Chapter 15

A/N: R & R

1 hr 00 mins Remaining

Rukia's headset began to beep as well as Ichigo's. The both of them placed the sets onto their ears and listened to small static that emitted from the ear piece.

"Alright, can you guys hear me?" asked Ishida.

"Yeah, we can hear you."' said Ichigo.

"Alright, here's the plan. We have set a perimeter around the entire city. Each group of Shinigami are stationed around also awaiting orders. The plot you have taken up is exactly ten miles from the center of city and where the Demi stronghold is. We know this because we have gotten word from scouts that there's a severe concentration of Demi's there. We also gotten word that there's a human at the top of the center building." he said.

"Yeah, I know what you're talking about. The Deity Tower. It was built a couple years ago but I still don't even know what the building is for. Well, at least I get to tear it down."

"That's wonderful for you, Kurosaki. You and Kuchiki will head down straight towards the Deity Tower but only head about five miles to meet up with the rest. Some of the Gotei 13 have taken care of the some of the Demi's secretly in order not to alert of their disappearance. Your way should be clear. Start heading your way there. Wait there for my signal. Over and out."

The headset went static.

The two of them grabbed their Zanpaktou and made their way to the door. As Ichigo took the lead, he stopped and turned, Rukia stood several feet behind holding her sword with both hands.

"I know you're scared but we have to go." he said to her feeling for the first time what true fear felt like.

"It's not that. It just feels like I'm going into this fight knowing something important but I just can't figure out what it is." she said averting her eyes to the floor.

"Whatever it is, we don't have much time." he said holding out his hand to her, "I'm sure it is something important but now we have to go." he said. Indeed, the sun had begun to set behind the beastly looking clouds that still rained down flakes of sulfur and soot. She took a quick glance behind her and then at him.

"I really think I need a few more minutes." she said.

"Rukia, we really need to go. They will be waiting for us." he said.

"I know, I know. I just have this feeling that there's something here for me. I can't shake the feeling that there's something I should know. Or for that matter I feel like I need to tell you something but I just don't know what is it."

"We'll take a quick look around but after that we need to go." he said. She nodded and the two of them walked back deeper into the halls. Ichigo followed her as she walked through the halls almost as if she had been there before. He watched her as she cut corners and quietly made her way through several halls until she suddenly stopped. Ichigo looked up and saw the word "Pediatrics". He stood confused for a moment but the look on Rukia's face was that of a mix of curiosity and a trance. He saw her walk through the ward, pictures of colored animals and geometric shapes littered the area. She continued to walk on and eventually when she walked passed a mural drawn and painted by children she stopped. Ichigo looked at it as well and couldn't help but feel his brows raise. Rukia stared at the mural and traced her fingers along the small painted animals. She quickly looked around her and discovered a piece of paper and an abandoned crayon. She took it and drew a bunny. The one she always drew to narrate her idea to Ichigo when they had first met. She took her drawing and held it against one of the bunnies that was drawn on the wall.

They matched.

"I was born here..." she whispered, "And... I died here..."

"What? What are you talking about?" he asked, "you said you lived at least ten times more than I have. How could you be born in this hospital?"

"How old is this hospital?" she asked.

"Old enough since 1807. Says so out front." he said.

"I died here nearly 200 years ago. Then I went to the spirit world. I think it might have been my soul that granted me to become a Shinigami. I think I died once before just to meet you as a Shinigami."

"This is some weird shit, you know that?" he said.

"Alright, I guess this is all I needed to see." she said, "I'll meet you in the lobby."

He nodded and walked away.

She took one final look around at the small beds and colorful layout of the ward. She spotted a teddy bear sitting alone on one of the beds. She took it and held it.

"I've lived for so long and I have never once experienced having a child of my own. Heh, let alone be with someone so similar to me." she whispered. She hugged the small bear tightly and then grazed her hand across her navel.

"Don't worry, I know you're in there."

00 hrs 30 mins Remaining

The two shinigami walked the amount they needed to walk when a familiar figure stood several feet away. His red hair instantly gave him away.

