Strawberry May Cry

Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Devil May Cry is owned by Capcom

Well damn. It's been awhile, huh guys? I greatly apologize for how long it took me to update this, I don't really have an update schedule, though at the very LEAST I would try to update twice a month. So if I don't update for some time, it's because I have other things going on in my life. I am just human after all who has life to live and care for just like the rest you, so…well, yeah… Oh! And for those of you curious about a pairing for Ichigo, sorry, but I don't really want to focus on romance in the story, so there's not going to be any. Anyone who was anticipating one, I apologize to you. By the way, I updated all the previous chapters, though all I really did was weed out spelling errors. Though I did add a few small things in the last chapter, but if you've already read it even before the update, there's no real reason to back and skim through it again just to see what they are. At least I wouldn't.

And now, to answer some questions that were asked by "Bunny153539"

For Mundus over the spirit king; I can't answer because of how damn little is known about the spirit king.

Ichigo's parent's being ignorant about the existence of demons; due plot reasons, I can't give much of an answer to this, though I will say that as far as Isshin goes, this ties in with the fourth Bleach movie and how very little shinigami had anything to do with hell.

Power comparison:

Weak lower class devils such as the hells in DMC3 – regular shinigami and seated officer (with a few exceptions such as Ikkaku and Yumichika). If Lady – a normal human – can take them on, than a regular and seated shinigami should.

Now, the higher class demons like the Blades, Assaults, Frosts and Blitz – lieutenant class shinigami, without Bankai.

Some high ranking demon bosses like Berial – either a powerful lieutenant, a lieutenant with Bankai, Ikkaku and Yumichika, or captain class.

Dante – …Well Dante is in a class of his own for obvious reasons… With Dante at full power, I personally think only Yamamoto (in Bankai), Yhwach and possibly Haschwalth (the guy was powerful enough to break Ichigo's Bankai) have chance at fighting him.

Now then, as for your question regarding Bayonetta; honestly, I'm not sure if she'll be in the story or if I should keep it strictly Bleach and Devil May Cry. And I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it. Though, there will be references to game, such you'll see in this chapter. If I do put her in the story, then she wouldn't appear until much, MUCH later. Should I have her in this story? Perhaps I'll consider putting a poll up about this in future. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anyway, enough of this author's note. I kept all of you waiting for a new chapter long enough.

Chapter 5
Nightmares & Suspicions

Whiteness. That was all that laid before him. Nothing but empty whiteness. There was nobody around, there was nothing in the distance, no cars, no people, no buildings, just nothing. Blinking his eyes, Ichigo looked around him to both right and left, where nothing existed. "Where am I?" Ichigo wondered aloud to himself.

"Yes. That is a good question, Ichigo Kurosaki. Where are you indeed?" a voice came from behind and startled Ichigo from his thoughts. But he also became suspenseful as he recognized the owner of the voice. Turning around his eyes grew wide as his suspicions were confirmed. Standing not ten feet away from him was none other than Sōsuke Aizen.

"Y-You," Ichigo nervously began as he stepped back. He knew well enough what Aizen was capable of, and as it stood, he was powerless to do anything to defend himself. He had no intentions of dying. "What are you doing here!?"

"That, young Kurosaki, is irrelevant at the moment. More importantly…" Aizen's body then proceeded to undergo a change. He sprouted wings from his back, his hair grew longer, his eyes turned purple, and his entire body underwent a sudden transformation and took on what appeared to be the grotesque form he had taken from their fight seventeen months ago. "I haven't forgotten what you've done to me HUMAN!"

The world around them then began to suddenly change. No longer were they in an empty white void, but back in Karakura Town. Ichigo couldn't believe the transition he just witnessed before him. "What the hell…?"

