~ Chapter 11 ~

Unexpected Guest

A burst of light exploded as soon as the blades clashed. Sasori and Deidara shielded their eyes immediately.

Orihime couldn't stand it. The torturous sensation of drowning. A strange feeling of dying. She sat up in her bed, looking out of her window. Matsumoto snored in her sleep, drunk from a variety of wines and whiskey she had desired to try.

"Kurosaki-kun," Orihime softly whispered to herself. Just then, she spotted Ishida Uryuu racing along the sidewalk quickly passing by her house.

Ishida-kun? She thought wildly, does he feel it too? She stuck her head out the window.

"Ishida-kunnnnnnn!" she squealed in a loud voice.

The Quincy whirled around in response.

"Orihime?" he was already at the corner. The glare of his glasses glinting by the light of the streetlights could be seen easily in the distance.

"They've been at this for the past few minutes. Nothing but blade against blade," mumbled Sasori.

"He is going to be overwhelmed by him," added Deidara.

Shit, shit, shit! Renji cursed in thought.

Hollow Ichigo slew a string of consecutive blows with his zanpatou. Renji sustained his footing and attempted to block them all.

Damn… he's not even letting me strike back!

"Yiiha!!!" He brought down his sable blade once more with a strength that sent Renji speeding back, back, back. His body slammed against an oak tree. Instead of stopping him, it snapped very much like a twig and Renji's eyes closed feeling the impact of anything slammed on his body.

What did he do to Rukia?! His eyes opened to see the mask flash in his face.

The blade was presented in front of him. Renji's eyes wrenched open.

"Getsuga Tensho."

The warped dark crescent blast flashed and Renji closed his eyes again and braced himself. It was too fast. A rapid burning sensation entered him all across his chest past his waist. It was an intense excruciating sting, like knives toying with his nerves. Everything else felt numb. His mind was capable to register that he crashed into soft dirt.

Weakly opening his eyes, everything blurred but his drive, his mind, set him straight. Hollow Ichigo landed about ten feet away from him waiting to see, just to see.

"Oh, he could still stand, hmm? Sheer determination? Or foolish stubbornness?" Deidara whispered.

His shinigami clothes were torn down the middle, blood flowed out of him. He spit out the leaves and twigs in his mouth.

"You think you got me beat?" he scoffed. He shook the limpness that he had. Tore off the top of his black kimono and ripped off the band that tied his hair. He needed no pressure.

"Bastard, I don't know how you came, don't know how you control him, but this is as far as you go!" Renji bellowed pointing his blade. He retracted it and swung it in circles over his head, "Come and get it!"

"Heh, you're smarter than you look," the Hollow scoffed, "I love THIS. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN PLAYING WITH YOUR FOOD BEFORE YOU EAT IT!!!"

Renji saw his feet take the first push forward, "HIGA ZEKKO!" The blades of his swinging blade zoomed off centering on its target.

"Heh!" The Hollow stopped, his eyes catching the movement of the approaching blades and moved his arm in a blurred motion blocking them all.

"Don't be so stupid…" He pulled the mask off to the side for Renji to see.

His face was warped, the smile stretched as far as it could possibly go.

"I…WANT…TO…SEE YOUR… BANKAI," he rasped in a sharp hiss. His tongue hung out, "I need a good reason to dice you up and feed off your FLESH!"

Renji grasp in exhaustion knowing that the last attack left him vulnerable. Showing no fear, no surprise. This is a hollow and this is their nature.

Now I know, I've been holding back to see if I can spot a flicker of Ichigo's life. But he's gone. I sense nothing.

"Very well! Renji boomed.

Ichigo… I've never told you, but you are a good friend. Fighting with you before, I've seen myself in you. If it was another life, if I were not a shinigami—I'd love to walk to your "school" to do "homework" and "hang out" to do that with you, and with Rukia.

He glanced over to her limp body. She appeared defeated, her arms sprawled about. Still so deathly still.

Rukia.

Ichigo risked EVERYTHING to save you, to keep you from the most gravest, the most terrible hurt, death. And now you lie so near it.

"Bankai. Hihio Zabimaru," he proclaimed proudly.

There was a loud boom, a gush of wind and smoke. And through it all Deidara and Sasori's eyes widened in awe to the power of a Death God.

"And those are the ones what collect the souls after they die?!" Deidara whispered in a smirk.

"Makes you want to avoid death," Sasori added.

