20 Too Many

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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Following his routine that had been going on for the last week, Ichigo sparred with Yoruichi in the Study Chamber under the Urahara Shop. He mostly trained his Hakuda and Shunpō but would also ask for pointers from Tessai on his Kidō. He was quite confident in facing Aizen but still felt the urgency to get stronger as soon as possible. After all, he couldn't predict what his presence would do to the development.

It was simply a miracle that Aizen had decided to give up the Hōgyoku and left. Even that didn't ease him in the slightest bit. Aizen was a logical man. He knew what he needed for his goal. In other words, he might not be lying when he said that he had another way to perfect his Hōgyoku. It was worrying, since his effort would have been for naught if that was the case.

Bam!

Blocking Yoruichi's punch, he stopped thinking about the possible future when he registered the punch. She had stopped holding back on him. He wasn't complaining, though. He wouldn't be able to grow if he wasn't properly hurt.

"Your sturdiness keeps astounding me, as always, Ichigo. Your Shunpō is getting more effective, but you still brute-force your way to achieve greater speed," Yoruichi remarked. "If you were an ordinary Shinigami, you would have torn your legs long ago."

"Glad that I am not," Ichigo stated with a sardonic smile. "Anyway, it is in my nature to brute-force things. Hollows don't care about finesse, after all. But I do admit that I need to learn proper control. I can use as much Reiryoku as I want, but it will mean nothing without proper control."

"Glad that you understand."

Yoruichi smiled but then looked at Ichigo strangely as he extended his hand. Her eyes widened when the Reiatsu around her surged.

"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!"

Even before she could move, six shining yellow ribbons pinned her from six different directions. Finding herself unable to move, she sighed when Ichigo flashed behind her. He only tapped her on the shoulder, but she could feel his smugness in the action. She grumbled and threatened to kick his ass if he didn't let her go, but he didn't listen.

"What about a deal?"

"What deal?" she grunted in exasperation.

"Be my girlfriend…"

"Eh!?"

"…for a day." 

Ichigo snickered but then looked at Yoruichi in wonder. He had expected her to grumble more after hearing his words, so he was quite bewildered to see her face flushed. 'Well, maybe, she is embarrassed because she is being played like this by someone a century younger,' he concluded. Waiting for her to respond, he let her go when she grunted a confirmation.

"When is it?" she asked with a lowered gaze.

"Hm… let's see. What about this—ah, not that day." He cut himself when he was about to suggest Saturday. He had made a plan with Ikumi. "Let's go this Sunday."

"Ugh, sure. What time?"

"The whole day, darling. Just be ready when I come to get you."

Yoruichi was taken aback by how casually Ichigo was flirting with her. He truly had changed ever since he got his True Shikai. She theorized that his Zanpakutō was the manifestation of his seductive nature. Honestly, she thought it suited him well.

"Oya, oya, am I interrupting something?"

The blush on her face immediately disappeared as soon as she heard her friend's voice. She turned around to face him and then scowled as she saw the knowing grin that he shot at her.

"What is it, Kisuke?" she grumpily asked.

"Ah, it seems I did interrupt something!" Kisuke laughed until he received Yoruichi's glare. He cleared his throat and then looked at Ichigo. "You have a guest, Ichigo-kun. She is waiting for you in the—"

"Hello, Ichigo-kun."

"She is here."

Ichigo had seen this coming miles away. There was no way Soul Society would not supervise someone like him. They had suffered greatly because of someone like Aizen. They didn't want to risk having another Aizen coming at them. Ichigo was still quite far from being as strong as Aizen, but he would rival and possibly surpass Aizen. Soul Society would not leave him alone.

It was quite distasteful, but Ichigo didn't complain. He did not agree with the way Soul Society worked, but he had no reason to antagonize them this early. Until he had enough power to strong-arm Soul Society, he would let them do this much. Besides, the supervisor whom they sent was someone he could work with and he was quite fond of.

"Hi, Retsu. Your prediction came true, huh?"

