Heh last chapter was taken better than I expected to be honest (OwO)

Thank you for all your reviews and such!

So I promised some hetero love and well… ;)

(No sex though you perverts! XD [says the one who's writing this stuff! CX])

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Chapter 10: First meetings and times

Shinji gasped as he was rolled onto his back while his mouth was invaded by a dexterous tongue that had his head spinning and his hands clutching at the wide set shoulders holding his body down to the soft lush green grass.

Ichigo's hands were cupping both sides of his face with a soft touch that sent warmth through his body and heart.

The kiss ended with both gasping for breath while they looked deeply into one another's eyes. Toffee brown met with deep crimson and a shiver wrecked through Shinji's body. "What now?" he whispered unsure of what was going to happen.

Plans and ideas whirled around the red head's mind; soon he came up with a basic idea of what to do.

He kissed Shinji again softly; the kiss was short but deep.

"I will return for now, I need to watch that man…" Ichigo said still looking at Shinji; one hand gently caressed the smooth cheek while the other held up most of his weight by resting the elbow on the ground. "Do you have to?" Shinji asked looking a little worried.

Ichigo returned the stare with a small smile. "I'll be fine. I am harder to kill than most think." With a sigh Ichigo rose and pulled his mate up with him. "Aizen plans something and I must know what. If I can possibly hinder him in any way I will." Ichigo said as he ran his index finger down the man's face as he looked into toffee brown eyes.

"When will I see you again?" Shinji asked looking at Ichigo as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I will come when I can. I want you to do something for me…" Ichigo locked eyes as he watched his mate nod.

"Tell Urahara… that if Karin really is my sister… to please look after her for me." Shinji's eyes went wide. His heart melted at that point. The phrase was so… brotherly it was tooth decaying sweet. With a smile Shinji stepped closer and hugged Ichigo around the waist only to get a tighter hug in return. He felt so… totally and utterly safe.

"I will."

With that Ichigo gave his mate one last scorching kiss that stole the very breath from the blonde man's lungs, he left with a more controlled and calm look in his eyes. That alone made Shinji feel proud for some reason, he chalked it up to being part hollow.

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Momo was hospitalised with the heavy stab through the chest, her right lung was punctured while her spine was just nearly missed and her muscles were torn as Aizen twisted his sword on the pull back. Her head gained a nasty concussion from her fall as well as a broken collarbone.

Hitsugaya was very much worried about his friend.

Kenpachi was… ordered(Threatened with a sweet smile) to stay a week in the fourth division for his third degree burn on his arm that would sadly scar not that the man seemed to mind much.

Renji as to spend a week in the hospital as well but he didn't put up much of a fight. It was more to make sure his wounds didn't get infected as well as to recharge and heal faster. Karin and her friends were given a check up but they were fine as rain.

Now sitting in a small garden in the Kuchiki estate under a large sakura tree that was slowly throwing its pale pink blossoms down at them like pink kissed snow, Yoruichi had disappeared when a woman with short raven hair and two long tails at the sides of her head came and demanded that she spoke to the cat alone.

"So this orange haired male, is your brother who died ten years ago?" Uryuu asked pushing up his glasses with two fingers.

Karin just nodded where she was leaning against the trunk of the tree. Her knees were pulled to her chest making her look smaller. "He committed suicide." Karin said softly after a small moment of silence. Ganju was allowed to return to the Shiba household bearing some small gifts from a white haired captain.

The group went silent as they digested the information.

Chad rested his arm around Karin to show his support and to get closer to the girl that made his heart skip a beat when she gave him her all too rare smile. Orihime watched her friend with a small frown. She never had to live with the pain of losing a brother right after losing a mother… she always had Sora but well Karin lost a large chunk at a young age. She never got to make precious memories and the fact that her brother killed himself was far worse than her brother who died due to being hit by a car.

A sliding sound of wood alerted them that someone had entered the garden. Looking up they saw Rukia and her brother with a servant holding a tray with teacups and a steaming pot of tea.

