Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
A/N: IT LIVES! I know some of you may be angry (to put it mildly) that I took another five months between updates, but look at the quality of my last chapter. I didn't want to do another one like it, so I went through like 10 different ideas before settling on the one I wrote. Thankfully for you guys I have two other chapters already written up, and a third in progress, so as long as I get more reviews this time I should have no problem with keeping up on my posting. So please read and review (and don't kill me for the delay).
20 years later,( 20 years from Winter War)~
Ichigo Kurosaki, 8th Seat of Squad 13, was walking back home after a hard day of training. It had been 20 years since he and Rukia had been hurdled into the past, and in those 20 years he had mastered Kido, and come to grips with his Hollow. In fact, the only reason he was only an 8th Seat was because he didn't want to draw Aizen's attention. To help that goal he had even… "Hey Shiba!"
That yell interrupted Ichigo's musings, and incidentally finished his last thought. He had convinced Kaien to induct him into the Shiba clan, to play on their resemblance to each other. But that was beside the point, walking up was one of the small cadre of Squad 11 members who were constantly trying to duel him.
In this case it was Ikkaku Madarame, and he was harder to shake off than the others. Naturally, Ikkaku was no match for Ichigo. But just as naturally Ichigo wanted to avoid fighting, namely since an 8th Seat should not be able to beat a 3rd Seat. So Ichigo just kept walking and ignored the other Soul Reaper.
Ikkaku kept trying to get Ichigo's attention, but he made the mistake of trying to run in front of the orange haired man. All Ichigo had to do was stick his arm out to knock the other man out cold. And he just kept on walking, humming away. But when he got to the Shiba Manor, he saw an anxious Kukkaku.
"Hey sis, what's up?" Ichigo asked, saying 'sis' since after 20 years he considered the Shiba's as family.
"It's Miyako, she was injured on a recon mission." The younger sister of the Shiba's said.
Hearing that Ichigo immediately went off to the Barracks, following Rukia's power in the hopes of saving Kaien.
Squad 13 Barracks~
I can't believe this happened again! Rukia thought.
Rukia had tried to keep Miyako from going, but she was every bit as stubborn as Kaien
and Ichigo. After that failed, she tried to get Kaien to let her go too, but he refused. So Rukia had been reduced to waiting for news. The afternoon passed in exactly the same
way as she remembered it. When Rukia was with Kaien and Jushiro, the news about the mission arrived.
"Miyako…" Kaien said, running to his wife.
The scene was all too familiar to Rukia.
"Her life's not in any danger." The other Soul Reaper was saying.
"What about the others?" Jushiro asked.
"All dead sir." The other man replied.
"All four of them!" the Captain said, shocked by the news.
"Captain can I stay with Miyako?" Rukia asked.
"Why, her life is not in danger." Jushiro said.
"I just think someone should be here when she wakes up, and Kaien is too busy." Rukai lied, since she just wanted to keep Miyako from killing anyone.
"Okay but stay outside." Jushiro said.
Rukia nodded, and left with the others.
A few hours later~
"I can't believe the entire team was wiped out." One Soul Reaper was saying.
"Yeah but at least miss Miyako is okay." Another one said.
"Yeah, she's one person the Squad can't do without." The first one continued.
But then they heard some footsteps, and saw Miyako walking up.
"Miss Miyako should you be up already?" one of the men asked.
He then saw a blur as Rukia jumped in front of him and blocked Miyako's Zanpaku-to.
"Get out of here, she is being controlled by a Hollow!" Rukia yelled.
The other Reapers didn't argue with her, they got away in a hurry.
Miyako pushed back, knocking the Hollow controlled Miyako back. She then launched at her friend, trying to disarm her. The Hollow wasn't very good with a sword, so Rukia was able to cut her. But then Rukia was knocked back by a kick to the chest. She had to keep the Hollow back with a wild sword swing.
Miyako jumped back, obviously struggling against the Hollow. Before Rukia could attack, Jushiro showed up, holding her back.
"Captain!" Rukia said, surprised at how fast he had gotten there.
"Stay back Rukia." Jushiro said, as Kaien jumped in front yelling his wifes name.
At the sight of her husband Miyako was able to stop the Hollow long enough to run off, not wanting to hurt anyone. But she wasn't able to stop it from killing two of her men on the way out.
As they heard the screams, Jushiro said, "Kaien hurry." And Kaien ran to save his men. But he was too late, as the dead men showed.
"Captain let me go after her, she can't have gone to far." Kaien said.
"But if you go you'll be walking right into the enemies trap." Jushiro said.
"Even so… this hollow used Miyako to kill her own me. It's defiled her honor!" Kaien ground out.
