Here's the next chapter! I would like to thank everyone who had reviewed; it means a lot to me knowing someone actually likes what I write.

For those who also care about Shades of gray, it is still not finished, I was distracted by a gallery contacting me about displaying my art and I have used this entire week of fixing with that.

Anyhoo, I killed my plan of having the wedding soon, but never fear it will come, I think?

Chapter 6

They walked into the hallway and Ichigo could feel the servants' eyes on him. He could even hear them whispering but not what they said. Karin and Yuzu held his hands giving him comfort, without their warmth he would have probably bailed already. They led him into a room he knew was connected with the grand hall. He could hear the crowd's murmur from behind the door. Inside the room stood both his grandfather and father, both wearing their uniforms with the white haoris. As he approached them he saw behind them stood Byakuya and his grandfather Ginrei. Ginrei was wearing a blue kimono with a matching long-sleeved haori over, seeing that he was already retired. Byakuya, even he in uniform, to Ichigo's greater annoyance, but his captain's haori was different from what he usually wore. It had a high collar and the edges trimmed with gold. The men looked up when they had entered and he could see even his father was dead serious. It's really happening now.

"Ichigo, you made it in time." His grandfather raised an eyebrow and Ichigo could feel himself blushing. He hadn't been that late. "Come here." He almost tripped before he could reach the head captain's outstretched hand. He held his hand, not in a normal hold but only Ichigo's fingers, as he looked him over. "You look adequate, now if-"

"He's more than adequate!" Isshin yelled crying and was going to launch a full out blown love attack if not Karin had punched him hard on his chin, her fist laced with reiatsu. He fell over with a 'good punch my daughter' and his grandfather continued.

"As I was saying, let's join the Kuchikis and get you into the Kuchiki family." Ichigo frowned.

"I'm keeping my name." Everyone in the room looked at him. His grandfather's grip on his hand tightened.

"Ichigo, the point of this marriage is the joining of the families and since the Kuchiki clan is one of the four great families you will be marrying into theirs." Genryusai looked sternly at him. "Naturally you will take the Kuchiki name."

"No." Both Ginrei and Byakuya regarded him coolly but Ichigo refused to be embarrassed. "My name is one of the few things I have left of my mother and I am not changing it." He held eye contact with his grandfather, in an attempt at staring him down.

"It's fine by me." They looked over at Byakuya who had spoken. "Of course I would like Ichigo to have my name but I won't take away a memorial." Ichigo's chest filled with warmth and gave his betrothed a happy smile. Byakuya looked at Ginrei who nodded.

"Great! Now that that is settled, let's party!" Isshin, who had finally stood up pushed Byakuya and Ichigo towards the doors. Genryusai rolled his eyes and the servants who had stood frozen sprung to life and open the doors inwards.

The banquette hall was packed. Round tables were placed in a complex pattern, from the head table for the nobles to the captain tables, the division tables further back and farthest away were the finer citizens of Rukongai seated, and they all were filled with food. The guests, who had socializes with each other, faced them as they walked in. The head captain broke the silence that had settled.

"I have the great honor of introducing you to the intended couple, Kuchiki Byakuya and Kurosaki Ichigo. Tonight is a feast for their engagement, future happiness and prosperity."

The crowd cheered and Ichigo blushed. His hand was grabbed and looking down he saw it was Byakuya. Meeting his finance's gaze he gave Byakuya a nervous smile. Byakuya didn't return it but his eye's twinkled mischievously and bowed slightly and kissed Ichigo's hand. Wolf whistles and shouts rang through the hall. Ichigo's blush deepened and he let Byakuya led him to the head table. They greeted the other noble families on the way and Ichigo was hugged from behind by Rukia. He saw she was flushed and figured she had been sitting at the division tables and not with the rest of the Kuchikis. Looking over he couldn't see Izuru either. He was not looking forward sitting with his fiancé's family but it was the way of life. The Yamamoto clan's table was close to four great nobles' to show their rise of stature. His sisters took their place there with his father but his grandfather sat at the first divisions table. The servants' looks were nothing compared to the nobles scrutinizing but Ichigo held his head high as he had done his entire life. He wasn't about starting to care of what someone thought of him now. The Kuchiki's round table held one old woman that looked like she had one foot into the grave already. She was seated at the head of the table, back against the wall and facing everyone else. When he met her eagle eyes and he knew, here was the real leader. Ginrei sat down beside her but she didn't waver, kept holding Ichigo's eyes until he was forced to look away. He saw her satisfied smile when Byakuya and he sat down. Rukia hovered around, unable to decide if she should retreat or not.

