A/N: I'm quite saddened at something. I was looking at my story 'Relentless' and checked its traffic since it was uploaded and found that, out of 303 visitors, not a single person took time to review it :/

Also, I've opened up my beta profile, so if any of you are looking for a beta then drop me a message!

And, just because I'm so excited that I feel like I have to tell you all...I'm going away on Monday! A full week away with all of my friends in our favourite static caravan once again :D So, unless I post again before Monday, don't expect any more updates til I get back :)

Ichigo cracked his eyes open as weak rays of sunlight filling the room. He groaned and rolled over, blearly checking the clock. He blinked. 7am? Wasn't it dawn when he had passed out? But he felt like he'd had a full sleep. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling when realisation hit him. 'I've just slept for 24 hours.' He wasn't complaining though, he had never felt that tired and he wasn't just physically tired, the strain the control and fighting it had put on his mind had made him mentally exhausted. The sleep had maybe done him good. He felt a bit fuzzy but put it down to having slept so much and clambered off the bed and he cringed as he pulled off his robes and the cloak he'd been made to wear. They were covered in dried blood and dust and he hadn't bothered to change before he went to bed. He got in the shower and spent half an hour making sure he had gotten all of the blood off his skin before putting on a fresh shihakusho and haori. He looked out of the window of his barracks window. The sky was clear of smoke, so the fires must have been put out, but he could see where the cliff face had been sliced off.

Looking at the destruction he'd caused had him feeling like a hand had a hold on his heart and was squeezing it. He thought off all of the people he'd hurt, all of the destruction he'd caused. How he'd nearly killed the love of his life. The Head Captain had said he wouldn't be punished but he felt like he should be because he should have been able to stop it.

Toushiro would be in the hospital right now, but he didn't want to visit him, he didn't think he could. He couldn't face his mistakes yet. He'd never felt this bad before. The thought of leaving his home and facing people left him anxious.

In the silence, he could hear an echo of Akane's voice in his mind. 'Destroy them.' He pushed the memories back where they belonged as his anxiousness increased.

Although he'd washed himself thoroughly, he felt like he could still feel the blood he'd spilled irritating his skin and the metallic smell of it invading his senses.

A knock on his door brought him out of his revere. He shuffled to the door and opened it a crack, peering out at his visitor.

"Ichigo! I mean, Captain Kurosaki!" Momo smiled, relief washing over her face. "Leiutenant Kotetsu said you never came for a check up so I thought I would check on you."

"Oh, okay."

"How are you feeling? Did you have some sleep?"

The fuzziness in his head increased a notch. "Plenty, thanks."

"Good. Maybe it's best you do go to the fourth division soon though. And then you can visit Shiro-chan! He hasn't woke up yet and I'm really worried about him."

"Yeah, maybe. Momo, can you leave me alone." Her presence had caused the man a bit of annoyance.

She looked shocked at his words, but nodded regardless. He closed the door on her and leaned against it.

Realising that being in such an obvious place could mean more unwanted visitors, Ichigo gave Momo time to leave before leaving himself. He flash stepped away, sneaking his way towards Byakuya's garden. He would go there. And hopefully Rukia would know to keep her distance.

Obviously not.

He sat there for an hour, torturing himself with thoughts over what had went on over the last few weeks and especially a day ago, before Rukia showed up. He had his eyes closed, but a scowl on his face to show his distaste.

"Why haven't you been to see Captain Unohana yet Baka?"

"Wow not even a hello." Ichigo stated, not in the mood to deal with her. His head still hadn't fully cleared of the fuzziness and, like a headache, it just increased when he was being pestered by people.

"You need to go get checked over. Make sure your okay. And you haven't been to see Captain Hitsugaya yet."

In his head he could hear Akane's previous influence echoing about again. 'Hurt her. Kill her.' He pushed the memories away again and grit his teeth for a moment as his scowl deepened. "I've only been awake for about an hour and a half, forgive me for not rushing about."

"Well then go now, your clearly not doing anything pressing."

He opened his eyes and stood up, so that he was standing within reaching distance of the smaller girl. "Fine!" He almost shouted. "I'll go get this fucking check up."

He didn't even wait to hear her reaction before he turned his back on her and walked away, intent on getting it over with before more people bugged him about it.

Rukia's expression had turned angry and was about to shout back an angry retort at his retreating back, but she stopped herself and her expression softened. He'd just been through a lot and he was probably torturing himself enough over it. Of course he wasn't going to be happy about it. 'Poor Ichigo.'

"Well, physically your a lot better than everyone else. I've healed your deeper wounds and bandaged you up, but nothing was life threatening. No broken bones." Captain Unohana spoke, clearing up the equipment she'd used while Ichigo sat on the edge of a bed. "How are you coping mentally?"

"Are you trying to suggest I could have mental problems?" He bit out.

"Not all," she said, calm as ever. "A lot of people would feel strain after that kind of pressure or possession, but I can't perform tests on the mind like I can on the body. Do you feel like everything is back to normal?"

He didn't speak for a moment, thinking about the fuzzy feeling he'd suffered with since he woke up. "I feel perfectly fine."

"Okay, well I'm satisfied that you can leave."

"Thank you. Where's Captain Katenashi?"

