Ichigo and Ishida had their battles and earned their victories. Both of them and Renji were accompanied by a Hollow companion along the way. It started with Nel running after Ichigo, and somehow her brothers ended up on different paths as they tried to chase after Nel. With how small and weak Nel was, Ichigo had no choice but to take the little Hollow with him.

It wasn't so bad having her around.

"Itsygo? Do you need Nel to spit on you too?"

The memory of her drooling on Dordoni was still fresh in his mind.

If possible, he'd like to avoid that, thanks.

"It's not so bad. But thanks." Ichigo didn't slow down his pace. Earlier he went out of Bankai mode when he made it far enough from his previous location. After that fight, he knew that he couldn't just think that he could make it using only Shikai to fight his way through. He needed Bankai to achieve what he came to do.

But he also needed to be careful with conserving his strength.

While he was running, he could feel everyone's spiritual pressure. Ishida's was fluctuating earlier, but it seemed like he won since it was still strong. Ichigo could also feel other powerful spiritual pressures, Arrancars, but they weren't near him, so it gave him a reason to lax just a bit.

What was concerning him was that he couldn't detect any trace of Katsuko's spiritual pressure.

As if she wasn't anywhere in Las Noches.

It was going to be hard to find her on spiritual awareness alone.

The only way to search for her would have to force the answer out of one of the Arrancars.

But that wouldn't be an easy task.

The orange haired boy frowned deeply when he thought about his friend. He wondered how scared she must feel after being forced to go through such an experience. She'd obviously be scared. She probably wouldn't show it to give the Arrancars satisfaction though.

He really hoped he wasn't too late.

Ichigo could see the other end of the hallway reaching another open room. Perhaps there would be a flight of stairs somewhere instead of an enemy waiting for him. This area was somewhat underground, right? With the tunnel and everything. Or maybe just the first floor. If there wasn't any dungeon on the floor he was on, then maybe it was just like those cliché stories where the princess is being held in a tower.

It feels like I won't know until someone tells me where she is.

When he stepped into the room, he quickly skidded to a stop when she saw who was standing there. His battle instincts were quickly flaring up.

Upon being seen, they started clapping loudly with a big smile.

"Alright, Kurosaki Ichigo! Fight, fight, fight."

"Itsygo! It's him again!"

"Yeah."

Noctter Grandett was back in his sights again. The one thing that stood out the most was his annoying personality. He acted so carefree with what looked like a small degree of insanity, making him obnoxious. He also looked like he had mood swings with how quickly his demeanour changed when he gave Ichigo Katsuko's the ring. He treated Katsuko's kidnapping like a fun little game, mocking them and their rescue mission.

And again, why couldn't he sense him? He never sensed his presence until after he saw him. That was dangerous.

Ichigo could tell he was at least Captain class in terms of spiritual pressure. Ichigo lowered himself to put Nel down who was quick to scurry off the side, understanding that there could be potential danger coming her way.

"Noctter."

"That's me."

"Tell me something, why are you allied with Aizen?"

"Why? That's a good question." Noctter stuffed his hands in his pockets and lazily lolled his head a bit. "I guess, I just felt like it. What's it to you?"

Did he need to have a good answer?

"I guess it's none of my business." Ichigo let it go.

"Yeah, you're only concern should be Hiragi Katsko, right?"

Ichigo narrowed his eyes.

"Right now, you climb Las Noches in search of the princess." Noctter started walking while gesturing his arms as if he was telling a story of yore. "But the task isn't easy… you press onward while knowing full well that obstacles will certainly stand in your way. But that's what the Hero does, does he not?" Noctter looked at him and shot him a smirk. "He will face adversity all to save one princess from the clutches of a Boss, so he goes through several levels, growing stronger with each victory to prepare himself for the final battle." Noctter stopped walking and dropped his arms lazily. "And then you the princess, get married, happily ever after, blah, blah, blah, all that crap."

Ichigo just stared at him flatly. Does he get off by talking like this? This is the second time.

"Are you done? I didn't come here to listen to your ramblings."

Noctter snorted and then giggled, rubbing the back of his head. "You're right! You came here to fight and save." Noctter dropped his hand and moved the side of his coat to reveal his Zanpakuto. "So, here I am. It's just like a mini-boss before the big one, right? You need those experience points."

Ichigo prepared himself. "You sound like you play a lot of video games. I didn't know you had some in this world."

Noctter gazed at him mysteriously, he was just a little taken aback by what he said. But a smile still appeared on his face.

"... You'd be surprised by what your friend says. She likes video games, does she not?"

