AN

Thanks you guys for your well thought out and very complimentary reviews (especially NieveDrop and Ayrmed). And Kireina-Ame if you really do end up updating PLEASE do Our Timing Sucks first because that's my FAVORITE of your awesome stories! Anyway, back to the story. I forget which one of you asked about who's left and you were right about Rukia, Ichigo, Momo and Renji, but also Kiyone who is in captivity but not dead yet. And to answer your question Anon, yes the police are exaggerating a little bit, but I think everyone knows that there are always some unfair police officers. But don't worry, Ichigo can handle himself.

Disclaimer-I own nothing, once again. Stop making me write this already!

No Escape

Chapter 12

Rukia was already late for work when Ichigo pushed her out the door. He felt like a pansy for getting all sappy with her like that. He never should have told her how he felt about his dad. He'd never told anyone else, so why her? It was only going to make her think he was weak when she needed to be able to depend on him to be strong.

What Ichigo needed to do was suck it up, keep his junk in check, and do his job.

Easier said than done.

He never should have kissed her, though he couldn't bring himself to regret it. Not something as good as that. How could he regret a kiss that was so hot it made him hard, yet so sweet it made him ache that it had to end?

Ichigo shook his head and tried not to think about it.

He rinsed off the dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher, then straightened up the kitchen so she wouldn't have to come home to a mess.

He'd told her that if she still wanted him, they could talk about it. Maybe she'd come home and do just that. Sex didn't have to be about love-he knew that without a doubt. Maybe Rukia could learn the same thing. They could enjoy each other while he was here, then part ways. No problem.

Hell, he'd even consider doing a long-distance relationship with her if she wanted. Nothing serious or binding, since he was sure she'd still want to be on the lookout for husband material, but he could live with that if it meant they could be together some of the time.

Couldn't he?

His stomach started to burn at the notion of sharing her, and he knew then that it wouldn't work. They were both better off if he learned not to think of her as a woman. He could do that. He'd done it with Nemu as soon as he'd found out she was Uryu's woman.

In fact, it had proved to be surprisingly easy. Uryu loved her, and that was enough to make Ichigo keep his distance. All he had to do was find a way to feel the same with Rukia.

No problem. He could do it. He wasn't sure how, but he'd figure out something, for Rukia's sake.

After five minutes of scrambling for ideas and coming up blank, a sick sense of panic settled in his chest. He needed advice from someone whose head wasn't quite so fucked up.

He checked his watch. It was still early, but Chad would be up. He'd know what to do. Chad always knew what to do.

Ichigo dialed his friend's cell phone.

It took four rings for Chad to answer, and when he did, it was in a whisper. "Hey, Ichigo."

"Did I wake you?"

He heard the sound of a door clicking shut, then Chad cleared his throat. He sounded awful, like he was sick. "I was up late, taking care of Tatsuki."

That didn't sound good. "What's wrong?"

"She's got the flu, bad."

"Oh, man. That sucks. Is there anything I could do?"

"Get Uryu off my back. He needs an extra pair of hands, but I can't leave Tatsuki until she's over this crap."

"I wish I could do that, but there's some serious shit going down here and I can't leave, either."

"I thought you were just going to visit an old friend on the way to Osaka."

"I was, but it got complicated."

"Let me guess. Lady trouble?"

"Is there any other kind?"

"They why are you calling me? Hell, Ichigo, you've got more experience with the ladies than three of me put together."

"She's special."

"Oh. I see. How special?"

"Special enough that I can't fuck it up."

Chad's deep laugh vibrated the phone. "About damn time you settled down."

"It's not like that. She's just a friend."

"Yeah, right. You don't have female friends, just fuck buddies."

Ichigo winced at the crude term, then found himself frowning. "I think I liked it better when you were grunting your answers and staying quiet."

Chad laughed again. "Hey, man, I'm just telling it like it is. Besides, you know I'm right."

Ichigo decided to get the conversation back on track. "That's the problem. I don't know how to deal with this."

"Sorry, man. Wish I could help. The only advice I can give you is that if you want her to continue to be your friend, lock your junk in a drawer until you leave."

That's pretty much what Ichigo figured he'd say. At least his instincts were right. Now all he had to do was follow through on them. "I'd better figure this shit out fast, then. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to hold out."

"Something other than women troubles?"

Ichigo wasn't going to pull Chad away from his sick wife. Tatsuki was tough, and if she needed him, she really was in bad shape. "Nothing I can't handle."

Chad let out a long, wheezing sigh. "Good. I got my hands full here."

"I hope you're not coming down with what Tatsuki's got. You sound like hell."

"I'll survive."

"Kiss Tatsuki for me."

"Hell, no. You want to kiss a woman vicariously, find someone else's wife."

Ichigo smiled at the possessive growl in Chad's tone. If he wasn't too sick for that, he'd be fine. "Take care of yourself, man."

"You too," said Chad and hung up.

