LOG...um, super after the fact tho...
Who: H!Ichigo, Isshinigami, Rukia
Where: The Park
When:......about a month ago? Oops.
What: The FINAL BATTLE!! Isshin and H!Ichigo duke it out!!! It's CRAAZY! (wow, being in China turned me weird)
Rukia hadn't been feeling well for a while now. It wasn't a simple sickness. Nothing that Urahara or Isshin or even Inoue could cure. It was a suffocating feeling. The guilt and the burden and the stress and the realization that if Ichigo did not turn back to normal soon....she would have to....fight him. Like she fought Kaien. That night so long ago. And then there was Hinamori. Rukia expected Soul Society to come after her any day now. It was no wonder she was having trouble breathing and sleeping and eating lately.
Tonight was the first time in a week that the skies were clear and the ground wasn't wet with the rain. Trusting Hinamori to stay at the apartment alone, Rukia decided she needed a walk. Maybe the cold, fresh air would help her. Do something good for her.
If not, well. She just needed some time to think. Alone.
As Ichigo watched Rukia make her way around the neighborhood he took note of the way she would stop occasionally to rub her chest and take a deep, labored breath.
Walking alone at night, AND not at your physical best? You're a sitting duck, Rukia-chan Ichigo thought as he closed in on her, about to strike. There would be no playing around with her tonight, he was going to do this fast. There was no way he was gonna miss a golden chance like this by letting that freaking wimp inside his head get the upper hand.
Rukia stopped for a moment to look at the dark, empty streets absentmindedly. Then the hairs on the back of her neck prickled.
There was a reiatsu approaching. It was muffled and whoever it belonged to was obviously trying to cover it up the best that he could.
The creeping feeling in Rukia's stomach told her exactly who it was even before he moved.
Ichigo decided to make his move. Clutching his sword tightly with both hands he charged at Rukia, cackling madly.
A calm descended upon Rukia as she realized that the gut-feeling she had had was correct. She didn't hesitate a moment or even stop to look behind her before she popped the mod soul candy into her mouth.
Within a second she had drawn Shirayuki and leapt away from the spot that Ichigo appeared a heartbeat later.
"I thought I told you to leave me the hell alone."
"I don't take orders from you or anyone," Ichigo snapped, recovering from Rukia's fake-out and adjusting his battle stance.
"This ends here, Rukia!" he cried as he thrust forward, pointing Zangetsu directly at Rukia's heart.
Rukia managed to jump out of the way, but not quite fast enough. Zangetsu grazed her arm, cutting through the material of her shinigami robe.
"Shit," she muttered to herself. Her movements were slower than usual and her energy was low, probably from lack of sleep and malnutrition.
"Hehehehe!" Ichigo laughed coldly, preparing for another strike. He lunged, and just missed the mark again, this time only managing a small scrape on Rukia's cheek.
"Damnit, stay still so I can fucking kill you!!!" he shouted, getting ready to strike once more.
Rukia cursed as she felt Zangetsu scrape her cheek too. At this rate she'd be injured worse than during her fight with Ulquiorra. At least then she had the full of her strength to work with.
"I'm not going to let you kill me, Hollow," she growled lowly. "I'm going to save Ichigo from you and then I'm going to end you once and for all."
"Mae, Sode no Shirayuki!" She released into shikai.
"Haha, child's play! Let me show you how it's done. Bankai!" Ichigo released his sword and charged Rukia one last time, knowing that this would be his last attack.
"Goodbye Rukia-chan!" he said as she swung his sword downward.
Rukia stood, paralyzed. She had never thought that Ichigo's bankai would be used on her. She didn't know shunpo and she hadn't learned bankai yet.
The most she could do would be to jump back and parry Ichigo's attack with Shirayuki.
But Zangetsu's enormous blade would cut through Shirayuki within a second.
The entire situation was futile.
She was going to die. To Ichigo's Hollow. Having failed to save him. As worthless and useless as Ulquiorra said she was.
Zangetsu's downard arc was abruptly halted as it clashed into an unknown blade that had not been there a fraction of an instant ago. The newcomer pushed upwards, forcing Ichigo's blade back and away. "That's enough. I didn't want to have to do this, but you've left me no choice." Quickly reversing the block into a counterblow, Isshin forced the surprised Hollow backward several yards, taking the time to turn back to Rukia with a look of concern. "You okay, Rukia-chan? ...I guess I shouldn't've waited so long. Sorry."