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" a scream permeated the air around him, as Ichigo turned around to find a bloodied and beat Orihime Inoue running for her life away from the Cuatro Espada, Ulquiorra Cifer. He was in his Segunda Etapa form, floating in the air with his wings spread out and his tail kept still. He just remained in the air in a single spot unmoving, not batting so much as eyelash as he looked on at the woman running away from him.

Then, in the burst of a sonido, he appeared right in front of Orihime and lashed out at her with his tail, using it as if it were a whip. Hitting her in the side of her torso, she was sent flying towards Ichigo and Aizen, landing just a few feet away from them. "Orihime!" Ichigo went out after her, but was then hoisted up by the collar of his shirt and met with the eyes of the Sexta Espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.

Grimmjow had a malicious smirk on his face as he grabbed Ichigo by the head and twisted it in the direction Orihime, with Ulquiorra now standing right in front of her. "GET AWAY FROM HER YOU BASTARD!" Ichigo yelled out at Ulquiorra and struggled against Grimmjow, but to no avail as Ulquiorra raised his right index finger towards his friend. A dark black and green energy surrounded his finger and formed in shape of sphere.

Ichigo's eyes widened in alarm as he recognized the attack and began to yell out to them, "GET AWAY FROM HER DAMMIT! I'LL HELP YOU ORIHIME, I SWEAR IT! I'LL-!" but was cut off as Orihime looked his way. No longer did she have a fearful expression on her face, but a plain one as she spoke to him. "No you're not," she began while Ichigo looked on with surprise at her, "you've lost your powers. You can't protect anyone anymore. Can't you see that Chad and Uryū are trying to fight to protect me?"

True to her word, the moment she finished, in the burst of Hirenkyaku, Uryū appeared with his bow at the ready as he used Licht Regen to fire off a barrage of Heilig Pfeils at the Cuatro.

"El Directo!" A large blast of energy soon followed and made contact with Ulquiorra and large amount of smoked from the blast shrouded over Ulquiorra, covering him from head to toe. Ichigo looked over to the direction blast came from and saw the form of his best friend, Yasutora 'Chad' Sado, standing tall with his Brazo Derecha de Gigante and Brazo Izquierda del Diablo at the ready.

Ichigo blinked his eyes at the sight of his friends. "Wha… Chad, Uryū… When did you…?" Orihime then chose to interrupt him again, "Don't you see? I'll be just fine with them around. Just get out here. You'll get in their way." That had managed to stun Ichigo as Uryū spoke next, "She right Ichigo," he then looked his way, "You can't do anything to help. You're only going to manage to slow us down. Just get out of here. Without your powers you're nothing but dead weight." Chad had followed up on what Uryū had said by grunting in agreement.

Ichigo's eyes widened and his mouth fell as he heard those words. "'Dead…weight…?'" he whispered to himself as looked on to see the sight of a giant and enraged Yammy Llargo in his released state appear behind Chad and bring his fist down upon him. The sounds of shattering bones could be heard and blood flowed from beneath Yammy's hand.

Then with Uryū, Nnoitra Gilga appeared to his left as he swung his Santa Teresa and decapitated Uryū with a single swing of his Zanpakutō. His head flew lifelessly to where Ichigo's feet would have been, had Grimmjow not lifted him up. A dark blast of energy then fired at Orihime and pierced her chest, leaving a gaping hole, just in the same place as Ulquiorra's hollow hole. The smoke that had covered Ulquiorra faded away to reveal him unscathed from his friends attacks, with his index finger pointed at Orihime. Her body then fell completely, her eyes devoid of any signs life.

Chad…Uryū…Orihime… No… But why!? Ichigo's thoughts were now just a mess as his face twitched in all sorts of sad and confused expressions as processed what he had just witnessed, not only had his friends just disdain him, but their lives came to a sudden end just like that. And there nothing that he could have done to stop it, because he was powerless now. Filled with nothing but sorrow and fury, he screamed out in anguish.

