So the second chapter… not much to say about it. We see the fox and the coyotes and Yachiru being Yachiru with her infinite childish insight. I do sort of apologize for the time it took to put up this chapter but as I said before this is the story I write when I get stuck on my main one. Other then that, Enjoy.

I don't own bleach

Some language

Edited: 2/16/14

Spelling and changed how some sentences were written add a bit of reaction description while people are talking

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Chapter 2: A Watchful Fox and Lazy Coyotes

It took only a few minutes for Ichigo to get to the Fox pen stopping to vaguely look over the other habitats he passed on the way. It was level with the ground and a thick glass wall separated the humans and animals. There were near fifteen foxes in the enclosure. Recognizing many quickly Ichigo searched for the newest addition. He found it sitting on a rock that was in the middle of the habitat. He had glanced over it at first mistaking it for an Arctic Fox due to its silvery white fur. However when it stood and stretched it was easy for him to tell that it was no Arctic Fox.

Its two inch long fur was white silver yes, but its build was like that of a Red Fox not and Arctic one and its size was closer to that of a Fennec Fox. Its' face differed even further reminding the young Zoologist-in-training of a Swift Fox. It was amazing how many foxes just this one could resemble, but what was even more amazing was the fact that it had two tails! The young fox seemed in perfect control of both leading Ichigo to believe that it was not a birth defect but something unique to that particular breed.

It laid back down and looked around lazily at the people on the other side of the glass. Ichigo too sat down on the ground and pulled a note book from his schoolbag. He was glad he had foregone the idea of stopping at home to drop it off. He started writing about the characteristics of its body and the way it moved. Luckily it did get up and started walking around and playing with the other foxes in the pen. This gave Ichigo more to write on.

"Hey Ichigo what ya doing sitting on the ground?" Keigo asked leaning over his shoulder.

"Writing."

"Why?"

"Extra credit."

"You're such a nerd Ichigo! We're at the zoo, enjoy yourself! Stop doing schoolwork!" Keigo whined as he tried to steal the notebook from Ichigo.

Ichigo moved the book out of his reach and kicked him away. "If I get enough extra credit in I get an extra four days of vacation idiot." He finished writing and put the notebook away and pulled out a different one.

"Now what are you doing?!"

"It's a sketchbook idiot. What do you think I'm doing?" He opened the book to a blank page and began to sketch the fox that was back up on its rock sunning itself.

"Ha like you can draw. I'm a much better artist then you Ichigo you should let me draw it for you." Rukia stated proudly making several people roll there eyes.

"No thanks I like people to be able to tell what it is they are looking at, if I let you touch this people may think they are looking at some kind of monster." As the fox changed position Ichigo began a new sketch. It was now sitting up and looking at him.

"How rude! My drawings are fantastic! I doubt yours are any-Whoa!" Ichigo had flipped the page to a bird he had drawn the other day and shoved it in her face not wanting to listen to her. "Ichigo since when can you draw?!"

"Since my zoology teacher forced us all to take art lessons. We learned their anatomy and learned to draw them at the same time. He said we could get a better grasp of the animal we were studying by doing that. Besides I've always been a doodler, I just never bothered to show anyone what I would draw or to expand my ability till recently." He brought the sketchpad back down into his lap to finish his sketches of the fox.

He put the book away and stood up, looking back at the silver fox again he noticed it was still watching him. 'Odd. You'd think it would be watching something more interesting.' He moved to the other side of the pen to look at some of the other inhabitants of the enclosure, but its eyes still followed him. 'Not odd, creepy.' He moved once more to see if the fox would move to look behind it. It did, it turned enough to keep him in its sight. "That's just bizarre." He huffed confused.

"What is Kurosaki?" Uryuu asked coming up beside him.

"That fox, the new one. It keeps staring at me. I've tried moving but it follows."

"I think you're paranoid." Uryuu told him in his typical I'm-better-then-you-so-I-shall-push-my-glasses-up way.

"Watch." Ichigo huffed in annoyance as he moved once more and sure enough the foxes head followed. "See."

"Maybe it's your hair?" Uryuu suggested though sounded unsure. He was not an animal expert.

"Maybe… but it feels like its looking at me not my hair…" Ichigo muttered. The fox seemed to grow bored of freaking him out and went up to the glass were Rangiku was crouched watching a few Red Fox kits play. It seemed to be waiting to get noticed by the busty woman.

