A/N: Heya! I just wanna say THANK YOU! to my very first anonymous reviewer! I will try to make the chapters longer, I really appreciate any advice readers can give to make my stories better! Oh yes! Forgot to say that I don't own Bleach or any of it's characters in Chapter 1, this applies to all other chapters onwards.
A cool autumn breeze swept through the empty streets of downtown Karakura, sweeping with it the greasy smells of takeout stalls and cafe's, the only sounds to be heard were the distant traffic, the rustling of far away trees and footsteps that echoed through cement alleys. Rukia looked up at the full moon and remembered the first time she had met Ichigo Kurosaki, it was on a night quite similar to this one.
She remembered how determined he was, how he desperately he wanted the power to protect his family, so much so that he was willing to sacrifice his own life in order in ensure their safety. Rukia paused, And we were the ones to take it all away, she thought regretfully. She glanced over her shoulder at the group of people that were walking behind her, Uryu seemed to be lost in his own world, barely paying attention to his surroundings and Orihime was constantly teary eyed, her bubbly personality nowhere to be seen. Chad was as silent as ever but Rukia noticed the tenseness in his shoulders and the clenched fists at his sides, she knew that he would be worrying the most, his long time friend and the person he swore to fight alongside, no longer wanted anything to do with him and there was nothing Chad could do about it. Rukia sighed sadly and turned her deep violet gaze towards her long time friend, Renji, his tattoo'ed face was uncharacteristicly emotionless, only his eyes and the white knuckled grip on Zabimaru gave away his concern for his sparring partner and friend. When Renji's maroon eyes met her violet ones, she gave him a weak smile and then turned her attention back to their destination: Urahara's candy shop.
The group rounded the last corner and were greeted with sight of Urahara's store front, brightly lit from the inside despite the sign on the door reading "closed". Rukia stepped forward and knocked on the door with the back of her knuckles, the sound echoed throughout the abandoned neighborhood, "Urahara, we need to talk. It's about Ichigo!", she yelled. Not even five seconds later did the aged looking door slide open to reveal the hat 'n clogs wearing shopkeeper, smiling broadly he whipped out his fan and stepped aside to allow the group to enter, "Well isn't this a surprise! Come in, I see the gang is all here... well, except Ichigo of course," Once the group had settled around a low table in the private section of the shop, Tessai entered and served them tea after which Urahara asked,"So, what brings you to my humble shop? If I'm not mistaken, Mr Afro is the Soul Reaper assigned to Karakura, so why are you and Renji here, Rukia?" Everyone turned to said Soul Reaper. Rukia gingerly sipped her tea before answering,"The survailence team that was ordered to observe Ichigo-" she was interrupted by outraged gasps from Ichigo's friends,"How dare you! You've already taken his powers, you have no right to take his privacy as well!" raged Uryu, "You people have done enough, you should leave Ichigo alone instead of treating him like a rabid dog that could attack at any time. He's harmless now, thanks to you." Urahara sighed,"Calm down Uryu, perhaps we should hear what Rukia has to say before we point fingers. Continue Rukia." Rukia bowed her head in thanks, "As I was saying, the survailence team that was ordered to observe Ichigo started reporting that his behavior had begun to change and that he had been withdrawing from his friends, we thought this rather odd for Ichigo so, Renji and I were sent to confirm these changes and determine whether or not they were caused by the seal placed on Ichigo. By all rights,there should be no side effects but as Renji and I witnessed today, Ichigo has changed drasticly, far too drasticly to be caused by anything else except the seal... and there is something else..." Orihime whimpered,"S-something else? There's something else wrong with Ichigo?" Rukia seemed to be thinking about something, her eyes were unfocused as if she were remembering something,"Well!?" shouted Uryu. "When I went to greet him today, he shouldn't have remembered me or Renji, his memories should have been sealed along with his power but when he looked at me...,"Rukia shuddered, "I saw such hatred and... and recognition, not vague recognition, he knew me, he remembered me and that should'nt be possible."
