Sorry for the late hour, I'd almost totally forgotten I needed to update this! If I normally forget what day I'm living in, the quarantine is making it worse!

Something I forgot to point out last chapter. Regarding the haori and band the Nakama were gifted. They're important, they're about recognition. You must know that, in canon Ichigo and the others were barely little more than reluctant allies to Seireitei and the Gotei, this time it's different. And the haori and the band are a symbol of that, they show that the shinigami are taking them seriously. (also, the fic poster is meant to be the back of Ichigo's haori).

For those who wanted to see Isshin's reaction to a few things... here you go! Enjoy! This is mostly a transition chapter as we get everyone back to Karakura and prepare for what's coming next.

Also, for those who wanted to see more of Tatsuki, this is just the beginning!


Chapter 15. Matters of the Body and the Soul

After a 'less than stellar' fall that required ample use of kidou, shunpo, hirenkyaku and Santen Kesshun, the group formed by seven Nakama and a black cat managed to land at the entrance of the Urahara Shouten, where they could feel the rest of the Nakama and certain family members waiting for them inside.

The moment they stepped into the sitting room they could see Tatsuki, Keigo, Mizuiro and Chizuru in casual clothes, waiting; Keigo was arguing about something with Jinta, while Mizuiro talked about food with Tessai; while Chizuru kept saying things that would make Tatsuki hit her on the back of the head; Ururu could only watch the scene in silence while Urahara chuckled in the back of his fan; Isshin and Ryuuken, in opposite sides of the room, just drinking some tea.

"We're back and the mission was a success, on all accounts." Ichigo announced half formally the moment they all cleared the door.

"That is good to hear." Ryuuken commented in the same tone. "I imagine you showed to all shinigami your pride?"

"We did, shishou." Ichigo nodded. "And…"

"The man who dared insult our pride, and our family paid for it, dearly." Uryuu added stoically, he didn't like remembering Mayuri.

"Is he still alive?" Ryuuken asked, interested.

"Yes." Uryuu admitted, wondering if he should have killed him anyway. "A mercy I granted, not to him, but to his daughter, who pleaded on his behalf."

"I see." Ryuuken nodded thoughtfully. "Does she know such a mercy won't be repeated if her 'father' repeats the offense, or if he dares commit it in my presence?"

"I'm sure she understands." Uryuu nodded, he had made sure to explain it to her.

"Very well." Ryuuken nodded, satisfied. "Then tell me the name of this man."

"He is no man…" Orihime muttered under her breath, turning her head away.

The Nakama who had stayed behind looked at Orihime in surprise, there was a bitterness in her voice they had never heard before, and she'd never interrupted a half-formal exchange between the senior Ishida and either Uryuu or Ichigo.

"Orihime is right." Ichigo added. "He may be a shinigami, and a captain at that, but that…he is no man."

"A monster is what he is." Uryuu concluded. "And the name is Kurotsuchi Mayuri."

There was a low grunt in the back as Kisuke understood, at least superficially, the teens' attitudes; he may not have known what Kurotsuchi did, but he knew enough of the psychotic bastard to understand just what he was capable of.

"Enough of the formal-crap." Isshin declared as he jumped onto his feet. "My precious children are finally back!"

He rushed to them, bent on hugging them half-to-death, but before he could get close enough Karin and Ichigo had dealt a punch-kick combo at him, sending him crashing against a nearby wall painfully (and miraculously it was against and not through).

"Was that really necessary, Ichigo?" Rukia asked, half-worried about the man.

"Rukia-chan!" Isshin called dramatically as he jumped back onto his feet. "My newest daughter is defending me from my ungrateful son!"

He rushed to hug her only to yet again be stopped by a kick from Ichigo, this one strong enough to send him through a nearby shouji door and into the next room.

Rukia blinked, she hadn't been expecting that.

"Idiot oyaji…" Karin muttered under her breath.

"Not even an hour we've been back and you're already trying to scare Rukia away…" Ichigo practically growled, then softened his voice as he turned to Tessai and lowered his head slightly. "I'm sorry about the door, Tessai-san."

"It's quite alright, Kurosaki-san." Tessai assured him with a nod. "Nothing that cannot be easily fixed. Soon we'll have it as good as new again."

Ichigo simply nodded wordlessly.

"Ah!" Isshin called dramatically as he got back up again, this time slowly. "Masaki! My third daughter doesn't love me!"

Ichigo's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"My son didn't even have the decency to invite me to his own wedding!" Isshin added in the same exaggeratedly dramatic tone.

Ichigo's eyes flashed, he had been right.

"Yoruichi-san…" He began in a low growl.

However, right at that point he was interrupted by the shocked shouts and gasps from all of his other Nakama in the room.

"What?!"

"You're married?!" Tatsuki practically screeched.

"How can Ichigo have possibly married before me?!" Keigo wailed.

