Chapter 15:
Now that everything was paid for and in bags, the group set out again. They were finished shopping and it was time to go home. Byakuya refused to carry anything, leaving the others to do it for him. With Victor's strength, he could manage all of the bags. However, the plastic bags started to tear when he attempted to take everything at once. So Ichigo and Linnette helped him out. Victor carried most of the bags while Ichigo and Linnette took the rest.
Victor looked over his shoulder, seeing Linnette struggling with her bags. "From the bottom, sweetie. Support the bottom of the bags or they'll rip."
"Ok." Holding the bag of books in one arm, she twisted the bags around to support them from the bottom like he suggested. She was carrying the melons and other fruit.
"Careful not to bang them around too much or they'll bruise."
"Ok." She wrapped her arms around the bags, trying not to have them bump into each other. Her walking knocked one of the melons loose and it rolled across the sidewalk. "Oh!" Linnette stopped and tried to pick it up. When she moved her arms, the other bags started to spill. She stopped the melon from rolling with her foot and tried to figure out a way to pick up the melon without dropping anything else.
Seeing her struggle, the others stopped. Ichigo and Victor couldn't do anything with their arms full of bags. The other people on the sidewalk walked passed her, taking no notice of her and her struggles. Byakuya walked over at last and bent down, picking up the melon. She stood up and thanked him. Then he pulled two bags from her arms and dropped the melon inside one of them. Then he turned and walked away with the bags. "Keep up. You don't want to be left behind."
He had lightened her load. Now she was able to walk easier and carry everything without crushing or dropping anything else. "Thanks." She quickened her pace to catch up to the others. They continued on their way, Victor giving Byakuya an approving nod.
The sun still hung bright in the sky. The afternoon had only just begun. Ichigo was starting to feel a little hungry. It must have been close to lunchtime. Now that the shopping was done, it was time to head back and cook. The venders and local restaurant smells only amplified his hunger through long growls from his midsection. He wanted to get something from one of those carts but he knew he wouldn't be able to with no money and no way to carry anything else. Besides, whatever language these venders spoke, it didn't seem to be English or Japanese. It would be difficult to communicate with them and ask for food. He would have to wait.
Ichigo noticed something else besides the delicious aromas lingering in the air. The girls walking down the sidewalk kept looking in their direction. Ichigo looked across the street where the same thing was happening. What were they staring at? Ichigo looked down to see if it were his clothes. Nothing strange about that as far as he could tell. Then what was it?
He looked at a couple of passing teenaged girls. They looked his way and giggled, faces flushed. Ichigo tilted his head to one side confused. Was he funny looking to them or something? He slowed his pace slightly, trying to hid behind the others. Another group passed by and that's when he noticed that they weren't looking at him at all. It was Byakuya. Ichigo had been following so closely it looked like they were looking at him when they were actually looking at the man to his left.
It was his soul-snatching good looks that had them so captivated. Even while carrying grocery bags, Byakuya was careful to walk properly, his back straight and his shoulders back, keeping his chin up, gazing straight ahead. Even the way he was dressed seemed to enhance his natural beauty. In Ichigo's opinion, it was the next step down from an actual suit. Rather than dress in casual clothes like Ichigo, his wardrobe consisted of freshly pressed pants, a plain shirt and a dark jacket which he kept open, letting it billow behind him in the wind. It looked like everything he was wearing would have to be dry-cleaned.
Can't this guy wear jeans and a T-shirt or something? Ichigo thought to himself. Even his shoes are polished. Jeez, he knew we were going shopping and he chooses that?
Ichigo walked closer to Byakuya and whispered to him over his shoulder. "You couldn't have found something else to wear?"
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?"
"It's kind of attracting some attention." Ichigo nodded towards the girls stealing long glances at the young man walking in front of him.
Byakuya turned his head and looked at them. The moment they saw his gaze, they turned away, giggling excitedly to one another. Byakuya looked at Ichigo over his shoulder. "So?"
