Here comes chapter 43!

First things first – huge thanks to Tai (guest) for the amazing review.

I'm still struggling and going through a rough patch, but I won't give up.

That being said, I'll try to post shorter chapters like this one until I can get fully back in the game. I may have bitten one task too many.

Second – thank you all again for not bashing my poetry attempt in chapter 41.

Should anyone have any criticism or suggestions, let me know – it was my very first attempt at poetry :)

Disclaimers, reminders, and warnings as per usual.

Disclaimers: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.

Reminders: This story will be slightly AU and some characters might be OOC.

WARNINGS: Spoiler alert for anyone who is not up to date with the manga! This story includes dark themes, suicidal thoughts, sexual content, yaoi and more. Not suitable for under-age readers. Read at your own risk!

Enjoy :D

Chapter XLIII

Cloudless skies watch over the resting souls of a quaint neighborhood. While for most it is a rejuvenating process, for others it's not as such.

Some wander the streets searching for their next destination. Others go to work while their colleagues leave. A few can be seen staggering here and there after an interesting affair.

And then, there are those who fight battles few can see or understand.

In the Kurosaki clinic, one such soul struggles to wakefulness.

Drenched from head to toe, Ichigo gasps as if he'd been drowning. And perhaps, that's what happened. How else could he explain his dream?

Shaking off the thought of blood-red eyes peering from an endless pit, he took calming breaths. Waking his sisters over a nightmare wouldn't do, not to mention…

He exhaled and brushed the sweat with his shirt. Stretching, he went for a quick shower, hoping the scalding water would lull him back asleep. As the water cleansed his chills, he let his mind roam.

Aside from losing his job, which he wouldn't count as a loss, it had been a good day. Even Getabōshi had not given him as much grief as usual.

"All thanks to Shiro," he smiled.

Thoughts of the albino, along with the shower, calmed his rampaging heart. A strange but welcomed effect considering the ungodly hour. Shutting the water, he pulled the nearest towel while his mind raced. Yet, instead of tensing, he felt his muscles melt.

Dressed up, he let himself fall back on his bed, trying to sleep. He gave up after turning this way and there for several minutes.

Glancing at the clock, he clicked his tongue at the red numbers. Two in the morning and counting. If he got lucky, he'll fall asleep by three which should suffice to get him through another day.

For now, he'd let his mind wander back to the chat with Getabōshi. As usual the Shopkeeper tried and failed to turn him into a live specimen. And for a change, two persons had shared his distaste.

Shirosaki's outburst and Ossan's glare pulled a smile even now to his tired lips. He'd done quite a bit of laughing and smiling today, more than he could recall in, well, years. As a bonus, even Urahara had gawked once or twice.

The two made for a bizarre pair when together, but now, he couldn't picture them apart. And yet, it would happen. "To think Ossan is part of me," he mused. "I can't figure how it happened, nor when, or why."

Meeting a power fragment outside his inner world had been… strange. How many more were out there? Would they be like Ossan? Had he already met some but hadn't realized? What would he say or do should he find another?

But, most of all, how did he end up losing parts of his soul?

Ichigo rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath. These questions had plagued him ever since he and Ossan had spoken in that shadowy plane. He'd hoped to talk more after the meeting. Too bad Urahara had interfered by pulling the guy aside.

Hands behind his head, Ichigo exhaled. No point in getting worked over it. Ossan had promised to reconnect the right way. That meant they would forge or, in their case, re-forge their bond. Within his mind, he heard a sleepy rumble. "Looks like even Zan agrees."

Chuckling, he turned his thoughts to the next target… Shirosaki.

Now that was a mystery worthy even of Urahara's attention.

Ever since he'd met the albino, he'd felt odd… Almost nostalgic. That sensation intensified once they entered the Shoten. Forgoing all pleasantries, Shiro had gone straight to Urahara screeching about a map. It would have looked intimidating had it not been for the childish glee in the albino's aura.

At the memory, Ichigo held back a laugh. Urahara's playful retorts and fake whines would have made even a dead man crack a smile, least of all a teenager.

"There is friendship," he thought aloud, "But also a fair share of mistrust."

From the spark in Urahara's eyes, he knew the Shopkeeper found the albino intriguing. But the slight twitches spoke of apprehension. "Even the way he holds his fan when speaking to Shiro is different," he mused.

Strange as it might be, they still held amicable conversations and even bantered. Getting his new wristbands had been a bit tense, but a well-placed joke dissolved it. At least until the Shopkeeper dropped the craziest suggestion to date.

"Stupid maniac," he grumbled looking into the night. "As if I need babysitting. There's nothing Zan and I can't handle. Fair he doesn't know about Zan, but still, he should know better."

The fact that Urahara had made it sound as perverted as possible, had not helped his seething rage.

Ichigo closed his eyes and flexed his fingers. He had to keep calm, otherwise his reiatsu would spiral out of control and he couldn't afford it. Not with the girls asleep and not so soon after getting new wristbands. As per the perv, they needed an adjustment period so they wouldn't crack within a day.

Breathing in and out, he though back to Shiro's reaction. Now that had been intense.

The guy had an interesting reiatsu. And yet, instead of apprehension, he'd felt comfortable… As if a blanket had wrapped his soul giving warmth and protection.

Was it unusual? Yes.

Did he care? Nope.

Closing his eyes, he let his mind replay the whole conversation.

"Forget it," said Shiro fist chipping the table. "We might have just met, but from the little I've seen, Ichigo doesn't need someone to hover over his neck or anything alike."

