Chapter Nine: A New Existence

*Karakura, Eight Months Later*

Isshin stood by the edge of the river in town with a solemn look on his face. Despite having been so many months since that eventful day, the pain still felt prominent. Yoshiro's death at the hands of a hollow by surprise, after being cornered by soul reapers. It was Urahara who had come to him in person to give him the heart-wrenching news. Isshin wanted to yell, he wanted to blame himself, Urahara, and so on. He knew that the only person to really blame was Aizen, there was no doubt he had orchestrated the whole event. What made things even worse, no one had any clue as to what he was planning with Yoshiro.

The worst thing about the whole ordeal was telling Ichigo, the twins, and his other friends. Since there wasn't a body to be found, Yoshiro had been labeled a missing person. Not that it did much to alleviate the grief everyone felt. Chad didn't cry but his mood immediately became more sorrowful. Chizuru, Tatsuki, and Orihime broke down into sobs. Orihime took it especially hard, she had developed a soft spot for the older teen. For how he had helped her get through her brother's death. Karin, Yuzu, and Ichigo arguably took it the worst.

The twins had cried till their eyes were red and puffy with their voices going hoarse. The two demanding wanting to have their eldest brother back. Ichigo had begun blaming himself, believing he should have been able to do something. He was going to have to help his son stop thinking in such a manner. He'll destroy himself by doing so with such a thought process. The whole thing felt like losing Masaki all over again in a way. It was a cruel sense of Irony in that regard, as Yoshiro had been killed close to where Masaki had been.

Apacci had fled to Hueco Mundo and hadn't been seen or heard from since. Nor had the other hollows who were associated with Yoshiro shown up since. No doubt they all had chosen to remain in Hueco Mundo and grieve in their own way. He had learned that one of the hollows was in fact Yoshiro's own mother. Isshin felt sympathy for the woman even if she was a hollow. To have circumstances beyond your control to rip your child from you, not once but twice at that. As a parent himself, he didn't even want to fathom that sort of pain. Apacci herself was no doubt taking it hard. As odd and crazy as their relationship was, the love the two had shared had been very real.

"I'm so sorry Yoshiro, I should've done more," Isshin muttered to himself sadly. "Now I've failed in the worse way as both a husband and a father."

"Still coming here I see." A voice called out from behind.

"Ryūken" Isshin simply remarked as the Quincy made his way to him, stopping right beside him.

"For what it's worth Isshin, I am sorry for your loss," The silver-haired Quincy spoke, looking at the spot of the young man's slaying. "I know you loved him like he was your actual son in every way. Had I known who the young man in question was before, I would've stepped in myself."

"How did you know Yoshiro?" The former captain questioned.

"I didn't know him personally in truth," Ryūken replied "I was the doctor working in the delivery room the day he was born." He took a moment to light himself a cigarette. "I delivered him and then tried to and failed to save his mother as she died from the childbirth. I guess I felt a sense of responsibility for the boy in a way because of that."

"I know you and your son are a little rocky with each other, but you should keep a closer eye on him just in case." Isshin stated "As far as most are concerned, including himself, he just a normal Quincy. If the true nature of his heritage comes out, Aizen might take interest in him."

"So, I've been told by Urahara. I've already taken certain measures on my end, as much as I dislike being a Quincy. It does have its advantages at times."

"What about his real mother, have you brought any of this up to her?"

"Urahara was going to take care of that," Ryūken said with some bite in his tone. "I'm still not ready to face that woman again. Not to mention I'm not even sure where she's even hiding at the moment."

"You know she has her reasons for keeping hidden," Ishhin retorted "if she could have been there to help raise Uryū she would have. She isn't so callous like that and you know it."

"I know but it doesn't lessen the bitterness of it all. Thankfully Kanae never treated Uryū differently and loved him all the same. Though he still doesn't know that Kanae wasn't his real mother.

"Both out wives were special ladies like that," Isshin mused "Masaki would've adored Yoshiro if they had ever met. Perhaps one day he'll be back, I hope anyway."

"Isshin," Ryūken spoke up with a stern look. "even if he somehow returns, he won't be the same. He won't be the young man you remember, you know this."

