The Hole

By Spunky0ne

(Storyline suggested by RMEGMR (Sorry it took forever to get going!)! Thanks for the challenge. This is Ichi/Grimm. Hope you like!)

Chapter 1: Long Fall into the Deep

Ichigo soared across the dark, drifting sands of Hueco Mundo, frowning slightly and honing in on a reiatsu signal in the distance. Beside him, Abarai Renji rode the back of his skeletal snake with Byakuya, Rikichi and Rukia seated just behind him.

"We last read Tetsuya's position somewhere around here, ne?" Renji said, glancing at his fukutaichou for confirmation and earning a nod from Rikichi.

"Yes sir," Rikichi replied, looking around, "The signal came from just ahead. But we'll have to approach carefully. Kuchiki fukutaichou reported the presence of some kind of trap just before his communications were cut off."

"And we haven't heard from Arashi or him since," Rukia acknowledged worriedly, "This isn't good."

"I do not sense Tetsuya's reiatsu yet," noted Byakuya, "however, there is some kind of disturbance in the reiatsu here."

"I sense it too," Renji agreed.

"Hell, even I sense that," Ichigo mused.

"Which immediately makes it suspicious," Byakuya concluded, "If one was trying to hide its presence, it would not use a method that almost seems meant to bring attention to itself."

"Weird," Renji said, studying the area just ahead of them and bringing the skeletal snake to a stop.

"I think we should proceed very carefully from here," Byakuya suggested, sliding down from the great snake's back and waiting as the others followed, "That reiatsu disruption could very well be a lure to draw prey into the area, where it might become vulnerable to some kind of trap."

"Do you think that's what happened to them, then?" queried Rikichi, his worried brown eyes scanning the area ahead of them, "They might have fallen into whatever trap this disruption led them to?"

"If that is the case, then this lure is a capable one to have drawn Tetsuya and Arashi in and overcome them," Byakuya said warningly.

Renji noticed the alarmed expression that rose on Rikichi's face at the mention of danger to Tetsuya, and he patted the younger shinigami on the back.

"Don't worry, kid," he said bracingly, "We'll find your pretty boyfriend and have him back home safe in no time, okay?"

"S-sure. Of course, Abarai taichou," Rikichi answered, a sliver of remaining doubt in his voice.

"Nii-sama," Rukia said, lowering her voice, "I sense something on the other side of that dune over there."

"I do as well," the clan leader agreed, "Come with me."

The group crept forward, keeping a close formation as they climbed the dune and peeked cautiously over the top. Rikichi gave a soft gasp and Ichigo made a sound of surprise and concern as they spotted a small hollow jumping around next to two larger, motionless forms.

"Let go of Nel, you nasty sticky stuff!" the little hollow shouted furiously, "You can't make me faint and I won't let you eat Pretty-san and our friend, Arashi-chan!"

"Whoa!" Ichigo cried, flash stepping away from the others, "Nel!"

He was stopped in his tracks a moment later by Rukia and Byakuya, who each took hold of one of his arms and held him back.

"Stop, you fool!" snapped Rukia, "You almost stepped in it!"

"In what?" Ichigo demanded, "What's got Nel, Tetsuya and Arashi?"

"Kyuuketsuki-ho," Byakuya answered darkly, "Creeping Vampire Vine. It is a living organism that is nearly impossible to see that lures and entraps its victims, first sucking their blood out, then slowly devouring them. They are an exceedingly rare form of hollow."

"Tetsuya!" Rikichi gasped, starting to flash step forward, only to feel an arm wrap around his waist a moment later as Renji stopped him.

"Hey, don't get reckless!" the eighth divison taichou warned his subordinate, "You want to get caught up and eaten?"

"B-but Tetsuya...!"

"He's going to be all right," Renji said firmly, "I'm sure Nel got to them before that thing started sucking his blood."

"And even if he and Arashi were bitten," Byakuya went on, "they wouldn't be transformed until all of their blood was drained."

"They just might be a little more affectionate than usual," Rukia snickered.

"Oh, I think someone's going to be busy tonight," Renji chuckled, glancing at his blushing fukutaichou.

"Come along," Byakuya said shortly, cutting off their frivolity, "we need to free them."

The clan leader led the group around the edges of the barely visible growth, guiding them carefully towards Nel, then stopped a short distance away and drew his sword.

"Hold still," he warned the hollow, "and do not be afraid. The petals will come close and might touch you, but they will not cut you."

Nearby, Ichigo swore softly as he felt a sharp nip on his ankle and spotted an edge of the creeping vine touching him.

