I told you all that we would have another chapter this month. Granted its at the very end of the month, but still! However, at the time of this chapters release, we are near the end of the original cannon. It is ...Most unfortunate. Not just because its ending, but because it is being RUSHED to end. So many Plots left to resolve, so many Bankais unseen. Its a damn shame, and very infuriating to say the least. Its more than clear that this isnt Kubo's ideal ending, that this isn't the ending he WANTED to give us. Now I'm sure that ending would have had its own issues. I'm not saying Kubo is entirely without fault...but at least it would have been HIS ending!

Its not right, and its not fair to him and the people who have read his story for years.

Some may be wondering if this has made me loss my passion for this story. No, in fact its just the opposite. I'm more driven than EVER before to make this story as good, great as it can be. I promise all of you I will give you all a satisfying ending. That's not to say that I hate how the final battle ended. Is it what I wanted? Hell no, not even close...but one has to consider the circumstances.

That's besides the point however. I swear that this story will have an ending you will enjoy. Its my life's goal now, to help fill the hearts of the fans of Bleach. I've been a fan for 8 years, its a series that has done so much for me...Its only fair I do this much for it.

Well, you've listened to me ramble on enough. I hope you all enjoy this extra chapter.

Thank you once again Greatkingrat88.

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun.

Time passed quickly, almost as if in a blur. It was three months since Ichigo had first met Rukia, but as far as he was concerned, it felt like three years ago. He had gone, in that time, from being a normal teenager, to becoming a powerful swordsman and shinigami. Ignorant, insufficiently trained and unskilled, yet making progress, stronger than most shinigami- or so they said, at least.
Rukia had been something of a catalyst. Ichigo had gained his powers, and not too long after, so had Orihime and Tatsuki as well. Uryu- well, his second cousin had had his powers all along, but now Ichigo knew about it. A whole new world had opened up. With his studies still going on beside this, it felt like living in some bizarre, more colourful version of Buffy the vampire slayer.
The latest arrival had been Chad. The bulky, downright enormous teenager had simply strolled into the basement one day, his arm transformed with some odd red-and-black design that emitted a reiatsu powerful enough that even Ichigo could feel its strength. Urahara had identified it as a 'fullbring', a special kind of power certain humans developed after having been close to death. Ichigo did not know why or how it manifested, and he didn't care either. It was good, having a friend to rely on- a male friend, somebody his own age. Not that there was anything wrong with being surrounded by strong, willful women, but Ichigo figured there was some good in having some form of male company. Even if he was only slightly more talkative than a rock.

Right at this moment, though, talking was the last thing on his mind. Erza had quickly picked up on the potential of another strong fighter roughly Ichigo's age, and had soon set the two of them to sparring with each other. Learning to spar against only one opponent, only one style, was a weakness in itself, she had said- and what she said was what went, and no questions asked.
Chad was a diamond in the rough, possessing little more than street-fighting skills, but his raw power almost rivalled Ichigo's own, and he knew how to use it. That arm of his, when transformed, was able to easily withstand the strength of Ichigo's sword, and when he landed a punch, it was nearly as bad as being hit by Erza.
An armoured fist slammed into Ichigo's sword, sending him sliding back. He had learned not to lose his footing, not to be overwhelmed, but force was force, and Chad had him on the defensive. The Mexican was surprisingly nimble for his size, and had close the distance in a second, bringing his armoured fist down again, forcing Ichigo on the defensive. The sword clanged as it strained under the force, but it held. However, parrying with both hands as he was, he had no means of guarding from the other fist- which, for its lack of armour, still slammed into Ichigo's gut with severe force. Ichigo had the air knocked from his lungs, and before her could recover, Chad had grabbed him by the neck with his armoured hand, the free one raised for a hit to his face-

"Break! BREAK!" Erza cried out sharply, and Chad immediately relaxed, letting go of Ichigo and stepping back. He was as gentle as he was large, fighting to win when he fought, but not a second longer than necessary. The thrills Ichigo felt, the rush of power, were surely alien to him. To Chad, Ichigo suspected, violence was a necessary evil.

"Good work, Sado," Erza said, marching up to the two. "A bit more restraint would be good, I think."

"Yes, sensei." Chad rumbled, his voice low and respectful. Erza was not his tutor per se, but didn't seem to mind it as a mark of respect.

"And you," Erza said to Ichigo, "you fell for a simple feint. You let him put you on the defensive. You let him dictate the pace of the battle, and that's halfway to defeat in itself."

