Chapter 13

Five weeks later

His time spent here in these two months was nothing but stressful. He has had more incidents happen to him in such a short span of time, than when he first became a shinigami. He sighed and ran a hand though his long, orange hair. Ichigo recalled all the events he's gone through so far. Even since he had come back to the very beginnings of the Gotei 13. Officially they had not even have been established. Right now it is just a school. Ant that school has only just opened recently. Everything is still so disorganized.

Waking up to a completely new place, blind and in pain, he wasn't sure what was happening at first. Traveling back in time had reversed his wounds from his final battle and then some, so his spirits theorized. There was also the shock of finding out that he was rescued by the Shiba clan. The very same family that him, his father and his sisters had belonged to. Akihiko openly accepted him into his home as a family member. It was almost too much to handle. He also got to meet Kirinji again. From what he could remember, the healers character has not changed from the time Ichigo had meet him in the future. Except for the fact that he did not punch him this time, but he did mention it.

There was that time with the noble at the festival. He thought he heard that the noble's name was Rondo. Ichigo was pretty sure that that was his name. That noble was going to feel the end of his blade if he ever did anything like that again. Screw what Akihiko or the consequences that would come from it. That man deserves it. The hatred and bitterness in his reiatsu had him internally snarling at the man.

Then the attack at the Shiba hot springs, two weeks after the festival. Where he killed someone. Another person erased from this world by his hands. Akihiko said he took care of it, and had told him not to worry. But that would never happen, he would always remember about those he killed and worry about those he will kill. He wished that he knew who it was he killed. It didn't seem right that they would remain faceless, nameless and not even a reiatsu signature to remember them by. They were almost like a ghost. Ichigo tried asking Akihiko about his dead attacker. The way Akihiko avoided the topic meant that he knew something. Akihiko wasn't outright lying to his face, but he was keeping something from him. That much he could tell. He couldn't call him out on it though. Especially when Akihiko is hosting him in his home.

Then there was Michio and his family missing. The day after him being attacked, he found out through Hikaru and the girls that they were missing. Ichigo went with Tadashi to see if they could find anything. Come to their surprise when Yuko came rushing towards them without a single sound. Yuko has been staying at the Shiba manor with him. This was because of the kind curtesy of Akihiko. Akihiko said something about having a soft spot for strays. Yuko always stayed with a fifteen foot radius of him. She has not spoken a single word or made a sound ever since we found her. It's not like she could anyways. The kidnappers had placed some sort of high level silencing kido on her. Any sound that her body could have made like footsteps, breaths, crying, screams, and words. Even her minuscule reiatsu reserve was gone. Akihiko couldn't tell what it was, but the person that took Yuko's family must have been a shinigami. No one else could have placed any sort of kido on Yuko. This raised Akihiko's hackles. He had gone on a rant for at least an hour and then silently seethed in his study hours after that.

There have been no clues as to where Michio and his family were. He remembered when Yuko had written down what had happened to her.

All of them were sitting in Akihiko's study. Yuko was latched at his side on the couch. Hikaru, Katsumi, Akemi and Shizuka sat around him on the floor, leaning against his legs and holding onto his pant legs and yukata. Afraid of him disappearing. Akihiko, Tadashi, Sora and Ran, who was holding Kameko, sat across from them. In Akihiko's hand was a rustle of paper. He must want her to write down what she had seen.

Moving closer, Akihiko kneeled, facing Yuko. His reiatsu was filled sympathy and understanding.

"Yuko-chan. Can you write down what you saw? Every little detail and thought helps. If you can tell us that can help us find where your family is. Are you okay with that?" Yuko gave a small nod, and moved to grab the papers. Ichigo gently placed a hand on the top of her head to reassure her.

The sound of scribbling filled the room. Everyone waited in tense silence. It took a while but Yuko finished. Akihiko took the papers from her and began to read them out loud. Yuko latched herself to his side again, as they listened to Akihiko read her record of the events that happened that night.

