Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. My house increased from six people to nine and my laptop is the only thing that connects us to the internet. Now we all have a schedule of when we can go on but lucky for me, the laptop stays in my room at night. Suckers xD.

Anyway, I do have something to say. I read a fanfic recently that pointed out a very good thing when it comes to the person I am announcing in this chapter. The others had never seen Hichigo as he looks like in Ichigo's inner world. They've seen him but while he was in control of Ichigo's body so I'm sticking to my guns and making him look a bit more like our beloved gang leader but no worries, you all will be able to tell the difference between the two. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Orihime sat on the couch of her living room, large tears spilling from her red eyes as her sobs echoed around the room. Grimmjow grunted as Szayel Aporro Granz healed his gunshot wounds humming a soft melody. Two men stepped out of the room with a stretching that carried the lifeless form of Ulquiorra under black silk before walking out of the house. Two men walked out of the room after the body was carried away, both smiling wickedly at the young woman crying. Gin Ichimaru cocked his head to the side before petting Orihime on the head gently.

"No need fer tears, Hime. I got revenge fer Ulqui by killin' off one of their own members!" Gin said, frowning when Orihime sobbed louder.

"I hate death." Orihime sobbed, covering her face with her hands.

"'Nough of yer cryin', woman."

Orihime gulped nervously and looked up to the man standing beside Gin. He looked like an exact replica of Ichigo Kurosaki except for a few things. Ichigo's eyes were hazel; the man in front of Orihime had mocking yellow eyes. Instead of a scowl, a twisted grin was on this man's face and the man's skin was slightly paler than Ichigo's sun kissed skin. Hichigo Kurosaki snickered at Orihime's frightful expression and kneeled before the young woman with a hand landing on her knee.

"Ya must be upset about ya li'l lova' dyin' fer this organization. I can see it in yer eyes, ya blame the people ya open the doors of ya home fer Cifer's death. Not only that, I can see ya wanna get even wit' the man that pulled the trigga', don'cha?" Hichigo cooed, squeezing Orihime's knee in false sympathy. Orihime tears continued to fall as she looked away from the man.

"I would never…" Orihime whispered, trembling when she felt fingers grab her chin.

"Ya a bad liar, Hime. Tell meh all about this Rukia Kuchiki girl so we both can get closure fer Cifer's death." Hichigo said, lying through his bright teeth standing up.

"You want to hurt her." Orihime murmured before shaking her head.

"Nah, far from that! Ya see, it is important that I have a chat wit' my brotha's li'l friend. If I can get 'er to testify against Ichigo, he can be put in jail fer a very long time." Hichigo said, winking to Gin when he saw the man raise a brow.

"… Do you promise not to hurt her?" Orihime said, wiping away the tears on her chin.

"Ya got my word." Hichigo said, crossing his fingers behind his back.

~Six Days Later~

Tears would not stop flowing that day, even some of the men from the organization shed a few tears for Neliel as they laid her casket to the ground. Rukia and Ichigo were the few that did not cry that dreadful evening, Rukia had cried them all away the night of Neliel's murder and Ichigo was not a man that showed his emotions to the cold world. A large photo of Neliel was surrounded by beautiful flowers, making the woman look gorgeous in the photo. Rukia allowed Rangiku to cry loudly on her shoulders, her own face cold and lifeless as two men began burying the casket. Toshiro Hitsugaya looked on, standing beside Ichigo with a solemn expression on his young face.

He turned his cold eyes to Rukia, waiting for her to meet eye contact before bowing his head quickly and turning away. Rukia knew it was the man's way of expressing his understanding so she nodded back at him before he turned away. Ichigo looked on as dirt covered the casket before throwing his cigar to the floor and crushing it beneath his feet. He leaned against a cold tombstone, his fingers dancing around the inscriptions on it that spelled out his cousin's name. Ichigo turned his gaze to Rukia, sighing when he saw her emotionless mask on her face.

Rukia had not spoken a word to Ichigo since the night of Neliel's death. No matter how much coaxing Ichigo did Rukia remand silent and unmoved by the gifts he had given her. Ichigo knew Rukia was silently dying inside, yet her wall would not allow him to console her. The members slowly departed and left both Ichigo and Rukia alone in the graveyard. Rukia stood in front of Neliel's fresh grave and Ichigo stood on Kaien's grave with smoke pouring from his lips.

"Funny, isn't it? You're on Kaien's grave and I'm on Nel's grave." Ichigo turned to see Rukia wearing a broken smile on her face as she looked down at a locket in her hand.

"Rukia, I need to speak to you about that night." Ichigo said, taking a step toward her.

"Oh, the night I admitted what I truly felt about you? Yeah, I need to tell you something about that too." Rukia said, looking up to Ichigo with the smile slowly cracking.

