Hey hey! It hasn't been three months and I'm posting a chapter YAY! there's some action in this one too!

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Chapter 28: The Shadows Make a Move

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"What the heck is going on?! He just disappeared!" Uryuu yelled turning to Clair. "What is happening?"

"Not now Ishida there are much more important things going on right now then you being hysterical and unknowing." Clair said as Grimmjow lifted Apachi up and handed her to Ryu to get her to Urahara's quicker.

"And now he disappeared!" The quincy stated motioning to where Ryu had been.

"Ishida calm down, head to Urahara's for now we'll meet you there and I'll explain. Does that work?" Ichigo asked Clair "I'll meet up with you afterword."

"Right. Me, Grimmjow and Yue will go on ahead then, Tora you stay with Ichigo and bring him after." Tora nodded, Grimmjow swallowed his mod soul pill and Clair took hold of his shoulder and vanished along with Yue. Ichigo grabbed hold of Panicy's wrist and dragged him along to the shop.

"Kurosaki-San, Ryu came in a bit of a rush and left but didn't explain anything what is happening exactly?" Urahara asked as he watched Tessai work more on healing Apachi. He was more then a little worried about the suddenness and urgency in which the arrancar was brought to him.

"More like start from the beginning and explain what's going on period." Uryuu said irritated as he crossed his arms. Chad stood by silently waiting and Orihime waited worried. Ichigo sighed and ran his hand through his hair before sitting down the others following suit.

"It's a long story but I'll try to shorten it since we don't have much time." at that Uryuu started to ask what he meant but Ichigo cut him off, "Clair, Phoenix, Ryu, Yue, and Tora are the sacred beasts. The Yellow Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, and White Tiger respectively. They have been fighting something for centuries, and that something is what brought Nnoitora back."

"Nnoitora? But Kenpachi killed him." Urahara stated.

"The only thing we can guess is that they intervened at the last moment stopping his death but holding onto him to use as a pawn." Tora said leaning on the wall looking out the window. She was only half paying attention as she watched the others as best she could from a world away.

"What is it you're fighting?" Chad asked.

"Darkness. Nothing more nothing less just darkness. That's all we have time for we must go to the others Ichigo." she pushed off the wall changing to her battle form as she did so he stood up and used his soul badge. "Inoue I would ask you to help look after her if you wouldn't mind." she nodded going to help Tessai.

"Wait a minute you've hardly told us anything at all! We deserve a full explanation!" Uryuu complained standing.

"inside now isn't the time! Sit your ass down and wait like a good boy if you want to know more, till then we have shit to do that you are not prepared to help with!" Tora growled at him taking hold of Ichigo's shoulder and vanishing as Uryuu mumbled something about pride of the Quincy and being able to handle anything Ichigo could.

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Phoenix arrived to find Mila Rose, Sun Sun, and Hallibel in rather bad shape though Hallibel was at least standing. "Hallibel! What happened?!" he caught her just as her legs failed. He lowered her gently to the ground looking her over.

"Nnoitora, he... Nelliel and Apachi were patrolling and he attacked them. We got here as fast as we could and I set Apachi to get help from Grimmjow since I didn't think to much of it... But then I realized something was off. He wasn't quite... right, he wasn't being himself. Then I saw it, it was like some kind of shadow was draped around him for a moment and that's when I remembered what you had told me... So I used this." she held up her wrist showing the bracelet he had given her. He nodded focusing on healing her. "He... cut us down, me down...and he took Nel... If you had gotten here just a few moments sooner you might have been able to catch him."

"Shh, you need to rest now." he said softly as he thought every thing over Clair Grimmjow and Yue had just arrived behind him and he retold what she had said. "Find him, help Nel." Clair nodded not actually needing to be told, and the three took off in the direction Hallibel had said he'd gone. "They'll get her back Hal, don't worry, just rest for now we'll save her." she nodded passing out. A few minutes later Tora showed up with Ichigo. "Help me get them inside, I'll explain on the way."

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"Wouldn't it be better to split up?" Yue asked as they ran. Clair thought about it before nodding "I'll go this way and cover that area then." Yue broke off to the left.

"I'd rather not leave you alone..." Grimmjow mumbled looking over at her but got the hint that he had to for now from the sharp look on her face. He sighed and went off to the opposite side. He searched for Nnoitora's spirit pressure. 'It's there but it's all messed up...' 'It must be because of the shadow things.' he nodded agreeing with Pantera. 'This way.' he ran for about an hour before the spirit pressure got stronger and changed course. 'Hey Grimmjow... You know that this could be a trap for Clair right?' 'I know that's why we have to settle this quickly.' "Whoa!" he jumped back just as something struck the ground where he had been. "What the? ...n-no way..." he stared wide eyed at the figure in front of him. "Yammy..." 'But it's not, he's different too. Did they get to him as well?' he dodged another attack from the massive arrancar.

