When the Road Looks Rough Ahead

School was harder to get through than Ichigo was prepared for. It was as if everywhere he saw the ghost of a person he knew and was no longer there. It wasn't just Orihime, or Rukia, but also the recalled Shinigami team (despite them being less than convincing as high school students). He even missed having Uryu to trade barbs with him.

He made an effort to keep a distance from his remaining friends. By lunch-time, Ichigo found he couldn't get away from Keigo and Mizuiro. The excitable, lighter-haired boy tried jumping at the orange-haired teen in his typically manner, but was quickly shut down by Mizuiro. The calmer dark-haired boy invited Ichigo to a movie premiere a few months from then. Ichigo accepted, but accidentally let it slip that he'd be leaving again. Despite his words to the contrary, he did not sound as certain about returning.

As he was about to escape from them, Tatsuki finally cornered Ichigo. The athletic, raven-haired girl who had been his friend the longest demanded to know where Orihime was. She also wanted the truth about his activities as a Shinigami and his battles against the Hollows. Caught off guard, Ichigo kept stonewalling and denying knowing anything, only making them both angrier. Finally, an enraged and distraught Tatsuki took a swing at him.

Ichigo could feel his breathe bounce back off the huge hand stopping Tatsuki's fist.

"Those two were right, you would make a real mess of this Ichigo," said the deep voiced owner of the hand.

"Chad?" asked a dumbstruck Ichigo at his sudden reappearance.

"Sado-kun," said Tatsuki, still furious, and desperately fighting tears, "You better not just tell me-"

"I'm not," Chad said calmly, "It's all true. I can't give you all the details. I don't even believe some of them half the time."

Ichigo was just as stunned as his three friends, "'Chad, what are say-"

"I didn't want to involve anyone else either. Urahara and that creepy mask guy said the things in motion now are too big for us to handle alone," the towering teen explained, first addressing Ichigo, then turning to the other three, "I'm sorry. I don't want to scare you guys. This Sunday, go here," he gave them a slip of paper with Urahara's address.

"We've got a couple months. Even if it's just to keep others safe, it's enough time to figure out how you can help," Chad told them gently, "I know it's a lot to believe. If it's too much, no one will think any less of you."

Mizuiro said nothing. Keigo managed to say after a few moments, "We, we'll try."

"I know you will. That's all anyone can really do," Chad responded reassuringly.

Tatsuki was shaking, "What, what about Orihime-chan?"

"Ichigo and I have a window to work within," Chad said, then paused, considering carefully how to proceed, "Hmm, this is usually Kuchiki-san's job. It's not easy to fill in for her, but I have try too. Ichigo?"

Chads turned to him, indicating the other teen needed to say the next part..

The orange-haired boy was still shocked, but quickly collected himself, sayinf, he hoped, what would be the right words, "Tatsuki, we'll bring Inoue back, safe and sound, I prom-"

The dark-haired girl ran off suddenly, possibly, everyone there guessed, to find someplace she could cry unseen by other

"Keigo, Mizuiro, will you two watch after Tatsuki?" Ichigo asked. It was clear he was emotionally spent.

"Of course," the dark-haired teen replied, "Once she recovers, it'll probably be her watching out for us," he and Keigo left to find Tatsuki. They both paused to look back briefly, but said nothing and exited.

Ichigo collapsed back against the wall. Chad could tell the pressure was mounting on him.

"Are you holding on, too, Ichigo?" the large teen asked him, sitting down beside dour teen, hoping to give his usually too tightly-wound friend a chance to vent.

"I've made a lot of promises lately," Ichigo stared ahead blankly "It already feels like I failed the one to protect Inoue, even if we get her back."

"Uh, actually, I had really only meant for you to apologize to Arisawa-san," Chad said with some vulnerability coming to the surface, contrasting how confident he'd been with the others, "I don't think what you said was wrong. I'm sorry Ichigo, I didn't want to add to your burden."

"It's fine Chad," Ichigo replied, "If there's one thing I am sure of, it's how strong Tatsuki is, maybe more than either of us. She'll be okay no matter what." Ichigo then added with his never quite a laugh, "Maybe what I really need to worry about is how many girls I've made cry."

"Well, maybe not the best thing to joke about, but I know you don't mean any harm," Chad said sympathetically, relieved slightly that his friend could even half-heartedly joke at time like this. Though he could tell there was more Ichigo was still holding in. Chad realized the role he needed most to fill now was the caring ear for his friend, "What's bothering you Ichigo?"

The young Shinigami agent took a moment to prepare to say the thing he was most afraid to ask.

"Chad, you've heard what they are saying, about Inoue?" there was a hint of apprehension, and a pain that ran deep in his voice.

"The nonsense about her going willingly," Chad said as he rose, "I'm surprised you're even entertaining it."

"I'm not," Ichigo immediately replied, the resolve returning to him, echoing the confidence Chad had earlier shown guiding the other three, "There's no way it's possible."

"And I expected nothing less from you," Chad said as he walked to his class, "If you had any doubt about that, we'd be done for good. I'm going to hold you to that when we get to Hueco Mundo. We'll meet at Urahara's later."

"Thank you, Chad," Ichigo said. Renewed in spirit, the orange-haired teen followed his friend into class, to finish what would be their last school day. For how long that would be, neither knew.