It's me! Tadaima! This is the sequel to Whatever it Takes! For those who haven't read "Whatever it Takes", I guess it's okay. But I do advice that you read that one first since you might be confused with the fic and the oc's later on… Or you could pm me and ask questions! The fic starts six weeks after Ichigo's first mission as the 3rd Division Captain.
Italics- thoughts
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach (obviously) but Bleach sure do owns! Right?!
Warning: Contains minor swearing.
Chapter 1: A fresh start? Maybe…
It took Ichigo forever to get up from bed. He just had a really bad dream. One that included free falling from a hundred foot building, and not being able to do anything to help himself get out of the predicament. He shrugged the weird dream off his mind as he finally stood up, Put a shirt on and left his room.
To his surprise, Rukia was wearing an apron (with rabbit patterns of course) and she was cooking, without Yuzu helping her. She was humming the chappy theme song as she turned around carrying a plate full of eggs.
"Did someone die?" asked the orange-head as he pulled up a chair.
"No, why?"
"Because you're cooking…"
"Haha… Very funny…It sure took you ages to wake up…"
"What's wrong with waking up late on a Sunday morning?" asked Ichigo as he began munching on a toast.
"Well you told me yesterday that you wanted to drop Yuzu and Karin off at the school for their exams today…" said Rukia as she took the seat next to him. Today was Yuzu and Karin's high school entrance exams.
"Shit… I totally forgot…! Why didn't you wake me up?" said Ichigo in a panicked voice as he started fidgeting with his cellphone.
"I was going to… but then the twins said it was okay, and that they were going with their friends anyway…" said Rukia
"Damn… I'll just pick them up later… Where's dad by the way?"
"Clinic… Ne Ichigo…"
"Hmm?"
"Don't forget we're going to the University tomorrow. To process our admission…" Just a couple of weeks ago, Ichigo and Rukia took the college entrance exams at Karakura University and both of them passed with flying colors.
"Okay." Replied Ichigo
"Are you okay?" asked Rukia. She reached for Ichigo's hand and lightly squeezed it.
"Yeah I'm fine. Why?"
"You've been really out of it these couple of days and..."
"Not this again Rukia! I told you I'm fine! Stop pestering me already geez! I'm gonna get over it!" said a very irritated Ichigo as he slapped Rukia's hand away.
"I was just…"
"I don't wanna hear about this from you again!" Ichigo stood up and barged out of the kitchen…
"Ichigo…"
(A normal day at Soul Society)
"Aya-chan!!" greeted a very enthusiastic red-headed man as he entered the administrative office of the 3rd Division.
"Renji-kun! You got away from Hinamori-chan! Yey!" said a short blue-haired female shinigami as she stood up from her desk.
"It wasn't easy actually… It was a good thing that Kira suddenly showed up! But I shouldn't be out too long. So we'll just grab lunch. Is that okay?" asked the 5th Division captain, Abarai Renji. Blushing as he looked at his feet.
"Okay… I have a lot of papers to sign anyway…" said Kanako Ayame, vice-captain of the 3rd Division. A blonde young man with fair skin and purple eyes entered the room without any warning.
"You guys going out for lunch? Ooh can I come too, please???" pleaded the young man, Renji sighed. Just when he thought he could spend some quality alone time with his girlfriend, this childish shinigami shows up.
"Okay fine… But I'm not going to pay for your lunch Kosuke! What are you doing here anyway? Doesn't the 12th need you?"
"They do but… Aya-san and Tama-chan need me more here! Plus, it's lunch time! Wai!!!" said the ever so cheerful Shimada Kosuke, Vice-captain of the 12th Division.
"Oh but should we leave Tamaki alone here to do all the work? I feel sorry for him…"
"Oh don't be Aya-san! He's totally okay with it! Now let's go you guys!" said Kosuke as he positions himself in between the two and puts his arms around them. The three of them head for Seiretei's most popular restaurant, which the Gotei 13 officials frequent.
"Guys over here!" called a voice from a table in the far back of the restaurant. Hisagi Shuuhei was having lunch with Hitsugaya Toushiro.
"Hey! What's up Toushi? Why the long face huh?" greeted Kosuke. Toushiro glared at him.
"I told you not to call me that!"
"So Shuuhei, How've you been?" said Renji as they sat with the two captains.
"Pretty good I'd have to say! The new Issue of the magazine just came out! Did you guys check it out?" asked Shuuhei. Aside from being the 9th Squad Captain, he was also the editor in chief of the monthly Shinigami Magazine, which mostly features the current trends in the human world, latest shinigami gossip, etc…
"No not yet… I was about to get one…"
"Here, I have one with me." Said Toushiro as he handed the magazine to Renji. Renji flipped open the magazine. Kosuke and Ayame leaned in to take a look.
