Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Maybe someday, when I am a super successful author on par with J.K. Rowling, I'll have the money to purchase the rights. When that happens, I will immediately see about getting NQaP animated. I really want to see some of those scenes on a TV screen.

Reviews

#110: talesfanjmf

#120: EaSnowPw

#130: anonymous naruhinafan

Guess what? The Infamous Man took up the Fate/Stay Night fic I put on my profile. Then he made it his own by doing Fate/Zero instead. After seeing the Servants, I'm excited. Get over to his profile and check out "Fate: Zero Sense".

Wait. Read my story first. Then go check it out. Sorry, Infamous Man. I have my priorities.

The massive Arrancar left Las Noches. Finally, Lord Aizen had given permission for him to take his revenge.

Ichigo Kurosaki, your time has come!

-x-

"Um…I think I might have enough for now…" Rukia's voice drifted from behind a pile of clothing taller than she was.

"Nonsense!" Mashiro chastised her. "A girl can never have enough clothes." She tossed a few more dresses on top of the pile. "Hurry and get to the dressing room! You need to try these on!"

"The pile's too heavy. I can't lift it…"

"Oh for crying out loud…" Hiyori stalked over and heaved the clothes off the petite Shinigami with ease. "There. Can we get on with this? I want to get done so Stupid Shinji can tell us what the hell was up with those things earlier."

"Right! C'mon, Rukia!" Mashiro dragged Rukia into the dressing room, followed by Hiyori.

Lisa continued browsing the racks. It was annoying how quickly human fashions changed. It seemed like only a short time ago, yukata were still daily wear. It was one of the reasons she liked her sailor suit: not much had changed since people first started wearing them.

Still, there were a few outfits she might like to try…

Lisa looked up as a familiar reiatsu entered the store. She looked over the tops of the racks and spotted a head of burnt orange hair. "Inoue!" She waved the girl over.

Lisa watched the black-haired girl that followed Inoue over. A friend?

"Hello, Ms. Yadomaru. How are you doing today?" Inoue asked.

"Pretty well," Lisa responded. "I assume you're here about what happened earlier today?"

Inoue nodded.

Lisa glanced at the other girl and cocked an eyebrow at Inoue.

"Ah…Tatsuki saw Ichigo earlier…when he jumped over us on his way here…"

"Oh."

"'Oh'? What's that supposed to mean?" the black-haired girl – 'Tatsuki' Inoue had called her – asked. "Orihime, I've been patient. What the hell is going on? Who is this?"

Lisa shook her head. "Let me guess. She was affected by Kurosaki's reiatsu like you and Sado, right?" Inoue nodded. Lisa pulled her glasses off and pinched the bridge of her nose. "We need to slap a limiter on that kid or something. If he had effects like this as a Substitute Shinigami, I'd really rather not see the results of normal humans being exposed to an Arrancar's reiatsu."

Inoue's friend looked ready to blow a gasket. "Will someone please explain things to me?"

Inoue turned her pleading gaze to Lisa, who rolled her eyes. "Alright, calm down. We'll get done with our errands, then go back to the warehouse and you'll have all your questions answered. Is that okay with you?"

Tatsuki crossed her arms. "Why can't you tell me now?"

Lisa waved a hand at the crowded store. "Would you like everyone here to hear that you're seeing things no one else can?" she asked quietly. Tatsuki shook her head. "I rest my case." Lisa glanced at the entrance to the dressing rooms. "They'll probably be in there for a while. I'm going to the bookstore. You're welcome to come along."

-x-

"Hiya, Momo!"

Momo Hinamori screamed in surprise, spun around and tripped over her own feet, sending the papers she was carrying flying. Through the fluttering paperwork, she saw Matsumoto smiling down at her. The Vice-Captain of the 10th bent down and started picking up the papers.

"Sorry about that. Man, you're really out of it if you didn't notice me until just now."

"I'm fine."

