Chapter Five

Awake…

Ichigo opened his eyes and focused on the inside of his room.

"So you're awake," Kurosaki Isshin announced. Isshin sat at the desk leaning back in the chair.

Ichigo was grateful his father didn't try some stupid sneak attack. He still felt pretty awful as he sat up in his bed.

"Yeah I'm awake. Where is everybody?"

"What's with that smile it's creepy," Isshin said.

"Shut up," he sat up and kicked his legs out from under the covers.

"Whoa before you try to walk steady yourself geese," Isshin said supporting his son who teetered towards the right as he stood up.

"How long was I out?"

"Almost a week," Isshin said letting go of Ichigo.

Ichigo started walking towards the door.

"Wait a second," Isshin laughed and handed Ichigo a robe.

Ichigo glared at his father but put on the robe and headed for the spare room where he felt Rukia's spiritual pressure. There were others there now. It all happened so quickly. He glanced back at his father confused.

"They are keeping everyone away. Even Orihime couldn't come heal the two of you. Whatever they are up to is big. Captain Unohana Retsu treated you at the field where you fell saying they wanted you recover on your own," Isshin said.

"Why didn't you say something earlier," Ichigo asked as he shuffled towards the door, "Who's they."

"They were a small group of Shinigami sent by order of Central 46. They came just now so Rukia must be awake now for them to have crowded up here," Isshin said.

"No," Ichigo said rushing in the door.

The room was empty. Isshin followed behind knowing Rukia was already gone.

"Why did you say that Central 46 sent them," Ichigo asked.

"Interesting that you caught that as well," Isshin shrugged adding, "I don't understand it myself but Yamamoto-san is clearly going along with their orders nonetheless."

Ichigo sat down on the bed. The empty room filled with Rukia's lingering Reishi.

"We finally connected. I finally realized that…we finally realized-

"You finally told each other how you feel about each other," Isshin said.

Ichigo could only nod as he looked out the window.

"Ah, young love. While you know I won't stop you from going after her there's not much you can do to change their minds."

"I know that," Ichigo said.

"But if you don't try…Anyway it would be better if you stayed here and continued to rest. Given the extent of your injuries you wouldn't get far anyway. Besides there are some of your friends who really want to see you," Isshin said.

"Thanks."

"You'll see her again."

"I know."

Ichigo left the room heading slowly downstairs followed by Isshin. It was pointless to go after Rukia in the state he was in.

"Dad where are Yuzu and Karin?"

"Sleep," Isshin pointed at the two covered lumps on the couch.

Ichigo smiled, "Well I guess I'll say hello when they wake."

"Yeah."

Ichigo headed toward the couch and lay beside his sisters shutting his eyes. The reunion with his friends would have to wait. Whatever energy left in his body had faded as soon as he reached the bottom step.

Isshin took a deep breath too choked up watching his family sleep on the couch.

"Idiot good thing that medicine kicking in again," Isshin said aloud folding his arms. He was grateful that he guessed correctly that Ichigo would try to go after Rukia despite any potential harm he would do himself.

000

Everyone crowded into Ichigo's tiny room. Uryû and Chad stood as Orihime sat in his desk chair. Ichigo sat on his bed talking about the last battle leaving out the part about Rukia's inner world.

"So that's the just of it. If you can heal me I'll go to the Seireitei and find out what they are up to," Ichigo said catching his friends up on his plans.

"Something's changed," Uryû said before even Orihime could voice as much.

Ichigo didn't dare say much more before he could talk to Rukia again.

"Yeah I've been out for a while now I guess," Ichigo said.

"I'll do it, I'll heal you but we all should go with you," Orihime said.

"I agree," Chad spoke up saying.

"I don't think they are aiming to hurt her in anyway this time," Uryû said.

"Maybe not; they want to separate us though. I know that much," Ichigo said.

Orihime's mind raced at Ichigo's words. Separate us. So they were an item. But he wasn't saying they were together like that was he, she thought.

"What is it Inoue-san," Uryû asked.

"Oh nothing I just got a little dazed that's all," she replied.

Ichigo couldn't stop grinning like an idiot. The others must have thought he'd gone mad. He had to control his emotions. So with a deep sigh he settled into straightening out his face. He used to be a lot better at it than this.

All thoughts lead to Rukia and the time they spent in her world. He would even have something to joke with the Old Man Zangetsu about. It made sense if they were so connected that their Zanpaku-tô souls would connect as well.

"Did I miss something," Orihime asked.

"Huh, oh no…I just was thinking," Ichigo said.

"You've been on some pretty strong medication Kurosaki," Uryû said pushing up his glasses.

Was he laughing behind that hand of his because if he was I'll…?

"Yeah Ichigo maybe you should go back inside and sleep it off," Chad suggested.

Not Chado too.

The boys didn't seem as clued in as Orihime. She knew something had gone on with Rukia and Ichigo. It had to be something major for him to keep smiling and daydreaming like he was.

"Alright I'm finished," Orihime announced.

"Thank you Inoue…Shunou and Ayame too," Ichigo said.

"No problem," she said smiling back.

Just as she started to feel badly about what happened Ichigo picked her up reminding her how important she was. Not only that, he even thanked Shunou and Ayame individually. It was as if Ichigo were trying to make her feel better.

"And also thanks Chado, Ishida. We should see Mr. Hat and Clogs and see if he can get us into the Seireitei-

"Or we can just go like we've been. It makes no sense to try to sneak in when we haven't done anything wrong," Uryû said.

"They kept Orihime from healing me. Something else is going on," Ichigo said.

"Yes but wouldn't they be expecting us to sneak in first," Uryû asked.

"Then we'll go with something out of the box," Ichigo replied.

"Then-

"Guys wait," Orihime said holding up a hand, "Kurosaki-kun why don't you go say something to your sisters first. Spend some time with them I'm sure they would appreciate it before you trace off again. Ishida-kun and Sado-kun can talk to Urahara-san. I will meet you later."

"Good thinking Inoue," Chad said.

"We'll go talk to Urahara-san and meet you later," Uryû said repeating the plan to Ichigo, "sleep off the strange behavior alright."

"Sure thing I guess. Thanks again," Ichigo said and waved off his friends.

Introduction

After the fights with Aizen's White Army came to a conclusion in the Seireitei duplicated Karakura Town the Shinigami court guard set to work towards a version of normalcy. With Injuries to the Head Captain and nearly everyone involved in the events they focused on healing and getting stronger.

Meanwhile after a moment of confusion Ichigo begins to realize that what Tensa Zangetsu and Urahara warned him about was fast becoming his new reality. Despite all efforts his spiritual gifts seemed weaker by the hour.

A Mod Soul named Kûjo Nozomi entered his life and despite his weakened state he did what he could to protect her. Under attack from the Regai who were after her Nozomi became close to Kon. As the original Mod Soul Nozomi quickly gave Kon an understanding of where he came from.

Ichigo hopeful that he could fight again quickly realized that Mod Soul technologies could only temporarily aide him. With his powers fading he is once again forced to come to terms with his situation.

Kon is forced to say goodbye to Nozomi who fades after stopping her creator from his path of destruction.

This begins the path of farewell...

Goodbyes…