"So? So you don't notice how they keep staring at you like that? Are you blind? They're attracted to you."
"Why would you think that? Why would they be attracted to me?"
"Because you're hot!" Ichigo's face blanched when a group of passing girls turned his way, hearing what he had just said. Ichigo hid his face, embarrassed. When they walked off, Ichigo leaned closer to Byakuya and whispered to him. "You're good-looking to those girls. They like you."
"Your point being?"
"I'm just saying… I don't know, couldn't you have dressed down your wardrobe a little bit?"
"And dress like a peasant?"
"Don't think of it like that. It's bad enough that Victor gets the same looks you're getting. We don't need two of you."
"Are you jealous, Ichigo?"
"What? No! I just hate it when people stare! It's uncomfortable." Ichigo turned away in a huff. "Never mind!"
They made it to the parking garage and up to where the car sat waiting for them. Victor unlocked the car and opened the trunk, telling them to place the bags inside. Linnette insisted on carrying the bag with their books in it. She took them up to the front seat with her, then paused.
"Hey, Byakuya. Would you like the front seat this time?"
He looked up.
She stepped aside, offering the seat to him. "Go ahead and take it. I'll sit in back with Ichigo."
The Captain agreed and sat in the front seat while Linnette took the one in back with Ichigo. Victor was the last one in the car. When all the doors were shut, he turned the car on, made sure everyone was buckled in and drove to the nearest ramp. He took his foot off the brake, coasting down, picking up speed. Linnette giggled, enjoying it. Victor didn't do it again after that as more cars started to arrive and leave at the same time. They exited the garage and drove off back toward the house.
From the front seat, Byakuya had an easier time seeing the sights. He didn't like how congested the streets were or how some areas smelled worse than others. This wasn't the kind of place he wanted to live. Thankfully, Linnette's home was just outside the main city where he didn't have to be exposed to all this.
It was strange traveling in a moving car. This was his first time, but thankfully it wasn't too bad. Victor was a decent driver. It was a smooth ride, despite the frequent starts and stops due to traffic. He could hear Linnette talking in the back seat to Ichigo but wasn't paying attention to what she was saying or how Ichigo responded. He sat back and relaxed, watching the tall buildings pass them by. They started to see trees and the buildings were starting to thin out. They were getting close. It was a pleasant ride. Byakuya was starting to drift off. As his head began to drop, he felt the car slow to a stop and picked his head up. He was looking at a white garage door.
"Here we are," Victor announced and unlocked the doors.
Linnette was already climbing out, clutching her bag tightly. She ran around to the other side of the car, opening Ichigo's door. Then Byakuya's. "We're here! We're home!" She bounced to the back of the car and started tugging on the latch on the trunk. It wouldn't open.
"Honey, please wait. I haven't unlocked it yet. You'll break something."
She stepped back and waited until she heard a click sound then pried the trunk open with her left hand, holding onto the books with her right. Inside were the bags of food they had just bought. "Which one has my sandals in it?' she asked, pawing through the plastic bags with her hand.
"Calm down, sweetie. I'm sure we'll find them. Be careful. We don't want anything damaged."
Ichigo stood nearby. "Need help getting everything inside?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Here, take this." Victor handed Ichigo two bags. "And if Byakuya would be so kind to help us out…"
The Captain stepped forward silently. Victor handed him a single bag.
Linnette was loading up both arms with as many bags as she could fit, wearing the plastic bags like large bracelets. The pale skin on her arms were starting to turn red as the plastic straps dug into her flesh.
"Linnette, don't take a lazy man's load. Pace yourself. You can always come back for more."
"I can do it. Just like you can. See? I'm fine." Some of the bags began to tear and Victor reached out, relieving her of six bags with one quick movement.
"Even for me, these bags will rip. You can't take too many, no matter how strong you are, ok?"
"Ok."
Victor ushered her towards the house, carrying most of the bags himself. He opened the door quickly and held it open with his foot for Linnette to scurry through, dragging a bag or two behind her, hunched over, carrying the others in one arm, supporting them with her knees. Victor insisted on helping her but she refused, determined to do it herself.
