Hey guys,

I wrote chapter 2 very quickly because tbh I'm excited for writing this story. I think it's worth noting even just writing the first chapter gave me a few ideas of exactly the direction I wanna take this story. Now that the TYBW is over, there won't be much by way of action, but it'll be there every now and then to keep that bleach 'feel'.

it's also worth noting that the start of this fic is as close to the timeline of bleach as possible, with the beginning of this chapter starting a month AFTER the events of TYBW. This should place the timeline around the middle of July.

thank you for anyone who has made it to the second chapter! Let's begin!

Beyond the end: Chapter 2

Restrictions

As he sat in the familiar desk of his small bedroom that is ever so familiar to him, Ichigo raps his finger impatiently against the splintered oak, grimacing at the sheer boredom which plagues him.

Ever since he left the soul society, he hasn't been the same. Being as dense as he is and as stubborn, he cannot come to admit this aching deep in his chest. Waiting patiently for it to go away didn't seem to fix the problem. He didn't wish to speak to his friends about it because quite frankly, he got the feeling they wouldn't understand. Also to some degree he knew he just didn't want to admit to himself what this ache was and they would more than likely know immediately that this 'ache' was actually a longing.

'it's been 6 months since I left the soul society and nothing changed! This was starting to piss me off!' Ichigo thought, as if arguing not just with himself but with the very nature of his own emotions.

He'd thought maybe she would at least show for his 18th birthday which only fell a month after the end of the war but...

"Ichigo! Dinners ready!"

Ichigo lifted his hand to his fluorescent orange hair and scratched his head. He sighed heavily and slowly walked to the door, pulling it open and casually strolling down the stairs to join the table consisting of his sensitive younger sister, Yuzu, who beamed up at her older brother with glee as he reached his seat, Karin, who sat with her elbows resting on the table, her chin balancing off of her right hand and an indifferent look plastered all over her face, and Isshin, who was moments ago wailing hysterically against the large colourful poster of his late wife which was nailed artfully to the wall.

"Thanks yuzu, I'm taking my food upstairs again to..."

His sentence was cut short due to an expertly executed drop kick performed by the family jester he referred to as his father.

"SHUT UP BOY! ONLY WHEN YOU CAN DODGE MY KICK CAN YOU..."

He was also cut short mid sentence as an all out brawl began. This was an everyday occurrence within the Kurosaki household, which was evident due to the fact that Yuzu and Karin both continued their previous actions without so much as batting and eyelid.

"YOU CRAZY BASTARD WHAT THE HELL?!" Ichigo yelled.

"You haven't so much as touched the dinner table in over a month. At least for today, sit." Isshin commanded. He knew something was wrong with his eldest child. He wanted to know now what had been so conflicting he would confine himself to his room.

Ichigo scoffed, however he did as he was told. "Ugh, fine." He waltzed over and sat. Food had already been served and yet all three of his family members were now seated and staring right at him. He tried to distract himself by truly appreciating Yuzu's efforts and glancing from meal to meal which adorned the simple oak table. This however didn't work. "What?" Ichigo managed to spit out.

"You wanna talk about why you're always moping lately?" Karin said in her usual nonchalant tone, garnering the attention and disagreement of her twin. "Karin! You should be nicer to Ichigo!... what she means is... we are just worried, that's all..."

The flame headed boy cringed internally. So it's an intervention. Makes sense.

"Look... I don't have a clue myself alright. I've just been getting this weird... feeling."

Isshin and his daughters glanced briefly at each other and furrowed their brows in a quizzical manner. "A weird feeling? Have you finally hit pube-" Isshin's sentence was cut short by a swift overhand to the jaw, leaving him unconscious, slumped across his seat. Amazingly, he still had a victorious grin which graced his lips due to his remark.

"Are you stupid?! I hit puberty years ago what kind of idiot would think that?" Ichigo Coolly exclaimed. "But no. It's basically like an ache I've had in my chest for a while. The second I left soul society I've just felt... off."

Isshin jumped up as if he was possessed and sat in his chair as if he wasn't just incapacitated across his side of the table. "Well what were you doing before you left soul society?" Isshin said inquisitively, a more serious persona suddenly attached to his face.

"Well I was saying goodbye to Rukia, but I haven't seen her since." Ichigo said casually.

Karin looked up from her food immediately and smirked, "can't get over your crush after almost 6 months?" This comment received an attempt at a glare that was so weak, it just made the girl laugh "Shut up Karin,I don't have a crush on Rukia!" Ichigo raised his voice, banging his hand on the table. It would have been intimidating had he not had the most obvious flush all over his face. A flush which only became worse when she replied.

"Nobody mentioned Rukia."

Immediately Ichigo choked on air. He had been bested by his younger sister with an obnoxious grin on her face.

"Ichigo? You have a crush on Rukia?! Oh wow that's so cute!" Yuzu beamed, amazed at this 'revelation'. Isshin climbed onto his chair and began a sermon about grandkids and his son finally becoming a man, and Karin was smug with the aftermath of her diabolical quip.

"Screw you guys! I'm done with dinner."

