Chapter Eighty Eight:

Byakuya yawned and rose from his desk, blowing out the candle which had diligently sat beside him until the early hours of the morning. He would likely have continued his work, were it not for the nagging memory of the news he had received earlier that day.

Urahara would be visiting Soul Society sometime in the week for the first time since Aizen's imprisonment. The nobleman could only hope and pray that meant the blond had finally uncovered a way to return Ichigo's Shinigami powers. He couldn't think of another reason for the man to visit. The thought filled him with as much hope as it did trepidation.

The thought of Ichigo returning to Soul Society after eight long months was... Exciting and horrifying in equal measure. What if he no longer felt the same as he had before losing his powers? What if he no longer wanted a relationship? Byakuya could hardly blame him if that was the case, for eight months Kyōraku had forbidden any of them setting foot in Karakura. He understood that it was for the best, they had to consolidate their forces, confirm Izanshi's whereabouts, make repairs. But it had been hard. It had been agonising, Soul rending... Heart breaking.

More so upon hearing from the Espada that they had managed to sneak in and out of Karakura town to see Ichigo. He wished they had taken him with them, but the risk of being caught was more than big enough for them already without him tagging along. They had reported that Ichigo seemed to be in good health, making something of a normal life for himself. It was a comfort, to know that he was doing alright.

His heart had only been thrown more into turmoil upon a more private conversation with Grimmjow. The blue haired Espada had cornered Byakuya alone, confessed that he had been to see Ichigo again after the other Espada had returned to Urahara's store. By all accounts, Ichigo was struggling to come to terms with his new life, his lack of company.

Byakuya was sure his heart had broken just a little to hear that Grimmjow had been given permission to pursue his feelings towards him, Ichigo's heart was big enough to see the larger picture. To know that eventually... Everyone moved on.

Only once had he considered rekindling that heated encounter from Las Noches, it had been a bad night. Full of alcohol and misery and self pity. Grimmjow had been there as a friend, as a comfort. And he had been tempted. He'd flooded himself with self-loathing for even considering it. Grimmjow... Despite every initial impression he'd ever had about the Sexta Espada, had been a complete gentleman. Putting the cork in the bottle of saké, making a strong batch of tea, offering an ear and a shoulder. He could barely wish for a better friend.

Closing the study door behind him, he turned towards the staircase, freezing on the spot as he saw a glow of red hair waiting for him. Renji.

"What are you still doing up at this time of night?" He asked his former second in command, the faint luminosity from the candles around the hallway cast enough of a light to show the man's face, he looked troubled.

"Rukia." Came the gruff reply, Renji sounded just as tired as Byakuya felt, "We've been having some... Problems."

"Problems?" The noble raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

"You're not gonna assume I've done something?" The redhead sounded almost surprised.

"I am sure if you were at fault I would have heard of it by now. The fact that I had not noted anything to be amiss in your relationship is enough to tell me that you are not the cause of these problems."

Renji ran a hand down his face, "Right... Sorry. I'm tired."

"No matter." He approached the redhead and reached out, resting his hand on his shoulder only to recoil at the deathly chill rising from his body, "Renji?!"

"Now you see the problem."

Renji was shivering, there was a tinge of blue to the very edges of his lips and the dark circles under his eyes suggested this was a regular occurrence. Byakuya couldn't believe he hadn't noticed before. Had he truly been so wrapped up in his own mind, in his own work that he had failed to notice how sickly Renji was looking?!

"What's happened?" He asked, taking his haori from his shoulders and wrapping it around his former Fukutaichou in order to warm him up.

"Rukia... At night once she's asleep... The room gets cold. Unbelievably cold." The redhead murmured, "I've woken up a few times to find myself frozen to the bed. There's literal ice crawling up the walls, across the windows... The floor. It's like being inside a freezer."

Byakuya frowned faintly at his description, touching his fingers to his lips in thought, "I recall Hitsugaya Taichou recounting similar events when his Zanpakutō was calling to him. He would wake to find his grandmother in a similar condition to yourself."

