It's time! For what, you ask? To dive into my favorite Bleach movie: Fade to Black! (Well, actually I love both this one and Hell Chapter... the latter for the story itself, and this one for the Ichiruki. Anyway, here we go. This is not the whole movie, that will continue on the next chapter, and obviously there will be some changes coming. I planned this so very carefully and love how it came out, hope you will as well.
Enjoy!
Chapter 33. Memories and Bonds
Just a few days after the New Year, the time came to go back to school, and as the day of the entrance exams for college came closer, all seniors seemed to grow more and more stressed by the hour. The Nakama, of course, were no exception to this. They were all different. Ichigo was interested in studying Psychology and maybe some Literature, particularly the English one; Uryuu had decided to study some Business Management and Administration, and maybe some classes in fashion, to give him some ideas, since he'd decided to follow his dream of being a Fashion Designer, rather than trying for med-school.
In the particular case of those two, Ryuuken had actually suggested they not study medicine, unless they truly and absolutely wished to be doctors; explaining that for people like them, who could see spirits, who could sometimes sense them even before seeing them, working as a doctor, in a hospital, could become a very hard thing to do; they would have to see the people die, and then see them after they died, every time they did, every day.
Rukia would be studying Sociology, something she believed would help her in the World of the Living, and she also had a dream of, later on, teaching other Shinigami to better fit in modern human society, so they would be ready for their missions in the Human World.
The rest were planning on taking some classes in vocational school, as neither of them had any particular interest on university. Tatsuki would mainly be working as assistant teacher in the dojo where she'd taken classes for many years; Chad would be with his band more, they were trying to actually get a record out, make themselves famous; Orihime had considered being a preschool teacher but wasn't completely sure yet; the others had simply no idea whatsoever.
Finally the day came. It was a huge mess, classes had been canceled for all seniors that Saturday to allow for the college entrance exams. What really frustrated Ichigo was that that day was Rukia's birthday, and he'd hoped to be able to do something better than go take those exams. Still, at least they would be done with them by noon, then he was planning to take his beloved somewhere special, at least for part of the afternoon, since Byakuya and Ginrei had made plans for dinner at the Kuchiki manor. He insisted that even if Rukia was Ichigo's wife and technically a Kurosaki-Nagaken, she was still a Kuchiki and, therefore, Byakuya's sister; and the older noble wanted to be able to celebrate her birthday with her (something that, apparently, had never been done before). In the end Ichigo had agreed with the plan, as long as he was allowed to take Rukia out himself before they had to be at the Kuchiki manor.
The exams, while they were supposed to only take a few hours in the morning, were still a bit complicated. While the basic exams were taken by all of them together, those who actually had a school, or at least a specialty in mind had to take other more in-depth exams afterwards, and those took longer and no one finished at the same time. They had all known Ichigo's would probably be the hardest, so Ichigo had convinced Rukia to go ahead and not wait for him. Rukia had decided to go briefly to Seireitei to talk to her brother so she could tell him about the exams and approve the final details for the dinner. It seemed like a good plan, no one expected anything to go wrong, no one at all.
"Finally!" Ichigo declared as he exited the classroom, satisfied. "Now I must get home, with how long this took maybe Rukia's back already…"
He was just beginning to jog out of the school when he nearly crashed against one of his friends, Uryuu, who seemed to be leaving himself.
"Hey, Uryuu, sure didn't expect you to still be here this late." He commented.
"Yes well, my last examiner was late, since apparently I'm the only one interested in studying Fashion, even if just as a minor. And since people of other districts seem to be more important than one boy in a small town…" Uryuu shook his head. "Anyway, I just got out. How did things go in your end Ichigo?"
"Well enough." Ichigo shrugged. "Anyway, I must hurry and get home. Rukia's probably waiting for me already. See ya Uryuu!"
Ichigo was already running away even as Uryuu answered.
"Yeah sure…" Then he blinked once. "Wait, who?"
But Ichigo didn't hear him, he was already on the next block, and running fairly fast in the direction of his home.
He made it to the Kurosaki clinic fairly quickly, where Yuzu received him as she worked on preparing lunch.
"Hey Ichi-nii, you're home!" She was obviously happy by that fact. "Will you be having lunch with me and Karin-chan?"
"No Yuzu." He shook his head with a smile. "I had already told you, I'm taking Rukia out for lunch. I want to have some time with her before we have to go to that stuffy dinner back with Byakuya and all the other stuffy old guys…"
"Rukia?" Yuzu inquired, seemingly confused. "Who's Rukia?"
"What do you mean…?" Ichigo wasn't expecting that, not at all. "What do you mean who's Rukia? She's my…Rukia…"
He'd been about to say 'she's my wife', but the fact that Yuzu didn't even seem to remember anyone with that name, when just that morning she'd been so caring with the amethyst eyed petite girl, showed something was definitely wrong.
"Your Rukia?" Yuzu repeated. "You have a girlfriend Ichi-nii? Finally! And I didn't know! Why didn't I know you have a girlfriend?!"
"That's the point Yuzu, you did know!" Ichigo didn't know if he should be exasperated, or afraid. "Until this morning you knew perfectly well who Rukia was. We all had breakfast together! We had to stop you from preparing that bento since it wasn't necessary…"
"Ichi-nii?" Yuzu asked, hesitant, confused.
Ichigo just began walking, straight to his room, he knew something was defiantly wrong and just couldn't place his finger on what.
"Ichi-nii…" Yuzu insisted. "I don't remember having ever met any Rukia…Is she some exchange student, or an older girl?"
Ichigo wanted to laugh at the way his sister had pretty much hit the nail on the head in both accounts, but at the same time, the fact that Yuzu still claimed not to remember Rukia just made him too afraid to laugh.
"You must remember Rukia Yuzu, you must." Ichigo insisted as he went into his room. "She's been living here for months!"
