Chapter 2

"ICHIGO!"

Keigo bumped into Ichigo, hitting him towards the ground. "Watch it Keigo!" yelled Ichigo. "You nearly killed me!"

"Oh c'mon. Everyone knows that you can't die easily. I mean, remember what happened the last time you said that?"

Ichigo still remembered the time when he, a substitute shinigami, was fighting Juhas Bach. The power was immense, and he was certain that he would die, but Ichigo still was able to beat him and convince both him and the Quinceys to be at peace.

"You know that the story became better. Everyone lived happily ever after, some of the dead were alive, and you and Ishida weren't enemies anymore-"

"So I should be happy that you jabbed me to the ground with your annoying arms!?"

Mizuiro was watching this with content. "You guys are gay for each other," he said. "For you, Ichigo, there's the rumor between you and Orihime, and Keigo-what you did in that party was amusing."

"Where did you come from!?" cried Keigo. Ichigo watched in amusement as his satirical friend talked about the rumors of him. Mizuiro was more cool than both of them, yet he still is one of Ichigo's more trustful friends.

"I was wondering if anyone bought a PS4. I know that Ichigo has one, and I was wondering if anyone could play Battlefield 4 with me."

"Sure," replied Ichigo. "I'll ask Orihime, Tatsuki, and Chizuru to come play with me, if that is okay with you."

"Well well well, look who is growing up..."

"What about me, Ichigo?!" whined Keigo.

"Okay, you too-"

"And us, too."

Ichigo saw Chad and Ishida appear in front of him. "Look, guys, I know that my siblings and my dad are partying at Urahara's shop, but I don't know if this is a good idea..."

"Ichigo," Ishida said, "Stop being a pussy. You are fine the way you are, and having one party will not be bad. Mizuiro will come too, okay?"

Ichigo sighed, realizing the mess that he has gotten himself into. "Fine, I will allow that..."

"Besides, its Friday! We have no homework, no study, no hollow-slaying duties-nothing! Stop crying and start growing up!"

Five hours later, at Ichigo's house, Ichigo started to regret his decision. He felt guilty until his father called him.

"Yo Ichigo! I set up the stuff for your little party! I got the trojaaaans, the beeer, and the CANDY! HAVE FUN, HAHAHAHA-"

Ichigo hanged up, frustrated that his dad was drunk and knew that he was having a party.

"Hay, Ichigo!" said Orihime. Unfortunately, she scared Ichigo, who did not realize that she was there.

"Whoa, Orihime! Where did you-"

"I came from the window!"

"Oh...ok. So, why didn't you bring anyone else with you?"

"I wanted to see you...alone, Ichi-kun."

Ichigo blushed, feeling relieved. Orihime reached for his arm, and held it firmly. "Can you close the door?"

He closed it, and both felt nervous of each other. Orihime kissed Ichigo, putting herself on the bed. Eventually, Ichigo and Orihime closed the window so their love-making sounds were not heard.

Two hours later, everyone else came. They did not question why Orihime was with Ichigo earlier than they were. Ichigo brought out edible, healthier snacks, and threw the beer and most of the trojans into a plastic bag. He was enjoying himself, especially since he feels more relaxed.

He knows that he will regret the feeling soon.

Suddenly, there was a loud screech. It sounded like a fire drill, but there was the sound of crashing buildings mixing with the noise.

"What's going on!?" shouted Ishida. Everyone was panicking but Ichigo. "Guys, stay calm-"

A explosion boomed near them. Ichigo, realizing the calamity that could have happened, ushered everyone to his secret "basement". "This room will transport you to Uraharas. You need to stay with him." Together, with Orhime, Kon, Ishida, and Chad, Ichigo left to check on the situation above.

It was not a hollow. A giant, humanoid creature was slashing at buildings, blowing up random intersections with fireballs. It occurred to the group that no one knew what that was.

"Attack from behind!" yelled Ishida. "We need to stop this NOW!"

