Deep Set

What if Aizen's plan all along didn't involve Orihime? What if all he wanted to do was lure two powerful shinigami onto his side? He figured it out all he had to do was kidnap one small child.

Disclaimer- I do not own bleach or any of its characters.

Chapter Two Realization

After being half healed by Hatchi following Ichigo's rather reckless fight with Grimmjow, Rukia had taken him home. A place she knew he had not been in awhile. Now she was currently slumped against the wardrobe sitting on the floor fiddling with her phone whilst deep in thought about what Ichigo had been trying to achieve disappearing like that. She had contacted Inoue who had made it safely though the Senkai Gate and was currently helping Tessai heal the others there since Ichigo was stable where he was.

A quiet knock on the door caught Rukia's attention, getting up from her position on the floor she opened it to find Yuzu holding a tray, Yuzu looked nervously at Rukia for a few seconds before speaking,

"Could I eat in here please?" She spoke softly lifting her tray up slightly as she spoke to show her intent to Rukia who smiled,

"I'm sure Ichigo would like that" replying in the same soft tone Rukia opened the door more to allow Yuzu access before closing the door behind her. Settling down back into her previous position she watched as Yuzu settled down in the middle of the floor, her back was to Rukia so she could watch her brother as she ate. Rukia closed her eyes listened to the soft clinking of knives and forks on the plate along with Ichigo's and Yuzu's breathing it was almost calming until there was a sharp crash as Yuzu dropped her spoon suddenly into the bowl. Rukia's eyes snapped open to see the girl was shaking slightly

"Yuzu?" inquired Rukia leaning forward to place a hand on her shoulder causing the younger to turn around and face Rukia tears brimming in her eyes and rolling down her cheeks

"Is Ichi-nii going to be alright? He's been gone for so long and then he's back but all bandaged up and I don't...don't" Yuzu couldn't quite finish what she was trying to say as she dissolved in more tears. Rukia quite confused as to what to do brought Yuzu into a hug to try and calm her down. Rocking slightly backwards and forwards Yuzu's tear flow eventually seemed to slow down. Rukia pulled Yuzu from her slightly to look down at her,

"Ichigo's going to be fine" Rukia smiled to show she was confident in her words "He's strong and I bet you he will be back on his feet blundering about soon enough", Yuzu giggled slightly at this and moved her hands up to her face to wipe her eyes dry.

"Where's Karin-chan?" inquired Rukia seeing Yuzu had cheered up slightly but probably still needed her sister to make her feel more at home. Rukia felt like kind of an imposter sitting in Ichigo's room helping Yuzu like she was now.

"Karin-chan had a football match earlier" explained Yuzu moving away from Rukia to sit across from her "She often eats out after if she's won", Rukia nodded in understanding and moved back to lean against the cupboards again. The conversation lapsed after that and Rukia watched as Yuzu dozed of leaning on the side of Ichigo's bed. Sitting there watching the adorable sight of brother and sister Rukia got up and headed for the door to see if Orihime had finished healing the others yet.

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WHAM

That was the sound that woke Ichigo as his bedroom door was thrown wide open, Bouncing straight into action Ichigo was standing on his bedroom floor in a weird karate move position ready to attack who-ever had just stormed thought the door. He looked but he didn't see anyone until he felt small arms wrap around his waist.

"Ichi-nii!"

Ichigo no longer startled looked down to see a familiar mop of honey coloured hair attached to his middle, smiling he patted Yuzu on her head.

"Hey Yuzu" he had missed his little sisters, he was about to inquire to the whereabouts of his other sister, Karin when he noticed his shirt was getting damp. Startled he pulled Yuzu away from him and sat down on his bed to get down to her level and to look into her tear soaked face. Digging in his pockets for a tissue he found himself in his pyjamas, looking about he noticed his bandaged arm- Which to him felt fine considering what had happened. Taking of the bandage he saw his arm was fine and the bandage remarkably clean deciding to dwell on that later he handed the clean bandage to Yuzu who promptly blew her nose on it before burying her face in Ichigo's chest again.

"Yuzu" Called Ichigo softly waiting for her to lift her head again when he had her attention he smiled, "I'm fine see nothing to worry about" but Yuzu shook her head again and a fresh wave of tears fell down her cheeks,

"Karin-chan didn't come home last night after her match" started Yuzu trying to control her tears "I checked her bedroom and she's not been there I checked the clinic and she's not there" Yuzu took a deep breathe before continuing "I was about to check here but I guess she's not here either" Yuzu looked like she was about to cry again so Ichigo brought her into a hug,

"I'm sure she probably stayed with friends last night and she's just a little late getting back" Ichigo told Yuzu his eyes flicking to check the time as she turned in the hug to sit on his knee blowing her nose again, Ichigo waited will she had finished before continuing,

"You worry to much" Yuzu looked up at Ichigo at this who only smiled more, "But that's not a bad thing" Yuzu smiled through her tears as Ichigo continued, "Now to ease your conscience how about I head out to look for her hm?" Yuzu nodded hugged her brother once more before she hopped down from Ichigo's knee and began heading for the door

"Thank you Ichi-nii" Yuzu said smiling at her brother before closing the door behind her.