"That's the crazy thing about it Ryūken," Isshin replied "I hope that he'll return, but I'm afraid there won't be anything left of the boy I consider a son by the time he does."

*Hueco Mundo, Halibel & Tres Bestias Home*

Eight months, eight incredibly long months since the day Yoshiro had been killed. Apacci had immediately run to Hueco Mundo, to inform lady Halibel and the others of what had happened. When she burst into the home out of breath and worried out her mind. Halibel, Mila, and Sung-Sun knew something terrible had happened. Only until they heard what Apacci had to say did fully realize the full magnitude of the situation.

Apacci recounted what she had happened, she explained how she had felt the arrival of the soul reapers. How she realized that had been going right for Yoshiro and had taken off immediately, to hopefully intercept. Only to arrive in time to see him be impaled from behind and pulled into a different hollow's Garganta.

When she had finished speaking, a mass sense of dread, sadness, and anger spread throughout the whole room. Mila roared in anger and punched a wall, Sung-Sun stared out into nothingness with a despairing glare while her sleeve covered her mouth. Halibel stood there in stoic silence before excusing herself to grieve. Apacci had a mix of grief, depression, and anger. Anger and hate more at herself if anything for failing to do anything to stop what had happened.

Halibel had understandably taken it worse than anyone else. She had been ripped away from her son once. Then reunited against all odds years later, only to have him ripped from her again. This time in an even worse way than before. They weren't being naïve about it, whatever hollow had killed him. Had undoubtedly also devoured his soul. Which meant that Yoshiro was truly gone unless he managed to become the dominant personality when the hollow who killed him evolved if it ever did. That fact made the situation hurt them all the more.

Now, eight months had come and gone. Apacci sat outside looking at the moonlit night sky of Hueco Mundo, softly crying to herself over the whole situation. Begging whatever higher powers in the universe existed would give her back the one thing she cared about more than anything else.

"You doing ok Apacci?" Mila called out as she approached her friend.

"I'd like to say yes but that would be a lie," Apacci replied in a weak tone. "How are Sung-Sun and Lady Halibel?"

"Same as they've been for months now," Mila replied "Lady Halibel is as distant as ever since that day. While Sung-Sun does what she can to comfort her. Though I honestly don't know if our mistress will ever be her old self after all this."

"It still hurts a lot you know?" Apacci mused "As hollows, we technically don't have hearts and something like love shouldn't be something we should be able to feel. Yet I know that what I felt that for Yoshiro as his mate, Lady Halibel felt love for him as his mother. Yoshiro helped me see there was more to us hollows than the constant fighting and killing so many engage in. We can still feel and have real human emotion despite how contradictive it is to what we are. He made me realize that there's still a part of us that's still human. I just want him back so I can feel that again and more, just like before."

"We all wish we could have him back Apacci but we know that we most likely never will." Mila replied sadly "The best we can do is to keep moving forward. He wouldn't want us to keep ourselves dragged down by his death forever. He would probably get pissed at us if he ever learned we did."

"That he would, that he would," Apacci muttered as she looked up at the moon and lost herself in her thoughts.

*Hueco Mundo, Yoshiro's location*

RAAAHHHH! Yoshiro yelled out as he attacked a hollow he had been hunting. He landed a decisive strike with his claws to its throat, it fell dead where it had stood. He walked over to his freshly killed prey and began to feed, feeling his power grow as he did so.

In the eight months, he had arrived in Hueco Mundo, much had changed for Yoshiro. He had to abandon many of his past restraints to survive the harshness of the hollow world. While he had at first been hesitant about hunting, killing, and feeding on other hollows. In time he had dropped these for the sake of survival. For survival was what ultimately mattered in Hueco Mundo, and one survived, how they needed to.

Though he certainly wished he had some sort of companionship again. Considering however every other hollow he had run into to date had always tried to kill him. He had no real choice but to kill and then devoured them in return. It was all there was to do in this place it seemed like. He killed and fed he didn't know how many times a day but ultimately no longer thought to care. He needed to feed, he needed to grow his power. To him, the need to do so wasn't so much just for himself but so he could also properly help his loved ones when they reunited if they ever reunited.

