Hi again, Readers!

Chapter 3 is out now xD The story is going to start getting much more interesting from here on out and the title of this story will start to make sense as well :)

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the third chapter of the Garden of Strawberries!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. Tite Kubo does!

Garden of Strawberries

Chapter 3:

Ichigo was slowly waking up from the darkness of unconsciousness. He blinked a couple times to clear his vision and sat up in a sitting position. When his vision fully cleared, the Substitute Soulreaper took a look at his surroundings. What he saw before him shocked him to the bone.

Where the hell am I?

Before him stood Renji Abrai, his friend and comrade, wearing chain mail and dark crimson red armor. A black cape was attached to the shoulders of the armor. By looking at the cape more closely, Ichigo noticed a baboon's face with a snake wrapping around it engraved on the cape. The engravement was in red. Renji's long bright red hair was not in its usual ponytail either. It was down and it wrapped around his neck and shoulders. The armor also had black markings on it very similar to the tattoos on his face. A metal blade was in the grasp of his dark crimson red gauntlets too. It looked like Renji's zanpaktou when it is released into its shikai state (kind of like a sickle sword but bigger). Renji looked like a knight from a fairytail.

"Have you given up already when we have only begun, your highness?" taunted Renji while pointing his sword at Ichigo.

"Renji, what are you talking about and why did you just call me 'your highness'? What's with the getup too? It isn't the middle ages anymore," replied Ichigo giving the red head a weird look.

"Wow, your highness, you must of hit your head a lot harder then I thought." Ichigo cringed at Renji calling him "your highness".

"No I did not and stop calling me 'your highness!' It doesn't sound right." Renji could of swore a vein popped in his forehead.

"What do you mean it doesn't sound right? I've always called you that since we were little kids!"

"I didn't meet you till I was fifteen, you stupid pineapple."

"You must of really hit your head really hard, your highness, and don't call me 'pineapple!' You know I hate that nickname!" shouted the knight who was getting ticked off.

"Why would you hate your nickname?" began Ichigo with a smirk on his face, "it suits you perfectly or do you prefer stupid baboon. Either way, I'm fine with it." By the look on Renji's face, the orange-haired teen could tell his friend was completely pissed off. Ichigo always loved pushing Renji's buttons whenever he got the chance.

"That's it, you stupid strawberry! I don't care if your my king. I'm going to make you pay for calling me that!" yelled Renji as he dashed towards Ichigo with his blade ready to strike. Renji was fuming with rage.

"Who are you calling strawberry and I'm no king!" shouted the Substitute Soulreaper. As if on instinct, Ichigo grabbed Zangetsu that was to his right and dashed towards Renji. He didn't have the time to notice that Zangetsu was in it's bankai state when he faced against Ginjou, leader of the Fullbringers. The two swords clashed with such force that the metal of the blades created sparks.

"Give up, your highness, you can't beat me," said Renji with a smirk as he put more strength into his blade. Ichigo was being pushed back little by little.

"Just watch me." With that, Ichigo used all his strength to try and knock Zabimaru out of the knight's hands. Renji fought hard against the orange-haired teen's strength by giving in his all. However, Ichigo's strength overpowered his in the end. Zabimaru flew out of Renji's hands and into the sky.

Damnit! I lost... thought the red head as Ichigo's blade was pointed at his throat.

"I win," spoke a smirking Ichigo. He removed Zangetsu from Renji's throat and brought it to his side.

"Shut up," replied an annoyed Renji as he walked to the other side of the room where Zabimaru laid.

"Where are we anyways?" asked Ichigo as he put his sword over his shoulders.

"What are you asking me that? You know where we are."

"If I did, I wouldn't be asking now would I," answered Ichigo dumbly. Renji let out a sigh of frustration.

What's with him? He's asking things he should already know. It's as if Ichigo doesn't know where he is or who he is...

"We are in the training grounds of Karakura Castle, my lord."

"Training grounds of Karakura Castle?" repeated Ichigo as shock and fear appeared on his face.

"Yes. Don't you remember?" Renji was directly facing Ichigo by now. "You wanted to train with me to improve your skills, today. Is something wrong, your highness? You can't seem to remember anything," said Renji who was starting to worry.

W-what the hell is going on! Why am I in a place called Karakura Castle? It doesn't make sense! The last thing I remember is rushing to protect Rukia from the hollows and getting slashed by their claws. I was also talking to her when I began to feel that pain... That pain was unlike anything I felt befor-

Ichigo's hold of Zangetsu suddenly loosened. The blade fell to the ground, making a loud clang as it reached the cement's surface. Renji's eyes widen as he watched his comrade's body fall face first. The Substitute Soulreaper's body made a loud thud as it connected to the floor of the training grounds.

"My king!" cried Renji as he raced to his fallen friend. Before the knight could even reach him, four claw marks on Ichigo's back began to glow. The white light was too much for Renji's eyes to take so he had to turn he eyes away. Eventually, the light engulfed Ichigo into a cocoon.

Damnit. Not again... The pain Ichigo felt earlier when he was with Rukia returned. Only this time was different. It was four times as worse... The orange-haired man let out a scream.

"Ichigo!" was the last thing Ichigo heard before he fell back into the darkness of unconsciousness...

"The first piece of the puzzle has fallen into place," spoke the dragon-like hollow with the white markings all over its body.

"How do you know?" questioned the dragon-like hollow with the lion's body from its spot on the dessert sand of Hueco Mundo.

"Do you see how our comrade's body is glowing?"

"Yeah," answered the lion body hollow.

"That is how."

"I still don't understand..."

"You will in time, my friend," replied the hollow with the white markings. The two hollows watched their friend who was covered in rubies glow. The hollow covered in rubies was soon engulfed by the bright light...

Somewhere in Karakura Town, a man with a crown on his head awoke from his slumber. He stood up, leaning against a wall for support. The man rested a hand against his forehead since it ached. Once his vision was clear, he gave a look to his surroundings.

Where the hell am I? This looks nothing like my home and why does my back suddenly hurt? What's going on?

That's the end of chapter three!

It's the end and yet there are questions that are left unsaid.

What's going on with Ichigo? What are the dragon-like hollows talking about? Who's the mystery man that suddenly appeared in Karakura Town?

Continue reading to find out! I wonder if anyone will understand where this story is heading after reading this chapter. Hehehe.

Please review!