Episode 03

Between talking parakeets and a mass murderer turned Hollow, Ichigo's life had never been so full of excitement. His schooling was taking a hard hit with his shinigami duties and the flow of the soul eating bastards seemed to continue. Ichigo was getting used to it but he could tell from afar that Byakuya was worried. It was obvious that his powers hadn't returned and every now and then Ichigo would glance over at Byakuya who was sitting in class to see the man flexing his hands and while he looked emotionless and apathetic, he just knew that the shinigami was distressed.

It was the middle of the night and it had been three weeks since Byakuya lost his powers, he brought his gigai lighter up and stared at it deplorably. He was getting low, he'd have to go shopping soon, and the bad thing was, he had no money. He didn't think any of the Hollows around here would be good enough for a bounty.

He looked over at the peacefully sleeping Ichigo and dropped his hand to his side, the teen's face was relaxed, no wrinkle in the brow and no infinite scowl that seemed to be his trademark mask.

When he wasn't looking so angry, Byakuya couldn't help but find him even more attractive. Like Kaien-dono but different. He sighed and turned away, he would have to ask Ichigo. He had little choice and he could feel a pang against his pride. Kuchiki's never asked for money and doing so was so far beneath them that even ants stepped on it.

First thing the next morning, Byakuya was tying the ribbon in his hair. "Hey Ichigo."

"Hm?" Ichigo asked with his back turned. He was shuffling through his bag.

"Do you think you could loan me a little money?" Byakuya asked and cringed visibly when Ichigo looked over his shoulder. Byakuya held up the lighter thing. "This is what keeps me in my gigai and I'm nearly out."

"How much do you need?" Ichigo asked, face softening at Byakuya's hesitance. He knew it was probably below the man to ask for money and so he wouldn't act like a jerk about it. It wasn't like Byakuya asked for much anyway and Ichigo didn't consider him a freeloader. Not anymore anyway.

He was a friend.

"Four thousand yen?"

"That's fine," Ichigo said pulling out his wallet. "Where do you get stuff like that at?"

"There's a shop, an exiled shinigami runs it. I can get it there, thanks, Ichigo."

"Eh, it's nothing. Need me to come with you?"

"No, you better get to school. You're already suffering enough," Byakuya said fixing the collar of his starch white shirt.

"Alright, see you at school then."

Byakuya gave him a partial smile before heading to the window, he paused on the sill and glanced back over his shoulder once and locked eyes with Ichigo who'd been staring at him. "Thanks again," he whispered almost too low for the teen to hear before leaping out the window.

Ichigo simply stood there, hand on his school bag and watched the curtains sway from side to side. He shook his head, Byakuya would be fine, he thought to himself and headed out of his room. He had a strange niggling sensation growing inside of him that was foreign.

All he knew was that it was just there and it was caused by one person.

Kuchiki Byakuya.

(o)

"Ahhh, Kuchiki-san!" Urahara wobbled out looking half asleep and partially shaven.

Byakuya stared at the shopkeeper apathetically. "I need to restock."

"Ooh, it's nice to have a customer! Come in, come in!"

"Also, I need the Gikogan I ordered last week."

Urahara looked unusually cheerful as he perched on one of the boxes with a calculator out. "Ahh, yes it is in. Ururu-chan, would you go and get it for me? It's marked 'New Goods'."

The pigtailed girl squealed and let go of her broom and rushed passed. "Hai!" She looked pleased to be able to do something of use rather than sweeping a floor outside with the redhead miscreant.

"So, what else can I get for the Kuchiki Heir?" Urahara asked beaming.

Byakuya resisted rolling his eyes, for doing so would be beneath him as he crossed his arms and looked the other way. He knew his order would be scrutinized and ever since he left his body he'd had to rely on Urahara, using the last bit of money he was given from Soul Society to purchase his Gigai.

"C-Rank spare fuel and sixty bottles of Soma Fixers." He might as well go up one grade since he had the cash. Kuchiki's didn't use such cheap items.

Urahara paused on the calculations. He peered up at Byakuya. "You know Kuchiki-san that using too much Soma Fixers to align your soul with the faux body will result in dire pain when you leave it."

Byakuya arched an eyebrow. "I'm aware but I have little choice in the matter."

"Ooh, true, when your hands are tied they're tied. Although, not the fun kind of tied where it's to a bed," he chuckled as he added the merchandise up.

