OK! Im back, with yet another story! At least with this one, I have it completely planned out and even have a sequel planned as well! I wanted to do a fic with a FemIchi and this is what my brain come up with! Hope you all enjoyz!

WARNINGS :: Female Ichigo (genderbender) and occasionnal cases of OOC!

DISCLAIMER :: I don't own BLEACH regreattably! The esteemed Tite Kubo-sensei does!


Ichigo Kurosaki sat on the top of Sogyoku Hill, just looking over the Sereitei. It had been 10 days since her last battle with Aizen, and for once she was enjoying the peace and quiet. After she had woke up and Rukia explained everything to her, Ichigo decided to take a walk and she ended up on Sogyoku Hill. To her, this was the place that it all started for her. It was also the place that her heart started to feel.

After an intense battle with the taichou of the 6th, Ichigo started to feel a strong bond to him. Even though they still couldn't stand each other, he took her under his wing and taught her how to fight and to control her spiritual pressure. Without his guidance, she doesn't think she would be where she was today. What she didn't expect was to fall for the raven-haired captain. Ichigo Kurosaki, who was afraid to love, had fallen in love with the cold, emotionless captain of the 6th.

A slight breeze caught her hair, flying it in her face. Grabbing the hair tie from around her wrist, she pulled her hair back into a low ponytail. "Didn't think it would get breezy," she said to herself, as she stood up from where she was sitting. Walking up to the cliff, she looked over the entire Soul Society. "Sure is peaceful."

"Yes, it is, thanks to you, Kurosaki," came a voice from behind her.

Ichigo turned around to see Byakuya standing there. Ichigo watched as he walked over to the rocks and sat down. Smiling, Ichigo walked over and joined him. "What are you doing here, Byakuya?"

"Well, my maid had informed me you had woken up. When I came to visit you, Rukia told me you had gone for a walk. I just simply followed your reiatsu," he said. "I've noticed that you've gotten better at suppressing it, though."

"Thanks, I did have a good teacher," she said with a smile, looking at him. She could tell that something was on his mind. "Something bugging ya, Byakuya?"

Byakuya took a deep breath. Ever since he had started training the substitute shinigiami, he found himself stealing quick glances at her, using an excuse to be near her, and just enjoying her company. It was a visit to Hisana's shrine that he realized that he was in love with the fiery-hair woman. He knew that Hisana would want him happy, and being in love with Ichigo made him happy. He looked over at the woman sitting next to him. "How does it seem you know when something is on my mind, Kurosaki?"

"Well, lets see. We've been around each other a lot and you were my teacher. I think I've gotten to know you pretty well, Byakuya."

"Oh, you think so, Kuro….." he said but was cut off by Ichigo, who put her fingers on his lips.

"Do me a favor." With a blush on her face, she smiled. "Say my name, just once. Not my last name. Call me Ichigo."

Byakuya lifted her chin to where he was looking in her smoking amber eyes. "Ichigo…" he whispered. "You really are something. No wonder everyone that meets you in affected in a good way."

Ichigo raised her eyebrow at him. "What you mean by that?"

"Everyone that has had the pleasure of meeting you has their life turned around in apositive way. With Rukia, you turned her into a better shinigiami. She has more confidence than what she had before. Renji – he is now more fierce and willing to fight for his friends."

Ichigo raised her hand to brush a stray strand of hair from Byakuya's face. Just the lightest touch sent a jolt of electricity through her. It felt so right. As she was about to take her hand away, Byakuya's hand came up and kept hers in on his cheek, with his hand covering hers. "What about you, Byakuya? Did you change?"

"You made me realize that fighting for family is more important than upholding the laws. With you help, I finally started treating Rukia as a sister and for that, I'll be eternally grateful." Taking her hand in his, he couldn't help but get lost in her beauty. "You also made me realize that it was okay to feel again. With your friendship, I learned that I didn't need to hide my emotions. After Hisana's death, I locked all my emotions away, but meeting you helped me bring them to the surface. There is one I never thought I would feel again."

Ichigo was realizing what he was saying, but she wasn't for sure. "Byakuya….." she whispered softly.

"Ichigo, I….." he started but stopped when he saw Ichigo's eyes dropping close and then opening back up. "Ichigo, are you okay?"

Shaking her head to try to get the cobwebs out, she stood up. "I'm not sure. Everything seems fuzzy all of a sudden…" she said as she took a small step forward. "I don't know why, but I feel…." She was saying as she suddenly started slumping to the ground.

