Chapter One.

5 months later.

The figure sat, perched on the edge of the roof, his eyes locked on the clinic on the opposite side of the street, only the bandaged hilt of his zanpuktuto visible due to the fact that he kept it hidden underneath his jacket. His right arm was resting on his knee, holding his face up. On the left side of his belt a sheathed asauchi zanpukuto. His real one was a dead give away after all, he'd only bring it out when absolutely necessary.

He was looking through the window, seeing the family eating dinner. It was a lot less lively, he noticed. Though his dad tried to lighten the mood, it was admittedly easier for him, as he knew his son was alive. The rest however, seemed to be taking it the same way they took his mom's death.

Karin was silent, barely touching her food, though her face expressionless, a look of pain in her eyes. Yuzu, seemed to have tears trapped in her eyes constantly, a frown etched onto her face.

It went without saying that he felt incredibly guilty, this was after all, his doing. Though it was for a good reason, he assured himself, it did little to cease the pang of guilt from the bottom of his heart. He sighed.

The loud beeping of a phone echoed through out the night and the figure fished into his pockets, pulling out a phone and flicking it open, Urahara had managed to fix him up with one after week two of his death. The light from it's screen causing his masked face to glow.

With flick of the wrist he flipped the phone closed, stuffing it in his pocket before jumping off the building onto the roof of the next, setting course for the park.

...
He skidded to a halt on the roof of the building, it was the last one before it cut of to the park, therefore he had a perfect view. Usually, he left Hollows to his friends,
because he didn't want to arouse suspicion, but he watched, to make sure they could handle it, if he ever thought for a second that they were in danger, that their enemy was too powerful for them, he'd jump in.

He's seen his friends, they just haven't seen him yet.

Though he hasn't seen the one he wants to see the most.

A cat like hollow made it's rampage in the park, destroying trees, though it stopped and sniffed the air, it's eyes landing on a child soul. Damn it, where were they?
At this rate they're not going to make it before the.. Oh crap.

The hollow started to stalk it's way towards the child soul, which was frozen in fear. He looked around, seeing no sign of them. With a curse, he leapt down from the building,
drawing his asauchi and shunpoing forward. At the very same moment the Hollow, with a growl, launched itself at the soul. The child screamed and closed it's eyes, but never felt the collision. Hesitently, he slid his eyes open and gasped at the sight.

A masked figure, with a raggerd black and orange tail coat that was blowing in the wind stood, his asauchi countering the hollow's teeth, holding it with one hand.

In one swift movement he applied pressure, cracking the hollow's skull, and it began to vanish. The figure turned around, firery amber eyes meeting the boy's. He was speechless,
gaping like a fish. He crouched down to the boy's hight. He raised his sword so the hilt was facing him, aimed at his forehead.

"Have fun in soul society, kid." He said, the boy flinched and he hit the boy's forehead with the hilt, and he began to disappear in a blue light. When the boy was completely gone he stood, sheathing his sword.

He stuck his hands in the pockets of his trousers, staring at the floor where the boy once stood, the wind blowing his jacket. His gaze shifted to the moon, it was a full moon tonight.

'I wonder how the white moon's doing.' He thought with a sad smile.

The sound of beeping inturrepting him yet again. He sighed, reaching a hand into his pockets and took out the phone. He flicked it open, staring uninterestedly at the screen.
There was a message from Urahara.

'Come back to the shoten, we have visitors, and it's best if you were here.' It read.

With that, Ichigo disappeard, making his way to the Urahara shoten.

...
The sound of the shop's front doors opening echoed throughout the shop. The group of eight sat around his traditional desk, waiting for Urahara's friend to arrive, whoever he was. Everyone seemed to have blank faces, though you could tell that saddness seemed to radiate off of them, especially one in particular.

Urahara glanced at his watch, around this time the door to his office opened. Almost all heads turned around to see who was holding them up.

"Ahhh, Isaki-san, you took your time." Urahara teased, though he noticed Ichigo's eyes widen when he saw who was here, but quickly gained his composure. Everyone was staring at him, all but one particular midget who just stared blankly at the table.

"What? You literally text me 11 seconds ago." Ichigo pointed out indignantly. When he spoke, Rukia's eyes immediately left the table and turned to the masked figure in the tattered tail coat jacket. He sounded familiar.

