I want to apologize for this taking so long, but you know? There really isn't anything you can do when you have writer's block. I didn't want to spit out something crappy, so I took my time and tried to work through my problems. Thank you so much for your reviews and sticking with me! This chapter could have been longer, I had originally planned on finishing out the battle but meh, but I wanted to get SOMETHING out. I love you guys! Enjoy! xD

Having Faith

The explosion from the fountain caused an awful ringing in Chad's ears. The large man rubbed his temples and sides of his jaw to try and soothe the pounding in his head. As the pain lessened to a dull ache, he surveyed the courtyard for his friends. Thick dust hung in the air all around him, obscuring his vision and tickling his throat. This wasn't good. There was no way sight would be any better from above.

"The debris," Chad murmured. "Ishida can't get a clear shot."

"Hmm, yes," Urahara tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I had a hunch something like this would happen."

Chad glanced at his side, about to ask Jinta if he was alright, but the boy was already rushing forward out of their hiding place and into the courtyard.

"Jinta-kun!" Chad cried.

"Don't worry about him," Urahara said softly. "There's no talking him out of it. He'll follow Abarai through the gates of hell if he had to."

Chad relented and watched the red blaze of Jinta's ponytail disappear into the haze. He knew the boy would be alright, he was as capable as the rest of them.

"What should we do, Urahara-san?" Chad asked.

The blond pulled his hat farther down on his head and turned away from the younger man.

"If you would please go support Ishida, Sado-kun, I feel he is in danger. We may have just walked into a trap."

With that, the shopkeeper disappeared. Chad was left alone to sprint across the grass and scale the chain link fence of the apartment complex. He released his reiatsu and encased his arm in its spiritual armor. Using the protective covering, he dug his fingers into the cement of the apartment walls and started to climb. Loud explosions and shouting echoed through the night air as Chad made his way up the side of the building.

Nearing the top, he saw a glimpse of Hitsugaya fending off several huge hollow. The small Captain was easily dispatching one after the other without even the release of Hyorinmaru, but his attention was on something behind him and obstructed from Chad's view.

"Ishida!" Hitsugaya called out.

"Don't move, Hitsugaya!" Ishida's voice answered.

Chad pulled himself onto the roof and moved around the rooftop maintenance shed. He pressed his back against the cool concrete and peered around the corner. He saw what he knew had to be the last of the four hollows. He was emitting that foul reiatsu that burned Chad's skin and stung his eyes. He also stood with an arrow cocked and aimed directly at Ishida. The dark-haired man stood still by the railing, his bow at his side.

"Hello little Quincy…" the hollow said in a voice that wavered like Ichigo's did when the shinigami was wearing his mask. But unlike Ichigo and the Vizards, this voice was quiet, almost sickly sweet. It sent unpleasant shivers down Chad's spine and he shuddered.

Ishida's eyes flickered back and forth between the hollow's face and hands. His stance was lax, but his eyes flashed. The Quincy was ready to kill if given the slightest opportunity.

"This is a little close combat for you," Ishida said. "Why have you shown yourself?"

Chad couldn't see the hollow's face, but he heard the smile in the monster's voice.

"I wanted to get a good look at you…" he said softly. "Aizen-sama said he modeled me after a Quincy. My basic reiatsu structure and yours are almost identical. I was just curious to see what you looked like up close."

Ishida snorted. "Well you've had your look. Let's get on with this."

Chad watched the hollow's back as he cocked his head to the side. That strange feeling that came over him when these creatures were around started up again in his chest. The archer began to drain their spirit energy and Chad could feel it leaking through every pore in his body. He glanced at Ishida and saw the Quincy's stance falter. The electric hum surrounding his body was dissipating. Ishida's bright blue eyes were slowly widening and Chad could see his jaw clenching tightly from the pain of so much reiatsu being leeched so quickly.

Chad knew he had to do something fast. If he could distract the hollow for even a fraction of a second, he knew it would be enough for Ishida. He just hoped the Quincy hadn't lost too much energy to slow his reflexes.

The tall man moved from behind the maintenance door, gathering energy in his fist. He lunged at the hollow's back, never believing for a moment that his attack would work, but knowing he had to try. The archer felt him at the last second and whirled around to catch Chad's fist. Power erupted from where the two touched, lighting up the dark rooftop and sending another loud 'BOOM' echoing through the park.

