Chapter Text
“You did what?!” Isshin yelled as he stood over Starrk’s stretched-out body, he was lying on his pillow pile as Isshin started to have a heart attack over him “To a human?!”
“I didn’t eat him” Starrk waved his hand, unbothered by the way the Shinigami was acting, what was the big issue? it’s not like anyone was going to believe the human anyway. “Just scared him. He hurt Yuzu-chan and I reacted”
“That doesn’t give you th-eh? Y-Yuzu-chan” Isshin stopped and turned to look at his daughter who was finishing her homework at the table. “Wh-wha?” he trailed off as she got up and stretched, she stated she was finished before walking over and climbing on the pile with Starrk, Isshin starred in horror as his middle child curled up to Starrk and tucked herself under his chin. “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!”
“Bothersome” Starrk grumbled as Yuzu chuckled and wiggled closer.
Isshin sobbed in Banx Jr’s office as he recounted the change in his daughter since Starrk’s been here and cried that his precious daughter was growing up too fast; Banx Jr just stared at him as he took a long drag of his cigarette and let the smoke out through his nose. “You haven’t changed” he shook his head as he leaned back and with a grunt brought his boots up on his desk. “Say. Have you thought of my offer?”
Isshin sobered up immediately and turned to face his old friend “Would it be safe?” He asked as Banx Jr shrugged and waved his hand.
“No safer than being in Front London unguarded. From what your boyfriend was saying…that body’s already starting to deteriorate due to Starrk’s strength; it’s only a matter of time before he has to go back right? And you can’t stay in London with being a Taichou again, and all” Banx Jr exhaled his smoke before he tipped his hat down to cover his eyes. “Reverse London is the safest place for them. Noel and Ninny will take great care of them”
“I don’t know” Isshin mumbled as he looked at his own hands, he could see the small cracks that were starting to form, the same that ran over Starrk’s arms and up his neck. “We’ve only been here for a few months, it’s too soon to say goodbye”
“Isshin. You ain’t leaving forever” Banx Jr rolled his eyes as he got up with a grunt and waved his hand again “Karin and Yuzu will do great here, and you’ll be able to see them whenever you want”
Isshin frowned as he continued to look at his hands, he couldn’t get himself to say anything against his friend’s words that were making more and more sense.
“Where are you taking us, old man?” Karin asked as she frowned while following Isshin down an alleyway, she glanced back at Starrk who was moving slower, and Yuzu who was staying by his side “Does this have anything to do with the weird marks on Starrk?”
“They’re not marks” Isshin stated as he kept looking forward and stopped when they arrived at an old phonebooth “They’re cracks”
“Cracks?” Karin and Yuzu echoed confused as Starrk placed a hand on Yuzu’s head, she’s gotten close to him over the last months they’ve been here.
“This body is failing. It’s breaking down” Starrk explained as Noel came down the stairs after them, with a nod she called up a portal, and the five of them found themselves in Reverse London again. Starrk shook his head as he felt more cracks spider across his body but he didn’t say anything as they walked up the gate where Banx Jr and Ninny were waiting with two other people.
“Hey there! We only met once but I’m Balgo, it’s nice to meet you again” The blonde waved before he rubbed the back of his neck, he paused when he noticed the same on Starrk’s neck “Are you a Dragonclad too?” When he got an eyebrow arched in response he pointed at his neck “The collar” Starrk turned his head to look at Isshin in confusion only to turn his attention back to Balgo when the human let out a loud gasp followed by an ‘Oh shit your neck!’ Balgo froze before he offered a weak smile and pointed at his face “Y-Y-You have something…uh….Noel?”
“Starrk is wearing a fake body, something from our Western Branch but it’s breaking apart while he’s in it” She explained as she flipped her hair over her shoulder “He can’t stay here anymore”
“The fuck?” Ninny arched her own eyebrow before walking up to Starrk, she narrowed her eyes as she watched the crack on his face grow bigger, she made a noise and pulled away, turning to Noel who wasn’t paying attention and was talking with Isshin about how he was fairing in London, “Does it hurt?” She found herself asking, grey eyes shifted to her before he looked away.
