School's being sucked for some time now, as they hold this so-called try out for national exam, which made, guess what, being detentioned from computer and thus internet along with it. So yeah, latter chapter would be pretty late since i need to study hard from now. And if i already passed the test, i'll try to write things fast (If i'm not busy watching Bleach at my local television which is airing Bleach Arrancar Arc at the moment. Woot! I can't wait to see Grimmy!). That's why, this chapter is pretty long in regards of my apologize (actually i just went too overboard with it. I don't even know where to cut it. But, looking at the pool in my profile... Guess you wouldn't mind, right? It's 8284 words! I break my past record! *get kicked*), so please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Kubo Tite. I own nothing of it except for the comic itself


She was my friend.

She who came to me during my first session in the dojo; greeting me and grinned happily, saying she'd want to have a match with me.

Of course, i accept it outright at the moment, and i was beaten pretty bad that time, not that it will change this time, though, but... I was shy to admit it, but i was crying after that practice match.

I ran to the backside of the building, hiding beside a tree within a shadow. I just want to be there, alone, just waiting until my mother come. Then, she came. She walked towards my hiding spot and called my name so i tilted my head, and i got a punch right on the jaw straightly.

I still remember what she said after that, "Boy doesn't cry!"

It's just a far-off memory right now, but, i know she really meant her word that time.

Because of her words, i started to stop crying every time i lose a match, which getting less frequent each time i went to the dojo (although i still can't beat her). I started to be braver and more... accepting to my loss. Well, i wonder what would Rukia say if i say that to her. It's very unlike me for the time being. Maybe she would laugh, no, she will laugh. And maybe i'll laugh, too.

I'll laugh at myself.

Laugh at me for how weak i was.

I can't protect my mom that day. I can't beat the 'murderer' who killed my mom that day. And i can't protect 'him' either.

Peoples started to say i changed since my mom's death. My father, my sisters, even Tatsuki did.

But, i really went into a drastic change about 4 years ago. My hard-headed personality... My scowl... My not-caring attitude... Every little things that made by today.

It's after i lost 'him'.

Yes, i know he lived once. I know he was there. I know he always stood beside me. I know, i knew him. I remember about him. About another part of my life that i dearly cared for.

About my brother that i can't protect that day.

But then, what caused my denial of his existence this time if i once cared him so dearly? Is it the fact that i don't want to admit that i can't protect him...

...or the fact that i don't want to admit that it was i who caused his death...?


"Ichigo!!" the black-haired girl shook the still petrified redhead, demanding for an answer from her last question. The substitute's Shinigami still standing in front of her with a glazy chocolate eyes, irritating the girl even more.

"Ichigo, stop being so hard!!" Tatsuki screamed louder while Ichigo only replied the warn with a blank stare. The black-haired girl gritted her teeth in annoyance, finally rising her fist in order to punch him.

"If you really wanted to shut your mouth so badly...," she gave a death glare to the boy, which made no effect what-so-ever. She had reached her temper limit, ready to give a bone-shattering punch right on the face of the boy. "I'll force you to open your mouth!!"

Just before the runner up of the karate tournament could land her fist, her clenched hand was stopped by a single mere palm of the redhead with ease, making her black eyes widened in shock.

"Ichi-...?" she stated her shock in a disbelieving tone on her wavering voice. "Since when did you could--"

"Shut up." a cold voice suddenly cut her speech.

She raised her eyebrow in confusion as she heard that voice while both of them made no move on their position; the black-haired's fist still glued onto the palm of the redhead, while the redhead's face still remain unseen for his face was looking downward on the earth, not to add his long orange bangs which helped him hidden the rest of his face. She was confused at this; Ichigo, by all means, is not usually the... calm... type like this. Okay, he was calmer (or more exact, happier or try-to-be-happier) when his mother's death's time was near -in this case, Tatsuki believed to be the cause, his brother's death-, but it's not this type of... calm... His voice this time was sounded more... menacing...

"Ichigo?" she asked in a low tone to assured herself that he was alrigh. "Uuuhm, i'm sorry about earlier if i was-,"

"Shut up."

Her eyes widened once more in reach to what the redhead said before to her. This is clearly not right. For hovewer Ichigo's rudeness may be, he wouldn't dare this much to retort in such a way. He was indeed rude, but he's not an asshole like this. She can't stand this anymore, for being a high-tempered person she was. A blood vein then started to spam on her forehead, and then she retorted, "Ichigo, stop being such a jerk and tell me--,"

"Boy, ya haven't learn t' learn the word 'shut up' fer even a bit, have ya, Tatsuki?"

