Chapter Text
Friday the 3rd of May, 2019
Never before had the simple act of getting off a bus filled Ichigo with such relief, the sigh he heaved as his feet hit the pavement came from the deepest depths of his battle-worn Soul. It may have taken an additional three hours and a near-arrest but finally—final-fucking-ly—he had reached the proverbial third act of his journey home.
Readjusting his grip on the grocery bags, Ichigo rolled back his shoulders and straightened his back. He wasn’t in the clear yet. Even with everything the Universe had already thrown at him today, Ichigo wouldn’t count on his luck turning for the better now (he had already made that mistake once). A lot can happen during a quarter-mile walk, after all. Steeling him for whatever may lie ahead, Ichigo set off.
He had been right to prepare for the worst.
At the first crossing, he tripped over a loose tile. Had it not been for his “unique” heritage, he would have become part of the traffic-death statistic. (Thank Kami for Rantansotengai.)
On the second corner that he turned, a cyclist cut it a little too close for comfort and nearly collided with him head-on. Ichigo jumped out of the way, the cyclist’s elbow brushing one of the grocery bags. They didn’t even throw a look over their shoulder as they raced down the street.
Another person who didn’t look at him was the driver of the car that ran a red light and, consequently, almost ran him over as he attempted to cross. (And thank Kami for Hirenkyaku.)
And, since we’re already thanking Kami, let’s thank them again for Blut Vene because a dog bit him for no apparent reason other than the Universe forcing the poor animal to do so. (At least the owner had shown genuine concern for his well-being.)
Never in his life had Ichigo experienced that much bad luck in ten minutes. He began to think he’d pissed off a deity somehow who’s dead set on revenge in the form of bodily harm that--may, or may not--result in his death. Or perhaps someone who hated his guts had cursed him? It wouldn't surprise him if some thug whose ass he’d kicked had grown desperate enough to try and get even through spiritual means.
Turning the last corner, Ichigo stepped onto the familiar street. He could already see his house; the sight of his home nestled amidst the row of houses had never looked so inviting. A little piece of Heaven right here in the purgatory that is life, calling to him like a beacon with promises of rest, comfort, and peace.
He could sense his family through the barrier that protected their house, could sense the exact moment that his son noticed his proximity. His reiatsu spiked in excitement and Ichigo smiled as Kazui hurried towards Orihime to announce his coming home (like she didn’t keep track of his location throughout the day; like they all kept track of each other since the war).
Preparing himself for what was to come, Ichigo turned the last corner into the front yard. The front door opened.
‘Tou-san!’
Ichigo set down the bags, freeing his arms to catch his son. ‘Hey there, Kiddo. Sorry, I’m late’.
‘Is it true? I heard Kaa-san say the police arrested you!’
‘Almost arrested me’. Ichigo corrected, glancing at his wife who stood in the doorway. She looked surprised. Kazui must have overheard our phone call, then. ‘They just misunderstood the situation. We managed to convince them I wasn’t the bad guy’.
‘Of course you’re not; you’re a hero!’ Kazui said as if it was common knowledge and the police should have known better. The boy wiggled out of his father’s embrace, taking hold of his hand and pulling. ‘Come! Kaa-san left some curry for you!’
‘Ah, just a moment, I need to grab the—‘
‘I got them’. Orihime appeared by his side like the angel she was, a bag in each hand that she lifted with ease.
Offering a smile in appreciation, Ichigo allowed their son to drag him along. He barely got time to take off his shoes as he got pulled further into the house. The smell of curry hung heavy in the air, making his stomach twist. Oh yeah, he had never gotten around to eating his lunch, had he?
‘What’s the hurry for?’
‘Bedtime!’ Kazui exclaimed with slight urgency.
Ah, that explained a lot. ‘Math or English?’ Ichigo asked because those were the subjects he was better at than Orihime.
‘Math!’ Kazui let go of his father’s hand, going over to the dining table and reclaiming his seat. ‘I don’t understand how it works! Why are there so many formulas?’
Ichigo took his usual place at the table. ‘Because they were needed’.
‘Can you help me real quick?’ Kazui asked, pointing at the page that caused his turmoil. ‘I need this done by tomorrow’.
‘And when did you get this?’
‘Wednesday but I worked on it every day!'
Ichigo eyed his son, 'How many problems are left?'
'Like, five’.
‘Alright—‘ That sounded like a reasonable number. He beckoned with his hand—‘Show me’.
Kazui shoved his book towards his father, who quickly read through the explanations and the problems his son needed to solve. The more he read the more he understood why his son struggled with this.
'Why are they explaining it like this?' Ichigo mumbled with a scowl. He grabbed a pen and Kazui's notebook and began writing on the last page. 'I'm gonna show you how I learned it in school. Maybe you will understand that better'.
