Ryoto worked the next two weeks, and he tried not to think too much about the DNA test and what it would show. He didn't see Uryū, and for that he was kind of glad. There was something off putting about being around him now. He supposed that strange familiarity just struck him now in a way it hadn't before. He was sure that this was all for nothing, and the differences would be too great between him and this Ichigo. But then there was a part of him that was scared to death that it would be true.

"Ryoto?" Kamiko said as she came into the front of the love motel.

"Yeah, what's up?" Ryoto said from the couch where he was sitting playing on the game system hooked to the tv.

"I've got news. Dr. Yei called."

Ryoto put down the controller slowly and stood up, walking into the room. "And?"

"He's your father. You are this Ichigo," she said softly.

Ryoto blinked rapidly for a minute. "It's true."

Kamiko walked up and put her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay to feel something about this, Ryoto. This is a big deal. We've finally uncovered your past. This is a good thing."

"But…what do I do now?" he asked.

"First, we need to call this Isshin Kurosaki. He needs to know we've confirmed your relation to him, and thus who you are. Then, you need to try and get your memories back," Kamiko said gently.

"What about you and the girls?" he asked, looking at her with wide eyes. "And the clients! They're going to expect me to be here," he said. "I can't just leave!"

"Ryoto, yes you can. This is your real life. You have to explore it and try to remember your past. We'll be fine, and we'll tell the clients you took a vacation. You've got enough money saved to cover your expenses and you'll be able to look into this family." Kamiko pulled his head down and kissed the top of it. "This is the best course of action."

Ryoto didn't know what to think. He'd found out who he was. After five years, he wasn't Ryoto, he was Ichigo. But what was he going to do now that he knew that?

He swallowed and nodded to Kamiko. "Let me call this Kurosaki. I'll tell him myself."

She handed him a phone, number already pulled up. He smiled at her as he pressed the send button. A couple rings later, and he recognized the voice of the man that had been there two weeks ago. "Isshin speaking."

"Um, this is Ryoto."

"Ryoto, you have heard from the doctor?" he asked.

"Yeah, and it looks like you're right. They said you're my father, so I have to be this Ichigo person," he said nervously. "So, I guess I should come and see if coming back to your home makes me remember anything."

Isshin was quiet for a time. "Okay, I'll be there soon to pick you up. Are you ready now?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," he said with a sigh. "I don't really have much to take, but I'll pack a couple changes of clothes to take with me and let the girls know I'll be gone for a bit."

"Alright, I'll be there soon," he said and hung up.

Ryoto handed Kamiko the phone. "I'll go tell the girls. Yua is going to be sad to see me leave, she's so used to be me in the apartment with her."

"She'll be fine, Ryoto. Go do what you have to do," Kamiko said.

Ryoto sighed and nodded. He went around and told all the girls what was happening, and as he thought, a couple of them cried at the thought of him leaving them. Mayumi, though, seemed a bit distant, and Ryoto wasn't sure what that was all about. It had been her that he'd been helping when he got mixed up in everything, so perhaps she felt at fault or something. Yua was one of the ones that cried on him, but she wished him well, and wanted to make sure he took care of himself.

By the time Isshin showed up, he was waiting in the front of After Dark. He stood up as he entered the room, and Ryoto noticed he had Uryū with him. He looked at them, then back at Kamiko. "I'll be back, alright? I promise."

Kamiko came around the counter and hugged him. "Ryoto, you do what you have to do, alright?"

Ryoto nodded and kissed the top of her head gently, then looked at Uryū and Isshin. "Okay, let's go."

Isshin led him back out, and Uryū walked behind him. Ryoto looked back as they got to the car and then glanced over at Uryū.

"If you hadn't shown up here, I might never have known who I was," he admitted.

"I'm glad I came here," Uryū said, giving him a little bit of a smile.

"I still don't know how I feel about it, though," Ryoto said as he got into the front seat of the car. "I mean, knowing that I'm the person you have feelings for, but I can't remember you and I don't know if I ever returned those feelings."

Uryū sat behind him. "I doubt you did."

