Ichigo arrived in Rukongai during the night. He stopped at an inn opposite the monastery where the priest was living with the orphans. The monastery was surrounded by a rickety fence and had overgrown weeds springing everywhere. Ichigo wanted to go there during the day so as not to disturb the priests' and the children's sleep. He sat on the patio with a bottle of beer overlooking the silent monastery. He looked around as he was joined by a tall man in the company of a small girl. It was Kenpachi of Zaraki.
"Hey Kurosaki. What ye doin' here?"
Ichigo snorted as he drank from his bottle, "work, what else? You?"
"I just caught a bounty," he replied as he nodded towards a sack lying at his feet "Damn bastard wouldn't give up so I lost my patience and killed him! But the head is more than enough for the bounty, eh?!" Kenpachi chuckled to himself and sat down next to Yachiru who laid her head down on his lap and slept. Ichigo leaned backwards and pulled his sombrero over his face and slept at the same time as Kenpachi started snoring loudly.
In the morning, Ichigo woke up with the first rays of the sun. He looked to his side and saw Yachiru munching on a tortilla which served as her breakfast.
"Where's Kenpachi?"
"He's refuelling our motorbike."
"You're leaving?"
Yachiru nodded, "we're going to cash our reward for this bounty," she said while lifting a blood soaked sack happily.
She grinned as Kenpachi returned. He took the sack from her hand and nodded his farewell to Ichigo as she climbed up on his shoulder.
"If you hadn't been working I would have fought you Kurosaki! So beware, next time we meet we won't be friendly!"
Ichigo nodded as sweat beaded his forehead. He could see that Kenpachi was serious and he did not desire a rematch with the crazy man.
Ichigo drank some water and left for the monastery as he munched on some fruit. He knocked on the door and was led inside by a sickly old man. The children had woken up so it was very rowdy inside as they had breakfast. There where about fifty children and Ichigo could feel the beginning of a heading growing with their noise. He frowned deeply at the urchins who ignored his presence continuously as they crossed his path. Padre Sado came up to Ichigo. He was a dark, tall and quiet. He spoke softly in a deep voice as he motioned to Ichigo to follow him into his office. After sitting down Ichigo took out Kuchiki Rukia's photo and a bag of pesos which he placed in front of the priest. The priest looked at the picture sadly and shook his head at the money.
"What do you know of her whereabouts? Or any destination? Any useful information would do actually…"
Sado sat back pensively, "Rukia is a very bright kid. Haven't seen her for years now; not after she was adopted into the Kuchiki family. What happened? Is she in trouble?"
Ichigo frowned at the priest who seemed honest enough, "Didn't she contact you in the past months? A phone call maybe? Is there anyone that she'd trust and turn to?"
The priest chuckled, "Rukia turning to someone?" He shook his head as he pushed both money and picture back to the bounty hunter. Ichigo gave him his mobile number and told him to keep the money for the kids.
"By the way: Rukia is a good kid. If you find her, please remember."
As Ichigo was walking back to the inn to get his bike, he heard a gun being cocked from behind him and a shot being fired at him. He drew his gun quickly and turned, shooting as he threw himself sideways on the ground. A bullet struck him into his shoulder, very close to his neck. Whilst he hit his opponent below his chest. Both collapsed to the ground and would have tried to kill each other hadn't the priest stepped in between them.