A/N- I was so depressed I had to write this.

Unacceptable

Isshin has felt sorry for his son. He's been wanting to tell him for weeks now that there is a way to recover his Shinigami powers, but he's afraid of how his son will react when he finds out it won't be a quick recovery, not like what Ishida had.

There is a nasty trait with the bloodline Ichigo shares with his father, and that is that their zanpakutou cannot under any circumstance be recovered quickly after they've blasted off a final Getsuga Tenshou.

Not only that but Ichigo has closed himself off from everyone. His friends, his family, and school. Isshin is sure his son is coming downstairs in the middle of the night to gather food, otherwise there is no explanation for why his son's room hasn't begun to give off the nasty stench of rotting flesh if Ichigo really has given up on living.

Rukia-chan hasn't come by in a gigai either. I wonder if she thinks it would be more painful if she did…perhaps she thinks Ichigo is mourning the loss of his powers, when really it's losing his ability to be with her that's got him most up in arms. That's the other nasty trait of our bloodline. When we fall in love, we fall hard and forever.

"Isn't that right Masaki?"

"You have to tell him already." Urahara insists to Isshin, but he just shakes his head no.

"He has to understand what's truly important before we can tell him anything."

"What's important is that what he's mourning doesn't have to be forever! Why let him go through so much pain when he doesn't have to?" Urahara asks, unable to understand what Isshin is thinking.

"When Ichigo wants to rejoin the living, then we can tell him." Isshin says, and Urahara looks frustrated.

"If you won't tell him, I will."

"He won't listen to you in the state he's in right now." Isshin says with a sigh, and Urahara raises an eyebrow at that challenge.

"Want to make a bet?"

"How much?" Isshin asks, with a victorious smile, and Urahara smiles wickedly.

"One million yen."

"Oh you are on! You'd better have that money or I'll beat you half to death and then again after you heal!" Isshin warns him, and Urahara tips his hat at Isshin.

"Watch me."

"You don't get the money if you cheat." Isshin calls out as Urahara takes one step forward and then freezes at Isshin's words.

"What do you mean?"

"If you have to force him to listen to you then it doesn't count." Isshin says calmly, and Urahara blinks twice.

"That's exactly what my plan was. Bet is off." Urahara says, and Isshin laughs.

"I could force him to listen to me, but I know Ichigo needs this time to reflect on what everything truly means to him. His powers and his feelings for Rukia-chan." Isshin says lazily and Urahara guffaws.

"You seem so sure of yourself. Your son could be suicidal." Urahara points out and even Isshin isn't capable of not having a reaction to that comment.

"He just needs time to get a hold of himself. He was even worse than this when Masaki died. If we give him time, he'll come around." Isshin says with as much confidence as he can muster and Urahara shakes his head in disagreement.

"It's different. Losing your mom and losing the love of your life. You should know that better than anyone. You even told me, that if it weren't for the kids, you wouldn't have known how to go on. Your son doesn't have any children with Kuchiki-san to take care of, and I'm certain his love for Kuchiki-san is just as strong as yours for your wife." Urahara argues, and Isshin looks like he might be wavering.

"I can't really argue with that, after all I know you were witness to my son's depression back when he thought he couldn't save Rukia-chan when she was taken away to Soul Society, but no matter how you tell him, you have to also tell him how much time it takes. I don't see my son cheering up a whole hell of a lot when he finds out he won't be a Shinigami again anytime soon. That's almost as bad as not being able to be one at all." Isshin says with a grumble, and Urahara gives him a smirk.

"What if I told you it doesn't have to take as long as it did with you? That I can cut the down time by about ninety percent?" Urahara asks, and Isshin's eyes widen.

"You evil genius…you can cut the down time?" Isshin says, completely flabbergasted by this new piece of information.

"I have a soft spot for your son. He is my student, after all. I researched very carefully what I did to help you recover your powers, and with the help of the hougyoku, I know your son can have his powers back in two years instead of twenty. Do you think that would cheer him up more?" Urahara asks, and Isshin nods his head slowly.

"Especially if you tell him like that, it's supposed to take twenty years but you can reduce it to two…I think he'd be elated then." Isshin says slowly and Urahara starts smiling again.

"Time to force him to listen."

Ichigo has headphones over his ears with loud music blaring to be able to ignore the voices of any family members or friends who see fit to crash his life when he just wants to be left alone.

Plus Rukia could be watching. I wonder if she watches when I'm in the shower…I want her to know I wasn't lying when I told her not seeing her didn't make me happy. I'm such an idiot, why didn't I say more? Much more?

He wishes he had. He's been moping around ever since she disappeared from his sight, constantly sighing at the lack of meaningful words spoken between them just before she faded from his sight.

Why didn't I grab her and hug her? Why didn't I at least do that?

But he already knows. If he'd done that, he'd be kicking himself in the ass for not kissing her.

"It feels like I'm being punished for doing the right thing." Ichigo grumbles under his breath during the moment of quiet as one song ends and another begins.

Ichigo feels air come in the room as his window opens, and he turns his back to it, not wanting company, so he puts his hands up to his headphones, pressing them against his ear, grateful for the fact that the music is getting more loud with each passing second due to the nature of its genre.

