Rukai ran across the sands of Hueco Mundo under the endless night. The dead trees whipped past her. The remains of Aizens castle loomed in the distance. She could feel it. She could feel Ichigos spiritual pressure.

He's alive… Oh god I hope he's alright.

She had told herself that Ichigo was alive, that the demons wouldn't kill him after they had taken him away. But now, now that she could actually feel his spiritual pressure she was relieved… and angry. Those Demon bastards… They had hurt Ichigo, and they had taken him away. Away from his family, from his friends…. From her….

Ugh… Why do I keep thinking things like that… Ichigo is just a friend.

"Well you seem to be in an awful hurry to help this just friend of yours," her conscience told her.

Shut up…

As she was running she looked around.

Never thought I come back here again.

She remembered Ichigos group storming through Hueco Mundo in a desperate attempt to save Orihime. She remembered the five of them splitting up, Ichigo hadn't liked that idea. He had said it was too dangerous, and he was right. All of them had gotton pretty badly beat up and her herself had almost died during a fight with an Espeda. And Ichigo… She remembered laying on the ground, almost dead after her fight, when Ichigo's spiritual pressure had gone completely out… She found out later that Ulquiorra had pierced Ichigos chest, and he had almost died…. She remembered the fear, the fear of losing him. She… Rukia shook her head.

Stop with all the memories, focus on the now. Focus on rescuing Ichigo.

She ran harder.

It took her over an hour to reach the castle. She had had to slow down when she got near it. Time to think of a plan. Think before you act. Rukia wasn't like Ichigo. She couldn't just smash her way through everything and everyone until she found the person she was looking for. Rukias style was a little more subtle, and a little less…destructive. She was now a couple hundred feet from the castle. She stopped completely and ducked behind a rock. She peeked out from behind it. She remembered the last time she was here.

Lunuganga, the guardian of the castle had attacked Ichigo, Chad, And Uruyu. She had mangaged to defeat it by using here second dance. She'd won easily, then again, the creature also hadn't even known that she was there. If she were to have fought it face on, she might have a bit of a tough time. And it was reasonable to assume that the Demons had some sort of Defense like Lunuganga protecting the castle.

She cautiously approached the castle… Nothing happened. She approached the castle and touched the wall.

Hmm… there wasn't anything guarding the castle… Strange.

No sooner had she thought this than the ground started shaking

What the hell!

Rukia spun around. A huge worm like hollow emerged from the sand. It was easily the size of a building. The Hollow spotted Rukia and screamed. Rukia glared at the monster before her.

Damn it! I don't need this right now!

"SOUL REAPER!" The hollow shouted.

Oh yeah… Just announce to the world that I'm here.

"Soul Reaper, smell good, smell like… FOOD!" The hollow screamed. Rukia sighed.

"Great… big and stupid…"

I should finish this quick, before it attracts any attention.

She pulled out her Zanpakuto.

"Dance," She said calmly "Sode no Shirayuki"

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Deep inside of the castle. A Demon was sitting on what was once Aizens throne. The Demon, known as Kagai Hitokage smiled.

Well… It appears that we have a visitor. Interesting…

"Master…" Akane noticed his masters expression, "Is something wrong," The Demon Leader smiled again.

"No, everything is fine," he paused for a minute, "Actually, go and bring the guard for the front gate," He told Akane calmly. Akane looked puzzled, but he nodded and left. A few minutes passed.

Interesting, there is only one…

Akane returned, this time with another Demon.

"Thank you Akane," Kagai said, "You may leave," Akane was still confused but said nothing and walked out. Kagai approached the Demon, who was looking quite scared.

"You are the guard of the front gate, correct?" Kagai asked the Demon before him.

"Yes, master, I am," The Demon replied. Kagais eyes narrowed

"And are you aware," Kagai continued coldly, "That a little while ago, a Soul Reaper reached the Castle, and yet you did nothing to inform us." Now the Demon was really scared.

"I-I am sorry, Master… Please forgi…" Before the Demon could blink Kagai had unsheathed his sword and stabbed the Demon through his head. With a thud the now dead Demon fell to the floor.

"You are forgiven," Kagai said as he walked back to his throne. He sat down.

So…. A lone Soul Reaper has infiltrated my castle, undetected by everyone except me.

The Demon leader smiled.

Let's see how far she gets…

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Rukia sneaked through the seemingly endless hallways of the castle. After every turn she made she cursed.

"Damn it…"

UGH! I can feel the general direction of Ichigos spiritual pressure, But this place is a freakin maze, How am I supposed to get to him?

She turned another corner. There was a doorway there, and it was in the direction of Ichigo's spiritual pressure. She took it. She was in a circular room. There were pillars holding up the roof of the a small skylight in the ceiling revealed the moon, which lit up almost the entire room. As soon as she entered the room, Ichigos spiritual pressure vanashed. With a start, Rukia realized that the entire room was made out of Sekkiseki rock. She looked around.

Damn… Ichigos not in here. Well then, just got to keep looking.

She looked around for another door. She spotted one, on the other side of the room. She walked towards it. She was halfway there when she heard an evil chuckling behind her. She spun around.

"Heh Heh… What is this…? A lost Soul Reaper?" Rukia grabbed the hilt of her Zanpakuto.

"Who's there?" She called. She sucked her breath in when she saw a demon step out of the shadows. The creature was truly horrifying. It had long brown hair, horns, a green tail, and wicked looking claws.

"I should be the one asking questions here," The demon said to her, "What is a Soul Reaper doing in our castle." Rukia figured the truth wouldn't hurt.

"I'm here to save Ichigo!" She told the Demon. The Demon started to laugh.

"You're here for that Kurosaki kid! Alone! HA! As if you had a chance to get to him,"

"You know where he is?" Rukia asked the Demon.

"I do…" The Demon answered menacingly, "I' m sort of like his janitor I clean up all the blood and stuff after the tortures," Rukias eyes widened.

Ichigo…

"Tell me where he is!" She shouted at the Demon! It just smirked.

"And if I don't…" He answered coolly. Rukia drew her Zanpakuto.

"Then I'll beat it out of you," She replied. The Demon only smiled further as it drew its own sword.

"You're welcome to try."