WARNING: there are a great deal of spoilers packed into this story, so if you haven't read all the Bleach manga up to the most recent, being 3/10/08, then this story will give away a great deal. So you should definitely go read those so you can read this, and because Bleach kicks ass and reading is good for you, if more people did it America may not be as packed with illiterate bums as it is.
Disclaimer: I don't own bleach or any of this shit, anything past the point of the most recent manga is all SPECULATION, which means its bound to be proven wrong as the newer manga volumes come out, rendering this speculation false.
The fact that I pulled this shit together speaks volumes about how utterly bored I am.
Ichigo was sitting on one of the many rocks created by Kenpachi's fight. He cradled Nell in his arms as he sat thinking desperately. Kenpachi was trying to heal the wounds himself with the little Kido he had picked up along the way. Ichigo had just decided that it would be better to wait for Kenpachi wounds to heal when he stood up and Yachiru jumped gleefully to his shoulder, ecstatic that her friend and captain had been restored to, what they both considered, 'good health'.
"I do not want to leave MY world in the incapable hands of Soul Society captains who have already fired massive cannon, possibly bringing the destruction of my town and possibly a great deal more, into my world to protect their own." Kenpachi grinned; "Well you can discuss it with them" Kenpachi pointed towards a cloud of dust in the distance, wherein Ichigo could clearly make out the reiatsu of Renji, Rukia and to his great displeasure, Byakuya. As the cloud dispersed and released the various members including, Ishida, Chad, Rukia, Renji, Byakuya, Mayuri, Unohana and to everyone's distinct surprise Pesche and Dondochakka. Ichigo sighed as he looked around at the unlikely group.
"Well what now?" Byakuya asked, as Ichigo remembered Aizen's words as they rang through his mind again.
"Well that's obvious…" Ishida started
"We're going to go to that tower…" Ichigo continued
"And get Orihime back." Renji and Rukia burst in simultaneously, as Chad nodded his approval.
"I don't believe we were given orders to rescue any, Inoue Orihime's." Byakuya said solemnly. "Then don't!" Ichigo snarled barely glancing at Byakuya, "Nobody asked for your goddamned help anyway!"
"Well they're not leaving her unguarded, so I'm going." Kenpachi said. The usual bloodlust shining through his darkened eyes as Yachiru bounced around in impatience on his shoulder. "As will I" Unohana said, carefully avoiding the penetrating stare she now was receiving from Byakuya and Mayuri. Ichigo finally turned to face the two, Nell still held firmly in his arms. "Nobody asked either of you to come, you don't want to? Wait here and rot or whatever the hell it is you do."
The small Nell in Ichigo's arms stirred as Pesche and Dondochakka jumped forward to check her condition. "Ithigo?" Nell asked looking up at the bright haired man holding her. He smiled down at her, "Yeah, we're going to go get Orihime now, you should stay here." Ichigo said, placing her gently into Pesche's arms. Nell's eyes widened immediately, "No! Ithigo, I'm coming with you!" Nell squirmed and leaped out of Pesche's grasp as she leaped and held onto Ichigo's shoulder in a very 'Yachiru-like' fashion. Ichigo smiled back at her, "Ok, but no getting hurt this time, got it?" Ichigo said easily as he smiled at her.
"As much as I'd hate to interrupt this moment of tranquility, shouldn't we be going?" An irritable Ishida asked, his voice almost a low growl. "Yeah, yeah, let's go!" Ichigo said as he began to walk off towards the massive castle-like form in the distance. Rukia and Renji shot forward, earning them both disapproving looks from Byakuya, who at this point, was thoroughly irritated at being ignored for so long.
Byakuya shot out in front of Ichigo, "Do you think you have a chance, they are probably guarded with the 'fallen Espada'" Ichigo looked at him for a full ten seconds before walking around him saying, "Get bent, no one asked for your two sense." Ichigo kept walking, with Chad and Ishida, clearly having the same thoughts drifting through their heads as they walked by. Kenpachi shrugged as he stepped around a thunderstruck Byakuya. As the rest of the group walked past, even Renji and Rukia didn't look all too upset with Ichigo's word choice. Rukia ran to catch up to Ichigo and fell into place next to him. Renji grinned apologetically at Byakuya, which anyone could have easily mistaken his apologetic grin as a mocking one, as he passed him by. At a quick nod to Byakuya, Unohana moved forward, and at a quick nod from Ichigo, the whole party shot off at a run. Byakuya left in the same spot he was a second ago, rendered speechless for what may be the first time in his long life, Mayuri chuckling behind him as he sat down with Nemu in his arms.
Meanwhile….
"I've been doing this for HOURS! Can we take a break?" Exclaimed an out of breath and exhausted girl. "Well you can, but you'll be of no use to Ichigo like this, and with Aizen's assault on hold now that he's finally figured out just how prepared we were, we don't know when he will attack, do you want to be as useless as you were last time?" Urahara's words seem to strike home with the black haired girl as she straightened up and looked at Urahara again. "Fine, lets continue!"
"Who the hell is that girl?" Toushiro asked Matsumoto, who was obviously bored, which Toushiro had the foresight to see was a horrible thing. "Umm, Orihime-chan's friend I think…Tatsuki? I don't remember I think that's her name." Matsumoto replied loftily. The entire Vizard division that had trained Ichigo was sitting in their own group away from the Shinigami. Although the Vizard were far from happy with the arrangement, they had no where else to go as the Aizen was targeting them as well, and although they felt sure they could take out Aizen, his army, and everyone else single handedly, they eventually bended to Urahara's never-ending and ridiculous amount of requests. Toushiro glanced over at the group of Vizards, "So Ichigo's like them right?" asked an obviously confused Matsumoto. "What does that mean? 'Like them'?" Asked an annoyed Hiyori, who, unlike the rest of the Vizards, couldn't sit still long enough and had taken to walking around. "Uh, well I only meant, I mean that…" Matsumoto's voice faded as she looked apologetically up at the glowering Vizard. "She only meant that, as opposed to us, you would be another 'group' right? So she only meant that Ichigo is one of you…as opposed to one of us." Toushiro rescued as Matsumoto began to become a little uneasy at the small girls temper. "Well no, Ichigo is in a class all his own, thanks to that" she pointed at Urahara, "idiot." Hiyori finished as Shinji jumped over to her and grabbed her arm. "Are you sure this is the kind of crap you should be blabbing to the whole damn world?" Shinji asked as he started to drag her away. Although she let herself be drawn away, it didn't stop her from waking Shinji over the head with her sandal afterwards.
Tatsuki had fallen again; she was on her knees as she looked up at Urahara. "Damn it… Why does this keep happening?" She asked no one in particular. Tatsuki had become aware of her ability to manipulate spirit energy. She realized that she had a power that had already shown itself in the form of a high level Kido-like formation. She could use her arms to block a sword's strike when using this power, it would engulf her arms and legs and make them the strength of steel, also she would be able to injure a person even if she missed, the pressure her spirit created would still wound them in some way, she had already practiced this much on hollow's outside of Urahara's shop. Tatsuki was becoming angrier as she fought off an unyielding Urahara, who had not stopped attacking her for the last three days straight. "Even Ichigo lasted a week without this much of a break!" Urahara mocked offhandedly as he swung his sword around him. "Damn it!" Tatsuki roared as she charged recklessly at Urahara, 'She's just like him' he thought as he parried her attack and continued the onslaught.
