Byakuya looked up at Tsukiko, astonishment clear on his face.

"What did you say?"

Tsukiko's big purple- grey eyes looked into Byakuya's cold grey ones. "The big monsters. They're scaring me. I tried to tell Hisana about it but she couldn't really see anything. She told me I was having a nightmare, to go back to bed." She suddenly hugged herself and continued in a shaky voice, "But I know they're real. They say things to me…" she shuddered.

Byakuya picked her up and pulled her into his lap. He petted her hair, waiting for crying. None came, so he asked her, "What do these monsters look like?" She was silent, then:

"They're big. They all have shiny white teeth and black eyes. They all have skulls for faces. And they're very scary." She clinged closer to Byakuya as he digested this information.

Defiantly hollows. She probably gets the vision from Ichigo. He cannot protect her from the violent world of hollows and soul reapers forever…

Renji came banging through the back door, making Tsukiko jump. Byakuya glared at him as he came into the living room. Byakuya looked pointedly at Tsukiko's frightened face. Renji caught on and quickly went over to Tsukiko.

"I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" Tsukiko nodded, a little scowl that looked just like Ichigo's formed on her face. "Well I apologize then." He looked at Byakuya. "Taichou, my uh, errands, are done." Byakuya slid Tsukiko off his lap and said, "Why don't you wait right here? I need to speak to Renji and your Dad for a few minutes." He patted her head as he went to where Ichigo was pacing.

"Ichigo, I'm concerned about Tsukiko." said Byakuya. Ichigo stopped pacing at once and retorted, "Well, yeah! Her mom just died!" His voice cracked at the end. "Dammit Rukia! Why?!" he yelled, tears streaming down his face.

Renji lead Ichigo into the kitchen and sat him down at the table. He got out three glasses and a sake bottle.

"Here, Ichigo. This always made me feel better." Renji said, handing Ichigo a glass. Ichigo chugged it in one breath. Renji and Byakuya were a bit shocked. They had never seen him act like this.

"So what's the problem?" Ichigo said, pouring himself another glass.

Byakuya sat down. "Tsukiko can see hollows." Ichigo sighed and set his glass down. "What's the problem? I could kind of see this coming, y'know? I mean, me being one of the biggest soul pressures Yamamoto has seen in centuries could hint that I might past it on. God, I feel sorry for Tsukiko." He was already a little drunk off of the sake and sadness.

"Well, the problem is, I think they're stalking her. Without killing. It's very unusual for a hollow not to kill, especially with what kind of spiritual pressure Tsukiko has. I am suspicious and feel that we should call Yamamoto." Byakuya said authoritatively. Renji started chugging sake as well. He knew Byakuya would pull the "Nobility Stare" on anyone who dare oppose him, so Renji decided to keep quiet.

"And do what?! What the hell is the problem? We can just patrol or keep watch every night to see what's up! Problem solved." Ichigo said smugly, and then moved on to his fourth sake.

"It could be worse than that. It could have something to do with Aizen and the arrancars." Byakuya said.

"Bull shit!" yelled Ichigo, hammered. "Those were the worst days of my life!" Then he muttered to himself, "I still have to find that damn Grimmjow…"

"Are you even concerned about your daughters? They could get killed any second, but all you're doing is sitting here drinking and not doing a thing about it!" Byakuya was yelling now. Ichigo stood up and slammed his glass on the table.

"Byakuya, you just gave me a reason to kick the shit out of you. I will kill you right here and now. Unless you don't want to ruin that pretty little noble face, eh?" Ichigo spread his arms out. "Hit me. C'mon, I dare ya!"

Byakuya leveled him with a cold stare. "I will fight you only when there is a reason. Besides Tsukiko and Hisana will see us." He looked as if he wanted to say more, but suddenly his eyebrow lifted.

Byakuya used shunpo to go to the foot of the stairs, appearing right in front of where Hisana was sitting and eavesdropping on the argument.