For the next week, strange things began happening at Urahara's shop.

The first strange thing was the man who walked in the door. Kisuke blinked as he felt a very strange reiatsu filled the shop, and regarded his new possible customer curiously. He was a tall man, with wild, tangled brown hair. He had a bit of stubble on his face, and wore transparent, wraparound sunglasses. Kisuke looked over his clothing and saw it was a tattered dress shirt and an equally tattered overcoat. If he'd seen the man on the street, he'd have thought he was a street person. But his reiatsu was singing in the confined room and he clearly was not wearing a gigai. Urahara wrinkled his nose as he tried to identify the reiatsu. It was unusual, to say the least.

The man was slowly walking through the store, looking at every piece of merchandise. Yet, his movements seemed purposeless and his gaze held an element of hopelessness that arrested Kisuke. Finally deciding he needed to take a hand, he stepped up behind the strange man and gave a small cough. The man turned to look at him, calm and composed.

"Hello! I'm Urahara Kisuke, and this is my shop. Can I help you with anything?" He asked and frowned as the man's shoulders slumped slightly. He looked so… defeated.

"No one can help me." The man started to leave, but then stopped as Urahara's hand fell on his shoulder. "Hm?" He looked back, surprised, and Kisuke gave him a winning smile.

"Well, you never know until you try, eh? What seems to be the problem?" He asked soothingly. This man was too interesting a puzzle to just let leave his shop. The stranger hesitated, then turned back to face him.

"I don't know." Urahara blinked. That was not a terribly promising beginning. "I'm searching for something, or someone, but I don't know who or what. I cannot remember anything." He sounded very distressed, in a quiet way.

"Well, do you remember your name?" Kisuke said, gently encouraging the man to speak. The brown haired man just stared at him a moment before blinked.

"Yes… I do remember that. I am Zangetsu." That name made Kisuke raise his eyebrows a bit.

"Slaying Moon?" He mused. "What an odd name. Well, Zangetsu, do you know what you are?" He asked, hoping that the question might trigger a memory. It did, and the man's eyes took on a distant quality.

"Yes. I am a… zanpakuto." He said slowly and Kisuke stared. He'd never seen a manifested zanpakuto, just wandering around with amnesia before. What could cause such a thing? But it gave him another question to ask.

"If you're a zanpakuto, you must have a wielder. Can you remember your shinigami?" He asked and the zanpakuto was silent for a long moment before shaking his head.

"No. I cannot." He said with such sadness that Urahara winced. "This is not right but I do not know what to do. I wander and wander but I cannot find what I am searching for." He sounded lost and depressed. Kisuke sensed that the wandering spirit was on the verge of giving up.

"Why don't you stay here for a while?" He suggested as the zanpakuto looked at him. "You can rest, eat some proper food, get your strength back up." It had to require quite a bit of power, keeping a zanpakuto manifested like this. Urahara wondered how the shinigami who possessed him was coping, but they could at least ease the burden a bit by letting Zangetsu supply some of his own energy. "And we can run some tests on you, see if we can match your reiatsu to anyone. Shinigami and their zanpakuto have very similar power signatures."

"Perhaps." Zangetsu agreed, but Kisuke had the feeling it was just because he didn't want to keep moving, rather than he thought it would actually work.

For the next week, Zangetsu stayed at the shop and Kisuke put him to work. The zanpakuto was fully capable of rearranging boxes, and after a bit of training and the use of a gigai, could even handle the till. Making a gigai that could hold his peculiar reiatsu was interesting, but the result was quite satisfactory. Zangetsu seemed somewhat content with his new place, although there was always an edge of sadness to him.

The tests hadn't helped much. Kisuke had compared the wandering zanpakuto's reaitsu to all the soul reapers he had on file, but there had been no matches. He'd used some contacts to quietly get the information sent to Soul Society, but they could find no matches either. No one seemed to know anything about Zangetsu. And no one had any idea how a zanpakuto could be separated from their soul reaper without killing him. Perhaps, Kisuke thought, that was the answer. Could Zangetsu's shinigami be dead? But normally, a zanpakuto went for rebirth when that happened. What could have gone wrong this time?

Then the second strange thing of the week happened, right on Sunday as he was about to close.

