Disclaimer insert here: No I do not own Bleach much to my disappointment.

All characters belong to their rightful owners, except any OC's that I include, which will only hopefully be one or two minor characters. An M rating is for future violence, dismemberment, gore, language, very foul language, and of course adult situations. Do not expect a ton of lemony scenes, I am here to write a good story hopefully, not audition for Penthouse Forums. Also, since I found that it is necessary to warn my new followers now, use of Japanese terms will be used a lot in all of my stories. Also, expect OC behavior for your favorites. Finally, this is an AU story, which means I am not a huge fan of following the manga; please remember that in your reviews.

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A guide is provided at the end for your translation needs if you are new to my stories. For those readers who know me, the Response to Reviews will be at the bottom after any AN notes starting next chapter.

Warning: I use a lot of Japanese familial terms, if you complain I'll be honest now, I don't care and I will not respond to any PM or review no matter what. So, enjoy the second chapter lads and lasses.

This chapter is co-authored by regfurby.

XXXX

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Hollow Zangetsu"

"Quincy Zangetsu"

'Memories'

XXXX

'You are going to be an interesting part of my life for the foreseeable future, Ichigo.'

Urahara Kisuke

XXXX

Tessai keeps a close eye on the quickly healing bruises and cuts that had been inflicted upon the orange-haired teen's body during his latest spar against the owner of Urahara Shouten. Not even twitching an eye at said owner's loud yelps as Yoruichi applies mundane human methods of healing such as bandages and ointments to Kisuke's wounds instead of using Kaidō to heal them. He smirks internally; his partner had brought it upon himself for 'accepting' Yoruichi's offer of being his healer during these spars. Of course, it is Yoruichi's payback for what Kisuke had done to her current protégé in the past.

The still-unproven evidence of that would be the ridiculous speed with which Ichigo is absorbing and then actualizing the various Shinigami skills that the three former Captains had begun teaching him the day after he had undergone the Shattered Shaft. The former Kidō Commander can barely hide his smile as he looks down at the close-eyed smirking teen who ended the last bout with a combination of the simplest Bakudō which he used to distract Kisuke just enough for his follow-up attack of Hadō Sixty-three: Raikōhō to hit Urahara squarely in the chest; unfortunately for Ichigo, the blonde-haired former Captain had reflexively launched his own Hadō Seventy-Three: Sōren Sōkatsui at Ichigo to end the last bout in a draw. Neither of them had used the full incantation or else they'd probably both be needing more than just Kaidō to heal their wounds.

'Hachigen will be thrilled to have such a pupil when he begins to train with the Vizards.' Tessai thinks as he watches Ichigo's brown orbs slowly blink open.

"Geta-Boshi okay, Tessai-san?" The younger man finally asks when he sees the Kidō master hovering over him.

"He is still paying for his transgressions against you yet Shiba-dono."

A genuine grin forms on Tessai's face when the teen groans loudly at his usage of the honorific. "I give up Tessai-san, I'll never get you to call me Ichigo will I?"

"No Shiba-dono."

Twisting his head slightly towards the burly man, the teen Shinigami sighs but smirks as he remembers the conversation that took place shortly after he leapt out of the Shattered Shaft, the reason why Kisuke is now receiving Yoruichi's tender loving care…

XXXX Flashback Start XXXX

"Whadda mean I can't get back into my body!?"

Kisuke stepped backwards nervously and motioned towards Ichigo's body as he replied. "Well, seeing that your Reiatsu has nearly tripled Ichigo-kun, we can't risk you returning to your body until we put in place several safeguards, meaning seals that will keep your body from literally tearing itself apart..."

Yoruichi grabbed Ichigo's arm to keep him steady as he stared at his unmoving human body. "That…that much?"

"Yes Shiba-dono. We dare say that your Spiritual Pressure will continue to grow as you mature as a Shinigami, which is why we will have to keep a very close eye on how your body reacts to the growth of your Reiryoku." Tessai stated as he applied his fifth seal on the tanned skin of Ichigo's body.

"Damn." Ichigo whispered when he recounted one of his earliest lessons with Yoruichi on why Captains and higher seated officers weren't allowed to visit the World of the Living unless they had limiters placed on their bodies.

"Luckily for us, your training from such an early age will aid you greatly in keeping your Reiatsu levels undetectable, but you must always remain vigilant in suppressing your Reiryoku Shiba-dono, even the smallest of changes to a human soul could bring about unforeseeable and serious consequences to them." Tessai instructed as he applied the last seal.

"So, that's why you are insisting I learn Kidō first right?" Ichigo asked of the former Kidō Commander.

Nodding his braided-hair head, the glasses wearing exile motioned to him to enter his body. "Kidō will allow you to gain an even greater amount of control over your Reiryoku as you use it in the Demon Arts. Now, if you please Shiba-dono, you should be able to enter your body safely."

Looking down at his still body, which Kisuke had jokingly called a human meat-bag, Ichigo gingerly lifted his empty form as instructed by Tessai. Holding it so he would essentially be entering his own body from behind, Ichigo didn't panic when he felt the first pull on his soul and found himself back in his body. What happened next surprised him though, as incredible pain raced throughout his body. Clenching his hands into fists as he fought through the pain, he heard Yoruichi's voice demanding to know what's going on.

"His soul has grown Yori, so his body must now adjust to that growth. It will pass shortly I promise."

Ichigo could feel several tears rolling down his cheeks as his insides felt like they were being slowly torn apart to conform to his new soul form. "Fuck, it hurts Yoruichi."

He then felt something pulsating and soothing go through his body as a set of cool hands were placed on his cheeks. "I know you are hurting Ichigo, just bear with it for a little bit longer please… I can only use Kaidō to help dampen the pain, nothing more okay?"

"Yeah, thanks." Ichigo shivered as he swore he could hear his bones cracking under the strain, but as promised, the pain began to lessen and lessen until finally all he felt was a dull ache, the same dull ache he used to suffer after a few long hours of doing the various stretching and strengthening exercises Yoruichi liked to put him through. Gagging in relief, he slumped against Yoruichi, held up only by her assistance.

"Glad that's over with." He said through gritted teeth as he quickly suppressed his Reiatsu from leaking out. With some effort, he was able to contain it, but his body still felt rather uncomfortable and sore.

Kisuke however became the bearer of more bad news. "As you grow Ichigo-kun, you will have to repeat this process several times again in the future. Your potential frankly scares the hell out of me. You are already at a sixth or fifth seat Officer's strength. I believe we should concentrate on your Kidō first, the basic principles of Reiatsu control needed for the Demon Arts will go a long way in helping you with your control."

Ichigo nodded as he looked at them. "So, who is going to teach me first?"

Neither his mentor nor her oldest friend hesitate when they both point to the larger muscular man in the room, with Yoruichi speaking. "Tessai will teach you first Ichigo. He is after all the former Commander of the Kidō Corps, and you can tell how skilled he is by how easily his seals blocked your Reiatsu until you took control yourself."

"Cool. Yoruichi told me that Kidō has three uses: offense, defense and healing, can you teach me healing first Tessai-san?" The youth asked unexpectedly.

Tessai raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Unfortunately for you I cannot Shiba-dono, my skills lie in Hadō and Bakudō... however, in time I believe I can introduce you to someone who is far more skilled than I am in Kaidō."

"Tessai?" Kisuke's voice had taken on a noticeably more serious tone.

Turning towards his partner and friend of the last century plus more, Tessai sighed deeply before speaking. "I know what I felt down there will demand their involvement sooner rather than later Boss. We can't afford any mistakes after… after what we have done to Shiba-dono."

Ichigo froze. "What do you mean what was done to me Tessai-san? What did you guys do to me?" He swung his head between the blonde-haired man and the dark-haired man in confusion. "Guys, what did you do to me?"

Yoruichi picked up her saucer and sent a slight glare at the now very, very nervous and slightly sweating Urahara. "Oh, don't worry Ichigo… Kisuke only put a very dangerous orb of power in your soul, like he said, nothing much."

Several quiet moments passed before the expected explosion came from the youngest member at their table. "HE DID WHAT!? WHAT DID HE PUT IN ME!?"

Jumping across the table and trying to punch the cowering Kisuke in the face, Ichigo grabbed the other man's haori to keep him from scurrying away. "What's in me dammit!? What the hell is she talking about Geta-Boshi!?"

Casting a glare at the vindictive and rightly offended Yoruichi, the former Squad Twelve Captain looks back at the furious teen in his face and finally decides to explain.

"The night of the fire that claimed your Kazoku, only you and your Imouto survived; survived because somehow one of you used your Hollow powers to escape from the inferno. I know this because Yoruichi found part of a Hollow's mask near your bodies when she rescued you and Tamiko shortly after your escape from the house. I won't apologize for what I did to you Ichigo, but you do deserve to know what I did and why. I decided that night to put what is known as the Hōgyoku inside of your body, your soul because I didn't believe you were the one who was strong enough to summon that power… I honestly thought Tamiko was the stronger of you two and I used you in the hopes of sealing away that power forever."

"Why me? What made you pick me?" Ichigo's pained voice asked.

"Because you were too close to your Okaa-san, too… gentle in your ways. Tamiko though was more like your Tou-san, her behavior more like a Shinigami. I believed that she would become a Shinigami as you had yet to show any tendencies to become one. I honestly felt that you would never be anything but a normal human without any particular skill or ability."

Ichigo stared down at the man with a growing feeling of dread in his chest. The man was right, he loved being near his Mother as much as he could be... but what did that mean about everything he had accomplished so far? Releasing Kisuke, Ichigo abruptly stood up and walked out of the small room without a word or a shout. Yoruichi stood up next when she felt something in Ichigo's retreating Reiatsu that she hadn't felt in years: fear. Sending a glare at her friend, she hurried after the teen who was already outside the shouten.

Kisuke sighed, slumping in his seat and exchanging a look with the partner of his crime. "Well, that went well."

Tessai sipped his tea calmly. "It was your idea, boss."

XXXX

Ichigo began running the moment he stepped outside, not even stopping when he felt Yoruichi following him out. Running from those words, 'didn't believe you were strong enough' that had hurt him deeply. The nightmares he had for weeks after finding out his family was dead always ended with him outside his burning home, Tamiko wrapped in his arms until the blackness swallowed him up. Now, as he ran towards the river, the memories of that night burned bright in his mind, finally becoming clearer as to what had happened on that fateful night where he had lost his family.

It all began when he woke up suddenly to the voice in his head screaming at him to get up and get out of the house. Never questioning the reason why, he had done so; Ichigo remembered himself just running out of his bedroom, remembering the sudden heat of the flames cutting him off from the stairs and his parents' bedroom where his twin baby sisters slept with their Mother and Father. Only one other room was still unaffected by the flames and he could hear Tamiko coughing through the closed door. He was forced back down the hallway as part of the ceiling collapsed and the burning timber blocked him even from trying to get to his parents' bedroom.

Mind numb with shock, he had barged into his sister's room and found her trying to open the window to her room, heat and smoke already seeping up through the floorboards. He had seen through the window that the flames were rising high enough that it would be impossible for them to escape that way. Quickly crossing the room at the urging of the voice in his head, he had grabbed his sister's hand and dragged her away from the rising inferno and back into his room where he shut the door quickly.

'Ichi-nii!' Tamiko had screamed in fright as the sounds of timber falling outside his door was heard, and the heat and smoke that started to seep up through the floorboards of his room signaled that the end would soon be near.

'What do I do!?' He screamed to the voice in his head as thick smoke began billowing directly into his room from the crack beneath his door, Tamiko coughing again as she accidentally inhaled too much smoke.

He then felt a strangeness filling his body as the voice spoke out once again. "Trust me Ichigo, I will protect you."

'Protect Tamiko too!' He begged the voice in his head.

The voice seemed to hesitate, then agreed. "Tamiko too."

The rest of the memories played out effortlessly before his mind, almost as if he were looking through a foggy window at a scene playing outside the window; he saw the white material flow from his mouth and nose, his sister coughing and screaming weakly as she passed out. He saw his arms effortlessly lift his sister's body up before he walked over to the window. He saw a strange light blast a hole through the wall of his house before he stepped through. His memory ended with him easily jumping through the flames and landing in the only clearing that had miraculously escaped the fiery carnage that was even now swallowing up the neighborhood, violent explosions destroying his house and his family behind him as the mask that had covered his face crumbled away along with his consciousness.

"The Queen came seconds afterwards and rescued you King." Zangetsu's voice suddenly spoke up. "I was only able to get you and Tamiko-chan out of the house; Yoruichi is the one who actually saved you and Tamiko from the flames."

Still reeling from his newfound memories, the orange-haired young man nearly snapped at his Zanpakutō. 'Why didn't you tell me any of this, Zangetsu?' He angrily demanded.

Ichigo felt a slight hesitation before the Hollowfied spirit spoke. "Because we are only remembering now, just like you. Shortly after you woke up, Juda and I… well we don't remember what happened to us, our memories have a very large gap in them starting from shortly after you escaped the fire until the point where we woke up once more when you reached Middle School. I am truly sorry."

Ichigo sagged to the ground, his righteous anger draining away as he realized that his Zanpakutō were in the same situation as he was. 'What about that thing in me…?'

"That we have found no indication of, Ichigo. There is nothing here but your inner-world and us, nothing else has ever shown itself to us all these years. If it did we would know." Juda remarked as he joined the conversation. "We will of course endeavor on finding it, but as we have said, we don't believe it is in you any longer."

