(A/N: It's early afternoon and I've got nothing better to do. So here's a new chapter)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of Symphonia

3rd Person pov

As Ichigo's group tore through the Vanguard's arsenal a conversation opened up in the middle of battle

"Hey Virginia," Ichigo said as he hacked down another soldier, "If your this skilled at magic how come you didn't come with us to defeat Mithos?"

"There are a few reasons," Virginia said as she launched a fireball at an approaching soldier.

Ichigo turned and blocked a pair of katars from a soldier coming at him before the man was trampled underfoot by Terremotto. "Like what?"

"For starters," Virginia said as she cast demon's lance at an incoming monster, "I had to look after Altessa and Tabatha at the time. The two of them were in need of some care of which I was willing to provide." She turned towards Ichigo and watched as the teen sent out a mildly weak Getsuga Tensho and ripped apart some mandragoras. "Secondly, I didn't think I could keep up with all you young ones. I'm may not be as old as some of the Soul Reapers, but I've lived long enough that I'm considered of motherly age by elven standards." She fired the icicle spell at an approaching Vanguard before taking him out with an attack of Photon. "Lastly, do you know how long it has been since I've done this? I sure don't, I'm probably a bit rusty." She noticed a Vanguard soldier coming up behind Ichigo. "Stalagmite!"

"You consider that rusty?" Ichigo scratched his head. "Your casting spells without incantations. Even Raine and Genis can't do that."

"It comes with experience and mastery," Virginia said, "Spell incantations were created to create the proper flow and draw in the mana to cast a spell. My skills and reflexes may be rusty, but I still remember how to cast." She launched off Wind Blade at Vanguard coming up behind her without turning around. "It's just a matter of reflexes and raw power. Although I will admit it does feel good to be reliving the past. Just like when I fought off all those knights."

Ichigo and Marta came running up to the pair. Ichigo took notice that the monsters had been desummoend. "That's the last of them," Emil said, already having reverted back to his normal self.

"That's good," Ichigo said. "I'm getting tired of these waves. Every time we enter an open room it just seems like there are more troops waiting for us."

Not a second after that statement was uttered the elevator in the lobby opened and Alice stepped out of it. She was smiling as usual. "Alice," Marta gasped.

"When you didn't head for the elevator, I thought you might take this route," she smiled.

"Is Daddy here?" Marta asked crossly.

"You don't have to act so scary. I didn't come here to fight you," Alice said sweetly.

"Yeah and I'm the Easter Bunny," Ichigo said sarcastically.

"I've never heard of that monster," Alice said.

Ichigo facepalmed, "Never mind."

"A-anyway," Alice now looked distraught, "I hate to ask you this considering all the times I've tried to kill you, but..."

"But..." Ichigo encouraged Alice.

"It's Dumbo Decus! I want you to help him. I'll take you straight to Commander Brute if you do."

"Since when do you care about that loser?" Ichigo asked.

"Th-that's beside the point," Alcie stuttered, not missing a beat. "Please help him. Decus has completely lost it. Commander Brute gave Solum's core to Decus so he could transform into Lloyd, but it's changed his personality. We had to have him locked up for safety precautions."

"A Centurion's core can make humans go insane," Tenebrae hinted at the truth to Alice's words. "If we hatched Solum's core, I believe he would come back to his senses. But doesn't Brute currently have the core?"

"Commander Brute gave the core back to Decus hoping it would calm him down, but it hasn't helped him at all, please do something."

"Tenebie can you locate Solum's core nearby?" Virginia asked him.

"I've felt its presence ever since we entered this city. However, it's out of control and affecting the entire region. I'm having trouble pinpointing its exact location. And my name is Tenebrae. T-e-n-e-b-r-a-e Tenebrae!" The dark Centurion responded.

"Martmart, please! If you help Decus, I'll take you right to Commander Brute, I swear!"

"Oh yeah because your word is so meaningful," Ichigo griped.

"What's that supposed to mean? I've never lied ever I've only ever given the honest truth, especially to you Berry Onii-chan so please help Decus!" Alice looked like she might turn on the water works any second.

