Ichigo paced around his apartment, feeling nervous about Rukia's disappearance more and more as each day went by. The woman of his heart suddenly disappeared after stating she was going to visit her stick-up-the-ass brother and nobody could figure out why.
This can only mean one thing, Ichigo thought to himself, Byakuya is preventing her from leaving his damn house!
The enraged orange head stomped over to his cellphone and searched his contact list for Byakuya's number. When he finally found it, he pressed 'Dial' and waited for the other end to pick up.
The first ring.
The second.
The third… fourth… fifth…
"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable—"
"FUCK!" Ichigo shouted as he threw his phone across the living room, landing on his soft couch. This cannot be happening… He dropped his body next to the phone like a sack of potato, and buried his head in his hands. He had to think about this thoroughly.
If Byakuya was really keeping Rukia in his mansion, why would he do that? It definitely wasn't because of him or the kids… or was it? Or maybe it has something to do with what he said to him on the day of gallery's opening….
"The mere fact that she now presented her name to the public as a successful woman will make other nobles want to marry her into their clan. If she's not careful, something could happen. And when that does, you'll have to deal with me."
"…shit," Ichigo mumbled to himself.
He could still remember the day when he got the news from Takeshi that his mother was missing.
Flashback
Ichigo sighed as he looked at his paperwork. He's been busy with the night shifts for the past few days and finally ended up collapsing on his desk the previous night, forgetting to call Rukia and the kids. When he woke up that morning he freaked out and immediately called the house but nobody picked up. So he left a message for his family explaining why he couldn't call and hung up, expecting Rukia to call back soon. But what he didn't expect were the unexpected visitors.
Ichigo was still at work late in the evening when his office door suddenly burst open.
"OTOUSAN!"
The orange head jumped up in surprise, knocking over his chair as his son flew at him. "Takeshi? What are you doing here?"
"OKASAN IS MISSING!" he sobbed, loudly.
"…" Ichigo stared at his son for a few seconds as the words sank in. "WHAT?"
"ICHIGO!"
The said man looked up to see a very enraged red head being held back by his oldest friend. "Renji… Tatsuki…"
Tatsuki looked up and asked, "Has Rukia called you?"
Ichigo shook his head as he set Takeshi on the ground, but the young Kurosaki immediately wrapped his limbs around Ichigo's leg. "Not after two nights ago. Why? Where is she?"
"She said something about visiting her brother early yesterday morning but we haven't heard from her since then.
Renji finally got Tatsuki's arms off of him and launched himself in front of Ichigo, grabbing him around the collar. "What happened?"
Ichigo glared. "Are you saying this is somehow my fault?"
"Why else would she go see her brother? It obviously has something to do with you!" He pushed his friend back against the wall.
"Renji, please," Tatsuki pleaded as she tried to pry his fingers away from Ichigo. "He obviously doesn't know what's going on either. Maybe she decided to spend the night there because her visit at her brother's was long and—"
Renji interrupted her words by glaring at her. "Do you honestly believe that fucked up theory of yours?"
Tatsuki glared back before punching him to the side, releasing his hold on Ichigo. "Then what else can I say? I'm trying to act more positive because I don't want to scare Takeshi!"
Renji suddenly quieted down, realizing that the child was still in the room. He sighed before getting back on his two feet and reached out to grab Tatsuki's hand. "We're going back Takeshi," he said as he led Tatsuki out of Ichigo's office without another word. Tatsuki only looked up and gave him an apologetic look before allowing Renji to lead her out.
But Takeshi stayed still.
Ichigo looked down as his son tightened his hold on his leg. The father bent down to his son's level to allow Takeshi to wrap his arms around his neck instead. He hugged him back. "I don't know what's going on… but I promise I will bring your mother back," he swore.
Takeshi only continued to sob quietly on his father's shoulder. After a few seconds he nodded his head.
End of Flashback
Ichigo sighed.
Five days.
Five fucking long days had past since he made that promise to his son and there still hadn't been much luck. And every passing second sent Ichigo even closer to a nervous breakdown.
Ring ring ring
Ichigo looked to his side to see his abandoned phone ringing. On the front screen the word 'Psycho' kept flashing. He flipped open the phone. "What do you want, old man?"
"Ichigo," Isshin replied on the other side, "Any news?"
Ichigo sighed as he said, "No, I still can't reach her brother."
Isshin also sighed against the phone. "This is not good. At this rate things might get worse."
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked.
There was a few second pause on the other end. "Ichigo…I don't know how to tell you this."
"What is it?"
"…"
"Pops?"
Again Isshin sighed, but this time much longer and more depressingly. "Ichigo, do you think you can take a few days off from work?"
"Why?"
"…Ichigo, you should come and comfort your children."
The orange head sat up straight, fear running down his spine. "What's wrong? Are Takeshi and Mai okay?"
"Mai has a really high fever and won't stop crying. And Takeshi's acting like he's fine but he won't eat or sleep. His teacher even called saying he got into a fight. This is already the third time this weak, and each time I had to treat the other kids because they were beaten up so bad," Isshin answered.
Ichigo ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Can you put them on the phone? I want to speak to them."
"I just got Mai to sleep and Takeshi locked himself in his room again," Isshin said.
"Fuck!" Ichigo yelled, standing up and pacing around the room again. "I'll contact Unohana-sensei and see if I can come over—"
"Kisuke told me something really interesting this morning," his father suddenly interrupted, his voice sounding a little mischievous. "Apparently there's going to be a grand party at a house owned by the Aizen Family in Tokyo. It's taking place this weekend."
Ichigo arched his brow. "Old man, I don't have time for any of your stupid games. I have to figure out a way to see Rukia—"
"And guess who's invited?"
Ichigo stopped in midstep. "…Rukia?"
The old man laughed, evilly. "I think it's time for you to buy a nice suit. I can get you a good deal from Kisuke."
"Where the hell did you get this information?" Ichigo asked. Something just felt wrong. How would his father, or his friend, both of who had absolutely no connection with these high-class people, know about this event?
"You should know that by now: Kisuke and I have our ways. But we'll never share our secret," Isshin snickered, answering the question Ichigo was thinking about. Guess children really can't hide things from their parents.
"Pops?"
"Yes my son."
"Watch the kids for me. I have a party to crash."
The Kurosaki father and son could perfectly see each others' grins through the phone.
A/N: MUHAHAHA! I LOVE Isshin and I wanted to end this chapter in a little more happier tone. It's a bit sad what's happening to Takeshi and Mai. I'm going to write more about this later with more detail so don't think this bit is unimportant.
Find out what happens at this party next time when I update. THANKS for reading!
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