Chapter 3: (Prelude to Darkness)

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of the stuff associated with it just my O.C.'s the rest is all Tite Kubo.

Review answers:

Henriette: yeah don't worry all I've seen is the jap subbed anime on youtube.. only seen up to the point where Ikakku unleashes his Bankai. The rest in the manga I haven't seen and I watched a raw version of the movie but couldn't understand a single word. So yeah, most of my post manga info comes from wikipedia.

On a final note, as for spoilers in this story well, yeah there will be some, but this story has a lot of really good original concepts that fit seamlessly into the world of Bleach and some that completely reorganize it. So don't be too worried about spoilers, a lot of the story is just completely original stuff.

Anyway on to the story:

Instantly the ball in Koga's hands dematerialized and began forming several hundred smaller balls rising into the air.

Senna closed her eyes and sighed. "I see.. so I will have to kill you then.. very well." She lifted a hand and the 7 cloaked men rushed forward.

The balls around Koga shot together and formed a large metallic spider like creature with an upside down head. The head spun around revealing a smiling face.

"Ohhh Koga-san.. look at all the big strong men coming to see me.. can I kill them?"

Koga closed his eyes and nodded.

Daruku grinned and raised a long pointed leg before shooting it forward into the ground screaming "Please accept my feelings!!" Instantly several metal spikes shot out of the ground impaling 5 of the men. Two of them sprang to the side and flipped up twisting to avoid more spikes.

Daruku merely grinned and pulled her leg out of the ground to smack the one closest to her away. After her initial attack it left her leg swung out wide and the final cloaked man shot up to take advantage of the opening.

Daruku laughed. "Oh good plan only you forget.. I have 8 legs!"

She lifted another leg up upper cutting the man high into the air. As he fell he landed with a thud in front of Senna.

Daruku looked at the unmoving Senna. "Hmm.. well since you're not impressed by my artistry I assume you're a little bit more skilled than these insects were."

Senna closed her eyes. "I see.. Koga-san. It appears I have underestimated you.. the records we have on you appear to be unreliable.. in truth we didn't even think Kariya would be this strong."

Koga widened his eyes "K-Kariya!!"

Senna opened her eyes. "I will have to report the inaccuracy of the records to my master immediately.."

Daruku narrowed her eyes. "You'll report to your grave you little brat!" she dematerialized two legs and shot the supersonic metal balls at the stationary girl. They hit all at once in a flurry of blurs shooting past her. As the last one passed, however, Senna stood completely unharmed without even having drawn her Zanpakuto.

Daruku widened her eyes in disbelief. "Then take this!" her body dematerialized again and formed a cage around Senna locking her arms and legs into place and allowing Daruku to shoot balls at her while she was unable to defend herself.

Senna merely tore her arm forward shattering the metal shackle and caught the first ball thrown at her. She held it and flicked with her thumb sending the ball flying right back into Daruku's face before tearing the rest of her limbs free.

Koga shook his head. "It was impossible.. this girl had just shattered Daruku's prison..

Senna dropped to the ground and Daruku now in spider form again charged madly at her trying to slash. Senna parried the slash with her right arm and threw Daruku several feet to the side as she continued walking towards Koga.

Daruku raised up on her legs again and prepared to rush in when all of a sudden she felt a warm glow on her face. Senna had appeared in front of her with her arm stretched out.

Senna looked into her eyes coldly and said: "Blue Fire: Crash Down!"

The blast of blue energy exploded out from her palm enveloping Daruku and silencing her scream in seconds.

It kicked up a huge amount of smoke and dust and Koga took a step back.

Out of the smoke Senna slowly walked, keeping her focus on Koga. He began to backpedal attempting to put some distance between them when all of a sudden he felt a solid substance behind him.

He looked up to see that Senna had vanished from the smoke.

Twirling around he balled his fist up and prepared to strike but Senna grabbed his throat and lifted him into the air.

Koga's fist instantly changed to a grip as he tried to pry her hand off his throat. He didn't understand. He was super strong. This girl had no noticeable muscle definition.. That kidou blast was at least 100 times as powerful as a normal one. If her specialty was kidou how could she be physically stronger than him.

