Warnings: this is going to be more focus on Ricky and Damon's time over in Karakura. The next chapter will be back on Ichigo. I promise.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bleach.


Loud jet engines sounded as two twins made their way out of one small airport, they had wanted to get in closer to Karakura Town but word from Komamura had them changing their plans. Ricky and Damon were about ten miles out from the town outskirts. It was not a cold as they believed but it wasn't like they couldn't afford new weather correct clothes.

"So what is the plan now?" Ricky grumble running his hand through his now natural dark brown hair, looking at his twin who was pretending to be blind. They were currently sitting out by the road near what could be describe as a bus station.

"Just because we are further out then first anticipated doesn't mean that much has change, in fact, it might work in our favor." Damon answered letting Komamura lead him in the same direction where Ricky was sitting even though he could see.

"Well I guess first things first, let's find a hotel; get something to eat; and then scout the streets." Ricky's, despite the jetlag was vibrating with some extra energy. He jump up startling some nearby people before hauling Damon up and started to pull him and Komamura down the road.

Hailing a cab they twins plus wolf mad their way into Karakura Town, they wanted to appear as tourist and having to downplay Komamura size was hard to do when the wolf seem to attach his own share of stares.

"Sheesh, it's like they never seen an oversize wolf dog before." Ricky loudly said. "But there wasn't anything good enough for my brother."

Giving his twin an eye roll, Damon quietly snickered at his twin's antics, "Now Ricky, I think they are more interested in me then my helper. After all, seeing a blind person with a wolf hybrid isn't an everyday thing." He smiled in his brother's direction. He saw several people blush including his twin who mutter something under his breath. Something about too hansom brothers for their own good.

Laughing at his twin, Damon allowed his furry guild lead them to one of their chosen hotels, which Ricky's loud opinion were a waste of plaster. But considering that they might not be staying long and the fact that they didn't won't to be found out too early had limited their choices. To say that they didn't notice the extra eyes on them would be an understatement, and it wasn't the human eyes that they felt.

"Ya think we have already been found out." came Ricky's harsh whisper

"I really doubt that", Damon assured. "It most likely that because we have slightly high spiritual power that they are watching us. I give them a few minutes till they find something else to occupy their attention."

And true to his word the soul reapers watching them left, and Ricky sent his twin a grateful grin while Komamura let a long sigh.

"I had no idea that being watch could give someone so much tension." He said.

Giving each other looks before shaking their head the boys headed into their hotel to try to catch up with any missing sleep they left back in the States. The building was tree stories high and looked like it had been around since the sixties, with peeling paint and a wary vibe. An hour long argument with the hotel proprietor had all three irritable and hungry. Planning to combine food with scouting the trio headed out mindful to keep the grumbling wolf captain on his leash.

oOooOooOo

the next day sees the trio out and about Karakura, mostly near what Komamura has said was the Kurosaki Clinic. Starting from there and following the wolf captain, they are hoping that Komamura can pick up a bit of rishi and track it to where Ichigos few allies are hidden. The twins already know that finding them will be an uphill battle. The fact that they started in Ichigo's home town was only because it was the last known place that Ricky was about to see the orangette's sisters.

"How long do you think we are going to be?" the question asked more for Komamura since he was the better tracker out of the group and he knew more about the ones they were trying to find. Well more than Ricky and Damon did, who only knew the names but not the faces.

"Hard to say" Komamura stopping long enough to talk while keeping one eye on the twins and the other for other threats. "The Vizards were in hiding for almost two hundred hears before coming out of hiding. Add Kisuke to the mix and it would be most likely that they will see us before we even catch a whiff of them."

"According to Ichigo, this Urahara would be the genius right?" Damon ask keeping his eyes straight ahead looking every bit the part of a blind man. "So we could assume that trying to get in touch with this group, it they are still in town, will have to go through him."

"But how are we even going to find them to get in touch with them or to even know that, as you say, are still in town?" Ricky whined as he came up behind Damon waving his map in the air acting more the lost tourist.

The trio had decided last night that it would be best if they acted like tourist them anything. It was mostly to throw off suspicion that they would be there looking around certain areas. They wanted to keep the reason that they were there as quiet as possible, which was hard when you were trying to find any information dealing with the Kurosaki's or anybody that was associated with them.

