Renji was placed in a prison cell; he didn't resist or protest against his punishment. For days he had reflected on his actions and found himself content. Captain Byakuya entered the jail and walked past the guards.
Upon seeing his Captain, Renji stood up at attention. Byakuya gave Renji a typical expressionless look. "Is the crime against you true?" he asked.
"Yes," Renji looked away.
"I see. And what is Rukia's condition?" Byakuya asked.
"Good, although her reiatsu has increased dramatically in the last month," Renji reported.
"Am I to understand that the pregnancy is still intact?" Byakuya continued to interrogate.
"It is," Renji confirmed.
Byakuya gave no expression of either displeasure or joy; he simply nodded. "Since your absence, I have taken up your duties here. I find them to be beneath my status and rank," Byakuya informed him.
"I will petition for your release," Byakuya finished and walked off.
"I am very disappointed Captain Hitsugaya," Commander Yamamoto said sternly.
Captain Hitsugaya looked away in shame; his injuries had been healed since receiving treatment from the 4th Division. "I apologize Commander," Hitsugaya said with his head low.
"Someone with greater competence will take up this mission," Commander Yamamoto announced and turned to Captain Soi Fong.
"Bring Rukia here so that the pregnancy can be extracted. Use deadly force if necessary," Yamamoto ordered.
"As you wish," Soi Fong answered.
Hitsugaya watched Soi Fong leave with two dozen black suited troops that made up the mobile division. A feeling of dread passed over him; he had wished that Rukia would have taken up his offer.
Soi Fong, her Vice Captain, and four dozen troops gathered in a large courtyard. "I want her taken alive," Soi Fong ordered referring to Rukia.
"Kill any who get in your way," Soi Fong added coldly.
"Yes!" they all shouted in unison.
"Do you expect me to go up against the Ryoku?" Marechiyo asked pathetically. He remembered the last time he fought Ichigo and was not looking forward to another attempt.
Soi Fong eyed her Vice Captain with disgust and contempt. "If you can't handle them, you can just die," she told him.
Soi Fong turned to the rest of the group. "Move out!" she ordered.
Izaru Kira, the Vice Captain of the Third Division entered the Captain's office and stood at attention while the Captain read over some papers.
"We have an unusual assignment. I will need your help with this one," Captain Amagai said behind his desk.
"How may I assist Captain?" Kira asked.
"What do you know of this Ichigo?" Amagai asked.
"He is one of the Ryoku. He's quite strong, he was able to achieve Bankai within a very short amount of time," Kira began.
"I have heard that he fought Captain Kenpachi and Captain Byakuya to a draw," Amagai noted.
"I did not see either battle, but I have also heard of it," Kira confirmed.
Amagai read over the profile of Ichigo. "He's just a boy," he realized.
"Sir, I would not underestimate him," Kira warned.
Amagai nodded thoughtfully. "Of course not. Our mission is to retrieve Rukia Kuchiki and bring her back here," Amagai revealed.
"We will be joining with the 2nd Division. I have experience with the mobile division and police force. That is why we will be accompanying them," Amagai added.
"Rukia will not come willingly," Kira informed.
"That is unfortunate, but we have our duty," Amagai reminded him.
Captain Soi Fong, Vice Captain Marechiyo, Captain Amagai, Vice Captain Kira, and several dozen troops dressed in Shinigami uniforms appeared in the living world.
"Spread out and find them," Soi Fong ordered.
The Shinigami immediately scattered in all directions leaving the two Captains and Vice Captains behind. "Do you think we will have any trouble?" Amagai asked Soi Fong.
"The Ryoku known as Ichigo is inexperienced and sloppy, but his reiatsu is dangerous. I only need to hit him twice," Soi Fong replied.
"I would be more concerned with Yoruichi," Soi Fong said with a bitter tone.
The Kurosakis were having a typical meal when Ichigo and Rukia entered the house. "You're late brother," Yuzu remarked.
"Yeah, sorry about that," a fatigued Ichigo replied.
"Ichigo is at that dating age," Isshin commented to Yuzu.
"What?" Yuzu asked confused; Karin simply rolled her eyes.
