Long Way Home: A Desperate Tale of Survival

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any characters. We should know this by now.

Reunion

-17 Month Later-

"I can't thank you enough for all you've done!" a short, skinny young man with dark hair said as he bowed. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there to drive off those bandits!"

In front of him, an orange haired samurai scratched his head nervously, unsure of how to take such praise. He'd guarded many merchants in the past but none had been as appreciative as this one. It was a breath of fresh air considering some of his other employers would throw the money at him and be gone without a word of thanks. He'd have to remember this guy – Hanataro the spice merchant.

"Hey, that's my job, isn't it? What kind of bodyguard would I be if I couldn't live up to my reputation?" the orange haired samurai said with a smile, trying not to draw too much attention. Because of the merchant's fervent praise, some people were staring and it was becoming a bit embarrassing.

"I suppose you're right," the short merchant, Hanataro, said as he realized the scene he'd made. "Ah, yes! Your pay!"

Reaching into his robe, the short merchant pulled out a small sack and tossed it to the bodyguard. The orange haired samurai caught it with one hand and was instantly surprised at how much it weighed.

"I put in a little extra," Hanataro explained before he could ask. "Since you had to use your sword against those thieves, I figured you could use it to have your sword sharpened."

"I'll do that, thank you." The orange haired samurai let his smile widen at this gift and he bowed graciously. At the same time, Hanataro did the same. As they pulled themselves back up, the bodyguard continued, "And if you're even in this area again, don't hesitate to request my services. As long as you're not crossing the border, I can escort you anywhere in this territory. Just ask around town and someone should be able to tell you how to find me."

Nodding with a smile, the spice merchant replied, "I'll do that! Take care and thank you so much, Master Ichigo!"

Ichigo waved as Hanataro hopped onto his cart and spurred the horse into movement, disappearing down the road and off toward the Kuchiki border. After the merchant was gone, the orange haired samurai continued to stare off in the direction of the border.

"Has it already been over a year since I came back?" he mused to himself quietly, his eyes focused far on the horizon.

Ever since his return to his homeland, Ichigo had kept himself quite busy. He had completely given up his thieving ways and decided that he needed to find his own path. As luck would have it, a wealthy noble posted a sign looking for an experienced bodyguard to protect him during his stay in this territory.

Putting his hatred for the nobility aside, the orange haired samurai took the job out of need for money. Surprisingly, it went very well and he was well paid for his skills. Ever since, he'd begun taking on jobs around the area; guarding shops, protecting merchants, and even assisting hunting parties when food became scarce.

He had even managed to earn a reputation in this area for being strong and dependable, going so far as to escort some merchants all the way to the other side of Yamamoto's territory. And thanks to that, there was never a time when he went hungry. Sure, there were times when money was tight but because of his hard-working nature, he always found a way to survive.

After all, he had to help feed his family.

"Well, I guess I should be getting home now," he said to himself, knowing that the day was growing short.

Despite his own insistence, Ichigo couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from the horizon, where the Kuchiki territory lay beyond. Before he'd even known it, his demeanor slowly sank until he bore a melancholy frown. Although he'd tried to keep himself busy so as not to focus on it, from time to time, he found himself staring off into the distance…wondering how Rukia was faring after all this time.

He'd received no word from her and she hadn't been to visit since the day they'd parted at the border. And though he wouldn't deny that it bothered him, he also knew that she had to be faring well. In all these months, Rukia hadn't sent for him, which meant that she must have been doing well in her endeavor to change her clan. That much he could be sure of.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder what she was up to and if she thought about him, if only once in a while.

Shaking his head slightly, he sighed and forced himself to turn away from the border. However, before he started walking, he glanced over his shoulder one last time before tearing his eyes away and heading down the road that led to his family's house.

Little had he known that there was a figure who had been watching him from the side of the road.

It didn't take long for Ichigo to arrive at his home, a small one story house just outside of the village. He'd been surprised to find that his family was still living there, despite him being gone for so many years.

"Some things just don't change," he mused to himself as he opened the front door. "I'm hom—".

"Too slow!"

A fist came flying at him from the side but his reflexes kicked in and he easily slapped it away before grabbing the attacker's arm and flipping them over his shoulder. The attacker was flung toward the ground outside the door and crashed face first into the hard dirt. Standing upright, Ichigo glared down at the attacker and felt his scowl return in full force.

"Dammit, Old Man! I told you to stop testing me every time I come home!" he shouted before giving an annoyed sigh.

"But Papa has to be sure that his son is ready to defend our home whenever danger strikes!" Isshin Kurosaki insisted, flipping up to his fit from the ground. "How else am I to know that my darling little girls will be safe from—?!"

Suddenly, a sandal flew past Ichigo's side and smacked directly into Isshin's face. The elder Kurosaki's head fell back into the dirt with a hard thud, the imprint of the footwear reddening on his face. Ichigo half chuckled as he glanced over his shoulder to see Karin, his younger black haired sister, retracting her hand.

"Stop attacking Ichigo every time he comes home, Dad. It's getting annoying," she said with a huff, not even bothering to retrieve the footwear. An instant later, her twin sister Yuzu, whose light brown hair was tied into two long braids, came behind her and sighed as she saw what her siblings were up to.

"Did you really have to go that far Karin?" Yuzu questioned, coming up behind her sister.

"I'm getting tired of the weird looks people give me for having this crazy old man as a father," Karin defended, folding her arms defiantly.

"You should take her advice, Old Man," Ichigo said before shooting a smirk at his sister. "Thanks Karin."

"Don't thank me, I was getting fed up with his craziness. He wasn't like this when you were away, just so you know," she told him, stepping back into the house.

Abruptly shooting up from the ground, Isshin held his nose and stared at his daughter with watery eyes. "My darling children! Why do you all gang up on your poor father?! Am I not giving you the proper attention—?!"

A swift kick knocked Isshin back on his backside and he grunted as he hit the ground.

"You're giving us too much attention, you crazy Old Man!" the orange haired samurai insisted before turning around and heading into the house. "Just once I'd like a bit of normalcy when I come home…"

As Ichigo moved further into the house, Isshin slowly picked himself up and pouted, "But your loving father was just trying to help protect his family…"

Suddenly, an affection pat earned his attention and the elder Kurosaki turned to see Yuzu smiling gently at him. In turn, he also smiled and went to hold her hand but she quickly pulled it away and said, "You need to wash up, Papa. Dinner's ready and you we don't want you to stink up the house."

Frozen in shock, Isshin was rooted to the ground as his youngest daughter turned about and went into the house along with Karin. For a moment, the elder Kurosaki could only sit there and be perplexed as to why his children were being so mean…that is until he lifted his arm and took a large inhale.

"Argh…why didn't anyone tell me I needed a bath?!" he shouted before jumping up and proclaiming, "Fear not, my darling children! I shall bathe and then we shall bask in the wonderful aura of the Kurosaki Family!"

Everyone in the house groaned a bit but didn't fight him any further. This was an average day in the Kurosaki household and strange as it was, it felt normal for them to have this kind of interaction. Oddly enough, this had been one of the things that Ichigo had missed most during his time away.

Rushing into the house and slamming the door, neither Isshin nor his children noticed the figure that was steadily approaching from down the road.

"Alright, then! Let's enjoy the bountiful meal that my darling Yuzu had prepared for us!" a freshly washed Isshin proclaimed as the family sat down to eat.

And even though Karin and Ichigo groaned a bit, neither of them protested any longer. Yuzu had prepared a wonderful meal of fried fish with rice and vegetables. It was mouthwatering to look at and no one wanted to delay it any longer. Picking up their bowls and thanking the gods for their food, everyone dug in. Ichigo let a smile overtake his face as he savored the wonderful cooking of his sister.

Life was, for the most part, normal. At least considering everything he'd been through just to get home.

His father was just as crazy as before, but at least he wasn't being as obnoxious as he'd been before Ichigo had left many years ago. He still ran his medical clinic, though he didn't make much money from it, but it had always been Masaki's dream to help the needy and he figured this was his way of fulfilling that desire.

Yuzu worked as the cook for a local restaurant and was a seamstress in the evening to make them all extra money. She worked hard and always had a bright smile on her face, never complaining and doing her best to support the family.

Karin worked as a waitress for the same restaurant as her sister, mainly to keep an eye on her and be sure that both of them stayed safe on their way home. Both she and Yuzu had been accosted by drunken patrons in the past but the black haired twin had studied martial arts from their father and was easily able to defend both herself and her sister.

And with Ichigo pulling in money from his bodyguard jobs, they were able to get along just fine. They were together again and being home and eating with his family after surviving on his own for so many years was more than a dream come true. All of those nightmarish days were behind him and it all seemed so surreal.

Over a year had passed but he still couldn't believe that he was really home.