"Ok Hachi! Put it up!" Rose said as Hachi began to form an enormous barrier around the Vizard, similar to the one used to enclose Ichigo during his training. After the entire group had gotten inside the barrier and they had completely sealed it they all pulled on their masks. The barrier, however, wasn't enough to keep all their energy sealed within and immediately all the inhabitants, with the exception of Tatsuki and Urahara, turned to see a group of eight Vizard, all with their masks on building their spiritual energy and sitting side by side, their usually amber eyes closed. Time passed and slowly their masks broke and they sat dazed, though they looked thoroughly satisfied with themselves. The Shinigami were still in a total state of shock as they stared in awe at the eight Vizard members.
-In Hueco Mundo.
Ichigo and the rest of his party had arrived at the foundation of the castle. Ichigo looked up to the castle gates that were placed before him. Pulling out his sword he positioned it before him and raised it into the air. Bringing it down with a single swing the gates blew backward, crashing loudly to the ground. Replacing the blade to his back Nell sat idly on Ichigo's shoulder as Rukia walked forward a little to keep up with Ichigo as he confidently strode forward only to be met by an enormous wall that made up the dome of the castle. On a table at the far end of the room lay a piece of paper, Ichigo spit in disgust as he pulled it up and read aloud:
"One of these many doors will lead you to that whom you seek, choose wisely or you will be met with terrors unse-"
Ichigo cut out midsentence, crumpled the paper and threw it to the floor, crushing it further with his foot. "Fuck you too, Aizen." Ichigo said dismissively. "Well you get the idea, pick a door and let's get going!" Ichigo said darkly as he strode easily toward a door. Rukia grabbed his arm and spun him around. "What?" Ichigo asked as she dragged him out of earshot from the others.
"You've been acting different, what the hell's wrong with you? If it's about your family I'm sure they-" Ichigo shook his head, "No, it's not my family."
"Well then what is it?" Rukia demanded.
"It's nothing."
"It's something!"
"No, it's nothing."
"Don't give me that shit!"
"I'm not giving you any shit; I'm telling you I'm fine!"
"You can't trust me anymore?" Rukia finally burst out, sounding a little more than hurt.
"It's not that…" Ichigo said somberly. Rukia looked carefully up at him as she stepped closer. "Well then what is it?" Rukia was so quiet Ichigo had to practically strain just to hear her. "Tatsuki." Ichigo said simply.
"What?" Rukia responded, perplexed.
"I have to bring Orihime back or Tatsuki will…" Ichigo's voice trailed off, he didn't want to think about the end of his sentence. Rukia was still not grasping the concept, having no idea what Tatsuki had to do with this predicament. "Look, just let it go Rukia, I'll be fine." Ichigo side stepped around her and kept walking kicking open his chosen door. "FINALLY!" Kenpachi burst out as he and Yachiru ran for another door that was easily blown down. "If anyone gets to Orihime first, you don't wait around, get out but go the way you came, and keep your spirit pressure high!" Unohana called wearily at Kenpachi's fading back. Ichigo shrugged as he and Nell disappeared into the darkness of his chosen door as Rukia stared concernedly after him. Renji put a hand on Rukia's shoulder, "Don't worry too much about him, he'll be fine." Rukia pushed his hand off, "Like I care!" She said as she picked a different door, her face was red but she refused to let Renji know that. Pushing open the door she began walking down the darkened hall as Renji and the others did likewise.
Ichigo was walking through the darkened hallway with Nell clinging to his shoulder when she suddenly piped up. "Hey…Whaths wrong Ithigo?" Nell asked, concerned. "Nothing Nell, lets hurry ok?" Ichigo said, and without waiting for an answer, shot off down the hallway. Nell was holding on to Ichigo's shoulder as he moved quickly toward a now fast approaching light. Ichigo had only one thought: Get to the light. He'd figure out what he was going to do from there later. Arriving in the light he skidded to a halt and looked upwards at the massive staircase that had a throne perched neatly on top of it. "What now?" Ichigo asked himself as he looked up at the large, albeit, barren room. Looking back at the massive staircase and the throne now perched neatly atop it; he began climbing the stairs as the throne spun around to reveal an odd looking man with tall spiky hair and a mask that covered the back of his head. Nell looked up at him and Ichigo could feel her trembling on his back. "Calm down, it's ok…" Ichigo soothed as he turned to her.
"It is most definitely not ok!" The Arrancar mocked from above them. "You are going to die!"
Meanwhile…
Isshin, Karin and Yuzu all walked into Urahara's shop and Isshin made for the open trap door. "Come on Yuzu, Karin." Isshin called, their father was unusually serious which made both the girls much more worried than they otherwise would have been. Isshin slid down the ladder and the ever-fearless Karin shrugged and followed her father down as Yuzu, fearing being left behind, followed suit. Landing on the ground in the massive underground of Urahara's shop the girls looked around in amazement as Urahara knocked Tatsuki off and walked towards Isshin. "Wait a minute Tatsuki." Urahara said seriously.
"Urahara!"
"Isshin!" the two men burst out in unison as they embraced briefly as a thoroughly confused Karin and Yuzu looked on.
Out of the corner of her eye, Karin caught sight of a short man with bright white hair. Turning fully to see him more clearly her eyes widened as she made towards the back of a familiar face. Weaving in and out of several Shinigami who looked totally perplexed as she put her hand on the shoulder of the white haired man and pulled him around, Hitsugaya Toushiro found himself face-to-face with Ichigo's younger sister, Karin, whom he had been thinking about for quite some time. "Yo." Toushiro said, bored as she looked at him, clearly annoyed. "What? You don't remember me? JERK!" She cried as she stood a little taller, not that it made much of a difference; they were about the same height at this point anyway. "Ooh, girl troubles taichou?" Matsumoto mocked from behind him as Toushiro turned on her and roared, "NO!" Then, grabbing Karin's hand dragged her away from the rest of the Shinigami captains before he fell into a state of embarrassment he could never pull himself out of. Turning to face Karin he looked at her for a minute, "What are you doing here?" Toushiro asked, as Karin pointed to her dad who was deep in conversation with Urahara, "He dragged us here, I told him we should wait for Ichi-nii but he said that he would find us here…" Karin seemed unsatisfied with that answer. "Your brother is in Hueco Mundo, trying to save Inoue Orihime." Toushiro said solemnly. "However, the gateways have been sealed shut so the only way for them to get out now is by"
"By Ichigo figuring out some stupid bullshit trick like usual." Tatsuki finished from behind the two. She grinned sheepishly at the two, "Urahara-san explained all this shit to me before we got started, apparently Ichigo can cut himself a new hole if he figures out how to do it, but he pulls shit outa his ass so often I'm sure he'll do something stupid and it'll happen by total accident." Tatsuki said offhandedly. Toushiro raised an eyebrow at her. "Right, well then there's the story." Toushiro finished, a little unsure of himself due to this newcomer who he had been watching train for several days now. "I still can't believe you didn't remember me." Karin said accusingly to Toushiro, who sighed. "I did not forget you! I just didn't expect you to show up here!" He defended.
"Am I missing something here?" Tatsuki asked curiously, "Are, or were, you two together or? Fuck it, forget I mentioned anything, training must be getting to me." Tatsuki sighed as she walked back to her position in front of Urahara shaking her head and brushing the hair out of her eyes, leaving the two in a very awkward state, faces turned away from each other.
"What's this?" Isshin cried from behind his daughter. 'I just can't catch a break at all today can I?' Karin thought as Isshin continued, "What are you two doing way over here away from everyone else?" 'Shut up dad…Shut up…' Karin thought. "Well?" Isshin seemed to have finished. "Well, we were just talking and did not want to be overheard." Toushiro said confidently, hoping to ward away any confusion, but it did the exact opposite. "What was so important not to be overheard?" Isshin persisted. "Nothing, we'll go back over there now." Toushiro said hurriedly grabbing Karin's upper arm, dragging her both away from her father and out of her now thoroughly embarrassed train of thought. The two sat side-by-side while watching Tatsuki train, both had the traces of a light red tinge plaguing across their faces.
