Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 5

Chad sat with Ichigo, gently strumming his guitar while Ichigo read Hamlet beside him. "What happened last night?" he asked after a while.

#A Shinigami tracked a Hollow here. She was injured so I dealt with it, but we were being watched so I used my fists and channelled power through them. We patched her up and she left this morning.#

Chad set his guitar down to free his hands, learning sign had not been easy and he doubted he'd ever be as good as Ichigo and the twins, but he was good enough to hold a conversation and it ensured they couldn't be overheard. #Are you safe?# He signed back in concern and Ichigo hesitated, fingers twisting together nervously. #Ichigo?#

#I,# he paused, licking his lips. #I made her forget,# he finally signed, and Chad frowned in confusion before his eyes widened.

#Vampire power?# he asked and Ichigo nodded. #You were protecting your family Ichigo, and you wouldn't have hurt her.# he made sure Ichigo could see his hands and Ichigo glanced up at him briefly.

#She recognised Dad,# he admitted. #Made her think it was a silly idea, that we weren't important so she should leave us out of her reports.#

#Good.# he picked his guitar up and began playing again, feeling Ichigo slowly relax beside him.

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Kisuke paused and looked over…interesting. He quickly ducked out of sight, watching as the teenager walked down the street, hands in his pockets, head down. It was rare that Ichigo left the family home as far as he could tell, and he wondered where he was going…so he followed him. Ichigo finally stopped on the riverbank, under a bridge….the anniversary was coming up.

Other than the fight the other night, it was the first time he had seen the boy since his Mother's death. He had changed a lot since then, not surprising since he was now around seventeen years old. The long hair was a bit of an interesting change, not something he would have thought Isshin would accept. He was pale, but if he rarely left the house then it was expected. There was something…odd about him but he couldn't put his finger on it. He ducked back as Ichigo suddenly lifted his head and looked right in his direction.

"Who's there?" the boy called out and Kisuke hesitated before stepping into sight and walking cautiously towards him.

"Good afternoon Kurosaki-san," he greeted cheerfully and Ichigo watched him from behind the fringe of hair that hung over his eyes. He was taking a risk perhaps, but he needed to be sure if the family was still trustworthy or not.

"Hello," Ichigo returned. "At Mom's funeral," he stated, surprising Kisuke.

"Yes, I was," he was surprised Ichigo had noticed him or even remembered his presence that day with how grief consumed he'd been. "I heard about your accident, it is good to see you healed," he offered a smile and Ichigo shrugged.

"Mostly."

What permanent damage had been done? Was that why Isshin pulled back, to keep an injured child safe from the original plan? His speech was definitely off, abrupt. "May I sit with you?" he asked, and the boy hesitated before nodding so Kisuke took a seat on the grass beside him. "Do you know who I am?"

Ichigo nodded. "Urahara. Exiled Shinigami. Helped Mom and Dad."

"Ah, I see Isshin has spoken of me," he adjusted his hat and Ichigo nodded.

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"Can't talk the best," he wrapped his arms around his legs, laying his head on his knees.

"Due to the accident?" he asked gently, feeling sorry for him. "I haven't really seen you since then and your Father never asked for my help."

That had Ichigo sitting up, turning to face him though he only made brief eye contact before looking down. "Help how?"

"I have access to some Shinigami healing methods," he answered. "How badly were you hurt?"

"Coma. Had to relearn lots. There…" he trailed off, frowning and Kisuke remained quiet. "Bad days sometimes. Dad said cata…" he licked his lips. "Catatonic."

That was bad, very bad. "I am very sorry."

"Can't use me like this?" the boy asked, and his eyes widened in shock before he could hide the reaction.

Had Isshin told him everything? "We were hopeful your rather unique heritage would help in defeating Aizen, yes."

"Quincy, Shinigami, human, Hollow," Ichigo stated.

"Hollow?" he demanded and Ichigo nodded. The boy hesitated before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When he opened them he looked up at Kisuke who froze at seeing black and gold but then it faded to warm amber. He had not realised so much of the Hollow had been passed from Masaki to Ichigo. He had counted on some, that the boy could potentially become one of the Visored, but he had thought it would take an extra nudge…like the Shattered Shaft or something.

"It's okay," Ichigo told him, watching him. "Shiro helped me wake up."

