I do not own Bleach.

"Doesn't really matter," Renji spat. "But I'll tell you mine… Abarai Renji… is the name of the man who killed you!"

The six foot man stood in front of Ichigo, his eyes ignited with murderous intent. From this point on, there would be no reasoning with Abarai, this further proven when he whipped out a combat knife. With a blade the length of his hand and sharpened to the point, it was worthy of Ichigo's shocked reaction. Did everyone around here carry some form of weaponry?!

Ichigo brought his arms up and shielded his torso from what could have been a fatal slash, as result though; his left arm now housed a jagged gash that was bleeding profusely. Stabs came again and again, the orange haired teen narrowly dodging each blow. He stumbled away from his attacker, trying to add some distance between them and asses the situation.

Exhibit A: large man brandishing a combat weapon capable of slicing him in two.

Exhibit B: The gap between the two was closing as his back hit the wall.

Exhibit C: There was at least one more occupant in the room carrying a weapon.

Needless to say, Kurosaki Ichigo was going to have to think his way through this one.

Whenever he had fought before, it had been against amateurs who had grabbed a weapon and claimed that they could use it. He had never fought indoors, always in alleys with at least two methods of escape.

It was then he noticed the only female voice in the room screaming "Stop" at the top of her lungs. Hisagi was restraining her, but neither he nor the pineapple paid too much attention.

The man resembling a cult member thrust the blade towards Ichigo's stomach, and at the last moment possible, the strawberry spun, avoiding the blow. Renji's knife sunk into the wall and he, without a weapon.

Ichigo read the confusion on his opponent's face, finding the opening he had hoped for. He lunged forward, looking as if to plant a fist in Renji's face. Thinking he had read the orange man's intentions, Renji kicked his foot out; completely oblivious that Ichigo had dropped to the floor. Strawberry swung his leg, catching Abarai in the ankle, sending him sprawling. Not missing a beat, Ichigo leaped and sat on Renji's chest, his knees restraining his arms, and his hands lingering near his throat.

Renji struggled against the iron grip, soon surrendering. Ichigo crawled off him and retrieved the blade from the wall, pointing it at the man gaping on the floor. Sighing in defeat, Renji turned his attention to Rukia, who was being held by Hisagi.

"Renji! He didn't touch me!" Finally finding her voice, Rukia wriggled out of Shuuhei's grip and knelt before Renji, "If anything, this orange headed idiot saved my life last night. There's no reason to hurt him anymore… even if he is a stuck-up rich." Ichigo tensed at the comment.

"How do you know he won't do anything to you?! He's one of them Rukia!"

"He had his chance last night when I was unconscious in an alleyway. He didn't touch me then, besides, he couldn't lay a finger on me even if he tried, and you know that. Please Renji, trust me." She stood, pulling the beaten man with her.

"His gang's probably waiting for the signal to get us all." Abarai tore his eyes from the raven haired woman in front of him, mumbling indirect curses.

"Or he could have been sent," Shuuhei added solemnly. What was with these people and their code words? He was one of them, he had been sent? These people were crack-pots and he knew it.

"Hey! Pineapple head, shouldn't I be part of this conversation too?"

In a flash Renji had wrapped his hands around Ichigo's throat and slamming his head against the wall. Kurosaki let out a slight cry and Renji pressed harder, "You're going to wish you were dead." Ichigo cocked an eyebrow.

"You wish." Renji growled and dug his nails into the flesh of Ichigo's neck.

"You son of a-" The red head suddenly winced and immediately released the teen in front of him.

"Play nice." Rukia stated with a grimace while gripping red strands of hair. She brutally pulled and Renji stepped away from his confused enemy. Rukia tugged again and Renji got to his knees, trying to swipe away the tiny hand he couldn't reach.

"Oi! Rukia!" He continued to struggle, but only succeeded in having his hair pulled harder.

"Will you be nice to our guest?" She asked with a sickly sweet smile.