Matsumoto stared at her. Momo fidgeted a bit. "Momo, the Captain's worried about you. Apart from showing up to watch Captain Zaraki get his clock cleaned by that Arrancar, no one's seen you in the past few days. You ditched us the second you heard about Captain Aizen."

"I had to get back to the 5th Division. We were hit hard by the invasion."

Rangiku winced. "Sorry…I should have done better there."

"That's right, you should have," Hinamori said with a surprising amount of venom. Then her eyes widened when she saw Matsumoto flinch. "Oh no! I'm sorry! I just…" She started to tear up. "It's this whole situation…First I think Captain Aizen has been killed, then it turns out he faked it and has been playing all of us for fools…" She clutched the recovered paperwork to her chest and sniffed. "I admired him so much, Rangiku."

Matsumoto put her hand on the smaller woman's shoulder. "Hey, we all did. He was the kind of Captain everyone couldn't help but look up to. And Gin…" Rangiku scowled.

Suddenly she stood up. "C'mon. Let's go drinking."

Momo blinked at the sudden shift in attitude. "Huh?"

Matsumoto grabbed Momo by the arm and pulled her to her feet, scattering the papers again. "We're going to go get drunk and bitch about what colossal dicks the men in our lives are."

"But, Rangiku - ! Wait a minute!" Momo cried as she was hauled away to the nearest bar. "Rangiku, I still have work to do!"

-x-

Kenpachi stirred. His body felt like lead. In fact, he couldn't remember a time that he had so much trouble moving. Even his eyelids felt ridiculously heavy. With a mighty effort, he managed to force his eyes open.

He was greeted by the ceiling of the 4th Division.

"Oh hell."

"Oh, so you're awake," a pleasant voice said. Unohana leaned over him, a beautiful smile on her face. "Out for six hours. Quite a long time for you, Captain Zaraki." Kenpachi stilled as Unohana's smile went from 'frigid' to 'Your-Worst-Nightmare-Given-Form'. "I've placed a few binding spells on you. Your injuries are severe and I wouldn't want you moving around and reopening your wounds before you're completely healed."

"Oh shit."

She was pissed.

-x-

Ikkaku and Yumichika reclined under a tree, unaware of the peril their Captain was in. Kenpachi's fight with Ichigo Kurosaki was enough excitement for the day and they were ready to relax for a while.

So of course, the universe decided to screw with them.

The two Shinigami stared in shock as the sky split open, revealing an upside down view of a city full of skyscrapers.

The Living World had appeared over Soul Society.

Alarms quickly began to sound.

-x-

Tatsuki stopped dead when she got her first look at the Vizards' underground training room. She blinked a few times, then said the first thing that came to mind.

"This has got to be violating some building codes…"

Orihime smiled. "It's cool, isn't it?"

"Yeah yeah, shock, amazement, blah blah blah. Can we get on with this?" Hiyori grumbled as she walked down the stairs.

As Tatsuki descended the stairs, she started to notice an oppressive feeling in the air. By the time she was halfway down, it was getting difficult to breathe. Struggling to draw a breath, Tatsuki stumbled, and only Lisa's quick reflexes kept her from tumbling all the way to the bottom.

"Kurosaki, will you rein in that reiatsu of yours before you kill your friend?"

"Huh? Oh shit! Tatsuki!"

The suffocating pressure lessened and Tatsuki gasped, filling her lungs with sweet, beautiful air. "Wha…what was that?"

Orihime helped her to her feet. "Sorry. We've been around Ichigo so much that I don't even feel the pressure anymore. I forgot to warn you."

Tatsuki coughed. "That…was Ichigo?"

"His reiatsu, yes," Lisa said. "Aside from seeing spirits, you don't seem to have much power yet, so you didn't have any resistance to it."

"That felt like that masked thing that attacked us. Why does Ichigo feel like that?" Tatsuki asked. Tatsuki looked up when she caught a glimpse of orange hair running towards her. She took in the mask fragment and yellow-on-black eyes, so much like the monster that nearly killed her. "Oh," she said.