"I see…"

"He's not bad, helps me. Looks after me on bad days."

A Hollow caring for someone? He had never heard of such a thing. Why had it not claimed Ichigo's body as its own or something? He would need to speak with the Visored about that. "How do you manage school?"

"Home schooled," he shrugged. "You were watching, is Rukia okay?"

"She is fine, patrolling as is her job. Don't worry, she has made no mention of your family or how you killed the Hollow, with your bare hands."

That got another shrug. "Not only one watching."

"Aizen," he agreed. "You may not have shown off a Zanpakutō, but I doubt that will be enough to remove his interest in you," Kisuke warned and Ichigo nodded in understanding. It seemed that while he had difficulties with his speech, it did not affect his ability to understand others which was good. His life was likely hard enough as it was. "How good are you with those blades?" he asked and Ichigo stared at him in confusion.

"Okay? They teach me when asleep."

"Isshin hasn't?" he had thought Isshin would at least get him through the basics if he wasn't hiding his past but Ichigo shook his head. He hesitated but then decided to go with it. "I happen to have a very nice training room," he offered. It would be good to see what Ichigo could do because if Aizen decided to target him then it was best he could defend himself, if he could take out some of Aizen's troops that would be helpful.

"Why?" he sounded wary now, once again not meeting his eyes.

That seemed to be something Ichigo didn't do and he wondered why, a sign of the brain damage? He'd need to do some research to see what kind of things a brain injury could do and what might be able to be done to help. "It is always best to have somewhere safe to train, and a variety of opponents," he answered.

"I might," he finally answered.

Kisuke nodded and stood, settling his hat better. "It has been a pleasure," he smiled and saw the boy looked surprised by that. Was he really that isolated by his injury? "Shinji was impressed by your fight and the ease with which you spotted him, should you wish to actually meet him I am sure he would agree." With that he left, he knew Ichigo would be able to find his store if he decided to come, Isshin could tell him where it was if it came down to it.

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"Rukia?"

She turned at the call of her name and smiled as she saw Ichigo in the nearby park. She waved and walked towards him. "Hello Ichigo. How is your family?" she asked.

"Good," he smiled at her, hands in his pockets as he leant against the railing. "Your injuries?"

"Fully healed," she assured him, leaning beside him. There was a tree behind them, shading where they were standing, and it would help keep people from noticing he was talking to himself.

"Left without goodbyes."

"Sorry, I thought it was better, the less you're involved the safer it is for you," she explained, and he glanced at her before nodding. "You haven't had any trouble with Hollows since?"

"No."

That was a relief to hear. She could feel his power like an absolute furnace as they stood side by side, how had he avoided being eaten? Though his powers had likely surged and grown with puberty, even as a child they would have been impressive. She glanced down as the pager began to beep and then up at him. "Time to work."

"Be careful," he told her, and she nodded, dashing off.

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Ichigo rushed across the rooftops, feeling a Hollow near two signatures he knew. Tatsuki had been his friend since they were four and while he did not see a lot of her anymore, not since his 'accident', she had tried to remain in his life. He could not allow anything to happen to her. He had the feeling the one with her was her friend Inoue, a nice if airheaded girl. Rukia was too far away, she would not get there in time even if she had received an alert. He paused on the rooftop and looked down, there was a hole in the wall of the building before him and he could hear screaming within. He reached out, trying to pick up any surveillance but could sense nothing so he drew his blades and moved.

What he saw within the apartment horrified him. Tatsuki was unconscious on the ground, against the wall. Inoue lay nearby….a chain leading from her body towards the Hollow where he saw it was holding her soul in one hand. He shifted direction slightly and his blade sliced cleaning through its arm, removing the hand which released Inoue to fall to the ground. She scrambled back as he lunged in, but the Hollow retreated with a scream of pain and he glanced down at her, seeing her eyes wide in shock and fear.

"Kur…Kurosaki-san?" she gasped, and he nodded.

"Okay?" he asked her, and she just stared before tugging at the chain in her chest. "Don't. lie on body to get back in," he told her firmly and she hesitated. "Now!" he yelled, shifting his stance as he felt the Hollow returning. He felt it as Inoue returned to her body, falling unconscious, which was good, it left him free to fight how he pleased, though he could feel Rukia approaching. He needed to end this fast. He could explain his presence easily enough, he'd felt a friend in danger, but he couldn't let her see his blades.