"ICHIGO!" Byakuya was quick to his feet and shunpoed quickly to her, catching her before she hit the ground. Taking her in his arms, he picked her up bridal style. Looking down at the beauty, he realized that the process that Urahara and Rukia explained to him seemed to be happening to her. He had finally gotten to the point to where he was going to tell her how he felt. As he headed back to the Manor with her in his arms, he decided he would tell once she woke up. If he had to be in a gigai just to see her, he would endure it just to be with her.

With a genuine smile on his face, he continued his way to the Manor. Upon reaching the estate, he opened a Senkaimon and prepared to head back to the Real World. Before stepping through the gate, he quickly sent a hell butterfly to the 1st, letting the Sou-taicou know that he would be taking a leave to stay by Ichigo's side. He knew that Yamamoto would understand. Cradling Ichigo closer to his chest, Byakuya stepped through the gates, heading back to Karakura Town.


30 DAYS LATER –

Byakuya was sitting beside Ichigo's bed when the door opened and Rukia walked in. She handed him a cup of tea as she took the chair next to him. "Any sign of her waking up yet, Nii-sama?"

"None yet," Byakuya replied coolly. Glancing over his shoulder at Ichigo, he couldn't help but smile.

Rukia took notice of the smile on her brother's face. It was a rare sight to see, but she was only one of two people that had the honor of seeing it a lot. The other person was the one that they were waiting to wake up. "You really love her, don't you, Nii-sama?"

"More than anything." Taking a sip of his tea, he leaned back in his chair, resting his head against the wall. "I still can't understand what Urahara tried explaining earlier. I thought her using the Final Getsuga was supposed to make her lose her powers?"

"You're not the only one that's puzzled by that. Even Isshin and the 12th are puzzled." Taking a quick glance over at Ichigo, Rukia smiled. "Honestly, I'm glad that she didn't lose them. I don't think I would have been able to say goodbye to her. She's like a sister to me."

"She did change a lot of people's lives around, mine included," Byakuya said.

A small grumble came from the area of the bed. Rukia and Byakuya both turned around to see Ichigo twitching her fingers. Byakuya knew that she was close to waking up. "Rukia, why don't you go get Urahara and Isshin?" Rukia took off out of the room, as he took Ichigo's hand in his. Leaning over, he planted a small kiss to her lips. "Ichigo, come back to us. You mean alot to people, especially me. We need our strawberry back in our lives. Now, wake up, Ichigo," he said softly, next to her ear.

Ichigo's eyes started to flutter a bit. Slowly, she opened her eyes, trying to get her focus back. Looking around slowly, she took notice that she was in her bedroom back at her house. She tried to remember what happened but could only remember that she was talking to Byakuya before she fainted. As she rubbed her red, hazy eyes, she felt someone toke her other hand in theirs. Lowering her hand from her face, she turned her attention and noticed Byakuya sitting her. Smiling softly, she looked at him with all the love and devotion that she held for him. "Hey," she whispered softly, rubbing the top of his hand with her thumb.

"Hey, yourself," he whispered back at her. He lifted his hand to brush a stray strand from her face. Noticing that Ichigo was fidgeting a lot, he stood up from his chair and held out his other hand. "You wanna try sitting up?"

"Yeah, if ya don't mind," she replied. Byakuya shook his head and Ichigo placed her other hand in his. Slowly, she sat up in bed and Byakuya adjusted her pillows. She leaned against the headboard, smiling. "That's better. I feel real stiff." She looked up at Byakuya and patted the bed next to her, indicating that she wanted him to sit down next to her. As he sat down next to her, she took his hand in hers. "Now, you can't get away. Are you going to tell me what is bugging you?"

Just at that moment, her bedroom door opened, and Rukia, her dad and Urahara came walking in. The one thing that Ichigo took note of was that Rukia was in her shinigami form and she could still see here. Recalling her conversation with Tensa Zangetsu, they had told her that once she woke up, she would lose all her powers and would not be able to see soul reapers again. Why was she still able to see Rukia? Glancing over at Byakuya, he was not in his Captain's haori or uniform, but was in one of his casual kimonos. That only meant that he was in his shinigami form too. "Uh, I have a crazy question here. If I remember correctly, Tensa Zangetsu told me that once the process ended and I woke up, I shouldn't be able to see Shinigami anymore. Is there a reason that I can still see Rukia and Byakuya?"

Isshin walked over and sat on the other side of Ichigo's bed. "Ichi, maybe it's best to…."

Ichigo knew what her dad was trying to say. Holding her hand up, she stopped her dad. "No, dad, it's not best to wait. Just tell me, PLEASE?" she asked pleadingly.

Isshin looked over at Urahara, who was standing by the window. "Well, Kisuke, you heard the woman. You might as well explain it to her."

