When the girl first arrived, she didn't receive the explosive greeting that the others did. It felt like the opposite of a celebratory cacophony. If the reaction she got was that of a sigh of relief, then the words "Menos Grande" turned it to an inward gasp like a magic spell, then again, so was the word "Quiet!" when it came from the Head Captain's mouth.

"Tell us, Hanatarou, how many Menos were there?"

"Four, sir."

"Is that a difficult number for the Substitute and a Lieutenant to handle?"

"No, sir."

"Then worrying will do nothing for them, nor will help be needed."

"Aaaaaagh!" was what resonated in waves that were too conflicted whether to get as far away as possible from the battle or stick around for the entertainment. With a sight as unusual as this, most would stay as both sides piqued their interest. Both were forces to be reckoned with. One, cretinous giants with expressions that never changed and barely a brain to command them; the other, a teenage boy with exceptional abilities but minimal experience using them and his ally of great talent and reckless spirit.

Ichigo could feel inertia straining to hold back what momentum he had while attempting to bring Zangetsu down on where the Menos's brow would have been. He could feel a jolt through his body as he made contact, but what was missing was the feeling akin to that of one running a dull Swiss army knife through a piece of poster-board: difficult to control and not a very clean cut, but doable with strength. In place of the sensation, the Menos swung its head in fury at its minor irritation and its elongated nose connected with his side like a racket might smack a tennis ball.

For a moment, it was nothing. It felt someone was slowly pushing their hand against where he had been dealt the blow until it began to feel like that hand was warm and wet. Before he realized it, he had lost both his footing and sense of direction. He was sinking in a sea without water. Sound, scent, touch, and taste became imaginary then non-existent to him as sight slowly joined them. No. He hadn't been hit, Renji wasn't shouting "Ichigo" in his shock, Rukia and Uryuu weren't running to catch him.

"Hey, Hanatarou?"

"Y-yes, Sheep-dog?"

"Is Ichigo going to be okay?"

Well, this was a real change of character. This little girl who had previously reenacted the famed scene of King Kong capturing the leading lady was worried about that same "monster ape".

"He'll be just fine," the boy tried to calm her little nagging fear. "Ichigo is one of the strongest people I know and those Menos are going to be no problem for him. I guarantee that by the end of today, he'll be right back to give you the grand tour."

"Is he going to be okay?" Rukia nervously questioned Orihime, afraid that if she asked the wrong thing, she would jinx it.

All the while, Orihime studiously concentrated on the injury. "Don't worry, it won't take long to fix something like this, but he's broken some ribs and fractured others. He's really going to have something to wince at when he comes to." Immediately, she set to work focusing all her thoughts on the area that needed her attention as it was encased in a light that reminded one of a glowing piece of melting glass. One could already see it taking effect as blood slowed its escape of his body.

Rukia let all the air out of the breath she was holding as did Chad and Uryuu. She felt so relieved. But what was she expecting? This was the guy who had saved her from the very organization she stood for. It was like he could withstand anything and everything. So why was he taken down like that by such an easy opponent? Menos Grande were nothing to be underestimated, but no great threat to a person like Ichigo. Whatever the reason, she wasn't going to let Renji suffer the same.

"Renji! Get yourself out of there!" She hollered at him in hopes that he would hear her over his on battle cries. "We're going to retreat and get someone else to come!"

"Are you crazy?! No way am I leaving!"

"Renji you've seen what these things can do! Something is not right! Let's just go back and we'll have someone else come to help!"

"If there is something wrong here, which there is, then we should stop it here!"

"Man's gotta point Rukia," Ichigo said constrainedly only allowing himself a muffled cough at the end.

"Ichigo!"

"Don't you think it's a bit much to expect that four weapons of mass destruction sit quietly in a town as big as this? Besides that, we have a Substitute from this place, so doesn't make sense to protect our own?" The effort in finishing that last sentence was apparent.

Rukia quickly became fascinated with her feet but only for a moment until she took a breath in and out her mouth that was only slightly audible. "Alright, you just relax and I'll show you how it's done."

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LATE!

but I still got it done! FINALLY!

*dies of exhaustion*

Please enjoy and review! ^_^