Allow me to make a quick note… I actually wrote this chapter before I started watching One Piece, so this OC Sanji was a complete coincidence! xD


"How long have you been here?" Ichigo questioned Sanji, whom he'd met not too long ago once he realised not all souls within the Hollow shared the same philosophy as the ready-to-die old man. There were some willing to talk to pass the time, even some crazy enough to hope for escape.

"A year by now, at least…" Sanji had long brown hair and green eyes. His soul was dim and transparent, which made those colours harder to make out. Ichigo on the other hand was glowing brightly, his orange hair visible for miles in the darkness. "I lost track of time."

"I understand. I know I've been in here for at least two months…" A frown crossed Ichigo's lips. His hands dropped to his sides, his memories making him forget the game he and Sanji were playing. They'd invented a game using only their fingers, since the Hollow wasn't about to devour any board games.

Upon noticing his friend's upturned lips, Sanji inquired, "What's the matter?"

Ichigo bit his lower lip, the flesh almost torn raw with the harsh grinding force of his teeth. It was a minute before Ichigo could gather his words and reply, "My mother died when I was young… it was my fault. The anniversary of her death would've been just a few days after I died. My family must be devastated. I wish I could see them again... I wish I could speak to them."

Sanji nodded in understanding, he too having left a family behind, "That… well, sounds like something good to keep close to your heart. And… yanno, I think I know someone who might be able to help."

Sanji's words sparked hope in Ichigo's eyes, something that didn't exist in the abyss of the Hollow's stomach. "Who?"

"Her name is Kaleen-"

"Don't tell me you actually believe her crap, Sanji!" A middle aged man muttered, his name was Kajin. "Kaleen is a coot, a crazy mad woman! She's been here the longest, most of her mind's gone… and she spews nonsense about death gods and 'Zanpakuto'."

Ichigo ignored the elderly man's outburst. He grinned at Sanji, resembling a child in a pet store. "I don't care what anyone else says. If she can help me get out of here, then please show me the way!"

Sanji took Ichigo by the hand and dragged him away from their spot. After they left, several other spirits closed in on the gap, attempting to collect any scraps of power Ichigo or Sanji had left behind. The more you move in this world, the quicker your soul tends to fade away. Sometimes particles are left behind, and those who are desperate to live will devour them, much like a Hollow.

Sanji pulled Ichigo away from the cannibalistic souls and into a wide open part of the never ending darkness. Ichigo spotted a woman kneeling on the ground, or so it seemed like there was ground beneath her. When Ichigo approached he only floated, much like everyone else within the Hollow. Kaleen was a young woman with beautiful hip-length red hair, a sword strapped around her waist by a purple sash, strange black robes on her frame and no chain hanging from her chest.

"So," her voice was strict and deep, yet defeat lingered within her tone, "What can I do for you two boys? Come to play games with me? Or make fun of me?"

Sanji shook his head, "He needs your help, Kaleen. He wants to go home."

She snorted like a depressed drunk, "Well, I can't help you with that…" Kaleen stepped closer to Ichigo, gazing into his eyes. "You are bright, though… even more so than me. That's good, it means your soul is strong. Kid, you have the best chance of getting out of here than any of us do, but it's going to take a whole lot of training." Kaleen removed her sword from its sheath.

Ichigo gulped and raised his hands defensively.

Kaleen chuckled and pointed her blade at his neck in a speed that was too quick for him to register. "Listen, kid. The only way we can take out this monster is from the inside, because help ain't coming from the Soul Society. Right now… can you sense that foul spiritual pressure?"

Ichigo, despite how crazy she sounded, found himself trusting this woman. He could sense something wrong with the air, and not just inside the Hollow but outside of it too. Ichigo nodded and Sanji gave a small smirk.

"Good, good…" Kaleen sheathed her sword, "that's because we're in the Hollow's domain, called Hueco Mundo. No Shinigami would dare step foot here without reason and permission from their superiors. That means we're on our own." She sat down on the ground with her legs crossed. Kaleen gestured for Ichigo to do the same. "Now, our first state of business is to get you a Zanpakuto."


Hueco Mundo is an awful place to be in general. It's an infinite grey desert with no colour and no sunlight. It's freezing, but unless you're alive you don't notice the cold. The sky is forever frozen in night, with no stars and a moon with an unreliable astrology pattern. In other words, unless you're an instinct-based being, you'll be lost forever here. Hueco Mundo is an even worse place to be when you're hungry, but it was the only place safe from being hunted by Shinigami. This Hollow had been stuffed by the orange haired boy and had returned home to sleep. As soon as its feet pressed into the colourless sands it could sense other Hollows, and drool rolled down the Hollow's bone lips.

It soon realised that all it could do to satisfy its hunger was to devour other souls, no matter what they were. The Hollow stalked around a stone, opening its jaws in a ravenous fashion. The other Hollow didn't see it coming until it was far too late. The Hollow crunched on the other's shoulder, filling itself with the flesh of the other Hollow.

This way of feeding went on for a month.

It snuck around the desert sands with a practiced ease, devouring anything in sight. It wasn't long until it didn't care who it was anymore, just that it needed to feed.

And that was when it found ten other Hollows just like itself. It bit into a Hollow while another Hollow bit into it. Eventually all the Hollows dispersed into Spiritual Energy and fused together, becoming a new being entirely: a Menos Grande. This Menos wandered aimlessly around the desert, gathering others of its kind into a pack.

Each Menos of this new pack looked entirely the same: pointed nose on a white mask, two large black eyes, a mouth, a long sleek body with legs and no arms. Until one day, a single Menos' mask was changed. It grew sharp teeth and blood red streaks.


Ichigo panted as yet another day of training came to an end. His soul glowed magnificently, unlike the other ten souls that remained. Kaleen was like the others. Her soul was withering away, bit by bit, at an even faster rate than before.

It had all started only a month ago, when the Hollow they were within started devouring other Hollows. Ichigo and Kaleen fought them off, and every time they defeated a Hollow it would fade and become a part of the darkness. Hollows that devoured other souls did the same thing. Eventually only those that trusted Ichigo and Kaleen, such as Sanji, survived. Then even they vanished. Kaleen explained that this rapid change in fading was because the Hollow outside was getting stronger and it demanded more of their reiatsu.

Another week later and the feedings had stopped. Only Ichigo and Kaleen were left, but that was about to change. Kaleen began disintegrating.

"Kaleen, don't leave me!" Ichigo rushed forward and caught her as she fell.

"I'm alright, Ichigo. This is it for me…" She smiled, not a hint of fear on her face. "You're the only one left, and if you can beat this darkness then you can take control of the Hollow… You can see your family again."

Tears came to Ichigo's eyes. "You knew this from the start, didn't you? You knew you would have to die to let me live again…"

She chuckled and nodded. "Ichigo, if you take control then everyone in here becomes a part of you. We won't suffer anymore because we know we're helping such a beautiful person…" Kaleen squeezed his hand. "Say hello to your family for me… and don't you dare ever forget who you are."

Ichigo nodded and watched helplessly as Kaleen vanished, though instead of joining the darkness her soul faded into Ichigo's.


The Menos with the odd mask began to shake and writhe. It grew arms and hands with claws. It sunk sharp fangs deep into the other Menos, which were either oblivious or helpless to stop it. After it devoured all of the Menos pack, it glowed a soft blue and its form shrunk into a humanoid shape.