Alright, so updating has taken longer than I expected, but this is still way better than last time, so I hope you enjoy! It's a pretty long chapter!

I do not own Bleach.

Enjoy!


Ichigo woke up and checked the time. Alright, 9:30. I can get dressed and grab some breakfast. By the time I get to Rukia's, it should be about 10, and she's always awake at that time. He wanted to have a serious talk with Rukia about who this guy was to her.

He was a bit scared though. Ichigo didn't know how what he expected to hear.


Captain Ukitake walked into Rukia's room. He had been intent on talking with Rukia about the plans for her training as he had not realized Kaien had already discussed it all already.

Rukia had been sitting up in staring peacefully at a bird outside the window. She turned her head to see who had entered her room.

"Captain! It is very kind of you to come see me." Rukia greeted him cheerfully.

"Hi Rukia-chan! How are you feeling today?" Ukitake returned her enthusiasm with his own.

"Ahh, I'm feeling much better today actually. I slept very well last night, and I don't feel tired at all today!"

"That's excellent news! I just spoke with Captain Unohana on my way in, and she said you are beginning to recover quite rapidly. I expect you will be able to leave soon." Ukitake looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. Although Rukia's reiatsu would still take a while to recover, physically, she was improving faster than anyone could have hoped.

"Actually, that is the specific reason I came to see you today. I want to discuss with you what is going to happen after you're feeling well enough to leave the fourth division."

"Oh!" Rukia smiled a little bit at the memory. "Lieutenant Shiba and I discussed it all yesterday. I am very excited to start training with him again."

Ukitake smiled at her. She seemed happier today than he could remember her being in...well awhile. He's immensely glad that Rukia and Kaien were able to sit down and have a serious talk. He shuddered to remember the horrific incident fifty years ago. She was so broken that night, and it seems now that she is starting to piece herself back together. She carried that guilt for too long. We both did.

"Well I'm glad that you're aware of everything. I'm also more than pleased that you are happy with the arrangements." Ukitake smiled warmly at her. "It is nice to have our lieutenant back, isn't it?"

Rukia looked at Ukitake in the eyes and nodded, smiling. He was the only one who knew the full extent of what she went through back then. Ukitake had been very close to Kaien-dono as well, a fact that only added to Rukia's guilt. She had taken him away, not only from her world, but from the whole 13th division and all of Gotei 13. Ukitake shared in her sadness, and now he can share in her joy.

"Definitely."

They let a warm silence hover over them for a few moments.

"Anyways, Captain Unohana has been keeping me updated on your progress. We estimate that you'll be out and about again within one or two days. Then you and Kaien will begin your training together."

"WHAT?!" Ichigo walked into the room just soon enough to catch the last part of Ukitake's sentence. His head had already been filled with thoughts of Rukia and that guy, now they're going to be TRAINING together?!

"Ichigo!" Rukia scowled at him. If she were beside him, she would have kicked him for his rudeness.

"Oh, I see Kurosaki-san has come to visit you. I shall take that as my cue to leave." Ukitake remained cheerful amongst their glares.

Ichigo walked around to lean his back on the window ledge next to Rukia's bed, scowling.

"Rukia, I will see you again soon. Have a good day now, both of you!" Ukitake waved as he walked out of the room

"Wait a seco... OOF!"

"Thank you for your time Captain!" Rukia called after him. She then turned to Ichigo who was looking at her with the deepest scowl he could muster.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR RUKIA?! THAT HURT!"

"Because you were pestering my Captain with your stupid questions. Also because you were too far away earlier and I couldn't kick you for being rude." Rukia responded with her air of condescension and her nose up.

"Well then what was it he was saying? About you training with that Kaien guy."

"It has been decided that me and Kaien-dono will be training together until we have both fully regained our reiatsus." Her answer was clipped and short.

"Why are you training with that guy? I can train with you!" God he sounded pathetic, and he knew it.

"Because Kaien-dono is the lieutenant of the thirteenth division, which I seem to need to remind you, is my division. Also, we both have very low levels of reiatsu right now, so our training will be limited according to our recovery rates. Plus you have to train with the captains anyways!" Rukia was annoyed. Why is Ichigo asking such stupid questions? "Idiot."

Ichigo had not reply to this, and instead, sulked in his corner, scowl still on.

