Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. And I don't own the mostly Shigure but not really Shigure either. Furuba 'Gure was just the character template, if you will.

Ala Yuuko: The people you meet in a previous world, in a different one, they could lead completely different lives….

But hey, don't read too much into it XD Just a bit of fun for Furuba-fans. To everyone else, he's just Shigure.

To the Wind
Chapter 9
By Advent Wing

"Hey. Are you okay?"

Orihime jerked out her reverie and turned her attention to Tatsuki's question. "Oh, I guess. I mean the place is nice and everything. But I would prefer it if—"

Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "No 'Hime. I meant about…Ichigo…and well…" She looked at her meaningfully.

Orihime laughed. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

-----

Iiii

Waaant

Tooo

Feeeeed

He could feel it, dripping wet, thick and syrupy, like a tar soaked blanket. It was suffocating. It was suffocating him even as he carried Rukia out. It made him gasp for breath even when he knew he was well away from its influence. He didn't know what it was. He didn't care. He needed to get Rukia OUT. He needed to keep Rukia SAFE.

God damn it! He growled, running a hand through his hair in frustration, he'd never felt so god damn helpless since he became a Shinigami!

All he could think about was that she had to be okay, there's no way she couldn't be okay, and WHY the hell was his hands shaking so badly?

"She's going to be okay." Shigure breathed. "I checked her pulse earlier…it was less than stable…so why…" Ichigo glanced furtively at the door to the bath. Whatever the hell it was, it couldn't get past the bath. Earthbound? Ichigo mused. …No Earthbound could do…whatever the hell it did.

Shigure grabbed Ichigo by the front of the shirt. "What happened?" He asked, his gaze insisting, intense.

Ichigo shook himself free, "Nothing. I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"

Shigure cocked his head to the side, a flash of…suspicion? "…Overheating. I suppose. It doesn't seem too serious. She's breathing easier already. Unless…?" Ichigo noted a flicker. The feeling when that he got whenever he was around Ishida. His eyes narrowed at Shigure.

"…Where's her room?"

-----

Rukia blinked.

"This is…"

HeRe.

She whirled around. "Who's there?"

i Am RiGht HeRe.

Rukia frowned. Couldn't be a Hollow…could it? Her phone hasn't rung in days. "Right where? Show yourself so I can properly punish you." Whatever this…thing…was…it had interrupted her time with Ichigo. It was only natural that it allowed her to vent her frustrations. A thought flitted across her mind, like a butterfly, wondering when she had gotten so open about her feelings for him.

She shook her head to clear it. That's right. Wasn't she supposed to keep her distance…?

i Am RiGht HeRe.

She placed her hands on her hips. Despite herself, she shivered, and wrapped the bathrobe closer around her. Why was it so dark…?

I've seen worse than whatever the living world has to offer. She said, gritting her teeth.

A cold, wet, voice murmured in her ear.

hAvE yOu nOw?

She pivoted away on her right foot, bringing her left up—

…There was nothing.

Whispers shook her mind—

Rukia blinked.

"Oi. You okay?" Ichigo asked, peering down into her face.

"This is…?" A hand pressed to her forehead came away sweaty. Ichigo gently wiped her forehead with a wet towel.

"Souryu said you overheated—"

Rukia blushed furiously. Of course I overheated. I don't think anyone could stand being in a bath doin—Wait. That's not why I fainted…is it? She sat up quickly, intending to jump to her feet, but a sharp knife like pain immediately stabbed her head. "Ugh!"

Ichigo pushed her back onto the futon, livid. "What the HELL are you doing?"

Rukia wondered at his fierceness and creaked an eye open. "There was something there!"

He sighed wearily. "As I was saying. Souryu said you overheated…but there was more to it…wasn't there…? …And stop struggling bitch!"

Rukia settled down, but her eyes held that cold light…that blasted mask of death. He hated that look. He knew it was part of her…but…he much preferred her smiling…

He shook his head to clear it. She was really changing him…or was he always like this?

He shook his head again, in a negative. No. He decided. No, I wasn't.

"You idiot." He muttered, slapping the wet towel onto her face.

Rukia glared, pulling the annoying uncomfortable weight off her face, indignantly. She sat up, a little slower this time. "Was it my fault I fainted? I'm so low on spiritual power, I bet that a lieutenant would make me fain—"

She paused. "Ichigo…"

"What?"

Rukia lay back down, staring at the ceiling. "That reiatsu…did you feel it?"

"Reiatsu? Spiritual power?"

