(I've decided to replace all the previous chapters and made them all a bit longer, so if you've read the story before I would recommend re-reading the first chapters again! Thank you for sticking by me for so long! ^^)

"Aaaargh finally, what the hell is up with this fucking school?! Can't they just put signs somewhere or sumethin'?!"

Hichigo shouted in exasperation as they finally reached the painting of the two cloaked men who guarded their door. Ichigo gave a half-nod as answer to Hichigo's whine and turned towards the painting.

"Ah, Elphor?"

He said unsurely, not really used to the whole… talking portraits thing. The two robed men in the painting turned their heads to look at them from under their hoods, moving completely in sync.

"Yes Mr Kurosaki?"

Elphor said as he looked down at them, a pair of bright blue eyes glinting from under his hood.

"What is it? Do you wish to change the password?"

"Ah, yes I would like that."

Ichigo answered with a small, slightly awkward smile.

"What would you like it to be?"

Ichigo blinked and thought for a moment, shooting Hichigo a questioning look, which the hollow just answered with a shrug.

"'S up ta' you King, I dun' really care."

Ichigo took another moment to think.

"Masaki."

He said, ignoring the almost sympathetic look that Hichigo shot him.

"I see." Elphor said with a nod. "Anything else? If not just state the new password and we'll let you in."

Ichigo hesitated slightly and looked at the black clad man in the picture.

"May I ask what your name is?"

The man seemed a bit surprised at being directly spoken to, shooting Elphor a small glance before answering.

"My name is Eryn, Mr Kurosaki."

He said with a small bow of his head. Ichigo nodded slightly before he realised something.

"Wait , how do you both know my name?"

He asked with a confused frown. Elphor grinned and his eyes twinkled in amusement.

"All of the portraits are able to freely move from painting to painting inside of the castle walls. And you two have been one of the main sources of the recent gossip."

"Great. Just what I need."

Ichigo said with a deep sigh. "Even more rumours about us."

Hichigo chuckled slightly at his King's strife.

"Heh, ya' should probably get used ta' it with so many brats aroun'."

Elphor and Eryn both turned to look at Hichigo as he spoke, seeming very interested by his unusual appearance.

"Ah, excuse me but what is your name sir? I'm afraid I have only heard people speak about Mr Kurosaki."

Eryn asked with a small nod in the hollow's direction.

"Name's Shirosaki Hichigo , King's 'other half' if ya' will."

He said as he put his arm around Ichigo's shoulder with a cocky grin.

"A pleasure."

Eryn said with a polite nod of his head.

"Excuse me if my curiosity offends you, but what exactly are you Mr Shirosaki? I don't believe I've ever met someone like yourself before, and Elphor and I have been in this castle ever since the founders created the school."

Hichigo and Ichigo shared a look, neither really sure how they were supposed to handle this. Keeping their secret around the students was a given, but what about talking paintings? They probably couldn't go to the authorities and rat them out, but what if they told the other portraits and more rumours started to spread?

The Shinigami and the hollow spent a few silent moments trying to come up with a good answer, but were eventually brought out of their thoughts by Eryn again.

"I take it that that was an inappropriate question then? Pardon me for being rude, I was simply curious."

He said and bowed deeply.

"Ah, no it's not like that, really…"

Ichigo started, not really sure how to explain without giving out too many details.

"It's just… a bit hard to explain, and we can't risk anyone else overhearing, it's… very personal."

He said, nudging Hichigo slightly.

"A-ah, yeah, sorry. Maybe some other time eh?"

The hollow said with a grin, making the men in the painting smile back.

"Of course."

They said in unison, letting them both into the room after Ichigo gave them the new password.

The next day started just like any other school day, with the exception that Ichigo didn't need to attend classes, or hide out somewhere.

Hiding himself and his powers had been a constant part of his life ever since Rukia had awakened his Shinigami powers, and the white figure walking alongside him had been something he'd almost hidden from himself for a while. The two of them had spent the morning exploring and patrolling the grounds, and had now moved onto patrolling the corridors inside the school.

Hichigo seemed to be enjoying the nervous looks the students were sending him as they passed by, but Ichigo was starting to find it a bit annoying.

"Are you enjoying this Shiro?"

Ichigo asked with his usual frown marring his face, making some of the students around them nervously move back a bit. Hichigo grinned maniacally as he watched the students shrink back in fear.

"Very much so."

He said as he watched them hurry past them, ignoring the annoyed sigh from his King.

"Why are you so childish?"

Ichigo asked.

"Hey! I'm not childish! So mean King."

Hichigo said with a small pout, making Ichigo chuckle slightly.

"You asked for it."

The next hour was spent just walking around the empty corridors as the students had their lessons, and Ichigo found himself wishing that he actually could participate in some of them, just to see what it was like to learn magic.

Hichigo seemed to sense his thought, and as they walked by the next closed classroom door, he stopped in front of it. Ichigo shot his hollow an incredulous look as the other grinned, and then raised his hand and knocked on the heavy wooden door. Ichigo's eyes widened and he rushed over to pull the others arm back.

"Shiro, stop that-!"

