A/N: I just finished outlining the rest of the story. Barring any weirdness and chapters that need to be split into two (of which there were many in the last arc), this whole story should be done by Chapter 54. Yay ^^

Also after further research, Ushu should have gray eyes, not brown. Went back and fixed that. (I was technically correct if we're using the manga as basis for eye color! But then Senbonzakura wouldn't be pink and that would be unacceptable.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. At all.

Chapter 44: Chasing the moon

"Are you serious?" asked Azami, standing in the center of his office and watching as he moved, quickly signing whatever requests needed to be signed and writing clear instructions for his officers to follow. "You're just going to run off and go after her? You expect me to be okay with that?!"

Byakuya ignored her, shuffling through the stack of paperwork and looking for the most urgent requests. There wasn't enough time. He couldn't, in good conscience, leave his Division without leadership but neither could he afford to wait any longer.

"Byakuya!" Azami's hand landed on top of the stack of papers he was looking through, forcing him to stop. "Don't ignore me!"

He didn't want to look at her, because he was afraid of what she might see in his eyes if he did. But he also knew he couldn't keep ignoring her. Not after everything he had already done to dishonor her.

"Please, Azami," he said, meeting her eyes. "This is something I have to do. This is the last thing I will ask you to let me do."

His breath caught on the word 'last', and she noticed. He saw it in the way her expression softened, her expression changing from annoyed to sad. He recognized the look on her face. It was the look of someone who had been hurt before, and was simply bracing herself to be hurt again.

She looked away, slowly lifting her hand from the paperwork as her lips turned down in a frown. "…Very well," she said, turning away from him. "But on one condition."

"Anything," said Byakuya.

"When you return, we're having the wedding," said Azami, already walking to the door. "No delays, no time to change your mind."

He thought of wide brown eyes, dark blond hair, a warm smile. Thought of a hand around his wrist, a soft, but determined voice, a presence at his side as he stood by a grave. He thought of starlit nights, hands in his hair, the crackle of reiatsu and the pride he felt as she stood strong and proud against an enemy. He thought of a white castle, of a robe in his hands slowly fading away. He thought of the rain.

He held all those thoughts in his mind for an instant, then forced himself to let them go. "Fine," he heard himself say as Azami reached the door.

She stopped for an instant, one hand on the doorframe. Azami didn't look back at him, keeping her eyes on the hallway outside his office. She took a deep breath, her fingers curling around the frame.

"Take care of yourself…Byakuya," she said.

Make sure you come back.

The words went unspoken, but he heard them anyway. He heard them as if they were coming from the child he had played with in the past, before they had both grown up, before they had learned bitterness, learned despair.

Life had been unfair to both of them. It still was.

He nodded, unable to say anything more as she turned, leaving the room.

Ichigo stopped him as he was walking down the street, heading back to the Kuchiki Manor and to the Senkaimon there. His sister was with him, along with Kurosaki Karin, Hitsugaya Toshiro, Ankoujin Masaryu, and Yuzu's friend, Iwase Kohaku. Byakuya came to a stop, his eyes fixed on them. It was sunset, the setting sun casting Seireitei's streets in an orange glow and stretching out the shadows that crossed his path.

Byakuya drew to a stop. "Kurosaki Ichigo," he began, the bag of supplies clutched in his hand making him painfully aware that he had no excuse to offer for this. Ichigo's expression told Byakuya that he knew it too.

"Save it, Byakuya," said Ichigo. "I know where you're going, and you're not going without me."

"The soutaicho—," Byakuya began.

"Screw the soutaicho," said Ichigo. "This is my sister."

Byakuya's eyes moved past Ichigo, settling on the woman beside him. Rukia stood straight and tall, her expression resolute as she watched him. She was wearing the gloves he had given her, he noticed, one hand resting on Sode no Shirayuki's sheath and her thumb hooked over the guard. "What about you, Rukia?" he asked, meeting her eyes.

"I'm coming too, nii-sama," she said. "I won't let either of you go alone."

"You're not stopping me," said Kurosaki Karin, folding her arms and giving him a challenging glare. "I'm going too."

"I'm coming as well," said Hitsugaya, with a glance at the woman next to him. The meaning behind it was clear. Where Karin went, he would go.

"And you?" asked Byakuya, glancing at Ankoujin Masaryu.

