" I know that the louder one was really upset for having to do the job. And the calmer one sounded younger. Its not much to go on, I'll ask her ."Hoshi said in a whisper. " Dad wanted me to tell you he wants to talk to you after school. He didn't say what about though ." Hoshi had a feeling that it was about those men. " I just hope they have the decency to wait until after my grandma's funeral to talk to my dad. "

"That sounds familiar..." Ichigo said as he tried racking his brain for the names of who he thought they were, but the descriptions were too vague. For all it could be, one of the people wanting to talk to Hoshi's father could be Renji. He shook his head lightly and sighed before hearing what Hoshi said next. "He wants to see me?" He asked, getting a nod from Hoshi. He wondered why...

(timeskip to end of the school day?)

" If I hear them again I'll try to get a look at them. I was sitting in the bushes near the fence , but I was to scared to look. " The bell rang soon after Hoshi said that.

Tetsu had to tell Ichigo to keep Hoshi safe if he had to leave. He knew Isshin would also . He didn't want it come to this . He knew it would be soon that he would have to go back.

((sure. I was also thinking that the Arrancar should attack soon, while Tetsu is away))

((sounds like a great idea! ))
The school day went fast and Hoshi waited for Ichigo. Hoshi also hoped for a chance to talk to Rukia about the men she heard.

Ichigo saw the day fly by, even though he was still wondering about what Tetsu wanted to talk to him about. He shrugged as he heard the final bell ring for the day. Whatever it was couldn't be too bad.

Hoshi got her books in her bag and waited outside the classroom. Her dad had messaged her saying he would be home early today. She also wondered why he wanted to talk to Ichigo. She wondered if it had to do with those men last night.

Ichigo waited for Hoshi outside the gates with a pair of headphones in his ears connected to a music device. He took them out of his ears and put them in a pocket, along with the device as he saw Hoshi making his way towards him. Rukia told him that she had to go back to Soul Society and Tatsuki had a meeting that all presidents of clubs had to attend.

Hoshi caught up with Ichigo at the front gate. "Sorry about taking so long. I wanted to help turn the chairs over for the weekend. Ready to go? " Hoshi said with a small smile . " I should have let you know earlier about my grandma . Too much is happening at once." Hoshi was ready to train tomorrow , she had a feeling she would need to be read for what ever Aizen had planned next.

Ichigo nodded at the first part of her statement, knowing that she always liked doing that for the weekend. He grinned lightly as he had some fond memories of himself and Tatsuki lightly teasing her about it. "It's alright, I understand about everything happening at once," he said, not telling her that he was annoyed about being left out of the loop about her grandmother's death.

Something feels off... he thought to himself and voiced his thoughts to Hoshi as they walked towards her home.

"Would you come to my grandma's funeral on Sunday? I know how much she liked you and Tatsu-chan. I'll ask her tomorrow before we do our training. I agree that something feels off. Even more than it was before. " Hoshi said. " I wonder what dad wants to talk to you about. " They continued to walk towards her house.As they turned down her street , she saw her dad's car in the driveway.

"I wonder as well...and I would be honored to come to give my regards to your grandmother." Ichigo replied as they came towards Hoshi's house. He also saw the car in front of the house.

They arrived at her house and entered. Hoshi took her shoes off and her dad entered the room. " I'm glad that you did come Ichigo." Tetsu said. " When you both are ready , I'll meet you in the kitchen. I want to discuss something important with the both of you." He was going to tell them both that he had decided to testify. After what Hoshi told him this morning, he didn't want her used to get to him. Him going willingly was the only way to keep them from knowing more about her.

Ichigo took his shoes off at the door as well and put his bag next to them so that it was out of the way. "You ready?" he asked. He would wait until she was ready before heading to the kitchen. If she wanted to wait, then so would he. He did, however, wonder if this was connected to the voices that Hoshi heard about earlier. He subtly fingered the badge in his pocket, wishing that he could call on just Zangetsu while in his human body.

"I'm ready ." Hoshi said. She went to the kitchen and saw her dad sitting at the table . Hoshi pulled a chair out for Ichigo before sitting down herself. She was nervous on what he was going to say.

"I'm glad you both are here. You must be wondering if this had to do with voices Hoshi heard this morning. It does. I'm going to the Soul Society to testify in front of the Central 46. They agreed to let me comeback. Only if I help them find away to stop these hollows. I was told I can do this while here on Earth. I will be gone a week starting on Monday. I already had that week off since you kids have the week off because of teacher training. "Tetsu waited to hear Ichigo's reaction. He could tell Hoshi understood he had to this. They would talk later about this though." This is the only way I can ensure they don't use Hoshi to get to me. I know this going to be difficult Hoshi , but I trust you enough to stay here until I get back. They know Hoshi is a shinigami too but understood why she did become one." He knew they both had questions about who it was who talked to him. Tetsu would tell them if either of them asked him.

Ichigo took a seat, muttering a small thanks, knowing that she didn't have to. She noticed that she was a little bit nervous and truth be told, so was he...if only just a little. Once they sat down, both high schoolers listened to Hoshi's father explain everything. Once he was done, Ichigo held back a growl, but mentally he could hear Hichigo telling him to go to Soul Society and let him out to show his displeasure, which still confused him. Why was his hollow side so...protective, for lack of a better word, when it came to his two longtime friends.

