Disclaimer: I don't own bleach or IchiRuki would be cannon already.

This Chapter was difficult since the comments made about Hichigo, I can turn him either way. Do people prefer him blood thirsty? I can make him however cos i can change him to fit the end at any moment. :P


Agony shot through his head as he heard that voice, the voice that was always threatening to take away everything he fought to protect and loved. "Yo King it's been nearly a fortnight you know" the voice droned out to him, he could feel his hollow smirking as he was reefed into his inner world.

Rolling over he looked up to the cloudy sky as the mind numbing pain subsided. Sitting up he looked out in the distance as his bearings adjusted, pushing himself up he walked to the edge and looked down, the skyscrapers that filled his inner world were no longer on their side but standing the right way up beneath him, "It's all the right way up" he said quietly to himself.

"No shit".

Spinning around Ichigo found himself face to face with his hollow only inches away. "How you son of a bitch, I was meant to lose my Reiatsu?" he asked in a cold voice, as he grabbed his hollow by the front of his Shihakusho. The smug look his hollow face wasn't helping his case.

"Fuck me King, you don't remember do ya" laughed his hollow pointing to Ichigo's chest.

"No" gasped Ichigo as his eyes opened wide as the memories of the black void come flooding back to him. Letting go of his hollow he placed his hands on his chest feeling the empty ring in his chest. "This can't be real, it can't have happened" he cried out looking down at his hands and chest.

"Tell me what the fuck you did" screamed Ichigo throwing his fist forwards into his hollows gut.

At Ichigo's sudden aggressiveness his eyes opened wide in surprise "I didn't do fucking anything, now get a fucking hold of yourself!"

Fuck, his hollow wasn't even effected by his punch, "Zangetsu, where is he?" Ichigo asked slowly ready to defend if needed should his hollow react to his punch.

Grinning at Ichigo's determination and guts, he turned his head to look over his shoulder "Old man" he called out in a sing-song voice, clearly enjoying himself.

Appearing out of the air behind Ichigo with a hand on the young man's shoulder "Ichigo in short, you aren't the first person to use the Finial Getsuga Tenshou, although you are the first to use it with an inner hollow".

"Thanks but that doesn't explain how I still have Reiatsu".

His hollow spoke up next to him scratching the back of his head "We think it's because of my regeneration ability, nobody has used an attack with this type of effect in you condition, it's all unknown grounds. Even the Zanpakuto Council are unsure of the matter."

"Hichigo that's enough" come Zangetsu stern voice at the mention of the Zanpakuto council.

"Zanpakuto Council?" he questioned.

Letting out a low sigh his hollow rolled his eyes "leave it be king he is forbidden to talk about it."

Stepping away from Ichigo, Zangetsu looked up at the sky "Ichigo what is it that you fight to protect most?"

Looking at Zangetsu partially confused, "My answer still hasn't changed; I will always fight to protect my family and friends?"

"Ichigo who is it that you wish to protect the most? Who is it that you would give your life for? Who can't you live without?" asked Zangetsu. Summoning Tensa Zangetsu and holding it out in front of him "I can't protect, if I don't know what in protecting".

"In other words king, who is it that makes the rain stop and the sun shine?" but-in his hollow knowing that the king couldn't turn a blind eye to that clue.

Looking up at the sky, he knew who Zangetsu was talking about, his hollow was correct as well it was always her that made the rain stop. An image of a girl with short black hair, large purple eyes and a cute smile floated to his mind, "Rukia" he said softly remembering that it was her words that pulled him from the coma or whatever it was he was trapped in.

"Speak up Ichigo we can't hear you" Called out his hollow even though he heard him the first time.

"Rukia she stops the rain" he smiled looking towards Zangetsu who slowly nodded his head.

"Ichigo, my powers are yours to defend with again".

Slowly nodding his head as the information sunk in, he paused and looked at his hollow, "The sword and the shield" he muttered quietly, it all made sense now. Zangetsu always lent his powers to help Ichigo protect her, and his hollow was the power boost he needed to defeat those who blocked his path to her.

