This is a chapter to have your tissue box ready. Warning this isn't nice. Features rape and self harm.

Before he can rise back up, Ichigo has to get to a point that he must rely on Byakuya to get better. So, this is going to be a little journey to hell and back.

Byakuya returned from his division and came to check up on his guests. He glanced at the still sleeping figure in the bed. After the display this morning he would have expected nothing else than to find him still asleep. His eye cast towards the door open to the garden and the figure sitting outside.

Isshin heard the footsteps approaching as he sat on the deck walkway with his feet trailing lazily in the gravel.

"The girls have gone for a walk with Rukia. They're still upset about this morning."

"This must be difficult for you all." Byakuya responding walking down the steps onto the gravel garden, picking up the rake as he passed it. "Here." He offered it to Isshin who looked at him bemused.

"…"

"You are messing up my garden." The noble stated simply. Isshin's eye cast over the rest of the gravelled area and the neatly raked pattern that snaked its way around the carefully placed shrubs, maples, and pond. He stood and accepted the rake. "Besides, I find it helps me to think clearly." The aristocrat added as he walked away.

Renji should have arrived with his paperwork by now to hep him set up a temporary 6th division office in his study.

-- ByakuyaXIchigo --

This time when Byakuya returned to the room, Ichigo was sitting in the chair beside the bed, his now usual blank stare looking past his sister Karin who stood hands on hips in front of him.

"Ichigo you stink. Go take a shower." He stood to comply. "Here fresh clothes." She held out some jeans and a t-shirt. The girl looked to the older man and gestured. "Dad's still doing your gardening."

"Thank you." he said simply and strolled out to see Isshin leaning against the rake admiring his neat handiwork.

"You do this a lot then?" A bearded grin asked.

"Daily."

"You always were a boring bastard." The grin said otherwise and Byakuya snorted. "So why the change in attitude towards my kid? I hear you two nearly killed each other more than once."

"You know me, I will always protect Soul Society. He was a threat… Although once I learnt his name… I was surprised by the hair."

"His mother's family." The man laughed. "Weird bunch."

The shower water dripped off his hair and stung his head, but Ichigo stood watching his reflection in the mirror. Part of him felt he wanted to relax, to let down his guard.

But part of him felt uneasy about this group of 'They'. They were so different from all the others. Confusion filled his mind, yet he didn't want to risk not being good. Doing as he was told was the only way to avoid the violence. Without his Hollow, whom he missed so much he didn't even dare use his name, he felt incredibly scared and alone. He said he'd come for me.

Everyone around him now was a stranger. So different. They didn't even seem to be Hollows. He could only remember ever being with Hollows – except him that man with the smile, that man who… He forced the thought from his mind and looked at himself frowning. I'm not a Hollow either. Is that what I look like? I didn't have a mirror in my room before…my room? He thought back to the place he'd been before. A white box. A white box with a shabby bed, a bucket for a toilet. The bedding was stained with his blood and smeared body fluids. The walls showed where he had been pressed against them, or thrown at. The stained floor showed more blood where he'd been left after being beaten.

There had never been any escape from the screaming of others, probably in rooms like his. That room where he was drugged and starved. That room that he shivered with cold in. That room where he dreaded to hear the footsteps approaching or the sound of the lock.

Everyone had been a Hollow, I thought I was one too. His hand touched the side of his face searching for a mask of bone.

But… But… I'd had a Hollow inside me… Had. He said he'd come. Why hasn't he come?

"Don't forget to brush your teeth and wash your hair!" Karin's voice yelled from outside the door. Karin's way of dealing with her upset was of course to pretend she wasn't. Her father, seemed to be unusually subdued and Yuzu was a complete mess – hence why Rukia had made her busy in the kitchen at the protest of the staff. No, she couldn't afford to loose her grip when everyone else had. Ichigo needed kicking in the right direction. She was going to do it.

The two men had now sat on a stone seat near the pond.

