Chapter 13

In Chains

Before leaving the house, Jugram had cornered Nozomi with a question that turned into an intense lecture.

"Nozomi?" Jugram asked questionably, placing the pancakes and eggs on Nozomi's plate, "mind telling me whose sweater was on your bed? And I know it's not Toshiro's."

Nozomi blushed a fierce red and looked at the perfectly cooked meal.

"Nozomi?" Jugram said seating next to her, handing her a fork.

Nozomi's mind froze, but her body moved with ease as she poured the orange juice for them and smiled at him sweetly.

"No ones," she replied. "You don't have to worry about it."

"Oh no," Jugram said. "I insist to know who has been here in my absence."

Nozomi calmly placed the glass in front of him, but felt her cheeks burning. She looked at him with clear discomfort in her eyes.

"It's no big deal," Nozomi said.

"Your face is the color of a deep cherry," Jugram said, poking her cheeks.

Nozomi didn't say anything.

"Are we'll do it my way," Jugram said.

Nozomi's shoulder's shrank as she poked at her pancakes. She was going to get a talk from her brother. He was going to give her a talk and she felt it deep in her bones. He was going to lay down house rules and expectations.


Nozomi ended up telling her brother a half truth and was told to return the sweater to its owner soon. She couldn't wait for the exact perfect moment. Throughout the talk, she felt silly and naive. So, she stuck the sweater in a sealed bag and in her locker.

Nel came behind her and Nozomi felt exhausted.

"What's wrong?" Nel asked.

"Just coming-of-age-talk from my brother," Nel said.

Nel grimaced uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, it must have been uncomfortable, especially from your brother. My uncle did the same, but why would he all of a sudden talk about that?" Nel asked, confused.

"I don't know," Nozomi said. She noticed Ichigo walking with Toshiro. It was strange to see him with Toshiro. They were both distant, but somehow connected.

"Oh, Ulquiorra withdrew from the committee," Nel said, sighing.

"Really?" Nozomi said.

"Yes, Ulquiorra and Uryuu didn't get along," Nel said. "Ulquiorra came in a while ago and submitted his withdrawal and I didn't find out until this morning!"

Nozomi wasn't surprised. Uryuu went by the book and could be overbearing with rules and orders. Ulquiorra didn't look like the type to be bound by rules that would restrict him.

Toshiro made his way to the girls.

"This is a pleasant surprise," Nel chirped. "Are we going to be seeing more of you on this side?"

"Maybe, who knows?" Toshiro said, hugging Nel who returned the embrace. They had grown up together and their relationship was very much that of siblings. Toshiro smiled at Nozomi and she stepped over and dropped her head onto Toshiro.

Toshiro wrapped his arms around her and looked at Nel.

"She got the coming of age talk," Nel said. Toshiro sucked in his breath.

"That's tough," he replied and held her closer. "Hopefully it wasn't too traumatizing."

Nozomi shook her head. Toshiro and Nel talked, but Nozomi looked at Ichigo and he looked at her questionably. She shifted her eyes to her locker and back at Ichigo. Ichigo nonchalantly stared at her. She shifted her gaze back to her locker and gently pinched her sweater. Ichigo's eyes beamed in realization and he held back a smile. She was telling him his sweater was in her locker and to break into it to retrieve it. Nozomi could feel the amusement from Ichigo and she buried her face into Toshiro's sweater.

"You okay?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes," Nozomi mumbled.

The boys separated from the girls once Grimmjow joined. Ichigo and Toshiro made their way to the other side of the school.

"You and Nozomi, are you together?" Ichigo asked, knowing the question but wanting to know Toshiro's intentions.

Toshiro was silent and looked at Ichigo.

"Why?" Toshiro asked, arching his eyebrow.

"She seems interested in you," Ichigo said, but not unsure of it. "Couldn't help but notice."

For a moment, Toshiro was silent.

"No," Toshiro said. "We are close, but not as a couple. Why do you ask? Are you interested in her?" he asked, redirecting the question.

Ichigo smirked.

"No," he said assuredly.


