The Broken Souls of the Seireitei

A/N: I meant to add that Yamamoto will be OOC with Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Isshin because he treats them like sons. It's still going slow, but sparks are gonna start next chapter, I PROMISE!!! Love ya!


“So I have three days?” Isshin scratched his beard and sighed. Three days was not a long time to convince Karin and Yuzu to come back to the Seireitei with him. Knowing Karin, after she delivered many kicks to his head, would probably tell Isshin to go fuck himself. Poor Yuzu would probably start looking for a job, she was so damned responsible.

“Yes. Three days. Upon your return, I will ask Soifon and Unohana to take the girls. If they are as strong as you say, they will be a great asset to us. In fact,” Yamamoto paused, leaning against one of his sakura trees, “I need to change the ranks. We actually are three taicho short and some of the other fukutaicho are…disappointing.”

Isshin nodded. Urahara had told him how messy the Soul Society had become, messy enough for his strong, yet very inexperienced son to own almost all of them. It was believable, them not having many worthy fukutaicho.

“What should I do about Ichigo?”

Yamamoto chuckled. “You could leave him on the floor sleeping. He knows his way around here. I think you can leave him here for three days. I’m pretty sure he won’t die.”

Isshin looked startled. “Pretty sure?”

Yamamoto shrugged. “Fairly sure." He spread open his arms, slightly offended. "What, would you like me to get an abacus and do the statistics of your son living for the next three days?"

Isshin shook his head and sighed, scratching his beard again.

*****************

Ichigo rubbed his eyes and sat up. He knew he was in the Seireitei, and the last thing he remembered was the general of the 13 squads reaching towards him, and then the next thing he knew he was out. It didn’t seem like a lot of time had passed, but his father and the old dust mite were gone, and his stomach was growling. He stood, a bit shaky as he was still very sleepy, but gathered himself and stumbled out of the general’s quarters.

“Now if I remember, I should go this way…” He mumbled to himself, wandering down semi-familiar alley ways. He walked for a few moments before groaning loudly. There was no sense in hiding. As soon as he peeked his head around the corner, he saw them, and they saw him.

“Well, Renji. Your sense of smell is accurate. Kurosaki Ichigo is indeed here.” Byakuya’s voice was calm and cold, almost downright frigid. Ichigo eyed him warily, for he realized he was in 6th Squad territory, and that Kuchiki taicho was on his way back to his offices. The funny thing is, his reiatsu should have been sensed way before now. Ichigo had to call him on his oversight.

“Yah, I’m here. I’ve been here for a little while. Seems you haven’t noticed. You gonna do something about it?” He taunted, angry that instead of being just hungry, he was hungry and sleepy, and wasn’t expecting Byakuya and Co. to ask him in for sticky rice. Well, maybe Renji would have. They were becoming more and more friendly as the days and homework assignments passed.

Byakuya flashed blue gray orbs at Ichigo and smirked. “I have servants to handle my trash,” He said in a haughty tone, making Renji roll his eyes. “And as for me not noticing you, who notices a bee until it stings you?”

Ichigo smiled. “I just might be trash indeed, Byakuya. But I’ll never be yours. Not in battle, not anywhere.” His smiled deepened at seeing the stunned look on Byakuya’s face. He looked past him as if he were an insignificant bug and waved at Renji.

“Abarai-kun! Are you still coming to the party?”

Renji cocked his head to the sky and appeared to be lost in thought. “Party?…” He asked, shrugging his shoulders. He was more concerned about Byakuya eating him. He was used to being at the brunt end of displacement, but he was also getting tired of it.

Ichigo slapped himself in the head. Renji always forgot everything as soon as he came back to the Soul Society. There were countless times he had to very discreetly pass either his or Orihime’s homework to him so that their teacher wouldn’t bitch them out. For some reason the teacher loved Renji but hated Ichigo and if Renji was even one question short, the teacher went into a tirade about how Ichigo should help his ‘cousin’ to adjust and to help him with his homework. Renji was of no aid, making huge doe eyes, playing victim #2 on the daily soap opera of ‘As Karakura High Turns’. He should get a Cable Ace award for his pathetic performance.