Silence filled the air for a little bit, and in an effort to keep up the conversation, Rukia asked about how Ichigo's training was going so far. Ichigo has just been messing around with Renji and some members of the eleventh division during their free time. Training with the captains wouldn't begin for another few days.

Well he had to bring it up somehow... Ichigo gulped, cleared the lump in his throat, and began.

"So I came by your room yesterday Rukia, Unohana said you were out walking with your lieutenant." Ichigo awkwardly brought up the topic.

"Me and Kaien-dono had a lot to discuss. Including our training." Rukia responded simply, looking at Ichigo, not sure why he was acting so... off.

Ichigo looked away from her gaze, and his next question made his face turn red, but after contemplating it the entire morning and all of yesterday night, he decided he needed to ask Rukia straight up. "Rukia, are you and this Kaien dude, well, are you two together?"

Rukia's eyes widened before she laughed. "Ichigo—Kaien-dono is a very important friend to me, one whom I look up to like a brother! We are very good friends, just..."

Rukia paused for a second. "Is that clear?"

Ichigo was too relieved to speak.

Rukia had almost said "just like you and I are friends", but that wasn't true and it definitely wasn't the message she wanted to get across to Ichigo. For awhile now, Rukia had come to think of Ichigo as different from any other friend. With Ichigo everything was different. She didn't know how to explain it. She just knows that she doesn't feel for Kaien-dono the same way that she feels for Ichigo.

"Why does it matter anyways?" Rukia broke the awkward silence.

"It doesn't, I was just wondering is all."

Rukia eyed Ichigo suspiciously when...

"Hi Kuchiki-san! Kurosaki-kun!"

"Ahh, Inoue! How are you?" Rukia momentarily eyed Ichigo before turning her attention to the girl who just entered her room.

Ichigo felt relief wash over him again. "Hey Inoue, how's it going?"

"I've been well, thank you for asking!" Orihime looked at her two friends, then hesitated. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

Ichigo replied uncharacteristically quickly "Nope."

Rukia looked at him and rolled her eyes a little. "Of course not Orihime! I haven't seen you in a few days, what have you been up to?"

Orihime went into a long rant about how she's been very busy training with Captain Unohana, who has been getting her to use her shields almost every minute of the day. Even though she's been exhausted, she has enjoyed feeling useful and can tell that she has actually improved her skills. She then went on to talk about how she is staying with Matsumoto and how much fun it has been. She talked about all the delicious dishes they had prepared and started listing off ingredients that she wished she had from the real world.

Rukia and Ichigo could only imagine eating food made by the two new roommates. They both turned slightly green.

"Anyways, it's been nice catching up with you two, but I need to get back to work now! I'll see you later!" And with that Orihime was gone.

Orihime walked down the hall quickly. She had wanted to go visit with Rukia, but she had stumbled into a very tense room and she could only guess what they could have been talking about. For a few seconds after entering the room, Orihime felt like crying--and she wasn't sure why--but instead, she put on her happy face, rambled about nothing, and went on her way as quickly as she could without seeming rude. Now, she was back to feeling like crying.

She sighed, and continued on her way to the Captain's office, once again, putting on her smiling mask.


A few moments after Orihime left, Ichigo spoke up "Ugh, I can't imagine who would eat like that by choice."

Rukia nodded in reply and the pair fell into a comfortable silence. Rukia had forgotten her and Ichigo's previous topic, now she was focused on what she could spend the rest of her day doing.

"So what do you have planned for today Ichigo?"

Ichigo, who had been thinking of how the hell he would have gotten himself out of that mess if Inoue hadn't walked in, thought for a moment.

"I don't have anything planned. Renji said your brother had a lot of work for him today and Kenpachi is getting Ikkaku and Yumichika to train some of their newer members, so there goes my sparring buddies." Ichigo shrugged, before nonchalantly adding "I was thinking of just chilling with you for the day."

Rukia felt happy at the thought, but didn't let it show. She frowned slightly and faced Ichigo. "Ichigo, you should be focused on training right now. It is important for you to be 100% when we face Aizen. We've seen first-hand how powerful our enemies are and..."

"Sheesh Rukia, it's just one day! Besides, my training with the Captains hasn't even started yet. It's not like I've been slacking! I've been training everyday so far, and for the next few days, I've already scheduled to train with the guys."

Rukia let a small sigh escape her lips. "I guess one day of rest will do you good then. Just remember to get as much training in Soul Society as you can because once we head back to the real world, it won't be the same type of training."