"Damn it!" he muttered, skittering away and moving in closer to the group as Byakuya summoned his power.

"Bankai, scatter Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

The group watched as a sea of petals converged on the trapped hollow, shinigami and horse, then struck the creeping vine with deadly accuracy. On the heels of his attack, Rukia struck the broken bits of vine with a shower of freezing snow, making the bits stiffen, then shatter and dissipate. Almost instantly, the disruption in the reiatsu around them disappeared. Ahead of them, Nel dropped to her knees at Tetsuya and Arashi's side, pausing for a moment, then making a guttural noise and expelling a heavy splash of saliva onto the two unconscious forms.

"Ugh," Ichigo complained softly, "I think those two are glad they're not awake right now."

He flinched as his ankle twinged painfully.

"That stuff may be gross, but you remember how good it heals injuries," Renji reminded him.

"Yeah," Ichigo admitted grudgingly, "It heals things great, but it's disgusting!"

"Well, I don't think Tetsuya or Arashi will complain about that, given the relief from their wounds."

"Are you sure they'll be all right, Kuchiki taichou?" Rikichi asked worriedly, "Kuchiki fukutaichou looks terribly pale!"

"That is the effect of the vine's venom," explained Byakuya, "It causes the victim to enter a euphoric state and to relax completely so that he or she will not fight as they are drained of blood. They are not even aware they are dying."

"Shit, that's freaky!" Renji mused anxiously.

"But they'll be okay? You're sure?" Rikichi persisted.

"Tetsuya and Arashi will be fine now," Byakuya affirmed, "They will be pale and cold, and may be emotionally excitable or overly amorous. But...I am sure that with you there with Tetsuya tonight to manage him, he will recover fully."

"What about ol' fleabag?" Renji chuckled, "Who's going to manage him?"

"I think Ikazuchi's presence will comfort him," Byakuya said, smirking very slightly.

"Better him than that funky zebra that always tries to follow me around!" Renji huffed, "That bastard's annoying as hell!"

"Yeah, come to think of it, you two are like peas in a pod. He's just like you! Neither of you has any manners!" Ichigo quipped, ducking aside as Renji swatted at him.

"I'll teach you some manners!" Renji steamed.

"Abarai taichou," Byakuya said quietly, instantly halting the redhead's tirade, "I think we should examine the area around here to determine if we have eradicated all of this vine or if there are others."

"Y-yeah, you're right," Renji sighed, "Later, Ichigo."

"See ya," Ichigo chuckled.

He shook his head briefly as Byakuya, Rukia and Renji spread out in a search pattern, while Rikichi remained at Nel's side, assisting the hollow in Tetsuya and Arashi's healing.

"You okay, Nel?" he asked, grimacing slightly as the toddler expelled more healing saliva onto Arashi, who stirred sluggishly and groaned, then snorted in dismay and scrambled to his feet, "Heheh, I think Arashi's telling you he's all right now and doesn't want any more healing."

An amused chuckle escaped the Shiba heir as Arashi sniffed at the dripping goo on his body and his ears flicked about in annoyance.

"Or maybe that he's too grossed out for any more healing," Ichigo mused more softly.

Arashi lowered his head and nuzzled Tetsuya's cheek, rousing his master. The blue-eyed Kuchiki opened his eyes and blinked slowly as his senses returned, then made a soft 'Oh!' as he felt the sticky wetness all over his body.

"You're going to be okay now," Rikichi said, wrapping an arm around the noble and removing a small towel from his clothes to wipe away some of the offending moisture, "Sorry about that. It's just Nel-chan's healing ability. Nel-chan is the one who found you and kept that vine from devouring you and Arashi."

"Ah..." Tetsuya managed, still looking unsettled, "Thank you, Nel-chan...from Arashi and me. We are in your debt for putting yourself at risk for us."

"It's no problem!" Nel chirped cheerfully, "Nel wanted to help Pretty-san and Arashi-chan!"

"So what happened?" Rikichi asked, "How did you two get tangled up in that?"

"Eh," Tetsuya sighed in an annoyed tone, frowning at his errant mount, "I was examining a bit of it and it slipped around behind me and grabbed my ankle. I told Arashi to stay back, but he blundered in and only got me more entangled. He is young yet and has much to learn, I am afraid."

"Well, everything's okay now," Ichigo assured him, "Byakuya and the others are making sure all of that thing is gone. And I..."

He paused as a hell butterfly flitted into view and stopped in front of him.

