Chapter 10
Burning Alive
Ichigo immediately hollowfied and lowered his spiritual pressure as much as he could.
"Ichigo, w-what are you doing?!"
"If I lower my spiritual pressure and dilute it by making it more hollow –like, Kenpachi won't be able to find me. I hope at least."
Ichigo sat down on some rubble next to Rukia and ran his hand down his masked face with a long sigh.
"Someone else is here too. I can't tell who from their spiritual pressure though. Definitely a Soul Reaper though."
Rukia groaned.
"You're awake. Hey."
"Ichigo?"
"Feeling better?"
Rukia looked to her left and saw Orihime.
"You've rescued her then? What of the others?"
"We need to find somewhere safer than this and go get Chad. He's beat up pretty bad too."
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"Wait, there's more of them! One of them… I can't tell who it is, but one's going to Chad."
"That's Captain Unohana! She'll handle Chad, we need to-!"
They felt two more spiritual pressures approaching.
One Arrancar… and one soul reaper.
"I know that spiritual pressure! That's-!"
"Ichigo Kurosaki. We meet again."
"Brother…"
"I see you have secured the girl, Orihime Inoue."
He noticed the Arrancar in the healing barrier next to her.
"May I ask why she is healing that Arrancar?"
"His own comrade struck him down when I'd already beaten him. It wouldn't have been right to me to just leave him after that. Who knows, maybe he could buy us some time when we leave?"
"Like hell. I'm only interested in fighting you, Kurosaki."
The barrier went away and Grimmjow stood up, walking over to Byakuya and eyeing him, observing him.
"You're a Captain eh? You don't seem all that tough to me."
"Ichigo Kurosaki. Remove this hollow before I remove him myself."
"You pickin' a fight Soul Reaper?"
"Grimmjow, not now! Can't you-!"
"He's a lower-ranking Espada. He's trash to me. Zommari Rureaux is his name."
Grimmjow started walking back the way they'd come.
"Where are you going, Grimmjow?!"
"Fuck off, I don't take orders from you. I'm going to beat the pulp out of that asshole Nnoitra."
"You-! Fine. C'mon Orihime, Rukia. Let's get Chad, meet up with Uryuu and Renji, and then get out of here."
As the two headed off they ran into a familiar face.
However, he screamed when he saw Ichigo.
"Calm down Hanatarou! It's me, Ichigo!"
He looked from behind his arms.
"R…Really?"
"Yeah, I've got Rukia and Orihime with me too."
The two finally caught up to Ichigo.
Rukia hit Ichigo.
"Idiot! You know we can't move as fast as you! Slow down!"
"Sorry… Geez."
"Then… I guess I'm not really needed, haha…"
"Byakuya might need you; I think you should hang out nearby but you shouldn't get too close, " Said Ichigo. "The guy he was gonna fight seemed pretty tough."
"R-right, will do!"
The group ran ahead before a man in white blurred into existence.
He had a chin strip and messy, greasy hair.
"Sorry. Truth is, I don't like doing troublesome things like this." He reappeared next to Orihime. "I'm gonna borrow her for a bit."
Before Ichigo could even draw his blade the Arrancar vanished with Orihime.
"Dammit! So close! I should have opened a Gargantua and gotten us out of here, but it completely slipped my mind to do that! I'm so stupid!"
Suddenly a familiar voice appeared from nowhere and everywhere.
"Can you hear me, members of the intruding forces?"
"Aizen…" Ichigo growled.
"Allow me to first convey my respect for having felled so many of the Espada. More importantly, we will now commence our invasion of the human world."
"What?!"
"Where's Orihim-!" started Rukia.
"I am placing Orihime Inoue in tower number 5. If you'd like to rescue her, come and take her back. She is no longer of any use to me. Her ability is Awe-inspiring. The "Rejection of Events" is a power that far exceeds the realm of what is permitted to humans. The highest levels of Soul Society understood the significance of this ability, and that is why her abduction served as a means of eliciting such a sense of crisis in Soul Society that they would strengthen their own defenses rather than those of the human world."
Ichigo's mind went back to the speech Yamamoto had given.
"She was also the bait to lure the Ryoka, including Soul Society's new military asset, the "Substitute Soul Reaper" to Hueco Mundo. Moreover, I have succeeded in imprisoning in Hueco Mundo the four captains who came to reinforce them. This will be too easy; we will destroy Karakura Town and create the King's Key."
"Karakura…?! Shit!"
"Kurosaki Ichigo."
Byakuya approached from behind him.