As soon as he finished his talking which made the girl winced in fear of the unknown distorted voice which was different from Ichigo's voice just now, he quickly looked ahead, straight unto the girl's suprised black eyes, revealing maniacal wide grin plastered on his very face which made the girl shocked even more. The grinning man raised his hand in attempt to land a hit on the scared-girl's face who can't even moved a finger a bit.

"Ichi--,"


The black-haired Quincy quickly turned his head to look at the window of the classroom. His spectacles shone for a moment as the light of the bright sun out there was reflected by the glassess. He adjusted his glassess again, before turning his head to the usual position only to saw a perplexed look of Kuchiki Rukia who stood in front of him.

"What happen?" she asked.

"Hollow," the Quincy stated simply, making the Kuchiki slightly shocked before preparing her battle stance, albeit in gigai form. "But, it soon dissapearred after i sensed it."

She raised her eyebrown concerning what he said. Rukia was still confused by his statement. She knew so well by what Urahara had told her that the Quincies had a pretty good skill of sensing Hollows, far above the average of most Shinigami. So, while she couldn't sensed the Hollow Ishida talked about earlier, she in no doubt believe in him. But, for a Hollow to just appeared for a second and just went back to hide in Hueco Mundo again? That's just strange. Or had the Hollow had finished its dinner in just split seconds interval and decided to went back after eating its victim? It, too, was impossible. No Hollows know shunpo or even shunko.

The Quincy looked at the still-thinking Shinighami, letting out a smirk as he knew so well what the girl was thinking since he was thinking about the same thing either. He decided to give another hint while he prodded his spectacles once more.

"Another fun fact for you, Kuchiki-san: the Hollow i sensed earlier lay just outside the building we currently in."

Now it's much more unbelieveable. The Hollow was roaming outside the school without she even noticed its presences? Was she really lacking in the sense department for not noticing a single Hollow which stood right before her eyes? Even if the Hollow did only appear for a second, she would sensed it right away since it's just a meter away.

Before she could as another question, the Quincy narrowed his eyes and looked at his blue bag made by denim before took it and said, "I must take my leave now, Kuchiki-san. I hope you don't mind."

"Ah? O-oh. N-not at all!" she stuttered a bit at the sudden excuse given by the Quincy.

Ishida walked passed the raven-haired Shinigami with his bag in his clutches. He pushed the sliding door and, before he could walk off from the classroom, the midget rang out a voice behind him.

"Ishida," she stated, stopping the movement of the bespectacled boy who then tilted his head around. "About our talk earlier...,"

"I think there's no need to talk more about that anymore," he adjusted his glassess once more wiht his left index finger. "I simply just stated my opinion about Kurosaki's strange reiatsu, maybe he was just being tired from the endless hunting of Hollows. It's no less than a 'just-not-proved-opinion'. Maybe you should give him a holiday, Kuchiki-san."

And so he took his leave, leaving the raven-haired Shinigami alone while she was thinking maybe it's a good idea to give Ichigo a break for some time and let herself do the purification instead.

Nevertheless, she couldn't help but being worried of Ichigo's condition. Ishida's 'opinion' just now worsened her fear. The question was, will she later ever last-resorted to what Urahara told her this morning?

She sighed, trying to let the cloud of confusion leave her minds and tilted her head upwards, looking at the white ceiling as if praying.

If there's ever a god above the god of death, she prayed, she really hope to this god for not let fate being so cruel to her.


Ishida walked in a steady pace along at the vacant corridor of the school. He let no words out from his mouth. His mind was already fully occupied by the thought of the strange Hollow he sensed earlier.

That Hollow... Was that really a Hollow at all? During his life as a Quincy and receiving training and knowledge from his sensei, he had not heard about a Hollow quickly dissapeared from the real world for a second except for a Quincy already finished it off just like what he did before during his fight with Kurosaki, which was very most unlikely as he was the only remainin Quincy living in the world.

Well, there's one Quincy left other than him, but he who didn't even take interest of Quincy, much to despised his own race, wouldn't even lay a hand over life and death and Hollow and Shinigami problems.

The more important question was, the Hollow's reiatsu. He chose not to let Kuchiki know about this as he guessed it would made condition worse, even it was just a wild guess during his sensing over one second.

It's the Hollow's reiatsu, about how he sensed it being so familiar to Kurosaki Ichigo's yet in the same time being so different from his.


"Kurosaki-kun!!

A faint high-pitched voice stopped him from hitting the scared girl's face. His raised hand's wrist which he tried to use to hit Tatsuki before was being held by a small hand, a small, trembing hand.