"Here, you wanted to see it so bad."

The Hollow laughed, "Good, now USE IT!"

Renji obeyed commanding the great Baboon King to attack.

Orihime ran and ran. Her heart was breaking.

He's gone, I can't feel him anymore, he's gone, he's gone. It can't be! It just can't be!

She stopped and shrunk to her feet, "NOOO!!!" she cried.

Ishida whirled around, "Orihime!"

He got down and crouched to her level.

"He's at the park," he began, "We can still do something it not over yet… Orihime!"

She had both hands placed at her ears.

"Nooo, Kurosaki-kun can't be, he can't be…" she repeated her eyes squeezed shut. She still had her pajamas on with a pair of sneakers.

Damn, she has a keen sense. We've lost track of Ichigo's reiatsu just a few moments ago. Kurosaki, don't you dare, don't you dare…

His hands gripped the sleeves of the trembling red head. She looked up.

"No," Ishida began with strength in his voice, "Some how he's not gone—I know it."

Through his glasses she saw tears gather at the end of his eyes.

"You guys."

Ishida turned. Sado Astoria stood with his giant arm exposed, ready for the worst.

"Sado-kun," Orihime gasped lightly.

Ishida nodded.

The three of them raced together.

"I met with Chappi, it's what she called herself," began Chad, "She carried Ichigo's body to Urahara's place."

"Rukia's gigai?" Ishida exclaimed.

"Oh, Kuchiki-san is there?!" Orihime thought out loud.

Busting the segments as they floated about, Hollow Ichigo dodged and swung at them laughing the entire time. The park resembled less and less than what it once was. Sasori decided to move and remembered Rukia's body was still there.

"Danna, where are you?"

Sasori stumbled and ran to catch up to it. Taking her body he raised his eyes to his partner, "Deidara… let's leave her over there near the street. Just then a getsuga tenshou eradicated the area where Rukia's body used to lay. Sasori tumbled forward and Dei caught them. Whistling for his bird, he placed Rukia inside the gaping bill.

"Oh wow, I really wanted to see her corpse blasted to bits—that took all the flavor of the fight," the blond shrugged his shoulders, "What's so fun, if nothing is lost in a fight? It's all about the risks."

"Life is precious, Deidara—this is why you and I will never see eye to eye," Sasori calmly replied in a chilling voice.

Those words stabbed him and placing a scowl on his face; he climbed on the bird and took off.

Renji called back the Baboon King, connecting completely and coiling around him. His body was completely covered in scars and gashes, weak from the lost of blood.

The Hollow had developed an arm, a large tail and two beast like feet. The orange hair extended from the back of his head. Saliva was oozing from his mouth. Rasping, hissing his words where no longer made any sense.

"RENJISSS ISS KILLSSLLSSSS...,"

Renji felt completely disgusted.

"Ichigo," he called out with the last of his strength, "I swear on my life, I will relieve you from you misery. I will save your honor!"

Gearing his Bankai he prepared it for his final attack, "HIKOTSU TAIHO!!!"

"We're almost there," cried Ishida.

Orihime and Chad nodded. They crossed the yards and the street. A hell fire red blast illuminated the entire block. An unearthly scream can be heard ringing in the ears of the incoming onlookers.

"Ichigo!" Orihime cried.

Ishida froze.

"Look!" called Chad. He found Rukia's body just lying there.

Orihime turned and raced towards her body.

"I don't sense a pulse," Chad began.

"Impossible!" she screamed, "I don't believe you!!!" Tears sprang and she screamed out her sobs in a pain that was almost unbearable to her, "Ayame, Shun'o! The two sprites sprung from her hairpins in a flash.

"Yes!" cried Ayame. She spotted and saw a fire that burned in her tearing eyes.

"Save her, Soten Kisshun!"

They flew and an oval shield sprouted around Rukia. A surge of energy generated from within that shield that began healing her in an incredibly fast pace.

Impossible, thought Chad. I'm sure she was dead. This ability must to much more than just simply heal…

Ishida having gained his Quincy powers anew raised his bow, but his aim wavered. That figure no longer resembled Ichigo. It was insane, deranged. He shivered unsure.

Rukia's eyes opened and she saw Orihime's face. Her eyes spilling continuous tears.

"Inoue…" she whispered with so much fondness, "I knew you'd come…"

She managed to smile a bit in response. Rukia's head turned to the side.