"The Captain commander gave instructions to Urahara Kisuke; one of them was to ensure that the Captains of Soul Society could wage war in Karakura Town."
Ichigo snapped around, Spiritual Pressure burning brightly.
"He WHAT?!"
"Do not let your anger get the better of you and remain silent, boy. Simply deploying Captains to the human world is not "making it possible to wage war". Kisuke Urahara used a very elaborate and advanced technique to replace the real Karakura with a replica by moving the Real Karakura Town to the Soul Society's outskirts and a false duplicate to its former location. The inhabitants are all asleep and in Soul Society for the duration of this war."
Ichigo calmed slightly.
"Then that just leaves saving Orihime and regrouping with the others; then I can open a Gargantua and get everyone back to fight."
Ichigo closed his eyes and reached out.
He felt Orihime… and Ulquiorra.
"Ulquiorra's back."
"Who?" asked Rukia.
"The Cuatro Espada."
Ichigo turned to the wall that was the right direction and fired a Cero, blowing it down.
"Can you beat him?"
"I hope so."
Ichigo paused.
"Zangetsu said if I hollowify while in Bankai I'll go crazy. I won't have any control over my body and it'll just go on a mindless rampage."
"…"
"If I'm lucky he'll have figured out some way around that before I get there. I'm not sure if Bankai will cut it."
Ichigo vanished in a Sonido.
Ichigo stopped when his blade met that of an Arrancar's.
"You will go no further, Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Fuck you," Ichigo spat, charging a Cero Gigante between his horns. "Get the fuck out of my way!"
Ichigo fired the attack.
He knew he hadn't killed the enemy, but he'd wounded him enough so that he wouldn't be followed.
He could sense Renji, Rukia, and Chad approaching.
'Sorry you guys, I'm going to leave you to deal with them.'
Ichigo flew right where he sensed them and charged a Cero, blasting the wall down.
He flew into the room and stared down Ulquiorra, letting out a roar of defiance before flying right at him, grabbing his head, and flinging him across the room.
"Get…Away…From…Orihime! BANKAI!"
Ichigo burst into his Bankai and motioned for Orihime to get behind him.
"Did he hurt you?"
She shook her head.
"Good."
The dust cleared and Ulquiorra walked a few steps towards Ichigo.
"That was impressive. It almost felt like I'd been hit by a hollow. However, as much as you may look like or feel like a hollow, you cannot be a hollow. You are just a human who has powers that resemble a hollow's."
"You wanna make a bet?"
"I have been ordered to protect Los Noches. Killing you is synonymous with protecting this place. I will eradicate you…" Ulquiorra drew his blade. "With my sword."
"That's unexpected," said Ichigo. "I didn't think you'd draw your sword right from the get-go. I came here thinking 'I'll start by making him draw his sword". Is it safe to say you see me as a serious opponent?"
"At the very least I recognize you as a target that must be destroyed."
"That'll do."
Ichigo and Ulquiorra crossed swords for the first time.
The two traded strikes, neither hitting each other, steel meeting steel until Ulquiorra leapt over Ichigo, dodging a swing.
"Getsuga… TENSHO!"
Ichigo fired the attack, but Ulquiorra cut through it with ease.
He then vanished in a blur, causing Ichigo to have to turn to block.
The two traded blows some more before Ulquiorra charged a Cero on his finger.
Ichigo mimicked the action with three and his Cero met it dead even.
"You managed to match my Cero with your own. You seem to have gotten stronger. Is it because you defeated Grimmjow? Or… is it because of the girl? Or maybe it's because of your comrades who fight at the base of this tower. She is already one of us. That will not change even if you extricate her from here."
Ichigo remembered what Grimmjow had said… and snapped.
"That isn't something for you to decide…. You… BASTARD!"
His Spiritual Pressure skyrocketed and he charged Ulquiorra, his blade burning black and red.
Their blades crossed again.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Ichigo dodged an incoming strike and grabbed Ulquiorra's arm, letting out a roar that borderlined on animalistic as he brought his blade down, slashing the Arrancar's torso with his Getsuga-enhanced blade.
Icihgo didn't let go of his arm however.
He pulled and threw him across the room again, then fired a full power Cero.
Ichigo looked at Ulquiorra when the smoke had cleared.
A cut had appeared on his chest.
'Blood.'
"I can read your movements now, Ulquiorra. Maybe it's because you've driven me to the point where I'm more hollow than human… or maybe it's the other way around."
