A/N: New story time! This is just a prologue, Rukia will be coming in next chapter. This is weeks late, but there's been blizzards and ice storms, and we moved, so I haven't had computer/Internet access this month, so you all have my apologies for the delay. Enjoy!

Let It Go

Chapter 1

"Yeah...The club downtown, ten tonight, right?... 'Kay, sounds good. We're playing the new set?...Awesome! See you there!" Ichigo pulled his cell phone away from his ear, tapping the hang up button. One call ended. Yasutora Chad. The orange-haired teen grinned. "Yo, goat-chin!" he called down to his father. Within seconds, his father stood at the open door to his son's room.

Before the resident lunatic could begin his rant, Ichigo took the initiative to explain. "We're playing downtown tonight. I'll probably be home at two or so." "Ichigo!" Isshin cried fake tears of joy. "Oh, Masaki! Our son is all grown up! He stays out late just trying to get us grandbabies-" He was rudely interrupted by a certain teenaged boy's foot reaching his face.

"Shut up, old man! I'm in a goddamn band, we've been over this how many times now!?" "Our son doesn't love me anymore!"

Ichigo slammed the door in his father's face, exasperated and frustrated with his insane family's antics. He stepped away, running a hand through his lengthening orange locks. Glancing at his desk as he sat down, his eyes found the lone photo he kept near him.

"What the hell did you just say, strawberry!?" "I said your massive zanpakuto is compensating for something! You deaf, or just stupid, pineapple?" Renji attempted to draw said blade to attack Ichigo, but he was stopped when two small, very painful fists hit both of them at the same time. "Ow! What the fuck d'you think you're doing midget?"

At that moment, all three squabbling shinigami heard the click of a camera. Looking up, they saw Urahara lowering the device. Grabbing the printout, he showed it to them. Ichigo had one hand pulled back to punch his friend in the face, Renji had Ichigo's shihakusho fisted in one hand, and Rukia had a fist firmly planted in each of her friend's faces.

Ichigo smiled at the memory. Good memories, he thought to himself. But I'm sure as hell glad that it's over.

"Ichi-nii!" Karin's voice echoed from outside his room. Glancing at his alarm clock, the teen realized it had been half an hour since he sat down. Lost myself in the memories again.

Opening his door, Ichigo smiled at his younger sister. "What's up, Karin?" She frowned at him. "Dad says you'll be out late again." The smile widened. "Yep! I've got a show downtown. If we play this good enough, we might even get signed!" This didn't seem to lighten her mood. "Ichi-nii, you've got school tomorrow. Do you really think it's a good idea to be out past midnight?"

Ichigo shrugged, the smile dropping. "I'll skip. Calling in sick exists for a reason." "Yes, and this isn't it! You're going to have to drop out if this keeps up!" The orange-haired teen frowned. "I'm fine, Karin. Was lecturing me the only reason you called me out here?" She sighed in frustration and shook her head. "Yuzu has dinner ready." "I'll be down in a moment," he said, distracted.

Ichigo took one last glance at the photo as he stepped out. His old best friend, their bonds forged in battle, with and against each other. And of course, the raven-haired shinigami who had changed his life so much.

Then there was him. He could tell just from looking at the photo that he hadn't been happy in it. There had been that pressing, constricting weight heavy in his chest. The weight of his responsibility to everyone, to protect them. Now, the only thing that bothered him was that itch behind his sternum, that urge to move, to travel, to run with the wind. Wanderlust.

Smiling a bit to himself, Ichigo closed the door. If he played this concert right, then the band could get signed. Then he could fulfill that urge. And who gave a fuck if the shinigami couldn't find him. I'll be right where I wanna be.

XxX

Karakura's red light district, while small, had all the liveliness to make up for it. Blasting electronica echoed from the club as Ichigo, Chad, and Hiyoshi Kazaki stepped through the backstage door. Ichigo had met Kazaki a few months before he lost his powers, during the peacetime between the Ryoka invasion and Orihime's kidnapping. The boy was a year younger, making him sixteen. He had spiked black hair, way too many tattoos, and only one eye. He was spiritually aware, something Ichigo had found out while saving him from a Hollow. Kazaki had lost the eye in said attack, and had opted to have the eyelid muscle cut and sewed shut, leaving a scar that ran all the way from his forehead to his chin and one eye permanently closed. He liked to think that it gave him a mysterious look, which was a joke among his bandmates, but an accepted fact among their female fans.

While Ichigo and Chad set up on the stage, dragging power cords and microphones, Kazaki was taking to the club manager. Soon enough he came charging over to them. "Ichigo! Sado! Important news!"

