******Continued Flashback******

-Siren P.O.V-

They were rooted to the spot as they watched Ichigo continue to pour his heart and soul into his song, finding that they were starting to be affected by the melody that was floating across the sea and stretching into the vast expanse of the sky above. Without their knowledge tears had started to collect and rolled unabashedly down from the corners as his song touched the innermost of their hearts. Sorrow, deep heart rending sorrow was all they could feel as they watched and heard the very last lines of his song pass his lips into the air. Turning away from the forlorn figure to each other a look of shock crossed their features as they saw each others face, tears continuing to run as they hung to each other to take comfort from the sorrow that they could not expel from their heart. How was it that though they were known as the best, the ones who lured those with their beautiful songs that they now were reduced to a sobbing mess by the song of one of their own? Before either of them could think they had moved from their space to swim to where the male sat on his perch, head downcast.

-Ichigo P.O.V.-

As the last of his notes passed his lips and floated into the night air he turned his head to the vast sea below him, tears rolling from his eyes and dripping to the still surface below. Arms moving to wrap themselves around himself as he bit the bottom of his lips to keep the sobs from escaping from his throat. He startled as he heard the tell tale sign of the waters being churned up from behind him, turning to the source of the noise he spotted the two sirens from the other side. Quickly wiping his eyes and grounding himself he turned to leave when he heard them call out to him.

"Wait….!" the shorter of the two had called out to him with hand outstretched. Seeing the hand outstretched toward him, he turned to leave yet gain. Why would he give them the time of day when they did not do the same for him, he would not be the abused for them yet again, especially not now.

"Please….?" he slipped himself to the waist in the sea as he turned to face the one that spoke this time, long hair swaying as she moved forward her eyes pleaded with him to stay. He watched as they got closer and sent a glare that froze them in place, clear as day the distrust and anger swirling in his eyes.

"If all you have to say are insults and gabs then i do not need your ridicule tonight, have you not had your fill today?" his tone sharp as he stared at the two before him. He watched as both flinched, from tone or words were unclear. He watched as the shorter of the two began to swish her tail beneath the waters surface, her silver scales catching the light of the moon above creating a shine bright enough for him to want to look away. As he held still he watched as she looked to her companion to see if she would initiate the conversation first,only to find her staring at the sea's surface with downcast eyes.

"If you have nothing to say, then I will be on my way now" finally fed up with the stagnant still that they had brought with them he turned to dive when a soft voice reached out to him.

"Please, we just wish to speak with you tonight. Nothing more, would you please sit amongst the rocks with us?" He turned his gaze to the one with long hair twirling it around her finger in a nervous manner as she shot him glances between her bangs. Ichigo could not believe the nerve of these two, they ridiculed and harassed him only to expect him to comply to their every demand when he was asked. His fury was seething beneath the very faint line of his self control as his tail began to twitch beneath the surface and his eyes held the emotions swirling within him.

"You have got to be joking, you expect me to just comply with the very demands you ask of me when you do nothing to gain the right to such respect with all you have done to me." his self control finally seemed to snap as he lashed out at the two girls before him. Pain clearly seen upon his face. "You do nothing but harass and ridicule me on the very basis of nothing but that I am a male amongst your people. I did not ask to be this way, I did nothing to you. Yet you come before me and expect me to comply with you just because you deem you want to talk to me? Why should I even give you the time of day?" the water became choppy around him and the surrounding waters as his emotions burst from him and the glow around him became prominent. Storm clouds had come rolling in as the emotions escalated, the look on their faces was that of shock, awe, and traces of fear. He could not stop the emotions as they spiralled out from him, his body heating up and his mind becoming fuzzy. He could have sworn he heard a voice. Seeing the state of the sky and the waters around the small island, he began to struggle with himself. His emotions finally started to calm as he took deep breaths. He would not let this happen, he would not give them another reason to ridicule him, he would not cry and he would not lose control. His mind clearing a small screech sound formed faintly but finally quiet ensued. The waters calm, the sky again clear with the moon casting its brilliance against the sea's smooth surface once more. Unknown to himself his eyes that looked at them were red rimmed and glossy with unshed tears. He held their shocked gaze, the shock slowly falling away to show the pained regret until the smaller of the two decided to voice her feelings to him.

