"We just want the world to love the little monsters that we are."

— Atticus

A soft, almost overbearing, warmth is what first wakes Ichigo up from unconsciousness. The softness of the multiple blankets he always surrounds himself with is the second thing he feels in his increasing awareness. He groans softly, turning away from the early morning sun that hits him next. His head was pounding.

"Fuck. My head is killin' me... damn Hollow. Throwin' me out of that wall like that..." Ichigo presses his face into his blankets, sighing heavily. The faint sounds of a hammer banging against a wall almost lulls Ichigo back to sleep.

"The Hollow!" Ichigo shouts loudly and bolts out of his bed. He lands roughly on his jaw when his tangled feet make him fall out of bed. He rolls around, struggling to kick the blankets off his legs.

"Onīchan?! Onīchan, are you okay?" Yuzu calls out loudly, running up the stairs as Ichigo stumbles out of his bedroom.

"Yuzu! Yuzu, are you okay?" Ichigo trips over his feet, letting himself fall onto his knees in front of his little sister to grab her face. He tilts it to the side and inspects for any bandages or bruises.

"Onīchan... I'm okay. Were you havin' night terrors again?" Yuzu asks worriedly, letting her big brother continue to move around her head. Ichigo blinks at the question and moves Yuzu's head back so he can stare into her eyes.

"Yuzu... don't you remember last night? You–"

Ichigo sees a sudden blur in his peripherals. He barely has time to release Yuzu's face before a bright white and pain blind his vision. He chokes on air as his back slams into a wall, knocking the wind out of him, and a loud ringing starts to deafen him.

"Asshole..." Ichigo heaves for breath, pressing a hand against the wall behind him. His lungs start to actually take in air as his ears tune into a loud scolding from Yuzu.

"–ally need to stop! Onīchan had night terrors again an' you're not helpin'!" Ichigo rapidly blinks away the fuzzy stars in his eyes and looks up. A full body twitch showcases his sudden panic when his eyesight clears to see Isshin raising his hand.

Yuzu flinches heavily and ducks her head, only to freeze when Isshin pats her head. She quickly glances over at Ichigo with panic shining in her eyes.

"You're so sweet, Yuzu! But don't worry! Ichigo needs the training and some little nightmare isn't a good enough excuse!" Isshin exclaims brightly, completely ignorant and oblivious to the obvious terror on his own daughter's face.

"Shut up! It's too early for your shoutin', Goat Face!" Karin shouts from her and Yuzu's room, wide awake even when she implies she had been awoken by the shouting.

"Sorry, Karin!" Isshin calls out cheerfully as he walks down the stairs. Ichigo stares after him, making sure he was out of sight before scrambling over towards his little sister.

"Yuzu–"

"I'm–I'm okay..." She interrupts quietly. Her heavily shaking hands are ignored by them both. Ichigo glances between her eyes before he slowly nods his head.

Isshin wouldn't hurt the girls. Ichigo and his had an agreement. That didn't mean it still wasn't a possibility.

Ichigo hates it. He hates Isshin. He hates how this home became a hell for him and for his sisters. He hates how his little sisters, his baby girls, are forced to be in constant fear that Isshin might hurt them too. He hates how they constantly worry about him and Isshin's godforsaken "training".

"...breakfast–breakfast should be ready by the time you're finished gettin' dressed," Yuzu speaks up again. She turns around and walks down the stairs with silent footsteps.

Ichigo takes a deep breath, slowly unclenching his fists. "One, two, three, four, five. Five, four, three, two, one. One, two, three, four, five."

He turns around and walks back into his bedroom to get ready for the school day. He pushes off his panic about the night before. Yuzu's right... it was all probably a night terror.

Ichigo rubs the back of his aching neck, head tilted back. His feet drag across the tile floor of his high school as he walks down the hallway. He absolutely did not want to be here.

There was a massive fucking hole in the house, flashes of phantom pain keeps making his chest spasm, and a deep pit of dread was endlessly getting filled in his stomach as each minute passes.

