A/N: For those who are curious why Ichigo is more reserved and quiet, its because of mastering his Bankai. If you remember in canon when he trained with Zangetsu the spirit was sad and glum but held his regal aura about him. Then when he fought Aizen (before releasing Mugetsu) he was on-par with Aizen, because his 'completed' Bankai was that powerful. Basically he has taken a part of Zangetsu to heart and is more solemn, quieter but just as protective.

Italics + ' = Thoughts (Etc. = 'What is that?')

Bold + '' = Inner Hollow/Secondary Spirit (Etc. = ''Fucking Quotation marks!'' He roared) (Or Zangetsu in Ichigo's case).

Italics + '' = Zanpakuto Spirit (Etc. = ''Do not hesitate, Ichigo'' Zangetsu said) (Quincy part of Zangetsu for Ichigo's case).

I DONT OWN BLEACH!

Chapter 21: Resurreccion and Look-a-Like - Alliance ARC

Aizen was slightly miffed, for lack of better word.

Ever since he had returned to Las Noches his Espada have seemed oddly dormant, while something along those lines would normally be of no concern, having Grimmjow, Nnoitra and Yammy is however. Even Wonderweiss had been spending an unusual amount of time with the Cuatro Espada, he assumed it was possibly basic instinct but it felt plain odd.

'Ah well, they aren't powerful enough to challenge me, so who cares what they did with their free time?'.

Despite that thought, I couldn't shake the feeling something else was going on that my eyes did not see.

''Getsuga Tenshou!'' I roar and swing my trench knife, sending a small but compacted blast of energy towards Asami, she easily blurred out of its path and I just managed to bring my blades up to block both of hers, though there was nothing I could do to block the kick she shot at my abdomen that sent me through a few trees.

I roll out of the way of her relentless assault, in the form of a bolt of lightning tat struck the area I previously laid on. I wordlessly fire a weak Getsuga at her approaching from but she simply bats it away with her blade, forcing me to Shunpo away rom the crash site to avoid a wordless Mikadzuki. The crescent wave passed by me and eventually burned out, fading away in the process.

She abruptly flashed backwards and spun her spear like a helicopter blade, blue-ish lightning coming off in sparks as her Reiatsu raised ten-fold from the technique.

''Denki Sukai: Nemiminimizu!'' She called. (Tran: Electrical Sky: Bolt from the Blue).

A large circular golden-blue emblem appeared above her, shooting a literal storm of blue-gold bolts from the emblem into the sky. They went maybe a hundred feet up before abruptly changing course down at me, I fire off a wordless Getsuga and destroy some of them before the numbers overwhelmed me and forced me into a flurry f Shunpo to avoid the massive bolts of sheer energy, one passed by my cheek and cut without resistance while another pierced my abdomen.

''C'mon, release me!'' His Zanpakuto-hollow cheered with bloodlust.

'My thoughts exactly'.

I leap far enough back and cross both blades over my chest ''Are you ready?''.

She raised an elegant eyebrow with a smirk ''Let's see it then''.

I grin in a feral way as hollow Reiryoku surrounds me ''Slaughter, Zangetsu!''.

Power burst forth in a pillar of black and red, making the earth rumble from sheer force of power. It dissipates slowly and revealed me in the same form his Zanpakuto was in at the Sokyoku hill.

''So you managed to evolve your hollow powers'' She said with a half-smile, half-grin at his Resurreccion. I nodded and disappeared in a buzz of Sonido, black swinging for her torso like a bullet. She barely managed to get away with only a cut on her cheek, a slight trail of blood flowing free.

''You better take me seriously'' I said, grinning behind my mask.

She actually seemed to contemplate that for a moment before a feral grin also crossed her face, Hollow Reiryoku leaking out of her in a way that I did... only a sense of uneasy excitement built up in me, like I knew something bad was coming but liked it.