We? Ichigo caught the word. So she's coming back with me? That one word just made Ichigo's day. His eyes and scowl softened momentarily before straightening themselves out "Yeh."

Rukia hadn't even given what she said a second thought, it just seemed natural to, when referring to Ichigo and herself, use the term 'we'. She actually hadn't thought ahead past starting training with Kaien-dono. From there on, she had no idea what her role was going to be in the upcoming war. Rukia supposed it would all depend on how her training and recovery progressed, thus emphasizing the importance of her training.

At that moment, Captain Unohana walked knocked on the open door to Rukia's room. "Good morning Kurosaki, Kuchiki. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to perform Kuchiki's check-up."

"No problem Captain, I'm actually going to head out, I'll be back about half an hour." Ichigo said the last part of that sentence to Rukia.

Captain Unohana bowed her head as Ichigo took his leave then she walked towards Rukia's bedside. "Kuchiki, your recover is coming along very quickly! It seems you will only need to spend another day or so here resting before I can send you back out." Both ladies in the room smiled at each other.


Ichigo walked back into Rukia's room holding two lunch bags of food. He was about to yell out "Oii! Midget!" but stopped when he realized she was sleeping. She looked so peaceful, the frown that usually placed itself on her face was gone, and her lips were parted slightly as she breathed. Her eyes were delicately closed, and she was breathing so softly that Ichigo would have panicked had her not seen the rise and fall of the blankets covering her.

He sighed and gently placed the bags on the table before walking over to lean against the window sill. He studied Rukia's sleeping form, and his brows furrowed at the memory of her lying lifeless on the cold ground in Hueco Mundo.

Ichigo tried to remember the last time he saw Rukia sleep peacefully. Images of her unconscious body in Hueco Mundo and after Grimmjow had buried his hand in her torso filled Ichigo's mind. He shook his head in order to clear those particular images. Rukia's right here, she's safe, and sleeping. Don't worry.

Then he remembered. It was after everything happened with her execution, after Aizen had fled from Seireitei. She had lain in her room recovering, and he sat there waiting for her to wake up. The sky was a beautifully clear blue, and it had been peaceful. That was before she told me she was going to stay in Soul Society. Ichigo's stomach flipped at the reminder. This time it's different. She's coming with me.

He smiled, but was startled out of his thoughts when Rukia began to stir. Her large violet eyes opened half-way as she yawned.

"Have you been sitting there long Ichigo? You could have waken me up you know." Rukia stretched in her bed and sat up.

"Yeah right, and have Unohana kill me? It's fine I haven't been waiting long." Ichigo stood up and stretched himself "I got us lunch. If you're up to it, I was thinking we could to go for a walk and find somewhere nice to sit down and eat."

Rukia looked at the bags of food and her stomach growled slightly. Ichigo smirked.

"C'mon midget. Get up and let's go."

"Here, catch!" Ichigo tossed her one of the bags he was holding. Rukia caught it and looked inside curiously.

The couple had walked for a few moments, and found a clearing just off the path in the woods. The sun was high and it shone directly down on them. There was a slight, comfortable breeze running through the trees that gave a constant rustling, and birds were chirping in the distance.

The pair settled down next to each other and ate in silence, simply enjoying the company. Both feeling secure, knowing that the other was right there, safely beside them, as well as feeling completely at ease. Ichigo's scowl had lessened and Rukia was just leisurely enjoying her food.

To Ichigo, it felt as though they were sitting on the rooftop of his school at lunchtime, back in the days when Rukia slept in his closet and used his back as her personal carriage. Ichigo's lips curved slightly at the memories, and he continued to eat in silence. He thought about the annoying act Rukia would always put up around his classmates: her high-pitched, polite school girl act. God she's so annoying when she does it. It made him want to cringe every time she put it on.

Ichigo knows that's not the real Rukia though, that side of her, is truly an act. One she studied hard for. Ichigo mentally chuckled, remembering how hard Rukia laboured to grasp the everyday workings of the modern society. Rukia has many different sides, but that isn't one of them. Ichigo thought about the different acts and faces Rukia puts up regularly.

There was, of course, her shinigami face. When she talked about training and missions, she would become stoic, her voice would harden, and she could easily be read as bossy. Although, anything she ordered or said was always for the good and well-being of those around her and her mission. This is the Rukia that Ichigo interacts with daily. Then there's the subordinate face. The stoic, and utmost respectful air that Rukia holds for the more unfamiliar captains and for her brother.

