Chapter 6:

It took hours and still there was no sign of Yuzu or the people who took her. Kenji took them all over Karakura Town but he never spotted the people he had been traveling with. More than once Ichigo wanted to shake him and demand he find them but Kisuke held him back, reminding him that Kenji would not respond to threats. If he did not know where they were then he did not know where they were. Simple as that.

"At least he's try. Give him that," Kisuke whispered to him before keeping his distance.

Was Kenji really leading them to Yuzu or was this just a field-trip to him? Was he even trying?

If he didn't know where they were, what did it matter? He didn't know where to search so he simply wandered around, hoping their paths would cross. They would be doing the same thing no matter what.

Kenji stopped to rest. He had been walking for hours.

Ichigo didn't want him to stop. They had to find Yuzu. He gave Kenji a shove but he refused to move.

"Ichigo."

"What?" he asked, irritated.

"I was under the impression that you were a Soul Reaper. Yet I see a human before me. Your sister is also human, yes?"

"What the hell is your point?"

"I am just trying to understand." He sat down on a bench. "A human is a human. Why is one more valuable than another? You are able to see things others cannot. That makes you more valuable. And yet I do not see your worth displayed as I would have expected."

"What the hell are you talking about? What does any of this have to do with you finding those people who took Yuzu?"

Kenji looked at him. "I noticed that this Yuzu was not able to see the man with the doll. You were. To my logic, that would make you more valuable. Why then did they take the one who could not see him?"

Ichigo was at a loss for words. He didn't know and he didn't care to know. He just wanted to get her back.

"I truly do not know why they took her, but I wish to find out, same as the two you are traveling with. It is baffling to me. You seem to be more valuable. Why not take you? Why the female? I do not understand."

"When we find your friends, we'll find answers. Just find them already."

Kenji looked at him again. "There is that word again. What does it mean?"

"What word?"

"Friends. You have used that before."

Ichigo frowned. "The man with the doll and the other guy."

"You refer to them as my friends?" Kenji was not satisfied. "But that does not answer my question. What is 'friends'?"

"Friends…" Ichigo hated giving an answer on the spot like this. "Friends are people you like and spend time with and you do things together. People you like being around and do things with."

"They are not my friends," answered Kenji. "They are merely traveling companions I have been with since the beginning of my consciousness. I do not 'like' them. It has nothing to do with preference. The only benefit I had by being with them was protection and the opportunity to gather data. No more, no less. It seemed only logical that I travel with them rather than be alone in a world I knew nothing about."

"You don't care about them at all?"

"Not at all. Whether they are alive or dead means nothing to me. I would only care about their life if it had something to offer me. I only wished to return to them because they allowed me to gather data. When you informed me that I need no longer be with them in order to do that because I would collect data on my own, I saw no reason to return to them. I am only doing this on account of our agreement."

Ichigo looked Kenji in the eye. "You really care about no one but yourself? You don't care about anybody?"

"I do not see the point."

"What about companionship?" Ichigo asked him. "Don't you get joy out of being with people you like?"

"I see no need for emotions and I already explained that I do not 'like' anything." Kenji looked away. "I do not understand why humans pursue such things. Why you find it so valuable. It is so frivolous. What is the point?"

"Don't you like gathering data?" Ichigo asked him.

"Data is meaningful. The more data I collect, the more it benefits me. I will know what I need in order to survive, prolong my life, know what is harmful and what is beneficial. It serves a purpose. Things humans seem to enjoy eludes me. I do not understand why humans would desire things that do not benefit them in any way. Things such as toys or ice cream."

Ichigo sighed. This creature truly did not understand the simplest of things. Things that made perfect sense to him. What was wrong with liking something? Did it have to serve a purpose or be beneficial? Couldn't something be enjoyable simply because it was?

Ichigo stepped away and walked over to a shop while Kenji rested on the bench.

"Where the hell is he going?" Uryu whispered.

Ichigo returned with a small ice cream cone. "Here,' he said, handing it to Kenji.

Kenji looked at it. "What is this?"

"It's ice cream. Maybe you'll understand why people like this stuff if you tried it for yourself."

Kenji looked from Ichigo to the vanilla cone in his hand. "What would be the point?"

"Just gather data and eat the damn thing."

Kenji took the cone out of Ichigo's hand and stared at it. He wasn't sure how to eat it. Should he bite it or lick it? He had seen people do both. He gave the ice cream a sniff, curious. Then he reluctantly took a bit off the top. He let the ice cream sit on his tongue for a moment before chewing it twice and swallowing it.

"Well?" Ichigo prompted. "What do you think? How was it?"

"It is cold."