Their fight began with Noctter rushing towards him while almost gracefully pulling out his sword. Nel could only watch nervously as the fight went on. The spiritual pressure in the room was so strong that it had her holding her head and mask in fright as she fidgeted in a corner. Ichigo fought back in his Bankai while Noctter stayed in his sealed his state. He was surprised by how strong Ichigo was. The teen had already passed his expectations, but it still wasn't pushing him to use Shikai.

"Come on," Noctter drawled as he blocked another swing, his gem-like eyes gleaming with interest. "I know you got more in you… are you going to use a Hollow mask in this fight too?"

Ichigo let out a shout as he flicked his sword upwards, throwing Noctter's arms above his head. The black haired Soul Reaper grinned when Ichigo prepared to land a blow on him. "Or are you simply tired out from using it against Dordoni?" Noctter flipped over Ichigo, narrowly avoiding the blow. Ichigo grounded himself and swung his sword above his head in an arc to strike Noctter. But the other Soul Reaper twisted his body around to meet his blade against his. Noctter landed on the floor almost soundlessly and lunged at Ichigo with a strong swift blow that Ichigo blocked in time.

Noctter grinned while Ichigo growled.

"Come on, I'm underestimating you right now. Why don't you use this chance to use your Hollow mask before I do something you won't like?"

Ichigo didn't know if he was taunting him or just mocking him. But seeing his personality so far, he'd guess the latter.

All of a sudden, they felt something. Someone's spiritual pressure drastically weakened to the point of near extinguishing. Ichigo stiffened when he felt it, reflecting Noctter's surprise when he recognized whose it belonged it. The one he stabbed earlier.

"Damn, you're rather calm" Noctter sneered. "But I guess even in top shape after getting stabbed in the back, he was too weak. Pathetic." His voice was dripping with mockery. "Why bring such a weak soldier with you?"

"Shut your mouth!" Ichigo could take any stupid insults directed at him. But to his friends? Forget it. Ichigo wouldn't listen to him disrespect Chad like that. And there was no way he was dead. His spiritual pressure was still there… but it was weak. He was still alive. He would believe he would live. Just like in the Soul Society, Chad would be okay!

"Face reality!" Noctter suddenly lifted his sword and knocked him away with a powerful blow, shocking Ichigo. "You drag your allies into an impossible goal!" Noctter pushed him back again, his voice raising as if angry when his face was anything but. "And you think they can survive?!" Ichigo dodged the next swings by leaping back. But Noctter suddenly closed the distance as he spun around his heel to slam his foot into his gut, launching him into a pillar. Nel panicked when a bunch of smoke flew in the air, blocking Ichigo from her sight.

"Itsygo!"

"See? Even this little brat is in your mess. I could barely swing my blade at her and she'd be a goner. Wanna test it?"

"Don't you even dare." Ichigo stepped out of the smoke, leaving the messy pieces of rubble behind him. "You leave her out of this. You lay a finger on her, and you're finished."

The Hollow mask on.

Noctter's eyes widened at the intensity of the spiritual pressure radiating off him.

They were back to clashing.

But this time, Noctter was the one getting pushed back.

He wasn't expecting that much strength with his mask! How long did he train to achieve this strength with Hollowfication?

Even so, he still kept on a smile.

"You're awful. You drag your friends in your business," Noctter repeated.

"I never forced anyone to come with me." Ichigo revealed, fighting without holding back. "I was going to come to save Katsuko all by myself!"

"Oh?" Now that was curious. "But everyone is drawn to you because you once achieved the impossible."

Noctter slid back against the floor when he stumbled from the blow, inhaling sharply. "I guess that gives Katsuko a reason to believe in you."

"Getsuga Tenshou!"

The attack flew towards Noctter who stayed rooted in his spot. There was a smile on his face when it was a second away from reaching him. He flash stepped and reappeared on Ichigo's left side, his sword suddenly lit ablaze. A fire Zanpakuto? Ichigo grunted when the flaming blade meet his black one, the heat from the proximity was almost too much for his hands to bear.

Now the battle was getting even more hectic. A flurry of dancing flames was racing across the room as a figure in black clashed with it. What was this? Noctter suddenly became faster and much more powerful with his Shikai.

Nel's eyes were desperately trying to keep track of the fight while hiding behind a pillar because their clashes were creating shockwaves so powerful that it was knocking her down. She could barely even stand in the face of it.

When Ichigo stopped and prepared himself for Noctter's next attack, he spotted him somewhat at the far end of the room, dragging the tip of his Zanpakuto against the floor, leaving a trail of fire behind Nel who screamed in fright.