“No. I don’t feel anything”
Everyone turned to the arch when a sudden heavy pressure was on them, watching in awe as the archway turned into a gate of swirling black once more, it wiggled for a few moments before Kisuke came stepping out with a wide smile hidden behind his fan. “Hello again. I’m glad to see a warmer welcome” He teased before he turned to Starrk “My my, you’ve really done a number on my Gigai” Kisuke commented as he waved Starrk over, Kisuke frowned as Starrk walked up stiffly.
A smile quickly took over Kisuke’s face before he stepped aside, the sounds of steps echoed around them, and everyone looked around confused aside from Starrk and Isshin, they both squared their shoulders and kept their eyes on the gate; as the sounds got closer they turned to the gate and watched as a figure started coming through.
“Kisuke had mentioned that you weren’t handling the Gigai well” A light voice came from the figure as Starrk dropped to his knees “I didn’t think he meant that it was breaking on you, Starrk”
“Ichigo” Starrk mumbled as he watched as his Beta stepped out, dressed in his typical white outfit with his hair pulled back into a high ponytail and his black crown floating above his head. “My king”
“Have you been good?”
“Ichi-nii!”
Ichigo turned his attention to the left where he heard his name called, blinking he took in his sisters who looked like they were going to cry. “Yuzu…Karin” he mumbled before he smiled lightly at them “Look how much you’ve grown” He stepped around Starrk who didn’t move, he opened his arms and that was all it took for his sisters to run at him. He pulled them into a tight hug, rubbing his face in their hair as he held them closer “I’ve missed you” he mumbled lowly before he pulled away and cupped their cheek.
“Has Starrk taken care of you?” He asked as he smiled gently at them, they both nodded and sniffed as they wiped the tears from their eyes, feeling he was being stared at he looked over them and narrowed his eyes “Are you the one who attempted to kill them?”
Banx Jr swallowed thickly and had a feeling that if he answered he would die, he wanted to look at Isshin but the look in his eyes kept him from looking away.
“Ichi-nii, don’t harm him” Karin stated as she pulled his attention away.
“Yeah, he helped us” Yuzu added as Banx Jr slumped to the ground and let out a shaky breath.
“Very well. I’ll leave him alone” Ichigo glanced at him again before he gave a smirk and turned back to Starrk “My dear Alpha, you look uncomfortable” Ichigo released his sisters and stood in front of Starrk, the cracks had grown even more and the Hollow wasn’t able to move without more appearing on his skin. Ichigo hummed lowly as he tilted his head, Starrk wasn’t able to move before he looked over at Kisuke “I hope you’ll forgive me, Kisuke”
Kisuke laughed and waved his hand “It’s done for, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so” Ichigo stated before he placed his hand on top of Starrk’s head, his eyes flashed bright gold as the body Starrk was housing crumbled and Starrk returned to his typical dress; Starrk stood up and stretched before he leaned down and nuzzled Ichigo. “Yes yes” Ichigo chuckled before he turned to his dad.
“If it’s alright, I would like to stay….just for a little longer” Isshin bowed at his waist, he knew it was selfish but he didn’t want to leave his daughters just yet.
“Kisuke?” Ichigo turned his attention to the madman in the hat who was just smiling at him “Keep him out of trouble. I expect both of you back within a month” Ichigo smirked as he turned to his sister and smiled warmly at them “I’m sorry. I can’t stay any longer, I promise you’ll be able to visit soon”
They ran up and gave Ichigo another tight hug before they turned to Isshin’s side, Ichigo turned to face the gate. “Oh right…”
“Billy Banx Jr wasn’t it?” Ichigo stated as he stopped at the threshold of the gate and glanced over his shoulder at him “Take care of my sisters, or I’ll eat you”