''I'll humour you'' She said, her voice slowly becoming more echoed as she held both blades in a plus sign parallel to her face ''Massacre, La Caida''. (Tran: The Fallen).

She exploded into a pillar of white-purple power, gusts kicking up from the radiating power like I had done. It took almost a minute for it to fully dissipate, when it did it revealed her fully hollowfied form like mine. Her entire body became cased in bone of purple and white; white bone covering her chest, shoulders, neck and from the waist to feet. The purple bone covered her feet, hands and arms and stomach. Her hollow hole was located where her heart was, the mask taking a form similar to her usual mask but the one-sided horns were far taller, maybe several inches. Her irises like mine had become black on gold, though her Reiatsu was far more weighing than my own. In both hands she held two different katana, one golden yellow and the other silver white, both having a coloured ribbon wrapping around her wrist before infusing with the bone.

''So we both have a hollow form?'' I muse aloud.

''Yeah, its called Resurreccion. Normally only Arrancar can use it, however Vizard can also use it with enough training... so far I am the only one to own a Resurreccion, so this'll be interesting'' She said in a tone that ensured pain, making me visibly shiver.

She buzzed forwards, for once with actual sound, and appeared in front of me and swung down. I raised Tensa Zangetsu and we clashed, sending shockwaves around us and cracking the ground. She suddenly removed all weight from the deadlock and backpedalled, making me lose my balance and almost topple forwards. She took advanced of my surprise and ducked inside my guard, swinging and creating a deep gash along my side. I growl in annoyance and with my free arm bring my elbow down onto her shoulder, she gasped slightly at the sudden action and deciding to return the favour, my knee shoots up and impacts with her stomach.

I allow to stumble back from me, glaring with her golden eyes that could kill an army alone. She vanished and appeared behind me, leg shooting into my side and sending me flying to the side. By the time I regained my balance she was in front of me, knee darting up and striking my jaw, cracking the bone slightly. I wince and attempt to swing my sword at her but her foot crashed into my chest and sent me skidding back, making my blade hit air.

''You've got to try harder than that, Ichigo'' She said with a hint of teasing in her tone.

'Its going to be hard getting use to her no longer being all stoic...'.

''You're no better'' His hollow snickered.

'Shut up'.

I sidestep another slash from her, one that made a shockwave on its own and tore down several trees. I dash forwards and sneak past a slash but before I could get in her guard she twisted her body into a graceful twirl, bringing the back of her right blade screeching towards me. I raise Tensa to block it but the impact alone made me jolt and skid a foot away, cracks forming in the ground as she jump-kicked me in the chest and sent me tumbling back. By the time I regained my footing all I saw was a Cero forming at the tip of her golden blade before a red light engulfed me.

'Shit that hurts!'.

The beam died down seconds later, my skin burned slightly from the intense heat. I burst forward in an attempt to clash with her but she backpedalled back forcing me to follow. She had her back to a large rock but in an instant buzzed away and reappeared behind me, I spun around to counter but her foot crashed into my chest and sent me into the rock. It didn't shatter when I came into contact, making me idly realise this was not a rock but rather a mountain that went high into the sky.

She abruptly threw both of her swords at me, each piercing my shoulder and pinning me to the wall. The ribbons that previously held the blades to her armour were non-existent, showing no signs of existing in the first place. She walked up to me casually, golden eyes twinkling with mirth as she paused only a feet or two from me.

A Cero formed at her finger but surprisingly contorted and reformed into a chinese scimitar. It surged with power but was quickly reined in as she gripped the handle of it, making it solidify and glow only dimly.

''You're good'' She said in amusement ''You'd probably be at least the Tereca in the Espada... I'm sure I've only got a simple glimpse of your power, let alone your potential''.

