Response to reviews~!

Eh, guess I'll do this again. don't wanna leave y'all hanging on such a crappy cliffhanger. So shall I get to the part where I can do the impossible; I will make you hate Ichigo. XD Don't believe me? We shall see...*evil grin*

Chapter 8

"Is that seriously all there is?" Rukia asked, now sitting in her gigai in Ichigo's small kitchen.

"Yeah, believe it or not." Ichigo sighed. "I don't understand it at all." He looked at the albino, who was currently sitting on the floor of the small living room with Orihime, looking at a small puzzle and both trying to put it together. "Orihime likes him...but I don't trust him at all."

"I can understand that. He's a Hollow still...his spiritual pressure feels kinda off, but other than that fact..." Rukia nodded. "Yet judging by what I've seen now, he doesn't act like a threat. Ichigo, are you sure you're just not in denial?"

"Denial of what?" Ichigo snapped. "He's a fucking Hollow; my Inner Hollow to boot! I know what he's like. He's sneaky and heartless."

"...I guess." Rukia said, hearing the Hollow chuckle a bit before finishing the puzzle up.

"Nice work! This puzzle took me forever~!" Orihime said. "It's easier with two people, huh?" Shiro smiled and nodded.

"Do...w..we have...an...nother...o-one?" He asked in his stuttering voice.

"Hmm...I think there's a 5000 piece puzzle at home! I'll be right back!" As she srushed past the kitchen, Ichigo stopped her.

"I want to try it tonight." Orihime stopped and looked at Shiro nervously. "I'll talk to him ok, if it makes you feel a bit better."

"...Ok then. I'll be back soon!" She said and ran out the door.

"Try what?" Rukia asked, giving the Hollow a glance as he fumbled putting the puzzle away. As Ichigo explained it, Rukia's purple eyes widened. "You think that'll work?"

"I'm not too sure...but it's worth a try right?"

"What if it hurts him, does more harm than good?" Ichigo stopped and looked at her.

Who cares? His mind told him. How many times has he hurt you? How mamy times has he thretened everyone? But his heart spoke differently, yelling at him that it would be wrong. Just like the day I had brought him home... "I don't know. He deserves it, but-"

"Ichigo!" Rukia smacked his hand that was resting on the table. "You did not just say that."

"Say what?"

"No one deserves to suffer Ichigo...don't speak like that." Rukia muttered. Ichigo sighed and scratched his head.

"Sorry, it slipped out. I'll talk to him about it ok?" Rukia nodded and watched as Ichigo stood up and grabbed Shiro's arm, leading him further into the bedroom.

Ichigo, what's bugging you so much? She wondered. Why does it seem like you've changed?

Shiro was a bit nervous when Ichigo asked to speak with him privately. "Y...y-yes Ichigo?"

"Do you want your memories back?" Ichigo asked him, locking his brown eyes with Shiro's lavander ones. "Do you want to remember who you really are?"

"I...I...I d-don...n't kn...k-know..." Shiro muttered, looking at his hands as he started twriling them around each other. "I...I am af...fri...afri..."

"Afraid?" Shiro nodded. "Don't be. We'll all be in here ok?"

"I...I d...don't wa...nt t-t-o..." Ichigo sighed and placed a hand on Shiro's shoulder. He looked up at him and shivered. Something...something isn't right...why does he want...want this?

"Shiro, what of there's something very important you forgot? Or someone?" Shiro shook his head and closed his eyes. "Fine then...for me?" He looked back up with wide eyes.

"Would...w-would you b...be ha...appy?" He asked quietly. Would he like me? Was what he really wanted to ask.

"It would make me happy to see that we try." With that said, Shiro nodded. "You sure?"

"Yes..." Anything to make you accept me... He added to himself. Why...why won't he though?

When Orihime got back, she saw Shiro sitting on Ichigo's bed, Ichigo standing a few steps away. "So? You really wanna do it?" She asked quietly.