Ryoto turned and looked at him. "You don't know that. Neither do I. Don't give up, Uryū," he said.

Ryoto turned back around and Uryū just stared at him. Isshin shrugged and started the car up, and headed back to Karakura Town.

"I called both your sisters this morning," Isshin said as they drove. "They're both going to meet at the house. They don't know anything about you, so they'll be expecting their brother."

"You didn't tell them I lost my memories?" Ryoto asked, looking at him.

"I thought it best that they see you first," Isshin said softly.

Ryoto sighed, looking out the window as they headed out of Tokyo. He hadn't left Tokyo, or even After Dark, in five years. It had been everything he'd ever known, and he still wasn't sure how he felt about knowing that he had a life before After Dark. They drove in silence for a while, and then things started looking familiar.

"I've got an eerie feeling," Ryoto said with a frown.

"This is Karakura Town. You grew up here," Isshin said as they passed houses that Ryoto fleetingly recognized.

"This is too weird," he said, shaking his head. "And it gives me a headache."

"Well, we're here," Isshin said as they pulled into a parking spot near a house.

Ryoto and Uryū both got out, and Ryoto looked around. That eerie familiarity was sticking with him, and the headache he had felt coming on began to blossom behind his eyes. He closed his eyes and shook his head, willing the pain to go away, when he heard a loud sound.

"Anaki!" he heard, opening his eyes and looking to see two young women outside the house. One had darker hair than the other. The one with lighter hair was coming toward him.

"Girls, there's something you need to know," Isshin said as he closed the car door. "Your brother can't remember anything. He's lost all his memories."

"What?" the darker haired one said, looking at Isshin, then turning to him. "You don't remember us?"

The one with the lighter hair had stopped, hands clutched to her chest, and tears streaming down her face. "Please, Anaki, you have to remember us?"

Ryoto shook his head. "I don't. I'm sorry. I can't remember anything from before five years ago."

"Let's go in," Isshin said and ushered the two girls back into the house.

Ryoto followed them, looking around and feeling the sensation of having been there before. Uryū followed him, not saying anything, but just watching as he walked. Isshin and the two girls sat at the kitchen table and gestured for him to sit down as well. Uryū stood behind him, and Ryoto looked around as he walked up to the chair.

"Your brother has been going by Ryoto," Isshin said with a nod toward him.

"Yeah, I know my name is supposed to be Ichigo, but I've lived as Ryoto for the last five years," Ryoto explained, looking between the tearful one and the one with a more severe look on her face.

"This is Yuzu," Isshin said, pointing to the one with lighter hair. "And that's Karin." He pointed to the darker haired one. "They're twins, four years younger than you."

Ryoto nodded. "Okay, well, it's nice to meet you, for the time being, I guess I'll say that. I mean, since I don't remember you."

"You look different," Karin said, narrowing her eyes at him. "Are you wearing makeup?"

Ryoto glanced her direction and nodded. "I usually do."

"Ichigo didn't wear makeup," Karin said.

"Well, a lot changed in the last five years, and I do now," Ryoto said, getting a little annoyed. "The girls at the motel taught me how to do it."

"Were you working at a motel?" Yuzu asked, apparently having gotten her tears under control.

"Yeah, a love motel called After Dark. I've lived there for the last five years. They took care of me when I couldn't remember anything, and I started working there with them," Ryoto said, looking between them. "That's how Uryū found me."

"What were you doing there?" Karin asked, tipping her head to the side.

Ryoto started to answer, but Isshin jumped in. "It doesn't matter."

Ryoto glared at him. "You just don't want them to know what I was doing."

"They don't need those details," Isshin said, looking at him with a pleading look on his face.

Karin glared at her father now. "What was he doing?"

"What he doesn't want you to know is I was a sex worker," Ryoto said, seeing the expression on Isshin's face slump. "He's embarrassed about what I was doing, so he doesn't think you should know."

"You were what?" Yuzu asked. "So, you were like, doing that for money?"

"People do that, Yuzu," Karin said, staring at Ryoto.