-17 Month Prior-

The day he arrived at his home, he was nervous to even approach his own home. He wasn't even sure if his family still lived there…or even if they would want him back. To them, he had practically disappeared while going to earn money to help them. They may still think that he had simply abandoned them. They didn't have any way of knowing what had happened to him…and it terrified him to realize that they might resent him over it.

So, for nearly an hour, he stood outside his family's house and stared at the door. Then, just as his nerves gave out and he turned to leave, the door opened and someone bumped into him.

Startled, Ichigo had looked down to see Yuzu rubbing her head as she looked up at him. Her eyes widened as she took in the image of her brother. Fear and anxiety rose up in him and he prepared to flee when she had abruptly leapt at him and latched her arms around him.

"Ichigo! You're home!" she shouted, tears pouring out of her eyes. "Thank the gods…"

A moment later, Karin appeared, carrying a wooden sword and ready to defend her sister. That is, until she also caught sight of her long lost brother. The wooden weapon fell from her hands and the black haired twin gritted her teeth in a mixture of anger and relief. Dashing forward, she grappled him into a furious hug as well.

"You stupid big brother!" she practically shouted, slamming her fist into his chest. "Where the hell were you?! Don't you know we've been waiting for you?!"

Both of the twins buried their heads in his robes and refused to let go. Ichigo's hands shook for a moment before he found the courage to gently place his hands atop their head, patting them gently as their tears soaked into his robes.

A shifting caught his attention and he lifted his head to see his father, Isshin, standing the doorway. He wore a serious visage, one that Ichigo had seen since the night his father had come home with the blood of Masaki's killer staining his robes. The elder Kurosaki's dark brown eyes bore into his son's warm amber orbs.

A moment later, he slowly began walking toward all of them. Just before he reached them, Isshin stopped and continued to glare at his son. Ichigo's breath hitched in his throat as his father approached, terrified of the serious gaze his father was giving him.

Almost losing the will to speak, the orange haired samurai was barely able to say, "D-Dad…"

Without a word, Isshin rushed forward and Ichigo shut his eyes sharply. Suddenly, he was shocked as his father threw his arms around both his son and his daughters and pulled them all together. Ichigo's eyes snapped open and he saw his father openly weeping as he tightened his grip on his family.

"Ichigo, my son…Welcome home…"

As those words came from his father's lips, Ichigo felt the last of his anxiety dissipate as tears spilled from his eyes as well. Pulling his arms out to return the embrace, he felt a sense of belonging return to him and he couldn't help the wide smile that flashed across his face.

"…I'm home…"

"What are you smiling about Ichigo?" Yuzu abruptly asked, bringing him back to reality. He hadn't even realized he'd been smiling and quickly let it fall into an expressionless visage.

"Nothing," he muttered, stuffing his mouth full of rice to avoid answering.

Across from him, Isshin smirked as he pointed his finger at his son. "I know what it is! You've finally decided to tell your family about that mysterious partner that saved you and helped you get back home!"

Shocked, Ichigo sputtered and let rice fall from his lips as he stared awkwardly at his father. "W-Why the hell would I suddenly decided to do that?!"

"Because, my son, it's been over a year since you came back and you still haven't told us anything about the person who saved you!" the elder Kurosaki said before letting a sheepish grin spread over his lips. "And I'm willing to bet the reason haven't said anything is because it was a woman!"

It took all the concentration Ichigo had to keep from showing the shock that coursed through him. He had deliberately not mentioned much about Rukia to his family, mainly because of their current circumstances of forcibly being separated. Not only that, he didn't want his family to be worried because he'd nearly been executed while in the Kuchiki territory, a fact he'd kept from them all this time.

Not to mention that if his father found out that his partner had indeed been a woman, the nagging and insistence to know all about her would have drove him insane!

Rather than deal with that, Ichigo fell back on the old excuse he'd planned for such an event, "I told you all before, it's complicated. And besides, I wouldn't want to disrespect my partner's wishes to keep her identity a secret—".

Beside him, he suddenly heard his sister hum in amusement. "Oh, so it's a 'her', now is it?"

Ichigo's entire body tensed as he realized his fatal mistake. Months of avoiding the subject and feigning ignorance, gone in an instant. Before he could say anymore, Isshin practically tackled him away from the table and pinned him down.

"I knew it! My son is protecting a woman and trying to keep it from his dear father!" the elder Kurosaki squealed in joy before turning his inquisitive gaze onto his son. "Tell me all about her! I need to know exactly who she is if I'm going to invite her here and announce her as my new third daughter!"

"Don't be stupid, you crazy old man! There's nothing to tell! Now get off me!"

Gritting his teeth, Ichigo managed to lift his foot and slam it into his father's waist, thrown the elder Kurosaki off him. Picking himself up, the orange haired samurai scoffed at his father as the old man also got up and pouted.

"…I just wanted to thank the lovely lady who saved my idiot son's life," Isshin reasoned before a mischievous grin overtook his features, "And what better way than inviting her into the family!"

Scowling even harsher, Ichigo grumbled, "There's no way that I'll—!"

"I wouldn't mind at least hearing about her," Karin confessed as she continued to eat her meal, shocking almost everyone. That is, until she finished, "And if it'll get the old man to shut up, I'm all for it."

The orange haired samurai groaned at this betrayal but honestly didn't fault her. He'd kept his partner's identity to himself for so long, he should have known this would happen eventually. But that didn't meant he had to—

"But is it true, Ichigo? Did you really have a woman partner that saved your life and helped you cross the border?" Yuzu suddenly asked from across the room, a sparkle in her eyes as she desperately wanted to hear the story. Yet again, the orange haired samurai felt himself betrayed by his own sister, which now meant that the entire family was against him.

"It seems you're outvoted, son!" Isshin proclaimed and retook his seat, staring at his son expectedly. "Regale us with your wonderful tale of discovering love on your journey home!"

A low growl escaped Ichigo's throat and he was about to protest when a sudden knock came at their door. Everyone stopped and turned toward the noise, confused as to who could be there.

"That's odd. Its way too late for anyone to be stopping by," Yuzu questioned aloud, known that the sun would be setting soon.

"I'll get it—", Ichigo tried to say, hoping to squirm his way out of telling the family about his partner but was stopped as Karin abruptly stood up and headed for the door.

"It's probably some merchant come to ask for directions. Go ahead and get started with your story and I'll get the door," the black haired girl with a slight grin. Before he could insist he be the one to do it, she turned the corner and left them him no opportunity to retort.

Ichigo cursed and really felt betrayed but now he knew that there was no longer anything to keep him having to confess the truth to his family. Exhausted by what he now felt he needed to do, he sat down and picked up his bowl.

"Can't I just eat in peace?! I'll tell you all after dinner!" he finally conceded, earning an enthusiastic shout from both Yuzu and his father.

"Food can wait! We need to know now, son!" Isshin chimed in, far too impatient to wait.

"I can't wait to hear about her. Is she pretty? Was she a noblewoman or a warrior? Do you think she would have liked me? Why didn't you bring her home with you? Do you think she'd enjoy my cooking?" Yuzu rapidly fired off, completely ignoring Ichigo request to just finish eating.

Groaning to himself and planting his head on the table, Ichigo was almost ready to give in when a voice from behind startled all of them.

"Hey, Ichigo! The person at the door says their looking for you! I think it's a client!"

All of them heard Karin call from down the hall but it was Ichigo who instantly reacted. Jumping up from his seat and practically dashing toward the hallway, he called back, "Tell them I'll be right there!"

"Hey wait, Ichigo!"

"That's not fair! I wanted to hear about my future third daughter!"

Even as he heard his sister and father protest, the orange haired samurai didn't lose his speed. This was the perfect chance to avoid dealing with his family and he decided that, no matter what job this new client may have for him, he'd take it out of unspoken gratitude. Rounding the corner and seeing the door, he saw Karin push off the wall next to the door and move toward him.

"Who's the client?" he asked before she reached him, knowing that his family had met many of his previous clients.

"Don't know. Never met her before and she doesn't sound like she's from around her," Karin answered, shrugging her shoulders."She says that you've worked for her before and wants to hire you again."

That instantly caught Ichigo's attention. He'd met a lot of merchants and clients since he'd been home but none of them had been women. Husbands with their wives had hired him but never a woman on her own. It caused the orange haired samurai to mentally raise his guard as he approached the door.

Passing his sister along the way, he saw the tiniest bit of a smirk forming on her lips just as she passed. Just before she was out of earshot, Karin spun around and said, "And don't take too long, we're all waiting to hear about his mysterious partner of yours."

Whirling around and scowling fiercely, Ichigo could only watch as his sister rounded the corner out of his sight. He growled for a moment but quickly let out a heavy sigh. It seemed that this client had only temporarily saved him from an explanation. If she was even a client.

