If you are new to this story, be prepared, there are some OC. If you are curious about their back story, check out Red Dragon, which is book one of this series. Please read and review!

Pale Moon is set 10 years after Red Dragon. That means that it is 20 years after the Aizen war. Enjoy!

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The pale moon bathes the dark world in the warmth of her light.

Rukia was not his girlfriend. Rukia was not his lover. Rukia was not his friend. Mere words could not even begin to define what Rukia was to him. In the raging storm of his soul, she was the shelter for his heart. When self doubt, or depression overwhelmed him, Rukia, and Rukia alone knew what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. The two of them did not just decide they were in love one day; it was something that grew slowly through camaraderie and teamwork. It was inevitable though, from the time her zanpakuto pierced his heart. She gave him a piece of her soul that day and changed his world forever…

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It had been over twenty years since the night when Ichigo met Rukia. Twenty years ago she introduced him to the world beyond the grave, and gave him the power to protect all that was dear to him. He was not certain how long they had been connected in a romantic manner, maybe it started that night. If there was one thing that Ichigo knew for certain, it was that they were linked together forever and he was more than ready to share that with everyone. It had been a long search to find the way to ask Rukia to be his lifelong companion, as no diamond ring could ever truly represent what they shared. What they required to symbolize their unity needed to be blatant to all but so subtle that it was almost missed at first.

That is why Ichigo had commissioned something special, to link her to him as his partner in all things. It was a thick crimson chain of rope to secure the hilt of her zanpakuto to her slender waist. In all ways it was identical to the one that draped across his body and secured zangetsu to his tall frame. He was certain they would probably swap token rings in the ceremony, but the matching belts would be a sign of their unity for all to see. Rukia had already given her eternal token to him with that piece of her soul he carried in his heart since the night of their meeting. All that was left was for him to find the right moment to present Rukia with his offering.

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The bar was pretty full that night, and Ichigo sat at a table with shinigami who had all become good friends over the past years. Relationships between afterlife warriors were often vague and difficult to define. Lifetimes extended far past what could be expected in the mortal world and in the seireitei it was often difficult to tell where your next set of orders would lead you. At this table though, sat the people that Ichigo would easily trust his life to, and he would always offer them his protection. If for some reason the law dictated one of them as his enemy, he would shirk the law. He had done it before; nakama was a term that Ichigo took very much to heart.

Ikkaku and Kenpachi were very boisterous tonight and both had been drinking sake very heavily. Not that Ichigo could say much, he had also partaken heavily and could feel the warm glow of drunkenness in his cheeks. Renji sat to his left, and Hisagi was on his right. Also present were Matsumoto, Kira, Yumichika, and Ryuu. None of them could say no when Ichigo asked them all out tonight, he had something to celebrate, and he had a very serious favor to ask all of them, especially Renji.

"I'm going to ask Rukia to marry me." Ichigo stated calmly to the table of rollicking drunks. "I'm just not sure how to go about it yet."

A surge in reiatsu accompanied Renji's retort, "What? When?"

Ichigo shrugged and took a drink from his saucer attempting to look nonchalant. The once rowdy table had quieted so much it that it was almost eerie. Every set of eyes rested on him. He really did not know why it seemed like that big of a surprise to all of them.

"Heh! Marriage, huh? Don't know nothin' about all that, probably shoulda asked from someone else." Kenpachi seemed almost irritated, but he had practically invited himself. Ichigo had no intentions of asking the battle hungry captain for advice on a romantic subject, so he ignored his statement.

"Awwwwwwww, how romantic! Did you get her a giant diamond, Ichigo?" Matsumoto's statement accompanied with her excited bouncing and hand clapping caused Ichigo's face to crumple in a scowl. Yet again another person he had not intended to talk to about this, but she followed Kira and Hisagi on almost all drinking excursions.

In seriousness Ichigo turned towards Renji, "So, got any ideas?"

"Figure it out yourself, man." With coldness in his voice Renji sat down his newly filled bowl, and quickly stood. "I need to go, I have early morning duty."

The orange haired captain just watched with bewilderment as Renji strode from the bar without another word. "What is with him?"

"Does Kuchiki wish to marry you, Kurosaki?" The sharpness in Ryuu Akai's voice pulled Ichigo's attention back to the remaining group. A blonde eyebrow was quirked as she looked at him questioningly; she seemed to appear almost slightly confused.

"Oi, Ryuu! Does this mean ya plan ta make the prom queen an honest woman too?" Kenpachi was laughing loudly as he asked question, and several snorts of laughter erupted from the others around the table.

"If you are so keen on him, Zaraki, perhaps you should ask for Byakuya's hand." Arms folded across the third captain's chest as she shot a fiery glare with her declaration to the large man who had dared to tease her. The taunting between the two fierce captains caused the group to erupt again in laughter and bantering. Ichigo started to realize that his friends might not be much help in this department.

Hisagi leaned close to Ichigo, and whispered to him, "I think you are on your own for this one, Kurosaki. This is a matter of the heart; these people would only know what to do if you had to wage another war for her. Besides, you know Kuchiki best, you will come up with something, you always do."

Ichigo knew that Hisagi had a point, and decided to drop the subject. Silently he wished that Renji had more to say on the subject since he had known Rukia for such a long time. Maybe he would just have to track down the pineapple at another time. Conversation quickly turned to over exaggerated stories and jokes as Ichigo's announcement was all but forgotten by all in attendance. One man though, would not soon forget and he was determined to do something about it.

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Renji exited the bar and was glad for the crisp clean air that filled his lungs. The moon hung low and full in the sky watching him as he walked aimlessly through the seireitei. He had no idea when Ichigo and Rukia had become more than fleeting lovers. Rukia was not meant for Ichigo, she had been destined to be by Renji's side, ever since they were children together in Hanging Dog. From the day she had been adopted by the Kuchiki clan, Renji had dedicated his life to becoming somebody worthy enough to hold her. With Ichigo's words though, he realized she had slipped through his fingers without him even knowing. A tightness clenched around his heart making it suddenly hard to breath. Kuchiki Rukia was everything that his world revolved around, and there was no way he was going to let her go without a fight.

However, the problem with fighting for her was that Ichigo had become his closest friend. In order to be with Rukia, he would end up crushing Ichigo's heart. "Is this something that I can do?"

Clenching his fists he changed direction and headed for division thirteen. He was out of time to deliberate and he had to let Rukia know what his feelings were. Kurosaki Ichigo may be his friend, but Rukia was the woman that he had loved for over a century. It was time to change the course of his story, this time Abarai Renji would be in the leading spot.

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Chapter one is pretty short, but it is basically setting up the story line for upcoming chapters.