Alright it's finally done! Sorry it took so long for this chapter, but it IS by far, the longest chapter I have ever written... over 2500 words! Woohoo!!

I've had to move a particularly large writter's block to get this chapter out, and I'm going to confess something: I have no idea what I'm going to do about this love triangle! I know where I want the story to end, but I don't know how I'm going to get there! Thus the reason it has taken me so long to update (sorry again!).

Keep the reviews coming, they inspire me to write! It'd be even more awesome if you'd like to throw some ideas at me too! I may not use them, but I'm curious about where you guys want this story to go! Don't worry, the whole story will not all be fluff, the plot will come in soon!

I don't own Bleach, I'm just a fan!

Anyways, read and enjoy!


The gate to Soul Society opened and the group of seven stepped onto the grass.

Across the Seireitei, Byakuya Kuchiki, who was sitting in his office at the Kuchiki mansion, raised his head from the paper work on his desk. Ah, I sense Kurosaki's crude reiatsu. They've finally returned. The captain stood up and flash-stepped towards the gate. His reaction was so quick and anticipated that he didn't give himself enough time to sense that Rukia's reiatsu was almost nonexistent. Byakuya also didn't sense that there was another reiatsu that appeared with the group—one that he had not felt in over fifty years.

This seventh nostalgic reiatsu did not escape the notice of Kaien's former captain. Ukitake's eyes widened and he also flash-stepped towards the source. How is this possible? I must be mistaken. Still, I need to see with my own eyes that I am wrong.

Less than a minute after Ichigo, Orihime, Ishida, Chad, Renji and Kaien (holding Rukia) emerged from the gate, Byakuya and Ukitake appeared before them. Byakuya's eyes widened slightly before returning to their usual stoic size.

"What happened to Rukia?" His voice was cold and his face was unreadable. He dimly registered that Kaien, the man holding his unconscious sister, was the man that she killed fifty years before, but he only cared that Rukia was hurt, that her reiatsu was dangerously low, and that Kaien's hands were visible and in appropriate places.

"Her reiatsu has been drained. She was killed in a fight with an Espada, but Inoue brought her back to life. This was the best she could recover her. She's in critical condition and we need to get her to the fourth division immediately." Kaien looked Byakuya right in the eyes trying to relay to Byakuya the seriousness of the situation. He then glanced at Ukitake (who was standing behind Byakuya in a silent state of shock) before bringing his eyes down to inspect Rukia's breathing. Byakuya didn't need to be told that the situation was urgent, he could feel Rukia's reiastu level.

"Very well. I will take her immediately to the fourth division. Captain Unohana will look after her there." Byakuya gently took Rukia's body from Kaien's arms. Ichigo watched this entire exchange with the deepest scowl on his face. Worry, guilt, jealousy, hate, anger, all his emotions exposed themselves through his scowl. We got back alive, that's all that counts. Unohana will heal Rukia and she'll be fine. She'll be awake and yelling at me in no time. But it's still my fault that she's like this.

"Kurosaki and Abarai, you two and the humans are to report to the First Division immediately." Byakuya's stoic face and authoritative demeanour made it hard not to listen and obey. "Captain Yamamoto will be wanting to talk to your group about Hueco Mundo, what you found out, and what you experienced. Lieutenant Shiba, report first to Captain Ukitake, which shouldn't be too difficult considering he has come to greet you, then you should also report to Captain Yamamoto."

Ichigo grunted his response, Renji straightened up and barked "Yes Captain!" while Kaien simply nodded while continuing to avoid Ukitake's gaze. Byakuya, satisfied with their answers, flash-stepped towards 

the fourth division with Rukia in his arms. Ichigo and Kaien both watched Byakuya leave. They both held back a strong desire to follow him, to make sure that Rukia would actually be okay.

Renji broke the silence. "Well, we better get a move on."

The sooner we get this stupid meeting over with, the sooner I can see Rukia thought Ichigo. "Yeah. Let's go." Everyone left, efficiently making their way to the First Division headquarters, and leaving Kaien alone with Ukitake.

Kaien continued to avoid Ukitake's eyes, looking instead at the ground until...

"Kaien?" His voice was stern and unsure, but still hopeful. Kaien was glad that it had not lost its warm, friendly quality. "Kaien Shiba, thirteenth division lieutenant?" Ukitake took a step towards Kaien.

Kaien looked up to Ukitake's eyes very seriously "Yes Captain, it's me!" then Kaien's serious face broke into one of his characteristic giant smiles. "It's been awhile, eh Captain?"