"How about we try looking up some of Ichigo's friends?" Damon finally said. "there should be someone who knows where to start looking."

"But who would we be asking?" Ricky ask. "I mean from what Komamura said there are at least two who betrayed him, so who do we trust?" pulling out a small piece of paper Ricky looked over the short list of names. "Do you know the names of the ones we should be staying away from?" he asks Komamura.

"Orihime Inoue and the Quincy, Uryuu Ishida." The wolf answer. "They are the ones best to avoid, but I know that his best friend a human name Chad would back him up regardless."

"Yeah he did mention him." Damon mused

"Alright then, lets look this guy up and get to cracking" Ricky loudly yelled, drawing a collection of stares from the other pedestrians. Ignoring them he speeds off in a random direction.

Following his run away brother Damon allowed the wolf to lead him to Chads place on residence. Keeping his eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses Damon could take in the surrounding area, when they walked by a dilapidate building that he pauses earning concern looks from both of his companions.

"Something wrong brother?"

"What about this place?" Doman whispers his eyes giving off a slight glow. "It feels like Ichigo came through here many times."

"This was Urahara's place," Komamura sighs. "I believe that he also train Ichigo here so it probably was a base for him when he couldn't go home."

"Let's start here then," Damon says. "We can go from here if one point is a dead end."

"Fine, but I think we-," Ricky was interrupted by his cell ringing. "Hang on a bit-Hello."

"Ah Aunt Jay, how are ya doing? uh huh…uh huh, I'll be sure to remind him, yeah"

Drowning out his brother's conversation Damon cast his eyes about the area. Out of the corner of his eye he picked up on a shadow that flicker out of sight before he could get it into his full view. Pretending to be looking somewhere else he hopes to see it again, but it still eludes him.

"Do you sense anything?" he asks the wolf

"Yes, but I am not sure if I can tell you anything useful," Komamura growls. "Whoever they are they are taking great pains to hid their spiritual pressure."

Humming in thought, Damon waits for his brother to end the call before taking the phone out of his hands. He acts like he is talking to his Aunt but he really uses it as an excuse to looked around more, but he doesn't see the shadow figure again.

Sighing he hands Ricky back his phone, "Let's check out this Chad person then call it a day okay." He gives his brother a rough pat to his back before signaling that he was ready to leave. What neither person knew was that what they thought was one shadow was in fact more and while one fallowed them the other left and disappeared.

oOooOooOo

the trip to Chads apartment was a tense, acting like lost tourist was probably the easiest thing they had to do. Damon had quietly said that they were being followed but their follower had been keeping their distance. Ricky seem to be enjoying acting he could be his loud boisterous self and no one was the wiser. Currently he was chatting up a storm about this and that, that Damon let flow in one ear and out the other. But Damon was not fooled by his brothers act he knew that Ricky was great at drawing attention away from others who rather not be in the spotlight. This fact allowed Damon to scan the area getting the lay of the land, it also let him keep an eye on others who also had high spiritual pressure. Though they were not the best of sensors the twins could still identify others with high spiritual pressure.

It was this sense that Damon was able to pick out two individuals that were coming up ahead of them. By the way Komamura was tensing up Damon could take a wild guess that he knew these two. One was a very flattering young woman with long orange hair and the other was a young man with glasses who had a bit of a high and mighty attitude.

"I see that they caught your attention." Ricky's voice said from behind him. He put his hand on his shoulder as if to guild him away from the approaching duo.

"Yes, it be best if we avoided them as much as possible." Komamura started to pull Damon and Ricky away to the other side of the street, but was stop when they were called out too.

"Oh look Uryuu," the girl squeal. "I never seen such a big dog before."

The girl was dragging the young man over to were the trio was standing. Ricky was trying his best to think through every excuse to keep them from getting too close. As they were getting closer the trio could see that the young man was fondly exacerbated with the young woman's antics.

"Oh is it alright if I pet him?" she coos leaning down with her hand out.

"Um sorry miss but he still getting use to people, right now he only will allow my brother to touch him." Ricky said smiling as he lifted the woman's hand away from Komamura form.

