Ichigo and Ginrei sat across from each other at the kotatsu in the tea room. Ginrei sipped the tea in his cup as Ichigo did the same.

"So, you are going to your own time." He said.

"I am told about a week or so."

"I see... Byakuya will miss you. He has been so lonely with the death of his parents; you gave him the will to fight."

"He always had it... I promise he'll be a great warrior."

"So you say. Kurosaki-san, I have noticed that you harbor great power within you. I don't understand it but it seeps from you slowly. You hold back when you fight as if it will explode."

Ichigo looked at his hand. "What powers I have are no accepted here yet. I would be considered a threat."

"I see... He will not be pleased to be given up to the Shino Academy. He is not good with people."

"Definitely not."

"Go with him."

"Excuse me?" Ichigo said with a surprised look.

Ginrei sipped his tea again and then set it down on the table.

"He was hoping you would be there when he received the Kuckiki Clan Scarf in the Ginpaku Kazahana no Uzuginu ceremony."

"You mean that white scarf you got?" He asked, pointing to Ginrei's neck. "I thought that was just a neat accessory or something."

Ginrei, for the first time in the nine years that Ichigo had known him, gave Ichigo a look that he knew too well, for Byakuya had inherited it very well.

"This scarf is made of silk from the Silverwhite wildflower and is worth ten or more mansions. The passing of the scarf is an indication of the transition of the family head."

"You want him to be the head now?"

"No, but we thought you'd be here for the ceremony."

"Oh... but wouldn't that be a long time from now? Did you really expect me to stay that long?"

"With time there are so many different variables that have to be put into place. Though I have no doubts that Captain Urahara could do it, the process seems to still be very meticulous."

"I see..."

"Therefore, if you cannot attend the ceremony then the least you can do is see Byakuya off to the academy."

"I can do that."

"I am glad... though, can you really tell him goodbye?"

Ichigo looked down but nodded. "It will be hard but I can do it."

"Good."

************

Byakuya was practicing his swordplay in the courtyard the next morning as Ichigo watched him from the shadows for the moment. He sighed at having to tell him about the academy but walked toward the young man.

"Byakuya-"

"I know you're leaving." He said without looking at him.

"Do you?"

"I overheard you and grandfather last night." He turned to him. "You're sending me off to Shino."

"I have to."

"You could stay."

"I can't. The longer I stay here, the more time will change."

"But what if your staying is what makes me who I am? Or what makes things go the way they do in your time?"

"I highly doubt that..."

"You just want to go home." Byakuya said with a look.

"Well, I do miss my family... even though goof I call a dad..."

"Fine. Go. I don't want you here anyway."

"Now don't get-"

"Just go away!"

Ichigo sighed and left to go visit Urahara.

********

"Byakuya isn't too happy?" the scientist asked when Ichigo entered the room.

"No."

"Well, I'm getting there with the formula to get you home. Why don't you go stroll around Shino to take a look at what us Soul Reapers have to go through. We aren't born with your type of skill... well, most of us aren't. You might even see some familiar faces."

"You never told me about the disappearing members from the other night."

Urahara looked up from the microscope and smiled at him.

"It's nothing for you to worry about, believe me."

Ichigo made a face but decided to do what Urahara had suggested and go see what the Shino Academy was like. I've heard about it but it's not like I'd ever get to see it...

When he got there, he used his connection with the Kuchiki Clan to get a tour of the academy. So far, he was seeing a lot of things he never knew they trained for but he was also on the look out for people he knew.

"Oh! Excuse me! Hey, Shiba-sama, you colored your hair!: a young woman's voice said from behind Ichigo.

Ichigo turned and blinked as he looked down at a very young Matsumoto. He only knew it was her because she still provocatively wore her outfits to show off her immense cleavage.

"Er, actually, I'm not Kaien."

"Wha? But you look just like him!"

"I get that a lot."

"Oh, Kurosaki-san..." Ichigo froze for a moment but turned to find Aizen with his shaggy hair and glasses walking up to him. "Strange to see you here. Have you come to be a shinigami?"

"No. Byakuya is going to be coming here now. I thought I would check it out before he came."

"Well we are the only Soul Reaper school in the Soul Society so... Have you lost interest in the young master?" he asked with his cool smile.

Ichigo watched the calm man he knew was secretly harboring a devious plan to take over the world, remembering how horribly accurate he was with the use of manipulating his peers with his zanpakuto. Ichigo's eyes flickered to the hilt for a moment and then he smiled.

"Byakuya is a good kid with great skill but I'm afraid I have more to teach him."

"Surely you must have something left to teach him." He said with a suspicious look.

Ichigo knew he was digging for information.

"What I have he cannot learn at all... if not without the help of the academy..."

"I see... Your qualities must lie in swordplay then."

"More or less."

"Well, I hear that the young master is most excellent at calligraphy. He should take my class."

"It's an awesome class!" Matsumoto said, almost forgotten in the hidden battle between the two. "Oh, Gin! Look at this guy! Doesn't he look like Kaien Shiba-sama?" she said, grabbing Gin's hand.

Ichigo was surprised that Gin didn't make a face at her for touching him so casually but he allowed her to drag him in front of Ichigo. He looked at him with his squinted eyes and smiled.

"Yes, he does. I'm sure Shiba-sama was delighted to see that."

"Gin..." Aizen said to Gin with a slight chastise. "My pupil speaks out of line about the head of the Shiba Clan."

"It's fine. It was nice meeting you all but I should probably get back to touring the grounds."

He began to walk off.

"We should get to know each other better, Kurosaki-san. I believe we have much to teach each other."

Ichigo stopped walking. "Yeah. Lots."

He turned around because he couldn't help himself and looked at Aizen with a confident expression.

"Hey, Aizen?" Aizen turned from having walked off. "Just a thought for you but uh... don't get a big head."

Aizen's perpetual slight smirk actually faltered for a moment.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"It's just a thought... I mean, it's not like I know the future r something."

He waved at him and Matsumoto waved back.

"Byebye!" she said.

Aizen watched Ichigo leave the room and then looked at Gin.

"Follow him."

"My pleasure."