He knew he shouldn't have assumed last night was just one of his many fucked up night terrors... and based off of his slight probing if the twins remembered, he's pretty sure Keigo and Mizuiro wouldn't remember either.

Ichigo huffs loudly as he spots the closed door to his classroom. Another day of surviving this hell. Yay...

"Ichigo, answer your fuckin' phone!" Tatsuki hisses loudly, practically pouncing on the unsuspecting orange haired teenager when he enters the classroom. Ichigo instinctively jumps away, only for Tatsuki to grab the back of his uniform.

He squawks in surprise when Tatsuki starts to sprint out of the classroom, dragging him with her. "Wha–what? Tatsuki?! What the fuck–"

"You have a lot to explain! Keigo an' Mizuiro said you fuckin' died by a demon or some shit!" Tatsuki looks over her shoulder in righteous anger. Ichigo blinks, staying silent for a few moments as Tatsuki showcases her strength to the entire school by dragging him with ease.

"Oh shit. Oh shit!" Ichigo almost falls on his ass when Tatsuki slides to a stop. "The girls didn't remember, so I thought they didn't either!"

"Kurosaki, you bastard!" Ichigo doesn't even find his balance before he's grabbed by the front of his uniform. He stares up into stormy blue eyes as Ishida Uryū glares down at him in ice cold fury.

"Uryū..." Ichigo trails off, a little bit shocked by the genuine anger rolling off of Uryū. It's rare to see the boy so visibly angry... and so visibly terrified.

"You bastard, you really did become a Shinigami... After everything I told you..." Uryū hisses venomously.

Ichigo furrows his eyebrows, slowly reaching up to grab Uryū's wrist. "After everythin' you told me... what're you talkin' about? You–"

"Quincy, you fucking idiot!" Uryū lifts Ichigo up higher, his hands starting to shake. "I told you! I told you what they did! What they let happen to my Sensei!"

"Uryū..." Ichigo trails off, watching the tears form in his friend's eyes. He sighs quietly and raises his other hand to gently wrap around Uryū's fist.

"I should have told you what they were called... now you're one of them." Uryū's grip slowly eases, Ichigo's uniform easily slipping out from his fingers. He kneels to the ground, Ichigo quickly following after him.

"Uryū... Uryū, if I didn't, Keigo and Mizuiro would have died. Yuzu and Karin would have died." Ichigo grabs Uryū's face and forces him to look up. "I may have Shinigami powers, or whatever the fuck they're called, but I am not a Shinigami."

"What happened, Ichigo-kun?" Orihime asks softly as she sits next to Uryū with hands twitching to reach up and rub his back. She keeps them in her lap, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

"Keigo and Mizuiro tried to explain... but they couldn't see everything," Chad adds onto Orihime's question, oddly more verbal than he usually is.

Ichigo heaves out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "First off, all this started, 'cause apparently these Shinigami don't understand that enterin' a house without permission is still trespassin' even if most people can't even see 'em. Second, even though it stabbed me through the chest, we can't scratch gettin' stabbed with a katana off the bucket list, 'cause I wasn't able to keep the sword."

"How the fuck did you get stabbed with a katana of all things before gettin' shot?!" Tatsuki asks with a frustrated snarl. For both the years-old bet she and Ichigo have going on and for Ichigo's own safety.

Ichigo barks out a slightly hysterical laugh, leaning back on his feet. "I don't fuckin' know, but you owe me 50 bucks."

"God fuckin' damnit! Don't you dare get off topic, Ichigo!" Tatsuki scolds with her hands placed on her hips. Ichigo laughs just a bit louder and tugs at a loose part of the bandages around his arms underneath the long sleeved shirt he wore.

Why the fuck does everything always happen when Ichigo finds some semblance of peace? Fuck, he wants a drink to wash away his stress, or a brick to pound his head in.

Ichigo leans against the wall, running a hand through his hair. He explained everything. All that had happened, and all that he could remember despite the fuzziness of his memories.

