Bleach Family Ties

Chapter Fifteen

By Cindra

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and this story is just for fun.

The Shinigami training grounds

“A power limiter?” Shinji and Kisuke frowned at Gin.

“His power is in flux, and the power dampeners that we use in the world of the living keep ours at a manageable level.”

“It’s worth a shot, we’ve tried everything else.” Amagai shrugged.

“He’s excelling in his vizard training because he trusts you now. Ya see, it’s all about trust with my kid. That saying it will be his choice.” Isshin growled his opinion on the matter.

“Question being what unit…He’s far beyond Captain level power wise.” Shunsui arched a brow.

“The royal symbol will suffice, after all he already carries it with him wherever he goes.” Jūshirō suggested.

“The kids in his class already think he’s a bad-ass, so a skull tattoo will just make it official.” Isshin chuckled.

“It might center him, Isshin. Rein in that impulsive side.” Kirio countered.

“My kid is the champion for the underdogs and that’ll never change.” He thoughtfully scratched his chin. “Although, being less rough on poor Keigo would be a turn for the better.”

“Keigo is annoying and needy, but harmless.” Shinji grinned. “Not unlike Hiyori, only she’s far from harmless.”

“Ichigo’s focused now, so not even Hiyori, Lisa, and Mashiro are a warm up for him.” Rose sighed.

“The kid’s just toying with us now.” Love smirked.

“He’s graduated all right, but Hiyori doesn’t like to lose, and he’s just a kid.” Kensei focused on Gin. “Ichimaru, your kid’s all right. He’s relationship retarded, but other than that he’s not bad.”

“My son was raised by Azumi Ichimaru, my grandmother.”

That got their attention.

“She was an amazing woman, one of the last of the ancient ones. In fact, she was Retsu and Tessai’s sensei. So no, he’s not relationship retarded.” Gin’s quiet tone signaled that his temper was on the rise.

“He has trust issues, but with all that has happened that’s understandable. He’s a genius and has wielded more power during his, well, at sixteen he’s still in the juvenile stage at least by our standards,” He paused for a second scratching his head.

“Did you just say sixteen?” The ones not privileged with that bit of Intel frowned at Gin.

“That’s right he’s nearly seventeen and just like Ichigo one of the rare ones. He’s wielded more power than many of us ever dream of and because of that he was shunned and feared by his peers and the villagers around him. Momo and Gran were his only close relation and then Momo left, leaving him just with his Gran. Top that off with his Gran becoming weaker and weaker because all of that legendary power just clawing to get free. All the while the kid doesn’t have a clue not to mention any kind of control over his natural power.”

“Wait a sec, the kid was born here wasn’t he?” Isshin frowned.

“No, Tōshirō was born on Earth. In Karakura Town…”

“When?”

“That would be December 20th just before Christmas. During one of the nastiest blizzards in the town’s history.” Kisuke was the one who answered the question. “

“Masaki’s emergency delivery was Tōshirō?” Isshin gaped at him in disbelief. “He was the cause of the sudden onslaught of Hollow and Shinigami activity?”

“Oh that and Ichigo was two months into creation, so between the two of them they did create quite a stir.” Kisuke nodded.

“Well, well, that would cause a flair all right.” Gin arched a brow at them. “Now where was I…Ah, yes, so my Babe enters the picture and all but drags him off to the academy. Sticks to him like a burr won’t let him hide in his shell anymore. Becomes his confidant, sounding board, protector that was always on his side even more so than Momo. In every sense a mom, flaws in all, but they clicked.”

“I bet that burned your ass, but good.” Kensei smirked.

“I was an ass around him. Hell, the brat had taken my Babe away from me. Not just that but he was barely a teenager, that was irritating, as he’d made Captain at fourteen, not even a month out of the frickin academy too.”

“You did try ta end him more than a few times.” Shunsui lazily lounged across a rock.

“He was too smart for his own good. Sōsuke had been watching him since Momo kept yammering about how he was too lazy to not see anything and all that power of his going to waste.” Gin shrugged.

“I watched him breeze through the academy as if it were nothing. His potential was limitless. Bankai at fourteen. The wielder of the legendary Hyōrinmaru. Loyal to a fault. Yeah, he had a temper, a stubborn streak that wouldn’t quit, but he was a tried-and-true good guy. Never once leaning towards the darker side of power.” He sighed dramatically. “It was rather annoying, really.”