"Well, sorry," Ichigo grumbled, rubbing his neck. Chad had arms like tree trunks, and even though his grip had been comparatively gentle, he could still feel it. "He's just… damn strong, okay?"

"Nonsense. No excuses, is that understood?"

Ichigo wanted to protest, but held his tongue. The truth, really, was that he kept underestimating Chad, holding back out of fear of hurting him- that, and he was not at all used to his fighting style.

"Yes, sensei," he mumbled.

"I expect improvement from the both of you." Erza said firmly. "Until you master your strengths, you are both a threat to yourselves and people around you. Power has a price."

Ichigo had heard all the lectures before- responsibility, how he had a power greater than any gun, how he had no choice but to learn to use it properly, using it with purpose… his aunt wasn't wrong, not per se, but hearing them repeat, like bad movie clichés, sometimes got old. Chad, though, seemed to drink it in like wisdom, his eyes fixed on Erza.

"Right." She said, nodding at the two of them. "One more time, and we'll call it a day."

Ichigo nodded with relief, and got into a stance once more. Training had eased up a little over time, he noticed, as Erza seemed to also dedicate time to her own training- something she did plenty of, he realized, and had less time for when training him. She still had a job, she still looked after Orihime…

Just as Chad put his hands up, his face a mask of concentration, they were interrupted. There was a tremor in the air- no, not in the air, but in the spiritual energy running across the town. Erza seemed to notice it too, and a concerned, surprised look passed her face. Ichigo held up his hand, urging Chad to relax.

"What- what was that?" Ichigo said. It felt like a hollow- rippling across the spiritual network with foul, negative energies. But it felt… stronger. More wrong. Bigger than anything he had sensed before.

"Damn." Erza muttered, gripping her sword. She took a deep breath.

"What is going on, sensei?" Chad asked.

"Something big is coming. Bigger than anything you ever saw before- literally and not so literally."

"Huh?" Ichigo said confusedly.

"…actually, this'll be useful." Erza mumbled. "Go get Orihime and Tatsuki. I want all four of you to see this one."

"Well, I'm lost…" Ichigo murmured. He went to get Orihime and Tatsuki, both busy with their respective training, and a few minutes later, all five of them were headed out of the basement, up its ladder. Once they were outside the shop, Erza promptly picked up Orihime and Tatsuki, and sped off. Ichigo looked at her running off, bewildered, and a second later he followed suit. Chad was left behind, footslogging after the rest of them.
A couple minutes later, they assembled a few blocks further down in Karakura town. Chad had kept a remarkable pace, and was not far behind. Although he had no real ability to track reiatsu- yet- there was no need to.

Because the sky had split.
Or so it looked, at least. A massive tear was opening, some hundred meters above the ground, and a gargantuan pair of clawed hands were slowly enlarging it. Ichigo stared up to the sky, gaping. The thing was enormous. Its elongated face alone, leering down at him like some grim plague doctor's mask, was bigger than he was tall.

"Man… what the hell is that?" Tatsuki gasped. She looked scared, and Ichigo couldn't blame her; the oppressive, malevolent reiatsu of the creature bore down on him too, and made him shiver right down to his very bones.

"That's like… huge." Orihime said, her voice uncharacteristically neutral. The tear grew larger, and the creature began to heave itself out, a dark and wicked mass of dark reiatsu.

"And on that day, mankind received a grim reminder…" Ichigo mumbled to himself. Chad only stared stoically, catching his breath.

"Menos Grande," Erza said firmly. "The lowest step in the highest hollow hierarchy. They are born from thousands of hollows flocking, merging into a single beastly being. It is… immensely powerful. Look upon it and learn."

Ichigo could hear the clatter of running feet, and looked to his right to see Rukia, running in their direction, gasping for air. She finally stopped next to Erza, leaning forward, her hands on her knees as she caught her breath.
"It-it's-"

"I know." Erza said. The beast, the enormous so-called Menos Grande, opened the tear wider, slinging one massive leg out. It seemed impossibly slender for its size, taller than it had any use for being. With its long, lanky frame and black shroud, it looked like a caricature of Death.

"Uh, just how strong is this thing?" Ichigo said. "You can handle it, right?"

"Without a problem." Erza said. "I just hope it did not bring any friends."

"Without a problem. Okay." Ichigo said, letting out a nervous chuckle. "So uh, why don't you deal with it, and give us a lecture later?"
The monster put its second foot down on the ground, and looked around, as if confused of where it was.

