The sun goes down

I feel the light betray me

Wispy clouds drifted above a vast and uninhabited field. As the wind nudged the grass to the east, an oval-shaped void opened near the ground. From it, Kisuke Urahara stepped out and took a deep breath. Ichigo Kurosaki, dressed in casual wear and a light jacket, followed behind him and allowed the portal to close.

"Doesn't look that much different from our Earth," Ichigo said. "But the air feels a lot cleaner."

"You'll spot some differences once you make your journey," Kisuke replied. "You're about 2,000 miles away from your destination."

"The Garganta couldn't appear any closer than this?"

"I would venture to say that a random void appearing in a town would raise a few concerns among the citizens. Plus, I wanted to give you more time to sightsee."

Ichigo sucked his teeth. "Well, it's a good thing I can use Ki in my human body."

"Would you like me to point you toward Trunks' location?"

"Nah, I already got a read on Goten's energy. I'll go catch up with him first."

"Good thinking. I guess I'll see you when you return."

Ichigo stepped forward, then paused. He turned back to Kisuke with a puzzled expression. "Sooo... how are we gonna get back to Karakura Town?"

Kisuke grinned and reached into his coat. "I thought you'd never ask." He pulled out three black, rectangular objects and handed them to Ichigo. "A gift for each of you."

Ichigo's curiosity grew as he took the objects and inspected them. "iPhones? These are like four generations behind."

"I got them for a pretty nice deal on eBay. The new models would've cost me an arm and a leg."

"Anyway, I'm guessing that these can open up the Garganta."

"I've installed an app that will open it up whenever you'd like. You can travel to another phone's location, or come back to the shop. In this universe, the default location is the spot we're standing on. You also have unlimited calling and texting as long as the Garganta is open."

Ichigo stuffed the phones into his jacket pocket. "That's… really cool, actually. Thanks."

"My number is already in there, and once you give Goten and Trunks their phones, you'll have to figure out which one is which." Urahara pulled a button from the inside of his coat and pressed it, opening up the void once more. "Now, are you sure you want to go alone? I'm sure Captain Hitsugaya wouldn't mind accompanying you."

"I have to make this right myself. Once I talk to him, I'll text you to get the others together. We're still heading to the same place we talked about, right?"

"Correct." Before Kisuke continued, heavy footsteps quaked the ground underneath them. They both spun around and looked up to see a Spinosaurus towering behind them.

"W-what the hell?!" Ichigo screamed. "A fucking dinosaur?!"

Kisuke chuckled as he scooted into the Garganta. "Didn't I tell you there was plenty for you to see? It's a good thing you learned Ki, right?"

"I'm still a human, you dick-" The portal closed, leaving Ichigo eclipsed by the shadow of a fifty-foot long carnivore. Ichigo wasted no time to sprint away, causing the dinosaur to roar and chase after him. He flew high into the clouds and took a moment to catch his breath. "They've got flying cars and dinosaurs. What's next, cavemen with PlayStations?"

He shook his head and headed toward Goten's signal. After his close encounter with death, he settled himself and marveled at the world below. Ichigo spotted more prehistoric animals scattered throughout unpopulated areas, but his eyes lit up when he flew over Satan City. He landed in a discreet location and strolled through the lively streets. Cars flew as high as skyscrapers, and technology he only dreamed of surrounded him. Most notably, however, he saw Hercule Satan deified wherever he looked. Billboards posted his grinning face, children held his action figure, and several streets and stores borrowed his name.

Who knew Satan would be a god here? Hell, even Jesus would lose his mind if he saw himself a thousand times a day.

Led by his senses, Ichigo came within a block of a four-story apartment building. Just as he prepared to cross the street, Goten stepped out of the building with a backpack, then stopped to use his phone. Ichigo smirked, crossed the street, and crept behind him.

"Hey, you," he said. "I heard someone knocked you out and stole your sneakers. Is that true?"

Goten scoffed. "Knocked me out, huh? Who told you that bullshit?"

"Dunno. Some orange-haired guy. He said he's from… Karakura Town?"

Goten's eyes shot open. He looked up from his phone and turned around with his lips parted. "What in the- How?! There's no way."