"Living here? But…" Yuzu was beginning to get really worried about her brother. "Ichigo, are you sure you're alright…"
Realizing that Yuzu must be as confused and worried as him if she, indeed, didn't remember Rukia at all; Ichigo turned around, holding her by the shoulders, as he began talking in his most soothing tone:
"Look Yuzu." He said softly. "Look around you. Look at the size of this bed, look at the extra books on the shelves, at all the bunnies around. Does any of that look like mine? Do you really think I would need this bed if I slept alone? If you open my closet, you'll find half of the clothes in there aren't mine, they're girl clothes, they belong to the girl who lives here, in this house, who sleeps in this room. It all belongs to Rukia."
Yuzu had to admit she could see all that, but she still didn't understand how it was possible.
"Ichi-nii, if this is all true… why don't I remember?" Yuzu asked in a sad tone.
"I don't know Yuzu, I honestly don't know." Ichigo admitted.
In the end, Yuzu went back to preparing lunch, while Ichigo began calling all his friends, one by one, with the excuse of wanting to know how they had done in their exams, while discreetly asking them if they remembered Rukia. None of them did. It was also at that point that he'd become aware of what Uryuu had said as Ichigo was running away, the blue-eyed one hadn't remembered Rukia either. No one did, except… Ichigo and… he remembered it then, the other person who might remember.
xXx
Orihime was sitting by her window, dressed in a simple top and shorts, playing what looked like a wooden transverse flute in a low tone when suddenly there was a loud, insistent knock on her front door.
"Coming!" She called as she hurried to the door.
She was quite surprised when she saw none other than Ichigo standing there, panting, with a half-wild looking; and then he began looking at her with an expression full of brilliant hope, and at the same time terrifying fear.
"Ichigo?" She asked, absolutely confused. "What…what are you doing here? I thought you would be…well…"
"Please Orihime…" He interrupted her, with a voice full of the same hope and fear as his expression. "Tell me you remember Rukia, please Orihime, tell me you remember her."
"Of course I remember Rukia!" Orihime said instantly, confused by his attitude. "Actually, as I was saying, I thought you were taking her on a date, you know, for her birthday!"
"Orihime…" Ichigo actually took his friend's empty hand in his as he spoke. "Right now, you're the only person aside from me who even remembers someone named Rukia exists."
"What…?" Orihime wasn't expecting that, not at all. "What do you mean?"
"I mean it exactly as it sounded." Ichigo said, trying to calm himself.
He was so delighted that someone remembered Rukia; even if it was just one person, even if he still didn't know what was going on, at least he wasn't alone anymore.
"I have no idea what happened." Ichigo let go of Orihime and mussed his hair, he was quite obviously upset. "Everything was just fine earlier today. We went to present the exams, after the basic one we each went to the ones of our specialties. Rukia was expected to finish first, so I told her not to wait for me, I would catch up. We were to go out for lunch, take a walk, before that stuffy dinner at the Kuchiki Manor…"
"But she went missing?" Orihime finished for him. "Where was the last place you know for a fact she went?"
"She was at the school, obviously." Ichigo focused, trying to remembering. "She told me she was dropping by the manor for a quick visit, to tell Byakuya-san how things had gone with her exams and make a last check on the preparations for the dinner, make sure those stuffy Elders and all the servants who don't like her much wouldn't try to ruin it."
"Maybe something happened when she was there." Orihime suggested. "Something that made it so no one else remembers her."
"Like what?" Ichigo inquired.
"I have no idea." Orihime answered honestly. "But at least it's a place to start."
Ichigo knew she was right. And he also knew who might have more information, whether he remembered Rukia or not.
"I need to go see Urahara." Ichigo announced.
"You think he will remember Rukia?" Orihime asked.
"Honestly? I doubt it." Ichigo admitted. "But he's my best bet to know if something, anything, happened in Soul Society."
Ichigo turned to leave, when Orihime stopped him.
"Wait a few minutes, I'm going with you." She told him.
In a couple of minutes she was holding a backpack and leaving the apartment with him. The two ran through Karakura at a fairly fast pace, Ichigo's worry for his beloved and Orihime's for both her friends fueling their energies as they reached the Urahara Shouten in what should have been record time.
"Urahara?" Ichigo called as he opened the shouji doors. "Geta-boushi?"
"Urahara-san?" Orihime called behind him.
"Excuse me sir, miss, we're closed today, for personal reasons." A strong voice informed him from another door. "In fact, there should have been a note stating so at the door."
Ichigo and Orihime turned to look at each other, there probably had been such a note at the door, they just hadn't seen it as they went straight through. In any case, the way Tessai was addressing them presented another problem:
"We honestly weren't looking for it, Tessai-san." Orihime excused them. "We're looking for Urahara-san, we need to talk to him."
"Whatever do you need the boss for?" Tessai inquired, confused. "How do you even know him at all? I don't remember having seen you here before."
"Tessai-san?" Orihime asked, not liking the implications.
"How do you mean you don't remember us?" Ichigo demanded. "We were here just last week. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo, she's Inoue Orihime! It's us Tessai, the Nakama!"
Still, Tessai didn't seem to understand.
"Ichigo," Orihime turned to her friend. "I think he really doesn't remember us."
"How?" Ichigo demanded. "I mean, the others remember us just fine."
"Maybe…I don't know, did you ask them anything of what's going on right now, what's been going on since last spring?" Orihime inquired.
"Not really." Ichigo admitted.
"Maybe that's it." Orihime suggested. "Maybe something has made them all forget not only Rukia, but also everything related to her."
"So, since we didn't meet with Geta-Boushi until we were going to save Rukia, they don't remember any of it because they don't remember her?" Ichigo summarized.
"Pretty much." Orihime shrugged.
"You do know that sounds pretty insane, right?" Ichigo asked pointedly, then shook his head. "And yet again, it's the only half-logical explanation."
