Reminder... I don't own Bleach and these are events of an AU/Timeline and may contain spoilers. Enjoy.

Chapter 11: The Gauntlet into Town

Baldo continue through the streets of Karakura Town heading for the clashes of the strongest spiritual pressures. He defeated Hollow after Hollow each one introducing themselves as an Espada at a lower number than before. The pressures surrounding the city suggested some of the more powerful Hollows were defeated too.

Baldo had just defeated Espada 29, Bartolamu, when he entered a street that was covered in human beings. They weren't dead just asleep.

"Draco, what's going on here," Baldo asked.

"A powerful sleep spell," Draco answered, "Seems to have the whole city under its power."

"Will it affect us?"

"No, our spirit energy's too strong," Draco replied, "It seems to only have an effect on lower or non-spiritually sensitive persons."

"So that means Gena, Tatsuki, and the others have some spiritual powers of their own," Baldo said.

"Most likely. Definitely, Tatsuki. She was holding something back against that Espada."

"How come we didn't come across more sleeping people," Baldo wondered, "Does it have something to do with the pillar that was destroyed?"

"Possibly but I don't know for sure," Draco answered.

A new set of Hollows appeared before him, "Doesn't matter," Baldo said, "Now it doesn't matter what happens to me. Let's save this city."

"I am with you, Baldo," Draco said, "Baldo, do you see it?"

"Yes," Baldo destroyed the new group of Hollows without learning their names or rants of power. He rushed toward the battle raging in the sky at the center of which was a 100 story armored samurai floating in the sky.

Baldo reached the center of the town and prepared to join the aerial battle when a group of Espada chased an orange haired boy and two young girls.

"Run Karin! Yuzu! We can't beat them," the boy carried one under each arm.

"If you want us to run then put us down," the dark haired girl wearing a ball cap yelled.

"Why brother, Ichigo, why do we need to run," the other girl with dirty blonde hair asked.

Ichigo slid to a stop when another Espada appeared surrounding them.

"Breathe Draco, fire," Baldo spat a blaze hot enough to evaporate the Hollows. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks," Ichigo said when an explosion sent them flying. The two girls landed hard getting knocked out.

A fast moving Espada appeared engaging Baldo and matching him blow for blow. It separated Baldo from the other three. Another explosion sent a wave of debris toward the girls.

Suddenly a 9 foot giant looking worn and beaten appeared between a large slab of concrete and the girls. Wearing a black Shihakusho under a white kimono, he wasn't wearing his helmet confirming what Baldo deduced after meeting Garland. The warrior dropped his sword.

"It's him," Baldo said slashing down the speedy Espada. In a flash, Baldo caught the collapsing figure. "Don't worry. I've got you."

His bleeding wolf's head turned to Baldo. "You can see me," he asked in the same sincere tone from that night 6 years ago.

"Yes," Baldo answered before the wolf's reddish brown head passed out. Picking up the sword, Baldo saw a cut appear along the floating giant's abdomen then felt blood run down his arm.

'Captain Komamura's bleeding' Baldo thought noticing another cut appear on the wolf's arm in the same place as the giant in the sky. "You two must be linked," Baldo said to Komamura, "If only that samurai would disappear we could regroup."

The floating warrior vanished. "Thank you, sword," Baldo smiled feeling Komamura's sword pulse, "I mean Tenken."

Baldo carried the anthropomorphic fox with a reddish brown top coat and a crème colored underside to an auto garage, "Hey Ichigo! Get them in here."

Inside the garage, Baldo watched a Hollow with tremendous spiritual pressure fly overhead. The fly like creature kept yelling for "Sajin to show his ugly face." Baldo peered through a crack as the creature's voice faded.

Ichigo had draped damp cloths over the girls' foreheads and kept glancing at Captain Komamura. Slowly the captain stirred and sat up. Just sitting he was almost 5 feet tall.

"Good you're awake," Baldo smiled warmly, "Don't push yourself. I could only just close the wounds. They're not completely healed."

Komamura looked from Baldo to a cowering Ichigo back to Baldo, "My guise doesn't frighten you?"

"No, should it," Baldo asked.

"He's a wolf," Ichigo said, "What big eyes you have? And those teeth. Why'd you bring him here, Baldo?"