He turned his head, only to found droplets of tears seeping out from Inoue Orihime's brown eyes. Her face was scared, too, much like Tatsuki's.

"Kuro...saki-kun...," her voice was weary and dry. "Don't hurt... Tatsuki-chan...,"

He finally regained his senses as a hint of guilt reigned over his face. What had he done just now? Was he nearly hit his friend? His childhood friend who cared for him yet he rejected her kindness by hitting her?

He closed his eyes in both scared and anger over himself, abruptly releasing Orihime's grasp from his wrist by force.

"Just... don't touch me!!"

Slapping the small hand around his wrist with his other one, he quickly ran off from the school yard, not bother with the constant voices of both boys (who expectedly, peeking the entire scenes) who kept calling his name as he run. The brunette now was trying to console the still terrified black-haired, hence her trembling now stopped.

"Tatsuki-chan...," she let out a concerned tone in her wavering voice. "Are you alright?"

The black-haired girl reply the brunette's question with silent, unable to speak. Then, she let out a deep exhale, lettting some air escaped her lungs to calm herself down, before nodding slightly after she inhaled back. "I'm alright, Hime. Thanks...,"

The brunette let out another sigh of relief before helping her to stand up.

Although she sounded sincere just now, she can't help but to remember Ichigo's face she saw before.

She did feel terrified by his malevolent look just now, but what made her more terrified was... the amount sense of dejavu she felt.

She had seen that eyes somewhere... A glimmering golden eyes that was so malevolent in a way...

She knew it was not Ichigo's

It was his.


"Brother!" his blonde sister rang out a voice as soon as the redhead took a step inside the clinic. "Where were you yesterday? Why didn't you go to the station with us?"

He didn't say anything. Instead he just walked pass the dumbfounded blonde. Yuzu frowned a bit in confusion and slight worry; his brother will at least retorted or just shrugged. Then she turned her head and at her only brother who had reached the edge of the stair.

"Brother?" she asked in a worried tone. "Are you sick? Do you want to eat something? Sweets? Chips? And, u-uh, i have baked some cupcakes! Do you want some?"

There was a long awkward silence between the siblings, before the oldest one shook his head and took another step on the stair.

"...nothing. I-i want to sleep right now. Sorry, Yuzu...," the older one replied in apologetic tone without turning his head to look at his siter's perplexed face. Then, he add, "Just... don't bother me..."

And so, he left his younger sister, leaving Yuzu's confusion hanging in the air, while her twin, the tomboyish one, only looking at them with a worried face.

"Ichi-nii...,"


"Kurosaki-kun had had a brother before!?"

"Twin brother, more exactly."

Both of the teenagers was sitting on a bench in a park in Karakura Town. Their hands were holding a cup of ice-cream which the bought earlier to calm Tatsuki down, treated specially by Orihime. The brunette appeared to be shocked by what her friend had told her just now, while Tatsuki appeared to have calmed down and was slurping her mint-flavoured ice cream.

"Why did i haven't heard of him for once? I thought Kurosaki-kun only have two sisters and a father and a... deceased mother?" she asked curiously.

The black-haired took a deep breath and sighed instantly. "That's what i don't understand, Orihime." he replied. "But i could say with no doubt that he, once, had a brother."

"What do you mean, Tatsuki-chan?" her eyebrow raised slightly in react of the black-haired's answer, before widening her eyes, sorrowful expression reigned over her face as she began to grasp the meaning of her hesitant statement, and she guessed, "...is he dead?"

She didn't answer. She chose not to see the inquiring stare of her brunette friend, averting her weary gaze to her brown shoes-covered feet. Inside her heart, she felt guilty, very guilty. For she had told someone -even if it was Orihime- a pretty sensitive matter, for both herself and her childhood 'friends'.

Not too long after, Tatsuki heard a soft sound of 'crack!' somewhere, but couldn't made it to know the origin of the 'crack' sound. She then closed her eyes, felt that it was just her imagination before shaking her head slightly in response of Orihime's question, retrieveing a bright smile in Orihime's facial expression.

"So he's not, right? Maybe they just live in a separate house, then! We could give a visit to Kurosaki-kun's brother's house and then we'll--,"

"No, Hime." she abruptly cut her optimistic speech, tilting her once down-casted gaze to Orihime's stare. "I don't know...,"

Orihime's lips parted in confusion of this.

"I don't know. I don't know… I don't know if he's dead or not… I don't even know if he did live or not…," her voice sounded wavered.

"Wh-why is that?"

"It's because no one seems to notice his existence!!" she screamed in either frustration or indignant, eyes closed while her hands clutched her head, spilling the ice cream onto the ground.

