Second Chapter people! Sorry it took so long. 3: I admit, I worked on it during my fall break, but I could've done more. T.T I'm sorry for being a slacckeerrr!

Anyway, hope you like(: Oh and I forgot this last time. o.o"

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, or any of its characters, stories, movies, and so on and so forth. That rightfully belongs to Tite Kubo. (Well, the movies like, kinda go to Viz and stuffs...and the anime too. I think :/ Oh well.) So yeah. Me No Owny Bleachy.

Ichigo's eyes widened and he nearly fell down. He glanced around and came to rest on Byakuya's face. Byakuya looked stunned, but soon he relaxed. In fact, most of the captains and Shinigami looked shocked. Kuchiki Rukia? Byakuya's sister? No way.

"Kuchiki Rukia? You must understand this is a top priority mission and is contains many risks…" the Commander muttered. "Yes, sir, I understand, sir, but please, with your permission, you have to let me do this," Rukia replied, her head no longer bowed. Her eyes were bright and sparking with enthusiasm.

RUKIA? What in the world? Ichigo didn't know what else to do, so he quickly followed his instinct:

He jumped up and slapped his hands around her mouth.

He could tell Rukia was startled; she let out a muffled yelp and began struggling. Finally, in last resolve, she bit his hand. "YEOWCH!" Ichigo let go and held up his now throbbing-red hand. With everyone watching in awe, Rukia grabbed onto the collar of Ichigo's robes and hoisted him down to her level.

"Ichigo, you are such an imbecile! What are you trying to do to me?" she whispered furiously to his face. "You're the imbecile!" Ichigo shot back. "And I'm trying to help you! I don't think you have any idea of what kind of trouble you're getting yourself into!"

Ichigo swore he heard Rukia's knuckles crack right before she punched him square in the jaw. "Stay—out of my—PERSONAL AFFAIRS!" she hollered, and all that was heard from said punched was "Oof!" before he stumbled backwards. Rukia turned back to the Captain-General and Kurotsuchi.

"Please, Captain Kurotsuchi and Captain-General! I beg of you—this is very important to me, and I am physically and mentally stable enough to complete it. I volunteer willing—" her voice was cut off as a rough hand covered her mouth again. "Please, guys…" Ichigo laughed nervously. "She really doesn't know what she's saying…"

This time, Rukia sent him flying through the wall, in a kind of comical way.

Everyone looked a little shocked when the girl acted as if nothing had happened. "Captain-General, please don't bother with Ichigo. He has no say in this," she pleaded.

"Hmmm…well, if Kurosaki opposes to it, then I have good reason to approve," said the Commander. "After all, he won't be interfering."

Rukia sparkled. "Really? Oh thank you Commander!"

Ichigo slammed the door open. "WHAT?" Rukia looked a little tweaked and snapped "What now, Ichigo?"

The carrot-top stomped up to Rukia's position in front of the Yamamoto and stared straight into his face. "…Fine." He muttered. He sensed Rukia peeking at him from the corner of his eye. "Rukia can do it…"

"Hey! Since when do I have to have YOUR permission to do stuff?" she retorted angrily.

"Rukia can do it..." he resumed impatiently, a small crimson rising to his cheeks, "…if I can go along with her."

Yamamoto's eyebrows rose slightly. "Really…that is the only condition? You realize that if something goes wrong and Rukia is not able to return to the Soul Society, you will be stuck with her in that time period. Not to mention this is highly dangerous and has never been tested before. That goes for the both of you."

Ichigo nodded. "I know. But I need to help Rukia." He looked at her. "…Right?" Rukia grinned, her posture confident. "You know it," and Ichigo grinned back.

"However, before I admission you, there is one final procedure. Juushiro! What do you say in this matter?" Yamamoto beckoned his hand toward the white-haired man, and Ichigo and Rukia swung around to face him.

Ukitake scratched his head. "Hmmm…" the 13th Division's Captain pondered this whilst tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Honestly," he proclaimed, "I don't see any difficulties in Rukia's absence. She has my permission to accept." Rukia beamed, and Ichigo sighed a sigh of relief.

There was a sudden stomping heard outside in the hallway, and before anyone could say anything, the large double doors swung open. "I'm coming too!" proclaimed a loud voice, and everyone looked back in surprise. A tall, lean, red-headed young man stood in the entrance, long hair pulled back into a high ponytail, and his eyebrows were tattooed with jagged black stripes.

"Renji!" Rukia cried out in surprise. "What are you doing here?" she continued as he marched up to where she and Ichigo were standing. Ichigo's facial expression soon turned sour when Renji smiled at Rukia.

"Well, they did call all ranking Shinigami, didn't they? I was just running a bit late," he explained, and bowed to the Commander.

"With your permission, Commander, and of course head of the mission, Captain Kurotsuchi, I will be able to go with Kuchiki Rukia?" he questioned. Ichigo felt a vein pop. He bet the only reason Renji would want to come along is to get more approval among the higher-ups in the Soul Society. That, and be with Rukia. It was pretty obvious that the Vice-captain had a liking for her, and even though it was no big deal for Ichigo (NO BIG DEAL!), it ticked him off just a little bit.