“Chad’s party. Remember?! You are supposed to bring the cups!” Ichigo flailed his arms in anger. A light appeared to go off in Renji’s head as the fire haired nodded and smiled. Ichigo rolled his eyes again.

“Um yeah, I’ll be there…” Renji trailed off, looking at Byakuya. Not exactly for permission so to speak, but something sort of like that. Ichigo looked over at the semi-surprised look on the taicho's face and realized he must not have known about the party. Some carrier pigeon Renji turned out to be.

“I know you hate me, but you can come too, Byakuya. Chad invited pretty much all of the leaders around this joint, and a couple of seated officers too. You can get a gigai from Urahara’s shop and come and chill.”

“Chill? With you? Being in your presence does chill me, Ichigo, but not in a way you would appreciate.” Byakuya waved his hand as to dismiss them and walked into his office, shutting the door quietly.

Renji exhaled, whistling between his lips. “Taicho is madder than usual. He was scolded by Kyoraku a few minutes ago.” He explained, walking over to Ichigo.

“Oof! The high and mighty, scolded? Who would have ever thought? He who shits gold blocks and pisses mercury, has been reprimanded? Where the hell is my camera for a Kodak moment such as this?” Ichigo lamented, holding his chest and looking into the sky.

Renji laughed. Ichigo was a freakin nut. “So…why are you here right now? I can understand you coming to remind me of the party, and thank you by the way. But now that you have done that, why else are you here?”

Ichigo opened his mouth, but remembered his father’s words, which were hissed at him as he adjusted their clothes before seeing Yamamoto.

‘I am hated here, Ichigo. Until we find out what Yamamoto says, no one can know I am here. They have an idea of who it is, but if you are seen, then they will think it is you. It’s imperative that you tell no one I am here. I think our lives depend on it.‘

“Ichigo! Are you going to just stand there with your mouth hanging open or are you gonna tell me why you are here?!” Renji yelled, his breath hitting Ichigo’s face.

“I can’t say.”

Renji frowned. “Why?”

Ichigo shrugged. “Because I made a promise.”

Renji was so mad he could have flushed Ichigo down the toilet. “You and your goddamn promises! You make me fucking sick!” He yelled, shoving Ichigo. The orange haired shinigami smiled and gave Renji a brief hug.

“Don’t be upset. Some things are not for your sensitive ears. Besides, I’m hungry. I know you have some sticky rice somewhere.”

Renji shook his head. “Fresh out, buddy. But…” He drawled, walking behind the office, making Ichigo bend to try to see where he went. “I do have this.” Renji walked back to him and presented a small wooden box. His eyes lit up upon opening the box, a wide smile taking over his handsome face.

“Renji! I thought I said I needed you to-” Byakuya walked to the door and then stopped. Brown. Fingers. Brown. Mouths. Wide. Eyes. Open. Both Ichigo and Renji were seemingly covered in chocolate. There was a small box and many shiny wrappers surrounding them. They looked like two fat children engorged in savory candy. Some of the chocolate was even on Renji’s hakama, and he didn’t even want to think of what it looked like. Byakuya licked his lips and took a deep breath.

“I am going back inside. You,” He said, pointing a finger at Ichigo, “will not be here when I come back. And you,” He said pointing his pinky at Renji, “will not look like a 3 year old that just shit his pants!” With that the regal captain spun on his heel and stomped angrily away. People had been annoying him all day, and he was starting to get a serious headache. Renji looked at Ichigo before bursting out loud with laughter.

“I don’t think I look like I’m 3. I at least look 5!”

“At least.” Ichigo nodded in agreement. Renji smiled brightly, showing brown stained teeth.

*************

Isshin and Yamamoto paused upon re-entering the chambers. Ichigo was gone.

“Why that little…he broke through my kido spell!” Yamamoto complained, coughing a bit. “I could have done a stronger incantation, but I wanted him to nap, not go into a coma.”

Isshin shrugged. “Like you said, Ichigo knows his way around. He will be okay, right?”

Yamamoto faced him. “Are you no longer worried he will inform others you are here?” Isshin shook his head.

