Moon Princess

by romeoraiden

Ichigo Kurosaki was born destined for greatness but has had to suffer as he grows to embrace his destiny. Naturally, he will not endure this burden alone as he will have many allies to help him along the way. But only one of them can help him go beyond as his ever-faithful sword of the moon. (M for Violence and bad language)

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4: There is no Heaven

"That guy was a major dick!" Ichigo shouted in frustration over the encounter with the Shinigami Captain that blocked their path into the Seireitei. Their first attempt into the Shinigami stronghold ended in a bust.

"You don't know the half of it," Isshin sighed, more disappointed than his son but for a completely different reason, while he examines his Zanpakutō which has unfortunately been cracked by the force of Gin Ichimaru's Shinsō. Not just cracked but has a huge spiderweb-like fracture across the entire blade.

"Oh no, Engetsu!" Ichigo gasped in horror. "Is he alright?"

"Don't worry, a wound like this is to be expected after taking a hit from a Gotei Captain but by pouring my own Reiatsu into it, our Zanpakutō can be fixed," Isshin explained as he raises his Reiatsu, which is more a fire element than Ichigo's light, being a fiery aura that he pours into Engetsu, repairing it almost instantly.

"That could've gone better," Chad groaned.

"You could say that again," Yoruichi stated. "To think a Captain would be right outside the gate."

"Do we try again? I can lift the gate with my bare hands. Chad can help," Ichigo suggested with Chad nodding in agreement.

"I'm afraid it'll be unwise to do that. If it were just one captain we might've had a chance to push through and hide but this is the Western Gate where the 9th Division resides, but Gin Ichimaru is the Captain of the 3rd Division. Why he's here is beyond me but I do not like our odds if the 9th Division Captain, Kaname Tōsen were to show up and the two work together," Yoruichi explained. "You and your father are strong, Ichigo but one should always expect the worse when fighting more than one Captain."

"Exactly, which is why we're going to need a new plan to work around this," Isshin said as he sheathes his restored Zanpakutō.

"Which is what exactly?" Uryū asked.

"First thing's first," Isshin began as he looks at the critically injured Jidanbō with sadness. "We can't leave him like this or he'll die."

"Right! I'll heal him faster than you can blink," Orihime declared, more so surprising Ichigo about her ability to heal something as serious as a severed limb.

Before she could, however, the group is caught off by the arrival of people who waltz out of their houses after previously giving them the impression that they were in a ghost town.

"First real sign of life since we got here," Uryū said a little relief to see ordinary people.

"So they were hiding this whole time. Was it because of us?" Chad asked.

"Undoubtedly. Anyone who enters the Soul Society without the aid of a Shinigami is known as a Ryoka: An individual who is believed to be nothing but a bad omen, bringing misfortune wherever they go. Not untrue, and since only humans who've died should be here and anyone still alive barging in couldn't possibly be good, and considering what we've come to do, regardless of the reason, we completely count as Ryoka," Yoruichi explained.

"So they're expecting us to do harm?" Ichigo questioned while cautious but none of them are open about harming unarmed civilians, even in self-defense so they better leave.

The question now is, who will then help Jidanbō?

"Nothing of the sort, young man," Said an elderly man who moves in front of the crowd to meet with the so-called Ryoka who quickly bows to them before speaking. "Greetings, I am the elder of this area. All of us witnessed the events that occurred, and we would like to welcome you as Jidanbō's saviors."

"Hey, you saw this coming?" Ichigo whispered to his dad about this sudden event.

"Somewhat, I never got the chance to meet Jidanbō or the other Gatekeepers personally but it was a no-brainer how the people of Rukongai feel about the Seireitei, so I was confident in finding more allies than enemies around here," Isshin said.

"Indeed, the perpetual incompetence of the Nobles and Gotei 13 gives way too many opportunities," Yoruichi added.

"Excuse me! Pardon me!" Cried out the voice of a young boy marching in through the crowd of spirits, earning the attention of the Ryoka.

Said young boy is one who looks to be ten years old at best, having unruly medium-length brown hair and brown eyes wearing an almost plain kimono with a simple pattern of circles on one shoulder.

"I knew it was you, mister!" The boy cried out gazing at Ichigo and Chad, mostly the latter. "It's me! The Parakeet Yūichi!"

"Yūichi!" Chad uttered, he and Ichigo recognized the name, they initially recall a talking parakeet before fully grasping who the boy really is.

Moments later…

"Okay, this should do it," Ichigo said as he carries Jidanbō's severed limb with his bare hands and carries it over to the incapacitated Gatekeeper with the intent to put it in the right position for Orihime to heal him with some of the town's folks volunteering to help in adjusting it.

"That should do,"

"Alright, here I go. Sōten Kisshun, I reject!" Orihime chanted and begins to heal the wounded Gatekeeper.

"Huh, that's impressive," Isshin said as he examines Orihime's power which is most unusual among all the healing arts he's familiar with.

"This place is full of Shinigami who are rotten and incorrigible, don't even get me started on Jidanbō's poor excuse of a brother. There are multiple exceptions, of course," The Elder explained as the concerned people gather around the kind-hearted Gatekeeper. "He's always been so kind to us. When he's not guarding the Seireimon, he's more focused on keeping order around here and helping us get by. We're lucky to have him and things wouldn't be the same if we were to lose him so for that you have our gratitude."

"We're just happy to help out," Ichigo smiled. "Nothing left but to wait for her to finish and rest up then."

Speaking of Orihime, while the young healer was restoring Jidanbō, who should have his arm reattached in hopefully a few minutes her thoughts were distracted a bit by daydreaming about Ichigo dressed like a Prince Charming.

'Ichigo looked so cool today…' She giggled to herself as she always did whenever she got the chance to see him show off his strength. 'He looked more mature than usual. No doubt learning about his dad and his true heritage and the two bonding over it as father and son must've changed him without really losing who he is. Must be nice bonding with a relative with something they can do together.'

Before things get all negative, she perks herself up with her current work. "Okay! A little more work to go. Keep it up. Go!"

"Cheerful as ever, even when the situation is dire," Ichigo commented amused by Orihime's attitude.

"At times like this, it does seem corrigible to have someone like her around, even if she doesn't inspire much confidence in battle," Uryū agreed.

"Does she have any offensive capabilities?" Ichigo asked.

"According to Chad, yes but by the way he described it, the best she can do is dispose of common Hollows. I don't like her options against a Shinigami," His cousin explained, barely needing to say much to express his concerns about having Orihime in a fight.

"As long as she keeps away from the front lines she should be safe, and if the enemy gets close, well, you're the long-ranged expert," Ichigo commented.

"Look at you, using your brain for a change," Uryū retorted but Ichigo chose to see it as a weak compliment.

"Nice to see you two talk without starting an argument for a change," Isshin said amused by the friendly gesture between them.

"Wonders of having a common enemy," Ichigo bemused. "Where did Chad go, anyway?"

"Still talking with that kid that showed up," Isshin said. "Yūichi was his name. I swear he looked familiar."

"It should. His full name is Yūichi Shibata," Ichigo explained with sadness, and that definitely ran a bell to Isshin, and Uryū as well.

"Shibata. The boy who stopped the Kagamino Killer," Isshin said, adopting the same sad look as his son.

While Orihime was finishing up and they went to rest up, Ichigo began telling his dad and cousin about one of his earliest encounters with a Hollow, and the first one he was personally invested in finishing off.

A monster named Shrieker, though when he was a human he was simply known as the Kagamino Killer, a serial killer who terrorized the closest city south to Karakura, responsible for the deaths of seven people before fleeing Kagamino City and hid away in Karakura Town.

The news said that there was no pattern in the killings, they were simply random acts of violence from a man who was ordinary until one day he simply snapped and became unhinged, taking pleasure in the carnage he caused.

He didn't stay in Karakura for long as he was caught and forced to leave and for whatever reason, made the reckless choice to return to Kagamino to resume killing at least one more person, a mother in front of her toddler son, who inexplicably fought back by grabbing onto his shoelaces, causing him to lose his balance and subsequently fall through a nearby railing to his death.

The child is Yūichi who was moved to an orphanage in Karakura and given the proper care to cope with the trauma. And then, five years later, he died, the cause was unknown except to Ichigo, Rukia and Chad.

(Flashback)

Ichigo howls, swinging down his large sword at the fourth Hollow he's come across, cutting his right shoulder, making him growl from the pain while bleeding.

And this one looks more like a demon than the previous three in his opinion, standing at around two to three times the height of most Humans, with an ape-like body that leads him to stand on all fours during most occasions.

He has shaggy black fur around his neck and shoulders, as well as in two lines arcing toward the center of his chest on either side of his torso, and large black wings connected to his hands.

His Hollow mask is vertically long and narrow, with thick and exposed teeth framed by black, flame-like markings, a skull-like nose, a large and circular chin, and a forehead with a half-circle indent at the top.

His Hollow hole is located in the center of his chest.

The Beast backs away from the Shinigami Agent who goes to approach him but Ichigo halts upon seeing tiny gray creatures with heads somewhat like the bigger one surrounding the Hollow and keeping Ichigo from his target.

"On my way here, those things were carrying Chad's birdcage. If they're with the bigger one then it's a good thing I kicked them away from the little parakeet," Ichigo said.

"Those are Familiars. I heard a rumor that some special Hollows are able to self-sire semi-sentient creatures with unique powers to help them fight back against Shinigami. This is my first time seeing such a phenomenon in person," Rukia explained. "They carry explosive leeches inside of them that'll attach to anything near when they break apart."

"Geez, no wonder even Chad had difficulty with this punk. You're a real piece of work, you know that," Ichigo hissed at the Hollow.

"I'll take that as a compliment, though I hope you taste better than you look," The Hollow named Shrieker spoke with sinister glee in his tone and though he doesn't seem capable of showing a grin, Ichigo can tell that's exactly what he hides behind that mask.

Although, Ichigo is more preoccupied with the Hollow's voice… why does it sound so familiar? Ichigo brushes it off, proceeding to attack with Shrieker backing away with his wings as his familiars instead confront Ichigo.

"Ichigo?" Chad uttered when he arrives at the scene carrying a birdcage with an adorable parakeet inside to find the unconscious body of his best friend lying on the ground next to the new transfer student. "Ichigo! What's happened?"

"Sado, perfect timing. Please help me move this guy to safety along with that kid," Rukia requested of him.

"Was he attacked by the invisible thing?" Chad asked as he carries Ichigo and more heavily concern than he lets on when he realizes how unresponsive Ichigo is even though he can feel his pulse.

Prior to Ichigo's arrival, Rukia was attacked by Shrieker while Ichigo was busy with Karin who looked really ill and spewing something about Chad's parakeet actually being a little boy who witnessed his mother die.