But Ichigo didn't have time to even finish the sentence before the door opened and a sour-faced Professor McGonagall stepped out to glare at them.

"Yes Mr Shirosaki? Mr Kurosaki?"

She said, raising an eyebrow as the hollow's grin broadened.

"Heh, sorry ta' interrupt ya' Professor, but me n' King wondered if we can join yer' lesson fer a while? Walking aroun' in empty corridors gets a bit boring after a while."

Hichigo said with a grin.

Professor McGonagall's stern expression seemed to soften into surprise for a brief moment, before returning to the stern gaze that seemed to be her default expression.

"I suppose that should be fine…" She said, but not without shooting the pale man a slightly suspicious glance.

"But I must ask you to be silent and not disturb my lesson, unless you have any transfiguration knowledge to share with my students?"

Ichigo groaned inwardly at her frosty expression, feeling extremely awkward standing in the doorway with his Hollow. Hichigo's grin didn't falter in the least as he answered the stern woman.

"Nah, we probably don't have anythin' to add. But we're very curious about how ya' go about teachin' these brats."

"Shiro!

Ichigo exclaimed with a glare towards his hollow, keenly aware of all the eyes that were on them.

"Can you stop being rude for just five minutes please? I'm sorry Professor, and thank you for being so welcoming."

Ichigo then proceeded to nudge Hichigo hard in the back with his elbow, pushing him towards the back of the room.

"We'll just sit in the back and watch for a while." He growled to his hollow, who just smiled back at him.

"Fine by me King." Hichigo said, still with a manic grin on his face.

Ichigo valiantly ignored the stares of the students as they moved down to the back of the room, where he immediately proceeded to push Hichigo down onto an empty chair. The hollow grumbled slightly at being manhandled, but cheered up instantly when Professor McGonagall started up the lesson again, effectively taking the students attention off of them for at least a brief moment.

Ichigo could still see them glancing down now and again, but the stern woman's commanding presence seemed to have gained her a lot of respect among her students.

Hichigo was excitedly watching the students as they attempted to transfigure their apples, and Ichigo had to admit that it was quite interesting to see the different results and how some students seemed to be improving, while others, well… it was a good thing the desks seemed very sturdy, because a nearby boy had somehow managed to turn his into a big chunk of coal.

Hichigo spent the remainder of the lesson trying to scare the boy into messing up again, succeeding slightly as the boy started shivering from the intense gaze on his back and managed to roast his quill and paper.

Professor McGonagall shot the student an irritated look as she fixed the supplies for him. "Mr Finnigan, can you please focus on transfiguring your apple, and not your notes?"

Ichigo rolled his eyes as Hichigo almost shoved his fist down his mouth to muffle his laughter. The redhead then smiled sheepishly when the Professor turned to give the albino a glare from under her glasses, and he discreetly shoved his elbow into the Hollow's stomach.

"Ow! What the hell king!"

Hichigo hissed out and shot his King a glare, which Ichigo swiftly returned.

"Can you at least try to behave?"

The Hollow pouted slightly and sourly crossed his arms over his chest, but perked up slightly as the students started to move.

"Aww, it's over already?"

He whined as they watched the students get up and leave the classroom.

Ichigo sighed in relief and stood up too,

"C'mon on Shiro, time to go."

The Hollow grunted quietly, still disappointed about not being able to annoy the students more. Professor McGonagall shot him an unimpressed look as they left the classroom. Ichigo awkwardly scratched the back of his head as they walked by.

"Sorry Professor, he's uh… a bit bored and restless."

He mumbled as the woman's stern eyes pierced into him. He swallowed slightly and turned to start pushing his Hollow away.

"Well, we'll get back to our duties now, thank you for-"

But he was suddenly interrupted by a familiar black haired boy walking up to the Professor. Both he and Hichigo blinked as they watched the angry teen shove a sealed scroll into the woman's hand.

"Mr Potter?"

The Professor said as she accepted the scroll.

"What is this?" She used her wand to vanish the seal and opened the scroll, her eyes widening further the longer she unrolled the parchment.

"Mr Potter!"

She burst out with a stern glare at said boy.

"My office, immediately."

Ichigo and Hichigo silently watched as Harry followed the Professor away from her classroom, shooting each other a curious glance.

"Seems like tha' Potter brat is in trouble."

He said with an evil grin. Ichigo rolled his eyes at the others childishness.

"You're so petty Shiro."

"Wha'? I'm just having fun King! Gotta find some way ta' entertain maself in this fuckin' place."

Ichigo sighed. "I almost wish Grimmjow was here, just to shut you up…"

"Hey! How dare ya', I'd kick his ass in a heartbeat and laugh maniacally while doing it!"

"We really have to find something to do."

Ichigo stated as they started patrolling the corridors again. "You're starting to go insane, and I'll admit that I have some pent up energy I'd like to get rid off as well." He mumbled as he looked around with a thoughtful expression. "But what should we do?"

"I wanna fight…"

Hichigo mumbled and looked out one of the windows as they walked.

"Ya think we can convince tha' old man ta' let us spar somewhere?"