Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but the setting is mine! Ahahaha!

…I can't satisfy my craving for IchiRuki by writing IchiRuki.

…That's bad right.

Well. Here's chapter two. Enjoy XD

Insanity is doing the same thing and over and expecting different results.

-Einstein

Dead on Time
70 percent/00:20:00
By Advent Wing

Ah crud.

Someone in the crowd of bandits coughed. Only a dozen of them had guns, but a glance to the left yielded the same results.

He backed up and found himself bumping into Rukia. "This is a problem isn't it?" She asked coolly.

It stepped forward, and Ichigo watched as one of the steps it made ground a rock into dust. "You know what you took," it said, stretching a hand out - leather creaked audibly in the tense silence.

"Pull yourself together." Someone in the crowd hissed. A young man in the front cringed. Rukia eyed him carefully. There was something about his undernourished frame and shaking hands, and the way he huddled close to the other, more grizzled-looking bandits. One of whom, gave him a quick shove. Stumbling forward before finding his balance, he pointed his knife again at Rukia with a chagrined expression.

Rukia resisted the urge to smirk.

Perfect.

"Okay," Ichigo said, but Rukia had the strangest feeling he wasn't talking to her or the tall man with the voice like gravel on stone.

He turned to her, and his face - Rukia bit her lip to keep from laughing - He looked like one of the mules back home. Stubborn. Like he was spoiling for a fight-

And then his face became cold, and she felt like her own humour had died. "I'm going to do something that'll get their attention," he began. "I want you to get back into the tent, cut a hole with your knife and get out the back way."

Rukia nodded. "Okay. And you?"

"I'm staying here."

She felt her leg twitch upwards, and struggled to remain cool. Aha. That was what was so familiar before - she discovered fairly early in her life that the attitudes of mules could be resolved by a swift kick. "…Okay," she nodded. "I'll head back into the tent, cut a hole, and get out the back way."

Ichigo felt that uncomfortable feeling again, but nodded, "Good-

"I am waiting."

Ichigo stepped forward, and the stone sailed through the air - The Hollow grinned as he caught it and-

—the shiny teeth under the hat's shadow contorted horrifically; it screamed like an animal in pain.

His fellows jumped, stared as their leader's true nature was revealed - that was all Ichigo needed.

Kicking the ground up he sprinted to the right, loosing a shot that hit a bandit high on the shoulder. The poor man jerked backwards into the arms of his buddies, and Ichigo vaulted behind some crates - bandit bullets sent wood chips into the air, but too many were hypnotized by the Hollow, as it continued its reason ending scream.

Ichigo glanced to his left and—

"DAMMIT WOMAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" He bellowed staring incredulously at the young girl beside him.

"I never said when I'd get in the tent!" She retorted, ducking as bullets pounded into the crate. She popped out over the side this time, aimed low, and clipped a man in the leg.

"I—!"

"Did you think I'd leave you to fight these men alone?!" She asked, and now they were cautious, they let the ones with guns take them while they tried to encircle their cover.

It looks like I'm right. AGAIN. Zangetsu said, emphasising the last word, more than a touch of frustration in his voice.

"Crazy bitch-

Ichigo! Zangetsu cut in. The Hollow is recovering! Ichigo cursed. The firefight had put considerable distance between them.

"Wha—?" Rukia uttered as Ichigo took off towards it.

Shaking her head, she tried her hardest to keep any who would attempt to shoot him busy.

Gun at eleven! Ichigo saw his would be attacker and shot the weapon out of his hand.

Blades at six! Step, step, roll, aim! Zangetsu spun to meet the bandit's charge and the young man flinched at being confronted by a gun. Ichigo shouldered past him.

Gun at two! Gun at four! Blade at nine! He dodged what he couldn't shoot, and the Bandits began thinking twice about attacking the young man who looked to be handling a jet-black whirlwind.

The Hollow shook his head dizzily, dropping the stone, he was again a tall man wearing a hat, but he looked at Ichigo and there was no face under the rim, just inky blackness save a white mask with two

hateful

eyes!

It roared, Ichigo roared, and Zangetsu roared at him to watch the damn arm—!

The suddenly monstrous arm swung through empty air, meeting the ground, stone and dirt erupting into the air. Coming out of the roll, Ichigo's left arm slammed into the ground to steady himself, his cold gaze took aim down the long barrel of Zangetsu and he fired —

Now he stood over the body. Where there should have been a head, there was a stump of uneven flesh. He was panting now, couldn't hear much other than his own breathing and thunderous heart. He fired into the body. One. He fired again. Two. He fired again. Three. He fired and fired until finally he squeezed the trigger and heard a soft click.

Ichigo. That's enough.

He looked around hazily, and all the Bandits had stopped fighting and were gazing at him. Many had wide eyes.

Rukia was squirming in the grasp of a large bearded one. The bear-like man searched Ichigo's cold brown eyes…and then he raised his hands, letting Rukia go in the same movement.

"We surrender."

