Uryuu didn’t know what to expect when he followed Rerugen and Ren out to the little green area just behind their home. It was shared by several other buildings, and was clearly some sort of community area; there were several wash-tubs set upside-down to drain, and a couple clotheslines that had clothing pinned to them. A few toys were scattered around, like children spent time playing there, and there were even a few toys that looked like dog toys.

(Did… did Rerugen actually play in his wolf form?)

He eyed the man before dismissing the notion. Rerugen seemed far too rigid to unbend like that; he was an adult Quincy after all, and likely had far more important things to do than play.

“First question,” Rerugen began once they had reached the center of the small green. “Kurosaki-san, are you aware of how to retake your wolf form after you’ve been called out of it?”

“I… we all suspected it was possible,” Ichigo admitted reluctantly, “but I never tried it.”

“It is. The trick is to reach inward towards the power that controls the change and release it. So long as the moon is in the sky, we can always become a wolf.” Rerugen looked between all of them, a small frown on his face, and continued, “It’s also important to remember that we don’t have to retake our human form, even if someone who loves us calls our name. In the end, it is our decision.”

“Oh.” Ichigo looked down at the claws on his hands, then sighed and rubbed at his face. “You… want me to change, then?”

Rerugen cocked his head to one side, expression concerned. “Do you not wish to? There are other things I can teach you if that’s the case.”

Uryuu grimaced. He knew exactly what Ichigo’s reluctance was, and he didn’t blame his friend for it. The transition from human to wolf and back had never gotten any easier on him no matter what they tried. Even Yoruichi hadn’t managed to help, her transformation too different from their own.

(Uryuu loved her a little for her efforts. For the way she snarled at Urahara when the man looked like he wanted to experiment. For the way she didn’t push Ichigo to try to change back, even though they all suspected he could.)

“I— no. It’s alright,” Ichigo said with reluctance, lips thinning as he braced himself.

But before he could, Rerugen scowled and stepped closer, hand settling on Ichigo’s shoulder. “No,” he said sharply. “You are uncomfortable with this. What did I just finish saying?”

Ichigo sent a helpless look at Uryuu, clearly out of his depth, and Uryuu found himself speaking in Ichigo’s stead. “That it’s our choice if we change,” he said, though he couldn’t keep the disbelief out of his tone no matter how he tried. Surely, surely Rerugen would just tell Ichigo to push through his discomfort, that the skill was necessary to learn and practice.

(There was no Yoruichi here to defend Ichigo.)

But instead Rerugen shot Uryuu a pleased look and nodded at him before focusing on Ichigo again. “Exactly,” he said kindly. “It is your choice, not mine. If you do not want to, then you do not have to. Knowing that the possibility is there is enough for me, since one day that knowledge might save your life.”

“Wouldn’t you rather I practice it, then?” Ichigo asked hesitantly.

“Practice only makes the change easier to control,” Erich said as he released Ichigo’s shoulder and stepped back. “The change is always a part of us, and so long as the moon is in the sky our bodies want to be wolves. Now that you know it’s possible, figuring out how to trigger it will be like stretching a limb gone numb.” He took another couple steps back, rolled his shoulders, and said, “Let me demonstrate, so you know I’m not lying.”

Uryuu moved to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ichigo, trying to provide a modicum of comfort to his friend. He… wasn’t sure how to feel about all of this. There had to be a trap somewhere. Surely Rerugen wouldn’t back down so easily.

There was something odd in Rerugen’s gaze as he watched the two of them, before he tipped his head to the side, breathed out, and changed.

Ichigo inhaled sharply and Uryuu stared in shock as Rerugen’s body faded away, clothes falling away and his body turning into a silver mist that flowed like quicksilver into a new form. His change was beautiful, and the wolf that stood in Rerugen’s place was alert and clearly unbothered by the change he’d just gone through.

“That looked nothing like mine,” Ichigo murmured. He reached a hand out and grabbed Uryuu’s wrist in a bruising grip, fine tremors shaking his hand and arm. “Do… do you think…”

Uryuu wished he had an answer to the unspoken ‘is it because of my heritage?’ that Ichigo — that they both — were wondering about. If he forced himself to change fully like Rerugen implied he could, would his change look like that while Ichigo’s remained the rough, disorienting transition that it currently was?

Reregun’s ears perked forward and he watched both of them carefully, something almost like concern in his body language. What he had to be concerned about Uryuu didn’t know, and maybe he was just projecting or reading something that wasn’t there, but… it was disorienting either way.

Finally, Rerugen whuffed and looked to Ren, head cocked and tail wagging slowly, clearly waiting for something. When Ren arched an eyebrow at him, he just blinked and gave them a canine ‘smile’.

Ren clicked their tongue, expression warm and amused. “I see how it is,” they spoke with a smile, “Rerugen Erich.”

Uryuu watched in awe as the transformation reversed just as smoothly as it had started, Rerugen’s form melting away and flowing into his human shape with no sign of distress or disorientation. In fact, the man knelt to grab his pants before his body had even finished solidifying, capable of coordinated motions that Ichigo never was.

While Rerugen pulled his clothing back on, Uryuu nudged Ichigo until his friend turned to him. He desperately wished he had any sort of answer for Ichigo, but in lieu of that… “We could ask?” he suggested softly, hoping that Ichigo would agree.