Orihime just shrugged again, she knew most people considered her to be a tad, or more, crazy, for the things she would sometimes talk about, the dreams she had, her theories, no one understood, really, why she was like that; though she didn't mind it that much, not anymore. Whether they understood or not, her friends accepted her as she was, that was enough.
"That's an interesting idea you have going there, miss." Urahara called as he appeared at the door, right beside Tessai. "Would you mind stepping in for a cup of tea? Something tells me you bring quite an interesting story."
Ichigo's eyes narrowed slightly, he still hadn't fully forgiven the former shinigami captain for going beside his back, and all the secret-keeping he'd done; but at least he accepted the blonde's attempts at making amends. It was the reason why the group had begun going to the shop every so often, to train there at times, allow Urahara, as well as Yoruichi and Tessai to watch, give their input once in a while, that kind of thing.
In the end they did go into the back of the shop, where Ichigo and Orihime explained in very basic terms who they were, who the Nakama were, and the fact that they all technically knew each other. They didn't go into the war, though they were sure Urahara and Tessai were both bright enough to realize it was a possibility. They chose to focus more on what may have caused the situation they currently found themselves in, and in how they might find out if something had happened to Rukia and how to get her back.
"Indeed, something has happened in Soul Society." Urahara nodded. "My sources tell me that just earlier today Kurotsuchi-taichou had some kind of breakdown, one of his experiments was set loose and it's been a mess in Seireitei since. Some reishi-devouring slug I think…anyway, I don't know how that may be connected with what happened to your…Nakama, but it's a place to start at least."
The other two knew he was right.
"Excuse me, Inoue-san." Urahara called suddenly. "You mentioned your powers just in passing, but if you can…sort of, undo things, couldn't you undo whatever has caused this apparent amnesia, give me back the memories I appear to have lost?"
Orihime and Ichigo turned to look at each other, they hadn't considered that.
"Try it Orihime." Ichigo nodded.
With that the Rikka wielder focused, calling on her Souten Kishun softly. She could sense a lot of things from Urahara, like a small cut he'd gotten while shaving that morning, a stubbed toe he'd probably gotten while moving stuff in one of the backrooms, and some other minor scratches and bruises the girl would rather not think much about. In the end, she couldn't find anything she could change to give Urahara back the memories about Rukia and the Nakama.
"It doesn't work." She announced as she called her Rikka back.
"Well, it was a good try anyway." Ichigo commented.
"Have you considered the possibility that the problem isn't in me, or in anyone who doesn't remember your nakama, but maybe with her?" Urahara suggested.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed, while Orihime pursed her lip, they didn't like much how that sounded, but it was, sadly, sound. In any case, it had more merit that thinking something had affected every single person but for Ichigo and Orihime…
"Very well, we'll get going then." Ichigo declared as he got up.
"Just a minute." Orihime called as she got on her feet and hurried to the bathroom.
When she came out she was wearing a dark gray floor length long-sleeved yukata with a pattern of white, pink and purple magnolia, the sash being purple and pink as well. Her hair was half in a loose twist with a clip, the other half down, while the blue flower hairpins of her Shun Shun Rikka remained in the same place as always, keeping her bangs in place.
"Why exactly did you change?" Ichigo asked, caught by surprise.
"Well, we're going to Soul Society, where it's quite likely that they won't remember us, if our theories holds true." Orihime explained. "Dressed like this I'm less likely to call attention onto myself…I think."
"We'll have to talk to Yamamoto-san, or Ukitake-san, or even Byakuya-san." Ichigo stated as he used his badge to get out of his body. "The last thing I need is to have the Gotei 13 after me, while at the same time trying to find Rukia."
Orihime nodded, it was an understandable precaution to take, she just hoped the Gotei would cooperate with them, even with no memories about the teens.
Urahara and Tessai actually blinked as they watched Ichigo in the shihakusho, paying particular attention to the haori he wore, with the kanji for Nakama inside the rhombus that traditionally represented the Gotei 13.
"Excuse me," Urahara called. "I understand how Kurosaki-kun is getting there, even if the haori was quite a surprise, but what about Inoue-san?"
"I can get through just fine, with this." Orihime pulled up her sleeve just enough to show the chain wound around her wrist.
"What's that exactly?" Urahara asked, interested.
"It's a personal reishi-matter converter." Ichigo quoted with a snicker. "Or at least that's what you said when you gave it to all the Nakama who cannot leave their bodies."
"I created that?" Urahara seemed quite surprised by that.
"I suppose it's to be expected that, if you never knew us, you never had a reason to create it, therefore you don't remember doing so right now." Orihime nodded, mostly to herself.
"In any case, we must hurry." Ichigo declared. "I want to find Rukia as soon as possible."
To Tessai's and Urahara's further surprise he then unsheathed his zanpakutou and made a stab at the air, summoning a Senkaimon; then, without further ado, both he and Orihime stepped through and into Soul Society.
xXx
It had taken a while, hours in fact, but eventually the expansion of Kurotsuchi's out-of-control experiment had been stopped and, mostly, limited to the 12th District, where the HQs and barracks of the same division were located. The Kidou Corps were in charge of the kekkai that was keeping the substance contained, allowing anything but it in or out (so other shinigami could move freely to try and destroy the thing, then get out when they grew tired or the thing attack them); though, unknown to them, it wasn't their captain, or even lieutenant who had lead the creation of the kekkai, but someone else entirely.
A figure sat in a meditative position in the best-preserved roof close to where the kekkai had been created all her body except her hands covered in a reiatsu-dampening cloak. Her hands meanwhile, she held in specific hand-signs, resting over her knees so as too tire as little as possible and last longer. It was impossible for anyone who looked in her direction to know if she was even a man or a woman, though her voice gave her out when the Soutaichou himself appeared behind her to talk to her.
"You know, this wasn't part of the plan Soutaichou-dono." She commented offhandedly with a resigned sigh.
"Plan?" It seemed like Yamamoto hadn't been expecting that.
