A/N: Sorry that it took a while but I got a little on a writer's block at this. But thanks for being patient enough to read the next chapter. My muse has come back.

Lucky enough, Inoue didn't go follow him around when class ended. He would tell his cousin and his dad, and his mom about his plan. But of course, he hoped they would agree. It wasn't like he hated his home and wanted a break from living there.

He loved Miniterra and his life there. But he wanted someone else aside from him to know how fun the world of the Fortes are, even if he knows that not all are as kind as Ichigo. He really missed seeing and talking to the orange head, even if that happened just once.

Like a kid on a sugar rush he ran to his home and saw his niece Hinamori who was just cleaning the coffee table. He was glad to see her again after school, but the fact that she can't go with him because of having a very weak heart made his heart contract in pain out of pity and guilt.

"Welcome back, Shiro-chan." she smiled weakly and slumped on the couch with a sigh. He was about to remind her to not call him by that cheeky nickname but he knew that she's strained at the moment so he reconsidered.

She added, "How's school?" He replied, "As normal as ever. By the way, Hinamori..." Toshiro breathed deep, trying not to say it too sudden as to give her a heart attack and worsen her condition. "I have something to tell you that's big."

"Big as in..."

"Big." he shrugged in a matter-of-fact manner. "It's really huge and major." Breathing, she prepared herself for what he'll say. "We're also going to have to tell Father and Mother about this, but right now I'll say it to you first."

With a gulp he said it slowly and clearly, "I want you to go with me to the world of the Fortes." No matter how much he tried to make it easy and no matter how she kept herself calm, she was as shocked as hell that he reflexively handed her his water container that was half-full.

"Hahh... oh my God Shiro-chan, what are you thinking? You know that will get you killed?" He rolled his eyes as she sounded like Inoue, but in her case it's easier to tolerate. "I already evaded that possibility more than once."

Flabbergasted, water sprayed out her mouth and onto his face but he nonchalantly wiped it off with a handkerchief. "Are you telling me-" she choked, "... that you..."

With a cocky air around him, he answered her while feeling proud of himself, "That's right. I went to the Borderline and met a Forte. And you may think I'm crazy but he's kind, and has a family, like us. There's nothing that much different between us and them, except our size."

"So you're saying they have Guards?" she asked, trying to keep her cool. "That... I can't say. I've only been to one room of a Forte, and you should have seen how large they exactly are."

"To the point that they called you little?" he almost snapped but she was just assuming but not insulting him. "Well, he didn't mean it in a bad way."

"What's his name, by the way?" It bugged him that she suddenly turned calm but it was better. "Ichigo Kurosaki. Like me, his hair's naturally odd-colored."

Question after question, answer after answer, they were finally over just as they needed to cook dinner but the silverette offered to do it all himself.

While chopping up vegetables and tenderizing meat, he was surprised when Hinamori sneaked up behind him. At least he didn't cut his finger off. "You said that we'll tell Uncle Haruki and Aunt Akahana about you wanting to go to the Fortes' world again."

"Not now. I might spoil our dinner. After we eat, I'll tell them." he stated, sounding resolved and unafraid. "Shiro-chan, I'm glad that you got to see the other side of our world but you're endangering yourself again. Is it really worth it? Do you really want this?"

"I do. Because we've been in bad shape nowadays, and aside from doing risky things, I want to see us all happy like way back then. Nothing here seems to make it happen anymore."

Ichigo exclaimed in annoyance when he thought about that Rene. The thought had been in his head nonstop and he wanted to get off it already. Yes, he wanted to see him again, but it's been long since he last appeared.

It had to be a dream. It definitely had to be.

The phone rang again, and he was surprised to see Rukia's number. Just when he flipped the device open, her voice spoke loudly that he thanked himself for not putting it near his ear. "Ichigo! Sorry for not calling in a long while."

"I can tell that you're taking care of Byakuya. So... are things getting any better for him?"

The next thing he knew, her voice became quiet and grim and he placed the phone closer. "No. And it won't be. I've tried... and tried, Ichigo. But it's no use. The only thing I can do is keep him alive for a little longer. Can... you... come here? I'm sure he would be glad in seeing you too."

"I doubt it. The last time I saw him, he was glaring at me."

"Hehe. No, he doesn't hate you. In fact, he told me that he liked you for being there for me when I need it, because he could no longer do that himself... So please... just visit while... Nii-sama's still breathing."

Before he made his answer, he looked at the hole and sighed. "Okay. Let me just lock up the house and leave the keys under the mat."

"Sure."

"Toshiro! You're serious?" His mother never raised her voice, but she did now. "I'm serious, Mother. I want you to see their world. It's not like how others would describe it. I mean, I'm sure that there are bad people in their world to but this Forte that I met is very nice. And we're not going to live there. We're just going to go sightseeing around the place for a while."

And yet, something in his heart told him that he had to leave Miniterra forever.

"I..." His father was speechless and couldn't say anything, more so when he saw the determination and the bright light in Toshiro's pure green eyes that would rarely shine.

But then, Toshiro realized how much outspoken he was to not give them space for easing themselves to talk about it calmly and he retreated to his room. They just sat on the cheap but soft sofa, to think about all he said.

The young silverette really wanted to go back, though no one understood him, not even his knack for doing things as dangerous as climbing a mountain or walking on a rope.

Toshiro just stayed in his room for the whole evening but he didn't sleep and waited until it was midnight, then he took a caffeinated drink with him before going for the door but a hand gripped his wrist tightly but not painfully. "Wait."

Turning around, he saw Hinamori who was clearly awake as well, and had a small knapsack hanging on her back. "Let me go too. I know that they're not yet decided, mostly because you told them all of a sudden, but you can still take me with you."

No words were needed to say yes, as he grabbed her wrist and both walked out the house while silently locking the door.

Both walked hand in hand, fearing that one word would awaken the entire village.

Preparing night-vision goggles, one of the Guards that blended well with the dark bushes watched the area saw two moving figures from afar walking closer to the Borderline.

"Boss, I see two people heading here. I think they're the runaways."

"But you said two weeks ago that there's only one."

"Then maybe he or she have some company today. Should we use it on them?"

"Very well. It would be interesting to know through them if the Fortes' world is as dangerous as it is claimed to be." A calm, velvet voice spoke on the earphone, and the Guard complied before hanging up. On his hands, a device that children would mistake as a weird-looking gun started to charge.