AN: Okay, so I got a longer chapter this time. I'm not sure if I'm happy with the way it turned out, but I hope it isn't too bad. A couple things happen in this chapter, so I hope it isn't too much going on. Please R&R, and tell me how it turned out.

And thanks to all who are reading this and reviewing. The review amount could be better, but I hope you all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, which might be a good thing, because I don't think it would be as good if I did

Chapter 6: Master of the Shapeless Past

Rukia looked at the small building with distaste. It was nothing special, and it reminded her a little too much of her childhood. She looked over at her orange haired companion, who seemed perfectly content with small abode.

"Is this where you've been living?" she asked, the distaste in her voice was evident.

"Yeah, why?"

"No reason."

"There had to be some reason, otherwise you wouldn't ask."

"Just shut up and go in."

"Bossy midget," he muttered, earning a kick to the shin.

"Would you quit it?"

"Stop calling me short then strawberry!"

"Fine, geez."

He walked up to the door, reaching out to open it, but was stopped when a blur of brown hair raced toward him. Amaterasu almost tackled him to ground, embracing him as if he would disappear if she let go. Kohaku returned the embrace, still looking a little surprised. When Amaterasu let go, she looked up at him, fake irritation covering her relief.

"What took you so long? I was starting to get worried," she said, making Kohaku turn pink.

"I'm fine. They just wanted to ask me some questions about that thing that took over me and then assigned someone to protect us from any future hollows attacks," he said, gesturing towards Rukia, who had a strange look in her eyes as she watched the two. "This is Kuchiki Rukia. She has something to do with my past, but I can't figure out what."

The two women scrutinized each other, not bother to hide the distaste they felt toward the other. 'What's up with these two?' Kohaku wondered.

"Hi, I'm Amaterasu. It's nice to meet you," Amaterasu said with fake sweetness.

"It's nice to meet you also," Rukia replied coldly.

"Where is she going to stay?" Amaterasu asked, turning to Kohaku.

"Does your room have a closet, Ic-Kohaku?" Rukia asked, stumbling on the unfamiliar name.

"Umm, yeah, why?"

"I can stay in there. I used to do it all the time," she replied, smugly catching the surprised looked on Amaterasu's face.

"Is that true?" Amaterasu whispered, looking back at Kohaku.

"I don't remember," he whispered back, scratching the back of his head. Amaterasu turned back to Rukia, controlling her emotions and words carefully.

"I couldn't ask you to do that. You can have my room, and I will sleep on the floor in Kohaku's room."

"No, really, it's no pro-" Rukia started, but was cut off by Kohaku.

"You don't need to sleep on the floor Ama, you can sleep in my bed," he said, causing Amaterasu and Rukia to turn red, Amaterasu in embarrassment and Rukia in anger. "I'll sleep on the floor." Both women sighed in relief at his last statement.

"That settles it. Kuchiki-sama will have my room, and I will have Kohaku's bed," Amaterasu said, ushering them into the house.

"Would you like some tea, Kuchiki-sama?" Amaterasu asked with false sweetness.

"Um, yes, that would be nice," Rukia said, returning the falseness.

"Um, are you two okay?" Kohaku asked, looking between the two women who refused to even look at each other.

"Fine," they said in unison, not bothering to look at him. Kohaku just sighed and shook his head. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

"Good night," Kohaku said to Rukia as she headed towards Amaterasu's room.

"Night," she said curtly, not looking at him.

Kohaku just sighed and walked to his room. He opened the door to find Amaterasu preparing a futon for him. As he walked in, she looked up and smiled before going back to what she was doing.

"Where did this come from?" he asked, indicating the futon.

"Oh, it was in my closet. I used to use it when some of the kids from the neighborhood would come by and where too tired to go home," she explained, looking back up at him when she finished her task.

"Oh." He ran a hand through his hair awkwardly, not sure what to say or do now that they were sharing a room.

"I'm not going to attack you, Kohaku. Just relax," she said, walking over to him and looking into his eyes.

"Um, yeah. Well, good night," he said slowly. Amaterasu laughed at his nervousness.

"I didn't realize you were this much of a prude, Kohaku," she teased, poking him in the chest.

"I-I'm not. It's just…"

"Just what?" she coaxed, inwardly giggling that he was so uncomfortable around her after living together for three months.

"Just…I don't know! Let's just go to sleep," he grumbled.

Amaterasu laughed and embraced him, causing him to turn red. Despite his embarrassment, he returned the gesture, resting his chin on her head and relaxing a little.

"I'm glad you didn't become a soul reaper, Kohaku," she whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear. He was confused by her statement, but decided not to think too much into it.

"I told you I wouldn't, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but–"

"No. I told you I wouldn't and I won't go back on my word."

