Unknown

Unknown

07:

North Rokungai, District 70 has always been the picture of misery. Ichigo knew that even before he came to look for Death's Master. The greater the distance of the district from the Seiretei, the more chaos there are in the place due to not being closely guarded by shinigamis.

Though he knew that, it wasn't really something that he had thought much on his previous future-timeline. He knew it as fact especially with Kenpachi as his sparring partner and friend and as his status as shinigami even when he was technically still alive. He just never really imagined how much misery a place like this can be.

He should have.

And Kenpachi lived even further than where they currently are. Sure, he was sarcastic and crass as hell, loves battle fiercely and oftentimes displays bloodthirsty violence that he unleashes whenever he liked, has little self-control and has an enormous amount of reiatsu, but he is okay overall.

Once he personally knew and had knowledge and experience living in this district, the talks he heard in his previous future-timeline became real. He found himself recalling every rumors and talk he knew from his friends.

It wasn't much, even from Kenpachi.

He could now understand how his friend could turn out like that. He was even surprised Kenpachi could have self-control at all, and damn impressed.

He always felt guilty not doing anything about this part of Rokungai whenever he walked around. The only thing he could and had ever done was help the people he encountered as much as he could without gaining much attention, especially when they clearly needed it.

He would have done more if he could. Perhaps make sure that the people inside Seiretei would pay attention to the poor and underdeveloped district. But he cannot afford to.

He didn't want to be known much in this timeline especially when he have his own mission to do and Harry depending on him for his protection.

He's not saying that Harry couldn't take care of himself because he can, that much he perfectly knew. Not only has Harry have a perfectly good control on his reiatsu - more so than him even - he also has that secondary energy within him.

Of course, let's not forget Death. Harry might as well be the deadliest person he knows in the entire universe. He is not blind to Harry's strength.

It's just that he isn't sure if Harry would even protect himself within his full capacity because he has such a... careless thought on his life. Despite that overwhelming power in his grasp and formidable allies willing to help him, he didn't think Harry would even think nor call to use them. He is afraid that he'd just let himself be taken in.

But that was before.

Now, with Harry willing to at least live (he could say that with confidence given that he is actually now willing to get out of that damnable cave), he doesn't have that crippling worry and fear. Yes, he still worries as he considers Harry as his younger brother even though he knows that the other is a few hundred years older than him, but it's not that heavy anymore, not that overwhelming. It lingers but it doesn't distract him as much as it had before.

Looking at the decrepit place just below Harry's cave house that others seem to not see as no one looked or even ventured in, he was struck with a thought.

Harry, with his physical appearance, would attract attention the second he stepped in there. Despite being a boy, his somewhat delicate stature coupled with his almost aristocratic and attractive face, it would certainly be a great lure for those people who think they owned the district.

Harry would seem to be the perfect prey for them.

Why didn't I immediately think of that? He thought to himself furiously. He had been badgering Harry to go out yet he hadn't even thought about complications that will undoubtedly arise once it did happen.

"Harry, you sure you'll be okay going down?" he couldn't help but ask again just to be sure. He kind of want him to say no but at the same time, if Harry did answer with that, he'd be disappointed and would wander later if Harry would ever go out again.

Then he'd think it's his fault. So when Harry nodded, he felt both relieved and disappointed on equal amounts.

Get a grip Kurosaki Ichigo! Harry has resolve now. He's okay. If he's not, if he ever has a relapse, you'll be there. It's not as if you won't protect him.

"Yes." Harry simply said, gaze still looking down at the city below. "Besides, I won't be alone..." he looked at him, gaze suddenly uncertain. "Right?"

"Of course!" he immediately responded. There is no way in hell he would leave Harry alone. Not only would he have gray hairs thinking about Harry's well-being, Death would kill him if he ever knew he had left his master alone when his mind still isn't... that okay.

There is also his family who seem protective of him. He doesn't know what they would do to him, especially when they are the very particles that surrounds the entire Soul Society.

"Then it's going to be okay." he saw Harry look below again and seeing him gulping down in nervousness made his feet move until he was once again beside the teen. He held his hands firmly on his. Harry gave him a smile and they began walking down.

. . . . .

"Why is everything so... dreary here?" Harry asked uncertainly, voice considerably lowered down as he looked all around him. Ichigo sighed. Should he have told Harry about the situation of the place where his home was situated? Maybe that way he would be prepared. But it honestly escaped his mind. With all of the things that had been taking his attention, it's not that hard to imagine he would forget about it.

There so, after all, much more important things in his mind than District 70's current situation, no matter how sorry he was to think like that.

Also, despite how much he had tried to convince Harry to get out of that cave of his, he really hadn't expected he would agree just like that, and without any more prompting from him. He had half thought he was dreaming when he did. It's a little startling, but a welcome relief.

"We are in District 70 Harry. This place, all the way to District 80 is pretty much like the slums on Earth. There's not much order in this place." He explained even as he held Harry's hand on his and stared straight ahead while still looking around for people who would be a danger to his little brother.

