The Next Day

Everyone, but Ichigo, Kai, and Gin, watched Nel pace back and forth in the primera's living room. "Calm down, Nel. He's probably sleeping. He's a big boy." Nnoitora spoke first. "HE's not. I check last night, before I went to bed. I checked early this morning, too." Nel answered. "If I remember correctly, he should not be woken up by anyone. Remember when Grimmjow woke him up, last time?" Harribel mentioned and Grimmjow tensed. "Not goin through that shit again."

"This is different, guys." Nel stopped pacing and looked at them. "There was no crash, no shuffling, no sound at all. We know Ichigo is in his room, but not Kai." Nel tried to explain and she turned to Ulquiorra, who was tying on his computer. "Do you even care, Ulquiorra?"

He ignored her question and continued to type. It pissed her off even more, so she glared daggers into his head. "He's not home." He spoke up. "How do you know that?" Grimmjow asked. "I hacked into the school system to monitor the use of our keys. Kai's has only been used once and that was on Sunday night, when we returned that night. It is Tuesday, today." He explained and Nel's angry expression turned to worry. "Sounds like some stalker shit." Nnoitora chimed in. "As a fellow Espada, we should be worried about each other's well being. We do represent the school. Both Kurosaki and Raizen have received distressing news since they've come back, hence their usual patterns changed. Perhaps Kurosaki will be able to give us a clue on his whereabouts." Grimmjow scowled at the younger male's explanation. "Way to kill the moment of endearment, buzz kill." He mumbled the last part.

"Why the hell can't you just sniff him out?" Nnoitora asked. "Something or someone is cutting off his scent and aura. We cannot track him with our instincts. Since Ichigo knows him the best, we must disturb his need to be alone and ask him." Ulquiorra concluded.

xXx

Blue eyes watched Ichigo sleep peacefully through the open window. He watched the young teen's usually scowling teen sleep with the calmest face he'd ever seen. He was just as attractive without the usual scowl. Serene face, check. He then began to wonder how the human would look with a smile. Grimmjow smirked at the through of seeing the serious teen's guard break.

"Grim, is he in there?" Nel yelled, snapping him out of his thoughts. Grimmjow scowled and turned his head to look at the group. "Yeah, he's fine." He answered. "Well, hurry the hell up. These kids are fucking up our rep at this school."

"Shut Up, Nnoitora." Nel spoke elbowing him in the side. Grimmjow rolled his eyes and paused when he heard the bed shift and Ichigo groan. He turned to look at the once sleeping human, who looked at him with tired brown eyes. "Grim? What are you doing here?"

Grimmjow hopped out of the window and knelt in front of Ichigo. "Kai didn't come back yesterday." Grimmjow informed him and Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean he didn't come home?"

"After we came to see you, he was bothered. He wanted some space and said he'd come back, when hasn't been home. We were hoping you could tell us where he's gone." Grimmjow explained. Ichigo sat the frozen and confused. 'Kai didn't come home. Where is he?' Warm hands touch either side of his face. "Yo." Ichigo snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Grimmjow. "You know where we could find him?"

"He…. He likes parks and things with a view. He goes to places like that when he needs to calm down, when he gets….emotional. When he gets emotional…." Ichigo trailed off. "What?"

"Things…happen. Just look for things out of the ordinary." Ichigo informed. "Thanks." Grimmjow stands up straight and turned to the window. He began to climb out when a hand tugged at his shirt. "Wait….I'll go with you."

There was a small pause before the demon spoke. "Good. We could use the help."

xXx

Kai opened his eyes looking at a white ceiling. "I'm glad you're awake." Kai turned to the voice to see a similar copy to a familiar melancholic classmate that he knew. But this stranger's hair was a little longer and he had blueish purple eyes. There were purple lines going down his face. He wore a blue hoodie with a white bat in the middle and blue jeans.

He smiled at Kai, which is something he was not used to seeing on Ulquiorra. It was strange, yet nice. "My name is Murci. Will you tell me yours?"

"Kai." He answered, sittign up slowly. "It's probably none of my business, but something upset you gravely yesterday and you ruined my garden."

Kai tensed at the explanation and looked down at his hands. "I know it was an accident, but you really should talk to someone. About both issues, I mean." Murci explained. "Does anyone know what you can do?" Murci asked and Kai shook his head. "I'm usually fine. I'm not supposed to get emotional." Kai explained. "I'm sorry. Don't be angry with me." Kai looked at Murci with sad pleading eyes. "I'm not angry with you. What made you lose composure?"

"My…..family had some kind of accident. Only one made it, because he wasn't with them." Kai gripped the sheets tightly. Murci frowned at the news. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"I'm supposed to tell Gin, so he can get my brother into school, since we only have each other, but…" Kai trailed off and lowered his head. Murci moved closer to Kai and pulled him into a hug. Kai gripped the back of his shirt. "Familial loss is never easy. But it's better to know your friends are here to support you. I'm sure they're worried about you."

