Time

Prologue

Warnings: Rated T for language, blood, gore, violence, (implied) character death, etc

This is a Bleach Fanfic, so what did you expect? ^^

Summary: It's been 20 years since Ichigo fought Aizen and lost his Shinigami powers. He and his friends have settled down to their lives as 'regular humans.' The Soul Reapers have continued to watch over the souls of both the living and the dead, and have pushed thoughts of the orange-haired 'ryoka' to the back of their minds. So what happens when a large-scale attack all but obliterates Karakura Town? Where is everyone! And who the hell are these kids!

I OW NOTHING BUT THE PLOT!

*Prologue*

*3rd person POV*

Ichigo Kurosaki unlocked the door to his house and stepped into the dark hallway. He slipped of his shoes and soundlessly made his way into the kitchen, trying his best not to wake anyone as he pulled out the leftovers his wife of 17 years had made. Ichigo finished heating up a bowl of stir-fry and sat down to eat, the only light coming from the moon through the window over the kitchen sink. He absently popped a spoonful of vegetables in his mouth.

'…17 years, huh?' He thought.

A lot had happened in the last 20 years. Ichigo was 35 now, and had finally settled down. Not six months after losing his powers, he had started dating his longtime friend Tatsuki. Not even two years later he had proposed. They got married and about a year after found out Tatsuki was pregnant with their oldest daughter, Yukina. She was nearly 15 now.

When Yukina had turned 12 they found out Tatsuki was pregnant again, this time with their son, Senri. He had just turned 3. Thank God Ichigo ran the local hospital, because they never would have been able to support both the kids. Especially while Tatsuki was pregnant, because she couldn't work.

Tatsuki ran the local Dojo. She was damn good at it too. She'd trained more than one kid who'd gone on to be a star athlete, and all the kids loved her.

Even if she did kick their ass' on a regular basis.

Ichigo was so lost in thought that he didn't sense anyone behind him until he felt arms wrap around his neck. He looked up to see his wife, her black hair falling around her face and a sleepy smirk on her lips.

"Why're you so late? Do you realize what time it is?" She asked, a teasing tone in her voice. Ichigo laughed quietly and nodded apologetically.

"Sorry, paperwork's a bitch." He said tiredly. Tatsuki nodded and let go as he stood up and put his dish in the sink. He washed it so he wouldn't have to deal with it in the morning and dried his hands before turning around to smile at his wife. The light from the moon defined her jaw and made her look ivory pale. Her hair looked much darker than usual, contrasting sharply with her skin. She had on one of Ichigo's t-shirts as a sleep shirt. He smirked and walked over, taking her hand and leading her towards the living room and up the stairs towards their bedroom. He stopped and motioned for her to go ahead. She gave him a knowing smile and walked past him towards the door at the far end of the hall. She glanced back once before shutting the door quietly.

Ichigo stood on the landing for a moment, enjoying the silence before walking quietly towards the first door on the right. He eased it open and slipped inside, smiling at the scene before him.

His 14 year old daughter, Yukina, was asleep with a book laying open on her chest. He laughed softly and moved it to the nightstand, marking her page absently. He'd done this enough times that it didn't surprise him anymore. He glanced at a clock on her nightstand.

'2:01 am.'

He glanced around as he grabbed the blanket that had been kicked onto the floor.

His daughter had insisted on decorating her own room, and the crammed bookshelves, messy computer desk, and blackish-gray walls and bedspread just seemed to reinforce her little brothers theory that she was some type of monster. She scared him sometimes, but Ichigo knew that if anyone messed with Senri, Yukina would kick their ass.

He carefully pulled the covers over her and stood up silently watching his daughter sleep, her hair spread around her in soft waves, her breathing soft and deep.

She was a lot like him, which wasn't exactly a good thing. She had inherited his spiky-orange hair and his chocolate brown eyes, which people always seemed to hassle her about. She didn't mind though. She had also inherited her fathers temper and from a young age she was a feisty, opinionated kid. It didn't bother him though, because both he and his wife knew their daughter could hold her own in a fight and take whatever pain came with it. She was determined, tenacious, and protective.

She was just like her father.

Ichigo smiled softly at his daughters sleeping form and backed out of the room silently. He walked silently to the second door on the left and pushed it open to glance in at his three-year-old son.

Senri was asleep in his 'big-boy bed,' shaped like a red race car. Ichigo walked over, careful not to trip over the crayons, clothes, and toy cars that littered the floor. The sky-blue and green of his son's bedroom walls and carpet were reduced to grays and blacks in the shadows, making it even harder not to step on anything.

He stopped near his son's bed and smiled slightly. Senri was clutching an old stuffed bear to his chest, the blankets pulled up to his chin. His inky-black chin-length hair, which he had inherited from Tatsuki, fell in sleep-mussed spikes around his face. Oddly enough, instead of brown eyes his son had somehow inherited bright blue eyes. No one could figure out how it had happened, but he was adorable either way. Ichigo backed carefully out of his sons room and walked into his own bedroom.

Tatsuki had fallen asleep already so Ichigo shrugged out of his gray t-shirt and his black jeans, pulling on a pair of flannel pants and a loose white t-shirt. He got into bed carefully before quietly pulling Tatsuki against him, making sure not to wake her up. He glanced at the clock as he started to drift off.

'2:31 am.'

He yawned and let his eyes close, falling asleep within minutes.

*At soul society*

Captain Commander Yamamoto had been reading through some reports when he heard the footsteps racing towards his door. He looked up just in time to see them fly open and a desperate messenger rushing in. The boy his the ground in a quick boy.

"SIR! I apologize for the intrusion, but there is an emergency!" He said breathlessly. Yamamoto nodded, urging the boy to continue.

"We have just received reports of huge amounts of reiatsu…in Karakura town."

Yamamoto stopped dead. There hadn't been any activity in that town since Ichigo Kurosaki had lost his powers. For their to be a sudden influx of reiatsu…

"Call all captains and vice captains to the meeting room immediately!"

*Authors note*

Mk, so like it? Love it? Hate it? Just tell me what you think!

Sorry if they're a little OOC. I wanted to show how they mellowed out with age. So, is it worth continuing?

Rate/Review if you can! Thanks!