The next morning, Ichigo went around the town and bought a change of clothes for himself and Rukia. They would attract too much attention if they went around in torn-up and bloodied clothes. He also got some interesting information from one of the travellers regarding The Organisation of Sheriffs. He returned to their room with some food and water too since the days were becoming incredibly hot. Rukia was still sleeping with one of her ands cuffed to the bed, since Ichigo didn't trust her on her own. He got out his mobile phone and called Yoruichi.
"Hey Ichigo! How are you?" Yoruichi seemed delighted to hear Ichigo's voice. "We were worrying about you since you haven't called in ages!"
"Yeah yeah- I'm fine. Listen I've got her. But there's something strange about the whole thing… There was a facility in Hueco Mundo where they experimented on young children and she was investigating it. She also told me that she had been part of the experiments herself when she was young but she can't remember anything… I believe she is innocent and that the mafia are up to something. Also… maybe…" Ichigo trailed off as he thought that it couldn't be possible for Rukia to be the child from ten years ago.
"Maybe what; Ichigo?" Yoruichi demanded curiously.
"Nah it's nothing." Ichigo replied.
"Hoi hoi hoi I-chi-go! What have you been up to you dirty teenager?!" Urahara shouted into the phone, irritating Ichigo greatly.
"As I told your wife… I need you to look into this Rukia business"
"We're already doing that Ichigo- I also got some information from an inside man on what the experiments might be about. Also some people from within The Organisation are trying to clear Rukia's name. So please Ichigo hold out for a little while longer. You need to keep a low profile and go into hiding. Tessai is taking care of your family. You need to change towns frequently but try not to attract any suspicions. If you have any idea where you could hide do it." Yoruichi explained in a serious tone as her husband intervened again, this time he was also very serious.
"Wait for our next instructions and update, okay Kurosaki?"
Ichigo agreed and hung up silently as Rukia stirred from her deep slumber.
"Hey. How are you feeling?" Ichigo inquired pensively, but his attention wasn't focused on Rukia. Rather he was beginning to get very worried about their situation. What on earth did he get himself into?
"Hey Ichigo can you untie me? I need to use the bathroom" Rukia asked drowsily.
After untying her, Ichigo gave her the new change of clothes and waited for her to shower and get ready. He dozed off in the meanwhile.
When Ichigo woke up, an hour later, the door to the bathroom was still closed and he could still hear the water running. Ichigo jumped off the bed suddenly as he crashed into the empty bathroom. He cursed vividly as he realised that Rukia had escaped from the small widow above the toilet.
Ichigo packed up his things quickly and cursed as he ran outside and realised that she had even stolen his bike!
"What on earth is the woman thinking!" he muttered angrily as he grabbed the first passer-by gruffly and asked him if he had seen a short girl who looked more like a boy with her short hair and her sharp features.
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Rukia paid a young boy to deliver a message to Ichigo as she jumped on his bike and left the town. She was determined on finding the whole truth behind this. She chuckled to herself as the wind blew her hair and cleared her head.
"How can you be so naïve Ichigo?" she laughed as she remembered hearing him snoring from the bathroom and could imagine him dozing on the old bed.
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Ichigo was still cursing and cussing when a boy approached him.
"Oi carrot head! I've got a message for you from Rukia. She told you to forget about her and not to go after her-" The boy was interrupted suddenly by a gunshot and by Ichigo, who pushed him away suddenly as a blue haired man shot at them. Ichigo drew his gun immediately and shot back at the other man, who jumped to his side, evading Ichigo's bullet. Ichigo pushed the boy down behind an old car as he looked over at his opponent. They started shooting at each other again, causing panic amongst the passer-by's who screamed and ducked for cover. Both Ichigo and the other man kept shooting at each other and moving from one place to another. Ichigo was trying to lead the man away from the innocent people who suddenly emerged from his hiding place and threw a grenade over at Ichigo. The latter was surprised and scrambled away quickly from the exploding rock and metal. Some flying shrapnel hit Ichigo in the back and scraped past his head, as he stumbled to his knees.
Ichigo was still dazed from the explosion as he struggled to get to his feet. His opponent then stepped in front of him and pulled him up to his feet by the collar of his shirt. He then started punching and kicking Ichigo savagely, leaving him breathless and unable to react. Ichigo's gun had fallen some and his opponent kicked it away from them. He then threw Ichigo over in the opposite direction on top of the still burning debris of the previous explosion. As the blue-haired man approached Ichigo slowly, he started laughing hysterically and throwing insults at the bloody Ichigo. As they were a short distance apart, they both locked their eyes together and with a sure of strength, Ichigo drew Rukia's sword which had been strapped to his back and he cut his surprised opponent. He swung upwards, cutting his opponent from the hip up to his chest. Flaying the skin open and drawing blood. This attack not only surprised his opponent, but infuriated him also as he shot Ichigo in the hand and then kicked his face. He stomped on Ichigo and pressed the gun against Ichigo's temple. As he cocked it slowly, Ichigo could feel his heart pounding against his chest, and sweat and blood mingled together as they trickled down his face. As his opponent was pulling the trigger backwards, Ichigo couldn't help but feel powerless against his opponent who had seriously beaten the crap out of him and he was only able to deal minimal damage. Ichigo looked at his opponent as he awaited his death, however his opponent's mobile phone started ringing and that phone call spared Ichigo's life as the other man walked away from him.
"Thank you're good luck you half-hearted ass. For the next time that we meet you're dead meat. Remember my name and hope that you'll never hear it again. It's Grimmjow Jaggerjack" and with that he left the half-conscious Ichigo on the ground.