A/N: I tried to be as detailed as possible but... There are some gore parts that you might find disturbing, so please be warned.

Disclaimer: All Kubo Tite's


Chapter 9

When Ichigo first thought that his friends, especially Rukia had joined the "Lefters group", he had thought that nothing could surprise him anymore. But now, he was just presented with something that he had never imagined, even in his wildest dream, is possible.

…His mother is alive. Something that he thought only God can make it possible.

"Mo..mother?" Ichigo choked.

Seeing his mother in front of him, alive, has made Ichigo's heart brimming with different emotions. One thing he is certain is that he's definitely happy. He is too happy that tears are forming in his eyes. He took a step closer to his mother but something in him made him faltered, other emotion surfaces as well.

Confusion. How is his mother alive? They were told she was killed.

Abandonment. If his mother is alive, then why didn't she come home to them? Why did she made them think she's dead?

Sadness. How can she bear not seeing her family for a long time? Why did she let them wallow in pain? Perhaps she doesn't love them anymore?

These are what running in Ichigo's head.

Masaki too is nervous seeing her first born after so many years. Not that she didn't see him in secrets in these years. But seeing him up close and letting him know she's alive is entirely a different situation. She knows he will have a lot of questions and she have been preparing herself for a long time for her answers. Facing Isshin and her twins have been hard enough but she knew that Ichigo took her "death" the hardest. She hoped Ichigo will forgive her. And if he doesn't, she will still be proud of her son. Her son who have gotten so tall, as tall as his father, she thought fondly. Masaki's heart is overflowing with pride of what his son has become. Her tears are continuously streaming down her face. Her heart begs for her son's forgiveness.

Ichigo look at his mother again and all of his hesitations were forgotten, for there in Masaki's face, he could see his mother had suffered as well. He will get his answers later, Ichigo decided.

Ichigo took a quick step towards his mother. He hugged her like a child who didn't see his mother for a long time, which is really the case. The two cried.

Orihime was shocked at first seeing Ichigo's mother, then her heart became full of happiness for Ichigo.

Rukia, Renji and Grimmjow watched the reunion happily as well for even the three of them couldn't contain their happiness when they first learned that their Aunt Masaki was alive. They had thought they were hallucinating.

Grimmjow and Renji let out a sigh of relief. They are now sure they will have Ichigo's trust completely now and knew that things will return back to the way they were before. The five of them again, protecting each other's back.

All the people there looked away to give the mother and son a little privacy.

After a few moments, Isshin stands up and wrapped his arms on them which made Ichigo remembered they are not alone. He released his mother and squirmed from his father's grasp. He then took a seat next to Rukia who is smirking at him.

"Shut up, midget." He grumbled while discretely wiping his face. Rukia just grinned further.

Masaki sat down as well next to Isshin, opposite Ichigo. Her heart feels so light now that Ichigo has accepted her again.

Ichigo leaned on the table and eyed his mother "Mother, how are you alive?" He asked straightaway. He wanted his answers already.

Masaki sighed and took a deep breath. She started answering him.

"Just like what your father told you ten years ago, that day, we had to go to the north because almost all of our clinic's medical supplies were finished, because for some unknown reason, our deliveries did not reached the west so we had to go and pick the supplies ourselves. Upon entering the 50th, we were stopped by the soldiers of the north, but what your father didn't know was that, after the soldiers checked our identity, they recognized me and I knew I had become their target. So when they asked us to leave the car, I knew they were going to kill us. The group who had been covertly following us knew too so they intervened. Before the last soldier was killed, he was able to contact for back up and their camp was nearby, our group saw them coming so I had to leave with them and leave your father behind knowing that it will not be safe to stay with my family anymore. I am truly sorry, son. I had to fake my death in order to protect you all. By faking my death means cutting my ties with you all, with it the enemies will not suspect your father too." Masaki said, looking straight to Ichigo.

Ichigo's set of questions are multiplied as Masaki told her stories. This made Ichigo even more confused. "Are you saying your group has always been following you every time you leave the west? Why were you involve with this group? Why did you became their target when they saw you? Why..." Ichigo was stopped by a hand laying on his arm. It was Rukia's. Ichigo took a deep breath and looked expectantly at his mother again.