"That's probably why they call it ice cream."

Kenji looked at the cone in his hands. "It is cold and soft. It has a creamy texture. And it is sweet."

"A lot of people like sweet things," Ichigo told him. "Sweet and salty stuff are very popular."

"Humans enjoy such tastes. But what is the benefit?"

"Your body needs sugar. Sugar is sweet. Just don't overdo it." Ichigo wanted an answer from Kenji. "Well? Did you like it or not? What did you think of it?"

Kenji handed the ice cream back to Ichigo and stood up. "It was an experience," he told him flatly. "This is when people say 'thank you' to express gratitude, yes? Thank you."

Ichigo clenched the cone so hard in his hand it cracked and ice cream oozed down his fist and onto the sidewalk. "Rrr, this guy..!"

Could Kenji really not feel anything? Even after eating the ice cream, did he still not get it? He wouldn't even give Ichigo a proper answer. He just described how it tasted, not whether he liked it or not. Could he really not have a preference? Could he not like or dislike anything? Was he not capable?

Kenji walked away and Ichigo followed him, ice cream still dripping from his fist.

Kenji walked until he reached the riverbank then stopped.

"What now?" Ichigo asked, hoping it wasn't more nonsense.

"The man with the doll," said Kenji. He pointed with his index finger. "Over there."

"Where?" Ichigo ran to stand next to Kenji and looked to where he was pointing.

Sure enough, the man holding the doll was sitting on the riverbank, staring out at the water.

Yuzu was not with him.

Without thinking, Ichigo rushed over to demand answers. "Hey! You!"

The man looked up but did not move from where he sat.

"Where is she?" Ichigo demanded angrily. "Where the hell is Yuzu? What have you done to her? Tell me!"

The man did not answer him. He only sat there.

Where was she? What had he done with her? Why was he by the water? Had he drowned her? Was Yuzu still alive? Why wasn't she with him?

So many questions flooded Ichigo's mind, filling his skull until he could barely think at all. Fear and anger engulfed his body. Seeing the man without Yuzu was even worse than seeing him with her. At least then he knew where she was and her condition. Without her in sight, his mind was free to create thousands of horrific scenarios.

"You son of a…" Ichigo took a step forward but his body hit a human barricade. Uryu was standing in front of him, holding him back with both arms. "Get out of my way!"

"Calm down, Ichigo." Uryu dug his fingers into Ichigo's shoulders and pushed with his palms. "Calm down."

Ichigo's face flushed with anger. The man was just sitting there without a word and Uryu was holding him back. Ichigo didn't have a plan. He just wanted to get to the man. If he grabbed him, maybe Yuzu would show up. There was no logic to his thinking. He was frantic.

Uryu knew this which was why he wasn't letting Ichigo get to the man first. If he wasn't thinking, they could expect a disastrous outcome.

Keeping a hand on Ichigo's shoulder, Uryu turned around to address the man behind them. "You. You were at Ichigo's house, weren't you? You saw his sister. Where is she? We know you know."

The man stood up, doll in hand. He handled the doll with the same love and care a mother would show her child. It seemed precious to him.

The man offered no answers, but he clearly heard them. Uryu wondered, however, if the man understood their language. He never spoke and he just stood there. He didn't give any indications he knew what was being asked of him. He didn't even point or nod his head. If this man knew Yuzu's whereabouts, it would be almost impossible to get it out of him, especially if Uryu's theory was true.

"Give Yuzu back!" Ichigo shouted so loud Uryu winced. His ear was right by Ichigo's mouth. "Give her back!"

The man looked into Ichigo's eyes. His mouth started to open.

Ichigo calmed slightly, hoping to finally get answers. If this man was going to tell him, he wanted to hear it.

His mouth opened but he made no sound. He took a breath as if to prepare for a speech, but he did not exhale. His mouth remained open for a few seconds. He closed his mouth and released the held breath through his nose.

The man's grip on the doll tightened slightly. His jaw stiffened.

Whatever he was about to tell them would remain unsaid. He changed his mind.

Giving the two of them a sad look, he turned and started to walk up the breakwater and away from them and the river.

"Wait!"

Ichigo shoved Uryu aside and chased after the man.

"Stop!" Ichigo kicked up grass as he sprinted up the steep hill to the concrete sidewalk.

The man turned, saw him, and ran.

"Wait!" Ichigo sped up and chased the man across the street. Uryu pursued the both of them. As the only one bothering to watch for traffic, Uryu fell behind as a car went by, coming dangerously close to Ichigo's heel.

Ignoring the loud honking, Ichigo chased the man down the street. He was getting closer. He was faster than the man, but only just. The man looked back again, saw him, and turned down the nearest alley.

