Chapter: 13

To his great surprise, Veneno wasn't at Squad 12 or anywhere near the laboratory. Instead, he was pointed in the direction of Squad 11. The training grounds were bustling as normal for this area. Even without Ikkaku around, Ichigo still found himself dodging bodies, thrown from open windows in the main dojo and over hedges. This Squad was certainly lively.

Ichigo found his way over to a fountain where the sweaty Squad members washed themselves off and chatted. Today, they were welcoming a newcomer to their watering hole. A thin man with brown hair was handed a towel and received pats on the back for a job well done. As he turned, Ichigo saw who it was and hurried forward. "Veneno!"

He turned his body, just as a member ruffled his hair, exposing his horn. With his back turned to them, no one noticed. As soon as the hand was gone, his hair fell back into place, hiding it. Even so, Ichigo threw the towel over his head and took Veneno by the shoulders, leading him away.

"Aw, come on, Kurosaki," said a beefy brawler, throwing an arm around both of them. "We like this guy. Don't tell me you're taking him away like that Akon guy way earlier."

"Yeah. This guy's alright."

Ichigo pushed them off and pulled Veneno aside. "Nothing personal. I just wanted to hang out with him for a little while myself."

"Oh, alright…" The men started to back off, laughing and punching each other playfully in the arm. "Let's leave the kids alone for a while. Right, boys?"

Ichigo ignored them and kept his hand on Veneno's head, keeping the towel in place. "What are you doing all the way over here with these guys? These guys don't mess around. They're real tough."

"Yeah, I know," Veneno said through the towel. "So am I. They told me so." He curled the corner of the towel up, revealing his smile. "They like me. They say I'm good. I know how to fight."

"You do?" Ichigo was taken aback by this. The Veneno standing before him now was so timid and oblivious most of the time, incapable of harming a fly. He was actually good at fighting and was able to keep up with these brutes? Then again, given the old Veneno who gave Ichigo a run for his money, it didn't seem too farfetched.

"So you came to visit me again," Veneno chirped, happy to see him. Well, hear him. If it wasn't for this towel, he would be able to see his orange-haired friend. He started to pull off the towel. His neck-length hair fell onto his face, blocking his vision. He brushed it back with one hand and laid eyes on the dark clad Ichigo.

His head started to throb the moment he caught sight of Ichigo dressed like this. He looked like a normal Soul Reaper. They were dressed so similar. This was nothing he wasn't used to seeing on a day-by-day basis. But for some reason, it caused the hair of the back of his neck to stand on end. Up until now, Ichigo had always shown up in human clothing. He was never dressed like this. This was a first. And it hurt. Veneno's head began to throb worse and he bent his knees as if someone had hit him from behind with a bat.

Ichigo grabbed his elbows, supporting him. "Are you ok?"

He moaned, holding his head. "I… I don't know… My head hurts all of a sudden…"

"Did they hit you too hard or something?"

"N- no… It's just…" Veneno forced himself to look up into Ichigo's worried face. That look was so familiar. Worry. Deep concern for him. Ichigo cared. He could see it in his eyes. It made his temples sting. Then, slowly, the pain melted away and he was able to stand on his own. "S- sorry about that. Just a random headache."

"You seem to get those a lot, don't you?"

"It's nothing. I'm fine. It's gone. See?" Veneno stood up, grinning. He took the towel from his shoulders and tossed it over to the pile on the ground where the others had left theirs. He turned back to Ichigo. "So you wanted to hang out with me?"

"Uh… Y- yeah." Ichigo brushed off Veneno's headache and drove his hand into his kimono, pulling out the poorly wrapped crepes. "You hungry?"

"Always. Whatcha got?" Veneno poked his nose at the foreign object in Ichigo's hand.

"Crepes. Come on."

They went over to a tree a safe distance away from the training area to eat their snack. They sat in the grass together, enjoying the shade. Veneno seemed wary of the snack given to him at first, but since Ichigo always gave him such good treats, he quickly got over it and took a bite of the crepe. "Hm."

"You like it?"

"It's ok. I like cake better." He took another bite and discovered the fresh strawberries inside. Then he bit into a banana and frowned slightly. He liked the taste of the strawberries better.