Hueco Mundo…
"Can you just get the fuck outa my way?" Ichigo asked the arrogant man standing at the top of the staircase. "I don't have time for shitty numeros like you today, so get the hell outa my way!" Nell nodded her agreement as she stood on Ichigo's shoulder. The Arrancar laughed, "Do you know who your talking to? I am" Ichigo cut him off;
"I don't need to know the name of someone who is about to die." Ichigo said as he let his sword hang loosely in his hand, still climbing the stairs. Now on the platform, Ichigo stood face to face with the Arrancar. Jumping forward he forced the Arrancar into a defensive position, not letting up on his onslaught Ichigo spun wildly an pressed his blade into the Arrancar's side, using his hand put pressure on the flat side of his blade and cut cleanly through the Arrancar's body, allowing half of him to fall over the edge of the platform. "Ithigo…" Nell said quietly as she watched him replace his blade. "Why did you do that?" Nell asked, she looked shocked, "I'm sorry Nell, I know you don't like violence much, but I don't have that kind of time any more, my world is in too much danger, and if Soul Society falls into harm I don't trust that old man not to tell all his captains to pull out and leave my world to get eaten alive. I'm sorry." Ichigo finished. Nell sat on Ichigo's shoulder and looked compassionately over at him, "Ith's ok Ithigo, we'll get Orihime back and go save your world too!" Nell said happily, in an obvious attempt to cheer up Ichigo, who shot a lopsided grin at her and turned back to the door behind the throne. "I don't think he was the last one…So maybe we picked the right door to get Orihime after all." Ichigo looked microscopically happier at this possible glimmer of hope he had stumbled upon as he walked onwards Nell humming absently on his shoulder.
Walking down a long hallway the light at the end never seemed to get any closer, after running, attempting use Shunpo and just about every other form of speed he could think of, Ichigo felt like he hadn't gotten any closer to the end. "Nell, why the hell are we not getting any closer?" Ichigo asked, annoyed. Nell shrugged, "I don't know, maybe ith's a weird Kido! You're the Shinigami, shouldn't you know?" Ichigo's face fell as he came to the abrupt realization the only thing he knew about Kido was that he sucked at it. Sighing, his once placid face now was showing the surest sign of annoyance, his eye twitched. "WELL WHAT NOW?" Ichigo burst out angrily as Nell fell backwards off Ichigo's shoulder at the sudden outburst. Ichigo pulled out his sword, his recklessness taking over and held it in the air above him. "Getsuga Tenshou!" He roared and brought his blade down in a wide arch. The black light streaked down the hallway and never seemed to stop; the two looked on after it streaking down the hallway, never ending. "Fuck." Ichigo said simply as though declaring something unknown. "Let me try, Ithigo!" Nell cried suddenly, forming a rather large cero in the palm of her hand and sending it off towards the end of the hallway, but the force sent her backward and made the cero fly towards the wall, Ichigo ducking in time to dodge the flying ball of red power. The cero made contact with the wall and as Nell hit the wall behind her the Cero caused the walls to flicker and slowly vanish around them. Nell picked herself up from the floor, now in a whole new setting. They were in a large white room; the Arrancar Ichigo had just killed, standing before them. "Ah! It seems you have broken out of my space!" The Arrancar cried, unsurprised. "What? How?" Ichigo questioned, confused. "The minute you made me draw my sword you fell into my 'space'. That is the power of my, Arrancar numero ciento cinco, Zanpaktou. (ciento cinco, meaning 105 in English). Ichigo raised an eyebrow before drawing his Zanpaktou. "Well, that may be, but you see, once again, your in my way, and now I know your trick, so now what?" Ichigo asked, regaining his calm. The Arrancar's eye's widened, "We'll see about that…" He answered, his eyes narrowing. The Arrancar placed his sword before him and lowered his body in a stance much resembling Byakuya's. The two charged at each other, blades colliding in air as they passed by each other pushing off one another's blade. Their feet barely touching the ground the espada was in the air again, bringing his sword down heavy and hard to Ichigo, who stepped out of the way and swung in a wide arch as the Arrancar blocked the attack, locked in a power-struggle they were pushing one another back. Ichigo broke the hold first and dodged around the Arrancar, landing his foot in the Arrancar's gut. Quickly recovering they charged again, Ichigo was all offensive as the Arrancar blocked Ichigo's fluid strikes. Ichigo connected with himself pushing down on the opponent, Ichigo put his other hand on the flat end of the blade. "Getsuga…Tenshou…" He almost whispered as a great energy released itself from the confines of Ichigo's blade, the Arrancar was thrown back, his shoulders, sides and arms were cut and blood was dripping from his wounds. Ichigo fell like a falling rock onto the Arrancar bringing his blade down on his shoulder and cutting fluidly, deepening the wound that was already there into a deep gash, Ichigo jumped back several feet and reassumed his fighting position as the Arrancar struggled to get up from his kneeling position. "Give up." Ichigo suggested. "Never! Aizen-sama will be unforgiving!" The Arrancar shrieked in defiance. "So why the hell'dya work for him?" Ichigo questioned, sure that their must be a cast-iron reason these people serve Aizen so whole-heartedly. "Aizen has helped us achieve full power." The Arrancar answered simply. "This is the FULL POWER that he helped you achieve?" Ichigo asked, almost mockingly, "You got duped." The Arrancar looked up at Ichigo, fire blazing in his cool gray eyes, pulling himself to his feet, he said coldly, "You will pay for mocking my strength!" The Arrancar charged at Ichigo, his sword held above his head. Ichigo side-stepped the charging enemy and planted his shin in the Arrancar's gut, while simultaneously spinning sending the Arrancar towards the high marble wall. Ichigo walked towards the Arrancar who seemed unconscious, blood leaking from the wound on his shoulder. Ichigo looked at Nell, "Can you heal this?" He asked as she nodded, unhappily. "I don't want to heal him. He tried to hurt you Ithigo!" She reminded as she put her hands behind her back and looked up at the orange haired man. "It's ok, Nell, he won't be awake any time soon anyway." Ichigo soothed as Nell nodded, again, showing signs of reluctance. Her hands shone a brilliant white that almost appeared to be forming in some kind of golden light as the blood stopped pouring from his shoulder and the wounds were beginning to heal slowly. Suddenly, Nell stopped. "That will keep him alive long enough for him to regain consciousness." Nell said, surprisingly clearly and seriously. Ichigo smiled back at her as she leaped onto his shoulder, "thanks." He said, as they walked towards the sealed door that lead onward.
The Arrancar behind them stood silently, his sword at his side. "Idiots!" he cried as he charged for them Ichigo didn't have time to respond he merely threw Nell off him and braced for impact, an impact, which never came. Ichigo merely heard the sound of steel on steel as the blade was thrown backward. Ichigo looked up, a teal haired man stood before him, his back to Ichigo, his sword held straight out. "This was your mistake with me too, Ichigo! Stop leavin' people alive goddamn it!" Grimmjow roared as he instantly took note of where Ichigo had previously done great deals of damage. Grimmjow moved quickly dropping his blade back into the wound Ichigo had previously closed and reopened, deepened and finished, the cut, cleanly removing the arm. Grimmjow then stepped out of the way of the falling Arrancar and let his blade stand straight up, impaling the Arrancar, picking him up with his sword Grimmjow pulled the blade out of his enemies gut and kicked the corpse across the floor, leaving a blood trail all the way to the wall that he had crushed into.