'Do you know where it went then?' Ichigo felt relief flooding his body at hearing the news.

"Don't know, don't care to be honest Ichigo. Do you?" Zangetsu's usual blasé attitude gave the teen more comfort that he would admit to.

Coming to his senses, Ichigo found himself at a quiet spot along the banks of the river; dropping to his rear, the weight he had felt from earlier evaporated as he stared at the water flowing past him. When Yoruichi sat down beside him, he didn't even think as he leaned against the woman who had taken care of him all these years. Her hand grabbed his as they both stared towards the darkening horizon.

Half an hour later, Yoruichi finally spoke up. "I didn't know until you were already in the Shattered Shaft Ichigo, even then… it would have been too late to stop any of it."

Ichigo squeezed her hand slightly. "It's okay Yoruichi. You should know I remember everything that happened that night now." He felt her hand tightening in response in his grip.

Without being asked, he told Yoruichi everything that had transpired that night; that it was the first time he had heard Zangetsu speaking to him, that it was his Hollowfied Zanpakutō spirit that had woken him up in time to save his sister and himself. He almost choked in grief as he told her how it was impossible for him to reach his parents and the twins as the house was already collapsing from the intense heat and flames. He finally told her that Zangetsu knew it was her who had really saved them all when she showed up just in time to rescue them from the flames.

"As for that thing, the Hōgyoku, all they know is that it's no longer in me." He said as he finished recounting the events of that night.

Feeling Yoruichi shift against him, he looked into her surprised golden orbs as she asked the question that needed asking. "Then where is it Ichigo?"

He shook his head. "As Zangetsu said, don't know, don't care. But Geta-Boshi is going to get his ass kicked for what he did to me, that I promise you Yoruichi."

Seeing his mischievous grin, the Shihōin Princess couldn't help but share in his infectious mood as she kissed his cheek and promised to help him in his revenge.

A promise that was not to be broken.

XXXX Flashback End XXXX

"I hate you."

Those words from Kisuke causes the young male to laugh as he opens his eyes again, seeing the blonde-haired man looking forlornly at the fifth striped hat to be destroyed in their spars.

"Serves you right for giving me such an incentive to beat on you Geta-Boshi. Your own damn fault for making it a condition of our spars to knock that stupid-ass hat off your head. Not feeling so cocky, now are you?" Ichigo cracks a grin as he watches his newest mentor drop his head in defeat.

"Yare, yare, kids these days…" Kisuke's depressed tone is a sure sign that the older man is sorry for his earlier boasting. "No more hats for you Ichigo, I can't afford the prices I pay on Ebay for them."

"Shoo then you hentai, Ichigo and I are going to use the hot springs before we leave for home. He has a test in morning and I want him to study for an hour without any fatigue." Finished with the shopkeeper's bandages, Yoruichi says that as she picks up both of Ichigo's Zanpakutō, the only person other than Ichigo who can touch the fearsome blades without consequence.

The orange-haired teen snickers as he hears Kisuke muttering under his breath about a 'bossy nude neko'. Tessai helps Ichigo to his feet before turning away and walking in the same direction as his friend, his shoulders shaking as he quietly laughs at the unusual relationship Kisuke and Ichigo have developed.

Glancing at the woman next to him, Ichigo sees her eyeing him with a grin. "You wanna race don't ya?"

"Of course, Ichigo. You up to it?" She remarks as she sets her feet slightly apart.

"One." He starts.

"Two." She says.

"Threeeee!" Both shout as they disappear in a flash.

Yoruichi arrives first at the hot spring, half a breath ahead of Ichigo who appears next to her with a smile. He pauses when he sees Yoruichi giving him the once over again before she gently sets his blades against an outcropping of rocks. Having bathed with her almost every day, he doesn't turn away as she pulls her bright yellow-shirt over her head, revealing her mocha-skinned chest that has no need for undergarments to help support her firm breasts. Shaking his head as he begins to disrobe as well, he sees her shimmying her pants down her long-toned legs before finally removing the only other item she has grown used to wearing in his presence, her black thong underwear. Once they both pile their clothes together, she takes his hand and guides him into the healing waters of the hot spring. Knowing from previous arguments that she won't accept anything less, he sits down first with Yoruichi sitting behind him, her hands finding his neck and shoulder blades first. Neither is he ashamed when the first sounds of moaning contentment escape his lips.

Ichigo swears that falling asleep and drowning in the hot springs isn't a bad way to go, what with how great her hands feel as they take the stiffness and aches out of his body from the ministrations she uses on him.

"You start tomorrow night Ichigo." Yoruichi suddenly remarks, startling him to wakefulness.

Twisting to look over his shoulder in confusion, he asks what she means.

"Tomorrow night, you will begin patrolling Karakura Town; I'll be with you to give pointers and help if you run into something you can't fight on your own. I hope you are prepared for what you might witness Ichigo, and remember what I told you about always attacking the Mask first and preferably from behind."

Nodding his head, he does remember what Yoruichi had taught him about Hollows: that they are corrupted human souls that didn't pass over to Soul Society. It is taught to all Shinigami to strike the Mask fast and hard to purify the Hollow, lest they end up seeing what might be under the Mask, the possible face of the human soul it once was.

"What happens if I run into Ishida?" Ichigo keeps his face turned away but Yoruichi pinches his side, knowing he is grinning.

"I should let him put a few holes in you as a lesson, but then I would be the one stitching those holes up." She pinches him again before caressing him as she finishes. "My turn."

"Yes, yes bossy nude neko."

XXXX

Arriving at the shouten early in the morning just as she and Ichigo had planned the night before, the pair make their way inside the building before splitting up, Yoruichi making her way towards the back of the building while Ichigo heads towards the dining room where Tessai is waiting for him with tea. Stopping before a familiar door, she knocks once and waits until she is told to come in. Sliding the door open, she steps in and sees the blonde-haired scientist fiddling with something lying on his table.

"Is that it?" She asks as she makes her way into the room.

Stepping aside, Kisuke gestures grandly towards the Gigai that is revealed lying on the table; thankfully, it is completely dressed.

"It's perfect Kisuke." Yoruichi whispers as she trails her hand down the lightly tan-skinned body. "Can I?"

"Go ahead, it's ready for you. Once you get it on, I'll have to make a few adjustments so you don't feel so cramped inside of it."

Frowning slightly as Yoruichi ignores his squeezy-hand gestures, Kisuke watches his friend lift the Gigai easily and then slip inside like the professional she is. Despite his earlier insinuation, Kisuke is completely professional as well, taking a few measurements with one of his gadgets before declaring it almost perfect. Tapping the table once, he waits for Yoruichi to hop back up so he can make the final adjustments to her new form.

"You sure he's gonna be able to handle this 'new' you kitten?" The blonde-haired exile asks as he makes some minor changes to her body for better performance.

Looking over her new body, the Shihōin's lips curl upwards. "Who knows. I just can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees me in this."

Reaching into a cupboard, Kisuke chuckles as he hands Yoruichi her new book-bag. "You really meant what you said that day, didn't you?"

Light blue orbs gaze into his searching gray orbs. "I thought I'd never find this feeling again Kisuke, and I sure as hell ain't about to let it slip through my fingers a second time. Besides, I am bored waiting all day for him to come home after school. Now, at least I get to be with him and who knows, maybe this will help us develop as a 'normal human couple' would." She hops off the table with a smirk. "Now, do you want to see his expression when he sees the 'new' me?"

Kisuke snaps his fan open, motioning for her to leave first while he follows behind. Keeping a few paces between them, he can hear Ichigo and Tessai speaking about some of the higher level Kidō they were going to start working on when Yoruichi walks into the room and Ichigo's voice suddenly stops. Grinning as he pokes his head into the door, he sees the younger man's eyes wide open and staring at the Gigai his oldest friend is now using.

"Is-is that really you Yoruichi?" Ichigo's eyes are completely transfixed by her.

Gone is the purple hair and golden eyes denoting the Shihōin Princess he is so used to seeing every day at home and at the shouten. Instead, he sees a much younger-looking teenager with very light-brown hair cut close and short in the back to expose her neck and spiking slightly from the sides. Her body still retains Yoruichi's shape, her full curvy chest and long slender limbs hiding deceptive power. Finishing her disguise are a pair of glasses with light-blue eyes twinkling from behind them as they take in the stunned teenage Shinigami sitting before her with a gobsmacked expression, with Tessai sitting beside him forgotten and smiling as he sips his cup of tea while listening to Ichigo attempt to speak intelligently.

"Y-you…" Ichigo's voice cracks as he hurriedly stands to his feet. "I can honestly say I wouldn't have known it was you if I hadn't been forewarned by Tessai-san. The Gigai looks incredible Geta-Boshi, though it does bring up why does she have to look so different than what she really looks like."

Yoruichi frowns slightly as she answers. "We didn't want certain busy-bodies trying to find out who you are if they spot me near you in my old Gigai, Ichigo. Aizen would instantly know something is going on if he even sees me once in your company, he might even deduce who you could be fairly quickly. So, Kisuke and Tessai came up with this Gigai that will retain its own shape rather than my Spiritual form." She ends with a slight smirk at the cleverness of their disguise.

Keeping his own smile frozen in place, Ichigo pushes down on the forming knot in his stomach that had appeared the moment he was reminded of Aizen's habit of periodically sending spy-cameras to Karakura to keep tabs on his younger sister's growth. The first time he heard of it, he had flipped out when Kisuke forbade him from going after those cameras.

'Do you want him to know you exist Ichigo? Do you want him to come here to investigate what is destroying his cameras? Do you want him to make his move before you are ready to help us in our fight against him simply because he found out that you are still alive? I know how much it angers you being unable to do anything, but I need you to wait and make him pay for his crimes only when you are ready, not beforehand, not when you are still no match for him.'

He had hated Geta-Boshi for all of an hour after that serious warning; it was only when he was playing Shogi with Tessai to calm down and the older man had explained the different pieces to him that he finally understood what Kisuke was truly telling him. All of them, they were pieces on a chessboard, playing a game that no one could predict the final outcome to be, with a plan that hinged on him being overlooked by their opponent until he was in position to strike. Geta-Boshi wanted him to play smart and make it to the other side of that board before Aizen counted him as a threat, even if it meant other pieces would be put in danger to buy him a distraction. Resigned to that fact, Ichigo never brought it up again.

The young man is brought out of his dark memories when Yoruichi takes his hand in hers, the look of worry evident in her eyes.

"Sorry Yoruichi, just remembering things." Ichigo apologizes. "So, when do you plan on actually coming to school with me?"

Yoruichi's smile turns mischievous as she looks into his eyes. "Today as a matter-of-fact. I had Tessai register me yesterday as my 'guardian'. We also have a plan in place if I have to come to school at the same time my 'younger self' has to be there as well."

When she doesn't elaborate, he can only assume that it has something to do with the other exiles he has yet to meet. Kisuke and Tessai are both tight-lipped about them and the only thing Yoruichi has said about them is that they were never given the chance to defend themselves before Central Forty-Six. Assuming that one of these 'Vizards' are part of their plan, Ichigo doesn't push for an answer, instead grabbing his book-bag and then pulling Yoruichi's hand.

"Thanks for the tea Tessai-san. See you later Geta-Boshi."

Yoruichi waves over her shoulder as she lets Ichigo lead them back to the front of the store.

Waving back at the departing Shihōin princess, Kisuke finally sighs as he watches them disappear around the corner. "I'm glad you got a second chance at love Yoruichi." He then pulls out a well-worn locket from inside his haori, the faded paint of a woman's face on the portrait within as she gazes back at him, her smile reaching up to her emerald orbs and blonde hair. He doesn't acknowledge Tessai leaving for another part of the store, the larger man unwilling to watch the sight he has only borne witness to once before.

"I miss you…" Kisuke's hand never rises to wipe away the tears that form in his eyes.

XXXX

"Are you looking forward to this Yoruichi?" Ichigo quietly asks as they walk down the street.

The disguised Shihōin Princess shrugs her shoulders indifferently. "It beats sitting at home every day waiting for you. Besides, it might be interesting to learn how much this world has changed in the last forty plus years."

Ichigo looked surprised by this. "You went to school in the World of the Living before?"

Smiling, the disguised Shinigami answers. "For a few years in the Nineteen-Sixties. It... was interesting to say the least, Japan was growing as an independent nation after the Occupation and her economic miracle during those years were astonishing. That was when I last went to school Ichigo, I was bored and needed something to do, so I enrolled in a few 'traditional' classes, but what I saw... what I saw back then really showed me how far behind Soul Society is when compared to the Living World... even then, I found myself envying the living."

"High school will be pretty boring if you already went to University Yoruichi." Ichigo remarks. "And..."

"And what Ichigo?"

"Best tell her and get it over with King. You try and lie to her and she sees it firsthand, well... I'd hate to be you when you get home tonight."

"I must agree Ichigo, telling the truth now will save you an uncomfortable night with Yoruichi-dono." Juda adds.

"Ichigo?" This time Yoruichi's voice demands an answer.

Rubbing the back of his head nervously, he stutters with his reply. "W-well, ah, you see Yoruichi, I haven't been completely honest about how school's been going. Before you ask, no, I haven't been bothered by any bullies, I solved that the first day by beating up the largest gang the school had." He flushed uncomfortably at her raised eyebrow. "See... the problem is... well, the problem is because of that... I might... I might have found myself... the unwilling recipient of... numerous love notes in my shoe locker..."

