A/N: I don't own Bleach or LOTR, read and enjoy! R&R

Chapter 2

Morning came for the fellowship. Ichigo was by the gate waiting impatiently for the rest of the group to fall in. The first to come was Aragorn and Legolas who looked at him curiously. Ichigo had his hood down and raised one elegant eyebrow questioningly at the two friends. Aragorn leaned against the gate, next to Ichigo, "I am curious about something."

No shit Sherlock. Ichigo thought and turned his attention to his new comrade. "What are you? I am sure you aren't elf nor are you mortal." The second part was a statement. Ichigo sighed heavily.

"What I am is none of your concern Estel." With that he turned around and walked towards the approaching Wizard and his father figure who was accompanied by his sister. Aragorn was taken aback when Ichigo had called him by the name he used when he was in Rivendell. Had he met this guy before? A sudden realization dawned upon him. Ichigo was the hooded mysterious man he once came across. The one he stalked and idolized with no particular reason.

"ichi-nii" Arwen said in his native tongue, causing the others beside Elrond to have quizzical looks on their faces. "be a good girl while I'm away Arwen. Try not to cause Elrond to go bald okay?" he chuckled softly as did his sister when Elrond shot him a death glare. "I doubt she'd stay away from trouble Ichigo. Your sister has always caused me so much heartache." Elrond said dramatically. It was Arwen's turn to glare at him.

Ichigo smiled softly at Arwen before pulling her into a loving embrace. "Sewa o suru, imouto" (A/N:take care younger sister) Arwen hugged him tightly for one last time with tears slithering down her cheeks. She nodded softly against his chest. Arwen quickly kissed his cheek and ran off to her room. Ichigo was her beloved brother, he had always been there for her through everything. She couldn't bear to watch him go.

Elrond sighed heavily before embracing his adopted son. "I leave them in you care my son." He said in japanese. Ichigo grinned mischievously before nodding. He turned and walked towards his new comrades. With every step he took, the familiar, nostalgic feeling stirred within him. Feels like the time we went off to Soul Society to save Rukia ne King? Ichigo silently agreed with his hollow.

"Well what are we waiting for?!" Gimli huffed and began walking to the direction Gandalf had pointed as the wizard began speaking, "We must hold to this course, west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east to Mordor."

Ichigo chuckled eerily at Gandalf's words causing the elderly man to look at him with a questioning look. "My dear boy if there is something you would like to say, please do share with us." He said warmly.

Ichigo just shook his head and continued walking ahead of the group, beside Legolas. Sam scowled at the orange headed man before addressing to Frodo, "I don't like him Mr Frodo. He is too mysterious! Got this scary look once in a while! Did you hear the way he laughs? It was so eerie." Frodo shook his head softly before replying to his friend.

"If he was evil, Sam, I doubt Lord Elrond would've let him stay at Rivendell, let alone join us in our quest." Frodo had looked up to this man ever since the incident at the council. He had helped him, though it was a small gesture, Frodo could feel the courage and strength growing in him whenever he was near Ichigo. He knew if none of the fellowship was going to trust the man, at least he could.

"How many days til we get to Misty Mountains master Gandalf?" asked the dwarf. The wizard seemed to be in deep thought. "If we are lucky with no encounters from enemies, I'd say around four days on foot." The dwarf grunted as he shot a glare to the two elves in front of him.

Ichigo felt a pair of eyes upon him but it wasn't from any of the fellowship. He stopped in his tracks and scanned his surroundings. Probably just my imagination. He shrugged it off.

Legolas shot him a curious look and Ichigo just dismissed it as nothing.

By nightfall the hobbits were mumbling about not having enough food in their belly. Ichigo mentally rolled around laughing his ass off since they remind him so much of Renji. Always complaining about being hungry.

Feeling a pang of sympathy for the child-like men, Ichigo hauled his bag in front of him and rummaged through to find any small snacks for them. It wasn't much trouble since the only thing Arwen packed for him in that huge back was tons of preserved food. Ichigo needn't any other things since all his weapons were on him and in his dojo. And if he needed to, he could just open a portal and grab them almost immediately.

He grabbed some bacon and bread and tossed it to the whining Pippin. "Your whines could attract enemies Master Hobbit. I suggest you control it." The hobbits caught the flying food perfectly and quickly gobbled it up after mumbling their thanks to Ichigo through filled mouth. Ichigo chuckled before replying, "Has no one ever taught you not to talk with your mouth full?" he smiled and ruffled their hair before handing them an apple each.

