Title: Reencarnación
y Muerte (official title still pending)
Author:
Higure-kun
Pairing: (this chapter)slight HitsuHina,
ShiroIchi
Rating/Warning: M
(language, smut, and dark tones)
Words: 4, 949
A/N: Still looking for a beta… If anyone is interested at all, please tell me! I am starting to get desperate here. –wails- Other than that, thanks to everyone who has been reviewing this story. I screwed up last chapter by deleting a chapter so those who wanted to review and couldn't, terribly sorry about that. You should be able to review on this one. Anyway… Onward! Oh yeah… This chapter is a long 'un!
Rescue Me
It was painful, what she had done to him. After all that he had went through to be there for her, to avenge what had been done. He had taken time out to be the shoulder she could lean on and the person that she could depend on the most. It was really all that he had ever wanted to begin with and since Aizen had been placed out of the picture, he thought that he would finally have that sort of chance again. Yet here he was, staring into her eyes with a sense of betrayal sending shock through his system. He felt weak and sick to his stomach…
"I-I have to, Shiro-chan," she said wordlessly. "You understand, right?"
"Hinamori…" Hitsuaya whispered, feeling as though he had been sliced to pieces. "I thought that…"
"You thought wrong, Toshiro," cold brown eyes bore into jade, their owner drawing his zanpukto from his sash. "You had one big miscalculation this time and now you'll pay for it…"
Shuhei had been a little late getting to the girl's house. He hadn't really been sure were it was to begin with, this being the first time that he was going there for any period of time. Matsumoto had told him to ask Hitsugaya if he got lost, but as a guy that really wasn't an option, now was it? As he entered the home, he immediately regretted his decision; the scent of blood flooded his senses and he flash stepped into the back room.
What he found he really wish he didn't. The big-breasted blonde was on the ground, unconscious and laying, in what he assumed, was her own blood. Inoue Orihime wasn't better off. He wasn't even sure if the girl that they had been sent to protect was even alive… her throat looked mauled. Hisagi cursed and fumbled for his cell. "This is Vice Captain Shuhei Hisagi… Get Unohana-taicho here quick or we're going to have two dead on our hands!"
Ichigo twirled the Hyougoku idly while sitting in his room. Even though he and Shirosaki had agreed to not kill the girl, he still felt a little down by the fact that he didn't get to do more. Of course he hadn't been the one in control at that time, but that wasn't really the point… Now he really should report to Aizen and hand the thing over.
"Ya ain't goin' anywhere yet, King," Shirosaki said, materializing in front of Ichigo. "Ya still have a promise to fulfill here and I ain't 'bout to let ya get outta it."
"We aren't finished yet," the teen bit back.
"I don't give a fuck, Ichi," Shiro stated, shoving the other onto the bed. "Ya got me all worked up and now ya have to pay the price for that."
"Shiro…"
Shirosaki crawled on top of the orange-haired hybrid. His blue tongue traced Ichigo's jawline slowly, causing the one below him to shudder. He kissed Ichigo heatedly while hands started to peel away at the white uniform that his king had started to wear. Ichigo sighed as that wet muscle made its way into his mouth, tickling the hard palate. The teens own has went to remove the white one's clothing, hands catching them his in the process. Shirosaki smirked, untying his own for the kid, only to tie it around the former shinigami's wrists.
Ichigo glared hard at his hollow, not appreciating where this was going already. Shirosaki recaptured lips to prevent any sort of verbal retaliation, fingers deftly toying with Ichigo's nipples. Tongues twisted and danced together in their kiss; the teen attempted to bite back whimpers and moans at the treatment his poor abused nubs were getting. Shirosaki ignored all this and laced Ichigo's neck with kisses and bites, causing gasps to escape the other's lips. The white one stopped right above the hybrid's hole, a smirk never leaving his face.
"Ichigo," he purred, "I found somethin' very interestin' 'bout this."
"Wh-what is it?"
That same tongue traced the rim of the hole; Ichigo writhed and let loose a throaty moan. The hollow was pleased, dipping the blue muscle inside the hole and toying there. Ichigo arched his back, fire running through him and ending at his groin. He was getting hot too fast. This teasing needed to end and it hadn't even really started yet.
"F-fuck it, Sh-shiro!" Ichigo growled, swallowing hard. "Hurry the hell up and-ah fuck me already!"
