A/N: I've started my first year at college. This means many different things, and fanfiction is on the list of want to do but have to be wise with time. My first month at the university isn't a bad one, and I'm happy to say that I'm adjusting well there. I apologize for the lack of updates, but I hope this shows that I am still interested in this story and I will finish it! May take some time, but I will complete it. Also, this is a belated birthday present to myself. WOOHOO I'M 18-I don't feel any different from when I was 17, three days ago.

Everyone has a life to live, and I'm postive no one was worried about this. I hope you all enjoyed reading this. I fought with this chapter, as you can tell.

Disclaimer: Only one man could come up with that awseome "Lust" Poem. Thankfully, I'm not a man. Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, and again-it is a better world because of it.

...Yesh, I've missed this.

Read. Relish. Review.

The room was quiet, too quiet. The only sounds heard were that of soft muffling and the ceiling fan moving noisily from side to side.

"Nothing. Two weeks and we have nothing."

He was angry. Angrier than most. Angrier than ever. She didn't believe she had ever seen him so; mad, yes, dismayed, naturally, but this-no. There was a change in his demeanor; it was sobering, almost calming, but it sent her nerves into array. The worst part wasn't that she couldn't do anything about it; no, that wasn't it, it was that she was feeling it too.

"No reiatsu. I know she isn't dead. He wouldn't kill her."

"And how do you know?" He slammed his coffee mug onto the kitchen table, making it rumble unsteadily. "He could have easily…fuck, I don't wanna think about it."

Withdrawn. He stood at the kitchen sink, his head lowered, his breathing hard; for two weeks it had been like this. She didn't know what to do about it. While his anger was overblown, and rightly so, he found a way to control it. Training. Searching. Killing hollows. Any way he could find an outlet he would participate in it, and during those times he allowed her to join him. Times spent with him was uncomfortable and awkward; silence usually meant more, but now it was a sign of their disfigurement. Only when it was necessary for them to exchange words they would do so, but she presumed it was a better start than anything else.

Her lips touched the rim of her mug delicately, her eyes red rimmed from the lack of sleep, "I highly doubt that Ichigo. If that was the case, you wouldn't be standing here right now."

The response she received was a dirty glare.

She ignored it.

"Hirako-san must have a different agenda with Tsukiko." Her eyes narrowed, "He'll return her to us, but he won't until he's finish with whatever he's doing."

Sense. Damn it, she was making too much sense!

He needed to clam down. He needed to get his nerves right. He was losing himself to his worry and his anger.

Large hands clenched the metal of the sink, "Her homework is piling up. When she gets back she'll be pissed." The pressure from his hands left finger dents into the metal; his amber eyes gazed off into the window, into the sunlight.

He knows something.

Ichigo wanted to look back at her; her little form, her large violet eyes, but he knew if he did he would blurt out a question. If he asked a question she would hotly or coolly, determining on her current mood, brush off his question. When she did that he would get angry and she would get defensive, and it was the last thing they needed.

"Uryu and Orihime, along with their children have been searching as well."

"I know."

"I don't know about Yoruichi, but Urahara seems to be enjoying this." The sounds of bones cracking echoed in the small kitchen, "He always has that damn smirk on his face. Sickening."

"Ichigo, you know that's how Urahara is." She finished her coffee, "Now, are we going to search first or train?"

"Stupid question."

"What?"

"I said stupid question midget," a cocky grin surfaced, "you know damn well we're gonna search."

At this a frown creased her seemingly ageless face, "No."

"What?"

"Don't what me Ichigo. I know you." She eyed him up and down like an inspector, "You're not in the right state of mind. Let out some of that excess steam, and then we will search." She saw the questioning look in his eyes and the small quiver in his lips, "Don't think that I don't care. Because I care a lot Ichigo, but we will be of no use to her if you are killing every hollow that crosses our path."

"Isn't that our job?"

"Yes it is," she cocked an eyebrow, "but there's a line between forming a strategy between a hollow and blindly slaughtering them like a wild animal."

He stared. She stared.

Neither was going to back down.

He looked so much like an old man, weary from the stress. She still appeared as a young woman who had seen too much trauma in her long life.

"Fine, we'll train first."

"Poor, poor Kuchiki-san. Look at you, such a mess."

Too much pain. Can't move. Hardly can breathe.

Is that blood? Metallic in her mouth. It is. Only blood has that taste.

He towers over her; his eyes filled with pity and disgust. The moonlight shines behind him, and she can see the light gleam of his teeth.

"I won't hurt you." He kneels down to her crumbled body, torn, ripped, and damaged beyond repair. "I can send you to Hacchi; he can help you."