"Ah, it's Renji." said Ichigo. The Shinigami with the red hair turned to them and smiled.

"Oh, look who it is. I guess you guys and I have this street to ourselves."

"Like hell you do!" yelled someone. All three of them looked the way Ichigo and Rukia had come from and spotted Ikkaku.

"And me as well." said Chad as he approached.

"I guess we have five people in this." said Renji. Ichigo noticed all of them were wearing the headsets. This was good. At least he too could keep tabs on everyone. Suddenly a flash of static erupted over the ear pieces.

"Alright, this is it. You guys have the simplest path but the hardest." said Ishida, "I'm going on memory here since I don't have the actual layout of the city on me. Kurosaki, is there a long street heading towards Deity Tower?"

"Yeah?"

"Good, when I give the signal which will be a flash in the sky you and Kuchiki take the lead. You are to run. As fast as you can five miles towards the tower. You two cannot afford to stop. The path ahead of you is crawling with Demi and they will make every attempt to stop you. It may not seem like it now but they can appear at random. One could show up or a million at a time." he said.

"What about us?" send Renji.

"You are to provide support. Take out anything that gets in their way and anything that tries to bring them down. They are after both Kurosaki and Kuchiki. You, the bald guy and Sado are to wait five seconds before you sprint behind them. Got it? This is to draw the Demi out. Kurosaki once you reach the tower you are to breach it. You have to take control of the tower by any means. Meaning you're going to have to destroy the source of the Demi and I'm pretty sure it's in there." he said.

Another series of static sounds emitting from the ear piece.

"Ichigo? Can your hear me?" asked Yoruichi.

"Yeah, I can hear you." he responded.

"Good, I have about a few hundred people here with me. You are on the North end of the tower so that makes me at the South end. You guys are to head in first and once you've made it halfway we come in next." she said.

"Don't forget about us." said Kenpachi through another set of static bursts, "We are on the East."

"And we are on the West." said Soifon over the headset. Then Ichigo heard thousands of other voices saying "And us!"

"We're here too."

"We got you, Kurosaki."

"Ready to kick some ass."

Ichigo could hear thousands of voices cheering, laughing and calling out to him, giving him their support. The cheers were so loud he thought he could hear them from the horizon but the volume continued to grow. It grew louder and louder until the cheers began to emit behind him. He turned slightly and slowly one by one a shinigami appeared over the rooftops. He looked back the way he had came and coming from the distance was a massive black mass. He looked closer and realized it was indeed a crowd of Shinigami walking towards them. As they approached, Ichigo couldn't help but feel himself be surprised by the sheer number of them. They must have been the subordinates but some looked as if they had been training for years. One of the shinigami went up to Ichigo and said, "Kurosaki Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"I've been instructed to give you command of us."

"What?"

"You are in command of the Shinigami Army. You are our leader. These are instructions from Captain Yamamoto- Genryusai himself." he said.

"Are you serious? The founder of Soul Reaper academy is giving Ichigo full command of his army?" asked Rukia. The shinigami merely nodded. She looked up at Ichigo who only wore a look of understanding.

"Ichigo, this is serious. You have nearly a million Shinigami fighting under your hand alone. Do you really think you can handle it?" she asked him.

"I have no choice." he said turning towards the tower, "I just need to find a way up there."

He looked around for a moment and spotted a large pile of debris. He quickly hopped his way onto the top and turned to see a sea of Shinigami holding their Zanpaktou. He eyed everyone. The air was warm. The air was thin. He looked up and the sky had begun to thicken and the sound of faint thunder could be heard from the distance. This was it. He looked behind him. The street that headed to the tower was completely empty but he had a feeling the moment he took a step beyond he would be swamped by the Demi.

The sun was beginning to set. Darkness was coming. He adjusted his headset before tapping the side of it. He could feel his heart beating.

"Listen up, everyone. Just by seeing everyone here I can tell this is something none of us were expecting. I fought these Hollow once before and they are much different then the routine ones. You all know they have a vendetta against the Shinigami." he began. Rukia watched him and immediately hopped up next to him.

