The previous story to this is "On Hollow Grounds"

Face Your Fears

Kein slowly crawled herself out of the large dent in the ground as she released her Bankai and returned back to her regular form, her Zanpakutou disappearing back into her reiatsu. As she got to ground level she stood before Ichigo and Rukia with a rather depressed look on her face. Ichigo flinched slightly as he felt the tension from her.

"I'm sorry…" she stated bluntly "...about what I said earlier."

She fell to one knee as she bowed her head "I mean no disrespect. I—"

Ichigo sighed in slight interruption "...don't worry about it. I know you didn't actually mean that you would kill us if we interfered in your fight, but there's something you need to explain. Before you began your fight with him, it seemed like you two previously knew each other?"

"I was wondering the same thing," Rukia agreed.

Looking back up at the two as she rested her arm upon her leg she replied, "After the incident with Aizen, I had to leave immediately, but I couldn't risk trying to travel through Soul Society and get caught so I decided to play it safe and travel first to Hueco Mundo and then to the world of the living. But when I got there I ran into Grimmjow for a first time. Our meeting was brief and that was that, but it's hard to forget someone with distinct features as his own."

Trusting that what she was telling them was the truth, they relaxed a little. She tried to get back to her feet, but a strong pain shot up her spine from her lower back. Although her weakest point had not be touched or pierced directly, being slammed into the ground and exterior objects so many times took its toll as it made the surrounding area of her Hollow indentation tender upon movement of any kind.

Being on all fours as she tried her best to bite her tongue and deal with the pain, she couldn't ignore a helping hand that was within her sight as she looked back up to see Ichigo was holding out his reach to her to grab to get her back up.

"Come on, I'll take you to Orihime to get healed." She smiled lightly as she took his hand in her own and got back to her feet. "Think you can manage?" He asked immediately. Although Ichigo was offering her a choice so as not to tarnish her pride, the look on his face said otherwise as he was determined to just help her regardless of the answer she gave. He could see right through her from the look on her face and she knew it.

Struggling a bit to stand straight she finally sighed and gave in, "Actually..." she blushed lightly as she diverted her eyes away "...I could use a little help."

Ichigo let out a small exhaled chuckle as he put her arm around his neck and supported her by wrapping his right arm around her waist to balance her. He didn't want her to feel like some helpless child, so he figured just supporting half her body weight was enough.

"By the way Kein...thank you." Rukia stated with appreciation. "If you had not intercepted that guy's attack, he would have ran me through with his hand for sure."

Kein smiled as she replied, "No problem, but let's save the formalities for later. This back pain's killing me."

It wasn't long until all the groupings had finished their battles and gathered as Ichigo, Rukia, and Kein met up with Orihime, Captain Hitsugaya, and Renji. Kein was laying silently as Orihime was healing her, but the silence was easily broken by Renji's banter, "So how does it feel to get your ass kicked?"

Kein shot her eyes open with a playful glare as she retorted, "You're one to talk Mr. Bloodied and Beaten."

"Heh, don't give me that. Out of the entire time you were in Soul Society I don't think I ever once saw you even break a sweat."

"I know right? I guess you got a point there and to tell you the truth? Feels great. Yeah I got beat up, but you know what? It quickly pushed me to my limits and showed me just how weak I really am, but it's okay. It's perfectly fine. We can't go through life without facing someone stronger than us and it just motivates me to become stronger and to better myself...not just for my sake or my friend's sake...but for my Zanpakutou's sake. I've been blessed with unique abilities and it would be such a waste if the abilities went without ever being truly tested in battle. One could say it would be an insult."

Amidst the conversation Kein stopped talking as she took notice of Ichigo's stern expression, but it wasn't his usual expression. This was different somehow and she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Although Kein's words were enlightening in their own way, Ichigo couldn't help but be stung by them as well.

"How can she talk so lightly of getting beat like that? Does it not hurt her to know she got defeated so easily? Is she just hiding it? No...I'd be able to see it, but she almost looks...happy. And she fought without her Hollow taking her over. How is she even able to do that?"