He missed the human world, he missed Karakura, he missed the family and friends that he had. Most importantly he missed Apacci and what they had together. The months spent in solitude day in, and day out made him realize just how badly he felt alone. He hated the feeling and longed for companionship once more, his instinct seemingly demanded it. He missed the closeness he and Apacci shared the special bond as mates, the loving affection, and more. His hunger for such feelings rivaled his actual hunger to feed.

Though the feeling of hunger was something all hollows felt until they somehow evolved to a Vasto Lorde. If one was lucky enough to achieve such a thing, while he was no Vasto Lorde yet. Evolution was something he most certainly had achieved in his time. Only a few months into his time as a hollow he had gone through evolution into a Gillian. He honestly didn't remember much of his time in the giant lumbering form. Other than the weird sensation of the other souls in his collective fighting for control. Not that they were able to fight much, his own inner hollow had kept them at bay allowing him to easily keep dominance of his own body. He wasn't sure how long exactly he spent but he eventually evolved again and became an Adjuchas.

In his new Adjuchas form he wasn't much different from his basic hollow form. Except he was now a bit smaller and the black wave-like marks on his mask. Were now present as a pattern of sorts across his snow-white fur. Except for his very long and fluffy tails, which were completely snow white. Except for the tips that were still black. He also possessed armor plates that covered the bottom half of his front and back legs.

He had questioned his inner hollow as to why his evolution was progressing at such a fast rate. He remembered how Apacci once mentioned that hollow evolution took years at a time to normally achieve. The fox woman that lived within him explained that the most likely explanation. Was the fact since she had already existed as a part of his being before becoming a hollow. Yoshiro didn't really question that bit, it made sense enough to him. Plus, he wasn't going to argue about evolving at a fast rate.

He had also begun to learn more about the unique abilities he had exclusively to himself. He could focus his energy to create and control vibrations and tremors. He could easily break apart and crush things through his vibration control. Which made his tails perfect conduits for such an ability, especially with nine of them. He could focus these vibrations in his tails and then slam them into targets with devastating effect. Armor can protect from slashes and stabs well enough. Though that meant little against high-impact blunt force or the vibration ignoring defenses entirely and ripping someone apart from the inside out. He could also focus his vibrations around himself to create a protective shield around his being. Plus, as a fox-themed hollow, he also possessed highly acute senses of sight, smell, and hearing even for his kind. Of course, he also had his claws and fangs amongst the general hollow abilities.

Having finished eating his latest prey he continued on his way through the endless desert. He traveled for a while until he felt a spike of spirit energy through his senses. There was a fight going on and it wasn't too far from him, it felt like a pair of Adjuchas. Though neither one was as powerful as he was, intrigued he headed off. He dropped his own energy to nearly undetectable levels and kept himself low to the ground. He came upon a ridge that overlooked a small valley, below he saw the two other hollows.

One was some large centipede-like hollow with a grey body and many legs. It was standing over another hollow who looked to be on the bad end of the fight.

The other hollow was smaller than the centipede but a bit larger than he was. It had an oddly shaped octagonal body with eight tentacles attached to it and a long bony tail. The head sat on top and had a narrow and curved shape with three pink stars above its left eye. Yoshiro kept watched and used his acute hearing to listen in on the two.

"Looks like you lost bitch." Sneered the centipede hollow in a deep voice.

"Go to hell if you're going to eat me just hurry and do it! Don't waste my time you bastard!" Spoke the other with a male voice that carried an effeminate tone to it.

"Why make it fast, when I can make it last?" Replied the centipede hollow darkly. "I'll savor your taste and your screams as I tear you apart piece by piece and eat you at my leisure."

Yoshiro narrowed his eyes in disgust at the centipede hollow. He understood full well that hollows eating other hollows were the unfortunate order of things. He always killed his prey quickly and as painlessly as possible. What the centipede was planning was sadism for the sake of sadism, which revolted him. Yoshiro knew now exactly what he was going to do.

