AN: OMG! I am SOOO sorry for the long wait! I promise I will try to make it up to you by posting another chapter soon! I kept writing parts of this and going to do some work or something and I when I would look at the date, I would start freaking out because I hadn't updated :(.

Anyway, here is the new chapter, I hope you like it. I'm amazed and ecstatic that this fic is going as well as it is (27 favs and 36 alerts); I never expected many people to like this. I know I left it at an odd spot last time, but you're going to have to wait for that explanation a little longer (it's in the next chap). Well, please read and review and let me know what you think, hope you enjoy!

A special thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter :)

Nyllac: thnx for the review! The Ama description took a while for me to get right, and I wasn't sure if turned out good, so I'm happy it turned out okay. I'm really glad you like the fic, and it really makes me happy when people get into the story, so thank you so much :)

Tirithal: thanks for the advice. I know my timeline probably isn't the best considering it's the Soul Society and all. Although, there is one place I think I didn't explain well, so I'll try to explain it here. Amaterasu didn't really give up after a couple decades, she was in Rukongai for a many years before losing hope. And she went to the academy before Rukia. The 17-18 years was how long it had been since her patrol had died, but I didn't really do a great job with the last chap, so it was a little hard to figure out what exactly I was tryin to say. And again, thanks for the review! I value the readers input, and I hope you continue to read this fic!

HopingFate: I'm glad you liked that last chap. I was scared that it turned out bad, so it's reassuring to know that you liked it. and thanks for the support for the fic! and as far as I know, I'm going to finish this fic, and I get even more of a drive to finish when I read reviews like these, so thnx so much, and I hope you enjoy this chap also!

Anime angel: can't tell you how amazed and happy I was when I read your review! Thank you soo much, it inspired me to get writing faster so that I could post this chapter as soon as possible! As for the OC's and Senna, I can understand why you don't like them all that much, so thanks for giving this fic a chance and sticking with it through the Ruki-less beginning. To be honest, I never expected people to like this fic very much, so reading through your review kinda surprised me. And don't worry about Ama running off with another guy, those types of storylines kinda bug me too… And as requested, here's the new chapter! Thnx again!

Hartanna: haha, your review made me laugh in the middle of class XD Thanks for the review! it's cool that someone can get into my story like that, and sorry bout the cliff hanger! just wanted to get people back for the next chapter. Thanks again for the review!

Chapter 12: Severed Ties

Rukia stood looking at her orange haired friend. He was sitting on a grassy hill, and the wind ruffled his hair and the tall grass, making waves through the dried blades. He was facing away from her, but she could tell that something was bothering him. Amaterasu seemed worried when we got back. What happened to you, Ichigo?

"How long are you going to stand there and stare?"

His emotionless voice drifted over to her, pulling her out of thoughts and making her jump. How did he know I was here?

"I could tell when you showed up. I'm not sure how, but I can always tell you're close by," he said, his voice still emotionless.

Could that be a remnant of his shinigami powers?

"You're wondering if it has anything to do with me being a shinigami."

Is he reading my mi…mi….

"Wait! What? H-how—"

"How long have I known? How did I find out? Does it really matter?" he asked, his voice growing angry. "I know; and I know that nobody said anything, not even when I was in Seireitei, surrounded by shinigami. No one thought that maybe it would be a good idea to fill me in on that little bit of information!" He had turned around and his voice had steadily risen as he spoke until he was practically yelling at her.

"Kohaku…it's not that I didn't want to tell you; I was ordered not to," Rukia explained.

Kohaku's eyes flashed with new anger and he stood, again not facing her. Rukia's thoughts flashed to a similar moment long ago in his room, and the pain made her bite her lip in order to rid herself of the thought.

"So, orders matter more than your friends now, do they?" he accused, spinning to look at Rukia once again. Rukia squirmed under his intense gaze, and felt his amber eyes burning into her as she looked away.

"Kohaku, why are you getting so upset about this?"

