Chapter 20: The Cursed Bird

A tall dark haired youth sat on the ground outside of the park with two others. With a construction site behind the fence that they were sitting next to, Sado, "Chad" to his friends at school, listened intently as his frightened friend told him about the bird in the cage in the midst of them.

"They say it's cursed." the youth told them. "I heard all of his owners died horrible deaths. So it gets passed around quickly."

The bond youth on Sado's right shivered at that thought. "So it's now with you?" he asked.

"Y-Yeah." the dark haired boy stuttered. "So I'm really scared now." he admitted as he tore at the grass growing in between the cracks of the tile ground.

"So do you want it Shigeo?" the boy asked his friend hopeful he'd take the cursed animal from him before calamity hit him.

"How could I after hearing that!" Shigeo yelled at his friend, horrified he'd offer such a creature to him.

The youth looked at Sado. "What about you Chad?" he asked with an equally hopeful tone. "It's cute!"

"Idiot!" Shigeo yelled. "You know he can't say no to cute things like th-"

Suddenly behind them in the construction site a crashing sound caught their attention. When they looked up, to their horror a large beam was heading their way. Without thinking, Sado moved quickly. His years of training with Urahara had taught him to always be ready for an attack when he was outside. Standing over his friends, with his back hunched over them, the beam came crashing down against his strong body.

"Ch-Ch-Chad!" both boys yelled at their giant friend. "Are you okay?" the blond asked as the other stated dumbfoundedly. "You caught a falling beam on your back."

"It's nothing." Sado stated in a monotoned voice. Compared to Urahara's training this really wasn't anything. He'd been inches from death with the crazed teacher/scientist. This was just a scratch compared to that.

"Nothing!" Shigeo yelled. "You're bleeding!" He pointed towards the cut on Chad's head.

"Thanks for saving me." A voice sounded causing everyone to look at the parakeet. "My name is Shibata Yuuichi. What's your name?"

"Wh...What's with this bird?" Shigeo asked.

"It's as if it understands whats going on." the dark haired boy stated with a frightened look.

"Sado Yasutora." Sado replied easily. As he reached out his senses towards the bird, he gave a nod. There was more to this animal than meets the eye.

Huh? The blond looked towards his friend. Chad's responding to the bird?

All the while the dark haired youth felt as if his brain was going to shut down. I'm..I...that bird... he thought as he gave a groan.

The next afternoon on the school roof Ichigo was rubbing his head trying to get rid of a headache when he felt something touch his temple before the pain vanished. Looking to his right he saw Rukia looking up at him. "Better?" she asked.

"Yeah." he touched his temple before giving a nod. "How'd you do that?"

"Kido healing arts." she stated matter-o-factly. Before frowning as she looked at the juicebox in her hand. She'd used these before but Ichigo or Verena usually opened them. "How do you open these?" she muttered softly trying to not get noticed, but it was too late.

Ichigo leaned back against the fence. "The straw." he answered with a smirk.

"Straw?" she questioned him as she looked up at him from the object of her ire.

"What's this?" a gentle voice questioned causing both to look towards the owner.

"Mizuiro." Ichigo was surprised to see his friend.

"You two are together again." he said as he sat by them on the ground. "You two sure do get along well." He smiled at this.

Ichigo frowned at him. "Does this really look that way?" he asked.

Mizuiro chuckled. "Well if you say so." he conceded, not wanting to fight with his friend as Ichigo Sat down on the ground. "But you should be careful. You're sending the wrong signal to other girls."

"Idiot, if I cared what those girls thought, or anyone thought, I would have dyed my hair black years ago." Ichigo stated as he pulled out his juicebox and stuck the straw through the hole, Rukia watching what he'd done and repeated it, triumphant at her success.

"That's true." Mizuiro agreed.

"Oh! If it isn't the beautiful transfer student, Miss Kuchiki!" An ever loud, boisterous voice boomed across the rooftop causing Ichigo to groan.

"Keigo." Ichigo greeted his friend, even if he was a bit annoying.

"Why is she here?" he asked the other two. "And where's Chad?"

"Ichigo is wooing her." Mizuiro teased gaining a sputter out of the orange haired youth.

"I AM NOT!" Ichigo yelled as his face heated up.

Rukia covered her mouth to hide her laughter at this. Ichigo was being ganged up and teased by the two human boys. It was quite the sight to see. Out of the corner of her eye, Rukia saw somebody approaching them but ignored them for the entertainment in front of her when suddenly that person kicked Keigo in the back, causing the young man to stumble forward.