"Yeah. Did you feel it?"

"I don't know. What does reiatsu feel like?"

Rukia resisted the urge to smack him. "Never mind…you felt something…right?" He nodded. "The point is that such strong reiastu shouldn't exist in this world!" She frowned thoughtfully. "And it was tainted…"

Ichigo eyed her. "Hollow?"

She wondered at that. "Maybe…ah!" She clutched her head, quickly.

Ichigo leaned her back down. "You know…I was wondering. There were two really distinct smells in the bath."

Rukia fixed him with a level stare. He expounded quickly. "I mean, there was one that was there when we first went in…and I think it was there when we…" Rukia flushed.

"…Go on." She managed.

"—And there was another when you fainted. It was…strange. Sick. Like a…like someone dumped a bucket of slime on me. It was filling my nostrils, I could taste it…my eyes burned…" He blinked, realizing that he had been rambling. "Yeah. So that shit was there, and it sure as hell wasn't what I smelt before."

Another previous smell? Could it have been…a bath scent? Maybe an herb that Souryu-san uses…? She paused. We'll have to check it out. Ask Souryu-san about any legends…or deaths…

Ichigo suddenly stood up. Every stride one of irritation, he grabbed a long stemmed lamp, and, hefting it like a weapon, slid the shoji door open with a bang. Keigo and Mizuiro sat, cowering. Chad, Ishida, Orihime and Tatsuki blinked at him, a few feet away.

Ichigo slammed the lamp into his palm, not amused.

Keigo began first, and that was enough. "Er. Hi there. How's the Mrs?"

A sharp "OW" and the slamming of a shoji door was enough to make everyone else wince in sympathy. "There, there." Mizuiro said comfortingly, somewhat put off that Keigo would cry so easily and so often.

Tatsuki sighed. "Do we still go through with it?" She asked Orihime.

-----

Rukia frowned disapprovingly. "That wasn't very nice."

"Oh?" Ichigo said, tossing the used lamp to the side. "I actually feel that what I did was pretty lenient."

Rukia's scowl deepened. "You don't have to solve everything with your fists."

Ichigo grunted. "Oh yeah? Well, you sure talk big. Is smacking me the universal language for 'shut up, please'? Sometimes I wonder how the hell I put up with someone like YOU." He regretted the words the second they came out.

Rukia flushed angrily, and more than a little hurt. I told him that I hit him for a reason…and not to…not to… "Asshole! You insensitive unfeeling asshole!" She hissed, turning around to face somewhere other than Ichigo.

There was a pause no more than a heartbeat. Ichigo ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Damnit! It wasn't her goddamn fault she fainted! It wasn't her fault that she made you scared…

He glanced guilty at her back. And you can't hold her at fault for making you feel…the way you do…

"I'd appreciate it if you could leave me in peace."

Ichigo sighed. Shit.

The bowl of water, towels, and other various medical items, caught her eye, long enough to prevent her from noticing Ichigo until he had plopped down next to her again. He passed her a cup of water, adding a little powder into it.

The mixture fizzed ominously. "Drink."

Her hesitation was evident. "Would you like me to use words you could understand? How about, leave me the fuck alone?" She growled lowly.

Ichigo maintained his frown. "Drink it and I'll go." Ichigo tried to support her back with one hand. She knocked it away. "…My dad's a doctor, remember? You need this to re-hydrate." He said, after moving back to sit against the wall.

"…How long was I out?" She asked, still not touching the drink, and not looking at him, either.

Ichigo tried to shrug nonchalantly, but found the movement surprisingly straining. "Dunno. An hour. Maybe more than that." Damnit. I was fucking worried, Rukia...! "...I was a little worried." He mumbled.

Rukia sighed. "Worried huh?" She said dryly. He tried to shrug again. She was a little taken back at how doting he was being. Taken back…and more than a little flattered…

How the heck was SHE supposed to put up with this guy? He yo-yoed between sweet and doting, and rough and callous.

She drank it, suddenly realizing how thirsty she was. "I don't think I…'overheated'." She commented after she finished.

"I'm sure you did." He contradicted.

"Oh please. You know that wasn't the reason I fainted." She said. "It must have been that tainted reiatsu."

"No, but overheating was probably one of the reasons." He replied. "The heat made you vulnerable."

Rukia bit her lip, her cheeks feeling warm. Well, I have to admit, it is an interesting explanation for…vulnerability…

She sighed. How is it that we can-She flushed, recalling their earlier passion. Be like that, and still let our walls come between us…? It's frustrating.

