Chapter Text
The day he stopped speaking: Ichigo's story
Chapter 1
Mute at school: Part 1
The day his mother died, was the day that nine year old Kurosaki Ichigo stopped speaking.
His once cheerful and happy young face was now replaced by a scowl.
He didn't cry, he didn't speak, he didn't utter a sound, and what was more he felt as though it was his fault that his Okaa-san was gone.
The day his mother died was his ninth birthday.
Now over eight years later, Ichigo was still mute.
He communicated only with his eyes and occasionally sign language, which his father had 'made' him learn so they wouldn't always have to guess what the teen wanted. It wasn't that he couldn't speak, but rather, he chose not to.
He still blamed himself for his mothers' death; he was the reason she was gone. If only it had been him who had died that fateful day, if only he had listened to his mother and stayed by her side, instead of running for the girl that was about to jump into the river.
She would still be here, with his father and sisters… with him. He was supposed to protect her, and yet he failed, His name meant 'He who protects' but it was she who had died protecting him… from that white masked demon.
His father and sisters didn't blame him for his Okaa-san's death. Why didn't they blame him? Why didn't they hate him? Why? Why? Why? It would be so much easier; it wouldn't hurt as much if they did.
Today, the day after his sixteenth birthday, was the first day of high school for Ichigo.
He hadn't stepped foot inside a school since he was nine. It had been too much, and so he was home schooled by his father. (1)
Ichigo spent all his time, when he wasn't being taught, in his bedroom reading adventure novels by the stack (2) and listening to his iPod.
He was always locked in his room, never feeling the need to go 'out' for any reason except to go to the library. He had cleared out the entire Karakura library, having read everything at least twice in the past eight years. He didn't have any friends, didn't want any either.
When he was eight he had been friends with a girl down the street named Tatsuki Arisawa; they had gone to a Karate dojo together since he was four. After the death of his mother he didn't see her again.
No… he didn't want to see her. She had come around to his house every day for about three months after the 'accident' but Ichigo never came out of his room. He didn't let anyone near him for the matter.
Now today, the first day of high school, he would see her again… according to his father, Tatsuki was in almost all his classes.
Inwardly he cringed. He didn't want to see her… he was scared; he didn't want to face her after the way he had thrown their friendship out of the window so long ago. Would she forgive him?
…
Ichigo awoke the same way every morning mostly because of his father's "GOOD MORNING ICHIIIGGGGOOOO!" flying kick at the head routine. Today Isshin didn't, for some reason or another, and Ichigo awoke to the alarm clock on his desk beside the bed.
He got out of bed, went and took a shower before getting dressed in black dress slacks, black long sleeved t-shirt and hoodie (3). Basically everything Ichigo owned in terms of cloths was black. Yeah, his sisters had called him emo a few times for this.
He came down for breakfast, greeted by his little sister Yuzu. She was such a sweet girl, always smiling, her short blond hair tucked behind her ears. Ever since their mother had passed, she had taken to cleaning the house, cooking the meals; doing the laundry… she took over the roll of her mother, keeping the family together.
"Morning Ichi-nii!" Yuzu said with a smile as she flipped a pancake in the frying pan before her.
Ichigo replied by smiling a small smile, that he only gave his little sisters. He never once smiled in public; the scowl on his face was a permanent fixture.
Yuzu looked at her brother, frowning at the dark circles under his eyes as she put a plate of pancakes in front of him "Did you sleep well?"
Ichigo looked up at his little sister and shook his head. 'I stayed up too late reading again' he signed.
Just then Karin, Yuzu's twin (who didn't look a thing like her) walked into the room, her short black locks a mess because she hadn't had the chance to brush it down yet. "Morning Ichi-nii, I see you didn't get to much sleep last night. That book must have been really good." She yawned as she plunked down into a chair and dug into her plate of breakfast.
Ichigo nodded in agreement. "Dad had to go to an all day doctors meeting, he won't be back till late tonight" Yuzu announced.
Ichigo ran his hands through his orange spiky locks and shook his head. Now he knew why he wasn't awoken with a flying kick and a yell that woke the entire neighbourhood. Oh well, might as well enjoy the peace while it lasted.
Once breakfast was finished, Yuzu gave her brother a bento box and hugged him goodbye. And so off he went to school.
The school wasn't that far away, only a fifteen minute walk. Now standing in front of the gates of the student filled school yard, Ichigo read the sign 'Karakura High' in large bold black letters. His own personal hell for the next four years, unless by some miracle his father pulled him out… which was highly unlikely.
So taking a deep breath, Ichigo walked on through the hundreds of students and entered the school. After a short visit to the administration office to get his schedule for his classes, Ichigo trekked off to find his first class.
Soon finding the right classroom, Ichigo knocked on the door before entering. The teacher had been expecting him and greeted him warmly as he handed the grey haired woman the slip of paper, which the woman in the administration office had told him to give her.