Senna closed her grip further strangling him until Koga reached his other hand out and called to Daruku's core.

A large black axe shot out of the ground and flew into his hand. He lifted it and swung at Senna's neck. The girl released him letting him fall to the ground and back flipped to avoid the swipe.

Koga stood slowly holding his raw neck. "Un-unbelievable.. such power.. who is this girl.."

Senna merely stood with her hands at her sides as if contemplating her next move. Koga growled and charged forward using his axe. If I can keep her on the defensive perhaps I can buy some time to recover from that attack..

He skidded to a stop and kicked out but Senna parried it with her own foot. Koga, a bit off balance, leaned in to his vertical slash with his axe and Senna reached up with one hand and gripped his wrist stopping the attack.

Koga's eyes widened. "Kuso!"

Senna twisted his wrist snapping it like a twig and turned the axe into his own chest.

He fell to the ground with his own axe sticking into him and coughed up blood before his eyes rolled back into his head and he dropped onto his back.

Senna walked back across the yard and turned when she noticed movement inside the house. "Hmm.. most likely Rantao coming to check things out.."

She looked down to see the man who'd been shot into the air by Daruku previously and landed in front of her. She kicked him and sent his body flying into the front of the house caving in the roof near the door.

Then she turned and continued walking. She pressed a button on her comlink in her obi. "Senna reporting in, the information on the Bounto appears to be unreliable, also I have failed in the acquisition of the Bounto Koga gou."

"He has been terminated.. I will now proceed with the final step of phase one."

A voice on the other end chuckled. "Excellent work my servant.. you have done well.. soon the hour of judgment shall be upon us.. at last we will have our revenge."

Senna nodded. "As you wish master.. Senna out."

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Ichigo and Kiro burst into his classroom only to find that the teacher wasn't even there yet. Ichigo closed his eyes a vein bulging on his reddening forhead. Kiro just chuckled. "Hah, seems like teachers are teachers no matter where they are, they wanna bitch about us being late but are they shining examples of punctuality, hell naw." Ichigo turned to see Orihime staring at him like he had grown a new head. He dropped his fierce scowl for a moment to look at her questioningly. Finally it clicked in his mind. "Oh sorry Inoue, this is my friend Kiro from America."

As soon as the final word left his lips Orihime was all over him. "Oh Kurosaki-san, sugoi! I've always wanted to meet an American does he understand Japanese? Is he gonna sit in on the class? How did you two meet? Is that hair real or did he die it? Does he like pineapples?"

Ichigo blinked a few times before sighing. "Ano, Orihime he's standing right here, maybe you should ask him instead of me."

Like a robot she pivoted at her waist and turned her attention on him.

Kiro scratched his head a few times and chuckled lightly. "Um, yeah I can speak a lil Japanese as long as yall don't spout off like a machine gun, yeah I'm prolly gonna sit in on the class, we met at summer camp, yeah my Hair is really white, and what the hell kinda question is that.."

Orihime stood up tall and placed her pointer finger on the corner of her closed lips. She suddenly looked like she got an idea. "Oh well I was just wondering, I love pineapples!"

Kiro blinked a few times before slipping his bag off his shoulders. "And uh, why is that?"

"Orihime frowned then looked thoughtful again dragging out a "weeeeeelllll" before she exclaimed gleefully "They're yellow!"

Ichigo looked at the floor of the class shaking his head. Kiro merely grinned before breaking into a cracking grin. He was trying not to laugh. "I see." He managed to choke out without bursting out.

"Oh and.." Orihime continued. "You can do so many things with them, like if you hollow one out and put wheels on it you can make a pineapple racecar, and if chop off the end you get a pretty hat" "Oh and there's so many dishes you can make: fried pineapple, baked pineapple, scrambled pineapple, chocolate dipped pineapple, pineapple stew.." all through this explanation of the many uses for the fruit she was making exaggerated movements with her hands. Kiro nearly lost it when she hunched over and took on a serious expression holding onto a miniature steering wheel while mentioning you could make a pineapple racecar.