"Yuzu is a member of my family," the young noble said, looking up at Byakuya. "So this is a matter of honor."

"And I'm not leaving Yuzu-chan behind," said Kohaku, folding her arms. "So if that's settled, let's get moving."

Byakuya looked back at Ichigo, meeting the other man's eyes. Ichigo stared at him, his expression resolute.

He looked away.

"Do as you wish," he said, walking past them. They followed behind him, a somber group.

They were almost to the Kuchiki Manor when the first alarm bells started ringing, coming from the First Division's headquarters in the center of Seireitei. All seven shinigami turned, hands on swords and eyes narrowed as they faced the direction of the ringing bells. Glances were exchanged, the three captains in particular looking at each other.

Byakuya was the first to turn away, his back to the bells as he faced the gates of his Manor. Ichigo looked from him to Karin, who was eyeing the Kuchiki Manor with the same look of resolution.

"Masa," he said, glancing once at his cousin. He turned away, joining Byakuya at the gates. "Iwase."

Masa nodded, tightening his grip on Setsuyoku. He turned away reluctantly, facing the bells. "Kohaku," he said, glancing at the woman next to him.

She nodded, her hand on Ayatori. The two of them flash-stepped away, heading towards the bells. Byakuya watched them go, then looked back at those who were left. Neither Hitsugaya nor Rukia seemed inclined to leave. He didn't dishonor them by questioning their intentions, stepping through the open gates.

They followed him, the group of five moving through the Kuchiki Clan's Senkaimon, and into the Dangai.

Urahara Kisuke was waiting for them outside his shop, his cane in his hands. He didn't seem surprised to see all of them there, the five of them coming to a stop outside his shop as the sliding doors of the Senkaimon closed behind them. Tsukabishi Tessai and Shihouin Yoruichi stood to either side of him, Yoruichi lounging against a pillar with her arms folded. She offered them a smirk, Tessai watching them with his usual unblinking stare.

"Before we begin," said Urahara, a chill wind blowing over the assembled group and heralding the coming of night. "I have to make sure you're resolved. There's a chance the inner world you're going to might collapse while you're in it. If that happens, and you can't escape in time, you will almost certainly die." He smirked, adjusting his grip on his cane. "I don't want it to be said that I didn't warn you."

There was silence. No one spoke, no one asked to leave. Byakuya glanced from left to right and saw that his companions wore the same look of grim determination, the same look that he was certain was mirrored on his face.

Then, Ichigo spoke, straightening up.

"Rukia," he said. "Please go back."

"What?" asked Rukia, her eyes widening. Byakuya's eyes widened as well, both siblings turning towards him. "Ichigo—," she began.

"—Please!" said Ichigo, not looking at her. "There's no reason for both of us to risk this. Not when..."

Rukia bit her lip, glancing down at the ground. Her other arm, the one that wasn't resting on her sword, went up, curling protectively around her abdomen. Byakuya's eyes widened further, and he glanced from Rukia to Ichigo, reaching out with his reiatsu sense. It was difficult to feel, because of all the powerful auras condensed into one space, but he did feel something there.

"Rukia…" he said. "Are you…?"

Rukia didn't look up at him, glancing away. "Yes…nii-sama," she said.

He blinked in surprise, staring at her. "Then you should…" Byakuya cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Then you should certainly stay behind. I agree with Kurosaki Ichigo."

Rukia said nothing, the arm around her stomach tightening. Ichigo turned towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "If it wasn't for that…" he said, "I wouldn't ask you to stay behind. You know that. But I can't…I can't take that risk."

"…I know," said Rukia, taking in a shaky breath. "I get it. I'll stay. But Ichigo—." She looked up at him, her violet eyes wide. "You better come home. Both of you…" Her eyes moved, drifting past Ichigo for a moment to land on him. Ichigo smiled, placing a hand on her head.

"Yeah," he said. "Don't worry. We'll definitely come back."

He removed his hand from Rukia's head, turning to face Urahara. The smile faded from his face, his expression growing determined again as his eyes met the shopkeeper's. Byakuya noticed with a start that Ichigo was now standing at the head of the group, where earlier it had been him. He hadn't even noticed the change in roles, not until his brother-in-law started to speak.

"Urahara-san," he said. "We're ready."

"Very well," said Urahara. He smiled, removing his cane and stepping aside as he gestured at the door. "Right this way."