"Kurosaki-san, it seems that after you using the Final Getsuga, you did not lose your powers like you were suppose too." Turning around, he locked his gazes with her amber eyes. "It seems your heart had other plans for you."

Placing her hand on her chest, she was confused. "My heart?"

"Yes. It seems that your heart lies with being a shinigami and with the Soul Society. You see, the one reason your dad lost his powers is because his heart lay in the Real World with your mother. Taking that into account, it seems your heart lies in the Soul Society with someone that you hold dearly in your heart. That is the only reason we can come up with as to why you didn't lose your powers," Urahara had finished explaining. "You got any questions?"

"No. I just wish I knew what you meant by all that." Ichigo fell quiet for a moment as she began to think on the subject. With the way that he explained it to her, it would mean that she was still a shinigami. He said her heart lied in the Soul Society like Isshin's lay in the Real World with her mom. Did that mean…? Ichigo eyes got real big and she turned to Urahara. She couldn't even the form a question.

Watching Ichigo, Kisuke knew that she had finally figured out what he had meant. "Before you even ask. It seems you figured out what I meant. Now it's up to you what you do with that information," he said with a smile.

Smiling, Ichigo nodded her head. "Um…..can everyone give me and Byakuya a moment alone please?"

"Sure," Isshin said, as he stood up. Leaning over, he gave her a soft kiss on her cheek. "I'll be downstairs if you two need me."

"Thanks, Dad." Byakuya and her watched as the other three left the room.

Byakuya looked at Ichigo and could tell that she was getting nervous. Taking her hand in his, he used his free hand and gently turned her to where she was looking into his smokey ash eyes. "Ichigo, you're trembling…..you ok?"

"Yeah," she said softly. "I wanna get out of here for a bit. Think you can get my badge from the top of my dresser?"

"Sure." Byakuya let go of her hand and walked over to the dresser grabbing the badge that Ukitake had given her after the invasion she did into the SS. Turning around, he noticed that Ichigo had her head bowed down. He didn't like it when he saw her like that. As he made his way back over to her, he extended his hand to her. Nervously, she took his hand and he helped her to her feet. Noticing that she was a bit wobbly, he wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her steady. "Here," he said, as he handed her the badge.

"Thanks," she said. Taking the badge, she slammed it against her chest. She stepped out of her body as it fell to the ground. Looking down at her Shinigami robes and feeling Zangestsu on her back, she smiled. "Thought I would never to get to do this again." Lifting Zangestsu off her back, she leaned him against the wall. "I won't need him." Looking back over at Byakuya, she took his hand in hers. "Take me somewhere, Byakuya. I don't care where."

Understanding what Ichigo was wanting, he knelt down next to her. "Climb on, Ichigo." He noticed the look that she was giving him. "Don't give me that look. You're still a bit wobbly and I don't want you falling and hurting yourself."

Shaking her head in understanding, she climbed on his back. After wrapping her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist, they headed out the open window. After a few minutes, Byakuya felt Ichigo's breathing slowed and she relaxed against him. Turning his head slightly, he noticed that Ichigo had drifted asleep. Smiling, he tightened his around her and shunpoed from rooftop to rooftop, heading for their destination.


Feeling the breeze, Byakuya gently landed on his feet. He brought them to a cliff that overlooked the ocean. When he was in the Real World, he found this place and discovered that is was calm and a wonderful place to think. Another factor was that it was a beautiful sight to look at. Looking over the horizon, he could see the colored streaked sky of the setting sun. The view was simply gorgeous.

Gently, he shook Ichigo, trying to wake her. "Ichigo, time to wake up."

Ichigo started to stir and opened her eyes slowly. "Can't believe I feel asleep," she whispered softly. With Byakuya's help, she eased herself off his back and took his hand, as he led them over to a bench that sat close to the edge.

Sitting down, Byakuya turned himself to where he was facing Ichigo. "Now, you going to tell me what Is on your mind? It wouldn't happen to be what Urahara explained to you, would it?"

"Actually it is." Ichigo looked out at the ocean as she took a deep breath. Lacing her hands together, she laid them in her lap, twirling her thumbs nervously. "I also understood what he meant by it too."

"You do? Rukia and I still didn't understand it ourselves. Would you mind explaining it to me?"

She turned to look at Byakuya, being memorized by his gaze. "It seems my heart wouldn't let me lose my powers." Seeing Byakuya's confusion, she chuckled. "You see, after he had used my dad has an example, I totally understood what he meant. My dad's heart was my mom. He would always tell me that Mom had his heart and nothing would ever change that." Ichigo could feel the blush rising on her cheeks and turned her face quickly to hide her blush. "I just didn't think that it would happen to me."

