See you guys, I am alive! And I'm so so so sorrrry for taking this long to update! But I am no longer grounded! Time to celebrate! I'm hoping to update all my other multi-chap fics very soon, but I have multiple oneshots that are trying to get finished, and I really want to get those out of the way, so no guarantees.
Review Replies:
Sasuke Uzamaki9999: Hm, that makes sense. Cable does sound right. I'll eventually go back and fix that...XD Do you really think I'd do that? I have to drag out the story a little longer to watch all my dear readers get pissed and try to castrate me XP
DarkDragonQueen0: Why hello there! Nice to see a new penname in my review box :) T'was quite happy seeing your review! I'm glad you like it! I'm looking forward to writing that part! Quite a bit XD
Whitespiderlilly: Irony is beautiful, isn't it?
Animelover1993: Oh...well I didn't mean to make you almost die...my bad...and I'm a girl XD Yea, it pretty much is a conspiracy. Poor suckers. Yea, you guys will find out...eventually.
Kai-Chan94- Why thank you! :D
Thunder Claw03: Don't worry, it's already been determined. No couple between Ichi and Shiro. S'all good. Oh, NOW you're asking me to make couples, but not yaoi couples? Well damn. XD I'll see what I can do. And I'm not planning to do the Vizard thing with Shiro and Ichi. It's too...unoriginal for my tastes.
Yami-no-Tamashii- Hahaha! No, no incest, I apologize XD It's a bit awkward for me to write. This story has a mind of its own, but I can keep enough control over it to prevent incest. It's simply fluffy brotherly love ^_^
Lots of reviews guys! Thanks so much! I looked over some of my old chapters, and I realized there are SOOO many mistakes. Ah, the price of being unbeta'd. Oh well.
Anyway, tune in to the note at the bottom. Very **IMPORTANT** info down there. I apologize in advance for the short chapter...
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Damnit, will you quit that already?"
"Nope!"
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! SMACK!
"Ow, fuck! What was that for Ichi?" I demanded, holding my wounded cheek with one hand, glaring at Ichigo with what I could only hope looked like a pout.
"Cause you were annoying the hell out of me." Ichigo replied simply, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. I scowled darkly, ignoring the hand he offered to me and pushing myself up off the ground where I had fallen.
"Let's just go already," I said stiffly, my shoulders tensed angrily. Ichigo chuckled, but when I felt his reiatsu move in my direction, I knew he was following. Then the reiatsu sped up towards me, and I heard the small sound of a jump, and then extra weight was added to my back.
"C'mon Shi, lighten up! Now, TO THE LIBRARY!" Ichigo shouted in my ear from his position, pointing his finger in the direction of the 12th squad. My mood instantly brightened into amusement as I gave Ichigo a piggy-back ride, and expanded my step into shunpo.
The landscape flew by in a whirl; I could feel Ichigo instinctively clutching to me tighter, using me to block the wind from hitting his face. My eye rolled of their own accord, and as soon as we got to the library, I released my arms from around his legs, and the orange head landed to the ground with a growl.
He stood, rubbing his backside from the harsh landing, sending me a half-hearted glare. "Thanks. I appreciate that." He said sarcastically.
It was my turn to shrug at him. "Simply payback. And you sitting on my back was annoying the hell out of me," I taunted, winking cheekily as I parroted him from earlier.
He simply mumbled incoherently before trekking into the library, his feet stomping angrily onto the ground. I chuckled, but followed, cheerfully whistling in rhythm to my steps.
I stepped easily through the doors, which had just been shut in my face courtesy of a pouting orange head, and I couldn't help but stare. The room was huge, and you couldn't see the wall. There were just too many bookcases. I trotted after Ichigo who was walking to a platform that stuck out over the center of the room, which was, amusing as it was, in the middle of the air.
The screens were brightly lit and buzzing quietly. He immediately began typing on the touch screen, and I peeked over his shoulder to look.
"History of Soul Society, eh? Don't you think that's a bit broad? I mean, Head Captain Yamamoto is over 2,000 years old. So maybe put in Soul Society and choose a year. That'll narrow it down a bit." I suggested quietly, just in case the orange head was still holding a grudge.
"Makes sense." He deleted what he wrote earlier and typed in a new search, and pressed enter. About 5 books came up, and I instantly pressed the print button, which would print the information of each book out.
"I'll take these 2, and you can take the others," I told him, ripping the paper in half and giving one to him. He gingerly held it, examining the titles and locations before nodding.
"Let me know if you see anything, ok Shi?"
I mock saluted him with a shout of "Yes Sir!" to which he responded with a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head, before jumping off the side of the platform to get to the lower floors.
"Have fun!" I called over the side, before choosing a book which was up a few levels. I leaped upwards, gathering reishi beneath my feet to propel myself farther up. When I got to the floor I needed, I started my search.
About two hours later, the look-a-likes got back together on the main level of the library, and compared results.
"Well, I found the right time period, and there was a ton of information about the Winter War. The book talked about how Aizen kept a few Captains, lieutenants, the Savior and the Savior's friends trapped in Hueco Mundo while he went to the fake Karakura town to make the key. Then it says that he defeated all of his opponents, with the help of his Espada, Gin, and Tousen, who died in a fight with Komamura Taicho and Hisagi fukutaicho. Then, right before Aizen attacked Urahara, Yoruichi, and someone named Isshin Kurosaki, the Savior appeared. Then it goes on about how Aizen defeated them all except the savior, and escaped to Soul Society. Then, Isshin Kurosaki recovered, and helped bring the Savior to the Precipice World, where his Zanpakutou taught him a new skill, something called a "Final Getsuga Tensho", which the Savior used to defeat Aizen, but ultimately took his powers away," Shiro reported as he sat across from Ichigo, who growled in frustration, before his eyes widened slightly.