Ichigo's stomach growled again. "I've starving, I don't know about you. I can't wait to get in and eat something."
He heard Byakuya's footsteps on the stone path slow and then stop entirely. Ichigo turned around to find him standing very still.
"Byakuya?"
There was a dull flash and Byakuya's gigai fell over. Byakuya reached forward with his Soul Reaper hand and grabbed Ichigo's wrist.
Ichigo began to fight back, pulling and twisting his arm away from his grip, trying to loosen it. "Hey! Let me go! Stop it, Byakuya! What's gotten into you?"
Byakuya twisted Ichigo's arm back, forcing his knees to bend. Ichigo dropped the bags and tried to pry Byakuya's thumb back in hopes of getting free. Byakuya forced him to his knees instead, pinning his arm behind his back.
"Byakuya! What are you doing?!"
He wrapped his arm around Ichigo's chest, pinning his arms to his sides and behind his back. He started to draw his Zanpakuto from its sheath. Ichigo twisted and squirmed.
Ichigo tried to fight back but he couldn't. He couldn't move his arms at all. There was nothing he could do. Well, there was one thing. He knew they weren't his to command but they would have to come if he called them, wouldn't they? "Victor! Victor, help!"
The suited man appeared in the doorway looking around the yard. He found Byakuya holding Ichigo hostage and frowned.
Linnette shrieked from within the house and Victor turned back. She always came first. He found her sitting on the floor, a black blur coming his direction. Yumichika planted both feet in the center of Victor's chest and jumped into the yard, aiding Byakuya. Victor turned back to help Linnette only to find Cedric pulling her to her feet with one hand. Once on her feet, she ran to the front door. Byakuya was attempting to open the Senkaimon.
"Byakuya, don't! Please stop!"
He glanced at her only for a moment then continued with what he was doing. Ichigo started to thrash, kicking Byakuya with his heels, trying to get him to loosen his grip, even for a moment. He was helpless like this. "Put me down, Byakuya!"
"Just keep quiet."
Linnette called again. "Victor! Cedric!"
They sprang into action, rushing towards the Captain. Byakuya turned his sword on them with a glare. "Scatter."
"No! Don't!"
Cedric jumped clear of the pink cloud as it came his direction. The millions of sharp pedals turned on Victor who took the full force of the hit in his torso. His suit was cut to ribbons. But there was no blood spilt. He landed on his feet, ignoring his tattered clothes and looked around for his assailant. Byakuya was standing above them in midair, Ichigo wrapped tightly in his arms. Yumichika stood beside him, opening the Senkaimon himself.
"Victor, Cedric!" Linnette called again. "Stand down! Don't attack them!"
They turned, bewildered.
"There was talk of a possible Hollow, right? It's my job to test it. If they're possessed by a Hollow or something like that, my voice will stop them."
They backed down, letting her do as she wished. The other Soul Reapers were starting to come out of the house, hearing the disturbance. The next thing they heard was Linnette's singing. It rang in the air like a siren's song. Yumichika and Byakuya were unfazed, continuing to open the gateway back to their world.
"They're not stopping."
"They're not even flinching."
Linnette stopped her song. "So they're not Hollows? There's no Hollow involved?"
Byakuya heard hissing and looked at the boy in his arms. Ichigo turned his head as far as it would go and gave Byakuya a sadistic grin. "So… once again, you're trying to take me away, huh? You're so eager to keep us apart, aren't you?" Ichigo began to flex his arms and pushed hard against Byakuya's grip. When that didn't work, he became even more violent and smashed his head against Byakuya's jaw. He lifted his legs up and sank them deep into Byakuya's gut, pushing away from him as hard as he could. Byakuya's grip was broken and Ichigo was freed.
Ichigo began to fall. Byakuya may have been a Soul Reaper at the moment, but Ichigo was still in a human body, incapable of standing in midair. He plummeted down to the ground.