The monster survived the blast limping slightly with only a few gashes here and there.

"Impossible!" Renji gasped.

Raising a hand slowly weakly as strength began to return to her, Orihime saw that Rukia's hand reached out for that monster.

"I…chi…go…Ichigo…Ichigo!"

Orihime looked. It scared her. It scared her so much. To think such a wonderful person, the guy who stole her heart, was now this. A monster. The same monster that her brother Sora had transformed into. The three of them stood immobilized feeling useless, unsure on how to proceed.

The Hollow blasted towards Renji catching him defenseless from the last attack. Grabbing him with his claws, he slammed him on the ground. Renji's bankai shattered disappearing completely.

"KILLLSSSS," he screeched. He clawed his chest tearing pieces of his flesh off. He began to tear his arm. Renji howled in pain, using his feet to try to wrench him off.

Orihime held her hands across her waist and bent forward screaming to avoid hearing Renji's screams.

I-I-I can't move. I-I can't move—what should I do? After he's done with him, he'll aim for us—what should I do?! Ishida wildly thought, standing frozen stiff.

Chad stared and saw that Rukia being healed completely was rushing off towards them and grabbed her by the wrist. She tugged attempting to wrench herself free but Chad held fast and pulled her towards him wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. She frantically kicked and punched the arms that confined her.

"RENJI! ICHIGO!!!" She cried, "Let me go! Let me help them!!!"

"It's useless," began Chad, "I won't let you rush to your death."

A cero blast zoomed past them all and hit the hollow monster right on the side of his face.

"Jeeze, a little later and I woulda lost my chance of gaining a new recruit."

Calmly walking into the scene, Shinji Hirako, unofficial leader of the Vizard.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," he grinned.

The monster lifted its head in question, towards him.

"I'm right here baby! Come and get me!" he crowed waving his arms.

"Has he lost his mind?!" Ishida cried.

The Hollow hissed and licked the blood off its sickly claws.

"Come on," he began once more. He raised his hand over his face and veiled his hollow mask.

The onlookers stood in shock.

"You know you want some of this sexy body," he whistled touching himself.

The monster burst to attack motivated by the enormous amount of reiatsu that Shinji bled out.

Shinji withdrew his blade and fought in par with him. Every time his katana hit against the bone skin it resonated.

Orihime squeezed her hands to her heart, "There's still hope," she whispered.

One swing, one strike. He shattered the tail. The Hollow swung his arm and Shinji dodged with incredible speed.

"Ichigo…" he whispered into the monster's ear, "I know you're in there…"

"Ichigo!" cried Rukia. The Hollow suddenly jerked.

That's it, she thought.

"You guys," she began, "Let's call out to him together!"

Orihime's eyes widened and the boys nodded.

"One, two, three!" bellowed Rukia.

"KUROSAKI, KUROSAKI, KUROSAKI ICHIGO!!!" they all roared at once.

The monster was suddenly so heavily distracted. Shinji smiled. They make it so easy for me, now… he thought gratefully.

"KUROSAKI ICHIGO!" they roared out once more.

The bone armor of the hollow was shattering piece by piece. Shinji swung and sent him to the ground, busting the last segment of his armor, leaving only his mask that just slipped off his face.

Urahara and his crew rushed in last minute. Yoruichi was with them.

"How could I let this get so out of hand," whispered the slipper-hat with a tinge of remorse.

"Orihime—Renji!" cried Rukia who had already ran towards his body.

"Y-yes!" she raced toward the mutilated corpse.

Renji's eyes barely opened, but he couldn't see anything responding only to her voice.

"Soten Kisshun!"

"Hey!" shouted Ishida towards Shinji; he loaded Ichigo's unconscious body over his shoulder."

"Thank you very much for the help!" he chirped before disappearing.

"Bastard!" Ishida hissed, "How could he run off with him?"

A hand landed on Ishida's shoulder.

"Let him go," said Urahara Kisuke with a weary sigh, "He saved him, that can only mean that he doesn't mean any harm to him."

"Will he be okay?" Sado asked.

"I sure hope so!" Urahara began with a laugh.

Yoruichi smacked him in the back of the head.

"Ouch, tch, tch…."

"He was being serious."

Urahara's face straightened, "You're asking me about Kurosaki-san. Not even death will be capable of wrenching him away," he looked at them all. Renji who was recovering spectacularly, "Because he has all of you to count on—so don't worry."

End Chapter