"Oh My Gosh! It's so adorable! Such a cute little ball of fluff!" 'Yep didn't take long.' Ichigo chuckled to himself. The fox moved in and rubbed against the glass as if it wanted to be petted. Rangiku doing what she could and her hand on the window where it continued to rub. She kept cooing to it about how cute it was and how she wanted to take him home with her.

Yachiru came bouncing over to see what she was fusing about. "Heehee he reminds me of Fox-Face."

"You mean Captain Komamura?" Rangiku asked.

"No That's Captain Bow-wow."

"Gin." Ichigo whispered. Everyone looked at him knowing he said something but not having heard it. The fox barked at them annoyed by the loss of attention. "She means Gin." He said louder, Rukia raised an eyebrow at him which he ignored.

"Yep Fox-Face!" she giggled. "You're a good guesser Ichi!" He gave her a weak smile, how could he give anything more then that when Rangiku looked so sad. She looked back down at the fox who was wagging his tails happily waiting for her attention. His tails stopped moving as a tear rolled down her cheek, she lightly placed her fingertips on the glass and the fox pressed his nose to it and whined.

"Rukia." Toshiro whispered.

"Right, hey Rangiku you were saying you wanted to see the red pandas earlier right? They're just around the corner I can show you if you like." She put a comforting hand on her shoulder as she spoke.

"Sure lead the way Rukia!" Rangiku said seemingly having returned to her cheery stated. Those who knew her better though could still see the hurt.

"Ichigo why did they fox whine like that?" Renji asked confused.

"Animals can sense people's feelings, that's why when someone is depressed they are told to get a pet, like a dog or a cat. The animal will go to them and their companionship and warmth is usually enough to help cheer a person up. Animals are a lot better at being sympathetic then humans are."

"Oh… Come on we should catch up with them." Renji said as he started to walk.

"You guys go on ahead I want to watch this fox a bit more."

"Sure thing Dt. Dolittle. Have fun communing with the animals."

"Don't I do that every time I talk to you?" Ichigo smirked, Renji was about to yell a retort at him but Byakuya ordered him to start walking. Ichigo squatted down in front of the small fox. It yipped at him and pawed franticly at the glass. "It's your fault for reminding Yachiru of the man Rangiku loves." He scolded, it whimpered as it sat back down and its ears drooping. Ichigo sighed knowing it wasn't the fox's fault. "You seem a lot smarter then these other foxes though that's for sure." Its ears perked up again and it yipped happily.

"You noticed that too huh?" a female voice said from behind him.

"Wha?" Ichigo spun around so fast he fell to his butt, "Oof…" the owner of the voice kneeled down next to him with a chuckle. "And you are?"

"Just a volunteer here at the zoo. All the animals that came in a few days ago seem to have a human level of understanding. They catch on to things faster then the other animals and remember people quicker as well." The woman told him as she placed her hand on the glass the fox pawed at the area where her hand was.

She had a soft but serious voice. Her skin was creamy in color, but that was all Ichigo could tell at the moment. She had sunglasses on so her eyes were hidden and her hair was tucked up underneath her hat. "That includes the panther I'm assuming?"

"Yep. I like him the best but this guy here comes in a close second." The fox barked seeming happy to know he was at the top of her list. "Well I have to go get their food. Maybe I'll see ya around the zoo somewhere."

"Yeah see ya." She stood and left to go get the food for the foxes. He looked back to the fox, it was now staring at him again. "Would you stop doing that it's creeping me out." It tilted its head and smiled. Yes that's right smiled, a big sly grin. It was then that Ichigo took notice of its piercing ice blue eyes. "Just like Gin's…" He breathed. The fox shrugged and headed for its rock.

"Weirdest. Shit. Ever." Ichigo said to himself as he got up, he had been getting this feeling like he had seen or met the fox somewhere and it wasn't helping by acting the way it did. He started to walk so he could find the rest of his group. They were still at the red pandas, and were making fun of Toshiro. Apparently Yachiru had said they reminded her of him being tiny and cute and such. Rangiku looked happier now as well, probably because she was picking on her captain, that always cheered her up for some odd reason.

They continued on stopping long enough at each cage to get a good look at the animals and to give Ichigo time to write when he thought he saw something interesting. They did however spend a good ten extra minutes trying to pry Yumichika away from the peacocks though. He wouldn't stop going on about how 'truly beautiful' they were, and how many in the group should take lessons from them on grooming.

They came to the next cage and Yachiru seemed to get a sparkle in her big brown eyes. "Hey Ichi! What are those?!" She pointed as the balls of black waddling around in the enclosure.

"Those are porcupines." Ichigo said blandly, he didn't have much love for this creature, but he did know enough that if she asked anything-

"What are those spiky things?"

