Disclaimer: I, sadly, don't own any of Bleach's characters, they are owned by Tite Kubo. However, I do own Yuichi Umemiya, Mami Miyazaki, Kayo Toshimitsu and Haruka Hino, they're mine, and mine alone.
Author's notes: Do not flame. If you don't like the pairings, save your time and mine. Thanks to Tite Kubo for creating Bleach in the first place. Also, thanks to Tsubake-kun, Sym-kun and Romano-kun for their opinions, suggestions and patience towards my first fic. I appreciate it.
Prologue
Time shifts constantly, and with it's endless and unstoppable flowing,
changes people. It's effect can never be predicted.
Sometimes it seems that double the time had passed,
sometimes it seems that it had passed no time at all.
The later apply to the Kurosaki family.
It had been 15 years since the one he loved was taken away from him by the strongest of enemies. Their war still dragged on, but at least he managed to save his dear love, and now she was his wife. He thought about how fiercely he fought against the countless beasts and monsters that stood on his path, defeating every enemy, just so that he could see her smile again. The smile that made his life worth leaving, that made his sad world a happy, bright one. He stared at her gentle hands that caressed him every night; her silky hair that had the one scent that made him collapse in bliss; her soft cheeks that quickly turned slightly red when he said passionately "I love you, my wonderful princess. I always have, and I always will."; her sweet lips that engulfed his soul and mind with each kiss. He then looked at her belly. A silly grin covered his face as he looked at his wife and their upcoming fourth child. He quietly and kindly whispered in her ears, his hot breath gently tickling her neck:
"Wake up, Hime. It's time to eat." He laid down the breakfast tray he had prepared for her and sat at their bed brushing her side with his hands.
"Just a little more, Ichigo." She replied as she turned over.
"C'mon Hime" He said, with a slight frown in his face.
"Now, that face is much better, Ichi. It's the one I've fallen in love with." She giggled and gave him a kiss.
"You little..." He said between their kisses and smiles "I have to go, Yama-jii will get mad if I'm late."
"Ok, ok. Just one more kiss." She raised her head a bit and kissed him passionately. "Did you bring red bean paste? And wasabi? And honey? And strawberry topping?"
"Yes, yes, yes and yes. Everything there, as you like."
"Have I said that you're the best husband in the world?"
"About a million times. But hearing it again is always good." She smiled after hearing it. "That's the same smile that made my whole world all yours. Take care, you two."
"We will, right Masaki?" He hugged her while he kissed her goodbye and walked out of the room.
After walking for about half an hour through pathways paved with a white stone and walls that were covered with a dark blue roof, he arrived in front of a large gate.
"Oi, how you've been, Toushirou, Rangiku-san?"
"Fine, and you Kurosaki?" Asked a small, white haired boy, who was the 10th Squad's captain.
"Ichigo! How's Orihime-chan? And the kids?" Questioned the blond woman, Lieutenant of the 10th
Squad.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking, Rangiku-san! She's ok, feeling a bit down that she can't go to work, but she's very happy. They're very good. Yuki miss you two, you know? She keeps asking where are her godparents. I can't come up with any more excuses for you. At least for you Rangiku-san. I just won't lie and say that you are actually working, what I know is impossible. Will you please save my time and just visit her?"
"Oho! Where did that come from?? Look at what he's saying to me, taichou! Will you let he talk to me like that?"
"Take care of the problems you get yourself into, Rangiku. Besides, he's right. Tomorrow we're visiting her, right Rangiku?"
"You're so mean, taichou! But ok, I'll go visit Yuki-chan. I need to start teaching her some things soon." She grinned evily, as she knew what Ichigo's reaction would be.
"You don't dare! I agreed with my wife when she suggested Toushirou, as I consider him a lot and think that he's a good friend of mine and hers, but I just don't know how I agreed to letting YOU, of all possible female Shinigami out here, be her godmother..."
"I'll let Orihime-chan and Yuki-chan know that you said horrible things to me..."
"Ok, ok, ok. Sorry, Rangiku-san."