Ichigo tumbled backwards, unsure of exactly what was happening. He knew Rukia hadn't been the one to force him back, but who...?
When he righted himself and was able to see his opponent, he could hardly believe his eyes. Isshin, his own father was dressed in Shinigami robes and was carrying a Zanpakuto.
"What the FUCK?!" he yelled, infuriated. "What the hell are you doing?"
Rukia looked up in surprise and no little shock when she realized that Zangetsu's blade was not slicing through her. She was further reduced into shock when she saw Isshin. In front of her. Wearing shinigami robes. And holding a zanpakutou.
"K-Kurosaki-san?" she gasped, eyes widening.
Isshin nodded, turning back to face his opponent and falling into a guard stance. "Please stand clear," he said in an even voice. "This is probably going to get messy."
Ichigo glared at Isshin, but quickly decided he had the upper hand in this fight. He chuckled heartily.
"So you've been a Shinigami all along huh? Nice job keeping it a secret, I had no idea. Not that it matters, since I'm gonna kill you now," he readied his sword and began circling Isshin, sizing him up.
"Are you going to tell me that you'd turn your sword against your own son, Dad" he mocked, smiling venomously.
Isshin followed the Hollow as he circled, making sure to keep his body in front of Rukia so she had time to move away safely. "Kill me?" He shrugged. "You can try." At the Hollow's words, a sharp laugh escaped his lips and he rolled his eyes. "You don't think I'd fight against Ichigo? Where have you been?" Isshin remained back in a defensive position, waiting for his opponent to make the first move. To tell the truth, he wasn't quite as confident as he was acting; he still wasn't sure of the extent of the Hollow's skill and abilities, and he wanted a chance to assess them before he began fighting in earnest.
The Hollow could feel Ichigo beginning to resist, so he knew he had to act fast. With a great yell he charged at Isshin with all his might, sword raised.
Isshin easily blocked in time, though he was a bit surprised at the force of the impact. The sheer amount of raw power... Isshin let his spirit pressure, which he had been holding in check, flow out freely, focusing it on the Hollow, hoping to catch it by surprise. He'd have to try to end this fast, because though he was pretty sure he was the more skilled of the two, he could also tell the Hollow's stamina was greater than his own.
Ichigo let out a frustrated growl as Isshin blocked him, quickly recovering and coming back for another strike. "Let's see you avoid this one!" Ichigo yelled, raising his sword up above his head and bringing it down hard and fast.
Isshin grit his teeth, bringing his zanpakutou up to meet Zangetsu. Instead of merely deflecting the blade, he drove forward and pressed the Hollow with his spiritual pressure, hoping to stun it at least momentarily. Isshin brought his face up close to the thing that wore his son's body. "Wake up, Ichigo!" he snarled.
Ichigo froze as Isshin's spirit pressure overwhelmed him. He panicked inwardly when he realized that Isshin had him immobilized. Shaking himself lightly and gritting his teeth, he tried to press back with his own, only managing to do so after the shock of Isshin's huge power wore off.
Isshin held back a slight wince as he felt the Hollow trying to throw off the press of his reiatsu. He's lacking finesse, he thought, but he's strong. I can't wait for Ichigo. I've got to end this now. Concentrating, he focused his reiatsu to an even finer point, as if to crush the Hollow beneath it. He could see it struggling and gaining a foothold as it pushed back. This was risky, but--there was his opening. Now!
Abruptly, Isshin withdrew his spirit pressure, and the Hollow's reiatsu, with nothing to hold it in check, flowed out like the waters of a swollen river. Isshin's first instinct was to look back and see how Rukia was withstanding the heavy press of spiritual energy, but he didn't dare. He used that fraction of an instant, while the Hollow was distracted by the sudden lack of resistance, to shunpo behind it, aiming a solid blow to its head.
Rukia stood rooted in shock, still unable to absorb the fact that Isshin Kurosaki was a shinigami. How had she not noticed? All this time-- But then. It made sense. For Ichigo to be as powerful as he was, it would make perfect sense that his father was a shinigami.
She watched the fight with widened eyes, standing weakly as the two powerful reiatsu battled one another.
She was caught offguard as Isshin withdrew his own spirit pressure and the Hollow's reiatsu surround her. Pushed her back. Suffocated her.
Choking, Rukia fought against it, pushing back with her own failing reiatsu.