“Refreshing is more the term I would use, since the darkness was overshadowing the Sereitei.” Jūshirō countered.

“I’ll bet and then not even two years later my kid makes the scene out of nowhere blowing all of Aizen’s plans to hell.” Isshin grinned proudly.

“Hardly, he was the key all along. Sōsuke was quite frankly insane. His thirst for power blinded him, but his biggest flaw was not figuring out that your kid was one of the rarest of our kind, until it was really too late. He really blew everything when he kidnapped Inoue. That only fueled the fire. Ichigo’s resolve could overcome anything he put his limitless mind to. He was a natural at anything Shinigami.”

“Like father so like son.” Kirio nodded.

“In less than a few weeks he had already defeated some very powerful beings, Grand Fisher, a Menos Grande, and all on what we believed to be borrowed power from Rukia. The thing was that he leaked spiritual energy like an open faucet and Rukia had never even to our knowledge come close to possessing such power. Then again the two were soul mates, so when you think of it Aizen should have really seen his demise coming and quit while he was ahead.” Gin shrugged.

“Nah, Sōsuke, was basically insane so it would have happened anyway.” Shunsui shrugged.

“He had to get Rukia back to the Soul Society that was where it all went to hell. Kuchiki and Abarai gave Urahara the prime opportunity to create an unstoppable force of good. He hadn’t a clue that Kisuke had perfected the Hollowfication process and had used it on none other than the crowned prince himself. Now for Yamamoto, it was a beacon that Shin’ichi was ready to join in the again. Ichigo was proof of that, so of course our illustrious Commander-General took full advantage of it too. Banking on that like his father, Ichigo detested following anyone’s rules. Telling him no only made the kid determined to defy the powers that be. Rules don’t apply to Ichigo, he’s the exact opposite of my son. In his first go at saving the Soul Society, well, in this case Rukia. He defeated Ikkaku, Renji, and Kenpachi. He even wanted to go toe-to-toe with Byakuya, all mind you before even achieving Bankai. To make matters even more dicey he had his own Army of spiritual warriors…”

“Yeah, my boy and his friends are one hell of a rescue/clean up crew. Got a problem with a past experiment then call my kid and his friends. Rouge Shinigami that’s merged with his zanpakutō no problem my kid’s your guy. Evil force threatening to take over the Soul Society or the world, same goes. It’s a wonder that all of you even break a sweat.” Isshin shot them knowing looks.

“Hey, we did all nearly buy it during the Arrancar War. Took a few hits with the Bount debacle, and didn’t exactly sit on our hands during the other battles either.” Shunsui growled.

“No, he’s right. Ichigo and his friends have been our fortune more often than not.” Jūshirō sighed.

“He brought my kid to his senses and for that I owe him.” Gin was dead serious.

“Hey, what’s the big emergency with the girls?” Ichigo interrupted their meeting of the minds.

“Hiyori, Lisa, Mashiro, and Rukia…” He scrubbed at the back of his neck with his hand in frustration.

“Hell, even Rio took off after that Hell butterfly arrived a few seconds ago. So…what gives?” He scowled.

“Rangiku signaled for a girls day out. She wants to cheer up Karin.” Gin shrugged as if it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“Not good.” Ichigo shot his dad a look. “Karin doesn’t go for all of that, but Yuzu does. All it’s gonna do is make her even more pissed off than she already is.”

“My Yuzu is more the little princess than my Karin, so Rangiku’s idea of bonding with Karin isn’t gonna work.” Isshin shook his head.

“No, she’ll take it out on me.” Tōshirō appeared soundlessly beside Ichigo with the basket of melons in his arms.

“He’s bought snacks!” Shunsui dived at the burgeoning basket.

“That was very thoughtful of you, Tōshirō.” Jūshirō smiled warmly.

“Does anyone feed you?” Isshin shook his head in disgust at Shunsui, for the Captain has wasted no time slicing into his first melon and then diving his face into it for a generous bite of the fruit.

“Nah, that one tends to live on sake.” Amagai shrugged.

“Yeah, well, it seems to me the lot of you tend to live off that crap. It’s nice to know that at least some of you prefer something actually good for you. Then again maybe you don’t really have to worry about nutrition here in this world.” Ichigo shrugged.

