TIN MAN

A/N: Wow. Seriously. Wow. I'm thrilled by all of the positive feedback. This is by far the best response I've gotten to any of my published works. Which isn't saying much, as I've only put out... three stories prior to this. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited this piece, and those who are now watching me. It makes the updates come faster. (But I'm doing this story for fun, so if I have no time, well... Obviously...) Eventually I'll get around to thanking everyone.

But I've got things that need done now. I updated earlier than I had planned as I won't be home this weekend. WHOO-HOO, SLEEPOVERS!!!

I STILL don't like the way fanfiction butchers the layout, but... Anyway, now it's time for the stupid disclaimer that no one actually reads.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH. IF I DID, BYAKUYA WOULD NOT HAVE A STICK LODGED UP HIS BEHIND, AND THERE WOULD BE STUFF LIKE THIS FANFICTION CONSTANTLY. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO SHONEN JUMP AND WHOEVER THE HECK WRITES BLEACH.

Chapter Two: Twenty Questions

For the first time that week, Ichigo was able to enter his own mind. It took a few attempts, but finally, he found himself standing among his screwed-up world. Thunder soundlessly clapped overhead, and the Soul Reaper jumped, fear coursing through him suddenly. Silence again. Utter silence… again. The teen looked up, eyes widened and the same primitive fear running wild through his veins. It gripped his heart, making it race, as if trying to outrun the silence. It was no use, really: The damn silence was everywhere, all around him and beckoning for him to come closer… so it could eat him alive, no doubt…

"H-Hichigo, get your butt over here!"

No one came. Ichigo grew even more concerned… and another thunderclap shook his world, bringing no relief to the deafening silence, but succeeding in bringing the buildings to quake along with it beneath him. With a yelp, Ichigo fell onto his rear end, frantically trying to grasp a windowpane until the swaying stopped.

Kurosaki was pale. He was shaking in pure, unexplained fear.

As much as he wanted to leave, he knew he couldn't. Hichigo was way more important than his own damn fear. So with that in mind, the orange-haired fellow set off, occasionally stopping to gather his nerves.

"Hichigo?" No response.

Over and over he called, frantically searching his own mind. Zangetsu, also, was nowhere to be found. Ichigo was mad. He was furious, he was scared, it was worried…

…and he couldn't find either of them. Worst case scenarios ran through his head, like a broken record. Hichigo was dead. He had to be dead. He died with a freaking smile, the bastard. Or maybe his throat got ripped open, and he can't talk anymore. Maybe he did it to himself! Oh, god, please let him be okay…

From there, the scenerios got worse and worse. He wanted to cry. He wanted to fall down on his knees and scream.

Well, that was before he ran straight into the white 'pal' of his, who evidentially was laying there in a discreet spot, staring up at the sky. Ichigo tripped, falling skidding on his face, swearing on the way down. Hichigo just glanced at him before snickering and looking upward again. This resulted in both of them being sprawled out against the cold glass windows of the buildings (although one of them was a bit… rougher in the landing). Ichigo gawked at his Hollow counterpart, who, in return, smirked at his King, throwing in a glare for good measure.

"'At 'as 'at fer, King? Watch where da fuck ya're going!" The reply held less venom than usual…

Ichigo wanted to tell him to suck whatever the heck was bothering him up, but couldn't find the words. Instead, his mouth opened and closed repeatedly, much like a fish out of water. Hichigo sighed, standing and yanking Ichigo up with him, shaking his white head, black eyes trained elsewhere. "…Sorry, King. Didn't mean t'yell." The white haired man shrugged, refusing to look at him. That… was weird.

"H-Hey, don't freaking apologize! Wait. I mean, yeah, you should! What the crap's been into you lately? You won't even talk! It's annoying!"

Hichigo made no reply at first, instead choosing to look Ichigo dead in the eye, staring him down. "…"

Unnerved, Ichigo stood there, staring back. "Well?!"

"…I was just a'thinkin', King. Ain't no crime."

Ichigo nearly snapped. "THINKING? I'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK OVER YOU, AND YOU WERE JUST THINKING?!"