Ichigo ducked as Isshin drove forward, only narrowly escaping what would have been a devastating blow. He quickly jumped back and mentally shook himself for being so easy to throw off guard like that.
Shit! he thought, raising his sword once again and lunging with all his might at Isshin.
I missed? Isshin pivoted, bracing himself against the blow he knew was coming. The Hollow's zanpakutou clashed against his with numbing force. Okay, let's try another tactic. Isshin made an obvious feint, hoping to lull the Hollow into a false sense of security.
Ichigo gritted his teeth as his sword slammed into Isshin's. He blocked that? he raged, pulling back to strike again. He knew he was running out of time, he had to kill Isshin now or else Ichigo's resistance would interfere.
Isshin made a sloppy feint, one Ichigo saw through immediately.
Maybe he's finally getting tired, now's my chance! he thought as he blocked Isshin's feint, allowing his spirit energy to pulse around them.
Looks like he bought it, Isshin thought, trying to look surprised that his feint had been recognized. This is going to be tricky... Isshin had to leave himself open in order to lure the Hollow close enough to make his move. If his reaction time was off by even a little, it would be serious injury or even death. He grit his teeth, making a counter-swing to his opponent that left his zanpakutou arcing high and away, leaving him unguarded. Now if only the Hollow would take the bait...
Ichigo smiled as Isshin lifted his sword up, leaving his center completely vulnerable. Ah, a fatal mistake, old man he thought as he lunged once again as fast as lightening, positive that Isshin wouldn't be able to block in time.
Isshin didn't even attempt to block, instead twisting his body to dodge the attack. He didn't quite make it, and hissed in pain as Zangetsu sliced cleanly through his side. He ignored the pain, raising his free hand to the Hollow and releasing a blast spell right into its face. He didn't expect that to stop him, though, and while his enemy was temporarily dazed from the shock, he elbowed him sharply in the solar plexus, knocking the Hollow to the ground. "Sorry, Ichigo," he murmured as he raised his zanpakutou. "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you. ...Probably" Putting all his remaining power into his swing, he brought down the hilt of his zanpakutou against the Hollow's mask.
Ichigo shrieked in pain as Isshin's hilt collided with his mask, shattering it to pieces. As the shards slid off his face, he felt his Hollow rage within him, unable to accept defeat.
"Ahhh!" Ichigo groaned, head throbbing as he struggled to used the last of his strength to force the Hollow out of his head.
Isshin, took a small step backwards, still on guard, but waiting to see if Ichigo would be able to subdue the Hollow.
Rukia managed to catch her breath and rise to her feet as the reiatsus around her finally stabilized and she could move.
She saw Isshin beat Ichigo, the Hollow mask shattering beneath the older shinigami's zanpakutou.
She stumbled forward, ignoring the pain in her sides and the ache in her head.
"Ichigo," she managed to mumble as she made her way towards his struggling body.
Ichigo thrashed once more on the ground before he became vaguely aware of someone inching toward him.
He heard the person say his name, and recognized her as Rukia. At the sound of her voice, his heart rose almost automatically and his Hollow seemed to stop resisting so violently. With one last mental shove Ichigo was able to finally completely subdue him. He managed to lift his head the slightest bit to get a glimpse of Rukia's face, but the effort was too much for him, and he fell back as quickly as he sat up.
"R-rukia," he managed to choke out before losing conciousness completely.
Isshin gave a low sigh of relief, sheathing his zanpakutou and kneeling to lift his son from the ground. He handled the unconscious Ichigo with almost incongruous care, adjusting him in his arms until he seemed to be lying comfortably. "Well," he began softly, turning to look at Rukia, "I think he'll be all right now."
Rukia nodded, looking at Ichigo's unconcious body with a worry that crept through her and made her feel cold and nauseous.
"If you're taking him to the clinic, Kurosaki-san, I want to come as well," she said.
Isshin gave a quick nod, turning again to look ahead as he began to walk. "Of course, Rukia-chan. I know he'll want to see you when he wakes up. Grab his zanpakutou, would you?"
Rukia picked up Zangetsu, struggling a little bit under its weight. Once she picked it up, she made sure to find and sheathe Shirayuki as well before turning back to Isshin.
She stared at him for a minute.
"All this time and you....were a shinigami? ...how?"
Isshin paused, then shook his head. "That's a story for another time. For now, let's get Ichigo home."
Rukia was about to protest, but acquiesced. There were more important things now.