"Ah yes, Class, we have a new student this year. His name is Kurosaki Ichigo" the teacher smiled as Ichigo faced the class. Everyone looked at him intently, surprised mostly because of his hair and scowl, and his all black attire. Ichigo heard the whispers and snickers from a few students but chose to ignore them. "Kurosaki-san, please tell us a little about yourself before we begin today's class."
Ichigo gulped before turning to the teacher and looking into her black eyes. 'I don't speak ma'am, gomen' he signed. The teacher was startled; she didn't know what Ichigo was trying to say, as she didn't know sign language.
The orange haired teen saw her confusion before stepping over to the blackboard, picking up a piece of chalk and began to write what he had tried to say. He wrote 'Gomen, but I don't speak, I'm mute…' in perfect calligraphy. The teacher gasped at this. "Gomen, I heard about that but it slipped my mind." she apologized. "You can sit beside Inoue Orihime. Inoue raise your hand please."
Ichigo walked over to the empty desk beside the girl that he guessed must be Inoue Orihime. The girl smiled brightly at him but he just stared, his scowl not wavering, even as he looked forward to the front of the class.
Orihime was a pretty girl, big brown eyes, large assets and long dark orange locks that reached the middle of her back. She wore a pink t-shirt that said 'Princess' in glittery letters on the front and a flowery pink skirt. She frowned a bit when Ichigo didn't acknowledge her, but that was soon forgotten when one Tatsuki Arisawa walked through the classroom door and headed to the desk in front of Orihime.
Ichigo's eyes went wide before ducking his head so that Tatsuki wouldn't see his face. But she did, and walked over to Ichigo instead of sitting down in her desk. "Ichigo… Is that you?" She asked in surprise.
Ichigo lifted his eyes and starred into Tatsuki's deep black-brown orbs. She at once knew that this was her Ichigo. The one she hadn't seen since that day, eight years ago.
"Class, turn to page 143 of your textbooks and begin reading at paragraph 7" said the teacher as she erased Ichigo's words from the blackboard and began to write today's lesson.
Tatsuki slipped into her desk but kept staring at Ichigo all the while… studying him. He looked so different from when she had seen him last.
He had grown, now at least five foot nine; and his brown orbs were lifeless. The rings under his eyes and his quite receded personality sort of freaked her out. Gone was the boy that had been so full of life and smiles, replaced by this withdrawn hollow shell of a teenager.
'I'm gonna talk to him at lunch' she decided before turning towards the teacher and concentrating on the lesson at hand. She didn't know that the orange haired teen was mute though, as she had missed Ichigo's introduction to the class.
…
Class flew by and soon it was time for lunch. Before Tatsuki could ask if he wanted to sit with her and a few of her friends however, Ichigo raced out of the room like a bat out of hell. He ran through the school entrance doors, around to the side of the large building and sat below one of the many trees on the property.
He nearly jumped clear out of his skin when he heard a voice coming from the branches above him.
"Hi there" said the voice merrily.
Ichigo looked up was surprised to see a girl with raven black locks staring down at him with a smile.
"I'm Rukia Kuchiki, what's your name?" She asked after a few seconds.
Ichigo remembered seeing this girl in his class earlier, she hadn't been paying any attention to him; as she was too busy talking to a red haired, tattooed guy sitting behind her.
"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki" he replied signing with his hands.
She grinned, "Ichigo haw… nice to meet you Mr. Strawberry."
Ichigo turned red and glared. Why did she have to call him a damned strawberry? And wait… did she just understand what he had signed?
Deciding not to ask, Ichigo got up and walked away, leaving one startled Rukia Kuchiki behind. 'What is his problem?' she thought, shaking it off as her childhood friend Abari Renji walked to her tree.
"Hey Rukia" he waved, "who was that guy that just walked away?" his tattooed eyebrows raising in question.
"His name is Kurosaki Ichigo…" replied Rukia as Renji climbed up onto the same branch as his she was. "I think he's that new student in our class this morning. I said hi and called him a strawberry and he got mad and walked away."
"I'm pretty sure that's because you called him a strawberry Rukia." chucked Renji as he stared at Ichigo who was sitting under a tree, ten trees away. The teen looked pitiful sitting by himself; eating alone.
"I think I'm gonna say hi to him" Renji contemplated aloud as he jumped off of the branch onto the ground.
"Renji wait! He doesn't speak; I read what he was saying to me in sign language!" Rukia yelped jumping down beside her friend.
"So… in case you've forgotten, I can use sign language too" Renji told Rukia looking into her violate eyes as she stood beside him.
"I was just saying is all." she muttered looking down at the ground at nothing in particular.
"Can we say hi now, or do I have to wait for an e-vite? (4.).
"Fine, lets go already, I'll apologize." muttered Rukia with a sigh.