"Ichigo!" Linnette screamed his name.
Ichigo corrected his form and landed on both feet like a cat in the grass. As soon as he touched land, he ran to Linnette and circled around her like a shark. He sniffed her hair and purred in her ear. This wasn't Ichigo. Her song had no effect on those men, but the same couldn't be said for him. Ichigo's Hollow was now in control.
"You're not going to interfere!" Byakuya shouted down to them and dove out of the sky, heading straight for them.
Sensing Linnette tense up, Ichigo jumped in front of her, ready to defend his princess. As soon as Byakuya came within range, Ichigo, without a sword, spun around, delivering a powerful kick to Byakuya's neck. It sent him flying into the side of the house and slumping over with a dull moan.
"Brother!" Rukia shrieked, running over to him.
"Hollow!" Linnette scolded him.
Ichigo recoiled, head sinking into his shoulders. "What? You were in danger. I helped."
"I don't want you to kill him! Don't kill anyone, ok?"
Ichigo, or rather, his Hollow's eyes shifted from side to side. He couldn't deny her. Sighing heavily, he agreed. "Fine. But if you're in danger, I'm saving your ass, ok? I'll just hold back. I can't let anything happen to you."
Something overhead moved. Yumichika was trying to capture Ichigo in Byakuya's stead. He landed behind Ichigo with his sword drawn. "Don't think you can get away so easily. I'm a force to be reckoned with myself. I'm not going to make it easy for you."
"Good," Ichigo hissed. "I like a challenge."
The four blades of Yumichika's Zanpakuto unfurled and he bent his knees, waiting for Ichigo to make the first move. Ichigo hissed at him and raised his hands up, as if he were fixing to box with him. Linnette stood behind them, watching helplessly.
Rukia ran to her brother's side and knelt beside him. "Brother, are you ok? Can you speak?"
He lifted his head and looked straight at her, eyes wide open. She waited, unsure of what was going to happen. Was he going to continue with the attack? Would he come after her next? He started to sit up then stopped, wincing. He held his rib with his hand and looked at his sister again. "It happened again, didn't it?"
Rukia couldn't speak. Nothing went through her mind and nothing came from her mouth but a startled breath.
He sat up further, still holding his side. "That look says it all. Besides… I can tell just by looking at him." Byakuya's gaze was focused on Yumichika who had engaged in a very close battle with Ichigo on the front lawn. Linnette's family flanked her on both sides, watching her restlessly. She had asked them to stop and were given no further instructions. She wasn't in danger at the moments, but still. They had no way of knowing if she was planning anything else or if they would be in her way.
She looked at them and then over at Byakuya, laying crumpled against the side of the house. "Don't worry about them or me. Help him!"
They turned. Cedric flashed away and reappeared at Byakuya's side, looking at his hand clasped over his injury. "Is it a cut or a fracture? What happened here?"
Byakuya tried to sit up further, but it was too painful. "I think I've broken something. I can't move. There's no blood."
"Let me look."
There was a loud clang that made their ears ring. Ikkaku had wedged himself between Ichigo and Yumichika. "What the freaking hell is wrong with you, Yumichika?!"
He hesitated, only for a moment, then stood firm and pushed against Ikkaku's drawn blade. "My fight isn't with you. I have no intention of crossing blades with you. My fight is with him."
"Why? Why the hell would you do that?"
"Why? Because he won't come peacefully, that's why! Now please get out of my way!"
Ikkaku pulled away but only to strike again. Yumichika bent his sword sideways to block the attack.
"Damn it, Ikkaku! Stop it! Just let me be!"
"Why should I? Why do you want Ichigo so bad?! What's wrong with you?"
His eyes flickered. Gritting his teeth, he pushed his friend's sword away. "That's none of your business! Just leave me alone! I'm taking Ichigo with me and that's that!"
"Just tell me why!"
"Because he's mine! That's way! He's mine and I'm taking him!"
