Ichigo wasn't sure just how many days had gone by since he decided he would have to wait for the intruders to arrive at Los Noches. But they should be here by now, he thought. He rested his chin in his hand as he sat, casually, on his couch. He was tired of waiting. It was nearly painful for him. He just wanted to kill them and get it over with. All this waiting was annoying.

"Her ladyship wants to have a word with you." Aya stood at the mouth of his door. She knocked on the wall. "Pronto."

"How would you even know that?"

"Cause I just got done talking with her. I wanted to know what was so great about her, you know?" She smiled.

"Aya, you aren't allowed to talk with the prisoner. You should know that." He stood. "Please, don't do it again."

"Alright, alright I won't." She walked over and sat on his couch. "So, go and talk to her, then." She laid down. "I'll be here."

Ichigo walked down the corridor towards Orihime's room. He was tired. He wasn't getting enough sleep lately. He wasn't quite sure why. It wasn't good, though. He was probably going to get into fights in the near future so he needed all of his strength.

He finally got to her room. After opening the door he saw Orihime sitting on her couch. She looked up at him. She looked very nervous.

"What is it?" He walked in and leaned up against the wall.

"Well…um…I…"

"Yes?"

"Ichigo-kun, I want to ask you something. I…have a proposition for you. Please save the people who came here for me."

"Proposition?" He laughed, crossing his arms. "What do you mean? What could you possibly give me that would make me want to save them?"

Orihime looked directly into his eyes. "Myself."

He was quiet. "Yourself."

"I will give you," she looked down, "myself."

He sighed and was still for a moment before walking up to her and taking her chin in his hand, bringing her face up so she was looking at her. "You're not worth it."

She cringed. After a moment she tried to speak. "Please, I…I'll do anything. Just save them."

He brought a hand up to the side of her face. "You really think you're that valuable?"

She took in a breath. "I am."

He smiled, kindly. "Unfortunately, I'd have to disagree. But it's sweet that you think so much of yourself." He started to walk away.

"Kurosaki-kun would never say…something like that to me." Orihime watched him. "He would never be that way."

Ichigo turned around. "Orihime. I'd like you to see something. Something that not very many people get to see." He put his hand on the hilt of his katana. "What do you think?"

Orihime's eyes widened as he drew his katana. "Slay, Zangetsu."

Ichigo left Orihime's room, shutting the door quietly. Ulquiorra stood outside, waiting. Ichigo turned around. "Hello."

"Why did you show her?" Ulquiorra stared at him.

Ichigo looked at the ground. "So she would know what I really am."

Ulquiorra looked to the door. "What did she do?"

Ichigo turned to him. "She walked up and wrapped her arms around me." He looked away and laughed. "Idiot." He walked away from her room.

"Hey, little one." Ichigo looked up. Grimmjow walked up to Ichigo. "Aizen's called a meeting. I was supposed to come get you. So hurry the hell up." He walked away.

Ichigo watched Grimmjow as he walked away. "Another meeting." He closed his eyes. "They must be here."

---

Ichigo took a drink of his tea. He let out a breath. He took another drink of his tea. He let out another breath. He leaned his chin on the palm of his hand and closed his eyes.

"Try to pretend like you care about these meetings." Stark leaned over and spoke quietly to Ichigo. "It's for Aizen-sama's sake."

Ichigo straightened up in his chair. "Sorry."

"It's fine. Sometimes we just don't think about what we're doing." Stark looked forward as Aizen entered the room, sitting down.

"As you might have guessed," Aizen spoke to everyone, "the reason why I am holding this meeting is because our intruders have finally made it to Los Noches." He smiled, warmly. "Which means, we most dispose of them."

"Finally." Grimmjow laughed. "Can I go now, then?" He stood.

"Not yet, Grimmjow." Aizen put his hand out. "Please…sit." Grimmjow stood for a moment, then reluctantly sat down, a little angry. Aizen addressed everyone, again. "There are only two of them. So, they are hardly a threat."

"Aizen-sama." Ichigo sat forward. Aizen turned to him. "Do you know their names?"

"They were part of the group that came to the Soul Society once. Their names are Ishida and Sado." Aizen turned to everyone. "Right now I am leaving them up to our Priveron Espada. You all need not dirty your hands with them until they prove themselves bothersome enough to defeat them. Do you understand?" He took a drink of tea. Everyone nodded. Except Grimmjow and Nnoitra. Aizen looked at them. "Do you understand?" They both slowly nodded.

Ichigo crossed his arms and let out a soft, "Tch." He was hoping to just kill them off himself. But now he had to let someone else do it? Now he would never find out what Chad's power was like. No…he thought about it. They might just be able to defeat the Priveron Espada. He decided to go looking for their reiatsu. They would probably defeat those Espada by the time he found them.

