Ch 10

Sasuke knew he had made a mistake, and as soon as he sensed the familiar spike of spiritual energy, he knew Ichigo had just found out. He decided to go to the only person he knew who would help him, if not, then he knew he would truly be on his own…

Ichigo thought there was nothing to be worried about when he realized that Sasuke was out with his friends Tatsuki and Inoue, nothing to be worried about but then, why did he run as fast as he did to Inoue's house just to make sure? When he heard the scream, he realized something was wrong, he didn't want to believe the Quincy, he knew Sasuke was no ordinary Hollow, but when he saw Tatsuki, he knew Sasuke had just crossed the line, he had hurt one of his friends and now, there was only the confrontation.

He had taken out Kon from his bag and he didn't even allow him to comment before he stuffed his hand deep inside the doll's throat to pull out the pill. He took it as his shinigami form popped out. And now he leaped through the air, through the roofs as he sensed a familiar spirit energy that belonged to Sasuke, ; he followed it.

Off in the distance, he saw the figure, Sasuke, leaping away from the scene. 'Why Sasuke?' that was one question that ran through Ichigo's head. He had brought him in even though he knew Sasuke was a hollow. Was it true, did hollows have no mind at all, did Sasuke really attack his friend. Ichigo didn't know but he was determined to find some answers.

Sasuke knew Ichigo was right behind him, and he cursed his gigai at the slow speed he was moving until he was forced to stop once a sword flew in front of him, slamming into the building path in front of him.

The hollow slowly walked to the sword, lifted it out and turned around as he spotted the angry blue eyes of Ichigo. He tossed the sword back as Ichigo caught it but kept it out.

What was there to say? They both opted to stare at each other, Sasuke with his cool stare and Ichigo with eyes of betrayal. What could they do now that the trust between them had been broken?

Sasuke shifted his body; he turned around and prepared to leave.

"Don't you run away Sasuke," Ichigo had spoken as he approached him.

Sasuke glanced back at him before facing him once more. They both stood in front of each other, just two steps away.

"What the hell happened back there?"

Sasuke turned away, "I was hungry."

"What kind of excuse is that!?" Ichigo yelled out, "I trusted you, she was my friend and you attacked her."

"What can I do," Sasuke spoke in his voice as he stared at Ichigo without emotion, "I am not like you, I have my limits."

"You should have told me, we could have done something about it."

Sasuke glared, "and what would you do, have me feast on someone else?"

Ichigo twitched as Sasuke continued speaking, his voice rising, "In case you haven't forgotten, Kurosaki, I am a Hollow, I eat souls. Do you know how I have been feeling lately?"

The shinigami stood quiet as Sasuke continued, "I am hungry Ichigo, starving actually. I don't get replenished with these human foods. My energy doesn't recharge like you shinigamis and I don't know what to do about it."

"We could have found a way Sasuke, you didn't have to…"

Sasuke cut him off with a single slice of his hand in the air. He stared at Ichigo, "until I figure out a way to overcome this, leave me alone." He turned around again as Ichigo moved forward with his head shaking.

"No Sasuke, I can't do that."

The hollow glanced back at him, his voice spoke so low that Ichigo felt a shiver rise from his back.

"You assume that was a choice."

"Wha-" Ichigo widened his eyes as Sasuke suddenly appeared in front of him. He gasped out as he felt a blow to his stomach, Sasuke's elbow deeply implanted into his gut as he heard the hollow whisper.

"Sorry Ichigo," Sasuke grabbed Ichigo's dark kimono by the scruff of the collar and threw him across to the other building where Ichigo landed with a thud.

Sasuke quickly turned around as he knew he had taken Ichigo by surprise, and now he would leave him unconscious until Rukia came along and revived him.

He stopped as a figure appeared in front of him. His green cloak flapped in the night air as Sasuke had to stare at his serious expression.

"Urahara sir," Sasuke spoke in surprise as the figure stared at the unconscious Ichigo before turning his gaze back to Sasuke.

He sighed, "Sasuke, quickly, follow me."

Sasuke nodded as they took their leave but not before glancing back at Ichigo's unconscious form one last time then disappearing into the night...

They travelled to the small shop that Sasuke had originally attained his gigai. Kisuke Urahara led him to the secret training facility underneath his shop and instructed Sasuke to release from his gigai.

"Here," Kisuke tossed Sasuke a hood of some sort as Sasuke caught it.

The hollow, now in his true form, stared at the hood for a moment before Kisuke instructed him to place it on.

"That is a new invention I created just for you."

They watched as Sasuke slipped it on top of his head before blue light glowed near the collar of his white cloak and it attached itself to Sasuke's hollow outfit. It was pulled up, covering the top half of Sasuke's face but the hollow could still see perfectly.

"It's called the shroud of darkness," Kisuke placed a fan in front of his face as he gave a peace sign, "cool name huh."

Sasuke twitched before placing the hood down, "Urahara, what is the purpose of this shroud?"