He wasn't going to get any further than that. That was as far as he was willing to explain. Ikkaku pulled away and jumped over Yumcihik'a head, landing on his right. "If you want him so bad, then fight me first. If you can't handle me, then you can't have him."
Again Yumichika looked upset by this. He didn't want to fight his best friend. After a few moments of contemplation, he complied. "Fine! But I'm not doing this because I want to! It's because you forced me to! If you'd just let me do this, then we wouldn't have a problem!"
"You're the one with the problem!"
Ichigo jumped between the two. "No, I'm the one with the problem! You're stealing my fight!" he spat at Ikkaku. "You stay out of this and let me handle it! I never get to have any fun around here anyways. I'm finishing what he started!"
"Oh, back off! You can't take him!"
Ichigo grabbed the front of Ikkaku's kimono and pressed their foreheads together. "What's that?! You saying I can't handle him?! How insulting! I can take pretty boy any day of the week!"
"I mean he's after Ichigo! Technically, you're not him!"
His Hollow eyes scanned the body he was possessing. "At the moment, this is the King's body, so technically, he is fighting him, just with a better fighter in command! So back off!"
"You back off!"
"Pay a little attention to me, damn it!" Yumichika snapped. "I'm fighting someone here!"
"Damn straight!" Ichigo launched himself at the Soul Reaper and tackled him to the ground. He punched him in the face as hard as he could and Yumichika took a swipe at him in return. They started rolling on the ground and sprang apart a minute later, standing in the yard glaring at each other. "If you like that, imagine what I could do with a sword."
Yumichika swung his Zanpakuo at Ichigo's head, catching only a few strands of orange hairs. "Shut it! Now my face is going to swell up thanks to you!"
Byakuya looked away for a moment. "Rukia."
"Y- yes?"
"I came to my senses. Why hasn't he?"
"Uh…" she looked down. "I'm not sure. You got hurt and then… He kicked you so…"
"Perhaps it's the pain," suggested Cedric. "Maybe the pain shocked him out of whatever this was."
Rukia looked back at the fight. "But Ichi- er, his Hollow, just punched him in the face and he didn't change back."
"Maybe it wasn't hard enough."
"I'm not sure how much harder he's willing to punch," she said. "After Linnette's last order, he's not willing to try anything too rough for Linnette's sake. She doesn't want to risk anyone getting killed." She watched Yumichika swing at Ichigo again, missing. He jumped away from him and tried to attack from a different angle. "From the look of things, Yumichika's the same way. Clearly, he wants to take Ichigo alive and in one piece. He doesn't seem willing to land a critical hit. This fight could go on for a while."
Byakuya managed to lift himself up just a little higher. "We're not waiting around for that. We'll have to restrain him until he comes to his senses as well." He pointed at Yumichika. "Bakudo number one, Sai!"
The four bladed sword dropped to the ground as Yumichika's arms were suddenly pinned behind his back and was forced to his knees. "H- hey!" He struggled against his invisible binds.
Ichigo looked at the man on the ground then at Linnette who was waiting for him with a look of worry on her face. Rare, for the Hollow, his face broke into a warm smile and he hopped over to her happily and wrapped his arms around her slender shoulders. "Did you see me hold back? See? I have restraint."
Ikkaku looked at the man on the ground and frowned. "This isn't going to last. He's got the power of a 3rd Seated officer. This is child's play to get out of. You've only bought us a couple of seconds."
"Don't insult my brother like that! He knows what he's doing! There's no reason to explain that. I'm sure he already knew."
"Aww," cooed the Hollow. "Somebody's got 'tude…"
Rukia glared at him. "I'm not defending anyone and I am not being snide at all! I'm just pointing out the things he's overlooked! That's all."
"Please! You were kissing his ass as if it were cake!"
It sounded like glass were slowly being crushed and broken. Yumichika's arms were snapped free from his back with a roar and he reached for his weapon. Byakuya raised his hand again. "Bakudo 63, Sajo Sabaku!"