"Let's help Decus," Emil responded, "It'll give us a chance to hatch the core."

"I must advise against it. Remember, Decus was the one who killed your parents in the Blood Purge," Tenebrae put in.

Alice turned desperate, "Well make him face his crimes! Just please help him! I can't stand seeing him like this! Decus is…my only friend." She was about to cry when Ichigo put a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and looked up at the soft scowling Soul Reaper.

"Don't worry," he said, "We'll help him." Ichigo looked at Tenebrae. "The most important thing right now is hatching the core. Besides, Decus won't be able to confess to what happened in Palmacosta until he's back to normal."

"All right, we'll help," Marta agreed.

Alice hugged Ichigo back to her usual, happy self, "Oh thank you Berry Onii-chan, thank you! I knew I could count on you!" She let go and pressed the button for the elevator, "Please follow me."

The blonde led the group to an enclosed room where Decus had his arms strapped down to the wall. There was intense energy emanating from all around him. His eyes looked like the eyes of a man gone wild. No not a man, more like a beast. "Guh…Give me Solum's…CORE!" Decus roared.

Whoa, Alice wasn't kidding.

"He hasn't been a very happy boy ever since Commander Brute took Solum's core from him," Alice said sweetly. She pressed a button on her swatter's guard. The floor beneath Marta opened swallowing her up. Marta screamed as she fell through. The hole closed up immediately.

"Alice what the hell?" Ichigo shouted as he turned to face her.

"You lied to us!" Emil shouted.

"No I didn't. Decus really lost it. And I did say I'd bring Martmart to Commander Brute. Have fun with Decus okay?" She giggled.

"Damn it Alice! I can't believe you!" Ichigo shouted.

"Getting mad at me won't solve anything. After all isn't your precious Fuji-chan missing too?" Alice asked. Her words pierced Ichigo's skin like an electrified knife.

"What did you do to Sheena?" Ichigo scowled.

"Oh nothing much really," Alice chimed, "I just locked her up and broke her spirit…and her arms and legs."

Whether it was on purpose or not Alice sent Ichigo over the edge with rage and he charged at her. Alice stepped behind the door and slammed it in his face. His sword came cutting down along the thick surface of the reinforced high-tech door. "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIIIIIT!" Ichigo annotated each 'Dammit' with a sword swing against the door, it clanged along the side of it, doing no more than scratching it. The last 'dammit' had followed with a Getsuga Tensho, but Ichigo had done no more than make a two inch gash in the door. He, Virginia and Emil were locked in from the inside. Damn it, damn it! I failed…I failed to protect her. Ichigo's mind could only play images of the torture Sheena must've gone through. The pain and the agony that he let her undergo because he hadn't stayed behind to help her. He imagined how she must've pleaded and longed for him to save her and now he was too late.

While the black garbed swordsman was having his emo moment Virginia and Emil were contending with Decus. The guy had managed to break his arm free from the wall and was now attacking both individuals. He noticed how Ichigo wasn't even paying attention and made to attack him.

"No! Ichigo!" Emil jumped in front of Decus, and without changing to Ratatosk mode drew his sword and attacked, slashing Decus down the left side of his chest. Decus retaliated violently and Emil flinched as Decus ruthlessly threw him out of the way. As he did a vial full of liquid went hurtling through the air as it sailed out of Emil's pocket. It clattered along the floor and broke. The stench that emitted from it was strong enough to snap Ichigo out of his funk.

"Oh god! What is that?" Ichigo stood up and clenched his nose.

Decus recognized the scent and momentarily regained his sanity. The bottle that had broken was his Eau De Seduction that he had given Emil.

"What the hell Emil? I thought you were going to get rid of that!" Ichigo clenched his nasal cavities.

Emil, doing the same, responded with, "Well at least Decus isn't crazy anymore."

Decus bent down and picked up one of the broken bottle fragments. He looked at his reflection in the glass. "Decus?" Ichigo called his name.

"Huh?" Decus looked at Ichigo, "It's you, what are you doing here?"

Suddenly there was a thump from the wall that Virginia was standing near. Zelos' voice could suddenly be heard from behind it, "Hey! Colette, be careful!" he said.