He saw Harry grimacing from the corner of his eye. "Why is that?"

"They are too far away from Seiretei and Shinigami's usually don't come here unless there is Hollow activity."

"Hollow?" Harry asked in confusion. It was now Ichigo's turn to grimace. Did Death really left his master that unaware?

Wait, was Harry really unaware of things he should have known about this place? He had already accepted the fact that Harry really did not venture out of his cave upon settling inside it but he thought he was at least aware of everything. Especially as he is Death's master.

Or maybe Death did not deem it important to tell Harry about things in Soul Society unless Harry himself asked? Because whatever danger that came to his master, he would personally deal with?

... That's possible. He had to remember that Death is not a human or a soul. He is an entity. An entity that is fully committed to his job as well as his chosen Master.

"They are the human spirits left too long on Earth without the proper burial from the Shinigamis. They turn into Hollows as their hearts were destroyed." It was a short explanation and he was pretty sure Harry's unsatisfied with it judging by his lightly frowning face, but he really could not explain much while they were there in the open.

"How could their hearts be destroyed when they are pretty much a spirit already?" Harry continued asking. Ichigo sighed again. He could already feel that his big brother complex - as was what Yuzu and Karin often called his overprotectiveness - is quickly developing with Harry being like that. Not that he minded.

It's nice to be needed once again.

"I'll tell you later when we return," he compromised. Harry readily nodded and continued looking around the place, occasionally holding his hand tightly when someone looks at him with a leer, making him in turn glare at said person.

If they did come with full intentions of hurting Harry in any way he would kill them, no questions asked. He was already holding back with just them looking at Harry like that.

He recognized that his overprotectiveness with Harry would probably be worse than he was even to his sisters and friends and even though he knew Harry most certainly didn't need it - what with his two source of power, even he hadn't used his reiatsu yet and Death as his sort of guardian - he could not help feeling like that. He just brings out that feeling within him.

Thankfully, no one got close to them. It probably has to do with him releasing a little amount of killing intent when someone finally had the guts to block them even with the glare he gave them. Those who hadn't been put off by the KI was immediately disposed of. He would have killed them had Harry not intervened, apparently not wanting him to kill in front of him. Lucky for them.

They were still pretty much looking around, Harry now loosening up his hold on his hands a little as he continued looking around. Ichigo felt a little sad that Harry couldn't see beautiful sights for his first time out of that cave. District 70 isn't anything to look at after all. Still, Harry looked kind of content as his eyes oftentimes had that enlightened glint.

He looked to have at least remembered and recognized some of the stuff they had walked in. That's good. He wondered for how long Harry stayed in that cave. When did he die? The clothes he prefers to use that Death often brings to them looked to be a fashion back in his own time. Only his was just a decades older. The way he talks also sounded normal, without that ancient use of words.

Was he perhaps in the same timeline as his? Or closer? Well, he was pretty sure Harry would tell him when he finally settles in.

. . . . .

It was obvious Harry has a soft spot for kids. Upon spying two identical kids running towards them, both looking emaciated and clearly hungry as they both held onto a two long bread while being chased by an angry looking vendor, he gave him a pleading look that he immediately understood.

Ichigo knew and understood why Harry wanted him to catch those kids. He smiled at him while shaking his head, amused at how Harry could do the famous puppy-dog eyes devastatingly without even trying hard before he did it quickly and efficiently.

The two kids struggled at his grasp even though it was obvious his grasp on them was secure.

"Let us go!" they both shouted frantically as they saw the vendor they were stealing from almost upon their reach. He saw one of the brats about to kick him in his groin area and appropriately evaded. It was a little tricky but manageable. He then gave the brats a glare. The two of them glared in return.

He wasn't really that angry though, not when he could see from the corner of his eye how Harry tried to stifle his laughter. Also, the brats had perfectly good common sense. That area is the most vulnerable of pretty much everyone's body. Even a female would feel pain being kicked there. If he hadn't seen it coming, he would be hurting right now he was sure. For that, he could say he was impressed.

If grudgingly. He did stop them from escaping when they didn't even do anything to them. Besides, they did not know what they wanted with them hence they were perfectly well within their rights to protect themselves.

"Don't worry, we won't hurt you," Harry said earnestly as he leaned in and gave the two a warm look, green eyes wide. The twins' eyes widened before they noticeably blushed. Ichigo resisted the urge to smirk.

"You thieves! I'll make sure you rot in a cell! Or maybe Wolfram would need boys like you as his servants!" The vendor - whom they all momentarily forgot - then tried to grab the two kid's flailing hands when Harry suddenly held onto the Vendor's reaching hand. He frowned in surprise as he turned to stare at the owner of the hand.

"Mister, you take the bread and I'll take the kids," Harry said while giving him said pieces of bread. The vendor looked about ready to protest even as he gave Harry a considering look, lingering on his face and body, eyes slowly glazing in lust. He poisonously glared at the other, his killing intent rising in his ire.

"Leave," he demanded angrily when the vendor snapped his attention at him, his knees noticeably wobbling. He did not care. The vendor shakily took the pieces of bread and immediately ran away from there as if he was chased by Hollows themselves.