"As my king commands," the hollow giggled, reaching down under the bed and grabbing a bottle. It was something he had insisted that Ichigo go out and get by any means necessary, should he want to manifest to have one of these sessions. Shirosaki ripped off the white hakama, fully exposing his beloved little Ichigo. He smirked and felt his own erection ache painfully at the sight before him. Shirosaki needed this to go along faster as well or he might not make it all the way through. He applied a generous amount to his fingers, smirking in victory as one digit slide passed Ichigo's entrance. Ichigo groaned, knowing how much the hollow loved to play.
"D-damn… it…"
The hollow slide the second one in, slowly scissoring and brushing that oh so sensitive spot that would make his king cry out. His mouth soon found Ichigo's again, trying to draw every last breath from those lungs. The teasing fingers slid out and right back in again, causing Ichigo to buck his hips and whine, wanting more. Shirosaki figured it best to comply, as the teen really didn't give him any resistance to this. The hollow removed his own hakama as he withdrew the digits and took the same bottle, slathering his own twitching cock with its contents. The white one tossed the thing to the side and positioned himself before thrusting straight into that tight heat that he craved so much.
Ichigo screamed at the harsh treatment, but immediately relaxed as his other half expertly adjusted their position and began to move. He needed it just as bad as his hollow at this point, but this painfully slow pace wasn't fast enough.
"Harder!" Ichigo demanded.
Shiro grinned, slamming his hips harder into his king, hitting the prostrate and making the teen arch his back and moan. He leaned up and licked the leaking saliva from the corner of Ichigo's mouth and kissed the teen hard. Both knew that the other wasn't going to last this time, and as predicted, Ichigo came hard with the name of his lover on his lips. Shirosaki came soon after, unable to control himself as the teen's muscles clenched around him and made the already unbearably tight passage even tighter.
After pulling himself out, he untied the hands that had he had bound. Ichigo threw them around his white replica's neck, bringing the other down with him in another searing kiss. Shirosaki giggled and rested his head on what he could of his king's chest. After that, he was ready to take a breather.
Ichigo sighed, now fresh and clean after earlier exercises. He supposed that it was time to actually hand over the Hyougoku to Aizen. Shirosaki had been a little bit of a distraction, but a much needed one, as they both agreed on. The former shinigami walked down the halls, a slight pleasant feeling buzzing around in his soul. He chalked it up to the rush that he had encountered at Orihime's mixed with the round of sex. The teenager almost felt giddy, cheerful even. That was a feeling that he hadn't experienced in a long time and he almost wished that it wouldn't go away.
The teen took no time to knock on the doors; instead he immediately opened them. Aizen looked up from where he sat, but paid no mind to the seemingly rude intrusion. As Ichigo walked up to the man, he pulled out the little device that had started this whole mess. A smirk formed on the lips of the older man, clearly impressed and pleased with his new ally. Ichigo noted the power-hungry look in the man's eye, but paid no mind to it. He went to place it in the ex-shinigami's hand, but pulled back at the last moment.
"You have yet to tell us what you are planning, Aizen," the teen said. "You are not about to get this without fulfilling your part here."
"Very well. I would suggest that you go and bring Shinji-kun," Aizen stated, a little displeased. "I am sure that he would desire to hear about what you heard from Orihime."
"So you knew that Soul Society lied about that, huh?"
"But of course, Kurosaki-kun. My eyes and ears reach far and wide. When you go to Shinji-kun, please meet me in the laboratory. There I will tell you all that you need to know."
Within the hour, Shinji, Ichigo, Aizen, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, Halibel, and a certain pink-haired former Espada were all gathered in the lab. There were many tanks, metallic sheets hiding the contents from view. The former Octova Espada was going over each, checking out different levels and what not. Grimmjow looked bored, hands shoved into the sides of his hakama while Ulquiorra stood there regarding everything silently. Shinji, on the other hand, was shifting his weight back and forth. The Vaizard felt very uncomfortable here in the presence of so many Arrancar. Ichigo didn't really care. He was starting to get impatient; his hollow was starting to get irritated as well.
"I don't feel like waiting all day…" Ichigo drawled on.
"Of course not, Kurosaki-kun," Aizen smiled. "Szayel?"
"Yes, Aizen-sama," the Octava replied, pressing several buttons on a council.
