Ichigo tossed and turned in his bed, dreaming the same dream that had been plaguing him ever since they escaped Hueco Mundo.

He was in a large hall, with massive pillars that went so high the light no longer touched them. In front of him was a large staircase leading to two massive stone doors. Behind him was a veritable maze of passageways and pit-traps, and numerous fallen enemies. The Arrancars he had faced so far had been a challenge, but he had still managed to defeat them. Now though, as he entered the room, he wished he hadn't wasted time with them. His reiatsu was weak, his wounds covered him from head to toe, and he was fairly certain the only way to win now was to use his mask, but he had wanted to avoid using that again unless absolutely necessary. A small drop of blood trickled from his brow into his vision. Blinking it away, he moved to the doors, on the other side of which he knew he would find an exit for him and Orihime. A sudden movement stopped him, he narrowed his eyes as he stared ahead.

A lone figure appeared, slim, relaxed. As Ichigo got closer he recognized it as he fourth Espada. This bastard that never shows emotion, he's here? Goddamnit, I don't have time for this! he thought.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, you have made it further than I expected." he said flatly, not even bothering to look at the shinigami. "I am Ulquiorra Schifer. Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to proceed further. Aizen-sama still needs the girl you came for, and until her purpose is fulfilled-"

Ichigo interupted the speech with a chuckle, "Shut it, Ulquiorra. I don't have time for this crap. I'm here to save Orihime, and you aren't gonna stop me."\

"You are a fool not to fear me, Kurosaki Ichigo. I will teach you why..."

The dream continued, Ichigo's sleeping form was sweating as he let out a soft moan of pain. "Ru-Rukia..."

"She's dead. You are too late to save her. She was fighting the Ninth Espada, alone. You can sense it, can't you? Her spirit-force is completely gone." said Ulquiorra, emotionless as always. He watched with a slight curiosity as Ichigo turned and began to walk in the direction of Rukia's last position. "Where are you going? Don't you want to fight me? Do you not hate me?" he asked.

"No. I don't want to fight you. I don't hate you. You haven't done anything to me, or any of my friends, so I have no reason to fight you, or to hate you." Ichigo replied calmly, continuing towards the exit.

Ulquiorra blinked. "You should hate me," he began. "Because I was the one that convinced the girl to come to this world with me."

CLANG- "You BASTARD!" screamed Ichigo, suddenly attacking in a rage. "You took her? It's your fault all of Soul Society thinks she's a traitor! It's your fault we came here and had to fight all of you Espada! It's your fault Rukia's DEAD!" he finished, shoving Ulquiorra away before flash-stepping him to slash downwards. "I'll defeat you, and I'll save Orihime, and then I'll save Rukia!"

Ulquiorra didn't even blink as a large gash formed on his chest. "Interesting. You seem to have improved since we last met. Perhaps Aizen-sama was correct, you are worth killing after all."

Ichigo suddenly released a massive blast of furious reiatsu, and Ulquiorra's eyes widened slightly at the display of power. Only a few minutes before this substitute shinigami had been on the verge of collapse, and suddenly he was producing more spiritual pressure than the top three espada! What was he?

"Getsuga..." Ichigo roared as he slashed towards the Espada with Zangetsu, the obsidian blade whistling as it split the very air. "TENSHOU!"

A tidal wave of black energy surged fourth from Zangetsu's tip, filling the chamber and swallowing the fourth espada in a blaze of wrathful power. Columns cracked and collapsed, the roof began to cave, and it became hard to breathe, as though even the oxygen in the room had been destroyed by the attack. A moment passed and all that could be seen was dust and smoke, Ulquiorra had been knocked back through five solid columns, and as the air cleared a look of interest could be seen on his face. Ichigo could hardly believe it. That was his strongest Getsuga ever, and the bastard had survived without a scratch! His eyes widened further when the espada spiked his reiatsu and felt the air grow heavy. Ulquiorra sighed.

"I see. That was all of your strength, wasn't it? Barely enough to harm me, let alone defeat me. You are weak, Kurosaki Ichigo, and now I will end this pointless battle." he disappeared from sight, reappearing directly in front of Ichigo and punching him out of Las Noches and into the desert sands of Hueco Mundo. Ichigo crashed fell onto the sand and fell...

Rukia slept soundly in her closet as Ichigo turned again in distress, obvlivious to his inner turmoil.

Ichigo was now standing before Ulquiorra's second release, mouth agape as he observed the new form. Cruel looking wings connected to a bare chest, black liquid seeped down and stained the skin underneath his hollow hole, and a long, powerful tail whipped casually behind him. His eyes had become, somehow, even more lifeless and evil. Ichigo pulled his hollow mask down and began the battle again, only to feel a sudden choking sensation as the espada wrapped its tail around his neck. "Wha-?"

