Disclaimer: I, do not, own bleach. And I won't ever own bleach. After all, it belongs to Tite Kubo.

Chapter 34: Timeskips Are Necessary

Ichigo scratched his head as he walked down the hallway. It had been around a year since Ichigo became the vice-captain of the 13th squad.

" 'Morning, Kurosaki-san!" Seigetsu grinned, and waved at Ichigo.

"Hey." Ichigo waved. After becomimg the vice-captain, most of the shinigami started calling him Vice-Captain Kurosaki. And, unfortunately, no matter how Ichigo insisted that they didn't need to be so polite, they didn't listen. Luckily, the members of Ichigo's former team decided to listen to Ichigo and not be so polite.

" 'Morning, Vice-Captain Kurosaki!" cried another shinigami.

Ichigo sighed, then opened the room to Ukitake's office.

Kiyone looked up. "Good morning, Kurosaki-san!"

" 'Morning, Kiyone. 'Morning, Sentaro. Is Ukitake-san awake yet?" Ichigo asked.

"No, but let's get started on the paperwork." Sentaro said.

"Sure." Ichigo pulled out a chair and grabbed a pile of paper.

They worked in silence for a bit, then Kiyone piped up. "It looks like there's lots of promising new students coming into the academy this year."

"Really? Like who?" Ichigo asked in interest.

"Well, there's this guy called Fujikawa Yuuta. He's from Rukongai District 78. Fujikawa got full marks on kidou and relatively good marks on the other subjects." Kiyone replied.

"I think that this Kawada Mai is more promising." Sentaro objected. "He's a noble from one of the lesser families, and he got full marks on both zanjutsu and kidou."

"Nuh uh. Fujukawa's more promising." Kiyone retorted.

"No, Ka-" Sentaro retorted back.

"Why don't we stop this conversation before you get into a fight again?" Ichigo suggested, scowling. "This happens practically everyday."

"Fine." Kiyone and Sentaro muttered.

They continued on their paperwork.

Ukitake opened the door. "Good morning, everyone!"

" 'Morning, Ukitake-san." Ichigo greeted Ukitake.

"Good morning, Captain Ukitake!" grinned Sentaro.

"Good morning, Captain Ukitake!" cried Kiyone a split-second later. Then, Kiyone and Sentaro promptly started glaring at each other.

Ukitake smiled, then started to cough.

Ichigo looked at Ukitake with slight worry. "Are you all right, Ukitake-san?"

Kiyone and Sentaro looked up from their bickering to look at Ukitake worriedly.

"I'm *cough* fine." And a few seconds later, he stopped coughing.

"If you're sure." Ichigo shrugged. "Let's get back to the paperwork."

"Can you pass me a pile?" Ukitake asked.

"Here you are." Ichigo pushed a pile towards Ukitake.

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Ichigo walked out Ukitake's office and promptly bumped into Rukia.

"Ah, sorry, Rukia." apologized Ichigo.

"I was just looking for you!" Rukia grinned. "Now come with me."

Rukia grabbed Ichigo's hand.

Ichigo stumbled after Rukia. "What- Where are we going?"

"The Kuchiki Manor." Rukia replied, tightening her grip on Ichigo's hand.

Ichigo twitched. "Don't tell me that Byakuya wants to see me again."

"No." Rukia said.

"No?" Ichigo asked in surprise.

"The elders do." Rukia answered.

Ichigo groaned. "I suppose I don't have a choice?"

"No, you don't. Anyhow, please try to be polite." Rukia looked at Ichigo. "Even though it isn't one of your strong points."

"Hey! I can be polite when I want to!" Ichigo retorted.

"Really?" Rukia smirked. "Then try to be polite to me."

"Um, hello, Rukia-sama?" Ichigo tried.

"Do you think saying -sama makes it polite?" Rukia asked.

"What? Better than just not saying anything." Ichigo pointed out.

"I give up." Rukia smiled at Ichigo. "Like I said, just try to be polite."

"Got it." nodded Ichigo.

They continued on walking to the Kuchiki Manor.

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Rukia quickly walked into the Kuchiki Manor, dragging Ichigo behind her.

Byakuya looked at the two of them and nodded. "I see you brought Kurosaki Ichigo with you, as I ordered."

"Why do the elders want to see me?" asked Ichigo.

"As you know, it's already been around a year since you've been engaged to Rukia." Byakuya said regally. "They want to meet you, then probably marry you within the month."

"What!" Ichigo cried.

"Well, noble marriages usually go quickly anyways." Rukia explained.

"Anyhow, it's important that you make a good impression and are polite to the elders." Byakuya said. "Remember. Polite."

Ichigo twitched. "Got it."

"I'll lead the two of you to the elder's room now." Byakuya said. "They're waiting for you."