So much for an easy answer, and there wasn't time to look for more advice. He had a meeting with Detective Kira in half an hour, and he needed to be clear-headed enough to make his case. If he could get the good guys to back him, then they could find the asshole who was killing people, and he could be on his way before he did something with Rukia they'd both regret.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Yammy had no trouble finding Rukia's car in the teachers' lot. She was nice enough to show up late, and he was already there, watching to see where she parked. Lucky for him, she was on the last row of the lot, farthest away from the building, right between a minivan and an SUV.

He couldn't have asked for a better setup. No one was going to see a thing, and he'd have plenty of room to work.

It had been a long time since he'd tinkered with a car, but he was pretty sure they hadn't changed so much he couldn't do what needed to be done to get his son back.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Detective Kira greeted Ichigo with a firm handshake and a suspicious glint in his eyes. He had shoulder-length blond hair and his shirt was a bit rumpled, as if he'd slept in it, and his tie was already loose around his throat. The red rims of fatigue around his blue eyes told Ichigo that he'd either worked or played too hard last night.

From the looks of the stacks of files littering his desk, Ichigo figured it was the former.

He led Ichigo down a hall and opened a door for him to proceed.

"It'll be quieter in here," said Kira. "Go ahead and have a seat."

Ichigo looked around the dank little interrogation room, already hating its dreary paint and two-way mirror. It reeked of fear, desperation, and stale coffee in here, but from Kira's neutral expression, he apparently didn't notice the stink.

"I've read the police reports," he told Ichigo without preamble. "Gotta say this whole thing looks like a hell of a mess."

"I couldn't agree more," said Ichigo.

"We've got patrols going by the residences and businesses you listed, but I don't think that's going to be enough. We need to catch this son of a bitch."

Right down to business. Ichigo liked the man already. "What can I do to help?"

"Why don't we start with you telling me where you were last night between eight and midnight?"

Warning bells gonged in Ichigo's head, making him frown at Kira. He could see that frown in the mirror and wondered if there was anyone on the other side. "Is this an interrogation?" he asked carefully.

"You know a reason it should be?" Kira shot back. "Just answer the question."

"I was with Rukia. If you read the police reports, you know we didn't get away from that restaurant until nearly ten. We went home."

"Just the two of you? Anyone see you at home?"

"No. Kon was asleep." Ichigo stood up, letting his body language tell the detective how pissed he was getting without words that could latter be used against him. "What the hell is going on here?"

"We found Hanataro's body this morning."

Shock rolled through Ichigo, making him sway. He gripped the table to steady himself, bracing for the impact of the grief he knew would come next. He'd seen a lot of good men die, and even if he didn't know them, he always felt a sense of loss for what could have been. Hanataro would never have a wife and kids. He'd never even get the chance to grow enough of a backbone to let Rukia know how much he was crushing on her.

"He was getting out of town," said Ichigo. "He was supposed to be safe."

"Is that why you hurried up and killed him? Or was it all the photos he had of Rukia that set you off?"

What the hell? Kira thought he was the killer? "Whoa!" said Ichigo, holding up his hands. "You can't believe I did this!"

"Have you ever been in his house?"

"No! I don't even know where he lives!"

Kira's eyes brightened with excitement, which could not mean anything good for Ichigo. "Are you sure about that?" asked Kira.

He couldn't believe that he was a suspect. He'd put his life on hold to come out here and help. How could this guy actually believe he'd kill anyone?

Ichigo held his anger in check, but only barely. He really wanted to slam his fist into this guy's smug grin. "Yes, I'm pretty fucking sure I've never been in the man's house."

"We found your prints there."

"Bullshit you did!"

"You know I'm not lying. You were there, just like you were there for all of the others who you killed. Tell me, Ichigo, how did you make it look so convincingly like suicie?"

Ichigo turned his back on the guy to keep from punching him. "This is unfuckingbelievable. We come to you for help and this is the shit you think up?" He whirled around, his fists tight and longing for something to pummel.

"Was it really self-defense when you killed Aizen? Are these other killings some kind of way for you to finish what you started?"

Ichigo shook with the force of his anger. "Get your ass out there and check on Momo. She was next on the list."

Kira nearly smiled. "Did you already get to her, too? Anxious for us to find the body so you can get your little thrill?"

"That's it! If you won't go check on Momo and her daughter, I will."

Ichigo started for the door, but Detective Kira blocked his path. "You're staying here until I say we're done."

"Are you charging me with something?" asked Ichigo.

"Is that a confession?"

"Fuck you," ground out Ichigo.

Kira leaned close, getting right into Ichigo's face. He kept his voice so low that Ichigo was sure that if this was being recorded, the mic wouldn't pick up his words. "It's no wonder no one ever wanted you as a kid. You're a murdering prick, and I'm going to see you fry."

AN

So I don't hate Izuru in case your wondering and I'm sorry if I offended any Izuru lovers (although I'm not sure there is any), but he's just filling the role of the douchebag cop whose on the wrong track. Anyway, I had a sudden burst of energy so the next Chapter is up as well. I've noticed that usually happens when my girl Rukia doesn't physically appear in a chapter. Anyway, review and move on up!