A brief knock on the door brought relief to their faces. Isshin walked over and opened the door, ready to scold.
“Ichigo I told you not to-” Isshin looked at the yellow and red feathers and was confused. “You aren’t Ichigo.”

Yumichika smiled brightly. “And you aren’t either! Is he here, I want to see him,” He bounced on his feet excitedly, trying to look past the tower of Isshin.

“He’s not here. Scram,” Isshin ordered in an annoyed voice. Yumichika glared, scrunching his pretty features. “I think you are lying. And I don’t like liars.”

Isshin looked down at the pretty young man and resisted the urge to squish him. “Muevete,” He said, flaring his reiatsu. Yumichika had no chance. He was flattened to the ground immediately, and once unconscious, Isshin carefully stepped over him, only to be snatched back by Yamamoto.

“You and your son have been here only moments and already my head is killing me,“ Yamamoto murmured, rubbing his forehead scar. “The clock is ticking, Isshin-kun. Three days,” He sternly warned, bringing the man back on task. “Ichigo will be fine. I sense his reiatsu in the 6th Squad quarters. He is alright,” Yamamoto reassured.

Isshin nodded toward the now passed out Yumichika. "And what of him?" Yamamoto waved his hand again. "He doesn't know you, and he eats reiatsu, so I suggest you move swift."

Isshin nodded and reached for his Hell Butterfly, prepared to go back to Karakura to get his daughters.

***************

“Kuchiki taicho? Are you still in here?” Renji called, using his shunpo step to Byakuya’s office. It was a small and simple room, simple but elegant. The walls were paneled in wood with a beautiful soft silver silk inlaid with blue dragon print on them. One very generous day Byakuya had mentioned that his mother wore a kimono similar to the wall treatment to a birthday of his and the nostalgic pattern brought a peace to him. And since he spent most of his time in his office, peace was greatly needed. Hopefully peace would be in Byakuya’s heart. Renji knew him so well, and really had only seen him be reprimanded twice since he became a fukutaicho. And both times he was brutal to Renji. Not brutal in the physical sense, but mentally and emotionally brutal.

Renji found Byakuya by the window, watching Ichigo walk away. He realized his presence was known, yet Byakuya didn’t look away from Ichigo. Renji cleared his throat as a confirmation that he was there. Byakuya turned deadpan eyes at him, making Renji shrink back a little. He held his chocolate flavored breath for the reprimand, but it never came.

“This party Kurosaki Ichigo spoke of. What is it?” Byakuya’s voice was neutral, he didn’t even seem interested. Renji knew that he was, but dare not call him on it.

“Chad is having a get together at his home. Most of us are going. Rukia, Zaraki, Madarame, Yumi, Rangiku, Momo, Shuuhei, Kira, and so forth. It’s a black and white attire party.”

Byakuya nodded. “Sounds fancy.”

Renji nodded and slowly smiled. “Yeah, that’s the same thing I said. But Ichigo asked me to ask you to come. I didn’t before now because…well,”

“You thought I would say no.” Byakuya sat at his desk, chin in hand staring at his all of a sudden fidgety fukutaicho.

“Well, I didn’t want you to rip on the party. I did think you would say no, and didn’t want to bother you. Was I wrong?” Renji asked, his eyes lowered in submission. He really did want Byakuya to be a part of things, especially since he had a bad day. Despite what an ass Byakuya was, there were moments (though few and far between) that he acted his age and was almost cool.

Byakuya shrugged one shoulder, continuing to stare at Renji. He sighed and gave a smirk, catching his second off guard. “What were you planning to wear?”

Renji grinned widely and went to sit at Byakuya’s feet, explaining the ins and outs of a ryoka party, what to wear, ect. He was excited especially for his taicho to come to Karakura and hang out with them. It was always so much fun, and Byakuya could stand to have a spoon or two of fun. Besides, Chad's parties were always oh so fun...


A/N: There's gonna be a fight at Chad's party. And it's not between who you think. But if you know who is going to fight, then you frighten me because it means you are in my head. Empty, isn't it? ^-^