"Because, Rukia, I'm tired of everyone keeping things from me! Ever since I got here, no one has told me the whole truth. I barely even know who I am! Do you have any idea what that's like?" Rukia remained silent, looking at the mixture of anger and frustration reflected in his eyes.

"I can't do this anymore, Rukia," he continued, his anger fading away into a defeated tone. "I can't keep catching glimpses of my life through dreams and flashbacks. I can't keep watching the people around me suffer because I can't remember how to help them." Kohaku's tone softened and the defeated and helpless look on his face was one that Rukia had only seen a couple times before, but she knew it well.

"You always think that you have to protect everyone, Kohaku. We don't need you to defend us; we can take care of ourselves. And I know that no one is suffering because they are helping you," Rukia said.

"Rukia, I can tell it bothers you every time you call me Kohaku. I can see the concern and worry that you and Ama show when I black out. It's not hard to tell that I am just causing more trouble for you," Ichigo said, a distant look in his eyes.

"Kohaku…"

"Ichigo's fine, Rukia." Rukia felt a slight happiness well up in her at the fact that he wanted her to use his actual name again.

"What going on? This isn't like you, Ichigo. You're not one to just back down when you're friends are in pain. You're someone who steps up and does anything he can to stop whatever pain those close to him are feeling. I know there is something going on, and you need to let me help you," Rukia said, concern and determination showing in her violet eyes.

"I…I can't Rukia," Ichigo said, looking away.

"Ichigo—"

"I said I can't tell you, so leave it alone," Ichigo insisted, turning to her with a pleading expression.

Rukia shuddered slightly. She wasn't used to seeing so vulnerable, and it made her uncomfortable. She gazed into his amber eyes, contemplating how to continue. This has really taken its toll on him, even if he hides it from everyone else.

"Ichigo, just let me help you. You don't have to face everything on your own," Rukia said gently.

"Please, Rukia, just let me handle this. I can't ask you to do this with me; this is something I need to do on my own."

What could he possibly be doing that would make him so insistent that I not know about it?

You're not going to do anything stupid are you?" Rukia asked, no hint of her usual teasing or sarcasm in her voice.

Ichigo simply looked her in the eyes, conveying a silent message: I'll do whatever I have to. Rukia stood looking at him for a few seconds before sighing and nodding her head slightly.

"Fine. Just…be careful," she said. A small smile graced his features, and he nodded back.

"Fine."

They stood gazing at each other for a minute before they realized what they were doing. They both turned red and looked away quickly, trying to focus on anything except for the person in front of them.

"Well…I guess I'll see you later then…" Rukia said awkwardly, trying to ease the strange tension that had just arisen.

"Yeah," Ichigo mumbled in reply.

Rukia turned to leave, a gust of wind ruffling her hair. The horizon was beginning to turn orange as the sun crept closer to appearing over the hills. As she began walking away, she could feel Ichigo's eyes on her back as he watched her.

"Rukia?" She turned to looked over her shoulder.

"What were you going to tell me the day I…" Ichigo stopped before saying the word, but knew what he was trying to say.

He remembers that? she thought, a slight pink tinge appearing on her cheeks.

"I…it was nothing important. I don't even remember," she said quickly, chuckling nervously at the end. She looked away so that he wouldn't catch the blush that she was sure had appeared on her face.

"Bu—" Ichigo started.

"Later, Ichigo!" Rukia interrupted, waving and flashing a fake smile over her shoulder at him as she started running down the hill, leaving a confused Ichigo watching her go.

The hell? What just happened? he wondered. And if it wasn't important, than why did she need to tell me before I died?

He turned to look back at the horizon, watching as the first rays of golden light fell upon the grassy hills. I can't stay here with them. If I do, it'll just cause them more pain. His thoughts turned to Rukia and Amaterasu, and the image of Rukia's retreating form as she ran down the hill flashed in his mind. He had felt strangely alone as he watched her leave, but pushed that feeling to the back of his mind. I can't do this to them. It's better if I just cut all ties to the shinigami.

