Chapter 2
- - - - - - - - - -
Before he could continue, Isshin came flying through the door and kicked Ichigo in the ribs.
- - - - - - - - - -
Ichigo winced as a new wave of pain erupted from his stomach. Isshin jumped off the bed, and turned to Ichigo with the victory sign, with the sun shining against him.
"Ichigo, you've lost your touch. However, because of that, I have claimed victory this morning! Can you believe how weak my son is Rukia-chan?"
Rukia looked surprised, and nodded, not knowing what else to do. At this, Ichigo got up and threw his dad out of room.
"Damn him. I'm injured, and he's flying into me..." Ichigo grumbled as he sat back in his bed.
Isshin poped his head in the door. "Oi, Ichigo. There's someone here for you. Not sure if you'll get to see him though, Yuzu's taken a liking to him..."
"Who is it Kurosaki-san?" asked Rukia.
"Not sure, he's got red hair, and an unusal amount of tattoos..."
"Renji." both Ichigo and Rukia said.
Rukia continued. "I'll bring him in."
- - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, Renji was in the kitchen, being bombarded with questions from Yuzu.
"How do you know Onii-chan? I don't remember you from anywhere..."
"Uh, I know 'im from school."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Are you in his class?"
"Yeah..."
"Do you know Rukia-Onee-chan?"
"Yes."
"From where?"
"Uh, school."
Renji looked incredibly uncomfortable. Karin was sitting next to Yuzu, with a grin on her face, internally laughing at Renji's position. Rukia and Ichigo were watching from behind the door, also internally laughing at Renji's disposition.
"Where ya from, Renji-san?"
"Uh, um..." This was the question Renji was worried about recieving. Rukia noticed this, and walked in.
"Renji. Come on." She grabbed Renji's shirt and tugged at it. "Sorry Yuzu-chan, Karin-chan, but I'll take him from here."
Ichigo was snikering just outside of the kitchen when they came out. This casued Renji to blush a little in embarrassment, and punch Ichigo in the arm. Unfortunatly, it was Ichigo's right arm that happen to be the cloesest.
"Dammit..."
"What's wrong? Ichigo can't seem to take any pain these days, huh?"
"That's not the reason Renji. And don't think it's 'cause you're getting stronger."
"Oh, really? Then what's wrong with ya?"
Rukia saw this as a good time to cut in. "We'll talk about it later. Let's go into Ichigo's room, where we can get some quiet."
She lead the way with Ichigo and Renji following behind her. Rukia sat on Ichigo's desk chair, While Renji and Ichigo sat on the bed.
"So, what's wrong with Ichigo that we can't talk about it near the little girls?"
"It's a hollow wound Renji." replied Rukia.
"Ichigo got hurt by a hollow? Damn, what got into you?"
"I was careless." said Ichigo.
"That and to protect me." finished Rukia.
"Tch."
"Well, you being careless isn't surprising. How bad was it?"
Ichigo glanced down at his shoulder, before removing the bandages. However, some of the blood dried onto the bandages, making them stick. With healing flesh and bandages being ripped off, Ichigo's arm started to bleed in some of the deeper spots.
"Damn. What the hell caused that?"
"The thing bit me."
"Sounds kinda like how you ended up with Rukia's powers..."
"It does now that I think about it."
"Then what happened?"
"Nothing special."
"Nothing special!" Rukia finally spoke up. "I wouldn't say that. More like freaky. You and your partner scared the crap out of me!"
"Was it really that bad?" asked Ichigo.
"Hell yes."
"What happened already?" inquired an impatient Renji.
"His hollow came out."
"WHAT?" Renji yelled and jumped off the bed. "I thought you dealt with that thing."
"I did. It's not like anything bad happened while he was out. He told me what happened while I was unconscience."
"Since when were you two on such good terms?" asked Rukia.
"Not sure when it started. Point is, it did. So let's drop it." explained Ichigo.
"What happened when it showed up, Rukia?" questioned Renji.
"The hollow beat the other, took the two girls to the hospital, and threw me through Ichigo's window, and collapsed."
"Collapsed?"
"Yeah, then he cursed Ichigo's body for being weak, and blacked out when I started healing him."
"Like I said, nothing special." ended Ichigo.
"If you can't fully surpress that thing inside you, it is something special." said a voice from the window. It was Hitsugaya Toshirou.
"Hit-Hitsugaya taichou!" Rukia and Renji jumped out of their seats, in shock.
