CHAPTER 00: INTRODUCTION

...

There's a white moon on the rise...

...

My heart calls to you
That you guide me, my light
Through my soul's long, dark night
I send my heartsong
Across the empty silences
To you, may you fill me
With peace & with love.

...

"Ichigo... please don't tell me you don't want me to go."

Rukia was staring at her husband, who sat at his desk, a caught-guilty look on his face. When he did not answer, Rukia groaned lightly, rubbing her forehead.

Her voice was firm, slightly annoyed and edgy, her eyes narrowing as she spoke to his silence, "I don't understand what's wrong with you, I've gone on these missions before and I came back in one piece! What's so different now?"

"But Rukia..." He was sitting on his chair, paperwork in front of him- not that he was paying attention to it- twisted around to face her, "I have a weird feeling..."

"You always have wierd feelings." Rukia smirked slightly, her voice teasing as she ruffled his orange hair playfully. Ichigo pouted, swatting her hand away pointlessly.

"Rukia, don't joke!" Ichigo yelled dramatically, holding out his hand to emphasize his point, "This is serious! A life or death matter-"

"You, my darling, are the last person to be telling me to be serious about life or death matters." Rukia bent forward slightly, her face so close to Ichigo's that their noses almost touched; her violet eyes gentle and teasing meet his eyes, "You've got to stop worrying so much, you dodo brain. I think you have a serious protection complex; maybe I should ask Unohana-taicho to look at you..." She pushed his bangs back in mock concern, smoothing them back off his forehead so his hairline showed. Ichigo scowled.

"I do not have a complex. It really is dangerous, Rukia. They don't call it a suicide mission for no reason."

Rukia's face softened. She sighed softly as she grabbed Ichigo's chin, her voice firm, "Ichigo, listen to me. I. Will. Be. Fine. It's just some strange hollows rampaging around; I'll get rid of them and be back before you know it."

Ichigo did not seem to get her words, "Hello Rukia, have you been sleeping the whole time? I know all about those hollows, they wiped out all of he protection squads that were sent from the 8th division! 23 men Rukia, 23! You-"

"Don't you trust me?"

He stopped speaking, staring at her face. She was still bent over, at eye level with him, her eyes a strong, electric violet and dead serious.

Ichigo stared at her, feeling taken back and even a bit flustered by her eyes on his. He wanted to say something to convince her to stay... but it seemed...

He sighed softly, running a hand through his hair, his voice almost a bit grumbly but his answer firm.

"...Yes..."

"Then rest assured, I will return in due time." Rukia stood back up straight, smiling as she fixed her vice captain badge, "After all, I have a daughter to return to, and a husband who can't survive a month without me. I can't die so easily." She ran a hand through her short black hair and turning to the door, opening it, a hand falling to her sword as she stopped, turning over her shoulder and looking at her husband with confident, wide sparkling indigo eyes.

"Trust me, Ichigo."

His voice was tired as he gave up, exhaling, "Yes."

Rukia smiled. "I'll be back in a few weeks, ok? Try not to burn the house down until then."

He scowled at her, but Rukia's smile remained, gentle.

"I love you, you know."

And he found he could not make himself scowl at her again.

"...Yeah."

She beamed, her voice teasing, "Give Reira a kiss for me."

Almost smirking, Rukia blew a kiss at him flirtatiously and left the room, the door shutting firmly behind her.

And so Rukia left on her mission, and Ichigo pushed any feelings of unease to the back of his mind. He trusted Rukia, truly. She was certainly strong, wielding her beautiful zanpakuto, and had recently achieved her bankai, Shiraouhi- White Queen. As vice captain of the 13th division, Ichigo knew that she was not going to let some strange rampaging hollows get the best of her. Besides, she wasn't going alone. Although he would much rather go with her himself, he was a little bit comforted by the fact that the 6th division would also be sending members of their division along with her and her group; Renji would be leading it.

And so, Ichigo stayed home and let Rukia go, doing his work diligently in her absence. As substitute shinigami and a revered man in the Seireitei, he was readying himself to be promoted to captain of the third division in a few weeks; when he was not running around working in the Gotei 13, he was at home looking after his 10 month old daughter or trying to catch up on some much needed sleep.

Ichigo had a perfect wife, perfect daughter, a good life. He was happy; at peace with the way the pace of the world.

Kurosaki Ichigo had it all. Who knew things could change so suddenly?