The next chapter is up! Thank you for the reviews again and please keep them coming! I look forward to them! Enjoy as always!

Previously:

Risa pulled away from him quickly startling him. His eyes widened as he stared into her glassy ones. She shook her head and stood up.

"I want this, but I can't have it," she said weakly.

"Risa…" he said, but she took off before he could speak.

Kisuke stood up, wondering what had just happened. He lowered his hat so that it covered his eyes and walked back to his shop.

The Next Day…

Risa walked over to the shop slowly. She knew she had to face him after what happened yesterday. She opened the door and Tessai greeted her warmly.

"Hey Tessai, is Kisuke here?" she asked softly and Tessai shook his head.

"He…went out," he said hesitantly.

"You're a terrible liar. Almost as bad as me," she smiled.

Tessai scratched his head.

"I'm sorry Risa. I cannot say where he went," he said uneasily.

Risa nodded.

"That's okay. It can wait. Will you tell him I stopped by?" she asked kindly.

"Yes, he will be upset he missed you," the gruff man said and Risa chuckled and left after Tessai gave her a piece of candy.

She loved that man. She decided to explore the town a bit since Hitsugaya wasn't giving her any orders at the moment. She saw Orihime walking to an abandoned building and frowned. Orihime just didn't strike her as the type to head into shady abandoned buildings alone.

"Hey Orihime!" she yelled running up to the young girl, who looked slightly startled at her arrival.

"Oh! Hey Risa! I'm sorry, you startled me! I didn't think anyone would be around here!" she said laughing nervously.

Risa nodded.

"I didn't think so either which is why I find it odd that you're here," she said grinning.

Orihime scratched her head as if she'd been caught.

"I was visiting Ichigo," she blushed and Risa frowned.

"I thought he was off training," she said and Orihime nodded.

"Yeah, he trains here in this building underground," Orihime explained.

Risa nodded.

"Another of Kisuke's designs?" she chuckled, but Orihime shook her head.

"Mr. Urahara stops by every once and a while to observe the training, but I think this building belongs to the Visored," she said and Risa frowned in confusion.

"Visored?" she questioned.

Orihime nodded.

"Mhm, they're helping Ichigo train," she clarified.

Risa shook her head. She was at a loss. Orihime took her hand gently.

"Here, I'll bring you in. There's a barrier so hold on tight okay?" she asked and before Risa could answer, Orihime pulled her through.

Risa immediately felt the spiritual pressure in the room go up and mumbled voices coming from a hole in the ground leading to the training area.

"That's Orihime," said a soft voice.

"Yeah, but she's with someone. That's strange. The spiritual pressure is vaguely familiar," another voice came.

Risa followed Orihime down the steps, watching her footing. She didn't see the eyes in the training area widen. Kisuke closed his eyes not having to look to know it was her. He knew this could end badly. He hadn't wanted her to see them just yet. He had wanted to feel her out first and get her reaction. He also wanted the Visored to know she was here before she just showed up.

"Hi everyone! I brought a guest! Don't worry though, she's a friend!" Orihime giggled.

Risa put on her best smile and lifted her head, only to have that smile wiped off her face completely. She let out the smallest of sounds from her throat. Her wide eyes scanned the people before her. She wasn't prepared to meet the familiar gazes. Her eyes widened even more when she saw the person in the back that had stopped sparring with Ichigo suddenly.

"H-Hiyori?" she whispered and the small girl in the Hollow mask stared at her.

She took a step down the stairs and then another. Kisuke's eyes widened as she disappeared from the step and appeared before Hiyori in an instant. Hiyori seemed startled by this and dropped her weapon.

"Risa!" Shinji yelled, not knowing what the outcome of this would be.

The other Visored went to move, but Kisuke grabbed Shinji's arm.

"Wait," he said firmly.

Risa stared at Hiyori before dropping to her knees and throwing her arms around her tightly. She let her hand touch the back of Hiyori's head and the other wrapped around her back. She trembled slightly.

