Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, if I did it would suck.

"Normal Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Zangetsu no Ossan Talking"

"Muramasa Talking"

"Shiro Talking"

*Flashback*

#11#

Ichigo was making his way towards the squad 5 barracks, he was excited to be able to use the haori without feeling weird, now it was actually his, he had gotten used to the haori over the years in the war.

"Ichigo!"

He looked back to see a punch directed at his gut, but reflex didn't let him be hit so easily after all and dodged in the nick of time.

"Oh, hey Rukia."

"Don't oh, hey Rukia me! Why did you dodge you deserved that for lying to us!"

"I couldn't just tell everyone I wanted, I had to keep up the act so that Aizen wouldn't suspect a thing."

Rukia just crossed her arms over her chest and looked away, Renji on the other hand was not convinced yet.

"You could have told me yesterday before I went off to face Kuchiki-Taicho, what if I had died?"

"I knew you wouldn't die remember, and besides I didn't think it was the appropriate time to tell you."

"Since when do you think carrot top, when we would fight hollows you would never think before acting?"

Ichigo turned serious and faced Rukia.

"It's something to learn when you have the life of others in your hands Rukia. You can't afford to do that in a war."

Apparently that hit both hard, because they both shut up and looked at the floor in shame.

"So it's true… the captains informed us of the situation."

Ichigo looked back at his friends with tired eyes, they seemed to turn dead when he would remember the past, which was something they noticed after a while.

"It's true… I have to go meet my new squad, you two can come along if you want."

The two looked confused before they realized that Ichigo in fact had a different haori on and not the one on sokyoku hill.

"That's the 5th squad haori! They made you a captain?!"

Ichigo blinked and looked down at the midget that was Rukia, thinking why the captains didn't tell them he was to be a captain.

"Didn't the captains tell you?"

"They did say there was to be a new captain, but Ukitake-Taicho said that the new captain was Shiba!"

He looked from Rukia to Renji that apparently were equally confused, well Renji less than Rukia, he may be thinking that since he lives with the Shibas…

"My dad is Shiba, the previous head of the clan before they kicked us out of the great noble families. So here in soul society I'm Shiba Ichigo."

They were both shocked, Renji was the first to react and started to question Ichigo while they walked to the 5th squad barracks.

"So that's why you were with the Shibas, it also explains why you look like…"

"Oh you mean my cousin Kaien?"

Ichigo could see Rukia stiffen at the sound of Kaien's name at the corner of his eye. He would have to drag Rukia back with him to the compound.

"Rukia, we don't blame you for what happened, no one does not even Kukaku. But if it makes you feel better come with me to the compound after I introduce myself to the squad, I have to pick up everyone since we're going to the living world today… I'll be back tomorrow."

Rukia looked hesitant but a nudge in the side, courtesy of Renji, she got the courage and looked at Ichigo in the eye with determination.

"I would really like that, thank you."

Ichigo smiled at Rukia and Rukia smiled back, after that they kept on walking in silence until they arrived at the barracks. Coming from inside was Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibefrom the 1st squad.

"Good evening Shiba-Taicho, Yammoto-dono sent me to inform your squad beforehand of the situation and round them up in the common hall to await for their new captain."

"Thank you Lieutenant, your dismissed."

"Yes sir."

And with that he was gone in a blast of shunpo, Rukia eyed Ichigo curiously before her curiosity beat her and she had to ask.

"You seem pretty used to giving orders."

"Well I was captain for 8 years you know."

All three entered the barracks to find all the squad assembled. They were all chatting with each other and had yet to notice the presence of the three newcomers.

Ichigo cleared his throat to grab everyone's attention but when it didn't work he let out a small pulse of reiatsu that caught everyone's attention on him.

"Good evening everyone my name is Shiba Ichigo and I'm the new captain of squad 5."

He looked around to see they had their attention on him and that some had a hurt look, others were weary and many others were just plain indifferent.

"As you have been informed I defeated your former captain before he was able to escape… many of you might think it was cruel of my part… that I killed him in cold blood… but I'll tell you this, I don't care what you think of me, I won't tell you Aizen was a horrible man or that he was nice until he went crazy… I'll tell you that what you were told was the truth and you make your own conclusions. Because Aizen did horrible things in the past and future, but it's up to you if you burry the bad things and remember him as the kind captain he once was… or if you carry the truth that he turned out to be."

He sent his gaze threw out the room looking at each one of the members, he wasn't going to make them think what he wants, he would let them conclude what they want.

"But, you must know that now I'm your captain… and even though I can't tell you to trust me after what happened… I want you to give me a chance and you make your own conclusions… I won't force my ideals onto you nor will I make all your decisions like Aizen did… think for yourself… You have the rest of the day off, resume with your normal activities tomorrow. Dismissed."