Rukia could hear voices around her, but her eyes remained shut.

"How is she?" an eager Ukitake asked.

"She is recovering." That gentle yet firm, informative voice belonged to Captain Unohana. "Her soul was completely broken; it's a miracle at all that Inoue was able to bring her back to life. Rukia is doing better than I would have expected and I daresay that she may be awake soon. However, even after she wakes up, she will be very weak. She had lost all of her reiatsu when she died and she will need to continue to gain it back. This means she needs to stay in Soul Society for at least a couple of weeks. That means that until she is healed, she is not to go on any missions to the human world or otherwise. Is that clear Captain Ukitake?"

"Of course." Ukitake replied slightly shocked that Unohana thought he would even consider sending Rukia to the human world after such injury.

"Did you finish your meeting with Kaien Shiba?" the voice made Rukia's stomach jump a bit. Nii-sama is actually in my room, making sure I'm okay! I knew he cared! Thank you Nii-sama! But Rukia couldn't find the strength to move yet. She couldn't smile, talk, or even open her eyes. While her body was zapped of its energy, her mind was awake and fully aware of what was going on around her. Did he say Kaien? So it wasn't just a dream! Kaien-dono is alive again! I don't understand...

"Yes. I just sent him to the First Division. I expect Kurosaki and his friends will be here soon, their meeting with the Yamamoto should be over soon as well."

"And what are Shiba's circumstances? How has he returned, and is he trustworthy?" Byakuya's voice was loud, not really in an angry way, but in a way to make sure his words were heard.

"Expect a black butterfly soon. We will be having a Captain's meeting about everything. I, however, listened to his explanation and it all sounds plausible. I do believe that he is Kaien Shiba, just as he was fifty years ago. Just, perhaps, with a lot more experience and hardships." Ukitake voiced his opinion in a rather cheerful way. It was clear that he was very happy to have Kaien back.

"Very well—we will discuss this further at the meeting later. Until then Ukitake." And with that Rukia felt Byakuya leave the room. Rukia heard Ukitake sigh before he did the same. Rukia then realized how tiring it was to listen to what was going on around her, and she drifted back into a dreamless sleep.

Ichigo walked into the empty room not long after. He thanked Unohana for her help and shut the door behind him, walking right up and sitting the chair by Rukia's bedside.

"Oi, Rukia. Please wake up, please be okay. I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you! Idiot, why did you say that we should split up? Look what happened! I don't know what would have happened to me if Inoue wasn't able to heal you." While Ichigo poured his heart out, Rukia began to stir. She had found more energy after her nap, and with all her strength, she formulated her reply. "Idiot."

Rukia's eyes fluttered open just in time to see Ichigo's widened eyes soften. The corners of Rukia's lips tugged into a weak smile. "I told you. I didn't go to Hueco Mundo to be protected by you."

Ichigo didn't feel like arguing back. He was just glad Rukia was okay. Ten ways to start to continue the argument popped into his head, but he pushed them aside and was instead, completely content was just staring into Rukia's big purple eyes. Thank God she's okay.

Rukia looked back at Ichigo. The intensity in his eyes gave her stomach butterflies. Why is he looking at me like that?

"Rukia, I don't know how I would have gone on..."

The door to the room burst open, and a bubble Kaien stepped into the room. "Kuchiki! You're awake!" Kaien's happy outburst covered up the last part of Ichigo's sentence: if you had died.

"Kaien-dono!" Rukia's face lit up with surprise and delight at seeing her old lieutenant, however, the rest of her body remained limp and unmoved. Ichigo scowled first at Kaien's untimely entrance, then second, and Rukia's reaction to it. "You really are alive? But how?" Rukia was growing sceptical as she thought about this "Can you prove to me that you are really Kaien-dono and not another trick?"

"Kuchiki! I'm appalled! If you could tell the hollow wasn't me, then you must be able to tell that this IS me!" Kaien kept up his goofy act. When I get you alone Kuchiki, I'll explain everything. I promise. I'm sorry for all that you've been through while I was gone, but now that I'm here, nothing like that will ever happen again. Kaien's face grew serious. "How about we talk about everything later Kuchiki" Kaien eyed Ichigo who eyed him right back "I'm going to go visit Kukaku and Ganju. The looks on their faces is going to be hysterical when I walk into the house as though nothing happened!" excited at the prospect of seeing his family again, Kaien's face lit up once more before he began to exit the room. At the door, he paused and said a weak "See ya, Kuchiki."

