The Night Walk

By evolution-500

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Disclaimer: "Bleach" is a property that belongs to Noriaki Kubo and Viz Media. I do not own any of the characters except for Lupo, although his species are a property belonging to DC Comics.

WARNING: This story contains coarse language and mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised.

NOTE: This takes place during Ichigo's early exploits, so somewhere around before Rukia gets taken by the Soul Society. Hope you enjoy. :)

Chapter Two: Pursuer

There were many things that Tatsuki never expected find during this trip, but a drenched and scared Ichigo was certainly not one of them.

The girl watched as the latter anxiously looked around, even over his shoulder.

"Ichigo, what's the matter?" she concernedly asked. "You've been doing that ever since we left the beach. What's going on?"

Ichigo raised a hand, shushing her.

Blinking, Tatsuki watched as he leaned to the side, his eyes squinting in concentration, as if trying to pick up the slightest noise.

Finally, he relaxed a little, although Ichigo still had a pensive and anxious look about him.

"Sorry, Tatsuki," he apologized. "I was just checking."

The two proceeded onward down the street, mingling with the crowd.

"Ichigo, what happened to you?"

He nervously looked amongst the crowd, his eyes searching through them, as if trying to see if he could catch sight of someone.

Finally, he spoke.

"I was on my way home when some psycho kidnapped me."

Tatsuki's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

"Yeah!" Ichigo rapidly nodded. "One moment I was walking back home from school, the next, I find myself tied up over at the docks, and this guy - this biker freak that looked like a clown - he just started ranting and raving at me! A complete nutjob! I think he mistook me for somebody that he murdered or something - the guy was fucking weird!"

Staring, Tatsuki shook her head. "Wow! It sounds like you've been through hell!"

"You have no idea." Ichigo shivered, his features pale, goosebumps dotting his skin.

Tatsuki's eyes softened. "You're shivering. Hold up a moment."

"Huh?"

Slipping off her backpack, Tatsuki took out a towel, handing it to him. "Here." As he started to reach out with one hand, her eyes widened. "You're bleeding!"

Blinking, Ichigo looked down at his right limb, watching it bleed freely. "Huh. I completely forgot about that," he murmured.

"Don't worry, I have a First Aid kit," Tatsuki said, pulling a pack out from her bag.

Glancing in her direction, Ichigo raised a brow at her. "You always carry around a First Aid kit with you?"

"During my part-time as a lifeguard I do," Tatsuki replied, taking out a bottle of water.

Ichigo frowned. "It's no problem, Tats. Really, I-"

"Ichigo," she said in a stern voice, giving him a glare, "don't be a jackass. You need to get that disinfected and wrapped up, otherwise you'll get an infection."

Exhaling, the boy held out his hand and allowed Tatsuki to examine. Unscrewing the cap, Tatsuki poured it onto his wound, clearing away the blood before taking out some gauze bandage roll, wrapping it around the injured limb.

She heard Ichigo clear his throat. "So, uh, how have you been?"

Tatsuki shrugged. "Oh, uh, not too bad. I was just visiting my cousin. Apparently she had sprained her leg."

"That right? OW!" Ichigo flinched as she applied pressure to the wound.

She sighed. "Oh quit complaining, you baby!"

"Well I can't help it, Tats! It's too tight!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Uh huh!"

"NUH UH!"

"UH HUH!"

The two teenagers glared at one another, both growling.

Closing her eyes, Tatsuki sighed, brushing some of her spiky bangs out of her face. "Whatever. Just shut up and let me finish, okay?! And...done."

As Tatsuki let go of his hand, she watched as Ichigo flexed and inspected his limb.

Coughing, he averted his eyes. "Um...thanks."

"No problem." He shivered, wrapping the towel around himself as he blew on his hands.

The two teenagers walked together side by side, the girl watching the orange-haired boy in quiet observation.

Glancing in her direction, Ichigo raised a brow. "You got a problem with me, Tats?"

Tatsuki said nothing at first, the girl staring. "No. Not really. It's just...well..."

"Yes?"

She sighed. "What happened, Ichigo?"

