A/N: Well here is the next chapter. Not a whole lot to say up here. This is part 3 of FTB, and hopefully it is good enough for all of you.

Nami: You look bad...

AN: Well I had to fight my way in...they were not happy with the cliffhanger.

Ichigo: I agree with them.

Ayumi: Same here.

AN: So mean...

Ayumi and Ichigo: You deserve it.


Ichigo couldn't believe his eyes…Hisana Kuchiki, a women who had been dead since before he had reached the past was standing right in front of him.

"I take it you are Ichigo Kurosaki correct?" Hisana asked, her voice softer than Rukia's.

Ichigo nodded, "How are you here Hisana? I thought you died years ago?"

Hisana shook her head slightly, "In a sense I did. But not in the way you think. Tell me, how did you get here in the first place?"

Ichigo frowned, "I used a diamond that Kisuke Urahara made, and it sent me and Rukia back in time. Why does that matter though?"

"You know that Aizen was building his own correct? Well he sent a man back with a prototype, after he found out that my sister had the Hogyoku put in her soul. At the time I was getting close to finding Rukia, but Aizen couldn't let me find her since Urahara likely wouldn't have gotten to her and inserted the Hogyoku into her soul. Aizen couldn't let that happen, so he steadily poisoned me until I was weak enough that he could fake my death. After that, Aizen's man used the diamond on me and pushed me forward until after Rukia met you," Hisana answered.

Ichigo looked extremely angry at that…Aizen destroyed Rukia's family! But he couldn't concentrate on that now, he needed to find Rukia. So he looked Hisana right in her achingly familiar eyes and said, "Can you lead me to where Rukia is right now? Or do you not know where she is?"

Hisana nodded, "I have found her, and the people who kidnapped her. But Rukia doesn't seem to remember anything, so she won't recognize you."

Ichigo nodded himself, "I was already prepared for that. I won't give up on her though…I can't give up on her."

"I'm glad Rukia found such a loyal man to marry. Come on, let's go save my sister," Hisana said with both a smile and a fierce look in her eyes…she hadn't seen Rukia in so long that she wouldn't give up on saving her.

Ichigo was shocked that Hisana knew so much about him, but he followed his sister-in-law out of the room, with Ayumi following behind the two.


Meanwhile~


Rukia was sitting on the roof of the hut staring off into the distance. A light layer of mist surrounded her, and it wasn't exactly warm out. Oddly that didn't bother the young woman…in fact the cold felt oddly soothing to her. But she turned around when a noise announced the arrival of the woman from earlier.

"Rukia…can I join you?" she asked.

Rukia nodded, "Of course you can."

The woman smiled and skipped down the roof with a small blanket in her hands. She then sat down next to Rukia, turning to the older woman, "Is something wrong Rukia?"

Rukia just sighed, "I don't know…I feel like I haven't been to this town in years, but the air feels so familiar."

"Rukia…" the woman said softly.

"Don't worry, I will remember those names and give them to you. It's the least I can do after you waited for me all those years," Rukia said with a gentle smile on her face.

The woman looked on the verge of tears at that statement. Rukia just smiled again, before the woman said something.

"I'm so happy that you're back Rukia!"

Rukia would have smiled again but she was distracted as the sun rose and cleared away the mist. It also silhouetted a hill in the distance. For some reason that hill seemed extremely familiar to Rukia. As she looked at it, a flash of images flew through Rukia's head…all of them showing her standing on the hill with a tall man, who she didn't recognize.

"That hill…I remember it!" the young Kuchiki said, before moving to enter the hut and head for the hill.

"Rukia…" the younger woman murmured.


Meanwhile, back at the Kuchiki Manor, Byakuya was sitting at his desk, trying to get some work done. But he just couldn't shake the feeling that he was forgetting something…

How could you forget Rukia? Hisana spent her whole life searching for her!

Ichigo's words still haunted Byakuya. Why would he not be able to remember something that important? He could even remember that Hisana was searching for something…but he couldn't remember what.

"You went to the Rukon district again today didn't you Hisana?" a younger Byakuya asked.

"Yes I did, I'm sorry dear," Hisana replied, walking next to Byakuya.

"I'm not angry at you. I'm just worried about your health."

"Don't worry Byakuya, I'm okay," Hisana said, putting on a brave face…before a coughing fit took over and she sank to her knees.

"Hisana!" Byakuya said, obviously worried.

"Don't worry, I'm fine dear," Hisana said softly.

"You need to rest Hisana, you can't keep pushing yourself so hard," Byakuya said just as softly.

"I know, but I am so close. I can't give up my search now," Hisana said, looking up at Byakuya with her deep violet eyes.