"How is that even possible?" Chizuru was in absolute shock.

"Congratulations Ichigo-san, Rukia-san." Mizuiro nodded at both of them.

"Thank you, Mizuiro-san." Rukia smiled at him.

"Yes I'm married…we're married." Ichigo groaned as he dropped to the floor. "Now shut your traps, all of you, and let me explain."

And so, he explained. Everything that had happened from the moment that servant had interrupted their breakfast to tell them the Kuchiki Elders were planning something. To the ceremony at the Kuchiki Estate. The only thing that was left un-mentioned was the fact that Rukia was a blood-Kuchiki, since those were family secrets and would remain that way. Still, everyone present did know Ichigo was heir of the Nagaken Clan and would take the place as the next Clan Head…eventually.

"So, it's just an arranged marriage." Tatsuki summarized in the end. "Something done out of convenience and nothing else."

Ichigo frowned slightly, he didn't exactly like the way Tatsuki describe it, but at the same time couldn't deny that had been pretty much the idea, so all he could do was nod.

At his side Rukia just sighed, eyes cast down.

"What has me confused." Mizuiro commented thoughtfully. "Is how that servant knew what the Kuchiki Elders were planning."

Silence fell instantly. For a second it looked like Ichigo was going to say something, until he realized how right Mizuiro was.

"I…" He muttered, eyes wide in shock. "I have no idea."

"Neither do I." Several of the others admitted.

"How could she have found out?" Rukia asked out-loud. "Not even Nii-sama knew what the Elders had planned before the meeting began. That's why he was so surprised you were so well-prepared for everything!"

"Didn't anyone thought to question her knowledge back then?" Isshin asked, suddenly uncharacteristically serious.

Truth is, no one liked the idea of someone, whether it may be a servant or anyone else, knowing things they shouldn't know.

"Things were…complicated." Uryuu tried to justify. "When Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu left the dining room they went straight to make arrangements. We saw them again an hour or so later, and they spent the next weeks going from one meeting to another as everything was arranged, their adoption into the Nagaken Clan, the formal kimonos we all wore to the ceremony, and a lot other things. I don't think they had a lot of free time those two weeks."

"No, we didn't." Yuzu admitted, it had really been exhausting.

"I don't remember her." Karin admitted, she'd been frowning for minutes by then.

"What?" Several of the Nakama wondered what she meant.

"I've been trying, very hard, but I don't remember ever seeing her in my other life." Karin admitted. "If she's really who she said she was…then she's been serving the Nagaken Clan for less than twenty-five years. And that's strange in and of itself, why would the Clan hire any more servants when they have even less people living there than they did back then?"

The petite girl shook her head, it didn't make any sense.

"You think she might have been faking it when she appeared dressed like a servant?" Ichigo asked, he didn't like that.

"Maybe, I don't know." Karin admitted. "It's been a very long time. She might be a servant, that still doesn't explain what she was doing working for the Nagaken Clan…" she sighed. "I could feel her reiatsu. It was very tightly controlled, but it was there."

"Why would someone with reiryoku be a servant and not a shinigami?" Uryuu asked in turn.

"Maybe she doesn't have enough power to be a shinigami?" Orihime suggested.

"No." Karin shook her head, biting her lip at the same time. "She had enough education in the spiritual arts to keep her reiatsu under control. If she'd been taught…anything, she most certainly has enough reiryoku. Which brings back the question: Why is she a servant instead of a shinigami, or anything else, really?"

"Maybe we should send a message to Kasumi-oba-san." Ichigo suggested, brows furrowed. "Just to make sure she's not a risk."

Karin nodded quietly, it was the best they could do at the time.

Rukia had kept quiet during the whole exchange. She'd never seen the servant in question, not in the whole week she'd spent in the Nagaken Main House after her marriage to Ichigo; and since she hadn't been there the morning everything had happened, she knew nothing of the situation, or the woman.

"I don't see what's so great about being a shinigami?" Tatsuki muttered.

Several of those presents turned to look at her like she was crazy; and it seemed that way, especially considering that almost half of those present were shinigami, former shinigami, or at least part shinigami.

"Oh, I have nothing against any of you, current or former shinigami." Tatsuki clarified. "I just don't see what's so great about being one."

No one had an answer to that. It's not like any of them had ever considered being a shinigami as something great. For most of them it was simply a part of who they were, and that was it. However, Tatsuki's words, it almost seemed like she didn't like the idea of being a shinigami herself…though there was no way of knowing what made her think that…

"There's something that's been bothering me…" Chizuru said suddenly.

Everyone turned to her right then.

"What is it?" Ichigo finally asked when it seemed like the girl wouldn't talk.

"Karin-chan…" Chizuru said, turning to the younger girl. "A little while ago you…you talked about another life…" her eyes half-closed in confusion. "What does that mean? Are you talking about…past lives?"

