II Another Substitute Shinigami?

It was another great day in Rukia's life. She and Ichigo were doing good. There were a few mini fights over things like what they were going to do, school and such. They weren't even counted by their friends, it was who they were. They laughed and smiled and everyone considered best friends. And she, just kind of dropped into his life, maybe flew was a better word.

She was happy to be fully skilled and they fought hollows together. They considered each other partners and Ichigo always came although she could easily take over her shinigami duties, there was no more need for a substitute.

She enjoyed spending the time together, they talked about their favorite moments and sometimes about people in soul society. Even the hollows' masks and their abilities, worst and best. They woke up together and at the end of the night they fell asleep. Rukia resting her head on Ichigo's shoulder after a hard day.

One day they were walking around after defeating a hollow looking for another that had shown up and couldn't find it. But then another shinigami showed up. "Hello there!" He said smiling.

"Hello." Rukia said politely.

"Hey." Ichigo said casually.

"Rukia and Ichigo, I have heard much of you two. It is an honor to meet you."

"Thanks." Rukia said smiling. "And you are?"

"Koboski."

"I haven't heard of you before. Are you a new shinigami?"

"Very recently."

"Unusual that you'd be out on a mission already, you must be skilled." Rukia said.

Ichigo grumbled over his voice. The man laughed. "Would you like to spar?" Ichigo perked up and smirked.

"I sure would."

Rukia was concerned. Who, knowing about Ichigo's power would spar him… especially a new shinigami? He must be powerful. "Ichigo…"

He could sense the worry in her voice. He turned and looked at her. "You worry to much. He's a new guy. It's just sparing anyway." He turned around.

"Ready?!" Kuboski asked. Ichigo nodded and they went at each other full force and just as soon as they moved she sensed that Kuboski was resonating with spiritual pressure, an extreme amount…

Ichigo made a hit and was pushed back. "Wow." Ichigo was impressed a little but he could do better. Ichigo and Kuboski went back and forth but Rukia saw that Ichigo was clearly stronger.

"My, you are good." Kuboski said as they fought.

"You're not bad." Ichigo said smirking.

"It seemed Plan B it is." It wasn't a second that he was there before Kuboski disappeared, ending up behind Rukia. A portal to somewhere opened, and he backed up. Rukia was in his arms, struggling against his kido and then he went after Ichigo. He pushed Ichigo from behind and then went into the gate, disappearing from sight.

Ichigo realized that he couldn't move. He was frustrated and angry. He had underestimated his opponent. He was able to bind his abilities but Ichigo could feel the kido breaking. He got up but didn't know what to do. He went to Urahara.

"Well isn't that just the kind of idiot move you'd pull?" He commented.

"Where do you think Rukia is?"

"Can't be sure but soul society would be my guess. With the ease the gate opened it had to be. Curious about your powers being that sealed and for so temporarily… he can't be that strong.

"He wasn't but he got what he wants… Rukia." Ichigo was angry because he didn't stop them. He punched a hole in the wall.

"Ichigo! I just fixed those."

"I don't care. I was supposed to protect her and I let her get away… again!"

"Don't worry, Rukia's at full power. She can take him… right?"

Ichigo thought about it. He didn't know Rukia's full ability but she was strong. "I think so."

"But you aren't sure. I'll find out if it was an order or if he is a rogue."

"I hope he's a rogue because then I can take him down and soul society will be on my side."

"If he's rogue than you're at a bigger disadvantage. We won't know where he would be? Or hardly anything about him while records are kept on shinigami."

Ichigo nodded and stood up. "I'm going to soul society myself. I need to take care of this."

"Take the others with you. They'll get bored otherwise."

"No. This is between this guy and me. If it's me versus soul society then I'll know to get some help."

"I have a feeling that soul society will help you."

"Why?" Ichigo asked.

"A captain has been killed. A human with high spiritual energy took his powers from a report." Urahara pushed the notice towards him.

"How did he get there? How did that happen?"

"Well the guy was a substitute captain, not a real qualified one. But he got in just like you. He left his body and went in. You know it's not hard to get in."

"Not hard!" Ichigo hated going into soul society, he still wasn't welcome enough to use the regular gate.

"Don't be a child. Aren't you going to find Rukia?"

"I will."

"Oh wait, you can't…" Urahara added.

"Why not!"

"They aren't letting anyone in. They sent shinigami over and sealed it."

"What!! Then how did that guy do it?"

"I don't know." Ichigo grabbed Urahara's clothes and pulled him out of his position on the floor.

"Hey hey hey. Not my fault. It's for their protection."

"Find me a way in."

"I know a way but it'll take a little while."

"My only option?" Ichigo asked.

"You could go to Hueco Mundo and then break through into soul society… although I wouldn't advise that."

"Another option." Ichigo said.

"You could let hollow Ichigo pass through, he could easily but…" Ichigo dropped him.

"I'm not letting him do that! I'll endanger all of soul society and there'd be no energy left to save Rukia. They wouldn't help me then."

"Then let me find out all I can. I'll get back to you." Ichigo stared at him.

"You. Better." Urahara laughed.

"You'd think she was your girlfriend or something." He said jokingly.

Ichigo ignored the comment and left but he kept thing about it. "Girlfriend, ha."

If Rukia was here she'd hit him and say what's wrong with having a girlfriend, how it would be good for him. She'd make a joke about how she could be his… she could.

He thought about it, and he had before. He laughed… him and Rukia. Unimaginable. They would fight most of the time but… the rest of the time would be nice. He laughed and that's when he crashed into Renji.

"Why are you here!?" They yelled at each other.

"I live here, in this town." Ichigo said, crossing his arms.

"Yeah but… I'm defending it."

"You're not supposed to. Rukia is." Ichigo looked down. "I'm handling it for her now thought."

"Oh really, did she just up and hand over her powers to you again?!" Ichigo grabbed his sword and wacked him with it, not even bothering to take it out of the sheath.

"What is wrong with you!!" Renji yelled.

"Of course not, she did what she had to the first time. This is totally different."

"Renji… can you get back to soul society?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah but I'm not supposed to."

Ichigo crossed his arms. "For Rukia?"

"Why? What happened?"

Ichigo told him what happened. "You're an idiot letting some new shinigami up and grab her like that!"

"I know I'm an idiot. I let you walk off with her the first time and this guy the last. When I get her back this time I'm not letting her get 2 feet away."

"She'll love that." Renji laughed. "You can't control Rukia, not even her brother can do that!"

Ichigo sighed knowing it was useless. "So can I go through?"

"I can't. I told you. It has to be an emergency."

"It is!"

"Would soul society think so? Would I get in trouble with them?"

"It's the same guy who killed that captain. That has to be relevant to them, to tell them." Renji didn't seem convinced.

"I'll send them a message Ichigo and we'll see. You know that I report to her dad so… you know that this could get…"

"I don't care all I know is Soul Society is the place that I am going because that's where he had to take Rukia!" Ichigo was seriously frustrated. He knew he promised not to interfere but that guy was bad news. He hoped she'd be okay.