"Ohhh! Looks like someone has a collar tied to his neck." She then laughed at the look full of fire and daggers Ichigo sent her way.
"Toushirou, why don't you just stop her before she becomes an enemy of the whole Soul Society? Or do you have a collar also?"
"Shut up, Kurosaki!" Angrily said the small captain.
"Sorry, Toushirou. Let's go, shall we?"
"Ok. Come, Rangiku."
"Hai, my little taichou." She said shortly before giving him a kiss, giggling when she saw his face turn into a bright red.
"Rangiku!"
"Can't you please wait until you two get home??"
"Hmph! You spoilsport..." Said the blond woman, pouting.
"Let's just go. Ichigo Kurosaki, 3rd Squad's Captain and deputy-commander of the 13 Protection Squads and Toushirou Hitsugaya, 10th Squad's Captain asking permission to go in." He shouted, and the gate started to open. The three Shinigami entered the 1st Squad's barracks, in which lived the Gotei 13 Captain-commander, Shigekuni Genryuusai Yamamoto. There were a lot other Shinigami waiting for them.
"Finally! Where were you, moron?" Inquired a red haired man, wearing a haori written "五".
"Oi, Renji, is that how you talk to your fellow captain and deputy-commander??"
"Deputy-commander my ass, you're just a lazy idiot!" The two men tried to punch each other in the face, but were halted by three other men: a tall man, with a face much like that of a dog, wearing a haori with the number seven"七 ", Sajin Komamura; a tall, bearded man wearing a straw hat and a flower covered cape, his haori being the one with the number eight "八 " die-pressed on it's back, Shunsui Kyouraku; a man with a serene and wise face, clad in a haori as white as his hair, the number thirteen "十三 " decorating his haori, Juushiro Ukitake.
"My, my. Should a deputy-commander behave that way, Ichigo-kun?" Asked Shunsui, captain of the 8th squad. All the captains were used to the fights the two friends had, which happened in almost all the captains' meetings. Then they heard the old commander firmly say:
"Now we will commence our meeting. Everyone to their places."
The 12 captains stood forming two rows before the 13th and the most important captain. At one side stood: Ichigo Kurosaki and his loyal lieutenant, Izuru Kira, a blond man who helped the famous Ichigo-taichou; Renji Abarai, the short-tempered, thick-headed but also kind-hearted captain that led the 5th Squad into battle; Sajin Komamura, the always thoughtful captain that put those under his command in the 7th Squad above all else; Shuuhei Hisagi, the serious and calm captain that commanded the 9th Squad, and his beauty-obsessed lieutenant, Yumichika Ayasegawa; Kenpachi Zaraki, the huge and ferocious captain from the strongest and combat-focused division, the 11th Squad; Juushiro Ukitake, the gentle man that was always trying his best, despite his serious health condition, and captain of the 13th Squad along with his wife and always ready subordinate and lieutenant, Kiyone Ukitake.
At the other side were: Soi Fon, the small yet very powerful and fast captain of the 2nd Squad and commander of the Execution Corps; Isane Kotetsu, Kiyone's older sister and Orihime's hard-working lieutenant, that was acting as the 4th Squad's captain temporarily while Orihime was pregnant; Byakuya Kuchiki, 6th Squad's captain and the famous head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the four noblest clans in soul society; Shunsui Kyoraku, the laid-back, yet very powerful and caring captain of the 8th Squad; Toushiro Hitsugaya, the 10th Squad's captain, a captain that always thought of his duty towards his subordinates and companions, as well as towards his fellow captains and friends; Yuichi Umemiya, 12th Squad's powerful and respectful captain, that could always be counted on, even if somewhat a fan of naps, alongside his beautiful lieutenant, Nemu Ishida.
Author's notes II: Thanks for reading it all. I am well aware of the fact that it's rather short, but I believe that, since I already have about 15 pages ready of the story, the next 50 chapters shall take no more than 6 months. I'll try to update the soon as I can. If any of you want to review, feel free. I appreciate if you do. Even critics. No one can get better without critics.