Hollow Rising

Chapter 3

Savior

Well time to go back to Jimmy's place. I'll more then likely get a ton of shit for going on with the plan, but I'll do what I have to, to make sure of my family's survival."

Ichigo took the "Cat's Eye" out of the bag and place it between two of his fingers, holding it up to the moon, getting a better look at it.

"It is beautiful, wonder how much cash this little baby will bring in?"

Ichigo gently wrapped it back up and placed it in it's bag. He was tired, drained mentally and physically. Good night's rest was long due. As he turned to jump off the building's ledge he froze. There floating before him, was the dark titan herself, the one known as Raven.

This was bad. No sooner had he thought he was home free, another titan had to appear. And not just any titan, it was the dark one herself. Her outfit was made up of a indigo cloak with blue ruffled ankle-boot with grey soles, with a leotard-like long-sleeved shirt that is indigo as well with cuffs at her wrists. The hood that's attached to her cloak was pulled over her head only showing her violet-blue eyes, while the rest was enveloped in a shadow.

The two remained silent for what seemed an eternity before Raven spoke one single word.

"Thief."

Upon hearing this Ichigo turned in a complete circle searching and looking in all directions before he tuned back to her and innocently pointed to himself.

"You mean me? Nah you see I just like dressing up in an all black attire with a ski mask and run atop building tops looking suspicious because it's a hobby of mine." He said Sarcastically.

As he waited for her to respond he turned to see the smoke coming from the museum due to the explosion. That was a mistake. As he turned back to Raven he was met with a wave of dark energy that caught him flush in the chest and sent him tumbling off the building, landing with a crash as his body collided with the trashcans below in the alleyway.

It took a few moments for him to gather his bearings and sit up from his downed position. With a grunt he pushed the trashcans off of him and staggered to his feet.

"Okay…maybe the sarcastic remark wasn't the best route to go. Damn there was some force behind that attack. Going to have to be careful with that one."

He quickly checked to make sure the diamond was unharmed and with a sigh of relief found that it wasn't. He placed it back in its container. His eyes widened as he heard a noise and turned to see his attacker standing before him. He chuckled.

"You know we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. Anyway of making it up to you miss Doom and Gloom?"

Raven's eyes narrowed at the nickname. And shot another energy blast at the thief. This time Ichigo was ready and dodged the attack by leaping up and catching one of the fire escapes rails attached to the building. Raven knew right then that this wasn't a normal thief she was dealing with. His reflexes were to fast and no regular human could leap up to that height.

As Ichigo hung from the rail he chuckled. "You know I'm starting to think you really want to hurt me."

Before the two could continue the sound of fighting reached their ears. Seemed like the Titans and their opponents, Gizmo, Mammoth, and Jinx were getting closer. It would only take a few moments before they were upon them.

"Well Doom and Gloom, it would seem we're at an incline. Time to make a decision. Go and fight with your friends against your original targets, or stay here and keep the charming thief company." Ichigo said with a cheeky smile from underneath his mask

Raven frowned and turned from him. "I don't see anything charming about a thief. I'm pretty sure the guys can handle those three. We have before, and besides, even with me here we still outnumber them."

When she turned back to him her eyes widen. He vanished. A voice spoke behind her sending a shiver up her spine.

"You should never let your guard down when confronting a enemy. Thought you would learn that as long as you've been doing this hero stuff."

Raven growled as her hands began to glow, and without warning she twisted her body around and went to thrust them at Ichigo but to her shock, he caught her wrists. She kept her scowl in place as she locked eyes with her assailant. He was a good bit taller then her and had a strong grip.

"tsk tsk tsk. That's not very polite. Can't even carry on a civil conversation? Reminds me of a certain 2nd squad captain." Ichigo said.

Raven had no clue of what he was talking about. The next thing she said nearly caused Ichigo to face vault though.

"Can I ask you something. Why is it I feel a demonic aura coming from inside of you? It's faint, but it's there."

Ichigo was surprised to say the least. How in the hell could someone from this world know about his inner beast? Then again he also sensed something inside of this girl as well, so he said the first thing that came to mind.

"I'll answer that, if you answer the same question."