Masaki continued. "No, son. I am not always assisted by the group because we are safe as long as we are in the west and nothing happened with the few trips your father and I took to the capitol and other regions. Until a few weeks before that day, I was warned that the enemy is making a drastic move. He is targeting to eliminate all the founding leaders of this group. Because of that warning, safety measures were put in place. I am a target because, along with Jushiro, Shunsui, Unohana here and some other friends, I helped build this group." Masaki explained.

Ichigo has a strong idea that the lady at the club is a founding member too. He wonders who else. But he asked the question that was plaguing him the most.

"What is this group, mother?" Ichigo inquired. He had heard about the group's purpose from Rukia but he wanted to hear it from his mother. The reason why she chose to have this life style instead of being with her family.

"We protect, son." was her simple answer.

"What are you protecting?" Ichigo looked at the other three elders there. "I am sure it is not just the west people. This is something deeper, isn't? Who is the enemy you keep saying?" Ichigo asked again.

Masaki sighed. She looked at Jushiro and Shunsui who both nodded.

Masaki took a deep breath again and answered Ichigo's last question. "It was/is the Prime Minister, son, Aizen Sosuke."

Ichigo's eyes were so wide with shock. Orihime too. Rukia, Renji and Grimmjow sighed gravely.

"Why are you fighting with the government? The Prime Minister no less?" Ichigo asked in disbelief. His confusion is palpable.

Shunsui cleared his throat and answered Ichigo. "Aizen, Jushiro here and I goes way back until we graduated in college. Just like the five of you, we were childhood friends. But even then, our opinions often clashes with his. During our middle school, the three of us were all accelerated to college but he was always the brightest among us. We were groomed to enter politics. And being the genius that he was, it was not long before he was appointed as Prime Minister. Jushiro here was actually worried with what he will do to the country, because it has not been a secret among the three of us that he wanted power. He had always wanted to be the one on top and believed that there should only be one person to rule the world. Only few years later, Jushiro's worries became prominent. Gradually we noticed the changes he is making are not for the good of all the citizen. His government is not for all. He slowly put the country under his dictatorship. Until now, the economic gap between the poor and the rich is widening. Unreasonable high taxes were imposed, he became known for his brutality and injustice. We haven't the slightest idea how he managed to do all this without him being removed from his post. But that is the least of our worries. As the years goes by, Aizen managed to have two countries to report to him. He was particularly in contact with the neighboring country called Hueco Mundo. That country is small but was known as the place of rebels and great fighters. That alliance worries us a lot. It will not be long before he plans to invade countries again." Shunsui stopped and relaxed in his chair. He signaled Masaki to continue.

Masaki continued. "Speaking of invading countries, as you were all taught in school, almost three decades ago, Sereitie was originally composes of a hundred districts, there was district 81 to 100, but they separated themselves as independent country which we all know now as Rinjin. But what you didn't know was that the separation did not go as peacefully as you think. Battles had to be won in order for Rinjin to claim their independence."

The five friends were all listening attentively, even Rukia, Renji and Grimmjow, this is also their first time hearing this story in detailed.

"Since the districts 81 to 100 are located behind a mountain, separating them from us, not to mention their lands is also rich that they could stand alone, the district representative proposed to the Emperor to be acknowledged as a separate country. Since the two were friends, the Emperor agreed. As a respect to the Emperor, up to now, Rinjin is still acknowledging the Royal family. The Prime Minister did not like this decision so he secretly started his plan to invade them back. I was in my early twenties when his plan was put into action. The reason why we protect the mountain behind our district is not only because of its wealth with natural resources but because it is the shortest way to Rinjin. He launched an attack and wants to pass through the mountain. Thankfully, Rinjin's leader got wind of this plan and prepared for a counterattack. The four of us here..." she nodded to Jushiro, Kyurako, and Unohana "...along with Grimmjow's and Renji's parents, some friends, the soldiers of Rinjin and some civilians of the west especially our district, we fought the government from invading Rinjin. The battlefield was in our district. The battle lasted for hours and hours. A lot of our comrades were killed or wounded. Our forces were almost subdued when we were saved by the arrival of the Emperor who commanded the battle to stop. It couldn't be said that we won the battle."

