Soul Society arrive to collect Ichigo to escort him away, but the officials have other plans...

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Chapter Eight Blind Eyes

The light was off in Kurosaki Ichigo's room as he slept, his head underneath his pillow, only his mouth showing. Outside his window there was a creaking noise. He opened one eye and removed the pillow, sitting up in bed. He looked about. There came another creak and he slowly gripped the covers, removing them as quietly as possible. Then, he saw a shadow move outside his window and he reached for Zangetsu. His hand touched nothing and he remembered it wasn't there. Cursing, he got up. Suddenly there came a loud tapping noise just outside his window. He backed up against his wardrobe, clenching his fist. The tapping sound grew more frantic and he readied a punch. Then, the window flung open and two people came sprawling in, Ichigo punching the one in front straight in the face.

'Renji? Rukia?' he said, puzzled. Rukia sat up, rubbing her head.

'You need to tell us how to work these windows Ichigo…' she said, standing up. She walked over to him and looked down at Renji who was still on the floor.

'Whats wrong with Renji?' Ichigo asked and immediately, the Shinigami shot up, his face red.

'Whats wrong with me, I just got punched in the face!' he snapped, squaring up to Ichigo.

'Well if you weren't trying to break into my room…!' Ichigo retorted, pushing closer to Renji.

'Oh yeah? Maybe you should try getting some better windows!'

'You have the money do you?'

'Whats that!? Are you saying I'm poor!?' they yelled at each other before Rukia came in between them, pushing them apart. She was glaring at them both.

'You will wake up the others!' she hissed. Ichigo turned away, folding his arms.

'Tch, like pineapple over there hasn't already.'

'What was that!?'

'Enough!' Rukia whispered, whacking Renji around the ear. She turned back to Ichigo. He looked at her, puzzled. He scratched his head.

'So what are you guys doing here anyway?' he asked.

'We're here to escort you to Soul Society.' she said sternly, becoming serious. Renji stepped over to her, his face concerned.

'Yeah, with Aizen on the loose, he could come for you, you're a primary target.' he added. Ichigo sighed and looked around.

'You mean just leave my family?' he said, unsure. Rukia placed her hand on his shoulder.

'It will only be for a little while…' she smiled. Then she turned to the corner of his room. 'Hey, Ichigo…where's Zangetsu?' she asked but suddenly an immense spiritual pressure flooded into the room and someone appeared behind Ichigo.

'Perhaps, Kurosaki Ichigo would care to explain that himself…' said the person in a derogative tone. Ichigo turned round to see the stern face of Byakuya Kuchiki looking at him, his haori floating out around him, his black hair fluttering in an unseen wind. He landed softly on the floor and both Rukia and Renji bowed.

'Captain Kuchiki!' Renji exclaimed.

'Nii-sama!' Rukia cried, bowing her head. He didn't acknowledge them, instead keeping his dark eyes firmly fixed on Ichigo. The boy looked over at the other two for an explanation.

'Don't try to run.' came the captains voice and Ichigo turned to him.

'What are you on abo-!' he was stopped as Byakuya slapped him across the face effortlessly, evidently disgusted.

'Nii-sama!' Rukia said, horrified. She ran over to Ichigo and grabbed him as he steadied himself. Byakuya went for his sword.

'Step away from him Rukia or I will have you imprisoned for aiding a criminal.' he warned, his fingers resting on his hilt.

'Criminal?' Ichigo spat, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, staring nastily at Byakuya.

'Head Captain Yamamoto has issued a warrant for Kurosaki Ichigo's arrest.' he said coldly. 'That is all I will say.' he turned to leave through a Senkai gate which appeared in the air behind them.

'Wait, I have a right to know…!' Ichigo was interrupted again.

'You have no rights. You should just keep your mouth shut.' he turned to stare into Ichigo's confused eyes. 'Just be thankful you're not dead…yet.' In horror, Rukia and Renji watched as two men from the special forces appeared at a click of Byakuya's fingers. They grabbed Ichigo's arms and forced them behind his back, pushing him through the gate behind the captain.