Byakuya frowned at the memory…Hisana was searching so hard for something…but what? He then stood up and moved to his bookcase, running his finger along the many books till he found Hisana's old journal. He flipped thorough the pages till one caught his eye.

I'm so close to finding her. It should only be a matter of time now. I just hope that Rukia can forgive me for abandoning her all those years ago," Hisana's elegant handwriting spelled out.

Byakuya's eyes widened on reading that…Ichigo had been telling the truth!


For his part, Renji was sitting in a recovery room at the Squad 4 barracks, his shoulder bandaged up after being sent flying through several buildings.

Who was that girl? I feel like I should know her from somewhere…but I can't remember! And what was she talking about; I've never loved anyone before…

Despite what his mind was telling him, Renji couldn't get the orange haired woman out of his head. She was beautiful, he wouldn't deny that, but still…his head told him that she was an enemy, and a dangerous one at that. But his heart…

"You are so weak Renji, why didn't you use your Bankai?" a deep voice said from behind the Lieutenant, shaking Renji from his thoughts.

"Zabimaru? What are you doing here?" Renji asked in shock.

"You are so pathetic Renji, not even worth being called a warrior," the snake said.

"Have you forgotten everything we told you Renji? You are so pathetic," the baboon said.

"Wait, what are you two talking about? I don't remember anything like having a Bankai!" Renji protested, his mind still in a jumble from the woman's words.


"Are you sure this is the right direction Hisana?" Ichigo asked, carrying his sister-in-law on his back, much like he would do with Rukia.

"Yes I'm sure, the hut is only a little bit further," Hisana, said, her soft voice still throwing Ichigo off.

"I can sense Rukia's presence Ichigo, she was here," Ayumi said once the group stopped in front of an old building.

"This is the place, but I can't feel Rukia anywhere…" Hisana said, her weak powers still being enough to sense Rukia when she was close.

"I can't either…" Ichigo said, worrying that the kidnappers had caught on and moved Rukia somewhere else. But then he tried to focus on feeling Rukia's powers…and felt her somewhere in the distance. When the young Captain looked around, Ichigo saw a hill in the distance, and figured that was where Rukia had gone.

"Hisana, do you recognize that hill?" Ichigo asked, pointing at it.

Rukia's sister looked at the hill and nodded slightly, "Yes, I recognize it. There are three graves at the top of it. But I don't know why Rukia would go there."

Ayumi turned to Ichigo, "Didn't Rukia tell you that her and Renji had three friends die out here, and that they buried them on a hill?"

Ichigo nodded, "Yes they did…it has to be that hill. I should have expected Rukia to remember something at least! Come on, let's go rescue her!"

Ayumi nodded, while Hisana climbed back on Ichigo's back…however awkward it made both of them feel. After a while running, they reached the top of the hill, and saw Rukia staring out into the distance.

"Rukia!" Ichigo yelled, overjoyed at seeing his wife alive and un-harmed.

"Rukia!" Ayumi yelled also, nearly as happy as Ichigo was at seeing Rukia.

Hisana stayed silent, she wasn't exactly sure what to say…and she was just happy to see Rukia having grown into a beautiful woman. But the moment was ruined when Rukia turned to them, "Who are you people? How do you know my name?"

Ichigo couldn't believe his ears, "What are you talking about Rukia? How can you not remember who I am?"

"And what about me Rukia? Don't you remember me?" Kon added from his perch on Ayumi's shoulder.

"I don't remember anyone with such a stupid hair color, or that weird creature on your shoulder," Rukia said back, entirely too cold.

"Weird creature…" Kon muttered, while Ichigo continued to stare at Rukia in shock.

"I warned you she might not remember you," Hisana said from beside Ichigo, sadly shaking her head.

"And who are you? How do you look so much like me?" Rukia asked, turning her cold violet eyes on Hisana.

"I don't expect you to remember me, but I'm Hisana Kuchiki, your sister Rukia," Hisana answered, her soft voice cutting through Rukia's anger.

"My sister? But I don't have a sister…" Rukia said, holding her head as a slight headache started to form.

"Come on Rukia, remember us! If anything you should remember Ichigo, he's your husband for God's sake!" Ayumi shouted out.

Rukia just looked to be in even more pain, but then two people appeared out of nowhere in front of her, a blonde woman and a man holding a scythe.

"Stay away from Rukia! You're only hurting her!" the woman yelled, moving towards Rukia while the man held his blade in a threatening way.

"Come on Rukia, fight it, you have to remember me! It's me, Ichigo Kurosaki!" Ichigo yelled, moving forward while Ayumi covered Hisana.

"Ichigo Kurosaki…why does that name sound so familiar…" Rukia said, shaking the hand of the older sibling off her shoulder before walking forward.

