-My deepest apologies captain and good morning- Renji was late again, he had a recurring nightmare in which little Ichigo was devoured by hollows, worse this time Rukia was there as well, so he couldn't get a proper sleep -I'm really sorry-

Byakuya took a deep breath, as resigned to the mediocrity of his lieutenant, he could not even be in time -You have work- he simply answered signaling a paper on the desk. The captain was also strain, more than usual, as he had not received word from his sister in a week, the same was affecting Renji but he wouldn't allow that affect his job.

-Etto.. captain, I'm sorry, I was wondering… if by chance… Do you know any news on Rukia?- Renji asked carefully while he took his orders.

-You asked me the same question yesterday before leaving, as every day since Monday; one would think by now, that if I'd knew anything I'd have already told you- Byakuya didn't even turned to see him.

-I'm sorry… I should have known, I…- Renji was nervous now and didn't know what to say.

-Your mission… NOW- Byakuya held his breath.

-I'm sorry, right now…- the redheaded preferred to get out of there and check the details on his mission later, as he could feel an assassin aura from his captain.

Byakuya turned to see him leave, he contained himself of cutting Renji's head with Senbon Zakura if he repeated one more time "I'm sorry".


-Oh! A rescue mission already? You're on fire Abarai-kun- Yumichika complimented.

-You must have already your captain full trust, that's really commendable, you know he being a noble and all- Ikkaku drank his sake.

But Renji laughed ironically -I hardly doubt that, it's more like he's expecting me to die devoured by a hollow-

-Come on, that's preposterous- Yumichika tried to cheer him up.

-Oh please, you're not even close to the forest of Menos- Ikkaku joked.

-To be honest I'm worried about Rukia, that's why I've been spoiling everything recently- it was the first time Renji expressed his concern.

-She could just have lost his mobile or something- Yumichika suggested.

-To tell the truth Karakura is a dangerous city indeed- Ikkaku said and then to Yumichika who was giving him a look -What? It' the truth-

-Anyway you shouldn't underestimate Kuchiki-san, besides this is your chance to atone for all this week, you have to think positively- Yumichika said.

-There's no denying that one, Kuchiki could well take the seat of many lieutenants- Ikkaku added.

-You're not thinking about the lieutenant, right?- Yumichika laughed.

-Especially our lieutenant- Ikkaku answered as he remembered one of the last pranks Yachiru played on him.

-Did I miss something?- Renji asked.

-Oh this you have to hear- Yumichika started. For the rest of the afternoon the three of them mostly laughed and joked, and drank a lot -Anyway, I think is time to leave, tomorrow is your mission you have to be ready-

-Right- Renji nodded more animated and determined.

-Rescue members of the fifth division uh?- Ikkaku took a peek on the papers again -Captain Aizen should take care of his own business, just my opinion- he said disapproving and drank the rest of his sake.


Aizen was with some members of his division in the outside of Rukongai, studying the vortex found by one of the squads, it leaded to Hueco Mundo. The details of how such a thing came to be and how much stable it was had fallen to the twelfth division, but the fifth division were charged to guard it, as they discovered it. However one of the shinigamis had disappeared, presumably he was inside the vortex.

-Here I thought Abarai-kun had already played his part- Gin asked Aizen.

-Gin, this is not the place- Tossen quietly reproached him.

However Aizen answered unworried -It was a coincidence, any lieutenant would have served the purpose. It wasn't me who marked Abarai for death-

Gin laughed -I don't think just any lieutenant would have do, but you don't believe in things like destiny, well whatever; How is it going the other thing?-

Aizen smiled -I've discovered it, Urahara Kisuke is a genius, no doubt, but… he won't be able to restrain her as he planned-


Renji couldn't help to think how fishy that was, asking for help to other divisions to such an trivial task, but maybe Momo couldn't really get the job done, not to underestimate his friend, she could easily kick his ass on kidou; so in the end Renji tried not to think much on it.

He had taken some shinigamis from his squad that he was used to work with and entered the vortex; they arrived at Hueco Mundo and quickly found the lost shinigami unconscious.

-Easy cake so long- he thought -But it's strangely deserted not even tiny hollows-

-Lieutenant!- one of his men called him -He seems physically fine but his state of mind, he's completely lost it sir-

-Tsk, no good, well it's enough to take him out of here, I'm sure that captain Unohana can do something about it- Renji ordered.

