(Chapter 7)

The explosion was so massive it rocked the very foundation of Las Noches. The room itself was destroyed and now the only thing above them was the black sky of Hueco Mundo...

Harribel, Starrk, and Lilynette covered their faces to block the debris from the room. They couldn't believe what had just happened. Though Ichigo had clearly done a regular cero, the power and intensity of the attack felt as if he had use a Gran Rey Cero.

The amount of reiatsu he put into trying to finish off Aizen was enough to shock even the Primera; it was so powerful, the air surrounding them was charged with the potent energy left behind.

'How did he…?' Starrk thought wide eyed as Lilynette watched Ichigo in amazement. Before Harribel knew it, she began smirking behind her mask fragment. 'So… he has some skill.'

'I wouldn't have expected that, and I'm sure Aizen didn't either' Starrk thought while staring at Ichigo. He noticed the Shinigami had kept his eyes solely on the large cloud of smoke where Aizen once stood, breathing heavily.

"He's wasting too much time waiting for Aizen to recover from the attack. Why isn't he getting his zanpakuto? How stupid can you get?!" Lilynette shouted while watching Ichigo.

"He's not stupid. Judging from how he's struggling to stand, I'd say he's never used a cero before. Aizen was already tiring him out before using it, so now he's extremely weakened. On top of that, his zanpakuto is right in front of me. I'm sure he doesn't want to risk getting close to us." Starrk explained.

"I wonder if he thinks he has defeated Aizen." Harribel asked.

"No." Starrk replied abruptly. "No, he knows Aizen's still there… What's he doing now?"

Ichigo had taken his eyes off the cloud and was making his way towards them.

While watching the cloud, Ichigo suddenly remembered losing his zanpakuto and he had to decide whether to risk getting it or face Aizen for round two weaponless. He really had no other choice; he chose to risk retrieving Tensa Zangetsu.

'That wound on his chest… how is he able to stand, let alone walk?' Starrk wondered.

He completely ignored the Arrancar, until he was a few feet from them before locking eyes with each of them for several seconds, when he locked eyes with Harribel he narrowed his eyes.

She simply stared at the Shinigami's masked face. None of them made to speak; they just watched the man that had surprised Aizen.

Since she was now closer to Ichigo, she took time to study him. His reiatsu was almost spent, cracks were appearing on the mask, deep lacerations marred his body, but the one thing that that drew her attention were his yellow eyes, they were almost hypnotic. They were the eyes of…

'A hollow' she thought as Ichigo reached down to grab his zanpakuto. When he grasped the hilt he locked eyes with her once more just in case she tried something. Out of the three Arrancar before him, Ichigo felt that she would attack first.

He made to say something but suddenly halted when Harribel began to raise her arm. His eyes widened as he suddenly gripped his zanpakuto's hilt with both hands. Harribel paid no attention to his sudden action.

When her hand was fully raised, she pointed directly to the right of Ichigo.

"Behind you." She said unemotionally. Ichigo's eyes widened even more before he turned as quickly as he could.

Aizen was standing just feet from him, his left arm bleeding heavily.

"Took your damn time, didn't you?" Ichigo asked weakly while tightening his grip on his zanpakuto. Ichigo noticed that Aizen's expression had changed from emotionless to agitated.

"Don't act as if you were waiting for me to come out. You were recovering from using too much reiatsu at once. Though I must admit, from watching all of your battles, you have never once shown you had the aptitude to use cero. It was my mistake for doubting you, but don't worry. It won't happen again… I have underestimated you too many times." Aizen said as he raised his blade.

"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu." Aizen quickly dropped his zanpakuto so that it stuck up from the floor.

'Damn it! I was told that he can create illusions. If I keep my eyes on him and can sense his reiatsu at all times I'm sure I can fight him. I can do this.' Ichigo thought calmly.

Before Aizen even made a move, Ichigo whipped Tensa Zangetsu back. "GETSUGA TENSHO!" He yelled.

Once again the black energy blast shot out of his blade and charged straight at Aizen.

When his attack reached the ex-captain, Ichigo was stunned to see Getsuga pass right through its intended target.

'That's not Aizen, where is he?' Ichigo thought while trying to sense Aizen's reiatsu, it was already too late.

"You've lost Kurosaki Ichigo."

Without warning, Ichigo's chest cut open, again, as blood surged out. His eyes widened and, before he knew it, he fell to his knees.

Time seemed to slow as he looked around, a look of disbelief etched deep in his face.

'How? When did he…' he thought shockingly as he clutched his chest. It was no use; his blood loss was too great.