"Yes, Ichigo Kurosaki…you have to remember me, and Saki and Kai, our kids," Ichigo said, hoping the twin's names might help jog Rukia's memories.

Rukia's eyes widened on hearing that, "I have children? Saki…Kai…Ichigo…"

But after saying all the names she fell to her knees, a flash of images going through her head, all of them involving Ichigo in some way…and several involving twin babies, both of them smiling up at Rukia from in her arms.

"She actually had a family…" the man said quietly.

"I don't care! Rukia only needs us now, so leave Soul Reaper! Stop trying to tear us apart!" the woman yelled, after giving her brother a quick and deadly look.

The younger sibling nodded before teleporting behind Ichigo and swinging his scythe at the young Captain. Ichigo got Zangetsu out and blocked the swing, but the force behind it surprised him.

"Concentrate King! This guy is no pushover!" Shiro yelled, adding his own power into Ichigo's counter-swing.

"Listen to him Ichigo, we can't rescue Rukia as long as those two are here. And don't get hit by that scythe!" Zangetsu added.

Ichigo nodded, and swung his blade at the younger twin, but the man teleported in a black wave, appearing behind Ichigo. The orange haired Captain brought Zangetsu up and blocked the blow, but the scythe passed clean through Zangetsu and clipped Ichigo's hair.

"Watch out Ichigo!" Ayumi called out, as the man tried to get Ichigo from behind again.

Ichigo nodded, and launched a Getsuga at the man, but he dodged the attack. And when Ichigo looked towards Rukia, she was gone along with both of the twins. Ichigo dropped Zangetsu and fell to his knees… "Rukia…I couldn't save her…"

Ayumi and Hisana walked over to Ichigo, both of them sticking a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Ichigo, but we have to follow them, they can't have gotten far," Hisana said.

"I can't even sense Rukia…what do you expect me to do? If I can't find her neither of you will be able to," Ichigo said, his shoulders shaking slightly.

"Come on, this isn't the brother I know!" Ayumi yelled, "The brother I know wouldn't give up so easily!"

Ichigo just shook his head and grabbed his fallen blade, before leaving the hill and going to sit in a ruined building. Ayumi and Hisana shared a look…despite only having just met; the two women had developed a quick bond. And they could both tell that Ichigo had seemingly lost his will to fight. The two women ran after Ichigo, trying to get him to move. But it was to no avail, the young Captain refused to move.

"This is so pathetic King…did you give up after Byakuya beat you the first time? Did you give up after Aizen beat you? Or Grimmjow?" Shiro asked, feeling odd that he was talking to Ichigo like this.

"Ichigo, your strength is your resolve to fight…don't let go of that or you will never rescue Rukia," Zangetsu added.

Ichigo didn't say anything in response, but his inner world soon developed a massive rainstorm, a sure sign of how depressed he was.

"Oh great, now it's a freaking hurricane in here! Stop moping King! You will never get the Queen back this way you wimp!"

"Ichigo…you need to get your resolve back…no one other than Ayumi and Hisana remember Rukia, and neither of them are strong enough on their own to rescue her. You can't leave her alone with those two…they are extremely unstable."

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT!" Ichigo suddenly yelled at his two resident spirits, "Do you think I don't know that Rukia needs me? I know that extremely well! But how do you expect me to find her like this huh?"

"Byakuya and Renji should be able to help. Even if they are unwilling to help Ayumi they will listen to you, especially if you bring Hisana with you," Zangetsu pointed out.

"And don't forget Kaien and Sumi. Heck, bring your whole Squad in on it!" Shiro added.

"I don't know…how much will they actually help me?"

"You can only try Ichigo. And even if they don't help, you can't give up like this."

"I agree with the old man…it's just sickening to see you like this, even for me. So get out there and find Rukia, before I take over and do it for you!"

"Not going to happen Shiro!" Ichigo yelled back, his determination back in full force.

Ayumi and Hisana meanwhile almost ran into Ichigo's back, since he had suddenly stopped. But when he turned around they saw a look of pure determination in his eyes.

"Let's go find Rukia!" the young Captain yelled.

Ayumi nodded fiercely, while Hisana smiled lightly at how loyal Ichigo was. But before they could move, a voice called out from behind them, "Stop intruder! And you too Captain Shiba! You need to explain why you are helping her!"

The small group turned around to see Toshiro standing on a pillar of rock with Ikkaku and Yumichika behind him…


AN: Well there was the chapter. Hopefully the explanation for Hisana worked...but let's be honest here, unless I had her fake her death or something, this is the only way that would work. Don't kill me for the cliffhanger from the last chapter please. Hopefully I can have another one up soon.

Ichigo: RUKIA!

Ayumi: My ears...

Nami: My head...

AN: Why me?

Hisana: Why am I here?