"I see you finally understand, Kurosaki Ichigo."

The cold, emotionless voice drifted over to Ichigo, snapping him out of his thoughts. He spun around to face the new visitor, and was met with a sight he was not pleased to see.

"Nakagawa Tsuyoshi," Ichigo growled out, glaring at the pale man before of him.

"You realize what your weakness is now, do you not? To hold such useless feelings as affection and friendship weakens you, Kurosaki Ichigo. Release these feelings, and you shall grow stronger," Tsuyoshi said, walking over to stand by Ichigo so that they were facing opposite directions.

"What do you want, Nakagawa?" Ichigo ground out.

"I want the shinigami. I have already told you the consequences of failure, and I expect you do what I have asked of you."

"Why do you want this shinigami so bad?"

"I have need of their…abilities. The shinigami is nothing more than a path to my goal, and the key to your memories, Kurosaki Ichigo. Bring me the shinigami and I shall restore your memories, and Kuchiki Rukia and the one you call Amaterasu will be spared."

I have to find some way to get rid of this guy and get my memories back, but if I try anything it will put Rukia and Amaterasu in danger. There has to be something I can do!

"And what if I play along with this little game of yours? What will happen to the shinigami and what are you planning on doing?"

"It is simple. If you do as I have asked, Kuchiki Rukia and Amaterasu will live, your memories will be restored, and the shinigami will die. My plan is to simply rectify the wrongs caused by Soul Society and to repay the shinigami for past grievances," Tsuyoshi said, not displaying any emotion.

"What do I have to do, then?" Ichigo sighed. He could see no other way to get close enough to defeat Tsuyoshi.

"I have already informed you of your task. How you choose to perform it is up to you."

The only way I could possibly get into the Seireitei is if I had my shinigami powers. There is no way I could break in like I am now.

"I need my powers. There is no way I will be able to subdue a seat officer without some kind of power and skill," Ichigo said.

"Very well, it shall be so," Tsuyoshi stated flatly before disappearing with shunpo, leaving Ichigo alone on the hill. He ran a hand through his hair, watching the sun rise further into the sky.

I have to do this. I have to take him down. I've caused everyone else enough pain and trouble already; I have to do this alone.

He sighed and sat back down in the grass, resting his arms on his knees and fell into deep thought.

/

Ichigo…where are you, baka?

It had been three days since anyone had seen the orange haired shinigami, and Rukia was beginning to worry. She was standing at the top of one of the Division 13 barracks, looking out across the Seireitei and Rukongai beyond. The light breeze ruffled her shihakusho and made her loose bang sway slightly.

Dammit Ichigo, what are you doing?

She sighed. Thinking like this was getting her nowhere.

I should be out looking for him, not doing guard duty.

A splitting knock jerked her from her thoughts. The knock repeated, echoing through the Seireitei and disturbing the peace of the evening. Rukia jumped at the sound of the intruder alarm, looking around in confusion.

Who could possibly be breaking into the Seireitei?

Rukia jumped down from her perch, landing lightly in the middle of a courtyard now filled with shinigami. Rukia looked around at the confused shinigami running to their stations, and turned to head to her own station. As she began walking to her assigned position, she felt a small amount of familiar reiatsu, and knew immediately who it belonged to.

Ichigo!

She began trying to locate the source of the reiatsu, trying to pinpoint the exactly location of her orange hair friend. As she searched for Ichigo, she noticed that his reiatsu was fluctuating slightly, as if he was trying to hide his presence, but was finding it difficult. Rukia began to close in on the source when a massive blast of Ichigo's reiatsu hit her, causing many of the shinigami in the courtyard to stumble or fall to their knees, looking around in fear. As the reiatsu withdrew, Rukia found the location of the source and shunpoed quickly out of the clearing to the location.

