Fathers in White and Black 5/7 Bleach Bigbanfic
Title: Fathers in White and Black
Author: StarbearerTM
Beta: nerdowl
Pairings: Isshin/Ryuuken, Ishida/Orihime, implied Rukia/Ichigo
Genre: Romance, yaoi, het
Rating: NC 17
Word count: 40,283
Warnings: M/M relationships, Het M/F, language, lemon
Summary: Two people who meet in college can hardly foretell where their futures would take them. Two decades later, two friends carry on a secret relationship that will soon become known to their families, but how do their sons relate to this?
Outside Ryuuken lit a cigarette, allowing the smoke to creep into his lungs as the rather pissed teen glared at him indignantly. Waiting a minute or two, Ryuuken watched the smoke creep up into the air as he did this.
“So talk,” said Ichigo. “What the hell is your problem?”
“You are an undisciplined boorish lout,” said Ryuuken.
“Tell me something I don’t know, you stiff shirt,” said Ichigo, grinning at him. “But tell me how you REALLY feel.”
“Your father lets you get away with murder. Just what in hell’s name you think you’re…”
“LAY off my old man!” Ichigo suddenly said. “Look, whatever is between you and your son’s one thing but you DARE drag my family into it; I’ll kick your ASS! If you so much as make my sisters CRY I’ll…”
Ryuuken looked at him quietly and murmured, “Whatever gave you that impression that I would imply any harm to your sisters Kurosaki? You’re the issue, not they.”
“I don’t know what you and my dad have going on and frankly I don’t WANT to know. But get this. I’m not something you can just ignore or beat into verbal submission like you can your own kid!” Ichigo growled.
“What is between me and Uryuu is my business NOT yours,” said Ryuuken sharply, glaring at Ichigo.
“Fine. Let’s keep it that way. But don’t you DARE make Karin or Yuzu cry, got it?” Ichigo said. “And if you EVER hurt my dad so help me…”
Ichigo suddenly moved but didn’t account for the grey suited man grabbing his wrist with unquestioned speed. Soon Ichigo was pinned up against the wall. Ryuuken soon found himself flipped over, blocking a number of fist blows from the orange haired teen. Before Ichigo knew it he saw the formation of a metallic bow with arrow aimed right at his heart.
“So you are one after all,” Ichigo said quietly as he saw the Quincy arrow poised at its target. “You fight damn well for a pain in the ass grump.”
“Regardless of what lack of abilities you’ve seen my son exhibit, let me warn you they are nothing compared to a true Quincy’s skills,” said Ryuuken in a low tone, his blue eyes holding frost in them.
“Maybe that’s the case,” Ichigo said as he looked Ryuuken right in the eyes. “But I won’t let anyone hurt my family.”
“You’re a fool if you think that for one moment that is my intent,” Ryuuken snapped at him. “Your sisters are in less danger with me and your idiot father then you leaking out spirit energy.”
“So what’s your deal?” Ichigo asked quietly. “Hiding your powers huh?”
“I concern myself with the matters of the living. You concern yourself with those of the dead. Let’s keep it that way,” said Ryuuken.
“Are you and my father having a thing?” Ichigo asked quietly.
“I don’t recall asking for your blessing,” said Ryuuken coldly.
“I wasn’t going to give you one. But if you’re going to be part of this family, it’s my business to know, got it?” Ichigo said as he stared Ryuuken down. Even with an arrow to the throat the boy had fight in him.
Immediately the arrow dissipated along with the metallic bow. Ryuuken then polished his glasses and said, “your father was about to announce that fact until you chose this method of confrontation.”
“You’re shitting me?” Ichigo asked quietly. “You’re not moving in here are you?”
“Perish the thought,” said Ryuuken shaking his head. “Your father was going to announce that he and I indeed are in a relationship and that you must become accustomed to my presence. As such there will possibly be changes in your usual world should things progress.”
“I’ve got enough shit happening in my life. Just keep your love life to yourself behind closed doors. I don’t want to know,” Ichigo said with a look of disgust on his face.
“That will be the least of your concerns,” said Ryuuken.
Just then the door slid open and a black haired woman stuck her head out. Indigo eyes fixed on both Ichigo and Ryuuken. “What are you doing idiot! Your family’s worried SICK!” Rukia snapped as she kicked Ichigo in the shins.
“Merely a discussion young lady,” said Ryuuken as he looked frostily at Rukia. The instigator of this entire mess in his eyes.
“You know smoking can kill you,” said Rukia as she waved it away.
“That is none of your concern,” Ryuuken said quietly. “Good day.”
“Rukia are you nuts that’s…”
Something clicked in Rukia’s mind. She then dropped a curtsey and said sweetly, “Oh how rude of me. Let me introduce myself. I’m…”
“Kuchiki Rukia, Kurosaki Ichigo’s classmate,” said Ryuuken lighting another cigarette. “Ishida Ryuuken, director of Karakura hospital. How do you do?”
He bowed with that same frosty politeness which to his surprise hardly phased the shinigami. She then said, “A pleasure I’m sure. Forgive Ichigo for being an idiot. He does that.”
“Indeed,” said Ryuuken, impressed by her manners as she took Ichigo by the hand and walked him back into the house.
***
Once Ryuuken had entered the house again, he noticed that Yuzu was still putting down breakfast for Rukia. Not far from her sat Ichigo looking rather sullen and moody while slowly eating his own food. As he moved towards the table, He felt Isshin tugging on his arm. Lips whispered close to his ear, “everything ok?”
“Why wouldn’t it be, you idiot,” muttered Ryuuken shivering in place.
“You didn’t finish your breakfast Ryuuken Jii-san!” Yuzu said as she pointed to his plate.
“Better sit down and clean your plate,” Isshin insisted. “Family rule is that if you leave the table hungry it’s your fault!”
“My apologies,” said Ryuuken as he sat down again.
“These pickles are wonderful,” Rukia said sweetly as she munched on them.
“Onii chan, do you want more egg?” Yuzu asked him.
“Mmm,” Ichigo answered, avoiding any eye contact in Ryuuken or his father’s direction.
Ryuuken out of the corner of his eye saw Isshin suddenly shoot out a fist in Ichigo’s direction. It was promptly blocked by the orange haired teen. Arcing over the table, Isshin launched himself out of his chair and swung a spectacular kick over Ryuuken’s head to paste Ichigo in the jaw. Both men went flying across the room.
“This breakfast is quite satisfactory,’ Ryuuken murmured to Yuzu as he caught her gaze in his direction.
“I’m so glad,” she said pressing her hands together. “Otou-san said you liked a bit of everything so don’t be shy if you want seconds.”
“More of that omelet please,” murmured the Quincy doctor holding out his plate. Behind him he heard the grunts and punches of the father and son mauling each other while Rukia took quick and measured bites of her food. Her perfect posture and impeccable manners along with the way in which she spoke with that higher pitch impressed him. Here was a shinigami that took every effort to fit in as a human.
Yuzu placed another portion on his plate as well as refilling his coffee. If he tuned out the background din of Isshin crashing into the wall near Masaki’s memorial poster he could enjoy Yuzu’s meal better. Across the table Rukia asked, “So do you like to sew also, Ishida sensei?”
“Excuse me?” Ryuuken murmured.
“I just was wondering if you enjoyed sewing like your son,” Rukia asked again.
“Only when required,” he murmured after sipping a cup of coffee. “To repair something.”
“Ah. I always did wonder where he learned it from,” Rukia said.
“Not from me, Kuchiki san,” he said simply. “If you wish to know, ask my son. That is if he deigns to give you an answer.”
“I thought it was an Ishida family tradition,” Rukia said with a smile still plastered on her face.
“Suturing up patients after surgery is a pragmatic application of my sartorial skills,” Ryuuken answered her. “Not in the crafting of clothes.”
“Oh I see. Of course!” Rukia said with a forced smile, carrying on what seemed like a rather difficult conversation.
