Episode 02

It was a week later and it was all filled with Hollow slaughtering day in and day out. Byakuya had made a comment one afternoon while walking home.

"Usually a town doesn't receive more than one Hollow a month."

"Karin can see ghosts as well, Yuzu can sense their presence but dad can't do either."

"Hm, that is very strange, Kurosaki-san, humans shouldn't be able to see us. Your family must have high a high concentration of reiatsu."

"I guess," Ichigo said shoving his hands into his pockets. He lead them through an alleyway and pulled from his bag a small brown haired baby doll with pigtails. He had asked Yuzu to make an outfit similar to the little ghost.

Byakuya observed it. "What are you doing?"

"Ona floats around here and I promised to bring her a toy today," he said when he heard her.

"Onii-chan!" The little spirit flew into his arms and he lifted her up and planted her on her hip.

"Hello there Ona, how are you today?" he asked making her squeal when he presented the doll to her.

"Onii-chan thank you! I'm fine, it was peaceful until an old man started yelling into a phone and disturbed me out of my sleep."

"Describe him to me and I'll kick his ass," Ichigo said swinging her around so that she could see Byakuya. "Ona, this is Byakuya."

"Perhaps you should send her, Kurosaki-san," Byakuya said with a nod to the little girl who waved shyly around Ichigo.

Ona's eyes widened. "Send me? Where too?"

"A place where you can be happy," Byakuya said and it was the first time that Ichigo had ever heard the man speak tenderly. "A place where you can find a family and you no longer have to wear that chain," he said gently picking it up as she looked down.

"Onii-chan? What should I do?" she asked imploringly.

Ichigo smiled kindly and squeezed her. "I think you should go, Ona. I don't want you to be attacked by monsters. I can't always keep an eye on you as much as I would like."

She sniffled and buried her nose into his shoulder.

Byakuya observed the exchange and the true smile on Ichigo's face changed immensely. It was then that Byakuya realized that Ichigo was wearing a mask. He always looked like a broody angry teenager but perhaps there was more.

There had to be to have so much talent residing inside of him and the feeling Byakuya got – it was like he was Kaien-dono but of course that was preposterous and Kaien-dono never wore a mask. He was who he was but Ichigo also had that relaxed feeling about him.

Ichigo let Ona down and Byakuya once again pulled the shinigami out of his body. Ona watched with a gasp.

"Wow," she breathed.

Ichigo took the handle of his sword and tapped her forehead. "Farewell, Ona."

"Bye-bye Onii-chan!" She waved as she vanished and turned into a swallowtail.

He watched it disappear, wondering why he felt sad all of a sudden when a hand landed on his shoulder. "She will be much better off, Kurosaki-san," Byakuya said gently.

"Yah, I know," he said shaking the feeling off. Quickly, he got back into his body and sighed at the feeling of being whole once again.

Byakuya was about to speak when there was a loud screech and then a cry of surprise. Ichigo and Byakuya whirled around and Ichigo gasped.

"Inoue!" he rushed over as Byakuya followed with a frown.

"Huh?" Inoue blushed when Ichigo pulled her up and stared her over.

"Were you just hit?" he asked horrified.

"Oh, uh, yeah I guess so," she said looking around. "Hehe, Kurosaki-kun, uhm, Kuchiki-san!"

Byakuya arched an eyebrow but said nothing. She was a little on the ditzy side and he had no business with anyone who didn't have a brain. But… the car accident was strange, he thought.

"You don't know if you were hit or not?" he said handing her a loaf of bread.

"Ooh, my food, and uh, I guess I was, I mean I was singing and dancing and wasn't watching where I was going, I do that a lot."

"I should track them down-"

It was then, as Byakuya was looking the girl over closely, he noticed your lower leg. A pitch black mark like that of spindly hands was wrapped around it. "Wait-" he paused, his hand coming up to grab Ichigo as he stared down at Inoue's foot. "Where did that mark come from?" he asked stepping forward and bending down.

Inoue blushed, it was the first time Byakuya had ever spoken to her and she looked down. "Oh, I, uh, I guess it was from when I was hit, yeah."

"That's a nasty bruise, does it hurt?" Ichigo asked in concern. How could she not have noticed that! He thought in horror, that had to have hurt.

"O- oh, yeah, a little now that I think about it."

Ichigo sighed, why was it Inoue brought out his worrisome side? He wondered how she took care of herself all these years and realized that it was Tatsuki who took care of her. No wonder the tomboy was always defensive. Someone had to look after her, otherwise she'd walk off a cliff without knowing. "Do you need me to walk you home?"