Make a quick adjustment he focused and launched himself over the ridge. Using the heightened elevation to his advantage to make a single long jump right onto the unsuspecting centipede. He landed on its shoulders and before the other hollow could properly react. He brought his jaws down and bit off the top half of its head, killing it. Yoshiro quickly jumped off as the centipede's body crashed against the ground.

Yoshiro's looked towards the other hollow that was giving him. What he believed was a look of disbelief.

"Ummm, I-" the other hollow began before being cut off.

"You should eat what's left of this guy to heal and regain your strength." Yoshiro spoke up "Don't worry I'm not going to eat you, I wouldn't be talking to you if I was going to."

The other hollow looked at him for a few moments before accepting his words for the truth. It made its way over to the dead hollow and began to eat, a few minutes later it had finished. It then turned to him and spoke.

"It would appear that I am in your debt, my name is Luppi Antenor." The now identified Luppi announced.

"Yoshiro Abe, a pleasure." The fox hollow stated in return.

"While I'm not complaining, why did you save me?" Luppi asked

"In blunt honesty, I did so on a whim more than anything. That and I figured it's what my mom would have done in that situation." Yoshiro explained.

"Your mother?"

Yoshiro chuckled a little at that. "Tell you what Luppi, while I won't force you into doing anything, I have a proposition. I've been alone in Hueco Mundo for my entire time here. To be quite honest, I'm tired of being alone in this place and would like a traveling companion. I'll tell you my story along the way and not to mention. We can help each other's growth, and watch one another's backs as well."

Luppi contemplated the deal for a few moments. He knew from Yoshiro's presence he was a hollow more powerful than he was. Having someone of his strength to travel with would be beneficial. Plus, he did owe his life to him, that wasn't something easily overlooked. All in all the choice was rather obvious.

"I join you on your travels Yoshiro," Luppi answered as he moved his way next to the fox hollow.

"Glad to have you along Luppi," Yoshiro stated and moved one of his tails out as a gesture. Luppi took one of his tentacles and shook it. "Glad to be along for the ride."

From there the two Adjuchas began their travels together across Hueco Mundo.

*Six Months Later*

Yoshiro began to stir awake as he tried to move, he made a realization.

"Luppi could you unwrap yourself from me, please. As much as I do enjoy it, it's time to get up."

"Don't want to, to comfy." Luppi sleepily replied.

This had become a daily routine of sorts between the two over the months. It first began when Yoshiro would use his tails to blanket the two of them for warmth. Luppi didn't complain and the two would sleep side by side like that. It quickly became apparent that Luppi was something of a snuggler in his sleep. Yoshiro had started waking with Luppi's tentacle wrapped around as he slept with his body pressed against his.

Not that Yoshiro minded at all, he had longed for a companion to have at his side. As a means to help fill the emptiness that plagued him, traveling about the hollow world. Luppi had become that companion and the two of them actually made for a solid tag team. The pair had come across plenty of other hollows in their travels who had sought to kill them. Only to then be quickly dealt with by the duo. Yoshiro's vibration control caught many opponents off guard. Making it easy pickings for Luppi to use the superior reach of his tentacles to quickly finish them. The two had grown their strength by a great deal in a short time.

Luppi had become someone very important to him. Someone he cared a great deal about in a way. As the only friend he had at his side, he wouldn't hesitate to protect him. Being all alone again traveling Hueco Mundo was something he never wanted to experience again.

As for Luppi himself, he was an interesting one. He was initially rather arrogant of himself and a bit too cocky for his own good. Things that Yoshiro had been working on ridding him of. Luppi had found it a bit difficult at first but had started taken Yoshiro's words more to heart as of late. He was always going to be a little smug but that was ok, who wasn't at times? As long as it didn't pointlessly put him in some kind of danger, it was fine.

In a lot of ways, Yoshiro found himself seeing Luppi as someone similar to Apacci. Kind of rough on the outside but once you managed to get him to open up. He was surprisingly more caring than most would think. Granted, a lot of that probably had to do with Luppi's respect for his power and the fact he had saved his life.

"If we keep going in the direction we're headed, we should come across the Forest of Menos. Maybe we'll find some clues along the way about what we're searching for." Yoshiro chimed

"We'd best be on our way then." Luppi mused in return.