"But she already has her Zanpakutō." Renji grunted.

"Take me to her room. This is something I must see for myself."

Byakuya followed Renji up the stairs. Rukia's room was on the opposite side of the mansion to his own, with a large window which looked out over the dense cherry tree forest at the southern end of the estate.

They were still four or five doors away when Byakuya began to feel the distinctive chill which had crept out into the hallway; it was at that point that the Kuchiki heir moved ahead of Renji, not wanting the redhead to be exposed to the brunt of the coldness.

Blinking as he watched his breath take form as he exhaled, crisp white tendrils of air swirled up in front of his face. He reached out, palm resting on the frigid wood of the door as he pushed it open, the hinges creaked with protest as he cracked the layer of ice that had encased them.

At a first glance, Byakuya could have sworn that Rukia's bedroom had become a palace of intricate frosted glass, but given the temperature the truth screamed of cold, of ice. The books and clothes, curtains and couches were trapped in icy form. Beautiful under the glare of the scarlet Shakkahō light he swiftly summoned into life in his palm, the ground was frozen solid underfoot.

Icicles dangled from the shadowy confines of the window frame, gusts of unnaturally cold air billowing into the room from the outside world.

"Where is she?" Byakuya demanded, turning to face Renji in the doorway, "Where was she when you left?!"

"W-What?!" Renji stuck further into the room, braving the chill as his eyes darted around, "She was in bed when I left! That window wasn't open before..."

Byakuya could see the crumpled bedsheets where they had been lazily pushed aside, frozen solid with delicate snowflakes, crunching the Kidō light ball in his fist as he darted towards the open window, he leaned out of it, hands on the frame and peered downwards.

"We're two floors up," the Kuchiki heir breathed, "Surely she didn't..."

He trailed off, throat constricting as his keen eyes latched onto a thousand tiny crystal flowers scattered in a winding trail across the grass, heading towards the cherry blossom forest Rukia loved so much. He followed the path with his eyes, squinting as it seemed to disappear among the trees and the scattering of fallen petals.

Without waiting for Renji to catch up, he slipped out of the window and dropped down onto the ground, Shunpo bouncing him towards the woodland quickly. He was forced to slow as he reached the line of trees, the stirring of the air telling him Renji was right behind him.

Byakuya cast his eyes around, despite the darkness of the night the trees seemed almost illuminated by the soft glow of freckled snow and ice within. Avoiding the winging, grabbing, gnarled roots the pair carefully traversed the thicket of trees.

"What do you think is happening?" Renji asked, his voice was quiet, concerned.

"I have a hunch, I'm just not sure I believe it yet." He murmured in response.

They emerged into a clearing, it was vast. A large scenic lake rested at its heart, fed by a towering waterfall that even Byakuya had never seen before. The waterfall trailed from a gorge, the only snow streaked rock distinguishable from any other rock around them, all its height, all its grandeur jagged and jutting. It was beautiful.

But the inescapable truth lay at the centre of the lake, the frozen water compacted layer by layer providing a solid and stable floor to walk on. And the glimmering white figure stood in the very middle, head tilted back gazing sightlessly at the clear skies.

Rukia. She was stunning. Beautiful. Elegant. Every inch the nobility her name carried. Her bedclothes were gone, replaced by an ankle-length kimono with lined patterns. The robe had attached ornate collar, edges and shoulder design with long, sweeping wide sleeves. Flowing ribbons tied at her back in numerous large loops. There was a small ice flower at the centre of her chest, with a matching half crown of ice which encircled the side of her head. Her hair was sunning white, and Sode no Shirayuki was clasped in her hands, but the blade had become pure ice.

"What... Is all of this?" Renji breathed, his eyes wide as he stared at the demure woman in awe.

Byakuya's expression softened, pride welling in his chest as he sucked in a shaky breath. He swallowed the constricting emotion that swelled in his chest, tilting his head to one side as he allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips, "It is her Bankai."

"Holy shit."

