I am back and with the seventh chapter. I apologize for the delay again. I hope you enjoy the story so far. Again, I will be posting this fanfiction once a week. Please do not impose any negative comments, harsh criticism or thoughts. Constructive, positive and thoughtful criticisms are accepted.

Thank you and enjoy!

Icestar123

Chapter 7

Ichigo woke with a start, sweat dripping down his brow.

A nightmare. Not a great one either. His heart raced and his mind reeling. His body was on full alert. He couldn't remember too vividly but the image of Karin and Yuzu being choked to death made his Hollow side unleashed and in full rage. It made him shudder in disgust.

Why did I have that dream? It's….almost similar to what Yuugi dreamt about. Ichigo thought as he hummed in a soft groan. Wiping the sweat off his brow, he glanced around his surroundings. Renji and Byakuya were still fast asleep and so was Yuugi. He was the only one awake.

With a silent sigh, he clambered up the futon and headed towards the kitchen to get a drink of water. As he took a glass, he noticed Yuugi's grandfather approach in pajamas to get some water.

"Good morning Ichigo." He greeted gently.

"Good morning." Ichigo replied with a silent nod as he turned the tap on to fill the glass with water."You are up early."

"Oh of course. I need to ready the shop." Yuugi's grandfather replied with slight smile.

"I can't fall back asleep. Mind if I help ya?" Ichigo offered with slight smile.

"Oh yes. The shop is a little dusty. Helping me keep it clean would greatly help." Solomon hummed with approval. Ichigo nodded and took the duster and headed down to help Yuugi's grandfather to dust the entire shop. He had nothing better to do and there was the worlds' danger to worry about.

However, the thought of that nightmare could not get out of his mind. It was stuck there and it began to worry him. He could see how Yuzu and Karin struggled before their bodies fell limp. The idea brought silent rage on him even thought he new that the dream was likely only a dream.

Or was it true?

Ichigo cannot tell. As he dusted, he did not realize that Solomon had gotten downstairs in full clothes and was readying the cash register. Ichigo glanced momentarily before resuming his dusting.

"You look disturbed. Tell me what is on your mind." Yuugi's grandfather spoke in encouragement. Ichigo blinked, later sighing as he stared at the shelf.

"It's about my family back home. I'm worried about them. That they might be in danger." Ichigo expressed his thoughts.

"That is quite normal, worrying them like this." Yuugi's grandfather agreed."However, you must trust your friends and family back at home to be able to protect themselves. You are not going to help everyone Ichigo. Even Yuugi will understand this too."

"I….I know but I can't help but worry. They are my family." He whispered and squeezed his eyes shut. His grip tightened around the handle before breathing. He soon opened his eyes later."Yuzu and Karin….they mean so much to me. I can't have them lose them because I won't ever forgive myself in front of my mother."

"Then you must try harder here in this world to help stop this evil." Solomon reminded softly with a smile. Ichigo turned to look at him briefly before nodding.

"Y-Yeah. I will do that." He nodded as he finished up and tossed the dirtied piece of duster away. "Thanks."

"You have a long way to go. There is no need to thank me." Yuugi's grandfather hummed softly. Ichigo just nodded and headed up the stairs towards the bedroom once more.

Renji and Byakuya by then were awake, sitting up on their futons. Ichigo sat on his futon once again and looked at them.

"Ichigo! Where have you been?" Renji hissed in a whisper.

"Helping Yuugi's grandfather with the shop a little. I was also giving time to think also." Ichigo replied in a hushed whisper."I….had a nightmare. Yuzu and Karin…..they were choked to death. More than choked….they were hanged and…." Ichigo held his head that covered one eye. Dammit, he could feel his Hollow triggering. Did it happen in his dream too? His eye slowly began to change to a black and yellow.

"Do you think….it's real?" Renji whispered. Yuugi was still asleep and none of them wanted to wake him.

"I….I don't know. But my Hollow….it's being triggered." Ichigo whispered as he tried to push it back."But….my Hollow side also came out during my dream also. He was angry….and caused destruction everywhere. I….was angry."

"I believe this needs to be talked outside in the living room." Byakuya gestured. There was nothing more truthful now than at Byakuya's words right at this moment. Ichigo nodded and they rose to head to the living room.

Once in the living room, Ichigo breathed then let his Hollow retreat back inside of himself.

"Do you think….it's true of what happened?" Ichigo asked. he was almost scared. If it was true, then it was going to upset Ichigo plenty. He did not want to lose Yuzu and Karin right now. They are too young…too precious to him.

"Likely not." Byakuya replied."You will feel it in your soul if something were to happen with Yuzu and Karin."

"Yeah…..you are right. The dream is messing with my head." Ichigo did a short laugh, but it was anything but humorous. He was worried. The dream brought nothing but terrible emotions that will cloud his judgement. It was anything but welcoming.

"Hey we will get through this. We can't have you breaking down now. Rukia would want to have you not break down from this simple nightmare alone. It might have shaken you up, but you gotta recover. Any Soul Reaper would do that instead of being cowered down by such threats." Renji tried to reassure, putting on a slight grin."So suck it up Ichigo!"

"Thanks." Ichigo pulled a slight smile but he knew himself better. The worry will continue to plague his mind. Snare him like it had better ideas to catch him off his guard. For now, he needed to breathe it out.

Renji must have known that his words did little to convince him as he heard him breathe a sigh of defeat."I'm here for you and so will the others. Come on, let's get dressed and get ready. Sooner or later, we will need to go and see if the city's in danger. We will need to meet them up too." Renji suggested.