Inoue squeaked and began to decline saying that she was fine and talking about her shows she wanted to watch with the food she wanted to eat.

Ichigo watched her dart off.

"She's not very intelligent," Byakuya commented with disdain.

Ichigo tilted his head. "She's book smart but I don't think she has much common sense," he confessed, "But God, is she really alright?"

Byakuya stepped around and faced Ichigo blocking his view of the ditz. "Does this girl have any family or friends that died recently?"

"One, an older brother. He died in a car accident a few years ago."

"Really?" Byakuya drawled. "Hm."

"What?"

"You are friends with her?"

Ichigo shrugged. "No, well, yeah kind of. Tatsuki, the wild angry tomboy is a friend of mine and through her I guess Inoue would be a friend. I only just realized that it had been her that night."

"That night?"

"Yeah, I was the one who answered the door, she had her brother on her back, she was really small, yet she carried him for five blocks. He was bleeding everywhere and there was nothing we could do."

"I see," Byakuya said looking over his shoulder and then, "I'm going home."

Ichigo arched an eyebrow. "Home? Where do you go?"

Byakuya paused on the walk and turned. "Interested are we?"

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "That's not it at all, Byakuya-hime."

Byakuya walked away without responding, leaving Ichigo to glower at his back. Byakuya could be so impossible at times, he thought scratching his head. Where was Byakuya going? He didn't have any money, Ichigo was sure of and it bugged the life out of him. He couldn't sleep on the streets! Not a princess, he thought agitatedly.

Should he chase after Byakuya? He couldn't let the princess sleep outside. He whirled around on his heel and ran after the shinigami. "Byakuya-hime!"

Byakuya stopped on a dime and whirled around, shock appearing on his usually emotionless face. "What is it Kurosaki-san?"

"I'm not letting you sleep outside, idiot," Ichigo said stopping to face him. "Come home with me. You can sneak through the window."

"You asking me to come home with you?" Byakuya mocked.

Not rising to the bait Byakuya set for him, Ichigo crossed his arms. "Come on, you have to be close to me anyway, don't you?" He set off toward the path of his house. "I can't have you starving to death on me. It's not like you have any money."

Byakuya's cheeks colored a bit. "I don't need your charity."

"Yeah, yeah. Cut the bull shit, Byakuya-hime. You can afford to be just a little bit humble. I won't tell anyone, promise."

Byakuya sighed quietly before moving into step next to Ichigo. "Thank you."

"No problem, Yuzu may be young but she's a pretty good cook."

"The brown haired girl?" Byakuya asked.

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah. Karin and Yuzu are twins, though they look and act nothing alike."

Kurosaki Clinic came into view, they separated, Byakuya scaling the side of the house to Ichigo's bedroom. Ichigo sighed wondering briefly if he should invest in locks and then decided he'd rather not have his window shattered for any reason.

It was after eight and Ichigo noticed that his father wasn't riding his ass anymore about the time. Yuzu was finishing the laundry.

"Onii-chan! I have your laundry here, want me to take it to your room?" she asked sweetly.

Ichigo froze, remembering Byakuya in there. "Just put it by the door. I'll sort through it later."

"Dinner is in the refrigerator. You're home late, where've you been?" Yuzu asked as Isshin came rushing through.

"Yo! Ichigo!"

"Eh, hey dad. I was helping a friend, she got hit by a car," Ichigo answered.

"Who?" Karin asked coming through.

"Orihime Inoue. Someone just slammed right into her and drove off."

"Oi! She alright? Does the beautiful little goddess need medical attention?" Isshin asked half concerned and half goo-goo eyed.

Ichigo kicked his father in the shins causing him to fall. "No, pervert, she was fine, a little bruised but otherwise she was alright. I'm really hungry so I'm going to take extra to my room."

Isshin tried to lash out at Ichigo with a sweeping kick but Ichigo jumped over the man's head and pressed his heel to the back of his neck sending him flying into the carpet.

"Not only is my son a good citizen, helping others in a time of need but he has amazing reflexes!" Isshin cried out sobbing. "I'm so proud."

Karin shook her head. "Poor Ichi-nii, if it isn't one thing it's another." She prodded her dad in the butt with her foot. "Stay down, beard-o."

Ichigo warmed two plates of food and disappeared upstairs. He opened his door and pushed the basket through with his foot.