Rukia gave them a smile while Byakuya gave a polite nod. The group of four moved around to make some room. The tray was placed in the middle while the two brunettes took the two new opened spots. Karin smiled at Rukia who looked refreshed and alive once more.

"Feeling better?"

Rukia gave a small smile as she nodded her head. "Very much so thank you."

Byakuya poured them all a cup and handed one to each allowing them to add sugar if they wanted.

"So… what happens now?" Orihime asked holding her cup with both hands. Byakuya shifted where he sat and looked at the teens. "As of now, tomorrow you will be sent back and continue with Shinigami duties. We here need to repair and fix the damage caused by Aizen. We lost three of our captains and our government all in one day. Your brother however is a different matter."

Byakuya looked at Karin who stiffened.

"We will try and persuade the man to either leave Aizen's side only or to join us as he now has a sibling but we are not sure. Head Captain Yamamoto had informed us that he had a suspicion that Aizen doesn't have your brother's loyalty and may be persuaded to at the very least leave Aizen's army. That would be for the best."

Karin relaxed and leaned into Chad.

Byakuya looked at the pair for a split second and wondered if the two were together or were like Renji and Rukia, danced around one another even though everyone could see the love they shared.

The rest of the evening was spent drinking tea and just relaxing. That night captain Jyuushiro came in and gave Karin her Shinigami substitute badge. It was a wooden diamond shaped block with a flaming skull engraved into the wood.

The four teens were allowed to all sleep in the same large room. The next day they all got the shock of a life time.

A voluminous woman with mocha skin, cat yellow eyes and purple hair clad in black skin tight leggings and shirt with an orange crop jacket and pale tan scarf and boots stood before them.

"Yo." The woman said her eyes narrowed in mischief.

Byakuya who was leading them to their private Senkaimon sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yoruichi please hold your games for later."

The teens gave an even bigger reaction, jaws dropped as eyes went wide. "You're a woman!" they all yelled in shock. Yoruichi chuckled while she nodded. "I was captain of the second division as well." Karin and the teens' minds were sent reeling.

After loads more questions they were sent on their way back to the world of the living with bright smiles and waving hands.

When they entered the Shōten they were met with nine people who looked vastly different in their looks.

One was standing next to Urahara, he had long blonde hair wearing smart light brown dress pants with a white button up shirt and darker brown vest, his hair was straight and had a straight fringe, slightly downturned eyes with a straight nose along with neither too thin nor full lips set in a small frown at the moment. Next to him was a small blonde woman or girl as it was hard to tell. She had a red track suit with some flip flops and her hair was tied into short pig tails, she too had a small frown on her face.

The next man was tall and had silver hair; he remained the teens of an army man with large muscles. He looked mean and grouchy while he wore white cargo pants with unlaced combat boots and a black wife beater shirt. The woman next to him was bubbly and cheerful it seemed. She had green hair and had a full body white suit with an orange red scarf and boots, she also had white bug like goggles on top of her head; she had the biggest smile Karin had ever seen on such a small face.

Standing a small distance away sitting on the counter was a woman with a long braid of black hair and she wore a school girl like uniform while she read a yaoi magazine in plain sight. Orihime and Karin blushed faintly.

Next to her was a man with long blonde curly hair, he wore a long black coat and black slacks along with fancy dress shoes. Standing a few paces away was man with an afro, he was wearing a blue and white track suit with some cargo pants and sneakers.

The last man was large and had a friendly look about him with pink hair and moustache.

"Ah Kurosaki-chan~!" Urahara said happily with a wave of his fan. The rest of the group looked at her with guarded looks. Once the sliding door was closed the looks vanished.

"Karin?" the long haired blonde asked stepping closer.

Said girl stepped closer, the blonde man walked till he was close enough to lean down and whisper into her ear. "Everything will be fine, Ichigo will be in our side soon but keep this between us ne?" the blonde rose and winked at her before the blonde man and his party were off.