Ichigo hadn't forgotten about the Kuchiki Elder's possible grudge and was prepared if they had sent an assassin pretending to be a client. It had been over a year and nothing had happened yet but that only made him worry more. But now there was an unknown woman at his door, claiming to have hired him before, it all seemed too strange for him not to be cautious.

Especially with his family so close by.

Grabbing his sword that hung on the wall near the door, the orange haired samurai angled it at a small opening near the center of the door and prepared to stab through the door if need be.

Fully prepared in case this turned ugly, he called out, "This is Ichigo Kurosaki. I heard you wanted to speak to me. What do you want? Don't you know it's getting late?"

A long pause settled into the area as the person the opposite side of the door remained silent. Just as Ichigo began to grow even more suspicious, he heard a familiar sigh.

"I go away for a little bit of time and you go and become a spineless coward who confronts people from behind a door?! I thought you would have grown stronger by now, Partner!"

As the voice behind the door shouted at him, Ichigo's breath caught in his throat and he set his blade aside and furiously slid the door open. His eyes widened as he took in the figure of the person standing before him.

Glancing up at him, with a confident smirk on her face, stood the next head of the Kuchiki Clan – Rukia Kuchiki.

Rukia smirked at her partner as she finally got a good look at him. He hadn't changed all that much, at least not physically. She held in a laugh as he continued to stare at her for a moment, completely flabbergasted that she was actually here. She knew she'd made the right choice in not sending a message to inform him of her arrival.

It was worth it to see the shock that was plastered over his face. But all good things must come to an end and she decided to mercifully let him off easy. Her shimmering violets met with his burning ambers and she gave him a warm smile.

"It's been quite a while, Ichigo."

Ichigo finally came to his senses when she said that and he couldn't help but smile in return. Regardless of the thousands of questions that rampaged through his mind, all that he really cared about was that his partner had finally come to visit. All the feelings of having missed her presence seemed to dissipate as they stood there and stared at each other.

She hadn't changed all the much either. Her raven hair was still cut short into a bob and she wore a traditional black battle robe used by her clan. However, she now wore long white gloves on both hands and one sleeve was tied up with a badge-like ornament with the Kuchiki Crest imprinted on it.

And although he certainly noticed these changes, that was the furthest thing from his mind as he took in her form. A familiar warmth spread through him as he relaxed and set his sword aside.

"You sure took your time getting here," he chided, letting his smile turn to a grin. "Although I suppose that the head of the Kuchiki Clan can't simply waltz out and see the common folk whenever she pleases."

A light scoff escaped Rukia and she folded her arms with a raised eyebrow. "Is that all you have to say after all the time we've been apart?"

"Pretty much," he answered, his grin widening.

Rukia threw up her arms in mock annoyance before letting out a deep sigh. "I would have come sooner but I've been busy keeping my clan from igniting into civil war."

Amber eyes widened at the mention of civil war and he had to take a moment to think about what this could mean. Did this mean that she wasn't actually here for a leisurely visit? Had she come here seeking his aid? Were the Elders still after her life, even now?!

As all those questions burned inside his mind, he watched as Rukia gazed into his eyes and sighed once more.

"Don't give me that look, Fool," she said firmly, narrowing her eyes at him. "You know that if I was really in danger that I would have sent for you. I've got everything under control in my clan, at least for now. Things have been really difficult as of late and this trip to Yamamoto's territory was not easy to arrange. You'd best be grateful."

All at once, Ichigo felt a familiar foolishness at her words. He'd almost forgotten how easy she could read him and how, if she truly was in need of his assistance, he could have seen it in her as well. Even so, he could easily see how tired she was and knew that it must have been a long and difficult journey.

To that effect, he gestured inside and said, "I suppose that since you came all this way, I can at least invite you to stay for—".

He suddenly stopped himself as he realized exactly what he'd offered. Lost in the wonderful feeling of seeing his partner again, he'd completely forgotten about his demanding and mischievous family that had just been prodding him for information about this very woman!

Before he could stop her, Rukia took a decisive step toward him, smirked and sweetly replied, "Why thank you, Ichigo. It is growing rather late, isn't it? Oh, and I've been looking forward to meeting your family, just as I promised."

Ichigo gritted his teeth as he cursed himself for the many mistakes he'd made this evening. It was as if fate wouldn't allow his family and Rukia to not know of one another! What made it all the worse was that Rukia could see how nervous he was about her meeting his family and she obviously reveled in it.

Then again, thinking about the large number of times he'd insulted her brother in the past, he swore that it was some kind of twisted payback on her part. He only hoped she was more merciful with his father than he was about her brother.

"Argh, fine! But let me go and talk to them first—"

"Ichigo, my boy! Have you finished your business with your client yet?!" a voice from down the hall shouted, loud cumbersome footstep echoing as the voice grew closer.

Ichigo's eyes widened as he spun around to see his father fast approaching. His first instinct was to use the black sword next to him and bludgeon the old man into silence but knew that would only complicate matters.

Instead, he blocked the path, hiding his partner behind him and answered, "We're discussing important business, Old Man! I told you to wait until—!"

He never got to finish as he felt a swift jab smack into his side. Grunting and twisting his head around, he saw Rukia glaring up at him with her fist still embedded in his side. She obviously wasn't pleased about trying to keep her hidden from his father and the threatening look in her eyes demanded that he move aside.

"Stop being such an idiot," she whispered as she pushed him aside and moved out in front. Glancing back at him momentarily, she smirked and finished, "Besides, I didn't come all this way not to meet the father of my partner."

Again, Ichigo felt betrayed as everyone seemed to be ganging up on his this evening, even his own partner was turning against him!

"Oh, and who is this young lady?" Isshin inquired he finally got close to them, seeing Rukia turn back and facing him directly.

With a gracious bow, the raven haired woman answered, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Kurosaki. My name is Rukia. Your son has told me a great deal about you."

Stopping in front of her and raising an eyebrow, Isshin asked, "He has? That's odd. Normally he avoids talking about me whenever he can, especially to his clients! Almost as if he's embarrassed by me!"

The elder Kurosaki let out a hearty laugh which almost made Rukia chuckle before she answered, "Well, he spoke of you often when we traveled together on our journey some time ago. He obviously holds you in high regard."

All of a sudden, Isshin's laughter died and he stared down at Rukia with a shocked expression. Behind them, Ichigo huffed as he knew that his father had realized her meaning almost instantly. For a moment, the raven haired woman held a worried visage, as she wasn't expecting her partner's father to go into utter silence after she told him of their relation.

"Y-You're…the young woman who saved my son's life? The partner that he holds so much respect for?" Isshin abruptly asked, almost too stunned to speak.

Rukia tilted her head and gave her partner a sly glance, proud that he regarded her so highly and had obviously told his family as much. Ichigo's hand scratched his hair in embarrassment at his father's comment, even though it was true.

Letting out a nervous chuckle and turning back to Isshin, she replied, "Yes, I am. I'm sorry for arriving unexpectedly but—".

Before she could finish, Isshin swooped down and wrapped both arms around her. She gasped as he promptly lifted her up and pulled her into a furious embrace.

"There's nothing to be sorry for at all, my wonderful third daughter!" he practically shouted, further shocking the already stunned Rukia. "You're practically family! Please tell me you'll be staying with us tonight!"

"W-What?" she stammered, trying to comprehend his overly affectionate behavior and the strange title he'd given her.

Just then, she felt two hands grasped her shoulders and abruptly rip her away from Isshin's embrace. A moment later, she saw a foot shoot forward and slam into the elder Kurosaki's face, sending him flying back. Still a bit shocked by all that had transpired, Rukia turned to see that the one who had pulled her back and kicked Isshin was none other than Ichigo.

Standing in front of her and gritting his teeth, Ichigo shouted, "Dammit, Old Man! You can't just latch onto people like that!"

Picking himself up off the floor, laughing all the while, Isshin dusted himself off and countered, "There is nothing wrong with expressing my thanks to her. She did save my idiot son after all! And since I do think of her as a member of the family, then I don't feel that I was out of line. But I do apologize if I startled you, Miss Rukia."

Growling a bit as his father's explanation, the orange haired samurai was about to retort when a hand rested on his shoulder. Tilting his head, he saw Rukia staring directly at him for a moment before lightly shaking her head. Seeing that his partner wasn't as perturbed by this event as he was, Ichigo had no choice but to let it go.

Sighing deeply, he let Rukia around in front of him and she bowed to Isshin again.

"Please don't worry about it," she said carefully and sweetly. "I was just…surprised by your enthusiasm, Master Kurosaki."

