Ichigo chewed on his lip and tried to gather his nerve to allow the change to take him all over again. He didn’t want to try, didn’t want to suffer through the disorientation all over again, but… but maybe this time it wouldn’t be like that. Rerugen’s change hadn’t seemed to affect him terribly, and now Ichigo thought he knew why—

(He still didn’t want to.)

Rerugen waited patiently for him to decide, leaving the decision in Ichigo’s hands yet again.

It was the lack of expectation that helped him gather his confidence, along with the hope of never having to face the same sort of disorientation again.

Ichigo closed his eyes and concentrated, turning his attention inward. Rerugen was right, it was easy to figure out how to trigger the change. The urge was there lurking just within reach. He reached—

Power rushed through his body—

(He should not fight. He should. Not. Fight.)

(Let the power do what it wanted—)

He knew what to look for. Knew how Rerugen’s power had felt—

His senses faded and swirled together in a blur, a cacophony of sensation that snapped into abrupt focus a heartbeat later. Ichigo shook his head and stumbled into Uryuu’s legs.

“Alright?” Uryuu asked softly, braced to take Ichigo’s weight. He reached down and sank his hand into Ichigo’s ruff, fingers scratching the back of his head. “That seemed smoother.”

Ichigo nodded and leaned further into Uryuu, relaxing into the touch and taking the time to gather himself. It was still strange to observe the world from such a different height but at least this time he didn’t feel like the world was writhing beneath his paws.

Rerugen was watching him, head cocked to one side and ears standing at attention, mouth slightly open and his tail wagging. He seemed… pleased, Ichigo supposed, and content to sit and wait.

“Want me to call you back?” Uryuu asked after giving Ichigo time to orient.

Ichigo considered the offer then whuffed in agreement. It had been easier, but Rerugen was right; more practice would only make it easier still. Now that he had the feel of it, he was certain he could master what Rerugen had shown him and eliminate the last of his disorientation.

Uryuu reluctantly untangled his hand from Ichigo’s ruff and murmured, “Kurosaki Ichigo.”

Fade. Blur. Cacophony and snap—

Ichigo shuddered and took an unsteady breath, pressing his suddenly-human shoulder into Uryuu’s waist and bowing his head. Uryuu’s hand settled back on his head, a grounding touch that helped settle his mind back into his body. “That was… easier,” he admitted with a glance up at Rerugen who had turned his head to the side, giving him the illusion of privacy. “I… think I have it.”

Before Uryuu could respond, Ichigo mentally reached down-and-in—

Fade. Blur. Snap—

He whuffed in excitement and stood to give himself a good shake, body for once feeling natural moments after his change. Uryuu’s fingers tightened in his ruff as soon as he stilled and he turned to stare up at his pack-brother in question, head cocked and ears pricked forward.

“I shouldn’t be surprised,” Uryuu told him with the faintest of smiles. His tone was both relieved and pleased, making Ichigo stand straighter, pleased to have pleased Uryuu. “You always were adept at learning when you saw the way.”

Ichigo took a couple of steps away from Uryuu’s support, pleased when he neither stumbled nor swayed. His wolf-shape was almost comfortable without the lingering disorientation and nausea he’d grown resigned to. Everything was still a bit too sharp, a bit too loud, but… spending time in this form would fix that. He’d not given himself the chance to really practice as a wolf, especially when so many moons interfered with school or sleep, but now…

Maybe he could learn now.

Rerugen approached slowly, ears upright and tail wagging. He was… happy?

Ichigo tilted his head and stared at the wolf-shaped man, trying to understand Rerugen’s intent. Ichigo was almost certain Rerugen was happy — dogs wagged their tails when pleased, didn’t they? And the upright ears were… close to the way Yoruichi’s ears would perk up when she was happy, so… maybe that was similar.

He’d gotten used to reading Yoruichi’s body language as a cat, but he could already tell that Rerugen didn’t use the same set. Did that mean that Ichigo’s body language was confusing the man as well? And without being able to speak…

Ichigo shook himself again, trying to discard the dizzying questions. They’d manage.

Rerugen whuffed in something like amusement and closed the gap between them, still moving cautiously. His scent was… warm was the best word Ichigo could find for it, like Uryuu’s had been from the very start and the rest of his pack had become in short order.

Rerugen smelled like a friend.

(Why already? He knew why Uryuu had clung so close so quick, but Rerugen—)

(Ah.)

Ichigo relaxed, content with his read on Rerugen at last. They weren’t going to be betrayed, or ridiculed, or anything of the sort; Rerugen was desperate for even the illusion of a larger pack, and underneath it all he was as genuine in his interest in teaching as he’d sounded.

He swayed in place when Rerugen nudged his flank and gave an exasperated whoof when Rerugen shot him a — playful? Probably playful — look.

Rerugen did it again but harder, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Making friends?” Uryuu asked in amusement.

Ichigo growled playfully at Uryuu then snapped at Rerugen in exasperation when the man did it again. Except that only seemed to encourage him because he darted back a few paces, stretched out his forelegs in something akin to a bow, then barreled right back in.

He yelped and twisted away from the unexpected charge, barely avoiding being knocked flying as he ducked behind Uryuu’s legs and shot Rerugen a sour look.

Uryuu laughed and dug his fingers into Ichigo’s ruff once again. “I think he wants to play,” Uryuu suggested with a hint of disbelief, then laughed again as Rerugen’s ears perked forward and he bobbed his head in imitation of a human nod.

Play? Ichigo wanted to protest. He wasn’t— they didn’t— there was no time for playing. He needed to learn—

Rerugen took advantage of his hesitation. Darted around Uryuu’s legs. Sent Ichigo sprawling with a shoulder-check. Leaned in and snapped his jaws inches from Ichigo’s throat—

His confusion cleared. He twisted. Scrambled up. Knocked Rerugen aside and over—

Rerugen eeled away like he was made of shadows instead of flesh. Snapped his jaws in Ichigo’s face and turned to run.

Recovering his balance took Ichigo longer than he liked, limbs tangling up and brain refusing to cooperate. But the instant he had sorted himself out he bolted after the other wolf.

This was the sort of practice he needed!