"There's not a lot to do when you don't have an identity," Ryoto said, looking over at Isshin. "Isshin thinks I should have done something else, no doubt, but I did what I had to do to survive. And it wasn't that bad. If I hadn't, Uryū would have never found me."

Both Karin and Yuzu looked at Uryū, who was staring studiously at his hands. Karin had picked up the meaning behind her brother's words, even if Yuzu did not. "You bought my brother?"

Uryū looked up at her and sighed. "It's complicated."

"No, it's really not. Why would you do something like that? Why would you buy my brother to have sex with him?" she insisted.

Uryū covered his face and Ryoto put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Karin," Ryoto said softly. "He saw your brother in me and was able to express his hidden feelings. I wish I could answer him about whether I shared those feelings or not, but I don't know."

"Uryū was in love with you?" Yuzu was slower, but she was catching on. She looked at Uryū. "Why didn't you say something before?"

Uryū put his hands down and looked at her. "I thought he was in love with Orihime."

"So, you just harbored feelings for our brother silently, and never told him the truth?" Karin asked, frowning at him.

"I didn't know what else to do," he answered.

Isshin hadn't said anything, just listened. "I think we should all get some sleep. Girls, are you staying here tonight, or going back to your apartment?"

Karin looked at Yuzu and then at Isshin. "Here. We've got the weekend off. We'll see if we can't help Ichigo remember something."

Ryoto nodded. "I know this is a lot, but can you call me Ryoto?"

Karin swallowed. "Uh, yeah, I guess since that's the only name you know, we can call you that. Until you remember yourself."

"If I remember myself," Ryoto sighed.

The girls both got up and left to go to their old room, leaving Ryoto with Uryū and Isshin. They were all quiet for a time.

"How did you end up working at After Dark?" Uryū said finally.

Ryoto looked over at him. "I don't remember much before I woke up there. Kamiko said that she and Mayumi found me in a warehouse with some dead Yakuza men. I was pretty beat up but survived it. Oh!" he said, looking at Isshin. "My pills!"

"Pills?" Isshin frowned.

"Yeah, I only have enough for a week. My shoulder got messed up, so I take pills for the pain," he explained, digging through his bag and pulling out the unmarked bottle to show him.

Isshin took the bottle. "These are addictive. How long have you been on them?"

Ryoto shrugged. "Almost five years, why?"

Isshin looked at him and handed him the bottle. "That might be a problem. This is oxycodone. I can only get it short term. It's not meant to be used long term like that."

Ryoto looked at him. "But…I need it to be able to function. Kamiko always got them for me from somewhere. I have pain in my shoulder. I have to take it."

Isshin glanced at Uryū who wore a concerned face. "You may have to come off it."

"What? What'll I do about my shoulder pain?" he frowned.

"I can get you a non-opioid pain killer for that. But you'll go through withdrawal from the oxycodone. I don't know how severe it will be, but it won't be pleasant," Isshin said with a sad look.

Ryoto stared at him for a minute. "Look, why don't I just go back when I run out of pills. That's the simple solution. Kamiko can get more for me."

"But, Ichi-er, Ryoto, an addiction to pain pills isn't going to do you any good. I think you should consider staying with me and getting off them," Isshin said, reaching across the table to take his hand.

Ryoto stared at his hand where it was touching him and thought about what he was saying. Was he addicted? He could stop taking them anytime, he thought. He had just gotten used to taking them, so what did it matter if he continued?

"Well, I guess we'll deal with it when it comes up," he said. "I'll take what I have for now."

Isshin sat back but still looked concerned. Ryoto glanced at Uryū. "Are you staying here?"

"I was going to sleep on the sofa," Uryū said, looking over at Isshin for confirmation. He nodded at him.

"Alright, so I guess I have a room?" Ryoto said, turning to Isshin.

"Yes, just like you left it five years ago," Isshin said softly. He stood up. "Here, I'll show you," he said and took him upstairs.

Ryoto walked into the room and felt that odd wave of familiarity wash over him again. He looked around. "I know this place."

Isshin stood at the door and nodded. "Yeah, this was always your room."

