Hey all! I'm on a Bleach kick, so I'm doing another.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer- I'm more into pwning than owning.

Chapter 1

It was late. He wasn't sure how late, but he knew that his father wouldn't mind. He also knew that his sisters would. He snuck into the window, laying into the body on his bed. He sighed and looked up, his hands crossed behind his head. Four hollow. That was more than he'd seen in a while.

He closed his eyes, drifting to sleep quickly.

The next morning found him at Inoue's house, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto visiting there. He knew that there was something between the three of them, but he really didn't want to know.

Mostly because he knew she was involved. She was supposed to have been his, but instead she was with him, with her, and it broke his heart.

He knew Rukia was out of touch with him. After all, she was a real shinigami, he was human. He would die, she would live thousands of years and she knew it.

That's why she finally opened her eyes to Renji. He'd noticed the looks they'd given each other. He was happy for her, really he was, but they took her from him too.

"Ichigo, are you alright?" Orohime looked over at him, waiting for Matsumoto to finish dressing. "Yeah..." He looked away, sighing. "I'm really not feeling up for this today. Maybe tomorrow." He stood and headed to the door.

"Why are you distancing yourself from me?" He turned, seeing her looking at him, her eyes shining. He motioned with his head to the next room. She stood and followed.

"I know you're in some kind of relationship with Hitsugaya and Matsumoto." His eyes downcast. She smiled at him with a wink. "What, do you want in?" He pursed his lips, angry at feeling like this. "No, no, I just... I thought..." Her eyes widened as she looked at him. "Ichigo?"

"I wanted you to be with me." She looked at him, surprised. "With all of the people here, with everyone I know, I wanted you to be with me." His face turned to the ground and Orohime just stood there, dumbstruck.

"Ichigo, there's nothing going on between the three of us. We just like hanging out." Ichigo turned to her, suddenly feeling really stupid. "Really?"

She reached up, cupping his cheeks, looking him in the eye. "You know I've loved you forever. You shouldn't think I'd give up on you that easily." she smiled, doing something that surprised Ichigo. She kissed him.

He stood there, surprised as her lips pressed softly to his. He gave in after a second and wrapped his arms around her, the wonderful feeling of her against him dragging him out of the ditch he'd been in.

It was all happy.

"That's so cute!" Matsumoto chirped, followed by a comment by Hitsugaya.

"About time." They turned and walked to the other room, leaving Ichigo both happy and terrified at the same time.

The next day Ishida sighed. He'd known forever that eventually they'd get together, he'd just hoped that it would have been longer. He'd liked the thought, the imaginary story, what if she'd chosen him?

What if she'd stayed with him?

He put some things into the locker before walking into the hall. Ichigo and Orohime had met him at the door to tell him of the story.

Of everything.

He sighed, looking at the door.

He'd have to know they were behind him the whole time. Ishida sighed, for once feeling despair. He just stood there, unable to force his feet into moving into the room.

What was this? He wasn't a coward, he wasn't capable of this despair. If he could survive his father and his grandfather's death then this was nothing.

But it was.

He finally took the step in and immediately saw her smiling over, the orange haired shinigami smiling back.

He turned and walked away. He'd deal with it another day.

He kept speeding up as he went. By the time he was at the side walk he was at a full run.

"Ishida!" He turned, seeing Ichigo behind him. "Where are you going?! School's about to start!"

"You BASTARD!" Ishida screamed, surprising the hell out of everyone there. "You knew! You knew I'd loved her forever! You kept her away from you, You avoided her as much as possible! How, Why in the hell would she choose you?!"

"Why didn't she choose me?" Ishida caught himself before crying or screaming or whatever else was lodging itself in his throat. He wished it would just explode, if it came out he'd be able to breathe again.

He turned, not another word said, and walked away leaving Ichigo staring in shock.

He laid on his bed. He'd felt the reiatsu pass his apartment at least three times. He'd known that twice they'd tried to see him through the window, probably checking to see if he was alright.

But he wasn't. He was angry. He was furious!

He felt so horrible. He shouldn't feel so bad that his friends got together. He knew it would happen.

He stood and stretched. He shouldn't be in bed all day like this. It was pathetic.

He turned, seeing the window, the little eyes peering in at him and he smiled. He cracked the window open, allowing in the black cat.

"Ohayo, Yorichi."

