I claim no rights, or anything associated with the Bleach series and/or its characters. As they are owned by Tite Kubo. This story is completely my own idea as it will be an IchiHime love story. Some of the characters maybe a bit OC so please don't hate. Please leave me your comments and reviews telling me what you think. Thanks!

Key Guide: "regular speech", 'thinking to one's self', *mental speech*, (author notes/translations), bold - hollows/demons speaking, italics - attacks

Nine: finding soul mates

Ichigo discovered that the remaining moon people had a soul mate who happened to be the rebirthed souls of the sun people. Their princess who just happened to be Ichigo's mate, Orihime Inoue had used her powers to save her people when the hollow's attacked her and her people. Now their souls reside on earth with no recollection of their past lives. Ichigo had to bring Toshiro up to the moon to have him find out information he could about the sun princess seeing how the hollows attacked her twice calling Orihime the sun princess. So far they had confirmed some of the moon people's mates. Orihime Inoue was Ichigo Kurosaki's mate, Toshiro Hitsuguya was Tier Harribel's mate, Nnoritora Gilga was Nelliel TuOdelschwanck's mate, and Retsu Unohana was Szayelaporro Granz's mate. That only left to find Coyote Starrk's, Ulquiorra Schiffer, and Grimmjow Jaegerjaques mate. Toshiro came up with a proposal that all of the sun people worked in or around the palace close to Orhime as they had some kind of close interaction with the princess. Ichigo decided to spend the evening at Orihime's palace trying to find the rest of the sun people. Ichigo had this gut feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

*I don't like this feeling of this king.* Shiro stated.

*I know Shiro. I have a feeling that I will be bound to reveal myself to the earth realm.* Ichigo replied. While teaching Orihime and Toshiro how to use their newfound powers, Ichigo and Tier taught them how to communicate telepathically. This way if they are ever in trouble, they could call for help mentally. Besides it was easier for Ichigo to sneak around without being noticed and connect to Orihime mentally to find out more information about that person. Then Ichigo would contact the remaining people to find out who was their mate.

Ichigo walked with Orihime as the moon prince stated that she needed to learn to defend herself. Granted that her barrier gave her protection but, it could only remain intact for so long as stronger hollow's would be able to break through the barrier. So Orihime brought Ichigo over to the martial arts studio known as the Defense Core. Ichigo could feel and sense three more of the sun people in the Defense Core's room.

*They are all here gathered within this room.* Ichigo told his people as he was going to find out which three. Ichigo looked at Orihime nodding his head slightly indicating that the people he was looking for was inside. Ichigo and Orihime entered the room to find three women dressed in work out clothing. One wore a black suit as she had long purple hair that was tied up into a ponytail. She had dark colored skin similar to Tier and golden hazel cat-like eyes.

*Mine...* Grimmjow growled through the mental path. The other was a female with a bright lime green bob style hair and light brown eyes. She wore a white suit with an orange scarf around her neck. Ichigo could feel and sense Ulquiorra take an interest in the woman. The last wore a white two piece suit as she had long light pale green hair. She had an eye patch covering one of her eyes exposing a single pale lavender eye. Ichigo could hear Coyote whistle among the mental path.

"Princess Orihime welcome to the Defense Core. How can we help you?" asked the dark skinned woman.

"Well... I would like to learn some defense moves. Ichigo had pointed out that I shouldn't always rely on my guards to help me out." replied Orihime.

"Well then you came to the right place. Mashiro could you get Orihime fitted into one of the training outfits?" The women wearing the orange scarf saluted as she took Orihime by the hand. "I have to say that you must have some impact on the princess for her to finally take up defense Mr..."

"Ichigo Kurosaki. And you are?"

"Yoruichi Shihon. That is Lilynette Gingerbuck (older form) as Mashiro Kuna took Orihime to get fitted in one of our training uniforms. You look like a fighter yourself Mr. Kurosaki. Would you like to spar with me and my girls?" asked Yoruichi. A smirk crossed Ichigo's face knowing that his three warriors at home would be interested to see what they are capable of.