"Kisuke, that's how. Sorry it took so long for me to visit."

A radiant smile spread across Goten's face as he embraced Ichigo. "I can't even believe it! How've you been?"

Ichigo returned the bear hug Goten gave him. "I'm still trying to get used to college. What about you?"

The two let go of each other and stepped away. "Just trying to stay sane. Have you figured out your major yet?"

Ichigo shrugged. "I thought I wanted to do law, but… I'm not sure."

"Dude, that's normal. I just switched my major to pharmacy last semester."

"Oh, god. That sounds like hell. Don't you have to take organic chemistry?"

Goten nodded. "That class is currently the bane of my existence. And if I didn't already have enough on my plate, I joined the football team, too."

"Really? You have enough time for that?"

"Not really, but practice doesn't tire me out, and I need the scholarship money. So, what brings you to Universe Seven?"

"I wanted to see what Satan City was all about, of course. What the hell did this guy do to get so much worship? Did he cure all diseases or something? I thought Trunks told me he was just an actor."

"He used to be a martial artist, but he's mostly a fraud. My brother killed a villain that was gonna destroy the Earth, and Mr. Satan took all the credit for it. Now he's retired and lives with Majin Buu."

"Majin who?"

"A pink monster that killed the entire population and blew up the planet. Now, all he does is eat and sleep."

"Oh, that's… interesting. By the way, where's Trunks?"

"He's inside. He doesn't have class today." Goten stuck his hands in his pockets and exhaled. "You heard about what happened, right?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"No need, you had school, but Trunks is seriously depressed. I've never seen anything like it before. Unless he goes to class or I drag him out of the apartment, he stays in his room all the time. I thought he would break out of it a month ago, but it's getting worse. He's not taking care of himself, and it's scaring me."

"I figured. It's not his fault. He attacked Soi Fon because his inner Hollow appeared."

Goten gasped. "His inner what?! Did you say Hollow?! How the hell would he have a Hollow inside of him?"

Ichigo paused and lowered his head. "From me. I didn't think he would inherit it from me, but he did, and I never told him about it."

"Wait a second. You have a Hollow? Where did that come from?"

"I'm uh… not sure, actually."

Goten crossed his arms. "I guess that explains why you're so strong. So his inner Hollow just showed up out of nowhere? You didn't notice anything in the Time Chamber?"

"After he got his Bankai, we trained like hell. I tried to bring it out, but nothing came. What we found out later was that it showed up when he fought Aizen."

"So that's what that scary energy was. Holy shit, is there any way to control it?"

"Yeah, but he needs to go into his inner world to fight it. Meanwhile, he'll Hollowfy, meaning that we're gonna have to stall it until he wins. I've already got Toshiro, Rukia, Kisuke, and Yoruichi onboard. With you, we should be able to manage."

Goten averted his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck. "Shoot, um… I would be there in a heartbeat, but… I've got a midterm in a couple hours. The middle of October is a really bad time."

"You're kidding me. Okay, is tonight better? We could even move it to tomorrow."

"No, do it now. He can't keep living like this. The sooner you help him, the better."

Ichigo sighed, then pulled out one of the phones in his pocket. "Urahara gave me this. You can call me or open the Garganta and come over whenever you want."

Goten took the phone and inspected it. "Jeez, how old is this phone?"

Ichigo shook his head. "A few years old. Kisuke's a cheapskate."

Goten looked at the time on the phone and sucked his teeth. "Damn, I'm gonna be late. I gotta catch my bus, but I'm guessing you've got my number in your phone or something. If anything goes wrong, call me and I'll be there." He walked Ichigo to the entrance of the building and opened the door for him. "Go up the stairs and knock on the door to your left. He was in his room when I left. Good luck."

"Got it. Good luck to you, too." Ichigo walked through the door, and Goten left for the university. As instructed, he walked up two flights of stairs and came to a door marked 'D'. Ichigo composed himself, then swung his knuckles to the door. After a few moments of silence, he heard feet shuffle from inside the room. Once they came closer, they stopped. Another five-second silence caused anxious energy to build in his chest.