Furrowing his brows, Ichigo gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"To us, Ichigo," she clarified, her voice soft and low. "We used to be friends, you know? When we were kids, I used to regularly save you whenever you got beaten up and cheer you up when you used to get upset. You used to always have my back. I know...I know that you had a tough time with your mom's death," She noticed his form stiffening at the mention, continuing, "but lately...it's as if you put up a wall of ice between us. I've...I've been hoping that you would say...something. Maybe acknowledge me, or just tell me what you've been up to nowadays? But...it's like you just shut me and the others out, and...it hurts, Ichigo. Don't you get that? We used to be friends, Ichigo, but the way you're acting...I just don't get you, Ichigo. Do you even care about me anymore? Don't I mean anything to you anymore?"

Blinking in surprise, Ichigo's eyes widened. "Don't care about you anymore? What the hell kind of question is that?!"

"Do you?" Tatsuki asked pointedly. "You seem closer to that new girl Rukia than to any of us, let alone me. Why is that? What is she to you, Ichigo?"

She watched the boy as his features scrunched up, looking conflicted over something.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he gave an annoyed growl, waving his hand away. "Why do you even care?! It's none of your business."

As the words left his mouth, the two of them stopped walking altogether, Tatsuki's eyes widening as she stared gobsmacked at him, hurt by the stinging remark, her heart aching.

"Well...it looks like I got my answer," Tatsuki said in a low and flat voice. Looking down the street, she then pointed at the traffic lights at the other end. "Just cross the street down there, then take a right. The police station is three blocks away, you can't miss it. See you at school, Ichigo."

The words that were uttered felt and sounded hollow, as if all feeling had left Tatsuki. Turning on her heel, Tatsuki started to walk away, her eyes burning as she willed herself not to cry.

"Tatsuki. Tatsuki wait!" She heard Ichigo call from behind, but the tomboy paid him no heed, trying to keep her attention ahead.

'Leave me alone, Ichigo,' Tatsuki thought, though dared not say aloud.

"Tatsuki! Tatsuki, come on! Wait! Stop!"

Wiping her eyes, Tatsuki clenched her jaw, too angry and too prideful to even dare face him.

"Please."

Hearing the plea in his voice made her stop, surprised by its gentleness as she allowed herself to face him.

Sweeping a frustrated hand through his hair, Ichigo let out a harsh breath. "I'm...I'm sorry," he admitted. "I know that I've been a jerk, but it's just...there's some stuff going on in my life that I've been dealing with, and I'm trying to figure things out..." Closing his eyes, Ichigo shook his head, "I never wanted to hurt you, Tats. Honest to God, that's not something that I've ever wanted. The last thing I want is to hurt you. You know that, right? I'm just lousy at showing my appreciation, that's all! You were always there for me, Tats. Ever since we were kids, you always had my back, just like I had yours. No matter what, I'll always be there for you, okay?"

Working her mouth uselessly, the tomboy stared in stunned silence.

Swallowing, she crossed her arms. "Promise?"

Ichigo nodded. "Promise."

The two teenagers stood there watching each other intently, their gazes never wavering.

Sighing, Tatsuki nodded. "Okay. The police station shouldn't be too far from here. Let's go."

Taking the lead, she and Ichigo moved through the crowd, the street busy with traffic.

Giving a frustrated growl, the latter looked around in annoyance. "God, why are there so many people?"

"What do you expect, Ichigo?" Tatsuki retorted. "It's the weekend! Everyone's got somewhere to be, you know."

"I know, I know," he sighed, shifting in discomfort. As the pair continued down the sidewalk, Ichigo suddenly halted, grabbing Tatsuki's upper arm, stopping her as he hissed, "Tatsuki!"

"What? What's the matter?"

"It's him!" He whispered.

"Him?" She questioned, looking visibly confused.

"Him!" He pointed somewhere ahead. "The guy I told you about!"

Frowning, Tatsuki tilted her head from side to side, trying to see past the throng of people. "I can't see anything, Ichigo. Just calm down, we're almost there."

As she tried to peer through the dense crowd, she caught sight of something red.

"He's coming," Ichigo said anxiously, taking a half step back. To Tatsuki's surprise, Ichigo suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her the other way. "We need to get out of here. Come on!"

Tatsuki let out a slight yelp as she felt herself dragged, running alongside the orange-haired teen as they ran in the opposite direction, moving past a McDonald's before ducking into an alley.

