Inspiration briefly bit, so have another segment of this AU. I have vague plans for more, but idk when I'll get back to writing it, I've got a lot of other AUs that interest me more right now.

They settle into a comfortable routine, with Ichigo spending more and more time in Yasutora's apartment. The shadows take to him and it isn't long before Ichigo begins to carry a companion around with him as well.

He doesn't complain, just adapts his own habits to accommodate the beings, and Yasutora has never before been so thankful that he uprooted himself and came to Japan. Watching Ichigo interact with whichever shadow is currently clinging to him is fascinating; his friend is kind and curious and interested in the smallest of things that the shadows decide to show him, and it shows in his warm gaze and the tiny smile curling at the corners of his lips.

It's even more fascinating to realize that there's something changing about all of them.

Yasutora can always tell which shadow has recently clung to Ichigo's skin; it always feels more solid, more real, and it leaves prickly trails across his skin as it moves. There's something about Ichigo that the shadows are absorbing and passing on to Yasutora in turn.

He's starting to see strange shapes out of the corner of his eye, vague outlines of what might be people, but he says nothing. It could be his imagination or it could be that whatever the shadows are passing to him is giving him some of Ichigo's skills.

He doesn't want Ichigo to worry.

(His shadows would never allow harm to come to him.)

But he and his shadows aren't the only ones affected. There's something easier about Ichigo on the days he carries a companion. He stands straighter and walks smoother, like a man relieved of pain he hadn't even known he carried.

Yasutora questions the shadows late one night. He may not worry about himself or his companions, but Ichigo is another matter. He hates the idea of Ichigo in pain, and if there's anything he can do…

The shadows dart across his skin and coil around his body, whispering of power and pressure and trapped strength. They whisper of a seal slowly degrading and a body damaged by enforced containment. Of uncontrolled power and all the ways it wounds. Of how Yasutora is helping by taking in the extra.

He doesn't give it any more thought.

He's helping and that's enough for him.

(He doesn't mind changing if it's for Ichigo.)

Ichigo doesn't speak of it, though Yasutora is certain his friend knows that something is changing. The way he alters his habits to allow the shadows to switch between them whenever they touch is answer enough. Yasutora adapts to prickly trails across his skin and half-seen outlines of ghostly figures and is pleased as Ichigo relaxes in turn, unacknowledged pain fading away the longer they spend together.

(It makes him more thankful for meeting Ichigo than ever.)

It's still a surprise when Ichigo invites him over, offering to let him meet his sisters. It's a surprise, but Yasutora doesn't need to think twice.

He accepts immediately.

Going to Ichigo's home is strange. He's never been to a friend's home, has never had a friend to visit before, and he's… worried. Are there any rules of hospitality he doesn't know? Should he bring a present? Ichigo never does, but… Ichigo lives with his father, doesn't he? Surely Yasutora should bring something to thank the man for allowing him over…

Except Ichigo waves off his concerns and tells him not to worry, that no one will mind him showing up.

Yasutora… isn't certain. He wants to make a good impression, wants Ichigo's family to accept him…

And then Ichigo opens the front door and a man lunges out—

All thoughts of first impressions go out the window.

Yasutora shoulders Ichigo aside. Grabs the man's outstretched arm. Twists and levers and throws—

"Ah… sorry about that," Ichigo apologizes sheepishly, watching the man go sprawling on the sidewalk. "That's just Goat-face, don't worry about him. That's just the way he is."

"Goat-face..?" Yasutora repeats slowly, wondering if he heard that right. He eyes the man with a frown, trying to puzzle out his relation to Ichigo. He's heard little enough of Ichigo's family beyond brief mentions of his sisters and that their family runs an emergency clinic. So… is 'Goat-face' his friend's father?

"Yeah." Ichigo shrugs and beckons Yasutora inside, not even bothering to check on the man. He closes the door behind them like it's a common, daily occurrence and heads straight into the main room after taking off his shoes. "Hey, Karin, Yuzu! Come here and meet my friend!"

Yasutora isn't certain he likes what he's beginning to suspect, but he sets in aside in favor of meeting Ichigo's sisters.

They're sweet young girls. Yuzu smiles brightly at him and Karin pretends to scoff and tries to mimic Ichigo's attitude, but Yasutora sees the way she melts when Ichigo ruffles her hair. Both sisters love their brother dearly.

(He can understand the sentiment.)

Yuzu, it turns out, is a very good cook, and she knew to expect a guest. There's plenty of food to go around and Yasutora… enjoys himself. Even the presence of 'Goat-face' - who Yasutora learns soon enough is actually Ichigo's father — isn't enough to dampen his enjoyment. He likes Ichigo's sisters, can see exactly why Ichigo would do anything for them, and meeting Ichigo's family feels right in a way he never expected.

His shadow companions are not quite so lenient, however.

Yasutora gets the impression that they've never liked Goat-face and are not about to begin to simply because Yasutora is present and enjoying himself. They whisper in his ear while he sits and watches television with Yuzu and Karin while Ichigo tends to the dishes and Goat-face does… whatever it is he does once 'family time' is over. They whisper of emptiness and death and wrongness. They whisper of things that break the natural order.

(They whisper of keys and seals and origins.)

(Yasutora gets a sour taste in his mouth whenever he sets eyes on Goat-face.)

When Yasutora leaves that evening, he makes a promise to Yuzu to return 'some time soon'. It's a promise he has no trouble keeping and one that Ichigo seems pleased about as he sees him out.

It doesn't take long before he's invited back. Again and again and again, until he's spending nearly as much time at Ichigo's house as at his own. It becomes a comfortable routine that Yasutora enjoys. Some nights he even sleeps over, sprawled out on a futon in Ichigo's room.

That's when he learns about Goat-face's… other habits.

The first time he sleeps over, he wakes with a start and stares blankly at the ceiling, trying to piece together what his half-asleep mind just witnessed. The shadows are writhing against his skin and through the darkness of the room, whispering their fury, their loathing, for any to hear.

This isn't the first time they've seen this, Yasutora realizes with a start. It's simply the first time there are enough of them present to make an impact.

"Don't worry about it," Ichigo says sleepily, rolling over and pulling the blankets over his head. "Goat-face is just like that."

Yasutora is at a loss. He'd thought the 'welcome home' attacks and the dramatics at the table were bad enough, but this…

Ichigo's father just assaulted him in his own room. While Ichigo was asleep.

(No wonder Ichigo never uses the man's name or acknowledges their relationship.)

He might be at a loss but his companions are not. They've had enough and he can't entirely blame them; the shadows are not forgiving of those who harm the ones they like, and they like Ichigo just as much as they like Yasutora.

Ichigo just sighs from within his blanket cocoon. "Just don't hurt him badly," he says. "He means well enough."

Yasutora clenches his fist and bites back the jumble of words that want to spill out. He knows exactly how his Abuelo would view Goat-face's actions and Ichigo's excusing those actions, and he feels no guilt for giving his companions his silent agreement. They won't take it too far — they like Ichigo too much to go entirely against his request — but Goat-face is going to learn a lesson one way or another.

He almost can't wait to hear how they decide to go about it.

Come visit me at akaluan over on tumblr if you'd like! There's a fairly large collection of drabbles and other oneshots available there - do a search for Masterpost By Month and most of it will come up!

If you'd like to read other stories that I'm currently working on, check out my wordpress at akaluan . silveredmagic . com . I've currently got four stories running that update on Wednesdays, all Bleach or Bleach crossovers.