A/N: Heya! So this is my first fanfic ever so please be gentle and take it easy on the flames! I'm gonna try to update as soon as I can but school is starting soon so don't expect too much. Read and Review pretty please!

Golden brown eyes flicked open as the first rays of sunlight creeped along the bed. Ichigo dragged his hand through his sleep-ruffled orange hair, the long tresses just brushing his shoulders. His previously peaceful face now wore a shadow of his signature scowl, his eyes were void of their usual strength and intensity. With a weary sigh, Ichigo Kurosaki, former substitute Soul Reaper and savior of the Soul Society stood up and got ready for another day as a normal senior at Karakura High School.

After the usual morning antics, Ichigo hefted his bag over his shoulder, he flinched as the ever-present pain in his body flared and then subsided again. He sighed and left the house, oblivious to the worried stares from his sisters and father.

"Dad, isn't there something you can say to make them give him back his powers and memories?"asked a worried Yuzu. Isshin Kurosaki looked at his daughters and shook his head sadly,"There is nothing I can do, I dont have a say in what goes on in the Soul Society anymore, I gave up being a captain along time ago."

Karin watched as her usually happy-go-lucky father stared after the empty shell that used to be her big brother. Suddenly Isshin growled and punched the wall, "Stupid, cowardly bastards!"

Ichigo sighed for the hundredth time that morning, he sat alone on the roof trying to eat the lunch Yuzu had made for him. He grit his teeth in frustration as he watched his former teammates fight a hollow that had proven quite difficult to kill. He hated being powerless or more specifically, unable to use his powers. Unknown to his friends, Ichigo's power and memory was still there, a vast, endless, writhing sea of spirit energy that ached to be released. The only problem was that whatever the Soul Society used to seal both his memory and power was now blocking Ichigo from accessing the bottomless ocean of energy that resided within him, but what angered Ichigo the most was that he could no longer communicate with the spirits that inhabited his soul, it felt like a huge part of himself was missing or numb ... disconnected, but Ichigo was certain that Zangetsu and his hollow were still there. How did he know? Simple... he could hear them screaming. Screaming in rage, screaming in frustration, screaming in pain, the pain of having their soul torn apart just to satisfy the suspicious, insecure bastards that governed the Soul Society. The pain of seeing their "friends", the ones they gave their lives to protect, the ones they gained their strength for, turn against them.

Ichigo clenched his fist as the constant waves of pain that flowed from his soul intensified, he hunched over as he tried to regulate his breathing. No! I refuse to have a fit now! After a few minutes, the pain subsided to barely managable levels and Ichigo rose to return to class, the gang had managed to kill the hollow and Ichigo couldn't help feeling disapointed. In the beginning Ichigo had been shocked by the dark thoughts and feelings he had begun to experience, often he found himself thinking of ways to get revenge on the ones who did this to him, eventually he realised that his mental health was being affected by his damaged soul and the pain that was his constant companion. Ichigo only hoped that those around him wouldn't notice but the chances of that happening were slim simply because of the fact that he had distanced himself from his friends and family, he could no longer bring himself to be friendly, he was too busy trying to keep his mind from fragmenting.

Ichigo decided to pay a visit to Urahara, maybe he had found a way to reverse the seal on his power. Doubtful, thought Ichigo with scorn.

Ichigo sat at his desk and waited for classes to resume, he didn't turn away from the window when he heard Uryuu, Chad, Orihime, Rukia and Renji enter the class. Rukia and Renji had returned the day before under orders, they had been sent to observe Ichigo after it had been reported that he had begun to withdraw from his friends when he should've been acting as if nothing happened.

Rukia stepped through the classroom door and imediately zero'ed in on the spot of orange near the window, she grabbed Renji's sleave and was about to step in Ichigo's direction to introduce herself when a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Ishida?" asked Rukia puzzled.

"He's not the same man he was, Rukia. He's changed, he barely speaks to us anymore." warned Ishida, "Remember, he doesn't know who you are anymore."

Rukia smirked,"Relax Ishida. He might not know us anymore, but I always knew how to get him out of a slump, he just needs a good kick to get him going again." And with that, Rukia spun on her heel and dragged Renji towards the figure sitting by himself at the far end of the class.

Rukia stopped next to Ichigo's desk and tapped him on the shoulder, "Hi there! My n-" The words died on her tongue as Ichigo turned to look at her. Dull, lifeless brown eyes met deep violet ones, his face was almost unnoticably pinched, his scowl was now more like a grimace and his usually healthy tanned skin was now pale with dark circles under his eyes. Rukia gasped and Renji- "Holy shit! Dude, you look terrible!" Rukia was too shocked to even scold Renji. Ichigo seemed to focus on them and the look of pure hatred and madness that flashed through his eyes made her take a step back, even Renji seemed to notice that something was off. But as quickly as it came, it left, leaving Ichigo's eyes empty once again. No emotions passed his face after that brief moment as he continued to stare at them, after what seemed like hours, Ichigo turned away and resumed staring out of the window without saying a word, effectively dismissing both Renji and Rukia.

After retreating back to the others, Ishida asked,"Well? How did it go?"

"We need to talk to Urahara," said Rukia, "Tonight"