Title: Duty

Genre: Frienship, Angst

Characters: Kyoraku, Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro

Summary: Pretty much where chapter 545 left off.

Notes: Pretty much speculation about what Kyoraku has to say to them.

Rating: T

Duty

"It's about you guys and Ichigo eventually parting ways..." Kyoraku looked at the three young teenagers from the world of the living, the looks on their faces completely dumbfounded at the idea that they would have to say good-bye.

It was Tatsuki who spoke up first. "You're joking, right. Ichigo belongs here in the living world, not Soul Society."

"Does he?" The man didn't like looking the three of them in the face, knowing what he had to say was likely going to hurt their feelings.

Mizuiro frowned at the man. "Is Ichigo going to have a choice in the matter?"

"I hope so. It's more along the lines that you need to prepare for the idea that you're never going to see him again. I have to prepare for the idea that I'm going to never see him as well."

Kiego frowned. "Are you saying that Ichigo may die?"

"That is honestly one possibility. There are many others, most of Ichigo's options being along the lines that he will no longer be a part of the living world."

"Come on. I know Ichigo is part Shinigami, but he isn't full blood. Plus, we're his friends and his family is here." Tatsuki shook her head.

The man let out a deep sigh. "Is his family here? It is for certain that his father and sisters are here, but his father was... is a shinigami, so don't you think there is a chance that he has family there as well?"

"But as Tatsuki says, Ichigo's only part Shinigami." Keigo's frown deepened.

"His mother was also a full blood Quincy."

Tatsuki continued to look at him, her eyes not blinking. "Quincy are a part of the living world."

Mizuiro looked at the ground. "I'm guessing that the Quincy are actually Shinigami."

This statement caused the other two to turn and look at him. Kiego turned to look at the man. "Yeah... but even if Ichigo is full blooded Shinigami, he wouldn't leave us. Not unless he died. His sisters neither."

Kyoraku sighed. "Remember how I said Ichigo has a choice in the matter? In Soul Society we have a king and the king has five keys that are used for getting into the area that he happens to live in, not to mention they are meant to protect him."

"You mean Ichigo's going to replace one of the keys."

"No. It's a bit more complicated then that. There are also five keys for the kings heirs as well. Ichigo's being selected to be one of said keys likely for one of the kings heirs. I have an idea why the kings making this move, but I can't go into more detail then that. I don't like the idea either as the majority of us don't like the idea either. But..."

"... if the heir is who I think it is we're going to have to say good bye to him as well."

"Who is the person you think is the heir?" Tatsuki shook her head, closing her eyes finally.

"Hitsugaya Toshiro."

"The captain of the tenth division?" Mizuiro frowned.

"My... you seem to know quite a bit about us despite having little contact."

"Something like that." The boy narrowed his eyes. "Shouldn't there be someone older then him though?"

"Say what?" Keigo turned to look at the darker haired human male.

"Hitsugaya's the white haired kid."

"That's why there is such a push. Chances are who ever Hitsugaya's father is happens to be dead."

"Ichimaru Gin?"

"Should I be asking how you know all this?"

Tatsuki waved her hand. "But what if they both turn down or it turns out that the previous heir is alive?"

Kyoraku let out a deep sigh. "Are you aware of how Kuchiki Rukia is a member of a noble family?"

"Of course!" Keigo's personality bounced back.

"Well, her brother-in-law is actually the head of one of the five noble clans."

"So you're saying he's going to marry Rukia? That won't stop him from coming back. He'd even bring Rukia back to visit." The female folded her arms across her chest.

"Well, that is an option I honestly hadn't thought of. But there is a bit more. One of the other clans is the Shiba family, but it disbanded with the disappearance of the head of said family. That person would be Ichigo's father."

"I knew the old geezer was a dead beat," Tatsuki said.

"Yes... well... Ichigo's father isn't in a position to take up being the head of the family as the girls are still growing up. This means that Ichigo may very likely be asked to take up the position as he is the next head. As the head, he would be very busy. Not to mention people do also age differently in Soul Society."

"But he wouldn't... he doesn't know them." Keigo frowned. "His family is here."

"He does know them. He's also very close to them as well as very close to others in Soul Society. You three need to prepare for the idea he won't be coming back. Chad and Orihime at least have had enough contact that they would be allowed to go freely, but even they need to prepare for the possibility of him not coming back."

"And they may not be coming back either." Mizurio looked at the ground.

"Why are you telling this though?" Tatsuki narrowed her eyes at the man. "I thought people in Soul Society weren't allowed to divulge so much information.

"The kids my grand-nephew through one of my sisters, so he's family. I've also had to take the position of first division captain, so I can let this slip by. My reason for doing this though is because I want it to be easier for all of you if and when the time comes. Particularly since we're honestly not sure how the outcome will be. Your friend there is aware why we're not sure."

"What does he mean?" Keigo frowned.

"For him to have taken the place of head captain, the previous head captain needs to have died. The head captain would also have been one of their strongest if not their strongest." Mizurio frowned. "I don't want you guys to lose though."