The door crept open to reveal an astonished Trunks, adorned in a T-shirt and shorts. Unkempt hair reached the middle of his neck, and he now sported a five-o'clock shadow. His face cheeks looked thinner than Ichigo remembered.

"Don't look too shocked to see me," Ichigo grinned. "How's it hanging?"

"Ichigo… how?" Trunks replied. "How did you get here?"

"Kisuke tracked you down… with a bug he put under your scalp."

"Huh… so that's why it always itches. He could've at least put it somewhere more convenient."

Ichigo furrowed his brows. "You're taking that news oddly well."

Trunks shrugged. "He's a mad scientist. It would be odd if he wasn't keeping some kind of eye on me."

"Right, guess I shouldn't have been that surprised. You mind if I come in?"

Trunks shuffled to the side of the door. "Yeah, of course. Sorry about that."

Ichigo stepped into the apartment and observed the room as he left his sneakers at the door. A few decorations and posters brought the white-walled space to life. In front of him, a gray couch sat in front of a large, flatscreen TV. To his left was the kitchen and a door that led to the bathroom and bedrooms.

"Nice place you got here," Ichigo said.

"Thanks. It wasn't our first choice, but it'll do for the year. You want anything to drink or eat?"

"Nah, I'm all good." Trunks led Ichigo to the couch, and the two sank down into the cushions. Trunks put his feet up on a short, white coffee table, cluttered with cups of ramen and microwave dinner boxes. "I know you're a student, but aren't you rich enough to not eat like one?"

"I guess, but it's cheaper, quicker, and less work than actual cooking. How's college treating you?"

"It's different, but it's not bad so far. I'm still trying to work through a major. Orihime didn't end up going, but she's still working at that bakery. She wants to save her money and open up her own cafe soon."

Trunks smiled. "Good for her. What about everyone else?"

"Chad's still doing construction, and big-shot Uryu went to med school at the University of Tokyo. Everyone else is pretty much doing the same thing. And what about you?"

"Oh, I'm just um… managing. Engineering's kicking my ass, but I'll survive."

Ichigo sat forward and grew serious. "What about life? How are you dealing with that?"

Trunks paused and stared into the dark television screen. "Well, you know, I'm dealing. It has its ups and downs, but like I said, I'm managing."

Ichigo pressed his lips together and nodded. "I ran into Goten before I came. He said you're not doing well. I knew you wouldn't be when I came, but seeing it for myself is a different story."

Trunks propped his feet on the round table in front of him as the corners of his mouth sank. "How so?"

"You're trapping yourself in this apartment, you're not eating well, and you've neglected anything related to hygiene. I can smell you, Trunks, and you smell like shit."

Trunks leaned forward and crossed his arms as he lowered his head. "I would've cleaned up if I knew you'd be here."

"That's not the point. Ever since the fight with Aizen, you haven't been yourself. Hell, even in the Time Chamber, you weren't yourself."

"How was I supposed to be? I let so many people die."

"That's not on you! I'm just as responsible as you were!"

Trunks shook his head. "I still didn't stop any of it. After that, I was too weak to compete with Aizen. You all saw what happened."

"Then get stronger, like you told me. None of us were strong enough to fight him alone. It doesn't matter if he's immortal. We can train and stay a step ahead of him. I get that it's a constant thing and that you'll get beaten down in the process, but you have to get back up. That's what you said to me when I was scared."

"None of that matters when I hurt the people I try to protect."

Ichigo lowered his tone and gaze. "It's not your fault that you hurt her. Actually, it's my fault for not telling you…"

"Telling me what?"

Ichigo swallowed and rubbed his eyes before answering. "I have a Hollow inside of me, and you inherited it when I gave you my powers. I should've told you from the start, but I didn't think it was possible. That Hollow is the reason you lived after Aizen strangled you, why you attacked Soi Fon, why you hear that voice in your head, and why you constantly feel like shit. Nothing I say can ever take away from what I did to you, but… I'm so sorry. I made a mistake that cost you everything."

Trunks pushed his tongue to the side of his mouth, then retracted it as he nodded. "Yeah, I figured."

Ichigo shot him a perplexed stare. "What?! You knew?!"

