Wow, I have nothing to say before a chapter... weird.

- - - - - - - - - -

Chapter 3

- - - - - - - - - -

Urahara poked his head out from behind the back room. His fan covering his lower face, giving him the usual mysterious look. He looked up at the hollow, and back at Kon.

"Yare, yare; Kon, if you can't fix the door, no need to take it out on my poor shop."

A vein appeared on Kon's forehead; the hollow was snickering above the scene. Kon jabbed a finger in the hollows direction, his arm shaking slightly due to anger.

"I didn't do this! It was him!"

Urahara looked back at the hollow, a smirk appeared behind his fan. Despite the situation, he still enjoyed toying with the kaizu konpaku.

"Now, now. No need to blame your ugly friend up there for your lacking abilities."

Kon's jaw dropped halfway down his body length, and his pointing hand and arm fell to his side. He was staring at the shop owner as if he had sprouted wings and two more heads. The hollow on the other hand, wasn't taking the insult too well.

"You can see me, you damned human?! And you dare mock me?!" it demanded.

Urahara looked up at it once again, and closed his fan. His smirk becoming even bigger.

"Yup. I just enjoy bothering Kon here. Why'd you bust up my shop? I don't think I've done anything to you, have I?"

"Your friend here smelt mighty good. You smell better." the hollow replied.

"That's not really answering my question, hollow." he said in a matter of fact tone, with a little humor buried in there. "Why'd you have to go and destroy my shop?"

"Do I need a reason?" it asked sarcastically.

"Not really, but it'd be appreciated."

"Then I ain't going to give you one."

The hollow jumped at Urahara, only to met with a large bat. Jinta had jumped infront of the shop owner, and smacked the hollow hard in the head. However, the mask remained intact. Urahara looked down at the boy curiously.

"Jinta, didn't think you'd be able to hear this. Where's Tessai and Ururu?"

"Tessai and Ururu are in the storage room; still doing inventory."

"Damned brat." mumbled the hollow, rubbing his head.

"Kisuke-san, can I beat this hollow? It's been boring lately, no one seems to do anything interesting anymore. Even that crack-head Ka'nonji hasn't bothered me recently."

"I guess so." Urahara said, and looked over to Kon. "Kon, start fixing the front please."

"Bu... but... but, it's hollow's fault! Why not make him do it?!"

"Nah, the hollow wouldn't do it. Besides, the hollow isn't staying at my shop until his original host decides to appear again."

"Urahara!" Kon whined.

"I guess I won't be in a position to invited Inoue-san to dinner tonight. And I was so looking forward to having her help in the kitchen."

A glint of possessiveness glowed from behind all of Kon's other emotions; he still had a crush on the brunet girl, her chest was still on the top of his list – even though he had mets others with bigger boobs. He was also aware that, when supervised, Inoue could make a delicious meal.

"Fine," he groaned. "I'll start. Try to keep the hollow away, Jinta."

The boy turned on the konpaku, an evil grin appeared on his face.

"Since when are you in a position to tell me what to do?"

Kon got nervous, his earlier memories of the boy floating back into his mind. He shivered a little at them, they weren't that pleasent.

"Jinta-san... please... try to be... careful." Kon stuttered.

"Heh, you owe me, carrot-top."

"Right." the kaizu konpaku said, in a disappointed and defeated tone. He walked over to the large pile of rubble, and started picking it up, and organizing it into sections. One pile was done neatly, because he could still use these parts. Another pile was of discarded wood, paper, and glass.

The hollow looked down at the tiny red-head, a frown apparent in its tone.

"Who do you think I am? Why are you humans sending a mere child against me? I'd like to make my kills hold some meaning."

A vein appeared on Jinta's head. He jumped up and slammed his bat down on the hollow's head, cracking the mask nicely. Jinta now had a smirk on his face, while the hollow screeched in pain.

"What the fuck?! You damned brat! I'll kill you!" the hollow screamed.

"Tch, yeah right."

They both jumped at eachother, the red-head breaking the mask, and the hollow scratching part of his left bicep and tricep. The hollow began to dissolve, as Jinta landed a few feet form it, his bat now slammed into the ground and his right hand trying to stop the blood flow.

Kon breathed a sigh of relief; one because Jinta had kept his promise, two, the small red-headed menace was still alive. Even after all these years of living with it, he still hated seeing others suffer – except maybe Ichigo. He still had a bone to pick with his 'master' for forcing him to live with his insane father, even though when he had heard of the news, Isshin didn't attack all to often. For that, Kon had been eternally greatful.

- - - - -

Rukia looked up at the clock near her. She had hidden herself in the library, and had been there for over four hours. The black-haired shinigami had been reading about modern culture in magazines, ones that were actually a help to one who wanted to know what she did. After over 7 years of on-off living in the human world, she still hadn't nailed down every aspect to the 21st century living; she also had taken a note that modern culture is constantly changing.