Just like that, "They are quills, they're hardened hair and have…barbs on them." He didn't think she would understand the actual term so barbs worked. "If they feel threatened they'll puff them up and if someone, or something gets to close the quills will sick into them. They are a pain in the butt to get out." He said with a grimace.

Rukia leaned over to him, "You sound as if you speaking from experience." She whispered.

"That's 'cause I am. Hiking trip eight years ago. It was my idiot father's fault too." He growled and Rukia winced but giggled, leave it to Isshin to get someone stuck by a porcupine.

"They look like you Ken-chan don't they? They have the same hair as you!" Yachiru proclaimed happily, much to Kenpachi's annoyance. He grumbled something in reply and everyone had a short laugh at his expense. Short because of the death glare the all recived.

As they started to walk again Rukia whispered to Ichigo, "I bet that by the time we leave she'll have compared everyone to an animal."

"Ya think so?" Ichigo thought about it and was sure it was highly possible given Yachiru's nature.

"Yeah I mean we already have a monkey," She points at Renji who at that moment was arguing with Ikkaku, "And a peacock," Her finger moved to point at Yumichika, "A red panda," They look for Toshiro but he is hidden by Rangiku who is no doubt still teasing him. "And now a porcupine."

"True enough, don't forget she said Inoue was a monarch butterfly. Shinji would be… a horse I think." Rukia snickered in agreement, "And Kensei… a wolf maybe?"

"That sounds about right. I'd be a cute fluffy bunny just like Chappy!" she said confidently.

"Sure ya would... Nah I think you'd be like a vulture or something you always hang around waiting to pick at me and Renji. Ah!" He ran away from her as she tried to tackle him. "Haha missed! Arg!" He landed face first on the ground from the kick Rukia managed to plant in his back. "Damn it you midget!" He yelled as he jumped back up to his feet, but before he could launch a counter attack on her Yachiru spoke up again.

"Hey is that big cat with lots of hair a lion Ichi?" She asked excitedly.

"Wha? Oh yeah that's the pride's alpha most likely since he seems to be the only male. The males are the ones with the manes, or hair as you put it. The others are the females." He explained as he walked up next to her and leaned on the fence to look down into the lion den. There were three females and the male laying down sunning themselves.

"Aren't lions supposed to be like the king of the jungle or some shit? He looks rather mellow to me." Kenpachi grunted in displeasure, he thought lions were supposed to be these strong beasts, but this one was lazing in the sun.

"They are called king of the jungle yes… though it would be more accurate to say 'the plains' instead of jungle. The jungle belongs to cats like tigers or panthers depending on where you are."

"But are they as strong as people say?"

"Definitely, their roar can be heard for five miles, and you can feel it if you are within two miles of them. While for the most part the lionesses –females- will hunt, the male will protect the pride, his friends and family, from other predators who may try to kill his pride, and other lions who might try to take the pride from him. I wouldn't suggest pissing one off, one good swipe of its paw and you may not wake up the next morning. And don't even think of going down there Kenpachi!" he added quickly seeing a glint appear in the mentioned man's eye.

"You're a lot like a lion aren't you Ichi?" Yachiru said looking at the cats amazed. Everyone looked between the felines and Ichigo who was equally shocked. He had never really thought about comparing himself to an animal, let alone a lion, the King of Beasts. But as he ran over the bit of information he had given in his head, he found that the small girl was right.

"Yeah I guess I am…how 'bout that." He said more to himself then to answer her. 'Heh I wonder what He would say to that…what with that little rant he gave me about being 'The King'. And then there's my hollow he used to call me 'King' too…this is almost weirder then that fox.' He shook his head and chuckled to himself.

"Hey Yachiru, what animal would I be?" Rangiku asked exited, hoping for something good.

"Ran-chan would be…a cat 'cause your always fixing your hair and cats are always fixing their fur!"

"Huh?" Rangiku asked deflated.

"Haha!" Toshiro laughed in victory at her displeasure.

"Oo, and Baldy would be a turtle because neither of them have any hair!"

"Why you little!"

Rukia nudged Ichigo, "See it's already happening." Everyone started to walk to the next habitat, "So a lion… I guess that does make sense." After a moment she giggled.

"What's so funny midget?"

"It's just…Kon is in a stuffed lion." Ichigo paused then laughed at the irony as well. At the next habitat, which held giant pandas, they found Urahara and Yuroichi. Both just 'happened' to be visiting at the same time as the rest of them.

