A.N: And now we will see what's going on in Soul Society.

Chapter 2: Sorrow Redefined

He couldn't be dead...he just couldn't! Neither of them could be!

These thoughts and more thoughts of absolute sorrow in Rukia Kuchiki's mind as she slumped in her bed crying her eyes out for the second straight day. "Why'd this have to happen?" She asked to no one in particular. "Why?"

Ichigo's friends and family weren't taking it very well either. Isshin hadn't slept for two days, Yuzu and Karin hadn't left their rooms, Orihime had stopped eating, Keigo and Mizurur wept for their friend, even the normally stoic figures that were Chad, Uryū and Tatsuki shed tears. Tatsuki had even missed Karate practice for the first time ever. In fact, she didn't even bother going to school. Rukia knew she was probably taking it harder than everyone else. She had known Ichigo the longest.

Regardless, everyone knew that any sorrow they felt that came from Ichigo's death, was nothing compared to what Rukia was feeling at the moment. What she was feeling was beyond sorrow, it was absolute grief and loneliness that came from losing the love of your life. Few recovered from something that tragic. Even fewer recover when the surviving member of the relationship realizes there were so many things they could've done together. Yes, nothing could compare to the sorrow of Rukia Kuchiki.

"Ichigo..." She sobbed. "Please come back..."

Byakuya Kuchiki was a stoic man, but that didn't mean he was heartless. It may have been true that Ichigo, in his eyes, had no regard for manners. But that didn't change the fact that in the end, Ichigo was undeniably the most pure-hearted individual he had ever met. He was irreplaceable.

Then there was Renji. Another idiot at times. But his loyalty and dedication was unmatched. Another irreplaceable man in Byakuya's eyes. Following the law was important, true, but what Byakuya had forgotten was that the mark of a good Soul Reaper is dedication to what he believes in. And Ichigo and Renji had reminded him of that.

The noble could not focus on his work, his mind clouded with a mixture of sadness, shock, and hate. Hate for the Arrancar who took the life of two captains...no, two comrades. Worst of all, this Arrancar's actions had destroyed Rukia mentally. Something else that was unforgivable. "The Head Captain will be calling us to discuss funeral arrangements for Ichigo and Renji soon." Said Byakuya.

Shūhei Hisagi nodded. "It's understandable if you don't want to be here sir." He said. "I can handle this, your sister needs you."

Byakuya shook his head. "I cannot comfort her because I cannot relate to her," he explained. "I lost Hisana because of a fatal illness. Something that couldn't have been avoided."

Byakuya's expression darkened. "But the deaths of Ichigo and Renji could've been avoided if we had acted more carefully. Rukia knows that and that is what's truly killing her right now. Believe me Shūhei, none of us can truly understand the pain she is in right now."

Across the Seireitei, people were taking the deaths of the two captains in different ways. Izuru Kira always looked gloomy, but people could tell that he was sadder than usual. He and Renji had been good friends at the Academy. Isane Kotetsu wouldn't come out of her room because she was so ashamed that she couldn't save either of them in time. Nemu Kurotsuchi had to leave work, overcome by grief after learning of the death of the man who encouraged her to live on her own. Tetsuzaemon Iba had joined Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa in giving both men a Squad 11-style funeral which was basically drinking and fighting in their memory. Yachiru Kusajishi may have been young, but she understood death and she cried through the first night when she heard that her favorite orange-head and redhead had died. Even Rangiku Matsumoto was deeply saddened by these events. So much so, that she did not drink.

The Captains weren't faring much better either. Unohana tried to work, but found that the guilt that was in her heart that resulted from not saving two men she was greatly fond of weighed her down greatly. Sajin Komamura was once heard howling at the moon, possibly due to the sadness of losing two comrades. Consumed by guilt as well, Shunsui started to drink even heavier. His, lieutenant, Nanao Ise didn't get angry with him, she was having a hard time as well. Tōshirō Hitsugaya could not focus on his work as well. The loss of two men he knew well took a heavy toll on the young captain. Ukitake didn't take the news well either. He immediately lapsed into another fit of his tuberculosis. Even Kenpachi Zaraki seemed affected by the loss of the two captains. He wouldn't eat, sleep, drink sake, or even fight. He would just sit and stare off into the distance all day. This was quite strange because Kenpachi was almost never affected by the deaths of comrades. Two widely accepted theories explained this. Kenpachi had wanted to be the one to kill Ichigo in a mighty fight and now he had lost his chance. Also, Kenpachi knew that the Arrancar had played a dirty trick. And true warriors like Ichigo and Renji did not deserve to die from dirty tricks.