Aizen ended the meeting and Ichigo went looking for Chad. It took a while because he didn't know what his reiatsu was like, but finally he caught onto a reiatsu that he didn't recognize. When he finally got to it he saw Chad standing next to a defeated Privion Espada. Chad looked up at him, eyes wide.

Ichigo spoke, "Congratulations. However, now you'll have to fight me."

Chad stood, completely still. He wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't believe Ichigo was standing in front of him. It had to be fake. It just had to be. He turned so he was completely facing him. "Ichigo? I thought you were dead."

Gantenbainne looked at Chad. "Run, he'll kill you!"

"No, it'll be fine. He's a friend of mine." Chad looked at Gantenbainne.

"You really should listen to your new friend." Ichigo smiled.

Chad took a step forward. "Ichigo, why are you here? Why are you wearing the same kind of outfit he's wearing?" He tightened his hand into a fist. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he didn't like it.

"I'm here because I live here. I'm wearing this because everyone here wears clothing like this. Because I'm an arrancar now. I'm a hollow." He got ready to attack. "Any other questions?"

"You're a hollow? What? Why?"

"Run!" Gantenbainne yelled at Chad.

"Oh, my. You are getting annoying." Ichigo appeared by Gantenbainne and stabbed him through the neck. Chad took a step back. Ichigo let out an annoyed breath, then turned to Chad. "Because Urahara Kisuke turned me into one." He disappeared and appeared directly in front of Chad, slashing his chest. Chad choked on the air. "I expected more from you, Chad." Chad staggered back and held out his right arm. He brought it back and flung a shot out at Ichigo. Ichigo laughed and dodged it. "What the hell was that?" Ichigo ran at him and slashed his left arm. Chad fell to the ground, kneeling and holding his arm. "I'd like it if you really fought with me, now. It would make this a little more fun." He backed up. "I'll give you the time to get ready." He crossed his arms, holding his katana loosely.

Chad stood up and coughed a little. He held his left arm out and made Brazo Izquierda del Diablo appear. He looked down at his hand. He didn't like this at all. He was hoping to just fight with Ichigo a little and convince him to stop this. He didn't want to kill him. But if he had to…he would. "Ichigo." He looked at him. "I don't want to do this. Let's not fight. Please."

"You don't want to fight?" Ichigo smiled. "Are you begging for your life?"

"No. I'm just saying I don't want to fight a friend." He let both arms drop to his side. "Help us save Inoue."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. I'm the one protecting her from you." He held his katana firmly and ran up to him, but when he went to attack Chad blocked him with his left arm. Ichigo whistled. "So that arm isn't just for show." He backed up. "Show me what it can do." Chad hesitated. This would kill one of his friends, if not his best friend. "Go on, I'll give you one free shot." He held both arms out and left his chest wide open for Chad to hit him. "Do what you will."

Chad looked serious. He brought his left arm back and, with as much force as he could, hit Ichigo in the chest. It very much so pained him to do so. After he had done it tears fell from his eyes. "I'm sorry." He looked away.

"For what?"

Chad looked up. He saw that Ichigo was smiling at him. "How?" Chad backed up. "How are you not dead?"

Ichigo brought his katana up and cut Chad's throat. "I'm sorry."

Chad's eyes widened. He fell to the ground. After a few moments his eyes slowly closed and he was gone.

Ichigo looked at him without emotion. He put his katana on his back and started walking away.

He didn't feel like looking for Ishida right away. He didn't like having a battle right after a battle. He sighed. Perhaps he would entertain himself with Orihime for a while and then go searching for Ishida. He made his way to her room.

When he opened the door Orihime looked at him for a moment, then down to his clothes. "You've been hurt."

He looked down. He had forgotten to change before he came. Chad's blood was all over his clothes. He looked down at the white fabric, stained. "Yes. Actually it wasn't me who got hurt. So you can rest assured." Orihime stood and walked over to him, determined. "Orihime, I just said-"

"You don't know if you're not hurt or not. You were in a fight, right? You could have gotten injured and not known it." She turned him around. "Now that it's over do you feel any pain?" He looked at her as she turned him back around. She looked so worried for him. But why? He had done everything possible to make her not like him, why did she still care? She brought a hand up to his face. "You don't look well."

"I'm fine." He moved her hand away.

"Ichigo-kun, please let me help you!" She looked up at him, worried.

"Why do you care?" He stared at her. "Why do you want to heal me, it makes no sense, you make no sense." She let out a long breath and leaned into him. "Huh?"