"Since you refuse to accept defeat, I can only assume you think you can win. I will show you now what true despair is, fool!"

Ichigo's eyes slowly shut, then opened widely as a blinding flash of pain seared through him, Ulquiorra's Cero burning a perfect circle through his chest. As the life drained from his eyes, he had one last thought, I guess... I guess I wasn't strong enough in the end. Sorry, Inoue... Ishida... Rukia... I couldn't protect you...

The next thing he knew he was standing on the side of a large skyscraper. It was pouring, and the buildings were crumbling away with every drop of rain that landed on them.

Ichigo said a familiar voice behind him.

Ossan? So... I guess this is the end? he asked, turning to face his other half.

No, Ichigo. It is not the end. We, your hollow and I, will not allow you to die. Even now he is fighting the Espada Ulquiorra. His true form has been released, a perfect hybrid between his powers and mine.replied the spirit as he paced towards Ichigo.

Then, wha- Ichigo was cut off as Zangetsu raised a hand.

Do not think about that now. Your soul is dying, Ichigo, and you must rebuild your inner world once more if you wish to live and protect those close to you. Do you remember? You must find your strength.

Ah, I remember. So are you gonna help me this time?

I cannot. It is your strength, and yours alone. We may share a soul, but you are one half to the whole, and you are unique. I cannot touch your power unless you lend it to me, and likewise you cannot touch my power if I do not will it.

Ichigo looked around as the crumbling pieces of the buildings began turning into large white boxes. I guess I don't have much time then?

It does not appear so. Hurry, Ichigo, and rescue the ones you care for. Protect them. Find your resolve, and WIN.

Mm. Alright then, guess I have to huh! Ichigo said over his shoulder as he began tearing through boxes, desperately searching for the one that contained his... whatever he was looking for.

Ichigo grabbed a box out of midair and opened it, finding nothing, then tossed it away to go after the next one. Box after box after box he searched, all the while his world crumbled around him and he felt himself growing weaker by the minute. Finally, he noticed a box that had a small black mark on it. Curious, he jumped over and ripped it open. Staring back at him was the hilt of his very first Zanpakuto, stuck through his very first Hollow mask. This is... Ichigo suddenly flashed to his past battles, recalling how his drew strength from just his resolve and the love of his family. My strength... he pulled the items out of the box and using the very last of his strength poured reiatsu into them.

A blinding flash was followed by Zangetsu's proud voice.

Well done, Ichigo. You have saved us yet again. You've even made the rain stop, if just for today.

Yeah... Thanks Ossan, for everything. I guess I forgot that my strength is my own, and I need to use it to protect the people close to me. I think somehow I got it in my head that my strength came from my friends. Sorry...

Do not apologize. Go back to existence, Ichigo, your fight is not over.

Ah.

Ichigo gasped lightly, still deep in his dream, as he went back to that moment.

"ISHIDA? Did I do that?" he asked in confusion, seeing Zangetsu sticking out of Ishida's chest. He turned to look at Ulquiorra and saw his arm and leg were missing. "And I did that as well?"

"Yes, Kurosaki Ichigo. But now I will have to end this fight." Ulquiorra answered.

Ichigo couldn't believe it. His hollow was so powerful. So evil. It had hurt his friend, as well as his enemy. He felt bile rise up, sick with himself for his weakness. "Then, if my hollow cut off your arm and leg, cut off mine as well! It's only fair, since that wasn't me attacking you." he said, ignoring his friends' cries of protest.

Ulquiorra just stared, hardly believing that the boy had survived death and come back as the most powerful creature he had ever seen, only to offer to purposely weaken himself for the sake of honor. He spoke slowly, "If that is what you wish... So be it."

He had no more than leaned forward to move when he felt it. Death. His strength was finally gone, and his form was dissolving into the air of Hueco Mundo, this forsaken desert he had spent his lifetime wandering.

Ichigo watched as the Fourth Espada dissolved into the air, angry that he hadn't been able to finish the fight on his own terms, angry that he had hurt his allies and his friends, but mostly he was angry that he had been so weak that day.

Sunlight began to filter through the curtains in Ichigo's room that morning, slowly bringing him out of his dream, saving him from his memories. He slowly opened his amber eyes and sighed, letting a small tear fall down his cheek. He glanced over to the clock, which read 6:30, then to the closet, which was still closed. Getting up carefully, he walked quietly out of his room and downstairs to the phone. He picked it up and dialed the number of the only person he could deal with talking to right now.

RIIIIING-RIIIIIING-RIII-click-"Moshi-Moshi?" the voice on the other end answered.

"Ah... It's Ichigo. I need to talk to you."

After a long pause came the answer: "Oh! Um. Alright, come on over, it's Saturday right?"

"Yeah... I'll see you in a bit... Inoue."