“No, we do. It’s just that some of us tend to favor spirits rather than actual food.” Jūshirō rolled his eyes at his best friend in disgust.

Since the others had already chosen a melon Tōshirō kicked the basket out of the reach of Shunsui.

“I wasn’t finished!”

His focus now totally on Ichigo. Tōshirō broached the subject the others didn’t have the guts to bring up. “So, have gotten the nerve to tell him yet?” He arched a silver brow at the others.

“Tell me what?” Ichigo narrowed his eyes.

“You’ve graduated, kid.” Kensei shrugged.

“We can teach you no more.” Love drawled lazily.

“Even Hachi says your Kidō skills are excellent, well above even Captaincy level.” Rose nodded solemnly.

“Yeah, you’ve earned your Shinigami badge. That little substitute one that you carry was only a…hmmm…what’s the word…the humans call it training wheels…or a stepping-stone.” Shinji put his hand on his shoulder.

“Huh, it’s not that at all Jūshirō gave it to me…”

“Well, truth be told it was Masaki who wished for you to have it.” Jūshirō smiled.

“Like the protection charm?”

“Yeah, Masaki’s really good at creating one of a kind charms.” Isshin nodded.

“All you’re doing is confusing him, now out with it. What did Ichimaru come up with that you braincases didn’t.” Hichigo wasn’t one for niceties or manners.

“A power limiter.” Tōshirō answered softly. “We wear them when we become seated officers.”

“No way in hell am I gonna get branded with one of those prissy limiter tattoos. Daffodils, camellias….sorry not gonna happen. I’ve got a rep to maintain and those don’t fit it.” Ichigo’s golden eyes blazed and the mask was once again forming on his face.

“This isn’t your decision it’s Ichigo’s and as he is the crowned prince the symbol would symbolize his rank.” Tōshirō sneered back going toe-to-toe with him.

“Back off, Junior. I ain’t in the mood.” The mask was completely formed on his face energy radiated from him in waves.

“Yeah, well, I could care less if you’re in a mood or not. It’s Ichigo’s body! It’s high time that he got serious and kicked you back into submission again!” Tōshirō was just spoiling for a row and his energy aura showed it.

“Enough!!” Isshin got between the two of them. “I want my son back! You’ve had your turn now its back to your nap. If I have to wear one as bold as a bull’s-eye on my back then you can endure it too! It centers your spiritual pressure in the world of the living so ya don’t accidentally kill an innocent. I thank you for protecting Ichigo, but it’s time to give him back the reins. If anything a skull tattoo will cement your bad-ass image or it could be a dragon, maybe a phoenix, it’s up ta Dad since he’s basically the head-cheese these days.”

He locked eyes with his son. “Hell, even Renji has tats and he’s not whining about it, so man up! It’s either that or you take up residence here for good.”

“Fine! All right already! Just make it bad-ass.” Ichigo’s grumbled in defeat and his mask faded away. “So what’s yours?”

“A daffodil…” Tōshirō muttered softly. “My units symbol…”

“No flowers period or no deal.” Ichigo folded his arms across his chest in defiance. “Seriously, a daffodil? What’s Renji’s an orchid?”

“Unit six’s symbol is a Camilla…”

“Man you guys got seriously hosed on that one…” Ichigo could barely contain his laughter.

“The symbols have meaning and are invisible to the eye, unless activated in battle by the Unit twelve’s Research and Development Institute…” Tōshirō snarled darkly.

“Ya need permission to release from the mad scientist squad. In that case no deal. Those eggheads are not gonna control my ability to fight in battle.” Ichigo scowled.

“We’re not even sure it’s gonna work.” Shinji shrugged.

“What’s gonna work?” Renji asked curiously. “Why’s Ichigo look ready to bolt?”

“What the hell happened to you and what’s the other guy look like?” Ichigo saw Renji’s battle worn appearance as a means of taking the focus off him.

“She can’t be that much of a chore ta train.” Kensei smirked.

“She’s a hellcat is what she is.” Renji grumbled, his face flushing scarlet.

“Tatsuki did that to you?!” Ichigo’s eyes danced with laughter.

“She needed a challenge and none of the cadet’s even rate sparing in her eyes. She takes to all her training like she was born to it. Her spiritual pressure level ranks her number one in her class. Hell, she’s an expert at swordsmanship from her martial arts mastery one Earth.” Renji shrugged, narrowing his eyes at Ichigo.