As the two traveled, Luppi kept a few paces back from Yoshiro. Luppi looked at his companion in thought. He couldn't help but be a bit mesmerized by Yoshiro's looks. The way the moonlight shined onto his fur and gave an ethereal-like glow. His mask was perfectly contoured and the black waves were patterned beautifully upon it. Yes, by the standards of hollow society, Yoshiro was quite handsome.

Then there was his personality, he was to put it simply atypical compared to most other hollows. Others were selfish, brutal, uncaring, and unpleasant. Yoshiro for his part was selfless, caring, compassionate, and joyful to be around. The fox hollow exuded a practically irresistible charisma. It made someone want to keep at his side. At first, Luppi stayed by him out of obligation of the life debt he owed to him. Now he found himself staying simply because he genuinely enjoyed being his companion.

Yoshiro had told him that he remembered his entire human life and recounted his tale to him. Luppi had to admit it was a wild tale, to say the least. Encountering a Vasto Lorde out of the blue as a human. Misdirecting captain-level soul reapers, reuniting with his long-dead mother who was now a Vasto Lorde herself. If he hadn't been already aware of how honest Yoshiro was. He would have called the whole story the wild tale of a fool. Of course locating the pack of Vasto Lorde's that his mother led, that his mate was a part of. Was the ultimate goal Yoshiro had in mind.

Luppi had been told a great deal about this hollow woman by the name of Emilou Apacci. At first, he didn't think much of it but lately, he started to feel emotions of jealously towards the woman. Jealously towards the relationship she had Yoshiro, though why he felt that way. Was something Luppi had yet to figure out as it was all rather alien to him. It was an alien but pleasant feeling, knowing there was someone who cared so much for him.

Regardless, he could understand Yoshiro's desire to locate his mother's pack. After having so much ripped away, who wouldn't want to try and get at least some of it back? Luppi was rather thankful he didn't remember anything from his human life in regard. Not having such things plaguing his mind made it easier to cope with existing in Hueco Mundo.

"Luppi I think we have something here." Yoshiro suddenly stated "I'm feeling a pair of Adjuchas not far from here. They don't feel all that strong though for their class."

"Prey perhaps?" Luppi mused.

"If they choose to attack then sure, though I would like to run into a group that didn't attack us on sight."

Luppi and Yoshiro suppressed their energy and stealthily made their approach. Yoshiro carefully moved his head around the edge of a large sand dune and saw the two hollows in question.

It was a pair of nearly identical Adjuchas. They were had massive arms, eyeless heads that were shaped in a way that reminded Yoshiro of a xenomorph. Their bodies were smaller and noticeably female in shape with a hollow hole that rested between their breasts. Their abdomens were open where one had a ball of electricity and the other a ball of fire. Neither had legs and hovered in the air on some kind of platform.

"What do you think?" Luppi questioned in a whisper.

"Well, they're certainly unique in appearance even for hollows." Yoshiro replied quietly "I was right from before neither of them is that powerful. Either of us could easily kill them by ourselves. Though I would rather talk to them and see maybe if they would be open to joining the pack. Safety in numbers and all that, plus having more people to banter with would be nice."

"If that's what you want then go for it. You're the leader here." Luppi replied

"I get that, but I still value your opinion Luppi, were in this together after all."

"You're making me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside talking like that," Luppi replied both jokingly and truthfully. "It wouldn't be so bad to have some fresh faces around I will admit."

With the decision made, the two casually made their way out of hiding and towards the two other hollows. The two hollows became noticeably more nervous when they noticed them. Though neither of them made any kind of hostile move. Yoshiro and Luppi kept walking forward until they stopped a few meters from the pair.

"Hello there, the name's Yoshiro Abe and this's my companion Luppi Antenor. We were wondering if you were willing to talk by chance?" The fox hollow stated.

The two floating hollows seemed to be taken aback by the statement not having expected it. The two shared a brief glance of uncertainty with one another before looking back at Luppi and Yoshiro.

"Ummm…my name is Yin," Stated the one with the electric ball. "and this is my twin sister Yang." The now identified Yin said gesturing towards her sister who had the fireball.

