Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach

Chapter Nine - Hueco Mundo

Rukia and Renji both held their zanpaktou at the ready as they stared at the two men who seemed intent upon killing Ichigo's two little sisters. Neither could understand why Aizen would want the two young girls dead however they had every intention of making sure that it didn't happen. Yuzu and Karin were both really good kids and besides that fact Ichigo would kill them if they let anything happen to his sisters.

Appearing completely unconcerned by the two Shinigami who seemed intent upon fighting him Yami held up his hand, preparing to launch yet another cero at the group, however his attack was blocked by a blow from Renji's zanpaktou.

"Howl Zabimaru!"

The snake like blade of the zanpaktou sliced through the air, knocking the cero blast off course and causing it to collide harmlessly with the ground. Yuzu screamed as she watched the attack that had been meant for her and her sister blast a huge hole in the ground however Karin merely stared at the man who seemed so intent upon killing them.

"What the hell is going on?" an angry voice called out as a fierce wind began to swirl around the group.

"Ichi-nii!" Karin cried out as her gaze fell upon the form of her older brother, who was dressed in the same strange clothes as their rescuers.

"Ichigo!" Rukia called out as the Substitute Shinigami appeared between her and Renji.

"What the hell is going on?" Ichigo demanded as he eyed the two Espada whom he recognized. This was without a doubt the same pair that he and Rukia had faced once before along with Hitsugaya.

"This bastard attacked your sisters," Renji growled as he once again raised his sword and prepared for another attack.

Ichigo saw red as Renji's words sank in. Thr Espada had disappeared on the day that he, Rukia and Toushirou had fought against them, before the battle's end, however it seemed that now they had reappeared and had a new plan of attack. The cowards had chosen to go after his sisters and for that they would suffer a horrible fate. A feral growl escaped Ichigo's lips as he pulled Zangetsu from behind his back, allowing the white ribbon that was wrapped around the blade to fan out around him. There was a malevolent glow in his eyes as he turned his attention toward Yami.

Ichigo was fully prepared to assume his Hollow form and utterly destroy the two Espada however the emotionless one stepped between them before he had the chance.

"I think that's enough," the man said in a calm and detached voice.

"But Ulquiorra," the one named Yami protested. "I can kill them all."

"You have your orders," Ulquiorra said, his voice still completely devoid of emotion.

Apparently Yami picked up on something that the others couldn't hear in the stoic Ulquiorra's voice and he backed off. It was obvious to the group of Shinigami that the smaller of the two, the one called Ulquiorra, called the shots.

"Let's go."

And as soon as those words were out of his mouth a portal appeared out of nowhere, which the two Arrancar quickly stepped through.

"Come back here you bastards!" Ichigo yelled, making a move to follow the two Espada through the portal that led to Hueco Mundo.

"What the hell are you doing?" Renji screamed as he and Rukia grabbed Ichigo by the arms and prevented him from following Yami and Ulquiorra through the portal to Hueco Mundo.

"Let me go!" Ichigo screamed as he watched the portal close. He was determined to destroy the two bastards that had dared to threaten his family and was not appreciative of the fact that his two supposed friends were keeping him from this goal.

"What the hell is your problem you idiot?" Rukia screamed as she turned on Ichigo, glaring at him with a furious look in her violet eyes. "Did you think it would be a good idea to follow them into Hueco Mundo?"

"Those bastards attacked my sisters!" Ichigo growled.

"Yea," Rukia said, glaring at him with an intense expression in her violet eyes. "And what do you think will happen to them if you go and get yourself killed?"

This question served to sober Ichigo a degree and Rukia and Renji released the vice grip that they both held on his arms. The Substitute Shinigami took a deep breath and then released it slowly. "You're right."

Rukia's jaw dropped in surprise.

"Yuzu, Karin," Ichigo called out to his little sisters. "Come on and I'll take you guys home."

Yuzu wasted no time running over to the spot where her big brother stood. Karin followed suit and soon the three Kurosaki siblings stood side by side. Once his sisters were standing by his side Ichigo turned his attention back to the two Shinigami who stood close by. "You guys should go back to your patrol."

"But Ichigo. . ." Rukia began however Renji interrupted the protest that she wanted to make. "Let's go Rukia."