Ichigo looked at the desk and frowned. "What's this?" he asked, picking up a strange piece of material with a skull shape etched on it.

Isshin stiffened. "A memento."

"Of what?" Ryoto turned it over in his hands. "It feels like something I should know, but I can't remember."

Isshin nodded. "Maybe it will come back."

Ryoto put the object down and then stared at it for a while. Something about it… He shook his head. "I should sleep. I'm sure you'll want to show me things to get my memory back tomorrow."

Isshin cleared his throat. "Ah, yeah, we'll look at photo albums, and invite other friends over to see you," Isshin told him.

"Good night," Ryoto said and walked over to shut the door.

"Good night," Isshin answered and went back downstairs.

Ryoto closed the door and stood there, breath a little heavy in his chest. What was this feeling? He knew these places, these people, but it was just out of reach. His heart pounded a little faster as he thought he heard a voice whisper in his head.

Listen, King.

-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-

Uryū woke up when the sun came streaming in the windows. He rolled over and realized he should call Chad and Orihime. He didn't really want to, because that meant explaining what had happened. He imagined that Orihime would be the most upset over it. Of course, she was married and had children now, and Chad was a boxing trainer at the local gym. He sat up slowly and picked up his phone.

First, he dialed Chad. "Hello?" came the answer.

"Chad. I have news." He knew Chad would come over when he heard.

"News?"

"About Ichigo. He's been found. But he's lost his memory," Uryū explained. "We're at his house now."

"I'll be there," Chad said simply and hung up.

Uryū sighed. Now to call Orihime. He dialed the number and waited. After a few rings, she answered, a little breathless.

"Hello, Uryū?" she said.

"Orihime, hey, um, I got some news about Ichigo."

She was silent for a moment. "Hold on, let me put the baby down," she said and he heard her lay the phone down. She came back a few moments later. "Okay, what is it?"

"We found him. He's at his house now with Isshin, the girls, and me. But he's lost his memories. He has been living as someone else for the last five years," he explained.

"Oh wow, really?" she said. "After this long?"

"Yeah, do you want to come see him? Chad's on his way."

"Let me drop the baby off at her grandmother's, and I'll come by. I'll see you soon, Uryū." She hung up and Uryū sighed.

He heard noise and looked to see Ryoto coming downstairs. He felt so strange, looking at him and knowing it was Ichigo now.

"You're up early," he said.

Ryoto nodded. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. Kept dreaming. Strange dreams, you know. Keeps raining in them for some reason. Actually, kind of depressing, if you ask me," he said as he flopped down in the couch beside Uryū.

"Oh, two of our friends are coming over. Orihime and Chad." Uryū kept his hands in his lap despite wanting desperately to take Ryoto's hand.

"Okay, who are they?" he asked.

"Chad is your oldest friend. He's been around a long time. And Orihime is the girl I thought you liked. She's married and has a kid now, though," Uryū explained.

Ryoto nodded. "Okay. Well, I'm not a big fan of women, so I can't imagine I had a thing for one before I lost my memory. Seems like something that wouldn't change," Ryoto chuckled a bit.

Uryū turned to him. "You think so?"

"I think that I'm confused, but I know I feel something when I look at you. I don't know if it's because of our time together, or if it's from memories of you from before." Ryoto turned to see Isshin coming down the stairs.

"Kurosaki-san," Uryū said, standing slowly. "Chad—" Uryū started but the doorbell rang.

"Chad is here, is my guess," Isshin said, going to the door.

A few seconds later, he came back with Chad. Ryoto stood up, looking at him with wide eyes. "He's big," he mumbled.

"Chad, hey," Uryū said.

Chad looked at Ryoto and shook his head. "Ichigo?"

"Ryoto, actually. At least for now," Ryoto said. "I've been going by that for five years now."

Chad nodded. "Ryoto, then," he said.

Uryū looked over to see Isshin standing close by, so he walked over. "You look thoughtful."

"He could see the badge," Isshin said quietly enough for only Uryū to hear.

"He's getting his powers back, perhaps," Uryū said. "How do we even talk to him about that?"

