A Week in Soul Society (4)

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Splash!

Ichigo's mind whirled as he thought about how he had ended up in his current situation. Initially, he and Retsu had been 'playfully' firing some low-level Hadō at each other. Ichigo managed to fire a Byakurai on his third try but did it no better than a recently graduated Shinigami. Retsu still praised him for that as she was sure no one could learn it as fast as he did.

By the time he knew it, he was already proficient in Byakurai. He was aware that it was still unstable because of his slightly better than poor Reiatsu control, but he could cast it without a hitch. Retsu cast a different Hadō upon noticing his improvement. It was Hadō #31: Shakkahō. Ichigo learned it and managed to fire it on his second try. Everything went out of control from this moment.

Ichigo only had the initiative to stop their bout after noticing that his Shihakushō had been blasted, leaving him with his hakama. Retsu's clothes didn't suffer any damage, but they were quite ruffled because of their bout. Seeing their state, his genius which sometimes astounded him made him suggest they should have a bath at the river. Retsu agreed with him.

Splash!

He didn't think much about it at first, but now that Retsu was nearby, he began to slightly feel uncomfortable. He worried that he might accidentally look at Retsu inappropriately and lose his precious twin marbles as a result.

"That was a good way to relieve stress, Ichigo-kun," Retsu remarked, causing Ichigo to turn his head sideways to look at her. "You might be the only person ever suggesting that method and I have to praise you for your creative thinking. I enjoyed that."

"I am glad to hear that, Retsu. I also enjoyed our little game," Ichigo replied with a faint wry smile. "Anyway, doesn't it bother you?"

"Bathing with a male?" she inquired. "I think I have passed the stage of caring about such a thing. I am an old soul, after all. But don't get me wrong. I don't do this with just any male. You are the only male I ever did this with."

Ichigo wondered if Retsu was intentionally throwing around innuendos. A look at her expression was enough to tell him that she didn't realize what she was doing. 'Cute. But I am not going to be fooled!' As usual, he kept denying it.

"I am honored to hear that." Ichigo smiled genuinely, quite proud of himself. "What makes me different, then?"

"You are the first man who dares approach me this way."

"Hmph! Their loss."

Retsu giggled upon seeing Ichigo's smirk. They fell into silence a few seconds later, but it wasn't awkward. Noticing that Ichigo was no longer facing her way, Retsu inched closer. Her mischievous side was urging her to fluster the teenager. Therefore, she was quite stunned when the said teenager wrapped his arm around her hip.

Her spine tingled pleasantly and her lips almost broke into a grin that she didn't want Ichigo to see. When she met Ichigo's inquiring look, she realized that her body was tense. Immediately relaxing her body, she leaned her head on Ichigo's shoulder. Together, they watched as the sun slowly set.

"It's not bad."

She agreed with Ichigo wholeheartedly.

…

They returned to Seireitei at nightfall. Ichigo escorted her to the Fourth Division's barrack. Many people looked at them with bulging eyes on their way, but none of them paid any attention to the look they were receiving. The Shinigami who saw them whispered in disbelief at what they were seeing. They had heard the rumors but didn't expect them to be true.

'That guy has balls of steel!'

The male Shinigami revered Ichigo and made him their role model. They greatly respected Ichigo for even daring to attempt to court the devilish angel of Seireitei.

'The prince has finally saved the princess from her pit of loneliness. How beautiful!'

On the other hand, the female Shinigami fawned over their assumptive scenario of Ichigo and Retsu's encounter. They envied Retsu for already finding their prince and some of them even wondered if they could make Ichigo their prince.

The two people in talks were clueless about the phenomenon they had caused. They thought nothing of their date—at least, one of them did—so they didn't think anyone would care. They still had an inkling that everyone was talking about them, but they didn't care. Whatever people said, it would only come true once they acknowledged it.

"I had fun today. Thank you for the company, Ichigo-kun," Retsu said with a smile upon reaching her division compound.

"I also had fun and learned a lot from you," Ichigo replied sincerely, returning the smile with his own. "Then, I guess this is it. Have a good rest, Retsu. See you."

"See you, Ichigo-kun."

Retsu put her hand on her cheek and tilted her head as she curiously gazed at Ichigo's back. The Shihakushō that she had 'accidentally' destroyed had fixed itself, covering his torso. She had never felt any special attraction toward any male's body as she had seen a lot of them as a medic. However, Ichigo's was different. She felt a desire to see it bare.

"My… what am I thinking? I am no longer a young," she muttered to herself. "But what is stopping me? Fu-Fu-Fu…." She retreated into the barrack with a chilling laugh, bewildering and terrifying her lieutenant who had just returned from an errand.

