Memories of a Broken Soul

Chapter 15: Tears and Wallow; Pride and Joy

Yaho!

Hello there, I am back!! So I was able to find the time to start a new chapter on a rainy, almost snowy day in the beginning of March! Let's just hope I actually finish this chapter and not leave it half ways and finish it in December jajajaja.

So onto the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own bleach nor it's characters. I simply enjoy manipulating them to do as I please.

#15#

"What do you mean it's Kuchiki Ginrei?!" exclaimed the youngest Shiba.

Ichigo looked at his little brother slightly taken aback as he rose an eyebrow in surprise. Shunsui and Jūshirō also looked shocked which had him thinking that nobody had noticed any particular detail either.

"Well," Ichigo began "first of all, I had on good sources that Gen was working with some of the Kuchiki higher ups. Another curious thing is the blade this assassin is using." He explained "Every clan has its particular attributes and things that identify them. One of those things is the blades the guards use. This one-" he pointed towards the one on the assassin's hip "-is a Kuchiki blade."

"How were we supposed to know that? We're not history freaks like you Ichi!" reasoned Shunsui as he pointed at the orange haired man that was staring at him impassively.

"That's not all you idiot." Ichigo fought back as he crossed his arms over his chest "The clothing is a traditional Kuchiki garment and the attacks used as well. At least for this guy, I don't know anything about the rest of the assassins that were trailing after Wataru."

"They weren't from the Kuchiki clan." Interrupted a voice from the ground.

As a whole, they all turned down to look at the black clothed figure that was awakening. He was struggling to sit up on his own and was trying to look as harmless as possible.

"Hey don't move you scum!" threatened Wataru, his posture defensive as he placed his hand on his Katana.

"Relax Wataru-chan, he's not about to attack us. Right, Kuchiki-san?" inquired Ichigo with a raised eyebrow

"Of course not Shiba-san." Answered the other curtly as he lowered his disguise and revealed mid-night black hair framing a youthful face with distinctive Kuchiki features, a couple of Kenseikan decorating the left side of his silky strands as his gray eyes glistened. "But I must say that I am shocked you knew who I was."

Ichigo gave a slightly crooked smile as he crossed his arms over his chest "I knew it was a Kuchiki, narrowing down the candidates was easy once you take into consideration your skill level. You would have gotten away if I hadn't surprised you."

The young Kuchiki nodded in understanding "I was not expecting the Kido, much less an altered version of it."

Jūshirō slightly perked up at this as he turned to look at Ichigo "Oh, so you really did succeed this time." His smile brightened with pride "No wonder the Kido surrounding him was weird."

Ichigo merely nodded slightly as he instinctively straightened up with his own bit of pride. He turned slightly towards the Kuchiki to give a slight glower that barely fazed the other outwardly –Ichigo could only hope to guess how he was really faring.

Damn Kuchiki masks.

"Tell me everything." He demanded, his tone even with an underlying threat barely concealed "Everything you know, names, places, events, information."