"The honor would be mine miss Shihon" Ichigo replied as Orihime and Mashiro returned. Orihime was wearing a garment that looked similar to his own. This brought a questioning look to Ichigo's face.

"I know full well who and what you truly are moon king." replied Yoruichi.

"How?" Ichigo asked. The older woman didn't answer as the whole castle shook. The screams of hollows echoed through the air.

Ichigo didn't think twice as he was about ready to fun out towards the sounds of the screams but he could feel and sense the hollows coming towards him.

"Everyone get back!" he yelled out summoning his zanpakuto as the doors to the Defense Core exploded. The two hollows that Ichigo faced earlier entered the room as they weren't alone. This time they had a bug like hollow with them (Kaname Tosen full hollow form) and a skeleton dressed like a king (Baraggan Louisenbairn's released form) standing before him.

"Greetings moon king. My name is Baraggan Louisenbairn. I have come for those women behind you. So please kindly hand them over." Ichigo stood in the front of the four women with his sword before him. Ichigo knew that he couldn't allow any harm to come to the women that were behind him.

"Sorry... I can't do that. You beings don't realize how long we have waited to find our lifemates. We are not about to loose them now." snarled Ichigo as he told Orihime mentally to raise up her protective barrier.

"Then that makes us your enemy. Kill him!" Baraggan snapped at the other three.

"Getsuga Tensho (moon fang heaven piercer)!" snapped out Ichigo as he swung his zanpakuto unleashing a blast of dark energy which sent the four hollows out of the castle. Ichigo could see Nnoritora and some of the other guards rushing onto the scene as they stood before their princess. Ichigo's true demonic form started rippling at the surface as he stared down the four hollows.

"Kill the humans!" yelled out Baraggan as he opened up a portal calling for more hollows. Ichigo moved quickly summoning up an energy form of his zanpakuto in his free hand.

"Getsuga Jujisho (moon fang cross shaped piercer)!"

"Cero Oscuras (dark bullet)!"

"Gran Ray Cero!"

"Cero Metralleta (submachine gun zero)!" snapped out three male voices. Ichigo could see Coyote, Ulquiorra, and Grimmjow whom are all in their demonic forms appear right next to him. Coyote's demonic form looked like he was wearing a wolves pelt as a hood. From his elbows down was that of a wolves claws. As well from the hips down was the lower body of a wolf as he stood on two legs like a werewolf. Most of his skin was either a dark grey or snow white. Blood red paint like what Indian's wear covered his eyes as his eyes looked like a wolves. In Coyote's hands he held what looked to be guns as that was the true form of his zanpakuto. Grimm's became sharp blades on his elbows and claws while Ulquiorra's became a glowing lance.

"Starkk... Protect the humans!" snarled Ichigo as his demonic form was clearly visible.

"Yes sir!" replied Starkk as he used his powers to create a pack of ghostly looking wolves that stood before all of the humans.

Ichigo, Ulquiorra, and Grimmjow moved so quickly that they became a blur. Hollows fell quickly to the three moon warriors. Baraggan let out a sharp curse seeing the hollows evaporate into dust. He knew that the moon people would be a problem.

"Gran Fisher and Acid Wire deal with his allies. Leave the moon prince to Kaname and me." replied Baraggan as he nodded towards the bug hollow.

"Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi (bell bug closing ceremony: field cricket)!" snarled out Kaname as a black dome formed around Ichigo. Suddenly the black dome popped releasing Ichigo as he moved quickly killing off the bug hollow. Baraggan looked to see that both Acid Wire and Gran Fisher had also been killed off. Baraggan found himself face to face with a rather angry and pissed off Ichigo.

"Kuroi Getsuga (black moon fang)!" snarled Ichigo as he cut down Baraggan with black energy.

"Lord Aizen... Lord Ginjo..." moaned out Baraggan before his body crumbled into dust.

Next Chapter….

Explanations