"He's not a guest! He's the freakin' enemy! There's no way I-" Little strands of hair were being pulled from his scalp, "O-okay! Fine! I got it, just lemme go!" Rukia complied and Renji sprawled out on the floor massaging his head, all the while, shooting death glares.

"Good, now you are going to sleep in that corner!" She pointed confidently to what looked like a nest of dust bunnies. She looked at Ichigo expectantly, practically urging him to march over and curl up with the living filth. There was absolutely no way that this midget was going to force him anywhere.

"Rukia baby, I don't believe that would be the best idea." Hisagi intervened before Strawberry had the chance.

"Well, where else can he go? You're already sharing a room with Madarame-kun." We can't put two idiots together or they'll kill each other," Her comment was met with two shouts of protest. "And there are no vacant rooms in the building. So, it's only logical that he stay here!"

"Uh, Rukia baby, that's not exactly the point…"

"C'mon you know he can't touch me! And I'm not going to send him out onto the street after he saved my life!"

"If you won't I will!" Renji yelled, still clutching his head.

"Ahem, Renji…" The said man turned to watch several of his hairs drop from Rukia's clenched fist and flutter to the ground. Renji cringed and decided he might just shut his trap, for the sake of his hair. "Alright, both of you, out!" The midget pointed towards the door, motioning for the two unwanted men to get lost. Renji promptly stood and strutted out.

Ichigo watched the scene unfold. These guys were wimps. The great Hisagi Shuuhei and Abarai Renji were answering to a tiny woman, no taller than his sisters…

His sisters, Yuzu and Karin. The same two sisters he had left behind without as much as a note. Had he made the right choice?

Yes…yes, they would be fine without him…

He snapped out of his thoughts as a rough hand clenched his shoulder. He felt a searing pain, but refused to show any change in emotion. "I should warn you. If anything happens to Rukia, you answer to me." Hisagi's voice chilled him to the very core; his eyes were focused on the retreating form of Abarai Renji. For a moment, his cold stare casually drifted to Ichigo's hazel orbs, there was a flicker of something sinister hidden within. "I will return shortly to tend to Rukia's wounds. He released the stubborn boy and continued walking.

"So, Strawberry…" She stated matter-of-factly.

"KUROSAKI ICHIGO!" He screamed, using hand motions that indicated he might have to rip her head off.

"Whatever, Kurosaki Strawberry…"

"And what about you, midget?! I don't hear a family name from you!" He pointed an accusatory finger.

"Oh, are you curious?" She questioned slyly.

"Not at all, stupid."

"Could the great strawberry be interested in little ol' me?" She sugar coated her voice, adding more sarcasm than was necessary, but it served its purpose of aggravating carrot-top.

He scoffed, "Yeah, like anyone would be interested in someone the size on a pre-schooler!"

"H-how dare you!" Her mood took a 180 spin and, with those final words she swiftly kicked Ichigo's shin and smirked triumphantly.

Regardless the searing pain, messing with the midget's head would be fun.

But then again…

"Do you not find that unwise? To further provoke someone who is skilled in many forms of martial arts?" Both jumped at the new voice. Ichigo quickly searched the room, looking for the intruder; he was startled and mildly disturbed to find a white haired boy leaning against the far wall. So, this kid had made his way through the door and all the way to the other side of the room without being noticed? Now, that was stealth.

The child was leaning against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed arrogantly. He wore torn jeans, a black collared shirt and a beige hoodie. His hair was spiked higher than the other men and he stood much shorter than Rukia. There was a long, sheathed katana on his back.

"Ah! Hitsugaya-san, good evening!" Rukia squeaked from beside Ichigo.

"Not so much, shorty." Ichigo glared at the youngster, Rukia gaped beside him, frantically making apologetic gestures towards the boy while trying to glare Ichigo to death.

"Shorty? My name is Hitsugaya Toushiro and I suggest you begin calling me that."

