(Squad 15 Base: Urahara Shoten)
It was late and Isshin was mulling over the information he had at the moment. One, the Kasumioji family was in a difficult situation that may end in bloodshed. Two, someone within the family, likely a high ranking member, was manufacturing dangerous and illegal weapons. Three, the heir to the family was brought to the world of the Living with the intention of hiding under their noses, a plan that came crashing down. Four, he was going to kill Kenryu with that stick up his ass if he kept annoying him.
"Captain Isshin," the smaller of the two guards and the aptly named Kenryu said, "I know I mustn't bother but I must insist on better accommodations for Lady Rurichiyo!" The larger Enryu nodded in agreement, moving his hands about frantically. "Surely a captain, and a noble, such as yourself understand the importance of-"
"For the last time, Kenryu." Isshin growled out. "Shut up and let them play ball!" He yelled while pointing to Rurichiyo, dressed in blue shorts and a white T-shirt, kicking a ball around with Yuzu and Karin, laughing the whole while. "To you, she's a princess, to the squad and myself, she's just a little girl. Let her enjoy herself a little bit. If you're worried about her protection, remember this. She is in the most secure area in the world of the Living to anything spiritual. My fourth seat has orders to not let anyone without clearance go near them." Suddenly Rurichiyo tripped and fell, prompting Enryu to freak out and rush outside... and was sent flying back in when Chad punched him. "Like that."
"How do we not have clearance to be by her side!?" The attendate demanded as a Garganta opened in the room. Kenryu immediately got ready to attack when Ichigo finally came through.
"Because I don't want you anywhere near my daughters." The captain said, shoving the attendant aside to give his son his full attention. "How's things in Soul Society Ichigo?"
"Other than seeing how poorly prepared Soul Society is in the event of an invasion, Rukia and the siblings seem to be doing rather well." Ichigo answered, just now noticing the two new figures in the barracks. "New recruits?"
"New mess." The father responded before pointing to the three girls. "The new kid is Rurichiyo Kasumioji, heir to the Kasumioji family. A noble family just under our own in ranking because they once supplied the people with weapons before the Gotei formed and Zanpakuto became the weapons of choice. They were thanked with noble status, but none of the responsibilities of the Great Noble houses. Just playing the nobles' game, so long as they keep a lid on something dangerous they control."
"And they screwed up?" Ichigo asked, sensing where the conversation was heading.
"No, or not yet at least." Isshin responded, sensing Kenryu's growing anxiety at how much the Gotei knew. "We only got speculation and guesses, the most probable being that someone high up in the family is trying to take it over."
"His name is Gyokaku Kumoi." Kenryu said, giving the Soul Reapers what they wanted and needed, knowing it was their best chance. "Lady Rurichiyo's mother died giving birth to her while illness took her father soon after. Kumoi has been serving as the temporary viceroy for the clan until lady Rurichiyo comes of age. Lately vassals under his service, mainly people that seem to disagree with him, have begun to disappear. Anyone that doesn't fall in line with his ruling is soon disposed of and weird incidents have begun to happen around lady Rurichiyo. Using what few people we could trust, we had gigais made and planted for us to retrieve when we came to hide in the world of the Living." He released a sigh as the weight of the past few days seemed to appear on his shoulders. "We have no evidence to prove these suspicions, so we wanted to avoid involving the Gotei."
"Avoid it, by going into the most active squad's territory, where some of the most observant Soul Reapers are supposed to be?" Ichigo restated needing to understand what was going through this guy's head. "Hoping to slip by in the confusion of us doing our jobs?"
"You passed through the private Senkaimon of the Kasumioji because the old Soul Phones couldn't get any data from private Senkaimon didn't you?" The attendant nodded to the captain's question. "Tough luck there, security measures had to become stricter so now nothing spiritual occurs without our knowing. So now, what to do about this little coup of yours." Isshin leaned back to think, he needed someone that could protect Rurichiyo when worst came to worst while also maintaining her calm and not arousing suspicions. His nose caught the scent of fresh cookies as he looked idly toward the kitchen where Orihime made a fresh batch and was sharing it with Rurichiyo, Karin, and Yuzu. An idea popped into his head at that moment. "Hey Orihime!" He called, getting the exorcist's attention. "How about you and Ichigo becoming parents?" He suggested, knowing his son was about to beat his skull in.