'You didn't learn it like this?'
'No, and I'm glad I didn't; this is way too confusing'.
'Then why did they change it?' Kazui asked, both confused and a bit affronted.
'Probably because the people writing these books think this is better', Ichigo mused. 'And for some kids, it might be; but for others, like you, not'.
Ichigo shoved the notebook back to his son once he finished writing. 'Does this make more sense to you?'
Kazui pulled the notebook to himself and started reading what his father had put down. His brows knitted together, eyes going back and forth between the note- and textbook. Pursing his lips, Kazui took back his pen and began to solve one of the problems with his father’s method. ‘This makes way more sense!’
Ichigo looked over, mentally calculating whether Kazui had gotten the correct answer. He had. Good. ‘Does what the book says make more sense now too?’
‘It does but your way is better, though’.
'Then use the old technique to get your answer, but use the new technique to explain it on your homework'.
'Huh, why?'
'Cuz teachers can be nitpicky about how you solve stuff and can deduct points if you don't do it their way'.
'That's stupid'.
'I know'. Ichigo patted his son's shoulder in solidarity. 'Now go finish your homework'.
'Can I do it here?'
'You were here first'.
Kazui smiled and got to work, using a notepad to solve the problems with his father's method before writing it down on his homework sheet in the school's method as per his father’s instructions.
The noise from the kitchen increased and Ichigo turned his eyes away from his son and towards the doorway. And there, the most beautiful sight came into view: a bowl of food. The bowl was carried, not by the hands of his wife, but by those of a young man with dark sandy brown hair.
‘One re-heated curry for the overworked soul’. The young man placed the bowl in front of Ichigo with a little flourish, setting the chopsticks down in the same motion. ‘Enjoy’.
‘Thanks, Kon’.
Kon grinned, patting Ichigo on the shoulder. ‘Zip it and eat, I could hear your stomach from the kitchen’.
‘You would be hungry too in my shoes’, Ichigo grumbled light-heartedly, swatting Kon’s hand away.
‘I sure would be. Now tuck in already’.
Ichigo grabbed the chopsticks, showing them to Kon. Kon rolled his eyes and returned to the kitchen, presumably to help Orihime with putting away the groceries.
Mumbling a thanks under his breath, Ichigo took his first bite. The taste that exploded on his tongue drew a noise from his throat that toed the line between inappropriate and inhuman. Damn, it tastes good; spicy but also sweet. It didn’t taste like any curry his wife had made before but whatever it was, this recipe was a keeper.
Hands on his shoulders coaxed him to straighten in his seat.
‘Do you like it?’
Ichigo hummed his endorsement, leaning back into the hands that gently kneaded his shoulders.
‘Yuzu-chan helped me fine-tune the recipe’, Orihime said. 'Apparently, chocolate balances the spiciness really well'.
The rather odd ingredient didn't faze Ichigo in the slightest. He had long grown used to Orihime's unconventional cooking. Mostly because she had gotten quite skilled at combining the strangest things to make something that still tasted good, even if the ingredients would make you expect the opposite.
‘Do you want to tell us about your day?’
Ichigo nodded, trying to chew faster but only needing longer to swallow because of it.
‘No need to hurry, Love. We’ve got time’.
‘Yeah, Tou-san. You need to eat slow not fast’, Kazui chimed in.
Ichigo rolled his eyes but obeyed, turning to Kazui and chewing extra slowly.
‘Not that slow!’
“First too fast then too slow”, Ichigo signed. Finally, he could swallow and he cleared his mouth. ‘But today was rough, especially with the week we've had at work'. Ichigo leaned back, giving his wife a small smile in appreciation to tell her she could stop if she wanted to. Orihime sat down at his other side, giving him her attention. ‘I can't say it was a bad day, though'.
'Did something happen?' Kazui asked.
'You're not trying to get out of your homework, are you?' Ichigo accused amused.
'N-no! I'm almost done!' Kazui showed the paper as proof, 'See? I only need one more. I'm just taking a little break'.
Ichigo smiled and ruffled his son's hair, 'That's alright. Rest is important'. Ichigo would know, he had learned the hard way. 'So, it all started because we ran out of ink this morning...'
Ichigo recounted his day, exaggerating a little here and there for his son's amusement. When he told them about Hinamori...
'Ugh, that friggin' snoop'.
They all looked at the kitchen, seeing Kon walk out with a towel thrown over his shoulder.
'Did he try to grab your report?' Kon guessed, joining them at the table.
Ichigo, having just taken a bite of his food, nodded in confirmation.
Orihime looked at Kon and then back at her husband, 'This is the same Hinamori who caught you two talking?'
'Hm-hmm'.