The world then began to change around them again. Nnoitra, Yammy and Ulquiorra were now gone, along with the dead bodies of his friends, leaving only Aizen, Grimmjow – who was still holding him up – and himself. Ichigo now found himself in the living room of his home in Karakura. Only now it was set in flames and falling apart!

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Horror donning on his face, he spotted out of the corner of his eye a completely bloodied, burnt and dismembered corpse. But it was the face of dead body the frightened him. "DAD!" the corpse on burning floor was none other than the body of Isshin Kurosaki. The head of his father, now separated from his body, now laid before him with half his face scorched by the flames.

"My, my, I'm so sorry Ichigo, but it looks like your father has kicked the bucket." Standing in the opposite end the room was none other than Gin Ichimaru with his signature grin on his face. Ichigo gave fierce glare in his direction, but then his face was horror stricken once more. Gin was holding his Zanpakutō in its released form, Shinsō, holding it up so that blade was in horizontal position. There, stabbed through his Zanpakutō, were burning and bloodied bodies of his little sisters, Yuzu and Karin.

"Why? Why didn't you save us Ichigo? Where were you?" the body Karin spoke to her brother in a lifeless monotonous voice. "Why weren't you here? Why didn't you save dad? You were supposed to protect us," Yuzu's body spoke after Karin in the same lifeless manner.

Ichigo felt the stinging tears in his eyes that had begun to fall to his cheeks as he closed them and held his face down. "Yuzu…Karin…I… I'm sorry!"

Then, as he reopened his eyes, he saw his sisters consumed by flames as their bodies begun to turn into nothing but ash falling to the floor.

At that sight, he broke. His eyes now lifeless and hung his head back emotionless, but eyes wide and teary. Laughter could be heard coming from Aizen as he saw Ichigo's current state. "You see!? You are nothing more than a pathetic human whom is weak and powerless! How can you hope to save anyone and live up to your namesake? Hmm? Well, I no longer have concern for you. Breaking you like this is the ultimate revenge! And speaking of revenge, Grimmjow, I do believe you have score to settle with him."

At hearing that, Grimmjow eyes had dangerous glint in them as he smiled cruelly and chuckled darkly. "Well, Kurosaki. I do believe it's time to show you why I am the king!" Grimmjow smirked evilly as he held Ichigo up with his left hand and pointed his right index finger at his chest. Blue energy formed in the shape of sphere as Grimmjow uttered the name of the attack that would spell Ichigo's doom, "Gran Rey Cero!"

The moment the cero made contact, he found himself lying on the roof of a building. Grimmjow, Gin and Aizen were no longer with him. As his body laid motionless on the roof, his lifeless eyes began to find the strength to look around. He was in city that had appeared to be underwater. This placed seemed familiar to him, as if he had been here before. His eyes slowly widened a few centimeters as he realized that this was his inner world. This was underwater version his hometown that Tensa Zangetsu had told him about.

Slowly getting up, Ichigo began to hear the echoes of footsteps throughout his inner world, and they were getting closer to him. The footsteps coming to halt, Ichigo sensed that the owner of them was currently standing about ten feet behind him. Turning around, Ichigo greeted with the sight of an all-white version of himself. His inner hollow.

His inner hollow had an irritated look on his face at the sight Ichigo. "You know," the entity began, "You're really are pathetic your majesty." His voice dripped with sarcasm at the 'majesty' comment. He began to slowly advance towards Ichigo as he began to speak again, "Ichigo, you want power? Right? HA! You had power before, but you threw it away and now you're in this pitiful state!" Ichigo's doppelganger then grabbed him by his shirt and pulled a now tattered section that was originally intact away. "Just look at what happened to not only your friends and family, but yourself," Hollow Ichigo revealed a hole in Ichigo's chest as a result from Grimmjow's Gran Rey Cero, "You see what happens now when you're powerless? And you still want to protect your friends and family like this? The very thought is absurd! Without power you can't protect any of them, let alone yourself!"