"My sentiments exactly." He chuckled, "Now she will need to learn to control it, so that she doesn't harm you or herself while she sleeps. I believe Hitsugaya Taichou will be a beneficial tutor to her. Come, we need to rouse her and guide her to thaw herself out safely."

"Alright." The redhead said mutedly, tiptoeing nervously onto the ice, "Is this safe?"

"Can't you tell?" Byakuya strode forwards confidently, "The very ice itself is imbued with her reiatsu. She would never harm us. It is safe."

He reached his sister quickly, gently brushing her cheek with his fingers. She was still in a sleep-like state, or perhaps she had been drawn deeply inside of her Inner World much like how Ichigo had been in the days before the Winter War.

"Rukia, it's time to surface. The hour is late, you need rest. You have done incredibly well, I could not be prouder. But this is enough." He whispered, noting the coldness of her skin, "Sode no Shirayuki, keeping her in this state for much longer will harm her body, I'm sure you don't wish for that. Let her go for now. She must learn how to make use of this gift properly."

Byakuya watched as life slowly returned to Rukia's eyes, she looked up at him in confusion, a small frown touching her brow, "Nii-sama?"

"Welcome back." He said softly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, "You're safe. All is well. Renji, summon a Hell Butterfly and sent it to Division Ten, order it to remain at Hitsugaya's side until he wakes. Inform him of this development and request his assistance."

"What happened?" Rukia asked, looking down at herself and their surroundings, "It's... So cold..."

"Your Zanpakutō has given you a spectacular gift, one which will embellish you in the history of Soul Society. Sode no Shirayuki has seen fit to reveal your Bankai, Rukia. And a powerful one it will be once you have mastered it."

"Bankai? Me?" She stared, "I've heard her calling to me more and more frequently during my sleep... I can't believe it."

"Believe it." Renji muttered gruffly, "I'm happy for you and all, love, but for fuck's sake the sooner you control it the better. I'm at serious risk of having you freeze my balls off."

Byakuya snorted reluctantly, biting down on his lip to silence himself from making any further noise as he guided Rukia away from the lake. He looked down at her fondly, he could only imagine how proud Hisana would be to see how strong her sister had become.

"Now, let us return to the mansion. I think for tonight we can open one of the guest suites for you Renji, so that you don't end up with frost bite." Byakuya had to refrain from laughing as he caught a glimpse of Renji's expression, "Some sleep is the best remedy for all of us I think."


Ichigo leaned against the wall outside of Mashiba Middle School once again, it was Friday and he was determined to make extra sure that Kaida and Hotaru went home feeling sick from all the ice cream he was going to feed them. According to Ishida, the twins hadn't encountered any more issues outside of school from the bullies, but there had been a few more spats at lunchtimes and break times. The teachers were doing their best, but in Ichigo's opinion it wasn't good enough.

Glancing up as he heard the familiar sound of the bell ringing, he pushed away from the wall and tucked his phone back into his pocket, peering around the gate in time to see the twins flying towards him. They greeted him with their usual hugs, Kaida's arms reaching around his thighs while Hotaru grabbed his waist. Except, Kaida's arms were higher than normal, he hadn't noticed that morning but she had definitely grown.

"Ichi-ji!" She grinned widely.

"Good evening you two." He smiled back, ruffling their hair, "You ready for ice cream?"

"Yeah!" Came the unified response.

"Come on then." He grabbed their hands, one little body on either side of him, and started walking away from the school, "So, how was it today?"

"Alright," Hotaru shrugged, "Got a bunch of homework to do."

"Ew, homework." The strawberry cringed, "And you Kaida?"

"I'm good." She smiled confidently, "I... I stood up for myself today! Those boys tried to pull my hair today and I stopped them. I stomped on their feet and told them I wasn't scared of them. They didn't know where to look or what to say! I took them by surprise!"

Ichigo broke into a beam at her story, "That's amazing! I'm so proud of you!"

"She was awesome." Hotaru agreed.

"So, what brought about the change?" He asked her.

