Disclaimer - I do not own either Bleach or Kingdom Hearts!

Warning – see first chapter

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

09/2011 – Mildly revised chapter.

~ 5th Chapter Begins! ~

Last Time - It wasn't much of a demand as it was to a request. Captain Kuchiki in some part respected him as close to any other captain. Kinshiba respected the older noble, for being dedicated and loyal and if anything for his ability to shut up the two bickering idiots so soundly.

Nodding, "Ichigo." Knowing the boy would understand, as he disappeared.

~ Flashback ~

The air was loose as the leaves blew and the trees stood tall. The sound of flowing water rushed in the distance, flowers blooming here and there.

It was a bright and sunny day, the air was clean and the view was breath taking. Claire strolled down the dirt road as she marveled at the beautiful scenery. She always found it a shame to be cooped up inside the palace especially on a wonderful day.

She passed a growth of flowers that were surrounded by brush and as she reached a tree she turned left. As she traveled along her new path the roaring rush of water increased, she was getting closer.

Glancing skyward it made Claire feel small… Often times when she gazed at the never ending ocean blue sky she wondered what it would be like down in the world of the living. Everyone here was deceased and yet alive.

Was it possible that she was at one point alive and part of the world of the living? Or had she always been dead? But was that even possible? Sighing Claire brought her gaze back down to the ground as she finally came before the water fountain.

The sun hit the fountain just right on the left causing the flowing water to sparkle and look almost mist like.

Staring at the rhythmic water Claire felt at peace, a feeling she hardly ever felt. Being royal came with a lot of stress. Gazing at the never ending flow of water that at some point wound stop and the water would cease, Claire wondered what dying would feel like. She couldn't even possibly begin to image how it would feel like; she didn't even recall ever dying. If… if she had at one point been alive and died surely somewhere inside of her that memory remained?

A loose despairing sigh escaped as Claire's eyes fell shut, the sound of the water the only thing she could hear. Dying… until her time came she would never know the answer, but by then it wouldn't matter. It'd be pointless.

"Claire?"

Her eyes opened and were greeted with the fountain of water as the person came to a stop a few paces behind her.

"How did you know I would be here?"

"Where else would you be?"

A small smile flittered across her face as she turned to face her companion. "I wanted some fresh air."

"Your father has requested your presence." He stated with a small bow and an arm crossed over his chest.

"Is that why you were looking for me? Where's the love?" Claire stated with a smirk.

"Now my Lady you know I'm on duty, it is not our scheduled chit chatting time."

A frown etched onto her face as her eyes narrowed slightly, "I know that Kinshiba. You don't have to be so uptight."

Claire shifted her gaze to the side thus missing the concerned look on Kinshiba's features.

"Come, best not to keep the King waiting." Kinshiba voiced as he turned back the way he came with Claire following behind him.

They traveled the dirt road in silence enjoying the view as Claire slowly made her way to walking beside Kinshiba as they got farther away from the fountain.

The silence stretched and Claire stead fast ignored the side glances from Kinshiba as the Palace came into view. The structure looked magnificent in the brightly lit rays of the sun and the beautiful garden cascading around it.

"You were thinking again." Kinshiba stated, breaking the silence.

Claire didn't even bother to look at him, "It's not a crime."

"No, but you were over thinking again." Concern and worry lacing his voice.

"I don't think a person can over think Kinshiba." Claire spared him a side glance as they entered the Palace.

"You want to talk about it?" Kinshiba asked, deciding to not push the issue and drop their current conversation for the moment.

Claire stopped and so did Kinshiba; she turned to look at him briefly before she broke eye contact and continued forward.

Kinshiba stared at her retreating back before following after her, his worry increasing.

"Have you ever wondered what it's like to die?" Claire asked her voice dull and slightly strained.

Kinshiba blinked, startled at her sudden question but even more stunned at her words.

"No, because we all die some day and so I feel no reason to waste time on dwelling about it."

"But don't you wonder how it feels, what a person is thinking at that precise moment as they lose themselves to the throws of death?"

The concern was back full force and Kinshiba couldn't stop the sigh that escaped, "That is what is considered over thinking Claire."

Claire glanced back with an unreadable look, "Perhaps."

*******88

A groan fell in the rather silent room, eyes opening to gaze at a ceiling that was unfamiliar. Slowly he sat up gazing in confusion at the tidy, very boy like room.

As his eyes settled on the wall before him, he tried to think about what he was doing last that might give him clues as to why he was in an unfamiliar room. And why his head throbbed and his chest ached.

The sound of the door being opened stopped his thought process and he opened his eyes not realizing that he had closed them to gaze at the person that had just entered the room.

"How are you feeling?"

Kinshiba blinked as he took in the young man before him, he was wearing a pair of jeans and a brown shirt. He had large brown eyes and an orange head of hair. And then it clicked…

"Ichigo."

The teen known as Ichigo sighed as he scratched his head, while making his way to his chair.

"What happened?" Kinshiba asked as soon as Ichigo was sitting.

"We ran into a group of Hollows, you were blindsided and hit your head. In the attack your chest was injured and you sustained a few buries. You lost conciseness on the way to my place."

Kinshiba absorbed the words before replaying, "I see… thank you Ichigo."

Ichigo only gave him a small but genuine smile in response.

"The Hollows?"