Yoruichi's expression could have frozen vapor into ice. "What love letters Ichi-kun?"

'Oh, shit! She's pissed!' Ichigo frantically thinks.

"Get on with it King, now's the time to find out where you do stand with her."

"I keep telling them I... I keep telling them that... there is someone... I love..."

"Who?" The Exiled Shinigami Captain asks, now looking rather uncertain and insecure.

Sweating in nervousness as he turns to face the woman next to him, Ichigo replays her words in his mind as he answers. "That night of the Shattered Shaft, y-you said I was yours. Does, does that mean what I think it means Yoruichi? That, that you see me as something more than your... than your son?"

Blue eyes widen in surprise as Yoruichi spies something she isn't expecting to see in Ichigo's eyes, desperate hopefulness. Her own heart begins to beat faster. "I told Kisuke that night that I love you Ichigo, the same way Isshin had fallen in love with Masaki after they had each saved one another. I told him that somewhere during those years when we hid ourselves away from the world, my feelings had shifted from loving you as my son towards wanting to be … wanting to be the woman who you would call as yours..."

Ichigo's eyes had grown completely wide by now. "R-really?"

Closing the distance between herself and Ichigo, Yoruichi places her hand on his heart. "Is it so wrong for me to fall in love with you Ichigo?"

Placing his hands over the one covering his heart, Ichigo stares into Yoruichi's waiting blue orbs. The constant arguments that he had with both Zangetsu and Juda over the weeks since the night of the Shattered Shaft, about him not trusting his instincts with regards to what Yoruichi had said before he cut his Chain of Fate once again come to the forefront of his thoughts. Zangetsu sparred with him mercilessly to drive home the point that Ichigo was still ignoring his instincts, that he would always try and think things through far too often and it would cost him dearly one day if he didn't make use of what was rightfully his, his Hollow instincts, his ability to react naturally to problems instead of always trying to reason things out. Juda on the other hand did advocate thinking things through, but only of situations that demanded tactical and strategic thought before getting into those battles, and once a decision was made he expected Ichigo to commit himself to it. Now, as he stands before Yoruichi, his instincts are screaming at him and for once, he obeys without questioning them.

"No. No, Yoruichi. Just, just that I... I've never done this before Yoruichi. I don't know what to do." Uncertain of what he is doing but trying his best to convey what he means, he squeezes her hand tighter to himself.

Yoruichi's face suddenly relaxes as she smiles back into his orbs. "Does that mean you want to try Ichigo? You and me?"

Ichigo rubs his head bashfully. "Yeah, I wanna try Yoruichi, but you're going to have to allow me some room to make mistakes and learn from them as I have no idea of what being in a relationship means. The only references I can count on are those crappy dramas you watch at night." He remarks with a slight grin.

Ignoring the blatant jab at her choice of entertainment, Yoruichi tightens her grip on Ichigo's shirt, pulling him forward until her lips are brushing against his once again. "Then, as your Sensei, it will be my honor to help you learn what that means Ichigo."

Seeing her half-lidded, desiring eyes, he mirrors her actions as he pulls her closer towards him. "I look forward to it Yoruichi."

"Unfortunately, we have to hurry or we'll be late for my first day Ichigo." Yoruichi suddenly quips as she pushes herself from Ichigo. "I don't want to gain a reputation for tardiness my first day now would I?"

Ichigo nearly gapes, until he sees Yoruichi's eyes sparkling with joy and the cheeky smile on her face. Relaxing as he realizes she means every word that she said, he checks his watch and his eyes widen. "Shit! We gotta run Yoruichi! Or can you Shunpo in that Gigai?" He asks as he quickly does a Reiatsu scan to check that no one is in their immediate area.

Yoruichi slips her arm through his again and answers back. "I told Kisuke to give me a Gigai capable of using my Reiatsu, so yes I can use Shunpo." She grins mischievously as an idea comes to mind.

"Good, so we...Yoruichiiiiiii!" Ichigo's scream echoes among the buildings as they disappear from view.

After a moment, two men reveal themselves from beneath a weird cloak that seems to blend into the background. The blonde-haired man turns to his counterpart who folds the cloak away neatly. "So, that's him Tessai?"

The taller man nods calmly. "Yes, it was Shinji. The sooner you and your group meet him, the better off for everyone, especially if what Kisuke thinks about his Zanpakutō spirits is true."

The former Captain of Squad Five sticks his hands back into his pants pockets and nods his head sharply. "I'll talk it over with them, we'll let you know our answer by the end of the week."

The former Kidō Corps Commander bows his head fractionally. "Until then Shinji."

"Later." The Vizard waves over his shoulder as he walks away.

Waiting until his fellow Exile is gone from sight, Tessai lets a smile form on his face as he heads back towards the shouten. "Take care of her Ichigo. I don't envy you one bit, especially not when the nobles of Soul Society find out about you and Shihōin-dono..."

XXXX

After being dropped out of Shunpo in a deserted alleyway near the High School, Ichigo quickly sticks his hand out to steady himself on the nearest brick wall. "Dammit Yoruichi, we could've gotten caught!"

The disguised Shinigami rolls her eyes at his statement before slipping her arm through his and pulling him along. "That will never happen Ichi-kun, I'm not called the Goddess of Flash without reason. No mere human could ever hope to see me, in fact not many Shinigami can either. Besides, Aizen hasn't sent one of his nosy camera-bugs around for quite some time, so I think today should be made an exception. Now come along, you have to show me to the main office so I can get my schedule."

Ichigo speeds up slightly so he is walking by her side. "Fine, fine. By the way, what name are you going to be using?" He whisper-asks as he guides Yoruichi along the sidewalk, never seeing the shocked faces of several First-year students that had been coming up behind them.

Sensing the dagger-eyed stares from the people behind her, Yoruichi glances over her shoulder and sending a wink at the group of girls walking behind them as she replies just as quietly. "Yamada Akemi. My Kaa-chan's name."

Unware of her actions, Ichigo glances as his partner. "You never told me their names."

Frowning slightly, Yoruichi presses up against Ichigo as they walk through the main gate. "It never seemed like a good time to bring them up honestly. I... I haven't thought about my parents in decades, I left without being able to tell them what was going on and never had the chance to contact them since then. Maybe one day that will change."

"Yeah, one day... Akemi-chan."

Sensing the increasing hostility from the girls behind them, Yoruichi suddenly plays coy. "You are so forward Watanabe-kun... Is that how you smooth-talked all of those young hearts into throwing themselves at your feet?"

Ichigo nearly sputters in shock, as well as the girls following behind them. "D-dammit, no!" His face turns red as Yoruichi laughs, hugging his arm to her ample chest.

"Come on lover-boy, I need my schedule before the first bell rings." Her voice carries clearly over the courtyard, heard by all the watching and gossiping female students who are spreading the word that the number one most desirable male in their school is being taken by a newcomer.

XXXX

Yoruichi stands outside in the hallway waiting for her teacher, Ms. Ochi, to accept her transference into her class. Moments later, she hears the dark-haired woman yelling at the class inside to quiet down, before calling for her to enter. Entering quickly, the disguised Yoruichi walks over to the side of the teacher's desk and bows to the class after writing her name on the board.

"My name is Yamada Akemi. Please take care of me, thank you."

Knowing the looks of her Gigai, Yoruichi isn't surprised by the cat-calls and whistles coming from the males of the class, but she is surprised when the girls of the class begin darting their eyes towards the scowling orange-haired teen sitting in the back row of the classroom. She can feel a mixture of envy and uncertainty coming from most of them, though some seem genuinely welcoming or indifferent towards her.

"Shut it you morons or its detention for the next two weeks! Now, Yamada-chan do you mind answering a few questions from your new classmates?" Ms. Ochi asks after barking at her class.

Shaking her head, Yoruichi smiles at the now quieter class. "As long as it doesn't pertain to my private life, sure, I'll answer a few."

The first hand up belongs to a rough looking teen with badly dyed blonde hair. "You wanna go out with me? I can show you around and meet some other interesting people..."

"Ah, no. Next." Yoruichi's dismissal isn't taken too well however.

"What, you too good for me Princess?" The boy sneers as he leans forward and thumps his table.

Yoruichi smirks as she gives him a condescending look. "For you, yes. Next question."

Ignoring the sputtering blonde, a girl in the second row raises her hand. "If you don't mind answering Yamada-san, how do you know Watanabe-san? I only ask because a few of us saw you two walking together before school."

"We do because our families are well acquainted with one another." Yoruichi answers, deciding to leave it as that.

After a few more mundane questions, the last one perks up her interest. "Are you planning on joining any clubs? If you are interested, we are in need of an alternative member for our Karate club, we are barely meeting the numbers needed to participate in tournaments against other schools and our other alternate is out sick indefinitely."

Nodding her head, Yoruichi smiles as she answers. "I'll stop by and watch your practice today before making up my mind. Is that sufficient for now?"

The girl's thankful reply was drowned out by a rude voice. "You? Karate? You look a nerd, you couldn't possibly know how to fight." The blonde-haired punk who was shot down earlier is the same one to insult her. Having lost face from her rejection, he now wants to tear down her image as much as possible.

Before Yoruichi can answer however, an unexpected person speaks up for her. "Then challenge her."

All heads including Yoruichi and Ms. Ochi swivel towards the person who had spoken. "Watanabe-kun?"

Ichigo keeps his glare focused on the dyed-haired punk and repeats his words slowly. "Challenge her then, you moron. You think she is some kind of porcelain doll who can't fight, or a 'nerd' who has her head buried in books all day? Then fight her. As someone who has fought against her almost daily for the last eight years, and having seen you 'fight' before, I can tell that you might last two, maybe three minutes' tops before she puts you to the mat, and that's only if she's playing nice with you."

The air quotes around 'fight' and Ichigo's sarcasm is the last straw for the insulted punk, and he jumps to his feet, spitting as he yells back. "Fuck you, asshole! Just because you beat up Tsuneo-senpai doesn't mean this bitch can beat me!"

Ms. Ochi slams her hands on her desk. "Language! Now apologize to Yamada-chan, and then march yourself to the..."

Yoruichi coughs politely to interrupt Ms. Ochi. "It's okay Sensei, I'm not bothered by mere words; as Watanabe-kun said earlier, I am not a delicate flower that needs to be protected, so if this classmate agrees to a fair bout after school today, I will consider the matter closed."

"Fine! Don't come crying to the teachers when I crush you, you smug bitch!" The dyed-haired teen growls as he plops back in his chair, still glaring at both Ichigo and 'Yamada Akemi', the former rolling his eyes and leaning back in his chair completely unperturbed by the boy, and the latter nodding towards the girl from the Karate club before turning to look at Ms. Ochi.

Somewhat caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Ms. Ochi casts about for something to say. "Well then, let's settle your seating arrangements. Yamada-chan, you can sit in front of Watanabe-kun. Miho-chan, if you don't mind helping her settle in?"

Yoruichi moves to the empty seat in front of Ichigo and smiles when she sees him pulling uncomfortably at his collar, after she adds a bit of sway to her hips as she walks up to her seat. Twirling and gracefully settling in butt-first, she hears him cough loudly, smiling as she knows what she has discreetly given him a view of.

"Damn tease." The muttered voice could be heard from Ichigo behind her.

She grins, not bothering to answer out loud. 'You like it though, don't you?'

XXXX

Ryūken stares at the now hung-up phone, the person on the other line didn't give him a chance to talk before they ended the call, but what Kisuke said did peak his interest.

'Take a stroll tonight Ishida-sensei, there are sure to be... some unusual sights out and about.'

Shaking his head, the doctor pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. Ever since that night when Masaki involved herself with the Shinigami, his own world had changed as well. Not only did he lose his fiancée, one he wasn't sure was too keen on getting married to him to begin with, but he also found out that the woman he did love had been at his side all along. Glancing at the only photo to decorate his desk, Ryūken sighs at the reminder that Uryū had lost the only other person who meant anything to him.

His own father, Sōken, died because of his belief that Quincy and Shinigami could work together, only for those same Shinigami to betray him by leaving him to die at the hands of the Hollows he was fighting. Uryū, after some serious cajoling, had told him what he had witnessed, that the Shinigami had grabbed his Father's soul and took him to someone named Kurotsuchi. The fact that Uryū had to witness that betrayal only cemented in his son's young mind that Shinigami, all Shinigami were inherently evil and were not needed to defend human souls.

Now his cousin had returned from being 'dead' and worse, was one of those very beings he hated.

'I wish you were here to help me with our Musuko, Kanae...'

XXXX

Walking towards the gymnasium, Ichigo and Yoruichi soon realize that every student they walk past is giving them very strange looks, and when they actually arrive at the gym, they find out why. Nearly every bleacher has been pulled out and the gym is filled with hundreds of chattering students who all grow silent with expectation when the pair stop just inside the cavernous room. Yoruichi wordlessly hands Ichigo her bag and turns towards the female locker room, but before she can move, she feels his hand tighten on her wrist. Twisting back to see what he wants, she finds his face filling her vision, and then his lips pressing gently on hers before he pulls away.

"I'd say be careful, but I won't. Make it a match everyone will remember." Smiling, he releases her hand and starts to walk towards an empty place near the locker room.

Touching her lips, Yoruichi smiles and heads into the locker room, where she finds most of the girls Karate team waiting for her already. In the hands of the Third-Year student team Captain is a complete set of Gi.