"Very well, I'll go too." Jushiro said.
"What, you Captain?" Kaien asked, shocked at his superior.
Jushiro nodded and turned to Rukia, "You too Rukia, and Kiyone help Sentaro seal the barracks."
And with that the group went Hollow hunting.
When they reached the forest, the group found a robe on a branch. Kaien jumped forward to see if it was Miyako's, but then the Hollow attacked. Kaien jumped to a larger branch where he was joined by Jushiro and Rukia.
"So you Reapers were stupid enough to chase me eh."
"Captain I know what this Hollow can do let me go first." Rukia said.
"Permission to go alone Captain." Kaien said, in an exact replay of that horrible night.
"Go." Jushiro said, that one word moving Kaien to jump down.
"So it's just you eh boy." The Hollow said.
"Tell me how many Soul Reapers have you eaten and have you ever once regretted it?" Kaien asked.
"What a stupid question boy! I have a heart you know, not one night goes by where I don't regret eating a Soul Reaper. Even now I have regrets about not using your wife more!" the Hollow yelled.
"So you controlled Miyako." Kaien said.
"Not that way, I was actually inside that woman. Too bad you couldn't see me eat my way out!" the Hollow laughed.
As the Hollow said that a blue aura surrounded Kaien and his reiatsu surged. He shun-po'ed forward, loping off two of the Hollow's legs.
"Wait Kaien! Don't touch it's back!" Rukia yelled.
But it was too late, Kaien yelled, "Rankle the sea's and the skies Nejibana!" But just like before his blade disappeared.
"Once a night I can destroy a Zanpaku-to if you touch my tentacles!" The hollow yelled, knocking Kaien back.
I've never heard of such a power! Kaien thought.
"Kaien get back!" Rukia yelled moving forward.
But Jushiro held her back. "Captain wahy?" Rukia asked, forgetting her own past in her need to save Kaien.
"If you interfere, you may save Kaien's life, but you would kill his pride forever." The older man said.
"But I can't let him die!" Rukia yelled.
"Listen well, there are two battles, one for life, and one for pride. Right now Kaien is fighting for his men's honor, his own honor, but most importantly for his wife's honor." Jushiro said.
Rukia sheathed her sword, but resolved to save Kaien if needed.
As the two combatants stared the other down, the Hollow was badly hurt, and Kaien was not much better.
"What's the matter Reaper, too cocky to ask for help?" the Hollow asked.
"Shut up, I don't need help to beat you!" Kaien said back.
"In that case, I'll do unto you what I did unto your beloved wife!" the Hollow yelled, launching at Kaien.
Rukia almost jumped in, but she saw an orange blur get in front of Kaien, and take the hit, knocking the Lieutenant back.
"ICHIGO!" Rukia's anguished voice echoed through the forest.
A few minutes earlier~
Ichigo had felt Rukia's reiatsu skyrocket as she fought Miyako, so he put more speed in his run. But when he reached the barracks, Ichigo was waved down by Sentaro.
"Ichigo! You're too late, the Captain already went for the Hollow." The weaker man said.
Ichigo didn't stay, he went right for the forest. While he was running, Ichigo felt Kaien start fighting the Hollow and threw caution to the wind and went even faster. As he fet the Hollow's power increase, Ichigo put on a final burst of speed, and jumped in front of Kaien, throwing Zangetsu at his brother.
As the Hollow took control of his body, Ichigo felt himself forced into his inner world. When he opened his eyes, Ichigo found himself in the middle of a rainstorm. Standing next to him were an irate Zangetsu and Shiro.
"You idiot! How could you let such a weak Hollow in!" the resident Hollow yelled.
"I had to save Kaien. I couldn't let Rukia or his….my…. family go through that again." Ichigo shot back.
{"Still you should have been more careful Ichigo"} Zangetsu said.
"Yeah King, look over there." Shiro said, pointing at a distant building.
It was the building itself that grabbed Ichigo's attention. Instead of the usual blue, it was a sickly green color, and that color was spreading.
"How about we kick that Hollow out now?" Ichigo asked, drawing his blade.
"I thought you would never ask King!" Shiro said, smiling his predatory smile.
Zangetsu was silent, but he joined the other two in charging the Hollow controlled area.
As Rukia's scream echoed through the forest, Kaien jumped back to the branch, bleeding and holding Zangetsu.
"Ichigo…" Rukia said, hoping her Berry's power could stop the Hollow.
"Yes girl, what is it?" Ichigo said, turning around.
Hearing that voice, and seeing Ichigo made Rukia feel like someone had stabbed her heart.
"Not you Ichigo, God not you…" Rukia said.
"Why do you keep saying my name girl… are you in love with me? In that case I'll eat you first!" Ichigo yelled, jumping up.
