Ichigo was already being pulled in every direction by the name Kaien. Now that he was here, he finally had the chance to get an explanation from Miyako and Kukaku. However, life rarely goes so smoothly.
"Sister! What was that shouting just now?!"
Hearing a loud voice from Kukaku's room—one a bit uncharacteristic for the Shiba household—Ganju rushed in to see what was happening.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
His niece, Kuu, appeared as well, led along by Ganju.
Kuu Shiba was the child of Kaien and Miyako. In her previous appearances, she had been nothing more than a baby, but enough time had passed since then that she had grown into the appearance of a young girl. She looked as fragile and lovely as a doll, and the specially tailored kosode she wore suited her perfectly, making her look even more charming. She didn't give off the typical Shiba impression of a hot-blooded, boss-like figure driven by duty and emotion; instead, she seemed rather calm and cool.
Furthermore, perhaps because she was born into the Shiba family, she possessed a powerful spiritual pressure that seemed ill-suited to her small frame. Anyone with a decent sense of spiritual perception would have realized immediately that this child possessed incredible talent. Additionally, despite her appearance, her actual age was over ten years old. She and Ichigo were essentially relatives of a similar age group.
"What?!"
"Eh...?"
"Another one showed up?!"
Meeting without any prior knowledge, the three relatives—Ichigo, Ganju, and Kuu—stood frozen for a while, staring at each other in shock.
"Kaien-dono?!"
"Father...?"
"And there's that name again!! ...Wait, did she say Father?!"
On top of the usual routine of being mistaken for Kaien, Ichigo was now being mistaken for a father. Judging by her looks alone, Kuu was a young girl around the age of a primary school student. Seeing their acquaintance being called "Father" by such a child, the sensitive high schoolers couldn't hide their agitation.
"Kurosaki... I see. So you had a secret child."
"K-Kurosaki-kun... you can't do that! You have to take responsibility as a father! Eh?! Wait...?? Then who is the mother...? Did you have a lover, Kurosaki-kun? I didn't know anything about that..."
Uryu spoke with mocking words while Orihime took it seriously, falling into a state of worry and confusion. Since Orihime harbored feelings for Ichigo, she was in total chaos, which in turn sent Ichigo into a panic.
"Not yet...?"
"No! Chad, don't you start teasing me too! Do I look like that kind of irresponsible man?! And Inoue! You've got it wrong! I haven't even laid a finger on anyone yet!"
Please, just stop! Ichigo's mental state is already at its limit!
"No, looking closer, you're different... Who are you? A friend of my father?"
"Exactly! His hair is orange, and my brother didn't have such a villainous face!"
"Who are you calling a villain?! And you, what kind of thing is that to say to someone you just met?!"
"Huh?! You're the one with the confusing face! You're upsetting my niece! Go get plastic surgery and come back later! Or should I change the shape of your face myself?! With these fists!!"
"Shut up, both of you!!!!"
Ichigo and Ganju had supposedly just met, but for some reason, they began a fight with an oddly perfect synchronization. Perhaps this harmony was proof that they really were relatives. Regardless, Kukaku delivered a furious punch to the two of them as they began their hostile bickering.
"...Ugh..."
"Sister, I'm sorry..."
The commotion finally settled down after the two of them were forced to lick the dirt together.
"Uncle Ganju, are you alright?"
"O-Oh... I'm training to be a Soul Reaper like my brother, after all. This is nothing."
Facing his niece's concern, Ganju suppressed the pain and desperately tried to act energetic. He couldn't show a pathetic side to his junior.
"And as for you..."
Next, Kuu turned her concern toward Ichigo. However, as she drew closer to him, she stared intently as if observing him.
"W-What...? Is there something on my face?"
"Yeah, just as I thought. You aren't my father, but you have the same scent as him... No, it's also close to Uncle Ganju and Aunt Kukaku... Why...?"
"Huh...?"
