Hehehey! I'm back! Hope you guys didn't wait too long for this one. Thanks a lot to the three people that reviewed. Your reviews were balms to my soul. I really hope you guys wills tick around for the future chapters. Speaking of which, it's about time I started! Rangiku! Disclaimer please!

Rangiku: Do I have to?

YES!

Rangiku: Ok… BladeOfThePoet does not own Bleach, one of the greatest Animes ever, nor does he own Legend of Zelda, one of the two greatest games in existence (along with Metroid)

Sealed Grounds

After some awkward introductions (awkward because of Link's previous encounter with Rangiku), the Orange haired Shinigami popped the question.

"Ok, so where the hell are we? Doesn't look like Karakura, Seiretei, and it is most definitely NOT Hueco Mundo from what I've seen." Link simply stared at the Shinigami.

"Sorry, but what is a Karakura? Or a Seiretei? Or even a Hueco Mundo, for that matter?" The Substitute was about to answer the young Hero, when his Captain companion intruded.

"KUROSAKI! Don't you dare divulge that information to one of the living!" Ichigo simply gave him a 'Shut up' hand gesture and explained each of those terms, plus explaining what Shinigami are and what they do, much to Toushiro's chagrin. "Why do I even bother… I don't think even Hyorinmaru could convince you to do anything…"

'I could always try' Hitsugaya heard his Zanpakuto say, before a sphere of light materialized to his side. To say he was shocked was an understatement, when his lifelong companion appeared in his Human form. "It seems like we Zanpakuto can materialize with no problem in this world." Following his lead, Haineko and Zangetsu decided to appear.

"Truly interesting…" Zangetsu muttered as he brushed his fingers across a few leaves that were dancing in the wind. "This world has enough Spiritual Energy in the air to allow us free roam…"

"Oh, so that means I get to spend some time with Hyorinmaru, right Darling?" Haineko said flirtatiously to the Ice Ring zanpakuto. In response, the normally ice cold dragon man blushed and made a sound that was like a mixture of a 'Hn' and a growl.

"Ok, ok, Zanpakutos and other things apart, could you please tell us where we are?" Ichigo asked once more, a hint of exasperation in his voice. Link chuckled lightly.

"Well, I'd love to but… all I know for sure of this place is that it's beneath my homeplace, and I call it the Surface. Fi?" Link turned to his blue friend. The spirit's face contorted in concentration.

"Master, I'm afraid I have lost the memory of the Surface's true name. It must've been lost after all those years." Had Link not known better, he could've sworn he saw a look of sadness in her face.

"It's ok, Fi." Link told her comfortingly. "Anyone is bound to forget a thing or two after so many years." Ichigo then chimed in.

"Yeah, look at Rangiku here. She always forgets to stop drinking Sake before getting drunk." Rangiku whined, and was about to protest, when every Soul Eater and Zanpakuto, even her own, gave her a look that stopped her. "See? Even your own Zanpakuto agrees."

"Even I do!" The annoying voice of Hichigo echoed through Ichigo's mind. "Hey, you think I too can materialize?"

"Don't even try! The last thing I want is this world to suffer you!" Ichigo then thought of a few depressing memories to make it rain on the Hollow, before replacing them with several happy memories (Most of which included a certain Midget Shinigami). "Now, what should we do?"

"I recommend we enter this temple. I calculate a 95% chance that you will find the answers you need inside." Fi answered.

"Well, you heard her. Let's get in!" The hero said, a little overenthusiastically, and walked over to the stone doors, happy to find the seal on it gone. The spirits all went back to their respective swords, and their owners then followed the hero. The inside of the Temple showed it was pretty old… and in a state of absolute ruin. The sun was pouring in from a couple of windows, one which was broken and had plants growing in through it.

"Well, this place is all messed up." Ichigo deadpanned.

"Be more respectful, Kurosaki. I have a feeling this place is important." Hitsugaya reprimanded Ichigo, despite knowing how apathetic the Substitute could be sometimes to that sort of thing. The memory of the Soukyoku being destroyed was still freshly imprinted in his mind.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say… maybe that lady over there can help us." Ichigo said, pointing forward.

"*Sigh* Kurosaki, we're in an abandoned temple in a place that, according to Link, no one has ever been to in over a thousand years. Why would there be anyo… what the…" The young captain stopped himself when he saw a frail old woman sitting in front of a ruined door in the temple. She had really long hair that was braided all the way, and it ended in a small wheel of hair. "I can not believe this…"

"Um, hello? Miss? Could you help us?" No answer at first to after Link spoke. "A-are you still… still breathing?" Link asked tentatively, before turning to the Shinigami. After a few seconds, Ichigo spoke.

"Don't worry, she's still alive… though I think she's asleep…" Ichigo was about to poke the woman with Zangetsu, when the spirit appeared and stopped him.

"Ichigo, don't you dare. I'll do it." The Zanpakuto approached and gently rocked the woman awake.

"Hmm? Oh, forgive me, my age seems to be catching up with me." The old woman said with a tired voice. She regarded the group with interest, though her gaze lingered longer on Link and Ichigo. "Ahhh… the Heroes of the Skies and Souls have reunited… along with the wielders of the Ash Cat and the Ice Ring." The lead members of the 10th division were shocked yet another time this day when the old woman mentioned them. "But it seems like the protector and his assistant aren't here…"

'Protector? Who the hell in our world would match that description? I mean, I'm here…" Ichigo thought to himself, feeling confused. For some reason that he couldn't quite understand his mind jumped to a certain Shinigami, but he decided to ignore it, since the mere notion of THAT Reaper as a protector. "Ok, listen lady, I don't know why I'm being called the Hero of souls, but I just want to know one thing: Where. Is. Rukia." His voice had a mixture of anger, worry, and overall anxiety.