Everyone stared at Rukia until a chuckle brought their attention to the sandy haired shopkeeper,"What's so funny?"asked Renji. "I warned Central 46 that treating the boy as a threat was a mistake, I warned them that sealing powers of that magnitude was not a good idea but no one ever listens to little old me," Urahara flipped open his fan and sighed, " Rukia, Renji, you were part of the team that apprehended Ichigo?" Both bowed their heads in shame," Yes, they thought that if it was his friends that arrested him, he would come quietly." Urahara hummed,"I see... You were ordered to do so or face execution or exile , yes?" Renji grit his teeth," Yeah, the bastards. They didn't give anyone one a choice."
No one could see the deadly seriousness behind the fan that fluttered in front of Urahara's face, I hope you are hearing this... Ichigo.
"...didn't give anyone a choice."
A pair of golden brown eyes narrowed in rage and for a split second they flashed silvery-white before fading again. No choice huh? Ichigo stared at the wall in front of him, he could hear their entire conversation as he sat leaning against the concrete wall behind the shop, his right knee pulled up with his right arm resting on it. He turned his gaze towards the black cat that sat next to him, watching him with it's golden eyes. "This is why you brought me here, Yoruichi?" asked Ichigo. The cat nodded,"Urahara told me to bring you here so that you could perhaps find out why they did what they did. He suspected that they were forced to do what they did, you should understand, Ichigo, that you are not bound to the laws of the Soul Society as they are and as you just heard, they were threatened with death or exile, both are extremely unpleasant. You should know Ichigo, you've died twice already." Ichigo shut his eyes as memories asaulted him, he remembered both deaths and the person responsible: Ulquiorra. He instinctively reached for his chest and felt the faded but permanent, circular scar in the centre of his chest, he felt the power inside him stir dangerously at the memory and clutched harder at his chest as a sharp spike of pain shot through his body.
Yuroichi watched as Ichigo bent over while holding his chest as he shook uncontrollably,"Have the attacks been getting worse?" He grunted his affirmative as he desperately tried to regain control of his body. Blood began to trickle from his nose, dripping off his cheek and onto the dirt floor. Yoruichi's eyes widened as she watched the blood sizzle after hitting the ground, it seemed to blacken before completely disappearing, she turned her shocked gaze to Ichigo who had managed to recover from his attack and was now wiping the blood from his face. "Ichigo, what was that just now?"asked Yoruichi. Ichigo hissed in pain as the blood that he had wiped on his hand sizzled and disappeared, leaving a red, raw wound in its place. He gave a bitter chuckle," According to Urahara, my sealed power is starting to affect my body, it can't contain the pressure that is starting to build up." Yoruichi stepped closer to examine Ichigo's hand, "When did your blood start doing that? Does Urahara know about this?" Ichigo glanced at the hand in question and winced, "No, this is new. But I suppose it makes sense now that I think about it, every time I have a seizure it feels like someone's stabbing me in the heart with a red hot poker over and over again and the feeling just spreads further the longer the seizure, like my blood is on fire," he clenched his fist and watched as the wound disappeared, " But it seems like I regenerate just as quickly, so whatever damage is caused internally won't kill me... ever."
Ichigo stood up and started to walk away but stopped and spoke over his shoulder, "Tell Urahara that it's ok, he can tell them."
Yoruichi stared after his retreating figure, she was about to enter the shop before something Ichigo said made her freeze,"won't kill me...ever."
What did he-.
Yoruichi's yellow eyes widened in realization. She dashed into the shop, shape shifting as she went, grabbing and putting on a robe before she headed towards the end of the hallway. Reaching the room where the others were gathered, Yoruichi slammed the door open and imediately zeroed her gaze onto the blond haired store owner.
"We need to talk."
A/N: OMG! I'm so sorry for being this late updating my story! Gomenasai! School has been pretty hectic so please be patient with me, I will try to update as soon as possible.
Notes: In case some of you are confused about Ichigo's memories and etc... I will explain a few things:
1. Ichigo does have all his memories, the seal was too weak to contain both his powers and memories so he remembers everything.
2. Urahara knows that Ichigo still has his memories (Ichigo told him).
3. No one, besides Yoruichi and Urahara, knows that Ichigo still has his memories.