Sorry for the short Chapter. I'll try to get the next update out either later today or tomorrow. anyways*Disclaimer: I dont own Bleach. I never will sadlyEnjoy!CHAPTER FOURTen Years Later

*Screaming and Laughing*

Ichigo was growing at a faster rate than Miyako and Kaien had anticipated, he should still be a small child but he was thin and quite tall for his age. He looked to be about eight years old and his hair was even more orange if that were even possible. His eyes were sharper and he was definitely Kaien's mini me. He liked to run off when Kukaku or Ganju weren't paying close enough attention.

It was five in the morning, Ichigo had snuck out of the mansion and made his way through the Sierietie, his parents were already gone on mission so he had time to mess around until he was either found by his aunt or uncle's or his grandparents. He was surprised, his grandparents weren't around much. They'd showed up a few times since he was born and they were nice people but they simply weren't around enough for Ichigo to really like them. Something about his father had taken over as the head of the clan and so now they could relax and were living in a small summer home two districts over. Ichigo smirked, he not only knew how to run now. Walking was cake work and so was running, no, he'd seen his dad build up his spiritual pressure and distribute it to his feet. He had tried it and failed the first hundred times but suddenly he could feel his spiritual pressure! That was three weeks ago, he'd been hiding it from his family but he could flash step! A sharp pain bloomed throughout his leg and made him topple after exerting himself for too long. "Ouch." He says when he tucked and rolled.

"What are you doing?" Someone asked standing above his fallen form.

Ichigo sat up and looked up to see who was talking to him, it was a pretty woman with short black hair that curled up at her shoulders and her eyes were like the dark depths of the ocean. He looked at her for a moment longer and then sprang up hand out in greeting, "Hi! I'm Ichigo, you're a soul reaper right? That's so cool! So are my parents." He says cheerfully.

"Uhh, well yes I am a soul reaper." She says sounding quite confused.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" He asks.

The woman smiles and then nods, "Sorry for being so rude! I'm Rukia! Rukia Kuchiki." She says bowing with her hands clasped together in front of her.

Ichigo smirks, "So.. Kuchiki, you're from that noble clan with that Captain Kuchiki right? I've heard he's arrogant and rude and will downright ignore anyone lower than hi-"

"That's not true, my big brother is nothing of the sort!" Rukia shouts then gasps and steps back embarrassed that she'd yelled at another person so loudly.

"Wow, your brother is really that Captain? That's so cool, Captain's are like, really powerful right?" Ichigo says hands clasped together at the back of his head.

Rukia blinked, "You're strange." She tells him while giving him a duck-like look.

Ichigo smirks, "So are you shorty!" He jests, then starts laughing.

"Why you! I am not short! I'm taller than you are!" She scorns him while he laughs even harder until a large hand lands on top of his head.l

"Now then, care to tell me why you're this far from home young man?" A deep voice asks. A voice that Ichigo knows very well and so does Rukia.

Ichigo looks up then smiles with his eyes closed, "Morning father, I thought you were on mission already." Ichigo retorts, trying to sound innocent but scared out of his mind.

Kaien looks down, glaring daggers at the child in front of him, "You've been listening to your mother and I's conversations again haven't you?" He asks, sounding as if he were scolding him.

Ichigo pales, "Yes Sir, sorry Sir." Ichigo says heart racing. Kaien sighs dramatically and then looks over at Rukia, after a few seconds it registers who she is and he feins irritants, "Hey! You were supposed to be at the Squad 13s headquarters a half hour ago!" He shouts.

"I'm so sorry Kaien-dono!" Rukia almost screams bowing, her face tomato red.

"Don't call me Sir, I hate formalities Kuchiki!" Kaien shouts hand replacing itself from Ichigo's head to Rukia's.

"You know each other?" Ichigo asks, confused.

Kaien and Rukia stop what they were doing and Rukia clears her throat, "Ahem, yes we do know each other. Kaien-d-"

"What did you just say?" Kaien interrupts looking at Rukia with one eye open.

Rukia clenches her teeth, "Ahh! I mean, Lieutenant Kaien! Yes, we know each other." She stutters then bows her head.

Kaien smirks and then looks at his son, angry again. "What do you think you're doing sneaking off again Ichigo? Didn't your mother just explain to you just the other night that it's dangerous to be out here without your aunt or uncle or one of us?" He says walking over to stand in front of his son.

Ichigo sighs, "But father, I don't want to be stuck at home waiting all the time. I want to be free from the inside of that house and Kukaku refuses to let me because of what happened years ago with Kisuke! Ganju is the same way, he won't go out unless he's with his gang and that stupid pig of his! He even leaves me behind if I'm not fast enough to keep up and I end up alone anyways! Please dad, I hate being a burden to everyone! It's no fun." Ichigo starts shouting near the end.

"Hold on, back up. Ganju… leaves you behind if you're not fast enough?" Kaien asks, sounding angry.