"Ma'am, we will be closing the library in about an hour. We feel the need for you to leave so we can clean up, and close." said a quiet voice behind Rukia.

She turned around, and that sweet fake smile and voice came up. Rukia elegantly got out of her chair, and bowed slightly.

"Of course. Sorry to be a hindrance, you'll be open tomorrow, right?"

The petite woman smiled and nodded. "Of course we will. Our hours are 9am to 5pm, we're closed on Sundays and Mondays though."

Rukia bowed again, in the same fashion. "Thank you."

As the black haired shinigami left, the worker watched her leave. She called out to Rukia, before returning inside.

"Be careful on your way home, ma'am."

The leaving female stopped and turned back to her. She smiled and waved before continuing on her trip to Urahara's.

- - - - -

Kon looked up, and turned his head toward the main street. Rukia was walking toward the shop, looking content. She stopped near Tessai, who was helping the orange-haired boy fix up the shop.

"I didn't know the hole was this big..." she stated, trailing off as she took in the damage.

"Ah, Rukia-san. A hollow decided to stop by, but not to worry, it is gone now."

Rukia went totally slack-jawed, staring at the tall shop assistant.

"A hollow?! If a hollow was here, why didn't my pager go off?!" she demanded.

"Now, now; Kuchiki-san, no need to be so loud so late." Urahara said, finally appearing from the back of his partially destroyed shop.

"Urahara?! Why wasn't I informed?!"

"Please, Kuchiki-san, it was a weak hollow. The only damage it caused was the blow to the front of the shop. Nothing Kon here can't fix."

"Hey!" Kon yelled, however, he went unnoticed.

"And no civilians saw anything?" asked Rukia.

"Not that we know of." answered the shop owner.

"Well, that's good."

- - - - -

Grimmjaw sat on the balcony rail that attached to his room. He was staring out at the vastness of Hueco Mundo, reminiscing. The teal haired arrancar had his body facing the far distant hut that belonged to the orange haired shinigami he loathed with every fiber of his being.

The memories still caught him at awkward times, flooding into his mind. Their last fight was currently occupying his head.

Ichigo was running through hollows, left and right. Destroying each one within blade length. Grimmjaw had been fortunated enough to land the job of distracting the orange haired threat. He jumped infront of the boy, a grin plastered over his slightly covered face. Ichigo had stopped a few meters away from the teal haired enemy.

"Get out of my way Grimmjaw!" the boy had screamed.

A louder scream had then erupted from behind the two, it was Rukia. Aizen had taken a sudden liking to killing the small girl slowly, to make up for the time he couldn't when he still masqueraded in Soul Society.

Ichigo's eyes widened, and he blindly charged toward her, only to be met with a blade against his.

"Shinigami, I'm still standing; just in case you failed to realize that."

"Dammit!" the boy cursed, and jumped away. "Looks like I have to kick your ass before I go farther."

"Nah, I don't think you'll get that far."

"We'll see then... bankai!"

A large amount of reiatsu circled the orange haired boy, building in intensity. It seemed to consume Ichigo, and then it dissipated. Ichigo stood, his shihakusho changed to the torn robe, and black pants (A/N: If anyone would like to point out what they are properly called, feel free to let me know); and his large clever of a zanpakuto was replaced with a slim, all black nodachi.

"Tensa Zangetsu." the boy said, before charging at new speeds toward the teal haired arrancar. Grimmjaw raised his sword, and stopped Ichigo's attack.

"Heh, you don't seem to be giving it your all, boy."

"Shut up." the boy grumbled, as he kicked the arrancar square in the chest.

They both separated for a few seconds to catch their breathes. Grimmjaw had regained his first, and went for Ichigo. He had landed a good blow, about two and a half inches into Ichigo's left collar bone, only to have his blade stopped by the boy grabbing it. Ichigo smirked, and slashed at the arrancar, giving him a wound just as bad as his across the abdomen.

After that attack, the orange haired boy had to lean on his zanpakuto. His breathing was rasped, and earlier injuries on top of his new one were starting to catch up to him. He looked up at the arrancar, who was watching him with some meager intrest. Ichigo noticed that there was something more behind Grimmjaw's emotions, but couldn't tell what it was.

He stood up, lifting Zangetsu out of the ground, taking staggering steps closer to the teal haired foe. Ichigo lifted his hand over his face, focusing his reiatsu into it. His hand glowed a light, yet dark red, white liquified 'shards' started to gather around his face, quickly forming his mask. The orange haired boy pulled the mask to the side, revealing golden irises, and black sclera (1). However, the boy's usual frown was still in place, but his eyes held a blood-lust that but Grimmjaw's to shame.

