Chapter 4.. I think we're about half-way through this story right now! Now that I'm back at home I'll crank through this, so enjoy guys!

Also thank you all for the very kind reviews, they've made me smile more than once these last few days! And of course, I really appreciate all the follows and favourites, and anyone who is just reading this! You're all awesome!


"Well, as of right now there doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with you. Nothing that I can heal by normal means anyways." Unohana-san gave him a concerned look, before turning her matter-of-fact gaze onto the scientist in their midst. "Captain Urahara, in all of your research on souls, has anything like this come up?"

The blonde haired man rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I did certainly research all available information on souls in the past, but unless there was some mad scientist in the history of Soul Society that experimented with breaking the soul itself, I doubt there would be anything in the libraries. I didn't manage to find anything. But I was interested in other aspects of the soul in the past. However.. I do not believe we'll find our answers there."

Ichigo scratched his head. He'd known it was a long-shot that someone would miraculously know how to heal him. "Would it help to know the sealing rite that they altered, and how exactly they changed it?"

Unohana nodded shortly, but her face was grim. "It may help. There are usually counter-seals for any seal that is used by Central 46, but they are basically just dispelling the imprisonment seals that have already been cast. Even if we did work out a counter for the altered seal, I doubt it would do anything to heal you."

"Added to that, we don't know exactly what it did. It certainly did tear your soul, but what effects does that actually have? Why did it not just seal together smoothly when it was released? These are questions I cannot answer." Urahara had a serious look as he turned towards Ichigo, but he could see from the light of interest within his eyes that this puzzle had intrigued him. "You said that using your reiatsu was 'bad' Kurosaki-san. What happens when you do?"

The orange haired teen lowered his hand when he realized he was rubbing at his chest again. That was a habit he would damn well break. He could see they had both noticed as their gazes followed his movements. "It hurts," he said bluntly. "Well, it hurts all the time. But it gets worse when I do anything with my reiatsu. I figured it was just part of the healing process, so I've been leaving it alone. It hasn't even been a week yet. It may still heal on its own.. but somehow I don't believe I'll get that lucky."

"I see," Unohana-san paused in thought. "There isn't much I can do about that if it isn't an actual injury. There are certainly herbs or medicines that you may take when it gets painful, but that isn't the same as healing. I myself have never come across anything like this. It may very well be the case that time will heal it, but we shouldn't just leave it. We will have to contact the Research department. Perhaps one of Captain Kurotsuchi's more.. interesting experiments.. have dealt with this issue." She directed this towards the former head of research.

"Ah," Urahara was laughing nervously, rubbing at his hair underneath his hat. "I suppose I'll have to go talk with him, won't I?"

Ichigo grinned slightly at a sudden idea. "You should bring Hiyori along with you. It will at least take his attention away from you."

"Oh, good one, Kurosaki-san. That will make for an interesting outing!" He hid his grin behind his fan as Captain Unohana gazed at him with that inscrutable smile. It was too difficult to tell when she was actually angry which made Ichigo pretty nervous. He supposed she was nice enough but he tended to avoid someone he couldn't read.

"Well, thank you for checking me out Unohana-san. I'm sure we'll figure something out." Ichigo wasn't so sure of that at all. He didn't think there was anything out there that would provide an answer. Even now he could feel a cough building up in his chest.

"Yes. I'm sorry this happened Kursosaki-san. And under my watch as well." She looked kinda troubled, which made him shift uncomfortably.

"It wasn't your fault, Unohana-san. They would have tried something else, maybe killed me outright. But.." He wondered if he should say something. He figured that she was pretty trustworthy though. "I'll just say that someone other than Central 46 saw me get taken out of here. With all of the Captains being treated, there's no way no one noticed." He met her solemn gaze, then shrugged. "Anyways, don't worry about it too much. Thanks again."

With a wave over his shoulder, he strode outside into the cooler air that dusk brought. It looked like he wasn't going to get to sleep until tomorrow morning. He was so goddamned tired, but he wasn't attempting to sleep during the night for awhile. Especially in a place with so many eyes and ears to pick out his weaknesses. He blew out a long, weary breath.

