Disclaimer: don't own Bleach

"Normal Speech"

"Thoughts"

"Hollow Speech"

"Zanpakuto Speech"

"Flashback/Memories"

Lone Wolf's Broken Soul, Chapter 5

And train they did. They trained three times a week after the lessons and sometimes on the weekend's when none of them went to visit their families. Byakuya learned the hard way that Ichigo had an inner sadistic personality and finally learned his Zanpakutou's name. Their relationship only improved after he changed the way he saw his zanpakuto. Byakuya got better and better when they were training together and spent most of his time with Ichigo. Ichigo enjoyed training with Byakuya. Although he had to hold back he still enjoyed their friendly sparrs. He put his seal back on after his reiatsu recovered enough and he didn't have to worry about his control slipping. Now their in the middle of their fifth year. After the finals of the third and fourth year which they passed in flying colors. Byakuya told Ichigo that his grandfather wanted to meet him after he learned of their training and Ichigo, of course, wasn't thrilled but he couldn't really say no. It is after all Byakuya's grandfather, the Kuchiki Clan Head and the Captain of the 6th Division. So he said that he'll go meet him the next time Byakuya goes to the manor.

So that's where we find our favorite duo today, walking towards the Kuchiki Manor. Byakuya was glad he was able to convince Ichigo to come with him to the manor. He did inform his grandfather with a Jigokuchō* but he decided to go ahead before Ichigo changed his mind and escaped. Now they were nearing the Manor and he wasn't really worried...he was freaking out!! He just really hoped his grandfather liked Ichigo or at least approved of him. Speaking of Ichigo, he was a bit worried about him. He noticed that he was getting a bit fidgety these last few days and that he got small bags under his eyes. Otherwise he was acting like he usually does, so Ichigo should be fine. Hopefully.

They entered after passing the guards and were making their way through the manor to the sparring grounds. Since his grandfather hadn't arrived yet. They sparred a bit, with bokkens, while waiting for Byakuya's grandfather. He arrived during the 2nd round but neither of them noticed him and continued sparring. He contemplated stopping the spar but chose against it and watched them continue.

Kuchiki Ginrei, 27th Clan Head of the Kuchiki Clan and Captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13. Contrary to popular belief he did care about his grandson. But because of his position and status he wasn't allowed to overly show it otherwise he would have to deal with the complaints of the Elders. So he shows it by training his grandson, or just having friendly conversations over tea, or bringing fellow captains to the manor to interact with him and let them train him a bit. Though he does sometimes question the 2nd divisison's captain's method of training him, he supposes it's something natural with the Shihōins to be this devious. He would not admit it out loud but he found it quite entertaining how Byakuya tries to catch the Flash Godess. He also sometimes brought the captains of the 8th and 13th division to the Kuchiki Manor and they would just have tea or train a bit with Byakuya too.

After receiving the Jigokuchō from Byakuya telling him he'll be coming to the manor with his friend Shiba Ichigo. He started tidying up his office and his mind wandered to Byakuya and his friend. He couldn't hide his surprise very well when Byakuya told him he's become friends with the Shiba in one of his visits. It's not that the Kuchikis and Shibas hate each other, they have a neutral relationship, they just have different views of certain things and it's the typical Shiba behavior that is too overbearing for them. From the previous times Byakuya came to the manor, he's told him about Shiba Ichigo.

From what he's heard from him, he's not the regular Shiba. He isn't loud, over enthusiastic and doesn't act like the usual Shiba. On the contrary, he's calm, collected and surprisingly not overly social, which Shibas usually are. The only thing that he has in common with the Shibas, is that he's very protective of the people he cares about and his family. Another thing he learned from Byakuya is that he's begun training with his friend and he's finally learned the name of his zanpakuto thanks to him. So he suggested to Byakuya that he bring his friend to the manor once so he gets to meet him.

After tidying up his office and putting away the paperwork, he left his office, locked it and went on his way out of the division to the manor. On his way there he met the 2nd division captain Yoruichi Shihōin.

Yoruichi Shihōin was the daughter of the former taichou of the 2nd division, Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō and an old friend of his. It's through him that he met her and he could already tell that she would make a great taichou and Chief Commander one day. But she inherited all the known Shihōin traits. Feline face, golden cat like eyes, a talent for Shunpo and Hohō and very well known Shihōin mischievousness. What also intrigued and her peers is her ability to transform herself into the form of a black cat, which many chuckled at the suiting form.

"Greetings Shihōin taichou.", he did a shallow bow and she returned it with a smirk on her feline face.

"Hello Kuchiki taichou.", she looked from the direction he came from and the direction he was going. "Are you off to the manor?", at his nod she continued, "What's the occasion? Is Byakuya-bō coming for another visit?" A little twinkle appeared in her eyes when she said his name. She really loved to tease his grandson.

