well... Hi! I has been a long time huh? I logged on with 14 different messages in our mailbox begging us to upload. I am so sorry my RL has gotten in thw way, and you guys have had to suffer. But rest assured, CM and I are still writing and your reviews mean the world to us. (and thank you for all of the well wishes for my move, they really meant a lot.) Sadly, we wont be updating on every friday like we have been doing, but we will try to upload a chapter as soon as it is finished for you all. Both CM and I have jobs and school, so we are busy. It's a slow train, but it's still moving.

WARNING LOTS OF TYPOS. WONT MIND IF YOU POINT THEM OUT TO BE FIXED XD

We don't own Bleach, Kubo Tite does.

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Chapter 8: The Lure

"What made you suddenly decide to take up Karate again?" A sweet and motherly voice asked from the darkness, and echoed off the walls of his mind. Who was he? For some reason he couldn't remember. His body was heavy and he couldn't break away from the dark pooling around him.

"It's a secret." The little boy replied and he could feel his own lips move. It was strange and foreign, but words he could have sworn he had spoken before, but they were on the tip of his tongue. It all was too far from his hazy and heavy mind to compute. Who was the woman? If the boy talking was truly him, then who was he?

The darkness disappeared as if the boy was opening his eyes for the first time. The soreness of his eyes and his throat led him to the conclusion that he had been crying, but not anymore. The sky was raining millions of tears for him, leaving the boy's still heavy body drenched and cold. Only he was no longer a child, but a young man, staring down at a well-kept grave. The name was fuzzy but somehow he knew the name was that woman's; his mother. But, damn it, who was he?

"...You listening Rukia?" He choked out, surprised by the passion, pain, and resolve in his deep voice. There was only silence in reply, but he knew, knew she was there and hearing his every word.

"Does it look like your shinigami power is returning?" Again, there was nothing except the damp air carried in the breeze.

"Whether it is or not, please... Let me remain a shinigami for a while longer. I want to become strong, More and more and more. Become strong and defend against hollows. For those who are targeted. Become strong, and DEFEAT HIM!" He could feel his body quake with his plea. Then with a determined glare, his body stood still and stared up to where he knew violet eyes were watching.

"Otherwise, I won't be able to face mom!"

Suddenly his head was pushed down, and the boy didn't see the stone of his mother's grave but he saw ruff concrete pathways. Thoughts and memories, awareness, flooded back to him a little at a time. He was at his high school. The hand pushing him down belonged to Rukia.

"He's sorry he's so weak!" The voice was hers too. Like when he was at the grave, he knew, he had been here before heard these words before. The when and how eluded him.

"It's a secret" The words again chimed, louder, as if the small orange haired child, the happier, younger, naive version of himself was whisperingthem into his ear. It was a secret, but it had been so obvious that no one, not even his mother had to ask, then again she never did. She died and he failed. He only wanted to protect...

"I'll get stronger... And then... Next time I'll definitely protect you!" The words flood from his lips like the first time he told them to his dear nakama. These words meant more to him than they ever did. More than when he first uttered them. Then why was their pain?

Ichigo, that was his name, he knew it now as if he had never forgotten. Ichigo raised his head to stare his deep caramel eyes into the grey orbs of the woman he had just vowed to protect, but she was gone. In her place was a tall man, smoking on a half finished menthol cigarette.

"Do you know what Ichigo means, son?" The man flicked his vice to the ground and smashed it below the toe of his shoe. "It means to protect one thing." The man smiled and poked his orange haired son in the chest, above his erratic heartbeat, instantly transforming his body back into his child form. "So, what do you plan on protecting?"

"Ichigo?" The kind woman who spoke from the darkness called out, trying to draw Ichigo's attention. Despite the feeling of overwhelming dread, the boy smiled as he turned. However, what he saw made his grin vanish. It was raining again, and he could feel a warm and comforting hand holding his own. He looked out to the river, raging from the added water three days of rain had produced.

At the edge of that monstrous river was a single child, who looked ready to dive straight into the current. Somehow, the boy knew, don't go. Stay on the path and go home. That little girl wasn't what she seemed. Ichigo's feet moved anyway, he let go of his mother's hand and ran. No matter how fast or how hard he ran he couldn't get to that girl. He was running but he wasn't moving.

"I just wanted to protect my mother!" Ichigo yelled his voice somewhere in between furious and desperate.

"I was finally able to protect Kurosaki-kun." Orihime's voice breathed out, the vision of her bloody and dying blurred in Ichigo's peripheral vision. It wasn't until that moment he discovered he was growing. Getting taller and older.

"Inoue! No!" He yelled, feeling the familiar wait of Zangetsu on his back. He reached for his trusted blade as the girl by the stream changed into his angelic friend, cloaked in white tattered clothes. Slowly Orihime reached out her arm, reached out for him. The look on her face akin to the look of heartache she showed the fourth espada as he disappeared to dust.

"Inoue!" Ichigo yelled again the pain and desperation making him shake as he dropped his sword and reached out to grab her and pull her away from the river; to embrace her to keep her safe.

"You tried to protect your mother, and failed. You tried to protect your family, and failed. You tried to protect Hime, and not only did you fail, but you killed her!" Lightning struck and Orihime became Ichigo's inner hollow, sneering and twirling Tensa Zangetsu through the air. In a swift movement, the hollow threw the sword forward and pierced Ichigo's stomach.

The voices stopped and his vision went black. The only sounds that persisted were the rain, footsteps, and the faint sound of his mother screaming at him to stop. Then, there was silence.

Slowly, Ichigo opened his eyes and greeted the dreary and cloudy sky that his opened blinds exposed. He didn't move. Today he felt dead, and that dream, filled with memories of another world, his world, didn't help. He didn't need to get up and check his calendar to know what the day was. It was June 16, the eve of his mother's death. Her murder, by his hands.

He sat up and looked outside. It hadn't rained yet, but the sky had been covered in those gray clouds for days. It was just like the day when his mother died.

"So it's tomorrow, huh?" he mumbled to himself, not really realizing he was speaking aloud.

"Ichigo! It's Morning, wake up!" Masaki's loving holler made Ichigo flinch.

Having his mother back was something he had only dreamed of, a dream that left him feeling hollowed out. Nevertheless, even if he still had her back, he also carried of the pain of knowing what it was like to lose her, to see the tears on Karin and Yuzu's faces. To see how his father tried to be overly optimistic to make up for the fact that she wasn't there anymore. To have the heart of their universe ripped out and knowing he was the cause of it.

The familiar creak of the floor boards at the thresh hold of his door snapped him out of his musings. He turned to see Isshin leaning against his door; eyes narrow and studying his son. Ichigo turned to his dad with tired worn out eyes and a wide strained smile.

"Hey dad, good morning!" Isshin didn't move to answer, and Ichigo's expression dropped. A single droplet of sweat traced Ichigo's jaw, whether from thrashing in his sleep or form the fear of his guilt being found out wasn't curtain. "Dad? Is something wrong?"

That was a bad question. Everything seemed wrong today. His mother was dead and Ichigo had failed to protect not only her, but also everyone else. Then there was his dream. It would not have been the first he had had since Aizen's death that explored his failures, the deaths of his friends, or his murdering Orihime. It was the first that focused so much on Orihime and Masaki. Maybe it was because he had killed them both.

Isshin shrugged and turned away from Ichigo. "It's nothing son, just over worked and going crazy I suppose. Get ready and down for breakfast, your food's, getting cold and eaten."

