Chapter 3

When I got to the gate with Chad, the guards got in front of him. I took out my badge to show them and ordered, "Let him through! He has permission from me. In other words, Captain Of The 12th Company!"

When they moved aside and let Chad through, he asked me as though he was impressed, "You have a lot of powers around here, don't you?"

We headed for the 12th company headquaters as I told him, "Being a captain tends to give you a lot of powers, especially if you're from higher company."

The leader from the Center 46 stopped me and asked, "Captain Kurosaki, did you ask your subordinate about what had happened?"

Nodding, I told him, "Yes, and I find her innocent until proven guilty. It took a while until I managed to get her to talk to me. Lucky for you, I was talking as sweetly as possible. Did you try to get information out of her by talking to her harshly?" When his face turned bright red, I cried out in a surprised, but loud, tone, "I can't believe you went harsh on her! You knew that she was one of the brand new folks around in 13 Gotei! How did you become one of the leaders in Center 46 this way?" Sighing, I told him with frustration, "I'll tell you all the things that Tokaki told me tomorrow. Should I go to the meeting room or will it be discussed at my office to tell you what she have told me, sir?"

"I'll stop by your office around noon," the leader quickly told me and turned away. Just before he walked off, he asked, "And, just out of curiosity, why is that man with you?"

I looked up at Chad as I responded, "He's my godfather. Ever since everyone close to me in my world died, I've been meaning to look for them." I looked back at the leader as I said, "Now, if you don't mind, I have somethings I would like to talk over with Chad."

Chad and I started to walk off as he asked me, "What was that all about?"

"It's just about the hollows attacking that went on at the north side," I told him. I thought for awhile before I asked, "Chad, is it alright if we stopped by Toushirou's office before we head for mine? I told him that I would go see him as soon as possible. He said that he had something important to tell me."

Just then, Toushirou and Renji showed up and they were completely out of breath. Renji spotted Chad easily and asked me, "What's going on? What's happening? Is there something I don't know about?"

"Yes and no," I responded. "I found out from Tokaki while I was talking to her that the Mexican guy who helped me out when I was about to be attacked by the hollow was actually Chad. I only went to look for him as quickly as I could have." I looked at Toushirou and told him with a weak smile, "And sorry that I didn't go see you before I went to look for my godfather. I just had to go talk to him again. I mean, it has been years since I last saw him."

He shook his head as he told me, "Don't worry. I understand. Would've done the same to find an old friend if I was in your shoes. But for now, I really need to talk to you in private. Let's go to my office."

Nodding, I told Renji, "Can you take Chad to my office? I'll join you guys after I have a little chat with Toushirou."

As Toushirou and I started to head for his office, he quickly told me, "It's mostly about Ichimaru, Kurosaki. I don't trust him."

"Neither do I," I muttered. "After what he tried to do to my dad, never have and never will." I looked down at him and asked, "What is it about him that you want to talk about, exactly."

"Well, when your dad was a ryoka, Ichimaru rose to the Menos and something behind them with one of our most well trained Shinigamis and one of our old captains, Aizen. We're not exactly sure what happened to Aizen, but Ichimaru never returned until while your father was a captain. Forget which company he was in charge of back then. Any way, what I do remember was that it was before your father and Kuchiki Rukia left for your father's world when Ichimaru came back. The last words Ichimaru ever said to Ichigo was to watch out because Ichigo will have something bad coming his way sooner or later. Yet still, there's no sign that Ichimaru had attempted to do anything. But when you walked into the meeting today, Ichimaru had that look that had read that he was going to do something real soon. It seemed to me as though his target is you and your family, Ichisan." We were silent as we entered the headquaters of the tenth company, but Toushirou started to talk again once we were in his office. He told me, "As much as I hate to say it, but I don't want you to get hurt. I'm saying this as a friend and as one of your comrads."

Matsumoto Rangiku, Toushirou's assistant, came running in as she quickly said, "Sorry to interrupt, Captain Hitsugaya and Captain Kurosaki, but there seems to be another attack by the hollows! This time, it looks like it's Menos itself!"

Toushirou and I shot up from our seats and I asked her in hurried tone, "Which town is being attacked?"

"By the looks of it, the west! More or less, it's closer to Urahara's place!" she responded in serious tone.

Before I ran off, I told Toushirou, "This conversation will have to continue later. I can't let any Menos get into my world and attack my home town. I won't allow it."

