I don't own Bleach.

This story occurs after Ichigo regains his powers in the Fullbring arc, aka after the anime was cancelled. (I have the hope it'll continue though.) At the point I started this fic, I hadn't read the recent manga chapters so there will probably be some stuff that doesn't happen. Hope you enjoy! :)

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The woman awoke to the sounds of the morning. Birds were chirping, there was rustling in the nearby trees due to a warm breeze, and overall it was peaceful. When she sat up to look at her surroundings, she was in a clearing inside a massive forest with a town just barely visible some ways away. She sat on the lush, green grass for a few moments just enjoying the natural scene and breathing in the strange but pleasant sweetness in the air. It was somehow more... enriched... than normal air, if that made any sense. Nothing of any importance troubled her at that moment, and the woman was contented to just sit and relax for who knows how long.

But then she remembered.

It hit her like a storm, the panic she'd felt right before she came here (died?), the urge to protect something (someone orange?) precious to her. The last thing she remembered and uttered aloud before fainting from the memory of emotion was a name.

"Ichigo..."

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"ACHOOO!" An orange-haired man sneezed all over his breakfast, much to the upsetment of his younger sister across the table. It was a terrible, rainy Saturday morning and there was nothing to do, as the outdoor concert that the family had been planning to go to that day had been canceled due to the sudden weather.

"Ichigo, I worked especially hard on those eggs!" Yuzu pouted. "It took so long to get them perfectly sunny-side up like that, don't just sneeze on them!"

"She's right, a thank-you was all that was needed," Karin said before shoving some bacon in her mouth.

"Yeah, sorry about that Yuzu," Ichigo sniffed loudly. "I think I got some dust in my nose."

"Either that, or someone's talking about you somewhere!"

"MASAKI OUR BOY FINALLY HAS A LOVE LIFE!"

"Shut up Goat-face!"

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Goro was a common man living in the third division of West Rukongai. He led a relatively simple and solitary life; he would wake up, eat breakfast, sell some of his pottery, eat lunch, take a nap, eat dinner, sleep, and repeat cycle. Goro was modest, kind, and basically a nobody. He lived on the border of a grand forest in a small, but cozy hut at the very edge of his town. He refused time and time again to become a soul reaper for reasons no one who lived near him could understand, because he had the spirit energy (he had to eat) but refused to use it.

One unassuming day, he was about to start the second step in his daily routine. Goro usually ate breakfast in the clearing behind his house, as it was a very calming place. The clearing instilled a sense of zen and peace, and made the monotony of his life just a little more bearable. He would wind up meditating there with his zan- with his thoughts for at least an hour afterwards, even if he didn't mean to.

"Who can say where the road goes, where the day flows, only time..." the man hummed an old song to himself as he took his breakfast of bread and strawberries out to the clearing where the familiar trees and rocks greeted him, along with... a woman? But- she was passed out in a heap on the ground!

"Hey Miss! You okay? Miss, wake up!" Goro rushed over and shook her shoulder gently.

"Mmmm... whaaa?" Much to his relief, the lost soul awoke groggily and looked around. "Oh yes, this is the clearing from before. Though I feel like I'm forgetting something..." Then she noticed Goro's concerned look. "Oh hello there!" she said, just the slightest bit flustered. "I'm very sorry, I hope I haven't disturbed you!"

"Oh no ma'am, it's fine, it's fine, I was just coming here to eat my breakfast. I'm guessing you're new here?" At her confused look he elaborated. "Once you die you come here to the Soul Society. It's what you probably called heaven when you were alive." Goro helped the woman to her feet. "My town isn't far from here and it's not too big either, I'm sure we could find you a home to settle down in while you're here." Which will be a very long time. But that part was left unsaid. It was best not to scare new souls when they first arrived.

"Oh, well this information is all very sudden. I-I don't even know who I am!"

"None of us remember anything when we come here unless we have high spirit energy, or if we were too attached to parts of our lives to forget," said Goro sympathetically. "And even that's rare." There was a silence after that. "Pardon me, I haven't introduced myself, my name is Goro. Who might you be? It's okay if you don't remember your name, there are plenty of nice names to choose from if you've forgotten."

The woman thought for a minute on how to answer the man in front of her. When she couldn't recall her name she looked around for anything that might trigger her memory, and her eyes landed on Goro. Now that she actually looked, he was dressed in varying shades of brown, tan, and gray. He was neither bulky nor skinny, and he had a well-used basket hat. He looked like someone who could blend into the shadows even if there were none. The only real color came from the fruit on his breakfast, the red strawberries...

"Ichigo!" she burst out, suddenly remembering the name from the first time she'd awoken in the clearing.

"Ichigo? But that couldn't be your na-"

"No, no! I need to find him, where is he? He was in danger!" The memories were coming back, but more numerous and detailed than before. A smiling face- no, three smiling faces, and a really goofy one too. And then a rainy day... Ichigo, her orange haired boy, running to something...

"Woah there! Slow down Miss, why do you need to find Ichigo? If you're a fan that's one thing, but I think that young hero can handle himself from any danger," Goro said, getting very confused about why this woman needed to find the hero of the Winter War and the Soul Society.

"But my son was about to drown in the river!" Masaki said, growing desperate. If Goro was right and she was dead, then she had died saving her son or... it was too late. What if it was too late? No! I can't think like that, I need to find him! Masaki failed to notice that Goro was staring at her wide-eyed with his jaw threating to fall off his face and his eyebrows trying to jump off his head.

"Your SON!?"

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Long introduction right there. Remember, there are no unrealistic pairings or romance in this story outside of canon families, so Goro will stay single (to anyone who was worried about that). Reviews and ideas are welcome! :)