret, I'll curb my 'hobbies' for the time being."
"Make sure you do Raynare. Now let's infiltrate the first school and find this person and eliminate them as soon as possible."
"Oh alright." She turns and sees the orange disappear into the distance.
'One day I hope to find you again my young prey, I do so miss seeing the young beg.'
XXXX
After stopping at the shouten, Ichigo makes his way home by ending his run with a full-blown sprint. Heaving as he stops in front of the sally port, he punches in his code and waits for the buzzer to sound. Not a moment later he is through the gate and making his way to the mansion. Stopping he looks up at the full moon, when yet another vision hits him again.
Standing on the edge of a cliff, he is staring down at a city, a city of white that seems to be torn from the pages of history. A woman's voice interrupts his thoughts.
'Ichigo, come back inside, you still need to sleep. We have two days left yet.'
'I know, sorry. It looks so peaceful at night.'
'It does.'
'I hope to see it under different circumstances when this over.'
'I hope so too.'
'Do you miss living here?'
"Not really. I had to…live as someone I wasn't. Now that I've lived in the World of the Living for over a century, I don't think I can come back now or want to.'
As he turns to face his companion, his head explodes in pain. Black rapidly advances on him as he sees the outline of a face. Just before it claims him, he can see golden irises.
XXXX
The woman stands over the young man once again. Her face full of concern as she stares at his sweating face; his moans are thankfully quiet now that she has infused him with yet another spell. Turning to the assembled staff she stares hard at them.
"Speak."
"Gremory-sama as I said before he was almost to the front of the mansion when he suddenly stopped and looked upwards. Ichigo stood there for but a moment when he suddenly grabbed his head and started screaming again. By the time we got to him, he was unconscious and shaking violently, all I could here him say is one word over and over again."
Arching one of her eyebrows, Venelana waits for Harumi to say what it is she heard.
"All he kept saying was…was Yoruichi."