Alright, where to begin...

Fourth chapter. Yay! I didn't get bored of this quite as fast as I expected I would! Thanks to all you guys who have commented thus far! Sorry if I haven't replied to your reviews, but I have a LOAD of extra work on my plate at present, so I thought I'd just say it here, THANK YOU!! YOU ALL ROCK! I'd also like to thank those of you who PM(ed) me on the story, your opinions were quite awesome and I think I've tried adding as much of them into the story as I can. I won't say who, but whoever wanted to read about Kaien... you may be a little happy with this chapter... but I'm not too sure.

Also, to who ever wanted to see HichigoRukia action... I couldn't really put it in large scale to this story, but I tried to leave you a little something. Maybe in future fics! I promise I'll try to make it a priority!

As always, enjoy!

Yoshie!

Inoue ran a shaky hand through Ichigo's hair, "Oh, Kurosaki-kun... what are you thinking now?"

"I want to go home..." he whispered again, hoarse from shouting. He couldn't get the image of Rukia's dying eyes from his mind. She can't really be dead... He thought desperately, I need her not to be dead!

He knew. He knew that the woman who did that to Rukia had not been his mother. He knew that she was... something else. But what he didn't know... was just how real everything else was. Was he woman some kind of disguised enemy? And was Rukia in fact... dead? He couldn't imagine how he would go on if that were the case.

He sat there for what felt like hours, days, years. He sat there wondering if he was ever going to see day light again. If he was ever going to see...

"Rukia's dead..."

Ichigo jumped at the voice, scanning his surroundings, "Hello?" he called.

"Rukia's dead..." the voice repeated, "And it's all your fault!"

"Shut up!" Ichigo bellowed, unsure to what he was shouting at, "Show yourself!"

There was a pause where Ichigo thought he had imagined the voice. Then, "Very well..."

Out of the mist a figure could faintly be seen. Slowly, the figure turned into a man as he approached. Not much taller than Ichigo. But his face—

They could've been brothers.

"Wh- who are you?" Ichigo breathed as he took a step back, noting their similar features. Yes, he did look like Ichigo, only taller and with darker hair.

The man scoffed, "That's not important!"

Ichigo stayed silent, staring. The man sighed, "Call me Kaien..."

Ichigo looked extremely restless, and had Kisuke quite worried.

Yoruichi replaced the damp cloth on the young Shinigami's forehead with a fresh one, giving him a look of sympathy before turning to the shopkeeper, "So... isolation, huh?"

Kisuke nodded grimly from his place in the corner of the room, "The third of five stages. The victim is left completely alone, until it seems they are ready to lose all hope. When that unfortunate moment occurs, the victim is tempted..."

"Tempted?" Yoruichi questioned.

"Yes. Tempted with something he desires more than life itself. A bargain is made... with high stakes."

"Such as?"

He sighed, "Such as, giving your life to someone you have never met, but who has all the right answers."

Yoruichi's brow furrowed, "Why someone you've never met?"

"Because, so far everyone Ichigo cares about has hurt him, one way or another. He now feels safer with a complete stranger than with the people he loves most."

The woman gave Ichigo a worried look, "He's a strong kid though, Urahara. Do you think he'll fall for it?"

At her question, Kisuke grimaced, "Ichigo is strong for his friends. So to answer your question; most definitely."

Yoruichi's eyes widened as they fell on the unconscious form of Rukia, Please hurry...

"What was that?" Rukia stalled, causing Hichigo to look around.

"Probably just another Hollow," he replied, sounding uninterested, "Lets keep going. Before it catches up to us."

The raven-haired girl nodded, continuing on.

She eyed Hichigo as she walked behind him. His spirit pressure was fluctuating. Similar to what Ichigo's does when he's worried...

"Hichigo, Are you alright?"

Her temporary partner stopped, turning back to face Rukia with a scowl that would put Ichigo's to shame.

"What gives you the right to ask me that?" he questioned darkly.

Taken aback by Hichigo's sudden twist, Rukia furrowed her brow. She gazed at her feet as she spoke, "Whenever there's something wrong with Ichigo... I just know immediately. I never have to ask, and I always try to help. I know you say you're nothing alike," he watched as a glistening tear rolled down her cheek and fell to the ground, "But I need to feel like he's here. I need him to know that..." she trailed off, "I need him."

Hichigo stood still for a moment, just looking at the torn girl before him, Damn you Ichigo... you really messed this up! He approached her hesitantly. She shook as she sobbed quietly. He reached out before he knew what he was doing, wrapping an arm around Rukia and pulling her in to him. She sobbed into his chest, "I don' know how he found the strength to come after me back then..." she spoke between sobs, "It's so hard to keep hope."

Hichigo sighed, "Ever think that maybe Ichigo thinks... more of you?"

She looked up at him, confused. She sniffled, "What do you mean?"

Hichigo gave her the ghost of a smile, shaking his head slowly, "Nevermind. If you feel ready, we should really get a move on."

