Kai stood outside the garden. He was breathing heavily. He had just sprinted a good 3 miles. He stared at the house. Kai's heart was racing. All these years even though he had denied himself he knew he still had feelings for her that his heart still belonged to Yuroichi. She had loved him regardless of his title. I love Tatsuki, but as if she was my sister. That is why I swear to forever protect her.

"Yuroichi!" he shouted. His heart was racing wildly in his chest, "Yuroichi!" he shouted again.

A light flicked on downstairs, the door slid open and out stepped Yuroichi dressed in nothing, but a silk hakama and once again unlike many others Kai was completely unaffected by her partial nudity. She looked at him rather surprised to see him standing in the middle of the garden.

"Forgive me?"

"What?" she was still half asleep.

"Forgive me? I was wrong. I'm sorry."

Yuroichi stared blankly at him for a minute before a smile crossed her face. But their moment of joy was cut short as the ground beneath them shook. Kai looked around searching for the hollow. He could sense him. The hollow's energy was strong and nearly overpowering. Kai darted over a wall and down a side alley trying to pick up on the hollow when the reaper spotted him knocking over telephone poles only a few blocks over he raced after the hollow easily catching up with the creature.

The hollow tilted its massive head up and sniffed the air. It spun around its eyes landing hungrily on Kai who stood atop a roof hand on his sword.

"What do we have here? A soul reaper? But you smell different. In fact you smell better then most. Your soul must be extra tasty." The hollow swiped at him, but Kai quickly moved out of the way. He jumped into the air he unsheathed his zanpakuto and slicing through the hollow's shoulder. The monster reached for him grabbing Kai by the foot and hurling him into the air. Kai slammed into the pavement, but stood immediately. Yuroichi arrived.

"Even better two soul reapers!" laughed the hollow. Kai spied his zanpakuto still lodge in the hollow's shoulder. The creature was too busy trying to fend of Yuroichi that he didn't notice it. Kai darted this way and that trying to get closer to the hollow. He dodged fists, swipes and daggers until he was close enough to jump up and grab the handle of his sword ripping it from the hollow's shoulder. The hollow reared back clutching its bleeding shoulder and thrashing wildly about.

It was crashing into everything. Yuroichi was trying to avoid the crazed hollow when a falling stone and the hollow's massive dagger like fingers collided with her at the same time knocking her into a daze. The hollow swung again catching a telephone pole and sending it crashing down.

"Yuroichi!" shouted Kai as she raced to place himself between Yuroichi and the pole. The massive wooden beam slammed into Kai's back nearly bringing him to his knees. He coughed as all the air was forced from his lungs. For a minute he couldn't breath. Kai slowly straightened his legs. Blood trickled from the side of his mouth and down the center of his forehead. He looked up and smiled at Yuroichi mouthing, "I love you."

"What's this? What an interesting position this Soul Reaper has placed himself in." laughed the hollow. He laid his massive hand atop the beam and slowly began to press down. Kai dug his nails into the wood trying to keep himself in a standing position. His sword was a few feet away from him. The reaper pushed up against the immense strength and power of the hollow. But he couldn't keep it up for long. Yuroichi was on her feet.

"God damn it, Yuroichi…kill this son of a bitch. This is not the time to remain neutral."

Yuroichi leapt into the air and forced her blade into the eye of the hollow. It released its grip on the pole allowing Kai to throw it away. Kai raced for his sword, but by that time Yuroichi had successfully killed the hollow. Kai sanked to the ground breathing heavily. He wiped the blood from his mouth and felt his head and found where the pole had hit him. Yuroichi raced over kneeling down beside him.

"Are you ok?"

"Aside from a headache and a foul taste in my mouth…never better."

She helped him to his feet and helped him walk back to Urahara. Who quickly got a room set up where he was able to examine Kai and dress his head.

"This must have been a powerful hollow to have gotten you like this."

"Yeah. I've encountered quite a few like that recently. It's strange." Before Kai fell asleep he said one last thing, "Let Tatsuki know I'm ok."

"Can do, my friend."

Urahara stood up and looked at Yuroichi, "So are you two?" he wrapped one finger around the other and smiled.

Yuroichi rolled her eyes, pushing him out of the way heading toward the kitchen. Jinta and Ururu stood watching the reaper slumber. This is the guy Boss doesn't shut up about. The infamous reaper.

Ururu drew closer to her him, curiosity in her eyes.

"What are you doing?!" whispered Jinta frantically trying to pull her away from Kai, "He'll snap you in half. Come on. Just leave him be." He cried.

"Will you be quiet, he's asleep." Ururu reached out and poked him, but Kai didn't wake, "See nothing special."

Urahara sent Tessai to let Tatsuki know that Kai was alright. She was waiting in the living room watching t.v. when there was a knock at the door.

"Yes?" she said as she slowly opened the door, half expecting to see Kai there, but be wasn't. It was a muscular man, tall, with three braids on his head and an apron. "What can I do for you?"

"Mr. Urahara wanted to let you know that Kai is alright."

"What?! What happened to him?!" she demanded.

"He got into a fight and received minor injuries, but he should make a full recovery."

"Take me to him."

"I uh…umm…I can't."

"Take me to him, now!" she demanded. Tessai was so scared she would beat the crap out of him that he agreed to take her back to the shop. She barged through the door. Urahara and Yuroichi were drinking tea and were taken off guard by her appearance.

"You must be Tatsuki." Pointed Urahara.

"Where is he?! What did you do to him?!"

They were on their feet, "Shh…or you'll wake him. He's fine. He encountered a hollow, but nothing he can't handle. He's just napping."

Then she realized her fault and immediately apologized.

"It's quite alright."

"Wait…you're the man who took Ichigo the other night?"

"That's right I am."

"How is he?"

"Recovering nicely. But let me take you to Kai."

Urahara let her to the back half of the store. Yuroichi was following closely behind still not entirely liking the black haired girl. They entered Kai's room where he was fast asleep. Tatsuki knelt down beside him looking him over.

"What happened?"

Yuroichi knelt down and held out her hand, "I'm Yuorichi a very close friend of Kai's."

Tatsuki shook it getting the point that Yuroichi was trying to make. She smiled politely and then turned her attention back to Kai.

"We've been encountering more and more mysteriously powerful hollows. Like the one tonight. Kai and Yuroichi were successful in defeating it, but it took more time then usual."

Tatsuki nodded and then stood, "Thank you for letting me know he was ok."

Urahara laughed, but reassured her anyway. They showed her the way out. Once she was gone the bucket hat man turned to Yuroichi, "I don't understand why he would want to protect her. She seems able to take care of herself."

"She has a similar personality to Adela's, but it's his way in trying to make up for what happened that night." Answered Yuroichi.