Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
AN: And here is the third chapter.
As he walked 'home' with Kaien, Ichigo was still wondering about what had happened to his Getsuga.
How could it have changed color like that? he thought.
"{Well it has more power now so we can't complain,}" Zangetsu started, "{but my theory as to what happened is that the power of the diamond, combined with sealing me has given you more power.}"
Ichigo thought about that and replied, "If that's the case Zangetsu, I wonder if it changed my other powers too."
While he was deep in thought (actually discussing his power change with Zangetsu) Ichigo did not notice Kaien looking up the roster of Captains.
What he was looking for was the Captain who suggested that Ichigo be sent to Squad 13. Unless, of course, it was some sort of cruel joke sine Ichigo bore such a close resemblance to himself. But what he found completely and utterly stunned him. Kaien had found neither a Captain's report on Ichigo, nor any sign of it being a joke. What he did find was the name of Squad 10's Captain… Isshin Kurosaki. Now Kaien had never met Captain Kurosaki but guessed Ichigo was his secret son or something.
"Hey Ichigo?" Kaien asked interrupting a fierce dispute over what to name a new attack Ichigo had discovered.
"Yes Kaien," Ichigo replied, "what do you need?"
Slapping Ichigo on the back Kaien replied, "Why didn't you tell me you were related to Squad 10's Captain?!"
That shocked Ichigo rather badly.
"Why does he think I'm related to Toshiro?" he asked Zangetsu.
"{Ichigo, Toshiro did not become a Captain until about 20 years from now.}"
Ichigo was going to accept that explanation but then asked, "Wait how do you know that anyway?"
Zangetsu then replied, "{Sode no Shirayuki told me when she was stuck in here while you had Rukia's power.}"
Meanwhile on the outside Ichigo had said, "Are you sure Kaien?"
To which Kaien replied, "Yeah I'm sure, the Captain of Squad 10 is Isshin Kurosaki, are you his son or something?"
Ichigo (still reeling from finding out his idiot of a dad was a Captain) replied, "Yes he's my dad."
As Kaien was about to reply to that, Ichigo noticed Rukia walking around slowly and aimlessly in the distance and he thought that he should see what was wrong.
"Kaien, can we talk later?" Ichigo asked as he walked off toward Rukia.
"Ok Ichigo, but we need to talk later!" Kaien yelled at the running Soul Reaper.
How is my dad a Soul Reaper, Ichigo thought, I never sensed any Spirit Energy at all from him?!
Before he could think about it any more Ichigo noticed how sad Rukia looked and his concern for her overrode any further thoughts about Isshin. "Rukia what's wrong?" Ichigo asked when he got up to her.
Rukia, who had her head down, looked up at Ichigo, her big violet eyes full of held back tears, and replied, "You wouldn't understand Ichigo."
Ichigo then thought, Man I love her eyes, no wait I should concentrate on helping her and nothing else.
What he said was, "Rukia, you know that other than Kaien I'm the only one who could understand."
"Ok, Ichigo," she started, "If you really must know I saw Kaien's wife Miyako Shiba."
Ichigo was confused by that, "Why does that make you so sad Rukia?" he asked.
"I told you that you wouldn't understand," Rukia replied, "but the reason is that she looked so happy, and doesn't know how that happiness will end and there is nothing I can do to stop it!" She then (very sadly) explained to Ichigo how Miyako had died and how that had led to Kaiens death.
"Wow, now I understand better Rukia," Ichigo said as they sat down near a river at the barracks, "but I doubt that's all there is."
Rukia (who had curled up next to him) replied, "No it isn't, the rest is that I realized you will never see you're family again and it's entirely my fault!"
Ichigo was surprised by that, there she goes blaming herself again, he thought, but said, "Rukia it's my own stupid fault for grabbing that diamond in the first place!"
That should have cheered Rukia up, instead it just made her cry more.
Oh, come on, what did I do this time?! Ichigo thought, but Rukia answered that question for him.
"No, it isn't Ichigo; this is entirely my fault for giving you my powers in the first place!" Ichigo was about to say something when Rukia continued, "If I had been stronger I could have killed that hollow and saved you all the pain you have had to go through." Again interrupting Ichigo, she then said, "And now you're family probably thinks you were murdered or something!"
Finally able to talk, Ichigo replied, "Rukia that time is gone now; we are in the past which should have changed the future."
"You don't know that, Ichigo!" Rukia cried, "Kisuke never said we could change the future!"
Ichigo then turned to look her in the eye, amber to violet, and said, "Look Rukia my dad's a Captain right now, so if we talk to him that would change the future, and even if we can't change the future I don't regret anything, if you had never met me I would not be able to protect people like I do, and I would never have been able to fall in love with you!"
To late Ichigo realized his mistake, Ouch, I told her I love her, he thought; well I hope she feels the same way.
"What do you mean, your crazy father is a Captain how is that…" then the reality of the last thing Ichigo had said set in. "Wait, you l…love me?" Ichigo nodded, "But why all I've ever done is cause you pain?!" Rukia yelled.
Ichigo then replied, "But Rukia, you have also changed my life, I can protect people better now, and you have given me so many happy memories too!"
Rukia was about to yell and deny it more, but then she realized he was right. And what's more, she felt the same for Ichigo! "Ichigo, I think I may love you too." Rukia said softly, looking into his eyes.
"Well that's good news," Ichigo started, "I was worried you may not…" but he was cut off by Rukia leaning up to kiss him. Naturally this shocked Ichigo but he didn't fight her. It just felt so, right, to him. Like something had been missing in his heart and he had only now found it. Rukia felt the exact same way as Ichigo did. In fact both of them had never felt so good in their whole lives. But sadly it did not last very long.
