Disclaimer: This man does not own Bleach.

Trascender

"Ichigo...? Ichigo, wake up!"

"Wake up, Motherfucker!"

Ichigo shot his fist out and punched Grimmjow in the nose before he could attack him. Slowly rising from the bed in the medical ward, Ichigo gazed at Soryu and Uryu, who were sitting on either side of him. In front of him, Halibel shook her head at Grimmjow, who was rolling on the floor rubbing his sore nose.

"I see you have awaken, Ichigo Kurosaki."

On the other side of the room, a brown-haired man with a sunken, dark face watched as he stood up.

"And you are?"

"I've been here this entire time, so I can understand you not knowing who I am. Not to mention I'm regenerating my mask, so you probably don't recognize me."

The man reached his hand to his shirt, pulling it down as he revealed the number '7' tattooed there.

"I am your Septima Espada, Rudbornn Chelute."

"...Where have I heard of you...?"

"I attempted to stop you from reaching Ulquiorra. Your female friend with Ice Zanpakuto stopped me, and I was fatally wounded by Yammi Llargo upon the end of your battle with the Cuatro."

The face of the raging bull appeared in his head as he remembered. The man who create those clones with his Resurreccion.

"Well then... I hope you have a swift recovery..."

"Give me a few weeks. One my mask is repaired, I will be able to use the Calaveras to storm them."

Nodding, Ichigo left the room, followed by the rest of the people as he walked towards the entrance hall of Las Noches.

"Send to me Luders, Sung-Sun, Loly, and Pesche."

Halibel looked taken aback from his sudden order.

"Ummm... Why?"

"Because you three are going to be busy."

"Busy... doing what, exactly?"

"Search the desert for any remaining Hollows... tell them Las Noches is home to any Hollows that see fit to rebel against Juhabach."

Grimmjow turned his head and scoffed at Ichigo's order. Uryu shook his head as he wondered what idiotic thing Ichigo was going to do now.

"And where are you going?"

Ichigo turned his head and glanced at Uryu over his shoulder.

"I'm going to save my family..."

"...Hit me..."

A card was placed on a '10' card. The newly placed 'Ace' had the little girl jumping in joy.

"Hell yeah! Suck on that, Buzzbee! Blackjack!"

"Damnit!"

Buzzbee face-desk the table as Bambietta began laughing and dancing.

"Winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

"Shut up!"

The Stern Ritter all sat in waiting at the Gate to the Sun. To pass the time until Juhabach arrived, Bambietta and Buzzbee began playing a game. However, when the pressure of the King was felt, the cards were destroyed with Reishi and they stood in line as Juhabach stormed the room.

"Your Highness...?"

"Bambietta, Buzzbee, As Nodt... You will not be joining us here."

Bambietta's eyes widened as the other named Stern Ritter nodded.

"What!? But... but-!"

"I'm sending you back to Hueco Mundo... The last prison base holding 'that man' is there and I need you to keep it safe. No doubt Kurosaki plans to be there."

"Then... where are you all going...?"

Juhabach turned and looked Bambietta in the eye, who frighteningly took a step back.

"...To the beginning... of everything..."

"Sui Feng! Report!"

"Our spy within the Vandenreich quarters has announced to me that Juhabach plans to attack Hueco Mundo again!"

Shunsui narrowed his eyes as he listened to Sui Feng speak. The other captains in the room stood quiet as they listended as well.

"Las Noches...? Again? That's not a wise decision. No doubt Juhabach himself is still weakened from his wounds..."

Sui Feng shook her head as she reply back to him.

"No... not Las Noches... Something else..."

"The Bloody Moon."

Rukia, standing between Shunsui and Unohana voiced the question that every other captain wanted to ask as soon as Kisuke said the name.

"What is that?"

"The red moon that wavers over Hueco Mundo. That was where the Spirit Queen sealed away the Old One."

Aizen spoke next, complete seriousness in his voice.

"As much as I'm sure no one wants to... we have to go to Hueco Mundo and stop him."

"No... this draw-out is not intended for us or Ichigo..."

Aizen, along with the rest of the room, gave Kisuke a weird look at his theory.

"Uh... Yeah, it is."

"No it isn't... The one woman who defends the remains of her former husband won't let him go to far. It's a ploy to get the Spirit Queen."

"...Is this man a fool...? I've already told you... that you have disappointed me."

The Spirit Queen watched the Vandenreich dash forward across the sands of Hueco Mundo. Circling around her, the Denego stared into the visionary pool and watched. William scoffed, along with another female Denego, with a beret on her head, voicing her thoughts out loud.

"He doesn't have the Clavar la Espada. He's not going anywhere."

"...Where is the key, anyway?"

Kagura finally answered after several seconds of silence.

"...Somewhere safe... "

However, she changed her words when she saw where he was going.

"...But I believe he knows where it is, because he's heading right towards it."

Kagura hopped to her feet as he watched him land in a cavern. She dashed away as quickly as she could, planning to stop Juhabach before he could stop her 'Sepulto Viresco'. Seeing their mistress so panicked, the Denego left with her.

"Is this where you all escaped?"