Slowly each of the metallic plates began to pull away from the giant glass tubes, revealing the contents inside. Shinji did a double-take and Ichigo almost smirked. Inside each tube was a soul, almost as if suspended in time. It would have taken a long time to collect so many souls in such a state. Each had a chain that had nearly been devoured, yet all seemed to be peacefully sleeping. Male, female, young, and old were locked away behind the glass. Ichigo had a vague idea about what Aizen was planning, but looked at the pleased brown eyes just in case.
"Want to explain this?"
"It's a rather simple process," Szayel Aporro smirked. "You see, you are a perfect example of what a hybrid should be. Even now, with the Hyougoku, Arrancar are still incomplete. Analyzing the date I collected about you from your various battles with our former army, I was able to determine why you, Kurosaki Ichigo, are such an interesting find. From there, I was able to put together a theory as to why you are half and half."
"Why is that?"
"Kurosaki-kun," Aizen spoke, "do you know where the Hyougoku was kept from me?"
"Wasn't it buried in Rukia's soul or something like that?" Ichigo replied.
"Yes, and who was it that you drew Shinigami powers from for the first time?"
"Rukia, but what's that got to do with it?"
Aporro pushed up his glasses with a smirk. "Obviously you drew power from the Hyougoku when you tapped into Kuchiki Rukia's shinigami power. From the very beginning, the wall between Hollow and Shinigami in your soul was destroyed. So, I gathered, if we were to collect souls that have high spiritual pressure and have a high chance of becoming a shinigami and introduce them to the Hyougoku before those powers develop, the result would be the same as yourself."
"Some of them will fail, of course," Aizen once again said, "but that is why there are many rooms filled with these containers."
"This is…" Shinji began.
"You know, Shinji," Ichigo said, face emotionless, "Inoue told me something interesting. Apparently Soul Society has written of the slaughter of your clanmates as nothing more than a move to another country."
"What?"
"Yeah. She thought everyone was still alive and well. Was really surprised when I told her otherwise."
"Why would they lie about that!?"
"There is quite a bit that Soul Society would bare false testimony to, in order to justify themselves or otherwise," Aizen smiled.
"Back to the matter at hand," Aporro stated. "All this you see here is merely because of our observations of you during the days of Las Noches, Kurosaki. This has been my favorite project, by far. Though, I do wonder, how is it that your spirit body has become so…"
"You don't want to know that."
"But the next generation of your kind, Kurosaki, is about to emerge! How can you not say for the sake of science and perfection!?"
"Szayel…" Aizen said, a silent command laced in his voice.
"Aporro," Ichigo glared at the pink-haired scientist, "there are probably other ways to do this without doing it the way I did. If this works, then they'll have to find out on their own. I don't think they all will want the relationship I have with my hollow."
"I see…"
"Understand now, Kurosaki-kun?" Aizen stated, watching the teen's expressionless face, as compared to the shock clearly written on the Vaizard's face. "I truly could not have proceeded this far without you."
"This…" Shinji began, to stunned for words.
"I get it," Ichigo said. "That's why you need me around."
"Of course" the man smiled. "No one else has your expertise in the field. Surely you can help these young ones out? What of you, Shinji-kun?"
The Vaizard turned around and looked at the former shinigami captain. This newfound information had hit his heart. Aizen's plan had no faults and if Ichigo had told him the truth about what he had learned from the girl with powers so similar to his own, then he had to do this. If anything, for their memory and for the pure and simple fact of making sure that everyone knew the real reason why there were no more Vaizards. Soul Society would fall and he would help this evil man do it. "They are going to need more than just this damned brat's help, right? I mean he couldn't even have been this powerful if not for our training program."
"Asshole," Ichigo spat.
All Aizen did was chuckle. Indeed… Everything was falling into place. Now there were only a few more pieces left to gather and time. It was all a matter of time. Of course Soul Society would no doubt come to investigate soon. Especially with the Hyougoku now missing and they have no idea who would have it. A slight smile formed on his lips as the teenage placed the object of his desire into his hands. There was work to be done…
"Wait a minute, Berry," Grimmjow said, "you and your hollow thing fucked?"
