I can already tell, this will be longer than "Liaison." The plot twists haven't even hit their peak yet. That's good to know... (/ramblingstoself)

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Chapter 9
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Ichigo pulled himself out of the small crater that used to be a wall. Drops of blood fell to the ground, making small splashes on his hand and the floor. His arm was back to normal, the shock of the impact causing his hollow arm to fade away.

"What the hell was that? I've never heard of that spell."

A small noise, one that sounded like a suppressed laugh, came from Aizen. "I don't expect you to have heard of it. I created it a few years back, soon after the war was declared won for Seireitei."

"That thing's bite isn't deep; plus it's a bakudo spell. What does it do?"

"That is for you to find out. Don't worry, it's nothing major."

"Don't give me that crap! That spell was a level 99, there has to be something major about it!"

"I believe you are jumping to conclusions, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo growled, pulling Zangetsu from its black sheath. The steal blade seemed to glow a slight tinge of black, giving it a dangerous aura.

Smirking, Aizen pulled out his zanpakuto. This action causing Ichigo to take a more defensive stance; he knew that he was probably going to use his illusions on him. It wouldn't be the first, wouldn't be the last. Aizen had put Ichigo on the list of those he could hypnotize near the midsection of the war, and had constantly put the boy on his death bed with each chance he got. Now was no different.

He vanished an instant after his zanpakuto was drawn. Aizen appeared to the left of the orange haired hybrid, and one and a half steps back. His zanpakuto swinging for Ichigo's midsection.

Blood flew from the huge gash in Ichigo's side, a look of shock plastered on his face. His own zanpakuto now pointing at Aizen's back, the after image from his movement finally gone. A smirk that matched Aizen's in smug-ness on his face.

"I know you can do better than that, Aizen-chan." He said with sweet sarcasm, happy to see the brown haired man getting a little serious.

Aizen's eyes narrowed, his smirk flattening slightly. "You shouldn't be so confident, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo felt a sweep of wind, and he jumped away. A small cut on his shoulder, trickling fresh blood down his arm.

'King, le' me try. I haven' been affected by 'is zanpakuto. I can hit 'im.'

'Not yet, Kuroji.'

'Then pay more attention. Ya can do way better than this.'

'I know. I want to see more though.'

Aizen swung his zanpakuto again, bringing out more of Ichigo's blood. Each blow that was landed on the orange haired hybrid was small, and irritating. However, none of them would affect Ichigo in his fight.

"Tch."

"What's wrong, Kurosaki-kun? You wanted me to do better, right?"

"I guess so."

Another slice. "Why aren't you going all out? You did last time."

"Since when have I had to do that with you?" A dodge.

"You should; or I'll kill you, Kurosaki-kun." A swing and miss.

A landing blow, giving Aizen a stain of red on his collar. "Like you did last time?"

"I was holding back."

They both stopped, and starred at each other. Small beads of sweat slowly appearing on their cut up and bare skin. Both zanpakuto had trace amounts of blood on them, from both their wielder and enemy. The once white room was speckled in blood.

- - - - -

"What do you mean we can't go back?! Ichigo-san said as soon as you all understand the situation, we can leave!" Pesshe screeched.

"With Aizen coming back for another round, we don't want to put you three at risk." Urahara said mildly, his fan open and covering his face.

"Where will we live then, yanza?!" Dondochakka questioned nervously.

"Simple, each of you will go with a different shinigami or human."

"Can Nell goeth with Kurothaki-than?!" Nell asked in an excited tone.

"Oh, if only my son was as kind as you, Nell-chan!" Isshin cried, as he took the small arrancar into his arms in a tight hug.

"Nell, can't breath... Kurothaki-than..."

"Huh?" Isshin looked down, noticing Nell trying to intake oxygen. "Oh, sorry, Nell-chan."

"Well then, how about Pesshe goes with Orihime and Ishida-san? I'll call them to see if they're interested in taking you."

Pesshe nodded in agreement, remembering the kindness of the brunet haired human girl. His memories of the black haired quincy were a little different though. Ishida hadn't been the most friendly of people to the ant-like hollow. However, he figured that Orihime's hospitality would be enough to over-look the quincy's cold-shoulder.

"What about me, yanza?"

"You..." Urahara trailed off, thinking. "You can stay here with me!"

Dondochakka looked very nervous all of a sudden, but he concluded he'd be safe at the shop. He couldn't help getting the feeling, he would have to do something in exchange for the roof over his head in some way he wouldn't like.

"O-... okay... yanza..."

"Now then, has everything been settled?" Isshin asked, looking proud for no particular reason.

"Yes; I'll the call the Ishidas. They should know in advance before Pesshe is tossed onto their door step."

"'Tossed?!'"

"I'll get to that immediately."

Isshin turned to Nell, who was trying not to giggle at Pesshe's predicament. "Come, Nell-chan! I shall whisk you away to a land of fatherly love!" He grabbed the small arrancar, and bound out of the small shop.

Rukia, Kon, Jinta, and Ururu merely shook their heads at that. They turned their attention to Urahara, who was dialing the Ishida couple's number.

"Hello? Oh, hi Ishida-san!"

"What do you want, Urahara-san?"

"My, you never change. Always right to the point." Urahara teased.

"What is it?!"

"Oh, right. Let's see..."

"Urahara... -san..." Ishida seemed to be trying his hardest to contain his temper.

"Ah, yes. The reason I called you was to let you know that Pesshe will be staying with you for a while."

"Why the hell is Pesshe here?!"

"It appears that our brilliant magician, Kurosaki-san, has sent him."

"'Brilliant'... what?"

"I'd figure you'd get the joke. Remember the little fact that Kurosaki-san pulled a vanishing act on us for over five years? Turns out he's been in Hueco Mundo."