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Yue met up with Clair after completely loosing the trail "Where's Grimmjow?"

"Went in the other direction." Clair stated simply.

"When I said split up I just meant you and me not him too you know this is probably a trap." Yue sighed exasperated.

"Of course it is that's why I sent him off, play the trap on the trappers." Clair said seriously. She was following Nel's presence and it was getting weaker worrying her. She began to move faster upon feeling Grimmjow clash against another power. "We have to hurry." another ten minutes went by and they came across a series of caves, Nel's presence coming form within. "Great..." they headed in careful of their surroundings and attempting to stay as silent as possible. They came to a large cavern where they found Nnoitora standing over an unconscious Nel. He was simply staring down at her as she lay on the ground both unmoving. "Nnoitora," he turned to look at Clair who had spoken, "let her go." she told him stepping out into the open a bit. He tilted his head his only eye blank not reflecting the light of the moon that poured in through a hole in the ceiling. "Please." he readied his weapon and attacked without a word. Clair blocked with her bow as he swing down on her and drew and arrow shooting up at his face. He jumped back to avoid it before throwing the large weapon at her, she dodged to the side firing another arrow while Yue tried to sneak around to Nel. Nnoitora however not only dodged but sonidoed over in front of Yue cutting off her path. She blocked his attack but was forced back by it as Clair then tried to get to Nel but once more Nnoitora stood in the way. "Nnoitora please you have to be in there somewhere."

"You know it'sss ussslesss Center! He'sss being controlled there'sss nothing anyone can do about it! We can only kill him!" Yue hissed attacking him. He blocked and pushed her back then just stood there as neither girl moved. "Why isn't he attacking?" Yue asked after a minute or so of them all just standing there.

"Because we aren't doing anything. He attacked when I told him to let her go and when we tried to get to her. This is strange..." Clair commented as she continued to observe the arrancar in front of her. He almost seemed to be quivering, his face was not really twitching but moving as if trying to form an emotion, a confused emotion. "No way...he's trying to fight it." she said nearly awed, it had happened before long ago. But only because the person was near one that truly cared for them even then they weren't able to do anything as they had already lost control to the Shadows. "But still if they already have him then it is too late. He won't be able to break free. I am sorry Nnoitora but this time you really will be dying." she readied her bow and he took up a fighting stance as well.

"Wait..." Nel whispered waking up "please Nnoitora don't hurt her... Please..." his body jerked slightly at her words and the room suddenly got darker and he screamed. "Nnoi...tora..." the Shadows in the room converged on him making him cry out again in pain and drop his weapon clutching his head and chest.

"They...they are loosing they're grip on him...? How's that possible?" Yue asked confused as Clair watched Nel push herself up and try to get to him past the Shadows and cold. "Center? What's happening I've never seen this before."

"She loves him. It's just that simple. Love is the strongest source of light. It's happened before, but it won't matter he doesn't love her so that light won't overpower the Shadow in his soul." Clair said her face shocked as she had only just come up with that answer after so long. "To think all this time there was a way to rid them from a person's heart. Yet... It's a near impossible thing..." she grit her teeth as she watched Yue also feeling more then helpless as Nel once more called out to him, he looked back at her just as she got to and hugged him. "Unless he returns the feeling it won't matter." Clair readied her bow to attack him waiting till Nel was clear thinking he'd throw her back then try to attack her. He seemed ready to do just that as the Shadows began sinking into him when she whispered something making him freeze completely. "There!" Clair released her arrow but it was different from normal meant only to pierce shadow, passing through Nel into Nnoitora a second later the Shadows around them dispersed and he fell to the ground Nel going with him. "Incredible... Her words actually reached him..." Clair said but even still it probably wouldn't matter it had been the Shadows keeping him alive and now they were gone from him. Nel held him to her calling out. He managed to reach up to her face wiping a tear away calling her a noisy child before his hand fell and his head rolled back.

"NO!" Nel screamed shaking him trying to get him to wake up. Clair came up and hugged her telling her it was to late that he was on the brink of death anyway and that there was nothing to be done but send his soul off. "Nn-nnoitora...I'm sorry..." she cried as Clair placed her hand on his chest light coming from it as his soul departed for Soul Society. Clair pulled her away from the body left on the ground and let Nel cling her as she sobbed.

"We need to get out of here Nel. Come on." Clair said and turned only to find shadows appearing in front of the entrance seeming very pissed off. "You've lost this fight." she told them her whole body glowing brightly with power.

'Not quite.' they dived around the three females.

"Center! Behind!" Yue yelled turning around to see them entering Nnoitora making him stand looking much like a marionette. "Damnit!" Clair tried to shoot at the black gate behind him to close it and stop the darkness reaching for his soul that had lingered near Nel a bit too long. But another got in the way stopping the strike from hitting its intended target. Words were spoken from the dark gate then both his body and soul were gone taken back into the darkness. "DAMNIT!" Both yelled as Nel passed back out unable to take anymore and they carried her back to the others.