Rukia watched him exit the room with curious eyes. Kaien-dono's antics were always unpredictable and surprising. From what she just saw, and what she vaguely remembered before passing out, this was the real Kaien Shiba. For a fleeting moment she was going to ask Kaien-dono to stay, to talk to her, but then she realized how selfish she would be if she did. A frown slid onto her face. He hasn't seen his family since I killed him, they deserve to see each other again, he shouldn't be spending his time with me. No matter how much I want him to. Suddenly she remembered that Ichigo was still sitting at her bedside.

She turned her head towards him and realized that he had been staring at her. It wasn't the same caring expression as the one he had before Kaien-dono had walked in, Rukia blushed slightly as she remembered that intimate moment, this look—it was one of study. Ichigo was studying Rukia, he was watching how she changed when this "Kaien-dono" guy came around: how Rukia's voice softened, how her manners improved, how her entire aura changed from one of confidence and self-righteousness to one of apprehension and desperation.

"What are you staring at Ichigo?" Rukia was a bit irritated. He'd been staring at her for quite a while now without saying anything.

"Rukia, who is that guy?" Ichigo's voice was soft but firm. He had guessed that this may be a touchy topic, but he still wanted an answer.

Rukia and Ichigo's eyes met. What's the harm in telling him? He's saved my life so many times now, he deserves to know about my past. But at the same time, I don't want to relive those memories—all those painful memories. Flashes of Rukia's past and of that fateful night when she killed Kaien flew into her mind and Rukia grimaced inwardly. It's not that Ichigo's not worthy enough to know about my past, she decided, but what would he think of me? I'm a monster, I don't know if I'd be able to stand it if Ichigo knew that about me. He doesn't need to know.

Rukia broke the gaze and stared at her hands, hardening her face. "He was someone I was very close to a long time ago, my old lieutenant Kaien Shiba."

"That's not what I meant Rukia" Ichigo hesitated, he hoped that she would understand the underlying question he was about to ask: were you lovers?

"I meant, who was he to you."

He was my everything she thought. Rukia looked up and replied sternly "That's none of your business Ichigo. You know all that you need to know from me." Sorry Ichigo, curiosity isn't enough to make me tell.

Rukia had not heard the hidden message.

Ichigo's heart clenched, but he kept that fact hidden and turned his face with a scowl."Fine Rukia. Don't tell me!" He tried to keep the atmosphere light.

"Idiot." Rukia looked away with an equal scowl and crossed her arms.

Ichigo couldn't figure out why he wanted to know so badly. He only knew that it felt like there was a pit in the bottom of his stomach that was growing bigger and bigger the more he thought about the possibility of Kaien being Rukia's past lover. Okay, she doesn't want to tell me. But if they weren't lovers, then why wouldn't she tell me? Why does he care so much about her, and why would he look at her the way he does? She's like a different person when he's around. His head was swimming with questions, but Ichigo decided that it was his turn to be patient now. She was patient when I had to confront my mother's death, so Rukia, you can tell me when you're ready.

"I'm really glad you're okay Rukia." Rukia continued to look away, arm crossed, but her face softened extensively.

"I'm glad you're okay too Ichigo."

"That's it? No thanks? Aren't you glad that I came back and saved your sorry ass?" Ichigo's voice raised.

"Actually Ichigo, I defeated the Ninth Espada on my own!" Rukia's raised as well. The tone of the room became very playful. Rukia was lying in her bed with a simple blanket and pillow, Ichigo was sitting in the chair beside her, both parties yelling at eachother.

"Yeah and you died!"

"Shut up, idiot!"

"Don't worry." Ichigo rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his fingers. "I died too. I couldn't beat Ulquiorra and he killed me. I let everyone down." Shame washed over Ichigo, he put his elbows on his knees and folded his hands together. The room instantly became stone-cold. "I couldn't protect anyone." He rested his forehead on his clasped hands and hunched over, bangs covering his eyes.

Rukia looked at Ichigo straight in the eyes and took a hold of his hands with her own. She squeezed his hands until he looked up and returned her intense gaze.

She then said very calmly and very seriously "Ichigo, we will beat them. We just need to train. We will train together until we become stronger. Then, when we face the Espada again, we can beat them together."

Ichigo smiled. "Yeh. That sounds good."

She was the only one who could do this to him. Rukia made him feel like he could do anything. She was always just so fricken inspirational.