He heard the taps of clogs behind him. "Where to next, Urahara-san?"

A hand clapped his shoulder, pushing him towards the right. "That's enough for today, isn't it? Captain Kurotsuchi is more approachable early in the morning, so let's head to the Fifth barracks for now. You look like you could use some rest and I should get started on research."

An hour later, Ichigo was sitting on the wooden porch near Urahara's rooms with a mug of tea warming his hands. He had been given a room next door to the other man for the time being, until everything was worked out. He was relieved that Hiyori was gone on a mission right now, because it was sort of nice right here.

He looked up at the smattering of stars and almost wished he was back out at that stand of boulders, before the great weight he was beginning to hate had slammed into his shoulders.

Ichigo took a slow sip, enjoying the way the liquid heated him from the inside. His first cup of tea in almost two and a half years. He was going to have a lot of new firsts, he supposed with a huff of laughter.

Hey, Zangetsu, you there?

Yes. What is troubling you Ichigo?

Has my soul healed at all over the last five days?

There was a brief pause. No. If anything, the blackness surrounding the edges has increased. It appears to be growing by the day.

Well, that sucked. That doesn't make sense, does it? I mean, if they ripped it out and then put it back, it should have just merged again. From what I understand, a soul needs to be whole, so given the opportunity it should have just started healing back into its former state.

I do not know, Ichigo. That certainly seems to be true. There is a slight chance that the amount of time it was separated from you is the cause of this damage.

While Ichigo didn't really like it, the fact was that after the last twenty six months he'd gotten to be rather distrustful and suspicious. There were obviously reasons for it, but he missed the days when everything was so clear-cut and simple for him. But because of this, he had his own theories about what was happening to him right now. I doubt it, since we were basically put on ice for over two years. Zangetsu.. do you think they did something to the piece of my soul that they took, and now it's messing with the rest of me?

Zangetsu made a sound of acknowledgment. It is possible. I cannot tell just from the feel of your soul. I also cannot get near the damage; there is something that repels me.

Ichigo tapped his fingers on the porcelain in thought. He was really glad that Hichigo was staying out of this right now. His hollow wasn't really interested in talking things out and debating theories like Zangetsu was. Well then, that does make it seem like they did something, right? My soul wouldn't reject you, since you're a part of it. The bit they took should have just joined right back up when they unsealed me. If they wanted to kill me and make it look like an accident, having my own soul do me in would be the best way.

Yes, but there will be no way to confirm this unless they confess. However, if the others do find a way to heal your soul it may take care of this problem as well.

I think we both know that's probably not true. There's something I wanna try, though it might be dangerous. But I'll only do it if they can't find any solutions out here.

He thought Zangetsu was going to caution him, but to Ichigo's surprise the old man agreed. If we leave it too long it may become irreversible. Providing your idea is not a suicide mission, I will help. After all, if you die, then we all cease to exist.

King! You're seriously dyin' on us after all this? Maybe I should take over and get some revenge while we still can.

And there he was, now that the boring talk was over. Ichigo rolled his eyes and took another drink of his now cooling tea. Shut up, dumbass. You're not gonna take me over anymore, we both know that. So stop threatening. Plus what are you gonna do when my body just gives out when you try to go through hollowfication? We're just dead sooner.

There was a snort. Oi, Zangetsu. Or whoever you are. You better help fix this.

With that slightly cryptic remark, Hichigo's presence faded. Zangetsu was still a contemplative presence in the back of his mind.

Well, let's just do what we can Old Man. Everyone dies eventually, right? Even Shinigami.

Any reply Zangetsu may have formed was interrupted when Rukia sat down beside him. He startled violently, having been caught up in his inner conversation.

"Damn it Rukia! You trying to kill me?" Ichigo grated, settling back down with a glare. She didn't reply, just silently looked him over. He blew out a breath and smiled slightly at the black-haired Shinigami, getting a fond look in return.