Rukia followed them down to Urahara's basement. Karin lingered behind Byakuya and Ichigo, glancing back at her sister-in-law. Rukia looked tired, worried, and upset that she couldn't join them, but she didn't argue, lingering behind the group of four and watching them with an expression of grim composure. She couldn't blame Ichigo and Byakuya for making her stay behind. It was perfectly reasonable, given the circumstances. But she did feel for her.

She knew what it was like to be left behind.

Karin squeezed Toshiro's hand, silently promising herself that if they ever had kids, it would be during peacetime. She didn't think she would be able to quietly sit back and let others fight for her, for any reason. She knew now, because Ongetsu had showed her, that the mental conflict would drive her insane.

She looked away from Rukia, turning her attention to Urahara as the shopkeeper moved to the front of the group to address them. He had some kind of device behind him, something that looked vaguely like a metal doorframe, just large enough for one or two people to pass through at once. There was nothing but empty air on the other side of it. He came to a stop in front of this structure, turning towards them.

"Allow me to explain what we know so far," he said. "Somehow, when Aizen used the Hogyoku to dissolve Kyoka Suigetsu, it not only separated her from him without fully destroying her, it literally tore her inner world from his soul. That inner world became a small, functional dimension of its own—the Shattered World. It's from there that Kyoka Suigetsu has been able to move in and out of all three dimensions with impunity."

Urahara paused for a moment, meeting each of their eyes before continuing on. Karin's eyes narrowed as she watched him, her hand slowly slipping free from Toshiro's.

"Despite being a separate dimension, Kyoka Suigetsu's inner world is still an inner world. That means its very existence is tied to that of its zanpakuto spirit. If Kyoka Suigetsu dies, the inner world will collapse." He nodded at Tessai, and the large man moved through the ranks, holding out a silver bracelet to each one of them. Karin picked hers up, and felt something like a spark of static electricity run from her fingertip to the surface of the metal. She frowned, fitting it around her wrist. It tightened as soon as she slipped her hand through it, fitting snugly against her skin. A glance at Ichigo, Byakuya, and Toshiro showed them doing the same, studying the metal charm and flexing their wrists to test movement.

"The charms I'm giving each of you will bind you to this dimension," said Urahara, once all of them had finished. "They can be used to bring you back here from anywhere, at any time. However, I'll warn you that it's a one-way trip. Once you come back here, you can no longer return to the Shattered World. Another thing." His eyes moved over them. "Kurosaki-san doesn't have a charm. Someone will need to be standing with her, physically touching her, in order to bring her back with them. Is that clear?"

Karin nodded, and saw out of the corner of her eye that the others had done the same.

"After Kyoka Suigetsu dies, you will have at most a few seconds to activate the charm before the dimension becomes too unstable," said Urahara. "They don't require an incantation. Simply conscious thought directed towards the device will do. You should also be aware that the physical contact clause doesn't just apply to Kurosaki-san. Anything that has any amount of spiritual pressure touching you will be brought back with you." He smiled. "So be careful what you find. Good so far?"

More nods. Urahara stepped back, moving to the side of the structure behind him. "And finally," he said. "As to how to access the Shattered World. The inner worlds all exist within the souls of their shinigami, on a separate plane of existence. But…as Kurosaki-san illustrated with her Jungetsu, those planes of existence are not as separated as one might assume. To reach Kyoka Suigetsu's inner world, you'll need to move through another zanpakuto's inner world. Ordinarily, you would need to find one with a strong connection to Kyoka Suigetsu. But, as luck would have it, Kurosaki-san already paved the way for us. You should be able to manage with a strong connection to Jungetsu instead."

That gave them pause, and Karin saw Ichigo and Byakuya exchange glances. The captain of the Sixth hesitated, before starting to move forward, one hand tentatively placed on Senbonzakura's hilt. Karin's frown deepened, and she tightened her grip on Ongetsu's sheath, taking a step forward.

"I'll do it," she said. "Ongetsu and Jungetsu are twins. If anyone can find her, On can."

Byakuya stopped moving, his hand falling away from his side. Karin watched him out of the corner of her eye, noticed the way his expression hadn't changed. He wanted to pretend he hadn't been moving, but he had. She had seen him.

Now wasn't the time to wonder about that, though. She turned her attention back to Urahara, noticing that he was now watching her.

