Hey! So I decided to go with option 1 (majority rules guys lol) and I will explain it all right here. Btw if you can, plz do the poll I'm hosting on my profile ^.^
Ok so the setting is right after the war, when Ichigo is lying on the floor and Rukia was freaking in chapter one. So its pretty much ranging from:
Ch 1 - Ch 3: days after the war
Ch 4 - Ch 5: weeks after the war
Ch 6: months after the war
Ch 7: huge flashback, figure out the meaning for yourself ;)
Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 11 - months after the war
So there is your time setting! So here is the deal with most of the characters (with there random appearance and disappearances)
Ichigo - Constant presence, hurt in the final round during the war. In recovery. Rukia leaves, he is crushed. Goes on forgotten task to Central 46 chamber, gets whacked in flood. A few months later, he starts getting chronic headaches (don't worry they make a comeback along with an explanation XD) and has a moment during a captain's meeting (becomes captain of Squad 14 over the months after the flood). He senses Rukia's spiritual pressure when she decides to return [or is it a decision] and they reunite. Ichigo and Renji (still a lieutenant) are sent on a mission to discover the mysterious disappearances of the Gotei 13 squad members and encounter a hollow-like creature. Ichigo's injuries ranged from his back, deep and bloody, to his abdomen (same deal). He wakes up in Urahara's shop and figures out he is a quadriplegic after spinal damage. He contemplates what life has to offer him and asks Renji to help him. He is afraid to tell Rukia what is really going on, because he fears she can't handle the truth…but will the lies be the end? :)
Rukia - Secondary character (I guess). Only disappears for a few chapters. She believes that she can't protect him and leaves. She then returns, out of her own will (?) and reunites with Ichigo in the Seireitei. They did a little something :) on one night and there is a little something later in the story XD So then she disappears for a while, and that's it.
Renji - Even less of an appearance, pretty much participating in a fight is his main role. Otherwise he just pisses Ichigo off XD But he respects Ichigo ;)
Urahara - Hardly any appearances, just helping Ichigo recover and figure out what's going on
So the plot line so far is explained along with the characters so because Ichigo is hurt for the (insert high number here) time, Rukia wants to be the one to protect him instead of him protecting her and getting hurt for it. But she realizes that she isn't doing him any good if she leaves and then you will figure out the rest during the story.
Review if you want any more info! (I think I missed some things) but hopefully this gets you all up to date!