Ichigo awoke to see the now familiar ceiling of his quarters. The sun leaked a hazy yellow light into the room as he turned over on the pillow, reaching for his wife who had already made her way to the kitchen. Her smell and warmth had lingered and he snuck a sniff of her pillow as he slowly opened his eyes. The room, now a familiar place, was a respite from the storm of paper he'd been thrown into. So much backlogged paperwork had piled up without a captain, that he was just now able to see his desk. It had been a hard few weeks, but things were slowing down and he was finding his stride.

"You gonna sleep all day hun bun?" Rukia asked playfully as she stood at the doorway in a pink robe and bunny slippers, sipping on some coffee.

"Nah, just thought I'd rest here for a few more minutes. I'm finally ahead in the squad work and I thought I'd take it easy today," he sat up and wiped the sleep out of his eyes.

"Well, Dad is on the phone and wants to talk to you too," she pointed towards the living room.

"Tell him I'll be there in a second," he peeled himself out of bed and put on some clothes. Rukia watched for a bit, but soon made her way first. He followed after as he meandered down the hall to the dining room, kitchen and living room, which were all together in an open floor plan style.

"So, am I going to be a grandpa yet?" Isshin asked half feigning the excitement of a five year old on Christmas morning. Ichigo seemed to jump at such a sudden question this early in the morning.

"Not yet… We have been going at it like animals though.." Rukia said half awake, sipping some coffee and smirking.

"Rukia!" Ichigo was shocked.

"I'm a Kurosaki now, so I figured I should start acting like one," she tightened her robe around her as she responded.

"That's my daughter!" Isshin gave the thumbs up.

"Mom! What is happening to my lovely wife?" Ichigo clutched a picture on the table.

"Don't turn into your father… please," Rukia leered with half open eyelids.

"Anyway, I just wanted to call and check in on you. We all miss you… Oh, did you ever watch that tape of your funeral I sent you?" Isshin scratched the back of his head.

"Not yet… I'd completely forgotten about it," Ichigo replied.

"We really should get that watched. I think you're ready," Rukia rubbed his shoulder.

"Yeah, we should watch it after work," Ichigo shook off sleep a little looking at the time.

Ichigo, now clothed in a crisp uniform and his haori stepped out onto the squad grounds to stretch his legs. Most of the squad were milling about cleaning here and there, repairing this and that, and some sparred or sat meditatively with their kido studies or communing with their swords. Hollow activity was, for the time being, normal and the process of sending units was almost mechanical. Sure, one or two might transfer in or out, but the squad was fairly stable.

"I'm off," Rukia pecked him on the cheek and headed off to the 13th.

"See ya," he waved as her slim figure danced out into the distance.

"Captain," Izuru prodded for Ichigo's attention.

"What is it?" the captain looked over.

"He wants to try again," Kira replied with a bit of exhaustion.

"Are there enough squad members around to have it?" he asked with a similar tone.

"Yes, he counted them personally off of the duty rosters. I don't see why you don't just transfer him and let him be someone else's problem," the lieutenant scribbled something on his clipboard.

"If I let him go somewhere else, the captain might really kill him, especially the eleventh. Besides, I could use the workout," Ichigo rotated his arm, loosening up.

"Fine, I will prepare the troops and contact the medical corps," Kira said.

"I'll go get Zangetsu and head over to the training grounds," he proceeded towards his office, made a quick call and then entered.

**Story Break**

"Sorry, we're currently out of that flavor," the shopkeeper said a bit nervously.

"Fine," she stormed out.

**Story Break**

The stands were packed and the last few members were piling in. Rukia had taken a spot in the center and was engrossed in some squad business of her own. Her lackluster interest in the whole thing was mirrored by the crowd who occupied themselves with little things at their seat, aside from a few gamblers taking odds on time.

Ichigo made his way to the western end of the arena to await his foe. He was not long in waiting when his opponent appeared.

The 20th seat marched proudly to take his place in the starting blocks. He was dressed in the most elaborate and showy manner one could imagine.

"Captain Kurosaki, I challenge you for the right to be Captain of the Third Division." he yelled.

"I know. I know. Come when you're ready." Ichigo didn't take any particular stance. He only raised his reiatsu and hardened it like diamond.