"Ishida, I was told to come and try and see if you were here." Ishida nodded, sitting. "Do me a favor. Tell them I was asleep. I don't want them keeping tabs on me like this. It's... disturbing, actually." He realized the true absurdity of the situation and smiled lightly as he sat on the bed.

"I heard you were broken up over Orohime and Ichigo. I know those things can hurt. It gets better though." He looked down, the green eyes drilling into him. "I know. I just hope it's fast. I can't be like this for long. It's not me." He sighed and Yorichi walked up beside him, smiling. He had laid down, looking over at the window. He had barely noticed when the weight on the bed shifted, or when his head lifted.

It was comforting, though. He suddenly realized there was a warmth under his head and looked up, noticing Yorichi sitting, his head on her lap. He turned away quickly, a blush in his cheeks. "You're naked."

"Very few cats have cloths." She smiled down at him and he sighed, not complaining about the contact.

"The way I see it you have three options. Try and woo her away from him."

"She's chosen him. It would be wrong. Besides, he's the hot shinigami, I'm the nerd with the glasses."

"You could find another girl."

"Nerd, glasses, not to mention none of the girls I know are my type, except her."

"Or you could die." Ishida looked up at her. "What?!"

"Well, let's face it. You're strong. If you die, you're going to Seireitei. You'll be a real shinigami. Maybe you'd have a chance with some of the shinigami girls. There are some cute ones." She smiled down at him and he shook his head. "I'm a quincy. It seems wrong to die and become a shinigami to pick up chicks."

Yorichi nodded, a smile in her face.

"You could have a fling to get it out of your system." Ishida turned to her, eyes narrowed. "This is the closest I've ever been to anyone naked, except myself. I don't think that's appropriate." Yorichi grinned down at him, leaning till her chest was just above his face.

"Is this inappropriate, Uryuu?"

His eyes widened as he jumped from the bed. "That's not funny."

She flashed herself across the room, holding his hands to the wall above his head. "It would be fun!" She grinned, leaning down and lightly biting his neck.

Ishida gasped, surprised at the feeling and tried to speed back away from her, making one terrible miscalculation.

He woke a moment later, sitting up and rubbing his head. "Yorichi?" She looked down at him, her eyes wide, her mouth in a little 'o'.

"Ishida, go to Urahara, now!!" He saw the look on her face and ran.

He got to the door and knocked. He'd felt off the whole time, like his feet weren't moving properly. The door opened to see Ururu looking up at him, eyes wider than normal. "I was told to see Urahara."

"Please, sit down. Are you hungry?"

"No, thanks." He sat down, his hand moving up to his head. Urahara came out soon after and looked at him. "Ishida, what happened?!"

"Yorichi, uh, she tried to make me feel better."

"That was not her best idea, or the best outcome." Urahara's eyes were set wide, staring at him. Ishida frowned. "What's so-"

He felt a tickle. He reached down, across his chest.

There was a chain.

Ishida just sat there, feeling the chain. "Ah, that's why she tole me to come see you. Urahara-san, there's nothing you can do, is there?"

"I'm sorry, Ishida." He sighed and stood. "Is there a way for me to become a shinigami then?" Urahara's eyes widened. "What?"

"I know about the types of spirits. I had a lot of power, I'd prefer not to become one of the people of Rukongai, I would rather be anything besides a hollow, so there's really only one other option." He looked over and Urahara nodded.

"I'll start right away. Please, follow me."

They went to the basement. Ishida could barely make it down the stairs. "Ururu, she's your first opponent. Please try and fight her." Ishida knew that the girl was a fierce opponent. He didn't complain, but did quickly put on the shields that Urahara handed him.

The first few hours were Ishida watching her attacks, just dodging, then watching for the next attack.

Ishida was strategic and Urahara knew it. He'd watched as Ishida kept up his speeds, finally flashing forwards, tapping her on the forehead.

He made sure not to hit her to where it would have made damage. He smiled down at her, surprising her. She dropped her hands, looking him in the eye. "Urahara-san?"

"I noticed." Ishida looked over, confused. "What's up?"

"You used shunpo. You don't even know the shinigami's shunpo yet but you still used it." Ishida nodded. "I'm sorry, was that cheating?"

"No. That was perfect." Urahara grinned at him. "Next, is the real hard part. Fortunately we didn't fill in the pit."