Kisuke nodded as he pointed behind Sasuke. The hollow turned around as he spotted a small little table near two large boulders. There were foods on the table, each wrapped in a bowl as Sasuke sighed but decided to humor the man.

"These won't satisfy me," Sasuke whispered as Kisuke directed him to sit on the soft mat prepared for them.

They reached the table, both of them sitting down comfortably on the mat before Kisuke spoke.

"I call it shroud of darkness, not only because it sounds cool, but because it will hide your hollow energy from any kind of hollow tracking device or from people who can sense you with spiritual energy."

Sasuke leaned back a little, inwardly surprised at the invention before Kisuke continued speaking.

"But, if you emit energy maybe like during a fight of some sort, it will leak out your hollow spiritual energy, and people will notice you, understand?"

The hollow nodded before turning away, "I have a problem Urahara."

Kisuke waved it off before lying on the floor, which seemed to irritate Sasuke, "eat first then speak."

"You don't get it," Sasuke slammed his hand on the table as Kisuke raised a brow and stared at him, "this won't satisfy me, none of these foods will."

Kisuke shook his head and made a motion with his hand, "just eat it, you'll be surprised."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes before sitting back again. He found an apple to the side before grabbing it. Stared at it for a moment as he felt his hand tingle from the touch, he then stared at the apple curiously before taking a bite from the red skin.

His eyes widened as he found himself taking even more bites from the apple, enjoying the white meat before even eating the seeds he found deep in the core until finally, he even stuffed the core into his mouth, chewed down and stared at Urahara.

"What was that!?" Sasuke exclaimed as he stared at the food in the table and picked up wooden chopstick from the table. He took one of the bowls, tore off the wrapper and started eating the rice and meat from inside.

"These foods have been shipped from Soul society itself."

Sasuke paused before staring back at Kisuke who was smiling at him and gave him a motion to continue.

"I'm sorry Sasuke, it's my fault really, I should have expected this," Kisuke had apologized to Sasuke's surprise as the hollow continued to eat, even moving on to the next bowl.

"You see Sasuke; every dimension has a certain amount of spiritual energy surrounding the area. This world is the world of the living, the spiritual energy you find in the atmosphere and the food isn't enough. It is miniscule compared to what you can find in Soul Society."

Sasuke nodded as he placed the empty bowl down and moved on to the next one. This was the best meal he had had in days; Kisuke continued.

"The apple you ate was grown in Soul Society, which is why it is radiating spirit energy. It has enough power to feed you back the energy you have lost," Kisuke was nodding to himself as he rubbed his chin, "I suspect that a Hollow's body and a Shinigami's body differ where as a Shinigami retreats to their gigai to replenish their energy, a hollow has to feast on spiritual energy. I also suspect that a hollow's body replenishes the energy used up by depending on the surroundings."

Sasuke stopped as he glanced at Kisuke, wondering if he would explain.

"Think on this, a Shinigami replenishes their energy slowly when they are here in the living world but in Soul society, their energy replenishes faster. You on the other hand, your energy is replenishing not fast enough. Maybe that would explain why hollows don't stay in this world too long."

Sasuke placed his bowl down before speaking, "so, I can't stay here, is that it?"

Kisuke shook his head, "no you can, and I can provide you with the source to replenish yourself but maybe, if you were in Soul Society or…Hueco Mundo," they both seemed to have paused at the word before he continued, "your energy might replenish faster."

The hollow nodded in understanding before he scratched at his head in irritation, "but do I do now, I have already tasted one of Ichigo's friends thus, losing his trust. What can I do?"

"First of all," Kisuke raised a hand with one finger raised, "you are going to school tomorrow."

Sasuke glared, that was the last thing he was worried about…actually, he didn't even care for that school.

"Second," Kisuke raised a second finger, "Rukia will probably erase the girl's memory, so you don't have to worry about that."

A sudden pained expression appeared on Sasuke's face, he felt ashamed at what he had done, and he wondered if she would be ok.

The shop owner noticed, "don't worry about her Sasuke," the hollow looked up to him, "they probably performed a soul transfusion on the girl if too much energy was taken but knowing you, it was just a nibble."

Sasuke nodded, even still, he felt miserable at what had occurred.

Kisuke raised a third finger, "and third, it's time we talked about the gate."

They both stared at each other, both of them now serious as Kisuke continued to speak, "remember when you told me you might be able to enter Hueco Mundo?"

Sasuke nodded, he knew he could open a rift to the other side but what did this mean, and should he go?

"Hear me out, I think I know of a way for you to regain your hollow memories…but"

The eyes stared into his dark ones, both of them serious as he asked, "would you want too?"

And now, Sasuke wondered what Urahara was planning and if he should go through with it…

…The next day…

It was already second period in the class room as Ichigo sat in his desk in frustration. His eyes glanced at the two girls in the row to his right, Inoue and Tatsuki. Rukia had helped like he had told them, only, they now don't remember what Sasuke had done to them yesterday, or more specifically, Tatsuki doesn't remember about her soul drain.