"Thank goodness," she whispered into the blonde girl's shoulder.

Orihime wiped at her eyes watching the two reunite. Risa pulled back and looked at the Hollow mask. She cautiously placed her hands on it and removed it. She watched as Hiyori's eyes returned to normal.

"Risa…" Hiyori said lowly and Risa smiled and touched the girl's cheeks.

"I've missed you so much," she said and then went flying back as a sandal connected with her face.

All eyes in the room widened. Hiyori's eyes were glassy, but she refused to cry. Risa sat up holding her bloody nose.

"Ouch! That hurt!" she whined.

Hiyori started walking towards her.

"Why didn't you come look for us?!" she shouted angrily.

Risa's eyes widened.

"W-What?" she asked shocked.

It was Kisuke's turn to step forward, but this time Shinji stopped him.

"They both need this. Let them have it, no matter how much it hurts," he said seriously.

"We had to flee! We had to run! Where were you?! Why didn't you come looking for me?!" Hiyori screamed at her.

"You don't think I tried to find you?!" she shouted back.

"You didn't try hard enough! You were frightened of what I had become weren't you?! What Aizen had made me and the others! And then I hear you become a Lieutenant under one of the men who did this to us! You didn't try at all! You were happy we were gone!" she yelled and then gasped as a hand smacked her hard.

Risa glared at her friend as Hiyori stared at her shocked. Everything became silent.

"You're wrong. You're so incredibly wrong. I was there that night too. I saw what happened to everyone. If I remember correctly, I took a near fatal wound as a result of that mask that forms on your face. If I was afraid I'd have every right to be. You shouldn't judge me because of that. But I'm not afraid of you and that stupid mask of yours. Grow some more horns on it and I still won't be afraid of you. And please don't say I didn't try. None of you were there to witness the results of what happened, so how would you know? In truth, you have no idea how hard I tried and what happened as a result of all that trying," she said upset.

Hiyori wiped at her eyes roughly and ran past her heading up the stairs. Risa closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. She quickly flash-stepped onto the steps in front of Hiyori.

"Running away again?" Risa asked and swung her leg connecting with Hiyori's face.

The blonde girl went flying past the others and fell into the training grounds.

"Risa!" Shinji turned to her and Risa beamed at him and patted his shoulder as she walked by.

"I'll come say hello to you in a minute Shinji," she said and walked towards Hiyori.

Hiyori got to her feet and grinned.

"I've been imagining this fight for a really long time," she said as her mask began to form.

"Hachi, give them a barrier so that they don't bring the whole training area down," Lisa said firmly.

Kisuke watched with wide eyes as Risa paused a few feet away from Hiyori.

"Are you afraid?" Hiyori asked with her mask on.

Risa shook her head.

"Nah, that's close to how you normally look anyway," she said and Hiyori charged.

Shinji let out a laugh and wiped at his eyes.

"I missed her," he admitted and the other Visored silently agreed.

Risa dodged the first couple of attacks quickly analyzing Hiyori's new moves.

"You've gotten a lot stronger and faster Hiyori! I can sense it," she said and Hiyori scoffed.

"Shut up and stand still!" she shouted frustrated.

Risa laughed happily. Finally after a few moments, Hiyori stopped and took her mask off.

"If you're not going to take this seriously then I'm not fighting anymore," she said annoyed.

Risa smiled and patted Hiyori's head. The small blonde girl swiped at her hand and Risa chuckled.

"I could never hurt you Hiyori," she said and Hiyori rolled her eyes.

"Why the hell not?!" she yelled angered.

Risa grinned at her.

"Because we're family silly. And I will not hurt my family," she said and Hiyori's eyes widened.

Finally, Hiyori caved and hugged Risa tightly around the waist. Risa returned the hug quickly. After a moment Hiyori shoved off of her and ran up the stairs and out of the training grounds. Risa sighed. She was about to walk over to the others when Shinji slammed into her, picking her up and hugging her close.