"Oh, Toshirou. What are you doing on my window?" asked Ichigo, also tacken aback by the captains entrance.
"It's Hitsugaya taicho, Kurosaki."
"Whatever."
"Why are here taicho?" wondered Renji.
"Last night, I felt a strange reiatsu that felt like Kurosaki's, but it wasn't. I'd like to know what it was."
"Yes, that was Ichigo." answered Rukia.
"Then why was coated with hollow?"
"Uh..." Rukia trailed off.
"What's so important about my reiatsu all of a sudden?" asked Ichigo.
"Well, considering we are still finding a few Espadas here and there when they appear when hungry. This could help narrow down the amount of 'help' Aizen had."
"You think I was wi-"
"Oi, taicho! Get in the room already. It's awkward standing out here with you in the window."
"Rangiku-san?" asked Rukia.
"Hi Rukia-chan, Renji! Tell taicho to hurry up please."
Hitsugaya sighed and jumped through the window. A few minutes later, Rangiku was up in the room too.
"Thanks guys. I was getting weird looks from passerbys."
"I'd say that's normal, Matsumoto." said Hitsugaya.
"So, what were you all talking about while I was left outside?"
"Something that is pointless." responded Ichigo.
"What is it?"
"Ichigo's hollow got out again."
"What!" Rangiku jumped. "Didn't know you still didn't have control over that thing."
"I do." yelled Ichigo, "And nothing bad happened while he was out. I don't see the big deal over it."
"When a hollow gets out, it seeks souls. Isn't that a big deal, Kurosaki?" mentioned Hitsugaya.
"He didn't go after anyone! Can we just drop this?" asked Ichigo, "Or would you like to ask him yourself?"
"You...you can bring him out at will, Ichigo?" ask Rukia.
"Yeah. And I'll have a hold of him. If he gets out of control, I'll deal with him." reassured Ichigo, "So, are ya going to let the situation drop, or do you want me to bring him out?"
"Kurosaki, I'm taking you to Soul Society with me. Be ready in two days." said Hitsugaya, "Be ready by then."
"Why the hell are you taking me to Soul Society? What's over there that involves me?"
"We're going to have Kurotsuchi get information out you in a safe environment."
"Aw, taicho. Kurotsuchi taicho is creepy. He'll take Ichigo apart to see what the hell is up with him."
"Wait." interrupted Ichigo, "Who is Kurotsuchi?"
"He is the catain of squad 12, and the leader of the research devision." answered Renji, "Not someone I'd like to be around personally."
"What's he going to do to me?"
"Knowing him...take you apart to see what makes a half hollow half shinigami tick."
"We will have him hold you while we question you." answered Hitsugaya.
"Lovely..." replied Ichigo sarcastically.
"Remember Kurosaki, I'll be back to pick you up in two days." Hitsugaya said as he got ready to leave through the window. "Let's go Matsumoto."
"Yeah." answered Rangiku.
The captain and vice-captain of the 10th squad jumped out the window.
"Remember Kurosaki, if you aren't ready, I'll drag you there myself."
Ichigo's response was a slammed window. Hitsugaya shook his head and headed back toward Orihime's flat.
"What the hell is his problem!" voiced Ichigo.
"He's just concerned Ichigo." said Rukia, "Just do it to get it over with."
"That's not the answer I was looking for Rukia."
"Well," interjected Renji. "I think I'd better head back to Urahara-san's shop. Don't want to get locked out again."
Renji started toward the door.
"Renji, you haven't been locked out before." interjected Ichigo.
"Your right. That was just my was of saying that I don't want to be here anymore." he responded.
"Whatever."
"I'll walk you out Renji." said Rukia.
"Thanks."
Once they were both gone, Ichigo threw himself onto his bed. He was frustrated, he'd be going back to Soul Society, this time to be questioned.
"It might not be as bad. Maybe I could kill the runt for ya, King."
"No."
"Aw, com'on. I know ya don't want to go with 'im."
"Can we talk about this later? I'm not in the mood."
"Tch. I'll hold ya to that, King."
Rukia came back in the room a few minutes after the internal conversation had stopped.
"Ichigo. Yuzu wants you down there. Dinner is almost ready."
"Coming..."
They both walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.
- - - - - - - - - -
Okay, one more chapter down. I'm a little disappointed at the number of reviews I'm getting for this story. But for some reason, I'm not entirely surprised.
Anyway. Read and Review people. It puts me in the mood to write some more.