"I've become more like you humans? I see. It seems that becoming able to keep up with this meager level feels rather good to you. "
The battle increased speed, Ichigo now struggling to block or dodge blows.
"STAND…STILL!"
Ichigo had completely lost it.
They'd taken his friend, twisted her arm somehow to make her follow them willingly, and then done god knows what to her mind.
Ichigo was absolutely livid, and his hollow power far outweighed his Soul Reaper powers at the moment, black and red Spirit Energy pouring out of him with every movement and strike.
Suddenly he lost track of the Arrancar, who swung…
…and had his blade blocked by a barrier.
Ulquiorra and Ichigo looked over to Orihime.
"What are you doing?" asked Ulquiorra.
"…Huh?"
"I'm asking you why you helped him."
"Why? That's because… "
"Because he is your friend? In that case, why didn't you protect him from the first attack? What made you hesitate?"
"Th…That's not…"
"Don't you understand? I'll enlighten you. You're-!"
His eyes widened as he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.
Ichigo was biting down on his shoulder, trying with all his might to shred the Hierro and devour his flesh.
"Shut up!"
"No matter how much you emulate a Hollow's behavior, you will never be a hollow."
"Fuck you…"
Ulquiorra hit the center of the mask and Ichigo stumbled back, the mask healing over quickly.
"Orihime… Thanks for helping me… But you should stay back. It's dangerous."
Ichigo charged a Getsuga into his blade again and swung, forcing Ulquiorra to block.
The two began fighting again, Ichigo's vocabulary devolving more and more into roars of anger and growls of frustration.
'Ichigo…'
Suddenly Orihime felt herself get grabbed and muffled from behind.
Ichigo felt two new Spiritual Pressures and turned.
He kicked Ulquiorra away and sonido'd to her side.
"You two must not like living very much."
The two had looks of sheer terror on their faces.
Ichigo grabbed the wrist of the black haired girl and squeezed, a loud crunch being heard by all soon after.
She screamed and released Orihime.
Ichigo looked to the other one and glared.
"I should kill both of you. But I'm going to give you one chance: Run. Run and never come back. If I see you again I will kill you both without mercy. RUN!"
The two panicked and ran off.
Ichigo looked down at Orihime.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
He felt Ulquiorra rushing him from behind and brought his blade to block.
"Back off. I'm making sure Orihime's okay. I"ll deal with you in a minute."
"I…I'm more worried about you…Ichigo… When I first saw you as a… hollow… I was scared… but then you told me it was okay, that you were still you, and I realized that you were right. But this… This isn't the Ichigo I… that I was friends with! I'm more scared of you than Ulquiorra right now!"
"W…What?!"
Ichigo slowly turned to face the Arrancar behind him.
His gaze said it all; he was going to kill the being before him.
Suddenly a larger being burst in.
"You…! You were the other guy…!"
"Ulquiorra! This kid looks like he's gotten stronger. Let me have a whack at him!"
"Your job is elsewhere, Yammy. Go deal with the Captain-Class intruders below."
"C'mon! I can kill the girl, right?"
Ichigo whipped his head around and narrowed his eyes at Yammy.
"Touch a hair on her head and I'll rip you limb from limb with my bare hands."
Suddenly through a hole in the wall nearby, a figure appeared with a glowing web in front of him.
Yammy stumbled forward.
"Who the hell are you?! Where'd you even come from?!"
"I shot that arrow with that much power and it didn't go through you? You're a tough one. But… Be careful of what comes next. "
Suddenly Yammy exploded.
"Because I outfitted that arrow with an Arrancar Landmine I got from a very shady scientist. "
The Arrancar was hanging onto the edge by his fingers.
Ichigo turned to Ulquiorra, fired the strongest Cero he could manage to get him away, sonidoed over to Yammy and glared down at him.
"Fall, Arrancar."
Ichigo swiftly cut off all his fingers. Each floor he fell through made a loud crash as his immense weight broke the floors.
"Ichigo… that was surprisingly ruthless," noted Uryuu.
"I don't have time to debate ethics with you Uryuu. Take care of Orihime. If my Spiritual Pressure gets too much for her shield, protect her with your body.
"I planned on that. You didn't need to say anything."
He vanished and reengaged Ulquiorra, pouring as much power and rage into his blade as he could… and cracking Ulquiorra's successfully.
The Arrancar back flipped away and was launched out the side of the building.
He charged a Cero… which Ichigo batted away with his blade.
Ulquiorra ran up the side of the pillar and Ichigo followed.
'How far is he gonna go?!"