Chad found himself blinking as the hollow stared at him in shock. Golden eyes surrounded by black gazed up at him with wonder and perhaps even awe.

"How are you doing this?" the soft underwater voice asked. "What are you?"

Chad wasn't immediately sure what the archer meant, but suddenly he realized he was touching this negatively charged hollow and nothing was happening. His reiatsu was solid, nothing was leaking or being drained. How was this possible? If they were touching, shouldn't his reiatsu be canceled out? Come to think of it, had he ever touched one of these bastards before?

"Sado-kun!" A familiar voice called out to him. "DON'T LET HIM GO!"

X x X x X

"…We may have just walked into a trap."

Urahara left Sado's side and flashed to where he knew Kira and Abarai waited. He worried for a moment that they would have already jumped directly into the onslaught of hollow arrows that were no doubt coming. But as the shower began, his worry subsided as he felt Kira's presence behind the tree in the ordered position. He had trusted Kira to keep the hotheaded Abarai from charging into the fray, and his trust had been well rewarded. He appeared beside the blond and put a gentle hand on Kira's lower back.

"Nova has gone to help them," Kira said softly, watching the flashes of the mod soul's teleportation technique through the streaks of blue.

Urahara moved in close, sliding his hand around to the other man's hip and whispered into Kira's ear. "Shuuhei will be fine, stay focused."

Kira nodded, "I'm alright."

Urahara whispered again into Kira's ear. "Don't use the substitute sword."

Kira turned his head and looked at Urahara questioningly. The older man was momentarily distracted as Kira's lips came mere centimeters from his own.

"Don't use it?" Kira asked. "What about the plan?"

"The plan has changed," Urahara murmured. "Use only your shikai."

Kira blinked in confusion, but his soldiers training kept him from asking too many questions. He nodded once again and turned back to the courtyard. As Urahara was about to pull away, Kira's hand found his and squeezed softly.

The shopkeeper's heart did a little flip and he squeezed back, before turning to Abarai who was watching the fight with considerably less composure. His left hand gripped the trunk of the tree so tightly be was making marks in the bark. His eyes were wide under his creased brow and his lips were pulled back in a silent growl as he ground his teeth together. Urahara moved to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Remember what I told you, Abarai."

The red head nodded absently. "Yeah, yeah, I remember."

"I mean it," Urahara pressed. "You have a tendency to overdo everything and you must rein in your anger this fight. Do you understand?"

Abarai turned to him then and glared through the dark haze of his reiatsu.

"I understand, Urahara-san."

The former Captain nodded and took a step back. He knew he was needed on the apartment complex roof, but was hesitant to leave the ground. They were all very capable shinigami, most at or close to a Captain's level, but they were all still young shinigami, save Ikkaku and Yumichika. Their lack of experience, and the fact that this was an enemy none of them understood, made Urahara slightly anxious. Combine that with having a shinigami with an unstable reiatsu bordering on bankai, and a baby Vizard in their ranks and you had one Urahara Kisuke with an impending ulcer. He remained as outwardly calm as he could manage, for he was the unspoken leader, and it wouldn't do to have the senior shinigami lose it in the midst of an important fight. It might throw everyone off their game.

Suddenly, the shower of arrows ceased and the negative reiatsu kicked in. Urahara's blood ran cold as he felt his energy leaving his body slowly. This was it. The archer had pulled back and now the leader would show himself.

"Look out!" Jinta's voice screamed from the courtyard. "He's got Nova!"

"Go Kira!" Urahara commanded. He felt Abarai's energy spike and he gripped the red head's arm as he tried to follow. "Abarai!"

Abarai roared and turned on the shopkeeper. "Fuck you Urahara! That thing is out there with Shuuhei! I have to help him! Let go of me!"

Urahara gripped the arm tighter and pulled the taller man close. He let a pulse of his reiatsu ripple through Abarai's body and the younger man gasped. The shopkeeper lowered his voice. "You know Hisagi is close to bankai do you not?"

Abarai's eyes widened at the statement and he stopped struggling. "What?"

"He is close to bankai, Abarai," Urahara repeated. "I worry for him because his power is a berserk type. If he releases, he will lose control. He will become feral and unpredictable. He will fight until his foe is defeated… or he is killed."