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"yummy what the hell are you doing!?" Grimmjow yelled at the huge arrancar as he dodged another blow. "Why are you attacking me? I need to find Nnoitora!"

"Like I care you stupid cat! I always wanted to beat the shit out of you and now I can. Cause no one can stop me!" he laughed as he fired another cero at Grimmjow. "Come on stop running coward! Fight me!"

"I don't have time for this!" he want into his shikai and pulled his mask on startling Yammy with the change of power. "Get out of my way!" he fired a grand ray cero at his large opponent. Yammy was blown back and hurt but all he did was laugh. "Fine then I'll just kill you and be done with it. Come on you over grown sack of lard!" 'Calm down...' Pantera warned feeling the darkness pulse in their direction. Grimmjow growled reminding himself why he was there before he lost himself to the fight. 'Fight as who you are now not who you were then. You aren't an arrancar anymore you aren't destruction. You, like Ichigo, now stand for protection. Focus!' "right." Yammy came at him pissed by the comment and fueled by the Shadows who were angered by Grimmjow's control and ability to reject them. He cut Yammy across the chest with both blades before jumping back as meaty hands tried to grab for him. "So how much fat do ya got on ya exactly?" Grimmjow asked. Yammy yelled again lunging forward. Grimmjow jumped up and cut down the arracnar's back. 'Grimmjow...' pantera warned again. 'Its ok his aspect is rage it may make him stronger to get pissed off but he also gets slower from what I've seen.'

"I'll skin you kitty cat!" Yammy growled turning to face Grimmjow and swing at him with his sword at the same time. The sudden draw of his sword caught Grimmjow off guard, he got his blades up just in tine to block but was thrown back into a tree. "Haha not so big and bad now that you've lost your love of destruction are ya?" Yammy laughed as Grimmjow pulled himself up.

"No but I have a power beyond what you have or will ever know Yammy. And for that I feel sorry for you. Because you will never know what love really is or what it is to be loved. And that is why you will not beat me. I'm not fighting for myself anymore." his power whipped around him as he started chanting a kido spell he pointed his hand at Yammy "Kido 37 shakaho! Cero!" he yelled adding the power of a cero to the kido increasing its power exponentially. It blew through Yammy's shoulder blowing it up and costing him his arm. He cried out falling to his knee clutching at the wound yelling curses at Grimmjow. "We were once comrades Yammy therefore I cannot sit by and watch as the Shadows use you whether you realize it or not. So I will make this quick."

"You really think I'm through!? You haven't seen anything yet!" the big man yelled standing as Shadows swirled fiercely around him kicking up sand. "I'll crush you and those you care for!" Grimmjow grimaced shielding his eyes from the dust.

'We have to get out of here!' Pantera yelled. "I know... But if I just run he will simply follow... I have to end this now." 'Regroup Grimmjow! You can fight him with the others at your side you aren't alone anymore remember! They want you separate from the others they want you dead or in their control! Leave! For Clair's sake run!' Pantera pleaded as the Shadows licked at Grimmjow's power. His want to fight drawing them in. "I..." he knew what he needed to do but his body wasn't listening he knew Pantera was right. "Shit..." Yammy was coming at him when a wave of black and red cut through him.

"You know Grimmjow asking for help doesn't make you weak." Ichigo said with a small smile coming up next to him sword resting on his shoulder looking completely relaxed. "It means you're strong enough to know your limits. I learned that the hard way too." Grimmjow laughed shaking his head and looking back at Yammy who was pulling himself back up. "Now let's finish this." Grimmjow nodded and they attacked together as they had learned to do while sparing against the five. With their tag team they were able to beat Yammy back till the Shadows opened a gate behind him pulling him back.

'Jshougiv ghrodugan iyas tubyak littdetun.' was heard coming from the blackness of the gate before it closed.

"Did you catch that?" Ichigo asked with a serious look on his face knowing that what they just heard couldn't possibly be good in anyway.

"Yeah, we'll tell Clair when we get back. Let's go." Ichigo nodded and they headed back to Los Nochas as quickly as they could.

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Ryu had come right after leaving Apachi with Urahara but didn't go to Phoenix instead sought out the feel of the cold Shadows. There was a large grouping of them off in the menos forest. He came upon something he didn't expect to find. He however overstayed his welcome and was noticed by the Shadows. Wisely though he ran back to Phoenix knowing he would be unable to take them all on his own. Besides he had seen all he need to already and it was more important he get this information back to the others.