Ulquiorra smashed through the roof and they were outside, the eternal moon above them.
"This is… Hueco Mundo… outside Los Noches."
"Correct. There are two things that are forbidden within the dome. The first is the Gran Rey Cero. The second is Espada Cuatro or higher releasing within the dome. Both could destroy Los Noches itself. Enclose, Murcielago."
Ichigo simply stared at the being in front of him.
He was going to kill him, or die trying.
"Do not look away. Do not break your stance. Stretch your awareness and do not let your guard down for a second."
He produced a green energy "Spear" and rushed Ichigo.
The two clashed several times, but Ichigo slowly started to lose his footing.
He took hits, and was not only running out of power, but he was physically exhausted as well from his brief fit of Hollow-power induced fit of unholy rage.
'Shit… I can't keep up… At this rate… he's gonna kill me…'
"Your power may have grown stronger for a time, but it seems as if that power is gone. Was it your rage that made you stronger? Or having to protect your ally? Are you at ease now that she is 'safe'? Regardless, this is your end. Such a pity."
Ulquiorra charged him and Ichigo blocked, being forced back several feet.
"Fire off a Getsuga. "
"Wha…?"
"If that is your strongest form and Getsuga is your strongest technique, then fire one at me right here, right now. I will show you the true difference in our power."
Ichigo shoved him back.
"Fire off a Getsuga? I was going to do that anyway."
Ichigo focused his power into his blade, refining it into a deadly, killer wave of complete and utter destruction.
"Getsuga…"
'Here goes everything.'
"TENSHOOOO!"
The attack went out… and was blown apart.
"I guess in the end, this is the level of a human."
"…You're… not hurt…?!"
"Your black Getsuga is very similar to Our Cero."
"What…?"
"You haven't seen it yet? This is the end. I will show you that which the Espada unleash in their released state."
He raised his finger and a black sphere formed in front of it.
"The black Cero… Cero Oscuras."
The blast flew out and engulfed Ichigo.
'Shit…'
Ichigo found himself falling.
Ulquiorra soon appeared next to him, following him down.
Ichigo was tossed aside.
"Do you understand now? No matter how similar your appearance and techniques may be to ours, their power is as far apart as heaven and Earth. When a Soul Reaper or human wishes to gain power, imitating hollows is an appropriate course of action. However, because they are imitating, humans will never be equal to hollows."
Ichigo forced himself to stand, missing most of his uniform.
"Getsuga…!"
"I TOLD YOU IT IS FUTILE!"
Ichigo was slashed.
He was tossed around some more before being held up over a ledge by Ulquiorra.
'Zan…Getsu?'
No response.
"Why won't you let go of your sword? You have witnessed the great difference in our power, yet you still think you can defeat me?"
"Difference…? So…What? You think I'm going to give up… cause you're stronger than me? I knew you were strong right from the start. AT this point no matter how much I see of your strength, it won't change anything. I'll.. find a way to beat you…"
Ulquiorra dropped Ichigo.
"What nonsense. Ichigo Kurosaki, your words are the words of one who does not know true despair. If you do not know, then I shall enlighten you. This is the true form of despair. Resureccion: Segunda Etapa. Among the Espada only I have enabled this second level of release. Even Lord Aizen does not know of it."
Ichigo struggled to rise.
"Even after witnessing this form you still have the will to fight? Very well. I shall make you understand, even if I have to grind your body into dust."
Ichigo was then completely at Ulquiorra's mercy.
"You are a fool, Ichigo Kurosaki. You challenge an opponent whose strength terrifies you and you think you can win. It is beyond my comprehension. If it is due to what you humans call a "heart" it is because of that heart that you suffer injuries, and it is because of that heart that you will lose your life. "
"I'm not fighting you because I think I can win… I'm fighting you because I have to win."
"What nonsense."
Ulquiorra grabbed Ichigo's neck with his tail and held him over a ledge.
Ichigo felt Orihime and Uryuu arrive below them.
"So you're here, girl." Ulquiorra noted. "Perfect. Pay close attention to the moment where the man you've entrusted your hopes to seals off his life."
"STOP!"
Ulquiorra put a hole in Ichigo's chest, larger than his hollow hole had been.
And with that… Ichigo fell to the ground.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Splash
Ichigo found himself surrounded by water, the buildings around him looking charred.
"What happened to this place…?"
"When you went crazy back there your hatred and anger set this place on fire."
"Why didn't you help me Zangetsu?! I thought you were-!"