“Of course he would. HE’s a surgeon,” said Karin rolling her eyes. “Like he has time to make doilies working a bazillion hours a week.”
“The young lady asked a question, and I merely answered,” Ryuuken said quietly as he turned to Karin. “The exact nature of my work isn’t necessarily common knowledge, Karin chan.”
“Humph,” Karin murmured as she backed off a bit. “Sorry.”
“You damn crazy old fool! Knock it off!” shouted Ichigo from somewhere behind Ryuuken.
The smile Rukia kept on her face grew increasingly more forced the longer the two Kurosaki men fought. By now Isshin had pinned Ichigo down with one knee, twisting his boy’s arm behind his back, exalting, “Say it son! Call uncle!”
“Let… me GO!” Ichigo snarled back, managing to flip his body and hurl his father off him. Isshin nearly crashed into the stairs before he managed to right himself and land on all fours.
“Nice try but see if you can dodge my morning kick!” shouted Isshin, pouncing.
“Bring it on, you old bastard,” Ichigo retorted, dropping into a stance.
Almost at the same time, two tempers reached a boiling point, belonging to a Quincy and a Shinigami. Excusing themselves from the table Rukia and Ryuuken both stood up at the same moment. Rukia pushed up from the back of her chair and sailed over the top of the table like a graceful bird, her foot extended. It crashed into Ichigo’s jaw, knocking him backwards into the sofa.
Simultaneously Ryuuken’s fist flashed out and collided with Isshin’s forehead, propelling him backwards. Both Karin and Yuzu watched this with a mixture of surprise and shock. Cursing Ichigo grabbed his bleeding nose and lay twitching on the floor. “Ow, damn it Rukia what was THAT for?”
“Stop acting like a FOOL when your father has company you cretin!” Rukia scolded.
“Nice aim,” Karin murmured in admiration, gaping at Ryuuken.
Isshin rolled to a sitting position with a red mark in the center of his forehead. He whined, “Why did you do that?”
“To stop you from making your son late for school perhaps?” Ryuuken scolded. “As I estimate there are only ten minutes till…”
“Crap!” Ichigo shouted, leaping up. “I’ll be late!”
Rukia sighed dramatically and grabbed both her bag and Ichigo’s, then pushed him out the door. Sweetly she poked her head back in to say, “Good day everyone!”
“Good day Rukia nee san!” called Yuzu as she started to clear the dishes up. Ryuuken moved to stack his own not even questioning if he should or not. He would call it a reflex action to carry the soiled crockery into the kitchen and plunk it down into the hot soapy water. It was easy to tuck a dishtowel into the front of his pants and offer to help dry as she washed.
***
"Can we share the shower?" Orihime murmured to Uryuu who passed her some towels.
"Now that you mention it, sharing water is more efficient," Uryuu said with a smirk worthy of a proud Quincy. He opened the door to his bathroom and led her inside the small space. White tiles on the floor and a small corner shower met her eyes. She then asked, "Do you think we'll fit?"
"I don't think that will be a problem," Uryuu said as he opened the shower door and turned on the water. Now in the full light of day Orihime could see every inch of his alabaster skin revealed. His spine and ass curved gracefully and tapered into slender muscular legs. It reminded Orihime of a gazelle, not that Uryuu would look right with horns, but as a seal or a merman perhaps she could imagine that lower half covered in blue scales. Unable to stop herself from reaching out to touch a flat shapely cheek she caressed the soft smooth skin. Uryuu yelped and jumped.
"Orihime san!" he gasped as he turned and blushed.
"Sorry... it just looked cute and I wondered what it would look like with a fish tail," she admitted.
"A fish tale..." Uryuu trailed off, removing his glasses. He extended a hand to Orihime and guided her to step into the shower first. Once they were inside, his back touched hers and that part of him she felt intimately inside her last night lightly twitched against her backside. Gently he pushed her under the shower to rinse and wet her hair. She groaned feeling his hands smoothing shampoo through her hair.
"Ishida kun..."
"Uryuu," he corrected her. "At least while we're alone."
As suds ran down her breasts his hand stole around to rub them over her nipples lightly. Orihime gasped at the contact slowly making its way down to her belly button. Then it stole over her vagina and pulled her back into him. Softly he kissed her neck, his fingers working inside her.
Orihime let him do this, but his other hand was replaced with a washcloth methodically rubbing soap all over her body with a touch she loved. His other hand busied itself inside of her pleasuring her so she fell against his thin body. His teeth nipped her ear. Orihime cooed with pleasure and turned her head to catch his mouth in a kiss. Then she turned around once he let her go, and kissed him deeply
.
Uryuu parted his legs a bit and apologized, "I'm sorry Orihime, but I cannot resist the urge."
"I think I should wash you now," she murmured. She saw his member twitching and reached for the soap. She rubbed his chest lightly with it to wash it, silencing his words into a string of moans. Over his legs, chest, arms she dragged the soap laden washcloth in worship of what she saw. She reached up to smooth shampoo through the straight hair plastered to his face. Without his glasses he looked more vulnerable. It surprised her that he had no worry of modesty now they had been together. How refreshing and delightful that he enjoyed looking at her as much as she did him.
His chest was only covered in a fine down of dark hair that graced his arms in some places but was most abundant between his legs. Noting the contrast in their skin tones she ventured her hand to poke at his stiffening length. He let out a hiss and bent to kiss her mouth. She wondered why he parted his legs until his knee slid between hers so she straddled it. Orihime glanced at the positioning of his leg before she took his erection and put it between her thighs. She grabbed his shoulders and looked into his eyes with a playful twinkle in hers.
"Not inside, but like this," she whispered. Smirking Uryuu reached down to caress her butt and grasp it. She reached down to return the favor so their bodies locked together.
**
After the pulse pounding climax the two had dried off and set about putting on clothes for the day. Orihime came over to where Uryuu sat stitching on a Quincy uniform, and he moved his sewing out of the way. She blinked in surprise at him patting her lap but sat down across his legs. Uryuu wrapped his arms around her, his tie near her throat and his lips kissing along her jaw.
The sharp sensation that pricked him alerted her only a few seconds afterwards. She relished how his arms tightened protectively around her at that moment. He gave her an apologetic glance she knew well before she got off his lap.
"Hollows," she whispered watching him tug at his necktie. She knew that the uniform he'd been repairing would soon replace the clothes that were draped over the end of the sofa.
Once he was dressed they were ready to go out the door. Enjoying how the five silver Scheele Schneider bounced off his attractive ass clothed in the costume Orihime tried to keep her attention on his voice. He rushed out of the building into the alleyway with Orihime close behind him. She had on her calf length sweatpants, tennis shoes, and a blue t shirt with some witty saying on it that he'd stitched something to.
**
Much later Ryuuken sat at his desk in his office faced with a huge pile of papers. Every part of his body felt sore from the activities of the night before though he tried hard to hide the discomfort from everyone both at the Kurosaki clinic and his workplace. He reached into his bag and pulled out a neatly prepared container, setting it on his desk. Opening it revealed a nicely packed bento the likes of which seemed Yuzu’s handiwork. That girl had outdone herself he thought when picking up a rice ball and biting into it. Warm comfort spread from his stomach slowly being filled by the contents of the lunch that he hadn’t felt in years.
Such was the power of Yuzu’s food. It bound a haphazard ragtag family together. Even with two idiotic men fighting and a shinigami under their roof the family unit was a cohesive whole that had reached out and embraced him. The Kurosaki virus had taken hold of Ishida Ryuuken and he was feeling the symptoms. Unlike other illnesses he wasn’t altogether sure this one was bad for his health. As much as he professed to hating shinigami, Rukia and Isshin were not typical. Ichigo was hardly a real shinigami with that hollow crawling around inside him, technically a visored, which Ryuuken liked even less.
His phone rang and Ryuuken answered it with a curt, “Director Ishida here.”
“Director Ishida, there’s a call for you on the other line,” chattered the secretary. “From a Dr. Kurosaki.”