"What the HELL are you doing here, Grimmjow?" Ichigo questioned quickly, his hand on the hilt of his blade, in case Grimmjow was looking for a rematch. "Relax, I'm not here to fight right now, even so, we need to keep going, Orihime hasn't run her course yet, the idea was for you to forget about her in the chaos of your world being trampled by Aizen." Grimmjow explained. "Yeah, but that hasn't happened because of the mistake that he made by thinking my world was unprotected. So why hasn't he come back yet?" Ichigo asked and Grimmjow sighed, "Do I look like someone who would know, let alone give two shits why the asshole isn't back? Plus I just saved your ass, he would have killed me by now anyway because I'm tired of being the sellout I was." Grimmjow looked towards the door. "Let's go, this place smells like shit." Grimmjow said, motioning to the door at the other end of the room.
"Should we trust him?" Nell asked Ichigo as she returned to his shoulder. Grimmjow's eye twitched. "I guess for now, but we still don't know his motives so let's be careful." Ichigo whispered back. Grimmjow's grip tightened in his pockets. "I still don't trust him." Nell said simply. "FUCK YOU PEOPLE! Goddamn!" Grimmjow burst out, finally annoyed of the slandering presumptuous bullshit that was being whispered behind him. "I save YOUR ASS" He pointed to Ichigo, "Then I help you two get to Orihime and what do you do? Give me your BULLSHIT!" Grimmjow growled at them, his eyes narrowing in distaste. Ichigo and Nell fell silent as they followed the still fuming man walking ahead of them. "Guess he's right…" Ichigo said to Nell as she nodded, fear in her eyes. "Damn right I'm right!" Grimmjow shot back without even bothering to turn around.
Meanwhile…
"Karin, why is your dad watching us?" Hitsugaya whispered as he leaned over to her. "I don't know…He's been watching us all day…" Karin didn't know any more than Hitsugaya, why should she? "How the hell should I know anyway Toushiro?" He shrugged and looked back towards the now sleeping Tatsuki, the ever-watchful Isshin and then off into space, not really paying attention.
"Ok, so someone here is going to have to run by me what exactly Ichigo is one more time." Rose said impatiently as he scratched his head in confusion, "All I can make of this shit is that he didn't actually 'beat' his hollow, his hollow just quit. That's not part of how this goes!" Rose said indignantly. "Shut up stupid." Hiyori sighed from her lying position, her eyes closed, and her head resting in her hands. "So explain!" Rose burst out angrily at the half-asleep girl. "Will you shut up if I do?" Hiyori countered. "I guess." Rose sighed. "Fine, then let me start by reiterating, you're an idiot. When Ichigo fought his Hollow, the hollow within him simply got 'injured' or so we presume, he then proceeded to falling back and allowing Ichigo to keep his body, but the Hollow didn't become part of his Zanpaktou or inner-self. Ichigo just allowed him to keep living, of course this is all speculation and most of this is just a vague assumption of what Ichigo's 'inner world' is. Now then at this point the Hollow won't take over but will work very much like a Zanpaktou in the effect that Ichigo will work WITH the hollow's power rather than the hollow's power just working for him. Essentially he's become half hollow half Shinigami in a way none of us can ever achieve now that we've beaten our hollow into submission. Ichigo was too nice, throughout the whole fight he must have felt some kind of pity, who would have thought something so stupid could make him more powerful?" Hiyori finished to the group at large, and then turned back to rose. "Now shut the fuck up!" Hiyori fell back to the ground and closed her eyes again.
Toushiro was still looking away when he felt pressure hit his shoulder and he looked down to see Karin's sleeping form leaning on his shoulder. Sighing he tried his absolute best to ignore the snickers from Matsumoto, Ikkaku, who had just recently shown up, and Hanatarou, who had come on orders by Unohana to be of medical assistance. Toushiro turned around slightly, making sure not to let Karin fall, he looked at them with eyes that cleared said; "Shut up now, or I will kill you all…very slowly…" They all burst out laughing at the sudden noise made Karin slip from her spot on Toushiro's shoulder and landed her head on his lap. It took her several moments to realize what had happened, but as soon as she did she hurriedly sat up, blushing darkly, an uncharacteristically unusual trait for Karin. Standing quickly she turned her head, "I'm going to go see what Yuzu is doing!" She said, a little too quickly as she weaved back through the captains to reach where Yuzu was talking animatedly with Ririn, Kuroud and Noba, all of who had returned to their stuffed animal form. Karin came and sat down next to her, her face still beet red.
"Hey Karin, what's wrong?" Yuzu asked confused, looking at her sister's face. "Uh, wrong? What, no nothing, everything's fine, nothing's wrong!" She said, stumbling through her sentence. Yuzu looked unconvinced and turned to her, as the three she had been talking to stumbled forward as well, looking at her attentively. "Don't tell me that!" Yuzu cried, "What's wrong, did something happen? I thought you were talking to Hitsugaya-kun?" Yuzu questioned, leaning in slightly. "I was, but now I'm here, ok?" Karin evaded defensively. Yuzu looked over at Hitsugaya, then back to her red-faced sister. "Ok, I'll go ask him." She said standing up as Karin tore her back down to her sitting position. "Look, something embarrassing happened ok? Yuzu just stay here!" Karin pleaded as Yuzu smiled slightly, as she giggled and covered her mouth. "That's very unlike you Karin!" Yuzu laughed openly. Karin groaned and fell backwards closing her eyes. "Shut up." She sighed as the Yuzu continued to talk to the three, but on a whole new topic, that was sure to make Karin either puke or commit suicide, she couldn't figure out which it was yet. As she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, thinking about what had just happened and where her brother was…
Hueco Mundo…
"Grimmjow, do you know where we're going?" Nell whined as she hopped off of Ichigo's shoulder to kick Grimmjow in the back of the head. Grabbing the back of his head he rubbed and turned on them. "Yes! I do, but I just don't know if I want to take you there or not!" Grimmjow said, narrowing his eyes. "Then get the fuck outa my way moron, I'll figure it out myself somehow and I'm sure I'm bound to stumble on the place eventually!" Ichigo burst out brushing past Grimmjow, Nell hanging onto his shoulder. "Well that way is towards her…but you're going to have to deal with numero cien." Grimmjow said slowly. Ichigo turned to him, "you've been slowing me down for some piece of shit Arrancar? You're a fuckin' idiot, I came here fully intending to fight espada and you're beatin' around the bush for a goddamn Arrancar! Get bent!" Ichigo growled as he continued to walk down the hallway, Grimmjow catching up he looked at Ichigo. "I thought you were with that Rukia chick" Grimmjow grinned at the expression of shock that Ichigo made, and pressed on, "What's with the sudden resolve to save Orihime?" Grimmjow asked. Ichigo was stuck, either he answer and Grimmjow doesn't let it die, or he doesn't answer and Grimmjow bugs him about it until he dies…Ichigo thought about that, and realized it would probably continue after his death as well. "She's my friend, just because you're too much of a shallow asshole to save your friends doesn't mean we're all that way." Ichigo said, knowing that this would easily touch a nerve, Grimmjow having told his life story to Ichigo during their last fight, also choosing to ignore his original statement may go unnoticed if he irritated Grimmjow enough to make him drop it. "Mind your own damn business." Grimmjow muttered as Ichigo grinned at his victory.
Stepping into the next room, as Ichigo had come to know them; the light illuminated something similar to that of a massive cathedral. Western religious artifacts stood behind the alter at the far end of the room as a man in dark black robes came out of the shadows, his hood drawn, only the lower half of the face was visible. Ichigo stared at him as he lowered his hood to reveal the entire top half of his head being that of a hollow. "You have entered the domain of God." The Arrancar said as he looked across the room at Grimmjow and his eyes narrowed. "You are the one who stole my position. I, Sacerdote, high priest and former Espada, for God, I will kill you." Ichigo looked at Grimmjow and narrowed his eyes, "So this is why you didn't want to come here, you pussy ass bitch!" Ichigo growled at him. "You will not curse in the house of God!" Sacerdote cried from across the room. "Get bent!" Ichigo roared at him, "I don't believe you wasted our time because you were too much of a punk to face this guy!" Nell cried in agreement with Ichigo. "THAT'S NOT IT!" Grimmjow yelled at them. Ichigo and Nell turned away with looks that said all too plainly, "Bullshit."
