I'm really sorry for the unbelivably slow update T.T

*sigh* Then again, i kinda give up on trying to update faster...

still, it kinda sucked that it has been this long and the story has just started to take flight . i really need to update faster but my brain just refused to work...

now, my writing has become so weird... T.T

Hopefully, with my long holidays, i could get it over with and update much faster -_-

DISCLAIMER: I do not own bleach, if i did, i wont sulk all the time because of how how bad my drawing is T.T

*in case you didn't notice italic words is the thought of the characters

Chapter 7, Who Are You?

He groaned in displeasure. His body felt so heavy and stiff, as if it was made out of rocks. He figured that it was the after effect of the long rest he has taken. He stretched his hand and neck as he step down the stairs, for the sake of finding some food to please his empty stomach. Again, another effect of his really long nap.

As soon as he reached his living room, a girl has captured his curiosity, locking his sight on the new girl... No that's not right, calling her new girl felt so wrong, after all, they both has known each other for so long... Right?

He scowled, wondering where did that came from.

De-Ja-Vu. Ichiru often wonders what that one word supposed to mean. But the very moment he step down the stairs and meet the raven-haired girl, that word is the only one that's fit to describe how he was felling right now. That deep violet eyes... That petite body.. Her body posture... There's no mistaking it, he knows her. But how? He was sure, really sure that he has never set her eyes on her even once on his live. This is their first meeting ever. And yet... She felt like an old friend, one that he hasn't seen for so long. After everything they had been trough together, he even considered her as a part of his family. She is that important to him...

Ichiru forced down a gasp as his thought registered to his mind. What the hell he has been thinking! He never meet her, period. All this thought about meeting her before was so ludicrous. Maybe that hit he got from the hollow has given him a brain damage?

Rukia was busy, she was helping Inoue to prepare the food. Thanks god Ray has given her a recipe to follow, otherwise she would be pretty sure that she would end up poisoning everyone. She sighed as she washed the last of the kitchen utensils.

After drying her hand, she was about to head to the door until she notices that someone was looking at her rather.. Intently... She tried to hold down gasp as she found the orange teen leaning on the door, looking at her with those intense blue colored and a scowl. However, her voice betrays her, her eyes widen in surprise. "I... Ichiru..." She called, stuttering on the name. It was weird and awkward, especially when Ichiru looked so much like Ichigo and the name sounds so much alike as well.

Ray and Inoue have told her about everything. About who Ichiru is and that he is not Ichigo. Upon learning on the truth, once again, her heart was plunged into a deep sadness. The pain and burden that has left her before came crushing down, weighting her shoulders once more. It took a while before she accepts that fact, the fact that Kurosaki Ichigo is gone.

"So, Kuchiki Rukia... Right?" Ichiru asked as he walked towards her, still giving her a stare, but his scowl was replaced by a slight smile forming on his face. Its best to make a good first impression.

Rukia was shocked, how can he know her name, she haven't told him yet, so how could he know?. Her mouth was agape and was about to say something, but was silenced when Ichiru gave her his right hand, signaling her to accept it as token for their new friendship.

"Yagari Ichiru, nice to meet you"

Still in the state of slight shock, she took his hand. "aa... Nice to meet you... As well" she said, again stuttering on the words. it was at the moment of contact that she noticed the reiatsu he was emitting... It was such a nostalgic felling… His reiatsu is the same... like his... that cant be.. Why? How could he..?

Upon noticing the confused looking girl in front of him who just refuse to let go his hand, and was starring at in intently, he started to get worried.

"Kuchiki!" he called, but no response. She's still zoning out. "Kuchiki-san!" he called again with a scowl. This time, he uses his free hand and waves it in front of her eyes, hoping to get her to snap out of whatever trance she got herself into. "Hey!"

Rukia blinked as she noticed that Ichiru has been calling her all this time. "aa.. Sorry about that.. " She said as she let go of his hand.

"are you sure you're alright? Kuchiki" Ichiru asked, he was worried, he knows there is something bothering her. Kuchiki Rukia rarely stutters, except when she was confused or uncertain about something... Again, he scowled on these foreign thoughts that keep on offending his mind.

Rukia flinched on how Ichiru called her as "Kuchiki" it was way to similar like how her late superior, 'Kaien Shiba' sounds like. "Yes.. I'm fine" she said with a weary smile. "Anyway, just call me Rukia"

"Okay then, Rukia, thanks for saving me back then" he said.

