Disclaimer: Bleach is copyrighted by Tite Kubo (characters, series, and concepts). The only elements that shall be exclusive to me will be my OCs and their respective original content.

Fateful Flashbacks

"Four out of five our recent graduates were abducted!?" Yamamoto's usual calm and sagacious voice roared disbelievingly.

"Yeah, Gramps, before we could do anything they were gone." Ichigo said as he stood in line with Rukia, Renji, and a disheartened Hono. Yamamoto calmed himself back into his usual disposition and stated, "I want all of you on standby. I will send Captains after them; if one of the captains approaches you and requisitions a survey, do not hesitate to distribute your knowledge. Dismissed!"

Ichigo, Renji, and Rukia turned foot and moved on to leave. However, Hono stood cemented in his place by his emotions. "…Standby? How come I can't be involved?" Hono questioned. Yamamoto indifferently gazed at the rookie, "This is out of your power-"

"BUT IT CONCERNS MY BEST FRIENDS, YOU OLD HAG!" Hono suddenly screamed out in objection. Renji and Rukia immediately Flash Stepped to Hono and began to forcibly guide him out. "Don't be stupid, Hono!" Rukia reprimanded. "That's the Captain-Commander you're talking to, you know!" Renji chastised. The two managed to direct Hono out of the 1st Division Headquarters. The ancient Captain-Commander scoffed, "Youngsters these days, don't know their place…"

Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, and Hono stationed themselves at the feet of the headquarters. Hono sat on the nearest solid object and huffed in frustration. "You need to calm yourself, Hono." Rukia stated. "Yeah, man, rookies like you can get executed for disrespecting Captains." Renji advised.

The graduate was not paying attention whatsoever; his mind was focused on the objects in his hand. Ichigo noticed and peeked over his shoulder to look. The aforesaid necklaces were lying his palm along with a red one possessing a sun symbol. "What are those?" Ichigo asked. "…Symbols of our friendship…"

The homeless vagabonds designated Raidon, Aizonde, Hono, Tsu Lung, and Yukimano loitered around the private lake spot, discovered by the blue-haired child himself.

The ones who possessed no prior knowledge of the location gazed at it in absolute awe. "I stumbled upon this place by accident. Kept it secret ever since and I'm proud of it too." Aizonde said as he glided his hand across the beautiful surface of the sun-soaked lake. "I commend you, Aizonde." Yukimano complimented as she crouched beside him.

Raidon and Hono were currently feasting on the berries sprouted from the bushes outlining the perimeter of the body of water. "These fruit are so fresh and ripe!" Hono commented as he practically stuffed his oral canal with a multitude of berries. "I'll say!" Raidon agreed, eating the berries straight off their branches. Before they proceeded to deplete another bush, they noticed Tsu Lung on the sandy "dock" of the lake. "Tsu Lung?" Hono asked.

The multiracial orphan then spoke, "Hey, guys, come here for a sec!" She requested. Inquisitively, the other four strays gathered around where Tsu Lung was. She then put several things around everyone's necks. "What's this?" Aizonde inquired lifting the resting emblem off his sternum. It was a necklace, and his necklace was blue and possessed lines reminiscent of waves on the crest.

Tsu Lung lifted hers up and placed the loop of her Alice-blue necklace through her head and around her neck. "Well…I thought I could create these necklaces from all the stuff I gathered for the majority of my life," she explained, "originally, this was for Yukimano and I, but since you guys came and helped us, I made some for all of us." Hono cracked a smile and looked at his red necklace once more, "Not bad, Tsu Lung." He commented.

"I thought we could use these as symbols of friendship." Tsu Lung spoke again. "That's a great idea!" Yukimano exclaimed in joy. "Guys, from here on out," Raidon addressed, stretching out his lightning emblem, "this will be symbol of our friendship, we will survive!" Happily, Raidon's vagrant buddies extended their respective crests.

Another chapter of friendship has been added to the book of these unique strays…

"Whoa…" Ichigo liberated a thunderstruck exhale from his respiratory system. "That's why." Hono stated putting all five necklaces into his sleeve. Ichigo could comprehend Hono's situation because there were many occasions where his closest friends were in mortal danger and they were counting on him to rescue them. "That settles it," Ichigo suddenly announced, reaching a conclusion, "We're going to find your friends." Hono turned his head to Ichigo incredulously, "Seriously?"

"Ichigo, we had a direct order straight from the Captain-Commander!" Rukia intervened frantically. "Rukia, Hono's friends are in danger, and he wants to save them. And we're sure as hell going to," Ichigo replied, "Besides, I never did follow Gramps' orders."