Damn it! What is he doing?! Ichigo wondered.

"Nel!"

Nel ran away from the fire to hide near a safer pillar that Ichigo pointed her to. It didn't look like anywhere was safe though.

Noctter kept running with his Zanpakuto until he completely circled the room. When he was done, he jumped towards Ichigo, aiming to strike him from above. Ichigo jumped back enough to avoid it and aimed at him before he could regain his position. However, he stopped when he saw the walls of fire increase in size, and shot up towards the ceiling, blocking off all potential exits, and frightening Nel even more.

The flames burned fiercely as if awaiting kindling to feed the flames.

What's with this guy!? Ichigo struggled to fight him off. Noctter was much stronger than his previous opponent. And this heat was nothing making it easy for him! It didn't look like the flames were closing in on them at least.

Their fight was shaking the entire room with shockwaves.

It was only a matter of time before someone got cut.

And it was Noctter.

Ichigo got him when he pushed him further back against the walls of flames, hoping to make his own attack his undoing. A strike right across the chest. Noctter's crystal-green eyes locked with Ichigo's Hollowfied ones. But instead of falling back into the flames, a small gap opened up for him to fall out safely, leaving Ichigo to stare shocked at the dancing flames.

Noctter was hiding behind the flames that burned fiercely.

And Ichigo couldn't even see past them.

Quickly, he ran over to Nel and picked her up in his arm who worriedly looked up at him. He wouldn't forget that potential threat from earlier. He didn't know what kind of tricks he was going to resort to having him drop his guard.

"Where did he go…?" She whispered. Just as she asked that question, a swirl of fire came rushing towards them. Ichigo moved away from it. But pillars of fire were racing towards him from another side, trying to corner him, making him jump away. When he thought the fire wouldn't reach, a beam of fire shot out from behind him. Ichigo quickly flash stepped away, appearing on the other side of the room. However, Noctter had already predicted this and was already jumping back inside the circle. Ichigo let out a shout as he spun around and swung at him. Noctter grinned maniacally and used his free hand to merely swat the blade away, his whole hand enveloped by a red light. Ichigo's eyes widened when Noctter brought his blade closer, slashing him across the chest horizontally, causing Nel to cry out in horror as his blood spilled.

"Haha!"

Noctter leaped back outside the ring of fire and then quickly came out from another spot to slam his arm into his gut. Pillars of fire crossed the room from different directions to try and set both of them ablaze. And he kept zooming past Ichigo to land a blow or a new slash. Laughter echoed in the room every time Ichigo was struck.

"Damn it! I can't see a damn thing!" Ichigo readied himself after the fifth blow and the third cut. He couldn't put down Nel in case those pillars of fire came at her. "Come out! Stop hiding!"

And the wound I gave him is gone!

Just then Ichigo remembered something. Chisaki called him Naogoma Shisugu. He looked like a relative. She wondered if Aizen desecrated the dead. If this was her relative's corpse, then Noctter could be able to use their family's Kido somehow.

In other words, his wounds could easily vanish with seals.

Ichigo's whipped his head to his right when Noctter came leaping out with his blade.

I got you!

"Getsuga Tenshou!"

Noctter skidded to a stop with a gasp when he saw the attack coming his way. It was so fast! He didn't even have time to dodge it! Getsuga Tenshou easily touched him, slashing him diagonally and the remnants hitting the wall behind him. The flames only flickered when his attack passed through. This left Noctter bleeding, soaking his white coat in red, a red rose was blooming.

"I was not expecting that..." Noctter admitted sheepishly. He lifted his hand and slapped it onto his wound without even flinching. His palm became soaked in red. Ichigo and Nel watched as his hand glowed a gentle green before he dragged it across the large cut, spilling his blood through the gaps of his fingers. Soon, his wound began closing and the blood looked like it was sucked back into his body.

"What the hell…" Ichigo stared at him in shock while Noctter continued to smile at him. Was that a seal or a healing technique?

Instead of disappearing behind the wall of flames, he violently swung his blade at Ichigo who blocked and fought back. The sound of their clashes and frictions were loud in clear in the room.

"You sure you wanna keep carrying that excess baggage? She's slowing you down."

Ichigo grunted when he struggled to hold his blade against his.

"If I were you, I'd be tired of being nice, I'd want to go a bit crazy and selfish." Noctter instantly pulled his blade back, abruptly stopping the struggle, and was about to make a move until Ichigo's mask just fell apart.

My mask…!

