It's been a while hasn't it? I just got back into the series after the TYBW trailer appeared in my feed. Got me back on the hype train to write this! Sorry for such a long hiatus.

4

Hollow

Shizuko looked towards the Tv as the news played. An explosion had happened in the middle of the city, at the same time that she had felt that sensation. She bit into her toast as Isshin and Ichigo fought one another. She had been in charge of making lunch, and Yuzu gave her a pass on taste. Shizuko just hopped that Ichigo liked it. She'd never made food for someone before.

"Stop attacking me!" Ichigo snapped at his father as he finally got the upper hand on the older man.

"Time for you to go, Shi," Karin commented and the pink haired teen gave a nod of amusement, finishing off her toast before standing up.

Isshin was about to counterattack his son when Shizuko tapped the orange haired teen's shoulder. She signed something and Ichigo turned to look at the clock. He rubbed the back of his head as he noticed the time. It was time for them to leave. His father certainly had a strange sense when it came to time.

"Right," Ichigo stated. "Lets go."

Shizuko let out a soft breath before smiling. She sent Isshin a small smile and pleasant wave before following his son out of the house. He stayed on the ground for a few seconds. He was going to lose that bet. Well, at least his daughter had better luck than him.

"What was with that sign you do at Karin and Yuzu?" Ichigo asked as they walked to school.

It's a name sign for them, Shizuko slowly signed before making an I and tapping it twice, there's yours.

Ichigo would deny it the second someone pointed out that his cheeks were a light pink. Her smile was cute, and her own cheeks were dusted pink. She looked at their fellow classmates as they joined the crowds. He heard her sharp intake of breath and noted that she was pointedly looking forward, her head bowed. Ah, so that jerk had to be around them. He scoured the crowd and noted the smirk on a male with dyed blonde hair. Something grasped onto his sleeve and he looked to see that Shizuko had a hold on him. Her expression informed him of her wishes. She didn't want any violence done onto anyone else. Not for her sake.

"Ichigo!" Keigo gave his usual greeting, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Shizuko blinked before she was gently moved out of the firing range. She looked over her shoulder to see Chad behind her. With ease she signed a greeting at him, using the English C sign and twisting it. Chad nodded his greeting before setting her back down on her feet. Odd, she usually hated other people touching her. The Kurosaki family was exempt from that because she knew them. She got the oddest feeling that Chad would never do anything to hurt her. She never got that from anyone else.

"Why are you on the floor?" Mizuiro asked as he looked up from his phone.

"I crash landed," Keigo stated, whining slightly.

"Did you do the art assignment?" Chad asked Shizuko and she nodded.

She brought out her sketchbook and showed him the drawing. They sat next to one another in the art lab. That teacher enjoyed shifting the students into groups. Chad had taken the chance to group with the shy mute girl. The topic had been 'places dear to you' and he looked at the tree over looking a small lake. It was one of the few places from her home country she liked. Arnside and Silverdale. Her grandfather enjoyed picnics and that was their favourite spot. It had been years since she'd been there. Chad handed back the drawing and nodded before shaking her his. Karakura river, the place where he and Ichigo became friends.

It's really pretty! Shizuko rapidly signed her excitement showing through.

Ichigo turned to get her and go to class when he noted the art trade between the two. He began to walk and they slowly followed without thinking. The silent conversation between Chad and Shizuko made him raise a brow. It was a pleasant surprise to see that. They sat down in their seats and the conversation came to an end. Ichigo sighed, he got the strangest feeling that something was wrong. Shizuko looked out the window as she felt that oppressive feeling again, this time stronger than before. She felt a shiver go down her spine. That wasn't the only thing she was sensing, but she couldn't put a finger on the other feeling. She just knew that it was close. It left as she walked home with Ichigo.

"I hate guys like this," Ichigo grumbled, holding out his book bag to Shizuko.

Be careful, She slowly signed as she held onto his bag for him.

It joined her's against her chest and he scratched his cheek in embarrassment. He ignored his embarrassment and marched up to the gaggle of delinquents. He grabbed one of their skateboards and rammed it into one of them. Shizuko flinched and used his bag to cover her eyes. She refused to think back to her parents, Ichigo wasn't like them. Her hands began to tremble. He wasn't. She was very sure of that. He scowled a lot, but he was incredibly sweet. She wanted to know what made him mad. She looked around the area and noted a small vase of flowers on the ground surrounded by a small puddle of water. A little girl with pigtails stood by it with a sad expression on her face, the chain attached to her chest swaying slightly.

