A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to update, but lost my paper copy of the story, plus I had to design a CD cover for a mix CD for my friend's birthday present. AND I got a new puppy! She is SO cute; her name is Shelby and I luvs her :3 Also, I don't own bleach :( R&R

Urahara was deeply upset. He was upset because, for the first time in his life, he was questioning his own actions. SHOULD he have waited to ask Kurosaki about his plan? It did affect the boy after all. Hat n' Clogs' plan was to see if reiatsu could be separated and then rejoined with a being. Interrupting his own musings was the sudden burst of hollow reiatsu coming from Ichigo's house.

'Uh-oh.'

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Ichigo was extremely unsure of what to do. I mean, this was his lover. Then, Shiro(THE HOLLOW-Ichigo wouldn't think of it as the same being as his lover)roared as another Shinigami, Rukia, showed up. Just as Rukia was about to attack the hollow, Ichigo blocked her, an emotionless expression on his face.

"Ichigo, what-" Rukia started to ask, angry and confused, before she was cut off as the berry slammed the hilt of his zanpakuto against her temple, knocking her unconscious.

Shi-THE HOLLOW-watched in curiosity as the orange haired shinigami knocked out his midget of a friend, wondering why the hell he would attack his supposed ally. Then, Ichigo approached the hollow. It tried to attack the teen, but Ichigo was too quick, dodging the blow. After, he did the unexpected; Ichigo KISSED the hollow on his mask. The hollow, who at first looked confused, suddenly gasped as it suddenly regained it's memories.

Shocked, the hollow whispered one word, framed as a question: "Ichigo?"

Said person, whose eyes were tearing with happiness at not having to hurt his loved one, also responded with one word, his voice choked. "Shi..ro?"

THen, they both nodded and smiled at each other tenderly.

Little did they know, however, that Rukia had woken up right before Ichigo kissed Shiro, and had been too shocked to move. Now she was repulsed. The midget was about to speak, but the hollow did something inexplicable; it tore off its own mask, revealing a face exactly like Ichigo's. The hollow started glowing, and reverted back to a humanoid shape.

At that moment, Rukia jumped up, scaring the crap out of Ichigo and Shiro, and started talking.

"Explain yourselves!" She shouted, then closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. WHen she opened her eyes you could see pain reflected in their violet depths. "Never mind. There is no excuse for behavior such as this. Ichigo, if you don't kill that hollow immediately I will take you to soul society where you will be marked as a traitor and killed."

Shiro and Ichigo shared a look. "I will not killed Shiro. Goodbye, Kuchiki Rukia." And with that, ichigo and Shiro shunpoed out of the window.

Before Rukia could do anything, Chad, Ishida and Orihime all burst into the room, looking slightly winded. At the sight of the three of them, Rukia visibly relaxed, thinking they came to help her.

She was dead wrong.

As Chad restrained her, Ishida aimed his bow at her, while Inoue just kind of stood there trying to look important...

` "Explain yourselves!" Rukia Shrieked, but not moving because she knew how accurate the Quincy could be with a bow.

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Ichigo and Shiro landed in an isolated area of a nearby forest; they looked at each other fearfully they never expected this of all things to happen.

"It doesn't matter because it will be fine as long as we're together because we love each other." Ichigo firmly stated. It was cliche, but true.

Shiro smiled softly at that, then for the first time he says softly, "I love you too."

A lot of things happened really fast after those words were uttered.

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light and Shirosaki screamed, his voice echoing all around their small clearing. When the light cleared, Shiro was writhing in pain on the ground, screaming. His body was changing. The mask that he had put back on was slowly dissolving, permanently. All signs that he was a hollow-his marking and tail-disappeared also. Then his hollow hole faded away completely, and Shiro stopped screaming and lay still. Before Ichigo remembered that Shiro was a hollow, and therefore DEAD, he started checking his vitals. But what he felt amazed him. Shiro had a BEATING HEART. The berry was extremely confused as to what happened as he looked down at his unconscious lover. It was then that Ichi decided to go to Getaboshi(A/N: that means Sandal-Hat or Hat N' Clogs in Japanese) for answers.

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Inoue told Rukia how 'Shiro-kun' was Ichigo's Inner hollow had been materialized due to one of urahara's experiments and that he called them over to sort this out and prevent confusion, which they were a little late for.

Rukia looked confused, then she asked "WHy did he protect it so fiercely then? I thought he hated it."

"Well, uh, Ichigo and Shiro are...uh...lovers." Chad explained haltingly, a light blush lighting his face.

At that, the Shinigami collapsed-or tried; Chad held her up.

'Well, that answers that.' Rukia thought meekly.

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A/N: UPDATE! Hope you enjoyed, Glad its longer than the last one! Don't forget, review please!

Ichigo: You hurt Shiro. It better be worth it or I'll go bankai on your ass.

Me: It is! It is! I promise! Oh, and Shiro, I DID Get more reviews than three. Take that!

SHiro: It's only cuz they pity you

Me: Grrr...That's it! I'm gonna let soul society take you away and then that wackjob of a twelfth squad captain can dissect you.

Ichigo: Don't give me Another reason to want to kill you...

Me: Fine, fine! Don't hurt me,

Ichigo: Review or I'll go bankai on YOUR ass

Me: And sorry for any typos!