"What are you doing, Abarai? Didn't I just make it clear that no Captains nor Vice-captains are permitted to leave? The only reason I called out them was so that they could give consent to their subordinates that wanted to go," replied the Captain-General.

"Yes, sir, I know that was the original plan, but I do think it would be good if I were allowed to accompany these two. In case something does indeed go wrong, maybe a Vice-captain's power would be enough to stop it. Especially if Kurosaki over there can't handle it…" and Renji shot Ichigo a smug look.

Ichigo fumed and raised his fist in the air. "Why you…don't get too cocky, pineapple head. You still need approval from your captain, don't you?" Renji's eyebrow twitched at 'pineapple head', and Rukia gave Ichigo a stern look, but Ichigo knew he was right. Renji couldn't just barge in without Byakuya having his say-so.

Yamamoto turned to the Captain of the 6th Division. "Well, Byakuya…? What do you think?"

Byakuya slowly lifted his gaze to the Commander. There was a heavy pause, and Ichigo knew it was important to have a Vice-captain stay in the Soul Society to protect it from any invaders. At the same time, Renji's power would be vital when fighting off unknown opponents and collecting necessary data. It could be considered a tough call. Finally, the Captain spoke.

"Renji is very capable of taking care of himself. Let him make his own decisions. I feel that I have next to no say in the matter," he spoke monotonously, and lowered his gaze once more.

"Very well," the Captain-General grumbled heartily. "If you really wish to, Abarai, you may go." Renji looked up, his expression a mixture of joy and surprise. "Really? Thank you, Commander and thank you, Captain Kuchiki. I won't fail you!" Byakuya merely nodded, and Yamamoto grunted his agreement.

Ichigo nearly forgot. "Wait, Commander! You didn't give the agreement that I could go!"

The old man turned to him, and Ichigo silently wished he'd kept his mouth shut about it. That is, until the man said "I never said you couldn't go, now did I." Ichigo's eyes widened, and he stuttered his thanks. "T-thank you, sir." And when Rukia elbowed him in the gut, he did a quick bow.

Kurotsuchi took the floor once more. "Anyone else?" The room seemed to be in approval of the chosen Shinigami, so no one spoke out. Just consented smiles and nods were exchanged.

"Alright, then this meeting is dismissed. We must speak with the missioners in private. Go back to your duties." And slowly, the room's occupants filed out of the great double doors.

As Byakuya Kuchiki walked up to give his bow to the Captain-General, he passed by Ichigo and Renji. Just out of earshot of Rukia, he whispered "If she comes back hurt in any way possible, I'll make sure the punishment for you two is fitting: swift and severe." The two gulped, and an "Understood, sir" was Renji's answer. Ichigo simply nodded. He couldn't argue; the man had a way with words, and got straight to the point.

As Renji walked off to discuss more details about the mission with Captain Kurotsuchi, Ichigo noticed Rukia walk towards the Commander.

"Commander, if I may have a word with you…" she mumbled shyly, although never breaking eye contact. Ichigo trotted silently up behind her.

"Proceed," Yamamoto answered, seeming a bit interested.

"Well, sir, I know that you have great amounts of spiritual pressure, and can also sense even the slightest bit present, so…" Rukia's eyes had that enthusiastic glow in them again.

"So?"

"You knew Ichigo and I were here, and you still didn't order us to leave, did you, sir?" Rukia smiled politely. "Nii-sama knew too, and I'm sure he thought the same thing. Did you want us specifically to do the mission?" Ichigo was a bit astonished at this question. He hadn't really thought about that after the meeting had started. Come to think of it, he did see Byakuya eye him a bit in the beginning. Now it was beginning to make some sense.

"Is this true?" Ichigo put in, and Rukia looked at him in surprise.

The Captain-General leaned back and rested his hands on his cane lightly. He took a deep breath and then sighed it off.

"I…did not know you were there. And I'm sure you didn't realize I didn't know either, now did you, Miss Kuchiki." The small Shinigami immediately straightened up. "Yes, of course Commander! You have my word." And she smiled sincerely. It was one of those rare moments where Ichigo saw Rukia's true characteristics shine through.

However, the seriousness began to set in again as soon as the Captain-General stood up. "Abarai!" he barked, and said Vice-captain looked up from his deep conversation with the 12th Captain. "Come join us over here again. It's time we discussed what you three will be doing on this mission. And whether or not you have the courage to make it through alive."

MWAHAHAHA semi-cliffhanger. :P But at least we see some jealousy on Ichigo's part. :3 I've always loved that about him. Especially when he blushes, he's adorable! xD

Tell me stuff I should work on, and things I can improve on. Oh and things that were good would be a nice bonus. :D Ichigo too OOC? I hope not. o.o

Well, thanks for reading (I always love new ideas too *wink*) and review GRRRRRREATLY appreciated. :)

Catch ya later!

- Reminescence3701