Ichigo felt a sudden pull, much like that of Zangetsu, but far more feral. Ichigo closed his eyes as he fell into the state he had come to live in often during his rest. Standing before Темно-один, Ichigo's inner hollow, "What is it?" Ichigo asked, knowing it must be somewhat important seeing as that's the only thing that Темно-один bugs him for anymore. (Темно-один, meaning Dark One, in Russian). "That guy ain't any push over." Темно-один said as Zangetsu nodded his agreement from behind him; the two looked at Ichigo seriously. "You're going to have to actually try on this one; it seems the only way Grimmjow took down this guy is by some form of bullshittin' and we all know how good Grimmjow is at that." Темно-один continued as he looked back at Zangetsu. "This one's our fight." Zangetsu said to Ichigo and Темно-один, "We will win together." Ichigo nodded as he closed his eyes and returned to the 'world of the living' as he had come to call it, though realizing how ironic that sounded considering their current location. Ichigo looked up at Sacerdote, who was droning on about something that neither Nell, nor Grimmjow were paying attention. "Shut up." Ichigo said simply, barely bothering to yell. Ichigo whispered to Nell to go over by Grimmjow, who did so, ridiculously reluctantly. Ichigo stepped forward drawing his Zanpaktou, feeling the power of Zangetsu rush through him. "Your lettin' me play!" Ichigo heard a feral voice inside him grumble as he smirked inwardly. Sacerdote seemed taken aback by the sudden challenge but discarded his black robes and was dressed much like Grimmjow, with the exception of the blade he held at his side, much unlike a Japanese sword it was longer and had a handle-bar like guard, the blade was long and balanced, clearly two-sided, the end of it was in the form of a cross, it hung diligently at his side as the true form of his mask seemed to appear, looking to Ichigo much like a crusader's helm, even the eye-slits were narrow. Sacerdote drew his blade and held it out in front of him in a style Ichigo couldn't recognize. Sacerdote released his Zanpaktou, his body immediately confirming Ichigo's earlier suspicions, Sacerdote's body immediately became covered in a hollow shell resembling that of a Crusader in everything but color. Ichigo released his BanKai as smoothly as Sacerdote had released his Zanpaktou, letting his hand hang easily over his head, he brought it down swiftly, the mask that represented Ichigo's race covering his face, the amber eyes shone out of it. "Demon…" Sacerdote said slowly as he looked at Ichigo. "Feelin's mutual." Ichigo said back, his voice twisted with Темно-один making it sound extraordinarily demonic as he stood a little straighter, his sword held easily in his right hand as he readied himself for combat.
"Renji?" Rukia asked shocked to find Renji, Unohana, Chad, Ishida and Kenpachi all end up in the same massive room. "How the fuck'd this happen?" Renji asked the group at large, they seemed to have all ended up in another room similar to the first one but this had fewer doors. "Where's Ichigo…If they all lead here then shouldn't he be here too?" Rukia questioned quickly. "It seems Ichigo picked the 'right' door." Ishida said simply, shrugging as he looked around, "I noticed his spiritual pressure rise earlier and it seems like there's a heavy and unrecognizable weight hanging around the area now." Unohana shook his head. "That's Ichigo and an apparently very high level opponent, I recognize his spiritual pressure, although I've only felt this kind once, his hollow has taken ov" Rukia and Renji both cut simultaneously across Unohana's explanation, "No, Ichigo defeated his hollow, he's simply using his mask now!" Renji burst out, Rukia echoing him. Unohana shrugged, "Very well, then it's safe to assume he is in fact in battle, we should follow his Reiatsu. "No." Said Ishida from behind the group, standing next to Chad he continued, "If we do that, first Ichigo will be pissed and his agonizing is something I could do without, and on top of that he'll be right which irks me even more, because our goal is to get Inoue, Ichigo will be pissed if we side track to go 'see what he's up to'" Ishida finished and looked at Chad who nodded as the two set off down another hallway towards, what they hoped, would be Inoue's location, leaving several stricken companions in their wake. Rukia and Renji shrugged and picked opposite tunnels as Unohana was left to continue her trek down one of the few remaining doorways.
Ichigo and Sacerdote's blades were pushing each others back, locked in a heated powerhold. Ichigo pulled back first and spun around, brining his sword in a large arc that was easily blocked and pushed off by Sacerdote. Sacerdote charged and brought his massive sword down extremely quickly. Ichigo tilted his blade and let Sacerdote's blade slide off his sword to the ground as Ichigo brought around his blade again, having it blocked, but before Sacerdote could throw off his blade he slid it off and spun again, bringing it upwards in a huge arch from an almost kneeling position. Sacerdote jumped out of the way, the sword cutting cleanly through the front of Sacerdote's vest. Replacing the blade before him, Sacerdote and Ichigo were on opposite sides of the room. Holding his blade up Sacerdote's blade became covered in a pure white light. "Redencion," Sacerdote said quietly as he brought his sword down, cracking the ground beneath him an enormous burst of white light shot from the blade, much resembling Ichigo's own 'Getsuga Tenshou'. "Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo roared as he swung his sword wildly, the enormous wave shot out of it and collided with the white counterpart. The white slash passed through his Getsuga Tenshou reducing it to spirit particles. Ichigo was shocked for only a moment, raising the sword high above his head he brought it down swiftly, Getsuga once again racing from his blade, this time severing the white blast in half, the remains shattering against the wall behind him. Ichigo charged, following his Getsuga, which was now heading directly for Sacerdote. As Sacerdote put up his sword, he shattered the weakened Getsuga, Ichigo brought his sword down and was blocked, moving swiftly he attacked again, until he slid back and jumped into the air bringing his whole body down into an attack that Sacerdote blocked and was now holding.
"Let me help" Темно-один said as Ichigo tried to push Sacerdote. "Trust me, King, I can help you here." Ichigo sighed inwardly, feeling as though he might regret thisas Темно-один took majority control. Putting his hand on the flat end of the blade he pushed harder and said quietly, "Getsuga Tenshou!" And as it erupted from the tip of Zangetsu, Ichigo leaped back and put his sword forward. "CERO!" He roared as a shot of red energy charged and fired into the blast. Sacerdote, lost somewhere within the smoking chaos below, was shocked. Landing safely next to the wall that Sacerdote had earlier shattered, Темно-один retreated back giving Ichigo majority control again. Standing with his sword held loosely at his side Ichigo waited as the smoke cleared. Sacerdote stood in the ruins, his top had come entirely torn off and his mouth had blood dripping from the corner, but otherwise, Sacerdote stood unscathed.
"Ithi…go…" Nell said quietly. "This is why the idiot should have listened to me!" Grimmjow said annoyed, "The 'power of god' is his released form, its going to take a hell of a lot more than a goddamn Cero or two and some half-assed Getsuga Tenshou's to remove him from existence. "Help Ithigo damn it!" Nell cried, kicking Grimmjow forward. Grimmjow stumbled forward and caught himself. "No damn it, his fight." Grimmjow deflected as he came back to stand where he had been.
