Hollow Rising

Chapter 5

Brotherhood

Moving on Up…

A figure stepped out of the shadows. The Dark knight himself, Batman.

"I wouldn't but I am going to find out." The only words he said, and he was gone.

Gordon sighed. "Getting too old for this shit."

Now Ichigo had the Titans, The Batman, and Young Justice after him. Maybe just maybe, he would find a group of his own to stay with, to find shelter and sanctuary. And as he thought about it, he opened up a Jump City newspaper to find an interesting individual on the front page.

Brother Blood.

Ichigo, still decked out in the Red X outfit stood before Brother Blood. The man was simply a manipulative, conniving snake of a human being. And Ichigo used the term human being very loosely. Considered highly charismatic just as much as he was sadistic, the man had opened a school for the aspiring youth that turned to crime for a living. Blood was an older man armed with an extraordinary I.Q., rumored mind control powers, and psychic force, he was an worthy opponent, even more dangerous to cross him.

"While I am thoroughly impressed that you were able to…acquire that suit, why have you sought me out, Mr. X?" Blood asked.

"Safe haven."

Blood blinked as he relaxed back into his seat. It was simple enough. Anyone on the Titan's shit-list would want some kind of shelter from the proverbial storm that was the young heroes. This boy was an unknown though. His school had already been compromised before when Bumblebee and Cyborg invaded them as spies. Then again he was at fault for trying to sway Cyborg to their cause. Blood wanted to be in control. He nearly had all control over his students thanks to his mind abilities. All except Jinx, he learned very quickly that messing with that certain mind was a big mistake.

He clutched his head gently in remembrance. Bad luck…of course if was a mistake to mess with her. He missed a week of monitoring the students thanks to that little event.

Should he take the risk of another traitor? On the other hand, the boy must be very good at his job to infiltrate the Tower and get away with it unscathed. He could definitely use someone like him. Not many of his students had the…subtleness that the kid sitting opposite of him had.

"It's simple Blood. You provide safe haven, I provide you my skills. You need something…retrieved, you come to me then I get it for you."

Blood smiled. "Very well."

"Under one condition." Ichigo said cutting him off.

The older man leaned forward and placed his elbows on his desk while resting his hands on top of each other. "And what condition, may that be X."

"There's this pawnshop. I want it under our protection."

"It shall be done." Blood replied.

Ichigo nodded as he stood up. This went surprisingly well. He watched as Blood took lead and led him out the door.

"So, can I assume you had something to do with that horrific event that took place in Gotham? De Luca, such a shame. I heard many things about the man. Some good, others…disturbing." Blood spoke.

Ichigo remained silent. Just how the hell did Blood know about his involvement with De Luca? He had to be wary of this man.

"It's truly amazing you went to the own man's house to kill him. He had multiple men stationed yet you made little work of them. What would cause you to take such a chance?"

"Revenge is a powerful motive." Ichigo quietly responded.

"That it is Mr. X, that it is. So, are you fearless or just crazy?"

Ichigo scoffed. "try capable."

Blood nodded as he smiled. "That's an attitude that this place has sorely missed. I think you'll fit in just well around here X."

They kept walking until they got to a door, down a long hallway adorned with multiple doors. Basically a large dorm room. Only the best for Blood's students. The room was much bigger than the rest actually.

"Why is this room bigger than the others?"

Blood shrugged. "What do you expect. Captains always gets the larger rooms."

Ichigo simply nodded before realization hit him. "The hell you mean Captain!? That wasn't apart of the deal Blood!"

Blood smiled. "You will be given a team of my most trusted and gifted students. You will be given only top priority missions. No grunt work. They will follow your every order, so I'm leaving you with full responsibility over them. All decisions made will go through you. They will not report to me, only you."

Before Ichigo could retort, it hit him. He knew exactly why Blood was doing this. He was testing him. This was to see where his loyalty was. Ichigo sighed as Blood inwardly smiled in triumph.

"Give me their files."

In response Blood handed him four vanilla envelopes. His eyes widened, three of the four were familiar, he recognized them as the ones that were fighting the Titans. The pink haired one he had saved, he couldn't forget that.

"I'll look over them in my room."

Blood nodded as he turned to leave. "Report to my office tomorrow, I'll send an escort for you, then you and your team will be given your first mission. Good night X."