But just like before Jushiro jumped forward and blocked the Hollow.
"Run Rukia, you too Kaien!" he said.
"But…" Rukia started.
"Get out of here, do you want to die!" Jushiro yelled.
And Rukia did, with the injured Kaien behind her.
"Why did this happen again…Ichigo!" Rukia thought in despair, tears flowing freely.
Jushiro and Ichigo were running in parallel, both looking for an opening.
"Why aren't you attacking Soul Reaper? Wait you must be thinking of a way to get me out of your friend's body. It's too late for that we're both spirit beings and now we're fused together it can never be undone!" Hollow-Ichigo yelled.
Hearing that Jushiro Shun-po'ed forward, slicing Ichigo's neck, "Very well, I shall kill Ichigo's body and you in it." The Captain said.
"Are you insane, what sort of Soul Reaper kills his own men?" the Hollow yelled.
"Ichigo no longer exists, I won't let you use his body. Now die!" Jushiro yelled, slashing Ichigo's chest.
But the Hollow leaped away, "Coward!" Jushiro yelled, but then doubled over one of his coughing fits taking over. Darn why now of all times? The sick Captain thought.
He then saw what the Hollow was heading for… Rukia with Kaien struggling forward to help her.
"You idiot's you were supposed to get away from here!" Jushiro yelled, struggling to his feet.
But before the Hollow could get to Rukia, it fell to the ground shaking violently.
"What's going on, you should be dead!" it yelled.
But a mask was forming over Ichigo's face, and with it a resurgence of his power. Then all of a sudden Ichigo's skin went back to normal and the Hollow was back to its normal body. It was so weak that Kaien was able to step forward and cut its mask with Zangetsu, killing it.
Meanwhile Rukia was on the ground, shaking uncontrollably, from her grief, looking at Ichigo. "Why did you have to do it Ichigo… why!" Rukia cried out.
Kaien and Jushiro walked up, both men putting a hand on her shoulders to comfort her. But then they noticed the mask on Ichigo's face. They chose to keep quiet about it for now, seeing the mask fade away.
"Rukia we need to get him to Squad Four" Kaien said, lifting Ichigo's motionless body. Rukia shakily nodded, and followed her superiors.
A few hours later~
"Look's like she finally fell asleep." Jushiro said.
"Yeah look's like it." Isshin agreed, proud at the dedication Rukia had for his son.
"It's good that she can sleep." Jushiro continued.
"Good point, we don't want her to die of worry." Isshin said.
"Maybe it's a sign she is like me." A new voice said.
Both Captains turned and saw Byakuya walking up.
It's amazing how much he's changed in just twenty years. Isshin thought.
Indeed the haughty nobleman had significantly changed. He still was stuck up with most anyone around him. But thanks to an overly talkative Isshin, Byakuya had figured out the secret not even a month after the time travelers arrived. Naturally he had immediately went to Rukia. His sister wasn't able to lie to him so he found out everything. But since it was only a short time since Hisana had died, Byakuya found himself unable to be angry at Rukia over Ichigo.
Nor could he bring himself to turn in Ichigo since he didn't want Rukia to go through what he did with Hisana. And seeing how reluctant Rukia was to talk to him, he realized he had dishonored his wife's memory by alienating Rukia. And since it hadn't been long since Hisana died, he was able to be a good brother, as he hadn't had time to develop the noble attitude. But while he could be normal with Rukai, to a certain extent even Ichigo and a few close friends. But otherwise he remained the haughty noble.
"How is my sister?" Byakuya asked.
"She just went to sleep." Jushiro said.
"What about the boy?" Byakuya asked, carefully hiding his relief.
"He's okay, in fact he should be back to duty by tomorrow." Isshin answered.
"Can I see my sister?" Byakuya asked, following protocol.
"Sure, just don't wake her up." Jushiro said.
Byakuya nodded, and went into the room. When he saw Ichigo and Rukia his eyes widened. He may have known how close they were, but it still felt weird to se them in the position they were in. Rukia had her hand in Ichigo's, and her head over his heart. Just looking at that pulled at the Nobles heart. He could remember being in similar positions with Hisana. So all he did was pat Rukia on the back and make a silent vow.
I will do everything in my power to keep you happy Rukia, even if it means letting you marry the boy. Byakuya thought, as he left.
But he didn't notice the slight smile on Ichigo's face. Looks like Byakuya finally warmed up to us. Ichigo thought as he went to sleep.
A/N: Well there is the chapter. And before anyone yells at me over Byakuya, I think I explained his change in personality well enough. But if you need more just as via review or PM and I will answer as soon as I can. Please read and review.