"Get back here!" Ichigo dashed into the alley as quickly as he could.

"Ichigo, wait!" Uryu yelled after him and turned into the same alley. "Think this through!"

The man was cornered. At the end of the alley was a brick wall which stretched high over their heads. He had nowhere to go.

"Tell me where Yuzu is right now!" Ichigo spat. "Tell me!"

The man turned, giving Ichigo the same sad look as before.

Why did he look so sad? Was it because he was caught? But he always wore that expression. He looked sad no matter what. The only thing that changed about the expression was the degree of sadness.

He couldn't have been sad about getting caught. Was it because of what he did to Yuzu? No, it couldn't be. He looked sad the first time Ichigo met him, long before Yuzu was ever taken. Was he sad because he knew what he was going to do?

Why did he look like this?

Ichigo's rage undermined his inquisitiveness so he wasn't as thrown off as he would have been about the man's expression. All he wanted was his sister back and to attack anyone who prevented him from doing that.

With a clenched fist, Ichigo took a step forward.

This time, it wasn't Uryu who stopped him. It was a boy.

"Hi!" A boy dropped down from above and landed in front of Ichigo. "Hey, there!"

Taken by surprise, Ichigo looked away from the man to look at the young boy. He took a step back and fumbled for words. The boy's sudden appearance threw him off worse than any sucker punch.

"What are you doing?" the boy asked him cheerily. "Were you messing with this ray of sunshine back there?" The boy jerked his thumb at the man with the doll.

This boy could see him, too.

Ichigo gave the boy a good look. He had never seen him before. The man who forced his way into Ichigo's house had brown hair and was older. This boy was round fourteen and had brown hair but it was lighter than the man's and curlier. They were even dressed different. This wasn't the same person.

"I'll admit, a guy carrying around a doll is a bit strange, isn't it?" said the boy. "I pick on him about that, too. Well, I would if I was completely heartless."

Coming back to his senses, Ichigo tried to step around the boy. "Get out of my way."

The boy blocked his path, stepping where Ichigo stepped.

"Aw, you're looking for the girl, aren't you?"

Ichigo looked down. He felt like he swallowed an ice cube.

This boy knew?

"As you can see, she's not here, so why don't you leave us alone?"

This boy was human. He could see the man. He knew about Yuzu.

The boy moved closer to Ichigo. "It hurts, doesn't it?" he whispered cruelly into his ear. "Not being able to see her and not knowing what happened to her. I can only imagine the pain."

Ichigo had never felt this kind of chill from a boy before. Not from a human. The way he spoke made Ichigo feel like he was awakening from a nightmare. The fear lingered and he was not yet aware that he was out of danger. Not yet aware it had only been a dream. For a boy to give him that kind of feeling…

"I know what will take your mind off the pain."

Something sharp entered Ichigo's stomach. He stopped breathing and put a hand to his gut. His hand felt wet. The sharp object was pulled free and a new pain took its place. A pain he had felt before.

"A new pain!" the boy said cheerily and held up the pocket knife in his hand. "What better way to get your mind off one pain than with another? See how nice I am?"

Ichigo hunched over, pressing both hands to his stomach. He never expected to be attacked with a knife. Not by a boy.

The boy jumped back as Uryu fired an arrow at him. The boy laughed and landed on a dumpster. He looked back and saw the man with the doll make his way onto the roof. The boy followed, laughing.

Uryu rushed to Ichigo's side. "Let me see it."

"I'm fine!" Ichigo insisted. "Go after them!"

"Not…" Uryu looked up and saw someone on the roof above them.

"You guy's ok?" asked Kisuke.

"Ichigo's been stabbed."

Kisuke nodded. "You take care of him. I'll go after those two." Kisuke vanished from sight.

Uryu turned his attention back to Ichigo's wound. "Why the hell are you so reckless?" he asked. "You're a human right now. If you…"

"Why didn't you shoot him?" Ichigo asked abruptly.

"Huh?"

"The boy? I saw you fire that warning shot. Why didn't you actually shoot him?"

"You wanted me to shoot a human being?"

"He was with them," Ichigo growled. "He knows about Yuzu being taken. He helped that guy escape." Ichigo hissed inwardly as Uryu examined the wound. "That boy wasn't at my house. He wasn't the third guy. The third guy must have Yuzu with him. That's why he's not here."

"Now there's a fourth?" Uryu shook his head. "Just how many people are in this group?"

"I don't know. I thought three because three showed up at my place. I never thought there'd be more."

"You don't think. That's your problem."

Ichigo glared at him. "What's that?"