Yumichika's arms were bound once again, this time in glowing yellow ropes. He thrashed around, demanding to be set free.
Linnette tried to think of what they should do. Byakuya was normal but not Yumcihika. What did they have to do? That wasn't all that was racing through her mind at the moment. She wondered why they were after Ichigo in the first place. What was happening to these Soul Reapers?
She felt Ichigo's grip loosen around her shoulders and turned her head upward to look at him. His face had changed and so had his eyes. They were brown. He was looking at Yumichika with firm eyes. He knew the situation without having to be told. She looked at Yumichika again, wondering what she should do.
Yumichika looked at his friend. "Come on, Ikkaku! Help me out of this."
"Are you really begging?"
"Of course not! It'll just be easier to capture Ichigo when my hands aren't bound! Now help me!"
"You still haven't explained why."
"I told you why! I want him! He's mine! I'm taking Ichigo back with me!"
"But why?"
"Because I need him! I want him! Just let me go!"
"When you stop being vague about it…"
He thrashed even harder. "Ikkaku, please! Just get me out of this!"
Linnette tried to think. Byakuya was thrown against the wall. His rib was hurt. But when he hit the wall… She remembered. He hit his head, too. His side hit first but he had also hit his head. The last time this happened, Victor had to knock them out in order to get them to stop. Maybe a head injury was the answer. Ichigo's Hollow didn't punch him hard enough or in the right spot. Maybe he would return to normal if he was properly hit.
"Hey, Ikkaku!"
He turned. His cold eyes made her jump slightly. He looked angry.
"Um… Do you think you could hit Yumichika in the head?"
"Not a problem. My pleasure." Ikkaku slapped Yumichika in the side of the head with the back of his hand. All Yumichika did was complain and whine.
"N- no. harder, I think…" She looked up at Ichigo. "I think it's the head… I think that if we…"
He looked from her to the angry Soul Reaper. "I see what you're saying. Hang on." Ichigo went over to Yumichika. He stopped thrashing when he saw Ichigo willingly come his way. Ichigo balled his hand into a fist and punched Yumichika in the temple. He went down on contact. "I think she meant more like that."
Yumichika was woozy, but not out. It took him almost two minutes to recover enough to look at them and form a comprehensible statement. He looked from Ikkaku to Ichigo with concerned eyes. "Again? D- did I do it again? I did, didn't I?"
The kido was removed and they helped Yumichika inside. Cedric helped carry Byakuya who was unfit to walk as far as he was concerned.
Linnette ran to the couch, moving pillows aside, giving Byakuya a more comfortable place to rest his aching body. Cedric set him down on the couch while Ikkaku and Ichigo helped Yumichika into one of the chairs. Victor went into the kitchen, fetching something.
Ichigo did a quick headcount. "Where's Hanataro and Rangiku?"
"Hanataro's taking a nap on the couch in the next room. Rangiku's in the bath upstairs."
Victor handed Yumichika an icepack and went over to Byakuya. "If you need treatment, we'll have to wake Hanataro."
"I'm fine. It's nothing."
"You can barely move."
"I'm sore."
Victor bent down and placed his hand over where Byakuya was holding his side. He ran his hand gently over the skin, through a tear in Byakuya's clothes. He tensed up when Victor hit a certain spot. "I can feel a bump. I think it's your bone. Your rib is broken." He turned to Cedric. "Get Hanataro in here."
He hurried to the den.
Yumichika moved the icepack over his forehead and shivered, taking in a few quick breaths. "Why did this happen again? Was there a trigger or something?"
"I didn't notice anything. What were you doing before you went nuts?"
"I, uh… I was in the den over there with Ikkaku. The TV was on and we were watching it."
"All of you?"
"I guess. Hanataro fell asleep I think at one point. I didn't look. Rukia was in there, too. I wasn't really paying attention."
"What kind of show were you watching?"
"What does that matter? I couldn't understand it anyway. It was in English. Rukia had the remote. Some wildlife thing."
