A/N: Bankai writer style! Well on with the show. Btw I have updated this to match canon a bit better.

Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns bleach, not me.

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Chapter 4

Surprises and Sake

It had been at least an hour since Ichigo started his research. He had been researching data on former lieutenant Kaien. So far, he was drawing a blank. ' Sometimes I wish things would just do what needs to be done about themselves, by themselves.' He thought to himself as he pulled out another book.

This time when he flipped through the pages, he ran into a page with a picture that was nearly identical to himself. Beneath it read:

Deceased

Former lieutenant Kaien Shiba

Squad 13

And just below that was his bio, which included how he died

He didn't have a need to read more, he was already in shock and sympathy. He was starting to understand why Rukia had been acting the way she was, why Ganju hated him when they first met.

He looked at the next page; it was Kaien's family tree. Blacked out pictures and regular pictures. Deceased and living. Connected, as siblings were Kukaku, Ganju, and Kaien. Along with that was his wife, Miyako Shiba. Above were what Ichigo assumed were his parents. Not really sure why he was bothering with looking at the Shiba family tree Ichigo nearly closed the book when he spotted a familiar face and to his surprise, his name was Ishiin Shiba, former captain of squad 10. He REALLY didn't need to know anymore now, the rest all seemed obvious.

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" he shouted as he nearly fainted. He couldn't believe it, not only was he related to Kaien Shiba, but his father was a former Captain. He took a deep breath to get a hold of himself, "Okay, well, I guess that explains a few things. Why my family is spiritually aware, why my ol'man never questioned me when I came to the soul society, how he could see me. I mean sure Ishida san said that I got my spiritual powers from my dad, but I didn't think he meant it was because he was a shinigami….AND A CAPTAIN?! It also explains why I look like Kaien." He said when he had calmed down, as he counted off on his fingers.

Ichigo sighed, as he grabbed the book and placed it back on the shelf. He then flexed his now cramped, stiff, and aching muscles and joints, began to head back to his quarters in the squad 13 barracks.

When he arrived, he found that Captain Ukitake was waiting for him, and to his surprise; so was an unsure Rukia. "Ichigo, would you mind if we talked to you about something. I already have tea made." He said, polite and casual as usual. Ichigo nodded and gazed over at Rukia with eyes full of sympathy. She said nothing. "Alight, let's go then."

A few minutes after arriving at the Captain's quarters ( X) ) they began the discussion. "Rukia, I believe you have something to tell Kurosaki kun." Juushiro stated before sipping his tea.

Rukia slowly look up at Ichigo and her eyes went into deep sadness and confusion. She was looking straight at him, but she didn't see Ichigo, no, not one bit of her was seeing Ichigo now, and it was painful; she was seeing her beloved lieutenant, Kaien Shiba. She gritted her teeth and looked away, "I'm sorry…I just…can't." she muttered between heavy breaths.

This time Ukitake had sympathy on his face, "I'm sorry Rukia, you said you were ready to tell him, so…" Ichigo cut in.

"It's alright Juushiro, I already know what's wrong. Rukia, I'm so sorry about what happened between you and Kaien. I'm sorry that I've brought you so much pain because I look like him." He said softly as looked the tears in her eyes. "Just try to remember, I'm not him, I'm Ichigo, but I will try to be a wonderful lieutenant. And don't worry, the ink will fade and my hair will be orange again in no time, I promise." He added, wiping away one of her tears with the pad of his thumb. He then leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Rukia blinked and looked up at him, this time, she only saw Ichigo, but she still couldn't smile.

Ukitake put his cup down. "Kurosaki kun, where exactly did you get this information?" He asked with suspicion though he was almost sure he knew the answer.

Ichigo looked up at Ukitake, "I was curious and I needed to know why Rukia was avoiding me, so I went to the library to do some research. That's how I found out. It turns out he was my cousin, on my dad's side. Hey, did you know my dad was a captain?" He said, adding that last part out of the blue.

Rukia looked shocked but slowly nodded, she was mainly shocked about the first part. Ukitake however, just sighed, "Yes, I knew that. Genryusai sensei, Soi-fon, Unohana, Kuchiki sama, Kumomora, Shunsui, Kenpachi, Kurosutchi, Hitsugaya, and even Urahara and Yoruichi san, we all knew." He then smiled at him.

