Title: Invasion of the Death's Memories

Summary: In order to fix his zanpakutou, Kurosaki Ichigo needs to meet Shiba Kaien. But how? By invading Rukia's memories of him.

Disclaimer: If I own BLEACH, this story will fucking happen! LOL

Author's Note: Thank you very much for reading Describe Your Family. I hope you'll also read this one and love it as well. I apologize for the wrong grammar and all. I need to create this story because honestly, Ichigo and Kaien should meet. Now that we know they are related. :) Enjoy and please review if you have time. Thanks!

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Chapter One – Finding Shiba Kaien's heart

All these flashbacks that Kurosaki Ichigo heard from his father were slowly sinking in. It was a very difficult process. However, no matter how great his father explained it, Ichigo only knew four facts about the whole revelation.

Fact Number 1: He is of a shinigami-quincy hybrid. He is so close to not considering himself as a human. Fact Number 2: He and Ishida Uryuu are sort-of relatives because quincies share the same blood, literally speaking. Fact Number 3: He is from Shiba clan, a former part of Soul Society's Great Noble Families. (Take that, Kuchiki Byakuya!) Fact Number 4: He is also related to Shiba Kukaku and Ganju. (For heaven's sake, Ganju?! Seriously?!)

Speaking of the Kuchiki and Shiba clan, today, the carrot top stood right before the new commander-captain, Kyoraku Shunsei, to further discuss a plan involving the two clans. In order to attain and fix his zanpakutou, he needed to talk to a former head of the Shiba clan. He needed to get the heart of this guy. His heart, for the love of Aizen Sousuke, his fucking heart!

"Why can't I just talk to my dad and get his heart?" Ichigo asked.

"W-what?! What kind of a son are you?! You want to get my heart?!" Isshin said indignantly as he kicked his son.

"Because your father was not the Head of the Shiba house when the clan was removed as one of the Great Noble Houses," the former eighth division captain explained.

"Whose heart am I getting then?" the substitute shinigami inquired.

Suddenly, the door behind the Kurosakis opened and revealed the kind face of thirteenth division captain, Ukitake Jushirou with his two third seats: Kotetsu Kiyone and Kotsubaki Sentarou. The three shinigami were pushing a coffin-like box that was covered by a black cloth.

"My former fuku-taichou, Shiba Kaien. And his heart is with my current fuku-taichou, Kuchiki Rukia," he told the carrot top.

Ichigo's expression was a mixture of surprised, scared, and confused.

"R-rukia… R-rukia h-has a h-heart of… of… of a relative of mine?!" he said loudly, which earned him another kick from his father.

"You idiot! Of course, Rukia-chan doesn't have Kaien's heart literally!" Isshin scolded. The two senior captains laughed at the father and son. Then Ichigo noticed the sudden change on Isshin's face. His expression became gentle.

"So Kaien lived with his philosophy until his death and entrusted his heart to Rukia-chan, ne?" the former captain said gently.

Ukitake smiled and nodded. Ichigo didn't know what his father was talking about but he wondered why he had a very peaceful and ease look on his face.

"Now, now, now. How will you get Kaien's heart, you ask? Well, you will not get it. You need to know where his heart is," Kyoraku said.

"But you already said Rukia has it," Ichigo said confusingly.

"Yes but you need to locate where exactly she hid it," Ukitake replied. He looked at Kiyone and Sentarou and gestured them to move the box they bought in front of him. The white-haired captain removed the black cloth cover. Ichigo gasped as he saw Rukia, who was still unconscious after the Quincy battle, lying on the shallow box. She was sleeping peacefully.

"Kurosaki-san, you need to go to Rukia's memories," Ukitake finished as he looked at his vice-captain.

"Go to Rukia's memories?" Ichigo repeated.

"Yes. And while you are there, you need to find Kaien's heart," the new sou-taichou answered.

"His heart, literally?" the half-shinigami-half-quincy gulped.

The two senior captains and his father laughed at him.

"No, Kurosaki-san," Ukitake laughed.

"You will be accompanied by Kotetsu-san and Kotsubaki-san since both worked with Shiba Kaien," Kyouraku said. The new sou-taichou took out a pocket watch-like object out of his haori.

"That is one of Urahara Kisuke's inventions. It can bring someone inside a person's memory without ruining it. You will be able to see Rukia-chan's memories but those people involved in the memory you got into will neither see nor hear you. It is used to observe one's memory.

"We already set it to selected memories of her which we think involves Kaien-chan directly or indirectly. Although we didn't specifically choose the memories. For example, we set it like when Rukia-chan met Kaien. A vague description of the memories we want to, let's call it, invade," Isshin explained.

"So please gather around Rukia-chan," Kyouraku began. Ichigo, Kiyone, and Sentarou obeyed.

"Are you ready?" he asked. After the three shinigami nodded, Kyouraku started an incantation as the pocket watch floated.

"The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down but gentle warmth still lingers in the land,
Into a melody, a memory shall flow
Guided by an echo, and, ever so slow.*
Release."

The pocket watch brightened as well as Rukia's body. Ichigo felt nervous but at the same time, excited.

I can blackmail her with whatever I'll find in her memories. Ichigo thought. Kiyone and Sentarou looked at him with a what-are-you-thinking faces because he didn't realize he just gave a Don Kanonji laugh.

Suddenly, the light was slowly engulfing them.

"You will know you found his heart when a spirit of Kaien can see and speak to you," Ukitake yelled.

"Say hi to Kaien-chan for me, Ichigo!" Isshin told his son. The carrot top nodded. As Ukitake and Kyouraku bid their farewell, Ichigo could feel that he would soon be inside Rukia's memories.

Now we'll meet, Shiba Kaien.

Then he disappeared along with Kiyone and Sentarou.

The door opened again. Urahara Kisuke entered, holding a remote control, projector, and a large bucket of popcorn.

"I know you want to see what Ichigo will do. Want to watch with me?" he offered as he clicked on the power button.

xxx

*Credits to the creators of the poems that I used for the incantation.