Ichigo, Shiba Isshin's voice said, sounding slightly piqued, I forgot to remind you about the pain-in-the-ass Noble's General Council Meeting regarding your choosing ceremony. You need to come back and...

"Aw, man...I do not want to go to that thing," Ichigo groaned, shaking his head, "Will they ever shut up about picking a bride for me? When are they going to get that they can't tell me who I'm gonna marry!"

"They are a bother," Tetsuya sympathized, leaning against Rikichi as he tried several halting steps, "They have been after Byakuya-sama...erm, Kuchiki taichou, to marry almost since the moment Hisana-sama passed away. But you shouldn't ignore a summons of the Noble's General Council."

"Yeah, I know," Ichigo sighed, turning away and activating the device that Yoruichi had given him, "Bye guys. Can you let Byakuya and the others know where I went?"

"Of course," Tetsuya answered, swaying slightly as he let go of Rikichi and tested his strength with several more tentative steps.

Tetsuya and Rikichi watched as Ichigo rose into the air and flew back in the direction of the crossover point.

"It's too bad they're picking on him so much to get married," Rikichi said, continuing to clean the goop from Tetsuya's face, throat and arms.

Tetsuya's eyes met his and Rikichi noted the odd golden flicker in the dark centers.

"We should get you back home," Rikichi asserted.

"Yes," Tetsuya replied, a strange breathiness to his words, "You're right. I think we should go."

XXXXXXXXXX

I am so tired of this crap, Ichigo thought as he soared back in the direction he had come, I know that a lot of people died in the war and they're worried about passing on the legacy of our family's power, but this isn't something that I should have to rush into. And Dad's about as much 'help' as Renji would be in a noble's council meeting...His heart's in the right place, but he didn't really want to lead the family. We just lead because we're the most powerful, so it's our duty to watch out for the family. Damn. Maybe I should see if Byakuya gets back before it starts and ask him to come and help me out. He didn't do what he was told when he married Hisana. And he's sure not obeying them now, picking Renji to be his husband! Yeah, I should...

"Whoa!" Ichigo yelled, his cry turning into a long, drawn out wail as the flight device he was holding suddenly failed, "HEY! I thought Yoruichi said this wouldn't fail on me and drop me to the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

He seemed to fall endlessly, surrounded in blackness and with no idea when or where he would crash down. He summoned his reiatsu and let it radiate all around him, trying to slow himself down, but barely managed to make a noticeable difference as he tumbled downward. In a last ditch effort, he drew one blade and fired a downward blast. He thought then, that he might have heard a yelling voice, but quickly wrote it off as an odd echo. He crashed down into the ground, sending sand flying in all directions and plunging him into unconsciousness.

Ichigo wasn't sure how much later he began to feel the pain in his body again, but was sure that he would rather have remained unconscious rather than to experience it.

"F-fuck, that hurt!" he panted, trying to move, then stiffening as strong hands held him down.

"Lie still, asshole," growled a gruff, familiar voice, "You almost fucking bought it right there and took me with you. If you weren't unconscious, I would've trashed your ass!"

"Ugh...G-grimmjow?" Ichigo grunted, blinking and squinting.

"Who the hell'd you think it was, Santy Claus?" the sexta Espada snarled softly.

"I almost didn't recognize you in your kitty form," Ichigo chuckled weakly.

"You little prick!" Grimmjow snapped furiously, "It's not a goddamned kitty! It's Pantera! It's a panther, you know-nothing moron!"

"But why are you in resurreccìon form? Were you fighing?" Ichigo asked, sitting up too quickly, then grabbing his head and grunting in pain.

"Stay still, baka!" Grimmjow said irritably, "You just fell a really long way and almost used your head as your landing gear. Just take it easy, all right? And no, I wasn't fighting. I had to release my resurreccìon because some damned fool near blasted my head off as he fell down this hole!"

"What's with this place, anyway?" Ichigo mused, squinting and rubbing a rising bump on his head.

"What the fuck does it look like?" Grimmjow grumbled, "It's a damned hole!"

"I'd say it's more than just a hole," the Shiba heir said, peering around in the darkness, "The thing Yoruichi gave me to help me fly stopped working as soon as I passed over it. That's why I fell in."

"Yeah, it seems to interfere with our powers. My sonido crapped out while I was running across it and I fell down."

"Well, at least it's getting a little lighter. It was creepy being all dark like that before."

"It's not getting brighter, stupid," Grimmjow said dryly, "It's you. You're glowing."

"What?" Ichigo asked, scowling and looking down at his body, "WHAT THE HELL?"