School life and a Stalker and Plans

The aroma of freshly made breakfast filled the Kurosaki household. Masaki flipped pancakes with a practiced hand while Harry brewed tea and Isshin sat with a mischievous grin on his face.

As footsteps thundered down the stairs, Ichigo and Rukia appeared, with Rukia dressed in a Karakura High uniform. Ichigo looked less than enthusiastic, while Rukia maintained an air of aloofness, as if daring anyone to comment on her disguise.

"Good morning, lovebirds!" Isshin exclaimed, throwing his arms out dramatically.

Ichigo's eye twitched. "We're not—stop saying that!"

Masaki covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Oh, Ichigo, don't be so shy. Rukia looks adorable in her uniform. It's almost like she's trying to impress someone."

Harry smirked, leaning casually against the counter. "I'm sure it's entirely coincidental that she decided to stay in your room instead of the guest room."

Ichigo groaned, running a hand down his face. "I can't deal with this. Rukia, let's eat and get out of here before they start planning a wedding."

Rukia raised an eyebrow, her cheeks slightly pink. "Your family is... eccentric."

"That's one way to put it," Ichigo muttered.

As they sat down to eat, Isshin leaned forward conspiratorially. "So, Rukia, how long have you been madly in love with my son?"

Ichigo choked on his orange juice, while Rukia's face turned crimson. Masaki and Harry burst into laughter, the latter clapping Isshin on the back.

"All right, all right, let the kids eat," Harry said, still chuckling. "We'll save the grandkids' names discussion for later."

"Harry!" Ichigo shouted, glaring at the grinning man.

At school, Ichigo greeted his friends with his usual scowl-turned-grin. Tatsuki gave him a playful punch on the shoulder, while Orihime waved enthusiastically. Chad nodded stoically, and Keigo launched into his usual dramatic antics about how Ichigo's coolness overshadowed his.

During homeroom, their teacher introduced Rukia as a new student.

"This is Rukia Kuchiki. She's just transferred here, so please make her feel welcome."

Rukia gave an awkward bow, her voice stiff and overly formal. "It is an honor to be here among such fine individuals. I look forward to this learning environment."

The class stared in stunned silence.

Ichigo facepalmed. Seriously?

Orihime clapped enthusiastically. "That was so graceful, Rukia! You'll fit in perfectly!"

Keigo leaned over to Ichigo. "Dude, is she, like, from the 1800s or something?"

"Don't ask," Ichigo muttered, sinking lower in his seat.

The day seemed to be progressing normally until break. As Ichigo and his friends were gathered near the school courtyard, he felt the unmistakable tingle of a Hollow's presence. Rukia stiffened beside him, but before she could say a word, Ichigo was already moving.

The Hollow materialized in an alley near the school, its grotesque mask glinting menacingly.

Rukia started to explain, "Ichigo, that's a Hollow. You need to—"

"I know," Ichigo interrupted, his voice calm.

With a flick of his hand, he cast a Bakudō spell. "Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!"

Six rods of light slammed into the Hollow, pinning it in place. Rukia's jaw dropped.

"Where did you learn that?" she demanded.

Ichigo didn't answer. He seamlessly transitioned into his Soul Reaper form, Zangetsu appearing in his hand. In one fluid motion, he sliced through the Hollow, purifying it.

Turning back to Rukia, he shrugged. "I've been training for years. You thought I'd just wing it?"

Rukia stared at him, dumbfounded. "You've been training? And you already know about Soul Reaper duties?"

"Yeah," Ichigo said nonchalantly, "but thanks for the backup, I guess."

After the break, classes resumed as if nothing had happened. Rukia, however, couldn't shake her surprise.

Just who is this guy? she wondered, glancing at Ichigo as he casually took notes.

That evening, Ichigo sat outside, his Zanpakutō resting across his knees. Yoruichi appeared beside him in her cat form, leaping gracefully onto his shoulder.

"Thinking about something, kid?" she asked, her golden eyes glinting.

Ichigo sighed. "I sensed it today. What Harry and Kisuke were talking about. Someone's watching us."

Yoruichi stretched lazily, her tail flicking. "About time you noticed. You're being stalked."

Ichigo glanced at her. "Aren't you supposed to say that with some seriousness?"

She grinned, her feline features somehow managing to look mischievous. "If I did that, it wouldn't be as fun."

Ichigo shook his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "You're impossible."

As they talked, Ichigo couldn't shake the feeling of being observed. Far away, Aizen sat in his lair, watching through one of his many methods.

Later that day, Ichigo called both Harry and Kisuke.

"Someone's been watching me," he said bluntly. "I'm pretty sure it's the guy you've been warning me about."

Harry's voice was calm on the other end of the line. "We'll talk tonight. Be ready."

Ichigo hung up, rubbing his temples. "This is going to be a pain in the butt."

Yoruichi, back in her human form, leaned against the doorway with a teasing grin. "Don't worry, kid. You've got us to make it more fun."