…
"Hi I'm Abari Renji, its Ichigo right?" asked Renji a few minutes later, as he and Rukia stood in front of the orange haired teen sitting under the sakura tree.
Ichigo looked up at the pair and slowly nodded his head.
"Cool, do you mind if we sit with you and eat lunch?" Renji asked with a grin.
Ichigo was baffled, since when did they want to sit with him? 'Okay' he signed a second later.
"Oh and Rukia here wanted to say something to you as well." Renji added as he sat down.
Rukia turned red as she glared at Renji before facing Ichigo, "Gomen… for calling you a strawberry earlier."
Ichigo shook his head in amusement even though it didn't show on his face, before looking up at Rukia and signing his answer, 'arigato midget.'
Renji burst out laughing, "Midget! I haven't heard that one before."
Rukia turned redder than a beetroot before kicking Renji in the head to shut him up. But Ichigo wasn't finished yet and started signing again, 'I accept your apology, and now we're even.'
'I like this kid' thought Renji to himself as he opened his bento box, pulled out a pair of chopsticks and began to eat.
…
"Tatsuki, did you know that new boy in class today?" asked Inoue Orihime as she and her friends Uryu Ishida and Sado (a.k.a. Chad) Yasutora sat down on the school roof.
"Yeah… We used to be friends when we were eight." replied Tatsuki as she leaned against the rails at the edge of the roof.
"Used to be? What happened?" gasped Orihime, eyes wide, everyone was quiet as they listened intently.
"There was an accident on his ninth birthday…" Tatsuki started, "we had just finished our karate lesson at the dojo and on their way home, his mother died. Urahara-san said that a hollow had killed her." (5.)
"Oh that's so sad" whispered Orihime sadly.
"Yeah, he never got over it, and he didn't want to see me either… so we finally drifted apart and well… I haven't seen him in over eight years." The black haired tomboyish girl finished as she looked out into the school yard and saw Ichigo eating with Rukia and Renji.
"He seems like an angry person… for a mute." said Uryu dryly as he started on his rice.
"Mute?" asked Tatsuki looking at Uryu in surprise "since when is he mute?"
"You missed his introduction to the class Tatsuki; he was using sign language and ended up writing it plainly on the black board." said Chad, eyes lowered to the ground as he ate his sandwich.
"Tatsuki, why don't we go sit with him, Renji and Rukia… I mean, have you felt the amount of reiatsu coming off of him?" asked Uryu a few seconds later. "It's massive! I'm surprised the Hollows haven't noticed him yet."
"Yes, why don't we go and introduce ourselves, and then we can tell him about shinigami and all that other stuff!" laughed Orihime eagerly.
"Do you think he'd understand? Or would he think we're insane?" asked Tatsuki as she thought it over a little.
"If he thinks we're crazy we'll bring him to Urahara-san and show him if we have too." replied Uryu as he got up and dusted off his pants.
"I agree with Uryu, Tatsuki. We'll show him." mumbled Chad softly, "and I think Urahara-san will be able to convince him if we can't."
"Okay, let's go then." sighed Tatsuki as she got up and headed for the door leading down off the school roof.
…
Notes:
(1.) Isshin Kurosaki is companionate and caring, he's still crazy to an extent, but when his wife died he took it upon himself to teach his son. He's had a lot of patience with Ichigo but now Ichi must go to high school because Isshin has a lot of work to do at the clinic. I believe he has another reason for sending Ichigo to school, and that is because he wants to get his son to speak again.
(2.) Ichigo started reading soon after his mother died. It made him feel as though he was inside the story as the main hero character, which never hurt anyone or did anything wrong. To this day, he still reads, to take the pain of the world away. It is his way of coping.
(3.) I know that in the anime and manga, everyone wears uniforms at Karakura High, but for this fic, everyone wears what they want. NO UNIFORMS! YEAH!
(4.) This is an inside joke between the two. Laugh if you get it, sorry if you don't.
(5.) Okay, Ichigo doesn't know anything about Hollows or shinigami or anything. Rukia, Renji, Uryu, Tatsuki and Orihime do. They all know Urahara Kisuke because of Rukia and Renji. Rukia and Renji are shinigami just like in the manga; Yes, Uryu is still a Quincy; Chad still has his armoured arm; Orihime still has her Shun Shun Rikka fairies. Tatsuki is a new addition to the party, she has shinigami powers and a zanpuketo like Rukia and Renji but rather fight with her hands and feet like in karate.
Chapter 2
Mute at school: Part 2
…
"Ichigo… it really is you" laughed Tatsuki as she and her friends sat down beside Ichigo, Renji and Rukia.
Ichigo looked at her uncomfortably for a moment before nodding his head.
"I knew it!" she sighed as she made herself comfortable on the grassy green ground.
"Oh hey guys" grinned Renji as he acknowledged Orihime, Uryu and Chad.