The same thought was going through everyone who didn't know who he was's brain.

"Anyway, Introduce yourself and we can get started." Kisuke stated. Ichigo sighed. "Kurigo Isaki, but call me Rigo." he stated in a deadpan state and sat down in between Yoruichi and Kisuke, Rukia sitting exact opposite.

"Now now, that's not anyway to introduce yourself, looks like I'll have to. Rigo here is a reliable warrior with talent, though, he can't show you his face as he is considered a bit of a criminal in soul society, because he was framed!" Kisuke said rather hastily as they began to eye Rigo at the criminal part. "I'd say he's even of Kurosaki's level!" He finished. Their reactions of hearing the name of their supposedly deceased friend was instant. They all avoided each other's gaze, their faces not hiding their saddness. Ichigo felt the pang of guilt in his heart become heavier.

Though.. he noticed Rukia, she didn't react what so ever. He didn't want them to be sad, obviously, but for some reason, seeing her not react in the slightest compared to everyone else really sent an un easy feeling in his stomach... was that.. disappointment? He was beginning to understand why he felt it. If he was in her shoes, and she was in his,
He'd still be an emotional wreck. As much as he hated to admit it, he cared for the Midget a lot but seeing this made him wonder if she cared herself.

"Anyway, we're here to discuss a new threat that lies just around the corner. Before I tell you what they are, I will say this, they are formidable oppenents, even greater than Aizen... Their spiritual pressure even exceeds that of Kurosaki's at the the time of.. his death." Urahara started slowly, allowing them to process this. There were some gasps. "They call themselves... The Taoretasencho (Fallen Captain). These are former captains that were exiled, and managed to obtain Hollowfication..." Kisuke paused, there were a few mutterings, Rukia raised her head to look at Kisuke, Ichigo too.

"They've also managed to obtain spirit form." Kisuke stated, Rukia and Renji gasped, while the others stared at Kisuke in comfusion.

"What do you mean they've obtained soul form, it's kind of obvious.." Rigo stated. Ishida nodded in agreement.

"Spirit Form and soul form are two very different things. In a way, your soul form is a vessal for your spirit, much like your body is a vessal for your soul, however, it's extremely difficult to manage to bring out your Spirit, and these guys have. Your spirit is the purest version of you, because it is a blend of you, your zanpuktuto and if you have one, your hollow, which I should probably mention, Rigo has." Kisuke stated, everyone listening intently. "Heh, It even took me two years to achieve it." Kisuke laughed, everyone stared at him dumbfounded.

He managed to achieve Bankai in three days... that means achieving spirit form is harder then Bankai.. if it's that hard, it's possible that it's a lot more powerful.

"Renji, Rukia, Rigo." The three turned to him at the mention of their names. "We will begin training for it tomorrow." The three of them gasped.

"B-But you said it took you a two years, that means it'll probably take ten for us! How do you know they won't strike by then?!" Renji yelled incredulously.

"Exactly, we better start now, and it's worth saying that if I'm correct, it'll take Rigo here half a year." Kisuke explained.

"NANI? That's impossible!" Ichigo Bellowed, attracting everyones attention. Kisuke sighed and moved his head a little closer to his ear, to make sure only he could hear.

"Do you want to know the biggest difference between me and you?" Kisuke asked, Rigo stayed quiet. "You have an Iron will to protect your friends, and nothing will stand in your way in doing so. So all I need to tell you is that your friends and family are in danger, and the only way you can protect them is achieving Spirit form." Kisuke muttered quietly to him.

Rigo's eyes widened with realisation, then he adopted a determined expression.

"Urahara-san, how do you know that Isaki-san has reiatsu that high when I can't even sense it?" Rukia spoke for the first time, still looking at the table, expression unreadable.
Ichigo would be lying if he said he didn't feel uneasy with her calling him that.

"Because he's a wanted man we can't risk soul society picking up his reiatsu." Urahara stated simply. Rukia didn't responed. It was obvious to Ichigo that she wasn't acting herself... It was possible that this was her way dealing with grief, and he immediately felt even more guilty for the thought he had earlier about doubting if she cared.

His heart felt like a freakin' anvil at the moment.