Isshin stalked down the stairs, his brain kicked into full gear. He hadn't ever known Ichigo to talk in his sleep, but when the father of three crept into Ichigo's room this morning, his son was mumbling to himself about failing to protect something, and about defeating a killer. Isshin pushed the rambling aside, a boy could dream. Even with how mature Ichigo had been acting lately, he knew his orange haired son was really a child. Ichigo and ridiculous nightmares went hand in hand.

The dream was hardly what had Isshin racking his mind for possible answers. It was the pressure he coming off his sleeping boy. It felt like water leaking from a hole in a damn. There wasn't a lot of it, but it was harsh and dark, and there was certainly enough of it to make Isshin take notice.

A long time ago, Kurosaki Isshin had lost his shinigami powers, but time and exposure to the spiritually dense Karakura-cho had given him enough spiritual awareness to know the feeling coming off his sleeping teen was reiatsu. That was an impossibility. When all three of his children were born, his wife and he locked any trace of spiritual powers away to never to be let loose.

Isshin leaned over the kitchen counter and gave his loving wife a long and sweet good morning kiss. When they pulled away, Isshin smiled at the light blush on Masaki's cheeks. It was amazing that even after twenty years together; Masaki still reacted like a shy teenager whenever Isshin showed her physical affection. It was sweet, innocent, and just one of the millions of reasons he loved his wife.

"Masaki, dear," Isshin asked, a large smile still on his lips. "You know important days better than me, what is special about June 17th?"

Masaki blinked and looked at the calendar. She smiled, with a bubble of sweet excitement. "Tomorrow is World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought!"

"You don't say... Anything else?" Isshin asked grabbing his wife's hand and feeling somewhat concerned for her sanity as of late. She didn't seem to be handling Ichigo's less clingy faze well. Masaki wasn't ready for her baby Ichigo to grow up and leave the nest, but at the same time, she seemed anxious for her family to grow.

"Wow, Ichi-nii, you look happier than you have been in a long time this morning!" Yuzu's sweet voice rang out, from the dining room, bringing Isshin's investigation to an end. He leaned over again, this time landing a peck on his wife's rosy cheek and went off to plan mischief.

"I guess his constipation finally cleared." Karin mumbled in a teasing yet monotone voice as she continued to eat away at some of Ichigo's morning rice.

"Karin-chan! Don't say something like that. He'll just go back to frowning again!"

"So Ichigo, is there a reason you seem so cheerful today?" Masaki asked, setting down a bowl of nattō on the table.

"No, no reason." Ichigo smiled feeling his tense muscles cramp tighter. "I guess I hadn't even noticed I was doing it."

"Oh, poo." Masaki lightly pouted with a teasing gleam in her sparkling eyes that only made Ichigo's stomach twist more. "I was hoping you were going to do something with Orihime-chan today!"

"Speaking of Orihime-chan!" Yuzu chimed before running off, the rice spoon still in her hand. She quickly returned with Ichigo's missing jacket in hand, and a small written note sticking out of the pocket. "Someone left this on the front step last night."

Ichigo reached across the table, his hands shaking as Orihime's reiatsu waved off of the jacket even though she probably hadn't worn it since that night. He sat back and slumped into his chair. The jacket still smelled like pumpkin spice- like Orihime- and surprisingly enough it was still warm, like she had worn it on the way over, just to make sure her presence would stay saturated into the clothe. Then there was the note, nicely written, delicate and feminine hand writing that was undeniably Orihime's.

Thank you so much for the jacket to keep me warm and for the ride home... is ride the right word? A thank you for everything always works best because you always do so much. Maybe, next time I can help Kurosaki-kun!

Orihime

Help him? Isn't that what she said before she died? She was glad she could finally help him? Ichigo lost his smile and his brows furrowed deeply as he pushed those memories back down with the rest and shoved another lock on the box he had them all trapped in. The young shinigami had to ask himself to answer honestly if he could walk around and burry his stress and depression behind a smile today like he always did. He didn't have time to answer.

The sound of glass breaking broke Ichigo's trance. Masaki was still staring straight at Ichigo, her face etched in horrified shock, at her feet a plate of grilled fish was smashed from its heavy impact with the floor.

"Mom?" Ichigo got up, tossing the jacket down to his seat and stuffing the letter into his pocket, and went to work trying to clean up the mess. Masaki quickly joined him, taking a piece of shredded glass from Ichigo's hand. The glass cut his finger, but the pain was nothing compared to the look his mother had in her eyes when she looked at him.

"Mom, what wrong?"

"No-nothing Ichigo." Masaki smiled, her earlier tenseness and frightened eyes gone. She was his smiling mother again, but the look she had from seconds ago was still there somewhere. "Let me clean this up okay? I've been so clumsy lately; I guess I'm not getting enough sleep."

"Don't worry about it..." Ichigo moved forward and planted a small kiss on Masaki's forehead, stilling her in her actions once again. "Don't change Mom, you're perfect." Masaki stayed frozen even after Ichigo stood and moved to the front door.

"Ichi-nii!" Yuzu called with a dustpan in one hand and the broom in the other. "Where are you going?"

"Going to school." Ichigo paused for a second, "Love you!" He called before shutting the door behind him.

Once again the difference between his family gone and the one he joined was stabbing him in the heart. His old family knew him so well; they knew that he saddest when he was smiling tense and fake. His family now really thought he was happy, though. How could they not? They had no clue what demons were hiding behind his caramel eyes. Demons that were whispering the words his heart was echoing: revenge. Revenge against Grand Fisher wouldn't bring his mother back; no, it wasn't about that anymore. As black ire consumed his eyes Ichigo knew that it was more than just that. He had his mother; his whole family was his again. Defeating that bastard was all mindless revenge and violent rage.

Ichigo didn't know if that hollow existed in this dimension as well, but if it did, he'd bet money that it would show up on tomorrow just as he had a dimension ago. Like all the other hollows, he would most likely to be drawn in by Orihime's reiatsu, and thus undoubtedly go for her. The very thought made the vizard's blood boil, and his hollow was all too responsive.

Ichigo stopped on his walk to school as he felt his right hand slam against something hard. He looked to see he had unconsciously punched a brick wall. He was thankful no one was around to see it, so he didn't really care at the moment. He took a seconds pause to regain his humanity while he stared at his handy work. His hand was starting to bruise again, the brick was cracked from where his fist impacted with it. He quickly started walking again, cradling his injured hand in his free one and using his healing kido on it.

Despite the fact that Ichigo was letting Orihime handle her hollow patrol, something she'd only asked him to take over three times since he offered, he still worried. So he'd often made trips to the only other man he knew that understood how he felt, Urahara. The shopkeeper had caught sight of an injury Ichigo had gotten from some innocent street brawl. He had detoured to the candy shop to avoid having his mother see him that way and to complain about how he wasn't doing anything for Orihime.

The mad hatter of a shop keep inquired why Ichigo never tried to heal his own injuries instead of always coming to the Shoten for healing. Ichigo was never taught, by the Vizards or shinigami before that people with plenty reiatsu to spare could easily heal themselves whether in a gigai -or in Ichigo's case his human body- or not. Ichigo tired it out with perfect results. Urahara's twisted grin only made Ichigo want to pound him into Hueco Mundo. How the young shinigami hated it when Kisuke found ways for Shinigami powers to help in everyday human life.

