Title: Little Lost Puppy
Torture: Whipped
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Characters/Pairings: Ichigo, Shinji, Hiyori, the rest of the Vizard; Ichigo/Rukia
Rating: PG
Summary: Sometimes we lose faith in that which has never let us down.
Warnings: Spoilers for recent chapters.
The rain was falling heavily as he walked through the barrier and into the old abandoned factory building.
"What?" A familiar voice called from above him. "You've finished your trip to Hueco Muendo already?" The voice held a large mocking quality to it.
Ichigo looked up into Shinji's strange smiling face. It looked almost exactly the same, as it had on that day, not so long ago when he had first confronted Shinji at school. It had held the almost exact expression when it had whispered: "Do you really think those people are your friends? Orihime-chan, the big guy, those shinigamis, they may be your friends for now, but when you continue in this form, your Hollow will devour you and you will destroy everything."
Shinji continued to speak as the rest of the Vizards watched Ichigo, silently from the shadows.
"We weren't expecting you to come until tomorrow morning at the earliest, you know. I would of thought that you would have been with that little friend of yours, Ru-"
"You were right." Ichigo interrupted before Shinji could remind him of what he was leaving behind. He bowed his head, so that he wouldn't have to catch any of glowing eyes that watched him, waiting for him to make his next move. His shoulders slumped. "You were right." He repeated, his voice smaller this time.
He missed the look of surprise that flew across Shinji's face, and the way that he caught Hiyori's eyes. After a moment, Hiyori gave a slight nod, and Shinji nodded back. His eyes turned back to Ichigo.
"Welcome Home."
XXX
"How long do you think it will take before she comes after him?" Hiyori demanded as soon as Ichigo had gone down to the basement with the others.
Shinji stretched as he made himself comfortable on his lawn chair of wooden boxes. "Give or take a few hours after dawn." He patted the box next to himself. "Might as well get comfy. We're going to have quite the show when that little Soul Reaper comes here to drag him back, kicking and screaming."