"Yes, Master Ichigo."

Ichigo sweat-dropped when he heard Loly speak.

'I really wish she wouldn't call me that.'

"Do you remember the layout?"

Sung-Sun held her hand over her mouth as she spoke.

"Pesche might know... He's been around more than I."

"Of course I remember, Ichigo! Follow me!"

Ichigo stomped him into the sand for screaming out loud.

"Goddamn you, Pesche! Stop screaming out loud!"

"But... you're... being... just as loud... as me...

Ichigo kept stomping him further and further into the ground. However, he stopped when he felt the essence of another person behind him... who wasn't an Arrancar.

"Oh my... gosh! You gotta let me get the hot one! Mr. Tangerine-Head is mine!"

"Bambietta, you're a fool if you think you fight Ichigo Kurosaki on your own. He'll defeat you."

"I don't care! He can beat me down all he wants and have his wicked way with me!"

Ichigo's jaw dropped at the female Quincy announcing her intentions. Loly growl and moved in to kick Bambietta, who dodged and tossed her away as she dove to Ichigo. As Nodt shook his head as Buzzbee face-palmed himself.

"You've gotta be fuckin' kidding me..."

"Your sword is sooo long! I wonder if your peni-!"

"Get this creepy bitch away from me!"

Ichigo crawled on the ground, trying to move with one leg while pushing Bambietta with the other. Behind her, Loly grabbed her leg and tried to pull her off, growling the entire time.

"Fade to black! La Luna Negra!"

The explosion tossed Bambietta and Loly away from Ichigo, causing them both to crash into the wall of the prison base. Ichigo stood in the dust, hand holding his black blade as his Reiatsu coat and long, orange hair flowed around his body. Bambietta stood, a smirk on her face as she reached into her bra ("What the...?") and pulled out a medallion.

"If that's the way you wanna play... I'll make you submit and take you to the 'showers'!" Bambietta smirked as the medallion glowed.

Every Arrancar, but Ichigo, blanched as they realized what she spoke of.

"Bankai! Kokujo Tengen Myo'o!"

A burst of energy occurred and a giant warrior appeared from the ground.

"That's... Captain Komamura's Bankai!"

At the same time, As Nodt sighed, stepping forward with a similar medallion.

"There's no way you can win alone. I guess it's my turn. Bankai..."

He dropped the medallion into the ground, creating a ripple. Behind him, thousands of swords rose out of the ground, separating into a million tiny blades.

"This is-!?"

"Scatter... Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"

Ichigo narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the sharp cherry blossoms.

"So you're the one...?"

"... Byakuya...?" The fallen captain's lips opened barely.

"Please... tell me... are they still alive?" He attempted to motion towards his fallen Lieutenant and sister.

"Yes... they're alive and well, Byakuya..." Byakuya slumped further on the wall as he coughed up more blood.

"I'm glad... I'm afraid... this is the end for me... I failed... I couldn't defeat my enemy... Many men and women... and children... will become spouse-less... and alone... because of me..."

Ichigo turned away and stared to where he sensed the great Reiatsu in the Soul Society.

"I thought the Commander was... kidding... when he seemed to put his faith in you."

Most of Senbonzakura began to disintegrate at this point.

"You are... an Arrancar. Your kind does not belong here... but here you are... the Head Captain was right... It's against your very nature..."

Ichigo glanced back at Byakuya,

"I ask of you... to please... protect Soul Society..."

"I'm going to kill you... for Rukia and Renji's sake. How unlucky you are to have met me!"

"Senkei! Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"

The tiny blades turned into swords and surrounded Ichigo, As Nodt, and Bambietta in a small cage of swords.

"Goddamnit! As, you fucking ruined my Bankai!"

However, the Bankai was soon split down the middle, along with taking out an entire path of swords. Bambietta exploded into blood, falling to her knees.

"What... just...-?"

Ichigo stood in front her, blade pointed directly at her neck.

"Don't ever... refer to that Bankai as yours... in front of me again...!"

Sweeping for a finishing blow, he was blocked by the blade of Senbonzakura, leading to them clashing. Rebounding off, Ichigo moved in, dashing as he stabbed As Nodt in the shoulder. Before he could prepare for a counter, a Heilig Pfeil piercing him in the shoulder. Hopping back, he ripped the arrow before holding his blade up towards them. Then... the world grew cold.

'What... what is this?'

"Are you scared?"

"Are you kidding me!? Hell no! You're about to die!"

Ichigo dashed forward, but was frozen when the blades split into pieces and swirled all around him.

"Gokei... Senbonzakura... Kageyoshi..."

'Move! Why... Why can't I move!?'

Yuzu and Karin flashed into his mind. Before he could reach out to their bright, smiling faces, their heads were sliced off, exploding in blood and showering Ichigo's face. Juhabach stood behind them, a feral grin on his face.

"You... like the Captain before you, thought that you could overcome the natural instinct that was fear... But you were wrong..."

"GGGGAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!"

Ichigo collapsed as the blades shredded and tore him apart.

"Cr-Crap! What just happened!?"

"Ichigo!"

