Very, very late update this time. Writers block, then the thesis kind of blew up in my face, but I've finally written it (writing is therapeutic lol). I tried writing this chapter about 4 times lol but just couldn't seem to get past the first paragraph!

Thanks as ever for all the reviews – it really keeps me motivated to keep going whenever I feel like banging my head against the keyboard :)

So here's the next chapter – finally our heroes have left Karakura in search of mysterious reiatsu – oh and Ichigo, of course. 'Scuse the angsty bits, seems to what I'm best at at the moment.

Renji paused at the edge of the tiles, surveying the rooftops with narrowed eyes. One hand rests on Zabimaru's hilt, ready for a challenge; though none is forthcoming. Shame. Shifting his weight, he begins to move again, sounding out the area, familiarising himself with this new territory.

Always know the lay of the land, Ikkaku had told him long ago. Even the best fighter can use an advantage. So he did, every time he was posted in a new town, searching the roofs and grounds until he felt confident he'd discovered everything there was to know. Until he knew where was heavily populated, where was clear and safe to fight, where he could hide, lose or confuse an opponent if he needed to catch his breath or change the rules of the fight.

Actually, pretty much all of them had split up and left to walk around the town when they'd arrived this morning. The atmosphere on the train had been heavy – too heavy. He didn't even like the train anyway, annoyed with having to fold his legs into the cramped space and sit still for the half hour it had taken to reach this place. He wishes they hadn't had to bring the gigai. But this morning there had just been too many expectations, too many worries, for anyone to feel comfortable, even with all the legroom in the world. Rukia had been quiet and tense for days, since they'd found out about this. Chad was always quiet, and Ishida… well, who knew anything about that weird kid. Even Orihime's normal chatter had been too bright, too brittle, setting his teeth on edge.

He supposed he was probably just as bad. After all, he had his own concerns, and though he tried to keep busy – keep moving, keep fighting – there were times when he couldn't help but stop and think. He and Rukia had barely spoken about it, not really – just quick sentences about finding the boy, about how they hoped he'd talk to them, come back. But…

How did she feel?

He'd known Rukia longer than anyone, yet she was still an enigma to him. Oh sure, he could read the slight looks and tension of her frame, he could tell when something was bothering her no matter how cheerful she acted. And something sure as hell was bothering her now. What he couldn't tell was what. Just that it had started with Ichigo's name.

Maybe it was the stray dog in him, always afraid of being kicked back out on the street where he belonged. But he still couldn't quite believe how fucking lucky he was, that the petite girl he'd loved since… forever, really, had finally accepted him. But only after the kid had left. There'd always been something between her and the bright-haired kid. Ichigo had broken into fucking Soul Society, fought his way through Ikkaku and Renji and Zaraki and Byakuya, for fucks sake, all to get her back. And Rukia, he'd been so afraid that he'd lost her for good.

And if she had picked Ichigo, he'd have let her go, without a fight. Because the kid was better. Much as Renji hated it, resented the kid, because it had all just come to him as if he was fucking handed it. In just months he'd gone from just an ordinary human to someone who could make any shinigami fear. In weeks he'd become someone who could do the one thing Renji had wanted, torn his fingers to the bone trying for – he'd defeated Kuchiki Byakuya.

It was so. Fucking. Unfair.

But the kid was the best, so Renji would have let her go, though it would have broken his heart. Because Renji was always second best, never strong enough no matter how he tried. And he wondered if that was why Rukia had been so quiet and withdrawn – because she knew that too.

White knuckled, he grips the sword hilt, staring unseeing at the treetops.

I can't lose her. I won't. I won't. I won't….

A sound behind him makes him whirl, sword already half out of its scabbard and held ready and he drops into a crouch, weight balanced to attack or defend.

Oh.

A squirrel bolts over the rooftop, claws skittering on the tile.

Do you really intend to use me as rodent deterrent? The voice of Zabimaru holds a note of amusement.

Accident. He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly as he sheaths the blade. Guess I'm a little wound up.

Ha! Assss if you need to tell ussss. I'm getting tired of the sssstorm.

Ahhh… It wouldn't be the first time that the chimarea had chimed in to defuse his own thoughts. Renji, left to himself, had a tendency to turn his mind in on itself, winding himself up into smaller and smaller circles as he dwells on his own failures, his own worries.

It is rather unpleasant in here. However, I understand. You wish to be ready, after the information provided by Kuckhiki, yes?

Not like it was information, as such, Renji replies grumpily. Why can't Kuchiki ever just say something straight out? Other than 'stop that' and 'get on with your paperwork' of course.