"I stand by what I said that night, Ichigo Kurosaki." Rukia said, narrowing her heated gaze at Ichigo.

"Rukia, listen-"

"No, you listen!"

Rukia stood in front of the tall man, her hand pulling away the cigarette from his lips and destroying it in her bare hand. Ichigo could smell the faint smell of burnt flesh and remand silent when Rukia grabbed hold of his collar.

"You're nothing but a killer. You act as if you can save me but I know now that you will just become the death of me. You have done nothing but bring me pure hell into my already miserable life and it makes me sick that the love I had for you was just a twisted mask my fear wore so I wouldn't feel your wrath. You make me feel sick." Rukia hissed, gritting her teeth but remaining strong when Ichigo grabbed her wrist in an iron hold.

"You survived because of me. How many times did I save you from yourself on those lonely nights when your memories came back to haunt you? Who killed the man that raped you as a child? Who protected you when you had no one? Let me tell you. It was me! Don't act as if you're no better than me, Rukia. You're a selfish woman that only wants what she wants. Guess what? I'm a selfish man that only wants what he wants and the one I want is a pathetic child that can't even survive on her own feet but acts as if she can fight off the whole damn world on her own. You need me as much as I need you." Ichigo growled, pulling Rukia closer to his body. To his surprise, Rukia smiled weakly and chuckled softly.

"So even you see me as a child. Well, that's a mistake someone should never do when facing me. Never underestimate me." Rukia said.

Ichigo felt a cold blade against his neck and looked down to see a knife to his neck. He glared at Rukia as she held the knife firmly to his neck with a smile on her face. She looked deeply into his eyes before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the keys for his car. Ichigo raised an eyebrow when she jingled the keys in his face and pressed the knife closer to his neck.

"Can a child hold a knife to a man's neck? I don't think so." Rukia cooed, jumping away when she saw Ichigo reach for her arm.

"Mentor against student? This is going to be interesting." Ichigo said, pulling out his own weapon. It was a smaller version of his favorite blade, a dagger with black steel and a red ribbon tied to the hilt.

Rukia took stance quickly, holding the knife close to her body but having the blade pointed to the man in front of her. She knew damn well that in a fight, she was no match to Ichigo but she never planned to fight him. In the distance, both heard a car driving toward them but Ichigo was the only one that kept his eyes on the small woman. He lunged quickly, barely missing her neck by a few inches. Rukia blocked his second attack, her feet digging into the earth as she struggled to keep her placement.

Ichigo smirked down at her, using more force to make her walk to the large stone behind her. Rukia glanced back to see what Ichigo planned to do and turned back to kick his body away from hers and step away from the stone. Ichigo seemed unfazed by the kick and cracked his neck swiftly before raising his blade again. Rukia quickly walked back to her designated place and remand still as Ichigo walked closer to her.

"You know you can never beat me in a fight, Bunny." Ichigo said, twirling the blade in his hand.

"I know but I also know that when it comes to planning things out, I'm way better than you." Rukia said, tossing back the keys of his car as another drove toward them. Ichigo covered his eyes when dirt from the car's entrance hit his face and growled when he heard a voice of a girl call out Rukia's name.

"Rukia! Get your ass in now!" Hiyori shouted, opening the passenger door.

Rukia dropped the knife to the ground and jumped into the car, slamming it shut as Ichigo ran to the door. His fist slammed down on the glass and he shouted Rukia's name as he tried to open the locked door. Rukia turned to her friend and slammed her fist on the dashboard to get her attention.

"Go now!" Rukia exclaimed.

Ichigo stumbled back as the car drove off and he glared intensely at it drove away. Rukia glanced into the mirror to see Ichigo glaring at them. Tears spilled from her eyes when Ichigo was out of sight and Rukia leaned back as she sobbed softly into her hands. Hiyori remand silent before sighing and lightly pressing on the brake.

"I told your sister everything you told me to tell her. She's probably ready for the move now and she told me to tell you that America will be your new home." Hiyori muttered, glancing over to see Rukia bow her head.

"I had to leave… but he doesn't understand that." Rukia whispered, looking out the window as they drove closer to their old town.


"Leader Kurosaki! Where is Rukia?" Rangiku asked, stepping away from the man when he turned his heated glare toward her.

"She escaped. Get Renji and tell him to head for Hisana's house immediately." Ichigo growled, slamming the door shut behind him and walking toward his room. The phone rang and Ichigo growled and grabbed hold of it.

"What is it? I'm busy!" Ichigo shouted.

He froze when he heard the all-to-familiar chuckle of his brother.

"Trouble in paradise, King?" Hichigo said, laughing soon after.

"Don't call me that. Tell Aizen that his ass is grass next time I see him." Ichigo barked, getting ready to hang up.

"Fine but wha'cha want meh ta tell ya li'l Bunny?" Hichigo said, throwing his head back when he heard his brother damn him to hell.

