Lost Without You

A/N: Well I have been working the kinks out of this chapter so hopefully it lives up to my expectations! A big apology to anyone who saw the previous chapter 14 of crap and anyone else who saw it and wanted to read it. It wasn't up to snuff so I took down within an hour. Hopefully this will wet your appetite for more as it's coming! Slowly but surely.

Warning: Everything you know about the Bount has changed, Ishida is not a badass, and an abundance of Oc canon fodder. And eventual changing of the Vizard in upcoming chapters.

The walk to Ishida's flat was slow and quiet. Chad was helping Orihime who in turn was helping him walk. Ichigo had taken over caring for Ishida nearly growling at Dakota as he tried to help him walk. He was not feeling very comfortable with the information they had just learned but he had the feeling Ishida was probably taking it harder than him.

Studying Ishida's face a little more closely from this new perspective Ichigo wasn't surprised to his expression was closed off. It wasn't the first time he had seen this look and he knew it wouldn't be the last. The red head couldn't help cursing his luck that it was one of the few expressions he had yet to decipher on his stoic raven haired friend. Subtly he glanced ahead at Orihime and Chad who having been healed for the most part were just ahead of him following Ishida's directions. He could see the worry on their faces as they kept their eyes ahead. Something he was trying not to do too much as Hanataro and Dakota were leading the group luckily unseen by many.

He was certain they must look frightful to a passerby but there wasn't much else they could do. Luckily it was early enough in the morning that there wasn't much foot traffic and passing cars were not an issue on this street. Otherwise it was more likely they would be carting Ishida to a hospital and everyone else down to the station covered in blood as they were.

"It's that apartment there." Ishida pointed as they finally reached their destination slowing down considerably to make sure that no one would see them as they approached the stairs. It turned out to be quite difficult getting the injured up the stairs but after several minutes they were all huddled around Ishida's door as he fished out his key wondering how fate had decided to take such a twisted turn. Not only would Ichigo, a shinigami, now be entering his apartment for the first time would two other shinigami. Placing the key in the door he used Ichigo to slowly turn and look at everyone. "I realize that circumstance is not on our side but I ask you be respectful of my things and remove your shoes." With that said he turned back to the door and opened it feeling for the first time in days that he was truly at home even though all of the lights were off and he could barely see further than his shoe cubby.

"Like we would disrespect your things?" Ichigo said under his breath but allowed the Quincy to have his moment. It wasn't like the other teen had wanted to have his home invaded by a large group for a likely to be emotional conversation. And with that in mind Ichigo pushed back his plan to talk Ishida into letting him stay for later after Dakota and Hanataro had left.

Orihime was actually the next to follow the Quincy into the dimly lit apartment courteously removing her shoes and taking the slippers Ishida handed her. She couldn't help but wonder what laid beyond the darkness as she was expecting there to be a lot of light from the windows it looked like every apartment had. Chad was next though he politely refused the slippers instead wearing his socks as he didn't want to ruin the slippers with his large feet. Ichigo used this time to recollect Kon into his bag and instead of having him attend shoving the bag with him inside in an empty shoe cubby.

Once everyone was settled into slippers Ishida nodded to himself slowly. This might very well be the first time he had guests let alone shinigami. Turning back to them once more a serious look on his face despite the obvious pain his injuries were still giving him. "Please forgive the mess." With that said he stepped forward and the lights came on around them revealing a flat that hadn't quite expected of the usually reserved Quincy.

It was Dakota that finally spoke up with a shake of his head after a moment of un-remorseful staring by all parties. "If by mess you mean that one open book on the couch I think we're good." He couldn't say he knew Ishida in the least but one look at the expressions of his friends told him somehow they were surprised.

As it turned out Ishida's flat looked like a picture from a magazine with it's black leather furniture and well placed bookshelves that housed books that looked like they had actually been read. On the leather couch sat two off color pillows one the Quincy's blue and the other white a cross of the opposite color embroidered there. The pillows were the only sign of Quincy pride anywhere in sight. There was only one book out of place and it was pages down on the couch where it was obvious Ishida liked to spend his time reading if the reading lamp was any indication. In a corner there sat a very nice desk with a well used sewing machine and a very neatly organized cabinet of presumably supplies if the colors showing through the transparent drawers were to be believed. On the hard wood floor beneath the couch was a very fluffy looking white rug that drew your attention back there. On top of it sat a glass top table with two very comfortable looking black floor cushions in front of it placed directly in front of the tv across from them.