Ichigo tried to struggle out his hollow's grip, but to no avail. "You-!? Where the hell is Zangetsu!?" The hollow gave him a questioning look before replying, "Zangetsu? Don't you remember? You sacrificed him to take out Aizen. Not that he's gone for good. He is a part your soul after all. As am I."

The hollow entity of himself then smirked as he let Ichigo free. "And with me being the dominant source of your power, and you in your helpless state," just then a sharp pain erupted from the hole in Ichigo's chest, "Now I can be in control!" His hollow doppelganger let out a psychotic roar of laughter.

Ichigo hunched forward and held his chest in pain as he screamed. Protruding from the hole in chest was a white substance that Ichigo knew all to well. He was hollowfying.

His hands became claws and tufts red fur grew from his wrists, ankles and collarbone. He could feel the white substance begin to take form on his face. It was turning into a hollow mask, and Ichigo found all of his emotions filled with pain and misery. It made him want to kill and devour the souls of humans to fill the emptiness in his heart.

As the white substance continued its advance on his face, the images of his dead family and friends flashed through his mind once more before it took on the full form of a mask.

A fully hollowfied Ichigo then let out powerful roar.

Ichigo let out a startled scream as he shot out of bed. His eyes were wide, his breathing was heavy and his heart was racing. He had just experienced another nightmare. He was getting these ever since he, in his powerless state, learned of his friends' injuries from fighting hollows and remembering how dangerous creatures they were, and when said friends distanced themselves from him. And with the fact that he couldn't do anything to help them made him a mess as 'what if thoughts' filled his mind.

Ichigo raised a hand to his face he tried to calm his breathing. Though these nightmares did happen often, they didn't happen all the time. They mainly only happened when he found his friends were going out to hunt down hollows or they tried to hide spiritually related subjects and matters from him. The catalyst for this nightmare must've been caused by the demon attack from yesterday. He thought for sure that he would end up as demon food, and all because he couldn't even do anything in his current state.

After successfully calming down, he decided to think away from the subject and focus on something else. His mind was then filled with thoughts from the talk with his grandfather last night. The very thought that he was a descendent of a devil of all things was something that just seemed out this world to him. Yet he experienced an encounter with devils just yesterday to prove how very real it was.

And here he thought that knew everything about life after experiencing the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. He thought that Soul Society was heaven and Hueco Mundo was purgatory. And if Soul Society was really heaven, then where the hell were all the angels at if devils apparently exist? Do they exist in that royal realm that the spirit king dwells in? And was said spirit king supposed to be a god?

He couldn't make heads or tails about the world anymore. Though he should've learned that when he saw Sajin Komamura for the first time. And when Yoruichi Shihōin turned from a talking cat into a human. A female human at that. Just what the hell were they anyways?

Ichigo let out a long sigh. None of this could've been good for his health, descendent of a demon and death god or otherwise.

Why can't I just have a normal life? He didn't even know why he bothered asking that anymore, what with all that's happened in his life up to this point.

His thoughts on being a descendent of demon blood then invaded his mind. He could obtain all these new powers and get strong again without having to rely on others. And he'd be able to help his friends and family again. His grandfather had told him about his rare encounters with hollows and how he figured he must've been able to see them due to their bringing his eyes up in questions with how he could see them before he did away with them.

I guess it's a perk having demon blood in one's veins. And my blood didn't even 'awaken,' until yesterday. So perhaps I can see the dead again. And if I learn how to use these powers… He pondered on the thought of getting power again. If could just get gramps to teach me…

If it meant he didn't have worry about his friends and family from the threat of hollows again, then it would be worth learning how to tap into his newly found demon powers.

He would have to ask his grandfather to teach him at some point during his stay.

He glanced at the clock saw that it was 9:34 AM. At that, Ichigo got out of bed and prepared to start the new day.

Back in Japan in a town called 'Karakura,' two individuals conversed with one another in a building known as 'Urahara Shop.'

