AN: Here's a shameful plug for my new one-shot "Regrets"… I'm not plugging for reviews, just views :P

Thank you all for your kind reviews for this story! It's nice to shake things up once in a while with something off the wall and confusing. It'll become clearer as we go… maybe…

Chapter 10

They trudged through the white sands for hours, each lost in their own thoughts. Each worried about the other. Emotions on the battlefield were dangerous.

The view of the sky never changed. The darkness only offset by a small glow from the false paper like moon. Hill after hill of white sands stretched out in front of them, their cave and Los Noches far behind.

"Pathetic! Why are you running, king?"

Ichigo gasped as his hollow's voice rang through his mind. Rukia looked at him. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. Keep going," he said as he urged her forward. A wrinkle creased her brow. She wasn't buying it and stood her ground.

"Stop ignoring me! Do you want me to pull you in here?"

"Not now!" Ichigo said.

"Ichigo!" Rukia said as she stood in front of his face. His face showed he was miles away in thought. Rukia waited for a few minutes watching his face.

"Let me out! I'll take care of every last one of them for what they've done! The Princess and the Quincy were hurt because of him!"

"They were hurt because of you!" He yelled. Rukia jumped back. Immediately her guilt returned. She knew he wasn't talking to her, but it didn't matter. Everything that has happened share one thing in common – if it were not for her existence… Ichigo would be back in the human world, studying for exams. Nii-sama wouldn't have such heartache when it came to dealing with the clan. Renji…Renji would still be alive along with Sado. She closed her eyes. She didn't create the Hogyoku, but because of her actions, everything was set in motion.

She had to atone, she had to put things right.

"Are you going to keep running, coward? They'll find you, they'll catch you and they'll use what's left of her until she's dead. Do you want that? Her soul used up until there's nothing left? She's already half the Shinigami she used to be. I can smell it. They've changed her."

Rukia jumped as he snapped back and grabbed her shoulders. "Rukia…" he whispered as he closed his eyes.

"What's wrong, Ichigo?" She asked, worry in her voice.

"Rukia, these past couple of days…I've been having these strong dreams."

She looked at him and waited for him to continue.

"In my dream, I wake up and I'm back home. Everyone is there, telling me I've defeated Aizen, telling me I'm some kind of hero. Everyone is there…except for you."

Rukia's brows rose. "Oh? Where am I?"

"Dead. They said you were killed."

"Where?"

"Here."

"How?"

"In my dream, I asked Inoue to tell me what happened. She said your brother, Kenpachi and a few others came through as a rescue party." Ichigo finished his tale. Rukia was quiet for a long time before a frown creased her face.

"Those are some strong dreams," she said. "Do you think it could be a result of something Aizen or Granz has done?"

"Like an illusion?"

"No. Not necessarily an illusion, but memory modifiers and enhancers."

"Why would he do that?"

"A false sense of security?" She looked at his skeptical face. "If you really believed the war was over, would you fight as hard?"

Ichigo frowned as understanding took hold.

Rukia looked around. They were a long way away from anything and close to nothing. There was a small patch of grass in the distance. She was hoping grass meant water. If they didn't get some soon, they would be taken out of the war without Aizen lifting a finger. "Come on, let's check out that section over there," she said as she pointed to the grassy area just ahead.

As they headed in that direction, they heard the unmistakable sound of a hollow's wail. It was close. Immediately they both drew their swords and readied their stance. Ichigo looked at Rukia.

"Stay behind me!"

"What?"

"I said stay behind me. Let me take care of it!"

Rukia looked at him and narrowed her eyes. "I can take care of myself!"

"Not as you are, now stay behind me!" he hollered as the sound grew louder. The hollow made its appearance, but it was not alone. Three of various shapes and sizes came up over the dune; all focused on the two Shinigami.

Ichigo jumped ahead, taking on the biggest one in the middle. He swung and missed as it quickly dodged out of his reach. "He's fast!"

"They're in their element here – they're stronger, baka! Be careful!" Rukia said as the second hollow came down to the side of her, cutting her off from being able to help Ichigo.