Ichigo was already behind the big monster. He hit it on its head, but only shadow wisps appeared as he made contact with it. It was being damaged, but there was no difference that was made in its work. It kept attacking until Chad hit it once more.

When Chad made contact with the creature, it dissolved into thin air. A heart floated upwards into the sky. The group met at the center of the destroyed buildings. "Does anyone know what we have faced?" asked Ishida, scared of what he saw. Usually, he would not, since the creature was not tough to beat, but it did not die from Ichigo's array of attacks.

"Have anyone of you played Kingdom Hearts?" asked Ichigo.

"Oh, I get it...a heartless-what the serious f-" shouted Ishida.

"Well, you saw the heart fly up," interrupted Orihime. "It took a few hits to get it down. Also...look around."

Ichigo saw hearts around him. Not the actual shape, but the sign that defines heart. This reminded him of the contradiction between hollows and the scenario in Kingdom Hearts. In one case, the soul flew upwards and became corrupted, while the darkness in the heart created the heartless.

"Why here? How do they exist?"

"..."

A figure appeared in front of the gang. It was covered in black, but as it looked at Ichigo, he could make out red eyes and a startling grin.

"Darkness defines the universe." The voice was deep, full of personal satisfaction. "What starts in darkness ends in darkness. This is the fundamental truth behind the power of life. Yet, light nourishes and cares for the being of others. Both creates hatred, sadness, destruction. The many suffer from those, while the few reap the benefits of this forces."

"Look, pal," interrupted Ichigo, "I get that you are just saying generic antagonist stuff, but why are you copying quotes from Kingdom Hearts?"

"So sad to hear this from a soul reaper. Don't you understand? You should know that other dimensions exist, and yet you still can't comprehend how you know that the creature you fought was a heartless." The mysterious figure pulled a blade from out of thin air.

"A KEYBLADE?!" cried Ishida.

"Oh yes. This weapon is crucial for my organization. Unfortunately for all of you, this universe is under my control. You do not stand a chance against this weapon, much less than me."

He raised his hand. A creature, shrouded in darkness, stepped out of nowhere. It looked like a combination of a hollow and a heartless. "The end is here. Soul Society is imprisoned, Quinceys locked up, and this town shall disappear from all of creation!"

"No way that you are going to win." Ichigo revealed both his blades. "Bankai!"

Nothing happened, and everyone looked in shock. "What!? I said, Bankai-"

"It won't work here. Your spiritual pressure is falling fast. We took the precaution of weakening you, although it was not so necessary. You need more power to face me, but that will never happen. Prepare to face the void of emptiness!"

Ichigo collapsed, drained of energy and life. Orihime grabbed him, urging him to get up.

"I got an idea!" yelled Ishida. He opened up a random portal. "JUMP! NOW!"

All four people jumped out of the universe. The mysterious figure stood in shock, and cursed the resourcefulness of Ishida Uryuu. "Curse those bastards!"

Meanwhile, the group was falling out of the portal's opening. Ishida did not set up a location, but somehow, there was another opening. By some unknown force, they have ended up crashing near an ocean. Ishida found himself on a beach, covered in water and sand.

"Ichigo! Oh no!" remembered Ishida. He checked on Chad and Orihime, who were looking over Ichigo's health.

"He needs medical attention, now!" said Orihime. Suddenly, three people were running to him. One of them, a girl, ran towards the fallen Ichigo.

"Guys, we need to carry him to safety!" cried the girl. Ishida thought that they looked similar to him, that he had seen them before.

"Aaah...sorry.." cried the weak Ichigo.

"Don't be," answered the relieved Orihime. "We need to take you to someplace with a bed. Does anyone know where to find a place?"

"We can use my guest bed," said the girl. "Let's go now!"

"Wait," interjected Ishida, "Who are you people?"

There was silence until a boy with spiky brown hair stepped up. He had a black t-shirt on him, and a determined look on his face.

"My name is Sora. What about yours?"