"…I was sorry to hear about Hisana. I guess that never really showed though did I?"

"No, you were too busy claiming I was still in denial." Byakuya recalled Isshin's angry tirades at him. Everyone else let him mourn, but not Isshin. He told him to grow up and face facts. Snap out of it and for pities sake admit he was gay.

"I thought you had married her out of spite."

"What because you said no? I was never in denial. I had no reason to let anyone else know what I was…am."

"I know you were pressured into getting married; I know that the rebellious guy you were back then made sure it wasn't to anyone they wanted you to be with."

"It seems my actions alienated my family and my best friend."

"You seem to have done alright out of it in the end… And Ichigo?"

"As you said the rebellious part of me…I have tried not to Isshin. I tried not to care as much as I do." They both sat in thought for a minute watching the fish and their graceful movement through the water. "Do you think your children would believe that we are the same age?"

"No!" Isshin laughed. The side effects of living in the real world and forgetting what he once was, meant he had aged as a human.

"Why haven't you told him you were a shingigami?"

"He had to chose his own path. Right now, that's even more important." The two men looked at each other and Byakuya knew he meant on a personal level now. "I don't think the girls should see Ichigo like this." Isshin confessed. Byakuya could tell this was taking a huge strain on the man to admit it. "It seems that you are the best person for him right now. I think I'll take the girls home."

He offered Byakuya a hand and they shook.

"I will keep you updated." Byakuya could not deny to himself he was relived. The girls were clearly deeply affected by seeing their brother as he was and it was the right decision. Isshin nodded a solemn nod.

"I know you'll look after him. I guess I owe you."

"What are friends for?" Byakuya said simply shutting the door on half a century of animosity.

"Dad, I can't get Ichigo out of the bathroom!" Broke their peace.

Ichigo stood hands gripping the sink. He knew he was in trouble, he'd ignored the voice outside the door. More footsteps meant they were going to be angry when they came in but he couldn't help it.

As much as he'd tried, as much as he hated it, as much as told himself, he couldn't stop seeing that man. That smile. Brown hair, brown eyes. That smile. His mind had gone back to the time they took Hichigo from him, and worst moments of waking after. Waking for the first time in his room.

Ichigo stirred on the uncomfortable bed. His head was pounding, his wrists and ankles stung. Slowly opening his eyes he stared around.

Where am I? What's going on? The total panic at not remembering anything but from the moment he woke was disturbing. He had no past, he had no memories. No knowledge of who he was. It was if someone had just created him.

The sense of loss in his life brought him screaming to his senses. Missing…he's missing…HICHIGO! HICHIGO! He screamed over and over until his voice went horse and he'd cried all the tears a human could possess.

His headache pounded down on him and his weakened legs didn't allow him to reach the door and plea for release. He had to find him.

The door! The door was opening. Help me, I've lost him. Help me…

A fist swiped him across his jaw and slammed him into the wall beside him. The man was smiling at him and grabbed him by his neck. Ichigo clung to the hands that severed his flow of air as his feet kicked helplessly as they hung far from the floor.

"When did he wake?" The brown eyes asked the pink haired one.

"Not too long ago. All he has done is scream for his Hollow."

"And how is he?"

"He didn't take so long to wake as this one. He's weak but growing stronger. I think you'll be impressed. What do you want me to do with this thing ?"

"For the moment I just want to enjoy how pathetic he is. You can leave us." He said releasing the gasping boy who fell to the floor clutching his throat and desperately dragging air inside him. A handful of hair turned the boys gaze to the still smiling brown eyes. "Ahh Ichigo. This is such a shame hey?" The man smiled more. "Tell me, what shall I do with you?" He waited for the cheek or insolance to start.

"Hichigo?" He wanted to see him, he needed him. It ached so much that he was gone. This emptiness was worse than anything he could think of.

The wall shook, his ribs gave an unmistakeable crack as he was thrown across the room. He slid down to the floor, panting in pain. Eyes opening wide in fear as the feet moved closer to stand in front of him, his head yet again dragged up by his hair.