"Well, would you look at that!"
There was no mistaking that shallowly cheerful voice. From out of nowhere- or more likely around a corner- Urahara Kisuke had stepped out, merrily twirling his cane. "Now that's what I call a hollow!"

"You." Erza said, her voice carrying a foul tone. "If I find out that you-"

"Oh, please,," Urahara said. "I have plenty of data to examine, far more interesting than some generic Menos. So, I expect you will be taking care of this?"

"Of course." Erza said.

"Good call, good call," Urahara said and nodded. "I agree entirely. These children may be strong, but it's far too soon for them to take on a monster of this magnitude. I mean, as you no doubt have surmised, they could potentially beat it, but it's far too big a risk. You're making the right call, as a responsible sensei should."

Erza stared at him blankly. "What-" She shook her head, and glared at him. "What the hell is your game?"

"Oh, just here for the show. I'll be waiting with the kids at the sidelines, if you don't mind."

"Are you trying to-" Erza said, in between angry, frustrated and confused, cutting herself off.

"I'm not trying anything,," Urahara insisted, sounding suspiciously sincere. "You're absolutely right. These children are much too young and untested. I doubt even that young quincy coming this way would be able to tip the scales."

"You think they can't handle this?" Erza said angrily, and Ichigo put the palm of his hand to his forehead. Really?
"You think they are too weak?"

"Oh, not at all," Urahara said, making a pacifying hand gesture. "Just untrained. I mean, there is only so much you can do even with exceptional talent, in such a short time. Nobody would fault you as a sensei. I am sure that in a year or two, they would be able to take on a huge class hollow if they work together as a team."

"You listen here," Erza said, practically fuming, "they are perfectly capable of handling this if they had to!"

"Yes, it's good for a teacher to have faith in her students," Urahara said, and Ichigo marveled at how he somehow managed to be utterly obnoxious even when he was being positive and supportive. "Nobody could blame you for overstating them a little. They are your pride and joy, I'm sure."

Ichigo felt that sinking feeling.
"You think I can't tell what you're doing?" Erza snarled. "You manipulative little…"

"Me?" Urahara said innocently, producing a small bottle of water, from which he took a small sip. "I'm just a bystander. You're doing a fantastic job, miss Scarlet. Now go on out there, and show that Menos who's boss, so the kids can learn a new lesson."
Kids, over and over, as if to emphasize their underdevelopment, their lack of skill…

"Listen up, you four!" Erza all but roared. "You are going to take that thing down, and no mistake!"

"WHAT?!" Tatsuki said, but Ichigo was already prepared, palm meeting face for the second time. She really fell for it. She really wanted them to fight… that thing.

"That means you too, quincy!" She shouted toward a rooftop. "And no attitude, or I'll kick your ass! Masaki's not here to bail you out!"
Tamely, Uryu descended to the ground, last to arrive.

"Aunt, you can't be serious!" Ichigo hissed. "That thing… it's huge!"

"You'll face bigger challenges than that." Erza said stubbornly. "Work together, and you can do it. Believe in each other. Support each other. You can do it, and I wouldn't let you do it if you couldn't."

"Well, this is a change of pace," Orihime said cheerily. "I'll work defense! And offence! And then defense again! And when you need it, I'll throw in like, a plus twenty percent fire damage buff!"

"That's the spirit," Erza said, nodding approvingly, seemingly over her hesitation toward Orihime seeing combat for the time being. "You five will, as a team, take that thing down posthaste. If you can't handle it, I will step in. Besides that... I'm leaving it to you."

Chad simply nodded; Uryu looked a little pale but looked determined, and Ichigo just swallowed. Okay. Size wasn't everything. It was really about who had more reiatsu, who could use it better...

"We need a plan of attack." He said flatly. "Cousin, how hard can you hit it? Can you pierce its mask?"

Although he sounded far less haughty than Ichigo had expected, there was still some arrogance left in his voice as he replied.
"Perhaps with time. If I could charge a shot, if it was weakened..."

"Right." Ichigo nodded. "Chad and me, we're the beefiest targets, so we'll run in up front. Orihime, you... can you really put on a buff?"

"Uh-huh!" Orihime said cheerily.

"Okay," Ichigo nodded. "Do that, then. Back us up. Tatsuki, I want you to hit it from behind where you can, maybe go for a knee, and cousin, try and hit it someplace painful from afar."

"Who died and made you boss?" Tatsuki objected.

"I concur." Uryu said. "Do not presume to think you have the capacity or experience to order me about."

Ichigo let out a frustrated grunt. They didn't have time for this.

