here is the next chapter. sorry it took so long. had to change plans somewhat, but this should be fun. flashbacks will be in italics

Rukia was in her gigai wearing a blue sundress as she searched for Ichigo. As she turned a corner, she was surprised to see someone.

"Byakuya?" The man in question turned when he heard his name. "What are you doing here?"

"Kisuke Urahara contacted the soul society at the same time as you and your friends," Byakuya said. "We came to assist you in finding the fragments of Ichigo Kurosaki. To allow such a thing so soon after recovering his powers, how disgraceful."

"Yeah, well, don't forget he was in human form, not to mention he put his badge through the ringer following his meeting with Ginjo Kujo."

"True, however, the fact remains that he-" He was cut off when a soccer ball hit him on the side of his head, making his head tilt, but not fall over, which made the moment get a chuckle out of Rukia. "Not funny."

"Sorry about that, mister," a voice said. They turned their head to see a young girl with her hair in a ponytail wearing a blue and white t-shirt. She turned to Rukia. "Oh, hey, Rukia. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"It certainly has, Karin. How are you and Yuzu feeling?"

"Doing great, thanks. You on a date?"

"No, this is my brother, Byakuya."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, sir. Sorry again for hitting you. I got startled by something and I kicked the ball too hard in a panic."

"Well, what startled you?" Byakuya asked.

"Well...it's kinda weird to say it out loud."

"Just say it." ordered Byakuya with irritation."Well, I heard someone shout out something like Banzai. After that, I turned toward the direction of the sound, but couldn't see anyone. Then I saw the ball fly at your head."

"I see. Well, I suppose a sudden shout would startle most people, especially if they were focused on temari."

"Huh? Temari? I was playing soccer."

"Hmm?" Byakuya took another look at the ball, noticing it was different from a temari. "Oh, my mistake."

Karin raised an eyebrow with Rukia clearing her throat.

"Thank you Karin, let's go Byakuya."

"Hey, Rukia?" Karin called out, making the soul reaper pause. "Is my brother okay? Yuzu called me after school, and said he wasn't back yet. Did something happen?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry, Karin. I'm sure he's just running around, glad to be able to fight again. You know how boys can be."

"Yeah, boys, but not Ichigo. He wouldn't just disappear without telling us."

"Wait a moment," Byakuya said. "Ichigo Kurosaki is your older brother?"

"Yeah, you know him?"

"No wonder he said all that." The girls were confused now. "Forgive me. Let's just say your brother helped me see things more clearly, and I probably wouldn't be the way I am now if not for him."

"Uh...ok?" Karin responded, lost on the meaning and what he was talking about.

"It's a long story." Rukia interjected.

"Hey, Karin, we playing or what?" a boy shouted across the street.

"Oh, be right there! If you see him, tell him if he doesn't get his ass home, he won't get supper."

"Will do Karin."

Karin ran back with Byakuya turning to his sister.

"She certainly reminds me of Kurosaki."

"Yeah Karin, like Ichigo, felt she needed to grow up and be a stronger person. Yuzu basically became the mom of the house. Ichigo doesn't like to show weakness, so that's why he holds in his emotions and them being out in the open makes it dangerous, especially the red one." Byakuya didn't say a word, simply let that info sink in. "At any rate, we need to stop dilly-dallying and find him," Rukia said.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Not now, Ichigo," Rukia said. "We're looking Ichigo." Rukia realized what she said and turned to see one of the Ichigo's standing behind them. "Geez, I almost flew out of my gigai."

"I did not," Byakuya said, but his face told a different story. "How were you able to hide your spiritual pressure?"

"It was easy peasy." he smiled innocently, making Byakuya raise an eyebrow.

"Rukia? Is this one of them?"

"Yes." she replied before the Ichigo walked up to Byakuya.

"Wow Byakuya, you seem a bit grumpy today, somebody needs a hug."

"What?" he responded before finding the Ichigo suddenly pulling him into a bear hug. "This is making me very uncomfortable," Byakuya said, only dealing with it because of all the people. "Why is this happening?"

"Well, judging from the color of his shihakusho and the flower in his hair, I'd guess he's happy. Remember these emotions are split so they're not as toned down."

"Regardless we have found one of them, so let us bring him to Urahara's shop, so I can have some peace."

"Well, good thing I'm all about love and peace!"

He did a goofy grin with a peace sign. Byakuya felt his eyebrow twitch, finding this image of the very man who beat him to be something he did NOT want to hold in his memory.
"Never do that again."

"You got it bud!" he replied with a smile and thumbs up.

Rukia sweatdropped and grabbed the Ichigo's sleeve before leading him down the road, not wanting to take the chance of her brother 'accidentally' unsheathing his sword into the fragment. As they walked, Rukia looked at the fragment's smile and turned to her brother.

"Seeing him smile like that makes me uneasy," Rukia said.

"It is taking all my self restraint to keep from shoving Senbon Zakura up his-"

"Brother! I understand that, but it's not what I meant." Byakuya looked at Rukia, with a look that asked what she meant. "I'm not sure how to explain it. I just-Where'd he go?"

