Chapter 7

"I'll be frank. I don't trust any of the captains aside from chichi, Shunsui-san and Kenpachi, and maybe you, soutaichou." Ichigo answered straightly.

The soutaichou, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, nodded. He just asked Ichigo if the latter wanted to join any Squad or at least train in the Academy, but the latter quickly dismissed it, saying those words. "Can I at least know why?"

Ichigo broke their eye contact and chose to stay silent.

Yamamoto was a calculative man, weighing down everything up to the last milligram. As he observed, the boy wasn't really afraid of him who was obviously more dangerous and more powerful than Aizen. And he made the decision to ask. "Does it have anything to do with Aizen-taichou, the man you fear?"

Ichigo's head snapped up and their gaze locked once more before the younger male quickly averted his eyes. "There's no need to answer that. I just don't trust the Taichous, that's all." He muttered.

"Ichigo Ukitake," Ichigo was about to voice the correction about the surname but stopped himself because of the look that Yamamoto gave him. "The reason I want you to train in the Shinigami Academy is because I fear that many of us don't trust you either. You live here, in the place full of Shinigamis, despite the fact that you seem to hate being a Shinigami."

Ichigo didn't like the soutaichou's tone so he immediately interrupted. "The only reason I live here is because chichi wanted me to. If you want me out, then I'll gladly do so."

"There's also the fact that Hollows seem to be attracted to your reiatsu." Yamamoto continued, not minding the insolence at all. He was far too old to listen to infants' attempts of being in control. "I believe that training in the Academy is by far the best choice you have to not endanger those around you."

"I don't want to go to the Academy though." Ichigo answered truthfully. He hated the thought of ever studying together with other people. He hated being stared at just because he had a strange color of hair.

"I will not force you of course." Yamamoto could see the teen's discomfort at the fact that he was being forced to do something he didn't want. "I'm just curious as to how you can make use of your potential." The fukutaichou, who was up until now listening silently to the conversation, immediately looked at his captain. For the soutaichou to give such a compliment to someone, it was either that person was extremely powerful or extremely intelligent.

"I'll think about it, though I cannot promise you anything." Ichigo answered before he bowed and turned around, heading for the door, when he stopped and turned around again. Yamamoto saw the indecision in the child's eyes, the quiet embarrassment, and then the resolve. "Uh, can I call you Yama-jii too? Chichi always calls you that every time he talks of you informally."

The soutaichou felt his right eye twitch. And he thought the boy would ask something really important. "You can call me that if you become a Shinigami, akambo."

Ichigo scowled, almost pouted, at the nickname. "I'm not a baby." Yamamoto had to hold back the urge to chuckle. It seemed the boy was completely at ease in his presence, though of course the old man was constantly hiding his immense reiatsu from everyone because it would kill all those who were nearby.

In the hall, many Captains had left and only a few remained, such as Shunsui, Juushirou, the youngest captain and also the prodigy Toshirou Hitsugaya, the Captain of the 4th Squad Retsu Unohana, and Kenpachi.

"Your son's a let-down, you know." Kenpachi started. "I can't believe he's scared of Aizen of all people." Juushirou was about to defend his son's pride when Toshirou beat him into it.

"I believe we shouldn't just treat it as mere cowardice." Toshirou said in his low, cool voice. "He's not afraid of Ichimaru-taichou, or even you, Zaraki-taichou. It means that there's something more to it than mere cowardice in the face of strong reiatsu."

"I believe that Hitsugaya-taichou is right." Unohana added. "Even Aizen-taichou himself said that he somehow recognize the kid's reiatsu, though vaguely."

"And besides, to be able to stay in Yama-jii's Office for more than five minutes shows that he's not intimidated. I believe there won't be any conclusion to this unless Ichigo himself tells us the reason for his fear." Shunsui said, looking at Juushirou in particular.

"I agree to that. Anyway, I better get going." Toshirou said before he disappeared, using shunpo to go to his office.

"Tch, but that doesn't mean I'll stop chasing after him, Ukitake." Kenpachi grinned before he too left. Unohana bowed slightly to the two Captains before she left as well.

"Well, I believe you should ease his fear, Juushirou. Take him to a bar or something, or make him drink sake." Shunsui winked before he shunpo'd away. Juushirou sighed as he waited for Ichigo to finish his conversation with Yama-jii.

"Chichi," Juushirou felt himself blush at the name. Ichigo saw this and smirked. "You're still not used to it?"

The older male chuckled before he shook his head. "It's not that. I'm just happy."

