Ichigo slowly opened his eyes as the first rays of sunlight warmed his face. He smiled, it was his week off from work, and he didn't have to rush to get out of bed. He turned over and placed both feet over the side of the bed on the floor.

"mmm.."

Ichigo looked over at the sleeping figure of Rukia lying next to him. He reached over and stroked the side of her face gentle. It had been 20 years since the winter war, it had been a hellish time but they had made it through and he had finally gotten enough balls to tell Rukia how he truly felt. 20 years …. Ichigo thought it's been that long and she still looks as beautiful as ever…. Ichigo smiled and leaned in and kissed her on the head. Rukia stirred a bit and smiled.

"Mmm….Ichigo"

Ichigo got up and made his way to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth and take care of his other morning need. He was coming out the bath room when he ran smack into his 17 year old son.

"Oww!" both of them cried out in unison.

"Dad watch it!" scolded Kazuki

"Watch what, you walked into me!" Ichigo shouted "Haven't I taught that it's polite to knock first"

"What the hell are you talking about the door was cracked open!" Kazuki shouted back "Look I don't have time for this I got to get to school so can you move!"

"Not until you apologize!" said Ichigo

"I'm asking you nicely old man move!"

"Old man!" shouted Ichigo

Both males were now in a ball, cursing and fighting with Ichigo still demanding an "I'm sorry" while Kazuki was shouting that he be late if his father didn't move. This continued for about 15 minutes before Rukia came out a slapped them both.

"The hell is wrong with you two, shouting at the top of your lungs this early in the morning!"

"It's not my fault Mom!" Kazuki protested he glared at his orange haired father "Sunshine over there wouldn't get out of my way!"

"That's it call me another name and I make you walk to school!"

"I hear another thing out of either of you no one's getting feed for a week!"

Silence.

"That's what I thought," Rukia sighed, putting her hands on her hips.

"Ichigo let Kazuki use the bathroom and Kazuki respect your father."

Kazuki and Ichigo both nodded, but continued to glare at each other.

"Now that that's settled I'm going down stairs to make some food for you two morons" she sighed "Its wonder your little sister isn't up with you two yelling."

Ichigo let Kazuki pass by him into the bathroom, followed up to his wife, put his arm around her, and smiled.

"Hey guess what?" he asked

"What?"

"I'm off this week," Ichigo said with a grin

"Oh really?" Rukia asked smiling

Ichigo face dropped, the way she had said that didn't sound good at least not for him anyway. Rukia pressed up to him and looked up into his face with soft eyes.

"Well then my sweet strawberry will you be a dear and go to the store for me?"

Ichigo continued to stare at his wife, he knew right away what she wanted, and there was no way in hell he was going to buy it. All he needed was for Renji to find out and it was all over.

"No" he said firmly "I'm not getting a rabbit…" he paused, begin to blush. " Sexy outfit, especially since it's one for me."

Ichigo turned and started to walk toward the stairs and down to the lower level of their house.

"Fine then" said Rukia following after him. "I'll just get it myself."

"Good" he answer sarcastically

"Oh by the way I did promise Hikari a project today."

"So what"

"Glue and glitter."

Ichigo stopped and turned around heading back up the stairs.

"The store opens at what time again?" he asked hanging his head. He wouldn't have minded the project with his 5 year old daughter, but glue and glitter! The last time they did a similar project Ichigo spent the next six hours getting the stuff out his hair and he wasn't eager for another experience.

"Ten thirty sweetie" said Rukia, kissing him as they passed one other.

"You planned this out didn't you" asked Ichigo

Rukia smiled and bit the bottom of her lip

"Maybe, maybe not"

Ichigo sighed twenty years and she was still a pain in his ass. Ichigo went back up the stair and again ran into his son.

"Look you gotta pay attention where you're walking Kaien" said Ichigo

"Sorry, I forgot the soap," he said rushing past his father. "Don't look so down ... Sweet strawberry."

Kazuki ducked into back into the bathroom just before Ichigo hit him.

"You little bastard you were listen the whole time weren't you!"

"Don't worry Dad it's not like I'll tell grandpa or anything." Laughed Kazuki

Ichigo let his head hit the bathroom door. It was a good morning.

*

Kazuki placed his school bag near the door, walked over, and sat down with his family for breakfast.

"Sorry to make you guys wait, I just can't get these" He pointed toward his head "Stray hairs to sit straight."

Rukia smiled and reached over and rubbed his dark hair.

"Your uncle has the same thing, three of them hanging over his face." She opened her eyes and looked out the window thoughtfully. You would look just like Kaien-dono expect for those and the ponytail. She sighed. "But we love you any way"

"I think they make you look special Kazuki-nii," said Hikari

Kazuki rubbed the back of his head like he always did when he was embarrassed, shy, or nervous.

"Thanks Mom, Hikari"

Kazuki looked over at his father and elbowed him.

"Got nothing to say pop?"

"Nah, doesn't matter what you look like you're still my son"

"Wow, I think that's the first complement you've ever….."

"That doesn't change the fact you look like crap I'm just say you're still my son no matter what" said Ichigo smiling

Kazuki glared at his father, mumbled something about him, a camel's rear end, and their similarities, and then stared to eat his food. After about 10 minutes into the meal there was a sharp beeping noise. Ichigo and Rukia both looked up from their plates. Kazuki and Hikari looked up confused.

"What was that?" asked Kazuki

"Nothing" said Ichigo rising from the table "It's my new cell phone it's supposed to beep whenever I get an urgent call." He said.

"Well I got to be going I'll catch up with you guys later" he ran around the table giving each one of his family members a kiss before running out the door."

Kazuki looked after his father still bewildered at what was going on. He looked over at his mother who had risen from the table and was look out the window after her husband. That's odd thought Kazuki.

"Hey mom, is everything ok?"

Rukia spun around, little surprised, but quickly answered Kazukis' question.

"Yes…nothing's wrong. Your father's a busy man on call all the time you know."

Kazuki cocked his head to the side, confusion still written over his face.

"That thing seems to be always going off," said Kazuki "Is Dad sure it's not broken?"

Rukia walked back over to the table, sat down, and wiped Hikari mouth with a napkin and continued on without answering Kazuki question.

"Sit down and finish your meal so you can go to school."

Kazuki shrugged his shoulders, sat down, and finished his meal, afterward he left for school. He waved and stared on his way to the local high school. So much for a ride he thought. Kazuki looked up into the sky, and wonder what his father was doing. Things have been getting strange ever since I turned seventeen; both mom and dad have been... I don't know acting kind of weird .From asking if I'm feeling strange or see weird or unusually things. The only thing I can think of is that is unusually is that I can see spirits but dad says he did too when he was young and not to think too much off it, but then why are they acting so uptight. Kazuki shrugged and sighed

"Old people" he sighed "who can understand them."

Kazuki looked down at his watch; damn he was going to be late if he did start running. He pushed aside the thoughts of his parent's strange behavior and hurried of to school.

"Those are your orders that is all."

The Shinigami watched as the hell butterfly spread its wings and flew away. She pushed back a piece of violent her hair and sighed.

"Man a three month assignment on this shitty town." She said, "Well looks like I won't be bored here with all the reiatsu that's pumping out of here."

She jumped from atop the telephone pole to the next one and then down toward the city outstretched before her.

Thus the sword is brought down a third time,

On the next generation the embers of war will spark again.