Hello readers,

I am SO sorry for making you wait so long for another chapter!

It's just that life got in the way. Work combined with friends and family, as well as shifting creative moods and repeated writer's block, factor into this delay. Plus, I'm also working on other creative projects (making YouTube videos and writing/drawing manga). Thank you for your patience and I hope you like this chapter.

CHAPTER 9: OUR GREATEST HOPE LOST

Ichigo could hear the sound of crying gently enter his ears. It wasn't long before his senses started coming back and he realized that he was waking up from what he was sure was death. The darkness that surrounded him before gave way to a bright daytime sky. His eyes opened completely and he began to take in his surroundings. Seeing what remained of the sushi bar reminded him of the fight he lost against Uryu.

"Kurosaki-kun!" the carrot-top's pondering was interrupted by the familiar feminine voice a close friend. He tilted his head in the direction of source and looked upon Orihime's face. The busty healer caressed his cheek and showed a relieved smile as tears dripped from her red, puffy eyes.

"You saved me again," Ichigo smiled back as he wiped away her tears with his hand. Orihime closed her eyes as he did this, taking in the feeling of his touch. She eventually lifted the carrot-top into a sitting position and held him, back first, against her. She rested her chin on his shoulder, leaning her head so that it rested against his. Ichigo responded by reaching up and caressing her scalp as choked sobs became sniffles and shaky breaths.

Head Captain Yamamoto turned his attention to the door leading from his office to the hallway as a lower-level Shinigami burst his way in, crying out, "Head Captain!" along the way. He was bleeding from multiple wounds and was seemingly unable to stand much longer.

"What happened?" Yamamoto demanded, "Who is attacking us?!"

"An army of undead warriors, sir!" the lower-level Shinigami gasped, "They've taken out a large part of the outer wall on the southeast and already have taken out at least fifty thousand of our forces, using blue arrow-shaped projectiles!" Yamamoto quickly stood from his desk and neared the lower-level Shinigami, firmly taking him by the shoulders.

"Blue arrow-shaped projectiles? Are you sure?!" Yamamoto couldn't believe what he was hearing. The number of Quincy was dwindled down by Soul Society ages ago. But now they are somehow back, and with a vengeance!

"Completely, sir," the lower-level Shinigami quickly responded, "I saw it with my own eyes!" Yamamoto immediately called for a team of medics, who took the lower-level Shinigami to the medical center. He then ordered his messengers to contact all the captains to make sure they are fighting against the immediate threat.

After his messengers left, he headed outside himself, sword drawn, and in the direction of battle.

Ichigo sheathed his cleaver of a sword on his back as he stood outside the ruins of the sushi bar, looking off into the direction of smoke and faint sounds of violence. Barely a foot behind him, Orihime wore a face that said many things: worry, anxiety, fear, etc.

"Kurosaki-kun…..." the busty healer, at first, didn't know what to say. She was looking at him as a whole while his back was to her. But now that he had turned around to face her, she was now looking him square in the face.

Ichigo looked at Orihime, expecting words of encouragement or at least words of any kind. What happened next caught him off-guard completely. Without warning, Orihime rushed at him and threw her arms around his upper torso, burying her face in his chest. Ichigo stood there for a moment, confused by the gesture.

"I was able to save you this time," the busty healer said through fresh tears, "But this time, if something happens, I could be too late." Ichigo held her close as she sobbed, stroking her hair a few times.

"Seeing you smile again will be my motivation to making it out alive," the Substitute Shinigami promised. Orihime eventually let him go and he took off toward Soul Society, Flash Stepping along the way.

"All things in the universe turn to ashes, Ryūjin Jakka," Head Captain Yamamoto called out as he drew his Zanpakto, causing enormous flames to dance from the sword's blade as it left the sheath. With every swing, he scorched at least twenty undead Quincy. Any arrows that flew at him were disintegrated by additional flames that were protecting him. Even so, many undead Quincy made it past him and continued to slay the Shinigami around them.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura," Byakuya commanded his own Zanpakto as it became thousands of small blades resembling Sakura petals. The immense stream of pink swirled around him, taking out many undead Quincy at once.

Above him, Yoruichi soared through the air, going from enemy to enemy. She would kick one down, throw some needles at the next one then spin kick a few more. If she was about to be attacked, she would Flash Step behind them and counterattack.

Back at where the outer wall was breached, Uryu made his way into the battle. He picked off Shinigami with his arrows, but always had a special arrow ready for when an enemy got close. He made his way further through the chaos and was soon locking eyes with the Head Captain. Rather than a hateful glare or any sign of anger, Yamamoto simply gave Uyru simple stare of acknowledgement, as if to silently say, "So, you decided to show your face." Uryu raised his bow, arrow of blue energy at the ready. Yamamoto responded by going into a standard kendo stance. For the next couple moments, they stood where they were and watched each other for movement.

"Your reign ends today," Uryu said in a low voice. He punctuated that line with a sudden barrage of Quincy arrows fired in Yamamoto's direction. The Head Captain was nearly a blur as he blocked every oncoming arrow with his Zanpakto. He quickly countered with a blast of fire from his blade, which Uryu dodged and continued with the barrage of arrows. Yamamoto dodged the second volley and called upon his sword's power.

