Inside his cell Hichigo heard an annoying voice tell.

"Get the Hollow to my labor. I want to study him before he gets killed."

"Yes. Kurotsuchi Taicho."

The Cells door opened and two Shinigami escorted him into a dark room, full with different types of glasses and bottles, filled with foreign liquids and academic instruments.

He was bound on a cold steel table, than the two men left him alone.

"Sooo. Lets see what you hide inside yourself." Kurotsuchi Mayuri appeared, being in a high spirit, because he got something interesting to study.

Hichigo who was all naked and his long white hair hung down from the tables edge.

He didn't make any sound when Kurotsuchi checked all his vital functions.

"Well, well. You must be something special. From your reiatsu I can tell you are a Hollow on the Espadas level. Now we'll take a look inside you."

Kurotsuchi scanned the pale body, taking a look at the inner organs without opening it, with some machine.

When he came to the chests area, he suddenly stopped the scan.

Heading over to another monitor and taking a closer look.

"Now what shall I think about this?"

Hichigo, having enough of the mans monologue broke his silence.

"What? Are you surprised? I think you have taken a close look on the outside of my body. You should have noticed that I am missing a feature of a Hollow."

Kurotsuchi stepped over to him and hit Hichigo hard in the face.

The albinos head tilted to the side, but he talked on.

"It's thanks to Ichigo that I still have a heart."

Meanwhile in the living world

Ichigo had just one idea how he could save his love. He headed over to Urahara.

When he came there, the ex-Shinigami already was having a video conversation with Kuchiki Byakuya.

"Ah, Kurosaki-kun. Come on in, I already know why you might be here."

Ichigo sat next to the man and said.

"Then help me saving Hichigo."

"Don't worry Kurosaki Ichigo. I already have taken this as my mission."

Byakuya stated trough the monitor.

"Eh? Byakuya? Why should you help me, saving Hichigo?"

"Because you once saved something that is as dear to me as this Hollow seems to be to you. I want to repay this dept to you."

"And how do you plan to do it?"

"I'll find a way. Or should I better say, Urahara and I already planned something. So please wait until I call you the next time."

With that the connection was cut and Ichigo was left clueless.

"Urahara, what have you planned?"

"Ah, just wait and be patient, everything will come to a good end. I promise."

Back at Soul Society

The study on Hichigo had ended and now he sat again in his cell.

They wouldn't bring him food, nor water since they thought he fed from souls and these he wouldn't get fed in a billion years.

So he hungered waiting for his judgment, which would be an execution as he had heard and hoped Ichigo wouldn't do anything stupid.

Three days later the Hollow was brought to Soukyoku Hill, barely able to walk.

Wile the Captain Commander spoke the judgment, some captains from the squads joined the spectacle.

"Have you any last words, Hollow?"

"Yeah. I don't regret anything, nor have I any grudge against you. But you will be the ones regretting, when you learned that your pretty little world isn't solely made of black and white."

Hichigo should get burned with the fires of Ryuujin Jakka since the King Kikou was destroyed.

The moment the old Captain Commander released his sword, a voice echoed over the hill.

"Stop the execution."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri came running over the place.

"This, This is no Hollow." he gasped.

"At least no regular one."

"Speak clearly, Kurotsuchi."

"He is like a hybrid. His strength and reiatsu are like an Espadas, but his brain functions and inner organs stayed in the state of a normal human. Actually I would say he's more human than Hollow in the current state."

"This will not bring him any savior. We talked about it already. He must be executed."

A third voice joined the scenery.

"You still haven't learned anything."

The head of the Kuchiki house walked over to them.

"Yamamoto Sou-taicho, you are doing the same like you did to Rukia. You think he can get dangerous, but in fact this Hollow ha long lost his fangs. No, he was more born without any in the first place. Still you fear his strength and the only way you see is elimination the whole being.

I can't stand here and let you do this, without me losing my face before Kurosaki Ichigo."

He used Shunpo and freed Hichigo from the execution place, than with the Hollow over his shoulder he ran to his manors Senkaimon.

On Soukyoku Hill Captain Commander ordered the Shinigami to take action.

"Get them! Don't let them pass any of the gates!"

Byakuya and Hichigo reached the gate, it already was opened and Rukia waited for them.

The Kuchiki head put the Hollow down and ordered him.

"You get over to Kurosaki. Rukia will lead you. I hold the Squads back."

The Hollow and the raven girl ran through the gate and Rukia stated.

"I can't believe Nii-sama actually did this on his own."

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter. Be happy you're still alive."

Chapter 29

End