"Good morning Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo stopped and turned to his auburn haired class mate. She was walking right for him, with Rukia and Tatsuki in tow behind her. Ichigo was quick to put on a large smile, used to doing it after years and years. He didn't notice the worried look that came to Orihime's face as he did so.

"What are you doing here Ichigo? You shouldn't be heading by here." Tatsuki said, giving Ichigo a confused look.

Ichigo blinked and looked around. Sure enough, while his mind had been wondering his feet had taken him along a different route. It was a strange happening lately, every time he was moving and his thoughts got away from him, he wound up heading in Orihime's direction. A few times already he had wondering into the area where they were exterminating a hollow while still in his body. He managed to stay out of Rukia and Orihime's sights, but it was a close call.

He had managed to convince Rukia his spiritual awareness had passed, only a few weeks ago. It took a little work and time, but he was in the clear with her now. Though, for a whole week a while back, he was aware of her watching him intently during class. He had to keep his own eyes on the small shinigami, he had to remind himself a few times; she was smarter than she let on.

"Uh… I'm not sure." Ichigo replied, scratching the back of his head and putting in a goofy tone.

"Maybe he's here to walk you to school Orihime." Rukia teased, nudging Orihime forward until she was standing a foot away from Ichigo, a bright blush on her cheeks.

Tatsuki turned her head and covered her mouth to hide the snickers that threatened to be let out. Orihime was rambling on about nothing as she tried to hide her red face from her crush. Even if they were her friends, it was just hilarious to see them reacting like this.

"It's nothing like that." Ichigo said, interrupting Orihime's rant. There was a slight undercurrent of annoyance, but he managed to hide it quickly behind and embarrassed smile.

"Well if none of us get going now, we'll be late." Tatsuki said, leading the group on, but not hiding her amused smile.

Orihime couldn't take her eyes off Ichigo for long as they walked. That smile was all wrong. It wasn't supposed to be unusual for him to smile; it was something he was known for. But it just felt wrong . . . off. Other people wouldn't have noticed, but Orihime did. The Ichigo she had gotten to know since they started high school was far different. He wasn't mean, far from. Ichigo was kind and seemed to always put other people before himself. Ichigo had always been like that. It was just now he didn't smile. He had that adorably silly frown on his face. This smile wasn't anything she had ever seen from him before, it was more like he was hiding something then showing his happiness. It struck her; Ichigo was smiling to hide whatever it was he was feeling from them. That had her worried.

"Kuro-"

"What have we here?" A voice boomed, cutting Orihime off before she could ask her crush what was wrong. The group of four turned towards an alley there they saw Sakei Hayate.

At only twelve years old, Hayate knew what he wanted in life and despite his aunt's constant protests he had started to work to achieve those goals. It started when he bleached his hair, creating an artificial orange hue to his hair. His real hair color was a light brown, similar to Keigo's. Since you could tell his real hair color from the roots his aunt refused to let his bleach to match, Hayate wore a black beanie cap that just barely let his spiky hair show. His junior high uniform jacket was open revealing his navy blue undershirt. Even for his age, Hayate was tall, and reached just about to the same height as Orihime, and judging by the fire in his blue eyes, he was probably as tough as Ichigo.

"Is that you, Hayate?" Tatsuki asked, with a kind but cocky grin.

"Sakei -kun?" Orihime gasped and smiled, making both Ichigo and Rukia feel left out.

"That's right my Orihime-chan! My aunt and I have returned to Karakura after a year in Kyoto." He announced, before giving Ichigo his complete attention. Hayate instantly knew something was wrong with Ichigo.

Hayate met Ichigo three years ago when the orange haired boy and his mother visited Orihime and brought her over a plate of food. Hayate and his aunt lived next door and where over at the time, helping the girl unpack what little belongings she had. It was right away apparent that Hayate would have to fight Ichigo for Orihime's affections. After all, Hayate knew right away when he saw the auburn haired princess smile that he was going to marry her. Age be damned he loved Orihime; problem was so did Ichigo.

It wasn't long before they both started fighting for her heart. Ichigo never won. After losing his boyish fights with the boy 3 years younger than him, Ichigo would always burst into tears; that is until he saw Orihime coming their way. He would instantly stop his idiotic tears and smiled wide. He never wanted Orihime to know they were fighting, or make her worry about anything at all. He would lie to her and tell her about thugs who were picking on him because of his hair color, and sometimes he didn't need to lie, and just told her the stories to take her mind off Hayate and him hanging out in the park. Ichigo's dumb smile aggravated Hayate, his orange hair pissed him off, but what he hated the most was how much more Orihime paid attention to Ichigo then him.

He thought that when he came back, Orihime and Ichigo would have been closer, dating even, and his orange haired rival would be all smiles. But that wasn't the case. Ordinarily Hayate would be happy, but something was off with Ichigo, he may have been smiling, but it was fake, and it was also completely obvious. Ichigo smiling a fake smile to hide something was usual, but this was different. It made Hayate think back to the time just before he left.

-0-

Hayate hid behind the wall, he was carefully making sure his Orihime-chan got home safely. She may not have said anything, but he could tell that the other kids in her school were giving her a hard time. That stupid Ichigo didn't go to school with her, and Hayate wouldn't even begin to think about letting the orange haired punk take care of her in his place. If he was going to marry Orihime one day, he'd start his duties of watching over her now. If that meant sneaking off before school was over so he could get here early, then so be it.

"Hayate?" A voice that instantly grated on the young boy's nerves more than anything else he could possible imagine. He turned around to face his nemeses. Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo was wearing a dark purple shirt under his school uniform and his black school bag was tossed over his shoulder. Like always, Ichigo had a bandage or two covering his usually smiling features. Right now though, Ichigo was looking at the boy three years his junior with a look of confusion.

"What do you want Kurosaki?" Hayate snapped at the older boy.

"What are you doing?" Ichigo asked. His face was still contorted into that innocent expression of curiosity. The expression was really starting to piss the grade scholar off.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm making sure Orihime-chan stays safe on her way home." Hayate huffed, then turned back to watch said girl.

"You mean you're stalking her?" Ichigo asked surprised, Hayate felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation.

"Don't get jealous just because I'm doing a better job for my destiny of marrying Orihime-chan." The younger boy shot back with a smug tone.

"Hey! I'm the one who's going to marry Inoue-chan!" Ichigo shot back, but still his naive voice lacked anything to be truly afraid of, since it sounded so endearing.

"In your dreams ... or do I have to kick your butt again?" Hayate got in Ichigo's face his eyebrow twitching uncontrollably.

The two boys spent a few second glaring at each other up close, neither one relenting in their contest of wills. Even if Hayate could beat Ichigo that never meant the older boy would relent. Out of the corners of their eyes, both boys noticed Orihime turning around a corner to the street straight to her home. As one, they broke their glares, and looked at the spot she was last seen before she turned the corner, and disappeared from their view.

"Orihime-chan." Hayate gaspedas he pushed Ichigo away and ran to follow the girl. Ichigo tumbled to the ground and nearly whimpered at the impact.

Ichigo looked up and stilled. "Hayate, wait!"

Unfortunately, the young boy didn't hear his rival's warning or notice the car as he ran across the street. Just as it came into his vision, it was too late to get out of the way. The driver laid on the horn trying to alert his victim of the damage Hayate knew was coming. All he could do was close his eyes and hope it didn't hurt too much.

