Chapter 6: Turning point

After what was told to the young red head, Ulquiorra, who was listening in the whole time, left to report to his king. He held the same emotionless look in his face as he heard the way that Rukia explained what had happened from her perspective, but the look in his eyes held a subtle rage. A rage at what really happened that day to his Lord. A day that would be etched within his memory for always an eternity.

'Fools.'
He thought to himself as he appeared to a set of dark double doors with red etchings carved into it.

He opened the doors and was bombarded by the sight of his Lord sitting in the center of a large, lush garden. It was filled to the brim with red and black roses and a dark tree looming overhead. The crescent moon was visible through the windows on the ceiling and provided a light that shined inside of the room constantly. Everyone knew of this room, as Ichigo would come here to meditate and escape the hardships of the day running the palace. He would always be seated within the center of the garden where no roses were planted and sit there as the moon shined brightly within the room. To him, it was tranquil.

"Lord Kurosaki."
Ulquiorra started as he used sonido to appear within the circle and bowed.

Ichigo didn't even open his eyes as he simply acknowledged the stoic former espada's presence.
"Report, Ulquiorra."
He spoke in a calm tone.

Ulquiorra nodded and lifted his head to continue.
"The soul reapers are still within their area, none of them have left yet,"
Ichigo nodded as he really didn't care for their regular dealings.
"But then the Kuchiki woman explained 'that' day to her child."

Ichigo opened his eyes slowly as he took a breath, moving the roses with the simple gesture.
"Why did she speak of it?"
Ichigo asked with a slightly stern tone as he hated being reminded of that day in any form. Even the paintings in his throne room angered him to an extent, but he kept those there as a reminder of why he never should've been involved with the dealings of the afterlife.

Ulquiorra continued.
"It seems the girl wants to know what really happened and why everything seems so different than before. She is tenacious in her pursuit as she apparently asked about certain things such as Las Noches and the Soul Seeds to your children."

Ichigo smirked a bit as he relaxed. With a sigh, he stood up from his position and looked to the moon.
"If she seeks answers, then I will give her answers."

"My Lord?"
Ulquiorra started with a confused eye.

"Ulquiorra, continue monitoring them for now. I will speak with the girl when the time comes."
Ichigo turned to leave as it would be time to see someone special to him now.

"Understood Lord Kurosaki."
Ulquiorra bowed as he left in a burst of sonido.

Ichigo smirked as he felt the subtle uncertainty coming off his loyal friend, but now was the time to leave. He still had one sister he wanted to see.

Kazui and Ryu's room

After the day was over with for the four children, they all went to their own room to rest. Yuzu and Tier had their own room just as Kazui and Ryu had theirs, and unlike the sisters clean and tidy room, the boys usually had a messy one.

With all that's been going on, with the soul reapers being here and everyone being on edge, while Yuzu's mother was still gone for now, things seemed kinda odd for them. They had heard stories of the soul reapers before and how they were a terrible and manipulative people. How they used their father and how even Ryu's and Kazui's mothers were used in a sense. After hearing the stories of their father and how his life was changed forever because of them, the four were weary of soul reapers, with Ryu asking their father why he never beat them up in his words after all this time. Ichigo would always smile at his hyperactive son's question and simply say that it wasn't worth it anymore. The four never understood until now. Just looking at the bunch from this morning and how defeated they were, how none had the will to even fight back anymore, it really wasn't worth it.

All of that wasn't what Kazui was thinking about though in his bed right now. All he was thinking about was that girl, Ichika. It wasn't just because he thought she was kind and sorta cute, cue a blush on his face, but he also just wondered why she was the only one who showed the least amount of fear in her eyes. Even when she was walking with Uncle Grimm, she was completely calm under his hard gaze after a moment. It was almost like she just knew that things would work out despite what happened to her home just earlier that day.

'I wonder why she thinks that?'
Kazui thought to himself as he sighed in his bed.

He sat up and decided to take a walk since he couldn't sleep. Throwing the sheets off of him, Kazui got off his bed and stood up to stretch. The room was big enough for the two of them as it was spacious. Clothes and toys were scattered around the floor, moreso on Ryu's side of the room as he was snoring on his bed with the sheets sprawled on him. Kazui maneuvered through the cluttered floor and made it to the door as quietly as he could. Even though Ryu was a heavy sleeper, his senses were always sharp to the slightest signs of attack. This made a sneak attack on his person difficult but you could knock over a large object and have it bang on the floor and he wouldn't even flinch.

Kazui went outside in his black pajama pants and light blue shirt and walked along the halls. It came as no surprise to see not so many of the arrancar patrolling the halls as the palace was never really under serious attack. The only times they were was by the 'Savage' ones far outside of their fathers sight. Yuzu's mother and a few others were currently hunting one in particular at the moment. As Kazui passed them, they did greet him with a wave sense the boy or any of the kids for that matter never wanted to be treated as royal by anyone. The boy then went to the courtyard to sit near the fountain just to clear his mind. It always seemed to calm him whenever he was feeling unsure of himself or any of his abilities, but this time was different. He was just thinking about the soul reapers and just what exactly could've happened to them that caused them to look so completely and utterly defeated.