By the fifth period, the hallways were clear and Ichigo and Toshiro separated. Ichigo took this chance to go over to Nozomi's locker to retrieve his sweater. He admitted she was sly and coy about it, but a bit excessive. He looked at her locker and noticed the locker was unlocked, which was a bit odd. He opened the locker and noticed how organized she kept it. Against the locker, he saw a clear zipped bag and pulled at it to reveal his sweater. He retrieved his item and shut the locker, feeling uneasy. Why would she leave it unlocked?

He closed the locker and his eyes narrowed when he saw someone standing behind the locker. He didn't even hear him approach. It was Jun.

"What are you doing?" Jun asked.

"Grabbing my sweater," Ichigo replied coolly and clicked the lock on. "What are you doing?"

"I was just headed to grab some coffee, but isn't this Nozomi's locker," he stated.

"Like I said, I came to get my sweater," Ichigo stated. "You have a silent presence, it's disturbing and it would startle most students."

"Oh, did I startle you? I didn't mean to," Jun stated, smirking.

"Not me, others," Ichigo corrected. Standing head to head with him.

"I don't know how you got into her locker? But refrain from abusing your power as a prefect," Jun remarked, accusingly.

"I didn't have to abuse my powers to get to the locker," Ichigo retorted. "My business with Nozomi is mine and it has nothing to do with you. I believe you have no association with her to be even addressing her. So tell me why are you here in front of her locker?" He looked at the librarian, every fiber in his being was screaming danger. He looked at him with suspicion.

Jun smirked and stepped closer to Ichigo. "Well said and noted, but I must say she is quite the tasty treat. It's unfortunate her brother came back so early. Tell me, isn't her room just magnificent and filled with intriguing items, it brings me chills. Did it bring you chills when you were in her room with your sweater lying on her bed so neatly and carefully?" He taunted, looking at the sealed bag.

Ichigo's eyes widened and he fisted his hand and could feel his nails dig into his palms. It was him, the killer. He had his eyes set on his next prey and Ichigo's blood boiled.

"Don't be so surprised, I can recognize the look of mistrust and I noticed yours when you saw me conversing with Nozomi in the library," he stated.

"If you touch her," Ichigo hissed. "I'll kill you."

"Catch me if you can," Jun taunted, brushing away the bangs from Ichigo's face. "I like that look in your eyes."

Ichigo stepped back and could see the insanity in the librarian's eyes. He had shown his true colors. Both men stepped away from each other as they heard footsteps in the silent hallway. It was a girl who looked at them with curiosity. She saw the librarian and called out to him. He gave Ichigo a twisted smile, but as soon as the girl approached them, Jun's face humanely softened.

He smiled at her as if everything he said was never uttered or felt by the air. Ichigo settled his anger and looked at the girl and how at ease she spoke to him.

"Will you be at the library tomorrow at lunch?" the girl asked.

"Maybe" he said sweetly. "Will you be coming in to drop off the book?"

The girl beamed and nodded. "Yes, can you recommend another book?"

"Of course, I'll see you then," he replied, gently. "But, you should run along. You shouldn't be wandering."

The girl nodded happily and walked away cheerfully.

Ichigo glared at him.

"Oh don't worry, she's not my type," he said, casually. "She's too easy. Do you want to know how I get away with it? I've been wanting to share this information just to get it off my chest," he exasperated. "I gain their trust and they throw themselves at me. I don't have to do anything. On the other hand, Nozomi. She doesn't open up as easily. She makes it a task. She makes you work for her attention, it's almost infuriating."

Ichigo suddenly grabbed him and slammed him against the locker.

"Do you want to know something?" the librarian smirked, unfazed by being pushed against the locker. "I never felt aroused by them, but for the first time, I'm feeling excited. Do you know what I mean? It brings me ecstasy to be so close to Nozomi."

Ichigo swung his fist and punched the locker. His eyes widened. The librarian blocked his punch and smiled.

The bell rang and Ichigo stepped back, quickly composing himself as students shuffled out of the classroom. The librarian stepped away and headed out for his coffee. Ichigo went to find Nozomi. His thoughts were on fire. He went into the office and pulled out her class schedule. If he had told her about Nozomi, there was a possibility he had already taken her.

He went to her class, but didn't see her. He waited, but she didn't show up. Anger surged through his veins. Of course, he wouldn't have told him if he didn't have her. Ichigo bolted out of the school and called Gin.

"It's the librarian, he has Nozomi," Ichigo said. "I need his coordinates."

