AN: So it has been a while since Chapter 4 of this fic, but Real Life happened. So yeah.


Chapter 5: The World of Ice

ICHIGO P.O.V.

"This won't do, Jidanbo," Gin scolds, "when a Gatekeeper loses, it means…death." I remember these words.

"Ikorose…Shinso," he whispers, releasing his Shikai. The blade extends, slicing through Jidanbo's skin like butter, flinging the large Gatekeeper backwards a good few feet. The gate rumbles in its hinges, closing rapidly. Marching up to it, I grab the bottom with my right hand as the gate stops with a thud.

"Well well. I didn't think you'd be able to do that, Kurosaki Ichigo," he muses. Shit, they know about me already.

"Well, I guess I'm just full of surprises," I retort, not letting him have the last word.

"Gin," I call. He freezes.

"How'd ja know my name, Ichigo?" he asks in surprise.

"That's not important. Let me tell you something though. Can you check if you've been bugged somehow?" I ask.

"Bugged? Who'd want ta spy on little old me?" he asks, his eyes narrowing.

"Just do it Gin. I don't have long to explain," I reply. Sighing, he begins his work.

"No bugs on me, Ichigo," he informs me, smiling his usual foxy smile.

"Good. Now, let me just tell you this. Whatever your friend Aizen has planned, I know about it. I know you're planning to join him. Don't," I explain quickly.

"And why should I hafta listen ta you, Ichigo?" he asks. I sigh. Here's the clincher.

"I know why you're planning it. The REAL reason. It's for Rangiku-san, isn't it?" I ask. He freezes. He stares in my eyes, eyes narrowed.

"How…how'd ya know? I…I never told anyone…" he begins to mutter.

"This is kind of a bad place to explain it all Gin, unsecure location and all. I'll tell you when the time is right. For now, act as if we didn't have this talk at all. If possible Gin, try to delay the bastard as much as you can. Rangiku-san's happiness, and your life, are at stake. Now, if you don't mind Gin, I think I'll take my leave for now. Ja ne!" I say, throwing the gate up effortlessly. As the gate shuts, I turn and bend low so Gin can see me under the gate.

"Bye bye!" I yell, waving cheerfully to his dumbfounded face as the gate shuts. Turning around, I begin to walk over to the rest of the group, which is looking at me in disbelief.

"Onii-chan…did you really have to do that at the end?" Mizuki asks. I begin to chuckle.

"I kind of always wanted to do that to him, considering what happened last time when he did that to us," I explain to her. The others, save for Yoruichi-san, don't know about the whole time-travel thing yet, so yeah.

"So what now, Ichigo?" Yoruichi-san asks. I grin deviously.

"Yoruichi-san, we're going to visit some distant family members of mine. An old friend of yours by the name of Shiba Kukaku. Our cousin, I think, on Oyaji's side of the family," I command. She grins back.

"Kukaku, eh?" she muses, chuckling.

"Onii-chan, who is this 'Kukaku' person you and Yoruichi-san keep mentioning?" Mizuki asks me.

"Shiba Kukaku and her brother Ganju are family from Oyaji's side of the family. He used to be a Shiba. Rukia doesn't know this, but we're also related to her former Fukutaichou Shiba Kaien," I explain.

"So do you know where she lives? I know she keeps changing that, but…" Yoruichi-san asks. I grin.

"Fortunately for us, I know exactly how to get there. Let's go. Inoue, you healed up Jidanbo, right?" I ask.

"H-hai, Kurosaki-kun," she responds timidly.

"Good. Follow me!" I command.


"What the FUCK is wrong WITH THAT HOUSE!" Mizuki yells. I understand the sentiment. As we approach Kukaku-san's strange house, her two twin guards approach us.

"Halt!" they command.

"State your names and your reasons for wishing to visit Shiba Kukaku," they explain. I step forward.

"I am Kurosaki Ichigo. Beside me is my sister, Kurosaki Mizuki. Behind us are our friends, Inoue Orihime and Sado Yasutora, along with our maternal cousin, Ishida Uryu. We are here to visit our family," I explain.