"Shut up already!" Ichigo growled at the group as one charged and he kicked them in the face. "All of you guys look over there! I'll give you three guesses as to what that is. You first stinky one!"

"M-Me!" The one with a small goatee asked, nervously pointing at himself. "An offering to the kid who died here recently?"

"Correct!" Ichigo stated, kicking that one in the face. "Now for the next guess! Why is the vase knocked over?"

"That's…that's cuz we knocked it over while skateboarding?" Another one guessed.

"I see…then you should apologise to her!" Ichigo finished, pointing at the spirit who showed herself at that time.

The group of delinquents screamed in unison before running off with their fallen comrades. The little girl waited for a few seconds before walking up to Ichigo as he picked the vase up. A slightly trembling Shizuko slowly followed. She wasn't scared of Ichigo, no it was just a reaction from her past. She took a calming breath and tried to stop her trembling.

"Sorry about using you that way," Ichigo apologised to the spirit and Shizuko smiled softly at his words.

"It's all right, thank you for standing up for me," The girl thanked with a happy smile.

"Well, we'll be back to bring you flowers soon," Ichigo informed her and Shizuko blinked before nodding her agreement.

"Now I can spend my time peacefully," The girl informed them.

Shizuko gave the girl a light pat on the head and Ichigo blanched. He hadn't known she could see spirits. Both girls looked at him in confusion and he coughed to hide his surprise. He simply grabbed his bag back and began to walk home. Shizuko stood there for a few seconds before scratching her cheek. She then took off after him, slightly running into him when he suddenly stopped.

"How long have you been able to see spirits?" Ichigo awkwardly asked and Shizuko frowned in thought.

She… she didn't really know. She rubbed the back of her head in thought. She had never noticed the chains before, or if she did she hadn't cared. So, she tilted her head in thought. Perhaps she'd always been able to see spirits.

I think… I've always been able to, I've just never noticed the chains before, she admitted with a deep frown.

Ichigo frowned as well, his scowl deepening. He couldn't believe it. Shizuko was just like him. She let out a sharp breath and moved closer to him when another Skateboarder rushed past them. He was tempted to teach that guy a lesson when Shizuko grabbed onto his sleeve. He knew better than to look at her, he'd end up turning from the fight. He wanted to know why she did that. Why she seemed to hate confrontation. He had noticed her trembling when she walked up to him when he helped that spirit, and he was putting the pieces together. He started to walk again and she followed, slowly releasing his clothing.

"You're late!" Met the two of them as Ichigo opened the front door to the Kurosaki house.

Shizuko stood still, a blank expression on her face as her spine completely straightened. Ichigo growled under his breath as he gathered his thoughts. He was going to kill his father. The man needed to stop attacking him.

"What time do you think it is, my delinquent son?" Isshin questioned as he put his hands on his hips. "You know that dinner is at seven every night:"

"Is that really how you greet your son after he gets home from performing an exorcism?!" Ichigo asked.

Karin sighed and went to see the yelling match begin. She paused at the faraway expression on Shizuko's face. She supposed it was overdue. The teen had seemed too calm for someone who came from a bad home. Now that the true yelling began between the two the teen was exhibiting signs of ptsd. She couldn't tell if Shizuko was even breathing.

Shizuko felt dread setting in the pool of her stomach. A part of her didn't even feel like she was in front of the Kurosaki house. She could see the woman she called mother yelling at her, telling her horrible things. The venom practically dripping from her tone. Cigarettes burning her arms, the smell of burning flesh oddly present. A hand wrapped around het wrist and she couldn't help but react. She jerked her hand away and felt her chest heaving. Her eyes wildly looking around, yet seeing nothing.

"Oi, you two just sent Shi into a ptsd episode," Karin informed them as Shizuko took a few steps back before taking off in a sprint.

Ichigo and Isshin stppped fighting and Isshin gained an apologetic expression. She hadn't meant to do such a thing to Shizuko. She was a gentle girl that cared for his children. No one deserved to be seng into a traumatic episode. Ichigo let out a low curse before taking off as well. There, his son cared about the mute girl. He was going to lose the bet he had with Karin.

