A/n: Fuck. Two months. Dx Jeez. My muse this time was not sticking to me. It would stay for a few moments, but when I tried to type, nothing came. –Twitches in irritation- So, I finally finished it since I couldn't fall asleep. More insanity ensues. Enjoy, my sweets. On another note, if you've read my prologue to this story, reread it. I changed a few things. The new song I put in the prologue is the one I use in this chapter.

Warnings: More Ichigo and Ganju fighting, Kukaku beating the shit out of people, more Uryu being hit by random shoes and other flying objects, more insight to Ichigo's future to come, a tiny bit of angst (very little this time), more horrible language.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. -_- Nor do I own the song Ichigo and Kukaku sing. The song Jigoku Chou no Uta sang in the Rock Musical Bleach: Dark of the Bleeding Moon. Rangiku is the one who sings the song in the musical.

--

After about five minutes of Ganju and Ichigo rolling around on the floor, and chasing each other, and all around beating the shit out of each other, Kukaku finally intervened, crashing their heads together. The method effectively silenced both of them as the collapsed to the floor.

"What the hell is wrong with you two", Kukaku growled in annoyance, glaring daggers at the two morons, "Attacking each other the moment you meet?!"

"Ouch", Ichigo said rubbing her head gingerly as she slowly sat back up, "Ya' kicked me without warning... Must run in the family..." She stared over at Kukaku with a slightly pained look.

"But sis", Ganju half yelled pointing at the strawberry headed teen sitting up as well, "That jerk-"

"Don't talk back", Kukaku said in annoyance, kicking him in the face, silencing him once more. She then stomped over to Ichigo, dragging up the strawberry headed teen by a hard hold on her hair. She dragged the teen up to meet eye to eye with her as she bent over. "Listen to me, you little punk", she growled threateningly, eyes darkening with a fierce fury showing her inner demoness, "This is my house! It's my way or the highway around here!" The look in her eyes dared the teen to talk back.

Ichigo gave a very small nod, being the tight hold in her strawberry locks. "Sorry, ma'am", she said slightly meekly, voice almost breaking but she thought better of it. There was something about this woman that terrified her, yet sparked something in her. A powerful and very demanding presence and similar actions were what the woman was made of. Ichigo couldn't help but feel nothing short of admiration for Kukaku. This was the kind of woman she had always aspired to be like, tough and feared by simply her presence alone. It made Ichigo internally smile at the thought.

"All right", Kukaku said, toning back down to her easy going expression, "As long as you understand." She then turned on her heel, walking back over to the others.

Ichigo collapsed to the ground in a heap. She sent a sympathetic look over at Ganju. "Your sister is scary as hell", she commented.

"Tell me about it", Ganju said, sprawled out on the ground, nose bleeding.

Kukaku then got everyone together and showed them around the building, before coming to the room she was heading got in the first place. They stepped inside the room, and all four teens stared up in awe at the giant structure whose base was in the room. Uryu surmised it was what he had noticed while they were outside.

"I'm going to launch you guys into Seireitei with this", Kukaku said with a grin as she turned to the group, "Through the sky!" As the teens freaked out in the background, she grinned. "I'm Kukaku Shiba, Rukongai's premier fireworks expert!"

"Fireworks expert", Ichigo asked slightly incredulously, a confused yet awed look on her normally scowling face.

"That's right", Kukaku said with a smirk before looking up at the ceiling, "Koganehiko! Shiroganehiko!! Hoist it!" There was a loud recognition of the command. Then, the group save for Kukaku, Ganju, and Yoruichi freaked out as the platform they were on began to rise above ground. Soon enough, thanks to the two twin guards, the platform was finally fully raised. Kukaku laughed loudly. "How'd you like that?! Did that scare you?! This is Kukaku Shiba's exclusive fireworks launch pad!"

"The flower crane cannon", Ganju added in enthusiastically in the background.

Kukaku glared over at him in annoyance as she kicked him in the face. "Who said you could get on the pedestal", she asked in annoyance, Ganju muttering apologies in the background.

