Chapter 10

It was around midnight three days later and Ichigo woke with a start when Toshiro shook his shoulder. He opened his mouth to ask him just what the hell he was doing when Toshiro made a shushing motion and then grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the bed. He blinked sleepily at the equally confused Harry who was standing next to Toshiro. Toshiro didn't give them any explanation but guided them out of the dormitories.

Ichigo was glad he had socks on, as Toshiro didn't give them any chance to grab shoes. They quietly made their way out of Gryffindor Tower and followed the white haired captain through the castle. After pausing to let the caretaker pass so they wouldn't get caught, they arrived at their destination.

Harry cocked an eyebrow. "The room of requirement?"

Toshiro nodded and quickly strode back and forth until the door appeared. The three of them hurried into the room so as not to get caught out after curfew. It was the same landscape as when Ichigo asked for the training room.

Slowly the sleep fog was leaving Ichigo's brain and he understood why they were there. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Brown eyes bored into teal.

Harry looked even more confused. "Is what a good idea?"

They ignored him. Toshiro pulled the red fingerless glove from his pocket and pulled it on. "All of the other pieces have been taken care of. Wouldn't you rather find out if this works now, than at the final battle? Get out of that gigai, we don't know what is going to happen." He turned to Harry. "This may be a bit jarring."

Harry was now more fearful than confused and was darting his eyes between Toshiro and Ichigo. "What is going on, guys?"

Ichigo pulled Zangetsu from his back, not easing Harry's fears, but he did try. "It's going to be fine. It just might feel a bit strange." He looked sideways at Toshiro as the short captain took two steps forward and smacked Harry on the forehead.

Harry's soul landed on the ground while his body fell beside him with a thud. He opened his eyes wide in shock at the fact that his body was lying beside him. "What the hell…Why did you kill me?" He jumped to his feet.

But Toshiro and Ichigo were more focused on the black mass attached to the chain that was attached to Harry's chest. Harry backed away in panic as yellow eyes blinked open. However, as the thing was attached to him, it merely followed. Toshiro held his shoulders, keeping him still.

Toshiro murmured. "It's okay, just take a deep breath while we figure this out." Harry started breathing normally but still stared wide-eyed at the mass that was now wriggly slightly, though it didn't get any closer to Harry's chest.

"Ichigo, can you see how entangled it is in his chain?"

Ichigo got close to the chain and was dismayed to see the hollow-like thing had wrapped countless tentacles through the links of the chain. Angry yellow eyes stared back at him and low growl emitted from behind the mostly black mask. Ichigo growled in return before turning back to Toshiro.

"The nasty piece of shit is entangled pretty bad."

Toshiro sighed. "I was afraid of that."

Harry seemed to regain his equilibrium. "Why did you kill me?" he asked once more.

Toshiro, confident that Harry wasn't going to freak out on him anymore, let go of his shoulders. "You aren't dead."

Harry looked dubious. He pointed towards his body on the ground. "That's my body right? What am I now, a ghost or something?"

Toshiro picked up the chain leading from Harry's chest, a foot or so from the hollow. "As long as this chain connects your soul to your body you are alive." Harry blinked, obviously not understanding, but Toshiro continued nonetheless. "Do you think we can kill it without damaging the chain?"

Ichigo ignored the screech the hollow gave at those words and studied it intently. "It looks…weird."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "That surprises you? What were you expecting, 'cause I sure as hell wasn't expecting that to be attached to me."

Toshiro's eyes flashed to Harry before concentrating on the hollow again. "It is because it is fractured. Abarai and Hisagi both reported similar findings when they encountered the other fractured pieces. When they destroyed the objects, the hollows disappeared. Theoretically they went Heuco Mundo."

"But we can't destroy this 'object'." Ichigo said dryly.

Harry glared at him. "No, I don't think I'd be okay with that plan."

Toshiro sighed. "Relax, that is the worst case scenario." He ignored the look of shock on Harry's face and turned back to Ichigo. "Should we try to remove it?"

At those words the hollow slashed out with one of it's tentacles at Ichigo, who dodged out of the way just in time. He rolled back to his feet and watched in shock as it grew in size and detached itself part of the ways from the chain. Now it was about the size of a small pony, with whip like tentacles all over it's body. Toshiro pulled the shocked Harry back a few steps, but as he was attached to the hollow by one of it's tendrils, he couldn't get the freaked out boy completely away.

The hollow laughed…well, hollowly…as he whipped tentacles toward Ichigo. "Do you think I would simply stand by and let you destroy me?"