"Poor Shi," Karin softly said. "Yuzu'll keep some food out for her."

Ichigo found Shizuko overlooking the river, her knees against her chest as she rested her chin on top of them. Her amber eyes were focused on the water, the twilight glinting off the surface. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly before plopping down next to her. He decided to apologise, it was partly his fault she upset.

"I'm sorr-" Ichigo was cut off by a finger tapping against his nose.

It's not your fault, so don't apologise. She signed to him with a tired smile. It's going to happen, so don't let it bother you.

Way to tell him that he was useless. Ichigo frowned. He didn't like that. Shizuko slowly shifted her feet forward and came out of her curled up position. A few pieces of her hair moved into her eyes and she pushed it behind her ear. She didn't want Ichigo to blame himself for something that he didn't do. Her horrible parents had nothing to do with him. Yet, she wasn't ready to even tell anyone about her treatment by their hands.

"We should head back," Ichigo said, grunting when he stood up.

Shizuko went to follow but blinked in surprise at the hand held out to her. Ichigo was looking anywhere but her, a slight blush on his face. Shizuko smiled softly at that and accepted the help up. Her tiny hand was easily dwarfed by his as he gave a sight tug to get her up on her feet. She stumbled slightly and went to grab her bag, except he already had it in his hand.

"You know… you can tell me when you're ready," Ichigo informed her and he watched as her eyes grew glassy and panicked. "N-Not that I'm going to rush you!"

You're fine, I'm just not used to people being patient with me like that, She admitted, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.

Now he really wanted to know! It was okay, he was patient… to an extent. They started back home and he heard her give a silent yawn before tilting her head to the side. She looked behind them and frowned a little. Ichigo wondered what was bothering her now?

Do… do you hear that? She slowly signed, as though struggling to put her question into words.

"Hear what?" He asked and she frowned before sighing softly.

It was probably nothing, I thought I heard a really weird scream, She admitted and he noted that she was opening up to him.

He nodded his understanding and tried to think of anytime he might've heard something like that. He couldn't. He thought he was the one that had weird things happen to him. He heard Shizuko snap before her expression lit up. She gently grabbed onto his sleeve and smiled at him, one that was different from her sad soft ones.

I promised Yuzu I'd watch Dotch Cooking show with her, can we work on our homework together?

He had trouble saying no to that face. They studied in his room, a small bowl of food between them, curtesy of Yuzu. He had his pencil in a tight grip, he knew his father and little sister were sitting by the door. Why was it so strange for a girl to be in his room? He glared at the math homework they were working on. He noted that even Shizuko was tense, the smile on her face strained.

Are they?

"Yeah."

I'm so sorry.

He waved off her apology. It wasn't her fault that his family was crazy. It had to be genetic on his fathers side. She rubbed the back of her head in thought, something he noted was new with her. Well, it wasn't like she could voice her feelings anymore. He felt as though that was callous. He leaned back in his chair before suddenly standing up. Shizuko looked up from her spot against his bed and watched as he walked to the door and yanked it open with a harsh tug.

"Can't a man study in peace with a friend?" Ichigo asked, and Shizuko slowly hid behind her notebook.

"Oh and that's all you're doing?" Isshin pressed and Shizuko's face turned a bright red as she hid further.

"Damn it!" Ichigo growled bringing a leg up and kicking his dad in the face.

"Ah, Shi-Chan the shows going to start in a few minutes," Yuzu peered into the room, taking her brothers distracted state as a green light to do so.

Right!

She shut her notebook and quickly clambered to her feet. She ducked around an arguing Isshin and Ichigo and fought the crawling dread in her stomach. She had to logically think about her surroundings. She needed to remember where she was and where she wasn't. She headed into her room and placed her homework on her desk before changing out of her school uniform. The long sleeved black shirt and basketball shorts were items that used to belong to Ichigo. She looked to the side and internally winced. She needed to go clothes shopping soon. Something simple, and cheap.

Shizuko quickly headed down to the living room and took her seat next to Yuzu. The Tv changed to their cooking show and both girls watched with a serious expression. Their focus did startle Isshin a bit as he came by with popcorn. He soon joined them, his focus even more intense then theirs. The popcorn ended up on Shizuko's lap due to her being in the middle. She didn't mind. No, she was more worried by Ichigo's yell.