During her fight, she crossed paths with Chad who try to fight the Hollow despite not being able to see him and to the shock of the petite Shinigami and the Hollow himself, the half-Mexican is MUCH stronger than his appearance would suggest, like break a telephone pole and swing it like a bat strong.

Hell, prior to this, a steel beam fell on him and used himself as a shield to protect the parakeet and two of his friends and he was completely unfazed, even more impressively he could harm a Hollow with his brute strength.

With Rukia as his eyes, they were momentarily able to subdue Shrieker and stall for Ichigo's arrival, however, because of the familiars, the tables have turn on them faster than they could prepare, leaving all hope to Ichigo now to stop this wicked Hollow who's so hell vent on hunting down the talking parakeet named Yūichi Shibata and anyone who claims him as a pet.

"Don't worry about him, as we speak, Ichigo is handling the situation," Rukia insisted while Ichigo cuts down the little helpers of Shrieker that block his path one by one.

"You're a fast one. Cutting down my helpers before the leeches can attach themselves to you. However, a bomb is still a bomb, kid!" Shrieker shouted, pulling out his long, uniquely shaped tongue split into two ends that form a circle that begins to vibrate, releasing a sound that triggers the leeches surrounding Ichigo to explode, causing a blast similar to four small tanks crashing into each other.

"So much for the Shini- WHAT?!"

Shrieker gasped in shock watching Ichigo emerge from the smoke unfazed by the blast he just took point blank and moves in on the Hollow and would've taken advantage of Shrieker's shock to slay him then and there but purposely stop, his blade an inch from his mask, leaving him paralyzed.

"Not so tough now, are ya?" Ichigo sneered. "Before I end this, answer me this. Are you the one who killed the boy trapped in the bird's mother?" He demanded fiercely while the Hollow seems to be getting irritated by the question or just annoyed.

"Yeah, it was me," Shrieker confessed, now making Ichigo narrow his eyes. "Of course, that happened before I became what I am today."

"What? Are you saying you killed her when you were still human?" Ichigo questioned in disbelief.

"That's right. It was around five years ago, you probably heard of me, made a real ruckus killing at least eight people, the televisions wouldn't shut up about me. I was quite famous, being the first serial killer in years to terrorize Japan," Shrieker smirked proud of his past atrocities.

"Five years ago? No, no way… you're telling me you're the Kagamino Killer?" Ichigo gasped in horror, realizing his identity as the image of a foul man with a thuggish, squashed face with small eyes, a pug nose, and crooked teeth with a gap in the middle of his mouth, short, light brown hair and wearing a blue-and-black shirt with a white collar pops into his mind.

"Bingo!" Shrieker cheered. "They never did figure out my identity, did they? Sometimes it pays to be a nobody."

"I knew your voice sounded familiar, but to think we'd meet again like this," Ichigo uttered, still overwhelmed.

"What? We met before? I think I'd remember facing a Shinigami with orange… hair…" Shrieker suddenly pause recalling something himself.

"I may be a Shinigami now but I am still human. My name is Ichigo Kurosaki," The Agent growled at the monster before him.

"Kurosaki!" Shrieker gasped, a lightbulb suddenly shines in his head. "You're the orange-hair kid of the doctor that attended me after the car accident I had when I escaped here to Karakura?"

"Yeah… I remember you. There was a car crash close to our house, one casualty and three injured, you were among them and were brought to our clinic to be treated, my dad recognized your face and while he was treating you he had my mom call the cops on you," Ichigo explained.

"No way! How did he know?" Shrieker gasped. "My face didn't make the news until after I was forced to flee this town."

"That's what you like to believe. Truthfully I don't know how my dad knew but he did and you were just barely lucky to run off from the cops when they arrived," Ichigo hissed.

He remembers that day all too well, hard to forget with how frantic his mother was.

While his father received his latest patience, there was this odd glint in his eyes when he saw Shrieker as a human, something Ichigo realized years later was acknowledgement.

Around the same time, his mother was going to the supermarket for dinner and she was taking the twins with her, Ichigo didn't want to go, preferring to stay and play video games but Isshin was adamant, while childishly persuasive that he go with his mother and sisters, and right before they left, he gave him a small note and instructed him to give to his mother once they were far enough away.

He'll never forget the shock in his mother's face when he gave her the note for her to read, confusion that soon turn to panic and terror as she instead rushed us to the Ishida's residence and left us there while she called the authorities.

He never got the details on what happened, only that the killer was the first to be treated, given instructions to lie down in one of the medical rooms and relax but heard the sirens from the cop cars and knew he was in trouble and escaped from the window, though it didn't matter because they knew what he looked like now and he was forced to leave Karakura and to everyone's surprise he went back to Kagamino.

Masaki was in a frenzy state for weeks scolding her husband at every chance she got for taking such a risk while everyone else, even Ryūken Ishida praised him for his valiance.

"That clown bastard!" Shrieker growled with barely controlled rage of vengeance at the thought of Isshin Kurosaki.

So not only does he have that little kid but that doctor to blame for his human death, to top it all off, said doctor's kid is now the Shinigami that intends to end his new existence.

"I'll kill him! I'll rip him to shreds after I force him to watch as I skin alive his wife and daughters!"

From then on, Shrieker revealed that it was indeed the boy trapped in the parakeet that caused his death after his mother was the murderer's final victim.

After five years wondering around Kagamino as a Plus with no Shinigami to Konsō him, his resentment for Yūichi Shibata reached its boiling point and he became a Hollow and the first thing he did was hunt Yūichi down in the orphanage he was living at since he had no other relatives and has been down on his luck being adopted into a new family but instead of outright killing him, Shrieker decided to play a game with Yūichi by ripping his soul out of his body and placing it inside a parakeet.

He told the boy that if he could run away from the Hollow in his current form for 3 months, he would bring his mother back to life, knowing that he could not accomplish this and only wanting to accrue more victims.

During the subsequent course of this game, Shrieker devoured two Shinigami who tried to perform Konsō on Yūichi.

"You bastard…" Ichigo growled, with his own blood boiling up inside.

"Cry me a river," Shrieker mocked with sadistic satisfaction. "And let me tell ya, the kid is completely pathetic. Every time he wanted to back down all I had to do to get him pump was whisper in his ears that his mommy is waiting for him to rescue her. At first it was funny to hear him wail about his mommy over and over again but it became a real downer after the third month."

Caught off guard by his thoughts spiraling with anger, Shrieker manages to push his Zanpakutō away from him and quickly backs away.

"After I kill you, I'll enjoy tearing your family to pieces, kid!" He vowed before pulling another familiar from his body and later throws it at Ichigo who catches it with his hand, just then, the creature crumbles apart, leaving the leeches to crawl on his hand.

"TIME TO DIE!" He roared, showing off his tongue again to detonate the leeches, which never happens because Ichigo does something unexpected, marching forward right at him to deliver a mighty punch that breaks through the Hollow's mask, right in the mouth, cracking open a hole and sticks his hand inside.

"No way…" Shrieker mumbled in complete horror.

"Don't look so shock, I'm just returning what belongs to you, is all," Ichigo sneered with pure venom in his face. "Of course, if you go through with your silly tongue trick the leeches will blow up inside you. That be something interesting, wouldn't you agree. I'll bet you've thought of shoving them inside a person's mouth before."

Shrieker remains silent, once again fearing for his life as he is completely trapped, helpless as he was five years ago when he fell to his human death.

"What? Nothing to show for it? Fine then, in that case I hope you don't mind me TAKING YOUR TONGUE!" Ichigo roared as he grabs Shrieker's tongue and does exactly what he just said, savagely pulling it off.

Shrieker screams in anguish by the serious wound he suffered and it doesn't stop there as Ichigo lungs his sword at his right leg.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Shrieker yelled.

"Now… you can't use your leg, and you can't use your weapon. So tell me, how does it feel?" Ichigo said coldly to the Hollow. "Can you savor it a little?! How it's like to be the one to be murdered."

Shrieker gasps in further horror, unwilling to die and in desperation, tears off his own leg to free himself and fly away as fast as he can, already a hundred feet in the air.

"That's right. Unbearable, isn't it? The fear of death that drives you to go to extreme lengths to preserve your own miserable life!" Ichigo scoffed at him, who to the Hollow's shock, is chasing after him and is already above him.

Ichigo was quick to develop enhanced speed as a Shinigami.

"Hate to break it to you but you Hollows aren't even alive to begin with. You're disgusting, fucking zombies! But if you actually believe you still have a semblance of life in you then bury deep within yourself the fear you feel right now and DISAPPEAR!"

Shrieker could do nothing as his second existence comes to an end with Ichigo cutting deep within his white mask, shouting an agonizing cry as he falls to the ground practically unresponsive as the battle ends.

Or so Ichigo would like but something's wrong. Why isn't his body fading away into light like the others he's fought?

"What's going on?" Ichigo asked as he safely lands on the ground next to Shrieker.

"Nice job. This one didn't put up a fight against you," Rukia praised, walking beside him.

"Thanks, but what's going on, Rukia? His body isn't fading away," Ichigo questioned before gasping in shock to see Shrieker get back up but strangely not on his own as it looks like he's being levitated.

"Right, I mentioned it in passing before but I never really got the chance to tell you the other side of the spectrum regarding cleansing Hollows," Rukia said in a somber mood while folding her arms. But there was no sadness, much less pity in her words but complete and cold condescension.

And before Ichigo knew it, a massive gate of gold in red flaming designs manifest before Shrieker, maybe thirty feet tall composed of two doors chained shut and adorned with the bandaged head and torso of a skeleton on each door.

The arms of both skeletons look positioned at an angle to pull the gates open, which they do. Within this gate all Ichigo can see is red.

Like… he's staring at an ocean of blood and mist but there's more to it than that, there is something else.

Something… his words fail to even comprehend, his body is shaking, he can't look away, the anger and hate he felt for Shrieker are gone now, ironically replaced with fear like he's never felt before. It's been eight years since he's been afraid of anything and to feel it again…

"Hollows are atrocious creatures because they are born from the negative emotions humans feel every day and without a physical form to contain them, those emotions transform the lost souls into those beasts who hunger and kill blindly. As sinful as they are, they aren't truly lost which is where we come in, for the Zanpakutō can restore these spirits into who they once were from the Human World while sending them into Soul Society. However, there is a catch, we Shinigami can only cleanse a soul of the sins they committed as Hollows but if the Hollow in question that was cut down or the wondering Plus that receives a Konsō just so happened to have been sinful during their life in this world? There's nowhere for these fools to go but down below. Into the darkest, foulest and oldest realm in All Creation." Rukia explained with the wisdom of an old sage.

