Hey guys! This chapter was typed up from ten to twelve at night! Why did I suddenly type up the whole chapter when I have to get up early tomorrow? Well, because I got this review from princessofd and it was really nice. Then I realized that I hadn't updated in forever and this chapter is long past due. So, here it is. I hope that you enjoy my efforts because they lost me sleep!

Thank you to aznphoenix95, TanithLipsky, , Kichi93, and princessofd!

Without further ado,

Chapter 4: Relinquishing Control

I remember when I used to hear the chimes of her laughter. When we used to go down to the river separating the different divisions and wade in the waters. I remember how she used to splash me and play as if we were children. Then I remember the levelheadedness of her when we sat upon that hill that overlooked everything...

Everything that there was...

We'd talk and the conversations that we'd have were unlike any other.

I told her of you, brother. Of what happened. How you sat and watched; how I told you to run. She told me of her life as well. But that was in the past. We were dead and you were gone. Somewhere that I couldn't reach you. Everyday I searched the regions. I looked and looked, but never could I find you. Time began to pass in its slowed down state. We became best friends, siblings. She was there for me, and I for her. That was how it was until I met you once again...

I never did understand why you wanted to hurt me. We had been such good friends in life. Yet, you took her, my only friend. You murdered her before my eyes and became powerful; Unsurpacable. Couldn't it have been me that you killed instead? Couldn't it have been me in your path that day?

But you were one of them now. A heartless, hollowed out, broken soul. Never again would we be brothers. You were dead and you weren't coming back. I realized that and that, dear Ichigo, is why I did I had to do.

B.G.

"He just sits there, staring at the wall. I don't think he's sane..."

Orihime glared at the blue-haired shinigami sitting inside a red and black holding cell. "I can't believe that he's Ichigo-sama's brother," she growled. She went to the door. "He has to know something about where Ichigo has disappeared to. Before he left, he told me that he was going to get his brother and that he'd be back. Grimmjow must have done something!" She yanked the door opened and slammed it behind her, red eyes glowing.

Grimmjow looked up at the espada standing in front of him. Orange hair, red eyes, long canines, ruby necklace, black tights, leather boots, red corset, and a black mini-skirt... "'Ello Orihime, how's Ichigo been lately? He hasn't cared to drop by and say hi to his younger brother yet, how impolite." Grimmjow smirked to himself.

"I know that you did something to him. Where is my husband?" The espada was tapping her foot impatiently.

"Husband, ey? I had no clue that he's made such great accomplishments in his afterlife. Killing my sister, getting more power than he needs, marrying a hollow... You think he would have rubbed this is my face before now. Normally he does whenever he accomplishes making my life miserable."

"Grimm, don't think that I don't know what you did."

"Oh, but you don't." The shinigami, a few months ago, was nothing like he was now. Death and betrayal had changed him for the worse.

"I know that you did something with him."

"Hm? And what would you do if I said I killed him?"

Red eyes widened, but then relaxed again. "You couldn't have. You are not strong enough to kill Ichigo." She said it with such certainty.

"Am I not? Even with the help of a good scientist friend of mine...?"

"I'll give you one last chance." Orihime stepped closer to the blue-head. She pushed him against the wall, charging a cero in the hand that she held against his chest. "Where. Is. My husband?"

Grimmjow, despite the burnt hole appearing in his clothes, simply shrugged. "Do it, put me out of my misery. I've already died in this death."

Temptation flashed in amber orbs, but hesitation took its place.

Grimmjow looked hopefully up at Orihime. "'Hime-san, please. Just do it." Innocence shown in those light eyes of his and the espada hissed in dislike.

"Pathetic!" she spat, turning away from her captive. "Only the weak beg for death." With that she turned and walked out of the room, leaving the broken shinigami to lean against the wall and reminisce in the past once more.