A yell of yes sir was heard and every member left the room except for one. He was a young man, looked like 25 in human years, his hair was brown and short with blue eyes, he was medium height and was wearing the 3rd seat insignia.

"I assume you're the 3rd seat."

The man's blue eyes held determination and resolve, the 3rd seat looked at Ichigo directly in the eyes and both men seamed to hold a staring contest. In the end Ichigo won, anybody would lose staring into haunted amber eyes that seemed to pierce your own soul. The man gave a low bow.

"Nice to meet you Shiba-Taicho. My name is Ōtsuka Akio and I'm the 3rd seat of squad 5."

"It's nice to meet you too Otsuka. Would you happen to know when Lieutenant Hinamori will come back?"

"I think she'll be able to retire from the 4th in two days' time, and you can call me Akio."

Ichigo smiled at his 3rd seat and sent him a friendly nod in understanding.

"Okay, I'm going to the living world today and will return before noon tomorrow, you're in charge until then."

"Yes sir."

"And Akio."

Akio looked back to look at his captain, he was still curious about the new captain but he had gained himself a second chance, so he would trust him for now.

"Yes captain?"

"Thank you."

Akio couldn't help but smile back at Ichigo, he was being sincere and he wouldn't let him down.

"You're welcome."

And with that he left the room, leaving Ichigo with Rukia and the 6th squad lieutenant.

"Okay. Let's get going to the Shiba Compound. Rukia come with me, Renji go report in with your captain."

Ichigo gave directions with a commanding tone that made the two straighten up and respond with respect for a second before returning to normal.

"Ye-yes sir…! Hey wait a second why am I being respectful to this idiot!?"

"I may be an idiot if you say so but I'm also a captain."

Ichigo's serious voice shocked momentarily Renji since he had said something disrespectful, he could be punished after all and it wouldn't be fun. Rukia was also shocked since Ichigo would never say something like that.

But Ichigo couldn't hold in the laughter and burst it all out.

"Ha ha ha, oh my god, ha ha ha, you should see, ha ha ha, your faces…"

Ichigo had to hold his side of the laughter, he hadn't laughed like this in a long time, and messing around with an innocent Rukia and Renji was a good way to relax.

"You… you idiot!"

Rukia kicked Ichigo in the shin that made him laugh and grunt in pain at the same time.

"Sorry, sorry, just couldn't resist, you don't have to be formal with me, you know I'm not into that crap."

She couldn't help but smile, Ichigo had finally relaxed and that was a good thing, she didn't like to see him like this, it was better to see him with his usual scowl than with the emotionless mask she's been seeing lately.

"Alright! Pineapple go do your paperwork while Rukia and I go to the compound."

"Don't order me around you strawberry!"

Ichigo looked at Renji with a cheeky smile and whispered something in his ear.

"Are you sure you want to waste time around here while Byakuya is getting angrier by the minute."

Renji gulped and turned blue at the thought of his captain getting mad and instead of retorting disappeared with shunpo towards his barracks.

"Okay then. Let's get going, we don't have all day after all."

Before Rukia could protest Ichigo had grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her into his chest and left in quick shundo.

Not even noticing the ride, Rukia started to protest when she noticed they were already outside the Shibas.

"A warning would have been nice!"

"You would have protested if I told you, and besides you're still recuperating."

"WELCOME HOME ICHIGO-SAMA!"

Ichigo looked at the gate to see the twins like always guarding it, but what caught him off guard was the difference in greeting.

"Why the –sama? Just this morning you were calling me –dono, and I still don't like that by the way."

The two stiffened and saluted.

"We just received word about central 46's decision, Kukaku-sama is waiting for you inside."

Ichigo rolled his eyes at that, thinking that his day hadn't been the easiest and was getting harder.

"Great, more work to do I bet."

"Ah don't be such a cry baby."

"Says the person that wanted to come and hadn't been able to for the past decades."

Rukia could only look down in shame at that, it was true after all, and it had been her fault after all.

"Don't look so down or Kukaku will get mad, believe me I should know. Come on, I bet she's waiting for me."

She nodded and followed the new captain downstairs and into the dining room where Kukaku was having a cup of sake.

"Well look who decided to join us. Get over here Ichigo we have great news."

"Good morning Kukaku. I heard there was word from 46 but-"

"It's Kukaku-neesan brat!"

"Yeah sorry Kukaku-nesan. But like I was saying you have a visitor first."

Rukia was snickering at how Ichigo let himself be threaten by Kukaku even though he was pretty strong, but she automatically stiffened when Ichigo said the word visitor.