"Miss? We are about to close." Zangetsu's voice was calm but Kisuke frowned, looking up from his tea. There was a tension in the tone. "Miss, you really should wear some clothes." That got his attention and Kisuke quickly stood, going to see what was going on.

To his disappointment, the woman in the store was nearly naked, but so flat she looked like a young boy. In fact, Kisuke wasn't entirely certain of her gender. There was something about her that made him think female, but she was nothing but lean muscle. Her skin was white as a bone and her eyes were gold as she looked at him. Her hair was long, shockingly red and clipped behind the back of her head with a jet black hairpiece. The only clothing she wore was a tattered piece of black cloth, folded around her loins.

"I am looking for my baby." She said, her voice soft yet oddly harsh. It was a strange duality and Kisuke shivered at the sound. "Have you seen him? Have you seen my boy?" Her hands flexed and she was standing in front of him, resting a hand over his heart as she looked into Kisuke's eyes. But then a hand encircled her wrist, with equally stunning speed.

"No." Zangetsu said, pulling on that bone white wrist. She stared at his hand for a moment, then let him pull her hand away. Kisuke noted, with a growing feeling of disquiet, that her fingernails were black and sharp.

"Do I know you?" She turned away from Kisuke, really looking at Zangetsu. He just looked back at her, somber and silent. "I think I know you. But I can't remember how. Do you know me?"

"Yes. I remember that you are dangerous." The zanpakuto said seriously and Kisuke readied himself to pull out his sword. The woman scowled, and he noticed the clip in her hair was in the shape of a sakura tree.

"I just want my baby!" Her voice rose to a shriek on the final word and the zanpakuto and ex-shinigami both flinched as her reiatsu flooded the room. Urahara recognized it immediately and pulled out his sword. Yet, despite the clearly demonic nature of the reiatsu, there was something strange about it. He disregarded it, and was about to call on his zanpakuto when Zangetsu's other hand gripped his wrist.

"No. She is… important." The zanpakuto sounded apologetic as he frowned. "I do not know why." The demon pulled at her wrist, trying to free herself from his grip. Zangetsu let go of her and she ran out the door, sobbing about her missing child.

"She is a succubus. You've just let a monster go wandering the Living World." Kisuke said, very seriously. A succubus was no laughing matter, and what else could she be? But Zangetsu shook his head.

"Greater demon." He corrected and Kisuke's eyes widened. Succubi and minor imps were all that were normally seen in the living world, and they were entirely spiritual. A greater demon, though, was completely different. They assumed an automatic gigai in the living world. But then he frowned. She had been spiritual, he was sure of it. "Or… no. Something like a greater demon." Zangetsu's eyes glazed over as the zanpakuto struggled. "I can't remember. Why can't I remember? But she can't die. Something terrible will happen if she does."

"What?" Kisuke said gently, trying to prompt Zangetsu into remembering. "What will happen?" There was a long pause and finally the zanpakuto shook his head.

"I don't know. I just don't know…" He sounded defeated again and Kisuke sighed before gently patting his shoulder.

"We'll do our best to find out." He pledged. With a greater demon, or some derivative wandering around, the stakes had just gotten higher.

Much, much higher.

Ichigo was sipping a slushy and sitting on a step with Karin, just enjoying the sun.

He couldn't believe how well he was fitting into his new family. People seeing them all together thought that Masaki was really his mother, and he loved her like she was. Karin and Yuzu were his sisters, and he felt so warmed by their closeness.

"What are you thinking, Ichi-nii?" Karin asked and Ichigo smiled in pleasure at that nick-name for himself.

"Just about how happy I am." He said truthfully before drinking his slushy a bit too quickly. "Ack!" He muttered as a headache started. He was definitely sensitive to cold, even in food. "Or at least, I was before this thing bit me back." He looked at the slushy in his hand as Karin laughed.

"You shouldn't drink them then. It's just garbage anyway and terribly bad for you." She said, managing to sound almost exactly like their mother. Ichigo sighed, getting up and tossing the half-done bottle into a garbage can. He didn't want it anymore.

"Yeah, you're right." They both sat together for a moment, Ichigo just soaking in the sun and Karin working on her yo-yo tricks. "What are we waiting here for again?"