"Kill him, Ichigo!" Toshiro cried as he shielded as much of Harry's body that he could behind him.

Ichigo smirked as he jumped and started slicing tentacles that came his way. "You're nothing." He swung Zangetsu in an arc and went for the mask, but the hollow changed directions and went back towards Harry, causing Ichigo to stop his blade as not to hit either Harry or Toshiro. "Damn!"

The hollow laughed and hovered over Harry and Toshiro. Toshiro separated from his gigai and sliced upwards into the hollow with his zanpakuto. The hollow hissed in pain but merely jumped to the left, dragging poor Harry along with him, his body following in the wake of dust.

"Over and Under?" Ichigo asked as the two shinigami rushed the hollow that was still dragging the now protesting Harry. He had dug his heels into the ground and with both hands around the chain, was trying to stop the hollow's movements.

Toshiro nodded. With one hand he held his zanpakuto and the other he grabbed at Harry's hands. "Don't pull on that." He said tensely as he thrust upwards into the hollow the same time Ichigo sliced downwards.

Ichigo's blade sliced easily through the mask, but his yell of triumph was cut off when he realized Toshiro was in the path of Zangetsu. The young captain jerked his head to the right and Ichigo watched in slight panic as white hairs floated to the ground.

They were frozen in place for about ten seconds. Then Toshiro calmly lifted his hand to his hair, and turned ice-cold eyes on a cringing Ichigo. Harry looked between the two, relieved that the black thing was gone, but still a little disturbed to be outside his body.

"What part of over and under…do you not understand?!" Toshiro asked in exasperation.

Ichigo winced. "Sorry." He looked at Harry and decided a distraction was necessary. "So, do we get him back in his body now?"

"Please?" Harry asked hopefully.

Slowly Toshiro lost the coating of frost and nodded. "Of course. We need to get you back in your body before anything happens."

Once Harry was safely back in his body, he stretched out the stiff muscles. "So what exactly was all of that?"

"That was a piece of Voldermort's soul." Toshiro said after reclaiming his body. He looked sideways at Ichigo, who was still in spirit form and looked deep in thought. "What are you thinking?" he asked suspiciously.

Ichigo scratched his head. "I was wondering if I could get to Heuco Mundo from here."

Toshiro raised an eyebrow and asked slowly. "Why?"

Ichigo shrugged. "Just wanted to know what is going on."

Toshiro studied Ichigo carefully while Harry was still processing that he had a piece of Voldemort's soul attached to him. Toshiro finally rubbed a hand across his face. "Curiosity killed the cat."

Ichigo smirked cockily. "Good thing I'm not a cat then."

Toshiro pulled his cell from his pocket. He stared at it for several seconds before raising his eyes to Ichigo. "I really should call this in, but they're probably on third shift by now and I really don't want to talk to those idiots…" Ichigo cocked his head to the side. "Be back in thirty minutes," he warned as Ichigo's smirk widened. "If your not back, I'm calling it in, and then I will have to kick your ass for making me waste patience talking to the brain dead that runs the communications during the third shift."

"Got it." Ichigo held up his right hand and snapped before zipping open the air in front of him, Toshiro and Harry caught a glimpse of gold and black eyes before Ichigo disappeared into the black void.

Toshiro took in Harry's confused expression as he sat down cross-legged on the ground. "Sit. We've got half an hour before he comes back."

Harry sat down beside him. "So, you said earlier that all the other pieces were taken care of?"

Toshiro raised an eyebrow. "I'm slightly surprised you remembered that, but yes. All that's left is the man himself."

Harry took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around his drawn up knees. They were silent for a short time, each lost to there own thoughts. Harry broke out of his daze and asked quietly. "You know about the prophecy, correct?"

Without turning Toshiro answered. "Yes. It seems many believe you to be the one it is for."

Harry gave a short humorless laugh. "Well all the pieces fit."

"Do you believe you have the strength to kill him? The resolve?"

"Yes."

Toshiro was unprepared for the calm answer. He expected anger, or even slight hesitation. He turned questioning eyes on the teen. But Harry was no longer looking in his direction; instead he was studying one of the rock formations.

'Maybe I underestimated this kid.' Toshiro thought as he studied Harry's profile and waited for Ichigo's return.

AN: so, this one's a bit longer…I know, I kinda wiped out all the horcrux's really quickly (with no details, heeheehee) but I figured if I didn't this fic would last FOREVER…and this was meant to be a fic lower on the totem pole, and it's been taking priority lately…anyways enough of my rambling, review!

Cya crazies…