She clenched a fist in front of her as she spoke, "Two things changed. First, I realised that you were right when you said bullies can only affect me if I let their words mean anything to me. And secondly, I decided that as a Quincy I have to have pride in myself! Dad says that a Quincy's pride is the very core of their power, without it I'll never get stronger."

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her brother, "So, Ishida's started teaching you then."

"Yeah, after the whole... Sneaking out thing." He murmured, "Kaida's... Pretty good at it. She's already got the basics of sensing reiatsu down. I'm struggling a bit. It's hard, focusing on something you can't even see."

"Tell me about it." He muttered, pushing the door to the ice cream parlour open, "In you go."

He watched as they darted to their usual seat, he ordered the ice creams and slipped into the booth beside Hotaru, "I always sucked at sensing reiatsu too. It was like... Impossible. Unless I knew the person really, really well... I couldn't sense anything."

"Did you ever improve?"

"Yeah, yeah I did," he smiled slightly at the memory of the first time he had sensed reiatsu without even trying, "It was a matter of accepting myself. Accepted everything about myself. I don't think that would be the same for you though."

"Dad mentioned spirit ribbons, a way of visualising reiatsu... I don't know where to begin."

"It's easy!" Kaida clapped her hands on the table excitedly, "You just have to close your eyes and think really hard."

"I do think really hard!" Hotaru protested, huffing slightly, "I just can't do it. I get fuzzy outlines."

"It will take time," Ichigo smiled, "Don't lose hope. Maybe, try with people close to you first. Think about your mum, your dad, Kaida... Even me if you want. Think about what the person means to you, special memories you have with them. Just imagine their entire being."

"I'll try." He sighed.

"Ichi-ji?" Kaida tilted her head.

"Yes?" The strawberry looked at her.

"Dad said that normal Humans have white spirit ribbons, while Shinigami have red ones." She murmured, tapping her fingers absent-mindedly on the seat beside her, "I can see yours right now, as easy as breathing."

"Oh?"

"It's... Weird. Sort of braided. Red and white." She stated, blinking, "I thought it would be all white, seeing as you don't have any powers now."

Ichigo stared, considering her words, "Uh... Maybe it hasn't updated yet?" He shrugged, "No idea."

"It's pretty." She murmured.

He felt his mobile vibrate in his back pocket, pulling it free as the twins entertained themselves. He flipped the device open and took note of the text from Makoto. He was inviting him out for coffee. Ichigo couldn't quite stop the small smile spreading across his lips, but regardless he tapped out a quick refusal, explaining that he was spending time with the twins. There was only a momentary pause before he received an understanding reply.

"You look happy, Ichi-ji." Kaida said suddenly.

The strawberry blinked and stowed his phone away as he looked at her, "Do I?"

"Mm." Hotaru agreed, "You've not been right ever since you came to stay with us, mum and dad said it was because you missed your friends."

Faltering, he shuffled in his seat, "Yeah... That's true."

"But you've been a little bit better recently." The young girl noted, "Not all the time, sometimes you still have that really sad look in your eyes when you think we aren't looking. But now you seem a little brighter. Did something happen?"

"I... Didn't realise you could read me so well." He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, "Well... I met a new friend... We've been talking a lot. I guess it's slowly been putting everything into perspective."

"I'm glad." She smiled.

They ate their ice cream when it arrived, working their way through the mountain Ichigo had ordered them, just as he had promised. They didn't leave until they all felt at least a little bit sick. He held the door open for them and grabbed their hands as they started heading towards home.

"Ichi-ji?" Hotaru glanced up at him.

"Yeah?" he smiled.

"What did you look like before? When you had your powers?"

He looked ahead, letting out a small chuckle, "I mean it depends really. I went through... Quite a few changes."

"Tell us about them, please?" Kaida gripped his hand all the tighter.