“Put it through,” Ryuuken sighed, wondering what the idiot wanted.
He soon got his answer when Isshin cheerfully greeted, “Hey there Ryuuken! You having a good day at work? I hope you enjoyed the box lunch my darling Yuzu made!”
Trying not to grit his teeth Ryuuken replied, “Yes I am idiot. Now if you don’t mind I need to get back to…”
“Oh don’t be like that! I was just calling to see if you were still sore,” came an audible pout over the phone.
“No thanks to you I can barely sit down let along walk without arousing suspicion,” Ryuuken hissed, quickly glancing at the door lest someone walk in or be listening.
“Sorry I got so carried away. But can I help it if you’re irresistible?” Isshin cooed.
“What do you want?” Ryuuken gritted out, the tips of his ears growing red with embarrassment.
“Actually… I was wondering if you were free tonight after work.”
“Once a week is sufficient for my schedule. But you cannot expect to impinge upon my time with endless trysts,” Ryuuken snapped.
“Oh it’s not that! It’s just that I have some business to take care of out of town, and my idiot son is going to be unavailable and I was wondering if you could watch my dear darling girls for a few hours.”
“I’m not a babysitter you oaf!” Ryuuken snapped. “Surely you can get someone else! Why not that modsoul that inhabits your son’s body? Don’t you usually rely on him?”
“Well… that’s the problem. He’s… occupied with a project at the Urahara store. You know… maintenance and all.”
“What type of maintenance does a mod soul need?” Ryuuken grumbled. “What sort of thinly veiled excuse is that?”
“Aww c’mon, I know it sounds desperate but I’d like you to get to know the girls. It’s just a few hours, and they need to get to know their Ryuuken Jii-san! They won’t be any bother! They’re sweet as sugar. Why you can take them to a movie and a meal and just back home! I’ll not be gone all day! Please?”
“Does this business of yours involve the high concentration of strange reiatsu I’ve been sensing since this morning?” Ryuuken asked as he paced around.
“Let’s just say that an old friend needs my help, and while the usual options… um… would work, I just thought it’d be a great chance for you to do some family bonding with the twins… that’s all. But if you don’t want to I can get Kon,” trailed off Isshin.
“The things I do for you,” sighed Ryuuken. His eyes widened feeling the rise in reishi in the distance. He guessed there was an ulterior motive for both Kurosaki’s being unavailable. Gritting his teeth he sighed. “All right.”
“Thank you so much! I owe you!” Isshin said. “I’ll bring them by at four thirty.”
“I shall pick them up,” said Ryuuken. “At five.”
He could hear the broad grin in Isshin’s voice proclaiming, “Okay great!”
**
After pulling up to the clinic and opening his door to two young teens, Ryuuken wasn’t sure if it was bad or good that he had agreed to watch the girls. Yuzu seemed a bit anxious, and Karin appeared to be the exact opposite, frowning and griping at Isshin calling him ‘goat face’.
“Now you two be good for Ryuuken Jiisan!” Isshin insisted, kissing both.
“Shut up and let’s just go, you old coot,” muttered Karin pushing him away.
“Dad,” murmured Yuzu. “Are you going to be gone a long time?”
“Oh no, not that long. You both will be back in your daddy’s loving arms sooner than later!” Isshin insisted as he walked both to where Ryuuken stood with his hands shoved in his pockets.
Karin took one look at him and he pushed up his glasses, opening the door. “Who wants to ride shotgun?” Ryuuken mumbled.
“Don’t really care,” Karin muttered as she climbed into the back.
“I will!” Yuzu volunteered as he pushed the seat back and extended a hand to help her in. From the way that Isshin’s neck muscles twitched Ryuuken could guess the true reason for Isshin foisting the girls upon him. Over every inch of the Quincy crawled the tingles of force in deadly reiatsu.
“You’re an idiot,” said Ryuuken as Isshin bent down and kissed his cheek.
“See you later,” he murmured as he turned and then rushed back to the clinic. Ryuuken closed the door then circled the car to get behind the wheel. If Isshin hadn’t taken such steps he would have come himself. Anger filled Ryuuken as he berated himself for not sensing the disruption sooner. A whisper and sensation of distant howls filled the air. Ryuuken promptly turned on the radio seeing Karin kneeling in the back seat to peer out the window.
“Sit down and put on your belt please,” he said curtly to her.
Karin protested, “But…”
“I won’t abide you not wearing your seatbelt,” Ryuuken said firmly. “Besides your father would never forgive me if I had to take you to the hospital because you cracked your head open.”
“Ryuuken Jii-san!” wailed Yuzu.
“Fine,” mumbled Karin as she slid down to click on her belt.
“Your father charged me with your welfare, young ladies,” Ryuuken said quietly as he pushed his glasses up. “There are certain ground rules I shall inform you of. One is that if I ask you to do something, you should politely do it for your own safety. Secondly, you are not to run off as this town is dangerous at this time of night. Do you comprehend?”
“O… okay…” murmured Yuzu wide eyed.
“We’re not stupid,” muttered Karin.
“I did not imply that, young lady,” Ryuuken said as he looked at her with cobalt eyes in the rear view mirror. “Merely stating what behavior is expected of you.”
“What a grouch,” mumbled Karin under her breath as she glared daggers at the back of Ryuuken’s seat.
“Dad would insist the same thing,” said Yuzu as she relaxed, the noise of the music covering whatever was making her uncertain. Ryuuken had guessed correctly that she could hear the hollows, but the way Karin was glancing he figured she must have the same ability as Ichigo displayed to see them and ghosts.
Fortunately the radio and Yuzu’s singing along with it occupied the one girl enough while Karin reading a magazine grabbed her attention. Ryuuken made no attempt to try and get her to sing along, though Yuzu insisted and he found himself reluctantly joining in on the next chorus. Even though he felt like a total fool and idiot doing so.
***
Once at the mall and Cineplex Ryuuken parked the car in the garage and exited the car first. Before Yuzu could open the door he shook his head and rounded the car to open it for her. Karin’s look of surprise at this action amused him as he held out a hand to help Yuzu out first. She didn’t take the hand he offered her, rather pushing herself out from the back.
She trailed a few steps behind Yuzu and Ryuuken, preferring to disassociate herself form the family unit he guessed. Two hands slipped around his sleeved arm, belonging to Yuzu as she smiled up at him. He cocked a surprised brow but made no move to take her hand. Another thought occurred to Ryuuken. There was no sign of that blasted mod soul inside the body of Ichigo, so that was another babysitter that could have watched them.
Just what other motive Isshin could have dumping the girls on him, Ryuuken wondered. He sensed Karin’s reiatsu behind him and continued towards the lights and sound of the mall that contrasted with his grey and blue outfit. An assault of cacophony and various reiatsu of many people caused Ryuuken to shut off his reishi sensing to them, and focus it on something else. He noticed the women looking in his direction with the two little girls in tow, amusing himself with the thought that most assumed they were his children. First stop was the food court naturally, and he wasted no time in arriving there. Karin wandered forward towards another stand while Yuzu hung back holding onto Ryuuken’s arm.
Karin stopped. “Stupid old goat didn’t give us any money.”
“Here,” Ryuuken mumbled as he reached into his pocket and extracted his wallet. He handed a few bills folded up to Karin who tentatively took them from his hand. Then selected a few to hand to Yuzu.
“Thanks, Jii san,” said Karin, nodding before she continued on to the stand a distance away from where Ryuuken stood with Yuzu.
“Whatever you want, my dear,” he mumbled, urging her with his hand. She nodded and rushed off as well. Using his reishi sensing to keep a bead on their location Ryuuken then went to procure his own meal.
Once they’d returned with trays laden with various foods he guessed teen girls ate, Karin said, “I’ll find a table.”
Ryuuken reached out to take Yuzu’s tray but didn’t bother with Karin seeing the look on her face. He instead allowed her to find a suitable place to sit, near the center of the cluster of tables with various children and parents under a large indoor palm. He set the trays both down as both twins sat down, and he pulled a chair out for each only to push them in.