Ichigo knew that Juushirou wanted to ask what happened earlier, but he didn't know if he would like his chichi to know. After all, Aizen was his comrade, and Juushirou would surely be torn between wanting to believe his son and wanting to defend his co-taichou. No, he would never tell a soul… lest he wanted to endanger his chichi and his friends. Aizen killed a Shinigami that night just because the man knew something, about information..? And he was sure that he had just gotten Aizen's attention earlier. That was not good.

He stayed at home that whole day, not even wanting to hear the immediate rumors that started circulating in the area – that Juushirou Ukitake's adopted son was a coward who couldn't even withstand Aizen-taichou's presence even though the Captain had the kindest and the warmest demeanor. If only they knew what kind of man that Aizen was… Couldn't anyone see how fake his smiles and kindness were?

And he thought he had a rough day. He was wrong when Juushirou walked inside the house and ushered him to a conversation as they ate dinner.

"Uh, Shunsui and the others will be having a drinking party tomorrow." Juushirou said. "This party will be held to welcome your residency in Seireitei, Ichigo-kun. And many Captains will attend…" He looked at Ichigo. "Uh… and… Aizen-taichou wants to attend too."

Ichigo froze, his chopsticks hanging in midair. His mind was reeling for any way out of that stupid party, but he couldn't see any. He could use any form of excuse, actually, but all would end up with a disappointed Juushirou and he didn't want that. He'd never let Juushirou be disappointed just because he couldn't fight his childhood demons.

He smiled meekly. "Alright."

Juushirou looked surprised for a while. He had not expected Ichigo to agree so easily. Maybe they were reading too much about things…

After their dinner, Ichigo went to the small dojo and sat there in a seiza and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was already in his inner world.

Shiro had a sword in hand, wearing a serious expression, while Zangetsu was nowhere to be found. 'This'll be between you and me, King. You've let this fear paralyze you for far too long. And this will end it.'

Ichigo's eyes widened as a Byakurai skid just an inch from his cheek and he immediately looked at his Hollow in confusion. "Shiro?" He knew that his Hollow had learned everything that he did, but it was still unnerving for Shiro to use kidou against him. The Hollow was clearly seriously up for a fight.

'I don't want to serve a cowardly King, you know. It's okay to fear if you're a kid, but to take that fear even in your growth is mere cowardice, King. It is a weakness, and I hate being weak!' Shiro exclaimed before he cackled maniacally. Ichigo was used to hearing this so he wasn't afraid anymore, but it still unsettled him because Shiro was acting really strange. 'I will either kill that fear of yours, or I'll take over from now on!' And his sword swung in front of him, making a slicing movement, before he shouted, 'Getsuga Tenshou!'

Ichigo was thankful he was fast. The building that the huge mass of reiatsu hit had split into two and there was a gaping hole in the middle, that part clearly disintegrated. "W-What is that?" He stared at the damage, wide-eyed and shocked. He couldn't do that.

'That, my King, is something you should've learned a long time ago.' Shiro answered as he swung another Getsuga Tenshou, which Ichigo evaded, and another, and another. 'But because you're weak, you're not only afraid of that man, you're also afraid to even go and be a proper Shinigami. Do you know how Zangetsu feels every time you deny his identity? I mean, your identity?'

Ichigo couldn't do anything but dodge as Shiro continuously fired Getsuga Tenshou at him, and quite fast-paced too.

'What's the matter, King? Is that all you've got?' Shiro smirked as he attacked head-on.

"I can't fight you!" Ichigo struggled as he blocked Shiro's sword with his own. "Shiro, stop this!!"

'No!! I will not listen to a weak King!!' Shiro shouted back in his distorted voice before he attacked again.

Ichigo was already having a problem because Shiro seemed really serious. He didn't want to fight Shiro though. Shiro was a part of him just like Zangetsu, and those two, as much as he hated admitting it, were very important to him. And if Shiro was suffering because of his weakness, if Zangetsu was suffering because of his weakness, if those two were always drenched in the cold rain because of his weakness, then there was nothing to do but accept Shiro's wrath. It was his weaknesses and useless fears that were to blame, but Ichigo was to blame too for actually letting those emotions reign over him for far too long.

Ichigo was in a defensive mode, but when Shiro attacked head-on again, Ichigo readied himself, and when Shiro was nearer, he slowly dropped Zangetsu to his side, making himself vulnerable. Shiro didn't stop until the sword stabbed him in the chest.

"Sorry, Shiro." He voiced in apology.

Shiro smirked. 'If you ever let yourself wallow in useless fears and weaknesses again, I'll fight you once more and beat the crap out of you.'

