I apologize for the long wait. Writer's block sucks. haha

Anyway, I hope this will quench those starved souls who are currently dying from a lack of updates.

Edit: Fanfiction glitched and somehow erased the title/poam. Weird...I'm trying to add it again so let's see if this works.


Lost Heart


I whisper. I speak. I shout. I scream.

Return, come back and live again.

But my words are pointless when talking to the dead.


I can hear your thoughts, yet you cannot hear mine. Your world is suffocated with a dense fog, causing your true power to slumber. Quietly waiting for the day…

They wait for the sun to arise again, Ichigo. You cannot remain like this forever, entombed within your own soul. I hate it when you lose sight of your hopes, when you are confused and alone. Drowning yourself in pity never does anyone good.

Where is that strong will? Where is your real power? Where is that something inside of you that gave you the strength and courage to stand up against the impossible?

Answer me Ichigo. Speak to me. I hate being alone. Your voice will give me peace; the hope that I had all but lost when I found you.

They are coming for you. You are still alive, still a threat. No matter where you go, be it the World of the Living, Hueco Mundo, or even the Soul Society, they will come after you.

Please! Hear me! You must wake up! I cannot protect you alone. You must remember! You know who you are in your heart, Ichigo! Your heart is not lost yet!

Heart.


"Itsygo~!"

"Goading me will get you nowhere…"

"EEEEEEEEEEEE-CHEEEEEEEEEEE-GOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Oh shut up. Your whiney voice is annoying."

"How rude! You insufferable moron! You fiend! Impotent!—"

"Your insults are still as pathetic as ever…"

"Idiot! Baldy! Jerk! Kingy-wingy! Piece of poop! Virgin!—"

"OI! SHUT UP!"

"Your face looks funny all red Ichigo~."

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

But Nel ignored his protests and pinched his cheek as if she was gushing over a child, "Awww, you're throwing a tantrum like a little kid~!"

Ichigo pulled himself out of her grasp, desperately trying to reign in his temper. Nel had been trying to annoy him into playing eternal tag with her or some silly game like that. He was too old for such petty games like that…at least he thought so. He couldn't quite remember how old he really was.

"I don't have time to be fooling around!" He snapped, walking away from Nel and her 'childish' antics and pulling his torn cloak closer around himself as if it would protect himself from her insults.

"Don't be like that!" her voice was slightly panicked. "I'm sorry! Alright?" She sonidoed to catch up to him; not wanting to be left behind.

"S'fine…" The Cero Espada mumbled. His feet were wandering aimlessly.

"You were so serious and I was just trying to—,"

"I know. I've been rather depressing lately, haven't I?"

Nel nodded, and looked away; apparently deep in thought.

"Hey, king?"

"What?"

"Those golden chains…what were they? The ones you used to block the gargantuan with."

They locked eyes for a split second before Ichigo huffily turned about, embarrassed.

"I actually have no idea. It was just…just…"

"Instinct," Nel supplied, watching him pace back and forth. He nodded and stopped his restless movements. He had been refraining from asking Nel too many questions up to this, but some were too pressing at hand to be ignored no longer. Time was waning fast. Something was coming…

"Can you explain to me why I have this?"

He pulled back his shihakusho. The number 0 stood out on the pale skin better than the crescent moon in the dark sky above.

"You mean who put that tattoo on your chest?" Ichigo nodded as Nel sighed and continued, "Ever since that evil Soul Reaper I told you about, Aizen, came to Hueco Mundo, he singled out the strongest Espada by casting this strange magic (kido). All who come in contact with it receive a numbering. From what I gather, Aizen had to tap their chest, directly over where their heart used to reside, and use that to gain a reading on their power. The kido would take into effect after the hogyuku transformed them into an Arrancar. There were those who managed to avoid Aizen and hide their true power. But it was extremely difficult and required careful self control, something neither of us possesses."

"I was in contact with Aizen when I was alive, but the numbering didn't take into effect until I died."

Nel tilted her head to one side.

"I would presume so. You were widely feared for you power (and potential)…pretty much the same like right now. Of course Aizen would want to take…precautions…"

"I see…" Ichigo narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, glancing up at the bright crescent moon.

"Something else on your mind, king?"

"Yeah…I was wondering about the power system in Hueco Mundo. Is it always whoever is the strongest, gets to be king? And why do us hollows, always refer to a monarchy (like with 'king' and all that crap)?"

Nel giggled. "No one's ever really questioned that before…our obsession with becoming 'king' is mostly pride, if anything. It is a great honor to be given the title 'king'. We are prideful. When we lose to another, we lose some of that pride. When we are not strong enough to be 'king', admitting that is—hard. As for the…political structure of Hueco Mundo, it is based on who is strongest. This is, after all, survival of the fittest. Above that, there is Hueco Rey and his Protectors Reales. His is what the Soul King is to the Soul Society. They too live in their own 'royal dimension'. But they, unlike the Soul King, do not interfere in the doings of the three worlds. Hueco Rey and his Protectors Reales are said to be very wise and cryptic, even have foresight to the future."