"Alright, alright. Well... I looked like this when I joined the Academy, but younger, like a teenager. When I graduated and joined Division Five, I grew my hair out a bit, it was kinda shaggy and longer than it is now. When I finally accepted myself for who and what I was, my hair grew incredibly long, it looked kinda more like your mum's, and I ended up with this brand on the side of my neck-"

"Was that your Hollow's influence?" Hotaru asked.

"My Hollow... How much has Ishida told you?"

"Enough for us to understand." The boy shrugged.

Scowling slightly as he looked ahead again, he sighed, "Well, yes that was Shiro's influence. He looked like a pure white version of me, for the record. Anyway, the only other change was my tattoos... I ended up covered in a bunch of black swirls that basically identified me as the head of my family." He paused, considering his final form with only a small tinge of regret, "My biggest change was when I defeated Aizen. I became one with my Zanpakutō. My hair turned black and my eyes turned red, I got a bit taller. And stronger, much stronger."

"Which did you like the most?" Kaida asked sweetly.

"Mm." He paused to consider it, melting at the wide innocent in her eyes, "I guess... I liked all of them. They were all part of me, all part of who I was becoming."

"Mum says you were the strongest Shinigami to ever exist... Was... She telling the truth?"

"Uh... I mean I don't know about that." He shrugged, "I was strong, yeah and I took down the big bad guy... I was strong enough to protect what I loved. I think that's what matters."

"I wish we could have seen you as a Shinigami... I bet you looked really cool." Hotaru mumbled.

"What, I don't look cool now?" He snorted, "The cheek of it."

"I mean you are cool and everything, but it's not like you're walking around with a sword and tattoos anymore." He shrugged.

"True," Ichigo couldn't help but agree, "Brutal. But true."

He dropped the twins off at home, sparing a few quick words with their parents before he headed off home. His hands were deep in his pockets and he stifled a yawn, hiding his mouth in his shoulder, too lazy to pull his hand back out.

He couldn't have been more than a few yards from the stairs of the apartment building when he heard a voice behind him. He groaned as a spike of warning shot up his spine, making his arm hairs stand on end.

"Oi, Kurosaki!"

He turned curiously to see who would be yelling at him, he saw a tall well muscled man at the head of a small gang of other men. From what he could see, the guy who had yelled to him, was pretty unattractive, he was sporting a thin moustache and a badly bleached afro. There was a ring piercing through his left nostril and it seemed to be linked to one in his ear by a golden chain. His glasses were half moons with thin black rims. With a squint, Ichigo noticed the baseball bat that was slung over his shoulder.

"What do you want?" The strawberry asked, tilting his head.

"Don't you remember my face, Kurosaki?" He sneered, fingers twitching on the handle of the bat.

"Uh..." He blew out a breath and looked him over again before shrugging, "I can't say I do. I'm sure I'd remember someone with that face though, maybe you've got the wrong guy."

"Tch, with that cocky attitude? I don't think so!" The other man spat, "You haven't changed at all from when we were kids. You're still a little punk who thinks he's special."

Raising an eyebrow, Ichigo folded his arms over his chest, "Right... So, you're someone I knew as a kid? Great. Nice to see you again. Goodbye."

It was probably a stupid move to turn his back on the gang, but he wanted to get in and have a shower and relax for the evening.

"Don't turn your back on me you little fuck! You think you can threaten my kid and get away with it? You?!"

Ichigo stopped with one foot on the bottom stair, his expression changing slowly, "You're the parent of one of the kids who's been bullying Kaida and Hotaru?"

"Bullying? Please, it's all fun and games, he's just trying to teach her a lesson. She ain't special. She's got no right to stand out."

"I see." He pulled his phone from his pocket slowly and dialled, lifting the device to his ear, "Excuse me? I'd like to order an ambulance. The location? Uh, just outside of the apartment blocks in the Sakurabashi district. Number of ambulances?" Ichigo trailed off for a moment and finally turned around, looking at the gang again, "Let me see... One, two, three, four, five... Five ambulances."

"You bastard!"

He threw his phone aside as he watched the men run at him, grinning wickedly as he ducked their first few swings. He played with them, darting and dodging around until they grew so frustrated two of them almost knocked each other out instead of him.

