Hello readers. It has been a while. Did ya miss me?...no? Too bad. -laughs-

You have no idea how much I have to squeeze a chapter out of my brain. It is torture I tell you.

I haven't really...ya know, run through this chapter. So I have no idea how many mistakes there are. So much for editing.

Anyway, the climax is approaching. A few more chapters and the showdown will begin. bwahahahahaha! Enjoy, suckers.


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.


"Urahara, is Ichigo really as strong as you said he is?"

The said man looked at Orihime Inoue thoughtfully. They were all gathered in the odd basement of Urahara Shop, trying to open a gargantuan into Hueco Mundo. It had been six hours and there was little, if any progress.

"I'm not too sure, you see, from what Uryu and Miss Kuchiki has told me, our friend Ichigo's spiritual pressure is currently unstable. It fluctuates too much for anyone to get a solid grip on a reading. Which leads me to back tracking on what I've said earlier about him being 3x stronger than little Yammy." He laughed and fluttered his fan annoyingly, "It should have been as strong, but (sadly) it's unable to form or take shape, virtually unusable. In simpler words, he has a lot of power, but can't use it all. All it does is ooze out, not doing much—"

Uryu looked as if he was about to commit murder.

"YOU MEAN YOU GOT US ALL SCARED FOR NOTHING?"

The fan fluttered some more.

"Well, honestly….you're ABSOLUTLY RIGHT~!"

SMACK!

Rukia high-fived with Renji, trading positions.

SMACK!

"You know, I feel better," said Renji, smirking at Rukia who smirked in agreement. The group went off to ask Tessai if he had any success yet.

"My beautiful face…" Kisuke moaned, clutching the two offending bruises. Only Yoruichi paid him any heed in his innocent, undeserved suffering.

"What do we tell Isshin?" she asked quietly so only "hat-n'-clogs" could hear. "He deserves to know his son's alive, Yuzu and Karin should know too. You know how badly they were off after…the purge."

Kisuke frowned, closing his eyes and then opening them again as to steady himself.

"Isshin's power is weak. If I tell him his son's in Hueco Mundo—you'll know how he'll get. Ugh, father and son are so much alike—tearing off after people they want to protect despite the condition they're in…" Urahara grimaced. "We don't have a full grasp on the situation yet. I don't want to give him false hope in case—"

Yoruichi sighed in defeat, her golden eyes losing some of their spark.

"Fine, but let him know first thing after you 'grasp' the situation. The Kurosaki's have been through enough suffering."

Kisuke's form seemed to sag at the last sentence.

"I can but just feel that…this is all my fault…" the cheapskate shopkeeper muttered, eyes on the ground, "we knew the Soul Society wasn't telling the full truth, but we went anyways, even though Central 46 had been reinstated a few days before…" Yoruichi put a hand on his shoulder. It was rare for her friend to display this much emotion, much less remorse.

"We couldn't have known. It's no use dwelling on things that have already happened. The persons at fault are the selfish nobles who orchestrated that fiasco. Do not treat yourself like you were the one who ordered the deed. I know for a fact that many other people blame themselves for it. Take Rukia for example. She blames herself for not coming back and listening to her brother to stay in Hueco Mundo until the massacre was over. She feels that her lack of action was a life or death factor in Ichigo's dilemma. Orihime, Uryu, and Sado wish they'd left with their friend and fought by his side, perhaps even died with him or in his place. Little Byakuya even…I know he felt indebted towards Ichigo for saving his sister and protecting his wife's last wishes, but the law and his commander proclaimed Ichigo's life forfeit. I cannot imagine how he must of felt when told Rukia of the deed he'd preformed…"

Kisuke gazed up at the fake sky. "I suppose your right, but I can't help thinking, with this so called brilliant brain of mine, of what I should of done in the past. Funny… I can't change it, but I can't help remembering it either…"


Kiskue followed Shinji over to where they'd seen Ichigo fall. They were stumbling over rubble and glass shards, the remains of the fake Karakura that were currently scattered as far as they as the eye could see. The sun was setting, painting the sky in an ember colored dye.

