So, I bet y'all are wonderin' what's gonna happen next, huh? You'll just have to read and find out, peeps, I can't spill the beans at the beginning of the chapter.

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Ichigo paced restlessly across his living room as he awaited Rukia's return. As hard as he tried, he could not find a way to tell her that he was going back to Hueco Mundo. He was the father of a child that was going to be born in five months, and he was heading back into the battle zone. How was he going to explain this to her?

Ichigo looked up as the door to his house opened. Rukia walked through the door. "Ichigo, I'm back!" She stopped when she saw the expression on his face. "Ichigo, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

The orange haired shinigami drew a deep breath before he spoke. "Rukia, about three weeks ago, some companies that went on patrol in Hueco Mundo were ambushed. They lost most of their troops, and came back to Soul Society a few days later. Room 46 sent out an order that companies 5 through 13 are to report to the South Gate to be dispatched into Hueco Mundo."

Rukia's eyes shone with fear. "What does that mean?"

"It means that I've got to go back to Hueco Mundo. We're going to attack a few days after we get to our base." Ichigo thought that stabbing himself with Zangetsu would be better than telling Rukia this news.

"But they can't send you back! You've already gone to Hueco Mundo nine times in the past year! And our baby's coming in five months. They can't just-"

"Rukia, they need everybody, especially the officers. Loosing to Aizen would mean the end of the natural world. I have to go back."

Rukia burried her face in her hands and began to sob. "B-but what h-happens if you get hurt? Or if you get…" She couldn't even finish her last sentence, her eyes filling with tears.

Ichigo wrapped his arms around her and pulled her protectively into his chest. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt. "Rukia, we've got the best companies in Soul Society going with us. Room 46 wouldn't send us out there unprepared." He lifted her face so that she could see him. "I'm not going to die any time soon, Rukia, so please don't worry."

"B-but what about those other companies that went on patrol?"

"The same thing can't happen to us. We know the situation better than they did. We'll be just fine." Ichigo reassured Rukia.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately on the lips. "I'm really going to miss you." Rukia murmured after she broke the kiss. She laid her head on his chest and listened to the beating of his heart.

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Ichigo sighed. This was going to be much bigger than he had imagined. There had to be hundreds of shinigami at the South Gate, waiting to be sent into Hueco Mundo. The whole area was in an uproar, and Ichigo had to scream when he was talking to someone. After saying goodbye to Rukia Friday morning, he had left for the Soul Society, being greeted by Renji and Hanatarou when he reached his company's barracks. At the briefing, the battle plan was conveyed just as Renji had told it. They were going to attack Hueco Mundo's weakest position.

Through the roar of the crowd, Ichigo could hear someone calling his name. He turned and saw Renji approaching him. "Ichigo, are you guys ready to go?"

"Just about. Ukitate-taichou is still rounding some of our medics. What about you guys?" Ichigo asked, looking over at the 6th company.

"We're ready to roll."

"Kurosaki-fukutaichou!" Ichigo and Renji turned to see the captain of the 13th company approaching them. "Is the company ready to move out?"

"Yeah. Everybody's geared up and ready to go." Ichigo responded to his superior.

"Good. We're moving out in two minutes, so please conclude your conversation with Abarai-san."

"Well, Renji, I guess this is it. Try not to get yourself killed, 'kay." Ichigo smirked.

Renji flipped him a mock salute before replying. "You're the one who should be worryin' about getting himself killed, boy." He grinned and headed to the 6th company as everybody began to head for Hueco Mundo.

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Ichigo took a long drink of water as he sat down on the ground. He hadn't had anything to drink since he had left Soul Society, and the long and rigorous journey to Hueco Mundo had left him famished. He yawned and laid down in the grass, his body screaming for sleep. He stood up, trying to keep himself alert. He walked towards the 13th company's triage unit, when he was stopped by Renji.

"So, Ichigo, how are things over here going?"

"So far so good. We've got our triage set up. It kind of worries me, though, that we're gonna need a triage unit. That can't be a good sign." Ichgio scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Kuchiki-taichou told our company that some of them wouldn't be coming back after the attack, plain and simple. He ain't one to beat 'roud the bush like some of the other captains." Renji took a drink of water from his canteen. "But we should be alright. We've been preparing for this for a long time now. Our guys are ready, just gotta put a little faith in 'em."

Ichigo nodded. "Seems Byakuya's known about this for sometime now."

"Chances are. He's one of the best we've got, so they're gonna tell him before they tell any of us."

"How's everything going with your company?"

"Well, we just got-" Renji was interrupted when a bloodcurdling scream ripped through the air. Everyone turned their heads towards the noise, shinigami beginning to grab weapons. "What the hell was that?" Renji pulled out his zanpactou.

"The hell if I know." Ichigo froze when he saw what the screaming was coming from. Headed straight towards them were hundreds of arrancar being led by Gin Ichimaru.