(A/N) This is the latest idea to catch my fancy, will never be abandoned, and may draw some paralells with other stories I haven't fully written yet because the plotbunnies are very picky this season. Updates for all stories will be sporadic, probably not happen on weekends(my parents will be home and like to use the computer), and mostly go to whatever is most popular or most enjoyable for me to write. On one of my stories I wrote that i don't update without reviews. I wanted to clarify: If you don't review, it makes me think no one is reading or no one is enjoying the story. If no one likes it, There's no point in spending time typing it when i could be working on something else you guys actually like. I love all my reviewers, Haven't figured out exactly how to message you back, but it makes my day every time my ipod pings from somehting you guys said. I feel all warm inside~

Chapter 1

"Shiro," Ichigo whispered sadly, leaning against the car window as raindrops spattered against it.

Flashback

"I WILL SEE YOU LATER MY DARLING SON!" shouted Isshin as Shiro hurried out the door. Ichigo tried to go after his twin, but was dragged back into the living room by his father.

"Oy! What gives, old man?" snapped Ichigo.

"My darling younger son, I only wish to bond with you further! Come to your beloved Daddy!"

"Not a chance!"

"Sit down, Ichigo," ordered Isshin, suddenly serious. "I need to talk to you."

Ichigo froze, surprise evident on his face, before seating himself on the couch. "What's going on?" he asked worriedly.

Isshin sighed, deciding to get straight to the point. "I'm sending you to camp."

"W-what?" stammered Ichigo.

"You and Shiro are closer than you should be. I've waited a long time, thinking you'd eventually go your own ways, but it's not happening. You rely on Shiro for protection, and he can't keep his temper in check without you around. This is for your own good. You'll be spending the rest of the school year and summer break in California."

"W-without S-Shiro?" gasped the orangette, eyes wide with fear. "No! You can't make me!"

Isshin frowned. "It's for your own good," he repeated. "You need to be able to fend for yourself, and Shiro needs to learn some self-control."

"No! I can't! I'll die without Shiro!" the younger twin cried.

"Now you're just being over-dramatic," admonished Isshin. "You're not going to die without him. It's only a year."

"Only a year?" shrieked Ichigo. "I need him! I can't leave! He needs me too! How can you do this to us! I thought you loved us! I thought you loved me!"

Isshin flinched at that. "I can because I'm your father. And I do love you, but-"

"Let me guess," hissed Ichigo. "It's for our own good? It's not! We'll both me miserable and nothing you do will make me stop needing Shiro! He's my other half! Why can't you see that?"

Isshin narrowed his eyes. "I've seen plenty. It's unnatural for brothers to be that close, and I'm separating you. End of story. You'll be thanking me after."

"Like hell! You won't get anything from me but resentment!" snapped back the orangette furiously. "You're going to kill me!"

"Stop," commanded Isshin, "being so dramatic. It's not going to kill you, and you're going."

"Why should I?" he retorted.

"Because I said so," commanded his father in a warning tone.

Ichigo growled lowly. "No! No way! Zip, zilch, nada, nein! I'm not going!"

"Yes you are!" Isshin barked back. "And don't say I can't make you, because I can and I will!"

Ichigo shrunk back in his seat, startled by the suddenly harsh tone. "N-no," he whispered. "I'm not doing that to Shiro."

"You don't have a choice. You're things are already packed, and out in the car waiting."

"I don't wanna!"

"You're going, NOW!"

The orangette quivered slightly, before standing up slowly. "No."

Isshin lunged to his feet. "I told you you're going! Get in the car now!"

"No."

Isshin grabbed Ichigo by the arm, ignoring his startled cry of pain and dragging the struggling teen out of the house. He growled in anger as he threw the smaller male into the back seat of the car, slamming the door shut before he could get out. "Stay put," he snarled.

Ichigo shook slightly, eyes filling with tears as he curled up in the back of the car. His father never yelled at him, let alone handled him so roughly. Ignoring the seat belt, he pulled his small back pack into his lap, hugging it to his chest as the car sped down the road, his father mumbling angrily in the front seat.

End Flashback

He didn't say a word during the drive, nor the walk to the plane, clinging to his ticket quietly as he ignored Isshin.

When it came time to part ways, he didn't say goodbye, nor did he look back, not even when his father tried to get a response from him. At the top of the ladder, he paused, looking back at the man whose house he'd lived in all his life. He couldn't even say that his father had been the one who raised him. His uncle on his mother's side and his wife had done that after his mother had died. He thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I'm not going to forgive you."

He turned back and boarded the plane, never seeing Isshin's affronted expression. As he curled up in his airplane seat, he thought to himself, imagining a conversation with his older brother.

Should I have done that?

Heck yeah! The guy deserved it! Ya tried talkin' ta him, he didn' listen! It's his fault yer upset! Ya shoulda decked 'im!

He smiled slightly at his imagined Shiro's response. He shouldn't have even thought about it. Shiro thought everything was justified in protecting his 'baby bro', willing to go to any length for his other half's happiness.

He sighed. He missed his brother already. How am I going to survive without him?

Ichigo glanced around nervously, tightening his grip on his backpack. Where are they? There's supposed to be someone here to pick me up! He kept looking, searching the crowd. He let out a small hum of worry, chewing his thumbnail.

"Excuse me."

Ichigo jumped violently, gasping slightly as he whipped around.

"I apologize. It was not my intention to alarm you," offered a pale teenager with raven hair and emerald eyes.

Ichigo paused before speaking, curiously eyeing the new male's green tear streak tattoos. "It's not your fault," he replied, shaking his head. "You just came up on my blind side."

"Blind side?" questioned the Goth teen.

"Yeah, I'm actually blind on my left side," elaborated Ichigo. "Still getting used to it. See how it's orange instead of brown?"

"I...see. I will keep that in mind during our future interactions."

"Future interactions?" asked Ichigo.

"You are a student at the camp, correct?" he asked.

"Um, actually yes. Do you know where we're supposed to meet?" Ichigo added.

"Yes. I actually approached you on the assumption that you did not. You seemed distressed," he explained.

Ichigo nodded, returning to chewing his thumbnail. He thought this new male seemed like a good person, but he was worried about making a judgement without his older brother around to back him up if he was wrong. What if he's not as nice as he seems?

"My name is Ulquiorra Schiffer," offered the same monotone.

"Um... Ichigo, Ichigo Kurosaki."

Ulquiorra seemed to pick up on the more slender male's agitation. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," was the quiet answer.

Ulquiorra looked at him for a moment before gently taking him by the hand and leading him over to the group.