"Huh, that's strange. I've never heard of seers in Hueco Mundo."

"Well now you have, and I suggest you avoid them at all costs."

Ichigo raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

"They sound creepy."

Nel shivered. "They are. I met one once, it told me to stop being a foolish, crybaby child and grow up, strange huh?"

Thought Ichigo was sorely tempted to say 'not at all!' he refrained. Instead he merely nodded and hid his laughter inside.

"They're the oldest Hollows known in existence," said Nel, fidgeting a bit as if they would appear and scold her for her rudeness. "They've spent too much time concerning themselves with the future rather than the present. They don't care about us. Even when Soul Reapers invaded—which is forbidden—they did not lift a finger. And because of that lack of action, many died."

The Cero Espada gave the Primeria a long look.

"You lost…friends…didn't you?"

"Yeah…I did."


A dim light flickered in the dark room containing records of long lost laws that had either been passed or denied, mountains of orders that were either trivial or covert, and it was all conducted by Central 46. It was forbidden to enter here, not even the Thirteen Court Guard Squad Captains were allowed access.

So with all this in mind, it was all the more reason for Squad Captains Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake to be as stealthy as possible.

"Shunsui, the dates match up over here," Ukitake pointed to a dark corner where a box full of papers and account books.

"Well now," sighed the Captain of squad 8 with relief, "that saves us a lot of time. I'm not really cut out for that sort of thing, ya know?" He chuckled at his own comment. Ukitake didn't respond but handed the marked box. In it were perhaps a thousand papers on orders for the last week of the winter war.

Donation from Yammamoto clan: Proceeds go to Head Judges.

Tax increase by 18%.

Refunds to families of fallen Soul Reapers.

Death tax passed. 5% interest rate.

Royal Guard meeting 5:45 pm.

Missing: Gin Ichimaru. Posted Bounty: 29000

New staff hired. Mizuki Amaterasu District 52: Pay will be decided after month's work progress.

Judge Ayame requests funds for private use. Proceeds will be given in the amount of 30000

Emergency session held at 4:37 am.

Royal Guard meeting 5:00 am.

"Here we are," Shunsui muttered, showing Ukitake a slip of paper.

Arrancar Extermination passed.

Royal Guard order: Threat 015 is to eliminated

Vizard Extermination approved. Specific by request, to ensure no escape.

Spirit King meeting 11:00am

Operation Cleanse: destruction and purge of all of Sosuke Aizen's experiments.

Threat 015 subject elimatated. Threats 014, 016, 017 under surveillance.

Royal Guard meeting 2:00 pm.

Search for Hōgyoku approved.

"My my, the Royal Guard is in the thick of all this…"

"Shunsui, Aizen put their dimension in danger, of course they'd be involved."

The said Captain snorted as he reread the orders carefully. "This whole 'operation cleanse' was a cover up just to kill the Vizards and arrancars. Also, what is this 'Threat 015'?"

Ukitake frowned, handing Shunsui a piece of paper.

Potential threats by order of emergency meeting/Royal Guard/Spirit King.

01-Kisuke Urahara |Extremely Dangerous/medium|

02-Tessiai Tsukabishi |Extremely Dangerous/medium|

03-Yoruichi Shihoin |Extreamly Dangerous/medium|

04-Jinta Hanakari |Threatening|

05-Ururu Tsumugiya |Threatening|

06-Shinji Hirako |Dangerous/high| X

07-Rojuro Otoribashi |Dangerous/high| X

08-Mashiro Kuna |Dangerous/medium| X

09-Love Aikawa |Dangerous/high| X

010-Hiyori Sarugaki |Dangerous/lmedium| X

011-Lisa Yadomaru |Dangerous/medium| X

012-Hachigen Ushoda |Dangerous/high| X

013-Kensei Muguruma |Dangerous/high| X

014-Isshin Kurosaki |potential|

015-Ichigo Kurosaki |Extremely Dangerous/high |X

016-Karin Kurosaki |potential/high|

017-Yuzu Kurosaki |potential|

018-Ryuken Ishida |Extremely Dangerous/medium|

019-Uryu Ishida |Dangerous/medium|

"I'm starting to feel that this is a little deeper then what we intended to find," Shunsui admitted, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"I didn't expect to find a hit list either," agreed Ukitake, his voice started to hint at fatigue as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Apparently, central 46 intends to kill off every name written down. But I what I can't find for some reason is the reason why…surely they'd write it down somewhere." He searched though the mess of papers in vain. Shunsui shook his head.

"What I want to know is why the Royal Guard specifically ordered the death of Ichigo Kurosaki."