Renji understandingly nodded and stated, "Count me in." Rukia sighed in defeat and softly said, "Fine…" Hono finally stood up from his seat and appreciatively uttered to the trio, "Thanks, guys…"

-Hueco Mundo: Unknown Area-

Hueco Mundo…the eerie and desolate habitation of the Hollows…

The dead breeze swayed on the surface of the Sahara-like sand, carrying white speckles of dirt in their clutches. All was silent and still…too much….too much that something portentously ominous was foreboding…

And to corroborate this ambiance….aim your attention towards the dome, metallic structure gracing the bleak horizon.

The dark grey architecture was a standard dome with its rims sealed into the sandy ground. Four entrances points, each complimentary to one of the four cardinal directions, protruded from the broad rim.

Deeper within the confines of this structural design, almost 3000 feet below the surface, belies an unnervingly darkened laboratory. The only forms of light were the bright computers and gadgets scattered across the cylindrically-walled room.

A sole person intently scrutinized the progress of his mechanical ministrations; numerous quantities of tubes and wires were connected to four examination tables. The person approached the scene closer, his computer light revealed him to be Hutike. The aforementioned cables, cords, and tubes were attached to unconscious Raidon, Aizonde, Tsu Lung, and Yukimano.

These artificial tendrils were originating from darkened containments, apparently sapping something from it. "The process is almost complete…" Hutike mentally stated.

Shortly afterward, another entity suddenly appeared behind him. "Master Hutike…" the person, the only human Combinado Hollow in existence, said. The Arrancar turned around to face his most trustworthy assistant, "Usude, impeccable timing." He commented. Predictably, Usude stepped closer into the machine-fabricated light, revealing himself to be the person that spied on the Soul Reapers from Karakura Town.

"How is the procedure going, sir?" Usude asked watching the comatose Shinigami currently falling prey to his master's experiment. "It is almost finished," Hutike answered and then remarked, "I must commend you, my assistant, I did not know that these Soul Reapers would be of so much use." Usude adjusted his visor slightly and replied, "Well, if you had not sent me to assess those Shinigamis' powers, I would not have."

Hutike turned back to the experiment at hand but continued to speak, "An ingenious tactic: abduct Shinigamis and have them undergo Hollowfication. Yet, the Hollows used are my Combinado Hollows, not regular Menos, Gillians, or even Vasto Lordes." The scientific Arrancar gazed at the confinements in which the tubes were debilitating Spiritual Energy from. Suffering Combinado Hollows were inside their confines, slowly withering away as a result of their fabricator's experiments.

"As a result, the Hollowfication process is more potent. The victim is more prone to insanity and possession, and they more susceptible to my will because they are being infected by my creatures." Hutike chuckled, but no one could tell if he was chuckling victoriously, sadistically, or even joyously. "To think, my motives rooted from Aizen doing away with me."

Usude looked at his master curiously, "Oh? May I inquire what exactly transpired, sir?" Finally, Hutike averted his attention away from his nearly finished trial. He gazed down to his right forearm as if something was formerly there. "Only because it is you."

An ebony tattoo of the number nine graced the right forearm of Hutike, the then Noveno Espada. A malicious and triumphant smirk curved upon his lips as he recalled the day Aizen accepted him as one of the Espada. Although that event was now recorded history, it continued to replay in his mind; he was that proud of himself.

In the meantime, his recollections were dismissed when he sensed someone approaching him. "Yes, Master Gin?" Hutike asked. Gin Ichimaru, from behind, approached the Noveno Espada with his everlasting grin present. "Lord Aizen can see you now." The former captain announced. Another grin appeared the promoted Arrancar's face, "Very well then."

Gin proceeded to saunter past Hutike and lead the way to Aizen's quarters. "Here you are." Gin announced stopping at the entrance to Aizen's chambers. "Many thanks, Master Gin." Hutike thanked as he confidently entered.

Sōsuke Aizen, not sitting on his towering throne like usual, stood in the middle of his widespread quarters. "Your timing was admirable, Hutike." Aizen commented, "I wanted to speak to you, and here you are, wanting to speak to me." The Noveno Espada respectfully bowed in the presence of his ultimate superior and said, "I'll regard that as a compliment, Master Aizen." "You should. Now what is it?"