"Oh, there's no need for such formality with me," the elder Kurosaki insisted, smiling down at her and taking in her entire figure. "And please, call me Papa from now on, my lovely third daughter, Rukia…"

As her name left his lips, Isshin eyes finally took note of the badge that was tied to her sleeve. As he saw the crest of the Kuchiki Clan imprinted on it, he suddenly paled and his brown irises bulged. Quickly looking between her and the crest, his mind put the information together and he gave a noiseless gasp.

All at once, he fell to his knees and bowed deeply in front of her, startling both Rukia and Ichigo.

"Please forgive my rudeness, Lady Rukia of the Kuchiki Clan. I had no idea that I was in the presence of the heir to your prestigious clan. I am honored to have you visit our humble home."

Rukia tensed at how fast Isshin's personality had changed and felt a bit guilty. She had kept her family name from him because she didn't want her rank to influence his actions but it seemed that Isshin was cleverer than she had anticipated. He recognized her almost entirely by name and that showed that, contrary to appearance, the man was not a fool.

She almost felt the need to apologize but quickly realized that it was her partner's fault for not informing his family about her identity and she sent a knowing glare in his directly. Seeing it, Ichigo couldn't help the groan that escaped him as he realized that this was yet another mistake he'd made this evening.

"You didn't tell them about me?" Rukia questioned sharply, narrowing her eyes.

A heavy groan escaped Ichigo as he answered, "I thought that it would be better to keep your identity a secret—".

Rukia's weighed sigh cut him off and she shook her head at him. "You're still putting others ahead of yourself. I suppose fools never change."

"…Yeah, I guess not," he admitted, realizing that he should have come clean about her over a year ago. Planning to try and rectify his poor choices, the orange haired samurai moved to his father's side and said, "Come on, Old man. Get up already. You're embarrassing—".

Suddenly, Isshin's gaze shot up and to his son only moments before his fist flew up and clocked Ichigo square in the jaw. Shocked by the abrupt impact, the orange haired samurai was stunned long enough for Isshin to grab and pull him down to a kneeling position as well, prostrating him in front of Rukia as well.

With a hand on the back of his head, forcing him to bow deeply, the elder Kurosaki furiously whispered, "Why didn't you tell me your partner was the heir to the Kuchiki Clan?!"

Ichigo managed to pull the hand off his head and sneered at his father, "Because I knew you'd react like this!"

"I wouldn't be reacting like this if you'd have told me in the first place so I could give her the proper respect the first time!" Isshin insisted, grabbing his son's head again before having them bow once more. "Please forgive my idiot son for his rudeness. He's lucky Your Ladyship was there to watch out for him during his journey! Go on, Ichigo! Thank the beautiful young lady!"

As Ichigo grunted and tried to break free of his father's grasp, he was surprised when he heard his partner speak.

"Actually, Master Kurosaki, it's quite the opposite." Both of them stopped struggling and turned to look up at Rukia as she smiled down at them. "I am the one who is indebted to Ichigo, because he's saved me from certain death when we first met."

Isshin drew a sharp inhale as he took in her appreciative visage. Suddenly, she bowed deeply to him and he was shocked as she continued.

"I would have been dead without your son's assistance and I wanted to tell you that you should be proud to have such a noble and gallant warrior as a son. I will forever be grateful to him for coming to my aid."

As she lifted her head back up, she saw Isshin's eyes brimming with unshed tears. Although she could have attributed this to another of the elder Kurosaki's antics, she could see that his relief and respect for her ran deep. She had seen that same look in her partner's eyes, every time he asked her to trust him.

Rukia couldn't help but smile as she realized that, even though he'd rather die than admit it, Ichigo truly was so much like his father.

Quickly blinking away the moisture in his eyes, Isshin bowed to her once again and said, "Such kind words…my son is unworthy of them."

"Hey!" Ichigo protested, earning him a swift jab from his father, forcing him to be silent once more. Rukia half smirked as she realized that she could easily take advantage of this situation and use it to embarrass Ichigo further, but she really didn't enjoy being treated so formally.

Instead, she turned to the still bowing Isshin and said, "Master Kurosaki, I'm not one for formality myself either. And I'd prefer it if you'd just be yourself around me. After all, I'm not here as a member of the Kuchiki Clan…but as Ichigo's loyal partner."

The orange haired samurai couldn't help the smile that overtook his lips at hearing that. It was refreshing to hear her say such things and he only hoped that his father would understand the great lengths she had taken just to—

"As you wish, my beautiful third daughter!" Isshin abruptly shouted, leaping to his feet and embracing her once more. "And since we don't want to be formal with each other, please feel free to call me Papa!"

Again startled by Isshin's affections, she managed a nervous laugh before she answered, "…I'll, uh, consider it."

Pulling back from her and smiling like an idiot, Isshin replied, "That's all I ask for."

Even if it was meant to be a jest, Rukia still felt quite a bit of sincerity behind it and she nodded firmly in response, "Alright then, we have an accord."

She reached out her hand and Isshin instantly took it, shaking firmly as they both chuckled at their own foolishness.

Meanwhile, a bit behind them, Ichigo slowly picked himself up off the floor with an annoyed grunt and said, "Don't encourage him…It's bad enough he's calling you 'third daughter'—".

"Third daughter? Who the hell is that?"

All of them tensed as they turned to look down the hall to see Karin staring at them with scrutiny in her eyes. Yuzu poked her head out from her sister's side and her eyes immediately latched onto Rukia form, a hint of awe within her irises as she refused to look away.

Isshin was the first to shake off his apprehension and eagerly waved to his daughter to come closer.

"Yuzu! Karin! Come over here and meet new sister, who happens to be Ichigo's partner!"

Hearing this, Karin narrowed her eyes at the raven haired woman as she slowly approached, continuing to let her sister hide behind her. Stopping just in front of Rukia, the twin girls stared at her for a time, one with skepticism and the other with awe.

All the while, Ichigo groaned and leaned against the wall, exhausted from trying to minimize the embarrassment his family was giving him. However, as he saw nervousness well up in Rukia's eyes as she continued to weather his sister's gazes, he couldn't help the tiniest chuckle that escaped his throat.

Rukia wanted to glare at him but felt that looking away from the two twins would be even more costly. As such she was totally unprepared when the black haired twin abruptly scoffed and cocked her head to the side.

"So, you're my brother's fabled partner, huh?" Karin said harshly as she looked over Rukia, her eye catching the white sword on the raven haired woman's waist. Lifting her gaze back up, she stared directly into Rukia's violet eyes and said, "Ichigo told me that your skill with a sword was nearly unrivaled, that only he was able to defeat you. Is that true?"

For a moment, Rukia wasn't sure how to respond. She couldn't read this stern girl hardly at all and she finally decided that it was best to just be honest…sort of. A confident grin overtook the raven haired woman's lips as she took a brave step forward, meeting Karin's gaze head on.

"That's not quite true…" she said carefully, letting Karin raise an eyebrow suspiciously. Rukia's grin widened as she continued, "Ichigo has never been able to defeat me, so don't let him mislead you. If anything, I'd say that my sword technique far surpasses his own."

"W-Wha…Hey! That's not true!" Ichigo fervently defended, glaring at his partner.

However, both Karin and Rukia ignored his interruption and continued to stare at each other. The black haired twin narrowed her eyes dangerously and was surprised when Rukia did the same, matching her gaze instantly. Rather than be upset, Karin gave an abrupt huff of amusement before smirking at her brother's partner.

Shifting her gaze over to Ichigo, the black haired twin grinned at him and said, "I like her. She's got guts."

Both Ichigo and Rukia were surprised by her forwardness and were unprepared as she quickly turned around and let Yuzu slip past her. Before anyone could question Karin's words, the brown haired twin practically jumped in front of Rukia and stared at her intently.

Feeling a rush of heat in her cheeks, Rukia said, "Um…It's a pleasure to meet you, uh…?"

"Yuzu. My name is Yuzu Kurosaki," the brown haired twin said quickly, as if trying to concentrate on something.

Rukia reflexively gulped and smiled nervously as Yuzu continued to stare at her for a long time. Time passed and no one seemed to move. Isshin and Ichigo were confused as to why the youngest Kurosaki was staring so intently. Even Karin, who had turned around to see her sister's odd reaction, was stumped by this.

Eventually, after nearly a whole minute of staring, Yuzu's hands abruptly shot out and grasped Rukia's. Startled by this sudden action, the raven haired woman tensed as the brown haired twin lifted their hands together and smiled brightly at her.

"You're even prettier than I imagined!" Yuzu shouted enthusiastically, shaking Rukia's hands fervently as she did. "I knew my brother would bring home a beautiful woman one day but I never imagined it'd be so soon!"