They exchanged a long silent look of study. Rukia had changed her hair. She looked more grown up, which was really nostalgic.

"Rukia looks more grown up since she changed her hair, it's really nostalgic." She deadpanned, before thumping her fist on his head.

"Hey! Get out my head. No way I thought something as lame as that." Ichigo protested, turning his face away to hide his slight blush.

"Predicable as always, Ichigo. So? What did I think just now?" Rukia challenged.

Ichigo scratched his head. "How should I know? Probably that my hair makes me look like a hoodlum, or that I look like shit." Both of which were probably true. But how was he supposed to get a haircut here? Why bother anyways.. it was kind of growing on him.

Rukia smiled slightly before looking up at the stars. Ichigo turned his gaze to follow hers. "It's true you don't look like yourself, Ichigo. But that's not what I was thinking."

"What am I, a mind reader? Get out with it then."

He received another bump on his head for that one. As he was rubbing a hand over his matching injuries, she turned towards him with a soft look on her face.

"I was thinking I'm glad we finally found you. That I'm glad you're alive."

Ichigo couldn't hide his blush this time, and he couldn't find the right words to say. Especially after that conversation with Zangetsu. It wasn't like he was going to roll over and die.. but it didn't look good. Rukia caught his hesitation with a quizzical look.

"Ichigo?"

"Ah, no, sorry. Thanks Rukia, I'm glad to be out of there too. I missed you guys. Renji told me you were bugging the hell out him the last few days, so he must be really happy right now."

This time he ducked out of the way with a grin.

She settled down, her face slightly embarrassed. "So, Ichigo. When they figure all of this out, what are you going to do?"

"That's still pretty far off. I haven't let myself think about it too much yet." He scratched the side of his face in thought. "I can't return to the human world, and I'm not sure if I'd even want to anymore, truth be told."

She nodded, and they sat in companionable silence for a few minutes.

"But it's like the human world, isn't it? I have to decide on my future if I'm given the chance to. So that means I either work and support myself or join the Gotei 13." He sighed, shoulders slumping. "I'm not sure either of those two options really work for me."

"Oh, what's this? Self pity already?" Rukia stood up and strode a few steps into the courtyard. "It doesn't suit you Ichigo. It never has."

Ichigo drew his legs up onto the porch, sitting cross legged and facing Rukia calmly. Rukia was usually the one to force him out of a funk, but he didn't think it would work this time.

"Maybe not. But maybe I'm also not the same Ichigo I was before. I've changed in a lot of ways, not really for the better. I don't recognize myself anymore when I'm around everyone else." He looked away from her searching eyes, resting his chin on his palm. "I'm not trying to wallow in it, but it hasn't even been a week and I'm supposed to be making plans for the future? A future of serving the people who locked me away for twenty six months, who killed my human body."

Rukia opened her mouth to protest and Ichigo flicked his hand through the air. "I know most of the Gotei 13 had nothing to do with it. But all of Central 46 did. It's just hard to trust in this place right now. I trust you guys, and I never doubted you, but there are a lot of people in this world."

"Ichigo.." Rukia trailed off. He seemed to have brought down the mood and he sighed softly. He stood up and walked out onto the grass to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her, lifting his head to stare up at the glimmering moon far above.

"Sorry, Rukia. I'm just tired after such a long day. I know it's not that bad. I'm alive, I have my friends around me, and I have things to look forward to. I'll be fine."

Rukia bumped shoulders with him to get his attention. Her gaze was kind when he glanced down. "Yes, you will be. But let us help you, idiot. You may not be the same Ichigo that you were two years ago, but all of us have changed a little bit too. We'll help you through it and help you figure out what you want to do in the future. There's nothing in this world that can't be fixed."

"Except death," Ichigo murmured under his breath. Still, he smiled slightly. "Thank you, Rukia. For always trying to get me back on my feet."

She blushed and shoved him. "Do it yourself, dummy." Then she began to stride away. "Go to sleep, Ichigo. You'll feel better tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah. See you, Rukia."