It was any normal day for her. She had helped out in the garden with her mother. Cleaned the house and looked after her brother Rentaro. Some men had come to the house while her father was out. They were asking for him. She didn't get to clearly see their faces, but Yuko could tell that they were shinigami. Both of them had swords hanging at their hips, and they were wearing those accursed black robes. The color that hid the stains of blood. She and everyone else knew not to trust shinigami. They could kill anyone that they deemed as a nuisance. Her mother had talked to them for a short while. Yuko assumed that she told them that her father was not there, and that she didn't know when he would return. That was the best way to politely get rid of any shinigami without incurring their wrath. They then turned and vanished after taking a step. That was the only strange thing that happened. He father returned from his job in the evening. When he heard that shinigami were looking for him, he told his wife to not worry about it. They had dinner that consisted of rice and fish. Yuko had gone to bed not long after, and so had the rest of her family.

She awoke to someone yanking her out of her bed. Someone was screaming in fear, and another was shouting in anger. The smell of blood permeated the air, making it rank and acrid. The little amount of moon light the filtered though the curtains in her window illuminated the room. Standing there, holding her in the air, was a white masked man dressed in black. His dark eyes cold and glassy. She gave a scream in fright. Someone called her name. It was her father. She began kicking, dreaming and wriggling to get away from the man. The man whose eyes were blank and clouded, and oozed lifelessness. The look that sent tendrils of ice cold fear to coil in her stomach.

The man gave her a few rough shakes. Never uttering a single word or making a sound as he carried her out of the house.

Standing there in front of the house were five other men. All of them were dressed the same. The white masks that covered the lower half of their faces, the black clothing that made them blend into the night. Two where holding her shouting and struggling father. Her father called out to her, asking if she was okay and if they hurt her. Her mother was sobbing, clutching Rentaro tightly to her chest, as two men stood and watched her. The one that was different from the others was that the man standing by himself watching everything, was a blood red design printed on his white mask, that he was laughing and his eyes were filled with evil glee. Eyes that were not lifeless or blank. This was the man she truly began to fear. The sound of his laugh, high and manic, filled with insanity.

The one holding her, set her next to her mother, whom she clung too. The leader stopped his laughter and ordered her snatcher to light the house on fire. He mother began crying even harder, and father was trying so hard to escape the men. They couldn't do that. That was their home. The home her father built when he married mother. The home she was born in. The one Rentaro was born in.

Rushing towards the apparent leader, her mother grasping and failing to stop her, she began pounding on his torso in anger.

"You can't do that! This is our home! Why are you doing this?"

She heard her mother and father shouting at her. Yelling at her to stop, begging the man to forgive their daughter and to spare her.

All of that became background noise though when the man looked down at her. His eyes were staring at her in pure madness and malevolence. Eyes that looked like the devils himself. She just knew that he was grinning maliciously at her. Yuko took a step back in fear. The villainous man followed her, leaning eerily over her. Her mother was calling to her.

A black gloved hand reached at for her. The first two fingers stretching forward in her direction. There was a whisper of words and a white light shot towards her. Hitting her straight in the forehead, and knocking her down to the ground. Her mother screamed in terror. Her name was being shouted by both of her parents, but that didn't matter. She clutched her throat. Eyes blown wide in horror. She couldn't speak.

"How do you like it? Such a shame that I can't hear those sweet screams of yours." The fire burning down her families house reflected in those dark eyes. Those evil damning eyes. The man roughly jerked her up on her feet. "Let's go sweetheart. Your dad has a special date to be at, and I'm sure I can find something for a bad girl such as yourself." The icy fear coiled in her gut froze the rest of her inside.

The man dragged her along as the glassy eyed followers dragged and restrained her father, and herded her mother like a sheep. They entered the woods that surrounded their home. She tried to struggle out of her captors iron grasp on her wrist. Figuring that that wasn't going to work, she moved closer, and in a sudden swift movement bit the forearm of the man. He gave a small yelp and surprise and pain. Releasing his grip on her.

Her mother having noticed this, shouted at her to run and not look back. Following her order, Yuko sprinted into the foliage and deeper into the woods. The woods that she knew like the back of her hand. She ducked dodged and weaved, taking the hardest path she could to throw of any pursuers. No one came after her, so she headed to her secret hideout that she hared with Hikaru, Akemi, Katsumi, and Shizuka. There she waited for a day and a half before going back to her house. And that is were she saw Ichigo and his attendant Tadashi.

Some of her story brought more questions then answers, but it did explain that Michio and his family were taken. By who? That was something that Ichigo didn't know. There was information that he was missing.