Ichigo looks down sadly then nods and rubs at his arm. "He told me to keep my mouth shut about it when I threatened to tell Mom. He tells me that his friends think it's weird that he has to keep an eye on me and that I should learn how to fend for myself. Ganju will push me down and sometimes he'll punch me and knock me to the ground when his friend's tell him to and he tells me not to follow him, that I act like a baby and I should learn to defend myself because he always has to look out for me and he's sick of it. He said I'm annoying and he wished I hadn't been born because then his friends wouldn't think he was my babysitter if I simply didn't exist."

"He has a point kid, if we didn't exist in this timeline your uncle wouldn't have been your uncle." A voice, the same voice that has been talking to him since he was a baby, chimes in. A sharp pain ebbs from his nose to the back of his head so he applies pressure to the bridge of his nose then his temples to calm down the pain. Kaien notices and goes down to Ichigo's level, "Headache?" He asks his voice going calm and a soft smile on his face.

"Yeah…" Ichigo says quietly and backs away when Kaien goes to put a hand on Ichigo's temples. He sighs and stands back up, "You're mother is at the Squad HQ, you remember the way?" He asks his son.

Ichigo nods and turns to walk off only to see double and start to topple, Kaien catches him and Rukia asks if he's alright. Kaien nods, "He's always done this, either faint from exhaustion or keep going until he passes out. Can't you feel it? He's been using his spiritual pressure, it's so dense and thick it could choke you if you weren't expecting it. I wonder how he learned how to use it though, I know my wife and I never taught him and I've never seen Ganju or Kukaku use much before and never in his presence." Kaien sighs and the two reapers nod before they flash step away towards the HQ.

Ten Minutes LaterSquad 13 HQ

Kaien was holding Ichigo close, his head resting on his broad shoulder and his arms limp at his sides. He had a hold of him to where his feet were wrapped around his thin waist and his bottom was resting on his arm. He sighed heavily, Ichigo was completely out but Kaien noticed he would make a face of discomfort every now and again but at least he wasn't in so much pain to make noise. He walked in and held the door for his subordinate, the young girl was shy but he liked her attitude and so did his wife. He smiled when he felt a hand touch Ichigo and turned to the familiar sound of his beautiful wife's worried voice.

"Is he alright, why isn't he at home? Did he run off again?" She whispers as he let's her take his small form gently.

"He ran off because apparently Ganju and his little rat pack have been bullying him when no one's around to notice." Kaien says voice smooth and emotionless as he hands the boy over.

"Is he asleep or did he exhaust himself?" She asks her hand combing through his hair and her other hand holding him against her.

"Exhausted, he somehow learned how to use reiatsu." Kaien says then starts walking up to the front. Rukia stands beside Miyako and Miyako smiles at her, "Well good morning Rukia, did Kaien scold you for running late? He's such a pushover." She jests and both girls giggle.

"It was my own fault, Big Brother was drilling me in Kido to make sure I didn't embarrass myself once again." She says then looks down.

Miyako puts her hand from Ichigo's hair to Rukia's shoulder and squeezes softly, "Don't worry dear, you're a sweet girl and a smart girl. I believe you have a special gift, I believe you'll shine brightly as you grow older and wiser. Remember this, a farmer can herd his sheep but he cannot do it without help from his dog." Rukia looks confused for a moment and Miyako chuckles, "What I'm trying to say is that there will be a time when someone will need your help and you'll be the only one that will be there to help them and make them succeed. Like I said, I believe in you and I always will. You're like a sister to me you know Rukia."

"Ahh! Yes, Lady Miyako!" Rukia says bowing fastly.

Miyako eye smiles, "Just Miyako for you dear." She says and then walks over as Kaien yells for order. All reapers turn and are suddenly utterly quiet.

Kaien looks at his squad and begins telling them of the three team split mission, "Alright, I have a list from the Captain on who is to work with who on the mission! One group will be with me, we'll be the leading team and then the back up team will be with our third seat Miyako. The third team will be headed by the fifth seat and you'll be the team that counters from the back! Everybody will need to stay close to their teams, I don't want or need any casualties today! Am I understood!?" The large group all shouts their affirmations and Kaien goes on to give the Squad their said positions. Rukia would be on Kaien's team and there were going to be twenty people on each team unit.

Miyako was about to send a Hell Butterfly to Kukaku to please come pick up Ichigo when her Captain walked into HQ and he looked as if he didn't feel well but he none-the-less was smiling and speaking with the squad members. "Hello Miyako, I didn't know it was take your kid to work day." Ukitake muses.

Miyako turns red when her husband pointed out the obvious, "Sorry Captain, he took off from home and ended up in the Sierietie and his father found him wandering about. I was just about to call for someone to come take him back ho-"

Captain Ukitake puts up a hand palm side up and smiles, "No need, he can stay with me until you return. No need to postpone the mission because you need to wait for someone to pick up the little one. How much of a hand full could he possibly be?"

Miyako started to sweat comically, "He's quite the adventurer." She says, sounding dead inside.

Ukitake laughs jovially, "You obviously haven't met my Zanpakuto Spirits then if you think he's a handful." He muses.

