Chapter 7

It had been three years since then. Ichigo's skills only continued to grow. She had focused on honing her skills through duels with her fellow squad members in those three years, not paying attention to anything else besides the occasional visit to squad 12 to see Hiyori and Kisuke and to squad 10 to see her father. A month ago, she had been given the sixteenth seat after beating the former seated officer in a duel. Yumichika had taken a liking to her and often made her sit still so he could experiment different hair styles using her hair. Ikkaku kept challenging her to duels to get even for her breaking his nose.

Currently, Ichigo had just finished training and was on her way back to the Shiba estate. Her vibrant orange hair was almost midback now and braided into a crown on her head, courtesy of Yumichika.

"Ichigo!"

Ichigo acted on instinct and ducked. A small figure flew over her head and landed on her other side. Ichigo straightened and smiled when she saw it was Hiyori.

"Hiyori! How are you?" she asked.

"You forgot to visit me last month!" Hiyori exclaimed, crackling her knuckles.

Ichigo held up her hands, smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry, I was busy that day. I beat a seated officer and took his place," she said.

Hiyori raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

Ichigo nodded.

"I'm sixteenth seat," she said. "Not very impressive, but I'm working on it."

"Impressive enough, although you're right; you could've done better with you honing your skills for three years." Hiyori said.

"I want to work my way up, like a proper officer, not jump straight to a higher rank," Ichigo said.

"Yeah, sure. Anyways, what's with that hairdo?" Hiyori eyed Ichigo's hairdo.

"Oh, this is Yumichika's work," Ichigo said. "He likes to style my hair and since he does a pretty good job, I let him do it. It keeps my hair out of my face too."

"It looks...different," Hiyori said. "A good different though. So, what are you up to now?"

"I'm off to visit the Shiba mansion," Ichigo said.

"Can I come with you?"

"Sure," Ichigo said.

They walked past the barracks.

"You know, the captain's been awfully sulky since you left," Hiyori said.

"Why do you say that? I was only there for three weeks." Ichigo said.

"He smiled a lot more around you," Hiyori said. "And sometimes, when we're summoned to captain meetings, I have to drag him past the squad 11 barracks. He passes by there as often as possible."

"Why would he do that?" Ichigo asked, frowning in confusion.

"Man, you're oblivious too," Hiyori said, sighing. "That moron likes you! And I think you like him just as much!"

Ichigo blinked several times, her cheeks flushed a pale pink color.

"Yeah right," she exclaimed, slightly flustered. "I doubt that, Hiyori. Don't be insane!"

"I'm not joking, Ichigo," Hiyori said, uncharacteristically serious. "Anyone can see it. Trust me, Ichigo; that idiot is in love with you, and he's only fallen more for you in the past few years. I mean, you are beautiful. And you're strong. And you smile a lot around him too; I can see you sneaking peeks at him after our monthly duels."

Ichigo blushed even more and she turned away.

"I'll believe when I see it for myself," she said.

Hiyori snorted.

"Race you!" she exclaimed, flash stepping ahead.

"Hey!" Ichigo flash stepped after her. "Do you even know where you're going?!"

"Why am I wearing this again?" Hiyori grumbled, tugging at the sleeve of her brand new kimono.

Ichigo shrugged. She looked perfectly comfortable in her own kimono. Her relatives had been ecstatic to see her and even more so when they saw Hiyori. They had forced them into all sorts of kimonos before deciding on the ones they were currently wearing.

"There's a festival coming up soon. It wouldn't be right to show up in the uniform of a soul reaper," she said. "At least now, you don't have to buy anything."

Hiyori grumbled.

"I guess it's nice," she muttered reluctantly. "But the festival is in three weeks!"

Ichigo smiled slightly.

"Then we're already prepared for it," she replied.

Ichigo wore a deep red kimono with golden flower patterns lining the hem, sleeves, and collar, lined with sequins along with a golden colored sash around the waist. It was fairly simple, but elegant. Hiyori wore an ocean blue kimono with sequin patterns along the end of the sleeves and collar and hem, with a purple-blue sash tied around her waist. Their hair remained untouched, although Ichigo had a small pale pink lily flower tucked behind her ear. Their shikakusho were folded neatly and tucked into their kimonos. They both had tucked their zanpakuto into the sash around their waists.