The hobbits saw Ichigo in a new light. Pippin was practically worshipping him as the god of food. Frodo was laughing heartily at his two friends while Sam just eyed Ichigo suspiciously. Ichigo sighed heavily before turning his attention towards their destination and continued walking as he spoke out his mind to the world.

Eien ni hitori de kono sekai inchi
Anata nashi de ushinawa re, subete ga bokeda.
Toki ni wareware wa futatabi audarou ka?

Sam was listening closely to Ichigo and though he didn't understand what he meant, he understood from his tone that he was sad. The question was, why?

"What does it mean?" he finally asked.

Ichigo turned to the questioning hobbit.

Sam repeated his question, "What does it mean? The thing you just said."

A sorrowful smile graced on his lips.

"Forever alone in this world. Lost without you, everything's a blur. When will we meet again?" he said simply.

"I have never heard such language before. Might I inquire where you learnt that from my boy?" Gandalf asked, clearly curious of Ichigo's heritage.

Well it doesn't hurt to tell them the truth. He sighed heavily. "I will tell you what I can when we camp tonight master Gandalf." He said. The wizard's eyes twinkled at the deal and took a puff from his pipe as they continued their way, waiting impatiently for the sun to set.

Night came and the men were scattered at their positions, resting. Ichigo sat by the fire, leaning against a boulder next to Aragorn when Gandalf approached him while smoking his pipe.

"I believe you promised a story, yes?" he said kindly. Almost immediately the hobbits stopped stuffing their faces and came to sit by the fire too.

Ichigo sighed as the loud cackling of his hollow stirred an upcoming headache.

"The language you heard me speaking before is called Japanese. It is my native tongue. It comes from the land of the rising sun, Japan." He stated.

Gandalf looked as if he was scouring his thoughts for memories of such place. Ichigo chuckled softly, "Even your long lifespan and memories of travels won't help you master wizard. It is not from middle earth. Where I come from is something similar to this place only everything has been modernized, they are buildings as big and tall as half a mountain." The hobbits had their eyes widened like plates and mouth imitating like a goldfish.

Sam was the first to ask a question, "So you're not from Middle Earth?" he asked in disbelief. Ichigo nodded his head softly and looked up at the skies above. The sapphire blue night sky with stars twinkling reminded him of a pair of loving eyes staring at him.

"Ichigo! Ichigo! Oi you baka strawberry!" she screamed, smacking the back of his head hard.

"OW! Rukia! What was that for?!" he rubbed the sore spot while giving the black haired midget in front of him.

"I called you and you had that stupid look on your face. I help you end your misery before others see you like that. Aren't I a caring friend?" she grinned.

"Just a friend?" he said.

Rukia stared at him with an eyebrow raised quizzically, "What?"

"What you said just now Rukia, as a friend right?"

She nodded her head slowly.

"What if I don't want to be just a friend with you? What if, I want to be more than that." He said.

Rukia could feel her heart thumping faster and louder. Her breath was caught in her throat as she stared into his eyes and saw nothing but sincere truth behind them. But what shocked her most was the love that seems to swirl within his eyes. For the first she realized that the longing look he had been showing was directed to her and not Inoue.

Ichigo took two steps forward and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist as she looked up to meet his gaze. Ichigo searched her eyes for answers and almost jumped for joy when he found it. He leaned down and brushed his lips against her, causing Rukia to shudder and parted her lips slightly. At her reaction he quickly pushed his lips on hers and dived his tongue into her mouth. A slight moan escaped her mouth as she wrapped her arms around Ichigo's neck as he tangled a hand in her hair to dominate the kiss. Ichigo tasted every corner of her delicious mouth not wasting the opportunity given. But life was too cruel for them as they parted for the need of air was crucial.

Ichigo hoisted Rukia, carrying her in a bridal style as he leapt to the nearest tree branch and sat there with her in his arms. He plunged his face into her hair, inhaling her vanilla scent and mumbled three words. "I love you."

Rukia smiled as she leaned her head against his toned chest, "I love you too Ichigo."

"Ichigo? Ichigoooo?" Pippin waved a hand over his face, instantly snapping the orange haired strawberry back to reality. Tears had gathered in his eyes but he quickly blink them away.

"Sorry, my mind was, away for a moment." He said with a sigh. He turned to Aragorn, "I'll take the first watch." He jumped atop of a tree in a single leap and hid behind the leaves. Who Ichigo really was is a mystery to everyone.

A/N: Okay not much action I know =.=" *sighs* There's a surprise waiting in the next chapter though *snickers* review please!