Bringing his thoughts back to the present, he needed to get ready for this clan meeting tonight. Ichigo didn't know why he agreed to go. Maybe it was to get more information. Sliding open the door to his room, he noticed Tadashi standing, and riffling though the wardrobe. Tadashi stopped and noticed him.

"Ah. Ichigo-san, Akihiko-sama has asked me to help you get ready. We will be leaving soon. The gathering will start at seven this evening, just before the sun goes down." Him, Akihiko, Tadashi, Sora, Chiyo and Shin will be going to this gathering. Ran, Kameko, Yuko, and the others will be staying here at the estate. He hoped that they would be okay by themselves.

He wished he could stay longer, but he couldn't trouble Akihiko and the others anymore. The swish of fabric startled him out of his musings.

"Here you go Ichigo-san. It's a very beautiful dark blue yukata. It is designed with the stars and a milky pathway like the night sky. I wish that you could see it, Ichigo-san." Tadashi offered the cloth to him, turned around and headed towards his private bathroom.

Ichigo switched from his previous yukata to the new one. It was very comfortable and warm. The cloth was smooth to the touch, but not silky like satin or silk. It was a nicely made yukata.

Tadashi came back with something in his hand as Ichigo slipped Zangetsu back around his waist. It maybe peaceful gathering, but if Akihiko did not ban weapons, then he would sure as hell be taking Zangetsu with him. His spirits gave a hum in agreement.

"Please sit down, Ichigo-san. I'll brush your hair and style it for you." Tadashi said while indicating to a cushion he placed on the floor. Sitting in the traditional Japanese position, with his back straight, shoulders back and head held up high. He just went along with it. If Ichigo did something that Tadashi felt that he, as an attendant, should have done. Tadashi would hound him even more. Doing anything and everything for Ichigo. Honestly it pissed him off, he could do things by himself. He was blind god dammit, not 'blind'.

"Thank you Tadashi." He relaxed slightly as Tadashi gently worked out knots, and ran his fingers and brush though his hair. Once he was done untangling his hair, Tadashi set to work doing something. He couldn't tell, but once the weight of his hair settled over his left shoulder did he realize. Tadashi had braided his hair for him.

Running his fingers lightly over it to see the design, he then stood up.

"We should get going. Are you ready Tadashi? Would you like me to wait for you?" Tadashi's reiatsu jumped in surprise.

"No, no, no, Ichigo-san. I got ready before I helped you." That worked, he guessed. Ichigo gave a small sigh.

"Alright, then lets go find Akihiko and the others, and get going." He slid open the door, and Tadashi followed him out into the hallway.

The quiet murmurings of people filled the great hall. It's sound became lost in the council room high ceiling. He could feel so many people around him. None of them he had recognized, but that soon changed with the entrance of people he had known in his timeline. Genryusai Yamamoto, Jushiro Ukitake and Shunshui Kyoraku. Their mere presence brought a lump of emotions to lodge itself in his throat. His two teachers from his time. The ones that taught him how to wield his double blades. Yamamoto died at the very start of the war, so he didn't have the same emotional ties as he did with the other two. Ichigo knew he couldn't met them right now. It was to soon.

Slinking silently away from the Shibas, he lingered near the wall of the room. The approach of three people set him on edge. Their reiatsus were familiar. Luckily they were not people he knew from before.

"Ichigo-san, It's good to see you again. I hope you have been well." He blinked and turned towards the one who spoke to him. He knew that voice, and that reiatsu. It was Masashi Kuchiki. He gave a small bow towards Masashi.

"Kuchiki-san. I have been as well as I can be. Thank you for asking. We could have talked if you wished so. There was no need to avoid me." Masashi's reiatsu became embarrassed and flustered.

"I'm sorry Ichigo-san. I just did not want to bother you, while you were healing from your injuries." Masashi apologized.

The tallest of the three in the group came forward.

"I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Kuchiki Ryu. I am wondering how is it that you know my son." Kuchiki Ryu's tone was harsh and cautious. Masashi stepped in before he could reply.

"Father, Ichigo-san and I had meet at the Shiba estate." Ryu turned to his son at that answer.