"Hey! What are you implying?" Ichigo got into his father's face.
Rukia sipped on her tea oblivious to the conversation. "So, what do you guys do after school?" Karin asked.
"Study…books," Rukia smiled innocently.
After dinner, Yuzu and Karin went upstairs for bed. Isshin turned to Ichigo and Rukia who remained. "Have I ever told you how I met Ichigo's mother?" Isshin asked Rukia.
"Say yes," Ichigo protested.
"No," Rukia answered.
"I used to be in the army and one day I was on a shift smoking a cigarette when Ichigo's mother walked by and told me how cool I looked with the cigarette," Isshin began.
"You were in the army?" Ichigo questioned.
"Long time ago," Isshin said vaguely.
"So, I was amazed she was able see me…because I was all in camouflage," Isshin continued despite Ichigo's scoff.
"She said I looked like a movie star the way I held my cigarette," Isshin reflected.
"How could you look like a movie star if you were in army camouflage?" Ichigo doubted.
"You wouldn't understand Ichigo," Isshin dodged.
"Go on," Rukia insisted.
"So, I would see her every time I had a break. And every time I would smoke a cigarette because it would make her smile. Eventually, I left the army and became a doctor at my house. I turned it into a clinic," Isshin said.
"Five years after Masaki and I got married, Ichigo was born. Actually, he was born right in this clinic," Isshin revealed.
"Dad, do we really need to hear this?" Ichigo continued to protest.
"In fact, I still have the ultra sounds. Want to see them?" Isshin asked.
"Absolutely," Rukia said enthusiastically.
Ichigo stared with an annoyed expression as his dad posted the ultra sounds. Rukia inspected them with curiosity. "And this is his thumb...see?" Isshin showed.
"How cute," Rukia commented.
Isshin gave an expression of pride as he looked them over. "Let's get the photo album out," Isshin suggested.
Ichigo sighed as Isshin and Rukia went over baby pictures of Ichigo and then pictures of his toddler years. "I never knew Ichigo could smile," Rukia teased.
"Yeah, funny. Can we put those away?" Ichigo pleaded.
"When you have a family of your own, you will appreciate this more," Isshin told him.
"I doubt it," Ichigo replied stubbornly.
Rukia's cell phone suddenly started beeping indicating Hollows or Shinigami nearby. Rukia gave Ichigo a look of dread. "Hey dad, Rukia and I have to go. We'll be back soon," Ichigo promised.
"You kids have fun," Isshin waived off.
"Do you think he suspects," Rukia asked as they walked away from the house.
"I don't know, but it's going to be difficult to hide it later," Ichigo acknowledged.
"Why's that?" Rukia wondered.
"Because you'll get bigger," Ichigo said; he demonstrated his point by throwing his hands out like a bowl around his gut.
"I don't know if it will be like that," Rukia half doubted, half hoped.
Suddenly several figures zipped around them. Shinigami in ninja uniforms dashed across several houses as they circled the two. "This can't be good," Ichigo muttered.
"Are they coming for me?" Rukia wondered.
The leader of the squad suddenly phased in front of Ichigo and Rukia. "We have orders to bring you in Rukia Kuchiki," he said sternly.
"Then you'll have to get through me," Ichigo declared and suddenly exited his body.
Rukia did the same causing a bright but brief display of light. The squad leader immediately made some hand gestures to the others and dashed away. Before Ichigo could move, chains suddenly wrapped around him pinning his arms and legs.
"Ichigo!" Rukia shouted alarmed.
Ichigo struggled against the chains but the Shinigami ninjas worked to quickly wrap him up so that he wouldn't be able to move. Ichigo lost his balance and fell onto the ground. Several ninjas phased next to Rukia and grabbed a hold of her so that she couldn't move or defend Ichigo.
"Rukia," Ichigo gasped as the chains made it difficult to breath.
"These chains not only bind your reiatsu but will also drain you of all of your strength," the squad leader revealed.
The chains around Ichigo suddenly glowed green as they zapped Ichigo of his power. "Soon, you will not be able to move a muscle," the squad leader predicted.