"Yeah, what's up?" smiled Rukia as she looked around the familiar faces of her best friends in the whole world. Sure she had lots of friends in Seireitei but she liked this group a lot too. They had had so many adventures together; defeating hollows and Aizen Souske. (1.) Yes, she loved her friends greatly.
Orihime, Chad and Uryu looked at Ichigo who was staring blatantly around the group at all the faces. Why did all these people want to sit with him? I mean, He realized that Tatsuki would probably sit with him, but not all her friends as well. Didn't they know that if they got too closet that they would get hurt like his Okaa-san did?
"Hi, I'm Uryu Ishida… this is Sado Yasutora and Orihime Inoue" smiled Uryu as he pointed out the two sitting beside him, Tatsuki was busy talking to Rukia and Renji and so wasn't paying any attention to the others.
The orange haired teen nodded to them to show that he understood.
"So, we haven't seen you here in Karakura high before… what school did you go to before this?" asked Uryu a moment later.
Ichigo shook his head before looking up and signing, 'I haven't gone to school since I was nine… my father has home schooled me for the past eight years.'
"You've been home schooled" gaped Orihime with a large smile, "wow, how come I haven't seen you around Karakura town before then?"
Now he was confused; why would they want to know that? He didn't want to tell them that he'd locked himself away in his room for the past eight years and only now come out.
He didn't answer, pulling himself deep within his body, away from prying eyes. He only did this when he was scared. That was also the time he got to talk to his 'brother' Hichigo. (2.) Yes he had a brother deep within his mind. He had met his white haired, blue tongued, black finger nailed twin a week after his mother's passing. Hichigo comforted the little boy for years and became his best friend in the whole world. He was his only friend.
'Brother, why are you here? Those people out there just want to be your friends… why are you so scared?' asked Hichigo when Ichigo sat in front of him in their inner world of sideways white skyscrapers.
'I… I don't want to hurt them like I did with Okaa-san Hichi…' whispered Ichigo softly, looking down at his hands. (3.)
'Oh Ichi, you know that our Okaa-san's death wasn't your fault! We've gone through this so many times before; when will you get it through that think skull of yours?' replied Hichigo as he clutched his brother's slim shoulders and embraced him in a hug. (4.)
'I know Hichigo… I just can't get over it.' groaned Ichigo as he hugged his brother back.
'One day brother, we'll get through this together.' replied Hichigo as he pulled out of the hug a moment later. 'Now, you'd better get back out there, it seems that a few people are wondering why you aren't responding to them. I'll see you tonight in your room brother.' (5.)
'Okay' sighed Ichigo reluctantly, 'See you tonight…' as he slipped out of his mind and back to the present.
"Ichigo… ICHIGO!" yelled a voice making the orange haired teen jump and blink a few times.
Ichigo looked at who had yelled in his ear, it was Renji. 'Why the hell is he yelling in my ear?' thought Ichigo angrily as he glared at the red head.
'I believe it's because you were unresponsive, because you were talking to me brother.' laughed Hichigo in Ichigo's mind.
'Oh shut up Hichi… I don't want to talk to these guys, I just want to go home now, and lock myself in my room so that we can talk without being yelled at.' sighed Ichigo as he ran his hand through his orange locks.
"Are you okay Kurosaki-kun, you didn't move at all for about five minutes… we were getting worried." rambled Orihime as she intently looked into Ichigo's golden brown eyes.
'I'm fine, just peachy.' signed Ichigo who was getting mildly annoyed with all their questions.
Just then there was a loud screeching cry that made Ichigo and the others sitting around him jump.
"Damnit" yelled Renji jumping up from the ground, "Can't those bloody hollows take a freaking hike for once!"
Rukia's cell phone began to beep nonstop. "Renji, they're coming right for us, they must have sensed Ichigo's reiatsu! They're really powerful!" shouted Rukia, jumping up to join her friend, soon followed by Tatsuki. The three reached into their pockets and pulled out little green pills, swallowing them Ichigo's eyes went wide as he watched Renji, Rukia and Tatsuki's bodies jump back. The three were standing now, zanpakutou in hand, wearing black Shihakusho's while their real bodies surrounded him.
Orihime stood up beside Rukia's body and summoned her Shun Shun Rikka fairies from her hair pins. Sado's arm had transformed, while Uryu had manifested a brilliant bow out of thin air.
'What the HELL is going on here!' shouted Ichigo mentally to himself.
'Ichigo, stay put okay, don't move' growled Hichigo within his brother's mind, 'don't be afraid, those three, Renji, Rukia and Tatsuki are shinigami, they'll get rid of those hollows.'
'Shinigami? Hollows? WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HICHI!' screamed Ichigo at his brother within his mind.
'I'll explain later Ichi, just listen to me for once and watch them!'
It was at that moment that the hollows showed themselves and Ichigo's eyes went wide. Their huge bodies, their white masks…'those things… they are like the same thing that killed Okaa-san!'