"Indeed he is. He is also introducing me to a friend he met at the academy." Her eyes widened slightly at the last part of the sentence and honestly, he couldn't blame her. He too never thought Byakuya would make a friend at the academy.

"Little Byakuya-bō made a friend? Well that wasn't something I thought I was ever gonna hear." He nodded his agreement."So who is his friend? Have I ever heard of him?" She looked really curious and she was probably going to probe him as long as needed for the name of Byakuya's friend.

"*sigh* His name is Shiba Ichigo. Shiba fukutaichou's little brother." He had to hold himself back from letting a smile form on his face. It was rare to get Yoruichi Shihōin speechless and get a shocked expression on her face. Were he a lesser man he would have laughed, but he had a Kuchiki Facade to uphold after all.

"You're serious?", at his nod she got her face back under control and looked back at him with curiosity and deviousness mixed together. "Then I have got to meet him. I'm sure you don't mind me tagging along do you?" As if it would matter if he said no.

"Would it even matter if I said something?" Resignation heavy in his gut.

The smirk she sent him was pure victory when she answered with, "Nope!", popping the "p". Ginrei just sighed and walked towards the manor with Yoruichi not far behind. This was going to be an interesting meeting.

When they arrived at the manor, Yoruichi went about her usual routine when visiting and hid herself somewhere close by. He shortly stopped to sense is grandson's reiatsu and found it with an unfamiliar one on the sparring grounds. The unfamiliar one undoubtedly belonging to Shiba Ichigo. When he arrived there he found his grandson and his friend sparring. Content with watching until they finished, Ginrei called over a servant and asked for jasmine tea with tree cups to be brought to him. The servant nodded and made their way to the kitchen and Ginrei stood there watching the sparr.

When he watched he could see how Byakuya really did improve and his friend wasn't too bad either. The sparr seemed more like dance than anything and was quite captivating to watch. When he saw that they finished he made his way over to them and called out to Byakuya and raised his reiatsu a bit.

"Well, that was a very good sparr Byakuya. I see you're working very hard." When Byakuya and his friend noticed him, Byakuya wiped some sweat of his face and smiled at him and ran over to him with his friend following behind him with a bit of distance.

"Grandfather! It's good to see you again, I'm so glad you could come to the manor today." Ginrei nodded in agreement and looked towards Ichigo, "and I see you brought you're friend you mentioned before." Ichigo seemed to jump slightly when his attention was directed towards him and straightened up a bit.

"Hello Kuchiki taichou, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Shiba Ichigo.", he introduced himself and bowed to him.

He returned the bow and also greeted him, "Pleasure to meet you young man. My name is Kuchiki Ginrei taichou of the 6th division and Kuchiki Clan Head. Byakuya has told me many things about you." Ichigo's eyes widened slightly, a movement he would have missed where he not a shinigami for so long, and looked towards Byakuya then back to him.

"Good things I hope." He said and Ginrei nodded and looked towards Byakuya. "So what do you say you two? How about taking a break from training for a while? I brought someone here to see you."

They both got curious looks on their faces and Byakuya asked, "Here to see us?", before someone promptly pressed their bust into the right side of his face. His eyes narrowed in ire and he lunged at the person while shouting, "It's YOU cat monster!!"

Yoruichi just laughed while back flipping, landing and crossing her arms. ""cat monster"?! That's what I get for coming over to visit Byakuya-bo?! And to think I went out of my way to make a special trip." The bright smirk on her face smothered all the hurt in her voice, not that there was any. "Besides, I wanted to meet your friend." She shunpoed towards him and got close to his face and Ichigo leaned back a bit.

"Hello there. I'm Shihōin Yoruichi 2nd division taichou and Shihōin Clan Head and who might you be?" She looked him up and down and made eye contact with him again. Noticing his eyes had a slight golden tint to them.

"Pleasure to meet you Shihōin taichou. I'm Shiba Ichigo.", he would bowed but he couldn't really with Yoruichi so close. Unless he wanted to smash his head against hers, which he didn't want to.

She frowned slightly at him before she leaned back. "You can call me Yoruichi, or Yoruichi-san. You don't have to be so formal with me." Her voice held the tone that said he better call her that or else. Which Ichigo quickly nodded and she smirked and shunpoed back to her original spot.

"But still Byakuya-bo that's the treatment you give me for coming over to visit?" She crossed her hands once again and looked a bit like a mother scolding her child, except she wasn't really scolding, just more teasingly.

"Quiet! When did I ever say I wanted you to come and visit me?!", she just smirked brighter as he continued "As the next head of the Kuchiki Clan, I don't wish to be involved in your games. They're not fun!"

"Oh, is that so?" Her eyes glinted with pure mischief and she shunpoed past him and Ichigo and stole both their hair ties, giggling all the while.

Byakuya only grew more irritated, narrowed his eyes and turned around trying to attack her with his bokken, Ichigo shunpoeing out of the way as soon a she realized what Byakuya was gonna do.

