Ichigo and Chad were walking in the neighborhood.

Chad: There's probably more again today

Ichigo: What're you talking about?

Chad: For a while now, Orihime's been bringing me leftover bread from her part-time job.

Ichigo: Oh yeah. She has been worrying about you. She and (Y/N)'s been visiting pretty often haven't they? Let her know that you ate them. And let (Y/N) know you're doing okay.

Chad simply gave a nod as they made it to the front of Chad's apartment.

Chad: She always leaves too much. Tell you what.

Ichigo: Huh?

Chad: Stay here a second. I'll bring them. Take half home with you.

Ichigo: Huh? Uh, sure.....

Chad walked up the stairs to his apartment and went to grab the bag of bread that Orihime usually left at his door.

Chad: I knew it. I feel bad that she does this everyday.

As Chad was about to pick up the bag of bread he felt something change in Orihime's spiritual pressure.

Chad: Ichigo!

Ichigo: What's got you so freaked?

Chad: Something's wrong with Orihime's Spiritual Pressure! Something's happening to Orihime!

Ichigo and Chad immediately took off to find Orihime. Ichigo took out his phone to call Orihime.

Chad: Who're you calling?

Ichigo: Orihime, who else?!

Chad: Better not. That moment when she's distracted by the ringtone might give the enemy an opening.

Ichigo: It's that bad?

Chad: I don't know, but her Spiritual Pressure is under tremendous strain!

Ichigo: Is this the right direction?

Chad: Yeah, but I can't pin down the location with my Spiritual Pressure perception.

Ichigo:If you've got the direction right, I think I know where she is. If we keep going we'll reach Orihime's place!

As the boys kept running, they made it in the front of Orihime's apartment.

Chad: Where's Orihime's unit?!

Ichigo: 403! This way! The stairs will be quicker than the elevator.

As the two boys made it up the stairs they saw (Y/N) arriving at the exact same time in Shinigami form, with his Human body in his hand.

Ichigo: Orihime, Are you okay?!

(Y/N): I got the call, what happened?!

Meanwhile Orihime was deep in thought. Just moments before the three boys got here, she had been attacked by Tsukishima. However...

Orihime: *thinking* I'm not cut? That can't be... I definitely felt the blade cutting deeply into my body.

Ichigo: Orihime!

Orihime: Ichigo?! Chad?! And (Y/N)!? Why are you guys here?!

Ichigo: Why? Chad said something was wrong with your Spiritual Pressure.

(Y/N): And you called and hung up abruptly. That's usually a sign of "I'm in trouble".

Chad: Are you all right? Those fluctuations in your Spiritual Pressure weren't normal. What exactly happened, Orihime?

Orihime: Huh?! R-Really?! Nothing happened, though. I was bent over in pain because of a stomach ache. Maybe that was it?

(Y/N): "Maybe"? That doesn't sound reassuring.

Chad: That couldn't be. Wasn't there another Spiritual Pressure here until a minute ago? Who was that?

(Y/N): *thinking* So Chad felt it? I couldn't... Damn it. I need to learn how to properly sense fullbringers and quickly...

(Y/N) quickly shook himself out of his thoughts.

Orihime: Who? My friend. I met my friend here and...

Orihime stopped herself mid sentence.

Orihime: *thinking* A friend? That was Tsukishima.

Orihime continued talking.

Orihime: After my friend left, my stomach began to hurt. That's all it was.

Orihime: *thinking* A friend? Was Tsukishima my friend?

Orihime: Sorry about making you three worry!

(Y/N): But I am worried. You still haven't explained the phone call.

Orihime: It was just a simple misclick that's all.

Orihime: *thinking* Why did I just lie? I called (Y/N) to help me out... So why?

(Y/N) didn't buy it in the least but decided to drop it.

(Y/N): *thinking* Did that guy threaten her or something? It's not a coincidence that all three of us came here thinking Orihime was in trouble. Something is definitely up. I should probably stay in the area for the time being. And also...

(Y/N) looked towards Ichigo and Chad. He could finally ask them where they've disappeared to.

(Timeskip)

The trio left Orihime's apartment. (Y/N) had returned to his body so that he could interact with Ichigo (who wouldn't have been able to see or hear him otherwise).

Ichigo: Hey... What do you think happened to Orihime?

Chad: I'm not sure.

(Y/N) looked at Chad confused. (Y/N) knew Chad was just as suspicious of that interaction as he was. Was he trying to keep Ichigo from knowing that she was in trouble?

Chad: I'm sure it must've been an error in my Spiritual Pressure perception. Don't worry about it.

(Y/N): Chad, I understand what you're trying to do. And I don't blame you... But I doubt Ichigo's going to buy it...

Ichigo stopped in his tracks and looked at (Y/N)

Ichigo: You're right... Chad wouldn't tell me if I asked him.

Chad: Because it's too dangerous in your condition.

(Y/N): Chad's right. Although you do deserve to know what's going on, you might do something crazy.

Ichigo: You expect me to sit around and do nothing?

(Y/N): For the time being... Yes...

Ichigo glared in (Y/N)'s direction.

Ichigo: What? Am I just in the way? Is that it?

(Y/N): No, but if you keep trying to insert yourself into the problem then you will. I'm not saying this to be mean. I'm saying this because it's the truth.

Ichigo: That's not-

(Y/N): "That's not true." Is that what you're going to say? You don't even know the first thing about what's going on. We don't even know the full details about anything. So tell me Ichigo, what can you do right now? With no knowledge on who you're fighting, what can you do? With no powers, what can you do?

Ichigo gritted his teeth in anger.

