Well, I figured it was about time I wrote something. I'll apologize now if I end up forgetting about it DX….I'll try very hard not to though cause I'm actually rather excited about this idea. Anywho, here it is, I hope you enjoy n .n.

Chapter One: Shadows

It was a sunny Monday morning in Karakura town, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, there wasn't a cloud in the sky save for a wisp here and there. It was the middle of the day so everybody was either rushing to lunch or sitting in class. One in particular, an orange haired young man with a rather intimidating expression was sitting in a particularly boring literature class. His name, Ichigo Kurosaki, a fifteen year old high school student and substitute Soul Reaper.

Hollow activity had been on the down low for a while now, as strange as it was, he wasn't really complaining all that much. He wouldn't have to suddenly run out of the classroom followed closely by his three closest friends, Chad, Uryu, and Orihime in order to combat some weakling hollow only to then return to a flurry of scolds coming from their teacher

But today, the badge that Captain Ukitake had given him before he left the Soul Society, was silent. Yawning and gazing almost boredly out the window as the class seemed to just drag on. It looked like another day of hollow inactivity, well, at least now he had time to actually catch up with all the homework Kon had neglected the entire time they were trying to rescue Rukia. The bell rang and signaled that classes were done for the day, with a heavy sigh the orange haired substitute Soul Reaper got to his feet and half heartedly stuffed his books into his book bag before slinging it over his shoulder. With an idle wave to a few of his friends, he slipped out the door without another word.

Perhaps it was too quiet, too peaceful, the more he thought about it the more odd it seemed to get. Normally there was at least one hollow attack on a good day, but for the past couple of days…nothing. It seemed terribly out of character for them to just suddenly decide not to attack souls here in the human world, so the main question was…where did they go?

So deep in his own thoughts, Ichigo was not aware that he had a few followers. Though, once he broke from those thoughts, he turned and found that Orihime, Chad, and Uryu were right there behind him.

"Ahg! Guys! Don't scare me like that!" his reaction perhaps over exaggerated, but not entirely inaccurate. Uryu seemed rather annoyed by it as he gingerly pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"I take it you've noticed also…." He said trying not to make a snarky comment. It took Ichigo a moment to realize what the other was saying before nodding.

"Yeah, the lack of hollow attacks the past few days." He replied while glancing over at the other two who simply gave nods in agreement, "What do you suppose is going on?"

"Most likely nothing, but we should keep our eyes and ears peeled." Uryu stated simply. Ichigo sighed, he'd hoped that was the case. Perhaps it was just a dry spell…

--

Meanwhile, the Soul Society was buzzing with activity, but the main focus was on the Captains meeting taking place. All of the Captains, save for the three traitors, were present, there was a rather thick layer of tension weighing down on them but their dignity did not allow them to show it. Without having to be told, Captain Soi-fon stepped forward and started to give her report.

"With the sudden decrease in hollow activity, a small reconnaissance team was sent to investigate both the human world as well as the outer regions of the Soul Society. The team returned safely from the search here, however, I have yet to receive any news from the human world."

"What? Why is that?" Captain Ukitake asked, it was not usual for him to appear at these meetings, but under the circumstances, he insisted on being there despite his poor health.

"If I'd known that it wouldn't have been an issue." She stated curtly, she was still a little irritated with the Captain of squad thirteen , as well as squad eight, for their siding with the ryoka…but that was in the past so she tried not to let it hinder her judgment too much.

That was when Mayuri, Captain of squad twelve, raised his hand, however did not wait to be addressed. Rather, he just cut right in, "Have you considered the possibility that something might be manipulating the hollows?" it was less of a question and more an accusation, then anything else.

"You mean like Aizen?" Captain Shunsui interjected his demeanor calm as always if not a bit on the smug side.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

"Well, we already know he can command menos, so it's entirely possible he's able to manipulate lesser hollows. But why would he?" Ukitake thought out loud. The room was silent for a moment, Aizen did have the means, but the motive didn't fit. Why would he use lesser hollows when he had something so much stronger? They would keep him as a suspect but continued to discuss the issue.

--

Back in Karakura Town, Ichigo had just arrived home. Somewhere along the way, Rukia had shown up to inform him about the meeting and about the strange hollow disappearance.

"Yeah, I already noticed," Ichigo muttered while tossing his book back onto his desk before plopping down on his bed and leaning back a little to gaze out the window, "Chad, Uryu, and Orihime have noticed also…" he then glanced back over at Rukia and asked, "I suppose I can cut out the idea that perhaps there was some other soul reaper going around and taking care of them for me…" he chuckled a little.

"Ichigo, don't be stupid, you would have still felt their spiritual pressure." Rukia scolded, which was only pouted at slightly. The room was quiet for a while, while the two just glanced off in their own directions before the ground shook.

"What was that?!" Ichigo jumped to his feet just as a monstrous roar split the silence. Both he and Rukia looked at each other. It sounded like a hollow! But why hadn't the detectors gone off? And that spiritual pressure wasn't normal…it was all over the place. Nodding, Rukia took out her special soul removing glove and gave Ichigo a quick jab to the forehead, successfully dislodging his soul from his body.

With Zangetsu at the ready, both Ichigo and Rukia jumped from the window and took off in the direction the roar had come from. There was smoke not too far ahead, had something exploded? People were running away and screaming by the time they got closer. Soon enough, they came to a pause, the ground before them was cracked and the dust was considerably thicker. Another roar and the ground trembled, and as if on que, the creature making that noise stepped out.

The monster before them was like a very large rabbit. It had long ears, a long snout with sharp teeth at the end, strong legs built specifically for jumping and possibly kicking as well. Its eyes were a dark and sickly yellow color and it was void of any fur, though it's build was exceptionally skinny, especially around the middle area.

That…was no hollow.

Whee, that was fun…next chapter will have action! Adventure! Romance! –thinks- well, it'll definitely have the action…and not that kind you dirty minded people you x3.