Abarai clenched his jaw tightly. "You knew this and you still let him be the bait? What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

Urahara sighed and met the red head's heated gaze. "I allowed him to be the bait because there's a very slim chance that he will insure our victory."

The rage swirling around Abarai's body receded slightly and he froze. "Shuuhei might… I don't understand."

"I don't have time to explain everything to you now," Urahara gripped the younger man tighter. "Just know that Hisagi is extremely powerful. Cover him, back him up, but do not interfere with anything he does. No matter how crazy or dangerous it may seem." The blond took a deep breath. "He could win this for us, Abarai… The cost could be his life… but you know he would gladly give it to protect those he loves…"

Abarai's expression was one of the most pained Urahara had ever seen, but the vice Captain squared his shoulders and nodded.

"I understand…"

Urahara released him. "Then go."

The blond turned from Abarai and didn't look back as he made his way towards the apartment complex. He knew a leader had to let his subordinates do their job. A very long time ago, someone very wise had told him, "Waiting and having faith are a Captain's duty…" He had to wait. He had to trust that they would do everything in their power to defeat their enemy. Urahara was needed on the roof and he knew that, but he also knew that if anything happened to his men on the ground, the shopkeeper would remember this moment. The moment he turned away… the moment he left them to help someone else.

Urahara had too many moments like that haunting the dark corners of his mind and he prayed this incident would not join the memories of leaving Soul Society, or leaving the Vizards, or leaving Ryuuken and Isshin… It seemed all he ever did was leave. He thought of Kira and his chest tightened.

Please… please don't let this be another mistake…

A loud explosion of sound and light from the rooftop jarred Urahara from his thoughts. He felt the negative reiatsu of the archer there, straining against… against… what was that power… Sado? Was that Sado's reiatsu up there clashing with that sour energy?

A thought suddenly struck Urahara and he wanted to slap himself for not noticing it earlier. Sado's power was like a hollow's, he had tried on several occasions to figure out its compounds, but could never understand it. It was so unlike anything he had encountered before. Now, judging from the energy battling on the rooftop… was Sado some kind of buffer? Could he hold it?

Urahara jumped, letting his feet brush against the concrete as he scaled the wall. When he reached the top, he found Ishida recovering from the drain on his power and sure enough- Sado holding the last of the four hollows.

"Sado-kun!" he shouted, almost joyously. They had a way to beat them now. "DON'T LET HIM GO!"

X x X x X

Hitsugaya's genius brain went through the thousand questions of what he was seeing, but none of them really made sense. Why was Sado able to hold the hollow? Why didn't Sado's reiatsu drain? Why wasn't his own reiatsu draining? Then, as Urahara floated over the railing, he ceased to care and was just grateful for it as other questions entered his head. Ishida looked stricken, was he alright? What was he supposed to do now? Attack? Wait for a signal? What the fuck was happening on the ground? What the fuck? What the FUCK!

All this flashed through his mind in about a second and a half. He didn't have time to question anything else as the hollow turned to see Urahara and wrestled Sado between himself and the blond shinigami. The move also effectively shielded him from Ishida's shots. If the Quincy let one fly, he would hit Sado.

"DON'T LET HIM GO!" Urahara cried.

"What?" Sado turned his head to stare at the blond. "Why?"

"Something about your reiatsu structure is neutralizing his energy! You must hold on to him, Sado!"

Hitsugaya didn't need a signal, he knew the hollow had forgotten him and he needed to run a flanking maneuver. The small Captain concealed his energy and flashed behind the rooftop maintenance door shed. He leaned his head out, and waited to see what Urahara was going to do.

"Turn him, Sado! I don't want to hit you!" Ishida's voice sounded hoarse.

"I'm trying!" Sado grunted."He's strong!"

"You're like us!" the hollow said, in a voice that surprised Hitsugaya. It was too quiet, too gentle for the body it came from. "You should cast off these vile humans and come with us! You don't belong with them!" He was smiling up at Sado, his teeth flashing in the night air.

Hitsugaya was sure he could hear Sado smile back.

"Sorry," the tall man said. "I don't think so."

Hitsugaya saw Urahara bend down to whisper something into Ishida's ear. The dark-haired man nodded and lifted his bow as the former Captain drew his sword. The grey-green eyes that hid underneath that green and white striped hat flashed in Hitsugaya's direction for a split second, and the white-haired Captain nodded and advanced.