Ichigo looked up at the sky poking through the branches overhead. The sunbeams, though mostly blocked by the leaves hurt his eyes. He looked away at the building fencing them in. It was nice to be in a garden and eat under a tree like this. It was very peaceful. Sunlight bounced off the white walls of the tall buildings, making it look like an ivory castle. The silky white stone path leading into the garden invited passersby like an escort beckoning a guest. Ichigo felt very at home in a place like this.

The one feeling most at home was the man licking his fingers to his right. Now that he was finished with his snack, Veneno turned his body sideways and flopped down onto Ichigo's lap. The teen flinched, unprepared, and looked down. "What are you doing?"

"Relaxing a little," he answered simply. He found nothing wrong with this position and decided to stay in it. Using Ichigo's legs for a pillow, Veneno made himself comfortable and stretched out.

Ichigo allowed this and looked away, hoping no one saw them. It was a little embarrassing having another man laying in his lap like this. Ichigo took another bite of his crepe, dropping a strawberry onto Veneno's shoulder. Veneno picked it up with his fingers and ate it without hesitation. "So where's Akon?" Ichigo finally asked.

"He's working in the lab. I told him I wanted to hang out here for a little bit. I told him where I'd be."

"And he allowed this?"

He shrugged. "Well… he was against it at first… But he had work to do. He said he would come get me for lunch or if he needed my help. He can get more work done without me around."

"Did he tell you that?"

"No. But I figured it out."

Ichigo ate the rest of the crepe and wiped his hand off on his hakama. "So… are you and Akon getting along?"

He nodded, the back of his head digging into Ichigo's leg. "Yeah. But all we ever do is work. I think I like hanging out with you better. We actually have fun."

"So you don't have fun working?"

"No, I do. It's just I'm not supposed to stop and I have to work as long as they say. It's nice to just hang around and do nothing."

"Tell me about it."

Veneno turned his head to the side, looking at the sidewalk leading into the grass. "We talk about things."

"Like what?"

He hesitated. "Ichigo… Do you have dreams?"

"Yeah. Everyone does."

"Are they always the same?"

He looked down. "Huh?"

"It's just…" He turned onto his shoulder, looking up at Ichigo. "I always have the same dream. Well, kind of dream. I was wondering if that was normal."

"So, like, a recurring dream?"

He looked away then looked back. "Well, what kind of things do you dream about?"

"Me? Well…" Ichigo tried to think of the dreams he could remember. "I have dreams that could be normal. Like, they could really happen. For example, I had a dream not too long ago about going to class, but I couldn't understand what was written on the board. Then suddenly it was lunchtime and I ate with my friends. It could have really happened, but it was a dream. Then I have weird dreams."

"Weird how?"

"Well, let's take the school example. I once had a dream were I came to school in the wrong uniform. I was wearing a girl's; skirt and everything."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And I was freaking out, not because I was in the wrong uniform but because I was wearing a skirt and forgot to shave my legs."

Veneno burst out laughing.

"It's not funny!" Ichigo was fighting back to urge to laugh as well, but mostly from the embarrassment. "I told my sister about the dream and she teased me by giving me her uniform for class! I have no idea why I told her! I should have just lied or something."

Veneno was still laughing.

"Shut up!"

"Any others like that?"

Ichigo looked away.

"Oh, come on! This is fun! Especially since I don't have dreams like this."

"Makes you feel like you dodged a bullet, right?" He looked down into Veneno's expectant face and sighed. "Alright… Let's see." He tried to think of another one. "Um… I once dreamed that I had to get to school in a boat. I don't remember too many of the details. Then I have dreams that make no sense at all. Those ones are weird because when you're having the dream, it makes sense but after you wake up, you're like 'what the hell was that?' and it's just… weird. Like I'm at the post office to get lunch."

"Weird."

"I know!"

"Are all dreams like that?" Veneno asked innocently.

"No. I've had some really awesome dreams before." Ichigo smiled remembering one off the top of his head. It was always one of his favorites. "I like the dreams where I'm flying."

"Flying dreams?"