“She’s got so much rage boiling inside her about not being able to watch over Orihime or her family anymore. Then there’s you lying to her for years about everything, leaving her out of all the fun like she was a weak link or thereabouts. Add that you haven’t even had the guts to see her since her arrival and she’s one very lethal piece of female fury.”

“I can’t face her like this! She’s freak out!” Ichigo bristled at the last zinger that Renji shot at him.

“She’s seen you, Ichigo. Hell, she’s seen all of us fight on Earth. You’re way too protective of all of them. Kisuke and Uryū tripped them out too.”

“What the hell did you do, Kisuke?”

“We needed recruits while you were away fighting in Hueco Mundo. Uryū cam up with the plan. I merely followed through with it. No one was in danger. They were all perfectly safe in their Karakura Raizer-Beast personae. We just played on each of their strengths.” He eyeing him warily, he fanned his face with his ever present prop, his fan.

“After their little taste of battle all of Karakura Town was put into a deep sleep and the main battle began.” Tōshirō growled softly.

“So Kon wasn’t making it all up?”

“No. He and your friends played a key part in the war.”

“By the end of that war I was mentally and physically exhausted to really care about what went down at home. Everyone was safe and that’s all that mattered. I just needed some down time.” Ichigo sighed heavily. “I guess I owe them some major quality time when I get back…”

“You, dumbass.” Tatsuki’s snarl echoed around the training grounds. “You selfish. ! You big egotistical, macho, jerk!”

“Your Gramps sprang her from the academy so the other cadets can all focus on licking their battle scars. That and she’s more than earned the right to see you again.” Renji was grinning at Ichigo’s stunned look. “Her unique ability is invisibility, so odds are that she’s gonna have a rare Zanpakuto.”

“You try having the fate of two worlds on your shoulders and then only then will you even begin to fathom what it’s like to be me!” Ichigo’s walked over to where she was hiding, easily pulling out of the shadows.

“I could have helped you with all of that!” She glowered up at him.

“Uryū is a Quincy. Chad is a power unto himself. Orihime as well. I’m a vizard/Shinigami/Quincy. Tell me, Tatsuki. Back on Earth have you, until Uryū and Kisuke Urahara provided you with a gadget to hone your fledgling spiritual powers, ever faced a Hollow and came out the victor?” His eyes blazed with leashed temper, once again the mask formed on half of his face.

“No…but…”

“This is not a to me, Tatsuki. I do this.” He pointed at his mask. “Endure this!”

It shattered revealing his two-faced appearance.

“So I can protect what I see as mine. My family, friends, classmates…Hell, the whole world, including this one at times…Safe!”

“Orihime…”

“Chose of her own free will, as did Chad and Uryū. We risk our lives, our very souls, to ensure that everyone else is safe!”

“You took her…”

“No. That’s bullshit, Tatsuki! You focused on your stuff and chose to ignore what was happening around you! Did you ever have the guts to ask her what was up, if anything was wrong! No! You waited until it was too late, even though it was clear as day that she, and all of us, were into some really serious shit. Enough to be out of class for days, weeks, months at a time or more than likely show up wearing bandages! You bought all of our excuses! It wasn’t until she was kidnapped by Ulquiorra that you confronted me and then I had other things to focus on than your whining about friendship, loyalty, and all of that , because your guilt was eating you up inside!”

“Keigo…”

“He knew a hell of a lot more than you did! Hell, he and his sister let two Shinigami live with them!”

She goggled at him in shock.

“Yeah, I’m not the only one keeping secrets. Then again he was terrified of Ikkaku, so he kept his moth shut.” Ichigo smirked.

“Fascinating, she has such strong resolve that her memories have remained intact.” Tōshirō arched an inquisitive brow at Kisuke.

“Nah, she’s as stubborn as a mule.” Ichigo grinned.

“You should know.” Tatsuki sneered, shooting him a dark look.

“Look, if ya want me to say I’m sorry then fine. I’m sorry you got your feelings hurt, but not about anything else.” He glowered down at her. Cuz, you lied to all of us about being okay, when all that time you were far from it!! Walking around…going about your daily grind with a ing ticking time bomb in your head!”

“I was fine.” She grumbled.

“You ignored it…”

“I wasn’t gonna live my life in a bubble and just forget about my dreams!”