"Listen," he snapped quickly, "we work together, or we get a beating from my aunt. You ever got a beating, cousin? A proper, hard beating from somebody who's just holding back enough so you're not getting seriously hurt?"

The look on his cousin's face said enough. "Thought so." Ichigo said. "And you Tatsuki, you at least know what that feels like. You want more of it? I know what it's like, because I've been on the receiving end of it for months now. Now me, I at least have a basic idea of what to do, but if anybody else has an idea, I'm all ears!"
He gave a quick glance to the monster, which seemed to have noticed them.
"Heads up, though," he added, "we don't have time to sit down and have a committee on this decision!"

Tatsuki and Uryu fell quiet.

"No arguments? None? Didn't think so!" Ichigo snapped. "Chad, you and I, we're running from the front. We'll try to unbalance it, and get its attention. Orihime, back us up. Tatsuki, you try and go for the knees. Cousin, you pepper it with as many damn arrows as you can- confuse it, hurt it, whatever!"

"Yes, sir!" Orihime said cheerily. Chad simply nodded. Tatsuki gave him a look, then shrugged. Uryu was the last to fall in line, but seemed to decide not to argue at last, quite possibly because of the way Erza was looking at him- at all of them.

"All right, charge!" Ichigo said. Hoisting his sword up high, he ran forward, Chad at his side. Ichigo came in first, slamming his sword into the creature's ankle. It bounced off with a clang, one that made his sword ring, and it did little more than crack its skin. Meanwhile, Chad let out an uncharacteristically loud, passionate roar, and slammed his armoured fist into the other ankle. The impact of the blow was raw, stronger than Ichigo's even, and if they hadn't had the Menos' attention before, they certainly did now. The creature let out a deafening roar, raw and primal, and Ichigo found himself wondering is Shinigami had eardrums, and, if so, they could rupture just as badly as they could on humans. It lifted a foot, slowly but with titanic strength, and aimed to stomp at them. Ichigo and Chad rolled out of the way easily, but the shockwave knocked both of them off their feet.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team was getting busy. Like a wasp, Uryu darted back and forth, unleashing an unending volley of brightly coloured energy arrows. Not one of them seemed to do more than chip the Menos, but it raised a hand, much too slow, to grasp at him. As he darted out of its range with ease, Tatsuki had leaped up into the air, slamming her staff into the creature's knee joint. There was a discharge of power, a crack as if from a small thunderbolt, and the Menos' leg jerked forward, involuntarily.
Ichigo and Chad got to their feet.

"Orihime, how about that twenty percent fire buff?" Ichigo shouted. It was with some horror that he realized that, for all the fear, dread and danger, he was enjoying himself. This monster was a true challenge, bigger and badder than anything he had ever fought, and he was taking it on alongside his friends. And Uryu.

"Coming!" Orihime cheered. Six orbs of lights began to rotate around Ichigo, and a second later, his sword was aglow with orange, encased in some sort of bubble.

"Chad, get its attention!" Ichigo bellowed. Chad obliged, letting out another roar as he charged. He slammed his fist into the same spot as before, and this time there was a hint of pain in the hollow's shriek. It brought a hand down, monstrously huge and aimed at Chad. It was exactly what Ichigo had wanted. Just as it came down on Chad, the Mexican teen bracing himself for impact, Ichigo flung himself into the air, some ten feet up, bringing his sword up for an axe cut. There was zero subtlety to it, all that swordsmanship seeming superfluous- just him, a sharp cutting object, and something large to blunt its edge on. Holding the sword in both hands, he brought it down.
The impact made his teeth shake and rattle, and his sword bounced off with a loud clang, and Ichigo fell gracelessly to the ground. The Menos' skeletal arm, though, bled huge droplets of blood, splattering the ground from a cut that was at least three feet wide.
At the same time, Tatsuki hit again, striking its legs and knees wherever she could. The Menos roared in furious irritation, trying to kick at its enemies, stomp them, but they were all much too quick.

The issue, Ichigo realized, was that while the beast was slow, it was also very powerful, and they were only doing chip damage. As the Menos took a few steps back, futilely swatting at Uryu, Ichigo regrouped with Chad and Tatsuki, Orihime still standing a few paces back.

"We gotta get the mask." Ichigo said firmly. "If we keep going like this, we'll wear ourselves out before we can finish it."

"A tall order." Chad said simply, and Ichigo couldn't be sure if he was cracking a joke or not. It was hard to tell.