"Aye King I'm your fighting instincts, the beast inside of you."

"Ichigo you must not draw your sword till we have had further training with you, I will explain more then."

"She calls for you. If you don't answer soon I might just go myself and show her what a man you can be" smiled his hollow like a psycho who just escaped prison.

Flaring up his Reiatsu as black flames licked around him "Like fuck you're ever going to touch her" he stated coldly before he disappeared within the Reiatsu.

Watching Ichigo disappear his hollow side started laughing like a maniac before turning to Zangetsu, "I'd like to see Soutaicho deny him entry to the Soul Society now".

Blinking open his eyes he felt a smile slip on to his lips, as he looked into her sparkling purple eyes, only inches away from his. Behind them he could see the panic and worry hidden in their depths. Could it be possible that she feel the same for him as he did for her? He had always known deep down that he cared for her more than a friend but it wasn't worth risking her friendship for.

That was until her Reiatsu practically disappeared altogether in Hueco Mundo, it was then he realized just how much she meant to him. Although it was futile until he brought Aizen don, Aizen was the type of man who wouldn't hesitate to use her against him. He wouldn't put Rukia in that position, that's to say if she even felt the same way about him.

"Ichigo" she asked tenderly like as if he was a China doll.

Hearing her call out to him he softly smiled up at her, "Thanks".

Dazed from the overwhelming spiritual pressure, Isshin slowly pushed himself up from where he had been forced to the floor. With a quick look around he noticed Ichigo's friends slowly starting to wake when he caught sight of his third daughter with mirth in her eyes as she sat in the same position unaffected from the strong surge of Reiatsu. The look his third daughter and son was sharing made him smile, "About time" he said quietly.

"What the hell Kurosaki, care to explain" yelled a strained Uryu glaring at Ichigo from equal high on the ground.

Turning his head slightly he looked at Uryu confused, as he watched the others struggling to sit back up. "You guys alright? What happened here?" he asked worried to why everyone had collapsed to the ground.

Interrupting the rant Uryu was about to start, Chad answered Ichigo's question "Ichigo your spiritual pressure went crazy and broke Orihime's shield, it knocked us all out."

"Your hollow was laughing moments before you woke up as well" Rukia continued ignoring the flash of fear in two members of the room.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose "Asshole, he knew that would happen. Sorry my hollow pulled me into my inner world; I just had to sort out a few issues with Zangetsu and Hichigo." He commented not noticing Orihime whimper at the referral of his Hollow by a name.

Feeling herself whimper at the mention of his hollow she froze, no, I need to be strong. I need to be able to talk to Ichigo about it. Putting on a brave face, she need to be strong and make Ichigo believe she was alright, "Kurosaki-Kun, why did-did you call him Hichigo" she gulped squeezing the words out.

Closing his eyes and looking up so he didn't have to face anyone, "What you guys seen on Los Noches was my Hollows true form. In my inner world however he is a replica of me to a degree, and by degree the only difference is he is pure white and yellow eyes, as for the name it's what Zangetsu gave him."

"Ichigo doesn't he want to take over your body" asked Chad.

"Yes and no, we are the same person, part of the same soul. Now all he can do is influence me"

Watching the exchange Isshin pondered about stepping in when the Quincy looked to him for help. Pushing himself up off the computer chair he adjusted his voice to a flat in a serious tone that he barely used. "Ichigo I thought you were meant to lose your powers."

Ignoring the gasps around the room he shifted his head a little in Rukia's lap so he could see his Chichi "Things changed, Short version is due to my Hollow's regenerative ability's I was able to restore my Reiatsu faster, if not I would have lost it for about 20 years as you know."

Listening to Ichigo's reply she felt a ping of hurt, she could understand why he choose to lose his but it didn't stop the feeling. If Aizen had won then they would have both been killed along with many more, she reminded herself.

Watching him talk to his father she could sense he wasn't telling the full truth as Isshin kept question subtly on small thinks only to get a facial change from Ichigo and an answer that didn't match. What had the baka done to bring that basted down, he could be such a noble fool at times.

