Note to the Guest Reviewer who wants me to show life in the Fifth Squad under the various substitutes: I will if it fits in. I have one more shot planned, with Nanao, who, IMHO, does not get enough attention.

As always, I do not own anything.

=Hell butterfly message=

==Eavesdropping bug==

||Japanese speaking||

:Zanpakuto speaking:

Ichigo talking to Zangetsu/Hichigo

:Inner hollow talking:

Chapter 35

They sat far from where anyone could see them, because it would look horribly funny, Orihime had said, if anyone had spotted Yoruichi sitting there wearing a pair of earphones while watching the video that Mizuiro had taken with his phone.

He had spotted her tailing Neville, and had gotten her alone to tell her what he had overheard. He also told her that he had only shared this knowledge with Orihime; the girl had joined them to tell her about the discussion she had overheard. Once she had heard everything the pair had to say, the Shihoin princess sighed.

"Well," she said finally, "It sounds as if that pair – or Luna, at least – has pinpointed exactly which ones are the Soul Reapers… and why we are here."

"Exactly why we are here," Orihime agreed, "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know yet. Orihime, you're close to both of them, so you'll have to keep your eyes and ears open, figure out exactly what they know. Mizuiro, try to stick with Neville when she can't, I know you have some classes with him that the others don't."

He nodded.

"I don't think we'll tell the others yet – I don't want them to change the way they act around the pair, but we'll keep Toshiro informed. He already knows I found the books. He's also the most level-headed of the lot, and nominally in charge, even if Ichigo is also a Captain now."

"So keep him in the loop with anything we find out?" Mizuiro asked.

Yoruichi nodded. "Yes," she sighed again, "Ichigo has just a bit too much on his plate right now, I don't want to overwhelm him."

"That's true," Orihime agreed, and got a sad expression on her face, "It's almost like our first year of High School again, with all the directions he's being pulled in," as Mizuiro nodded his agreement.

"I know, which is why we'll leave this problem off his lap for the time being. Let's deal with it ourselves."

#

As February became March, lessons progressed, not only in Apparition, but kido and with Malfoy as well. In addition, Uryu, Ichigo and Hermione were often hunched over their computers, working on something rather urgently. Harry knew that Ichigo met with Professor Snape quite often, and that Professor Slughorn and Professor McGonagall were also interested in whatever it was they were doing. What was it? He wondered. Several times he caught them looking quite smug about something, and working with several very large pieces of parchment paper that had notations on it in multi-colored ink.

None of that particular trio cared much about the next trip to Hogsmeade being canceled when the notice went up. Ron, however, was furious.

"It was on my birthday!" he said, complaining to Ichigo and Harry. "I was looking forward to it!"

"It's not a surprise though," Ichigo reasoned, "given what happened the last time."

"No – and Katie still hasn't returned to school from St. Mungo's," Harry agreed, "And there are more disappearances every day, and there are things starting to turn up in the muggle papers, as well." One of the benefits of being able to get on the Internet from Hogwarts – the ability to check the muggle news reports. Ichigo nodded, he and the others had been keeping track of those as well, and reporting them to Professor Dumbledore per his request. Both Uryu and Hermione had brought small laptops back to school with them in order to do this; they divvied up the reports, with Uryu tackling the BBC and the Telegraph, Hermione the Daily Mail and the Guardian, and Ichigo and Harry the smaller papers and the social networks. It was not looking very pretty out there. The Death Eaters had been very active, lately.

"But now all there is to look forward to is Apparition and kido…" Ron grumbled.

Ichigo frowned at him. He had no patience for whining; Harry had found that out last year, and tried not to do any within earshot. Even Hebi was begging Ichigo to please, allow him to bite Ron… to shut him up. Harry was tempted to take the snake out and let him do it. "Well, we can always cancel the kido…" Ichigo said, scowling dangerously, showing just how close he was to truly becoming irritated.

"Ah – no! That's okay!" Ron said hastily, finally getting the hint. Harry coughed delicately to hide a laugh when Hebi grumbled a bit with disappointment, and went back to playing Angry Birds.

Ron was probably also embarrassed over being handily defeated by Uryu in DADA; Ron had barely raised his wand when he'd been petrified by the Quincy, who had run through his five challengers quickly and had to retire from the platform. Of course, Hermione had done equally well, and after being tutored by Harry, Malfoy was now getting up to speed. As for Ichigo –

After defeating the first four opponents handily, he'd had the misfortune to draw Rukia's name, which had drawn moans from his teammates, who all wondered if he shouldn't just yield and save himself the trouble. Even Professor Snape had done his equivalent of an eye roll while Professor Flitwick just shook his head.