The whole family, including Shizuko, went up to his room to check on him. Ichigo was glaring at a spot on the ground. Isshin blankly looked at it, letting nothing show on his face as Shizuko outwardly stared at the dark-haired girl in a black shihakusho. The girls violet eyes met her own amber and widened slightly. As though recognising her. Shizuko simply tilted her head in thought.

"What's with the commotion?" Isshin questioned.

"What do you mean?!" Ichigo stressed before pointing at the dark-haired girl. "Look at her! What the hell is wrong with the security in this house?!"

"What do you mean?" Isshin asked, scratching his cheek. "Look at what?"

Ichigo blanched at that. Staring at his dad incredulously. Shizuko even looked at Isshin in surprise. The dark-haired girl was very solid, and didn't even have the chain attached to her chest. That couldn't be a spirit. Perhaps she was something else? Shizuko was getting a strange feeling from her, as though death was staring her in the face.

"I'm talking about the samurai cosplayer behind me," Ichigo stated.

"It's useless, a normal human cannot see me," The dark-haired girl stated and Shizuko felt as though some words had been lost to her.

The dialect used was one she wasn't completely used to. It seemed… older than the way that everyone else spoke. Ichigo sighed before glaring at his father to leave. Isshin turned with glassy eyes and looked down at Yuzu. Yuzu gave an amused smile and began to tug on her dad's arm. They could go and watch their show and cheer him up. That always worked. Karin left with a yawn and Shizuko hesitated.

I can see her, Shizuko informed Ichigo. I just can't understand her. The dialect she uses is different compared to yours.

"It's Meiji era Japanese," Ichigo explained. "I only know it because I enjoy older books, and the dialect shines through."

Sounds interesting, Shizuko's eyes brightened at the prospect of new knowledge and he flicked her forehead.

"At least master modern Japanese before moving onto an older style," He sighed and she smiled before nodding her understanding.

Shizuko took one last glance at the dark-haired girl and gave an uneasy expression before finally leaving. She returned to the living room where a sad Isshin was crying over the bowl of popcorn. He turned his sad expression towards her and she found herself patting his shoulder with an understanding smile. That seemed to make him sadder.

"You remind me of her," He blubbered.

Shizuko blinked and next thing she knew he was crying at the poster of his late wife. A soft sigh came out of her before she scratched her cheek. Isshin certainly was a character, still she was glad he was the way he was. He certainly cared for his family. She looked towards the Tv and noted that the commercial break was about to end. She took a few steps towards the kitchen and met Yuzu halfway. She had been talking with Karin.

It was a split second. Yuzu watched as Shizuko freezed before gently pushing her, the exact same second the living room wall exploded. She felt a hand gently cradle her head as she was pulled into a shoulder. Her amber eyes wide as she looked at the taller teen that had protected her from harm. Blood dripped onto her face from a nasty cut above Shizuko's eyebrow.

Run please… you and Karin… Shizuko signed, her hand movement stilted as though drunk.

Yuzu gave a jerky nod before Shizuko was yanked away from her by the foot. Karin yelled something, but was stopped from helping by her twin sister. Shizuko was buying them time to get their brother, she wanted them to be safe. The two rushed up the stairs before banging on their brothers door. It was opened by the dark-haired girl that Karin could see but not Yuzu.

"Ichigo! There was an explosion in the living room," Yuzu quickly explained.

"Something grabbed Shi," Karin explained. "And it attacked dad."

"She wanted us to run," Yuzu stated, her voice cracking.

They suddenly dropped and the dark-haired girl narrowed her eyes. The pressure had been too much for them. She sighed, slightly glad that they were just unconscious. She turned towards the sealed Ichigo.

"Don't worry, they are just unconscious," She explained.

She went to say something else, but paused as he grunted and started to pick himself up from the ground with his limited movement. He was a fool! Doing such a thing was going to tear his soul apart.

"You fool!" She snapped over his yelling as he continued his attempt. "If you keep this up you'll tear your soul into pieces!"

