Second Bleach Realm

Being threw out the portal, Karuchi was dropped down rough on the street. On his back, he groans a bit in pain. That trip was a lot more aggressive than when he first went… Not only that, he didn't even tell the stupid device to send him back! Karuchi grabbed at the band and took it off. He studied it closely. It looked perfectly fine…

"I forgot to tell you," Kenji's voice sternly spoke. Scrambling to stand, Karuchi could feel that he was in serious trouble. "The device has a time limit on it. Once it runs out, you'll get sent back."

Annoyed, Karuchi huffed. He looked his brother in the eyes. On his end he could only show that he was upset. Kenji's end, obviously he was disappointed. Scolding eyes and all. But Karuchi didn't care about that. What he did care about, was the fact that he met his mother-but-not-mother from another world, and didn't get to talk to her longer. He didn't get to explore Karakura town at all and that was the main reason he went! All thanks to that shorty captain, Hitsugaya. "Thanks for the late heads up."

"No problem." Kenji stepped up to him, holding a hand out.

Karuchi knew what that meant. He handed the device to him. "I met her."

Kenji was observing the device, making sure it was still in one peace. He was relieved that his idiot brother hadn't destroyed it somehow and made it back safely. Hearing what he said then, he brought his curious eyes back to him. "And by her, you're talking about…"

"Our. Not-mom." Karuchi smiled. "I think she's going to help us. Byakuya too."

Kenji felt good about that information. Two people most likely on board with the cause was great to hear, but still… The one and only one he really needed to hear say yes was Ichigo. Hopefully, maybe, he'll say yes. "I don't know what you did or said… but it helped. Guess you going wasn't a total mistake." Karuchi lit up, "But, mom and dad are going to put you through the ringer when we get back."

And just like that, Karuchi frowned sadly. "Of course…"

From somewhere around them, Kenji could feel a familiar presence to him. He eyed Karuchi to see if he noticed, but from the looks of it he wasn't worrying about reiatsu in that moment. Only thing he must've been focusing on was his impending punishment. Kenji felt relieved by that. "Karuchi," His brother's gloomy eyes found his, "head on home without me."

Karuchi looked confused slightly. He shrugged it off, though, and started walking. "Okay…" Kenji wanted to say, 'thanks for not asking questions,' but something told him his brother already knew.

"Be careful out here." Were the words Karuchi said lastly to him before he Shunpo away.

Kenji nodded to himself. He planned on it. The presence was still somewhere near. Kenji walked till it felt closer and closer to him. Finally, as he turned a corner around a building, he sees who the source of the reiatsu belonged to. A woman. She was leaning against the wall. Not brothering to face him, Kenji leaned on the wall next to her. Space still between. "Must be serious if you're here."

The girl sighed. "I can feel your hate…"

"Why would I hate someone that 'had no choice' but to not see me anymore? I remember those being one of the many excuses you used." Her long, green hair was still the same. Her wearing that hat on her head hasn't changed either. And realizing he'd thought of all that, he noticed his eyes had drifted to observe her. More than he wanted…

"Can we not fight? You know those weren't excuses, Kenji. I'm a Quincy, under Yhwach's order. You're not exactly on the ally side to us. I did the hard decision you couldn't. I'm sorry if I'd rather see you in mental pain than physical."

Taking a deep breath. Kenji held every emotion back in him. If he didn't, he'd either punch the wall or his reiatsu would flare up. Neither of those things would be very good in the moment. Against his emotions, he knew she was right about the danger. But he would've protected her. He would have made sure they'd be fine. But even thinking that, that would've meant leaving his family behind… "Tell me why you're here, Candice. After all these years."

"A Quincy came down here a couple hours ago. He hasn't returned, nor can Yhwach since his presence in our world anymore. I took the job to check it out, knowing that you might've been involved."

Kenji huffed in disbelief. "Now I know how much you trust me."

"Are you involved?"

His brows furrowed as he told her firmly. "No. I made a promise to you and I kept it this far."