Rukia was stunned, did how did he knows what happen? Did he saw that hollow, or her? But back then, he was completely oblivious of her presence.. Then how could he... She did felt that reiatsu now, unlike back then..

"Ray told me everything" he continued "he said that you saved me when I was attacked by that... Hollow.. Thing..."

As Rukia processed the sentence, she came into the conclusion that the reason how he know her name was because Ray told him, and so does with the incident. She cant help but to fell a bit of disappointment, she knew that he isn't Ichigo, but she was hoping that he is, at least could open his eyes to the world of spirits.

Now that he knows of the truth, she has some explaining to do. "its fine, it is my job anyway, as a Shinigami"

"Shini.. What?"

"Shinigami, it is our job to protect human souls, and purify the hollows"

Shinigami, that's what the girl said.. He felt that feeling that he know about this but can't just seem to remember... either way, there is something he need to ask first.

"Hollow.. That masked monster thing... What is that anyway.."

Rukia gasped on the question he gave. He knows how they looked like... Then, that means...

"You.. You could see that?"

"Well yeah... I can't see it at the beginning but.. I could see it now" he replied while rubbing the back of his neck. Remembering the whole stuff isn't that comfortable to him after all.

"Very well then, let me explain it to you then" she said as she took out a sketchbook

Ichiru winced on the sight, for some reason, he got a bad felling about it...

The bad felling proved to be true as the Shinigami started to explain with the horribly drawn images of Chappy the Rabbit.

"We, Shinigami has two jobs, the first one is to use konsou on plus souls and guide them to soul society, the afterlife. In the world of the living, I believe that it was called as 'pass on' explained the Shinigami as she shown him a Chappy drawing with background divided into 2, the writing of living world and soul society could be seen. "Following me this far?"

"Well... Actually... It would be much better without the weird pictures" Ichiru replied. He got a bump on his head as Rukia hit him hard with her sketchbook, followed with a death glare, daring the teen to say anything back.

The said teen decided it would be much better if he kept silent about it. At least, this time, he was free of kido and that baron moustache... Huh?... he sighed on gaining another of those weird thoughts.

"Anyways, the second is to purify hollow souls" Rukia continued, snapping Ichiru back from his thoughts. "You see, hollow are originally a plus, however, their chain of fate severed and created a hole on their chest. They will also gain mask on the same time"

Ichiru gasped on her last sentence, now she is telling him that.. That monster.. "Wait... You mean that hollows used to be human?"

"All ghost used to be human... Unless if they are animal... Those are different kind of spirit" Rukia said as she resist the urge to roll her eyes upon the dumb question Ichiru gave her.

"Then, doesn't that mean-"

"Fool! Killing a hollow doesn't mean we are killing it completely" shouted Rukia as she had enough of Ichiru's interjection while she was explaining. It has effectively shut his mouth with a gasp.

"Listen well, hollows that are killed by our Zanpaktou will be cleansed and sent to soul society, thus it was called as purifying"

"Ah... I see.."

Rukia sighed, really, this guy is as hopeless as Ichigo is... "Be thankful, normally, I would modify your memories after the incident but, I forgot to bring it with me"

Modify memories? Don't tell me she was going to-

"Yo, did you made friends already? That's fast" said the blond coming from his back taking the couples attention. His grey colored school uniform was intact, immaculate and clean. Perfectionist, as Ichiru called him.

Ichiru cursed beneath his breath. He close back his gaping mouth as he was about to retort to the raven haired midget sized Shinigami beside him, at least before he was outspoken by the blonde.

"Ah right! Ichiru, hurry up and change, unless you want to be late" continued the blonde.

He sighed, oh well.. Seems like he won't be getting breakfast today...

Soul society, the world where every human goes after death. (unless if they turn into a hollow..) In the middle of the expansive world, there lies Seireitei with all of it's glory.

Once again, Seireitei was in shambles, death god from all division was running about the place, delivering urgent message to the captains that was spread in the forbidden city. Seireitei, the home of all Shinigami and the central jurisdiction where the gotei 13, along with central 48, regulate the flow of souls as the balancer.

It was a busy day for the white haired captain of tenth division, especially how his lieutenant is...

"MATSUMOTO!"

The shout has successfully woken up the busty lieutenant without a moment of delay.

"Eeep! Taicho! Is it time to head back?"

A tick formed in the head of the short captain. He could not tolerate his subordinate's lazing around while he has to do all the hard work.