"That's… that's Hell," Ichigo uttered in horror, and it only gets more intense as suddenly a large arm bursts out of the Gate, big enough to grab on to Shrieker, who screams with even more terror.

"NO! NOO! NOOOO! NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" His screams fall on death ears as the large arm mercilessly squishes what remains of his being, the hollow mask in particular crumbling away to dust with everything else being absorbed into Hell itself.

Ichigo and Rukia are stone silent as more of the creature reveals itself, and what they see will forever be etched into the mind of the young Shinigami Agent.

A true Demon.

Large with dark blue skin that only small parts of his arm and chests, as well as his lower belly possess several glowing orange spots and stripes. It's arms also bears several curved spikes and appear somewhat emaciated.

His head is adorned by two pairs of horns, one of which are colored like himself, resemble a ram's, growing from the back of his skull and toward his chin, while the other grows from the base of his main horns, has a more jagged appearance and lighter color that resemble those of a goat.

Lastly, his eyes are glowing white and his mouth has small line-shaped gaps resembling a demented scarecrow's.

"Don't let this thing get to you, Ichigo. He, like the rest of his kind, is forever bound to Hell and can never leave. This is as far as he can go into the outside from the Gates of Hell," Rukia assured him as she walks away and Ichigo is inclined to do the same, all the while the Demon continues to look at them, particularly Ichigo.

"Interesting," The Demon whispered emotionlessly with no one able to hear him before he returns to Hell. The Gates then close and the entire structure cracks and crumbles into nothing.

(End of Flashback)

"That was the first and only time I'd ever laid eyes on Hell, or at least a portion of it. Rukia mentioned the place in passing prior but to actually see the very gates is another matter entirely," Ichigo explained his tale.

He still thinks about it, in particular the dark blue demon that snatched Shrieker away.

The way it looked at him really unnerved the young Shinigami, not sure if it was out of fear but there was definitely something about it that Ichigo can't get out of his mind.

"After that I performed Konsō on the poor kid since returning him to his body was out of the question as too much time has passed, and I guess for all intense and purposes things turned alright for him,"

He next turns to see Chad spending time with Yūichi after reuniting, the two quickly developed a brotherly bond during their short time together in the other world, after all its thanks to Chad protecting him that allowed Ichigo to even know about him and save him from Shrieker.

"Though, it looks like I was wrong about him reuniting with his mother,"

"Not your fault. Soul Society is as big as the Earth, if not bigger and transporting spirits here while avoiding that damn Dangai leads to all sorts of problems that only a handful of souls are lucky to arrive here with their loved ones close, while others can't feel bad about it because their memories of their past lives are all but gone," Isshin explained. "Nothing in life has ever been perfect, especially results, no matter how hard you try, and in Soul Society, it's all about taking what you can get and make the most of it, at least in the Rukongai, no thanks to the Seireitei."

"All the more reason to raise Hell once we're there," Ichigo avowed.

"How did you know what the Kagamino Killer looked like anyway? I can't imagine you'd ever showed interest in law enforcements, let alone detective work," Uryū asked Isshin.

"It's been years since I even thought about it but it all happened after a night out with the boys where Kaneki was feeling really sore about the Kagamino Killer case and wanted someone to confide in," Isshin explained.

"Kaneki? As in Kishou Kaneki? Your friend Cop turned doctor?" Ichigo concluded. "What does he have to do with this, he quit the force to pursue his dream career as a surgeon and is almost as good as Doctor Ishida."

"True but he still helps Detectives as a Consultant, like his sister in Kagamino who on rare occasions calls him for his input on solving a case and he discreetly worked on finding that monster," Isshin explained.

"And he showed you a picture on the most likely suspect?" Uryū questioned. "Wouldn't that land him in a lot of trouble for disclosing anything to do with police work."

"Relax, everything turned out okay and worst case scenario Kisuke would've fixed everything," Isshin said nonchalantly. "And besides, it paid off since his hunch was right and he just so happened to bump into my clinic."

"Yeah, which earned you so many frenzy days and nights with mom," Ichigo whined because she also lashed out at him because him being given the note to give to her SOMEHOW made him a willing accomplice to the whole thing.

"Nah, those were fun times, and you know it," Isshin chuckled.

"I remember things differently…" Ichigo and Uryū bemused at once with the latter having witnessed her crazy aunt's childish tantrums.

Sure, her outburst was understandable and even justified but did she really have to pay random visits into his house just to have someone to listen to her cry when her own family was absent for one reason or another.

It's a mad world when he and his father agree on anything, including telling someone as kindly and professionally as possible to fuck off and go bother someone else.

Thankfully, the rest of the day went smoothly, once Orihime finished reattaching Jidanbō's arm, he was out of death's door but still needed more treatment, in which Isshin insisted she let him do the rest with his restored power and use Kaidō while she takes a well-deserved rest.

The group were invited to rest in the house of the Elder where they can discuss their next plan.

"So, the Gate is now out of the question?" Ichigo asked Yoruichi.

"It was never a good idea to begin with and the only reason I held any confidence about it was because Isshin's support guaranteed things. However, with the arrival of the unexpected Captain and the gate closing, security became all the more unbreachable," The Cat replied.

"Are the other gates out of the question as well?" Chad asked.

"The closest two are each 10 days away, nothing but a waste of precious time and Kisuke's machinations with the Dangai won't allow it," Yoruichi explained. "Luckily for us, I have a Plan B that won't fail. Probably."

"Probably?" The Four teens questioned at once, instantly nervous about the dishonesty.

"Don't go going nuts over a minor setback. If you were expecting things to go smoothly than you have no one to blame but yourselves," The Cat said a little cheekily.

"No one here thought that this was going to be a walk in the park. I mean, we're invading Heaven, for God's sake," Ichigo whined.

"In Soul Society, the people prefer to address him as Reiō (Soul King)," The Elder corrected.

"Classy," Uryū mused, though there's perhaps a hint of smugness when mentioning the sovereign the Gotei 13 serve.

"Elder, do you happen to know where's Kūkaku Shiba," Yoruichi asked, causing the old man to look at the black cat in disbelief. The name also gave Ichigo a pause.

"What?! You can't be serious!" The Elder both asked and yelled, getting mix reactions of confusion and curiosity from the four teens.

"Kūkaku is someone who likes to move a lot so finding the place can be so hazardous, I haven't been here for a while so she surely must've done it again. I trust you know where she currently resides," Yoruichi pressed.

"Kūkaku Shiba," The Elder growled while balling his fists. "Are you sure of this, Yoruichi? You truly plan to breach the wall using THAT?"

Isshin, who had return while everyone was discussing spoke. "Breach the wall using what now?"

"The Gates are a bust, so we're going to force our way through from above," Yoruichi explained, surprising the teens but not as much as Isshin.

"Wait… you mean we're going to see Kūkaku?" Isshin surmised, not looking forward to this.

"We have no-" Yoruichi is interrupted when there is a noise outside, sounding like a stampede.

"What's that noise?" Ichigo asked. Suddenly a man came crashing through the door and tumbled on the floor. "I regret asking," Ichigo whined, looking at the man.

Behind the man came walking in through the door a giant boar with a red bow on its head.

Now Ichigo was creeped out but not as much as Isshin who is sweating bullets like a man who got caught cheating on his wife.

"Well, well, what do you know. Thrown again by old Bonnie. There has to be a better way to travel," Said the man as he dusted himself off and then turn to the Elder. "Hey! it's been a long-time, old man."

This man just screams I'm a gangster, at least by the standards of the era Soul Society is stuck in. He's almost as tall as Chad but way more muscular, with chin-length black hair and partially missing left eyebrow. He wears a vest, scarf, bandanna and pair of goggles.

"Ganju no, what are you doing here? I think you should go home!" The Old Man said with all urgency in his voice.

"What gives? Look I know it's been a while but is that any way to greet an old friend. I mean what are your guests here going to think," The man now named Ganju mused, not at all bothered by the Elder's rudeness as he looks around the room and notices Ichigo's group with the exception of Isshin.

As he saw Ichigo, he stops and looks at him longer than he did the rest before he spoke.

"What do we have here?"

He then took his glasses off while looking at Ichigo before speaking again this time more angrily.

"Would someone explain to me why there is a stinking Shinigami here?"

"Excuse me?" Ichigo asked annoyed.

The Man next steps forward and quickly got in Ichigo's face, glaring at him without a shred of fear, despite the Reiatsu Ichigo emitted to scare him off.

"What's the matter? Your ears not working?" He asked. "I said would someone explain to me why there is a stinking Shinigami here?" He said while straight up slapping Ichigo's face but not enough that he would feel pain, though everyone can tell the lack of harm was intentional.

This nonetheless pisses off Ichigo. Before Ganju could react and faster than anyone else could see, Ichigo punched Ganju flat in the face hard enough to lift the man off his feet, hurtling him through the doorway he had crashed through a minute earlier.

Ganju rolled up to his feet and slapped one hand over his aggrieved injury. "Ow! You picking a fight, dandelion head?"

"You picked the fight first, you jackass! You start in on me for no reason and expect me to do nothing about it!" Ichigo yelled.

"Ichigo, this is no time for useless fights," Yoruichi advised, being the voice of reason.

"It's no use, once someone upsets Ichigo that someone is usually going to get hurt," Orihime muttered worried about the potential collateral damage that will be done to the kind Elder's home, and Ichigo will probably not allow her to heal Ganju once the fight is over.

"Just as I thought," The Elder sighed while casually drinking his tea.

"What do you mean Just as I thought? Your house is about to become a warzone!" Uryū protested. "Who even is this Ganju, anyway?"

"You really don't know who I am?" He asked to which everyone shook their heads saying no. He then chuckled before speaking. "Geez, what a bunch of ignorant Shinigami we have here."

"Excuse me! Do I look like a worthless Shinigami to you?!" Uryū cried indignantly and Orihime and Chad were half expecting Ichigo to lash out but he just shook his head with annoyance.

Speaking of Shinigami, Isshin is nervously and slowly backing away from the scene, not wanting to be seen by Ganju but doesn't go very far as Ganju's boar is looking straight at him, leaving him frozen.

'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,' Isshin uttered, feeling worse by the angry look of familiarity the boar is giving him. 'If I'm lucky Ganju won't recognize me but Bonnie certainly does.'

"Then allow me to introduce myself," Ganju began. "My given name is Ganju! The self-proclaimed Deep Red Bull of the West Rukongai! Self-proclaimed and universally acknowledged Bossman of West Rukongai! And finally the self-proclaimed number one hater of Shinigami in West Rukongai!" He said while flexing his muscles every time he shouts self-proclaimed.

