Note: Ichigo can recieve messages via telepathy but can't send them out intentionally, it's like a solid screen.

Heavenly Chain by Boogermeister

Chapter 2

The sub-basement was very eccentric compared to the drab surrounding of the hideout; the ceiling was painted as if it was daytime and it had an arid look, with dry and dusty ground and larger-than-life rocks. Ichigo glanced around his surrounding and listened intently for the crazy vampire named Kisuke Urahara, or Mr. Hat-and-Clogs as he often would call him. The quiet waving of a hand fan caught his ears and he immediately dashed for the location. In under two seconds, he saw a green-and-white striped hat and stopped in front of the wearer, who was casually drinking tea on a picnic blanket. His flaxen blonde hair was tucked underneath the hat and he was wearing a forest-green kimono and wooden geta sandals.

"Well, hello there, Mister Kurosaki," smiled the blonde vampire as he glanced up with his greyish-green eyes. "What can I do fo you this evening?"

"I . . . . I sorta have a problem, Urahara," mumbled Ichigo, scratching the back of his head. "I think you can help me on this."

"Does it have to do with that pretty little human everybody's talking about?" smiled Urahara, and Ichigo suddenly scowled at the question. "Don't act so defensive about it, Ichigo. I bet you like this girl but you won't admit it."

"Th-that's not it, you crazy idiot!" scowled the orange-haired vampire. "It's just I find her existence distracting to my mind and I was wondering if you can take out a bit of my memory."

"Mmm, why should I do that?"

"Because your hypnosis powers are strong enough to do it," Ichigo frowned. "Also, I'm your leader and I command you to do it." Urahara sighed as he set his cup down and stood up, idly fanning himself.

"You're giving me permission to delve into your blocked mind, Mr. Kurosaki?" he muttered in a sudden serious tone.

"Yeah . . . ." muttered Ichigo. Urahara stared at his eyes and snapped his fan shut, and positioned it towards his forehead.

"Just need you to be at ease, and it'll be done in a second," he said quietly as his eyes glowed to bright jade. Reluctantly, Ichigo sighed deeply as he closed his eyes before opening them and relaxed completely, the blockage breaking down in his mind as the other vampire eventually seeped in. "If I do something wrong, tell me and I'll stop."

"All right . . . ." Soon, Ichigo felt his consciousness being probed as he stared at the other vampire's eyes. It was annoying but bared it as it dug deeper, he tensed ever so slightly when Urahara poked into his earlier memories but quickly relaxed.

"How strange," muttered Urahara as he suddenly retreated out of his mind.

"Huh? What are you doing, Urahara?" questioned Ichigo, opening his eyes.

"It seems that I can't erase the event from your mind, Ichigo," he replied quietly. "It's as if it's being connected to another memory but I can't take it out without damaging another event."

"What? That doesn't make any sense," frowned Ichigo. "You mean you can't take it out?"

"It's too difficult to do that, I think that human girl might've gave you something that cannot be removed," sighed Urahara. "Maybe if you can go to her to figure out why--"

"Fuck no," Ichigo replied flatly. "I already saved her, and that's it. I won't go to some human." Urahara glanced away and shifted at his hat.

"She's somewhat connected to her, Ichigo," he muttered. "Don't know why but I don't think it'll go away until you meet her again. Think about what I said, I am a couple of decades older than you."

". . . . Shit, fine then," scoffed Ichigo. "But I won't fucking like it." He vanished to leave, as the other vampire reopened his fan and sighed deeply.

"Masaki, your son's changing for the worst," he muttered quietly. "If only you can set him right, like before."

"How lame," one little girl replied rudely, her golden-blonde hair in ponytails and her golden-bronze eyes glared at Shinji then at Orihime, who was walking behind them. "Why do we hafta look this girl? Wouldn't it be easier to just take out the vampire leader?"

"You know it's not, Hiyori," shrugged Shinji. "And why are you following me? You know your only existence annoys the hell outta me." At that last comment, Hiyori smacked him in the face with her sandal. "Ow! Stop being so damn abusive, you little monkey!"

"Quit calling me a monkey, dumbass!" snarled the little girl, kicking him in the head.

"Uh, excuse me . . . ." muttered Orihime, and it caught their attentions.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce this spawn of the devil to you, Miss Orihime," said Shinji. "This is Hiyori Sakugari, my half-cousin."

"Half-cousin?" Orihime questioned in confusion.

"Long story," Shinji sighed.

"Hey, don't ignore me, Baldy!" yelled Hiyori, stomping on his feet.

"Yowch! Quit doing that!" he yelled in pain. "I oughta skewer you with my sword!"

