4- Black and white

The sun rose on the town of Tokyo, awakening a refreshed orange haired teen. Sitting up, seeing Kon on the side of him, he stood, stripping out of his clothes, putting on his uniform, shaking his head, a warm smile on his face. Still remembering the very last thing that happened way before he woke up. Something very unbecoming of his dark side.

Ichigo had his brown eyes open, looking at Dark Ichigo with a smirk, the white form frowning.

"Quit looking at me like that," he scowled, "it creeps me out."

"Fine," he frowned, narrowing his eyes at the white Hollow. "Like I care."

"Uh…"

Ichigo started to stand, but Dark Ichigo grabbed his wrist, looking at him with his mouth open a bit, about to say something, then he looked away, removing his white hand from the pale wrist. A stubborn look on Dark Ichigo's face.

"Never mind," he frowned, Ichigo laughing warmly and walking away. "Have…a nice day…"

"Hn?" He blinked those brown eyes, looking over his shoulder. "Okay. You too, at least…until I take my normal nap during lunch."

"Possibly,"

The way Dark Ichigo replied, the saddened look on his face made the young Kurosaki wonder what was going on as he walked into the restroom, since nature called…rather shouted. He stayed too long in bed with having to go. Shrugging his shoulders, he zipped up the zipper, reaching down and turning the dials on the sink, getting soap on his hands and washing them.

Running his hands back under the water, the suds falling off, he grabbed his toothbrush. Dropping his shoulders, he closed his eyes as he placed the toothpaste on the brush and began to brush his teeth, thinking all about what was going on since the day he got that stupid fever.

888

"Hey, Ichigo," Rukia whispered, passing over a bracelet with black and white beads, "put this on."

"Why?" he asked, looking at it closely just in case it was bugged. "Why should I?"

"Trust me," she frowned, looking forward to the board. Sighing, he slipped it onto his left wrist, biting his lower lip as his head fell onto his folded on the desk, his brown eyes sliding shut. The fever showing, his cheeks growing red.

Oops, I forgot to mention…that you fall asleep the first time you put it on…

"Teacher!" she called, standing up and pointing at Ichigo's lifeless body. "I think Ichigo's sick!"

"Hmm…can you take him to the nurse, Rukia?"

"Sure." she smiled, dragging him out of there since she was shorter than almost everyone in the school. Until she shut the door to the classroom, she released his arms, letting him fall to the ground. Kicking lightly at his rear, she frowned, a confused look on her face. "Maybe…it makes you sleep for the whole day?"

Sighing deeply, she picked him up again, struggling in carrying him towards the nurse. Blinking, she looked up.

"Ah, Chad, could you help me out?" she wondered, moving Ichigo's body for evidence that she really needed his muscle, since the research developers in the Souls Society were all about boobs and legs for the girls. "I would really appreciate it." Nodding, he bent down and lifted the young Substitute Soul Reaper up effortlessly, walking alongside Rukia towards the nurse. "Thank you."

"Rukia," he spoke, eyeing the bracelet on Ichigo's wrist. "……when has Ichigo…worn that bracelet? Normally…it's watches."

"Oh, it's…a new look!" she giggled, smiling as she shut her purple hues. "Besides, I think it looks great on him, don't you think so too?" There was a long line of silence, until she opened her eyes and went right up to his face. "RIGHT?"

"Sure, I guess…"

"Yep!" she smiled, growing innocent all over again. "All right, on to the nurse's office!!!"

Looking up, she opened the door and let the tall brute enter first, walking over to a bed and laying the orange haired teen down, lifting the covers and laying them on the lump form. "Why'd he collapse?"

"From the fever I guess, Yuzu told me he had it going up and down this morning."

"Oh,"

"I think we should let him rest in peace, Chad, let's go back to class." she smiled, grabbing his tanned hand and lugging him along as she smiled sweetly.

"Hello?!" Ichigo called, receiving no answer whatsoever, making him blink. "Hey! Answer me, you bastard!!"

There was nothing but white surrounding him, the connection between him and his dark half severed by the walls, the black one on his other half's side, and the white one on his side. Pressing his fists against it after hitting it for a while, he slammed his forehead against it, shutting his brown dull orbs.

"How…why can't he hear me?"

888

His eyes shot open, snapping into a sitting position, feeling a sticky substance on his cheek. Reaching a hand up, he traced it up, realizing it came from his eyes. Tears, he cried. He cried while he slept? Standing, his glance fell down to the black and white beaded bracelet, lifting his left arm up, looking at it from eye level.

"What is this bracelet anyway? What powers does it own?"

"Ah, Ichigo, you're up!" Oriheme's voice chimed, walking up to him with a smile. "What were you dreaming of? You were moaning a-"

"It has nothing to do with anyone…but…me…and HIM." he frowned, wiping his face, walking past as he ignored the orange haired girl's calls. "Just between me and HIM." Looking to the side with those blurry brown eyes, they caught Chad's questionable look. "What? What do you want?!"

"…I was…just worried…so I came to see you," the brute replied, seeing Ichigo flinch and run out of the school, trying to find Rukia along the way. Screeching to a stop, he blinked, seeing Rukia stand next to Tatsuki, smiling and talking.