She suddenly let go of her Cero-made weapon and buzzed back a few dozen feet, the weapon was suspended in the air for a moment before slowly falling. Without Asami controlling it, it began to glow brightly and surge as it prepared to explode. I wouldn't be able to escape with these swords pinning me back and by the time I remove them it will explode. So in a last ditch attempt I do the only thing I could think; push my Reiryoku into my blade and make it blunter instead of sharper and swing it like a bat, successfully knocking the falling weapon away from me and towards Asami. Her golden eyes widened before the glowing weapon convulsed and exploded, coating the area in a massive red dome.

When the explosion died down I was slightly disappointed to see she had only suffered burns and chipped armour, but then again it was her own attack I guess. She walked back to me like before in a casual pace but the respect in her eyes was new.

''Good, Ichigo... I had not foreseen you using my own bomb as a weapon against me'' She praised as her mask cracked and shattered, the rest of her armour also doing the same as she reached and tore both swords from their place in my shoulders making me grunt ''That's all for now, you have massive potential to grow your hollow powers, especially considering how you did so well against me when I wasn't going all-out''.

I scowl as my mask disintegrates ''So you weren't even going all-out?''.

She smirked at me ''Very few could hope to say that they could match my Resurreccion, yet you complain about not being able to force me to my limits?''.

''It just means I need to train harder'' I grin lightly.

''Mm, for now I can introduce you to Akuma and Purple Tear HQ'' She returned the grin ''Then we've got another problem to deal with, though this will require us to kill a small group of guys''.

I frown ''I'm not that...''.

''Willing to kill?'' She said for me and I nod.

She sighed and put a hand on my shoulder and offered a sympathetic smile ''While I want to say you won't half to, sometimes death is better than living. For these particular set of people if we let them live they could one day destroy soul society by manipulating the dimensions. However if they are caught by the Gotei 13 they'll spend an eternity in Muken - essentially a pitch black room where you are tied up and left blind, deaf, etc. If they die they'll be reborn with new lives and no memories of their past, thereby giving them happiness - following me?''.

I sigh ''Yeah... but I don't like it, its like I'm going against what I stand for''.

She nodded ''I felt the same when I was younger, but if you must kill to protect, then there is no debate''.

I nod grimly ''Yeah... thanks''.

She offered another smile before turning and blurring towards the house, I sigh in defeat and take off after her.

We appeared out of the blur beside a large rectangular door, the same one the Bounts went in. Inoue and Isshin were waiting outside it and seemingly having idle chatter, though our appearance turned their attention on us.

''Kurosaki-kun! Urahara-san!'' Inoue squeaked in surprise.

''Hey, Inoue-san'' I greet and Asami offers a silent nod before she turned an irritated look at the portal.

''He was supposed to be here a few minutes ago'' She grumbled.

''Who?'' I ask in puzzlement.

''Your cousin'' Isshin grinned proudly.

I blink ''Eh?''.

My father looked surprised and turned his gaze on Asami ''You didn't tell him?''.

She rolled her eyes ''Sorry but I was too busy teaching him combat skills, I don't have enough time on my hands to explain his heritage besides your past occupation''.

Isshin chuckled and turned his gaze back at me ''Long story short; I was captain of the tenth division before Toshiro, part of one of the four great noble clans known as the Shiba clan - You've met Kukaku and Ganju I believe, however brief. I had a nephew called Kaien, but he died shortly after I left soul society but thanks to Asami here he's back''.

I look at Asami ''You brought back the dead?''.

She sheepishly scratched her cheek and looked away ''Well he wasn't dead per say, rather absorbed by a hollow... all it took was killing the hollow and retrieving his soul before it entered the reincarnation cycle''.

''Wow~'' Inoue whistled in awe ''How did you do it?''.

She shook her head ''You don't wanna know''.

Inoue deflated slightly but nodded, though I had a sneaking suspicion the real reason why she didn't say was because it was an experiment of some kind - considering she is the daughter of a mad scientist and a blood relative of a god of hell. Just then the doorway shimmered and a figure stepped into view, he looked surprisingly alike to me but my face was more narrow, his hair was raven black and eyes aqua green. He had the normal Shihakusho on, Zanpakuto at his waist and a wide grin on his face.