"This is what I was doing. I couldn't do anything until the fires were gone."
"Ichigo. It does not matter what Ulquiorra might or might not have done to Orihime Inoue. What's done is done. You cannot allow yourself to be held up by it. She will recover, but she will only do so if you are there to help her. You saw how she felt about you; she was mortified at what you had become."
The white Zangetsu rubbed his hands together.
"Now then! About killing Ulquiorra."
"What? Aren't I…dead?"
"Orihime's keepin ya alive. Barely."
Ichigo vaguely heard her crying out his name over and over.
"I have to help her!"
"And you will. Well, somethin' will. I figured it out partner. Give it one drivin' force and instead of just goin' berserk yer Bankai Hollowfication'll follow that ONE order. Results may vary, batteries not included."
"PROTECT HER!"
The water began to evaporate into steam as Ichigo's power rose.
Zangetsu smirked and poured his Hollow power in as well.
"This is gonna be good."
"Must… protect…."
"Ichi…go?"
"How are you still alive? I recognize that form, but it seems… different somehow. Who are you?"
The being opened its hand, calling its blade back to it before bringing it down and sending up a wave of force so strong it destroyed the structure behind him.
Orihime was launched full force away, but Uryuu managed to catch her.
"Can you not hear me? I asked you a question."
"ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"
"It would seem that words are lost on you."
Ulquiorra raised a finger and charged a Cero Oscuras.
The being opposite to him lowered its horns and charged a cero that burned more brightly than Ichigo's ever had before.
Ulquiorra's eyes widened as the blasts impacted… and his own was overpowered with relative ease.
Smoke and fire flew everywhere.
The two traded attacks again, the creature that had once been Ichigo once again winning out.
It then promptly severed Ulquiorra's left arm and hit him over the head with it.
"ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Orihime looked on, terrified.
"Is that really…Ichigo?"
Ulquiorra staggered to his feet, stump bleeding.
He focused for a moment before a new limb sprouted from the stump.
"The greatest of my powers is not my offensive capability, but regeneration. Most Arrancar give up their ability to regenerate at high speeds in trade for immense power. I alone have kept that ability. I can regenerate anything other than my brain or my internal organs. I don't know what's happened to you, but no matter how strong you are it is not possible to defeat me by merely removing an arm and watching dumbstruck."
He pulled his hands apart from in front of his chest and created a weapon of energy.
"Lanza del Relampago."
The being simply stared at Ulquiorra.
"Don't come any closer. Stay right there. If possible I'd like to avoid firing this from up close"
He fired the attack… and it soared past the creature, exploding in the desert.
"I missed? It is difficult to control indeed."
Ulquiorra summoned another Lanza.
"He can fire off more than one of those things?!" exclaimed Uryuu.
The being that was Ichigo vanished…
…And reappeared behind Ulquiorra.
'Impossible! He slipped completely past my pesquisa… That wasn't like before. Before it was always at least some part Flash Step. That was pure Sonido.'
The being threw the severed arm at Ulquiorra, who incinerated it with his Lanza.
"Did you think you could unnerve me by throwing my own arm at me? Don't underestimate me."
Ulquiorra charged with his Lanza…
…And was in shock when the creature not only caught the attack with a bare hand but crushed it.
It then brought its blade down Ulquiorra's torso, wounding him severely and cutting off a horn.
"He beat him…!" exclaimed Uryuu.
"To think that I would be defeated by a hollowfied human… Impossible..."
The being put a foot on Ulquiorra's head and charged another large Cero.
"I see… no mercy… how very much like a hollow. I don't mind; I've lost to you. I no longer have any meaning. Do it."
There was a massive explosion.
When the dust cleared the being was gripping Ulquiorra's sole wing in his free hand.
All that was left of Ulquiorra was his torso, an arm, his head, and a wing.
It threw the decimated Espada a good distance away before approaching the corpse.
It brought its blade down, ready to carve up the body of its foe.
A hand was then gripping its arm.
"That's enough Ichigo. It's over. He's the enemy, but there's no need to carve up his corpse. So that's enough, Ichigo."
The creature tried to move its arm, but was held back.
"Can't you hear me Ichigo? I'm telling you to stop! If you do that, you won't be human anymore! ICHIGO!"
The creature moved to strike Uryuu… but stopped mid-swing.
'ENOUGH!'
The creature's free hand reached up, grabbed its horn, and tore it off with a roar.
The mask shattered and the white on Ichigo's body slowly dissolved and healed any wounds he might have previously had before reforming the "standard" mask on the side of Icihgo's head.