Amaterasu, pulled away to look up at him. His face was set in a determined scowl, and she knew that he would never break his vow voluntarily. She hugged him again, a smile spread across her face. They remained like that for a while, not noticing the pacing time. 'Ichigo.' Kohaku tensed at the familiar, yet unwelcome voice, causing Amaterasu to pull away and gaze up at him worriedly.

"Kohaku?"

"It's nothing, just that voice again."

"What did it say?"

"Same as last time, just 'Ichigo'."

'Ichigo. Do you not remember me? It is me,…'

"I couldn't hear his name…" Kohaku murmured to himself.

"What?" Amaterasu asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Nothing, let's just get some sleep," walking over to his make-shift bed.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, just tired. Night," he said as he climbed under the covers.

"Good night," Amaterasu said slowly, still worried. She reluctantly looked away and climbed into bed.

Kohaku didn't find sleep for several more hours, and lay listening to Amaterasu's soft, slow breathing. As he slowly drifted into sleep, he began to think about the day's events and his meeting with Rukia. The last image that went through his mind was of Rukia with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Wait, Rukia. Stop. Look at me! Is this some kind of a joke? Hey!" Ichigo yelled, struggling to move out from under the weight on his back. Pain shot through his chest, causing him to grimace. He looked down to see blood pouring out of a wound in his chest.

"Don't move!" Ichigo froze, gazing back up at the one who had yelled at him. 'Rukia?'

"Take even one step, or try to come after me and I'll...I'll…I will never ever forgive you," she said, her voice cracking a little. "You are going to die, so why not stay put and live a few seconds longer?"

'Rukia.' Ichigo gazed at her and saw the tears in her eyes when she turned around. Pain shot through his chest again, but this time it wasn't due to his wounds. Ichigo felt his mind go numb. It was as if just by saying those words, Rukia had destroyed his desire to live, to fight, to love. With just one sentence, she had done more damage to him than any amount of injuries that could be inflicted upon him.

"Alright. I will not inflict the finishing blow." another voice said. Ichigo looked over at the voice and noticed the captain that had glared at him with such hate when he went to the Seireitei. "With my two attacks against him, I have shattered both his soul chain and soul sleep. There's no point in finishing him off. He should die in less than an hour." Rukia suppressed a sob, still looking away from Ichigo, and he felt his heart wrench again.

"Even if he does survive this attack, all his powers will be lost, both his special soul reaper power, as well as his spirit energy. Renji," the captain said in his cold, even voice.

"Yes," said a new voice from behind Ichigo. The pressure on his back lifted and a man with long red hair pulled back into a pony tail stepped forward. He raised his zanpakuto and held it in front of him, turning it to the side.

"Now open!" He turned his zanpakuto back to its original position and pulled it back, turning it back into its sealed state. A bright glow appeared in the air before him, lighting up the night and casting rays of light through the pouring rain. The Senkaimon opened, and three black butterflies flew out towards each of the shinigami.

'I can't speak' Ichigo watched as the three shinigami walked into the Senkaimon. 'I can't move' The doors began closing, hiding the shinigami from his sight. The last thing he saw was Rukia turning her head to take one more glance at him.

'Rukia.'

Kohaku woke with a start, cold sweat on his brow. It was still dark, and Kohaku wondered how long he had been sleeping. What was that? It seemed so…real. Rukia. I wonder if she knows what that was about. He stood and quietly made his way to the door, careful not to wake Amaterasu. He stepped outside the house and used a barrel pushed against it to climb up onto the roof.

Kohaku sat, looking out across the Rukongai, listening to the night. What is happening to me?

'Is it not obvious, Ichigo? You remember nothing of your past.'

"Who are you?" Kohaku growled at the voice, not sure whether it would hear him or not.

'It's me, …'

I still couldn't hear his name.

'I see. After all this time, you still cannot hear my name,' the voice sighed. 'Very well, I shall not attempt to contact you again, Ichigo.'

"What do you mean? Who are you?" There was no reply. Kohaku sighed and laid back, thinking he must be going insane.

"You're not, you know," a voice said. Kohaku tensed. It was the voice from his dream; the voice that had held such anger and sadness.

"Not what," he asked hesitantly, looking over at the raven haired girl next to him.

"Going insane." How did she know what I was thinking?

"I've know you long enough to guess at what you're thinking, Ichigo," she said, providing the answer to his unvoiced question.

"I told you to call me Kohaku," he said, and saw what looked like hurt flash across her face. "And what do you mean? I just met you." Even as he said it he knew he was wrong. Rukia looked over at him with sadness in her eyes.

"I can't tell you any more than I have already. I am sorry, Ich-Kohaku."

