He normally never liked it when people would pat his head, but he let the older shinigame do so. He chuckled softly, “Your starting to sound like a broken record you know.” he teased when he heard him say “Watch your back.” He looked up at him and said, ” Don’t worry I will.” he said with a smile.
A grin as another laugh escaped Shunsui, “Yeah, yeah!” he laughed, waving off the teen’s teasing words as he finally flopped down backwards, placing his hat over his eyes. “Still stands, one has to do their job, but dun forget. Shinigami or not, make sure to take time for yourself as well.”
He listened to how he had seen a lot of things through out his life time. Most likely things that Ichigo couldn’t even handle. He simply nodded his head, ” Ya i’ll make sure to watch my back.” he said. ” But is that what you came here? Was to work me?” he asked.
A soft chuckle as he gazed at Ichigo, placing a hand on top of the kid’s head and smiling fondly. “Sort of. You’re a good kid, Kurosaki. A damn good Shinigami, standin’ up for those you believe in, so… Yeh. I came to warn ya. Watch your back out there, alright?”
“ Huh?” he said as he listened to the other, “ What do you mean by that?” he asked. “ Did… did someone do that to you?” he asked the older shinigami.
“…Ya could say that, kiddo. Let’s just say I’ve seen an awful lot in two hundred some-odd years and while there’s a lotta good people out there… There’s a lot who ain’t gonna think twice bout stabbin ya in the back either.” he returned. “So watch your back.”
Again the teen was a little taken back from what he heard Shunsui said to him. He gently scratched his red cheek and cleared his throat. ” Thanks. It means a lot to know that I can trust you.” he said as he looked over to the older man.
“Just be careful, kid on who you trust.” he cautioned. “Take it from one who’s experienced it… Sometimes the one you trust with your life and soul… will be the one who betrays you and leaves you for dead. Guard yourself well.”
The teen watched as the other pulled out a small bottle of sake and handed it to him. Looking down at the drink, he brought it to his nose and smelled it. He jerked his head back and hesitated before he finally put the bottle to his lips and took a sip. ” Ah!” he said as he winced from the taste. “That’s horrible.”
At that a very hearty laugh burst from the older Shinigami, unable to help it, laughing at the kid’s reaction to his favourite drink, “It’s somethin’ ya hafta get used to, kiddo. But my advice is dun get used to it. It can hinder judgement after all.” a more serious tone and look over-took him. “Which with all yer enemies is not somethin’ ya need happening to ya." his eyes grew cautious and concerned for the teenager, "You got a hard life, kid… Just know should ya need some help, you come see ol’ Shunsui and just ask for that help ya need. Be it in battle or otherwise, ’ll come help ya.”
Ichigo scratched the back of his head, ” Well it’s not that i’m against it. It’s just that I’ve never drink before.” he said as he looked back to the older man. ” But… I guess it wouldn’t hurt.” he said.
“Hahaha! Thatta boy!” he laughed as he held out the small bottle of sake to the other now, opening it for the kid. “Take just a sip or Juu-chan’ll have my head.”
Ichigo was a little surprised that he was getting praise from one of the oldest and assumed one of the strongest. ” Uh… thanks but i’m to young to drink.” he answered.
“Haaaaah? After all the stuff you’ve accomplished and you don’t wanna have a drink ‘til later? You’re one weird kid. Okay with dyin’ but not okay with drinkin’.” the older Shinigami let out a hearty laugh, so this was Kurosaki? He was more than amused by the kid so far.
“ Your… Kyoraku right?” the substitute shinigami asked as he looked up to the taller man.
“That’s right, kiddo. You’re the superman all of us Shinigami know of by now.” he mused, lifting his hat to gaze at the boy who’d already became a legend. “…You want a drink?” he offered, pulling his sake bottle from his sleeve.