"That's when I met your mother." Isshin added. "I treated her wounds and she fell in love with me instantly" Isshin said smugly.

Masaki rolled her eyes but continued where Isshin left off. "Your father was just an intern that time, but yes, we fell in love and got married few months after. We purchased a land in the 65th and built our family there." She then looked to Grimmjow and Renji. "Your parent's did the same and we all lived in the 65th. A little over a year later, you three were born, Ichigo being the youngest." Masaki said looking at Grimmjow, Renji and Ichigo.

Grimmjow and Renji were shocked of what they heard. So their parents were friends with their Aunt Masaki and the others, and they have known them.

Both of them did not bother to ask about their parents. Not that they did not care. It was because they had thought no one knows of them. Grimmjow had tried to ask his Uncle Gin about his parents before but every time he asks, his Uncle's face turns paler even more and he always avoided him.

Renji had known that his parents died when he was young and he decided that is all he needed to know. Hearing about them now makes him wants to know more about them.


In the depths of the forest, Rangiku is near the camp when she remember what Yuroichi told her. What did she mean when she said that Jushiro have a weapon to stop this imminent war? What could a sickly man like him do or have? Sure, he have hundreds of them at his back, ready to fight with him, but would they be enough to battle thousands of armies from all over Sereitie? Especially, if the Prime Minister himself is going to head the attack? The people will surely side with him and they will be even more outnumbered.

She sighed. She will know soon enough, Rangiku concluded.


Inside the tenth, where the revelation is taking place.

It was apparent in the young ones faces that they have a lot of questions and was about to ask but Rukia beat them.

"If the Emperor did not approve of this move by Aizen, why didn't he removed him from his post? Aren't the Emperor the one appointing the Prime Minister of this country?" Rukia asked.

All elders there moved their heads, four heads turned away from Rukia, one became worried, one bowed.

Jushiro sighed gravely and raised his head. He answered Rukia's question. "Indeed, His Majesty was furious about Aizen's attempt of invasion and he ordered him to be removed from his post. He was removed only to return after only a couple of years.

Almost two years after the first battle, the Royal palace welcomed a baby princess. The Emperor has just had his first granddaughter. The palace celebrated for months as the Royal Family has been waiting for this addition for a long time. The Emperor couldn't be happier. But because Aizen is a cunning man, an evil one, he kidnapped the princess during her first birthday. He threatened the Emperor to kill his granddaughter if he won't appoint him back. He also asked the emperor not to tell the prince and the princess that he was the one who kidnapped their daughter. The Emperor has no choice but to appoint Aizen as the Prime Minister again. But Aizen is a smart person, he knows that once he return the princess, the emperor will remove him again. Since the Emperor is the only one who knows that he has the child, Aizen killed the Emperor and ordered one of his men to kill the princess." Jushiro finished with a deep sighed. Unohana covertly reached for his hand and squeezed it.

All the people there felt sad for the royal family. The prince who has now become the Emperor became cold and indifference to anyone but his wife. His wife who fell ill. Everyone knows it was because of their child's death. The empress too did not get well. Until now the group know she's still suffering from her sickness.

"What happened next?" Renji asked. He knows the story of his parent's death is coming. He couldn't understand his heart whether he wants to hear his parent's story or not.

It was Masaki who answered. "When we heard about Aizen's reappointment, we regrouped and enforced Rinjin's defenses. We asked some friends to lend their hands and we were surprised when a lot of people joined our group. These were the people who opposes Aizen's dictatorship. They wanted to fight back. That's when we started to help the people who fell victim to Aizen's injustices. We moved in secret. Not even your father knows about this." Masaki said to Ichigo. "Of course, eventually, Aizen got wind of our course and he branded us as enemies of the estate."

"How did you hide this to father? To us?" Ichigo questioned. He himself did not have the slightest idea that her mother has been a part of this heroic movement all this time. How could she have hidden this from them?