"My first love!" he cheered and Risa broke out into laughter.

"I've missed you so much Shinji!" she held him tightly.

The others came over to greet her as well. Ichigo stood by Kisuke.

"You alright? You seem a little off," he asked the shopkeeper.

Kisuke grinned and waved his fan at Ichigo while lowering his hat to cover his eyes.

"Why, I'm perfectly fine, thanks for asking," he said jovially.

In his head was another thing entirely. Her words ran through his head.

'In truth, you have no idea how hard I tried and what happened as a result of all that trying.'

His mind was going a mile a minute.

What did she mean by that?

His thought process was interrupted when Hiyori reappeared at the top of the stairs. Her normal scowl played on her face again.

"Alright break's over Ichigo! Back to training!" she yelled at him.

Ichigo smirked happily. He was ready to get back to it. Hachi put up a barrier and Hiyori and Ichigo entered it. Risa sat with Orihime, Shinji, Kisuke, and the others observing.

"So how's life back in the Soul Society?" Shinji asked looking at her.

Risa took her eyes off the training and smiled at him.

"Different from our time," she answered vaguely.

"Is Captain Kyoraku still there?" Lisa asked, not taking her eyes off the match.

Risa nodded.

"Yes, with Nanao Ise as his Lieutenant," Risa said and Lisa cracked a small smile.

"I'm not gonna lie and say I don't miss it sometimes," Hachi said quietly.

Risa smiled at the large man.

"Well I'd happily switch places with you if I could Hachi," she said and Shinji looked at her unsurely along with the rest of them.

Risa rested her arms on her knees and sighed in thought. Kisuke watched her carefully.

"I'd never go back if I could help it," she mumbled.

She hadn't meant to say it out loud, it just slipped out. Kisuke's eyes widened as well as the others. Risa continued watching the match without saying another word.

A Few Hours Later…

Ichigo blocked Hiyori's kick and they stopped sparring.

"That's good enough for today," Hiyori said heading for the exit.

"Let's keep going! I know I can hold it for longer!" Ichigo tried, referring to his Hollow mask.

Hiyori waved him off.

"Maybe tomorrow, ask someone else for today," she said annoyed.

She wasn't going to lie. The kid had stamina and lots of it. Ichigo pointed his zanpakuto at Risa, who looked behind her to see who he was pointing at. Then she looked at him and raised an eyebrow. Kisuke was about to speak when she spoke first.

"No thank you," she said kindly.

Ichigo smirked.

"Scared?" he taunted.

Risa chuckled lightly.

"For you maybe," she said playfully.

Ichigo kept his zanpakuto pointed at her. Risa shook her head.

"Sorry Ichigo, but I do not wish to hurt you," she said honestly.

Ichigo chuckled.

"What makes you think you will?" he asked confidently.

Kisuke didn't like where this was going. Shinji grinned.

"The boy has confidence," he chuckled.

Risa nodded her head.

"Yes, let him keep it. If I step into that barrier with you Ichigo I will crush that confidence," she said seriously.

"Try it," Ichigo pressed.

Risa frowned.

"Ichigo…this is my last warning. I'm a completely different person when I have to focus and fight. I don't like it and neither does Juuyaiba. He's a peaceful zanpakuto, but he will lash out when provoked. So please stop," she tried quietly.

"I know your fighting style pretty well. He might actually give you a challenge," Hiyori smirked devilishly.

Risa turned to her friend.

"One hundred years have passed since then Hiyori. I no longer fight that way," she admitted.

Kisuke waved his fan.

"Just leave it be Ichigo. I'm sure any of the Visored would love a chance to try to kill you. Challenge one of them," he joked smiling foolishly.

He was trying to get them to stop. Risa looked uncomfortable and it didn't settle well with him. Also, her words got his mind racing.