Uryū was still angry, still hurt, but he calmed down when Ichigo explained it all. He didn't have a choice, or any time to think about what he was doing. The Hollow was there and Rukia was unable to fight anymore. After taking a hit to protect Ichigo.

As he watches Uryū slowly come to terms and acceptance with his friend suddenly becoming a Shinigami, Ichigo comes to terms with the fact that this could have happened at any time. It should have happened. How in the hell did it only happen now?

"I think I passed out–after I defeated the Hollow. Then, I woke up in my room with no Shinigami around," Ichigo finishes, lightly hitting his head against the wall. "I had a killer headache and freaked when I remembered the girls got hurt. That's when I found out Yuzu didn't remember."

"Some weirdo came by. He talked with the asshole and used this weird device, Men in Black device before Keigo decided to stub his toe and almost got us caught," Mizuiro takes over the story, frowning knowingly towards Ichigo. Ichigo's eyes narrow before he leans forward.

"He knew?"

"Wouldn't put it past the asshole," Keigo sneers darkly. Tatsuki places her hand on his shoulder to keep him calm. It wasn't the time nor the place to talk about the awful man that helped conceive Ichigo and his sisters.

"What are we doing now?" Orihime glances between them all, confused but unperturbed by the entire story.

Ichigo sighs heavily and attempts to run the exhaustion out of his eyes. "I've an idea."

"Dying is not an option," Chad retorts Ichigo's unspoken answer without missing a beat.

"...I no longer have an idea," Ichigo mumbles with a pout and a glare pointed towards his best friend. "Anyone else have an–"

"There you are!" Everyone's head snaps up at the sudden shout. Uryū and Chad quickly pull Orihime towards them when she curls into herself.

Ichigo stares at the familiar amethyst eyes of the Shinigami from last night. What the–

"–fuck 're you doin' here, trespassin' my school, Shinigami?!" He bursts out with a heavy scowl.

"Kuchiki-san, you're the Shinigami from last night?!" Keigo stares at Rukia, as if betrayed.

Rukia immediately points her glare towards Ichigo. "Ichigo, you told them?!"

"You're the one who stabbed Ichigo?!" Tatsuki exclaims in disbelief and anger.

"Is everyone going to join in on the Spider-Man meme?!" Mizuiro asks in exaggerated dramatics.

"Are we all going to yell loud enough for a teacher to catch us?!" Orihime bursts out loudly, held in Chad's lap. She flinches into herself when everyone turns towards her.

She shakes underneath Chad's arm, pressing her face against his shoulder. "S-sorry... I'm sorry..."

Uryū quietly talks to her, awkwardly rubbing her back. Ichigo winces heavily and lightly nudges his foot against Orihime's as an apology.

"Everyone, this is the Shinigami that helped save Keigo, Mizuiro, and the girls, Rukia. Rukia, these bitches 're my best friends," He introduces everyone in a quiet tone, keeping an eye on Orihime.

"They can't know about this!" Rukia hisses as she rummages through her pockets. "I can't believe I already have to wipe their memories of all this!"

"You won't do shit, Shinigami." Ichigo stands up with a snarl. He stalks forward to stand and protect his friends from the spirit.

"They are Humans. It's against the law for them to know about Soul Society," Rukia retorts, not backing down from her standpoint.

Ichigo narrows his eyes, leaning over Rukia. He glances between her eyes and watches as she tenses and backs away a few steps. Surprise, grief, confusion, nostalgia.

"And what am I? If I'm gonna hafta remember the shit show last night, then they're gonna be in the know whether you like it 'r not. They already know I see spirits. You gotta problem with that?"

They continue their stare off, Rukia taking her turn to look for something in Ichigo's eyes. Protectiveness, aggression, spite, curiosity.

Rukia is the one to break the stare off by glancing behind Ichigo. She looks at the six other teenagers, her frown resigned and solemn.