Karin sighed, she could see out of the corner of her eyes how Isshin…her Nii-sama…her oyaji, stiffened instantly. She'd known the topic would come up eventually, but at the same time she'd hoped they might get the chance to talk privately…it seemed it wasn't meant to be so. Well…maybe it would even be better that way.

"Reincarnation is a natural thing, Chizuru-san." Karin assured her softly. "Every human that lives in this world passes on to Soul Society and, eventually, upon dying there, is reborn in the Living World. There are certain exceptions, of course, the so-called New Souls, born to particularly strong spirits, since only those powerful can actually get pregnant and give birth in Soul Society. That's how the Noble Clans are formed, with the exception of those who are adopted into it, most of the members are New Souls…" she sighed. "I was a New Soul too, in my last life. This is just my second, actually my first as a human…" she shook her head. "While reincarnation is natural, what isn't is remembering a previous life. Most of the time, humans who get to Soul Society will begin forgetting things of their time in the Living World, the more traumatic their life was, the faster they forget, the only thing that may prevent that is if they have enough reiryoku, and a strong enough will, when they choose to hold onto the memories…still, aside from me I've never known anyone to reincarnate into the Human World and remember their previous life. I can only do that because the circumstances of my reincarnation were very…particular."

Unknown to Karin, or to all of those attentively listening to her recount, there was one particular person in the back shaking her head silently, a lone tear running down her delicate cheek as she kept her face hidden behind a curtain of hair…

'You're wrong…' she was sobbing inside her own mind, careful to keep her grief and despair concealed from Karin's empathy. 'You're not the only one who remembers…I do too. I remember, so much…friendship, love, war, grief, pain, despair…I remember…'

"Karin…" A voice whispered in a broken voice.

Instantly everyone, even those still trying to process everything Karin had just said, and what she hadn't, moved aside so the person to speak could stare at the petite girl directly. It was Isshin, and in that moment he looked so different from usual it almost scared those who had known him for the last fifteen years or so. The man…was utterly broken.

"Karin-imouto…" Isshin whispered in the say voice.

"Yes…" Karin knew how crucial her answer was, even as she said the words that would seal everything. "It's me, Nii-sama…"

"Karin-chan…" Isshin whispered as he got close enough to caress Karin's cheek. "My baby sister…you're back…you're really back."

"I am." Was all Karin said.

Tears were beginning to pool behind her eyes, though she refused to let them fall.

"Why, why is he reacting like this?" Rukia asked, confused.

She'd been told how Karin was the reincarnation of her own aunt, in a way. How she'd gone from being Isshin's sister to being his daughter; but that didn't explain why the man was reacting so strongly…

By that point the man was on his knees, his arms tightly around his own daughter's waist, holding her and crying into her shoulder like his life depended on it.

"I was born…many, many years after Nii-sama…" Karin explained, adopting the tone she only used when acting the part of her past life. "I was a surprise, after so many years that Hahahue and Chichihue had been trying to have more children, finally I was born. My mother died very shortly after my birth, some healers say giving birth to me had taken all the strength she'd left, so she'd only lived long enough to give me my name and make sure I would be well looked after. Karin, a summer forest, the place she loved the most…" she shook her head. "I know Chichihue loved me, even if he never said so. I think it was painful to him, looking at me, since I looked so much like Haha…In any case, Ishiin-nii-sama was always there for me. While the servants made sure I was well fed, well dressed and was never fully alone; Nii-sama made sure I knew I was loved. There was such difference in ages between him and I, that at times it felt like he was more my father than my older brother…" she sighed sadly. "The day came when Chichihue died, during a long-term mission to Hueco Mundo, I don't know what happened really, that I was never told. I was still considerably young back then. A servant interrupted our breakfast, the one time in the week I could have breakfast with my brother, since most of the time he'd to get to the 10th Division barracks too early…the servant arrived and informed us Chichihue's team had just gotten back, and that my own father had been killed in action. I'm quite sure Nii-sama got the whole story; he was a lieutenant already by then, I never knew, never asked either, I guess that I'd gotten to know him so little during my life than he was more of an idea than an actual part of it."

"Chichihue loved you, imouto, never doubt that." Isshin mumbled in a hoarse voice against her own neck.

"He never showed it." Karin pointed out emotionlessly. "At least not like you do."

"You may have forgotten some details, with all the time that's been." Isshin pointed out. "The servant that arrived that day, he didn't tell us that Chichihue was already dead, but that he was dying. When I got to the 4th he was still alive. He lived long enough to say goodbye, and he asked me to look after you. He knew…he knew he was never a proper father to you, and he wanted me to make sure I would always care for and protect you…"

Karin nodded stoically, doing her best to keep her emotions at bay. It wasn't like suddenly knowing her past-life's father was truly loved her changed anything; she had a new father, a new family, and she was happy with her current life, still, it felt good to know…

xXx

Eventually Karin and Isshin both calmed down enough. The group didn't want to split just yet and several of the boys ended up being sent for take-out so they could all eat together in the Shouten before going to their respective homes.