"Uncle Hibiki is going to pick us up." Karin reminded him and Ichigo nodded. He and Karin had both taken the bus to the gym, which Masaki had a family membership for. They both liked working out and also had karate lessons there. Although Ichigo had been moved up in his class several times, despite not really knowing karate. His speed and power were blinding and he seemed to know how to fight, despite the lack of memories. The sensei only liked to put him against the most advanced students, now.

"Ichigo!" Ichigo looked up and smiled as he saw Francesca. He didn't say anything, though. Karin couldn't see her so it would look like he was talking to empty air.

"Aren't you going to say hello to her?" Karin said and Ichigo nearly swallowed his tongue. Francesca was just as startled, staring at her like she'd grown a second head. "What?"

"You can see her?" Ichigo said, awed, as Karin scowled at him. "Sorry, it's just, she's dead. She's a ghost." He told her and his sister blinked before looking at Francesca again.

"Wow, you're pretty young. Tough break." She said sympathetically, flipping her yo-yo again. "I've always been able to see ghosts, Ichi-nii. Mom can too, but Yuzu can't. I had no idea you could."

"Ichigo is pretty amazing!" Francesca told his sister, making Ichigo blush. "I wish I wasn't dead. I'd be old enough to date him."

"Francesca!" Ichigo hadn't expected the ghost to say THAT, and Karin was laughing at his furious blush. "I'm sort of a girl." He muttered, looking down. He wasn't remotely attracted to Francesca, or any other girl. Despite feeling like he was a boy, he was only attracted to other men.

"Nah, you're just pretty gay Ichi-nii." Karin corrected him and Ichigo's blush went up a notch. "It's okay, there's a gay pride group in town, they'll take you right in."

"Thanks Karin." Ichigo sighed to himself. He wasn't really interested in that sort of thing. "Anyway, how's it going Francesca?" The ghost looked really worried then and got very close to him, almost trying to huddle up beside the two living people.

"Not too good, Ichigo. That dangerous thing is, well, feeling more dangerous. Sort of unbalanced. I caught a glimpse of it and it looks like a girl with white skin. You guys should be careful." Francesca sounded urgent. "She's asking anyone who can see her about her baby and she hurts anyone who can't tell her anything." Ichigo swallowed, exchanging a glance with Karin. That didn't sound good.

"We'll keep our eyes open." He told the ghost, who smiled. "Thanks for warning us." He wasn't about to let anyone hurt Karin or Yuzu. Although Yuzu couldn't see the woman, so she would likely be safe. But Karin and Masaki wouldn't be. It didn't occur to Ichigo to worry about himself. That was not what he did.

"Finally!" Karin heaved a sigh as a car pulled up. "Hibiki! You are so late!" Ichigo just hopped into the car, not caring a bit. He liked just sitting in the sun.

"Sorry kids." Their uncle was a short, balding man with a ruff of black hair. He was actually their uncle on Karin's father's side. This side of the family was perfectly polite towards Ichigo, but he wasn't their grandchild. They also thought it was a bit crazy, how Masaki had taken him in right out of the hospital, but everyone had to admit that he was a good boy and it was working out well. Ichigo just did his best to win them over. He was sure he'd succeed, someday. "There was an accident. It was strange, just a single car missing a bumper and tire in the middle of the road." Ichigo glanced in the direction Hibiki had come, feeling uneasy. A frustrated, powerful spiritual creature could probably do something like that, and that was also the direction Francesca had come from. But there was nothing he could do about the spiritual world, so he decided to concentrate on the present.

"What are we having for supper, Uncle? Do you know?" He asked. Ichigo was feeling very hungry, and hoped the meal would be meat. The past week had seemed to be full of rice and pasta dishes, and he was starting to feel almost faint from hunger. It was so hard to tell Masaki, though. Normal people didn't require meat, did they? But Ichigo felt like he just couldn't go on without it. And a few pieces of fish or slivers of chicken in the rice just weren't cutting it.

"Roasted turkey." Ichigo smiled, feeling a great relief at that. "Also a baked ham. It's a bit of a special occasion, having all you kids, so we decided to bring out the good cooking."

"Sounds great, Uncle!" Karin said before poking Ichigo in the side. "The bottomless pit here will thank you. I think he's been dreaming about steak all week." Ichigo blushed. Was he really that transparent? But it was almost true. He'd been having more and more dreams about eating those inhuman things, and enjoying it.