--

They sat, Ichigo feeling restless, Rukia sipping from a steaming mug of hot chocolate. The bandit leader, Seven, as he called himself, pulled up a chair, dropping the loot over the table.

"I used to be the leader of this Clan." Seven said, striking a match on the table and using it to light a lamp next to them. All around them, bandits were clearing debris, and tending to their wounds. He shook his head. Two gunslingers, both looking scarcely older than his kids, did this.

"…Leader, I used to be, until he came." He gestured to the corpse off to the side, still steaming. No one wanted to touch it. "We all thought there was something strange about him. When he joined, there were…disappearances…people come and go, that's their game, which is fine with me…but more an' more 'left' without explanation, and I got suspicious." He shrugged, scratching his beard. "I sent some boys to 'ask' him some questions. They never came back, just disappeared. People started to fear him. Finally he challenged me for the right to lead. No one protested. We fought." His eyes unfocused. "He didn' bleed," he muttered. "I yielded to him, and he spared my life."

Rukia's eyes were sharp, over the mug.

Seven spoke again. "You killed none of my men. I thank you; we all agreed to keep our families away from him…It…." He shook himself and gestured to the stolen money. "Take it and be at peace. You are welcome in the camp of the Blue Mountain Wolves."

As they were about to leave, Seven grabbed Ichigo's arm discreetly. Ichigo tensed, watching Rukia walk on ahead. "What?" He asked roughly. Seven looked at him, and put a box of matches into his palm. "This ain't the first time you seen this happen." He said, quietly. "Not only that, but you ain't a Hunter. I can tell. You're a Vagrant." He dropped Ichigo's palm. On the matchbox, in faded ink, were the stylized words - Mountain Snow, Inn and Tavern.

"The Bandit King will help you. Wanted to contact him myself, but the Thing was watching my every move. When you find the place, they'll know what to do. Show them this, an' when you meet him, tell 'im Seven sent you."

Ichigo glanced at his broad back and made to leave.

"Oh!" Seven called out. "If he treats you with suspicion, ask 'im how my girl is."

--

They rode in silence, just the clip-clop of their horses' hooves interjecting into the sound of the desert night. Rukia had a soft, satisfied smile on her face.

"I think we did good back there."

Ichigo glanced at her contemptuously, and pushed his horse ahead.

Rukia blinked. "Wha…What?!"

Ichigo didn't answer, just grit his teeth and kept staring straight ahead.

Ichigo… Zangetsu warned.

At a loss, Rukia scowled up at him, studying his face. "You needn't be such a sore loser. I think fifty-fifty is rather fair." Humph. She shrugged away her disappointment. She didn't think he was the type.

"—That's not it!"

Rukia eyebrows drew up at the aggression in his voice. "What are you unhappy about then? I think we resolved things rather well—

"We. We did, did we?" He snapped. "Tch."

Ichigo. Stop it.

"Yeah, it went fine." He muttered darkly. "No thanks to you."

Rukia's horse felt the tension in its rider and neighed as she jerked it to a stop. "…What the hell did you just say?!"

Ichigo turned around, pulling on the reins of his horse roughly. " I said, 'No thanks to you!' " He said, much louder.

Rukia rode up till she was right in front of him, matching his glare with one of her own. "And what the hell is your problem?"

"You were my problem! You think I could shoot straight knowing a kid was running around behind me?!"

Ichigo… Zangetsu admonished quietly, but the damage had been done.

"…A kid?" She asked, jerking like she'd been slapped.

"And are you crazy?" He demanded, ridding up to her angrily. "Taking a Bandit Camp by yourself…you must have a death—

"Silence!" She spat, turning her horse to a different path. "There's more than one way back to Loft. When I get there first I'll explain to the office how a rather rude child is splitting the reward with me."

At having the insult turned back to him, Ichigo's temper flared further. Child?! "I'd be satisfied if I never have to deal with such arrogance again!"

She turned at this, "Yeah?" she asked, fury breaking through her icy countenance. "That makes the two of us!"

"…Hey!" He roared, spoiling for more, but she had moved on. He watched her go, resisting the urge to shout at her back—

Charming. Zangetsu commented, as she faded from sight.

Ichigo gripped his reigns tightly, and motioned his horse to turn around and walk. "…It's better this way."

The soft, rhythmic clip-clop of his horse's steps did nothing to quell his partner's inexplicable anger, as so he tried to break the brooding silence.

Ichigo, he sighed. Do you feel better now?

Ichigo didn't answer.

You see? Revenge will bring you nothing. The Hollow—

"Is now dead! I killed it!"

And now, do you feel better?!

"No."

Then when—!?

He tried not to choke at the thoughts in Ichigo's mind.

"When?" Ichigo mused, and Zangetsu imagined that it continued an odd…echo. "I'll feel better when I kill more of course."

Ridiculous. Zangetsu said, unbalanced. That echo…he should know what it was…what it meant! Curse his shattered mind! And what happens when your thirst for Hollows interferes with your search for the Reaper!? Like today!

