With a Silent Step

The afternoon was stretching out into an eternal day of boredom. True to Shiro's word, the instant Ichigo returned to full control of her body, he looked down in horror at the clothes, and bolted for her bedroom, returning a short time later in baggy sweat pants, and a muscle shirt that clung, but wasn't nearly as feminine as the pink thing Shiro had picked out.

The motley group were lounging around the house, each engaged in his or her own activities; Urahara and Yoruichi were gathered at the table still, reminiscing, and Shinji was sprawled across the couch watching TV. Ichigo was sitting atop the roof, looking around benignly at the city she protected, and Ishida was sitting on the porch, looking benignly up at the girl he adored.

After the sun settled behind the trees, Ichigo jumped down from the roof, landing easily on her feet. She looked up, surprised to see Ishida still sitting outside.

"You're still here?" she asked, and pulled the strap out of her pocket for her hair. Ishida was vaguely amused to see her still using the piece he'd cut off of Zangetsu's wrapping, though whether or not she used it because he'd cut it, or because it belonged to her zanpakutou was anyone's guess.

"It's boring inside," he offered, realizing she was still waiting on an answer. He started to get up, but she surprised him by sitting down next to him. He settled back down into a comfortable position as she drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

After a long moment of silence, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes, and he was embarrassed to have been caught watching her.

"...Uryuu," she said, breaking the quiet a moment later. Cicadas were humming, and the fireflies were beginning their nightly ritual. A car passed by, it's headlights briefly illuminating them in the fading light and had completely vanished by the time she spoke again. "Do you think I'll ever turn back into a guy again?"

He was still stunned that she'd used his first name, and it took him several long moments to gather his wits around him again. "Of course, Ichigo. It won't be long now. Urahara's smart, he'll figure something out."

Another silence stretched between them.

Finally, a quiet "I hope so."

"Of course I'll figure something out, Kurosaki-kun!" Urahara boomed from behind them. Ishida nearly fell off the porch in surprise, but Ichigo turned and eyed him critically. Urahara offered her his best optimistic smile in return. Shinji stepped outside behind him, looking around.

"I was wondering where you two lovebirds had gotten off to," he said smugly. "Enjoying the sunset together?"

Whatever sarcastic remark Ichigo had been preparing to deliver was cut off by a cold voice from the yard.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, you are under arrest for violating the rules of Soul Society!"

The five looked into the darkening night, only to see Hitsugaya and Komamura step into the circle of illumination cast by the porch light, zanpakutou drawn and ready. Ichigo jumped to her feet defensively, and stared the diminutive captain down.

"I'm what?" she demanded incredulously. "I was wrongly imprisoned for being kidnapped by a guy none of you knew was going to go nuts until he was already gone! Why the hell should I be arrested?"

Hitsugaya's eyes were like chips of ice set into his face. "Come with us peacefully or by force; we don't care. Our only mission is to return you to Soul Society for trial." Komamura shifted his attention to those gathered behind her, and Ichigo risked a look. Two zanpakutou and a spiritual bow were drawn before three sets of identical fierce expressions. Ichigo sized up the situation, and quickly made a decision.

"I'll go with you," she said, and darted forward before any of them could make a grab for her. Komamura sheathed his sword as Hitsugaya grabbed her arm. The next thing she saw was his fist flying towards her, and she braced for an impact that didn't come. Looking down, she found herself in her shihakusho, her body lying crumped on the ground behind her. Hitsugaya removed the glove he wore with the skull and flame design on the back, tucking it into his shihakusho, and took her arm roughly, yanking her into motion.

She suddenly understood how Rukia had felt when faced with the choice between going peacefully with her brother and best friend, or watching them kill him. When she realized that Urahara, Shinji, and Ishida were willing to take on the two captains on her behalf, her first and only thought had been their safety. Komamura opened the gate, and three hell butterflies drifted out to escort them back. Ichigo risked a look back, and saw Urahara looking at her sadly, Shinji with an indescribable expression, and Ishida cradling her lifeless body to his chest. The sight caused her heart to contract painfully, and their eyes met for a split second as he looked up at her.

I'll be back, she promised silently, and was nearly jerked off her feet by Hitsugaya's ungentle shove.

"Walk, Kurosaki," he said sternly, and she lifted her chin and walked proudly between the open doors. They slammed shut behind her, and the immediate sensation that assailed her was a familiar dizziness.

"Something's wrong," she gasped out. Komamura simply looked at her curiously, and Hitsugaya ignored her entirely.

They had entered Seireitei near the White Tower where Rukia had been imprisoned so many years before. Ichigo staggered as her reiatsu seemed to diminish, but kept her feet, unwilling to fall in front of Hitsugaya again.

As they were crossing the bridge, Hitsugaya finally looked at her with something other than disdain.