"Oh well I guess."
Kazui spoke to himself as he sat down on the edge of the fountain and stared into the red water.
"I just hope that everything works out in the end."

"It's always good to remain hopeful, Kazui."
The familiar and motherly voice he was always used to spoke from behind him.

Kazui turned to see his mother standing beside him with a small smile on her face.
"Hey mom."
He spoke as she sat down next to him.

Orihime smiled as she watched the red waters along with her child.
"Something on your mind, Kazui?"
She asked in a warm tone.

Kazui sighed slightly as he turned to his mother, a bit of concern in those eyes.
"Mom, do you hate soul reapers?"

It was such a simple question yet one that held so many awful memories. Looking away from her son, she sighed.
"I do."

Kazui was only slightly shocked by his mother's answer. He could tell that whatever really happened all those years ago must've been truly terrible. He looked away from her as she looked upset.
"I'm sorry mom. I didn't mean to make you ups-"

"Kazui,"
Orihime interrupted, causing the boy to look back up to her. He saw her give him a kind smile like always.
"I will never be upset because of you.
Kazui smiled back to her.
"Now then,"
she stood up and stretched a bit before turning back towards her son.
"Since we're both up so late, why don't we get something sweet to eat."

Kazui chuckled a bit and stood up himself.
"Just as long as you're not the one making the sweets mom."

Orihime, feeling a bit hurt by what her son just said, cried anime-like tears as she continued to wonder why everyone thought her cooking was odd.

With Ichika

Everything felt wrong. From what her parents told her, everything they did was wrong. She still didn't have the full story of what happened that day, but so far that all felt trivial at the moment. Right now, Ichika was laying down on her own makeshift bed, staring up at the ceiling in thought. The past twenty-four hours had been a roller coaster of emotions.

Joy as she spent a day with her uncle before the attack.

Panic once she felt the high spirit energies facing off against one another.

Dread when those same energies faded away completely.

Fear once she saw the look of terror in her parent's eyes.

Sadness when her uncle died right in front of her.

And now, curiosity at just who this Ichigo Kurosaki was and what part did he have in what happened years ago.

It has been a very terrible day indeed, yet the girl wanted to know more. Why was that Aizen guy stricken with fear the second he saw the portal they all entered into to get here? What was he trying to do that got him imprisoned in the Muken in the first place? Why did her mother talk about someone named Yuzu when said girl greeted them not too long ago?

Ichika sighed in frustration.
'Too many questions.'
She thought to herself as she sat up quietly.

The large room they were all in was big enough to allow them to spread out a bit, but most stayed close in case they needed to do battle. Instincts most likely. Ichika was next to her parents as they were laid together and sleeping in as peaceful of a way as they could, all things considering.

Ichika looked to them and a small smile crossed her face as she saw them together. That smile left as she saw her mother clutching her uncle's bloody scarf in her hand. Ichika looked away and stood silently as not to wake anyone close to her. With careful maneuvering and a bit of luck and patience, she was able to make it to the door that lead outside.

Once Ichika was out, she looked around the hallway. After remembering the directions they were given to get to their room, Ichika retraced their steps and made it to the courtyard. She was surprised that there were no guards or even a night patrol out and about, but then again how could anyone tell its night time here.

With a sigh, the little girl made her way over to the fountain and sat on its edge. As she watched the red water flowing about, she couldn't help but shed her tears as everything sunk in from today. Their home was no more, the people she either looked up to or respected were dead or worse, and her uncle was gone now. Byakuya may have been many thing from what she was told, but the one thing she always knew was that he would move the heavens themselves to protect her. He was wise beyond his years and was always teaching her many way to train and learn.

"I'm sorry uncle."
Ichika sobbed lowly as her tears fell into the water.

As she sobbed, she didn't even notice or sense the presence right behind her until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled completely, Ichika turned her head back quickly and saw the one showing her some signs of comfort. It was the last person she ever thought she would see in a while for now as his white hair cascaded over his shoulders as he gave the girl a solemn look.

"I heard about Byakuya."
Ichigo started in a low tone that held a hint of sadness towards her.
"I am sorry for you. He was a good fighter, and a good man in the end."

Ichika looked to him in surprise.
"You knew my uncle too?"

Ichigo simply nodded as he gave her a small smirk.
"I did. A long time ago."
He knelt down so that she was eye level with him.
"Would you like to know more about what really happened that day, Ichika?"

Man it feels good to write again. Sorry for not posting in a while (a long one at that). This year has been pretty horrible so far, but I'm glad that its almost over.

The next chapter will have the whole story of what really happened during the Winter War. Hope you guys are still into this fic and my other ones as I'm gonna try and kick it into high gear here. Most of my fics I haven't update since either last year or way earlier this year. That means that Redo and Change, Ichigo's New Mom, Born of Two, Chibi Hollow, What If 2, and Return of the Strawberry will be my top priority's for now. Really want to get those out and about so people don't lose interest in them.

Anyway, hope everyone is staying safe and healthy out there wherever you are. Hope that good things are happening to you and I hope that next year gets better.

Till next time, stay awesome and as always,

PEACE!