"It was not easy, son. I had to trick your father all the time. When I had your sisters, I didn't participate actively anymore. Though Jushiro kept me updated." Masaki explained.

Ichigo wasn't so convinced, but he nodded.

It was Jushiro who continued the story. "As we predicted, Aizen did not take his defeat kindly. Few months after he was appointed again, he launched another attack. This time though, the Emperor knew of this attack. We do not know what lies Aizen told him or maybe the Emperor simply did not care. Ichigo has just turned two years old when the second battle was held.

Although we have predicted and prepared for this attack, Aizen was also prepared, he sent armies twice the number from the first battle. Because of that, we suffered a massive lost. Thankfully though, the Emperor was not very interested in the war, thus did not assist Aizen and lend his own army. The palace, as we still know till now, was still mourning for the death of the baby princess and her grandfather - the late Emperor.

As you may guess, Aizen did not succeed again. We barely won the war but not without tragic lost. We lost both Renji's parents" Jushiro looked at Renji, gravely. "They were very brave, son, they're both fiercely loyal, they fought up to their last breath. They're great people, son. I was there when they had their last breaths, and their last request is to take care of their precious little boy. They asked me to tell you that they love you and that you'll always be in their heart as they know that they will be in yours. The only regret they had was that they will not be able to see you grow. Your hair have the same shade as your father, and he was very proud of it."Jushiro sighed. Breathing is becoming hard for him every second.

Renji bowed his head. His throat felt like something is crawling from it. His eyes heated. What he couldn't give just to have a chance to see them. To hear them say those words themselves. He wished he have the same fate as Ichigo, at least he got to see his mother again. But Renji knows, there's no bringing them back anymore. They're right though, they will always be in his heart.

Rukia reached to Renji from behind Grimmjow. She gripped Renji's arm, telling him he is not alone. Orihime hugged Renji's other arm, showing her support as well. Renji's pain subsided. He is thankful to these people who have become his family. His parents may have left him, but he have these people around him.

Jushiro continued and looked at Grimmjow.. "We lost your mother too. She was a great fighter, just like you, but she have the biggest heart I know. She my look tough on the outside but she didn't tolerate injustice, she didn't want to see people being mistreated. Your father told me that was what made him fall for your mother. He was smitten by her." Jushiro chuckled, remembering how deeply Hiroki was in love with Ayame.

"She was fiercely loyal too and she was the bravest person I know. She died protecting your father. She took the bullet that was intended for your father." Jushiro bowed his head. That event had been a tragic one that he wished he didn't witnessed.

Grimmjow bowed to hide and rearranged his anguish face. After a moment, he then turned to Jushiro and asked through a gritted teeth "was there a third battle? If she protected father, then where is father now?"

"Before the second war, your mother called a friend to take you away from the west, from the battle field. Her friend has a younger sister who was actually Rangiku, and she was the one who took care of you." Jushiro said looking up to the person who arrived in time to hear him tell the stories of the boys' parents.

"I was only Fifteen years old that time." Rangiku added.

Jushiro continued. "After the war, with your mother's death, your father was devastated, he didn't have the will to stay alive anymore. He barely eat unless fed. I knew he needed motivation to stay alive, so I went and fetch you. When he saw you, he got on his feet again and helped taking care of you. Rangiku stayed with you and your father, she took care of you both. Your father was a known writer that time, he tried to avenge your mother thru his writings. He exposed the corruption of Aizen's government, he wrote stories of the people who suffered from his hand, and everything that might bring Aizen down. Eventually it reached the Prime Ministers noticed. One day, while your father and Rangiku were travelling back to the west, half a dozen of soldiers stopped them and requested for your father to come to the capitol, they said he will be questioned there. Rangiku went with him." Jushiro stopped and took a deep breath. He hoped they won't ask questions anymore. Reminiscing his friends is making him even harder to breath. He looked at Rangiku to save him from talking.