"Are you sure about this Yamada-san? Katsuo is a fifth-degree Black Belt, believe it or not, which is probably why he is such a dick because he hasn't ever lost a fight yet." The Karate Team Captain says. She ignores her fellow teammates muttering about Katsuo being undefeated because he is too cowardly to face Ichigo.

Having heard of the Captain's name from her newest classmate, Yoruichi replies with a smile. "I'll be okay, Fujioka-senpai. As Watanabe-kun said in class, we have been training for a number of years, so I should be fine. Thanks for telling me what his Dan is though, it will be nice to see his face when I kick his ass in front of everyone here."

After changing into her borrowed Gi, Yoruichi walks casually towards the mats where her opponent is waiting. A middle-aged man is also standing there in the middle of the mats, most likely a teacher. Bowing to the man who is obviously going to be the referee, Yoruichi steps onto the mats and inclines her head politely to the teen facing her, narrowing her eyes at the smirk on his lips as he lets his eyes wander up and down her body.

"You actually look pretty good in those. Hopefully my hands won't slip and touch something by 'accident'." The blonde punk sneers lecherously.

Lifting one eyebrow in disgust, Yoruichi turns to the referee who simply stares back at her. "I'm ready."

The man nods once and looks at the other fighter, who simply nods confidently. Striding to the center, he looks at both combatants and speaks loud enough for the crowded gymnasium to hear.

"I want a clean bout, no illegal moves allowed and no groping or you are done." Lowering his hand in a chopping motion, he raises it and swiftly steps back, only to gape as Yoruichi crosses the distance to the other teen in a heartbeat and pokes him in the forehead, hard. To the shock of all who are watching, the force of her poke is enough to send the dyed-haired teen stumbling backwards, his arms flailing wildly to keep his balance.

Planting her hand on her hip, Yoruichi smirks at the wide-eyed punk. "Is that all you've got? Just one poke and you're done?"

Face flushing angrily at the insinuation, Katsuo charges at her, hands raised in claws to grab at her. Raising her eyebrows in mock surprise, Yoruichi sways easily between his attacks, casually deflecting his hands with light chops and stepping away every time he tries to close the gap between them. Growling in frustration at the continuous thwarting of his attacks, Katsuo suddenly throws himself forward, hoping to catch his opponent off guard with a full-body tackle.

Hearing some people in the audience scream out in shock, Yoruichi reacts swiftly; as Katsuo approaches, she suddenly grabs his head and pulls him forcefully down, using the same momentum to flip herself gracefully over his head and landing lightly on her feet while Katsuo is sent sprawling ungracefully on the floor behind her. As the seething boy scrambles to his feet, Yoruichi adds insult to injury by planting a foot on his bottom and shoving him forward, sending the teen tumbling head over heels again.

When the enraged and humiliated teen scrambles to his feet for the second time, he sees his opponent standing in the same position as she was previously while watching him casually, a faint smirk plastered on her face. "I heard you were a fifth-Dan, Katsuo... Surely you can do better than that?" Her tone is clearly mocking. "Aren't you supposed to be undefeated so far?"

Humiliated beyond all reasoning, the blonde punk lets out a howl of rage and attacks Yoruichi furiously, fists and feet flying wildly in an attempt to hit her. Surprisingly enough, his sloppy form seems to have tightened up and his attacks are far more precise and dangerous now, which is the most likely reason for him being able to claim that he was undefeated in battle thus far. Many of the students who have witnessed him beating up others or have been on the receiving end of one of his beatings grip the edge of their seats in panic, praying that the newcomer girl will not suffer the same fate that so many others have...

Their prayer is answered as Yoruichi's playful demeanor vanishes and is replaced by cold deliberation. Ignoring the screams from the audience as she steps into his attack, the Shihōin Princess calmly parries two blows before grabbing Katsuo's wrist and slamming her other hand on his shoulder. There is a sickening pop as the blonde punk's shoulder is dislocated, the howl of pain from the teen magnified when Yoruichi stomps deliberately on his foot and repeats the action on his other shoulder, the force of her blow dropping the teen to the floor. Ignoring the way his body is writhing in pain, her foot snaps out twice, each hit accompanied by another pop as his knee joints are both dislocated as well.

Standing over her disabled opponent, she looks down coldly at him, seeing a mixture of pain and horror on his face. If he was truly an enemy, now would be the time to execute him, or perhaps torture him for information... Fortunately for him, he is just an ignorant little brat who thinks too highly of his own abilities.

"Lights out, punk." With a swift strike, she knocks him out before turning to face the teacher, an innocent look on her face. "So, do I win?"

There is a moment of stunned silence, which is broken when the teacher steps forward and raises his hand. "Shousa: Yamada Akemi!"

As his announcement is made, the crowd of teens who had witnessed Yoruichi defeat the notorious bully immediately burst into cheers and loud applause, the sound drowning out all possible conversation in the building. The members of the Karate club all rush out from the bleachers where they had been watching, surrounding Yoruichi with wide smiles on each of their faces and piling her with hugs, but none more so than the Captain who looks as if a gift had fallen out of the Heavens and landed right in front of her. Even the teachers who are watching the match look fairly impressed, although several of them are concerned with the way Yoruichi had viciously dismantled her opponent before knocking him out. The only ones who look truly unhappy with the outcome of the match are a group of furious looking teens who are standing near one of the exits, many of them wearing their uniforms sloppily and having dyed hair or facial piercings. Seeing them, Yoruichi's eyes narrow as she realizes that they must be Katsuo's gang, and when she notices Ichigo standing to his feet and glaring at the same teens who he notices are glaring at her, she weaves past the Karate club and walks up to her boyfriend, stepping in front of his face and pulling it gently down to her level.

"We'll deal with them later." She whispers, her eyes locking his in place.

His eyes flicker towards the glaring punks before back to her once more, then he finally gives in. "Later then. You going to shower here or wait until we get home to take a bath?"

Smirking, she presses herself up against his body, ignoring the gasps from the nearby audience at witnessing her overt actions. "How about we go home and take a bath... so we can take one together?" She whispers huskily into his ear.

Yoruichi feels his pulse quicken and his body temperature rise. "I'll take that as a yes, Watanabe-kun... Wait for me here while I go and change."

Ichigo swallows as he tries to maintain an impassive look. "Sure thing."

Snickering, Yoruichi heads into the girl's locker room to change. It takes her some time as she has to accept the numerous congratulations coming from the Girls Karate Club who have trooped in to join her, along with working out an agreement to join the team as their new alternate. She found it incredibly amusing when their Captain hugged her with teary eyes, happily declaring that they finally stood a chance to get to the championships. Finally coming out of the locker room and waving goodbye to the Karate Club, she found the gym to be mostly deserted except for a few lingering groups of students who are still discussing the match, waving at her as she makes her way over to Ichigo. The orange-haired young man turns in time to see her saunter towards him, and a brief smile perks up his lips as he stretches one hand out towards her.

"Ready to go?" He asks.

Nodding, she takes his hand and lets him take the lead. "We should get in a nap after our bath Ichigo, tonight is going to be your first night to hunt Hollows." She says quietly as he leads them out of the school. "Are you nervous?"

Shrugging his shoulders once, he replies. "Not really, I guess it's in my blood to want to fight Hollows. Kaa-chan and Otou-san both did this, so I guess I'm finally joining the 'family business' as they would say." He pauses. "I hope they would be proud."

Yoruichi doesn't answer, merely squeezing his hand comfortingly.

They remain in comfortable silence as they walk home, neither of them speaking even when they finally reach the house. Once they are inside, Ichigo proceeds directly to their room with their book bags, while Yoruichi leaves to find Mia. Upon finding the mod-soul in the kitchen, Yoruichi instructs her to wake them up at seven-thirty P.M. in order for them to get to Urahara's at a decent hour. Returning to the room she shares with Ichigo, she strips out of her uniform and slides open the door to the bathroom only to see Ichigo already sitting on a stool and waiting for her. She moves towards her own stool only for him to grab her hand and turn her to face him. Grasping her cheek gently, he pulls her down until her face is inches away from his, then she cups his face and brings their lips together for a chaste kiss, which soon deepens into something more as he pulls her entire body down onto his lap and crushes her to him.

When they part, he is breathing slightly faster than normal as he speaks to her. "Sorry, I have been wanting to do that ever since you won your fight..."

Yoruichi simply smiles, grinding herself lightly into his lap with a purr. "Ehmm, if I get that after every fight I win, I might get addicted to your rewards Ichigo." With a sigh, she lifts her body off of his lap and moves to sit on her stool, her eyes flicking towards his groin. "As much as I would love to sit on your lap however, we do have to get a nap in."

Having been trained well by Yoruichi, Ichigo shows no sign of embarrassment despite his clear state of his arousal. "I know, I know. Question though, does cleaning your Gigai translate into your soul getting clean?" He asks as she tilts her head forward, allowing him to pour the first bucket of water over her head to wash her hair.

"Something like that, Kisuke never did go into too much detail about how these Gigai of his work." Yoruichi comments, pushing her wet hair back from her face. "Though, I suspect they are truly human in their construct; how else could he explain you and your Imouto?"

Hearing Ichigo grunting his agreement, she sits still as she feels his hands begin to wash her body after another bucket of water is poured over her. At first, she doesn't notice anything unusual, but as his hands travel over her body she realizes he is definitely washing her much differently than before. His hands explore every inch of her skin, long sliding touches and gentle caresses as he washes her body and then moves on to her hair. When he tilts her head back to rinse her hair, she can see him staring into her orbs before she closes them and she hears him uttering one word. "Mine."

XXXX

Tessai and Ururu both pause when Ichigo and Yoruichi walk into the shop just after eight-thirty, in the orange-haired teen's hand is several boxes of Pocky. Tessai watches as the young man approaches Ururu and hands her the snacks, ruffling her hair before giving a nod to the Kidō Commander.

"Yo, Tessai, is it alright for her to have them?"

The larger man gives him a wry look. "Of course, Shiba-dono. The Boss will be with you shortly." Pointing to the rear of the shouten, Tessai gives Ururu a nod when she looks up questioningly at him.

"This way please Ichigo." The shy younger girl says as she takes Ichigo's hand and leads him in.

"Ururu, what did I tell you before?"

Blushing faintly, the pigtailed girl quietly speaks again. "Sorry… Ichi-nii."

"Better. See ya downstairs Yoruichi, Tessai."

Giving him an acknowledging nod, the burly muscled man watches as Ichigo walks with Ururu who shares some of her chocolate banana-flavored Pocky with the orange-haired teen. Noticing that Yoruichi is intently watching the two youngsters retreating further back into the shouten, Tessai looks at her and has to hide his surprise when he sees a fawning look in the Shihōin Princess' eyes. Thinking it wise to keep this memory to himself, he discreetly slips away through another doorway leading into the back, where he finds Kisuke lying on his futon with his face covered by his hat.

"They're here Boss." Tessai calls through the open doorway.

Lifting his hat, Kisuke's eyes slowly open. "'Bout time they showed up."

Jumping to his feet, Kisuke grabs Benihime and strolls over to the trap-door leading to his training dimension, where he can feel Ichigo's Reiatsu flaring in annoyance and Jinta's Reiatsu flaring in fear; rolling his eyes, he wonders if the younger boy is getting his ass beat again for picking on Ururu in front of the older teen. Dropping down through the open hatch, he lands lightly and easily finds Tessai and Yoruichi shaking their heads in mirth as they observe Ichigo holding Jinta down and encouraging Ururu to spank the struggling red-head.

The former Captain walks up to his fellow exiles, watching for several more minutes before deciding to help his younger charge.

"I believe he's had enough disciplining Ichi-ch…" Kisuke stops when he notices the sudden black bleeding into the white of the teen's eyes. "Well, as I was saying, perhaps you could let Jinta go for now, he does have his uses around the shouten."

Grumbling, the orange-haired teen reluctantly releases a very grateful and embarrassed looking Jinta. The younger boy pushes his luck by pulling his eyelid down and sticking his tongue out at Ichigo, only to receive a fist to the top of his head.

"I believe you should stop while you're ahead Jinta-chan." Tessai admonishes the young boy as he grabs the back of his shirt and hauls him back up. "Ururu, we should return to our duties."

"Hai, Tessai-san. Good luck tonight Ichi-nii, Shihōin-san." The dark-pigtailed girl says with a deep bow before following the hulking form of the Kidō master back to shop.

Once they are gone, Kisuke lifts his cane and knocks the waiting Ichigo out of his body, with Yoruichi standing behind ready to catch the young man's empty body. Ichigo then returns the favor and catches her new Gigai after she lets Kisuke push her out of the body.

"We really should think about getting some Gikongan Yoruichi, might save my ass one day." Ichigo says as he carries their bodies to their usual resting spot near the hot springs.

"Kisuke, got any of those new ones I heard rumors of?" The were-cat asks as she stretches her limbs. "Also, we should do some adjustments with my Gigai, it's starting to feel a bit stuffy."

"We'll work on it when you get back from your first patrol with Ichigo. Now, do you feel that you are ready Ichigo?" Kisuke's mood turns serious as he looks at the teen.

Nodding only once, Ichigo stays quiet as he waits for his instructions. As it turns out, the first one already tests him sorely.