"I will get them to you, it's going to take me a minute to retrieve the information." Gin replied.

Ichigo started the car and headed out of the gates. His phone chimed and he locked the coordinates to the location. He drove through the traffic, by the cars, and endless towers and buildings until he was on the bridge going over a wide river to a smaller town. Every minute he was behind put Nozomi in greater danger.

He was getting closer and pulled into a shady and eerie cold abandoned area. Of course it would be discreet and creepy, he thought. He slid off his uniform and switched to his all black attire and pulled up a mask. If Nozomi was in there, he couldn't risk exposing himself.

He got out of the car and didn't notice a car around. He entered the building with its rusted and dusted doors slightly opened. It was a wide building with two stories, the second floor open and railed off. It was dark, but Ichigo could make out the items in the abandoned building. Chains hung loosely, the dripping of liquid echoed in the silence. The cold and sticky muck lingered in the air. Rays of light dimly made their way through the slits of the roof. There were piles of rusted poles of all sizes scattered on the floor. He reached for a particular one, it was cold with its end piece broken off and pointed awkwardly, but perfect for self defense. It reminded him of the underside and how he didn't miss that aspect of his life. He couldn't imagine how Nozomi must have felt being kidnapped away from her safe haven. He saw a staircase leading to the second floor and carefully made his way up, everything was open. He reached the top and there was more light on the second floor. He noticed a bundle in the corner, and he walked over cautiously taking in his surroundings.

He used the pole to slowly pull away the blanket and noticed Nozomi under the sheets, unconscious. He pulled away the sheets and noticed that her clothes were dirtied, most likely from being dragged and fighting back. He crouched down and checked her pulse, there was life, but the state she was in was sickening. She was shackled from the ankles and wrist. He moved her hair back and could see a bite mark. Her shirt was undone but her bra remained latched. He checked her waist down and saw no signs of abuse. He straightened out her tattered skirt and pulled the blanket back as she shivered from the cold. Tears slipped from her closed lids.

Adrenaline pulsed through Ichgio's vein as he wiped the tears away and she cringed away from the touch. She was unconscious, but still reactive.

Ichigo felt a sudden chill from behind and quickly blocked the attack with his pole.

"I told you if you did anything to her, I would kill you." Ichigo said deadly.

"She's mine you closet pervert," Jun said, his pupils dilating.

Ichigo swung the pole hard and knocked the pole from his hand.

"What did you do to her?" Ichigo said.

"Do you really want to know," he asked. "I mean isn't it clear?"

Ichigo glared at him.

"I drugged her, brought here and touched her," he smirked. "She's so soft, delectable and sensitive to touch. Would you like to try?"

Ichigo, disgusted, stood between Jun and Nozomi. He ran up to Ichigo and attacked. He moved swiftly and quickly and Ichigo dodged every attack but couldn't find an opening to strike back. Ichigo landed a punch onto his face, but also felt the librarian punch against his abdomen and jumped back.

They both stepped back.

"You're not a normal boy," Jun stated, curiously. "What kind of boyfriend are you? Does she know?"

Ichigo didn't reply or instigate his conversation.

"Not going to speak," he stated.

Ichigo chucked a pole at the librarian and threw one after it. Jun dodged and Ichigo kept throwing. Every throw was harder and faster that it clattered against the wall and rang through the building. He smiled through every attempt made to hit him.

"Is this the best you got," the librarian laughed and jeered.

Ichigo threw one more and it connected to Jun's shoulder, while another nearly connected to his skull, but he bent back and saw the pole shoot straight across into the slit of the wall. The librarian stood back up and saw a deep and deadly abyss in Ichigo's eyes.

"That was close except for my arm," the librarian said, holding his arm. Ichigo had thrown the pole hard enough to dislocate his shoulder. "You must really like this girl to risk this exposure or you must deeply hate me to want to kill me."

Ichigo said nothing.

"Still not going to speak," Jun huffed. "I find it interesting and impressive that this whole time that you have been chucking poles at me, you were able to keep the girl out of the fight. It's a lot of work to be a shield and sword. And, by the way, if you haven't noticed, she has been awake this whole time and watching."

