Chapter 12

A/N: Anyone whos awaiting chapters for my other fics will have to wait until this fic is finished which isn't long from now. Writing and updating all three stories takes a lot out of me and I just want to finish this one before I update the others. Thank you.

"Yoruichi? You makin' an army or something?" said Ichigo. The vixen turned to him and said, "That's exactly what we're doing."

"You mean you're sending the entire soul society to fight these things? Are they really that tough?" he continued.

"They nearly killed you and your asking me if they're that difficult?" she retorted. Both he and Rukia joined the crowd only to look up minutes later as Yoruichi hopped up on the largest boulder there was in the grounds, she turned and with a massive clap alerted everyone to her presence.

"Listen, everyone. We all knew this day would come! We have to put aside our petty conflicts and work together considering this may be the last time you see each other and this word! Now I want everyone to shut up and listen to this boy whose about to speak!" she yelled. She stepped aside and allowed Ishida to take a stand. He seemed to be rather flustered at the attempt of talking in front of thousands of people.

"Alright... um... everyone. I was recently noted about this event and joined forces with the brilliant Kurotshuchi-"

"Yes, yes thank you for the introduction but I rather make this announcement." said Mayuri as he swatted Ishida away. He held his hands up majestically and said, "My comrades! This lucky human I have created a portable head device that will enable many of you to exchange information with each other. These will be used in case orders must be given on the spot and if plans need to be revamped for future use." he said.

The crowd murmured lightly clearly skeptical of their part. Ichigo turned to Rukia and said, "What is the soul society planning?"

"Not sure." she responded. Moments later Urahara appeared looking rather nerved and unsettled. He quickly made his way to Yoruichi as if something bad had happened. He took her by the shoulder and and whispered something to her, whatever it was it made her eyes wide. She immediately went onto the rock and shouted, "Everyone, prepare for a tremor!"

And like clockwork a massive surge of reiastu rocked the area sending an immense tremor into the ground causing everyone to stumble and hold onto each other.

"What the hell is that?" said Ichigo looking over to Rukia. She could only shake her head as she too was trying to figure out the reason behind the sudden quake. Whatever it was it sounded like it had penetrated deep into the Earth. Just when the quake subsided an ear splitting sound came from nowhere and immediately immobilized the entire assembly, many clutched the sides of their heads and many tried to fight the noise even though some began to bleed from their ears.

A eerie laughter soon could be heard sending deep chills with Ichigo's body. The voice was a combination of Inoue's and something else.

"I see you Shinigami have united to fight against us... good. I'll just let it be known that you will not win. Not in this generation nor any other. So, I challenge all of the Shinigami to one last bout. We both know we cannot let the other exist. Us Original Hollow or now more formally known as the Demi and you, Shinigami. Since now we have a new host we have enough power to accumulate a force of nearly infinite infantry. You will be fighting a war on this world. This is our war. There will be death. There will be blood. I've given your forces 24 hours to come up with the best shot you have. If you are in a hidden area and cannot see what is happening on the human world I suggest when you have the time to look and see what devastation we already have caused..."

Yoruichi cursed, clearly acknowledging what this voice had said. She looked over to Urahara and asked, "Where's Kuchiki?"

"He'll be here. He's surveying the area. We clearly can't keep everyone here. Maybe a handful. We need to have Shinigami all around area. It will be difficult to hide nearly a thousand shinigami but if we space everyone out there will be a smaller chance of the Demi from finding us." he said.

"Hold on, the Demi just said he's giving us a day. What would be the point of hiding?" she asked.

"You cannot trust these creatures. You have to remember that these were the very things that despised our ancestors because they were the light and they were the dark. We need to know what they're doing at all times and if we know the enemy, we might win." he responded.

"What do you mean, 'we might'?" she said. Urahara glanced at her from under his hat and said, "I will not lie. Despite he fact we have numbers, the Demi are known for their vast armies. The last time they showed up was when we were kids and they fought in the spirit world. But now they're in the human world and their power is unlimited. Literally unlimited due to their ability to feed on human emotion. That poor girl must be going through hell right now. They are literally torturing her mind in order to feed themselves with her grief and sorrow. She's acting as their fuel and the world as their driveway."

Yoruichi looked down and crossed her arms. This was something she underestimated. She looked on the massive gathering of Shinigami. Despite the seriousness of the situation some where laughing, some were talking and clapping. They were death gods but full of humanly emotion. Wants and desires. Lives that wanted to be lived. Lives that wanted to have a purpose. She knew not all of them were to survive. Some of the faces she looked at she wouldn't be able to see. Either they would be killed or even she would be.