Slowly but surely Rukia's prediction was coming true, at the next pen Yachiru dubbed Yuroichi the fastest cheetah, and Urahara the lazy one over in the corner. To which Yuroichi had a good laugh, due to her being the fastest animal instead of Byakuya, and that Urahara had been called lazy. Both males grumped in their own ways.

Ichigo's guess about Kensei was right apparently as he, Byakuya, and Shuhei were all wolves. Each with their respective color, Kensei being white, Shuhei black, and Byakuya grey. Which the noble was non to thrilled about.

"Kurosaki-kun according to the map the coyotes should be just up ahead!" Orihime exclaimed excitedly.

"I wonder what the new ones will look like." Tatsuki said happily amused by her friend's excitement.

"Ooo I know! What if they're green… and have antlers and-" She continued randomly making the most bizarre guess till they actually got to the enclosure. "Where are they? I can't tell them apart."

It only took Ichigo a few seconds to be able to answer her, "There they're both on the outcropping of rock off to the right." He said pointing at them. They were pretty far away so he couldn't tell too much about them. But what he could see was their fur had several shades of brown. Milk chocolate seemed to be the base color though. One was much small then the other so he could only guess that it was the bigger one's cub.

The smaller of the two stood and ran off to play with one of the other pups while the older one slowly made its way closer to the front of the enclosure. Now that it was nearer to his position Ichigo was able to see its markings better. It had darker fur on its face, lower front legs, and lower hind legs, they were almost a mud brown. The lower jaw and chest were a light tan.

Once more Ichigo brought out his note and sketch books and set himself to work. By the time he was done both were back up on the outcropping…staring at him. "I really wish they would stop doing that… I swear if all the new ones do it I'll freak out… I wonder if that woman knows anything more about them…" he muttered to himself as he put his stuff away. "Not to mention that weird feeling of having me-"

"Kurosaki-kun…"

"Yeah? What's up Inoue?" he asked worried by her quiet tone.

"Well it's just… that new coyote… I just have this weird feeling like…" she told him quietly.

"Like you've met before?" he inquired also finishing what he had been about to say to himself a few seconds ago.

"How did you know I was going to say that?!" she asked shocked her eyes wide.

"Because I had the same feeling back with that fox, and now here with these guys as well. Though from where I would know them I haven't a clue." He explained scratching his head in frustration, these new animals were becoming a pain in the butt. He almost didn't want to see the rest of them. He didn't know why but he felt like he had to at least see the panther if nothing else. 'Why am I so drawn to panthers? I just don't get it...'

"It…it feels like that one espada…Stark…"

"Well…he did die in the war and it's been at least six years since then, so maybe he got reborn as a coyote." He offered trying to sound convincing to calm her nerves. Though he knew that it was highly unlikely for that to happen but she seemed to buy it.

"Yeah that makes sense! Oh I'm going to go find a place to get a drink would you like one?" She asked back to her cheerful self.

"Uh… just a bottle of water thanks." With a nod she raced off with Tatsuki to find a drink stand.

"Ichigo it's not possible for a human soul to be reborn as an animal." Rukia said in a flat tone.

"I realize that Rukia, thank you." Ichigo replied bluntly as he continued to have a staring contest with the animals.

"Then why?"

"She was freaked out, I had to say something. Besides now that she pointed it out I have to admit, it does remind me of the Prima." He told her still not turning away from the canines.

"It's just not possible no matter how you look at it Ichigo. Human souls are reborn as human souls. Not animals." Rukia pushed, though there was a slight hesitance in her reply.

"You can't tell me you don't feel it Rukia. With these two, with that fox. It had the same damn eyes as Gin, and that creepy ass grin too." He finally turned to look at her and she showed shock at his statement.

"Grin? Foxes can't grin."

"Well this one can and it did. And no I was not imagining things. Besides think about it the animals that we were told were here. A fox, Gin. Two coyotes, Stark and that little girl he had with him. A bat, Ulquiorra. The tiger would be that guy Soi Fon fought, Gigi or something."

"Gigo."

"Yeah that."

"And the panther? I swear Ichigo if you even think of saying Grimmjow I'll knock you so hard upside the head you won't wake up for a week!" she declared crossing her arms angrily.

"Who else could it be!? You can't deny that something weird is going on!" he said harshly trying to keep his voice down so not to upset the others.

"Ichigo they are not coming back! They're all dead! The only ones left are Harribel and Nel! Why are you so adamant that they're alive!?" she said back to him just as harshly. "The war is over! There are no new enemies and none of the old ones are coming back! Get over it!"