"And why were you at the Shiba estate? I have told you not to bother Akihiko too much." Masashi shifted uncomfortably as his father stared him down. The tone of his voice showed that he was angry at Masashi.

"I was playing with Shin. Akihiko-san had introduced us to Ichigo-san. That was two months ago. I thought that you would like to meet him, so I extended an invitation for him to come to the gathering." Ryu seemed to accept that answer and turned back towards him.

"Now Ichigo-san, I have some questions for you. Why were you there at the Shiba estate? Masashi mentioned injuries. If they were not that bad, then why have you stayed for so long at the Shiba house? What is it that you are playing at?" The distrust clearly evident in his voice.

This could not be good. If he answered wrong, he would then have the Kuchiki clan after him, and that would be something that could hinder his plans. He really needed to separate himself from all of it, and wait out for the places in time that he needed to change. His rescue came in the form of Akihiko, and Tadashi.

"Ryu! How have you been? I see you have meet Ichigo. Well what do you think?" Akihiko talked to Kuchiki Ryu. His attention was caught by Tadashi.

"Ichigo-san, are you alright. Is there anything that I could get for you? Do you need to rest?" He gave a small smile at how Tadashi acted like a mother hen.

"No I am fine Tadashi. There is no need to worry about me." There Akihiko then went on to explain that he had found Ichigo, injured and dying. How he nursed Ichigo back to health, and let him stay within the Shiba estate for as long as he wanted. Of course, Ryu chastised Akihiko, they were best friends from childhood, and told him that he shouldn't just taking anyone into his home. Akihiko laughed it off, and said that there was no problem and that Ichigo was harmless. Ryu blatantly pointed out to Akihiko that Ichigo was carrying a weapon. A very sharp weapon. Him, Tadashi, Masashi, and the other unnamed person stood there silently, listening to the bickering of friends. Masashi turned to him again.

"Ichigo-san, I would also like to introduce my older brother, Kuchiki Hideo. Hideo is going to be the next clan leader once father steps down." He gave a nod in understanding, and gave a small bow to Masashi's older brother.

"A pleasure to meet you Ichigo-san." Hideo spoke and seemed to give him bow.

"Likewise." Akihiko came up to him and gained his attention.

"Ichigo, I'm going to continue to talk with other clan leaders. Will you be alright by yourself?" He nodded, and put his hands in the yukata sleeves. "Yes I'll be fine." Akihiko gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"I'll see you later, okay?" He nodded and closed his eyes. He 'watched' as all of them moved away and dispersed into the crowd of nobles. Now would as good as time as any to get going. Silently sending his apology and thanks to Akihiko, he slipped away into the night.

It was nice seeing all of the other clan heads again. He enjoyed hearing how well his friends were doing, and learning about problems other clans had run into. Rye had stayed with him, and went around talking to others. His son was around talking to the other clan leaders children. Grandmother was talking to other elders. Sora and Tadashi were talking to other attendants, while also keeping an eye out in case they were needed.

Taking a glance around he tried to spot a splash of orange hair. Akihiko couldn't find Ichigo. His heart gave a sudden lurch. Concerned for Ichigo's safety, he continued to search when he could. Kami-sama… Sometimes he wished that he wasn't a noble. All of these proper rules and etiquette could just die in a hole. It has been a while since he spoke to Ichigo. Ichigo said he would be fine by himself. Why did he believe him? He should have left Tadashi with him, or taken Ichigo with him and Ryu.

He accidentally bumped into one of the clan heads, nearly making them spill their sake. He apologized and talked to the noble, but kept his eyes open for any signs of orange. His talk was interrupted by a commotion happening at the doors of the council room. Nobles were gathering around the open dark cherry wood doors in the opposite direction he was at.

"Akihiko-sama!" Tadashi's shout of his name caught his attention. Tadashi came rushing up to him. His eyes blown wide in surprise and what he could tell as fear.

"What's wrong? What's happening at the entrance?"

"It's Ran. She's at the entrance with a guard. She wishes to see you. Something happened at the house. Sora is with her." Tadashi didn't get to say anything else because he was rushing to the entrance.

Shoving people out of the way, he made it to Ran and Sora. The guard was injured and kneeling on the floor, struggling to stand. The guard was trying even harder, when he spotted Akihiko coming towards them.