Yeah? Called a sharp voice. What about your 'walls', you hypocrite?

She noted his frequent glances. Amber. She decided. His eyes are a shade close to amber. "You know…" She began, tilting her head to the side. "I'm out for a few minutes and you show your violent side again."

Ichigo retorted with a glare. "Like hell. I'm…always…you should know. This is me." Yeah. A violent moody jerk. This is what you want to be. A mutinous voice murmured.

Rukia's smile turned a little sad, and then suddenly, coy, which made the hairs at the back of his neck stand up. "No…" She said, softly. "You take on a very meek quality…during…certain times." She left it at that, but he had a feeling about which 'certain times' she was hinting at. "Like at night…and in the morning…"

Hey. Okay. Stop RIGHT there. Like hell I do! He backed away, casually, just as casually as she advanced. He sniffed, his nostrils filled with something…familiar…Not Rukia. He decided. She smells a little different. Probably been mixing the shampoos again… Or maybe it's just her. His cheeks warmed a little bit, the previous scent forgotten.

"And I noticed something else." She said, a note of surprise on her face. She frowned thoughtfully; reluctantly drawing up the few times they were in close proximity. "If my memory serves me right…" Her smile widened. "You blush easily…" This is getting too fun. She decided.

Ichigo stared. "Okay. You've lost it!" He could hear his heartbeat climbing, despite his loud and jeering tone, which really was meant to counter his growing feeling of unease.

Rukia dragged a finger across his face, just below his eyes. "You're exasperating. How can you be so sweet at times, and manage to be so…rough?" My voice is shaking… "And you can't hide it from me…" She continued. "So why do you have to hide it from others?" Suddenly closing the distance she pressed her forehead against his.

"There," she whispered, watching his face heat up. "See?" What now? She wondered, the situation firmly in her hands, her own face heating up perceptibly. Should I—

He suddenly pushed her away, and she was barely at arms length when the shoji door slid open, in a controlled, decidedly resolute manner.

It was with zeal that Tatsuki and Orihime marched into the room, both with determination etched in their features. With quick, and prompt movements, they picked Rukia up and hoisted her over their heads. And, like a strange little well tuned machine, they marched right out.

Ichigo closed his mouth experimentally. It dropped right back down.

-----

"Well. Now what?"

"Now, nephew, we wait."

"You know," Shigure said, pouring more tea into Katobeto's cup. "Those two are pretty…green…to be married. Were they forced?"

Katobeto grinned. "In a way."

Shigure sighed. "Hmm. Too bad. They don't make a bad couple, and it is evident that there are some deeper feelings…" He recalled the look of the one with the beached hair. That one was especially protective.

Katobeto sipped slowly, enjoying the tea. "…What happened in the bath?"

Shigure stiffened. He doubted that his Uncle had any knowledge of the spirit world, but they were family, after all. It could all be in the bloodline. "Overheating."

Katobeto nodded. "I see."

"If I may ask, Uncle, why bring them out here?"

"Well, I decided that one week is…inadequate…to prove one of my theories." You have more than one? Shigure asked silently. "I have to prove that Home Economics, if done using my teaching methods, will properly prepare a student for the stress he or she may encounter later on…and to do that, these two are proving to manage stress levels that would normally…" He coughed. "Well. Would normally be unhealthy." He smiled. "I don't know whether it is natural ability, or possibly—"

Shigure sighed. There he was about Home Ec again…he didn't know whether to admire his Uncle for his clear cut dedication to his goal, or condemn him for the way he manipulated his students.

"…But I primarily wanted to sample your Hot Spring again. It's not often I get to come here you know. Ever since I took your cousin for that Flower Arrangement Course. Why—"

Shigure blanched. A loon. He was a loon.

-----

"Girls night out…or something." Mizuiro decided.

Keigo shrugged. "What I want to know is when they're going to go to the bath."

Ichigo shot a glare in his direction, away from the game he was playing. "Why?"

Keigo winked, "Well, you see—" he began, until Mizuiro clamped his hand over the mouth of his not-so-bright friend.

"—We want to make sure our times don't clash. Unlike you and Kuchiki-san, we haven't had a chance to enjoy the bath…and unlike you and Kuchiki-san, we have to be careful that we don't walk in on each other's—" A very nice looking wooden trinket smashed into his face.

Chad watched, bemused, and managed to comment: "I heard that these Hot Springs are good for you."

Ichigo glowered at Keigo and Mizuiro, but then glanced to Chad. "Oh? I've heard that too. What does it do?"