Those who had stayed back were still waiting when the Nakama's brand-new badges began sounding the alarm that a hollow was in the vicinity. Karin was just about to get out of her body again when Tatsuki jumped to her feet.

"It's my turn." She announced as she jumped to her feet, then she turned to Karin to explain. "In your absence we've been taking turns. This one's mine." She turned to the other side. "Hey Geta-boushi! I need a little help here!"

"Tatsuki wha…" Karin didn't even get to finish her question.

Right then Kisuke arrived from behind Tatsuki and touched the tip of his cane to the back of the girl's head, pushing her soul forward and outside of her own body.

"Tatsuki-san!" Yuzu cried out in shock.

Ururu was there just in time to catch Tatsuki's empty body, while the black-blue spiky haired girl disappeared in what as well might have been shunpo.

"Just what is going on here?" Rukia asked, bewildered by the whole thing.

"Arisawa-san has spent the last several weeks training very hard." Urahara explained. "Ever since you sent her that message, saying everything was alright she began coming here to use the training grounds. She pushed herself so hard that her powers seemed to grow exponentially, and soon her physical body began having trouble with it."

"If it's her power shouldn't her body be able to deal with it?" Karin asked, confused.

"If she were maybe like Sado-san or Inoue-san, maybe." Kisuke nodded. "But her power is more spiritual. It's very much like Yoruichi's shunko actually…"

"There's no way that girl can use shunko Kisuke!" Yoruichi interrupted him with a snap. "A human would never be able to do it, their bodies wouldn't be able to take it."

"Which is precisely the reason why, as you were able to see, I pushed her out of it before she went to take care of the hollow." Kisuke pointed out. "And while I said it's very much like yours, it's not entirely so."

"What's the difference?" Yoruichi was still doubtful, but very interested nonetheless.

"Your shunko hits, and with enough power can tear apart." Kisuke reminded her. "Arisawa-san obviously doesn't have the raw power needed to tear apart a creature, yet; but she can do something else, she can envelope her spiritual self in reiatsu and then use it like a blade."

Yoruichi's eyes widened, she wanted to say such a thing was impossible, but had really no way to prove if it was or not.

"Crisis averted." A voice announced right then.

They all turned to see the returned Tatsuki, and for the first time were able to truly see her. She wasn't wearing a shihakusho, neither was she wearing the clothes her human body had had; instead she wore what looked like a slightly short yukata (as it only reached below her knees), it was of the darkest gray with an ivory colored dragon curling around her form, the yukata was a bit loose on her, allowing the slightest bit of a bare shoulder to be seen; her feet were bandaged and she wore no shoes, and what could be seen of her arms (to right below her elbows) was bandaged as well. Some could notice that the bandages on her left hand seemed to have been a bit damaged recently.

"Did your technique backfire on you again, Arisawa-san?" Tessai asked, worriedly.

"Not exactly." Tatsuki grimaced.

In an instant Yuzu was by her side and using healing kidou on Tatsuki's hand, as well as a couple minor scrapes on her neck and arm.

"I overcharged one of my attacks." Tatsuki admitted with a sigh. "The hollow was tricky, if pretty weak, I began losing my temper since I wanted to just kill it and be done with it and so, when I finally caught him unaware I ended up using too much reiatsu."

"You need to be more careful, Arisawa-san." Tessai pointed out. "Especially because there might not always be someone nearby to heal you before you have to return to your body, and if you have to return to it when injured it would complicate things."

Tatsuki nodded solemnly in his direction.

"Talking about precautions to take for when I'm on my own." She said turning to Kisuke. "What about my gikongan, Geta-boushi?"

"Still working on it, Arisawa-san." Kisuke assured her while covering his smile with his fan. "I've also decided to work on others for Kuchiki-san and Kurosaki-Nagaken-san if that's alright with them." He turned to the girls in question. "Unless you tell me you would prefer a more traditional gikon."

Rukia sighed, had she been asked that question a couple of months before she would have immediately replied she wanted Chappy, but she had become more sensible since. She, of course, still loved the rabbit character to pieces, but where her gigai was concerned she decided it might be better if it had a more-apt mod-soul inside when she wasn't in it.

"A battle mod-soul just might be what I need." Rukia admitted. "If what we fear does come to pass at some point."

She was referring, of course, to open war against Aizen with Karakura as battle-ground.

"Just fine with me, Geta-boushi." Karin nodded her agreement.

"Very well." Kisuke nodded, more to himself than the others. "I promise to have the mod-souls ready for you in a week at the most."

