So this is my first bleach story and i really hope you like it cuz i haven't been writing that much so im a little rusty. This storyis basicaly about how all of Ichigo's friends cope with his 'death' and how he is still there to save them. If you have any questions about what actually happened two years ago i will try to answer them in this chapter or he next. This is also about ten years after the fullbring arc so things are very different. Please review cuz its nice to know that people are acutally liking this. ;) thanks for the reviews I really apprectiate them!

Rukia stepped through the senkaimon into the underground trainging room of Urahara Shoten. Beside her stood Renji, wearing his captains robe. It had been almost eight years since he had been promoted to third company, the same time she had agreed to go on a date with him. They had been a couple ever since and had many happy moments whether with or without friends beside them. She remembered the other two who had been promoted to captain along with Renji.

Shuhei Hisagi was now captain of ninth company after achiving bankai and passing the test with outstanding marks. His assistant captain was a nice kid who did what was asked of him and never seemed to leave Hisagi's side. Rukia had met him at a meeting and he was polite and showed respect to his peers, though it could also have been the fact that she was a noble but oh well. Shuhei had changed alot in the last ten years after the war against Aizen, but who hadn't? He was more solemn and didn't drink as much as before, but he still kept up the magazine business and it always brought a laugh or two to Rukia.

Both posistions of commanding officer had been filled with no effort to finding replacements, except for fifth division. Momo was tramatized by the war against her former captain and nobody wanted to place her in that position. The Captain Commander held tryouts but nobody even bothered to show, all to afraid and not wanting anything to do with the 'cursed' division as some called it. So Captain Yamamoto turned to a last resort-

"Ms. Kuchiki! Mr. Abarai! How wonderful to see you to again after so many years!" Kisuke Urahara waved his fan as he greeted his new guest, only to have Renji scowl at him.

"Kisuke how many times have I told you to call me Captain! It's been, like, eight years and you're still as annoying as ever."

Urahara chuckled under his hat, same old mucher. "Well I believe I have also told you that I am not under Soul Society law so you can't tell me what to do Mr. Mucher." he said in a very 'duh' kind of term. Renji fumed at the man as he called him by the name he absolutly could NOT comprehend. Rukia placed her hand on his arm as a warning that he better settle down or there would be hell to pay. Dispite he being a captain and her supirior, she could still make his life a living nightmare.

She tuned from her boyfriend to the shop keeper, "Urahara, when will the others arrive?"

"Oh, I think that they should be here very soon. They wouldn't want to miss this after all." Renji stopped his fuming and put on a serious face.

"Will you be joining this year? You and Yoruichi weren't there last year and I think he would appreciate one of his former mentors being there for him."

Ouch, Urahara thought, Just had to play that card didn't he? "No, I won't be going but I believe Yoruichi wanted to accompany you and possibly stay in Soul Society for the next few days. She should be here any second now."

At the man's last words a dark skinned woman appeared beside them, though even Rukia and Renji were used to her sudden entrences now. Rukia bowed at the lady,

"Lady Yoruichi. It is a pleasure to see you again."

Yoruichi smiled at the smaller woman, "You too Rukia, but call me be my name at least. Yeesh, you nobles and your formalities." Rukia nodded but in her mind she was still required to acknowledge her as either Lady or Ms. Probably because of her brother and his noble rules.

Renji nodded his head, "Yoruichi, a pleasure as always." Then looked back at Urahara, "So are they here yet or what?"

Kisuke looked at Yoruichi, "Yes they are upstaires. Chad, Uryu, Tatsuki, and Orihime. So if you would re-open the senkaimon I will go fetch them." And she dissapeared once again.

Rukia looked at Renji, angry with his ignorence towards the older woman. "Very nice Renji. You didn't have to be so rude."

"What! I was not! I'm just eager to get this whole stupid day over with!" And with that he turned and walked behind a large boulder. Rukia followed him with her eyes as he sluped down behind the rock. He was like this ever year. Ever since Ichigo had left Renji had been more uptight then ever. Of course the lost had been hard on everyone, everyone in Soul Society and in the real world had suffered greatly.

A voice calling her name brought Rukia back to reality. Orihime was running at her waving her arms as she called her name. Behind her was Chad, Uryu, Tatsuki and Yoruichi.

"Rukia!"

"Hey Orihime." she replied with a hug to the long haired woman. "How have you been?"

"Oh, you know it's been good. I got a promotion at the flourist and now I'm the new manager."

"Wow that's great! Have have the rest of you been?"

Uryu pushed up his glasses, "Not bad though nothing reletivly new."

Tatsuki held up the metal that hung from around her neck, "You are looking at the new gold metalest for female karate!"

Chad mearly shruged, "The book store is putting in a new section for fiction."

Rukia nodded. None of them had changed much over the years, besides being taller and more matured then from when they were sixteen. Orihime still had her flower pins and had grown her hair longer so that it now reached her tailbone, and she wore a white skirt and rose red blouse. She also carried a small woven basket Tatsuki was completly opposite as she kept her hair short and spiky and wore ripped jeans, sneakers and a black T-shirt. The only thing that stood out was the small charm she wore around her wrist. It was a skull that seemed to be on fire with ruby eyes, her last birthday present from Ichigo. Chad was wearing his usual hawian pattern shirt and jeans, but he had got a hair cut, though it didn't look any different. Rukia also caught sight of some more tatooes on his arms but could get a good enough look at them. Uryu was wearing his usual white clothes of the Quinceies, nothing changed.

"So when are we leaving? I though it started at noon." Uryu asked as if he was already getting impatient.

"We leave as soon as Renji gets off his butt and opens the senkaimon!" She yelled loudly in direction of the boulder he was behind.

"Finally! I thought you guys would never get here." Renji said from behind her, causing Rukia to jump. She then slapped him.

XXXX

Twenty minutes later Renji placed his sword in the air infront of him and with some added spiritual energy, opended the senkaimon that lead to Soul Society. The red head stepped through followed by Rukia and the others, Yoruichi bringing up the rear.

"Yoruichi!" Kisuke called before she entered the gate. She turned and the old shop keeper smiled at her, "Give Mr. Kurosaki my regards please."

The dark woman smiled back at him, "Of couse I will." And she dissapeared as the gates closed.