Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters, but I do own this story.

Author's note: Some names and incidences occur in AFTER THE FALL 2.

JOURNEY

Once more the Blade Falls

Somewhere in the 78 District

"What are you doing here?" Kuukaku asked without looking up.

"Can't I visit anymore?" the man said a smile on his face.

"I thought you were done with this dimension." Kuukaku said as she began to walk towards a strange building with a large cannon protruding from its roof.

The man caught up to her his black spiky hair barely hiding the large lump Kuukaku had given him, "Eh, don't get mad at me, it's that idiot Isshin and his damn son."

Kuukaku stopped and raised an eyebrow, "Have you spoken with any of them?"

"Me and Ichigo may have had a chat," the man said smiling, "He's quite good, he probably will be stronger than Isshin in a year's time, maybe sooner."

Kuukaku turned to stare at the man, a vein throbbing on her temple, "And what did you two discuss?"

"Nothing really, I kinda just asked him a question." The man said smiling back at Kuukaku.

"About?"

"Well it was one of those rhetorical questions; you know the kind that doesn't need an answer, kinda just to get him thinking." Kuukaku swung a fist at the man who barely ducked the strike, "Damn it, that would have broken.. AHHHH, damn Kuukaku that hurts." The man screamed as Kuukaku's foot connected with the man's stomach.

"Damn it, do you want the whole of the Gotei 13 down on him!" Kuukaku shouted, "Do you think they'll just let him leave?"

The man smiled, "You could always lend him a helping hand you know."

"I hate this family," Kuukaku said as she sat down on a step.

"I know why Ichigo didn't get any of his mother's abilities (I mean inheriting Isshin's hollow side and all), but what about Karin?"

"Stupid, it's obvious, it's because of…." Kuukaku broke off as Ganju came out of the building.

Ganju stopped his eyes flying open wide. He couldn't move, he could barely breath, he just starred at the man who smiled back at him. Ganju spoke softly his voice cracking, "Ka, Ka, Ka….."

Sokyoku Hill

Ichigo stood on the barren cliff side and starred off into the sky.

Ichigo slowly woke up. He felt the cool healing water of the training ground's spring breath energy back into his battered body. Slowly his eyes opened, "Yo, Ichigo." The man waved at him, "You know I don't really see the resemblance."

"What are you doing here?"

"Nothing much just wanted to," the man scratched his head, "Just wanted to say hi."

"I thought you were dead."

The man laughed, "Ichigo, you were sliced open, had all your bones cracked, got your soul sleep and chain link cut (by Byakuya no less, what a wimp), and got a hole punched through your neck, stomach, and back, and you didn't die. Do you really think a member of the Shiba Clan would die, that easily to a minor stab through the stomach?"

Ichigo stood up, "Are we related?"

The man smiled, "You tell me."

"What do you want?"

"Just to ask a question."

"What."

"Are you truly ready to be shackled to these shinigami bastards? Or are you still curious about why your reiatsu is so close to an Arrankar's." The man stood up and began to walk away waving his hand, "Oh, one more thing, do you even remember what or how for that matter you got the Demon blade Pinyin Si," The man eyed Ichigo, " anyway be seeing you Ichigo, best not to let Rukia know you saw me, ya." With that the man was gone leaving Ichigo starring at nothing.

"Ichi," Karin's voice brought Ichigo back to reality, "Ichi…" Karin said her breath coming out in gasp. Ichigo went to her and then he felt it, the reiatsu of the Captain's of the Gotei 13.

"Karin can you breath?" Ichigo asked.

"Ya, it's kinda hard." Karin said a weak smile on her face.

"Rukia take Karin and run."

"No," Rukia said.

"Damn it Rukia, please take her some place…" Ichigo stopped talking in mid sentence as he turned and saw the 9 remaining Captains appear on the cliff, followed by none other than the Captain-Commander.

"Ichigo," Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, "I have things that I need to discuss with you."

Somewhere in Soul Society

"Kuukaku, do you want me to come with you?" Ganju asked a little nervously.

"No, you would just get in the way," Kuukaku said with a snort.

"But you'll be all alone," Ganju said.

"Nah that bitch Yoruichi is coming." Kuukaku smiled and then disappeared.

Sokyoku Hill

"I'm sorry Captain-Commander Yamamoto I can't stay." Ichigo said.

"Unacceptable!" Yamamoto shouted as a burst of his reiatsu forced Ichigo back, "You are too dangerous to be left to your own means."

"So, if I say no will I be thrown into the Maggots Nest?" Ichigo said.

"No, you will be executed," Byakuya said his face free of emotion.

"Nii-sama," Rukia whispered.

"Just like the Vizard huh," Ichigo said his amber eyes turning a blackish gold, "My faithful service rewarded by slavery or death."

Yamamoto opened his eyes and starred right into Ichigo's ones. Ichigo stumbled under the weight of Yamamoto's stare, "Do, not speak of things you know nothing about, boy."

Ichigo smiled insanely, "Rukia get my sister out of here," he spoke softly, "Things are going to get rough.

Rukia grabbed Karin and dove off the cliff, "Will you continue to cause my sister to betray her duty?" Byakuya drew his zanpaktou, "Bankai, Senkei Senbonzakura Kageyoshi…"

I know this one's kinda short, but I gotta lot of dogs in the fire right now and I kinda wanna keep the suspense. Review, Review