"Well this should throw a wrench in their plans," said none other than Kisuke Urahara as he conversed with Isshin Kurosaki from across the table both were seated at.

Isshin nodded his head in agreement, "Hmm, yeah. Though I assume they're going to get to him sooner or later. And Soul Society is going to want to take advantage of the meeting of them both." Isshin replied, referring to Ginjō and Ichigo's eventual meeting. "Also, it seems that my son had taken his combat pass with him. Though I don't believe it was intentional on his part. If I know my son, and he's really serious about getting better, he'll most likely ditch it somewhere. That'll throw both the Gotei 13 and former substitute's plans through a loop."

Kisuke nodded in agreement on the likelihood of it, "Agreed. That'll complicate things for so called 'Xcution' group and make the Soul Society unable track Ichigo down properly. Although, both will find him eventually. Well, the former substitute will at least since he actually has business with Ichigo. So long as Ichigo doesn't possess his badge, the Gotei 13 will have no way knowing of his encounter with the substitute."

"Yeah, but that's only if we give them the opportunity to get to Ichigo. With them not knowing of his whereabouts, we can confront them and be rid of the threat altogether." Replied Isshin.

"True," said Kisuke, "Though we'll need to find them first. Their good at hiding their spiritual pressure. Anyway, on a side note, I'm nearly finished with the device to give Ichigo his spirit energy back. We'll get his friends to pour their spirit energy in it to give to Ichigo, leaving the Gotei 13 out of it."

Isshin nodded his head, "Good. They don't need invade in his life like that. He's done more than enough for them, he shouldn't need to act as bait for the lost substitute shinigami as well. Besides, as a former Captain of the Gotei 13 and as his father, I feel I should be the one responsible for telling him the truth about the badge. I've been lying to him for so long now… What kind of father am I? I may have had good reasons for doing so, but seventeen months ago is when I should have came clean with him. The next time I see him, I'm going to tell him everything myself. Even about his mother being a Quincy and the truth behind her death."

Kisuke's eyes widened slightly in surprise, "You sure you're ready to tell him about that Isshin?"

Isshin closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them again and donned a positive, yet serious, look. "Yes, I'm sure. He's plenty more mature than you think. Besides, it's about time he learned the truth."

Kisuke gave Isshin a look of understanding, "Well, you are his father. Alright then."

And with that, the two began to conclude their meeting. Unbeknownst to both of them, Xcution was already on to Ichigo being in America. They just needed know where in America he was before they could advance on him.

A smiled graced Dante's features as he gazed upon the money in the silver briefcase he just received. Now he could pay off his debt to the pizza parlor… And the property damage bills he sometimes gets from his clients…

It was a rare thing for him to get paid properly after a job. Although he wasn't very pleased about how the last one went down.

With a smirk, Dante looked up from his newly earned payment to his long time chubby liaison and broker, Enzo Ferino. "Well, it looks like we've hit big this time my pudgy friend."

Adjusting his hat, the frames of his black shades gave flash of light reflection as he gave a toothy smirk and spoke in a thick Brooklyn accent, "Hehe, yeah! You can say that again! Now I can pay off my debt to Rodin! Now I won't have to hear him bitch about paying again!"

A nostalgic look adorned Dante's face as he spoke, "Ah, Rodin. It's been awhile since I had any useless, or at least I believe, Devil Arms to sell him to earn some cash. How's he holding up?"

Enzo waved at the question, "Ah, still talking in a deep voice and makin' game quotes to sound cool as always. And makin' me pay for the damn orders of that damned witch…" The last sentence he mumbled to himself, though Dante still caught wind of it.

"Oh yeah, your other partner. So, how's she treating you? I'm not familiar with her." Dante had heard about her, though never met her.