(I was tempted to end this chapter here, but you're luck I didn't!)
…
Ichigo watched in horror as the white masked demons moved closer and closer to the group. They were all attracted to Ichigo's massive reiatsu.
He started to shake hard, he willed with all his might to enter his mind, but Hichigo wasn't having any of that. 'Just watch Ichi, they'll be gone soon…' soothed Hichigo softly within the orange haired teen's mind.
It was then that the three shinigami leapt to attack, their Zanpakuto raised high over their heads as they brought them down in a massive arc, slicing through the hard bone like masks.
The hollows were gone within seconds, and Renji, Rukia and Tatsuki walked back to their waiting bodies only moments later before entering them, removing the mod soul pills and replacing them in their pockets.
'W…w-what just happened?' signed Ichigo with wide eyes. He really wished he could disappear and be comforted by his brother.
The group looked at Ichigo's freaked out face and shook their heads.
"I think we're gonna have to make a trip to Urahara-san's place guys… I don't think he'll believe us otherwise." sighed Renji a moment later.
….
Notes:
(1.) This fic takes place long after the original Bleach story line. So Uryu, Orihime, Chad and Tatsuki have all been to Soul Society many times before. The winter war is long over and done with so Aizen is dead.
(2.) Yes, Ichigo has a hollow inside of him. Only Hichigo doesn't bother fighting for control like in the anime or manga. Hichigo is Ichigo's best friend and brother, and loves him too much to hurt him. Hichigo knows that he is a hollow, and he knows all about Shinigami. He's kept this information away from his brother to protect him from Shinigami like Aizen.
(3.) When in his inner world, Ichigo can talk… but only to his twin. He won't utter a word when in the real world.
(4.) Hichigo refers to Ichigo's mother as his mother also, considering he was born inside of Ichigo at the same time Ichigo was born to his mother and father. This is why Hichigo and Ichigo refer to each other as brothers of the same parents.
(5.) Hichigo can manifest himself outside of Ichigo's body whenever he wants. He usually does this when Ichigo has locked himself in his room. They know each other really well because of this, they've been meeting together every day for eight years now so it's no wonder they get along so well.
Chapter 3
Is that a hollow?
…
"Ah, Abari-kun, Kuchiki-chan, Yasutora-kun, Arisawa-chan, Orihime-chan, what can I do for you this fine day…" laughed a man dressed in a green shihakshou, wooden zori, a green pinstriped hat and brown cane as the group arrived inside of none other than Urahara shoten, "oh and who is this?" as soon as Urahara (the said owner) peered around the group at Ichigo who looked like he was ready to run home as fast as his legs could carry him.
"This is Kurosaki Ichigo, Urahara-san…" started Renji a moment later as he looked at Ichigo and then to the said shop owner as he replied. "He… kind of saw us defeat a few hollows that came because of his massive reiatsu… and well, we don't quite know how to explain everything to him without him… you know, thinking that we're all out of our minds."
"Ahh, is that all Abari-kun," chided Urahara with a smile he hid behind the fan in front of his face. "Bring him to the basement, I'll be there momentarily."
"Hai, come on Ichigo; follow us." sighed Renji as he began to trudge down the hall out of the main room of the store.
…
Ichigo looked around the huge basement; it didn't even look like it was part of this world. How on earth could you fit a huge dessert with rock cliffs underground, with a ceiling that looked like the sky itself? This was just plainly put, beyond him.
"So, you just encountered your first ever live hollows did you Kurosaki-kun," laughed Urahara a moment later, flashing his way beside Ichigo. The orange haired teen jumped. "So what did you think? Were those creatures scary enough for you?"
Ichigo couldn't believe his ears, those things had killed his mother, nearly killed him and the people around him this morning (okay, those teens with him this morning had defeated these… hollows or what ever they were, but still, they had tried to kill him.) and this guy was asking what he thought of them. Is he freaking insane? Ichigo made a fist and punched Urahara in the side of the face as hard as he possibly could, making the older man fly backwards a few feet. Yes, his father had taught him well.
Ichigo stood furious, glaring daggers at the man lying on the ground. Hichigo chuckled and shook his head within his brothers mind, "good one Ichi… he deserved that."
The teens rushed to Urahara's side looking at Ichigo in wonder. "What the hell did you have to hit him for?" yelled Renji a minute later, glaring at Ichigo.
Ichigo began to shiver, he wanted to scream on the top of his lungs, but he didn't.
'You want to know what's wrong you bunch of dumb fucks. What ever the hell those things you killed this morning were, are the same fucking things that killed my Okaa-san. Now this freaking idiot asks me what the hell I think of them? You know what, I FUCKING HATE YOU ALL!' Ichigo signed, trembling even harder, tears began to trail down his cheeks.
He just wanted everyone to leave him alone and let him die, he didn't deserve to live… people would never understand him, and he them.