"They are. I didn't expect not to come home." Kai definitely didn't expect to be knocked out and taken care of. "Judging by your uniform, you go to school with my brother." They let go of each other as Murci spoke. "Ulqui, right?"

Murci nods. "He's never mentioned you." Kai remarks. "I'm sure you haven't mentioned yours. Especially since it never came up in conversation." Murci countered. "You've got a point. Would you like me to help you rebuild your garden."

"It would be nice to have some company."

xXx

So far, they were still searching the school grounds for Kai. They split up and checked everywhere. When they came up short, they met in the school yard. "No luck from anyone." Stark spoke first. "We should start going off school grounds and check where Ichigo said to." Haribell spoke next. "Where do we meet up?" Ichigo asked. "We should come back to the front gate, at least by eight." Nikki suggested. "Let's go now." Nel left with Harribel. Ichigo left with Grimmjow and Ulquiorra. Nikki and Stark split. Nnoitora left to his room and went to sleep.

xXx

By eight thrirty, everyone met up at the school gate without Kai. "What the hell?! Why can't we find one human?!" Grimmjow yelled at no one in particular. Something caught Nel's attention. Inside the gate, on the school grounds, someone sat by a fountain reading a book. "Maybe he's already back and forgot to inform us of his return." Harribel suggested. "Or he's right there!" Nel ran through the gate. Ichigo eyed the stranger closely. "That's….." His eyes widened. "Nel, stop!" Ichigo ran after Nel, but it was too late. "Kai!" As she screamed the unsuspecting teen looked up in time to be tackled into the water.

Kai came up first spitting out water. Nel came up next and hugged him tightly. "Kai, I'm so glad you're alright!"

"I'm*cough* not Kai. Let go lady." The stranger tried pushing her off. "Nel!" Both turned to see Ichigo and the others coming their way. "That's not Kai."

"Ichigo?" The stranger asked as Ichigo helped pull them both out of the fountain. "Yeah. How've you been, Kurai?"

"I've been great. I've missed you." Kurai said pulling Ichigo into a hug. "How do you know this isn't Kai?" Nel asked, looked at the twin in remorse. "HE wasn't reading a book, like Kai does". Ichigo picked up the book he was holding and showed them ruined sketches. "He was sketching and going over them. Kai wears glasses and Kurai doesn't. Look." Ichigo point behind Nel. "Why would Kai have luggage with him? He couldn't leave even if he wanted to." Ichigo explained.

Nel dropped her shoulders in sadness. "I'm sorry, Kurai. I just thought you were your brother." Nel apologize. "It's fine. But…you make it sound like you lost him." No one said anything. "Ichigo?" Kurai questioned and Ichigo explained their current situation. "I see…." Was all the twin said. "Do you know what happened?" Ulquiorra asked.

"That's why I'm here. Our family had an accident and no one survived but me, since I wasn't home." Kurai explained. "That explains his strange behavior. Our condolences." Nikki spoke first. "Because we only have each other left, the lawmakers decided to bend the rules and let us be together." Kurai explained. "The hell do you mean bend the rules?!" Grimmjow half yelled.

"You see, humans aren't allowed to have familial classmates or students in the same school, so they separate everyone. We never knew why." Nikki explained. "That's not fair." Nel pouted. "Which brings the question of how you know the twins, Ichigo?"

"I knew Kurai first, but he was sent to a different school and Kai was brought into my school. They knew I was friends with the other and since they weren't allowed to contact each other, they'd chat through me." Ichigo explained. "How were they bending the rules?" Nel asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "Well, when they found out your school was currently accepting humans if they could pass the exams. Since technically, Nikki isn't a human, there was still an opening. Human rules don't apply in the your world. They contacted Gin Ichimaru about me being here and I was supposed to meet Kai here. He's not answering." Kai explained and then froze almost immediately. "Kurai?" Ichigo waved a hand in front of his face, but Kurai just looked straight ahead. Ichigo was beginning to worry. "Kurai." Ichigo called for Kurai again. Kurai closed his eyes and looked at Ulquiorra. "He's with your brother." Kurai stated. "Brother?" All confused faces looked at Ulquiorra, whose face remained blank.

xXx

Kai sat with Murci, in front of the lake. It was still in the same state as before. "Perhaps this will be harder than expected. If there's no way to save it, then I'll just start over."

Kai looked down at the dark water sadly. Murci rested a hand on Kai's head. "No worries. It's just all the more fun when you're not alone." Murci reassured the young student. "What do you think you're doing here?"

Kai and Murci turn around to the source of the voice, both standing at attention. "Brother!" They spoke in unison.