Here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer- do not own

Ichigo was currently in a local art supply store, making his final purchases. The cashier was putting his prisma color pencils 64 pack in a bag(very expensive!). Finally giving it to him.

"Thank you for shopping by Markus's Art supply" she said to him kindly. Ichigo nodded to her and began to walk out when he bumped into somebody making him drop his purchases.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" it was a man in his late 50's, but Ichigo could've sworn he saw a ghost, The man looked like Ulquiorra's carbon, but much older. Though the years have been good on him. Black hair that looked cropped that hug his face with hints of grey, greenish blue eyes, somewhat tan skin, and a bulk-ish build of a track star.

"No it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention" Ichigo said as he picked up his bag and scatter belongings. The man kneeled down and helped him pick up his things and handing it back to him.

"Sorry bout that there" the old man apologized again.

"It's ok" Ichigo said to him.

"You look new around here…….did you just move into town?" the old man changed the subject rather quickly.

"Huh? Oh yeah! Just bout yesterday" Ichigo said to the guy striking up a conservation with him.

"Name's Ichigo Kurosaki and you are?"

"The name is Markus Murciélago and I own this store" he told Ichigo.

"Explains the name" as he looked around the place. His gaze fell back to Markus and notice Xahan suddenly next to Markus, looking at him with a gaze of affection and caring. Xahan looked at Ichigo for a moment before talking.

"He still the same bat boy I know since high school……..I sure miss him" she said and placed her ghostly hand on Markus's arm. Markus felt a numb, but warm touch on his arm, Ichigo taking notice of this.

"Something wrong?" Ichigo asked him. Markus looked briefly at him then his arm before answering.

"Nah just a sudden numbness of my arm, it's been happening for years and I have no idea why it happens."

"Yea that happen to me when I was a kid" Ichigo said recalling when a small minor a few years back.

"Really?"

"Yeah, but it stopped when I was 15 or 16" he said.

"How?"

"I'm not quite sure but……it stop happening on the anniversary of my mother's death" he said. Markus looked a bit upset for prying, but even more since his gaze toned into space.

"Wow……sorry to bring that up" he apologized.

"It's ok. I came to terms with it"

"Lucky"

"How so?" Ichigo asked him.

"I lost someone precious to me when I was just fresh out of high school" Markus said as he scratched his messy black hair. Ichigo didn't say anything as he let Markus continue onward.

"She's really something……The girl of my dreams, sweet, smart, and always had the strangest appetite you can imagine!" he smiled briefly, but it was gone quickly. Xahan just gently laid her head on his arm, giving him somewhat comfort to him.

"What happen?" he asked him cautiously. Markus took a simple sigh.

"Believe or not, but I was in the Marines after high school, and at that time she was pregnant with our son. Her mother told me and kept me updated on she was doing and the baby…….I was really happy and ecstatic to be a father, so I resigned from the Marines and came back home quickly. In that same week, she went into labor, so I rushed over there to support her. But her father was there and when he saw me….well I never saw her and my son ever…….." he paused for a moment. Xahan wrapped her arms around arm and nestle closer to him.

"Then a week later her mother told me her husband took Ulquiorra and shipped him to an orphanage somewhere in Japan and that Xahan ran away……….and 6 months later she died looking for our son" he was the brink of tears, but held a strong exterior. Ichigo's face froze for a bit, upon hearing Ulquiorra's name, but kept it well hidden.

"I'm sorry to hear that" Ichigo said as he placed a hand on his shoulder in sympathy.

"It's all right. I came to terms, but still….I wish I knew what happen to my family" he said sadly.

"Yeah……"

"Well….sorry to take ur time, I bet you got to get back to work or class, what ever of the 2" he said as he walked off biding himself good bye. Xahan just stood there looking at his retreating form, staying there to see if he comes back.

"Is that why you're earth bound?" he asked her. She nodded her head yes w/o looking at him.

"I'll be leaving now, take care" he left her there w/o another word and started to skate down the side walk, his mind going over of what occurred. He passed by pedestrians and such as he made his way on the side walk. He decided to save time by taking a shortcut pass the town's square; He sprinted across to the other side and stopping in front of a antiques store.

"2nd time around?" he read. Ichigo legs moved on his own accord and walked into the store. It was empty, though open for people to come in. The store was filled with old 1920's TV's, radios from every era, and old fashioned furniture. He walked and looked at a few of the things there, but something drew him towards the cashier desk. There was a brunette woman standing there working on some sort of paper work, not noticing that he was there.

There was something familiar about her though. He couldn't place it though…..like he met her in another life time or something.

"Excuse me" Ichigo called out. The woman looked up to see a carrot top young male standing across for her over towering her by at least a foot.

"Hello there. Welcome to 2nd time around. I'm Melinda Gordon." she said to him as she smiled to him. She felt as if……she met him before.

"Hey there. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki" he answered as he looked around the store where he stood. Then something caught his eye.

"Is that a dream cast?" Ichigo asked her as he point to a shelf that marked old electronics and game systems.

"yes it is" she said and went over and got it down to show him.

"I have seen one of these since I was a kid!" Ichigo said as he examined it. It in good condition, like store bought new.

"Really? How old are you?" Melinda asked him.

"21" he said

"I'll take it" he said to her.

"Alrighty then….here…..you go?" she stopped in mid sentence as she suddenly saw a teenage girl standing next to him. Ichigo knew it was Xahan, but pretended to play dumb.

"hmm…..Something wrong?"

"Huh? OH no! Nothing, just zoned out for a bit there. Sorry" Melinda said as Ichigo handed her the money to pay for the old, but so cool, dream cast. Xahan decided to play with Melinda. She walked through the counter and began to push the buttons on the cash register, making it flip out.

"Gah!" Melinda tried to shoo away Xahan, but she couldn't as she couldn't touch ghost.

"Sorry…..Machine acting up…..again" she said some what agitated at Xahan who only smiled.

"Go ahead Melinda….Tell him. He'll understand your gift" Xahan pressured her as she stopped pushing buttons. Now Ichigo was getting what she said and meant earlier, by feel the pressure. She was referring to Melinda!

"Xahan stop" Ichigo told her. Xahan pouted and vanished, only appear next to him pouting slightly with her arms crossed over her chest. Melinda looked at Ichigo, with interest and fear, as she remembered the last time she meet someone who was able to see the dead like her.

"Who are you?" Melinda asked as she backed away from the counter slightly. Ichigo thought this might be the time to show her then tell her………He pulled out his badge and pressed it to his chest. His body fell backwards, but his soul reapers form stood before her.

"Captain Ichigo Kurosaki of Squad 5" he saluted to her. Melinda suddenly felt the world go black as she fell backwards…..

So everyone met Markus, and more of Xahan's past. Anyway I've been busy and it took me a of tried to do this so….yea. Anyway I'm working on the others so it'll take a while longer.

-Kenny.