CHAPTER 7

Soul Society

Rangiku stared at the sickly white haired taicho of squad thirteen, her silver eyes eager to help her own taicho but at the same time very wary. Could he really be serious? I'm not arguing or anything, it sounds like a fantastic idea, but isn't this plan kinda… like… not safe or whatever?

"Ukitake-taicho, I mean no disrespect, but how will we even be able to leave the Seireitei and make it through the Senkaimon and to the World of the Living without being noticed by Yamamoto-sotaicho?" Rangiku implied.

Ukitake smiled at the strawberry blond fukutaicho. "Leave all that stuff to Shunsui and Kurotsuchi. Now, listen carefully, Matsumoto. The second semester has just started, so it will be less suspicious if we join sooner rather than later. We are planning on leaving when the week is out. You and I will hopefully get a chance to stay with Ichigo, while Shunsui takes care of business here with Yamamoto." He placed a hand on Rangiku's shoulder, hoping to build her confidence if not by a little. "Don't worry, everything will work out. Neither I nor Shunsui will let anything become too out of hand. Toshiro and Ichigo will be fine once we get there."

Rangiku couldn't help but smirk at the man. His confidence in himself and his comrades was amazing and it just astounded her. "Well then, I guess I had better start packing then!"

Karakura University

Ichigo was surprised if not startled by Toshiro's show of affection throughout the day. While they had most classes together, Ichigo couldn't help but notice the amount of contact the boy kept making as the day passed. It was as if his yuki no hana acted like he were…

Oh my god! Did he hear what I said while he was in the bathroom this morning?

"… Ichigo! Are you okay?"

Ichigo was snapped out of his strange trance by a very familiar voice. And then he remembered where he was. He was at lunch, only halfway through the school day, staring down at his only half eaten meal. Damn, I never remember school days lasting this long before!

He felt himself being shaken again. "Ichigo! Come on, not again!"

To make sure he didn't zone out again, the strawberry turned around and came face to face with glasses ramming into his face.

"AAHH, damn it Uryu! Next time tell me when you're that close, you could've knocked my eyes out!"

The Quincy stood up from where he was sitting, pushing his glasses up his nose, an action which had been a habit for as long as anyone could remember. "Nice to see you too, shinigami," he whispered. "I'm surprised to see Hitsugaya-kun isn't with you. He's been around you the entire day."

That statement triggered something in Ichigo's brain that made him look around him frantically. "Damn it! Is he still in the bathroom? He's missing the only good period of the day. Oh well." He then started scanning the room suspiciously so no one could hear what he was about to tell his raven haired friend "Uryu, we're friends, right? Can I tell you something? About Toshiro and me, I mean," he asked.

Uryu crossed his arms as a smirk made its way to his face. "Shut up and stop looking around like an idiot, Ichigo. I've known about you and Hitsugaya-kun for a while. I've been witnessing it all day. I never knew Hitsugaya was one for handholding, especially in public."

Ichigo's eyes got so round that the Quincy thought they would pop out of the idiot's head. "You could tell all day and you didn't warn me? Me and Toshiro could become major targets to some really bitchy people if anyone noticed we were together! Do you know how much danger we could be in if those people found out? People are bastards when it comes to tolerance, ya know." Ichigo said, crossing his arms and looking into his friends eyes.

Uryu looked down at his orange haired friend with no readable expression on his face, then took the seat he had sat in when he startled Ichigo. "I know, Ichigo, but calm down. I am a Quincy, so I'm trained to notice things that normal people would definitely overlook. I am positive that I am the only person on this campus that knows about you and Hitsugaya." Uryu pushed his glasses up farther on his face. "Except maybe Orihime…"

Again, Ichigo's eyes were about to roll right out of their sockets. "… what the hell, Uryu! You're telling me to calm down about no one seeing us, but then you tell me someone like Orihime saw us? Are you screwing with me?"

"And I told you not to worry about it. The only reason she saw was because I pointed out to her. She was the one rooting for you and Hitsugaya those five long years ago, remember? I just wanted to show her you two were still together. Especially after what happened…"

Ichigo just stared at the Quincy. Yes, he had told Uryu what had happened the day after the incident. By that time, Uryu and Orihime had been going out for one year also, so he had moved in with her. That also meant that the busty girl had also leant a sympathetic ear when Ichigo came over to pour out his sorrowful soul to both his friends.

The substitute shinigami turned his head and stared down at his lunch, now not at all interested eating the food his sister had packed for him. His mind was now wandering to his little white haired boyfriend who had been missing for almost twenty minutes. Damn, how long does it take for him to use the bathroom? Maybe I should go looking for him. I hope he's not…

"In trouble," Ichigo found himself saying out loud. "Uryu, stay here just in case Toshiro comes back before I do. I have to find him and make sure he's alright." He started walking away, but suddenly stopped to look the Quincy in the eyes one more time. "You may be trained to see things other people don't, Ishida, but you can't see everything." And on that note, he left his friend dumbfounded to find his boyfriend, praying to some entity he didn't even believe in that Toshiro was alright.

Flashback

"Finally, lunch! I'm starving!"

"You're always hungry, baka."

Toshiro and Ichigo were walking hand in hand towards the large cafeteria, Ichigo wondering what Yuzu had packed for him and Toshiro relishing the moments holding his boyfriend's hand.

Ever since he had secretly heard the whole conversation between Ichigo and Rukia in the bathroom while getting dressed that morning, Toshiro had wanted to stay by Ichigo's side all day, making sure nothing serious would happen to his lover. Although he knew it was dangerous to hold hands, he was careful to do it in a subtle manner. He was overjoyed -although he did not show it- that he had most of his classes with Ichigo. That way he would be around just in case…

"Toshiro! We're here!"