The barbarian screamed his charge and brought all his might to bear on one blow.

"Oi, Rukia! Do you need me to pick up anything on the way home?" he said casually as the blow landed, but the attacker was the one injured, blood seeping down his palm.

"Don't ignore me! " he yelled as Rukia sat and thought.

"Lash out Tetsuchiku!" he yelled out and the sword became a long staff shaped as if it were made of bamboo, but made of steel instead, black and rough.

"I can't think of anything," she replied fixing a minor error.

"Okay," he grabbed the attack and tossed him back a little.

"Don't underestimate me!" he extended the pole, but it had no effect as it struck.

"I hear the weather is going to be perfect tonight, we should go get some dango as a treat after dinner," he pushed aside the pole.

"Sounds great. I'll set out my yukata when we get home and we'll go for a nice walk," she turned a page.

The 20th seat, whom I won't even honor with a name, was bright red with frustration. Seeing how little Ichigo seemed to be paying attention, the beast made a strike towards Rukia.. Seeing this, Ichigo's rage flared to astronomical levels. He quickly grabbed the weapon and snapped it in two. His reiatsu soared. The man could only quiver and kneel in sheer terror, gasping for air. The crowd gasped.

"You challenge me, fine. That's your right as my subordinate, but you tried to attack my wife. I will not stand for that. I could end you right now and it would all be a part of the fight, but I will show even you some mercy, you coward. I'm going to give you a transfer. You like to fight so much? You'll get your fill at the 11th squad." he calmed, allowing his reiatsu to fall back to normal levels.

"That's if I'll even take him," Kenpachi landed next to the training field Yachiru perched on his shoulder.

"Kenpachi," Ichigo reacted to his sudden arrival.

"I don't like cowards." he half growled.

"This one likes to fight though. I'm sure you have someone of an appropriate size to whet his appetite," Ichigo explained.

Kenpachi looked him up and down.

"He might make a nice sparring dummy for my new recruits," he stroked his chin as Yachiru bounded away with a box..

"He's all yours. I'll fill out the paperwork later and all you'll have to do is sign for him," Ichigo offered.

"A sparring dummy and no paperwork? This deal is lookin' better by the second," a smirk crossed his face.

"So what brings you around here?" Ichigo asked, but soon realized that the calendar delivery date was today and half the stands had a calendar in hand, even Rukia.

"Delivering these things and I wanted to scrap a bit," he tapped his sword on his back.

"What took you so long? I would have figured it wouldn't have been a week until I saw you."

"That was the plan," Yachiru hopped back in the picture, " but Kenny got us lost delivering all the calendars."

"You were the one with the map. We wound up halfway through the Rukongai because you wanted to visit that candy shop…twice. We only found the place because you got ticked."

"But it was so good, and you had fun too Kenny," She poked him on the nose, "It was just like when Ichi first came."

"Like when Ichigo first came, eh…" Kenpachi grinned and swung down his sword to find open air. Ichigo caught his feet a few yards away and drew Zangetsu.

"What happened?" Kenpachi looked down at Zangetsu.

"I learned how to seal it... Shatter fate Zangetsu!" a plume of dust rose up and Zangetsu took on his original form.

"A little pretentious don't you think?" Kenpachi dashed and the two swords met with a loud clang. The stadium emptied and the kneeling seated officer fled for his life. Izuru dutifully helped ensure no one had been left behind.

"Who cares?" Ichigo struck back fiercely and the two set to confronting each other blow for blow.

"You're right," Kenpachi smiled like he never had before.

The two spun and clashed. Each one holding the edge for a while, but neither giving enough to lose ground.

A thunderous stamp of his cane signaled Yamamoto's arrival.

"Cease this instant," he shouted and the two parted ways a bit reluctantly.

"You two fighting is far too dangerous to be allowed to happen unchecked. From now on you will spar only with wooden swords. They are too fragile for you to use your full powers with, so perhaps you will learn some control," he gave each an icy stare and ascended.

The two grumbled and put away the swords.

"How about Tuesday? By then we'll be back at the division," Kenpachi tapped his sheathed sword on his back.

"Sounds fine by me, but I'll check with the Mrs. later, She's probably going to give me heck for the fight as it is," he said, a bit downtrodden.

