This story is based after Ichigo returns from saving Rukia during the SS arch and meeting the Vizards.

A HEART SO HOLLOW

CHAPTER 1 – Rukia Returns & Ichigo's Lost Resolve

It was a mellow day, the sun half hidden behind white fluffy clouds. The sky was a crystal blue, pristine and crisp. A calming breeze teased the trees producing a sound similar to waves brushing up against a sandy beach. Ichigo felt relaxed and content as he jogged down the streets of his neighborhood. The wind blew his bangs gently off his forehead with each step he took keeping him from becoming overheated. The air felt pure and clean as he took it in through his nostrils and carried it into his lungs. It reminded him how fresh the air seemed to be in Soul Society, which reminded him of Rukia…. How long had it been since he'd seen her? He shook the thought from his mind and continued jogging onward.

The narrow streets were tranquil and quite, the sunlight bounced off trees and buildings casting shadows on the concrete road and cracked side walks. Occasionally he would hear birds sing and chirp at each other, or the sound of charms jiggling in the wind. He'd jog by neighbors lazily placed outside their homes in comfortable lawn chairs with cold tea and radios turned down low.

It truly was a peaceful day in Karakurachou Town. While he appreciated that his life was somewhat back to normal now, his heart yearned for the excitement of a Shinigami's life.

His mind pondered as he approached his house. Stopping to take a few breaths he looked up at his bedroom window. Without realizing it he smiled thinking back to all the times Rukia had jumped out of it.

Ichigo wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm and kicked off his shoes after entering his home. It was quite and empty in the Kurosaki household, no patients in the clinic and his father and sisters were out on the town shopping. The air conditioning was off but it still felt cool and cozy, it wasn't hot enough outside to bother turning it on. The window in the kitchen was open, the blinds slightly open. The sun gave light to the whole house giving Ichigo no reason to bother turning on the lights.

He opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water drinking the whole thing with one gulp. He tossed the empty bottle into the trash and made his way upstairs to his bathroom for a much needed shower.

He tripped over a manga and a pair of shoes lying in the middle of his floor. There were clothes scattered around his room and balled up homework that was never finished overflowing out of his trash can. His guitar was half off the stand, the cord wrapped around the chair at his desk. Pencils and pens were scattered all over his desk, his comforter and sheets were in a ruffled mess on his bed.

Usually he kept his room pretty clean, but he was so busy lately and he was running out of places to put things. Normally he would just push everything into his closet but since Rukia had been living in there his stuff slowly began to pile up outside the closet. Even though Rukia had been gone for about 4 months now he still kept the closet the way she left it. A blanket and pillow, a set of one of sister's pajamas (how she got those he didn't know) his favorite manga that he had been looking all over for, and a single Chappy earring that must of gotten left behind. Much to Ichigo's surprise she had a photo of her and him wrestling in the grass at the park pinned to the closet wall. You could see a few strands of orange hair in the corner of the picture so Inoue must have been the one to have taken the photo. He remembered that day like it was only yesterday. It was right before Rukia was kidnapped and taken to Soul Society. Rukia, Chad, Inoue, Ishida and he had all gone to the park for a picnic, Inoue's idea. He had been throwing peanuts at Rukia when she wasn't looking but after about the tenth peanut hit her head she found out it was him and wrestled him to the ground. He smiled nostalgically as he remembered it.

He walked over to his closet and opened the door. Her scent was still there but he noticed it fading more and more each day. Occasionally he would find himself opening up the sliding door hoping to find her there reading a manga, doodling that dumb bunny in one of his notebooks, or sleeping with an angelic look on her face. He didn't like to admit it, but he missed her staying in his room. He never imagined he'd enjoy sharing his room with anyone, especially someone as stubborn as her but now that she was gone he felt like something important was missing from his life.

He missed her violent yet playful behavior; he missed her wide violet-blue eyes and boyish attitude. Hell, he hated to admit it but Ichigo missed everything about her. His fists balled and his knuckles turned white, he had this awful feeling of emptiness when he thought about her not returning from Soul Society with him. Feeling so hopeless made him angrier at himself and he just wanted to punch something. It puzzled him as to why he felt so despaired, which only seemed to anger him more.

He kicked some things out of the way and pulled off his shirt throwing it in the overflowing clothes hamper by his door. Walking into his bathroom he groaned as he noticed there were no clean towels. He walked back into his room and scanned it looking for anything clean to dry off with. Sure he could just go downstairs and get a clean one, but that took effort and right now he just wanted to relax in the shower. He eyeballed a small blanket twisted all around in his comforter and figured he would use that. He reached out and pulled at it but it wouldn't untangle, pulling harder and harder and even wiggling it around aggressively it still wouldn't budge.

He growled and jumped on the bed in frustration but slipped backwards and landed on something solid and warm. His eyes got wide and he froze completely in shock wondering what the hell was underneath him. Suddenly, whatever it was beneath him began to move. He quickly jumped off it and stood in a fighting stance ready to attack the intruder. He watched and waited as whatever was in his bed struggled to get out from under the comforter. Starting to get irritated he dropped his guard and walked closer to the bed pulling the comforter back. What he saw was a totally surprise, his eyes got wide and his jaw dropped. He steeped back in sheer shock while taking in vibrant violet eyes and black hair.

"R-Rukia?" He stuttered and blinked a couple times.

"No swilly!" Rukia's Gigai remarked pushing herself up and out of the comforter.