Orihime had finally finished healing her as she sat up quite easily. "Wow...damn that was quick. I don't feel an ounce of pain. Thanks a bunch Orihime! If it weren't for you I'd be stuck healing for the next two days. In fact if I'm not mistaken, your powers seemed to have improved quite well. You heal a lot faster than you used to."

Despite the compliment, Orihime chuckled nervously "I'm not that good at it yet. I think I'm still learning."

"Don't kid yourself Orihime. Your ability is amazing."

"I agree. Your power has increased significantly since the last time you were in Seireitei," Rukia added.

The reassurance made Orihime smile a bit more as Kein could tell that something was also on her mind and figured it had something to do with Ichigo. "Kein, have you recovered?" Ichigo interrupted, giving Kein that same odd expression. Rukia scowled a bit at Ichigo as she interrupted, "Are you feeling guilty or something? I know that look. Kein and I aren't so weak that we need you to protect us all the time. She wanted to fight the battle on her own, so it's her own fault she got beat up. So quit making that pathetic face."

"It's not about that," he exclaimed, but didn't say anything further as he shot his gaze to the side. "If you're worried about that Hollow inside then you should do something. Why don't you just go visit Kisuke and ask him about it. I mean come on, he's the one that trained you. Seems like he should know something about how to deal with this sort of thing don't you think?" Rukia asked with optimism.

"Kisuke wouldn't know a damn thing," Kein interrupted. "If he did he would have said something by now, especially to me." Kein stood up with a rather cold look on her face as she approached Ichigo and got up in his face.

"Look at me..." she commanded as he focused his gaze back onto her "...no offense dude, but now that I'm healed, I'm going to be blunt. I don't have time to babysit you." Ichigo flinched slightly as he gritted his teeth just a bit from his misplaced pride getting pushed on.

"You already know exactly what you need to do. The offer has already been given and I've already taken that offer. I know you've been wanting to ask me, since I returned, about my training so far. Well here's your answer...it is exactly what you need. It will always be what you need until you're willing to man up and face it head on. I have to return to resume my training so if and when you're ready, you'll find me."

The others were a bit puzzled as to what Kein was talking about. Normally since they were her friends, she would reveal any information, but the information about the Vizards was to be kept in secret for now. She swore their privacy upon being given their training and she had every intent of respecting that, but despite her mysterious wording, Ichigo knew what she was talking about.

Taking a few steps back from Ichigo she added, "The Arrancars came here once and I bet you on my life that they'll be back again and I'm going to do what it takes to prepare for their return. I'm going to do what it takes to understand my Inner Hollow and what it truly means to wield those kinds of powers. So you can either come with me and become stronger than you could ever imagine...or...you can sit around, mope, and die at the hands of the Arrancars. It's your choice."

-Next Day-

Upon the following morning, everyone was off doing their own thing. Ishida was quite busy training with his father to regain his Quincy powers once again. Ichigo had gone missing as it made his family a little frantic, but Rukia after listening to Kein's words, figured that Ichigo had decided to go train with Kein and explained to his family that he would be gone for a while with a friend on some personal matters, but although she knew where Ichigo must have gone, she had no idea where either Ichigo or Kein was. She couldn't feel out their spiritual pressures. Orihime was back in school while the other's were gone, but she couldn't take her mind off of the situation.

Rangiku and Hitsugaya were on the school roof as he was preparing his report to Soul Society. "Tell them how we kicked their butts after gente kaijou was authorized!" Rangiku stated excitedly, but Hitsugaya merely replied, "Those guys were small fry. They weren't Vastro Lordes. They probably weren't even the rank below that, Adjuchas. Don't you understand what happened here? Even I, a Captain, couldn't defeat one of their Gillian class without using full strength. We're outmatched. These guys are too strong for us."