"Oh dear I'm so sorry. I tripped again," she apologized.

Sounds of something resembling a car alarm could be heard going off from behind the wall, "Oh man the machine's going crazy." Suddenly the wall opened and Colette stumbled out onto her back. Zelos stood over her in the doorway.

"Colette! Zelos!" Emil called out to them.

"How did you two get here?" Ichigo asked, surprised to see them.

"We came here with my bud and his old man. Now come on Ichigo, let's go." He then took notice of Virginia. "Ooh, hey I remember you. You're the professor's elegantly beautiful mother aren't you?"

"Yes, I see you remember me," Virginia smiled at Zelos, "Zelos, right?"

"Hey why is everyone ignoring me?" Decus shouted.

"Because you're an idiot!" Ichigo whacked Decus over the head, knocking him out and tromped towards Zelos. "Glad to see you, let's get going."

"Yeah come on, follow us. Colette and I managed to seclude an empty room. We may have to fight our way back to it though," Zelos stated.

"Not a problem," Ichigo declared.

"Well, well, someone's fired up." Zelos commented only for Ichigo to rush down the hall Zelos and Colette had entered from and engage the Vanguard violently. "Did something happen?"

"I'll explain when we get to that room you mentioned," Emil said and switched to Ratatosk mode. "Right now we need to take care of some scum that need to be taught a lesson. Raziel! Gerios! Go!" Emil summoned the respective minions, but they were not the Gremlin and Lizard he had remembered.

"It seems our monster friends have evolved from the battles they have been involved in and also quite possibly due to the influence of Solum's core around the area." Raziel was now about half the size of Cotton and took a humanoid shape. He was also the color of a darkened plum, except for his claws and talons which were the color of Ichigo's hair. He had two large, bat like wings, horns, and a long tail. Gerios had evolved quite interestingly as well. He had since lost his chicken like appearance and his head now resembled that of an alligator's. He was covered in thick, brown scales and had spines on the tip of his stubby tail. Gerios stood about a foot taller than Raziel and retained his bipedal stance. "Raziel is now of the demon class and Gerios a Basilisk."

"Our monsters get more and more awesome each time the evolve," Ichigo commented.

"As I was saying," Emil's eye twitched, irritated by the delay, "Raziel! Gerios! Go! Attack!" the two monsters sped off to assist Ichigo. "Let's go you guys!"

Storeroom

After the battle, the group gathered themselves in a large storeroom to discuss what to do next. Ichigo was in a rather withdrawn state so Emil had to do most of the explaining, Virginia helped a little.

"I see, so Marta was captured," Colette was down.

"This is not good. If Marta's in enemy hands that means they can use the mana cannon," Zelos said gravely.

"And it's my fault!" Ichigo pounded his fist against the wall, "I was the one who said we should trust Alice! Dammit! And because of me…Sheena is also…"

"Huh? What happened to Miss Jubilees?" Zelos asked. Ichigo's response was to throw the nearest box into the wall behind him.

"Dammit!" Ichigo shouted pounding his fist against the wall again. Zelos' expression grew a rare stern seriousness. He walked over to Ichigo and breathed on his knuckles. Ichigo turned in Zelos' direction only to get punched in the face and sent flying across the room into a supply rack. Ichigo got up off his back. "Agh! What the hell Zelos?"

"If you're gonna have a pity party you can take it elsewhere," the red headed chosen said crossly. "We have a job to do. So get off your ass and let's go. We'll find Sheena. The Vanguard might be sick in the head, but they're not so stupid as to go and kill the Chief of Mizuho and I seriously doubt Sheena could've gotten caught by the likes of them. Miss Jubilees might be a klutz, but she's good at doing her job. She's not the type to just wind up a prison victim of the enemy. Take it from a guy who's known her a bit longer than you have." Ichigo looked at Zelos with the same cross expression. He walked over to Zelos. Emil flinched thinking the teen was about to pay back Zelos with his fist, but Ichigo just pat Zelos on the shoulder. Emil could see the resolve back in the black garbed swordsman's eyes.