Ichigo looked at his Hollow counterpart and realized something. "It doesn't hurt to be stabbed by you."

'Of course, Ichigo. We're part of you, your powers. There is no way you'll be hurt by your own Zanpakutou.' The sword that was stabbed at him voiced before it vanished from Ichigo's chest and turned to its human form.

"Zangetsu-ojii-san." Ichigo voiced, looking quite surprised.

'Don't let your resolve waver, Ichigo.' He said.

'Remember, King. What's necessary in a fight isn't fear. Nothing can be born from that. If you dodge, "I won't let them cut me." If you protect someone, "I won't let them die." If you attack, "I'll cut them."' Shiro grinned, this time it was a grin that made Ichigo feel grateful. He grinned too.

"Of course." He answered, feeling strangely more powerful than earlier.

'And I'll give you a little advice, King. Everything that you know is known to me too, and everything that I know, you also know. So that Getsuga Tenshou? Remember how it feels.' Shiro voiced, satisfied with his role as the villain.

'Not knowing and knowing the name of an attack makes the difference, Ichigo.' Zangetsu added. 'Just like how you knew the name of the kidou spells that you like so much, you have to make sure that you remember the name of that attack too.'

Ichigo couldn't help it. He bowed at the two of them. "Thank you."

And when he looked up again, he was already back in the dojo, sitting as if he wasn't fighting earlier. By the air surrounding him though, he was pretty sure that his reiatsu hadn't been properly suppressed. And he could feel that somehow, he had gotten something new. He couldn't pinpoint if his reiatsu just intensified or strengthened, or if he had a stronger resolve and stronger heart, or both.

And by the sense of it, he was certain the sudden surge of reiatsu had managed to warn his chichi that there was something wrong. Because within seconds after that, the door to the dojo slammed opened, revealing Juushirou in his kimono looking worried and a little panicky.

"Ichigo-kun!" He voiced, unable to hide his confusion when he saw that there was no one else beside Ichigo, no enemy and no one to fight. "I felt your reiatsu and…"

Ichigo smiled at him. "Sorry, Chichi. I was careless. I lost control of my reiatsu just now, but there's no need to worry. I've got it under control."

Juushirou looked at his son for a while. Somehow, he felt that something changed in Ichigo in the short time when he was not looking. He just couldn't figure out what. Ichigo somehow appeared to be stronger, calmer, and certainly deadlier, if the immense reiatsu he felt earlier was any indication.

He exhaled. "Make sure to–" Juushirou wasn't able to continue what he was about to say when he fell on his knees and started coughing.

"Chichi!" Ichigo shouted in panic and immediately knelt beside the older male as he placed his hand on his guardian's back.

"I-I'm fine, Ichigo." He smiled, though a bit strained. He slowly stood up. Ichigo was still supporting his frame.

"You should rest, Chichi." He said as he ushered the older male inside the house. "Have you taken your medicine yet?"

Juushirou nodded before he spoke. "You should rest too, son." He smiled and Ichigo nodded.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

And now Ichigo was asking the question. Why did he agree to go to this party again? He could feel his discomfort rising as he sat in one of the cushions while watching Shinigamis drinking and partying and dancing in the pub in a district in Rukongai. And Juushirou wouldn't even let him drink.

"Hey, Ichigo!" Renji waved his hand to get the strawberry's attention. "It's your party, at least take that scowl off your face!" Ichigo, if possible, scowled even more.

"So, you're Ichigo, huh?" A bald man who looked like a ruffian made his way towards Ichigo and sat in front of him. "I'm Ikkaku Madarame, third seat in 11th Squad." He smirked. A man with an overly heightened 'I'm beautiful' expression on his face sat beside Ikkaku's right and on his left sat a man with black sunglasses. "And this is Yumichika Ayasegawa and Tetsuzaemon Iba."

"…Nice to meet you. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki." He answered, feeling a bit overwhelmed at the fact that almost everyone who attended the party introduced themselves to him. They all grinned at him before they hurried onto the dance floor.

There were many Shinigamis who introduced themselves to him, though none of them wore their uniforms because it would be too formal for some partying events like this. Most of them wore normal kimono and some wore yukata. Some of them merely brushed his mind and were forgotten but there were others who got his attention.