"The plan I made all those years ago." She clarified.
"And what kind of plan was that?" Yamamoto asked, interested.
"To never get involved with Seireitei's messes again." She deadpanned. "I should have learned my lesson the first time and left you to reap what you sowed."
"It wasn't much of a plan if you went back on it less than fifty years later." Yamamoto commented. "And you should mind your attitude more child, I don't allow just anyone to talk to me the way you do, you would do well to remember that."
"There's nothing you can threaten me with, I have nothing left to lose…that is, if I ever had something to begin with." She answered sardonically.
"That's a very cynical way of seeing things, especially for one as young as you."
"For those of us who never expected eternity, or any life after we closed our mortal eyes at least, every year we live beyond those modest expectations seems like forever, and for me… it's been much longer…"
"If it wasn't your wish to get involved with Seireitei, why did you?"
"You mean this time, or the first?"
"Either, both."
"The first time was all Shin's fault. We met in No-man's land, beyond the known inhabited districts of Rukongai. I actually don't know what the hell he was doing out there, as far as I know no shinigami ever bothers going that far. He saw me, he saw what I could do, said it was a huge waste that I was just staying there, existing but not quite living. He threatened with sending squads after me when I refused to just go with him and join the Gotei 13, said it was stupid that I wouldn't use my talent for good. In the end I agreed, but on my terms, I would join, but no one was to know about me. Of course, that didn't exactly work-out, several people did know about me, like Shin, Hachi-sempai, Tessai-sensei, Hiyori-chan…They knew me, more or less, of course they didn't know everything, but even when I was alive no one ever knew everything about me, not even my own mother. Anyway, they were dear to me, it's the only reason I even allowed them as far into my life, myself, as I did. And then they were gone…and I decided there was no reason for me to stay here anymore."
"Yet you came back…"
"I came back…it was all Isshin's fault! And Shin's! That idiotic peroxide-head told Isshin where to find me and what to say to convince to come back. Isshin wanted me to teach his baby-sister kidou, he told me Shin had been his mentor, had told him, to tell me, to do it for the Ave Blanca…so I did. I came back, I taught kidou to Nagaken Karin, and not just her, but several generations in the Academy, and then, not even I am sure of how exactly, I ended up becoming a shinigami, again…"
"He told you to do it for the Ave Blanca, in her memory…" Yamamoto noticed a particular detail. "Does that mean he does not know…?"
"That I am the Ave Blanca?" she finished for him. "No, he doesn't know."
Before anything else could be said, a messenger appeared on a knee right behind Yamamoto, which made the girl immediately lower her head, hiding behind the shadow of her hood as she waited for the message to be delivered.
"Soutaichou-sama, your presence is being asked for by Hitsugaya-taichou, Hisagi-fukutaichou and Abarai-fukutaichou." The messenger informed him. "Apparently a pair of ryoka have been found…inside Seireitei's walls."
The Ave Blanca could only blink in confusion, wondering if it was just a coincidence that ryoka had appeared right when Seireitei was already a mess. She had a feeling she was forgetting something, but just didn't know what.
xXx
Yamamoto arrived to his private garden in the 1st Division with some judicious use of shunpo. Arriving there allowed him to go into the Main Meeting Room from the small door at the front of the Main Meeting Room, allowing most of those present to believe that the Captain-Commander was there all along.
The old shinigami actually opened his eyes at the sight that met him in the room, a teen-aged boy with a mop of orange haired was dressed in a shihakusho, and a haori of all things, beside a girl in a flower-patterned yukata, and they were surrounded by more people than just those the messenger had named. Also, another thing of notice was probably the sealed zanpakutou Hitsugaya Toushirou was holding, a blade that obviously held a lot more power than its average size and form belied.
"What is the meaning of this?" Yamamoto asked as he observed everything.
"Soutaichou, Hisagi-fukutaichou and I caught this ryoka in the 9th District as we were checking over those who were affected…" Renji began formally.
"Can it really be considered 'catching' when we never put up a fight?" Ichigo drawled, apparently deep in thought. "I mean, really, we didn't fight, didn't even get on-guard. We simply came into Seireitei and walked to them, hoping to learn about what's going on around here and they all pulled their swords on us."
"We really don't mean any harm." Orihime contributed. "We're just trying to understand what's happening."
"Yeah sure." Renji snorted. "Like a pair of ryoka care."
Ichigo rolled his eyes, he'd forgotten how annoying Renji was before he met Tatsuki, or met her again, whichever.
"What I would like to know is how exactly they managed to get into Seireitei." Rangiku commented from behind Toushirou.
"We have passes." Ichigo answered honestly.
"Passes?" Yamamoto repeated, eyes narrowing. "Only honored guests from the most noble families in Seireitei have passes."
"We have them." Ichigo insisted.
"Who are you?" Yamamoto inquired.
"Finally!" Ichigo cried out dramatically. "The question I've been waiting for and no one seemed to consider asking!"
"I am…" Orihime had to stop a bit to let out a giggle before introducing herself. "My name is Inoue Orihime, spiritually aware and empowered human, healer, part of the Nakama."
"Nakama?" Several of those present asked at once.
"And I am Kurosaki-Nagaken Ichigo, shinketsu Shinigami, part of the Nagaken Clan, and Captain of the Nakama." Ichigo enlisted formally.
"Nagaken?" Toushirou almost choked on the surname.
"Shinketsu?" Kira cried out on another side.
"What the hell is Nakama?!" Hisagi and Renji demanded at once.
"We're a group formed by several shinketsu Shinigami, a Quincy and several empowered humans." Ichigo elaborated. "We are allied with Seireitei."
"Allied?" Several asked once again in unison.
For all answer Ichigo and Orihime both took out their respective badges; showing the symbol of the Gotei 13 on one side and the kanji for Nakama on the other.
