Here's the first chapter to the sequel of BEAST IS BEAUTY

It had been seventeen months. Seventeen months and everything seemed to be different.

Ichigo noticed that Karin's powers are getting stronger. She seemed to have been handling it all right, though, since she hadn't come to him. Uryu had more or less handled the exterminations of Hollows in town. Another thing that had changed was his relationship with Minako.

They weren't dating, in spite of what the rumors flying around were, but they have become close. He could easily sense when her moods would shift from calm to uneasy. She had reasons to be uneasy, after being involved with the war with Aizen and the trauma she endured in Hueco Mundo. In the end, both Ichigo and Minako lost their powers.

The lunch bell rang and Orihime went over to Minako, who was gathering her things. Minako had cut her long hair in soft waves around her shoulders. "Minako-chan, are you going to eat with us?" she asked.

"Of course," Minako answered with a soft smile. She stood up and brushed rogue strands of her hair from her face. Orihime smiled happily, linking her arm with Minako's. "Then let's go!" she sang in such a cheerful tone that Minako shook her head with another smile.

When the group got up to the roof, Minako opted to look out at the town, drinking from a juice box, similar to Keigo and Ichigo. "Hey, Minako-chan," Keigo said. "Are you thinking about what career you want?"

"Career?" Minako murmured thoughtfully. "I don't know. Maybe a teacher…maybe a doctor…something practical." She gave a shrug. "Why do you ask?"

"I just think it's nice that you're finally vocalizing your thoughts," said Keigo with a grin. "You were always so quiet!"

"She still is quiet," Ichigo said, glancing at Minako.

Minako gave a light shake of her head. Orihime took a lock of Minako's wavy hair in between her fingers. "Minako-chan, I thought you were going to cut your hair shorter than this, all cute and curly."

"I was," said Minako, ruffling her own hair idly. "I changed my mind. It'd take a long time for my hair to grow back and you won't be able to play with it, Orihime."

Orihime laughed. "That might make sense. Your hair's always so silky."

Minako gave a soft laugh before she turned away from the view of the town. "I'm going to head inside, okay?" she said before she walked away, back inside the school. Ichigo had kept his glance on her, as though gauging her mood. She had seemed a little more morose, more to herself than usual.

"Is Minako-chan still sad about…" Orihime trailed off, looking at Ichigo. Ichigo nodded. "She's just in that kind of mood." He pushed himself away from the rail. "I should go see if she's all right."

He didn't see the hurt that flashed in Orihime's eyes when he left to see if Minako was all right. When he walked inside, he saw Minako leaning against the wall, her hair falling in her face. He walked toward her. "Hey, you feeling okay?" he asked, reaching to touch her shoulder.

Minako flinched away from his hand and he stopped, before dropping his arm back to his side. "It's just strange right now," she whispered. "Each time, it doesn't feel like it gets any easier."

"It feels strange because you don't hear him, right?" asked Ichigo softly.

Minako let out a shaky sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm being emotional for no reason," she said, straightening herself, absently brushing her strands from her face, missing a few. Ichigo raised his hand and brushed back the rogue strands she missed carefully.

Minako raised her eyes to look at him, a hint of a question in her eyes, but it disappeared. "Thanks, Ichigo," she mumbled.

"We're friends, right?" Ichigo asked. "Not like I'm gonna let you go through crap on your own."

"I know. I'm being stupid." Minako shook her head. "I'll see you in class, okay?" She smiled and headed to their classroom. Ichigo watched her go, aware of a slightly painful lurch his heart gave.

After school, Minako had stayed after school, due to her club obligation. She had started on her path home, feeling slightly vulnerable. After her discharge from the hospital, after the moment by the river, she had never gone home without Ichigo. She had grown accustomed to having him around. It was hard to fall back on old routines.

A breeze rustled the leaves of the trees on her way, whispering as though it held a secret. Minako stopped to push back her hair when the wind whipped it forward.

"Princess…"

She froze, lowering her hand, her heart lurching violently. The voice that rang in her head; she would recognize it anywhere and just hearing it call her by that familiar pet name sent her heart beating like thunder.

"I'm coming back for you, princess."

Minako spun around. He was clearer than before, almost as if he was right behind her. Her heart was galloping now. She shouldn't be able to sense anything. She turned this way and that, trying to understand what just happened. Hope was flickering to life inside her, causing her eyes to sting with tears. No, she was confusing herself. It couldn't be possible…

"Minako?"

Minako turned around with a startled gasp. Ichigo stood there, his bag over his shoulder. Concern rose in him when he saw the somewhat hopeful and panicked expression on her face. He crossed the distance between them in a few, forceful strides. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," answered Minako. She couldn't hear him anymore. She met Ichigo's eyes. "Why are you coming home late?"