"No one, not even Ichigo, ever talk about him anymore!! Since the last day I met him, it's just like he's… gone… Not just gone, it's like he's never live from the beginning! Not a remnants of his old life were there; his name's gone from the school student list; Ichigo treated like the only son in his family; all of his things gone…,"

She opened her eyes again and spoke a softly, "I'm scared, Orihime…," and rubbing her weary eyes. "Then, all of the times I spent with him are just a waste."

"Eh?" Orihime raised her eyebrow. "I thought you didn't like Kurosaki-kun's brother?"

She nodded and reclined on the bench, trying to have a more comfortable position. And then she replied, "Yeah, I didn't like him. But not in terms or hate or that kind of things, though…," while her eyes narrowed down onto the hard ground, slightly reluctant to tell things more. "But I just need to know…,"

"Could you give me a more detailed-explanation?" a foreign yet familiar voice rang out behind the girls, making both of them turned their heads instantly. Behind their back, there was Kuchiki Rukia, standing with a solemn expression plastered clearly on her face, and a slight frown that may go unnoticed on her eyebrow

"Sorry for eavesdropping," she said aplogetically. "I'm… slightly worried about I-Kurosaki-kun's condition…,"

The brunette and the other black-haired stared the midget nonchalantly, unable to react or say anything, making the Shinigami acting a bit nervous, thus being reluctant to continue her inquiry.

"Mmmh… I-I'm just passing a-and overheard your conversation… So, I-I thought I'd stop a-and…," she stuttered a bit, trying to find a good excuse.

At the moment, Tatsuki was pondering about Rukia. She hadn't known her very well, hence the fact she was a new student (although she's not really 'new' again that time). So was it really okay to just spit everything out about some personal matter of her friends? But from what she heard and saw herself, she knew that at least she's in a good term with Ichigo for she always hanging around with him (which was more 'bossing' around with Ichigo. Specially to train him, which the girl didn't know), and, plus, she enjoyed her companion, too. And at the least she knew something and that something was that this girl was a good one. In the end, she drew a conclusion that it was all right to her join into the conversation.

"I know, Kuchiki," she gave a short smile which relieved the midget from her nervousness. "But, I still… don't understand about what you meant by… 'detailed explanation'…,"

"Just tell me about him," she answered before walking towards them and took a step beside the wooden bench which the girls were currently sitting on. "Anything could do."

She sighed in response of her answer. "Fine. But I can't assure you it would satisfied you."

The midget gave a warm smile as a way to say her thanks. Both of the girls slid their body a little on the bench to give the newcomer some space to sit; which she did a moment later. Tatsuki then moved her body slightly forward, giving a solemn expression and put her elbows on her lap, resting her chin on her tied hands as she began to open your mouth.

"I first met Hichigo in the dojo, just like how I met with Ichigo, although his was… in a different circumstances…,"

It was a day like any other day; the sun was scorching hot and I was training in the dojo like I always did any other time.

What made it differs from any other day was, the fact that he hadn't shown up yet and was late. Yes, I was talking about Kurosaki Ichigo, the idiot who once train so hard resulting of all his limbs went gone numb the next day.

As far as I know, he wouldn't come late in any karate session we'd ever taken. That boy always went wild at school, blabbering about how he'll go much stronger each day and hope, someday will be able to beat me, which is unlikely. Hence he usually always goes to the dojo earlier than anyone and starts beating the dummy alone in the practice hall, which he didn't that time.

As the time passed and I started to wonder about him, and, ooh, speak of the devil, he came right into the building with a large grin plastered on his enthusiastic face.

I scowled at this; his happy-go-lucky grin always annoyed me. And how he padded as happily as ever towards me and said, "Watch it, Tatsuki! I swear I'll beat you today!!", just annoy the hell out of me. So conceited, really.

I sighed and replied, "It's impossible, Ichigo." And smirked. "You probably will come running to your mom and crying again."

"I-I won't cry!!"

"You just admitted you will lose today yourself, Ichi."

"…you jerk…,"

I winced at this, never even heard once that Ichigo was capable of saying such thing. But I let got of the thought already, thinking that he's aging anyway, and smirked again, "Haa! Where did you heard that word, Ichi? You are finally maturing, huh? Thought you'll remain a cry-baby brat forever."

"Uugh!! But you too are still a brat, Tatsuki!!" He hissed at this and I just laughed. Then we heard our trainer shouted, "Arisawa! Kurosaki!", and gestured in way to command both of us to come to him.

Then he told us we're gonna have a practice match for the upcoming districts tournament. I, of course, was paired with Ichigo for our sparring just like any other time. But then again, knowing how Ichigo was, of course he'll took the match seriously just like his life depends on it; way too serious.

