Byakuya worked on his calligraphy as Kintano watched over him, though not paying too close attention to his young master. He knew that Byakuya did much better when he felt no one was watching him but he was also being cautious, watching the skies for more strange people or strange phenomena. If not for him doing just this, he would not have seen the bright orange haired man jump over the wall where he knew Byakuya was practicing.
"Kintano-sensei?" Byakuya asked from the table. He turned around to him. "Where is Ichigo?"
"I didn't hear you order any strawberries, Master Byakuya." The older man said with a furrow of his brow, trying to remember if he had asked without him realizing it.
"Not strawberries; Ichigo Kurosaki." Byakuya said with a frown to his teacher. "Is he still here?"
"Your father has not returned from his captain's meeting in regards to the intruder. You do not need to worry yourself over what happens with him."
Byakuya made a face but knew he'd find him later. With a zanpakuto like his, Byakuya knew that there must be great spiritual pressure within him. He wasn't very familiar with how the zanpakutos worked just yet but with one that big, he must be powerful. I want him to teach me how to raise my spiritual pressure. Maybe I can get a shikai!
The door to the "classroom" opened up and Ginrei walked in. Byakuya stood up quickly, running to his grandfather.
"Grandfather, where is Ichigo?"
"The newest captain is going to do further research on him. This "Ichigo Kurosaki" claims that he may have traveled into the past because of something to do with the Precipice World. The Head Captain seemed to think this was too far fetched of an explanation to go unclarified."
"That, and he mentioned people to me I'd never heard of as well as active squad members in the wrong rank." Yoruichi said as she came in behind Ginrei. "He seemed to think he and I were supposed to be friends."
Byakuya ran toward her to catch her but Yoruichi used &shunpo& to evade him, reappearing behind him and took his hair tie once more.
"Tsk, tsk, master Byakuya. I can still steal your hair tie. Have you been practicing at all?"
He frowned at her, his black hair in his face. Yoruichi just laughed at him, which caused Byakuya to make himself a resolve: he would find Ichigo Kurosaki and use him as a mentor.

"I apologize about the shackles, Kurosaki-san, but it is precautionary." Urahara said with an apologetic smile. "And you say I sent you into the Precipice World to retrieve this koryu sample? Why would I send you on such dangerous mission?"
"You're pretty cynical." Ichigo said from the small cell.
Urahara smirked as he dipped out a spoonful of koryu and mixed it together with another liquid.
Even though Ichigo didn't really trust Urahara fully, he was glad it was him and not Mayuri. Now that he thought about it, where was that lunatic?
"Is Mayuri your assistant or your lieutenant?"
Urahara looked up quickly.
"How do you know about Kurotsuchi?" He asked suspiciously.
"Isn't this the research and development center? Mayuri is the captain of Squad 12, right?"
"No... That would be me... What gives you reason to think he would ever be a captain?" He said with a frown.
Ichigo sighed. "Never mind..."
Urahara watched him for a moment and then got up, going to the cell. He opened the door and knelt in front of Ichigo, staring at him intently.
"You say you're from the future?"
"Yeah."
"Lady Yoruichi told me that you told her some interesting things... One in particular in regards to Lieutenant Aizen?"
"He's a captain in my time... Squad 8 or something..."
Uraharas eyes widened a little. "Captain Hirako's squad? He's his lieutenant you know."
Ichigo nodded a little. "I knew there was a clear animosity between them but I didn't know they were that close."
"Animosity? They may have some trust issues..."
"No..." Ichigo said, shaking his head. "He has more than just trust issues to deal with. Look I don't want to mess up the space time continuum -or what ever it's called- at risk so I really-"
"Dear boy, just by being here you've messed it up. If there is a threat to the Soul Society, we need to know about it."
"I.. I can only tell you to watch out for him."
"Is there anyone else in cahoots with him?"
"I'll just say that the actions are his alone but those who choose to follow him have decided on that one thing on their own accord. The actions that follow were by Aizen's order."
Urahara nodded and took the shackles off of him, surprising Ichigo.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't know exactly who you are or what you're here for but knowing that small amount of information tells me you are not lying. If you'll wait a bit, I will clear you with the Head Captain."
Ichigo nodded as Urahara left the room.
He looked around and scratched the back of his neck. He'd never been in the Research and Development Center but he figured it was much better now than it was in his time. He didn't know where his zanpakuto was either and it made him very anxious to be without it. Urahara walked back in with the old man from Byakuya's house, who was there with him.
"Kurosaki-san, this is Captain Ginrei Kuchiki of Squad 6, 56th leader of the Kuchiki Clan."
Ginrei bowed and Ichigo bowed back, somewhat awkwardly. The old man put his hands behind his back.