"Aww too bad he is such a cutie. What kind of dog is he?"

"Oh um, he is a wolf hybrid." Ricky said taking on the conversation so they would be more focus on him them on Damon and Komamura.

While he seems to have everything under control, Damon couldn't help but bring the attention back on him much to his brother's chagrin.

"So we were actually looking for someone." He says cutting Ricky off. "I don't suppose you two would know a Chad Yastora?"

The flinches from both didn't go unnoticed, the man did better than the woman at keeping his emotions under wraps.

"why are you looking for him?" Uryuu ask scowling at the brothers.

"Oh we are just trying to get a letter to him from his grandfather in Mexico, it seems that the ones he sends keep being sent back."

The atmosphere turn dark as the two in front of them started to fidget. The Orihime was looking everywhere but at them while Uryuu was looking like he swallowed a bunch of lemons.

"Something we should know?" Damon ask warily, already guessing what was not being said.

"Well, Chad passed away some time ago." Orihime said timidly.

The news hits them, they know that when they tell Ichigo it will hit him even worst. But Damon couldn't miss how the two acting seem to be a bit strained. 'what could they be hiding?' Damon couldn't help but want to know more.

"How did he die? If you don't mind me asking."

"um well, none knows for sure, but it was after one of his friends went missing." Again Orihime was the one to answer. The twins didn't buy her answer for a second, but they say nothing only nod. With quick good-byes and promises to call Chads grandfather immediately, they went their separate ways. When the two were leaving, Damon caught a glimpse of something coming off of Orihime, but ignored it in favor of getting as much distance from the two as quickly as possible. Not trusting that the two would follow them, the twins take their time getting back to their hotel room.

"Are you being stupid now brother? What were you thinking?" Ricky whisper harshly ingot his brother's ear. "What if you just gave us away?"

"I figure we needed to start somewhere, so I just ask."

"how about next time just let me do the talking. Please." It wasn't a plea or a beg but Damon understood what his twin was asking.

Double checking that they were not indeed follow they switched hotels and Ricky happily agreed to dyed his hair red. He was humming in the shower when Komamura walked in and stared, he soon went back to the bed that was his.

"Are you sure you should be going red?" the wolf asks from the bed.

"Sometimes the best way to blend in is to stand out." Ricky shouted from the bathroom.

"And if you didn't notice, Ricky facial features change with his hair color." Damon added looking up from his book, "It would be hard to tell him apart from the person from today."

Not really understanding but trusting their judgement, the wolf captain laid his head back down and watched the t.v. while Damon went back to reading his book. The humming from the bathroom was off key but Komamura was used to it by now, in fact he could say that is was enjoyable.

"What about the person from earlier? Are they with the two we met or are they with another group?" Ricky shouted over the running water.

"Who knows."

"I think I know but I can't be sure." Komamura calmly said, "But if given time I might be able to figure out who they are." He says it with much confidence that the twins only nod figuring what did they have to lose.

"Let's let them come to us, who knows it might be the ones we are looking for." Damon says positively.

oOooOooOo

So they wait for the other side to make their move, but it takes almost another week before something happens. During that time, they never saw Orihime and Uryuu again which they really didn't mind. But now they were at a lost on leads, without knowing much on who they were looking for there wasn't much that they could do in Karakura Town. Talking it over one night it was decided that they try one more week before moving on to another city.

During that week came their first clue, it was small and they almost missed it but it was enough. When they went to the cemetery where Ichigo's mother was they found her grave site tended too with offerings that looked only to be a few days old. Knowing that it was a long shot and that someone unrelated to Ichigo could've left the offerings, the twins still had high hopes. So the next day they brought Komamura out with them and their hopes got higher when he said that the spiritual pressure left felt more like one of the Vizards as well as two female scents that were human.

"So do we follow or wait?" Ricky looked to his brother who was staring off in the distance before answering.

"Follow, we might lose the lead."

Getting nods from both of his companions they followed Komamura throughout the city. It started to cloud up when they reached the outskirts of the city limits as the trial went off on a tangent into a cluster of trees which lead into a small forest. Coming so far they continue stopping only to rest every once and a while before Komamura stop and growled. Wanting to know what was wrong Ricky started to ask but was stop when he felt something cold and sharp touch his neck.