"Thanks Zelos, I think I needed that. You're right. I can mope my failure later. Right now we have a job to do," Ichigo drew out Zangetsu and kicked the door right off its hinges. "Let's go." Everyone nodded and the group headed off to rescue Marta and find Sheena. They made their way through soldiers and monsters and then ran up a flight of stairs.

"I can sense Lady Marta on this floor," Tenebrae spoke out.

"Well then, let's have a look see shall we?" Ichigo asked and slashed open the nearest door. "Not here." He slashed open another one. "Not here!" He cut open another one. "Not here either!" He kept cutting down doors until they searched the last one, but still no sign of Marta. The group entered the last room, frustrated beyond belief

"Yo, Tenny what's the deal? She's not here" Zelos asked the black canine-like Centurion.

"Yes, it seems that way, but I feel her presence coming from this floor. I am sure of it," Tenebrae stated.

"Maybe there's a hidden door someplace, like how we found you guys," Colette suggested.

"Wait, someone's coming," Virginia suddenly spoke.

Ichigo didn't sense it, but he heard the sound of footsteps up inside the ceiling. Suddenly the air vent opened and a person dropped down from it. Ichigo was shocked as to who he saw. The person was a young woman with pineapple shaped black hair. She was wearing an brownish-red battle kimono and matching slacks. She was also wearing leather, fingerless gloves. She had a dagger sheathed behind the back of her neck and down at her left hip side. The woman stood up from her crouching position, revealing soft brown eyes and a well-endowed chest. "Sheena!" Ichigo ran towards her and embraced her tightly. Sheena's face turned beet red at having Ichigo hold her so affectionately. He also sounded like he was really worried about her. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Sheena had a right mind to push Ichigo off, yell at him for what he was doing here, tell him he shouldn't worry about her and that she can take care of herself, but she just couldn't do it. She wrapped her arms around Ichigo and held him. "It's okay. I'm okay." She told him.

"Don't scare me like that. I was so worried about you," he told her holding back tears.

"I know," she responded with a serene smile, "I know."

"Aww how cute," Colette clapped her hands together.

"As much as I hate to break up this touching reunion, mind telling us what the heck you've been doing Miss Jubilees?" Zelos asked.

Sheena promptly left Ichigo's embrace and whacked Zelos over the head, "I'll smack you for that."

"Ow, I think you meant that to be past tense."

"Seriously though Sheena what happened? Yoruichi-san said Byakuya lost contact with you midway through the operation and Alice said the Vanguard captured you. What really happened?" Ichigo wanted to know.

Sheena stood erect and explained. "The disarming of the bombs and evacuation was ninety five percent complete, but it was at that point that I noticed that Grimmjow character carrying an unconscious Regal with him across the air. I knew better than to engage that guy directly, so I did the next best thing. I tailed him and followed him to building number two. I watched him turn Regal over to Brute who looked pretty banged up having had to retreat from Urahara. I don't know where that crazy shopkeeper is now, but from the looks of Brute's injuries and the fact that he ran makes it blatantly obvious who had been winning that fight. I knew better than to engage the enemy right there, but at the same time I didn't want to risk the position I had managed so easily to obtain so I waited inside the building and sure enough here you guys are. Although, I'm surprised you're here Virginia. Speaking of surprises, where's Marta?"

"Little Lady Alice pulled a fast one on our chronic hero here," Zelos referred to Ichigo.

"Ok, that still doesn't explain why Raine and Genis' mother is here," Sheena said, "Although…wait Virginia, do the words Emerald Witch of Ymir mean anything to you."

"She is the Emerald Witch of Ymir," Ichigo retorted.

Sheena chuckled, "Well I suppose Raine and Genis' talent had to come from somewhere."

"Indeed," Virginia agreed and then said, "In any case, Sheena, do you know where Marta might be? Tenebrae senses her on this floor, but we've checked every room and haven't found her."

"She could be in the stockroom. The only way in there seems to be from a hidden door in a room just around the corner here," Sheena stated. "If we go up into the rafter's from here we could get the drop down on the enemy."