(Y/N): You've been gone for days and haven't said a thing about where you were. So I'll update you on what's going on. Someone by the name of Shukuro Tsukishima attacked Uryu as you know, and later targeted (S/N) and Calavera.

Ichigo and Chad were surprised to find out that Uryu wasn't the only target.

(Y/N): This Tsukishima guy has another Fullbringer that works for him that's around our age. And so far, we don't know the ability that either of them possess nor where they hide. We don't have a reliable way of tracking them down their spiritual pressures either. So, what are you going to do with that information, Ichigo?

Ichigo: I-I...

(Y/N): Let me ask you something else, Ichigo. This place you're going to... Is it safe?

Ichigo: Huh?

(Y/N): I'm asking you if you think you're safe in the place that you've been going to. I don't know where you or Chad have been these last few days, and I doubt you'll tell me. I haven't told you much about what's going on either. We're both guilty of keeping secrets from each other. However, I need to know if I should be-

Ichigo: Don't worry about it. I don't need you or Orihime to protect me.

(Y/N): So that's how it is, huh?

Ichigo: I'll become stronger before you know it!

(Y/N): And how are you going to do that? Do you have a way to get your powers back?

Ichigo: I told you not to worry about it...

Ichigo refused to give (Y/N) an answer and walked away. Chad looked at (Y/N).

Chad: That was a bit harsh coming from you, (Y/N).

(Y/N): I don't feel good about it but as his friend, I had to tell him what he needed to hear...

Silence filled the air as (Y/N) and Chad took the time for the previous tension in the air to calm down.

(Y/N): Hey Chad... I know you won't tell me where you're going either, but can you at least tell me you guys will be safe?

Chad: It is.

(Y/N): If that's the case then can you continue to keep an eye on Ichigo? He's definitely going to be more worked up than ever after that conversation.

Chad: Of course. Will you being hunting down this "Tsukishima"?

(Y/N): If I can find anything on him. My dad seems to be prioritizing finding out information on him. Right now I'm looking for his little sidekick. He should be more easier to find. And if I can take care of him then taking out Tsukishima should be easier.

Chad: I see. I wish you good luck. And stay safe.

(Y/N): Thanks. I will. And make sure you and Ichigo stay safe. Call me if anything comes up.

Chad: Sure thing.

(Y/N) and Chad said their goodbyes as they parted ways. (Y/N) definitely wasn't in a good mood after what he did. (Y/N) wanted to stay in the area of Orihime's apartment in case the Fullbringers made their next move.

(Y/N): *thinking* Would they target the same place twice on the same day, though? *sigh* Maybe I should've tailed Chad and Ichigo instead. Chad may be next on his list. That would be a good idea. I'll just become a Shinigami and leave one of my arrancars at Orihime's place for the time being, that way I could find out where they've been this entire time. I just worry that they might destroy the place rather than protect it. Anyways, Ichigo and Chad couldn't have gone far so I should be able to catch up in no time.

As (Y/N) was in thought, he was caught by surprise from a punch coming his way. (Y/N) narrowly dodged the punch. Despite not getting hit by the attack, (Y/N) felt the impact.

As (Y/N) caught a look at his attacker, he immediately knew who it was.

(Y/N): *thinking* It's him...

(Y/N) backed up and got a good look at his opponent. He was standing face to face with Moe Shishigawara.

(Y/N): *thinking* He came right to me. This is my chance to get some info out of him.

(Y/N) reached for his combat pass but realized he didn't have it.

(Y/N): Where did it-

Shishigawara: Looking for this?

Shishigawara held (Y/N)'s combat pass in his hand.

(Y/N): So that punch wasn't to hit me but to take me off guard...

(Y/N) wasn't in a good predicament. He couldn't become a shinigami now that his badge was gone.

Shishigawara: Mr. Tsukishima said I'd be able to take you on if you didn't have this with you. So let's fight! One on One!

(Y/N): I don't have much of a choice...

(Y/N) took a battle stance as he got ready to fight with Shishigawara.

To be continued.

I was holding onto this idea of having an argument break out between (Y/N) and Ichigo since I started writing this arc. Having (Y/N) be the one to tell Ichigo that he shouldn't get involved would hit hard because (Y/N) is one of the most supportive persons that Ichigo knows. (Y/N) is actively telling Ichigo that he'd be putting himself in danger if he chooses to get involved in the incident currently happening. (Y/N) only told Ichigo what was going on so that he can stress the importance of the situation and how not having his powers will make him a casualty rather than someone who could help.

And it definitely would hurt (Y/N) to do this but this wouldn't be this first time (Y/N) had to make a hard choice like this. (Y/N) did the same thing to Tatsuki when she asked to come along on the rescue mission to save Orihime. (Y/N) couldn't do that because that would be irresponsible. (Y/N) doesn't want Ichigo to do something that would put himself in danger when he has no way of defending himself. (Y/N) would rather be hated if it meant his friends will still be alive rather telling them what they want to hear and possibly getting killed because of it.

Ichigo has shown a lot of times that he doesn't like to reveal how he's feeling or what his plans are, and (Y/N) knows this. Even if (Y/N) has a feeling that Ichigo is trying out something to get his powers back, he will never have concrete proof and he would never get that answer out of Ichigo.

(Y/N) also wouldn't bring up the fact that he's trying his best with Urahara to find a way to get Ichigo's powers back because he's not even sure if they'll succeed or if the Soul Society will find out and shut down the idea. Sure, the Soul Society owes Ichigo a debt for saving them from Aizen but (Y/N) isn't expecting Central 46 to say "Yeah, we're cool with you breaking the law". (Y/N) wouldn't dare bring that fact up to Ichigo and get his hopes up just for the project to potentially get scrapped. That would probably hurt more than never knowing in the first place.