Karin looked back at the man with a surprised look. Her head snapped back at Urahara who was looking at her with a calmer look. "One day you will get all the details but for now it is better that you do not know." The man said seriously looking into Karin's eyes. Yoruichi looked at her partner in crime, he knew something and well she wasn't all that in the know at the moment.

That was going to change soon.

Looking over her shoulder she shooed the teens back to go and rest and enjoy the last few days of their vacation.

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The sands of the hollow world were unmoving as Ichigo stood deadly still. He made no move, his breathing was so slow one had to look closely juts to see the man breathe. It was unsettling to those who watched. Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde alike watched from a distance. This being was powerful and in control of all his power.

Not an eye twitch or a flare of a nostril was seen as the red eyes gazed almost unblinkingly into the white dunes in front of him. he had been there for two hours just looking in front of him, the wheels in his head were turning and churning coming up with plans to delay Aizen as long as possible and without showing himself to be a traitor to the traitor of Seireitei.

Sighing he looked around, the sudden burst of movement made the lower level hollows scatter and flee while the Vasto Lorde came closer. Before Ichigo stood five Vasto Lorde, one was female while the rest were male. Blinking at them slowly Ichigo tilted his head in question.

"We… know you. We have been watching you since you first arrived here." The woman Lorde spoke. Her voice was deep and soothing, a seductive purr in a way. Ichigo frowned at the female. "How? All hollows enter here must go though the stages of hollow to Gillian and so on. How could you have possibly followed my progress?"

The Vasto Lorde all looked at one another before they looked back at the tall male before him.

"You came when we were close by, we watched as you appeared in the cold lands of Hueco Mundo as an Adjuchas from the very first moment you placed a talon edged foot upon the white sands. You never were a Gillian. We have watched as you hunted with such fearsome hunger and anger. More so than we have ever witnessed, you took ten years to go from Adjuchas to Vasto Lorde. You were stronger from the start. You are not a normal hollow. You are too strong to be a mere being here. You have a purpose."

Ichigo frowned at them… these century old beings just told him that he had only spend a meagre decade in the lands of hollows. Yet he was stronger than all he had come across. Something wasn't right. Sighing, the red head rubbed the back of his neck.

"Why tell me this now?"

This time a male spoke. Looking closer Ichigo saw the woman was some kind of bird, she reminded him of an owl and the male that walked forward was tall and bulky. He in a sense reminded Ichigo of elephant. The other male was burly and bear like. The two standing a small distance away were oddly identical. They looked like wolves.

"Because the time was right." Ichigo frowned harder and rubbed what parts of his face he could. "Well whatever reason you deemed to tell me I thank you. Some things are… clearer now to me." The Vasto Lorde all nodded and started to slunk away, Ichigo watched till they were small dots on the horizon. Sighing deeply he turned around and started to walk back to Las Noches without a sounds being made.

When he entered the vast white building he was surrounded by servants who asked him millions of silly questions such as was he thirsty, hungry tired or did he want them to fetch something for him. It was a normal occurrence as most lower level Arrancars wanted to be a personal servant of the Cero but as far he hadn't taken one other than Akira.

"Please leave me be." He said in a low voice as he walked past them slowly and unhurried. He wanted to go to his room, take a shower and sleep.

That was all he wanted to do at the moment.

The halls were bare with no life in them. Ichigo remembered Seireitei and how… full of life it was, how happy people were talking and working and even training together. He felt a small bud of envy grow in his chest. Sighing again he entered his suit to see Akira on one of the many couches reading a book. He looked up and stood once he saw it was Ichigo.

"Finally decided to show your face?" The man jested with a smile that faded when he saw the look in the normally aloof eyes. "Something the matter?" Ichigo shook his head. "Just tired. I'm taking a shower then sleeping so no one is to bother me alright?" Akira nodded and watched as Ichigo walked to his room and closed the door softly.

Ichigo was NEVER tired. The man had boundless energy; he wasn't a jumping mumbling jumbling fool who was everywhere and yet nowhere. No Ichigo was just never… sleepy or tired.