"Exactly what I've been telling you." Uryu returned the glare. "I know you're upset. If I were in your position, I would be, too. But you have to calm down. Getting frantic makes you irrational. If you're irrational, whether it's in your thoughts or actions, you end up making costly mistakes. You're not thinking. If you're not thinking, you could end up putting people in danger you never intended to."

"I-"

"You're a human now, but when you lose your cool as a Soul Reaper, another part of you takes over. That part ended up stabbing me in the stomach while we were rescuing Orihime. You lost control." Uryu took a deep breath. "I'm only telling you this because I don't want it to happen again. I know you don't either. But clearly you need reminding. If you fly off the handle, you could end up getting Yuzu injured. Or your friends. And if these people know where she is, then killing them will make it impossible to track down her whereabouts. Consider that next time you go running off to satisfy your blood-lust."

Ichigo couldn't argue with him. He knew Uryu was right.

He knew he was getting irrational. He was so worried about Yuzu, he wasn't thinking of anything, not even the consequences. He needed to approach this the way he did other fights. He needed to keep calm, know what he needed to get done and then get it done.

Attacking anyone from their group wasn't going to get Yuzu back. He might not intend to kill any of them, but he was angry enough he might anyway without meaning to. If he calmed down, he would have better control over his strength and be able to see the possible outcomes of his actions.

What he needed was a plan.

The ultimate goal was getting Yuzu back. How he was going to accomplish that was still a mystery. Once he organized a plan, he would be able to reach that goal a lot quicker and easier.

"I'll probably be able to avoid getting hurt so easily once I calm down, too, right?" Ichigo looked at his blood-soaked shirt.

"Now you're listening to me."

Someone dropped beside them and took a peek at Ichigo's wound. It was Kisuke. "How is he?"

"He needs to get this wound closed," said Uryu. "I think we should bring him to Orihime. She'll be able to help him out and she isn't too far."

"Good thinking."

"You didn't catch those guys, did you?" asked Ichigo, already knowing the answer.

"No, sorry. They split up. I went after the boy first but I lost him in the crowd. I tried to find the other one but he gave me the slip, too." Kisuke looked Ichigo in the eye. "I thought you said a man came to your place. That was a boy. He wasn't there, too, was he?"

"No, I've never seen him before. I don't know who that kid is."

"Hm." Kisuke crouched down, resting his arms on both knees. "It could be nothing. Should I try to find him? If that boy wasn't at your place, I doubt he's all that important. What we need to do is find the man who was at your place. Neither of those people have your sister, so she must be with that man you've already seen. It's a safe bet."

"That's what we were thinking." Ichigo sighed heavily. The pain in his stomach stung, but it wasn't as bad as before. "Where do we even begin? Are we going to have to search this entire place?"

"We might not have to," said Kisuke. "I've been thinking… The three people who came to your house were originally thought to be two men and a ghost, right? But it turned out one of those men was an innocent human being who had his body hijacked by a Soul Candy. Which means we're actually looking for two people from the Soul Society and a human."

"Your point being?"

"Based on this, I think they might end up going to the Soul Society. Since most of them came from there, that might be where they're planning on taking your sister. If they haven't already."

Ichigo sat straight up. "You sure?"

"Don't sit up so fast," Uryu grumbled, pressing his hands again Ichigo's open wound. "More blood's coming out."

"We'll iron out the details," said Kisuke as he stood up. "Go find Orihime. Let's meet up later."

Both helped Ichigo stand. It was painful, but Ichigo had worse wounds so he didn't complain.

"I've been working on a theory," said Kisuke. "I'm not exactly sure why they took your sister, but I might have a way to stop them. At least the ones who came from the Soul Society."

"Anything's better than nothing," said Ichigo. "What have you got?"

"Me? Nothing. But with your help…"

"What the hell are you talking about, Kisuke?"

"What I need can only be found in the Soul Society. More specifically, in the 12th Division's laboratory. I don't have access to that stuff anymore. If you can get your hands on it, I might be able to help you further."

"How? What do you need from there?"

Kisuke slipped a piece of paper into Ichigo's shirt pocket. "I wrote it down. But keep it to yourself. At least for now. I'm still working things out. Just in case those guys show up again, I'd rather not say anything further. Don't want to tip them off."

Kisuke walked them onto the sidewalk and to the corner. He poked Ichigo's pocket and the piece of paper crinkled against his chest. Ichigo nodded his head.

"We'll iron out the details later."

"I'll do what I can." Ichigo nodded a second time. "Thanks, Kisuke."

"No problem. Now get that wound taken care of."

Just how many people are in this group?

Please review! ^-^