"It's polite to say." Ishida snipped before waving to them all and then to his couch and chairs. "Everyone else please make yourselves at home." He didn't add 'but not too at home' it really wouldn't have been necessary as he moved to pick up his book placing it back in it's home in one swift motion surprised when no one moved as he took his usual reading spot leaving him looking up at them.

"Where are all the Quincy crosses?" Ichigo asked finally breaking out of his stupor at the lack thereof. Beside him he could practically feel Orihime and Chad wondering the same thing.

"Just because I like the Quincy cross does not mean I need to have it everywhere." Ishida bristled then remembered why that was such a bad idea. Hanataro was by his side in seconds checking his wounds which much to everyone's displeasure would take more than minutes to heal.

"Don't move so much." Hanataro scolded him before taking the chair closest to him and allowing him to have a good view of Ishida's shoulder if he were to move. He found it was a lot more comfortable than it looked.

Chad shrugged his massive shoulders then took a seat on a comfortable looking floor cushion that was placed in front of the glass coffee table, not wanting to risk damaging the delicate looking furniture. Orihime sat next to him not surprised when Ichigo practically raced Dakota to seat on the couch beside Ishida.

As everyone sat the air filled to brim with anxiety and tension. No one wanted to have this conversation. Not even Dakota who was rather in the dark about why Urahara had not revealed his previous affiliations.

Being as reckless as he was want to be it was Ichigo that broke the discomforting silence with a question, one for which he felt the answer was necessary before they could move on. "Dakota, how much do you know about the Quincy?" Ichigo tried to ignore the flinch from Ishida this question and the picture that was sitting in his pocket now instead of Ishida's.

Dakota at least had the sense to look ashamed instead of dumbfounded there really weren't that many secrets within a unit and very few were withheld from the top. "I know what my Captain did to them as I have always been curious about Quincy where I'm from originally there really aren't very many of these same problems. I am after all an American who came to Japan..." The blonde trailed off with a frown casting his green eyes down at the table before him he didn't really want to get into his own history. After a moment he continued. "Of course I had nothing to do with it and I find it appalling. However I support my Captain and follow his orders." He couldn't help clutching his camera as he spoke nightmares of what could have been without Captain were never far behind the memories exposed in even that little bit of information.

Hanataro who had remained silent as his fellow shinigami spoke frowned. He knew about that Quincy and he also knew of Dakota's unique situation. There really wasn't much they could about that. "I think what Dakota is trying to say is that he would never support that kind of action but like all of us we have a reason to respect and follow our Captain."

Ishida nodded in understanding he had heard some of what Ichigo had told them about certain Captains and their almost life saving actions. It was almost like the Captains were gods to their men in some regards. Who else would have saved them after all? But a glance from the corner of his eye told him Ichigo was not buying this.

"Why would you..."

"Enough Ichigo." Chad stopped him mid-sentence weighing what had been said in his mind. There was no way for Dakota to be involved in the Quincy massacre if he was promoted a month ago. "Everyone has their reasons like Hanataro just said." This was something Chad could understand after enduring not fighting back for so long because of his own reasons.

Growling Ichigo let it go. He knew what Chad meant and he himself had reasons. Another silence fell a bit more comfortable than the last now that they could rest assured Dakota was not involved. Thought Ichigo still felt disinclined to trust him just yet. Things still weren't adding up on that end but he would ask for his answers later for now there was a more pressing issue. "So why didn't Urahara tell us he used to be Captain of Division Twelve?'

"I think I know..." Orihime volunteered not looking at anyone as she fiddled with her hands. She had wondered all along how it was that Urahara knew everything that he had. It would really only make sense that he was once a shinigami and with his knowledge wouldn't division twelve been the obvious place for him?

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

Is it up to snuff with the other chapters?

Favorite part?

Least Favorite part?

How was the writing? Were there a lot of errors?

Was the flow off? IS it too tension filled?

And anything else you'd like to add to help me along!