I ran as quickly as possible towards the west and by the time I got there, there it was. The biggest hollow that I have ever seen. But this hollow was not like the others. It had the biggest mask that was the shape of a smiling mask from the drama section and had no hole in its chest. When I got closer, a male's voice yelled at me, "Stay away! No one has been able to defeat Menos before! Get away while you can!"

I ignored the man and started to attack the hollow with my zanpaku-to, but out of nowhere, an arrow went straight for the head of the hollow from somewhere behind me. A new voice snapped, "I told you I always had your back! Not bad for your hater, huh?"

I hit my zanpaku-to right by my side as I roared, "Ruler Of The Jungle!" When Takikanto - my zanpaku-to's spirit - appeared, I quickly asked her, "Do you mind getting these two psychos out of here while I fight the Menos?"

The man who was already there when I arrived stared up at me as his eyes grew huge. I didn't notice when I arrive, but I saw that he had slightly fading orange hair and brown eyes. He started to ask, "Is that really - ?"

Takikanto cut him off as she threw him on her back, along with the guy who shot the arrow, as she snapped at the orange haired man, "Your questions will be answered later, if you get lucky enough." She turend to me as she asked, "Are you sure you don't need any help here?"

When I saw the other captains starting to arrive with their companies, I told her, "I don't think I'll need your help until later. Renji's bringing my company and the others are arriving with their own companies, along with the vice-captains. I'll yell your name out if I need your help. As for now, just get those two out of here. They're one of my main concerns. My other concern is that the Menos is going to find Mr. Hats-And-Clogs' entrance to his place and attack my home town."

Takikanto nodded as she told me, "Buenos suerte, muchacha!" With just that, she ran off and I saw the man with orange hair keep staring at me.

Once they were gone, I yelled angrily, "Yo! Ugly face!" When the Menos turned around, I yelled, "Yeah, you! Why don't you just fight me instead of trying to fight the helpless ones?"

As the Menos started to attack me, Kenny and Renji got in front of me and blocked the attack. Renji quickly said, "You're lucky that Kenny and I have your back, Ichisan."

As the rest arrived, Toushirou quickly ran up to me and asked, "What were you thinking trying to fight the Menos by yourself?"

Shrugging, I told him, "I wasn't. All that keeps me going is trying to find my family and friends. Oh, and making sure that my home town doesn't get attacked."

I heard Rikokou's voice cry out, "Santona! Get back here! Mom and dad wouldn't want us to be around when the Menos is attacking this place!"

I felt someone grab my Soul Reaper cloak and tug it. When I looked down, Santona was standing there, smiling from ear to ear. She asked in sweet tone, "Can I stay, mom? Please?"

When Rikokou arrived, I ordered him, "Rikokou, take your sister back and stay in my office with her. Understood, young man?"

He rolled his eyes as he responded, "Yes, mom."

"And don't you dare roll your eyes at your mother, Rikokou!" Renji yelled. Once they were gone, Renji told me, "That's your kids."

"Rikokou, yes. As for Santona, she's your kid, not mine! She has your personality, after all!" I snapped. "And as for me, I'm going to fight that Menos if you're going to be arguing with me again, because I ain't gonna have a Menos attacking my home town." I charged foward, but got kicked at the last second by the Menos.

Kenny asked, "Um, did you even have a plan, Kurosaki?"

I shook my head as I told him, "Actually, no. In my mind, I saw it going differently. I saw it as cutting that Menos from the bottom to the top and finishing it iff by cutting its head in two."

Renji helped me up as he told me sheepishly, "You'll need a better plan than that if you're going to destroy the Menos, hon."

A very farmiliar voice whispered in my ear, "If you need help, I'm more than happy to help out, Kurosaki." When I turend around, there was a guy with black hair and glasses smiling from ear to ear at me.

Renji snapped at him for me, "Who are you?"

"I'm a Quincy, if that's what you're asking. And if you already have forgotten about me, Renji, I'm quite surprised. After all, I'm one of the two Ishidas that you met when my dad and I were known as two out of six ryokas known. After all, Ichisan and I had Karusaki with us to help us get around," he responded. When he saw that I was confused, he smirked as he told me, "Yo, Kurosaki Ichisan! Don't tell me you've forgotten me already!"

Shaking my head, I told him, "Sorry, but don't know who you are. And if you're only here to talk, I guess you don't really realize that the 13 Gotei and I are busy with the Menos."

As he shot one of his arrows with his archery bow once more, he said, "Atrian. Atrian Ishida at your service. Nice to meet you after nearly a century, Captain Kurosaki."