“You can’t ignore what’s inside you. It doesn’t work that way. Believe me I know.” He placed his hands on her shoulders.

“It just festers inside until you lose control. At least it did with me, but I forced myself to face my dears and focused solely on mastering control.”

“Ichigo, I can’t even fathom the hell that you’ve had to endure this past year. Just studying about it all at the academy makes my head hurt and my heartache for you.” Tatsuki’s voice shook with emotion. “What all of you risked to protect everyone while we…”

“I didn’t want any of you to know. Keigo was freaked out enough as it was and nearly died during the Bount disaster…”

“You gave him your energy to save him…” Kisuke reminded him. “Just like you give out spiritual pressure to provide the means for your friends to protect themselves. Chad, Orihime, Keigo, even you, Tatsuki, all have benefited from his eternal vow to protect his own.”

“I leaked spiritual pressure like a sieve and if I did grant power or whatever it wasn’t on my radar. Saving Rukia was.” Ichigo shrugged.

“Mizuiro’s never really been in the line of fire like the rest of us have, but then nothing ever fazes him.” Tatsuki rolled her eyes.

“That’s because there is far more to him than you know.” Isshin growled softly.

Ichigo’s eyes widened in surprise. “No way. I would have known…”

“He’s not Gotei 13, but he is from a line of similar ancestry.”

“Go on.”

“We protect. Where as they keep the balance. They have a strict code of conduct, not unlike that of the Quincy. Their cardinal rule is never interfere.”

“Mizuiro’s, an ancient one too. That’s why he goes for older women…He’s like Tōshirō?”

“Hardly, he comes from a longline of Sentinels. Their kind take on different appearances as needed.” Isshin corrected him. “Tōshirō is nearly sixteen…”

“No way!”

“Yep, he’s six months older than you are.” He nodded.

“But wasn’t he born here in the Sereitei? Your time is different from Earth years and you guys barely even after a thousand years. So how can he be nearly seventeen?” Ichigo narrowed his eyes in confusion.

“Gods, you really are clueless aren’t you? I mean, how is it possible that you can be brilliant one minute then a clueless dolt the next.” Tōshirō shook his head in utter disgust.

“Rangiku hid herself down on Earth while she was carrying me. I was born in Karakura Town in December. In fact, your mother was the healer who tended to her. So yes, in Earth years I am going to be seventeen on my next birthday.”

“Unreal. Talk about full circle and then there’s you and Karin. Mom delivered you while she was carrying me.” He was suffering from information overload, so much so his head felt like it was coming off, so he sat down on the ground and held his head.

“I just was told of it myself, not even an hour ago.” Tōshirō sat down beside him, sliced open a melon, and offered him the other half. “My Granny counseled me so I could see things clearly again.”

Ichigo looked around to find that only Tatsuki and Renji were still around and the two of them were both glaring at each other while feasting on the melon that he reluctantly had split with her.

“Gramps is always offering up sage advise, it’s what a grandparent is good at…I guess.” He said between bites. He was starving so he made short work of it.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right, but it doesn’t mean that you have to like it.” Tōshirō shrugged.

“Yeah, I guess.” Ichigo sighed. “So, this tattoo is sort of a right of passage with all you guys?” He figured if any of them were gonna talk straight to him it would be Tōshirō.

“I would compare it to earning a military rank in your world. It keeps one centered power wise, otherwise all of us would end up wiping out entire towns during altercations with Hollows on your planet.” Tōshirō nodded.

“Oh yeah, and Unit Sci-freak records you guys at all times during a mission?”

“Our phones contain a tracking device and our vital signs, as you call them, are monitored by them...Yes…”

“Talking about ‘big brother’ watchin over your shoulder…”

“It’s all based on a millenniums old system of checks and balances…”

“Not really, cuz now Gramps is Central 46, because Aizen murdered the entire council of morons right under your noses…”

“They were elders from long before the dark times and were set in their ways, but they didn’t deserve their fate.” He tossed another rind into the basket.

“Yeah they did,” Ichigo waved the rind in his hand as if to prove his point. “They’ve been the root cause of every disaster that I’ve had to defuse. Hell, they made you choose between Hyōrinmaru and your best friend and look how that turned out.”

“True, but then you came to be because your father was dead set against following their orders.” He countered.

“Dad caught sight of mom as a teenager and was hooked for life. He just bided his time waiting for her to grow up…” Ichigo sat up, his eyes as big as saucers.

