Urahara ended his story and considered Rukia's expression. "Thank you for telling me that story. It must have been hard to talk about it," Rukia said finally.

"I will train you, but I believe you have already surpassed me. I don't know what more I can do," Urahara admitted.

"You think so?" Rukia asked amazed.

Urahara took out a ring from his pocket. "Put this on," he instructed.

"What does it do?" Rukia asked curiously as she took the ring.

"It will seal some of your power," Urahara explained.

"Like the eye patch of Captain Kenpachi?" Rukia questioned.

"It is the same concept. If you feel you are in danger, simply remove it and the seal will be released," Urahara told her.

"Thank you," Rukia said and gave Urahara a bow in respect.

As Rukia left, Tessai approached. "Do you believe the ring will work?" he asked.

"I don't know. Her reiatsu is nothing I have ever come across," Urahara admitted.


Rukia visited the house and found Ichigo ready to leave. "Where are you going?' Rukia asked.

"I have some people to see," Ichigo said vaguely.

"Who?" Rukia wondered.

Ichigo sighed. "There are others like me that I think can help me control the Hollow inside me," Ichigo revealed.

"Others?" Rukia wondered.

"I can't say how long this will take, but I am going to ask them to train me," Ichigo told her.

Rukia nodded in understanding. "I'm glad you told me before running off," she said.

"I just don't want to worry about me, that's all," Ichigo replied.

"What do I tell your father and sisters?" Rukia asked.

Ichigo sighed. "Tell them…make something up," Ichigo told her.

"Why do I have to make it up? It's your family," Rukia pointed out.

"I don't have time for this," Ichigo argued.

"I am assuming you won't need your body for this?" Rukia considered.

"I guess not," Ichigo figured.

"I will have Kon take your place," Rukia suggested.

"No way!" Ichigo protested.

"I will not be put on the spot when people ask where you are," Rukia said with a peeved expression.

"All right, but just until this is over," Ichigo relented.


A Few Days Later

Ichigo found himself amongst blue skyscrapers; he was stand on the side of a building as before. There was no gravity to pull him down to the ground. Another Ichigo appeared a short distance away, watching him. He was dressed in pure white instead of black and his eyes glowed yellow. He was paler than Ichigo and his voice was inhuman.

"Where is Zangetsu?" Ichigo demanded.

"I am Zangetsu," the 2nd Ichigo told him.

"I don't have time for this. Tell me where the old man is," Ichigo said angrily.

"You just don't get it. I am Zangetsu. I was a part of Zangetsu, but now things have changed and now I am in control," Zangetsu told him.

"So, if I defeat you, old man Zangetsu will come back," Ichigo concluded.

"If you defeat me," Zangetsu doubted.

Ichigo and Zangetsu circled each other with their swords at their sides; neither making the first move. "So, you have a kid on the way," Zangetsu smirked.

"How do you know about that?' Ichigo asked.

"I know whatever you know," Zangetsu explained.

"What of it?" Ichigo asked his Hollow self.

"It was my idea," Zangetsu grinned.

"What?" Ichigo wondered.

"I saw an opportunity and I took it. It was pure instinct, I wanted to replicate myself. I couldn't allow you to reproduce with some human girl and end my existence," Zangetsu recalled.

"You…how?" Ichigo asked angrily.

"It was simple to do. She opened herself to it. I can't believe you let us almost get killed back there. You were so weak, I needed to take action," Zangetsu replied.

"Did you ever think what it would mean to Rukia?" Ichigo accused.

"Who cares?" Zangetsu spat.

"I care, she's not your pawn," Ichigo shouted and struck at him.

The two clashed with their swords causing sparks to fly. Ichigo advanced on Zangetsu forcing him back. "That's the spirit Ichigo!" Zangetsu laughed.

"This isn't funny!" Ichigo yelled and then backed away from Zangetsu.

"Bankai!" Ichigo shouted.

"Bankai!" Zangetsu added at the same time.