"Yeah… and on that matter, where's Zelda?" Link asked too, his voice just as full of worry but with none of the anger.

"Ah, I see you're worried about them…" Ichigo resigned to glare weakly at her, knowing she was telling the truth. "The girl you're looking for, Hero of the Skies, went over to the Temple in the woods, through that door." She pointed a bony hand to one of the doors in the temple. "But I'm afraid I do not know where this 'Rukia' is, young man." Ichigo's eyes flashed into an ominous black and gold for a second, his growing despair allowing the Hollow within him to start gaining control, but he was able to suppress it. "Ah, yes, I see that you carry a heavy burden with you… aside from your odd hair coloration." A tick mark appeared on the Carrot head's forehead as his rage began to reach the 'beat-someone-up' level, and this Link fella was looking like an awfully good target. He may be angry, but he wouldn't punch an old person… unless it was his father. Then he had no remorse about doing so.

"Ok, so we have no clue where the goddamn Midget is, but we do have an idea where Link's girlfriend is…" Ichigo deadpanned. The young hero began to nod excitedly, until he finally processed what the other guy said.

"she… he… wa… wha… what the… WHAAAA!?" The hero lost his balance all of a sudden and stumbled backwards, accidentally landing on Rangiku, further increasing his embarrassment. "S-s-she is NOT my girlfriend! I mean, it's not that I don't find her attractive, she is very attractive but… ACK! That did not come out the way I wanted" Even the old woman was shooting sly looks at the green clad hero. "Why do I have the feeling this will come back to haunt me…" Ichigo simply nodded, causing the poor hero to hang his head in despair.

"Alright now." The old woman spoke, trying to save the young man from further embarrassment. "Young heroes, you must both go to the temple in the woods. You will find the answers you seek there. That includes you, Hero of souls." Ichigo didn't protest this time, too worried about finding Rukia to consider doing so.

"Alright then." Toushiro said. "We should get going now…"

"Actually…" The old woman interrupted the captain. "You two cannot go with them. You must stay here. Hopefully, you will be able to stop the prisoner from escaping…" The last sentence was said in such a low voice, not even the Captain managed to hear it. Toushiro and Rangiku didn't protest, oddly. For some reason, they felt like if they disobeyed, terrible things would happen to them. "The heroes may only receive aid from the Cutting Moon and the creation of the Goddess, along with their… curses." Ichigo tensed when she mentioned the curse, hearing his inner hollow cackle like the madman… spirit… something he is.

"AHAHAHAHAHA! LOOK, KING! I was aknowledge by the old hag!"

"I do not appreciate being called a 'hag', you know." The woman said suddenly. Ichigo then proceeded to imitate the young Hero of the Skies: He lost his balance.

"Whoa! How the hell did you hear THAT!" He all but shrieked. "You heard my Inner Hollow's voice!" Now, even the members of the 10th division were shocked. Actually, the only ones not shocked were the old woman, having heard the hollow, and Link, who had no idea how Ichigo had one of those evil spirits he told him about within him. Noticing the bewildered look, Ichigo spoke to the hero. "Tell ya later, man. For now, let's get going. Toushiro, Matsumoto, I trust you'll be fine here?"

"We will, Kurosaki, just get going and find Kuchiki as fast as possible." The Substitute turned to the door, followed by the rookie Knight. "And Kurosaki?" They stopped right in front of the door when the captain called.

"Yeah?"

"IT'S HITSUGAYA-TAICHO!"

Faron Woods, after the meeting the Goron

After speaking with the rockman explorer, Ichigo and Link kept walking into the forest, Fi and Zangetsu getting temporarily degraded to cutting down skinny trees along the way, until the Dowsing capability of the Goddess sword got a strong response for Zelda's aura… coming from some sort of bird-like creature being harassed by Bokoblins. They were quickly taken care of with a simple slash from Zangetsu and a Skyward strike-Ending blow combo.

"Kwee?" The creature said as it rose from its rather poor camouflage. "They're gone?" and then it turned to see Ichigo and Link. "KUKWEEEEE! Now there's a green one and a black one! I didn't know they came in those colors!" The being then began to run away with its stubby little legs, somehow climbing to the top of a hill in seconds.

"How the fuck did that thing get up there so fast?" Ichigo asked.

"I have no idea… Fi?" The blue spirit popped out of her spot in the Goddess Sword to provide the information she had.

"Master. I received a particularly strong dowsing signal from that being. Obviously, we can't say it was Zelda." The spirit said.

"No shit…" Ichigo muttered, despite not knowing how the girl was supposed to look like. Link glared at Ichigo for his rude comment, before motioning at Fi to continue.

"Analysis results in a 100% match with a creature known as Kikwi, a gentle and intelligent woodland creature. Judging by the response I received, it is safe to assume that the creature had direct contact with Zelda. I recommend following the creature."

"Well then, let's get moving." Ichigo shunpo-ed in the direction the creature ran to. Link stared like an idiot at the spot Ichigo once stood.

'I have got to learn how to do that!' He said in his mind. His thoughts were stopped when an explosion went off in the deeper part of the forest. Not a second later, Ichigo had returned, carrying not just one, but 4 of the creatures.

"Found them. Also, I think I wrecked a part of the lake… and I have the feeling I'll be in deep shit later on…"

DONE! Thanks a lot for reading, I hope to see you guys again next time.

Next Update: Guardians of Altomare.