"Don't move." Ichigo said swiftly, looking on at the almost unscathed Sacerdote. 'Fine, if that's the way he wants it…' Ichigo thought to himself as he moved forward and brought his sword down on Sacerdote again, this time pulling off immediately and landing behind him, swinging again he kept Sacerdote on the defensive. 'Open.' Ichigo thought as he plunged his sword into Sacerdote's stomach, Sacerdote moved at the last second, leaving Ichigo's attack open to reinterpretation. Ichigo swung his sword sideways leaving a deep gash in Sacerdote's side. Ichigo jumped in the air again intending to bring down his sword on the Arrancar's head, only to find that Sacerdote's blade was white again. "Shit!" Ichigo moved out of the way and yelled; "Getsuga Tenshou!" Swinging as fast as he could at Sacerdote, who moved seconds too late, his left arm, from about the elbow up was now just a bleeding stump, the rest of his arm lay motionless on the floor before him, Ichigo moved around to the left side of Sacerdote and pulled his sword upwards and to an angle as he charged. Instantly Ichigo was gone as was Sacerdote. Both using their own form of Shunpo, the two warriors were glancing blade off blade as they darted around the room, stopping only briefly for short power-struggles, usually broken apart in mere seconds before they vanished into their Shunpo fighting again.
"That seems to be the end of the hallway." Chad said offhandedly, pointing towards a bright light shining at the end of the hallway. "Oh, thank god!" Ishida said as he started walking towards it a little faster. As they reached it they were confronted with something that made them immensely happy to know they must be going the right way, and ridiculously repulsed at the same time. A massive slug-like hollow that must have been some kind of Aizen-experiment, Ishida looked at Chad as they both stepped into the light, without waiting for an introduction they both shot off around the sides of it. Ishida jumped high into the air and began to unload hundreds of arrows from his new and improved bow; while Chad used the only 'range-type' attack he had and sent spirit pressure waves, much like Kido, from his fists. Ishida reached the now almost decapitated head of the hollow first and sent 1,200 arrows at it in a matter of minutes. Eliminating the hollow entirely and leaving only the now disappearing particles as proof of its existence. "Maybe we were wrong…that thing was so weak we might just be walking back to another pointless room." Ishida sighed disappointed. As the two approached the door it burst open, Renji burst into the room, sword held high as he looked at the two men standing before him. Lowering his sword he looked around, "Damn…" Renji sighed as he hung his head, "I really thought I found the right way this time." Ishida sighed as the door at the far end of the room burst open revealing an ever-calm Unohana, looking surprised at the others she raised an eyebrow and walked towards them. "Well, it's clear we've gone in a massive circle…I don't quite understand how it happened but, never-the-less, where is Rukia, she should have ended up here as well…"
"Ichigo?" Rukia was running along a dark street, Ichigo was walking away getting farther with every step she took. "ICHIGO!" She cried after him as he continued to disappear farther and farther into the darkness. "Where are you going? Ichigo, tell me! What are you doing?" Rukia screamed at him. Ichigo stopped and turned around pressing his sword to her throat. "Ichigo…what are you doing…?" Rukia cried, tears running down her cheeks as she fell to her knees. "Ending you're pitiful existence, rejoice, soon you will be free of Kurosaki Ichigo." The Ichigo standing before her said as his sword was drawn back, Rukia jolted up right, standing alone in a dark street, Ichigo was disappearing into the darkness, walking away, getting farther with every step she took as she tried to run after him, "Ichigo!" She called feebly, the memory of her dream fresh in her mind; her knee's shaking at the 'non-Ichigo' she had just witnessed. "ICHIGO!"
Ichigo's sword clashed with Sacerdote's as they were locked, yet again in combat, Ichigo's arm was torn up, he had a deep gash on his left side and his leg was severely injured from a Cero assault. Sacerdote's left arm still missing, his shoulder severely cut, his stomach had a deep stab wound and his other arm was torn up at the forearm, as well as both of his legs which had been caught by a Getsuga Tenshou. Ichigo and Sacerdote were clearly on their last leg. "This is where we end it Ichigo" Темно-один said soothingly as they integrated and both had 50 control as Ichigo lifted his sword high, Темно-один using the Cero-type assault Ichigo using Getsuga Tenshou they swung in unison. "GETSUGA TENSHOU!" Ichigo roared, his voice dominating as Темно-один had said nothing. The blast, which was a crimson red with a black outline erupted from his sword and, now larger than ever, engulfed Sacerdote, who flew backwards and was obliterated, leaving only the his head, as the mask shattered around his face Темно-один fell back into the recesses of Ichigo's inner-self and Ichigo walked over to the skull, looking down he could see that the mask was obviously that of former Espada. As Ichigo stepped over the mask, he picked it up and set it on the Alter that had once held the book of whatever God he may have prayed to. Looking behind the Alter Ichigo saw gold and diamond incrusted case, opening it slowly Ichigo revealed a massive sword, clearly old and most definitely foreign, the blade was highly similar to Sacerdote's. Engraved in the sword's blade was, "Veni Vidi Vicious". Ichigo stared at it for a moment before he reached inside the case and lifted the blade, along the hilt read the name; King Solomon. Confused by this obvious confusion in History Ichigo picked up the sword and turned it around in his hand. "There's something wrong with this thing…" Ichigo said quietly. "What the hell're you doin' Ichigo?" Grimmjow asked annoyed as he appeared behind Ichigo. "Julius Caesar…Was the first to have recorded Veni Vidi Vicious, what exactly did this "King Solomon" do to earn this kind of respect?" Ichigo questioned. "King Solomon is the name of the creator of the first working Soul Society during time on earth those who died would go directly to hell, with the creation of a 'Soul Society' King Solomon successfully created the first 'heaven'. Ichigo looked at the blade in his hands before sliding it back into its sheath and slinging it over his shoulder next to Zangetsu. "Well, maybe it'll do us some good; the sword belonging to the creator of Soul Society has to at least be a lucky charm or something." Ichigo said, almost smiling. The hilt, Ichigo noticed, though chose not to voice it, was made from the bones, masks, and inner-skulls of Hollows.
Meanwhile…
Tatsuki was looking down at her arms in awe. Covered in a light blue armor-like substance, they had the potency of any low-level Kido spell and the strength to hold firm against the Shikai form of Ukitaki's blade and could hold strong against Komamaru's BanKai, assuming of course the monstrous form of his BanKai didn't aim anywhere other than her arms. Proud of her new accomplishment she looked across at Urahara, "I need this on my legs too." She announced. Urahara raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. "If you insist, but I think you'd be better off training with Yoruichi for this aspect of training.
A black cat leaped down onto the ground in front of Tatsuki. "How did a cat get down here?" Tatsuki asked hurriedly, as though expecting to be attacked at any moment. "Shut up stupid, now, pay attention because unlike Ichigo, you're spirit pressure is mediocre at best." The cat said slyly looking up at the girls stricken face, not so much at the words, but at where the words had come from. "Fine," Yoruichi sighed, seeing that the girl wasn't going to shut her mouth until Yoruichi just became human. In a puff of smoke the cat was no more nor was anyone in the center of the smoke. A fully dressed Yoruichi appeared behind Tatsuki. "Now, will you please pay close attention, I hate repeating myself."