"Self-Proclaim?" Everyone except for Ichigo, Isshin and the Elder said flabbergasted.

Ichigo then simply narrows his eyes at the last one.

"Ha! You forgot to add self-proclaimed fool of West Rukongai," He mocked.

This did not sit well with Ganju who immediately attacks, ramming the Shinigami Agent in the solar plexus and out of the Elder's house.

"Ichigo!" Orihime and Uryū yelled at the same time.

They started to run out of the house to help, but four boars and some people riding on them cut them off from Ichigo.

"Don't mess with the boss man," Their ringleader warned.

"If you try to help your friend, you'll have to deal with us," Said another one behind him.

"Great, figures a moron like this Ganju would have lowly lackeys with him," Uryū cursed.

"It's so crazy," Orihime said uncharacteristically serious. "They're all riding boars too."

"That's what you're focusing on," Uryū bemused. "Hey, where is the boar Ganju was riding on?" The Quincy asked before gazing at a cowardly cornered Isshin with Bonnie still looking at him, not intending to attack but definitely expecting something of the older Shinigami.

"For Reiō's sake, what are you doing goofing around while your son is wasting precious time?" Yoruichi questioned Isshin.

"It's a personal matter," Isshin managed to uttered quietly that you almost couldn't hear him.

"Do we want to know?" Uryū mumbled.

"Alright, listen up you!" Ganju snapped at the still down Ichigo while pointing a threatening finger at him. "You have better get the hell out of here! As long as I'm alive, I won't allow a damn Shinigami to ever set foot on West Rukongai!"

His threat falls on deaf ears with Ichigo sucker kicking him in the face, sending him crashing down.

"You son of a bitch! That's twice now you hit my beautiful face! Are you trying to disfigure me?!"

"You damn right I am, now get lost yourself before I decide to do worse to you!" Ichigo warned, back on his feet.

"Have it your way, then. It seems we're destine to fight," Ganju declared as he pulls out a short sword from his back that resembles a meat cleaver or a Chinese dao.

"No Ganju! Theres no need for violence. This young man is not like the Shinigami we're used to," The Elder insisted to Ganju.

"Pipe down, old timer," Ganju demanded but the anger in his voice became less intense. "You should know better than me, a Shinigami is a Shinigami. There are no good or bad ones."

"Ganju," The Elder whispered in concern for him.

His reaction caught Uryū's attention who immediately understood the implication.

'Well, that explains his spontaneous reaction to seeing Ichigo, not like I was any better,' He thought.

"Here I come, Shinigami!" Ganju roared, charging at the weaponless Ichigo who is more than ready to fight barehanded as he is accustomed to fighting thugs with knives and even machetes.

Luckily, he won't have to fight without a weapon as he quickly notices his Zanpakutō flying towards him that he catches and unsheathes in time to parry Ganju's blade.

"Where did that sword come from?" Orihime asked before turning to Chad. "Did you throw him that katana?"

"I was about to in order to help him but before I could even grab it, the sword started moving by itself and flew towards him," Chad explained.

"Say what?"

"What was that?" Yoruichi narrowed his eyes by his words, clearly in disbelief but knows Chad wouldn't lie when there is no point.

"Nice looking sword, kid!" Ganju sarcastically praised as the two clash blades a couple of times, both so far evenly matched and Ichigo for his part is impressed by Ganju, for someone not trained like a Shinigami, his skills and especially his strength are nothing to scuff at.

"But if you think that thing will help you defeat me!" He shouted, pushing Ichigo and Getsuhime away from him and as he goes in for a straight thrust, Ichigo once again blocks while holding Getsuhime pointing down, and this proves to be an error on his part.

"You have another thing coming," Ganju sneered and rapidly he moves his right leg in a circular pattern and then grabs Getsuhime's hilt.

"What are you-" Ichigo began.

"Seppa (Stone Wall)!" Ganju shouted and instantly, a small portion of the ground beneath them turns to sand and without resistance, he forces Getsuhime down into it where it partially sinks.

"The ground became quicksand," Uryū uttered. "This guy can use Kidō?"

Ganju then proceeds to deliver a swift kick to Ichigo's face, sending him briefly flying before the young Shinigami back flips to get back on his feet.

'This guy's as strong as me. I guess if he's so bold as to pick a fight with Shinigami on sight he must have experience against Seated Officers.' Ichigo mused.

Ganju is fast too as he lungs at him with another kick, however, Ichigo is prepared this time, catching the thug's leg, to his shock.

Ichigo then gets some more payback by punching him in the face again. Ganju will not back down, mustering all his reflexes to stay on his feet.

"You're good, I'll admit but a lowly thug won't ever get the upper hand on me," Ichigo mocked him.

"Is that right!" Ganju shouted and goes for another hit with his sword, and like before, Ichigo won't have to put up with that short sword without a weapon as a small explosion that startles rather than hurt anyone in the vicinity erupts from where Getsuhime was buried, the blade shining with light before reappearing back in Ichigo's hand and this time in its transformed state.

"What the…" Ganju uttered in disbelief, never seeing a Zanpakutō act on its own before.

"Huh. Neat," Ichigo shrugged as Ganju snaps out of it and proceeds with his attack but Ichigo's next sword swing is much faster than any he could ever prepare for and in an instant, his short sword is destroyed, followed by a brilliant light that could've blinded him if he'd looked straight at it but didn't as the light also came with a shockwave that blows him a few feet away.

"That light…" Uryū uttered as everyone else had to block their eyes from it.

"Just like earlier, Ichigo's sword acted on her own," Chad noted.

"So Ichigo's sword really is alive!" Orihime gasped. She didn't really doubt it due to how Ichigo talked about his sword and Isshin also addressing his own blade as though they are people but seeing any form of reaction from a Zanpakutō up close is a whole other story. "It can even transform."

"Yes, the weapons used by Shinigami are capable of transformations that offer unique powers to their wielders, I believe Ichigo's is called Getsuhime and it must give him the power to manipulate light," Uryū said.

"That alone would've been enough to warrant much attention from the young man since out of all the Elemental-Type Zanpakutō, Light and Darkness are the rarest to come by and most powerful, but there's more to it than any of you realize," Yoruichi said examining Getsuhime.

'No Zanpakutō should be capable of acting independently like this one has been doing. Kisuke even said that the Asauchi Ichigo is using isn't one he made himself but rather he already had it when he emerged from the Shattered Shaft. It doesn't matter how unnatural his mere existence may be, nothing he's shown should ever be possible.'

"Damn Dandelion!" Ganju shouted while rubbing his eyes. "Your cheap light show could've blinded me."

"If it had it would've been temporary as my Getsuhime can only truly blind someone if I want them to be, so be grateful that I rather punks like you watch vividly as I kick your ass," Ichigo said boastfully.

"Interesting. Alright, if you're going to show off your tricks, it's time I showed you what I'm really made off," Ganju sneered while cracking his knuckles.

"I have a better idea. Why don't you grab your pig and leave before-" Ichigo was interrupted by the sound of an alarm clock ringing. Ichigo looked around his corner to see three of the weird looking guys riding boars with one of them having a huge clock on his back.

"What time is it!?" Ganju asked one of the guys.

"It's already nine, boss," Misemoto cried in terror with his other friends also terrified.

"Shit! Bonnie!" Ganju yelled, and his boar immediately exits the Elder's house with Ichigo's friends quick to get out of the way, her speeding towards Ichigo who simply jumps over it gracefully landing on his feet. "This is not over Dandelion! You better wait for me because I'll be back to kick your ass!" Ganju vowed, yelling his lungs out while riding his boar away with his friends right behind him.

"Screw you, pal! I got bigger fish to fry!" Ichigo flipped him off glad that he left along with his cronies.

"Somehow I suspect that will have to endure his presence further in the future," Getsuhime noted.

"I'd consider it a miracle if we don't run into him again," Ichigo cursed their misfortune.

"I'm safe…" Isshin sighed in relief with Ganju and Bonnie gone.

"Good, with the problem solved by itself we can focus on our real challenge," Yoruichi noted.

"That was something," Orihime cheered.

"You're telling me…" Ichigo sighed exasperated and instinctively, he reseals Getsuhime into her sealed state and unsheathes it back, however, before he does Yoruichi and the others only now notice that prior to resealing his Zanpakutō, the scabbard was no longer on his belt while Getsuhime was active and only now reappears where it was before.

"Does your scabbard vanish every time you release your Zanpakutō?" Uryū asked curiously.

"Yeah, it was a little weird at first but I honestly feel more comfortable without it, I'm way more used to carrying a sword on my back so less baggage on my waist the better," Ichigo said.

"Why not carry your sword on your back then for old time's sake like when Rukia was around," Orihime suggested.

"Old time's sake? Come on, Rukia's the old timer not me. And besides, Getsuhime doesn't like being carried by the back, insists that I should try to be more natural, which I guess she means carry her like a samurai should since that's pretty much what Shinigami are," Ichigo explained.

"Really? I never heard of a samurai using a huge chunk of a blade before," Uryū commented on how Ichigo used to wield a much bigger sword.

"I did liked my old sword," Ichigo noted.

"I don't," Getsuhime scolded in his head, making him drop a sweat at the cold tone.

Reluctant though the Elder still was, he told them where to find Kūkaku Shiba, who lives far away from the village and in the countryside with open fields.

They'll head out in the morning so for now they should rest.

Ichigo expressed concerns about staying here for the night considering that the Shinigami might come after them but Yoruichi and Isshin assured him that the Gotei 13 don't normally bother with threats outside the Seireitei unless it's a Hollow, and while Ryoka are a huge problem, the more stuck-up Seireitei residents would normally brush them off as Rukongai's problem, which works wonders for them to move about freely.

Yoruichi, Uryū and Chad were the first to go to sleep, Orihime was about to as well but she realized that Ichigo and his dad went outside for some reason, no doubt to discuss something between them.

She really shouldn't but there is a big chance that a fight may break out either amongst each other or with someone else, and with the Kurosaki men, it's a matter of when, not if.

She didn't have to search for very long, finding them at the back of the house where it's just them and thankfully, they aren't fighting but they seem to be discussing something rather intently.

"You're serious about this? You're not coming to see Kūkaku?" Ichigo questioned his father, though surprisingly there was no anger, annoyance or any of the usual negatives that he and Karin would normally reflect on their goofy father but rather there is more confusion and even empathy in his face.

"Don't make it sound like I'm some sort of coward, or anything like that. It's just something I'm not ready to deal with," Isshin sighed as he rubs his head.

"You know you can't ignore this forever," Ichigo pointed out.

"I know that, and I'm not going home until I face them but now doesn't feel like the time for that," Isshin almost pleaded.