"That's what I thought you'd say, Karin-san," he said, smiling. "If you and your zanpakuto are ready, all you need to do is come forward. This doorway should amplify your zanpakuto's unique energy, opening a door to Ongetsu's inner world." His smile changed, becoming more of a smirk as he eyed her from beneath his hat. "Assuming he's in accord, of course."

"Oh, he is," said Karin, her eyes narrowing. "I wouldn't worry about that." She could feel Ongetsu's eagerness even without trying, just by laying a hand on her sword. Like her, Ongetsu was worried about Jungetsu, and like her, Ongetsu would stop at nothing until he found his sister.

Behave, she thought towards it as she drew her sword, its familiar weight settling into her hand. You're about to have company.

I always behave, Karin-chan, said Ongetsu, the spirit smirking at her from the back of her mind. And I do love visitors.

Karin snorted softly, taking a deep breath before pointing her sword at the gateway. "Reveal yourself," she commanded, shadows wrapping around the blade. "Ongetsu."

Ongetsu's form changed, the katana molding and shifting to become the scythe she knew so well. She held the shaft in both hands, pointing it at the open door. Then, at Urahara's direction, she stepped forward, slashing through the air in the center of the empty rectangle in the center of the doorframe.

It felt like cutting through soup. She felt a ripple as she moved her scythe through, a distortion, and then the shadows that surrounded Ongetsu flared up, filling the empty doorway. She felt her reiatsu flood the space, felt a sudden tug from something deep inside her soul into that black rectangle, like she was being called home. She hesitated rather than walk through it, and looked back at the others.

"It's ready," she said to the other three.

"Good luck," Urahara said ominously, stepping away from the door.

Karin took a breath, pulling her scythe to the side of the doorway and allowing the others room to pass. She met each of their eyes in turn as they moved forward, three captains, all watching the door with mixtures of apprehension and determination on their faces.

Byakuya moved through before anyone could stop him, stepping through the gateway and into the nothingness behind. Ichigo went second, one hand on Zangetsu's hilt as he slipped past her and into the door. Toshiro went last. Karin met his eyes as he passed her, felt the strange combination of her reiatsu and whatever it was that made Ongetsu Ongetsu envelop him, and then he was gone.

She followed, pulling the scythe with her as she charged into the black.

Kuchiki Rukia watched as Karin disappeared into the doorway, the blackness seeming to fold in on itself behind her. It shrank, smaller and smaller, until it was gone, and nothing but empty air remained where the four of them had been. Only when the last traces of their reiatsu faded away did she remove her hand from Sode no Shirayuki's hilt, her eyes still fixed on the space where they had been.

Please, everyone, stay safe…she thought, thinking to the four who had just gone and the one that they had gone to save.

And please, come home.

A few minutes later found her sitting on a floor cushion in Urahara's shop, a cup of tea on the table in front of her. She was too distracted by her thoughts to taste it, but it was warm, and for a moment, the warmth was comforting. She pressed her hand to her stomach and told herself that Ichigo had faced greater odds before, and had surmounted them.

Except that she had been with him. Most of the time. In some fashion or another, she had been fighting beside him.

Now, she was forced to let both him, her brother, and the two little girls she had come to think of as sisters fight alone. It left a bad taste in her mouth.

Someone settled into a seat across from her, and Rukia jumped, turning towards the new presence. "Yoruichi-dono!" she said, her eyes widening as they fell on the woman seated cross-legged on the other side of the table. Yoruichi smiled, resting her elbow on her knee and propping her head up in her hand.

"Yo," she said. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"I'm just…" Rukia glanced back towards her unfinished cup of tea. "…worried," she admitted.

More than that, she felt powerless. It had been a long time, almost twenty years, since the last time she had felt powerless. It was like a damp, heavy cloth over her, suffocating her, making it hard to breathe. It was a feeling she thought she had left behind her on Sokyoku Hill, but apparently all it took to bring it back again was the thought of a painful future. Not one in which she was the one who died, but one in which she…and her child, were the only ones that survived.

"About Ichigo?" asked Yoruichi. "Or about Byakuya?"

"Yes." She didn't feel a need to separate them for Yoruichi. In her mind, she felt both fears, and felt them keenly.

