Tite Kubo owns "Bleach", and all of that stuff. However, the plot is mine.
With appreciable haste, even on the part of Kuchiki Byakuya, both Byakuya and Ukitake hurriedly ordered the Senkai gates to open. "I'll go through and find out what happened. Somehow, whatever Ichigo felt going on in the real world has caused something to his soul." Rukia tersely stated, as she dashed through the opened gates.
Byakuya finally regained his icy indifference and regal poise, and nodded gracefully. Ukitake, unnerved by the events, and rather concerned, called out to her. "Contact the Tenth Division members that are still in the real world if you need backup. I'll arrange for a team to follow you if needed, as soon as possible." Even as he finished his sentence, the gate began to flux and waver out, closing as the shinigami passed through and reached the living world. "What did happen, I wonder."
"We will find out soon enough, I presume. But, why should we in Soul Society even care?" Byakuya placidly responded.
Ukitake simply answered. "Soul Society owes him a great debt. More than that, we will need all the help we can find for the future, and that future likewise is intricately intertwined with the Real World. Don't you express any interest ever?" He asked in slight exasperation at the still stoic captain.
Turning and leisurely walking away, Byakuya answered without the slightest change in inflection. "Of course I do." And, he left. In his mind, he silently pondered the orange-haired brat's predicament and the mysterious events that had transpired, and also forced himself to reflect on and acknowledge the assistance that the brat had made.
Rukia tried to push all speculations to the back of her mind as she dashed at full speed through the passage between worlds. 'What happened to Ichigo?' What had he sensed before our return to Sereitei?' 'Is he alive?' Within moments, the portal in the living world opened, and she jumped out, all senses searching for any particular signs or disturbances. She felt nothing unusual. The light continued to shine, though somewhat wanly as sunset and the evening began to approach. Without any signs to follow up, she was at a loss as for what to do. 'Do I just wander around, looking for clues? I really have no idea as to what I should be looking for.'
"Kuchiki-san!" Rukia looked down in surprise to see Inoue calling up to her, with Ishida and Chad standing beside her. "Did you feel Kurosaki-kun's reiatsu disappear as well?" She questioned worriedly as Rukia jumped down in front of them. "Do you know what happened to him?"
Rukia paused, realizing that many people somehow must have felt Ichigo's disappearance to some extent. "No, I have as little idea as you do. We were in Soul Society, fighting hollows, when Ichigo felt that something for wrong in the Real World. We headed back to Sereitei and were trying to open the Senkai gates when his spirit form just vanished."
Ishida looked grim. Pushing his glasses back up, he posed the terrible scenario. "What happened if Ichigo died?" Everyone looked taken aback, even Chad stepped back and his eyes widened in alarm.
"Ichigo is strong." "Kurosaki-kun wouldn't just give up in any situation!" Chad and Inoue protested. The thought of Kurosaki Ichigo, Substitute Shinigami, Captain level in strength, dying, seemed wrong and impossible.
"That is impossible." Rukia tried to argue.
"Really? And why is that?"
"He was standing next to me, in spirit form. And he just disappeared, we weren't even fighting or anything." She explained in frustration. "We just don't know anything that happened!" Aggravated, she jumped back into the sky and began to run away, calling back to them. "I'm going to go search."
Inoue, Chad, and Ishida stood for a moment, wondering what to do next, when Chad spoke up. "I think that we should search too. Maybe, we will find something." And he too, left, heading out. Inoue nodded as well, and she and Ishida split up to search for any clues or information.
Rukia flash-stepped quickly around Karakura town, pausing at intervals to search briefly glimpse for any traces of Ichigo or his spiritual presence. But, she was disappointed to find nothing at all. Finally, she decided to head back to Ichigo's house and see if he was there, even though it seemed unlikely that she would find any clues at such a normal place. With a burst of speed, she flash-stepped to the Kurosaki Family Clinic and Ichigo's house. 'Why are there so many ambulances here?' She wondered as a mounting sense of horror washed over here.
Slowly, she picked her way through the paramedics and officers still on scene, nervously watching the news reporters standing outside. "Standing here, we should pay our respects to the Kurosaki family. Many other families are greatly indebted to their son, who heroically saved so many today." She overheard one of the reporters gravely speak into the camera.
"No, that must be a lie. Kon wouldn't get Ichigo's body killed. Besides, how would this affect Ichigo's spirit form? This doesn't add up." She shook her head angrily and in frustration, as tears, both sad and upset, spilled down her face.
Suddenly, a reporter came out of the house and began speaking loudly to the camera. "Breaking news!" He looked gravely at the camera and paused. "We should convey our deepest apologies and well-wishes to the Kurosaki family in their time of trial and pain. We regret to inform you that the young hero who helped save over fifty people from a terrible accident today has just passed away. Let us all pause for a moment of silence in remembrance of Kurosaki Ichigo and his heroic courage and sacrifice." Rukia's eyes widened in shock, and her tears began to pour at all the more. After a moment, the reporter continued. "We will present a number of segments covering the nature of the accident and Kurosaki-san's role later today, as we continue to investigate…"
Rukia ran into the clinic, searching for Ichigo. With iron control, she dried her tears and forcefully began to rein in her emotions. 'This was just Kon, in Ichigo's body. Ichigo is probably fine, though I should give Kon a soul burial. I think.' She almost started laughing hysterically, before her cut herself off. 'I will be calm. I am a shinigami. Death is a part of life.' Forcefully, she began to repeat that to herself, trying her hardest not to remember her mother and father and sister from so many lifetimes ago, or Kaien from her early days as a shinigami, or her childhood friends from Rukongai.