"Yes...I...I w-wanna tr...t-ry." Shiro nodded holding his hands closely to his chest. Ichigo looked at Orihime as she stared at the albino Hollow.

"I...I've never done something of this level before. I've healed physical injuries...not mental ones..." She admitted, making the Hollow's soft lavander eyes widen breifly. He then smiled and shook his head.

"T...try...pl-lease." He said, a hint of confidence in his tone.

That's a first... "Ok. Sotenkishun...I reject." She watched as the yellow shield covered Shiro's form and closed her eyes. I need to focus...but what is it I'm searching for? She wondered. Is it some kind of block? Or is it more like something stuck inside him?

"Relax a bit Orihime." Rukia spoke from behind her. "Just try to find what's missing." She encouraged.

Find what's missing...but only Ichigo really knows what's missing...She thought and sighed. She slowly reached out mentally towards her shield, trying desperatly to find what was 'missing'. A soft, strained gasp came from in front of her and she opened her eyes. Shiro was standing stiffly, his fists shaking as his eyes were shut. "Is he.."

"He's ok." Ichigo said. "Just taken by surprise I'll bet. He doesn't know what your shield feels like." She nodded and was about to close her eyes again when Shiro's eyes snapped open and he clutched at his head. He was gritting his teeth, trying to prevent himself from screaming as black began to slowly inch it's way across the white of his eyes.

"Ichigo?" Rukia asked. "I think-"

"It's working!" Ichigo said, sounding a bit surprised. "His eyes...that's what they normally look like." Shiro looked at Ichigo, his eyes wide.

"Pl...pl-ease...it...i-t hu...rts..." He groaned through clenched teeth, his hands gripping into his long hair even tighter. Rukia and Orihime watched as Shiro seemed to plead, but Ichigo ignored it.

What the hell's wrong with him? ! Rukia thought. Then again...this is a Hollow... "Orihime, give it another shot, ok?"

"But he's-"

"Just do it." Ichigo spoke up. Orihime nodded and pressed with her powers again. This time, however, Shiro fell on his knees, clutching his head and screamed.

"ST-TOP! PL...PLEASE!" He cried out. His spiritual pressure suddenly spiked and took the three by surprise.

"What is this spiritual pressure?" Rukia asked. "This...this is different from a Hollow's..." Orihime shook her head as she attempted to lower her shield.

"Just a bit more..." Ichigo urged her. Her eyes widened at how he sounded; emotionless.

Does he not care at all? Can't he see Shiro's in pain? "No...I won't do this anymore!" She snapped at Ichigo. "Look at him!" Ichigo turned to look into Shiro's pleading eyes and she watched as they widened. Wait...did he know-

"Ngh...AHHHHH!" Orihime's head snapped to look at Shiro as she lowered her sheild and ran over to him.

"Shiro!" She bent down next to the crouching albino and slowly tugged at his hands. "It's over...I'm so so sorry..." As she removed them, blood coated his pale hand, some trickling down from his ears.

"Ori...h-hime..." He stuttered quietly and looked back at Ichigo. She felt him tremble and slowly scoot away from the orange head. "N..no...pl-lease..."

"It's over Shiro." She whispered. He closed his eyes and slumped against her shoulder, unconsious. She slowly lifted Shiro up onto the bed with some help from Ichigo and she turned to glare at him. "What got into you?"

"I...I didn't think he could..."

"He couldn't what Ichigo?" Rukia asked, clearly as upset as Orihime.

"...He couldn't feel emotion that strong..." At that, he turned around and rushed out of the apartment, leaving the two girls to tend to the unconsious Hollow.

Chapter 8 end

Ha! Ichigo's such an asshole~! XD Don't worry, he's pretty much done with being a dick now. So Hakuna Matata. I have no clue as to when the next chappie will be up, considering I have some new projects *read as fics* that I promised to do and I have a time limit on one. So...review? XD