Ichigo let out a big long sigh and fell back against his bed, bringing up his arm to scrutinize. There was no scar where Grimmjow had punctured him with Zangatsu which could only mean Orihime had been back to heal him. Propelling himself upwards with his arms he sighed grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom to get dressed. Checking in with the Vizards and the Shinigami would have to wait; he needed to go find his sister to calm down his other sister. No matter what family came first and since he really hadn't been there for them recently he wanted to make up for lost time.

Heading down the stairs he spied Yuzu in the kitchen as he passed on his way out the door. Smiling at the reminiscent clang of pots and pans he slipped on his shoes and quietly opening the door slipped out before Yuzu noticed. He didn't want to bother her while she was making lunch besides he wanted to find Karin quickly and saying goodbye to Yuzu would take time.

Deciding to try the park first where he knew Karin played with her friends a lot, he turned the corner at the end of the road and set of. By the looks of the sky Ichigo noted it was going to be a nice day, Ichigo pondered on the way about yesterday's goings on. He figured .Shinji would probably be a bit pissed at him for screwing up in the fight with Grimmjow and needing its help so dropping by the Vizards he would leave till last on his list, he clearly needed more training but he had better things to do at the moment. Probably after finding Karin he would drop by Orihime's place to check up on the Shinigami and to see if Rukia was alright.

Turning the last corner Ichigo spied the first tell tail tall tree that marked the park entrance from there side of the town. Wondering toward it he looked about before entering for his raven haired sister spotting a group of children about Karin's age closer to the edge of the park he focused on them looking for her noticing there was no-one there that resembled his sister he focused elsewhere continuing his search. Over on the far side of the park he noticed a group of kids playing football. Figuring it couldn't hurt to ask Ichigo headed over to them watching them pass the white and black checked ball between them wondering what on earth fascinated them about the sport. Reaching them he pondered on what he was going to say to interrupt the game when one of them interrupted for him,

"Hey your Karin's big brother right?" The one closest to him spoke, he was about half Ichigo's height had a large afro and spoke rather slowly

Ichigo frowned at him, "Yea that's right, you seen her around anywhere?" he enquired turning his head to direct his question at the rest of the team around him now as they had moved closer,

"Nope" Piped up another member "Haven't seen her since yesterday mornings practise" Ichigo's frown deepened

"Didn't you guys have a game yesterday?" Inquired Ichigo again pressing them for more information,

"We did but she didn't show – we had to forfeit" sighed another member who looked like he had two bananas on his head, Ichigo's expression went from a frown to a look of worry faster than most of the team could blink

"So you're saying you haven't seen her in over a day?" He watched as they all shook there heads, wiping his face with his hand he sighed deeply, "Where was she heading when you saw her last? " he tried one last question hoping that could lead to his sister. Finding out she had never turned up at the game was a big worry- Karin never missed a game.

"She hurt herself during training so last we saw she was heading home to the clinic" another member piped up "Least that's where she said she was going, she was too stubborn to let any of us help her out"

Ichigo rolled his eyes, that was his sister alright stubborn and very self sufficient, seeing as she had headed to the clinic he figured his next stop was asking his dad, He felt more calm knowing she had gone home last everyone knew. Knowing his dad he probably locked her in a patients room and forgotten about her, dopey guy he was and Yuzu probably wouldn't have thought to look in the locked rooms.

Thanking the team for there help Ichigo headed of back the way he came, walking a bit faster toward home wanting to find out if Karin was there or not was weighing heavily on his mind.

Entering the clinic to find it surprisingly busy for a Saturday morning, Ichigo strolled through the waiting room to where his father was standing,

"Ichigooo!" Cried the eccentric father diving at Ichigo from across the table and receiving a punch in the face for his trouble

"Hey dad" replied Ichigo inspecting his fist as Isshin bounced back completely unawares his nose was bleeding, "You seen Karin?" asked Ichigo looking about him around the patients in the waiting room hoping to spot her dark mop of hair,

"No my fine son not since she snuck out of my care to a football match!" he announced as though commentating on the football match himself, Ichigo grimacing at the loud volume of his fathers voice wondered how he still had a decent sense of hearing. Heading out of the clinic he was wondering where he should look next when he was interrupted from his thoughts by a white haired Taicho that had just used shunpo and landed right in front of him,

"Kurosaki you better come with me"

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I feel so mean making Yuzu cry- no mind twice, though it had to be done. I tried writing the telling Ichigo Karin was gone bit with Isshin but it didn't work quite the way I wanted it too.

There probably will be a gap between now and the next update (which I really apologise for!) I have 5 exams this week, 1 passed me by this morning but the other 4 I need to do some work for so I hope you don't mind a short break between now and the next update I promise to hurry with it once these 4 have gone. The rest of my exams are spaced out so hopefully they shouldn't be too much of a worry.

Have a good week everyone :)