"They better not be crazy perverts like Kon, Geta-boushi!" Tatsuki reminded him strongly.

Kisuke just chuckled.

"There's something that's been bothering me, Tatsuki-san." Yuzu commented out-of-the-blue.

"What is it, Yuzu-chan?" Tatsuki immediately turned to smile at the soft-spoken girl.

"Well, you're obviously not a shinigami, and yet you seem to need to get out of your body for your abilities to work correctly." Yuzu commented. "Why is that?"

While Yuzu knew she herself wasn't a full shinigami, since she had no zanpakutou, she was still very good at kidou and shunpo, and had a basic grasp of hakuda and hohou. Tatsuki was obviously very good at hakuda and hohou, and seemed to have done something similar to shunpo; yet she knew no kidou or had a zanpakutou, and her ability, while similar to an ability Yoruichi had, was not exactly that.

"No idea." Tatsuki deadpanned. "We discovered about two weeks ago that my own powers were working against me. At first they were just scratches and bruises, but soon enough I would walk out of my training with torn muscles and cuts that required serious kidou to be healed. The worst came when practicing a cutting kick I somehow ended up cutting my own foot open. It took Tessai-san a very long time to heal me enough for the cut to stop bleeding and close, and still I couldn't walk for a couple of days, and kept limping for almost the rest of the week. It then occurred to Geta-boushi that my power was in fact in my spirit and not in my physical body; he tried his theory by pushing me out of my body and…voilá."

"What about your clothes?" Rukia asked.

"Yet again, no idea." Tatsuki said again. "As beautiful as the yukata is, I own nothing like it. And if you look at it carefully, it seems to be a bit old, worn, and not quite my size. What the reasons for any of those things are I truly have no idea."

"What's the possibility of her being another reincarnation?" Chizuru asked unexpectedly.

"Not impossible." Karin admitted. "It might explain both her powers and her clothing; as well as the apparent distaste for shinigami…"

"I've told you all already, I have nothing against shinigami…" and yet Tatsuki had to stop to think twice about it. "At least I don't think so, not really. I just don't see what the big deal is. That's all. Really!"

In the back of the room Orihime just watched Tatsuki with a critical eye, through the whole discussion on Tatsuki's powers and condition she hadn't said a single thing, instead she had just watched and pondered. Why did Tatsuki seemed so familiar to her? Not in the sense of the girl who had been there for her, to protect her, for over five years, or the girl who had taught her martial arts and been her best friend for so long. It was something more, something the orange-red haired girl couldn't quite put her finger on…Maybe she would remember eventually? She sure hoped so, had a feeling it was important…

Without a single word more Tatsuki finally went back into her body, and shortly afterwards the boys were back with dinner for everyone. A meal they all thoroughly enjoyed, as well as the company, in particular that of those closest to them, and of those that hadn't been able to be there for the past five weeks.

xXx

Eventually the food was consumed and the Nakama decided in was time to make their ways home. Those who lived on similar directions made their way together, all agreeing to meet the next morning at Chad's home, it was time for yet another 'visit', though this time to honor Chad's abuelo. With that particular visit things were different, as his grave was back in Mexico and, even with the powers they all had, it just wasn't possible for them to visit the actual grave. So instead they would all visit Chad's apartment and honor the man on a small altar Chad arranged for that very purpose. It seemed like a lucky coincidence that they had gotten back to Karakura just in time…

Chad's abuelo was cause for certain particular traditions in the group, not only on his death anniversary, but there was also the fact that despite it not being a Japanese tradition, the Nakama had taken on celebrating what Chad called 'Día de Muertos', on the 2nd of November, the half Mexican had explained that it was a day meant to honor dead loved ones. It seemed strangely fitting in their minds, especially after they had gotten to see the actual afterlife; which actually had disappointed most of them so, it really was nothing like the heaven so many humans still believed in…

Ryuuken and Uryuu were the last to get on their way, aside from the Kurosakis. And right when they were about to take their leave, they were called back.

"Ah…Kuchiki-san…or should it be Kurosaki-san?" Kisuke asked.

The teens would have actually reacted to the half joke if they hadn't realized how serious the shopkeeper and former shinigami was being all of a sudden.

"Since I doubt either of us have any intention of announcing our marriage, Kuchiki will suffice." Rukia declared simply.

"Very well, Kuchiki-san…" Kisuke nodded.

And then, under all the Kurosaki's suddenly shocked stares, he dropped on both knees, holding his hat on one hand, the other fisted against the ground, his head bowed and his neck bared. It was a gesture of both submission and of penitence, serious enough to leave them all shocked still and speechless.

From a side Yoruichi only side and turned her head to a side, it almost hurt her to see Kisuke prostrate himself like that. And yet she understood why it was necessary, not just for the Kurosakis (Rukia included), but especially for Kisuke himself.

