Lazing Around.

After their talk, Ichigo asked Yasaka if there was an apartment or something similar away from everything else, possibly at the edge of her territory where he could be alone for some time. Apparently, there were dozens of such places as well.

"I will have one of the guards show them to you tomorrow morning."

The next morning came quickly enough. Yasaka had to attend a monthly meeting of some kind so a maid showed up and led him to a guard outside the palace. The guard was one of the few he had come to know during his stay. His name was Kurodo and he was an Oni. He was one of many who willingly followed Kunou on her misadventures to protect her.

According to what he was told and heard from others and the man himself, Kurodo was one of the few who had a chance to break the high level limit and enter the ultimate class. His family wanted him to follow Yasaka, but he insisted that he rather follow Kunou because her misadventures were more fun. He was easy going and laid back from what he had seen but according to the others, the moment he had a club in his hands, he turned into a vicious berserker. Enough that Kurodo had earned a moniker. What it was, Ichigo didn't know, nor did he really care about it. As they were walking towards their destination, Kurodo asked him a few questions.

"Why the sudden want to move away from the castle, Ichigo-dono?"

"Just wanted to be alone for some time." Ichigo replied. The conversation stopped for a while before Kurodo spoke up.

"I don't know your full story Ichigo-dono, but I do know that you lost your family recently. It might be weird coming from a stranger, but you should take the next few months slow." Kurodo said to him while shaking his head.

At first, Kurodo didn't want the man named Kurosaki Ichigo anywhere near his young charge. When he first showed up, the pressure Ichigo was releasing was enough to crack the floor and force someone like him on their knees. He knew that because he had tried to get closer to Ichigo and was forced on his knees even though he was nearly fifty meters away. That incident forced him to see the truth. While he was called a genius in this small faction, there were monsters out there that could kill him without even looking at him. The one walking with him right now was one such monster. After a week though, the pressure around Ichigo decreased to such a degree that it wasn't even funny. He only sensed the full extent of it when he focused on Ichigo. That was another wake up call. The fact that such a monster could walk right up to him and he wouldn't notice until it was too late. So he was thankful to Ichigo, for even if it wasn't his intention, he helped him change his mindset. He felt closer to breaking the wall now than he had ever felt before.

"Yasaka told me the same thing. It's also why I want to be left alone for some time." Ichigo told him. Kurodo started to laugh.

"Ichigo-dono, you really shouldn't call Yasaka-sama so familiarly in front of her retainers. Those old coots would take offense to it and start behaving like idiots." Kurodo told him happily. Of course, the reason he told Ichigo about the retainers was because he wanted to save their lives and save Yasaka a headache. Also because he knew that Ichigo wouldn't really listen to him and also because he wanted to see the naggers on their knees, not dead. At least now Ichigo would know why they were being hostile towards him, if they ever were, and not kill them. Though after knowing a bit more about him from Kunou, Kurodo felt that Ichigo wouldn't hurt anyone unnecessarily, but it was still better to be cautious. They kept talking as they walked and soon were standing in front of a small asian house, complete with a small backward and even a small pond.

"This is the first place on the list and the furthest away from any sort of community or market." Kurodo told him as he led him inside the house. A sliding front door lead to a slightly open living room with an attached kitchen. Two bedrooms with one bathroom and amazing scenery outside. It felt more like a honeymoon getaway for new couples than an actual house, but it was perfect. Also the fact that it was far away from people, practically in a middle of a forest, made it more appealing.

Ichigo walked around for some time, before deciding that this was a good place for some peace and quiet.

"Yeah well, this is good enough." Ichigo said to Kurodo who was waiting outside for him. Kurodo raised his eye brows and asked.

"Are you sure Ichigo-dono? This is the smallest and the most remote place on the list."

"Yeah, this is perfect." Ichigo said, slightly absentmindedly.

"Well, if you say so. Once a week, either myself or one of the palace maids will show up with food enough to last the week and if you want anything, you know the way back to the palace." Kurodo answered with a shrug. This just made his job easier so he wasn't complaining.

With that, Kurodo nodded his head and went back, leaving him alone with nothing but calming forest noises. He went inside the kitchen and saw the pantry full. He opened the fridge and saw it filled with ingredients. He only knew how to cook the most basic dishes but he also saw a lot of instant stuff in the cabinets. He was feeling bad living off of another person's generosity but Yasaka had already helped him a lot, he could live with a bit more. Besides, he had decided that he would help Yasaka any way he could to repay her.

Then he started doing what the people around him advised him to do, nothing. He ate, slept, moved around the house, explored the forest, watched the pond, but besides that, he just laid around, doing nothing. He thought about his life, his family, his friends, his enemies and anything else that reminded him of his world.