"What the heck is this…?"
"Top 100 Sexiest Shinigamis… Ooohhh! This is brilliant Shuuhei-san!" said Kosuke as he leaned in closer.
"Shuuhei! The Shinigami magazine is not a men's magazine! Almost half of it contains pictures of scantily clad women!" exclaimed Ayame
"That's what I told him…" mumbled Toushiro
"Oh come off it Hitsugaya, You know you like it!" said Shuuhei, winking.
"I don't! Well not r-really but I…Err… I mean No!!!"
"Aww… That's nice… Toushiro's hit puberty!"
"Shut it Abarai!
"So anyway Kosuke… How 'bout you? What have you been up to?" Said Shuuhei. He nudged Kosuke on the ribs, since he was beginning to drool all over the magazine.
"Oh well you know… Not much actually… Lounging around headquarters, pissing off Marechida whenever I drop by the 2nd Div, Helping out with stuff at the 3rd…"
"But what I really want to know about Kosuke is how things are going with Soi Fon-taichou! He's all hush-hush about the topic whenever her name comes up!" squealed Ayame. Renji, Shuuhei and Toushiro all raised their eyebrows at Kosuke.
"There's not much to talk about that particular topic to tell you guys the truth… Oh Hey! What if we give Ichigo-san a copy of the magazine? Maybe he'd cheer up a bit!" said Kosuke as he brushed off the previous topic.
"Oh then let me get him a copy! Aya-chan and I will be having our long deserved vacation in two days and we'll be visiting Rukia and Ichigo! " said Renji
"Ukitake gave you a vacation?! Lucky! I've been working my ass off since forever and all he gives me are human world magazines for inspiration! Sigh… I wish Nemu and I could go with you guys… " said Shuuhei
"Hmph… You know what Ukitake sou-taichou told me when I came by his office yesterday? "Shiro-chan! Since we're both white haired, how about going to the human world on a mission for me?" He doesn't make sense at all!"
"That's the brilliance of Ukitake-san… He's not your average commander! Haha…" said Renji
"Ukitake sou-taichou gave me and Soi Fon a vacation too! Yey! I'll go visit Dad… I bet he misses me… Ooohhh I'll buy him a copy of the magazine too!!!" Kosuke dashed out of the restaurant and made his way to the nearest bookstore.
"Oi Kosuke! Give me back my magazine!" called Toushiro but it was too late, Kosuke was too damn fast.
"…That's why I'm asking you…"
"Think of all the responsibilities… and the dangers she might face…"
"She's very qualified! You should know that!"
"This is the second time you asked me first before her."
"Well I thought you should know first, since you're her brother…" said the new Gotei 13 commander and 1st Division captain, Ukitake Jushiro as he paced around his office. His vice-captain, Sasakibe Choujiro took down notes as the meeting continued.
"But I strongly believe that she won't accept this just yet…" replied the 6th squad Captain Kuchiki Byakuya as he sipped his tea.
"Well why not! She's always dreamed of this..." argued the commander.
"You know why. She won't return here unless the boy comes back too."
"True but… Any news on Kurosaki's condition?" asked Ukitake, a long black haired woman stepped up and spoke.
"He still hasn't recovered his reiatsu… But recovery is possible in his case." said the 4th division Captain, Unohana Retsu
"His recovery is taking some time. It's been six weeks… We'll have to find a new captain for the 3rd squad." The conversation was interrupted by the 7th division captain, Komamura Sajin.
"Is that why only the senior captains have been called for the meeting? I notice that the younger captains aren't here. Is it because they're close friends with Kurosaki?" said the 8th Squad Captain Kyoraku Shunsui who took a sip from his sake bottle.
"I called this meeting for the purpose of electing a new captain for the 13th Division. Kurosaki is a very capable captain, and as much as possible I would not want to replace him. But, the fact remains that we currently have two vacant captain seats and the nobility wants it to be filled as soon as possible… I'm afraid if this goes on, we may have to replace him." said Ukitake
"Sorry but I'd have to disagree. This is Ichigo we're talkin' about! Sure he's recovering too slowly, but I'm sure he'd be up and about in no time! I have a score to settle with the guy!" exclaimed the bloodthirsty captain of the 11th Division, Zaraki Kenpachi.
"Yeah… I think so too. The nobility will just have to be patient!" said the 12th Division Captain, Shihouin Yorouichi.
"Let's just discuss Kurosaki another time, on the matter concerning the new 13th Division captain, are we all agreed?" asked Ukitake. The rest of the captains raised their hands, and although a bit hesitant, Byakuya raised his hand as well.
"Great. We will discuss this formally with the other captains in a week. Dismissed." Said Ukitake. The captains stood from their seats and exited the meeting room. Hitsugaya Toushiro looked confused as he saw the other captains emerge from the meeting room.