"My sincerest and deepest apologies for all the grief, despair and pain I may have caused through my actions and inactions." Kisuke whispered in a solemn tone. "I hurt you Kuchiki-san, deeply, through no fault of your own, in an attempt to undo a sin of my own making. And in the end, all I managed was to cause you pain, and almost your death, and my sin still ended in the worst possible hands…"

Ichigo sighed. While he himself had warned Kisuke that he better apologize to Rukia for what he'd done, he never expected the man to take it that far. The orange-haired young man didn't trust the former shinigami, probably never would, not completely, but didn't hate him either. He knew things could have been a lot worse without the man's help. If they'd had to depend on Karin, or even worse, Isshin, to open a Senkaimon and get to Seireitei…they still wouldn't have been able to get their human Nakama there…no, things could have definitely been a lot worse. Urahara Kisuke may not be an innocent, not by a long shot, but he was not evil either, just a man, a genius actually, who hadn't measured the consequences of his actions and had made a mistake; a very serious, very dangerous mistake, but in the end, who could assure someone else wouldn't have done it even in the event that he didn't have?

"I forgive you, Urahara Kisuke." Rukia spoke after what seemed like forever, choosing her words carefully. "I forgive your omission, the fact that you made choices for me without my approval or even my knowledge. I do not forgive the actions themselves, because they need not be forgiven."

That fact actually befuddled Urahara, who could only watch the obsidian-haired shinigami, wondering at what may be going through her mind and hoping she might be forthcoming in an explanation without him having to ask.

"You know…" Rukia went on with a sigh and looking up. "If you had just asked me, I would not have refused…"

The admission actually froze everyone present in shock, especially Kisuke and Ichigo. While the first had been expecting accusations, disdain anything but forgiveness; the daiko at least had been expecting the forgiveness part, but certainly not the following confession.

"If you had explained things to me." Rukia elaborated. "About the Hougyoku, and Aizen, and the kind of sacrifice needed to get rid of it. I would not have refused. I would have accepted to do that sacrifice. How could I not? After meeting the Nakama, after learning the kind of people, of heroes, they all are…how could I have done anything else?" she shook her head with another sigh. "So, I need not forgive you for trying to use my soul to vanquish the Hougyoku, I know the kind of grief and pain a mistake can cause. I know I was fortunate to have help in overcoming my own guilt. I hope you will, eventually, find what you need to move on from your own…"

Kisuke lowered his face again, this time not in penitence but in acceptance, and also a bit of gratitude. He'd never been expecting such words from mouth of the one person he'd hurt the most…at least recently. She truly was so very good…a truly pure soul.

"I'm so proud of you midget…" Ichigo whispered into Rukia's hair, hugging her briefly.

"Don't call me midget, strawberry." Rukia hissed back, even as she basked in Ichigo's touch, however brief it might be.

Ichigo just chuckled and, almost without noticing, guided her around so they could begin making their way to the Kurosaki clinic, a pair of softly smiling twins and a still bewildered Isshin following silently after them.

"Oh." Rukia said, suddenly turning over her shoulder, at the still kneeling Kisuke. "And next time Urahara, just ask."

"Such a pure soul…" Tessai commented from the door of the Shouten. "I have no doubt that she and Kurosaki Ichigo will go far…"

"You have no idea how much…" Yoruichi muttered under her breath.

Yoruichi realized there was much she didn't know. The teens didn't trust her enough to tell her even half of what was going on with them, and she could see that. But she wasn't blind, she could see how accepting the 'matriarch' of the Nagaken Clan was of the Kurosaki siblings even before they were all adopted into the Clan, and it wasn't just Karin's doing; she could see how Ichigo carried himself, at times acting all the part of a noble, even if during normal times he was barely respectful at all; Karin knew a lot more than what she said, and even if the rest of the Nakama didn't know everything, they still knew more than Yoruichi; and the power Ichigo had, it was not normal, not even for a shinketsu…she wondered if Kisuke, Isshin, or even Ryuuken realized that?

"It's not only those two, but all of them." Kisuke whispered as he finally got back on his feet. "They may be human, and not yet out of their teens, but they're still powerful, strong-willed and noble to a fault. Nakama indeed…they will all make it far…"

xXx

The next day, amidst some traditional Mexican music and food and as many anecdotes as Chad could recall for those present, in particular Rukia, Oscar Joaquin de la Rosa, Chad's abuelo, was fondly remembered.

Rukia in particular couldn't help but wonder if the old man could possibly still be in Soul Society. She knew that even if he was, the chances of finding him were very low, and even if she did it would most likely take her a very long time. Still, she decided she just might try it at some point, if only to give something special to Chad, Spirits knew the young man deserved it after everything he had done and kept on doing. Others like Kurosaki Masaki, Ishida Souken and Inoue Sora would be harder if not impossible. The first was likely to still be in Grand Fisher, since the hollow had yet to be defeated; the second, it actually depended on how much of what Kurotsuchi claimed was true, the old man may not even exist at all anymore; and the third…he'd been a hollow, and for what she knew Ichigo and Uryuu had had trouble with it, since it was the first time they'd actually fought a hollow, Orihime seemed to believe he'd been purified, but had he truly? If so, people who'd been hollows rarely, if ever, remembered their time before Soul Society; and if not, where was he exactly?

