World of the Living - Karakura Town
Ichigo
One day later..

Ichigo found himself walking home after another boring day at school. His bag was swung over his shoulder like it always was. He had let his messy, orange hair grow out, letting it cover his left eye while it was parted just above his right. His face was emotionless and empty.

It had been like that since he had completely lost his Shinigami powers about 2 months ago. He just felt absolutely useless anymore. He couldn't help his friends kill Hollows, or interact with anyone from Soul Society. All he could do was accept that he was nothing more than a normal human again, which was something he despised even thinking about.

He stepped aside as he was torn from his thoughts as someone went rushing past him. It was Chad and Ichigo could tell he was going to fight a Hollow by how fast he was running. Not to mention he was almost bowling people over.

'It must be one powerful Hollow.'

Just thinking that made his mood worse and he decided to take a different route home.

Ichigo could barely keep his mind off the fight that must be happening right now. He kept worrying about his friends even though he knew they were perfectly capable of fighting without him. Still, not being there was driving him insane.

Ichigo came to his senses as he almost walked into his front door. He took a deep breath, readying himself for his fathers antics. And sure enough, as he opened his front door:

"ICHIG-" His father launched himself at Ichigo but was cut short as Ichigo's bag smacked him down into the ground. Ichigo took a step over him and continued up the stairs and into his room, ignoring his little sisters telling him that dinner was ready. Ichigo wasn't hungry anyways.

Ichigo slammed his door shut, tossed his bag across the room and then proceeded to lay down on his bed.

This had become the norm since he had lost his Shinigami powers. He'd lock himself away from the world in his room. He didn't really talk to his friends outside of school. And he couldn't leave the World of the Living anymore so he was stuck here in this living hell.

Ichigo sighed and looked at the clock next to his bed. It was only 6 o'clock.

He looked around his room and when he found nothing better to do he just closed his eyes and drifted off into his mind and, eventually, to sleep.

Ichigo awoke to the sound of buzzing. He sat up trying to find the sound of it when he realized it was coming from his window. He opened his curtains to find a cell phone looking device vibrating on the window sill. A look of agitation appeared on his face as he grabbed it and flipped it open. He had a feeling he knew who put it there.

"Yeah?" He answered trying to sound as annoyed as possible.

"Ichigoooo!" A voice came from the speakers, it sounded very satisfied with itself. "Long tiime no see!"

"What do you want, Kisuke?"

"Okaayy," Kisuke said still sounding very satisfied, "I can see that you want me to get straight to the point. Why don't you come down to the shop? I've got a surprise for yooouuuuu!"

Ichigo looked over at his clock, it was 11 o'clock. He sighed to himself, there was no way he gunna be able to fall asleep now.

"Yeah, sure, whatever ya need, Kisuke."

"Greeaatt! See ya in a while, Ichigo!"

Ichigo heard a click as Kisuke hung up. He pocketed the phone, walked over to the door and put on his shoes.

'It better not be something stupid, or I might just kill him.' Ichigo thought to himself as he opened his front door and walked out of the front door, closing it behind him.

Ichigo wondered what this so-called 'surprise' was as he walked the empty night streets to Kisuke's shop. However his thoughts were disrupted as a headache suddenly came over him.

Rukia

Rukia stood in the air above Karakura Town about 50 feet over the ground. Renji stood next to her as they both scoured the area for any trace of the Arrancar the 12th Division had sensed. They were dispatched along side Captain Hitsugaya and Vice-Captain Matsumoto who were only a few feet behind them.

Her gazed was only focused on one direction though. In the distance she could see the house of one of her closest friends. Renji saw where she was starring and put his hand on her shoulder. "You know that we can't go and see him, Rukia. Besides.. The bastard probably wouldn't be able to see or hear us anyways."

Rukia knew he was right but she missed Ichigo dearly. Her thoughts were distracted when Rangiku yelled, "Hey you two, get over hereee!"

Rukia and Renji both appeared at her side and looked to where the orange-haired Vice-Captain was pointing. "Recognize him?" Rangiku said in a playful tone.

On the ground below, walking through an alley, was a certain orange-haired human.

Rukia smiled as she recognized him. His hair was slightly longer but that was the only change in his appearance. 'Ichigo.' She thought as she smiled slightly. 'You seem to be doing well.'

"What the hell is that idiot doing, walking around at this hour?" Renji said. Rukia heard a little concern in his voice and just smiled. He missed Ichigo as much as she did.

"I don't know, but that's not our problem," Hitsugaya said from behind them, "Our job is to find the Arrancar that was reported to have appeared here. Not baby-sit Kurosaki."

Though his words sounded harsh, all the Vice-Captains knew better. Captain Hitsugaya considered Ichigo a very close ally and friend.

"Come on," he continued, "we have a job to do."

Rukia took one last look at Ichigo as she sprinted away through the night skies.

Ichigo

The headache that came over him was gone as soon as it came. He had a feeling that someone had been watching him. He gazed into the dark skies above him, trying his best to see anything that was abnormal. When he saw nothing he just lowered his head and continued on to Kisuke's shop.

Ichigo was wondering if it was Rukia or Renji that had been watching him or if it had just been some random Shinigami. If it was a Shinigami at all that was. He could have been imagining it for all he knew.

He sighed as Kisuke's shop came into view. He wondered what the psycho had planned for him tonight.

He composed himself as he stood outside the door to the shop. He knocked and he heard a voice telling him to come in.

Ichigo slid open the door and Tessai was standing in the room behind said door. He silently pointed to the back room. Ichigo slid the door shut behind him and walked over to the back room door and slid it open.

"Okay, Kisuke, what the he-"

"ITSYGO!" A female's voice cried out happily as he was litterally tackled off his feet.

Teal hair draped over him as the girl hugged him. She looked up at him with her big, watery, hazel eyes and a big, happy smile that looked like happiness incarnate.

"Nel?" Was all Ichigo got out before she kissed him.