"She's been put in one of the cells near the 1st Division now that her condition is stable. And also, Captain Hitsugaya is in the room two doors down."

Ichigo nodded before taking his leave. He paused outside of Toushiro's room, but did not enter. He left the barracks and began walking. He had no particular destination in mind, but found his feet taking him in the direction of a certain someone. He didn't even think twice about walking into the building and finding the room he was looking for. He walked through the door and saw Akane Katenashi sitting on a simple wooden chair. The only thing on her side of the bars that were keeping her contained. He asked the guards to wait outside, all the while he stared at her and her smug expression.

"Its nice to see you Ichigo."

He remained silent. He still didnt understand something.

"You didn't have to do it."

His words actually seemed to shock the prisoner. "What do you mean?" She asked catiously.

"You didn't have to get revenge. You could have gone about all fo this a totally different way."

She raised an eyebrow, "And how exactly do you think I should have done it?"

"Getting revenge like this makes you no better than the people you getting revenge on. You could have came to the Seireitei and told them of what was going on. You could have came here and made a difference, a permanant change. Destroying the Soul Society's protection and workers would have only made things worse for you and everyone else in the Rukongai and the World of the Living!"

She merely laughed. " You think just telling somebody would have changed anything? This isn't a classroom bullying case, this is theft, rape and murder."

"Regardless, this makes you just like them."

"How dare you say that!" Akane roared, leaping from her seat and clutching at the bars. Ichigo finally striking a chord with his words. "I will never be like that scum."

"But you are!" He growled, just because they were like that, doesnt mean all Soul Reapers are like that. Surely you saw that the minute you came into the Seireitei! You planned on destorying hundereds of innocent people, just like they did!"

"Don't say that."

"I'll say it a hundred times until it sinks in. Then again, your going to be locked up for a long time. That should give you plenty of time to wrap your head around it."

She didn't reply. Her eyes shone with the same desperation he'd seen on the cliff.

"I won't be."

"What?" he said, her words perplexing him.

"I won't be locked away."

"Really? Because if I have anythign to do with it, you will be."

She laughed at his words, as if they meant more to her than they did to him. "No, you're wrong. You're going to break me free."

Ichigo scoffed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Why the fuck would I do that?"

Only seconds after speaking, his vision became fuzzy and a buzzing began in his ears. He found it hard to think and comprehend but could feel his body moving. It took a couple of seconds but he finally recognised the weird feeling and what he was doing. He used all of his will power to stop himself and, if his conclusion was right, push her out of his mind. He came back to himself with him gripping the bars separating them and was aware of the force he was trying to put on the metal. He pulled his hands back like they were burned and his eyes shot to hers. Disappointment and expectation shone in them.

"I didn't think it would work. Not right now."

"How?" Was all he could manage. He was utterly shocked. It had even seemed easy for her.

"I told you before. Even if you force me out, your not free."

"But...your zanpakuto was cut in two."

"Yes, it was. But that just weakens my power and prevents me from taking a new victim. I would have used someone from the 3rd division but they wouldn't have the authority to get in here, especially alone. And they couldn't protect me."

"And neither will I!" Ichigo bit out.

"Maybe not but..." She trailed off, looking to the side in a dramatic way.

Ichigo growled, "But what?"

She looked back at him, a smirk playing on her lips, "But I can still control you if I try hard enough. And I can still influence your thoughts."

Ichigo's eyes widened. If this was true, then he was still a danger to everyone. He could still hurt people.

"I know what you're thinking," she laughed. "And you can't stop it. No one can."

Ichigo took a step back.

"You're mine."

He backed out if the room quickly and ran down the corridor. Ignoring the alarmed looks he received from the guards who waited outside the room.

Her words echoed in his mind and he knew now that they were not memories. The buzzing in his ears increased. 'You can't escape me.'

He shook his head, trying to shake her back. 'Stop running. You'll make people suspicious.'

His legs became heavy and made to slow down, but he forced them to keep moving like they were. He could hear her tinkling giggle in the back of his mind.

For the first time in a long time, he heard his inner hollow speak. 'King, don't let her get ya again. I'm not gonna let ya compromise my future body by getting ya self killed by a bunch of soul reapers!'

He didn't respond to him. He felt her push the hollow back down, understanding why he hadn't heard from him in so long.

His hollow had a twisted point. But where could he go? He saw the edges of his vision go blurred as he felt her push herself forward. Trying to take control again. It felt like he was going to pass out. Losing her zanpakuto might have weakened her power, but she was so deeply rooted in his mind that he could barely fight it off.

He forced himself forward, taking a wild guess at where he should go. He wouldn't go to the 12th division. Kurotsuchi would probably take advantage and conduct secrets tests on him. He wouldn't be able to make it all the way to Urahara in the World of the Living either. So instead, he ran to the nearest, and hopefully helpful, person. Head Capatin Yamamoto. By the time he reached the division, he could barely keep himself in control. He practically dragged himself though the corridors and forced his way through Yamamoto's office doors, weakly forcing his way through the guards.

One look at Ichigo and the Head Captain stood up, quickly walking from around his desk.

"Akane... my head. Control - can't..." was all Ichigo could manage before abruptly passing out.

MisaxMisa: Halp Ichigo!

Ichigo: x_x

Yamamoto: What do I do? *panics*

MisaxMisa: ...we're all screwed!