A/N: Thanks to ShiroHichi891 for the inspiring review...you're in luck, cause here's the next chapter! Thanks for the encouragement!
Chapter 10:
A collective gasp went up from the group at Yachiru's revelation.
"Are you sure it was Ichimaru?" Toshiro asked, looking at the Squad Thirteen Lieutenant.
Yachiru nodded her head. "Uh-huh. The spot where Renji and Rukia found Ichi…it's especially strong there. But the Hollows that just attacked had Ichimaru's spiritual pressure on them too."
"That can't be a coincidence," Uryu spoke up. "Those Hollows showing up here. If it was Ichimaru who attacked Ichigo, then he probably sent those Hollows here to finish the job." He got quiet for a moment, deep in thought.
"What's the matter, Uryu? What are you thinking?" Toshiro questioned, unnerved by the Quincy's sudden silence.
"I was just thinking…those Hollows showing up here….it might have been a diversion for the rest of us until Ichimaru could find out where Ichigo was."
Toshiro gasped. "Do you think that could be a possibility?"
Uryu nodded his head grimly.
"We need to get back to Urahara's shop!" Toshiro proclaimed, raising his voice so that everyone in the clearing could hear. "Uryu, you and Chad bring Renji and follow us as quickly as you can. Ikkaku, stay with them in case more Hollows attack them. The rest of you, let's go!"
The Soul Reapers, using their flash step, disappeared, the only disturbance as they left being a slight breeze through the clearing.
Chad swiftly knelt down and picked up Renji then him, Uryu and Ikkaku took off running.
Ikkaku looked over at Uryu as they exited the park and ran through the streets. "Do you really think that Ichimaru would send Hollows after Ichigo?"
"I think it's a definite possibility," Uryu said, panting slightly from running. "Think about it…Ichimaru has no idea that any one of you is in the World of the Living. As far as he knows, Ichigo is by himself here, making him easy prey to finish off."
"Makes sense, I guess."
They focused on running after that.
By the time they got to the shop, the last of the Soul Reapers were just then entering the front.
"How did we almost keep pace with them?" Uryu questioned as they entered the store behind Rangiku.
Rangiku turned to Uryu and winked. "We didn't want to get too far ahead of you guys in case more Hollows decided to attack."
"Any trouble?" Uryu asked as they made their way to the back of the shop.
"There was a couple of Hollows hanging around the shop when we got here," Rangiku replied. "Captain Hitsugaya took care of them, though."
Uryu nodded.
Everyone entered the back room. A gasp came from Ichigo and Rukia when Chad came in carrying Renji.
Renji!" Rukia exclaimed, running over to her childhood friend and helping Chad lay him down on a sleep mat next that Urahara placed next to Ichigo.
"Don't worry," Uryu assured her. "It's not serious." He then focused his attention on Ichigo. "Glad to see you finally decided to join us. How are you feeling, Ichigo?"
"Like I've been stabbed and sliced up," Ichigo replied with a wry smile. "Thanks for asking. What happened to Renji?"
"A group of Hollows attacked while we were investigating the site where Rukia and Renji found you yesterday morning," Toshiro interjected. "Good to see you awake."
"Thanks, Toshiro. Listen…" Ichigo stopped, and then did a double take, just then noticing all the Soul Reapers crowded into the small room. "Umm…does someone mind explaining to me what the hell you're all doing here?"
"We came to help you," Rangiku stated matter-of-factly.
"Yoruichi contacted me and explained what happened to you," Soi Fon elaborated, seeing the confused look that remained on Ichigo's face at Rangiku's 'explanation.' "I called a Captain's meeting to try to convince the Head Captain to help, but he refused. When everyone in this room found out about your situation, they all volunteered to come and help you out." She cast a glance at Toshiro. "You can thank Captain Hitsugaya. It was all his idea."
Ichigo stared openly at the young Soul Reaper Captain. He had always held the impression that Toshiro didn't like him very much…but here he was…blatantly defying the Head Captain's orders and leading a team to come and help him. Ichigo didn't know what to say. "Uh…thank you, Toshiro."
Toshiro glanced sharply at Ichigo, who recoiled slightly from the look, then sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you? It's Captain Hitsugaya, not Toshiro…and you're welcome." He threw a look over his shoulder at his Lieutenant, who was giggling.