"Yeah. I had this one dream where I'm in gym class and we're running laps. I couldn't get in front of the other students so I flew over them. I circled the gym and all eyes were on me. I got all the attention and everyone was so impressed with me."

"Are they all like that?"

"No. Another time I had this dream were I was walking around school. There was nothing to do and I had nowhere to be. So I decided to fly. I just jumped up and flew. No one paid attention in this one. It was like flying was normal or something."

Veneno was smiling at him like a child being told an interesting bedtime story. His eyes pleaded with Ichigo to tell more, but it was time for him to tell Ichigo some of his dreams.

"What are your dreams like, Veneno?"

"My dreams?"

Ichigo nodded, wanting to know. It was nothing more than pure curiosity.

Veneno relaxed his shoulders and neck, allowing his head to dip forward, no longer looking up at Ichigo. "Well… It's like I said. It's always the same kind of dream. Different things happen but… it's always the same."

"I'd like to hear it. I told you mine. Fair is fair."

Veneno bent his knee, raising himself into a better position. His head pressed into Ichigo's leg but he didn't say a word against it. He wanted Veneno to be comfortable. "Well… in my dreams… I always see these people. They're dressed like Soul Reapers but their eyes and mannerisms are different. They all have these black and yellow eyes. Like wolves. I've seen pictures of wolves in books and things and they have similar eyes."

Eyes like a Hollow's.

"And they're always stumbling around, growling and snapping at things. And I had a dream the other night where I'm talking to myself. I was standing in front of another me, talking to him. This me was dressed all in white but he looked the same."

Ichigo looked down at him. His movement caused Veneno to look up. "These dreams you have… they're all like that?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I always see these people. The other night was when I saw another me in a dream and I was talking with him. All the dreams are from my perspective. Like I was there."

Ichigo sat back against the tree. These weren't dreams. These were memories. "Have… have you told Akon about these dreams?"

"Yeah. But he doesn't seem too interested in them anymore. I guess it's because they're all the same. It gets boring after awhile. I told him about my dreams for the past couple of days but he said it's nothing to worry about and they're just dreams. So I stopped telling him."

Veneno looked up through the leaves fanning them in the breeze. He had another dream last night but he didn't want to tell Ichigo about it. It didn't make much sense to him. It involved one of those strange people getting hurt and he placed his hands on them and they healed, then stood up and staggered off. He must have had healing powers in the dream. His dreams seemed very real to him, as if they could really happen. After all, every one of them took place in an area which looked remarkably similar to this one. The walls and buildings were all the same. And all those people looked like Soul Reapers, only mutated.

He moved further up Ichigo's leg, resting his head on his upper thigh. He felt Ichigo tense up but thought nothing of it and turned his head to the side. "What are you doing now?" he heard him ask.

Veneno stretched out and rolled onto his left side. "It's peaceful here. I want to relax."

Ichigo looked down at Veneno's closed eyes. He touched Veneno's shoulder. "Are you really going to take a nap on me like this?"

"Why not? You don't make a bad pillow." He brought his hand up and rested it on Ichigo's knee. Ichigo's body was warm. Veneno curled up on the grass and prepared to take a nap. "Besides… it's really nice out here. Isn't it?"

Ichigo looked up at the waving leaves in the wind, fluttering overhead. The cool shade they provided. The smell and touch of grass. The cool ground and the warmth coming from the person nearby. A satisfying snack. No one around in this fenced in garden. Such tranquility couldn't be passed up. He understood why Veneno wanted to take this chance to enjoy it.

Ichigo remembered one of Veneno's regrets from before. It was never being able to relax under a tree and take a nap in a garden in the middle of the afternoon. It was a simple request. A lovely desire which harmed no one and nothing. Ichigo didn't have the heart to refuse him. He would swallow the embarrassment for now and let Veneno do what he always wanted. Ichigo rested his head on the trunk of the tree and let Veneno rest.

Around the corner, Akon was having a panic attack. He had left Veneno at the training hall to satisfy his curiosity and restlessness while he did his work in the lab. Now he couldn't find him. He wasn't in the training hall and he wasn't in the yard. The other Squad members hadn't seen him for the last twenty minutes. This wasn't good. What would the Captain do to him if he discovered that he had lost Veneno? Akon searched the area. He had to find him.