"This", Uryu began before stating his argument in annoyance, "This is no time for jokes! I don't care if you're a fireworks wizard, there's no way you're going to launch us with that! It's insane! We'd be killed for sure--" Uryu was cut off abruptly as Kukaku threw a ball like object at his head, hitting him directly in the face, knocking off his glasses in the process.

Ichigo caught the sphere in her hands and sent Kukaku a curious look. "What's this", she asked.

"A reishukaku—a spirit core", Kukaku replied, pointing at the sphere, "You can press your palm against it and fill it with spirit energy." Ichigo simply studied it for a moment before asking how that's done exactly. "Huh? Isn't it obvious?! You just channel your powers into your hands—like when you cast a spell!"

"Actually", Yoruichi began off to the side, a sweat drop rolling down the back of her head, "As I told you before, Ichigo's somewhat of a makeshift soul reaper... and can't do spells."

"What", Kukaku asked before giving an aggravated sigh, "Fine! Ganju! Show him how it's done!"

"Yes, ma'am", Ganju replied with a nod before stepping forward and reaching out to grab the sphere, only for Ichigo to move it out of his grasp multiple times. "Oh, so you want to play?"

"Yeah, come and get it", Ichigo replied, a vein popping out on the side of her head, "I'd rather die than be taught by you!"

Kukaku silenced them once more by beating them over the head with her fist. Ganju then took the opportunity to grab the sphere. He then demonstrated how to use the sphere and made a ball around himself made entirely of spirit energy. The others were in awe in the background as Ganju grinned smugly and triumphantly.

"This", Kukaku said pointing over her shoulder, "Is the cannonball... Now, listen carefully..." For the next few minutes, she went over the plan to get them into the seireitei and the problems they faced and the reason they were using the sphere. After finishing her lecture, she had the two twin guards escort the teens below to practice on making a sphere around themselves using the spirit core. She stayed silent for a moment.

"Ganju, you can go now", she said quietly, "Take that and go downstairs and help them practice..."

"But sis", Ganju said hesitantly, "Are you really going to help them?"

"What do you mean", Kukaku asked a bit coldly.

"I don't like it", Ganju said strongly, a look of panic on his face, "Helping a soul reaper, that's just... What am I supposed to tell big brother?... Sis, I..."

"Ganju", Kukaku said harshly as she glared back at him, "I told you... never speak of that. Now go. And Ganju, don't EVER let me see your face like that again."

Ganju was silent for a moment before nodding and heading down below, where the two guards tried to explain failingly to Ichigo how to create the barrier. Ganju simply rolled his eyes at the scene as Ichigo all but screamed at the two guards to shut up and to give helpful advice as the others watched the spectacle from the background.

Kukaku simply sat outside on the platform, a bottle of sake with her. She began speaking softly, to her deceased brother as she sipped at her sake. Yoruichi padded up silently to sit beside her and gave her a soft greeting. "So, tell me, who exactly is this orange haired brat", Kukaku asked softly after a moment to the black cat sitting beside her, "And why does he seem so familiar?"

Yoruichi chuckled softly. "You remember Isshin, do you not", she asked, sparing a glance at Kukaku. Her eyes reflected a glazed look, remembering a time in her mind.

The black haired woman nodded thoughtfully. "Haven't heard that name in a while", she commented with a smile, "But yes... Who could ever forget Isshin? Honestly... But, why do you ask?"

The cat chuckled lightly at that, knowing that no one could ever forget the crazy man. "The 'orange haired brat' is his child", Yoruichi responded softly, a small smile gracing her lips.

Kukaku looked over at the black cat in surprise, blinking repeatedly. "Isshin's kid", she asked incredulously, "So THAT'S why the kid seemed so familiar! I can guess the unruly hair color comes from the mother... Masaki, wasn't it?" Yoruichi nodded. "Huh. Wow... wait a second, I thought Isshin only had daughters?"

"He does", Yoruichi responded with a nod and a light smile. Inside her mind, she couldn't help but cackle and wonder what Kukaku's reaction will be. 'And three... Two... one...'