There was the screech of tires as the brakes were applied, and the feeling of dread. Instead of feeling his body connect with the metal of the car or being dragged across the pavement, Hayate felt another body connect with his and pull him out of the way. The body shook as it lunged forward slightly, and gasped. Hayate went wide-eyed at the revelation that he knew that voice. It was Ichigo.

Ichigo's arm released Hayate from its death grip and straightened to use it to support himself. Ichigo tried to do the same with his left arm, but only ended up whimpering in pain and leaning further onto Hayate. The brown haired boy stopped his fidgeting and froze when he heard Ichigo's arm crunch and pop. He looked up at his orange haired protector just in time to catch Ichigo's tear on his cheek. Ichigo's face was covered by his unruly bangs, but Hayate knew his rival was crying.

"Kuro-"

"Are you okay, Hayate?" Ichigo's voice was strained as he asked.

"Am I okay? You idiot, your arm could be broken, what are you doing worrying about me?" Hayate shouted, and again tried to push Ichigo away.

"Good, you're okay." Ichigo lifted his head and smiled at Hayate. His face showed no sign of having cried at all. Hayate knew that smile. It was the same one Ichigo gave Orihime all the time, the one he gave his mother. It was the smile he gave them all, to let them all know he was okay.

"Why are you smiling at me like that? Doesn't it hurt?"

Ichigo's smile only went wider and moved to the side, careful not to bump his twisted arm. "I'm fine really; you were the one who was almost hit by a car so-"

"But you did get hit by a car idiot!" Hayate shouted again, ignoring the panicked driver as she tried to check him for damage while simultaneously juggling her phone call with an ambulance.

"I am fine, really, please don't -"

"Kurosaki-kun?" Boy boys turned in sync towards the breathless Orihime. "It is you."

"Inoue-chan, why are you out here?" Ichigo asked, smiling despite the pain that was draining the color from his face.

"I heard the crash and came to see who it was." Orihime bent down next to Ichigo and began to fuss over his awkwardly bent arm. Ichigo Just kept smiling and patting her on the head with his good arm, trying to convince her of the lie that he wasn't in any pain.

All the while Hayate watched in awe of the older boy he thought he had all figured out. Now it was like a blanket was lifted and all of the stupid habits Ichigo had no longer seemed so idiotic. Sure Ichigo was still a crybaby and an annoying pain in Hayate's behind, but he was also apparently smarter than he let on. Ichigo liked to brag about his name and how it meant "protect one thing," he told Hayate that it was way he was taking Karate even though he clearly had no skill for it.

"I know I can't just protect people physically. If you really want to protect someone, you have to protect them in everything you do, even the simple everyday stuff."

-0-

Hayate can still remember Ichigo telling him those words as he sat with the smiling boy after his father finished putting a cast on his arm. It was that same day when Hayate's aunt came to pick him up from the clinic that she told him they would be moving to Kyoto. Hayate took the time right there to swear to Ichigo that not only would he like Ichigo, but he would be better than him.

"What's the matter with you Kurosaki!" Hayate's harsh tone caused Ichigo to narrow his eyes slightly, though his smile stayed in place. "Say something would ja'? Or are you so shocked to see me that you've been rendered speechless?"

"I'm sorry; I don't really remember who you are." Ichigo managed to get out calmly. He didn't notice the concerned glace Orihime gave him from the side, but he did notice how Hayate seemed to grow more irritated.

"Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime whined and looked at Ichigo with worry. "Don't you remember Sakei-kun?"

"Don't think too much about it." Tatsuki shrugged, "Hayate has changed a lot and Ichigo already sucks at remembering names and the faces that go with them."

Hayate smirked and cracked his knuckles. "I guess I'll have to beat the memory into you."

"Hey, there's not need to get violent." Ichigo put up a placating hand, "Look, I'm sorry, but I really don't remember you. Maybe we could just talk about it after school sometime?"

Ichigo's words seemed to have no affect on the younger boy, if anything, his smirk seemed to grow bigger at Ichigo's placating. It was almost as if he thought Ichigo was backing away from fear, as if he had beaten the older teen before.

"I'm sorry, but I don't really have time for you. We have to get to school now." Ichigo waved and turned to leave.

"Running away, though I can't really blame you. You've never been able to beat anyone, least of all me." Hayate bragged.

Ichigo and his hollow growled in unison. Both Ichigo and his inverted doppelganger were getting fed up with the Ichigo they replaced. Was he really that weak? Ichigo turned back around, focusing his attention entirely on Hayate.

"Well, things can change." Ichigo narrowed his eyes at the boy, a fact not lost on Hayate. His smile had changed and taken a form akin to the sinister smirk of his inner hollow, Ichigo's eyes darkened and spoke volumes of the annoyance he was feeling, and a warning to the young boy.

Tatsuki laughed and doubled over, earning a heavy glare from Ichigo. "Ichigo you haven't won a fight since you were an infant! I bet even Yuzu could kick your ass!"

Ichigo turned to growl at Tatsuki and missed the tick in Hayate's eyebrow. The boy ran up to him with a well executed kick, but he ended up wide-eyed and in shock when his foot didn't come in contact with Ichigo's back. It was caught in the orange haired teen's hand. Ichigo turned and stared at Hayate with narrow eyes and squeezed the punk's thin shoe, causing an uncomfortable pressure. Ichigo's expression made Hayate flinch in fear. Ichigo's dark caramel eyes weren't the same eyes he had left behind, and his smile had disappeared. The only thing on Ichigo's face was a frown and narrowed eyes. His eyes were revealed multiple things Hayate couldn't even begin to decipher.

"Sakei-kun!" Orihime cried in worry.

"What, Kurosaki? You think you're better than me?" Hayate growled, trying to pull his foot free but failing.

"I said I don't have time for you." Ichigo growled. His patience was at its end, and his hollow all too eager to supply ways to hurt the younger boy before them. To stop himself from giving into the serpent's twisted voice Ichigo let go of Hayate's foot, and backed up.

"You better make time, Kurosaki, because I am not leaving until you pull your head out of your ass." Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "I dunno what it is, but you're not the Ichigo I knew. You're different. Protect people not only physically but mentally and emotionally, right? You said that to me! But look at you! Did it take you only a year to forget your own words and become just another high school jack ass!"

"Listen, you little-"

"No you listen!" Hayate yelled cutting him off and striking an aggressive stance. "I may have been gone for a year, but it didn't take me long to figure out that you're not Ichigo. I'm not leaving your side until you come back to your senses."

In a motion to fast for anyone to catch Ichigo lunged forward and punched Hayate's red face. The middle scholar stumbled back and to the ground. He touched his sore cheek and looked at Ichigo stunned.

"What?" Ichigo growled, "That's what you wanted isn't it? To fight me? So get up and fight, Hayate."

"The hell Ichigo?" Tatsuki shouted, her voice going unnoticed by the two orange haired boys.

"Kurosaki-kun? Sakei -kun?" Orihime gasped in worry once again.

"Just go on ahead, Inoue, it won't take me long to teach this little brat a lesson."

"See!" Hayate growled pushing himself back up to his feet. "The Kurosaki I know would never let Orihime-chan know we were fighting!" Hayate rushed forward to deliver another attack on his enemy, but he was pulled short. Something had grabbed the back of his shirts and had lifted him off the ground. He turned and instantly his mood worsened.

"Figures Sado would still be babysitting you." Hayate grumbled to the silent giant holding him above the ground like a toy. He looked back to Ichigo and was about to say something but the orange haired teen was walking away silently. "Get back here Kurosaki! I'm not done with you!"