"I hope he didn't wander off and get himself lost!" Akon looked behind bushes and in windows. He left no stone unturned. Veneno could be anywhere. Even in the oddest of places. This was what happened when panic settled in. The search could be taken to just about anywhere. Akon even looked in a birdhouse, he was so desperate. Of course he wouldn't be in there, but he was unable to control himself and looked anywhere he could think of.

As he ran passed a garden, he caught a glimpse of someone with orange hair and did a double-take. Ichigo was sitting against a tree with Veneno dosing in his lap. Akon breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't lost the experiment. He hurried forward, calling their names.

Ichigo nudged Veneno with his hand. He was dozing lightly so it didn't take much prodding. When he saw Akon running towards them, he sprang up, fearing he was in trouble, supporting himself on Ichigo's leg with his elbow. "Ouch!" Ichigo lifted Veneno's arm off his upper thigh before it could dig any further into where his leg met his hip.

"Sorry."

Akon stood in front of them, panting. "Where were you? I thought I told you to stay put. Don't go running off like that. I was worried something happened to you and you were lost or hurt or something."

"Sorry," he said again.

The 3rd Seat sighed again. "I guess it's no big deal. Let's go."

"Are we going back to the lab to work or is it time for lunch?"

Akon paused. "Well, I am kind of hungry and I just finished helping my staff with a few things… Your call. What do you want to do?"

"Lunch!" Veneno punched the sky with his fist, excited.

"Ok, then let's go."

Happy to hear it, Veneno pulled Ichigo to his feet, asking him to join them. Akon looked at them disapprovingly. It was no secret that he wanted Ichigo to return to his mission in the World of the Living. But he did have a soft spot he wanted to keep hidden that was causing him to feel a sense of compassion towards this experiment. No matter how many times he tried to think of Veneno as nothing more than a Gigai, he just couldn't help but see him as a real person with real feelings and wants. It was only a matter of time before he came to see Veneno as an equal. He couldn't let that happen. He'd never hear the end of it if it was learned that he had developed an attachment to the Captain's experiment. Knowing such things was putting him in a bad mood. All this stress wasn't good for him.

What made matters worse was that Ichigo was picking up on these feelings. Perhaps that was why he kept returning to this world, to take Veneno off his hands. Ichigo told him that he was here to see that Veneno was given a second chance, but Akon had to question his motives.

As they walked, Veneno kept looking up at the sky, admiring the clouds. He heard birds chirping and turned to find them. Two small birds were sitting on a roof exchanging songs. As they drew closer, they flew off. Veneno watched them go then turned around, not giving them another thought.

Then a shiver went up his spine. Goosebumps appeared on his arms and he looked at the other men walking with him. They seemed to feel it, too. The air had changed. It had gotten suddenly colder. Ichigo and Akon looked at each other and then to Veneno.

"Is it me, or did it just get colder all of a sudden?"

They looked around. This wasn't a natural cold.

It was Spirit Pressure.

Ichigo looked at the street in front of them. From between two buildings, a Captain appeared. His snowy hair seemed to match the feeling in the air. "Toshiro!"

Akon turned to the Captain. "Captain Hitsugaya. What are you doing out this far from your Division? Is something the matter?"

Hitsugaya turned. Normally he would have corrected Ichigo by now for calling him by his first name. He was staring straight at him but he wasn't scolding him.

"Is everything alright, Captain?"

Hitsugaya's eyes never left Ichigo. "Ichigo."

The teen was hesitant to answer. "Uh… yeah?"

He took a step forward and beckoned him with his finger. "Come here."

Ichigo didn't move.

"I said come here."

He shook his head. He was getting a bad vibe from him. Something was wrong with the Captain.

A look of rage passed over his face and he drew his sword. "Come here now."

Ichigo refused. This made Hitsugaya even angrier. He brandished his sword and advanced towards them.

Akon stepped in front of them, holding his hands in front of his chest in a defenseless gesture. They had no reason or desire to fight him. "Captain, what's the matter? There's no reason to have your Zanpakuto drawn. We were-"

"Shut up! I want Ichigo! Get out of my way!"