"I didn't know what it was, but I realized a few weeks ago that it wasn't just schizophrenia. I figured that something possessed me, but I didn't know what, and honestly, it really doesn't matter."

"But if you knew, why didn't you say anything? If you came back, we could've helped you sooner. There's a way to control it and get you back to normal."

"And what if I don't want to?"

Ichigo drew his body back. Before he answered, he looked at Trunks' eyes, revealing a weary man who learned to find solace in his suffering. How should he respond to that?

"You have your mom, your dad, your sister, and all your friends that care about you. You can't just throw your life away. I won't let you give into despair; if I have to use force to help you, I will."

"I'm not going with you, Ichigo. You're not responsible for what happened. The only conscience that should be burdened is mine. After all the mistakes I've made, this is what I deserve to live like."

Ichigo clenched his fists, then relented and stood. "Fine, have it your way, but let me ask you something. When we spent a year in the Time Chamber, you went days without sleeping and eating to hit your milestones. You made me stand up every time I thought I couldn't, and we pushed ourselves until we nearly died. From that point until now, when exactly did you become such a coward?"

With wide eyes, Trunks lifted his head. "What did you say?"

"You heard me. You don't think you deserve this, all of this self-loathing and deprivation. That's a piss-poor excuse. You're just too scared to face all of your problems. As soon as it got too much for you, you ran back home and hid from it all-"

Trunks leaped to his feet and grabbed Ichigo by his collar. "Shut the hell up!"

A smirk crept onto Ichigo's face. "Well, look who came out of his shell. Did I touch a nerve?"

"I said shut up! Don't make me say it again."

"What are you gonna do, fight me? Heh, you've been sitting on your ass so much, I bet you can't even turn into a Super Saiyan."

"Try me, bitch. You think this is a game? Let's how much shit you talk while you're holding your fucking teeth."

"Oh, no, I'm shaking. I can guarantee you that if I reach into my pocket and grab my combat pass, you're gonna need more than a Senzu bean to heal you. Think about who's been training, and who hasn't. But if you still believe you won't get smacked halfway across the planet, let's step outside and test out that theory."

Trunks gritted his teeth, but turned his head away and let go of Ichigo. After invoking emotion out of his friend, Ichigo cast aside his cocky attitude and opted for an empathetic approach. "I wasn't serious about you being a coward. You've got to be strong to endure as long as you have. But speaking from experience, nothing will improve with time. You can't keep living like this. There's something more beyond all the guilt you're holding onto."

All the fury in Trunks subsided, leaving him somber. "Even now… I can still hear it telling me I'm hopeless. I never realized how little I wanted out of life, but all I knew was that I didn't want to feel as useless as I did when Aizen cut me down. More than that, I never wanted to feel as empty as I did when she pinned me against a wall and told me to never come near her again. I thought if I stayed away from everything, there would be no more pain, and I wouldn't make anyone else suffer."

"Isolation and internalizing don't stop your pain. It only prevents you from experiencing anything good again. But it's not too late. You can move forward and make peace with all of that. What do you say?"

Ichigo held his fist out. Trunks hesitated, but sucked his teeth and touched with his own. As soon as he did, Ichigo quickly embraced him, prompting Trunks to follow suit and wrap his arms around him. "I love you, big guy."

"I love you, too… little guy."

"Fuck you," Ichigo chuckled as he pushed him away.

Trunks returned a partial smile, then exhaled. "So, what's next?"

"Well, you have to enter your inner world and duke it out with your Hollow. Once you beat him, you can use your Hollow mask to increase your power."

"Do you have a Hollow mask?"

"Um… not anymore. When I got my Zanpakuto back, my Hollow powers must've fused with my Soul Reaper powers. Anyway, while you're in there, you'll be Hollowfying on the outside. We'll have to hold you back so you don't exterminate all life on the planet."

"Wait, who's we?"

"Urahara, Yoruichi, Rukia, Toshiro, and me. I uh, tried to recruit Soi Fon, but-"

"Yeah… that's a mountain I don't wanna think about yet."

"Of course. I asked Goten, too, but he said he has a midterm today."

Trunks raised his eyebrows. "Uh, I'm pretty sure he doesn't."

