*I know it's short. but this is just part two of the 4th chapter. Chapter 5 will be out soon. Thank you so much!

Ash

CHAPTER FOUR - Part Two*Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach… :( I wish I did but sadly I never will.

Enjoy!! :)

Ichigo rushed out of the squad thirteen Captain's office trying not to cry at how stupid he was feeling, at how selfish he felt. He jogged about for over an hour before finally realizing he was lost and all alone. He looked around, there were large buildings some larger and some medium sized in height. He looked about but saw nobody, "I've never seen you here before, who are you?" A soft voice asks.

Ichigo gasps and turns towards the voice, "Who's there?!" He shouts, seeing no-one. He screeches when a hand touches his shoulder and turns only to not see anyone yet again. He loses more oxygen when the man steps forward, young but tall and handsome. "Who are you?" Ichigo asks, mesmerized by the man in front of him. His eyes widen when he sees a lieutenants badge on the man's left upper arm.

"Lieutenant Aizen Sosuke, what are you doing roaming around a place like this with no-one by your side? Aren't you a but too young to be out by yourself?" Aizen asks suspiciously.

Ichigo looks at Aizen, "I could ask you the same thing, Sir." He says eyes squinted. For some reason his gut told him this man wasn't someone he should trust. Maybe it was because he seemed too nice, too friendly. He stepped back as the man took a step forward and then bolted for it only for Aizen to grab ahold of him by the torso and stopped him in his tracks instantaneously. Ichigo squealed, "Get off! Don't touch me! Help!" He shouts flailing around.

"Well we'll well, I thought I heard a commotion going on out here." A familiar cheerful voice says.

Ichigo took the opportunity to bite down on Aizen's arm and was released when the man had been distracted by the other man that had just made his appearance, Aizen starts yelling at Ichigo angrily telling him to get back and take his punishment for drawing blood from his teeth marks. Ichigo looks up and smiles while ignoring Aizen in favor of the other man in his presence. He rushes up to and then behind the man's leg and grips the bottom portion of the man's hakama, "Captain!" He shouts watching Aizen glare at the wound and him back and forth.

"You alright young one?" The Captain asks, eye smiling while actually smiling down at the young boy.

Ichigo nods, "He wouldn't put me down." He states looking up with anger in his eyes. The Captain chuckles and bends down to the younger boy's shorter height, "It's been a while hasn't it, go on now.. Tell the Lieutenant you're sorry for biting him and then we'll go talk hmm."

Ichigo makes a face but goes up to the other man hesitantly who's glaring and holding the bloody forearm. "I'm sorry that you're dumb enough to try to pick up another person without their permission, creep." He says gasping when Aizen slaps him across his face and sending him to the ground. Ichigo clasps his cheek, his eyes wide trying to not cry at the sudden flash of pain. "Apologize properly…" he says, voice still calm and collected.

Ichigo looks up angrily, "I don't have the ability to apologize properly to someone like you." He seethes, standing up and running back to the blond.

Aizen suddenly becomes completely calm and his eyes close as he smiles, putting his arm back to his side. "Sure kid, please.. Excuse me, I have places I need to be and no time to wait on an apology from a weak child." He says and walks off.

Ichigo lets out a puff of air and lowers himself so his hands could wrap around his knees and he could hide his face against said knees. The Captain turns and looks down at him for a while before crouching down and smiling while ruffling his orange mop of shaggy hair, "Did that rude man scare you? I must advise that you not go near him, less you you've someone with you. He's not a bad man per say, but he's just not someone I would trust near others no matter infant, child or adult; while alone." The Captain says then his eyes widen exponentially when Ichigo stands and hugs himself against the Captain tightly while shivering.

"Thank you, Captain Urahara." Ichigo whispers, trembling. Urahara was wide eyed with surprise but smiled softly. Ichigo was so short that even while standing he was only at his waists height. Urahara patted his back and attempted to step away, the boy was kind of adorable he was thinking to himself. "Ahem, Ichigo. What are you doing out here by yourself?" He asks as if it really were a mystery after all.