She looked relieved. However, it didn't last long once she sunk in the meaning of his last words. "This far?" She turned towards him. "What are you planning, Kenji? I hope nothing remotely close to attacking us."

Kenji scoffed. "'Us,' you say. What I'm planning to do, is going to be for the actual us."

Making his body face her, she gripped his shirt in her fist tightly, anger showing in her eyes. Pulling him closer. "And if you die, there will only be me."

His hands covered hers. Her eyes showed him frustration while his only showed her determined reassurance. "I won't. I promise. What I'm planning is going to work. We will be together and everything will be okay again. For everyone."

Seeing the confidence in him, her demeanor changed to that of support. A sad, smile came over her as she let go of his shirt, and he her hands. Candice stepped away from him. "I'm trusting in you, Kenji."

Lightning sparked, making Kenji blink a second too long. Once he focused, she was gone. Smirking, Kenji headed home.

Original Bleach Realm

Recap. Ichigo needed to have a serious recap. He was sitting on the couch yet again, completely in his own thoughts. Early Daylight streamed through the windows and cascaded over him, making his already orange hair slightly glow like the sun. He had to ask himself…. He's not going insane and dreamed that entire encounter with Kenji, right? But it didn't feel like it was. It felt real and true. He wants to believe that he really has an other-world-son, but… what would that mean if he did? Ichigo really had to ask himself.

Could he help Kenji?

Ichigo hears footsteps hurrying down the stair to the left of him. It was Kazui in a hurried rush for the door. For what reason, Ichigo had no clue. He wasn't exactly going to be late for school since it was 6:30 am in the morning. "Hey, Dad!" The door opened, "Bye, Dad!" The door slammed closed.

Something is telling him Yoruichi is probably involved with his son's sudden haste for school…

"Ichigo?" Orihime came into view. She seemed sorry. Her eyes were distant from him however. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I just… you and another woman…"

Ichigo put a hand up. He had to stop her right there. Amongst his many replayed recaps, the one that wouldn't stop crashing into his mind was Orihime's anger with him. And that… terrible conversation they had about Kenji and what he asked of him. He said the wrong words in the wrong way. But doing so, it lead to him thinking about it all. After realizing and truly sinking it in that he and Rukia are together in another world. Knowing some other version of him had insane guts to do something he never had...

He admits it. There was a time where he thought about Rukia in a different light constantly. After the war, he thought about if he should say something. Should he risk their friendship? Rukia was everything to him. Hell. She still is to some extent. But… he didn't do it. He left their friendship in the perfect way it was.

And to know that another version of him wasn't afraid to ask and it worked out for him… really, made him feel dark somewhere inside…

But. None of that mattered. After all his feelings and thoughts settled down, there was only one thing left. Orihime. Ichigo didn't have the guts to tell Rukia the truth about how he felt and it's another's time's loss, but because of that, he turned to Orihime and got to get to know her better. Eventually from close friend to someone he didn't want to imagine himself without. She doesn't dry the rain… but she sure as hell protects him from it. That's who he has and that's who he will continue to love.

He looked her in her eyes, hoping that she could see the honest soul he was baring out to her. "I love you, Orihime. In this world that's all that matters. So what if in another time, another version of me picked different? He's not me. I'm your Ichigo. Or is only one version of me being the only one to love you, not good enough to you?"

Orihime had tears in her eyes. Shaking her head as she wiped them, she collapsed next to Ichigo on the couch, grabbing him in a tight hug. He couldn't see her smile, but he could feel it. "It's enough."

Ichigo smiled. Glad that the brief rift between them was settled. "Now." Orihime pulled back, ready to hear whatever else he had to say to her. "Will you please listen to what I have to say about that other world needing my help?" Orihime nodded. He had her full attention. "Kenji told me that the Yhwach in his world is able to cross realms. He kills the old Yhwach and takes power from him. It seems like, if not already, he's going to be unstoppable…"

"And he wants our help to stop him?"

Ichigo nodded. "There's no way to pretend like this wouldn't affect us. And even if it wouldn't…" The real question. Would he help Kenji?