"Risa Inari, Lieutenant of the Third Division, I challenge you!" Ichigo yelled still pointing his zanpakuto at her.

Risa stood up slowly, Juuyaiba sheathed behind her.

"Alright," she said calmly and headed for the barrier.

"Ichigo, this is not smart," Kisuke tried, but Ichigo grinned at him.

"I won't hurt her too bad Kisuke," he said and followed her into the barrier.

Orihime sat by the Visored. She was nervous. Risa's words had shaken her a bit. She hoped they'd be okay. Risa removed Juuyaiba from her sheath and Ichigo readied himself. She stared at the boy for a moment before setting Juuyaiba on the ground at her feet. She looked back up at his confused eyes.

"Let's make this interesting…" she said smirking some.

She could already feel it taking over her senses. Ichigo matched her smirk.

"Alright, what did you have in mind?" he said ready for the challenge.

Risa seemed to think about it for a moment before speaking.

"A bet," she said after a while.

Ichigo nodded.

"I'm listening," he said eager to fight.

The others watched and waited patiently. This was a match they couldn't wait to see. Kisuke couldn't deny that he was curious to see her fight. It had been one hundred years.

"If I win this match…I want you to place Zangetsu on the ground, hand me your substitute Shinigami badge, turn around, and go home," she said calmly.

All eyes widened. Ichigo stared at the woman in shock.

"W-What?" he asked, suddenly losing his nerve.

Risa stared at him intently.

"If I win this match, I want you to step out of this upcoming war with Aizen and his men. I don't want you to have any part of it. If I win, I want you to go home Ichigo," she said firmer now.

"I-I don't understand," Ichigo said wide eyed.

"You're a child. And so you think like a child. You're brave, but not brave enough. You have this power that frightens you that you can't control, but that will not be enough. You are strong, but you are not strong enough. If you fight in this war you will die. I watched your entire fight with the Visored. You're getting good; real good. Aizen is still better," she spoke calmly.

The room was silent.

"Alright…"

Risa's eyes widened. He had a look of determination on his face as he clenched his zanpakuto in his hand.

"I agree to the terms of your bet. But…" he trailed off.

"…if I win…you owe them some answers," he said firmly pointing to the Visored.

Everyone's eyes widened slightly.

"Why?" she questioned.

"I have my reasons," he said and her eyes widened slightly.

"You won't win against me," she said dangerously low.

"We'll see," he said readying himself.

Risa stood where she was. Ichigo frowned.

"Aren't you gonna pick Juuyaiba off the ground?" he asked and was shocked when she shook her head.

"There's no need for him to become involved. This will be over quickly," she said evenly.

Ichigo's eyes widened with anger and he charged.

"Don't underestimate me!" he yelled and Risa still stood her ground.

"I'm not," she said and flash stepped to the side.

Her fingers carefully clasped down on Ichigo's blade and snapped it in half effortlessly.

"How'd she do that?!" Lisa asked standing up.

"You just snapped his zanpakuto in half!" Hiyori yelled shocked.

Shinji and Kisuke stared in shock at the scene before them. Orihime covered her mouth. Ichigo couldn't move. He stared wide eyed at his broken blade. Risa turned to him still holding half of his zanpakuto in her hands.

"You are not fully aligned with Zangetsu. You insulted me by charging recklessly with that substandard blade," she said impassively.

Ichigo couldn't find words or even breathe for that matter.

"You lost. Put him down, give me your badge, and go home," she said firmly.

Ichigo turned to her. He pointed his broken blade at her.

"I'm not done!" he yelled confidently.

Risa sighed and disappeared. Ichigo's eyes widened as she appeared before him. She knocked his zanpakuto off balance and grabbed him by the throat viciously.

"And you still have the nerve to point that inferior blade at me. You were done before this match started. You're not strong enough Ichigo. I don't know how else to get that through to you. Even Zangetsu thinks you're weak. He won't even lift a finger to defend you. He's laughing at you. It's time to admit defeat," she spoke coldly.