Hichigo felt what his brother was feeling, heard what his brother was shouting in his mind, and he knew that these damned shinigami had taken it too far this time. He didn't care if they saw him; he needed to comfort his brother, and now. With that he manifested himself outside of his brother's body.
As soon as Hichigo was outside of Ichigo's body he enveloped the orange haired teen in a hug. Everyone but Ichigo was startled.
"Is that a hollow…" asked Rukia with wide eyes. Even Urahara looked stunned.
Hichigo's yellow gold eyes snapped towards the shinigami and other gifted teens angrily as he held his trembling brother. "What the fuck were you bastards thinking? You don't just go and ask someone what the hell they think of a damned hollow!" yelled the pale, albino twin, "Especially if those damned hollow killed our Okaa-san!"
"Look who's talking hollow, now you think that you're better then those ones we killed this morning? And what the hell are you talking about 'your Okaa-san', that's Kurosaki's Okaa-san, not yours, you don't have one!" yelled Renji as he popped out of his gigai and brought his Zanpakuto out before him.
At this Ichigo pushed away from his brother and looked at Renji with a look so full of hate that the expression 'if looks could kill' didn't even come close to this.
Ichigo opened his mouth and attempted to speak, the words came out in gravely cracked choked sounds (which is understandable because he hadn't used his voice in over eight years).
"W-what th-e f-uck, did you j-ust say?" the tears streamed harder down his face but he didn't care. "My Okaa-san w-as jus-t as mu-ch Hichi-go's, as sh-e mine!" and with that he lunged screaming at Renji. The red head jumped out of the way just in time.
Hichigo leapt after Ichigo just as fast and tackled him to the ground; he pulled the orange haired teen into his arms tightly, as his brother wept bitterly.
Urahara stood up and began to walk towards the unlikely twins.
"Stop." ordered Hichigo as he glared at the shopkeeper, "one step closer and I'll personally come and kick your damned asses. You're lucky that I'm compassionate because otherwise, the red head over there would be dead by now."
"Why do you care for Ichigo so much hollow?" asked Urahara a moment later, the others standing around him quietly.
Hichigo looked down at his brother who he was rocking in his arms gently before looking towards the group again, "I care because he's my nii-san, and I love him as such. Brothers don't hate each other, they take care of one another." began Hichigo softly, "when our Okaa-san was killed, no one could get close to Ichi, no one knew how to comfort him… or me. It's like a piece of use died when she did. No one even knew I existed… but I took care of him, and I loved him, and he me. We've known each other since that day we first met, eight years ago… and we are best friends. So if anyone tries to hurt my Ichi-nii, I'll hurt them. No one messes with us." finished Hichigo as he stood up, Ichigo still in his arms as he walked to the ladder that lead to the top of the shop. He flew up the ladder, his twin still in his arms, using his own reiatsu alone to push them up before walking out the shop and back to the Kurosaki residence.
…
When the twins left, everyone began to talk, with wide eyes.
"A hollow that doesn't want to fight for power… that see's his master as a sibling and vice-versa… how very interesting…" mumbled Urahara to himself.
"That hollow sure acted different compared to all the hollow we have defeated… even the vizzard's hollows don't act like this." said Rukia shaking her head in amazement.
"Yes… that is certainly strange." sighed Uryu a moment later.
"That's so sweet, that they act like brothers…" smiled Orihime to herself.
"Those twins are sure tough cookies." Chad chuckled to himself.
No one noticed Renji's absence from their group. The red haired man was already in soul society, racing for the sixth division as fast as he could shunpo. Wait until his taichou heard. He wouldn't be happy.
…
Chapter 4
Taichou, we got trouble…
Hichigo's P.O.V.
I got Ichigo back home as fast as I could, he wasn't in good shape. Those emotional wounds that we had worked so hard to heal had been completely and utterly ripped apart by that damned fool Abarai. I still feel as though I should kill the bastard for opening his mouth.
It's lucky that our family isn't home yet, I don't want to be caught. See, only those with a reiatsu (that can feel it, like shinigami) can see me. I'm pretty sure that our family would freak out if they saw Ichi floating past them by some invisible force.
I got us to our room quite quickly and locked the door with one hand before dropping ourselves to the twin sized bed. I rocked my brother back and forth gently, my chin resting on top his orange locks.
He wouldn't quit crying so I decided to try singing this lullaby I wrote for him a few months after we met for the first time.
It kind of represents us… me before I met Ichigo… and then when we finally met, and of course now.
So I softly began to sing:
Time, is going by, so much faster than I,
And I'm starting to regret not spending all of here with you.
Now I'm, wondering why, I've kept this bottled inside,
So I'm starting to regret not selling all of it to you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...
You're never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall...
Never gonna be alone!
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.
And now, as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands,
'Coz forever I believe that there's nothing I could need but you,
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...
Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall.
When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on.
We're gonna see the world out,
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.
