Disclaimer: The only kind of Bleach I own is for the laundry.
Story: When Rukia comes to Karakura, Gin tags along for supervision (and because he made some nobles angry). How will Ichigo deal with both of them, while they adjust to a surprising human that could do things she shouldn't? Especially given the odd things that keep happening around her. Fem!Ichigo AU.
Set as a genderbent AU.
Spoilers: Yes, most definitely.
Pairings: Ryuken Ishida/Ichigo, Gin/Ichigo, Urahara/Ichigo, Aizen/Ichigo, Ukitake/Ichigo, Kyouraku/Ichigo, Byakuya/Ichigo, and maybe one-sided Others/Ichigo, Grimmjow/Ichigo, Ulquirrora/Ichigo…
Warnings: My usual crap…crazy writing, some perverseness every now and then, drama, angst, wild humor, drama, romance, drama, and that kind of thing…

Bleach It Orange!
Chapter Seven: Put a Hole in My Heart, Pretty Baby

Urahara blew on his hot tea, holding the cup carefully. He eyed the liquid inside thoughtfully with narrowed eyes.

"What's wrong, Urahara-san?" Rukia asked worriedly.

For a moment, he didn't answer. He just continued to gaze on his tea silently.

"Sandal-Hat~" Gin whined, using Ichigo's nickname for him. "You're too silent! What's going on?"

The pale-blond man frowned at the captain. That was also strange. Gin had always been rather strange and childish at times, but he'd never been this plain and obvious about it. Most of the time, he carried himself in a strange, creepy manner, very much like a snake. Right now he was…playful; just as mischievous as usual, but in a less abrasive and mean-hearted fashion. He was never really serious though (not that he'd seen), but he wasn't really usually so cheerful like this.

"She has potential," he said finally, though he was personally aware of how much of an understatement that was.

"Tell me about it," Gin laughed. "She nearly blew apart your secret training ground."

Urahara hid his grimace at that. "She's very strong," he nodded, settling down his drink without having even taken a sip of it. "Beyond that really. Kido, with her kind of spirit energy, should be an impossibility. In a way, it still is. She has so much of it, that doing Kido without doing damage, even when it's a Kido spell meant not to, seems impossible. The bigger level of a Kido it is, the easier it will be for her to perform it and maybe even correctly put out a correct amount of reiatsu for those, though she'll still be causing huge damage and continuing to put out a lot of power into those spells. It's the lesser, basic spells that we know and what will probably trip her up. She has so much spirit energy, it'll be impossible not to overpower those."

"What do you suggest we do then?" Rukia asked in consternation.

"We can teach her those spells," Urahara had already decided. "We will just have to allow for her to overpower them. Instead, we'll focus on control, so she can at least be able to control where and how to damage something with the Kido spells she'll be taught. We'll probably have to work backwards, teaching her the bigger, more energy required, and more powerful spells. I have a feeling those will be easy for her to learn and do. The smaller ones might even take years for her to perfect and gain the control required to perform them right, and without blowing up everything around her."

"Eh, so Ichi can learn the basic Kido while overpowering them and blowing stuff up?" Gin frowned. Then he smiled widely. "Sounds fun!"

Though Rukia was exasperated and lecturing him as best a subordinate could do, Urahara privately agreed and hid his smirk behind the cup he'd picked up again.

Things were certainly going to be interesting.

Urahara kept himself from gaping, the blast having deafened his ears and surprised him from the obvious destruction that blast had probably cost. And when the smoke cleared, he was correct in that, seeing how his training grounds had become practically ruins. He was lucky the blast hadn't torn a hole in the area, and he would have to postpone training indefinitely until he and the others could fix that hole. As it was, he would have to strengthen and add more spells and repower the training grounds to handle the kind of firepower Ichigo was capable of.

"I-Ichigo!" Rukia exclaimed. "That was…that was…"

"Amazing!" Gin clapped his hands. "Do it again!"

"No!" Rukia yelled, while Urahara eyed the damage speculatively.

Ichigo coughed in embarrassment, rubbing the back of her head.