The Hollow shrugged, already trying to walk off and depart again. Silently…

Ichigo reached out and grabbed his arm, eyes wide. "Wait, I…"

Hichigo suddenly had an outburst, freezing in place and letting his mouth just run like he usually did. "King, why d'ya have feel'ins?" Ichigo just gaped. "Ya change 'em so of'en. Why's it rainin' so much lately? Some'un make ya sad?" Once the Hollow started, it seemed like he couldn't stop. "An… An it's been thunderin' lately, too. Ya angry?" Ichigo could only stare. "…What abou' th'lightnin'? There's ALWAYS lightnin'." As soon as the Hollow spoke, Ichigo could see exactly what he meant. Every few thunderclaps, a bright bolt of lightning would strike down, sending a chill down his spine. "Ya stormin', Kingy. I don't 'ike it. Stop."

"…What?"

Hichigo grew angrier. "STOP IT!" He turned abruptly, black eyes meeting Ichigo's in pure unadulterated rage… but rage wasn't the only thing evident. Tears threatened to slip from his dark eyes, and the creature suddenly tried to bolt, vainly attempting to wrench his arm from Ichigo's grip. Ichigo held tight, though… and the Hollow gave up, even though he could easily get loose.

Something just wasn't right.

Ichigo found his guts, and wrenched the Shirosaki down to the window/floor, sitting down beside of him before the Hollow could even protest. "Why are you crying? That's what's been bugging you? My emotions?"

No reply. The Hollow refused to even look at him. Heck, he didn't even bother denying the tears.

"…So it is?"

A weak nod.

"…I'm fine. All right? I'm fine." The Hollow glanced at the King, bursting out into laughter. Ichigo rolled his eyes. Screw crocodile tears. Hollow's are way, way worse. Bipolar little…

When the Hollow had contained himself, he snickered, pointing an accusing finger at the teen. "Ya ain't fine. I ain't stupid, Kingy. Ya can't hide the rain, King. Lil' Ichi be lyin'."

Now it was Ichigo's turn to scowl. Hichigo continued, "Ya ain't bein' true, King. Even th' old fart Zangetsu can tell. He ain't showed up 'cause ya being a wuss. He knows ya're weak lately. Don't wanna see ya, he said." Hichigo paused, one eye always on Ichigo. The teen shrugged, causing Hichigo to press further.

He wanted something. Ichigo could tell. He kept pushing and pushing… for something... Probably anger, knowing the Hollow… but Ichigo was so mad he refused to do that much for him. The desire burnt strongly. Probably due to the silence treatment the Hollow had been giving him, no doubt.

Ichigo suddenly spoke up. "So you're all right? You aren't hurt or anything?"

The Hollow froze, grin breaking out from ear to ear. "Naw, ain't hurt, King. Ya worried abou' lil' ol' me? I'm touched." The sorrow relinquished Hichigo's dark eyes momentarily, but whatever it was the replaced it was quickly replaced with apathy.

Ichigo stood, pushed to his limit, intending on leaving. Hichigo grabbed his ankle.

This… was a new development. "King, I'm not done talkin'!"

"You won't talk and now you won't shut up? Make up your mind!"

Hichigo paused, staring at Ichigo's back. His line of sight traced Ichigo's shoulders, then ran down his spine. From there, it calmly eyed the hips and on down, but immediately went up to the shoulders, eyes narrowed now. "Ya're tense. Sit down, already."

Ichigo obliged, beyond pissed now.

"…King, one last question."

"…Fine."

"…Why do you WANT me to talk?"

That was random. Ichigo fought for an answer, trying to find one that wouldn't wound his pride, but also would satisfy his Hollow. "…because when you're quiet, something just doesn't feel right."

"…That all?"

Their eyes met, and Ichigo gulped slightly. He didn't like that look Shiro was giving him. Ichigo felt like he was under a microscope, slowly being picked apart by someone who didn't have the right to do so. Agonizingly, each bit torn away to reveal what made him tick… So Ichigo narrowed his eyes, intimidated… and then Shiro let go suddenly. "Tha' ain't all, King. Ya know it."