"What about the Gotei 13? You said it yourself that there are so many people you know so you're gonna have to face your past regardless," Ichigo said.

"Yeah, and I'm willing to swallow all that because someone has to keep a dumbass like yourself alive," Isshin retorted and thankfully, Ichigo won't bother retorting back with violence this time.

"If I have to fight my former comrades, I will, don't doubt me on that but when it comes to the family I left behind, at least the ones I'm blood related with, that's a whole other story. Like I told you, at first I wanted nothing to do with the Shibas but when I gave them a shot, I found myself in a whole other world that I came to love beyond my status as a Shinigami, and it had nothing to do with the money and power, but rather the comfort of knowing it's not just me and my brothers anymore but others that we can share everything with."

That gave Ichigo pause, not accustomed to speaking with his father this way and quickly he sighs in defeat.

"Fine. You don't want to come then don't but how will you enter the Seireitei then?" He asked.

"I'll enter it at the same time you do. Trust me, once you begin, I'll be right above you," With that Isshin takes off to parts unknown to his son but he does not pursuit and walks at the direction of the house.

"Hope you're glad that we didn't start a fight as expected," Ichigo said addressing Orihime who was hiding behind a tree.

The young girl gasps while skipping a heartbeat over being caught.

"I-I-I-Ichigo! I was just…" Orihime uttered while desperately gathering the words to explain herself.

"Relax, I get it. If we Kurosaki men are all by ourselves, someone should be nearby to make sure we don't kill one another," Ichigo sighed, rubbing his own head.

"You and your dad aren't that predictable," Orihime mumbled innocently.

"I appreciate the kind words but don't kid yourself," Ichigo mused. "Just because we don't get along doesn't mean it's all bad."

"Alright then," Orihime smiled, glad she didn't upset Ichigo by eavesdropping. "So, why is your dad not coming to meet Kūkaku Shiba?"

"Right, we got caught up with everything else that there was zero time to tell you guys everything about my dad being a Shinigami," Ichigo said. "Well, the person we're going to see to help us break into the Seireitei just so happens to be my cousin."

"WHAT?!" Orihime gasped. Ichigo proceeds to give her a quick summery of what he mostly knows so far about his father's past and she took it well thanks to everything else she's come to embrace about the Supernatural, and it made her happy that Ichigo would tell her first out of everyone else in their inner circle but Ichigo didn't pay that any attention as they went to sleep themselves, tomorrow is going to be just nuts, they just know it.

---

At sunrise, everyone was up and ready to search for this Kūkaku Shiba, except for Isshin who was already gone to who knows where. While walking, Orihime, Chad and Uryū were discussing who this person could be.

Of course, Orihime came up with the most ridiculous answer ever heard that made Ichigo chuckle, he neglected to tell her of Kūkaku's gender so the three assume they are searching for a man.

They were walking through the countryside like they were told, nothing but an open field and clear blue sky with Yoruichi leading them.

"So Isshin just up and decided to wonder off somewhere?" Uryū questioned.

"He said there was something he needed to investigate and that we should go without him and when the time comes to head out he'll be there when we least expect it," Ichigo lied as he really has no idea where his father ran off to.

"Typical Isshin. Try not to think too much about that baboon," Yoruichi shook his head while sighing.

'I know how he feels considering I'm in the same boat as him but this is really getting us nowhere and if he does what I think he's going to do than he better prepare because when I'm done with him he'll wish that it was his wife that did the killing.'

"Easier done than said," Ichigo sighed as well.

"I don't think that's how the saying goes," Orihime noted.

"He meant it exactly the way he said it," Chad replied.

"Wow, Chad, I was too caught off to talk to him but how is Yūichi? I was just as surprised to see him again, even though I was the one who brought him here."

"He's doing alright for himself," The Giant said with a rare smile. "Even though he has yet to find his mother, he found a new surrogate family to live with and they are wonderful people. Rukia spoke the truth when she said he'd be happy here, even if she did exaggerate by a lot."

"Good. That's wonderful to here," Ichigo gave his own rare smile at the news that Orihime never gets tired of seeing and even Uryū looks amused by the talk about the dearly departed finding peace here.

'I wonder if Susaku is doing alright for himself as well.' His thoughts return to the first lost soul he'd ever truly helped, performing Konsō on Pluses definitely feels more fulfilling than just talking to them to show comfort for their lost lives.

Sure, he still does that but being the sole reason why they've moved on is arguably the best part about being a Shinigami for him, and hopefully that'll never change.

He'd never admit it to Rukia but whatever desire he had to not continue doing this is barely there anymore as he truly is committed to being a Shinigami.

Not that it matters now that he's basically declaring war on the entire organization that makes up the Shinigami but he'll cross that crumbling bridge when he gets there.

"I'd been thinking, Since this Kūkaku guy is the only one who knows how to enter the Seireitei without going through the Gates, why not reside with everyone else? He must be popular?" Orihime suggested.

"I'd agreed with you if not for the aggravated reaction the Elder made and his reluctance to tell us where to find him," Uryū replied.

"Correct. Kūkaku is a very explosive person, the less people around the better off everyone is," Yoruichi explained. "Shibas are a loud bunch, always have been but at least they're well-mannered when they need to be, and even if the address keeps changing I'll know when we've arrived."

They continued walking for another twenty minutes until they stop and Yoruichi speaks.

"It looks like we arrived," He said.

The others simply looked on in disbelief at the house.

It is a normal Japanese traditional styled house, the only odd thing about is the two giant human arms holding up a sign that read Kūkaku Shiba and a giant chimney at the back of the house.

"Hmm, so this time the banner is held up by giant human arms," Yoruichi chuckled. "It's quite clever don't you think?"

"This is hands down the lamest thing I have ever seen in my life," Ichigo whined, feeling he has a right to be embarrassed about setting foot inside.

"No kidding. I have never been more abhorred by someone's sense of fashion," Uryū muttered.

"Come on let's go," Yoruichi said as he started to walk towards the house followed by Orihime and Chad.

Ichigo and Uryū begrudgingly followed. Suddenly they heard two voices speaking simultaneously.

"Halt strangers!" Came two voices. Ichigo immediately placed his hand on his Zanpakutō. "Who dares trespass here!?" Came a voice from the top of one of the giant arms. They all look up and saw two very muscular men standing on both arms, one on each.

"Foreigners from the looks of them! And one of them is a Shinigami!" Another man said standing on the right arm.

They both jump down from the arms and stood in front of everyone with their arms crossed.

The two men are unmistakably twin brothers and very strong looking individuals.

Both wear a red hat with a gold trim and white tassel on top and a light blue scarf tied at the front by a red fastener with gold highlights.

The one on the right wears a white top, while the one on the left wears a yellow one.

The only notable difference between the Twins apart from the differing color of their clothes are some features of their faces; the left one has a broad face and split chin, while the right one has a long face and a normal chin.

"Very suspicious. I Koganehiko-" The One with the yellow top began.

"And I Shiroganehiko," The One with the white top continued.

"Cannot allow you passage inside this building!" They both said.

Annoyed at the prospect of fighting more guardians, Ichigo was half tempted to be less merciful with these two but then Yoruichi coughed getting the two men's attention.

"At ease, you two," Yoruichi said in a placating tone of voice. "They're with me."

Their jaws dropped in sync. "MASTER YORUICHI!" They cried before instantly getting on their knees, vowing before the cat. "Please forgive us! We didn't know these were your servants!"

"Servants? To a cat?" Ichigo uttered in disbelief. "That settles it, Soul Society makes no sense at all."

"It's my fault," Yoruichi said casually. "I should've sent word ahead."

The guards smiled. "Such kind words from such a great person," Shiroganehiko stated.

Without any further question, Koganehiko led everyone inside the house while Shiroganehiko stood to watch outside. from the time they walked through the front door, there was a descending staircase. They all began walking down the stairs following Koganehiko, they finally reached the bottom and stood in front of a Japanese style sliding door.

"Please wait here while I announce your arrival," Koganehiko said as he turned towards the door to speak. "Master Kūkaku, we have visitors." He said from the outside of the door.

There was then a knock heard and Koganehiko told them to enter. When the door opened almost everyone was in for a surprise.

Yoruichi was the first to enter as he walked into the room and greet its only occupant.

"It's been a long time hasn't it, Yoruichi?" Said the woman sitting in the room.

'Kūkaku is a woman!' Ichigo's friends are practically screaming in their heads.

Kūkaku is a youthful-looking woman of average height. She has green eyes and wears bandages over her long messy black hair that parts down in half at the small of her back. She wears a white skirt and provocative red robe exposing her ample bosom. She has a tattoo on her left arm. There are bandages around her right shoulder and both ankles. She also has wooden sandals and a cloak.

Lastly, at a first glance her right arm appears to be completely covered with wood but upon closer inspection they realize that it's actually a prosthetic arm, leading to an obvious question that none would ever dare ask due to how inconsiderate it would be.

"What's this? You seem to have brought a bunch of brats along with you," Kūkaku said

"I shall explain that but first I have a favor to ask of you Kūkaku," said Yoruichi

"That is usually the case when you look me up Yoruichi," Kūkaku replied. The two of them just stared at each other "Is it dangerous?" She asked

"Probably," Yoruichi said

"Heh, it's been a while since we talked like this. Lucky for you my friend I enjoy danger," Kūkaku said with a smile on her face. Yoruichi began explaining why they needed her help to get into the Seireitei. While she was explaining Kūkaku placed some tobacco in a pipe and began smoking.

"Alright I think I get the picture," She said as she took a puff of her pipe. "Ah what the hell I'll take the job," she said.

"Excellent!" Yoruichi said.

"I have some reservations, but with Urahara involved how can I say no," She then stood up. "However, even though I trust you completely Yoruichi I do not trust these kids you have with you. So, I will be sending an overseer to keep an eye on them." Ichigo narrowed his eyes at that and spoke.

"An overseer?"

"I call him that, but he is actually my kid brother," She then walked over to the door at the side of the room and spoke. "Hey in there are you ready?"

"Yea sis, I'm ready," Came a voice that Ichigo recognized.

'Seriously…' Ichigo thought hoping that his suspicions were wrong.

Kūkaku then slid the door open and there was Ganju bowing his head before he spoke.

"Hi there, my name is Ganju Shiba and I am pleased to meet you and happy to be of service," When Ganju looked up he was stunned speechless.

"Wait a second, that look you're each giving tells me you two already know each other," Kūkaku said by the faces her brother is making with Yoruichi's group.

Before anyone could say anything else, Ichigo and Ganju instantaneously engage in combat, the first blows are them punching one another's faces.