Byakuya ignored the perverted jab as Ururu came back with a wrapped item. He took it and unwrapped it before turning his straight look into a frown. "This was all you could get?"

Urahara squawked. "Come now, Kuchiki-san! It was hard enough to get that in as it was. I did you a special favor. It's the second most popular." He had wanted the poodle, he thought dejectedly. While it wasn't the most popular, it was the most classy in terms of Gikogan not to mention he loved the puffy fur on their bodies.

If there was one thing that he and his older sister agreed on it was the fact that ducks were so ugly. He stared at it before giving a nod. He wondered briefly what Ichigo thought of ducks? Then scratched that from his mind as he wrapped it up and placed it in his pocket.

Urahara perked. "How will you be paying?"

"Cash."

"Ooh, what have you been doing Kuchiki-san to get cash?" he asked cheerfully. His eyes began to rake Byakuya's frame appreciatively.

The raven-haired man stared at Urahara. "Nothing that you are implying."

"Pity, the boy is simply edible," Urahara teased. "Not to mention, he seems to have a soft spot for you from what I've seen."

That implied that Urahara had been watching them at some point and that greatly annoyed Byakuya. "Are you quite done with my personal life?"

"Not at all! Not at all!" Byakuya flashed the cash in his face and he went quiet as his eyes dazzled. "Money! That'll be 3,000 Yen! But if you're having problems with your Gigai I can give you a cheap check up personally by me." He wiggled his eyebrows and then sulked when Byakuya's expression didn't change. "You're no fun!" he pouted taking the money and giving him the change back.

Byakuya turned to go with a low thanks when Urahara called out to him.

"You know, you can't keep this up forever."

The shinigami paused at the door and looked over his shoulder. "I know."

(o)

Ichigo stifled a large yawn behind his hand, it was nearly lunch time and Byakuya hadn't returned yet. He glanced at the clock on the wall until Ichigo began to get hounded by Mizuiro and Keigo.

"Where's your little friend at?" Keigo asked. "I thought for sure he'd be trailing beside you into the school!"

Ichigo rolled his eyes at the brunet and crossed his arms. "He had a family matter to deal with, he'll be here soon."

"It's strange to see that you two aren't together," Mizuiro mused as he sat on Ichigo's desk and texting while talking. "It's almost natural now."

Chad, Tatsuki, and Inoue came over to join them in their free period before lunch.

"What are you implying?" Ichigo asked with a frown.

Mizuiro hummed. "Who said I was implying anything? You're friends with Kuchiki-san right?"

"Just friends?" Keigo teased when he was hit on the head by Tatsuki.

"Stop being stupid, Keigo!"

"Tatsuki-chan!" Keigo squeaked and ran behind Chad. "But they're always together."

Inoue bit her lower lip. "Kuchiki-san and Kurosaki-kun are good friends, of course they're together, right?"

Tatsuki's gaze softened on Inoue as Ichigo grumbled. "Would you stop asking the same ludicrous questions? They're starting to get old."

A shadow that wasn't Chad's consumed them and Ichigo gazed back to see Byakuya approaching. "Yo!" Ichigo was up as Mizuiro and Keigo started snickering. Conveniently, Ichigo's shoulder 'bumped' into Mizuiro causing him to gasp and fall forward and in reflex he grabbed Keigo forcing both of them to go falling to the floor on top of each other.

"Whoops," Ichigo said with a smirk as Tatsuki snorted and Inoue giggled behind her hand.

"That wasn't funny!" Mizuiro groaned from underneath Keigo who was too stunned to react.

"Now who looks like more than just friends?" Tatsuki teased. "I don't see Keigo trying to get off you anytime soon."

The two boys squawked and jumped away, both beet red. Even Chad grinned scaring the living hell out of Keigo.

"That's not funny! We were just being friendly," Keigo whined.

"Is that what you call friendly?" Tatsuki mused, enjoying the railing the boy's were getting.

Mizuiro grumbled but said nothing as he put on his happy face while straightening up. Keigo was a little less put together as he continued to whine.

Byakuya paused, when he saw this and he too smiled slyly while pushing a strand of black hair out of his eyes. "Ichigo, here."

Ichigo stared down at the money clasped in his hand and shrugged. "Eh, keep it. Did you get what you needed?" he asked leaning on the seat opposite of the one he'd knocked over with Mizuiro and Keigo.