Ichigo stepped backwards, pushing Veneno behind the building and out of sight. He had a bad feeling that someone was about to get hurt and Veneno had no means to defend himself with. He gave Akon a quick glance before turning his attention back to Hitsugaya. He wasn't backing down. In fact, he looked outraged that Akon was interfering.

Seeing that Ichigo wasn't about to come willingly, Hitsugaya fired a warning shot by their heads with his fingertips. A kido. "Ichigo, come here now! And don't you get in my way!"

"Why do you want-"

Ichigo pulled Akon out of the way as Hitsugaya fired another kido at his head. "Knock it off, Toshiro! You'll hurt someone!"

"I'll hurt anyone who tries to keep me from getting to you!" He pointed his sword at them again. "Now come!"

Ichigo refused. This couldn't have been the real Hitsugaya. It must have been an imposter or something. Ichigo couldn't think of another explanation.

Hitsugaya gave his sword a wave. "Reign Over the Frosted Heavens..!"

"Run!" Ichigo grabbed the two men and pulled them behind a building just as a wave of cold air came bursting through the street. Veneno shivered and looked at the puff of breath appearing before his mouth. It was much colder now.

Akon turned to Ichigo. "What the hell did you do to piss him off so much?"

"I didn't do anything!" Ichigo snapped. "I don't think that's Toshiro. Not the real one. He's got to be an imposter."

"Impossible. That's his Spirit Pressure, without a doubt."

"Then why's he attacking us?"

"Maybe you're under arrest or something."

"Me? What did I do?"

"How the hell should I know?"

A branch of ice appeared in front of them and Hitsugaya landed just on the other side, brandishing his weapon. He screamed, swinging at their heads. All three ducked simultaneously and ran down the street.

"Captain!" Akon called over his shoulder. "What is the meaning of this? Why are you attacking us?"

"You're getting in my way! I told you to surrender Ichigo Kurosaki!"

"But why? Can't you tell us that?"

He swung again, creating a sheet of ice under their feet. "That is none of your concern! I'm taking him and that's that!"

"But why?"

Ichigo grabbed Akon and pulled him away. "Who cares?! The guy's gone nuts!"

Veneno clung to Ichigo's sleeve as he began to slip on the ice. "Who is that guy? Why's he attacking us?"

"I don't know!" Ichigo said, slipping as well. "Something's wrong with him. He's not thinking right. We have to get away from him."

Hitsugaya chased after them, swinging his sword from side to side. "Give Ichigo to me!" he bellowed. "Give him to me now!"

Akon grabbed them this time and pulled them into a building. They ducked under a widow, hoping the Captain would pass them by without looking inside. They heard the unmistakable creaking of ice and held their breath. The air had grown even colder. Ichigo tried not to shiver as the Captain approached.

"Do you take me for a fool?!"

The wall over Ichigo's head crumbled as the hilt of the Captain's Zanpakuto crashed through from the other side. He reached through the hole and grabbed the back of Ichigo's kimono. Ichigo felt himself being pulled off the ground and twisted back and forth. Hitsugaya wouldn't let go.

"Come here!"

"Leave him alone!" Veneno screamed and tried to pry Hitsugaya's hand off Ichigo's back. "Let go!"

"Hang on!" Akon tried his hand at it to no avail. The he applied a technique no one else thought of using. He forced his thumb into Hitsugaya's forearm, causing him incredible pain and releasing his grip of Ichigo. It was a pressure point. Akon helped Ichigo up and they ran to the back of the building and out the back door. Hitsugaya was screaming at them.

"I want Ichigo! Give him to me! Come back here!"

"I think you're right, Ichigo. He has lost his mind."

A sheet of ice formed under their feet and all three slipped and fell, sliding down the street from the momentum. Ichigo looked back and saw Hitsugaya coming at them from above. He instinctively reached for his sword then stopped. Not yet. It wasn't time for that yet. He had no way of knowing how this would play out. What if he ended up causing them all more problems by striking back? Instead he pushed Akon and Veneno out of the way and made himself an easy target. As Hitsugaya fell towards him, Ichigo fell back and planted his foot in the Captain's stomach, sending him over his head.