Ichigo nodded and went to start getting dressed and clean his face a bit. Once done, he had found that the others arrived at the house, dressed and well rested. Yuugi was ready by then, looking a bit less energized due to last night's encounters. Yet he mentioned nothing of the nightmare. Perhaps he forgot? He didn't know but said nothing. Yet, Ichigo himself was a little restless. But that is because the nightmare had plagued him.

They went to a restaurant to eat to get their bellies full. Yuugi, Joey, Tea and Tristan had school today and they had to be in a hurry. Ichigo and the rest of the team were to watch the school carefully during school time. Considering they are not registered in the school, attending it was a bit unreasonable.

Once Yuugi and his friends went to school, Ichigo sat on the roof of the school in his Soul Reaper form, staring out at the horizon. A sigh escaped his lips silently, deep in thought. Orihime was beside him and sat down next to him.

"This school looks so different." Orihime commented cheerfully."I almost wanted to meet those people in there." Her cheerful tone soon turned down before smiling sadly. Ichigo turned to look at her."I miss Tatsuki and Keigo. I hope they are alright." Ichigo turned back to face the horizon himself.

"Yeah. I miss Yuzu and Karin also. I really hope they are safe too." Ichigo agreed with silent worry.

"You can trust the rest of the 13 Court Guard Squads. They will protect your family while you are gone. They owe you that much." It was Renji this time who spoke up with reassurance. Ichigo blinked, turning to look behind him. He was in his Soul Reaper form and with that usual grin on his lips.

"Yeah? Well ya know I can beat you up real good for giving me that stupid grin on your face." Ichigo taunted, already standing with a smirk grin of his own.

"What did ya say? I'll give it to you first for insulting me like that!" Renji growled. Already him and Renji were glaring at each other ready to get into a fist fight.

"Bring it on!" Ichigo snarled. The two ran at each other and a fist fight issued. A cloud of dust surrounded the two of them, watching at they rolled around on the rooftops. In the background, Orihime could stare awkwardly at both boys.

"I-Ichigo…Renji…didn't they say to not create a ruckus on the rooftop?" Orihime asked nervously. It seemed her words fell in deaf ears as Ichigo and Renji were busily fisting fighting it out. Rukia was looking unamused meanwhile.

"Leave them be, Orihime. Boys need to fight it out if anything is in their minds." Rukia replied.

A couple minutes later, both Renji and Ichigo lay flat on the ground, panting and sweating from their own attack at each other. Ichigo felt slightly refreshed from that short fist fight, spite them causing nothing but trouble. After catching his breath, he looked at Renji before back at the blue sky.

"Thanks Renji." Ichigo acknowledged, appreciative how much his friend was doing this for him. He was caring, and that was something.

"Hey….no need to thank me. You needed to release it out a little, the stress and burden." Renji replied courteously. He turned his head back to Ichigo."Shouldering the fate of the world on your shoulders….it can be stressful. I can't blame you Ichigo."

"I'm just more worried about if we can last this long. For all you know, the dreams from Yuugi and I could be messing our heads to throw us off. But I can't let that stop me or him." Ichigo murmured solemnly."There isn't any way that this world deserves evil that will work on their own way. It's just not right."

"So what are you gonna do? We can't have them take over like this forever. Also about that dark figure after Uryu, Orihime and Chad yesterday….we cannot ignore that. They are in danger, more than we thought." Renji stated with digust."I swear, I'll beat them to plump if I have to."

Ichigo chuckled a bit before his eyes returned to the sky."I would too but we got to find them first. And they are not showing signs of appearing." Ichigo tsked, letting his eyes squeeze shut momentary and browed furrowed before opening them with a elongated breath leaving his lips."But I think I might have an idea."

Renji shifted to the side and stared directly at Ichigo with surprise."Well, out with it!" He urged.

"The warehouse. Where we first saw the duel between Yuugi and that dark figure. There might be some clues there." Replied Ichigo, sitting up and a hand rested on his chin.

"Well what are we waiting for? We better go check it out then!" Exclaimed Renji already up on his feet immediately. Ichigo followed closely before glaring warningly at his friend.

"What the hell Renji!? Have you forgotten we are supposed to watch over this school in case they attack the school? What happens if we leave and they come to attack unguarded?" Ichigo warned.

"We have Captain and a few others Ichigo! It's more important to investigate this instead of dwindling around doing nothing!" Renji argued back with a matching glare but one with annoyance.

Ichigo scowled and whipped to have his back faced on Renji. Storming to the fence, he gripped firmly on the fence, conflicted. Is it true? Should he trust Byakuya and the rest here to protect the school? Ichigo knew he was powerful and everyone was relying on him. He had the burden on his shoulders to save the world and to get them out of a dire situation. There is no way he would hold to become a Substitute Soul Reaper otherwise.

Breathing through his lips with a sigh, Ichigo turned back to Renji and walked towards him. "Alright. Let's go. I'll trust the others here to protect the school should there be an attack." Ichigo concluded with a firm nod. Renji grinned.

"Now that's the Ichigo I know!" Renji chirped pridefully."Let's get this show on the road!"

"Yeah. Who knew you are so soppy?" Ichigo teased and a grin to match. Renji growled, glaring before huffing.

"Watch it or I might change my mind!" Renji snapped. Ichigo just smirked before he shunpoed off towards the direction of the warehouse area in Domino. Ichigo could feel Renji closely behind him until he was side by side with him. Glancing at him momentarily, he mused faintly. It was rare to see a firm determination on his expression that was unimaginable.

"Thanks Renji." He said seriously."I'm glad you gave me a kick to get my feet moving."

"Don't mention it. Let's just get there as fast as we can." Renji replied urgently. They began to pick up the speed towards the warehouse place.

To be continued...