Ooooh!
You've gotta live every single day,
Like it's the only one, what if tomorrow never comes?
Don't let it slip away,
Could be our only one, you know it's only just begun.
Every single day,
Maybe our only one, what if tomorrow never comes?
Tomorrow never comes...
Time, is going by, so much faster than I,
And I'm starting to regret not telling all of this to you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...
Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall.
When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on.
We're gonna see the world out,
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.
I'm gonna be there always,
I won't be missing a word all day,
I'm gonna be there always,
I won't be missing a word all day…
Flashback…
A young orange haired boy layed on his bed clutching a picture of his Okaa-san, crying; he couldn't stop no matter how hard he tried.
His mother was gone… dead and it was his entire fault. Why hadn't he listened to her and stayed by her side like she had asked?
"Don't blame yourself… it's not your fault…" whispered a voice.
Ichigo looked up startled. Hadn't he locked his bedroom door?
That's when he saw the young boy on the far end of the room. He was so pale, he had white hair, gold black eyes, black finger nails, a blue tongue and his outfit was in the reverse colors of the black mourning cloths that Ichigo wore.
"W-who are you?" Ichigo whispered softly.
"My name is Hichigo… I'm your twin brother." replied the pale skinned boy.
"I've never seen you before… how are you my brother?"
"I live in your mind…"
"Wait… Hichi… aren't you my make believe friend?" asked Ichigo eyes wide.
"Yes, but I'm not make believe, I've always been real." replied Hichigo walking over to his orange haired twin. "You just hadn't realized it yet."
"Oh…"
"I'm gonna stay with you always Ichi, its alright." smiled Hichigo as he enveloped Ichigo into a massive hug.
"Promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
"Good."
End Flashback…
Ichi finally stopped crying, and fell into a light sleep so I gently layed him down onto the bed and pulled the covers over him. He looked so damned sweet and vulnerable in that bed. I well and truly loved him as my nii-san… nothing would ever change that.
…
"Abarai fukutaichou, what are you doing back here, I thought I ordered you to patrol Karakura town until the end of this month." droned Byakuya Kuchiki taichou from behind his huge paperwork laden desk within his office of the sixth division.
"Gomennasai taichou, but the news I have is of the utmost importance." rushed Renji bowing lowly before his taichou.
"What is it then that has led you to stray from your duties fukutaichou." Byakuya sighed, looking intently at the other man.
And so Renji began his tail of what had happened this morning, of how they had met Ichigo, up until Hichigo showed his pale face.
"He's a vizzard you say, before we report this to Sotaichou, I will come and see for myself." Byakuya stated as he got up from his desk. "Let us go now Renji."
"Hai taichou" Renji bowed before walking out the door, his taichou hot on his heals.
…
Chapter 5
I've got questions that need answering
…
When Ichigo awoke a few hours later he found himself to be laying on his bed in his brothers strong but gentle arms and for the first time that day, he felt well and truly safe.
But after the goings on of the morning he had questions… and a lot of them. He figured that he should question Hichigo, as his twin seemed to know about the shinigami and hollow… and almost everything else he had seen that morning.
He slowly twisted his body around so that he was facing his pale other. Hichigo watched him with gentle gold black eyes. He knew what his brother wanted from him, and he would tell him. He would tell him of the shinigami and the hollow. Of the Quincy and Aizen… of the vizzard and of Seireitei; and he would explain why he hadn't said anything before… to protect him.
"I guess I have a lot of explaining to do don't I… Ichi" the pale skinned twin sighed softly.
Ichigo nodded, staring strait into those deep golden orbs before him.
"Well, I guess I'll start from the beginning then…"
And so he began to tell his tale; as his brother listened intently, soaking up the information like a sponge; it would take a while, but Hichigo didn't mind, it was about time something like this was said. Better now than later.
…
"So I have a high level of reiatsu and that's why those hollows came after me at school this morning?" Ichigo signed, his right eyebrow raised.
"That's about right yes." Hichigo sighed running his pale hand through his pale white locks as he stared at the ground.
Ichigo groaned before slamming his fist into the floor as hard as he could. Hichigo was shocked to say in the least. "Ichi! What did you do that for?"
"That hollow killed our Okaa-san because of my reiatsu! It's my entire fault!" croaked Ichigo before slamming his fist into the wall beside his bed, leaving not only a dent but also a much bloodied fist.
"Ichi! STOP!" yelled Hichigo grabbing his brother's fist in mid-swing just as he was going to hit the wall again. "Hurting yourself isn't going to help you any. And would you stop blaming yourself for once! It's not your fault, even if you had no reiatsu to speak of, that hollow would have killed our Okaa-san regardless because it was hungry. We were there at the wrong time, that's all. Please Ichigo, please stop blaming yourself, for me, for our Okaa-san" pleaded Hichigo gently, though there was still a stern tone under that voice.