"Combat passes?" Juushirou, who had been standing on a corner, watching, all along. "But they're not shinigami daiko…"
"I have no idea what made you decide to give me, give us these." Ichigo said waving the badge before putting it away again. "But each of us carry one, with the symbols of your group and ours, showing our alliance. They were supposed to work as IDs, didn't really, but anyway, that's not what's important right now. You gave them to us, just like you gave me the haori I am wearing, and a band Uryuu wears to show he's our second in command."
"It's been so long since the Gotei has made an alliance with a group of empowered humans." Juushirou commented thoughtfully as he watched the pair. "The last one must have been over three centuries ago…I wonder what the circumstances for us making this choice were…"
"The situation was complicated." Ichigo declared. "And I don't think it's as relevant right now. There's a reason why Orihime and I came here."
"True." Juushirou was really interested.
"It is in the records." Yamamoto stated, as he looked over the records Sasakibe had handed him. "There is, indeed, an alliance between the group known as the Nakama, and the Gotei 13. They are to guard over Karakura Town, Japan. It also states here the name of a liaison, a member of our ranks, whose name I do not know."
"But if they're really allied with us, why do we not remember?" Toushirou asked.
"That's part of the reason why we're here." Ichigo admitted with a sigh. "My…one of the Nakama has gone missing. The last thing we knew she was coming here, to check in with her family, but she didn't return afterwards. And not only that, aside from the two of us, no one remembers her ever existing! Something is wrong, and we need to know what, we have to find her, and soon!"
"If this girl was coming to check up on family here, may I assume she was one of us aside from being part of you Nakama?" Juushirou said. "Maybe even that liaison Yama-jii mentioned just now, the one we cannot remember…"
"Kuchiki Rukia." Yamamoto read from the records.
"Kuchiki?" Toushirou, Renji and Juushirou asked at once.
"Is she related to Byakuya-kun?" Juushirou asked.
"Yes." Orihime answered brightly.
"Yes she is." Ichigo confirmed with a sigh. "I cannot give any more details, it's too long a story to tell it right now. And anyway, we hope that once we find Rukia, once we find what's wrong with her, we'll find a way to undo whatever it is that has made everyone forget her, and with her the rest of us, at least when it comes to Soul Society."
"What is it you want?" Yamamoto asked.
"To find Byakuya-san, talk to him." Ichigo stated. "Even if it's unlikely he will remember ever having a sister, at least maybe he'll give us a place to start I just…" he sighed tiredly as he pulled at his own hair. "I already tried tracking her through the reiraku and I can't seem to be able to find her. That thing, that crazy experiment from that psycho Kurotsuchi is doing something to the reishi particles, and to all the reiatsu in the air, it won't let me find her!"
"Do you really think you could track her, if she's somewhere in Rukongai, from Seireitei?" Hisagi snorted. "She could be anywhere."
"Yes, I could have tracked her, usually." Ichigo argued. "I've done it before. Right now, I need a place where to start from to be able to find her, and I hope Byakuya-san will be able to give us that." He turned to Yamamoto. "Will you let us leave?"
There was a heavy silence for what seemed like a long, long time, before Yamamoto stood straight, eyes apparently closed, and spoke.
"You may leave." He said, ignoring the murmurs of the other shinigami. "Inform the rest of the shinigami that Kurosaki-san and Inoue-san are to be allowed to move through Soul Society as they may." He opened his eyes briefly to look at Ichigo. "I do not remember you, Kurosaki Ichigo, you or these Nakama. But if I signed on that alliance, that means I trusted you and yours to, at least, not be enemies. Do what you've come here to do, the Gotei's focus will remain on Kurotsuchi's out-of-control experiment. We each will do our part, and hopefully things will go back to what you remember as normal."
Ichigo nodded stoically. He really hoped so, otherwise, how could he be expected to explain, not just to the Nakama, but to the Gotei 13, that they were at war with Hueco Mundo and three traitor captains…the orange-haired didn't even know what the Shinigami's thoughts on Aizen, Ichimaru and Tousen were in that moment! And were they even at war right then? Did Aizen remember anything? In any case, it was all too complicated, and way over his head, over all of their heads, and it wasn't really what they needed to be focusing on: the Gotei needed to focus on that psycho's stupid experiment, while he and Orihime would focus on Rukia, they would think about other things once that was done.
Ichigo and Orihime bowed once to Yamamoto and the rest of the shinigami present in a respectful goodbye before Ichigo took his zanpakutou back from Toushirou and the two left the 1st Division HQs.
xXx
The name Nagaken allowed Ichigo and Orihime entrance into the Kuchiki Estate easily enough. They were guided to a sitting room with view on some of the more 'public' gardens, and offered some tea and pastries as they waited for the 'Lord of the Manor'. It took several minutes, but eventually Byakuya made an appearance, dressed in his shihakusho, showing that despite it supposedly being his day free, he'd been called to work, probably because of Kurotsuchi's idiocy with his experiments.
"Nagaken-san, Inoue-san." Byakuya received them with a nod of his head.
The curiosity in his blue-gray eyes would pass unnoticed by all but those closest to the noble; however, Ichigo was one of those people, mainly due to his wife, and trying to connect more to the two people in her family who actually loved her.
"Kurosaki-Nagaken Ichigo, and Inoue Orihime." Ichigo introduced the two of them with a nod. "Thank you for seeing us so promptly Byakuya-san, I understand you must be very busy right now, you and everyone around here."
"You seem to know and understand so much, you seem to know me, well enough to call me by my first name at least." Byakuya commented pointedly. "Yet I do not remember you, either of you. The few people from the Nagaken Clan I know of, none bear the name Kurosaki, and Inoue isn't name of any clan or shinigami line."
It was obvious that Orihime wanted to say something, but she knew there was nothing she could do, they didn't remember her, they didn't trust her. Even Ichigo, he was only being given a chance because of the Nagaken name, if he didn't make things work…then she had no idea how they would ever get to Rukia.