Ichigo stopped in his tracks when he sensed a presence not far away from him. Turning to the side, he tilted his head to dodge an arrow made out of Reishi. The moment he saw the white-haired man who had shot the arrow, he fully turned his body to him. He knew who the man was, so he bowed politely. Despite so, the man still put up his Heilig Bogen.

"Making someone wait after asking for their help—you are truly that man's son," Ishida Ryūken remarked, causing Ichigo to smile wryly.

"Got too caught up in my outing. Sorry," Ichigo sincerely apologized.

"Your promiscuity alone is something that Isshin didn't pass down to you."

"That's very prejudicial of you, Ryūken-san."

"These Shinigami can't stop talking about it."

Ichigo noted Ryūken's information-gathering skill before saying, "Let's find somewhere more private, shall we?"

In response to the invitation, Ryūken fired a Heilig Pfeil. Ichigo backhanded it, deflecting it to the side. Ryūken's eyes slightly widened at what Ichigo did. He looked at the slight burn on Ichigo's hand and then watched as the burn quickly disappeared. Recovering from his surprise, he used Hirenkyaku and then appeared in the opposite direction.

Firing hundreds of Heilig Pfeil, he forced Ichigo to dodge. His Heilig Pfeil kept following Ichigo wherever he went, prompting Ichigo to draw his Zanpakutō. Ichigo fired a Getsuga Tensho at him, causing him to stop his barrage of Heilig Pfeil and dodge. The Getsuga Tensho flashed past him and then exploded in the sky.

The amount of Reiryoku contained in that single attack astounded Ryūken. Given Ichigo's poor Reiatsu control, he could understand why Ichigo was a walking Hollow Bait. His mental alarm went off just a second before Ichigo appeared before him. Tilting his body backward, he dodged Ichigo's blunt-sided swing. The force behind the swing was enough to ruffle his bangs.

Ryūken somersaulted before Ichigo could punch him. In the middle of it, he fired another Heilig Pfeil at Ichigo. Displaying commendable agility, Ichigo thwarted the Heilig Pfeil with Zangetsu. Ryūken used Hirenkyaku to distance himself, gathering Reishi to fire a concentrated Heilig Pfeil at Ichigo. To his surprise, Ichigo held out his palm.

"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"

Ryūken let go of his Heilig Pfeil at the same time Ichigo fired his Shakkahō. He wondered when Ichigo had learned Kidō but didn't dwell too much on it. When his Heilig Pfeil and the Kidō clashed, the air blasted, ruffling their clothes. His Heilig Pfeil soon cut through the Kidō, heading to Ichigo at a rapid pace.

Expecting Ichigo to dodge, he slightly panicked when Ichigo remained in his place. The only reason why he didn't rush to Ichigo's side and move him out of the way was the smile he saw on Ichigo's face. He trusted that Ichigo had a plan, so he watched expectantly. Dread washed him when his Heilig Pfeil pierced Ichigo's chest but nothing happened.

Ryūken was about to dash at Ichigo when he felt something changed. His Heilig Pfeil dispersed as if it was absorbed into Ichigo's body. Ichigo's intense Reiatsu abruptly receded. His raging Reiryoku also calmed down, making him feel no different from a decent lieutenant-level Shinigami. The change was palpable, yet Ryūken was more interested in the shining blue pattern running through Ichigo's body.

"Blut Vene," he remarked. "You can use it unconsciously just like an Echt."

"Unfortunately, that is not the case," Ichigo said, shaking his head faintly. "I can only use Blut unconsciously because I just recently awakened. My Quincy power surges during this stage, but as you can see, it is quickly receding." True to his words, his Blut Vene disappeared soon.

Ryūken nodded his head and then walked up to Ichigo. They stared at each other and said nothing for a few seconds.

"I have no interest in the Quincy affair, but I won't force you to forget your heritage. Just know that this will be the last time I help you with Quincy-related matters," Ryūken said breaking the silence. "Also, I suggest you not get involved with Shinigami anymore. I am sure Masaki doesn't want to hear that his son is suffering because of the dead's affair."

"Thank you, Uncle Ryūken. I will keep that in mind."

Ryūken grunted in acknowledgment and then walked away. Ichigo watched Ryūken's retreating figure, reminding himself that he needed to beat Uryū up for disrespecting the compassionate man hiding behind his cold mask.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Adan Smith

Venerable Immortal Haider Alkefaji

Venerable Immortal B0mbaCl0ckBob

Venerable Immortal Jack Wright

Venerable Immortal SilverWolf