“You don’t have to do that,” said Karin.
“Yes I do,” said Ryuuken. “You two are young women. It is part of my rules.”
“He’s being a gentleman, right, Jii-san?” asked Yuzu brightly. Her light brown hair was clipped back with two hairpins and a strawberry barrette. Unlike Karin who wore shorts and a T shirt, she had a yellow and white sundress on with a pair of jean leggings on. Typical of what he’d seen of most girls in the mall around him.
“Usually he’d get Ichi nii to take us,” muttered Karin quietly. “I hope he’s okay.”
“Onii chan is fine. Daddy said he was out with Rukia nee san and his friends,” Yuzu said. Then a look of horror passed over her face. “But if they’re doing grown up things…”
“C’mon Yuzu grow up. Of course he’s out dating. I mean he IS 17,” muttered Karin with a sigh.
“No, no no!” Yuzu cried as she clamped her hands over her ears.
Ryuuken sipped his coffee, rolling his eyes with an overdramatic sigh. Why did Isshin saddle him with this? As if he knew anything about middle school aged girls when he had enough issues with his own son.
“Don’t you want your brother to meet a nice girl so he can get married and give you nieces and nephews?” Ryuuken asked Yuzu, pulling a
hand from her ear.
“Yes but…” Yuzu whimpered.
“After all, he probably won’t get married until he goes to college, but he must find a suitable helpmate,” Ryuuken said. “That is the proper way of things.”
“Like Ichi nii would do anything the proper way,” Karin scoffed. “I know he’s smart but he sure is bullheaded.”
“But Karin!!!” cried Yuzu. “He has his friends.”
“Who are just as weird as he is,” said Karin.
“That’s not very nice,” muttered Yuzu.
“That is typical for teenagers,” said Ryuuken quietly.
“No offense Jiisan but Ishida kun isn’t exactly normal either,” said Karin.
“Karin that’s rude!” cried Yuzu.
“She is correct,” said Ryuuken slowly as he put down his coffee. “Uryuu does what he wishes despite what I his father would deem foolhardy. Despite my disappointment in his choices.”
“That’s kind of harsh,” muttered Karin as she looked pointedly at Ryuuken.
“He seems like a nice boy,” said Yuzu.
“I have high expectations for my son,” said Ryuuken quietly. “As many parents do for their children. That does not diminish the concern for them, or the need to provide for their welfare if they make a mistake.”
“Uh huh,” Karin murmured. “Still think it’s kind of harsh though.”
“But you still love him right?” murmured Yuzu looking at Ryuuken.
“He is still my son,” said Ryuuken shrugging. “Nothing will change that fact.”
“It isn’t cause he’s dating someone is it?” muttered Karin.
On the verge of opening his mouth to say something, Ryuuken’s attention flared to a disruption nearby in the ambient reishi. Karin’s wide eyes and rapid head swiveling along with her sister’s look of worry a minute later increased his concern. He stood up from the table and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin saying, “I believe we should get going. Your movie will be starting soon?”
Karin’s eyes met his, a look of understanding passing between them as Ryuuken nodded towards Yuzu grasping his arm. She quickly said, “That’s right Yuzu. We don’t want to miss it…”
“But… something’s wrong isn’t it?” Yuzu asked, biting her lip.
Ryuuken’s hand closed around hers protectively before he said, “Let us go now. Someone else wants this table.”
Under their feet the floor reverberated, quaking the ground like a tremor. People gasped and looked up from what they were doing. A loud howling scream seemed to judder their bones. Shivering, Yuzu moved closer to Ryuuken, her teeth chattering.
Karin’s eyes hardened, her body stiffening as it hunched over into what looked like a defensive pose. “Yuzu, Ryuuken Jii-san, you’d better get going. I think that was an earthquake.”
“You are both coming with me,” said Ryuuken in a voice that neither dared disobey. He grabbed Karin’s hand and started to drag both girls behind him.
Karin didn’t dare argue, feeling the strength in him as he broke into a run and they struggled to keep up. He rushed towards an emergency exit, fully intent on getting the girls as far away from the huge hollow that towered near the mall. That foolish Isshin hadn’t counted on both his daughters, especially Karin leaking out reiatsu. He felt Yuzu’s body slack in his grip, and then stopped to grasp her up and boost her into his arm.
“Can you run, young lady?” he asked Karin.
“Like the wind,” she said as she glanced back at the sight. She knew he could see the hollow as clearly as she could.
“Stay close to me,” said Ryuuken. “And do not look back.”
“I’ve handled things like this before,” she snapped.
“Let those trained to handle such things deal with these emergencies. Our task is to stay alive,” Ryuuken snapped.
“Fine,” muttered Karin as she felt him push her ahead.
Out from the main mall, he sensed the materialization nearby of smaller hollows. He sharply dodged to the right, as did Karin, noticing the hollow crashing down in front of them. It hissed, “Don’t run away you tasty morsels!”
“Up yours,” Karin snapped as she leapt to the side. She kicked a nearby can fiercely at it before Ryuuken grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back.
“That will only provoke them,” Ryuuken hissed. He still clutched Yuzu who buried her face in his neck, shivering in fear.
Karin glared at him. “Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Get behind me and close your eyes, my dear. I will handle this,” Ryuuken sighed, loathing what he was about to do as more spiderlike hollows appeared around them.
“What are you going to do?” Karin got out before she saw Ryuuken extend his arm and formed something solid out of the particles around them. A split second later a blazing arrow hissed out and slammed into the hollow, killing it. Merely by swiveling his body Ryuuken peppered the other with a slew of blue fierily missiles.
“Oh… yeah… right…” Karin mumbled her eyes huge at the massive bombardment of arrows spraying from their babysitter. She nudged a nearby object with her foot, kicking it towards another hollow with enough force to knock it out. Ryuuken was suitably impressed with the girl’s reactions and instincts but this was getting to be ridiculous.
“Hold onto me, young ladies,” Ryuuken mumbled, grabbing her hand. Karin gasped as the world blurred around them all and he rushed along on the air itself like a shinigami.
Around them the city ran rampant with a slew of hollows pouring out of a rip. Ryuuken saw the flashes from a spider web shaped bow flying out at rapid-fire pace while the girl with the hairpins summoned a triangular shield to guard people from behind shattered by debris. The man with the armored arm drew back his fist and blasted another hollow with a surge of energy.
Continuing on he saw the orange haired shinigami substitute hacking and slashing through hollows to clear a path. Not far away, a huge pillar of ice rose up, imprisoning more hollows before it shattered to pieces. Where the hollows were thickest both were sloughing through them. Ryuuken suppressed a curse and focused on getting the girls to a safe place.
Watching Uryuu shoot a slew of arrows from his bow he clicked his tongue in irritation. “Sloppy,” he whispered.
“Where’s Onii chan!” cried Yuzu.
“Keep your eyes shut,” Ryuuken said.
“I want daddy,” Yuzu whimpered.
“Calm down we’re okay,” said Karin with a sigh. Ryuuken saw the disgust on her face regarding the shinigami and frowned. He knew the look all too well himself. Seeing it on the face of a girl was disconcerting, especially one so young.
“Your father asked me to protect you,” said Ryuuken. “And that is what I plan to do.”
***
Not far from the mall on a street corner two figures fought hollows. Uryuu frowned as he sensed the flare of reiatsu and saw a figure in white streak past him carrying two young girls. He mumbled, “Ryuuken,” under his breath.
“Your dad?” asked Orihime looking at a concerned Quincy bringing his bow to bear.
“What’s he doing with Kurosaki’s sisters?” he asked.
“I don’t know but they’re safe right?” asked Orihime.
“Yes. There’s no doubt about that,” sighed Uryuu. “Just what in hell was Kurosaki san thinking though? Ryuuken is hardly the sort of person who should be a babysitter.”
