Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, I just love it.
Chapter 1: The death of Former Captain Sosuke Aizen
Ichigo coughed up blood as he used Tensa Zangetsu to stand. Aizen laughed. Ichigo looked over and saw Rukia Kuchiki bleeding profusely, tears welled up in his eye as he assumed the worst but deep down he hoped beyond hope that when this was over they would both still be alive, so he could tell her how he felt about her. She had been hurt trying to protect him while he was injured and all he could do to hold back the tears that were so apparent when he looked at her dieing form.
"She is dead, Kurosaki, you wasting your time." Aizen chuckled blood coming from the corner of his mouth. "This will be the final blow, Kurosaki I will put you out of your misery."
With that they rushed each other, swords clashed causing sparks to fly. They jumped back and rushed each other again this time managing to pierce one another. They fell back the swords clattered to the marble floor. Aizen bleeding horribly and barely able to stand walked over to Ichigo's body as it lay on the ground, picking up Tensa Zangetsu and Kyōka Suigetsu, he began to laugh as the huge amount of uncontrolled spiritual energy faded to almost nothing.
Meanwhile somewhere else in Hueco Mundo
Inoue Orihime and Uryuu Ishida were bent over a severely injured Abari Renji. Inoue was healing him with her powers when they felt it.
"That Idiot…." Was all Uryuu could say even though everyone knew he and Ichigo were like brothers.
"No, no, no, no…..nonononononono…" Inoue cried as she fell to the floor.
"Ichigo!" Renji gaps sitting up. Uryuu pushed him back down. "Let me go, if he's dead who will save Rukia?" Renji asked looking Uryuu in the eyes.
"You don't need to bother about that boy, if you remember you training you would be able to tell he's still alive. A least for now but you are right I will go ahead and see to it that Rukia is safe." Byakuya Kuchiki said as he strolled up next to them.
"But captain his Riatsu is all but gone how can he still be alive?" was all Renji said before the heard it.
Back at the battle
"HADO 88 HIRYUGEKI ZOKU SHINTEN RAIHO" Ichigo yelled forcing his Riatsu into a canon like blast, before passing out from exhaustion.
All Aizen could do was stare, his last thought before the blast hit him was, 'where did he learn how to control his Spiritual Energy?' Not even able to block the blast with the two Zanpakuto in his hands, is head was blasted off by the shear strength and power of the blast. Sosuke Aizen former captain of squad five and betrayer of the Goteijūsantai was dead, ending the war.
Two weeks later
Ichigo awoke in the fourth squad barracks. 'Why am I here, and where is Rukia?' he wondered. 'Oh my god, oh my god, please tell me she is not dead' he panicked. Ichigo looked around at his bland empty room. No one was near him so he decided to alert the nearest guard by spiking his Riatsu.
"It seems your awake boy" A voice sneered.
"Kuchiki-Taicho," Ichigo acknowledged with a hint of sarcasm showing what little respect he had gained for Byakuya during the war "nice to see you again."
"Respect boy, that is a change," Byakuya said a bit surprised. "What may I ask prompted this?"
Ichigo looked directly at the man who was probably the only one who could come between him and the woman he loved. "Rukia, If she is still alive I…" he trailed off at the thoughts running through his head. Tears welled in his eyes shear will prevented them from falling down his cheeks as he continued to stare a Byakuya Kuchiki. "I made her a promise, and I intend to fulfill it." Ichigo said wiping the tears from his eyes.
"And what may I ask is it that Rukia would ask of you that would force you to show me respect boy?" Byakuya said as his hand headed for his sword.
"She wants me to…earn your…" Ichigo mumbled trying not to choke.
"Earn my, what Kurosaki?" Byakuya asked his hand frozen in place just above hi sword.
"Your blessing Kuchiki-Taicho," Ichigo bowed to Byakuya.
"My blessing!" Byakuya Kuchiki asked considering allowing it whatever it was if Kurosaki kept respecting him.
"My courtship of Rukia Kuchiki, Kuchiki-Taicho," Ichigo said gritting his teeth and bowing his head to the floor. He knew how uncharacteristic this was of him but he figured 'you have to give respect to get it,' and the talk that he and Rukia had in Hueco Mundo
Flashback
"Ichigo, promise me something" Rukia said looking at Ichigo as they sat recuperating from the Espada they had respectively defeated.
"What midget?" Ichigo asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Earn Nii-sama's blessing over us being together, and learn what you can to become a captain so we can be together." Rukia said on the verge of tears.
"If we get out of this, I promise to do the best I can to keep us as close together as possible," Ichigo said "and I will always protect you no matter what our relationship."
"I love you Ichigo." Rukia said before she had passed out. The rest of the time they where in Hueco Mundo they had been to busy to tell Rukia how he truly felt about her but he knew she already knew he just needed to tell her.
End Flashback
"Absolutely not," Byakuya Kuchiki said shaking his head "Until you prove to me you can show respect to everyone, not just me; that you are strong enough to protect her, and are noble enough to support her the answer is NO."
"I see," Ichigo said looking at his feet his hands clenching the sheets. "Well I guess I just have to work hard and prove myself worthy of your sister, then wont I." Ichigo finished then thought for a moment "Kuchiki-Taicho." He added through gritted teeth.
Byakuya nodded at the Shinigami-Representative's willingness to make his sister happy. "Wait Kurosaki-san, perhaps I was too hasty. I will allow you to court my sister but the same conditions apply if you do not fulfill the before you consummate your relationship with my sister then I will personally kill you." Byakuya sighed 'If this makes Rukia happy then Hisana would be happy.'
"Thank you, Kuchiki-Taicho. May I make one more request, Kuchiki-Taicho?" Ichigo asked smiling.
"You may." Byakuya said.
"Will you train me?" Ichigo said shocking Byakuya. "I want to be a captain so I can protect and provide for Rukia. Will you train me Byakuya-Sensei?"
"On one condition."
"What is that Sir?"
"You stop scowling." Byakuya smirked.
Ichigo smiled not only did he get to be with Rukia but he had managed to get her brother to tell a joke. "Yes sir, Kuchiki-Taicho." Ichigo said bowing. "How is Rukia?" Ichigo asked frowning.
"I will take you to her."
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