"Twin sisters just like Karin and Yuzu." Yoshiro thought to himself suddenly feeling a stronger urge to have the two join the pack. "I'll get right to the point of things you two, I would like you to join my pack." Yin and Yang were genuinely surprised by this from what he could see of their reactions. "The reasons are simple, it's a matter of safety in numbers for us all and, wanting some fresh faces to hang out with. I can tell you two are on the lower end of the Adjuchas scale. I and my friend here are on the high end of it. We can help ensure your protection and growth. We're simply asking you to join the pack in return is all."

The two sisters looked at each contemplatively or at least what constituted as that for them. Having a brief and wordless conversation with each other before facing the other two.

"What do you think Yin?"

"Seems like a good deal to me Yang. Not like anyone else would offer such a thing in all likelihood."

"We'll join you!" The two sisters stated together.

"Glad to have you with us." Yoshiro chimed as the sisters floated up to him and Luppi. The newly formed group left together.

As they traveled together Yoshiro got to know his newest packmates better. Having them around did feel a lot like having Karin and Yuzu around again. Though neither had Yuzu's overflowing with care personality. Yin and Yang were both more like Karin with their attitudes. He told them of his own tale just as he did with Luppi. Both of them were surprised and rather amazed by it. Luppi and the twins wound up getting along rather well eventually as well.

After spending more time traveling and finding some wild hollows to feed on. The group found themselves at the entrance of what was know as the Forest of Menos.

"So this's the Forest of Menos? How interesting," Yoshiro mused as he reached out with his senses to see what he could detect within it. He felt a multitude of basic hollows, Gillians and Adjuchas weaker than the twins. Then he felt something fighting in the forest, something that wasn't hollow at all. Something that made him angry as he realized what it was.

"There's a soul reaper down there," Yoshiro growled in annoyance. It went without saying Yoshiro disliked soul reapers. Except for Urahara, but he was a special case. To him it was because of them he lost everything he once had. Grand Fisher may have been the one to kill him. It was the soul reapers that gave the hollow the opportunity he needed, even if they didn't realize it. He had always been safe from hollows in Karakura before and after meeting Apacci. It wasn't until the soul reapers came after him and backed him into a corner. When no one else was around that left him vulnerable for Fisher's sneak attack. Yoshiro was rather bitter about the whole affair and who wouldn't be in truth? He just hoped he could run into Toshiro Hitsugaya again at some point. Just so he could smack the little shit around as payback, was that so wrong?

Of course, that was for the future, he needed to focus on the here and now. He already knew what he wanted to do.

"I know this is going to sound odd coming from me, but I want you all to stay here as I go hunt the soul reaper," Yoshiro stated. "I feel like I need to do this, in this way." The rest of the group was rather surprised by his declaration, though the twins bowed their heads in understanding. Luppi seemed more apprehensive about it.

"I can't say I fully agree with this idea, but I know I can't stop you at the same time. So, I'll just ask of something of you instead," Luppi spoke as gently placed a tentacle on the side of Yoshiro's face. "no matter what, make sure you come back."

Yoshiro reached out with one of his tails and wrapped it around the appendage. "I will, I would hate to disappoint you after all." He replied softly and then letting go he turned around and took off into the forest. The others watching his visage until he was out of sight.

Unknown to any of them from a distance they were being watched by another hollow. Who had in fact been tailing from a distance for some time without them knowing it. The hollow had seen the odd group once and began to follow out of curiosity. The hollow was human in size with emerald-colored eyes, with a full white mask and body, and large black wings mounted on his lower back. His mask covered his entire face, with a line running up the middle that diverged into three near the top of his head, and two long horns sprouting out from the sides of his head at ear level.

The hollow tilted his head curiously at the sight he had just seen choosing to stay in place and wait.

*Forest of Menos*

Yoshiro quickly and silently made his way through the forest, keeping his energy low to mask his approach. He could feel the power of the soul reaper as it fought against another hollow. It made tracking him down rather easy, but Yoshiro was playing cautiously. While the Shinigami didn't feel stronger than him from what he could tell. He was aware that soul reapers could access higher levels of power with their blades. As he got closer he began to move at a deliberately slow pace. Not wanting to inadvertently make any kind of sound. He kept himself to the ground and slowly peered his head around a stone pillar and saw his mark.