"He just told me that before he left. Why would he lie?"

"Oh… he probably didn't wanna tell you he can't use his powers anymore."

"Can't use his what?! How?!"

"When he used the Kaioken against Aizen, he ruptured his spirit powers from the inside, and one of the side effects is all that damn coughing he did. But if he overdoes it, he'll destroy his Soul Chain and transform into a Hollow."

"Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. Kisuke's gotta know something about this."

"I doubt that. Neither Orihime nor Unohana could reverse it. Keep quiet, though. It's best if you let him talk about it on his own."

"Will do." Ichigo pulled out a phone in his pocket and opened it from the lock screen. "Let's handle the matter at hand first."

"What's with the phone, and why does it look so old?"

"It's an iPhone that Kisuke gave me to get through the Garganta. As to why it's old, Kisuke said he got a good deal for them online. It doesn't compare to all the futuristic tech in this universe, but hell, it's something." Ichigo found the app with the Urahara's emoji face as its icon. Once he clicked on it, he selected the option to travel to Kisuke's location. The other two phones were unnamed. He then pressed a button in the center that said 'Open', and the dark portal appeared before them.

"I have your phone in my pocket," he continued. "I'll hang onto it until we finish. You ready?"

Trunks slipped on a pair of sneakers, then shrugged. "Not really, but fuck it, I guess."

"That's the spirit. Follow me." Ichigo leaped into the Garganta, and Trunks followed his lead. After sending a quick text to Urahara, the two flew on a straight path to Universe Six. The lack of speed in Ichigo's human form led them to travel for an hour until an opening appeared before them.

They sped out of the Garganta and touched down in dry dirt. Trunks gazed in bewilderment, trying to find out where they had landed. He saw a few hills in the distance, but a predominantly dry landscape with strips of snow laid in front of him. Frigid winds smacked his face and made him regret leaving his apartment without a change of clothes.

"So this is why he said it looks like Mars," Ichigo shivered.

"At least it's not as bad as the Time Chamber," Trunks replied. "Where the hell are we?"

"Gentleman, welcome to Devon Island, located in Northern Canada," a voice said from behind. "Fun fact: this is the largest uninhabited island on the planet."

Trunks perked up and spun around to see Urahara, Rukia, and Toshiro standing in front of him. "Long time, no see. How the hell are you guys acting so casual in this weather?"

"I'm wearing my special, heated coat today," Kisuke smiled. "I always come prepared."

"Personally, I don't find it cold at all." Toshiro said.

"I agree," Rukia added. "It's pretty comfortable, if you ask me."

Ichigo scoffed. "Says the two with ice-type Zanpakutos." Ichigo pulled his combat pass from his pocket and thrust it into his chest. As he emerged into his Soul Reaper form, he caught his lifeless body and held it in one arm. "Hang on. Where's Yoruichi?"

"She's running behind schedule, but we can start the process without her," Kisuke answered.

"Fine by me. If we wait for too long, my body's gonna get frostbite." Ichigo turned toward Trunks. "You know what to do."

Trunks nodded and summoned his Zanpakuto to his back. Touching his hilt once again felt surreal, but he pulled out his sword, sat on the ground, and rested the blade on his lap. Just before he shut his eyes to meditate, he looked up at Urahara.

"What happens if I don't make it out?" Trunks asked. "You'll have to kill me, right?"

Urahara's smile faded. "If you aren't able to overcome your inner Hollow, then the first aim would be to seal it before it causes too much destruction. However, it's not guaranteed if I can."

"That's our concern and not yours," Hitsugaya interjected. "We'll give you as much time as you need. Focus on the battle ahead."

"He's right," Ichigo said. "It's not gonna be easy. You have to stay strong to win, but I know you can do it."

Trunks nodded. A deep breath allowed him to relax his muscles as he shut his eyes. However, his mind stirred too much for him to meditate. That moment might have been the last time he ever saw the outside world, and though that possibility troubled him, what bothered him more was that he'd never have the chance to face the one he hurt the most. The thought of being near her terrified him, but if she came, at least he would know that the gap between them wasn't as insurmountable as he believed.