She brought a hand up to his neck and tried to breathe in the scent that she always imagined Ichigo had. But there was nothing. She started to cry. "How could I not care for you? You're my friend." She buried her face in his chest. "I love you, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo took her shoulders and pushed her away from him. She took in a quick breath. He looked her in the eyes. "Don't ever say that again."

"But, Kurosaki-kun-"

"I told you not to call me that."

She looked down. "Yes."

Ichigo turned around and walked to the door. "It was Chad. I killed him. His blood is all over my clothes." He turned around and pointed at Orihime's dress. There were spots of blood on the fabric. "And now it's on yours as well."

Orihime shook her head. "Ichigo-kun, no! He's not dead."

"I'll have them bring your food. And you'll stay in that dress until you're able to admit that both Chad and Ishida will meet their deaths here. And that it is all your fault." He left.

Orihime brought her fingers up to the blood on her dress. She started crying, "Sado-san."

---

After changing into a set of clothes that were more appropriate for entering a battle Ichigo didn't have to search long to find Ishida. His reiatsu was like a beacon. In about ten minutes he was face-to-face with him.

They stared at each other before Ishida spoke. "I thought you were dead."

"So I've heard." Ichigo took a step towards Ishida.

"Why are you in Hueco Mundo?" Ishida took a step towards Ichigo as well.

"Because, I live here." He waited for Ishida's reaction. He wasn't expecting it to be favorable.

"That can't be possible." Ishida took a step back this time. "Why?"

"Urahara." Ichigo kept moving towards him. "It's all his doing."

"So basically," Ishida got ready to bring his bow out, "you're my enemy."

Ichigo smiled. "You catch on quickly." He took his katana in his hand and got ready to fight.

Ishida slowly let his cross fall and his bow appeared. "I don't like doing this with you, Kurosaki. Isn't there any other way to resolve this? Why can't you help us save Inoue?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that. My loyalties lie with Aizen-sama, now." He appeared before Ishida and swung his katana at his chest. "Nothing can change that."

Ishida disappeared and reappeared about ten feet away. "There has to be some other way." He pulled back an arrow and let it go, aiming it at Ichigo's chest.

Ichigo blocked it with his katana. "Sorry, but there isn't." He held the fabric at the end of the hilt and started swinging his katana around in a circle above his head, then shot it out at Ishida. "I am who I am, now."

Ishida wasn't expecting Ichigo to do this so he didn't move quickly enough and was cut on the shoulder. He dropped to the ground for a moment. "I don't believe that. You can change, I know it."

"You don't even like me anyways." Ichigo held his katana by the hilt again and laughed. "Why do you care?" He ran towards Ishida.

Ishida stood, quickly and pulled an arrow back, letting it go. Ichigo moved out of its range. "It doesn't matter if I like you or not. You still have to be a good person. And I don't hate you anymore, Kurosaki." He tried to find Ichigo, who had disappeared, completely.

Ichigo appeared in front of him and slashed him across the chest. Ishida's eyes widened and he fell to the ground. "You're still so weak." Ichigo stood over him. "How did you ever think you could save Orihime?"

"I had to try." Ishida coughed. Some blood came from the sides of his mouth.

Ichigo shook his head. "You should have just stayed in the real world and let it go."

"I couldn't." He coughed again. Then he brought his bow out. "I still can't." His let off 1,200 arrows straight at Ichigo. Ichigo tried to move but couldn't move fast enough and got hit with a few of them.

He fell to the ground. "Damn it." He held his stomach then brought it away, looking at it. It was covered in blood. "I guess I'll just have to have Orihime heal me again." He looked at Ishida. "After I defeat you, that is."

"You have to stop this, Ichigo. I'm your friend, you can't kill me."

"Are you?" Ichigo thought about this. "Friend." Friends with a Quincy. That was a bit much. "I'm sorry, but I have to kill you." He smiled. "I don't get to kill nearly enough humans, anyways. It'll give me something interesting to do."

"You know you're dad still thinks you're alive somewhere." Ishida spoke in a serious tone. Ichigo stopped moving. "Even after he cried at your funeral he told me that he wasn't certain you were gone." Ishida looked at the floor and sounded a little sad. "I didn't believe him. But now I know he was right." He looked up at Ichigo. "He waits for you, every night in your room, just hoping that you'll come in through your window." Ichigo's hand was shaking a little, so his katana shook as well. "I don't think he'll ever stop waiting for you."

"Shut up!" Ichigo closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about his dad or his family. It bothered him to think about his past, especially that part of his past. He let his head fall and looked at the ground.

"If you came home, it would make him very happy." Ishida spoke. "Your sisters as well."

"I can't leave here, this is where I belong."