"Family?" they ask in disbelief, "that cannot be right. Her brother, Shiba Kaien-sama, is dead, and her uncle Shiba Isshin-sama went missing many years ago." At this, Mizuki and I crack up.

"What's so funny about the dead! Do not mock them!" the twin guards yell angrily.

"N-no, it's just the way you said it!" I yell, cackling in full-blown laughter.

"Shiba Isshin-sama? Give me a break! Oyaji doesn't need 'sama' attached to his name, he acts like a goofy idiot almost all the time!" Mizuki adds, rolling on the ground, clutching her sides. The twins freeze.

"You claim…that Shiba Isshin-sama is alive? And that he is your father? Then why have you not taken his name?" the two ask.

"I-it's because he didn't want to draw attention to himself from the local Shinigami of Karakura, so to hide his identity, he took Kaa-san's name. Ishida over there is our cousin from her side," I explain, the laughter dissipating.

"So it's true then…FORGIVE US FOR OUR INSOLENCE, ICHIGO-SAMA, MIZUKI-SAMA, URYU-SAMA!" the two yell, bowing before us. We look at them in disbelief.

"Get up you two, we don't really care for all the formality crap. Call me Ichigo. No 'sama' needed," I explain. They nod, and then come to standing position.

"Oh, by the way guys, Yoruichi-san's with us too, so just announce that we are accompanying her. I kind of want to surprise Kukaku-san," I command, grinning.

"Hai!" they reply, saluting. The twins lead us underground, stopping in front of the door.

"The Honorable Lady Shihoin Yourichi-sama is here to see you, Kukaku-sama!" the two yell, sliding the door open. In the center of the room, I see the familiar figure of Shiba Kukaku, complete with pipe and prosthetic arm.

"Yoruichi, eh?" she muses as Yoruichi-san steps forward.

"It's been a long time Kukaku," Yoruichi-san calls.

"I could say the same to you, Yoruichi," Kukaku-san replies. "Who are the others?" I grin.

"It's nice you meet you, Kukaku-itoko. I am Kurosaki Ichigo" I say, grinning. Her eyes narrow.

"Itoko, you say? How can you claim that?" she asks.

"Well, Oyaji is your uncle, so…" I trail off.

"Oyaji?" she asks.

"Kurosaki, no, Shiba Isshin," I reply. Her eyes widen.

"Your father is Isshin-jii-san?" she asks, her eyes twinkling in excitement.

"It's not just me. Mizuki here is my sister," I explain.

"Are you two the only kids he had?" she asks.

"No, there's our twin sisters, Yuzu and Karin, as well," I reply.

"Well then, Ichigo, Mizuki, welcome. It's been so long since we've seen other family since Kaien-nii-san died," she says solemnly. "But enough about that. You're family! Come on, let's celebrate! GANJU, GET YOUR FAT ASS IN HERE!"

I hear the sound of footsteps scurrying behind the door to my left. I see the door slide open to reveal Ganju wearing a formal kimono.

"Hajimemashite. I am Shiba Ganju," he says, bowing his head.

"Cut the formalities Ganju. Get down here. We've got more family," she commands.

"Family?" he asks in confusion.

"Two of Isshin-jii-san's kids, along with my old friend Yoruichi and some of their friends," she replies. He breaks out into a grin.

"Well why didn't you say so, Aneki? Get over here, you two!" he calls, engulfing us in a surprise hug. Is this really Ganju?


"So now that we've had dinner, what do you two need?" Kukaku-san asks.

"We need to use your cannon," I say bluntly. She blinks in disbelief.

"The cannon? What for?" she asks.

"To blast us into the Seireitei," I reply. She grins deviously.

"I like your style kiddo, I like it! When you go back to the World of the Living though, tell Isshin-jii-san that we say hello, alright Ichigo?" she asks. I nod.

"Now, here's a spirit cannonball…" she begins.