Ichigo stormed out and all the remaining 3 could hear was his bedroom door slam. The mood of Kurosaki dinner was immediately snuffed out and went silent.

"My foolish boy, he can't even see how he feels." Isshin murmured

"Dad! Go talk to him! Please?"

"Who cares, Yuzu! Let him mope. He just doesn't like that I told him the truth" Karin said.

"Dad... please? And don't bully him when you go!"

Isshin exhaled heavily. "Yuzu, you're right. Let me just finish my dinner!" isshins mood suddenly changed and he wolfed his dinner down in a goofy manner, leading to Karin drop kicking him in the back to dislodge food from his oesophagus.

Karin sighed. "One normal dinner. That's all I ask for."

'Tap tap tap'

Ichigo didn't even look up when he heard the calm rapping on the entry way of his bedroom. Throwing a small rubber stress ball at the ceiling and catching it without a care in the world whilst he lay on his bed, a stoic expression adorning it. "Come in."

Isshin entered. Walking straight over to the desk chair and comfortably sitting down. He looked serious enough that even out of the corner of his eye, Ichigo could feel him staring straight through him.

"Talk. How long have you had these feelings?"

"Long enough"

"... I see."

Isshin looked up, crossing his arms and closing his eyes as if perusing a distant memory. Smiling to himself warmly.

"You know, The second I met your mother, I felt as if... Time stopped."

Ichigo shifted his gaze. He didn't want a sermon, but he felt like he needed it too.

"...She was so warm and kind. Every minute I spent away from her, it seemed as if the clocks turned so slow that I felt I'd lose my mind..." Isshin's pregnant pauses within his speech made Ichigo slowly start to understand more and more just where his father was taking the conversation and it made him furrow his brow even more.

"Not only that. My chest grew heavy and tight if ever we were apart." Ichigo immediately turned away as these words left isshins lips.

" You have to be wrong dad. There's no way that's how I'm feeling... I can't..."

"Why not? Because she's a shinigsmi?" Isshin took his thumb and index finger and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Have you seriously never considered after all you've been through with Rukia, you may feel differently?"

"... Shut up..."

"What is holding you back?"

"I can't get into a relationship with her."

"Again, what is holding you back?"

Ichigo had no answer. Technically, he didn't have any roadblocks at all... except...

"We've had a... complicated situation before."

Isshin smirked. "Oh?"

Ichigo sucks up all the courage he has. What harm would it do if he actually confides in his own dad?

"Just don't annoy me about this later. But basically..."

Flashback: 1 month following Rukia's rescue from Execution

It had been a brief period of unease. Soul society was mayhem as they prepared for what was to come. Yet all the while, Ichigo had returned home and had no clue just what struggles he would experience in the coming days. Rukia remained in soul society and Ichigo understood fully her reasoning. Nevertheless, as he left, he turned to look back into her deep violet orbs, pondering when she'd return again. He smiled and left, knowing she'd be back. He spent time with family, friends and peers in school and carried on with his life, keeping up with his substitute shinigsmi side profession in the meantime.

As he lay in his room, he feels a presence and was almost immediately kicked from his bed onto the floor.

A midget clad in a black shihakusho had just jumped through his bedroom window. "Rukia? Don't just sneak up on my like that!"

"Hey Ichigo..." she smiled. "How have you been?

Scratching his head and throwing his usual strong gaze and scowl, Ichigo looked up and saw the look in his comrades eyes. The exact same look that she wore when he blocked the Sogyōku only a month prior. It was filled with emotions Ichigo recognised immediately as anxiety. Ichigo had always been able to sense the emotions of those around them very well, but when it concerned him he was completely oblivious.

Standing up in order to regain himself, he momentarily loses eye contact but confidently regains it once on his feet. "I've been okay I guess... took you long enough to visit though." He winked, earning a laugh from the girl in front of him. "Shut up you fool."

"Make me." Ichigo joked. He wanted to see her act like she usually did, throwing a punch or kick his way with expert technique and superhuman speed.

"Are you sure that's what you want...?"

'What? What kind of question is that?' Ichigo thought. Usually he would say something clever back but this time, he wanted to humour her. For some reason he wanted to see where she took this.

" of course I do you idio-"

Ichigo opened both of his eyes wider than he ever had before. This wasn't happening. He must be dreaming.

Rukia threw herself forward,wrapping her thin yet toned arms around his neck, gripping the tufts of hair which flowed down with her tiny digits, pulling Ichigo down and smashed her lips on his. Despite her eyes now being closed and throwing herself fully into the kiss he knew exactly the passion that would be behind them. Her kiss was one of natural talent and yet inexperienced by the lack of control. It was hungry and passionate, sucking on his lips and begging for entry into his mouth with her tongue, gently licking his lips. Ichiigo almost immediately allowed his hands to shift, one arm gripping behind her head and gripping her silky midnight locks, the other supporting her perfectly rounded ass and lifting her into his arms. Despite the shock, he subconsciously followed the petite shinigami in her lust.