"They can "be in the know" as you put it... but I have a condition," Rukia eventually relents in her previous stance. Ichigo narrows his eyes, but leans back from the Shinigami.

"What is it?"

"Last night, I intended to give you half my powers. You took almost all of them," Rukia starts while crossing her arms. "Because of that, I'm stuck in this gigai to recover them. Unfortunately, I'm useless against Hollows in this."

"That why they can see you?" Ichigo asks, pointing his thumb over his shoulder towards his friends.

Rukia gives him a slightly irritated glare at being interrupted before she nods. "Yes. So, until my powers heal... my condition to allow your friends to remember all of this is this: you must become a Shinigami in my stead."

"No way in hell is Kurosaki going to become a Shinigami of all things!" Uryū explodes in a low hiss, almost standing up in his fury. Orihime gently grabs his arm and keeps him next to her.

"Uryū-kun..." Orihime trails off quietly, attempting to reassure the bespectacled teenager.

Ichigo lowers his head with a heavy sigh. His fists unclench before he brings up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.

Putting what Uryū had told them all years before, and adding onto all that's happened since last night... all of this is fucked. And of fucking course Ichigo is in the middle of it all.

"It's an easy enough condition, but Uryū..." Ichigo's shoulders slump in defeat as he shoves his hands into his pockets. He opens his eyes and stares Rukia down.

"I won't become a Shinigami. Uryū's told me what you Shinigami had done. To his people and his sensei. But–" Ichigo gives Rukia a look before she could interrupt "–I'll still help you. You saved Keigo and Mizuiro, you saved my baby sisters by givin' me the power to protect them. I owe you for that."

Rukia relaxes at the acceptance. "Then we have an agreement. Thank you, Ichigo."

"I always pay back my debts. Debts to arrogant spirits who trespass ain't any different." Ichigo grins widely, especially at Rukia's heavy glare and scowl.

Ichigo blinks in realization, suddenly remembering something. "Ah, that's right. Why are you wearin' the school uniform? And how does Keigo know your name?"

"It's because you were late, Ichigo-kun!" Orihime exclaims, pouting at Ichigo in her slight scold. She was still sitting in Chad's lap, but her shaking had thankfully disappeared.

"Eh? What you mean? I actually had an excuse to be late today." Ichigo turns around in his confusion.

Tatsuki rolls her eyes with a click of her tongue. "Ichigo, this is the new transfer student, Kuchiki Rukia."

"Ah." All of them look at Ichigo after his blank answer.

"That's all you gotta say?" Tatsuki stands up with an irritated and unsurprised glare.

"Whatcha want me to say? It makes sense that I missed a transfer's introduction! There's a massive fuckin' hole in the house!" Ichigo states in his own defense.

"But you literally just asked Kuchiki-san why she's trespassing your school. Aren't you shocked that she's going to be in our class?" Keigo asks, rubbing his temple since he partially knows Ichigo's answer.

Ichigo stares at them all as if they grew two heads. "Why the hell'd I be shocked that she's the transfer? I thought she didn't have permission to be here, but now she does."

"Oh! Well, I guess it does make sense when you put it that way!" Orihime states cheerfully, clapping her hands together in front of her.

"No. No it doesn't, Orihime. You and Ichigo just have non-existent common sense." Tatsuki shakes her head, already too used to the... odd ways the two gingers react to certain things.

"You're the one with non-existent common sense!" Ichigo shoots back with a scowl. Tatsuki flips him off as she walks past.

"Name's Arisawa Tatsuki. I'm this slut's childhood karate partner," Tatsuki introduces herself before she leaves to head back to class.

Orihime is quick to walk past as well, wincing at introduction. "Ichigo-kun's downgraded to karate partner again... Oh! I'm Inoue Orihime! Tatsuki-chan's best friend and Ichigo-kun's friend! Nice to meet you, Kuchiki-chan!"

"I am the wonderful Asano Keigo, the better looking friend!" Keigo bows with a hand over his heart and kisses Rukia's knuckles before following after the girls. "Lovely to meet you, Kuchiki-san!"