"Even for me, that's the worst way to say yes,"

The two men kept at it for at least a few minutes, no one is counting due to the absurdity of it all and it feels more ridiculous unlike last night were there was this level of intensity that is the result of Ganju's animosity towards all Shinigami but now he is just being childish, the comedic glee he shows on his face when he manages to sucker punch Ichigo to the ground and without hesitation, stumps on his Manhood, pretty much what a delicate girl like Orihime can ever call what's between a male's legs, is simply childish. Ichigo's agonizing scream as he kisses his descendants goodbye.

Now that is something everyone can take seriously.

Getsuhime certainly does as the Zanpakutō starts to levitate again, the blade no longer within the sheath and goes straight for the younger Shiba, though thankfully Ganju sees the danger coming and swiftly evaded in time.

"Nice try, dandelion! This time I'm wise to your tricks!" Ganju smirked as he backs away from Ichigo who is being guarded by his Zanpakutō that floats above him, ready to swing at anyone seen as a threat.

"Ichigo! Are you okay?!" Orihime cried, desperately rushing to his side who just lies down holding his manhood.

"That asshole is about to get his balls cut open," Ichigo avowed.

"Go ahead and try, but if you think you'll have the last laugh, you're-" Ganju isn't given the chance to finish talking as his sister, Kūkaku grabs him by the face with her good hand so tightly that the viewers can't believe his face hasn't been torn off instantly.

"THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU MORON!" Kūkaku roared, throwing Ganju through a wall as hard as she can, leaving a man size hole where he was thrown and the impact is so great that the entire room starts to tremble. It is even felt outside that Shiroganehiko thought that there might be a sudden earthquake, terrifying him.

"Did she really have to throw him so harshly?" Uryū muttered in disbelief.

"At least we now know why she's always moving all the time," Chad said weakly.

"Extreme makeover!" Orihime spontaneously blurted out.

"Gah… why you do that, sis?" Ganju asked weakly as he comes out of the hole, his face bruised from the way she grabbed him but aside from that he looks alright, like Ichigo he is a very sturdy man.

"The Shiba Clan may have fallen on hard times but we still have our hospitality to uphold," Kūkaku lectured her immature brother. "And I don't care who started it, you should know better than to start fights in my presence, and furthermore."

She then turns her gaze towards Ichigo, the other instigator of this small skirmish, causing hundreds of bullets to sweat on his face, unable to move to save his own life except gently push Orihime out of the way so she doesn't get caught.

All the while Getsuhime remains floating and ready to strike her but she doesn't get to do much since Kūkaku, with impressive speed and reflex, grabs the sword with her prosthetic arm and throws Getsuhime down to the floor.

"Ow!" The Zanpakutō Spirit shouted but none but her master could hear her.

Kūkaku then grabs Ichigo by his forehead and pulls him closer to her.

"Let's make something perfectly clear, you dandelion! My house, my rules! If you think you can do as you please just because you FEEL LIKE IT! Respect," She began very menacingly before toning down on that last part but immediately went back to menacing.

"I'm not having it while you're here so unless you have someone else that can take you where you need to be you better get the hell out before I throw you out myself! ARE. WE. CLEAR?!"

"Yes, ma'am," Ichigo said somberly.

"Good, as long as we're on point we can continue," Kūkaku said more softly and releases him. "Now follow me, you brats."

She leads the group out of the room through a door and into different hallways that were extremely bright with Ganju following.

The light that shine the hallways earn Uryū's attention as he can easily tell that this house lacks electricity, fitting given the lifestyle Soul Society mimics from the Human World.

Kūkaku explains that she planted in the walls and ceiling a special plant found only in Soul Society call Light Vines that are exactly what the name suggest though Kūkaku doesn't go much further than that despite the Quincy's growing curiosity, forcing him to turn to Yoruichi at a later point for answers since the black cat is clearly very wise and knowledgeable about everything in the Afterlife.

They finally came to a stop in front of two metal doors which Kūkaku then told Ganju to open. He hurried to open it not wanting to anger his sister further.

After the doors were opened everyone walked inside. Inside of the poorly lit room was a giant pipe-like thing that extended upwards through the ceiling.

"You can stop worrying about getting through the wall. With this launcher I will get you in the Seireitei through the air," Kūkaku said, making everyone's eyes widen.

"Through the air?" Ichigo and Uryū screamed.

"Or my name is not Kūkaku Shiba! Fireworks expert of the Rukon District!"

"Fireworks?" Orihime asked not really liking where this is going.

"That's right," Kūkaku said before she looks up the giant pipe and yelled. "Koganehiko! Shiroganehiko! Raise it up now!" Suddenly, the ground started to shake as though there was an earthquake.

"What's going on?" Ichigo asked trying to keep his balance.

"It's the floor! It's going up!" Uryū said. And that it was.

The floor that they were standing on started to rise. Suddenly light started to come from the ceiling, when they looked up, they saw that the ceiling was moving apart as the floor continue to rise.

About ten seconds later Ichigo and his friends realized that they were outside the house.

"So, did that scare you kids?" Kūkaku asked after the shaking stopped. "This is my only enhanced fireworks launch pad," She said.

"And that's the Kakaku Taihō (Flower Crane Cannon)!" Ganju yelled interrupting his sister to which he got a kick straight to the head.

"That was my line!" Shouted a very ticked off big sister.

"Sorry," Ganju spoke lying face down nursing his head.

"Time out!" Uryū demanded incredulous by everything he just heard. "I don't know what kind of technician you are but shooting us with that thing is hands down ridic-"

The Quincy doesn't get to say much more as Kūkaku then tosses a ball-like object right at his face, making his glasses fall off, followed by the object landing right in Ichigo's hands.

"What were you really expecting her to do once you raised your tone like that," Ichigo questioned his cousin.

"I admit that I can speak out of terms when presented with mountainous stupidity," Uryū groaned from the pain while picking up his glasses.

"Then why haven't you self-destructed all those times you were near Keigo?"

"Why, indeed,"

"What's this thing?" Orihime asked moving closer to Ichigo to get a better look at the ball and notes that it is a medium-sized orb composed of a clear material that is inscribed with a red crane insignia.

"That is a Reishūkaku (Spirit-Gathering Core). Put your palms on it and concentrate your spirit energy," Kūkaku explained.

Ichigo takes a few steps back from his friends, places both of his palms on the ball, closes his eyes, and began focusing his spirit energy on it.

The others who were watching Ichigo saw he started to glow blue then suddenly a circular light-blue bubble forms from the core and wraps around Ichigo as though trapping him inside.

When Ichigo reopens his eyes, he saw himself in the weird bubble.

"Most impressive, Ichigo," Yoruichi noted. "For someone who's only begun to grasps the true concept of being a Shinigami and can't use Kidō yet, your handling of your spirit energy is exceptional for a beginner. Unstable nonetheless but very powerful."

"Kidō?" Orihime asked.

"It's what the Soul Society refers to as Magic," Uryū explained.

"Oh!"

"Thanks but what is this exactly?" Ichigo asked. Kūkaku walks over to him and taps the bubble with her hand and began speaking.

"This here is the cannonball," She said while tapping the bubble.

"Cannonball?" Chad repeated nervously.

'Ah shit. What the hell did we get ourselves into?' Ichigo mumbled.

'This is what we get for following a damn cat.' Uryū hissed.

'The poor reactions of these children is simply priceless. And there's still more to come.' Yoruichi smirked.

"Pay close attention everyone. You may think that the only thing guarding the Seireitei is the Seireiheki (Pure Soul Wall) you saw falling from the sky but you are dead wrong. It is not nearly that simple. That wall is made from a mineral known as Sekkiseki (Spirit Reducing Stone), a special substance that completely repels spirit energy. The mineral is rare even within Soul Society and cannot be found naturally in large quantities; the majority of it comprises the wall. The mineral projects a unique wave of energy from its cut surfaces, enveloping the city with a spherical barrier called the Shakonmaku (Soul-Warding Membrane). It's powerful, even capable of preventing direct transportation in and out of Seireitei. That's where this baby comes into the picture." Kūkaku indicated to the bubble around Ichigo as she hits it a bit harder that tiny cracks started to show on it, with Ichigo groaning in pain as though he was the one who was hit.

"Because of the stone's properties, any Reishi that passes through the barrier is instantly vaporized, however, this cannonball is a special device that can break through the barrier if all four of you put your spirit energy into it. Then I will use the Kakaku Taihō to shoot that cannonball into the sky and it will punch a hole straight through the barrier. Any questions?" She finished.

Orihime sheepishly raised her hand. "Is it safe?"

"If you don't fuck up," Kūkaku stated. "Now, head to the dojo and start practicing! You too, Dandelion, just because you have promise doesn't mean you're allowed to slack off. Koganehiko, Shiroganehiko; escort them downstairs."

Ichigo squawked as one of the servants picked him and Uryū up as soon as he made the bubble vanish. "Lemme go!"

"And you'd all better train hard," Kūkaku called after the humans in a parting shot. "Because if even one of you loses focus, then it'll go BOOM!"

"What? You never said that earlier!" Ichigo roared as they are taken back into the house with Yoruichi following.

Before they were dragged inside, Ichigo spared a quick glance at the Shiba siblings and it looked like they were arguing about something, the Shinigami Agent can easily deduce that it concerns Ganju's animosity for Shinigami and reluctance to really help them despite being obedient to his sister's orders.

"Does it bother you to be near them?" Getsuhime asked him, noting for a while that being near relatives that don't really know him gives off mix feelings.

'I don't know what to make of this. In many ways I have just as much right as them to know our shared connection with dad but in truth I'm just as lost as he may be feeling now.' Ichigo bemused. 'I hate to admit this but I'm gonna have to follow his lead on this.'

"There's no reason to feel despair. Regardless of the really bad impression, I'm sure they're truly good people so whatever happens you'll be able to work things out," Getsuhime offered words of encouragement to her master.

'Thanks. That means a lot to me.' Ichigo replied thoughtfully.

"Anytime,"

The group began their training with the Reishūkaku and so far so good for them.

"Ooh! Young Inoue! You are a fast learner!" Koganehiko commented proudly as he watches Orihime use the core to make a perfectly shaped spherical barrier that keeps her eight inches above the floor, all while she has a cute, yet nonchalant look on her face.

"And Young Ishida! That's a nice ellipsoid. Probably has to do with your personality," Shiroganehiko added to Uryū who also uses the Reishūkaku perfectly, though his has a narrow and oval shape instead.

"And Young Sado! Yours is very much like Young Kurosaki. Not very stable but it's packed with power," Koganehiko continued.

"At the rate you four are going, you only have to keep practicing for a few more hours and you'll be ready," Shiroganehiko added.