She nodded, wiping her eyes, "Yeah, Ok."

Ichigo listened to the man's proposal, "So, you can bring her back, right?"

Kaien nodded, "But you have to do something for me too."

"I'll do anything."

The dark-haired man cracked a wide smile, "Good... that's exactly what I wanted to hear..."

Ichigo wasn't paying attention, "When can you bring her back?"

Hichigo stopped in his tracks.

"What is it?" Rukia questioned.

His eyes narrowed, "It's happening..." We're too late!

"What's happening?" Rukia asked, her voice filled with worry.

Hichigo closed his eyes, Dammit! He turned to Rukia, "You have to continue on your own. If I go any closer it'll only make things worse."

Rukia shook her head fearfully, "No..."

"You have to." he pressed.

"I can't!"

He grabbed her shoulders, holding her gently, but sternly, "Yes, you can!" He heaved a sigh, "Rukia... when all this is over. When everything goes back to normal, tell Ichigo that I said to tell you everything."

She cut across, "But—"

Tell him," Hichigo continued, "to teach you Bankaiaswell. You said before, you don't know it yet, right?"

"Yes, but—"

"No buts, " he pressed, "Now go."

She walked away, despite everything. She looked back, "You know," she said quietly, "You really are a lot like Ichigo."

He smirked at the girl before him, "It's gonna be great to finally have you out of my way, I can tell ya!" he gave her a small wink as she turned and continued on alone.

Ichigo... if you hurt her... I will make you pay.

"What?" Ichigo repeated breathlessly.

"You simply have to give me full control," the dark-haired man continued.

"Of what?" Ichigo looked around, hoping something would come along and make it all easier, "My powers? Is that it? You want my powers. Take them!"

Kaien shook his head, "Ichigo... you said you would give me anything. I'm asking you... for everything. Your powers, your mind, your soul, your control..."

Ichigo's eyes widened, "Why?" he breathed.

"Because I know you think Rukia's worth it." he gave Ichigo a common look, "But Ichigo, if I'm in control then, at least this won't be such a lonely place."

Ichigo shook his head, "I can't." he protested, "Rukia..."

"Is dead... because of you," Kaien cut across, "But I can bring her back."

Ichigo held a hand up to silence the man. His mind was racing. Could what this man, this Kaien, be saying... true? Or is the man yet another enemy? So far... he had cost so many people pain. Ichigo didn't feel able to live with hurting another one of his friends. He couldn't live with himself if he lost Rukia. He couldn't live without her.

Are you serious? You decide you love Rukia now?! When she's nowhere to be found, you decide to fall in love with her! Kurosaki... you idiot!

Love? No... it was too sudden, too crazy. Wasn't it?

Ichigo gave a defeated sigh, "Alright... I'll give you everything," he looked the man in the eye, "But I want to see Rukia first."

Kaien flashed him a sinister smile, "But of course."

"Ichigo... where are you?" Rukia whispered. A mist appeared as she exhaled. It was colder here. A part of her prayed that she would not find Ichigo alone in such a horrible place. Despite the pure whiteness surrounding her... it felt so... cold... depressing... isolated.

"Ichigo?" she called.

He spun round at the sound of her voice, Is it? She's alive? He brought her back!

"Rukia," he was physically drained, but that didn't stop him. He had heard her calling out to him. He wouldn't go without seeing her once more, "Rukia!"

She heard him. Rukia set off at a run. Unsure of where she was going, but following Ichigo's voice had never led her astray yet. She had heard him. Or was she beginning to lose her mind?

"Rukia!"

Nope! She had heard him! She ran into a screen of misty fog. Unable to see, she called, "Ichigo!"

As soon as the name had left her lips, he was there.

In the distance, she saw his orange spiky hair. But beside him...

Her body froze, trembling at the sight, "Kaien?!"

Ichigo was beaming, "You're alive!" he breathed, Kaien wasn't lying...

Rukia gave Ichigo a curious look, "Of course I'm alive. Since when wasn't I?" she eyed Kaien with a mixture of fear and suspicion.

Ichigo's eyes widened, he spun round to face the dark-haired man, "You lied?!"

Kaien looked from Rukia to Ichigo, a smile creeping across his lips, "But you still promised."

Rukia glanced from one man to the other, "What's going on?!"

Before she could receive an answer, Kaien dug his hand into Ichigo's chest. Rukia watched in horror as Kaien sank into him. Ichigo roared in pain, "Rukia, run!"

"Ichigo!"

Then, there was laughter.

He was laughing, "Silly Rukia..." Ichigo sang as he looked up at her with empty eyes, "You didn't listen to his last words..." he pulled Zangetsu from his back, "And now... you're gonna die here!"

She didn't see the attack, but she felt it. Ichigo slashed her across the stomach. She fell to the floor, pain pinning her there. From the corner of her eye, Ichigo was smiling.

Ichigo... no!

Sorry if it's short, but hey! Hope you liked this one!

Ciao for now!

Yosh!