"That's right. This is a war! Not anything less. Don't be fooled that you do not see anyone here besides us. They ARE here! Your objective is to make sure we reach the tower. That is where the Demi are holed up. That's where we need to be!" said Rukia. Cheers broke out among the crowd.

"I want you all fight. To preserve both worlds! We are the only things between destruction." said Ichigo. His headset went static for a moment.

"Ichigo? Ichigo, I have a little bit of bad news." said Yoruichi.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I thought this fight would only be here but apparently we were thinking too small. The Demi have set up bases ALL over the world. We've sent the remaining Shinigami there to deal with them but they can't do anything unless we take out the so called 'Mother'." she said.

"Mother? What the hell is that?"

"I don't know but I know it's in there. That must be the source to the Demi. Ichigo, destroy it by any means necessary. Be prepared. We'll radio you when its time." she said. Ichigo nodded. He acted fine but it was inside that was terrified. The clouds had seemed to lower because now the top of the tower was indistinguishable. It sent an ominous feeling over him.

00 hrs 10 mins Remaining

Orihime sat quietly. She stared out the corporate window with her hands on her lap. Her eyes were dark with black eyeshadow and thick mascara. She wore a rather upset expression on her face. It was almost time. A shadow appeared behind her.

"Ah, it's nearly that hour." it said.

"I know." she responded.

"The fight between the Original Hollow and the Shinigami. If anyone survives they should put this in the history books."

"Sure, whatever."

"Only one force can be allowed to live between both worlds. I think it's time we settle this."

"Would you just shut the hell up? I'm trying to think." she spat.

"What? How dare you speak to me that way." the shadow hissed. Orihime stood holding one of the semi-automatic weapons she was given with spiritual ammo and shot several rounds into the shadow. It cried out it agony before fading into the air.

"So much for the almighty 'Creator' of the Hollow. Crock of shit." she said, "This is my story. I'm in control. Not you."

Several more darkened shadows appeared suddenly.

"We are taking control of the situation." said one of them.

"Like hell you are." she said.

"We realize we made a mistake giving you more power than necessary." said another shadow.

"Well, it would seem you are a little too late." she said materializing a long katana. The shadows backed away slightly.

"How did you attain that?" one of them asked. Orihime felt herself blink.

"Think fast." she whispered. The shadows suddenly shape shifted into beastly looking Hollow as they went to attack her, one of them bellowed loudly shattering the large windows on impact and another began to thrash its fists in every direction. The girl stood, not moving, her eyes averted to the floor. One of the Hollow went to grab her but as it went to do so its hand fell to the floor leaving behind a bloody stump. The beast released a heavy scream of agony. Orihime smiled. Another one of the shadow hollow went to attack but all came was another set of cut limbs. It took just a few more seconds for all of the shadow hollow to be dealt with. Her katana covered with blood.

"You were right, giving me all power was a huge mistake." she said and with that she stroked the air with the sword sending blood across a nearby wall.

"Like I said, this is my story."

Two Demi Hollow appeared behind her and when she turned to them they immediately bowed. That's better, she thought. The Hollow came closer and she said, "Prepare the troops. The moment any Shinigami comes within five miles of here I want you on them."

The Hollow nodded and vanished.

Ichigo and Rukia stood side by side, their Zanpaktou within their hands. The Shinigami army standing behind them in preparation to go when they are called. The road before them, although empty oozed death and destruction. It was haunting. He looked down at Rukia and the look on her face was utter terror. He could understand, he felt the same thing. Both of them heard static within their headsets.

"You guys ready?" asked Ishida.

"Yeah."

"Yes."

"Alright, the twenty four hour grace period ends in... ten.."

Rukia and Ichigo looked at each other and nodded.

"Nine."

The Shinigami crowd went silent.

"Eight"

Many clutched their Zanpaktou.

"Seven"

Ichigo's heart slammed against his chest.

"Six"

Rukia felt her mouth dry.

"Five"

Yoruichi stood quiet.

"Four"

The Captains prepared their men.

"Three"

Orihime smiled..

"Two"

Ichigo quickly said to Rukia, "Stay close."

"One..."

00 hrs 00 mins Remaining...