"Do you want to know why I chose to fight you instead of sending one of my Espada?" Aizen asked as Ichigo crumpled to the floor.

"I…don't… give a… damn!" Ichigo struggled to say while struggling to draw breath.

"No matter what data I collected on you, I have never been able to predict anything that you have done: Defeating Grimmjow, defeating Ulquiorra, and every action you have done since I met you. You have intrigued me more than anyone I have ever met." Aizen explained.

Ichigo abruptly began coughing up blood before rolling on his back. All he could do now was lock eyes with Aizen.

'I'm sorry Orihime… I can't….can't… save you.' He thought weakly.

"I expected far too much from you, still. You could have been a powerful ally." Aizen finished before bringing his zanpakuto and ruthlessly stabbing the orange-haired Shinigami directly into his heart.

Ichigo's hands, now moving instinctively, wrapped his fingers around the zanpakuto that impaled him and tried to talk, but all he could do was gurgle, as blood filled his lungs.

'I'm sorry...'

(Abyss)

'I couldn't save her.'

'I should have been stronger.'

'Will Soul Society come for her…? No.'

Thought after thought invaded Ichigo's mind. He did not know where he was, nor did he care. He did not know how much time had passed since he appeared there. It could have been a thousand years or 5 seconds, none of that matter now… During the war against the Arrancar, Ichigo had been shown pain, and now in this void… pain was all that Ichigo could feel. He had watched and felt as friend after friend was defeated, tortured, stabbed, nearly killed… all for nothing. This was all Aizen's doing. If only he were given another chance.

All of a sudden, a bright light suddenly appeared and had seemingly spread throughout the black void. Ichigo had to close his eyes at the intensity of the light.

'What's… what's going on?' Ichigo thought as the light began to die down. He kept his eyes closed, knowing he was no longer in the same darkness. This place felt familiar.

(Ichigo's Mindscape)

"You really did it this time…Ichigo." A raspy voice called out. Ichigo's closed his eyes even tighter as he felt a bright light on him.

"You're not the king anymore."

'That voice… I know that voice…'

"I warned you once, didn't I? I said, 'If you ever gave me a chance… I'd drag you down and crush your skull." The raspy voice said scornfully. Ichigo's eyes opened wide at that. He was lying down and though it took him a few seconds he realized where he was, the distorted skyscrapers where a dead giveaway.

He slowly got up and quickly looked at his hands in amazement.

"What happened? I was in a fight… no, I was in a…" He couldn't seem to remember anything.

'Ichigo… I'm Ichigo Kurosaki' He remembered. A vision of a blade slicing his chest passed through his mind.

He quickly clutched his chest before looking down at his entire body; he looked as if he was in perfect health.

'I come here to talk to Zangetsu' He remembered. He was about to call out for Zangetsu but was interrupted.

"You're pathetic Ichigo." He turned around towards the voice. Twenty feet away was an exact replica of him, except the replica was white.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked. The replica scoffed.

"That doesn't matter now."

"What are you talking about? Why am I here? What happened to me?"

"What happened to you? I'll tell you." Suddenly the replica pointed directly to him. "You're dead."

Ichigo's eyes widened as visions began filling his head, visions of his fight with Aizen, of the war.

"I'm… dead. Aizen, he killed me." Ichigo whispered.

"You've lost your memory faster than I thought you would. When someone dies, they lose themselves as they pass to the next life. Not us though… we're different, you'll lose your memory but with my power you can live again." The replica explained.

"No. I remember. The war and going to Hueco Mundo and fighting Aizen." Ichigo countered.

"And why were you fighting Aizen?"

"I was…" Ichigo struggled. He couldn't remember.

"What about your friends… family… Soul Society?" Ichigo's replica continued. Ichigo tried desperately to remember. He felt as if his head could explode from the pressure he was feeling. 'I can't remember'

"But you remember me and Zangetsu, right?" Ichigo's eyes narrowed.

"I remember you, hollow." Ichigo agreed.

"Good, now let me tell you something. If you can defeat me one final time, not only can you regain your lost memories, but you can also return to Hueco Mundo. I can give you the power to defeat Aizen. However, if you lose, I will crush your remaining existence and take control of your body. Hurry up though, even as we speak my influence has started dominating your body." Hollow Ichigo stated.

"There's…something you're not telling me." Ichigo guessed quietly. "And since when did you become so knowledgeable? So willing to give me information without me having to fight it out of you?"

The Hollow grinned, "I guess you remember more that I had thought. Would you believe almost dying has given me a new perspective?"

"No… no I wouldn't." Ichigo whispered.

A grin, "So, what are you going to do about it?"