"Wha?" Ichigo's shocked expression was sure enough changing back into a scowl. He knew it was Rukia's Chappy Gigai as soon as she spoke with that annoying accent.

"What the hell are you doing here? Where is Rukia?"

"Gee what a tewmper! Rukia left and told me to twell you she'll come by here later," Chappy Rukia said patting down her hair and adjusting her clothes.

"Get out of my bed," Ichigo reached for Chappy Rukia's arm but she dodged and leaned down biting him directly above the wrist.

"Gah, let go you midget!" He shook his arm violently hoping she would release her sharp teeth from his hand. Finally she let go and Ichigo scowled at her while cradling his arm.

"Where is she?" he demanded in a serious tone.

"Maybe I should twell him… he sounds pwetty mad," the Gigai thought out loud while twirling her hair with her finger.

"Damn right I'm mad!" Ichigo hollered.

"Kay! Follow me Ichigooo," She hopped off of the bed and out the window. Ichigo shook is head, a little disturbed by how she said his name, and followed her.

ONE HOUR LATER

"Are you sure you know where she is?" Ichigo huffed following the small framed Gigai.

"Ummm…" She stopped and held in her pointer finger up to her bottom lip quizitively.

"I don't understand why I can't pick up her reiatsu," Ichigo pondered aloud.

"Dwere!" the Chappy Gigai grabbed Ichigo's hand and led him into an abandoned building.

It looked very familiar inside, and soon Ichigo recognized it to be the same warehouse where the Vizards had trained him in his Hollow form only weeks ago. Both the Gigai and him stood alert as they heard arguing coming from deeper inside the building.

"Tell me how! I'm tired of being patient…" Rukia hollered, her hand grasped tightly to the hilt of her sword.

"Clam down, clam down, I'm trying to explain to you that it's not that simple!" Shinji exasperated.

The headstrong Hiyori circled Rukia as if she was prey while cursing her for intruding.

"Why you pesky bitch!" Hiyori launched for an attack but was stopped by Kensei who held her back. Rukia completely ignored the short blonde girl, causing Hiyori to become even angrier as she wiggled in Kensei's grasp.

"Rukia!" Ichigo called to her as he rose from the shadows.

"Ichi…go…" Rukia turned to him, almost in slow motion it seemed. She was shocked and happy to see her friend after being separated from him for so long. Seeing his face pulled at her heart stringed and she wanted ever so badly to tackle him with an embrace, but she knew now wasn't the time. The two locked eyes and their expressions softened as they gazed into each other's faces. Rukia noticed how Ichigo had aged while she was gone, he looked worn down somehow.

"How rowmantic!" the Chappy Gigai interrupted.

Ichigo and Rukia hastily looked away from each other and at the floor with red faces.

"Ichigo! Is this your feisty broad?" Shinji waved to the orange head while keeping his other hand in his pocket.

"Yeah, she's quite the babe!" Kensei added.

"Broad! Babe!" Rukia glared at Shinji with her fierce blue eyes and slightly blushed at Kensei's remark.

Ichigo laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He hurried to Rukia's side and placed his hand on her shoulder. She broke her stare with Shinji and looked up at him vigilantly.

"What are you doing here Rukia?" Ichigo asked.

Rukia looked down a bit embarrassed, an emotion she wasn't used to feeling.

"I…well, I wanted to find out how to help you control…your Hollow inside," she paused while keeping her eyes to the floor, unable to meet his face, "I had a horrible vision in a dream last night about your Hollow form…"

"You had a dream about me?" Ichigo was surprised to hear this but his expression changed sorrowfully.

"There is nothing you can do to help me…"

"What is wrong with you Ichigo? When did you become a man with no resolve?" Rukia asked firmly as she broadened her shoulders and got in his face.

This caught Shinji and the other Vizards in the room attention. Ichigo backed away from Rukia, speechless and taken back by her change of attitude and tone of voice.

"It is frightening to lose? Not being able to protect your friends? Or are you reluctant to face the hollow inside!"

Ichigo's eyes widened as she hit the nail on the head. He was unsure of how to respond to her and his eyes darted to the floor in shame.

Closing her eyes Rukia took a breath to calm herself before finishing what she had to say.

"If you are afraid of being defeated, just get stronger! If you are afraid of loosing your friends, swear to yourself that will become stronger to protect them," the pitch in her voice rose, "If you are afraid of the Hollow inside you…Just get stronger until you can crush him! That's the kind of man you've always been, in my heart ICHIGO!" She yelled the last part, clutching her hand tightly onto her blouse above her heart.

Shinji, Chappy Gigai, and the other Vizards stood in awe from Rukia's heartfelt speech. Ichigo's felt a surge of confidence and his heart beat quickened. How did she manage to make his heart skip this way? He was grateful for how she always motivated him with her passionate words; he had such great respect for the small woman before him.

Ichigo grabbed his Zanpakuto and pointed it towards Shinji, "Please continue to teach me how to control my inner hollow."

"O-oh okay!" Shinji said startled by Ichigo's new resolve. The last training session they had did not go so well with Ichigo becoming flustered and leaving to 'deal with it on his own'. Rukia smirked and folded her arms, proud of her friend for facing his problems head on.

Hiyori lost interest and spat on the ground as she walked off towards the back of the room with her companions. Rukia leaned up against the wall and observed closely as Shinji and the other Vizards explained to Ichigo the next steps in controlling his inner Hollow. She had decided to learn everything she could about it, in case she may be able to help Ichigo in anyway. She certainly did not want what happened in her dream to come true, she shuddered at the thought.