Time passed as we watched he training matches done by our senpai, and then, it was ours. So we prepared our positions, and I couldn't help but twitched my eyebrow when I looked at his overly enthusiastic manners.

"Oi, Ichigo," I said a little louder than usual since there were many loud buzzing of peoples' talking in the dojo. "Did you eat the wrong drugs yesterday? You look waaaay too happy than usual.

"Am I?" he just smiled gleefully. "I just wanted to prepare for my winning stances for later."

Somehow I could felt my blood vein popped on my head in react of his cocky reply. "…after you walk through my dead body, dummy."

I sighed again after seeing his hiss in react of my words, he's indeed optimistic,

He just closed his eyes and smiled again innocently. "I promise Hichi I'd win today, Tatsuki."

"Who?"

"My nii-chan."

As soon as he finished that word, leaving me dumbfounded with the strange fact, I heard our trainer yelled and we quickly dashed towards each other, trying to ignore the oddity of his words.

As soon as we faced each other, I quickly gave a first punch which aimed on his right cheek, and he, of course, dodged it easily by moving his body to the left. Ichigo then gave me a smooth thrust with his left hand onto my left rib as a counter-attack, and I managed to dodged it by ducking.

That was close, and he usually went off guard in the interval between attacking and defending, so tried to find a weak spot and found out that his feet were defenseless. I quickly slid my right foot from right to left, and, surprised me too much; he jumped a little as my foot moved smoothly on the wooden floor, beneath his flying feet.

But what surprised me more, and made me laugh was when he landed his feet on the floor, things weren't going smoothly, and guess what, he slipped on the floor! I still remember the sound of dull 'thud!' he made as his butt collided with the floor. Of course, the whole dojo burst into laughter looking at the funny spectacle.

"Kurosaki! Watch your feet!" our trainer shouted although he clearly tried to hide a smile on his face.

I took the vacant time for standing up and brushed my white outfit from dust, and prepared my horses again and said triumphantly, "1-0 for me, Ichigo. Time to look at your crying face again."

"There aren't any scores in karate!" he retorted although I noticed a small color of pink on his cheek, before he rose up on his feet again and prepared his horses. "But I'll win for sure this time!"

He dashed again, trying to nudged me on my stomach to earn an easy ippon. Things were somehow heated up and I, then again, was well absorbed into the fight, enjoying every little seconds of it as peoples in the dojo start to cheer both of us.

He went into somewhat a bit aggressive than usual for wanting to end the match quickly as both of us started to breath heavier than usual. He launched an up coved kick right onto my face, which scraped my right temple and I closed my right eyes in attempt of shock or just instinct in attempt to lower the pain if it would ever hit my eye. So, unintentionally, I forced my other eyes to look at another weak spot.

That was the first time I saw him.

At the very corner of the room, my eyes caught something. A boy. A boy I hadn't seen before, and was unfamiliar in my eyes then. So automatically my focus was all placed unto that boy, leaving my guard off.

I can't made it clearly since he was well hidden by the peoples there, but what distracted me; what making him stand-out than the mass of peoples there was his appearance. He was all white. His hair was white. His skin was white. Everything just plain white, except for something… something I couldn't make it that time. That 'something' was flickering in the middle of his face, one looked like a yellow flame.

"Hai!!"

That little scream broke my concentration entirely. I tried looking forward to my adversary in front to land a counter-attack or at the least to defend the upcoming attack, but, to no avail, I couldn't evaded the straight punch he launched onto my stomach, so I fell onto the wooden floor and felt my body slid a few meters back.

"Ippon!" I heard our trainer yelled and I saw peoples started to gather around me.

"Arisawa!" my trainer quickly broke the commotion around and shook my shoulder. Actually, the shake was hurter than the punch, though. My trainer's grip was painful… But, anyway, the peoples around me processed it into their brain that I fell and slid back because of the force of Ichigo's punch, which was wrong. The floor was slippery; they just didn't notice it and probably was blinded by the truth that Ichigo could win over me.

"Are you okay?" my trainer asked me after I'd regained my balance, and I nodded.

He let out a breath of relief and clasped his hand together. "'Kay, everyone! Today session's over! Come back tomorrow for practice for the upcoming tournament! Eat nutritious foods and don't forget to sleep well each night! Vitality is essential!"

I then stood on my feet, rubbing my stomach and cringed a little. Man, that was more painful than I'd expected. It'd left some bruises, I thought.