He went over the time and pushed past the limit.

But that's it.

"See? Excess baggage wasted your time."

Noctter pierced Ichigo's abdomen with a boring look. He stepped closer and leaned in Ichigo's face after suddenly grabbing his wrist to stop him from swinging his sword. Ichigo's brown eyes glared at him while Noctter's crystal green eyes peered into his as if searching for the strength of his resolve after stabbing him.

Noctter much stronger than what he expected.

And that wasn't even his full power.

"I don't get you." Noctter drove the blade further inside his body, making Ichigo wince with gasps and then groan when Noctter twisted it inside of him.

"Stop it! Stop hurting Itsygo!"

"You come charging in guns blazing without even considering how you affect your allies who want to help you. A true friend would at least tell his friend to back down if they were too weak. Like that loser I stabbed." Noctter dug his nails into Ichigo's wrist.

When he felt Ichigo forcefully tug his sword hand away, Noctter violently pulled out his blade of him, making Ichigo stumble back, and stepped back with his free hand and reeled back. His sword was already stabbed into the floor. Noctter pointed his hand at him. Ichigo's eyes widened when he suddenly felt a force on his chest pushing him back. He let out a cry when his body flew back and crashed through four walls. The flames made way for him when he flew by.

Shocked, Nel found herself dangling in the air from Noctter's hand. He had plucked her out of Ichigo's hold earlier. She trembled when Noctter gazed at her curiously.

"You're so small."

"Eep…!"

Noctter looked back at the cloud of smoke blocking his view. He raised his hand in the air. Nel panicked when the fire around them started coming towards her. But instead of touching her, it gathered up in a maelstrom of fire above his hand. Noctter grinned gleefully when the fireball was complete.

"Oiii! Kurosaki! Go long!"

Ichigo struggled to get up from the attack. Whatever he was hit with along with the impact of four walls made his body a bit sluggish. His eyes widened when a huge fireball was flying his way. The room he was in was too cramped.

There was no escape from it.

The only way out was forward.

"Damn it!" He quickly got back up and put on his Hollow mask.

Noctter whistled while holding Nel under one of his arms and he could feel her shaking. She didn't dare make a move after Noctter reassured her that he'd bring her to Ichigo when she worriedly called his name. His free hand was twirling around his Zanpakuto. He was walking past the debris to reach Ichigo. The spiritual pressure belonging to him weakened a little from that last attack. But he was very much still alive.

They could hear him breathing a few feet away. It was dark in that room and the smoke from the blast made it hard to see.

So, Noctter used Shakkahou to light up the room.

It was much more effective compared to Renji's.

Ichigo was on one knee, bleeding, the entire right sleeve of his Shihakusho was gone and his right arm was covered in blood, his face as well. You could clearly see the torn flesh on his right arm. Oh yeah. And it was definitely burned.

"Itsygo! Itsygo! You're hurt really bad!"

"Nel…"

Noctter allowed Nel to go to him. Surprisingly, he gently bent down to let the little Arrancar to run to him,

"Clever of you. You used Getsuga Tenshou to reduce the damage from the fire blast." Noctter crouched in front of Ichigo to be at eye level. "I'm impressed, you know?"

"You're crazy if you think that'll be enough to kill me." Ichigo spat, pushing himself up on his feet, ready to fight. Nel clung to his hakama worriedly, begging him to be careful. "I told you, I'm here to rescue Katsuko. I'm not going to die here."

"You don't want to give up?"

"No way." Ichigo gripped his Zanpakuto tighter. "I'll defeat you here and be on my way."

And he couldn't let this man near Katsuko.

Noctter was a damn hazard to be around.

"Ooh, I like that answer. Yes, if you died, Hiragi Katsuko would most certainly cry. It would be her fault that the Hero tried to save her." Noctter placed his hands on his knees and straightened up with a sigh. He slowly stepped forward after sheathing his blade, confusing Nel and Ichigo. "Well, that's enough. I think I'll leave you with a little gift for surviving this fight."

"… You're not going to fight me?"

What the hell?

Noctter rolled his eyes, his mood changing to one of exasperation. "Killing you has no merit. Why don't I help you with something?" He marched up to Ichigo with a bored look, not the slightest fazed by how Ichigo held up his sword in caution. He gritted his teeth and still swung at him. Noctter wasn't expecting him to, so he ended up getting slashed across his chest. He clicked his tongue and backed away from Ichigo.

"The hell, I don't need your help! You stabbed Chad in the back like a coward, and you threatened Katsuko! You're my enemy!" Ichigo snapped at him, still furious about it. He didn't trust Noctter at all.