Kukaku blinked before her eyes widened. "You mean...?" Yoruichi nodded. Kukaku sat up abruptly, back rigid for a moment. "That orange haired soul reaper... is Ichigo? His oldest daughter?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Yes, she is", she confirmed, "But, she pretends to be a boy for the world... Her goal... is to prove a woman can be just as, if not more powerful, than a man... To do so, she lets herself be viewed as a boy to gain the respect of the people around her... She's as stubborn as a mule... She has her dad's stubborn and iron will, and extraordinary power... Yet I see Masaki's maternal, motherly side in her as well... She's bound to make a fine woman one day..."

Kukaku smiled lightly at that. "Does she know already", she asked vaguely, knowing that Yoruichi knew what she was talking about.

"Not yet", Yoruichi responded with a shake of her head, "She'll find out soon enough... After saving her friend from being executed, she'll finally start to realize her destiny when he finally makes his appearance when the Winter War begins to take shape..."

"Winter War", Kukaku asked curiously. That was certainly a term she hadn't heard used before.

"That's what Kinen calls the war that will be fought against Hueco Mundo", Yoruichi said with a shrug, "So that's what I keep saying... But yes, the war that will be fought... It'll be a tough war... And we will lose numerous Shinigami to said war... But it must be fought for peace to finally reign over the worlds..."

"Peace", Kukaku said with a slight laugh, "I kind of like the sound of that... It'd be nice... But Ichigo's got a lot ahead of her to prepare for..."

"And we'll all be there to guide her along the way", Yoruichi said with a nod.

---

Down below...

While Orihime, Chad, and Uryu were managing to make their spheres somewhat decent, Ichigo was failing miserably. And the two guard twins were NOT helping at all with their idiocy and bad teaching. Ichigo finally chucked the ball at one and began yelling at them to give her a tip and not just stand there doing nothing. All the while, Ganju sat in the back against the wall idly, watching the scene in boredom.

Quite a few hours later, the moon was rising high above the sky slowly but surely as the hours ticked by. Ichigo had still not managed to make a sphere around herself and was only finding herself completely exhausted. Ganju soon enough announced after one of his group members found them, that dinner was ready. Orihime had tried to stay behind, but Ichigo had told her to go eat, and not worry about her. Orihime relented after a moment and ushered everyone out.

Ganju stared at the teen for a moment. Ichigo began firing off remarks, being Ichigo and all, and Ganju replied back in turn that he was just sitting there. Soon enough, the teen went back to practicing. Ganju was in the background, doing various annoying things from yawning, to reading a book and laughing, to practicing with a racket. The spirit core was thrown at him ceremoniously as Ichigo yelled at him to quit being annoying.

"You're really pushing yourself", Ganju commented with a serious expression, "Is it really that important for you to save this soul reaper?"

Ichigo panted, out of breath from training. "Not really", she said calmly.

Ganju blinked repeatedly. "Huh?" Ichigo snatched the spirit core away from him once more. "Well... did you promise you'd save her?"

"No."

"Then it's about money! You're getting paid to save her!"

"Your money's no good in my world, dumbass", Ichigo commented dryly over her shoulder.

"Then why are you trying so hard", Ganju asked incredulously, "I don't get it..."

"I owe her", Ichigo replied softly, silencing Ganju, "She saved my life... And I haven't repaid her for that yet... She gave... her powers to me... a complete stranger... so I could save my family. And that's why she's in trouble... Right now... she's waiting to be executed..." She turned and gave Ganju a hard, determined look. "I'm not some jackass who'd let her die without a fight", she said.

Ganju stared at the teen, studying her, or him as he thought Ichigo to be male, closely. He finally gave a light snort and snatched the core away from her abruptly. When she began spitting insults at him, he stopped her. "I'm here to train too", he said with a shrug, "Now, I'm going to give you a tip I came up with myself." After the teen grew silent and watched him intently, he continued. "Visualize a circle in your mind", he began as he closed his eyes, "The darker and heavier, the better. Then...imagine yourself diving into the center of it..." A barrier formed around Ganju once more as Ichigo watched intently in the background. "This is the basic form of all spells."