And as predicted – he'd lost, to a smug, infuriating midget. He had sheepishly returned to the others, his cheeks beet red, while his friends just shook their heads at him.

He was hopeless.

#

They were noisily awakened on the First of March by their dorm mates going to breakfast. Both Ichigo and Harry added their presents to the small pile on Ron's bed.

"Cheers," Ron said in a sleepy voice as he started pulling paper off his gifts, while Harry rummaged through his trunk for some of the DADA books that he'd been given by Lupin and Sirius the year before, in order to search for some more challenging work for them all. Ichigo, making notations on another of those very large pieces of parchment, peered at what Harry had to empty out of his trunk in order to get at them.

"Sheesh, Harry," Ichigo shook his head at the mass of stuff that came out of the trunk. "Pack rat?"

Harry laughed sheepishly when he looked around at the items he had scattered around him.

"Hey – aren't those the chocolate cauldrons that Romilda Vane gave you?" Ichigo looked at something Harry had just pulled out of his trunk with some alarm. "What are you still doing with them?"

"I've been afraid to get rid of them, wasn't sure of the best way – and I kept forgetting to ask you how to do it safely," Harry admitted, "Although – it would serve her right if I let Crabbe and Goyle have them."

Ichigo snorted at the image it created in his head and wondered if he could talk Draco into it; it was turning out the other teen actually had a sense of humor that had been severely repressed by his upbringing, and he enjoyed a good prank as well as the next person. "I'll do it later – leave them out."

Harry nodded and put them aside, and then looked at the paper that his friend was working on. "What are you doing?"

"Family tree."

"Whose?"

"You'll see," was the mysterious answer.

"Huh?" Harry blinked.

Ichigo pulled it away as Harry tried to get a look at it. "Not yet. I need to confirm something first."

"But –"

"Be a good ickle boy or you'll have to wait for the published paper to be written in order to see the results," Ichigo said with mock seriousness. Harry pouted.

"Good haul this year!" Ron said, interrupting them and causing them both to look over at him. He'd opened everything up, and was happily inspecting his birthday treasures. "Blimey, I think I'll come of age next year too!"

"That's nice, Ron," Ichigo muttered, rolling his eyes. Harry coughed. Ichigo's patience with Ron this year was starting to wear very, very thin... as was Harry's.

"Want one?" Ron asked thickly, holding out a half eaten box of chocolate cauldrons.

"Er, no thanks," Harry shook his head.

"Too early for chocolate, even for me," Ichigo replied, rolling up the parchment and putting it back in his trunk.

"Your loss," Ron said, stuffing his face as he got up to get dressed. "Come on, you'll have to Apparate on an empty stomach if you don't hurry."

"Like that'll make a difference," Harry muttered. Ichigo grinned, especially at the caustic comments coming from his inner world. Hichigo and Zangetsu would be happy to never have to Apparate again, thank you very much.

"Let's go," Ichigo, already dressed, said after Harry had hurriedly pulled his clothes on. They had gotten to the door when they realized Ron wasn't with them – he was leaning against his bedpost, staring out into space with a dreamy expression.

"Ron?"

"Uh, breakfast?"

"Not hungry."

They stared at him, baffled. He was the one who had just been in a hurry to get downstairs for breakfast.

"But you said –" Harry gaped at him.

"I'll come down," he said dreamily, "but I don't think I'll eat."

"Huh?" Ron – not hungry? Was he running a fever?

"He's just eaten an entire box of chocolate cauldrons," Ichigo said with disgust. Harry shook his head; this did not make sense: Ron could eat a seven course meal on top of that.

"It's not that," Ron sighed, "you – you wouldn't understand."

"Okay," Harry turned around, but Ichigo was now staring at Ron with an alarmed expression. Harry had not heard Hebi hissing at him – but Ichigo had. And what Hebi had just said –

"Crap," Ichigo muttered, striding forward, even as Hichigo started chortling when he too understood what the little python was saying.

:The prat!:

Shut up! Or I'll turn you into a rabbit!

"I can't stand it!" Ron exclaimed dramatically, watching as Ichigo searched for something among his belongings.

"What?"

"I can't stop thinking about her!"

Ichigo was cursing now, in English and Japanese and frantically searching around on the floor and under the beds. Harry gaped at his friends, thinking they had both lost their minds.

"Why would that stop you from having breakfast?" he asked, his gaze going from one to the other. Yoruichi was sitting on the edge of his bed, also watching Ichigo intently.

"Because I don't think she knows I exist!" Ron was gesturing dramatically, and Ichigo, on the floor, was still cursing – and rather fluently. So colorfully that Harry's ears were turning red.