He turned to Ichigo and muttered. "Yo Icky, no offense but this girls a little.. uh.."

Ichigo sighed. "She's a complete ditz." The orange haired boy finished.

Orihime finally finished listing her uses when Tatsuki entered the room and immediately and pulled her to the left just as Chizuru Honsho pounced at the spot she'd just been standing. Tatsuki closed her eyes in irritation. "Chizuru for one morning can you not do that?"

The enraged girl rose up and with flames burning in her eyes she pointed her finger accusingly at Tatsuki. "Y-you! boyish girl how dare you deny me hime!"

Orihime giggled. "Ano, Ohaiyo Chizuru-san" The orange haired girl threw a thumbs up. "If all you wanted was a hug all you had to do was ask."

Chizuru wiped some blood from her nose and grinned evily. "Oh yes, I want a hug, just a simple hug hehe." She lunged at Orihime with her long nails poised like eagle talons.

Tatsuki jumped up and delivered a crushing one leg drop kick sending Chizuru spiraling though the air and out the window. Orihime looked confused. "Nani, she didn't want her hug after all?" Tatsuki just looked at Orihime and sighed before turning to look at Ichigo and his smirking companion.

She leveled her gaze on him. "And you are?" Ichigo looked to his friend who stood leaning on a desk. "Back where I come from you want someone to tell you their name you generally give yours first."

Tatsuki snorted. "Well this isn't where you come from, is it?"

Kiro shrugged then I guess you don't get to know my name then. Ichigo looked back and forth between his two friends before shrugging and muttering to himself as he slumped into his desk. Tatsuki narrowed her eyes and turned around. "Fine, not like I care anyway." Kiro tilted his head in agreement and turned his head toward the door of the classroom.

A loud feminine voice rang out. "Icky! Your school is weird as hell, how the hell am I supposed to read all the doodles that tell you what room's what."

"And look at this, I mean , it's like raining lesbians" slung over her shoulder was a barely conscious Chizuru.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "First off its not scribbles it's called kanji and hiragana, second off how the hell did you know she was a lesbian?"

Tatsumaki rolled her eyes, "Cuz she been grabbing my ass since she flew out a window and landed on top of me." With this she dumped the gargling Chizuru onto the floor of the classroom. Tatsumaki brushed some of her blonde streaked hair behind her left ear before reaching into her bag and handed Ichigo some papers stapled together. "Here are our letters we've been writing, I hope you know you owe me now."

Ichigo merely scowled before taking them and muttering a thanks. Tatsumaki grinned "Oh don't worry Icky I won't make you do anything TOO embarrassing."

Kiro patted Ichigo on the head. "Heh sounds reassuring ne Icky?"

Ichigo ignored the comment and turned to see Sado setting up his desk. Ichigo raised his hand. "Hey Chad, by the way these are my friends from America, guys this Yasutora Chad."

Sado looked upward and them and bowed softly saying. "It's nice to meet you."

Ichigo then noticed that Uryuu Ishida was missing. At the same time Orihime seemed to take notice as well as she was looking around the room with her hand over her eyes acting as a sun shield for no apparent reason. "Hmm hey where is Ishida-san?" Ichigo closed his eyes and tried to feel his reiatsu but nothing came to him. "I dunno.. he never misses class though.. whatever it is it must be important."

Ichigo leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling. . Well, it's not like there's anything to worry about, I know for a fact that Ishida is no wimp, he can take care of himself.. still It'd be nice if he'd at least let us in on what's been goin on with him, we are his friends..

Just then Misato Ochi showed up in a jogging outfit. "Good morning students, I'm sorry I'm a bit late but I got lost on the road of life and wouldn't you know it, as soon as I found my way back a black cat crossed my path and I had to go around it."

Kiro stared at the grinning teacher and leaned closer to Ichigo "Are we supposed to believe that excuse?" The orange haired boy nodded. As many times as she's bought some of the crap we come up with I'm gonna have to go with this one."