"Yeah, speaking of, could I speak to you for a moment?" Byakuya observed the snickering boys and terribly curious big-breasted girl. He tried not to give them disdainful looks, he wasn't one for nosy people.

"Yeah, hey guys, I'm heading out early, see you in a few!"

"Have fun with Kuchiki-san!" Mizuiro called.

"Yah, lots of fun! Take your time."

Ichigo ignored them as the class watched their swift exit.

"I'm surprised," Byakuya commented once they were relatively alone. They made their way up a flight of steps toward the rooftop. "That you're not bothered by their mocking."

"Eh, to fight them on it would give them more fuel right?" Ichigo shrugged. "So I leave it."

"I'm not used to such lack of propriety, it's a much different world than Soul Society."

"I guess so. I mean, you use swords and we use guns. A lot different, a long time ago pride and honor was everything. It still is to the more older generation but the younger ones don't get it as much. Their 'so-called' honor has nothing to do with their names nowadays. It's money, education, career, or the typical cool factor."

Once they were in a more secluded area, Byakuya turned and pulled out a candy dispenser. "Here."

Ichigo took the thing and held it up. "A duck." He deadpanned.

Byakuya crossed his arms and frowned. "I didn't want a duck."

For a moment, Ichigo wasn't sure that he heard right. He glanced over at Byakuya and almost chuckled out loud when he saw a splash of red across the usually blank face. He looked rather put-out by it too. Strangely enough that niggling sensation he had been feeling earlier came back in full.

"You don't like ducks?" Ichigo tried with a straight face.

Byakuya shook his head. "No, I wanted the poodle." He jerked when there was a loud burst of laughter and he gazed over to see Ichigo bent over holding his stomach. "What's so funny?"

Ichigo held up his hand and continued to chuckle, the spasms running through him like crazy. He tried to keep it from going into awkward giggles as he straightened and looked at Byakuya. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make fun of you but… I didn't know you liked poodles."

"They're fluffy and they remind me of clouds around their bodies."

It was the most undignified thing that Byakuya had ever said since the word 'shit' a few weeks ago. Ichigo straightened. "Hm, well, the candy is a nice gesture… and the duck is fine…"

"It's not candy," Byakuya stressed trying not to feel so flustered. The only other person who was ever able to make him really blush and get human reactions out of him was Kaien-dono. "It's Gikogan. If I'm not around and you need to change you take it and a temporary soul will enter your body pushing your spiritual person out."

"Why's it called Soul Candy then?" Ichigo asked flashing the duck.

Byakuya glared at the creature and then frowned at the name. "The Women's Association in Soul Society didn't like the original name so they changed it."

"Uh huh."

"Just try it."

Ichigo could only nod as he placed the thing near his mouth and flicked it. A green ball of candy was shot in and he swallowed. For a moment nothing happened and then he started to sway and gasped when it felt like he was being pushed out of his body and the next second he was standing straight up with his shinigami form and his body lay flat on the ground.

"Wah…!"

"Just watch."

His body began to move and it stood, completely lax and devoid of the usual scowl. Byakuya was reminded of when Ichigo slept.

"Hello!" "Ichigo" greeted with a smile. "I'm Kurosaki Ichigo, my favorite phrase is Early to bed, early to rise!"

Ichigo blinked and stared at Byakuya who turned away with a smirk on his face. "That's not funny, Byakuya! That's not me at all!"

Byakuya straightened and looked at Ichigo. "It's the best I could do. The Poodle would have been better," he assured.

"B… but… someone's in my body! I can't even think of letting it out of my sig-" he trailed off as Byakuya's phone began to beep annoyingly. "Oh no, now?!"

Byakuya pulled it out and glanced at it. "Come on, it's not far from here. Leave it to him, we'll be back soon."

"You! Get to my classes and don't do anything stupid!" Ichigo ordered.

"Of course master! Leave it to me!" "Ichigo" said saluting him cheerfully.

"And wipe that smile off your face!"

"Let's go Ichigo, it'll be fine," Byakuya insisted as he jumped onto Ichigo's back so that they could jump off the side of the roof.

"I hope you're right Byakuya, that thing's fucking creepy!"

"Just focus on the Hollow for now." To be honest, he too felt a little unsettled about the Temporary Soul in Ichigo's body. He was so used to this Ichigo that he truly wasn't sure how well the other would pass. He had such a specific personality.