Ichigo releases his hold on Urahara and steps back, he puts out his hands and looks down at them whilst frowning bitterly. "Aunt Kukaku refused to let me go out and Uncle Ganju said he didn't want to be seen with me so I left on my own. Mom and Dad are on a mission and Captain Ukitake is sick so I'm on my own." He says clenching his fists and clenching his teeth, "If I want to get stronger and stop being a burden I need to get stronger." He says with determination, then looks up at Urahara with seething yet serious eyes. Longing so strong it shouldn't be possible, "Captain! Please, help me get stronger!" He shouts.

"Wha?! Ah- hey! What's with this attitude all of a sudden?" Urahara asks, taking a step back, unsure as to what was happening.

Ichigo goes to his knees, his hands up as if in prayer with his head bowed low, "Please help me become strong, like you." He begs.

Urahara looks around and then sighs heavily while closing his eyes and smirking as if in exasperation, he stands normally again and then opens his eyes. "Help you how kid, you don't even have a Zanpaku·to." He muses.

Ichigo stands one foot ahead of the other, "Even so, show me how to fight with my bare hands!" He says, eyes showing just how determined he really was.

Urahara looks up at the sky then back down, "Alright, we'll start right now then." He says with fake happiness. Ichigo was about to ask if he really meant it when he was sent flying into a building without warning. "Ahhh!" He screamed before impact. Dust kicked up as he hit the ground on his side, coughing and body feeling completely numb suddenly. He went to stand up only to fall back down again, "Have you had enough yet? You're too young, if you're able to stand up you'll only be putting yourself into danger. Go home." Urahara says matter-of-factly.

Ichigo manages to get to his hands and knees, wobbling violently but still able to do it. "I won't stop! I can't! If I fail here that means I'll always fail!" He shouts getting to his feet. Urahara smirks, vanishes and appears beside the short boy. "You're wrong, right now you're just a little kid. Why do you have to protect anything at all? Just leave it to the adults and stay out of their way." The blond says. Ichigo looks up and throws a punch, Urahara grabs his wrist with ease and sends him into the air before bringing him down back to his knee. Ichigo coughs harshly as Urahara pushes him to his bottom on the cold hard ground. "Stop."

Ichigo looks at Urahara then looks down, his bangs shadowing his eyes. "Okay." He whispers, sounding defeated. Urahara stands and offers his hand, Ichigo takes it and stands quietly still looking down. Urahara uses his pointer finger under Ichigo's chin to make the small boy look up at him and his eyes soften, seeing tears streaking down the boy's now dirty cheeks to his chin. "No need to cry Ichi, come ask me to train you when you grow up more. Right now, stay as innocent as you can. This world we live in, it's not something you need to know about while still being this young." Ichigo nods his head at Urahara sadly and Urahara smiles a genuine smile at him, "Don't worry, you'll grow up faster than you think you will." He assures him, grabbing the boy and pulling him up into his arms as he passes out.

Ten Hours Later

Ichigo gasped and sat up with a start while holding his throbbing forehead, it was dark outside he noticed as he looked out the window beside him when he looked up. "Where am I?" He thinks out loud and looks down. He was sitting up on a tatami mat with a pillow and blanket to keep him comfortable.

"You finally woke up, boy you sleep a long time when you're injured." Someone says from the room's entrance.

"Urahara?" Ichigo says watching the blond walk towards him and kneel down beside him to feel his forehead.

"Hmm, well the fever you acquired from your expedition and training trial has gone away. You're injured are all healed as well, I deem you well enough to go home." Urahara says green glowing on his palms. Ichigo nods then coughs, "Tea?" Urahara asks while eye smiling. "Oh, thank you." Ichigo says taking the cup then stops and looks into it, "What's the matter? Change your mind?"

Ichigo looks at the blond and hums, "Did you spit in it?" He asks, face innocent.

Urahara deadpan then chuckles, "That's for me to know and for you to find out."