"Well I'm done with you!" Ichigo shouted back, not even turning around as he headed off to school. He tried to block out his hollow's voice, whispering at him to go back and show Tatsuki just how much of a fighter he was by teaching the boy some respect.

"Kurosaki-kun." Orihime called out gently, watching him go with obvious worry, and then turned to see Hayate struggling against Chad's grip.

Tatsuki was just dumbfounded by the whole thing. Ichigo had never been a good fighter, but he had not only easily caught Hayate's kick, but moved faster than she had been able to catch, and punched the boy. She had no doubt that if Chad hadn't interfered, there would have been a fight at that moment. But that was all wrong, Ichigo wasn't a fighter.

Rukia was just silent about the whole thing. She watched Ichigo go, and watched the worry on Orihime's face. Something was wrong, that much was obvious. The teenage boy was acting different from usually, Orihime wasn't the only who caught on. While he did let out a small smile every now and then, the large goofy grin on his face was obviously a ploy to hide whatever he was feeling from them all. And his quickness to anger just a second ago, ready to fight Hayate, it was strange.

"Inoue." Chad's low voice commanded attention, even getting Hayate to stop his fidgeting, "You go ahead to school, I'll be by after I make sure Sakei-san's alright."

"But Sado-kun-"Orihime started.

"Go ahead Inoue, I don't want any of you to be late for class."

Orihime wanted to protest, but Tatsuki quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her away, giving a quick goodbye to Hayate. It was only Orihime's goodbye that he returned fervently; smiling and childishly waving despite the fact that Chad was still holding him up by his collar.

It wasn't until the girls were out of sight for a little that the giant set him back down on the ground. Hayate calmly readjusted his clothes back into a comfortable position and turned to face said giant.

"What the hell was that for? I could have taken him." He growled, glaring at the large form before him.

"You said it yourself, that wasn't the Ichigo you knew." Chad said calmly, "I've noticed too. He's different, too different. No one seems to really mind or care, but that can't be the Ichigo I know."

"Then why did you stop me?"

"Fighting him wasn't going to do anything. Whatever's wrong with him, it's bothering him more than usual lately." Chad gave a look down the road Ichigo had walked, his mind whirling at what it could be, "I think we need to keep an eye on Ichigo, we might be able to find out what it is that's got him acting strange."

"What'd you have in mind Sado?" Hayate asked, giving the giant a curious look.

-0-

There were always times in the day when he wasn't busy. Times when Kurosaki Isshin would just take his break in between patients and walk into their adjoining home just to watch Masaki work. The motherly care she took in her every small and large task made him remember why he loved her so much. Not that he ever forgot mind you. His Masaki was his whole life and world. 20 years and three children later she was just as sweet, just as lovely, and even more beautiful.

Isshin crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame of the entrance between the family room and the clinic and just watched. He quickly started to worry. Masaki wasn't humming to herself as she washed the dishes from breakfast. He wasn't even sure if he would classify her actions as even cleaning. It was more like she was staring into space while her arms mechanically scrubbed the same plate she had been holding for the past fifteen minutes.

"It would be easier to buy new plates than it would be to scrub the color off of that one." Isshin smirked. The sound of her husband's unexpected voice made Masaki jump and fumble the plate. It landed hard in the sink and shattered like the other this morning had. She gasped and then pointed, bringing her gloved hand to her forehead. She tensed then relaxed as Isshin's hands snaked around her waist and he rested his stubble covered chin on her shoulder.

"What's wrong, hon? You're acting like you saw a ghost."

"I very nearly did." She mumbled her eyes downcast and uncharacteristically sad.

Her husband tensed and let her go. Sliding over to lean against the counter beside her, he crossed his arms over his chest. "What happened?"

"It was Ichigo... This morning he..."

"You mean the reiatsu he released while he was sleeping?"

"No, I mean the blast of it he released when I saw sitting at the table this morning."

Isshin bowed his head and let out a harsh curse. He had been out of the room when that happened. He wanted to try and keep his earlier discovery secret until he knew what was going on.

"I am worried Isshin. He has been acting so weird lately, he is always sleeping up in his room instead of spending time with the family like he used to, I am pretty sure I caught him sneaking out the other night, and now this?"

"I have been worried too. He doesn't seem to be acting very Ichigo, does he?"

"You promised me that they would never have to live in that world! I don't want Ichigo or my little girls fearing monsters that travel through the night eating souls!"

Isshin pulled his wife to his chest and whispered comforting words into her ear. He knew she was scared; it was because of her fear that they had the children's spiritual savvy genes ripped from them at such a young age. Masaki had lived with the fear of monsters that only she could see since she was a child. She would later learn that they were called hollows and that she was very special. She had a high reiatsu, high enough to see Isshin and win his heart in no time at all. They got married and wanted a family all their own, but under the condition that the connection with the world that frightened his love would end with them.

"We'll see Kisuke tomorrow with Ichigo. If there is a way to fix it, I know he will. It will all be alright."

"Do you promise?" Masaki asked like a small child begging for a bedtime story.

"Of course I promise." Isshin picked up his wife with a small eep from her cute pouting lips. "And Kurosakis never break promises."

-0-

"Ichigo."

Ichigo turned his sunken gaze away from the calm waters of the river and to Chad, his giant of a friend that called his name. Chad had always been big, and fit as a fiddle unless an enemy made him any worse for wear, but he was panting from the long run to find his orange haired friend. Ichigo's face was still pale from the grizzly thoughts Chad had pulled his attention from and a cold sweat covered his face. His eyes were wide, blood shot and depressed. Eyebrows furrowed to a tight and tense center. Clearly the teen wasn't expecting anyone to come after him; otherwise he wouldn't have let his emotions show.

"Ch-Chad, what are you-?"

"Chad? What kind of dumb nickname is that Kurosaki?" Hayate mocked. The boy stepped out from behind the giant, trying his hardest to look tough and not at all winded.

Ichigo's expression went from stunned to dangerous. "Why did you come here Haya-"

"We have two options." Hayate announced and took charge of the conversation. The boy with bleached hair flopped down next to Ichigo whose expression almost looked like one worn by the older boy he had left behind. "I think you are a body snatcher come to take Kurosaki's place so you can study us and gain all of our secrets."

Ichigo tensed, not fully understanding what Hayate was talking about.

"Sado thinks you are Ichigo just from a different dimension or something... I personally think my idea is better." Hayate threw a rock in the river and scared away the dragon flies. The insects spread out and flew off to find smoother water to surf. "So Kurosaki, which one is it?"

Ichigo paused before letting out a tense laugh. "I don't know what you're talking about. That's ridiculous to think that I am not myself."

"Ichigo." Chad moved behind Hayate and stared his deep brown eyes into Ichigo's. "Trust us, Ichigo."

Ichigo froze. Chad never said much. It was always a shock when he said two sentences in a row, but that didn't mean that he never said anything important. When he did speak those few short words, Sado always said exactly what he needed to say, and exactly what he knew Ichigo needed to hear.

"Hayate, you're idea..."

"I knew it!" Hayate shouted in glee, impressed at his own amazing observation skills. His reaction surprisingly enough made Ichigo smile a small but true grin.