Byakuya had never known anyone else quite like Ichigo and perhaps that was why he felt deep inside that he was slowly becoming human. His expressions were changing more and more every day, his emotions were clashing with his Kuchiki pride and honor. He leapt off Ichigo when the familiar loud roar got closer.

Ichigo's massive sword was unsheathed. "Alright ya bastard! Get over here so I can kill you quick!"

Byakuya was certain that if Ichigo lived in Soul Society that he would wind up becoming a Lieutenant at the least. He had so much overflowing reiatsu and he didn't even seem to notice, not to mention his Zanpakuto original length was out of this world.

He reminded Byakuya clearly of Zaraki Kenpachi, the Eleventh Squad Captain. It was impressive, especially knowing the fact that he was human. The only difference was the lack of bloodlust, which was a good thing in Byakuya's opinion.

Ichigo was rough but he was a good man, Byakuya decided. Technically, Ichigo could have just told Byakuya to get lost and to deal with the job himself but he didn't and he hasn't complained once. It took quite a lot of virtue for someone who wasn't a shinigami in the first place to bare such a burden.

The Hollow was gone in record time, Byakuya was mildly impressed even if it was a small fry. Ichigo whirled around. "Get on! I want to get my body back, I have a terrible feeling about him."

Byakuya smirked. "Like your reputation being ruined for smiling?"

Ichigo growled when Byakuya locked his arms and legs around him. "Exactly!" Oh, it was as bad as Ichigo imagined when they reached the school and heard a massive scream from his classroom. "Byakuya!"

"I know! Let me off at the entrance."

When Ichigo appeared in the sill of the window he was horrified to see that Tatsuki was the one flinging desks and all the students huddled in the corner in shocked horror.

Byakuya rushed into the room not a moment later. "Stop!"

It was the first time anyone had ever heard the transfer student speak so cold and dangerously. Everyone in the room froze including the Mod-Soul.

Ichigo took the time to grab his body as Byakuya ran forward with his red glove. "I am so fucking ruined." He looked over at an irate Tatsuki.

"No please! Don't do this to me, please, I just wanted to be free. I don't want to die like my other brothers and sisters…" Byakuya slapped it in the head causing the ball of Soul Candy to fly out into his hand and Ichigo's body went limp immediately.

"Calm down," Byakuya said quietly pulling out his memory modifier. Ichigo recognized that it was in the shape of a poodle head. "I'll clear this up."

"What was that…" one of the students asked when Byakuya pressed the top of the poodle head causing the entire room to flash in a blinding light.

"Thank God for that thing," Ichigo breathed in relief. "Kissing Tatsuki on the cheek, honestly! I'm going to have to scrub my mouth for a week!"

"Hurry get into your body," Byakuya ordered and Ichigo didn't have to be told twice.

Tatsuki and Inoue were blinked simultaneously, they stared around the room with evident confusion as the rest of the students went back to their own room. "What the hell?" Tatsuki hissed.

Inoue was standing there staring at Ichigo and Byakuya before turning to Tatsuki. "Let's finish lunch, Tatsuki-chan!"

Tatsuki was about to snap at her when she realized that it was Inoue talking and she softened completely. "Yeah, alright, why was I feeling so angry?"

"I don't know, want some of my sweet bean paste sandwich?"

"Eh, heh, no thanks sweetie!" She patted the girl on the head as they resumed their lunch.

"What the hell was that, Byakuya?" Ichigo whispered looking down at Byakuya's hand. "Don't tell me you use these on a regular basis!"

"No, not those," Byakuya assured softly. He was about to say more when Chad, Keigo, and Mizuiro came into the room.

"What was that flash of light just now?" Mizuiro queried in confusion.

"Flash of light?" Tatsuki asked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"What was with the screams? Was everyone having a party without me?" Keigo asked skulking through the room. "Oi! Ichigo, Kuchiki-san, you're back!"

Ichigo glared as Byakuya looked away. "We will continue after class," he said ignoring Keigo completely.

At that moment, the teen popped up in their faces. "Ooh, continue? What are you continuing?"

Placing a hand to Keigo's face Ichigo shoved the teenager down to the ground. "Not what you're thinking pervert."

"Waah! It's only healthy for a grown teenage boy to think perverted things!"

Byakuya stared apathetically at Keigo, before shrugging nonchalantly and turning gracefully on his heel and heading to his seat.