"I'm sure she does," Harry said reasonably, and trying to ignore the language Ichigo was spewing forth in his agitation. "She keeps snogging you, doesn't she?"

Ichigo finally stood slowly, shaking his head with a sick expression on his face, while Ron blinked at him owlishly.

"Who are you talking about?" Ron asked, bewildered.

"Uh, who are you talking about?" Harry asked, now equally bewildered.

"Romilda Vane," Ichigo was the one who responded, at which point Ron threw himself at the Fifth Squad Captain, nearly strangling him.

"You know! You guessed!" he cried out.

"Yeah," Ichigo said dryly, giving him a disgusted look and trying to pry Ron's arms from around his neck. "Not hard once I figured out that the chocolate cauldrons you just scarfed down were the ones she tried to feed Harry some months ago."

"Oh, no!" Harry exclaimed, horrified. That was what Ichigo had been looking for… the cauldrons she had spiked with a love potion. The ones he had left out for Ichigo to get rid of…

"I told you he smelled funny," Hebi said from his cage, drawing Harry's attention, "But you weren't listening to me."

"You idiot!" Harry said to his friend angrily, who appeared to be on the verge of throttling Ichigo with joy that he had figured out he was 'in love' with Romilda; while Ichigo appeared to be trying to restrain himself from manifesting that big-assed sword of his and slicing Ron in half. At this point, Harry was tempted to hold him down while Ichigo did it. "What did you eat those for?"

"They were mine – a birthday present! I offered you one, didn't I?" Ron rounded on Harry, taking a swing at him, but luckily Ichigo was faster and restrained him. Oh, yeah – Harry would definitely hold him down while Ichigo pulled out Zangetsu…

"You just picked them up off the floor!"

"They fell off my bed!"

"They didn't fall off your bed, you stupid prat, they've been in my trunk since before Christmas! Romilda gave me those, they're spiked with love potion, remember?"

At the mention of the name, 'Romilda' Ron got a dreamy look on his face and started waxing poetic; Harry seriously wanted to be sick, and from the expression on his face, so did Ichigo – well, his favorite author was Shakespeare, and the poetry Ron was spouting was nowhere near that quality.

"…all black and shiny and silky…" Ron was saying breathlessly, "and her eyes…"

"This is bad," Harry groaned while he stared at Ron with some horror.

"No shit, Sherlock," Ichigo shot back, still holding onto Ron. "Love potions get stronger over time. Crap, I didn't think I'd have to give the preventative to Ron of all people…"

Harry understood what Ichigo was saying; until Lavender, the only girl who had actually been interested in one Ron Weasley had been Hermione – but he hadn't realized that, even when he'd driven her away.

"I have to find her – Harry – do you know her? Can you introduce me?"

"Do you have any potion left?" Harry asked Ichigo desperately.

"No – we'll have to go to Slughorn or Snape for help," Ichigo said, thinking of what supplies he had. Nothing to create a counter for a Weasley potion… the two stared at each other for a moment, and Harry could see that Ichigo was thinking the same thing he was: let it play out and wear off. On the other hand – maybe if they were lucky – they would pass Lavender Brown while Ron was crawling all over Romilda (or trying to). Watching her get embarrassed over something she had tried to do to Harry was certainly fair turnabout, and bound to be fairly humorous. It really would be worth a few laughs… and might have a few side benefits, such as ridding them of Lavender.

"Slughorn?" Ron gazed around, "why would she be with him?"

"Extra potions lessons," Ichigo replied, steering Ron to the door.

"Do you think he'll let me take them with her? I could use some extra lessons," he practically ran down the stairs, with Harry and Ichigo trying to hold him back. At this rate, he was going to break his neck and Ichigo was going to have to konso him…

"I don't see why not," Harry answered, finally succeeding in grabbing hold of an arm and steering.

Lo and behold, Lavender was waiting next to the portrait hole when they reached it. Well, this should be interesting…

"You're late, Won-Won!" she scolded him with a pout, "I've got a birthday…"

"Leave me alone!" Ron brushed her off impatiently, causing her to stare at him with shock – which would have caused both of the other teens to chortle with happy glee if they hadn't been so busy trying to restrain the over-eager Ron. "Harry's going to introduce me to Romilda Vane!"

Without another word, he wrenched himself out of Ichigo's grasp, nearly knocking the young man over, and pushed his way through the portrait hole as Lavender burst into tears. Harry caught Ichigo before he fell, and the pair glanced at each other before they rushed after him, Ichigo wincing when he heard Rukia's voice angrily calling his name. She had a way of making him regret things… even when they weren't his fault. He was going to have a lot of explaining – and apologizing – to do.