"Ha….ha…."
"Ichigo… what was that just now…?"
"I'm glad I could stop it before it hurt you, Uryuu. Let me-!"
Ichigo turned and blocked a strike from a regenerating Ulquiorra.
"Let's finish this."
"There's nothing to finish. I won."
"I'm not-!"
Ulqiuorra's wing began to turn to sand.
"This is bad. Kill me. Quickly; I no longer have the strength to walk. If you do not cut me down now, then this fight will remain forever unsettled."
"If that's you last wish. Reincarnate and become a good guy or something."
"Hurry."
Ichigo drew his blade.
"Here I was finally starting to take interest in all of you."
He looked to Orihime.
"Do I frighten you, girl?"
"No, you don't…"
He reached out and Orihime did the same before his hand dissolved away.
"I see."
Ichigo drove his blade through Ulquiorra's head, closing his eyes, and the rest of him vanished.
"…You were saying, Ichigo?" Uryuu continued hesitantly.
"What you just saw was my full power. Hollowfication in Bankai. There's a problem with it though, that you might have noticed; I can't properly control it. The only way to have any sort of control is to think of one very basic goal and hammer that into it. It'll keep going until it finishes that goal, no matter what, or until I managed to stop it, which wasn't easy at all. I told it to protect Orihime that time."
"That's absolutely terrifying, " said Uryuu.
Ichigo nodded.
"I get why Zangetsu didn't want me using it until now. It's scary… you're watching yourself do all these things and part of you enjoys it, revels in the primal brutality of it all. The blood, the gore, the pain, the killing, all of that feels really good, you want to savor it, to make it last as long as you can. I almost couldn't fight it. I almost hurt you, Uryuu."
Ichigo paused.
"Have I ever told you two about my 'Inner World'? It's a bunch of skyscrapers on their side that go on forever. If I'm sad, it rains. If I despair, it floods. If I become vengeful, it burns. I got wrapped up in my anger and thirst for vengeance against the Espada and Aizen. Zangetsu came up with a plan; hold back my power. Make me sad. Make me despair. It worked; my Inner World flooded and the fires were extinguished."
Ichigo looked up to Orihime with an apologetic look on his face.
"I'm sorry I scared you so bad Orihime. I was worried about you. That's all."
"I-it's okay…"
Ichigo turned to Uryuu.
"There's a fight going on down below. We should lend a hand once Orihime fixes your arm."
"…The hell is that?"
The Primera Espada stood with an army of wolves behind him, facing two Vizards.
Suddenly a figure appeared between them in a blur.
"I heard how you were talking back there."
Nel stood between the two groups, now wearing a green turtleneck undershirt with a sleeveless black jacket with white trim and very dark green shorts along with knee-high boots that matched the rest of her outfit.
"If you really feel that way then you should forget about Aizen. You don't have to keep fighting."
"Who're you? You're an Arrancar but you aren't dressed like one of us, and I'm sure Lord Aizen woulda found you if you'd been in Hueco Mundo."
"I wasn't in Hueco Mundo. I've been living here, peacefully, for almost two months now."
"Stark! Are you really gonna listen to some stranger over me?!"
"I didn't say that, so shut up. Let's at least hear her out. If she's an enemy it would be best to know about her, right?"
"I am Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, a vasto lorde class Arrancar. I've been living under the roof of a former Soul Reaper captain named Kisuke Urahara who graciously took me in when Ichigo brought me to this world. I was tired of all the violence and fighting in Hueco Mundo, so I decided to follow Ichigo's advice and remove my own mask. That's how I became an Arrancar, and how I wound up in Karakura Town."
She extended a hand to Starrk.
"Leave while you can. Don't die here needlessly. Don't throw your life away when there's more you could do. More you could be. Aizen may have given you strength, but you-!"
"Aizen didn't give me strength. I'm like you, a Natural Arrancar. Aizen is strong. That's why I'm loyal to him. But he's always making me to shit that's a pain in the ass and it looks like he's stopped giving a shit about us. So much for his 'dear Espada'. So then, you stronger than me? Stronger then Aizen?"
"No. But I know who is. Give me one moment."
She blurred away and went to Urahara.
"Can you contact Ichigo?"
"Maaaaybe. That depends; can you open a Gargantua?"
"Ichigo, can you hear me?"
"Nel?! Where are you?!"
"I'm speaking to you with some sort of Kido. I need you here now."
"I can't, I'm-!"