Trunks slipped out of consciousness and tumbled down into the depths of his soul. His back smacked into a body of water, causing him to panic. Although his body continued to sink downward, he realized he could breathe. Puzzled, he positioned himself upright and observed the world below. Every building and road looked exactly as it did before; why was the entire area submerged?

"Why are you so surprised? This is all your fault."

His heart missed a beat. He knew that voice all too well. It was the one from his dreams; the one that never let him enjoy a moment of peace. It was his voice. Before Trunks swiveled himself around, clasped hands slammed the top of his skull, causing him to careen down the side of a building.

He regained his footing and slid to a halt, only to see his pale, Hollow self land ten yards away from him. Clothed in a white shihakusho with a black trim around the neckline, the Hollow bared a wide, devilish grin as he drew the Zanpakuto buckled to his back.

"Hmph, I thought you'd never show," he said. "Welcome back to your inner world, King. As you can see, you've flooded this place with your pitiful despair. Once I'm finished with you, I'll change this place back to the way it's supposed to be."

Trunks summoned his sword to his back and clenched his fists. "Where's Zangetsu?"

"What kind of stupid question is that? I'm standing right in front of you."

"Don't fuck with me!" With a hand grasping the hilt of his sword, Trunks stepped back and transformed into his Pseudo Blue form. "Now answer the question before I make you."

The Hollow howled out with laughter. "Make me?! What a joke!" His hair rose, and though neither his eyes nor hair changed color, he took on the aura of Pseudo Blue.

Trunks' mouth fell open. "You can… transform?"

"Of course I can, you fool." Trunks gasped as the Hollow closed the distance between them and slashed his sword. Trunks reacted just in time to block, but his Hollow forced his feet to slide backward. "Every time you relied on Zangetsu's power, I've gained more dominion over your soul. All of your techniques, whether Saiyan or Soul Reaper, are at my disposal."

The Hollow jerked his blade forward, staggering Trunks' posture. Taking advantage of the brief opening, he dashed toward Trunks and grabbed his face. Although Trunks could not break free, he charged his energy into his sword. At the sight of this, the Hollow pulled his weapon behind his head and forced black energy into the blade.

"Getsuga, Tensho!" Both fighters launched their attacks at each other, causing the building beside them to fade. Through the cloud of smoke from the explosion, Trunks' body sped out and crashed into the street. As he stumbled to his feet, his doppelgänger floated to the broken pavement and approached.

"You can't beat me," he said. "I'm a lot tougher than the old man. Besides…" The Hollow tapped the side of his head with his finger. "You're too weak. How many times do I have to tell you before it sinks into that dense skull? You should've given up like I said so that I can put that body to good use."

Trunks gritted his teeth, then thrust his sword in front of his shoulder. "You talk too much. It's making me hate my voice more than I already do. I hope Zangetsu comes back after I kick your ass."

The Hollow stepped back and assumed the same position as Trunks. "I already told you: I am Zangetsu. And at the rate you're fighting, I'll be the new king of this world in no time."

Energy shot from their bodies as the two warriors released their full power.

"Ban-"

"Kai!"

The others leaped back as black electricity danced around Trunks' body. The ground cracked underneath him, and gusts of winds hurled in all directions. Rukia stepped forward from the group and unsheathed her Zanpakuto.

"You can handle this, right?" Ichigo asked.

"Ten minutes shouldn't be a problem as long as I stay on my toes."

"Don't do any more than you have to. If he's too much for you, get out of there."

"I'll be fine. Now get going." Ichigo, Kisuke, and Toshiro Flashed Stepped a hundred yards away to provide space for Rukia to fight. Kisuke and Toshiro sat on the ground, but Ichigo continued to stand after he laid his body down.

"Ichigo, did you see Goten in Universe Seven?" Toshiro asked.

Ichigo nodded. "He said he couldn't come because of an exam. It's… not something he could've skipped on short notice."

Toshiro sighed through his nose. "I see."

"It's unfortunate, but hopefully we can manage," Urahara said as he pulled out a stopwatch from his coat and pressed a button. "In ten minutes, it'll be Yoruichi's turn."

"Where is she, anyway?" Ichigo asked.

"Running one last errand. I'm sure she'll make a dramatic entrance when it's time."