There were Kiyone and Sentarou whom he already knew but still managed to introduce themselves. There were some members of the Shinigami Women's Association: Rangiku Matsumoto, Nanao Ise, and Isane Kotetsu. There were other lieutenants: Yachiru, Kira, Momo, Shuuhei Hisagi, and of course Renji. There was the 6th Squad member named Richiki who explicitly idolized Renji, if the tattoos starting to appear on his eyebrows were any indication. Of course, Taichous Juushirou, Shunsui, Toshirou, a man with a dark complexion named Kaname Tousen, Gin, and even Aizen were there.

Renji, Kira, and Momo approached him after a while.

"Hey, I heard some petty rumors yesterday about your cold treatment of Aizen-taichou." Renji said as he sat down. Kira and Momo followed him.

"Aizen-taichou is a very kind and caring man, and very generous too." Momo said fondly, and Ichigo remembered that she was his fukutaichou. It seemed she's genuinely fond of him and there was no way Ichigo was going to just ruin that. "What didn't you like about him?"

"Uh, nothing. I was just overwhelmed by the attention yesterday." Ichigo said. Renji arched an eyebrow, convinced that he was lying. Kira and Momo, on the other hand, readily accepted his explanation.

"Of course. Our Taichous are sometimes a little overly enthusiastic." Kira nodded in assent.

"Is that so?" They all turned and saw Gin. In Ichigo's case, he merely looked up since he was already facing them. Beside Gin was Aizen who was looking at Ichigo with an expression that the orange-haired teen couldn't recognize.

He remembered Shiro's words about cowardice and decided to play like how everyone else did. He stood up and slightly bowed his head. "I apologize for the incident yesterday." And that's all he would say, but it seemed Aizen had already taken an interest in talking to him.

"Would you mind having a chat with me outside?" Aizen smiled kindly, if only Ichigo didn't know it was a fake.

It felt like millennia to him before he answered, but it was only a few seconds for his companions. "No, I don't mind."

And thus, the captain led him to the street. There weren't many people but it wasn't nearly deserted either.

Renji watched in apprehension as Ichigo walked together with Aizen outside, Juushirou from the other table mirroring his expression. Gin sat in Ichigo's seat and poured out wine in Renji, Kira, and Momo's cup.

"Don't worry, you three. Ichiberry-kun will be fine." He nodded as if confirming it himself. Renji held back the urge to burst out laughing. He wondered how Ichigo would react if he heard a taichou calling him with such a nickname.

"Do you know what Aizen-taichou wants to talk about with him, Ichimaru-taichou?" Momo asked, clearly curious as to how Ichigo captured Aizen's attention even though the teen didn't act any kinder towards her Taichou.

Gin grinned at her. "Strawberries are very sweet and innocently delicious it makes you want to eat them up, do you know that, Hinamori-fukutaichou?" Momo looked at him for a while before the meaning dawned on her, and she immediately blushed. Kira and Renji looked scandalized and Gin immediately laughed. "No, I'm just messing with you three." The three of them sighed in relief. "Partly messing at least," Gin added inside his mind.

Ichigo could feel his nervousness and his heart ramming inside his chest. Aizen was close, too close, as they walked side by side. He kept on trying to forget how the taichou used the high-level kidou Kurohitsugi on another Shinigami like he was simply breathing, like it was simply natural to do so. And he knew that he was being a coward again, and that Shiro would definitely kill him for it, but he couldn't help it. Just one word from Aizen and he'd be dead before he knew it.

'Idiot King, stop imagining things and focus on where you two are going! He's taking you to some place really deserted.'

Shiro's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and when he looked at the scenery around them, he inwardly cursed. Oh, fuck… for that was the place where they first met, the road by the riverside. Did Aizen know it was him?

"Ichigo," Aizen finally spoke, and Ichigo waited to hear the questions that he would surely ask. No, he reminded himself that the others knew that he was with Aizen. The older man seemed a very cautious and manipulative man. He wouldn't act so carelessly. The man wouldn't kill him unless he was sure that Ichigo was someone who knew him. If this was planned out though… that would be a problem.

And why the hell Aizen was being so familiar with him, he didn't know. Not even his own chichi called him with his first name without any honorific.

Aizen glanced at him sideways and Ichigo held back a shudder. "I know you declined Yamamoto-soutaichou's proposal to join a Division." Ichigo looked at him too, but not too directly. He didn't want Aizen to see the apprehension in his eyes. "But I still think that you're a person who holds so much potential. It will be a waste if you'll just let it go like that. And I'm sure that Ukitake-taichou will be very proud of you if you join a Division."

"Is this what they call persuading by using flattery?" Ichigo thought as he digested Aizen's words. If he was as ignorant as everyone else, he would've been flattered by this man's words. He would've been persuaded. How Aizen managed to maintain this façade of his, Ichigo didn't know. "I told the soutaichou that I'll think about it, though I can't promise anything." He answered.

