Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. It's own by Kubo and Shonen Jump. I do own my O/C Characters and plot.

Author's Note: I'm going to try to upload about two more chapters tomorrow, since it's Valentine's Day Tuesday.. and I'm super excited to post them. Also, thank you again so much for reviewing and reading! I hope you all like reading them as much as I had fun writing them! Enjoy, and please continue to review! :)

Title: Old Friends, New Mysteries: Ichigo's Pov

I was appalled as I laid in my bed. I thought about Shinji Hirako, and how he possessed a zanpakuto along with a hollow mask. 'Visors' he called himself, a soul reaper crossing his/her boundaries and obtaining hollow like powers. 'The symptoms are already there, Ichigo. Once the symptoms appear. There's no turning back'

What he said made me question who I am and what I am. More importantly, where do I truly belong?

Shinji told me that if I joined him. He would help me suppress my inner hollow. Ever since I learned Bankai, I could feel the hollow more and more each day. Hear him. Telling me that I'm too weak, and that my body will be his to control.

"How long is this going to continue?" I asked myself. I gripped the sheets and began to sweat. "When will it stop?"

I heard someone knock on my door. "It's me Karin."

"Come in." I shout.

Karin walks in with the most serious expression on her face. What's she mad about? I thought. Did kon do something stupid while I was gone yesterday? Did dad leave the toilet seat up again?

"I want to know what's been going on with you." Karin stated. "And why are you acting like this, ichigo?"

I sighed and looked down. "What do you mean? There's nothing going on with me."

Liar! Shouted that hollow version of me. Liar!

"I know." Karin stated which shocks me. I looked up, and we met eyes. "I know all about it. I-I know about your secret. I-I-" She looks down for a moment and sighs. "I know." She looks up with anger. "I know that you're a soul reaper!"

My eyes widen a bit and my body stiffens up from the utter shock. She...she knows? Could that mean she's seen me all those times? At mom's grave? The day I met Rukia? Impossible. I'm not sure how but just play dumb. You don't want to drag her into this.

I laughed and close my eyes. "Soul reaper? Karin, I think you finally lost it. Soul reapers don't ex-"

"Don't play dumb with me!" She shouted and I opened my eyes. "I know you're a soul reaper because I can see them. I-I see a lot of things actually. At first I didn't understand anything or what was going on. But Don Kanonji-"

Right in the middle of Karin's sentence, a massive earthquake appeared. It wasn't no ordinary earthquake, but the whole town shook. W-what is this? S-spirtual pressure? As fast as it came, it stopped. I quickly stood up and glanced outside the window. The spiritual pressure's are still there? I have to go investigate.

"Ichigo." Karin said quietly.

I looked back and saw her frown. "Karin."

Her eyes filled with sadness, worry, and concern. I know she doesn't want me to go. I know her, Yuzu, and dad have been worried about me since I've saved Rukia. But I have to protect my family, It's my duty as the eldest. It's my duty as their older brother. I hoped one day they'd all understand.

I glance away shamefully. "Sorry I don't have time for this, now."

I quickly rush to my combat pass, but Karin snatches my wrist. "Where are you going, Ichigo?" She demanded. When I looked at her she looked like she was going to cry. Deep down, wanted to tell them what I have been doing, but with Aizen on the loose. I didn't want them involved. If anything happened to them, I would never forgive myself.

"Sorry." I tug back my wrist, pressed the combat pass against my chest, transformed, and jumped out of the window before she would say a word.

Once the S.P's stopped, it was hard for me to track again. I moaned in frustration, "Why is it hard for me to track and sense other's spiritual pressure?" I could go bankai, shot a massive amount of my own reiatsu at my enemies and defeat them in one strike! Cursing myself, I decided to run around in hopes something happens.

Like an answer to a prayer, something did happen. The ground shook again as a colossal amount of souls are being sucked. Stopping in my tracks, I looked up and saw a sea of blue-white spirits all flowing in one direction. I flash stepped as fast as I could, but stopped when I felt Chad's and Orihime's spiritual pressures go decreasing low.

Not even a millisecond later, Chad's ceased, following Orihime's, and a new reiatsu that spiked exceptionally. It was powerful. More powerful than my own and that of a captain's, but something about it seemed oddly familiar.

Shaking the feeling off, I followed the beacon of power hoping it would lead me to my friends. The beacon ended and when I got there, a full on battle was just ending. I saw Orihime and Chad on the ground in serious pain along with another soul reaper boy not too far from Chad next to Tatsuki.

Then I saw the back of Rukia's head in Yoroichi's arms. "Rukia! Chad! Orihime!" I yelled rushing over to them.

Urahara had his zanpakuto out, pointing it at that two strange looking guys. They looked like hallows, but they were the size of people or at least one of them. Behind them, the ground up was split open like that time back in the soul society, revealing the Dangia (aka: the precipice world).

"Ah, there you are Ichigo." Urahara said to me casually. "I was beginning to wonder when you'd show up."