After a moment, Ganju let the barrier drop. "It's to-o-o-tally easy", he said in an arrogant tone before throwing the spirit core over his shoulder at Ichigo who caught it, "It's so easy it makes me want to cry! Once you know the trick, even you can do it! Of course, a genius like me wouldn't have to be shown the secret!" He walked across the room over to the door, opening it. "Well, good luck", he called behind himself in a bored tone, "You've got no talent, so I doubt you'll ever be able to do it like I can. Later!" He then shut the door behind himself and left.

Ichigo stared after the door for a moment before looking down at the spirit core. Her lips tugged into a small smile. "Thank you, Ganju", she whispered softly in her feminine tone. She then set to work on getting a barrier around herself.

Upstairs, even sat around eating their dinner. Chad, Uryu and Orihime sat together quietly. After finishing, Uryu pointed out Orihime hadn't touched anything, to which she tried to hide that she was hungry. She then confessed to giving her food to Ichigo to eat since she hadn't even shown up. Then, the entire building shook as a vast spiritual pressure filled the area rapidly. Everyone rushed downstairs to the training room. They found Ichigo surrounded by a mass force of spiritual energy.

"Oi, You idiot", Kukaku yelled at the strawberry headed teen after she opened the door, "Solidify your spiritual energy, quickly!"

Ichigo closed her eyes and sure enough, the excess spirit energy compacted down to around her. She opened her eyes and noticed the little sphere around herself. A smile tugged at her lips. "I did it", she whispered softly in her male tone, a little of her hair falling into her eyes. She then closed her eyes and let the sphere around her drop slowly.

Orihime rushed over to the teen and tackled her in a hug. "You did it, Ichigo-kun", she chirped brightly, hugging the teen with all her might.

"Orihime, can't breathe", Ichigo wheezed out before Orihime let go grinning sheepishly.

Uryu snorted lightly. "At least you finally did it", he commented rolling his eyes, "I was beginning to wonder if you ever would..." He was once again hit in the face with Ichigo's thrown sandal, followed not long after by the spirit core smacking him in the chest painfully.

Kukaku shook her eyes, rolling her eyes at them all as Ichigo and Ganju began bickering yet again. "Oi, Ichigo", she called out.

Said strawberry headed teen looked over at her in mild curiosity. "Yes", she asked with her head tilted to the side. Once Kukaku made a 'come here' motion, Ichigo abandoned the argument with Ganju and stood in front of Kukaku.

"I'd like to speak with you a bit later", Kukaku said quietly and seriously, "There's some things I need to discuss with you..." There was a glint in her eyes that verified everything she said was truth.

Ichigo nodded lightly. "When and where shall I meet you", she asked quietly.

"In about an hour, in the main room, where you met me earlier", Kukaku replied with a light grin and a nod, "I'll see you then..." She then turned on her heel and left the group, Ganju following behind her not long after.

The group of four sat together and talked for a little while as Ichigo got a bit of food to eat. Soon enough, Ichigo stood up, saying that Kukaku needed to see her for some reason.

"Why, may I ask", Uryu asked curiously, an eyebrow arched.

"I have no idea", Ichigo stated with a shrug, "She just said there was something she needed to talk to me about... I assume it's either about getting into seireitei, or it has something to do with my 'destiny'... I'm seriously growing tired of so many people I don't even know, knowing EVERYTHING about me... It's fucking creepy..."

Orihime laughed softly, before looking at Ichigo in light surprise. "Ichigo-chan", she said softly.

"Hm", Ichigo asked, not bothering to correct the nickname since Orihime didn't care either way, "What?"

"Is it just me... or is your hair a bit longer than it was before", Orihime pointed out curiously. She pointed to Ichigo's hair, which was somehow longer than it was before. It wasn't too much more length, maybe an inch or so, but it still struck as odd.

Ichigo fingered her hair, studying it for a moment. "I... think it is", Ichigo said in confusion, her and Orihime along with the guys, traded equally as confused looks, "Weird."

