I am back and with the second chapter. I hope you enjoy the first chapter because the second chapter will start to pick things up a bit more. Again, I will be posting this fanfiction once a week. Please do not impose any negative comments, harsh criticism or thoughts. Constructive, positive and thoughtful criticisms are accepted.

Thank you and enjoy!

Icestar123

Chapter 2

Darkness. All Ichigo could see was nothing but a black endless space of time around him. Nothing was there. It almost felt as if he was all alone here, floating in a lone world with filled with emptiness. He could feel the essence of that darkness. His eyes were closed and his body laid in the middle of a dark space in time.

Am I….dead? Is this the result of the battle between me and Kariya? What of the others? Are they killed in the blast as well? The substitute Soul Reaper thought. However, something was calling out his name. Who was it? Was it a ghost or could it be just a voice in his head?

Ichigo….wake…up….

Who's there? Ichigo attempted to answer the voice. Despite that, he still didn't know who or what was calling him. Yet, it grew louder. Maybe he was imagining it?

Ichigo! Please wake up! Ichigo! Ichigo!

"Auaahh!" He gasped, his eyes shooting wide open and shooting up immediately from his spot, breathing heavily. Around him, were his friends that was with him during his battle with Kariya: Orihime, Uryu, Chad, Renji, Rukia, Yoruichi, and Byakuya. Ichigo looked around. It was a city and near the balcony. The floor was cemented and the sky was blue. Were they back to the world of the living? No….the world he was feeling right now was completely different from the world of the living. It almost has a different…atmosphere to it. Orihime however, interrupted his thoughts.

"Ohhh thank goodness you are awake! We are all so worried about you!" Orihime exclaimed, a sound of relief in his tone. Ichigo groaned, burying a hand to his hair. For shooting up so fast, he was feeling a little lightheaded. The others looked mildly concerned when he woken up. It seemed as though relief was painted on their faces now.

"Uughh…what happened?" He asked. After a closer look, he realized what was so different."Hey what's goin' on here? Why are Renji, Rukia, and Byakuya in normal clothing?" He looked down on himself and realized he was in his white t-shirt and blue jeans."Ahhh! What the hell!? I'm wearing normal clothing too! What in the world is going on!?"

"Well….we are not sure ourselves. We are like this when we all woke up." Rukia explained, scratching her head with a sigh. Yoruichi nodded once, her hands folding to her chest and her amber eyes narrowed.

"I couldn't sense anything here for some odd reason. I am not even sure if we are back in the world of the living or not. This place…feels different from the world of the living we stay in." She explained, scanning carefully. "Plus, I don't recognize this place."

"Plus…I cannot seem to hear my zanpakuto. That is rather unnatural." Byakuya added, his eyes narrowing a little. Ichigo couldn't hide the shock in his face. His zanpakuto was not here? Something was up. They cannot be in their Soul Reaper form until they figure out how to solve this problem.

"How…can that be? Are you saying we are the only ones here? And the others are not here?" Ichigo asked, baffled.

"You are so stupid. Of course that is what it means. I can't believe a Soul Reaper like you can't even comprehend something so simple." Urya scowled, pushing his glasses up. The orange-haired male growled. Of course he knew! He was just reiterating the question out loud!

"What the hell did you just say, Uryu? Say that again and I'll give you a beating!" Ichigo threatened, standing up and clenching on his fists. Was he mocking him? Or was he purposefully making it so he would look stupid? All the Quincy ever did was push his glasses up and replied nothing towards the insults. Instead, he seemed more focused on whatever is up ahead of them.

"Hey, someone is coming." Uryu warned. All eyes turned to the direction where Uryu was staring. The orange-haired male could feel an odd spiritual presence approaching. Caution crept in his mind. The spiritual presence he felt was quite powerful, almost authoritative. He could only deduct that whatever was approaching them held a strange presence of nobility and power. As the presence grew stronger, so did the voices.

"Hey Yuug, are you sure you are heading to the right direction? I sense nothin' just now." A voice that sounded like some countryside male questioned the person apparently called Yuug. A authoritative voice with a deep voice replied back.