Everyone's jaw dropped at this event, as no one had expected Yuzu to so bluntly express her ideas about her brother's partner. For a time, a strange silence fell over all of them as they tried to figure out how to accept the brown haired twin's proclamation. Oddly enough, Rukia was the first to recover and she managed to smile as she fully absorbed the youngest Kurosaki's words.

"T-Thank you. That's very kind," she choked out, still quite surprised by the sudden compliment.

"You'll be staying with us tonight, right?!" an overly excited Yuzu inquired. Her eyes practically pleading, she glanced over to her father and asked, "She can stay with us for as long as she wants! Right, Papa?!"

Not missing a beat, Isshin suddenly swooped in and placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"Of course, my darling Yuzu! My lovely third daughter Rukia is more than welcome to stay with us for as long as she'd like!" he insisted, winking at Rukia and giving a thumbs up to his son.

Ichigo's palm slapped into his face as he groaned, growing even more exhausted with his family's incessant nagging and interference. He thought of mentioning that he'd already invited Rukia to stay but he opted to remain silent until she voiced her opinion. Although he knew the answer already, he felt it was best for them to hear it from her.

Stealing a glance over at her, he found a most welcome sight.

Rukia stood there, a warm and gentle smile on her face as the Kurosaki's graciously accepted her into their home and their family. She obviously hadn't known what to expect from her partner's family but she was undoubtedly pleasantly surprised.

The raven haired woman had never expected her first meeting with Ichigo's father to be quite like this. She had envisioned a gruff and stern man, considering her partner's constant scowling. However, she was more than pleased he'd so readily accepted her, calling her family the moment he discovered who she was. Even Ichigo's sisters readily invited her into their fold, which was more than she had ever expected!

She felt truly welcome and at home here…the same way she felt every time she was near Ichigo.

Knowing that this was the home that Ichigo had desperately fought to return to, she had no regrets for the actions she'd taken in trying to free Ichigo so many months before. It was all worth it to return him to these wonderful people.

Letting her affection smile widen, she nodded toward Ichigo and said, "Actually, Ichigo graciously offered to let me stay for the night. And I would be honored to accept his—".

"Great!" Isshin shouted, not letting her finish. "We can set up a futon for you in Ichigo's room—!"

"And we've still got plenty of food left from dinner! Are you hungry, Rukia?" Yuzu added, pulling Rukia toward the house.

"Actually, I…" the raven haired woman began but stopped as she saw Yuzu's head turn back to her, a light look of disappointment in her eyes. Feeling guilt for her careless words, Rukia gave another nervous smile and continued, "I am getting hungry, but I need to speak with Ichigo before I sit down to eat."

"You do?" the orange haired samurai questioned, his thoughts going back to what Rukia had been trying to tell him earlier.

Meeting his firm gaze, the raven haired woman nodded to him and answered, "Yes, and I would like to speak with you privately…if that's alright."

Hearing this, everyone besides the pair turned their heads and looked at them suspiciously. Isshin grinned sheepishly and Yuzu's cheeks flushed as she stared at her brother and his partner. Behind all of them, Karin shook her head but couldn't stop the smirk that overtook her features as well.

Ichigo held in a groan as he wished his partner had found a better way to relay her request. And judging by the embarrassed look in her eyes, Rukia was feeling rather foolish about her words as well.

However, she didn't let that deter her and she cleared her throat before she quickly continued, "It has to do with the job I want to hire you for. And I'd like to talk about it before we settle in for the evening."

Although she knew that wouldn't completely rectify the situation, at the very least she hoped it would be enough for them to allow her time to talk with her partner. To both her and Ichigo's dismay, Isshin let sly grin slip over his lips as he looked between them. He winked suggestively at his son, which made the orange haired samurai shiver, before turning around and facing his other daughters.

"Alright then, you two, we'd better give these two some alone time. Heaven knows that they haven't had any of that for over a year now!"

Yuzu's cheeks burned crimson and she immediately nodded, "Right! We'll patiently wait for you to get back!"

"Just don't take too long," Karin added with a hint of annoyance, "I want to hear the story between you two before it gets too late."

Before either of the pair could protest or try to refute them, Isshin ushered his daughters back inside and quickly shut the door, leaving Ichigo and Rukia standing in the fading light of the sunset. An awkward silent hung between them for a while and they stared at the door with a mixture of shock and confusion.

Finally, after a few minutes of standing in silence, Rukia was the one to turn to her partner and say, "…You're family is quite nice."

"Crazy and frustrating is more like it," Ichigo replied, turning to face her before shaking his head. "Sorry about all that, by the way. I had hoped to lessen the damage by introducing you myself."

To his surprise, she smiled wide and answered, "I enjoyed it actually. After all, it was great to finally meet the people you fought so hard to return to."

Turning her smile up to him, Ichigo felt embarrassment rise up in him and he had scoff to avoid acknowledging it. Shifting his gaze away from her, he said, "Yeah, well…I didn't fight so hard just get myself home, you know."

Rukia's smile grew warmer as she heard those words. She didn't have to ask his meaning, she knew the reason they had both fought so hard to stay alive was more than just to get home. It was a promise they had shared, one that had brought her back to him after all this time.

And with that in mind, she hardened her features and said, "Would you mind taking a short walk with me? I don't want to take the risk of being overheard."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at her sudden seriousness and turned back to see her cautiously eyeing his house. Immediately, he understood that whatever she wished to speak of needed to be kept form his family, for their own safety most likely. It filled him with pride, knowing that his partner cared enough to not let his family be drawn into their affairs.

"Lead the way," he replied, prepared to follow her anywhere. However, his answer was met with a raised brow as Rukia stared at him skeptically.

"And how I am to know where to go? This is my first time in this village, after all. Shouldn't you be the one to lead?" she questioned, folding her arms and giving him a playful smirk.

Although she did have a point, considering that he would know the best spot not to be overheard, Ichigo was suddenly reminded of how difficult his partner could be sometimes. However, he decided to ignore her snarky comment and simply waved his hand in dismissal before turning and walking away from his home.

"Don't expect a grand tour or anything," he said with mock annoyance before glancing over his shoulder at her.

"I'll keep that in mind," she chided as she followed after him.

For quite a ways, they walked in complete silence. Far behind them, Ichigo's home grew smaller in the distance. No one passed them on the road and both of them assumed that it was because the sun had already set and only the glimmer of light from beyond the horizon lit the area. At this time of day, everyone was already in their homes and resting from a long day of work.

"So, I heard that you've been working as a bodyguard for a while. How has it been working out for you?" Rukia abruptly asked, not content to continue in silence any longer. He didn't answer right away and she thought maybe he didn't want to discuss it but was surprised when she hear him give a light laugh.

"Actually, I never figured it would become as important as it has." He glanced over his shoulder and continued, "It started out as a simple way to make money but after a while, everyone started asking me to help out. And before I knew it, I had a reputation as a tough and reliable bodyguard."

"Ah," Rukia said as he turned his head back to see where they were going. "I'm not surprised you've done well for yourself. Uryu was actually concerned that you may have been lost without him to get you work but it seems his fears were unfounded."

"Yeah, well, Uryu really needs to learn to mind his own business!" Ichigo groaned at her comment. However, he grew strangely silent a moment later before quietly asking, "…So, how has that sewing freak been doing lately?"

Rukia stifled a chuckle at his question. It was obvious that he'd received no word from Uryu all this time, though it was easy to understand why. Both of them had a lot of pride and unless the other was in danger, they wouldn't allow themselves to show they cared about the other's well-being.

"He's doing well, actually." The raven haired woman slowly increased her pace to walk beside him, getting a good look at his face. "In fact, he restarted his tailoring business in the town outside the castle and his fabrics are becoming well known throughout the entire territory."

Hearing this, Ichigo gave a fake scoff before saying, "I'm surprised he's been able to do that all on his own. Is he still on bad terms with his old man?"

A frown settled on Rukia's lips as she answered, "Unfortunately, his father still hasn't forgiven him for abandoning his home."

"He should have forgiven him after all that's happened!" the orange haired samurai insisted, trying to keep calm. "That stupid bastard could at least try to understand why Uryu left and not blame his son for my mistakes!"

His words pierced her ears and Rukia now understood the source of Ichigo's anger. It was more for himself than Uryu's father, considering that he was the one responsible for making the tailor pack up and leave their clan behind just to help his friend. Once again, the orange haired samurai tried to place all blame on himself and never stopped to consider the reality of the situation.

Knowing that he needed to be taught a lesson, she mercilessly jabbed his side, causing him to stop walking and groan as he gripped his side.

"Stop trying to take the blame for everything that happened! Uryu never saw it that way so why should you?!" She withdrew her arm and watched as he glared sharply down at her. In response she folded her arms and finished, "Besides, you don't really think that Uryu is the type to let that get to him, do you?"

Ichigo opened his mouth to protest but snapped it shut a moment later, averting his gaze and grumbling, "…No, I don't suppose so."