There was an explosion of energy as the two formed their Bankais at the same time. "When did you learn Bankai?" Ichigo asked.

"At the same time you did," Zangetsu answered.

Zangetsu whirled his sword demonstrating the ease he had with the powerful weapon. "I have waited a long time for this Ichigo. It is time for me to be King and for you to be horse," Zangetsu said.

"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked him.

"There is one that dominates and the other lends his power. Up until now, I have lent you my power to you. You have squandered the power I have given you. I won't let us both get killed by your weakness," Zangetsu explained.

"You're just a killer," Ichigo told him.

"Exactly. I am pure instinct!" Zangetsu shouted.

Ichigo and Zangetsu clashed with their swords. Ichigo could barely follow Zangetsu's moves and was suddenly pushed into the floor. Ichigo whirled his sword and pointed it at Zangetsu. "Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo shouted sending a black beam toward Zangetsu.

Zangetsu blocked the beam with his sword causing the structure behind him to explode. "You copy cat. I invented that move; its mine," Zangetsu hissed.

Zangetsu suddenly appeared above Ichigo; the two clashed with their swords. "I'll show you how it's done," Zangetsu said as he charged his blade.

There was a reddish explosion as Ichigo was overwhelmed by the blast. The side of the building was uplifted by the force of the beam. Zangetsu smirked as he waited for the smoke to clear. Ichigo panted in exhaustion and pain as he survived the blast; his clothes were torn.

"See how weak you are Ichigo. How do you hope to protect Rukia without me?" Zangetsu said disgusted.

"There's more to it than strength. You don't have heart," Ichigo told him.

"Ichigo, you're pathetic. Heart, love, hope, they mean nothing. Strength is everything!" Zangetsu chided.

"It's not how many people you hurt or kill that matters, but what you can endure to protect others," Ichigo argued.

Zangetsu frowned at the remark. "Let's see if your ideals keep you alive Ichigo!" Zangetsu shouted.

Zangetsu sped towards Ichigo at a fast speed for the kill. Ichigo closed his eyes and waited for Zangetsu to strike him. Zangetsu sliced through Ichigo's gut causing Ichigo to spasm in pain. "You see," Zangetsu grinned.

Ichigo didn't move for a few seconds as Zangetsu waited for a response. Ichigo then took a hold of Zangetsu's blade; it immediately turned black instead of white.

"What's this?" Zangetsu cried out as his hand turned black; he released himself from his own sword. Ichigo gave a cry of effort and took Zangetsu's sword out of his body and then held the two blades.

"Impossible!" Zangetsu doubted.

Ichigo glared at Zangetsu and then suddenly tore Zangetsu's chest open with his two swords. Zangetsu cried out in pain and then held onto Ichigo as his life force drained away.

"You win your majesty. Watch your back. If you ever become weak, I will trample you and crush your skull," Zangetsu said as he began to fade away. Ichigo watched as his Hollow self faded away and became no more.


A large organic television screen was set up in Orihime's living room so as to communicate with Commander Yamamoto. Captain Hitsugaya had spent most of the morning working on the invention. A picture of Commander Yamamoto appeared on the screen.

"You've finished the job quickly, as expected of you Captain Hitsugaya," Commander Yamamoto praised.

"Thank you Commander," Hitsugaya accepted.

"What progress has been made on returning Kuchiki Rukia to us?" Yamamoto asked.

"She has escaped our detection," Hitsugaya lied.

"Her reiatsu was detected in Karakura Town during your fight with the Arrancar. She is nearby; find her," Yamamoto ordered sternly.

"I will do my best. My sense for her reiatsu has been clouded by the Arrancar's attack," Hitsugaya admitted.

"If the child inside of her becomes unstable it could destroy the entire town and all souls within it. One life must be sacrificed for the sake of tens of thousands. Do you understand this?" Yamamoto explained.

"Yes, Commander," Hitsugaya replied.

"Proceed with caution. In her unstable condition, Kuchiki Rukia is very dangerous. Rely on your squad," the commander advised.