"Tatsuki!" a familiar voice called to me. "I-I'm really sorry! I never thought i-it would end like this…,"

"Nah," I waved my hand at him in order to say 'don't-get-overreact-to-some-small-bruises-like-this-since-you-got-it-everyday-from-my-punches-more-than-i-am'. "It's just small scrape anyway, don't get all worried just because of this."

He grinned innocently at my response, and said, "Anyway, Tatsuki, I won, huh?"

And I couldn't help but smiled, too. At least he got his first victory on me. "Heh, yeah. If I just didn't get distracted by something-," wait, something? I thought for a moment before a bulb of light clicked above my head. Yeah! That somethi—no, someone! That someone who just looked like Ichigo!

"Aah, yeah! Ichigo-,"

Before I get to finish my sentences, I already saw him running towards the opened door of dojo, hugging a female form that was taller than him; a wavery chocolate hair tied into a ponytail, slim and slender figures, a lively color of skin of her small legs, and a calming face of her, smile always hanging on the edge of her attractive lips.

Then I noticed the being I just saw earlier.

The very same boy, clutching onto his mom's red dress while his golden eyes eyed my suspiciously, that menacing eyes boring into my very soul.

I started to sweat when her mother noticed my presences and walked towards me along with the two clutching boys, deeper onto the center of the building and greeted my warmly. "Ooh, Tatsuki-chan. How are you doing?"

"E-eh? Mmmm, I'm fine!" I bowed out of nowhere and she just nodded, running a warm hand to my hair and rubbed it gently

"Did Ichigo hurt you, Tatsuki-chan?" she asked again and I only replied with a shy smile. I heard she said, "My, my, seems Ichigo was not being nice with you today, don't you agree, Tatsuki-chan? He was boasting about his victory a moment ago." This earned a protest from the redhead while she just chuckled.

"Wha-!? B-but, this's just a match! I didn't 'hurt' her!"

"But you practically did," I gave a sly smirk to tease him and pointed my finger to my stomach. And now his eyes started to get teary, again. God, not again… He loses? He cried. He wins? He cried too!

"Waaaaaaaaaaah!!! Mommy…! I didn't do anything bad, I swear!!" he buried his face onto her stomach in attempt to earn an apologize from his mother. I laughed a little, but tried to hide it with my hand.

But, somehow, suddenly I felt the back of my neck prickled. I gasped a little and tilted my head in search of the origins of that… 'that'… I don't know, someone seemed to… glared at me at the moment and that… glare, I think, made me unnerved. Like someone had had an intent to kill me… But who could be?

"Nee, Tatsuki?"

"Wha—huh?" I turned my head again and saw Ichigo already standing in front of me, an annoying smile already crept back onto his face again. Heck, another second he was crying out loud, another time he was grinning like a mad-man

"Here!" he pulled the same white boy I saw before who stood behind him earlier. "This is my brother!" he added again. Now I had a better looks of him. He just… exactly the same with Ichigo… Same face… Same posture… Same style of hair… Just all of his were white, pale white, and the expression on his face was blank, on the contrary of his brother enthusiastic one.

"Sorry, I've never introduced you before since he always at home. He's my twin." Ichigo added once more and gave an infatuous smile which would lead all pedophile to go all over him.

Twi…ns? He was a twin with this boy…? He sure didn't like one.

"Kurosaki Hichigo," the pallid boy handed his white hand to me nonchalantly, and so I automatically gave mine, shaking it with his hand.

Cold.

Not just pale, he was cold as well. Like he's just no more than a living zombie.

"Oo, yeah… Mom?" Ichigo looked up to her mom, grabbing her dress while he did so.

"What is it, Ichigo?

"…I want to pee…," he said it softly, almost whispering, while a color of pink crept onto his face. She giggled a bit on her son's shyness and nodded. Aunt Masaki then turned towards us –me and Hichigo- who were still grabbing each other hands and said, "Well, Hichigo, Tatsuki-chan. Excuse us for a moment then. Take care of her, 'kay, Hichigo?". And so they left.

The scene was getting more and more awkward; we still grabbed each other hands while he eyed me suspiciously, golden eyes moved back and forth as like he was analyzing me. I couldn't help but being sweaty and all, and how I felt my palm dampened because of my sweat.

Then he released his grip, closing his eyes in a gentle way and gave a small smile—no, smirk at me, on the contrary of the former.

"Don' ever made 'im cry again, 'kay?"

"Right…," he opened his eyes slowly and gave a blood-shot glare. "Tatsuki-san?"

And with that… strange… glare, he turned his back and waved his hand gently, before walking towards the opened door and leaving me alone in the dojo, not counting some peoples who were cleaning the dojo.

What… was that?