Excitement was flowing through his veins. The kid had done it! Aizen was dead at last! No more hypnosis, no more loss of life, no more rescue missions, no more possibilities of the world being ruled by a Soul Reaper with a god complex! The 'humble' store owner was giddy with relief.

Kisuke ignored the stab wound in his side, like how the Vizard beside him was ignoring a rather nasty slash to the back. All thoughts were now wondering what sort of condition their comrade was in.

They found him lying sprawled out on the debris of what must have been an office building, no visible wounds but his skin white as a sheet. His body was stiff and shaking, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Shinji rushed to Ichigo's side and shook him to see if he was still conscious. Slowly, the sixteen year old peaked open an eye and a groan escaped his lips.

"I feel like crap…"

Shinji swatted the kid's head fondly, earning a yelp of protest.

"Moron, is that all you have to say?"

"Ugh, what did you expect me to say, something cheesy and heroic?"

Yoruichi had limped to Kisuke's side, leaning on his shoulder for support. Her breath was slightly strained, but a proud smile was on her face. Rojuro, Love, Kensei, and Lisa had wandered over too, Hiyori riding piggy back on Kensei's back, a stomach wound preventing her from walking on her own.

"Oi! Kensei! Lead me over to baldy and that orange-jerk! I need to hit them both!" she pestered him, grasping his cheek and pulling it. Kensei however remained unmoved.

"I'd rather give Mashiro black coffee."

And speaking of the devil, the green haired Vizard and Hachigen had found their way over the wreckage to the now growing party.

"Berry boy doesn't look too good, eh Hachi?" said Mashiro, stating the obvious. Shinji was helping the said "berry" to his wobbly legs.

"Careful Ichigo, your resurrection put quite a strain on your reiatsu. But we'll get you back to normal—err, what's normal for you…"

"Why does everyone keep hinting that I'm a freak?" Ichigo asked pitifully as Shinji slung an arm over his neck, supporting him.

"Because you are one."

"Shut up Shinji!"

They all laughed and then took turns congratulating the youngest Vizard; Messing his now matted hair up, or giving him a friendly bump on the shoulder, or in Hiyori's case, bestowing him a skull crushing noogie. They promptly ignored Ichigo's own objections that they were all too injured to be standing up.

Strangely, the Soul Reapers were absent from their celebration, the spiritual pressures readings converging on a position on the far side of town.

"We should probably get moving," Kiskue suggested to the group at large. "Captain Kurotsuchi will soon activate the four pillars. And although it may be possible to travel to the Soul Society this way, there's no guarantee that a limb or an organ won't be left behind—"

Yoruichi thumped him on the head.

"Alright then kiddos, let's go!" She called merrily, holding her old friend in a choke hold. They all complied and disappeared in the blur of flash step, those who could not muster enough strength were carried. Yoruichi reached the Soul Reapers first, apparently oblivious to her injury on the leg. Kisuke was sill in a headlock, squirming slightly as she tightened her hold, flat out ignoring his discomfort.

"Yo! Anyone back from Hueco Mundo yet?"

A rather depressing blond lieutenant shook his head in answer while the other Captains regarded the Flash Goddess carefully, especially as she was joined by the Vizards a few seconds afterwards.

"We should be expecting them shortly, but—"

The blond was cut off by Captain Komamura.

"The Thirteen Court Guard Squads would like to humbly ask that you and Former Captain Urahara to travel with Lieutenant Kira here to Hueco Mundo to err—keep an eye on Captain Kurotsuchi and report his whereabouts. He's failed to report in twice since he went into Los Nochas's laboratories."

"I'll try," answered Kisuke, rubbing his throat gingerly, Yoruichi only just releasing him. "He does get…caught up in his experiments. I'll admit, there are quite a few interesting specimens in Hueco Mundo…" he sighed wistfully. Captain Komamura shrugged.

"Just make sure he's not doing anything…overly intriguing. We need him back so we can deal with Central 46 on a matter. Aizen's experiments and all that…"

"All the more reason I suppose…" said Yoruichi, narrowing her eyes at the Captain. The dog-like man held her stare calmly. "How long has it been since they've been reinstated?"

