No arts for this chappy.
The next art will be released with chapter 25.

Countdown till final: 6

Rukia didn't ask him for the meaning of his words.
She had a feeling that he wouldn't answer her anyway, yet.

The next day, Ichigo always stayed close to her, as if he feared another attack on the woman, though.
When they walked through the floor to the elevator that led to the upper floors, all eyes were in the orangette, focused on the left side of his face.
Rukia noticed that Ichigo felt more and more uncomfortable and so took a short look at him.
He was gritting his teeth and mumbled under his breath.
Before the two had driven to the office, Ichigo had a short talk with Starrk.
The Vampire had come to him with something in his hand, given it to Ichigo, who tried to give it back, but as it looked had been told to keep it anyway.
The younger had put the small item into the pocket of his jacket, right that jacket in which now he had buried his hand into and clenched it into a fist.
No doubt having the item in a tight grip.
"This sucks."
Rukia heard him grumble just before they reached the elevator.

As soon as they reached Ichigos office, he made a call.
"Hello, Shiro? Hurry up and come over. Yea. And would you tell Starrk...Thanks."
The last he said after gritting his teeth once more.
Upon ending the call, Ichigo pulled the item out of his pocket and Rukia discovered that it was a simple black leather eye-patch.
Ichigo put it on, and tied it in the back of his head.

'So it does bother him.'
She thought to herself and felt bad for it again, since it was her fault.
If she had paid more attention to her surroundings, maybe she could have fend off her uncle, or made herself noticed to Ichigo and Shiro.

The orangette had sat down in his seat and watched the skyline, his brows deeply furrowed.
He was thinking about something and Rukia had an idea about what.
She sighed, went over to the fridge and poured a drink for herself and an other one for Ichigo.
She brought it over to him and sat it on the side table on his left.
"Here. It's bad to starve yourself."
He twitched, but otherwise didn't show any reaction for some moments.
"Thanks. But try to make it a habit, not to come from my blind spot for a while."
He eventually said.
"But you're already getting used to it, ain't you?"
The orangette sighed.
"No. I just use my sensing the entire time, to know what's around me. The feel of distance is a bit off though, so I was a bit surprised when you talked right next to me."
It was a first that he spoke so openly about something like that to her.

Rukia was somewhat impressed and a lot depressed.
She stepped in front of the man.
"I'm sorry."
Ichigo smiled and patted her on the shoulder.
"It''s not your fault."
He said and they remained like that until their silent moment got disturbed by a knock on the door.

"Come in."
Ichigo called, not yet turning to face the newly arrived.
"Kurosaki-san, I brought the papers that still need your sign."
"Thank you, Matsumoto-san. You're a great help as always"
He said, while turning around to her and giving her a light smile.
Rangiku was bowing and as she straightened up again, her eyes fell upon Ichigos left side, with the eye-patch.
"Sir, what happened to your eye?"
The orangette simply answered it, before he turned his back toward the red haired female again.
"I sacrificed it to save a still young life."
Rukia looked at him and saw that he pulled a grimace and covered the eye with one hand.

She felt being watched, so looked up and found her colleague look questioningly at her.
The raven couldn't stand that boring look for long and quickly averted her eyes.
Rangiku who still looked at her, now wore a despising expression and shortly stated, with venom in her voice.
"I see."
The secretary left and Ichigo and Rukia were alone again.

"That woman definitely has a thing for you."
She mumbled, with a slight pout.
"I may have an eye less, but I still can see that from a mile away."
"Then why don't you give her the mitten?"
"Because it'll only make her feel miserable, and maybe even make her think that she's unattractive. Even though I am not interested in women at all, I have to admit that she certainly is very attractive. Also, if I give her the mitten that won't erase her feelings toward me anyway."
He explained calmly, which pissed Rukia off a bit.
"Whatever. It's your problem. What will we do now? My training came to an abrupt end as it seems."
"We'll wait for Shiro."

An hour later, mentioned one arrived, with a sour look on his face.
"What's that about Ichigo? First you didn't want it and now you're wearing it after all and make me play the messenger to give your gratitude to Starrk?"
Ichigo stroked over the eye-patch.
"He was right, those stares make one feel really uncomfortable. But I haven't called you just to deliver that message."
Shiro huffed.
"Yea, what should I come over for anyway?"
Ichigo pointed toward the third party in the room.
"She's yours. I'm sure when you're finished she won't be so easy to kidnap anymore."

Rukia stared at both of them and Shiro returned it with a wide grin.
"Great. It's been some time since I was allowed to torture an apprentice."
He walked over to the raven and said in a sing song voice.
"Come, let's start straight of the reel."
She swallowed hard and spoke out her thoughts.
"Shit."

Somewhere in Europe, a tall, dark haired man walked through a thick forest.
He was looking for something and soon he found it.
It was a cave, overgrown with plants and for the normal viewer not visible. He entered it and walked deep inside was a natural bunk.
The man stopped there and looked at the empty space, then turned back around in haste, saying.
"You stupid kid."

Chapter 22
End