"It's like ramming into concrete." Tatsuki said, making a face. "I'm like a freaking mosquito to that thing- annoying, but harmless!"

"Teamwork." Ichigo said. "If we can take a leg off-"

"MOVE, YOU FOOLS!" It was Uryu shouting the warning out, loudly and clearly as he raced toward them. "CERO! IT'S CERO!"

In the mouth of the Menos Grande, a red light was gathering, a blood-coloured orb of raw energy, its miasma so raw that even a normal human would have been able to feel it. Whatever it was, Ichigo was sure, it was bad news. And its energy had just peaked.

"You must help them!" Rukia cried out from the sidelines, where she stood beside Erza. "That- that's a cero! They'll be wiped from the earth!" With horror, she recalled the terrifying injuries she had seen in time, of those lucky enough- or unlucky- to only have been glanced by a cero. It was one of the most frightening abilities they possessed, raw energy that would burn through almost anything in its path.

"Have faith." Erza said simply.

"Faith?" Rukia burst out incredulously. "Faith won't save them! Oh- oh my-"
She clamped her hands over her mouth. The cero was firing.

"Having faith in your own is not always easy," Erza said sternly, her arms crossed, "but you have to have it. We have to be able to trust them to handle themselves."

"Against a cero?" Rukia said, at the verge of tears. "What have you done…"

"Don't be hasty." Erza said, and nodded toward the battleground. The dust was settling…

Ichigo had thought, for a second, that he was going to die. He had been outraged, that he'd have led his friends, who trusted him, to failure and doom. Outraged, that he hadn't been able to come further.
Then an orange, triangular shield had appeared, and bore the brunt of the attack. It hadn't absorbed it, far from it; in fact, it seemed most of it had simply been diverted to the area immediately outside it. A moment after the attack had ended, the shield had shattered, and Orihime had fallen to her knees.
They were none of them untouched. All of them had blisters, Ichigo most of all- he had instinctively put himself in front of the others. The ground was dirt, the asphalt beneath them pulverized. But they were standing, all alive… because of Orihime?

"I told you I'd help," Orihime said meekly, all the cheer beaten out of her. Struggling, she forced herself to stand. Tatsuki hurried to her side, supporting her. There was dust all about them, as if they were at the centre of a local sandstorm.
"Damn." Ichigo murmured. "Um. Way to go."
It was the understatement of the year; without her, they would have face oblivion.

"Ichigo!" The cry came from above. It was Uryu, sounding desperate, as if brought to the brink of what a reasonable mind can take. It occurred to Ichigo that he couldn't see them properly- and with the massive emission of the cero still dying down, he probably couldn't sense them either. He cares, Ichigo thought, it's just that it'd take us dying for him to admit it.

"HEY!" Ichigo cried out. "Hey, over here!"

"Ichigo?!" Uryu cried out. "Oh thank go-"

From out of nowhere, a giant, skeletal hand came through the air, and seized the distracted, distraught Uryu, snatching him from his flight. Uryu cried out.

"Fuck!" Ichigo burst out. "Chad, with me! Tatsuki, try and get up there!"

He began his charge, closing the distance, but knew it was too later. Uryu was human, a squishy, killable human, and he was in the grip of a monster much, much stronger than he.
But as he ran, furiously intent on saving his cousin, all obnoxiousness forgotten like some ancient memory, he was being surpassed. Orihime, still forcing herself to stand upright, was moving her hands about in a graceful, elegant, almost artistic pattern, and the six lights moved accordingly. In the giant's arm, Uryu cried out, slowly being choked- but then the lights hit. Little by little, the pressure eased, the enormous monster's grip being overwhelmed by that strange power, inexorably outperforming its raw, brute strength. Managing to free his arms, Uryu heaved himself out of the Menos' fist, ending up in a free fall before just barely catching himself, ending up in a barely controlled glide. He hit the ground not far from Orihime.

"What- what the hell is this?" He mumbled. "I felt my ribs cracking… my bow arm was broken, I know it was."

"I'm not sure how it works either," Orihime said, a small bit of cheer returning. "Focus on the Menos, though. I think I can make you go a bit faster and hit a bit harder for a while."

Hesitantly, Uryu leaped upward, sailing through the air. His quincy powers felt stronger than ever, as if supercharged, as if borrowing from some near-infinite source of energy. Moving at a pace faster than anything he had ever grown used to, he fired a test volley. In five seconds, he had let loose three dozen arrows, each one slamming into the Menos with severe force. Each one left a small crater, vile flesh gouged out from the impacts.
The effect didn't last too long, but it caused the Menos enough pain to pick Uryu as its first target, its arms now flailing after the agile quincy helplessly.

