Chapter 4
An arm shot out from behind a statue and yanked the unsuspecting Kon practically off his feet. Ichigo was lucky Kon had been walking in the back of the group and was easily dragged off. He regained his body and caught up with the rest of them as they headed off to lunch.
Toshiro looked up when he drew level with him. "Feel better?"
Ichigo nodded. "The forest has a new clearing now."
Toshiro just rolled his eyes. As soon as Ichigo sat down he started shoving food down his throat. Blowing off steam always made him rather hungry.
"Uh, Ichigo…you hungry or something?" Ichigo looked up to see Harry staring at him. He managed to nod and swallow the huge mouthful of food at the same time, quite a feat. Harry looked up at the head table. "Man, you really ticked off Snape, he's been staring at you this entire time…"
Ichigo chewed his next bite thoughtfully. He swallowed and shrugged. "Ah, well. What can I do about that?"
Harry just shook his head and smirked. "Personally I think it was brilliant," most of those around him nodded, while Hermione rolled her eyes. "But, you got to be careful around him." His eyes darkened and for the first time, Ichigo realized that this wasn't just some ordinary kid. "He can't be trusted."
Hermione tutted and slammed down her fork. "Honestly, the man has saved your life how many times? And Dumbledore trusts him, shouldn't that be enough?"
Harry's eyes narrowed, "He's up to something. Wouldn't it be a good trick? Get people to trust you, save them a few times, then it would be easy to betray them." He muttered softly.
There was a clank of cutlery falling against a plate as Toshiro stood quickly from the table and strode off without a word. Ichigo watched him leave the hall and he returned to his food like nothing happened.
"Where was he off to in such a hurry?" Ron asked, still looking at the exit Toshiro disappeared through.
Ichigo shrugged. He knew that Harry's words had hit a nerve and that Toshiro needed some time to collect himself. "He probably forgot something in the dorm." He ate the rest of his meal in silence as the others drifted off into talk of the first quidditch game.
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It was only fifteen minutes before curfew and Ichigo was lost. He had decided to tear apart the library after dinner. He scratched his head as he studied a painting of a little girl playing with a dollhouse. No choice.
"Hey, do you know how to get back to the dormitory?" The little girl looked up from her dollhouse.
She smiled. "You're lost." She sung, a smug look on her face. "I knew it, you passed this way three times already!" her chiming laughter echoed along the hallways.
Ichigo groaned and reminded himself that it was just a painting. "Could you just point me in the right direction?"
She looked thoughtful as she made her doll dance in front of her. "I could…" she nodded to herself.
Ichigo's hold on his patience was thinning. "Then will you?" He managed to say levelly.
She smiled evilly and Ichigo was sure this child was related to Yachiru, all she needed was the pink hair. "No."
Ichigo decided he didn't care if this was just a painting and he raised his fist to take a swing at it. His eyes widened when his wrist was caught, and he quickly wrenched his arm away and backed up a step.
"It is against school rules to damage a painting," The dark man stepped from the shadows and watched impassively as Ichigo rubbed the feeling back into his wrist. "Although I am glad I ran into you, I have a few things I would like to discuss." Snape's face never changed expression.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Well, seeing as it is close to curfew, maybe we should talk in the morning." He made to step past him, but the man blocked his path.
"You see, I was looking out my window this morning after your class and saw the most interesting thing."
Ichigo felt his stomach drop, but kept his face calm. "Really, you don't say. What was it?"
Dark eyes seemed to nail him to the floor. "It was you, running towards the forest in some getup with, of all things, a sword on your back."
Ichigo blinked. "Really? I think you need to get more sleep. I was in class all morning, check with the professors."
"I know what I saw." He hissed as he took a step forward.
"Ichigo. I was wondering where you ran off to." Toshiro appeared on the other side of Snape, causing the man to step sideways so he could look at both of them.
"Got lost." He grunted. He glared at Snape who caught his gaze. Suddenly a pain shot through his head and it felt like something was clawing its way through his mind. It only lasted a few seconds then he heard a voice snarl.
"GET OUT OF HIS HEAD!" Ichigo blinked in surprise when he realized his hand was fisted in the front of Snape's robes and he was in his face. He stepped back in shock, his heart beating hard against his ribcage.
Snape looked just as shocked. His wand was now pointed straight at Ichigo's chest. "What was that?" he said, levelly.
Toshiro jumped between the two of them. "Ichigo, are you under control?" His voice was almost icy, a sure sign he was stressed.
Ichigo blinked in shock. Then he realized, the voice he had heard before…it had been his hollow. "Yeah, just a shock I guess. What the hell did you do to me?" He pointed a finger at the dark haired man that hadn't lowered his wand.
Before another word could be spoken, another person joined their little party. "What is going on here?" They all turned to watch Dumbledore come up from behind Snape.
But Snape returned his attention to Ichigo. "What are you?"
"I…" his eyes wandered over to Toshiro. "…am not good at this kind of shit. Doesn't the old man know that? When in my past have I ever done anything subtle?"
Toshiro sighed. "He explained why he chose you." The two were completely ignoring the other two.
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Because I look the part? Rukia looks young and Renji…" he caught Toshiro's dubious look. "Okay maybe not Renji but there must be others more qualified. It's only been two days and I've already screwed our cover."
Toshiro raised an eyebrow. "That's why we have a contingency plan."
"I- wait, what?" Ichigo stopped mid rant.
"Actually you didn't do so bad. Out of everyone that could have figured out something is up with us, you picked the best two. I already have the Okay to let them in on some of our mission."
Ichigo stared in shock. "When…"
"After this morning's little display, I figured Snape would figure it out sooner rather than later…" He rolled his eyes. "You really are as subtle as Zaraki."
Ichigo fumed. "I really should kill you for that comparison."
Toshiro just shook his head and turned to their audience. "Maybe we should continue this discussion elsewhere." Snape's face looked like it had been carved out of marble, but Dumbledore just smiled good-naturedly even if his eyes were sharply observing the two.
Ichigo glared, but followed Toshiro into an empty classroom, Snape and Dumbledore on his heels. He felt a locking charm surround the door. He just leaned against the wall and let Toshiro handle this.
"We are not wizards." Toshiro said calmly, watching for their reactions.
"Not…wizards? Then what are you?" Dumbledore asked conversationally.
"Shinigami." When all he received was blank looks he sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Roughly translated it means…Death God."
That got a bit of reaction. "Death God?" Snape repeated. "What are you doing here?"
"We have come to kill the one that calls himself, Voldemort." Eyes widened in both Dumbledore and Snape's faces.
"How do you plan on accomplishing that? Two children?" Snape's face twisted into a sneer, while Dumbledore looked thoughtful.
Ichigo laughed at Toshiro's expression. "Poor Toshiro. At least you aren't being mistaken for an elementary student any longer…" he laughing was cut off when Toshiro punched him in the ribs. He fell to the floor, holding his side and trying to curb the chuckles that still managed to break through.
Eventually he straightened, but stayed on the floor. "Ya idiot. This gigai's expensive, remember?"
Toshiro just shrugged. "You can explain it to the technical department when we get back."
"What's a gigai?" Dumbledore asked, interrupting their glaring contest.
"A faux body." Toshiro took out the soul candy dispenser. "Allow me to show you our true form.
AN: hmmmmmm….so more people are in on the secret… actually this story is coming together a lot faster than I expected…I suppose all the reviews had fed my muse (she always seems to be hungry) anywho, thanks to everyone who has reviewed already…I would reply to each of you, but the reply button is gone…scratches head in confusion…so I gotta see if I can find another way…until next time!