Determination glared in Ichigo's eyes. Orihime could see it clear as day light. It was the same look he had when she confronted him about Rukia all those years ago in High school. Before they went to save her.

"I'm with you." She wasn't going to go into this blindly. Orihime knows the risks full well. She wants to fight alongside him and protect him. As well as everyone else from this other Yhwach. All of this was being dropped on her suddenly. Orihime wasn't going to pretend like it wasn't a lot to take in. Because it was. But it felt like there wouldn't be much time to think about it for days. It was either then or never.

A knock sounded at their door. Orihime got up to answer it. To her surprise, it was Rukia and Byakuya. "Oh, Rukia. And… Byakuya."

Rukia snickered a bit. Orihime was obviously wondering why a man who would rather do mountains of paper work than visit them, would be at her door with Rukia. They walked inside as Ichigo made his way into the picture. Once he connected his eyes with Rukia, he saw the same off set look in her eyes from when she found out about Kenji's parents. Them. "I don't know why you guys are here, but… Rukia, we need to talk." She agreed with a small nod. Ichigo stepped outside and Rukia followed. Ichigo could hear Orihime asking Byakuya if he would like to sit as he closed the door.

"Something is telling me, that this is about us being together in another world?" Rukia asked him.

Ichigo's hand shot up to his head. "Yeah. We didn't exactly have a good talk about that last time."

"Ichigo, It's okay, we don't need to talk about it. It… doesn't feel that weird to me anymore. Well, not as much…"

His hand fell. "No. I need to say this to you." He was serious, which made her stop her joking tone and take him serious as well.

"Okay."

"Rukia… I did love you. Years ago."

Her eyes went shocked and wide. But she didn't say anything right away. Many responses were showing as options in her mind, but she only saw one the most.

Tell the truth.

"I didn't have the guts to tell you back then. I'm telling you this now because, knowing that in another world I did say it, really bothered me. I should have told you. I owed it to you and myself to know if we… might've been something more than just friends." He was worried to look her in the eyes. "My bad for… dropping this confession on you out of nowhere like this. I just, felt that this was needed closure to something I never exactly closed between us."

Silence fell between them. Rukia had a lot to process. It was nothing too much to bare, but… It just made her think about her own feelings in the past. If he had said something, what would she have said? She doesn't know. She knows she cared deeply for Ichigo, but was it to that extent? "Ichigo…"

"Yeah, I know—" He was cut short by a foot kicking him in the chin, making him fall back on his butt. He groaned of pain as he held his chin, eyes flaring up in confused anger. "Rukia! What the hell?"

"That. Was for keeping something like that a secret for me. You shouldn't have felt like you couldn't tell me. Even if I would've responded against it, I would've stayed your friend. The same friend. Can't you trust that?" She held her hand out to him, a reliable smile on her face.

Was it supposed to feel this way? A feeling that told him there was nothing to worry about or regret anymore. His phase of confusion and "what-if" when came to her. All that's left is the same Rukia she's always been to him since day 1. His one of a kind friend. Ichigo smirked, nodding. Grabbing her hand, he was pulled to stand fully. "Definitely."

Ichigo and Rukia had gone back in the house. Byakuya and Orihime were waiting for them in the living room area. Orihime was sitting on a chair while Byakuya was sitting on the couch to the other side. His eyes caught Ichigo's. "I hope that you are ready, Kurosaki?" Byakuya asked him. Clearly he wasn't all that pleased to be made to wait. Especially since it seemed important. Ichigo also had something important to tell him as well. Him and the head captain Yamato.

"Yeah. I have something to say as well, but you go first." Ichigo told him, arms folding.

"Apparently we were paid a visit by yours and Rukia's son. He asked for us to help his world. I don't exactly know what the danger is, but it must be very serious if he had to cross worlds for reinforcements. However, something tells me that you know exactly." Byakuya failed to care about the shocked expression on Orihime's face. He also failed to care if that was information to say in front of her.