"Time to head back?" he said dangerously. His lieutenant could see the bright blue aura coming from his body, waving his scarf behind his back. "You won't be heading back, not until you finished the paperworks that has to be done"

Rangiku trembled under the malicious tone of her captain, it seems that she has to go over time again. Taicho has gotten a lot scarier than usual...

A black butterfly flutters without sound to the 10th division barracks. As soon as it's presence was known, the two officers rushed to get the message from the hell butterfly. With a grace, it fly down to Rangiku's finger and gave the message it holds.

"To all captain's of gotei 13, your presence was requested for an emergency meeting" she said, relaying the message it has.

"Emergency meeting? At a time like this!" exclaimed the shocked captain. After the downfall of Aizen, and the unfortunate death of Kurosaki Ichigo, the substitute Shinigami, no emergency meeting has been issued. It has been peaceful, too peaceful perhaps, after all that has happened... Still, the thought of attending emergency meeting once more has given him more worries and question than he wants.

Noticing the captains confused face, Rangiku couldn't help but wonder. The sudden emergency meeting has put them on edge. It is, after all, never been held except in dire situations.

"Taicho!" she shouted, snapping the captain from his thoughts.

"Yeah, let's go Matsumoto!"

"Hai!" she exclaimed she he flash steps out of her office, following the captain that went ahead of her to the first division meeting room.

As they run, Toshiro started his train of thoughts again, finding the possible reason of the sudden emergency meeting, it was in vain as he has not known the slightest idea on what was happening. What in the world is going on?...

Ichiru was walking leisurely with his friends as he head for his class. He could never get used to the attention that his fellow students was giving him, like he's some kind of ghost or something… He sighed. Why should he attract this much attention! He hates attention, it pissing him off him as much as Aizen does.. Whoever he is..

Recap, he hates the attention as much as he hates these thoughts that came out of nowhere, it seriously making him crazy.

"IIIIIIIIIIIIIII~CHIIIIIIIIIIIIII~" and that annoying brunette as well.. "GOOOOOOOO!"

Without thinking, Ichiru lifted his bag and hit it right to the brunette's face, slamming him to the floor.

"how can you be so energetic this early in the morning" Ichiru said with a scowl, giving him even more attention, especially with the group. They were felling quite nostalgic, it's been a long while since the last time that happens.

"you still doing it even now... Really, you guys never change..." Rukia said with a sigh as appeared behind them

"Ah! Ohayou Kuchiki san! its been a long time" said Mizuiro as he step on the currently floored brunette.

"You guys know each other?" Ray asked, surprised that they know the Shinigami.

"Of course, two years ago she's our classmates after all" replied Mizuiro

"Is that so..." he said, well, it seems that there's still lots of things he didn't know... "Still, you knock him up pretty good Ichiru" he points the said brunette with his thumb "but don't you think it's a bit rough? It's just a greeting"

Ichiru sweat dropped. Truth to be told, his body moves without even him knowing, some kind of reflex. He didn't even felt sorry from the brunette as it has become a regular occurrence. It would be weird if he didn't do that right?

Another one... He holds down a sigh as another weird thought assaulted his mind. He has gotten even more of them since that hollow thing attack him.

"Ichiru?" asked the blonde once again. Ichiru has gotten a bit weird ever since his untimely arrival to Japan, it worries him like no other. Hopefully, it wasn't because of that incident two days ago...

"Huh? Ah.. yeah..." he stuttered. He really need to think of something.. "Well, uh... If I didn't do that, I will be the one falling right? So I have to push him back with force" this time, he said it with his serious face.

"Ah, i see" ray said with a sweat drop "the laws of physics..."

"Besides, my name is not Ichigo, its Ichiru" he said, irritated with his other name.. Since when did it become his other name?...

"Aw, come on, it's easier with 'GO' than with 'RU' in the end!" replied the brunette as he was revived on point zero seconds. "isn't that right, Kuchiki-san~"

Rukia did an exparated laugh. She's rather not be involved in this conversation.

"Is that so, Asano-san?" replied Mizuiro without even lifting his gaze from his phone.

"Mizuiro.. Why are you so distant with me" the eccentric brunette was actually crying as he tried to hug his friend which was halted as Mizuiro replied "it's just your feelings, Asano-san" with indifference.

Ichiru sighed as he scratched his head. He got one crazy new friend, that's for sure. Now that all the commotion is over, better get going to class now...