"RUKI----A!" he shouted, his fists clenched as he watched her blink, veering over at him as her look of surprise slightly grew, seeing the Hollow mask covering the right side of the young Kurosaki's face, his eyes flaring with anger as he charged at her, his eyes still dull and brown. "What did you do?!"

"Um, I'll see you perhaps tomorrow!" she called to Tatsuki as she ran from the enraged high schooler. Leaping over the fence, veering over her shoulder, not seeing Ichigo, thinking that she had lost him. Turning back around, she bonked right into the orange haired teen, whom was glaring at her. "Why're you so mad at me?!" she snapped, frowning and narrowing her eyes at the teenager.

"Why can't I hear HIM?!"

"Who?"

"Him!! Why can't I hear him?! What's this bracelet's power?"

Rukia looked away, shrugging. "I have no idea what you are talking about. And who is 'him'?" she replied, Ichigo's rage allowing the mask to consume most of his face, his arm's coverage tearing off, white skin and hands with claws molding onto him, bringing his arm back. "I-Ichigo?!"

"Stop it Kurosaki!" Ishida shouted, stepping up, pulling the string to his spiritual bow, ready to strike if Ichigo attacked the weak Soul Reaper. "Calm down, we'll talk this over."

"Uryu…?"

His mask vanished, his arm bleeding severely as the Hollow arm disappeared. Falling down onto his knees, shaking slightly, the pale form walking over and placing his hand upon the young Soul Reaper's forehead, blinking as he closed those eyes. "He has that fever again…" he reported, looking over at the confused Kuchiki. "Better take him home."

"I agree."

888

Dark Ichigo wasn't taking what was going on very well; in fact…he was raging a storm in the youth's mind, cursing like a mad scientist. Angry at Rukia Kuchiki for taking Ichigo away. He was so set to seeing him each and every time he fell asleep, that at first he thought the Soul Reaper just forgot, but once he saw the black wall, oh he was pissed.

Ichigo tossed and turned on the bed, groaning as he felt the thoughts of killing Rukia hit him with gruesome images each time Dark Ichigo could think of a new one. The sadness he felt, the anger, the hatred, everything…it was all taking its toll on the poor fevered boy. But…he couldn't kill Rukia, not even if he were forced to.

Yet the anger within Dark Ichigo rose each and every day. Now that it was a month and a half after the incident, he couldn't control his Hollow half, even when he battled Hollows. Once he was in Soul Reaper form, Dark Ichigo always took over, attacking like a rapid animal, Ichigo slowly losing himself as he watched, watching the blood pour, and having to shove him away from Rukia.

It was a test, he thought, to see if I can really last without talking to him…

But as more days passed, he could begin to hold back the Hollow within him, feeling more anger.

Walking up to Rukia, he stood there with his hands in his pockets, slouched back with a small smile. "Hey, when are you gonna take this off?" He lifted his left hand up, pointing at the bracelet with his other. She smiled, nodding slowly.

"Today, if you can prove that you can handle HIM."

"Damn, today's that stupid ceremony for the loss of Mrs. Kukuya…" he groaned, slapping his forehead, darting into the bathroom and swiftly changing into suitable clothing as Rukia switched to her Sunday dress, Kon blinking from confusion. Exiting with a sigh, he exited the door, wearing a button-up black long sleeved shirt, denim pants, slipping on a random pair of shoes, darting out the door with a wave.

Shrugging her shoulders, Rukia trailed after him, smiling and waving to the Kurosaki family.

"See you later." she giggled.

888

Leaning against the fence, the orange haired Soul Reaper looked up to the bright blue sky, smiling weakly, looking over at Chad, sliding down, sitting on his bottom. He placed his hands to the sides of his head, closing his eyes tightly, not wanting to be here, but everyone did attend, since she was everyone's favorite teacher. Frowning as he opened his eyes slowly, standing and shaking his head roughly, trying to forget his Hollow.

But he couldn't, not at this moment, or at all.

Gasping, he clenched the fabric above his heart, panting and gasping for air, blood dripping down his fingers. What is he…doing?!

The white mask covered his whole face, his brown eyes widening painfully as he grabbed at it, screaming, everyone turning their attention to him, screaming once they saw the blood, but wondering why Ichigo was grabbing at nothing but his face. Yet, Oriheme, Tatsuki, Uryu, Chad, and Rukia could perfectly see what he was trying to grab at.

"Ichigo!" Rukia cried, rushing over but falling to the ground with blood pouring slowly out of her side. "What…how could he…"

Falling to the ground, the dark haired teenaged girl moaned from pain, looking at him with wide eyes, fear-filled eyes. Oriheme and Tatsuki scurried over, taking the small girl into their arms, Tatsuki glared at Ichigo as Uryu leap forward, pulling his arm back, shooting a sky blue arrow at the confused Kurosaki, his body moving on its own.

Yet, he heard the sick laughter of Dark Ichigo.

Those brown eyes dulled, golden eyes flashing angrily, his left arm trembling insanely, Ichigo still in control. Lifting his arm, he glared at the beads, thrusting that arm forth, smirking. "Die…"

W-What am I saying?!