For a split second Rukia looked as though she were debating kicking her childhood friend in the testicles however the thought seemed to pass and she nodded. Using their flash-step the two Shinigami simultaneously disappeared.

Ichigo escorted his two younger sisters to the clinic that their father operated, keeping a close eye out for any other unwanted visitors. And as he walked his thoughts were a blur, shifting back and forth from one course of action to another.

"Ichi-nii," Karin said, gazing up at her brother as she reached for the clinic's front door.

"You guys go inside and tell Dad what happened," Ichigo ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Dad?" Karin repeated, fully aware of the fact that her brother didn't want questions but not really caring at this point. "What exactly is Dad going to do? I'll tell you what, flip out if we tell him that we were just attacked by those weirdoes."

"He'll be more understanding than you think," Ichigo said, turning away from his sisters. "Now get inside."

Karin rolled her eyes however she and Yuzu obeyed their brother's instructions.

As soon as his sisters were safely inside the clinic, and thus under their dad's protection, Ichigo took a deep breath and then used his flash-step to travel across Karakura Town. He knew what he had to do and he knew who he needed to see in order to make it a reality.

"Hey Hat 'n Clogs!" Ichigo yelled out as he banged insistently on the door of a small shop. "I need a favor!"

"Ichigo," a calm voice said as the door of the shop slid open, revealing a man wearing a green and white striped hat. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"I need to go to Hueco Mundo," Ichigo said as he stepped inside the shop. "And I know that you have a way that I can get there."

Urahara briefly debated denying that he had a portal to the world of the Hollow however he almost immediately decided that it wasn't worth the argument. "Yea I have a portal that can take you to Hueco Mundo. Now tell me why you have this sudden desire to go there?"

"That bastard Aizen had his lackies attack my sisters," Ichigo snarled, his eyes narrowing in anger as he thought about the two Arrancar that had been prepared to kill Karin and Yuzu. "And he's going to regret that decision with every fiber of his being."

"Hmm," Urahara said thoughtfully. "I can't help but think that Soul Society would frown upon this move."

"Like I care," Ichigo said. "Look I'm not asking for their permission for this and, Acting Captain or not, I know that you follow your own agenda. So cut the crap and show me how to get to Hueco Mundo."

"Alright," Urahara said, turning away from the Substitute Shinigami. "Follow me."

Ichigo nodded and followed Urahara down to the subterranean room that was located underneath his shop. Urahara led the way over to a portal, the same portal that Matsumoto and her group of Shinigami had used to travel to Hueco Mundo in pursuit of Captain Hitsugaya, and when he came to a stop he turned to face Ichigo, a serious expression in the one eye that was visible from underneath his hat.

"Are you sure you want to do this Kurosaki?"

"Yes," Ichigo replied without hesitation.

"Very well," Urahara said, walking over to the portal. Placing his hand upon the side, the Acting Captain of Squad Twelve released a large amount of reiatsu. The portal began to glow red and then it was as though a door had been opened. Instead of being able to see through the frame to the objects on the other side, they could now only see a dark abyss.

Turning away from the now open portal, Urahara once again addressed the Substitute Shinigami. "The path to Hueco Mundo wasn't meant to be traveled by Shinigami and you'll have to use your reiatsu to form a bridge and keep yourself from falling into a dark abyss from which there is no return."

"Gotcha," Ichigo said, nodding his head to show that he understood Urahara's instructions.

"Good luck Kurosaki," Urahara said as Ichigo jumped through the portal that would take him into Hueco Mundo.

"I'm coming for you Aizen," Ichigo thought to himself as he used his reiatsu to form a bridge over the abyss that Urahara had warned him about. Unfortunately he wasn't that great at controlling his reiatsu so therefore his bridge had some rather large holes. "Damn it," the orange haired Shinigami swore as he stepped into one of said holes and almost fell.

Forcing himself to concentrate harder Ichigo began his journey.

A/N - and now Ichigo has embarked upon a road from which there is no return. Will he survive his trip into Hueco Mundo or will he prove to be a casualty of war? Stay tuned to find out. Feel free to review and let me know what you thought. Til next time this is Hitsu-taichou signing out.