"Besides," he continued calmer. "Shouldn't you ask him what he wants? He is not a toy but a person with a mind of his own."

"To think you've been such good bodyguards not so long ago," noted Urahara behind his fan.

"Stopping assassinations and violating someone's privacy are not the same thing!"

A sigh and a long gulp of tea later, the albino said, "You know, if this is what you wanted to discuss, I'm out."

Ichigo hadn't known how to act. Should he have said anything? Finding out that part of your soul and a stranger soon-to-be friend had worked for Urahara was one thing. But preventing assassinations? Shaking the thoughts out, he focused back on the memory.

Having told Getabōshi off, Shiro faced him with a slight bow. "Please don't hold his crazy ideas against us. Hell, I wonder if this is his way of telling us he's gone down the deep end."

Ichigo let out a soft exhale. The unease in Shiro's posture… the way he had stared at the floor… it had all seemed wrong.

"I…," Ichigo stopped whatever the albino had wanted to say. "Don't worry," he said.

And why had he cared? Why does he still care?

"I've been around Getabōshi long enough. Messing with people is one of his favorite hobbies. Not quite healthy if you ask me."

He could tell his words left an impression on the albino. "If you say so," shrugged Shirosaki. "Though I'd love nothing more than to blow his head."

Although he focused on Shirosaki, he knew Ossan felt the same. His glance to the older didn't go unseen, for Urahara approached Ossan, fan hiding his face.

"May I have a word in private Kurosaki-sama?"

Ossan's eyes narrowed and a sigh later, they went to the back leaving Shiro and Ichigo alone.

They stared at one another for a minute. Ichigo shrugged. As infuriating as Urahara's antics could be, he didn't think he'd do anything too malicious. His nonchalance made the albino mutter and Ichigo held back a snort.

Glancing at his clock and noticing the hour, he stood to leave informing the albino.

"What about Getabōshi?"

Cracking his back, Ichigo replied, "He has my number at best. At worst, he knows where to find me." And if he shuddered a little, no one would ever know.

"Want some company?"

The glare shot should have reduced the other to cinders. Most who saw it, ran across town. But all he got was an eye roll. "Figured I'd get to my place and start breaking the new bed in shape." The grumbled, "Wasn't gonna escort you like a little lady or something," didn't go unheard.

"Fine," he said dropping the glare. "We may as well since your place is a street or two from mine. A piece of advice, keep the noise down. The neighbors in that area are stricter compared to mine."

"Wasn't planning on trashing the room. Unless you join," grinned the albino.

"Why would I trash your room?"

"Never mind," sighed Shirosaki.

That had been weird. Even now in the comfort of his own room, Ichigo wondered about that interaction. Why would Shiro want him, or anyone for that matter, to break his room?

"You coming," asked Shirosaki. "Unless you want to hear even more madness from Getabōshi?"

From there, they had left a note and had walked in silence.

Ichigo sighed.

Only with Chad, had he ever strolled without much talk. With the increased number of bullies and wannabe gangsters, the rare occasions became more common after school. He could relax and let his mind wander, knowing Chad had his back.

The complete opposite to the few times he'd gone to school with Mizuiro and Keigo. Mizuiro, who made for good company, seemed to have a certain sixth sense. Almost as if he knew when to pass by his house and when not to. The same could not be said about Keigo, who tried and always failed to jump his bones.

"Honestly, how many times must I tackle him until he learns?"

Shaking his head, he takes a few even breaths. If Shirosaki decided to join or make him company to and from school, well, he wouldn't complain.

His eyes feel heavy, at last and sleep sounds so good right about now.

And then, he hears the main door.

He's wide awake, tense, unwilling to make a single twitch. All his senses focus on the noise from below.

Something shattered. With luck it would be the ugly vase they received that afternoon from a returning patient. Yuzu will freak if he'd have to make another tea-set disappear. Plus, those things were expensive!

The footsteps waned until silence reigned. Could the couch with its inviting folds be his salvation? Swallowing, he took several breaths, willing his heart to calm.

Minutes later, something creaked and his stomach fell. A stumble and the following grunt turned him to stone. The steps rang loud in his ears, and he shivered, cold sweat slithering down every pore.

Swaying, stomping footsteps grew closer and closer and with each new step, Ichigo shaking increased.

Then, silence…

His heart raced with the force of a startled stallion. If he didn't get control soon, it would burst from his chest. His constricting throat felt like a deserted land with no oasis in sight.

Ichigo wanted to swallow something… anything! But nothing could nor would pass down. Dizziness made him sway even as he lay on his bed. He couldn't breathe. If he did, he'd be heard.

The doorknob rattles and he is on his feet. Instincts haywire pulling him everywhere and nowhere.

Defend… Hide… Fight… Run… Protect… Save…

He stands his ground even as his soul demands some sort of action.

He could leave, jump out the window, get away from it all. That would be the sensible solution, but that would mean abandoning his sisters to an unknown fate.

He could stay… Fight! Liberate himself from his enemy's shackles. But that would be worse. So much worse. He'd singlehandedly break everything apart. Destroy his sisters' lives, forcing them into a system he couldn't trust.

And so, he stills and hopes the jingling will cease. Prays the enemy will give up and leave.

The rattling pauses and his heart stops for a moment.

When the knob turns, his eyes and head fall.

It will be a long night.

That's a wrap (for now).

Should anyone wish to comment or share their thoughts, feel free to PM me :)

All suggestions and advice are welcome too :D as are reviews ;)