With that he left. Ichigo stood there momentarily.

"Creepy old bastard."

Ichigo finally sat down to his personal desk and flipped the lamp switch on and spread the four dossiers across the table.

1. Gizmo

Strengths: Intelligence, mechanical expertise.

Weaknesses: Physically Weak, temperamental problems.

2. Mammoth

Strengths: Brutish power, enhanced stamina, extremely durable.

Weaknesses: Lack of speed, intelligence, and temperamental problems.

3. Jinx

Strengths: Control over bad luck, advanced gymnastic skills, master acrobat, hand-to-hand combat skills.

Weaknesses: Psychically weak.

4. Cheshire

Strengths: Advanced martial arts skill, agility, master acrobat, enhanced speed, ninja skills.

Weaknesses: Psychically weak.

After he got done studying the files Ichigo closed his eyes in thought.

"So we've got a midget tech expert, a powerhouse, a ninja, and a wildcard in the pink-haired one. A cast of colorful character to say the least. Well…no worrying about it now."

Ichigo finally turned in for the night, wondering what awaited him next.

Ichigo woke with a stir as a knock broke him out of his deep sleep. He sat up and swung his legs over the bed's edge. He let out a sigh as he lightly tap himself on each side of his face to fully waken. He finally willed himself out of the bunk when the knocking continued.

"I'm up, I'm up. Give me a few to get ready."

The knocking ceased. He could already tell this was going to be headache. The likeability of the four Hive members to fall in line and take his orders were extremely low. Hell, he damn sure wouldn't want to take orders from someone he didn't know that well either. Then again, he did save their pink-haired friend so that might be a plus.

If he was going to do this, he was going to do it right. He wasn't going to be like a certain Kuchiki with a stick up his ass, when dealing with his squad. Smiling inwardly he could only imagine the looks on some of the faces of the Shinigami if they found out that he was leading his on unit of warriors. He still remembered the day that he actually questioned Byakuya's competence of leading squad 6th. That led to their infamous second battle. Right there at the Kuchiki compound. Since it was Byakuya that challenged Ichigo, he was given choice of venue.

Nearly everybody worthy of note showed up. Even Soi Fon, who for some reason began acting weird around him right up to the time he came to new world. Ichigo just couldn't understand it. First she fought with him, which Ichigo won. It wasn't the easiest battle, as Ichigo was used to having the advantage of speed, but those who knew Soi Fon knew that wouldn't be the case. And it wasn't. For the longest time the two went blow for blow, each in their respective Bankai state. But when Ichigo donned his mask, he easily overwhelmed her, thus defeating the second division captain. Since that event every time he saw Soi Fon she would actually bow to him, look at him for a moment, then quickly leave with a shade of red Ichigo never saw before, on her face. He once confronted Yoruichi about it, he didn't get much out of her except for a laugh and her calling him thickheaded.

Well it shouldn't have to be said but Ichigo once again defeated Byakuya. This time though, captain Kuchiki didn't leave under his own will. The fourth division had to carry him back to their own barracks. Ichigo winced thinking about the tongue-lashing he received from Rukia in front of the Kuchiki elders. See even though the battle with Byakuya was a triumph for Ichigo, it didn't come without its sacrifices. Mainly…uh… the entire west section of the Kuchiki estate was utterly destroyed. Though in private Rukia pulled him aside and gave him grin for putting Byakuya in his place once again.

That day Ichigo said something that the folks of the 13th court squad took down as a quote still used today when Byakuya gets to acting a little to highly. What was that statement? Simply this:

"Byakuya Kuchiki had a golden horseshoe stuck up his ass. Today I pulled that son of a bitch out and beat him over the head with it."

Needless to say, Renj had it engraved into a plaque which he sat with pride on his shelf inside his lieutenant office.

Ichigo quietly turned the sink on to cold, and cupped the running water in his hands and splashed himself in the face with it. He turned to the suit and gazed at it for a moment, he had done disposed of the cape but something was still off about it. He snapped his fingers when it clicked in his mind. He took grasp of each sleeve and with a mighty tug he ripped both sleeves off, leaving it sleeveless. He quickly put it on along with the Red X mask and made his way toward Brother Blood's office.