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Rukia could feel the Hollow but she could also feel Ichigo and she pushed herself to move faster. He'd had to fight and kill one Hollow because she had failed, she could not let another kill him. He was nowhere near home, why was he out so late? She came to a stop on a roof to see a damaged building as a Hollow was knocked out through the hole in the wall, Ichigo following to stand on the edge, glaring down at it. She drew Sode no Shirayuki and leapt into the air, coming in behind the snake-like Hollow, her blade slicing through its mask, splitting it in two. She watched it fade, sheathing her blade before leaping up to join Ichigo.

"Are you alright?" she demanded, and he nodded, rubbing a hand and she hissed as she saw the burns on his skin. "What happened?" she took his hand in hers to get a better look. She wasn't a member of the Fourth, but most in her Division learnt at least some Kaidō in order to better help their Captain. She ran her hand over the burn, watching it fade.

"Spat acid," he shrugged. "Thanks."

"What are you doing here?" She asked, letting his hand go and he waved into the room where she saw two girls around his age and she quickly moved to check on them.

"Tatsuki is old friend, Inoue is her friend. Sensed danger and came."

"That was brave but reckless," she told him.

"Inoue was about to be eaten," he answered, and she sighed but nodded.

"They'll be alright," she told him, seeing him relax. She pulled out her Kikanshinki in order to replace their memories with something other than being attacked by an invisible monster.

"What's that?" he asked as he watched her.

"A memory substitution device, it will replace their memories of what happened with something more believable. Although the process is completely random."

He nodded in understanding. "Good. Inoue was knocked out of body, saw us fight."

"I can finish here; you should get going. If they wake up they can't see me."

He nodded again and then smiled at her. "Good to see you." He went to the door and headed outside.

Rukia finished up and then left, sending off her report on an acid spitting Hollow that had attacked two teenage girls, but she had defeated it.

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Aizen checked on Kuchiki's reports. She had made no mention of the Kurosaki family, not surprising. He may have underestimated her skills as she had handled every Hollow she had faced yet. Kurosaki's ability to beat a Hollow with his bare hands had been interesting, though not overly surprising with his past. He needed to find some way to push the girl into transferring her powers to him though, he needed to become a Shinigami. What could he use to push them together in a deadlier….ah, yes, that could work quite nicely.

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Ichigo looked around, hesitating, but then he took a breath and approached the store. The door was open, so he stepped inside, seeing the candy on display.

"Welcome Kurosaki-kun!" Urahara practically chirped, waving a fan in front of his face. "Please, come in," he waved him in and Ichigo followed him further into the building. "Have you decided to take me up on the offer of training space?"

Ichigo nodded. "Spar?" he asked and Urahara grinned.

"This way!" he led him to a room with a trapdoor, opening it to climb down and Ichigo followed, looking around in awe.

They walked away from the ladder and stood facing each other, Ichigo watching as Urahara drew a sword from within his cane. He hadn't known a Zanpakutō could be concealed like that. He focused and his own blades materialised in their places. "One or both?" he asked.

"Whichever you feel comfortable with," was the answer so he drew both. His spirits hadn't wanted him handicapping himself by learning them one at a time.

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Kisuke watched the teen draw both blades and smirked, this should be interesting. He'd never fought a duel wielder before. The first clashes were probing as they tested each other. Ichigo was physically strong, stronger than the average Shinigami and the double blades didn't seem to slow him down. For someone unused to fighting against another Zanpakutō wielder outside of his own inner world he was doing very well. It seemed he had inherited the natural combat skills of the Shiba. Ichigo was good about not taking his eyes off of him as they fought, even if he avoided eye contact, watching hands and feet a lot to see the slightest shift. Natural talent didn't beat experience and he soon had Ichigo on the ground, Benihime at his throat and he found himself staring into wide amber eyes…hadn't the boys' eyes been brown as a child? He felt something at the edge of his mind, his Princess reacting protectively, and it faded. He saw Ichigo's eyes widen further in shock and then maybe…hope? "Again?" he offered, and the teen nodded so he stepped back and then offered him a hand up which he accepted. Kisuke backed off and settled himself to begin again.

TBC…