They looked around, trying to find the substitute soul reaper.

"He escaped? Damn him." Byakuya scowled with Rukia looking all around them.

"He couldn't have gotten too far."

"Someone needs a hug!"

The Kuchiki siblings turned to see Ichigo giving some random man a hug.

"Is he seriously giving a random man a hug?" Rukia asked, annoyed.

"Wait a moment, what's that in the man's hand?" Byakuya asked.

Rukia looked at the man, taking note that behind his back, he was holding a knife in one hand.

"Hey! Get off me ya weirdo!"

"Hugs make everyone feel better!"

"I don't need a hug!"

"Get off me!" Ichigo let go of the man, revealing his knife. "Think you can interrupt my mugging?"

"Aah!" The man turned to see his would-be victims, a mother and her son. "Someone call the police! That man has a knife!"

"Oh crap! This is all your fault!"

"Aw, sorry about that pal, want a hug to feel better?"

"Don't you try it you...you...weirdo!" he let out, holding his knife out at the fragment with a glare. "I oughta shank your face!"

"This is becoming ridiculous." Byakuya remarked to his sister.

"Well, at least he's making it easier to put the man away," Rukia said, causing Byakuya to turn to her. "Look at the bystanders. They're all looking at him like he's deranged."

"Of course. This man may possess enough spirit energy to see Ichigo..."

"But the bystanders are completely oblivious."

"Hold it right there!" a voice shouted at the would-be mugger. He was tackled to the ground as he was handcuffed. "You're under arrest!"

"You! You'll pay for this you kimono-wearing weirdo!"

"Who are you talking to?"

"Eh, probably on drugs or something," the cop's partner said.

"No!"

"That was an impressive display," Byakuya said.

"Aw, shucks that's so sweet," Momosaki said, surprising the Kuchiki siblings.

"Cut that out!" Rukia said.

"And DON'T get any ideas on a hug." Byakuya warned with a cold look and his hand on the handle of his blade. "Just come with us and STAY with us."

"Okey dokey bud."

He gave two peace signs, which made Rukia quickly stop her brother who immediately moved to unsheathe his sword.

"Let's let the others know we found one."

So after letting the others know they found a fragment, they started on their way back to Urahara Shop. As they walked, Byakuya took another look at Momosaki, and turned to Rukia.

"You know, I think I am starting to understand what you said before," Byakuya said.

"About what brother?"

"There is something about this Ichigo that is... off. His smile. It doesn't seem real."

"I know, and I feel like I've seen it before, but I'm having a hard time remembering when."

"I just realized, I should've used Bakudō #63 on him." Byakuya turned back to Ichigo, seeing him standing a few feet behind them. "I told you to come with us and stay with us, Ichigo." Byakuya noticed the look on his face, like when Ukitake first saw him and his own expression softened. "Ichigo?"

"Mom..."

"Hmm?" Byakuya turned to where Ichigo was looking, and only saw a riverbank. "There is no one there. Besides didn't your mother pass?"

Ichigo didn't say anything, but his smile was gone and replaced with a sad expression. He stared at the spot with Rukia's eyes widening before looking at him sadly.

"Brother?" Rukia lead Byakuya a little bit away before looking up at him. "That river is...where his mother died. By a hollow."

"Something tells me it wasn't just any Hollow."

"It was Grand Fisher." Byakuya had a face that said he knew it. "Ichigo's not the type of person who wants to show feelings." Rukia turned to Ichigo and noticed something. "Hey is it just me, or is his shihakusho turning blue?"

Byakuya looked and Rukia was right. It was turning blue as he knelt down and started crying.

"I thought he was happy."

"That's it, of course!" Byakuya looked at Rukia. "I remember when I saw that smile. It was when I first came here, the day before the anniversary of his mom's death. It was a smile to hide how sad he was."

"So he's been trying to hide his pain through a smile."

"Exactly." she walked over to Ichigo and crouched down, rubbing his back as he sobbed.

"Mom...mom...I couldn't...I couldn't save her..."

"Ichigo, you were a child. There was nothing you could do, but your mom is at peace now."

"Rukia..." She grabbed her shoulders. "I'm such a burden! I lost my family and friends to Tsukishima and was made the crazy man."

"Calm down Ichigo! That's over now, remember?"

"And you two find me so annoying! I just know it! I caused you so much trouble."

"Well, he's not wrong," Byakuya said.

"I knew it!"

Ichigo ran off bawling his eyes out as Rukia gave her brother a glare.

"In my defense, I'm not well-praticed in comforting people."

"That's putting it mildly." Rukia muttered before running after Ichigo. "Ichigo come back!"

Byakuya let out a tired sigh before he took off after the two, but at a more leisurly pace.

so I figured I'd stop it here. after all, there are three more Ichigo's and three more individuals from the soul society that need to help. tell me in the reviews who you want to team up with who, and which one they encounter. second place will be next