Hitsugaya entered the Fourth Division building, anxiety radiating off of his reiatsu. This issue was really starting to bother him and he was genuinely worried about his fukutaicho. Sure, she was a lazy bum and a drunk, but he did owe it to her to come and see her. Hinamori was right behind him, also worried sick. Both were expecting the worse when the hell butterfly had given them both the announcement. Of course it had interrupted their evening, but that wasn't their main concern. The pair walked passed all the other fourth members and headed straight into the back rooms, feeling that Unohana was back there by the feel of reiatsu in the building.
The healer looked at them when they appeared in the room. She stood, leaving her subordinates to do what they could. The damage was truly extensive and Unohana was unsure how to tell the younger two the condition of the two patients. After gathering herself a bit, she sighed. "Vice Captain Matsumoto will be fine, it's not her that I fear for at the current moment. She will, most likely, be out for a few days. Her injury was a clean cut, so it was fairly easy to seal, but the blood loss is severe."
"But Matsumoto-san will be all right?" Hinamori asked, still unsure.
Unohana smiled. "Yes. In a few days she will be awake and can tell us exactly what happened."
"And the girl?" Hitsugaya frowned.
"Inoue Orihime," the healer began, tone serious, "is in a coma. There is something else you should know..."
"What is it?"
"Her larynx, the vocal cords, have been removed. The blood loss was also severe, but her main arteries were intact. I suspect that whatever that occurred before Matsumoto made herself known will forever be a secret…"
"It didn't want her to tell us something," Hitsugaya summed up. "Thank you,
Unohana-san. I should report this to Yamamoto-taicho immediately."
Four days had already passed since Aizen had revealed all. It was a bit odd to think that all this time the man had been testing him to see how to create the perfect hybrid. The thought itself made Ichigo seem to be a guinea pig of sorts. Yet here he and the older man were, setting up sessions for the passed few days to "aid" the souls that had been contained here. Funny how most agreed to these conditions, not that they had any choice. It was either this or become a Hollow. It was kind of a way of blackmailing all into Aizen's service. Yet Ichigo had been through the process and thus had more experience with it. A few had already failed and several had passed. From there it had been Shinji's task to at least train them to be Vaizards. According to Aizen's plan and Ichigo's data, it would be a little more than two months before they could finally strike and tear Soul Society to pieces.
'Someone's outside, Ichigo,' the hollow yawned.
"Come in already," Ichigo said from his resting position on his bed.
Shinji stepped through the door. "Ichigo…"
"Don't tell me that you're regretting this or something, Shinji."
He shook his head and walked up to Ichigo's bedside. "I just want to know why you are really doing all of this."
"Why don't you tell me why you changed your mind suddenly?" the teen countered.
The blonde scowled. "Because this is my chance to get back at Soul Society and start over, Ichigo. The ones that won't want to become like you will…"
"They aren't going to make up for the ones you lost," Ichigo stated simply, devoid of any emotion.
"Not the point, Ichigo…"
A knock sounded on the door. Both men looked over to see Grimmjow and Aporro Grantz at the doorway. The two Arrancar didn't have pleased expressions on their faces. In fact, one could say that they were both very pissed about something.
"Time to go back to work?" Shinji asked.
"No," Grimmjow said. "Though you should come with us, Kurosaki."
"Why should I do that, Grimmjow?"
"There is a matter that quite a few of us Arrancar would like to discuss with you, if you do not mind. We would prefer it if you cooperate with us, since what we have to tell you could be very beneficial," Szayel commented, arms folded across his chest. "However you are needed, Shinji. There are three that are ready to start training with their newly acquired zanpukto."
"Right," Shinji said, standing and walking on out, pausing one moment to look at Ichigo. "I hope you know what you are doing, Ichigo."
"We do," the hybrid responded bluntly and turned his attention to the other two present. "Where are we going, Arrancar?"
"Heh. The brat realizes, Grantz," Grimmjow smirked.
"That's a very good start then," Aporro smirked as well, glasses glinting. "Very well. Come along, Kurosaki."
Aizen did not like waiting. He had sent Ulquiorra to retrieve Grimmjow and Ichigo over an hour ago. The Arrancar had was on his way with the other two now,but Aizen had unable to tell where three of his underlings had been for the passed. Where ever they had decided to relocate to it was outside of la Penumbra. It displeased him greatly that they had disappeared when he had great need of them. He was persuaded to do something about this. It mattered not that they had left, but to be absent when they should know that timing was crucial was simply unacceptable.
Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, and Ichigo all presented themselves. The stoic Arrancar bowed and left the room. Grimmjow and Ichigo exchanged a look and proceeded forward. Aizen rose from his throne and met them half way. "We will discuss this absence later. The reason I brought you both here is far too great for me to discipline you both now. Only you two are able to complete this task."
"What is it?" Ichigo asked.
"I am sure that you are aware that I know a great deal of what is been going on in Soul Society," the man answered. "My informant there needs to be removed and now is the only time that will do. Soon you will be too wrapped up in training our new army, Kurosaki-kun, and by then it will be too late."
"Why am I going?" Grimmjow scowled. "This has nothing to do with me."
"I wish for them to suffer, Grimmjow. They are not sure if Kurosaki Ichigo is alive. Once they see him, which they will, they will be curious as to what side he is on. I want it to be clear that Soul Society made a mistake concerning their so-called savior."
"Sounds like you want them to despair or something," Ichigo stated, not that he had any problem with this. "Rubbing their fatal mistake in their faces and watching them react to that."
Aizen looked amused at this accusation. "I do want them to reflect on their past actions, yes. What god wouldn't be gracious enough to show those under him their sins? I hope you accept this mission."
"Like we can refuse," Grimmjow rolled his eyes, despite the cold glare he had received for saying such a thing. "Who are we picking up and do they know we're coming for them?"
"Of course," the self-proclaimed god answered. "I need you to seek out a certain girl by the name of Hinamori Momo."
That is why Ichigo found himself in the never-ending maze of Soul Society, once again wearing his black Shinigami uniform. He and Shiro had decided that they would make it farther in if they actually looked the part. Grimmjow was well hidden, both his body and his reiatsu. It was agreed that the Sexta would only appear when Ichigo's reiatsu spiked and indicated that he needed back up. Neither actually knew what the girl looked like, only that she was still the fukutaicho of the Fifth Division. Of course Ichigo knew where that building was and he hoped that it being night would give him better cover until he got there.
It was surprising that so many new of him, but didn't actually know his appearance. He made his way passed so many of the different division patrols and no one even took notice. Perhaps it was because his hair seemed a bit closer to brown than orange in the light of night. Whatever it was, Ichigo didn't really care. He was about to turn the corner, knowing he had a bit to go since he as in the Tenth Division area, when he saw several flashes of white; Ichigo recognized them as captain's cloaks. The teen kept in the shadows, looking and listening to what two captains might be talking about.
"Matsumoto-san came to today?" one, Renji, spoke and Ichigo listened with interest.
"For a few moments," the other, Hitsugaya, replied. "She mentioned something about Inoue Orihime and the missing Hyougoku before falling back asleep."
"What of Inoue? How is she?"
"She is still unconscious. Unohana-taicho does not know when she will wake, if she ever will again, for that matter."
"Still no clues?"
"I have my suspicions…" the shorter said.
"I don't want to hear it," Renji said. "It's not Ichigo. He'd never attack his own group of friends"
"He killed Rukia, didn't he?"
"Scanners detected a hollow in the area as well, Hitsugaya-taicho," the red-head said in a more heated voice. "It might have been his hollow that did it."
"Then why would he not say anything to us?" Hitsugaya countered.
"Because everyone is trying to kill him! He saved our asses in the war and how do we thank him, eh? We say he's gotta get rid of the thing that helped us all out or die? If I were him, I wouldn't say anything to a shinigami either! No, his issue would be with Soul Society, not his friends and family…"
'Guy's got a figured out, King,' the hollow giggled.
Yeah. We always were kinda alike, huh? Ichigo thought. He took no time stepping out of the shadows and into plain sight. The hybrid knew he should wait until he knew the location of the girl, but at this point he couldn't pass up the chance to rub the irony in all of their faces. That and if Renji was the captain of the fifth, like the kanji indicated, then he could always ask. Or threaten, whichever he felt like at the time.
"Shouldn't talk about someone behind their back, you know," Ichigo stated, smirking as two sets of eyes locked onto him.
"Kurosaki?" Hitsugaya whispered harshly.
"Ichigo?" Renji asked. "The hell are you doing here? You want to get executed?"