Ichigo handled their relationship confusion a while ago, and he's sure she won't make too big a deal out of this puzzle fill in. He's sure she wondered who the mystery wife was in the other world and now she knows… so that's great. Ichigo's held Orihime's eyes for a moment, silently telling her to level it down for the moment. She understood and listened to the main matter at hand.

Ichigo brought his attention back to Byakuya. "You would be right. When I touched the pentacle, I was somehow transported to Kenji's inner world."

Byakuya's brows creased in wonder. "Kenji?"

"Oh. That's his name. The guy that gave you the pentacle. He told me I was his father and that because I married Rukia, for some reason, Yhwach was able to successfully come back and take over everything. Their soul society belongs to the Quincies, and the world of the living is over run and destroyed by hollows. As far as I know, life in their world is barely existing. And also a not so small problem… That world's Yhwach is able to cross time and worlds, killing his old self and taking his power, making himself stronger. He's not stopping till he controls everything in existence, I'm assuming."

Rukia wore a grave expression. "He's gone mad…"

"Mad with power." Ichigo continued on. "From what it sounds like, our world is not safe either. It's just a matter of time before he makes his way to us. By then, who knows. He'll be unstoppable." Byakuya seemed to be taking in all the information with a heavy heart. "I didn't know that Kenji came by again. He told me he'd be back in two days to hear my answer…"

"It wasn't Kenji that came to our world. It was another son." That was news to Ichigo. So it turns out that his other version has two sons. "He didn't tell us all of what you said, but I'm guessing it's because he didn't have time to. Since he was gone in a flash mid explaining. However, he did happen to bring a Quincy from his world with him."

Ichigo's brows creased with driven intentions towards that Quincy. He needed to inform the other captains of this, and he might as well pay a visit to that Quincy. "What did he tell you guys?"

Rukia spoke up. "It wasn't anything useful. He was just as confused as us to why he was there. Almost as if we were ghost that he was staring in the face."

Byakuya stood suddenly. "This new threat must be informed to the head commander. Rukia? Are you coming?"

"Ah. Yes, Nii-sama."

Ichigo jumped ahead of them for the door. "I'm going, too. He's my son from another world. I have to be there to explain as well." Byakuya didn't seem to have any objections in his statement.

Ichigo hasn't been to the soul society in years. He wondered if anything had changed drastically, or if it was still the same place since long ago. It would be a good scenery to see again. Though, the circumstances for it were not very light hearted.

Once they got to the soul society, Ichigo took in the scenery. Nothing much had changed at all. A part of him felt like he returned to a home long forgotten, and the other felt like it was a return long awaited. Byakuya led the way to the first division. Entering the barracks, Byakuya asked of Ichigo to stay behind. Rukia stayed with him and caught the smirk on his face.

"What's with that smirk?" She asked him.

"Just wondering… how captain Rukia Abarai has been handling things up here. Your squad listens to you, right?" He used his right hand to size her up. "Your height doesn't put them off or anything?" Getting lightly shoved by her, made him lightly chuckle.

"Oh, shut up. Before I high kick you again." Her threat sounded serious, which made his chuckle come to a brief halt. He smiled innocently.

Byakuya made himself present again. His eyes looked back and forth from the two, seeing that they must've had a playful moment. "The head commander will see you now, Kurosaki."

"Eh?" Ichigo's eyes slightly widened. "I don't have to wait for him to gather up the other captains?"

"This is a matter that he wishes to speak privately with you first." Was the simple statement Byakuya responded with.

Ichigo nodded and went on ahead to the assembly hall, where he found Yamato sitting at the end of it. Amongst the things that didn't change, Yamato's serious expression and penetrating eyes was one of them. Ichigo walked till he was close enough.

"Kurosaki, Ichigo." Yamato started first. "It seems that this new problem we have is tied to you?"

"Yes, Commander."

"And the Quincy we have here in holding… you know how he got here?"

Ichigo wasn't exactly sure how the Quincy got in their world. He wasn't even sure how his two sons cross over to their world. Byakuya didn't exactly say. And maybe that was because he didn't know his own self. The way he described his second leaving their world, was that it happened like a flash…

Teleportation maybe?