Ishida's eyes suddenly widened. "Do you guys sense tha-" He began hastily. Kisuke lowered his gaze. "Yes I do."

"One of them is here."

Ichigo frowned, if they were all that Urahara said they were, he couldn't let his friends engage. He immediately stood to his feet and rushed out the door, ignoring the hesitant yells behind him.

The sound of the door slamming shut echoed once again through the Shoten as Rigo left.

After a moments silence Rukia got to her feet, making her way to the door of the office. "Where are you going?" Urahara asked, eyebrow raised. He had every intention of bringing them to help out, he was curious as to why Rukia seemed a little eager to help. Too eager for his liking. "If what you say is true, then we need him alive, don't we?"
She asked. Though that wasn't the only reason, she had found a compelling desire to help, no, protect Rigo, something just seemed so familiar about him, but she still couldn't place her finger on it, it was some what frustrating.

Kisuke nodded. "Alright everyone, let's go, we can't leave Rigo to 'fend for hiself, that'd be rude." Yoruichi stated getting up.

Everyone rushed to where the Reiatsu was originating.

...
The group stopped on the building, eyeing the park below, they found Rigo looking around, hand on the zanpuktuto attached to his belt. It was weird, Rukia was sure he would reach for the one on his back hidden from view due to his tail coat jacket.

Rukia, Renji and Ishida were about to jump down when Kisuke put a hand in front of them.

"This is someone close to Aizen's level, if you jump in you wouldn't make it." Kisuke said. "Then why are you letting him fight?!" Rukia asked, outraged.

"He needs to know what he's up against, if things get too out of hand I'll jump in.

Rukia visibly relaxed, albeit slightly.

...
Ichigo was slowly advancing further into the park, his hand place on his Asauchi, he was well aware of the eyes on him, and couldn't risk using his actual Zanpuktuto.
He kept his eyes on alert, even he could sense the immense power this being had, he had to be careful.

Suddenly he heard Dark chuckling coming from behind him. He whipped around, drawing his sword to be met with his opponent.

The man looked to be in his forties, a thick brown beard that was greying with a buzz cut. He wore a red kimono top with black trousers and shoes, he wore a lieutenants badge on his right arm. He also had a black bandana hanging on his neck, a dark grin on his face.

Ichigo eyed him with distain. The man eyed his sword and burst out laughing

"Hehhaehheaaaahe, You can't possibly think-Hehaheeeh- that you can defeat me with an-Hehaeeahheheahha- Asauchi." The man laughed. Rukia turned to Kisuke to look at him incredulously "He's fighting him with an Asauchi?! He's a deadman, why doesn't he use his Zanpuktuto?!" Rukia whispered harshly.

"Because it's a dead give away." Yoruichi replied from behind her quietly, keeping her eyes set on Rigo.

"Well that's just mean." Rigo frowned "Come to think of it, I can't even sense your spiritual pressure, I'll finish you in seconds." The man grinned sinisterly.

"Well if you're so comfident, give it a try." Ichigo suggested, a grin of his own starting to form. "Very well, since you're so eager to march to your doom, I'll suppose I'll bless you with my name being the last thing you ever hear." He stated still grinning. "Yoyu Yugure" (Molten Dusk).

In a heartbeat Yoyu Shunpoed behind him bringing his sword down to the top of Ichigo's head, but Ichigo saw it coming and raised his asauchi.

Yoyu's eyes widened in surprise. "W-What? You shouldn't of even been able to see me move... How?!" He trailed, distracted. Ichigo used this opportunity to sneak a swing at his torso, Yoyu barely managed to parry.

"Hmm, there's more than meets the eye, isn't there?" Yoyu grinned. "What a pleasant surprise."

He lunged again at Ichigo putting all his weight into it. Ichigo brought his asauchi up just in time, having to put both hands on the sword to hold his ground against Yoyu's sword.

"But unfortunetly, an asauchi alone won't be enough." He offered a toothy grin. Rigo gritted his teeth.

Ichigo managed to force Yoyu backwards, Surprising Yoyu. Ichigo flashed forward with shunpo, lunging at him. Yoyu made a move to dogde, but Ichigo's sword managed to clip into his right torso, making a tare in his clothes and a shallow cut.