Whatever your stupid noble ass agreed too, I promises to be there for you, I won't let you go through this alone. Finishing her silent promise she place her hands either side of his head and softly rubbed small circles behind his ears in the little shallow near his neck.

Looking away she couldn't take watching them anymore, why couldn't she ever be the one to hold Ichigo like that. Every time she got close to him something always happened or she interrupted. Frowning she knew Rukia said she didn't like Ichigo anything more than a friend, but she had her superstition that the girl was lying and to herself as well.

Sighing she looked back to Ichigo, Tatsuki will know what to do, plus she has always said about me and Ichigo being together.

Feeling the silence in the room get heavy since Isshin and Ichigo stopped talking, Uryu decided to take a poke at his revival, "So Kurosaki we going to go out for dinner to celebrate your victory as Hero of the Winter War?"

Sitting up as if a bolt of lightning had just struck him, Ichigo turned to Uryu "What do you mean Hero of the Winter War?" he asked slowly as murderess glint developed in his eyes.

If someone was listening closely they could hear a single member of the room whimper quietly.

"Well you see Kurosaki after you defeated Aizen you kind of got pinned with that title" Uryu replied slowly enjoying watching his revivals face go a deep shade of red with anger. He could have sworn little puffs of steam were coming from Ichigo's ears.

"Who the fuck said that?" Ichigo question with clenched teeth as his Reiatsu started to rise slightly carrying a warning. Pretty sure there would be only two people dumb enough to give him that title, his father and for the second person it could be none other than Geta-Boshi.

Feeling his sons rising anger Isshin let a low whistle" Well I see I'm not needed here anymore". Smiling he started making his way to the door when he heard a low and powerful "Chichi" from his son.

"Yes Ichigo?" Isshin asked as he slowly edge his way towards the bedroom door which unfortunately was closer to his son than him.

"Do you know anything about this?"

Gulping Isshin bowed low to the floor knowing he was busted, "Well you see son your loving, caring and kind of heart Chichi who means no harm and only wants his family to be happy, might have been rather proud of his one and only son, and may or may not have said something along those lines." A stupid smile plastered across his face as every fiber of his being was praying that his son would just lay his head back down in his third daughters lap and he could walk away unscathed.

Watching his father bounce down the stairs Ichigo turned back and walked into his room as a loud crash rang throughout the house, soon followed by the sound of a large object crawling across the floor at high speeds towards a large poster. "Oh Masaki our one and only son doesn't love me anymore, I tried to fore fill every boys dreams of becoming a hero and now he hates me".

Slamming the door shut Ichigo slumped to the floor against the door "See what I have to live with" he sighed miserably as he eyed Rukia's lap which had been extremely comfortable. Letting out an inward sigh, why did he have to react to the Quincy's poke at him.

"How does just getting some pizza sound, meet at six?" Ichigo suggested as he looked around the room not wanting to make eye contact with anyone. He also knew that they had move questions and conversations that he would be more than happy to avoid, at least until he had his own chance to think it over first.

"That sound fantastic Kurosaki-Kun" Orihime squealed before looking at her fingers and naming off her ingredients she would like to a rapidly green turning room full of people.

Cringing at Orihime's ongoing list Chad stood up "Ichigo your sisters have gone to hire a movie for you guys to watch tonight, spend some time with them. We can always go get dinner tomorrow night" injected Chad standing up.

Nodding her head in agreement Rukia smiled, "I think it's best if we leave it till tomorrow night, your Imouto missed you". Plus this way she could find more out about pizza, the last time she remembered eating Orihime's so-called cooking. She had spent the night hugging the porcelain bowl in the toilet. It was also one of the few times she had let anybody enter her personal space since Ichigo had sat there rubbing her back.

"Well tomorrow why don't we meet at mine since I live the closest?" asked Orihime sweetly as she stood up fixing her skirt.

"Sounds good" Uryu smiled to Orihime whipping his glasses.