Chad paused. There were generally nine types of springs, each with a different mineral, or a combination of minerals…they could vary with effects; a mineral for skin, another for aches, another for—

"They help keep you healthy." He said. Ichigo groaned.

"Don't be lazy to explain, Chad!" He said. Chad shrugged.

"Don't think you can stall, Kurosaki. I'm winning."

"Cheh." Ichigo muttered, turning back to the game board. "I don't even need to pay full attention to beat you at Go."

Ishida sighed, pinching his forehead. I don't even know why I bothered to ask you. "So you say."

Ichigo picked up a black piece with his index and middle finger, placing it to capture a few of Ishida's white. "Hey. Ishida. Do you sense something…strange about this place?" He muttered.

Ishida countered Ichigo's amateurish move quickly. "No."

"Well, keep it in mind if you go to the baths. And be careful." He grinned. "Pass."

Ishida sighed. "You have a move here, Ichigo."

Ichigo grinned wider. "Oh. Right." He placed the piece down, and Ishida blinked. Shit. I'm surrounded. Bloody amateurs.

-----

"Shoubu!"

"Uno, Rukia. Uno."

Rukia moaned, hanging her head dejectedly. I keep forgetting the word… "Right. Uno."

Orihime laughed. "It's okay. Lot's of people forget." She bit her lip. It seemed that she'd run out of red cards.

Tatsuki sighed, realizing that she had to take a card too. "No, they don't." She smiled at Rukia. "But you catch on quickly. You sure you've never played this before?"

Orihime nodded. "You could've have beaten us three times in a row by now. You should have seen Ishida when we played while you were in the bath." She giggled. "Kept going on and on about how Go as better."

Rukia smiled, picturing the Quincy flustered and losing. "I guess so…I'm not so good at card games. Ichigo taught me a game called poker…"

Orihime smiled at the familiarity. "You're very close to Kurosaki-kun now, aren't you Rukia-chan?"

Tatsuki made a quick choking sound, and Rukia blinked, shocked. "E-Excuse me?"

Orihime blinked. "Um, I mean…we…not in that way…I think. I mean, you two are always…er…close…and you call each other by your first names…and…"

"What Hime is trying to say is, do you…you know…have any feelings for him?"

Rukia blushed. I guess I blush easily too… "Well…" Do I…? She asked. I know he makes me feel content every time we're together…and I know that my insides turn into Hell Butterflies when he leans in close…we know each other's secrets. We know each other's fears…

Tatsuki sighed, a small smile on her face. "Not sure?" She leaned back, placing the cards on the floor.

Rukia looked between them. "I…there are…reasons…why I can't…" And it's okay to kiss him? It's okay hold him close? It's okay to wish that nobody would interrupt, that he would whisper in your ear and tell you that he—Rukia let out a small mirthless laugh. "Wait…he can't like me." She said, suddenly.

Tatsuki raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I…he just can't." I brought blood into his world. I brought pain. I brought responsibility. Me. Sure he might have never found out who killed his mother, but such a small price…

He'd be better without me.

Orihime coughed, wringing her hands behind her back. "Kurosaki-kun didn't smile as much as he does now, you know."

Rukia snapped out of it. "Huh?"

"He didn't. But I guess Tatsuki is a better person to tell you…"

Tatsuki hesitated. She seemed to be…gauging her. "I…don't know want to tell you what Ichigo should tell you…but…if you…"

Rukia had a fair idea about what it may be. "Is it about his mother?"

Tatsuki stared in incomprehension. "He told you?"

Rukia managed a small smile. "Kinda." She sighed, remembering his memory of the rain, the common hurt that bound them together. "I'd rather we not talk about it."

Tatsuki breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Neither do I. The point is that Ichigo hasn't…really opened up to anyone, lately. I barely know him anymore, if it weren't for our parents, I wonder if I could even call him Ichigo." She had averted her eyes at that.

"Don't say that!" Rukia said angrily. "Childhood friends…they have a bond…that's really hard to break…but if you try, it hurts both sides—" She swallowed. Like Renji and I.

Tatsuki was a little taken back at her outburst, but she grinned a heartbeat later. "Thanks…Rukia."

Orihime placed a hand on her shoulder. "The point is, don't hold back on Ichigo…he's never acted this way before. He's happy."

"He's happy because of you."

-----

"Hey, Chad." Ichigo began, as Ishida rooted around Shigure's closet for entertainment. Chad turned his attention away from Keigo and Mizuiro. They were pouring over a map of a building…

"What?" He asked.