"They'll come back," said Yoruichi. "You know, they just want to keep you safe. It's pretty understandable." She gave Rukia a smile, one that Rukia didn't feel able to return. She didn't look at Yoruichi, instead watching the noblewoman out of the corner of her eye, her eyes fixed on the tatami mat beneath her.

"I know…" she said, even if the words hurt to say them. "It would have been irresponsible of me to accompany them in my condition."

"Not just that," said Yoruichi, leaning back and watching her. "I mean, I'm sure, for Ichigo, that's all it is. But have you ever thought exactly what it means to Byakuya-bo to have you here?"

"To nii-sama?" asked Rukia, looking up. "I haven't—."

Her eyes widened as realization struck her, like a bolt of ice into her chest. She was still a Kuchiki. She was still, legally, her brother's heir. If he died—if, gods forbid they both died—she would be—her child would be—

Her and Ichigo's child would be—

Yoruichi smiled, noticing the expression on her face. She placed one hand on the table in front of them, leaning forward. "That Byakuya…" she said. "Looks like he's got some things figured out, at least."

Wetness stung her eyes. It took her a moment to realize that it was tears. Rukia lowered her eyes to the ground, stubbornly refusing to let them fall. She took a sip of her tea, priding herself on the fact that her hand did not shake. If that was what her brother wanted from her, if that was what he was trusting her with now, she wouldn't let him down.

The future of the clan that he loved so much…

"Urahara-san!"

Her eyes widened at the sound of the sliding door slamming open, a voice ringing out through the shop. Rukia stared, turning towards the door as a man moved into the store, dressed in white and blue. He was older than he had been the last time Rukia had seen him, in his mid-thirties now, and the last time she had seen the boy with him, he had been a babe in arms, but there was no mistaking who this was. His eyes fell on her, and they widened sharply as he noticed her there.

"Ishida!" she said.

"—Kuchiki-san!" said Ishida in reply, her expression of surprise mirrored on his face.

A second person rushed through the door, crashing into Ishida's back. He stumbled forward, nearly falling over. The person was a woman, the same age was him, with long orange hair and gray eyes. Those eyes widened as they saw Rukia sitting there.

"Kuchiki-san!" she said.

"O-Orihime…" said Rukia, staring.

The boy shoved at his parents' knees, obviously not pleased with being ignored. He pushed his way between them, poking his head out so that he could see her. "Who's this?" he asked. "Mom? Dad?"

Silence fell, the three of them simply regarding each other.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Well, you said you guys had no problem with Ishihime, so there you go! Uryu and Orihime's son, Ishida Ushu, follows the traditional Ishida naming pattern of taking one kanji from his father and one new one. His given name, Ushu (雨終) is written with the kanji for 'rain', like the 'U' in Uryu, and the kanji for 'end' or 'last'. In other words, Uryu and Orihime named their son 'the end of rain'. Little bit of symbolism there when you consider what rain means in Bleach.

Omake

A lone shinigami stood in the Sixth Division's administrative office, the other seated officers gathered around him. "The captain and the vice-captain are both gone," he said. "That means we have to consider our command structure. Given the circumstances, I, Shiyougi Hideki, will gladly take command as acting captain of the Sixth!" He turned, striking a pose and jabbing at his chest with his thumb.

"Nope," said Nagai, the seventh seat, his arms folded.

"No way," said Rikichi, shaking his head.

"Denied," said Shirogane Mihane, adjusting her glasses.

Shiyougi's face fell, and he turned towards them, eyes wide. "But—but guys!" he said. "This is my chance to prove myself as a good leader!"

"We said no," said Shirogane, walking out of the room.

Nagai nodded, following her out. "The squad's been through enough upheaval as it is," he said.

"Sorry, Shiyougi-san," said Rikichi. "But you're just not ready." He sighed wistfully, his expression growing distant. "Maybe Abarai-taicho would be willing to pitch in again…"

"A-A-Abarai?!" asked Shiyougi, indignant. "I am the highest ranking officer!"

"We'll put it to a vote then," said Shirogane. "Let the division members decide."

"I've been third seat since before Abarai-taicho and Kurosaki-fukutaicho were vice-captains! Shirogane-san, I remember your dad!"

"A vote," said Shirogane, firmly.

"Fine!" said Shiyougi. "A vote! But you'll see. They'll pick me."

"If you say so, Shiyougi-san," said Shirogane, following the others out the door. "If you say so."