~Author's Note~

Happy Veteran's Day everyone! This chapter is dedicated to those who serve our country! And I want to say again thank you guys for supporting me! Extra thanks to BleachxFairyTail9121!

I am experiencing some writer's block...not fun but I really don't know where to take this. I have a slight idea, but I don't want to rush it. Don't be surprised if my posting gets weird...like it totally wasn't in the first place.

Oops, I never did one of the disclaimer things. Well here it is. I DON'T OWN BLEACH AND I DON'T MAKE MONEY FROM THIS. There, all done.

PM me if you want to see this story to take a certain direction! Read and review!

~A-Happy-Writer-Who-Posted-The-Tenth-Chapter

The three pillars of light shot up into the sky, illuminating the darkness the Arrancars brought. Stopping momentarily, I stared at it in awe and fear. The limits on the high officers has been released and the force is staggering. Some of the weaker Hollows are already disintegrating from that alone. But for them to have to be that strong to fight the Arrancar...is a scary thought.

A ripping sound tore through the air. The remaining Hollows were opening portals and fleeing back to their dark homeland.

"Oh no you don't!" I used shunpo to block their exit. "Bare your fangs, Towairaitookami!"

For a split second, I wasn't sure if I was going to pull it off. The particles in the air was thinner than I was used to, making the air almost eating at my reiatsu as I cranked it out. But a little demon magic steadied my transformation.

"It's show time," I grinned, adrenaline pumping. If the others are going to go all out, I might as well.

A couple minutes later, the portals closed up quickly, as if frightened. A couple of them got away, and one even gave me a slash on my thigh when I wasn't looking, but most were cleaned of their wrong doings.

Towairaitookami turned back into a blade, almost purring in satisfaction.

"You did well," she said contently in my mind.

"I couldn't have-" I was cut off by the sudden drop of the reiatsu. "Ikkaku-san!"

His presence wavered, almost disappearing as he struggle to stay alive. I ran on the air as if it was solid concrete. Every step was one step too far and every second is one precious second lost. Captain Zaraki's voice sounded in my ear: "I need you there to keep Ikkaku and Ichigo alive". My heart was bounded by tight chains, with invisible forces pulling at the ends.

People say the scariest part of a battle is when you realize you can't win. But they are wrong. The scariest moment is when you can't keep your comrade safe and they are hurt as a result. That is the ultimate horror.

Yumichika-san was already kneeling over his friend when I dropped from the sky. The whole street was demolished. The buildings were bashed in and the road looked like a giant was using it as a punching bag, with craters peppering the scene. Not that I had ever seen it happen before, but I

"What happened?" I panted, narrowly avoiding a shard of glass.

"He took on an Arrancar and didn't take him seriously at first," He mumbled to himself. "That idiot. Doesn't he know how ugly it is to be beat up? Of course he doesn't."

"It's not as bad as the time when your hair was blown up for two weeks by that ryoka," A feeble voice came from the rubbles.

"Ikkaku-san!" I scrambled over.

"Don't make it sound like you were at my funeral," he lifted his head. "I am not dead yet."

"What do you mean that it wasn't as bad as my hair? This is definitely worse. I mean, I look good in anything," Yumichika-san tossed his hair over his shoulder.

I facepalmed. Just when I was worried, they do something like this.

"Huh? What do you mean? Your hair was puffed up 'till it was almost eating your head. Even Captain thought it was bad."

"No one in Squad 11 has tastes like me. Honestly, I am the only one who is holding up the beauty compartment in our squad. WIthout me, you guys might as well be some homeless ruffians that take showers once a month."

"Yeah, since one of the 'homeless ruffians' decided that you guys are fine, and that not matter how cute it is, she doesn't want to get in the middle of a couple's fight, she's going to check up on the others," I jumped in the conversation.

"Rukia has it bad. Do you feel it? Her reiatsu in dipping lower than mine," Ikkaku-san turned serious.

"Yeah," Yumichika-san agreed and started first aid kido. It was crap, but I wasn't going to tell him that. I like my head where it is, thank you very much. "She is the worse out of all of us."

It was true. Ikkaku-san's spiritual levels has been climbing steadily up since he woke up. But Kuchiki-san's was still dropping. Any lower, even Captain Unohana would have trouble reviving her.

"I'm going to check up on them," I repeated.

"Then what are you waiting for? Are you stupid? If you say that you are going to do it, then do it!" Ikkaku-san snorted.

I glared at him one last time before taking off. Well, tried. My leg collapsed as I shifted my weight on to it. I gritted my teeth; my whole body jolted and landed on the ground.

"Damn it, forgot about the cut," the affects of the adrenaline was receding but the numbed pain made its appearance.

"Tadaka!" I waved away the concerned men.

"I'm fine."

I clutched at my right thigh, watching the blood well up and spill over. The red splattered and spread like star bursts on the concrete. The warm liquid seem to be infinite, streaming at its heart's content.

Blood...Nourishment...Food...Power

My vision started to turn red and my senses heightened. I could feel the delicious soul power leaking out from Yumichika-san, Ikkaku-san...and a boy hiding in the shadows. I need it. The emptiness inside me needs it to be full, for me to be happy. I need it. I NEED IT!