"Whatever, kid. Hey Rukia, I guess I was wrong. You aren't the tiniest person I've ever met." Ichigo stalked towards the child who merely opened one eye, revealing it to be an eerie, icy turquoise color. The larger man placed and unwanted hand on the boy's head. "Why don't you go play with your toys, little boy." Kurosaki motioned to the sword and Hitsugaya only frowned slightly and brushed the hand away.

"Refer to me as Histugaya." The response was brief and the boy's shoulders tensed.

"Make me." Even more brief.

The boy sighed and flashed open both eyes, before the strawberry had time to react, Histugaya had pushed off the wall and slid through Ichigo's legs, quickly getting to his feet. Ichigo, still stunned was in the midst of turning when the smaller opponent reached up and grabbed his collar and placed a foot behind his left heel. Hitsugaya pulled and Ichigo began to lose his balance, he tried to regain his footing, but soon felt the midget leave his place behind him. In a flash, the mini assassin was standing in front of the falling man; he quickly swung a knee into the orange haired man's stomach and watched as he fell to the floor with an undignified thud.

"As you wish."

There was a short staring contest in which Toushiro had unsheathed his katana and pointed in towards Kurosaki's throat.

"Forgive my powerlessness Hitsugaya-san! He will not be so quick to insult you next time, I assure you!" Rukia gripped the boy's orange tresses and dragged him to his feet, ignoring the cursing and grumbling. Hitsugaya Toushiro began to walk away, sheathing his katana. His light footsteps made barely a sound on the old hardwood.

"Hisagi-san is on his way down. Do not anger him Kurosaki." The boy stalked away… hopefully.

"Stupid kid." Ichigo continued to rant, disregarding the fuming woman beside him. "Wait…how'd he know my name…? I'll kill that brat!" He made a move to follow the munchkin but was restrained by a small hand, gripping his belt.

"You arrogant son of a-"

"Whoa! Big words coming from such a tiny person!" She replied with a swift kick to his other shin.

"THAT was Hitsugaya-san! The leader of this floor in the building!"

"So you guys have leaders for each floor? And I thought my family was weird…" Well, it would seem that this building was full of crack heads. "Why should I go along with your band of weirdoes anyway?!

"How dare you." There was a moment of silence in which the two exchanged death glares. Ichigo promptly diffused the situation by sticking his tongue out at Rukia defiantly. The woman's eyes narrowed into slits. "I'll kill you!" She swung a fist aimed for his face and barely missed.

"You and what army? Would that be your gang here? Sorry, but I don't take orders from anyone, especially not your kind of people."

"Listen, you." She reached up and roughly grabbed his collar, "You have no right to insult any of the people here." She tilted her head down slowly, her bangs covering her eyes, absolute fury and rage hidden within them. "You of all people have no right." Her voice was cold and impersonal, yet her entire body trembled with vexation; her fists were clenched by her sides. "How can you see how we live and still mock us? How can you treat us like nothing when we go through life, working harder than any of you?! You disregard us as humans! While you, yourselves act so inhumanely towards us!" Her head snapped up, abhorrence was set in every crease and line in her face.

She stormed past him, barely wincing at the pain in her chest. She stopped at the doorway and told him in a much calmer voice. "I am going to see Shuuhei, then I will come back and prepare diner. You are not to leave this room." Her back was still turned to him, as he stumbled towards her in his stupor.

"Hey, wait."

"You may stay here for four months. After that time is over, my debt is paid and you must find somewhere else to reside, or go home." With that she left the room, not even bothering to close the door behind her.

Woah... such a long time since I've updated...oh boy.

I am still desperately searching for a beta reader! Right now, I make all the corrections, and after reading the same thing over and over, it gets difficult to catch mistakes. I apologize for any spelling errors etc.

I'm really considering completely re-writing the entire story. I'm not very happy with it so far, but maybe when I find a beta, I can make it much better.

Please review.