“But he’s protecting them,” Orihime pointed out watching him rush off using flying screen step.
Author: StarbearerTM
Beta: nerdowl
Pairings: Isshin/Ryuuken, Ishida/Orihime, implied Rukia/Ichigo
Genre: Romance, yaoi, het
Rating: NC 17
Word count: 40,283
Warnings: M/M relationships, Het M/F, language, lemon
Summary: Two people who meet in college can hardly foretell where their futures would take them. Two decades later, two friends carry on a secret relationship that will soon become known to their families, but how do their sons relate to this?
Outside Ryuuken lit a cigarette, allowing the smoke to creep into his lungs as the rather pissed teen glared at him indignantly. Waiting a minute or two, Ryuuken watched the smoke creep up into the air as he did this.
“So talk,” said Ichigo. “What the hell is your problem?”
“You are an undisciplined boorish lout,” said Ryuuken.
“Tell me something I don’t know, you stiff shirt,” said Ichigo, grinning at him. “But tell me how you REALLY feel.”
“Your father lets you get away with murder. Just what in hell’s name you think you’re…”
“LAY off my old man!” Ichigo suddenly said. “Look, whatever is between you and your son’s one thing but you DARE drag my family into it; I’ll kick your ASS! If you so much as make my sisters CRY I’ll…”
Ryuuken looked at him quietly and murmured, “Whatever gave you that impression that I would imply any harm to your sisters Kurosaki? You’re the issue, not they.”
“I don’t know what you and my dad have going on and frankly I don’t WANT to know. But get this. I’m not something you can just ignore or beat into verbal submission like you can your own kid!” Ichigo growled.
“What is between me and Uryuu is my business NOT yours,” said Ryuuken sharply, glaring at Ichigo.
“Fine. Let’s keep it that way. But don’t you DARE make Karin or Yuzu cry, got it?” Ichigo said. “And if you EVER hurt my dad so help me…”
Ichigo suddenly moved but didn’t account for the grey suited man grabbing his wrist with unquestioned speed. Soon Ichigo was pinned up against the wall. Ryuuken soon found himself flipped over, blocking a number of fist blows from the orange haired teen. Before Ichigo knew it he saw the formation of a metallic bow with arrow aimed right at his heart.
“So you are one after all,” Ichigo said quietly as he saw the Quincy arrow poised at its target. “You fight damn well for a pain in the ass grump.”
“Regardless of what lack of abilities you’ve seen my son exhibit, let me warn you they are nothing compared to a true Quincy’s skills,” said Ryuuken in a low tone, his blue eyes holding frost in them.
“Maybe that’s the case,” Ichigo said as he looked Ryuuken right in the eyes. “But I won’t let anyone hurt my family.”
“You’re a fool if you think that for one moment that is my intent,” Ryuuken snapped at him. “Your sisters are in less danger with me and your idiot father then you leaking out spirit energy.”
“So what’s your deal?” Ichigo asked quietly. “Hiding your powers huh?”
“I concern myself with the matters of the living. You concern yourself with those of the dead. Let’s keep it that way,” said Ryuuken.
“Are you and my father having a thing?” Ichigo asked quietly.
“I don’t recall asking for your blessing,” said Ryuuken coldly.
“I wasn’t going to give you one. But if you’re going to be part of this family, it’s my business to know, got it?” Ichigo said as he stared Ryuuken down. Even with an arrow to the throat the boy had fight in him.
Immediately the arrow dissipated along with the metallic bow. Ryuuken then polished his glasses and said, “your father was about to announce that fact until you chose this method of confrontation.”
“You’re shitting me?” Ichigo asked quietly. “You’re not moving in here are you?”
“Perish the thought,” said Ryuuken shaking his head. “Your father was going to announce that he and I indeed are in a relationship and that you must become accustomed to my presence. As such there will possibly be changes in your usual world should things progress.”
“I’ve got enough shit happening in my life. Just keep your love life to yourself behind closed doors. I don’t want to know,” Ichigo said with a look of disgust on his face.
“That will be the least of your concerns,” said Ryuuken.
Just then the door slid open and a black haired woman stuck her head out. Indigo eyes fixed on both Ichigo and Ryuuken. “What are you doing idiot! Your family’s worried SICK!” Rukia snapped as she kicked Ichigo in the shins.
“Merely a discussion young lady,” said Ryuuken as he looked frostily at Rukia. The instigator of this entire mess in his eyes.
“You know smoking can kill you,” said Rukia as she waved it away.
“That is none of your concern,” Ryuuken said quietly. “Good day.”
“Rukia are you nuts that’s…”
Something clicked in Rukia’s mind. She then dropped a curtsey and said sweetly, “Oh how rude of me. Let me introduce myself. I’m…”
“Kuchiki Rukia, Kurosaki Ichigo’s classmate,” said Ryuuken lighting another cigarette. “Ishida Ryuuken, director of Karakura hospital. How do you do?”
He bowed with that same frosty politeness which to his surprise hardly phased the shinigami. She then said, “A pleasure I’m sure. Forgive Ichigo for being an idiot. He does that.”
“Indeed,” said Ryuuken, impressed by her manners as she took Ichigo by the hand and walked him back into the house.
***
Once Ryuuken had entered the house again, he noticed that Yuzu was still putting down breakfast for Rukia. Not far from her sat Ichigo looking rather sullen and moody while slowly eating his own food. As he moved towards the table, He felt Isshin tugging on his arm. Lips whispered close to his ear, “everything ok?”
“Why wouldn’t it be, you idiot,” muttered Ryuuken shivering in place.
“You didn’t finish your breakfast Ryuuken Jii-san!” Yuzu said as she pointed to his plate.
“Better sit down and clean your plate,” Isshin insisted. “Family rule is that if you leave the table hungry it’s your fault!”
“My apologies,” said Ryuuken as he sat down again.
“These pickles are wonderful,” Rukia said sweetly as she munched on them.
“Onii chan, do you want more egg?” Yuzu asked him.
“Mmm,” Ichigo answered, avoiding any eye contact in Ryuuken or his father’s direction.
Ryuuken out of the corner of his eye saw Isshin suddenly shoot out a fist in Ichigo’s direction. It was promptly blocked by the orange haired teen. Arcing over the table, Isshin launched himself out of his chair and swung a spectacular kick over Ryuuken’s head to paste Ichigo in the jaw. Both men went flying across the room.
“This breakfast is quite satisfactory,’ Ryuuken murmured to Yuzu as he caught her gaze in his direction.
“I’m so glad,” she said pressing her hands together. “Otou-san said you liked a bit of everything so don’t be shy if you want seconds.”
“More of that omelet please,” murmured the Quincy doctor holding out his plate. Behind him he heard the grunts and punches of the father and son mauling each other while Rukia took quick and measured bites of her food. Her perfect posture and impeccable manners along with the way in which she spoke with that higher pitch impressed him. Here was a shinigami that took every effort to fit in as a human.
Yuzu placed another portion on his plate as well as refilling his coffee. If he tuned out the background din of Isshin crashing into the wall near Masaki’s memorial poster he could enjoy Yuzu’s meal better. Across the table Rukia asked, “So do you like to sew also, Ishida sensei?”
“Excuse me?” Ryuuken murmured.
“I just was wondering if you enjoyed sewing like your son,” Rukia asked again.
“Only when required,” he murmured after sipping a cup of coffee. “To repair something.”
“Ah. I always did wonder where he learned it from,” Rukia said.
“Not from me, Kuchiki san,” he said simply. “If you wish to know, ask my son. That is if he deigns to give you an answer.”
“I thought it was an Ishida family tradition,” Rukia said with a smile still plastered on her face.
“Suturing up patients after surgery is a pragmatic application of my sartorial skills,” Ryuuken answered her. “Not in the crafting of clothes.”
“Oh I see. Of course!” Rukia said with a forced smile, carrying on what seemed like a rather difficult conversation.
“Of course he would. HE’s a surgeon,” said Karin rolling her eyes. “Like he has time to make doilies working a bazillion hours a week.”