'I can't stand that guy; he makes me want to defenestrate him from the nearest window--and I've only met him once!' Kon grumbled, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his seat. 'He just doesn't take a hint. If he catches you doing something, he won't stop sticking his nose into your business until he knows'. Kon eyed Ichigo, 'Is he still hounding you about me?'
Ichigo gave a look in return.
'Can you imagine having such a boring life that you bother people for over a year over the same thing?’ Kon scoffed. ‘Just take the explanation and let it be, geez'.
'Uhm, Tou-san?'
'Yeah, Kiddo?'
'How is this a good day?' Kazui asked. 'I mean: we didn't have ink, you were super busy at work, someone was being annoying and made you miss the metro, you also almost got arrested'. Kazui counted a finger with every point. 'What can possibly have happened to make it a good day?'
The frown in which Ichigo's brows had knitted themselves as he recounted his day unwound at the reminder of the silver lining that had made it all worth it. 'Because my Zanpakutō reached a very big milestone today and I couldn't be more proud of him'.
Kazui cocked his head, then looked at his mother. 'Kaa-san, what's a milestone?'
'It's an important moment or step in a person's growth', Orihime explained. 'So your Tou-san's Zanpakutō has overcome something that they struggled with'.
'But that makes no sense', Kazui said. 'Jii-san is super strong; there's nothing they can't do!'
'Being strong doesn't equal being perfect, Kazui', Ichigo said. 'Both your Jii-san and I have things we struggle with; things we need help with. Knowing your weaknesses and accepting them, or working on bettering them, also requires a form of strength. Having those doesn't make us any less strong'.
'Also, milestones are something personal', Orihime added. 'What can be difficult for one, can be easy for another'.
'So... is jii-san's milestone something that is silly to us but important to him?'
Ichigo gave his son a sharp look that had him avert his eyes. 'All that matters is that it is important to him, therefore, it is important to me, as well'.
'Ah... sorry'.
'It's alright, Kazui. You just need to mind your phrasing next time', Orihime said. 'And I'm very happy for them, Ichigo'. She covered his hand with her own, giving it a squeeze.
'Thanks, Hime'.
'Y-yeah... I... I might not get it but... but I'm happy that Jii-san and you are happy'.
'Thanks, Kazui'.
'You should start eating before it gets cold', Orihime said. 'Don't want you to get at the Shoten too late'.
'Doesn't matter', Ichigo said as he took another bite of his now lukewarm food. (It was still delicious.) 'I already cancelled'.
'Wait, you cancelled?' Kon interjected.
'Yeah, sorry I didn't give you a heads up about that. It's kind of a last-minute decision'.
'Are you sure it’s a good idea to skip?' Orihime asked with concern.
'Of course it isn't!' Kon said. 'Especially with the week you've had. Today alone is enough reason to send you to the Shoten'.
'Oi, I'm not that bad', Ichigo defended. Kon just gave him a look; Orihime had a nervous version of that look; and even Kazui was giving Ichigo a sceptic eye (and he didn't even understand what they were all referring to).
'I'm not!’
'You nearly ripped me to shreds', Kon pointed out dryly.
'That's was after half a year, Kon. Half. A. Year', Ichigo countered. 'It's been barely a month since I last sparred. I can handle a few weeks more'.
'We can switch', Orihime offered. 'I haven't made any plans and I wanted to take it easy anyway'.
Ichigo turned to his wife, fully intending to thank her when he realised the implications. 'I can't believe it. My own wife has no faith in me'. He placed the back of his hand against his head, 'How will I ever recover from a betrayal so deep?'
Kon and Orihime rolled their eyes, one more fondly than the other. Kazui just laughed at his father's silly act.
'You will live', Orihime said solemnly, patting her husband on the back in support. 'But if we can make things easier for one another, we should'.
Ichigo hummed, agreeing. He looked at his son, 'You hear that, Kazui? You're stuck with me this weekend'.
'Oh? Okay'.
With that settled, Ichigo resumed his meal. Kazui continued with his homework while Orihime and Kon talked about their schedules so they could plan a trip downtown.
‘When are you heading out?’ Kon asked.
Ichigo raised a hand as he chewed on the last bite of his meal. He didn’t rush it this time. ‘Give me a moment to put this away and I—‘
The plate was taken from his hands.
‘I’ll do it’, Orihime said, moving the plate further away as Ichigo automatically reached after it.
‘But, Hime—‘
‘You’ve had a hard day’, his wife reminded. ‘The sooner you go, the earlier you’re back and can rest’.
‘But I—‘
Ichigo was effectively silenced with a gentle kiss on the forehead. Orihime cupped his cheek with her free hand, angling his head back so their eyes could meet. ‘You go get ready, okay?’
It wasn’t a suggestion.
