Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, I just love it.
Chapter 2: Rukia's Condition
WARNING: HUGH SPOILER ALERT
"Rukia?" Ichigo asked as he walked into the room. He stopped in his tracks seeing the woman he wanted above all else lying on a hospital bed wrapped in bandages and hooked up to machines that monitored her vital signs. Ichigo ran over to the bed and got down on his knees. "Rukia? I'm here Rukia it's me Ichigo." He said softly as he stroked her hair.
"I-ichi…Ichigo?" Rukia asked weakly.
"Yes, Rukia I'm here." Ichigo said holding in his pain for the condition she was in back.
"Did you *cough* talk to *cough* Nii-sama?" she said through coughs and ragged breaths.
"Yes, I did Rukia. I did." Ichigo said holding her hand.
"What did Nii-sama say?" Rukia asked with a small smile then she coughed again.
"You have my blessing. I can see now that the two of you truly love each other." Byakuya said looking at Rukia. She gave him a small smile. "However IF you two consummate your relationship before you are married and Kurosaki-san is a captain I will kill him and disown you." Byakuya snapped. Rukia looked up at him and could see the fear in her Nii-sama's eyes and the unspoken brotherly love he could never show.
"Thank you Nii-sama." She said laying back down. "Ichigo, go back to the living world for now and talk to your family. I don't want to pull you away from them."
"Yes, Rukia, anything for you" Ichigo frowned he didn't want to leave her but he knew he could return for her soon. "Kuchiki-Taicho will you stay and keep an eye on her I would feel better knowing I am leaving her in good hands?" He asked turning to Byakuya.
"She will have the best care in the Seireitei Kurosaki-san." Byakuya said "but I would do that regardless of your asking." He said with a small smirk which caused Rukia to giggle and Ichigo to snicker until Rukia started to cough.
"I will ask Ukitake-Taicho to make arrangements for me to go to the human world, and I will have to ask Yamamoto-Sotaicho if I will be allowed to return." Ichigo said running over things in his mind.
"That will not be necessary." Yamamoto said as he entered the room.
Ichigo dropped to his knees and bowed "Yamamoto-Sotaicho."
"Arise Shinigami-Representative Kurosaki Ichigo," Yamamoto said standing in front of Ichigo looking down at him. "It seems you have learned that the best way to get something is to ask for it and respect those you ask." Ichigo scowled but nodded at Yamamoto's statement. "Then I assume you will explain the reason you want to return to the Soul Society?"
"To court Rukia Kuchiki and to train to be a Captain of the Goteijūsantai Yamamoto-Sotaicho Sir." Ichigo stated rigidly with a bow. He did not want old-man Yamamoto angry at him, for Yamamoto could easily kill him or ban him for the Soul Society.
"I see and has Kuchiki-Taicho given his blessing on this courtship?" Yamamoto asked.
"Yes, Yamamoto-Sotaicho, Kurosaki-san has already fulfilled one condition of the agreement and has asked to return to fulfill the other." Byakuya said bowing to old-man Yama.
"And that was?"
"That he shows the same respect, to everyone, that he showed me when he asked to court Rukia, Sotaicho sir."
"I see and the other conditions?"
"That he become stronger so he will be able to protect Rukia-Imōto from harm, and to find a position of honor as to provide for her and the children they may have when they are married IF it goes that far that is." Byakuya said flatly hardly any emotion in his voice but at saying the part about children Ichigo noticed a tinge of happiness.
"Kurosaki-san when you return in two weeks, I will test you and IF you pass you may become a Temporary Taicho until such time that Kuchiki-Taicho says you're ready to be on your own. Do you comply?" Yamamoto said looking Ichigo in the eyes.
"Absolutely Yamamoto-Sotaicho," Ichigo said excitedly "When do I leave Sotaicho?"
"Tomorrow, use today to become acquainted with the squads their Taichos and Fukutaichos." Yamamoto suggested. "Then when your done spend time with the Kuchikis and then come have dinner with me, You may bring Kuchiki-san and Kuchiki-Taicho."
"Arigato Yamamoto-Sotaicho." Ichigo said bowing as Yamamoto left.
"What was that about Nii-sama?" Rukia asked Byakuya.
"I don't know" He said honestly "But we shouldn't question him do as he says Kurosaki-san we will be here and then go with you to dinner."
"Stop by the Kuchiki manor and *cough* bring me a change of close, please Ichigo." Rukia begged. "I can't go to dinner in just my undergarments and bandages."
"I will be back as soon as I can and I will bring a change of clothes for you Rukia." With that Ichigo walked out of the room but turned around at the door. "Oh and Rukia."
"Yes Ichigo?"
"I love you."
"I love you too Ichigo."