It was more ways that Rerugen could hurt them, but… it was also a chance at answers. Answers they had no way to find. So far, Rerugen had been nothing like every other Quincy they’d met, and had even insisted that the lycanthropy was older than their Quincy heritage.

He seemed… genuine. Honest. Willing to help them the way only their pack ever had.

Ichigo shivered and cast a sidelong glance at Rerugen, who was watching them with definite concern on his expression. “We could,” he murmured. His lips compressed into a thin line and he took a deep breath. “Do you think we should?”

“Yes.” Uryuu didn’t give himself a chance to hesitate. They’d already faced ridicule and hatred. What could Rerugen Erich do that the Wandenreich hadn’t already done?

(He didn’t want to think too hard on that.)

“Rerugen-san, a question,” Ichigo started as soon as he had Uryuu’s agreement, turning to face Rerugen properly again. “Your transformation, was it always so… easy?”

“No. I was the first Change in generations, and it took time to accustom myself to the difference between my own power and the wild reishi that controls the shift.”

“Wild reishi?” Uryuu had never considered that as an option — Urahara had said that the mechanisms of their shift were complex, but he’d never indicated that he thought reishi might be the culprit. “What does that even mean? Reishi is just reishi, isn’t it?”

“Yes and no. Our bodies draw in reishi naturally over the course of the day, and most of it we simply expel back into the world. But when our wolf inheritance has been unlocked, our bodies cling to more of that power than usual. And then, when the moon is overhead, our inheritance takes that power and activates it. But because the change is fueled by an outside source, those of us who have experience with controlling our own power have a tendency to fight it,” Rerugen explained.

Ichigo frowned and looked down at his hands, running his thumb over his claws. “So… it’s so hard because… I’m fighting it? Even when I return to human form?”

Rerugen nodded. “You’re not precisely fighting the change, you’re fighting the sensation of power not your own affecting your body.”

“Can you… can you teach me?” Ichigo asked softly, squaring his shoulders and meeting Rerugen’s gaze stubbornly. “I don’t want to keep feeling like that if I don’t have to.”

Rerugen’s stance softened and he smiled reassuringly. “Of course I can. How good are you at sensing?”

“I… could be better,” Ichigo admitted ruefully.

“He’d decent at close range,” Uryuu added when it seemed like Ichigo was going to leave it there.

Rerugen hummed then held out his hands, palm up, to both of them. “Here, let’s try this, then. You both hold on to my hands and I’ll shift. Try to focus on what’s happening while I do so, and see if that helps any.”

“That won’t hurt you?” Uryuu asked as he and Ichigo stepped closer. He’d never dare touch Ichigo while he was in the middle of a shift, uncertain if he could disturb or interrupt the change by accident.

“No, though if I concentrate on keeping my hands in yours, you’re going to need to help support me,” Rerugen said with a smile. “Canine bodies aren’t particularly meant for standing on their hind legs.”

“Wait, you can control even your stance?” Ichigo asked incredulously.

“Skill and practice. Lots and lots of practice,” Rerugen answered with a dry laugh. “And lots of making my wife laugh at my plight.”

This close, Uryuu could feel the man’s reiatsu, warm and welcoming and so, so pleased to be interacting with them. It was humbling to realize exactly how much it meant to Rerugen that they’d accepted his offer, even with as wary as they were.

It made his decision easier.

He took hold of one of Rerugen’s hands and concentrated, trying to hone his senses in on just the man. He could feel Ichigo’s focus narrowing down as well and wondered how much Ichigo could feel. There didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary, at least at first, but then—

Erich’s hand dissolved in his.

The ‘mist’ was cool and smooth and more solid than it looked. Even when Uryuu lightly squeezed, his fingers didn’t sink into it the way he expected, but rather compressed the ‘mist’ like he had squeezed a flesh and blood hand.

And the sensations!

Reishi and reiatsu flowed through the ‘mist’, coupled together in a way Uryuu had never seen before. There was a delicate balance, and Uryuu could see why Rerugen would say it had been difficult to learn how to shift as smoothly as he did. The slightest upset and the reishi would be scattered and fragmented instead of working as a single action.

“Oh!” Ichigo breathed at his side, leaning in and bringing up his other hand to lay it tentatively against what had been Rerugen’s arm. “Oh! It’s like— oil and water. And if you fight it— oh…”

The ‘mist’ solidified in Uryuu’s hand, becoming a large, warm paw. Rerugen’s weight settled on him as the man let Uryuu and Ichigo support him in the unnatural stance he’d taken.

(It was humbling, the trust the man had in them already.)

Rerugen’s ears were perked forward and his tail was wagging happily. He was clearly pleased with them, especially Ichigo.

“So… I’m right?” Ichigo asked, then gave the paw in his hand a considering look when Rerugen barked and wagged his tail harder. “I think… maybe I have it? I think… I think I’ll try it.”

Rerugen barked again and pulled his paws free of their hands, moving back to sit and stare expectantly up at Ichigo.

Uryuu gave Ichigo’s arm a squeeze and moved back to give his friend room as well. He hoped that Ichigo’s usual learning curve would apply here as well — he hated how the shift left Ichigo shivering and disoriented, and if Rerugen was right, if this could help…

Uryuu would do everything in his power to help, even if that was just being support and comfort and the one to call Ichigo out of his wolf shape time after time.