Meanwhile, Ichigo, Chad and Tatsuki had done their best, but their efforts had paused when Uryu had surged- it was impressive to watch.
"Okay, listen," Ichigo said. "Mask. Like before. Tatsuki, can you make it bend the knee a bit?"

"I could do it one more time, sure," Tatsuki said, nodding eagerly. The heat of the moment had got to her, as did the seriousness of the situation, and like good iron placed on a smith's anvil, she did not break under the pressure.

"Good." Ichigo said, and nodded. "Chad, you, me, together. When it bends, we hit it under the knee, together, one from each side. If we can cut a leg off…"

"Got it." Chad said, clenching his fist.

As the Menos roared again, trying to swat at the quincy fly that had hurt it so, Tatsuki lunged up into the air. Sending herself into a spin, she put all her force into the next blow. Her staff strained under the sheer power, and she almost feared it breaking on impact. The blow hit, clean and true, and the hollow staggered forward, almost tripping.
On the ground, Ichigo had let his power surge, and in unison, as if he knew exactly what to do, so had Chad. He was a natural in this respect.

As one, they let out a loud roar, and jumped up. Ichigo came in with an overhead cut, aimed right at the fleshier parts of the monster's legs, while Chad aimed his punch to slam into bone, with as much power as possible. As one, their attacks connected. The attack was strong, and Ichigo felt for the blink of an eye like his sword would bounce again- but through his weapon, he felt the impact of its bone snapping from Chad's punch, and with just enough force, he cut clean through the Menos' leg. Falling like a tree, the limb fell over, and as they landed, they were both showered with foul-smelling blood.
The Menos roared, now fully with pain and terror, and toppled like a redwood, flailing with its arms.

"Quick! NOW!" Ichigo roared, not even waiting for the Menos to fall fully before he leaped up on it. Quickly he ran over its torso, Chad and Tatsuki not far behind. Orange wisps formed beside them, wrapping around the beast's arms. They were not quite efficient, not able to pin its arms down, but it was enough- it was not able to stop the three of them from charging. From above, Uryu's arrows rained, now slow and well measured, strong. In an instant, Ichigo had hit the monster's mask, bringing down his sword. Like a mindless woodsman working a tree that had personally insulted his mother, he chopped at it, over and over. Chad was the next to arrive, slamming one slow, powered punch after another. Tatsuki did as best she could next, jamming a staff into its eye.
The beast did not lie down and die. It shrieked and twisted, its giant head thrashing, its maw nearly biting off a leg here, an arm there…
Nearly.

Each one high on adrenaline, focused, they evaded the giant's pitiful thrashing, its struggles, and hammered down on its mask furiously. It was not neat, it was not pretty; it was not organized or clean. What it was was violence, force, applied gratuitously and desperately. Cracks appeared here and there, but the mask was thick and hard. Ichigo was starting to feel his arms numb, growing weary, but pushed himself further. In an instant, without him knowing what happened, power surged through his blade, expelling from its point. It made a massive cut in the creature's mask, and the sheer power of it surprised Ichigo, and he staggered back, losing his footing. The major crack it had left in its mask was all the opening Chad needed, though, and he raised his arm, letting reiatsu focus into his fist. Letting out another roar, so strangely and uncharacteristically passionate in the heat of battle, he brought the fist down. The sound of the impact rung all around them, almost like a physical strike, and the Menos' mask began cracking, splinters of bone flying all around them. Sailing gracefully over them, Uryu planted a final shot into the weakened, cracked mask, and the bony structure finally gave in, cracking from chin to forehead. The Menos shrieked and thrashed, finally breaking free from Orihime's bonds. It clawed at them, lashing out with a desperate speed- but before it could hit, it had started to evaporate. Frozen, as its reiatsu dispersed, it roared one final time.
It disappeared. Around them was ruination, the street nearby them demolished entirely, and a fine cloud of dust kicked up all around them.

"Well," Tatsuki said, breathing heavily, "let's not do that again. Ever."

"Fucking A." Ichigo mumbled, taking Chad's hand and letting himself get pulled up. He was not usually a swearing type- well, not to a certain degree- but the situation seemed to call for it. The wave of adrenaline was beginning to pass, and the aches and weariness of battle were making themselves reminded. But even then, even then… he felt uplifted.

"It was well fought." Chad said, his deep voice ringing calm and quiet. "I am proud to have stood next to you all. Together, we have done good work this day. I look forward to the next time."