"This wasn't my idea," he said quietly. "Yamamoto's orders are law." It was the only apology he offered.

The robed and hooded guards of the white tower* slid the key into the lock, and pushed the doors open. Ichigo was fitted with a red binding collar, and her black robes were removed forcibly by the guards while Hitsugaya stood by, watching impassively as Ichigo allowed herself to be undressed and lead around like a doll. Memories of the last time she'd been to this place flashed through her disoriented brain. Am I gonna be executed over this stupid thing? she wondered vaguely.

Like hell you will, Shirosaki said fiercely. Not even something like this could hold me. I'd get us out and kill anyone who stood in our way.

They shoved her inside, and slammed the door behind her, the click of the lock echoing inside the vast emptiness. Ichigo sank to the floor, hugging herself as the image of her last sight of Ishida - holding her body close to his, hunched over her protectively - flickered through her mind. Does he like me? she wondered, and Zangetsu chuckled.

/The question, Ichigo-kun, is not 'does he like me?' but 'how much does he like me?'/

She climbed to her feet, making her way over to the lone window overlooking a restored sokyoku. How much does Ishida Uryuu like me? she tested it out in her thoughts. How much do I like him?

She reached out to lean against the bleached stone wall, and total chaos erupted.

Spirit particles from all over Seireitei and the Shinigami within began drifting towards the tower. Ichigo realized it had something to do with the band around her wrist, as the particles were all trying to get to it, but she was galvanized to the stone as though by an electric current; something within the stone was reacting to something within the bracelet, and it was simultaneously overwhelming her with reiatsu and draining it all completely out of her body. The last time she'd felt this weak was when Byakuya had cut Rukia's powers out of his body by force and left him bleeding to death on the street.

The influx of spiritual energy was starting to wear on the towers construction, and the entire room shook as sand and spirit particles began to rain down over her head. As she watched, entire buildings dissolved completely into particles of energy and scattered, leaving the shinigami within completely bereft. People were running in all directions, screaming, shouting and adding to the mayhem. Orders were given, ignored. The hierarchy of power was dissolving alongside the structures themselves, and Ichigo found sunlight pouring into the room from a sudden hole in the top of the tower as even it began to succumb to the reiatsu-draining power of the small bracelet tucked around her wrist.

-

Unnoticed and unremarked in the havoc that was occurring all over Soul Society, Kurotsuchi Mayuri stepped into Seireitei and began making his way towards the first division.




-[TBC]-
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO BE. ;e; It is writing itself. I actually have no idea how it's going to end. *shifty eyes* The next chapter comes to me as I sit down to write it, unless it plays itself out when I'm trying to go to sleep. XD
Also, with the exception of Darkephoenix (I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing!) I've been able to guess who the new review is from, based on who's already reviewed. I checked my email, and had a new review, and thought, "Midnight's already reviewed, so has Angel. So this one's gotta be from Anise." Then I opened it, and sure enough, it was. X3
One more thing, story-related, cause I can't figure out how to interject it into the actual plot: Since Shiro and Ichigo are no longer at odds with one another, Shiro's removing her mask and leaving her face hollow-free (except for the eyes) does nothing for her status control.

Replies:
My biggest fan: Run amuck? Through the house? XDD Nah, she's toned down the violence since coming to that agreement with Ichigo about sharing the body. XDD Also, I could never be tired of your continuous praise. I think it's undeserved, but I could never be tired of it.

Angel: For every series I write for, there's always one character for whom the amazing/funny/incredible/horrifying lines and actions always come out perfectly. Shiro seems to be that character in this story. I wasn't kidding when I said she was fun to write. She combines the total hotness and total badass that I love. And I haven't started teaching yet (gotta get through college first) but I'm anticipating many long days of continual looks and praying to my former teachers for the patience they had.

Anise: He certainly is. I have him as the wallpaper on my desktop right now, and I must say, for a somewhat minor character, he's my favourite. XDD He probably dies at the end of Bleach. Or goes away. Or something. I always fall in love with the characters that die. And you have no idea how right you were when you said 'found a way to get him out' because I had absolutely no idea he was even going to get stuck until he actually did. XDD The pitfalls of being a slave to a whimsical muse, I suppose. As for whether it's reversed or stalled, I actually have no idea. *points accusingly to muse* I can only hope that he'll tell me (so I can tell you) when the time for it comes.

Edit several hours later:
*insomnia strikes again*
I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE AND IT IS NOT PLEASANT.
Also coming soon - Het! *gasp!* But it's Ichi/Ishi, so you guys don't mind too much, do you?

*Edit 12-11 (this was started yesterday) What the hell is the name of the white prison tower? I found sokyoku, which is the halberd blade, but what's the prison called?