Ichigo was bewildered as the young girl leaned in to sniff him like a dog. Stay calm! You're relatives! Though at the moment, no one knows or has realized it yet!
"Huh? Close to me and Ganju...? Kuu, what do you mean by that?"
"Aunt Kukaku... I'm sorry, I don't really know... I just felt that way somehow..."
"Actually, I felt the same way."
"Even you, Lady Miyako?!"
"Well, this boy's features are very similar to Kaien's. It's only natural that Kuu would feel that way."
Perhaps because she had no blood relation to the Shiba family, Miyako had also been thinking the same thing.
"...No way!!"
"Hm? What's wrong, Ganju?"
"Well, they were talking about a secret child earlier... No! My brother Kaien would never do something like that!! ...At least, I don't think so..."
"Y-You idiot!! Don't say such things out loud even if you think them!!"
Ganju casually threw out words that could become a new spark. In other words, he had started to wonder if Ichigo was Kaien's secret child. To say such a thing in front of the man's wife—you have no delicacy, Ganju! Kuu will lose all respect for you at this rate!
"Oh, it's alright. I don't mind."
"Eh?"
"Because I believe in Kaien."
"Whoooa!!"
Almost everyone present—including both the Shiba family side and the group from the living world—unconsciously broke into applause at the deep love and trust she showed as a wife.
"U-Um... Kukaku. I'm sorry, but I would like to discuss the reason I came here. Is that alright...?"
Only Yoruichi, who had been unable to keep up with the flow and energy of the conversation, spoke up apologetically.
"I see. I mostly understand the situation."
Now, getting back on track. Yoruichi explained the reason she had come to the Shiba house.
"I'd like to say I'll help, but..."
Kukaku glanced sideways at Miyako. Yoruichi had said it. She had asked for cooperation in breaking into the Seireitei without permission. She had said it even though Miyako and the others were right there.
"If Urahara is involved, I want to help, but..."
Kukaku muttered with extreme hesitation. But it couldn't be helped. Yoruichi didn't know that Miyako was once a prominent figure who had risen to the rank of 3rd Seat in the 13th Division. This was essentially like asking for help to break into a building right in front of a former police officer. Moreover, Yoruichi and the others were technically intruders, so this was the very scene of illegal immigrants planning a crime.
But it couldn't be helped. She just didn't know.
"Yoruichi!! Think about the time and place before you ask for a favor!!"
"What?! What is it?!"
"Of all people, you said that right in front of Sister Miyako!! What the hell are you thinking?!"
"I'm asking what's wrong?! What do you mean by that?!"
"Ah... Sister? I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that just now. Come on, let's go."
"Um, Uncle Ganju? Mother, what was that story about...?"
Sensing danger, Ganju tried to leave with Kuu. It might be more accurate to call it an evacuation than an exit. Kuu didn't seem to fully understand what was going on and had a question mark floating over her head.
"Wait, Ganju! Since you've already heard it, you're an accomplice! If you run, I'm telling your brother!!"
"Wait...!! That's not fair!!"
"And Sister Miyako! I know I'm asking for something unreasonable!! But I have my own position and obligations too!! Please!! Look the other way!!"
Grabbing Ganju by the scruff of his neck, the siblings knelt together in a deep bow, pleading with Miyako.
"Kukaku...? What on earth...?"
"Yoruichi! You bow your head too!! Sister Miyako is my brother's wife! She's the former 3rd Seat of the 13th Division!! She's incredibly strong, and if she wanted to, she could contact my brother right now and have you all arrested in an instant!!"
"WHAAAT?!"
Finally, Yoruichi and the others seemed to grasp the situation.
"T-That is..."
"What are we going to do, Yoruichi-san?! At this rate, is it over for us right here?!"
Ichigo pressed Yoruichi for an answer, but in the midst of that, someone else bowed to Miyako.
"U-Um. My name is Orihime Inoue! I think what we're trying to do is wrong according to the laws of the Soul Society. But I want to save Ms. Kuchiki! So, please!"
