Ichigo sat in the classroom, bored out of his mind. He was starting to fall asleep. When he did, Rukia saved the day by doing the only thing she could do. She beaned him in the back of the head with an eraser. Ichigo jerked awake as the small object hit the back of his head.

He rubbed the point of contact and sat up straight. He looked at the clock and groaned inwardly. He had another hour of this! Without thinking, he banged his head on the desk.

"Kurosaki-kun?" The teacher asked sharply.

Ichigo looked up, a huge red mark evident on his forehead.

"Don't fall asleep."

"I didn't. This time." He mumbled.

He rubbed his eyelids. How could he not fall asleep? Here he was, sitting in the most boring class of the day after spending a long night tracking down hollows. As the class dragged on, he slouched lower and lower in his seat. By the time the bell rang, his chin was practically resting on his chest.

Ichigo stood up and yawned, stretching. Slinging his book bag over his shoulder, he walked out of the classroom. It didn't take long for Rukia to catch up to him.

"Oi, Ichigo!"

"Mm?" He replied looking over his shoulder at her.

"Don't space out like that. I said your name like, 5 times."

He jerked in surprise. She had?

"Sorry." He said bashfully. "Guess I just need sleep."

"Ichigo," She said, a hint of worry creeping into her voice, "we didn't really spend very long fighting hollows. It was only an hour or two."

She was right. But Ichigo was having trouble getting to sleep lately. It was Shirosaki's voice. He was back to his pestering, yet again. When did that fricking hollow quit?

"Just having trouble sleeping." He said distantly. His momentary space-out was disturbed by an annoying, rasp-like alarm. He looked down at his belt and saw the eyes of the skull-like badge flashing on and off. He and Rukia hurried out of the building to find an absolutely b repulsive /b hollow coming towards the school. It had hugely disproportional claws that dragged along the ground, and its large head sported an insect-like mask. Its body was rather plain, but it sported several arm-like appendages. Each one sported a claw or tentacle of some sort.

" b OH MY GOD/b " Ichigo exclaimed. Rukia just stared. Ichigo pressed the badge to his chest and was forced from his body. "Take care of my body, Rukia." He said over his shoulder. He drew his large Zanpakuto and prepared to strike.

The hollow sniffed the air and swung its huge head to leer at Ichigo.

"Shini… gami…" It said in a slurring voice that randomly jumped and lowered in pitch.

Ichigo wrinkled his nose in disgust at the thing and jumped up. He quickly sliced through the grotesque creature's skull. The hollow disappeared within seconds. Rukia strode forward.

"That was b not /b a normal hollow." She said, disgust obvious in her voice. "That thing was an abomination. It hardly even had any power. If it wasn't so close, we wouldn't have noticed it."

"Yeah." Ichigo said. "I don't know how hollows b should /b look, but I know it isn't that."

Rukia nodded in agreement. Ichigo quickly returned to his body.

"That thing made me want to puke." Ichigo exclaimed as they walked to his house. "Seriously, I've never seen something so disgusting!"

"I should probably report it to Soul Society." Rukia mused.

"Rukia, are you okay?" Ichigo inquired, "You've been really quiet since we saw that… thing."

"I'm fine," She said. "I'm just kind of creeped out."

"If you weren't I'd say you were nuts." Ichigo joked. She didn't laugh. Becoming irritated with her absentmindedness, he took her by surprise by planting his foot in her back and pushing her over. "Rukia, something else is bugging you, I can tell. Its not like you to space out like this. That's something I would do."

Rukia scowled and walked on.

That was mean, Ichigo

Shirosaki.

NO! Ichigo thought to himself. I God damn it! Can't you leave me alone?! He screamed inwardly to the hollow.

Rukia stopped in her tracks. "Ichigo?" She said worriedly. "Are you alright? Your Reiatsu is fluctuating."

"Huh?" He said. Shirosaki actually went quiet, as though he wanted to listen to her.

"Your Reiatsu is practically crushing me, Ichigo!" She complained. "It keeps fluctuating, and its really annoying!"

"Sorry." He mumbled. "I don't know how to make it stop."

"In any case," she continued, "I'm going to Urahara's shop. I've got to pick up some supplies. Bye!" Rukia waved and hurried off.

Why'd you kick her? Shirosaki asked.

Why do you care? He snarled in reply.

I don't know. The hollow said, probably shrugging. Not sure if you noticed, but she is pretty. He commented.

What?! Ichigo exclaimed in utter surprise.

In any case, I'm not very happy with how that last battle came up. So, I'm back to pester you. Shirosaki said casually. If you haven't already noticed, that is.

Ichigo shook his head in sheer irritation. He opened the door to have his dad knee him in the stomach.

"You're slow!" Isshin exclaimed. Ichigo doubled over in pain, but was gateful it hadn't been a blow to the nuts.

"Leave me alone." Ichigo mumbled to both his dad and Shirosaki. His dad fell silent, noticing Ichigo's reiatsu start fluctuating even worse.

"Right." His dad said awkwardly, "Uh…"

Ichigo walked past him, went upstairs to his room and collapsed on his bed. Shirosaki had gone quiet, thank god. It didn't take long for Ichigo to fall asleep.

Fear. All Ichigo felt was fear. It was going to catch him. Wait, what's going to catch me? Ichigo thought to himselfI Why am I running? He looked behind him to see the hollow from earlier. Why should I be running from this thing? I'm a Shinigami, for cryin' out loud! This thing was weak! Then it hit him. Before, the thing's reiatsu had been inconsequential. Now, it was heavy, like a huge wool blanket threatening to smother him.

"Ichigo!" His inner hollow materialized in front of him. "Let me fight!" He demanded. "I could beat this trash in a second! Let me fight!"

The hollow was blocking his path. The thing was getting closer. "Get out of my way!" He yelled at his counterpart. "Move!

"No."

The thing was drawing closer. It was almost on top of him!

"Fine!" He yelled, shoving his Zanpakuto into the hollow's hands. There was a moment of darkness and we awoke from the dream. But he wasn't in his room. He was sitting on the side of a building. And Shirosaki wasn't there.

Heh, if he bangs his head enough times, he'll get Dain Bramage, err, Brain Damage like I think I've got! Seriously, I swear there's a flat spot on my head from slamming my head on my desk at school and stuff. Anyhow, I'm not sure why I did the thing about the ugly hollow. Juist spur of the moment. If you do fanart on this, please don't do a picture of the hollow.