Notice: I don't own Bleach, but this AU? definitely.

Chapter 12: Two Souls, One Goal, A Revelation

Pant...Pant...Pant

Uryu was on his hands and knees, exhausted from the intense training his Aunt subjected him to. For the past hour straight, him and Masaki were in a sparring match. Uryu was using all his skills just to keep up with the elder Quincy. Uryu had used every Quincy technique he could think of, from hirenkyaku, kūjaku, to his prototype licht regen; nothing worked! 'I knew she was above me, but this...is ridiculous!'

"Well...looks like you're at your limit. Not bad Uryu, well done." She was smiling, but her smile faded when she saw how dejected her nephew was. "H-Hey, Uryu. Don't feel down! You have great potential for someone so young. Remember, I've been at this far longer than you have!" She tried to comfort him, but had a feeling – like his father and mother – he was hard-headed and wouldn't take platitudes for tangible results. 'Well I shouldn't be surprised...I'm like that myself. This stubborn streak really does run in the family.' She placed her hands on her hips and gave her nephew a small smile.

Over at the rest area, Ichigo was in pure shock from the display of power and skill. Uryu had improved a lot but his mother was on a completely different level. What was even more startling was that Uryu was on his feet, completely exhausted, while his mother hadn't even broken a sweat. 'If that's nowhere near the level she's at...maybe...? I think I'll ask.'

Ichigo exited the barrier surrounding the rest area. He took a quick look around the training hall, and there were some burn marks, but it was surprisingly in good condition. He waved out to his mother. "Hey mom!"

Masaki was shaken out of her focus, and looked over towards where she heard Ichigo. "Yes, Ichigo?"

"Can I...talk with you?" He knew if his mother – however embarrassing it was – could help them out, they would have a real shot at saving Rukia.

Ichigo walked up to the battle stage, and passed his exhausted cousin. He was a little nervous, so was scratching his strawberry blonde hair. "Y-Yeah...well...after you've helped us train...could you...maybe...come fight with us?"

Masaki looked at her son and nephew, who was now eagerly awaiting her answer.

"I'm...not sure if that's a good idea..." She was hesitant for a few reasons, for one she was a Quincy, and she knows the Soul Reaper's dislike Quincy on good days, let alone with a small infiltration party like Ichigo and his friends would be - 'Ryōka is what they'd likely call them. Bad omens for Soul Society.' Also she was pretty sure if she entered with them, even if they were successful, it could get even messier since there'd be three Quincy invading the Seireitei (if you include Ichigo), and that could be a precept to all out war. Of course Ichigo would be seen as a Soul Reaper himself, but if she were to train him further, he'd likely develop his Quincy spirit energy enough that high ranking Soul Reaper's, would sense who or rather what he is. 'Actually, I might have to go, if only to keep an eye on them. Still...'

After mulling through her thoughts, Masaki spoke up. "Ichigo, Uryu, I'll...think about it. If I do come along it will be to keep an eye on the both of you. I'll only get involved as a last resort."

Ichigo was ecstatic and ran to his mother, hugging her. "Thanks mom! With your help, we might have a shot at saving Rukia!" Masaki leaned into her son's embrace, happy that he was happy, however her expression remained tense.

Uryu noticed this, but kept it to himself...for now.

/ /

Nearly an hour passed, and Ichigo's joint training with Uryu was going...well considering. Uryu was making strides with his Quincy skills. He was refining his power set, and making much sharper moves. Ichigo was finally understanding what it means to control one's spirit energy. This was a major start for him, as it would be the core of any spirit related techniques he could use.

'Yeah, seems like I have better control now! Mom, said since I have such a large amount of spirit energy, it would be best if I visualised my spiritual power as a large ocean, and the control as large lakes or river systems, directing the energy.' Ichigo was fairly confident on his control now, but was still a little freaked out by that darker spiritual pressure he sensed earlier.

Masaki, from a short distance, was watching the progress of her two boys. 'Ichigo has a great talent for learning things quickly, even with minimal direction, and Uryu...is so studious, it reminds me so much of Ryū but a little of Kanae too.' She was thinking over how best to progress with the training here. She knew Ichigo would need a balance between his Soul Reaper and Quincy training, while Uryu would need to be taught refinement in his techniques, 'This could be harder than I first thought...maybe I need to speak with someone first? Maybe my niece and nephew or...actually what about that cat?' She mulled over the decisions she needed to make. She wondered a little about the cat, whom she was sure was a friend of Mr. Urahara's.

'A lot of decisions to make...but that's probably best for later on, once we have breakfast.'

"Boys! We're finished with the training. Get cleaned up and ready for breakfast."

"Okay, Mom!"

"Yes, Aunty!"

/ /

About half an hour later, Uryu and Ichigo had washed up and changed into some more casual clothing; well casual for feudal-esque Soul Society.

"It's been a while since I've been in a kimono, how about you Uryu?"

"It has been a while as well..."

"Well best we get over to the dining room, and have some grub!" Ichigo slapped his cousin on the back, as his way of being friendly to Uryu.

"Sure...just don't slap me on the back again Ichigo!"

The boys walked from the wash house to the kitchen. The walk took a few minutes, but they found their way back to a familiar setting. Already sitting around the large table was their friends, as well as Kūkaku and Ganju.

Orihime waved out to Ichigo and Uryu from the otherside of the table; waving both her arms over her head. "Hey there you two! Welcome to breakfast!" She was quite...energetic, which wasn't unusual for the red headed girl, but made the boys a little nervous at the positive display. Chad – who was sitting next to her – gave them a thumbs up, which was a very Chad thing to do. Yoruichi the cat, was perched quite comfortably on a cushion overseeing the table. Closer to the boys, Kūkaku and Ganju sat side by side, with Kūkaku in a relaxed position, smoking a pipe, and Ganju...being a little less relaxed.