She stood in the middle of a street just outside of the Division 13 barracks, and the dying light of the sun cast an orangish-yellow glow on the scene before her. She gawked at the chaos as she looked around. Unconscious shinigami lay on the street, showing the path the ryoka must have taken. They lined the road and went around the corner behind her. She gaped at the many unconscious bodies.

Who would break into the Seireitei and leave the shinigami virtually unharmed? And for that matter, who could possibly have the skill to do so? When Rukia looked up, she got her answer.

The golden light of the sun illuminated the figure before her, giving them an almost glowing silhouette. They wore a shihakusho with a red strap across the chest, and held in their hand a large, black zanpakuto. The golden rays of light reflected off the orange hair of the shinigami, making it look as if it was on fire. Rukia found herself staring in disbelief as she looked at the shinigami, and she tried to recover from the shock.

"Ichigo?"

The man before her turned, allowing her to see his face. Ichigo gazed at her blankly, displaying no emotion on his face. For the first time, Rukia noticed that he held something under his arm, and she gasped when she realized what it was. A shinigami with dark hair pulled back into a ponytail hung limply under his arm like a sack of flour, clearly unconscious.

Fourth seat? What does he want with Senna?

At that moment, another figure appeared behind Ichigo. Rukia looked in disbelief at the two men before her, glancing back and forth between them as Ichigo gave Senna to the man, who held her the same way Ichigo had.

"Ichigo? What are you doing with him? What do you want with the fourth seat?" Ichigo said nothing, and didn't even turn to look at her.

"Look at me Ichigo! Why are you doing this?" He still did not turn.

Rukia felt her anger rising, and drew her zanpakuto, holding it out in front of her.

"Ichigo! Listen to me! I don't know what you are doing or why, but siding with Nakagawa isn't going to help you! The only thing he is after is helping himself, and he'll just make things worse for you!" Ichigo remained silent, refusing to look at her.

"Dammit, Ichigo! I said look at me!" Rukia yelled, lunging at Ichigo with her zanpakuto so he would be forced to turn around and defend himself. He spun around quickly, catching her attack with his zanpakuto. His emotionless eyes bore into Rukia, only serving to make her angrier.

"This will be a good test to see where you're loyalties lie, Kurosaki Ichigo," came the icy voice of Tsuyoshi. "Strike down this shinigami. Cut away all ties to these lowly souls."

Ichigo remained how he was, not even blinking. Rukia felt her anger and confusion rise, but attempted to calm herself down so she could figure out what exactly was going on.

"What are you doing, Ichigo?" He just remained silent, staring blankly at her. Rukia pushed against his zanpakuto with more force, trying to get him to at least show some emotion, but only succeeded in using up her own energy.

"Answer me! What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you so full of self-doubt that you think you have to help him?" Again he was silent.

"Damn you, Ichigo! How could you do something like this? This isn't like you! I know you wouldn't turn against us; against me! Please, just tell me what's going on," Rukia pleaded desperately, gazing into his unnervingly dull eyes. She saw his mouth move as he muttered something, but all Rukia could do was try to read his lips. She managed only to catch something she couldn't make out, but it she thought it was I'm sorry.

"What?" His dull, brown eyes wavered slightly before again becoming blank.

"Ichigo, just do something to let me know that you have a plan. There has to be something behind this, or you woul—"

"Getsuga…"

Rukia's eyes widened in shock and a feeling she had never felt around Ichigo before: fear. A knot formed in her stomach as she looked into his eyes, trying to find any kind of amusement to show that this was some kind of joke. She saw nothing but the expressionless, brown irises.

"Ichi—"

"…tensho."

AN: O.o That's where I'm stopping it! I'm sorry for another cliffy, but I couldn't resist this one! Hope you guys enjoyed it and come back to read the next chapter!

And as always, please review to let me know what you think. Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions or questions are welcome, so don't hesitate to post them. Arigatou!

And don't forget to check out my new fic: Full Circle