"Sorry, Tatsuki. Are you okay?" Ichigo asked. "Shinigami girl has been driving us up a wall and Shinji's being a moron again. You walked in right when I decided to shut them up." He looked at Orihime. "What's Tatsuki doing here?"

"I'm here because I saw you jumping across rooftops like something out of an anime! What the hell happened to you?"

"Bit of a long story, Tatsuki…"

"And I don't have the patience for you to explain it to her right now!" Hiyori yelled from the training room floor. "I want to know what those 'Blanks' were and why they attacked us!" She reached down and yanked Shinji out of boulder Ichigo had smashed him into. "Start talking, Stupid Shinji." Then she pointed at the still tied up Shinigami, who was looking a little dazed after getting a concentrated blast of Ichigo's reiatsu. "And I want to know what she's doing here!" She started tapping her foot. "Someone start talking."

-x-

Shinji stood in front of a projector screen, one hand holding an icepack against his head and the other holding a collapsible pointer. "Okay, 'Blanks 101." The projector clicked and the first slide went up, showing the Living World and Soul Society, with the Dangai between them.

"Most of you," he glanced at Tatsuki, "know how the cycle works. Human dies, receives Konso from a Shinigami, moves on to Soul Society, stays there for a while, reincarnation happens, rinse and repeat, right?" He tapped his pointer against the area on the screen labeled 'Dangai'. "But in order to get to Soul Society, one has to pass through the Dangai. Occasionally, souls get lost on the way through. No one's quite sure how that happens, since Konso provides a Hell Butterfly to guide them, but it does."

The projector clicked again, showing the same view, but this time with dots representing lost souls.

"Souls that get lost wander aimlessly for a while. Eventually," the projector clicked, showing the dots starting to congregate, "the lost souls are drawn together." Another click, and now a new realm was shown between Soul Society and the Living World. "This gathering multitude causes another dimension to appear. The Valley of Screams."

"Cheery name," Ichigo quipped.

Shinji smiled. "Isn't it? Anyway, inside the Valley, the lost souls are separated in memory and energy. The memories fuse together into something called 'the Shinenju (Memory Rosary)'. The energy that is left behind becomes the Blanks we saw today."

"Okay…so why did they attack us?" Rukia asked.

The projector clicked, showing a circle labeled 'Shinenju' surrounded by numerous Blanks.

"Blanks are naturally attracted to their memories. Normally, they search for them rather listlessly, pretty much just wandering around, hoping to run into it. However, in the presence of the Shinenju, the avatar of their memories, they become more active." Shinji tapped his chin with the pointer. "I can't recall an instance of them actually attacking anyone though…odd."

"So what do we do about them?"

Shinji shrugged. "The Valley of Screams is a naturally occurring phenomenon. I saw it happen a couple times while I was a Captain. Normally, the Blanks show up, wander around for a bit, find the Shinenju, and return to the cycle. While them attacking you all is odd, there's no reason to assume the same thing won't happen this time."

"What does the Shinenju look like?" Lisa asked.

Again, Shinji shrugged. "It varies. Usually, it takes the form of someone from the memories that comprise it."

"So maybe that white-haired guy we saw was the Shinenju?"

"Possibly."

"While this is all very interesting, can you let me go now?" the Shinigami girl asked. "I do have a job to do you know."

"You're staying here until we can get a hold of Soul Society and find out why you're here in Karakura."

"Oh come on! I'm sorry about killing those Blanks, really I am. And I'm sorry about the whole 'prostitution' thing, but you can't just keep me tied up down here! Couldn't you let me out on bail or something? This is my first trip to the Living World! There's so much cool stuff to see!"

Ichigo rubbed at his face. "You're not going to shut up until we let you out are you?"

"Nope," she said with a smile.

"Ugh. Fine." Ichigo stood up and broke the Bakudo on the girl.