"I know it's all very confusing right now, but I can explain…somewhat." Ichigo couldn't fully hide his nervousness. "I asked one of your servants to tell you to bring your notes on official records, alliances, and such."
For all answer Byakuya raised the notebook he had in his hand. In it were his personal notes regarding every alliance, induction and negotiation he'd lead the clan into since becoming Head of the Kuchiki Clan a little over five decades before.
"The Kuchiki have an alliance with the Nagaken." Ichigo stated solemnly. "No, don't say anything. I know what you're thinking, and no, I'm not a mind reader, I…"
"Ichigo, you're babbling…" Orihime pointed out softly.
"True." The orange-head took a deep breath, focusing. "I know you don't remember there being any alliance, but I promise you there is one, because I signed it. It was an alliance brought about through marriage, of me, to your younger sister…" his voice turned into a whisper. "Or to be more precise, your youngest half-sister."
Byakuya's eyes opened wide as he heard Ichigo say that, something that thoroughly shocked Orihime, who hadn't managed to hear what had caused such reaction in the noble.
"I don't…" Byakuya began his denial almost automatically.
"Check your own records, you'll see I'm telling the truth." Ichigo interrupted him. "You should also be able to find your own notes regarding her adoption, fifty two years ago, more or less. Her name is Rukia…and she's Hisana's little sister…"
The use of both names, more than anything else, had Byakuya looking through his notebook, when soon enough he found the notes the orange-haired shinigami had mentioned. He also found other minor notes he'd made, about the Nakama, the true heir of the Nagaken, and the depth of the bond between Rukia and Ichigo.
"What is it you need me for?" Byakuya asked stoically. "If she is truly your wife, if your bond is truly what my own notes say it is, what is it you need me for?"
"I tried to track her down using reiraku the moment Orihime and I stepped into Soul Society, it didn't work." Ichigo admitted. "Something in Kurotsuchi's experiment seems to be blocking me from her. I'm pretty sure she's not in Seireitei, which leaves Rukongai. But Rukongai is so huge…I need a place where to start."
"And you thought I would be able to give that to you…how exactly?" Byakuya asked.
"Rukia has told me a lot from her past, but we never actually talked about where in Rukongai she lived before coming here to Seireitei." Ichigo admitted. "Since I suppose it's the same place Hisana-san came from…I supposed you would know."
Byakuya had to admit the logic was sound, even if much of it still sounded ludicrous to him. He wasn't actually sure what part was least believable: the fact that he had a little sister he didn't remember, a little sister whom he had adopted following a promise made to his deceased wife (and that was a whole other can of worms), that that little sister was married, and not only that but she shared a soul-bond with her husband, who was a noble-heir going incognito and a captain-level shinketsu shinigami; or, the fact that said shinketsu shinigami seemed to somehow know the darkest secret he, both as a Kuchiki, and simply Byakuya, had ever had: his father's lack of loyalty, and the results of that shame…
Orihime touched Ichigo softly, telling him with her eyes what he had already realized, Byakuya was still blocked by disbelief.
"I know you don't fully believe us." The shinketsu shinigami said in a soft, accepting tone of voice. "I understand you cannot trust us, it's to be expected, after all, you do not remember us, or Rukia, at all. Even if you probably remember Hisana-san asking you to find her before she died, you don't remember actually doing so. And regardless of what's in your records, or in your own notes, there's no guarantee they weren't falsified." He ran a hand through his head. "I'll be honest, I have no way to prove you beyond any and every shadow of doubt that what I'm telling you is the absolute truth. However, I have a question for you: what is going on here in the Kuchiki Manor? Right here, right now, what is everyone preparing for?"
Byakuya opened his mouth almost instantly, then closed it again, he didn't actually have an answer for that question.
"I'll tell you." Ichigo continued, his voice turning stronger. "It's Rukia's birthday, today. That's what everyone in this manor is preparing for. Even though she is now my wife, something not many people know actually. You wanted her birthday to be celebrated here, because it's a special day. It's the day she was born, and if she hadn't been, if she had never come into our lives, we wouldn't be who we are today, neither you, nor I, nor anyone else who's ever met her."
"You truly love this Rukia, don't you?" Byakuya couldn't help but ask.
"More than I've ever loved anyone before, more than I'll ever love anyone later." Ichigo answered in his most passionate voice.
"She's fortunate." Byakuya declared thoughtfully. "You both are. It's obvious that if you share a soul-bond the devotion is equal in both directions. Even if I cannot remember, I would be delighted to have you share dinner with us tonight, both of you."
Ichigo nodded graciously, he still hoped to have everything solved by the night.
"Inuzuri." Byakuya finally answered. "Hisana came from the 78th District in South Rukongai, it's also known as Hanging Dog."
Ichigo nodded, dipping his head in thanks to Byakuya before turning to leave.
"Orihime?" He called when she didn't follow immediately.
"You should go alone, Ichigo." Orihime told him softly. "You'll go faster. My Santen Kesshun will never be as fast as your shunpo. And if you really need my help to undo whatever has made everyone forget Rukia, and us, then you could bring her here." She cocked her head to a side. "Besides, I think I could be more helpful here, with getting rid of Kurotsuchi's experiment…for all we know, it might even be the cause of all the trouble in the first place."
Ichigo nodded, he knew how much Orihime hated feeling like a bother, she wouldn't like it if Ichigo wasn't able to move as fast because of her; and while her Santen Kesshun was great to help her move short distances, a trip to the third to last district in Rukongai…
"I'll find Rukia." Ichigo stated with conviction.
"I know you will." Orihime smiled softly. "Good luck Ichigo."
Ichigo smiled, and the disappeared into shunpo, so fast Byakuya couldn't help but blink in surprise, he hadn't seen someone that fast since Yoruichi…
After a few seconds contemplating the possibility of his former 'playmate'…or torturer, having trained the orange-head that was supposed to be his brother-in-law, Byakuya turned to look at the auburn-red-orange haired girl in the simple yukata, still sitting on her cushion.