“The young lady asked a question, and I merely answered,” Ryuuken said quietly as he turned to Karin. “The exact nature of my work isn’t necessarily common knowledge, Karin chan.”
“Humph,” Karin murmured as she backed off a bit. “Sorry.”
“You damn crazy old fool! Knock it off!” shouted Ichigo from somewhere behind Ryuuken.
The smile Rukia kept on her face grew increasingly more forced the longer the two Kurosaki men fought. By now Isshin had pinned Ichigo down with one knee, twisting his boy’s arm behind his back, exalting, “Say it son! Call uncle!”
“Let… me GO!” Ichigo snarled back, managing to flip his body and hurl his father off him. Isshin nearly crashed into the stairs before he managed to right himself and land on all fours.
“Nice try but see if you can dodge my morning kick!” shouted Isshin, pouncing.
“Bring it on, you old bastard,” Ichigo retorted, dropping into a stance.
Almost at the same time, two tempers reached a boiling point, belonging to a Quincy and a Shinigami. Excusing themselves from the table Rukia and Ryuuken both stood up at the same moment. Rukia pushed up from the back of her chair and sailed over the top of the table like a graceful bird, her foot extended. It crashed into Ichigo’s jaw, knocking him backwards into the sofa.
Simultaneously Ryuuken’s fist flashed out and collided with Isshin’s forehead, propelling him backwards. Both Karin and Yuzu watched this with a mixture of surprise and shock. Cursing Ichigo grabbed his bleeding nose and lay twitching on the floor. “Ow, damn it Rukia what was THAT for?”
“Stop acting like a FOOL when your father has company you cretin!” Rukia scolded.
“Nice aim,” Karin murmured in admiration, gaping at Ryuuken.
Isshin rolled to a sitting position with a red mark in the center of his forehead. He whined, “Why did you do that?”
“To stop you from making your son late for school perhaps?” Ryuuken scolded. “As I estimate there are only ten minutes till…”
“Crap!” Ichigo shouted, leaping up. “I’ll be late!”
Rukia sighed dramatically and grabbed both her bag and Ichigo’s, then pushed him out the door. Sweetly she poked her head back in to say, “Good day everyone!”
“Good day Rukia nee san!” called Yuzu as she started to clear the dishes up. Ryuuken moved to stack his own not even questioning if he should or not. He would call it a reflex action to carry the soiled crockery into the kitchen and plunk it down into the hot soapy water. It was easy to tuck a dishtowel into the front of his pants and offer to help dry as she washed.
***
"Can we share the shower?" Orihime murmured to Uryuu who passed her some towels.
"Now that you mention it, sharing water is more efficient," Uryuu said with a smirk worthy of a proud Quincy. He opened the door to his bathroom and led her inside the small space. White tiles on the floor and a small corner shower met her eyes. She then asked, "Do you think we'll fit?"
"I don't think that will be a problem," Uryuu said as he opened the shower door and turned on the water. Now in the full light of day Orihime could see every inch of his alabaster skin revealed. His spine and ass curved gracefully and tapered into slender muscular legs. It reminded Orihime of a gazelle, not that Uryuu would look right with horns, but as a seal or a merman perhaps she could imagine that lower half covered in blue scales. Unable to stop herself from reaching out to touch a flat shapely cheek she caressed the soft smooth skin. Uryuu yelped and jumped.
"Orihime san!" he gasped as he turned and blushed.
"Sorry... it just looked cute and I wondered what it would look like with a fish tail," she admitted.
"A fish tale..." Uryuu trailed off, removing his glasses. He extended a hand to Orihime and guided her to step into the shower first. Once they were inside, his back touched hers and that part of him she felt intimately inside her last night lightly twitched against her backside. Gently he pushed her under the shower to rinse and wet her hair. She groaned feeling his hands smoothing shampoo through her hair.
"Ishida kun..."
"Uryuu," he corrected her. "At least while we're alone."
As suds ran down her breasts his hand stole around to rub them over her nipples lightly. Orihime gasped at the contact slowly making its way down to her belly button. Then it stole over her vagina and pulled her back into him. Softly he kissed her neck, his fingers working inside her.
Orihime let him do this, but his other hand was replaced with a washcloth methodically rubbing soap all over her body with a touch she loved. His other hand busied itself inside of her pleasuring her so she fell against his thin body. His teeth nipped her ear. Orihime cooed with pleasure and turned her head to catch his mouth in a kiss. Then she turned around once he let her go, and kissed him deeply
.
Uryuu parted his legs a bit and apologized, "I'm sorry Orihime, but I cannot resist the urge."
"I think I should wash you now," she murmured. She saw his member twitching and reached for the soap. She rubbed his chest lightly with it to wash it, silencing his words into a string of moans. Over his legs, chest, arms she dragged the soap laden washcloth in worship of what she saw. She reached up to smooth shampoo through the straight hair plastered to his face. Without his glasses he looked more vulnerable. It surprised her that he had no worry of modesty now they had been together. How refreshing and delightful that he enjoyed looking at her as much as she did him.
His chest was only covered in a fine down of dark hair that graced his arms in some places but was most abundant between his legs. Noting the contrast in their skin tones she ventured her hand to poke at his stiffening length. He let out a hiss and bent to kiss her mouth. She wondered why he parted his legs until his knee slid between hers so she straddled it. Orihime glanced at the positioning of his leg before she took his erection and put it between her thighs. She grabbed his shoulders and looked into his eyes with a playful twinkle in hers.
"Not inside, but like this," she whispered. Smirking Uryuu reached down to caress her butt and grasp it. She reached down to return the favor so their bodies locked together.
**
After the pulse pounding climax the two had dried off and set about putting on clothes for the day. Orihime came over to where Uryuu sat stitching on a Quincy uniform, and he moved his sewing out of the way. She blinked in surprise at him patting her lap but sat down across his legs. Uryuu wrapped his arms around her, his tie near her throat and his lips kissing along her jaw.
The sharp sensation that pricked him alerted her only a few seconds afterwards. She relished how his arms tightened protectively around her at that moment. He gave her an apologetic glance she knew well before she got off his lap.
"Hollows," she whispered watching him tug at his necktie. She knew that the uniform he'd been repairing would soon replace the clothes that were draped over the end of the sofa.
Once he was dressed they were ready to go out the door. Enjoying how the five silver Scheele Schneider bounced off his attractive ass clothed in the costume Orihime tried to keep her attention on his voice. He rushed out of the building into the alleyway with Orihime close behind him. She had on her calf length sweatpants, tennis shoes, and a blue t shirt with some witty saying on it that he'd stitched something to.
**
Much later Ryuuken sat at his desk in his office faced with a huge pile of papers. Every part of his body felt sore from the activities of the night before though he tried hard to hide the discomfort from everyone both at the Kurosaki clinic and his workplace. He reached into his bag and pulled out a neatly prepared container, setting it on his desk. Opening it revealed a nicely packed bento the likes of which seemed Yuzu’s handiwork. That girl had outdone herself he thought when picking up a rice ball and biting into it. Warm comfort spread from his stomach slowly being filled by the contents of the lunch that he hadn’t felt in years.
Such was the power of Yuzu’s food. It bound a haphazard ragtag family together. Even with two idiotic men fighting and a shinigami under their roof the family unit was a cohesive whole that had reached out and embraced him. The Kurosaki virus had taken hold of Ishida Ryuuken and he was feeling the symptoms. Unlike other illnesses he wasn’t altogether sure this one was bad for his health. As much as he professed to hating shinigami, Rukia and Isshin were not typical. Ichigo was hardly a real shinigami with that hollow crawling around inside him, technically a visored, which Ryuuken liked even less.
His phone rang and Ryuuken answered it with a curt, “Director Ishida here.”
“Director Ishida, there’s a call for you on the other line,” chattered the secretary. “From a Dr. Kurosaki.”
“Put it through,” Ryuuken sighed, wondering what the idiot wanted.