Looking at her friend, Tatsuki noticed the fear in his eyes as he ran down alley after alley, twisting and turning through every corner before running out onto the street, crossing to the other side.

"Ichigo what the hell is wrong with you?!" She snapped, trying to keep up with him.

"It's not safe here," Ichigo said, his face damp with sweat. "He's following us!"

Looking around in confusion, Tatsuki glanced over her shoulder, but she couldn't spot anything.

She saw whole throngs of cars and people wandering aimlessly along the side walks while bicyclists tiredly rode along.

Darkness fell over the busy city as buildings and neon lights lit up the streets, coloring everything, including the path forward.

As the two teenagers continued down another alley, Ichigo inadvertently bumped into an old homeless person with a beard, the man cursing him.

"Hey, watch the fuck where you're going, you moron!"

"Up yours, old man!" Ichigo shouted back, never letting up his pace.

A sound like a thunder crack made Tatsuki look behind her.

"What the hell?" she murmured, glancing up at the sky. "Did you hear that?"

Ichigo paused, looking around in confusion. "What was that? Thunder?"

The two teenagers stared up at the dark skies, the buildings towering over their small forms.

"Strange," Tatsuki murmured, "I didn't hear anything about a storm."

As she scanned the dark sky, something caught her attention - for a brief moment, she spotted a dark figure silently flying overhead, hundreds of feet in the air.

Staring transfixed at the sight, she watched as the figure silently landed on a section of wall and crawled upward like a gecko before vanishing into the darkness.

Blinking rapidly, Tatsuki's brows wrinkled together, looking back up to the spot.

'Did I really see that?' she wondered.

"Tatsuki, you okay?"

Jolted by the sound of Ichigo's voice, Tatsuki glanced back to him.

"Uh...yeah," she said uncertainly. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" Ichigo raised a brow in confusion.

"I thought I saw something up there," she pointed.

He frowned. "What did you see?"

"I...I don't know," she replied. "One moment I spotted movement, the next..." Trailing off, she let out a slight laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "Sorry, Ichigo. Must have been my imagination." Looking back to him, Tatsuki's smile fell, her expression serious. "We should be almost there. Come on!"

Taking a left, the pair travelled through a tight corridor before taking a right, the path funneling them down to an intersecting section with four different paths ahead.

As the two moved their way in, they took a left path, Ichigo grimacing as a large rat skittered along the wall.

"Gross," he muttered.

"Not exactly how I imagined spending my Friday evening," Tatsuki drawled.

"Well, it's not my fault, okay?" Ichigo retorted, moving down a path with two adjacent alleyways up ahead. "Which way do we go?"

"Umm...Left."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, there should be an exit leading to the next street," Tatsuki replied. "It should be coming up shortly."

"My my my!" An unfamiliar voice called in a pleasant tone, speaking in fluent Japanese, causing Ichigo to tense up in alert, "What...do we have here?"

"Huh?"

Looking back behind them, Tatsuki spotted something red approaching.

From the shadows, a tall man emerged, his sharp and chiseled face so pale that Tatsuki thought he was either wearing makeup or face paint. Despite the blood red jacket with silver decorations around the midsection and shoulders, his entire being blended perfectly with the darkness.

Strolling casually forward with his hands placed into the pockets of his black jeans, the man approached, his steps silent, graceful and disciplined.

His eyes, however, were luminescent, glowing with a restrained menace, so bright and intense that they looked as if they could burn through a person just from merely looking at them.

The way light reflected from those unnatural eyes made Tatsuki stare for a long time, leaving her spellbound and startled by the sight.

Stopping two feet away from the pair, the man regarded them both.

"Well, isn't this a cozy picture - two tiny monkeys cuddling in the dark! I haven't interrupted anything, have I?" He grinned, his voice dripping with mock concern, flashing sharp, pointed teeth and canines, looking almost feral.

Teeth that looked more appropriate on a tiger or something.

Glancing in Tatsuki's direction, the tomboy flinched the moment his eyes locked onto hers, the former struck by their coldness.

"Hm." The man in red then inclined his head over to Ichigo as he addressed him, "You know, for someone who appears to be a slightly more evolved version of an orangutan, I have to say, you do know how to pick your women."

Blushing, the two teenagers stood flustered at the remark, although an angry tick formed on Ichigo's forehead.

