Ichigo sat up in his bed scratching his head to relieve the sleepiness that wearied him. He could see the morning rays slither through the blinds. Morning? He hadn't remembered falling asleep. He shifted himself under the sheets and felt something beside him. He immediately whipped off the sheets to expose a rouge pillow which caused his now sprinting heart to subside. He really thought... no... he kissed her and that was all... oh shit... he KISSED her? He felt his stomach fall to his feet and the sudden moisture in his mouth dried within moments. He got swept in the moment and wasn't thinking. He was an idiot, how could he even think of locking lips with an ancient spirit of a hollow slayer? That suddenly reminded him as he turned to the closet which stood quiet with the door open. There was no sign of her. He tossed his legs over the side of the bed and waited wondering if she was still indeed inside of the closet but waiting upon him to stir first. No, she wasn't like that. He got up and opened the door to his room and stepped outside. He had no idea how he was going to approach her. What the hell do you do after you kiss someone? Does that make them your girlfriend? Whoa, Rukia as his girlfriend? Something about that sent shivers down his spine but he couldn't tell whether or not it was a pleasant one or one to dread. He found himself at the base of the stairs. Was she still even in the house? He leaned forward trying to steal a peek into the kitchen without exposing his location.

And there she was...

Ichigo stared as the shinigami was gliding within the kitchen grabbing spices off counters and mixing things. Kinda like watching a cooking channel. He watched as she attended to the plates in front of her not realizing Ichigo was only several feet away from her. He strained his neck to get a better look and to his relief she was listening to an old CD player. He smiled as the thought of her trying to figure out how to use it in the wee hours of the morning entered his mind. He silently crept into the living room and switched on the television. He peered down at the coffee table and noticed a small post-it with the sentence "Went to see some relatives. Be back soon." Well, it always served him as a plus to have the house to himself. He sat on the couch and once he did a plate of rice and a bowl of miso soup appeared before him. Looking up he could see Rukia hovering above him... smiling. He accepted the dishes and held them inspecting them as if he had a reason to be suspicious. Rukia said nothing as she sat down next to him resting her plate on her lap.

"Are you not going to eat?" she asked as she stuffed her mouth with rice. Ichigo eyed his meal before taking a bite and to his astonishment, it was better than anything he had for a while. He couldn't keep himself from indulging. Rukia watched him as he ate and for the first time in a while she caught glimpse of a smile. She remembered the kiss from last night and thought it might have been a fluke. One of those heat of the moment things. However, she could feel herself growing attached to him and it was driving her senses to the brink of relinquishing the barriers her mind held so dearly.

Then it hit them...

Both she and Ichigo dropped their plates when the colossal reiastu sent their bodies pushing downward to the floor.

"What the hell is that?" strained Ichigo. Rukia only shook her head as words couldn't find enough air to form them. Indeed, the pressure was far more ominous than the one two nights ago and it seemed to be frighteningly fierce. The two of them shot up quickly and exited the house.

Several minutes later they found themselves within the city but nothing could prepare them for what the next few moments held in store for them. The sound of electricity could be heard from above and when they peered up they could see the streetlights had gone out and the streets were empty of any civilians. Then the air that occupied the streets rippled like heat waves of the summer but what they concealed were far more sinister. The air whipped and as if the entire street had been one large panel of glass shattered exposing a massive army of Demi-Hollows. Ichigo was floored by the sheer number of them. It seemed to be like an endless sea. Unaware to him Orihime stood upon a roof of a nearby building along with her acquaintance from the movie theater.

"You sure it won't kill them?" she asked feeling apprehensive. The man merely smiled as he slung his arm around her shoulders and said, "Oh come on, Inoue. I helped you get his far. Just trust me will ya?"

She nodded but couldn't help feel that was getting in deeper than she would've liked.

Ichigo tensed up and his heart began to tremble. He had never faced so many enemies at once and he wasn't even sure he could even flee successfully. He looked over to Rukia who wore a grim face that seemed to be uncertain about what to do.

"Rukia, we are gonna have to either fight or run. We don't have a lot of options here." he said feeling anxious, "Do you think you can try and count them?"