He soon got his answer when Isshin cheerfully greeted, “Hey there Ryuuken! You having a good day at work? I hope you enjoyed the box lunch my darling Yuzu made!”
Trying not to grit his teeth Ryuuken replied, “Yes I am idiot. Now if you don’t mind I need to get back to…”
“Oh don’t be like that! I was just calling to see if you were still sore,” came an audible pout over the phone.
“No thanks to you I can barely sit down let along walk without arousing suspicion,” Ryuuken hissed, quickly glancing at the door lest someone walk in or be listening.
“Sorry I got so carried away. But can I help it if you’re irresistible?” Isshin cooed.
“What do you want?” Ryuuken gritted out, the tips of his ears growing red with embarrassment.
“Actually… I was wondering if you were free tonight after work.”
“Once a week is sufficient for my schedule. But you cannot expect to impinge upon my time with endless trysts,” Ryuuken snapped.
“Oh it’s not that! It’s just that I have some business to take care of out of town, and my idiot son is going to be unavailable and I was wondering if you could watch my dear darling girls for a few hours.”
“I’m not a babysitter you oaf!” Ryuuken snapped. “Surely you can get someone else! Why not that modsoul that inhabits your son’s body? Don’t you usually rely on him?”
“Well… that’s the problem. He’s… occupied with a project at the Urahara store. You know… maintenance and all.”
“What type of maintenance does a mod soul need?” Ryuuken grumbled. “What sort of thinly veiled excuse is that?”
“Aww c’mon, I know it sounds desperate but I’d like you to get to know the girls. It’s just a few hours, and they need to get to know their Ryuuken Jii-san! They won’t be any bother! They’re sweet as sugar. Why you can take them to a movie and a meal and just back home! I’ll not be gone all day! Please?”
“Does this business of yours involve the high concentration of strange reiatsu I’ve been sensing since this morning?” Ryuuken asked as he paced around.
“Let’s just say that an old friend needs my help, and while the usual options… um… would work, I just thought it’d be a great chance for you to do some family bonding with the twins… that’s all. But if you don’t want to I can get Kon,” trailed off Isshin.
“The things I do for you,” sighed Ryuuken. His eyes widened feeling the rise in reishi in the distance. He guessed there was an ulterior motive for both Kurosaki’s being unavailable. Gritting his teeth he sighed. “All right.”
“Thank you so much! I owe you!” Isshin said. “I’ll bring them by at four thirty.”
“I shall pick them up,” said Ryuuken. “At five.”
He could hear the broad grin in Isshin’s voice proclaiming, “Okay great!”
**
After pulling up to the clinic and opening his door to two young teens, Ryuuken wasn’t sure if it was bad or good that he had agreed to watch the girls. Yuzu seemed a bit anxious, and Karin appeared to be the exact opposite, frowning and griping at Isshin calling him ‘goat face’.
“Now you two be good for Ryuuken Jiisan!” Isshin insisted, kissing both.
“Shut up and let’s just go, you old coot,” muttered Karin pushing him away.
“Dad,” murmured Yuzu. “Are you going to be gone a long time?”
“Oh no, not that long. You both will be back in your daddy’s loving arms sooner than later!” Isshin insisted as he walked both to where Ryuuken stood with his hands shoved in his pockets.
Karin took one look at him and he pushed up his glasses, opening the door. “Who wants to ride shotgun?” Ryuuken mumbled.
“Don’t really care,” Karin muttered as she climbed into the back.
“I will!” Yuzu volunteered as he pushed the seat back and extended a hand to help her in. From the way that Isshin’s neck muscles twitched Ryuuken could guess the true reason for Isshin foisting the girls upon him. Over every inch of the Quincy crawled the tingles of force in deadly reiatsu.
“You’re an idiot,” said Ryuuken as Isshin bent down and kissed his cheek.
“See you later,” he murmured as he turned and then rushed back to the clinic. Ryuuken closed the door then circled the car to get behind the wheel. If Isshin hadn’t taken such steps he would have come himself. Anger filled Ryuuken as he berated himself for not sensing the disruption sooner. A whisper and sensation of distant howls filled the air. Ryuuken promptly turned on the radio seeing Karin kneeling in the back seat to peer out the window.
“Sit down and put on your belt please,” he said curtly to her.
Karin protested, “But…”
“I won’t abide you not wearing your seatbelt,” Ryuuken said firmly. “Besides your father would never forgive me if I had to take you to the hospital because you cracked your head open.”
“Ryuuken Jii-san!” wailed Yuzu.
“Fine,” mumbled Karin as she slid down to click on her belt.
“Your father charged me with your welfare, young ladies,” Ryuuken said quietly as he pushed his glasses up. “There are certain ground rules I shall inform you of. One is that if I ask you to do something, you should politely do it for your own safety. Secondly, you are not to run off as this town is dangerous at this time of night. Do you comprehend?”
“O… okay…” murmured Yuzu wide eyed.
“We’re not stupid,” muttered Karin.
“I did not imply that, young lady,” Ryuuken said as he looked at her with cobalt eyes in the rear view mirror. “Merely stating what behavior is expected of you.”
“What a grouch,” mumbled Karin under her breath as she glared daggers at the back of Ryuuken’s seat.
“Dad would insist the same thing,” said Yuzu as she relaxed, the noise of the music covering whatever was making her uncertain. Ryuuken had guessed correctly that she could hear the hollows, but the way Karin was glancing he figured she must have the same ability as Ichigo displayed to see them and ghosts.
Fortunately the radio and Yuzu’s singing along with it occupied the one girl enough while Karin reading a magazine grabbed her attention. Ryuuken made no attempt to try and get her to sing along, though Yuzu insisted and he found himself reluctantly joining in on the next chorus. Even though he felt like a total fool and idiot doing so.
***
Once at the mall and Cineplex Ryuuken parked the car in the garage and exited the car first. Before Yuzu could open the door he shook his head and rounded the car to open it for her. Karin’s look of surprise at this action amused him as he held out a hand to help Yuzu out first. She didn’t take the hand he offered her, rather pushing herself out from the back.
She trailed a few steps behind Yuzu and Ryuuken, preferring to disassociate herself form the family unit he guessed. Two hands slipped around his sleeved arm, belonging to Yuzu as she smiled up at him. He cocked a surprised brow but made no move to take her hand. Another thought occurred to Ryuuken. There was no sign of that blasted mod soul inside the body of Ichigo, so that was another babysitter that could have watched them.
Just what other motive Isshin could have dumping the girls on him, Ryuuken wondered. He sensed Karin’s reiatsu behind him and continued towards the lights and sound of the mall that contrasted with his grey and blue outfit. An assault of cacophony and various reiatsu of many people caused Ryuuken to shut off his reishi sensing to them, and focus it on something else. He noticed the women looking in his direction with the two little girls in tow, amusing himself with the thought that most assumed they were his children. First stop was the food court naturally, and he wasted no time in arriving there. Karin wandered forward towards another stand while Yuzu hung back holding onto Ryuuken’s arm.
Karin stopped. “Stupid old goat didn’t give us any money.”
“Here,” Ryuuken mumbled as he reached into his pocket and extracted his wallet. He handed a few bills folded up to Karin who tentatively took them from his hand. Then selected a few to hand to Yuzu.
“Thanks, Jii san,” said Karin, nodding before she continued on to the stand a distance away from where Ryuuken stood with Yuzu.
“Whatever you want, my dear,” he mumbled, urging her with his hand. She nodded and rushed off as well. Using his reishi sensing to keep a bead on their location Ryuuken then went to procure his own meal.
Once they’d returned with trays laden with various foods he guessed teen girls ate, Karin said, “I’ll find a table.”
Ryuuken reached out to take Yuzu’s tray but didn’t bother with Karin seeing the look on her face. He instead allowed her to find a suitable place to sit, near the center of the cluster of tables with various children and parents under a large indoor palm. He set the trays both down as both twins sat down, and he pulled a chair out for each only to push them in.