Hitsugaya knew this was his only chance, his reiatsu was not being drained, and it had something to do with Sado's contact with the hollow. The way the two were struggling, the small Captain knew the archer was physically more powerful than Sado, and the tall man wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer. Hitsugaya moved from behind the maintenance shed, holding his Zanpakuto low and behind him. Using his small stature to his advantage, he maneuvered around Sado's legs and tackled the hollow around the waist. Pulling with all his might, and aided by Sado's strength, the two managed to unbalance the archer, and turn him slightly into Ishida's line of fire.

The Quincy reacted with uncanny speed and accuracy, sending an arrow flying over the rooftop and hitting the hollow in the meat of his shoulder.

The archer screamed. The sound reverberated through Hitsugaya's ears, jarring his eardrums. The scream was so unlike the soft voice he had heard come out of the hollow's mouth minutes before, it actually startled him. He and Sado were knocked away at the same moment; the small Captain flew backwards until his back slammed against concrete. He felt the reiatsu of their enemy change as Ishida's arrow did its damage. Lifting his eyes slowly, he made out Urahara's form locked in an upward blow with the hollow, Benihime grinding against the archer's bow. The blond's hat and ever present smile were gone. All that was left was a killing intent in his eyes and cold determination set in the shopkeeper's jaw.

Hitsugaya pulled himself to his feet, wincing at the white-hot pain that exploded from his left arm. He knew it was broken, he couldn't move it. He pressed on anyway, every muscle in his body ached, his head pounded from the impact on the apartment railing.

He had to get to Urahara… he had to help him… No one was dying tonight except a couple of fucking annoying hollows.

X x X x X

"Hey, asshole!" Ichigo heard Renji's voice and whipped his head around to find his friend. Renji had been violently thrown somewhere amongst the debris moments ago and in not reappearing, Ichigo had started to panic. The young substitute shinigami froze when he his gaze fell on the red head.

Renji stood on a piece of broken fountain, looking like he was on fire. His hair was loose and it blew in the breeze, it whipping around his face and shoulders tangling in the sash that held his torn kimono. Blood covered the left side of his face, and his eyes flashed a dangerous copper.

"Don't you fucking touch Shuuhei you son of a bitch…" His voice echoed through the courtyard.

The hollow raised his eyes from Shuuhei's shuddering form to leer at Renji. "Or what?" he rasped. "What are you going to do?"

Renji pointed his sword towards the hooded figure and grinned maniacally. "Easy, I'll kill you."

Nova appeared at Ichigo's side and took Kira in his arms before blinking to safety. Ichigo pulled himself to his feet slowly, pain rocketing down his side. His ribs were definitely broken… again. He gripped his sword and tried to steady himself as the hollow started to laugh. The deep timber of the leader's voice sent prickly chills down Ichigo's spine.

Renji, what are you doing? Ichigo thought. You're gonna get yourself killed fucking taunting him.

The hollow reached up to pull back his hood, revealing long, stringy, black hair and ugly, sallow skin. His cheekbones were sunken, as were the dips under his eyes. His lips pulled back to reveal rows of broken yellow teeth. Ichigo was surprised to see no mask. After the Arrancar and Espada, it was strange seeing a creation of Aizen without some kind of hollow distinction. Well, then again, there were those horrid yellow and black eyes.

Renji's eyes flickered to Ichigo for an instant before settling back on their enemy. The red head stepped off the broken fountain and landed gracefully on the ground.

"Get the hell out of here, Ichigo," he growled. "You can barely stand."

"Hell no," Ichigo gripped his Zanpakuto with both hands, readying his stance. "I can't leave you here, I can't leave Shuuhei."

"I said get the fuck outta here Ichigo!" Renji's reiatsu pulsed violently and caused Ichigo to stumble backwards.

In that moment, as Ichigo faltered, the hollow attacked. He hurled himself at Renji, cloak billowing around him, eyes flashing gold in the dim light. His teeth were bared and his hands thrust out in front of him; long back claws aiming no doubt for Renji's throat. Ichigo reacted, springing into action, raising Zangetsu and trying to flash step over the gap between him and his foe. Unfortunately, his stance was off. The pain from his side slowed him considerably. The hollow saw him coming and turned in anticipation of his attack.

"Damnit, Ichigo!" Renji roared.