"Sit down girl!" Despite being old the woman's voice was powerful and Rukia sat down so hard it must have been painful. Ichigo would have laughed if not the woman's attention was directed at him.

"Boy, I am Kuchiki Kazue, Byakuya's great-grandmother." She demanded such presence but she looked like a sweet dear who pet cats as an occupation. "You are young Genryusai's boy, right?"

Young Genryusai! How old is she?

"Ehm… I'm his grandson…" He looked at Byakuya for guidance but he was stone-faced and looking straight ahead.

"Not very bright, that one," she said to Ginrei. "I guess you only saw the pretty face."

"Mother, Ichigo is a lieutenant in the gotei 13. He is the head captain's only grandson and very powerful." Ginrei tried to explain but she sniffed.

"What division, boy?"

"Um… The fifth." She pierced him with her eyes.

"Speak up! One would think you came from the slums like that sniveling trashy girl my idiot of great-grandson chose the last time." Ichigo felt Byakuya stiffen besides him. "You act like you didn't have any of the divine blood of the Kurosakis in you." That batty mean- Wait…

"Divine blood?" Ichigo was confused. "I thought the Kurosaki clan was a fallen house." The old woman smirked.

"Oh, it is now. And has been for a very long time but I remember from when I was young." Ichigo thought she was going to continue but she just drank her tea. Ichigo growled, throwing all etiquette out the window.

"Tell me! What about my family?" Kazue smiled.

"So you do have a backbone. But shouting at an old woman as myself, such manners I'd say." Ichigo was about to bang his head against the table but Byakuya took his hand again. Before his temper erupted he squeezed Byakuya's hand instead, both to cool down and to give in into the feeling of harming his fiancé because of what he had done. When he felt the bone creaking he calmed down and looked back at Kazue. She smirked at him and finally he understood; she was goading him into blowing up. Fine, both can play that game.

"My apologies, my nerves must be getting the better of me." Ichigo began and the smirk turned victorious. "I do wish to know more of my family but I can understand if you do not remember. After all I'm sure there is something about it in the archives. Deep, deep in is probably a more reliable source. The mind can only remember so much…" Byakuya cough-laughed and even Ginrei's lips twitched. The smirk vanished and she frowned instead.

"Are you calling my mind weak, boy. I have seen the birth of the gotei 13!"

"And that was a really long time ago, but I am sure no one here is blaming you for forgetting it. I am sure we all understand your importance, you have been alive long enough to earn the freedom of a blank mind." When the old woman flushed purple with anger Ichigo couldn't help thinking he had gone too far. But then she laughed.

"Boy, I take it back. You are very much a Kurosaki and we should be grateful to have you." She smiled at him and Ichigo relaxed. "The children you shall bear will be strong." Ichigo frowned at the thought but the old woman wasn't finished.

"As for the Kurosaki clan, it was one of the very first. It was before the gotei 13 and the central 46. Our world was young and wild. Hollows roamed free and souls did what they could to survive. The Soul King saw the need and touched several souls with high reiatsu. They formed the first noble houses and tried to protect the souls from hollows and each other. Though the nobles were not free from sin and one by one they fell. One house stood out and built the foundation to the city we now call Seireitei. I am of course talking about the Kurosaki house. They were led by a very special person. Her name was Masaki." Ichigo jerked. That could not be possible.

