Episode 2

The girls hurriedly pulled him over to a park where a small ice cream stand had been set up.
"We want one of those." Amber said, pointing, "And pronto!" Ichigo glared.
"All you want is ice cream? Why didn't you say so in the first place." He started to walk over to the cart.
"That's not all, we want the big sundaes!" Alicia shouted after him. Ichi hunched his shoulders even more. He couldn't wait for these two to go home. Why did they have to be such a pain in the ass? Weren't they supposed to be helping the Hollow problem? All they were doing, was being a nuisance and causing trouble. Ichigo waited in line behind a mother and her screaming child. This was going to be a long school year. Ichigo glanced back at the two giggling girls, who kept looking up at him every so often, phones in hand. What were they up to now?
"Excuse sir, what would you like?" A smiling woman in the ice cream cart asked. Ichi looked at the flavor board. What would be cheap, but big enough to be considered a sundae? He knew Amber liked anything with chocolate, or strawberry. She wouldn't shut up about his name for a week after she arrived here. He also knew that Alicia liked mint-chocolate chip and coffee flavors. He didn't see any prices on the ice cream, so it couldn't be too bad.
"I'll take two sundaes. One with strawberry and chocolate, and the other with coffee and mint-chocolate chip." He began to get out his wallet. His sister, Yuzu, was going to be all over him about how he didn't get her any ice cream, he thought to himself. Ichi smirked.
"Great! I'll go make that for you." Said the woman. "It will be 2,500 yen." She gave a smile, and a small giggle.
"WHAT!" Ichigo stared at the lady. "2,500 yen! That's insane! What is it? Magic or something?!" Ichigo dug around in his wallet looking for some more yen. Amber and Alicia walked up with an amused expression their faces.
"Here, I'll buy my treat." Alicia smacked down some money on the counter and winked at Amber. Ichi stared at them both, then clenched his teeth.
"You can pay us back later Ichi." Alicia said, licking her ice cream. Ichigo glared at the ground.
"Yeah, what kind of a guy makes the girl pay for the date." Amber sighed. "You really are a hopeless case Ichi."
"Hey! I don't have to pay you back for anything. And we're not on a date!" Ichigo shouted after them as they walked back down the street. Ichi noticed that people were starting to snigger. He ran off after them. "You have your damn ice cream now, so why can't we just be over with this and go back home? I'm tired of having to babysit you guys. And besides, you two are old enough to take care of yourselves!" Ichigo ranted. Amber stopped and spun around.
"Well like it or not, you lost a bet because you were too weak so now you have to go where we want to until the debt has been repaid!" Amber retorted. Ichigo and Amber stared each other down for a moment before Ichi sighed and turned away.
"Fine. What are you two wanting to do now?" He said, with annoyance and boredom in his voice. He ran a hand through his messy orange-red hair. Alicia and Amber chatted quietly for a while. Then Amber turned to Ichigo.
"The sun is about to set. We should all go to the park and watch it! RACE YA!" Amber gave a thumbs up before flash stepping toward the playground. Alicia turned back toward Ichigo with a smile.
"C'me on! We can't let her win can we?" Alicia grabbed Ichi's hand and pulled him after her.
"Finally! Something I'm good at." Ichi laughed as he ran alongside her. By this time, Amber had already gotten way ahead of them. She was no longer in their sights.
"I think she might beat us!" Alicia huffed, as she and Ichi sped toward the local park. But just then, they stopped dead in their tracks. A sudden, powerful wave of spirit pressure hit the two like a brick wall. It oppressive, and full of malice. Almost at the same time, a loud piercing scream shattered the twilight. Alicia stared at Ichigo with a horrified look on her face.
"Do you think?" Ichigo nodded in response to Alicia's question.
"Then let's go!" Ichigo and Alicia took off once more, now going faster than before, as more screams echoed through the streets.
After what seemed like an eternity, they came at last to Karakura's playground. It was a wide area, with a small field at one end and trees bordering the playground. On the other end was the play area, with monkey bars, a swing set, a jungle gym, and tires. When Ichi, and Alicia arrived there, their eyes quickly turned to the field not far off. What they saw shocked them. A Hollow nearly as big as the field it was in stood before them. It had a body like a gorilla's and a tale like a possum. It's thick, stumpy legs ended in camel-like hooves, and its skeletal head looked like an ape's with thick ram horns curling on either side of its head. From the deeps of its empty sockets stared two sinister points of light. Its muscular arms reached to the ground, and its hands were nothing more than three thick, sharp claws. It was covered from neck to tale in grayish-green scales. There was a huge gaping hole in the middle of its belly, and in one of its clawed hands, was Amber. It was squeezing her tightly.
"AMBER!" Alicia screamed, dropping her ice cream.
"Oh no!" Ichigo shouted in horror. Amber looked beaten. Blood was pooling underneath where the Hollow held her, mixing with the sundae she dropped trying to defend herself.
"Amber, use your Bankai!" Alicia shouted to her, as she herself pulled out her Zanpakuto. Amber struggled as more blood trickled to the ground.
"I…..I can't remember how to pronounce it! And I feel so weak…..I don't know why….." Amber grunted.
