Chapter 8

Byakuya's skin was crawling. If he didn't know that the creature before him was really Ichigo, he might have been slightly more terrified. Ichigo's soul reaper powers alone proved to be intense and far superior to half the captains of the Gotei 13. He was already a force one shouldn't reckon with. His hollow power was even more overbearing, dark and wild.

Byakuya had seen the creature rear its head once before, however briefly that moment may have been, and it had surprised him then with its ferocity. Then it had been completely untamed and unpredictable. He had watched with complete bewilderment as the creature took over Ichigo Kurosaki and attacked him with unbridled fury and malicious intent. The black getsuga was more intimidating than the beastly Zaraki could be. It might have even made Kenpachi cower and that was saying something.

Byakuya and the creature once again faced each other. Ichigo's hollow began to move. It bounced on the balls of its feet. The black now completely filled in the whites of Ichigo's eyes.

"Byakuya Kuchiki. You are a puzzle."

Several strong flares of reiatsu were coming toward them. So far, Byakuya assumed that Ichigo had been able to control his inner hollow. The others had witnessed his use of it the day he visited the Seireitei. They had yet to see the uncontrolled, dark side. It was far more unnerving.

Before the pair could dash away for privacy, several Captains and Vice-Captains appeared on Sokyoku Hill. They had all responded to the release of power that was now leaking from Ichigo's form. To them it was probably unrecognizable.

"Byakuya, what's going on?" Jushiro Ukitake asked, looking between the hollow and the noble.

"How did an arrancar get through the gates?" Soi Fong demanded, unsheathing her zanpakuto.

Izuru and Hisagi joined her, moving in to defend the sixth division Captain and defeat the arrancar. Toshiro and his Vice-Captain arrived soon after and analyzed the situation.

"There's something familiar about that arrancar, Captain." Rangiku said, trying to get a better look over top of the crowd that had now formed.

Zaraki was ready to battle. The up and coming war with Aizen was still a ways off. This arrancar might prove to be a worthy opponent. To Byakuya's horror, Zaraki shed his haori and raised his sword.

Byakuya turned to the hollow. The smile was lecherous and it seemed intrigued by the crazed looking Captain.

"What to do, what to do?" It mused.

"Zaraki, sheath your sword." The noble ordered.

"Why? So you can have all the fun?"

"That's right, Captain Kuchiki. We want our crack at it too." Ikkaku chimed in. He had already released his zanpakuto.

"You cannot..."

"We are all charged with protecting the Soul Society, Captain Kuchiki. As it were, the beast should already be dead." Soi Fong interjected.

No one was listening. What was Byakuya going to do? He couldn't let them attack the boy. Course, thinking on it, he doubted that even they could take on Ichigo's inner hollow successfully. He was pretty sure, whether for Ichigo or itself, it wouldn't let Ichigo get hurt.

Jushiro looked around for the substitute soul reaper. He knew that Byakuya was bringing him up here in order to try and restore his memory. It was difficult to sense the boy. The arrancar's power was fierce and extremely strong. How could one arrancar be so powerful? He turned to the hollow and froze. The shock of orange hair above the mask caught his attention.

"Ichigo..." he muttered, though he was the only one that heard.

"Soi Fong, Kenpachi! Stand down!"

"Aww, come on Kuchiki. Let them play. I won't hurt them...much." It said, licking it's lips.

Byakuya's head snapped back to hush the creature. Protecting Ichigo was vital. It was obvious that the creature meant no harm. If it had intended to attack, it would have done so already. That meant it had a reason for its appearance. It had taken over, but it was completely controlled.

"You filthy..."

"Feisty." It purred at Soi Fong.

Renji and Rukia appeared between Byakuya and the others.

"Stop!" Rukia screamed, her sword drawn.

"Stand aside."

"Stop! That's Ichigo!" Renji yelled, his bankai ready to sweep them back in one move.

"Ichi, you have such good friends." It was talking more to itself than anyone else there, but all movement ceased within that moment. Whispers and Ichigo's name were heard within the sudden silence.