Misato suddenly seemed to take notice of the two newcomers in the room. "Oh it seems we have visitors, why hello there welcome to class D."

Tatsumaki scratched her head and meekly asked. "Um, Misato-sensei don't you need like an approval slip or something for us to be here?"

The teacher merely waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, such things are too troublesome, besides you called me Misato-sensei most of the students here call me Onna." She suddenly materialized in front of Tatsumaki and leaned in close to her. "Be careful most of boys in this class are perverts and they aren't very respectful either just a little girl to girl advice ne." Suddenly Misato reappeared at the front of the room holding a piece of chalk. "Well shall we get started?"

Kiro narrowed his eyes. That movement.. shunpo?

Tatsumaki connected with her mental link to Kiro. No, the movement was similar but flash stepping requires a concentrated burst of reiatsu. Also only spirit beings can perform true shunpo.. this human is still mortal.

Kiro nodded. finally taking his eyes off the teacher. He'd ponder it more later. Misato smiled and finished writing a table with a few students names in some spaces. "So before we ask who has completed the pen pal assignment let's find out who our visitors are."

Tatsumaki stood up and bowed slightly. "Heya, I'm Onni Tatsumaki, nice to meetya."

Keigo Asano twisted his head around so fast it looked like he'd get whiplash. "Oh.. my.. gosh look at that babe.. a golden skinned goddess has come to our school." Mizuiro Kojima dragged Keigo by the ear and pulled him back down into his seat saying. "Now now, Keigo-san there's no need for you to get rejected so early in the morning.. you should at least wait till after you've had awhile to digest your breakfast before you throw it up in sorrow." He smiled as he said this and Keigo crashed to floor in typical anime style before slowly crawling into his desk and collapsing with his chin resting on a binder.

Next Kiro shook his head. "I'd love to tell my name, however, a certain girl has led me to believe that names aren't something to be told in introductions in Japan."

Misato blinked a few times before nodding. "Oh I see. Well ok, in that case it's nice to meet you Tatsumaki-chan and you too um no name-san."

Tatsuki growled without looking up from her book. "Tatsuki Arisawa."

Kiro smirked. "Ne, what was that?"

"My name," growled the black haired girl. "is Tatsuki Arisawa.

Kiro nodded. "Kagesama Kiro, remember that name, you'll be hearing it a lot someday."

Tatsumaki nodded with closed eyes. "Kiro wants to be in the UFC." Tatsuki's eyes shot open at that comment. "You like mixed martial arts?"

Kiro shrugged. "I dabble." He said cockily. Tatsuki narrowed her eyes. Well, there's a nice big yard outside for lunch.. we could do a lot of dabbling there."

Kiro closed his eyes and scratched his nose. "What you got in mind I'm thinking a 'ground and pound'

Tatsuki widened her eyes before blushing madly and turned around in her seat fuming with rage and embarrassment.

Ichigo stared at the interaction with mild amusement. He leaned in to speak in a whisper to Kiro. "what was that supposed to be.. trust me messing with Tatsuki isn't a good idea."

Kiro chuckled before shrugging. "That, my friend, is what we in America, call game."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow "game?" Kiro was silent as he turned around to pay mild attention to the Teacher looking over the letters from the assignment.

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Ishida slowly pulled the needle out of the material and pulling it out a bit more than needed, bit the end off with his teeth. He proudly sat back and held out the Kango hat he'd just sewed in no less than 35 minutes from start to finish.

Ishida had moved Nemu to his own meager apartment since his father was due to be home at his main house. This was 2 nights ago thought it seemed much longer as Nemu was virtually clueless as to how the human world worked.

He turned to see the progress of the said companion. Kurotsuchi Nemu frowned as she looked at the coiled strips and tangled mess of thread. "Ishida-san I.." she dropped her head. "It seems I remain a failure."

Ishida narrowed his eyes and grabbed her shoulder. Nemu widened her eyes looking at her new superior.

Ishida shook his head "You have been told you are worthless for so long you have truly begun to think that of yourself, but that's not what I see!"