"Um, sorry, Sandal-Hat," she murmured, looking at the damage with wide-eyed fascination as well.

"Hm, we'll need to stop for today," Urahara said. "I'll have to fix up the grounds and make some adjustments so that Ichigo-kun won't have to hold back…" he couldn't help adding a little teasing tone at the end, and was rewarded with a pretty flush on the orangette's face.

Ah yes. Looks like he was going to enjoy these training sessions very much.

Ichigo actually felt tired. She'd had a long day and had to deal with very strange people, and Rukia and Gin were proving to be a handful. Each.

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Deciding she didn't feel like cooking that night, she looked around the street she was on, and spotted a ramen bar that was open and smelled delicious even from where she was. Entering Ichiraku Ramen, she spotted only one other person there, and the cook and his helper.

"Hello, welcome!" the cook greeted. "What would you like?"

"Four orders please," Ichigo gave a polite smile. "One miso, one beef, one pork, and one chicken."

"Coming right up!"

She took a seat at the bar and was going to just wait it out, when the one other customer there stood up and moved over, choosing to sit next to her. That brought her full attention to him, and she watched him with wary eyes.

He was a handsome guy, tall, lean and with fair skin. His brown eyes looked at her with curiosity, while he ran a hand through his dark, combed-back hair, pulling lightly at the ends of it at the nape of his neck.

He held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Kugo Ginjo. I'm pretty much a regular at this shop, since I really like ramen. I haven't seen you around before?"

"First time," she said neutrally, cautiously grabbing his hand and shaking it. "I was hungry and didn't feel like cooking for the family."

"Oh, you have a family already?" he asked in surprise.

She rolled her eyes. "Not like that. I usually cook for my sisters and my dad after school ends and when I get home."

He grinned. "That's sweet of you. Good thing you dropped by here –this place is great! And plus, you got to meet me," he winked flirtingly at her, which caused her to be taken aback and huff in exasperation (even if she was amused too).

He was cute though…

She mentally shook her head. She had a fiancé. Teenage hormones or not, she should remember that. Even if this guy really was cute.

'Geez, who am I? Orihime? Tatsuki?' she thought.

Then again, even if she wasn't boy crazy like those two were (even tomboyish Tatsuki), there wasn't anything wrong with noticing and appreciating how handsome and cute some guys were, right? That was normal.

Despite her initial wariness, she found that she really liked talking and being around this stranger, and was surprised how well they got along with each other.

Laden down with her purchased dinner, she headed home after that and tried to hurry before the light completely disappeared and it would be dark. She was surprised though, that she had actually exchanged numbers with Kugo. Once she was home, she was greeted enthusiastically by her family, dodging a glomp from her father.

"I have hot food, idiot," Ichigo grumbled. "Move."

She easily shifted the bag to her other hand and pushed him down when he tried to get up from where he missed her. Heading to the kitchen, she lay the bag down on the table and took out the containers.

"Aww, Ichigo bought us food," Isshin cooed. "It's so sweet! I'm going to miss your cooking though, my beloved eldest."

Ichigo ignored him and focused on her sisters. "There's chicken, miso, pork, and beef. Grab a bowl from the cabinet and choose whichever one you want."

Isshin pouted, but came closer and did as the girls were, grabbing his own bowl.

After having a good dinner with her family, Ichigo cleaned up the tables while Karin volunteered to do the dishes and Yuzu wiped down the table. Isshin was useless, blathering happily to his poster of their mother.

"I'm going to get ready for bed," she told them. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Ichi-nee!" Yuzu and Karin said, while Isshin attempted to glomp her. This time she allowed it, patting his back in exasperation.

Once she finally managed to pry him off and send him away, she headed upstairs and took a quick shower. Heading to her room after it in a robe, she was stopped at the door by the sight of Hou, Zangetsu, and of all people Tamashii was there too.

Hou and Zangetsu looked agitated, though Zangetsu hid it mostly well. Tamashii though, looked at her with a fond expression, smiling gently and unbothered by Ichigo's mostly undressed state.

