I don't own Bleach or any of the characters.

Hallucinatory effects

An explosion filled the sky as something exploded, seconds after breaking through the barrier.

"Ichigo," Kurai breathed. "Finally."

It had been almost a month since he had removed Ichigo's powers in the World of the Living. He would be in trouble for letting him live but given the injuries, he would be forgive. Especially now that they were inside the Seireitei.

Unlike the others around him, he didn't rush to catch the intruders. Instead, he walked in the other direction, following his senses until he found the Soul Reaper he was looking for.

"Hanataro," Kurai whispered drawing Hanataro away from the others. "When you get deployed, find the Soul Reaper with the orange hair. Earn his trust. He's here to save Rukia. Lead him to her. Trust me. It's the only way for her to be spared."

Hanataro nodded and returned to the others and Kurai walked out of the room, returning to the streets and looking around. He had been sitting around long enough. It was time for him to appeal for Rukia's execution to be delayed.

He made his way through the streets, soon reaching the Central 46 Compound and finding the door wide open. The door was never open and there were always guards. Now there were none. He silently made his way inside to see what was going on. Less than a minute later, he sprinted out again, panic stricken. He had to find a captain. He had to warn the others. Before he could, he suddenly found himself standing in the forest near Kusajishi. He looked around and a pair of hollows stepped out of the trees.

"Impossible," Kurai muttered. "How the hell did I get out here? And how the hell did you two get here?"

Both charged, the same kind of humanoid hollow as Kurai had fought when he met Angel. He took a bit of secret pleasure in killing them, then the four that appeared after them, the eight after them, the sixteen after them, and the thirty two after them. He knew full well what was going on but was enjoying fighting them far too much to stop. That was the only thing Kenpachi Zaraki had actually managed to train into him. He loved fighting. At least, against certain things.

Finally he stopped, a sea of hollows swarming below him. He was growing weary from fighting and had long since lost count of the hollows. Now he just wanted a way to kill them.

"Damn that's a lot of hollows," Kurai growled.

He decided he'd need Captain Hitsugaya's help since Hitsugaya could simply freeze them all and be done with it. He turned and sprinted away, the hollows following and soon was sprinting through the gate, having Jidanbo open it for him, the hollows all swarming through as the gate fell, Jidanbo failing to attack them. After a bit, Kurai skidded to a stop, finally locating Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto, Hitsugaya's lieutenant.

"Kurai?" Rangiku blinked. "What's wrong?"

"Hollows," Kurai panted, holding a stitch in his side. "Hundreds."

"Hollows?" Captain Hitsugaya blinked. "I don't sense anything."

"They're right behind..." he trailed off as he turned around, seeing the hollows gone, and the sky dark. "What...day is it? How long have the Ryoka been here?"

"A few days," Rangiku stated. "Where have you been anyway? The rest of Squad Eleven has nearly been wiped out. Only a handful are still able to move."

"Wiped out?" Kurai blinked. "They're head?"

"What?" Rangiku scoffed. "No. Just wounded."

"Oh, good," Kurai nodded. "Where are the Ryoka?"

"Missing," Captain Hitsugaya stated. "Although, Renji Abarai fought the Substitute Soul Reaper not long ago. He apparently lost but he'll live."

"Renji already...damn," Kurai snickered. "He with Squad Four?"

"Should be," Hitsugaya nodded. "Did you hear the news?"

"What news?" Kurai questioned.

"Wartime exemptions have been granted," Rangiku stated. "You're allowed to use your zanpakuto."

"I see," Kurai nodded. "In that case, I'm going to see Renji. Maybe he can tell me where to find the Ryoka. I have a score to settle."

"That's right," Captain Hitsugaya remembered. "You let him live."

"I broke his Soul Chain and Soul Sleeve," Kurai stated. "He should have died."

"It doesn't matter now," Rangiku sighed. "Just deal with it as a mercy killing. Your captain is already searching for him."

"Shit," Kurai sighed. "Alright. There was something I was supposed to tell you, Captain...But...I can't remember. Trying's giving me a headache too."

"Alright," Captain Hitsugaya nodded. "If you remember come find me."

Kurai nodded and left, heading to the Squad Four barracks where Renji was being treated. As he stepped into the room, Renji groaned, stirring and glared at him.

"The hell have you been?" Renji demanded.

"Fighting hallucinations for days even though it felt like only minutes," Kurai stated. "How's Ichigo?"

"He's a naive little shit," Renji snorted. "But he's strong and determined. If it weren't for our captains, I'd even go so far as to say he might have a chance to save Rukia."

"He's going to have to fight Captain Zaraki soon," Kurai stated.

"You won't be mercy killing him?" Renji questioned.

"No," Kurai sighed shaking his head. "Unfortunately, I've got things to do."

"More important than sparing Ichigo from Kenpachi Zaraki?" Renji snorted. "Fine. Just do it fast. Ichigo won't last long."

Kurai nodded then turned and left, saying goodbye on his way out. Then, he turned and sprinted toward his own squad's barracks.

I like this story but will stop it if no one reviews.