Hi guys. This is going to be the last chapter for this story. Thanks once again for all those people who have stuck with it until now. Thank you for all the reviews and PMs, they have all been really helpful and supportive. I'm going to write more. I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Once more, Bleach isn't mine.
"So, how am I getting it out of here?" Rukia asked from beside Ichigo, confident they would know how.
The two sword spirits stopped laughing and the Hollow stared. Rukia's confidence crumbled.
"Did not think of that one!" the Hollow muttered, brow furrowing.
"Tensa," Shirayuki said, looking at the boy next to her, "Could we get back to Rukia's inner world from here?"
Tensa looked at her uneasily. "I'm not sure. Wouldn't it be better if we waited for the Guardian to wake? I'm sure she could do something to help us."
"Then why don't you wake her up?" Shirayuki asked, nicely. Tensa paled, shaking his head adamantly. Shirayuki glared at him. With some resignation, he turned towards the little girl.
The Hollow snorted. "Good luck, Tensa, you'll need it."
Tensa shot the Hollow a death glare. He crouched down and shook her shoulder.
"Guardian?"
There was no response except shallow breathing from the little girl. He called her again to no avail. Then, he shook his head.
"There's no other option," he murmured to himself, "I'm going to have to do it."
The Hollow shook his head. "Your funeral, Tensa."
Gently, Tensa put his hand over her face, his spiritual pressure giving the little girl something similar to an electric shock. Then he ran like crazy.
The Guardian bolted up, instantly alert. She looked around for the culprit. She spied Tensa almost immediately. She flash-stepped in front of him and kicked him in the shins. The Hollow laughed.
"You got MIDGET-KICKED, Tensa!" he hollered, still laughing crazily.
The Guardian flash-stepped in front of him, growling menacingly. The Hollow gulped before giving her a thumbs-up. "Well done."
The Guardian smiled happily and knelt down by Ichigo.
"Is he going to be alright?" she asked, sounding worried. Rukia nodded, smiling. The Guardian sighed in relief.
"So, why did I get woken up?" she asked, glaring at Tensa, who was rubbing his shin.
"Rukia and Shirayuki need to get out of here, it's time for them to leave." Tensa stated, walking over to her.
"To her inner world or the real world?"
"You can get me to the real world?" Rukia marvelled, staring. The Guardian nodded.
"Will you help Shirayuki get to Rukia's inner world and get Rukia to the real world?" Tensa requested, sounding tired.
"Say no more, Zanny Junior! I'll help Rukia-chan!" the little girl sang, getting lightly to her feet.
Tensa Zangetsu scowled as the Hollow started to laugh. "How many times must I tell you to not call me that?"
"Come on Zangetsu," Shirayuki smiled, "the nickname has merit!"
"Not you too, Shirayuki!"
Weak coughing broke off the argument-to-be. Rukia looked down at Ichigo. He was pale and coughing in a way that reminded her of Captain Ukitaki. That wasn't a good thing. The coughs subsided and he groaned quietly. The Guardian looked at him.
"Oh, King-chan's awake! Hooray!"
Ichigo looked at her in utter bewilderment. "What in the Soul Society is a little girl doing in my head?"
She pouted. "That's not very nice, King-chan! I know you didn't notice, but I live here too!"
Ichigo stared at her. Then he looked at Zangetsu. "How many people actually live here?" he asked, still in shock.
"Just me, you, the Hollow and her, why?"
"Don't you think that-"
"You should see a psychiatrist, King?" the Hollow snickered. Ichigo glared at him.
"No! Shut up!"
"He makes a valid point." Rukia said, smiling, "As far as I know there are just me and Shirayuki in my head."
"Yeah, and no brain!" Ichigo retorted, smiling evilly.
Rukia glowered at him and smacked him around the head. She smiled as he rubbed his head and glared at her. Then, he winced as the movement hurt his chest.
"King-chan," the Guardian said, "Rukia-chan says she's got to go."
"Yes please, I fear insanity might be contagious." Rukia muttered under her breath.
"So THAT'S how I got it!" Ichigo said, shooting Rukia an evil grin. His Hollow started laughing with him and Tensa smirked. Rukia glowered, but inside she was happy. If he could tease her, then he could live. The little Guardian nodded. She breathed deeply and clapped her hands. Light spun around her and Shirayuki and when it had cleared, they were gone.
Ichigo sighed deeply and rubbed his chest. He looked at his Hollow and his face turned serious.
"Thank you," he said quietly, "You saved my life."
"Don't get used to it, King."
Ichigo smirked. Then he groaned again. Now that he was more awake, the pain was returning. He tried to sit up, but he couldn't do it. Then a horrible thought occurred to him. If he couldn't move in here, where his spiritual pressure was doing all it could to help him, what would he be like in the world of the living? Then, another idea occurred to him. He shot a sneaky glance at his white counterpart and grinned.