"Leave Zangetsu here. Before you argue I will explain. I want to see how proficient your Kidō and Hakuda are, and I want you to keep your Zanpakutō from being seen tonight if Aizen gets curious. Best that we keep him in the dark for as long as possible, at least until he figures out that you are no rogue member of the Shihōin Clan." Kisuke emphasizes his point by tapping Ichigo's uniform. "This is not given away lightly, he'll try very hard to find out who you are the moment he sees this uniform, so when you sense a spy camera, I want you to disappear as fast you can, Reiatsu and all."

Ichigo frowns, but nods. "I understand." He winces when his two spirits immediately voice their vocal dislike of the plan.

'Guys, let's see how this pans out, just for a little bit.'

"At least promise if things go sideways, you won't hesitate to call on us?"

'I won't.' Ichigo remarks even as he acknowledges the unease from both his spirits.

Feeling twin sets of eyes staring quizzically at him, he hurries to explain. "They wanted to give me their opinion." Ichigo shifts nervously as Kisuke stares at him, then at the dual Zanpakutō now propped up next to his and Yoruichi's bodies, grey eyes flickering with interest.

"...Perhaps because they are hybrid Zanpakutō..." The scientist suddenly remarks.

"Huh?" Ichigo and Yoruichi reply in unison.

"Hybrids, that has to be a clue as to why you can communicate with them so effortlessly. Zangetsu is the Hollow that infected Masaki, which passed on to you and perhaps left some remnants in Tamiko as well..." The blonde-haired exile explains. "I wonder…"

"Wonder what Geta-Boshi?" Ichigo asks when the elder Shinigami stops speaking.

"What? Oh, sorry, just a theory for now Ichigo, when I have more data I will tell you. Back to your mission for tonight: use your stealth and speed to your advantage when dealing with any Hollow you encounter. Yoruichi, I believe this last part is your purview."

The Shihōin Princess nods, then turns to face her protégé. "Ichigo."

Turning until he is facing Yoruichi, Ichigo wonders what the two have planned for him.

"Do you remember the note I wrote you the day I told you the whole truth about what we are?" She asks.

"Yes." He recalls the note in his head, but nothing stands out until he feels Yoruichi's hands grabbing the loose cloth under his chin, the one article of clothing he was never allowed to touch.

Pulling the cloth that symbolizes his anonymity up and over Ichigo's lower face, she recites the pledge that had once been given to her from her own parents. "To Soul Society, you don't exist, you are to be denied if you fail in your mission or are captured. You punish those that are to be punished without pity, remorse or mercy. You, Shiba Ichigo, are now Shihōin. Faceless, nameless, you walk and strike from the shadows."

Stepping backwards, Yoruichi shivers lightly as she takes in Ichigo's vestige, but it is one of thrill rather than fear. Starting with his black head scarf to his jika-tabi of the same color, Ichigo now fills out the once loose uniform nicely.

'He was born to wear that uniform.' She praises herself inwardly for making the right decision.

Even Kisuke can feel it, the primordial aura surrounding Yoruichi's latest student that sends chills up and down his arms when he gazes into Ichigo's cold stare.

'He is a true predator.' The blonde former Captain acknowledges.

Ichigo waits for a while, but realizes neither of his mentors are about to speak. "So, when do we leave Yoruichi?" He finally asks.

The Shihōin Princess blinks, then gives him a quick peck on his covered cheek while responding. "I still need a few things from Tessai, so why don't you and Kisuke go over your Kidō while you wait?"

"Sure thing. Geta-Boshi?"

Pointing to several dummies, Kisuke motions for the teen to follow him even as Yoruichi disappears into the shouten. "Hopefully, these will survive this time." He mutters.

"Hey! Not my damn fault it took so long."

Looking back at Ichigo with a raised eyebrow, Kisuke can't help the small grin that he develops. "Well, First-Year Shinigami don't normally obliterate or punch holes through dummies with the first Hadō, Ichigo. It is meant to push an opponent back, not to kill them."

Grumbling to himself, the teen rolls his eyes as he stops next to his mentor. "Fine, fine, I'll give you that, but I have been getting better. Watch."

Lifting his hand, Ichigo sweats slightly as he tries to regulate his Reiatsu. Taking a deep breath, he focuses and casts. "Hadō One: Sho!"

Kisuke snaps his fan open and hides his face, desperately trying not to laugh when the dust clears. Six of the seven dummies are now thirty meters from their original starting position, while the seventh, which is on the far-left side of the row, is barely hanging upright from its pole. Casting a quick glance at his student, he simply points to the six that are spewed across the training grounds.

"Well, at least they don't have holes or are damaged… too much, Ichigo."

The orange-haired teen sighs. "This is gonna be a long night ain't it?"

"Very, very long."

XXXX

Uryū shakes the feeling that tonight is going to be very different from his usual nights as he continues his nightly patrol for Hollows. The current Shinigami is somewhat competent in his abilities, but he still hadn't caught on that there is a thirteen-year-old Quincy helping in keeping the town safe. However, the cause of Uryū's growing anxiety stems from the fact that his father had actually watched him leave for his patrol without voicing his usual displeasure that Uryū continues to stick his nose in the business of the dead. In fact, the younger Quincy almost swears that his Father had been dressed as if he were going to be leaving the house as well for whatever reason... His thoughts are interrupted when he senses a Hollow coming into the World of the Living. Racing in the direction of the Hollow, he pauses when the Hollow's death scream suddenly fills the air, then he runs towards it even faster.

Reaching the place where he had sensed the Hollow appearing, Uryū skids around the corner of an abandoned building, then stops and starts his initial search. Feeling the slowly decaying Reishi of the purified Hollow in the air, the dark-haired Quincy cautiously moves through the alleyway, keeping his senses on alert for an ambush; sensing no other presences, he moves into an empty courtyard and finds the fleeting remnants of the Hollow. Frowning, he slowly turns in place, still sensing nothing as he stares into the shadows of the decrepit buildings. Grimacing when he finally detects the resident Shinigami slowly making his way to his location, Uryū leaves the courtyard feeling confused and angry that something had gotten to his kill first.

A half hour later, he is again fuming at the sudden and mysterious death of the second Hollow he had sensed and tried to reach in time. Again, he only finds the slowly decaying Reishi of the purified Hollow and no indication of who had dispatched the beast. Growling at his inability to find out what is going on, he suddenly shouts out loud.

"Who are you!? Show yourself dammit!"

Standing with his fists quivering at his sides and waiting for an answer that never comes, Uryū finally huffs out in frustration at the strangeness of the night's events so far. He vows to find out who is stealing his kills the next time it happens.

Sensing a third Hollow appearing not too far away, he immediately rushes in the direction of the offending Reiatsu signature. Moving faster than ever, he arrives just as the Hollow's mask is split in half by a bolt of lightning that blinds him from its brightness. Cursing at his own stupidity, the Quincy vigorously rubs his eye sockets to help him end his temporary blindness; after blinking away the last spotty remains, his eyes tearing at how powerful the blast of light had been, he once again sees that the Hollow is just dissolving Reishi. Casting his bleary eyes around, he is unable to see his surroundings properly, much less any hint of the unknown attacker.

"I know you are here! Show yourself!" Uryū screams as he forms his bow again. "I will protect Karakura, not you Shinigami!"

His boast is cut short when an iron grip squeezes his neck from behind and a Hollowish Reiatsu crushes down upon his body, causing his bow to dissipate as he loses concentration. The echoish voice that speaks from behind him causes the hair on his neck to stand on end.

"Little Quincy shouldn't be boasting, you wouldn't want the wrong people to realize that your kind still live and are still actively hunting Hollows, do you?"

"W-what?" The preteen Quincy stutters out in confusion. "Why would a Hollow care about that?"

He hears a snort of contempt before his neck is released. Twisting around with his bow reformed, Uryū draws back the arrow, unable to believe his luck at how unintelligent his attacker must be by releasing him. It is short lived when he finds nothing standing behind him. Startled, he snaps his eyes skywards and again nothing is there. Slowly turning in a full circle, the young Quincy archer still can't locate the Hollow that had surprised him so easily. When he stops in his original position, he finds his Father standing under a street light watching him.

"Ryūken?"

Uryū ignores the slight glare from his Father even as the elder Ishida speaks. "I have indulged you enough with your hunts Uryū, now come along and let the Shinigami continue their tasks without your assistance."

The teenaged Quincy growls angrily. "What about that damn Hollow just now!? Aren't you even concerned that it is in our town eating souls!?"

"He didn't eat you, did he?" Ryūken replies. "Now, we are done for tonight."

Glaring at his Father, Uryū releases his bow and begrudgingly stalks towards his parent while voicing his hatred. "At least I am doing something about the Hollows. I don't understand why you are not."

Ryūken doesn't look at his son while responding to the accusations. "Because I never wanted you to follow in Sōken's footsteps. It has done nothing but bring grief to the Ishida family."

XXXX

Ichigo watches his two distant relatives leave the park, the words he had heard bringing forth numerous questions about their familial relationship, chief and foremost the utter lack of respect the younger Ishida shows towards his own Father. "What gives with that Yoruichi? He should be damn happy that his Tou-chan is at least alive."

Yoruichi hears the slight hurt and nearly imperceptible longing in Ichigo's voice. "It stems from when Uryū witnessed his Ojii-san, Ishida Sōken being killed by Hollows, while the Shinigami assigned to watch over him never appeared until it was too late to save him. He never forgave the Shinigami for that."

Ichigo hears the slight pause in Yoruichi's words. "A few months later, his Okaa-san lapsed into a coma and died. His Otou-san, Ryūken threw himself fully into his work after that, leaving Uryū to survive the death of two of the most important people in his life by himself." She sighed. "If you didn't notice, Ryūken can be very distant with people, including his own Musuko-san."

"And I have to convince him to help me train my Quincy abilities, well that seems likely to be an easy request…" Ichigo sarcastically remarks, watching as Ryūken and Uryū disappear from their view.

"Give him some credit Ichigo, Ryūken could've easily shot you when you grabbed his son from behind, and he would if he hadn't been warned by Kisuke about your unusual heritage, I think..."

Shivering when he realized how close he had truly come to having his existence ended, Ichigo casts his senses towards the approaching Reiatsu in the distance. "...I guess. So, what now? Kick that lazy ass Shinigami's ass for slacking off?"

Glancing in the direction where Karakura's stationed Shinigami is approaching them from, she shakes her head. "No, we'll leave it to him for the rest of the night. Pretty sure he is wondering what the hell is going on by now."

"But he probably doesn't care enough to investigate." Ichigo retorts bluntly.

Both are gone by the time the Squad Thirteen Shinigami arrives to survey the area. Confused, he shakes his Hollow detector and is surprised when a new threat appears on his screen. Shunpoing towards the area with the new Hollow, he never sees the young pre-teen hiding in the shadows who had witnessed all of the earlier events.

XXXX

Sitting at his desk, Ishida Ryūken thinks hard about the young Shinigami who is among his last remaining connections to Masaki, the other being the Shinigami's younger sister, Tamiko. Taking a deep breath to calm his turbulent thoughts, he glances at the photo that decorates his desk, the one of him, his late wife Kanae, and the several months old Uryū being held in her arms. After watching Masaki's son from a distance, he can understand the joyful glee that was in the shop owner's voice when he gave an update on the young man and his training. Ichigo had dispatched the three Hollows with frightening efficiency using several different low-level Kidō spells, well, at least he was told were low-level, the former Shinigami Captain had let it slip that Yoruichi's protégé had trouble keeping them from getting out-of-hand sometimes.

The second Hollow bore that in mind: when Ichigo ambushed it by suddenly appearing in front of the startled Hollow and pointing one finger while uttering the first Hadō, the mask and then the Hollow's body were disintegrated in an instant, and the concussive force that followed would have brought down the thankfully abandoned buildings in his surroundings if his partner hadn't hastily erected a shield in time to protect the area. It had cost the pair precious time for their escape as they were forced to survey the damage, almost letting the very slow and inept Shinigami catch them in the act while sneaking away from Uryū. Snorting, he recalls his own son's face the three times he had shown up much too late to make any kind of difference in regards to the outcome of the Hollows' fates. Leaning backwards in his chair, he lets a small smile form on his lips.

Finally, he picks up his phone and dials the number he thought he never would.

XXXX

Looking up at his ceiling as he lies in his bed, Uryū tries to understand the words the Hollow had spoken to him.

'Why would a Hollow care about my life? Why did it allow me to live? None of it make sense.'

It would be a long and sleepless night.

XXXX

The blonde-haired man looks at his seven companions and smirks. "Kid gots plenty of potential. I say we do it."

Looking each of his companions in their eyes, one by one they give their answer until he reaches the last person who needs to agree.

"Hiyori, whadda ya say?"

Arms crossed under her small breasts, the pig-tailed former Lieutenant growls her answer. "Fine, if you think so Shinji, but so help me, if Kisuke is lying about this kid I get to kill him myself."

The Vizard rolls his eyes inwardly. "Good, I'll let him know we're on board to help Yoruichi's little boyfriend get stronger. Funny though, I never thought she'd ever get over leaving her 'Little Bee' behind..."

XXXX

After getting home, Ichigo sits at the small breakfast nook cutting up several pieces of fruit for his last meal of the day. Replaying the battles with the three Hollows he had purified that night, he has to admit that he should have done better with his attacks, especially the destruction he had nearly caused when he forgot himself in his eagerness to impress his mentors and let his Reiatsu run rampant when he let loose with the simplest of the Hadō.