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After getting Hallibel, Mila Rose, and Sun Sun back to their rooms and hearing what happened Ichigo and Tora set off to help the others leaving Phoenix with the girls. He continued to heal their wounds as they slept trough the pain. 'Behave...' he told himself as he started to work on a deep gash on Hallibel's chest. 'You're dating Yoruichi behave... Damn this is hard...'

"Phoenix we have a problem!" Ryu yelled appearing next to him out of breath.

"Holy shit don't sneak up on me like that damnit!" Phoenix jumped but then processed his words "What problem?"

"The Shadows… I don't know how they managed to do it what with how he died but they've brought Baringgon back." Phoenix's eyes widened at this information. "That's not all, they seem to have increased his power to a degree that his control over time has altered. He's trying to bring someone back and undo something done in the past. But I can't tell who... Let alone how at the moment." he growled frustrated the past was his, yet even he couldn't alter it. It went against nature itself. For them to push the arracnar's power to the extent that he is capable of such a feat... "I don't really want to think of what this could mean. If he succeeds... The time line could be thrown out of whack..." he started pacing.

"No...it may not. He can alter the time of a single object in the time that we are now. To truly bring someone from one time to another would require the power of all the Beasts. He must have something of the person who he is bringing back and altering time around it." Phoenix said thoughtfully, Ryu stopped pacing and thought over his words then nodded agreeing. He was right the arrancar wasn't necessarily reaching into the past just touching upon something or in this case someone that was there. Not long after Clair, Yue, Tora, and Nel came back. "What happened?" Clair explained where and how they found Nel and Nnoitora. Halfway through Ichigo and Grimmjow came back.

"The words they spoke just before shutting the gateway. 'Jshougiv ghrodugan iyas tubyak littdetun' trouble me." Clair said.

"They said that to us as well but what does it mean?" Grimmjow asked.

"It is basically a declaration of war. We are coming and will take all you hold dear. Is pretty much what it comes out to." Phoenix said running a hand over his face. "Why did they speak this to you?" he asked Grimmjow.

"We were kicking Yammy's can and they opened this black gate thing and took him into it then we heard the words."

"The fact that they retreated in the manner they did proves they aren't quite ready but the fact that they attacked just shows that whatever is going to happen will be happening soon. We don't have enough time... Nor the power..." Clair sighed "and I am still unable to take on my truest state." She sighed running a hand trough her hair.

"You mean that of your dragon?" Ichigo asked and she nodded. "Damn..." she started to help heal Mila Rose as Ryu worked on Sun Sun and told the others what he had seen. "So...what do we do?"

"There isn't much we can do unfortunately." Tora grit out through her teeth. "Unless something really awesome just falls into our lap anyway." She slammed her fist against the wall putting cracks in it, "I hate this! We've never been this unprepared!" Ichigo pulled her against his chest to try and calm her down so she didn't break anything else.

"I can't believe Nel managed to reach Nnoitora though and then to have him snatched away again like that right in front of her...it's no wonder she passed out again." Grimmjow said running a hand through her hair as she slept having sat down next to her after coming back. "Is there anything that can be done? I mean I hate the guy but if it's for Nel…" he had come to care for her as he had everyone else and he didn't want to see her in pain anymore.

"I really don't know Grimm, I didn't even think what happened was possible." Clair sighed as Hallibel began to wake up. "How are you feeling?"

"Not well... Nel?"

"She is fine. She's right there with Grimmjow look." Phoenix said pointing off to the side. She smiled as she watched the girl snuggle against him clinging to him and not letting go no matter how he tried.

"Ah it's like when Clair fell asleep next to Phoenix that one time!" Yue cooed, "maybe she thinks of you as a big brother now! I mean you did help watch her when she was in the living world." he sighed giving up on detaching the green haired woman from his jacket.

'Kereana?'

"What the hell!?" Clair said standing straight and staring at nothing with wide eyes.

"What is it?" Phoenix asked confused and worried.

"Someone just called my name. My true name." it was the other four's turn to widen their eyes. "But no one has known it since long past."

"True name what do you mean?" Ichigo asked confused.

"Everyone has a true name Ichigo. And if you remember names have power to learn someone's true name... Then to be able to call out using it..." she heard it again, "Wait that voice...it couldn't be..."

"Who? Who is it?" Tora asked worried pulling away from Ichigo a bit.

Clair looked at them with confusion and worry written on her face, "I think it's Aizen."

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DunDunDUN! Cliffy! I'm so mean two in a row but hopefully the next one will be up soon as I have already started writing it. The weird words that the Shadows said was me handing my brother my itouch and telling him to give me five strange sounding made up words.

So what did you think? What's going on? How does Aizen know her true name? Is it another trap? What's the old fart arrancar doing? So many questions and only like two will be answered in the next chapter I'm so mean but hey it wouldn't be any fun if you found everything out at once right?

But seriously tell me what you think it really does help I know I say it every authors note but it's cause it's true.