"I'll say", Uryu said in light confusion, "It wasn't that way before... I wonder why it's grown so quickly..."

Ichigo shrugged. "Who knows", she said with a sigh, "Anyways, I'm off... Later you guys..." With that, the teen left her friends and went off in search of Kukaku. Once she finally reached the room, she knocked lightly. Once she heard the signal to come in, she slid open the door and stepped into the room. She padded across the floor as Kukaku beckoned her over to the pillow bed. She sat down close to Kukaku and gave her a curious expression. "Kukaku-san", she began quietly, still keeping up her male voice, "Why exactly am I here?"

Kukaku smiled lightly. "We've met, you know", she said softly, slightly cryptically, "Before today I mean... Kurosaki Ichigo..."

Ichigo gave her a confused expression, before frowning. "Does everyone have to speak in circles", she ground out in light annoyance, surprising Kukaku a bit, "Good god, NO ONE will give me a straight answer to ANYTHING." Her teeth grit in annoyance as she closed her eyes. "I may be young, but I'm NOT a fucking child anymore", she ground out in a seething tone as she beat her fist on the ground, "I'm tired of sugar coated lies being spoon fed to me, dammit! Will someone just give me some fucking answers?!"

"Hirari hira hira maiodoru kage", Kukaku sang softly effectively silencing Ichigo as the teens eyes snapped open in surprise, "Aozameta yami jigoku chou... Chigireta hane wa rinkakunakushi, utsukushiku shi wo uke ireru." She then stopped the lullaby and looked at Ichigo.

Ichigo's eyes were widened in astonishment. How did Kukaku know that lullaby? Only her mother knew it from what she remembered. She now knew that this woman knew a great deal of things about her. "H-how... do you know that lullaby", Ichigo stuttered in astonishment, her feminine voice coming back once more, "Who taught it to you? How do you know me? And just what am I?"

Kukaku laughed softly. "Kinen-sama taught it to us", she said closing her eyes as she smiled lightly, "There were six of us there that day to meet you fifteen years ago—well more than that here since time passes differently here in the soul society... Kinen-sama, Yoruichi, Urahara, me, Ganju, and Ryuuken..."

"Ryuuken", Ichigo asked in slight confusion, blinking repeatedly.

"Yes, Ryuuken Ishida, one of the few Quincies left", Kukaku said with a nod and a thoughtful look, "I believe at the time he still had a son on the way."

"Ishida", Ichigo repeated in astonishment, the name clicking in her mind, "He must be Uryu's father then..." Though, why did that name seem so familiar? She couldn't help but think she had heard someone say the name Ryuuken before, but couldn't remember who exactly. The word hospital kept repeating itself in her mind.

"That would explain why the boy seems familiar", Kukaku said dryly as she closed her eyes, "I still remember that day so well... Kinen, the seer of all things, taught all of us women that lullaby... You had a different reaction for everyone who would sing it... You'd fall asleep for Kinen... You would giggle and clap for Masaki-san... And you'd always smile up at me... Yoruichi didn't even try the lullaby, but you'd always try to tug on her long hair... The guys basically stood around and laughed at us all..." She gained a small smile. "You also had different reactions for all the guys too... You'd just stare at Ishida. You'd try to grab your father's beard. You always laughed and smiled for Urahara, which we still don't know how he did it. Oh, and you bit Ganju." The last part was said in amusement.

"I bit him", Ichigo asked in amusement, raising an eyebrow with a grin plastering itself across her face at the thought, "Oh how fun. Go baby me." She waved a finger around in the air as a sign of victory as a shit eating grin came to her face. "Goes to show our feelings of hatred for each other go back a long way... He probably got pissed off too."

Kukaku gave a smirk. "He was sputtering curses at you, while Yoruichi insisted that you didn't mean it", she said, "I could tell you had an evil little look in your eyes, and were very smug about getting away with biting him. I knew right then that I already liked you." She sighed lightly. "We didn't get to spend much time with you, but Kinen explained why you were so important." Kukaku smiled lightly. "You're meant to bring peace to the three worlds."