''Sorry no time to talk!'' He blurted out before vanishing in Shunpo.

Everyone blinked in surprise, only for Asami to say ''Three... two... one...''.

Another figure burst through, this one a woman. She was around our age, maybe slightly older, with long straight black hair and brown eyes. She wore a white hooded cloak, thigh-length trench coat, knee-high boots, miniskirt and black stockings with a red trim on her gloves and boots. She had a red heart-shaped buckle with a white cap with gold.

''KAIEN GET BACK HERE YOU ASSHAT!'' She screamed as she blurred after the man, who's Shunpo wasn't anywhere near as fast as her.

''Who was she?'' I mutter.

''Bambietta Basterbine'' Asami informed ''Quincy, Captain-Class, Short Temper, is always pranked by Kaien''.

There was a large explosion in the distance ''...and also uses Reishi bombs as her unique weapon''.

Kaien soared through the air, landing and skidding on his back and stopping at our feet but still grinning ''Yo, cousin!''.

''You sure know how to make an entrance'' I say flatly and he chuckled, grin still in place.

Bambietta appeared in a burst of Hirenkyaku, left eye twitching in anger as she glared at Kaien. He smiled weakly as the colour drained from his face, a long silence set over us as we waited.

Eventually she simply sighed, grumbled something about idiots, and went back to the portal. She spared me a glance and sent Asami a small nod before she disappeared into the light.

''What did you do this time?'' Asami sighed, kicking him up.

He yelped and rubbed his back, getting to his feet and dusting himself off ''Painted her room pink''.

''You've got a death wish'' Asami sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose ''Anyway are you still up for training Inoue?''.

''Yeah'' He smiled and gave a thumbs up to Inoue ''Just...uh... gimme a few minutes''.

''I'll let you and Isshin catch up'' Asami said and gestured for me to follow, entering the wall of light. Obediently I follow into the light and after walking through the gel-like brightness I find myself in a pristine hallway. The walls were white and squared pillars lined the walls, along the middle of the walls and pillars ere two gold lines. The floor seemed to be marble as did the roof, a single doorway of light at the other end of the fifty foot hall.

I Shunpo to Asami's side and ask ''So are we going to this HQ place?''.

''Yeah, I'll introduce you to a few people'' She nodded as we walked at a calm pace ''I requested Akuma be present too so you can have a spar with him, though unlike Jikan Yari this place runs on normal time''.

''I meant to ask, when is the next problem and what is it?'' I ask, wanting to gain some information off before going into battle (Quincy Zangetsu's Idea, not mine).

''Its should occur around two days from now, a small group from a noble house that existed around a thousand years ago are going to use the Valley of Screams to destroy soul society and the world of the living''.

''Sounds like a wonderful place'' I joke and Asami smirked.

''Not so much. Long story short, souls that are making their way to soul society get lost in the Dangai and join sub-dimensions known as the Valley of Screams, where they lose their memories and become blanks - which look like oddly coloured bowling pins''.

I snort at the joke and let her continue ''Then there are what are called the Shinenju, which are a large collection of Blanks and will take upon the form of a human and is sent back to the world of the living. Its almost a roll of the dice what the Shinenju will look like, personality, gender, etc. Its randomly chosen from all of the Blanks and has the rare chance to be Shinigami, depending if the collective Blanks have enough Reiryoku to turn the Shinenju into one''.

''So what does the... Shinenju and this group have anything to do with each other besides destroying a dimension?'' I frown.

''Blanks are the gunpowder, the group are the fuse and the Shinenju is the lighter'' Asami said ''We just need to find the group, kill them, then split the dominant soul from the Shinenju. This means all the Blanks within the Shinenju can go to soul society while the dominant soul can live their life as a human''.