They sat in silence for a while, neither one daring to speak. Kohaku turned back to gaze out across the landscape, not able to continue gazing into those pain filled eyes. Did I cause that pain? Kohaku glanced at her from the corner of his eye to see that she was frowning, glancing around.

"What is it?" he asked, suddenly worried.

"Its-its nothing. Don't worry about it," she said, but she was still tense and alert.

"Just tell me what it is," he demanded, not liking the fact that she was hiding things from him.

"I just felt an unfamiliar reiatsu. It was nothing, just calm down."

"How can I calm down when you look like you just felt something powerful?" he muttered, folding his arms over his chest and pouting slightly. She looked over at him and smirked.

"You look like a child," she said smugly.

"So?"

" All good children should be asleep in bed, not hanging out on the roof," she scolded mockingly.

"Yeah, well you look more like a child than me!" he retorted, glaring at her.

"Did you just call me short?" she asked in a threateningly low voice.

"N-no, nope. No I did not. Just gonna…go back to sleep now…" he said, scooting back as quickly as he could.

"Good!" she said in a cheerful voice. What is she, bipolar!

Kohaku looked back and forth between the two women in front of him. They were refusing to look at each other and if they did, it was always glaring. They spoke coldly, unless talking to Kohaku, and neither showed the other any friendship. Kohaku sighed. This is going to be a long day.

"Hey Kohaku, why don't we take a walk? It's a nice day, and we could walk over to the clearing," Amaterasu stated, smiling at him.

"Sure. Let's hope no hollows show up this time though."

"Don't worry about hollows, I'll take care of them," Rukia said coldly. "You two go off have a good time." She sneered at the last part as if it hurt just to say it.

"Um, Rukia, are you okay?" Kohaku asked.

"Fine, let's go," she replied, walking out of the door.

"What's wrong with her?" he wondered aloud. Amaterasu looked at him, marveling at his obliviousness.

"What?" he asked, noticing the looking she was giving him.

"Nothing, just come on," she sighed, grabbing his wrist and pulling him out the door.

They walked into the little clearing a few minutes later to find Rukia standing with her hand on the hilt of her zanpakuto. Kohaku looked around the clearing, looking for whatever she might be sensing.

"Rukia?"

"Shh. I feel the same pressure that I felt last night, it can't be coincidence," she hissed back at him, still looking around the clearing.

"You felt something last night and didn't tell us?" Amaterasu asked in disbelief.

"I told Kohaku. I figured he would tell you."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Amaterasu asked, spinning on Kohaku.

"I-I—" he stammered not sure how to respond. Before he could come up with anything, however, a flash of black came into the clearing, stopping next to Rukia.

"Fourth seat," Rukia said, not looking over at her.

"Hey Rukia. You felt it too?" Senna said, pulling out her zanpakuto.

"Yeah. I'm not sure what it is, but it has a strong reiatsu."

"Mhmm. I wonder what it is."

At that moment they heard a sound from the edge of the clearing. Rukia drew her zanpakuto and both shinigami turned toward the noise. No one moved, and Kohaku noticed that he was holding his breath. After a few minutes of silence, Rukia began to grow impatient of waiting.

"Who is there?" Silence.

"Show yourself!"

They heard another twig snap, and they all looked toward the sound. Coming out of the woods they saw a tall man. He had black hair that hung over one of his light grey eyes. He has a running across his nose, giving him a marred image. As he stopped at the edge of the clearing, his piercing gaze moved over to Kohaku, causing him to shiver under the cold glare. The man's face remain locked in a scowl, and his dirty, torn clothing waved in the gentle breeze.

"Who are you?" Rukia inquired, holding her zanpakuto up to the man, who just continued to gaze at Kohaku.

"This is your last chance. Identify yourself!" Again, the man was silent.

"That's it," Rukia hissed, holding up two fingers toward the man. "Bakudo number one, sa—" Before she could finish her spell, the man flicked his wrist and a blast of energy slammed into Senna and Rukia, launching them back into the trees at the edge of the clearing.

"Rukia!" Kohaku yelled, rooted to the spot. Why can't I move?

"I do not have time for your simple questions, nor do I have time for your weak shinigami powers. I have no interest in you. I am here for one reason only," the man said in a cold voice. He looked back at Kohaku, no emotion displayed in his steely eyes.

"Who are you?" Kohaku demanded, still trying to move out of his current position. The man ignored his question, but stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of Kohaku.

"I asked you who you are!"

"Hello again, Kurosaki Ichigo."

AN: Again, not sure how it turned out. I'm not really happy with it, but it is up to you whether it was any good. As always, please review and tell me how I did. And if you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, please feel free to speak up. Arigatou!