Ichigo sighed, muttering under his breath. "Why does my life have to be like this?"

The Kurosaki living room was packed. Ichigo sat on the couch with an annoyed look, flanked by Harry and Isshin. Across from him were Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi (in her human form, much to Ichigo's embarrassment), and the Vizards—an eclectic group of former Shinigami with a penchant for chaos. Shinji Hirako lounged carelessly in a chair, grinning like a Cheshire cat, while the others sat or stood, adding to the room's tension.

Ichigo looked around and sighed. "Why do I feel like whatever you're planning is going to make my life worse?"

Harry grinned mischievously, leaning back in his chair. "Because you're smart, kid. Let's make it simple: We outplay Aizen by leaning into absurdity. I propose... a magic show."

"A magic show?" Rukia repeated, incredulous. "How is that supposed to help?"

Harry's grin widened. "Picture this: We use social media to show off what we can do—calling it magic, sleight of hand, illusions. We flood the internet with 'evidence' of powers, burying the truth in plain sight. Aizen might start to question if we're even serious threats."

Shinji slapped his knee, laughing. "Now that's genius! Imagine him sitting there, all smug, and then realizing he's been outsmarted by a bunch of dumbasses. I'm in!"

Isshin joined in, dramatically standing up. "I could be the bumbling assistant who accidentally sets off fireworks!"

Kisuke chuckled, tipping his hat. "And I'll be the mysterious magician pulling rabbits—or Hollows—out of hats. It's not a bad cover for training Ichigo, either."

Ichigo groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why do I have to be part of this circus?"

Masaki patted his head with a smile. "Because you're the star, dear."

Yuzu and Karin, who had been sitting nearby, giggled at the absurdity.

"Can I do magic too?" Yuzu asked, eyes sparkling.

Harry gave her a wink. "Of course! You can be the magician's apprentice."

Once Yuzu and Karin were sent to bed, the atmosphere shifted. The humor and lightheartedness evaporated as the adults and Vizards leaned forward, their faces grim.

"Let's be real," Harry began, his voice steady. "Aizen's no fool. He'll see through anything superficial. The magic act might distract him temporarily, but we need something deeper—something that puts him off balance."

Kisuke nodded, tapping his fan against his chin. "We use Ichigo as bait. He acts like an untrained, inexperienced Shinigami under Rukia's guidance."

Ichigo frowned. "What's the point? Aizen's already watching me."

"Exactly," Kisuke said. "He thinks you're important, but he doesn't know how much you know. If you act like a complete novice, he'll underestimate you. That's where we hit him."

Rukia crossed her arms. "This won't work. He's too dangerous, and we don't even have concrete proof of his actions."

Harry smirked. "Oh, we have proof."

At a nod from Harry, Shinji and the other Vizards stepped forward. Shinji's usually light demeanor turned dark. "Aizen's the reason we're like this. He experimented on us, turned us into... what we are now. If you don't believe us, just ask Kisuke and Tessai. They were exiled for trying to stop him."

Kisuke removed his hat, his expression serious. "He's manipulating everything, Rukia. He's been doing it for over a century."

Rukia's eyes widened as she looked between them. "You're telling the truth?"

Shinji snorted. "Like we'd make this up for fun."

Finally, she nodded. "Fine. I'm in. But Ichigo's already showing spells like Bakudō #61. How am I supposed to teach him if I can barely cast above #60?"

Tessai, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "I'll handle that. By the time we're done, you'll know up to Bakudō #89."

Rukia blinked. "In one night?"

Tessai adjusted his glasses, his expression unyielding. "Yes."

Without another word, Rukia stood and followed him to the training area.

The night wore on. Kisuke handed out cups of reinvigorating tea, promising it would substitute for sleep.

Ichigo practiced his combat techniques with Shinji and Yoruichi, while Harry and Kisuke discussed Aizen's potential weaknesses.

"This tea better work," Ichigo grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow.

Yoruichi, lounging nearby, smirked. "Don't worry, kid. It's practically magic."

Ichigo groaned. "Great. More magic."

Meanwhile, Rukia was in another room, her reiatsu flaring as Tessai pushed her to master higher-level Kido.

As dawn approached, the group reconvened in the living room. Kisuke unrolled a map of Karakura Town, pointing to key locations.

"Here's the deal. We keep Ichigo in the spotlight, playing the inexperienced hero, while the rest of us stay in the shadows. When Aizen makes his move, we'll be ready."

Harry nodded. "We'll need contingencies for every possible scenario. And remember—this is Aizen. He's playing chess while we're playing checkers. We can't afford mistakes."

Ichigo cracked his knuckles. "No pressure, then."

Masaki smiled at her son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've got this, Ichigo. We all believe in you."

Harry grinned. "And if all else fails, we'll just fall back on the magic show."

The room erupted into laughter, the tension easing for a moment as they prepared for the battles ahead.