"I will apprehend her," Hitsugaya promised.


With the soul television off, Hitsugaya turned to Rangiku and Orihime standing by. "I am in a difficult situation," he admitted.

"Rukia is pregnant," Orihime wondered.

Hitsugayo nodded. "I would never support the killing of innocent life, but if what the Commander says is true, perhaps it must be done," Hitsugaya thought aloud.

"Captain, we don't know if the child will become unstable," Rangiku objected.

"We don't know it won't. Can we really risk it?" Hitsugaya considered.

"What if we don't kill it, just make it disappear," Orihime suggested.

"What do you mean?" Hitsugaya asked becoming interested.

"I could…reverse the process so the pregnancy never happened," Orihime said helpfully.

"It's not really killing it if it never existed," Rangiku said supportively.

Hitsugaya considered the suggestion. "Rukia would likely resist. I don't know about the others," he said to himself.

He turned to Rangiku and Orihime. "Keep this to yourself," he ordered.


Orihime walked down the steps into the basement level of the Vaizards. Ichigo stopped his training to greet her as she descended the steps. The other Vaizards were alarmed at first that a human girl could get past their barrier. Orihime then explained to Ichigo the Royal Key and Aizen's purpose for it. Ichigo nodded in understanding as she related the message.

"Don't worry. I'll stop Aizen," Ichigo said confidently.

Orihime smiled at his confidence, but frowned as she considered another detail. "What is it?" Ichigo asked.

"Rukia's pregnant. I didn't know," she revealed.

Ichigo simply stared at her wondering if she knew more. "Yeah, she told me," Ichigo admitted.

"It's so strange to think about it," Orihime said.

"Yeah, but we have seen a lot of strange things," Ichigo pointed out.

Orihime smiled and nodded in the affirmative. "The Commander says Rukia's in danger," Orihime continued.

"You saw him? How?" Ichigo wondered with some alarm.

"He was on the television screen with Captain Hitsugaya," Orihime explained. Ichigo approached Orihime.

"The Commander is just as bad as Aizen," Ichigo said sternly.

"Ichigo," Orihime wondered.

"I have to continue with my training. Say hello to everyone for me and tell them I am all right," Ichigo requested.

"Of course," Orihime nodded.


A Month Later

Rangiku, Ikaku, and Yumichika gathered together and discussed the Captain's dilemma; they were all present in their human gigai. They were in the middle of a park gossiping and arguing.

"The Captain has a lot of stress over this," Rangiku observed.

"That's why I never became a Captain," Ikaku said dismissively.

"But you should have some sympathy for him," Rangiku argued.

"I have sympathy for no one and no one has sympathy for me," Ikaku replied.

"That's not true baldy," Rangiku rubbed Ikaku's head affectionately.

"It's a hard choice to make, but I have already come to my conclusion," Yumichika said as Ikaku and Rangiku began fighting.

"What's that?" Rangikou asked curiously as she kept Ikaku at bay.

"The child, if allowed to live, may become a beautiful addition to the 11th Division," Yumchika explained.

"As if, the child would be a member of the 10th Division," Rangiku declared defensively.

"I don't care what division the child is in as long as I get to fight it. It better not disappoint," Ikaku grinned dangerously.

"Is that all you think about? How cruel," Rangiku scolded.

Hitsugaya sat by himself but was listening to the conversation. "What do you think the child would be like?" Rangiku wondered.

"Most likely an ice type like her mother," Yumichiki predicted.

"We don't know if such a thing is inherited," Rangiku rejected.

"Guys, end the speculation. The more you think about it, the harder our mission will be," Hitsugaya interrupted.

"But Captain, how can we not talk about it?" Rangiku protested.

"There is nothing to talk about. We don't know anything about what will happen," Hitsugaya replied.

Ikaku considered the movements of the clothes. "The clouds are moving fast," he thought to himself.


Author's Note: I hope this was revealing, I cut a lot of stuff out so I hope you guys were able to follow. The next chapter will have a small battle.