"Right you are, Koganehiko! Master Shiba's Kakaku Taihō shall not fail," Shiroganehiko praised.

"Indeed, Shiroganehiko!"

"Those two are so unbearably loud," Ichigo barely whispered enough for the two men not to hear him except for his friends as he resumes making a barrier in order to perfect it.

"Considering who they work for I'd be in further shock if they were sophisticated servants," Uryū whispered back.

"I think they're really funny," Orihime cheered. Of course she'd find these people entertaining.

"They kind of remind me of Coach Kagine," Chad noted, getting a crack from Ichigo.

"Now that you mention it, I even see the resemblance," Ichigo half-joked.

---

"Alright, kids, I hope you're all packed because it's beach time," Masaki cheered as she's taking her daughters to celebrate vacation the only way it should be done, by enjoying the thrill of the beach.

"I'm so excited. It's been so long since we've gone there but I wish dad would've come along, it just wouldn't be the same if we don't go as a family," Yuzu said all packed while not hiding her disappointment over her father's absence.

Sure he can be such a man-child but that's what makes him endearing and she prefers people who act mature only when they need to.

"I know, it's a real bummer, hon but you know doctors are the most essential people in any community to keep us healthy and alive so when duty calls he'll have to answer," Masaki said speaking comforting to her youngest daughter.

The excuse made up for Isshin to leave for Soul Society was that he was called to Tokyo to perform an important surgery.

Suspicious for A LOT of reasons to be sure but thanks to Kisuke, who knows his way around manipulating events to suit people's needs, this deception was bought with flying colors and any attempts to expose the falsehood will be stopped in their tracks.

The only person who can see through the ruse is Ryūken Ishida, the Director of Karakura Hospital who is aware of Kisuke Urahara and can recognize his machinations a mile away but he won't bother with it and let the Kurosakis do as they please. It's not any of his problem one way or another.

"Besides, why would you want that old fart around anyway when you have me," Declared Yuzu's suspiciously cheerful older brother who sneaks up behind her and holds her by her shoulders.

This doesn't scare her but it does catch her off guard since Ichigo doing something like this has never happened before.

Of course, the man behind her isn't really her brother but the Mod-Soul Kon inhabiting his body while he's away in the Soul Society.

"He'd just suck out all the fun out of it like usual,"

"Maybe but… you know what, I suppose you're right," Yuzu relented.

---

"GAH!" Isshin screamed in pain as his heart suddenly twisted, holding on to his chest while falling to his knees. "What… has happened? My baby Yuzu…"

---

"I'm more interested in knowing why you're okay with going, Ichigo," Karin pointed out. "You pretty much swore off the ocean after Orihime's stunt with the shellfish."

"Don't think on it too much, I just got over it is all," Kon shrugged, mimicking Ichigo the best that he could enough to ensure that the twins wouldn't doubt him. "Besides, beach time with the family, minus dad? Too good of a chance to pass out once he finds out about this."

"Ah, so that's what this is about," Karin smirked. "Alright, I can buy that. It'll be fun to see his stupid reaction."

---

"Karin… my darling, why…?" Isshin wallowed in childish sorrow as he now lies on the ground as an almost drooling mess.

---

"Alright, alright. No more abusing your father, you three. You're only ever truly allowed to do that once a day each," Masaki instructed and they think she's being stern but is really just messing around. "If you're all set, get in the car."

The twins were the first to enter while Masaki and Kon stayed to pick up a few things that are left.

"You're playing the role of big brother as well as you did their papa real nicely," Masaki commented to the Mod Soul.

"Comes with the perks of being basically a Gikon (Artificial Soul). We mimic the people whose bodies we temporarily inhabit, for the most part, and Ichigo's not that difficult to cosplay as," Kon said. "Though, regular Gikons usually inhabit Gigais used by Shinigami not actual bodies."

"Pretty convenient and fascinating, the mere prospect of making a manmade spirit, I mean," Masaki said.

"Exactly how much do you know about the Soul Society?" Kon asked out of the blue. The two haven't had any real chance to converse with one another due to Masaki being busy with her thoughts over Ichigo's training and later departing to rescue Rukia.

"Pretty much what everyone raised into the Quincy tribes is told about the Shinigami, and whatever Isshin told me about his home was mostly about his many trials and errors, adventures, and misadventures to put on a spectacle for me. I never really ever had any interest in learning about the Gotei 13, Zanpakutō and beyond that, except that to this day a part of me is still in disbelief that he and I actually managed to make what we have actually work and the family we made from it." Masaki said with a serene smile that hides a lot of concern and sadness.

"I would think that you handled it the same way as any human married couple would, seeing that Isshin was without his powers for over two decades," Kon replied casually.

"You would think so and for a long time I really thought we were a pretty average family despite our spiritual backgrounds and Ichigo able to see spirits from a young age," Masaki said as her thoughts return to the day the life of her family could've changed for the absolute worst.

"But try as I might, this was never going to be our lives. At least not without a fight,"

(Flashback: 8 Years Ago, June 17th)

It was raining…

A nine-year-old boy was very happy when his mother showed up to pick him up from his dojo training with his only friend, who is also a girl.

So many teased them about being a couple, which he is unhappy about, especially since she had beaten him pretty badly to the point where he started to cry, but that quickly changed the second his mother showed up to get him and the boy immediately stopped his tears and smiled the second he saw her.

He took off his protective helmet and walked over to her. She knelt down in front of her boy and smiled warmly at him.

"Go get changed and we'll head home so I can make you your favorite, okay," Masaki said with a warm smile.

Ichigo beamed at her words and hurried to the back to get changed. It didn't take him long and he joined his mother by the entrance.

She held out her hand and Ichigo took it as they walked outside and were making their way back home.

On their way back, it had started to rain heavily. Luckily, Masaki had prepared for this and brought umbrellas for both of them and a rain coat for Ichigo.

They continued to walk and made it to the river bay. Along the way, a truck passed by and unintentionally splash water from the ground at the boy, causing him to pout for getting wet, and after all the trouble his mother went through to make sure this didn't happened.

"Are you okay?" She jokingly asked, not really worried since it's just water, and he thankfully was never one to get sick so easily. She gets on her knees while moving him closer to dry him up. "There, that's it. Much better, right?" She asked and this time he responds with a nod.

"Why don't we trade sides, better you than me if this happens again," She insisted.

"No, that wouldn't be better at all," The child argued, unwilling to accept that. "I'll walk on this side, so that I can protect you." His strong claim made his mother chuckle, more so in admiration.

"My very own hero. How wonderful," She lightly cheered before getting back on her feet and the two hold hands to continue walking home but they only went as far as thirty feet before the boy saw a girl on the edge of the raging river on their right

"Something caught your eye?" She asked him.

"That girl, she doesn't have an umbrella," He said, still looking at her. His mom looks to see where he's watching but she saw no one. "Since we have two, I'll lend her this one." He said brightly, wanting to help the girl, and quickly rushed to her.

"Wait, what girl?" She spoke up but he was already on his way to the river, and the second he did, she could feel a sudden rise of malice where the girl was.

"Ichigo, stop!" She yelled out as she ran down as fast as she could.

The boy reached out for the girl and as soon as he tried to grab her, she disappeared, to his great confusion before he heard what has to be the most terrifying laughter he has ever heard and probably will ever hear in his life.

"ICHIGO!"

(End of Flashback)

"Today it is impossible to believe but back then, Ichigo used to be such a crybaby. The only time he would stop crying was when I was around but after that day everything changed. He stopped crying and began to look at the world with either malcontent or fierce determination, so I was needed less. He went from "Please help me, mommy" to "I can do it myself". Masaki said with suppressed sadness at the constant pain her son has endured and continues to endure. "He always wants to do things himself now, and because of his hair that was born naturally orange, teen stupidity, and asinine adults who abhor the mere thought of delinquency, Ichigo developed a Might makes Right mentality, when he's not showing off his academic skills, the latter to this day is somehow the most difficult for people to swallow because, well, violence is his first answer instead of being civilized but I've seen the gangs that pick fights with him, their intense dismay but not necessary hate for those who stand out more than them. Some things needed to be done but Ichigo would never show gratitude for it."

"Seems to me like Ichigo is still acting immature," Kon snorted, the young Shinigami and him never really warmed up to each other even though he and Rukia offered him shelter from the harshness of the world, especially Soul Society who would prefer for him to go extinct like the rest of his kind that they themselves created to fight in their war against the Hollows but quickly decided that Modified Souls were a greater danger to them.

"Of course that would be your response to my son's behavior. I won't blow a tantrum about it this time around. Alas, children don't always turn out the way the parents want them to be. Isshin and I are good examples of that predicament. Why should our children be any different?" Masaki mused a bit to herself.

"Hey, what's the hold up. Are we going or not?" Karin interrupted, coming back in the house.

"We haven't taken that much time to get ready," Kon replied.

"Really, because knowing you two, five minutes is a long time," She countered.

"We're about done, Karin, no need to get all upset," Masaki insisted to her daughter who shrugs, returning to the car.

"If nothing else, you and Isshin at least did well with Yuzu. She's a real sweetheart when she's not tormenting stuffed animals," Kon retorted, finding the youngest Kurosaki to be the more tolerable of this family despite his less than stellar first impression of her.

"Yes but for how long, I wonder? After all, she idolizes her brother, and I can only imagine what she would do once those two learn the truth," Masaki said but with a bit more amusement and none of the trouble she was feeling before.

Being near Yuzu and Karin always helps her stay focus when she wanted to be, she's already dying inside wondering when her husband and son would come back, only able to hope for their safe return and that none of this comes back to bite them.

---

"This is a first. I've never been ordered to enter a meeting with my Lieutenant Badge as a definite must have before," Replied the annoyed Lieutenant of the 6th Division, Renji Abarai, as he adjusts a wooden armband on his left arm that has the insignia of the Camellia, which signifies Noble Reason.

He is on his way to a Meeting with all the other Lieutenants of the Gotei 13.

"All Lieutenants are to put on their badges and gather at the Waiting Room, right?"

"Those were the instructions we received from the Jigokuchō (Hell Butterfly). "Lieutenants are to put on their badges and wait in the Aid's Room #2." A small detail that signifies that whatever is going on is pretty big and no doubt it's about the Ryoka." Replied a young woman walking alongside Renji.

She has the same height as Orihime, possessing gray eyes and light blonde hair kept in a ponytail on the top of her head. Her bangs are messy and long, leaving a good portion of them in the middle of her face.

She wears the standard Shinigami uniform with a headband that has a flower attached to it and also has an armband with a badge attached to it on her left arm but this one has the Iris insignia that instead signifies Courage.

"I'd be surprised if it was something else," Renji said somberly.