Shinji Hirako and the Visored Unit also did not handle the deaths of either man well. More noticeably upset over Ichigo's death, and for understandable reasons. As a Visored, Ichigo had technically been one of them, even though he would've never admitted it. And despite his hostility towards all eight of them, they had all grown fond of him. Mashirō Kuna sniffled. "Is...is Berry-Boy really dead?" Mashirō managed to ask.

Kensei Muguruma, for once, did not get angry at her for asking the obvious. He simply nodded. He knew it would be insensitive for him to act that way in the wake of a good man's death.

Off to the side, Hiyori Sarugaki whimpered. Lisa Yadōmaru picked up on this. "Hiyori, are you crying?" She asked in surprise.

Hiyori did her best to glare at Lisa. "No!" She replied. "I just have something in my eye. The damn thing won't come out."

Rose Otoribashi sighed. "It is okay to cry Hiyori. We all are."

Hachi Ushōda nodded. "Ichigo was a good young man. No, he was a great man."

"Never gonna be another one like that kid." Love Aikawa said in agreement.

Hearing this, a dam seemed to break in Hiyori's eyes as tears flow out of her eyes. "Why'd that dumb ass have to die!" She sobbed, acting completely out of character.

"This is war," said Shinji, who had been quiet up until this point. "War has death. We just didn't expect Ichigo to be among the dead."

Everyone looked at Shinji in shock. "How could you say that?" Lisa asked in shock.

Shinji looked at his friends. "Don't misunderstand me, I'm quite upset. But I'm not gonna sit here and cry about it. I'm gonna get ready to fight so I can kick the ass of whoever killed our friend."

Shinji turned to leave. Just as he was at the door, he spoke once more. "That's what Ichigo would've wanted."

As Byakuya had predicted, the Head Captain, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, had called a meeting to discuss the funerals for Ichigo and Renji. "As you all know," the elderly Soul Reaper began solemnly. "Two days ago, we suffered a great tragedy in this war. Two days ago, we lost two of our fellow captains, two of our brothers. Ichigo Kurosaki and Remji Abarai both lost their lives in the line of duty in a heated battle in Karakura Town."

Everyone nodded solemnly. Soifon looked at her boyfriend, Akio Yamamoto. He wasn't his usual jovial self, that was certain. But it went further than that. He was refusing to meet anyone's gaze. He wouldn't even return his own girlfriend's gaze. Soifon was worried when she saw this. Akio...please be okay. She pleaded.

She knew that him and Ichigo were close, but his father had taught him to handle the deaths of comrades, right? "We will certainly hold a funeral with full military honors for both men, for both were exceptional captains, and exceptional people. Both are irreplaceable."

At this, Rukia Kuchiki stormed in. "Cowards!" She screamed. "All of you!"

Everyone looked at the angry lieutenant in shock. "Why haven't we decided to invade Hueco Mundo yet. Isn't it obvious? They're mocking us! Every single one of then! They attack us constantly and we have not struck back when it's obvious where they are!"

Byakuya moved to silence Rukia, but was stopped with a hand from Akio, who was obviously angry. "You're all cowards!" Rukia shouted. "They've issued a direct challenge for us to come after them and none of you will take the initiative! It's pathetic! Ichigo and Renji are dead and it's your fault! It's not just your fault, you don't even care! Even now, you just stand here while down in Hueco Mundo they celebrate the fact that they took advantage of our weakness: That we are defenders not attackers!"

Tears threatened to fall down Rukia's eyes. "I admired the Thirteen Court Guard, I thought they stood for something. And they do stand for something: Only fighting when it concerns them! So what if there's a big powerful army down in Hueco Mundo? Better there than here where it might affect me..."