She nodded and followed Isshin back to the clinic quietly, Zangetsu clenched in her arms.
Where: The Park
When:......about a month ago? Oops.
What: The FINAL BATTLE!! Isshin and H!Ichigo duke it out!!! It's CRAAZY! (wow, being in China turned me weird)
Rukia hadn't been feeling well for a while now. It wasn't a simple sickness. Nothing that Urahara or Isshin or even Inoue could cure. It was a suffocating feeling. The guilt and the burden and the stress and the realization that if Ichigo did not turn back to normal soon....she would have to....fight him. Like she fought Kaien. That night so long ago. And then there was Hinamori. Rukia expected Soul Society to come after her any day now. It was no wonder she was having trouble breathing and sleeping and eating lately.
Tonight was the first time in a week that the skies were clear and the ground wasn't wet with the rain. Trusting Hinamori to stay at the apartment alone, Rukia decided she needed a walk. Maybe the cold, fresh air would help her. Do something good for her.
If not, well. She just needed some time to think. Alone.
As Ichigo watched Rukia make her way around the neighborhood he took note of the way she would stop occasionally to rub her chest and take a deep, labored breath.
Walking alone at night, AND not at your physical best? You're a sitting duck, Rukia-chan Ichigo thought as he closed in on her, about to strike. There would be no playing around with her tonight, he was going to do this fast. There was no way he was gonna miss a golden chance like this by letting that freaking wimp inside his head get the upper hand.
Rukia stopped for a moment to look at the dark, empty streets absentmindedly. Then the hairs on the back of her neck prickled.
There was a reiatsu approaching. It was muffled and whoever it belonged to was obviously trying to cover it up the best that he could.
The creeping feeling in Rukia's stomach told her exactly who it was even before he moved.
Ichigo decided to make his move. Clutching his sword tightly with both hands he charged at Rukia, cackling madly.
A calm descended upon Rukia as she realized that the gut-feeling she had had was correct. She didn't hesitate a moment or even stop to look behind her before she popped the mod soul candy into her mouth.
Within a second she had drawn Shirayuki and leapt away from the spot that Ichigo appeared a heartbeat later.
"I thought I told you to leave me the hell alone."
"I don't take orders from you or anyone," Ichigo snapped, recovering from Rukia's fake-out and adjusting his battle stance.
"This ends here, Rukia!" he cried as he thrust forward, pointing Zangetsu directly at Rukia's heart.
Rukia managed to jump out of the way, but not quite fast enough. Zangetsu grazed her arm, cutting through the material of her shinigami robe.
"Shit," she muttered to herself. Her movements were slower than usual and her energy was low, probably from lack of sleep and malnutrition.
"Hehehehe!" Ichigo laughed coldly, preparing for another strike. He lunged, and just missed the mark again, this time only managing a small scrape on Rukia's cheek.
"Damnit, stay still so I can fucking kill you!!!" he shouted, getting ready to strike once more.
Rukia cursed as she felt Zangetsu scrape her cheek too. At this rate she'd be injured worse than during her fight with Ulquiorra. At least then she had the full of her strength to work with.
"I'm not going to let you kill me, Hollow," she growled lowly. "I'm going to save Ichigo from you and then I'm going to end you once and for all."
"Mae, Sode no Shirayuki!" She released into shikai.
"Haha, child's play! Let me show you how it's done. Bankai!" Ichigo released his sword and charged Rukia one last time, knowing that this would be his last attack.
"Goodbye Rukia-chan!" he said as she swung his sword downward.
Rukia stood, paralyzed. She had never thought that Ichigo's bankai would be used on her. She didn't know shunpo and she hadn't learned bankai yet.
The most she could do would be to jump back and parry Ichigo's attack with Shirayuki.
But Zangetsu's enormous blade would cut through Shirayuki within a second.
The entire situation was futile.
She was going to die. To Ichigo's Hollow. Having failed to save him. As worthless and useless as Ulquiorra said she was.
Zangetsu's downard arc was abruptly halted as it clashed into an unknown blade that had not been there a fraction of an instant ago. The newcomer pushed upwards, forcing Ichigo's blade back and away. "That's enough. I didn't want to have to do this, but you've left me no choice." Quickly reversing the block into a counterblow, Isshin forced the surprised Hollow backward several yards, taking the time to turn back to Rukia with a look of concern. "You okay, Rukia-chan? ...I guess I shouldn't've waited so long. Sorry."