"O-Orangutan?! ORANGUTAN?! WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN ORANGUTAN, CLOWNFACE?!" The latter shouted, angrily waving his fist. "At least I don't look like some KISS reject! What, did Dracula decide to start his own biker club?!"

The man in red frowned, scratching the corner of his jaw with a black talon on his index finger.

"I speak several thousand languages," he muttered, "and not a single word coming out of your mouth makes a lick of sense." He then gave a dismissive wave, continuing, "But never mind that. Let's have a look at your female, shall we?"

Paying no mind to him, the man in red moved closer, pushing past Ichigo before approaching Tatsuki, causing her to stiffen as he stared appraisingly at her, looking her up from top to bottom.

As Tatsuki got a better look at him, the girl blinked, her eyes squinting.

Those tattoos on his face...were those-?

The thought abruptly stopped as he circled around her, making her feel like a small sheep in the presence of a circling wolf.

Every part of her tensed in his presence, his glowing red eyes devoid of irises and pupils.

Every so often, though, something would flicker along the latter so quickly that more than once she had thought that she imagined it, so quick and fleeting that all one had to do was merely blink and they wouldn't have noticed.

It was only when she concentrated and tried not to blink that she detected movement, something slick swiping across both eyeballs, like the lens on a frog or something.

What the hell?

Everything about the man seemed...wrong.

His eyes, his hair, his skin texture...even his scent was peculiar, unlike anything Tatsuki had ever smelled.

Granted, he wasn't sweaty nor filthy - everything about him smelled clean and pristine - but there was something about the man that smelled...odd.

A fresh minty odor combined with a touch of hairspray, but even then, words failed to adequately describe the scent of his being. For reasons that she failed to fathom, Tatsuki was vividly reminded of a really weird mix between a dog kennel and a reptile pit at a zoo.

Even the leather of his jacket didn't smell like leather, as odd as that sounded, despite it clearly looking like leather.

As he circled around her, Tatsuki noticed that the man didn't give her any lecherous looks, let alone the slightest bit of interest.

If anything, he regarded her as one would a worm on a dissecting table, what seemed and felt like idle scientific curiosity at best, and Tatsuki didn't know whether to feel flattered, disturbed, disgusted, or offended.

Stopping directly in front of her, the man raised a gloved hand and gently cupped her chin, tilting her head from side to side in examination.

Tatsuki tried to pull away, but his grip was surprisingly strong and vice-like; even though it seemed so loose and gentle, it was firm. Once or twice she tried to pull her face away, but he kept it still without even moving a muscle, leaving her unable to do anything except to comply whenever he moved her face around.

It was a wonder that he didn't leave a bruise on her.

"Hm." Stepping back, he pulled his hand way and crossed his arms, curiously tilting his own head in thought, his clawed fingers stroking his chin, his features concealed by the shadows, his eyes the only feature visible. "Well, aren't you a pretty thing."

Swallowing, Tatsuki massaged her chin, wincing at the tender flesh, narrowing her eyes in suspicion as she found her voice, "Who...Who are you?"

The man blinked. "Me?" He let out a dark chuckle, "Nobody really. Just a wandering Lupo."

Squinting in confusion, Tatsuki reared her head back, her eyes widening as the pale figure suddenly lifted his chin and deeply inhaled through his nostrils, letting out a deep, rumbling, full-chested and animalistic growl that vibrated through her smaller form, taking her aback.

The fuck?!

"Hm. Interesting aura," he mused.

Sickened, Tatsuki bared her teeth and attempted to shove the man, pushing as hard as she could against his tall frame. "Fuck off, freak!"

Despite her attempt, the man remained in place, not even budging an inch, making her confused, her hands feeling sore from the effort.

'What the hell?' Tatsuki puzzledly thought, staring down at her sore palms.

As a black belt in Karate, she wasn't a slouch, but this guy...even though he only seemed to be a hundred and eighty pounds, pushing him felt as though she were attempting to push over a several ton marble statue.

Pulling his mouth into a sharp-toothed grin, the man chuckled, mockingly shimmying his shoulders. "OOH! Very feisty! I can see why he's attracted to you, fem."

Tatsuki's eyes widened along with Ichigo's, their cheeks reddening.

