Hello again!

I would just like t say thank you for all the comments and follows so far! I am truly humbled by your response to my story. I had to change my plans a a little and did not include Byakuaya in this chapter. Dont worry he will make an appearance soon. I completely change the way this chapter was going to go. What can I say the words just came out this way. I am happy with it and I hope you guys like it!

I will try to continue to update as much as possible but I cannot guarentee that it will be four chapters a week like this week...lol. The writing gods are just flowing through me right now.

Thanks again for dialog suggestions I changed the format to the correct one to make reading easier. Please remember this is my first work that I am going public with and still learning.

Well without further adu here it is!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH IF I DID THE QUNICY"S WOULD NOT BE OWNING THE SOUL SOCIETY RIGHT NOW

_Chapter 3_

Hope

Thirteen months after the defeat of Aizen

A black cat with large golden eyes rubbed impatiently at his leg. "I know, I know it's late. I'll come to bed soon." smiling down at his mate in her favorite form Urahara smiled. He had been feverishly for months to finish his greatest invention yet. He had been frustratingly close for weeks and he was on the verge of fitting the last piece of the puzzle into place. The inventor pushed away from his desk and smiled at his work. On the desk there was a sword but unlike any sword you have ever saw. Although the form was like a normal katana, it was made entirely of an extremely rare reishi absorbing crystal that was almost impossible to find.

"At last it is done...now for the hard part."

He knew of course from the first second that there was a way for Ichigo to regain his powers. shinigami powers come from the soul, so in essence they cannot be taken from you or lost. The problem was that Ichigo has spent the entirety of his reiatsu when he ascended to the Final Getsuga Tenshou and used Mugetsu on Aizen. The cure of course was a massive bolus of reishi plunged directly into Ichigo's soul chain. Therein lies the problem and the choice that would have to be made. The sudden massive spike of reiatsu would kill any living being.

"Seventeen years is such a short life. I know that the boy loves his family and friends, but I know my pupil he will surely choose to have the power to protect them if a way presented itself...not to mention a certain raven haired shinigami that has been moping around for way to long needs to stop freaking depressing everyone.. I mean seriously its depressing to see her like this...all the damn time with that face...never wanting to talk to anybody...hasn't bought anything for months..."

"Are you coming to bed or not hmmm ?"

He looked up and his eyes sprung open. Standing before him was the goddess of flash, his best and oldest friend, standing in the door completely naked. Candidly if the woman could get away with it she would never wear clothes. She hated them.

"It's done...now to see if we can convince them to do it."

Raising an eyebrow the Shihoin princess smiled.

"Of course we can, we only have to show them value in it. He is one of the strongest we have it would be ridiculous not help him reacquire his strength. Besides that they are honor bound too help. He saved everybody it's our turn to save him. Now come to bed I have an itch that needs to be scratched..."

With a smile Kisuke nodded.

"Yes Ma'am."

One week later

Staring at the ceiling Ichigo was lost in thought when there was a soft knock on the door.

"What is it!?" he yelled a little too angrily

The door nob slowly turned and his younger sister Yuzu poked her head in.

"Dinner is ready...if...if...you want some." she stammered "I-i-i-it would be r-r-r-really nice if you came and talked with everybody. Karin would never say it and would kill me if I she knew I was saying it, but she really misses you. Dad does too."

Wearing his trademark scowl Ichigo shook his head.

"I'm not really hungry I'll grab a bite later..."

At this point the younger Kurosaki had had enough. It was time for her brother to stop moping around all the time.

"Ya know we miss her too Ichigo! You don't have to deal with this alone! She was a part of this family! It's time for you stop trying to deal with this yourself and let us in! All we want to do is help and you will not even talk to us! DO YOU NOT THINK THAT WE ARE HURTING TOO!"

Ichigo stood dumbfounded staring at his little sister. She had always been so soft spoken he never though he would hear such anger in her voice. She really had grown up in the last couple of years. Suddenly he felt very ashamed. He did it again, just like when mom died. He didn't even realize. He let out a sigh.

"You are right Yuzu...can you ever forgive me? I thought that I had to deal with this myself. I felt like I was losing myself. I thought I had to take everything on myself. I just...feel so powerless." raising his head with a pained expression " She was always there. I had all the time in the world to say what I needed to. It would have only taken a moment. That's all I would have needed."

"Ich-ni?" smiling like she hadn't in months the younger Kurosaki ran into the room and embraced her brother.

"All you had to do is ask. You will always have us to talk to too you know."

" You are right. I think somewhere along the line I just forgot. Lets go getting something to eat."

"Oh Ich-ni you are going to love it I made all your favorites"

Really smiling for the first time in over a year Ichigo allowed himself to be led downstairs by his sister.

"IIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIGGGGGOOOOOOO!" barely missing the flying kick aimed at his head, Ichigo grabed his old man's leg and tossed him easily into the wall using his own momentum against him.

"What are you doing! You crazy old man!"

For the first time in a long time dinner was normal at the Kurosaki house. Karin and Yuzu watched the two tumble around the house with bored expressions.

"Do you think we should stop it?" the younger of the two asked

"No, they are just talking. They haven't had a chance in awhile." Karin smiled

"I'll kill you...you crazy bastard!" Ichigo screamed while dodging a punch

"O Masaki my our son does not love me anymore. What have I done wrong?" Isshin lamented while taking a particularly hard hit to the kidney.

Both men were warriors so they did not hold back their strength in any of their punches or kicks. A good fifteen minutes later they were finally at the table the older nursing a large bump on his head while the younger was wearing a rather large scowl. The dinner continued as normal until both Isshin and Karin looked up feeling the familiar spiritual pressure of the man that was at the door. Isshin smiled.

"So it's today then."

"What the hell are you talking old ma-" Ichigo's retort was cut short by something at the door

Knock, Knock, Knock

Seeing that nobody else was going to do it Ichigo walked to the door to open it. Momentarily shocked by who he saw when he opened it.

"Hat and Clogs? What are you doing here?"

"Ah hello Ichigo! You are just the one I wanted to see." Urahara smiled

"What!? me? What possible use could you have for me?" Ichigo started to feel the rage heat up inside him from seeing someone from his old life for the first time in over a year.

" Well about that. I've come to talk to you about you getting your powers back."

Staring blankly Ichigo could not form words for a second.

"What? That's impossible."

"You should know by now that when it comes to me nothing is impossible. Now the question is...Do you want to know how it can be done? Do you want them back or not?" already sure of the answer Kisuke still had to ask. Just in case.

The amount of possibilities that haven't crept through his mind in ages staggered Ichigo. His powers can come back. He can protect once again? He can regain his pride. These things and more rocketed through his brain. From the very depth of his soul one thought, one person enveloped all other thoughts.

Rukia.

Steeling his eyes and looking at his mentor and teacher he smiled.

"Yes, yes I do."

Deep in his soul a single ray of light cut through the constant storms and shined on Zangetsu's face. Smiling his zanpakuto remarked.

"At last, he has found hope."

There it is guys! I alluded a little bit to the choice that Ichigo will have to make soon. What do you think he will do?

As always please review. The next chapter should be up by Wendsday at the latest

Thank you guys so much for the Support!