"Oh, the Kuchiki brat you went to rescue… and, the shinigami from that day."

Rukia took a step forward but didn't dare look at Kukaku in the eye, she could never ask for forgiveness but the best she could do is try.

"I have always thought… that I needed to apologize… but I'm a coward so… all I have ever done is run away… that's why it took this long for me to come here and…. I'm sorry! I really am… "

"Enough."

Rukia looked up to see Kukaku in the eye but quickly looked down, she was confused as to why she said it was enough, was she not showing how sorry she was, was she annoying? She didn't know what to think anymore.

"Huh?"

"That's enough. Stop apologizing."

"Bu-But…!"

Getting pissed at Rukia for not accepting the facts that enough was enough she hit her in the head with a fist.

"I said enough!"

At seeing the scene Ichigo couldn't help but chuckle, he knew this would happen, both are so stubborn, one wanting to apologize to the world and the other wanting to make her stop.

"Ukitake told me everything already. Including how it wasn't your fault… and how remorseful and sad you've been. Therefore I had already made my mind long ago… that if I ever heard you apologizing to me I would let everything go…"

Not wanting to hear more arguments Ichigo decided to but in, it would not be good to take too much time here and they would never finish the way they were now.

"Okay I think that's enough Midget no more apologizing, you'll never beat Kukaku anyways."

Ichigo couldn't help but pat her on the head, he felt happy, no more worries, and this was for the better, now the only thing needing to fix were the espada, but those could wait a little while.

"Don't call me midget! You're just freakishly tall! And it doesn't help at all that you grew even taller in those 12 years!"

"What? Did you expect me to stay the same?"

Rukia only crossed her arms over her chest and pouted at that, it really wasn't his fault human grow faster than shinigami.

"Okay! Leave your bonding for later. We need to talk, Ichigo."

The serious tone that Kukaku held made him forget about teasing Rukia and concentrate on the matter at hand, most likely it has to do with central 46s decision, and he needs to know what's going to happen after all.

"The decision came?"

Rukia was confused, 'What decision? They were talking about it before too.'

"Yeah…"

"And?"

Ichigo was nervous, Kukaku seemed serious enough, was it bad? Did he make it worse to everyone in the clan by being selfish enough to want to stay with them? But then the unexpected happened, Kukaku broke into a full grin.

"They're going to give us back our place as one of the 5 noble families!"

Ichigo sighed in relief, he was thinking it was something bad. Rukia was just perplexed, Ichigo was going to be a noble now, and that made her happy.

"That's good, you scared me, I thought something bad had happened."

"No, and there's more. They are going to fix back the Shiba manor inside Seireitei, get our servants back and everything. They also made their decision concerning what I told you about."

"So, what did the old geezers decide about me… that face you're making makes me think I'm not going to like it."

Kukaku had a full grin back on while Ichigo was just horrified thinking what they could have done now, he just knew he wasn't going to like it. He let out a sigh and looked at Kukaku in the eyes waiting to see her response.

"You're to step up as clan head as soon as possible, so once they hand us over the manor by the end of the week, we'll have to hold a party to celebrate the new clan head and our reinstalled into the nobles."

Ichigo had to sigh even more, he knew something like this would happen, stupid nobles and their rules, just because he's the eldest son of the previous head, that's just bothersome for him.

"I knew I wouldn't like it."

All of a sudden pain was felt from his shin and Ichigo had to kneel down and grab it to soothe the pain.

'Stupid midgets.'

"What the hell was that for!?"

"You should feel proud not look like it's the end of the world!"

Rukia was glaring down on him, well obviously if he was on his knees she would be taller than him, but now he had to accept it and do his job the best he could. He had a lot of things to do now, get the squad back in shape, help Hinamori get back on her feet, move everything to the Shiba manor and the party… oh no a NOBLE PARTY.

"Kukaku, is the-"

"Kukaku-neesan, how many times do I have to tell you till you get it right!?"

"Sorry, but anyway, the party I imagine is going to be a noble party, right?"

Kukaku, Ichigo and Rukia sat down around the table, waiting to talk better this way, there was already tea served, it came in when they were talking and didn't notice.

"Yeah, so you're going to have to be all nice with the stuck up nobles and act to their level."

Rukia was worried, Ichigo was rude and sometimes had sudden outbursts, she would have to keep an eye on him at the party, after all as a Kuchiki she would go, and as Ichigo's friend too.

"That's not a problem, I'm actually a pretty good actor when I need to. The problem is… something else…"

The two girls looked at Ichigo curiously. A problem, if acting all stuck up wasn't the problem, even though they believed he would mess up, than what's worse than that. They were about to ask what he meant when Ichigo held a hand up to make them stop.