Yuzu came around. "Onii-chan, can you take a bath with me tonight?" she asked looking at him with puppy dog eyes.

Trying not to blush, knowing Byakuya could hear, he sighed. "Of course, after I eat."

"Yay!" She rushed him for a hug around the waist. "I get to bathe with Onii-chan!" she chanted running down the steps.

Ichigo shook his head and closed his door back.

"Eh?" His closet door slid open and Byakuya climbed out. "Ah, there you are. Here, dinner."

"Thank you," Byakuya said taking the plate. "I heard someone by your door earlier."

"Yuzu dropping my clothes off," he said kicking off his shoes and sliding onto his bed while Byakuya took the chair by his desk. Before digging into some food, he nudged the basket to Byakuya. "I have nothing all that fancy, so pick and choose."

Byakuya couldn't help but marvel at Ichigo, the way he spoke, the way he did things. Never would he have ever suspected such a rough and hard looking guy to be so soft and dare he say it? Kind. He took a bite of the food, and was surprised by the quality. It was even better than the servants at the Kuchiki Manor. Then again, so was the sandwiches here in this world.

Strangely enough, Byakuya could get used to it. "Where am I going to sleep?"

Ichigo paused. "Hm, that does pose a problem," he murmured.

"I am not sleeping on a floor," Byakuya stated haughtily.

"I wasn't going to ask you too." Ichigo deadpanned. "Well, there's my closet."

Byakuya stared at Ichigo and then looked back at the closet in contemplation.

"Well, it's either the closet or you can trust me not to do anything perverted and sleep with me," Ichigo said sliding off the bed and taking their plates.

Byakuya froze, sleep with him?

"It's the only choices, I'm not all that stoked about it either, but I'm not letting you sleep outside," Ichigo insisted.

He was right, and it wasn't like Ichigo was unclean or hard to look at. In fact, just by looking at him, Byakuya could tell that it was quite the opposite. "Fine, I'll sleep with you." He couldn't believe he said that and with a straight face.

Ichigo couldn't hardly believe it either, but he didn't mock him or comment as he left the room and came back with some drinks. "I'm going to get a bath, I promised Yuzu," he said uncomfortably.

Byakuya gave him one of those smirks. "I see, you are quite the softy aren't you, Ichigo?"

Ichigo scowled but didn't deny it as he once again disappeared, leaving Byakuya to stare at the closed door. He then turned and looked at the bed, before sagging his shoulders forward. This would be an experience, he thought ruefully.

Ichigo came back into the room with a heavy sigh, he was dressed in dark red drawstring sweatpants and a black tank top. He tossed the towel aside and saw Byakuya reading over their homework. He was also dressed in a pair of black shorts and a white t-shirt, his ribbon was out of his hair and it fell over his slim shoulders gracefully.

Ichigo could tell that Byakuya belonged to some sort of household name in Soul Society, probably a noble or rich family. He tossed the towel aside and collapsed onto the bed.

Byakuya raised his dark blue eyes briefly before turning the homework over and flashing the paper in front of Ichigo's face. "What is this?"

Ichigo surveyed it. "Look in my bag for the folder with the answers," he answered.

Byakuya nodded and found Ichigo's homework in the math folder. Being resorted to human school was almost embarrassing but Byakuya couldn't say that it wasn't useful. He knew most of the stuff but Calculus was something that he simply couldn't grasp.

Ichigo pulled an extra pillow out of the cupboard and two more covers. He tossed them on the bed and then slipped in. He made enough room for Byakuya who was scratching the answers to the problems down swiftly. He closed the folder and then braced himself before copying Ichigo and sliding in. It was warm and it smelled nice, like a strange sort of musk.

The body heat from Ichigo warmed Byakuya strangely enough and he turned over onto his side so that he didn't have to face the human-turned-shinigami.

Ichigo reached over and snapped off his light. It was dark and silent, only the crickets could be heard.

"What's Soul Society like?" Ichigo asked softly.

"It's… different. Rukongai is the place where all the souls go too when they first arrive. It's the poorest area but also the most free. Not very many laws are enforced in Rukongai."

"Sounds like here, some neighborhoods the law doesn't even go into but that's only because they're too scared."

"It can be dangerous. There are eighty areas in Rukongai. It's impossible to police them all."

"Do you have family?" Ichigo asked.

"Sort of," Byakuya answered. "I'm from a clan, I'm the youngest. I'm one of the few Kuchiki's who are born and not found. My family is not close, not like yours."