"Defeat you."Ichigo said while grabbing Zangetsu.

"Not this time." Hollow Ichigo stated while grabbing his own Zangetsu.

Both of them held their zanpakuto in front of them and released a huge amount of reiatsu.

"BAN… KAI" They both shouted. The both of them emerging from the outpour of black/white reishi and quickly transforming into their Bankai outfits.

"You say that you will give me your power to kill Aizen, but I know there's a catch."

"What of it?" Hollow Ichigo countered.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed, "Tell me!"

"You're in no position to make demands."

"Fine, then I'll beat it out of you." Ichigo said before charging his inner hollow.

"You can try." Hollow Ichigo countered.

Within seconds, Hollow Ichigo raised his blade and blocked a full powered strike from Ichigo…

(Las Noches)

Aizen waited for the life to leave Ichigo's eyes before finally removing his zanpakuto. He stared at Ichigo a moment longer before smirking at the dead Shinigami.

"Even in death you intrigue me. Did you really believe you could defeat me? Hm, I guess I'll never know." Aizen said to himself before sheathing his zanpakuto and turning towards his last remaining Arrancar.

"What will we do now Aizen-sama?" Starrk asked.

"We're in no rush. First we'll restore Las Noches to its original form. Then I'll have Inoue revive the Espada. Lastly, since the Hogyoku will activate fully soon, I will make our sole priority to find Vasto Lord and make them join me. You, my dear Arrancar, are all that's left of my army." Aizen explained as he began to walk towards them.

"Where is Wonder…."Harribel stopped when suddenly everyone in the room was hit by a massive blast of reiatsu.

The reiatsu was so powerful that even Aizen had to stabilize himself before he was sent flying.

"What's going on?!" Lilynette screamed over the roar of the wind that was whipping past them.

Aizen's eyes widened as he realized whose reiatsu it was. Swiftly turning around, he and his Arrancar stared at Ichigo's body. Black energy was whirling around him at an incredible pace.

"I thought he was dead." Harribel declared.

"We all felt it…he was dead." Starrk replied.

"He's not movi…" Lilynette wasn't able to finish before Ichigo's hand started clawing at the ground.

'Interesting' Aizen thought as Ichigo slowly got on his hands and knees and the reiatsu failed to let up.

Ichigo's body gradually got on its feet.

"Something's not right here." Starrk stated as they eyed Ichigo, the Shinigami's movements were odd. It was like he was purposely moving at a very slow pace and jerking slightly.

His head turned to Aizen, his eyes still closed.

"How can he produce so much reiatsu?" Halibel stated as Ichigo's eyes abruptly opened wide.

Aizen and his Arrancar didn't know what they were expecting to see but it certainly not what they saw. Ichigo's eyes were pitch black and devoid of any life.

What happened next shocked everyone to their core.

Right in the center of Ichigo's chest a small black dot appeared and gradually grew larger and before any of them realized it a large hole was in the middle of his chest.

'Is that a hollow hole?' Harribel thought as Ichigo's left eye suddenly began to secrete a thick white fluid and soon covered the left side of his face. The fluid, as if it had a mind of its own, began shifting and molding.

Within seconds the left side of his face was covered in a white mask that took the shape of a sinister skull with a long horn on top of his mask.

"It can't be." Starrk said in amazement.

"This doesn't make sense." Harribel replied while staring at Ichigo's mask fragment.

Besides the battle damaged Shinigami robes, Ichigo was taking on the appearance of an Arrancar.

Without warning the reiatsu that was leaking from Ichigo's body came to a complete halt and he just stood there, staring at them with his lifeless black eyes.

"What is the meaning of this Kurosaki?" Aizen asked.

No response.

Ichigo looked down and upon seeing his zanpakuto on the floor he grabbed it. Once he did, Tensa Zangetsu transform right in Ichigo's hands and to the size and shape of a regular, all black, zanpakuto, thus making his appearance as an Arrancar complete.

Without warning, he vanished.

Aizen was barely able to block the attack when Ichigo appeared in front of him and attempted to cut him in half.

'That was…' Halibel thought in shock.

Starrk shook his head "Sonido."

Aizen stared into the unresponsive eyes of his opponent, who was forcing him back against a partly destroyed column.

Aizen's eyes were lock on Ichigo, but Ichigo wasn't staring directly at him. He was staring vacantly at the floor behind Aizen.

Aizen slowly came to the realization that the opponent he was fighting now was not Ichigo, it was something else...

'He's not even looking at me directly while attacking. Can he be fighting with pure instinct?' Aizen wondered.