"…Nngh."

"…Say it."

"…I don't like the silence. Happy now?!"

The Hollow seemed to decipher the information before standing, seemingly back to normal. "Yup, King, feelin' bettah! Thank ya."

Ichigo stood, grumbling to himself, and turned to leave again. Shiro didn't reach out to stop him, but did leave some departing words instead: "What's it feel like to feel? I don't get it, King."

To which his reply was: "Can't explain it. Next time you go into one of your 'thinking' spells, say something before I go bonkers. God."

The Hollow only turned to stare at him before calmly stating, "I'll hold you to that, King…"

Something still didn't feel quite right. Something about the Hollow's eyes were desperate and… dare Ichigo say it… sad.

But he was alive.

Ichigo returned to reality, feeling reassured, but… also like he'd missed something entirely. It was an annoying feeling. Almost like something was frantically trying to be remembered, beating against the side of his head. Ichigo just groaned, gathering his things for school. At least he wouldn't kill anyone from separation issues this time.

He arrived at his usual time. He saw the same people… but the conversations were odd. Repeatedly he was asked how he was feeling. Ichigo had no idea how to respond. How was he supposed to say, 'Oh, yeah, well, I'm not psychopathic now. I just finished a convo with my other personality. Yeah, things are good now,' without weird looks?

So instead, he shrugged, tuning into other conversations to see what he'd missed. This definitely didn't help the suspicions of his friends… Well, for the most part.

"So, Ichigo, are you going to help out with the school fair?" Orihime happily asked, eyes wide and happy as always. She was so grateful he was all right that the details really didn't matter. Kurosaki-kun just got abducted by aliens. He's fine! I can tell! This… weird fact relieved her fears instantaneously.

"…Huh?" He'd been tuning her out.

"The school fair. You know, that we've been discussing all week?"

"…Uh…" So THAT'S what was going on… "What's our class doing again?"

"Ooooooooh, we're doing a café, but it'll be Halloween themed, and will have games and prizes, and everyone has to wear costumes and…"

Ichigo wanted to beat his head into the wall. This was NOT his thing.

At least he had Hichigo laughing at him in the background again…

…Not that he missed it, or anything!

What Ichigo didn't know…

…was that he'd fall silent again in only a matter of time.

That, and all wasn't well inside his head.

Hichigo, after a short bit of laughter, allowed said laughter to fade away, happy demeanor disappearing suddenly. "…" The Hollow turned, settling down in the same spot he was where Ichigo had first saw him. Laying down once more, Shiro stared heavenward.

Above him, just meeting his gaze, was a small imperfection in the sky. It was almost like a wrinkle or a tear in the giant upholstery of the sky Hichigo knew.

And with each passing second, Hichigo could swear that it was growing.

He didn't want to admit it at first, when it was just a tiny speck above. He passed it off as a weird scenario. Heck, Ichigo was full of them.

But when it stayed, and started to grow.

Today he'd managed to close it somewhat so that Ichigo could come in, if only for a little bit… but…

The wrinkle, or whatever it was was still there. And the work he'd done on it had been completely undone. If anything, it seemed to be moving faster.

Now he wasn't sure why… but it bothered him. Something about it just didn't sit right with him.

He was sure of one of two things:

One: It was a new emotion or something. And, if so, he intended to find out what said emotion was… and figure out how to make it either go away or stop bugging him. That had originally been his reason for asking his first question. 'Ichigo, what is like to have feelings?' (Although, somewhere along the line, the others just… came out of nowhere and ate at him.)

Two: Ichigo was damaged somehow. And if Ichigo's world was damaged, he had failed to do his job. If the damage continued, and…

Well, let's just say that he didn't like the thought of the last one. He didn't even dare to think it.

A/N: Well, that's the end of this chapter. It's not as long as the last... at least, I don't think so. Never bothered counting. But it felt like I should cut it off there. So I did, because I'm that weird. I update about every Friday, so until then...

See ya, and thanks for reading this or something. (I have no idea what to say. XD)