"'Knowing,' wouldn't really be the right word to use. More like, aware of how he got here." Ichigo said. Yamato did not seem to be very amused with the word play. "A son that I have from another world brought the Quincy here."

Yamato was following keenly… until the mention of a son from another world that caught him greatly off guard. His expression went slightly lost. "Kurosaki… are you saying that his threat involves another world separate from our own? Is that really what you are implying?"

"Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury to imply what I know for sure. A Quincy pentacle was given to Byakuya by another one of my sons to give to me some time ago. I only recently got it. My soul had been transported to my son's inner world. He told me the entire situation. The name to this threat… It's Yhwach." Yamato's eyes were then full blown shocked. Grave. "In this other world… because I married Rukia, that, somehow changed the way things happened when Yhwach came back again during my happiest moment in the future."

"Kurosaki." Yamato had to stop him there. The mention of Yhwach and another world was heavy to accept. "Are you sure you stand by this? Do you know what you are saying?"

Ichigo nodded. His own eyes dead serious. "I am saying commander. That version of Yhwach is crossing worlds and getting stronger by killing his former self. And I am saying, standing firm in front of you, that we need to stop him before we're next and possibly unable to stop him."

Ichigo understands. It is a lot to take in and trust as true. Byakuya was the first to encounter this suspicion. Who knows the inner battle he went through to finally decide to trust it. Rukia was second and didn't want to believe. Not till Ichigo got the pentacle and took an insane spirit trip to find out himself. And he could always think that he was dreaming it all, but deep in the memory of his soul, he knew it was real. He knew his other version's son was real. He knew he was telling the truth. And he knew that he had to own up to a side of him that he pushed aside for years. The side of him that wanted to protect.

The time was then. More than ever and the stakes were higher. Every existence. It was time to protect that from Yhwach.

It was as clear as the sun on a cloudless day. Ichigo's drive and trusting reliance. Yamato could see it. It made him realize yet again, that it was a shame the young man before him could not be the captain he was meant to be.

"Very well then. This other son you spoke of. Will he cross over to our world again?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Ichigo thought about his final moments with Kenji, just before he was pulled back to his world. He thought about his plead and the honest look in his eyes. He didn't need to for any more convincing, but he did anyway. He did because he was glad he trusted him. Ultimately.

The answer was yes, Kenji.

Outside after school ended, Kazui was heading to leave, but hearing a friend's voice made him stop. His school bag in one hand, he turned around to face her. Mitsuko still faced him with the same disappointed face from earlier that morning. He was supposed to coach her on kicking the soccer ball far away into the goal, but… He was late for their practice session. Kazui can't teach her after school either, since he has his own training session to get to at Urahara's place. Kazui bowed a short moment, apologetic. "Sorry, Mitsuko. We don't have school tomorrow, so If you're free, how about we go to the park and practice?"

She smiled. "It's a date! You better show up, Kurosaki." She ran off.

Watching her leave, Kazui replayed what she said. A light blush came over his cheeks. "It's a… date?" He shook his head, getting the thought out his mind. There's no way she meant it like that. At least that's what he told himself…

Forgetting about it, Kazui continued to Urahara's. He got there within 15 minutes of walking and headed inside. To his surprise, Yoruichi was the only one to greet him right away. "Hey, Kazui."

Letting his bag fall to the floor, he greeted her back. "Hey. Where's Kisuke? Down on the training grounds?"

"No. The soul society called on him. So, I'm going to be solo training you this time." A slight worry came over Kazui's heart. Yoruichi caught it as quick as it came and went. She showed him a confident look. Not to tell him that she had confidence, but that she had confidence in him. "You're stronger now and in control. Trust yourself and don't hold back. Okay?"

The worry was still there, but not as heavy. He wouldn't ignore it completely. He'd never forget what happened. It's never going to happen again, because he'd make sure of it. Like she said, he's in control.

Trust yourself, he could see in her eyes.

A fearless gaze, Kazui manifested his soul reaper uniform and Zanpakuto strapped to him. "I won't hold back."