I could felt my legs shaking and my hands trembling, back of my neck seemed to prickled once more, just like the other time. Now I know what caused it, or more exactly, who caused it.

If anything I can't stand him for, it was because of his golden eyes…

Something about it, seemed to be… inhuman.

"And so, that was my first meeting with him." Tatsuki ended her tale.

"Uuuhm…," Orihime seemed to be the first to comment it. "So…, he really looked like Kurosaki-kun? Just with different color?"

"More like a blatant rip-off rather than anything. If he's not albinism I'll be he'd be just look like Ichigo, in term of appearances, of course." Tatsuki rubbed his messy hair and averted her eyes to the midget who was sitting beside her; a great shock clearly written on her small face.

"Kuchiki?" Tatsuki asked to assured herself that Rukia was alright.

"Sorry…," she shook her head slightly. "I'm just thinking about something. Please, go on."

The other black-haired just muttered silence before resuming her speech.

"And after that, every time I went to Ichigo's house, he was always there, usually reading book accompanied by Ichigo himself in their bedroom—,"

"Kurosaki-kun and Kurosaki-kun's brother share bedroom together?" the brunette rang a voice, a small pink on her cheek as an image of her and Kurosaki-kun sharing bedroom together.

"Uuh, yes?" Tatsuki seemed to be hesitant at the moment. "They're twins, after all."

Rukia coughed a little, "Uum, please resume your story

"Okay…, or, if he didn't read books, he would play chess with Ichigo-,"

"Ich-Kurosaki-san could play chess!?" now the midget asked, seemed to be perplexed by the thought of a brute like Ichigo could play a logic game like… chess…

"Yes, it seems unlikely, but that fool could play chess. He's a nerd, after all." Tatsuki said while her mouth pouted a little in remembrances of Ichigo's school record, the 23rd place of all 322 students.

"And then, one day…," Tatsuki resumed her tale again. "One day, Hichigo-," her voice suddenly halt, her body not moved, as if thinking for something.

"Tatsuki-chan?" Orihime asked, slightly worried.

"Sorry, it's nothing." Tatsuki shook her head trying to reassured her friend –which was reassured- and sighed a little before her eyes started to get weary again, to a reason that both of the girls knew too well. "One day, he just… vanished… I-I really can't explain it, h-he just… gone for good. Ichigo never talked about him anymore at school, no one in the dojo ever asked about him anymore, not even one slightest fact that he once lived… He's just… Like he's never there to begin with…,"

Somehow Orihime's brown eyes widened after she heard what Tatsuki said just now. At the first time she heard it she couldn't realize it yet, just when suddenly something popped in her mind when she saw Rukia's face. This case? This was just look like what happened to Rukia her imprisonment not too long ago in Soul Society; she vanished in the real world; not even one people remember her; just like something hat had happened on Kurosaki-kun's brother, Hichigo…

The brunette then narrowed her eyes to look at the raven-haired shinigami who was sitting beside Tatsuki. The Kuchiki seemed also realize the oddity in Ichigo's brother's case and noticed the similarity with her case. But somehow it was still confused her in a way, on how the only people who managed to kept their memories of Ichigo was Tatsuki, only. In her case, it's because Orihime and Sado were influenced by Ichigo's overflowing reiatsu first hand which awoken their power; to see what they do not meant to see, was what Urahara told them before, which, in other words, would be truth. Ooh, wait, there was still Ishida, too. Ishida was a Quincy, and Quincy already has the skill to saw ghost and Hollows.

But there was no logical explanation for this. Even how unlogical it was for death peoples roaming around in the real world (it's logical to her though; she's dead already), this was more unlogical… Since, first and foremost, Ichigo, and, of course, his brother, have no slightest interaction with Soul Society and the like when the event took time. Okay, Ichigo could see ghost since he was a child (which then Rukia assumed that his twin could, too. Usually that happens between twins anyway), but she will just leave that alone since his first encounter with Hollow didn't include any shinigami at all. Beside, he told her himself he met a shinigami for the first time in his life when he saw Rukia. And then, secondly, the case itself sounded fishy… Since no one can't prove for what Tatsuki said to her, now that's another problem again. Who knows, maybe it's just her imagination after all. Ever heard about imaginary friend we got at the age of toddlers? Yeah, that'd be it. But…, would she? I mean, she have this depressed look of her, weary eyes and messy hair, Arisawa Tatsuki, the runner up from Japan International Karate Interhigh, acting all like this.

Third, there was another question in her mind again yet been explained which would need the second question to be answered first. Why Tatsuki? Why can't other people, for a straight example, Ichigo himself, remember about his brother instead of Tatsuki? By how she told her her tale, it was clearly written that they're not in good terms –or that's what she thought anyway-, which means she would be the last person to manage to keep their memories on.