Yoruichi laughed on the roof of a wall while waving both their hair ties and saying, "It may be games to you. But I'd be worried about the Clan's future, if a mere Girl was able to steal a hair tie so easily off his leader's head." Ichigo tried to suppress or at least smother the chuckles that escaped in his hand. But Byakuya's irritated glare told him he was doing a miserable job and he turned back to Yoruichi.

He wore a strained smile on his face while he spoke, "Stay right where you are Miss Yoruichi Shihōin.", his eye twitching dangerously and slightly sweating. "You haven't seen my Shunpo yet."

Yoruichi just did a wide tooth full grin and bent slightly forward, preparing for a shunpo. "Oh yeah? Looks like you lost." Promptly disappearing in shunpo.

Byakuya just grunted, his ire growing bigger and bent slightly forward. "I do see. It appears you're trying to make me really angry." He clenched his bokko and fist. "Fine. I guess you'll have to find out for yourself.", he looked up with narrowed eyes and clenched teeth, "Back to the matter is, I'm about to prove that my Shunpo is far superior than yours!", and he also disappeared in Shunpo, leaving a small breeze behind.

Ginrei and Ichigo watched in the direction Byakuya went and Ginrei looked down and sighed. "That boy. There's no telling how far Byakuya would go, if he could just find someway to control his temper.", and looked back into the direction Byakuya went.

Ichgio, who had been silently watching, snickered before he looked to Ginrei. "Guessing from your reaction I'm guessing this is something that has happened repeatedly."

Ginrei looked at him and just sighed again. "Nothing I can do about it now, but yes this has happened before." Ichigo snickered again and Ginrei continued, "Guess I'll have some tea. Why don't you join me Shiba-san?" Ichigo looked a bit surprised that he was asked and nodded in consent. They made their way to the porch where the servant had left the teapot and cups and served themselves some tea, while holding a bit of conversation.

It was several hours later that Byakuya finally returned from his chase. Hair and clothes slightly ruffled, sweating and panting a bit. When he caught his breath and saw Ichigo and his grandfather sitting there, he sent Ichigo an apologetic and sheepish look. Ichigo just waved his hand and made a sign form him to join them. He sent a relieved look in his direction before he also sent his grandfather and apologetic look and went over to them. Once there he sat down and Ichigo gave him a cup of tea, which he sent a grateful smile and sipped it.

"Ah Byakuya good of you to join us again.", Ginrei had an amused expression on his face while he looked at Byakuya. "Ichigo-san was just telling me about his choices of divisions after graduating the academy." Byakuya looked slightly surprised that his grandfather was already referring to Ichigo with his given name and not family name.

"Oh really? Well I'm also interested in your choices Ichigo.", Byakuya told Ichigo. Absently drinking his tea and relaxing a bit.

"Well I'm not a 100% sure yet. But I was thinking of choosing between the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and maybe the 13th divisions.", he really thought about his choices. Although he'll also have to prepare himself before seeing people again that were supposed to be dead. He then looked at Byakuya with a knowing look. "I'm pretty sure you're going to choose the 6th."

Byakuya lightly shook his head and puffed up a bit in pride before he spoke, "Of course. Why wouldn't I? It basically belongs to the Kuchikis."

Ginrei nodded in agreement before he looked at Ichigo with a questioning expression. "Why aren't you choosing the 10th or 13th division. The Shiba Clan Head is the taichou at the 10th and your brother is the fukutaichou of the 13th." Byakuya also looked at Ichigo, also wanting to know the reason.

Ichigo sipped at his tea before he spoke with an exasperated tone, "It's not that I don't like the divisions. it's just that living with Shibas is one thing, but I don't think I could handle it having to work with them everyday too. I might end up with an permanent eye twitch.", and sipped his tea again.

Byakuya chuckled at his friend's misery and Ginrei laughed inwardly. They suppose he has a point. A little while later Byakuya and Ichigo had to take their leave to get back to the academy. Ginrei accompanied them to the gates and bid the goodbye and told Ichigo that he was welcome to visit the manor with Byakuya. Ichigo thanked him and with that they went their way to the academy.

Ginrei watched the two students as they made their way back to the academy, from the gates. He understands why Byakuya befriended the boy and he approves of him. After all it must have been a special Shiba, if he managed to become friends with his grandson. It's also nice to see a normal Shiba for a change and the boy could hold some good conversations. He's curious to see where this friendship will bring the two in the future.

"Looks like we will be getting some excitement in the future." He looked at the clouds in the sky before he made his way back into the manor for dinner.

Ohayo!! I managed to FINALLY finish and upload this chapter just before school started. I'm so proud of myself! Anyway the next six months, at least I think, the updates will be going slow or not at all. But I'm not giving up on this story so don't worry about that. Ja ne!!

Jigokuchō: are the hell butterflies in the series