I simply nod, not speaking since we reached the portal. Asami walks in at her usual pace and I follow, the gel-like barrier feeling even heavier than normal. When we got out of the light, which for some reason took longer than normal, we arrived at a place that looked similar to Jikan Yari, though slightly different. Instead of a simple crack in the air we came out of the same doorway, situated on a cobblestone pavement with gold lining the path.

It lead to a large, three story building that wad made of the same thing as the wall around the Seireitei, only snow white and windows tinted black. The area around them was flat grass with dirt areas and benches around them, assumingly for sparring. The large building was shadowed by a handful of other, similarly designed buildings of varying heights.

Asami took one step forward and was immediately confronted by a young girl, no older than my sisters, with a helmet that covered one of her pink eyes, light green hair and was dressed skimpily.

''Asami-nee!'' The girl squealed, tackling Asami who barely managed to weather the assault.

''How many times have I told you not to add -nee to my name, Lilynette?'' Asami sighed, returning the hug the young girl gave before muttering to herself ''What is with people adding that to my name?''.

''Starrk! Wake up!'' The girl said as she ran up to a man leaning against a tree and proceeded to jump onto his stomach and punch his jaw. The now-named Starrk had wavy dark brown hair and blue-grey eyes, he wore a white jacked with an upturned collar and black Obi, white gloves on his hands.

Starrk's eyes nearly bulged out of his head upon the young girl landing on him and a follow up punch ''Lilynette- gah!''.

I watch in amusement as the girl shook the poor man until stars appeared in his eyes, Asami chuckled at the girls antics and I smile, her small laugh making the young girl beam as if she'd just achieved her life goal.

''What is it Lilynette? I was- oh Asami'' The older-looking man nodded to my mentor and spared me a glance before getting comfortable and letting his eyelids flutter asleep, irritating the girl greatly.

''Starrk!'' The girl barked at the man, but he was too far gone into the world of sleep to notice.

''You can tag with us while he sleeps, if you want'' Asami offered, sparing a brief glance at me and I shrug.

''Yay!'' Lilynette cheered and ran over to us, surprisingly she came to me and climbed onto my back, sitting on my shoulder. She grinned and I spare a questioning glance at Asami, who returned the look in return before shrugging.

'Ah whatever, she's not heavy so it doesn't matter'.

''I dare you to say that''.

'Nope'.

We take off at a calm walk towards the large building, Lilynette ranting about something related to candy and Starrk that I half-heartedly listen to. Though after a few minutes of casual walking (I wasn't sure if we were actually going somewhere, since Asami took a right from the building down a long road) curiosity gets the better of me and I ask in the most non-offensive way possible.

''I don't mean to be rude but, who are you?'' I ask the small child, turning my head slightly to look at her.

''I'm Lilynette Gingerbuck!'' She proclaimed proudly ''I'm the other half of Starrk, the Primera Espada!''.

I sent a questioning look at Asami, who nodded and explained ''Starrk's original being split itself into two souls to combat the loneliness it felt in Hueco Mundo, producing Lilynette and Starrk. Both are in Aizen's army and are currently the strongest Espada, who are the nine strongest in his army''.

Lilynette hummed and continued for her ''But we're not loyal to Aizen, none of the Espada are... well except Zommari and that Aaroniero guy, but both are dead''.

''Speaking of which, have the Espada been following my orders?'' Asami asks curiously.

''Mm!'' Lilynette hummed, enthusiastic as ever ''Starrk and I, Harribel, Nel and Emo Bat have achieved a second release and apparently Nnoitra isn't far behind but Barragan refuses to bother''.

''Second release?'' I interrupt.

''Resurreccion: Segunda Etapa'' Asami nodded ''Its the true equivalent to Bankai and requires a similar prerequisite as Bankai; to manifest their swords and defeat them in the physical world''.

''I didn't think they would have sentient Zanpakuto'' I frown, but notice the slight grin on her face ''Unless you had something to do with it?''.

