Normal POV

Karkura Town, 10: 17 p.m.

Rukia rushed down Main Street. A powerful group of hollows had ambushed the town and it was up to her, Ichigo, Hitsugaya, Ikkaku, and Yumichika to eliminate them. From what she was feeling from Hitsugaya they were powerful. She was supposed to run into a hollow near the upcoming high school.

As she neared she could sense a nasty spiritual pressure. So strong it almost knocked her off her feet. When the high school was in view, she jumped behind a tree. She peeked out from behind as a dark shadow emerged from behind another tree a few yards away. She drew her sword and prepared for an attack.

Slow, still moments drifted by. Rukia didn't notice she was holding her breath until she felt dizzy. She let it out in a quiet whistle. The shadow walked closer to her and she could see it was tall, possibly a head or two taller than Ichigo.

Rukia tensed as she leaped up into the tree's branches and prepared to attack. She leaped off the tree branch and drew her sword. She raised it above her head and let out a battle cry (Author: it sorta sound like: Raaaaahhhhhh!!!!!). She swung it as the hollow blocked it with a large sword-like claw.

"Relax! It's just me! Have you gone mad?!" A familiar voice yelled at her.

Rukia gasped as she realized whom it was. She jumped away and put her sword back in its case that hung from her belt. Sure enough, Ichigo walked out of the shadows, zanpakto in hand along with a confused/ annoyed look.

"Geez…what are trying to do? Kill me?" He asked her.

Rukia felt her face grow hot. She was glad it was dark out. She shook off the feeling and drew in her breath.

"Sorry, I must have overacted," She apologized.

"Must have been one hell of an overreaction," Ikkaku commented as he walked out of the shadows, Yumichika beside him.

"What happened? There was supposed to be a hollow right here a second ago," Rukia wondered out loud.

"It faded by what I saw," A voice answered.

Rukia whirled around and Hitsugaya was leaning against the tree that she had leaped out of. His face was covered in scratches and had a couple cuts in places. There was also a tiny stream of blood running down his face. Despite his appearance, he looked fully conscious and alert.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by faded?" He asked him.

"I was about to use Bankai on him when there was a flash of white, purple, green, and black. Then the hollowed turned blue and froze, like it was frozen solid," Hitsugaya began explaining. "Then a crown shape appeared below him and lit up. Then he just disappeared, just like that," He finished his tale.

Yumichika gave Hitsugaya a puzzle look. "A crown? How strange, did you feel anything weird like…a unique spiritual pressure or something?" Yumichika asked, confused and interested in the strange occurrence at the same time.

"Now that you mention it…I did. It felt like I was near a bright light source, almost like magic in a way," Hitsugaya replied.

"Magic?" Ichigo wondered questioningly. "Are you sure you're not delusional from you head wound?" She asked him.

"Maybe it also could have been Hades dropping by to thank us for giving him the souls," Ikkaku joked

Ichigo yawned. "Whatever it is, we'll ask Kisuke about it tomorrow. I'm suddenly tired all of a sudden," Ichigo decided.

Rukia nodded as she pulled out her cell phone. She checked the map and sure enough, there were no signs of hollows anywhere in Karkura Town. She yawned as well.

"Might as well call it a night. I'll take Hitsugaya to Orihime's place so she can heal him," Rukia suggested.

"No, they're not that serous. I can treat them myself as long as I have some band-aids, bandages, and some of that Neosporin stuff," Hitsugaya told her as he counted what he needed on his fingers. "Why can't the soul society have Neosporin? Disinfecting wounds would be a whole lot easier?" Hitsugaya sighed.