However, when he heard Tetsu ask Hoshi to stay here, he instantly saw what Aizen could do with the information. "Wouldn't Hoshi-chan be safer with me, just in case Aizen learns of your absence? If you're not here and she is by herself..." he stated, a grimace on his face as he spoke about it. He didn't like the possibility of it happening but he somehow knew that Aizen would attack the house if Tetsu left. He was certain about that.

"That sounds like a better idea Ichigo. I know she'll be safe with you. Either way I don't think it will stop Aizen from getting to her. I leave early on Monday , so Sunday night Hoshi will go with you after the funeral. I want to ask you both something. Have you noticed anything unusual lately? I was told to ask you this by the shinigami who talked to me today. He also wants to talk to everyone on Wendsday about the strange things that have been happening lately . I'm not sure if you know who talked to me Ichigo . They both seemed to know you. Do you know a Captain Hitstugaya of division 10 and a Lieutenant Abarai of division 6? I thought I would ask you if you did.

Hoshi felt better that she would be with Ichigo. But she still felt something bad might happen while her dad was away. "Those two dad mentioned must have been the ones I heard . "Hoshi felt the tension ease a little. She wasn't as scared now that she knew their names.

"Thanks, and I'll take her home with me after the funeral," Ichigo said as he ignored his Hollow half. Where's the old man when you need him? He'd probably help... he thought to himself quickly, as he kept his ears open to hear the other half of what Tetsu was saying. "I've noticed something that's up. I can't place my finger on it, but it has me jumpy, as if something big is going to happen soon. What that something is though, I haven't the faintest of ideas," He replied, making a mental not to ask Hoshi if she sensed something or saw something in her dreams.

"Shiro-kun and Renji? I know both of them actually...Renji more so than Toushiro," he said, wondering why those two were picked in the first place to either kidnap Hoshi or escort Tetsu to Soul Society. He shrugged mentally to himself, knowing that the question would remain unanswered.

"I'm glad you do . I was told they were reluctant to use Hoshi to get to me. I dont know who suggested it to them. It's nothing to be worried about. Using a family member to get the attention of someone is a rarely used tactic. It's only used in desperate measures. And I have the feeling they were desperate enough to get me to talk. " Tetsu was not happy that they almost used this tactic against him .He hated it had to have come to that. "I've felt it too. It's even been felt in the Soul Society. They know I have a daughter but they dont know Hoshi's name. I am very grateful Ichigo that you and your friends are willing to help keep Hoshi safe. "

Hoshi had dreams lately of vague faces . Some she felt she could trust , others she feared . Especially the faces that looked sort of like hollows. Hoshi couldn't mention those dreams in front of her dad. She was shocked that they used those sort of tactics but from what her dad told het about the Soul Society it remedied her a little of what she had read about feudal Japan . She was glad modern laws weren't like that.

"That makes sense." Ichigo knew that it was a tactic that was only used in desperate times and only back in the older days, then again, Soul Society was situated more along those lines than of today's society. He didn't like it though, but he knew it was there for a reason. "Wait...It's been felt in Soul Society as well? What's going on..." he asked as he thought about asking for his training to be stepped up a notch. He wouldn't like it but he would deal with it.

"You don't have to thank me for looking after Hoshi-chan, Tetsu. We're friends," he said as if that explained everything, and to Ichigo, it really did. He'd rather die than have one of his friends get hurt because of him.

" They don't know what's going on. I have a feeling Aizen has something up his sleeve and is waiting for something to happen . That's just my thought though. I might bring it up if I'm asked. They want my thoughts on what happened because I saw his true nature before they did. "

Hoshi absorbed all this in. She hoped her dad would be safe . She was worried the dreams she had lately would come true if he didn't.

"Would you like to stay for dinner Ichigo? We are having broiled fish with rice and squash. I know your dad would let you. " Tetsu thought was too dangerous for anyone to go out by themselves. But he understood if Ichigo didn't want to stay.

Ichigo nodded at this, accepting the information. It made sense, with what Tetsu told them already. He was about to politely decline before his stomach growled at him, causing the orange-haired youth to blush lightly in embarrassment. "That sounds like a good idea actually..." He said rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

" Alright. How about I let you know when it's done. It will be done in about 30 minutes. You kids can go in the living room and talk a little bit while I finish up." Tetsu said. He had the feeling Hoshi wanted to say something but not while he was around. he was worried it had to do with the strange feeling in the air.


Hoshi led Ichigo in the living room and sat down in a chair. She couldn't get the memory of the dreams she had been having. Indigo-san had assured Hoshi didn't have an inner hollow. Hoshi knew it wasn't that ,it was something in the air that made her uneasy. Aizen had to have a plan in motion to get to her. If he couldn't get her himself he would send someone else to do it. Hoshi hoped it wasn't that.

Ichigo followed Hoshi into the living room, noticing that she was nervous. "Star-chan, what's wrong?"

" I'm alright. It's just the feeling in the air and it's bringing back memories of the dreams I've been having. I'll tell you what I can remember . I've been dreaming about faces. I can't see any of them clearly . Some of them I know I can trust, others I know to fear. I know it sounds strange. It seems once I stop being nervous about one thing , something else takes it's place. " Hoshi knew she could trust Ichigo with what she told him.Having him over for dinner brought back happy memories of when Tatsuki's parents , Ichigo's parents, and her parents would have dinner togeather . The three kids enjoyed those meals together .