"Give me a call," he leaped away in the general direction of Squad 11.

**Story Break**

"Ow ow ow," Rukia pulled at Ichigo's ear.

"Don't you dare start fighting Captain Zaraki or so help me I'll hurt you in ways he never could," Rukia let go of his ear. She'd been using this technique to get a hold of his attention a lot more lately. It really helped make up for the gap in their height.

"I get it. I get it," he rubbed his ear.

"Good. I'll see you later. I've got to get back to the squad," she turned to head back, but was caught from behind with an embrace.

"I'm sorry," Ichigo whispered.

"Idiot, I've already forgiven you. Now, let me go. Everyone can see us," she lost some of the edge in her voice.

"Let them look," he whispered softly in her ear.

"Since when have you been so cavalier?" she asked with a subtle laugh.

:Combat does something to a person," he said with a sultry tone in his voice.

"Goofball, I really do need to go now," she turned around and pecked him on the lips before bounding away, escaping his gentle embrace.

**Story Break**

The Kurosaki clinic is not especially large, but from time to time there are rooms that are unfilled. Inside one of these rooms, a young lady practices in private. She looks left and right for no particular reason and nervously perches a book on her head.

"Okay, you can do this," she took a step carefully.

"Wow, these blankets are heavy," Yuzu clicked the door open and saw her sister frozen before her mid stride.

"You saw nothing…" Karin turned and glared.

"Of course," Yuzu giggled and turned around.

**Story Break**

The two strolled peacefully, snatching a bite of dango from time to time as they made their way through the cooler night air. The heat of the day had abated, but the smells of summer still hung in the air like so many fireflies.

"We really should get around to that tape," Rukia said, admiring the stars.

"Yeah, there really isn't an excuse now. I'll pop it in when we get back," he said as he watched the moon.

"Yuzu says it was a very beautiful service," Rukia nibbled delicately.

Cameras flashed from time to time, but the two paid them no mind. The weeks since the wedding had finally cooled the paparazzi, though at this point they barely noticed them anymore anyway.

Returning home, the two sat down on the couch and pressed play.

The family and friends they knew were gathered around. The mood was solemn and the traditions held to the letter. As the first mourner approached though, the video began to fizz and pop and the screen went black.

"Do you really think this is such a great idea?" Inoue asked, but couldn't be seen .

"You left the lens cap on again Dad," Karin pointed out dryly.

"Oh, that's what was going on," he removed it and got the camera steadied and sighted in on the tripod. Isshin ran quickly to get in front of the camera with the rest.

"We thought you might like to hear what people had to say about you, so we decided to make a little video wake as it were," Karin led the group.

"Big bro, I'm going to miss you while you're away. Thanks for always looking out for us… Oh, and if you're watching this after your birthday, I wish you a belated happy birthday," Yuzu said with a smile.

The Quincy was next. He was dressed immaculately from head to toe.

"As much as I hate soul reapers…. You were the soul reaper I hated the least," Ishida adjusted his glasses and stepped away from the camera with a smirk. As he moved away, Orihime gave him a half understanding, half annoyed look before stepping up. She wore a beautiful yellow sun dress with a small Quincy cross necklace. She was quite stunning.

"Thank you so much for all you've done for everyone. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful to you when we were going on our adventures. I wish I wasn't so much of a burden back then. I'm glad you've found someone who can really give the kind of nurturing and love you need and wish you all the best," she said with misty eyes. Chad took the stage next slowly as Uryuu comforted her.

"See ya," Chad said and walked off.

"I guess that just leaves me," Isshin said as he settled in front. He was in a pitch black suit, but the jacket was tossed over his shoulder and his tie loosened.

"Ichigo, I'm very proud of you. You have grown up right before my eyes. I know I wasn't always the most involved or conventional dad, but I hope you'll forgive your old man for that. I always wanted the best for you even if sometimes that wasn't obvious." he finished his statement and plopped a lollipop in his mouth with only the stick jutting out between his lips.

Ichigo laughed with a hint of nostalgia at that look.

"What is it?" Rukia questioned.

"Nothing just an old story my dad told me with a new twist…" Ichigo replied with a smirk and the screen returned to the somber proceedings.