''Not per say'' She eluded slyly ''Its possible for an Arrancar to give their Zanpakuto sentience through meditating and training, but it is rare knowledge and as such Arrancar do not usually attempt this. I gave the Espada a chance a greater power and companions with my group, which is why they joined like Lilynette and Starrk''.

''Yeah, though some like Nnoitra and Grimmjow just did it for a good fight, but what can you do?'' Lilynette giggled and Asami chuckled quietly, with me just smiling lightly.

''Asami-chan~'' A man called in a sing-song tone as I felt an unfamiliar and slightly unsettling presence approaching, Asami sighed and red energy build up around her wrist like a ring. In a blur a man appeared in front of us, he wore a large red cape-come-coat that trailed behind him like Old Man Zangetsu, he had a black buttoned up trench coat and black slacks with shoes. A red tie fluttered around his neck, a deep red top hat with a hand on its wide rim to steady it, underneath the hat was short but messy dark brown hair and ruby eyes. A Zanpakuto was situated at his hip, attached by small blood red chains that routed into his pocket.

He seemed to like red and black.

The man dove at Asami as if for a hug, but the ring that had formed around Asami's wrist glowed brightly before firing like a bullet and hitting the man in the face, knocking him back only a few metres but stopping his momentum at her.

''How mean~'' He pouted childishly and I was irritably reminded of our fathers.

''Shut up'' Asami growled, though her tone held no malice and she turned me ''Ichigo, meet Akuma - Akuma, meet Ichigo''.

''Yo'' I greet with a wave

''Hello, Ichigo-kun~'' He sang happily ''I heard that you'd like a little spar with me?''.

''Well, it was Asami who suggested it'' I shrug and Lilynette jumped off, seeing as I'd be fighting.

''Maa, Maa'' He said dismissively ''Well lets see what you're made from, eh?''.

We gestured to a large patch of dirt, a vast difference from the grass around it. I walked behind Asami as we approached, Akuma happily conversing with Lilynette as both spoke in a chipper tone, Asami turned a questioning look over her shoulder.

''I just noticed, you're always behind me wherever we go'' She commented, no accusation in her tone but mere fact.

''I didn't notice'' I shrug ''Sorry''.

''Nothing to be sorry about, I just found it... amusing'' She smiled ''Its like you're acting out your role as a guardian, always watching over my shoulder. Though we're friends and friends walk side-by-side''.

She reached out and in an iron grip forced me beside her, the grin on her face never leaving and I found a smile make its way onto my face. We reached the boundary and she and Lilynette stood at the rim of the dirt patch, Asami erecting a large silver barrier around us as me and Akuma faced off.

''Lets see how strong you are, Ichigo-kun'' He said honestly, a friendly smile on his face.

I grunt and draw my large blade, not willing to test my sealed sword against a god.

''Pierce the Heavens, Zangetsu!''.

A/N: So how'd you like that? The Espada are in on this whole plot too! Not only that, but the upper echelons have Segunda Etapa! SHIT IS GETTING HYPE FOR THE FUTURE!

I wanted to say that Aaroniero and Zommari are dead and gone, replaced by Nel and Luppi, here are the Espada ranks:

Starrk - Primera / First

Ulquiorra - Segunda / Second

Barragan - Tereca / Third

Harribel - Cuatro / Fourth

Nel - Quinto / Fifth

Nnoitra - Sexta / Sixth

Grimmjow - Septima / Seventh

Luppi - Octava / Eighth

Szayelaporro - Noveno / Ninth

Yammy - Diez : Cero / Tenth : Zero

STORY FACTS! (I will add these at the end of random chapters from here on out).

1) In the original story, Chiro was actually called Masaki (not a reincarnation of Masaki Kurosaki).

2) In the first draft of this story, Chiro and Yachiru was the main pairing. (Weird, right?)

3) In the original story, Asami was actually Chiro's Zanpakuto.

4) Chiro and Asami were mod souls in the original story.

5) Chiro and Asami had a sister called Erza, who was a bitch.