Frowning with worry Akira sat back down on the couch and read his book.

Inside Ichigo's room he undressed slowly and folded his clothing to be washed, he walked as naked as a babe into his bathroom and into the shower. The first burst of cold water helped clear his mind as the warmth slowly seeped into his skin as the water turned from cold needles to warm soothing caresses.

Ichigo ran his fingers over his lips, even after all the hours that passes they still tingled.

A small smile made its way onto his lips as he thought back to his mate. He was happy he got Shinji, the male was attractive and smart but there was a hidden sadness in those brown eyes that he saw. Thinking on it Ichigo wondered if the male would have like to return to Seireitei as it was his home before he got royally fucked over by an egotistical god wannabe.

Growling at his body's own tiredness that was foreign to him he quickly scrubbed down and rinsed off, he washed his hair and made sure he didn't miss a spot before he got out and dried off. He rubbed his hair till it was only slightly clammy. He flopped down on his bed with just enough energy to drag his blanket over him.

He was fast asleep but right before he fell into sweet slumber he felt the oddest sensation of being pulled down and falling.

He opened his eyes only to blink owlishly and sit up abruptly.

Around him was… well…

Looking around he saw nothingness. Blackness surrounded him, he felt a presence behind him and whirled around only to see masses of flames with no sound coming from them. Utterly confused and scared for the first time he could remember he looked into the fire.

"So you finally came to me." a growly voice spoke making Ichigo shiver.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Ichigo asked looking around only to see nothing. There was a low rumbling noise Ichigo soon discovered was the voice laughing or rather chuckling.

"This is your mindscape you had been trying to get into for so long and I am well I am your sword's soul."

Ichigo was stunned.

"So Arrancars do have mindscapes?" He asked

"No."

Ichigo blinked confused at the flames.

"But I am an Arrancar, you just said that this is my mindscape how can only I have this?"

The flames made a hum noise. "Arrancar may have mindscapes. I do not know. You however are not just an Arrancar." The voice said. Ichigo sank to his knees in confusion. "I am not just an Arrancar? What on earth are you talking about?" he asked looking into the flames that moved closer and closer, slowly surrounding him.

"You are only part hollow."

Ichigo froze.

"What?"

The fire was now surrounding him with its warmth. "You have more than hollow in your soul's make up. There is Shinigami in you, there is something more but what I cannot detect as it slumbers."

Ichigo was shocked. "There is shinigami in me?"

"Yes, in your original make up. When you died… the hollow in you fought for the reins far more than the shinigami in you thus you became a hollow." Ichigo rubbed his face harshly.

"How is it that I know your name the moment I touched your hilt?"

"Because I gave it to you, I sensed that you were powerful enough. Strong enough for me to slowly rebuild our connection, it was made easier when you accepted that you may have a human sister still alive."

Ichigo nodded as he thought about it. "Do you remember when I was alive or were you dormant as well?"

"I was dormant but always aware of you, I did not know of what you were as a human but I felt what you felt. The last moments of your life were filled with sadness and guilt as well as absolute emptiness. When you died it was cold and wet, the feeling of being suffocated was large. I could guess that you drowned."

Ichigo shuddered.

Drowning wasn't an easy death. It was painful as lungs were flooded with water and breathing not possible till the heart stopped.

"So that girl, Karin could have spoken the truth." Ichigo said more to himself.

"Yes."

"Is this what you look like? Is this what my mindscape looks like?" Ichigo asked looking around him.

"No, we are not fully connected yet, it will take a few more tries before we are fully connected and then you will gain your shinigami abilities." Ichigo blinked owlishly again and rested his hand on his mask fragment while the other went to where his hollow hole rested.

"… I am not just a hollow…"

Something in him clicked, he felt… happy?

Frowning he closed his eyes for a moment to just take everything in but he felt a sense of flying before dropping again, he knew he was in his body again.