Where am I right now? Inside a giant cannonball made of reishi. We've just hit the barrier. We have to split up like last time, it's essential. I push a large amount of reiatsu into the cannonball, forcing the ball into pieces as we successfully penetrate the barrier. I feel myself fly away from the group and towards the barracks for the 13th Division. Great. My opponent is either Ukitake-san or the crazy guy from the 12th Division. I see Mizuki land somewhat nearby. From what I remember, 10th Division. Toshiro or Rangiku-san. Looking for the others, I sense Chad's unique Hollow-like reiatsu near two familiar signatures: Ikkaku and Yumichika. So he got the opponents I had last time, huh? Looking away, I see Ishida and Inoue together, flying towards an empty area. As if interrupting my thoughts, I hit the ground with a large crash.

As the smoke clears, I see three familiar figures standing above me. Ukitake-san and his two overzealous Division members.

"Hello, Ryoka-kun. If it were up to me, I'd interrogate you as to your intentions first, but unfortunately, I've been given orders to capture or kill you. I am sorry," I hear Ukitake-san say. Coming to my feet with a groan, I draw my twin Zanpakutou.

"Is there anything I can say to convince you to not fight?" I ask.

"Unfortunately, there is not, as I have my orders," he replies. I sigh.

"I don't want to fight you, Ukitake-san. I am Kurosaki Ichigo. I'm just here to rescue Rukia," I explain. He freezes.

"Rescue her, you say?" he asks. Upon my affirmative answer, he sighs.

"I appreciate your concern for my officer, however she has been convicted by the Central 46. There is nothing I can do, so I will at least stop you so that she does not find hope only to lose it," he tells me, drawing his sword.

"Seems like I can't convince you to stop then, Ukitake-san. I won't kill you though, even if I win. You have earned my respect, and Rukia would be mad if I did kill you," I conclude, assuming my stance.

Before he can release, I charge at him, swinging my left blade down on him. He parries it, pointing his other palm towards me.

"HADO NO GOJUHACHI, TENRAN!" he yells. A tempest of wind blasts my face, pushing me backwards. Landing, I quickly swing both blades at his stomach. He blocks, holding both swords in place as we struggle to break free from the deadlock. I smirk.

"What is so amusing, Ichigo-kun?" he asks. I channel reiatsu through the blades.

"Getsuga Tenshou," I say, releasing my signature technique.

"Oh shi-" he manages to say before he is overwhelmed by my attack's wide range of destruction. Retreating in a burst of Shunpo, I observe the damage to the area. I see a wide crater with Ukitake-san at the center. As for him? His entire haori is nowhere to be seen, completely vaporized by the attack. His arms are covered in bruises and wounds that are dripping blood.

"I admit…I did not expect you to do that much with one attack, Ichigo-kun," he muses. "But I can see that was just a warmup. Why don't we get serious?" he says as he begins his release chant.

"Nami kotogotoku waga tate to nare, ikazuchi kotogotoku waga yaiba to nare, Sogyo no Kotowari!" he yells. Much like Mizuki's Shikai, a second blade, linked to the first by a rope, appears from the first. Three charms appear on the wire. My turn.

Channeling reiatsu into my blades, I begin to chant. "Barabara ni ten o hikisaku, Zangetsu!" I yell, my blades entering Shikai.

"A dual-bladed Shikai, Ichigo-kun? Very interesting. You are one of the only three Shinigami to have one," he says. I smirk.

"Ukitake-san, your number is slightly off. It's not three, it's four. My sister has a dual-bladed Shikai as well, Ukitake-san," I inform him. His eyes widen. He blinks in surprise.

"Well then. I did not expect that, but then both you and your sister are very lucky then," he says, correcting himself.

"Alright then, Ukitake-san. Time for Round Two."


MIZUKI P.O.V.

Baka Nii! Why did he overcharge the cannonball? Now we've gotten separated! A voice interrupts my thoughts.

"Surrender now, Ryoka. If you do, I guarantee that your life will be spared. If not, then I will be forced to kill you," a male voice says. As the smoke clears, I see the speaker come into view. I remember Onii-chan telling me about him! Hitsugaya Toshiro-taichou! Oyaji's 3rd seat!"