"Hollow?"
"What?"
"How would you like to visit the world of the Living?"
Rukia groaned blearily as she sat up. She was lying in the Urahara Shoten. She wasn't surprised. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. Strong hands pushed her down gently.
"No Rukia," said someone next to her, "Urahara has told me not to allow you to move."
Rukia blinked in shock. Sat next to her, looking a little paler than normal, was Byakuya.
"Nii-sama! You're alright!" she said, smiling happily.
Byakuya raised an eyebrow. "Of course, Rukia. It takes more than that Kurosaki brat to kill me."
"Thankfully," Rukia muttered, still smiling.
Byakuya's expression softened a little.
"Urahara told me that you entered Kurosaki's inner world to save him." he said quietly.
"Yes, Nii-sama."
"That was either very foolish or very brave, Rukia. You are lucky you weren't hurt by whatever lives in there."
"There are a lot of things that live there, Nii-sama."
Byakuya shook his head. "Why am I not surprised?"
Suddenly, they heard shouting from behind them. Byakuya turned around and Rukia craned her neck to look around him.
Ichigo was being pinned to the ground by Tessai, struggling.
"Oh, joy," Byakuya muttered, "Kurosaki's awake."
"How many times do I have to say this?" the orange-haired boy growled, "I'm NOT ICHIGO!"
Byakuya stood, his hand going to his zanpakto. "You're his Hollow, aren't you?"
He nodded, despite Tessai sitting on him. "Yeah, but I'm not gonna harm ya! I swear!"
"Why should we believe that?" Byakuya said, sceptically.
"Just ask the woman! I'm here because King asked me to be here! He got hurt because he's an idiot, and because he's recovering, he asked me to be here!"
Byakuya looked at Rukia. "Is this true?"
"Ichigo did get hurt, but this invitation thing is news to me."
"That settles it," Urahara said, fluttering the fan in front of his face, "Tessai-"
Suddenly, the Hollow went limp.
"He's telling the truth." said a weak voice coming from Ichigo's mouth, "I asked him to do this!"
"Kurosaki-san?" Urahara exclaimed, sounding shocked, "You asked him to take over?"
"Yeah, I can barely move in my inner world, let alone out here. I'm going to recover a bit before I come back. He's here on conditions that he doesn't kill anyone and that he lets me do the talking when I'm around my family and friends. If he breaks the rules, well," Ichigo's face smiled slightly, "there's more than one person in here that's willing to help me get him."
"But...why?" Urahara said, still not understanding.
Ichigo shook his head. "Right now, I...I can't do much more than talk. I can't feel my legs and I haven't got my zanpakto yet. He, however, can still fight and work and stop anyone getting too suspicious. Keep an eye on him Hat-and-clogs."
Then, Ichigo went away and the Hollow was back, failing to see that Tessai would not be moved. Then Urahara produced a needle from inside his sleeve. The Hollow stared at it, wide-eyed.
"Why the hell do you have a needle?" he asked, sounding slightly fearful. "What're you doing? HEY! WOAH! TAKE THAT THING SOMEWHERE ELSE YA HEAR ME?! ARGH!"
Urahara stuck the needle in his arm. Quickly, he pushed the plunger down and red liquid seeped into his veins. He froze, wide-eyed, and Tessai got up.
"What did you do, Urahara?" Rukia shouted, sounding concerned.
"Nothing life-threatening! That little injection will do three things. One, it acts as a painkiller. Two, it will tell me where the Hollow is at all times and it will allow him to be monitored to make sure he isn't murdering people and three, it allows me to incapacitate him if he is doing anything wrong. It'll fade when Ichigo comes back."
"Why do you people hate me so much?" the Hollow pouted, "It's a little uncalled for don't ya think?"
"No," Byakuya said in his usual monotone, "You tried to kill me."
"Pity I didn't!"
Byakuya's eyes narrowed.
"Kisuke!" Rukia said, trying to divert her brother's anger, "Why do you have something like that, anyway?"
"How do you think I keep Ururu and Jinta under control?"
Rukia gaped at him.
"Please tell me your joking, Kisuke."
He smiled mysteriously and walked out the room. "Get well soon Kuchiki-san. That Hollow's not leaving my shop until you're better."
"WHAT?!"
Inside Ichigo's inner world, Tensa smiled and Ichigo laughed.
"You did that on purpose didn't you,King?" the voice of the Hollow whined. Tensa shook his head, still smiling.
" If you think for one moment I'm going to be Hat-and-clog's medical study, you can think twice!"
They both laughed.
"DAMN YOU KING!"Hkyliuybgut
The end.