The ground underneath Trunks' body tore and floated into the sky as the electricity surrounding his body grew more energetic. A cloud of smoke enveloped him, then dispersed to reveal him adorned in his long, black robe. Distorted screeching hurled from his mouth as he stood with Tensa Zangetsu in hand and faced Rukia. A red-striped Hollow mask had already shielded half of his face. Rukia held out her katana and rotated it counter-clockwise.

"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki."

Her Zanpakuto turned white, including a long ribbon that flowed from the bottom of her hilt. The release of her Shikai caused the island's freezing temperatures to grow chillier.

Trunks cried out with eerie glee before lunging toward Rukia. Rukia parried a lumbered swing at her neck before countering with a slash across his midsection. He hissed out as she Flash Stepped away from him. White matter sprouted from the wound and coated his abdomen.

Rukia didn't wish to injure him, but to stay alive, she needed to disassociate Trunks from the threat in front of her. Though its movements were slow and predictable, the situation could change without warning. If she maintained her plan of staying defensive and keeping distant, she could last ten minutes. Still, the disturbed grin on Trunks' face sent a small wave of anxiety through her chest. Even worse, his inevitable increase in power began as the mask concealed more of his face.

Trunks charged once more, wielding Tensa Zangetsu across his body. With regained composure, she held her glowing Zanpakuto upside down once more. "Some no Mai…" As Trunks came within striking range, she slashed outward, forming a white circle beneath the two of them. "Tsukishiro!"

Before Trunks reacted, Rukia Flash Stepped away; a pillar of ice shot into the sky and trapped him inside. Rukia gripped her weapon with both hands as her ice cracked within a few seconds. Trunks broke free and wasted no time continuing his pursuit.

In his Hollowfied form, Trunks proved persistent and dangerous, but Rukia sustained her efforts with Kido, ice, and speed. However, as the mask completely covered his face, and other parts of his body continued to Hollowfy, his own speed and power heightened. Slashes of reckless abandonment showed more control than before. Sode no Shirayuki felt like it would shatter under the weight of his swings, causing Rukia to take evasive measures. This resulted in several cuts across her arms and body.

Away from the action, Ichigo inched closer to leaping into the fray. Hitsugaya rose from the ground, ready to draw his sword at a moment's notice. She only had a minute and a half left, and if Yoruichi did not appear soon, he prepared to step in and save Rukia.

Rukia stood hunched over with labored breathing. Her Zanpakuto felt heavy in her hands, but she wouldn't give in. As the seconds crawled, she had to hold out longer to do her part.

The spreading white matter burst through Trunks' sneakers, giving way to talon-like feet. With another wide-mouthed scream, his hair rose and took on a blonde hue. A golden aura erupted from his body, leading Rukia to grit her teeth, but shiver with fear.

Both Ichigo and Toshiro drew their weapons, but Kisuke held out his hand. "Both of you, stay put."

"Like hell, I will!" Ichigo said. "She's gonna get killed!"

"I promise you, she won't. You'll get your chance soon enough."

"Yoruichi hasn't arrived yet," Toshiro said. "We can't wait for her any longer. I'll step in and-"

"Captain, I can guarantee that she'll come. Trust me on this one."

Trunks leaped into the air before diving at Rukia. She leaped away, only to see him lunge at her with blistering speed. Rukia inverted her grip and punctured the dirt with the tip of her sword. "Tsugi no Mai…" She punctured it four more times in a semicircle. Ice particles flowed upward as she stepped into a battle stance and held her sword level with her head. "Hakuren-"

Trunks disappeared from sight before reappearing behind her. Rukia only had time to gasp at the speed of his Sonido. A punch just below her neck sent her tumbling away into the ground. As she struggled to turn herself over, she observed Trunks charging a red Cero from his mouth. Rukia tried to find the strength to dodge, but the attack fired just as she sat up. A colossal explosion ensued, followed by a thick cloud of dust that obscured vision.

Visible breath escaped from Trunks' mouth before he charged in with his black blade pulled back. Just as he swung his arm downward, a hand reached out and snatched his wrist. He snarled as the hand twisted his arm, rendering him unable to pull it free. Before he attacked with his other hand, a heel came across his jaw, causing his face to slide several feet in dirt.

