Chapter 11

The cloaked man laughed. "I'm glad that a few people remembered me. I could not believe that another nobody has appeared here."

"What are you doing here?" asked Roxas.

"Well, I am here on behalf of Lexaus. He is in Hell right now, so I thought that you should get the departing gift."

Roxas gritted his teeth. "So is that it?! You summoned monsters here to avenge a person?"

"Well, I do sound confusing. You see, there is a dimension of Hell that exists. It will take time, but believe me, our organization will break through it and rise the living dead. You have no idea how much of a pain you are to us, Roxas. You set back our path by the full fifty yards, and we can't ever get a touchdown in the near future. All because of you and your friends."

"Well, how did you get out of Hell? Sora-"

"He defeated me in my castle, but he didn't truly kill me. I kept my soul away from Sora, so even though he overpowered me, I was still alive. He sealed the door, and it took time to unlock the seal."

"Who did it?" asked Renji. "What keyblade wielder was insane enough to let you out?"

"I'll let you find out the answer. Assuming, of course, that you are going to live."

He pointed his finger at them. A hurricane of roses rose to their direction.

Ichigo and Rukia were running to Marluxia. Another cloaked figure showed up, and to their dismal, it was another villain.

"I can't let either of you go on," said a figure that looked like Gin.

"How are you alive?" asked Ichigo.

"I am a nobody. Every shinigami except you and your father has a nobody and a heartless. I hope that I don't have to explain myself. I have regained my heart and my power. My reasons will stay with me."

"Gin" hit his Zanpaktou near Ichigo. Both warriors jumped up, with Ichigo able to hit him downwards. Rukia hit "Gin" with ice, binding him. He laughed, ripping the ice from him.

"I am Xing, warrior of the snake!" His sword speed increased, hitting his opponents in two sword strokes. Ichigo jumped back, keeping his blade in defense. This isn't Gin, but the power is his! Ichigo realized.

"I hope that you can offer more than that stare, Ichigo!"

"Rikujokoro!"

Rukia trapped Xing in the yellow beams. "Damn this!"

Ichigo moved for the kill, stabbing Xing in his chest.

Xing looked relieved. "Thank you," he said, disappearing.

"Why was he thankful?" wondered Ichigo. "He was menacing enough. He wanted us dead-but he stopped trying."

"He wanted to see how strong you grew," replied Rukia. "These nobodies must have retained the memories of the original self if that person dies in their spiritual form."

"Well, we have to get to Roxas and Renji! Let's-STAY DOWN!"

Ichigo hugged Rukia and moved from the area as it exploded. "Exploding heartless!" They ran towards the other battle, and Ichigo let go of Rukia a few minutes later.

"What were you thinking?!" yelled the blushing Rukia. "I was fine! I could have-"

"Look, I didn't want my friend to blow up!" Ichigo was blushing now, but it disappeared as he overheard the laughter of Marluxia. "Forget it. I'm sorry, but can we go?"

They arrived at the battlefield, the only word that can describe the situation. Seifer and his friends were knocked out, and Renji, along with a look-alike, is fighting against petal-like monsters. Marluxia was sword-fighting Roxas, and Ichigo realized that Marluxia has the black aura that was noticeable around Bastion and Lexaus.

"Getsuga Tensho!"

Ichigo hit Marluxia in the face with the force of the attack. He doubled up, cradling his face. "You asshole. You ruined my hair and my face! You have-"

"Fira!" Ichigo used it to silence Marluxia. High-class nobodies appeared, and Rukia attacked them to make sure that they will not interfere with the fight. Marluxia attacked with his scythe first, but Roxas blocked the combo, using the blade to his advantage, and tipping Marluxia back. Ichigo slashed him, sending him to fly to a ice cream shop. Funnily enough, Marluxia glared at his opponents, ice cream in his mouth.

"Time to get serious, then." He whistled, and a white, gigantic nobody with scythes like Marluxia appeared. "It is time to destroy these punks! Suffer!"

Marluxia sent a bolt of energy to crash down on them, but the warriors disappeared. Ichigo appeared behind Marluxia, hitting his back three times. Roxas disabled the scythe hands, leaving it to punch against them. Marluxia screamed as he attacked the duo, and they kept dodging. Eventually, he cornered them near the Seifer gang. "I will slaughter you cretins!"

Roxas took out his second keyblade, and slashed apart the creature. Marluxia stumbled in fear of Roxas. "I'll come back! I will get my revenge!"

A portal opened up, and the nobodies went into it. "That takes care of them," said Ichigo. "I need to eat now. Anyone know a good place to eat?"

"Everyone is tired," admitted a conscious Seifer. "Why not Twilight's Crazy Noodles? Meal's on the house tonight!"

The warriors went to eat out. Ichigo noticed a girl who was a bit younger than him go up to Roxas. "You're back!"

He blushed at that, which got Ichigo grinning. "I'm Olette," she said. "I was just wondering about why you guys are back."

Ichigo explained the situation. "You have this planet safe?" asked Olette.

"For now. I do not know what is going to happen in the future, but we are safe."

"Why was Marluxia here?" asked Roxas. "He would never appear here like that. He does that to understand his opponents, but he is no scientist like Vexen. Maybe Vexen is behind the incident, but if he is doing this, then why would he be prepared to use Marluxia?"

"No clue," said the mystified Ichigo. "All I know is that half the nobodies that are lurking here have captain-like powers and have their own opinions of life. I don't get why Renji and his counterpart are drinking with Seifer like they were buddies or something." A clatter of glasses was heard. They started to pour beer all over the place, annoying Ichigo and Rukia.

"I wish that I bought my I-Pod," said Rukia. "I had good songs there-"

"Wait, let me guess...they mention bunnies and stuffed animals."

"Stop mocking me!" To the shock of Ichigo and the others, she started to cry, and burrowed her head in Ichigo's chest. Ichigo looked confused, while Renji and his new friend glared at him.

"I'm going outside," Ichigo said. Roxas and Olette nodded at him while he and Rukia went outside. "Sorry, Rukia. Are you alright?"

She sniffed, looking shameful. "I'm sorry, but...my brother used to look down at me for that. Then, he's gone, and I fear that he's dead. I don't want my friends to die. Ever..."

Ichigo had the feeling that this was related to the discovery of the Abyss, but he knew that she was doing something that any sibling would do if they had not seen the sibling in a long time. "Look, Rukia, we will find him. I think that he is still out there, looking for you-"

"WOOF!"

A dog came to Ichigo's lap. "Whoa!" He fell to the ground, while the dog licked his face.

"Awww," said Rukia, "It's a puppy. Can I keep him?"

"It's Pluto!" said Ichigo. "How did the poor dog get here?"

"PLUTO! Wait for me!"

A mouse half the size of Ichigo ran towards them. "King Mickey?" asked Ichigo.

"Oh, you're Ichigo and Rukia! Nice to meet you all! Where's Sora and Riku?"

"They are in the ship," said Ichigo. "I-" Suddenly, he widened his eyes. "What is that?!"

Behind Mickey, there was a large heartless that appeared out of thin air. It resembled a titan, only with no mouth and more muscles. "A cousin to the Slaughter heartless," answered King Mickey. "We need to stop it!"

It started to stumble, and suddenly extended its arms out. Just before it touched the group, though, a blaze of petals hit the arm. "Don't you dare touch my sister."

The real Byakuya Kuchiki stepped forward.