"Well, all it took was fatal danger for him to turn into freaking Chaucer," Tatsuki snorted, breathing heavily, looking more shocked now than she had in the battle itself, probably because it was dawning on her just how dangerous that thing had been.

"That was awesome!" Orihime cheered, apparently having gotten all of her cheer back. Sporting a big grin on her face, she raised a staff high- where had she got that?- and did what Ichigo assumed was a victory dance.

Finally, with a somewhat rushed kind of gracefulness, Uryu landed.
"You're all right, all of you?" He said, sounding concerned. Before long, he stopped himself, and forced that distant, superior look onto his face, although it was really only halfway successful. "Ah, I mean. Naturally you are. You should know I only helped you get out of this mess because my aunt would be very sorry if you got yourself killed, Kurosaki."

A spike of irritation, very nearly forming anger, shot through Ichigo. Again?
But then he saw the chaos around him, felt the aches in his bones, saw Erza approaching with Rukia in tow, and thought of what they had all accomplished together. Uryu was an idiot. But maybe, just maybe, it was because he didn't know how to be an idiot. He shot him a grin.

"You know what, Legolas? You're all right."

Uryu looked surprised, puzzled. Whatever retort he had expected, that hadn't been it.

"I'm certainly not!" He said haughtily.

"Ah yes, I thought you'd say that." Ichigo said, nearly laughing. "If I told you that you're a genius, you'd probably say, 'I'll have you know I'm borderline retarded, and only achieved my high grades through excessive cheating, you Shinigami scum!' Right?"

Behind him, Tatsuki and Orihime broke into a laugh.

"But you know what?" Ichigo said, spreading his arms, "you pulled through, and that's what matters."
Before Uryu could react, he had caught him in a bear hug.

"Kurosaki, what the hell?" Uryu snapped, although not struggling very much. "Get off me!"

"Group hug!" Orihime cheered, and rushed in. Tatsuki was not far behind her.

"This is outrageous!" Uryu snapped. "I protest! I protest in the strongest possible forms!"

"Yeah, I just bet you do," Ichigo said. Finally letting go of the group hug, he took a step back. Through all the pain, through all the danger, he felt so very happy to be alive- he felt more alive than he ever usually did.

"Good work." Erza said, finally reaching them. As one, they snapped to attention- victory celebrations were one thing, but when she spoke, you listened. Even Uryu looked to her. "Do you all realize what you just achieved?"

"Uh, we could have done better?" Ichigo ventured. That seemed to be the running theme with her.

"That is always true," Erza said and nodded. "Rukia, why don't you fill them in?"

Rukia stepped forward, less dusty than the rest of them.
"Do you know what a Menos is?"

"The weakest form of the, uh-" Ichigo started.

"Rhetorical question!" Rukia snapped, and Ichigo rolled his eyes. "It is among the strongest forms of hollow there is. In the Gotei Thirteen, it would be considered absurdity to send a single agent to fight one of these unless they had at least the rank of fifth strongest in their division. Raw power. Malice. A stepping stone for hollow evolution. Normally, a vice-captain or captain would be preferred. You, a ragtag bunch of humans, beat it." Her face was hard, cold, and Ichigo was reminded that she was, in fact, a military officer where she came from. He found himself wondering if he should salute.

"You beat it, and frankly, I am amazed. Well done." Rukia said. "This is extraordinary."

"Well done indeed," Erza said, giving Rukia a courteous nod. "I am proud of you all."

Somewhat spoiling the moment, a slow clap rang over the battlefield, as Urahara Kisuke walked toward them.

"Why yes, bravo!" He cheered. "Bravo, Bravo! I was proven wrong indeed. I humble myself before your vision and your wisdom, miss Scarlet."

"I have the strongest urge to punch you right now." Erza said firmly. "Do not test your luck."

"I suppose you don't want me to hide all of your reiatsu traces, then?" He said cheerily. "The Gotei is bound to take notice of this, and they will certainly want to investigate. What would they think, I wonder, if they found a substitute Shinigami, a quincy, and empowered humans like these?"

"Shit." Erza said simply.

"Which is why it's such a good thing that Moi, the humble, helpful shopkeeper, will cover your tracks." He said, with a grin on his face.

Erza glared at him. "I swear to all I hold dear, if I find out you did this…"

"Contrary to popular opinion, I cannot actually summon powerful hollows at my leisure," Urahara bit back. "Although, I think I could name somebody that can…"

"You don't think…" Erza muttered, and Ichigo saw a look of fear cross her face- fear, and anger."