"Psh, it's my fault no one sensed my presence." Noctter pointed his finger at him. "And I also promised not to hurt her if you guys listened to my rules. I'll forget the fact that you refused my pinky promise… And so far, you're all doing fantastic." Instantly, Ichigo was enveloped in light. Ichigo was about to flash step away with Nel until he felt the flesh on his arm tingle. Ichigo looked at his arm and witnessed how his arm was being slowly repaired along with his Shihakusho.

The wounds he felt were also closing up.

Noctter was healing him.

"… What… What are you doing?"

"Your wounds are disappearing!" Nel exclaimed.

"You still need to level up Kurosaki Ichigo." Noctter smirked mysteriously when Ichigo was all good, as if their fight never happened. "Consider this a buff."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes at him. Buffs like in video games? Just who was this man? He basically just wasted his time fighting here. There was no way he was going to let him go even after this. If Ichigo could prevent any harm from coming to Katsuko, then he was going to have to defeat Noctter here and now.

"Keep venturing Las Noches in search of Hiragi Katsuko." Noctter stopped his healing and looked at him seriously with widened eyes. "Never forget why you came here or else we will no doubt eat you alive." Noctter flash stepped away, back to the room where they initially were.

Ichigo growled and followed after him, leaving Nel to run after them. "Hold it! You think I'm just going to let you walk away after what you did?!"

"The clock keeps ticking, Kurosaki Ichigo. Keep moving forward." He looked over his shoulder. "But be forewarned, when you take too long, Katsuko will no longer exist in this life." Then he paused when he looked up at the ceiling. "Oh. I forgot to tell you." He turned to face Ichigo properly. "I was the one who took her when no one was looking."

Ichigo stiffened. Wait, what? It wasn't that Arrancar…?

But Jun said…!

Ichigo's eyes widened.

"She's gone! She was taken by someone like you! Someone who uses a sword. But he was wearing white and he had black hair."

It matched.

Ichigo's blade immediately clashed with Noctter's once more.

"Oh, great, here we go."

"You bastard! You're the reason why she's in so much danger right now!" Ichigo shouted at him. "I don't have time to waste on this crap, damn it! Tell me where she is!"

He made her a potential threat to the Soul Society, and one of Aizen's army!

"Haha, try and catch me then."

Noctter vanished.

And no matter how hard Ichigo tried to sense his spiritual pressure, he couldn't track him down even when he tried flash stepping after the faintest trace left behind.

Ichigo clenched his sword tightly, making the chain shake.

"That fight was pointless..."


Katsuko panted, eyes wide almost crazily as she stared at the fallen body in front of her. Her Shikai was in both hands.

On the floor was Cloverras Vall Lulloc bleeding, and severely weakened.

When she was escaping Las Noches, he was there to stand in her way when he found her escaping. He wasn't the first Arrancar to try and stop her. There were others stationed around Las Noches, but she still managed to push through.

And he was the one she encountered after making it farther.

But unlike last time, this was no problem.

Katsuko didn't even have to use her Hollow Mask to defeat him this time. Shikai at the last moment was sufficient.

"How could you have gotten this strong in less than three weeks…?!"

Katsuko stepped over his body without looking back. "By fighting with my life on the line every day."

Her footsteps echoed as she ran down the hallway. If she could she would use the wind and lightning to burst through every damn wall to make it outside. But that would only make it easier for the Arrancars to find her.

"That's far enough."

Katsuko lurched forward a bit when her feet glued to the floor. Her eyes glared at the figure that appeared in the narrow hallway.

It was Ulquiorra.


Gin smirked when he felt someone rest their hands atop his chair.

"That was quite the show you put on."

"You think so?"

Noctter lazily draped himself on the chair with his arms hanging near Gin's shoulders. One of his hands brushed past one of Gin's ears, making him shudder. "Hey, watch where you move your hands. I have sensitive ears."

"Really? Cry me a river." Noctter yawned, his chin on the chair. When he lazily stared at what Gin was doing, he perked up like a rabbit and bounced around his chair to take a closer look. "Ooh! How fun!"

Gin watched as he looked genuinely pleased with what was on the table. He pressed a few buttons as if he had done it a million times and watched the surveillance of different intruders in Las Noches. For the former Captain, it was a bit amusing to watch the way his mood changed so quickly.