"I'm afraid I have to return to my duties, to my Division, now Inoue-san." He informed her formally. "Would you prefer to stay here or…?"
"If it's the same to you, I would rather follow you." Orihime answered in a quiet but strong voice. "I wish to help in any way I can."
"And in what way could you possibly help?" Byakuya couldn't help but ask.
"I'm not a shinigami." Orihime answered the unasked part of the question. "But I have power nonetheless." She touched her hairpins lightly. "My Shun Shun Rikka grant me the power to create shields: to protect, heal and attack as needed."
"Interesting." Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he considered the possibilities. "You might be able to help a lot today, particularly if you can help us recover the shinigami lost beneath the strange…substance created by Kurotsuchi's experiment."
"I'll do my best." Orihime declared eagerly.
With a nod, the two were on their way.
xXx
Ichigo made it to Inuzuri in what must have been record time, thanks to Shiro's help in mixing shunpo and sonido into shindo (Ichigo had never been very creative when giving name to things, or creatures…Kon being the main example).
*So, what can we conclude thus far?* Zangetsu tried to keep Ichigo focused.
*All the memories are linked together, somewhat.* Ichigo answered thoughtfully. *Something has happened to Rukia, everyone has forgotten her, which at the same time has made everyone also forget everything related to her. It's why Urahara doesn't know us, or anyone here in Seireitei. But the absence of memories doesn't mean the things didn't happen, that's why the records still exist, why the changes still remain. If it weren't for Rukia I wouldn't be a shinigami, and even with whatever happened to her, I'm still one.*
*Very true.* Zangetsu nodded.
*What about your end, Ossan?* Ichigo inquired. *Have you been able to sense Shirayuki-san since all this madness began?*
*I have, though very faintly.* Zangetsu admitted. *It's like some kind of force is muting her own, keeping her in a corner, unable to get out, or even speak out…*
*Like when the snow-princess was in that damned tower?* Shiro suggested with distaste.
*No, it's something else.* Zangetsu shook his head. *Like she's behind some sort of glass wall. I can almost see her there, but cannot reach her…sort of like how you can sense your Rukia and yet cannot fully contact her.*
It was true, that was exactly what Ichigo was feeling in that moment, an absolutely maddening sensation that he hoped might change one they actually found Rukia. It wouldn't take them much longer, Ichigo had been sensing Rukia since they were at some point in the middle of Rukongai, had begun following that feeling more than Byakuya's instructions, just following those generally to make sure he didn't go in a completely wrong direction.
Eventually Ichigo reached a hill-cliff in the middle of Inuzuri, there he saw Rukia in a midnight-blue yukata with lighter-blue and green flowers and an orange and yellow obi. If her choice of clothes hadn't been enough to alert Ichigo that something was wrong, the fact that, even with him less than ten feet from her, he still couldn't feel his beloved, that would have been enough.
"Rukia?" He called when he was just a few steps behind her. "Are you alright?"
He was panting, extremely tired after using shindo for so long, and his anxiety wasn't making things any easier, not at all.
"Who are you?" The obsidian haired asked in a solemn voice.
And even though a part of Ichigo had already been expecting that, had even prepared himself mentally for it, it still hurt, deep inside his soul. The fact that his beloved did not know him, even when their soul-bond still remained…it was the most painful thing Ichigo had ever known.
"It's me, Rukia…" Ichigo began, hesitant.
He had honestly no idea what kind of consequences telling his name or their relationship to her would have, he was afraid it might only make things worse. And yet, he didn't get the chance to consider the risks for long, for they were interrupted right then by two individuals who landed in between the couple and looked to be about the same age as Rukia and him: one a medium-height green-eyed girl with blonde-hair and a pink-red fringe; the other a tall boy with blue-black hair and gray eyes, both were dressed in torn white yukatas, the girl's much shorter than the boy's, and yellow obis. Another particularity was that the boy was holding a huge white and red scythe, with an energy so dark Ichigo was immediately on guard.
"Shinigami!" The blonde said, as if the mere title was a curse.
"What's he doing here?" The boy asked in a very angry voice.
"Who are you two?" Ichigo demanded in return. "What have you done to my Rukia?!"
He couldn't help it, the possessive attitude just slipped through, but that was his wife they were keeping from him!
Before the two unknowns could say or do anything Rukia walked by them to stand right in front of Ichigo, a curious expression in her eyes.
"Rukia?" The blonde asked, confused at Rukia's attitude.
"Stay back." Rukia told them before turning back to Ichigo. "Who in the world are you? How do you know my name? And what gives you the right to call me yours?!"
"Rukia, I know you don't remember me right now, but trust me when I say we knew each other once, better than anyone has or ever will know us." Ichigo said in a soft, pained voice.
Her rejection of him hurt the orange-haired, deeply, even when he knew it wasn't really her fault, she had no control over her memories, or current lack thereof.
"Why should I trust you?" Rukia demanded.
"Why indeed?" Ichigo sighed tiredly. "I wish I could tell you I love you, that I know you love me, and have that be enough. I can tell you you're the love of my existence, my match, my wife, and none of that will be enough; you won't believe it, because you don't remember me …"
He was falling into despair, something the two other parts of his soul knew perfectly well, and not just because of the terrible storm going on in the Inner World.
"Do you remember Shirayuki-san, Rukia?" Ichigo asked, beginning to grasp at straws. "Sode no Shirayuki is your zanpakutou…"
"Zanpakutou?" Rukia interrupted him, puzzled. "I am a shinigami?" She turned to the two young ones. "I wasn't asleep all these years, was I?"
"Rukia…" The boy murmured, almost fearfully.
"Tell me more." Rukia practically ordered Ichigo.
Truth be told, Ichigo didn't know what else to say, he'd gone as far as declaring his love for her out loud, several times even! But that hadn't even fazed her. It didn't mean anything to her, because he didn't mean anything to her.