The orange haired shinigami didn't know what to do with Sasuke now, or how to treat him, and he still remembered he had Uryu the ass to deal with. He sighed while placing his face on his desk; things were starting to get complicated.

The door slid open as the teacher stopped in her lecture. Ichigo didn't care, he just wanted a moment to breathe but he heard the slight intake of breath from Rukia who was sitting right next to him. He looked up before widening his eyes. It was Sasuke standing in the door.

Ichigo and Rukia watched as he apologized for the lateness then took his seat in the end of the second row. He didn't look at any of them, and Ichigo wondered what the hell he was doing in class, especially after last night.

'Well, at least I won't have to look for him,' Ichigo thought sarcastically in his mind as he waited for lunch…

The minutes felt longer than usual as they waited, Ichigo and Rukia couldn't tear their eyes away from Sasuke throughout the whole class room and as they observed Sasuke, they saw how he hadn't cared that they were here or for anyone at all as the dark haired boy continued to just sit there with his eyes closed.

When lunch was finally called, he watched as Sasuke disappeared into the hall. Rukia nodded to him as they both rushed out to follow. It was an odd scene as the class watched them run out of the room. A student smirked as he fixed his glasses while Tatsuki stared at it in confusion. Inoue thou, her eyes glared somewhat as a worried looked appeared on her face…she remembered everything from last night…

Ichigo and Rukia appeared on the roof, both of them facing Sasuke who stared at them with a neutral gaze.

"Sasuke," Rukia spoke out in a commanding voice she stepped forward, "what is the meaning of this, why do you show yourself here after what you have done?"

He continued to watch them in silence, as if he was unsure what to say.

"I don't want to fight you Sasuke," it was Ichigo who spoke but he still tensed as he said it, "but I will get an answer out of you, even if I have to beat it from you."

"Rukia, Ichigo," Sasuke started as they fell silent, he continued, "I don't belong here, in this world."

Rukia shook her said, "What are you saying, you don't belong in this world? I should know that feeling better than you."

Sasuke turned his gaze at her as she flinched, he spoke, "We are different, very different beings, Miss Rukia," he looked at each of them, his expression null, "I cannot ever become a shingami, nor do I believe I will be well liked even if I tried to be like you. That is why," his eyes suddenly turned fierce as he said it, "I am going back to my world, to Hueco Mundo."

"What!" Rukia shouted as she along with Ichigo grew shocked at the info.

"So that's it, after all this," Ichigo spoke next with anger edged in his voice, "you're just leaving?"

Sasuke nodded as Rukia couldn't hold in anymore, "I thought you were different, I believed in you. Why are you going back there?"

"I am leaving so I can obtain my memories," even as he said it, he looked as if he wished there was some other way, "but I cannot guarantee you that once I retrieve my memories that we would still be allies. I might attack you next time we meet."

Ichigo gritted his teeth, "how can you just stand there and say that. Aren't we friends?"

The hollow stayed quiet and so did the others, this would mean that they were now enemies, and that was something neither of them wanted.

They heard a clap from the sides as they turned to the source. They found the quincy sitting on top of the entrance, staring at them with amusement.

"Like I said, he would betray you," he spoke in that confident voice of his as he jumped down and stood facing them.

"Who invited you," Ichigo glared at the teen.

"I told you shinigamis that hollows cannot be trusted," he sniffed distastefully, "but then again, who can trust shinigamis."

"What did you say, you little..."

"Ichigo stop," Rukia's yell stopped Ichigo as she approached the quincy, "what do you want, we are in a middle of something."

The quincy, they knew as Uryu, smirked as he fixed his glasses. He reached into his cloak as he said, "What I propose is a duel," he brought out a chip that had Rukia's eyes glued onto it.

"I want to see if the hollows will accept you back Sasuke, and I want to see if you can really protect these people Ichigo."

"What are you up to?" Ichigo tensed along with Sasuke.

"Don't do it you fool," Rukia spoke in panic as her eyes lay transfixed on the pill shaped chip.

Uryu's smirk grew, "do what shinigami scum," he pressed down with his two fingers, crushing the chip as Rukia's heart momentarily stopped, "do this?"

"What have you done," Rukia glared at the utter stupidity of the quincy as Ichigo wondered what was going on.

"That smell," Sasuke's eyes were opened as he grabbed onto his head, they all stared at him, "it's so strong, what was that!?" he stared at the area, he could see energy sparkling everywhere.

They all heard it then, from the skies, the screams of hollow filled the air as they heard the quincy speak once more, this time, he had his bow out and aimed for the nearest hollow, "let the competition begin."

Rukia shook her head as her cell phone started beeping rapidly, "the hollows are upon us now," she placed her gloves on before staring at Ichigo, "get ready, this is going to turn into a battlefield."