Noctter just finished paying visits to two individuals. The first was Aizen. He casually went to join him on the balcony to report what happened because the task that Aizen had given to him earlier was to push Ichigo and keep giving him the incentive to rescue Katsuko. All for the purpose of evaluating Ichigo's progress and potential growth. What he told Grimmjow was a half-lie. As for his second visit, it was to Number Six himself. He knew that Grimmjow was concocting a plan to fight Ichigo, so he decided to report his findings to him. Noctter was invested in knowing how Grimmjow planned on fighting Ichigo. After that was done, he decided to follow Gin's spiritual pressure out of sheer boredom, leading it all to the current scene.

Gin rested his cheek against his knuckles as Noctter kneeled next to him to peer closely at the screens and the maps of the corridors.

"Was it troublesome to fight and heal him?"

"Hm? Oh, of course not." Noctter poked the screen and gleefully dragged his finger to change the routes. "It's a little amusing to see him so worked up over one person. You would think he thought it was like the end of the world with how serious he was."

"Hm." Gin smiled, amused by his answer. "I would think that you'd find it a waste of time."

"I thought it would be." Noctter stared at the screen displaying Ishida and Pesche. "But I suppose it's not so bad."

His answer brought them a brief pause.

"Well, you have my sympathies. From the heart." Gin mockingly plopped his hand atop Noctter's head as if to pat a child's head.

This only spurred Noctter to throw his head back and laugh. "The snake has a heart~!"

"Hey, now, I find that quite rude."

All of a sudden, they both felt two spiritual pressures become incredibly feeble.

Gin lifted his head with a curious expression. "Oh? This spiritual pressure feels like… Kuchiki Rukia and… Aaroniero Arruruerie."

For once, Noctter's usual moods were nowhere to be found.

He was incredibly shocked by the news and what he felt.

"No way. They were defeated…?!"

Gin moved his attention back to Noctter, curiously watching the new expression on his face.


"Sado-kun and Kuchiki-san's spiritual pressures…! Naogoma-san, we need to go to them now!" Inoue said urgently. Their spiritual pressures were becoming weaker and weaker by the moment. If Inoue could get to their locations now, they would be able to find them and heal their injuries. "If we hurry, I can go heal them…!"

Chisaki looked over her shoulder while wiping off the blood on her cheek with her sleeve.

Luppi Antenor was lying dead on the floor in his release state, defeated minutes ago by Chisaki's Doumyoujo.

Her Zanpakuto carried the element of light.

It was a bad matchup.

There was no wait for them to both release their swords.

Chisaki released Doumyoujo and Luppi released his own, Trepadora, to appear as an eight-tentacle freak. His tentacles each had spikes poking out of them to increase the damage dealt. He thought that his eight arms would facilitate catching her.

He was wrong.

And it was wrong to merely dismiss her abilities because she was a Third Seat.

For years, she remained a Third Seat for the sole reason of not seeking any other ranking than the one she was satisfied with. She never became Tousen's Lieutenant. She refused it. It became Hisagi's position.

Chisaki's Zanpakuto enveloped her in a coat of white light that enhanced her speed and mobility. She was darting across the room, appearing like a silky white thread every time she moved, adding a certain grace to her movements. Chisaki stomped and spun on her heel, spinning once to swing her Zanpakuto at him from a distance, throwing a pillar of light flying his way. She darted away and did the same until it looked like eight pillars of light raced towards him. His tentacles were quick to destroy the pillars with a swift strike every single time. There were times when she actually cut them off. But he was regenerating them to fix them, mocking her futile efforts.

But when she used Hadou and Bakudou in the fight, it made things much easier. She would restrict the movements of his tentacles and pin them down without cutting them off with Bakudo #61 and Bakugo #62.

She suffered damage up close, but she used her seals to hide the damage to keep fighting.

And with enough time to think, she eventually struck him down. But not before Luppi claimed that she and Katsuko dared to look at him with those eyes that mocked him. Chisaki would never fully understand what he meant by that.

She was thankful to Inoue who was quick to come over and help her wounds after the seals were removed. It wasn't just that either. She put up her shield for her twice when Luppi cornered her.

"Okay. We have to finish crossing the corridors first." Chisaki agreed. She turned to Inoue and placed a hand on her back. "Let's hurry."

"Yes!"

Chisaki decided to grab Inoue and use flash step to move a bit faster.


"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to save Rukia."

"I told you, she's dead."

"I don't believe you."

"Have it your way then. But shouldn't you kill me first?"

"I have no reason to kill you."

"What do you mean?"