Most importantly, there's her real, down-to-Earth Rukia face. This is the side of Rukia that Ichigo waits day-in and day-out to see. This is the unsure Rukia, the one with doubts and feelings. The side of Rukia that shines through when you dangle a Chappy plushie in front of her face, when she's discovering a new human custom, or when you annoy her so much that she just wants to throttle you. The side of Rukia Ichigo saw the most before she was taken to Soul Society, the Rukia that stayed with Ichigo through his fight with the Grand Fisher, the one who tried to understand what he was going through.

This is the teary-eyed Rukia he saw when he rescued her on top of Sokyoku hill, and when she was recuperating after being stripped bare of everything, all her defences. This is the real Rukia. The one who shows herself when she beats me. Ichigo thought with amusement. The one who worries about me.

Ichigo looked down into the lunch bag and realized that he had finished all his food. He set his garbage aside and looked over at Rukia. She seemed to have finished a while ago, and was now sitting cross legged staring out at the trees. Her mind was blank as she was enraptured by the beauty of nature. She could remember feeling like this a few times before; while staring out at the Kuchiki mansion's gardens, while training in the mountains with Kaien-dono, and in the flowery rivers of the Rukongai with Renji and their other childhood friends. The beauty of nature just never ceases to amaze her.

Rukia closed her eyes and listened to the breeze. She felt so relaxed that she didn't realize she was drifting off until she realized she had fallen over and was now leaning into Ichigo. Ichigo, who had already been studying her, saw it coming and had shifted to catch her before she fell. Rukia blushed slightly, before pushing herself off of him and onto her own two wobbly feet, frowning.

"Let's head back Rukia, you're obviously tired." Ichigo stated simply, looking down at her with fake annoyance and still holding his arms out, in case she decides to fall over again.

"I'm fine Ichigo. I'm not even tired, I just dozed off because I was so relaxed!" Rukia snapped, clearly vexed by his concern

"Whatever, I'm tired. We've been out here for awhile now. C'mon let's head back." Ichigo turned around and exposed his back to her, expecting her to hop on. "Get on. You probably shouldn't be over exerting yourself."

Rukia was clearly offended by the gesture. Her eyes narrowed and she walked past Ichigo by a few steps. "I'm fine okay? If we're gonna head back, then let's start moving!" she was about to move another step when Ichigo grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

"Just get on you stubborn idiot!" Ichigo stepped forward and bent down, once again in a position for Rukia to hop on his back "If you want to get out of the fourth division sooner, you're gonna need your rest! Besides," Ichigo's chest puffed up with confidence "I can get us back there way faster if you just get the hell on."

Rukia was really in no position to argue. She felt drained (dam body!) and she hated to admit it, but if she were to walk back on her own, they would be moving at a snail's pace compared to Ichigo's flash-step. So Rukia settled for stomping on Ichigo's shin, before hopping on. "Fine, moron."


They had only been back in the room for a few moments when Renji popped in.

"Hey, Rukia, Ichigo. You feelin' better Rukia?"

"Tons Renji! I'm supposed to be out within the next day or so." Rukia grinned at Renji "By the way, thanks for all the visits." She added sarcastically. Ichigo smirked to himself at her tone.

"Geez Rukia, I'm sorry okay? I know I probably shoulda dropped by once or something to see how you were, but I had a lot to do! Captain Kuchiki has bombarded me with paperwork and in my spare time I've been training with this kid here" Renji indicated Ichigo by pointing a thumb at him. "Just be glad I came at all." He finished, baring a toothy grin.

Rukia exaggeratedly rolled her eyes.

"Bah, after you get out of here, you'll probably see me so much you'll get sick of it!"

Rukia's eyebrow raised. "I'm already sick of it Renji." She looked at him in mock anger. "Anyways, what is it? I assume it isn't anything important after that little splur you just did."

"Actually I just came to grab Ichigo. I'm ahead of schedule on my paperwork and I wanted to see if he wanted to do some sparring. I need to release some energy. Sitting at a desk all day is not my idea of fun." Renji flexed his shoulders to indicate a release of tension.

Ichigo had been watching the two old friends interact. It had taken a lot of getting used to; seeing Rukia act like herself around anyone other than him. He's glad that Rukia has friends she can let loose around, but at the same time, he enjoyed the thought of himself being the only one who could break through Rukia's shell. Renji's a mutual friend though, it's cool. As far as that new guy goes...