Rangiku sighed a bit as it was unfortunately all too true to what Hitsugaya was saying. Chad on the other hand didn't want to be kept on the sidelines anymore. He wanted training and so he sought out help from Urahara. However, amongst the others and after some time of reflecting on what Kein had said to him, Ichigo had finally decided to seek her and the Vizards out.

It was in some back water area of town and took him some time to walk to, but he came upon the building that was rather large and had a front panel garage door that was partially open enough for him to walk into. As he walked in the door closed behind him as he was engulfed in a small shadowy area, a voice calling out to him, "Good job finding this place Ichigo."

The Vizards could be seen sitting separately amongst the three layers of broken cemented levels of the building as Shinji looked down upon him with his usual jeering smile.

"My, so serious. I wonder what that means. Wait...have you finally decided to join us? I'm sort of impressed you found our hide out. I don't mean to put you down but it is something of a surprise considering you usually suck at detecting spiritual pressure. Bottom line is I figured you'd come here eventually...just like Kein said. To be honest and to make it easier for you, we pumped out as much spiritual pressure as we could to help you find your way here. I guess it must have worked. The fact that you're here convinces me that you finally decided to come over to our side. Am I right?"

A moment of silence fell amongst the group before Ichigo blurted out, "Bite me! I have no intention of joining up with you people. I don't know what Kein told you, but I'm not that desperate so don't kid yourself."

He grinned rather big as Shinji merely frowned at him, "I'm here to use you Shinji."

"Oh is that so?"

"I came here with one purpose in mind. I'm not leaving until I get it. I want you to teach me how to control the Hollow inside me. After that, I'm outta here."

"You must think we're just a bunch of pushovers," Shinji replied.

"I'll make you teach me," Ichigo warned.

"Heh, oh yeah? How so?" Ichigo looked back up at Shinji and smiled, "I guess I'll beat it out of yah."

"You're welcome to try."

Without hesitation Ichigo took out his representative badge and immediately went into his Shinigami form and came at Shinji with his sword, but before he could land a strike on him Kein suddenly appeared before Ichigo and blocked his attack with her own as she pushed out enough force to impact him into the ground with a rather forceful thud. Quickly getting back to his feet he barked out, "What the hell? Kein?"

A silence broke out once more as Kein lowered herself to his ground level and lightly placed her feet back upon it. He gasped slightly as he readied his sword again.

"Get out of the way Kein!"

"Don't you dare attack my friend you son of a bitch!"

He gasped again from her abrupt tone. He was used to Rukia barking back at him in such a manner, but Kein's retorts were much harsher and wild like. Shinji interrupted as he added, "By the way Ichigo. Normally it would be our decision on who joins our little group and who doesn't, but this is a special occasion. It won't be our decision...but Kein's."

Gasping more audibly he retorted, "WHAT?" as he looked at Kein in confused anger. "You've got to be kidding me. First you can't stop insisting that I come here and now you're going to stand there and fight me? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You're so damn arrogant you know that? I suggest you watch your words because with a flick of my finger you can be in...or you can be out."

Ichigo gritted his teeth as he gripped more tightly upon the handle of his sword. "What's the point in telling me to come here if you have no intention in helping me?"

"First of all, dumbass, you came here on your own accord and to be quite honest, I didn't think you'd actually come."

A small silence fell between the two as Kein continued, "Not to mention you came here with the complete wrong idea so let me get this through that stubborn skull of yours. What determines a Vizard is not based upon what you want. It is determined upon your power. I've known you well enough to know that your power is incredible without question, there's no doubt about it. However, the biggest obstacle is that damn fear of yours. Let me put something into perspective and see if it annoys you as it equally annoys me," she bantered on in a purposely whiney voice.

"I'm too afraid to lose my friends. I'm too afraid I won't be able to protect everyone. I'm too afraid that I'll die. I'm too afraid of my Inner Hollow coming out. I'm too afraid that he'll take control of me. I'm too afraid— "

"...damn it THAT'S ENOUGH!" He barked out in anger. She sighed and closed her eyes momentarily as she replied, "Annoying isn't it? If you're so tired of hearing it, then bring out that Inner Hollow of yours."