Rukia wrapped her toned legs around Ichigo's waist as he stumbled to his bed. Caressing each other passionately as their tongues danced together in harmony, Ichigo suddenly taking the lead. If he didn't he would run the risk of losing control.

They parted slowly before they both came to the realisation of what had just occurred. Before this moment, while they had exchanged glances and moments which would forever be etched into their memory, neither had ever dared to take the next step for fear it would forever change their dynamic.

"I-ichi...go..." Rukia murmured, just loud enough to reach his ears. He looked deep into her eyes which had fluttered open with a deeply glazed hue gracing them.

"Where... the hell... did that come from?..." Ichigo breathed heavily through these words. Rukia looked intently at him. She immediately confirmed he must be as worked up and she was, as was evident by the bulge which so quickly grew into his dark khakis he wore and lazily hidden by the white striped tee shirt which covered his strong and muscular upper body.

"I... I don't know..."

"I mean, I'm not complaining" Ichigo laughed softly, followed by the cutest smile he had ever seen in his life. The calculating and strong willed Rukia kuchiki lay under him, heavily gasping for air after the HOTTEST kiss he has ever had in his life. Sure he'd messed around with other girls before; in an attempt to cover up his pain through the years following the loss of his mother and the woman who had raised him; but damn.

"Well did you... enjoy it? She asked shyly

"What kind of dumb question is that?"

"I just... I mean... you seem a lot more experienced than me... from the kiss I mean..."

"I really enjoyed it." Ichigo exclaimed. "Are you telling me you've not... kissed anyone before?"

She shook her head. "I just never had any interest in anyone. Especially not after becoming a Kuchiki..."

"Oh right"

"I'm sorry this was a mistake." Ichigo's expression dropped and his chest tightened. He didn't know if it was just nerves on her part or if she meant it, but either way, that hurt. "Are you serious?"

"I-I don't know okay?! Let's just pretend this didn't happen." She moved to leave again but Ichigo grabbed her arm.

"You can't leave without at least talking. I mean damn, Rukia."

"B-But... Why not?"

"Because I don't want you to." He yelled.

Rukia's eyes widened for a moment, but then softened, her lips curling into a smirk. "I don't really want to leave either you know?"

"Then don't."

"I can't Ichigo. You're a human. I'm a Shinigsmi. It's too complicated."

"I've told you before and I'll say it again. You talk too much Rukia." He pushed himself forward for another kiss only to be met with a tiny finger on his lips.

"Maybe one day, Ichigo. But right now, there's too much at stake. If Aizen comes back, which there's already a stir in soul society... I couldn't bear it if something happened and I couldn't see you again."

Ichigo was completely stunned. Was she... saying she cared about him... as more than friends?

"Rukia..."

"I know this wasn't fair and I'm sorry... I just wanted to do this before I never got the chance..." Rukia stood up and straightened her shihakusho, all whilst allowing her eyes to peek at Ichigo.

Ichigo looked out of the window and breathed heavily. He then laughed to himself, gaining Rukia's attention.

"What are you laughing about?..."

"Nothing. It's just what you said... I can understand it to a degree." He smiled. She was visibly shocked at the level of maturity he showed in the matter.

"Well I appreciate you understanding... it would just get too complicated." She uttered while attempting to regain her composure and failing miserably as she was still red in the face and her eyes now baring a longing and sadness she wouldn't ever dare to speak of.

"Yeah..."

Rukia looked at Ichigo and immediately felt guilty. She didn't want him to feel like she was playing with his feelings. She leaned over and kissed him briefly and much more tenderly, both of her hands holding his cheeks gently. She slowly pulled away.

"I wasn't joking. In the future... if things get less complicated..."

Ichigo smiled. "I'll hold you to that."

They both laughed with each other for but a moment, then regained their friendly animosity from before. However they both knew that moment.

They had crossed a line they could never return from.

Isshin stroked his facial hair while taking in Ichigo's recollection of his encounter with Rukia.

Not a single sound entered the room or even left it. That is until Isshin lifted his head and met Ichigo's eyes.

"You. Are an Idiot."

"I know."

"'No I mean, really."

"Dad , I know... I just wanna respect her boundaries. If I push too hard right now..."

"Considering the relationship you have shared, I can understand her running away from the situation... for now, you just need to keep your head held high and be the person you always have been. She'll come back one day."

Ichigo beamed at his dad for the first time in a long time. "Thanks dad."

"When she does you can get to work on some Grandba-ACK!"

"Aaaand you're back." Ichigo laughed while simultaneously rolling his eyes at his Idiot dad's remarks. But he appreciated them all the same. Maybe the swift kick to the head he had just given his father didn't show it, but he understood Ichigo's intent all the same.

He would just have to let fate roll the dice yet again.

That's the end of Chapter 2!

Please let me know what you guys think! The next chapter I hope to have a little bit more content within focusing on after the initial 2 year time skip I introduced last chapter. So stay tuned!

Please like, favourite and comment so that I can hear your views on the story! It would be a massive help and you never know, your suggestion may influence my story!

Also Thank you so much for everyone who has already done so! I appreciate it so much :D