A heavy sigh came from Rukia and she stared at him for a moment before she continued, "And it's not like he's facing this all on his own."

That caught Ichigo's attention and he turned to his partner with a quizzical gaze. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Smirking at his question, Rukia unfolded her arms and said, "Orihime decided to take charge of protecting Uryu, in case the Elders made a move against him. To that effect, she renounced her position as a warrior of the clan and decided to move in with Uryu…for his protection, of course."

As she finished, she let her smirk widen into a grin and Ichigo's scowl finally receded. He gave a few short laughs before answering, "Is that right? Damn, I never figured that Uryu was such a lady's man. Although I probably should have, considering he makes better clothes for women than men."

"Tell that to the cloaks that saved our lives more times than we can count," Rukia countered, not pleased with the insult.

To this, Ichigo merely scoffed and said, "Those don't count. They're made to work for both men and women." Rukia let out an annoyed sigh but remained silent as he continued, "Either way, I'm glad that things have gotten better for him, though I'm not sure he really deserves it since he hasn't written to me all this time."

Hearing her partner's words, the raven haired woman let a half-smile overtake her. It may not have seemed like much but she knew that Ichigo truly did mean well for his old friend. He would never admit it, but she could see in his eyes that her partner was pleased that Uryu had finally found a place…and someone to share it with.

Smiling at his flimsy, macho façade, Rukia decided not to chide him this time. Just this once, she would concede to him and let his somewhat insulting comments stand. After all, it was the closest he was going to get to actually praising his old friend.

Looking far behind them, Ichigo decided that they had gone far enough.

"We should be able to talk here," he reasoned, looking back to see his home was only a small spot on far down the road. Turning to face his partner, he asked, "So, what was so important that we had to almost go into the village to talk about it?"

Snapping back to reality, Rukia's features became stern and as she looked up at him.

"I wasn't lying when I said that I came here to see you, but I did come to this territory for other reasons as well," she told him, waiting for his response.

Watching how serious she'd become, Ichigo matched her gaze and asked, "Does it have something to do with your clan?"

Nodding to him, she answered, "Recently, the clan has been split into two separate factions. Those who support my brother and my ascension as the new head of the clan, and those who support the Elders and wish for them to lead our clan."

Scowling fiercely, Ichigo couldn't stop himself from asking, "So that comment about preventing civil war within your clan wasn't a jest, huh?"

"No, unfortunately it wasn't," she told him lowering her head and staring at the ground. "Ever since my brother lost his position as the head of the clan, the Elders have refused to acknowledge me as the new clan head."

"What?!" Ichigo practically shouted, clenching his jaw and balling his first. "How the hell can they justify that?!"

"They say that I'm too young and inexperienced to take over the position and want to wait a few years until I've grow older," she explained, distain for them filling her voice. "Both my brother and I insisted that, after all I've gone through in the during my time in Tsukishima's territory, I am ready for the position. However, they insist that I need to take on larger responsibility before they hand over control of the clan."

Scoffing angrily, the orange haired samurai kicked the dirt and said, "Sounds like a load of crap to me!"

"I agree," his partner insisted, trying to keep calm herself. "But they aren't willing to give up what little power they still hold over the clan. But they also need a valid reason for denying me my succession."

Raising an eyebrow, Ichigo looked over to her and asked, "Does all of this have something to do with why you're here?"

At last, she managed a smile for him and nodded. "You catch on quick. I was sent here as a representative of the Kuchiki Clan."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow and finally thought of something that didn't make sense.

"Hey, Rukia…shouldn't there be a few guards escorting you? I mean, you are the next head of the Kuchiki Clan. Shouldn't you have some of your guard friends, like the busty woman or the shorter girl—".

"Rangiku and Momo—".

"—Yeah, them! Shouldn't they be here with you if you're in what could be considered enemy territory?"

Silence greet his question until a depressed sigh escaped Rukia as she answered, "They have been reassigned. As such, no one was available to ask as my escort. So, I have been escorting myself since I cross the border into this land."

A noiseless gasp sounded from the orange haired samurai as his eyes widened in realization. Unable to meet her partner's gaze, Rukia averted her eyes and said nothing. As soon as she did that, the truth became abundantly clear to Ichigo. Clenching his fists, Ichigo asked, "You mean to tell me they sent you into this territory all on your own?!"

"No…that's not it," Rukia said quietly, building up her nerve.

"No?! Then why are you out here all on your own?!" Ichigo questioned, almost yelling down at her.

Gritting her teeth, the raven haired woman's head shot up and she shouted, "I couldn't take the risk of the Elders finding where you live! And since there was no one else I could trust to accompany me, I elected to travel on my own! That way, I could move around freely and actually be able to visit you! Or did you want the Elders to find where one of their enemies lived with his family?!"

All at once, Ichigo reared his head back, his amber eyes widening. He stared into the determined violet irises of his partner and felt a wave of foolishness engulf him. Rukia had decided to come all this way on her own, just to keep her promise to protect and support him. She put her own life at risk to keep the Elders away from his family. And regardless of his intentions, he had just insulted that.

Feeling great shame, he hung his head and whispered, "…Sorry, I wasn't thinking."

A light scoff came from her direction and heard her say, "I'm not so weak that I can't travel on my own, Fool. You should have more faith in your partner."

Lifting his head, he saw her staring at him with her strong, vibrant violets. However, there wasn't any anger in them any longer, only the need for him to trust her. How long had it been since she'd given him that look? More than that, was it strange that he somehow missed it?

In either case, he knew that this wasn't the time for him to be moping or feeling ashamed. His partner was in need of his assistance, though he didn't know what for yet, and she needed him to trust her again. Putting aside all of his negative emotions, the orange haired samurai steeled himself for whatever was to come and decided to do as his partner asked.

"You know that I have faith in you," he stubbornly replied, forcing himself over his own outburst. "And thank you…for keeping your promise to me."

Surprised to hear that, Rukia was taken aback for a moment before she let a soft smile grace her lips. "I was just keeping the promise we made to each other. The same as you."

"Right, got it."

They shared a simple smile and allowed themselves to forget about their little argument. Even after so long, they still remembered their promise to each other and kept it as their top priority. It filled both of them with pride and allowed them to relax once again.

"So, what did your clan need you here to represent them for?" Ichigo asked carefully, trying not to make a fool of himself again.

Sensing that he was trying to make amends, Rukia sighed softly and answered, "I came here to meet the new head of the Yamamoto Clan."

Realization dawned on Ichigo as he began to put thing together. "Oh, that's right! Old Man Yamamoto died, didn't he? I heard about that but didn't really think much of it. Everyone here always thought that the old man would live forever, considering how long he ended up living."

"Exactly, it came as quite a shock to everyone. Even in the Kuchiki territory," Rukia concurred, glad that she didn't have to explain everything to him. "And with his passing, the Kuchiki Clan was worried that relationships with his clan might turn violent again."

"Yeah, Yamamoto didn't have any children to succeed him, so his successor hasn't been announced yet. Was your clan worried that whoever succeeded him would restart the war between your clans?" Ichigo pondered, only just grasping the situation.

"Yes, and with our current state of internal conflict, the Elders worried that our clan wouldn't be able to mount a proper defense. As such, they wished to re-establish our non-aggression pact with whomever was chosen," Rukia finally explained.

As her words sank in, Ichigo realized something odd about what she'd mentioned.

"Re-establish the pact? Does that mean that the successor has already been chosen?" he questioned, "I didn't hear anything about that."

"Indeed it does," she told him, letting a smile spread over her face. "And it turns out, Genryusai Yamamoto's successor is a man we know quite well. A swordsman by the name of Shunsui Kyoraku."

That name instantly brought back so many memories and Ichigo's mouth hung open as he desperately tried to register the shock. The man with the flowery kimono that had injured himself to help them escape Urahara's brothel was now the leader of his clan! And what's more, it seemed that Rukia had already confirmed it for herself!

But could it really be the same person? Ichigo had to be sure!

"Wait, you don't mean that it's that Kyoraku, do you?" he questioned, almost flabbergasted. Rukia nodded in response but said nothing, leaving him to sputter, "B-But how can that be?! We met him in Tsukishima's territory! At that damn brothel of all places!"

"I was quite shocked to see him myself," Rukia further elaborated, folding her arms and shaking her head. "I was given an audience with him yesterday, before I set out to find you. And I never imagined that I would meet him again like that."

Her words shocked Ichigo further and he asked, "Hold on! You mean you already met with him?"

Rukia nodded, "Yeah, I had to speak with him and be assured that he didn't plan to reignite the war. And, as you can imagine, he told me he didn't have any desire to instigate an old grudge that he never agreed with in the first place."