It was moments like these that Ichigo was reminded that he wasn’t the only one who could be stubborn. When it concerned someone's well-being, Orihime had him beaten and he was not immune.
‘Okay’.
She patted his cheek, a warm and pleased smile on her face before she left for the kitchen.
‘Ugh, you guys are so sweet it gives me cavities’, Kon complained, shaking Ichigo from his thoughts.
‘I’m gonna unpack my workbag real quick and be right there’. He turned to his son, ‘And you, don’t make it too late, okay?’
‘I won’t!’
‘Good’.
#
After unpacking his workbag in the study, Ichigo headed to Kon’s room (formerly the guestroom) where the ModSoul was waiting for him.
‘Are you sure you’ve got nothing planned?’ Ichigo asked. ‘I won’t be gone for long so I can use the badge if that suits you better’. He held up the badge for emphasis.
Kon waved him off, ‘I had one thing but I rescheduled it when you said Uryu might not be able to send his report in time; it wasn’t important’.
‘Still, I’m sorry—‘
Kon tipped his head back with a loud groan, ‘Kami, how many times do we have to go through this? You don’t need to apologise! I agreed to this, remember?’ He gestured to himself and, in the same motion, to the room around them. ‘You already give me more than any other Soul Reaper would ever think to give a ModSoul in return so I don’t need you to also give me unnecessary apologies, that’s just too much’.
Ichigo sighed, ‘I know, I know, I just…I know the frustration of needing to keep rescheduling and how annoyed other people get by it; I don’t want that for you, you know?’
‘My friends know I have an “on-call” kind of job, they understand. And if they don’t, well, that’s on them’, Kon said with a shrug. ‘Now, are we doing this or what? It isn’t getting any earlier’.
Ichigo tapped the badge against Kon’s back, the yellow pill that housed the artificial soul falling from the gigai’s lips and into his awaiting palm. Giving the orb a quick wipe down on his shirt with one hand, he gently lowered Kon’s gigai on the bed. After making sure the position was a comfortable one, Ichigo popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed.
Their switch had become near seamless. The only tell they couldn’t get rid of was the temporary weakness in the knees and the closing of their eyes as there was a brief moment where no one controlled the body. Still, it was near impossible to tell as they both had learned how to play into those tells. To the onlooker, it merely appeared that Ichigo blinked or started to doze off.
‘Damn, Ichigo. You should relax more’, Kon commented as he stretched the arms of Ichigo’s body over his head. ‘You’re feeling more stiff than usual’.
‘I’m not. You’re just used to a body that isn’t mine’, Ichigo denied, even as he rolled his shoulders in soul form.
‘Yeah, and mine isn’t tensed up twenty-four sev; point still stands’. Kon pressed his fingers to a spot near his shoulders, wincing slightly. ‘You need to take better care of yourself’.
Ichigo rolled his eyes, ‘Tell me something I don’t know’.
‘I’m serious, dude. Take some time off or something’.
‘I can’t right now, you know that’.
‘Then take a day off when you can’, Kon insisted. ‘That deadline is coming up soon, right? After that, when some of your co-workers have returned, you can take a day off then’.
‘I don’t know when that will be, Kon’.
‘Two months from now’, Kon said. ‘Next Monday, you request a day off in August. Deal?’ He extended his hand.
Ichigo accepted it with slight reluctance, ‘Fine, can’t promise it will be approved, though’.
‘But at least you requested it, that’s a good start’.
‘Whatever you say’. Ichigo shook his head at the ModSoul’s insistence, though it did make his lips twitch. ‘Anyway, I probably should get going—‘
‘ICHIGO!’ Orihime called out, followed by quick footfalls ascending the stairs. Ichigo opened the door in time to see his wife appear. She held up a bag to him. ‘You almost forgot this’.
‘Oh damn, I did—thank you’. Ichigo accepted the bag and leaned in to give her a kiss. ‘If it weren’t for you’.
‘I love you, too’, Orihime said, leaning back when Ichigo tried to steal a deeper kiss. ‘Be back before midnight?’
‘I’ll try’.
Orihime nodded at the answer and gestured for Kon to come, ‘You coming?’
‘Are we gonna watch that adaptation?’
‘Yep!’
‘Sweet! See ya later, Ichigo!’ Kon gave him a pat on the shoulder before leaving with Orihime to the living room.
Ichigo smiled, happy to see Kon so ingrained into his family, no matter which body he occupied. The ModSoul deserved it after all he’d been through and Orihime loved to have someone to watch shows with.
Holding the bag to his chest so its contents wouldn’t go flying when he used Hirenkyaku, Ichigo opened up the window and slipped outside.
#
TO BE CONTINUED
BLEACH - Tite Kubo