"Kurosaki-san." Urahara speaks very loudly due to the fact that he can tell how loud Ichigo's music is, but the kid doesn't even look at him to acknowledge him.

Urahara can hear Isshin chuckling from outside, and he lets out a small grumble before he tries again.

'Kurosaki-san!" Still nothing.

"You already knew you'd have to force him!" Isshin calls out with laughter in his voice and Urahara grabs his hat.

"So I did. Destructive Art Number Four, White Lightning!" Urahara yells out next and he destroys Ichigo's headphones with Ichigo finally jumping to his feet shaking the burning earphones off his head.

"What in the hell is wrong with you?" Ichigo roars angrily as he taps his head to make sure it isn't on fire and Urahara takes a deep breath.

"What has you so troubled, Kurosaki-san?" Urahara asks, taking a comfortable seat at Ichigo's desk chair.

Ichigo glares daggers at the man but hold back from punching him upside the head since the man obviously has the advantage with his powers still fully intact.

Unlike me…

"Could it be…that you've lost your ability to fight hollow? Or is it that you've lost your ability to see Kuchiki-san? Which is it?" Urahara asks, but Ichigo still doesn't answer even though his eyes give him away.

"Rukia…" The words come out in a whisper but not as an answer, more of a mantra.

"Or is it both? More of one than the other perhaps?" Urahara asks next and Ichigo just continues glaring refusing to speak. "Speak up, Kuchiki-san is here too." Urahara bluffs, and Ichigo's eyes get wide as his head swivels from left to right trying to place where Rukia is at in his room.

"Where is she?" Ichigo asks excitedly, and Urahara laughs.

"I was just kidding. She's not here, she's in Soul Society of course." Urahara says and then he gets a look from Ichigo that worries him despite the fact that the kid's lost his powers. He looks murderous.

"Get out. Now." Ichigo says in a low voice and he doesn't even notice his father's muffled laughter from outside because he's so focused on Urahara.

"I just wanted your attention Kurosaki-san. Now that I have it, let me give you the good news." Urahara says just as Ichigo reaches back to swing on him, and Ichigo pauses.

"What good news?" Ichigo asks suspiciously, and Urahara holds up his hands in a submissive manner.

"You believe you have lost your Shinigami powers, but what if I told you I know how to get them back for you?" Urahara asks and Ichigo looks at him with disbelief in his eyes.

"That's impossible. Zangetsu told me-"

"Zangetsu was unaware that I'd developed a way to make it happen." Urahara interrupts, and Ichigo puts his hand back to his side.

"Really?" Ichigo asks, and Urahara nods his head yes but holds up two fingers which makes Ichigo hold his breath.

"Yes. But there are two things you need to know. The original method I developed took twenty years to get the power to recover. You however won't have to wait so long. You only have to wait two years for your power to recover!" Urahara says but Ichigo doesn't look too cheered up by that notion.

"I was hoping you'd say three to six days…you know, like how you sped up how to gain a bankai…" Ichigo says looking depressed, and Urahara laughs at him.

"Two years is nothing in comparison to what you were thinking ten minutes ago right?" He asks, and Ichigo begrudgingly agrees with the man.

"When do we begin?"

"Rukia! That idiot is a complete mess without you!" Renji roars right into Rukia's face, and she winces at the intensity of his words.

"I already know that Renji, it's practically unbearable for me to see him like this, that's why I asked you to check on him for me." Rukia says with annoyance, and Renji just shakes his head in amazement.

"I've never seen him look so pathetic-" He's cut off by Rukia's hand coming around and slapping him across the face with much force behind her effort.

"I won't tolerate a negative word said about him in my presence, Renji."

"Damn it! That fucking hurt!"

"Good. That's what I was aiming for." Rukia says, rubbing the sting out of her hand.

"You aren't doing a whole hell of a lot better than he is," Renji says angrily but he takes a big jump back in case she decides to swing on him again.

"At least I'm not closed up in my room sulking day in and out." Rukia defends herself, and Renji just rolls his eyes.

"Sure. Instead you're just walking around in pain, working hard to try and take your mind off of him, knowing that eighty years can fly by if you just keep busy, right?" Renji asks her, and Rukia frowns that he pegged her dead on.

"Shut up Renji." Rukia says instead of disagreeing or agreeing and Renji sighs irritably.

"Would you cheer up if I told you that you won't have to wait nearly that long? That the damned shop keeper down there has a way to get Ichigo's power back in just two years?" Renji asks, and the look on Rukia's face is enough for an answer.

"Tell me you're not joking Renji, because if you are, it's a bad one." Rukia warns him and Renji holds up his hands.

"I'd have to be insane to tell a joke like that. Settle down, tiger!" Renji's words have quite the effect on Rukia though.

"So…Ichigo will be nineteen when we next see each other?" Rukia asks quietly, with a small smile playing on her lips, and Renji nods, happy to see she's finally showing some emotion.

"Yeah. So cheer up damn it." Renji says, and Rukia gives him a happy smile.

"Thanks, Renji."

"Now apologize for slapping me." Renji orders her, and Rukia frowns at him.

