Chapter 28: Inner Hollow

Ichigo dodged the oncoming bull-like hollow that was charging him as another come from the sky. "Getsuga..." he began as he swung his sword. "TENSHO!" he screamed the last part causing the dark energy to do a wide arc. The red and black energy stretched and encompassed the two hollows who were completely destroyed by the attack. "Damn it..." he cursed as he realized he'd lost his kill count. "Was that twenty-three or thirty-three?"

No worries King, I'm sure I'm-better-then-thou is keeping track. the hollow chuckled as Ichigo shook his head and began to rush off towards the docks where he sensed more hollows emerging.

At that same time Shinji pushed the doors to the hideout wide open. Oh this can't be good. he thought as he felt Ichigo's spiritual power going from one side of the city to the other. Ichigo won't be able to defeat them all.

Hehehe... Shinji frowned as he heard his hollow laugh. It was rare for the being that shared his soul to appear. Let's help those brats and show 'em who is really the top dogs in this town! The hollow seemed almost ravenous at the thought of finally getting to fight after all these years. Turning his head, Shinji could see the others looking at him questioningly. "Ichigo needs our help." he told them. "There's a shit ton of hollows coming out of that giant garganta that's forming in the sky."

"What about Soul Society?" Kensei inquired. "Surely they've sensed this happening by now."

"And if they haven't?" Lisa inquired as she pushed her glasses up her nose before pulling her zanpakuto from its place on her hip. "Ichigo and Verena will be overwhelmed, even with Urahara's assistance."

Hiyori stepped towards Shinji before looking behind herself over her shoulder at the others. "We'll deal with it as it happens." she said.

"We can't have the kids up show us." Love agreed with a nod.

"I'll go to the shoten and see if Tessai and I can fix the problem of that garganta." Hachi stated as he stood up from the boulder he had been sitting on.

Shinji smiled as he felt his personality begin to merge with his hollow's. "Then let's go." With that said the exiled group vanished from their hideaway as they flash stepped towards different sectors of the city to take care of the hollow problems.

Chad suddenly came to a full stop as before him the ground exploded as if a gas line had exploded. In fact that's what his friends thought, but he could see the real danger. A hollow that was tens of times bigger than the large teenager. "Run!" he yelled towards his friends before rushing towards the monster before him. The two years of training with Urahara was finally going to be tested today. "Branzo Derecha de Gigante!" he cried out causing his right arm to morph and change as black and purple armor covered it with large flanges to appear on his shoulder. A bright energy blast hit the hollow correctly in the face.

Chad's two friend heard his cry and turned to see a huge blast of energy appear out of nowhere. The earth become scorched at this energy output. That wasn't... one boy thought. No way. Chad couldn't have done that. He thought as he saw smoke rise from the scorched ground.

Karin dove to the ground, as did her friends as the ground began shaking. She saw the monster appear before it was destroyed. A man came running out of the smoke created by the blast that took the monster out. That's Ichi's friend! she thought happily. Wait, how'd he do that? she questioned as the older boy came rushing towards the field.

"You children need to leave here." he told the boy's who all nodded numbly before running away towards their homes. Looking at Karin he looked beyond her towards the other girl. "You both stay close. I'll get you home."

Yuzu gave nod as she grasped Karin's arm. "Karin..." she said with fear in her voice.

When the group turned towards where the hollow had been they found that the creature was once again standing. "It's still alive!?" Karin yelled in surprise.

Chad did not like this. Grasping both girl's he threw them both over his shoulders and began to run. I cannot fight and protect. So I must run to keep Ichigo's sisters safe.

"Chad it's coming from the right!" Karin yelled.

"You can see it?!" he questioned her, surprise evident in his voice.

"Of course I can!" she yelled at him. "I'm Ichigo and Verena's sister! We're all weird like that!"

"I'm not." Yuzu mourned.

"Be thankful." Karin muttered under her breath. Chad dodged the monster as it came in from the right to strike at them. Karin saw an opening as they passed by the creature. "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat! Bakudo number nine: Geki!" As she finished the incantation the hollow was engulfed in a red light, completely paralyzing it. "Put us down and hit that thing with your strongest attack!" she yelled at Chad.

The large teen was quite impressed by what Karin had down. The younger girl wasn't as vulnerable as he had thought. Sitting both girls down, Karin grabbed Yuzu's hand and pulled her into the side alley away from the monster.

I have not used this attack outside of the training room. he thought as he rushed towards the creature. "El Directo!" he cried out causing the flanges on his right arm to to flare out and open as he punched the creature right in the face. The creature screeched as its mask was completely obliterated, blood fell from the wound at the center of its head before Chad pull his blood covered hand out of the hole he had created. Brain matter fell to the ground before the hollow turned to dust.

As both girls peered around the corner Chad stood from the ground completely unharmed. I protected them, Abuelo. he thought as an image of his grandfather appeared in his mind. Clenching his fist he looked at the right hand. My giant body is for the sake of protecting others. This way they have a chance in escape while I take care of the monsters frightening them.