"You won't do shit to me, Baldy!"

Meanwhile . . . .

"Shit, they're there with her," frowned Ichigo as he listened far away and opened his eyes.

"What is it, Ichigo?" muttered Chad.

"The Vizards, they're with her right now," Ichigo replied quietly and his jaws clenched a little. "I can't believe it, all because of that one little bite I gave her."

". . . . Guess we can't do anything about it," the taller vampire muttered.

"I know, but I wanna deal with this now." The cloudy weather completely enveloped the moon, covering their appearance from the natural light. "Argh, I wish they can just go away," Ichigo scoffed softly.

"Want me to deal with them, Ichigo?" asked Chad.

"No, Shinji's too skilled for you to handle," he replied, "and I doubt that cousin of his will go easy on you, also. We should wait until they're gone." Chad simply nodded and stared out into the sea of streetlights. Ichigo closed his eyes again and listened at the conversation of his victim and the Vizards. So far, it was nothing but crazy threats between the two cousins and the girl barely spoke a sentence. Was she still shocked from last night? That can't be, unless she still remembered bits of the event. After the past hour, he felt himself burning with thirst; his urge for blood would take over him if he doesn't deal with it now.

"Matter of fact, let's go," he sighed. "We could do this later."

"All right . . . ." Chad replied quietly, and they vanished off to another part of town.

Meanwhile . . . .

"I swear, if you hit me with that damn sandal again--" Shinji fumed at Hiyori but quickly silenced and whipped his head around. "Huh . . . . thought I felt something just now," he muttered.

"What's wrong, Shinji?" asked Orihime, blinking in confusion.

"Nothing, just thought I felt a presence of two vampires just now," sighed Shinji. "Don't worry about it, they're far from here."

"What do you mean? We should go after them, Shinji," frowned Hiyori.

"Miss Orihime's not in immediate danger, so we shouldn't worry about it."

"Pshh, you're such a pansy, Baldy," Hiyori scoffed. "What's so great about this girl, anyway?"

"Miss Orihime is . . . . my first love," Shinji sighed 'dramatically'.

"You say that to every girl you meet."

"I know."

Ichigo listened intently for the human girl Orihime but she was evidently sleeping in her home. He scoffed under his breath and listened more, the two vizards were nearby the location. The one thing he hates are those group of vampire hunters, the humans don't even know what kind of people they are. The vampires had already knew, because they're something that could easily kill them. Dropping the unconsious male victim to the ground, he quickly dashed upward towards a roof of a building.

"Let's go, Chad," he muttered as he saw his friend waiting. "I'll try this again tomorrow night, if the Vizards won't be around."

"Okay, Ichigo . . . ." replied Chad before disappearing suddenly. Ichigo glanced back at the far distance and scoffed, another day of being distracted by her long, auburn hair in his deep sleep.

"I fucking hate this," he muttered under his breath as he dashed off. Barely three seconds passed before he already went past the tall vampire, his super-speed was one of his greatest talents despite the fact that other vampires have the similar advantage. Most of his other powers were known only to his close friends and allies, only because he trusted them. In under half a minute, he and Chad reached the hideout and they walked in.

"You saw her yet?" asked Renji as he leapt off the railings two stories above the two vampires.

"We couldn't, the Vizards were protecting her from us," scoffed Ichigo.

"Really? Didn't think that was serious."

"Well, it is," Ichigo flatly replied as he walked upwards into the invisible air. "I'm going to bed, wake me up if something terrible happens."

"Like your family's coming by for a visit?" asked Rukia, who appeared beside Renji. Ichigo stopped mid-step and glared down at them in shock.

"Oh, hell no," he gritted in distress.

"Yeah, your father and sisters are coming tomorrow," Rukia said. "Urahara told them via telepathy what happened and--"

"Oh fuck, I can't believe that bastard did that!" growled Ichigo. "I'm gonna kill him for that!"

"Wait until tomorrow for that, after you hear what your father have to say," Chad replied quietly.

"If he says something retarded, I'll kill him as well," Ichigo scoffed before continuing upwards. "I definitely won't like this."

The dull pain was aching in Orihime's bandaged wrist and it was distracting her from her schoolworks. She lied, with sheepish giggles, that she was bitten by an annoyed dog. Regardless, her classmates and friends speculated that it was a vampire that bit her. "You're lying to me, Orihime! There's now way you could've been bitten by a dog!" exclaimed Chizuru, the purple-haired student with glasses as they walked down the street.

"But I was, the dog was really mean to me!" Orihime replied with a sheepish smile.