Ichigo knew this was a mistake from the moment he started moving, He was too injured to fight this level of Hollow. He was too slow and too off balance to be of any help to anyone. But he did not give up. He never gave up. Renji was his best friend, he had to save him. The substitute shinigami flew through the air, brandishing his sword and bellowing at the top of his lungs. If he was going to die, he was going to go out with a fucking bang.

Suddenly, there were arms around his waist. A strange darkness encased him, covered his vision. Ichigo had several seconds of floating in a strange air that was thicker than what he was used to before he realized what was happening.

"Nova!" he screamed. "Nova you son of a bitch! Take me back!"

The mod soul held him tightly until they reappeared in the park. Orihime's head snapped up as Ichigo was almost dropped into her lap. Tessai looked up from Jinta's leg, and Hanataro paused in his healing of Kira's chest.

"Ichigo!" Orihime cried and jumped to her feet. "Ichigo, are you okay?"

The girl ran to his side and started running her hands over him, trying to ascertain his injuries.

"Not now," Ichigo growled as he turned around to face Nova. "Take me back asshole! Renji and Shuuhei are fighting that fucker by themselves!"

Nova shook his head.

"Goddamn you!" Ichigo screamed. "Fine, I'll just run back!"

Ichigo turned to move, but was suddenly slammed to the ground. He blinked up at the passive faces of Ururu and Tessai. The two had an inhuman grip on his shoulders and legs. The orange-haired man struggled, but it was to no avail. Orihime kneeled at his side, golden light spread from her palm and Ichigo felt the muscles and skin of his side start knitting back together.

"Let me go!" Ichigo screamed. "I don't have time to be healed! I gotta go help Renji! Shuuhei is hurt! You motherfuckers let me go! NOW!"

Tessai put a hand over his mouth and leaned in. "Kurosaki-kun," he said in his deep baritone. "You are going to bleed to death if you keep struggling. Let us heal you, or you will be no help to Abarai or Hisagi-san.

Ichigo fought back tears as he lay helpless. He stopped struggling as Orihime worked over him. He eyes wanted to close as he finally started to feel the effects of his injuries. His head spun and his right leg was almost completely numb.

"Nova…" Kira's voice came from somewhere to Ichigo's right.

Ichigo saw the mod soul move to Kira's side and kneel beside him.

"Hanataro-kun is almost finished with me," Kira said quietly. "Take me back when he's through?"

Ichigo saw Nova nod and the substitute shinigami let his head fall back against the pavement in frustration. His vision swam and he let his eyes slip closed. There was nothing he could do but wait. Consciousness threatened to leave him as the voices around him became softer and softer. A dull throb started in his head and he squeezed his eyes tight to block out the pain.

Suddenly, there was a dramatic change in the spiritual pressure surrounding the small party. Ichigo's eyes snapped open as the young man tried to identify what was happening. Ichigo knew that his reiatsu detection was almost nonexistent, so a shift that was this apparent to the substitute had to be significant.

"Oh gods…" Tessai said.

"What is it?" Orihime asked breathless.

Like the calm before the storm, the night air became still for several seconds. The sounds of battle ceased and the loud cries coming from the apartment rooftop stopped. Ichigo tried to sit up, but Ururu held him steady with her bizarrely strong hands.

A loud boom thundered in the courtyard, echoing through the trees and hitting the thick cement of the apartment building. The ground shook and hot reiatsu crackled through the air. It danced across Ichigo's skin sending shivers down his spine. The power was angry, furious, but at the same time so elated to be released it sang.

"Holy shit…" Jinta gasped at Ichigo's side.

Ichigo saw Kira sit up out the corner of his eye. The blond held a hand to his chest, wincing at the pain of moving his damaged body. Hanataro's hands held the vice Captain's shoulders as Kira's gaze locked on the entrance to the courtyard.

"I know that reiatsu…" Kira said quietly. "It's Shuuhei's…"

Orihime turned to the blond. "But… it's so… big… so angry! What's happening to him?"

Ichigo knew. He had felt this kind of reiatsu before, back in Soul Society the first time Zangetsu had revealed his true form. Kira's face was impassive and Ichigo couldn't help but wonder if it was because the vice Captain had expected this turn of events.

"I believe," Kira murmured, "that Shuuhei has achieved bankai…"

TBC