"Hey, did you just have a meeting?" Hitsugaya asked Kyouraku
"No… Of course not Shiro-chan! We were just err…"
"We were counting the whiskers on Komamura's face." said Kenpachi suddenly. Kyouraku sighed in relief.
"Huh? O-K then… Where's the commander?" asked Toushiro
"He's still inside. See yah later kid! Kenpachi and I are going out to drink!" said Kyoraku as he dragged Kenpachi and hurriedly left. Toushiro was left on the corridor with a huge sweat drop on his face. A couple of seconds later, Ukitake came out of the room.
"Oh Shiro-chan! I was just about to call for you! About your mission… You are to go stay in the human world, with the new 13th squad vice-captain and help him get used to life in the human world. Also, please assist Kuchiki Rukia with the hollow extermination in the town of Karakura." Explained Ukitake
"Yes sir. Where will we stay in the human world, sir?"
"I've prepared a house near the Kurosaki's residence. It's big enough for at least 10 people. Matsumoto fuku-taichou was thinking of having her maternity leave there, so perhaps she'll be staying with you. Oh and Maybe 3rd seat Madarame too. That sounds like fun! Ne Shiro-chan?" said Ukitake as he smiled at him.
"S-sure… When do we leave sir?"
"In a week… Do you have anymore questions Shiro-chan?"
"Sir… about that vice-captain… what's his name?"
"Kaguroi… Kaguroi Shin. He used to be in the 12th squad."
"Ichigo?" called Rukia as she slowly creaked open Ichigo's door and took a peak. He was lying on his bed, eyes closed, arms sprawled and with headphones on. Rukia quietly sneaked inside and sat beside him as she lightly caressed his face. Ichigo opened his eyes.
"Rukia…I…"
"Hmm?"
"S-sorry… about earlier…" said Ichigo as he sat up from bed and took of his headphones. Rukia smiled at him.
"Don't worry about it you idiot…."
"It's just…" began Ichigo, Rukia placed a finger on his lips.
"Sshh… Don't talk about it anymore, okay? So! How about treating me to something nice huh? To make up for what you did earlier?"
"Tch… Fine… Where do you wanna go?"
"How about that Ice Cream place near the ramen restaurant?"
"Ice cream! Ne-san! Take me with you!" screeched Kon as he opened Ichigo's closet, revealing himself. Wearing what appears to be a doll's dress.
"Kon, Yuzu found you again huh? Tough luck…"
"Ichigo! Can you tell your sister to stop it with her "Bostafu" nonsense!" pleaded the stuffed animal/gikon.
"No way… Don't wanna ruin all the fun. Let's go Rukia." Said Ichigo, as he grabbed his jacket.
"See yah Kon!" Rukia took hold of Ichigo's hand and dragged him out of the house. The two started walking together holding hands.
"Can you believe we're going to be college students in 2 months? I'm so excited!"
"Well don't be… College is twice as hard as High School you know…" said Ichigo as he stifled a yawn.
"Maybe in your case. My major's not that hard; at least that's what Tatsuki-chan told me…" said Rukia in her very enthusiastic tone.
"Is that why you chose education as your major? Because it's easy?"
"Of course not! I love kids! And teaching them stuff sounds nice! How about you then? Why'd you take Medicine?"
"I'm not really sure why… We're here. What flavor do you want Rukia?"
"Strawberry of course!"
"Two strawberry ice cream please." Said Ichigo as he opened his wallet took out some of his money and gave it to the ice cream guy. He handed out their ice cream after a few minutes and the two took a seat on a nearby bench and ate their ice cream quietly.
"Ichi…?" called Rukia.
"Yeah?" said Ichigo, throwing his empty cone at the trash can across him.
"Well… N-never mind…" said Rukia, as she looked away. She just can't bring herself to say it. Those two simple words that she's been meaning to tell him. It's been quite a while since it happened and she misses it terribly.
"What is it…?" asked Ichigo
"I-It's nothing… Forget it…"
"Rukia… Say it already!"
"You're raising your voice again…"
"I am not! Just tell me what it is already!"
"I told you! It's nothing!" it was now Rukia who raised her voice.
"Damn it Rukia. Say it!"
"…Kiss me you idiot! It's been ages since you last kissed me and I miss it! Since you're always sulking around and…" Rukia's outrage had been silenced by Ichigo's lips, crushing onto hers. Rukia couldn't help but let out a few tears as she held Ichigo tighter.
"Better?" asked Ichigo as he pulled away and stared into her eyes.
"Yeah…" Ichigo I know you're in pain… but it doesn't mean you'd have to drift away from me… I'll always be here for you…
A/n: So…? Is it crappy, sucky, icky or what? Let me know! Reviews are what keeps me going! They're like gatorade! Thanks everyone! See yah!