Mizuiro chuckled. "I'm not sure if he likes you Keigo," he teased.

Keigo's head shot up. "Huh? Why not? Aren't I lovable enough?"

"If you keep teasing like that, no one's going to like you idiot!" Ichigo slapped the boy in the head before nodding to Chad in acknowledgement. "Yo! Chad."

"Ichigo, interesting day?"

"You have no idea." Ichigo deadpanned. It was then that Tatsuki and Inoue glanced over at him warily.

When class was finally over, Ichigo could be seen glaring down at the little pill/candy as Byakuya explained to him what a Modified Soul actually was. "Eurgh."

"What's wrong?" Byakuya asked.

He paused in the middle of the walk. "So, he's kind of human isn't he? Even if he's a bastard pill-like-human! He's still got feelings…" he trailed off softly and looked off in the distance. "It must have been tough, living in a small ball and fearing death like that."

"Ichigo…" Byakuya was stunned by the empathic emotions flittering across the teen's face. "What do you want to do with it?"

"First I want to find a body to stick it in and then kick his royal ass for the embarrassment he caused!" He glared once more at the ball. "But, I don't know. I can't see destroying it."

Byakuya understood, from a human perspective, life was a life no matter how out of the ordinary it was. No matter how it was created, it was still a living being. "Well, wouldn't it be worse to keep it in that pill?"

"Ah, there you are. We wondered where you had gone. So sorry about that, Kuchiki-san!"

Ichigo whirled around as Byakuya frowned at the hat-and-clog wearing man walking up to him with the two brats on his side.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Ahhh! So sorry, not meant to be rude." Urahara clapped in delight and held out his hand. "Urahara Kisuke at your service."

"Eh?" Ichigo shrugged and shook the man's hand. "Kurosaki Ichigo. You're the one who sold this stuff to him? You're the ex-shinigami then?" He looked to Byakuya who gave a sharp nod.

"It's so nice that you know of me! My, my Kuchiki-san, he is an even better looker up close."

Ichigo nearly went purple as the redhead on Urahara's left scowled. Byakuya glared at Urahara.

"But, we didn't come here for that right now. You can visit my shop later, I'm sure Kuchiki-san can show you the way. I see you have something that belongs to us, we apologize for the inconvenience." He took the green ball of candy but Byakuya snatched it back.

"Take back already purchased items? How low of you, Urahara-san," he said coldly.

Urahara blushed. "I will refund you."

"No, I don't think we need it. We're fine with the product," Byakuya dismissed handing it back to Ichigo.

"But, Kuchiki-san, it's illegal."

Byakuya shot Urahara a dark look. "Then you didn't see it, did you?"

Ichigo was confused as Urahara pulled the edge of his green and white striped hat down to shield his eyes. "If we didn't see it, we surely didn't sell it."

"Sell what?" Byakuya drawled.

"Exactly. We'll be going now, but, we will not take any responsibility if you get in trouble for that."

"Don't worry yourself, shopkeeper."

"Hai, hai. See you later."

"Ah man! I thought we were going to get some action in!" the redhead groaned in distress.

When they were out of sight, Ichigo turned to Byakuya. "Thanks."

"You're right, Ichigo. It is a life no matter how it's created. I was thinking of what to do with him to keep him harmless. He probably can't do much. You see, they didn't have enough power to take on Hollows. I believe any inanimate object may work such as a doll or a plushie."

Ichigo froze. "Doll or plushie?" He looked over his shoulder and saw a flat faced stuffed lion and bent down. "How about this thing?" he asked pointing to it.

"You should wash it before handling it," Byakuya said disdainfully.

"Let's see if it works first, then, shall we? It'd be a waste to wash it and then nothing."

oOo

Kon was an irritating roommate but with a promise not to do anything stupid again, Ichigo told him that he may let Kon borrow his body so long as he remained indoors when he had shinigami duties to tend too.

He gave Kon to Yuzu to wash and take care of. One guest in his room was enough, he didn't need an annoying plushie waking them up by swatting them in the face and yelling at them to wake so early in the morning. It was a really good thing that Byakuya had a way with words and expressions, because Kon turned into a very good boy after the Kuchiki Heir got through with him.

Ichigo frowned when he looked at the date on his watch. 16 June.

"Ichigo?" Byakuya saw Ichigo's eyes dilate and walked around to see that he was staring at his watch. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he whispered looking away. "We ready?"