"Your lying, I know that some blood-sucking incubus harmed your precious skin and drank your sweet blood!" Chizuru dramatically yelled, only to be kicked down suddenly by a tomboyish girl with spikey black hair.

"Sometimes, I think you're a real vampire," frowned the tomboy.

"Oh, hey Tatsuki," sighed Orihime.

"Are you okay, Orihime?" asked Tatsuki as they continued to walk, Chizuru quickly recovered and followed after them. "I believed that you were bitten, but is it really by a dog?"

"Uh, well . . . ." the auburn-haired girl muttered quietly before smiling. "Actually, it was kinda my fault for going grocery shopping so late at night, Tatsuki. I didn't know they were roaming around as I was going home."

"Orihime, don't laugh like it was nothing," Tatsuki frowned. "You're lucky you survived with just a small bite."

"I know . . . ."

"And what do you mean 'they'?! There were more than one?!" exclaimed Chizuru.

"I knew they were two, but the only thing I can remember was the vampire with orange hair," Orihime muttered.

"Orange hair? I think I heard about a vampire like that," replied Tatsuki. "He's some kind of a leader of a secret coven. He's usually ruthless."

"I know, but he just bit me and left." The two other girls exchanged worried looks before glancing at her. Orihime sighed softly as she rubbed at the bandaged wrist, the vampire Ichigo somewhat let her go after drinking a little of her blood. She wondered why but it's obviously difficult to know. "Hey, do you guys think that every vampires are considered bad?"

"Huh? That's a weird question," Chizuru frowned in confusion. "Of course they're bad, they attack people for their blood."

"But I don't know about that."

"Well, that's understandable since you have a pure heart and believe that everyone is good, no matter what," she shrugged.

"But Orihime, just be glad that you're left alive by the vampires," sighed Tatsuki. "Who knows what would have happened."

"ICHIIIGOOOO!! MY DARLING, BEAUTIFUL SON!!" Ichigo immediately kicked a middle-aged man with black hair the moment he charged towards him; he angrily scowled at the arrival of his father Isshin even though he didn't mind seeing his younger twin sisters. "Oh, why are you so mean to me, my precious Ichigo?! I thought you love me!" whined Isshin but was stomped on the head again.

"I love it that you shut the hell up for the next hundred years, you goat-faced idiot!" scowled Ichigo.

"You know Daddy can't live that long, Ichigo! Maybe for the next sixty years--"

"Shut up!" the orange-haired vampire fumed.

"Ichigo, you're going to hurt him for real," muttered a brownish-auburn haired girl with concern for the father.

"Let him, it serves him right that we have to come here, Yuzu," frowned the black-haired one.

"That's so mean, Karin."

"Die!" Ichigo kicked him in the stomach when his father came at him again.

"All right, all right, I'll stop!" Isshin smiled, though sporting a bloody nose. "But your attacks are getting good, my son! I knew I was right about making you the coven leader a few years back!"

"Shut up, Dad. I know why you're here!" scoffed Ichigo as he crossed his arms. "And I won't talk about it, and don't even try to probe into my damn mind."

"Aww, why are you so mean to Daddy?! Yuzu, Karin, talk some sense to your older brother!"

"Leave me outta this, Goat-Face," Karin flatly replied. "I don't care if Ichigo has a crush on a human."

"I don't!" Ichigo quickly retorted.

"An answer like that shows denial," shrugged Karin.

"Sh-shut up, Karin!" Ichigo stammered, glaring away.

"Ichigo, is it true?" asked Yuzu. "Did you save a human girl that night?"

"Well, I did but out of pity," he muttered. "But now her existence is bothering the hell outta me."

"So you really do have a crush on this human!" Isshin smiled as he pranced around. "My darling Ichigo, I don't mind if you're in love with a human. Just as long you're happy!"

"I'm NOT in love, you ass-tard!" Ichigo fumed furiously, striking him in the head. "I only helped the girl, and that's it! Can't you get that into your fucking head?!"

"You're swearing around us, Ichigo," Yuzu frowned in disappointment.

"Ugh, sorry," Ichigo sighed, scratching through his hair. "Dad . . . . I don't know why I'm feeling this way about this girl but it's not going away until I meet her again."

"Really? When?" his father chided.

"I'm gonna try soon tonight," he muttered before glaring at him. "Don't follow me, or I'll kill you for it."

"Oh, you could never kill me, Ichigo!"

"I will, one day." Ichigo vanished off to the city, as Karin snorted in boredom.

"I'm gonna play soccer," she muttered as she walked to the seaport.