"I-Inoue...?"
It was Orihime. She sat before Miyako and bowed her head with total sincerity.
"I see, you're Orihime-san... Orihime-san. May I ask you one thing?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Why do you want to go save her?"
"Th-That's..."
Orihime's face turned bright red and she hesitated, but eventually, she answered in a tiny voice—one so small only Miyako could hear it.
"I want to... be of help... to Kurosaki-kun..."
"I see... I understand."
Sensing Orihime's feelings of love, Miyako smiled warmly.
"I'll look the other way this time. However, that only lasts until you all enter the Seireitei. Once that's done, I will contact Kaien. This is the maximum concession I can make."
"Phew... S-Saved..."
"No, Sister... doesn't that mean I'm still going to get in trouble with my brother anyway?"
"No, you're going to get in even more trouble."
"Eh...?!"
Seeing the mischievous grin on his sister's face, Ganju felt a chill run down his spine.
"After all, you're going to be charging into the Seireitei along with these guys!"
"What?! Wh-Wh-What kind of crazy thing are you saying, Sister!! You know my position, don't you?!"
"Oh, I know it perfectly well. You're a student at the Spiritual Arts Academy, right?"
Actually, Ganju was currently attending the Academy to become a Soul Reaper. Since his brother and the person he admired had both become Soul Reapers, he had enrolled once his niece, Kuu, had grown up enough to no longer require constant care from her mother. In addition to his natural talent, he had received personal instruction from Kaien and Miyako, so he was reportedly achieving excellent grades. He was even being appraised as a certain candidate for a squad, which had made him a bit conceited.
As for Ganju, he usually lived in the dorms while attending the Academy, but it was currently summer, and the Academy was on summer break. That was why he had returned to the Shiba home. He had been playing with his niece, whom he hadn't seen in a while, when Yoruichi and the others arrived and got him swept up in this. You could say it was just bad timing.
"If you know that, then you should understand even more! If it gets out that an Academy student helped intruders break into the Seireitei, expulsion will be the least of my worries!! I might even be killed!! Please, Sister! Reconsider!!"
"Shut up! You can just say you were keeping an eye on them so they wouldn't do anything bad."
He pleaded desperately, but his sister turned a deaf ear.
"Besides! To launch these guys into the Seireitei, we need someone to handle the fine adjustments in addition to the person firing the cannon!"
"I knew it! If that's the case, then you should just go, Sister!! I don't want to!!"
"...Huh?"
In response to the words he blurted out in desperation, Kukaku—
"I see... that's actually a possibility."
"Eh...?"
"I was thinking things had been a bit dull lately anyway."
—she flashed a dangerous, grinning smile.
"Nfuahhh...!!"
Ichigo's pathetic voice echoed from the Shiba family's training ground.
The explanation about pouring spiritual power into the Spirit Orb to create a bullet and launching it with the Flower Crane Cannon to break into the Seireitei was already finished. Now, Ichigo was trying to pour his spiritual power into the Spirit Orb. However, as a temporary Soul Reaper, Ichigo couldn't do what any ordinary Soul Reaper could do easily. He was trying to channel his power, but it was a disaster. He could only manage to form something that vaguely resembled a barrier. Even though Uryu, Orihime, and Chad had learned to do it after just a little practice, Ichigo was struggling quite pathetically.
"It's no use!! I can't get it right at all!!"
"Man... you're way too bad at this. Even a first-year at the Academy could do better than you."
"Sh-Shut up, Ganju!! People have things they're good and bad at!!"
"Oh dear..."
Ganju and the others weren't the only ones watching Ichigo's miserable display. Miyako and Kuu were also watching together.
"...Mr. Kurosaki, do you have a moment?"
"Huh? You're... Miyako-san, right...?"
"Yes, and this is my daughter, Kuu."
"Nice to meet you."