That evening
"I will test you on what you learned today Shinigami-Representative Kurosaki." Yamamoto said as he sat at the end of the table.
"Yes sir Yamamoto-Sotaicho." Ichigo replied.
"Who are the Taichos and Fukutaichos and what squads do they belong too?" Yamamoto thundered across the room.
"Squad 1 Taicho Yamamoto-Sotaicho, Fukutaicho Chōjirō; Squad 2 Taicho Soifon and Fukutaicho Marechiyo; Squad 3 Taicho Shūsuke and Fukutaicho Izuru; Squad 4 Taicho Unohana and Fukutaicho Isane; Squad 5 Fukutaicho Hinamori; Squad 6 Kuchiki-Taicho and Fukutaicho Abari;" at this Byakuya was amazed so far Ichigo had rattled off each squads Taicho and Fukutaicho perfectly. "Squad 7 Taicho Komamura and Fukutaicho Iba; Squad 8 Taicho Shunsui and Fukutaicho Nanao; Squad 9 Fukutaicho Hisagi; Squad 10 Taicho Hitsugaya and Fukutaicho Matsumoto; Squad 11 Taicho Zaraki and Fukutaicho Yachiru; Squad 12 Taicho Mayuri and Fukutaicho Nemu; Squad 13 Taicho Ukitaki. That I believe is all Yamamoto-Sotaicho sir."
"Well done Kurosaki-san you have learned all of those that at the current time out rank you." Yamamoto grinned and set his cane to the side. "Kurosaki-san what do you know of you father and his Shinigami past?"
"Nothing Yamamoto-Sotaicho sir," Ichigo said "other then he is a former Shinigami of captain level and left to be with my mother."
"Did you find anything about his family, your family here in the Seireitei?"
"No sir Yamamoto-Sotaicho."
"Isshin Kurosaki is my youngest son." Yamamoto stated flatly. Both Byakuya and Ichigo looked at Yamamoto in shock, horror, and from Ichigo hope.
"Is this true Yamamoto-Sotaicho?" Ichigo asked. "Ojiisan?"
"Yes my boy you are a noble, or at least of somewhat noble birth being the child of a Shinigami makes you a Shinketsu Shinigami from now on you will no longer be referred to as a representative." Yamamoto smiled.
"Thank you Ojiisan for telling me you have removed some of the pain of losing my mother so many years ago." Ichigo smiled sadly.
"It was the Grand Fisher." Rukia chimed in.
"Yes I know, It became an Arrancar and attacked Karakura town looking for Kurosaki while he was off looking for Orihime-san." Yamamoto replied taking a sip of his wine. The servants came in and served dinner. "Isshin killed it."
"Ojiisan? Why did you with hold this information from me until now?" Ichigo asked before taking a bite from his chicken.
"You were still partially human, you still are but you made a decision to stay here and be with Kuchiki-san with Kuchiki-Taichos blessing no less. I can not have a captain level Shinigami-Representative, no you will be a captain even if I have to train you myself." Yamamoto finished and began eating his food.
Byakuya looked at the old man and then at the boy that had asked to court his sister; even though allthis boy had been through Byakuya still had regarded him as a punk kid, but now the Taicho of Squad 6 saw a man with a painful past. Losing his mother, becoming a Shinigami-representative to protect his family, Saving Rukia from the Goteijūsantai, saving the Seireitei form the Bounts, Fighting Arrancar and Espada, saving Orihime-san from Hueco Mundo, and defeating Aizen, if this man could do all those things It wouldn't surprise him if Ichigo eventually became the next Sotaicho.
"Kurosaki-san, it seems I have miss judged you after much thought and deliberation I have you say I am sorry for everything I did to you. I have tried to follow the laws of the Seireitei and protect Rukia at the same time but I could not. You saved her from me, the Sogyoku, and the entire Seireitei. Deep down I have always known that you cared for Rukia, however it wasn't until recently that I realized she felt the same way about you. Now I understand why you to always seem to draw to each other. If the two of you feel you are ready you have my permission to be wed." Byakuya said unshed tears in his eyes he quickly blinked them away and continued. "Under the conditions that your wedding be conducted in the true Shinigami way."
"Truly Nii-sama?" Rukia squealed with delight.
"Yes" was Byakuya's only answer. How could he be happy the only connection he had to Hisana was a bout to leave him.
"Then may I take Rukia to the Human world tomorrow?" Ichigo asked.
"Why?" Yamamoto asked listening to the conversation.
"I want to have a human wedding in front of my friends and family that cannot enter the Soul Society. But will return to have a formal Shinigami wedding." Ichigo stated. "Ojiisan, Kuchiki-Taicho, please grant me this." He pleaded.
"Granted." Said Yamamoto as Byakuya nodded.