"I've been waiting for you," he said, though he glanced at the other two in there, which surprised her since even Gin or Rukia couldn't see Hou or Zangetsu. "These two have kept me company in the meanwhile."

"Who are you?" she breathed out, wary about him, especially since he seemed to be able to see and interact with her two companions.

She didn't know exactly what Hou was, but Zangetsu was her zanpakuto. How could he see him?

"Are you a Soul Reaper?" she asked guardedly, entering the room and closing her door firmly behind her. She looked around and saw no sign of either Rukia or Gin.

"No, I am not," he said solemnly. "I'm…" he paused, looking thoughtful. "Something else," he said simply, which made her feel uneasy.

He held up his hands and a tray of tea and cookies began to appear on them. He held the tray up and nodded towards it.

"I would, however, like you to have tea and cookies one last time with me," he said strangely. "I'm going to be gone for a while. Please, come here and sit," he gestured to the bed he was sitting and where he placed the tray on.

Ichigo began to feel ominous, but she still couldn't help her feet walking over and sitting down next to him on her bed, the tray the only thing between them.

Together, they sat there in silence, with Ichigo eating and drinking the cookies and while Tamashii didn't eat anything or drink a single drop of his tea, merely watching her with solemn eyes.

When the last of the tea and cookies were gone, he stood up and watched her for a moment, her head bowed and not looking at him at all.

"Thank you, Ichigo Kurosaki. You have no idea the great favor you have done me. Until next time."

And then he was suddenly gone.

Ichigo took a deep shuddering breath, feeling Zangetsu place his hand gently onto her bowed head while Hou grabbed her hands and held it in his much smaller ones.

"Things are muddled and unclear now, but do not fear your path," Zangetsu murmured to her. "We will travel alongside you to wherever you go and whatever you choose. Fear not," he repeated.

"Is it still raining?" she murmured.

"Yes. But we are still here."

She closed her eyes and forced herself to focus on evening out her breaths.

Ryuken was staying late at the hospital again, but he was taking a quick break to smoke on the rooftop of his office. He'd been busy and had so much to do that day, and it felt good to just take a break and relax for a bit. He'd have to get back to some paperwork again, but at least his other duties were done for the moment.

But then his phone rang and he scrunched up his eyebrows. Taking it out, he was pleased (if surprised) to find that it was his fiancée calling him. He answered immediately.

"Ichigo?"

"Ryuken," her voice was soft, but oddly unsteady. "Can I come see you?"

"Right now?" he asked startled. At her silence, he shook his head at himself. "Yes, of course. Do you need a ride?"

"No. I'll be there in a little bit."

"I'll see you soon then."

He worried about her and what had caused her to sound so unsure of herself.

Started 8/31/17 – Completed 8/31/17

A/n: Sorry it's been a while, guys! I didn't mean to stop (though to be honest, the pause for this fic isn't nearly as long as some of my others XD). I won't be too regular with this, but I will definitely try to keep up with it and update more. Please remember to review as I find much motivation and more willing to get myself going and writing for the fics that people review the most for!

Quick Points:

1. Ryuken and Isshin: When I talk 'age', I mean physical –so to me, Isshin looks to be around Ryuken (and Masaki's) age group. He's a Shinigami, so I'm guessing he's muuuuch older than that of course.

2. Tamashii: I will say he's not an OC. If you can figure out who he is, bravo! If not…well, you'll see soon (maybe not too soon, lol).

3. Pairings: These are the set ones: Ryuken Ishida/Ichigo, Gin/Ichigo, Urahara/Ichigo, Aizen/Ichigo, Ukitake/Ichigo, Kyouraku/Ichigo, Byakuya/Ichigo. The ones I may or may not add are Grimmjow, Ulquirrora, Starrk, and/or Kugo. There will definitely be one-sided others with Ichigo (and those I just listed are definitely going to be one-sided at least).

Sorry if I'm not answering replies this time around! I'm quite tired right now and have to force myself to get started on an assignment I have to do…