"Please Ichigo! I want to save as many lives as I can, and if you don't come here another will be lost because of Aizen."
"All you had to say was he was involved," Ichigo said.
A Gargantua tore open next to him.
Orihime had restored his power, so he was ready to go.
"Sorry you guys, I'm needed elsewhere. I think you all will be more than enough. Orihime, be careful."
Ichigo jumped into the portal and ran off.
Heads turned.
Everyone in the fight could feel the power that had just arrived on the scene.
"Kurosaki…" Hitsugaya murmured. "Why is he here?!"
Ichigo walked over to Nel who nearly crushed him with a hug, surprising him.
"N-nel! What did you need me for, who's in danger?"
She grabbed his wrist and they vanished into a blur of Sonido.
"Wah!"
The two reappeared in front of the Primera Espada.
"Ichigo is strong enough to defeat Aizen. If he can beat you in a fight, will you succeed from your position as the Primera Espada and abandon Aizen?"
"This kid? You sure about that? He's tough but…"
"I'm going to beat Aizen. He's done some things to a friend of mine that I'm not pleased with. He's going to try to sacrifice my town, my friends, my family, to make his King's Key or whatever. I don't have a choice; he has to lose."
Starrk scratched the back of his head and sighed.
"You sound like a kid alright. Fine. If this kid can beat me, I'll resign and go home and take a nap. If he can't…"
Starrk looked at Nel.
"You're next."
Ichigo stepped in front of her.
"Nel… you guys… step back. I'm going to use my full power. Sorry… you won't get much of a chance to fight back, so… tell me your name, Arrancar."
"Coyote Starrk, Primera Espada. What about you kid?"
"Ichigo Kurosaki, Substitute Soul Reaper."
"So you said something about using your full power?"
"Yeah. There's just one little problem with it."
"Oh? I don't think you're gonna tell me, are you? That'd be pretty dumb."
"I should warn you; it's how I killed Ulquiorra."
That got Starrk's attention.
"You killed Ulquiorra?"
"Easily. My true power is insane. I don't just mean that figuratively. When I use that power…"
Ichigo pulled his hand over his mask.
"…You'll be fighting a monster."
'Make him submit.'
Ichigo raked his hand over the mask and felt something erupt from his hollow hole.
A white substance slowly covered his body.
Fur sprouted from around his collar.
Claws formed on his fingertips and toes.
The mask changed shape and covered his head, horns sprouting and jutting forward, hair growing.
"ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
Starrk sent his wolves to attack, but the beast simply swung its sword, unleashing a blood red Getsuga that forced all of them to explode.
"What…!?"
Suddenly the beast was on Starrk, who Sonido'd away and readied a Cero … and the creature lowered its horns, charging its own cero.
'Does he think he can beat me with just one cero?'
"Dumbass."
Starrk fired his attack… but was in shock as the massive Cero from the creature before him unleashed a cero easily ten times larger than his own and overpowered it.
"What is that cero?"
"ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"
The beast grabbed Starrk's arm and readied his blade, but Starrk summoned more wolves and they jumped the creature, forcing it to back off before they all exploded.
However, the beast was unphased.
"What..?!"
The creature appeared behind Starrk in a blur and growled out one word:
"Submit…"
It brought its blade down, sending Starrk tumbling through the air and into a building.
"SUB...MIT!"
The beast charged a second Cero that obliterated the structure.
Starrk managed to avoid the strike and appeared on a structure nearby.
'He's stronger than I thought…. What a pain…'
He sensed a presence approaching him from behind… and then it stopped.
Shunsui had attempted to stab Starrk in the back, but the creature had stopped him.
It looked at him and growled.
It raised a blade but stopped before striking Starrk instead.
"That was close… I can't let it hit any of the others. That would be bad. I… Think I'm getting better at controlling this. I can give it orders mid-fight, but they've got to be simple, one-word orders…"
Ichigo watched the battle continue, Starrk getting worn down while the creature he- his spirit body- had become took very little if any damage.
Ichigo was waiting.
Waiting to break the mask and take control back.
He was learning about this new power.
'I'll get this under control…'
"SUBMIT!"
The creature ran Starrk through.
"SUB…MIT!"
"Okay! Okay! I….I… Submit… Just shut up already…"
Ichigo forced control of his arm and ripped off a horn.
He was thrust back in control of his body and pulled out the sword with a gasp.
"You… have no idea… how much that hurts," panted Ichigo.
"I…Probably do… kid…"
Starrk passed out and his Resureccion faded away, Lynette appearing beside him.