"Asano-san is a horrible flirt and no one will be upset if you just ignore him. I'm Kojima Mizuiro. I'm the well-connected and most normal out of them all," Mizuiro advises Rukia with his usual smile, ignoring Keigo's loud crying. He walks past and takes out his phone, pretending like he wasn't paying attention to Keigo.

Chad gives Rukia a silent nod of acknowledgement. "Sado Yasutora. Ichigo calls me Chad."

Rukia glances at the orange haired teenager with wide eyes, not expecting the chaotic introduction routine. She's quickly brought back to the last person to walk by her as he bumps into her shoulder.

"Ishida Uryū. Quincy." Uryū leaves without a single glance back.

Ichigo huffs out a laugh, surprised by Uryū's behavior. That's almost on the verge of accepted societal politeness!

"That's probably the nicest I've ever seen Uryū towards a stranger, and especially to a stranger he hates!" He comments while walking up to Rukia. Rukia looks up at him with wide eyes.

"He hates me?! Why? We've only just met!" The exclamation makes Ichigo look down at the Shinigami. He stares at her for a long moment before it clicks.

"Do you not know what a Quincy is?"

Ichigo doesn't blink in his shock when Rukia shakes her head no. Oh shit...

"...Soul Society's fucked up..." Ichigo mutters under his breath. Rukia stares at him weirdly, not expecting the sudden opinion.

"What–"

"It ain't my story to tell, but Shinigami did a lotta fucked up shit to Uryū's people, includin' his sensei. You wanna know, then ask Uryū." Ichigo runs a hand through his hair and points his head towards where his friends went. "Now let's get goin'. Once you're seen with me, they'll think you're a lost cause. Might as well get it over with."

"What do you mean?" Rukia asks as they both begin to walk.

Ichigo laughs humorlessly, a grin growing on his face. "I give it by lunch and you'll find out. It'll be your choice once you do, if you wanna stay around me or not."

"Are you going to answer all of my questions with these vague nuances and statements?" Rukia asks with a raised eyebrow.

Ichigo just turns his head to smile down at her. Rukia glares up at him before facing forward with a huff when she realizes that was his answer. That just makes him laugh once more.

Quicksilver eyes watch from the tree branch outside of the school. A fan closed with a snap before being pressed against a mouth in thought.

This was a bit more unexpected than Urahara Kisuke would ever admit aloud. It seems he probably should have kept a bit more tabs on the Kurosaki boy than he had previously been. Of course, Isshin is partially at fault too.

Kisuke frowns when he remembers Isshin's comments and messages. He fully believed last night was the only time the Asano boy and the Kojima boy had any type of contact with the spirit world. He was wrong.

If Rukia failed to erase the memories of last night, he was going to do so. Though, Kisuke should have been paying attention. He didn't expect them to run the moment things had calmed down. But...

Kisuke watches as the eight students slowly trickle back into their classroom. The teacher pays them no mind other than an exasperated glare. Hm.

"It'll be dangerous for them to know... but it seems Kurosaki-kun won't want it any other way..." Kisuke sighs quietly, tapping his fan against his chin. He'll leave it be for now. It's not time for him to intervene. Not yet.

Kisuke grabs the handle of Benihime and jumps off the tree branch. He lands silently in his geta sandals before he starts trotting back towards his shop.

Things are going to get a lot crazier than he realizes. Later, when battles are waged and the later-named Karakura Gang are at the center of it all, Kisuke will realize that life can never be calm again once they enter people's lives. It's all quite fascinating.

Hey! Hope you all like the second chapter! A little bit more serious and angsty, but don't worry. The crack's comin' back.

I actually sort of struggled with this chapter, but I hope it's decent.

Oh, and if it isn't obvious by now, I am giving realistic trauma responses to the trauma that many of the Karakura Gang have. As well as adding trauma to those who previously did not have trauma.

I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! Bye.

WhovianWhoudini