"Yes, are you doubting me Joey?"

"Well….no I was just making sure." The male named Joey replied back, sounding sheepish as well awkward.

"I can't believe you will doubt the Yuugi for such a thing! You should feel sorry for yourself!" A female voice snapped. It sounded feminine but also very firm. As the figures approached, Ichigo could see that the one in the middle had extremely spiked hair and his body was quite muscular. The two towards his right were almost the same height as him, one what seemed like the front bangs of his hair sticking out a little while the other just had the normal flat hair style. Both of them were boys. The one towards the left had hair going a little above the shoulders and her body was very slim. It seemed like she was wearing a skirt. Soon, the shadows removed themselves, revealing teens standing before them. The male in the middle stopped and looked at the crowd quietly, observing. On the other hand, a blonde male let out a retort.

"They're a bunch of teens like us! 'Ain't understanding what so special about 'em!" Yet the male with spiked hair rose a hand. The blonde blinked but then went quiet because of that hand signal. Ichigo rose a brow, unamused.

"Who are you? Your aura….is quite different amongst normal humans." The spiked hair male questioned, his tone showing slight friendliness in them. Ichigo was about to speak when Renji intercepted with a rather harsh glare.

"And what the hell would it matter to you on who we are?" Renji demanded.

"It's simply how I feel and your aura energy was quite immense. It went as far as almost the entire city. It….amuses me." He replied back."It's almost as if you are not from this world."

"Hey….how do you know we are not from this world?" Ichigo was shocked. A rather amused snort escaped the male's nostrils.

"I simply knew….that is all." The male responded."Allow me to introduce me and my friends here. My name is Yuugi and this is Joey, Tristan and Tea. Welcome." A most friendly smile cracked in Yuugi's face as he did so. Ichigo blinked. Lowering his voice to a whisper, he turned towards Byakuya for advice.

"Do you think we should trust them for the time being?" The substitute Soul Reaper questioned. Byakuya glanced over at the four before frowning.

"I believe we have little choice, being as he figured us out and that he isn't posing any form of threat towards us." Was the Captain of Squad 6's reply. Ichigo sighed quietly before looking towards the teen named Yuugi.

"It's….a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Ichigo and my friends here are Chad, Orihime, Byakuya, Renji, Rukia, Urya, and Yoruichi. I hope you take care of us in the time we are in this world." The orange-haired male introduced giving a slight respected head bow as he did so. Yuugi smiled rather warmly and nodded.

"Ichigo….I see. I shall remember that name." Yuugi noted softly and glanced around."Finding a place for the two of you to stay is important so it seems. It's unfortunate that my place cannot house you all in."

"I'm sure we can figure something out but that is very kind of you." Ichigo replied, almost sounding dismissive.

"Yuug is offering and ya don't accept it?" Joey demanded.

"Hah? The hell you just say? It's not like Ichigo is not saying no! If what that guy says is true he really cannot house us! Someone needs a big enough house to do so!" Renji snapped back at Joey.

"Yeah? Yuug could ask us to help 'em you know, ya big red-haired freak!" Joey growled. The two already were walking up to each other and glaring.

"You wanna fight, you piece of shit?" Renji growled.

"Bring it!" Joey replied, his hands already balling to fists. Yuugi though stepped in between them and placed both hands on their shoulders.

"Peace. There is no use to quarrel over it. There is always a way to solve it. All we need is to find a way to solve it." He reassured before releasing his hand on their shoulders. Ichigo breathed out a sigh.

"So, where are we Yuugi?" He asked.

"This is called Domino City. A city where a card game called Duel Monsters are thriving." Yuugi replied.

"Hmph….a child's game." Byakuya spoke up next.

"Think as you might, Byakuya, but is a game of competition and skill required. Only the best of best can be claimed to be able to win such a title." Yuugi spoke."It's also known that these monsters can come to life and be our guardians or assistants. Reflected by the ancient Gods."