"Karin, are you just going to sit there like that all day?" Yuzu asked concerned, "Hitsugaya-kun doesn't look too happy either…" Yuzu continued, Karin shot up and looked across the desert-like terrain to a very unhappy Toushiro who looked somewhere between ready to commit mass homicide or suicide. Karin sighed, "I can't go back over there…" Karin said slowly as she repositioned herself and Yuzu whispered something to Noba who nodded and jumped in the air and held his hands out in front of Karin. "Oh shit!" Karin said as a red vortex engulfed her and she ended up behind Matsumoto and Toushiro. Yuzu waved at her from across the room and Karin was highly tempted to wave something else back, but, controlling her energy and gripping her hand tightly she went over to Toushiro and sat down on the open side of him, the original one being taken by Matsumoto. "Umm…Are you busy?" She asked as Toushiro seemed surprised as he jumped and turned to face her, still sitting she was curious how he had managed that seemingly immovable bounce, he smiled at her and replied, "No, we're not busy, Matsumoto was just leaving." Toushiro said without looking at her, Matsumoto looked at Toushiro, and then sniffed. "Fine, if you don't want me here!" Matsumoto said in a mock fit of tears. She stood up and retreated back to Ikkaku and Hanatarou, as she collapsed next to them, all three burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter. Toushiro's faced flushed as he heard the raucous laughter behind him. "Are you ok, Toushiro?" Karin asked as she looked at him, "You're face is unusually red." Toushiro's mind frantically racing for an excuse, finding none he pushed the hair out of his eyes and looked up at her. "No, I'm, uh, fine" Toushiro said, "So what brings you…err…back over here?" Karin looked at him awkwardly feeling as though telling the truth would be the equivalent to that of complete suicide, she said, "Should I not be here? Did I interrupt something?" She asked, half using it as an excuse and half really curious if she had interrupted something important. Toushiro sighed and shook his head, smiling at her, "Nope, nothing." Karin smiled back, "So what is up with all the other Shinigami here…Every time a Vizard looks this way they stiffen up and well actually every time anyone looks over here they look…nervous or something" Karin pointed out, the rigid Shinigami talking in low voices, all facing forward. "We are all out of place here, coming to the living world is never something a Shinigami Captain enjoys…Well, most of us anyway." Toushiro said, shrugging. "Do you like coming here?" Karin asked quickly. Toushiro thought for a moment, "…Yeah, I do." He smiled at her. Karin shrugged, "Ok." She really didn't know what to say to him, he looked at her profile for a moment, her face turned away from his, looking up. Toushiro let his gaze drop and he followed her eyes up, staring up at the same sky-blue ceiling Toushiro didn't see anything too interesting and so he looked out towards Tatsuki's renewed training. Truthfully, there was nothing Karin could find duller than the ceiling above them but that didn't mean she wasn't going to pretend until she could think of something, that wouldn't blow her cover, to say.
Hueco Mundo…
"You better know where you're going this time Grimmjow and no pussy-footing around it either!" Ichigo said as he strolled along next to Grimmjow, Nell still hanging onto his shoulder. She had healed his wounds to the best of her ability but they still weren't closing completely. As they walked through yet another confusing labyrinth of dark hallways, bright white rooms and false doors, the trio appeared before a tall door with an unrecognizable sign printed on it, the door didn't seem to have any means of opening it other than force, if there was a way, Ichigo didn't see it. "Ok, I guess we'll blow it down?" Ichigo asked uncertainly at Grimmjow. "Don't know, it used to be open all the time." Ichigo sighed, "Fine." Ichigo pulled out his sword and raised it above his head. "I'll blast through it! GETSUGA TENSHOU!" Ichigo swung downward and the streak of blue, and now-unusually, red light shot from his blade in a slash, colliding with the door. As the smoke cleared a scratch appeared on the door. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Ichigo bellowed at the door, which now seemed to be recovering from its scratch, leaving behind no trace.
"Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime turned around and rushed to the door but was immediately stopped by the Espada who had earlier caught her. "Ichigo…On the other side of this door…Ichigo, coming to save me…" Orihime thought, her emotions crossed between happiness and fear. "Kurosaki-kun…" She whimpered as she leaned her head against the opposite wall, tears rolling silently down her cheeks.
"Grimmjow…How the fuck am I supposed to tear this wall down?" Ichigo's voice was steady and calm, unlike his usual erratic self, which made him, in Nell's personal opinion, ten times scarier. "I don't know…Nell, can you transform?" Grimmjow asked. "Transform?" Nell asked curiously then jumped and hit him over the head, "What the hell are you talking about! Nell is already transformed!" She leaped back into Ichigo's free arm as he held her as she climbed back on to his shoulder. "Use BanKai then and I'll use Cero that should"—
"No matter how many attacks you use, it can't be broken! It is part of me; the wall won't disappear until I do!" An Espada morphed in from Ichigo's peripherals, removing himself entirely from the wall, the Espada stood at about 6'9, a scary height even for an Espada. "Well then, since you so desperately want to remove my wall…" The Espada drew his sword, "I'm going to have to get rid of you…"
"Chad! Watch out!" Ishida cried as Chad narrowly escaped another jab from one of the two oncoming Numeros the duo had encountered. Chad and Ishida, fighting relentlessly were run down, the fight had gone on for almost a full thirty-five minutes and no one was more surprised than they were that their bodies hadn't collapsed from the strain yet. Ishida slid in front of the oncoming Espada and unleashed several fast arrows which were easily fended off or dodged as the blade of the Espada came rushing at Ishida, as the blade was inches away from Ishida's stomach, an unusual Zanpaktou, knocked the blade away. A tall man with an oddly shaped hat and a painted face stood in front of Ishida. "Why the hell am I the one always stuck saving your sorry Quincy ass?" Mayuri asked bitterly as he dodged another stab attack from the silent numeros and lunged forward himself slashing smoothly as the numeros blocked his attack and jumped backward. Mayuri, who seemed less than content fighting a meager opponent like a numeros after having been delegated the task of removing Espada, was using every ounce of his annoyance and anger and releasing it all on this single numeros.
Mayuri spun around the numeros and swung in a wide arch letting his blade rest in his out stretched arm as it dove into the chest of the numeros. Pulling it out slowly Mayuri spun one more time, more gracefully than one might expect from the man, and removed the numeros' head. Ishida was breathing heavily, "no one…asked…for your help!" the Quincy burst out defensively. "Shut up. Nemu, help him." Mayuri ordered as she rushed to the aid of the Quincy. Chad's fist collided with the numeros' mask, shattering it, as the numeros disappeared into a rain of spirit energy, Mayuri turned to look towards the now open door. "You better hurry, Byakuya."
Ichigo's blade was drawn back, he had assumed a fighting position when a shower of dancing pink petals surrounded him and, as Ichigo recognized Byakuya's Senbonzakura he lowered his blade. "I thought you weren't coming, I thought this wasn't part of the mission, what happened? Get scared in the cold out there?" Ichigo mocked relentlessly as the petals drifted away from him. "Shut up." Ichigo went to stand by Grimmjow, feeling that fighting each other while an Espada stood present and Orihime so close at hand seemed stupid to a point Ichigo would not dare explore with the temperamental man. As the petals danced around Byakuya he turned to face the Espada, "Shall we begin?" Byakuya asked needlessly as the Espada charged. Byakuya easily defended and attacked simultaneously. The Espada dodged and fended off Byakuya's attack.
"Mayuri-Taichou?" Rukia and Renji asked, together as they appeared at opposite ends of the room. Mayuri, Chad, Unohana, Nemu, Ishida, Pesche, Dondochakka, Kenpachi, Yachiru and now Renji and Rukia, stood in the center of the room, the entire party had re-congregated with the exception of Ichigo and Nell. Yachiru was complaining about how they only got to fight 7 numeros while Kenpachi was nodding his agreement in the girl's disappointment. "Well, we better go find Byakuya, he went off to help Ichigo, who, we're almost certain has found Orihime, or at least her general whereabouts.
Ichigo went BanKai and put on his mask as his power rose Nell had to get away from Ichigo's immediate presence due to the sheer pressure, the pressure made the other sword on Ichigo's back tremble, grabbing it Ichigo held it's hilt, the blade in the ground to keep it from falling. His power had even interrupted Byakuya's fight.