"Why not?" Ishida asked. "It's not like you're completely tied to this place. You don't truly belong here. Just because you're a hollow it doesn't mean you should live here, you weren't meant to live in a place like this, come home." Ishida pointed at him. "You can barely even tell you are a hollow. I can't even see your mask."

"It's right here." He pulled down the top of his shirt and showed Ishida the remains of his hollow mask. "So as you can see, I truly am the real thing."

"Come home, Kurosaki. Urahara could get you a gigai, you could live as though none of this happened." He tried to stand.

"And I assume part of coming home entails saving Orihime, as well?" Ichigo crossed his arms.

"Of course." Ishida staggered a bit as he stood. "She doesn't belong here, either."

"You don't look so good." Ichigo walked up and patted him on the shoulder.

Ishida quickly moved away. "Thanks, I know."

Then Ichigo thought of something. "Ishida…it's about Rukia." Ishida's hands tightened into fists. He looked tense. "She really is dead isn't she?"

"Yes, she was executed. We couldn't do anything about it."

Ichigo closed his eyes. "Ishida." Ishida watched him. He held his hand up and a cero grew on the end of his fingertip.

"Kurosaki!" Ishida jumped back. "You don't belong here! Stop fighting for Aizen!"

Ichigo looked up at Ishida as the cero grew. "Goodbye." The cero shot out at him. Ichigo watched as the blinding light made its way to Ishida's form. Suddenly something stood in its way. Ichigo stood up and watched as a girl swallowed the whole of his cero, then shot it back out at him. Ichigo quickly moved out of the way and looked at the girl.

"Nel!" Ishida put a hand on Nel's shoulder. "Are you alright? Can you really do something like that?"

"Nel?" Ichigo walked up to her and knelt over. He pointed to her estigma. "It's you. Why are you a kid?"

Nel backed up. "Who are you?"

"Nel, it's me, Ichigo." Ishida looked back and forth from Ichigo to Nel as Ichigo spoke to her. "Don't you remember me?"

Nel stared at him for a moment. "No."

Ichigo looked at the ground. "Oh."

Ishida knelt over and looked at Ichigo. "You know her?"

Ichigo turned to Ishida. "She's…" he saw the look in Ishida's eyes, wondering why Nel would know someone like Ichigo in a place like this. "Yes, I know her." Ichigo turned to Nel. "Nel, you used to know me."

"No." Nel closed her eyes. "Don't think so."

"We were friends."

"Sorry." She put a hand out. "Don't recognize you."

Ichigo looked down to his wrist. "Then what about this?" He took off a bracelet he had worn since she had disappeared that day. "I found it in your room. You used to wear it. Pesche gave it to you." He put it on her wrist. It was far too big for her. She looked down at it. "It's me, Nel."

Nel looked up at him. "Itsygo?" She peered at him. "Itsygo." She brought a hand up to his head. "Blonde."

"Eh?" Ishida looked at her.

"Your hair was blonde."

Ishida smiled. "I think you're mistaken, Kurosaki's hair is-"

"She means…" Ichigo closed his eyes, speaking over Ishida's words. Ishida stopped as Ichigo looked up at him. "She means when I was a Vasto Lorde."

Nel touched his face. "Itsygo." Ichigo looked down to her. Slowly, a smile grew across her face. "Itsygo!" She jumped on him, and as she did a large amount of smoke erupted around her and swallowed them. By the time it disappeared Ishida saw Nel hugging Ichigo, tightly.

"An adult?!" Ishida pointed at her.

"Ichigo!" Nel sat back.

"I thought you were dead." Ichigo looked at her.

"I nearly was." She stood up. "How are you?"

He looked at the ground as he stood up. "Not sure what to do, really."

"Save Inoue, it's that simple." Ishida took a step forward.

Nel smiled. "We're saving a girl called Orihime."

Ichigo looked up. "So you really are helping them?"

"Yes." She turned serious. "And you should, too."

Ichigo closed his eyes. "Nel…"

"You can do it, Ichigo." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Aizen doesn't rule you if you don't let him."

He sighed. "And what am I supposed to do after I save her? Am I really supposed to do something as idiotic as go back to the real world? Like I could even make it through a day trying to act human. My family would notice right away."

Ishida moved his glasses up. "No offense, Kurosaki, but you weren't exactly lovable beforehand, either. Just don't try to kill them and I think everything will be okay."

Ichigo looked to him. "Thanks."

Nel put her hand out to him. "Come on, Ichigo. Let's go."

Ichigo looked away. Saving Orihime. Going completely against what he had been working towards. He made a noise of aggravation. "Damn you, Nel."

Nel smiled wide. "Thank you, Ichigo!" She hugged him.