"Pit?!" Ishida stepped back, afraid as Tessai started forming seals, Ishida felt his hands snap back behind him. Tessai took him by the waist and they both jumped to the bottom of the hole that was hidden in the back of the basement.

"You have seventy two hours to climb out of there."

"And I can't use my hands?" He called up, sitting peacefully in the back of the room.

"Here's the thing, at the end of seventy two hours in that pit you're either going to be a shinigami or a hollow. It's more or less saying you have seventy two hours to change. I know with the way your head works, startling you into submission won't work. Here's the facts."

You have to turn to a shinigami or we'll cut you. You may gain the power to become a shinigami, but you won't go soon. You'll lose your memories. If you can become a shinigami, you're fine."

"Is there anything that could help? A way of thinking, a train of thought, an exercise?"

"Think about power. Imagine being a shinigami and see if that helps. Besides that, watch out. When the chain corrodes, it hurts." Ishida nodded and looked down. He knew it would be soon, if it would be out in seventy two hours, then it should start soon.

It felt as if his chest were run through, on fire and being raped by Kempachi.

Sick bastard would probably love that...

He caught his breath, finding his face in the dirt. He pulled himself back to his feet and breathed in. "I'll be a shinigami. I have no other choice." He imagined Hitsugaya, Ukitake, Kyouraku, Matsumoto, Kurotsuchi... His head swam as he imagined the power they held. He tried to imagine having that power. He wanted that strength.

But why? Why did he want the power?

"I want to be stronger. I want to be stronger than him..." He gritted his teeth, looking over at Tessai.

He was even strong. He had the strength of these barriers.

He looked up at Ururu. She was a monster on the battle field. The little girl had the strength to wipe so many from this existence. She was so sweet, though.

He looked at Urahara. He knew he'd been a taicho. The way he moved, the random bits of strength, he was truly powerful.

Ishida wanted that. He wanted the power.

The power of those around him. He wanted to be more than acceptable. He wanted to be admired. He wanted...

He didn't want to be alone.

He looked down at himself.

"I don't want it." He mumbled, earning a look from Tessai. "Urahara-dono?!"

"Leave him be." Urahara called down at the man, who was frowning. If he fell into despair, he was gone.

Ishida imagined the face of Orohime, hanging on Ichigo's side. He knew that he'd never be with her now. Nothing would work out with them.

It was the way things were.

She was gone to him, as were Chad, Ichigo, Urahara, they would not see him barely ever. That's his life now, he was about to give away everything, every little thing.

"I don't want that!" Ishida stood, feeling another burn in his chest, at first he thought it was another corrosion, then it intensified.

He fell to his knees, his face again falling to the dirt before he felt his back arch, a scream breaking free of him.

Urahara watched, as did Tessai with interest as the white started to erupt from him, covering his face, his arm, both of them feeling as if they had been ripped off.

Ishida could just scream. He couldn't even breathe in, just scream. As if everything in him were trying to get out.

The pain was too much for him, Ishida felt himself grow unsteady, small white lights coming into the corners of his eyes.

"It's too late! He's turning into a hollow!" Tessai yelled up and Urahara held his hand up. "Remember Ichigo! Maybe it's a problem with the pit..."

Ishida felt the white cover his face, like liquid foam, it burned him as it covered.

'I'm not going to do it... I'm gonna be a hollow... I don't want to!'

"No!" He stood again, fighting the hollow that threatened so badly to escape.

He broke the arm restraints, reaching up, digging, tearing at the mask on his face. He screamed as the burning went through his arm, across his face, and he looked up, seeing large pillars falling at him.

Before he even knew what he was doing he'd used shunpo, leaping to the top of the pit. He tore at the mask, feeling it harden on him. He finally felt the burn leave him and rolled over to his back, gasping for air.

"I didn't think spirits needed to breathe. He looked over at Urahara who just looked at him. "What have you become?" Ishida felt his skin feel normal in some spaces, but in others the white hollow's mask clung to him. He reached up, grabbing at his shoulder and tore the white away. He reached up, yanking the mask from himself.

"Am I a hollow?"

Urahara walked up to him with a smile. "You almost were. Ichigo only had the face mask. Your arm was what surprised us."

"That was a bitch..." Ishida smiled before passing out.

Hope you enjoy! I'll try and update daily!

Please read and review! My last story was 19 chapters and I didn't get a single review! It made me sad. :(