Ichigo and Nel were now in Ulquiorra's presence. Just seconds ago, Ichigo had stopped the moment he felt Rukia's spiritual pressure drop in strength, causing him to panic and look towards where he could feel the weak presence of her existence. It was then that the Espada showed up and informed the boy of Rukia's opponent, giving Ichigo more reason that he should believe in Rukia's death. Ichigo denied this truth and turned around to go look for Rukia. Ichigo had no reason to fight Ulquiorra yet so he was brushing him off in favour of searching for Rukia.

"We may be enemies… but you haven't hurt any of my friends yet."

"You think not?"

"What if I told you I was the one who grabbed your Hiragi Katsuko by the throat and dragged her into the Garganta?"

Ichigo paused when he said that. He then glanced over his shoulder. "You're lying to bait me. I know who took her."

"And what makes you sure?"

"It was Noctter. He told me he did it."

Ulquiorra simply blinked at that. It was obvious to him that Noctter was simply trying to irritate Ichigo even further with his lies. "Then you've been lied to." Ichigo's eyes widened, and he slowly started to turn towards the Arrancar. "Grimmjow Jaggerjaquez is her warden. But I was the one who took her in front of that human boy."

In an instant, Ichigo closed the distance with his sword that was easily blocked by Ulquiorra.

"Then why did you take her?!"

"Now you believe me? What changed that?"

The indirect mention of Jun was what made Ulquiorra's statement true.

"Because of Aizen, the Soul Society might kill her! Because of you, I need to save her before anyone else gets to her!" Ulquiorra simply stared at him with apathetic eyes. "Why did Aizen take her?!"

"Aizen-sama has always wanted to make use of anyone useful to him."

That was the reason he was deployed with Yammy to the World of the Living. Aizen may have wanted them to focus on Kurosaki Ichigo, but Aizen found more use in Hiragi Katsuko.

"Tell me where she is!"

As soon as Ichigo demanded, Ulquiorra and Ichigo paused when they felt something.

Katsuko's spiritual pressure finally appeared.

Finally, a light in the tunnel.

Not wanting to lose track of it, Ichigo retracted his sword and bolted off after it.

But Ulquiorra stood in his way, making Ichigo scowl angrily.

"Move out of my way!"

He needed to get to it before it vanished! If he found her now, he could regroup with the others and get out of this damn place. Chad and Rukia... he wouldn't have to feel their spiritual pressures drop and disappear. Inoue could heal them. Ishida and Chisaki could maybe figure out a way to get them out of here. He and Renji would have to help fight their out too.

"Hiragi Katsuko is not your ally. You're just wasting your time."

"The hell she is! MOVE!" Ichigo roared, his blade swinging at Ulquiorra to make him budge. But the Arrancar lifted his hand like last time to block it with his skin.

And just then, they could both feel Rukia's spiritual pressure stabilize, bringing temporary relief to Ichigo. But what was happening over there? Ichigo tried to move past Ulquiorra, but it was futile. And soon, Katsuko's spiritual pressure began diminishing, leaving Ichigo at a loss. He clenched the handle of his Zanpakuto tightly to the point where his knuckles turned white.

"This will be the last time you'll ever know about Hiragi Katsuko being alive. You will never find her. She won't ever return to your side."

Ichigo growled at that statement. He wasn't going to let this chance slip again. He wanted an answer, now. And he would get it without wasting anymore damn time.

"Then we'll do this the hard way."

All Ichigo would ever feel was that echo of Katsuko.

The echo that was born to only temporarily whisper the existence of a sound that no one could hear.


Kuchiki Rukia was still alive.

Noctter angrily ran to Katsuko's room and stopped in front of her room with a growl. About several minutes had passed since they all felt Rukia's spiritual pressure stabilize, leaving only the ninth Espada as the sole individual who passed through death's door.

He slammed his fist on the door.

"What the hell did you do?!"

How…?!

HOW DID SHE DO THAT?!

"How did you heal Kuchiki Rukia?!"

There was no way Katsuko could have healed her. The door was locked. She had no Zanpakuto to bust her way through. And even if she did somehow find a way, everyone would have sensed it!

There was also no sign of anything that could prove that she forced her way out.

What, did she somehow get out and lock herself back in?!

"Answer me!"

"I won't let her die. I won't let her die on a suicide mission."

"So you help her…?" Noctter repeated, a smile of irritation on his face. "Don't be so naive! You don't get to do anything unless Aizen tells you to, do you hear me?! Those people are not your allies! You fight under Aizen's banner! You don't do anything else but do things that do not go against Aizen! You hear me?!"

There was no answer on the other side of the door.

Oh?

So now she was giving him the silent treatment again.

The fucking audacity.