"How would I ever repay you Captain?" She asks face lit up like a christmas tree and the whole house full of christmas lights.

Ukitake smiles and waves im dismissal, "Just come back from the mission healthily. That will be your payment to me Miyako." He says. Miyako hands Ichigo over to the Captain and smiles fondly at his still asleep form. "Thank you Captain, you're the best in the world." She says and flash steps out of HQ to join her team and the other two teams.

Ukitake smiles at the sleeping child, he was so small compared to himself. He walked over to his office and put the child on the couch and put a blanket and pillow down to keep him comfortable and warm. "Hopefully he'll stay asleep until his parents come back, I don't think I'd be able to run after him while feeling this way today." He coughs a few times and then sighs, going to do some paperwork.

Four Hours Later

Ichigo woke with a start, "Ugh, where am I?" He thinks out loud. He looks around and finds nobody nearby so he stands up and walks around. "Hello?" He asks loudly looking around and then trips over something solid on the floor behind the desk. He catches himself and looks to see what he'd tripped on, "A foot?" He thinks then rounds the desk corner and his eyes widen. He knew this man, a gentle souled Captain that would give him chocolates when they'd see each other. "Captain Ukitake? Please wake up!" Ichigo shouts rushing to pull him from his face down position onto his side. "Captain?" Ichigo says louder and then gasps, blood?! There was a small pool of blood and blood on his hand and face. Ichigo's eyes went wide and he felt for a pulse. He relaxed a bit when he found one only to start freaking out again. He stood up and rushed out of the room, "Help! Somebody… anybody! Please help!" He shouted while rushing down the corridor only to bump into a big pink and panda like person. Ichigo looked up and tried to move away a bit, "Hey Kid, what's the rush?" A playful voice says as the tall man pulls him up by his bicep. Ichigo remembers what he was doing and starts to panic, "Please help! Please!" He shouts tears in his eyes and rushing down his cheeks and dripping off his chin.

"Slow down kid, what's got your tongue? Where's the fire?" He asks looking a bit playful yet but starting to look serious.

"Please, it's the Captain! He's laying on the floor by his desk and I couldn't get him to wake up!" Ichigo shouts

The man tenses up and his eyes squint, "A Captain unconscious on the floor? Start talking, tell me what you mean." He says now completely serious now.

"I was asleep, I woke up and started walking around trying to find somebody but it was quiet. I tripped over something and when I looked down I saw it was a foot and so I rushed to see who it was and it was my dad's Captain! He was laying on the floor and he wouldn't respond, there was blood coming from his mouth! Captain Ukitake, it's Captain Ukitake." Ichigo shouts starting to tremble.

The man rushes off and Ichigo follows, when he arrives he sees the man in pink on one knee beside the white haired Captain who's now conscious and holding his head, coughing up even more blood while the other man pats him on the back. "Captain, you're awake!" Ichigo shouts, fresh tears streaking down his cheeks to his chin again as he rushes over and falls to his knees and pulls the Captain's free hand into his small hands. "Oh, you're so cold!" He stammers blinking away the shock.

Captain Ukitake looks up to see who was speaking, "Oh, Ichigo. I'm glad you're awa-" Before he can finish, he starts coughing harshly again.

"Don't talk, what if you pass out again!" Ichigo says feeling eyes gazing at him. He looked up to see the man in the pink overcoat, was staring at him and watching the two's interaction. "Will he be okay?" Ichigo asks.

"He'll be fine, mind helping me stand him up?" The man asks. Ichigo stands and no help at all, he tries to help stand the white haired Captain up. Ichigo noted that the Captain was more pale than usual and the blood made him look paper white and his emaciated form made him look even more sick than his usual. "Jushiro, don't tell me you're babysitting instead of resting?" The man scolds.

"I'm afraid I may have needed a rest but I just couldn't let the mission teams be late. It was either watch the child or make the mission late and fear old man Yama's scorn."

Ichigo backed away, "I caused you to get sick today?" He asks voice low and face scared his eyes wide.

Ukitake whips around and looks down at Ichigo, "No, no you did no such thing. Please don't be upset, none of it was your fault. I'm fine, really." He says just before another coughing fit starts up again. Ichigo looked down, "Please forgive me, I'm always a burden. I know that, I burden my mother by my actions. I burden my father for I am a failure as a Son. I'm weak and nobody ever wants me around. I shouldn't be here, I should have listened to Mom and just stayed at home like a child is supposed to… So please, I'll leave now." He says and vanishes.

"Shunsui, why would you upset a child?! He didn't cause me to collapse, it happens from time to time and you know that. Now I have to fin-" Ukitake began to cough again at least he hadn't coughed anymore blood.

"No, you need to rest in the Squad Four Head Quarters, I'll take you there then go look for the little brat. Seriously, running off like that for no reason at all. How childish." Shunsui says and yanks Ukitake up into his arms and flash steps away.

"We were young and nieve once too you know." Ukitake muses.