"When I sit down to sew I don't care about failing or succeeding. If you treat everything with such seriousness you'll go insane!"

Nemu tilted her head to the side. "Yes, but.. even still I did not accomplish the task satisfactorily."

Ishida sighed. "Listen, the purpose for sitting down and sewing is not always necessarily about what you create. It's about the feelings you have while you do it." The black haired boy sighed. "This self confidence thing is really going to take a bit for you to get over.. I have no desire for a tool to simply accomplish a task after which I can throw away."

What I can go for, however, is a companion.. I.. I don't want the others to see how weak I am, I know that they are worried about me.. but even though I know that the pity in their eyes.. it would be worse than a physical blow."

"But. You already know, you've seen firsthand how helpless I am. I don't know how long it's going to take me to fully regain my powers, or even if I can for that matter.. but, I know that what you've been through and what it's made you,, that's something I can definitely help even as powerless as I am.. I'm certain I can help you."

Ishida gently reached up and patted the black haired shinigami on the head. "This time I want you to practice the technique I showed you without a goal in mind."

Nemu looked about to protest when Ishida placed a finger on her lips. "Just relax and sew.. whatever you end up making it's not important, all I want you to focus on is what you feel while you do it."

Nemu nodded. She picked up a new practice strip and some thread. After a calming breath she began to slowly pull the needle and thread through the small imperceptible holes in the material making it stronger and adding more to the mesh."

After 5 minutes of this a strange thing happed. "Her lips curved into a small smile. "Strange. I believe I am.. enjoying this activity."

Ishida chuckled. "Then your performance is above satisfactory."

Nemu stopped sewing and simply looked blankly at Ishida. I am being.. praised.. this.. has never happened before."

she smiled closing her eyes. "Arigatou Ishida-sama."

Ishida nervously chuckled. "Ano, Ishida-san is fine,, really, I would actually prefer it." Nemu took a curious expression. "I see, my apologies Ishida-san." She giggled.

Ishida blushed. "Ah, Nemu-san your laugh is pleasant.. you should do it more."

Nemu widened her smile. "Oh my Ishida-sempai, you are my superior.. a romance between the two of us is forbidden you must purge these thoughts of me from your mind." she jokingly exclaimed.

Ishida snickered. "Well I see you're getting a little more comfortable.. once you open up a bit you're quite a different person Nemu-san."

Nemu grinned sheepishly and looked at eh ground. "I suppose so.. I myself am surprised.. I never realized I could act like this.. I believe I have laughed more in the last 7 minutes than in my entire life previous to this arrangement.. these new emotions are.. foreign to me.. though.. not unpleasant."

She slowly rose to her feet. Ishida stood as well. "Are you sure you're ready to move around.. your injuries aren't completely healed."

Nemu nodded smoothing the wrinkles out of her black miniskirt. "I have unusually fast healing abilities spawning from my.. inherent design.." she faded off at the end becoming solemn.

Ishida looked down and balled his fist. "It's alright.. I will make that bastard pay.. I know that you will always hold him in some importance in your life.. Although I cannot understand it at all, I know it isn't something you can change.."

"But, never let him make you think any less of yourself.. you owe him nothing, he abandoned you after throwing you away."

Nemu nodded raising her right hand as if to reach out but hesitating before dropping it back to her side. "I know, I can't explain what I feel I know it's not love and I'm capable of understanding all that he's done to me, I know how sick and twisted he is.. but even so, a part of me still wishes that just once I could have pleased him."

She slowly turned around and faced Ishida. "However, the majority of me feels differently. "I am not angry with Mayuri-sam.. ah, san.. but when I was left without a purpose unable to even comply with the final order for me to rot I felt more betrayed and hurt than any of the beatings or torture I was put through."

"The majority of my being simply wished for an end to my existence.. but when that Hollow appeared something came over me.. a feeling of regret, I lost my resolve so quickly. I.. I truly wanted to live, even though I had no real purpose to live for.. I wonder if that's so wrong. To desire to exist simply to experience it without a true use.."