Ichigo tumbled backwards, unsure of exactly what was happening. He knew Rukia hadn't been the one to force him back, but who...?
When he righted himself and was able to see his opponent, he could hardly believe his eyes. Isshin, his own father was dressed in Shinigami robes and was carrying a Zanpakuto.
"What the FUCK?!" he yelled, infuriated. "What the hell are you doing?"
Rukia looked up in surprise and no little shock when she realized that Zangetsu's blade was not slicing through her. She was further reduced into shock when she saw Isshin. In front of her. Wearing shinigami robes. And holding a zanpakutou.
"K-Kurosaki-san?" she gasped, eyes widening.
Isshin nodded, turning back to face his opponent and falling into a guard stance. "Please stand clear," he said in an even voice. "This is probably going to get messy."
Ichigo glared at Isshin, but quickly decided he had the upper hand in this fight. He chuckled heartily.
"So you've been a Shinigami all along huh? Nice job keeping it a secret, I had no idea. Not that it matters, since I'm gonna kill you now," he readied his sword and began circling Isshin, sizing him up.
"Are you going to tell me that you'd turn your sword against your own son, Dad" he mocked, smiling venomously.
Isshin followed the Hollow as he circled, making sure to keep his body in front of Rukia so she had time to move away safely. "Kill me?" He shrugged. "You can try." At the Hollow's words, a sharp laugh escaped his lips and he rolled his eyes. "You don't think I'd fight against Ichigo? Where have you been?" Isshin remained back in a defensive position, waiting for his opponent to make the first move. To tell the truth, he wasn't quite as confident as he was acting; he still wasn't sure of the extent of the Hollow's skill and abilities, and he wanted a chance to assess them before he began fighting in earnest.
The Hollow could feel Ichigo beginning to resist, so he knew he had to act fast. With a great yell he charged at Isshin with all his might, sword raised.
Isshin easily blocked in time, though he was a bit surprised at the force of the impact. The sheer amount of raw power... Isshin let his spirit pressure, which he had been holding in check, flow out freely, focusing it on the Hollow, hoping to catch it by surprise. He'd have to try to end this fast, because though he was pretty sure he was the more skilled of the two, he could also tell the Hollow's stamina was greater than his own.
Ichigo let out a frustrated growl as Isshin blocked him, quickly recovering and coming back for another strike. "Let's see you avoid this one!" Ichigo yelled, raising his sword up above his head and bringing it down hard and fast.
Isshin grit his teeth, bringing his zanpakutou up to meet Zangetsu. Instead of merely deflecting the blade, he drove forward and pressed the Hollow with his spiritual pressure, hoping to stun it at least momentarily. Isshin brought his face up close to the thing that wore his son's body. "Wake up, Ichigo!" he snarled.
Ichigo froze as Isshin's spirit pressure overwhelmed him. He panicked inwardly when he realized that Isshin had him immobilized. Shaking himself lightly and gritting his teeth, he tried to press back with his own, only managing to do so after the shock of Isshin's huge power wore off.
Isshin held back a slight wince as he felt the Hollow trying to throw off the press of his reiatsu. He's lacking finesse, he thought, but he's strong. I can't wait for Ichigo. I've got to end this now. Concentrating, he focused his reiatsu to an even finer point, as if to crush the Hollow beneath it. He could see it struggling and gaining a foothold as it pushed back. This was risky, but--there was his opening. Now!
Abruptly, Isshin withdrew his spirit pressure, and the Hollow's reiatsu, with nothing to hold it in check, flowed out like the waters of a swollen river. Isshin's first instinct was to look back and see how Rukia was withstanding the heavy press of spiritual energy, but he didn't dare. He used that fraction of an instant, while the Hollow was distracted by the sudden lack of resistance, to shunpo behind it, aiming a solid blow to its head.
Rukia stood rooted in shock, still unable to absorb the fact that Isshin Kurosaki was a shinigami. How had she not noticed? All this time-- But then. It made sense. For Ichigo to be as powerful as he was, it would make perfect sense that his father was a shinigami.
She watched the fight with widened eyes, standing weakly as the two powerful reiatsu battled one another.
She was caught offguard as Isshin withdrew his own spirit pressure and the Hollow's reiatsu surround her. Pushed her back. Suffocated her.
Choking, Rukia fought against it, pushing back with her own failing reiatsu.
Ichigo ducked as Isshin drove forward, only narrowly escaping what would have been a devastating blow. He quickly jumped back and mentally shook himself for being so easy to throw off guard like that.