The more he thought about it, the more a feeling of emptiness grew inside him. Away from any other people, he started to feel the absence of his loved ones. There was no Isshin with his surprise attacks and exaggerations. No Yuzu with her cooking and gentle admonitions. No Karin with her tomboyish and cutting remarks. No Keigo with his sudden attempts at hugs. No Mizuiro with his calm retorts. No Chad with his quiet steadfastness. No Orihime with her gentle eagerness. No Tatsuki, no Rukia, no Renji. There was no one. All of them were gone. He thought that the more he remembered them, the less painful it would get. Instead, he started to feel their absence even more strongly. The tears he thought would stop flowing started again. So, he just laid there and cried. He cried in anguish and loss. He cried because of the ones he lost. He cried because he survived. Hence, Ichigo's second month, the month of June, in this new world went by just like that, filled with remorse. No one disturbed him. The food was left outside the house in containers.

The third month, he once again got up. He started going for walks again. He started to go to the market and the local communities. He started talking to people. It was also during one of his walks that he came across Kunou, hiding from Kurodo and his team. She eagerly followed him to the house and happily ate the instant food he made. She found out where he was staying and from then on started to show up once or twice a week, running from her guards and tutors. To him, she felt like this bundle of warmth and energy that invaded the bleakness and lethargy that he had found himself surrounded with.

She would show up unannounced, talk to him incessantly, telling him about how boring her studies were, what she ate today, what she and her mother did, how she did in her tests, anything and everything, down to tiniest detail, she shared it with him. It felt nice being around someone like her. July passed with his only constant company being Kunou.

Starting from the fourth month, Yasaka and Kurodo also started to show up once in a while. Yasaka was a busy person so she only showed up thrice in the entire month but Kurodo would show up every week with Kunou and share drinks with him. He wasn't a big drinker or liked alcohol all that much, but it still felt nice to share a drink with someone. Soon, some other guards started to show up as well. The house was small, so they would come and invite him to go drinking with them. The drinking led to one of them asking for a spar and that led to nearly daily spars with anyone that was interested. He won of course. Every time, quite easily, but the guards seemed to enjoy it and he didn't really mind the little exercise.

During the spars, he did understand why Kurodo was called a vicious berserker. The moment he had a club in his hands, he charged at him like an angry bull. At first glance, it was just like a senseless charge, but it was less of a mistake and more of a deliberate ruse. Get the opponents guard down and finish them when they weren't paying attention. Of course it didn't work on him. Kurodo was far too slow to actually hit him, though it always felt like Kurodo was the more satisfied one after the spars. Just like that, August passed with far more activity around him than the last three months combined.

During September, he was told that both Yasaka and Kunou were born on the ninth day of the ninth month. Kunou would be turning 11 soon and that he was invited to the birthday party by both of them and had to attend. He readily accepted the invitation and was told that a few representatives from other factions will also be there. The day before the birthday party, he met an old man during his spars with the guards. He hadn't even realized that someone was standing on that spot until Kurodo saluted in that direction.

"Elder Gen, welcome back."

The old man was a short one with dark skin, bald head, thick white eyebrows, a thick mustache and a small but full beard. He was wearing a black yukata with green highlights and a necklace with large red beads. When he opened his eyes, they were a bright green in color and those eyes alone were enough to tell him that this old man was not simple. He had a similar feeling to the old commander of the gotei 13. Someone who had lived a long life and had seen a lot of shit. He of course remembered Yasaka telling him about this Elder Gen, the oldest living Youkai. The old man himself only nodded towards Kurodo and other guards and looked towards Ichigo with scrutiny.

"Hmm, so you are the young man causing such a ruckus." The old man said, raking his hand through his short beard. Ichigo frowned, not knowing about any ruckus he had caused besides the initial one. So he asked the old man.

"What do you mean by ruckus old man? I've been quiet for last few months." The old man looked at him for some time before nodding and walking away. He called out to him as he turned his head.

"Walk with me boy." Ichigo's frown got deeper but he followed the old man. After walking for some time, the old man started talking.

"Your initial appearance caused a huge disturbance boy. All the factions spy on each other. Many out there already know of your existence. Some of them will send their people to find out who caused that disturbance since I managed to hide that at least." Ichigo listened to the old man talk. There was something strange about the way he talked and walked. It looked normal to his eyes and ears, but his other senses were still confused. Especially his spiritual sense. The old man didn't exist in his spiritual sense. It was like feeling a rock or a tree with his spiritual sense, barely a twinge.

Just like how Ichigo was focusing on the elder, the elder was also focusing on him. From what the elder could sense with his extreme sensitivity and experience, the young man was a Shinigami alright, an extremely powerful one at that. More powerful than it should be possible for a Shinigami. But that wasn't the problem. The power of death on him was too violent to be of a Death God. It felt like he was something that thrived on death but at the same time, there were some calming elements to that power as well. It certainly felt like a Shinigami but it was different to the Grim Reapers as well as the Gods of Death of different pantheons he had met.

Ichigo had only told Yasaka the proper details of what he was. What a Shinigami in his world was and their duties. What a Hollow was and how they were born. What a Quincy was, the final war with them and the progenitor of the quincies and the fact that he was all of them plus a human, combined. Yasaka had of course kept those details to herself and would only tell anyone if Ichigo agreed to it.