"Both of my sisters have a big brother complex," Ichigo explained. "Especially, Yuzu. She's the most sensitive. Karin is really strong, too strong for an eleven-year-old little girl."

"You care a lot for your siblings," Byakuya observed, feeling a tinge of envy along with something warm inside.

"Yah, I do," Ichigo admitted shamelessly. "My sisters are my life, I even care for goat-face as much. Do you have any siblings?"

Byakuya smiled into the dark, he knew that question was about to pop up. "I have an older sister," he replied. "My parents died a few years back and so her and I are all that's left of the main house. But technically, she's married in. I'm the only born son left of the main house."

They lapsed into a strangely comfortable silence, Ichigo shifted and faced Byakuya's back, his soft long hair splayed out over the pillow. "Good night, Byakuya."

The shinigami paused, when he heard not 'hime' at the end and smiled a little. "Good night, Ichigo."

They were both just about to fall into a comfortable sleep when the cell phone on the nightstand began to beep.

Byakuya blinked and sat up, he grabbed the phone and when he flipped it open, his eyes widen. "ICHIGO!"

"Eh?!"

Byakuya grabbed him and together they tumbled off the bed as a massive roar in the air was met and a strange black hole seemed to circulate at the exact place that Ichigo and Byakuya had been lying.

"Shit!" Byakuya hissed slipping on his red glove.

Ichigo paused. "You cursed…" he said when Byakuya's palm surged into his forehead causing his body to fall limp as his shinigami form appeared.

"No time for that," Byakuya growled as they both jumped up.

The fight had not been a good one, Ichigo froze up when he cracked the mask. Byakuya was frowning as the Hollow disappeared.

"Ichigo…"

"Byakuya…" Ichigo whirled around, horror on his face. "That was Inoue's brother."

Byakuya placed his hands on Ichigo's shoulders. "There are several very important reasons why we strike a Hollow from behind. To keep down on being injured ourselves and another is so that we never have to look at what's under the mask."

"B… but I thought Hollows were monsters."

"They are, they were once positive souls, just like that little girl Ona, Ichigo. But they were devoured by other Hollows or their grief and envy of the living turned into one. They are monsters once they get to that stage. But right now, we have to stop that Hollow, and I have a pretty good idea where it's heading."

"Inoue!"

Byakuya couldn't believe he was reduced to riding on Ichigo's back. He hated this Gigai! It was so beneath him to resort to this but what choice did he have? He couldn't leave Ichigo to something so personal like this. With natural expertise, Ichigo jaunted through the darkly open skies.

"I knew something was weird," Byakuya said trying to forget about the fact that he was on top of Ichigo's back. "That girl was touched by a Hollow, to be specific, her own brother. Have you ever heard of stories of a married couple, one passes away and the other lingers on a short while later before dying too?"

"Yeah," Ichigo said jumping the roofs. "But why would they go after family members?"

"To ease their suffering pain," Byakuya answered. "They usually migrate to the person closest to them. Their once loving feelings turn into anguish and then envy and a Hollow's envy always ends in a massacre."

"Man, why does this have to get personal?" Ichigo groused.

Those words hit Byakuya hard with a flashback to Kaien-dono. He bowed his head and pressed his chin to Ichigo's shoulder, unconsciously, he took in the teen's scent and the taste of his reiatsu rippling around them.

"I'll tell you something that may help you. A Zanpakuto is unlike any other type of sword, it works as a cleanser. When a Hollow is hit with it, they don't get destroyed completely, they are taken to Soul Society as a spirit once more. Hollow spirits can't help what they do when they are in that state. It's like becoming insane, with no ability to control themselves. Destroying him only kills the monster, not the soul."

"Thanks Byakuya."

"Yeah, just be careful, Ichigo."

It sounded to Ichigo like Byakuya truly cared, he was stunned. "Of course. I took your powers, it's only right for me to do the job right so you don't get in trouble."

Byakuya didn't tell him that wasn't the reason, but he let Ichigo think that if he wished, because coming up with the words to speak was hard and all he could do was squeeze the teen around the neck.

In the end, it worked out. Byakuya knelt down by an injured Inoue. "It's alright, she's not dead. The chain has yet to be severed."

"What about her wound?" Ichigo asked glancing briefly over at Tatsuki who was unconscious.

"I can heal her, I still have some of my demon art power," he assured.

Byakuya erased their memories when they were through and they were back at Ichigo's by midnight. Sighing, Ichigo slipped into his body as Byakuya collapsed on the bed.