Byakuya placed his hand on Ichigo and turned her face back to him. "What do you mean you didn't think it would happen to you?"

"My heart belonging to another. You see, that's what Urahara meant. My heart would not let me lose my powers because I have fallen in love with a Shinigiami, one that I don't wanna lose," she said softly as she stared into his enticing grey orbs. Taking her hand, she slowly reached up and brushed his hair from his face. Taking it slow, she trailed her fingers down his cheek and the side of his neck. "The one that holds my heart is you, Byakuya. You have for a long time." Lowering her gaze, Ichigo started getting nervous. She wanted to tell him badly how she felt, but she was afraid that he would leave her. Finally, she decided that he needed to know, even if it did break her heart. "I guess what I'm trying to say is…I've fallen for you, Kuchiki Byakuya." Looking back up, she saw the love and devotion in his eyes. Smiling, she took his hand back in hers. "I have fallen completely in love with you, Byakuya."

With a genuine smile, he brought their intertwined hands up to his lips and kissed her hands gently. "Well, that makes my job a lil easier now," he said with a slight chuckle. Bringing her closer, he leaned in and placed a small kiss to her lips. Even though Ichigo jumped a bit, he kept her still. "Ichigo, you brought a ray of sunshine into the Kuchikis that we thought was long gone. Everyone, from the Elders to Ginrei to Rukia, all has been affected by your spirit. Even me. When I started training you, I saw you as nothing more than a ryoka girl who had no manners at all. You were loud, rude, annoying and obnoxious. As time went on and we started training together, I finally saw though all that. What I saw was a sad, lonely woman who didn't know what to do. After you had told me about your mother, I finally understood what you had gone through. What I didn't plan on was….." he said as he came to a quick stop. He was starting to feel a bit nervous. He had not been this nervous since the day he asked Hisana to be his wife. Once he thought Hisana was his soul mate, but he now knew that was not the case. The orange-hair amber-eyed woman sitting in front of him was. Leaning his forehead against her, he looked into the eyes that he loved so much. "What I didn't plan on was falling in love again. You see, Ichigo, you hold my heart as well, and I have no plans of ever taking it back." He kissed her lips softly, caressing both cheeks. Parting from her lips, he held her face between his two hands. "I love you, Kurosaki Ichigo and I don't wanna let you go."

Ichigo could feel the tears in her eyes as she heard Byakuya say he loved her too. She had dreamed of this moment for a long time. "What do we do? I mean, you have to go back to the Soul Society and I'm here."

Taking her hands, he tugged her into his lap. "Well, I was hoping that you would consider maybe spending some time with me at the Manor. I know everyone would love to see you." He hugged her closer to his body. "Also, I wouldn't mind falling asleep every night with you in my arms," he whispered in her ear.

"BYAKUYA!" she exclaimed with a blush tinting her cheeks. She turned to where their lips were only centimeters apart. "I think I would like that," she said with a smile.

Quickly she pressed her lips to his and immediately relaxed into the kiss. She knew that she had surprised Byakuya, but finally started to feel him responding. Smiling into the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepenig the kiss.

Byakuya could feel the electricty in his body that Ichigo was creating and he loved it. When he felt her deepening the kiss, he wrapped his arms her waist, flushing her body with his. He slowly tantalizes her bottom lip with his tongue before he felt her gasp. He continued to nip at her bottom lip, tempting hers to come out and play. Their tongues clashed, fighting for dominance, in which Byakuya won. He tasted every crevice of Ichigo's mouth, loving the hint of strawberries he tasted from her lucious mouth. They continued to kiss each hungrily for the next few mintues until the need for air became to great. Parting their lips reluctantly, they looked into each other's lust, passion, love-filled eyes.

Byakuya smiled, as he tucked a stray strand of the strawberry-colored hair behind her ear. As his hand lingered, he brought her closer and kissed her forehead gently. "I'm not going to beg or plead but I need to ask you something." She looked into his misty grey eyes and smiled, letting Byakuya know that he had her attention. "I want you to consider after spending some time with me, maybe staying with me and at my side?"

"Byakuya, I….." Ichigo had started but Byakuya cut her off by placing a finger over her thin, delicate lips.

"Just think about it?" he asked, almost pleading with her.

Ichigo nodded as she smiled. "Okay, I'll think about it."

Byakuya helped Ichigo stand back to her feet before standing back up himself. "Come on, we better get back," he said, holding his hand out his hand for her.

Ichigo placed her smaller hand in his and tucked herself into his side. "Okay, let's go." The newly-found lovers headed back to Ichigo's house. Both now with a smile on their faces.