"Hehehehe, it's been a while since I've been let out..." the boy giggled, his voice growing higher than usual. A smirk gradually replaced the frown, and Ichigo looked up.

This new personality of Ichigo's (2) locked eyes with Grimmjaw before vanishing from the arrancar's senses. Before he could register what had happened, the orange haired boy was giggling in his ear, the warm breath sending shivers of shock and fear down the arrancar's back; his black nodachi shoved into the base of his throat.

"Wha... what the... fuck?!" mumbled Grimmjaw before falling to his knees. He was then introduced to more pain as the hollow half of Ichigo continued to skewer him, just barely 'missing' vital points. "Who... the hell... are you?!" he demanded before his body deemed it necessary to hold his body up on all fours.

The hollow stopped for second, contemplating an answer. "Well, I guess ya coul' say I'm Ichigo, but I ain't."

"What the hell... does that mean?" the teal haired arrancar demand, through gasping breaths.

"It means, I'm gonna kill ya." the hollow smirk wildly, and forced his blade into his prey's right collar bone, and dragged it into the delicate areas that were supposed to be protected by the rib-cage.

Grimmjaw collapsed, still conscious; and the hollow crouched near his head. He pulled up the dying arrancar's head by the hair, and examined what he had done.

"Meh, I guess I didn' do enough damage ta cause ya ta die quickly. Ah well, I'm a generous spirit, I'll let ya enjoy yer last minutes of life; as you die slowly from blood loss."

"Fuck you..."

Before Grimmjaw could finish, his head was slammed into the concrete, creating a nice sized crack. More blood ran down his head, and the hollow started to laugh, as he turned to Aizen.

Grimmjaw scowled, and shot a cero at no-where in particular. It was low leveled, but it allowed him to vent a little. He turned his attention back towards Ichigo's hut, rage filling his mind, and ideas of revenge flowing with that rage.

- - - - -

Rukia looked out of her window, watching the moon levitate in the sky. She was getting a bad feeling in her stomach, yet it made her some-what excited; and the black haired shinigami didn't know why. However, as much as this feeling made her nervous, she felt something good would come from the pain that may rise in the future.

- - - - -

Ulquoirra turned his attention towards Grimmjaw's cero, a microscopic sign of irritation appeared on his face. Aizen had also felt it, but paid it no heed. They were going over the tape of Jinta and the hollow's fight from earlier. Unbenounced to everyone, they had sent it there, in order to scout their enemies' strength. Both of them were dissappointed at the result, but it didn't seem to have made a big impact on their usual moods.

"Should I go make sure Grimmjaw isn't going on another fit, Aizen-sama?" asked the green eyed arrancar.

"Nah, he's just venting. It's not like he hit anything with that weak cero anyway."

"Hai, Aizen-sama."

- - - - -

Ichigo looked out of his window, sensing a cero that had been released. He scanned the blast, and immediatly recognized the reiatsu.

'Grimmjaw...'

'Whoever shot that thing off must have anger issues...'

'Kuroji, not now.'

'Aw, com' on King. Yer too anti-social fer yer own good.'

'I don't need to hear that coming from you.'

'Who shot tha' anyway?'

'No one important.'

'King, you and I both know tha' blast wasn' full strength. Tha' means he-'

Ichigo slammed his fist into the floor, causing cracks to appear in it. The orange haired boy frowned.

'Kuroji, just shut up. I'm not in the mood.'

'Yer never in a mood fer anythin'.'

'That's not the point.'

'Well, you bein' tense like tha' is causin' clouds ta compile.'

'Never thought I'd hear you say that you hated rain.'

'I don'. However, the ol' man who shows up occasionally keeps complainin' everytime somethin' like this happens.'

'Zangetsu-ojii-san?'

'Ya.'

'Then you'll just have to suck it up. I'll feel the way I want to.'

No response.

'Kuroji...?'

'Ya still haven't answered my question, King.'

'Huh? What question?'

'The one I've been askin' fer years, yet you never answer.'

'And that would be...?'

'What happened before we moved here? Before you learned kidou?'

'I ain't gonna tell you, yet.'

'And why's that?'

'Because you aren't ready,' Ichigo had to pause in thought. 'And neither am I.'

'King...'

'What?'

'Nothin'.'

- - - - - - - - - -

Yeah, sorry for this comin' out later than planned. I had an MUN project, and a shit load o' homework on Thursday, when I planned on typin' this. That, and soccer had once again consumed my free time; the school season is startin' up, meanin' Hyou gets less free time. However, your reviews give her incentive to get through her tired moods, and type. (Hyou writes outlines for the chapters in Chemistry, but it's not like she follows them.)

- - - - -

(1) sclera: the white part of the eye, that surrounds the iris

(2) Kuroji has yet to be named yet, ya need ta remember he wasn't named until "Liaison" took place; which is after the Arrancar War.

- - - - -

Read and review, por favor.