"Gee, didn't know you cared all that much, Renji," the teen said, rolling his eyes. "Can't even see how Inoue is doing?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo," the white-haired captain said, "you are under arrest for…"
"Renji's right you know," Ichigo cut the shorter one off. "Kurosaki Ichigo didn't kill Rukia. I'm here for a reason or believe me I wouldn't have anything to do with Soul Society right now. What I want to know is why you aren't pissed at me, Renji."
Renji took this moment to smack the kid on the head. "Bastard! Of course I am! Just because you personally didn't kill Rukia doesn't mean it's not your damn fault! It is! You should have been able to control that fucking thing!"
Ichigo hissed and rubbed the back of his head, his eyes narrowing at Renji's words. "Shiro isn't a thing."
"Who is 'Shiro,' Kurosaki?" Hitsugaya asked cautiously, not liking how the teen's reiatsu was suddenly VERY detectable. It didn't feel like it used to at all. Oh it felt like Ichigo, but something was very off about it as well.
"My hollow," Ichigo spat. "Shirosaki. He's no more a thing than Zabimaru is to Renji…"
"What're you talking about, Ichigo?" Renji growled. "Zabimaru is my zanpukto! You've seen him yourself!"
"Exactly!" the teen hissed. "That 'thing' as you call him is one part of Zangetsu! I can't just off him like you damn pricks wanted me to and I don't fucking intend to! If I could have my way right now I'd-"
"You'd what, Kurosaki?" the youngest captain said, convinced of his own theories. "Kill us? You have the Hyougoku, don't you?"
Ichigo reigned himself in. "No. I don't."
"Aizen-taicho does," a feminine voice finished for Ichigo.
"Hinamori?"
"What are you saying, Momo?" Renji frowned. "Aizen is dead."
Hinamori ignored them all and walked up to Ichigo. She looked at him for a moment. Her own brown eyes searched through the chocolate ones for the answer to the question she knew she didn't have to ask. When none came, she voiced herself. "You are Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Yeah. And you're Hinamori, right?" the girl nodded and he continued. "There's going to be more people coming now so once Grimmjow gets here, we're gone, got it? As much as I'd love to stay…"
"Aizen-taicho doesn't want you to fight yet," the girl stated. "He spoke of that when I received his last letter from Ulquiorra-san."
"What's going on? What are you talking about, Hinamori?" Hitsugaya asked, almost pleadingly. Renji was silent.
"Simple," Ichigo scoffed. "Thought you were a genius, Toshiro. Obviously Aizen is not dead and has been in contact with her… She told him where the Hyougoku was being kept and I went to retrieve it."
"You… Why the hell did you do that, Ichigo!?" Renji roared. "The fuck do you go to that man for!? You know he's using you!"
"I don't care," Ichigo said, pulling the uniform to show them very clearly his own hole. "I've stopped caring a long time ago."
"Aizen-taicho is going to make Soul Society a better place, Shiro-chan!" Hinamori, o the verge of tears, stated. "There are a lot of things wrong and he is going to fix them! He isn't evil at all!"
"That's bull shit!" Renji growled. "And you know it, Ichigo!"
Ichigo shrugged his shoulders. "If he wants to rebuild what I destroy, more power to him. As I said, I don't care. As for now, we have to go."
Renji grabbed for Zabimaru. "Like hell you are! You're not escaping, Kurosaki!"
"I-I have to, Shiro-chan," Hinamori said wordlessly, her own heart breaking at the sight of someone she cared deeply for about to fall into pieces. "You understand, right? Aizen-taicho will make everything better! He promised me!"
"Hinamori…" Hitsuaya whispered, feeling almost too weak to stand at this pont. "I thought that…"
"You thought wrong, Toshiro," cold brown eyes bore into jade, their owner drawing his zanpukto from his sash. He placed the girl directly behind him. "You had one big miscalculation this time and now you'll pay for it… Told you that you were right, Renji…"
A/N: First of all, I know that Szayel Aporro Grantz is dying. I need him in this so I am taking creative license with that. Hope you can forgive me with this chapter. I know that it seems a bit rushed a bit longer than usual, but I really didn't know where I should end this to make this into two separate chapters. Once again this does not have a beta, but I would be glad if someone would. I have two that I am speaking to about Art of Deception, but I have no idea if they are interested in being a beta for this also. Anyway, see you all next week. I need to go into a coma myself.