Outside his body his reiatsu had fluctuated so badly that the walls groaned and cracked. Akira was standing at the door looking in horror as his master's reiatsu materialised into the normal flame like appearance. A few minutes the door was opened and the rest of the Espada and three shinigami came in with shocked looks as they saw Akira at the door to Ichigo's room yet he did not enter.

"Don't go inside." The smaller male said looking over his shoulder at the ones who entered his master's loft, the room was suffocated to the bring with reiatsu that crushed the rest of the furniture in the room, the bed, bed tables, wardrobe, couch and coffee table were all smashed to the ground by the oppressive force being unleashed.

Aizen looked at Ichigo where he laid on the broken bed with only a blanket covering his lower half as his reiatsu covered him like a security blanket. The man looked like he was on fire. He looked like a god of fire, the man's face was calm as a lake on a windless night.

Just as it started it ended.

The reiatsu stopped and was called back.

Akira took a hesitant step into the room and was met with nothing like the first time. He slowly made his way to Ichigo and looked him over. "He's sleeping. I wonder if he may have dreamed?" Akira looked to Aizen who looked at Ichigo with a contemplating look.

"Whatever he dreamed… he had most definitely gained strength since the first time he unleashed his reiatsu to me the first time. What had he been doing all this time?" He asked the blue haired male who had moved the blanket over his master's godly body.

Grimmjow looked at the body and shuddered slightly remembering what it felt like to feel those hard abs and chiselled chest against him when he was so… dominated. Szayel shoved his glasses up his nose as he took in the Cero's reiatsu. It had somehow gotten more potent than before.

And clean, in a sense much like a shinigami's would be.

Akira kindly asked them to leave so he could clean and wake Ichigo. As they walked out Aizen gave a backward glance to see Ichigo sitting up right with his hand over his hollow hole and mask fragment with a heavy frown.

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Back in the world of the living life went on as it does. Karin had asked numerous times of the man with long blonde hair but Urahara was hard in telling her that she would know one day but it wasn't now and that all she had to focus on was school work and gaining strength for the upcoming fights that were sure to happen.

So they trained, Chad had asked to train with Karin and the girl was all too happy to train with her friend and secret crush, they were training in Urahara's secret underground area.

Right now they were taking a small break, they had ventured deeper into the training ground for better space as the blonde explained that deeper inside the less rocky the terrain got.

So they got themselves a nice large open space and trained. Now they were sitting side by side against a large rock drinking some water from bottles they brought along. "Do you really feel that that man is your brother?" Chad asked looking down at Karin as she tilted her head back to take a glug of water. He watched with fascination as her throat bobbed with her swallows.

"Yeah, you have never seen the poster in my house have you? In fact have you ever been to my house?" Karin asked looking at Chad who shook his head negative. Jumping up with a fist in the air she looked back and smiled at Chad. "Then let's go!"

Chad rose and watched as Karin jumped into her body, she had gotten the hang of it and was quick to jump out and into her body.

They walked back to Karin's house, they had finished school for the day and had trained for two hours so it was a good time to go home as Yuzu would be busy with her sewing group and her father would be busy in the clinic.

Entering the house they removed their shoes and walked through the small hallway and into the living room, there Chad saw the poster of both Karin's mother and brother and right there and then he knew that the orange haired man was Karin's brother.

The small boy was looking at the camera with a large happy smile while his amber eyes shined with happiness. There was a large resemblance with the woman next to him. "Ichigo is a pure mix of both my parents whereas Yuzu and I looked like either parent."

Chad nodded as he was pulled into the kitchen where he watched Karin make them tea, they then went to the living room to sit down and drink tea while they watched TV. The tea was tasty and went down fast, Karin got up to make more but tripped over the TV remote only to fall on top of Chad to had raised his hands to ease her fall onto him.

When they finally took in where and how they landed both cheeks blazed with pink. Karin had fallen onto Chad perfectly in lined with his body with her breast pressing against his chest.

