The Beginning

Slowly summer takes its place in the Streets of Soul Society. After the attack of the Quincy, the big cleaning work was in full swing. Most of the buildings were already repaired. Slowly it went up again. The wounds began to heal.

After Byakuya was seriously injured during the attacks, Renji took over (with Byakuyas consent) the provisional leadership of squad 6. Since Ichigo had vacations anyway, he decided to stay in Soul Society for a while. He stayed at the squad 6 barracks. For Rukia the time was not easy, worry about her brothers health and taking responsibilities in the lead of Kuchiki family. Ichigo helped her a lot in that time. They talked much and through that their friendship became deeper and deeper. They were practical inseparable. There was no one that there trusted more than each other.

Through all work that was to do, Soul Society was short of staff. One Afternoon, Rukia and Ichigo were sitting in the squad 6 baracks talking, a messenger from squad 1 came running to them. Out of breath, he tried to speak but needed a few tries till he had enough air in his lungs again. "Whoa keep it easy my friend" Ichigo offered him a place to sit. "Glad I finally found you two, the commander send me to you. He wants you to go to the land of ice, he says a lot of strange reiatsu were spotted there. You should take a look a it and take care of it if needed." Questioning Ichigo looked at Rukia. "The land of the ice? Never heard of it. Do you know where it is?" "Hm yeah, it's a week from here if you travel fast, never been there before." The messenger looks from one to another. "Though were short of staff here, you two have to travel alone, you have today to pack your things and get everything settled. In the morning you should start." Annoyed Rukia and Ichigo looked from each other. No really what they had planed. "I guess there's no way around it.", Rukia said. " Tell the commander we will start in the morning and be back as fast as possible." "Alright, thank you Rukia-san." He bowed and left.