Akon reached out and pulled him off the ice and to safety. They moved behind another building. Hitsugaya was still cursing them and sending ice up and down streets and buildings. It wasn't long until they realized that he had succeeded in boxing them in.

"We have to try reasoning with him," said Akon. "He's a Captain. It's not like we're a match for him. Besides, attacking a Captain will get us thrown in jail faster than you can say 'Chappy'. Something's going on here and I'm going to find out what."

"I don't think you can reason with a crazy guy," Ichigo retorted.

"It's worth a try. Besides, he was fine this morning when I dropped off some paper work for him to fill out. Rangiku requested something but since she's not around, he has to sign for it."

"Maybe that's why he's pissed…"

"We'll reason with him and see what's up." Akon told them to stay behind the building while he confronted Hitsugaya. "Captain Hitsugaya? Sir, are you there?"

Hitsugaya landed between Akon and the wall of ice he had created. "Where is Ichigo?"

"I want to talk."

"Well, I don't! Where's Ichigo?"

"Why do you want him so badly?"

"I don't know! I just do! You can't keep him from me!"

"Do you hear how you sound right now? This isn't you, Captain."

Hitsugaya waved his sword. "I'm warning you…"

"We're just talking. Calm down."

"Tell me where he is! Where are you hiding him?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that. I want to know why-"

"Don't get in my way or I'll kill you! I'll kill anyone who tries to keep him from me!" Hitsugaya gave his sword an upward swing as if he were rolling a ball and a jagged stream of ice was sent straight for Akon. Thinking fast, he blocked with a kido.

"Captain! Please, don-"

"Shut up and hand him over!"

Akon tried restraining the Captain at the same time Hitsugaya sent another jagged wall of ice toward him. The two attacks collided with disastrous results. There was an explosion and Hitsugaya was thrown back into his own ice wall, smashing his head and landing in a heap, sword knocked from his hand. The explosion shattered the ice and Akon was right in the path of multiple ice shards. One sliced open his neck and blood began to pour from his wound.

"Akon!"

He fell back, holding his neck with both hands, trying to stop the bleeding. Ichigo and Veneno rushed to his aid. His jugular was severed and he was gushing blood. There was already a massive puddle under him. Akon's eyes were wide, realizing how bad this was. This was a serious injury.

"Akon!" Ichigo tried putting pressure on the wound but it wasn't enough. He was losing too much blood. "Oh, crap!" He looked around. No one was around and with the walls of ice surrounding them, help wouldn't arrive soon enough.

"Is he ok?" Veneno asked, panicked. "What do we do?"

"I don't know! I don't know!"

Akon's eyes were starting to roll and his breathing was getting quicker. His hands were starting to fall from the wound. Ichigo forced him to hold on, pressing his own hand over the wound and Akon's hands.

"Don't, Akon! Stay awake! Keep putting pressure on it!"

He was getting paler. He was losing too much blood.

"Damn it!" Ichigo looked around for help. He felt so helpless. "If only there was a medic nearby… Squad 4 is too far away and he can't travel like this. We can't leave him and we'll never make it in time no matter what we do. He needs help now!"

Akon gargled and his eyes started to roll back again.

"Akon! Akon!" What could he do? What was he supposed to do? How could Akon die from an injury like this? He couldn't let it happen. Not over something so stupid. He had to help him but he had no idea how.

Suddenly, Veneno looked up. "W- wait… Ichigo, I think I can help him."

"Veneno I don't think-"

"Trust me! Let me try!" He moved closer. "Ichigo, move your hand."

"If I do that then he'll bleed out!"

"Trust me! I want to try something. Please!"

Maybe he really did trust him, maybe it was hopeful thinking or maybe he was too numb with shock to protest. Either way, Ichigo let go and sat back letting Veneno do what he wanted.

Taking in a deep breath, Veneno rubbed his hands together then placed them on Akon, one near the wound and the other on his forehead. He set them there and waited. Akon seemed to be growing weaker. This wasn't helping.