Retsu covered her mouth with her hand and then laughed softly. "Captain Suì-Fēng was originally the one assigned to the human world. After a civil discourse, I managed to secure the spot." Her eyes gleamed in a way that made Ichigo slightly nervous. "After all, the human world is a place worthy of exploring. You will show me around, won't you?"

"Sure. I promised you, didn't I?" Ichigo smiled softly, forgetting his apprehension. "With that said, I am sure you are not here only to say hello."

Retsu smiled mysteriously and by the time Ichigo knew it, they were standing in front of his house. Blinking his eyes as he woke up from his reverie, he turned to Retsu. The said woman showed him her trademark gentle smile which tempted him to fall into her arms and sleep. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

'I can't live normally even here, can I?'

It was quite futile to hope for having a normal life as Shinigami, but he was under an optimistic mindset that he would be no different from any other human while he was in his body. He let down his hand and opened the door as soon as he came up with an excuse for Retsu's presence. His father wouldn't need it, but his sister did.

"I am home," he announced.

"Ah, Onii-chan welcome home!" Yuzu greeted before noticing Retsu beside him who was dressed in a blouse. "Who is this pretty lady?"

"This is Unohana Retsu-san, my colleague at work who also happens to be my teacher at school."

"Hello, I am Unohana Retsu. Nice to meet you," Retsu introduced herself with a polite bow.

"Kurosaki Yuzu. Nice to meet you too, Unohana-san," Yuzu replied with a bow.

"She will be staying with us indefinitely because we don't know when our project will be finished," Ichigo explained smoothly. "Where is Dad, anyway? I need to tell him about it."

"Ah, Dad is still at work. He left a note saying that he might not come home for the next month but would call us every day to check on us. Ah, also, he wrote he would be fine with whomever you bring home, but no kids until you are twenty-five. I don't know what the last one means."

Thanking Yuzu for the information, he mentally noted that his father was still not ready to meet people from Gotei 13. He theorized that his father was quite embarrassed to meet his former fellow Captain in a powerless state. Telling Yuzu that they would join Karin and her for dinner soon, Ichigo took Retsu to his room. His father wouldn't be home for a month, so he would use his room for the time being.

"You don't have to move out, Ichigo-kun," Retsu said when they were in his room. "I am already past the age of being bothered with such a mundane act as sleeping in the same bed with a male. Of course, I don't do it with just any male."

Ichigo wanted to point out that she might not be the one to feel uncomfortable but held himself in the end. He didn't need to unnecessarily make the angelic devil feel dejected. Besides, he would be lying if he said he would feel uncomfortable. The only ones who might feel uncomfortable were his sisters. Then again, they didn't say anything when Rukia slept in his room.

The teddy bear on his nightstand twitched, causing Retsu to give it a scrutinizing look. The teddy bear was not alive, but its apprehension was palpable in the air.

"That is Kon. He used to be the Mod Soul that took care of my physical body," Ichigo explained, casually revealing the existence of a Mod Soul to one of the oldest Captains of Gotei 13.

"Oh. You already have Nova—what do you need this for?" Retsu wondered.

"Didn't have the heart to throw him away."

"I can do that for you."

As soon as Retsu smiled mischievously, Kon jumped at him and hung on his back. "Ichigo! Please, don't let this woman be anywhere near me! I am your friend, right? Please, don't let her kill me!"

"Eh? Why not?"

"So cruel!"

Ichigo smirked meanwhile Retsu lightly smiled at the reaction of the Mod Soul. Although Mod Souls were illegal, Shinigami had stopped destroying them a long time ago. Retsu would have no interest in destroying Kon. At least, she wouldn't do anything to him as long as he didn't try anything funny. It was highly unlikely, but it was Kon, so only time could tell.

After organizing Retsu's stuff, they went downstairs and joined his sisters for dinner. Karin narrowed her eyes at Retsu as she introduced herself but said nothing.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Adan Smith

Venerable Immortal Bigbowser

Venerable Immortal Dex

Venerable Immortal Haider Alkefaji

Venerable Immortal B0mbaCl0ckBob

Venerable Immortal Jack Wright

Venerable Immortal SilverWolf

Venerable Immortal Star Dragon Bahamut