Enzo's face immediately grimaced at the question regarding her, "Meh… That damn witch is gonna get me killed someday. Like you I may look a little younger than my actual age – albeit, not as younger looking and, unlike you, my appearance is most likely solely on luck – but my hair is all gray that's just dyed black to make me look younger. And I'm thinning on the top of head! She even wrecked my car I just bought during all that humpty dumpty shit that happened a month ago!"

Dante simply stared at his chubby partner, "You have my sympathies."

At that, Enzo let out a sigh, "It's appreciated Dante... Now then, if you'll excuse me, I'm on my way to pay off my debt to Rodin." And with being said, Enzo made his way out of the shop.

Just moments after Enzo took his leave, Ichigo had come down the stairs, "Hey there gramps."

With those words spoken, Dante turned to grandson. "And just what have I told you about calling me old?"

Ichigo let out an annoyed sigh, "Fine, Dante then…" And with that made his way over to the fridge for something cool to drink. As he opened the door, he thought his nose must've fallen off. And if it hadn't, then the foul smell must have been so powerful that the senses of his nose had instead got killed off from it as Ichigo jerked back with his hands covering his nostrils.

"Sweet hell! What in the name of Aizen is in that damn thing!?" Ichigo screamed as he tried to fan the smell away from his nose.

Dante stared at Ichigo with a mixture of sheepishness and amusement. Damn, I forgot to clean the fridge out while I was cleaning before he came here. … … …Who in the hell is Aizen?

Ichigo, using his shirt as a substitute gas-mask, began an inspection of the fridge. What he saw bewildered him. Between sour milk, moldy pizza and other gone bad products, it looked like some animal had crawled in there and died, though it was probably just rotten meat. He shut the door and turned to glare at Dante, "Just why in the hell is the fridge like this!? Do you honestly eat this crap!? Damn! The concept of hygiene must be lost upon you! You'll get cockroaches this way!"

Dante resisted the urge to groan. Not only was someone else lecturing him about the state of his shop, but he was going to be stuck living with him. And that meant he would likely get a scolding about this on a regular basis.

Deciding to change the subject, Dante looked to Ichigo with a serious expression. Dante had wanted to talk to him about this since yesterday, "Well now, I think it's a good idea to teach you a thing or two about demons."

And with that, the fridge and its terrible state was lost from Ichigo's mind as his face turned from a disgusted one into a determined one. "I'm listening."

Dante nodded his head, "And more importantly," Dante added as Ichigo looked at him curiously, "When are you gonna get a coat and become stylish like yours truly?"

There was dead silence in the atmosphere with what Dante had said as Ichigo stared at him, both of their serious expressions unchanged, and moments later, Ichigo uttered out in confusion, "What?"

Both of them were currently oblivious to the Phantom Baby spying on them from the ceiling.

"Hmm, so he is the one…" a dark three eyed entity spoke as he watched through the eyes of the Phantom Baby. Deciding he had seen enough, the demon emperor closed off the telepathic link and pondered on the great grandson of his most hated traitor.

Just by looking at him, Mundus was able to tell what kind of person he was. He had much of Vergil within him, though he hadn't become power drunk like him. And this one was still much ignorant of the demon world. That meant he'd be able mold the child anyway he wanted regarding demons. However, he was with that accursed Dante. He more than likely already told the child about the emperor himself and about Sparda. That already made it impossible to have him on their side without brainwashing him.

Hmph. What a pity. He would have made a fine devil. Well, I suppose he could make for decent replacement for Vergil. He was a powerful little slave before Dante killed him, Mundus thought to himself.

Unless he could find a way to brainwash him and make him his slave like Vergil, this 'Ichigo' would be better off for Mundus and his legions if were assassinated. But he'll hold off for now. At the moment he had plans for the human world to take care of and the boy was no threat. And he was also interested in seeing how this child would develop as Dante would more than likely teach him how to tap into his demon power. The emperor could sense the blood of the dead and the Quincy through his veins. Killing him could wait.