Ichigo frowned in defiance, "I refuse." Kein's level of patience was running thin.

"You think I don't understand how you feel? You think I haven't experienced your anger…your pain…your fears? You may be 15, but me and Rukia have lived a lifetime compared to you. We've been there…Ichigo…I have been there. And I still have to face those fears, but I don't have to do it alone. We're in this together and the only way this is going to work is if you listen."

Ichigo didn't respond, but her words slowly started to slither inside him and unwind the fear that was so keenly wrapped around his heart.

"You're a guardian Ichigo. You always have been. You are the protector in your group of friends and you've been that way even before becoming a Shinigami. You have indirectly chosen to go down the path of the warrior...the fighter...the one that stands above all else, but with that responsibility you lack the understanding of what it truly means to take up that kind of role. It's not just about protecting your friends or yourself or your pride. It's about understanding what drives you to want to do those things and further your power. Your Inner Hollow understands it, why can't you?"

He questioned her words slightly as she was growing rather irritated with the looks on his face. As much as she respected him on a lot of levels, she couldn't help but be highly rubbed the wrong way by his equally stubborn and defiant nature that matched her own.

"Tell me something Ichigo; do you believe the relationship between a Shinigami and his Zanpakutou is the same as a Shinigami and his Inner Hollow?"

The boy's eyebrows furrowed as he answered quizzically, "No."

"You're wrong. They're iexactly the same."

Ichigo's face wandered in question. The same? How could they possibly be the same.

"Let me enlighten you since you don't seem to get it. The nature of Hollows is forever and always will be daunting to understand as it can never truly be explained to their nature, but the line between Hollow, Human, and Shinigami are not as spread out as many would believe. Hollows, despite their monstrous nature, also have feelings like you and me. They feel pain and anguish just as easily and as they desire to kill and devour Human souls or each other, not out of choice but because it is simply their nature to do so. Humans and Shinigamis are no different."

"What are you saying?" He asked, still unsure.

"I'm saying that you need to learn a little humility in your life for once and understand that, like Zangetsu, you can't just expect your Hollow to bow down before you and just give you the right to hone his powers. His powers. You have to earn that right. Your Hollow is a part of you just as much as you are a part of him. It is in his instinct to over take your body just as much as it is in your instinct to control him. I don't know about you, but I have every respect for my Hollow. And I could never blame him for wanting to ultimately get rid of me. He's merged within my soul and mind, submitted to my will. If the roles were reversed and it was you stuck inside the body of your Inner Hollow, would your instinct not want to fight against him and take control? Would you not with every fiber in your being want to come out and be your own entity without being overclouded by another?"

Her words sat upon the air like a heavy dense atmosphere. It was the first time that he had ever heard someone speak of Hollows like a Human being. It was the first time he had ever heard someone show compassion to such monstrous entities. In its own strange way, he truly respected that aspect about her and was reminded of just how different she was from other Shinigami's in Seireitei who have a much more hardened core against such idealisms and did not care to take the time to understand such things.

In this aspect, his temper cooled as she was the only other one he could go to that was dealing with the same issues that wasn't solely part of the Vizards.

"I'm fully aware that you don't know how to bring out your Hollow and you're too afraid to fight me in fear of him taking control so I'm going to make this easier on you..." she left her sentence unfinished as a being came out from the shadows and stood beside Kein.

Ichigo gasped in shock as his eyes laid upon the being beside her. This being looked very much like the Arrancar, Grimmjow. He was in full white attire that was stripped with thick black lines from his head to his feet. His skin was an awkward two tone, and upon his face was a strange looking mask that had horns sticking out and one that was placed in the middle that sat neatly by itself.

And of course the most noticeable and hard-to-ignore feature were the eyes, the ever so black and yellow Hollow eyes. Ichigo couldn't help but stare as his gaze met with Ernesto's as the Hollow replied in a jeering type of tone.

"Well...if it isn't Mr. Tall, Orange, and Scared."