Vanity: I must apologize for this short and delayed chapter. I have been horribly sick these past few days and could not put the finishing touches upon this work. I got the second chapter of Sanitarium out because all I had to do was write the A/N. Thank whatever god or gods may be out there. If I had to look at the computer screen for any more time, I do believe I would have been sick.

Greed: Yeah, it was BEYOND bad. When we get sick… we get SICK! Almost had to go to the hospital! Ugh!

Vanity: They don't need to know that, Greed.

Greed: Shut up, Van. Everything turned out alright! So, enjoy this fucking chapter you bitches and hoes!

Vanity: *Sigh* Insulting the readers is not productive. But, anyway, we do not own.

Greed: *Mumbles* You've done it before….

…

Chapter 5… Discovery

Soul Society.

"A message was intercepted from Kisuke Urahara. It was apparently to the Vizards. We have yet to determine its exact trajectory. However, it is concluded that it is somewhere near Okayama. We'll have search parties in and around the entire city. These Vizards will be brought to justice."

…

Before anyone could move to the training room, Hachi had to check on Ichigo's condition. His moving about had cause part of his wound to open. And pain was a large factor. Being as under nourished as he was, it was surprising he wasn't still sleeping. Hachi had set up a rudimentary IV system, but it really didn't seem to have helped much in the sort time the teen had been on it.

The last bandage was secured.

"Alright, Ichigo, you are ready to move, but do take it easy. We are short on supplies after all. With you running around, the shinigami are everywhere." Hachi smiled heartily at the boy. However, Ichigo didn't know whether to be angered or apologetic. He settled for a scowl. "I am curious about something, though. How did a kid like you acquire a hollow?"

The orange haired teen shrugged. "I've had it almost as long as I've had shinigami powers. At first, they were Rukia's powers so it didn't manifest. After Byakuya destroyed those powers, Kisuke helped me get my soul reaper powers back. He has been with me ever since." Ichigo paused, wondering if he should even be telling this man what he had been through. He mentally shrugged. If things turned bad, even injured, he could escape. "It took a while for me to confront him, but I suppose it didn't turn out so bad. Broke a few of Urahara's ribs and smashed up Tessai a bit."

"Curious. It was an instantaneous thing with us. We were infected and the incubation period was very small. We had to confront our hollows much sooner than you, apparently." Hachi helped Ichigo stand. "Go with Lisa to the training ground. I'll have Mashiro or Love bring you some food. And, please, do not overexert yourself. I would hate for your wound to open again."

"So, you people are the Vizards Hat and Clogs was talking about?" His answer was a polite nod. "Is that what they're going to show me downstairs?" Another nod. "Well, food would be nice," Ichigo finally conceded. If he was truly held here by liars trying to make him at ease, he might as well get a meal out of it before he ran.

A dark harked girl with her hair in a braid was outside the door. Ichigo didn't bother to talk with her. She was obviously Lisa, the girl that was supposed to take him to the training room. And, she didn't even look up from her dirty magazine when he exited the room. The girl just turned and started walking, expecting him to follow. Which he did. Soon they were at a trap door with stairs that lead down. Down into a large room that looked like an outdoor training area. It was Urahara's work all over again. The redhead groaned.

"What is the matter?" Lisa asked, still with her nose in her book.

"Just wondering how Urahara seems to have these things everywhere."

"This is just modeled after his. Though, there are about two more in Karakura Town, if I'm not mistaken. One is at our Karakura hideout and the other is where Yoruichi stays. Where ever that is." She paused as she pointed to a place further into the ridiculously large room. "Go over there. Shinji, Hayori, and Kensei are there. They'll show you what you need to see." With those instructions given, she turned around and left. Ichigo walked in the direction showed. And froze.

Two of the people who had tried to kill him were standing right there. And that little monkey brat was just lazing about. This infuriated the teen to no end! Why would they have two of the three people that attacked him show him what the hell was happening? Where they just trying to make him even angrier? Well, if that was the case, it was definitely working.

Shinji turned to the boiling teen. "Hey there, Strawberry. I see you can move around better."

Ichigo's eyebrow twitched. "And I see you're still an obnoxious ass."

Hayori started laughing wildly and Kensei looked slightly amused. "Hey, hey! You don't even know me yet! When did you begin to have the right to call me that?"

"Since your sword was the one that plunged through my stomach," Ichigo answered. "Or am I wrong about that? I wasn't exactly in my right mind when I got to Okayama." The three Vizards opposite the teen looked slightly uncomfortable. "So, are you going to show me you're not liars or are we just going to stand here for the rest of the week?" It was useless to state the obvious, that Ichigo was beyond pissed. This whole situation was worse than the confrontation with Aizen.