"Well, what do we have here?" Kaien said looking down on them and interrupting the kiss. "Kaien when did you get here and how long were you there?!" Ichigo and Rukia sputtered.
"Just now but it seems I should have waited." Kaien replied.
"Its ok sir, what did you need?" Rukia asked having recovered faster than a still sputtering and blushing Ichigo.
"Captain Ukitake would like to see you two." Kaien replied.
So thus a very nervous Ichigo and Rukia went with Kaien to see their Captain. When they reached the Captain's office Kaien told them, "Wait out here while I let the Captain know you're here."
While Kaien was in the office, Ichigo and Rukia discussed their newfound feelings.
"Well, Rukia what do you think we should do now?" Ichigo started.
"Honestly, I don't know Ichigo," Rukia replied, "I've never felt this way before but I doubt it could work."
This shocked Ichigo who replied, "Rukia you and I both know we can never go back to the way it was before, and deny our feelings."
Rukia smiled sadly at him and said, "You're not even a full Soul Reaper, Ichigo, and even if you were my Brother would never allow it."
Ichigo thought about that and replied, "Actually Rukia, I am a full Soul Reaper now because Kisuke severed my Chain of Fate so I am technically dead, and you should know I don't care what Byakuya thinks anyway."
Before Rukia could reply Kaien came out and told them to head into the Captains office.
As they went in Rukia sub-consciously grabbed Ichigo's hand, She worry's too much, Ichigo thought, and I knew she could not deny her feelings.
When they got in they saw Captain Ukitake calmly sitting at his desk.
"Hello, Ichigo, Rukia," he started, "please have a seat. They then sat down still holding hands.
"Well, to start Kaien told me about your powers, and they sound very impressive, yours especially Ichigo."
Ichigo and Rukia thanked him before he continued. "Now, Ichigo I have one question, why did you enter my Squad instead of your Father's Squad 10?"
Rukia could feel Ichigo tense up and thought, Calm down Ichigo, you can think of something!
Ichigo, glad to have Rukia's calming presence next to him replied, "You see, my Father doesn't want unnecessary attention drawn to him or me, so he sent me here secretly."
That made sense to Ukitake, but Ichigo said one more thing, "I don't know why but he said if you try to talk about me Captain, he will act like you're stupid, no offense, and act like he has no idea what you're talking about so don't bother."
It surprised Ukitake that Ichigo would talk so odd but he took it in stride and said, "Ok I won't bother Isshin about this but, one other Captain wants to talk to you two."
That surprised Ichigo and Rukia who thought, Oh no, it must be Byakuya!
Oblivious to their worry, Ukitake continued, "Kaien told me about what happened at the river and I told Byakuya, and he demanded to see you two."
That really scared Ichigo and Rukia. "I also anticipated you telling me about Isshin, Ichigo, so I told Byakuya roughly the same thing you told me."
That cheered up Ichigo since Byakuya would not be the one to tell his past dad about his future son. "Now I suggest you get going so you don't keep him waiting." Ukitake said in a kind voice.
So (still holding hands, out of fear this time) Ichigo and Rukia went to the Kuchiki manor.
Before they entered Byakuya's room Ichigo said, "I'm going to beat Kaien senseless for getting us in this situation!"
Rukia trying to calm him down replied, "Byakuya would have found out eventually, and better now so he doesn't think that we went behind his back, and didn't you say Kaien was thinking of making you a Shiba, that would make Byakuya slightly happier since you would also be an adopted noble."
That (surprisingly enough) calmed down a fuming Ichigo enough to make him presentable. When they went in the office it was a much tenser atmosphere than with Ukitake's.
"Hello Rukia, boy." Byakuya said.
He hasn't changed at all, Ichigo thought angrily, he has not even met me yet and he already hates me!
"Hello brother." Rukia replied, while Ichigo remained stubbornly quiet.
That is until Rukia kicked him in the shin. "Hello, Captain Kuchiki." Ichigo said in a forced voice.
"Hmm, disdain for authority," Byakuya said, "and you really love this boy, Rukia?"
Of course Ichigo's temper rose at that but he kept quiet for Rukia's sake.
"Yes I do brother," Rukia replied squeezing Ichigo's hand, "he saved me from a hollow and a long time ago and almost died doing it."
That was only a half lie as Ichigo actually had saved Rukia from a hollow, just a long time ahead in the future not a long time ago in the past.
"Okay, but he does seem to have a reckless streak that could get both of you killed." Byakuya continued.
"I don't care about that Brother," Rukia replied before Ichigo could, "I love him and can't deny that, nor do I want to." Rukia finished smiling at Ichigo.
"It seems that I will never be able to change your mind so you may go Rukia," Byakuya said admitting defeat, "but Ichigo Kurosaki stay here." Rukia bowed to Byakuya, smiled sympathetically at Ichigo and then went into the hall.
"I will warn you now boy, I am not happy about this but if my sister loves you I won't stop her, but if you ever hurt her in any way I will hunt you down and kill you myself." He then went on to describe just the way he would in very great detail.
Now that is scary. Ichigo thought.
"Yes Captain Kuchiki." Ichigo said as he left to find Rukia.
So Ichigo and Rukia left the Seireitei and went to Rukon. But when they got there Ichigo felt a terrifyingly familiar Spiritual Pressure. The source of it was a tall man wearing white with a scar down his chest, blue hair, a chunk of a hollow's mask on his cheek and a blue sword with a strange guard. "It can't be, G…Grimmjow."
AN: And there we go.