"I see," Ichigo said quietly, thinking to himself. "So, when you went to see him, did he recognize you?"

At that, Rukia let a soft smile take hold as she answered, "He acted as though it was the first time we'd met but he treated me as if I was an old friend."

An amused huff escaped Ichigo as he shook his head. "I can see that happening," he said before letting a single laugh ring out. "I wonder what Nanao would do if she found out that the man she was so dedicated to turned out to be the ruler of one of the largest territories in this country!"

Light laughter escaped Ichigo for a moment before he saw Rukia smirking knowingly at him. Before he could even ask, she replied, "She seemed to take the news quite well, considering that she's now Lady Nanao of the Yamamoto Clan."

Ichigo's jaw dropped at hearing this and he struggled to form words. "But…how…when…didn't she…the brothel…What?!"

Enjoying the shocked visage of her partner, Rukia decided to take pity on him and explain everything.

"It seems that when we met Kyoraku in Tsukishima's territory, he wasn't there as a ronin or even a spy. He went there to pay off Nanao's dept and ask her to marry him—".

"Hold on a second," Ichigo cut her off, still trying to catch up. "How do you know that? I thought that you said Kyoraku was pretending not to know you."

"Yes, Kyoraku couldn't let on that we had met before, since it would have looked suspicious." She smirked wider and continued, "But when he asked Nanao to give me the tour of his new castle, she was able to explain everything."

As Ichigo drank in this information his shocked expression slowly morphed until he had a slight smile on his face. He chuckled to himself as he thought back to how Kyoraku had told them that he had come to rescue Nanao after she had been taken by Tsukishima's slavers and realized how much of a dept Rukia had put him in by saving her first.

Even if there was a reason for Kyoraku to go to war with Rukia's clan, Ichigo felt confident that the new Yamamoto Head would never have conceded to it. And inadvertently, he could now be counted among Rukia's allies and the Elders of her clan were none the wiser!

Looking to Rukia, it was obvious that she was well aware of that fact and he couldn't stop from grinning.

"It seems that your coming here didn't exactly go as the Elders planned," he said with a hint of arrogance, "They'll have to give you more respect now that you've averted the crisis of war with Kyoraku's clan."

The moment he said that, Rukia's eyes darkened and she hung her head. Shocked by her sudden change in attitude, Ichigo was about to speak up when she beat him to it.

"Actually…that's part of the reason I wanted to meet with you," she told him carefully, keeping her voice even. "It seems that the Elders need further proof that I am capable of leading the clan. So, they decided that the best way to do that is to have me placed into a position of great responsibility."

Slightly cocking his head and raising an eyebrow, Ichigo gave her a quizzical look before asking, "And what the hell does that mean?"

Silence reigned for a few moments as Rukia concentrated on finding the will to speak.

Finally, she lifted her head to meet his gaze and answered, "…They told me that, since I claimed to be able to lead the clan, I should be able to maintain control over the newly acquired land taken from Tsukishima's clan. To that extent, I will be sent to live there and have been given the task of fending off attacks from the neighboring clans seeking to invade our new territory."

A cold sweat ran down Ichigo's neck as she finished. Ever since his return, he'd been listening for any news concerning what was happening in what used to be Tsukishima's territory. And even though his land was far to the west, he still managed to hear some of the stories of what was currently happening there.

Most of Tsukishima's forced had either been routed or captured but a small group had begun a movement to take back their land from the Kuchiki Clan. Not only that, it appeared that many of the neighboring clans, who were angered by the Kuchiki's halt of the slave trade, sought to invade the territory and possibly reestablish the foul business.

It was a disheartening to realize that, even though he and Rukia had freed the territory of a tyrant, the area had descended into chaos once more. And it was all the more terrifying because now it seemed that his partner would be sent there to quell the chaos, all on her own. She was being made to go back to that hell and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

The only glimmer of hope was that news of Kenpachi's bandits had turned up from time to time, attacking the remnants of Tsukishima's forces. And if Komamura was still alive, then there was a chance he could help out as well. Although, with the wolf-man's past trauma and the need to protect his own, there was no way to be certain if he could help her if things turned for the worst.

But even with their possible aid, it didn't settle Ichigo mind in the slightest. After all, a group of bandits and a pack of wolves could only be seen as targets for the Kuchiki Elders, and he knew that Rukia wouldn't place them in danger just to make the situation easier for her. Both she and Ichigo owed them too much to ask that of them.

Hardening his features, Ichigo sternly asked, "They're sending you there alone? How can they expect one person to be able to defend such a large territory?"

Seeing the fury that burned in his eyes brought an odd feeling of comfort to Rukia, pleased that her partner still held such concern for her well-being.

"A large number of our forces have been moved to the area…but I am not permitted to take any of my unit with me. Rangiku and Momo insisted that they be allowed to come but as a result, they were stripped of their ranks and reassigned," she told him, doing her best to keep herself calm.

"Dammit," Ichigo cursed, kicking the dirt furiously. "They old bastards are just doing whatever they please!"

"Unfortunately, you're right," Rukia continued, glad that he empathized. "And since my brother is no longer allowed to leave the castle and Renji has been assigned as his personal guard, there is no one left that I can trust to go with me."

At the mention of this news, the orange haired samurai slowly shifted his gaze back to his partner and scowled firmly.

"You didn't really agree that do it, did you?" he said sternly, almost willing it not to be true.

Meeting his gaze once again, Rukia narrowed her eyes and said, "I am the next head of the Kuchiki Clan. Regardless of my personal feelings, I can't disobey their commands."

"But it's obviously a trap!"

"I know that, Ichigo."

"They may be planning to kill you!"

"They already tried."

Ichigo's amber eyes widened and he visibly paled as her words rang in his ears. Concern for her flooded his eyes and Rukia found herself unable to meet his gaze, averting her eye as she hung her head.

"Three separate times, I have been attacked by 'rebels' trying to kill me in Tsukishima's name. And each time…I barely escaped with my life."

Without a word, she tugged at the sash on her waist and let her robe slip off one shoulder. Ichigo gasped as a horrid scar was revealed on her right arm. Almost subconsciously, the orange haired samurai reached out to touch the sensitive wound but stopped when Rukia suddenly pulled her robe back over it and tied her sash tight.

"I was lucky…the wound isn't slowing me down anymore but it still aches," she told him, angry with herself for not being strong enough to defend herself.

As she finished readjusting her robes, Rukia pulled her head up to see anger beginning to cloud her partner's eyes. She knew it wasn't fair to drop all this on him now but she truly had no one left to turn to. And besides, she wanted to confide in him, as she had done so many times during their long journey.

Steeling herself, she continued, "Whether or not these assassins were truly there to avenge that bastard Tsukishima or were merely pawns sent by Elders to silence me, it's become clear that my life will forever be a target for someone."

Ichigo's fingernails dug into his palms as he fought to keep from screaming. The Elders were undoubtedly planning to either have her be killed while defending their new land or plotting to see her removed from her position. And with so many enemies ready and eager to do their dirty work, it seemed that Rukia's chances of survival were growing slimmer by the moment.

Ichigo's jaw clenched as he hung his head and glared down at the earth.

"And what the hell is Byakuya doing during all this?" the orange haired samurai questioned, trying to keep his voice even. "It seems that his little plan to help you gain control of your clan isn't working at all!"

He ended up shouting at the end but Rukia couldn't fault him. She had been just as angry when she been forced to accept this grim fate and was slightly comforted that her partner felt the same way. It was the only thing bringing her comfort these days.

Taking a cleansing breath, she stared at her partner and said, "My brother is working to rally support for my ascension as quickly as possible but it could be a few years before I officially become the next head of the Clan. Until then, I will have to do as the Elders command and defend what used to be Tsukishima's territory."

"And in the meantime, you could be killed by the very people you've been trying to protect!" Ichigo exclaimed, his head shooting up and glaring at her. "Isn't there anything that can be done?!"

At this, Rukia tensed for a moment, letting her arms fall to her sides and gripping her robes tightly.

"That's why I came here," she admitted to him, earning a quizzical stare from him. This was harder than she had imagined it would be, but she reminded herself of the promise they shared and knew that if she remained silent now, it would only make the situation more disastrous.

Gathering her courage, she took a deep breath before continuing, "Ichigo Kurosaki…if you're willing, I want to hire you to be my personal bodyguard…for the rest of our lives if need be."

A heavy silence fell between them and Rukia felt a twinge of guilt over her request. She couldn't bring herself to tell him about how many letters she'd begun to write that she never finished. Letters that requested his aid and asked him to return to her side. In the end, however, she had been unwilling to send for him, because she felt that he deserved better.

Ichigo had earned the right to live freely and didn't deserve to be subject to her whims. However, after the last assassination attempt, in which she had nearly been fatally stabbed, she finally decided it was time to seek out her partner.