"Sounds like a plan," Ichigo agreed. One by one the group leapt up into the ceiling. Virginia, who didn't have that kind of leg power, was flown up by Colette. The group ran across the rafters, which were surprisingly roomy as far as height was concerned, and followed Sheena to a room where upon they saw Marta tied up and being scolded by her father.

"Daddy! Why can't you understand?" Marta whined.

"No, it's you who doesn't understand! The Church of Martel is riling the Tethe'allans and trying to destroy the Sylvaranti. Or have you already forgotten? And let us not forget they are also responsible for the death of your mother! Now is the time for us to revive the Sylvarant Dynasty and to restore the pride of the Sylvaranti!" Brute declared.

Marta hung her head, "It's true that some of the people in the Church have done some horrible things," she looked back up at her father and spoke fiercely, "But so have you! You attacked Palmacosta and blamed it on the Church! If you have a problem with the Church or the Tethe'allan people, then you should've found some other way to resolve it!"

"Means and methods are insignificant in the eyes of justice," Brute scoffed.

"What justice?" Marta could not believe her father's repugnant claims, "You aren't interested in saving the people of Sylvarant! The only thing you want is to become king!"

Brute shook his head sadly, "You poor girl. But I know you're not to be blamed. Your mind has been affected by Ratatosk's core. Leave it to me, I will gather all of the Centurions' cores together…and then remove that cursed core from your body! Then together we will crush the Church of Martel and the Tethe'allans!" Brute began to leave the room.

"No! Daddy!" Marta cried out, "You're the one who's infected! Solum's core is warping your mind! Please wake up! Please stop doing all of these terrible things. Da—" the door slammed in Marta's face.

"Oh yeah he's gone," Zelos quipped, "Good luck trying to reason with that guy." Ichigo delivered a light chop to the base of the red head's neck. "Ow! Hey, I was just saying."

"All we need to do is somehow incapacitate him and retrieve Solum's core," Tenebrae spoke up, "Once Lady Marta has hatched it, most of the harmful effects should dissipate."

"Well we can start by rescuing Marta," Sheena stated.

"Indeed," Virginia said and launched an icicle spell at the vent cover, freezing it. Sheena then launched one of her patented seals at the cover and blew it apart. The noise got Marta's attention as one by one her friends dropped down from the ceiling.

"Someone call for some heroes," Ichigo grinned.

"Ichigo!" Marta lit up like a bright light bulb.

"Hang on just a moment, I'll untie you," Emil told her.

As he began to undo the knots Marta squealed, "Oh Emil you came for me. I knew you would."

Emil blushed heavily, but continued to work to free Marta.

"Dearest Marta am I glad to see you safe and sound!" Zelos spoke up. "If we lost you, I'm not sure the people of this world would ever be the same."

"That's a bit over the top," Marta felt uncomfortable.

"No, Marta dear. You simply don't know your own value. You are far more lovely than any blossom. You sparkle more brightly than any diamond," Zelos complimented.

"Sorry, Marta. Looks like the last of his screws finally came loose," Sheena chuckled.

"Was I talking to you Sheena?" Zelos hummed. "The only thing you got going for you is your chest."

"I'm gonna smack you for that!" Sheena shouted only to turn and roundhouse kick Zelos sending him flying across the room and into a bunch of stacked boxes.

"Ow! Hey that was a kick! Get your words straight!" Zelos shouted. He calmed down, let out a frustrated sigh and looked up at the ceiling, "Man, what is with this building? It's more like a fortress than an office. Is Lezareno making stuff that really needs this much protection?"

"I know Regal would never make anything dangerous. I'll bet whatever they make here is really fun!" Colette said with a big smile.

"What makes you say that?" Zelos asked, unconvinced. "The security in this place is pretty extreme."

Colette thought to herself for a moment before coming up with an idea that could give Orihime a run for her money. "I've got it! It must be for training spies!"

"Spies?" Ichigo asked disbelievingly.

"Yeah, that has to be it! I'll bet they're training an army of spies to hide in cardboard boxes and steal top secret info from rival companies," Colette deducted.

"Why cardboard boxes?" Marta asked confusingly.

"Slow down, Colette," Sheena told her, "Wouldn't that make Regal some sort of nefarious corporate overlord?"