Closing the gate behind him as the others disappeared he looked up to the sky, the low grey clouds softly floated over the sky, Judging by the clouds over head it looks like they were in for a cold night. Karakura didn't get much snow but it wasn't uncommon for light snow this time of year

Turning back to the house he heard a small call of "Ichi-nii and Oni-Chan". Looking over his shoulder he watched his sisters run up to him hugging him around the waist, wrapping his arms around their shoulders, surprised at Karin's show of emotion. Normally his older twin was more reserved with her emotions, suddenly feeling guilt; it must have been hard for them seeing him like that and being told why.

"We got a movie you will like" smiled Yuzu as they started walking towards the house.

"So what is?" he asked as they approached the porch where Rukia had been waiting with the door open.

"Wait and see baka" replied Karin sending a wink towards Rukia, who in return immediately got a glare from Ichigo.

"I see you guys have spent too much time around the midget.

Gasping "Oni-Chan you can't say that about Rukia-nee or you will get no dinner" huffed Yuzu stepping inside while Rukia stood there with her tongue out at Ichigo like a child.

Watching Rukia enter in after the twins Ichigo couldn't help but smile as he watched the interactions between his siblings and Rukia as they walked into the kitchen, they really had become close over the last fortnight. Plonking down into the lounge Ichigo flicked the TV on.

Sitting up on the bench top Zu smiled to her unofficial older sister or maybe one day sister-in-law if Ichigo knew what was good for him. "Rukia-nee you sure you don't want any help".

"It's alright I think I got it, thank you for teaching me though Zu. Living in the Kuchiki manor I don't get to cook; only chance I get is with Kiyone and that's normally chaos just cooking muffins or cookies".

Swing her legs up and holding them out "Tomorrow morning we can make the chappy cookies, I promise it won't be Chaotic" she grinned.

Letting out a small chuckle, Rukia looked at the younger twin "I think it would only be chaotic if Ichigo was in the kitchen".

Laughing Zu smiled "I wouldn't count on that, Oni-Chan can cook he used to help mum in the kitchen all the time when he was young, Dad said he was really good." Jumping off the counter she walked over and looked in the curry pot "Looks perfect Rukia-nee. Karin did you want to go get chichi and Oni-Chan".

Sitting at the table Ichigo lifted a piece of curried sausage to his mouth but paused mid-way when he noticed Zu and Rukia watching him closely, "Is everything ok?" he asked curiously before eating what was on his folk.

"Yep, how is it?" asked Zu starting to eat.

"This is really good Zu" Ichigo replied taking another bite as is father was already asking for seconds.

Zu grinned to the older girl, "Well Rukia-nee made it not me".

Nodding her head "Well Zu was watching so I wouldn't make a mistake" smiled Rukia to the table as Isshin's jaw hit the floor.

Sitting on the lounge as Karin put the movie in, Ichigo throw his chichi a dirty look to his still grinning father who had just given him a thumbs up before returning the ice pack back to his forehead. Sighing Ichigo looked back to the TV as Rukia sat next to him watching the title appear on the screen. "The Avengers, this is the one you wanted to see isn't it with Iron Man in it?" she asked him quietly.

Nodding his head softy Ichigo looked to the twins who were looking at him with large smiles, "Arigato girls".

Nodding to her brother Karin looked back to the screen as the movie started.

Sitting under a blanket with Zu and hugging a pillow as she watched the TV "No he can't die" she whispered as Iron Man flew through the wormhole carrying the bomb. "Ichigo he doesn't die does he?" called out Rukia only to get hashed by Ichigo and Karin.

"It's ok Rukia the main characters never die" whispered Zu to her.

Watching the credits roll up Ichigo stretching out on the couch before swinging his legs over Zu's head to put them between the two girls so he could sit up. Placing a hand on each of their heads he ruffled up the blanket and their hair at the same time. "Night girls and thanks for the movie".

Untangling herself from the blankets and with a scream of "Baka" Rukia chased him up the stairs. Watching Ichigo take two three at a time she growled as he got to the top and winked at her, before he disappeared around the corner to his room, leaving her to run up after him causing her short legs.


Well another chapter out.

I'm not sure about this one but foundations are foundations, i guess they need to be written.

Hopefully the next one will be out quicker :).

MoonBite :D