Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Bleach or any of these characters. All I can claim is the story and the only payment I receive for my work is the wonderful comments that my readers leave.

Ichigo awoke with a growling stomach and a splitting skull. He wanted to rollover but couldn't. His internal clock just wouldn't let him sleep any more. As he started to get up his head bumped a sheet of paper.

'Has my room really gotten that cluttered,' he thought

He started to crumple it before he realized it was a note. A note written by somebody with much neater handwriting than his own.

He started to read it.

"Ichigo I need to get an early start. I hope you're feeling better this morning. When I get done with the errands I have to run I'm going to the park near Urahara's shop. I should get there about 7:30 this evening. Please meet me there I have something important to talk to you about." there was no closing just Ririn's signature.

'Wonder what she wants?'

Ichigo climbed out of bed. He wasn't sure what he should do today. Every part of him screamed for the chance to go back to bed except for his stomach. He dragged himself out of his bedroom door and made his way to the kitchen.

As he entered the kitchen his scalp itched just like it always did before an ambush. Ichigo spun fast and threw up an arm to block the expected attack.

"Good morning son." Isshin said. "I saw the left-overs from your dinner and almost decided to eat them but changed my mind. You might need them more. Especially with you sleeping in past noon. I have some business to take care of, so I'll see you later."

The lack of either an ambush or lecture stunned Ichigo. He held his block in place for a second before finally letting down his guard.

'What is he talking about, and why is everybody in such a rush. It's Saturday?'

Ichigo Shrugged seeing no answers forthcoming to either question. He opened the fridge to see about the leftovers. It was another plate of the food Ririn had brought him last night.

He heated the food and had it for his breakfast. It tasted about the same. Anything he ate right now would just taste like basic sustenance. There was no real joy to be had right now from his mind set.

Once he had eaten Ichigo napped for a couple more hours. His sleep was restless, filled with dreams of a world that was lost to him. In every dream he felt a slight weight on his shoulder. It was familiar but provided no comfort. So much in these dreams seemed out of place. Shadows circled at the edge of perception and he sensed that they were all planning something.

Ichigo sat up his head throbbing. He was drenched in sweat from head to toe and felt more exhausted than when he had lain down. Ichigo opted to take a shower before heading out to meet Ririn for whatever it was she wanted to see him about.

The shower cleared his mind, but the plotting shadows from his dream bothered him. It seemed as though they spoke to something deep and primal within him. Once he finished his shower he got dressed and headed out.

The clock read 6:48 when he passed the last one before the front door. It was about a thirty minute walk to the park Ririn had asked him to meet her at, so, he should have plenty of time. The winter sun was setting as he began the walk and the temperature was already beginning to dive into the uncomfortable range.

During the walk Ichigo hardly noticed the cold or the wind that was beginning to bite at his skin deadening all sensation. It felt almost pleasant to the young man. The chill distracted his mind from all the thoughts that he was running from.

The park came into sight. Now that it was dark the lamp posts within the parks walls were creating a glowing oasis. The light haze illuminated the few snow flakes that were floating down from the sky. The shimmer added hundreds of new quickly fluttering little stars.

Ichigo entered through one of the gates that could be used to close off park later in the night. He looked around trying to find Ririn. He didn't see her anywhere.

'I guess she's running a little behind,' Ichigo thought before his scan revealed someone sitting on a bench a little ways away facing the other direction.

The woman on the park bench had blonde hair the exact shade of fresh honey, just the faintest tinge of brown promising absolute sweetness, and it was styled into a pixie cut. She turned and looked at Ichigo. He was immediately glued to the ground as if in a trance.

Her features were elfin, but instead of mischief there was only mystery in those features. The eyes were a lighter shade, almost a washed out gray. The eyes might appear more like their original cerulean shade in a brighter light.

Ichigo's mind warred with itself. This woman sitting before him couldn't be Ririn. Yet a portion of his mind said it was. All of the features were the same just older, less child-like in their bearing. His brain just couldn't cope with the idea of her as a woman and not a sweet innocent.

'What in the hell...'

The woman stood and walked towards Ichigo each step made with a crane's grace; slow, even, subtle and in perfect balance with the environment. It was the confident march of a predator, no hesitation, and none of the quick movements of a small bird eternally afraid of every shadow. The long navy pea coat and warm pants she wore did little to disguise the nature of these movements. There was seduction in every step and sway even though there was hardly an inch exposed anywhere on her.

"Hey, Ichigo. What do you think?"

"Ririn?"

"Who else would it be idiot," She smiled at the old jab.

"I... Just didn't know for sure...you look so different." Ichigo stammered as nerves caught up before wits did.

"That's part of what I wanted to talk to you about. I just didn't feel like my old body suited who I am, and it was holding me back from who I want to be."

"wha...?"

"It was keeping me from being a true partner to you. Ichigo, I need you, and I hope you feel the same way," As she spoke Ririn gently reached out and touched his cheek.

As soon as the soft fingers brushed his cheek the woman before Ichigo's eyes changed. The hair lengthened and turned jet black. The face became more angular and the words gained an edge like chilled knives. The face before him had offered the same promises, and had brought nothing but suffering.

Something in him just couldn't hold his ground. Ichigo turned from Ririn's touch and, he hoped, away from pain. Before he knew it he was at the gate.

Ichigo stepped through the gate and took a few more steps before running out of breath. His throat tightened preventing him from recovering.

He sensed someone behind him. The sensation was almost like a faint flash of reiatsu. Ichigo sucked air in trying to force himself to prepare for a possible attack. He took another step and prepared to turn in place.

"It takes a lot of courage to do what that young woman just did." When Ichigo heard the voice behind him he froze. "It takes a great deal of strength to put everything on the line without any promise of reward or success. It takes a measure of a persons heart and soul to give up everything they've ever known or had for a fledgling dream."

The speaker paused for a second, and Ichigo turned to face him. He saw a shadowy figure leaned against the park's wall, a lit cigarette in hand. Something about the shadows demeanor was familiar.

The figure's hand moved tracing a lazy arc to it's mouth so that it could take a long slow drag. "Your mother always used to say I looked so cool with a cigarette in my hand. I'm glad that there are things more worthwhile for this girl to see in you than a filthy habit. That young woman reminds me of your mother in so many ways. Not the least of which is that she will risk her life to protect what she cares about. Risk not just death but everything that we call a life. She's set aside everything that ever defined her so that you can see the actual person underneath."

Isshin glanced around the wall while taking another drag.

"Dad you only smoke when we visit mom's grave what's going on?"

"Just thinking of her more so than normal and I felt the need to honor that memory the same way I always have," Isshin paused. "She looks pretty helpless out there. She needs you. Can you really just run away from that?"

Ichigo opened his mouth to speak but his father continued.

"Sometimes the best things come un-searched for. I met your mother shortly after a big change in my life and I didn't want another change. She wouldn't accept that, and I've never been happier with any other change in my life except for my three wonderful children. Think on that before your feet move again."

Isshin began to walk away.

"What's with all the speeches lately? I'm used to getting the crap kicked out of me not this."

Isshin paused. "I've taught you all I can on how to protect what matters. All that's left for me is to give you advice about finding what really matters."

He walked away with a final puff of smoke and a lazy wave as he flicked away the butt.

Ichigo stood perplexed. His father's words were touching off alarms, but so many were going off at once that he couldn't sort out which ones were the most important or even form a clue as to the cause of each.

As he reeled trying to make sense of what was going on another alarm cut through the haze of information. A real alarm. The incessant chirping noise was coming from his belt.