Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters.

Chapter 2: Gone

"Onii-chan!" Karin called as she ascended the stairs half way. "Yuzu says it's time to eat!" Not hearing anything from her brother, Karin decided to check on what he was doing.

"Ichi-nii! Did you hear me? Oh you're studying? But it's Sunday morning… Ichi-nii should come out and play with us."

"Sorry, Karin. You wanna play soccer right? I promise that after this upcoming test is over, I'll play with you after school, okay?"

Karin blew out her cheeks. "Fine. But come down to eat okay?" As she walked towards the door of her brother's room, something caught her eye.

"Oh, Toushiro?! What are you doing here?" At the loud resounding crash behind her, Karin spun around. The chair Ichigo was previously sitting in lay two feet away from him on its back. At the sound of Hitsugaya's name, Ichigo had stood up fast, catapulting his chair away from him.

Hitsugaya calmly looked from her to her brother, and then directed his attention to the brunette girl once more.

"You can still see me, I guess. Well… stay out of trouble." Hitsugaya cleared his throat and looked down at the ground briefly before hopping off the windowsill and directing his full attention to Ichigo.

"Kurosaki."

"Oi, Toushiro-"

Hitsugaya bristled and interrupted. "It's Hitsugaya-taichou to you."

"What, and not to Karin? She knows about us already…." He trailed off. "Anyway, what's going on? Rangiku-san stopped by yesterday and started asking me questions. When I asked her why she was here, she just rushed out of the window and disappeared."

"Yeah, well she had to. We're chasing a hollow and apparently, whatever you told her yesterday was of extreme importance. I believe you said that objects had gone missing in your school and that the Quincy felt hollow reiatsu whenever the disappearances occurred? I need you to look further into that. Find out what was taken and whether those people whose items were stolen noticed anything strange."

"Che. Snarky little… always giving orders…" Ichigo mumbled under his breath. Hitsugaya deliberately ignored the strawberry.

"Kurosaki," he stated, now addressing Karin, "does your school have the same problems?"

"Toushiro! We're friends right? Call me by my first name!" Karin demanded, and then as if on afterthought, added, "And yes, several girls in my class have complained about their jewelry getting stolen."

"Very well, Kuro-" Hitsugaya paused when Karin glared at him and crossed her arms. He looked at her with careful regard. "Fine, Karin, please keep an eye out for any more disappearances, and see if you can sense any spirit power nearby when objects disappear."

"But how do you know these disappearances have anything to do with the hollow you're pursuing?"

Hitsugaya grasped the light chain around his neck and opened his mouth. Just then, Hitsugaya's cell phone beeped. He flicked it open and quickly read what was on the screen.

"The pulses have started again. I have to go."

"Wait Toushi-" Ichigo began. But realizing that his unasked questions would once again fall upon deaf ears, he fell silent.

Eight hours had passed since Hitsugaya invaded Ichigo's room. It was already dark out and Ichigo was studying yet again.

"Ichigo, before you fall out of your chair again, you should know that someone's coming to talk to you."

Ichigo grabbed the stuffed animal by the head and flung him against the wall.

"Shut it Kon. I have to study."

"Well," Kon shrugged as he rose from the floor dusting himself off, "it's your funeral." And then Matsumoto flew through the window screaming Ichigo's name. This time, both Ichigo and his chair toppled over onto their sides.

"God dammit Rangiku-san. Can't you make your presence known before you scr-"

"Ichigo! Come with me right away. We need to talk to Urahara now."

"Woah, woah! Hold on." Ichigo protested as Matsumoto grabbed his arm and started tugging him toward the open window. "What's going on? You can't expect me just to leave without a reason."

Matsumoto turned around and looked at the doorway sadly before hardening her gaze and shifting it to Ichigo. It had been a while since Ichigo had seen the blond vice captain so serious. All was quiet for a second, and then-

"Hitsugaya-taichou has gone missing."

Author's Notes: Short chapter, I know, but I was slightly short on time. Reviews appreciated! :D