"No… I just hope it doesn't happen… but anyways, where is everyone, we need to leave and we're already late."

Rukia wanted answers but thought she could ask later when Kukaku wasn't there. Kukaku on the other hand was also curious but let it slide for now, they would be very busy these next days.

"They said they would change clothing so when you came back they could leave… I just noticed, did you not return the haori to the captain."

Ichigo blinked in confusion until he remembered that he had another haori now. Maybe he should have told her the good news before starting their little quarrel.

"Yamamoto-Sotaichou gave me the position of captain of squad 5, so now I'm going to be even busier."

"Well congratulations brat. My baby cousin is growing up to be a good man, now just get yourself a wife and we can all rest in peace."

Ichigo couldn't help but blush at Kukaku's comment, it's not like he wanted to get married, but it wasn't such a bad idea as long as it wasn't arranged.

"Ne Rukia, the position is vacant, want to give it a go?"

That made him blush even more, Rukia also couldn't restrain the pink blush that formed on her cheeks.

"Shut up! Don't go deciding getting married for me!"

Kukaku's grin grew, it was fun to tease her cousin.

"Okay then, in the future Rukia."

Rukia's blush grew and she looked down in embarrassment, after all she started thinking maybe it wasn't such a bad idea.

"But anyway, I think you should hurry back to the living world Ichigo, come back as soon as you can there's a lot of work to do."

Ichigo looked mildly annoyed at that but quickly stood up and started walking out searching for the others so they could leave. He was about to open the shoji door when it opened on its own, it was Ishida, Inoue and Chad

"Oh hey guys, I was about to go look for you, we're leaving."

They looked a little bit disappointed, except Ishida of course, but still they just nodded and went to say their goodbyes.

"Thank you very much Kukaku-san, it was really fun."

"No worries, you're always welcome here, being my cousins friends gives you an open ticket whenever you want."

Inoue gave her a hug and bid her farewell, going to Rukia to give her a bone crushing hug, Chad just nodded in thanks and Ishida said a shy thank you and good bye to Rukia. When they went outside Yoruichi was outside in cat form waiting for them.

"You ready?"

"Of course, let's go to the gate then…"

The walk to the senkaimon was filled with chatter from Rukia and Inoue, Yoruichi was surprisingly silent as well as Ishida. Ichigo and Chad were having a small conversation with one or two words. But asides from that the walk was very comfortable.

When they arrived at the senkaimon there was a messenger waiting, Ichigo stood next to the messenger, high and imposing.

"Report."

"Yes sir. Yamamoto-Sotaichou dono has been handed over the official pardon of those known as the vizard and has asked you to pass over the letter."

The messenger bowed after he finished the report and handed the letter over to Ichigo and leaving.

"Okay, now that that's over, let's go."

Everyone gave their last goodbyes to Rukia and left through the gate that appeared, like always, in the sky. They were greeted by the sight of Kisuke, Tessai, Isshin, Karin and Yuzu that caught them before falling.

Once the girls caught sight of Ichigo they quickly went to hug him and to say how happy they were to see him alive and unharmed.

"I missed you girls too. But anyway, I'm thinking you were notified of our arrival Kisuke?"

Kisuke took out his fan and held it in front of his face like always, hiding his grin and knowing eyes behind his hat.

"~Of course~"

In his sing song voice that seriously annoyed Ichigo to no end he replayed, they hadn't really noticed the ride because they were already arriving at the famous Shoten.

"It was a nice ride and everything but I think we should leave."

Ishida started to walk away not waiting to hear any goodbyes until Ichigo stopped him.

"Wait Ishida, I want to tell everyone something."

Ichigo's serious tone caught everyone's attention, so they decided to take it inside the store with a cup of tea.

"Okay so what do you need to tell us Ichi-ni, you didn't do something stupid again did you?"

Ichigo flinched at his sister's tone, she was so not going to like it.

"Well, the thing is… I'm going to be staying in soul society… permanently."

Everyone had different expressions, Kisuke held amusement, Ishida and Chad didn't show anything, Inoue and Yuzu were sad, though Yuzu was close to tears, Karin was between wanting to kick Ichigo and cry for him leaving and Isshin of course, even though he already knew was crying fake tears and wanting to hug Ichigo into a fatherly chest.

This would be tough to explain…

To be continued…

Thank you very much for your kind reviews, I hope some questions about the past were resolved in the last chapter and I hope you like this one too, there will be a bit of a break to settle in soul society before going to fight the naught espada and get in contact with the good ones.