"Tell me what Katobeto-yarou has in store for me."

Chad paled. "Ah. That is…" He paused. "It's pretty bad."

Ichigo facefaulted. "Damnit Chad! This is important."

"...I know. I can't tell you."

Ichigo growled. "C'mon!"

Chad raised his hands in a non-offensive manner. "He said it wouldn't kill you. It might even…help you." He looked a little unsure on that.

Ichigo sighed. "You did something stupid like give your word, ne?"

Chad frowned. "That isn't stupid, Ichigo."

"I know, I know!" He blew out a breath in exasperation, scratching his head. "I know…."

"Hey. He's got a console. A PS2." Ishida said, drawing their attention.

Ichigo perked at that. "Really?"

Ishida nodded. "Yeah." He popped a game in quickly. "Care for a fighting game, Ichigo? It's 2D."

-----

What's with this guy and challenging me? Ichigo groused. First it's Go. Then it's Chess. Then it's this. What's next? Monopoly?

"I'm winning."

"Like hell you are!"

"Right. I'm giving you, hell." Ishida retorted, finishing Ichigo with a quick low kick.

"Freaking hell!" He exclaimed. "How dirty can you get?"

Ishida glared. "You had next to nothing left. Why should I waste my time being flashy when I can just kick you in the—"

"ONE MORE!"

-----

"…Hey. Kurosaki." Ishida asked, waiting for the match to load.

"What?"

"Are you planning on building a long term relationship with Kuchiki?"

Ichigo's involuntary clenching nearly crushed the black controller with one hand. The match began. Okay, he muttered, that was unexpected.

"Why the hell is it your business?" Ichigo asked, urging his character towards Ishida's character aggressively.

"From the way you sidestep the question, I suppose the answer is yes?" Ishida's character hopped over Ichigo's character's head, all grace.

"Does it matter what the fuck the answer is? It's none of your business." Ichigo cursed. Why the hell was Ishida so good?

"Kuchiki is a Shinigami. Some day, she'll have to—"

"—Shut UP." Ichigo's character whacking Ishida's for a considerable amount of damage.

"Fine. You don't what to talk about it. That tells me a lot, you know."

Ichigo set the controller down, running a hand through his hair; exasperated. "Why do you care?"

Ishida did the same with his. He frowned thoughtfully, habitually adjusting his glasses. He then picked it up to load another match. "I don't." He said, finally. "But if you want to talk, I'd probably be the only person you'd be able to talk to."

"Cheh." Ichigo muttered scathingly, as he mulled the result of the previous round in his head.

…It'd been a while since he'd seen a double K.O.

-----

Keigo snickered.

Mizuiro snickered.

Chad stared, then coughed politely. "Are you two going to do…what I hope you aren't going to do?"

The scheming duo jumped into the air, eyes wide and fearful. "Heck no! I mean…what did you think we were going to do?"

Chad glanced at the map suspiciously. "Map of the building?"

"Fine architecture, no?" Mizuiro tried.

Chad sighed heavily. "Don't do it. You'll die. They'll kill you."

Keigo shook his head. "Not if they don't catch us!" Mizuiro knocked him smartly on the head.

Chad shrugged. He'd be watching them.

"Hey, Keigo…I don't know…should we be doing this…?"

Keigo glanced, open-mouthed in shock, at his fellow conspirator. A finger sped out; it's point a rapier. "You cur! You've sold us out!"

Mizuiro shook his head vigorously. "No, no! It's just…" He glanced around. "Every guy of our genre does it sometime or another. Shouldn't we…" He threw up his arms. "I don't know. Try our best to break out of the stereotypical image that so many shounen characters have been placed under that it has become the rule, no, I'd even say that for guys like us to spy on our friends in a Hot Spring has become a programmed decis—"

"Tatsuki-san. Kuchiki-san. Inoue-san." Keigo said, placing stressing each as he listed them down.

Mizuiro shrugged. "Momentary lapse of sanity."

-----

He was in the baths, fully clothed. It was a little before dinner, and as usual, the sunset would be spectacular. Gold and crimson coming together to create a rich tapestry of colour and life….

With a sigh, and practiced movements, Shigure made his way to a small corner of the baths, placing a small ornate mirror in a stand.

It was old.

He waited, watching.

And then he sniffed experimentally.

"Gone…"

Tsuzuku

-Celebrates-

I'm very worried about putting anything in the author's notes now, or in fact, mentioning names and whatnot.