Her mouth opens to speak in protest. Instead, a gurgle of blood flows out of her small mouth, she gags and coughs. He rounds her, carefully placing a snake-like hand under her head, pushing her up. If her internal and external bodily injuries didn't kill her, then it would be humiliating for her to die choking on her own blood.

"I-Ich…," she tries to force the name out to no success. She's too weak, too hurt, and she falls into his spread arms.

"Oh him," he looks away from her face, "he's alright. You're in more need than he is."

She wants to say more. Anything really. Then she begins to cough hysterically again; he carries her petite frame from the sight like she's a bride. They don't look back on the corpses in the background, the smell of blood, the smell of death.

She fights to keep her eyes open, but somehow she can't. All this time she had been conscious, her mind focus and alert; it was all crashing down now. She needed to sleep.

So she did; in his arms.

Are you alright?

They are becoming frequent now; more often than before.

Rukia, that is because there is more reason for them to emerge. You cannot hide the truth forever.

I can try. Hirako-san will not reveal this; as long Ichigo does not know, he will not indulge in telling him.

How do you know that? You do not have his word. Even if you did, it would not make a string of a difference. He is your enemy; he will forever be your enemy. He does expect something in return for his chivalrous actions.

Of course he wants something in return, and he has it. He has Tsukiko. That is what he wanted; he wanted her. I knew it, but there was nothing I could have done.

You could have told the truth.

What good would have the truth done! What good? The truth is just as bad; no, the truth is worse than the lies!

It would have made many things better. Stop trying to protect what should not be protected. He must learn how to deal with the consequences of his actions, Rukia. It is not fair to him, and it is not fair to Tsukiko. Look at where she is now.

The scars. They are still there. They still burn into my skin; the pain I feel every day. The only reassuring thought I felt was that Tsukiko was away from this. It was not supposed to be like this.

It only takes one mishap to destroy a perfect plan, Rukia. You are the mishap.

What to do now?

"Damn you shimigami!"

Another hollow. Another hollow defeat.

It knew nothing of Tsukiko or Hirako. While she fought it went on as they normally do; "Damn you", "I will eat your soul", and her favorite "Damn you shimigami!".

"It hurts Sode no Shirayuki. It hurts so much."

Then make it stop. You are an intelligent woman, Rukia.

You are the only one with the power to make it stop.

"Oi Rukia! Got everything?"

Ichigo appeared to be the man he was before she left. His eyes were bright yet sullen, and his movements were anxious but not impulsive. He ran towards her feverously, and she could feel that he was still holding back from her.

King is getting into forces that he don't understand.

Is that all you have to say?

Shut it Old Man! If King knew what really went down then he wouldn't want to know either!

You mistake our bearer for a weak man. The truth is horrible, but that does not dismiss its authenticity. He wants answers, and he will receive them.

That's it? Ya gonna let everything get fucked up before it gets better? He knows the truth, he is fucked.

You say that only because you are the one who caused the monstrosity.

Yeah, so? I'm right and you know it.

Whenever he looked at her his mind, both his mind and his inner world, went into a deep conflict. The rain was no longer pouring down, but the flood still remained. She gave him a sense of relief and disturbance was there to contradict it. He was angry with her, but he was happy that she was by his side again. These feelings, these wants, these apologies-unheard and unsaid, plagued them.

He didn't know why they existed inside.

Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

He was feeling guilt, and he didn't know why.

"Nothing." She looked down in bubbling anger, "Not one single hollow saw them; not even the human souls we've encountered."

Guilt…

Anger…

"Don't worry. Tsukiko's a strong girl. Besides, like you said, they won't hurt her. Shinji's not senseless."

He should feel anger.

Why does he feel guilt?

"Kurosaki!"

"Ishida and Ishida."

"Kuchiki-chan, it's been too long, hasn't it?"

"Yes it has Inoue-san, I mean Ishida-san."

The couple felt the reiatsu of their comrades. The two have been searching for Tsukiko as well, and like the others they were unable to find her.

"What are you two doing here?"

"If you must know Kurosaki, Orihime and I were looking for Hirako-san. We can't trace either reiatsu."

"Neither can we," Ichigo huffed, "That is the perks of being a Vaizard. It is easy to erase your tracks."

"Do you remember their previous hideout," Rukia interjected, "they could have brought her there."

His lips pursed, "Yes, I did. It was empty; just collecting dust. They've moved."

She glared at the news, her gentle look being suppressed by the strain of worry. They had become quiet; they were collecting their musings silently.

"He expects us to search." She furrowed her brow, "But should we? If we search will he hold onto her longer?"