Soul Society was after his head, spreading lies just to accomplish that. There were two bands on his wrists that were seriously hindering him. He's almost killed thanks to these bozos thinking he's just a plain soul reaper. And, even though the energy suppresser was gone, he still couldn't use his hollow powers. Not to mention being ripped away from his friends and family.

"Right. We were just going to spar with our masks. Nothing fancy. And after words, you might want to contact that useless shopkeeper. Hachi had to talk to him while you were unconscious to figure out how to get the cuffs off ya." Shinji drew his sword, causing Ichigo to tense up. Shinji just ignored the teen and turned to Kensei. "Alright. Let's get warmed up."

Ichigo watched for about thirty minutes as they fought without their masks. Neither man was working up a sweat, but that soon changed as the battle got more heated. Finally, Hayori got fed up with the pointless sparring and yelled at the two idiots. "Hey! Don't forget why we're down here! You guys are supposed to bring out your masks! Don't make me come over there and force you into it." She started to toss a sandal before she heard Ichigo laugh. She looked over in surprise. It wasn't exactly a normal laugh. It was slightly watery, and the half smile on his face was out of place.

The red head had one brown eye and one yellow eye. Well shit. "Relax, shorty. I just want ta watch," the hollow said. Then his head shook as if in slight pain. "I can't do more than this."

"Because if he did, the stupid cuff would go haywire," Ichigo said, regaining control of his facial features. "He could ask before he comes out, though. It still hurts."

Hayori just stood there. This was the weirdest shit she had ever seen. Why was this kid not trying to slam his hollow back into his inner world? That would be the sane thing to do.

"Ichigo! Pay attention!" Kensei yelled from where he and Shinji were fighting. Both of the men looked like they were about to claw at their faces, but as they pulled their hands down, masks appeared. Ichigo watched, along with Shiro. And Hayori watched the boy. It was uncomfortable knowing that his hollow could get out like that, even if he was restrained. She'd have to speak to the others about this soon. The blonde girl got distracted from her thoughts as a loud noise came from the stairs.

Mashiro was running toward them with Love in tow. He was trying to slow the hyper girl down because she was carrying a tray of food. "Snacks~! Who wants foo~d!" The green haired girl was yelling across the underground field.

"Mashiro! Calm down, you'll spill the food. And that food is only for Ichigo!" Love yelled just as grandly at the smaller figure. The girl turns and sticks her tongue out at the black man. "Seriously, if you drop that food, I will pound you into the ground!"

The petite woman ignores the larger man and races over to where Hayori and Ichigo are seated. When Ichigo turns to look at the girl, both of his eyes flash yellow before they both return to normal. Hayori flinches at the sight. In that slit second, the teen's hollow was in control. The parasite also did not look happy with the ex-lieutenant. His face was full of hatred. But then the teen regained control. No, that wasn't right. It was as if he didn't even notice the slit second of total invasion.

Ichigo glares at the newcomers. Here was, yet again, another of his attackers. He did not care that they were telling the truth about being the Vizards. They had still tried to kill him upon finding him garbed in shinigami clothing. No explanation, no mercy, no hesitation. They had all gone for the kill. That could wait for now, though. All that mattered at this time was the fact that they were now helping him avoid the Gotei 13.

…

It was sprinkling in the inner world of the teen. Zangetsu was standing near the counterpart of his master. Shiro seemed to be anything but his usual grinning self.

Instead, the boy was frowning. The snarl looked as if it would split his face. Zangetsu had never really seen the white male do anything except smile grandly and insanely. This could be anything but good.

…

Shiro watched them all from inside his host.

Those idiots had no idea what he was thinking.

No, that wasn't true. That little blonde monkey had an inkling. She had seen that split second he had total control over Ichigo. She had seen his usually grinning face fall into a look of pure hatred. It was hate for almost killing the king when he couldn't take control when he died. It did not matter that they had saved him after realizing their mistake. Oh no. If anything, that just made it worse. Saved by their very attackers. Ha!

Shiro's frown twisted into a ludicrous smile.

He had just thought of a way to get rid of that fucking cuff on King's wrist.

…

Greed: Well, there you have it. The shortest chapter so far takes the longest time to come out. Figures right? We would have written more, but it just ended itself so awesomely! Heehee.

Vanity: Also, it didn't help that we were sick.

Greed: Yeah, I guess it didn't. So, review, favorite or follow! You KNOW you want to!