As she looked to him, waiting for a response, she found something quite odd. He showed no shock after she had made her request. Almost as if he'd been waiting for her to ask.

On the other side, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of frustration and joy.

Somewhere, deep inside, he knew that she had come to ask for his aid once again. And it was obvious by the way she had hesitated making her request, that she had been fearful to approach him with such a daunting task. He may have felt a bit frustrated by that but he easily understood why. It wasn't everyday you asked the person you trust most to put their life on the line just to keep yourself safe.

It was even more difficult for Rukia, considering she didn't believe that anyone should sacrifice themselves for her.

However, more than anything else, he felt honored that she had come to him and had decided to put her life in his hands once more. She had sought him out, with the sole purpose of requesting his aid, when she needed it most. His pride swelled and his determination flared as he already knew his answer.

All the while, Rukia looked on as he remained silent, unsure if she had made the right choice. Beginning to regret her request, she said, "I understand that I'm asking a lot of you. And since you've already done so much for me, I completely understand if you don't—".

"I accept."

Rukia's violet eyes bulged at his sudden agreement; almost unbelieving that she'd heard it. However, judging by the confident and determined gaze her partner was giving her, she knew that she had heard correctly. However, although she was overjoyed at hearing his answer, she also knew that it had been made rather quickly.

To that extent, she felt the need to be certain he understood all of the dangers and responsibilities of his new position. She had to be sure that her knew what he'd be sacrificing to in order to protect her.

"Ichigo, you realize what it means to be my personal bodyguard, don't you?" she first asked, testing him somewhat.

With a raised brow, he swiftly answered, "It'll be the same as when you were my partner. Only this time, I'll be the one to protect you." He finished a cocky smirk but it only increased her fears.

Frowning deeply, she then said, "This also means that you'll have to give up your life with your family…and you may never see them again."

That comment wiped away the grin from Ichigo's smug face and settled his signature scowl back into place. He took in the furious glare that Rukia was giving him, assuring him that she knew how much she was really asking of him. And at the same time, it told him that she was giving him a reason to deny her request if he saw fit. She wanted him to know that she wouldn't hold it against him if he chose to stay with his family.

Realizing this, however, only further increased Ichigo's desire to take the job. Even at this most dire time, Rukia still put others ahead of herself and didn't want to take him from his family without his full understand. He respected that and it made the question easy to answer.

"Ha! If my family knew that I refused to go with just because I might never see them again, they'd force me out! Hell, my old man would kill me if I even thought about abandoning you!" he said with a light scoff before smirking at her once more.

Despite herself, Rukia couldn't help but smile gently at his words, knowing in her heart that it was true.

"My sisters and father won't allow you to put yourself in danger like that, at least not alone!" Ichigo continued, easily refuting her. Hearing this, Rukia regained her stern visage and glared back at him.

"But what about taking care of them? Don't you help to support your family with your work?" she countered, still unsure of his decision.

Letting his smirk widen, the orange haired samurai gave a fake scoff as he replied, "They have been doing well for themselves for over ten years! I don't think it'll be a problem now. Besides, the Kurosaki Family always take care of our own, no matter the cost. And since you're now a part of that family, you don't get the right to argue."

Rukia wanted to protest but found that her refute died in her throat. He stared at her with such certainty that she couldn't bring herself to deny his words.

Not only that, as she observed his determination, she couldn't deny the feelings of acceptance at being reminded of the Kurosaki family's kindness and strength. She should have known that that would be his answer. After meeting with the rest of his family, she could say without a shadow of a doubt that he was absolutely correct.

Even so, there was still one more glaring issue she needed to make clear before she could know he understood the danger involved in his choice.

"Have you forgotten about the brand that is marks you as a traitor to the Kuchiki Clan?" she said carefully, making sure he knew what she was leading to.

Furrowing his brow, Ichigo promptly replied, "Of course I haven't."

"Then you realize that, if the Elders ever discovered that you were aiding me, that we will both be put to death. And this time…my brother would not be able to save us."

Rukia expected an awkward silence as he considered this but was surprised when a mocking scoff echoed.

"You know, for someone who's asking for help, you sure do give a lot reasons for me to decline," he said with a smirk, making her scoff and grit her teeth. However, before she was able to counter his statement, he took a brave step forward and silenced her with a meaningful glance.

"I wouldn't have accepted if I didn't understand the risks involved, you know. So instead, I have a question for you to answer. And I know you've heard this one before!"

He held out his hand to her, ready for her to shake it and seal the deal.

"Do you trust me, Rukia?"

For a few moments, they both stood there. Rukia's eyes glared sharply up at his own and just when he thought to retract his hand, he saw her arm move. However, to his shock, she slapped his hand away and smirked. Closing the gap between them, she reached both hands up, grasped his cheeks and pulled him down to her level.

"You fool…"

Pushing herself up onto her toes, she pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss. Ichigo's eyes widened for half an instant before he wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss. They breathed in the scent of one another and for them, all time seemed to halt as they held onto each other.

Pulling back only slightly, Rukia pressed her forehead against her partners, grinned wide and said, "I trust you with my life. Never forget that."

Hearing that, Ichigo huffed in amusement before leaning in and claiming her lips once more. Rukia responded immediately, returning his passion and humming pleasantly as he held her close.

Regretfully, they pulled back from each other and smiled into each other's eyes. Both of them breathed heavily but barely noticed it, lost in the heat of the moment.

As they stared at each other in silence, both of them felt something familiar return. Shimmering violet met burning amber and the pair felt a sense of strength and unity that had been missing from their lives for so long. They never realized how much they could miss their partner until that very moment when they felt how powerful they were together.

It was then that they both knew, no matter what hardships await them in the future, their bond would carry them through. And even if they the Elders tried to have them killed, they would never give in and fight to their last breaths. They would fight and they would survive…together.

Renewed by that confidence in one another, Rukia pushed back from him and said, "We'd better get back. Your family will be getting worried and you need to pack for tomorrow."

Looking at the darkness that had begun to settle around them, Ichigo replied, "Yeah, my family will be wondering why—Wait, did you say tomorrow?!"

Taking a step back from him, Rukia nodded and said, "I have to leave at dawn and since you're now my bodyguard, you'll be accompanying me to Tsukishima's territory. And since we'll have to travel around the outside of my clan's land so that you can get through undetected, we'll need to leave as soon as possible."

Only half-scowling at her, Ichigo folded his arms and said, "You expect me to pack up and leave with barely any notice to my family?"

"Hey, you were the one who agreed to be my bodyguard," Rukia answered with a grin and turned her back to him. "So, you'll have to take responsibility and give your family a reasonable excuse as to why you have to suddenly leave with me."

Without another word, she began walking back toward the Kurosaki's house, leaving a flabbergasted Ichigo with his jaw hung open.

However, it didn't take him long before he scoffed playfully and let a chuckle escape his throat. He could try to deny it but it was obvious that he had missed that defiant and tough attitude of hers. And considering the risk she'd taken just to come and get him, he decided that, just this once, he'd let it slide.

After all, they were going to be spending a lot of time together. He'd find a way for her to pay him back for putting him through so much trouble.

"But that can wait 'til later," he told himself as he ran to catch up with her.

As Ichigo came up to her side and saw the gentle smile plastered on her lips, he couldn't stop the bright smile that stretched across his own. Almost without realizing it, their hands met and their fingers intertwined, just as their destinies had so very long ago. And neither of them regretted it.

Finally, after struggling through so many trials and desperate situations – both of them had found their way home.

Together.

The End

Hello, my beautiful readers…

Well, it's finally finished. This story has been a part of my life for so long that I honestly never imagined that I'd actually finish it. This chapter in particular took me over a week to write and ended up being the longest chapter I've ever written! It's a monumental achievement for me and I'm glad to share this final chapter with all of you!

Thank you to everyone who has supported this story! All of the guests that reviewed, my fellow writers that left me great feedback and praised the story, and of course all of the regular readers that made this story so popular! I honestly mean it when I say that I could not have done it without every single one of you, because just knowing that so many of you enjoyed it kept me from giving up on it!

One reviewer asked me to let you all know what I've got coming up. As of right now, I'm taking a short break from long stories and plan to write a few one-shots for a while. I need time to recharge and get ready for another bit one. I've got ideas in place and I still have to get back into Chappy Rukia – which I haven't forgotten about!

Oh, and if any of you played the murder mystery game – Danganronpa – then you'll be in for a treat later! ;)

Either way, be on the lookout for more stories from me soon. As always leave a review to tell me what you thought of the story as a whole and since this is the last chapter, I encourage everyone to review and give me honest and constructive feedback!

Finally, I wish you all the best, thank you once again and be sure to keep on smiling my beautiful readers! :DD