There was a moment of silence

Yoyu stood, looking at the cut on his torso. "You've managed to cut me with an asauchi Zanpuktuto." He stated, eyes hidden from view, his usual cocky tone replaced with one of malice and hatred.

"That's quite an achievement, for you." he raised his head, his usual brown eyes replaced with a firery red. "But for me, IT'S DISGRACEFUL!" Yoyu snapped, making steady pace towards Ichigo, his spiritual pressure rising drastically. In Ichigo's last attack, he had to shunpo away to avoid an immediate retaliation, there was quite some distance in between the two.

"Let me tell you something, Mr. Anonymous. I am Yoyu Yugure, formor lieutenant of the 11th squad, the only member of the Taoretasencho that has been deemed worthy at a rank lower than captain, I WILL NOT ACCEPT BLEEDING DUE TO YOUR BLADE!" He yelled, pointing his thumb to his chest. "No matter the cost." he stated firmly.

Rigo's grip on his sword tightened. "It's too late now isn't it?" Ichigo couldn't resist. Yoyu's response was growling. Yoyu flash stepped to Ichigo making a low swing.

Ichigo jumped into the air just in time, Yoyu sent another lung for his chest, Ichigo used his sword to redirect Yoyu's zanpuktuto off to the left, creating an opening.
He lunged for his head, still in mid air, managing to only score a clip on his cheek.

Ichigo landed gracefully behind Yoyu, sending another swing at Yoyu's neck only for him to turn around at lightning speed, blocking the attack and sending a rather brutal one directed at Ichigo's side, which unfortunetly, he failed to dodge.

The sheer power of the attack sent Ichigo flying backwards, crashing into a tree with a yelp. A nasty gash had formed on his sighed, thankfully it wasn't as deep as it could've been.

Ichigo got to his feet dizzily, as he had banged his head pretty hard on the tree, he had to lean on his Asauchi to keep himself standing, there was no way he could fight like this.

Ichigo looked up to see Yoyu, surrounded by this perculiar grey mist, his eyes glowing red. "Because you have managed to cut me..." Yoyu began, the grey mist now surrounding his entire body, but the red eyes shown through. "I MUST CRUSH YOU!" He bellowed, almost deafening everyone there. Kisuke frowned.

An orange glow appeard through the grey mist before it disappeard completely, revealing a flaming bird that seemed to be made out of fire itself, Yoyu's zanpuktuto held in the clutches of it's firery talons, in it's realeased form. His steel blade was shaped of that of a flame, though it wasn't on fire. It's flaming wings flapped to keep it airborne just off the ground. Everyone stared in awe.

"This.. is my spirit form." The disembodied voice of Yoyu echoed from the oversized flaming bird, it's red eyes glowing through the flames.

The pheonix suddenly lunged and Ichigo, sword drawn, Ichigo raised is asauchi bracing for impact.

FWOOSH.

CLIIIING.

Ichigo had to hold an arm to his face to protect it from the heat of the fire, he slowly, hesitantly removed it to see Kisuke standing in front of him, Benihime raised, countering Yoyu's attack.

"W-What?" The pheonix stuttered. "KISUKE?!" Yoyu yelled in surprise. Urahara meerly raised his head slightly before he plunged Benihime deep into the pheonix's heart.

Immediately, the flames dissolved, reveal Yoyu with Benihime piercing his chest.

"D-damn..." Yoyu breathed before reaching into his pockets throwing something to the floor behind him, opening a garganta and falling backwards into it. "Tell Taron I said hi." Kisuke ordered, his usual irratible tone gone as the Garganta closed.

Ichigo was about about to speak. "That spiritual pressure... it was suffocating, and he's not even the strongest one?" Ishida asked, you could hear a tint of fear in his voice.

"And he managed to hold him off with an asauchi?!" The voice came from his right, he turned to see Rukia inches from his face inspecting her. He was glad for the mask,
for it hid his pink cheeks.

"Ever heard of personal space, midget?" Ichigo teased, only to recieve a powerful kick to the face that knocked him to the ground. That kick was... different from the other ones he'd recieved from her, there was a lot more force and it felt more like it was meant for attacking instead of defending.