"W-What are you talking about?" the former squeaked.

The man rolled his eyes. "His pheromones, his accelerating heartrate, his biorhythms and aura - they all betray him, fem. I can feel and smell his arousal just from standing here. By all indications, it would seem that he wants to claim you as his mate."

A light blush formed on Tatsuki's face as she glanced nervously in Ichigo's direction before looking away, returning her confused gaze back to the pale figure.

Pheromones? Biorhythms and auras?

What on earth?

And what was that about "feeling" and "smelling" arousal? What the hell did that mean?!

"W-WHAT?!" Ichigo stammered and stuttered, his face comically redder than the man's coat, "N-NO! Th-That's-That's not...I mean-"

The pale man dismissively waved. "Please, no need to blush. You should be grateful, monkey boy!" Placing a hand on his own hip, a grin crawled up one side of the man's face as he added, "Besides...based on her pheromone output, aura and heartrate...it would seem that she reciprocates those feelings."

The air became completely still as the two teens stared in stunned silence, the tomboy stiffening, both of their faces blushing.

As Ichigo turned to face her, Tatsuki saw her own shock and embarrassment reflected in his eyes and features, the girl unsure how to even respond.

Looking from one to the other in confusion, the man in the red jacket lifted his head in realization, his smile widening. "Ahhh, I see! Neither of you knew! Well, isn't that something! I suppose a thank you would be in order to yours truly." As he casually brushed something off the lapel of his jacket, the man's smile fell as he thumbed in Ichigo's direction, "Unfortunately, fem, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to cut this meeting short. You see, I have some unfinished business with your boyfriend here, so, don't take this personally, alright?"

Tatsuki blinked. "Huh? Don't take what-?"

She barely had any time to react as she was suddenly cut off by the man as he swiftly snatched her by the face, his palm covering her mouth, muffling her screams.

"TATSUKI!"

Startled, Tatsuki struggled against the man's grip, letting out a series of muffled grunts and curses as he effortlessly lifted her by her face, her fists and feet pounding and kicking against him.

"TATSUKI!" Ichigo yelled, running toward him, rearing his fist all the way back. "LET HER GO, YOU BASTARD!"

Tatsuki watched as he swung, striking directly into the side of the pale man's face, catching him squarely in the nose and mouth...only for Ichigo to let out a pained and strangled cry, clutching his hand, his limb swollen.

Glancing casually over his shoulder, the former raised a quizzical brow, looking not even the slightest bit phased, let alone injured, much to Tatsuki's incredulity.

"Ka ree?" The man in red growled, his tone a mixture of disbelief and wry amusement. "Keezy monkey thinks he can just simply deck a Czarnian with a single punch?" He scoffed. "As if!"

With a single flick of the man's wrist, Tatsuki watched in shock and horror as Ichigo's body was suddenly and violently propelled back several feet through the air like a ragdoll, looking as if he were hit by a car, his body skidding and rolling along the ground.

"ICHIGO!" Tatsuki cried, her words muffled.

"Shhhh! Calm yourself, fem!" The pale man sneeringly chided, turning his attention back to her. "I wouldn't scream so loud if I were you."

Struggling in his grip, Tatsuki pounded and kicked, only for him to suddenly grab both her wrists with one hand, forcing them behind her back, effortlessly restraining her.

Letting out a strangled cry, the tomboy grimaced at the strength being exerted.

Jesus, how was it possible for someone to be so damn strong?! She felt like her own limbs were threatening to be torn off in a moment's notice!

"I wouldn't recommend doing that, fem," the pale man warned. "Not only will you wear yourself out, but you will also risk snapping your neck in the process the more you do that. And don't think of biting, fem - you'll either break or lose your teeth in the process. The last thing you want is for me to bleed. Trust me, I know."

Rearing her head back, Tatsuki attempted to headbutt her attacker...only to end up with what could only be described as the worst headache that she ever felt.

How was it possible for his head to feel so hard?

Her vision wobbled and wavered, then dimmed, the last thing she saw being Ichigo's screaming face as he reached out to her.

* * * * *

"TATSUKI!" Ichigo helplessly watched as his childhood friend hung limply in the hands of his pursuer. Clenching his fists, the former pushed himself off the ground and took a threatening step toward the latter. "What did you do to her?!"