Ichigo traipsed into the Seireitei, watched by every eye. He felt so embarrassed and he tried to hide his face. He walked past Toshiro who simply turned away from him, suppressing his anger. Hinamori was next to him, strangely unafraid of Ichigo as he walked past. Ichigo was brought in front of Yoruichi. He looked up at her, squinting through the Sun.

'Yoruichi…I didn't…' he began but she slapped him too. He recoiled backwards, his face stinging.

'How dare you even begin to worm your way out of this…' she snarled, dropping his zanpaktou in front of him. The clang it made on the floor seemed to echo throughout his mind, the rants and roars of the angry crowd drowned out, his eyes firmly planted on his sword.

'What the…?' he said to himself, opening the doors a bit more. 'Where's Zangetsu?'

He stared at it, the blood still on the end of the blade.

'I don't understand it…' he thought to himself. 'How is it here?' He was pulled out of thought though as he was hoisted upwards by the two men, his head held upright in front of Yamamoto as the elderly captain stepped forwards. He was silent for a moment.

'And here I was thinking you were our ally…' he sighed. 'We shall continue this in the Captain's Hall.' he decided, turning away and walking off. Ichigo grimaced as he was lifted up to his full height and taken away.

The doors to the Captain's Hall flew open and Yamamoto burst in, everyone already in their lines. Ichigo was standing a little way before the Head Captain, right where everyone could see him. His eyes flicked through every captain. Soi Fon watched him, thoughts running through her head.

'I…I was in the academy library last night…and I heard Masabi talking to someone in the common room…' he stammered. Soi Fon's eyes widened.

'Who was it? Was it Kurosaki Ichigo?' she asked. He shook his head.

'No…I couldn't tell who it was…' he said and she gasped. He looked up. 'Whats wrong?' he asked innocently.

'N-nothing…' she stammered, still smiling.

Shaking it off, she returned her face to the norm; solemn and uncaring. Yamamoto sat briskly down on a chair in front of Ichigo and the captains. There was silence. Then, Yamamoto clenched his fist and slammed it down on the arm of the chair, making Ichigo jump.

'How could you do this?' he cursed the boy.

'I haven't done anything, I don't even know what's going on!' Ichigo roared at the Commander General, his hair going into his eyes and on his face but he didn't care.

'Your blade was discovered at the scene of Masabi Wasushi's murder. In case you don't know, another person has been killed over the last three days, Rurou Kurobishi of the 5th Division. You are being charged with both their murders and the warping of a Shinigami students mind.' explained the old man fiercely, containing his rage.

'Warping of a…what are you on about!?' Ichigo cried, unable to contain his own.

'Tanno of the Shinigami Academy attacked Captain Kyoraku last night. He claimed to have sufficient knowledge of Rurou Kurobishi's death…' continued the captain.

'Oh, and you think I turned him against you!?' Ichigo snapped, his eyes furious. 'You are all blind, I have never done anything wrong!' he cried finally before sinking to his knees. There was silence. Soi Fon stepped forwards.

'Then why was your blade found in the academy?' she asked simply and he looked up at her, his eyes watering. Her mind was instantly stricken.

'This look-! It's exactly how Tanno looked at me…' she thought.

'I don't know…' he answered, shaking his head and looking at the floor. 'I don't know…'

Yamamoto slammed his cane onto the ground.

'I have heard enough. Since you have no excuses for yourself, Kurosaki Ichigo…' he announced, his voice booming through the Seireitei. '…I sentence, for your zanpaktou to be destroyed…' he boomed. Ichigo's eyes watered and his voice stammered in his throat. '…for you to be stricken of your Shinigami status…' he said, Shunsui and Ukitake looking away, hiding their upset.

'…and for you to be executed!' Yamamoto exclaimed and a few captain's eyes widened.

'No!!!' Ichigo cried, standing up again and looking around for help. 'Please, you have to listen to me!'

'Arrest him!' Yoruichi cried from the corner of the room and he was attacked by several special forces who pounded him in the chest. He choked, his eyes wide and he fell to the floor, everything becoming blurred…

Somewhere deep in the Seireitei, a figure watched as Ichigo was carried to the dungeons. He was cloaked in black and was hooded, his face concealed by a metal mask.

'At last…everything is coming to fruition…' he said to himself, the room around him in darkness. 'You will never get in the way again…Kurosaki Ichigo…'