"I have no idea," Isshin sighed.

The doorbell rang again. Uryū glanced at Ryoto, who was asking Chad about what he did. Chad was telling him about teaching at the gym. Isshin headed to the door, and a second later came back with Orihime.

"Kurosaki-kun!" she gasped, coming forward and grabbing Ryoto in a hug.

Ryoto stiffened for a minute, but put his arms around her, patting her back. "Uh, it's Ryoto right now, okay?"

She stepped back and looked at Uryū. "Ryoto?"

"That's the name he's been using for the last five years," he explained.

"You can't remember anything?" Orihime asked, eyes starting to tear.

Ryoto shook his head. "Uh, yeah, like I was telling Chad, I can't remember anything from before I woke up at the love motel."

"Love motel?" Orihime said, staring at him. "You were at a love motel."

"Look, is this going to be a problem with everyone?" Ryoto asked, looking at Uryū. "Because it's really getting annoying."

"It's just not what we expect from Ichigo," Isshin said. "But you're Ryoto, and this is the life you lived."

"How did you find him?" Chad asked, looking at Isshin.

"That was Uryū's doing. He's the one that found him," Isshin said, shrugging. "I'll make tea for everyone," he said and walked to the kitchen.

Uryū watched him go, feeling a bit abandoned. He was being stared at by both Chad and Orihime. "Uh, yeah, I went there, and he was there."

"What were you doing at a love motel?" Orihime asked, frowning at him.

Uryū shifted uncomfortably. Ryoto, though, spoke up. "Looking for love, what do you think?" he said with a smirk, turning his gaze on Uryū. "It was a sex worker hub. Well, still is, Mistress Kamiko takes care of things there. I was working, and Uryū thought I looked like Ichigo, and so we ended up doing business."

Uryū felt his face heat as both Orihime and Chad stared at him. "Wait, you mean, you were…doing that?" Orihime said.

"Sex work. Prostitution. Escorting. You can say it. They're not dirty words. And yes, I was sleeping with people for money. Mostly men, though I had the occasional woman for a client. Not my favorite, though," Ryoto said with a shrug in a nonchalant voice.

Chad shook his head. "I wouldn't have expected that."

"Yeah, well, it's what it is, and you'll have to accept it. Even if I get my memories back, it isn't going to change the last five years, you know," Ryoto said, crossing his arms.

Orihime sniffed, wiping her eyes. "But you're alive. We all though something terrible had happened to you."

"Well, I wouldn't call what happened not terrible, I mean, I'm still hiding from the Yakuza because I apparently killed three of them," he said with a shrug. "That's part of why I was doing work for Kamiko. It was one of the only ways to make money without an identity."

Isshin came to the door. "I have tea," he said. "Why don't we all have a cup, and we can talk to Ryoto about his life as Ichigo."

"Alright," Ryoto said. "Let's do that."

They all headed to the table and spent the rest of the day going over pictures, albums, and stories of things that had happened to Ichigo. They discussed Ichigo's mother and her dying when he was young, and all the time, he had the strangest sense of familiarity.

-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-

In the chair in front of the tattooed man, the doctor, Dr. Yei, sat tied. It was late, and they were in the doctor's apartment. He lived alone, and no one had noticed them breaking in.

"Well, Dr. Yei. We have to thank you for your service," the tattooed man said as he pulled out a gun and began screwing a silencer onto it. "But you know a little too much."

The doctor struggled against his bonds, but the gun was placed against his head, and went off, putting a hole right in his forehead. The tattooed man put the gun away and looked at the others. He pulled out the phone again and dialed a number. It was answered quickly.

"We have a trail. The guy we're looking for, he's in Karakura Town. Guy named Isshin Kurosaki is his father. He goes by Ryoto. That's all Yei knew. Seems like they wanted to keep it under wraps, but it got leaked to the police somehow, and that's how our people picked up on it." He was quiet and listened. "Right away. We'll head there now," he said and put away the phone.

He looked at the two men with him. "We're off to Karakura Town. Let's find this guy. He killed three of our people. He's gonna have to suffer."