#this chapter has 'we eatin'' and 'now presenting byakuya--despite not appearing in this film'

[bleachbleachbleach]

Bleach Fanfic: Stories for the Sea

Summary: The Shiba Clan have always acted as peacebrokers between Soul Society and the sea in West Rukongai. After the Blood War, the Gotei must prove that they are still worthy of peace. But since Shiba Kaien is dead, Rukia’s the next best thing—allegedly. The problem is, now Ukitake is gone, too, and Rukia doesn’t think she’s ready to carry Kaien’s memory alone.

No one’s ready. Not the Vizard, as the reality of re-joining the Gotei begins to clamp down; not the 10th, which has its own debts to West Rukongai; and not Renji, who’s pretty sure he is. The most deadly threats may not be the monsters lurking in the woods and water, but the damage they’ve all brought with them. One thing that’s certain: Six months after the end of a war, you have not reached the end of the war.

ft. Rukia, Renji, Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Kensei, Rose, Hisagi; Hinamori, Kira, (Kaien)

⟢ Chapter 1: Rukia

Rukia receives her first summons from Captain Commander Kyouraku since Ukitake’s death.

Nejibana is why, when Rukia releases her own shikai, she still thinks about that moon. So Rukia understands where Kyouraku must be going with this. He’s wrong, though. “I have no affinity with any sea,” she says. “I am not a Shiba. You may still need Ichigo for that.” “And what affinity does Ichigo-kun have with the sea?” He’s singsong-ing her now, making light of her misgivings. “If you fed him to it,” Rukia replies frostily, “I’m sure he could find one.”

[Read on AO3]