"O-Oh. Nice to meet you too."
Ichigo felt a bit overwhelmed by Kuu's cool attitude. Hang in there, Ichigo, you're the older one here!
"About the way you're channeling your spiritual power..."
"Mother, can I try doing that too?"
"Eh? Well... don't push yourself."
"I won't."
Kuu took the Spirit Orb from Ichigo and channeled her spiritual power.
"Whoa... she's good..."
In an instant, a perfectly spherical barrier was formed. The sight was so impressive that even Ichigo was unintentionally captivated. Kuu was born to two Soul Reapers and raised in the unique environment of the Shiba house. For her, controlling spiritual power was second nature.
"—Hah!! G-Give it back! I can do that much..."
"No."
Ichigo had been entranced for a moment, but becoming embarrassed that a girl much smaller than him could do it so easily, he reached out to take it back. However, Kuu maintained her distance as if escaping from him.
"Ichigo-san, your method is wrong. You don't need force to channel spiritual power. I will do it again, so please watch closely. Imagine it like this..."
"O-Oh... Imagine it, right..."
While receiving an explanation that felt like being lectured by a younger girl, Ichigo desperately tried to learn the technique. Perhaps because Kuu spoke in such a calm manner, he found himself naturally listening to her.
"Also, the most important thing is not to let your concentration break. My mother and my aunt both said so."
"Yeah, I get... Hm? Who's this 'aunt'?"
"Huh? Auntie is Auntie."
"No, I mean..."
"Kuu, Mr. Kurosaki wouldn't know... That person is Ms. Yukawa, the Captain of the Fourth Division. Both this child and I are very indebted to her."
Even if she seemed clever, she was still a child. Her mother stepped in to help with an explanation to resolve the child-like back-and-forth. However, the moment he heard that name, Ichigo's brow furrowed.
"Wait...? That name, Fourth Division... Ah! That's the Soul Reaper who stabbed me!!"
"Eh? Oh, was that the case?"
"Does that mean I'm indirectly receiving instruction from the Soul Reaper who stabbed me?! What kind of situation is this...?"
"Hey! Don't say bad things about Auntie...!"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
Ichigo found himself desperately explaining things to Kuu, somehow reminding himself of the times he spent looking after his own sisters.
By the way, with Kuu's teaching, he succeeded in channeling spiritual power into the Spirit Orb shortly after.
Finally, all the preparations were complete, and the launch was imminent—or rather, they were right on the verge of it.
"Sister... are you really going...?"
"Of course. You know as well as I do that it'll fail if there isn't someone inside to handle the controls."
Seeing Kukaku fully intended to charge into the Seireitei with Ichigo and the others, Ganju spoke up with a worried voice.
"No, that's not it! I—"
"Don't say it, Ganju!!"
Kukaku physically blocked Ganju's mouth as he tried to say something more.
"If you think about it, your face might already be known to the Soul Reapers in the Seireitei. In that case, it's less likely to be found out if I go, right? Well, just leave it all to your big sister Kukaku!!"
While keeping his mouth covered with one hand, she proudly thumped her chest with the other.
"So, Ganju. I'm leaving things here to you... Look after Brother Kaien, Sister Miyako, and Kuu... Also, I'll pray about ten percent of the time for you to become a fine Soul Reaper."
"..."
Hearing those words, Ganju finally understood. Kukaku wasn't going to the Seireitei just for her own amusement.
If she forced Ganju to go along, it might damage the path her brother had chosen. At worst, it might even cause trouble for Kaien or Miyako. She thought it would be much better to choose the path herself, take responsibility, and insist that she acted alone.
Because she had made that judgment, she chose the path of going herself.
"Alright!! Let's go, you lot!! Prepare the Flower Crane Launch!!"
"Yeah!! Sister!!"
Wiping away the tears in his eyes with a rough motion of his arm, Ganju began the preparations for the launch. In his heart, he prayed for her safe return...
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]