"I'm sorry Hichi… you're right. I wasn't thinking, but-"
"No buts Ichi, just shush and don't think about it anymore." replied Hichigo as he pulled a bandage out of his brother's closet (Ichigo kept bandages in his closet because he was constantly getting into fights with his father… although, it was his father that ended up needing the medical supplies more than his son.) and bandaged up Ichigo's fist.
"So does that mean, because I've got reiatsu that I have shinigami powers too?" asked the orange haired boy a few moments later, breaking the silence that had filled the room.
"Yes, but they are locked away… for now. The thing is, because I'm a hollow, and I'm living inside of you, that will make you a vizzard, and you remember how I said Seireitei dealt with the vizzard right." said Hichigo looking into his brothers dark brown eyes. "They killed them."
"But can't we convince the soul society that I'm not dangerous Hichi?"
"I highly doubt it Ichi, I mean, the Sotaichou is a hard man to convince. Even the other vizzard tried, during the winter war to help Soul society out, and look how they were treated. They were murdered in cold blood because they were, and I quote "too dangerous to risk considering allies." When they were obviously only trying to help. They weren't going to hurt anyone in Seireitei, yet those fools were too blind to see it, and put an end to the vizzard. You are now the only one left… a race believed to be extinct. If Sotaichou or soul society was to get wind of it, you'd be killed in an instant," (1.) replied Hichigo after a moment of thought. "I don't want them to find you… or us for that matter. We have to keep low profiles, before they come after us."
"What if we were to train… to get my powers unlocked?" asked Ichigo as he ran his brother's words through his mind.
"If we were to train, they would feel our reiatsu Ichi and come after us."
"Well, why don't we leave Karakura… and Japan? Move to a different country, like... America or Canada. Then we could train and nobody would find us." signed Ichigo, his eyes wide, the idea fully formed in his head, "you could control our reiatsu and we'd get out of the country while no one would notice!"
Hichigo looked at his brother as if he'd sprouted another head. Since when was Ichigo this brilliant? Normally it was he that came up with all the plans and Ichigo just came along for the ride, but this… this was amazing. "I… never thought of that before Ichi, you're a genius!"
Ichigo smiled a large goofy smile for the first time in eight years.
"My brother can think and form a plan on his own two feet! And he didn't even need my help!"
Just as suddenly as the smile had come on to his face, if fell of. "Hichi! Shut up you aho!" growled Ichigo as he smacked the back of his white haired twin's head. "Let me have a moment to enjoy the compliment okay," began Ichigo before signing the rest, after using his voice so much after not using it at all, that took a toll on his throat. 'I don't need any insults or sarcastic comment out of you right now.'
…
"Abari fukutaichou, describe this vizzard boy and his hollow if you will," ordered Byakuya as he and his subordinate walked through the Senkaimon gates into Karakura.
"Hai Taichou." Replied Renji as they began to walk at a steady pace towards 'Urahara-shoten.' It was a cool night, a gentle breeze playing with the leaves of the many sakura trees along the lane.
"Well, he's quite tall, has brown eyes… orange hair…"
Byakuya looked at Renji, eyebrow raised in question.
"Yes, orange hair. I found it quite funny. Anyways, it seems to me that he doesn't know about Shinigami or hollows or Seireitei at all."
"I see… and his hollow?"
"His hollow is the exact opposite. He's so pale, that if he was a shade or two paler he could be transparent. He has white hair, gold black eyes, black finger nails, and blue tongue."
"Blue tongue?" Byakuya looked at Renji in surprise.
"Yeah blue tongue; He's an exact mirror image of the boy. He seems to know about Shinigami and such. You know taichou, the funniest thing about them is, and they treat each other like brothers. The hollow doesn't seem hostile… and it doesn't seem like he fights for control… and what's more, he manifests himself out side of his master's body…"
"Really," Byakuya was amazed. But he would quite believe it unless he seen it.
"Yeah; He protected the boy as we were talking to him at Urahara's shoten. Urahara-san made him angry and so he punched him."
Byakuya chuckled at this. Kisuke seemed to have a knack for pissing people off at inappropriate times.
"I'll admit, I got a bit carried away with the boy myself… but he is still a vizzard. A monster…" Renji finally ended.
"And you say the hollow protected him?"
"Hai" nodded Renji, "The hollow actually stated that his master, his 'twin' is his brother and if anyone hurts him or tries to hurt him, he'll kill them."
"Tell me more about this boy fukutaichou. Certainly you must have more information on him."
"Hai."
And so, Renji began with his account, starting with the events that morning at school. When he was finished they walked in silence for a few moments. Both lost in thought.
"What is the boy's name fukutaichou?" asked Byakuya a moment later. Renji mentally shot himself for not mentioning the boy's name earlier. (2.)
"His name taichou… its Kurosaki… Kurosaki Ichigo."
Byakuya's eyes went wide. "He's my…!"