Pausing, she heard sobbing and crying from the recovery room ahead. "Dad, Karin-chan." Yuzu cried, holding onto them. Karin hugged her back, holding her tightly, as Isshin wrapped both of them up in a firm hug. "Is Ichi-nii really dead?" A sharp pain cut at Rukia's chest. She stepped into the room, steeling herself for the worst.
And there, lying on the bed, in pristine white marred only by flecks of rich, red blood, lay Ichigo. Rukia furiously shook her head. 'It is just a body, a hollow shell. But… The face, so calm and tranquil, the body so relaxed in repose…' Stepping closer, she wondered where Kon's soul had gone. She had wanted to reassure him that they would meet again at soul society, before giving him a soul burial. Stepping still closer, Rukia walked up to and approached the body, gently and sadly touching a cold and lifeless hand.
"Hey! Who are you?" Karin growled out, angered that someone could be so insensitive in intruding on a grieving and wounded family. "Show some respect and get out!" She let go of Yuzu to advance, somewhat menacingly, towards this intruder.
"Karin, and Yuzu, and Isshin. They must all be so upset by… his death." Rukia muttered quietly, though all three of them heard. She ignored Karin, thinking that she was addressing someone else.
"Wait… Rukia-neesan? What are you doing here?" Karin stepped back in curiosity and in fear. "Why do you have a sword, and why are dressed like that?"
Rukia started in surprise, as she stared at Karin. "You can see me?" She glanced over at the oblivious Isshin and the surprised but slightly confused Yuzu.
"Of course, it's not like you're a ghost or anything…" She trailed off in confusion, as she realized that Isshin apparently could not see her. "Yuzu, you can see Rukia, right?" Yuzu shook her head in negation. Karin shrank back, again frightened. "So, you're dead, a ghost?" She whispered with a feeling of betrayal.
Trying to reassure her, Rukia tried to step closer, but Karin just stepped away. Sighing, Rukia tried to explain. "I am a shinigami, a guide for spirits to travel to Soul Society after death and a defender of innocent souls from the attacks of hollows."
Readying a note pad, Rukia prepared to explain about hollows and pluses with fully drawings and everything, but Karin shook her head. "I think I understand that." Her voice shook a little at the memory. "I can see ghosts too. And, I saw hollows before. Chad saved me that time."
"Okay." Rukia nodded. "Your brother is a substitute shinigami, because he somehow awakened his shinigami powers. I stayed to help train and teach him. That's the basic story." She had simplified the story, not wanting to have to explain all of the messy details that had so complicated the situation. Though, from the glint in Karin's eyes, she knew that one day she would have to explain the full story.
Yuzu broke into the conversation. "Ah, Rukia-neechan." She spoke at Rukia somewhat hesitatingly, not being able to exactly make out the details of the blur. "Are you here to guide Ichigo to heaven then?"
"Actually, no." Rukia's soft voice caught a little. "Ichigo was with me in Soul Society, when he just disappeared. I think that it was probably the same time as Kon in Ichigo's body died." She explained gently, with feeling. "I was investigating why that is so right now." Her pale violet eyes widened belatedly at the extent of the information she had accidentally revealed so easily to Ichigo's family.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, for her, the family understood fairly well, though they did seem to be a little confused about the mention of some Kon person. Yuzu just sort of nodded, understanding the deceptively rough exterior that Ichigo presented and the kind heart beneath it all, and his strong dedication to helping others. Isshin remained oblivious to the entire setting, and merely sat quietly to the side. Karin was the only one to respond. "Okay. I understand. I've even seen Ichi-nii in his shinigami form, I think. So, do you know what happened then, Rukia-neechan?" She pleaded, hoping that Ichigo might just be alive still.
Tears pooled, unshed, in Rukia's eyes at the understanding of the Kurosaki family, at their continued hope in Ichigo's safety, and at their love for the young son and the older brother. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I haven't found anything yet. Everything just seems like he disappeared, vanished completely." Wincing, she paused at the worried expressions on Yuzu and Karin's faces. "But, I'll continue looking; don't worry about that. I will let you know as soon as I find something. Okay?" Gently, she smiled encouragingly at them, as she pushed back her tears.
"Okay, Rukia-neechan." Yuzu answered, hope and trust, in both Rukia and in Ichigo, glimmering in her eyes. Though, for a moment, her face dimmed. "Oh, and, that Kon person, in Ichigo's body, said to say sorry to Ichigo."
With a laugh, somewhat sorrowfully, but at the same time truly mirthful, Rukia responded kindly. "Of course. But don't worry. It's because Ichigo always tells Kon to be careful when leaving him with his body. He'll understand; he too is a hero. It's the spirit that matters. Ichigo will be fine." Her voice trailed off slightly in the middle, before coming out with a strong promise at the end. "When I bring him back, in whatever form, I'll tell you the whole story, okay? About, how to rescued me, and saved Soul Society."
Rukia marveled at Yuzu and Karin's heartened faces, and smiled in relief and cheer. She walked over, and hugged both of them tightly, and they melted into her embrace happily. As she left, both of them waved goodbye to her and she headed out to continue searching. "We'll be waiting for you then, Rukia-neesan!" She jumped straight up, to perch atop a telephone pole as she contemplated the next course of action.
'Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe the clues I'm looking for are in the Spirit World after all. First, I'll check with the other Inoue and Chad and Ishida before heading back.'
As Rukia thought about where else to look and continued flash-stepping through Karakura town, a deep voice broke into her thoughts. "Kuchiki-san, it is truly a pleasure to finally meet you."