"RUKIA!" Akio finally lost his temper. "JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!"

Everyone looked at the man they believed to be so levelheaded in shock. "You're being selfish Rukia." Akio growled, his fists clenched. "You're being real selfish."

That was when everyone saw the reason why Akio was avoiding their eyes. He had tears in his eyes. "Do you know why we haven't attacked Hueco Mundo yet? It has nothing to do with bravery or cowardice, but that it's a suicide mission."

Rukia's eyes widened at this. "You know, you look at humans these days and they have it easy when they fight. They scout areas with satellites and what not. But with Hueco Mundo, we know absolutely nothing about that place. Sending an force in their is suicide. It's like sending a lamb into a lions den. We all knew that and so did Ichigo and Renji.

Tears fell down Rukia's face when the realization hit her. "You're selfish for thinking none of us care, too, you know that? You think we're so callous that death means nothing to us as the rulers of death?"

Akio left his spot and walked up to her. A tearful glare in his eyes. "He was my friend," Akio said. "They both were! Just like they were friends to everyone else here!"

Tears were starting to flow freely as he continued. "But Ichigo...he was more than that. He was my brother...the brother I never had, and I loved him."

Akio leaned down to look Rukia in the eye. "If you think that you're the only one upset by this tragedy...then you've really disappointed me."

Akio turned to his adopted father. "I need to be alone for awhile." Said Akio.

With that, Akio left the meeting room. Rukia collapsed to her knees and cried harder than before. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry. I'm just...so sad. I've lost the man I love and my best friend."

Komamura nodded. "It's alright, we're all upset. And we understand completely."

As Komamura calmed Rukia, Unohana looked at Soifon. "Are you really going to leave Akio like that?"

Soifon sighed. "He asked to be left alone, he needs to clear his head. Sometimes two lovers must give each other space. At least, that's what Lady Yoruchi taught me."

Shunsui turned to his former teacher. "So, Old Man Yama, what's that all about? I would've thought you had taught Akio how to handle a friends death in this business."

Yamamoto sighed. "I tried to, but I failed. That may be a problem for Akio, but that love he has for his comrades is also a good quality to have."

Shunsui nodded in agreement. "But he must accept it at some point. But I cannot teach him that, he must learn it himself at this rate." Said Yamamoto.

Akio Yamamoto stormed into the Squad 5 Barracks. The Spiritual Pressure that was being released due to his rage and sadness was causing the majority of his subordinates to keep their distance. In fact, it seemed that only the devoted Momo Hinamori was willing to approach him. "Captain Yamamoto, would you like some tea?" She asked, not fully understanding his current emotional state.

Akio simply walked past Momo. "Leave me be for awhile." He said, trying not to break down and cry in front of his subordinates.

Akio quickly moved into his office. The minute the door was shut, he lost all emotional control. Slumping to the floor, Akio started to cry heavily. Everything he had said to Rukia in the Meeting Room had been true. He had, indeed, viewed Ichigo as a brother, similar to the relationship between Shunsui and Ukitake. When he had been Ukitake's lieutenant, the kind captain had taut him that friendship was something to be valued because in an army, one never knew what was going to happen. So, in Ukitake's opinion, and Akio had taken this ideal to heart, it was important to try and create as many friendships as possible and value them all greatly. However, he had grown particularly fond of Ichigo. While the orange-haired captain was certainly standoffish and confrontational at times, it was his nature, Akio couldn't blame him, he was still had a big heart and was a genuinely kind person. Simply put, Akio quickly grew fond of Ichigo and vowed to value the friendship those two shared more than any other friendship he gained. When he had been informed that Ichigo was dead, he refused to believe it. Ichigo was too strong to lose. In the end, however, he was forced to accept it. In the process, he learned that the one who killed Ichigo was apparently the King of Hueco Mundo. Akio got to his feet. "King of Hueco Mundo..." He said quietly, yet angrily.

Akio then slammed his fist into the wall. "I swear I'll get you for this, I will avenge my brother." Akio vowed.

Akio would have his revenge, he would see to it that the king would suffer.