"Wahh, Yuzu!" cried Isshin. "Ichigo and Karin don't love me! What have I done wrong?!"

"Good evening, Isshin." Urahara appeared beside the other vampire. "I take it you tried to talk to your son."

"Yeah, but he won't tell me much," Isshin sighed, suddenly looking serious. "Yuzu, go play with your sister. I'm gonna talk with Kisuke."

"Oh, okay Dad," replied Yuzu as she innocently ran off. Urahara glanced at Isshin with his fan casually concealing his facial expressions.

"This human girl, she seems to be very significant to Ichigo," he muttered. "I know that seeing her in the same place where she died was more than a coincidence. It seems almost . . . . destined. Don't you think, Isshin?"

"Yeah," muttered the other vampire. "The girl's hair was more than enough to trigger something. I wonder if that would curb my son's hatred of humans. I've never blamed their kind for Masaki's death, but I actually regret about not being there to prevent it."

"Don't beat yourself about it," Urahara replied quietly. "This time, it's your son's role to protect someone he would soon love and cherish."

". . . . I know."

Dusk had already settled, and the waxing moon was illuminating across the neighborhood as Ichigo raced over the aparment roofs. Last time, he couldn't find her and relied on hearing since he didn't get a caught of her scent. It was raining when they first met so he wasn't sure how she smelled like. As he get into the familiar surroundings, he listened for any Vizards nearby. "Perfect," he nearly smirked at the absence and sped up his pace. He soon stopped at the top of the building and stared across at a small apartment complex.

". . . . And then Tatsuki said that what would've have happened if the vampire leader haven't left me alone," he heard the human girl talking, she seemed very lively. "I don't know what I should do, Sora. I think he left me alone out of pity but I think he's not so bad." Ichigo frowned a little at that; he doesn't hear anyone else in the apartment but doesn't hear her talking on the phone either.

"Does she have an imaginary friend?" he muttered in confusion. This human girl must be crazy. Nevertheless, he must confront in the easiest and safest way possible. He gracefully leapt across the air and silently landing the spot above the girl's apartment. Without losing his footing, he bent over the edge and peeked at the window; she was sitting on her knees and talking to a picture on the table. He frowned again, he couldn't believe that he's being distracted by someone like her. Soon, the girl stopped talking and stood up to walk into another room.

"Now's my chance," he muttered under his breath. Quickly and silently, he opened the window and crawled in. The moment he's inside, his nose immediately inhaled the sweet scent of his victim and nearly groaned out in slight gratification. If he had knew that she smelled this good he would've drank more of her delicious blood. Only several seconds since he walked inside until finally Orihime walked in and saw him. She barely had time to scream or even move before the orange-haired vampire advanced on her and pinned her against the wall.

"Don't. Scream. Girl," he whispered lowly, his chocolate eyes gazed at her terrified ones. "I won't hurt you, I just . . . . want to talk to you. Can you understand that?"

". . . . Ye . . . . Yes, I understand . . . ." she muttered softly. Ichigo sighed deeply before letting go of her, taking a step back and eyeing carefully at her possible reaction. Orihime shuddered slightly at the sight of him, it was bit different from before. His eyes seemed calm yet stress about the sudden situation but it doesn't mean that he would try to strike at her. "C-can I sit down . . . .?" she mumbled.

"It's your house," he muttered as he stepped aside. "Do what you want." Orihime blinked at him in confusion and hesitated, but finally moved to the center of the living room and sat down on a floor cushion. Ichigo simply stood at a fair distance from her and noticed her stiff composure. "I said I won't hurt you, so relax."

"Ah, it's hard not to," Orihime muttered, fidgeting with her fingers nervously. Ichigo scoffed and glanced at her again; his jaws clenched at the sight of her flowing auburn hair. It irritated him but not in a negative way, but it just ate at his brain for his memories. "A-ah, what do you want to talk to me about, Mr. Vampire Leader?"

". . . . My name's Ichigo Kurosaki," he corrected. "And . . . . your name means 'Princess', right?"

"Uh, yeah, it's Orihime," said Orihime. "Orihime Inoue." Ichigo nodded in acknowledgement and scratched at his head.

"Sorry, I'm not so good with names," he muttered. "Anyway . . . . I came here to . . . . um, it's hard to say." He glanced away as his frowned deepened. "I, uh, I'm . . . . sorry . . . . for scaring and hurting you . . . . Orihime Inoue."

"Wh-what did you say?" Orihime questioned in surprise.

It felt like a while to get this out. The next scene will be very interesting, and reviews are like pudding to me!

Read, reviews, and no flames.

I'll update ASAP!!