Byakuya turned around and beckoned for Ichigo and Rukia to follow him.

Ichigo and Rukia looked at each other and sighed. "Let's go."

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Ichigo and Rukia went into the room hesitantly.

While Rukia had been in this room a number of times, Ichigo had never gone into this room before. So, it was normal for Ichigo to be a little shocked.

The elder's room was a literally gigantic japanese-style room. In the corners, there were a few vases, and the elders were positioned around a large table. There were no chairs- instead, the elders kneeled upon japanese pillows, zabuton.

"B-big." stammered Ichigo quietly.

"I know. I was quite shocked the first time I saw this room too." Rukia grinned at Ichigo.

Byakuya gestured for them to sit on two other 'zabuton' in front of the elder's table, as Byakuya went on to sit at the head of the table.

"Kurosaki Ichigo." an elder said.

"Yes?" Ichigo asked, resisting the urge to scowl.

"It has been a year since you have been engaged with Kuchiki Rukia." the elder said. "We wish to marry you two soon."

Ichigo nodded.

"You are quite interesting, Kurosaki Ichigo." another elder said. "As expected as someone who has royal blood, one might say. Bringing you into the Kuchiki Family will be very useful for us."

Ichigo nodded, starting to yawn.

"Well, as long as you do not do anything too brash after you are brought into the Kuchiki Family, it should be fine." an elder said.

"You may leave. Byakuya-sama shall explain everything else." the elder said. "You are dismissed."

Ichigo and Rukia got up and left the room.

10101010

Rukia led Ichigo to a room.

"Nii-sama told me to go here after the meeting." Rukia smiled at Ichigo.

Ichigo sat down. "So, married, huh?"

"Yeah. It's a little quick, even for noble marriages." Rukia looked at Ichigo. "But oh well."

"Better than you getting married off to some other random noble family." Ichigo scowled.

Rukia laughed. "That's true." She gently kissed Ichigo.

Ichigo and Rukia broke apart after turning slightly red.

"So, why does Byakuya want to talk to us about?" Ichigo asked.

Just then, Byakuya came into the the room, followed by a black haired shinigami.

"Kurosaki Ichigo. Rukia. I'm sure you're wondering why I brought you here." Byakuya said.

Ichigo and Rukia nodded.

"This shinigami here is Fumiaki Daima. He is your kaizoe, your assistant for the ceremony ." Byakuya explained.

"Kaizoe?" frowned Ichigo.

"I guide you through the ceremony next week." Daima explained. "After all, you probably have no idea what to do."

"Yeah." Ichigo scowled. "It's next week?"

"No. More precisely, in a fortnight." Byakuya said. "That should give us enough time to send out invitations, and various other important things."

"So, we need to do invitations?" Rukia asked.

"You can invite up to 50 people." Byakuya brought out 50 invitations. "These invitations are empty- just fill in the name."

Ichigo took the invitations and nodded.

"Also, you have to pick your nakado couple." Byakuya continued.

"What's a nakado couple?" Ichigo scowled.

"Seriously, you fool." Rukia rolled her violet eyes. "A nakado couple refers to the 'matchmaker' or 'go-between' in a japanese wedding. They represent a stable marriage."

"I think it's weirder that you know these sorts of random facts." Ichigo retorted.

"Anyhow, Rukia, Kurosaki Ichigo, please give these invitations to those whom you wish to invite." Byakuya said. "You may leave for today. Rukia, please think about your nakado couple."

Ichigo and Rukia got up and left the room.

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Ichigo looked at the invitation. "Seriously. They must've planned this even before they told us."

"That's most likely the only way they could've had these invitations ready so quickly." Rukia agreed. "Well, welcome to the world of nobles."

"Hmmph." Ichigo scowled.

"So, who are we going to invite?" Rukia asked. "Best to stay with shinigami, and of course Ishida."

"Yeah. It's probably a pain to bring living people to Soul Society." Ichigo nodded.

"There's probably going to be lots of nobles that we don't know too." Rukia noted. "So we should bring as many actual friends as we can."

"Well, I suppose there's Renji. Toushiro too, I guess. And-" Ichigo said.

"Let's just go around the barracks where we have friends." Rukia suggested. "Do you have a pen to write with?"

"No. Let's just borrow one when we need one." Ichigo scowled.

"Hmmm. Let's give one to Renji, Ishida, and I suppose Hinamori-san first." Rukia decided. "After all, they're all at the 5th squad barracks."

Ichigo nodded and walked after Rukia to the 5th squad barracks.

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Renji looked at the invitation and grinned. "So, you're finally getting married."

"Whatever." muttered Ichigo. "Where's Ishida?"

"I'll show you." grinned Renji.

"Captain, you're just trying to run away from the paperwork again." Hinamori complained.

