I am back and with the ninth chapter. I apologize for the delay again. I will do my best to make it a priority to post as frequently as possible. I try to keep it once a week still. I hope you enjoy the story so far. Again, I will try posting this fanfiction once a week. Please do not impose any negative comments, harsh criticism or thoughts. Constructive, positive and thoughtful criticisms are accepted.

Thank you and enjoy!

Icestar123

Chapter 9

Ichigo landed on the same building as when he found Yuugi struggling to save his friends from a possible kidnapping. Renji landed next to him shortly after, his hand rested on his zanpakuto. Both of them were tense with caution, their eyes scanned carefully in the surrounding area. He knew he had put on a big risk to leave the rest of his friends to fight whatever threat that might come. However, Ichigo knew that he would have to check things out. Otherwise, they might not able to find a way to stop the evil in this world.

"I sensed nothing. Come on, we should move quickly." Ichigo urged quietly while his eyes still scanned.

"Something isn't right. It's a bit more quieter than when we last came here." Renji warned."We need to be more cautious."

"I know but we can't stay here that long." Ichigo countered."We need to be cautious and move quickly." Renji seemed to understand. With that caution in thought, Ichigo started to walk towards the door of the warehouse carefully, his hand now rested on his zanpakuto. He could feel Zangetsu pulsate through his body with protection. He knew he had his support.

Inside, the warehouse was dark with low visibility. Ichigo tried to adjust his eyes to see more inside the darkness. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite adjusting that quickly. Glancing momentary with Renji, he looked back forward to scan the room even further. Nothing still.

"Should we get a light?" Ichigo murmured, the pressure of the atmosphere giving him discomfort.

"Yeah. Hold on." Renji replied in the same quiet tone. Ichigo could hear his footsteps fading away quietly. Moments later, the lights flicked on with a loud sound. The entire warehouse lit up, nearly blinding the Substitute Soul Reaper. Narrowing his eyes, Ichigo blinked when he saw the inside.

There were different kinds of tools scattered on the floor. It had reminisces of some strange activity occurred just not too long ago. A bad feeling hung in Ichigo's gut. Renji joined him, just as surprised as him.

"Is this what happened with Yuugi and his friends? Those bastards really are terrible." Renji retorted with disgust.

"You don't say." Ichigo grunted with disturbance."We should try and see what else we find here. See if we can find more clues that might give us a lead."

"Be careful. I don't have a good feeling about this." Renji warned. Ichigo just nodded, agreeing to his bad feeling also. With caution, he started to walk around the warehouse cautiously. Reminisces of chains, slightly blood stains and bits of flesh laid around nearby the chains. The ones that were 'clean' were where Joey, Tea, and Tristian were held. Did they use some kind of magic to hide these chains that bind his friends?

Ichigo could only shudder in further disturbance. Whatever little disturbance that rippled through this place could only get more worse. As he approached a closed and slightly more bloodied door, Ichigo carefully opened the door only to jump back abruptly and nearly stumbled on his footing.

"Shit who would do this?" Renji breathed in his shock and horror.

Before their eyes, body parts of the children they seen missing on the news were scattered all inside the small room. And there were more than just the children. Body parts of adults also were in the mix of the pile. The smelling of rotten flesh flowed everywhere in the warehouse. Ichigo nearly wanted to gag from the smell and grotesque scene before him. Renji on the other hand, was harden in quiet anger.

"Why isn't anyone seeing this?" Ichigo asked. Suddenly, he wanted to get away from the grotesque scene. It made Ichigo shiver and worry about the danger of Domino City.

"We need to let Yuugi and his friends know." Renji murmured."This is going too far already."

"I don't think they are ready to see something so disturbing." Ichigo expressed with concern.

"Well they need to know about this, even if we are not going to show it!" Renji protested loudly. Ichigo could only sigh.

"Well, they also need to report this to the police also. The whole Domino City is looking for the missing victims. They probably are not just in Domino City also." Ichigo pointed out flatly. The images of the chopped body parts will bring disturbance into his mind until he was old. It would make him restless for as long as he would probably remember.

"Yeah. Let's just get going." Renji murmured with a shudder. It looked like Renji was also getting terrible scarring images as well. Ichigo knew how terrible it is so rather quickly, they left the warehouse, shunpoing their way back to the school.

Halfway there, they both felt something tug hard in their soul, like it was a invisible connection weakening. Ichigo's eyes widen and Renji's eyes also widen at the same time. Pausing, he glanced momentary at Renji.

"Come on, we gotta hurry." Renji urged suddenly, worry in his voice. Ichigo nodded.

"Yeah, let's go." He agreed. They soon started to pick up their pace faster, heading faster back to school. By the time they got back, they paused when they witnessed a battle.

Byakuya and a hooded figure were fighting each other vigorously. Blood seeped down from the arm of the Captain as he struggled. Senbonzakura was already released in shikai form, swirling around to last at the enemy. The hooded figure was slashed pretty terribly, exposing pale white skin but the figure seemed unfazed by the attacks. Renji gritted his teeth and looked ready to summon his own zanpakuto. Ichigo placed a hand on Renji instead.

"Not yet." Ichigo warned.

"But Captain Kuchiki is in danger!" Renji protested. The protection of him as a Lieutenant was obvious. He admired his pride but he also cannot risk his friend to cause any further danger in this situation.

"I know but we cannot yet. I want to fight too, just as much as you would, but it seems like we need to find an opening to do so." Ichigo continued, watching the battle. Senbonzakura had struck another blow hard at the hooded figure, shredding a bit of the hood and revealing parts of the head. It was pale white skin, indicating that he may be bald on the head. Ichigo watched in horror as he realized that the figure had no blood shed on him. Why is that?

Renji, who was itching to battle him, gritted his teeth at the scene. Ichigo frowned himself, feeling worried. How are they going to defeat him?

Ichigo then noticed that there was one weakness towards the hooded figure. Ichigo could almost smirk. Perhaps, perhaps he could have a chance to strike at him. It was a chance he had to take. Glancing at Renji, he spoke.

"Renji, I have an idea." He prompted.

"Yeah? What is it?" Renji asked, looking curious.

"Summon Zabimaru and aim straight for the guy's head when there is a chance. If he deflects, retract Zabimaru so it would hit his side." Ichigo told Renji his idea.

"You know that will not work right? The guy looks like he cannot be fooled." Renji pointed out blankly.

"But it's a risk I'm willing to take too." Ichigo argued."I think I saw something and I have to try it out." Renji looked like he was observing him before he sighed.

"Alright but don't say I didn't warn ya." Renji grunted before returning to the battle. Byakuya at this point was starting to slow down his movements. It was Renji's chance. Seeming like he knew his cue, Renji unsheathed his sword and shouted,"Howl, Zabimaru!"

The sword changed to its shikai form and extended out immediately towards the hooded figure. For a moment, the world stilled like the whole universe hung in the balance. Then, the blade crashed down at the hooded figure, causing dust to cover the strike point. Ichigo was nervous. Did his theory work? When the dust cleared, the hooded figure had held the sword on his hand of Renji's and smirked.

"Welcome, Ichigo Kurosaki. At last you have appeared. I have been waiting."

To be continued...