"I see, so what happened?" Ichigo asked as he hugged Rukia to try to comfort her. She was starting to calm down a little.

Juushiro took a small sip before saying, "I'm sorry Kurosaki kun, but that's not my place to say, but it was quite a noble thing he did"

Ichigo sighed, "It's alright. Hey, I'm going take Rukia back to her place." He said as he stood up, carrying the now sleeping Rukia.

"Alright then, Good night Kurosaki kun." Ukitake said as Ichigo left.

When he arrived at the Kuchiki manner and took Rukia to her room, he half surprised and a bit scared to see Byakuya waiting for him in the hallway. "Would you mind explaining to me why you're doing here Kurosaki." He said in a low, stern, and stoic voice.

Ichigo flinched as he realized what his current situation was, "It's not what you think… I… I was just bringing her home. She fell asleep back at the barracks and…" Ichigo cut himself off as he yawned. It had been a long day and he had yet to have any rest. Byakuya realized this, for not only did he know that lieutenant deal with mounds of paperwork (he gives it to Renji as punishment), which Ichigo is horrible at, but he had given him his kidou exam from 5:00 to 10:00 that morning. "Sorry, I guess I should get back to the barracks." Ichigo apologized, which he rarely did to the stuck up noble. This was more than enough proof that he was beyond tired.

"Kurosaki, there's an empty room down the hall. You may stay here for the night if you wish." Byakuya invited, unexpectedly. Ichigo was stunned, was this great, noble, Kuchiki, captain, head of his family, and stuck up, actually offering hospitality.

"Um…alright… thanks Byakuya." Ichigo said after blinking 2 or 3 times and heading for the specified room.

Byakuya had never appreciated Ichigo's way of speaking to him, but he was also not one to make a scene. He had also been paying close attention to his sister's actions, main around Ichigo, and how she spoke when he was mentioned in conversations. He was well aware of the fact that Ichigo resembled Kaien. Now as he saw Ichigo's ink-stained hair, he could tell that Rukia must be feeling horrible at the moment. Byakuya looked into his sister's room to check on her, just as he thought, she was crying in her sleep, as she was most likely having a horrible nightmare about that night.

Meanwhile—

"Woo hoo! Go Ishida!" Matsumato cheered as she waved a nearly empty sake bottle in the air.

Once again, Uryu was in a brawl, this time in the squad ten barracks with the seat 8 officer. "Shut up Matsumoto!" Whack! Another kick to his opponent. "You had bet… better watch it or…I'm gonna…!" he began to threaten when he got a punch to the left check, knocking his glasses crooked, as well as knocking him off balance. Uryu's eyes widened as he quickly covered his mouth and gagged. With that he kneed him "where it hurts" and elbowed the back of his head when he keeled over, knocking him out cold.

"What's going on here?!" Came the voice of a rather angry captain as he stepped into the room.

"Oh, hello captain." The buzzed lieutenant said as she took another swig of saké, "we were just celebrating Ishida's graduation."

Uryuu flopped on the cushion in the room and glared at Matsumoto, his face beat red. "y..you mean…you g..gave me sake… as…soon as…(gag) as soon as I got hear." He slurred as he laid his head down on the table.

"Oh details, details. It's a party. Come join us captain." Matsumoto said as she threw the sake bottle at the prodigy, who dodged.

Hitsugaya's eye twitched and spoke, no, shouted his famous line, "MATSUMOTO! Paperwork, Office, NOW! No Sake!" he was so angry he had his hand on Hyorinmaru. Matsumoto freaked and ran straight for her office. He then looked at the drunken quincy and the unconscious 8th seat. He noticed that he had had no more then one glass, and it wasn't even empty. Once again, his eye twitched, "Uryu, you are never to drink again."

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A/N: LOL. Uryu can't hold his liquer. thanks for reading. sry about OOCness. Tell about any ideas you may have. Read review and tell others. Rate assist even flame. Picture for chappy on my profile.

ja ne!

ARIGATO

CHUU 3