"We have done such horrible things to you, we are so sorry. Your song, it's special. It is not supposed to but your song has left a mark on our very souls, you have moved us with your song. As you have said, we have no right to ask you to sit and speak with us but i must beseech you to just give us a moment of your time. You do not have to listen to the end, and when you decide you can leave and do with the information as you wish and we will not bother you a moment more" He looked at her eyes, searching for any hint of falsity, any malicious intent and when finding none he contemplated, though never leaving the safety of the sea.

"I have decided that I will stay and hear what you have to say, but I will not leave from my spot. I do not trust either of you, so staying where I feel is safest seems to be the wisest decision in this moment." Saying this he watched for the reactions of either party. As his words sunk in a look of hope flashed across the stricken face of the shorter, she nodded her head as she slowly made her way to the rocks inland. He watched as the emotions flit across the taller's eyes, she too followed her companion to the inland watersedge. Both had taken a deep breath and with a look to each other for support they slid their gaze toward him.

"What we are about to say may cause an emotional outbreak such as before but we need to apologize to you either way. We have deep regret, your song showed us the feelings you have been suffering through, our hearts have been moved and our deepest regrets are the only thing that has been laid bare for us to fully sort through." Ichigo could not believe his ears, they came to apologize! After all they have done! He could feel the emotions well within him as he struggled with the hurt and the small budding hopeful feeling beneath. He searched their faces and to his shock, the moon illuminated the watery tracks from the corners of their eyes to the jawbone beneath. As he was about to speak the taller of the two bursts forth in a jumble of words.

"I'm so sorry! I have been so miserable to you. Nothing can take what I have done and erase it as much as I wish. I have acted in fear and have hurt you deeply because of it. You are the only male of our kind, I thought it was wrong and I acted on that deep fear in my heart. Nothing I can say can describe the regret that I have for my actions towards you." As she fell forward on her sobs the black haired female caught her in her arms holding her close and rubbing soothing circles into her back. His emotions swirled around him as he looked to the two faces filled with regret. He took one calming breath after another as he found the words he needed to say before he lost control.

"Is that all?" his fluxing emotions simmering inside him, his skin illuminating slightly. Seeing the slow turn of his eyes as he lowered his head in the water's surface. He would deal with this later, he needed to stay strong while they were still talking.

"We have said what we have come to say. Hearing your heart and soul screaming for help and the pain in your song woven together, we could not do nothing. We had to apologize for the very pain that we have caused you. If you find it in that huge heart of yours to forgive us, we would be grateful to you. We will understand in any way that you see fit to respond to us." Black eyes stared through black bangs, remorse so thick as red rimmed eyes looked away again. He could see the black creeping across his eyes as he listened. He turned and dove beneath the surface, his skin glowing as he swam. Waters choppy clouds bursting at the seams as rain fell upon the raging surface. The voice in his head was faint as he struggled to control his raging emotions. The laughter ringing in his ears.

"SHUT UP!" he screamed to the voice ringing in his brain. To his surprise the laughter subsided and the faint voice seemed to try and speak with him. "...another…..you …...emotions….gift" the voice could only say disjointed words. Ichigo struggled even more, the voice slowly becoming quiet. His skin lost its luminescence as he finally got his emotions to calm down. He could not feel the other presence in his mind and decided that it would be better for everyone if this remained that way. Feeling hollow, he made his way back to the island, his instincts guiding him along the water's currents.

It had been several weeks since that night as Ichigo swam around the islands edge to the side the girls reserved as their own. Ichigo had given the matter much thought and finally decided that he would give them a chance. He could not hold animosity toward them forever, it wouldn't be right and he would show that he heard their emotions that night. Hearing a splash and a giggle he quickly found the women and before he could back out he called out to them.

"Hello…." he still waited along the open water, just in case as he took in their shocked expressions. Stiff shoulders began to relax as he saw them slowly start to show a smile to him. No malice could be seen, only the hope seemed to remain in their eyes as they watched them with what seemed to be baited breaths. Gaining confidence from this he swam closer and smiled slightly saying "this may seem late but if you would still be interested I have decided to forgive you and move forward from this to give friendship a shot". He watched as their smiles grew and the tears fell, they flung themselves forward as he found himself smothered in two pairs of arms. The smaller of the two looked up at him smiling wide "I'm Rukia" she then pointed to the bawling female latched to his other side "and that is Orihime. We are very happy that you have decided to give us a chance. Thank you".

******End of Flashback******