The hollows separated the two soul reapers. Divide and conquer.

The third hollow was the smallest of the three. It changed positions and sat in the middle. It resembled a cat with wings. It had a long sharp bony tail that flicked back and forth as it watched the fights.

After missing his strike, Ichigo turned and brought Zangetsu up to strike again. This time, he hit his mark. The large elephant looking hollow disappeared as Ichigo frantically looked around for Rukia.

Rukia was fighting her own battle with a horse like creature. It had two protruding horns out of its face mask which was charging a cero.

"Rukia!" Ichigo called out. He headed in her direction but was stopped by the third hollow. It's tail flicking. "I don't have time for this!" He said as he brought Zangetsu up. His strike missed. The cat like creature ducked its head at the last minute, but wasn't able to completely dodge. Ichigo severed its front paw.

It landed and screamed in rage.

Rukia brought her sword up and managed to cut off one of the horns before the cero could completely form. She brought her sword back down on top of the creatures head. As it disappeared she heard the third hollow scream in rage and turned.

It landed, screamed and whipped its tail around, knocking Ichigo in the back pushing him towards the hollow. Rukia's eyes grew as Ichigo wasn't able to stop his momentum. He was heading right towards the hollows overly stretched open mouth. She threw her hands up.

"Hado san ju san, Sokatsui!" She yelled. As the blue fire hit the hollow, the blast forced Ichigo back. He hit the ground hard, knocking him unconscious.

It was early morning when Ichigo awoke. The sun was just over the horizon. It was going to be a clear, beautiful day. He sat up and noticed Inoue asleep in his chair, slumped over and drooling on his desk. He shook his head and swung his legs out from under the covers. He reached over and shut off the IV fluid. He waited a few seconds before pulling out the tubes in his arm.

He quietly stood up and padded over to his bedroom door. His room was always in these latest dreams. He wondered if that was on purpose. Ichigo glanced back at Inoue, who was in a deep sleep, and wondered why she was still there. He opened his door and went downstairs.

No one was up yet, the house was quiet. Ichigo looked around before opening the front door. He half expected to see Aizen standing there and was a bit relieved when he found nothing but his normal street.

As he walked down the quiet street, he noticed how peaceful everything was. He came upon a familiar memorial, but neither seen nor sensed anything spiritually.

He walked to the familiar shop and went inside.

"Kurosaki-kun, what a nice surprise!" Kisuke said as he looked at the young man enter.

"I want to go to Soul Society," Ichigo said.

"Still trying to end the illusion?"

"Maybe."

"Other than showing you Aizen's prison, what could I do to prove to you that the war is over?"

"Nothing,"

"Even if you see him, it might not stop the illusion. What if I told you the illusion was this other realm you've been talking about?"

Ichigo's eyes narrowed.

"You wouldn't believe me, huh?"

"If you're not going to help me…" he said as he turned back towards the door.

"I want to help you," Kisuke said. "But you're not going to like the outcome."

Ichigo stopped. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

"What do you know?"

"Nothing."

"Bullshit!" Ichigo said and was on top of the ex-captain in a flash. The older man's collar gripped tightly in his fingers. "Tell me!" Kisuke heard someone clear their throat in the back room. He sighed.

"Have a seat, Kurosaki…" the shop keeper said as he motioned to the back room. "This might take a while."

Reluctantly, Ichigo let go and followed the man. He was surprised to see his father already seated that the table. Quietly, he sat down at the table and listened as Kisuke explained his theory. When he was finished the room was quiet. Ichigo looked at the now cold and untouched tea cup in front of him.

It was an incredible tale. It was a believable tale. Yet –

"From what you have told me, Kuchiki-san isn't in top form?"

"She can't get to her inner world."

"I see."

"Can you help her?"

"Not without knowing what it is they've done to her…"

"I know they used the Hogyoku and they need her." Ichigo said.

Kisuke was surprised. "They used…" He frowned. This was worse than he thought. He sat back and went over different scenarios in his mind, calculating. "I believe I might be able to help Kuchiki-san, but I will need a bit of time."