Aizen nodded before he stopped. And Ichigo belatedly realized that there's no one in the vicinity right now. "Ichigo, I would want you in the 5th Squad, if only you'd give yourself a chance to become someone more."

Yep, this was persuasion by flattery. Ichigo inwardly sighed.

"Why do you fear me, Ichigo?" Aizen suddenly asked and Ichigo's mind immediately reeled for any appropriate answer. "No, to be exact, yesterday you feared me. But now, all you feel is nervousness and slight apprehension. Why is that?" He looked at Ichigo then, clearly looking for any sign that he could read.

Ichigo knew he was being watched for his reaction. He was glad that his reiatsu was already hidden so Aizen couldn't read it. As for his face, his almost permanent scowl helped become his mask as he answered. "I just… I was just overwhelmed. I'm not used to being treated nicely except by Kaien and Chichi… so…"

"You fear that there is something behind my kindness?" Ichigo knew it. The man was trying to capture him. Any reaction would immediately give himself away. Like he'd let Aizen do that. "Do you feel that I have an ulterior motive in my actions, Ichigo?"

Ichigo was so busy trying to think of an answer that he missed the way Aizen moved closer, far closer, and inhaled his scent. He inhaled the warm, sweet scent of the teen. The orange-haired teen stiffened when he felt the Taichou's breath so close to his neck. "A-Aizen-taichou?" He immediately cursed his stutter.

Aizen chuckled, still not pulling away. Instead, he held Ichigo's arm and pulled him even closer. Ichigo who was merely stiff immediately froze. His mind was spiraling for any sort of excuse that he could come up with just to get away. "Ichigo, I'm interested in you. Do you know that?" His intense gaze locked Ichigo in position. He couldn't even move…

"Aizen-taichou, I believe that this is public property and intimate acts are very inappropriate here." A voice said in the darkness and Ichigo almost jumped from surprise. He never felt anyone. These people were really dangerous. Though at the back of his mind, he was very thankful that someone saw them. He didn't even want to think of what would have happened if there wasn't anyone in the vicinity.

"Ah, Kuchiki-taichou," Aizen smiled kindly as he pulled away from the teen. Ichigo scowled when he just thought of the man as his savior. He realized only too late that it was Byakuya the prick. "I was just asking Ichigo if he wants to join the 5th Squad. There's nothing to worry about." The brunette Taichou waited for Byakuya to just leave them alone but it seemed the noble chose this night to be stubborn and refused to leave them be. "Alright then, I'll be going first." And after nodding to both males, he turned around and left without another word.

Ichigo looked at Aizen's leaving figure first before his gaze fell on the man in front of him. Byakuya was simply gorgeous, if he said so himself. Though that didn't mean he would like Mr. Stoic Curlers any time soon.

"You, boy, are not allowed to simply join any ranks just because you're a Taichou's adopted son. Don't go around kissing everyone's feet just to make them adore you. Not all Shinigamis are pleased with your apparent attention-seeking." Byakuya said quite coldly. "Try to remember your place, Rukongai dog."

Ichigo clenched his fists. Did he say he would never like this man any time soon? Erase that! He would never like this man even if the world turned upside down! He wanted to just lash out and bring forth every swearword and every foul language that a Rukongai dog knew just so this man would know not to make light of him. But that would only be proving that he really was a Rukongai dog. And Juushirou wouldn't be too happy if he knew that his son fought with a taichou.

And besides, even if he hated to admit it, Byakuya kind of saved him from Aizen.

"Is that all?" Ichigo asked as he arched an eyebrow. "I believe you've wasted my time long enough, Byakuya. I'm leaving." And he didn't even let the man answer before he shunpo'd towards his house, not wanting to even see Aizen's face at the party again.

Byakuya's eyes widened when the words came out of the teen's mouth. And before he could answer, the teen already vanished with a very skillful shunpo, leaving him fuming. "Insolent boy!" He exclaimed inside his mind.

He gritted his teeth. He was about to go to that brat's party because Juushirou, his mentor and also adviser, begged him to attend. But forget it. There was no way he'd accept that boy as part of Seireitei. Never!

Or so he said, but a part of him really wondered what the hell that scene just now was. He walked back to his manor, still thinking of how Aizen looked different, as if he was another person, and the teen looked like he wanted to either kill the taichou or run away. And just with that scene, he already knew that there was something more to the kid's fear towards the brunette, something that might be the answer to Aizen's strange behavior too.

.

.tbc.

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