Ichigo looked up from cursing at the tangled cord for his Stratocaster. "What is it?" he said with a scowl. "See that man? In the corner?" He turned to look. Sure enough, there was a man in a Western-looking business suit. "What about him?"

Kazaki seemed even more ADHD than normal, fingers twitching and foot tapping out an improvised beat. "He's from an American record label! He's here to see us!"

Ichigo stared at him for one. Two. Three seconds. Blink. "YES!" He jumped several feet into the air,pumping his fist enthusiastically.

Chad, who had been listening in, let his rock hard expression relax-his equivalent of a smile. "This is good news," he rumbled. "But we should finish before it's time to start. Kazaki, your drums aren't ready yet." "Yeah!" Kazaki took off across the stage, heading for his drum set.

Chad nodded at Ichigo. "I'm ready," he said quietly, gesturing towards the bass guitar set up on the left of the stage. "Cool," Ichigo replied distractedly, still trying to untangle the cord and simultaneously glance at the guy in the corner.

By the time they finished setting up, the club was getting restless from the lack of music. Ichigo stepped confidently forward.

"Hey everyone, before we start I'll introduce the band and members. We are The Spiritseekers. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. This," he gestured towards Chad. "Is Yasutora Sado, who insisted I didn't call him Chad for this, and our wonderful drummer over there is Hiyoshi Kazaki." A coin hit him in the back of the head. "Kazaki would also like it to be known that he is single." A ripple of laughter at this and Kazaki's exaggerated wink swept through the club. "Our first song is a cover of well-known American rock classic 'Paradise City.' Enjoy."

XxX

By the time the first set was finished, all three were soaked in sweat, Chad's fingers were bleeding, and Ichigo was having coughing fits from overusing his voice's deeper notes. They had a thirty minute break before the second set, time to take a walk and hopefully heal.

Chad followed the orange-haired teen outside into the cold night air. "Ichigo," he said in that deep, tumbling voice that was distinctly Chad. "Hmm?" Ichigo wasn't in the mood for idle conversation, wanting to be able to sing the second set. "Your reiatsu. It's back."

He spun to face his old friend. "You serious!?" Chad regarded him quietly. "You were visibly glowing since halfway through the second set. Kazaki says to tell you that it's a great effect, and we should look into making it visible to everyone." "Huh. Guess I'll talk to Urahara tomorrow, but in the meantime, we've got a second set to play."

Chad frowned slightly. "That's all?" "What were you expecting?" Ichigo asked, shrugged. "It doesn't particularly matter to me. You know how I feel about the Gotei 13. I'm just going to try to avoid getting their attention. The only good thing that could possibly come of this is seeing Rukia and Renji again."

The dark-skinned teen mulled this over. "If you say so," he finally acknowledged. Ichigo grinned, giving his best friend a thumbs up. "Let's go play that second set."

XxX

The second set passed without event, other than Ichigo's coughing attack between the sixth and seventh songs. At some point, the man in the suit moved to a table big enough for four. When the Spiritseekers finally finished packing up, he made a come-hither gesture at Ichigo. Glancing at his bandmates, all three walked over to the table.

After they were all settled, the man smiled at them. "Evening, Kurosaki-san, Hiyoshi-san, Yasutora-san," he began. "I represent Warner Bros. Inc., the record label to be exact. It's come to our attention that your band has gathered quite the following here in Japan, and we wish to offer you a recording contract. If you agree, please meet in office 3A at this address tomorrow at one." He slid a slip of paper with an address on it across the table.

Ichigo glanced at the address. "So, if we agree, we get signed to your label. Right?" The man nodded. "Sounds good! I'll be there tomorrow! Guys?" Chad gave a slight nod, and Kazaki enthusiastically agreed. "Excellent. You all should probably tell your families the good news then."

XxX

When Ichigo got back to his house, all the lights were still on, and he was shocked to see both his little sisters still awake. "Yuzu, Karin," he said. "Where's the old man?" Karin glared at him with crossed arms. "He's at Urahara's," she snapped. "To try to prepare for the shinigami when they come through."

The orange-haired teen frowned. "Why would Soul Society come here? Haven't they got better things to do?" "I think they'll come when they figure out your reiatsu is back, Onii-chan," Yuzu answered for her sister. The frown deepened to a scowl. "I don't want anything to do with them anymore," he growled. "I'm not a shinigami anymore."

Karin's frown morphed into confusion. "But your powers are back," she pointed out. Ichigo ground his teeth. "I refuse to go back to that," he said in a forced tone. "I'll protect my family, and save those that can't save themselves, but I will not take up that title again, and if Soul Society doesn't like it, they can shove their pride and regulations up their asses."