(Safehouse: Temporary living quarters for the Kasumioji)
The next day came and Ichigo was helping Kenryu and Enryu move his new 'family' into their new home. After punching his father enough times to get rid of his embarrassment, Isshin explained the reasoning for this. It was to give Rurichiyo a more proper disguise while keeping a healer and bodyguard around her at all times, a last line of defense. Rurichiyo was supposed to remain ignorant of the goings on so the explanation of the family cover was to help her integrate into the Living world much easier. Isshin promised sentries around the clock and Ichigo would only have to fight when truly necessary. Ichigo forgot his dad could be mature sometimes, and he ruined the moment with, 'Besides, it'd be good for you to get ready for all my future grandkids!' Chad had to carry the old man back to his home after Ichigo was done with him.
"And you promise that this will stay under wraps?" Kenryu asked, his concern being in keeping the Kasumioji family stable and strong. If word of this got out, it'd put the family at risk with the other nobles. "I shouldn't ask much but-"
"Listen pal, I don't give a damn about this nobility game you seem to think matters." Ichigo growled out, finally getting the sofa in place. "The only thing we care about is keeping her safe and the security of Soul Society as a whole. You worry about the nobility crap if it worries you that much." Kenryu had to hold himself back from talking back, reminding himself that Ichigo is of nobility with the Shiba and their return as a Great Noble house as well as being a lieutenant and disciple of the Head Captain in the Gotei. He heard tales of Ichigo's prowess and crass behavior, but he needed to really see to understand and while he had yet to really see his strength, his crude behavior was the genuine article. Not too long after, Rurichiyo appeared with Orihime not far behind.
"Onii-chan!" Rurichiyo sang out, running to Ichigo a glomping him. After the decision to have Ichigo and Orihime pose as her parents, her gigai was altered to have orange hair and lighter brown eyes. Ichigo looked down to the girl hugging him with slight confusion.
"Context. I need context please." The hybrid said, looking at his lover and ignoring the crying attendants in the corner.
"Well, Rurichiyo told me that while she understood that it was for her protection she refused to think of us as her parents." Orihime explained with a smile as she looked at the young noble. "So I told her to think of us as her older siblings, if that helped." Ichigo looked down at the kid who was still hugging him before adopting a gentle smile and patting her head. "So! After school tomorrow, we're going to the mall!" Orihime announced, with Ichigo simply accepting. He wasn't spending enough time with Orihime or Tatsuki lately.
(Later that night)
Uryu sat on the edge of a roof, quite a ways from the safehouse, but still with a near perfect vantage point to be a sniper. He was back in his white Quincy robes after a general consensus, he looked better in white, and ready to keep first watch. There was some goofing around with the new 'family' but it seemed like Ichigo was actually enjoying himself, Orihime was almost always happy, and the kid seemed to like the arrangements herself. Hours passed with little incident as the trio found themselves asleep, that was when he felt it.
"Feels like one guy." Said Riruka, as she joined Uryu's side. The Fullbringers were becoming eager to test their new skills so they were assisting, and Riruka pulled the short straw. "What's the plan?"
"I'll engage while you watch and record." Uryu said standing up and tensing to move the second red flashes appeared on the barrier. "The second he starts to run, seal him up in one of your dolls." He ignored her whining about it being uncute as the assailant broke through. The archer immediately shot several bolts at the attacker and forcing him back. The Quincy took the chance to make it to the roof with his Hirenkyaku and attacked with a Seele Schneider. The assassin wore dark concealing clothes with reddish pink armor and wielding a blade mounted on his wrist with an odd mirror in the center of the guard. He was immediately cautious of whatever properties the mirror might've held, some instinct telling him that part was the main issue. "I'm guessing it'd be pointless to ask you who your masters are." He said only getting the assassin to raise his blade for combat. "Never that easy."