Byakuya knew better than that. He had been rooming with Ichigo long enough to know just about every mood the teen was in. But he didn't comment, instead he inclined his head. "I'll meet you outside."

Whatever it was, he would wait for Ichigo to tell him. He seemed quite solemn, almost morose. When he jumped down, he caught sight of the front of the clinic. It said it would be closed tomorrow due to family matters.

Byakuya's curiosity was highly peeked but he kept it at bay, for now.

By the time lunch came, Byakuya discovered that when Ichigo laughed and smiled out in the open it meant that he was tense and bothered. He was in his thoughts and trying to cover his strained emotions with false laughter.

Byakuya did not appreciate the fake way he smiled, in fact it irked him on many levels. He bared with it and sat with Ichigo at lunch. No one else seemed to notice except for the thin tomboy who kept shooting Ichigo concerned looks. The large breasted girl was doing the same, her eyes all sad.

What did they know? He wondered in irritation. For some reason it bothered him that they would know something about Ichigo that he didn't.

That afternoon when they got home, Byakuya sat on the steps listening in to the strange conversation going on downstairs. Apparently, they were going on some sort of outing tomorrow. It sounded like a family picnic, what was so morose about that? There had to be more to the equation, but Byakuya couldn't figure it out.

Kon had been listening in as well.

"I wanna go on a picnic too!" he whispered leaning around Byakuya. "Think we can join them Nii-sama?"

Byakuya arched an eyebrow. "First we need to figure out what's wrong with Ichigo."

"Huh?" Kon tilted his head. "What's wrong with that bastard?"

"He was laughing and smiling today."

Kon's plushy eyes widened. "Yah, you're right. There is something wrong with him to be doing that."

"Exactly. Come on, they're getting up." He took Kon back to the room with him and placed him on the floor.

Byakuya sat at the desk fiddling through his homework when Ichigo came into the room with a heavy huff. He collapsed on the bed and Byakuya could no longer hide it. He turned in the swivel chair.

"Ichigo, what's wrong?"

For a moment, he didn't think Ichigo would respond but then he propped himself up on his elbows and looked at Byakuya. "Can I take off tomorrow from shinigami duties?"

"Why?"

"Tomorrow," he murmured lying back down and gazed out the window. "Is the day my mother died." Oh! That explained it, Byakuya thought but then Ichigo shook his head. "No, that's wrong," he whispered turning onto his side. "It's the day she was killed."

Even Kon had no smart comment to say as he climbed up Byakuya's leg and perched on his knee. He tilted his head up to see Byakuya's usually expressionless face lingering with deep concern.

"I'll have to remain at your side in case. But there haven't been any Hollow activity in almost a week."

"Ah, yeah, thanks, Byakuya."

Byakuya hid in the closet when Yuzu came in for her plushy, 'Kon' and hugged it close. She kissed Ichigo's cheek in thanks for the new toy before bouncing out cooing over a new dress she had made for him.

Ichigo would have laughed if he had been in the mood, but as it was, it was on this night that he always dreamt and he knew that he wouldn't get away with it this time.

Byakuya slid gracefully out of the closet, he locked the bedroom door before slipping easily into the bed.

"I'll apologize in advance if you can't sleep tonight," Ichigo murmured with a towel over his face. Byakuya was not up for mumbling Ichigo and plucked it off without a word. The teen tilted his head, gazing into Byakuya's eyes and for some reason they calmed him down.

"How did your mom die?" Byakuya asked. He knew it may have been kind of rude to ask but he felt the need to know. His first thought was a Hollow got her but he couldn't voice that, not out loud anyway. It wouldn't be right and it would upset Ichigo even more.

"I killed her."

Byakuya sat up suddenly, his long black hair ruffling forward over his shoulder. "How?" He needed the story before he could argue with it. He wasn't going to try and argue with such a statement without any evidence to prove how wrong Ichigo most likely was.

Ichigo softly told him of the day she died, how the rain had been wild for days and the riverbank was high. "It was a ghost… I chased after a ghost and got my mother killed."

"I won't rebuke that," Byakuya said softly. "I wouldn't blame you and I can tell your family don't but considering it was you that had to see that at such a young age… Ichigo, I'm not trying to be insensitive. I'm not good with emotions nor am I good at offering advice or comfort. But did you know there are Hollows that can shape shift into ghosts?"