Ichigo grunted in effort as he tried to weaken the chains but they wouldn't budge. "It is useless," the squad leader told him as he pulled on the chain.
A blue light suddenly sliced into the chain the squad leader was holding loosening it. "What the?" the squad leader wondered.
Ichigo cried out in effort and broke the chains around his body. A blue beam of energy shot towards the squad leader blasting him off his feet. The squad leader cried out as he was dragged down the street and was then hit with an explosion of energy.
"You should be more careful walking down the street Kurosaki Ichigo," Ishida said arrogantly.
"Save Rukia," Ichigo panted as he attempted to get back to his feet.
Ishida turn towards Rukia's plight. "Release her," Ishida ordered.
"We have our orders," they replied.
Ishida frowned. "So be it," he allowed.
A dozen arrows blasted the ninjas off Rukia; each one hit in the chest with several arrows. Two figures slowly approached Rukia, Ishida, and Ichigo; it was Captain Amagai and Vice Captain Kira.
"Impressive. What do you call yourself human?" Amagai asked calmly.
"I am a Quincy and don't forget it," Ishida replied.
"A Quincy. It has been a long time since I have heard that said before," Amagai said thoughtfully.
"I assure you it will be your last," Ishida promised and held up his bow.
"Oh?" Amagai wondered; a dozen troops suddenly appeared to shield the Captain.
"Ichigo, I will deal with them. You can have the Captain," Ishida advised.
"Sure, take the easy ones," Ichigo muttered.
"This is no time to argue," Ishida pressed.
"All right," Ichigo agreed.
Amagai looked back at Kira. "I will fight the Ryoku, take Rukia into custody," he ordered.
Kira nodded and took out his sword.
Ishida aimed and fired multiple bursts at the Shinigami squad members. They immediately scattered as they tried to avoid the blasts. "Spread out!" Amagai ordered.
Ishida watched as the Shinigami shot off in different directions. Ishida gave Ichigo one last look before disappearing.
Amagai walked confidently toward Ichigo. "I am Shūsuke Amagai, newly appointed Captain of the 3rd Division," Amagai introduced.
"You're not much different than the last Captain of the 3rd Division," Ichigo spat.
"Don't say that," Amagai said hurt.
"If you are a Captain, there is no reason to hold back," Ichigo shouted and then put his sword out in front of him.
"Hmm?" Amagai wondered as spiritual reiatsu from Ichigo suddenly spiked.
"Bankai!" Ichigo shouted as black energy swirled around him.
"So this is his Bankai?" Amagai considered as it formed.
Ichigo instantly shot off toward the Captain. "Sever," Amagai called out his sword.
Ichigo clashed with Amagai's Shikai creating sparks. "Kuroi Getsuga!" Ichigo shouted blasting Amagai into the ground.
The street exploded as Amagai impacted. Amagai broke through the blacktop and got back to his feet. "Not bad substitute Shinigami," Amagai allowed.
"Bankai," he said simply.
Ichigo felt a sudden burst of heat as Amagai's Bankai took form. His sword morphed into a completely different weapon. The skull of a hollow appeared at the top and then a long jagged red crimson colored blade followed. The weapon was as tall as Amagai and yet the Captain was able to wield it effortlessly.
"Raika Gōen Kaku," Amagai introduced.
Author's Note: Bleach has a real problem defining life and death. Presumably Isshin was dead as a Shinigami and then came back to life as a normal human being. This begs the question as to whether Shinigami and humans can have children or perhaps Isshin was the only one who tried and has some secret technique. Also, the parakeet soul couldn't find his parents in Soul Society and it was shown to be pretty typical for people to make new families by arrangement. So is Byakuya an adopted grandson of a former Captain or the actual biological grandson, and if so was he born in Soul Society? And if not, what makes any of these characters noble blood? I require a Rukia picture session on this issue.
For the sake of this story, Amagai is the adopted son of a former Captain who died a long time ago. Amagai's past will probably not show up, because I want to keep the focus on Ichigo and Rukia. If you have no idea who Amagai is, you will unfortunatly need to review the fillers in anime episodes 180-190.