"By the way, Ichiru" Tatsuki said, as they were walking to their seat. "Did your Japanese just got a lot better?"

"Eh.. Really?"

"It's true!" Inoue exclaimed as the topic was brought up "Yagari-kun is amazing! You could barely make a sentence on the first day, and now you're talking like a true Japanese"

Ichiru give it a thought. Now that she mention it, he did got better, a hell lot better actually. Speaking Japanese is like talking in his own native language, as if he was using it his whole life. But that can't be, it's not that long since then, so how can he got miraculously better in a flash...

He was busy with his own thought until he spotted him, that kid with glasses, the one he met on his first day. Who is his name again?.. Willy? Nah, to much of an American name.. Ishun?... Nah that's not it... Ishiguro? Well, whatever... Either way, that Ishi-something flashed a look his way and gestured to follow him.

Ichiru narrowed his brows as he was curious on what the glasses wants. In the end, he leaves his friend on the class as he went to pursue that guy.

The bell rang along with a loud bang as , opened the door with too much force. The students fell silent that instant and get back to their seat without even being told.

"Now, everyone should realize that Kuchiki-San is back with us, everyone, please treat her well, or else, I'll would just put you the detention" she said with her usual carefreeness.

Hearing that the student sweat dropped and started to whisper about whether it was a threat or not.

"Huh, so Yagari and Ishida isn't here huh" she said. That sentence brought light to everyone as they had finally realized the disappearance of their classmates. "Oh well... What can I do about it" she continues.

The rest of the student sweat dropped yet again, is it fine for her student skipping class?

Meanwhile, the rest of the group started to get restless from their disappearance, especially Rukia, what are those fools up to... she thought.

Thinking that something bad might happen if she left it the way it is, She clenched her fist and stood up, gaining the attention of the teacher. "Sensei! I need to go to toilet!" she exclaimed, the usual excuse, and proceed to ran without even waiting for a response. Chad and Inoue follows after her. Ray, who was worried sick for his friend also goes along with them, while Keigo got caught right before he left the room, yet again.

Ichiru followed the spectacled guy to the roof, where he was currently standing now. His intention is clear as he was giving Ichiru a sharp look. The look that only given to his enemies.. Seems like hes finnaly going to pick a fight with him..

In front of him, the Quincy stood proud and tall, yet not showing any weak spot for his opponent. The wind torrent waves past them, as they locked eyes with each other. Sweat trickled from his neck as the tension started to grow with each given seconds, yet his adversary looked calm and calculating. It was something that Ichiru couldn't do. He didn't know how but he knows that he has a weapon, while he didn't. Not to mention that quinces use bows, one wrong move and he could be killed right where he stand.

Ichiru furrowed his brows yet again, another one of those thoughts. But if those are true, then he is in a big trouble.

"Yagari Ichiru" said the Quincy as he straightened the position of his spectacles with his index finger. "You can no longer hide, I have known everything and seen past your deception"

Ichiru grow even more restless as he said that sentence. His eyes widen in surprise, what the hell he's talking about...

"spill it out Yagari, who are you?" he said with a dangerous glint on his eyes.

It was that very moment Rukia and the rest has arrived on the he scene, just enough to hear Ishida's surprising question.

"Ishida..." Rukia breathes out. With a glance she knows that Ishida would kill Ichiru without second thought. He has labeled him as his enemy. But why?... Rukia heard the whole story from ray and her friends. Ichiru might looks like Ichigo, and his reiatsu did felt like his, but never the less, it wasn't him. Even if Ishida thought Ichiru as Ichigo, he wasn't his enemy, well... At first, but they were comrades on arms after the whole Menos incident two years back, when he just received his Shinigami powers from her. What is it... what is it that made him thinks Ichiru as his enemy..

"Ishida-kun!" exclaimed Inoue as she was about to run and stop all of this nonsense, however, she was outruned by ray as he shoved her back "Ichiru!" he screamed.

In a flash, a blue arrow hits the ground right in front of him, forcing him to stop running.

Ishida was now holding his 'Ginrei Kojaku' on ready, he can't trust the new students, especially when that Yagari guy hold back such a big secret.

"don't move!" he exclaimed. "I wont hesitate to shoot it through your heart"

Ray gulped on the threat, that guy is serious. He did better do what he said if he didn't want to be killed.

Ichiru can't hold this anymore, it was one thing if he threatened him, but now, his friend was also in danger. He can't help but let the anger raise inside himself.

"You bastard! You only have business with me, leave him out of it!"