"Tadashi, look after Daiske. Dress his wounds. I'll ask him after I talk to Ran." He moved over to Ran as Tadashi rushed past him toward the guard. The nobles were watching silently in expectation. Ran was being held by Sora who was trying to sooth her. She was sobbing and holding her head in her hands. Approaching both of them, Sora looked at him. There was fear present in his eyes.

"Ran. Tell me what's going on. What happened?" Ran began sobbing louder, and began apologizing. "Shhh. Easy Ran. Calm down and tell me what happened." Ran took deep breaths and tried to control her sobs. Tears were still flowing down her cheeks, but she was looking at him.

"Kameko's been taken. People wearing white masks attacked the estate. There was six of them. They injured the guards, but no one was killed as far as we know. I was in Kameko's play room with her. Yuko was sleeping in the room next door. They came in pulled me away, and snatched Kameko from my arms. I'm sorry Akihiko-sama. I tried to get her back. I ran after them. They were heading here, and… and…" She had begun hyperventilating.

"Easy, take deep breaths. What happened next?" Ran followed his instructions. She then began continuing.

"There standing in the kidnappers way was Ichigo-san. I could only watch from a distance as he confronted them. His blade was drawn, and he was demanding them to give Kameko to him. The leader laughed and refused, then ordered the others to kill Ichigo-san. They attacked him, and Ichigo attacked them in retaliation. He managed to grab Kameko. He's still out there. Ichigo ordered me and the guard to get you. So I ran. Kami-sama. He's blind. How is he going to fight them all off? Akihiko-sama he's going to die, and it's my fault." Ran broke down sobbing again. He stepped back and let Sora to comfort his fiancé. He needed to go after Ichigo. Having seemingly read his mind, Ryu stepped up beside him. His deep red yukata accenting his raven colored hair and steel eyes.

"Akihiko, I'll go with you." He gave a smile to his best friend.

"Thanks, Ryu." Tadashi came up to him. His eyes determined, and his mouth set in a firm line.

"Akihiko-sama, I wish to go as well." He gave a silent nod, and shunpoed out of the council room. The whispers and mutterings being whisked away behind him.

He stretched out his senses, searching for any reiatsu. He couldn't sense any, but the clash of metal on metal reached his ears. He glanced to Ryu to see if he had heard it also. Ryu gave him an affirming look that he heard it too. With that they turned slightly left and headed in that direction.

The woods were casted in shadows, making him jump at invisible monsters. Signs of battle were everywhere. Ground and roots ripped up. Trees splintered and slashed. Leaves in a disarray. But all of the damage was heading in one direction. Akihiko noticed what was going on.

The attackers were herding Ichigo away from the council hall. The clash of metal grew louder as they approached.

Emerging from the foliage, he saw Ichigo. Who was bathed in trickles of moonlight through the tops of trees. Ichigo's brow layered with a sheen of sweat. His dark blade a black line cutting into the night. Clutched with one arm, protectively to his chest, was a crying Kameko. She was clinging desperately to Ichigo's yukata. The six assailants had blades of their own. All of them were circling and slashing at any opening they could.

He could only describe Ichigo's defense as beautiful. With swift gentle strokes parried and blocked every single attack. The ground was churned up, sending up puffs of dirt and leaves through the air. His heart was caught in his throat. Fear for the safety of his daughter the only emotion he could feel.

Akihiko could only let out a strangled version of Ichigo's name. Which he quickly regretted. That one noise caught his attention, breaking his rhythm. Leaving him open for an attack to his front. Ichigo whirled around as he noticed the attack. He showed his back to the attacker, protecting Kameko from the blade. Ichigo didn't have time to block with his blade, so he took the attack head on.

Akihiko only looked on in horror as crimson blood sprayed into the air. Something seemed to snap. He couldn't tell what. It was like the lock to a very dangerous box had been unlocked. Ichigo moved almost too fast for him to see. He appeared at the nearest person and slashed across their throat, spraying him in blood. He then proceeded to slaughter four more. Gutting, beheading and stabbing them. The sixth kidnapper fleeing into the night as if the devil was on his tail. Blood trails and bodies were strewn across the forest floor.