"You're idea was completely wrong." Hayate's excitement quickly deflated. "Chad was right actually. I..." Ichigo paused to collect his thoughts, his fists clenched and his jaw tightened enough to make his teeth throb. Images of his past mistakes of every friend and ally's bodies filled his mind all at once, making his vision blur. How would he ever explain that they all died? How could he explain to Chad that he hadn't even known he had been stabbed my Gin Ichimaru's Bankai until Orihime screamed. Chad had done it to protect her. That's what Orihime mumbled over and over as she stood shaking over Chad's deteriorating body. Gin's poison made it impossible for her to reject the injury. Ichigo didn't have much time to mourn. Aizen attacked again. Orihime died having seen it though. She had died...

"I don't know how to explain why I'm here..."

"Then don't!" Hayate shouted with an exasperated glare. "It's your problem, and I don't know how to have you tell us without you getting all pissy again. We'll just wait." Hayate looked at Ichigo and flashed him a cocky grin that Ichigo knew he had seen before, on his own face. "When you are really ready, Sado and I will be there to listen, but only when you are ready. Until then, we'll wait."

Ichigo's expression eased and he couldn't help but look at Hayate with a strange look of conviction.

"What?" The bleach haired boy glared with a snap. "There something on my face of somethin'?"

"It's just that..." Ichigo looked out to the water, his eyes glazing with memory. "It was almost a year ago when a friend of mine told me almost that same thing. It helped me then, and gave me the sliver of resolve that I needed to fight."

"You won, right? With skills like you showed me earlier, there was no way you didn't."

"I lost." Ichigo mumbled. "I was stupid and naive at the time. All I could think of was avenging my m..." Ichigo stopped himself with a quick correction. "... avenging someone dear to me. My enemy fled and I swore to myself that I would kill him."

Hayate shivered at the eerie promise in Ichigo's voice. The young teen had no doubt that Ichigo had the power or resolve to kill someone, or hell something. He cast a side glance at Sado, who seemed just as affected by Ichigo's deadly vow. The giant shuffled his feet and looked nervous.

"Thank you both." Ichigo mumbled getting up from his grassy hill and standing on his feet, feeling stable for only a second before his past pressed on his shoulders once again. "It feels good to have someone know."

"We'll keep your secret Kurosaki, for now at least." Hayate announced, seeming in higher spirits since knowing only a fraction of Ichigo's past.

'He called Orihime "my Orihime" earlier,' Ichigo remembered because both his hollow and he mentally groaned at the thought of this punk kid thinking he owned Orihime in any way. How would Hayate's attitude towards him change when - if - he found out he had stabbed Orihime through the chest and killed her? How much would Hayate hate him if he knew Orihime died in his arms and there was nothing Ichigo could have done to save her? The thought made his mood worsen considerably.

"I will always have your back Ichigo." Chad supplied with a corny thumbs up.

"Thanks Chad, I have one request though." Ichigo turned and started to walk away his back facing them as he called out in a deep and troubled voice. "Don't concern yourselves with me. You'll only get killed."

-0-

Déjà vu hit Ichigo when he walked through the door. It was dark, and empty. A letter on the counter said that they had all went to conferences at the girls' school, and where going to get dinner on their way home. Dinner was in the microwave, but Ichigo didn't care. He crumpled up the letter, hating everything, and stomped off to his room. He wanted to be alone, and away from everyone and everything that reminded him of his loss. Then he felt so much pain because he was alone. Where was Masaki's happy smile when he walked in and the smell of dinner being prepared? His sister's laughter and his father's sneak attacks?

Ichigo fell face down on his bed, and took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. To his surprise it wasn't the smell of his own husky soap that reached his nose, but the sweet and very consoling aroma of pumpkin spice. Ichigo grabbed at his sheets in the dark and pulled his jacket, the same one he had discarded at the table earlier, into his field of vision.

His frozen blood cooled in seconds as he settled against his pillows, and rested one hand behind his head. The other held up the jacket closer to his face. Close enough for him to easily see the sunset colored reiatsu flowing off the black surface. Ichigo couldn't help but frown when he ran his thumb over the remnants of her sweet aura. His own blue, darkened to a midnight hue sense the day he completely merged with his inner hollow, swirled around with hers, but then crushed it away, leaving and empty section in the layer Orihime's presence.

Ichigo flinched and wanted nothing more than to repair the damage he caused.

"I'm going to destroy her again. Just like last time." Ichigo mumbled into the dark.

"That isn't going to happen, king." Ichigo heard as if his hollow had whispered it into his ear, like the serpent tempting eve. Caramel eyes turned gold and black, and Ichigo didn't fight the take over. He wanted to be away from reality. His hollow glared down at the jacket, his smile missing and his gaze closer to his kings. He brought the jacket to his nose and the hollow took in a deep breath.

God, the woman was going to be the death of him. The hollow took time to feel the clean cloth against his skin, feeling her reiatsu mixed in. He smiled and closed his eyes, The last thought that echoed through Ichigo's mind before sleep took hold of him and his hollow was a twisted promise that the teen couldn't quite understand.

The hollow sighed, tracing his thumb over the spiritual partials left on the jacket, carful to only touch and not disturb them.

"Mine."

-0-

Ichigo didn't even blink as the alarm went off. He had been awake when it went off anyway, staring at the tiny clock and counting down the minutes until the alarm buzzed to life. Lazily he reached out an arm and turned it off. You would think it was a good day; he wasn't starting off with a fist to a face from his father, his battle pass was silent and his hollow hadn't said a peep. But it wasn't a good day. June 17th was never a good day. It would always be the day his mother had died.

Ichigo hadn't really slept the night before, he couldn't find the peace to close his eyes and let himself fade away into unconsciousness. The images from so long ago kept haunting him, added in with new images of his dying and lifeless friends. More than the others, Orihime's ghost was hell-bent on haunting him. It suddenly occurred to Ichigo just how alike his mother and Orihime were, both so kind and caring, and slightly goofy in a non-annoying way Keigo could never pull off. His scowl grew as her dying face came to the forefront of his mind, smiling ever so serenely as she passed on. He slammed his palm to his forehead and let out a small whimper he was glad no one would ever hear. Soon the memory was gone and locked away in a box he had long ago built into his subconscious. He didn't know what in all was in the box, how he made it, or how memories kept breaking loose on him recently, but he knew why it was manufactured. It was a place he put emotions, memories, anything he knew was to strong and heart wrenching for his hollow or himself to stand. God help him if the box ever broke.

He blinked in surprise when his eyes fell on the clock and he realized he had spent ten minutes on his memories. With a sigh and a grunt, he pulled himself up to go through the day. He already knew what he was going to do, going through school and acting like he was fine wasn't on the agenda today. He didn't think he could bare putting on a fake face for so long. So after getting dressed, he slipped a pair of casual clothes into his pack instead of his school books.

Breakfast was harder than he thought it would be. He couldn't bring himself to talk or eat much, which caught his mother's attention. He didn't even listen as she asked him if anything was wrong, he was just lost in the fact that she was right there in front of him, but still so far away. She wasn't his mother; she was the mother of a dead Kurosaki Ichigo. His mother was dead, he had killed her. Even with Kurosaki Masaki sitting right in front of him, the pain and guilt would not go away. So he sat there staring as if she was a ghost come to haunt him for all eternity. If he reached out his hand to her, would she be warm, or as cold as she had been when he was 9, trying to shake her blood soaked body back into consciousness? He didn't dare attempt it to see. He was afraid that even the smallest grain of dust would land on her and cause her to burst into a million different shades, left for him to glue back together. Or worse yet, he would touch her and she would be there warm and soft like he remembered, but he would just end up killing her again. His touch was a curse, just like his promise to protect those closest to him. He was cursed.