Still, the whole talk about their 'dearly departed' had reminded Rukia, yet again of Shiba Kaien, and how she'd finally managed to put that particular ghost to rest shortly after her near-execution, the day before Ichigo and the others were given clean bills of health and left the 4th barracks as a matter of fact:

Wearing a dark mauve colored yukata with small pale-pink flowers and a cream colored obi with traditional sandals, Rukia made her way at normal pace (no shunpo) to where Shihouin Yoruichi had been able to tell her the Shiba lived. Apparently she was on very good terms with both of the remaining members of the Clan, particularly Kuukaku, Kaien's sister and the current Head of Clan (or she would be, if the Clan hadn't fallen in disgrace). Yoruichi had gone as far as telling Rukia that the preliminary plan for the Nakama's infiltration into Seireitei had them using Kuukaku's cannon to break into the Court from above. The fact that Isshin had revealed himself to his children and the teenagers had ended up using resources of the Nagaken Clan to get past the gates without being stopped or even noticed had made that part of the plan unnecessary, still, the thought had been there, and Kuukaku had even been informed, after the fact, of how things could have gone. The woman apparently had found the entire situation extremely funny, even if she had complained on 'missing the fun'.

Still, none of that made Rukia feel any better as she mentally prepared herself to confront her past for the final time. The talk with her nakama at the cemetery on Kurosaki Masaki's anniversary had helped her move past the crushing guilt and self-deprecation that had bound her for so long; but she wouldn't be able to fully move past it all until she had been able to offer her apologies to those she had affected the most through her actions, aside from Kaien himself. She wasn't expecting any forgiveness, just an opportunity to apologize herself and offer her condolences to what remained of her former lieutenant, mentor and idol's family.

When she arrived to the place a woman with a prosthetic arm wearing a knee-length skirt and a sleeveless top with a plunging neckline was berating a short man dressed in a kosode and hakama, for something or other.

Rukia didn't need to say a word, her presence was felt by the two, the remaining Shibas, almost immediately, and they both turned in her direction.

"What business do you have here?" Kuukaku demanded in a surprisingly neutral tone.

For a moment Rukia could only sigh, not knowing how exactly to answer that. Did they know who she was? What she was? What she had done?

"Didn't you hear my nee-san, girl?" The young man, Ganju, demanded strongly.

Rukia didn't answer, just watching Kuukaku in silence as if trying to convey the questions she couldn't voice in just that one look.

"I know who you are." Kuukaku answered the unasked question. "Kuchiki Rukia, the shinigami that killed aniki…"

The reaction was instantaneous, as Ganju jumped to his feet, as he'd been kneeling and instantly made a move to leap at her, Rukia was so surprised she didn't know what to do. In the end she didn't need to do anything, as Kuukaku extended a hand and stopped her brother mid-move, pushing him back down.

"Nee-san?!" The young man complained.

"Shut it Ganju." Kuukaku snapped at her younger brother before turning back to Rukia. "Yet again, I ask, what business do you have here?"

A bit surprised that the older Shiba had stopped the other one from trying to attack her, Rukia took a deep breath and moved into a deep bow in the direction of both Shibas.

"I'm sorry!" She said, her voice ringing with emotion, a mix of guilt and shame, as well as the slightest relief…

Both Shibas were absolutely shocked, even as Ganjuu slowly got back on his feet. Neither of them said a word, just allowing Rukia to get it off her chest.

"I have always thought that I needed to apologize," Rukia went on, still without straightening. "But I'm a coward so…all I've ever done was run away. That's why it has taken me so long to get here. I just…I didn't know what to do. Until recently…when I realized I just had to do it, I had to come and offer my deepest apologies and my condolences, even though I know I deserve no forgiveness for what happened and…" she finally rose, though her head was still cast down. "I'm sorry…I really am!"

"Enough." Kuukaku stopped her with a sigh.

"Huh?" Rukia hadn't been expecting that.

"That's enough, stop apologizing." Kuukaku said as she turned her back to Rukia with a sigh.

"Wha…" Ganju seemed even more shocked by the whole situation than even Rukia. "What do you mean nee-san?! You can't have forgiven this stinky shinigami already!"

Rukia winced at the insult, while not a very strong one, her emotions were already in a roller-coaster, which made things all the harder.