Ichigo looked hopeful and was about to say something else when the shops bell rang indicating someone's presence.

"Mr. Urahara-san?"

Inoue.

He looked at Ichigo and indicated to the front. It was clear this conversation was over. Ichigo stood and went through the hallway.

"Kurosaki-kun! You frightened me! When I woke up and you weren't there…"

"It's ok, Inoue."

"Why don't you take my son back to the house? I'm sure after this morning's walk; he could use a bit of rest." Isshin said as he stood behind his son. Inoue's eyes grew.

"Oh, yes sir!" She said as she followed Ichigo out of the shop.

Isshin turned to Kisuke. "You need him to destroy the other dimension, don't you?"

"Unfortunately, yes. And unfortunately, he's not going to do it willingly."

"Are you sure?" Isshin looked at Kisuke. "Che, yeah. Not at long as Kuchiki-san is there, eh?"

Kisuke looked at the floor.

"If that's the case, what's your plan?"

"The spell I created needs to be placed on the Hogyoku. The Hogyoku will have to be inside a host. The easiest one would be Kuchiki-san. One the spell is set, we can inject Ichigo. The connection will be severed seconds before the dimension is destroyed. I can set everything up on the pretense I am helping Kuchiki-san."

Isshin closed his eyes. "If he ever found out…"

"It won't be as bad as the consequences we might be facing."

Isshin opened his eyes and looked at his old friend.

"We know through our own history what Aizen did with the Hogyoku. This alternate dimension…If they're using Kuchiki-san and have managed to close her connection with her Zanpaktou, do you have any idea what would happen if he figured out the dimension split and came here?"

"All of our Zanpaktous would be useless."

"I'm not waiting for Kuchiki-taicho. I'm going to inform Soul Society myself."

"There is no other way then to deceive my son?"

"Do you think he would destroy Kuchiki-san willingly?"

Isshin closed his eyes once again. His heart was heavy.

"Kurosaki-kun, could we go to the park for a few minutes?" Inoue asked as they were on their way home. She had something on her mind for a long time. Every time she wanted to talk to him, something always happened to make her realize it wasn't the right time. She was done waiting for the perfect moment and decided she would make her own.

"Sure, Inoue." Ichigo said. His world felt quiet. No hollows, no soul reapers, nothing.

They reached the park and sat on one of the benches.

Inoue looked at him and blushed. She had rehearsed this over and over in her head for so many years, why did her words fail her? Why now when she finally had his undivided attention?

"Kurosaki-kun…Thank you for coming after me and protecting me."

"Sure thing, Inoue. What are friends for?" He said as he gave her a small smile. Dream or not, she was still a nice person.

"Kurosaki-kun…I've always…I've always wanted to thank you. Ever since my brother died, I've felt alone. But when he turned into a hollow and you saved me… I knew. I knew in my heart that…"

"Hollow!" Ichigo said as he stood. His memories of his fight with the cat like hollow suddenly returning.

"Um…Kurosaki-kun?" Inoue asked. She was finally getting her feelings out and he was… What was he doing?

"Yes, my brother turned into a hollow, do you remember?" she asked.

Ichigo didn't hear her; he was too busy trying to remember what happened. When he woke up here, he just assumed he was asleep there and didn't give it a second thought. Until now. Frantically, he tried to remember what happened. A cero was aimed at Rukia, his back was hit by that tail…Then it all turned blue. Kido… Rukia said she was still able to perform a limited amount.

Rukia…

She must have used it to break his momentum towards the hollow. Did she destroy it? Was she hurt? He didn't want to entertain the thought of more appearing. She would have to fight while he was passed out somewhere.

"Rukia!" He said out loud. He stepped away from the bench.

Inoue got up and put her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun." She said as she realized that bringing up her brother must have reminded him of his lost powers and…her.

His heart was pounding in his ears. All he could think about was Rukia alone in Hueco Mundo, trying to defend his useless body in her already weakened state. "RUKIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he yelled again.

"Kurosaki-kun, you're hyperventilating!" She said. Ichigo took a few more steps before he fell to the ground.