The tone in her voice was subtle, barely touching. When Ichigo's eyes turned to study her, he could feel the tension flooding out of her. Foremost she was a shinigami, but as the days became longer, he could see the presence of a mother instead of a shinigami. Uryu and Orihime stared at the pair, both sharing different expressions.

"It seems," the younger woman interjected softly, "if that's the case then it would be reasonable to stop."

Her husband was quick to interject, "But if that isn't the case then we'll only be putting Hirako-san in more danger."

Ichigo and Rukia shared a look. Then they returned their gazes to their comrades, and the deep heaving of their sighs made the married couple shiver with sympathy. Somehow they masked their overwhelming fears and worries by forcing deep frowns on their faces, their brows etched in calculative determination.

"Ichigo, it's not as if he wouldn't do it."

"Shinji has honor. He wouldn't go so low."

He knew his words were not false, but it didn't stop Ichigo from letting the sinking feeling hit the bottom of his gut.

Tsukiko realized that her inner world was a horrible place to be. The streets were dry, and it felt as if she were sinking into them whenever she took a step. The sky was dark and gray, signaling an approaching rain, but the rain never came. In her world, it appeared to be, that many things should be but never were. An unknown entity was halting the process, and based on her hollow's agitation, that was not a good thing.

The worst part of it wasn't the lack of scenery, creativity, and the constant reminder of her religious upbringing. In fact, it was the person or thing or soulless being she was forced to endure this world with. Since the beginning of their tour, her hollow hadn't uttered a single word to her. Not even a body gesture. She had been under the impression that her inner hollow liked to hear herself talk, but she could see she was wrong.

Very wrong.

She winced with each step, feeling her feet sink into the mush like substance made her feel uneasy. The silence between the two of them, although she preferred it, was unnerving. The loud, obnoxious, and all knowing best made her feel less conscious. She walked behind her quietly, but her curiosity was getting the best of her. "Is-is something wrong?"

Instantly, she knew voicing her questions was a mistake. Hollow Tsukiko stopped in her tracks, and her head slowly turned around, her yellow eyes were blazing.

Tsukiko was reassured that this time she didn't choke her.

"Everything is wrong, Tsukiko-chan. Some of it is your fault, some of it isn't, but this is your world and sadly, I am a part of it."

"How is this my fault?" She shook her head, "I've never been here before."

The growl heard from her hollow was animalistic, "Stupid girl, you're always here, either physically or mentally. This is your mind, your inner world. When you are distress, this world reflects it."

"Reflect? If you haven't noticed, a lot of things are wrong with me!"

She saw her hollow wanted to say more. She could see her lips twitch uncontrollably; she wanted to say something, but she held back.

"Yeah," she said stoically, "and this is only proof of it. Come on, we've got to keep going."

"Why?" She scoffed, "What the hell is going! You tell me this and that, all cryptic and shit, and I'm left in the open!"

Sighing, her hollow kept her gaze connected to hers. "Yes, but I'm here as your contrast. I am everything you aren't."

"Where's my zanpakuto?"

"It's safe."

"Tell me."

"You really don't care about your safety, do you?" When she didn't respond, her hollow giggled evilly. "It seems so."

"I want to know."

The hollow took notice of her authoritative tone; half-heartedly, she wanted to laugh at it. But the solid glare in her eyes told her that no matter what she chose to do the girl, her master, she would not yield to her will. It infuriated her, knowing that; as an extension of her soul, the dark side, she was forced to be submissive.

Her yellow eyes, which seemed to be a bit more wild than previously, continued to gaze carelessly at her. "Doesn't matter if you want to know or not because I know as much as you do. What I do know, you will find out. That is how it goes. Now, come on, we don't have much time."

Their eyes lingered into one another for several more minutes, and in that time Tsukiko tried to peer in deeper. In that respect, her hollow was much like her. She refused to let her into her thoughts, despite being connected.

There was no point in trying. Her frown grew even deeper, but she continued forward without protest. She attempted to ignore the haughty look on her hollow's face, and it was hard to do, but she did it. Instead of walking behind her, Tsukiko easily made her way up towards the beast and started walking beside her, returning the haughty look in full.

"Nice move Queenie."

"Thanks."

They needed to hurry. An unseen force was ruining her connection to this world, and she didn't know how long she could endure the pressure. Tsukiko may not have been able to feel it, but she was going to make sure she would feel it soon. Oh yes, her mistress was going to feel it soon.

Her light brown eyes stared down at the unconscious girl in distaste. All their hard work for the past 15 years had been wasted on a mere child who was unable to controlled her raging abilities. She refused to direct her anger at the helpless girl; no, there was someone else who deserved the blame more.