"No fair, taichou, I'm here too!" a female voice adds. Looking to the source, my jaw drops. Her boobs are HUGE! Bigger than even Hime-chan's! The man's eyes narrow.

"What are you looking at my fukutaichou like that for?" he asks.

"Oy, taichou-san, how do you focus on anything when your fukutaichou has such MEGA HUGE BOOBS!" I yell exasperatedly. His face erupts into a deep red.

"Wha-wha-I…what are you talking about?" he stammers. The woman erupts into laughter.

"Hahahaha! Taichou…your face…it's hilarious!" she wheezes, clutching her sides.

"Sh-shut up, Matsumoto!" he snaps in embarrassment.

"Ehem!" I call. The two return to normal. "Are you two just going to do the comedy duo routine or are we going to fight?"

"Know this, Ryoka. The name of the one who will kill you. Taichou of the 10th Division, Hitsugaya Toshiro," he narrates.

"I'm his fukutaichou, Matsumoto Rangiku. Nice to meet you!" Rangiku-san adds.

"I am Kurosaki Mizuki," I begin, when I hear a large explosion.

"Wh-what the hell is that?" Toshiro-san asks, eyes narrowed. Looking at the source of the explosion, I see a large blue dome rapidly expanding in size. Getsuga Tenshou, huh?

"You don't look surprised, Kurosaki Mizuki," Toshiro-san muses.

"Oh that? That's just Onii-chan," I say nonchalantly. He freezes.

"The person that forced Ukitake-taichou to release his Shikai…is your brother?" he asks in surprise. I nod.

"Oh, by the way, I have a message for the two of you, Toshiro-san, Rangiku-san," I inform them.

"From who?" Toshiro-san asks.

"From Oyaji. He said to say Hi to his, and these are his words here, ehem, 'his bumbling, beautiful, busty fukutaichou and white-haired, chibi 3rd Seat,'" I reply. They freeze. Toshiro-san's eyes narrow.

"Your father's name…what is it?" he asks.

"His name is Kurosaki Isshin, but he took Kaa-chan's name. Before, it was Shiba Isshin, I think Onii-chan said," I reply.

"Shiba…Isshin? Shiba-taichou is your father? He's alive?" Rangiku-san stammers, tearing up.

"Um…yes?" I confirm.

"OH THANK GOD!" Rangiku-san yells in relief, glomping me. We sit in silence as Rangiku-san lets her tears flow. I start to pat her head.

"There, there…it's alright. He's alive and everything's alright," I say softly. As Rangiku-san continues crying, Toshiro-san walks up to me and looks me in the eyes.

"If he was alive, Kurosaki Mizuki, then why didn't he come back?" Toshiro-san asks, his voice cold.

"Um well…I don't know exactly, but I do know it has to do with Kaa-chan. But if you want to know…oh! Ask Onii-chan. He'll know for sure," I reply. He sighs.

"Very well, Kurosaki Mizuki. Thank you for the message. However, I still have my orders to fight you," he explains, drawing his sealed Zanpakutou. Hyourinmaru, huh? Getting up, I gently set Rangiku-san on the ground a little ways away. Walking back over to Toshiro-san, I draw my swords.

"Mezamero, yozora no shihai-sha o, Getsuryu!" I yell. My sealed blade copies itself to form a second, identical blade. The guard changes to form a dragon's head, while both blades elongate. The release complete, I stare at Toshiro-san's face with a smirk.

"What now, Taichou-san?" I ask.

"Since you have released your Shikai…" he trails off, raising his sword skyward.

"Soten ni zase, Hyourinmaru," he says calmly. Suddenly, the world becomes one of ice.


AN: So that's the long awaited chapter! Once again, I'm sorry about now updating this, but I had writers block, plus real life. So yeah.

After this, I will publish new chapters for Harry Potter and the Power of Destruction and Dedication through Light and Darkness. I'll also be starting two new stories. One is a Naruto fanfic, and the other is a Harry Potter/Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei crossover fic. That'll hopefully be done by mid-April, at which point I'll be going on a short hiatus while I finish up the semester. Come summer I'll have time to write…I think.

Well then, until next time!