"Well, he's a growing boy." Hibiki said tolerantly and Ichigo nodded, still blushing. "I remember when I was that age, I could eat a whole ham by myself and then spend the rest of the night in a food coma. Ah, good times." Ichigo couldn't really see what was good about that, but he was willing to go with anything that got him some ham.

They met Yuzu and Masaki at their uncles' home, and the rest of the family was there. Ichigo held back as Karin and Yuzu were greeted with hugs and kisses. He was actually glad to miss out on the kisses. His stomach was growling but he did his best to be patient as he waited for the food to be served.

Then a spike of pain seemed to radiate from his belly, and Ichigo made a small, whimpering sound. It was like hunger, but taken to the point of being pain. He blinked, trying to keep his eyes focused. He just had to wait a bit longer. He could do that, couldn't he?

He could, but just barely. When the food came he fell on it like a starving animal, only emerging from his frenzy when the ache in his body had faded a bit. He flinched and turned red as he realized he'd devoured his plate in a matter of seconds, and everyone was staring at him.

"My, you were hungry." Uncle Hibiki said in a hollow tone and Ichigo dropped his head in shame. The worst part was that he was still hungry. The ham on the table made him salivate, especially the sight of the crispy fat.

"I'm sorry." He said meekly, looking at Masaki. She was gazing at him in near horror and he felt like a complete embarrassment. How could he have done that? And why wasn't he full? "Is… is there more?" He asked in a small voice, before gripping his stomach again with a grimace. "Ow."

"I think you're full, Ichigo." Masaki said gently. "Just give it time to settle." Ichigo wanted to tell her he knew that was wrong, but sat back in his chair. He could wait a while.

Hopefully, in a half hour or so, they'd let him have more meat.

Urahara Kisuke was becoming alarmed at Zangetsu's condition.

The zanpakuto's strength was fading. He was trying to hide it, but he was eating far more than normal and trying to move as little as possible. The food seemed to be having a minimal effect on what was ailing him, and Kisuke had a bad feeling he knew what it was. The soul of the shinigami who owned him was supporting Zangetsu, but no soul could hold that kind of drain forever.

This called for drastic measures, or they were going to lose the zanpakuto. And Kisuke couldn't stomach the thought of that. Zangetsu had made a place for himself at the shop, with his hard work and his quiet, attentive demeanor. Zanpakuto were a reflection of a shinigami's personality, so whoever owned him had to be someone worth knowing, as well. He couldn't just let them die.

Worse yet was the demon. She'd crawled back to the shop, whimpering about her baby. Kisuke had been shocked to realize her state of decline matched Zangetsu's almost perfectly. He had no idea what that meant. How could a demon be connected to a zanpakuto? She was currently in the back of his shop, so weakened she was scarcely a threat to anyone. He'd tried feeding her cuts of raw steak, and that seemed to help, but only for a short time.

He had to do something about this. Sighing to himself, Urahara summoned a hell butterfly. Someone would no doubt get their pants in a knot about his banishment, but it couldn't be helped. He didn't have time to follow the discreet channels. Putting in everything he knew about the two, he sent the message to Unohana. She would see it got to the right ears.

Hopefully, someone would know what was happening.

"Byakuya taichou, do you have a moment?" Byakuya blinked, looking up from his paperwork. Unohana was standing in the door to his office, smiling. "I believe I may have some information about Ichigo."

"Ichigo?" Byakuya was standing immediately. It had been too long since the hybrid was lost, and they were close to declaring him dead. "What is it?" Unohana coughed into her hand.

"You will need to be discreet. I just received a message from Urahara Kisuke. He has a materialized zanpakuto and a demon in his shop, both in an extremely poor condition and suffering from amnesia. The demon seems to be obsessed with her lost child." That made Byakuya's blood freeze and Unohana's smile was sympathetic. "Kisuke believes if the zanpakuto is not reunited with his wielder soon, both will die. He isn't sure what is happening to the demon."

"Ichigo." It had to be. But how had the hybrid ended up in the Living World? Byakuya decided it didn't matter. He needed to take care of this, right now. "Thank you for the information, Unohana taichou. I will investigate it immediately. Renji, come with me." The demon might be in poor condition, but Byakuya knew Ichigo's strength. And if she - she? - truly had amnesia, the demon might not remember him.

It was wise to be cautious.