"Ichi-nii!"

The loud cry brought Ichigo out of his thought, and to the view of his family looking at him with concerned faces; everyone but his father who had disappeared while Ichigo was busy staring into space.

"Ichigo, are you feeling alright?" Masaki asked, worry lacing every syllable that she said.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ichigo couldn't even bring himself to add 'mom' to the end of his sentence.

He gave his family one last look before looking down at his untouched breakfast. He quietly placed his chopsticks down and grabbed his bag, then walked out of the front door. His mother called out to her son with concern, and Ichigo bit his lip to stop himself from going back to the table and clinging to her frame like the little boy he felt like he had become. He slammed the door in his wake.

Halfway to school he ducked inside a small café and changed from his school uniform to his casual clothes. As he stepped outside, Ichigo looked up at the cloudy sky that so eloquently mirrored the cloudy skies of his inner mind. He would retreat to that inner place if he didn't know the skyscrapers were already flooded and Zangetsu was most likely having a tantrum because of the pour weather. The forecast mirrored on dozens of televisions on sale across the street claimed that there was a seventy percent chance of rain. It was all too different from the last time he had, had to experience June 17th. It had been so sunny and hot, but the end result was still the same, rain.

As he walked off to the cemetery, Ichigo could only think about how he hated the rain.

-0-

"Why are we following Kurosaki again?" Rukia asked as she and Orihime ducked behind a curve to see Ichigo disappear into a small café. The two caught quite a few glances from passer bys with their goofy spy outfits. Both were outfitted in matching tuxedos -Orihime with a red tie, and Rukia with a winter blue one- complete with sunglasses and fedoras. The two girls were attracting more attention to themselves this way than any. Again Rukia pushed down her sunglasses, finding it easier to see without the dark lenses than with them.

"Kurosaki-kun wasn't himself yesterday." Orihime answered somberly, "Something was bothering him, and he seemed really pained about today."

"I'll agree he wasn't himself." Rukia mumbled, a worried look on her face about just how different he was, "But does that really warrant following him around?"

Both girls quieted down as Ichigo stepped out of the café, dressed in casual clothes. He looked up at the sky for a moment, and then started walking off. Orihime gave him a confused look before following, pulling Rukia in tow behind her. The pair followed Ichigo for a ways before finding themselves outside the cemetery. Orihime and Rukia looked at each other before watching Ichigo disappear into the place.

"Why is he taking a day off from school to go to a cemetery?" Rukia questioned, standing in front of the gates.

"I don't know." Orihime said quietly. And it hurt more than just a little bit. How much did she really know about Ichigo anymore? He was so different from the first time she had met him. If anything, he was like her, his eyes showed the same pain of having lost everything he cared about, but that was impossible. He still had his perfect family and wonderful loyal friends that were always there to watch or pat his back whenever he needed them.

With a quiet nod of determination, Orihime walked past Rukia and through the gates of the cemetery. Something was wrong with Ichigo, and she was going to find out what.

-0-

Hayate may have been a little out of practice, but the fact that Ichigo, Orihime, and the girl that was supposedly Orihime's cousin had yet to notice him, was a testament to his skills. He had started off following Ichigo around, he had meant it when he said he was going to stick by Ichigo until he snapped out of his moody and brooding attitude and no petty threat of death was going to stop him. He had meant to tell the orange haired replacement of his rival that very thing, but when he saw Orihime and Rukia following Ichigo as well, he dropped back to keep an eye on them. Ichigo had proven he could handle himself, but he was worried more for Orihime, and she was bound to be able to keep him in her sights.

He didn't understand what was going on until he found himself standing outside the cemetery. It was confusing, was this where Ichigo had skipped school to go? The memory of Ichigo's chilling words played rewind in his mind. Avenge, that's what he said. Was that person he held dear buried here? It didn't matter. Regardless of Ichigo's reasoning, he said he was going to follow him, and Orihime was going in, so Hayate didn't hesitate to push through the gate and follow behind them all.

-0-

Ichigo felt numb as he made his way through rows upon rows of gravestones. Of everything that was similar to his dimension, why did this cemetery have to be one? It was too familiar for his liking, and his feet subconsciously took him to the spot where Masaki's grave was supposed to be located. The name was different, but still it looked the same. For a moment, Ichigo thought he saw Masaki's name there, but it was just a trick of his imagination.

With nowhere else to go, Ichigo walked up to the shrine located there. He took a moment to look at everything before going to the front and praying. He spent time to beg forgiveness for failing his mother and father, Karin and Yuzu, for Orihime, and Chad, Uryu, Rukia, Renji, Toshiro, Neliel and her brothers, Yachiru, Byakuya and the other shinigami and vizards, he didn't forget a single name of anyone who had died as a result of his failure.

Today wasn't just a day to mourn Masaki's loss, it was time he needed to reflect on his failure. Maybe it hurt, but he deserved that pain didn't he? Even if he was starting over, that didn't change the fact that people had died because he wasn't strong enough.

Ichigo didn't know how long he had spent at the shrine, but he hoped it was long enough. He didn't have time to keep mourning them, even though they deserved it. Grand Fisher was bound to appear that day, Ichigo was sure of it. And he wouldn't let the bastard get away this time, couldn't. He had, had a hard enough time fighting him the first time, things were going to be easier for Orihime, and he'd make sure of it.

"Quit lying to yourself King, and stop using Hime as a crutch. We are going to kill that son-of-a-bitch-bastard because we can, and because we fucking hate him." Ichigo knew the hollow was right, but he couldn't find it in himself to reply.

It took a little searching, but Ichigo found the little run down building Kon had taken his sisters last time. It wasn't as bad as he remembered it, and quickly left his body. If it had been possible to see his eyes, anyone would have seen the determination and resolve that filled them. It was almost frightening.

-0-

"Orihime, I think we lost him." Rukia stated as they rounded yet another bend in the cemetery. The small shinigami was tired from walking and dodging over little time Orihime thought Ichigo might have turned their way. As a sign of her throwing in the towel she took off her hat and glasses. She threw the glasses into the overturned hat as she pulled at her tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons to give herself relief from the warm and humid air.

It was going to rain soon.

"Don't say that Rukia, we didn't lose him. We just don't know where he is currently." Orihime turned and gave Rukia a reassuring smile. Rukia just blanched.

"Orihime, I know you're concerned for Kurosaki." Rukia began, knowing she was treading lightly, "But there are some things that people like to keep to themselves. Maybe we shouldn't be here."

Orihime went silent, and Rukia was a little afraid she had said something wrong. She knew Orihime cared about Ichigo, obviously enough to skip school for him, but from the way he had been acting Rukia was beginning to wonder if prying into his business would yield anything good. For Christ's sake, he had hauled off and punched that Hayate kid with minimal reason yesterday. Whatever was bothering him was definitely something unpleasant, and made him more than slightly unstable... Rukia could relate.

"Do you really think so?" Orihime questioned; her eyes downcast.

"Well…" Rukia wracked her brain for a solution, "Whatever it is, it's bothering him. We shouldn't pry, but I don't see anything wrong with letting him know you're there for him." The smile Orihime gave her made Rukia smile in turn, "But first we have to find him again."

"What are you two doing here?"