"Don't move unless you want your head to roll." Came an intimidating female voice.

Not moving an inch, Ricky gulp before letting his eyes drift over to his brother not surprise to see that he was held by a slightly muscle silver hair man doing the same with a knife. Looking to Komamura showed that he was pinned by a cheerful green short hair woman.

"Uh, we come in peace." He jokes lamely which earns him an eye roll from everybody in the clearing.

"My, my what have we caught here? Two no three specious individuals snooping where they shouldn't." out of the tree line came a tall blond, cut into a bob, hair man with a mocking piano tooth smile. "And one is a comedian."

"Well what else can a guy do when some woman had a blade to his throat? But don't worry I'm not into that kinky stuff Miss." Ricky teases knowing that he really shouldn't.

"Ah well I don't suppose you want to skip over all the boring and tiring stuff and just tell us who you are, hmm" the blond asks.

"I guess but then we wouldn't be able to enjoy your hospitality for long, and we came all this way too." Ricky pouted. Getting the blond to grin that would make the Cheshire cat jealous. "Besides isn't rude to ask for names when you didn't introduce yourself?"

"Ricky" Damon hiss in warning. "Now is not the time for you to pick at people."

"Well if it's our hospitality you want then we can oblige ya." Without warning the blond disappears then reappears in front of Ricky, giving him a grin he sends a chop to the back of the redhead's neck knocking him out cold.

"Hey!" Damon shouts angrily, he struggles against his captor as he sees his brother go limp.

"Oh don't worry you haven't been forgotten." The blond man chirps. He swaggers over to the other aiming at the same spot and before he gets ready a snarl is heard and Komamura is there knock the blonds man away from Damon.

"Captain Shinji Hirako, please wait. I' am former Captain Sajin Komamura of squad seven, these two are here on behalf of Ichigo Kurosaki."

The clearing is dead silent as the words sink in, the blond looks shock at the talking wolf and more shock when Ichigo is mention. Taking a closer look at the wolf the man grunts before waving to the silver hair man holding Damon.

"Lisa, Kensei, Mashiro bring the dead weight and our guest to the hideout. There needs a more detail explanation and Hachi needs to look at the dead weight, I think I might have hit him too hard." Not sounding sorry about it Shinji leaves knowing that the others will follow.

Kensei takes Damon by the shoulder and leads him out of the clearing follow by Mashiro dragging Komamura and then by Lisa carrying Ricky by the back of his shirt while reading one of her manga's. they soon come up to an abandon building which to Damon looked like an old school building and lead into what could have been the cafeteria. While Damon was placed up front with the blond man and several others Ricky was taken to the back of the room with an overly large man with pink hair and mustache.

"Alright who are you and how do ya know Ichigo?" the blond asks.

"Damon Anderson and that back there is my twin Ricky. My other brother found your wayward friend out in snow bank near freezing and after some persuasion he came to stay with us out on our property." Thinking that honesty would be the best policy, Damon decided to tell the truth and hope that this group were indeed the ones they were looking for.

"Why are you here?" asks another man in the back of the group, this one with wavy long hair and a slender built next to him a more muscular dark skin male with a star afro and sunglasses.

"We wanted to reunite him with his sister and from what he told us he left them with people that he trusted."

"You expect us to believe that bull shit." And snarl came from the shortest female of the group. She was past irritated and looked ready to kill them.

"Hiyori enough" Shinji said in warning

"Shut up baldy, they could be spies and you let them in our hideout." She shrieks.

"True which is why Kisuke has been monitoring them this whole time." Shinji smirks before looking over his shoulder. "Hey Kisuke what do ya think?"

While Shinji was talking to whoever was behind him, Damon chance a glance back to his brother who he hasn't heard a peep out of. He lets go of a sigh when he sees that his brother is fine and awake, he snorts at the grin sent his way and takes his eyes back to the front were a dishevel looking blond in green and white with a bucket hat was looking at him.

"Ah Komamura Taichou so good to know that you made it to the world of the living." Urahara cheerfully says.