Byakuya had no idea that healing so much would take it out of him. He flexed his hands and stared down at them. His powers were still weak. He'd been in the gigai for over a week now. He should be able to have some of his power back.

"You alright?" Ichigo asked rubbing his shoulder.

"I'm fine," Byakuya replied.

"Doesn't look like it," he dropped down on the bed beside the shinigami.

Byakuya almost blushed as the bed bounced and squeaked. "I'm tired," he confessed. "I still have my demon arts but my powers are still weak."

"Let's go to bed then."

Once again they crawled into the warm waiting bed, Byakuya was asleep almost instantly and Ichigo stared at the peaceful figure, the soft creases that had been in his forehead no longer existed. He closed his eyes on the sight of Byakuya and allowed his body to relax against the offered body heat.

(o)

"Sumo wrestler?" Ichigo turned to Byakuya who had a hand over his mouth and his eyes twinkled a bit. "Sumo wrestler?" he repeated.

"I have no control over what their minds come up with."

They went to sit near the gates, Byakuya was looking at a packet of juice contemptuously, wondering how on earth he was supposed to get to the drink without spilling it all over him.

Ichigo was unwrapping his sandwich and took a bite out of it, when Mizuiro and Keigo found them.

"Yo! Ichigo, there you are. We were looking for you," Mizuiro said with a smile.

"Yah, you two been eating together every day and leaving us out!" Keigo whined.

"Shut it, Keigo," Ichigo muttered under his food. "You know you can come sit any time. Don't make excuses."

Chad came over soon after and nodded to them.

Byakuya was always stunned to see the tall boy, he was massive.

Mizuiro chuckled. "You know, if you two keep hanging around each other, people are going to think you're together."

Byakuya froze at that and he looked to Ichigo to see what he had to say and was surprised that the teen was growling or acting weird.

"I don't care what anyone else thinks," Ichigo grunted taking Byakuya's drink and opening it for him. "If I really cared about others, I'd have dyed my hair ages ago."

"Hm," Chad agreed.

"But the question is, are you dating?" Mizuiro asked. "I didn't take you to be gay, Ichigo."

Byakuya looked a little horrified at such a personal question being asked. Did they have no tact? Of course not, he thought. They were lowly humans, so far beneath him. He could imagine their upbringing and shuddered inwardly at the idea.

At least Ichigo was mature and had a loving family, one that Byakuya was quite proud to have been able to save. The human world would have suffered a great loss at the deaths of such good people. Byakuya wasn't too proud to recognize this and it strengthened his own regret for not having his powers.

Ichigo paused on the straw and shot a glare at Mizuiro, making Keigo squeak and scoot behind Chad.

"Not that we mind Ichigo!" Mizuiro insisted waving his hands frantically. "You know we don't mind."

"Are you an idiot?" Ichigo asked going back to the pouch of juice and poking the straw through. He handed it back to Byakuya. "I don't deal with stereotypes like that."

"Then why are you always hanging out? I also saw you two running out of school together!" Keigo pointed out. "Something's definitely going on and if it's not you should include us!"

"None of your business," Ichigo stated simply. "We're friends if you are that desperate to know and he lives near me."

"Friends, eh?" Mizuiro asked curiously. "I guess that's what you call it."

Byakuya contented himself with his juice, ignoring the questions that flew his way. He was rather surprised by the way Ichigo handled the situation. He half expected the teen go red and start spluttering indignantly. Humans were so pretentious, he thought, they had absolutely not propriety at all.

The only one who didn't seem to say much was the big guy next to Ichigo, he simply sat there next to Ichigo comfortably, watching and he seemed to be waiting.

"Well, well if it isn't Kurosaki Ichigo and Yasutora Sado! Looking good, ya'll."

Byakuya was stunned when he saw a strange weird looking guy, he had bright yellowish hair which was obviously dyed and it was in the shape of an egg and his face looked smashed. He reminded Byakuya of one of the meatheads from the 11th Squad.

Chad and Ichigo exchanged dark looks.

"Seems you got out of the detention center a little early, huh?"

"And you're still copying my hairstyle!" the unknown teen sneered.

Ichigo quirked an eyebrow. "This is my hair you asshole. Did you come here for another fight?"

"What if I am, Kurosaki-kun?" he drawled as three others joined him. "I still owe you from last time." He cracked his knuckles. He then glanced over at Byakuya. "Seems as if you have a pretty boy with you."

"You leave him out of this," Ichigo said rising up.

