Ichigo and Orihime, stared at the person in front of them like deer in headlights.

Rukia then chuckled and asked

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue, Ichigo?"

Ichigo slowly said

"E-Eren."

Rukia and Renji's faces went pale.

"What the-"

"So you do know him Ichi-nii! He told me he works with Rukia-san. How come you never told me about him ?!"

Ichigo was mute for words. He was still able to mumble

"W-Well-"

"He told me you were his only contact here! You should be more responsible Ichi-nii! The poor thing was wondering for hours in the street, with no idea about things here!"

Tatsuki looked up at him and asked with an unseen curious and flirtatious look

"So…what's your name, stranger?"

Eren, for whom the hint flew over his head, answered nonchalantly

"Eren. Eren Yeager."

Rukia and Renji gulped as they had the situation confirmed. Ichigo and Orihime snapped out of their trance. They turned to see Tatsuki extending her hand to him

"Tatsuki Arisawa. I'm Ichigo's friend. One time schoolmate."

Eren extended his hand the same way

"Nice…to meet you."

As Ichigo kept looking at the scene with no words to say, he heard Karin call him again

"Ichi-nii!"

He turned to see Karin scowling at him

"H-Huh?"

"Like I said, Ichi-nii, you're becoming too ignorant of things! If I hadn't found him, god knows what he would have done!"

Ichigo began to panic as cold sweat began to lace his face

"T-Things like what? What would he have done?!"

"Don't worry too much. He was about to break a vending machine glass because he was hungry!"

Ichogo gulped as he slowly said with an awkward forced smile.

"Y-Yeah. Sorry about that. He…He didn't tell me beforehand he was coming so…"

Eren then replied

"Well…it was kind of a last-minute decision to send me here so…that's why I couldn't inform before hand…Sorry"

Karin looked at the two and sighed

"Well, I can't blame you alone either. Rangiku was supposed to be with him over here but she ditched him on the way to go shopping. As for him, he's so out-of-date that he doesn't know what a cell phone is! Which era did you drag him out of?"

"Um…uh…I don't know, to be honest."

She then looked at Eren and said

"You were lucky the police didn't find you back then. Or else you'd have been dead."

Eren then deadpanned

"Technically, I already am dead, so no big difference."

Karin looked at him for a second and chuckled at the dark humor

"You really are a very interesting guy, you know? I'll see you around!"

"Yeah."

Karin then waved to the others, who waved back awkwardly (except Tatsuki). Ichigo was looking terrified. Karin then went back home.

Tatsuki then went to use the restroom.

Eren the took out his cell phone and showed it to him

"Oh by the way, Ichigo, can you help me operate this…'cell phone'?

Ichigo then grunted and then dragged him from the scene to an alley next to the shop. Rukia and Renji followed. Ichigo then held his collar and pushed him against the wall. He then growled

"You…You planned this, didn't you?"

"Planned what?"

"Don't act innocent! You're anything but that! Getting close to my sister…what are you planning to do?!"

"You can't be serious. I came over here merely a few hours ago and I have no idea what's going on here. I didn't even know that you had sisters in the first place!"

Ichigo then held his hoodie tighter

"Then what the fuck are you doing here teme?!"

Eren was getting annoyed.

"Let. Go. Of my clothes. Your sister was generous enough to help me choose them. They're the only pair I have to wear here.

"Like you're ever coming back here you bastard!"

"I work for your Soul Society, remember? It's obvious that I'll come back here for missions."

Rukia then placed a hand on Ichigo's shoulders

"Ichigo." She said firmly

Eren gave a light smile

"Ah, nice to see you again Captain. It's been a while. Thanks for that leave. It was amazing."

Rukia lightly grit her teeth

Just wait until I work you to your limits. I swear, someday, I'll make you regret what you did

"What are you doing here, Eren?"

"Toshiro sent me. He said it had already been a week since you came here and asked me to get you back. This was exactly what he said when I asked him why me…"

"Well…even if not now, you'll have to go down there someday. Besides, I personally think seeing you in person again will remind the two of their duties."

"That damn chibi." Ichigo whispered

Eren looked down to see Ichigo still holding his hoodie. Do people seriously don't like him wearing clothes?

"Anyway, now let go of my clothes. Final Warning."

"Or what?" Ichigo gripped his hoodie tighter

"Tch. Annoying Orange Head."

Eren then gripped Ichigo's hand and pulled it off his hoodie. He then moved his other hand against his chest. For a finisher, he simultaneously kicked him in the leg and pushed him in the chest. Ichigo then fell to the ground with a spin.