His hands had ended up on her lower back keeping her from toppling over one of his sides as her legs slipped between his. Looking into her deep brown eyes Chad couldn't help himself. He had been keeping it in for so long, here was the one who made his heart skip beats when she just looked his way. Made his palms sweat when she was close.

Sliding his hands up her back Chad gently cupped Karin's face brushing a thumb over her lower lip. His hair that usually hung over his eyes had been swept to the side so Karin could see the deep soulful green brown eyes looking deeply into hers. Her heart threatened to beat itself out of her chest as she felt Chad's hands lower so they wrapped around her as the larger teen sat up with her still in his lap. Blushing faintly he watched as the boy who made her feel all girly inside close in.

Knowing what was coming and feeling the excitement she met him half way.

The moment their lips met in what was a clumsy sweet teenager's first kiss that sent their pulses racing. It was just a touch of lips yet it meant everything. When they separated Karin lowered her head to rest it on the larger teen's chest, Chad scooted back so he was leaning against the couch while rubbing Karin's back.

What they didn't see was Isshin behind them watching with a small smile, he slowly backed away thinking he'd just go out and get something to drink. He didn't want to ruin his daughter's first kiss. He was glad it was Chad; he knew he could trust his daughter's welfare in his large and steady hands.

The two spent the rest of the day like this till Yuzu came in and gave them one good look before squealing happily and demanding that she bake them a cake to celebrate and that Chad was nearly ordered to stay for dinner. The two teens tried to get out of it but when Isshin came in and Yuzu told him that they had 'finally' started to date the two were locked in for a dinner with the family.

Chad was secretly very very happy he was so openly accepted but he was a little wary of Isshin as he was rather… odd.

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Urahara looked at Yoruichi.

"Ichigo as I have no doubt you by know figured out… well he is an Arrancar but that is not all."

The purple haired woman looked at Urahara with suspicion.

"He has claimed Shinji as his mate."

The reaction was rather funny to the two men watching. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes went wide like a child's. "He claimed Shinji as his mate? But isn't that wonderful news?" she asked looking back and forth from one man to the other.

Urahara smiled.

A true and happy smile she had not seen in a long, long while.

"He had met up with Shinji just a day before you returned. He had informed Shinji that he was on our side but…" A slightly worried look filled the grey eyes. "He said he would remain in the world of hollows to know more of Aizen's plans and stop or hinder them in ways he can." Yoruichi nodded and smirked at the blonde.

"I wouldn't worry if I were you… has anyone told you of what happened in Seireitei?" she asked looking at her life-long friend.

"No I was waiting for you to indulge me and Tessai." He said with a laid back smirk and wave of his fan.

Grinning like the sneaky cat she was she lifted her hand in a fist where she raised a finger as she ticked things off that Ichigo had done.

"Just scant few minutes after the walls came down Ichigo had defeated the west gate keeper, he then set three warehouses on fire, he then fought Kenpachi and gave him a third degree burn that would scar, he destroyed the Central 46 chambers which I do not feel bad about and lastly he stopped Sōkyoku… twice then he spoke to it and it looked at Rukia before it make some bird like noise and returned to his sealed form… oh and after Aizen used one of your little inventions to get the orb he threw Rukia at Renji." All this was said with a straight face.

Both Urahara and Tessai had their mouths to the ground.

"So that is what my son has been up to?" Three heads snapped to look at the door to see Isshin with his arms folded in front of his chest with a smirk on his face that looked oddly proud. Junta and Ururu were standing next to him explain how he got inside. Urahara chuckled and lowered his head to the table.

"It seems I do in fact have nothing to be worried about."

Isshin gave a bigger grin with more fatherly pride.

It warmed the ones watching's hearts that the goofy Isshin was slowly returning to them.

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Heh so some fluff there…

Pffft mushy stuff… it felt like a plot to a manga XD

… O_O*

Okay so…

Hope it wasn't bad!

Next chapter will be up as soon as I can!

Again if I made a mistake let me know!