He and Blood had been conversing for nearly an hour before the door opened revealing the four people who were to be his comrades. Ichigo quietly slid back into the shadows concealing himself.

Gizmo, apparently the ringleader came in first with the others in tow. Each gave a respectful bow to Blood before taking a seat.

Blood smiled as he spoke. "I have summoned you four here, for a very important task. I am putting together a team, you all are my most trusted students so I have decided you will take part. You will not be stationed at the academy any longer, as I have set an apartment complex up for you all, to train and receive your missions. Think of it as your own Tower."

Each Hive member grinned. Blood actually trusted them enough to send them out on their own for an extended amount of time. These missions must be top priority. Gizmo was the first to speak.

"So when do you want us to report to you?"

Blood shook his head surprising them. "You will not be reporting to me. That will be the responsibility to the squad's captain."

Gizmo instantly shot up. "I nominate myself! I mean no offense to you guys but your not much leadership material." He said with a shit-eating grin, which was quickly gone with a knock to the head from Mammoth.

"Ouch! What was that for shit-stain!?" He screamed.

Mammoth shook his head. "Quit being so loud."

Blood continued. "I apologize Gizmo but the captain role has already been filled."

With that Ichigo stepped out of the shadows. Each of the Hive members stared at the skull-masked individual in front of them.

Ichigo spoke. "That's it? I expected…more."

Jinx's eyes widened. "Y-you!? You're the one who was there the night we fought the Titans! So that means you were the…one…who…carried me to that clinic."

Ichigo nodded. "That would be the logical answer. How did you know it was me? I was wearing a mask that night too."

Jinx nodded as she smile. "Yea but you said those same exact words when I hit you with a hex bolt and you were unfazed."

This caused the rest of the room to be shocked. Unfazed by a hex bolt? It was unheard of. Who exactly was donning the Red X mask? Blood narrowed his eyes at first but evilly smiled. If what was said was true, he had found a diamond in the rough with this boy joining his ranks.

Mammoth stood up immediately. "You saved her, and I said I'd be in your debt. I will fight for you, captain."

Ichigo was already hating this. He wasn't much for titles. And here he was being called captain by people he hardly even knew.

Jinx smiled. "I will follow you as well captain."

Gizmo sighed. "Well, you didn't have to help Jinx but you went out of your way to do so. I've never went at it alone without Jinx and Mammoth, not going to start now. Your word is law boss man, I'll fall in line."

Ichigo smiled underneath his mask. At least one of them wasn't calling him by title. This may not be so bad after all, well that was until he heard a scoff come from the other masked person in the room. Cheshire. She nearly growled.

"Well I don't know you, and I don't respect you. I will not follow someone's lead who is weaker then me."

Ichigo nodded. "That's understandable. I wouldn't expect you to. How about a show of strength?"

When she nodded he removed his right glove, exposing his hand. He held his palm out. Seeing her dagger Cheshire asked.

"You want me to cut your hand off you arrogant bastard?"

Ichigo chuckled. "I want you to try."

With a snarl she slashed at his hand with her dagger that flew right over Gizmo's head, who in turned jumped out of the way screaming.

The remaining members of the Hive eye's bulged out. He caught her blade barehanded. Not only that he was running his palm up the edge of the blade staring at a bewildered and shaking Cheshire.

"How do you expect to cut anyone, with a blade that's been dulled by fear?"

"F-fear?" Cheshire stuttered out.

Ichigo slowly nodded. "You join me and I will rid you of this fear. Is that acceptable?"

Cheshire dumbly nodded as he removed his hand and covered it with glove.

Ichigo turned to Blood who nodded at him. Ichigo in turned nodded back then spoke.

"Move out."

I apologize for the wait. It won't be big of a gap between update times since I've got a break coming up. And no I'm not ever abandoning this story. Again I apologize for any grammar mistakes, still haven't found a beta -_- Not many people read this but those who do, and from the reviews I've read they enjoyed it. So I'm writing for you guys and because I enjoy writing it. Not many Bleach/Teen Titans/DC Crossovers so I think it's kind of different in a good way. I've also brought out a Bleach/Avatar: The Last Airbender Crossover so check it out if you want. R&R Please. Stay safe everybody.

-BH