"Ah, you do understand" said the Quincy "Now, tell us, who are you and what are your goals, deceiving all of us like this"

"What are you talking about!" he exclaimed, irritated on being treated as the bad guy of all things, he didn't deceive anyone, why would he do it anyways. He is not like that damned Aizen, being placed in the same book as he is made him mad, really mad "I'm not deceiving anyone, and I'm not hiding anything dammit!"

"Then, I'll make you!" he exclaimed as he, once again, about shoot his arrows.

"Ishida! Stop it!" exclaimed Sado, surprising everyone else "why are you doing this?"

Ishida stopped himself as the question is voiced.

"Don't you guys notice it?" he hold down his bow, it seems none of them did as they all just giving him a confused stare. "Very well, then I'll tell you" he said as various Reiryokui around him started to materialize, forming a bunch of ribbons that shoots out from the ground.

"That is...!" exclaimed Rukia in surprise, she never thought he could do it as well

"Yes, Reiraku (spirit threads) it is created from visualizing the Reiryoku around us" he explained as a ribbon formed in his free hand

"Do you know?"

As the ribbon finished its materialization, one could see the definite difference from other Reiraku. It was red. He holds it out in front of him, letting his audience see it even more clearly.

"Shinigami's Reiraku is red colored"

Ichiru frowns harder as he was confused on what it has to do with him on hiding anything. Although, he had this sense of familiarness with the situation. Like something similar had happened before. He shoved it down, this is not the time to be thinking about the random thoughts. Instead he shoot a sharp gaze to the Quincy. "Then what? What it has to do with whatever you thought I'm hiding"

"Aren't you a bit too laid back? I am this close to reveal the truth"

"What are you talking about?"

"Still in denial huh?.. Then, can you guess, who this thread belongs to?"

Ishida pull the thread, revealing the one it belonged to on the other end of the red ribbon.

The rest of the spectators gasped, the ribbon was clutching Ichiru's hand, coiling around his arms as it was waving in the air.

Ichiru has no idea what to say about this, he was as shocked as the rest of them.

"but that's-!" what he was about to say, however, was silenced as Ishida took out a glove. With his Hirenkyaku, he pushed Ichiru out of his own body, revealing his soul with black kimono along with band like thing that coiled on his arms and chest making an x kind of form. His neck and leg is also warped with the same thing.

Rukia's eyes widen as she saw the sight in front of her

"Ichiru is... How can it be..." she stuttered. It was just a couple of days that she just met him, she never realized that he is a Shinigami. With his back story and all, he cant be one... but If that's true then.. Who is he...

"Yagari-kun..." Inoue said in uncertainty. She didn't know who to trust any longer...

Sado, in other hand stayed silent, although, the apparent shock has shown in his facial emotion.

Ray was frozen on his place, he just can't believe his eyes. He had known Ichiru for a long time, he knows him well, all too well, in fact. That's why he knows…. He knows that Ichiru although having a shock of his own. He never deceived anyone, this revelation is also given him a big impact, just like everyone else is.

Ichiru was trembling, either from fear or shock of the truth that hit him right on his face. He is a Shinigami? A death god? But how? All the questions were running on his head now that it was giving him a huge headache.

"I'll say this one more time" said the Quincy as once again drawing the attention to himself.

"Yagari Ichiru, who in the world are you?"

EXTRA!

Orihime: "by the way, Ishida-kun, where did you get that gloves?"

Uryuu: "oh these?" *showed inoue the gloves*

Orihime: "yes! thats the one! its the same one like Kuchiki-san has right?"

Uryuu: "yes it is, i borrowed one from Urahara after helping him out earlier"

Orihime: "eh? helping out? what did you help out with?"

Uryuu: *flashes of him being used as test subject by Urahara, enslaved by Tessai, being teased by the evil brother and sister went past his mind and proceed to curl up on an emo corner while murmuring incoherent words

Orihime: "ishida... kun?" *sweat dropped

i guess thats all for now... told you that there would be cliff hanger on this chapter ;)

Its not that short right? somehow, i managed to make it (only) a bit longer than the last chapter... -_-

at least there is an extra in this chapter :D

...even though it is weird and just and explanation where did Ishida get the gloves from -_-'

PS. do you realize that this chapter's title is the same with the story's name? just exchange the places a little and it has a different meaning :D (I'm sorry, the author is having a brain damage -_-')

anyway, please REVIEW! if you want more XD