A loud snap echoed through the room and her eyes were wide as he simply sprinted past her and down the stairs. He had broken her sealing spell, through sheer will power alone. What the hell was he?! Sure there was the odd human that could see her kind, like the other teenager that was far too familiar to someone she knew for comfort, but she'd never heard of one breaking a spell. It was amazing, yet terrifying.

Ichigo looked at the devastation in his home. His dad was bleeding on the ground, and there was a trail of blood from where someone had been dragged. He looked at the monster, the hollow the soul reaper called it, as it studied Shizuko. Her eyes were barely open as she stared at it. That scream she had heard earlier, it had to be that thing. He trembled slightly, yet moved to pick up a nearby baseball bat. That thing went after his family, attacked his sisters, and was now attacking his friend. It was going down. He rushed towards it, holding the bat at an angle. He readied himself to hit it but was forced on the defensive when it swung at him. He hit a wall, and blood began to trail down his face from a small cut.

The hollow went to swing at him again and his eyes widened. He could see it as though it was in slow motion. Shit. SHIT! He was going to die. He should've thought it through a bit more. The soul reaper appeared, easily slicing through the hollows arm. It fell and he rushed to catch his friend before she hit the ground.

"God you're light," He informed her and she gave a strained smile at that before grimacing in pain her mind finally shutting down.

"Don't you lose focus!" The soul reaper yelled at him. "None of your family members had their souls eaten! Even your father laying over there."

"Wait a second! Don't hollows attack humans to eat their souls?" Ichigo questioned.

"A hollow searches for souls with high spiritual concentration that reason alone is why humans are attacked," the reaper explained. "I have never seen a human who could see or hear a soul reaper or one that could break a spell. The reason this hollow appeared, is because it sensed you."

"That thing came for me?" Ichigo asked, slowly putting Shizuko down on the ground. "Then this whole thing is my fault?"

"Wait, I did not mean it that way," The reaper said, turning her back on the hollow.

A mistake on her part. She felt the ground before she realized that she had been hit. She clenched her jaw as Ichigo foolishly stood up to the hollow. She inwardly cursed and got to her feet, rushing to use her sword to block the hollows attack. It's teeth penetrated her torso and her blood dripped to the ground. Once the pressure was gone, it flowed freely.

"You idiot," She stated, struggling to breath as she glared at Ichigo. "You've put your family in risk further… but there may yet be a way to save them."

"There is? Tell me!" Ichigo pleaded, rushing towards the reaper.

"You must become a soul reaper," She said, holding out her sword. "I must pierce the middle of your chest with my zanpakutou and I will give you half of my powers. You will be a soul reaper temporarily and on even grounds with the hollow."

"Is it really the only thing we can do?" Ichigo asked.

"Yes, but I will tell you the percent rate of this working isn't very high," She admitted. "Though it is better choose your fate. We have run out of time, so decide!"

"All right, give me the sword, soul reaper," Ichigo stated, waking up to her.

"It's not soul reaper, it's Kuchiki Rukia," The soul reaper stated.

"Right, I'm Kurosaki Ichigo," Ichigo said. "Let's hope this isn't the last greeting for us."

He grabbed the hilt of the sword and they shared a look. Both were nervous of it not working, but it was their best bet. The sword impaling him through the chest didn't hurt as much as he thought it would. He felt a heavy weight on his back and slowly took it off. A large zanpakutou was held aloft in his hand as he eyed the hollow.

"It was supposed to be half my powers," Rukia murmured. "How did he end up with all of them?"

She figured out why it took her so long to even sense the hollow. The power coming from Ichigo was immense, no wonder she couldn't do so. It was like trying to see through a thick film. She could see bits a pieces but not much. She watched in fascination as he seemed to cut the hollow down through instinct alone.

"This is the consequence for your mistake of messing with my family and friends fish face!" Ichigo shouted at the hollow.

He took down the hollow. Then proceeded to faint. Rukia sighed before surveying the damage around her. The orange-haired teen had dropped next to the pink-haired one. The one that confused Rukia. She slowly stood up and stumbled towards them. Up close the resemblance was uncanny. The thick eye brows and way her hair parted were too similar. She sighed softly. It just got far more convoluted. The sounds of geta clacking against the pavement caught her attention and she saw a face she had been taught about.

"Urahara Kisuke?" Rukia asked and the blonde man smirked slightly.

"I believe you are in need of my assistance."

That filled Rukia with a sense of dread.