Before she could reply she lost consciousness. Ichigo sighed. He performed an low level kido that sent shockwaves through Raven's body that sent her into a blissful sleep. Thankful to Rukia, Momo, and Retsu Unohana for teaching him some basic offensive, defensive, and healing spells. And in desperate matters, he had learned three particularly powerful spells from Tessai. The only use for those were destruction.

He smiled and scooped the unconscious titan up, holding her bridal style and headed toward the sound of the battling Titans and Hive was pacing back and forth in his office. He hadn't heard from Ichigo in hours. From what he knew of the situation the job had been compromised. He started running the possibilities in his mind. One the titans had shown up and blown the plan all to hell. Two some of Jump's other villains had decided to hit the museum. It surely wasn't unheard of. And lastly another thief, may had compromised the job. Jimmy figured it was unlikely, he had the words of the city's other prominent thieves they would stay clear of the museum tonight. Then again they were thieves and their word wasn't worth a continental fuck. But the one glaring problem, no self-respecting thief would detonate a explosive and bring that unwanted attention to them. So it was either villains or mercenaries.

Jimmy sat down and leaned back closing his eyes. But his eyes shot open when Naomi busted through his door.

"What's wrong?"

"Jim! It's De Luca! He's Back!"

Jimmy shot to his feet. This was not good. This was going to get ugly quick.

"Alessio is here? Is he alone?"

Naomi shook her head. "No! He brought two along with him! And it's not his nephews!."

Jimmy knew what that meant. Alessio was serious. He probably had two of his enforcers with him. He never left Gotham unless he wanted to handle business personally, and that business usually ending up in the harbor at the bottom of the ocean…or worse.

Jimmy quickly made his way to his cabinet and opened up showing an arsenal of firearms. He placed a pistol in his holster. "Naomi , listen carefully we don't have much time. Take this Colt and go and hide in the storage room. And promise me that no matter what you will stay put."

Naomi, the poor girl was shaking. "No I'm not letting you do this…"

"Naomi! This isn't up for debate, go now!"

She reluctantly left. Jimmy made his way out to see three men waiting at the bottom of his steps. The two enforcers he didn't pay attention to, it was the man in the middle.

Alessio De Luca. A man renowned for being the Mobster Caesar. He had nothing growing up, but built an criminal empire. In his late 40s now. He had a full head of blackish grey hair. Clean shaven. He was lean man nearing 6ft tall. His eyes were a dull brown, with his signature scar running down his left eye. He wore a expensive suit, covered with a long coat, and he was wearing a fedora. He flicked a cigarette out as he began to speak.

"Why if it isn't the illustrious Jimmy Jay. I'm glad you're here, be a shame if I had to go to your house. So disrespectful to go to another man's home, for something so unpleasant, wouldn't you agree? By the way, where is that beautiful wife of yours? She was very polite on the phone as I recall."

"Not here." Jimmy answered sharply.

"Oh is that a fact? Then you wouldn't mind my boys searching the building?"

Without hesitation Jimmy kicked the nearest enforcer in the mouth and lunged for De Luca. He never made it. As he neared De Luca he was snatched out of air by the other enforce and forcefully thrown to the ground.

"Jimmy my boy. You sure didn't think this one through did you? Why not just shoot me?"

"And threaten an all out war with the Gotham bosses? Not that stupid, De Luca. Figured if I could get a hold of your scrawny neck, it would give you enough incentive to back off."

"That was always your flaw Jimmy. Too idealistic, too independent. Not knowing when you should fall in line, instead you want to fight. Speaking of which, where's this help you had that ran off my nephews earlier?"

Jimmy laughed despite the blood coming from his mouth. "You really are an idiot.'

The smile soon disappeared when De Luca brought his hand down and smashed his fist against Jimmy's cranium. "Maybe that took a little vinegar out of you. Now tell me who it was."

"Your nephews lied De Luca. Their pride couldn't take getting their asses handed to them by one guy. So they made up a story about some guy helping me. Even you know you can't rely on those two incompetent bastards."

"No way am I letting Ichigo take the fall for this…"

Alessio actually nodded in agreement. "As much as I wish to disagree with you my friend, they do seem to make fools out of themselves a lot. I can actually see them making up a lie about it, so I guess I'll agree with you on this."

Jimmy made it to one knee before De Luca's shoe collided with his jaw sending him in a heap to the floor.