The soul reaper has peach skin, thin red-brownish eyebrows, red-brownish spiky hair, and dark-black irises. He wears his white kimono undergarment underneath his standard Shinigami uniform, in a ragged condition, and without any footwear, with a brown fur coat draped over himself. The coat has five Hollow masks adorning the back of it, which he utilizes in a variety of ways.

He watched as the soul reaper was engaged with a Gillian and with a quick slash to the mask, slew the hollow. Yoshiro felt some anger bubble up in him from the sight. While he might not have always liked it, he understood hollows feeding on one another was a part of the cycle of things in Hueco Mundo. This soul reaper dared to intrude upon his people's territory, their home, and slay his kind. Something about that really dug under his skin in a bad way.

Seeing that soul reaper was unaware of his presence still, Yoshiro quickly whipped out from around the pillar. He formed a cero at his mouth, the ball of energy having a pure white color to it. He let it rip at the Shinigami hoping to obliterate him. The soul reaper caught on at the last second of the danger and managed to dodge. The cero blowing up behind him in a white burst of energy.

"Another monster for me to deal with it seems." Spat the soul reaper.

"Coming into our home, slaying our kin, who's the real monster here I wonder?" Yoshiro retorted.

"The only monsters are you and your kind who devour the innocent souls of the world."

"I've never once hunted or eaten any plus souls or the living. I've only ever survived by feeding on other hollows."

"Then that makes you only slightly better than the others but you're still just another monster at your core. What's your name hollow?" The soul reaper stated.

"Yoshiro Abe, what of you, soul reaper?" Yoshiro answered

"Ashido Kanō"

"I'll remember the name after I've finished with things."

"You seem to think you'll win hollow?"

"Only one way to find out," Yoshiro spoke up and blitz Ashido with a burst of speed. The soul reaper barely dodged in time to avoid the jaws that threatened his throat. Ashido then disappeared in a burst of movement and Yoshiro had to quickly duck low to the ground to avoid the swing. Yoshiro quickly focused a cero in his mouth and turned around and let it rip at Ashido. The soul reaper pulled out some sort of shield made of hollow masks to protect himself. The shield kept him safe from the cero even as he was pushed back by it and then deflected the blast away.

"Not bad hollow but you'll have to do better," Ashido spoke

"Don't ask for what you can't handle," Yoshiro said in return.

Ashido disappeared in another burst of speed and appeared right next to Yoshiro his blade in motion. Yoshiro stepped to the side and swung a few of his tails around in retaliation. Ashido brought his shield up and blocked the powerful tail strikes as they pushed him back.

"You don't possess any special abilities outside of your raw power it seems," Ashido spoke as he moved.

"I know I got screwed in that department, I don't need you telling me!" Yoshiro growled back in fake annoyance as he laid his trap. Dodging another swing from the soul reaper.

"His tails are powerful, but I can use my shield to protect myself from them. As I make my move to land a decisive strike. I just need the right opening is all and I can end this with a single blow." Ashido thought to himself waiting for his opportunity. With another burst of speed, Ashido appeared next to the fox hollow and slashed. Yoshiro moved to dodge but wasn't fast enough and received a deep gash in the upper back of his left leg. As Yoshiro went to move, he stumbled on his injured leg and lost his balance in the process.

"That's it!" Ashido mentally realized and made his move, he appeared next to the side of the hollow. Shield raised in anticipation to block the tails and sword ready to swing for the kill. Then he saw the expression on the hollows face, it was a look of satisfaction. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the tails swinging at him but unlike before. They now had some sort of glow surrounding them. Ashido realized in horror far too late, that he had been duped.

The moment the tails connected with the shield the very air seemed to crack and explode with massive force. The shield shattered to pieces instantly while the explosive force then slammed into Ashido. He felt the shockwaves pass through his body, shattering his bones and damaging organs in the process. He was slammed into the ground with such force. It was as if he had fallen from the sky at terminal velocity. The ground around the immediate area shook violently and broke apart as if an earthquake had happened.