"Are you running away?" asked Yoruichi looking at the emo looking guy dressed in white and black. He had a hollow mask on his head.

"Why are you trying goad me into a fight?" He replied as he turned around to face us. "You know very well what would happen if you'd try to fight me while guarding those pieces of trash. Even, you must realize that the odds are against you. Normally, I'd be happy to oblige but it's time we deliver our report to Lord Aizen."

"But, we didn't complete the mission." The giant looking guy said to his comrade. "He's right there!" He pointed at me.

Does he mean me? I gripped Zangetsu. "If you're looking for me, I'm right here. Come out and face me or are you too scared to do so?"

The giant guy grunted and started to step out of the ripple, but the emo one held out his arm and blocked him.
"Ichigo Kurosaki isn't of value anymore. Lord Aizen would be most interested in what we discovered."

With that said, the ripple closed shut. I put Zangetsu on my back and ran towards Yoruichi to check on Rukia.

"Rukia! Rukia!" I cried as I flipped her body over, only to discovered that this girl wasn't Rukia. Her hair was much longer and a small part of it was dyed orange, but sometime drawn me to her as if I've known her for a long time. I felt an urge to protect her from harm.

"Yoruichi, who-who is," I began to say.

"Ichigo, this girl. We don't know who she is, but she saved Orihime's, Chad's, and your other friend's life." Yoruichi said as she picked up the young's girl's unconscious body. "Get Orihime and chad's then meet us back at Urahara's."

She flashed stepped away with the girl. I took Orihime and Chad as instructed then followed her. Once Orihime and Chad along with the girl and boy were healed, Yoruichi told me to go home. I insisted on staying, but she told me to come back tomorrow.

I saw Orihime the next day at school. Looking at her, all day with the broken arm made me feel guilty. I should have been quick enough-strong enough. The hollow inside me echoed a mocked laughter that made me shook my head.

If it wasn't for that girl who looks like Rukia, Orihime, Chad, and-and Tatsuki would be dead. I thought as I finished cleaning the chalkboard. I was about to leave and head to Urahara's, when the door opened. I turned my head and saw an entire squad of soul reapers dressed as highschool students.

"R-Renji? Toshiro? Wha-wait a minute," I asked dumbfounded. Rangiku, Ikkaku, and Yumichika were also with them. "What are you guys doing here?"

Toshiro frowns. "That's Captain Hitsugaya to you."

"Yeah, fine, but I don't understand why are you here…" At my school. I wanted to add.

"Orders from above," Renji replied. "There's a major storm brewing with the arrancars. We were sent here to join forces with you, the substitute soul reaper, and prepare for the battle."

"A-Arrancar?" I asked. "What the hell is that?"

Renji looked surprised. "You really don't know? Don't tell me you've been fighting these guys without knowing what they are?!"

"He's talking about those guys who beat up Chad and Orihime the other day." said a familiar voice behind me. I whisked around and saw Rukia standing literally on the window panel. "Also, we've come about the female soul reaper that seems to look like me."

"I was just about to go find out myself. She's staying at Urahara's along with her friend." I said as she hopped off and landed inside the classroom.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go."

When we made it to Urahara's front door, there was a mild explosion on the roof.

"What the hell-" Renji said as we all looked up.

"Sorrrrrryyyyy!" A young boy in spirit body yelled with purple hair carrying the young girl in his arms from yesterday. On his back, a backpack that looked like hers since it had pink cherry blossoms on it.

"After them!" Toshiro ordered.

"Yes, captain!" Everyone replied including Rukia and Renji. They flashed stepped away.

"Oh, hey ichigo." Jinta said, opening the front door.

"Jinta, what's going on?" I asked.

"The kid we saved yesterday woke up and took the girl who looks like rukia and escaped Mr. Urahara's barrier by blowing a hole in the roof."

"A barrier? What? Where's Urahara?"

"He and Miss Yoruichi went to go after him. You should too. He's a slippery fellow. They need all the help they can get!"

"Alright, stay here." I took out my badge and transformed into a soul reaper. I jumped in the sky and ran towards their direction. Already, everyone surrounded the boy in a tight circle.

"We have you completely surrounded." I heard Toshiro say.

"You have nowhere to go," Yoruichi said with her arms crossed.

The boy drew his Zanpakuto that was kept in the back like Soi Fon does. "Stay back," He warned.

"We don't want to hurt you, kid." Renji said getting ready to release his shikai.

"Listen, your friend needs serious medical attention." Urahara said. "She isn't completely you take her away now, her chances of waking up would be slim."

I flash stepped behind Rukia and Renji, getting a closer look at the boy. He had messy black hair that had a purple sheen to it in the sunlight with strands framing the sides of his face like Urahara. A lean built physique with light tan skin and grey eyes. He dressed similar to Yoruichi as well.

He looked at his friend with sadden eyes then looked at us. "Fine, but I don't want her to be treated with you. I demand you take me to the soul society."

"And why would we do that?" Toshiro asked.

"Because we have information," The boy said.

"About what?" Rukia asked.

"The future."