Disclaimer - I do not own either Bleach or Kingdom Hearts!

Warning - see chapter one

(Note – The numbers don't mean anything, they are simply there for breaks in the story.)

~ 10th Chapter Begins! ~

Last Time –Xaldin and Leon's fight was interrupted. Ichigo appeared in Traverse Town, right at the fight taking place. Back at Urahara's plans were made.

She's still not back…

She had laid out dinner only for it to grow cold. Aeirth was far too worried to eat, concern for Claire and the drawing taking up most of her thoughts, not counting everything else.

She had planned to go look for her before dinner time but hoped that Claire would show up just fine and starving. Plus she didn't want to leave Alec alone, in case he awoke while no one was there. She would have a nice warm meal ready for her, but it soon grew obvious that something was wrong.

Aerith could feel it, in her stomach. She felt unsettled and it wasn't just from being in Traverse Town for as long as she had.

Too much time had passed and Aeirth couldn't stop her concern from growing. Staring at the abandoned food, Aeirth glanced at the clock before letting loose a small sigh her eyes sliding shut.

Pushing her chair back, she stood determined. She would not wait around anymore. Just as she reached the door it swung open. Eyes alight with stunned surprise before regaining her composure to see an unfamiliar orange haired male supporting Claire.

A small gasp left her as she took in the blonde appearance and seeing several scrapes on her face. Quickly she ushered them inside, as they entered out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of a very familiar figure.

She swung around swiftly, almost giving herself whiplash, her brown bangs smacking her in the face none to gently but disregarded the small pain as she took in the figure of her dear friend.

"Leon?"

The brown haired male entered the house pulling the door shut as he crossed his arms, his eyes closing. He was mildly surprised that Aerith was the person Claire had been referring to. But this saved them time.

"What are you doing here?" Aerith demanded her hands resting on her hips. "Why aren't you with Cloud and the others?" She froze as the words left her mouth, a sliver of fear lacing through her body, "D-did something happen?" She asked shakily.

Ichigo had helped Claire into a chair at the kitchen table; while he couldn't see the pair he could hear the conversation. He placed his Zanpakto against the wall before finding cups and getting them some drinks as he waited for the other two to finish and join them in the kitchen.

Claire mumbled small thanks as she took a sip, intensely glad to be sitting down.

"No." Leon quickly assured the female. "Cloud grew worried so I decided to come see how things were and make sure everything was fine."

Once the words hit Aerith relaxed and gestured for him to come, as they entered the kitchen Leon immediately stepped to the right of the doorway and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. Aerith quickly went about heating up some food and once done set it on the table.

"Leon?" Aerith asked softly. A grunt was her only reply and nodded. Leon would eat when he wanted to, right now however there were more pressing matters.

Ichigo blinked but offered the kind women a small smile and muttered thanks as he dung in. They ate in silence and waited in silence as Aerith quickly cleaned the dishes.

Once she was seated at the table she asked softly, "What happened? I was just about to go looking for you, Claire when you all showed up?" She frowned disapprovingly at the young blonde as Ichigo shifted his attention to Claire briefly before settling back on the brown haired female.

Exhaling heavily Claire scowled, "I ran into some yellow eyed creatures." She paused momentarily as Ichigo jolted at the mention, quickly glancing at the silent Leon. "T-then…" Swallowing thickly Claire shook her head before restarting again, "This guy with a lance, named Xaldin showed up and tried to kill me." Claire then gestured at Leon who looked like he was ignoring everything around him, "He showed up and saved me and the two fought."

Aerith shifted her gaze to her friend; Leon nodded confirming the girl's story so Aerith switched her gaze back.

"Then Xaldin came at me and… I… then Ichigo was there, in front of me." Claire choked out; her eyes squeezed shut at the remembrance. She had been so sure that she was going to die in that instant…

Aerith glanced to the silent teen with brown orbs, "You're not from Travers Town." It wasn't a question. Ichigo nodded, glad that he now knew the name of this place as the other continued, "How did you get here?"

