Sunset in Heaven

Chapter 9

For two weeks now, Ichigo had always found himself sparring with either Renji or Kenpachi every afternoon in the clearing at the outskirt of the 78th District of Rukongai. Sometimes, both were present – the other watching while the other sparred against him. Sometimes it's Ichigo and Renji against Kenpachi or Kenpachi and Renji against Ichigo. Of course, there's no way Renji would go against Ichigo and Kenpachi at the same time. It's suicide if he did that. He couldn't even beat Ichigo on his own and then he would try to beat him while also fighting against Kenpachi? That's preposterous, if not totally insane.

Ichigo could feel his blood warming at the prospect of fighting now and he thought that Kenpachi's attitude was rubbing off on him. Even Shiro and Zangetsu seemed satisfied every time he came home from a fight. Lately, because he was so busy fighting and making friends with Renji and Kenpachi, and even Yachiru, his inner world rains lesser and lesser. Zangetsu even said that Ichigo should start practicing with his two opponents using kidou. Of course, Renji and Kenpachi hated it every time Ichigo would use kidou against them because they both sucked at it. They could only dodge or block the spells using their swords; in Kenpachi's case, using his muscled body when the kidou was just a lower digit.

Kenpachi and Ichigo never talked about Aizen when Renji was present. Not that they felt Renji wouldn't keep his mouth shut. They just both felt, without having to explicitly say it, that they didn't want Renji involved in something that might be proven dangerous. Yachiru never joined in their conversation about Aizen too. She just listened sometimes but she was more inclined to watch a butterfly flew around them than join in.

And now, Kenpachi and Ichigo both sat in the shade of a huge tree as they both watched Renji practice with his kidou in the clearing. They just finished their trio sparring and Renji wanted to at least have leverage against Ichigo or Kenpachi by practicing his kidou skills.

"So, Ichigo, did Aizen harass you again?" Kenpachi grinned, though Ichigo could sense the seriousness in his tone. The taichou's voice was quiet, probably so Renji wouldn't hear their conversation. They watched as Yachiru scolded Renji for sucking at kidou before she showed him again how it was done. It was a cute scene, watching Renji get flustered every time Yachiru would kick his face and tell him that his stance was wrong, or his incantation was wrong. She was in full teaching mode and Renji in student mode.

"Yesterday, he cornered me and asked me again if I changed my mind about the Division thing." Ichigo sighed as he answered just as quietly. "He's getting way too troublesome, Kenpachi, so much so that it feels like he really wants me under his wing no matter what."

Kenpachi didn't answer for a while. He shifted in his seat before he voiced, "I initially thought that Aizen-taichou and Ichimaru-taichou were each other's nemesis, at least until I saw both of them hovering over you in that forest one afternoon two weeks ago." He snorted. "I bet they're planning something massive if they're planning on recruiting you in their Division."

Ichigo smirked. "They can't have me. Chichi is way in need of subordinates than them."

"Anyway, Ichigo, it's good that you can control your temper in front of him. It'll get you in trouble if you ever fight back against him. Even if you're strong enough to beat him, you will not want to have all the other Taichous on your tail."

Ichigo shivered having to think about that. "Yeah, if everyone is as strong as you, Kenpachi, then I think I might want to endure his constantly annoying presence for now." Kenpachi grinned at the obvious compliment.

"Anyway, I can't see anything peculiar in him." Kenpachi said. "It's either he doesn't have any ulterior motive in killing that Shinigami or even his recruitment of you, or that he's rather good at hiding it." Ichigo nodded in assent just as Renji's face met Yachiru's waraji once again.