"You don't talk." The man smiled. "Unless I tell you."

The man smiled that unmoving smile, his evil eyes dancing in sick pleasure as he released the teen and watched how pathetic his resistance was when he raised his retsui. The kid scrabbled on the floor, hands clawing the white tiles, panting for breath that his lungs could not drawn. His stomach visibly retching, sure if he's had food in the last three days that it would now be gracing the floor.

Aizen smiled recalling how similar Gin had looked and yet how willing the man now was for his masters punishment. Could Ichigo get to that point? He would be the prefect pet to add to his collection. How sweet a victory to have Kurosaki Ichigo crying out for me to make him suffer more. Crying out his name looking as pitiful as he does now.

The man leaned down "I can crush you without even lifting a finger. So if you talk, or move or so much as bleed without my permission and I'll have you wishing you were never born. Disobey orders and I will crush you with more pain than you can imagine. Got that?" His smiled widened as the boy nodded. "Good." The pressure finally dissipated and Ichigo spluttered a mouthful of blood onto the floor. "Stand."

Ichigo struggled to his feet, grimacing at the pain. He faced the man who towered over him. "Not quick enough." The dead pan voice said before a blow threw him like a puppet across the room.

Ichigo wheezed and slid to his knees. Blood splattered on the the wall marking where his head had connected to the plaster and continued in a trail that recorded his decent to the floor.

"Stand." The amused man repeated his command and watched the wretched child use the wall as an aid to stand. Aizen's laughter ringing out as he pushed his puppet across the room again.

Pitifully the creature sobbed and looked at him with huge puppy eyes pleading for it to stop. His voice wracked with words that he couldn't formulate in his pain & fear.

The severely tattered black kosode white shitagi uniform, ripped with ease from the damaged body as Aizen yanked it crudely. Cold air whipped at the hypersensitive skin beneath and Ichigo gasped clutching his arms around his body in a vain attempt to shield his naked form.

"Oh, so modest for one who seems to be quite fit." Aizen teased him, his hand cupping the fear frozen boys jaw and tilting it harshly up as to take in that beautiful scared face sobbing so wonderfully. The eyes closed trembling as a power crazed hand drifted over down the chilled skin pinching the nipples. A louder sob curled the smiling lips more. Now what would be the next reaction? Aizen mused as he let one hand cup the boys testicles and limp member.

"No!" The plea was almost silent, but Aizen still heard it. He heard it and saw the shamed face it echoed from.

"I did not give you permission to speak!" Aizen roared and gave one last punch on the kids shoulder. Ichigo stumbled back with force, this time the bed breaking his fall.

One powerful hand between his shoudler blades pinned him to the mattress, his knees cracking on the hard floor.

Ichigo screamed at the large forceful intrusion inside his rear. He screamed so desperate at the pain that no sound actually came from his lips.

Aizen smirked at the blood that lubricated the virgin passage and let the sounds of pain wash over him, fueling his arousal. Thrust after thrust he pressed harder into the boy that writhed beneath him until he was completely exhausted. Quiet whimpers and sobs silenced abruptly as Aizen felt his release imminent and pushed with last minute of vigor. The pain rose the kids head in one last defiant scream before he passed out at. Aizen groaned loudly and shot his seed with a vast pulsating shudder.

Standing he pushed himself inside his clothing and looked down at the unmoving toy. The ultimate show of power over a defenseless human completed. He swelled his chest with satisfaction and pride in his handiwork, letting out a low chuckle that he saved for these occasions. It was so beautiful. Ichigo was so beautiful laying there, blue bruises, pink raw flesh, blood flowing from his head and down his legs.

This was a scene he hoped to create again. He was a creative master and such beauty was a work of art after all.

The knocking on the door was insistent now and Ichigo could still feel the pain from Aizen as if it had just happened. He looked in the mirror at the face he now felt hatred for & smashed his hands into the reflection. He whimpered in pain and looked at the blood beginning to dribbled down his arm. Shaking fingers picked up a shard from the sink and looked at it.