As their swords locked, Aizen was surprised at the pressure "Ichigo" was putting behind his attack. He was about to push the black Zangetsu aside but stopped when Ichigo's darkened eyes stared directly into his own before narrowing.

"Getsuga Tensho."

Aizen's eyes widened as reiatsu surged though the black zanpakuto before they were both engulfed in an explosion…

(Ichigo's Mindscape)

"What's the matter, getting tired Ichigo?" Hollow Ichigo mocked as Ichigo dodged another Getsuga Tensho and was trying to keep as much space between himself and his hollow as possible.

"I'm not done yet!" Ichigo roared as he shot a Getsuga Tensho right back at his hollow.

Hollow Ichigo batted the weak attack away bare handed.

"Face it Ichigo, your weak! You've lost." He said as he vanished quickly and appeared next to Ichigo.

"I have to win."

"The faster you come to realize that you have no hope, the easier it will be for you to accept it!" Hollow Ichigo shouted before charging Ichigo and locking blades with him.

"Shut up." Ichigo growled as he struggled to keep himself from being over whelmed.

"Do want to know why you couldn't control the hollow you became when you fought Ulquiorra. It was because though you have the ability to become a hollow, I have the ability to control it. You're nothing without my power!" Hollow Ichigo exclaimed.

"That won't be a problem once I beat you."

Hollow Ichigo simply smirked at Ichigo.

"You'll be surprised what will happen to you if we merge. If you knew, you wouldn't be so quick to kill me."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed before suddenly raising his hand that wasn't holding his zanpakto and began charging a cero.

"Nice trick." Hollow Ichigo stated while raising his arm and charging an identical cero. Ichigo's widened as they both released their cero causing them to be surrounded by an explosion.

When the smoke cleared, both were standing toe to toe with each other.

Hollow Ichigo was smiling at Ichigo as blood dripped from his mouth.

"The cero was a diversion?" Hollow Ichigo asked.

"Yeah." Ichigo answered solemnly. Both looked down, Ichigo's zanpakuto was sticking out of Hollow Ichigo.

"In the end…you were still stronger than me." Ichigo's Hollow stated, suddenly becoming transparent as spirit particles flew out of his body and were subsequently absorbed by Ichigo.

"What's happening?" Ichigo asked as he began to glow.

"Didn't I tell you? We're merging."

"Then why did you say I might regret killing you?"

"Because, all killing me did was give you power. You have lost your life, when you go back to Hueco Mundo you will be an Arrancar, your only desire will be to kill Aizen and after that you will behave and live like a regular Arrancar." Hollow Ichigo said. Ichigo's eyes widened.

"You're lying." Ichigo exclaimed, his hollow laughed.

"Why would I?" He asked as he vanished completely.

Suddenly the building he had been standing on began to crumble.

"This can't be it!" Ichigo yelled out. All of a suddenly reiatsu began pouring into his body as his hollow completely merged with him.

"Stop!" Ichigo yelled out, but to no avail. Once again, darkness engulfed him…

(Las Noches)

Harribel, Starrk, and Lilynette watched as Ichigo shot the point blank Getsuga Tensho and the cloud of debris that now covered the middle of the room. The explosion hadn't been as big as the last cero but it was enough to cause a major explosion.

Without warning, Aizen shot out of the cloud, his right arm cut off from his elbow.

His entire right side was bleeding heavily. Never had he felt so much pain.

'Where is he?'Aizen made no sound and eyed the cloud carefully.

When the smoke cleared Ichigo stood deadly still in the center of the room.

Aizen's eyes widened as he noticed something. Ichigo was suddenly staring right at him, but it wasn't a vacant stare anymore.

Ichigo's now golden- yellow eyes narrowed.

"Aizen." Ichigo spoke in a hollowed tone.

"You're becoming a nuisance." Aizen said before raising his sword.

"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu" he finished before dropping his zanpakuto.

Ichigo looked undisturbed.

"I must kill you." Ichigo replied and held up his zanpakuto and began releasing an enormous amount of reiatsu, greater than any he had produced before.

"Transcender..."

The Ultimate Resurreccion!

(Author's note: Ok now for a couple of notes, you might have caught them but I'm just making sure…

1st: Ichigo's body fighting by itself is the result of Hollow Ichigo's will to control Ichigo and Ichigo's desire to kill Aizen.

2nd: If you want to see a visual of Ichigo's Hollow mask fragment it is the picture I have on my profile (Highly recommended because the picture is so bad ass/ Ichigo will look like this, from the neck up, through my entire story. It will be the same mask that Ichigo had when fighting Ulquiorra only it will be half the mask and cover the left side of his face; his eyes will be golden yellow)