With a slight smile on his face, Ichigo returned to his spot on the porch to hold vigil until morning. There was no way he was going to try to sleep in the dark of his room at night. Out here there were lanterns and lights and the glow of the stars and moon. It was almost peaceful, with the sounds of bugs and the night breeze whooshing through the leaves.

Who cared if he was tired? He was free.


Ichigo mumbled to himself mockingly as he washed his haggard face. "Who cared if he was tired? I care. This sucks."

He'd just entered his room as dawn rose over the trees, deciding to catch a quick nap. But then Hiyori had returned to kindly wake him up, stomping into his room just as he'd been drifting off. Her brash voice had shattered the peace and quiet in an instant. He was seriously considering changing his chaperone, damn it.

"Oh, Kurosaki-san, you look like you didn't sleep at all!" Urahara called from across the room, beckoning him over. Ichigo had entered the canteen to grab some breakfast, since he was now required to follow the other man around indefinitely. As Hiyori had mentioned more than once.

Speaking of Hiyori, her loud tones rang throughout the busy tables. "What a baby! A baldy like him probably had nightmares about going bald, eh baldy?" Seriously annoying, that one.

He thumped into a chair at the end of the table, ignoring the curious whispers and halted conversations around him as he neared. It was like high school all over again. He didn't blame the other Shinigami being wary of someone who'd been in prison the last few years, but he also didn't care to deal with it.

"That doesn't even make sense, shorty." He retorted tiredly, bracing his chin on his hand as he stirred halfheartedly at.. whatever this was on his plate. Did they have weird food up here or what? Did they even have farms to grow it? Ichigo wondered where it came from..

He was startled out of his half-doze when a fan waved in front of his face. He glanced over at the culprit and glared weakly. "What?"

"Don't fall asleep in your oatmeal, Kurosaki-san. Eat it. We have a long day today, which we'll begin by visiting Captain Kurotsuchi." Ah.. so it was supposed to be oatmeal.

He pushed away his food after only a few bites and leaned back in his chair, gazing around. The others mainly glanced away to avoid making eye contact and Ichigo wondered what they thought of him. He was sure they all knew who he was, even if it was just for invading all those years ago and becoming the Substitute Shinigami in the human world. Urahara's quiet voice broke into his thoughts.

"They will come around, Kurosaki-san. Some are even still wary of me. Although I'm completely harmless so who knows why!" He waved his fan with a loud laugh and Ichigo shook his head.

"Saying you're completely harmless is like saying Yachiru is harmless." He smirked at Urahara's startled blink. Then he pushed away from the table. "Let's get this over with then, since you're finished." He began walking towards the exit, grabbing their trays to drop off. He ignored Urahara's indignant voice and Hiyori's curses and kept going until he was outside again.

He breathed deeply and settled his heart, which was beating rather thickly. It must be because he'd been awake for more than thirty five hours, but he'd felt pretty anxious in there. He was being ridiculous.

Ichigo stared up at the lazy wisps of clouds, blinking against the harsh sun that speared into his head and set it pounding. He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. On to the list of things he was sick of already: add feeling like shit and getting panicked for stupid reasons.

He straightened up when the sound of clogs got closer and raised his eyebrows at the pair accompanying him. Urahara spun around in a flashy manner, leading the way to the laboratories.

Ichigo thought about ignoring Hiyori but decided his curiosity was more important.

"Hey, how come only some of the Visoreds ended up coming back to Soul Society?"

Hiyori glared at him, crossing her arms and kicking at a stone. "What, you suddenly chatty, baldy? The old guy sent a butterfly, sayin' we were welcome back." She snorted in bemusement. "Said he'd find 'places' for everyone here, that he wanted to rebuild the Gotei 13 back to what they were before Aizen fucked everythin' up. As if!"

"But you came anyways?" Ichigo knew Hiyori wasn't as bad as she acted. Sometimes.

"What's it look like, dickhead? I'm here ain't I?" She stuck her tongue out at him.

Ichigo took that back. She was a horrible little brat. "Yeah, alright. Sorry I asked." This apparently was the wrong thing to say as well because she started ranting again.