"Ah, I am not talking about her namesake, your mother, but the great warrior Kurosaki Masaki, the Bloodstained Sun. This was when I was young, long before your grandfather was born. I had the great honor of meeting her and it was because of her I chose to take over the head position of my decaying clan. She went on with trying to join the houses into something like the gotei 13 I presume. But she was murdered before she could. Though the guilty was never caught, the rumors pointed to her own daughter. Luckily she inspired more than just me and we could forge a bond between four noble houses. None of us wanted the Kurosaki house with us, not without Masaki and the house fell. By the time your grandfather, a young and proud warrior, came forth with ideas of building an army to protect the souls, we were ready." She took a sip from her teacup.

"Genryusai built his army and academy and the great four houses together with the lower houses created the chamber 46. The Kurosaki clan lived on the outside, festering and looking for any way of regaining their former glory. That led to a bloody conflict that your grandfather ended. The Kurosaki clan was almost erased down one last strand containing of a father and son. The father's envy and hatred for Seireitei was passed down to his son. That boy was the embodiment of all that was wrong and still to this day I think it miracle someone like him could father the wonderful person that was your mother. " She smiled at him and Ichigo wanted to ask her questions but it seemed like she wasn't finished. "Now, I'm guessing you are wondering why a man like that would give his daughter a name of a hero as if the greatness laid in the name. He wanted her to return their honor, training her from the moment she could walk in the way of the warrior. He pushed her into joining the academy to become a shinigami. There I heard she fell victim to harassment, the last conflict not easily forgotten and I could easily see that she was nothing like the first Masaki. Your mother was kind and sweet. She loved everyone and had a natural ability for healing. Captain Unohana quickly put her under her wing and saved her from her tormentors. Somewhere along the line she met your father Isshin, I do not know the details, but suddenly my granddaughter stood without a groom and your mother already pregnant with you. I have had my eye's set on the Yamamoto clan for a very long time, the only noble house without a connection one of the great houses. With Isshin taken I could only wait for the child of his to be born." Ichigo had the creepy feeling that this was the spider, the one in the background who controlled them all. Her eyes glittered as if she knew what he was thinking. But she continued her story.

"I was so glad I did. When you were born I knew, you're the one we have been waiting for, the Bloodstained Sun reborn." Ichigo stared at her but everyone else stared at him.

"No, that can't be possible! I can't be her!" Ichigo almost yelled. "I'm not a hero, I'm not even a captain."

"Whether I am right or wrong, only time can tell. I have told both your grandfather and father but they have thought you too young to know. But I believe you ready to know the truth. And warn you."

"Of what? Me getting a big head because you think I'm some dead hero reincarnated?" Kazue shook her head sadly.

"Haven't you ever wondered why you are named Kurosaki when you are the head captain's grandson? It is not some romantic gesture from your father's side I assure you. It is because of your grandfather on your mother's side. The only way he would let Masaki go was if her offspring bore his name. We all decided when you were born to keep your possible connection to Masaki hidden; the remaining Kurosakis and their allies were never to know since they would without doubt try to use you for their own gain. Now Ichigo, promise me never to go looking for your grandfather, and stay in Seireitei so we can protect you."

"If this is such a secret why tell it here in the open?" Ichigo was not happy with the insinuation he needed protection. Kazue tapped a round orifice that Ichigo had though been a very ugly ornament.

"This is a silencer, making impossible for anyone to listen in. As for here, I wanted to tell all of you youngsters, mostly Byakuya since he will be your final line of defense but also you girl. You may have been adopted but you are now a Kuchiki and will undertake the protection of Ichigo." Rukia, who had had her mouth open since they heard of Ichigo's possible relation to the old hero, snapped her jaws closed and nodded.

I guess Kuchiki Kazue could be called an OC but I just needed someone to tell Ichigo about his history, please don't kill me.

Fun fact: Kazue means show no mercy, I thought it was fitting.

Anyhoo, I hope your all with me and like the history lesson, most of it has been made up by me but I like to think I weaved the canon history in okay, at least in an acceptable way. There are a lot of holes in the canon that can be filled with lots of nice stuff ^^