Thankfully Slughorn answered his door on the first knock; it had been Harry's concern that he might already be down at breakfast (although Ichigo had been able to tell he was there, from his reiatsu). Harry did not want to have to approach Snape… that he would gladly leave everything to Ichigo if he had to. However, there were no worries as he was still in his dressing gown and nightcap.

"Harry, m'boy – Ichigo," he mumbled, rubbing bleary eyes. "This is rather early for a Saturday morning…"

"Sorry to disturb you, Professor," Ichigo was back to wrestling with Ron to keep him from leaping at the door, something that had Slughorn gazing at him with curiosity, "But we have a bit of a problem –"

Harry quickly explained the situation. "Could you make an antidote? We'd take him to M. Pomfrey, but the potion probably came from his brothers' shop – awkward questions…"

"Yes, but I would have thought either of you could do it – especially you, Ichigo –"

"I'm out of ingredients," Ichigo was ready to brain Ron at that point, "And the door is locked at this time on Saturday morning."

"Also, by the time we get it right," Harry elbowed Ron hard in order to help calm him down, and causing his friend's breath to leave with a whoosh, "well, it is sort of taking both of us to control him."

"I can't see her, Harry!" Ron moaned when he got his breath back and he was able to stand straight up again, "Where is she?"

Slughorn was awake now and eying Ron with some interest. "Yes, very good points. Was this potion within date? They strengthen the longer they are kept."

"Not sure how old it is," Harry admitted, helping Ichigo wrestle Ron back from the door, "but it does explain a lot!"

"Professor – it's his birthday!" Ichigo said desperately, just narrowly avoiding a black eye. "I really don't want his birthday to be his death day… and I'm getting perilously close to beheading him here."

"Yes, so I see," Slughorn nodded, opening the door to let them in. Ron nearly burst through the door, tripping over a footstool as he did so, and leaving both Ichigo and Harry in a tangled heap on the floor outside. Slughorn glanced at the pair of them worriedly, before he turned to look at Ron.

"She didn't see that, did she?"

"She's not here yet," Harry sighed as he picked himself up off the hallway floor and proceeded a grumbling Ichigo into the room. Harry winced at the scowl on his friend's face; Ichigo's temper was fraying around the edges, and Ron, once he was back to normal, was going to hear about it… especially since Rukia was most likely very angry at her fiancé at the moment because of this whole fiasco. He had not been able to acknowledge her presence in the Common Room earlier… and that was a mortal sin as far as she was concerned.

"Oh, good. How do I look?"

"Very handsome," Slughorn said smoothly, handing Ron a glass of the antidote he had quickly mixed up. "Now, drink up, this will calm your nerves for when she arrives."

"Brilliant!" Ron tossed back the antidote in one gulp. He beamed at the three of them. Then, as they watched, his expression changed to one of horror.

"He looks back to normal," Ichigo nodded with some satisfaction. He could offer Ron up as a sacrificial lamb to his fiancée in exchange for his shins... Slughorn chuckled while Harry sighed with relief.

"Thanks, Professor."

"Don't mention it, my boy. No problem," they watched as Ron dropped down onto a nearby chair, his expression stricken. "Let's see… what he needs… ah! Here we go!" Slughorn pulled out a bottle. "Oak matured mead, just the thing for a pick me up!" he poured several glasses. "I was going to give this to Professor Dumbledore for Christmas, but I forgot! Ah well, a birthday is just as good, right boys?"

Harry glanced at Ichigo, who as staring back at him with an arched eyebrow; apparently they were thinking the same thing: get Slughorn drunk enough and they might be able to get the memory out of him.

"There you are Ralph –"

"Ron," Harry stage whispered.

Ron was not paying attention; he had already downed the mead.

One moment Slughorn was toasting his birthday, the next, Ron had risen from his seat, dropped the glass, and then followed it to the floor, his body convulsing and foam flowing from his mouth.

"Ron!"

Harry and Ichigo rushed to his side; his eyes were nearly bulging out of his head, and his skin was turning blue.

"Professor! Do something!"

But Slughorn could only gape at them with shock. Frustrated, Harry rushed to Slughorn's potion kit, barely hearing what Ichigo was shouting at him. He rummaged through it, not caring about the mess he was making.

Then he saw it – the stone that Slughorn had taken from him in class. He snatched it up and rushed back to his friend, where Ichigo wrenched his jaw open so that Harry could shove the bezoar down his throat.

Ron shuddered, and then became limp and still.