B.G. (Our World)

Preparations had been made for the trip to Hueco Mundo. Ichigo was really beginning to worry. Urahara's theory seemed to be checking out. Whenever he was tired, Ichigo found his control slipping to the hollow that resided within him. It had been a rough last couple of days, but finally they would be going and he would be able to get this sorted out.

You're never going to find it, Ichi~, the hollow sang from inside his soul.

Ichigo found himself able to hear him loud and clear once again. Shut up, we will find the Hogyoku and once we do, you'll be trapped back where you belong.

Hm... I wonder if you'll have any control when I'm in charge. Like, I wonder if you'll be able to do this. Ichigo's hand twitched. He stared at it. Wait for it... Then it tightened into a fist. This was not at all good.

Not knowing what else to do, Ichigo decided it would be best to ignore the hollow. Soon, he told himself, this will all be over. Walking across the room, the substitute shinigami went to get his backpack that was sitting on his bed, only to trip on air. He fell to the floor and heard cackling in his head.

Definitely will be over soon, King. Soon, because I'll be in charge and calling you Horse.

Groaning, Ichigo tried to stand, but found himself unable to use his right hand. He could feel it, it just wouldn't move to his mind's commands. Pushing himself up with his left hand, Ichigo rolled onto his back. Why wouldn't the hollow just leave him alone? It was going to be very difficult getting to Urahara's in one piece. Hollow-

Shiro, remember? Means white, cause you're name means black.

Ichigo sighed, not wanting to give it a name, seeing as it often said it didn't have a name. Fine, Shiro, let me get to Urahara's.

Now why would I do that? The longer you lay here, the closer I get to becoming king.

It was quite obvious that Shiro had absolutely no reason to help Ichigo, nor did he feel inclined to do so. Struggling, the orange-haired teen managed to get to his feet and carefully make his way across the room, now dragging his right foot. Of course he'd be losing his dominant side first.

The trip to Urahara's left Ichigo scratched, bruised, and beaten by an old women (for accidentally tripping into her). He did, however, make it there and Shiro laid off for some reason that left Ichigo with an unnerving feeling. Nothing that made the hollow stop sabotaging Ichigo's life could be good.

"Ichigo, I see you made it," Urahara said, with a look that showed he might know more than he was leading onto. "We can finally get going."

Rukia, Renji, Matsomoto, Orihime, Chad, Toshiro and Uryuu were standing in front of a rather large gate. Ichigo dropped off his backpack and joined them.

"I assume you brought everything I asked for?" the shopkeeper asked Ichigo.

"Yeah, it's in the bag."

"Good." He then jumped up the the top of the gate. "Remember to keep together, be safe, and bring the hogyoku right back here. If anything suspicious is going on, try not to get involved. Everyone ready?"

"How much more vague can you be?" Uryuu muttered under his breath. Others murmured of their preparation. The garganta opened and they ran through.

Ichigo was just as bad as always, if not worse, at using the spirit particles to make a pathway. Rukia ran in the front with Renji by her side. They created a perfect path together, while Ishida floated on his own lift.

Finally, thoughts of his hollow, escaped Ichigo's mind. He was feeling good about this. Somehow everything was going to work out. They'd find the hogyoku, bring it back to Sandal-Hat and he'd get it back to it's dimension. Then Ichigo could go back to his normal life and this would just be a memory of the past.

Finally, the desert was in site. They were almost there. Closer and closer... Taking one last leap, Ichigo followed the others into the sands of Hueco Mundo. As soon as he landed on the blanketing, soft, desert sands, his mind slipped out of him control and suddenly he was thrust into a world of sideways buildings and gray skies.

"What?" he asked the air. Looking down, Ichigo saw the window under his feet showed the outside world. Shiro was in control of his body and his friends were nowhere in sight.

I hope you guys liked it. Reviews are appreciated! Tell me what you thought of the beginning half especially, I want to see if you guys would like to see more things like that. Well, 12:11, I'll have to be retiring now. So, please review.

-KoiPondOfPeace