Yoshiro waited for the dust to settle as he stood up waiting to see the results of his successful trap. As the dust finally cleared, he saw Ashido laying in a broken and bloody heap. He was somehow still alive but if the amount of blood around him meant anything. He wouldn't be for much longer that was for sure.

"You...you tricked…me… bastard." Ashido choked out as he coughed up blood.

"Don't be so surprised, I am a fox after all," Yoshiro calmly replied as he stood over the defeated soul reaper. "Goodbye Ashido Kanō."

Ashido's final sight was seeing the hollows jaws upon and descend upon him. He felt a sharp pain briefly in his neck and everything faded to black.

Yoshiro tore into and ate the soul reaper, it was different. While he was somewhat loathed to admit it. There was always at least a small level of satisfaction in devouring another hollow. Eating a soul reaper was a tidal wave of gratification. The sensation, taste, and the growth in power he felt. Was far greater than he had ever received from eating another hollow.

In fact, Yoshiro felt a massive surging of power swell within him and explode. He felt a tantalizing sensation course through his body and change it. It was an odd yet amazing feeling all the same and knew what it meant. He had finally evolved to the final stage.

Vasto Lorde

When his transformation was completed he noticed that once more he was now standing on two legs again. His feet and hands were human-like again but the nails were more like black claws. His fur had been replaced with his mocha skin from when he was human. He felt his hollow mask and noticed that it still held its fox-like shape. He grabbed his hair and pulled a little in front of his eyes and saw that it was still snowy white instead of its original blond. He also took note that he also still possessed all nine of his tails. He then inspected the rest himself to see how else he changed.

A bone-like material had formed fingerless gauntlets of sorts that stopped down his arm four inches before his elbow. The same material had formed around his feet in the form of some sort of wrapping that only exposed his heels and toes and stopped a few inches above his ankles. The substance had formed into a kind of sleeveless crop top that covered his chest but left his abdomen exposed. At his waist down stopping a few inches above his knees the material formed like tights of sorts. Along with cloth-like flaps that hung across the front and back. With some space separating them at the sides of his waist and hung down to just above his knees. Located at the bottom right of his abdomen a few inches above his waist, was a baseball-sized hollow hole.

"So this's what it feels like to be a Vasto Lorde? I can see why my mom, Apacci, and the others like it so much." Yoshiro mused to himself in satisfaction at his transformation. "I better get back to the others, no doubt they're anxiously waiting for me."

Yoshiro sped off faster than he had ever moved before, it didn't take him very long to get back to his pack. Needless to say, they weren't expecting to see him looking so different.

"Holy shit is that really Yoshiro!?" Yang cried out

"He actually evolved into a Vasto Lorde!" Yin yelled as well.

"So you have evolved," Luppi stated in curiosity as took in Yoshiro's new form. "You look good I must admit, and you kept your word as well."

"Like I said before I would hate to disappoint you." Yoshiro mused playfully before his senses picked up something approaching, something powerful. "Luppi, Yin, Yang, get behind me now!" Yoshiro ordered urgently they didn't waste time doing as he asked. Then they understood why he suddenly ordered them as he did, as another hollow suddenly appeared before the group.

Yoshiro inspected the hollow before him and took in its human-sized albino body, large black bat-like wings, and piercing green eyes. It was a Vasto Lorde there was no doubt to that, and it felt stronger than he was.

A/N: Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the story thus far. Yoshiro has been getting up to some interesting things since becoming a hollow. we get to see a glimpse of how others have taken his apparent demise by fisher. While Yoshiro laments a bit about everything that's happened to him and how his new existence is affecting him. I'm time skipping things around here a bit since I don't want to write like. Eight chapters of fluff of just traveling around Hueco Mundo doing the same old thing. That gets boring real fast after all. Better to just speed things up a bit to reach the canonical timeline of bleach and eventually the Arrancar saga.

Interesting things have happened already, and I'll hopefully continue that trend from here. Not much else to say, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime, please leave a review as they do help keep me motivated to write. Please like and fav if you have not already and stay safe, stay healthy. I'll see you next time. I'm out!