"That was for insulting my family. They may be idiots, but their still my nephews."

Alessio looked to his men and made a gesture. "Finish him."

The enforcers dragged him to his feet and began to beat the hell out of Jim. As one held him, the other one worked his body with hooks and uppercuts. Then he made his way to catching Jim's faces with straight jabs, overhand rights. After they were done they dropped Jim's limp body to the floor. He was barely breathing when he felt his head be jerked up by his hair. De Luca spoke.

"Now don't you worry about Naomi, she'll be joining you just as soon as we pay your house a little visit."

He dropped Jim's head and with one final shot, he nailed Jimmy's head with a kick to the , with Raven still in his arms gazed across the battle field from his spot on top of a neighboring apartment. The titans were doing more then holding their own. They seemed to have the other three opponents on the ropes so far. He sighed as he gently laid Raven down and jumped to the ground to get a better look of the battle as he landed he saw the pink haired girl that was fighting against the titans get slung against a building…hard.

"Damn that look like it hurt." He muttered.

He was shocked that she tried to stand back up. The fact that she spat out some blood wasn't helping things either. She locked eyes with Ichigo and noticed that it was the same guys from the museum.

She growled. "You…"

"Small world huh?" Ichigo replied before getting hit with one of Jinx's hex bolt right to the center of his chest. He stood unwavering but damn did that shit hurt.

"Was that it? I expected…more?" He asked while walking towards her.

Jinx was at a loss for words, no one had ever taken a hex bolt, let alone one that was flush and was unaffected. Just who was this guy?

As he neared her, he stopped. "What is it with all the girls I meet, wanting to kick my ass?"

Jinx struggled out. "Must be a knack."

This actually caused Ichigo to chuckle. "It must be."

Jinx smiled at this, before passing out.

"Hey! Hey are you alright?"

He was shaking her. She wasn't responding. So he did the one thing he could think of and scooped her up In his arms.

"Got to get her to the old man's clinic, how do I keep getting myself mixed up in this crap!"

As Ichigo was ready to use flash step he heard a bellowing scream.

"Hey where in the hell do you think you're going with her!?"

Ichigo was about to retort as he turned around came eye to waist with a giant. Ichigo looked up to see the snarling man…er beast. This must be the one they call Mammoth.

"Answer my question now!"

Ichigo leaped up in the air and delivered his knee to the jaw of Mammoth who in turn crumpled to the ground. Before Mammoth could sit up Ichigo planted his foot on the downed man's chest. As much as Mammoth struggled he couldn't move, how could someone so much smaller then him have this kind of power? He growled as Ichigo spoke.

"Where do think I'm going?! She needs help and I know a place that will do just that. Do you want her to get caught even more in the crossfire in her current state?"

As much as he wanted to rip this man apart, Mammoth couldn't disagree. He may not act like it but he cared for Jinx and Gizmo, he felt like a older brother to them.

"I didn't think so. Now listen carefully. Kurosaki's Clinic. Got it?"

Mammoth dumbly nodded.

"Good. Now get your bald midget friend over there as soon as you can, and lose the titans. Retreat or do whatever and head there. I can get there pretty quick, and I've been healing her through some of my kido since we've began talking. She's in good hands."

Mammoth nodded as he was allowed back to his feet. "Just get her to safety. I'll be in your debt."

And with that Ichigo was Kurosaki growled as he made his way down his stairs, still half asleep muttering to himself. Who the hell is knocking on his door at this time of night?

The knocks became louder. "I'm coming, I'm coming! Calm down."

As he jerked the door opened he snarled. "Who the hell…is…it?"

He slowly finished his sentence seeing a masked man, holding the fragile form of a pink-haired girl in his arms, bleeding from the mouth."

"Bring her in quickly to the table." He spoke quickly as he went to the sink and began washing his hands. This certainly was a first for him. He dealt with the common sicknesses people came down with and the usual broken bone cases, but nothing of this severity. Two strangers showing up to his doorstep in the dead of the night wasn't all that seldom.

Ichigo placed Jinx gently on the table. The healing kido he had been using on her did it's job. Now it was up to his old man. He had many powerful healing spells, so it shouldn't be a problem for him to get her to fixed up.