"Hey King, stop fretting. So, what if you vaporized that Hollow instead of destroying the mask? End results are all that matter." Zangetsu offers to his wielder.

'If Yoruichi hadn't been with me, I could have done some serious damage. I could have hurt an innocent.' Ichigo grouses back.

"Ichigo, this was your first foray into the struggles of the afterlife, no one was expecting you to be perfect, not even Yoruichi-sama I would wager. You must put this behind you after realizing your weaknesses and making the necessary corrections. Perhaps that should be your goal, to limit yourself to using the first Hadō until you can fire it without thinking of the process; since you are part Hollow, you should be able to perform the action instinctually."

Picking up a slice of apple, he considers his Zanpakutō's words and begrudgingly agrees. 'Wouldn't hurt to try, what's the worst that could happen?'

"You couldn't have thought of something else to say?" The Hollowfied spirit chuckles before fading away.

Two arms wrap around Ichigo's neck from behind, a familiar head of purple hair following as Yoruichi leans over Ichigo's shoulder and picks up a slice of orange. "You okay?"

Leaning against her arm, he pokes at his fruit. "Disappointed?"

"Ichigo, I'm sure you realize that no one is perfect the first time they do this, right?"

He ignores the two pulses of agreement coming from his dual Zanpakutō. "I guess. I just wanted so badly to impress you and the others by not messing up tonight. If you weren't there for that second Hollow, I'd be screwed if I had hurt or killed someone."

Yoruichi sighs. "I had a student like you once before. He came from a very prideful Clan and he tried his hardest to be perfect, but even he fell from perfection Ichigo." She says as she slides around Ichigo's body and moves to sit in his lap facing him.

Ichigo pulls her warm body closer into his embrace. "How did he fall from grace if you don't mind me asking?"

"He fell in love with a girl from the Rukongai and married her against his Clan's wishes."

"So, what's the big deal with that?" Brown orbs sees something strange in her golden orbs... something almost wistful.

Giving him a sad smile, Yoruichi tries to explain. "Several things made this a big deal for him. First, I believe his Clan was trying to arrange a marriage between him and I, although my exile nixed any notions of me getting married to anyone. Don't look so shocked Ichigo, noble marriages are very big deals, even in the afterlife. Second, the woman he took to be his eventual Tsuma died roughly five years after their vows, and many in his Clan are said to have secretly cheered upon hearing of her death. It made him question the meaning of his life and his duty to the Clan. Since then, he has kept a dedicated distance away from everyone, even those within his own kazoku. If I have to guess, I would say his life must be incredibly lonely now."

"You were gonna have to marry this guy?" Ichigo asks with genuine curiosity.

Yoruichi reaches behind herself and picks up the bowl of sliced fruit. "No. I had no intentions of being forced to marry someone I wasn't in love with. He wasn't my type back then either Ichigo."

Ichigo eats the offered piece of fruit from Yoruichi. "Mind telling me more about... her, about Shaolin?"

Yoruichi's face falls. "I loved her Ichigo, I've told you this before. But, that is in the past; if she were to see me today, I have no doubt she'd try and kill me for abandoning my Clan, my Squad and more importantly my duty. Is this going somewhere?" She watches his face closely for clues as to what he is thinking.

Ichigo fidgets somewhat. "Promise you won't laugh at why I want to know?"

She nods once.

"Well, the truth is that Juda and Zangetsu call you the Queen and they advised me to be open and honest with you in our relationship, so I guess I want to know everything there is to know about Shihōin Yoruichi…"

"Queen. They call me the Queen. Really?" She giggles at hearing their title for her.

"They call you the Queen, because Zangetsu calls me the King." Ichigo shyly admits.

"Oh?" Yoruichi raises an eyebrow. "He does, why?"

Ichigo shrugs his shoulders. "He's never told me why, he just does. Juda thankfully only calls me Ichigo and not Shiba-dono like Tessai-san."

"So, as their Queen, do I get to boss them around?"

Her eyes watch in fascination as Ichigo's eyes seem to glaze over momentarily before focusing on her face seconds later. "Assholes, both of them. They said and I quote 'you rule the King, no need to make us suffer for his utter lack of anything' end quote."

Smiling at the young man whose lap she is sitting in, she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him forward. Brushing her lips over his, she speaks to him. "Right now, Ichigo, I am only concerned about one thing, you."

Their lips are about to touch when an aggravated voice stops them cold.

"Get a room, preferably the one down the hall that does belong to you, not in here as this is still my kitchen." Mia grouses as she stands on the opposite side of the nook from Ichigo and Yoruichi. "Now. Get. Out."

XXXX

Yoruichi parts Ichigo's hair as he sleeps soundly, gazing down at his peaceful face as she finds herself looking into her past.

To the first time she had laid eyes on the only daughter of the then Leader of the Fon Clan, Shaolin Fon. After making quiet inquiries about the young woman, she had taken an interest in Shaolin's development and over time she found herself wanting the young woman to become a part of her bodyguard unit. It wasn't unheard of back then, what was different was that she had felt a growing desire building in her soul to be near the younger woman, an attraction that wasn't normal or acceptable for a noblewoman of her stature.

Once Shaolin had transferred into Yoruichi's bodyguard, it didn't take long for Yoruichi to find herself falling in love with the younger Shinigami. Finding any excuse to be alone with Shaolin, Yoruichi began teaching and training the woman personally whenever they were alone. The realization of her love for Shaolin didn't manifest until after a particularly nasty infestation of Hollows that demanded Squad Two blanket the outer Rukongai districts with every available man and woman of her squad. Spread out as they were, she found herself alone with only Shaolin for company by the fifth day of their mission.

It was during an especially chilly night that they had found themselves huddling together under their blankets, which led to their first night of passion. It had started off innocently enough, just closing the distance between their bodies to share body heat and making light conversation as they fought to keep warm. An accidental question about Shaolin's love life had caused the Chinese Shinigami to let slip her about her attraction towards those of the same gender. When Shaolin realized her mistake, she had remained quiet at first, mistaking the silence for condemnation from Yoruichi. It was when the silence became unbearable and the young woman tried to flee in shame that Yoruichi took her own chance, grabbing Shaolin and kissing her.

At first, they didn't do anything but kiss, until Yoruichi took the next step for them both by running her tongue over Shaolin's lips, and when the young Chinese assassin hesitantly responded, it set off a long night of firsts for both women. When they joined up with several members of the Onmitsukidō the next afternoon, Yoruichi and Shaolin knew that life would never be normal for them, their love would have to stay a secret. It had stayed hidden until the night of Aizen's betrayal and the sequential events that followed where Yoruichi had to make a life-changing choice. She chose, and she left love behind.

Lying back down beside Ichigo, Yoruichi looks at his sleeping face before worming her way into his warm embrace.

"I swear, I'll never leave you behind Ichigo."

XXXX

All her life she knew how different she was compared to everyone else around her. She never told anyone she could see the spirits of those who had yet to pass over into the next life, spirits with chains hanging out of the center of their chests. Last night when she couldn't sleep, she snuck out of the house and decided to take a walk near the river and the warehouses. The first few times she heard the racket echoing through the air, she paid it no mind, thinking it was one of the numerous delinquent gangs breaking into the old and forgotten buildings. It was only when she heard the explosion that she knew something was different, something abnormal was taking place. Racing to where she had felt something in the air, she hid deep in the shadows and watched as the horrible looking beast wearing a white mask was destroyed by white lighting.

When her eyes were able to see again, she gaped as she saw a young man dressed in white being forced to his knees by what she could only assume was some kind of ninjutsu practitioner. She couldn't hear what was said by the two, but when the taller male seemingly vanished, she knew that what she was witnessing was entirely beyond normal or even human understanding. She didn't dare move a finger when a second and older man appeared next to the boy who she figured was around her age. Their words were also obscured from her, but when she finally saw the younger boy's face, she recognized him. He is Ishida Uryū, who goes to her school. Stunned by this realization, she remained hidden when the black-robed man who ran around the rooftops at night showed up then left again. Racing back home once she was sure they were all gone, she slipped back inside without waking up her adoptive family and snuck back into her room to try and get some sleep.

Tossing and turning restlessly, she doesn't remember falling asleep when she is suddenly startled awake by someone shaking her rapidly. "Get up lazy bones! It's time to wake up!"

"Urgh, what time is it?" Tamiko asks as she blearily tries to get up, only to roll out of bed and fall flat on her face.

Tatsuki looks at her groaning sister and pushes her onto her back with her foot. "What is wrong with you? Didn't you get any sleep last night?"

Looking tiredly up at her black-haired sister, Tamiko closes her eyes and answers half-truthfully. "Not really, had some really, really odd dreams."

"Huh." Tatsuki decides not to pry. "Well, you better hurry up or we'll be late meeting up with Orihime."

This causes the fiery-haired pre-teen to wince. "She's coming back to school already?"

Tatsuki nods her head as she sinks down to sit on her sister's bed. "Yeah, I think being in that house all alone is finally getting to her, Sora-san's funeral was three weeks ago."

Tamiko has to hid the surprise she feels when she finally realizes now why she remembers Uryū: she had seen him coming out of the hospital with his Father just as they arrived, following a distress call from Orihime telling them that her older brother had been knifed by a mugger.

"Did you ask Kaa-chan yet?" Tamiko asks to get her mind off of what she had witnessed last night of her young classmate.

"I am going to ask today after school. I don't think her Oba-san will have a problem with her moving in with us, actually I think it might be safer if she were living with us instead of alone, don't you think?"

Nodding in agreement, Tamiko gets up and starts stripping out of her damp and sweaty night clothes. The last dream she had, had been the strangest of them all. The woman dressed in white seemed to be in discomfort, but whatever she was trying to say, Tamiko couldn't understand them. The oddest thing about her was the fact that half of her face was covered in the same bone-white material that the creature she had seen get destroyed was covered with, and when the woman lifted her hand, a strange star-like pendant had fallen from her wrist. Sighing, she grabs her clean uniform and hurries into the bathroom to wash herself.

'Am I going insane?'

XXXX

One eyebrow twitching in irritation, Yoruichi slowly turns her head towards the equally pissed Ichigo, if the Reiatsu he is steadily leaking indicates how close to truly losing his cool he really is. Standing before them are several members of the gang that the classmate she had embarrassed in their very brief fight yesterday belongs to. The leader of the gang still sports two black eyes and a splint on several of his right-hand fingers, courtesy of Ichigo from an earlier altercation. However, in his left hand he holds a small folding knife menacingly, while other members of his gang hold various pipes, steel chains and other typical delinquent weapons.

"Get in there you two, we's gonna talk about respect and your lack of it for yo betta's." The bruise-faced leader makes a poor attempt at a menacing expression as he points down the small alleyway that leads to a deserted courtyard.

Ichigo folds his arms across his chest. "Fine, but don't say we didn't warn you ahead of time. If we're gonna do this, it's going to be for the last time. So, are you absolutely sure you want to do this, so soon after getting your asses kicked publicly? Hell, Katsuo isn't even out of the hospital yet."

The thug spits angrily on the floor. "Just get the fuck in there Watanabe, and no one said we were gonna fight the girl, we got other ideas for her, ehehehe, if ya catch our drift that is." He laughs lecherously while leering at her. "Now, fucking move it asshole! We ain't got all day for your stalling. Oh, by-the-way, we have more waiting for us in there so don't you think you can escape."

Looking down the alleyway, Ichigo easily sees about fifteen Spirit Ribbons and he isn't impressed. "Two against twenty-one, not good odds for you guys, don't you think? Sure you don't want to go get some more?"

If the delinquents weren't nervous before, they certainly are now after that statement. "B-Boss, how did dey know about-"

"Twenty-one or a hundred and one, it won't make a difference Ichigo." Yoruichi interrupts as she grabs his arm and pushes him down the alleyway. "I don't want every day to be this way, so let's just beat them to within an inch of their lives and get to school. I really don't want to gain an unfavorable reputation because of these fools." Ignoring the way the leader's face purples with anger, she walks almost with a skip in her step. "After we're done here, I want one of those new coffee lattes from the cafeteria."

Ichigo grumbles as he allows her to lead him into the alley. "Fine, fine, latte when we get to school. Oi, I really hope you guys are looking forward to your hospital stay because I really am getting sick of this stupid-kiddie crap." The orange-haired teen says as he finally steps into the courtyard and surveys the gathered group of thugs, each of them armed similarly to the six punks who had stopped them outside the alley, all except the two men who are standing in the shadow of one of the buildings.

"Yakuza." Ichigo whispers to Yoruichi, who nods discreetly at seeing the two heavily-muscled men wearing black sunglasses watching the teens passively.

Moving until they are in the center of the circling teens, Ichigo and Yoruichi slip into a time-tested position, standing back to back after throwing their bags off to the side to keep them from getting in their way. Yoruichi wordlessly slips a Kidō barrier over their bags to protect them and prevent people from stealing them. Deciding to put down his opponents hard and fast, Ichigo allows his Reiatsu to steadily grow over his limbs as he feels Yoruichi doing the same. Neither of them move as they wait for the teenage delinquents to work up the courage to actually try and attack the two vastly more experienced fighters. They notice the leader look over at the two men in the shadows, and seeing whatever signal he is looking for, he shouts at his thugs and the small army of delinquents immediately rush the pair.