"My grandson tells me that your spiritual pressure is one of the highest he's felt, considering he has not fully developed his abilities. You must be very powerful."
"Um... Well, they say that but... Um..."
Ginrei chuckled. "No need to worry young man; you must not know me as well as some in your time and therefore do not trust me. You can tell me anything or nothing, I do not mind."
Ichigo bowed, grateful for the captain's understanding. "Thank you, sir."
"Captain Kuchiki has kindly agreed to let you stay with him."
"On behalf of my grandson," Ichigo looked down at Byakuya, who looked up at him. "He's seemed to take a liking to you."
"And I figured you would like your zanpakuto back. Very interesting shape... I'll have to study it sometime." Urahara said, holding out Zangetsu to him.
He grabbed it and looked at Byakuya again. Why would he want me near him? Ichigo thought, remembering how much Byakuya usually hated him. Wonder how he became so droll...

Ichigo followed the Kuchikis back to their elaborate home, to wit they were met at the door by Kintano, who bowed low.
"Welcome back Captain Kuchiki, Master Byakuya..." Upon seeing Ichigo, he frowned as Ichigo frowned back. "Welcome, Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Kurosaki-san will be staying with us until further instruction by the head captain or if any new revelations come from Captain Urahara. Please make him feel at home and tell Misaka that he is going to be helping Byakuya."
Ichigo looked at him in confusion.
"Helping Byakuya? What for?"
Ginrei smiled from under his thick white mustache.
"Lady Yoruichi is teaching him the many arts of flash step and I think you are the right one to teach him how to fight."
Byakuya's face lit up but Ichigo shook his head furiously.
"I can't. I can already tell you that your grandson is already going to be an amazing fighter. He will be one of the best, so I don't need to train him."
"That's the funny thing about time, dear boy; what if by being here you were the one who made him great? If you do not do anything, you might hinder his growth."
The captain had a point but that didn't mean Ichigo was thrilled about it. Great, so now I have to teach this kid to be one of the most difficult opponents I have ever faced besides Ulquirra and Aizen. How's that for irony?
"Training will commence tomorrow."
Ginrei left and Byakuya looked at Ichigo with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I'm going to be a really good fighter?"
Ichigo looked down at him and smiled slightly to him.
"Yeah. One of the more difficult opponents I've ever encountered."
Byakuya's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"You bet."
An older lady walked in from where the captain had just left to. She had graying orange hair and was dressed in a traditional kimono. She gave a bow and looked at Ichigo.
"Welcome to our clan, Kurosaki-San. Captain Kuchiki told me to lead you to your room. We have dinner together at the gong and the young master's itenerary is in your room. Please follow me."
Ichigo followed the older woman with Byakuya behind him.
She stopped at a sliding door that took Ichigo all of his memory in able to see how to get back out of the labyrinth.
"Here are your accommodations. I hope they are to your liking." She said with a hand out to the room and a bow.
Ichigo nodded and walked in. It was a very nice room, definitely of royalty. There wasn't very much in there but a futon, desk, and a very elaborate kimono on a stand in the far corner. There was a separate sliding door that went to the outside.
"Do you like it?"
"Seems cozy. It's larger than my room."
"Are you an only child, Kurosaki-sama?" Byakuya asked, sitting on the floor and crossing his legs.
Ichigo made a face. "You can just call me Ichigo. It's not like I ever say your name properly..." Byakuya stared blankly at him. "Er, but no I have two younger sisters, Yuzu and Karin."
"I wish I had siblings. It gets annoying being alone all the time or dealing with Kintano."
"Don't worry, you'll get one."
"How? My parents are dead... I know how babies are made."
Ichigo chuckled. "I'm sure you do... No, you adopt a sister. She's a friend of mine."
"Is that that Rukia girl you mentioned before?"
"I won't confirm that."
Byakuya made a face, wanting so desperately to know what he was like in the future.
"Well... Can you tell me if I'm a good brother or not? Cuz if I'm not I want to know. As the next leader of the Kuchiki Clan, I can't slack in my duties."
Ichigo went over to the folded clothes that were on the futon and moved the papers that were there. He looked at the simple house - and wondered if he was actually able to take off his shihakusho.
"I think you're an okay brother... You value laws and principles but... I think you need to realize that though those are important, the love of family is more important."
"Huh?"
"Think of this: do you know why big brothers were born first?"
"Because they were..."
"No." Ichigo knelt down, getting eye level with the boy. "Big brothers are born first to protect the younger siblings born after him. His duty, his responsibility, is to keep those after him from being harmed; doing anything it takes to ensure their safety. Do you understand?"
Byakuya nodded and Ichigo rustled his hair subconsciously.
"Good. Never forget it."
Someone called for Byakuya and he ran toward the door but stopped.
"When I grow up, I'm gonna be just like you Ichigo Kurosaki."