"Heh, sounds like a bunch of fantasy to me. Not my forte." Renji retorted. "I rather fight with swords rather than that."

"I see. You must be Soul Reapers then. Only the blade of a Reaper would be important to take and liberate the souls of the dead." Yuugi observed. This threw Ichigo and his friends aback.

"Who are you? For you to know what we are…" Ichigo breathed and tone suspicious. Yuugi smirked.

"That…I'm once a dead Pharaoh from the ancient times transferred and resided within this artifact here called the Millennium Puzzle. I'm but a spirit living in a human being. This piece is only one of the 12 pieces of the Millennium Items. There is a dark force here…threatening to take this city and the life within it here. I'm here to stop it. I have the power of authority with this Puzzle. My host….his name is Yuugi. I have a real name that I would not reveal. Calling me Yuugi is no different." Yuugi explained casually.

"Do you not want to move on though?" Ruka asked softly. "Does it not make you suffer so to bear the toil of this burden upon yourself?"

"It's a duty only worthy of a Pharaoh. I will not be able to rest unless this world is rid of this darkness. Only I can liberate this world to a more peaceful world." Yuugi spoke and looked at Ichigo. "I sense you have a similar duty as well."

"That's right. I help them, the Soul Reapers to stop whatever evil resides in their homeland but also in our world as well. Where the living soul lives." Ichigo nodded. "I am part human part Soul Reaper though. So they have me as a Substitute Soul Reaper."

"Your duty holds true to its cause. Worthy of respect." Yuugi smiled but of respect.

"Yeah? For you to take it all by yourself is itself worthy." Ichigo faintly smiled.

"I think it'll be nice if Tristan, me and Yuugi take some of you guys in to our homes until you find a way back home!" Tea suggested suddenly.

"A good idea." Yuugi nodded.

"Maybe Ruka, Orihime and Yoruichi can stay in my home. Then Chad and Uryu can stay at Tristan's home. Ichigo, Byakuya and Renji can stay at Yuugi's home. What do you guys think?" Tea smiled with bright excitement.

"Are you out of your minds? I don't know if I'm ready!" Tristan protested.

"Well you can't expect Joey to house them right? You know, his home environment." Tea chided back. Tristan sighed.

"Fine, I'll do it. But that's because Yuugi thinks it's a good idea." Tristan complied.

"Thank you Tea." Yuugi smiled."Will that be alright for you all?"

"I think it'll be fun, having a girls night together!" Orihime replied with a smile.

"As long as there is a decent amount of comfort and sanitation, then I have no complains." Uryu added.

"Yeah, I don't mind." Ichigo agreed with a nod. The rest just gave a look of approval in their faces.

"Then it's settled." Yuugi affirmed. The group of Ichigo's friends and Yuugi's friends began to walk around the city, to tour and know each other better.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

"Phase 1 of the plan is complete. The Pharaoh has yet to know what is to come. Sooner or later, we will have those two worlds coming together in a clash. We will rule over it with darkness. They would not know what is coming. Oh may the ancient gods guide us to victory." A dark voice in a dark void chanted softly. A dark robed man appeared behind him.

"When should we move to Phase 2, my lord? It's only a matter of time.." He inquired.

"Soon. Patience, my child. With this newfound power and the power of the Hollows on our side, no one can stop us whatsoever. They only wanted a life to live in peace those Hollows. But they will become our servants. The Pharaoh would have to force to use them in order to fight back against our enemies. Such a heart wrenching situation. Sooner or later, all the Soul Reapers from the other world will be forced to join them as well and to be used. Just like the monsters in that despaired game. Unfortunate Pegasus created this game only for it to be sprouted to a greater evil." The man snarled.

"Everything of your plan will soon come to fruition my lord. You yourself must have patience." Chided the man behind him."Everything is slowly going into motion. They wouldn't know they are going to be used eventually."

"Yes…..it's only a matter of time. Patience is needed." The dark voice agreed. After that, a sinister laugh echoed throughout the entire void and beyond.

To be continued...