As Ichigo rubbed his head, he saw Eren looking down at him on the ground

"That…hurt. What the hell was that?"

"A move I learnt. It's been a long time since I've used it." He said as he stretched himself a bit

"Seems like I still remember some stuff from before…even after Captain's training" He said with a light smile

They then heard a voice from the end of the alley, near the kakigori shop

"Looks like he did quite a number on you Ichigo."

The four looked in the direction to see Tatsuki with her hands folded

"Oh, it's…nothing Tatsuki."

"Oh really? It did seem like you were holding him by the collar."

"Well…it's just that-"

Tatsuki sighed

"Ichigo. I get how you just want to protect your sisters, but that doesn't mean you'd jump at every guy you see next to them."

Ichigo kept quiet. There was no arguing against what Tatsuki said, and telling her about Eren is completely out of the question.

"Besides, it's up to them to choose who the right guy for them is and they are capable of handling themselves against anyone dangerous."

Ichigo then slightly scowled as he turned his head away slightly. Tatsuki then looked back at Eren.

"I have to say though, that's a very interesting technique. Seems like Mr. Hoodie here has some nice moves as well."

Eren simply shrugged

"You know, Eren, we should have a spar sometime."

"No problem."

'Hey you know what? You should come with us to the beach tomorrow! I know you'll have to go to the Soul Society, but…one day won't hurt, right?"

Eren looked down in thought for a second

"The beach…huh?"

His head wandered to the last time he went to the beach. The lifeless, empty expression on his face that time. He remembered the words he said that day

"Hey…If we kill all of our enemies over there…will we finally…be free?"

The last time he went to the beach, he was beginning to walk down a very dark path, a path that eventually led to his end. The last time he went to the beach, he'd learned some very horrifying truths, truths that changed his life forever for the worst. As such, the beach, the other side of the sea, all of these became symbols of the side of himself that he didn't want to see.

But maybe…this time…this time would be different. He was in a different world, with different people…people who didn't see him as a weapon or a faultless threat.

Maybe…for once, he could be someone not special, someone, who was just another normal guy, just like everyone.

"Well? What do you say?"

He looked up to see Tatsuki look at him expectantly

He then took a glance at Ichigo and the others, who looked at him expectantly as well

"Hmm…I was told to assist Captain and the others in case we got into trouble, so that excuse should work for another day. I'm in."

Tatsuki smirked

"Great! Looking forward to a great time with you, Eren Yeager."

"Same here."

She then turned to Ichigo and the others, who had their eyes wide open

"See ya, Ichigo!"

"Y-Yeah! Later."

After she then left the scene, Ichigo held Eren's collar again

"Why you little-"

"Last time I checked, I'm an inch taller than you, so you don't get to call me little. Besides, it's not like you have a choice, do you? If I go back, it has to be with you people. If you go back to the Soul Society now, you'll have to break your promise with Tatsuki. But if you stay here another day without me involved, you could face consequences in the Soul Society, since I'd definitely talk about the little beach adventure. So, your only option will be to take me with you and I report it as an unforeseen threat.

Besides, it'll be nice for a subordinate to have some field experience, right? That's what Toshiro sent me here for."

Renji was getting irritated

"Tch. What a pain."

"Fine." Rukia said sternly with her hands folded

Eren smirked

"But get away from our sight for even a day, and I'll throw you into Hell."

"That's my line you know…minus the hell part. I'm the one babysitting you here."

"Whatever. Seems like we have an understanding here."

"Yes we do."

"Oh by the way, do I have to stay tonight?"

"W-Well about that…"

"I'll drop you at Urahara's. I'm heading there too." Renji volunteered.

"Ura…Hara?"

"He's the blond eccentric guy with a green and white bucket hat." Renji replied

"Oh…Oh wait! I remember him! He stays here?"

"Yup. He was a former captain and due to a few reasons, he came and settled down here with Yoruichi. You know who she is, right?"

"Yoruichi…huh?"

He then remembered Toshiro mentioning that she was the one who conspired with Rukia many times to create their 'plans of torture' for him.

"But still…she's out on mission now and won't be coming back anytime soon. So, you coming or not?"

Eren simply shrugged

"Fine by me."

The two then left for Urahara's shop while Ichigo and Rukia went back to Ichigo's house.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, it took some time to write, but here's the new chapter for "The Devil's Salvation"! Enjoy!