Shit! he thought, raising his sword once again and lunging with all his might at Isshin.
I missed? Isshin pivoted, bracing himself against the blow he knew was coming. The Hollow's zanpakutou clashed against his with numbing force. Okay, let's try another tactic. Isshin made an obvious feint, hoping to lull the Hollow into a false sense of security.
Ichigo gritted his teeth as his sword slammed into Isshin's. He blocked that? he raged, pulling back to strike again. He knew he was running out of time, he had to kill Isshin now or else Ichigo's resistance would interfere.
Isshin made a sloppy feint, one Ichigo saw through immediately.
Maybe he's finally getting tired, now's my chance! he thought as he blocked Isshin's feint, allowing his spirit energy to pulse around them.
Looks like he bought it, Isshin thought, trying to look surprised that his feint had been recognized. This is going to be tricky... Isshin had to leave himself open in order to lure the Hollow close enough to make his move. If his reaction time was off by even a little, it would be serious injury or even death. He grit his teeth, making a counter-swing to his opponent that left his zanpakutou arcing high and away, leaving him unguarded. Now if only the Hollow would take the bait...
Ichigo smiled as Isshin lifted his sword up, leaving his center completely vulnerable. Ah, a fatal mistake, old man he thought as he lunged once again as fast as lightening, positive that Isshin wouldn't be able to block in time.
Isshin didn't even attempt to block, instead twisting his body to dodge the attack. He didn't quite make it, and hissed in pain as Zangetsu sliced cleanly through his side. He ignored the pain, raising his free hand to the Hollow and releasing a blast spell right into its face. He didn't expect that to stop him, though, and while his enemy was temporarily dazed from the shock, he elbowed him sharply in the solar plexus, knocking the Hollow to the ground. "Sorry, Ichigo," he murmured as he raised his zanpakutou. "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you. ...Probably" Putting all his remaining power into his swing, he brought down the hilt of his zanpakutou against the Hollow's mask.
Ichigo shrieked in pain as Isshin's hilt collided with his mask, shattering it to pieces. As the shards slid off his face, he felt his Hollow rage within him, unable to accept defeat.
"Ahhh!" Ichigo groaned, head throbbing as he struggled to used the last of his strength to force the Hollow out of his head.
Isshin, took a small step backwards, still on guard, but waiting to see if Ichigo would be able to subdue the Hollow.
Rukia managed to catch her breath and rise to her feet as the reiatsus around her finally stabilized and she could move.
She saw Isshin beat Ichigo, the Hollow mask shattering beneath the older shinigami's zanpakutou.
She stumbled forward, ignoring the pain in her sides and the ache in her head.
"Ichigo," she managed to mumble as she made her way towards his struggling body.
Ichigo thrashed once more on the ground before he became vaguely aware of someone inching toward him.
He heard the person say his name, and recognized her as Rukia. At the sound of her voice, his heart rose almost automatically and his Hollow seemed to stop resisting so violently. With one last mental shove Ichigo was able to finally completely subdue him. He managed to lift his head the slightest bit to get a glimpse of Rukia's face, but the effort was too much for him, and he fell back as quickly as he sat up.
"R-rukia," he managed to choke out before losing conciousness completely.
Isshin gave a low sigh of relief, sheathing his zanpakutou and kneeling to lift his son from the ground. He handled the unconscious Ichigo with almost incongruous care, adjusting him in his arms until he seemed to be lying comfortably. "Well," he began softly, turning to look at Rukia, "I think he'll be all right now."
Rukia nodded, looking at Ichigo's unconcious body with a worry that crept through her and made her feel cold and nauseous.
"If you're taking him to the clinic, Kurosaki-san, I want to come as well," she said.
Isshin gave a quick nod, turning again to look ahead as he began to walk. "Of course, Rukia-chan. I know he'll want to see you when he wakes up. Grab his zanpakutou, would you?"
Rukia picked up Zangetsu, struggling a little bit under its weight. Once she picked it up, she made sure to find and sheathe Shirayuki as well before turning back to Isshin.
She stared at him for a minute.
"All this time and you....were a shinigami? ...how?"
Isshin paused, then shook his head. "That's a story for another time. For now, let's get Ichigo home."
Rukia was about to protest, but acquiesced. There were more important things now.
She nodded and followed Isshin back to the clinic quietly, Zangetsu clenched in her arms.