"Don't make me hit you again."

One year, three hundred and sixty four days later…

"I feel like I'm eighty." Ichigo complains as Urahara is running around him with some strange machine checking his vitals and whatnot.

"You've been working out, haven't you Kurosaki-san?" Urahara asks, and Ichigo is able to keep from blushing even though he's rather embarrassed.

"Just trying to keep busy and be ready for when my powers return. I can't believe tomorrow is the day I finally get them back." Ichigo says, and Urahara grins at him.

"Remember the day I told you that I could get them back for you and I lied to you about Kuchiki-san being in the room?" Urahara asks, and Ichigo nods.

"Yeah."

"It's true she wasn't there, but someone else was, and I'm sure Kuchiki-san will be coming to greet you as a result of that." Urahara says with a smile and Ichigo's eyes widen.

"Who was there?"

"Abarai Renji." Urahara says, and Ichigo's face lights up.

"Then Rukia definitely knows."

"Of course she does!" Urahara agrees, and Ichigo can feel his heart racing.

It's been a lonely two years without her!

"What time should I come over?" Ichigo asks, and Urahara grins at him.

"The afternoon. I want to sleep in." Urahara says with a smile and he can tell Ichigo wants to punch him.

"Can't you wake up early for once in your life?" Ichigo asks, and Urahara holds up a hand.

"Don't be selfish. We have to wait to the afternoon because we started the process in the afternoon the first day. Anytime earlier than the afternoon will be too early." Urahara says quickly and Ichigo's eyes narrow as though he smells a big fat lie.

"Don't let me find out you lied." Ichigo warns the man and Urahara laughs.

"No matter how strong you've managed to get as a Shinigami, you can never defeat me. I have way too many tricks up my sleeve," Urahara assures Ichigo and the nineteen year old man inwardly agrees.

"Who said anything about defeat? You would still experience pain though." Ichigo says with finality, and Urahara rolls his eyes.

"Don't threaten the man helping you." Urahara instructs him, and Ichigo lets out a sigh.

"You're right, sorry."

Ichigo can hardly believe how emotional he feels. His hand goes to the hilt of his zanpakutou, and he feels like he's going to cry tears of happiness but he doesn't.

"Nice to have you back, old man." Ichigo says quietly, marveling at the sound of Zangetsu's voice within his mind once more.

Ichigo looks around the area underneath Urahara's shop, but no Shinigami have appeared in his vision.

"They're not here yet," Urahara says breezily, and Ichigo gives him a nod of the head.

"Thanks. For everything." Ichigo says earnestly, and Urahara bows his head in return.

"It's the very least I could do considering what you did to help with Aizen in the first place. Go ahead and swing your sword. I want to see if your powers have returned to the same point they were when you left off." Urahara says, and Ichigo nods.

He pulls Zangetsu off his back and lets it slice through the air, releasing the biggest Getsuga Tenshou he can in shikai without using the final version.

"Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo roars, and Urahara's eyes widen as Ichigo manages to do a fairly decent job of destroying everything that lay in front of him including some of the painted blue sky, which he mentally notes Jinta and Ururu will have to repaint or it will bug the hell out of him.

"Just as planned! Looks like your power didn't dry up at all!" Urahara says, and Ichigo lets out a sound of disgust at those words.

"Even if it had, I wouldn't blame you." Ichigo says, and he doesn't understand why Urahara looks so amused at his answer.

Their talk is interrupted by a nostalgic but familiar sensation.

The gates are opening! Rukia!

Ichigo is up like a shot, out of the underground area beneath the shop and into the shop itself. He practically mows down Tessai in his haste to get out of the shop completely.

He can feel it. The familiar feeling that is Rukia. He also feels Renji, and some other familiar reiatsu.

He zooms towards their location and he makes it while they're still exiting the tunnel.

"Rukia!" Ichigo shouts, and he doesn't slow down as he heads for her.

Rukia's eyes widen as Ichigo scoops her up and ditches the rest of the Shinigami who came to welcome him back in favor of a private reunion with Rukia.

"Ichigo! What are you doing?" Rukia squeals, and Ichigo holds her close against his body, landing on the ground and pulling her close to him in a big bear hug, tight as he can.

"I'm doing what I should have done two years ago, and I'm not done yet." Ichigo tells her before giving her an extra squeeze which gets her to exhale from having the breath squeezed out of her.

His words have her heart racing, not to mention their closeness. She never dreamed their reunion might be like this. She thought she'd have to kick him around a little before he stopped gawking at her.

I guess he's grown up a bit.

Ichigo pulls back and leans down to kiss her, and Rukia is stunned into stillness as his lips land on her own slightly parted ones.

Or maybe he's grown up a lot!

His tongue slides into her mouth kissing her as passionately as could be. When he finally pulls away, she's having a really hard time catching her breath.

"Rukia…life these past two years, without you has been utterly unacceptable. You're never getting away from me again." He warns her, and Rukia is just stunned. Unable to speak or respond to his intensity, but not willing to do anything that might stop this magical moment either.

She finally nods her head mutely and Ichigo gives her a sexy little smile.

I haven't ever been this happy before. Life without you really is unacceptable.