The elder was a spy master and an experienced one at that. He knew a lot of what was going on in the world. He knew turbulent times were ahead and wanted to somehow help this little place tide over those times. He also knew that Amaterasu was worried about the same thing. Not to be punny, but this young man was like a heaven sent gift. He had a inkling of what Amaterasu had planned for this young man and couldn't really find any fault in it. The boy had not only already connected with some people here but he was also indebted to Yasaka for her help.

According to the stories he had told, he was someone who wouldn't abandon them, if the stories were true that is. So far, from what he had observed from the last month, he seemed trustworthy enough but there was always that 'What if...'. He had heard the circumstances and the boy's wish to help Yasaka in any way he could and the conclusion they had reached. He of course knew bounty hunting and had been a hunter for some time in his long life. He had already decided the help Ichigo and would take the boy with himself and teach him how to do it properly. This would also give him a chance to observe what kind of man Ichigo was more closely, openly and freely in the pretense of teaching him. That would help him decide whether the plan he thought Amaterasu had for Ichigo would work or not.

After a long time of silence and observing each other, Gen opened his mouth.

"Boy, I know you want to become a bounty hunter and that, that young lass, Yasaka wanted me to help you. I am willing to help you but in turn I want your promise that you will help them if they ever need it." He said that as seriously as he could while looking at someone who could crush you. He had pride as well. No matter how powerful the young man was, the knowledge and experience he had gained over the centuries was something that Ichigo could never compare to. He was not the most powerful in the world, but dare he say that he was one of the most knowledgeable ones. He had multiple ways to stop an entity of such power. He might not be able to stop them permanently but enough to slow them down and send them away.

Ichigo was taken aback by how serious the elder looked, but he clearly heard what he had said and his frown turned into a scowl. His spiritual pressure started leaking and he said angrily.

"Who do you think I'm old man. Do you think I'm someone who doesn't know how to return a favor?"

As he was getting more agitated, the old man held up his hands and motioned him to calm down and he quickly realized that he was releasing too much pressure. He started to take deep breaths. While he calmed down, the old man started speaking again.

"I said that because I don't know what kind of man you are. But no matter what, I still want your promise."

Ichigo nodded while still scowling.

"Alright. As long as she.. no, even if she doesn't asks, if I think she need my help, I will gladly give it to her. I had already decided to do that." Ichigo said after a while. Yasaka clearly said that she respected this Elder. This old man was helping him and in turn asked him to do something he was already planning on doing. He could live with that.

Both parties started to walk again and soon reached the palace. Outside the palace, Yasaka was already waiting for them while frowning.

"I felt your anger from here Ichigo. What happened?"

Before he could answer, the old man opened his mouth again and said with a drawl.

"Don't worry about it. I asked a wrong question lass."

Yasaka nodded, but it was clear that she was not satisfied with the answer. She looked towards him and he only shrugged. She brought them in and led them to a room with a few other people already there. There were only old looking people in the room and he had a feeling that they didn't like him. He recognized a few of them as the officials that regularly came to Yasaka for different issues. She led them to some seats and went to her own.

"We were talking about the guests that will be coming tomorrow. Two of them are requesting a meeting after the party to discuss 'something'" Yasaka didn't give the officials any time to voice their dissatisfaction and started talking.

"Hmm, the Devils should be the only ones with any immediate interest in what is happening in Japan." Elder Gen stated.

"Yes, the devils have already stated what they want to talk about but the Greeks have shown interest as well." Yasaka said with a sigh.

"The Greeks... I believe Hades may have sensed something on Ichigo's arrival. He is a devious one. If he wants something he is willing to go as low as he can to get it. Better stay clear of the mad God." Elder Gen said after thinking.

"The devils most likely only want that little town for themselves. Talk to Amaterasu about that." The elder kept going.

From there, the meeting went on to discuss more matters regarding the territory and whatnot. Ichigo sat there, utterly confused. It was clear that he wasn't supposed to be here but here he was sitting in a meeting he felt he had no right to sit in. After nearly an hour of talking, Yasaka sighed before saying.

"Now, let us talk about the elephant in the room." The moment she said that, the attention of the room was turned towards him. Suddenly he was the center of attention and even more confused. There was silence in the room as no one wanted to be the first one to speak. After waiting for some time, Yasaka spoke up.

"Since no one is willing to speak up, I shall." She looked at all the people in the room with narrowed eyes. There was some meaning to that gesture that he didn't understand, but he didn't care.

"Ichigo, what are your plans after the party?" Yasaka asked him.

Hmm? Was he the elephant in the room? Well, it made sense in a way.

"For now, the old man has agreed to teach me as long as I follow him around for some time. So yeah. When he leaves, I'll most likely follow him." Ichigo answered. There were sighs of relief around the room while Yasaka's glare got stronger.

"Very well. You can discuss the details with Elder Gen and myself sometime later." Yasaka nodded before saying that the meeting was done. The others quickly got up and left while the old man motioned him to stay. After everyone had left, Yasaka sighed before asking him with a smile.

"How are you feeling Ichigo?"

"Better. The few people bugging me constantly helped." He answered, relaxing in his seat. This felt like it would take some time.