Colette realized the flaw in her theory. "Ohhhh, I guess you're right," she came up with a new idea almost immediately and said with a bright smile, "Then they're training an army of spies to save the world from evil companies everywhere."

"Maybe we should just move away from the 'army of spies' theory," Ichigo suggested.

Suddenly Emil stood up and declared triumphantly, "There, got it!"

"Emil!" Marta grabbed him as she wrapped her arms around him so firmly.

"What? What's with the grabbing all of a sudden?" Emil asked arms still bent and hanging in midair.

"I'm just so happy you came for me!"

"U-uh…w-well…I'm just glad you're ok," he blushed.

"Emil?" Marta asked.

"Y-yeah?" Emil asked.

Marta looked at Emil with a disappointed look on her face. "Why won't you hug me back?"

"That's…I…" Emil was so red in the face.

"Meanie," Marta said disappointingly.

"On the contrary," Tenebrae said, slightly agitated, "I would argue that forcing others to watch your public displays of affection is considerably more cruel."

"S-sorry," both Marta and Emil apologized.

"Oh come on Tenebrae, don't be such a stiff," Ichigo told him. "And come on Emil show Marta you care."

"Um…I…"

Marta turned to face Ichigo. "Ichigo you don't have to force Emil to do something he doesn't want to—"

She stopped when Emil wrapped his arms around Marta from behind. Marta was surprised. Emil wasn't even blushing. His eyes were closed and he just had a content look on his face. "I'm…glad you're okay Marta." He told her.

Marta turned over in Emil's embrace and wrapped her arms tightly around him, "Oh Emil! Emil I knew you cared!"

"I wish I had a camera," Ichigo muttered to himself.

"How's this then?" Sheena whipped out a spell card, "Picto seal!" she waved it in front of the cute scene in front of her and the card became emblazoned like a photograph.

"Man I wish I could do that," Zelos said, "Then I could…"

WHACK!

"This is a special technique used for reconnaissance not for perverted fantasies you stupid perverted chosen!" Sheena shouted.

"If the theatrics are over could we continue along? We don't want to keep the others waiting," Tenebrae stated.

"Good point," Ichigo said and looked at Marta and Emil. "Come on, let's go you two."

The group headed out and walked down the hallway and up another flight of stairs. As they did, the elevator let out at the other end. From out of it stepped Kratos and the others. "Good seems like we moved at the right pace," the auburn haired crusader commented. "And it seems everyone's accounted for save Lloyd, Urahara and Regal."

"Well the only place we have yet to look is the president's office," Ichigo said looking up towards the fancy door at the top of the staircase.

"Indeed," Kratos agreed.

"Marta are you okay with what we're about to do?" Emil asked her.

Marta nodded, "Yes. I'm going to get my Daddy back! I'm sorry for dragging you all into this, but I'll need your help just a little bit longer."

"Don't worry, you've got it. Now let's go give your dear old dad a long deserved pummeling so that he comes to his senses," Ichigo began to make his way up the stairs.

"Is it just me or do I detect Ichigo to have issues with his father?" Kratos asked.

"No you're picking that up right. Ichigo and his dad don't get along all that well from what he's told me," Sheena scratched her head.

"I see," Kratos said before proceeding up the staircase.

When everyone was standing in front of the door Raine said. "Ichigo, would you do the honors?"

"Gladly," the teen said and charged spirit energy into his body and raised Zangetsu above his head, "Getsuga…Tensho!" The door blast right open and the group stormed into the room. "This is the end of the line Brute!" Ichigo shouted after the smoke and dust cleared.

"So you've come at last," Brute announced he grabbed his battle staff from where it lay against the desk and towered in front of the group as he stood on the raised platform where Regal's desk was.

"Daddy, I want you to give us Solum's core!" Marta shouted.

"Hmph," Brute brushed off.

Emil drew out his sword, "If you don't hand it over, we'll have to resort to using force. But I don't want you and Marta to have to fight each other!"