"Eh? Are you crying?" asked Urahara. Yoruichi's violet bangs hovered over her dark face. Tears fell silently from her eyes and landed on her forearms. Her shoulders rose and fell subtly.

"I'm scared..." she whispered.

The sky was crimson and what fell resembled snow but was in fact nothing of the sort. Ichigo stared in awe that his once mellow town had been transformed to the abyss of hell itself. The ground had cracked and lines of glowing red emitted from random rocks. Building were damaged and some actually destroyed. The air was hot and stale and it made his forehead drop beads of sweat to his face. He looked over to Rukia whose eyes were wide with surprise. They had left the shop minutes before under the order of Urahara. They had to secure a hiding place and await further instructions. Both he and Rukia were now sporting a headset that were given to them by Ishida. He could remember Ishida saying, "Just tap the side of the headset when you find a place to hide. We need to keep track of everyone. We've given one to each of the division leaders as well as lieutenants and others of important interests."

"Do you even know where we are?" asked Rukia. Ichigo hadn't had a clue. Everything had changed so drastically it was almost unrecognizable. Then a thought popped into his head.

"Rukia? What happened to all of the people here?"

"My brother told me he managed to direct them to safety. To where I don't know but we have more important matters to attend to like finding a place to spend the next 24 hours."

"Yeah, I guess so." he said, "I'm hoping the hospital is still standing and even if it is I hope no one has bothered to use it."

"Why the hospital?" she asked.

"It has natural fortification if we were to be attacked. And I just think that's our best bet."

23 hrs 59 mins Remaining

It took them a few hours to reach the hospital. They constantly encountered roaming Demi's but to their luck they managed to always pull from view before they caught any attention. Ichigo acted as a scout and often went ahead to survey the area whilst Rukia pinpointed areas where the Demi's were held up. Interesting to know she realized the Demi's were also holding up positions around the area. The hospital looked as if it had been abandoned for years, the cracked walls the discolored paint, the random stretchers that littered the hallways and medical supplies. They walked into each room making sure no one else was around. Once they secured their surrounding Rukia pulled out a small tablet from her pocket and tossed it over her shoulder.

"What's that?" asked Ichigo.

"A barrier. In case someone or something looks at this place it will look unstable to even go in. To another Shinigami it will also have the word 'Occupied' so they don't try and take this point." she said.

"How did you get that?"

"Urahara."

"Figures."

The two of them walked aimlessly through the halls, none of them saying a word. They were alone. No one to intrude. No one to watch them. Just them. They approached the waiting area. Ichigo sat in a chair leaning his Zanpaktou against a wall. He had a while before he would have to fight. Rukia sat beside him also leaning her Zanpaktou against the wall.

21 hrs 00 min Remaining

"Ichigo?" said Rukia.

"Yeah?"

"I...uh..."

"You're hungry aren't you?" he asked. He could see her face turn a shade of red. He stood and felt around his pockets and found a decent amount of change.

"There must be a vending machine or something." he said looking around, "I'll be right back."

Rukia sat quietly, for some reason her hunger had increased drastically and it wasn't common for her to feel hunger that much anyway. The sudden heat made her feel uncomfortable and somehow quite nauseous. Maybe she was scared. Scared to die? Or scared to watch him die? People she knew weren't going to be around soon. Just the mere question of whom was agonizing.

Ichigo appeared some time later holding small baggies of goods and two small bottles of somewhat warm water. He sat down and handed her her portion but as he did he caught a glimpse of sorrow in her eyes.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"No... there's nothing." she said.

"Don't lie to me, Rukia."

"I am not."

"Bullshit, you're lying in my face."

"Whatever." she replied. He glared at her as she began to indulge, his temper was shortening.

"Fine." he said as he stood. He walked down the hall holding his Zanpaktou in one hand and stuffing the rest of his chops in his mouth by holding the bag upside down and into his mouth. He wasn't going to go through that shit. He had more important things to do than hear her complain and not say anything. He knew how to take care of her. If she didn't appreciate his attempts to do so then to hell with her. He tried. He wasn't good at it but he tried. He took a turn cutting into another hallway not caring where it was leading him.

"Ichigo.."

He looked behind him.

"What do you want?" he asked Rukia. She stood several feet away from him holding her katana with both hands and looking down at it.

"I'm sorry."

"Please, leave me alone."

She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Are you that heartless?" she asked.

"Me? You're asking me that? I'm not the one who had a sudden attitude because the only thing I could bring was damn junk food."

"That's not it."

"Then what is it?" he spat.

"I didn't mean to act distant. I'm just..."

"Spit it out woman." he said.

"I don't want to love you."