"It could be a freak accident," Urahara said, with a shrug, "but I think we both know a bit of paranoia is no less than appropriate for people like ourselves."

"We're going back." Erza said promptly. "Now."

"…huh. Okay." Ichigo said. It was a strange and sudden change of humours- she had gone from grudgingly proud and appreciative to sullen and concerned in an instance, just at some vague hint from the shopkeeper. Something was up, he knew, but he also knew better than to question her about it. Together with his friends, he headed back to the shop- where, Orihime informed them, she would fix all of their injuries, just like that. There seemed to be quite a few things to her he hadn't anticipated.

Aizen impatiently rapped his fingers against the armrest of the chair he was sitting in. He had a throne, a proper throne, prepared in one of the grander halls of Hueco Mundo, and before too long, he would have much opportunity to use it. For the time being, he was sat down in a lab of his, run by a small, humanoid hollow called Szayel Aporro Granz. It was a twisted creature, in its soul if not in body, even by hollow standards, but it was intelligent and competent enough that Aizen trusted it to oversee his experiments when he was away. As the hollow ran its long, insect-like digits over a keyboard, feeding data into the mega-computer Aizen had fitted into the wall, he felt impatient.

It was so close. So very soon, he would have his hands on the long coveted Hogyoukou, that potent, god-like artifact once crafted by that wretched Urahara Kisuke. Once he did, he would have the power to create his own army, and finally abandon this sickening façade. He would step into the light, as a ruler of a new world order- an emperor of the afterlife. Glorious and resplendent, he would reshape the afterlife according to his vision. So soon.
In the meantime, he had to entertain himself with little research projects. Like, for example, the Kurosaki hybrid. He had expected him to fight it alone- but then again, Erza Scarlet was too much of a mother hen.

"Preliminary data readings?" Aizen demanded.

"It is still coming along, lord," Szayel said submissively.

"I will not ask again. The short of it, now."

"Of course, lord," Szayel said, and Aizen thought he detected a hint of irritation. He was too clever, of course, to do anything to displease him, but he was not without his own opinions, it seemed.
"The Menos you ordered sent to Karakura was engaged by a quincy, the hybrid, and three as of yet unidentified empowered humans, at least one of which being a so-called fullbringer. It was outmaneuvered, and after losing a leg, its mask was targeted by multiple powerful attacks until it was purged."

Aizen nodded. "The hybrid's progress?"

"As you predicted, lord. The most powerful out of the group, but yet untamed. His hollow spirit remains a passive source of energy, as of yet never directly used."

"Good." Aizen said, once again rapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair, this time with a tinge of excitement. The hybrid project was one of his more interesting ones, and to see it come along as predicted was pleasing. Soon… soon. A few weeks to seize the artefact. A few months after that to mass produce an army strong enough to kill the Gotei's leadership. A single battle, then a few years to appropriate it as his new domain. Then… his vision would be fulfilled, no matter how long it took. And he'd have all the time he wanted for science, too.
Soon, indeed. Soon he would seize it. Soon he would stand in the light. Soon he would be victorious. Soon he would see her again.

Soon.

And like that, we're past the Menos! I know some people may be upset that we skipped Chad getting his powers, but we felt it was best to move things alog a bit faster. I dont have anything against chad, but he really wont have that much of a role in this story...Though I CAN atleast promise he will get more respect in this story than he did in Cannon. Yamcha he will NOT be. Thats not saying he wont lose...but i can promise you SOME wins. (Just dont expect them to be Captains/espada/Stern ritter.)

Now, im sure you ALL know whats coming next. Im SO excited to finally get to this part of the story, as im sure all of you will be. Now, after the next few chapters, Erza will be getting more focus as she did originally in this story. Thats not to Say that Ichigo wont play an important role anymore after this. He will. But ERZA is the main character. Not him.

Now I figured it was best to have the Menos be a team effort. Ive always wanted a group fight and I think it came out REALLY well. You may get more of these in the future.

Also, some fans have asked me if I'll do ANYTHING with the world of Fairy Tail itself. The answer is YES, I will...but not for a while. Things are still being worked out in my head about how im going to go about that. The focus of the story however is in the Bleach universe. We'll be dealing with Zeref and Acnologia at SOME point to be sure...but Aizen is our main antagonist as of now.

Not to mention we still have the Vandenriech to deal with eventually.. While their no longer Nazi quincys, and their hax has been toned down alot...Their still REALLY tough.