They were almost in the vortex, when an impressive reiatsu made them freeze all, not just by its power but for the nature of it -What the hell!?- Renji thought, a little hollow attacked the group critically injuring one the team, but Renji managed to fight him back and made it steep back.

-Sir?- one shinigami asked for orders.

-Get them out of here-

-But…-

-Now! You'll only get on my way- Renji yelled at her, but gave her a look of confidence and the shinigamis left.

-You're an ugly son of a bitch- Renji had never seen such a thing, its body was as little as a baby where its hands should be there was a chopper and in the other one a stump of almost rotten meat with a strange protuberance, but its reiatsu was the strangest thing as it had a hint of shinigami, yet he was more surprised when he couldn't cut it.

The hollow saw him, there was something on its eyes that reflected insanity, his mask seemed porcelain instead of bone and it had the voice of a child -What's wrong shinigami? I'll be hungry with one so weak-

-Tsk, a strong one eh?- Renji teased it.

The hollow started laughing maniacally and then charged screaming, Renji could parry its attacks but it was too quickly -You think you saved him?- the hollow then shoot a stinky, black, viscous liquid from its protuberance.

Renji dodged in time and counterattacked, releasing Zabimaru without command, surprising the hollow, his Shikai cut it after the third slash, the hollow screamed painfully, Renji thought this would gave him nightmares later. The hollow went berserk and its combined attacks with its chopper and its pus made it difficult to Renji to keep up -Shit, I wonder if this is an Adjuchas, didn't really seem the type but then again I don't really know much about hollows biology, tsk should have attended that class with captain Kurotsuchi- Renji thought while evading the attacks.

The hollow seemed to have a panic attack -You want to run? You want to bring your friends to destroy me! No, No, nO, NO- the little hollow broke its mask to open its mouth, though it seemed painful the hollow continued gathering energy.

-Impossible! That's a cero!?- Renji dodged in time the cero, but the hollow stabbed him on his right collarbone -Damn!- Renji rejected it -What the hell was that? Shumpo?-

But the hollow didn't give him much space and attacked again, with his injure Renji was easier overpowered and the hollow took this chance to fire another cero leaving Renji on the edge of defeat -It's the end- the hollow laughed weird as he advanced.

Renji incorporate himself rather difficultly as he saw the gloomy menacing hollow advancing toward him, he thought of many ways to survive, maybe even escape or probably the others will send help, when he felt it -Damn…-

-DIE!- the little hollow was so enthralled in the battle it didn't notice a bigger one getting close to it, until it literally squashed it making a repulsive sound and dying instantly.

-Oh great!- Renji observed the bigger hollow it was about his size, reptilian type, with long orange hair and two horns on its mask, the hollow screamed as in reclaiming victory, if the hollow what was giving him so much trouble was so easily vanquished by that other one, he was done for. He didn't even notice it, but the new hollow was suddenly in front of him and quickly grabbed Renji with his tail.

-Shit, you're really strong eh?- Renji struggled against the hollow but it was in vain, the hollow was seeing him to his eyes -The fuck is wrong with this one?- Renji thought, but he abruptly froze the hollow started pressing his crotch with its tail, in all his years of shinigami he had never heard of rapist hollows but the only possibility horrified him as he was quite sure this one was a male; so he took firmly his zampakutô and tried to freed himself only to be bitten by the hollow, Renji stifle a cry out of pain, it had attacked him on his injury, probably to drink his blood or something.

-What…?- somehow the hollow was healing him, when it was done there was not even a scare and the hollow continued making strange noises, apparently it couldn't talk, and he continued invading Renji's personal space.

Renji wasn't sure of its true intentions but he was glad when his captain appeared with other shinigamis -Way of destruction No. 4: Byakurai- Byakuya attacked the hollow and it reacted protecting Renji covering him from the attack and releasing him afterwards.

-Instant regeneration- Byakuya noted and the hollow escaped using sonido -Abarai are you all right?- Byakuya was immobile seeing were the hollow had disappeared.

The other shinigami tended the wounded lieutenant and Renji was more than puzzled -It saved me? Did that hollow actually save me?- he thought, then he turned to his captain -I can stand, thank you very much captain I owe you more than my life, if you have been here a minute later I dunno what could have…-

-He's fast- Byakuya keep looking at the same spot.

-Uh? Well yea that was a strong one-

-A Basto Lorde…- Byakuya muttered something to himself -It doesn't matter now, the mission is over and we should return- the shinigamis left Hueco Mundo trough the same portal, some days after the vortex closed on its own, leaving no trace of it.