The man in red shrugged as he checked on his captive. "Nothing, really," he nonchalantly replied. "It would seem that she has knocked herself out." He snorted. "Figures. Can't say that I'm surprised why she wants you as a mate. The good news? She's alive, but unconscious. I don't think there will be any brain nor cranial trauma, but I predict that she is going to have one hell of a nasty headache once she wakes up."

His eyes narrowed, a wolfish grin forming as he spoke.

"However," he said slowly, "that is the least of your worries, lover boy."

Growling, Ichigo took a step forward.

"You bastard!" He spoke with clenched teeth, raising his fist. "You cowardly bastard! Let her go!"

The man in red finger wagged with one free hand. "I'm afraid that is out of the question, my friend. You see, I'm under contract for a job, and you are my target, Jack."

Ichigo blinked.

Contract?

Swallowing, Ichigo spoke, "What do you want?"

The pale man smirked. "We're going to play a game, monkey," he began. "An exercise, if you will. There are a series of checkpoints that you need to reach throughout this city, all of them leading back to Karakura. You will be monitored at all times and timed, so you better keep your eyes on the clock, lover boy. Oh yes." He narrowed his eyes as he continued, "You get anyone involved, they along with your girl die. You call the cops, your girlfriend dies. Get the picture?"

Silence filled the alleyways.

Clenching his fists, Ichigo grounded his teeth together. "You bastard. You dirty bastard!"

Sharp teeth flashed at him in a sneer. "What are you going to do about it, tough guy?" He then lowered Tatsuki to the ground beside him. "I'll tell you what - hit me with everything you got. If you hurt me, your girl gets to go free. If not, then you'll have to participate in this game."

Ichigo growled. "Listen, you idiot, this is all a mistake! You're confusing me for somebody else!"

The man disinterestedly placed a hand on his hip, leaning against a wall with the other. "Have I?" he commented, looking bored.

"Yeah! I have no idea who the hell you are! I've never met you before in my life! Just let my friend go and we can talk this out, okay?"

Crossing his arms, the pale man stroked his chin, as if thinking about it.

"Hmmm...No." He shrugged, holding both hands out. "What can I say? Hate to be the bearer of bad news, fella, but a contract is a contract, and since you decided to get her involved, I'm afraid she's going to have to be a part of it. So really, that's on you, lover boy. You reap what you sow."

Standing akimbo style, the pale man expectantly tilted his head, looking like a gunslinger. "Well? Are you going to do something? Or will you just stand there like a moron?"

Letting out a yell, Ichigo ran full speed toward him, leaping up with a flying kick, striking the figure dead-on in the head.

Falling back to the ground, the boy froze, startled as the red figure grinned.

"Is that all you have?" the pale man taunted. "I've had baby snarebeasts hit harder! You will have to do better than that!"

Growling, Ichigo charged him, throwing punch after punch into his midsection.

The man remained standing, looking completely unaffected, his hands calmly placed on his holstered hips, his maddening smile growing ever wider with every blow struck.

No matter where Ichigo struck, no matter how hard he hit, he wasn't able to get a reaction, let alone make the pale man either stumble or double over.

Even when he struck the guy directly in the nose, nothing broke.

Panting heavily, Ichigo's winced at the pain that he felt in his fists.

"What the hell are you?" he muttered.

Chuckling, the man folded his red-sleeved arms behind his back.

"Tell me something, friend," he grinned. "Do you know what "Lupo" means in the Khundian dialect?"

"Yeah, it means "wolf" or something, I think-"

"Wrong," the man cut him off. "It means 'He Who Hunts You And Stains His Teeth With Your Blood After Ripping You To Pieces'." Flashing him a hideous smile, the pale figure approached, causing Ichigo to tense up. "I have to say, monkey, I am very disappointed with your performance. I have given you every opportunity to impress, and this is the best you can do?" He clicked his tongue in a patronizing manner. "How pitiful. No no no, that will not do at all, I'm afraid. But fear not, there is ample opportunity still. Perhaps you will perform better under pressure." Lifting his gloved hand, he raised a single clawed finger. "Your test begins...now."

And with that declaration, he tapped his index finger against Ichigo's forehead, and the moment he did, Ichigo's vision darkened, his body falling.