"No one saw them die! None of their bodies were found! And who the frick said I wanted something bad like new or old enemies showing up to happen?! I just don't think that their dead!" he fought hard not to raise his voice at her.

"For the past two weeks you've been talking in your sleep Ichigo! Do you want to know what you're saying?" She asked he looked shocked he knew he had been having weird dreams some involving the mentioned arrancar. But he didn't know he was sleep talking. "Don't go! Don't leave! Come back! You can't die on me! I need you to stay with me!"

"So I could be talking about anyone! When I lost my powers I dreamt about you and Renji and the others leaving me. I would call out to you and none of you would even know who I was! So what!?" he threw his hands up in annoyance and frustration.

"Names Ichigo. You also say names. Ulquiorra, Stark, Grimmjow." His eyes widened as she listed the names. "There are others as well, ones I don't know. Silane, Si'ine, Tazin." She told him trying just as hard to keep her voice just above a whisper.

"So what?! What does that have to do with this?" Ichigo rubbed his temples dreading her next words. This was not the first conversation of its kind. They had argued about the espada on several occasions over the past two years.

"You're obsessed with them!" 'Yep same argument.' "You got so used to fighting all those strong opponents that you are trying to make yourself believe they may still be out there so that you'll have someone to fight!" Rukia paused as if debating whether she wanted to say what she think or not, "You want to know the name you say most and what goes along with that name? Grimmjow wait! I need you to stay with me, you can't leave me on my own!"

Ichigo froze, he remembered that one. He said it often in the dreams he'd been having. Only thing was, the person he was talking to wasn't Grimmjow. And in his dreams he wouldn't call out for Grimmjow, he called out for that Silane guy. The person would turn and those same blue eyes of Grimmjow would stare back at him as the person spoke, though he was never able to fully hear what was said. He knew it was Grimmjow, just not the Grimmjow he knew from the war. But he also didn't seem to be himself in that dream either, but he wasn't going to waste his time trying to tell her about it. Shaking his head clear of the memory of the dream he turned away from Rukia, "I'm going to tell Urahara what I think about the animals…"

"Fine but promise me one thing Ichigo." She said catching his arm before he could walk away.

"What?"

"If he confirms that it's not possible, even after testing and other random shit that he may do to see if it is possible. You have to promise to stop looking for them, you have to move on. If they haven't shown up by now they are either content to stay in Hueco Mundo or they're dead. Promise you'll let it go… that you'll let him go. Some of the others are starting to think you had… feelings for him." She seemed to have trouble saying the last part.

"I'm ignoring that last bit, because there is no way in hell that I'm gay, especially not for some guy that tried to kill me three times…" He didn't need her to say his name, he knew she was talking about Grimmjow. He knew it was hard for her to have to keep having this conversation. Though why she emphasized him he didn't know. "But I… I promise that if it can't be proven possible that I'll… stop looking."

"That's all I ask Ichigo. I'm just worried we all are." She sighed in relief at the promise. He could give her a reprieve from the argument for awhile he knew that. But he wasn't truly sure he'd be able to keep that promise.

"However, if he proves it is possible, you can bet that I'll be back here a lot." He said with a smirk. 'Yeah I'm definitely going to have trouble keeping this one.'

"Obsessed." She grunted throwing up her arms, though there was a very small hint of amusement in her eyes.

"Never claimed I wasn't." He grinned at her that was how it always ended. She'd call him obsessed and he'd say he didn't care in some way…but… "But those dreams are too real for me to ignore Rukia. And if they are based around those people then…"

"I understand Ichigo…" She sighed again though with sadness this time. "You may want to tell Urahara about those too while you're at it. Now get before I change my mind and whack you a good one for arguing with me agin." He smiled at went over to Urahara pulling him away from the group. "Please don't let this be possible, he needs so badly to let go of the past."

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And everybody goes OOOOOOoooooooooo. I wasn't sure about putting that argument in yet but I think it works here just fine and I think it flowed with the situation pretty well. Yea the chapter ended on a more serious note but hey it can't all be flowers and butterflies and unicorns. I feel bad for making Rangiku sad TT-TT but it had to be done!

So…what did all you lovelies out there think? Was it good? Did I keep everyone in character? Do you think the animals match the people? If not what animals do you think fit better? And what about the people who don't have an animal yet (Chad, Uryuu, Tatsuki, Keigo)?

Who do you think the mysterious woman was? Was she canon? Or was she an OC? Will she even show up again? Why am I asking so many questions? To confuse you that's why! HAHAHAHAHA!