Ichigo blinked in surprise. "Bring... peace", she asked in confusion. Kukaku nodded. "Wait, three worlds?"

"The world of the living, the soul society, and Hueco Mundo..."

"Hueco Mundo?"

"The land of the hollows."

"I knew that", Ichigo said in light annoyance, "I'm asking why them too?"

Kukaku shrugged. "It's just how it works", she said simply, "Don't ask me why... I don't have the slightest idea. All I know is what I've been told by Kinen. And that's basically it."

Ichigo sighed lightly, hoping to have found out a bit more. Then again, she knew more than before now, thanks to Kukaku's insight. "Thank you", she said softly with a nod.

"For?"

"For being the only person to give me a straight answer besides Yoruichi-san."

Kukaku grinned lightly. "It's no big deal, besides, I know it's frustrating having so many people know things about you and you have no idea about anything", she said with a nod, "And I know it irritates you." She gained a slightly amused look as Ichigo began to scowl fiercely.

"It does", Ichigo said in annoyance, eye gaining a fierce twitch, "I hate when people treat me like a child. And I HATE having so many people know who I am, when I have no idea who they are." She grew a very annoyed look, remembering all the times everyone had known who she was and what she was. She was STILL aggravated at Urahara.

"I imagine it's very strange", Kukaku said in light amusement, loving to watch the different expressions that went across the teen's face as different thoughts flowed through her mind.

"More like majorly creepy", Ichigo commented in annoyance, "Especially with Urahara..." Her eye gained another fierce twitch. She still had yet to find out if the perverted shopkeeper was very trustworthy. She was still very iffy about him.

Kukaku gave a hearty laugh. "I can't say I didn't see that one coming", she said with a grin before looking at Ichigo with a slightly curious look, "Now, Yoruichi tells me you dress and act like a boy purposely... Why is that?" She of course, knew the answer, but she wanted to hear Ichigo's explanation about it.

Ichigo gave a light sigh. "You're among the many who've asked me that in the past week", she said softly, "But, I'll explain anyways... You know how men treat women. We're nothing but pretty things that should be in the background and protected. We're virtually not valuable in any way and have been that way for the longest time. All women are thought to do is stay home, cook, clean, and raise children... That's the stereotype that's forced on us... Everyone thinks we have to dress up fancily, go shopping every weekend, put on makeup, among other disgusting stereotypes that I won't mention." She snorted in annoyance. "You know what I mean, right?"

"Yes", Kukaku said with a slight nod, "I understand what you're trying to say... Men don't think of women as any sort of threat and write them off as weak being needed to be protected... The one time my brother did that, I punched him so hard he saw stars for days afterwards."

"Ganju", Ichigo asked in confusion.

Kukaku shook her head, a sad smile gracing her lips. "No, not Ganju", she said softly, "Kaien, my other brother... He's deceased... In this world I mean... Though, you remind me a lot of him... Strong willed, stubborn as everything, smart, and a great person all around... Ganju idolized him." She closed her eyes. "He was a Soul Reaper too."

Ichigo nodded slightly in understanding. "So, he tried to protect you", Ichigo asked, steering away the tense conversation, knowing it was a touchy subject for the fireworks expert, "And you beat the hell out of him?"

"Oh yeah", Kukaku said rolling her eyes, "Do I LOOK like I need any protecting, to you? Tch. That was the first and last time Kaien ever tried that bull with me. I can protect myself just fine, thank you very much."

Ichigo smiled lightly at her comment, a sort of admiration sparkling in her eyes. "I've always wanted to become someone like you", she said softly, "To have such a commanding presence, to be feared, and to be respected. To be someone far above normal standards. I've... always wanted to be someone like that." She paused and looked down.

"You already are, Ichigo", Kukaku said softly, giving her a smile, "You're proving not only to yourself but to the world that a girl can be just as, if not stronger, than a man... And I believe that you can do it. You have spunk kid, and you're going to go a long way." She grinned lightly. "Trust me on that one. You're a special girl, Ichigo. And you're going to change the worlds as we know it. And I have every ounce of my faith in you. So, make us all proud."