The next day, in Karakura Town Japan, a tall half Mexican half Japanese high-school student named Yasutora Sado, known by his friends as 'Chad,' ignored his teacher and kept looking at the only empty desk in the classroom. Ichigo Kurosaki's desk. He's been absent from school for quite a few days now and Chad wasn't the only one to take notice.

Orihime Inoue had also cast worried glances over to the empty desk. It wasn't like Ichigo to miss a few days of school in a row like this without at least telling them. If he was sick he'd normally let them know, not to mention with his father being a doctor, he was never sick for long.

Even Tatsuki Arisawa, a childhood friend of Ichigo whom he became distant with after the death of his mother, appeared a little worried.

Something that bothered Chad was that the only friends of Ichigo who didn't seem to be concerned were Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima. Another thing that bothered him that he took notice of was that when taking attendance, the teacher didn't even bother with Ichigo. It was as if the teacher knew in advance he was going to be absent. The teacher didn't even ask anyone of his friends to bring him his schoolwork.

Chad already knew something was up and so he called a group meeting on the school roof during lunch break.

When lunch had started, all of Ichigo's friends were assembled on the roof. Keigo and Mizuiro, knowing full well about the reason for Ichigo's absence, were feeling nervous for when everyone else learned the truth.

"All right then, we all know why we're here. It's about Ichigo's sudden disappearance from school," said Uryū as he adjusted his glasses.

"Yeah, just where the hell is that bastard at anyway?" said Tatsuki who was a little irritated on the matter.

"That wasn't very nice Tatsuki," scolded Orihime. She was worried about her crush, Ichigo, as well. Perhaps more so than everyone else was over him.

"This isn't like him at all. Something's not right about this," spoke Chad, Ichigo's best friend.

Uryū nodded his head in agreement, "Yeah, I think I may check up with his family after school to see just what's going on with him." Although neither Ichigo nor Uryū would ever admit it, they were friends. And Ichigo's sudden disappearance concerned him.

Orihime nodded with a stern look on her face, "Yeah! And I'm going ask around the other students to see if they know anything either!" Orihime then turned to her best friend, Tatsuki, "Will you help me Tatsuki?"

Tatsuki gave her friend nod of approval, "Sure thing Orihime! You know don't need to ask. And besides," she smiled wicked and evil as she held her fist up, "When I find that bastard I'm going to beat the crap out of him for this Houdini act!"

Orihime went out into panic at the declaration of her friend where as Uryū and Chad simply sweat dropped at that. Mizuiro however shifted uncomfortably and Keigo broke out into a cold sweat, both worried more over their own health than Ichigo when Tatsuki found out the truth.

The whole reason they didn't even tell them about Ichigo heading out to America to temporarily stay with his grandfather was because Ichigo told them not to. He said that it was a way for him to figure out how much they still value their friendship with him because of how distant they became.

Keigo and Mizuiro were the only ones that didn't distance themselves from him and didn't hide any spiritual related subjects from him. Though there were barely any matters involving them anyway, and if there were, it usually just about seeing plus souls. Nothing like hollows or shinigami.

"Keigo, Mizuiro," both turned to look at Uryū, who gave them both a cold stare, "The two of you never showed any concern over Ichigo's disappearance and have been more nervous than worried about Ichigo during our little meeting here. I can tell you two know something and are hiding it. Now why don't you two spill it out for us?" Uryū accused them, and in turn, brought the attention of the others to them.

Orihime and Chad stared at them in confusion while Uryū and Tatsuki glared at them.

Both Mizuiro and Keigo, who was sweating bullets at this point, glanced at one another, knowing full well it was time to come clean, all while both them cursed the four eyes within their minds.

Turning back to their friends, Keigo gave a small fearful laugh while Mizuiro swallowed a lump in his throat, both fearful of the wrath of Tatsuki and Uryū. Though mostly Tatsuki.

"Well, you see," began Mizuiro, "It's like this…"

And thus concludes this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it.