"This guy," She hiked a thumb in her Captain's direction, "was comin' back and if he could do it, then I could. Plus Shinji and Kensei decided to help out. Said it was 'for the best'. Ain't it always? Bet Aizen thought the same thing."

Ichigo grunted in reluctant agreement. "Maybe a little bit. But his 'for the best' was really only the best for him. He knew that all too well."

Hiyori glared at him. Just couldn't win with this girl. His head started pounding even more ferociously. "Whatever, baldy. Anyways, if they were gonna fix this place then I wasn't gonna leave it to them to screw it up! I mean, look what even happened to you. You're the 'hero' of this place, apparently, and they fucked you over big time!"

Ichigo really didn't have anything to say to that. He winced when his reiatsu fluctuated a bit, a burn searing through his chest. It was definitely getting worse, he noted, while ignoring the looks he was getting from the other two at the wave of spiritual pressure. Maybe he should wear a sign.

"Now, now, Hiyori. Save some of this energy for Captain Kurotsuchi, won't you?"

He tuned the other two out as they began to bicker, shooting a grateful look to Urahara first for drawing her attention.

After what felt like an eternity, but was really only a little over an hour, Urahara and Ichigo emerged from the hurried atmosphere of the Research department. Hiyori had been sent on a training exercise with other members of the Fifth Division directly after their meeting.

It hadn't been as bad as Ichigo had been expecting, aside from the migraine beginning to drill in between his eyes from the noise, glaring sun, lack of sleep, and of course, from Hiyori. But as he'd suspected, it had also been pointless. The only upside was the look on Kurotsuchi Mayuri's face when that loud shorty had gotten in his face. It still made him want to grin.

"Do you think he really didn't know, or is he gonna use this to study me or something?" Ichigo asked with dread.

The blonde Shinigami had a pensive look on his face as he led the way back towards their quarters. "It's hard to say, but I believe he didn't have any useful information. It may have also intrigued him enough – probably for the wrong reasons – to look into it more. The Captain-Commander would have ordered it anyways. It's the best we could have hoped for, other than a solution."

Ichigo nodded, his bangs sliding across his forehead. He shoved them back irritably. "Yeah. I never did think the information would just be lying around. So, what's next, chaperone? Is Dad getting here soon?"

"Yes, in two hours he'll arrive. For now, I'm going to do some more research of my own. I suggest you get some sleep, or else your father will make a racket." He punctuated this with a jab of his fan.

Ichigo just scrubbed a hand over his face and spoke through a yawn. "Doesn't take much to get Goat-face all riled up. But I'll take the nap. Don't remember the last time I slept for more than an hour."

Urahara hummed in absentminded sympathy. Ichigo could tell his mind was elsewhere, which was fine with him. They walked together in comfortable silence, each splitting off to their separate rooms immediately upon their arrival. Ichigo made sure to leave the door cracked open so that the sunlight spilled in. Just one of his new neuroses.

He let out a groan like an old man as he finally laid down, turning onto his side so that he was facing the exit with Zangetsu a protective barrier between him and the door. Only then did he let himself drift off into a guarded sleep.

He was jolted out of a dream an indeterminate amount of time later due to a rough shake. He bolted straight up, looking wildly around, vaguely catching sight of Urahara's wide eyes.

But Ichigo's eyes bounced to the empty floor beside him where his Zanpakuto should have been, around the darkened room, and to the closed door. His heart felt like it would beat out of his chest; his breath caught in his throat. And his reiatsu slammed down on the two occupants of the room.

He gripped his hair and drew up his knees, trying to get a hold of himself, but all he could see was the blank prison walls and his hands chained to the arms of a stiff chair. He thought he heard Urahara speak and raised his eyes to see the mans lips moving, but he couldn't hear over the panicked rush of blood in his ears.

"Shit, shit, shit!" He rasped out between gasps. Urahara's hand came into his line of sight and he instinctively pushed backwards away from it, bracing one hand on the slick floorboards. The other gripped the robes over his chest at the alarming rush of pain that spread through him.