"Shut up, idiot!" Kuukaku punched Ganjuu on the back of the head before turning back to face the shinigami. "Ukitake told me everything already; shortly after it happened actually. He told me the truth of what transpired that night, sparing me no detail…He made me understand how it had been Kaien's decision to fight that hollow, and on his own, how his death wasn't in any way your fault…and how remorseful and sad you have been since, how you blamed yourself. Therefore, I had already made up my mind a long time ago, that if I ever heard you apologizing to me I'd let everything go. So that's enough."

"Thank you." Rukia really could find no other words as she bowed slightly again.

"Enough I said!" Kuukaku snapped, this time at her. "Besides, Yoruichi came to see me. She told me what you did. How you bequeathed your powers to a human to save him and his family, how you were going to be executed for doing that, until that same human and his friends saved you last week." The woman sighed. "What you did, was exactly what aniki would have done. You honored his teachings and his memory through your actions. I don't think he would have asked for more…so neither will I."

Ganju was obviously shocked at hearing that, having heard nothing of it before. A shinigami who'd made such sacrifices, who had been willing to die for a human? And it was the same shinigami who had killed his beloved older brother?

"Thank you." Rukia repeated.

Really, what else could she have said?

"Are you alright, midget?" Ichigo inquired.

The orange haired young man's question broke Rukia out of her thoughts. Things were over for the day and all the Nakama had split to go to their own homes already. Ichigo and Rukia had stopped at a bridge that crossed over the Karasu river as Ichigo himself remembered the past, only apparently Rukia had taken longer than him in her 'trip down memory lane'.

"Yes, fine." She said slowly.

Ichigo knew something was most definitely wrong when she didn't call him strawberry, or at least complain about him calling her midget.

"What are you thinking about now?" Ichigo asked, with considerable softness.

Rukia wondered if she should answer the question, but then she looked at him, at the quiet expectation in his eyes, the desire to help her somehow. And while it was unlikely that he would be able to do anything, something in his face convinced her to be honest.

"I talked to the Shibas." She declared, eyes to the river. "The day before you all left the 4th in fact. I finally went there and confronted my past, my sins…"

"Is this about the man you were forced to kill when he was possessed by that hollow?" Ichigo asked solemnly, remembering the cemetery.

"Yes." Rukia nodded. "Shiba Kaien-dono, he was my fukutaichou; and he was also my first friend in the Gotei 13, the one person who believed in me when even I didn't, my mentor…he helped me finish my education in the shinigami arts, since Nii-sama pulled me out of the Academy when the Kuchiki Clan adopted me, high nobles don't go to the Academy…Karin's case notwithstanding; he also helped me discover Sode no Shirayuki's first two dances. He was my idol, my role model, and, in a way, my platonic love." She sighed. "I don't think I was ever truly in love with him. I mean, he was married, Miyako-dono was the 3rd seat, a woman both beautiful and with incredible power. The two were well-suited together."

"You told us a hollow killed her and her team, and then used her form to attack the rest of the Division." Ichigo remembered.

"Yes." Rukia nodded solemnly. "Kaien-dono went after the hollow to avenge his wife and his men; made that fight one of pride, and it ended up costing him his life…"

Ichigo nodded, he remembered that day, and everything she'd told them.

"Shiba Kuukaku-san, Kaien-dono's sister, she forgave me." Rukia pointed out softly. "Despite all the pain I caused her and her other brother, Ganju-san, she still forgave me."

"She knew you were not to be blamed." Ichigo declared as if it were so simple.

"Ichigo…" Rukia wanted to tell him he didn't understand, that he couldn't and yet…

"I know it's painful for you to think and talk about all this." Ichigo said surprisingly softly. "But what happened wasn't your fault. I know that Shiba Kaien would have never held the whole thing against you." He sighed. "I know because, had I been in his place, I would have preferred for you to kill me rather than allow me to become a complete monster…"

Rukia drowned her own gasp as she covered her mouth with her own hands. From all the things she could have expected from him, that was not one of them. And yet…and yet it was just so Ichigo, to choose death before hurting anyone…

"You really are so alike…" Rukia murmured under her breath. "And not just physically, it seems. Both so strong, in body, and spirit, and will…so strong, and so stupid…"

And it is that no matter how much time passed, once she'd gotten over her own actions that night, she couldn't help but think that it had been stupid for her mentor to make that battle one of pride, if he hadn't, if he had allowed her to help then maybe, just maybe…In any case, what was done was done, and no wishful thinking would ever change the past.

"All we can do now is to move on…" Ichigo declared right then, apparently finishing some kind of speech Rukia had heard nothing of.

"Move on…" She repeated, half-wistfully.

"Yeah." Ichigo smirked then. "Now come on midget, we have a few weeks left of our summer break and we're not going to waste them." He began walking again.

"No, we're not." Rukia agreed, and then thought about something. "And don't call me midget, you giant strawberry!"

A few steps in front of her, Ichigo could only laugh.