Ichigo snapped out of his thoughts. "Yeah, let's do it. How much time do ya got?"

"Not much, so I guess I'll race you there!" Renji turned on his heel, but before disappearing, waved a hand at Rukia "See ya!"

Ichigo was gone a blink afterwards.

Rukia sighed and lay down. She enjoyed their company, but was quite relieved that they were gone. She had woken up earlier than usual today and she needed her rest. She closed her eyes and drifted off again, missing the heat another body to lean against.


Zangetsu and Zabimaru clashed in the air as both wielders jumped back.

"C'mon Ichigo! You're slow today!" Renji shouted as he ran towards Ichigo and brought Zabimaru swinging downwards.

Ichigo blocked instinctively. "Got a lot on my mind Renji." Ichigo pushed Zabimaru off with Zangetsu and slashed sideways at Renji's torso. Renji flash-stepped backwards to avoid getting sliced in half.

"You have a mind!? Hahaha, that's news to me Strawberry!"

"Yeah I've got a mind!" Ichigo shouted angrily, before flash-stepping directly behind Renji "Now you better pay attention to this fight if you want to keep your empty head attached to your neck, Pineapple!"

Renji swiftly pulled Zabimaru over his shoulder and blocked Ichigo's strike "You talk too much strawberry!" Renji smiled and pushed back with Zabimaru, distancing his opponent.

The two were at it again, flashing, striking, blocking. Neither one of them swung with full force, but by the end of it, they were both chugging down water and blotting out minor cuts and scrapes.

"Renji, what do you know about this new.. er, old.. well this whatever lieutenant?" Ichigo asked, seriously.

"Not much" Renji shrugged. "During the time he was lieutenant, Rukia and I had already lost touch. We weren't really on speaking terms. But from what I hear, he was a really respected and loved vice. He trained hard with his soldiers and built a sense of unity in the thirteenth division. Him and his wife were infected by one of Aizen's experimental hollow (though we didn't know Aizen was behind it at the time), in the end, it was Rukia who dealt his hollow infected body the final blow." Renji blew out air.

"She killed him?" Ichigo asked, not quite sure if he had grasped the story correctly.

"She stabbed him with Sode No Shirayuki. She didn't have a choice. It was either him, or her. Ukitake was detained at the moment it happened, and during the trials—yes this had to go the courts" Renji added at Ichigo's questioning gaze "Ukitake said that he himself did not think it was possible to separate his lieutenant from the hollow."

"Don't bring this stuff up with Rukia though." Renji looked Ichigo in the eyes, and he nodded in response "From what I know, she blamed herself for a long time about what happened. No one else really blamed her, it's just one of those things that Rukia does."

Ichigo nodded. He had had no idea. He knew she had a heavy past, but to kill someone who you look up to. He could sort of relate, with how things worked out when his mother died, but he had not been the one to stab the knife through her.


Kaien had been touring the thirteenth division with Sentaro and Kiyone all day, meeting all the newer recruits and re-establishing his position as lieutenant. Sentaro and Kiyone always tired him out with their antics, but it was nice and refreshing how they still acted just as he remembered them to, all those years ago. He openly yawned as he strolled down the halls of the fourth division.

Mindlessly humming a tuneless melody, Kaien allowed his arms to swing at his side as he walked. He was in a blatantly good mood. He had just finished discussing Kuchiki's progress with Captain Unohana and he was given the merry duty of informing Kuchiki with the good news: tomorrow evening, she would be checking out of her small room in the fourth division and allowed to leave. Then after only one more day of rest, she and him would be able to start training!

Yes, Kaien was definitely in a good mood. And Kuchiki will be ecstatic when she hears! He thought happily.

Turning the corner into Kuchiki's room, Kaien got ready to shout a greeting at her. He entered the room, mouth wide, but silent as he quickly noted that she was sleeping. He closed his mouth and scratched the back of his head, walking towards the bedside chair.

Sigh, if she's still like this now, I guess we'll have to take training slowly. Kaien sat down and smiled softly at Rukia's sleeping expression. Her face was slightly scrunched and her eyebrows furrowed. She even gets that flustered look in her sleep eh? Kaien chuckled in his head then sat back and began to plan out their training schedule.


Well I hope you liked it! In the next chapter the plot will start to thicken, and on top of that, Ichigo finally meets Kaien!

Reviews appreciated!