"yes I was lucky to end up in the same area as Kurosaki and have been staying there until now."

"Well glad to know that Ichigo is safe, but I want to where exactly is he?" the question was ask more towards Damon then Komamura.

"A small town outside of New York state."

"That far, huh who would've guess." Urahara mused.

"Look I know you don't trust us," a snort of heard from the small blond. "But we can prove that we know Ichigo, we have him on speed dial." Ricky says as he takes out his phone and tosses it to Urahara. "Call him and see."

Kisuke looks between the cell and Ricky before hitting a few buttons and putting it on speaker. After a couple rings the other side picks up but what they hear is not Ichigo. Shouting and laughter follow by crashing could be heard before an annoying voice starts to talk.

"Hello you have reach Kings phone but he can't answer right now due to him being a wuss at confession his undying love to his new beu-

"Shut it Shiro or I will make you," now a more familiar voice is heard and those nearest grin in relief.

"Make me do what King?" the tri tone voice asks mockingly before crackling in glee at something that they can't see. More sounds of fighting before Ichigo takes the phone back.

"Ricky what do you want?"

"Ah Ichigo-kun long time no hear, what did ya get bored of us?" Shinji teases. The phone is silent but he can just make out the quick intake of breath before Ichigo is back on.

"Whaa, what are you doing with Ricky's phone Shinji? Where's Yuzu and Karin?" panic filters in the young vizards tone and Kisuke is quick to stop it as he snatches the cell out of Shinji's hand.

"they are find Ichigo, they are currently with Yoruichi now. I can put them on if you like." the blond man has his back turn so no one can see the happiness that he is feeling.

"Thanks Urahara, can you give the phone back to Damon? I need to talk to him."

"Sure." Handing the cell over Damon, Urahara leaves the room whistling as he goes.

"Explain now." The tone near threating and Damon was getting tried so he went on explaining what they were doing, who was involved, and so on. He wouldn't be surprised if Keith got an earful tonight but it wasn't his problem. He was interrupted by two whirlwinds taking the phone out if his hands.

"Ichi-nii!"

"Oni-chan!"

"Karin, Yuzu." Ichigo could be heard even though his voice was a near whisper.

Letting the siblings get reacquainted, Damon went to the back to Ricky who was leaning up against the wall with his eyes closed. Damon knew that he wasn't sleeping, but he wouldn't be surprised if his brother was near exhausted either.

"So how long do ya think Ichigo will be before he comes over here?" Ricky asks, gaining the attention of everyone but the other twins in the room.

"Hmm most likely in a few hours to a day then he might be here by the end of the week." Saying it like it was to be expected.

"I have a good question for ya." Shinji said as he wonders over to the brothers. "Who was that other person on the phone? It sounded like a hallow."

"Might be because it is and he is Ichigo's hallow." Ricky said as if discussing the weather and ignoring the looks from the others in the room. "Long story short the seal on him was killing him and to get it removed we had to do this ritual but something happen and we had to do it at a different time which caused some side effects."

"Side effect?"

"Yep, his hallow was split from him and right now they both should be trying to woo our little brother who is head over heels for them, but Ichigo and Keith are so dense that I guess Shiro will be doing the wooing." He ended his sentence with a snicker before looking back at the girls who were still chattering away on his cell.

"It was a very tense time and we figure that since it might be a bad idea to let him come over here without some type of idea or at least give him a clue about where to start looking in the first place, the two of us came over do some scouting and searching. That's how we found you." Damon leaned into his brother body before falling asleep letting his twin take care of the rest.

"I know that you all have questions but can it wait till tomorrow?" Ricky pleads.

Shinji only has to look at them to see that they need rest so he sends Lisa to fix a room for them, it would be between him and Kensei for obvious reasons. While they wait he strikes up a conversation with the redhead learning what they already know and sharing some funny stories about their favorite orangette, when two squeals of delight has them jumping in their seats

"Ichigo coming home!"

"Oh boy, I guess he is going to be here sooner then we first thought." Ricky says sheepishly. Shinji only sigh before waving over Kisuke. Ricky drowns out their conversation as he gets overcome by sleep.

'things can be worried about tomorrow.'

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Chapter End.

Thanks for reading.