Ichigo frowned, crossing his arms in contemplation, "I'm not sure… One minute I was in the park with Rukia then the next I was here…" Ichigo's words died as he froze, remembering what happened prior to landing in the middle of a fight.

"Yes?" Aerith prodded gently, having seen the other freeze, clearly there was more to it then what he'd said.

Closing his eyes in frustration Ichigo grunted, "There was this strange, I mean strange yellow glow… shimmer in the park. And I touched it…"

Aerith frowned in disapproval while Claire gapped, "You touched something you had no idea what it was! How stupid can you be!"

"Claire." Aerith admonished lightly earning a glower from the girl.

Heaving heavily Ichigo locked eyes with the women dressed in pink, "I know it was stupid…" He paused not sure why he was telling them this let alone anything. He didn't know them but what choice did he have? He had never heard of Traverse Town, these people weren't using reishi… perhaps they could help.

"But it felt like it was calling me… I didn't realize I'd touched it… it sort of just happened." Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as both females frowned, each thinking something different.

Seeing as how they were taking forever to respond Ichigo decided to ask his own question, "What are those black creatures?"

Claire blinked before fixing her gaze at Aerith, wincing slightly as she shifted in her seat ever so. Aerith stood and left the room much to ichigo's and Claire's surprise. In a matter of moments Aerith returned, she was carrying bandages and some herbs.

"Here use this." Aerith quietly stated to the startled blond. Slowly, warily Claire took the offered herbs as Aerith went about treating her injuries.

Ichigo glared with a frown and opened his mouth, just as he went to demand an answer Aerith replied, "Their called heartless. They were once people; they lost their heart and thus become heartless."

Both Ichigo and Claire stared agape with stunned shock.

"H-how did they lose their hearts?" Ichigo asked once his shock died down. How did that even work?

"People with weak hearts cannot fight the darkness…" Aerith sighed heavily as she finished treating Claire and retook her seat. "Once a person loses their heart there is nothing we can do to help them. They will always attack those with hearts since they no longer have one."

Ichigo looked over at Leon with a considering look, "Is that why you destroyed the ones earlier?" The quiet male nodded but voiced no reply.

"When you say the darkness… what do you mean?" Claire questioned with a puzzled look.

Aerith brushed a strand of brown hair behind her ear as she closed her eyes, "Kingdom Hearts." She stated simple.

Both Ichigo and Claire waited for her to continue but she remained silent clearly not intending to elaborate. Ichigo clanked at Leon and frowned as the other didn't so much as acknowledge what had been said. Clearly he too was not going to give depth on the kingdom Hearts.

Sighing in frustration Ichigo let it go… for now.

Aerith stood immediately gaining Ichigo's and Claire's attention. "It's late, I suggest we all go to bed then leave first thing in the morning."

"Leave?" Ichigo asked his head tilted to the side. "Leave where?"

"It's too dangerous to remain here. Especially after the attack earlier today. From what I gathered Xaldin was not killed right?" Ichigo nodded in confirmation.

"He might return and with reinforcements. Therefore we leave tomorrow to Hollow Bastion." Aerith didn't wait for anything else to be said and left the room. While it was tempting to go to sleep she had a few questions to ask Leon in private.

~88

Claire rubbed a hand over face, she was exhausted. With the help of Ichigo she made her way to where Alec rested. If he had woken Aerith would have mentioned it.

Reaching the room they entered, Ichigo settled the girl onto the only available couch his eyes instantly going to the figure on the other. It looked like he was asleep… but…

Why hadn't anyone gotten him then? Surely it was best for everyone to be present…

Ichigo groaned in mild irritation earning a glare from Claire, "What?"

"I never got her name." He didn't need to elaborate seeing as there was only one other female that he was aware of.

"Ah, Aerith." Claire supplied as she grabbed her blanket and lay down stiffly.

Nodding to signal he'd heard even though the other wasn't looking at him, before sighing resignedly; looked like he'd have to sleep on the floor.

Getting comfortable, as comfortable as possible on the ground Ichigo closed his eyes willing his body to relax. Exhaling softly, Ichigo much to his irritation found his mind looking back through the day's events.

