Well… I'm just a little late! xD

Kudos for trying?

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Ichigo's POV

I couldn't believe it. Well, I could, but it was just hard to. Not only was Tatsuki sharing her own memories through the palm of her hand and into my head, but she could also change into a wolf? It was hard to decide if this was good news, or bad.

The good news being that she was alive and had grown much stronger since last I'd seen her. The bad news was that she had been dragged into a situation which would, and probably already has, changed her life forever.

"There you have it," Tatsuki said, taking me back to reality.

"Wow," I replied, stunned. "So then, you can turn into a wolf and you've also got some strange connection that allows you to share memories too? How did you end up here? If I recall correctly the time you spent training and gathering information about me would have lasted you a month. There's still seven to nine years missing in there."

"Uhh, well, I was about to leave to the Soul Society when a group of people started causing chaos in Karakura town. They sent dozens of hollows, wave after wave. Yoruichi and I had to defend Karakura and give time to Kisuke so that he could build a Senkaimon. After the troublemakers were defeated, a bunch of rogue Shinigami came. After we defeated them; that had been the end of six years. Then finally we entered the Soul Society taking another month to get into the Seireitei, find out as much information on you as possible then about three months later Yoruichi and I got captured. We fought and almost broke free, but I ended up giving freedom to Yoruichi and allowed myself to be contained in prison."

"No way," I mumbled under my breath. This had all happened while I was stuck here sitting on my ass? What kind of head captain would order this?

"Ichigo, I'm being executed tonight."

My heart nearly stopped. Tatsuki was being executed, tonight? "I won't let that happen," I promised. I would keep my word. She wasn't going to have to suffer any more that she already had, all because of me.

"That's great for you to say Ichigo, but without a Zanpakuto what can you do?"

I sighed. There was obviously some lack of info she had if she was asking that question, but what if Tatsuki already knew about it and was afraid to speak? The safest thing to do was to ask. "What 'information' did you get about me? How much do you know?"

"Oh…" Clearly she was surprised by my question. "Well, a lady with raven black hair-" Rukia. "-said that you were locked in prison because you violated every rule of the Seireitei. I think it was Rukia, but she looks different dressed in all black. Umm… Then… a boy, maybe, he was kinda small and scrawny-" Hanataro. "-said that he had no idea why everybody hated you. He also told me about how you rescued Rukia from an execution and how you defeated a Bount named Kariya, a rogue Zanpakuto named Muramasa, and even some of the captains around here. There were only a few others, but they all either said what an amazing fighter you were or how much of a threat you were to the Seireitei and all that was good in this universe."

"The girl you mentioned was probably Rukia, and the boy would have been Hanataro. They're both right, in a sense… I broke a lot of rules here, but that was only when I was rescuing Rukia. Hanataro is also right about me defeating Muramasa, Kariya and some of the captains." I was talking about myself. No matter what the circumstances, it still felt weird.

Tatsuki nodded after each of my sentences. I tried to avoid eye contact knowing that she might know something else about me that I really didn't want anyone to-

'Tch. That's not very nice, Ichigo.' Shiro started laughing. I did my best not to roll my eyes, but they still twitched. 'What're ya waitin' for? She's gonna find out and if it ain't from ya she'll be pissed.'

She'll be pissed either way, but sadly, Shiro was right. However, I could see the sun setting out from the corner of my eye which meant we only had a few good minutes left before Shinigami came to get Tatsuki.

"Ichigo, I only have a few minutes left," Tatsuki recapped.

I put my hands on her shoulders and forced her eyes to stare at mine. I wanted her to know I was serious, I won't let her die. "When they come, go without a fight. I will follow you, I will protect you and I won't let you get hurt."

Tatsuki looked like she was willing to protest, but she just nodded instead.

I actually didn't really care if she believed me or not. I was going to save her, then we'd got back to Karakura town, find her family and she would live out the rest of her life like she was supposed to.

'Cute, Ichigo. Real cute,' Shiro cackled.

'Why do you always have to be on my back?' I snapped.

'Because that's where a Kin' sits, on his horse's back.'

'I- uhh… Right…' Damn it. I set myself up for that one and Shiro knocked me right down. But, thinking back on how I used to treat him, I guess it really was no surprise that he wanted to poke fun at me.

"Ichigo, how are you going to sneak out," Tatsuki asked, bringing me back into the present. She brought up a good point, how was I going to follow her?

'Leave that te me.'

I trusted him. "Don't worry about that Tatsuki, it's under control.

"But what are you going to-"

"Arisawa, it's time."

No, not Chad too. I turned to my right and sure enough Chad stood there, Shinigami robes and all. Eight white robed Shinigami stood behind him, each with a staff in their right hands. I recognised those staffs as the ones they connected to the red collar that was around my neck… the same collar that Chad was holding.

I took my eyes off of Chad and turned to Tatsuki. A tried to smile, but the pain wouldn't fade from my heart. Damn the Soul Society, damn it all to hell! They took me away from my home, forced my friends into becoming Shinigami and are now punishing those whose hearts have already been broken.

'Ya're quite the poet there, but ya're correct Ichigo.'

'What do I do next?'

'Bid Tatsuki good bye an' walk up the stairs to as high as you can get before they leave.'

I mentally nodded before giving Tatsuki a small outside nod. She turned away from me and begun walking over to Chad. I didn't dare look, but I could still hear him click the collar on. I started making my way over the stairs leaving the noises of the real world behind so I could focus on Shiro.

'Walk a little faster.'

I complied, not even caring that I was following someone else's orders. The fear of how much control he had over me had vanished as well. I could even feel my body shake from hatred. However the only thing I could really focus on right now was my sudden lust for battle. I wanted to see the fear in my opponent's eyes, I wanted to feel their blood on my hands, and I wanted to hear the snap of their bones. I knew it was wrong, but I just didn't care. It was me they were fucking with and I was going to make them regret it.

'Here's perfect Ichigo.'

I stopped walking, but continued facing forwards.

'When I say so jump. And don't freak out when ya lose control, it'll slow us down too much to run past them without their notice.'

That meant Shiro was going to take control.

'Get ready,' he ordered.

I swallowed.

'Jump.'

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Okay… so I made it a cliff hanger…

Please review and more will come next Tues!