"Thanks! See you later!" She turned to leave, but was stopped when Ichigo grabbed the collar of her shihakusho. "What?"

"You don't get free rein to run all over town." Ichigo looked at Shinji and the others. "I'll stick with her until we can get in contact with Soul Society."

"Meany…"

"We could keep you here if you'd prefer, Shinigami," Hiyori grumbled.

"…I have a name you know…" she pouted.

"No, we didn't know. You refused to tell us," Ichigo said as he led the way out of the Vizards' training room.

"It's Senna."

"Nice to meet you, Senna. Now come on. If I'm going to be following you around while you explore, I need to get my body…" the voices faded away as the pair left.

"Well, that's taken care of," Shinji said. "Lisa, you mind getting Urahara to call up Soul Society so we can get rid of her?"

"No problem."

"Great. Now then," he directed his attention to Tatsuki while another slide popped up on the screen, "'Shinigami, Hollows, and Everything in Between 101'."

-x-

Yoruichi cracked an eye open when she heard something ringing. She realized a moment later that it was her phone. Briefly, she considered ignoring it and going back to sleep, but decided that that if someone was trying to reach her by phone, it was probably something important.

The black cat stretched then transformed back into her human form. Yoruichi picked up her phone and looked at the screen. A smile spread across her face as she answered it.

"Hiya, Soifon! What's up? You couldn't go a full day without hearing my beautiful voice?"

"I apologize, Lady Yoruichi, but there's a bit of a situation in Soul Society."

"Didn't you already have a 'situation'?"

"This has nothing to do with Aizen. The Living World has appeared in the sky."

Yoruichi blinked. "Say what?"

"The 12th has determined it to be caused by the return of the Valley of Screams. But something like this has never happened. The Valley has grown to the point that it has connected the Soul Society and the Living World. The Captain-General has asked that you attempt to locate the Shinenju, so we can try to halt the dimension's expansion before it jeopardizes the stability of the worlds."

Yoruichi groaned. "I was looking forward to relaxing after the FUBAR my little trip to Soul Society turned into…" Yoruichi shifted through her closet, looking for something clean to wear. Then she got an idea. "Hey, why don't you come help me look?"

"Huh?"

"Two heads are better than one after all. And two sets of eyes looking are better than one. And then you can hang out after all is said and done."

"But…

"C'mon, the 2nd Division can do without you for a few days, right? I bet you haven't taken a break in the last hundred years. You need to unwind. We'll find the Shinenju, solve the problem, then we can visit a hot spring resort or something."

"…You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?"

"Nope."

"I thought as much." Soifon sighed. "Very well, I will ask the Captain-General for permission to assist in your search. You are certain this won't be an issue with Kurosaki?"

"Ichigo will get over it."

-x-

Are all Shinigami women going to be this much of a pain in my ass?

Ichigo resisted the urge to beat his head against a wall. That little bitch had ditched him! All it took was him taking his eyes off her for a moment, and she up and vanished. And that was after she spent the evening running all over town, conning him into paying for things like food and a new hair ribbon.

Then she started acting odd. She'd see something and just stare at it blankly for a minute. Considering how (hyper)active she was, just standing there seemed completely out of character for her.

Then she snuck off while his back was turned!

Okay, Senna. Hide-and-seek time is over.

Ichigo concentrated and spirit ribbons materialized around him. He easily snagged Senna's. Then his eyes narrowed when he saw the half dozen other red ribbons leading in the same direction.

And who the hell are you?

-x-

Senna wandered the graveyard. The flashes she had been getting had led her here. She stopped in front of a particular grave.

This is my family's.

She knelt before the gravestones. However, any hope of paying her respects was dashed when she was forced to dodge a sneak attack from a dark-skinned man.

Senna cart-wheeled away, shedding her Gigai the instant she stopped. "Who are you?" she demanded, hand on her Zanpakuto.

"There's no need for you to know that," he sneered, lifting his crescent-shaped weapons. "Just give up and come with us."