Then Akon shut his eyes tight, moaning. His legs pointed outward and then bent. He moaned again, louder. He was beginning to sweat. The blood stopped flowing. He moaned again, even louder than before.

Ichigo watched, fascinated. Then his eyes grew wide.

Akon opened his mouth with a growl. His teeth elongated into fangs. His body twitched and turned as waves of pain seemed to pulsate through him. He writhed and squirmed. His eyes opened and Ichigo looked into the deep yellow and black eyes of a Hollow. The wound on Akon's neck bubbled and boiled. Then the muscle and tissue began to knit back together. The skin stretched and met in the middle, stitching back together, leaving not even a scar. He was healing. No, it was regeneration. Just like Byakuya when he was a Hollow Reaper and had his face sliced open. Veneno had re-infected Akon with the Hollow virus, turning him into a Hollow Reaper again in order to save him.

Veneno pulled back once the wound was healed and Akon was able to move. He opened his mouth repeatedly, growling. He laid eyes on Ichigo and reached out for him with his left hand. Ichigo backed away, knowing how contagious the virus was. Akon snarled and started to lift himself up, trying to reach Ichigo. Then, as if losing all strength, his hand fell to the ground and Akon laid back, closing his eyes with a moan. His fangs started to disappear and he relaxed.

Ichigo looked at Veneno who was still watching Akon closely. He tapped Akon's forehead and called his name. Akon frowned, moaning. It was as if Veneno were trying to rouse him from a nap. He was still alive. But he needed medical attention.

Veneno looked at Ichigo who was staring at him with wide eyes. Sensing that he may have done something wrong, Veneno looked down shamefully.

"What did you just do?" Ichigo asked slowly, unable to shake the feeling of fear and worry from his mind. Veneno just turned Akon into a Hollow Reaper and then changed him back after he was healed.

Veneno looked down. "I… saw it in a dream I had last night," he answered. He started to tug on the front of his kimono nervously. He looked like a child awaiting punishment for something he knew was wrong. But Veneno thought he had done a good thing by saving Akon's life. This was a power he didn't know he had. He had only seen it in a dream. It was something he wanted to try out of desperation and curiosity. He wasn't sure if it would work or not but he wanted to try anyway. It was taking a real chance. "I just wanted to help. Are you mad?"

"Huh?" Ichigo shook away his shock, taken by surprise by Veneno's question and look of guilt.

"Did I do something wrong? Was that bad what I just did? Are you mad at me?"

He was worried. He was constantly seeking approval from people and rediscovering things about himself he had forgotten. He didn't know if this was right or wrong. He didn't want Ichigo to be angry with him for something he had done, not knowing if it was wrong or not.

"No. I'm not mad," Ichigo told him. "You saved him. You were trying to help, like you said."

Veneno looked into Ichigo's eyes, no longer feeling ashamed. When he saw Ichigo's approving eyes, he smiled, feeling much better. He had done good.

Voices started to fluttered from rooftops. "What happened? Is everything ok? Are you alright? What's going on? Is the Captain with you? Who's over there?" Soul Reapers were asking.

Ichigo waved to them with his arms. "Over here! We need help! There's been an injury!"

Soul Reapers jumped down and landed beside Akon's body. "What happened here? Is he dead?"

Akon moaned, his hand twitching.

"Hey! He's alive! Hurry up! Let's get him some help!"

"Who is it? Who's injured?"

"It looks like Akon from Squad 12, I think. Let's move!"

Soul Reapers started to surround his body, trying to figure out the best way to move him. "Let's take him to Squad 4. Hurry."

Ichigo looked over at the body laying on the ground by the ice wall. "Toshiro's over there, too. He needs help."

Soul Reapers started to come over and look at the fallen body. "Hey! Captain down! We need help!"

"Captain Hitsugaya's over there? Is he hurt? What happened?"

"Hurry up!"

Ichigo looked back at Veneno who was watching the men carry Akon away as carefully as they could without a stretcher. He looked back at Ichigo, looking worried. Ichigo nodded to him and smiled. "He's going to be fine."

Even with those words of comfort, Veneno still looked worried.

Things seem to be getting worse.

Please review ^-^