"NOOOOO!" Alicia screamed again, and charged toward the Hollow. Ichigo drew his sword and flash stepped in front of Alicia.
"Wait! This Hollow is too big for you to take on alone. And it seems like it can drain a person's spirit energy. Can you feel it?" He looked at the Hollow. Alicia checked herself.
"Yeah, you're right. I can feel a decrease in my strength. But what about Amber? We can't leave her!" Alicia looked helplessly at Amber. Amber clenched her fist and weakly swung at the Hollow's face. It hit with a weak thump. The Hollow laughed.
"Come at me fools! Let me show you my true power!" It roared in a deep gravelly voice. Alicia gritted her teeth.
"Ichigo, how do we beat this thing? I've never fought one this big, or powerful before." Alicia glanced between Ichi and the Hollow. Ichigo smirked, with a confident look on his face.
"Who needs a plan; All we gotta do is win right?" Ichigo turned to look at Alicia.
"Back me up with some Kido, and since I have more experience, I'll do the close combat." Alicia nodded and readied herself. All these long hours of learning Kido would finally pay off.
"Hang on! I'm coming to get you!" He swung his sword. "BANKAI!" he roared. Amber, still struggling, but just as determined as ever, glared down at him, trying to get an arm free from the Hollow's grip.
"I don't need your help, bastard. I can do it. I know I can! Just let me try…Stars rain like the falling snow…ummmm…..ack!" The Hollow laughed at her attempt.
"Pathetic Shinigami can't even remember her own sword's name!"
"Hey bastard! Look at your attacker!" Ichigo spat and charged toward the Hollow while Alicia bombarded it with Kido.
"Hado 31. Shakkaho!" Alicia yelled, holding her left arm up and palm facing toward the Hollow's face. A ball of red light shot from her hand. It hit it square in the eyes. The Hollow wailed and dropped Amber to the ground. It now turned all of its attention to the two attackers.
"You punks!" The monster yelled. Ichigo launched himself from the ground with his sword held over his head.
"YEEEAAAAHHHHH!" He screamed and brought his sword swiftly down toward the Hollow's face, but the brute blocked it, forcing Ichigo to retreat into the air just above it. Alicia ran closer to the monster.
"Shakkaho!" She yelled again and fired a red ball of flame at its chest this time. It struck home, sending the Hollow backward and leaving its softer underside exposed. Ichigo did not hesitate; he zoomed back down, and, knowing the beast's hide would still be tough, shouted, "GETSUGA TENSHO!" A bright blue-white wave of energy was flung from his blade and cut through the Hollow. Mortally wounded, it clutched its belly in pain. Ichigo came down hard on the monster with his blade. He sliced through its scull and down its full length. The Hollow gave a great roar, and disintegrated. I higo landed on the ground and sheathed his sword. Amber started to sit up as Alicia ran to her.
"Are….are you ok? Are you hurt?" Alicia helped Amber up and dusted her off. Amber winced and clutched her ribs, her robes were stained with blood.
"I…I think it broke a few of my ribs…." Amber managed to say. Alicia put Amber's arm over her shoulders.
"Let's get you home and I'll heal you." She looked at Ichi. He was examining the place where the Hollow had been. His eyes were focused on the ground and his forehead was furrowed.
"Ichigo, let's go home." Alicia called. Ichi looked up.
"Right." He said. Walked back to the others and helped Alicia with Amber.
"Are you ok, Amber?" He said quietly.
"I'll be ok once we get home." She reassured him. Ichigo still looked troubled. Alicia glanced at him.
"I know what you're thinking. There was something not right about that Hollow. It was too big, and its spiritual pressure felt off somehow. "Ichigo looked back at the playground.
"I just hope there aren't any more of those in town…." They walked back to Alicia's apartment, which was not far from Ichigo's own home. When got in, Alicia took Amber to the couch and healed her.
"Well, that was eventful." Alicia smiled after she was done. Amber didn't say anything. She just stared at her hands.
"Ah, don't beat yourself up about it, Amber. Learning the ins and outs of your Zanpakuto take time. You'll get the hang of it eventually." Ichigo smiled at her and winked. Amber smiled at him a little. Ichigo stretched and turned to look out a window.
"In the meantime, we need to think about food. I'm hungry."
"Well, we could have sushi for a change." Alicia stood up. "The only problem is, I don't know how to fix it. But Amber here does. She's a pro!" Amber blushed a little.
"Oh I'm not THAT good. But we'll have to go to my apartment, if we all want sushi."
"Then let's go!" Ichigo opened the door and lead the two girls out. Just as they were walking across the street, Alicia piped up.
"By the way, you still owe us Ichi" Ichigo stopped in the middle of the street.
"What do you mean I still owe you? You got your ice cream didn't you?" Amber smiled.
"Well, not really. We never really got a chance to eat it because of that Hollow. So you still owe us a date." She winked at him, Alicia giggled. Ichigo, on the other hand, was in hysterics.
"Now wait just a damn minute! I just saved your asses, doesn't count for SOMETHING! Hey! Come back here, I'm not done yet!" Ichigo chased the now laughing girls across the street and into the next apartment complex, while two dark figures watched from a window above.