"Shiro...did you say Isshin Kurosaki?" The orange haired Soul Reaper asked, his voice quiet as his fists clenched slightly.
Shiro tilted his head to the side, after giving a nod of an affirmative answer, before his mouth widened in understanding.
"That's your last name, isn't it, Ichi? I'd forgotten. I wonder if you're related?"
Ichigo shrugged, before comprehending something else that Shiro had said. "The Savior used a 'Final Getsuga Tensho', right?"
Shiro caught on much faster this time, eyes lighting up excitedly, before his eyebrows scrunched together again.
"Ichi...I don't like this. Not a single bit. Soul Society is hiding something. The fact that we can't remember anything is just the tip of the iceberg, I think. What do we have to do with the Savior? Maybe-"
"Hey you guys!" A deep voice greeted, and Ichigo and Shiro broke off their conversation to stare at their new companion. The blue haired Soul Reaper sweatdropped, stepping back from the irritated glances the doppelgangers were shooting him.
"What is it, Grimmjow? We're kind of busy." Ichigo intoned, before standing to glare at the newcomer.
"Fine, someone's touchy today. I just wanted to let you know that Captain Abarai is looking for you. He's in his office. Dunno why he sent me, but I just happened to walk by, so I turned into a messenger." Grimmjow shrugged, turning around to walk back out of the library without waiting for a response. Ichigo and Shiro simply blinked owlishly before gathering their books and putting them away quickly and meeting back up at the door.
"Ichigo, I think we should find out who this 'Isshin Kurosaki' is. From the stories, it sounds like he knew what the Getsuga Tensho was, so maybe he'll know the connection between us and the Savior. And maybe he'll know what's going on with Soul Society. I read somewhere else that he was exiled, so that rules out Soul Society. He must either live in the World of the Living or Hueco Mundo." Shiro murmured as they shut the library doors behind them and started walking toward the Squad 5 barracks.
"That makes sense, Shiro, but how in the hell are we going to get to Hueco Mundo or the World of the Living? Someone would notice! If Isshin really does have a connection with me, maybe he lives in that town I lived in! What was it called...Karakura, I think. Damn it, this is really complicated. My head hurts. There are way too many maybes in this." Ichigo complained, rubbing his orange locks soothingly, hoping to rid himself off an oncoming headache.
Shiro smiled sympathetically, but shook his head slowly, white locks bouncing jovially. "Ichi, this is just...ugh. Nevermind. Let's worry about this later. Duty calls," Shiro quipped with a weary smile, before brightening and shooting Ichigo a wink and shunpoing off.
"See ya there, Ichi, ya little slow poke!" Ichigo bristled at the departing words and quickly extended his step into Shunpo, moving swiftly to catch up with the taller Reaper.
They stopped in front of Captain Abarai's office, panting ever so slightly, before straightening and knocking on the door, announcing who it was. They obeyed the loud, 'come in,' and stood in front of Captain Abarai's desk.
Renji looked up, gazing at Ichigo with a nostalgic look to his face, before quickly wiping it clean and handing them both a packet, which the two squad-less Soul Reapers ripped open.
Ichigo ripped the manila folder off, much to the amusement of the others in the office, the contents of which left him open mouthed and staring at the papers in amazement and delight. Shiro quickly followed suit, and his expression contorted to match Ichigo's. Renji bit back a snicker, and sat back to wait who would speak first.
"Sh-shiro-" Ah, so it would be Ichigo first, "-I'm a lieutenant in Squad 6! That's so awesome!"
Shiro nodded quickly, still watching his promotion papers as if they were going to explode into flame, or someone was going to pop out and tell him it was all a joke.
"I'm a lieutenant for Squad 5," his voice came out strangled, but happy sounding.
"Since all the captains can tell you two want to stick together, and that you are stronger that way too, you are being given a separate barrack on the edge of the Seireitei. Some other people who are obviously extremely close may join you. Obviously, you must be able to get to your squads quickly should anything happen, and you are only allowed to be there for sleeping. Hanging out there is strictly forbidden, as you may be needed elsewhere. Understand?"
The look-a-likes nodded determinedly, immediately understanding why they were being told to do this. Renji sighed and rubbed a hand through his bright red hair, before dismissing Ichigo, telling him to report to Captain Kuchiki, and then shooing Shiro away, informing him to go get settled in his new barrack. Shiro nodded happily, before disappearing quietly, and Renji once again sat back. He rested a hand over his eyes, biting back the sadness of still having to keep up this facade of normalcy, when all he wanted was to remove Ichigo's memory bind himself so they could be friends like they used to be.
It just sucks that not everything can go your way.
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION BELOW**
There is a poll on my profile at this moment, and will be up until about 2 weeks after I update Taming the Demon...which will be I-Don't-Know-When. I've discovered I can't keep up with updating 4 different stories at once, and keep you all happy at the same time. So, I'm taking a poll to see what you guys want me to continue. I'll put all my stories besides one or 2 on hold until those are finished, and then continue the hiatus'ed ones. So please, go and vote, especially if you want this story to continue. Cause let me tell you, this story is currently in last place. So go and vote everyone!
I love you all, and am so extremely sorry about my grounding, and the chaos before that. I'm going to work hard to try and keep up regular updates.
Until Next Time!