Unfazed by the approaching horde, Ichigo waits until the leader's knife is stabbing towards his face before he moves, tilting his head and letting the blade slide past his cheek, he steps forward and drives an open-palmed strike right into the weaker lower bones of the thug's rib-cage, the satisfying sound of snapping bones and the excruciating scream of pain that rips from the Third-Year student's mouth an indicator of how badly he is injured. Grabbing the punk's arm that is still over his shoulder, he steps perpendicular to the older boy's body before whirling around and using his other hand to smash the elbow joint inwards from the bottom upwards, the snap of shattered bone and yet another bellowing scream of anguish filling the air. Not wanting to keep hearing the thug's anguished wails, Ichigo grabs him by the hair and drives his other fist into the teen's face, once, twice, three times, breaking his jaw and knocking out over half a dozen teeth before allowing the thug to flop bonelessly to the floor.

Unlike her orange-haired companion, Yoruichi glides towards her closest two attackers pre-emptively, catching the first teen's chain in her out-stretched hand and jerking him forward before driving her knee deep into his groin in a single swift motion. She winces at the high-pitched scream that erupts from her victim as his brain catches up to his injury. As he drops to the ground while sobbing and curling into a fetal position, the second teen's momentary distraction at looking down at his fellow gang member is his first and only mistake. By the time his head snaps back up, it's too late for him to react to the round-house kick that connects to the side of his face, sending him spinning before he drops unconscious with blood leaking from his ruined jaw. The third punk hesitates, then tries to use a flying kick that he copied from some Kung-Fu movies but the girl simply side-steps his lunging kick and grabs his leg with fingers of steel.

"I hope you like walking with a limp from this day forward." Not waiting for him to reply, Yoruichi places one hand on his kneecap and drives his knee downwards using her upper body weight and momentum, causing the leg to almost fold over backwards and touch the front of the screaming boy's thigh. Wincing slightly at the mess of ruined flesh and cartilage, she puts the teen out of his misery by knocking him out.

Ichigo resists the urge to glance backwards, knowing how angry Yoruichi must be judging by the screams coming from her side of the battle. Jumping up to avoid a pipe being swung at his legs, he kicks his next victim's head backwards, followed by the rest of his body when he spins around and nails the teen right in the chest with a reverse kick. The second he lands, Ichigo drops and sweeps the next two thugs charging him off their feet, then grabs the wrist of another delinquent and hurls him into the thug charging from the opposite direction. As the latter two thugs go down in a messy heap, Ichigo slams a vicious Reiatsu-covered fist into the face of the first recovering thug that breaks most of the orbital bone surrounding his right eye, then backhands the second thug whose head snaps sideways from the force of the blow and bounces off the side of a concrete flower planter.

Behind him, the Shihōin smirks as she faces a set of dye-haired twin punks who attack her as a team, though any genetic similarity is hard to tell from the facial piercings and tattoos that decorate their faces. She is slightly intrigued by the way their arms and legs swing and strike out in tandem, trying to exploit any weakness in her defense while covering for each other's weaknesses. Sadly, for them she has none that they are capable of exploiting. The moment one of the twin fighters slip up and move into her lethal range, she immediately pounces on his opening, slamming her elbow to the side of his head and grabbing the moving fist of his twin brother in her other hand. Crushing the bones of the fist in her grip, she yanks the second twin forward and slams his screaming face into his twin brother, then finishes them both off by punching them in the back of their heads. Sensing someone attacking her from behind, she flips forward while kicking the pipe right out of the hands of the stunned gangster, sending it smashing into the face of his partner, then executes a perfect snap-kick that smashes in his nose with her foot and sends him flying back in a spray of blood and cartilage.

Landing lightly, Yoruichi gives her next opponent an intimidating grin before her nose twitches as she recognizes a familiar odor emanating from the terrified thug's groin area. Rolling her eyes at his expression and the quickly darkening cloth, she waves him off dismissively. "Beat it before I rip it off kid."

She doesn't pay attention to the young thug now running for his life, instead focusing on her next target who is making a desperate attempt to tackle her with a chain. If she had, she would have seen an arm lash out from the shadows and knock the fleeing thug unconscious before disappearing once again.

Taking down his next opponent with a vicious headbutt, Ichigo chances a quick glance at the two Yakuza and wonders why they haven't joined in the brawl yet. His distraction costs him when he finds himself being grabbed from behind, his arms trapped at his sides by a set of gorilla-thick arms.

"Got ya now bitch!" A heavy voice says just as a fist smashes into his stomach, followed by the sound of something snapping.

Ichigo rolls his eyes when the thug who punched him screams in disbelief, gripping his fractured wrist and staggering backwards in shock. Stomping on the foot of his captor, he bends forward then slams his head back, hearing a grunt and a successful loosening of the grip around him. Taking the opportunity, he lunges forward and smashes his foot into the crying delinquent's groin, dropping him like a sack of stones. Next, he pulls his captor's arms forward and snaps his head backwards as hard as he can, grinning when he hears the sickening crunch of cartilage and a pained howl from behind him. As the arms holding him slacken enough for him to twist his way out of the hold, he grabs one of his captor's wrists and twists it so quickly that both the wrist and the forearm are broken almost immediately. The thug's pained scream is magnified when Ichigo wrenches his arm forward, further injuring the already mangled limb, then shatters his knee with a punishing kick followed by an elbow strike to the temple that mercifully drops the nose-pierced thug into blissful darkness. Turning back to the delinquent teen who is still clutching his balls, Ichigo knocks him out with a swift kick to the forehead.

Stepping away from his downed opponents, Ichigo feels Yoruichi's back press up against his, both of them seeing the remaining thugs backing away in true fear of the pair after being viciously beaten down. One of the frightened teens turns towards the older men still standing in the shadows and screams at them. "Whaddaya still standing there for? Aren't ya gonna help us or do something dammit!?"

Neither of the Yakuza answer however, and Yoruichi begins to grin when light suddenly glints off the metal being held at their throats and a voice she hasn't heard in years speaks from the shadows. "It's over punks. You lost and these two are gonna take us to your boss so we can have a private chat about them and you both leaving Karakura, forever. Or we can let those two finish you off and then we make you disappear forever, in a very different way. I'm not picky about which, so what's it gonna be?"

Beads of cold sweat run down the faces of the delinquents when they see the Cheshire grin appearing in the darkness, as well as the stiff appearance of the Yakuza thugs who are supposed to be their trump card. As Ichigo cracks his knuckles menacingly, the surviving gang members are quick to drop their weapons and flee back towards the alleyway where they had forced Ichigo and Yoruichi down earlier; at least they tried, until two very large men step out in front of them and effectively block their way. The first delinquent to reach them is shoved back by a heavily muscled man with short cropped white hair, wearing a tank-top shirt, combat pants and boots. His partner, a tall African male with dark spiked hair, sunglasses and a green track suit casually leans against his massive spiked kanabō as if daring them to go that way. Trapped like rats on a sinking ship, the delinquents desperately turn to flee in the other direction when a woman wearing a sailor suit suddenly steps out from right behind them, her eyes glinting ominously from under her glasses and fixing them with a stare of absolute contempt.

"Die." She says as a terrifying aura swirls around her.

Terrified out of their wits, the thugs are completely crushed by the woman's released Reiatsu and they all pass out while foaming at the mouth.

Dropping her Reiatsu, the bespectacled woman snorts in contempt before taking out her book and flipping it open to the page she had bookmarked. Leaning against the wall, she studiously ignores the two muscular males who step up and begin to drag the unconscious teen delinquents back into the square, both of them working together quickly and efficiently.

"Yoruichi, what's going on?" Ichigo whispers to the disguised woman behind him who seems to have recognized the newcomers.

Smiling, the Shihōin Princess slips her arm through his and guides him towards their bookbags, whispering back to him. "I'll explain when we can't be overheard."

Turning towards the two Yakuza who are still stiffly standing in the same position, Yoruichi gives the shadows a grin of her own. "Thanks for the assist you guys, we'll catch up with you later on."

"No problems… Akemi-chan." The voice still hidden by the shadows responds. "Your boy does have some scary-ass potential, can't wait to see what else he can do."

Picking up both bags and calmly following Yoruichi towards the alleyway, Ichigo hesitates as he passes the two men, then his head snaps towards the dark-skinned man with shock in his eyes. "You're almost like me." He says in a low voice, looking from the dark-skinned man to the white-haired man, then to the bespectacled woman.

Grunting, the older man dumps his unconscious baggage on the floor before going back for the next one. "Best get yourself to school, you should be able to make it before the first bell if you hurry." He answers without giving a proper answer, but the smirk on his face gives the game away.

Nodding his head slowly, Ichigo lets Yoruichi guide him away from the courtyard, never looking back at the unconscious teen delinquents.

Once the pair are gone, the voice in the shadows speaks up again. "Alright people, let's get this mess cleaned up. Lisa, call Hachi down to stabilize these guys. Kensei and Love, keep doing whatever ya doing. Hiyori, once they're done ya get to wake 'em and kick 'em out of town."

As Lisa nods and takes to the rooftops, an angry female voice speaks up in protest from beside him. "What!? Why the hell do I have to do that Baldy? Can't you do it instead?"

The male voice gives off a very put-upon sigh. "Because these two goons passed out while standing, and I gotta wake them, find out who their boss is and then kick their gang out of town too."

There was a short pause. "Huh... didn't think that could actually happen..." The female voice mumbles to herself. Without further ado, the voices step out of the shadows to reveal a man with ridiculously cropped short blonde hair covered by an old-time newsboy cap, his smile a row of teeth that looks similar to those of a piano, and an outfit of simple dark pants, white shirt and a tie, with a much shorter female wearing a battered old tracksuit, blonde hair done up in spiky pigtails and a frown on her face beside him.

Hiroko Shinji removes the sword at the throat of his Yakuza and gives him an experimental shove. The thug slowly keels over. "See? Passed out while standing. They really don't make thugs like they used to these days."

Grumbling, Hiyori sheathes her own Zanpakutō. "Fine, whatever. You owe me one, Baldy."

Rolling his eyes, Shinji crouches down to rummage through the pockets of his Yakuza. Any bit of information on their boss will only help his interrogation later. "Take it up with the kid then. He was pretty vicious with these guys... Princess too..." He shivers slightly. "Come ta think of it, better not mess with him unless ya want a vengeful kitty jumping ya."

Kensei grunts as he tosses the last of the delinquents down with the rest of his unconscious fellows. "What do you think of the kid, Shinji? He seems to have learnt most of the Shihōin-style martial arts already... he held back in the fight but his hits were all clean and effective. Think he can take on one of us?"

There was a snort of laughter from the gathered Vizards, then the Cheshire grin reappears on the piano-teeth man's face. "Kid's good but not that good. If he could do this much just training with the Princess, however... imagine what he'll be like once we get through with him."

XXXX

"That was them, the other Exiles wasn't it Yoruichi?" Ichigo asks when they are sitting in a secluded place on the school's roof, the other students having given them plenty of privacy out of respect for their achievements.

Nodding her head once as she takes a drink of water, the Shihōin Princess turns towards her boyfriend. "Four Taichō and Fukutaichō were experimented on by Aizen about a hundred years ago. Kisuke was barely able to save their lives, he had to use his Hōgyoku to stabilize them until he found a way for them to live, and Aizen used it to make him a scapegoat for his experiments. It took a while after we fled to the World of the Living, but eventually he found a way to return their powers to them."

Ichigo frowns. "Aizen Hollowfied them, didn't he? I could just feel the faint Hollow Reiatsu when I passed that guy."

Yoruichi places her out-stretched arms on top of her knees as she looks up towards the sky, a distant memory filling her eyes as she recounts to Ichigo the events that had happened over a hundred years ago. How several high-ranking officers were sent out into the Rukongai to investigate the numerous and highly unusual deaths that were taking place among the population and the Shinigami teams who had went missing while investigating them. The way Kisuke and Tessai both disobeyed orders to stay behind when the Reiatsu of those Captains and Lieutenants began to disappear much in the same way the Reiatsu of the Rukongai citizens had. How Kisuke discovered that Aizen had his own Hōgyoku, and the shocking discovery that the treacherous Captain had been experimenting on hundreds, if not thousands of souls before being discovered. How in the aftermath of learning the truth, Aizen had manipulated the facts and was able to frame Kisuke and Tessai for the crimes of Hollowfying the officers. How she had broken in at their trial and saved them, as well as rescuing the Hollowfied officers who were condemned to death and helped them all escape to the World of Living where they remained in exile ever since.

"So, there you have it Ichigo, what do you think?" She continues staring up at the sky while waiting for his answer.

"I finally get it now, what Kisuke has been trying to press upon me. How truly dangerous and smart Aizen really is." Ichigo wraps his arms around his own knees and stares forward blankly. "Do you think I really have a chance of beating him?"

Reaching over with one hand, the Shihōin grips his hand with hers. "If there is anyone I believe can beat him, it's you."

The two of them spend the rest of the lunch break in companionable silence.

XXXX

"Are we really going to do this Shinji?" Hiyori asks as she walks around the now empty nightclub.

Smiling as he sits down at the bar, the Former Squad Five Captain answers. "I think everyone can agree that living in that old warehouse is getting rather boring. Besides, we know a certain person who can help us get this place up and running in no time. Not even Aizen would think to look for us here."

The pig-tailed former Lieutenant pinches the bridge of her nose, Shinji's argument while simple did hold a decent amount of truth to it. "Sure, fine, why the hell not. We'll still have to fix up the basement and have some extra rooms built, but seeing that the previous owner was thoughtful enough to leave all his money behind, I guess this might work out somehow. But don't even think of trying to make me wear something stupid and serve drinks to you damn hentai!"