"Just a week…the Nobles were complaining…"

Yoruichi winced. "I understand…"

The Vizards were listening carefully.

"Hey, Hat-n'-clogs," called a voice that was slightly horse. Kisuke looked over to see Ichigo standing up on his own, Shinji skeptically watching as the boy shook on his feet. Slowly, the boy raised his arm and clawed at thin air, hollow-like power oozing between his fingers. Ichigo dragged his hand through the air, opening a familiar zipper gargantuan. Everyone watched, transfixed as the boy stepped back and then turned, annoyed at Shinji.

"See? I can do it!"

Hiyori snickered from her perched spot on Kensei, earning a glare from Shinji.

"Well done, Ichigo," said Lisa snidely, "you've just perfected a technique that we've been trying to master for over one hundred years. Actually, when I say 'we' I really mean Hirako here…" She patted the Vizard's head mockingly who swiped at her hand. "Aw, don't be so bitter, Shinji…"

"I'm not bitter…" Shinji muttered, standing straight and crossing his arms as if to gather the remains of his 'cool' image.

"Yeah, well, are you just going to stand there all day or are you going to go through this stupid portal?" asked Ichigo. He was still wobbling. The gargantuan taking what little spiritual pressure and patience he had left.

"Getting to that," said Kisuke, nodding at Yoruichi who was eyeing the Soul Reapers, her golden eyes lingering for a moment on the Head Captain's steely face. Lieutenant Kira leapt into the portal first, Yoruichi following with Kisuke in tow. He looked back at the group, Ichigo, the Vizards, the Soul Reapers… There was an odd gut feeling, his instincts warning him that something was wrong. But he ignored it. Aizen was gone. There was no threat.


The abnormal tearing noise split the air, proclaiming the succession of Tessai's hard work. Rukia, Renji, Uryu, Orihime, and Sado all rose from the spot from where they'd been waiting on the ground. Yoruichi and Kisuke were standing next to Tessai; all three were frowning with obvious reasons. The Flash Goddess was the first to ask the question.

"Why are there…chains?"

Kisuke stepped cautiously to the inconvenient barrier, inspecting the golden links.

"Impossible…"

Rukia frowned, remembering how Ichigo proclaimed that Soul Reapers weren't allowed in Hueco Mundo anymore.

Stupid idiot…the fool…orange headed moron…pig-headed buffoon…incompetent—

Her eyes widened as she got closer to the gargantuan.

"I…I remember!" she suddenly exclaimed, causing everyone to stare. "These are chains…they come from hell! When Ichigo came back to fight Kokuto after he saved Yuzu—Ichigo used these chains to drag Kokuto back down to the most inner depths of hell. ARGH—why didn't I see it before?"

Kiskue sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly, "I'm starting to think I should never take another vacation after that incident—" he changed tact because Tessai was getting in his face "—I mean, it all turned out for the better in the end! No worries! I should plan another vacation!"

"As you say, boss," the kidō master agreed.

Uryu coughed.

"Does anyone have an idea of how to get past these hell chains?" he asked indignantly, pushing up his glasses.

"The chains themselves won't hurt you, as long as you're not a Sinner," Yoruichi offered, "It will be tricky to force passage way. I doubt it will let Soul Reapers enter though, from what you told us what Ichigo said; the chains were bent to Ichigo's will, yes? This is both strength and a weakness. He forbids persons who are Soul Reapers from entering, fine. But he doesn't forbid anything else from getting through…so perhaps Orihime or Sado's powers could work. And need I mention that their powers derived from Ichigo himself…"

Orihime smiled determinedly, Sado grunted his approval and clenched his fist, both calling upon their powers.

"Koten zanshun!"

"El directo!"

Their combined attacks charged at the gargantuan and hit the golden chains dead on, tearing straight through to fade away into the inky blackness.

"Let's go!" Uryu shouted to the others while the path was free.

Rukia and Renji leaped inside first, followed by Uryu who was letting Orihime ride with him on his reishi shield, Sado came last of all.

No more waiting. Ichigo wasn't the only who wanted answers.