The Noveno Espada pressed his gloved (A/N: If you hadn't figured this out yet, Hutike's gloves are the remnants of him being a Hollow.) thumb and index finger and released an echoing snap. Around both Aizen and he, Hollows, none like Menos or even Arrancars, appeared rising from the tiled ground. "Master Aizen, behold my latest creation…the Combinado Hollows," Hutike spoke gleefully, "Combinado Hollows are multiple Hollows, ranging from Gillians to Vasto Lordes, that I have genetically melded into one being."

Aizen, indifferently, responded, "I see. What of them?" Hutike looked at his leader and replied, "Think of the possibilities, Master Aizen. Combinado Hollows, with your ingenuity, could be revolutionized into Arrancars! We could have a grand army of the most powerful Hollows in existence and champion the Soul Society!"

"As tempting as that is, Hutike…" Aizen said. Hutike looked at his leader questioningly and awaited a response. "Shatter… Kyōka Suigetsu."

In the most unpredictable and unexpected turn of events, the former Gotei 13 Captain unsheathed his zanpakuto. Instantly, Hutike and the present Combinado Hollows were sent into a dimension of dementia. "M-Master Aizen?!" Hutike exclaimed in fear, nervousness, and shock. The Combinado Hollows gathered around their creator protectively. However, at speeds quicker than a millisecond, the Combinado Hollows were immediately slain. "My creations!" Hutike screamed hysterically.

"I have no interest in your desires, my 9th Espada. You may have created those Combinado Hollows, as you call them, for me, but their usefulness will only be short-lived," Aizen's voice ubiquitously spoke in the warped dimension. "Their flaw is that they consist of multiple Hollows, those Hollows are required by me to artificially create Arrancars." Suddenly, in the horizon of the dimension, a black and blue cube suddenly appeared. Hutike gazed at the item, still thunderstruck at the event at hand.

"Instead of waiting for Hollows to have their masks removed, I have developed a way to forcibly remove them and even manually create Arrancars." The cube displayed the entire process of a Hollow experiencing synthetic Shinigamification. The Hollow's mask was disintegrated and its inhuman body suddenly started to shift. It eventually became upright in a human posture. Hutike could only watch in awe at the cleverness of his leader.

"Now for what I want of you…" Aizen spoke again, once again catching the utmost interest of his follower."Shatter…"

The illusionary dimension dispersed completely. But, unfortunately for Hutike, the second it did he was brutally stabbed in his chest. The Noveno Espada began to suffocate on his blood as it filled up his lungs and poured out of his wound. Aizen emotionlessly retracted his zanpakuto from Hutike's body, watching as he fell to the ground. Hutike weakly looked up to Aizen and interrogated, "Aizen…you…." His eyes burned with hatred. All forms of respect and admiration were depleted when his former leader's sword pierced his skin.

"You have outlived your usefulness. Thus, you have been replaced." Aizen announced sheathing his zanpakuto. "By…who…?" Hutike questioned. He was soon answered when a boot stamped against his face. Before going unconscious, Hutike could see the white skin, aqua green eyes, spiky raven hair, and large frilly collar of his replacement…

"It was because of that travesty, I concluded the only possible way to invoke my vengeance was to outdo Aizen!" Hutike said, somehow pumped full of vigor from the flashback. "With the assistance of my loyal armada of Combinado Hollows, my machiavellian objectives shall triumph!"

Usude only stared at his slowly-becoming-megalomaniacal master. But, he then noticed the progress of the Combinado Hollowfication. "Sir, it is complete." The humanoid Combo-Hollow announced. Clearing his throat and regaining his former façade, Hutike diverted his concentration to the examination tables. Raidon, Aizonde, Tsu Lung, and Yukimano's Soul Reaper attire were now a complete mixture of silver and white. Their skins were also the same color combination. Lastly, their hair colors were a dark grey.

"Perfection." Hutike commented and then turned to Usude. "Don't forget to check the development of the Advanced Combinado Hollows." The former Noveno Espada instructed. "Yes, Master Hutike." With that, Usude walked out leaving his master to relish his recent success.

-Outside-

Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, and Hono stood in front of the large structure. "They're in there." Hono announced. "And there's multiple entrances." Renji added. "Our only option is to split up and find them." Rukia stated suggestively (in terms of recommendation). "Well, then let's do it." Ichigo said as he sprinted towards the northern entrance. Nodding to each other, Rukia, Renji, and Hono separated and entered the south, east, and west entrances respectively.

As Hono dashed his way into the western entry, he grasped all five of the friendship necklaces determinedly, "When this is over…we all leaving together!"