Every time she had kicked him it was because he was teasing her or pulling at her image, and her assults were intended to defend her image (as well as her sanity on a few occasions). But this.. she really wanted to inflict pain on him.

"I only ever tolerated one man calling me midget, and unfortunetly, that man is dead, if I hear that word come out of your mouth again so help me I'll-" She growled, but was silenced by a hand placed on her shoulder, belonging to the red head. Rukia sighed deeply, and visibly calmed down, though her fists were still clenched and her eyes were sealed shut.

How dare he ever think that she didn't care. She couldn't even handle anyone calling her midget anymore.. the familiar pang in his chest returned, and he rose to his feet.

...
The group had returned to Urahara's. Orihime had wished them good night, along with some sympathetic glances at Rukia. Ishida and Chad left shortly after, seeing no reason to stay. Renji silently walked into the guest room he had stayed in all those times when he visited the living world, and Rukia had shunpoed off to somewhere unknown, but after a minute they sensed her Reiatsu somewhere near the Kurosaki clinic.

Ichigo sighed and turned to the front door. "Where are you going?" Urahara asked, eyebrow raised. "I need to speak with Rukia." Ichigo sighed.

Yoruichi and Urahara smiled knowing looks, "Very well, don't tell her who you are, don't be late and certainly no unprotected sex, I'm sure your father doesn't want grand children just yet." Kisuke stated with a sly smirk before recieving a punch to the face.

...
Rukia sighed, sitting on the ledge of the building opposite to the Kurosaki clinic, her legs hugged to her chest. All the lights were turned off, the family obviously asleep.
She was still contemplating whether sleeping in his closet was a good idea.

Sure, it was the warmest and the most home like place she had ever stayed in, in all her Noble life, but it would remind her so much of him. She had to forget, she had to move on, but she didn't want to, she didn't want to accept that he was gone.

She had never had such a hard time trying to move on after a friend's death.

He flash stepped silently behind her, one of the perks of his jacket, was that it made him undetectable without the use natural senses. He silently walked up to the figure,
before abruptly sitting down on the ledge beside her, his legs dangling off the side of the building. She gasped in surprise, but kept her gaze on the clinic.

"I'm sorry, I should've known that you're still not ready to be around or hear things that remind you of him." He stated out of no where.

"How could you of known? You didn't know him and you only just met me." Rukia trailed off, her voice even.

"Oh, I knew Kurosaki, hell could even be considered close friends." Ichigo explained, feeling weird referring to himself like that. He tore his eyes off the clinic to look at Rukia. "I know him well enough to know that he'd be jealous of anyone who tried to tease his petite friend." Ichigo smiled, deliberately refraining from using the word midget.

She snorted, though a small, sad smile showed on her face as her eyes remained on the window of Ichigo's old room, everything was just how it used to be.

"I know him well enough to know that he'd hate seeing you like this" He trailed off, Rukia opened her mouth to say something but was cut off. "I also know him well enough to know that he wouldn't mind you still sleeping in his closet." He finished, Rukia took her eyes off of the window to look at Rigo. Her eyes seemed to shimmer in the night,
the light of the white moon reflecting in them

She sighed and nodded reluctantly, he place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Trust me, I know a lot about him that no one else does, if you ever want to talk, I'm all ears." He offered, and gently pattered her shoulder before disappearing with shunpo, back to the Urahara shoten.

Rukia looked off in the direction where he left. He was right, Ichigo wouldn't want to see her like this. She dropped down from the roof, walking up to the front door of the clinic, arm raised about to knock.

...
A/N

That last scene really touched my heart, honestly, never thought I was capable of creating such a cute scene. (well cute in my opinion anyway)

As always, Reviews are gr8, constructive criticism is both appreciated AND NEEDED, and y'know thanks for them supports, it really goes without saying how every author could use them every now and then.

Wha d'ya think about the whole Spirit form story line? I'm actually really proud of my brain for coming up with that. I should probably mention that this is going to be a long story, quite probably above 20 chapters, maybe even making it to 40, idk. All I know is that the story is gonna take long as hell to execute (or I plan it to anyway)
so yea.

As I said before, I have no idea when the next update will be, but in the next A/N I'll probably include some responses to Reviews, depends really.

Anyway, that's all for today.