"Renji and Byakuya showed up and finished them off."

They lapsed into silence, each lost in thought.

Kinshiba wished that they would find Claire and Alec soon but somewhere deep down told him it would be a long while before he saw either of them again.

"You hungry?"

"Wha?" Kinshiba inwardly cringed at his unintelligible response.

"You hungry?" Ichigo repeated. "My Sister Yuzu just made dinner about an hour ago; I can reheat something for you."

"Sure, that would be great."

Nodding Ichigo stood and headed for the door, just as he gripped the handle he glanced back at the captain. "We'll find her."

Kinshiba startled, locked gazes with Ichigo, in those few words Kinshiba heard conviction and determination. And a small part of him believed Ichigo.

Ichigo pulled the door shut behind him as he made his way down the hall.

"You shouldn't say such things Ichigo."

Ichigo sighed as he passed the speaker to head into the kitchen, "Why not Rukia? We will find her."

Rukia scoffed as she planted her hands on her hips while glaring mildly at the orange haired teen, "You don't know that! It's been three days and not a shred of her has been found, not even my brother has had any luck. For all we know Aizen could already have her."

"No," Ichigo muttered, a stern look on his features as he gazed at Rukia; "If Aizen did have her then the Arrancars would be attacking us instead of avoiding us."

"That's so not the point! And it doesn't prove…"

"Rukia!" Ichigo interrupted with a snap.

Rukia stopped mid word as she gaped at him; irritation at being interrupted welled up bringing forth a scowl. "Don't you 'Rukia' me Ichigo! And it's exceedingly rude to interrupt a person when they are speaking!"

With a shake of his head Ichigo turned towards the fridge to pull out some food. Grabbing a container full of rice and another of chicken; Ichigo shut the fridge's door. Opening the lids he walked over to the microwave and popped one in and set the timer. All the while ignoring Rukia's ranting. She certainly had moments were she could go on and on.

Just as the microwave dinged Ichigo felt a sharp jab to the back of his head, scowling he swung around to face an annoyed, angry Rukia.

"The hell was that for Rukia!" Ichigo shouted while rubbing the back of his head.

"Humph." Rukia uttered, crossing her arms across her chest. "That, Ichigo was for ignoring me!"

"Oh I'm sorry. Did I hurt your feelings?" Ichigo mocked.

Rukia's expression darkened, "As if!"

"Then why did you hit me!" Ichigo asked as he turned to take out the heated bowl and put in the rice.

Rukia closed her eyes and exhaled; Ichigo hit the timer and turned back to Rukia as she opened her eyes.

Silence settled for several minutes. Before Rukia opened her mouth and spoke.

"Look, I just meant, about earlier is that you shouldn't get Kinshiba's hopes up… or yours." Rukia gazed solemnly at Ichigo before uncrossing her arms and turning away.

As she exited the room the Microwave dinged.

********88

Sighing Kinshiba fell back onto the bed, gazing up at the ceiling with a faraway look; as he tuned out the argument taking place in the other room.

He remembered a time, a time that happened more than once, back during his younger days. Back than Claire; even from a small age tended to think long and hard about the most odd things or simple things. It was easy to tell when she was thinking about something that was really best left alone, was when she stood before the water fountain and worded things cautiously; spoke carefully.

Claire told him a lot of things, things that she couldn't tell anyone else for the fact that they were concerning and misunderstood problems or situations.

In the beginning, he had been so perturbed and concerned that he wanted to tell the King but for whatever reason he didn't. And he still wasn't sure what compelled him not to say anything, but by not doing so he had earned Claire's trust. Maybe not all of it but most of it and that was saying something as not even the rest of her family had that much of Claire's trust. It was difficulte he presumed for Claire to speak so freely to a man that was hard headed. It made him feel happy, elated that Claire could and would confide in him.

Over the years they had grown close, Claire's trust in him increasing. He would protect her and die for her, as in some ways Claire felt like a daughter to him. And he would be damned if he let anything happen to her.

Ichigo was right, they would find her. It was just a matter of time.

*******88

Ichigo trailed down the hallway with Kinshiba's food a frown on his features. He was still irritated at the prior events with Rukia.

Gripping the door handle he pulled the door open and stepped inside, eyes scanning the room to see Kinshiba still on his bed.

Shutting the door Ichigo approached the bed, "Hey. Here's your dinner."

Kinshiba's eyes opened and he sat up to accept the food, his mouth slightly watering at the delicious smell.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." Ichigo sat in his chair and leaned back as Kinshiba devoured his meal.

Ichigo closed his eyes tiredly and tried to ignore Rukia's words that just didn't want to leave him alone. The kept echoing, taunting him… it was going to drive him insane!

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Hmm?" Grunted Ichigo, as he opened his eyes to see Kinshiba staring fixatedly at him, his empty bowl held loosely in his hands.

"That argument you had with Rukia."

A frown took up Ichigo's face as he reclosed his eyes, "Not really."

Kinshiba opened his mouth to say something … the sudden explosion from the window stopped him short as he was propelled forward.

~ End of chapter Five! ~

Cliff hanger!

Sorry for any grammar or misspelled words. Finally we got another fight scene coming up…

P.s – As for Kinshiba being at Ichigo's, he didn't ask his dad as (supposedly) normal people can't see the dead and Kinshiba is not in a gaigi.