Kūkaku turned to the two newcomers, "You two, sit!" She directed the boys over to the otherside of the table; they obliged. Ichigo and Uryu sat next to Chad.

The large young man spoke up to his two friends, "So I see that you two were up early..."

"Yeah, Chad...we had training with my mom."

"Mrs. Kurosaki?"

Orihime overheard the conversation and wanted to join in. "Wait, did I hear right? You trained with Mrs. Kurosaki!? How was it!?" She smiled at Ichigo and Uryu, clearly interested in this information. Uryu cleared his throat and replied, adjusting his glasses. "Well Orihime...it was...tough. I didn't expect it to be so tough, but I've already learned a lot."

"Yeah Orihime, my mom was...I just never saw this side of her. Everytime she took me to karate practice, she was so...nice about it. Never thought of her as a fighter." Ichigo's gaze drifted to a nearby wall; a distant stare. "In saying that...she's incredibly powerful! Far more powerful than those Soul Reapers me and Uryu fought. I'm hoping she comes with us to get Rukia..."

Kūkaku was enjoying a swig of her drink and a puff of her pipe, just before she heard the sentence "I'm hoping she comes with us to get Rukia." The Shiba head stopped and spoke up, loud and commanding. "I don't think so kid. Masaki won't be coming with you." Everyone on the opposite side of the table snapped at attention at that declaration. Whatever daze Ichigo was in – he was out of it at from those words, "What do you mean!? She's my mom, and she agreed to think it over! You can-" Before he could finish his sentence, Masaki walked into the room and could sense the tense atmosphere. She looked at her son and niece, and knew it was likely them who got heated over something. She cleared her throat, "W-Well...I guess it's time for breakfast...right!" The tense mood cooled a little as her son and niece composed themselves. 'Wonder what they're arguing about?'

/Shiba Estate – Kitchen/

The atmosphere was still a little icy as mostly everyone enjoyed their breakfast. A few minutes in, Kūkaku spoke to Masaki. She leaned in to her Aunt, so she could speak a little more privately, "Hey...I heard cousin tell us that you'll be joining them on their crusade to rescue Rukia? Is that true?"

Masaki decided to speak truthfully, "Well...I'm not too sure yet. IF I do...I'll be support, and make sure those boys don't get into too much trouble."

"I recommend that you don't Aunty. You know how Soul Society views Quincy. Seeing as you, that boy with glasses, and Ichigo are all Quincy, I'm pretty sure they'd see that as a pretext to war."

"I know...but Ichigo technically is a Soul Reaper, and looks the part as you can see. Uryu, could just be seen as a lone Quincy, who has sided with Ichigo for his own reasons. As for me...I'll be able to keep out of sight of their surveillance, well enough. Even if I do get detected, I'm pretty sure, as long as they're not lieutenant or above, I'd be able to...persuade them not to say anything." Masaki had an unusual look in her eyes, giving an (almost) sinister smirk at the proposition. Kūkaku knew what this meant, and she almost felt sorry for the Soul Reaper's who'd have to face her in battle.

"Okay, Aunty...I won't stop you. Just know me and Ganju will support you anyway we can. Besides...we were planning on getting them into the Seireitei in the Kakaku Taihō (Flower Crane Cannon). We can just add you in as well. Shouldn't be much of an issue. Just...be careful."

"I will Kūkaku. I'll be back here before you know it! Also...don't be so hard on your cousin. He's headstrong, but has a good heart, like me and his dad."

Kūkaku took another swig of her drink, "Yeah, and that's kinda the problem. I know us Shiba are foolhardy at the best of times, and having spent all these years with you, the Kurosaki are no different. Probably why Uncle married you, eh?"

Masaki blushed a little, then got a little flustered, "W-Well! Th-there was...a lot of reasons, why h-he married me!"

"Hah! Don't get embarrassed like that Aunty!" She slapped her aunt on the back, chuckling heartily in response.

These words were heard by the whole group. Before, the two of them spoke lively to each other but...quietly. With Masaki being so flustered, her voice rose in volume, enough that Ichigo and co., heard the words 'married' and 'aunty' coming from Kūkaku and Masaki.

"Mom! Did she just call you Aunty!?" Ichigo's eyes were wide, pleading for an answer.

"Wait...you didn't tell him who we are?" Kūkaku's eyes narrowed a little.

"No I didn't, was going to while we trained over the course of the next few days. But...looks like the cat is almost out of the bag," Masaki's head slumped a little, a bit disappointed that her outburst, eliminated the possibility of a more subtle revelation of his lineage.

"Well here's as good a time as any, besides me and Ganju don't mind. Don't we Ganju!" She elbowed her baby brother in the shoulder. Of course, the Shiba man was happily eating his food, before his sister elbowed him – not a care in the world, besides the food.

"Gah! What was that for!?"

"Looks like you weren't listening Ganju. I said, me and you are happy to have Masaki explain who we are to Ichigo. Right here and now! Right...?"

"Y-yeah, we're fine with it. So long as you are...?"

"Fine about what mom? What are they talking about!?" Ichigo raised his voice. He demanded an explanation, even if it meant pushing his mother a little. Uryu was also interested in what secrets his aunt was keeping from Ichigo too.

Author's Notes: So here's the next revelation in the story. I think it's pretty natural for Ichigo's heritage to be info dumped at this time, since his mother is here and has such a good relationsip with the Shiba household.