*Remind her about the bond Aibou…* Shiro whispered, trying to keep Ichigo focused. *If we can feel it, she should be able to as well.*
"We are bonded Rukia." Ichigo stated straight out. "We've been bonded for a while, probably longer than even I can imagine. I can feel our bond, can you?"
"What are you talking about?!" Rukia demanded, holding her head in pain and confusion.
"See into your soul Rukia." Ichigo said softly. "There you'll find your zanpakutou, as well as the bond that connects the two of us, a soul-bond, we're soulmates Rukia."
It was as if, even without doing anything, somehow the words were having an effect on the obsidian haired girl, it was a profound effect, but still not enough…
"Who are you?" Rukia asked once again, then clarified. "What is your name?"
"I…" With the expression of a man who had nothing else to give, or to lose, he answered, in a way similar to what he'd done that night, on their first meeting. "I'm Kurosaki Ichigo."
The words, like some kind of spell, caused an almost instant reaction, as Rukia's head snapped up, her mind assaulted by memories, so many memories…
A strange first meeting, an enemy, a battle, a blade and… contact… it was the first time their two souls brushed together, and in a sense it almost was like they had before… or maybe they were just meant to connect all along.
The petite girl in the yukata dropped to her knees as she held her head tightly, pain wrecking havoc to her psyche as she tried to deal with the sudden barrage of memories. There was so much, decades that she had passed by in an instant because, somehow, the most iconic memories seemed to all have taken place in the last year…
"Remember me Rukia, please." Ichigo insisted. "Remember the Nakama!"
"It's different. We're not just mere classmates, or allies. We're more than just friends…not quite like family but…"
"Nakama."
"Yes, nakama, that's the kind of word I was looking for. We're nakama…"
"All those memories we created, good and bad, in the sun and in the rain!" Ichigo went on.
"It would seem like bad things have a tendency of happening when it's raining, huh?"
Yes they did, bad things sometimes happened when it rained.
"Remember, how strong you were, that day, those days, both at Soukyoku Hill and at the Kuchiki Manor." Ichigo pressed on. "The times others tried to treat you as anything less than the beautiful and amazing woman and shinigami that you are."
"I need to ask you a question. But I won't ask it to a porcelain doll, or a damsel in distress, I want to ask that question to a shinigami; so show me you're one and summon your zanpakutou!"
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
"You accepted me Rukia, all of me, the light and the dark. You're so incredibly strong, you believe in myself even when I don't…" he sighed. "Even if we first got together to follow the wishes of others, eventually it became our own wish, we made our own decision, chose our own future…which is how I made that question, for the second time, for good, and you answered it…Look at that ring on your finger Rukia, at the testament of the decision we made!"
She did as told, looking at the band around her finger, the black, clear, red, blue and violet diamonds that adorned her, and which she hadn't been able to remember, until then…
"I know we're technically already married. But that time, we did it for all the wrong reasons. It's also not technically legal in this world. I now know what I feel for you, I know I love you. This time…this time I want to do things right, the way they should be done." He dropped on one knee, holding her hands in his. "Will you marry me Rukia?"
"Yes…I will marry you, Ichigo."
"Ichigo…" She whispered out loud, in a mix of confusion and wonder. "Ichigo…my Ichigo…"
"Yes." Ichigo agreed immediately. "Your Ichigo."
"I…I'm remembering…" Rukia whispered, half-pained, as she raised her head.
"She's remembering…" The boy behind her muttered, pained himself for some reason.
"No!" The blonde snarled. "We cannot let her remember what happened that day!" she rushed to stand in front of Rukia. "Leave! Leave Shinigami! Rukia does not remember you!"
"You're wrong, I know you are, even if not fully, Rukia knows exactly who I am." Ichigo stated, full of confidence. "And even if she didn't, there's no way I'm going anywhere without her!"
"Rukia's not going anywhere with you." The blonde girl insisted. "That's not what she wants!"
"Is it really?" Ichigo's brow furrowed. "Or is it more that it is not what you want? I have no idea who you are, or the emo boy behind you, but there's no way in heaven or hell you're taking my Rukia from me!"
Rukia held the side of her head with a moan of pain, as if something in the way Ichigo and the unknown girl argued, pained her deeply, as if it made it harder for her memories to return.
"Nee-san!" The 'emo boy' cried out unexpectedly. "We need to stop this! If it continues, Rukia might never remember our names!"
"If we don't get rid of that shinigami, she might forget us completely, and our names would be a moot point!" The blonde retorted.
Ichigo still had no idea what was going on with those two, but his priority was Rukia.
"Rukia!" He cried out. "Remember please! Remember Sode no Shirayuki. You're a shinigami, and so proud of it. You're also a Nakama! The first time we met, when you risked your life to save me and my family, when you gave me your powers, when everything began…remember!"
"Give me your sword, shinigami! Lets give this plan of yours a try."
"It's not 'Shinigami'. It's Kuchiki Rukia."
"I see…I'm Kurosaki Ichigo."
It was as if suddenly something broke, something invisible, intangible, but equally important. Rukia's violet eyes recovered their brightness, and abruptly the orange-haired could feel her again, as clear as ever, inside his own soul…
"ICHIGO!" Rukia cried out at the top of her lungs.
The delight however, didn't last for long, as almost at the same time the blonde girl let out a scream of her own, heavy, deep black reiatsu swirling around her, and soon enough extending to reach her 'brother', surrounding Rukia in the process.
"You can't have Rukia." The blonde snarled. "I won't let you take her from us again."
"Nee-san…" The boy muttered in a low, sad tone.
"And if it's the only way to keep her with us, we will become one with Rukia!" The blonde announced with an almost insane glint in her eyes.
"We'll be together forever." The boy agreed.
Ichigo tried to do something, anything, but there was nothing that could be done. Way too fast the dark reiatsu grew, until his beloved disappeared inside it, along with the other two.
"RUKIA!"