Ichigo got up and made his way to the door before being cut off by his unsuspecting father.

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to wait for her to wake up?"

Ichigo muttered. "I don't really know her, just kind of found her in that state. I couldn't just leave her like that, could I? Besides two of her acquaintances are on their way here to get her as we speak."

Isshin nodded. "Well how will I tell if it's them?"

Ichigo scoffed. "Anybody else you suspecting this late to show up to your clinic?"

Isshin shook his head.

"Didn't think so. Besides, you'll know them when you see them, believe me."

Isshin nodded and went back to treating Jinx, as Ichigo left through the door he spoke.

"Thanks Goat-chin."

Isshin's eyes widened at the remark and whipped around to see nothing but thin air.

"Son…"

Ichigo finally made it back to Jimmy's place and pulled his mask off while he opened the door and began pleading his case.

"Now before you two jump down my throat, let me explain why I went on with the mission…the hell!?"

On the ground before him was Jimmy's body with Naomi cradling his bloodied head. It looked as she had been crying for hours.

"Ichigo…De Luca…he came to the store while you were gone. Jimmy…told me to hide…"

Ichigo nearly lost it. He couldn't describe the amount of anger. Naomi's eyes widened as Ichigo began to thrash about and clutch his head and she could of sworn she saw his eyes become a golden color for a moment. He finally calmed himself down and kneeled down beside Jim and held his hands out.

Naomi was about to ask what he was doing when she noticed his hands began to glow, and after a few minutes Jimmy started coughing.

"Jimmy!"

The injured man began to stir. "Goddamn…I'm getting to old for this shit."

Naomi went from overjoyed to threatening her lover. "What did I tell you! But no you had to go out there by yourself! And you got beat up!"

Jimmy gave a toothy grin. "You think I look bad, you should see the other guys."

Naomi laughed as she hugged him tightly.

"Thank you so much Ichi, your always tend to show up and save the day."

Ichigo scoffed. "Yeah it's starting to become a nuisance."

Jimmy retorted. "Yeah fucker, making me look bad."

Ichigo smiled before turning serious. "Get some rest Jim."

Jimmy nodded and closed his eyes, and within minutes he was soundly asleep.

The infamous Kurosaki scowl was plastered across the young thief's face as he started walking with a purpose toward his boss's office. And became going through the filing cabinets furiously. Naomi had gotten a comforter and pillow for Jimmy and found Ichigo searching through a variety of vanilla envelopes. He would find one, skim it, then throw it away.

Naomi finally broke his concentration. "Ichigo what are you doing?"

"I'm going after De Luca. He's not walking away from this."

Naomi was PISSED! "Are you out of your fucking mind!? You'll be killed! De Luca is not someone you fuck with! Did you see what he did Jim!? It's not worth it! We'll just go underground until this blows over."

Ichigo growled. "This isn't something that just blows over Naomi! He nearly beat Jimmy to death, and what do you think he would of done if he found you!? HUH!? I'm not running from this! I wont have you and Jimmy living in fear of this bastard."

She snatched the envelope out of Ichigo's hands. "Ichigo there is a very thin line between bravery and stupidity, you know that right?"

Ichigo sighed. "Naomi do you trust me?"

She nodded. "Of course I do but tha-"

"Then listen carefully. Is there somewhere you and Jim can go, that De Luca doesn't know anything about?"

"Yeah my mom lives a few hours away."

Ichigo had finally gotten Jimmy situated in the backseat of Naomi's car he and her made their way back to Jim's office.

Ichigo spoke. "You guys got the blueprints to every building in Jump City right?"

She nodded and pointed to the filing cabinet to the corner of the room. Ichigo began to thumb through files and finally grinned when he got his desired envelope.

"Naomi, by this time tomorrow I promise you this. You and Jim will never have to worry about De Luca again."

As he placed the file down and began to walk out the door she picked it up and read it. Her eyes went wide when she found out what the blueprints were.

"Ichigo why the hell do you need these blueprints for!"

Ichigo grinned as he pulled his mask back on. "If I'm going after De Luca, I'm going to need a better suit."

She sighed. "This day just keeps getting better and better."

She walked out to her car after slapping the file down, which caused the blueprints to fly out and land of the floor. It read only two words.

Titans Tower.