She was telling the truth, Ichigo thought.

She is a completely different person when she fights.

"N-No…" Ichigo choked out.

Risa watched him lift his hand to his face. The mask formed and she sighed.

"That's only going to buy you a few more minutes," she growled and let go of him jumping back, as Ichigo swung his broken zanpakuto.

"That mask won't do you any good if you don't know how to use it," Risa said calmly.

Ichigo glanced at Juuyaiba resting on the floor some feet away. He turned to Risa and she glared at him. She knew what he was going to attempt to do.

"Don't do it. Juuyaiba is not like Zangetsu," she warned and Ichigo took off for her zanpakuto.

Risa raced after him.

"Don't approach him so hastily! He's more powerful with that mask dumbass!" Hiyori yelled to Risa.

Ichigo raised Zangetsu to strike Juuyaiba. He would do what she did; attack the zanpakuto. Risa's eyes widened. He was faster with that mask. She wouldn't be able to fully stop him from attacking Juuyaiba. She cursed under her breath and as Ichigo brought down his weapon, she dove in front.

"Risa!" Kisuke yelled alarmed.

Ichigo couldn't stop his momentum. The broken blade came down and a bright white light surrounded the fighters and filled the barrier.

The Zanpakuto Realm…

Juuyaiba blocked Zangetsu's blade from touching Risa with a blade of his own. Risa's eyes widened as well as Ichigo's. His mask was no longer on.

"What…what happened?" Ichigo asked unsurely.

He was in a forest. Trees surrounded them. All was quiet. In the back, beyond the trees, stood tall buildings, which Ichigo recognized as his inner realm. Juuyaiba knocked Zangetsu back roughly and stood in front of Risa. Zangetsu stood back a few feet away by Ichigo.

"We were pulled into our inner realms," Risa answered him.

Ichigo's eyes widened.

"H-How? I only thought we could speak to them by sleeping or meditating. How can we both be in our inner realms?" he asked shocked.

"I brought you both here," Juuyaiba said, glaring at Zangetsu.

The young spirit was watching the older spirit carefully, making sure he didn't make any unnecessary movements.

"And how did you do that?" Zangetsu asked calmly.

"I merged our realms," Juuyaiba said relaxing his stance some.

"Why?" Ichigo asked unsurely.

Juuyaiba glared at him.

"Because you were going to hurt Risa and I wasn't going to let that happen, that's why," he snapped.

Risa touched Juuyaiba's shoulder carefully. Ichigo's mind raced with the new information. The boy looked to be in his early twenties with long, spiky, dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a dark red long sleeved shirt and black baggy pants with gun holsters attached to them. Black combat boots covered his feet. Juuyaiba turned slightly to Risa, acknowledging her presence.

"This was a stupid move Risa. You shouldn't have agreed to fight him. You know what he possesses. I didn't want to become involved in this," he said seriously.

Risa grinned at him sheepishly and scratched her head.

"Sorry…and thanks for saving me," she chuckled.

Juuyaiba rolled his eyes, but a small smile played on his lips.

"So what happens now?" Ichigo asked.

Risa leaned against Juuyaiba playfully.

"Well, we're in kind of a bind here," she said raising an eyebrow.

Ichigo scratched his head.

"Okay, well how do we get out of here? I want to continue our fight," he said looking around.

Risa became serious.

"Our fight is over Ichigo," she said and Ichigo shook his head.

"No it's not. I can still fight!" he protested.

Risa looked to Juuyaiba, who looked at her calmly.

"You don't understand," she said and gave a firm nod to Juuyaiba.

Juuyaiba nodded back and turned to Ichigo.

"Sorry about this friend," he said and attacked.

How did you guys like it?! Please review! More to come if I get reviews! Let me know how it's going so far. I need those reviews! They keep me going!