Kensei leans towards Lisa and remarks very lowly. "I doubt she'd even fill out anything."

Hiyori snaps her head towards the two snickering Vizards. "Whadda ya say!?"

Both of them hold up their hands and play ignorant, while the other Vizards laugh at their actions. Watching his friends and comrades enjoy themselves, Shinji downs his glass of sake with a wide grin on his face.

"Interesting days are gonna be here again."

XXXX

Tamiko waves goodbye to Tatsuki and Orihime as they walk in the direction of their home, she however was on her way to Urahara's after telling her two best friends she had an errand to run. Once they are out of sight, she dashes down several sides streets and quickly finds herself walking into a familiar store. Making her way to the counter, she falters as she suddenly realizes what she is about to do, but visibly steels herself. Staring up at Urahara's assistant, the young fiery-haired pre-teen coughs to clear her throat before squeaking out her question.

"T-Tessai-san, I-I need to know if Urahara can speak to me about something… private."

Sensing the unease in the young woman's Reiatsu, Tessai politely ushers her into a waiting room before moving deeper into the shouten where Kisuke's private lab is. Knocking on the door and waiting for his oldest comrade to tell him to enter, the former Commander of the Kidō Corp finds the grey-haired scientist studying lines of data on a small monitor while a video of Ichigo's first Hollow hunt plays on another screen.

"Boss, Tamiko-chan is here to speak to you in private. She… she seems very nervous about something."

Turning to look at Tessai confusedly, Kisuke's eyes widen as he notices the Reiatsu he had somehow missed entering his shop. Getting to his feet quickly, the shop-owner thanks his oldest friend and asks him to tell Ururu to bring something for their guest in a few minutes. Heading towards the waiting room while wondering why Ichigo's younger sister is here, his hand pauses before slowly sliding the door open to reveal a fidgeting Tamiko sitting at the low table.

"Tamiko-chan, what can I do for you today? I don't have any specials running this week…" He decides to go with his usual act to see how she responds.

"How do you know if you are going crazy or not!?" The pre-teen nearly shouts out as she stares at him with pleading eyes.

Caught by surprise, Kisuke hesitates, then slides his fan back up his sleeve. Taking a step back, he studies the young lady's overall posture and sees the signs of someone who hasn't slept too well the night before. Faint traces of dark eye bags and the slightly wild look in her eyes convinces him that her question is genuine. Making his way to the table, he sits down opposite of Tamiko and looks at her seriously.

"Do you care to explain why you asked that particular question Tamiko?"

The young woman shifts nervously again before she looks up and meets his gaze firmly. "Promise you won't laugh at me?"

"I promise."

Taking a deep breath, Tamiko recounts what she had seen the night before, and after some hesitation she also recounts the all-too-real dream she had before she succumbed to uneasy sleep. When she is finished, she gives the shouten owner an all-too-hopeful look with her pleading eyes.

"I'm not going crazy am I, Urahara-san?"

Opposite her, Kisuke just sits in stunned silence.

'Not possible. It's just not possible.'

Swallowing hard, Kisuke clears his throat and, despite knowing the beating he will have to endure once Yoruichi's love interest finds out what he has done, the Exile chooses to dowhat he believes is necessary.

"There is nothing wrong with you Tamiko-chan. What you saw last night was possible because of who… because of what you are."

Clearly confused, Tamiko sits back in puzzlement. "What do you mean, what I am?"

Kisuke sighs deeply, wishing that his meddling hasn't come down to this. Removing his bucket hat, he places it on the table between them and faces Tamiko with his most serious expression. "Your ryoushin, Tamiko-chan, were very powerful beings. Beings who were highly involved in the supernatural world." He pauses as her face starts to pale, but continues. "You, my dear, are the true-blooded child of a Shinigami and Quincy. Just like your Aniki Ichigo is."

XXXX

AN: Yeah sorry about the delays in my releases, things right now in my life are a bit stressful with things I can't control. I'm pushing through though and I am writing much more now. I don't know what I'm going to release next as I do have work on Destiny's Path and The Returned, and a few other crazy ideas going on.

As for this chapter, it's just to get the ball started and hints at how things may turn out differently than what we all remember and found great about Bleach. I really don't have too much to say about this chapter, but I will say there might at least 4 or 5 more buildup chapters before we get into the familiar timeline. So onto the reviews.

Response to Reviews Corner

Swanboy: I realize that about the Asauchi, but that will be resolved much later in the story.

Everyone, I really appreciate both the positive and negative comments, I do listen and for some of you, that means you will see a slow shifting of a certain writing style within my stories. Those few who commented on it, will see it over the chapters that will be released, for all my stories. I will still use that style, but not as much as I have, so yeah, I guess change and listening to all opinions do matter if I am going to try and write a story everyone can read. Technically not a response to that question. I will see you guys very shortly with a surprise, at least those who follow me as an author fav/follow. Just don't kill me when it happens, it really, really wasn't my fault, when you read it, you'll understand.

Translations List

Honorifics

-san (さん) : Used to address people with a generic level of respect (equivalent to Mr/Mrs/Ms)

-sama (様) : Used to address people with a higher level of respect (equivalent to Master/Madam)

-chan (ちゃん) : Used to address people with familiarity (usually females)

-kun (君) : Used to address people with familiarity (usually males)

-dono (どの): Used to address people with great respect (equivalent to Lord/Lady)

-ue (上) : Used to address one's parents with great respect

Addressing people by their family name without honorifics can be seen as disrespectful.

Addressing people by their given name without honorifics implies a high degree of familiarity.

People may not always use the same honorific when addressing the same person; it depends on the situation and what they are feeling at the moment.

Special

-tachi (たち) : Used as a suffix to refer to a group

Family Titles

Chichi (父) / Otō (お父) : Father, usually addressed as Chichi-ue or Otō-san/sama (also written as Otou)

Haha (母) / Okā (お母) : Mother, usually addressed as Haha-ue or Okā-san/sama (also written as Okaa)

Ani (兄) / Onī (お兄) : Older Brother, usually addressed as Aniki or Onī-san/sama (also written as Onii)

Ane (姉) / Onē (お姉) : Older Sister, usually addressed as Aneki or Onē-san/sama (also written as Onee)

Otōto (弟) : Younger Brother, usually addressed as Otōto-san/chan (also written as Otouto)

Imōto (妹) : Younger Sister, usually addressed as Imōto-chan (also written as Imouto)

Sofu (祖父) / Ojī (お爺) : Grandfather, usually addressed as Ojī-san/sama (also written as Ojii)

Sobo (祖母) / Obā (お婆) : Grandmother, usually addressed as Obā-san/sama (also written as Obaa)

Oji (叔父) : Uncle, usually addressed as Oji-san (not to be mistaken with Grandfather/Ojī-san)

Oba (叔母): Aunt, usually addressed as Oba-san (not to be mistaken with Grandmother/Obā-san)

Itoko (いとこ) : Cousin (can be written with different Kanji depending on age, gender and which side of the family they come from)

Oi (甥) : Nephew

Mei (姪) : Niece

Kyōfu (教父) : Godfather, usually addressed as Kyōfu-san/sama

Kyōbo (教母) : Godmother, usually addressed as Kyōbo-san/sama

Ōoji (大叔父) : Great-Uncle, usually addressed as Ōoji-san

Ōoba (大叔母) : Great-Aunt, usually addressed as Ōoba-san

Sōsofu (曽祖父) : Great-Grandfather, usually addressed as Sōsofu-sama

Sōsobo (曽祖母) : Great-Grandmother, usually addressed as Sōsobo-sama

Keifu (継父) : Stepfather

Keibo (継母) : Stepmother

Mamamusuko (継息子) : Stepson

Mamamusume (継娘) : Stepdaughter

Relations

Otto (夫) / Goshujin (ご主人) : Husband, usually addressed as Goshujin-san/sama

Tsuma (妻) / Oku (奥) : Wife, usually addressed as Oku-san

Musuko (息子) : Son, usually addressed as Musuko-san

Musume (娘) : Daughter, usually addressed as Musume-san

Magomusuko (孫息子) : Grandson

Magomusume (孫娘) : Granddaughter

Ryōshin (両親) : Parents (also written as Ryoushin)

Sofubo (祖父母) : Grandparents

Keifubo (継父母) : Step-parents

Fūfu (夫婦) : Married Couple

Kyōdai (兄弟) : Brothers (can also refer to Siblings in general)

Shimai (姉妹) : Sisters

Itoko (いとこ) : Cousins

Kodomo (子供) : Children

Mago (孫) : Grandchildren

Kazoku (家族) : Family

Shinseki (親戚) : Relatives

Dōhōshu (同胞種) : Siblings

Nakama (仲間) : Comrades

Tomodachi (友達) : Friends

Senpai (先輩) : Senior (also written as Sempai, can be used as a suffix '-senpai')

Kōhai (後輩) : Junior (also written as Kouhai, can be used as a suffix '-kouhai')

Sensei (先生) : Teacher, Doctor, Respected Person

Deshi (弟子) : Student, Apprentice

Informal

Tō-chan (父ちゃん) : Dad (also written as Tou-chan)

Kā-chan (母ちゃん) : Mom (also written as Kaa-chan)

Nī-chan (兄ちゃん) : Big Bro (also written as Nii-chan)

Nē-chan (姉ちゃん) : Big Sis (also written as Nee-chan)

Jī-chan (爺ちゃん) : Gramps (also written as Jii-chan)

Bā-chan (婆ちゃん) : Granny (also written as Baa-chan)

Disrespectful

Oyaji (親父) : Old Man

Sochi (其方) : Junior (usually son)

Jiji (爺) : Old Geezer

Baba (婆) : Old Crone

Bō (ぼう) / Bōzu (ぼうず) : Boy (also written as 'bou/bouzu', can be used as a suffix '-bou/bouzu')

Boya (ボヤ) : Boy (literal translation, used as a suffix '-boya')

Insulting

Teme (てめ) : Jerk, Bastard etc. (can be used as a suffix '-teme')

Dobe (どべ) : Dumbass, Moron etc. (lit. Dead Last)

Baka (バカ) : Stupid

Hentai (変態) : Pervert

Chibi (チビ) : Midget, Runt

Gaki (ガキ) : Brat (can be used as a suffix '-gaki')

Speech

Yare Yare (やれやれ) : My my (exasperation)

Ara Ara (あらあら) : My my (surprise)

Maa Maa (まあまあ) : There there (comforting / calming down)

Moshi Moshi (もしもし) : Hello (greeting over a phone)

Hai (はい) : Yes

Ano (あの) : Umm...

Are (あれ) : Huh?

Yosh (よし) : Alright! (excited)

Yosh yosh (よしよし) : Good good (approval)

Itadakimasu (いただきます) : Let's eat (appreciative)

Gochisousama deshita (御馳走様でした) : Thank you for the feast (appreciative)

Arigatō Gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) : Thank you very much

Dōitashimashite (どういたしまして) : You're welcome

Ohayō (お早う) : Good morning

Konnichiwa (今日は) : Hello/Good day

Konbanwa (こんばんは) : Good evening

Nicknames

Geta-Bōshi (ゲタ帽子) : Hat-and-Clogs (refers to Kisuke's choice of clothing)

Yagi-Ago (山羊顎) : Goat-chin (refers to Isshin's scruffy beard)

Ichigo (苺) : Strawberry (a play on Ichigo's given name)

Ichi (一) : Shortform for Ichigo (一護)

Tats (竜) : Shortform for Tatsuki (also written as Tatsu)

Suki (好き) : Shortform for Tatsuki (also means to Like)

Hime (姫) : Shortform for Orihime (also means Princess)

Yori (ヨリ) : Shortform for Yoruichi

Nicknames

Bōgu (防具) / Kendōgu (剣道具) : Kendo Armor/Equipment

Men (面) : Face Mask and Shoulder Protectors

Kote (小手) : Hand and Forearm Protectors

Do (胴) : Torso Protector

Tare (垂れ) : Groin and Leg Protectors

Sune-ate (脛当て) : Shin Protectors

Bokken (木剣) / Bokutō (木刀) : Wooden Sword

Shinai (竹刀) : Bamboo Sword

Keikogi (稽古着) : Upper garments

Hakama (袴) : Lower garments

Soul Society

Sōtaichō (総隊長) : Head Captain (also written as Soutaichou)

Taichō (隊長) : Captain (also written as Taichou)

Fuku-Taichō (副隊長) : Vice-Captain / Lieutenant (also written as Fukutaichou)

Kidō (鬼道) : Way of the Demon, the Shinigami Spiritual Arts (also written as Kidou)

Hadō (破道) : Way of Destruction, Spiritual Arts focusing on attack (also written as Hadou)

Bakudō (縛道) : Way of Binding, Spiritual Arts focusing on capture (also written as Bakudou)

Kaidō (回道) : Way of Returning, Spiritual Arts focusing on healing (also written as Kaidou)

Locations

Seireitei (瀞霊廷) : Court of Pure Souls, the Inner District of Soul Society

Rukongai (流魂街) : Wandering Soul City, the Outer Districts of Soul Society

Daireishokairō (大霊書回廊) : Great Spirit Book Gallery, the Repository containing all the Knowledge and History of Soul Society

Shinōreijutsuin (真央霊術院) : Spiritual Arts Academy