Catching her Captain looking at her, Rangiku shut up immediately.
"Anyway," Toshiro continued. "Yachiru thinks she knows the identity of the person who attacked you, Ichigo."
"Yep," Yachiru chimed in. "The person who attacked Ichi and sent the Hollows after us was…"
"…Gin Ichimaru." Yachiru and Ichigo finished at the same time.
Yachiru looked over Kenpachi's shoulder to stare at Ichigo. Everyone else in the room looked at him, too.
"Why is everyone looking at me?" Ichigo asked, an apprehensive look on his face. "What did I do?"
"How did you…?" Rangiku began.
"Isn't it obvious how he knows?" Rukia spoke up. One of her hands held Renji's tightly, while the other was perched on Ichigo's knee. "Ichigo was attacked by Ichimaru, so he obviously got a good look at him before Ichimaru over powered him."
"Hey!" Ichigo protested, propping himself up on his elbows and fixing Rukia with an angry stare. "Don't make it sound like he's stronger than me or something!"
"Well, he did beat you and leave you half dead in the middle of the park," Rangiku pointed out.
"Yeah, well, he cheated. He snuck up on me and stabbed me in the back."
"Still doesn't change the fact that he beat you."
"Did not."
"Did too," Rangiku said, a smile threatening to show on her face.
"Did not!"
"Enough!" Yoruichi shouted, stepping between Ichigo and Rangiku. "Ichigo, like back down before I make you lie down."
Ichigo complied immediately, knowing from experience that Yoruichi would make good on the threat, regardless of whether he was injured or not.
Rangiku's smile disappeared, and she went to stand slightly behind her Captain.
Hitsugaya just smiled and shook his head slightly.
"Whatever happened between Ichimaru and Ichigo is unimportant at this point," Yoruichi continued, glancing over to make sure Ichigo was still lying down. "What we need to do now is track down Ichimaru before he sends more Hollows after Ichigo, or worse…comes after Ichigo again himself."
Toshiro turned to Urahara. "Do you think Ichimaru is acting alone, or do you think he's under orders from Aizen?"
That got everyone thinking. Even though Toshiro directed the question at Urahara, it was Ichigo who answered. "I think we can probably assume that Ichimaru is acting under orders from Aizen. The whole time they were in the Soul Society, planning their betrayal, Ichimaru was acting under Aizen's authority. Why should it be any different now?" He let everyone think that over for a few seconds, and then continued. "As for tracking them down, I think it's pretty obvious here we should start."
Yoruichi turned to face Ichigo. "You mean Hueco Mundo, don't you?"
Ichigo nodded grimly. "I would assume. That makes the most sense. The last place we saw any of them was when they made their escape from the Soul Society…and they entered Hueco Mundo. It would be as good a place as any t start looking for them, considering what we know."
"Okay," Urahara, ever the problem solver, made his way to the middle of the over-crowded room. "Here's what we're going to…" He broke off as an eerie sounding howl came from directly outside the shop.
"Oh, no," Toshiro whispered as all of the Soul Reaper's pagers starting beeping simultaneously, alerting the group to the presence of a Hollow in the area.
The shrill beeping continued as Toshiro flung open the door and ran towards the front of the store, the other Soul Reapers following him an instant later.
Yoruichi turned to Ichigo, who was struggling to rise. "Ichigo, don't you dare even think about trying to get up. Chad, Uryu, Orihime, Rukia…stay in here and keep these two safe." She added, nodding her head in the direction of Ichigo and Renji before going after the others.
Rukia, not content to sit out on another battle when her comrades were in danger, turned to Uryu. "Make sure Ichigo stays here!" Then she was out the door.
"Rukia! No!" Ichigo shouted after her, attempting to get up, but Uryu and Chad held him down.
"Let me go! I have to help!"
"No, Ichigo," Uryu protested, holding onto Ichigo's arm as he attempted to sit up again.
"Please, Ichigo, don't try to get up," Orihime said. "Your wounds haven't even had a chance to close yet. The others can take care of themselves. Don't worry."
'No,' Ichigo thought. 'You're wrong, Orihime…something terrible is about to happen.'
Whew. Another chapter down. Let me know what you all think! Please review! Arigatou!