"Well, I'm going to get out of this kimono." Hiyori said. "If Shinji saw me in this, he'd spread it around like wildfire."

Ichigo chuckled.

"Promise me you'll wear it at the festival," she said.

"Why should I?" Hiyori glared at her.

"Do it or I will tell everyone about you wearing it instead of Captain Hirako," Ichigo said.

"You're a sadist, you know that?"

Ichigo smiled sweetly.

"If I have to wear this to the festival, you do too. It's only fair we suffer together," she said. "That's what friends are for, right?"

Hiyori grumbled.

"Fine, I'll wear it," she growled out.

"I'll hold you to your word." Ichigo said. "I'll see you later."

"See ya!"

Hiyori flash stepped back. Ichigo continued on her way back to the squad 11 barracks. As she neared the barracks, she saw a white clad figure near the doors. She frowned and peered closer. She saw the figure was wearing a captain's haori. As she walked closer, she could clearly see the symbol and kanji on the haori. She felt something in her stomach flutter slightly.

"Captain Urahara?"

Kisuke jumped and whirled around.

"Ichigo!" he exclaimed. "Hi!"

Kisuke blinked and took in Ichigo's new appearance. He blushed slightly. Ichigo ducked her head slightly, suddenly feeling shy and self-conscious about her appearance.

"What are you doing here? Did you need to see Captain Zaraki?" Ichigo asked, walking closer.

Kisuke stepped back slightly, too shy to look her in the eyes or to say anything else.

"Captain Urahara?" Ichigo asked, stepping closer.

That only made Kisuke blush a deeper red before he flash stepped away. Ichigo blinked from the abrupt disappearance of her former captain before she smiled, chuckling slightly. He was rather cute when flustered. Ichigo blinked as she realized what she had thought.

"Guess Hiyori was right after all," she muttered, blushing slightly.

Ichigo entered the barracks. Some of the squad members took one look at her as she passed and promptly gaped in shock. Ichigo ignored their stares. She entered the courtyard where she felt Kenpachi's spiritual pressure. She stepped out onto the patio. Kenpachi was fighting Ikkaku. Yumichika watched from the sidelines with Yachiru next to him. Yachiru looked at her and squealed.

"Ichi! You look so cute!" she exclaimed, jumping up and running over.

Yachiru jumped onto Ichigo's back, climbing up so she was looking over Ichigo's shoulder. Yumichika looked over and raised an eyebrow.

"My, my, Ichigo, what's the occasion?" he asked.

"Visited the house today; they forced me into this," Ichigo said, brushing a loose strand of orange hair behind her ear.

Ikkaku happened to glance over. He choked violently, faltering in his movements. Kenpachi sent him flying back. Ikkaku skidded to a stop and stared at Ichigo.

"I-Ichigo?! What the hell are you wearing?!" he exclaimed.

"I believe it's called a kimono," Ichigo said dryly.

Ikkaku sputtered. Yachiru giggled.

"I-I know that!" Ikkaku growled.

Ichigo hid a snicker behind her hand. Kenpachi grunted, turning to look at her.

"Hey Ichigo, how do you feel about challenging another seated officer?" Kenpachi asked.

"Which one?"

"Tenth seat," Kenpachi said, resting his zanpakuto on his shoulder.

"Are you sure I should be jumping that far up?" Ichigo asked.

"You're good enough to fight with these two," Kenpachi said, gesturing to Ikkaku and Yumichika. "And everyone knows that; they won't protest."

"That's right! Kenny's always right!" Yachiru said cheerfully.

Ichigo sighed.

"When?" she asked.

"Anytime you want," Kenpachi said.

"How about sometime next week?" Yumichika suggested.

Ichigo shrugged.

"Sounds good to me," she said. "I'm going to go change now."

With that, Ichigo went back inside. Yachiru rejoined Yumichika as Kenpachi and Ikkaku went back to their duel.