There are two way to know that this was true. First, beat Ichigo 'till death so he could remember—simply out of the question, or, check the list of the peoples living in Rukongai—which would take weeks, no, months, no, years, NO, DECADES.

But, she quickly stood up from the bench, a sound of the metal gritted against the cobbled road beneath could be heard as she did so. Just when before she wanted to walk away, a hand grabbed her wrist quickly albeit weakly. Turning her head, she saw that the black-haired girl was the one who grabbed her arm, eyes were tired and face was weary.

"Kuchiki…," said the girl tentatively. "Don't tell this to anyone, 'kay? I want to have Ichigo's confirmation on this matter first."

She smiled to the black-haired girl and then bowed, returning to her usual fake demeanor she always used in the real world.

"I deeply grateful for what you had told me earlier, Arisawa." She lifted the edge of her uniform skirt slightly. "I won't tell this to anyone, I promise."

The girl smiled at her although her sweat dropped in react of the Shinigami's formal attitude, before waving at the running Rukia who waved back before rushing off out from the park. She tilted her head ten to look at the brunette who was still sitting beside her and smiled back.

"Thank you, Tatsuki-chan." She said, and as if she could read other people's mind, she answered, "Don't worry, I know about Rukia-chan. She can be trusted."

Tatsuki smiled again and sighed deeply to release her exhaustion, before leaning her head on Orihime's shoulder and said softly, "I hope that idiot would be alright…,"

The brunette didn't answer.

She somehow doubted that, although didn't want to admit it; she just want her dear Kurosaki Ichigo to be alright.

Orihime gulped a little of her saliva before muttered a soft, "Yes…" before propping her head onto Tatsuki's head

But that 'yes' quickly turned devoid as someone began to awaken somewhere.


Somewhere else in Ichigo's mind, where countless skyscraper buildings stood still in the upside down world of his, a glimpse of white color could be seen in the middle of the blue sky and buildings. The white form was lying on a side of a building, placing his white body on the glassy window which was colored blue too. Both of his hands and legs were outstretched, eyes closed as some incoherent mumble could be heard from his parting lips. His chest moved up and down steadily along with his breathing. He was sleeping peacefully, like an innocent toddler who had been sung a lullaby by his mom and was having a good dream.

But that peaceful sleep was ruined when suddenly a venomous sound of crack echoed in the world, thus awaking the teen abruptly.

His eyes cracked open after the moment of the venomous crack sounded just now, revealing his black-tinted sclera and his menacing golden eyes. He didn't need time to know what the crack supposed to be; he already knew what it was.

He then sat cross-legged on the blue window. Raising his right hand, he tilted his head to look at it, when a faint black substance much like a mini Cero began to form in his palm, which, before long, shattered in his hand with the same sound of 'crack!' he heard before.

He scoffed at this, before making the usual maniacal smirk on his face.

"Che, Tatsuki, Tatsuki…," he shook his head. "Ya broke the barrier, huh? Wha' a bothersome girl…, now I can't act fer what'ver I wan'…,"

He licked his upper lips with the tip of his blue tongue gleefully. "Nyeh. Who gave a damn 'bout how I did it anyway. What what matter 're the results. 'side, I'll get to see how Ichi struggles so much in order to resis' me, and how his face will be when he finally 'now tha' his struggles 're futile. Would be soooo priceless, I bet."

The albino rose up on his feet, before grinning madly and said, "Now, it's time ta wreak havoc."

-to be continued


Okay, guys, I know you must have some confusion in your mind about the story. Since in the first part (Ichigo's POV) I used a first-person perspective, that most of you will indicate that Ichigo already remembered about his forgotten brother. On the contrary; he still haven't but in the he have; he just unconsciously remembered Hichi (much like a trance state), but thanks for his denial of Hichi's existence (like I've stated too in the second from last phrase of Ichigo's POV) that memories kinda slipped through his head and was buried down inside. And, yeah, too, I know I know. Tatsuki was awfully pretty OOC in this chapter __ (in my first draft of this chapter, I intended to make her cry, which was more OOC… My first thought was that she did cry around the first time Orihime got her Shun-shun Rikka. Okay she's not crying! But at least she got tears!) By the way, just for some side note, I actually wanted to add, "Screw the rules, I've brute strength!" in Hichigo' last sentence, lol. But that was just really out of nowhere, wasn't it? That's it for this chapter. Don't forget to leave review and some helpful critic? (Yes, my grammar is the worst, if that's the first thing you wanted to point out in the review)