"He's a good person who needed help. Why wouldn't I bring him here," Baldo surprised the wolf. Surprising him even more when Baldo turned to Ichigo and growled, "Stop looking at him like he's going to eat you and thank him for saving their lives."

The orange haired kid bowed, "Thank you for saving my sisters."

Komamura remained silent for a moment then turned to Baldo, "Your perception of me is unusual. Most people see me as a monster."

"You're a sentient bipedal talking wolf. You're one of most peoples' greatest fantasies. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar," Komamura looks at Baldo's eyes, "Well you're one of mine anyway."

"Thank you," Komamura responded feeling the earnestness in Baldo's voice.

"Besides some of my best friends are talking animals," he received questioning looks from Komamura and Ichigo. Baldo bowed low, "Sir? Would you bestow upon me the honor of knowing your name?"

"You're a strange human," the wolf chuckled with a half smile, "My name is Sajin Komamura, Captain of the 7th Squad in the 13 Court Guard Squad. And who might you be?"

"I am Baldo Thompson and I have been looking for you for a very long time Captain Komamura," Baldo answered happily turning to Ichigo, "And what's your name?"

"I'm Ichigo Ko."

"I mean your real name," Baldo interrupted taking the kid by surprise, "Your soul doesn't seem to fit that body."

"I'm- I'm Kon," the orange haired kid said, "I'm borrowing Ichigo's body to protect his sisters while he's away."

"Pleased to meet you, Kon," Baldo replied.

"You're not bad for a human," Kon responded, "I can't sense any spiritual pressure."

"Thanks," Baldo smiled.

Suddenly Komamura tried standing but Baldo held him down, "Let me go," Komamura struggled, "My men need me. I've got to rejoin the battle and I've dropped my zanpakuto."

"Calm down Captain. Tenken's right there protecting you and your men are alright," Baldo motioned to the sheathed sword, "Use this time to recover as best you can."

"You know the name of my zanpakuto?"

Baldo nodded, "Yeah, he told me when I needed him to hide."

"He told you," Komamura questioned, "Impossible only the wielder can hear their zanpakuto."

"Then I guess we're kindred spirits," Baldo joked.

Komamura laughed turning it into a cough, "How do you know my men are alright?"

"That Hollow outside is completely fixated on you," Baldo stated, "I believe your men are using the time to regroup and plan a counter strike. Can't you feel it?"

"Kon was right. You are good," Komamura paused a moment, "Baldo Thompson? So you're the one Lieutenant Hisagi reported to us about."

Komamura recanted how Shuhei Hisagi advised that there was a human child that could mask his spiritual pressure until just before an attack and carried a zanpakuto that became a stick when it slept.

He continued saying that Shuhei, also, reported that the kid had no knowledge of the Soul Society or that his weapon was even a zanpakuto. Komamura ended admitting that he hung the sketch in his barracks.

"Good. I hope it helps you sleep at night," Baldo laughed.

"Ah, there you are Sajin," the Hollow landed at the start of the parking lot, "Why don't you come out and die?"

With Draco, Baldo stood, "You keep resting. I'll take him on."

"This is my fight," Komamura tried standing holding Tenken, "He'll destroy you."

"Not if I destroy him first," Baldo said calmly.

"What about your family and friends?"

"I don't have any of them," Baldo looked back with a half smile, "not alive anyway."

"You're that boy from 6 years ago," an image flashed across Komamura's mind after seeing the sadness in Baldo's eyes.

"I won't worry any of them," Baldo motioned to the door.

"Shuhei said you had something to tell me," Komamura tried stopping Baldo from leaving.

"I'll tell you after our battle," Baldo smiled, "You can fight when you can stand. I'll hold the monster."

"Tosen," Komamura interrupted, "That monster's name is Tosen. He's my friend. I'm going to make him see again," Komamura's eyes tear.

"Ah. A rescue mission," Baldo said, "I'll do my best not to kill him but Captain Komamura," Baldo looked coldly at Komamura, "If he attacks any innocent people, I won't hold back."

Baldo exited. "Thank you, Baldo," Komamura spoke out loud to himself, "I only hope I have the strength if it comes to that."