Luders picked Loly up and dodged when Buzzbee attempted to smash them.

"Your battle... will be with me..."

"Strangle him to death..."

"Poison..."

"Flow away..."

Three explosions of Reiatsu rocked the sky. Pesche panicked and dove behind a rock.

"Anaconda!"

"Escolopendra!"

"Gavilan!"

Sung-Sun slither along the ground, heading towards Buzzbee as she aimed her sai at him. Loly covered her by tossing a centipede arm trying to poison him. Pesche was grabbed by Luders as he screamed a very questionable scream.

"NOOO! Don't make me fight! I can't!"

"I'm not making you fight, idiot! Since you know the layout better than the rest of us, I'm sending you to go find the other Arrancars and free them, along with Kurosaki's family if you can find them!"

Luders flew to the top of the ice palace and dropped him there as he turned around and flew towards the battle. Pesche landed, rubbing his sore head as he looked down upon the ensuing battle.

"No time! Gotta go!"

Pulling out his Zanpakuto, he cut an opening into the top of the roof and dropped down, landing in a crouch.

"Yeah! Like a ninja!"

He ran to the end of the hall before a large release of energy knocked him off of his feet.

"Ichigo!?"

"I'm sorry... but that won't work... on someone like me..."

As Nodt and Bambietta's eyes widened as Ichigo stood to his feet.

"I've spent... my entire career as a substitute... fighting things that scared me... There is no fighting past the fear... being a Hollow... being born... from that fear."

He held his blade up, the flames on the edge being absorbed into the blade, making it larger than usual. The bone armor broke off, but the Reiatsu held itself together, forming a black Reiatsu coat trimmed with white fur and white lining. His skin turned pale, nearly white.

"For me... I can fight that... because I'm always afraid of failing! I'm afraid... but there's no point in lying here to die!"

His long hair faded to black, with his scelera doing the same. His pupils flashed, turning a dark golden.

Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitate.

The things you wish to protect... are not what I want to protect, Ichigo.

I wish... to protect you... this is the last time we'll meet. Farewell... Ichigo...

Ichigo stood on the side a building. The area was different, resembling a little of Hueco Mundo and Soul Society instead of Karakura town. On a pole, a tall, black haired man was crouched upon it.

"You... can still communicate with me... Ichigo?"

"You and the Hollow were the same, weren't you? As long as he's here... You can exist here..."

"Hmm..."

Zangetsu closed his eyes as he stared into the distant moon, along with Ichigo. He took his sunglasses off, revealing narrowed, black eyes.

"I guess goodbyes... don't last forever, do they... Ichigo?"

"I guess not... old man..."

"Regardless of your race... you... will always be my partner."

DON'T FALTER IN YOUR STEPS...

To the Quincy in front him, he resembled his former Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, whom they spent the past year researching. To the Arrancar's watching behind him...

"Segunda Etapa..."

...as his dark cloak and hair waved through the frozen winds of the palace...

"...Luna Matador..."

...he resembled Juhabach more than anything...

In a cavern, deep beneath the sands of Hueco Mundo, Juhabach and his Stern Ritter arrived at a burial ground, where many crosses stood above grave sites. One Stern Ritter noticed the graves and crosses, gasping at the resemblance.

"That's... the Quincy Cross..."

"...As many of them were buried here, next to the woman they were truly created to serve... Isn't that right, 'Lady Kagura'...?"

"..."

In front of him, Kagura stood at the entrance, she and her Denego blocking the entrance.

"If you are here... then I must be correct, then, in my assumption..."

"..."

"...that the Clavar la Espada, used to seal away the Old One..."

Kagura summoned her blade, which had a unique, pale-blue, crystal handle-guard with six points. Juhabach smirked as he finished.

"...is in the protected grave of the true Spirit Queen, Kagura... our savior..."

The Denego appeared confused, as Kagura was standing right in front of them. There was no way she could be in the grave at the same time... unless...

"..."

"The same one your dear Husband left you for... and the reason you overthrew him...Hoshiihime..."

Trivia:

-Luna Matador is Spanish for 'Moon Slayer', similar to Zangetsu(Slaying Moon).

-Since Buzzbee appearance hadn't been shown, I'm assuming he is the Mohawk Stern Ritter.

-'Kagura'(Hoshiihime) is the Spirit Queen, but is the former Spirit Queen. The real Kagura was a woman the Old Spirit King had an affair with, leading Hoshiihime to over throw him. The son(Current Spirit King) overthrew her. Real Kagura(Spirit Queen after Hoshiihime) was the one who descended to Hueco Mundo, sealed her lover away, and died there to protect the key. The Resurrection(Sepulto Viresco) involves bringing back the real Kagura.

-Hogyoku gave Orihime powers because she looks like real Kagura. Hoshiihime and Orihime just look similar, like Juhabach to Zangetsu, Ulquiorra to Tensa Zangetsu type of similar.

-Hoshiihime is Japanese for 'Desired Princess'.

-I believe if Byakuya doesn't get a rematch in the Manga or As Nodt isn't confirmed as dead, then Ichigo would be the one to fight As Nodt, for the Ichigo vs. Byakuya fans.