She nodded as she shut her eyes and concentrated. She wouldn't be able to get a very accurate number considering she wasn't nearly as powerful as she could be but if she could just manage to estimate the amount of spiritual pressure and divide it among evenly she could get a gist. Ichigo stared nervously as her eyes opened slowly but widely.

"No less than 50,000." she whispered.

He was speechless.

"We're going to have to clear as many as we can and retreat. We have to get soul society on this." she said again.

The slight shift of the hollows caught their attention as a tall man wearing a beaten jacket came into view. Ichigo immediately said, "Who the hell are you?"

"No need for introductions. They are not necessary." he said with a smile, "As for trying to contact soul society I'm afraid I placed a spiritual matrix over the entire continent. There's no way to get anything through."

Ichigo went to tackle the man but was quickly halted by a side slash across his chest.

"ICHIGO!" yelled Rukia. She could do nothing as he stumbled to his knees. She looked at the man with fury and said, "what the fuck did you do?"

The man smiled and shrugged.

"I didn't do a thing. He just came to close and when I'm threatened these Demi's here don't like it." he said sounding cocky. Rukia immediately drew her Zanpaktou from thing air and held it about to unsheathe it. The man lifted his finger and waved it childishly at her.

"Shinigami, your gigai won't be strong enough to tackle any of these creatures. I don't even think your strong enough to even wield your open weapon."

His words pierced her and the truth was beckoning to be heard. It was more than true. She was already growing tired of just holding the damn blade and to even strike with it will cause her to blank out. There was literally nothing she could do and there was Ichigo trying to stand holding his chest with a bloody hand. She was helpless and there was nothing she could do. There was nothing she could do.

For a true shinigami you discourage rather quickly.

Rukia realized time had ceased to continue. The man looked as if he were in a movie and she had paused it as well as Ichigo who was in mid stance to stand. None of the hollows moved and the area around her darkened.

A snowflake hovered before her face.

She peered up and snow began to fall. What the hell is going on, she thought.

You're a very bad example of a shinigami.

She turned around and several feet away stood a shadow like figure. She couldn't make out many details but she could make out that it was indeed a woman wearing what seemed to be a snow jacket lined with white fur. The tone the figure took with her was stern and quite condescending but she knew who the figure was.

"Sode no Shirayuki?" she whispered. She quickly looked down and realized her Zanpaktou had gone from her hands. Looking at the figure, it brandished the Zanpaktou and admired it.

If I knew you would give up on me so easily I wouldn't allow you to summon me.

Rukia immediately scurried to her knees and held her head down in respect and guilt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose faith but I cannot do anything in this body." she said. The figure slammed the blade of the katana into the ground only inches from her head.

Is THAT the best excuse you can come up with?

"No, I mean... I don't know. Please, I need your help. I can't let Ichigo fight alone. I know he's incredibly strong but I want to be there to fight with him." she said. Snow began to fall more heavily as the figure approached.

He is indeed stronger than I ever anticipated. He and Zangetsu have a bond strong enough to perform such feats. He is strong because he wills it to be. He does not doubt himself like you.

"Yes, I know. I promise I'll get better but I know I can't do this without you, Sode no Shirayuki." said Rukia lifting her head.

I understand the connection you have with him. I also see he is a valuable asset and he will be the catalyst that binds your power. You must drop the boundaries you placed on yourself and show the world my wonder.

"You mean, unleash the final release?"

That all depends on you.

Rukia got to her feet, the figure gestured at the Zanpaktou that stood from the ground and with that Rukia braced her fingers around the hilt. She felt warmth emit through her body the moment she touched the katana.

Listen to your heart...

The snow that fell around them began to attract to the Zanpaktou in a great blue light. As she pulled it from the ground the sword began to glow a brilliant white and the hilt extended upward emitting a meter length ribbon.

Now fight and don't make the same mistake twice.

The snow disappeared and time resumed its natural flow except for one thing. She no longer felt tired nor did her powers feel winded down. She held her Zanpaktou upward and looked over at Ichigo who was on his knees trying to regain his breathe. She eyed all the Demi Hollows and whispered,

"Shikai..."