Ichigo looked over to Nozomi who looked at them with fear and confusion. Jun ran towards her and Ichigo ran at him. Nozomi shrieked and scooted as far away as she could, but her movements were restricted by the constraints of the chains. She looked at him with pleading eyes as the librarian reached close to her and brushed her cheeks. Ichigo grabbed him and threw him back across the floor. He quickly made his way to the man on the floor, shaking.

He stood up and started laughing hysterically.

"Does she really not know who her savior is behind the mask?" he taunted.

Nozomi looked at the man in black with hazy eyes, but could hear everything with intensity.

Before he could utter another word, Ichigo attacked. Once again he blocked Ichigo's attack. Ichigo didn't see it coming, but felt a fist connect to his lips and he skidded back. He tasted the blood from his mouth. The metallic taste twisting his stomach and tingling his tongue. He needed to focus and end this quickly as possible. He stood in his place and took a deep breath.

"Nozomi this is Ich …. ," Jun shouted halfway, but Ichigo grabbed a chain and wrapped it around his neck and choked him. He brought the man down to his knee. The librarian clawed at the chain, but Ichigo tightened the chain. He let the chain drop and the librarian choked through his spit. He was pressed against the floor and Ichigo started to punch away at his face. Every hit was harder and brutal. Nozomi watched terrified, unable to look away from the scene. Ichigo stood up and turned him over and grabbed his arms. He didn't look over at Nozomi, but she recognized that stance. With both arms in his hand, he pulled them back and a loud snap could be heard. Nozomi terrified felt a dreaded chill go down her spine as she was reminded of that day. It was the same boy from the alley. Ichigo grabbed a heavy pole and swung it hard onto the librarian's legs, breaking them both. He took the pole and stabbed it through a leg. Jun screeched in pain and fell silent. He looked at the body and nudged it with his foot.

It was still.

Nozomi was horrified by what she witnessed. Ichigo looked over at Nozomi as she sat still with tears spilling from her face. Ichigo looked at her shackles and patted the dead body until he pulled out the keys from the pockets.

He walked over to Nozomi, who looked at him with terrified eyes. He didn't say anything to her, and didn't look at her. His eyes calmed and the danger was eliminated. He calmed his breathing and crouched down not meeting her gaze. He looked at the teeth mark at her neck and a sickening feeling bubbled in his stomach. He pulled her shirt up and buttoned them. He unshackled her bonds and she sat still watching him. He unzipped his sweater and wrapped it around her and pressed his fingers against her cheeks wiping away the tears, in silent comfort.

"You're the one from the alley," she stated, shakily.

He didn't say anything.

"Ichigo," she whispered. "It's you, isn't it?" Her voice breaking.

He didn't reply, but pressed his fingers against her lips so as not to make any more guesses. She moved her mouth away from his finger.

"He said Ich," Nozomi said, shaking.

Ichigo squeezed his eyes shut and still didn't reply.

She put her hands on his and he felt the chill in her hands.

"Please say something," Nozomi asked, her voice cracking and the tears continued to spill.

Ichigo didn't say anything, it was a risk. What he was doing right now, lingering with her, was already stepping out of his professional boundaries.

"Ichigo, please," she said, again.

She looked at him, his hair was well hidden in the hood and the mask covered his mouth. She looked at his eyes, but he didn't look back at her. She still looked at those dark brown eyes. So close to him she could smell his familiar scent of pine cone and cinnamon. She tried to pull his mask down, but felt a sudden hard pinch to her shoulder and her head fell to his chest and sank into his warmth. He held her in his arms and scooped her up.

He walked out of the building and put her in his car. He notified the clean up crew and sent a quick message to Gin. He was sent to a new location for Nozomi to be picked up. He pulled out an overcoat from his trunk and wrapped it around her.

He pulled up to a lake house, and no one was in sight, but the garage door opened and he pulled in. Nozomi remained unconscious next to him. Ichigo pulled her out and Jugram went over to Ichigo.

He took his sister into his arms.

"Thank you," Jugram said. "Come inside. Someone here wants to see you."

Ichigo followed.

Ichigo watched Jugram take his sister to another room and another man with pink hair in a suit followed after him.

Ichigo turned to where the man came from and was surprised to see Aizen and Gin seated comfortably in the living room.

"Messy, but well done," Aizen said, smiling.

Ichigo stood tall and took in Aizen's presence.