"There it is!" Rukia exclaimed, "That's definitely Ichigo's Reiatsu!" The whole team nodded as they darted for the source of the now shaking building.
Meanwhile…
"Everyone hurry!" Urahara commanded quickly, his voice steady but his mood shaking. "We must meet the army, I have confirmed that it is amassing in an open field just outside of Karakura, we have to stop its decent to the city. Everyone darted for the trap door moving with speed the human eye could not follow; Toushiro put a hand on Karin's shoulder and whispered, "I'll be back." And, seconds later, was gone, leaving only a trail of dust in his wake, the three with Yuzu were commissioned with protecting Karin and Yuzu as the rest disappeared to help the war effort.
The Vizard were the first on the scene, their masks drawn, their swords out, they lined up side-by-side in a long line, the Shinigami filed in around them as Yamamoto and Urahara quickly shouted for order, Isshin was standing alone, floating some ten feet above the rest of the army. "Wow, the Vizards did come to play after all…" Isshin said quietly. "You were going to leave me out again Isshin?" Asked a voice from behind him, Ryuken Ishida drifted towards Isshin, dressed in full-battle armor of the Quincy. "You…Came?" Isshin asked, shocked. "This is my city too, and I'll be damned if I let these pathetic excuses for living beings defend it for me!" Ryuken said, waving his hand around at the Shinigami. Isshin grinned, "Alright Ryuken lets at least have a little fun, that's that thing you used to have before you became a tight-ass, remember?" Isshin joked as the Quincy rolled his eyes.
As the battle commenced, Tatsuki was one of the first to charge the hollow army. She had only recently gained the ability to 'fly' or at least for the most part, she could use her powers to keep herself in the air for extended periods of time. Aizen could be seen in the back, next to Tousen and Gin, they were assuming the same position as Urahara, Yamamoto, Isshin, Yoruichi and Ryuken had assumed. Although Ryuken would randomly fire off several hundred arrows, it wasn't much.
Tatsuki was cutting through Hollows in a way she never could before, her newfound power in her arms and her only half formed full power in her legs were moving her through them like they were nothing. The slew of Hollows were to be followed by Arrancar, but the sheer number of Hollow now were bound to attract Minos Grande, which was, of course, Aizens plan…
Hueco Mundo…
The petals died away as Byakuya's BanKai receded and he sheathed his sword. The door remained but Ichigo felt sure this time it would crumble. Raising his sword just as the rest of their group slid into the room. Ichigo swung and an enormous burst of jet black energy shot from his blade, still in BanKai-form the door blew to shreds, releasing his BanKai and crushing his mask Ichigo put his sword back on his back and looked at the teary-eyed Orihime as she ran towards the huge group, all of whom, even Byakuya-well almost, was smiling at her as she ran towards Ichigo.
"How do we get out of here..?" Byakuya asked the group at large as Orihime looked rather uncomfortable having just been freed from the clutches of her captors she was overly grateful to all of them but she couldn't help here and that irked her more than anything, except maybe how close Ichigo was standing to Rukia, but she crushed that feeling immediately and continued to smile. Ichigo turned to Grimmjow, "How did you get through?" He asked quickly, an idea coming to him. "Well it works like how a Shinigami gets back to Soul Society, we use our swords, but it won't work now that Aizen has sealed the gates, we Espada can't do anything about it if we were left here." Ichigo shook his head, "I didn't say anything about you." Ichigo said simply as Byakuya finally noticed the Espada's presence as did everyone else. "GRIMMJOW! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" They all burst out collectively as Nell and Ichigo stepped in front of him to stop the onslaught that was sure to come. "No, he's with us now." Ichigo said simply and Grimmjow coughed, "No, I'm just not with them nor against you." Ichigo shook his head, "Fine, either way, he's no enemy." Ichigo said simply. "But he's an Espada!" Burst out Renji, Ichigo raised an eye-brow at him, "Yeah? I'm a Vizard, essentially I'm a counterpart of the Espada, are you calling me your enemy?" Renji quickly shut his mouth and stepped back several feet from the death-glare he received from Rukia, Nell, Kenpachi, Yachiruu, Pesche, Dondochakka and Orihime.
Ichigo smiled slightly as he pulled on his mask and built up his spirit energy, then thrusting it into the air behind him he ripped it out violently. Immediately a vortex appeared similar to the one in Urahara's shop that transported them here. As soon as it opened to the Living World, Ichigo put his sword and the sword he had recently picked up and an enormous blast of spirit energy beat into them. "Follow that energy!" Ichigo roared over the white-noise escaping the hole. Ichigo and the rest jumped into the Vortex, Nell hanging on to Ichigo's shoulder.
A cero was moving at ridiculous speeds even for an Arrancar, Tatsuki was in the line of fire, she couldn't move, she was too slow to get out of the way, as she crossed her arms in front of her and braced for impact a blur of black streaked across the now night sky, illuminated only by the light of the moon, the cero broke around the swift slash of the orange haired man's sword. "Hey." Ichigo said turning halfway to see Tatsuki looking back at him. "I thought I sensed you…" Grabbing her around her waist he leaped into the air and used his sword to cut through the rabble of Hollow's that barely seemed present as he skid to stop in front of Ryuken, Urahara, Yamamoto, Yoruichi and… "DAD? WHAT THE HELL?" Ichigo roared angrily, shattering his mask with the hilt of his blade. "You're a Shinigami…All this time and you don't tell me? Are you fucking serious?" Ichigo didn't care there was a war going on behind him, he didn't care Tatsuki was next to him, he didn't care Nell was standing on his shoulder looking confused. All Ichigo cared about now was just what the hell his father was thinking not telling him what he was. "Ichigo…" Nell said calmly bowing her head as Yamamoto's eyes widened to see the cracked mask on her head. "Kurosaki, what is the meaning of this!" He pointed at Nell who looked very unhappy at her title of 'this'. Ichigo threw him a death-glare. "This has a name! This is Nell, and I don't answer to you anymore!" Ichigo spat at him, dawning his mask again. "Dad, we are going to talk about this…" Ichigo said turning to face Urahara and grabbing Tatsuki's arm and pulling her close. "What the hell is the meaning of HER presence?" Tatsuki ripped herself out of his grasp, "I'm here because I wanted to help you Ichigo! You weren't going to let me so I had to find someone who would!" Ichigo looked at her, then to the group that was with him in Hueco Mundo and was now, under the cover of their comrades bringing Orihime forward. "I brought her back." Ichigo said as he started walking towards the battle field, Orihime rushing at Tatsuki and engulfing her in a hug.
Ichigo's mask was up on his head, he turned to see Tatsuki looking at him. He sighed deeply and looked at her with eyes full of sadness, and then closing them again, he smiled at her, genuinely-the smile that she condemned to have been lost at the disappearance of his mother. Pulling the mask over his face he stared at her again for a moment, then in an instant at speeds Tatsuki couldn't even begin to follow, he was gone…
Ok this is the FIRST entry of what will be a lot of sectional stories, most chapters will be this long and take some time to write, although this only took me about 4 days to complete it was still something that was, after all, rather difficult to piece together, the next entry: WarZone, will be out as soon as I can get it out. This will be following a basic interpretation. All of this should be taken as pure speculation and just, as it implies, a Fanfic. Also, if any of you have a problem with pronouncing Ichigo's inner hollow, I'm sorry, but I told my friend I'd give'em a Russian Name, sorry. Finally please R&R, because I like feedback, plus it helps me know im not writing this so nobody can read it.
Note: This is 21 pages of writing, at a word count of: 11,969 words. Each chapter will vary from between 10k-15k words, there will be no 'short chapters' simply because I don't want to make them, don't like it-I don't care.
--The Grim Anarchist.