Rangiku's face turned grave "We did not reach the capitol, those bastards brought us to their camp in the north. It turned out they were not really soldiers, they were a secret group who answered to Aizen. They deliberately called themselves "Lefters" to hide their connection to the government. We were held prison there for days. They let me watch them tortured Hiroki. They were trying to get answers from him - Where's our camp and who are our members. I witnessed his pain, his every cry. Every day they cut parts of him, his fingers, his ears, when they realized he will not divulge anything, they cut his tongue too." Rangiku's voice trembled badly. "I tried to tell him to give up already. I was gagged but I knew he knows what I am trying to say, but he just looked at me serenely, I knew he's trying to tell me not to worry and that he was giving me time to escape or to at least have them focus on him." Rangiku is now openly crying. Words are barely leaving her throat now. "When they got tired of him, they hanged him, I actually felt glad because I knew his suffering is finally going to end, but before he died, he smiled at me and that's when I realized that he couldn't wait to die, he couldn't wait to be with Ayame again." Rangiku choked a sub.

Grimmjow's anguish was multiplied. His body shook. He could barely contain his rage, the pain and sorrow is unbearable too. He would gladly prefer being beaten to a pulp by a dozen of people than having to feel this pain. He wanted to run from this place and let out his rage. His constricting chest is pleading him to allow it to explode. He stands and was about to do that if not for the small hand that gripped his fingers. He looked down and saw a set of wide purple eyes. His anguish was mirrored in hers. Fat tears are flowing from these eyes he is staring at. Is he crying too? He wonders. He locked his eyes on hers again, he concentrated on how purple they are and he was soon lost in the depths of them. He remembers the reason why his favorite resting place is a small meadow full of lavenders, it's because they are the same shade with these eyes he loves to stare at every time he was given a chance. Then he broadens his sight and he focuses his mind to stare at this unbearably beautiful face. This face has been his haven. Since when? Well, he couldn't remember. That beautiful face moved and went to rest in his chest. Her other hand fisted on his shirt.

After a moment, Grimmjow realized, his rage has calmed down, his pain has become bearable. His body stopped shaking. It was all because of this petite but strong woman hugging him. He realized that he might lose her too. He shook his head. He couldn't even bear the thought of losing this woman. He wrapped his hand on her waist. I will die before Aizen can lay a finger on you, he vowed to his soul.

The elders understands Grimmjow's feeling. They had been avoiding telling them these stories. But they knew it was inevitable actually. The younger ones have to know the full story to understand the real meaning of what they're fighting for.

Ichigo thought he is feeling way too much pain too. He turned his face opposite his two hugging friends. Is he this affected that he couldn't bear to look at them?

Rukia let go of Grimmjow and looked up to him. She sat down again and tugged his hand to sit down as well. Grimmjow sat down but did not let go of Rukia's hand. Rukia too have no intention of letting go of him anytime soon.

Orihime's tears are flowing even more. "Thank heavens they did not kill you too." She said in a relieved voice, looking at Rangiku.

Rangiku looked away. "They were planning to. When Hiroki died, they turned their attention on me. They were having fun with me that I was near to just commit suicide when someone appeared and saved me." She said in a gritted teeth. They did not need to know the extent those animals did to her, that the experience is still haunting her in her sleep, that aside from Grimmjow's parent's death, this was the reason why Gin is doing a dangerous job. She didn't feel any sympathy when Gin had slaughtered them like an animal, because they were worse than animals.

All of them shuddered from what Rangiku told them. They knew she suffered more than she let on.

Orihime took a deep breath and asked "Is there anything I need to know about my parents? My brother just said that they left us. Were they involved in the war?" She asked in a small voice. She hoped her parents left them because of honorable reason too.

None of the elders spoke for a moment.

It was Unohana who finally spoke. "No, dear. They were not involved in the war. But they were affected by Aizen's cruelty too. Your family was settled in the South. Your father owns a sizeable farm from which he cultivates to support his family. You were living peacefully until a new ordinance were put in place, he was asked to pay higher tax and pay all the accumulated taxes of the past years. This resulted him to sell half of his farm. Your father worked hard to support you but his body gave in, he fell ill and died. We assumed that your mother didn't know how to take care of you and your brother that's why she left." Unohana explained.