"Regardless of what I may feel or how incapable of expressing it.. I want you to know this.. I am grateful to you for rescuing me, at that time, when I saw you standing there, for the first time it felt as though even I was worth something that you, by all rights an enemy, would stand powerless before a Hollow and defend me.. that is something I do not think I will ever understand."

Nemu was brought out of her musings by the sound of a timer going off in the kitchen. "Oh the bread is ready.. excuse me Ishida-san.. I will go and prepare the remainder of the meal." With a bow she turned around and went into the kitchen.

Ishida's wide eyes slowly receded back to their normal size. What you're feeling is self worth.. no matter how small it may be due to that monsters treatment he couldn't eradicate it completely.. I don't care what he says.. you are more than a doll, more than a disposable tool, you are a person.. and I will make sure you experience what it is to live..

Ishida softly whispered to himself. "And when you see that bastard again.. you'll make him realize what a fool he was for throwing you away.. "

"But." Ishida smirked.

"By that time, it'll be too late."

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Orihime walked toward her apartment bouncing her head along to her veggie tales list on her I pod. Suddenly she noticed a injured puppy limping along the sidewalk. She instantly ran over to it.

"Awww you poor thing, there I'll help."

She closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

"Soten kisshun: I reject!"

She opened her eyes and widened them in disbelief. Nothing happened.

"W-what?! Ayame! Shun-o?! Can you hear me?"

Nothing but silence answered her call. Orihime picked the dog up and gently carried him the rest of the way to her apartment. As she reached the entrance to the complex she began to get a slight headache.

"I'm not certain what's going on. But it looks like I've somehow lost my powers.. I hope it's not permanent.. I really want to help Kurosaki-kun." she spoke softly to the dog confiding in him as she knew he would listen attentively. Or at least she thought he would. His snout seemed to catch the scent of a nearby apartment cooking dinner.

Twisting his head to the source of the smell he attempted to get out of Orihime's grip but she held on tight as she fumbled with her keys to open the door. Her headache was beginning to turn into a migraine and she began to feel very hot. "Mm I hope I'm not coming down with something.. but at least we're out on break for a few weeks so I wont miss any class because of it."

Opening the door she stepped into her apartment and released the dog who, forgetting the scent of the dinner went to work sniffing around Orihime's apartment.

Orihime's head began to throb mercilessly.. "I think.. I may need to go lay down a bit.." she trailed off and reached up massage her head then yanked her hand away. Looking at it through the haze of pain she could see it was burned.

She looked in a mirror hanging lopsidedly on the wall only to see that she was sweating profusely. She shook her head but the pain only intensified. "W-what's happening to me.." the pain roared through her entire body now causing her to drop to the floor writhing. It felt like her insides were burning up.

"So.. hot.." were her last words before she slipped into unconsciousness.

Note: ok a few things have changed. One: I have seen the subbed version of Bleach memories of nobody so a lot of the info on senna will be validated and as accurate as possible. Two: I've watched scattered Arrancar and rescue Orihime arc episodes here and there so this may have more spoilers than originally planned simply because I want to keep this within the realm of believability.

Also bloody pawprints will be coming out with a new chapter and I'm workin on the first intro to the love hina naruto crossover. I already have a lot of really good concepts worked out for it.

But Hollowed Space has only gotten better as I continue to plan it out and more and more concepts fall into place. To clear up a few things. Ne means huh more or less. So if I say I'm pretty good ne? im saying I'm pretty good huh?

The UFC thing is basically this. I like the idea of it but all too many times the match will be determined by the best ground game. Full guard is basically the one guy attacking is on top straddling you and you wrap your arms and legs around him so your body is as close to him as possible. This way he cant rear back to hit you and your relatively safe.

The thing is, it's two guys in nothing but shorts and fighter wraps most of the time and when you watch them do it and the announcer says ground and pound.. well quite frankly it looks gay as hell. It seriously looks like a flaming orgy. Anyway, going off this joke 'ground and pound' would have a double meaning meaning both the ufc term and and the obvious sexual innuendo.

Next time we find out whats goin on with Orihime and more of the situation developing is revealed.

r/r

pace.