He heard rustling in Claire's direction…

Hold on…

Ichigo's eyes snapped open and he sat up hurriedly.

"Claire?" He murmured softly in shock earning a muttered 'shut up' in response. They had been looking for a girl named Claire. Was she the Claire they were looking for! If it was the best way to find out would be to mention Kinshiba.

"He's fine by the way." Ichigo stated his eyes fixed on the bundled figure on the couch, despite it being relatively dark in the room he could see Clair's outline.

Claire frowned, brow furrowed. Surely Ichigo didn't mean Alec? As for as the Ichigo could possible discern was that Alec was sleeping. So what did he mean?

"Who?" She asked guardedly. Ichigo may have saved her, and she may not feel any bad vibes from him but that didn't mean she was going to automatically trust him. Even if a part of her wanted to… There was just something about the orange haired male that told her that he could be trusted. Which was absurd…

Ichigo swallowed inaudibly as he leaned forward a little hoping to make out her face, "Kinshiba."

The name immediately arracted a response. Claire sprung up, a small grimace flashing across her face but was easily ignored as she leveled a steely glare at Ichigo. The second the name penetrated her brain, relief coursed through but then panic and replaced it.

"How do you know that name!" She demanded.

Ichigo blinked only mildly surprised. At least that answered his question. This girl was the girl they had been searching for back in the world of the living. But how had she ended up here?

Deciding it would be best to be truthful Ichigo relayed all of what he knew finishing with, "We were going to ask Kinshiba when he woke but then Rukia and I were sent to the park and… well you know the rest."

Blinking Claire relaxed after she realized that Ichigo was a soul reaper and therefore was not about to harm here. Plus he knew about Kinshiba and clearly met him.

"But your sword doesn't look like a typical Zanpakto?" It looked like a meat cleaver… which is probably why she hadn't made the connection despite the reishi she could feel from the young man.

Ichigo rubbed the back of his head sheepishly while frowning mildly, "Well… I'm only a substitute soul reaper."

"Substitute?"

Nodding Ichigo crossed his legs to get more comfortable, "I'm human, there was an incident and I gained the powers of a soul reaper." It wasn't like it was a big deal to tell Claire the ins and outs of his powers but she didn't need to know. And unless she pressed he wasn't going to go into length.

"I see." Claire murmured, even though she really didn't see. She had never heard of a substitute soul reaper before.

Unable to hold in her curiosity she leaned back so that her back was resting against the couch as she asked, "Why does your sword look like a meat cleaver? Does it always look like that?" She had never met a soul reaper before but she was sure that all swords looked ordinary and less suspicious when not in use.

Ichigo laughed lightly at the question, "It just does. It's been like that from the second I became a soul reaper."

"Ah. How interesting." Claire murmured mostly to herself.

"So what happened to your friend there?" Ichigo asked, pointing at the man on the other couch, not caring that his gesture may have gone unnoticed.

"He just collapsed." Claire answered sadly. "He's been comatose sine the fight at the…" She halted, realizing she almost said 'palace'. From what Ichigo said earlier he didn't know who she was and it would be best for it to stay that way.

Ichigo lowered his eyes wanting to say something but knowing it wouldn't mean much coming from him. Instead he opted to change the subject, "So do you know where this Traverse Town is located?" Perhaps they weren't too terrible far from Karakura Town and he could head back or call. Though something told him that he was a long ways away from Karakura Town.

"Traverse Town is just that: Traverse Town."

"What?" Ichigo blurted not comprehending.

Claire giggled lightly at Ichigo's tone, "This is all there is. According to Aerith, were not on Earth anymore." Ichigo gapped his mind refusing to believe what he was hearing. "This is an entirely new world."

Ichigo felt like he might faint. Not one Earth… a new world… Was such a thing even real? Even possible? Apparently. Claire said it so firmly and adamantly that he couldn't bring himself to call her a liar… and why would she even bother to lie about something like this? Surely she was anxious to get home and see Kinshiba?

"I see…" Then perhaps that strange yellow glow was what sent him here, seeing as that was the last thing he'd seen before arriving in the middle of that fight.