"Your brother took you and traveled all the way to the west. Jushiro welcomed you and provided you a small dwelling. He sent Sora to school and supported you until Sora took over." Unohana continued.

Orihime nodded. She wished her mother will return to them too, just like Aunt Masaki.

Ichigo asked what has been bugging him."Why did you all chose to continue fighting Aizen? Why are you still fighting him when you have lost so much? Why are you protecting Rinjin?"

Isshin answered. "Son, your mother, Renji's father and Grimmjow's mother are from Rinjin. Your mother is the second child of the Prime Minister of Rinjin.

"You mean to say the old man who was always visiting us is my grandfather?" Ichigo asked. Isshin and Masaki nodded.

"When I faked my death, I asked Jushiro to let you all know that I died, because Aizen might use any of you to come to me. But when I heard that you left West and enrolled yourself to become a soldier, I decided to let your father know of the truth. That's why he went to the academy to take you back but we have under estimated Aizen. He knew I was really alive. He ordered the academy that you will not be contacted and did not allow you to make contact either. He purposely "trained" you to battle us. He use your 'false' vendetta to the Lefters to fight us. But thanks to your friends, they were able to make you listen to us. That is why it is important that nobody from your team knows of your connection to us or he might turn you as a traitor" Masaki told Ichigo.

"That was mostly my third daughter's doing." Isshin said, grinning at Rukia. Rukia's free hand ruffled Ichigo's hair which he swatted.

Shunsui answered Ichigo's other question. "We opposes Aizen because we know his true motives and someone has to stand up to him. He can toy the palace but he cannot deceive us who knows him. The other reason why we chose to fight him are aside from a fact that some of your parents' origin are from Rinjin and aside from having a good relationship with them, is that he had been wanting to mine and destroy the mountain of the 65th, after taking everything he could get from it. Destroying that mountain will cause a lot of consequences because it is where we take the means to protect and help the people as we are not only helping the West people but all the other regions as well. It was also where the water is coming from to help the farmers for their irrigation. Not to mention that mountain is sacred. It is true that the mountain have a lot of natural resources that is why he wants it. We heard that he is planning to secure massive weapons, weapons that could destroy a country with a few attacks only. He needs resources. "

Jushiro picked up "We know that Aizen will never stop until he reclaim Rinjin and that mountain, that is why we can never let our guard down. It's only a matter of time before he attacks again."

"Speaking of that, Gin said he is preparing to attack in three weeks' time and he is coming with full force, whatever that means." Rangiku announced.

All faces there became troubled. The young ones eyes were wide.

"Full force would mean his super elite armies, soldiers, as well as the rebels and Hueco Mundo's force." Shunsui said while scratching his chin. "This is very bad. Three weeks is a short time to prepare. We have to warn Rinjin immediately. We have to assemble the group. If that is all your questions Ichigo then you young ones should take a rest while we discuss things." Shunsui dismissed them.

Rukia, Ichigo, Renji, Grimmjow and Orihime nodded. They stand up and started to leave the tent. Before they left though, they heard Rangiku said "Jushiro, Yoruichi also told me to remind you that you have the weapon that might stop or prevent this war."

All elders there except Jushiro unintentionally looked at Rukia. Jushiro bowed his head.


A/N: I apologize for updating late. I lost my momentum (this is one of the reason why I want to finish my stories fast), I had to read lots of Ichiruki fics, and re-read all my stories reviews before I got excited to write again.

Just a reminder. Please forgive the grammar/spelling mistakes, I tried my best as always. Feel free to point out the mistakes too so I can avoid them.

Back on the story. I was originally planning to write flashbacks but I realized if I do that the story will become long and I cannot commit on a very long story yet (like 20+ chaptered story.) I hope this turned out well for you.

Sooo, I laid down all the cards, only few cards I kept but I'm sure you all know what they are already.

Kudos to those who have guessed the events/secrets right.

Who else cried on Grimmjow's parents' story? I did.

Next chap will be lighter. Some fluffy moments too.

Thank you guys for the reviews, really. Even just a few words could inspire me.