Ichigo smiled with a nod. "Thank you, Kukaku-san", she said, feeling much more confident in herself now, "Now, I have one thing to ask."

"Shoot."

"Can you sing the lullaby again? I'd like to hear your version of it."

Kukaku smiled lightly. "Mind singing it as well", she asked with a smile, "I'd like to hear your voice." Ichigo paused before nodding slightly. Kukaku nodded slightly before closing her eyes and beginning in a pretty tone. "Hirari hira hira

maiodoru kage
aozameta yami jigoku chou
chigireta hane wa rinkakunakushi
utsukushiku shi wo uke ireru."

"Amai zetsubou ga", Ichigo joined in, in a lovely voice, "Nigai kioku made
keshisaru you ni
kyou mo doko ka de
jigoku chou

hirari hira hira hirari hira hira
sonna ueta me wo shite
omae wa nani wo miteru no."

Kukaku smiled lightly. "Very nice", she said softly with a light grin, "You have a good voice."

"Not really", Ichigo said sheepishly and quietly, "I don't think I sound good... And I don't sing very often... I... haven't really sung since my mother died..." She looked down with a slight frown. She looked up in surprise as a knock sounded on the sliding doors.

"Sis?"

Kukaku rolled her eyes. "Come in Ganju", she called out to him.

Ganju slid open the door and stepped inside, not really paying attention or noticing Ichigo was there. "Sis, was that you just now", he asked in confusion as he rubbed the back of his head, "I swore I heard singing just now..."

"Yes, it was me", Kukaku said with a nod, "I was just showing Ichigo here an old lullaby I learned..." She gestured over at Ichigo, winking to the strawberry headed teen, to which Ichigo nodded ever so slightly in thanks.

Ganju, now noticing the teen was in the room, gave a surprised look before scowling in annoyance. "The hell are you doing in here", he asked snidely.

Kukaku opened her mouth to reprimand him before Ichigo cut her off. "I'm simply here talking to Kukaku-san", Ichigo said dryly, male voice back in place, "The question should be directed at you, really... Who the hell let you in? I thought pigs stayed out in the corral with all the other animals..." She smirked in amusement before a thought occurred to her. "Hm, wonder how Bonnie's doing", she mumbled to herself.

Ganju began to sputter, face heating up in rage as Kukaku tried to keep a straight face and keep in her laughter. "Y-you stupid dandelion", he sputtered out, "Who the fuck are you calling a pig?!"

"You, obviously."

"Why you-!"

"Enough", Kukaku said in light amusement, "I suppose it's best you go and get some rest, Ichigo. Soon, we'll be launching you into the Seireitei. Get rested up and relax while you can. You'll have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."

Ichigo nodded slightly as she stood up. She bowed lowly. "Thank you, Kukaku-san", she said, her male voice still in place since Ganju was there, "And thank you for giving me a bit more insight on things to come... I greatly appreciate it."

"Not a problem", Kukaku said with a light shrug, "G'night kid."

Ichigo bowed once more before heading over to the doorway, bumping shoulders with Ganju on the way out. Ganju shook his fist at the strawberry headed teen as she stuck her tongue out childishly as him and made a face. He then ignored the teen as he stepped into the room, shutting the door behind himself, making his way across the room.

Kukaku looked over at Ganju. "What is it", she asked in a light, uncaring tone, "This better be important or I'll-"

"Why were you singing that lullaby?"

Kukaku stared over at her little brother seriously. "You remember", she asked.

"I could never forget it", Ganju said as he sat down in front of her, "Why were you singing it again? I haven't heard you sing that in quite a few years now... Why now?"

Kukaku smiled lightly. "You'll see soon enough", she said with a knowing smile, her brother only giving her a confused look.