"Bankai!" he commanded, "Zanka no Tachi!" He sword suddenly looked old and burnt, but Uryu was wise enough not to underestimate the Head Captain's weapon.

He's not the Head Captain for nothing, the Quincy thought as Yamamoto got into another combat stance.

"Zanka no Tachi – Kita," Yamamoto commanded, "Tenchi Kaijin!" His sword became engulfed in fire and he slashed forward toward Uryu, sending a wave of inferno at the Quincy. Uryu made a leap backward and landed on the top of the outer wall as the fiery wave passed under him. He responded by firing off a special arrow, which Yamamoto dodged easily. The Quincy dodged another Tenchi Kaijin and fired off another special arrow. Yamamoto dodged this, as well.

"Zanka no Tachi – Higashi," the Head Captain commanded, "Kyokujitsujin!" Fire began to gather along the edge of the blade. He rushed toward Uryu, who was jumping back down to ground level and firing off a third special arrow. Yamamoto dodged it but stayed on course. Uryu landed and shot his fourth special arrow, causing Yamamoto to dodge again. The Quincy drew his last special arrow like a sword and crossed blades with the Head Captain. Both combatants tried to gain the upper hand, and Yamamoto was slowly starting to do just that as he drove Uryu back. When it seemed Uryu was thrown off-balance, Yamamoto made a slice for his neck. Uryu threw his weight backward and followed with a rolling dodge before leaping back to his feet and unleashing an even larger volley of arrows than before. Yamamoto jumped out of the way and Uryu followed his movement with the ongoing volley. Yamamoto dodged again by making a large leap backward.

Checkmate, Uryu thought as he quickly fired off his last special arrow. The special arrow struck the ground in front of Yamamoto as he landed from his backward leap. The Head Captain looked down at the sword-like arrow with suspicion, the last four were fire AT him, why wouldn't this one? He then realized he was suddenly unable to move a muscle.

"Damn you, Quincy," Yamamoto cursed as Uryu casually strode up to the last special arrow he fired off. The Quincy reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a small vial.

"It's actually a rather fitting ending for a man such as yourself," Uryu said as he looked admiringly at the white liquid in the vial, "Though obviously, I'll have to use more than I did with Ichigo." He began to tilt the vial over the special arrow- only to freeze upon hearing a familiar voice call out to him.

"Stop this now, Ishida!" Uryu looked over toward large gap in the outer wall to see the one he killed at the sushi bar's ruins.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," Yamamoto yelled out past Uryu, "You must destroy him!"

"Silence, old man!" Uryu snapped as he poured at least half of the vial. Ichigo could only watch in horror as the Head Captain was ungulfed in a pillar of white energy even deadlier than the one he was killed with. The energy subsided, revealing a heavily wounded Yamamoto having already sunk to his knees and gasping for air.

"ISHIDA!" Ichigo roared as he charged at Uryu. He raised his sword to strike and shouted, "Bankai!" He was now in his Bankai form, charging Uryu at an even faster rate. Uryu fired off an endless barrage of arrows, but Ichigo simply dodged in between them. Uryu yanked a special arrow from the ground and raised in defense just as Ichigo got to him. The Quincy pushed his blade against the carrot-top's as he was driven back by the force of the charge. He eventually managed to push Ichigo's sword away and they began to cross blades repeatedly, sparks seeming to fly with each clash. Uryu soon jumped away and pulled another special arrow from the ground before engaging Ichigo again.

Despite duel-wielding, Uryu was starting to struggle to keep up with Ichigo. He knew Ichigo was extremely fast in his Bankai form, but he had no idea how fast. He had to think of something and quick!

"You're gonna pay, Ishida," Ichigo roared, "Pay for everyone you murdered and held hostage!" That very line gave Uryu an idea. He jumped back from an attack by Ichigo and made some hand seals. Ichigo charged in for another attack, which Uryu dodged under. While still ducking, the Quincy thrust his hand upward and hit the carrot-top square in the chest.

"Gaugh!" Ichigo grunted as he stumbled backward a couple steps. He looked up at Uryu with hate, but soon succumbed to a painful sensation in his head. He felt what seemed like a heavy grip on his mind and fought against it.

"You will listen to me from now on, Shinigami," Uryu growled with authority, "That Toshiro may have been able to withstand my control, but you are inexperienced and don't have such defenses. Your fighting against it is pointless." He made one more hand seal and Ichigo immediately stopped his struggle, going into the same emotionless face that was worn by Rukia and Renji.

"You know of my intentions," Uryu said to his newest pawn, "You can dish it out the best. Lead the Quincy forces in this purge of Soul Society." Ichigo walked past Uryu toward the rest of the battle.

"One more thing, Kurosaki," Uryu spoke up again. Ichigo turned his head to eye his commander.

"I want you to use all the power you have at your disposal," the Quincy added. The Substitute Shinigami said nothing, but summoned his Hollow mask before continuing toward the ongoing battle.