The dust cleared to reveal Soi Fon, clothed in her sleeveless shihakusho and with Suzumebachi already fastened around her hand and wrist. She stared down at him with indifference, but once Trunks stood and glared at her, her fingers twitched. As he roared, dark energy flowed from the handguard of Tensa Zangetsu.

Soi Fon's mission was to buy time, but if she had no other options, did she possess the resolve to take his life? For hours on end, she pondered if she could stand before him again and wield her gauntlet of death. After months of breaking and rebuilding her body under extraordinary levels of gravity, she arrived at her answer. He was her enemy, and if she needed to strike him down to stop him from slaying her and the others, then so be it. Still, she hoped she wouldn't have to look down that path, let alone walk it.

With a tightened fist, Soi Fon abandoned her sentiments and stepped into her fighting stance. Against Hollowfied Trunks, it would be wise to fight conservatively, but she'd be damned if she missed an opportunity to test her newfound strength. She couldn't help but make the first move.

As Toshiro and Ichigo stood awestruck at Soi Fon's appearance, Yoruichi appeared before them with Rukia in her arms. Once Ichigo saw her condition, he rushed to her aid.

"Just hang in there," he said. "I'll get you to Orihime as fast as I can."

"There's no need, Ichigo," Kisuke said as he stood. "Yoruichi, lay her down. I'll do my best to heal her wounds."

Yoruichi nodded and gently placed her on the ground. She stepped back with Ichigo, allowing Urahara to treat her with Kido.

"I'm… sorry," Rukia said with her eyes barely open. "I couldn't… hold him for… any longer."

"You only had fifty seconds left," Urahara replied. "You did well, Lieutenant."

Ichigo exhaled with relief, then turned to Yoruichi. "So, what happened? Were you busy trying to convince Soi Fon to come?"

"No, she always intended to. We opted to do things the Stealth Force way and launch a surprise attack."

"What now, then?" Toshiro asked. "Are you going to fight alongside her?"

"Not yet. Let her fight for as long as she can. I'll jump in when she needs help."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Ichigo questioned. "At this rate, Trunks will-"

"She's more than capable of holding her own for a while. She's a captain and my former student, after all. However hard you've trained, I assure you, she's trained twice as hard, if not more."

Ichigo smirked. "Hmph, I'll have to see it to believe it."

A/N: Oh hello, everyone. How about we all act like that little hiatus just never happened :D

In all seriousness, I apologize. I wrote like… half of it, and then I took a huge break. Couldn't bring myself to write for reasons such as writer's block, no time, a newfound addiction to Bleach: Brave Souls, and no desire to write even though the story lives in my head 24/7.

These reviewers… sheesh. All yapping about the same thing. I told you guys what was up in Chapter 1 (or Chapter 22, depending on when you started), so I dunno why some people missed the memo. Someone said I'm a Bleach fanboy… I mean, yeah, for like four years. I've been a Dragon Ball fan my whole life. It's just ironic because it's rabid Dragon Ball fans getting mad because of canon power scaling… in a fan fiction… where I explicitly said I modified the power scaling. I guess I broke the rules.

It's also annoying when people don't read and then leave a review that's not constructive in any sense. And they're guests, too, so I can't even respond ughhhh. Whatever, fuck em.

But I'd love to hear feedback from you guys. Contrary to the mini-rant above, I welcome criticism of things that I haven't addressed. As long as it doesn't include some version of "This should have never been written", I would love to have discussions with you guys about Bleach, Dragon Ball, the fic, etc.

Which brings me to the next point: thank you all. I haven't even clicked on this site since December, but I see that people are still reading and following/favoriting. I can't thank you all enough for following me on this journey.

I was going to title this Lovers, but it didn't fit, so a lyric off of Papercut sufficed. Next week will be titled Bender… or Sickman. Godless Demon? How exciting.

God, this is long. Have a great day, and I'll catch you folks next time. Hopefully sooner than later!

Spotify link: openDOTspotifyDOTcom/playlist/6mTKPgyZQYSMR4qoY1VtLV