"'Us'?" Senna turned when she heard laughter. She saw a group of people sitting on gravestones some distance from her.

"Hurry up, Jai. Lord Ganryu won't like it if you take too long," a blue-haired man with an odd face-guard said.

"Gotcha, Riyan."

Jai surged toward her, punching at her with his blades. Senna blocked his attacks with her Zanpakuto, but Jai was too strong. He disarmed her and grabbed her by the neck. Senna tugged at his hand, trying to free herself, but his grip didn't budge.

"That was easy. Let's go," Jai said.

"Excuse me." Senna's eyes widened at the voice coming from behind Jai. A pale hand clamped down on Jai's arm and started to squeeze.

Jai screamed as the bones in his arm crunched, causing Senna to drop from his now limp hand.

Jai turned to glare at his assailant and froze when he met Ichigo's yellow eyes.

"As much of pain she is, I can't let you take Senna anywhere." Ichigo grinned, then Spartan-kicked Jai down the row of graves. Jai's comrades jumped away when the big man smashed into the grave they were sitting on.

Free of Jai, Senna wasted no time in grabbing her Zanpakuto. She snatched it up and turned to see the other four Shinigami coming for her, weapons drawn.

But Ichigo was there again. Senna watched in awe as the Arrancar stopped a sword with his bare hand like he had done to her earlier that day. Another kick sent the sword's wielder into Riyan and they both went down. Then a massive club slammed into Ichigo and an explosion engulfed him. Ichigo emerged from the blast scuffed up but uninjured and he engaged the club-wielder.

Meanwhile, the lone woman had darted around the fighting. She pulled out a pair of sickle-like weapons connected by a chain and threw one at Senna. Senna deflected it with her Zanpakuto, but the woman whipped it around for another attack. Senna leaped and back-flipped over the sickle, snagging the chain and pulling as she landed. The woman gasped in surprise as she was dragged toward Senna, who kicked her in the face, sending her sprawling.

"You little bitch! You're lucky Lord Ganryu wants you in one piece."

"And you're not, because I don't need you in one piece," Senna taunted. The wind started to pick up around her, autumn leaves surrounding her. Her Zanpakuto started to glow as she spun it.

"Bring them to the twilight! Mirokumaru!"

A cyclone formed around her as Senna's Shikai was released. Senna twirled the monk's staff, the cyclone following the motion and striking at her opponent. The woman screamed as she was picked up and thrown around by the powerful winds.

Another explosion drew her attention. She turned to see Ichigo holding one of his opponent's clubs. Apparently he had just walloped the huge man with it.

But Jai, Riyan, and the guy with the sword were back up again, triple-teaming Ichigo.

They tried to anyway.

Another cyclone directed by Senna crashed into them and tossed them away again.

Senna stepped up next to Ichigo. The Arrancar folded his arms and smirked at their downed foes.

"Anybody else want some? Or do you want to tell me who you are and what you want?"

Whatever they might have been about to say was interrupted by the sound of the air tearing apart.

All the combatants stared as the monstrous figure stepped through the Garganta.

A pair of eyes glared out of the open mouth of a Hollow mask. They scanned the fighters and focused on Ichigo.

"Ichigo Kurosaki. Time to die!"

Senna watched as Ichigo's eyes widened in shock.

"You're…Grand Fisher!" he growled.

That scene with Matsumoto and Hinamori was a pain. Emotional scenes are hard to get right.

On the other hand, I loved writing the graveyard fight. Senna didn't get to kick enough ass in the movie. She showed up, smashed a bunch of Blanks, then spent the rest of the movie as a Faux Action Girl (maybe even The Chick). Not happening here.

And the poor Dark Ones get to be the first unlucky idiots to find out just how tough an Espada-class Arrancar is. I wonder what they'll do now? Also, who laughed when Ichigo and company thought Ganryu might be the Shinenju?

Now review! And then go read Fate: Zero Sense!