"Work," Ichigo said with a shrug, leaving out the other events that he was going to sort out on his own. He didn't like withholding anything from Minako now that they were close. But until he was sure about things, he wasn't going to involve her. Besides, his thoughts on what was going on with Minako was more or less his concern now. "Why aren't you home yet? Something happen?"

"I…" Minako stopped herself, raising a hand to her temple shakily before her hand moved to her ear. "I heard White…and I…I don't understand…"

"What do you mean you heard him?" asked Ichigo firmly.

Minako raised her eyes. "I mean I heard him like he was still here! It's impossible, Ichigo. I shouldn't be able to hear anything!"

"Calm down." Ichigo took her wrist gently, sensing she was close to an emotional meltdown. "Look, we'll go to my place so you can relax. Then I'll take you home," he said softly. Minako nodded slowly and Ichigo gently tugged her along to head to his place.

When Ichigo opened the door to his place, the first voice he heard was his sister's. "Welcome back, Ichigo!" Yuzu called from the kitchen, where the aroma of dinner was wafting through the room. Karin and Ichigo's father, Isshin, came into the entryway and they both paused to look at Minako. The look on his father's face made Ichigo glad he let Minako's wrist go before walking in.

"This is Minako," Ichigo said and Minako bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she murmured before straightening back up.

"Minako-chan, eh? Why is such an angel with my delinquent son?" Isshin asked woefully.

Minako blinked and gave Ichigo a questioning look. Ichigo shook his head before he kicked off his shoes to walk in. Minako hesitated, with good reason; she'd never been to Ichigo's house before in all their time of knowing each other. He looked at Minako. "You coming?" he asked.

"Yeah." Minako took of her shoes before walking in, looking around. Karin spoke then. "Don't worry about our dad. He's usually like this," she said. Minako nodded slowly. "I'm not worried," she whispered, before looking at a poster that was hung on the wall.

Ichigo lead the way to his room, Minako quietly following him. It was almost like she was a ghost; only he could see, hear, and touch her. He pushed his bedroom door open, let Minako walk in first, before he closed his door and took a seat at his desk chair. Minako only stood there, looking around his room.

"You could sit down, you know," Ichigo told her and she looked at him. Minako walked to his bed and sat down, her hands folded on her lap. "Your room is really simple," she said. Ichigo nodded before he rested an arm on his desk. "You said you heard White. Minako, it's been over a year since we both lost our powers. White's presence shouldn't be anywhere."

"I know, I know," Minako mumbled, her hands twisting in her lap. "I know he wouldn't be anywhere, but…but I can't explain it. I just felt him. He was there, Ichigo, I know he was."

Ichigo closed his eyes briefly before opening them. "You think…maybe you just want to hear him?" he asked. Minako turned away, biting her lip. Was that what she wanted? Deep in her heart, was that what she wanted? Ichigo noticed the conflict in Minako's eyes. He was pushing her too much. She was still fragile. He tried to think of something to change the subject, something she must have noticed because she asked, "Ichigo, was the woman on that poster your mother?"

He looked at her, surprised that she could deduce that so quickly when Ichigo never brought up his mother around her. Well, the conversation had to crop up sooner or later. "Yeah."

"She was beautiful," Minako whispered thoughtfully. Ichigo was sure she'd ask how his mother died, but surprisingly, she didn't. He wasn't sure whether he was grateful or just wanted to tell Minako how it all happened. Her eyes were on him, curious now, the emotional conflict gone for the moment. "I think that moment in Hueco Mundo…when I collapsed...I saw memories of your mother," she said. "Her determination to protect you, her child…I can see that same spirit in you even without the Tamashi no Tankyu-Sha, Ichigo."

"You always were intuitive, weren't you?" Ichigo asked with a small smile.

She returned it with a gentle one of her own. "I just got to really know you, that's all." She stood up. "Although I am glad it's without me shifting through your private thoughts. I should go, though. My parents will be worried."

"I'll walk you home, then." Ichigo stood up. Minako nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Ichigo," she said. He nodded, putting his hands into his pockets. "No problem."

Hours after Ichigo walked her home, Minako lay on her bed, staring at her ceiling. Her room had brand new knickknacks given to her from Orihime. One was during break. It was a framed group photo, with her, Orihime, Ichigo, Keigo, Uryu, Chad…everyone. It always made Minako smile because she now had friends who cared about her, who weren't afraid when she still had her power.

Of course, on nights like this, she had thought of White. She wondered whether the voice she heard was really his. Would this mean her powers were coming back? She curled underneath her blankets, burying her face into her pillow, as sleep overcame her.

Had she been lucid, had she stayed awake for only a moment longer, she would have heard a voice whisper, "Just wait a little longer, princess."