Hello everyone. I'm extremely busy right now so I don't know when I'll update the cover pic and set up everything. But I'll keep updating regularly.
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"Can you see me?"
"Of course, I can see you." I said trying to make the best irritated face I could. Since I was going to sleep, I had removed my blindfold.
"Wait, that is not the problem. How can you touch me?"
After that, she went on to explain hollows and Shinigami to me.
"You don't believe me?" She said looking at my calm face. I can't tell her about Isshin. She then performed Sai on me.
I ran downstairs when I heard the sound of the explosion. Before I could undo Sai, she jumped out at the hollow. I wanted to interfere but I knew that she had to exhaust her spiritual energy since I wanted things to progress according to the story.
After fighting the hollow for a few minutes, I could see that her spiritual energy was almost exhausted. I took out the glove given to me by Urahara and let my spirit leave my body. My dad got me this because he didn't want anyone to know that I could use my Shinigami power inside my body. Even substitute Shinigami needs to have the badge to enter the spirit mode.
Defeating the hollow was fairly easy. I cannot understand how Rukiya can be so weak and if she was so weak then why send her to Karakura town? Surely this is the work of Aizen.
"I will leave now but we'll talk later." Saying this, she hurriedly left towards Urahara's shop.
-----xxx-----
"Good morning Ichigo Kun." I was greeted by Orihime when I reached the class. Man, what I would give to fondle those tits. But now is not the right time. I need to wait for a few more months to taste those. Although originally Aizen only kidnapped Orihime for her power, I cannot be sure that he won't target her.
"Good morning Orihime, Tasuki."
"Ah, good morning Ichigo."
"Are you Ichigo Kun? I'm supposed to sit near you. Nice to meet you."
"Please go ahead. And nice to meet you too." I said imitating Rukiya.
"Ichigo, what happened to you? Why are you talking like that?" Keigo asked.
"Because no matter how you look at it, it's a fake accent."
"You should not make fun of people Ichigo." Keigo said smirking like he had some moral high ground. I know he's just trying to make a good impression on Rukiya. Rukiya on the other hand seems frustrated. I could see the writings on her hands. She must have thought about intimidating me. Toto bad.
"Shut up." I bonked him on his head
"How cruel."
During the lunch break, Rukiya explained to me about Shinigami's responsibilities and how she had lost most of her powers. It was irritating me. Although I liked her character, right now she was acting as if it was due to me that she was in such a position.
"You know, I had the powers before you came. The only help you can provide me is by informing me about the location where the hollow appears. Otherwise, you are useless." I said bluntly. I could see the hurt expression on her face but right now she had no choice but to compromise because only I could help her deal with the hollows.
"You don't need to say it like that." She said with teary eyes.
"It's not that I have anything against you. I can even help you. But you need to act like you are asking for help, not like you are ordering a subordinate. I don't care who you are but I won't tolerate that haughty attitude. So you better fix that." I can see her thinking about what I said.
"You are right. The incident at your house didn't need my intervention at all. It was my duty which I failed. In the soul society, I am treated as a princess because of my elder brother so I got too conceited. Please help me Ichigo to protect Kakakura town from Hollows." She replied after sighing for a bit.
"All you had to do was ask." I said patting her head. I could see her blushing.
-----xxx-----
During school, we had a few notifications. Thankfully I had already found Kon and thoroughly disciplined him. In the evening Rukiya came to my room and declared that she would live inside my cupboard.
"Are you sure that you want to live with a young man? Anything can happen you know." As I said that, I started walking towards her. With every step I took, she took one step back. Finally, I cornered her and put both my hands on the cupboard cutting her escape route. I could see that her face was completely red and she was panting lightly.
"Do.. Don't you dare do anything." She stuttered.
"Sure. I was just kidding. But take the bed. I'll take the floor." I said walking away from her. One thing I disliked about the original was that he allowed a girl to sleep inside a cramped space. No matter the circumstances, a girl should not sleep in a cupboard if a better alternative is available. It's like he never heard about locking the door.
"No, I cannot do that to you." Rukiya denied.
"I must insist. My parents raised me better than letting a girl sleep in a cramped space. It's no problem at all." I can see Rukiya's face softening. Although she might have thought about sleeping in the cupboard, she must not be completely ready for it. She was a princess and the sister of a clan head after all.
After I made sure that Rukiya was asleep, I went downstairs. Both my parents were waiting for me at the dining table.
"Who is she?" Ishhin asked.
"She said her name is Rukiya. Apparently, she is the sister of Kuchiki Byakuya who is the leader of the sixth squad."
"That brat became a captain huh? That explains so much. I hope you had the sense to not tell her about us."
"Who do you take me for old man? I'm not some old fool who would jump into a situation without understanding it completely." I said making a jab at him.
"I agree with Ichigo. He's got my intelligence after all. Thank god he only inherited your looks." Mom stated ribbing him as well.
"Yes, gang up on poor old man. Both of you hurt me." He said joining in which made the mood much better.
-----xxx-----
A few days passed after Rukiya transferred to our school. We fell into a monotonous routine. Recently I started noticing how some of the hollows were defeated before we arrived. It seems that my confrontation with Ishida is near.
I'm not sure how I feel about it. Technically, he is my cousin. But his dad would not have told him about me because of his jealousy. This makes this competition pointless because I'm also a Quincy.
"Took you too long Kurosaki kun."
"What do you want Ishida?" I said calmly.
"You know me?"
"Why would I not know my own cousin?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"What do you mean cousin?"
"Didn't your dad tell you?"
"Tell me what?" He asked getting irritated.
"Huh. That's a relief. I thought you hated me or something." There was a confused expression on his face. He came here to challenge me and somehow found out he had a cousin.
"Explain clearly." He said getting irritated.
"This is not the place to talk. Let's go to my house."
-----xxx-----
As we entered the house, my mother came to greet me. As soon as she saw Ishida with me, she became teary and hugged him. Surprised by the sudden affection, all he could do was hug her back.
"Mom, can you prepare a light snack for us? It seems like uncle didn't tell him anything."
"Ok. You two talk. I'll get something for you to eat."
"I'm sorry for the loss of your grandfather." I said after we reached my room.
"Why weren't you at the funeral then if we are family?"
"It's complicated. I'll get into it later. First, let me explain about our family history." After that, I went ahead and told her about how my mother was supposed to marry his father and her encounter with a different type of hollow. About her meeting with my father and what happened afterward.
"My father never told me any of this."
"He must be jealous of my father. I don't mean any disrespect but your father being the head of the family had to make the decision. But my father could easily abandon soul society because there are many others to take his place." Although I dislike his father, I can sympathize with him.
Now coming on to your grandfather, that is a whole other can of worms. I'll tell you all bout the circumstances but you must not tell anyone else about what I'm about to tell you.
"I promise." Ishida said a bit too quickly.
"Don't be hasty. It's not the kind of secret that can be disclosed easily. After I tell you everything, you have a decision to make. Think carefully.
"Here are the snacks." Mom came into my room carrying snacks and juice.