"Whoa!" Keigo cried out in surprise as he went flying forward, o my to be caught by Ichigo's quick reflexes. "Ouch! What are you...do..." Keigo froze as he caught sight of who it was that had kicked him.

"Yo...Kurosaki." A mean older looking teen greeted them roughly.

"O...Ooshima." Keigo said the man's name nervously. "They lifted your suspension early." He felt his throat tighten as he looked at the older teen.

"I'm talking to you, maggot." the other growled causing Keigo to whimper away from him. Behind him a second teen appeared, this one with darker hair. "Hey Kurosaki, when are you gonna to dye your hair?"

Ichigo continued to sip his drink before speaking. "With that bleached hair of yours and drooping eyes, you'd think you were copying me." he stated which began to angered the other. Getting annoyed Ichigo glared at the other. "Shut up. How many times do I have to tell you. This is my nature hair color and I'm not copying you." He then smirked, his next statement would have his inner hollow cackling for the next day or two. "Do something about your own hair, Chicken head. Go lay an egg."

"YOU BASTARD!" the skinny delinquent screamed at him.

"Please, don't fight." Keigo pleaded between the two. "We already know how strong you are. We can't beat you."

"Get lost Asano, you little weak bitch." Ooshima growled at the younger teen.

"Don't be stupid." Ichigo muttered as he stood up with Rukia standing next to him. "I'm a thousand times stronger than that weak baby chicken."

"Bastard!" Ooshima yelled as he reached into his shirt to grab something inside. The piece shone brightly in the sunlight. "I knew one day I'd have to settle things with you good for nothing." Once the device was on his hand he lifted it to strike fear into the orange haired teen. " I'm gonna kick your arse!"

"Iron knuckles!" Keigo gasped loudly.

Did he just say your arse? Ichigo wondered gaining more cackles from his hollow as he was certain the old man was shaking his head at this situation.

Is nobody going to make fun of that statement? Muzuiro asked himself before looking around. Guess not.

"It's too late to..." Ooshima didn't get a chance to finish when suddenly he was airborne and flying across the rooftop. Everyone looked from his prone form to find Tatsuki and Chad both there. Tatsuki's leg still lifted as Chad's fist was still in striking position.

The other older teen ran to his friend's side. "This is why I told you not to do this Rei!" he yelled as he pulled his friend by his clothes to get him away from the dangerous teens.

"Chad, Tatsuki." Ichigo greeted them.

"Ichigo." Chad and the other clasped hands in greeting.

It was then Ichigo noticed something on his friend's face while Keigo was talking. Interrupting him, Ichigo spoke. "You're injured." he frowned causing Chad to look at him. "What happened?"

"My head is from a steel beam." he simply stated. "My hand is when I got hit by a motorcycle this morning." He eyed the other three, ignoring Kuchiki who seemed to be studying him. He gave Ichigo a look that stated that they needed to talk privately. Tatsuki saw the look and went to distract the others, but gave Ichigo a look that said he had to explain.

"I'm gonna take him to the nurse to have a look at his wounds." Ichigo lied, though the two guys bought it, Rukia didn't.

As the two went down the stairway halls, Chad sat the large bag that had been on his back and opened it to reveal a birdcage. "I think a hollow is trying to kill this bird." he told his friend.

"So it's trying to kill you too!?" Ichigo yelled at him. "I know you like cute things, but this is ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous?" Verena's voice caused both both to look at her, the bird too. Verena suddenly felt reiatsu coming from the bird, though it was pretty weak. It took a second before she realized something. With wide eyes she asked "So, is somebody going to explain why there's a human spirit inside the bird?" She questione gained surprised looks from everyone in the stairway hall.

"I will." the parakeet said in a saddened voice as it begun it's tale.

M-Angel: I'm really enjoying myself in focusing on one story lately. The inspiration juices are flowing! Next chapter will have the spirit child's story in it along with the battle between the hollow and our hero's.

Conerned One - I love rant reviews! They are so welcomed. I loved yours. Hehe... As for the choices in my poll, I have reasons for each Espada being there and I have some altered back stories for each one, in case that one is chosen. As to why they're the way that they are...it'll spoil my surprise, so...*grins* Instead of continuing I'll say that it's Aizen's fault. ^_^

Mike - LoL. Yeah, she'll definitely get after Ichigo now, at least once she finds out about it.