Ichigo, calm yourself. You only do yourself danger by giving in to the panic.

Ya, King, settle down damn it. The buildings in here are goin' nuts!

He still couldn't hear the shopkeeper's voice, but he spoke in a jumbled rush anyways. "S-sorry.. just – just give me a minute.." It was only when he felt the hilt of his sword brush against his hand and he'd grasped it in his shaking grip that he relaxed at all.

Damn. Sorry. I'm alright guys.

He shut his burning eyes and pulled in one deep breath after another, until he didn't feel like he was going to pass out anymore. And so that his reiatsu calmed the fuck down. Then he slumped back against the solid wall behind him. Ichigo rasped a hand over his face to get the sweat out of his eyes, then shoved back his hair. Only then did he risk facing the room.

He avoided Urahara's piercing look at first, glancing around to reorient himself. Obviously not back in prison. Just in his quarters. Urahara had been waking him up to meet with his Dad. He grimaced before turning to face the other occupant of the room.

He wasn't wearing his hat and sat cross-legged just out of arms reach. His eyes were grave. But still he didn't speak, so Ichigo felt obligated to break the tense silence.

"Ah.. sorry about that. I have a few issues when I sleep right now. Didn't mean to.. do that." To say Ichigo was embarrassed would be an understatement. Try mortified. He seriously winced a moment later when his chest stabbed at him again. He realized he was still gripping the robes over his breastbone but couldn't quite let go as the pain ramped up.

"The pain increased because you just released your spiritual pressure so abruptly, didn't it?" Urahara's words were quiet in the still room.

"Yeah. Uh, sorry again, but it might get worse. It does sometimes. Just so I don't freak you out again." Ichigo was rambling but he was still shaken by his extreme reaction. God, he hoped no one else was around. He averted his gaze.

"It's fine, Kursosaki-san. You know.. if we were still in Karakura town I would have mentioned something like this to your father.. but these are different circumstances." He went on, not acknowledging Ichigo's surprised glance. "But I hope you'll confide in someone, because even the strongest of men struggle to deal with the aftermath of what has been done to them."

Ichigo swallowed past the lump in his throat. His reply was interrupted by a harsh cough ripping out of him. He covered his mouth to catch the crimson spray that escaped as he hunched forward, hacking through the razor-sharp jabs of pain of each breath he managed to draw in.

He felt Urahara's hand on his back and a glass slick with cool condensation was pressed into his free hand. He sipped between the hoarse coughs until they subsided. Then he drained the glass to rid himself of the copper tang on his tongue and fell back against the wall again.

"How long has this been happening, Kursosaki-san?" Urahara's voice was strained as he pressed a handkerchief into Ichigo's bloody palm. He cleaned himself up, wiping at his mouth to get rid of the evidence.

Ichigo straightened up from his slump and rubbed both hands slowly over his face. His rough voice came from behind them. "Pretty much since the beginning. It's worse now and it happens easier too. Still not as bad as my last attack." He shrugged. "Sorry to inconvenience you so much, Urahara-san."

A long breath was released from his left. "Don't trouble yourself. I just hope we can find a solution since you're deteriorating so quickly. We have to go meet your father now; we're already late."

Ichigo went to the basin in the corner and splashed the lukewarm water over his face, doing his best to clean up. After he finger-combed his messy hair, he felt as ready as he'd ever be. "Alright, let's go. Just one question: do you have any place that's secure that we can talk in?"

The blonde man ran a hand through his hair and gave a nod before settling his hat on his head. Ichigo had no idea where he'd pulled that from. "Who do you think I am, Kursosaki-san? Of course I do."

The older man paused in the open doorway, his back to Ichigo.

"I'll caution the others to leave you be when you're resting. And I will not wake you up so suddenly again, nor move Zangetsu. So, Kurosaki-san, please get some proper rest when we return from this visit? If you collapse on me, Captain Unohana will kill me."

Ichigo felt a ghost of a smile cross his lips. "Yeah. Thanks."