Byakuya snatched the tools from the slow moving servant as he heard the crash. He threw them down on the floor in frustration and rammed his hip against the door forcing the door open.

"Ichigo!" He saw the blood running from Ichigo's arms and looked at the teen as his continued slashing at his left arm with a shard of the mirror. "Ichigo stop!" Not caring for himself he snatched the mirror shard throwing it into the bath. "Why? Why are you hurting yourself?"

"Don't hit me!" Ichigo cried flinching as he waited for the punishment, then confusion as the noble wrapped a towel tightly around the wounded arm.

Byakuya took the boys sobbing face into his hands.

"I promise you, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Then make it go away. Make it all go away!" The head dropped, shoulders shook and the tears fell. "Make it go away."

-- ByakuyaXIchigo --

Byakuya laid in bed. His futon would not have been in this room normally, but after today, it seemed that it was the best option to move it into Ichigo's room. If anything happened he would be right there to deal with it.

That was a good enough excuse for him.

Byakuya was almost asleep, but not quite. A shuffling in the bed near him roused him and he looked at the sheepish face of Ichigo appear beside him. His body stiffened as the teen climbed into the bed and snuggled into his shape.

"Ichigo?" He whispered. "What are you doing?" He asked at the feel of the bandaged arm against his chest.

"He still hasn't come."

"Who?"

"My Hollow."

"But he's inside your head. He's always there."

"They took him away." He whispered in a shiver as the memory gave a brief flicker in his mind. The voice sounded pathetic. "He hasn't come."

"What does he do when he comes?" Byakuya didn't want to ask the question as he feared the answer he would be given.

"… Makes them go away..." The voice was so quiet, he barely made the words out. A surge of painful love and caring stabbed at Byakuya and he sighed slightly dealing with the intense emotion he so rarely allowed himself. Ichigo's Hollow kept him safe. The implications of that seemed bizarre.

Byakuya tugged the cover over the teen and wrapped his arm around the boys back. How could he push away this trust that had been thrust upon him so soon. A trust he didn't want to push away whilst at the same time, one he didn't want to take advantage of. As much as he would want Ichigo willingly in his bed, he wanted a lover who acted upon free will.

Ichigo was a child right now. A child who needed support, understanding and safety. His vow of protection threw those at the orange haired youth gladly.

He rubbed the boys back soothingly.

"Promise me Ichigo, you won't hurt yourself again." The boys head nodded. "Sleep. I'll stay with you."

They lay quietly together. Both lost in thoughts from the far end of the spectrum of possibilities, but finding it comforting at being so close.

Ichigo felt so confused by everything that was happening to him. Where was he? Where were the all the other 'They'? No one he knew was around him anymore; not the one with blue hair who had come to him during the night. There wasn't even the green eyed one who hurt his chest. The pink haired man, nor the man who always smiled. No one. He didn't miss them. He didn't miss being hit, hungry or forced; but he missed his Hollow.

He looked after me. He promised to take me somewhere safe… Is this the place? But he promised he'd come and get me. He'd promised me.

"Do you know where my Hollow is?" Byakuya didn't think that Ichigo had fallen asleep, but he wasn't prepared for the question out of the blue.

"Hueco Mundo."

"Why's he there?"

"That's where the Hollows live."

"I'm not a Hollow?"

"No." Byakuya paused at that unusual question. "Did you think you were?"

"The mirror…I saw myself."

What did they do to you Ichigo?

"When's he coming?"

"I don't know."

"He said he'd come back for me!"

"Sleep Ichigo. He's not coming tonight."

Gradually as he listened to him, Ichigo finally fell sleep. His breathing fell into a restful steady rhythm and his body laid comfortable against the sleek pale figure. In his hand, clenched tightly, a tuft of long dark hair.

-- ByakuyaXIchigo --