The assassin charged at him, intent on cutting through the Quincy, and Uryu simply evaded. Every swing was met with a dodge as the archer gracefully moved, keeping his eyes on the weapon he suspected was a Bakkoto. His attacker backed off when he saw his attempts were proving fruitless and took a change of tactics. He caught the moon's light in the mirror on the guard and reflected it directly to Uryu's face. Everything seemed to go black until he returned to consciousness with the assassin directly in front of him. He managed to dodge the stab and chopped the guy in the throat and back of his neck, making the assassin stumble.
'I've been knocked out enough times to know that sensation.' Uryu thought as he analyzed what happened as his opponent caught his breath. 'Since that thing has a mirror, he probably needs light to make it work and reflect a specific light wavelength to make someone temporarily blackout.' Uryu straightened himself out and stretched his back before shutting his eyes. 'Not risking another glance. I'll let the squad 12 squints do the study.' Utilizing his years of blind archery training and Reishi sense, he tracked the movements of the assassin as he tried the light reflection method again. Uryu became dizzy as a result of the light shining into his face, but with his eyes shut the effect was weakened greatly. The assassin charged again and Uryu leaped into action, using his Blut to power his defense and strength as he grabbed the blade and tore the whole thing off his opponent before punching him in the stomach. The assassin collapsed, barely conscious, and Riruka showed up behind him.
"Addiction shot." She said, shooting him in the back with a heart and placing her tag on him. "I permit you." The Fullbringer pulled out a teddy bear and, in an aura of pink energy, the assassin was absorbed into the doll. "Now what?" The girl asked the Quincy, who held up the weapon.
"Now we get this to Urahara and see what he can find out." He said, feeling the weapon react as if it was alive. "Since he won't talk, take him to Tsukishima. That'll be the easiest way to get an answer out of him."
"Roger that Uryu... what the?" Riruka said as she felt something warm and wet soaking her doll. "Gross!" She cried as a red liquid was spreading through the fabric. Uryu's eyes widened as he recognized the blood with his mind working overtime to figure out what was happening.
'Kido seal? No, I'd sense that. Hidden dagger? He wouldn't be able to use that. Did he... SHIT!' He thought as he figured out what the assassin did. "Get him out! He bit off his tongue!" He ordered as Riruka took a second to get over her shock and use her hair to tickle her nose before sneezing on the doll. The assassin came out, blood dripping through his face mask and onto the ground as the sound of breathing could be heard. "He's making himself drown in his own blood?" He said in shock as he approached the dying man, who was doing everything in his power to keep Uryu back. Soon the assassin passed out from blood loss and fell off the roof. Uryu felt the man disappear as his life faded and he cursed. A dead body couldn't give any answers that they needed, especially if Kumoi was being as careful as they thought he was.
"Failure I take it?" Riruka asked, trying to keep her lunch down. Uryu glared at the dead body that laid on the ground. He wondered if this was how Ichigo felt when Aizen managed to escape him, because Uryu felt pissed.
"Partially." He answered as he felt the attendants settle down and some of his squadmates came for the corpse before it burst into fire, a very well hidden kido deadman's switch to eliminate all traces of the assassin. "We protected the girl, now they'll be sending the big guns and we do have something from all this." He looked at the blade in his hand with disgust before heading back to base, Chad coming over to take his shift.
(Squad 15 base)
"-after his capture, he killed himself." Isshin said, finishing his report to the leader of the Gotei. Yamamoto stroked his beard in thought, contemplating the next course of action to take. Without the assassin to interrogate, they wouldn't get a confession. Kibune was become much more cautious around his squad and the only thing they found on Amagai was that he joined the Onmitsukido at a young age. He cursed the lackadaisical lifestyle that put them in such an unprepared state and though he could force an investigation of the Kasumioji grounds, he refused to become a full tyrant as he had centuries ago.