The icy boy heard his boyfriend's voice break through his thoughts. He had been in such deep thought that he had failed to notice their arrival to the cafeteria. "Oh. Sorry, Ichigo, I was deep in thought."

Toshiro took a seat next to Ichigo, his teal eyes looking down at the table, filled with an unexplained worry.

Ichigo noticed his lover's look and decided to help, placing a hand on the small boy's shoulder. "Toshiro, what's wrong? You've had that look on your face since the end of last class. Are you feeling alright?"

Toshiro lifted his head and brought his eyes to Ichigo's chocolate ones. For the sake of his boyfriend, Toshiro put a small, forced smirk on his face. "Nothing's wrong, Ichigo. I'm fine, just tired, that's all."

But that statement hadn't convinced the strawberry. "No, something's bothering you. I've known you for over five years now, so I can tell when you're upset. Now, spill it Toshiro. What's going on in that genius brain of yours?"

"Ichigo…" Toshiro started. "No matter what happens, you'll never leave me, right?" He then turned and placed both his fragile white hands on Ichigo's broad shoulders. "You won't ever throw me away if times get rough, or abandon me if I become disobedient, or…"

"Whoa whoa whoa, Toshiro! Where is all this coming from?" Ichigo was concerned over his yuki no hana's choice of words. Throw me away? Disobedient? What the hell has he been through since that time? What have I done to him?

"Just please answer me Ichigo! Don't die and leave me alone." Toshiro's voice faltered as tiny tears made trails down his flawless face. "Promise me. I need to hear it."

Ichigo looked around to make sure no one suspicious was looking, then drew his lover into a warm embrace. "Never again, hana. Never again will I leave you to fend for yourself. Never again will I let anyone take advantage of you. I swear on my life and soul."

They let go of each other after a minute, Toshiro being the first to speak. "I'd better go to the restroom and wash up. I don't want to look like some girl who just suffered a break up, now do I?"

"Hehe, alright. I'll be waiting for you. I promise."

The taicho made his way across the lunchroom to where the bathrooms were located. He had recognized a few faces on his way. He had glanced over to see Uryu, Orihime, Tatsuki, Sado, Rukia, and Keigo sitting together, wondering for a brief moment if they had all planned to go to the same university.

He approached the bathroom door when he thought he felt an abnormal but recognizable reiatsu. Toshiro stopped in order to try and identify who it belonged to. Oh my god. It can't be! No, I'm imagining things. It can't be him.

Toshiro shook his head and made his way to look at himself in the mirror of the men's room. His eyes were red but not too swollen, tear stains running down his cheeks, making them looked flushed in place of their normally pale composition. He suddenly became ashamed of how much he looked like he'd been through hell. He turned on the faucet to the sink and splashed his face with cool water. Look at yourself, Toshiro. You look like shit. How many times have I told you about not showing weakness? And to your boyfriend of all people! He banged his head against the mirror, resting his forehead against the cool glass. He'd probably been thinking in here for around five minutes now. He started to wonder about getting back to Ichigo, but the thought was interrupted with another. How do I deserve a man as magnificent as Ichigo? If he had half a mind he would never have wanted to speak to after…

"Well well well, if that ain't a pretty sight for sore eyes. Someone as beautiful as yourself havin' been cryin' and now as flushed as someone who just got kissed. I'd love to make tha' sadness go away."

Toshiro's world froze around him, then breaking into a million pieces when he heard that voice directly behind him. He was the only person in the bathroom, how had he not heard… him… come in? Or felt his unforgettable reiatsu.

He turned around, and almost jumped when his face was just centimeters away from the man the voice had originated from.

"Gin… Gin Ichimaru! You bastard! You traitor! What the hell do you want?"

Toshiro raised his hand to slap the fox's smile off that face when Gin's giant hand grabbed his tiny wrist, twisting his arm very hard.

Gin's smile stretched even wider. "Don't be like that, Shiro-chan. I wanna help ya feel better. Juss like ol' times! Except this time, you're gunna scream so loud, ya'll be heard clear to the Seireitei."

That had been almost twenty minutes ago, now.

His mind was swimming, pitch black darkness swirling with bright light.

His body ached. Was he going to die?

He tried to scream, but no sound came out. He was completely hoarse from screaming because of something else that had already happened.

He felt blood all over his body, soaking his skin.

He was completely naked.

Toshiro woke up, dizzily staring at the ceiling of the bathroom from the floor. He tried to move but couldn't. Partly because all four limbs were somehow tied and partly because his body had been beaten. He didn't know the extent of his wounds, but they felt horrible, possible like bones were broken.

"Well, you're finally awake, Shiro-chan! Since ya woke up so nice and quiet like, I'll let ya alone. If ya live for another five minutes, don't try an' find me, love. I wouldn't want this to happen again."

And with that, the fox face disappeared, leaving Toshiro to torment.

Ichigo was about to scream when he finally remembered where Toshiro had gone.

The bathroom! I've gotta hurry! I felt intense reiatsu coming from that direction!

He found himself sprinting back through the cafeteria, ignoring all the stares he received from the upper classmen and fellow classmates. He found the bathroom, finally, and burst the door open to find it empty.

"TOSHIRO! ARE YOU IN HERE!" Ichigo screamed, looking around frantically.

He waited for a moment, only to hear a small whimper coming from the back stall. He worked his way over, terrified of what he would encounter. Of course, his senses were right. What he saw terrified him so much that he felt like he would die on the spot.

"TOSHIRO! OH MY GOD! WHO DID THIS TO YOU?"

Sorry I haven't updated! Blame my internet and teachers. Here was Chapter 7! Don't worry. For those of you who like Gin, don't worry. I'll have a twist you'll love, so hang in there! And please review! Thanks :D