"Ooh, he's your boyfriend? Never took you for that type, but I guess he's not bad for a boy. He is pretty and all."

"You should get some manners, child," Byakuya drawled coldly. "Then some tact."

"Byakuya, they don't even know the meaning of tact let alone trying it," Ichigo explained. "If you have a problem with me, you asshole, face me with it and I'll send you right back to the detention center you belong too."

"Oh? I ain't ever going back there again." He cracked his knuckles and leered toward Byakuya. "I'll see you when I'm done."

Chad stepped up next to Ichigo.

"Your mouth is getting on my nerves, Oshima." Ichigo looked to Chad. "Let's shut them up and do this."

"Why you! Don't think you're so cool just because you're popular and everyone likes you!"

Byakuya flinched when Keigo and Mizuiro took each side of his forearm. "You don't want to be here to see this," Keigo insisted.

"Right, Ichigo and Chad can take care of themselves, we don't want to get in trouble too."

"Huh?" Byakuya asked. "You're going to let him fight?"

Keigo chuckled and he dared to place his arm on Byakuya's shoulder. "Never fear Kuchiki-san, Kurosaki Ichigo and Yasutora Sado are an army compared to those misfits and the plus side is the teachers know that they're good kids. They'll turn a blind eye."

"If there is one thing to learn in this school," Mizuiro pointed out moving them to the other side. "It's who are the bad ass's of our High School and Ichigo and Sado have that down in spades. You do not mess with them."

"Don't worry thought," Keigo assured. "They're not bad guys, they never were. You see, because of their hair and size, they were always singled out and they had to either get tough or get stomped on."

Byakuya was shocked when the leader of the rebellious group dared to try and hit Ichigo with a pair of brass knuckles and instantly, his hand was crushed and his head met the pavement with a well timed stomp.

One of their friends also jumped in, only to have 'Chad' grab him by the throat and toss him away like a rag doll. The other two ran off with apologies.

"Alright egghead, I'll give you five seconds to leave this school and never return before I give you to Chad and he can finish you off."

The school was watching, wide eyed, giggly, and whispering.

Byakuya felt as though he were back at the academy.

Oshima struggled to stand, blood dripping down the side of his face as he cradled his broken hand. "You broke my hand!"

"I did, didn't I?" Ichigo asked nonchalantly. "Get out of here before I break something else!"

He ran.

Luckily, the commotion wasn't enough to draw the teachers attention. But the whole school was whispering and talking about it.

"You were fighting again!" Tatsuki shrieked as she stormed up to them.

"Zip it Tatsuki, he struck first and like hell was I going to let him hit me."

"Do you want to get expelled?"

"I won't be," he assured as he scooped up his bag and turned toward Byakuya. "Sorry about that."

Byakuya only nodded. "Lunch is over, I think and you have blood on your hands."

Grumbling, Ichigo looked down at them. "Yeh, damn assholes had to ruin everything," he grunted irritably.

"They won't anymore," Chad stated, his voice was low and rich. It was the first time Byakuya had ever heard him speak.

After school, Byakuya looked over at Ichigo. "Those guys seemed pretty pathetic," he drawled.

Ichigo laughed darkly. "No kidding. Chad and I have always had a reputation, we didn't really have a choice. I stood out with my hair and well… just look at Chad. Thing is, Chad won't fight for himself."

Byakuya looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"He's so big, right? Which means, he's very strong and powerful. When he was younger he made a promise to his grandfather that he would never use his fists for himself. I met him a few years ago, I was in an alley, I'd gotten cornered by five guys. I was about to be knocked out when Chad appeared. We became friends shortly afterwards and vowed to take care of each other. I'd fight for him and he'd fight for me."

"I see, I understand now."

"I don't like it when people pick on those who are weaker. It pisses me off, that's how I met Mizuiro and Keigo. But Oshima and his crowd are an exception to anytime, anywhere, no matter how weak they really are. When I was in Junior High they made my life hell."

"You have a strange group of friends," Byakuya confessed.

"Yah, but they're alright, really. Keigo is harmless, Mizuiro is a womanizer, and Chad is really just a teddy bear in disguise."

"What about you?" Byakuya asked with a sideways smirk.

Ichigo blinked. "Me? Hell, I dunno. I'm just me."

"Interesting," he drawled.

Ichigo was just Ichigo, Byakuya would have to think on that. Perhaps he was, but Byakuya would bet everything that there was more to Kurosaki Ichigo than meets the eye.