Lost Without You Chapter 9: Lost 9, a bleach fanfic

Lost Without You

A/N: Well it's longer but the action is postponed until next chapter. I still can't believe this idea is still going strong. Can anyone recognize the prompt in the story anymore?

Warning: Everything you know about the Bount has changed, Ishida is not a badass, and an abundance of Oc canon fodder.

When Ichigo woke the next day he was thankful it was not to screaming, of the hollow kind or Quincy. Looking around the room he noticed he wasn't the only one stirring, getting up at the same time almost every day would do that, routine was not his friend. Especially now that his routine incorporated fighting hollow most every night and waking up way too early. He thanked his lucky star that they would not be going to school today as it was Sunday and yesterday's classes had been canceled due to a holiday of some sort. It wasn't something he participated in so he didn't really care what it was. Or was it some teacher's meeting? Either way it got him out of studying on a Saturday. Not that the fun trip they had planned for it had turned out smoothly. "Good morning." Ichigo addressed Ishida, the only other person in the room. It sounded like Orihime and Chad were enjoying breakfast in the next room if Orihime's overly cheerful voice was any indication. He could hear her listing off all kinds of breakfast foods she liked to eat most often.

"Good morning." Ishida answered dryly pushing his glasses up his nose. He wasn't about to look at Ichigo yet. He was still reeling from the almost nightmare he had about the Bount. He had already woken up with an ominous feeling and fighting with Ichigo first thing was not going to help it any. Without another word he made himself presentable and joined the breakfast table. "Good morning." He greeted the table and was proud of himself for not jumping when Ichigo took a seat next to him without a sound. It was unusual for the substitute shinigami to be so quiet. But if the silence held he wasn't going to break it.

"Good morning." Ichigo ignored the cold shoulder he was getting from Ishida as best he could it was too early to bring up the confrontation from last night. There was also no new fuel to add to his argument. Even though he could practically feel the tension between them he hoped that no one else would notice. It wasn't good for them to be fighting amongst themselves at a time like this, no matter how many bones he had to pick with the Quincy. So he smiled at Orihime as best he could and nodded to Chad. He would think of some way to get his way in this, even if he had to drag everyone else into it. He allowed himself to brainstorm as he began to eat.

"Good morning." Chad's voice was low and one look said he was lost in thought. Not that asking what he was thinking about would yield any results. At least not until the giant was ready to talk.

"Good morning!" Orihime was overly cheerful having already read the situation for what it was. She couldn't be sure what was going on but if she was going to hazard a guess it was about Ishida not wanting to feel like a damsel in distress. She couldn't say that she blamed him, the thought of losing her powers made her terrified of being useless to Ichigo. There was very little she was not willing to do to be of some help to him. And anything that got her graced with his ever rare smile she would do over and over again.

"GOOD MORNING!" Urahara with his impeccable timing came dancing through the door followed by Tessai with a fresh round of food. Jinta and Ururu were no where to be seen, most likely already out terrorizing the neighborhood. Even with this overly cheerful entry and the arrival of more food the tense atmosphere at the table remained today they would be returning home. It was something he knew weighed heavily on their minds however there was nothing he could do for them beyond what he had. Allowing them to stay made him a target and he was not as young as he once was. There also wasn't any place for them to stay the treatment room was what Jinta and Ururu used for their room. During their stay they had been forced to use the small extra storage room, which luckily had been empty.

The table echoed back the greeting before the tension reached an all time high. It was just a matter of time before Ichigo exploded and everyone could feel it coming. No one was surprised when he abruptly and aggressively set down his chopsticks glaring over at Ishida. "We'll need to escort you home today." He told him noticing Chad nod on his left and Orihime's face scrunch up in confusion as he continued. "We aren't sure if they will start targeting you from here on or not. So far the bount don't seem very organized, but the one last night already knew about you. That means it's safe to assume he isn't the only one."

Ichigo's words weighed heavily over the table but one look at Ishida expressed just how much he was enjoying this situation. There were few options afforded to him, if he had his powers then he wouldn't need to worry about being protected but as it was he had no choice. And the only leads he had on getting his power back lead him in ugly directions both ways, both of which required time to research about more throughly. "I suppose there won't be a choice." Ishida sighed mentally not wanting to address Ichigo's idea before everyone. Somehow that conversation felt very private and embarrassing to admit to. He didn't want anyone to know or get the wrong idea. Ichigo staying at his house to protect him sounded like something a lover would do not a rival, friend sorta thing. It wouldn't sound right either considering how well they didn't get along most of the time, despite their growing friendship.

"Of course it would be easier to protect you if one of us was staying with you." Ichigo continued deciding since he had started the conversation he might as well finish it. He continued ignoring the way Ishida was glaring at him. If Ishida wasn't going to listen to him alone he would be forced to listen to everyone else' opinion on the matter. "I'll volunteer since he lives closest to me." He smirked triumphantly at Ishida knowing he would soon get his way. He was sure Orihime wouldn't volunteer as she was a girl. He was sure Chad was unlikely to volunteer just because he wasn't as close to Ishida as he was to the others. While if he were to stay with Ishida, Ichigo could still keep tabs on his own family. Or if he had to he could coerce everyone into making Ishida stay with him. There wouldn't be much the Quincy could do against all of them, not that he had wanted to go this route. Ishida had forced his hand.

"That's a good idea." Urahara agreed also deciding to ignore the Quincy's displeasure as well as the cold glare aimed at Ichigo. "It would be in your best interests to have a protector at home. We don't know if they will try to seek you out or not." Beside him he could see Tessai nodding his assent.

"I agree." Chad added nodding slowly finishing his meal. His mind was elsewhere centered on a cute younger Kurosaki with whom he was supposed to be having a study session later. She had asked him for help in one of her subjects, something she told him she out right refused to ask Ichigo about. He was supposed to help her over dinner and now he couldn't be sure he would be able to keep those plans. If Ichigo wasn't going to be home to eat dinner there he couldn't just show up for dinner without him. And he also couldn't just show up as her tutor since her Father had no idea she was getting tutored when he came over. He would have to ask Ichigo about it as soon as they figured this all out. Maybe they could stay for dinner when Ichigo got his things and have Ishida join them. It wouldn't hurt Yuzu's feelings to have more guests and he would still get to see Karin.

"I don't think it's a bad idea." Orihime nodded quickly smiling happily. She was excited to walk Ishida home she had never been to his place before. Not that it was his place was she excited to go to but Ichigo's was close by so maybe she would be able to find out where he lived as well. Maybe they could all have dinner at Ichigo's so they could protect Ishida while Ichigo grabbed his things.

"I will think about it." Ishida sighed this was not how he had wanted today to go. He had wanted to go home and do more looking into getting his powers back. Certainly there had be better options but he couldn't settle into research with Ichigo sitting there staring at him like he was right now. Triumphantly smug and overbearing like he knew he was going to get his way. Which in honesty he most likely was as they would all be escorting him home. He could tell from the look on Orihime's face she was expecting to go to Ichigo's to get his things and be protecting him the whole time.

"That's all we can ask, it is after all for your own protection." Urahara smiled already knowing that Ishida really wouldn't have a choice in the end. For awhile he might be able to put it off, it wouldn't be for long. Mentally Urahara decided he would do his best to help the Quincy get his powers back. He knew who had possession of what they needed, but getting it would be hard.

A/N: Well that's all for now. Please review! With the following if you don't mind as I would like constructive feedback!