"What was Byakuya doing?"
"He was carrying things in from the car. I don't know anything else."
"Did you both do it at the same time? Change, I mean."
Yumichika looked at Byakuya sideways and shrugged. "I guess so…"
"Are you sure it was at the same time?"
"No, it wasn't," said Rukia. "I was in the room with Yumichika when it happened. We heard Ichigo yelling from outside. Yumichika was normal then. Ichigo called for Victor and he ran outside. That's when Yumichika started to act funny. He stood up and started to say something. Then he stopped. And then he ran into the kitchen and pushed Linnette out of his way and kicked Victor. I saw him do it."
"So there was a time difference?"
"Seems so."
Cedric brought Hanataro into the room who was already out of his gigai and racing to the couch. "What happened? Which side is the injury?" He set to work, healing the Captain.
It was a full minute before the silence was broken.
"So Byakuya changed first. Then Yumichika. Right?"
"Do either of you guys remember anything?"
Hanataro looked up, confused. "What are you guys talking about? Changed what?"
"They both came after Ichigo again."
"What? Why?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out."
Yumichika answered first. "I wasn't doing anything. I watched TV, heard Ichigo yell, saw Victor run, stood up to see what was going on. I started to ask Ikkaku if he knew… And then… I just started moving. It was like I was motivated to do it."
"So you remember it?"
"Sure I do. I remembered the first time it happened, too."
"Then you remember the confrontation we had out there?" Ikkaku asked.
"Yeah. I meant what I said. I didn't want to fight you. But I was willing to if I had to." He pulled the icepack over his eyes and leaned his head back against the chair. "It was weird. It was like… I wanted to take Ichigo with me. I wanted to grab him and just… I don't remember why, though. I just can't."
"It's the same for me," said Byakuya. "I remember what I did, but I cannot remember the reason why. Something was motivating me to do what I did. Almost like I was ordered to do it, but I don't know who the orders came from or why. It's the same as before."
"So you knew what you were doing, but once you snapped out of it you don't?"
"No, no. We knew what we were doing and why at the time, I'm sure. But when we come to our senses, we can only remember the what and not the why. That's what it was. We know what we did, but not why we did it. We were ourselves. It was like we were acting on orders. That's the best way I can describe it."
Ichigo looked at Linnette. "Did you try using your voice on them?"
"Yeah. It didn't work. It only changed you. So a Hollow isn't involved."
"So there's no Hollow…"
Hanataro finished healing Byakuya and turned around. "Um, well… Um… What if… What if it's the area that's doing it?"
"The area?"
He flinched nervously. "Well, it was just a thought. It's probably not but… I just thought that since it's only happening to us and we're all here that… never mind."
"I think it's a pretty good idea," said Ikkaku. "But maybe it's not the area. What if it's them?"
"Them who?" asked Rukia.
'Who do you think?" He pointed at Linnette and Victor and then Cedric. "Those three."
"How could you say something like that? How could it possibly-?"
"I'm just saying. I mean, she was around all three of them the first time it happened. They all went nuts. Then it happened this time, too. She was around then, too."
"But they were in different locations. And Hanataro wasn't affected this time around. It was just those two. Explain that."
"Hey, it's just a theory. But think about it. Her powers to control Hollows? And now she has the power to control Soul Reapers?"
"That's ridiculous. Besides, she tried to stop them."
"Notice how those guys are after Ichigo only?" Ikkaku went on. "She likes Ichigo. She wants him to stay, right? I just think it's a little weird."
"If she was behind this, then why would they do it when she's not in the same room as them, not using her voice, and why, if she wants him to say here with her, would she have them take him to the Soul Society?"
Ikkaku chewed his lip. "Got me. Didn't think of that."
"Then stop blaming her for this."
"I'm not blaming anybody. I'm throwing out ideas, same as you."
"It still sounds like you're blaming her. She had nothing to do with this."