He really doesn't know all the details about what went down in Hakutōmon but apparently, the Gatekeeper Jidanbō was defeated and Captain Gin Ichimaru had to interfere and stop the Ryoka but didn't kill them.

That part aside, the one more on Renji's mind is why would the Captain of the 3rd Division be doing in 9th Division jurisdiction, next to who the Ryoka truly are and if one of them is who he thinks he is…

The two reach their destination where two other Lieutenants are already there waiting for the others of their Rank.

"Renji, Matsuri," One of the two Shinigami already in the room said noticing them.

She is a young petite girl, smaller than the three beside her with her black hair pulled into a bun held in a tied cloth and brown eyes.

Her Lieutenant armband has the Lily of the Valley for an Insignia, signifying Sacrifice, Danger, Pure Love, Humility and Sweetness.

"Momo, Fujimaru. You two are the only ones here?" Renji asked a little surprise as he was half expecting for him and Matsuri to be the only ones late due to his tendency to not always arrive on schedule and Matsuri was occupied with something important and had to put that on hold for the moment because of the abrupt summon they all received.

"Huh, we really shouldn't be too surprised about that," Matsuri said.

"Yeah, we're all usually scattered across pretty much everywhere lately that it's going to take a while for us to gather," Said the one called Fujimaru.

A young man as tall as Renji, he has dirty blonde hair with two hairpieces on both sides of his bangs, and the middle on the bridge of his nose. Besides the standard Shinigami uniform, he wears a bright red ribbon in his hair that rests on his left shoulder.

Much like Matsuri, his eyes are also gray. His Lieutenant Badge has the Pasque Flower, which means Seek Nothing.

"About half a day to be precise, let's just count ourselves lucky that we were close enough and hopefully not get any inconveniences when this starts," Said another newcomer who just arrives as well.

A grown woman with long and wavy blond hair, blue eyes, full lips, and a beauty mark located under the right side of her mouth. She is well known among her peers for her curvaceous figure; of which her most distinctive trait is her very large breasts.

She dresses in the garb typical of Shinigami, though she lets her robes hang loose for her ample bosom to be revealed. She wears a thin golden necklace tucked between her cleavage and a long pink scarf over her shoulders.

In addition, her lieutenant's armband is worn on her uniform's sash, as opposed to around the arm, the insignia is the Daffodil that signifies Mystery and Egoism.

"Rangiku. It's been a while," Matsuri greeted her.

"Good to see all of you as well," The woman replied respectfully but that does little to hide the annoyance she feels. "Honestly, as if I didn't have enough on my hands already with my Captain nowhere to be found, now I have to be dragged into doing this."

"Captain Hitsugaya left somewhere?" Fujimaru asked curious.

"He probably left to train more. He may be a captain now but little Shiro is still underdeveloped," Momo suggested.

"Maybe but it be nice if he'd tell me ahead of time," Rangiku whined.

"Hey, don't you think is a bit too risky to be addressing a Captain so casually, and with such a dumb nickname too," Renji questioned Momo.

"It's alright, Tōshirō and I go way back," Momo said a bit playfully before becoming a bit somber. "Speaking of Captains taking off unannounced, have any of you seen Captain Aizen around."

The question made Renji widen his eyes in surprise but this went unnoticed by the others.

"Captain Aizen? No, has something happened?" Renji asked, feinting ignorance.

"He's been acting strange lately. I can't explain it but there's something he's not telling me. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't pay much attention to something like this because there's always something on his mind with his responsibilities and all, so there is plenty he doesn't bother telling anyone but for the first time I'm starting to worry and he keeps insisting that everything's fine when I can tell that isn't the case," Momo said with barely noticeable tears threatening to come out.

"Try to relax, will ya. Sōsuke Aizen is one of the greatest men in Soul Society, greater than even my Captain. Whatever has him overworked that he's keeping you out of it is surely something he can handle himself and doesn't want to burden you," Renji said acting all tough while still sounding encouraging to her outwardly but on the inside, he's going through an internal conflict.

'Tell me with all your honesty, Renji. Do you truly believe that Rukia Kuchiki deserves to die.'Captain Aizen's words run rampant on his head as he did in fact met the man before coming here.

'After the previous Shinigami Agent proved to be a travesty of unforeseen propulsion it was decided that the arrival of another human with powers like ours shall be declared a Capital Offense, we all know this but neither the Head Captain nor Central 46 have ever stated in the laws they'd agreed on making together that the punishment for such an offense happening again would result in death. So what is this really about because legally, there should be no Execution Order. Kuchiki should receive harsh punishment to be sure but her life shouldn't be forfeit.'

'Dammit… why do I have these thoughts drilling into my head all the sudden. Just what are you up to Captain Aizen?' Renji wondered bitterly.

---

Around the same time, a meeting between the Captains of the Gotei 13 is being held to discuss the recent situation with the Ryoka with Gin Ichimaru on his way into where meetings among Captains are always held, the 1st Division Barracks with him opening the doors to where his peers are.

Inside the large room, there are two lines of captains standing opposite of each other, though not all of them are here with Gin only now showing up and another usually absent due to sickness.

In the two lines there are only four on the right and six on the other, one of the latter is none other than the 6th Division Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki.

At the head of both lines standing in the center is the leader of the Gotei 13 himself, Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

He has the appearance of an old man with an exceptionally long white beard and long eyebrows. He has a pair of long, perpendicular scars above his right eye. He wears the standard Shinigami uniform, but its size is greatly exaggerated. He drapes his haori over his back instead of actually wearing it.

"3rd Division Captain, Gin Ichimaru! Enter," The Elderly Leader spoke with a tone that radiates so much power and authority, it's enough to make someone as feckless and stubborn as Ichigo pause and reflect on his life choices either out of fear or at least begrudging respect.

Even the wooden cane he is holding in his left-hand looks like it can put Getsuhime to shame.

"Oh my. What do we have here? Mmmm~" Gin said playfully. "Did all the Captains gather here just for little old me? Sorry, I don't see the 13th, again with his illness. Poor fellow."

"Show some more respect, Ichimaru. Captain Ukitake is as dutiful as one would expect of a veteran like him, despite his circumstances," Lectured one of the Captains on the right line, a man as tall as Gin with dark skin and dark brown braids.

Dark purple hair tied in the back as a ponytail, clear goggles covering his eyes. While wearing a traditional Shinigami uniform with the sleeves rolled up to the shoulders and his haori over it; the uniform is tied with a purple obi sash. He also has an orange scarf around his neck, white boots (instead of the normal sandals), and black, fingerless gloves.

"Please, don't get the wrong idea, I have nothing but respect for our dear veterans," Gin insisted.

"Enough nonsense already!" Demanded a taller man with a wild and aggressive appearance.

He has a long face with pronounced cheekbones and pronounced, hairless brow ridges. He has one good green eye and long, stringy black hair. A noticeable trait in his appearance is a long, thin scar running down the left side of his face and across his left eye. In addition to the standard Shinigami uniform, he wears white bandages across his midsection and a sleeveless captain's haori, which has a ragged look to it. He styles his hair into stiff strands with small bells attached to the tips and wears a black eyepatch over his right eye.

"The way we heard it, you went off to have some fun fighting intruders outside of your jurisdiction, and as if you howling all the fun for yourself wasn't bad enough, you even failed to get rid of them. That's not like you, Ichimaru."

"Oh my, it seems as though you're accusing me of something really bad," Gin replied, feigning ignorance.

"That stupidity of yours that makes Zaraki a genius in comparison never fails to astonish me," Mocked another Captain in the left line, who's appearance has a skeletal look to it with a skull-like visage.

His face is painted entirely white with the inner portion of his face painted black with the exception of his nose. His eyes are a golden color and he constantly bares his teeth giving the appearance of him constantly smiling. Both his ears are seemingly replaced with stubbed golden cones. His fingernails are blue and, with the exception of the fingernail on his right middle finger, are all short. The one long fingernail is as long as the finger itself.

He also wears a white hat with two ends that point to his right and a large purple scarf around his neck. His whole body, even his face, and hands, has been painted black and white.

"How rude, even for you, Captain Kurotsuchi," Gin whined playfully.

"I'm not done talking you ingrate. You may attempt to justify your failure with mere carelessness of underestimating lowly Ryoka but we both know there's more to this waste of time you've started," The freakish Captain accused.

"What a pain, you old men and your constant bickering," Sighed with annoyance the youngest looking Captain in the group who is really a child with turquoise eyes and short, spiked, white hair.

He wears a standard sleeveless captain's haori with a green sash around his shoulders, held together by a round, star-like clip. The sash holds his Zanpakutō's sheath in place on his back and is tied to it at either end.

"Okay, now I know you're most definitely accusing me of something," Gin pressed.

"I am," Kurotsuchi pressed even forward.

"Captain Hitsugaya has the right idea about you three being a pain on this matter," Lectured the Captain on the left line closest to the Head Captain, a relatively petite woman with gray eyes and black hair which she wears short with two long braids bound in white cloth, each ending in a large golden ring.

Apart from the traditional Shinigami captain's uniform with a sleeveless haori, she has a yellow obi tied around her waist. Instead of wearing the standard Shinigami sandals with tabi, she wears traditional Chinese shoes with ordinary white socks.

"All of you be silent!" The Head Captain demanded, bringing pause to all of them. "Now then, let us begin. Captain Ichimaru, you acting on your own in the jurisdiction of another Division is cause enough to warrant my attention that demands an acceptable answer to this roguish display, but even more than that, you took it upon yourself to engage the Ryoka and failed to apprehend them! That is the true purpose for this meeting."

Upon saying that, Genryūsai narrows his red eyes deeper at Gin, looking at him menacingly, as though he is drilling into his skull despite the white-haired Captain never losing his grin. "So then, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"Red Alert! Red Alert! The Seireitei has been breached! All squads report to battle stations immediately! Repeat, this is a Red Alert! Intruders in the Seireitei!"

This was heard throughout the Seireitei. Shinigami everywhere started running and getting themselves into position.

---

I just want to say that I would like you all to avoid any Isshin bashing because him not facing Ganju and Kūkaku yet was more me not wanting to deal with that sort of tension and drama this early on and wanting to just get to the Seireitei already while still having time for other factors, Masaki still being alive because things went differently on June 17th for one but that small showdown will be made when I feel it's time to address Ichigo's Quincy heritage, right now it's all about the Shinigami, and Getsuhime.

One last thing, I edited the last part of the previous chapter because I'd planned to introduce another OC as a background Antagonist but decided while making this one to not bother and instead use an already existing non-canon character for the role.

I hope you all enjoy this Chapter as well, favs, follows, and reviews are always appreciated, and I'll see you all next time.