"Continue protecting young Rurichiyo." Yamamoto finally responded. "I have full faith in your squad's abilities to keep her safe. Sooner or later, Kumoi's side will slip up and then we'll end this." The connection was cut as Isshin looked back to the Bakkoto behind its sealed display box. The weapon was indeed confirmed to be alive when it tried to attach to Rin until one of his squad forced it down. That, and the creepy yellow eye that was looking at everyone gave it away. The squad 12 member was supposed to return to his division with the weapon, along with an armed escort, and they would get Hiyori back. She claimed that they can spar with each now to strengthen their masks and she missed her job.... mostly her snacks and sitting on her butt.
"The biggest threat so far is the hidden abilities a Bakkoto might have." Uryu said, speaking up from behind his captain. "Similar to secret trump cards Zanpakuto may have for their wielders."
"The obvious solution there is to stop them from using those abilities by defeating them quickly." Isshin plotted. "The problem there is that they'll kill themselves quickly, and Tsukishima can't extract memories from corpses."
"But he can do so while they are distracted." They heard said Fullbringer say as he came back. "I got back from Urahara and he agrees there's an 85% chance of success with my idea about Ichigo. On this Kasumioji matter, one cut is all I need." He said with a sinister smile.
'Man that guy's creepy.' The two officers thought.
(With Rurichiyo)
The sounds of yelling and muffled combat roused the young noble girl from her slumber. The young girl rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she looked at her current situation. She was used to waking up alone, Enryu and Kenryu nearby to offer any comfort they could. Now, her attendants were gone and she was between a beautiful older woman and a handsome man. For a second, they looked like the pictures of her parents that were around the Kasumioji house before her eyes adjusted and she recognized her new bodyguards. Remembering her parents were gone brought up some old pains she's tried to hide as her eyes began to water.
"Bad dream?" She heard Orihime ask tiredly as the Exorcist pulled the noble in for a hug. "There there. I'm here Ruri-chan." Orihime said before softly humming while stroking the girl's hair.
'What... what is this warmth?' She asked herself as Ichigo's arm reached over both of them, cocooning her in their embrace. 'Is this what it would've been like with my parents?' She listened to Orihime humming her lullaby, her eyes growing heavy with every note. 'It feels nice.' She thought just before sleep claimed her.
(Kasumioji Secret Compound)
"So she's already under squad 15's protection." An elderly man spoke in a gravely tone. This was Gyokaku Kumoi, wrinkly and weathered with his gray hair in a bushy topknot. "And the agent you sent was felled by that squad's third seat?"
"His name is Uryu Ishida, the Quincy." The man across from him stated. He was dressed in dark concealing clothes with layered plate armor on his left shoulder, purple hair, and a scar from his hair to over his right eye. "He was captured by one of the Fullbringers, but he successfully ended his life before he could be interrogated."
"This is aggravating, but also fortuitous." Kumoi said with a dark smile on his face. "Our new partners made it clear that they are very interested in seeing a certain lieutenant in that squad disappear. Two birds with one stone."
"But, if even half of the rumors concerning him is true, then it will be a hard fought battle." The assassin spoke. "No chances. It'll have to be a full assault."
"You have your improved Bakkoto. Do whatever it takes to kill that freak and the brat." The viceroy ordered, earning a nod from his subordinate.
"Understood sir."
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers)
Poor Rin
"Haven't slept in days." Rin moaned out as he worked. "Never got to have any of those world of the Living sweets. Just watching the screens with that pile of candies waiting in that corner." He shuddered as he remembered Lisa attacking him with a riding crop when he got too close. "But it'll be worth it! Captain Isshin promised me that 'jawbreaker' thing if I fix up these crappy excuses for gigais." He said, sparing a glance as the ball of sugar as he finished the final steps in the Kasumioji clan's gigais. He never moved so fast in his life as he tore off the wrapping and watched the multicolored ball as if it was a holy relic. He slowly brought it to his mouth, mouth drooling and eyes watering.
"How about you and Ichigo becoming parents?" Rin's eyes bulged out of his skull. He was barely paying attention but he knew he now had more work. Lisa was already in the corner with her 'discipline stick'.