"Today was an exception! He wouldn't strike tonight! I didn't attack the clan for the Hollow and you know that!"

Silence.

No. Zangetsu sighed. You didn't.

Kray's house loomed ahead, and the soft lights had a calming effect on him. Ichigo squinted, resisting the urge to rub his eyes as they burned. Neither of them noticed as the black that was invading the whites of Ichigo's eyes receded.

Dismounting, he tied the horse down to the porch.

He made to knock-

"I heard ya, come in," interrupted a voice.

He pushed the dilapidated door open, his fingers brushing against the cracks, crossed the ragged-looking rug. Without a word, he tossed the stone onto the table. "There you go."

Kray was a leather-faced, bent old man, but what had been broken in his body, you could still see in his eyes.

"Hmm," he mused, staring at the Stone. "Thanks." He tossed it back. "Your reward."

Ichigo caught it and glared. "My what?" He asked, running his thumb against the flame. It was still warm to the touch.

"You might make more use of it than I. After all, you'll be seeing many more things than me." He shuffled to the kitchen. "Made you some tea."

Ichigo pocketed the Stone, and turned to leave. "Drink it yourself."

"If by any chance, you find out what it's for, send me a letter?"

Ichigo paused at the door, grunted something that could be a yes or a no, and left.

Kray settled down, sighing at the untouched tea cup he had placed in front of Ichigo before dragging it towards him. "He's a good kid, really."

--

The Tavern was always the first place to get information. Hunters or Vagrants who had travelled far often went to the first bar they saw, in need of a drink and some food before they hit the hay.

The information came easy. Alcohol made tongues wag.

"Hey," Ichigo greeted, plopping down next to a haggard-looking middle-aged man.

"Hey yourself." The man replied. All he saw was another tired traveller.

"Just got in," Ichigo muttered, stooping slightly and rubbing his calves. He called the bartender over. "There seen a murder recently?" He ordered beer. "You know," he said, "One of 'those'."

The man took a long drag from his glass, before nodding. "Yeah. I seen them." He said, his voice hoarse. He straightened his back, trying to force his voice back to normal. "Two towns back...I saw one…" His eyes unfocused.

Ichigo leaned in close.

"…But here?" he continued and Ichigo froze. "Nah. Not yet, I suppose. Old Man Grim didn't find anyone."

The bartender set Ichgio's beer in front of him. The man next to him started talking about the rising price of salt.

The Reaper had passed this town over!

Buirin! His mind screamed. He was in Buirin!

"So I was thinking about trading in pepper for a whi—

Ichigo whirled out of his chair.

--

ICHIGO! Zangetsu commanded stiffly, a rare sliver of panic creeping into his monotone. STOP! STOP RIGHT NOW!

"He skipped this town," Ichigo said crisply. "But he'll definitely be in the next one."

Zangetsu could have said 'I told you so', but it would be a bad idea in this case.

The sounds of a stable greeted him as he walked thought the doorway. A boy with a mop of blond hair kicked at the ground idly. Ichigo approached him and pointed to a brown colt.

"That ones mine," he said, putting some coin into the kid's outstretched hand. "I need a new one. Fresh."

The kid counted the money, nodded, and pointed to another.

You haven't slept for two nights, and you used the Eyes! You were depleted this afternoon, but you're really empty now!

As Ichigo approached the horse, black spots clouded his vision, sapped his strength. He felt his balance go and he swayed dangerously.

Ichigo! Zangetsu's concern flowed through the bond, sharpening his thoughts, and he caught himself before he fell. You see!? You need rest!

"It's not midnight. We can get to Buirin."He saddled up and pushed away the pain

I will soon be drawing on your Time!

Ichigo tightened the straps on his gear. "If I push a fresh horse, I can definitely make it."

What good can you do there if you can't even stand!? Zangetsu thundered as they rode out.

--

The black-cloaked man did not have many memories of Buirin, but the notion to stop and build some did not occur to him. He travelled as he always did.

His footsteps made no sound upon the sandy road. Nothing stirred to watch his passing.

Not the Guards surely; for the first time since they were Cadets, they had fallen asleep on duty.

-He apologized silently. The punishment must be painful as they had not fallen asleep since then.-

Not the Vagrants surely, they too seemed to find sleep irresistible tonight.

-He blessed them. The path of the Drifter was a tough one.-

And not the townspeople, surely, law abiding folk were asleep by now.

-He passed a window sill, and a child stirred, moaning softly. He moved on quickly, lest it die.-

No one witnessed his passing. Even without this man's sinister song, most law abiding folk were asleep, for was the Demon Hour, 3:00am - The stories parents told their kids were the ones that frightened themselves as well.

And so he glided, unseen, unheard, past the Inn and the Armoury and the Tavern; towards the fence that divided the Great Forest and the town. When he came to that fence, he flowed through it, like the shadows that rolled out of his robes.

The Grim Reaper had no business in Buirin tonight.

Tsuzuku