Lifting up his head he glanced in the blond's direction asking a question Claire had been asking herself ever since she was introduced to Aerith, "How are we going to get back?"

Surely there was away? Surely…

"I wish I knew…" Claire whispered sadly. "Aerith and her friends might be able to help, which is why I'm going with them."

Ichigo clenched his fists tightly at the thought of not ever seeing his family again or his friends… A hint of despair flowed through him; if he couldn't get back then he couldn't help stop Aizen.

'No… 'Ichgio thought, as he lifted his head, his eyes gleaming with determination. He would get back, no matter what.

"I'll come to." He stated, lying down again. Where ever Claire was going he would follow. They had been searching for her… now that he'd found her he wasn't going to lose track of her. He grinned slightly as he round his arms beneath his head in placement f a pillow, 'At least now he'd have good news for Kinshiba.'

~88

Morning came all too soon, much to Ichigo's irritation and Claire's. After all the excitement of the day before, both would like nothing more than to sleep longer but it was best not to linger.

Leon and Aerith had already transported the comatose man, Alec onto Leon's travel ship. Which was called a gummi ship according to Aerith. It enabled people to travel to other worlds like Hollow Bastion. It was kind of like rockets in his world except gummi ships were faster.

He wasn't too comfortable with riding in one seeing as the entire concept of how they were designed and worked went over his head but it was apparently the only way to travel to different worlds. Though admittedly he was curious and quite a bit fascinated in seeing 'outer space' even though it wasn't 'his' world/galaxy. The idea to see off a planet was new and something he never thought he get to do.

"Ichigo were ready to leave." A light, airy voice spoke, jerking him from his thoughts. He turned find Aerith a few passes away.

"Right." He followed after Aerith, it had been decided that he and Claire would accompany the brown haired female while Leon took Alec. They had gently strapped him in or so Ichigo had been informed.

Aerith entered the small red ship, Ichigo right behind her. He surveyed the interior with fascination as he made his way to the front. Claire had claimed the seat next to Aerith, who would be flying the gummi ship.

"Buckle up." Aerith softly stated as she trapped herself in. "It'll be a bit bumpy."

Ichigo quickly took a seat and did as the lightly spoken women said. Earlier at breakfast, Claire and he had been informed that it was dangerous to fly and therefore they would undoubtedly run into some trouble. The ship was equipped with weapons but it was still risky to travel.

But staying in Traverse Town wasn't smart or going to get them anywhere. So despite the risks Ichigo and Claire were more than willing to leave and would help where they could.

Aerith gripped the controls; the ship shuddered causing both Ichigo and Claire to cringe at the feeling. Then Aerith pulled back and the ship shot up and into the sky.

Ichigo angled his head to the side to view the dark expanse or space. "Wow." He breathed in awe.

Aerith chuckled but remained quiet concentrating on driving.

"How long till we get to our destination?" Claire question, her hands gripping the hand rests tightly. She was not thrilled with this mode of transportation.

"Not long."

Claire frowned irritated, that was hardly an answer but reframed from pushing, they would get there when they got there.

The ship gave a sudden tilt and a small whirring noise.

"I-is it suppose to do that?" Claire stuttered, clearly a bit frightened.

"No, I didn't turn far enough and nicked a space rock is all." Aerith gave a quick side glance at the scared blond before adding, "It'll take more than that to destroy this ship, their quite durable."

Claire nodded jerkily, her mouth pressed thinly as she stared tightly out the window. Ichigo also felt a tad worried about the ability of the ship but seeing as how gummi's were often used, they had to be relatively safe.

A thud echoed in the small ship suddenly and a light flashed. Before Ichigo could ask, Aerith stated "Hold on, we have company."

It took a few moments for Ichigo to spot the enemy but when he did his eyes widen slightly. Small little ships were coming towards them and there were quite a lot of them.

Ichigo silently prayed that Aerith was a good pilot as the brown haired woman zoomed the ship into the fray.

~ End chapter ten

Not as long as I would like… Since its taking me forever to re write this story I decided I would just continue for now. So I sat down and got this chapter finished, finally.