Orihime and Rukia turned up to see Kagemusha standing on the branch of a tree further up on the hill. Even if they couldn't see him clearly, they knew he was looking at them. Orihime gasped as he jumped from his perch, but then he landed smoothly on the ground in front of them. Rukia immediately started glaring while Orihime nervously wrung her hands.

"I asked you two a question." He stated harshly, making Orihime flinch.

"We're-" Orihime started.

"What we're here for is none of your business." Rukia glared and shot back.

"Don't give me that crap, Rukia." Rukia suppressed the urge to take a step back as Kagemusha's reiatsu flared up for a moment when he turned towards her, "Not today. Now answer me."

"We… We were just…" Orihime took a step back. She'd never known Kagemusha to act this way. He was always so helpful and understanding, but now, he seemed really angry and mad at them. But she hadn't done anything.

"You know what," he interrupted her, "It doesn't matter, go home." And turned to leave.

"Wait just one damn minute!" Rukia shouted, stopping him in his tracks, "Who the hell gave you permission to tell us what to do!"

Orihime blinked and missed it, one second Kagemusha had been several feet away from them, the next he was standing toe to toe with Rukia, looking down on her. Even though she didn't show it, Orihime knew Rukia was scared, but she just glared defiantly up at their savior's shadowy form.

"Why is it so damn hard to get it through your head that I'm here to help you?" Kagemusha growled, "So when I tell you to go home, you had better go home."

"And what is so bad that we can't deal with it ourselves today?" Rukia questioned.

Before the short silence between them could be broken by words, Rukia's Soul Page went off.

"Damnit." Kagemusha hissed, looking off into the distance and disappeared before Rukia could even pull the small phone out of her pocket.

Orihime stayed silent as Rukia furiously stared at the spot where Kagemusha just been. The hand gripping the Soul Page was shaking, and for a second Orihime was scared that Rukia would break the small device. Rukia took a deep breath and pocketed the small phone before turning around to meet Orihime's gaze.

"Let's go find Kurosaki, shall we?" she said in a strained voice, obviously trying to alleviate her fury at the disguised Shinigami.

Orihime could only nod in response before following after her small mentor. She cast one long look behind her where Kagemusha had disappeared. It just seemed to be a bad day all around, for everyone. But she couldn't help but wonder just what had happened that made him so edgy. He was so different from the savior she normally saw.

"AAGH!"

The sharp cry instantly caught Rukia and Orihime's attention. Without even missing a beat, they both broke out into a dead run, heading right for the source of the pained cry.

-0-

Hayate let out a long groan as he hit himself on the head for a tenth time. How could he lose Orihime? Really, she had been in his sights since he had started following her, and then five minutes into the cemetery…. She just disappeared from his sight. How was it even possible? Orihime and her short cousin -who looked nothing like her by the way- had been wearing such weird clothes he could have spotted them out of a busy Kyoto street corner if he had too. Some fine job he was doing today. He lost Ichigo, and he was pretty certain couldn't snap the idiot out of whatever was making him act like a jack-ass and get him to at least act like he was Ichigo if he couldn't find his punk ass. And now he was failing to protect Orihime.

Hayate growled and through his beanie cap to the ground, dug his fingers into his bleached hair and pulled. Hayate for a millisecond just stared at the hat and thought. Masaki, Ichigo's sweet mother, had given it to him in a box of Ichigo's hand-me-downs. The hat had pretty much been the only thing Hayate had liked; after all he had been there when Orihime had given it to his orange haired rival. She had just gotten it from a random drawing at school, but Ichigo had loved it, and had it set up in his room. Ichigo whined when Masaki put it in the box, but Ichigo saw how much Hayate wanted it and had made an excuse as to why his mother could give it away.

Now that Ichigo was gone and this hat was all he had to remember both him and his Orihime. He picked it up, sorry he had thrown it on the dirty ground and wiped it off, ignoring the moister at the corner of his eyes. How did everything change so much?

"Stupid Ichigo." Hayate sniffled, pulling the hat back over his messy hair. He brought his hand up to violently swipe away the tear that Ichigo didn't deserve to have shed for him, she stopped in mid motion.

Hayate tensed as he felt something that seemed brush the back of his neck. He turned around, but there was nothing. He turned to start his search over again, and felt that same brushing sensation again. Hayate grabbed the back of his neck as he spun around again, and glared at the area behind him. What the hell was that?He shivered. Don't tell me I found myself in a haunted cemetery.

Just as he turned to start his search again, the feeling returned, but this time it wrapped around his neck and yanked him up. Hatate started choking as whatever it was wrapped around his neck tightened, slowly cutting off his air supply. He kicked his legs furiously, trying to hit whatever had its agonizing hold on him, but it was useless, he couldn't hit anything. Just before he felt his consciousness slip away, whatever was around his neck moved to cover his mouth. Taking as deep a breath as he could, Hayate opened up and bit down hard.

Whatever it was shook for a second before unwinding and letting him drop unceremoniously to the ground. He took a second to catch his breath as he pulled himself off the ground to start running. Just as he took his first step he felt something collide with his back and shove him to the ground, then apply pressure on him. When he tried pushing against it, Hayate felt two sharp points stab into both his shoulders.

"AAGH!" he cried out, the pain near unbearable.

Hayate could almost swear he heard malicious laughter as the invisible force receded. He turned his head and looked up to see his blood hanging in the air, dripping down a bird like claw with two sharp talons. Even though his arms weren't pinned, the stabs made moving them too painful; he could only lay on the ground, as he waited for whatever it was going to do to him.

"Sakei-kun!"

Hayate looked up and didn't know whether to feel relieved or horrified to see Orihime and Rukia running towards him. The worry on her face was evident, even as he felt blackness coming to him and his vision fading away.

"Orihime-chan, run." He choked out, hoping it reached her.

The last thing he was Rukia slipping on some strange colored glove and slamming her palm into the back of Orihime's head.

-0-

Ichigo let out a loud curse as he sliced Zangetsu through another hollow's mask. Just as quickly as it faded away, it was replaced with two more. It was frustrating; they were small fries, worthless little hollows. But they had numbers on their side. It was almost like every time he took out one, he got more in return. He didn't know how many there were, he stopped counting a while ago. His hollow seemed to be having the time of his life, letting out savage laughs and battle cries with every felled foe. Ichigo was just worried.

Grand Fisher was smart, too smart. These hollows were too coordinated to be doing this on their own, and they seemed to just be sacrifices for a bigger gain. Grand Fisher had to be behind it, which meant it had purposely separated him from Orihime and Rukia, it knew he was protecting them. And he had fallen right into its trap without a second thought. He was attacked on all sides; he didn't have time to release his shikai, or even bankai. God, he'd love to even get his mask on.

Ichigo narrowly missed a swipe of claws as he jumped back from an attack. He quickly stopped and turned on his heel, taking out three hollows with a single swipe. He jumped into the air and back flipped, stabbing a hollow that had lunged at him through the eye and barreled it into the ground. The rest of the hollows backed up and formed a small circle around him as their four allies disintegrated. Ichigo stood slowly, taking in the view of all the hollows, there had to be over thirty around him, all ready and poised to attack, not even fazed at the loss of so many already at his hands.

Ichigo raised his blade and stood firm. If he had to cut through them to save Orihime, he was damn well going to do it. He owed it to her, more so than ever now. As the hollows let out savage roars and charged again, Ichigo let out his own, and swung.

Peaceful days were over.