". . ."

"Ishida-san?"

"Wh-"

"Well, it seems like you're happy to take in Pesshe! I'll send him out right now. Be nice to him, okay? Poor kid is terrified to be here." Urahara hung the phone up before Ishida could get a word in.

"Is... is it okay... that I stay there?" Pesshe asked.

"Of course it is. Rukia, could you escort him to Orihime-san's house?"

"Sure..."

Rukia grabbed the trembling hollow, and pulled him out of the shop.

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Ichigo's feet hit the wall, the shock going through his whole body. A small wince, and he pushed himself back at Aizen. Their swords colliding yet again, the metallic ring flowing through the room and down the hall some ways.

"Why don't you open up Zangetsu, Kurosaki-san?"

It was true, Ichigo hadn't taken Zangetsu out of his sealed state. This decision was resulting in the orange haired hybrid taking most of the hits given in the fight. Unfortunately, his stubbornness still remained after the years; his pride was the same as all those years back as well. However, Ichigo knew he was at a point where he had to unseal Zangetsu, or his injuries would get worse.

"Fine, I'll bring out Zangetsu. Just to make you happy."

Aizen smirked, and charged at Ichigo. Ichigo used shunpo, and appeared at the other end of the room.

"Satsu (1), Zangetsu."

The slim, silver blade glowed a dark, almost black red. It morphed into its shikai form, a giant knife-like cleaver. Its long ribbon cloth gradually falling to the ground, trembling slightly from Ichigo's reiatsu.

"You were easy to draw out."

"Huh?"

Aizen suddenly landed next to Ichigo, his blade sinking into his abdomen. Ichigo looked shocked, and this time, it was real. Kyouka Suigetsu was about four inches in Ichigo's stomach area, just above the liver. Blood was already starting to leak out of the wound, dripping onto Zangetsu and the ground; trailing to the hilt of Kyouka Suigetsu, and falling to the floor.

The brown haired arrancar leader, took some steps away, releasing his zanpakuto from Ichigo. Ichigo's blood splattered in untidy blotches on the floor. His hand going immediately to the gaping hole that used to be flesh.

Another blow to his back was landed, Aizen taking a step back to admire his handy work. He also felt something out of the ordinary half way through the slash to the orange haired hybrid's back. This had him watching Ichigo very closely, as the boy's shirt fell.

Ichigo's shirt fell to his waist, stiffening black cloth no longer covering his torso. His bandages, the were used to hide the hole in his stomach was barely clinging to his sticky and moist skin.

"Fuck..."

"What's wrong, Kurosaki-kun? I know you've had worse than this." Aizen said, some amusement in his voice.

Ichigo was holding his stomach, hoping to hide the hole in his gut from the brown haired man from seeing it. He wasn't doing to good a job, since he had to raise his hand to block another strike from Aizen.

The bandages sagged under the nature pressure of gravity, revealing a small crescent of the hole. Ichigo focused on getting away from Aizen's blade before anything else. Unfortunately, his opponent was still very keen.

"What's wrong with your stomach, Kurosaki-kun?" Aizen asked with an awkward combination of sarcasm and interest.

"Nothing."

Ichigo blocked another blow from Aizen, sending the older man into the the wall opposite of the door. Aizen chuckled at the vain attempt to stop him, and noticed that Ichigo had ran out of the room.

"Now, now, Kurosaki-kun. Do you think running will help?"

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"Girls, your loving father is home!" Isshin burst through the door, Nell clinging to his sleeve.

Karin looked up at her father, Yuzu stared at him, straining her senses to see him.

"Dad... get in you body."

"Huh?" Isshin looked down, and realized that he was still in his shinigami form. "Haha, I guess I haven't returned yet. Watch Nell-chan for a second!" He dropped the small arrancar on Karin's lap, causing her to drop her magazine.

Nell giggled at Isshin, as he wandered back into his body. Karin was staring at him with a look of shock and fear.

"Hey, dad; what is he?"

"Who, Nell-chan?"

"Nell ith an arrancar!" Nell spoke up, his grin growing in size, drool starting to flood his mouth.

"You, feel like a hollow."

"Nell wath a arrancar! Now he'th Ichigo-than'th helper!"

"You know Ichi-nii?!"

"Yup! He'th nithe to Nell!"

"Do you know why he isn't coming home?"

Yuzu felt too confused to continue following the seemingly one-sided conversation. "Uh, Karin, who are you talking to? I can sense something, but..."

"Oh, Yuzu! It's okay if you can't see Nell-chan!"

"You can see her, Father?! I thought you couldn't see ghosts!"

"I can now!" He posed in some ridiculously way, while yelling this "new" fact to his children.

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A small knock on the door, and a bubbly Orihime popped out of the door. "Ah, welcome, Pesshe-san!"

She grabbed the petrified hollow, and pulled him into the house. Orihime dragged him into the small family-room, where Uryuu sat, looking irritated.

"Uh... tha- thank you... for... letting me... stay." Pesshe said nervously, shivers still going up and down his spine occasionally.

"It's no problem at all, we're happy to have you here during your visit!" Orihime replied, in her usual bubbly tone.

Uryuu just nodded before going back to his medical reports from earlier that day.

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-feels insanely proud- I finally finished chapter 9. I am grateful that you guys (the readers) are willing to tolerate my now slower pace for this story. I'm still trying to get these chapters out as soon as possible, which doesn't want to seem to happen. Now that school soccer is over, I'm on two teams now... which amazingly enough gives me more free time. Ironic.

(1) Satsu, Zangetsu: Slice, Zangetsu (if you don't know what "Zangetsu" means, you aren't a real Bleach fan! ;D)

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