"Seriously, paperwork isn't that hard." Ichigo pointed out.

"Oh, yes, if you say so, Vice-Captain Kurosaki." Renji retorted. "Right, Vice-Captain Kurosaki?"

Ichigo twitched and glared at Renji. "I wonder how you can make that sound like an insult."

"You're copying me!" Rukia cried.

Renji got up. "Follow me."

The two of them followed Renji.

Renji opened a door to a room. "Oi! Ishida."

"Abarai." Ishida didn't look up from his book. "What do you want?"

"Here." Ichigo placed an invitation in front of Ishida.

Ishida looked at the invitation and raised an eyebrow. "Took you long enough, Kurosaki. Kuchiki."

"That's my line!" Renji grinned.

"Whatever." Ichigo turned around. "Come on, Rukia. Let's go to the 4th squad next to give an invitation to Hanatarou."

Rukia nodded and walked after Ichigo.

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Hanatarou looked at the invitaion and grinned. "So, you two are finally getting married!"

"Yeah." Ichigo scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"I'll look foward to it." Hanatarou smiled.

"Yeah." Ichigo looked at the ceiling.

"I have to make amends for spying on you, too." Hanatarou continued.

"Oh, that probably wasn't your fault, Hanatarou." Rukia replied.

"Yeah- let me guess- either Renji, Matsumoto, or Toushiro forced you to come along." Ichigo scowled.

Hanatarou laughed nervously. "Yeah."

"So, I don't blame you." Ichigo scowled.

"Thanks." smiled Hanatarou.

"Now, let's go to the 3rd squad's barracks!" Rukia grinned.

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"Kyaa!" Matsumoto cried. "Kira-kun! Rukia and Ichigo are having a wedding!"

Kira sighed. "Yes, I know, Matsumoto-san. I recieved an invitation too."

"So, I need to get a gift for them, so I'll be leaving now!" Matsumoto jumped up cheerfully.

Ichigo and Rukia sweat-dropped.

"I will never understand what's so difficult about paperwork." Ichigo sighed.

"Well," Kira looked up. "Maybe it's a requirement of being a captain. Hating paperwork."

"If you say so." Ichigo sighed. "Ukitake-san doesn't complain about it."

"Yes, but, you, Kiyone, and Sentaro always make sure that Captain Ukitake only does the bare minimum of paperwork." Rukia pointed out.

"What's the matter with that?" complained Ichigo.

"It means that Ukitake does a lot less paperwork than everyone else." Rukia explained.

Kira nodded. "I just wish Matsumoto-san would do even the bare minimum..."

"Well, see you then, Kira-san." Ichigo said.

"Where to next?" Rukia asked.

"How about the Kasumi-Ouji Manor?" Ichigo suggested. "I want to give an invitation to Katsura and Shuu."

" 'Kay." Rukia bounced out of Matsumoto's office.

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Ichigo handed Katsura an invitation. "So, a noble wedding, huh? I probably would've been invited already but-"

"Thanks, Ichigo!" Shuu grinned. "We'll definitely be there!"

Katsura frowned. "But Rukia-dono is a member of the Kuchiki Family. You're a simple shinigami. How come they permitted this?"

Rukia and Ichigo sighed. "That is, erm..."

"My father was one of the sons of the Soul Society King." Ichigo explained.

Katsura and Shuu's eyes widened. "Cool!" cried Shuu.

"I see... that explains your power." Katsura nodded. "Nobles always have more power than normal spirits."

"Hey!" objected Shuu.

"No offence," Katsura quickly said. "And you don't get more noble than the King of Soul Society, even if you're half human."

Ichigo nodded. "Of course, since I'm dead now, technically I'm not human anymore."

Rukia smiled at Katsura and Shuu. "Anyways, please come, Katsura-san, Shuu-san."

Ichigo scowled. "Yeah."

The two of them turned around and went to their next destination- the 10th squad.

1010101010

"Hmmph." Ichigo muttered. "Toushiro was annoying."

Rukia laughed. "He just took our invitation, then shooed us away."

"After saying that his name is Captain Hitsugaya, not Toushiro." Ichigo said.

"Anyhow, since we can always give invitations to Ukitake-san, Kiyone, and Sentaro after we go back," Rukia said. "Is there anyone else? Oh yes, Isshin-san!"

Ichigo twitched. "Do we have to?"

"Yes! He's your father!" exclaimed Rukia.

"I'll never hear the end of this." Ichigo sighed.

"We don't need to go to the real world- we can just attach an invitation to a hell butterfly." Rukia said. "Luckily."

"Yes. Very luckily." Ichigo sighed. "After years of him wanting a third daughter..."

"It's finally happening." Rukia sighed. "Let's go back to the barracks to get a hell butterfly."

Ichigo scowled.

1010101010

Early updatte today.