Noctter slammed his fist on the door again.

"HIRAGI KATSUKO!"

All of a sudden, a hand grabbed the back of his coat, yanking him away, leaving his fist a few inches away from the surface of the door. Alarmed, Noctter quickly looked over his shoulder. His crystal green eyes met piercing blue ones.

"Grimmjow…?"

"Enough." He yanked him further away from the door. "Don't waste your breath." he growled, impatient.

"But she—!"

"Shut up." Grimmjow grabbed the front of his coat and leaned his face closer to his. "Listen, Ulquiorra made his move. Kurosaki Ichigo is fucking die. You feel it?"

Noctter paused.

He didn't realize it at first.

But Grimmjow was right. It was the orange haired boy's turn to face death's door. Ulquiorra dealt a blow that was fatal to him, leaving him to slowly die in Las Noches.

"… Yeah."

Noctter could almost picture his lifeless eyes.


Ulquiorra pierced Ichigo's chest with his bare hand.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, you can't defeat me. And even if you somehow manage to… there are three Espadas above me. No matter how many times you get back up again…" Ulquiorra pulled out his hand, causing Ichigo's body to lose the support keeping up his body which made him collapse on the floor. "A path to victory does not exist here."

Ichigo was lying motionless on the ground while his life seeped out of his body. He couldn't get back up.

"Leave this world immediately if you can still move." Ulquiorra flicked his hand, splashing Ichigo's blood on the floor, and began turning away to leave. "If you can't, stay there and die. Hiragi Katsuko does not exist here. Your quest was meaningless from the very beginning."

Hiragi Katsuko was a human and a Soul Reaper.

She was an ally of Ichigo and the Soul Society who was ready to fight against Aizen and his army.

That ally was not in Las Noches.

And Ulquiorra would make sure she would never leave it.


Noctter smirked playfully as Grimmjow narrowed his eyes at him. He mischievously thumped his forehead against Grimmjow's as if to challenge him. He always liked messing around with him. She was sure that the Espada would have liked to grab him by the throat right now.

Too bad he wouldn't be able to reach it.

"And? What do you want from me?"

"Heal him." Grimmjow didn't hesitate to cut right to the chase.

Noctter blinked after Grimmjow shoved him away from his damn face.

"Ahahaha~ The sixth Espada asking me to heal his prey?" He shook with delight as he laughed, appearing almost innocent and childlike. "And you could not ask anyone but me? Why, I feel loved! But what if I say no? " He said playfully, ignoring the way Grimmjow glowered. Noctter easily freed himself from Grimmjow's grasp so he could lean back against the wall with his arms folded on his chest. "So, what's the plan?"

"What do you think? I'm gonna kill him."

"Then go ahead."

Grimmjow came closer after checking their surroundings. The last thing he needed was for someone to overhear and get in the way. He'd probably just kill them without hesitation though. "I'm not gonna kill a pitiful prey on death's door. What I need is for you to bring him back in top shape so that I can kill him. Now, come on."

Kill him when he's healthy?

Noctter paused. "Ah!" he had a look of realization. His fist dropped in his palm. "You want absolute undisputable victory! Oh wow, that's quite the goal! And after the trouble that Ulquiorra did to render him immobile!" Noctter chuckled in front of him, appearing so very pleased by Grimmjow's plan. "I daresay, that's noble of you."

Grimmjow just stared at him as he continued to chuckle like a fool as if it was so entertaining. Nothing else. No apprehension or objection to his plan. It was almost pitiful to watch.

Noctter yelped when Grimmjow suddenly yanked his coat to the side to bring his face close to his ear.

"Maaan," Noctter whined childishly. "What's the big idea, blue?"

Grimmjow would give him reason to assist him without question. If asked in a certain manner, Noctter would fold and stop asking meaningless questions that only served to waste his time. To Grimmjow, this method was his little secret and his bet. There was no proof that his appeal would work, but he would try to speed things up.

And it did.

Because Noctter and Grimmjow soon ended up standing above Ichigo who looked nothing more than a corpse.


【The Search For H-K II: Echoes of Her 】


Yes. I'm feeding y'all on Mondays when Bleach comes out... let's see for how long tho.

Ahh, I'm very excited to write the future chapters...

I was using the manga to write the scene with Ulquiorra and Ichigo and noticed how the words matched with this plot, about Ichigo having no victory and Katsuko's name being similar to victory. I was like whoaaa it fits! A path to Katsuko does not exist here.

Anyone got some theories? I'd like to read them and see if any of them are close :)

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a nice day/night!