"That was awesome!" Karin yelled bringing Chad out of his thoughts. "You're strong and powerful, like Ichi and Vere!" It was then she noticed his arm. "By the way...what's with the arm?" she asked as she pointed at it.

"I was going to ask the same thing." a voice sounded from above them causing the two to take notice. Yuzu looked up but saw nothing.

"Who are you?" Chad inquired as he went into a defensive position. The silver haired man didn't seem like he was a monster but Chad could definitely sense something was off about the man.

The man went to speak only for a second voice to sound from the building behind the group. "Kensei, be nice!" Chad turned to spot a girl in a white body suit with goggles upon her lime green colored head.

"Mashiro..." Kensei began with irritation lacing his voice.

"Mashiro?" Karin repeated before looking at the other. "Kensei..."

Yuzu looked at her twin. "Doesn't Ichi and Vere have friends named those two names?" she asked gaining a nod from.

"Ohhh!" Mashiro squealed. "Kensei, they're Ichigo and Verena's younger sisters!" Mashiro jumped from the building before approaching the two girls. "Hello." she held out her hand in front of Yuzu.

Karin looked at her like she had grown another head. "Yuzu can't see you." she explained before she shook her hand. "I'm Karin."

Kensei approached the group all the while looking the young man over. "What exactly is that?" he asked as he pointed at the right arm.

Chad looked his arm over. "Urahara has yet to come up with a term for it." he explained. "It appeared one day during training."

Kensei pondered that for a moment as he looked the arm over once again. He could definitely sense something was different about this young man, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Heeee smelllzzz like ussssss. he heard his hollow hiss out. Shaking his head, Kensei ignored his hollow's voice.

"There is a large amount of spiritual pressure building up around the garganta." Kensei said as he looked up at the hole in the sky. It was growing larger. "We need to plug that hole before this town is overrun by hollows."

Mashiro looked away from the two girls. "Perhaps Kisuke has a plan already." she told the former captain.

Karin tapped Chad's unchanged arm. "I can get us home from here." she said sounding confident. "This sounds like it's serious, so go help Ichi and Vere. Maybe help these two get to Getabushi." Grabbing her sister's wrist she ran off, no giving the larger teen a chance to say no.

"You heard her kid, you're with us now." Kensei grinned. "What else can that arm of yours do?"

"I'm still training with it, but Urahara believes I have potential for more." Chad explained.

Kensei gave a nod. "Then we'll see what you can do so far." He then looked at Mashiro. "Get to Urahara's. I'll take the kid to see if we can get to the source of these attacks."

"Yes sir!" she yelled before engaging her flash step and vanishing from sight.

"Let's go kid." Kensei pulled his sword from his hip before it turned into a dagger-like weapon as he jumped from the ground to the building high above. Chad looked at the man nervously, he had yet to master anything like a flash step. This would make things a bit more complicated.

Chizuru Honsho looked at the mess before her of broken glass. Really? she thought with an annoyed look appearing on her face. All I did was hear a crashing sound and now because I came to investigate I've gotta clean this mess up. Her eyes narrowed towards the building where some ruckus was coming from. I bet it was caused from a member of the judo club. Nobody else could ever do it. In her mind an image of the orange haired duo appeared in her mind. Even they wouldn't do this. They're not like that. Though Ichigo is always angry looking and is barely somebody I can approach...She paused in her cleaning duties when she saw both Orihme and Tatsuki running her way. I'm saved! I don't have to clean by myself! "Hey! You two-" she began as she waved at them to get their attention.

Without her knowledge a giant squid-like hollow was climbing over the gymnasium behind her. Both Orihime and Tatsuki looked horrified as the creature crawled over it, one of it's tentacles reached towards the unaware human. Thinking quickly Tatsuki grabbed her friend. "Hey!" she cried out in surprise as she found herself being spun around a few times.

"Let's go home together!" Orihime suddenly cried out, causing stars to appear in Chizuru's eyes. "We can have a sleepover, but only if we leave right now."

"I don't mind, but do you plan on going home in your karate clothes Tatsuki?" Chizuru asked with a smile.

Really? Tatsuki asked herself, as her eyes looked towards where the monster had been only to see that it was gone. "Uh..." she began when she spotted the creature was right above her best friend. "Orihime!"

It's here! Inoue thought as she felt immense pressure pushing down upon herself.

"You can see me..." the female hollow stated. "...can't you?"

"Orihime!"

"Chizuru, run!" Orihime yelled.

"Eh?" Chizuru felt confused. What was going on? "Run? Why?" she asked as she saw absolute fear in her two friend's eyes.

Suddenly balls of energy shot out from the hollow, some hitting Chizuru dead on. Others headed towards Orihme, but then just as she felt hands wrap around her, at the same time something seemed to stop the balls of energy from hitting her. When she lowered her hands she found Tatsuki holding her, both were unharmed but it was Chizuru who was on the ground injured.