“You don’t have to do that,” said Karin.
“Yes I do,” said Ryuuken. “You two are young women. It is part of my rules.”
“He’s being a gentleman, right, Jii-san?” asked Yuzu brightly. Her light brown hair was clipped back with two hairpins and a strawberry barrette. Unlike Karin who wore shorts and a T shirt, she had a yellow and white sundress on with a pair of jean leggings on. Typical of what he’d seen of most girls in the mall around him.
“Usually he’d get Ichi nii to take us,” muttered Karin quietly. “I hope he’s okay.”
“Onii chan is fine. Daddy said he was out with Rukia nee san and his friends,” Yuzu said. Then a look of horror passed over her face. “But if they’re doing grown up things…”
“C’mon Yuzu grow up. Of course he’s out dating. I mean he IS 17,” muttered Karin with a sigh.
“No, no no!” Yuzu cried as she clamped her hands over her ears.
Ryuuken sipped his coffee, rolling his eyes with an overdramatic sigh. Why did Isshin saddle him with this? As if he knew anything about middle school aged girls when he had enough issues with his own son.
“Don’t you want your brother to meet a nice girl so he can get married and give you nieces and nephews?” Ryuuken asked Yuzu, pulling a
hand from her ear.
“Yes but…” Yuzu whimpered.
“After all, he probably won’t get married until he goes to college, but he must find a suitable helpmate,” Ryuuken said. “That is the proper way of things.”
“Like Ichi nii would do anything the proper way,” Karin scoffed. “I know he’s smart but he sure is bullheaded.”
“But Karin!!!” cried Yuzu. “He has his friends.”
“Who are just as weird as he is,” said Karin.
“That’s not very nice,” muttered Yuzu.
“That is typical for teenagers,” said Ryuuken quietly.
“No offense Jiisan but Ishida kun isn’t exactly normal either,” said Karin.
“Karin that’s rude!” cried Yuzu.
“She is correct,” said Ryuuken slowly as he put down his coffee. “Uryuu does what he wishes despite what I his father would deem foolhardy. Despite my disappointment in his choices.”
“That’s kind of harsh,” muttered Karin as she looked pointedly at Ryuuken.
“He seems like a nice boy,” said Yuzu.
“I have high expectations for my son,” said Ryuuken quietly. “As many parents do for their children. That does not diminish the concern for them, or the need to provide for their welfare if they make a mistake.”
“Uh huh,” Karin murmured. “Still think it’s kind of harsh though.”
“But you still love him right?” murmured Yuzu looking at Ryuuken.
“He is still my son,” said Ryuuken shrugging. “Nothing will change that fact.”
“It isn’t cause he’s dating someone is it?” muttered Karin.
On the verge of opening his mouth to say something, Ryuuken’s attention flared to a disruption nearby in the ambient reishi. Karin’s wide eyes and rapid head swiveling along with her sister’s look of worry a minute later increased his concern. He stood up from the table and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin saying, “I believe we should get going. Your movie will be starting soon?”
Karin’s eyes met his, a look of understanding passing between them as Ryuuken nodded towards Yuzu grasping his arm. She quickly said, “That’s right Yuzu. We don’t want to miss it…”
“But… something’s wrong isn’t it?” Yuzu asked, biting her lip.
Ryuuken’s hand closed around hers protectively before he said, “Let us go now. Someone else wants this table.”
Under their feet the floor reverberated, quaking the ground like a tremor. People gasped and looked up from what they were doing. A loud howling scream seemed to judder their bones. Shivering, Yuzu moved closer to Ryuuken, her teeth chattering.
Karin’s eyes hardened, her body stiffening as it hunched over into what looked like a defensive pose. “Yuzu, Ryuuken Jii-san, you’d better get going. I think that was an earthquake.”
“You are both coming with me,” said Ryuuken in a voice that neither dared disobey. He grabbed Karin’s hand and started to drag both girls behind him.
Karin didn’t dare argue, feeling the strength in him as he broke into a run and they struggled to keep up. He rushed towards an emergency exit, fully intent on getting the girls as far away from the huge hollow that towered near the mall. That foolish Isshin hadn’t counted on both his daughters, especially Karin leaking out reiatsu. He felt Yuzu’s body slack in his grip, and then stopped to grasp her up and boost her into his arm.
“Can you run, young lady?” he asked Karin.
“Like the wind,” she said as she glanced back at the sight. She knew he could see the hollow as clearly as she could.
“Stay close to me,” said Ryuuken. “And do not look back.”
“I’ve handled things like this before,” she snapped.
“Let those trained to handle such things deal with these emergencies. Our task is to stay alive,” Ryuuken snapped.
“Fine,” muttered Karin as she felt him push her ahead.
Out from the main mall, he sensed the materialization nearby of smaller hollows. He sharply dodged to the right, as did Karin, noticing the hollow crashing down in front of them. It hissed, “Don’t run away you tasty morsels!”
“Up yours,” Karin snapped as she leapt to the side. She kicked a nearby can fiercely at it before Ryuuken grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back.
“That will only provoke them,” Ryuuken hissed. He still clutched Yuzu who buried her face in his neck, shivering in fear.
Karin glared at him. “Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Get behind me and close your eyes, my dear. I will handle this,” Ryuuken sighed, loathing what he was about to do as more spiderlike hollows appeared around them.
“What are you going to do?” Karin got out before she saw Ryuuken extend his arm and formed something solid out of the particles around them. A split second later a blazing arrow hissed out and slammed into the hollow, killing it. Merely by swiveling his body Ryuuken peppered the other with a slew of blue fierily missiles.
“Oh… yeah… right…” Karin mumbled her eyes huge at the massive bombardment of arrows spraying from their babysitter. She nudged a nearby object with her foot, kicking it towards another hollow with enough force to knock it out. Ryuuken was suitably impressed with the girl’s reactions and instincts but this was getting to be ridiculous.
“Hold onto me, young ladies,” Ryuuken mumbled, grabbing her hand. Karin gasped as the world blurred around them all and he rushed along on the air itself like a shinigami.
Around them the city ran rampant with a slew of hollows pouring out of a rip. Ryuuken saw the flashes from a spider web shaped bow flying out at rapid-fire pace while the girl with the hairpins summoned a triangular shield to guard people from behind shattered by debris. The man with the armored arm drew back his fist and blasted another hollow with a surge of energy.
Continuing on he saw the orange haired shinigami substitute hacking and slashing through hollows to clear a path. Not far away, a huge pillar of ice rose up, imprisoning more hollows before it shattered to pieces. Where the hollows were thickest both were sloughing through them. Ryuuken suppressed a curse and focused on getting the girls to a safe place.
Watching Uryuu shoot a slew of arrows from his bow he clicked his tongue in irritation. “Sloppy,” he whispered.
“Where’s Onii chan!” cried Yuzu.
“Keep your eyes shut,” Ryuuken said.
“I want daddy,” Yuzu whimpered.
“Calm down we’re okay,” said Karin with a sigh. Ryuuken saw the disgust on her face regarding the shinigami and frowned. He knew the look all too well himself. Seeing it on the face of a girl was disconcerting, especially one so young.
“Your father asked me to protect you,” said Ryuuken. “And that is what I plan to do.”
***
Not far from the mall on a street corner two figures fought hollows. Uryuu frowned as he sensed the flare of reiatsu and saw a figure in white streak past him carrying two young girls. He mumbled, “Ryuuken,” under his breath.
“Your dad?” asked Orihime looking at a concerned Quincy bringing his bow to bear.
“What’s he doing with Kurosaki’s sisters?” he asked.
“I don’t know but they’re safe right?” asked Orihime.
“Yes. There’s no doubt about that,” sighed Uryuu. “Just what in hell was Kurosaki san thinking though? Ryuuken is hardly the sort of person who should be a babysitter.”
“But he’s protecting them,” Orihime pointed out watching him rush off using flying screen step.