It wasn't the sound that captured his attention, the metallic clashing of sword on sword, Zanpakuto against Zanpakuto, war cries that shattered the barren land outside. Nor was it the flaring levels of reiatsu as the battle commenced, his friends and his captors going head-to-head in the cursed place known as Hueco Mundo. No, more than any of that, only one detail really stood out to him: Aizen had not come to see him today.

His vibrant relief mixed with uneasiness in his clouded mind. Aizen had never failed to show up before; he was always there, at the same time every day, albeit with a chosen member of the Espada, of which he alternated. Why, today, would his captor decide not to show up…? The thoughts made his already tortured mind throb, so he worked on blocking out the strange notions.

Had his foggy mind been working properly at that point, the young man would have noticed the footsteps as a group trampled their way through the vast maze of Hueco Mundo's castle, slicing down Arrancar in their path and making a deadline for the prison in which he was held.

The orange-haired boy shifted uncomfortably, his raw wrists stinging angrily in their constraints. His messy spiked hair framed a face that was undoubtedly handsome, though it was now haunted and strained. His chocolate-brown eyes were empty of all but fear, which he felt even now, though he sensed no danger. His bare chest, muscular and lean from having to fight numerable Espada, was sliced through with angry red lacerations. The young man's head suddenly tilted to the side, and his empty eyes widened slightly as he heard the telltale sound of the door sliding open.

"Ichigo?" a soft voice called down the hallway, and was answered by silence. Several hushed whispers followed, and the door slid open more as Shinigami made their way in, uneasy in the darkness of the chamber.

"Rukia, see if you can find him." A tall, crimson-haired man with tribal tattoos spoke to an extremely short girl at his side. She looked at him, momentary fear of what she would find crossing her face. However, he was looking in the opposite direction, purposely avoiding her gaze. Rukia's jaw set and she stepped forward.

"Wait, Rukia, it's too dangerous," another woman hissed, this one with her black haired tied back in a bun. She gripped the hilt of her Zanpakuto so tightly her knuckles were white as she looked around feverishly.

"Don't worry, Momo," the crimson-haired man muttered. "All the Arrancar outside have probably been taken care of, so we don't have anything to worry about."

"It's not that, Renji," Momo muttered. "It's him I'm worried about. We don't know what Aizen's done to him. It's been a year, he could be completely different…"

"He won't be." Rukia spoke up for the first time, her violet eyes meeting with the brown ones of her friend. "Ichigo wouldn't ever let himself be controlled by that scum Aizen. He's stronger than that. He'll be just fine."

"That's not necessarily true…" Renji whispered. "Even the strongest man can break, under the right kind of torture…"

Rukia bluntly ignored her childhood friend, stepping forward into the gloom. Her fists tightened on her Zanpakuto, though she walked with the prideful confidence of a Kuchiki. "Ichigo," she called out, looking briefly into cell after cell, searching for any trace of the orange-haired Shinigami.

Ichigo sat rigid, his eyes wide, his back pressed against the wall as far as it would go. He knew that voice. He knew that proud, stubborn tone, he knew that determined ring and that distinctive chime. His body seemed to tremble as he heard her call out that name again, the one he could no longer recognize as his own. Fear, not of her, but of the company she brought with her coursed through him. He knew her. She was a friend, his nakama. Not the others, though, they could not be trusted.

"Ichigo…" Rukia's voice died in her throat, reduced to a strangled choke as she peered into the cell at the end of the long chamber. Blood darkened the ground, filling the area with its rank stench. The young man closed his eyes tightly, as though that would make the black-haired Shinigami go away. "Ichigo!" Rukia whispered, her eyes softening. She yanked open the gate, which had surprisingly been left unlocked, and made a step into the cell.

His head snapped to the side immediately, fixing the girl in his terrified chocolate gaze. His hands, bound behind his back, appeared to be struggling against their confines for the first time in months as he looked uncomprehendingly at the woman who'd once been his friend.

"Ichigo, are you alright…?" As soon as the statement was out of her mouth, she knew it was idiotic. Every aspect of this situation made it quite obvious that her precious nakama was indeed not alright. She stepped forward, slightly unnerved by Ichigo's empty gaze. As she took another step, he shrank back against the wall, and Rukia saw for the first time the wounds that crossed his body.

"Rukia, did you find him?" Renji stood outside the cell, looking around the chamber.

Ichigo flinched, shutting his eyes tightly as he began to shiver uncontrollably. Aizen and his army were bad enough when they came… but strangers, strangers were one thing he certainly could not handle at this point.

"Yeah, I found him. But don't come any closer. He's badly hurt, and he looks really scared." Rukia replied.

"Scared?" Renji scoffed, though he spoke to Momo now. "The hell's he got to be afraid of? We're the good guys."

"I don't think he knows that." Momo replied softly.

Back in the cell, Rukia stepped closer to Ichigo until she stood in front of him. The pants he wore were old and ripped, stained with the blood of Arrancar. His bare chest shuddered with a carefully controlled exhale as she approached and terror bubbled inside of him. She'd been his friend once, he remembered, but his shattered mind refused to process this. She meant him harm. She wanted to hurt him.

He flinched back, though not in time, as her warm hand touched his bruised cheek. Bolts of electricity seemed to weave underneath his skin at her touch, and he sat stiff, his heart beating rapidly.

"Ichigo…" Rukia frowned, feeling him quivering beneath her hand. "What have they done to you?" Her gentle fingers traced a sparking line over his cheek, warm and tender though proving even more threatening to the young man in his terrified state. Ichigo's eyes opened to tiny slits, noting with confusion the expression on Rukia's face; soft, concerned, sad… he wasn't aware of ever seeing these looks on somebody's countenance. This was not an unpleasant expression, not at all; in fact it was rather soothing. He suddenly felt his fear melting away.

"Oi, Rukia! There's Ichigo, too! Oh god…" Renji stopped abruptly, taking in Ichigo's crumpled position with wide eyes. "You weren't kidding." He muttered. "Ichigo, can you walk? I really doubt it…"

Ichigo made a small sound in the back of his throat, almost like a whimper. There was no recognition on his face as he looked at the shadowy man's figure, so much more intimidating than the petite girl beside him.

"Renji, I told you to stay back," Rukia stood up, glaring at the man.

"R-Rukia…" Ichigo whispered, his voice hoarse from disuse. He reached up with one scarred hand and took hold of her pale one. It was obvious from the look on his face that he was distressed.

"I'm not going anywhere." She replied to his silent plea. "Renji, get Momo and go find Captain Unohana. He needs treatment immediately."

He nodded silently, and slipped from the facility. Rukia heard his brief conversation with Momo, then the sound of their footsteps as they raced outside. Kneeling down beside the substitute Shinigami, she observed him for a moment before speaking. "Ichigo, do you remember anything?"

"You." He replied softly.

"Nothing else? Not your dad, or your sisters? How could you not remember Yuzu and Karin?"

"Just you." He insisted.

Rukia looked at him for another long moment before she shook her head. "We'd better get you back to the Soul Society as soon as possible. Hopefully we can help you there."

Ichigo only blinked.

Sorry for such a short first chapter. DX

Anyway, this is my first Bleach fanfic. X3 It takes place during the whole Aizen arc, if you hadn't guess. The idea was spawned from wondering what would happen if Ichigo was driven somewhat insane. Yeah.

Please review! It inspires me to update, and I would love to hear what you think! Constructive critisism is welcome, just so you know.

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