"You plan to take it by force? Surely you jest, boy!" Brute scoffed and then snapped his fingers, "Alice!" The young half-elf blonde came waltzing into the room, dragging a beaten up Regal. "Enough of these foolish games! The time has come. Hand over all the Centurion's cores you have, or your friend here dies."

"Brute is it?" Kratos spoke up, stepping forward. "You plan to force our hand using a hostage. Whether we comply or not you plan to kill him isn't that right? Do you really think the people of Tethe'alla are just going to accept the Sylvaranti just because they stand on equal ground? What you are doing is no different than the terrorism the Desians spread when the worlds were separated."

"This is completely different!" Brute shouted.

"No it isn't," Kratos stated plainly, "You try to prove your superiority through acts of violence and eliminating all who don't agree with your views. You were hunted and now you aim to become the hunter. It is no different at all."

"Shut up! You shut up!" Brute barked, eyes nearly popping out of his head. "Means and methods are insignificant in the eyes of justice!"

From out of sight Lloyd's voice called out, "Don't you ever start spewing the word, 'justice'!" The twin swordsman dropped down from the ceiling and knocked Alice away from Regal. Urahara then appeared next to the blue haired president, grabbed him and reappeared next to the group.

"Sorry, I'm late traffic was awful, you guys doing all right?" he asked.

"Heh so you teamed up with them did you?" Ichigo asked.

"I weighed my options and this was the best one," Urahara responded.

"Damn it all!" Brute shouted. "This is not the end!" His energy surged causing a heavy disturbance from the party. "I shall not be defeated!"

Magic circles appeared around the man. From them appeared a giant stump monster with a tree-like head, a sliver plant like creature with a humanoid form with blades for arms and a flower on its head, a gigantic lava hound, about as big as Terremotto, a black tentacle shaped monster with a jagged mouth and a red crest, a gigantic, blood red armored spider with a single eye, and a mechanized, beige golem with fire hydrant shaped fists. "Oh my," Tenebrae stated, "That's a Orcrot, a Laliah, a Cerberus, an Earth Eater, a Simoriah, and a Talos, some of the most vicious types of monsters in existence."

"Hiding behind monsters," Kratos was not impressed, "This will be over soon."

"You got that right," Ichigo said and went into Bankai mode.

"Hey, don't forget about me!" Grimmjow's voice came out of nowhere as the wall to the left broke down and he appeared. His lost hand had been replaced with an artificial one. An exosphere was embedded in the palm of it.

"He really loves to make an entrance doesn't he?" Sheena asked.

"You have no idea," Ichigo remarked.

"It still will not be enough," Kratos was acting rather arrogant. "Do you really think one Soul Reaper and hollow hybrid, a few vicious monsters, Alice and you will be enough to defeat all of us?"

"I don't think I know," Brute said and then expanded out more of his energy.

"Kratos you're making him angrier!" Ichigo stated.

"That's the point. Once he's at full strength he'll have no excuses not to submit once he loses, wouldn't you agree?" Kratos asked Ichigo. That was something the teen could understand.

Grimmjow waltzed straight up to Ichigo, "You wanna take this outside?"

"Gladly," the two disappeared in an instant and reappeared outside the building.

"That is one dedicated rivalry," Sheena commented.

"Forget about that right now," Kratos stated, "The real battle is here."

"You're right," Emil said, and then switched to Ratatosk mode, "And by the time we're done I'll make sure that Brute understands the meaning of the word pain!"

To be continued…

(A/N: Yes I would cut things off right there rather than go into a whole fight scene. It's gonna be an epic one that you won't soon forget. Still we got a lot in this chapter some MartaXEmil fluff, Ichigo breaking down and being emo before being snapped out of his funk by Zelos of all people, Kratos giving a Hannibal Lecture that we actually WANT to hear and some good old fashioned comedy thrown in the middle. Anyway, Ichigo and Grimm's rivalry has started up once again, while Emil and the others face off against the real threat: Brute. How will our heroes fare against the combined forces of Brute and his monsters? Or will the whole battle be anti-climactic when the combined forces of some of the more powerful heroes rip the Vanguard Commander a new asshole? Whatever the case may be you'll just have to wait for the next chapter of Tales of Bleach: Return of the Samurai!)