"How can we be sure?" Soi Fong demanded, "Maybe his hollow finally won."

Ichigo's hollow moved. It was so fast, she never even saw him come up in front of her.

"Then you'd already be dead."

She jumped, hearing the hollow's eerie voice near her ear, feeling its breath on her cheek. Before she could react, it was gone again.

"I can confirm that it is indeed, Ichigo Kurosaki." Byakuya assured them.

Renji and Rukia joined Byakuya.

"What happened, Brother?"

"I'm not certain."

All eyes were on the hollow now. He had waited, impatiently mind you, for the chaos to end. He was absentmindedly swinging Zangetsu around like a toy.

"What do you want?"

It clutched Zangetsu once more and giggled manically, "It has nothing to do with what I want, Kuchiki. Everything I am...everything I do is for King."

It pointed to itself and grinned. It was creepy.

"King?" Byakuya muttered, trying to understand.

"What's it talking about?" was heard.

"Aizen?" rang out next.

"Couldn't be. Ichigo wouldn't." came the next response.

"He means Ichigo!" Renji raised his voice.

The hollow laughed and again flash stepped next to the red head. It slung an arm around Renji's shoulders, almost companionably.

"The pineapple's got it." It smiled, "I must admit, I thought Soul Reapers were smarter."

The hollow flash stepped yet again before Renji could shrug it off and stopped in front of Byakuya.

Shaking his head, "Ichigo...is this one really worth it?"

"Worth it?" The noble asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically.

"That's right." It started to circle Byakuya, poking and touching him every so often. With every attempt it made, Byakuya swatted its hand away.

"Is what worth it?" He pressed.

"Do you really want to know?"

"I would not have asked if I didn't."

The hollow came in close to Byakuya's ear, "Are you sure?"

Byakuya shivered. If it had truly been Ichigo that close, he might have completely lost focus. The hollow grinned. So the noble was capable of feeling.

Byakuya shook out of his reverie, "Don't play games, Hollow. Answer me."

"Touchy. I ask the berry if it's worth the pain."

"If what is?" Byakuya snapped, letting his annoyance get the better of him.

"Not very bright, Ichi. Not sure he's worth it."

Byakuya froze, "Me?"

"You, Byakuya Kuchiki. Haven't you wondered yet why Ichigo's memory loss only included memories pertaining to his being a Soul Reaper?"

"What I fail to see is how his memory loss pertains to me."

"All haughty and proud as usual. You're right, the arrancar attack was responsible for his memory loss, but the choice of memories lost was yours."

The hollow came close, filling Byakuya's vision with his masked face.

"In his coma, he fought his fears, his demons, his sorrows. In order to protect himself, he blocked out what caused him the most pain. Removing that one thing blocked out all other memories connected to it."

"Me."

"Fix it." Renji told it.

"You don't think I've tried?" It snapped at the red head.

Renji recoiled.

"I have provoked him. I have tried fighting him. I've yelled...I even tried comforting him. The weak sap curls up into a ball and refuses to listen."

Jushiro suddenly understood. He hurried forward through the crowd.

"What of his zanpakuto, hollow?"

"For the purposes of this conversation, call me Shiro. Zangetsu has tried too. He won't listen to the old man either." Shiro said, slightly annoyed at the hollow title. He was far more than a hollow.

"No, that is incorrect, Shiro. He can't hear you."

"It's me..." Byakuya whispered, completely lost in his own thoughts.

Shiro glanced at him, then back, "He can hear. The weakling isn't listening. He has to hear us. He's been in bankai since the attack. Ichi's ignoring us."

"Me. It's me..."

Renji and Rukia looked on sympathetically at Byakuya. They didn't understand why, but he looked crushed, as though his whole world had just fallen apart.

"If what you say is true and everything about him being a soul reaper is blocked out, would it not make sense that you and Zangetsu are blocked as well?" Shiro considered. "If you or Zangetsu can get through to Ichigo, his memories will be restored. It may be easier for you, than for us to try and get through to him." Jushiro continued.