You ssshould have threatened it out of him. The snake, always angry, always looking to fight. The thought of 'threatening' Byakuya makes Renji's lips curve into a wry smile.

The baboon's voice, as usual, is that of wisdom. Perhaps he was not sure about the information he was providing.

Perhaps. Still doesn't give me a lot to go on, though.

Then we shall have to see what happens. Just be alert, the baboon sooths.

Like you have to tell me.

Renji scowls, and turns back toward the town, resuming his journey from rooftop to rooftop back toward the middle of the small town. He stretches out his senses, looking for….

Rukia… Ishida…. Orihime… Chad…

No hollows…

In fact, not even the lingering sign of a hollow hidden, or turning… nor of a plus spirit… the town is cleaner than anywhere he's been, anywhere has a right to be.

What the fuck?

Veering off to his right, he begins to make his way toward Rukia. He wants to know if she feels it to, before he checks the records.

Stupid kid, running off like that. Leaving his friends. All of 'em, they'd all banded together because of him. Didn't the brat know you couldn't do anything without your friends? Everyone needed someone to lean on, some of the time at least. Rukia had been damned upset when he'd run off – even cried.

He was gonna punch the kid when he found him, just for that.

But running – he hadn't known Ichigo all that well, unless you counted one fight to the death and that itchy time sitting outside Rukia's bedroom squabbling while they waited for her to recover, and Renji tried to get his head around the shocking, astounding things that had happened. Like Aizen… and the fact he'd fought Byakuya, and the man not only hadn't killed him, but also hadn't sacked him…

But from what he did know of the teenager, he would never back down from a fight. And know him or not, Renji trusted that in him – recognised someone like himself, maybe, someone driven to be stronger to protect the ones they cared for.

For the kid to have left… left his friends, left his family, who so obviously meant the fucking world to him… why would he run away from them? Why wouldn't he be beside them to protect them?

Byakuya's words ring again around his head, and the redhead shivers slightly.

What the hell could have been that bad?

***********************************

That evening, the five of them crowd around a table of the restaurant next door to the small guesthouse they're staying at. The day of exploring seems to have done them all good – he notes that Ishida's blue eyes are dark with determination, that Chad's stance indicates he is ready for a fight but isn't overly tense, that Orihime's chatter about a new ice cream flavour unavailable in Karakura sounds less forced than earlier. Renji feels better himself, less tense, less withdrawn. They're falling back into old habits already, Ichigo's friends – preparing for battle, ready for danger, but refusing to be afraid.

Even Rukia seems a little more relaxed, smiling at him for the first time in days as he nudges her shoulder in silent encouragement before she opens her mouth.

"So did anyone see or feel any signs of this strange reiatsu, or of Ichigo?"

There's a moments silence as everyone prepares their answers.

"I didn't sense anything." Chad, quiet and stolid as ever.

"I couldn't sense Kurosaki-kun. I did think, though…" Orihime trails off, unsure of herself.

"What is it, Orihime?" Rukia asks, giving her friend a warm smile.

"I just thought… there was something a bit funny… like there was some energy missing… I don't really know! I'm sure it's nothing, I mean I'm used to Karakura and everyone there has so much energy and I'm probably just over-reacting…"

"I noticed it too." Ishida's cool voice interrupts the girl's nervous chatter. "There is no residue of hollows, or of other spirits. It is as if they simply are not present in this town."

Renji exchanges a look with Rukia. So the others had noticed it too – that meant it wasn't just them.

"S'right. Seems like the town is too clean, ya know?" Renji offers, and gets nods from the others.

Rukia leans forward, her lips pursed in determination. "Renji and I talked about it earlier, so I contacted Soul Society to check the records." To his surprise, she glances at him, almost as if seeking approval, before continuing. He slips an arm loosely around her small shoulders as she pulls out her communicator.

"According to the records from Division 12's hollow monitoring, there have been no hollow attacks in this town in over a year." She hesitates, looking up at the others. "Almost 14 months. The same length of time… that Ichigo's been gone."

Eyes widen around the table, and Orihime claps a hand over her own mouth.

"The Shinigami assigned here covers two other towns, too," Renji picks up. "Went an' chased him down. He says Hollow activity is picked up now an' again, but then gets snuffed out, like a… a candle, or somethin'…" Renji waves a hand to illustrate. "Says he never has to come anywhere near here."

"So you think it could be Kurosaki?" Ishida asks sharply.

Orihime finally removes the hand over her mouth. "So he's here? Kurosaki-kun… he's killing the hollows?!"

Ahhh, feel the building tension :)

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think!