"Chizuru!" Both girl's cried out as they went to help their friend.

"I'm bleeding." Chizuru stated simply as she sat up off of the ground. Standing on wobbly legs the two girls paused in front of her. "But I seem to be alright." she said as she placed a hand over her wound but then moved the hand of her uninjured arm. "See." Suddenly that hand grabbed Orihime by the neck. "Eh?"

"Chizuru?" Orihime said her name as the hand began to tighten around her neck.

"I-It's not me!" Chizuru yelled. "I can't stop it!" she yelled this with alarm in her voice. Why can't I control my hand? Stop! she yelled mentally but to avail, her hand seemed to tighten even more.

"Doesn't it hurt?" the hollow asked. "I don't like conflicts, so my ability is to create seeds and fling them into my victims who then do my bidding!" The hollow began to laugh. "And I'll have you kill each other instead!" Suddenly those who had come to investigate the scene earlier began to walk towards the group of girls as if they were zombies being controlled. "Now, shall we begin? It has been so long since I've seen a girl with abilities like yours. However, that doesn't mean anything if you get killed helplessly by your own classmates!"

Orihime screamed as she was suddenly being attacked by young men and women that were once her friends. Tatsuki struggled as her arms were grabbed a pulled this way and that. Upon hearing Orihime's scream, Tatsuki felt something rise up in her. No! I won't let you...hurt...Orihime! she mentally screamed. Her chest began to glow lightly. I won't...let you...make her...cry! Sudden strength came to Tatsuki unlike anything she'd ever felt in her life. Kicking the students off of her in one large sweep, she found herself suddenly in front of Orihime and punching the people in front of her, who seemed to moving so slow. Kicking left and right until none remained.

Standing in front of the monster she spoke. "You seem to have mistaken who you are fighting." she told the creature. Wiggling her finger in a come hither motion she got into a defensive position. "Since the days of old, I have always been the one who beats the shit out of those who make Orihime cry!" Slowly their classmates began to stand once more. Tatsuki grinned as she moved much faster with far harder kicks being dealt out at everyone.

Behind her Orihime stared in amazement. Tatsuki, her legs have red and white armor on them. She saw that her fists were covered by the same red and white colored fingerless gloves.

"Next!" Tatsuki yelled out as the next wave of student's came rushing towards her.

When she moves, she moves like lightning. Orihime thought. One second she's there only to be gone the next.

Around her body, Tatsuki glowed bright yellow before moving with lightning speed around the students as she punched and kicked them. Sending them all sprawling around the school yard."Come on!" she taunted them. "None of you are a match for me!"

"That's fine." the hollow stated. "For the livelier a girl is, the prettier her face is when it contorts when she cries!"

Behind her, Tatsuki sensed more coming. These were from her karate club, Chizuru was amongst them. They reached out for her, only to be kicked, punched or body slammed into the ground like nothing mattered. "Tatsuki!" Orihime cried out as she was grabbed at once more.

Orihime... Tatsuki thought. I need to be faster. she thought. I need to be faster in order to keep her from being hurt. Pain suddenly shot through her as she was hit by the creatures's tentacle as suddenly the hollow blasted more seeds at her. One about to hit her in the chest.

"TATSUKI!" Orihime screamed with utter fear. No...No...NO! It was Tatsuki who always made me happy after my brother's death. My hair got cut by the third years in middle school. It was Tatsuki who beat them up for me and then yelled at me for backing down. I couldn't tell my brother. I said I decided to change it to avoid his questions. I could grow my hair out once again because of her. You protected me from my own despair and those around me. Struggling against the hands on her that were trying to tear her clothes off. Orihime finally hand her hands free and pushed her feet to move faster to take that seed inside of herself. However, this time, I want to protect you! So you won't cry either. "TATSUKI!" she cried out.

Suddenly an orange shield surrounded the two girls as at the same time a blast hit the hollow in its chat causing it harm. With her hands outstretched Orihime stood in front of Tatsuki. "Tatsuki told you," she began as a fire entered her eyes, her position was to act as a shield for her friend. "you mistook your victims here." She glared at the monster, hatred unlike anything else filled her for the creature before her. "I will not forgive those who hurt Tatsuki!" Unknown to her Tatsuki could see something she was still unaware of. Tiny beings were floating around Orihime's body. Two were holding the bright orange shield as the others floated near her head, as if waiting for orders from the young girl. Tatsuki gave a sudden grin at this. Perhaps, just perhaps, they had a chance of winning this battle after all.

M-Angel: I've been writing three days on this chapter. Finally Tatsuki and Orihime's powers have appeared. Did everyone like the lightning speed I gave Tatsuki? That's only the beginning of her powers. She will gain two daggers later, but speed right now is her power along with strength. Also I have a new poll up that deals with the future. It will be implemented in a few weeks.