Ichigo tossed them both over his shoulders and passed them to Nel.
"Take em back to Urahara's shop for now. Need anything else?"
"Convince the other to surrender too."
"That's… a tall order. She's fighting Toshiro. He isn't fond of me."
She gave him a pleading look.
"Fine, I'll try!"
Ichigo saw two of what he assumed were Vizard due to their masks charge the Espada.
"ENOUGH!"
Ichigo grabbed a blade in one hand and blocked the other with his own.
"I'm going to ask you one time, Espada. Will you surrender now that the Primera has fallen?"
"Get outta the way carrot top!" yelled a short blonde.
"Do you want to try and make me?"
He flared his power and the two backed off.
"I asked you a question, Espada! Do you surrender or not?!"
Ichigo turned and pointed his blade at the dark skinned Arrancar.
"KUROSAKI!"
Ichigo looked over his shoulder to Toshiro.
"Hitsugaya. What is it?"
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"I'm ending this."
"By letting them live?!"
"Something like that."
Ichigo felt something cold against his throat and vanished in a blur.
"So you've turned on us."
"When did I say that? I never said I was siding with them. A friend of mine asked me to let them live and end this without any more deaths, so that's what I'm going to do. I don't want to fight you, Captain Hitsugaya. I just want to end this without any more unneeded bloodshed."
"Do you think Aizen will share your sentiments?"
"Probably not. If there's one thing I've learned it's that the desire to kill, to destroy, to seek revenge, it's a poison. It will tear you apart and eventually you'll become the exact monster you hate. Trust me. I know. You need proof? Fine."
Ichigo dropped Tensa Zangetsu and it fell to the ground far below.
"I'm unarmed."
"You can still use Cero."
"Right…"
'Zangetsu?'
The spirit reluctantly pulled back Ichigo's hollow powers.
"There. Look at me; no mask, no sword. What will it take?! I'm not your enemy!"
"I surrender. On one condition."
Ichigo turned.
"What's that?"
"Allow me to retrieve my Fraccion. Let me leave to Hueco Mundo without a fight. Do not hunt me down."
"That seems fair enough. Don't attack Soul Reapers or humans and we have a deal."
"Very well."
"Kurosaki, you can't be serious!"
"I am. If she breaks her promise, I'll deal with her."
Toshiro lowered his blade.
"You had better."
"Let's deal with Aizen then."
Ichigo summoned his mask back and reached out a hand.
Zangetsu came flying back to him and he grabbed it.
Ichigo sensed Aizen move… at the Espada.
He vanished in a blur and shoved her out of the way, taking the strike himself, but grabbing Aizen's arm and holding tight.
"You bastard… You were going to kill her no matter what, weren't you?!"
"She was of no use to me. She isn't worthy of serving under me."
"You're disgusting," Ichigo said, spitting blood onto Aizen's face.
Aizen simply shoved his blade deeper into Icihgo's torso and flung him away.
Ichigo let out a roar and healed his wound before charging at Aizen again.
He watched as his blade penetrated Aizen's shoulder… before a blade pierced Ichigo's shoulder.
'Shit…!'
"You made me swing my blade twice, Ichigo Kurosaki. You were a fool to throw yourself in front of my attack. And for what? To save that speck that is your enemy?"
"Bastard… she… surrendered… She wasn't my enemy… but you are! Getsuga TENSHO!"
He gripped Aizen's blade and turned, firing a full power Getsuga.
However, when the smoke cleared… Aizen was unharmed.
"What…?!"
Aizen kicked Ichigo into a nearby building.
"Now then, shall we begin? Members of the Gotei 13… you botched Pseudo-Arrancar…"
A/N: Normally I loathe these, but this necessitates one. I've got a job now, I start 7/19/2014 (given this may be read at a later time by some), and I start school in August (referring to the time frame of this chapter, see the date above) so I'm going to be very busy. Therefore, I have planned ahead. Instead of releasing a bunch of rapid updates, I've got 3 finished chapters that I just need to proofread to complete and I'm currently working on chapter 14. That's why this update has taken so long, because I've been building up chapters so that I can produce updates even if I get busy with work. Depending on how many hours I'm working and what hours, I'll either produce one chapter a week or two, but I'll try to aim for as many as I can. I will do my best to produce at least one chapter a week, but if I can't then you know why. Expect chapter 11 sometime this Saturday and then chapter 12 sometime next week wash, rinse, repeat. TL;DR expect at minimum 1 chapter/week instead of the rapid fire updates I gave this story before.