"You idiot!" Her yellow sandal fell hard onto his face, "You idiot, idiot, idiot! Couldn't you have gotten her when she's not in a comatose state!"

The onslaught of punches and slaps went well into his blond hair, and although tried to avoid them, he still caught the blunt of most. "Hiyori, Hiyori there wasn't any time left! It was either then and there or not at all!"

"Dumbass, idiot, dumbass!" She wasn't going to let up, "She's completely useless now! What good will she be now!"

"If you stop beating me, then I'll tell you!"

It was either she had actually taken heed of his words or the fight in her simply died down. The latter as unlikely. Her eyes told him that she was finally listening to him, "Go on."

Blood splattered out his noise, and the bruises covering his body and face were starting to turn a deep purple, "Do you really have to go so off the handle?"

"Start talking."

"Tch," he grumbled before sitting himself against the wall. His eyesight moved blindly to Tsukiko, whose body was propped up against the wall as well. Her head lowered, and the irises in her eyes void of any recognition of life. Guilt swelled in his chest for the girl, not even a full adult yet and being forced into a battle she shouldn't have to fight. Then, the only comfort he could gather, so was her father. He too, not yet a man but no longer a child, fought as well and won.

"Tsukiko-chan is in this state because there is alteration inside her soul, precisely her inner world. If I'm correct then her inner hollow has taken atoll of her body and mind. This is the consequence of that."

The glare directed towards him didn't make him flinch, "That's why Hachi has the barrier around her. It should be able to pull her away from her inner world."

Puzzlement crossed her features, "Isn't that where she should be? Why would you want that?"

Narrowing his eyes, "Tsukiko-chan's hollow is much different from ours, and if she stays with it too long, it will slowly eat away at her existence." Hiyori's response was as he expected; her eyes widened, and a small tremble shook her small body.

"Yes, Tsukiko-chan needs to become stronger and more aware of what she is. At this stage, the presence of her hollow will suppress her existence."

Seriousness was not something that was foreign to Shinji. In the year that past since his days as a captain, the level of authority had slowly evaporated from his personality. Whenever the time called for it, and this time was no different, Hiyori secretly marveled at how easy he was able to pull out that tone. The serious tone that took her breath away and made her respect him for who he was.

"If Hachi can pull her out, what do we do then?"

"There's only one thing we can do Hiyori," a bright golden glow surrounded the girl's body, "we train."

He did as he was told, and he never voices he thoughts unless he believed necessary. Sitting in front a girl who could easily drift off into a world of nothingness, her existence etched off the face of the planet, he couldn't help voicing his swarming thoughts.

"What about her parents?" His eyes hovered to Shinji, "They are searching for her."/

"It's only natural. They are her parents," then his demeanor changed from wise to sly so quickly neither were able to catch it, "Kurosaki will search for her, and Kuchiki-chan will do so as well. Remember, she is indebted to us, and as of right now she is in no position to oppose us."

"For the sake of the child," he returned his attention to Tsukiko, "she may just oppose us. When her child is in danger, a mother shall strip herself of any dignity she has remaining to protect her child."

Shinji's eyes narrowed, and he felt a sense of insecurity. "All Kuchiki-chan has done has been in the best interest of Tsukiko-chan. If that is the case, then yes, yes she shall throw all she has left out the window for her."

Hiyori stared between the two men and the girl who lied between them. Many thoughts and theories rushed through her head, some she debunked with ease. It angered her not knowing the full extent of Shinji's plan, and it irritated her more that Hachi was speaking in a cryptic code. Who else knew about this? Was she the only one left in the dark? She had never been good at reading people, but this time, she could feel the intensity of the situation without trying.

"Whatever happens," her lips pressed into a grim line, "it will be on her hands."

A/N: The end of this chapter. As you can see I fought with this chapter for some time now. I just couldn't see what was going to happen in the middle and the end. Now, I'm getting a clear view of how the story will end and what's going to lead to it. Villains are going to be coming in soon, and I'm hope the majority of you will return to check it out! Thank you all for the support and enduring those nasty, dark times with me! I honestly appreciate it, and please leave all your opinions and constructive criticism in a pm or review.

Your thoughts (favorites, alerts, reviews, and etc.) are greatly appreciated. I would love to read your thoughts on this chapter. What can I approve, what do you want to see or not, and whatever else you can think of! Was Shinji cool? I was going to let the other Vizards appear, but I thought against it.

Thank you all again, and I wish you safe and happy weekend! Until next time!

mtp