Ichigo frowned deeply and he scowled silently but Byakuya didn't stop there. "Just for one second Ichigo, listen to me. There are some very strong Hollows, the strongest you've encountered thus far was Screecher. Some are older than even us, I have been alive for more than sixty years. They are sly, some are smart and not just insane. All Hollow's manifest an ability and some can use their abilities to lure particularly high spiritual energy. Your typical ghost would not stand by a riverbank and try to kill themselves. They're already dead, what more can they do?"

"You make it sound so easy," Ichigo murmured softly. "But it's not."

"I believe that," Byakuya intoned.

"If it was one of those, then why didn't it get me? Mom couldn't see ghosts."

"Could have been a mistake," he confessed. "From my point of view and as someone who doesn't consider you a friend, it's not your fault. But I can't change your view and I won't."

The words were strange to hear, he almost believed them. Byakuya never truly lied, nor did he ever sugarcoat anything. He was firm and direct in his statements and preferred talking little and not making a big deal out of something. For the shinigami to be going out of his way with such a long and soulful conversation.

Ichigo tilted his head. "Lay down, I'll be fine. But, thanks Byakuya."

Byakuya laid down and shifted on his side. "I'll be with you tomorrow, I won't make myself known. But I'll be in the shadows. In case something goes wrong, I'll take Kon with us."

Ichigo had no idea what possessed him to react but he shifted on his side and slid a little closer to Byakuya and rested his head on the edge of his shoulder and closed his eyes. "Good night Byakuya," he whispered brushing his nose gently along the warm fabric. It smelled of clean detergent and Byakuya's soft scent. The comfort was nice and he resisted a sigh when Byakuya's hand brushed across his cheek.

"Sweet dreams, Ichigo."

oOo

The Grand Fisher, Byakuya had heard of him but he never would have believed he was a true adversary until he saw the cunning and intelligent Hollow for himself.

He had to literally hold himself back. The fight was not one he could participate in, Captain Ukitake's words generated through his mind about the difference in battles. Byakuya swarmed with pride and honor, he had it in spoonfuls and yet he wanted to break the code of honor and help.

But what could he do? His Kidou wasn't back and all he could do was basic hand to hand in his Gigai form and it wouldn't do a thing against this Hollow. Kon had gone back to the shelter in Ichigo's body with Yuzu and Karin.

Damn, they were a magnet. They always needed watched over, they flowed with spiritual concentration that astounded Byakuya.

The Grand Fisher had to be at least Menos, Adjucas level if Byakuya were to take a theoretical guess and when it was over, he wasted no time racing to Ichigo's side and catching him before he could fall.

The rain fell heavily from the skies and it was so much different from earlier that morning when it had been hot and stuffy. He clung to the bleeding soaked form.

Ichigo's breaths were hitched and he ran his hand up Byakuya's chest and gripped the man's shirt tightly. He attempted to reign in his tears, he hadn't cried in years. He hadn't felt so low and horrible since that same day.

"You did well Ichigo. You protected your honor," Byakuya murmured softly. "Now, let me take care of you."

"It's raining," Ichigo choked. "Like that day…"

"I know," Byakuya soothed brushing his fingers across Ichigo's cheek and sliding down onto his knees. He brought Ichigo with him and they sat by the grave and all he could do was hold onto the pained teen. He must have been holding it in for years, keeping it locked up tight and refusing to yield to the grief he felt. "It was never your fault. Do you believe that now?"

Ichigo shuddered and raised his head up from Byakuya's chest and stared into his eyes. Despite the rain falling and it's wet drops clinging to his eyelashes and despite the cold he felt riling through his spiritual body, the mere sight of Byakuya warmed him. "I do."

Byakuya gave him a rare and true smile, Ichigo really was something else. Gently, he took Ichigo's heavy but weak frame and laid him down on the pavement next to his mother's headstone. The blood ran with the puddles underneath him. It was a sick gruesome sight and he knew the clothes he had on were likely ruined.

A strange flicker in the air caused Byakuya to peer around, he had felt a presence but who? He thought and honed in on a row of trees where a shadow was hidden. His eyes narrowed on it briefly before it disappeared again.

That wasn't important, Byakuya thought. Healing Ichigo was.

A/N: I said I was going to control myself on the too-fast updates to have more room to breathe in between updates, but I hate keeping chapters, that i've already written. I don't think it's fair. So here it is. Hope you like, I'm not going into detail on the battles because you know how they turn out.