"What are you going to do to us?" one of the kids warily asked, staring at them, especially at him in distrust.

Harry didn't speak and just looked at him.

"Let's return Ichigo." Before he can say anything though, Harry extended both his hand on the two boy's head and both of them immediately fell asleep. He stared at Harry in surprise. "Come on."

"You sure?"

"Yes. I have enough wandering around for today." Harry then gave a small but genuine smile as he then took one of the kid and held him like he was just holding a baby. Ichigo blinked.

He would have thought Harry would have trouble carrying one of the kid. He really should have known by now never to underestimate Harry.

. . . . .

Harry looked on at the backs of the twin boys they had helped earlier (named Kai and Rei without last names) while he was sitting at the opened entrance of the cave as they descended back to the City below carrying the basket of foods he gave them, feeling satisfied with what he did. Helping them seem to have given him a little warmth at least.

"Why didn't you just told them you're giving them food?" Ichigo asked him from behind.

"They won't believe us and would try their best to escape. They won't probably even touch the food we give them." Street kids do not trust anyone who acted kind towards them, at least that was what he knew. Though he could not remember where and how he knew that.

"And abducting them like that is better?"

"They ate right?" Even if they did stare at them suspiciously and didn't eat, not until Ichigo and I ate first. "Besides, I didn't do anything bad to them," he then shrugged unconcernedly. Ichigo sighed heavily even as he came beside him and ruffled his hair. Harry couldn't help but lean into the warmth his companion naturally give off.

He's like his personal heater. It's the reason he liked cuddling with the other and is comfortable with his presence.

"You need to learn basic common sense, Harry." He just hummed at that. He knew that he had been inside the cave for probably a couple of years. He hadn't counted the time he had stayed but the hints Death left him whenever he visited pretty much told him that. Also, Ichigo was pretty adamant he at least leave his cave for some time as he was apparently living there for what seemed like decades, probably even more.

Ichigo did not know and Death did not say. Not that it mattered to him really.

He doesn't like human contact, even before he died. He didn't even touch those two kids anymore even after he laid the one he had carried onto the bed immediately upon arrival and just gave them food to survive along with an invitation to come should they need anything else. But Ichigo's presence was pretty much engraved into his senses. Like Death, the other gave him a feeling of safety. It's reassuring. He only has a few people that he trusts in this new world. Ichigo, Death (who isn't even a person, more like an entity) and his family (which was now a reishi and doesn't have a physical body).

He doesn't want them out of his life.

. . . . .

From then on, Harry had been going out of the cave a couple of times, of course with him following. He wasn't about to let Harry be alone in his travels when they were in this District, even he always had company in his reishi family.

The people there pretty much already knew about Ichigo beforehand as he was a constant presence, but now they knew Harry as Ichigo's reclusive yet fragile younger brother and never did anything with Harry as Ichigo pretty much rages when something does spook the other.

The kids that Harry helped and practically adopts came from number two to ten after a while. It was like Harry was taking in stray animals, but in this case, its stray kids. The only thing he hadn't done was take them to his cave and let them live there. Ichigo just lets Harry do whatever he wanted just to see that small smile on his lips while making sure there was order in District 70 so that Harry won't have to be spooked every time he visits.

Harry didn't only help the kids though. He also helped others. He didn't discriminate, he just went ahead and helped those who needed it while doing as little touching as possible. The main thing he does is healing, offering it to those who are sick without asking for any payment.

Ichigo still remembered how Harry, his still shaky little brother who shies away from other's touch commanded the bleeding gang members who were rioting because of perceived gang territories to sit or lie down so he could heal them.

"Don't butt in other's business missy. Though with your looks, you can come to my territory. I'll make sure we will treat you right."

He was furious hearing those. Sure, it wasn't the first time he ever heard others say things like that with his little brother but he won't ever calm down just because of it. Before he even managed to move however, the man suddenly went down and he saw Harry's green eyes blazing furiously.

"If you want to die, just tell me and I'll do it as painfully as possible." It was then Ichigo felt the aura Harry was releasing was similar to an enraged Death. Dark, cold and encompassing. It was no wonder really that everyone behaved suddenly and allowed him to treat them even as he scolded them viciously, his shy and skittish demeanor temporarily gone.

Harry had come a long way from being the skittish person to someone gaining a lot of confidence. Though his aversion to touch was still there. He didn't think that'd stop though as it already looked like a part of Harry's personality.

Before he knew it, District 70 now have a recognized government with Harry as the leader and him as the right hand.

A feat Ichigo didn't know could happen in this district.

. . . . .

A/N:

Sorry guys, it took *counting*… nine months for me to finish this. I wasn't concentrating on my fics really. I just gave limited amount of time. Also, I didn't feel like writing anything for a loooong time.

Here it is. What do you think?

PS. Anyone want to give suggestions on how the Shiba's would approach the two? What would Ichigo do? Harry? I would now be contemplating on the next scenes… hmm… again, any suggestion?