To Undo it All

Chapter 5: The Time Traveler and the Kenpachi

The sunrise, like always, was beautiful. That beauty was magnified in the Soul Society. It painted the sky in hues of gold and deep crimson with a dominance of orange. For a few minutes, the stars would still be shining, standing out against the multitude of colors, and it all mashed together to create this image that everyone had to experience at least once. On days where we knew things would be more intense than normal, my friends and I would wake up early just to take in the sight and relax. We'd all meet up somewhere for an unobstructed sight, usually either on one of the many towers dotted around the Seireitei, or on Sokyoku hill. Orihime would bring picnic supplies, though we made sure Uryu made the food. It would be this quiet, pleasant affair where none of us would talk, to absorb the gentle atmosphere together.

Whenever they'd ask, I'd manifest Shiro and the Old Man, who would relax in their own ways. Old Man would stand there silently, usually next to the equally stoic Chad, and soak it all in as his cloak billowed about (whether there was a breeze or not). Shiro would lay his head in someone's lap, and once everyone got used to it, no one minded. He would never lay on the same person's lap twice in a row, it made me smile how he always remembered who the last person was. Orihime and Rukia would weave their fingers through his hair, and he would damn near fall asleep. Uryu, with the hollow's permission, would sew designs along the sleeves of his shihakusho. Renji would play games, like tic-tac-toe. When Unohana started joining us, she would bring tea. Whenever it was her turn with Shiro, she would read to him. Her reading voice was soothing, and everyone would end up listening in.

More often than not, those mornings would be the only good part of the day. During the worse points of the Blood War, they'd be the only good things we'd be able to experience for weeks at a time.

A yawn pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked over to the source, a rising Isane. She had a nightmare last night, and entered Unohana's abode for comfort. The gentle woman allowed the silver haired lieutenant to join her in her bed, probably because I was on the spare and she didn't want to deal with our crap at 1:30 in the morning. Isane wasn't told I was there, so she was probably going to freak as soon as she opened her eyes.

"Thank you, Unohana-taicho. I'm sorry for-AAAAHHHHHH!" Called it. A pillow hit my face, with my Hierro blocking any force behind it so I merely blinked from the cotton hitting my eye. "Unohana-taicho, there's a man in here with us!"

"Mm, yes, I know. There's nothing to worry about, Isane-chan." Trusting Unohana to deal with this, I looked back out the window to continue watching the sunrise.

"W-w-what?! But he's-he's the Ryoka from Kuchiki-san's execution!"

"Indeed he is. Isane-chan, this is Kurosaki Ichigo, a time traveler who came to warn us of a war, and my patient." Without shifting my gaze, I waved in greeting. "…This is no dream, Isane-chan. You can stop pinching yourself."

I was mildly intrigued by the fact that Isane had yet to notice the still sleeping form of Yoruichi on the spare futon.

"B-but-" She stopped talking when I rose from my position in the far corner of the room.

"You two can chat in here, I'm gonna go have breakfast."

"This shouldn't take too long, Kurosaki-san. I trust you know my preferences?" I nodded as I strapped the sealed Zangetsu to my left hip.

"Yeah. Should I make a plate for Isane, too?"

"I believe that would be too much for her right now."

"Got it. I'll be off, then. Yoruichi will wake on her own, grab some water, and then do her own thing, so just leave her be." I shut the door on my way out, and began lazily sauntering to the 4th Squad cafeteria. I passed by a good number of faceless Shinigami, and responded in kind whenever one greeted me. The majority of the division seemed either wary or outright afraid of me, which kinda made sense. I was an invader suspected of murdering one of the most 'gentle' captains of the Soul Society up until yesterday, after all. One who went toe-to-toe with Kenpachi of all people and won(albeit barely). As well as one who prevented the execution of a 'criminal', manhandled three lieutenants, beat one of the stronger captains, and slaughtered two more captains with ease after they had been revealed as traitors. Add on the rumors that were no doubt running around, and there was a good chance half the people in the Seireitei probably thought I was some sadistic murderer that could overpower Yamamoto and enjoyed eating children.