"You know, I think I do remember you actually. Yokochini right?" He asked, his fist slamming into one of the other men's jaws, dropping him instantly, "Didn't your dad run a big company and move away just before my family were murdered? Sounds right..."

He dropped, hands planted on the ground as he spun, his foot smacking one of the other gang members hard, he watched as he didn't move again. A palm slam to the chest, a punch to the jaw, an elbow to the ribs, a knee to the groin. Ichigo remembered every hand-to-hand combat move he'd ever learnt. Whether they were dirty or not.

"I'm glad I had the chance to reconnect with you, Yokochini." He headbutted the last gang member standing between him and his target, easily catching the bat between his hands as it was swung, bringing him face to face with the thug, "I was hoping I'd have a chance to show you that I turned into someone who wouldn't be shoved around just because of the colour of my hair."

"Y-You're a monster..."

"Yeah, and I suggest you remember that next time you encourage your kid to pick on Kaida or Hotaru. Because if I hear that they've touched another hair on that girl's head... I'll come after you. And you won't be so luck to escape with just a broken nose." Ichigo thrusted his head forwards, hearing the satisfying crunch of Yokochini's nose popping out of alignment, "Next time... I'll kill you."

Brushing his hands together as he stepped back to assess his handiwork, Ichigo snorted at the sorry state of men sprawled across the ground in front of him, "Honestly." Was all he could say as he retrieved his phone and headed up to his apartment.

He watched from the balcony as the ambulances arrived and took the gang away, smirking to himself as he heard Yokochini babbling fruitlessly to the paramedics.

"Makoto was right," Ichigo chuckled as he went inside, "When in doubt... Take your problem to the parents."

Pulling his phone out, he dialled Ishida's private number and held the phone to his ear using his shoulder as he grabbed himself a beer from the fridge.

"Kurosaki, what do you want? I'm working." Came the annoyed tone he'd come to find somewhat affectionate.

"Nothing much, don't worry I won't keep you," he smirked as he popped the cap off his drink, "I just thought I'd warn you that you've got five ambulances coming your way with some rough looking guys."

"And you would know that how?" There was an exasperated sigh, "You haven't been fighting have you?"

"Only a little bit." He winced at the accusation, "But hey, none of them are too bad, just a few bandages and let them go."

"And painkillers, knowing your style."

"I'd skip the pain relief." He mused, sitting down on the couch, "After all, they are the parents of the punks who've been tormenting your kids."

There was an extended silence from Ishida and Ichigo almost wondered if the Quincy was going to hang up on him, however, when he heard a distinctive rubber snapping sound he assumed the man had put on some gloves, "I understand the situation... Many thanks for the update, Kurosaki. I'll make sure these fine gentlemen get the treatment they deserve."

Ichigo broke into a grin as the line went dead and closed his phone, "Enjoy." He murmured to the empty apartment.

He glanced at his bruised and slightly scraped knuckles, sighing slightly. He'd forgotten, in the heat of the moment, that he wouldn't heal instantly. Sometimes he really missed Shiro's power. Ichigo got to his feet and reluctantly dragged himself into the bathroom, flicking the light on and running some water so he could clean up.

He stared at himself in the small mirror above the sink, pleased to note that the thugs hadn't managed to land a single hit on him. There was a speck of blood on his cheek but it wasn't his own and it soon washed off.

As he cleaned his hands, carefully applying a soothing balm to lessen the dull thudding ache in his knuckles, he found himself thinking about his conversation with Kaida in the ice cream parlour. He couldn't work out why his spirit ribbon was a blend of red and white. He was certain that if he had lost his powers it should have turned fully white. He frowned.

"Would it ever have been red to start with?" He tilted his head, "I never died. I was still technically Human when I went to Soul Society so... Shouldn't it have been white all along? Ugh who knows. Who cares. Doesn't change anything. You're just making yourself sound crazy by talking to yourself in the fucking mirror."