"If you lay one finger on her, I'll skin you alive and feed you to my dogs!" Ichigo roared, slamming his fist on his table.

"Ya ain't gotta worry. She ain't wit' us yet. Oh, but I see 'er now! Now I know why ya so protective of 'er. She looks delicious." Hichigo said, licking his lips when his eyes saw Rukia step out of a car.

"Stay away from her, Hichigo! I'm going to fucking kill you if you hurt her!" Ichigo shouted, making Hichigo pull the phone away from his ears for a moment.

"Ya gonna make meh deaf if ya keep shoutin', King." Hichigo said, pressing the phone back to his ear.

"I-will-kill-you." Ichigo snarled, slamming his fist on the desk after each word.

"Ya show too much emotion fer a gang leader. Ya let ya emotions control ya actions 'nd that's why I think ya ain't fit ta run 'The Mask'. Once I get my hands on ya Bunny, I'm gonna make ya regret steppin' foot on what belongs ta meh." Hichigo said, stepping out of the car and walking to Rukia.

His hand holding the phone dropped to his side, Ichigo's shouts could still be heard until Hichigo closed his cellphone and placed it into his pocket. Ichigo slammed the phone on the table, finally making it break from the abuse it took. He walked to the door and opened it, knowing that most of his members were already outside. They froze when they saw the fire in his eyes and held their breath as he stopped in the middle of the hallway. Ichigo turned to them with an emotionless look before smirking and walking back to them.

"Everyone, our Co-Leader is being captured by the enemy. I have reason to believe that they are also the cause of Neliel's death. We can't let them do this so now I, Ichigo Kurosaki, revoke the truce and order all of my finest men to come with me. We will kill every member that gets in our way. We will get our revenge." Ichigo said, everyone nodded and tapped the top of their hilt three times before disappearing to their rooms to prepare.


"Oi, Kuchiki."

Rukia turned her gaze behind her once she was finished waving good-bye to Hiyori. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw bright orange hair walking toward. Grabbing her cellphone, she ran to the door of her old home only to be pulled away from it. Hichigo twirled her to face him and pushed her against the door, making Rukia hiss and groan in pain.

"Ichigo?" Rukia muttered, wiggling when she felt him grab hold of her neck.

"Take a good look at my eyes, Kuchiki. I ain't ya berry."

Rukia narrowed her slightly blurry gaze and concentrated at the person holding her against the door. Instead of meeting the hazel eyes of Ichigo, she met the yellow eyes of Hichigo. Rukia dug her nails into his flesh when she realized who he was and squirmed in his grasp as he began to pull her away.

"Ya a feisty Bunny." Hichigo cooed, laughing when Rukia tried to strike him.

"Let go of her!"

Rukia was turned once again to see the horror-filled face of her older sister staring back at her. Rukia tried to run to her but was pulled back in Hichigo's grasp, his arm around her neck and his free hand reaching into his coat pocket. Hisana took a timid step toward them but stopped when a gun was pointed directly at her.

"Take anotha' step 'nd I'll make sure ya lose a piece of yer head." Hichigo crackled, walking to the awaiting car.

"Let go of my baby sister! Please!" Hisana shouted, courage filling her body and taking another step forward.

"I warned ya." Hichigo said, his finger slowly pulling the trigger.

"No! I'll come with you!" Rukia shouted, grabbing the arm holding the gun.

"Rukia, don't do this!" Hisana cried, tears running down her face. Rukia felt her eyes water at the miserable look on her older sister's face and shook her head.

"I already lost a woman I cared about. I can't lose you too, Hisana!" Rukia shouted, gasping when she felt Hichigo's body press against hers.

"This is getting too sappy fer meh. Leave 'fore I kill ya." Hichigo said, his smile gone as he yawned loudly.

"I'm going with you. Leave my sister out of this." Rukia whispered, her hand returning to the arm around her neck when Hichigo put his gun away.

"Rukia… don't do this just for me…" Hisana begged, dropping to her knees as Rukia was pulled away.

"Hisana, I love you. I promise I'll be back." Rukia said, gripping the arm harder as she was pulled into the car.

"Rukia!"

She could still hear Hisana's scream as she was taken away from her once again. Rukia tried to pull the arm around her neck, only to make its grip tighten. In the car were Gin Ichimaru and Tia Harribel, Neliel's protégé and once best friend. Rukia felt warm breath run down her neck and she growled when she felt a tongue lick the side of her neck.

"Ya gonna be fun ta play wit', Bunny." Hichigo said, grabbing Rukia's chin and forcing her to look at him.

"So much fun."

I know this chapter is short but I want to leave it hear so I can write some more in the next chapter. Review please and tell me what you think of Hichigo's new appearance. All credit for this idea goes to the author yllanger-huntress, a very good author on this site!