Renji walked along the training ground. He could see all Divisions' members were traning hardly. Except the liuetenants, all Divisions' members were traning with their Captains. The liuetenants were training together. But not for the 6th fuku-taichou. Renji had been sent to train with Urahara in the living world.

Renji saw his taichou walking to the training ground.

"Good morning, Kuchiki-taichou," he greeted.

"Abarai-kun, Good morning…" replied Kuchiki Byakuya. "Abarai-fuku-taichou, I want you to go to the living world and tell Ichigo that we need his help" Kuchiki Byakuya said.

"I thought it was Rukia's job?" they had decided that Rukia was going to tell Ichigo since she knew him and Karakura better than anyone else.

"She didn't feel really well today… So I want yu to replace her today" the dark haired shinigami said.

Renji nodded. "Okay…I'm on my way to living world since they had assigned me to train with Urahara-san. Ja!" the red-haired shinigami said and ran towards the Gate which connected to the living world.

Byakuya looked at his fuku-taichou running across the training ground. He didn't want Rukia to tell Ichigo. It wasn't a perfect time for her to see Ichigo.

Ichigo was already awoke but he was too lazy to open his eyes. His mind had flew away. It was summer holiday. A year before, he didn't go anywhere for summer holiday, but went to Urahara's for training and went to Soul Society to save Rukia. If he could see her again, he didn't care if he had to train and go to Soul Society again.

"Oi, until what time are you going to sleep?" someone said. The voice seemed to be very near him and very familiar. He opened his eyes and… saw Renji was on him.

"What are you doing on top of me?" Ichigo shouted and at the same time tried to kick Renji off him. But the red-haired shinigami managed to avoid it and he jumped away from Ichigo.

"What are you doing in my room?" Ichigo asked Renji. They hadn't met for a year already.

"I got something to tell you…a request, and I really hoped that you will accept this request" Renji said. His voice was flat.

"And it is?"

"Do you remember last year when you saved Rukia, Aizen betrayed us? Back at that time, Aizen said that he was going to attack Soul Society three years after. But recently we heard a rumor saying that Aizen was going to attack us this year. We investigated it and it is true. Aizen is going to attack Soul Society this summer. He even sent us message about it" Renji said.

"So it means war, right?" Ichigo asked. Renji nodded. Ichigo took a deep breath. He will have the oppurtunity to meet Rukia but with Aizen going to attack Soul Society, he didn't know. Kurosaki Ichigo didn't know what he felt. Happy? Worried? Aizen is a strong shinigami. He probably much stronger now and how can Kurosaki Ichigo to defeat him?

"Okay. So does it means that I need to train with Urahara-san?"

"Yup. But not only you, I'm too going to train with him" Renji replied.

"Well, what can I say? I'd to help you guys after what happened last year" Ichigo said as he got on his feet. He looked to the road through his bedroom window. Ichigo chuckled. 'Like I know that I wasn't going to be around this summer. Just like last year…' he said to himself.

"Alright then. I'd to be back in Soul Society and meet you in couple of days" he said as he jumped through the window and he almost knocked Ichigo. "Renji!" Ichigo shouted as he looked the red-haired Shinigami shunpo-ed. "Sorry!" Renji replied as he dissaperead from Ichigo's sight.

Ichigo took another deep breath and turned around. He then showered,brushed his teeth and made his bed. He went downstairs and had his breakfast with his family. It wasn't like the normal breakfast they used to have. It was so quiet and Ichigo realised that his family's members were sorrow.

He tried to think about something to cheer them up. But nothing came up in his mind. After breakfast, he hurried upstairs to finish his homework before the training with Urahara starts. He took out his textbooks and excersice books. When he began to write on the exercise book, he noticed something was missing. The picture of Rukia and him.

Ichigo checked under his books, pencil case and other things on his table, trying to find the precious picture. Where did he kept that special picture? He remembered. Ichigo picked his pillow and there was it. The picture was kept firmly under his pillow. He took and brought it to his study table.

Then he wrote something on the back of the photo. 'With Rukia Sakura Garden…' he stopped. Seconds later, he wrote something at the edge of the photo, 'ichiruki'. Ichigo smiled. He was happy. Ichigo put the picture on the upper side of the table. He, then, continued back doing his homework. He couldn't wait to meet Rukia and tell her about his feeling.

Rukia opened her eyes. Her body still feel weak; from the long sleep and the fever. She looked at the clock. It was almost noon. 'Am I that sick?' she asked herself. She needed to be in her Division office and go for training with other fuku-taichous.

She stood up but not for long. She sat after couple of seconds standing. Her legs were still weak and couldn't support her body weight. Her vision began to blur. A minute later, she stood up again. This time, her legs were strong enough. She went to the bathroom and had a very nice warm bath. The bath had made her body stronger.

After the bath, she wore her usual black Shinigami clothes. Her Zanpaktou was placed beside her. Kuchiki Rukia went downstairs to fill her stomach with something after almost two days. Kumiko Ami, the mansion servant, was preparing meal for Rukia. Byakuya had said to the servant that Rukia will awake around noon and he was right.

"Kuchiki Rukia-sama…" Kumiko Ami bowed. Rukia gave a slight bowe. "I prepared some porridge and Kuchiki Byakuya- sama wanted you to eat this medicine before you go for work" she gave Rukia a red pill. Rukia took and swallowed it. It tasted hard and bitter.

"Here is your porridge, Kuchiki-sama" Kumiko Ami placed a bowl of warm porridge in front of Rukia. "Thanks" said Rukia. The servant bowed again and disappeared in the kitchen.

Rukia took a spoon of the porridge. She swallowed the bitter taste of porridge. After few spoons, the porridge started to taste real good. Soon, Rukia managed to eat a bowl of porridge. She washed the dishes and went to the office Division.

On her way to the 13th Office Division, Rukia met her brother. Kuchiki Byakuya was sweating all over.

"Hey Rukia, feeling okay already?" Kuchiki Byakuya asked.

"Yes. I was on my way to the head quaters…and I'm going to the living world to tell him that we need his help" Rukia said.

"No… You don't have too. I already asked Renji to do it for you" Byakuya replied.

"Oh. Alright then. Thanks Nii-sama" Rukia said even though she really wanted to tell him.

Byakuya nodded. "I've to go back to my office. Anything happen, I'll be in the training ground after two" Byakuya said and he walked away from his sister.

"Okay" Rukia replied. She then went to her office.

After that, she went to the training ground where all the fuku-taichous were training. Rukia was partnered with Kira Izuru, the 3rd Division fuku-taichou. Both where quite powerfull.

All the shinigami on the training ground trained until late evening. They kept changing partner and all of them were training as hard as they could. They need to protect Soul Society and at least wounded Aizen…or they will die.