"No, I will not be the one to fix this."

"Listen well, hollow. I have unfinished business with Kurosaki. You will bring him to his senses."

"I'll be your opponent, Zaraki." Shiro laughed and raised Zangetsu menacingly, "Now a good time for you?"

Zaraki lunged forward only to be stopped by Ikkaku and Yumichika, "Don't Captain. You might hurt Ichigo."

Shiro laughed. Ichi's friends certainly were entertaining. Ikkaku turned to look at Shiro, "You don't intend to return Ichigo to us, do you, hollow?"

"It's very rare that I have such free rein over his body. Why shouldn't I have a little fun first?"

"What have I done? I...it's me...my fault."

Rangiku, Toshiro and Hisagi now came around the distracted Captain. Rangiku laid a hand on the noble's shoulder in an attempt to get his attention, thought she didn't understand why he was falling apart. Toshiro saw his steel, grey eyes were wide with panic. He was sure that the sixth division Captain wasn't even aware how closely he was being watched by his comrades. He seemed to be overwhelmed in emotion, which was rare for the noble.

"You want to help him, Shiro. It's as simple as that. Ichigo is a part of you, just as much as you are a part of him." Jushiro reasoned.

Shiro snorted, unwilling to admit to anything. The King was important. Ichigo was his King. They were far stronger...far more powerful together. Even if the world were coming to an end, Shiro would protect his King, regardless of the consequences.

"Kuchiki!" Shiro said.

Byakuya looked up, "I have hurt him."

It was a statement. The panic now gone, the immovable noble back in charge.

"You're finally getting it, are you?" Shiro watched him closely. The eyes were always the key. Byakuya could not lie to him. He had feelings for Ichi, no matter what he liked to pretend. He was just too damn stubborn to admit it. His behavior was the reason they were in this mess.

"I tried to kill him, twice, and I almost succeeded the first time." Byakuya's voice steadied, his walls went back up. The indifferent tone resumed command, "I'm connected to Rukia and Renji, hence the absence of them from his mind. I'm connected to the Soul Society...even his powers are connected to me. If not for me, Urahara would never have needed to draw out his true power with hollowfication."

Byakuya had regained control...the emotionless control which had aided him after Hisana's death.

Shiro sighed and shook his masked head, "Well, you're half right."

The hollow came close to him and rested a hand on his shoulder, "You really are thick, your highness."

Byakuya blushed uncontrollably at the touch. His cheeks burned red without his consent. Shiro grinned. If it was possible to break through the Kuchiki's emotional walls of defense, then there may be hope yet.

"Dig deeper. He has been almost killed by everyone here. You're right, you hurt Ichi, but it's got nothing to do with battle."

"I don't understand."

"And you won't, highness, till you dig deeper." He smacked the noble on his back, "Loosen up, Kuchiki. Be honest...or you'll never get Ichi back," Before anyone could protest that comment, "None of us will."

Byakuya didn't understand. What could possibly come out of 'loosening up.'

Shiro screamed. It was time to return. Subconsciously, Ichigo was fighting for dominance.

"Shiro!" Jushiro exclaimed.

"Can't suppress..." another scream, "your combative nature...eh King? Fix...this...Kuchiki! Running..." Shiro screamed again. It was agony sometimes just to switch places, "running...out of time!"

Ichigo's body went ridged and a cracking sound broke through the air. They all watched as the red and white mask crumbled from his face. Eyes closed and exhausted, what seemed a lifeless husk of their friend, he started to drop.

Without so much as a second thought, Byakuya rushed forward to catch the boy. Byakuya's mind was a chaotic mess. He wasn't aware of his surroundings anymore.

Ichigo's memory loss was his fault and he needed to amend that. His only clue was to, 'loosen up' and 'be honest.' How was he going to make this right?

Completely engrossed in thought, Byakuya cradled the teenager and flash stepped out of sight, heading home. The Captains and Vice-Captains watched, uncertain of the future.