"Then why is it only happening here at her house? Seems a little fishy to me. No one else is doing it. It's just us and it's only happening here where she just happens to be."
"Not, it's not," Ichigo said, realizing something important. "They're not the only ones this is happening to."
"How do you know?" asked Byakuya.
"Because I've been going to the Soul Society for the past couple of days. It's been happening there, too. Toshiro attacked me and… another Soul Reaper." He was careful to leave Veneno out of it. "Toshiro attacked us and came after me, doing the same thing you guys were doing."
"Captain Hitsugaya was effected, too? Are you sure?"
"Positive. He put Akon in the sickbay and landed himself there, too."
"Is he alright?"
"I checked. Unohana said he'd be fine. She said there was nothing to worry about."
Byakuya stood up. "How long have you been withholding this information?"
"I'm not withholding anything. It just hasn't come up until now. I didn't know it was the same thing. Remember, I wasn't around the first time it happened. But you guys were acting the same way he was. So it's not just here. It's happening in the Soul Society, too."
No one spoke. Hanataro was shaking where he sat on the floor looking frightened. Rukia looked like she wanted to say something but didn't.
Rangiku came bouncing down the stairs, humming a tune to herself, towel around her shoulders. She stopped, seeing everyone in the room looking upset. "What'd I miss?"
Byakuya turned to Victor. "Is there a spare room here that we could use? I'd like to set up something so that I can contact the Soul Society."
Victor gave it a little thought, then pointed over his head. "I think we have room upstairs. How much room do you need?"
"A corner will do fine."
"Then the playroom will do fine for you. Come this way." He led Byakuya to the stairs.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto, come with me. Your Captain has set one of these up in the past. I'll need assistance from someone who's familiar with them."
"Uh, sure, ok."
The three disappeared upstairs.
Ichigo felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down. Linnette was looking up at him with worried eyes. "Is everything gonna be ok?" She looked scared.
Ichigo bent down and held her hand. He put on a brave smile and looked up into her blue eyes. "We've been in situations a lot worse than this and came out of it just fine. Remember when you went to the Soul Society before and everyone was crazy and running around? This is nothing compared to that. Besides, you saw them. They weren't trying to hurt me. And Yumichika said that he didn't want to fight Ikkaku, even when he was acting crazy. You have nothing to worry about. Ok?"
She scrutinized his face for a while. Finding nothing that told her that he didn't believe his own words she smiled back with a nod. "Ok."
"Everyone's a little stressed out right now and we're hungry, too. I know I am. So why don't we eat something? That'll make us feel better. And in the mean time, Byakuya will call the Soul Society and get some info. Maybe they realized what's happening and have a way to fix it." He stood up and led her over to the kitchen, still holding her warm hand. She was squeezing back pretty tight. She was still concerned.
She took a seat at the counter. Ichigo waved Cedric over who already knew what she needed. He picked up the fallen grocery bags from the floor and started to lay things out for her to pick out. He placed a thin cardboard cake box in front of her and took out a small plate and a fork. She didn't look up.
Cedric moved the box closer to her. Still she didn't look up. He pushed it closer, making the box bump into her arm. Bump, bump, bump. He nudged the box into her arm until she finally looked up at it. She was frowning. He pulled back on the lid of the box, opening and closing it as he spoke in a deep voice. "Eat me!"
She started smiling. He pulled on the lid again, turning the box into a cardboard mouth.
"Eat me! Eat me!"
Giggling, she pulled the box out of his hand and over to her plate. Cedric patted her head and started to cut her a large piece of cake.
Curious, Hanataro walked over to the counter. Like a rabbit, he hid behind Ichigo, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air. He moved a little closer. Closer. Then he pulled out a seat and sat down beside Linnette, looking at the cake. Without having to be told, Cedric cut Hanataro a piece and handed it to him. He poured each of them a glass of milk, setting a third aside for Ichigo. The cake seemed to make both of them feel a lot better. Ichigo's stomach growled again. He gabbed the slice offered to him in hopes it would make him feel better, too.
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