---

The next morning arrived quicker than expected. Ichigo got a fair share of rest, with decent dreams this time. She stretched a bit before looking at the others. She frowned lightly, thinking of the hardships to come. She knew it would only get tougher once they got inside the soul society. She also knew that she'd be facing very tough opponents now. Though somehow, she knew things would end well.

Kukaku walked over to the group with a passive look. "Are you all ready", she asked, when the group nodded she grinned lightly, "Good. Now, where's Ganju?"

Ichigo blinked lightly, looking around and noticing the stupid oaf that was tagging along with them was missing. She thought for a moment before turning to Kukaku. "I think he was downstairs reading something earlier", she said in light confusion, her male tone in place.

"HOLD EVERYTHING!"

The group turned around and stared as Ganju was hanging onto the wall for support, breathing heavily as he had probably been running earlier. He held some type of paper in his left hand. Ichigo couldn't help but think he looked even more stupid in the new outfit he sported. "Heroes always show up late", Ganju said with a cheesy grin.

Ichigo stared at him with a deadpan look. "Why the hell are you dressed like that", she asked.

"This", Ganju said pointing to himself arrogantly, "Is my custom-made battle costume! Cool, huh?! Don't bother begging, you can't borrow it!"

Ichigo's eye twitched as a vein pulsed in her forehead at the sheer stupidity Ganju possessed. "The hell", she said, "A battle costume? You're just here to see us off, so why are you wearing...?"

Ganju's look hardened as he stomped over to Ichigo quickly, getting in her face once more. Ichigo opened her mouth to tell him off but was silenced when he spoke again. "My older brother", he started coldly, "Was killed by a Soul Reaper."

Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise as everything clicked into place. So... this was why Ganju immediately hated her when they first met. This was what happened to the brother Kukaku spoke of, Kaien. He was killed... by a Soul Reaper? But, if he was one himself, how did that happen? Why was he killed?

"Ganju", Kukaku started in slight alarm.

"Shut up and listen", Ganju yelled before looking over his shoulder, "You too, Sis." Kukaku paused in her advance to get up. Ganju looked back over at Ichigo with a hardened look. "My brother was special", he began, "Even though he was from Rukongai, he made it through the Soul Reaper Academy on his first try... At that point, his spirit powers were sixth class, which qualified him to be assistant lieutenant in the Gotei thirteen. He finished a six-year ciriculum in two years and joined the main force. He became an assistant captain in just five years..." He gained a pissed off look.

"Then he was killed", Ganju continued as Ichigo still stared in surprise, "Betrayed by the Soul Reapers he thought were his friends!" He paused. "I was just a child then, so I don't remember all the details, but... There are two things I will never forget--... That soul reaper who dragged my brother, mangled and dying, to our house... Had the face of the devil himself! And that my brother's face looked happy... when he thanked that soul reaper at the end!" He looked down slightly. "I don't know why he did that... but I can say one thing for sure... He never hated soul reapers. I want to know why! Why didn't he hate the fiends that destroyed him?! Why did he believe in them to the bitter end?!"

Ichigo was snapped out of her trance as Ganju grabbed her by the front of her shihakusho and pulled her forward towards him. "You're not like the other soul reapers", Ganju said seriously, "That's the feeling I get. If I go with youm maybe I'll find something out… That's why... I'm going to help you guys! I'm willing to go into the heart of enemy territory to learn... what a soul reaper really is!"

Everyone around the group was moved by the speech. The twin guards stood In the back crying as did Ganju's thugs. Kukaku simply smiled before telling Ganju that if he was so serious, he better be ready to die.

Ganju gave a quick nod and a "Hai!" before he felt himself being pulled forward as well, this time, him coming to face Ichigo again. "Welcome aboard", she said with a determined look. Ganju smirked back at her as she let him go.

"Alright", Kukaku yelled looked over her shoulder, "You'd better be ready! 'Cause there's no turning back now, kiddies! LET'S GO!"

---

Aaaand there we have it. Almost into the Soul Society. ALMOST. -_- Seer-sama will be making a brief appearance in the next chapter to gripe at the Central 46. Bastards deserve it, the jackasses. Anyways, read and review as always darlings.