“You didn’t honestly believe it was all coincidence did you.” Tōshirō snorted in disbelief.

“I was a little kid…”

“So, now you’re not. Age is irrelevant to a soul bond.” He stated patiently. “Sorry, but I’m afraid I haven’t got any visual aids for you to understand it. The fact is…” He ignored Ichigo’s glare.

“Special circumstances can arise where a Soul Reaper is assigned to watch over someone in the ‘World of the Living’. You, being a miniature spiritual time bomb, they sent down orders to Squad 13 and Ukitake sent Rukia…”

“I had Rio!”

“The Royal Guard only answers to the King or Queen…”

“Not even Gramps?”

“No. One has to be beyond Captaincy level to even try to apply for a position, it’s why Captain-Commander barely had any control over his eldest son.” Tōshirō explained.

“Dad’s a wild one all right and as no one’s ever seen a royal face until now, no one would even think that Gramps was breaking your laws by lording over all of you. Let alone that Dad was the heir…”

“Yamamoto is the last of the Elders.”

“Dammit, Tōshirō! Why’d you have ta go and say that ta me!” He vaulted to his feet and began cursing under his breath.

“I merely told you the facts as they happen to be. Your Grandfather is the last of the Elders, it’s not anything to start having a tantrum over.” He eyed him coolly.

“Yes it is.” Tatsuki’s eyes danced with wicked amusement. “Now he has to go along with anything his grandfather decrees. It’s the honor that’s instilled inside him that forces him to do it.”

“Yeah, he’s all heart when it comes to doing the honorable thing.” Renji grinned.

“God Dammit!” Ichigo grumbled darkly. “It had better be a skull or something badass…Leashed!! This beyond sucks!! Rukia’s gonna laugh gleefully about it too!!”

“Centered,” Tōshirō finished off his last melon. “The limiter will keep you in balance. I seriously doubt if anything could ever rein you in entirely. You are too much of an anomaly for that.”

“Hey, Ichigo. It’s better than spending all of your free time here attending the academy.” Renji gave him that bit of insight to mull over.

“Yeah, anything’s better than that.” He simmered down.

“Now that we’ve got that settled, you can show me what Renji spent all of your bounty money on.” She grinned.

“Yeah, sure. Why not. I’m starving and it’s the last place Karin will look for him after she gets back from ‘bonding’ with all the girls.”

“Karin went on a girls day out?” Tatsuki couldn’t believe her ears. “She absolutely loathes to shop for anything not tomboy in nature. What’d they do drug her?”

“So that’s where they all went.” Renji frowned.

“Yeah, and Karin was already beyond pissed off at Captain Ice there already for being an ass and shutting her out and all that stuff…She hates being left out more than Tatsuki does.”

“I’m new at it all right!”

“That’s okay, we’ll hide you until she cools down.” Tatsuki winked at him. “To girls like Karin and me shopping trips are sheer torture and bore us too tears.”

“I’m doomed.” He groaned.

“Yuzu is with her so…Nah, you’re right about that. You’re toast.”

“Shut up or I’ll make sure that they put a limiter on you that’s not even close to being ‘badass’ and is visible to everyone in the living world.” Tōshirō narrowed his eyes at him.

“You wouldn’t…”

“Try me.”

“He doesn’t bluff ever, Ichigo.” Renji walked over and hissed that in his ear.

“Fine. I’ll run interference for you with Karin. This time. Word of advice, Captain. She’s gonna wipe the floor with you every time if you don’t wise up and be straight with her. She never bluffs either and for the record. Neither do I.” He flash stepped back to his sanctuary.

“I’d say that it’s check between the two of you, wouldn’t you, Captain.” Renji arched a brow at him.

“No, Lieutenant, it’s just the beginning of finding common ground between two adversaries that are now forced to act like family and be civil to each other.” He vanished.

“Not fair!! I can’t do that!!” She protested.

“Yeah, well, I can and I don’t feel like walking either.” He used the distraction of Tōshirō and Ichigo’s departure to walk up behind her, cast a binding spell on her, so he could safely heft her up over his shoulder.

“Abarai! This isn’t funny! Put me down!!”

“No. Now shut up and behave while I get the two of us back to my place.” He kept a firm hold on her and then the two of them vanished.

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Next

Chapter Sixteen

Cindra © 2008-2009