The sight of a blood drenched Ichigo amongst the carnage sent ripples of terror through him. Because Ichigo looked so natural amounts the blood and gore. As if he lived in it everyday. Remembering that he practically did sent a heavy chill down to his bones. The sight an injured Ichigo spurred Tadashi into action. Inadvertently forcing Akihiko and Ryu to act as well.

"Ichigo-san!" Tadashi shouted, rushing forward to Ichigo. A spot of white caught Akihiko's attention. Snapping his eyes to the color, it almost made him snarl in anger. There on the dead attackers shoulder was the symbol of the Ryodoji clan. He looked at the other people, and there on each and every shoulder was the symbol. Ryu had noticed as well. His mouth turned down in a small contemplative frown.

A soft thud drew both of their attention. Ichigo was hunched over his blade, which he had impaled into the soft forest floor to keep him upright. Blood flowing in rivets down it. Tadashi was speaking incoherently, trying to stem the blood flow, his hands covered in Ichigo's blood. Ichigo's face was drawn and pale. His breathing was ragged, and blood stained his paling lips.

He walked over to them. Moving though the gutted bodies, and refraining from vomiting. It was truly something that should only be seen in hell. Ichigo tried to lift his head as Akihiko neared. Clearly a struggle to do so. Tadashi looked to him for orders. His eyes now filled with emotional pain and begging. Begging him to tell him what to do. Kameko had ceased her crying as soon as the fighting had stopped, and was looking at him with tear filled eyes.

Ichigo shifted to stand up taller, sending a fresh wave of blood from his wound. He held out Kameko to him. Taking his offered daughter, he bowed to Ichigo. His daughter who didn't even have a speck of blood on her or her clothes. Ichigo had protected her from everything. Overwhelming sincerity filled his body, washing away any fear he had for Ichigo.

"Thank you Ichigo. I am in your debt. You protected and rescued my daughter." The resounding sound of Shunpo filled the air as nobles came to the site of a massacre. Yamamoto leading them all. His students Ukitake and Kyoraku flanking him. Their young faces displaying horror and disgust. Some nobles rushed away, and the sound of vomiting could be heard.

"What has happened here Captain Shiba?" Yamamoto demanded, his eyes never leaving Ichigo's form. Yamamoto seemed to have concluded that it was Ichigo was the one who killed the men. Ichigo gave a wet cough, blood coating his lips, and then spoke.

"It was me. I killed them all in the process of protecting Shiba Akihiko's daughter." Yamamoto narrowed his eyes at Ichigo.

"And why would you do that?" Ichigo's blank eyes staring straight at Yamamoto. Almost as if he could see the man.

"It was to help repay a debt. Akihiko had taken me in and cared for me for two months. I had planned on leaving during the noble gathering. I did not wish to trouble him anymore." Akihiko's heart fell at Ichigo's comment. He had wished that Ichigo would stay with them. Ichigo was so kind and caring. He almost become the head of the house in everything but name. Ichigo would talk to the staff and guards. Played with the children. Every staff member would do any order Ichigo asked of them, because he would do whatever they asked of him in return. Akihiko even had thought about adopting him into the clan officially as his own son. He truly did not want Ichigo to go, and he would make sure he stayed.

Yamamoto gave a gruff humph. His stance making him taller than Ichigo by a few inches. Ichigo was very tall if he could look eye to eye with Yamamoto.

"I believe that we need to talk."

A shout out to:

netherhunter75: Well this is the chapter that really gets the ball rolling. Ichigo meets people he knew for the very first time.

The Apex Predator 01: Thank you for the wonderful comment. We hope you enjoy this next chapter as well.

amazinglion29: Well we hope that you enjoyed the first half of the noble gathering. This part will be a two chapter problem, so more will happen in the next chapter. Ongaku: Thank you for believing in Michio. He's a very honest and kind character. Some answers to your questions are going to be revealed in this chapter. We hope that you enjoy this one as well.

Breakeven2007: Thank you for the kind comments and advice. Let us know if it is more understandable for you. We hope you enjoy this and that we end up on your List of Favorites.

innocent97: Thank you for always loving this story. Here is the next update for you. Enjoy.

Thank you to all of you who read and comment on our story. You guys spur us on to keep going. Thank you very much. This is an extra long chapter for you guys. We hope you enjoy it.

- The Crew