Third Person POV

The Visords noticed the change in Shinji. It was nearly immediate. Ever since that hollow had reached out to him, Shinji's spirits were high as a kite and his depression long gone. He was filled to the brim with hope… and a few unanswered questions. If the hollow had spoken true, those purchases on his card…

~Could she have been pregnant? Was that what was so wonderful and terrible? ~

He scanned over the items in the list of purchases again. Everything for infants was done in twos.

~Twins…~

Then he recalled Hiyori having to change her shirts after coming home, the stains on them… He remembered Rose disappearing for a while, too. All this time… had they known she was alive and… did she have children?

"That heart was not lost, that life was not taken… it was merely removed from that time and place… to where it would not hurt anymore."

Those were the hollow's exact words… removed from that time and place… What did that mean? Pushing those thoughts aside, he decided he didn't care what it meant.

He was going to see her again, to hold her again. It brought elation deep into his heart.

One month… was going to feel like a lifetime.

Vasilysa's POV

Ichigo and the others returned safely nearly a week later… and boy did they all have stories to tell. Chad, naturally, really didn't say much, but Orihime and Ichigo could talk your ears off for hours. Uryu, I noted, seemed to have lost his power completely. When I had confronted him about it, he had been sullen and soft-spoken… so I told him that he was the greatest hero I knew, willing to sacrifice everything for the ones he loves… and it seemed to mean a lot to him to hear that from me. I was relieved to also learn that Ichigo held no grudge against Kisuke nor myself. He knew who we were now… but all Ichigo had told me was he was grateful I had never really lied to him about myself.

Now that my power was back, I would often spar with Ichigo while Kisuke and Yoruichi handled the boys nearby, watching. However, much to Ichigo's frustration, I would always refuse to release my zanpakuto.

"Why won't you fight me for real?!" he finally demanded. I sighed and put Durnehviir away.

"Because, I would not be fighting you as a Soul Reaper," I answered him. "I'd be fighting you… as a Halfling. My energy would be sensed far from this room… and there are still those that would see me destroyed. That is why I do not fight you at my full ability. Do you understand?"

"Perhaps I can be of assistance," Tessai offered, creating a barrier. With a low sigh, I merely flicked it and it crashed back down, startling the three people who knew how powerful that particular barrier was.

"That was just a flick of my finger," I reminded them. "Imagine if I let an actual attack touch it."

Tessai, Yoruichi, and Kisuke looked at me with a newfound respect.

"You held back a lot in the Soul Society," Yoruichi stated. I nodded. "You didn't need my training at all, did you?"

I shook my head.

"I just needed my body and mind to be broken so I could master Durnehviir's technique allowing me to borrow his eyes to see through all illusions placed before me, including Kyoka Suigetsu."

Now they were stunned.

"Yes, I knew the true nature of Sosuke's zanpakuto," I continued, answering their questions before they could say them. "Gin told me as soon as he learned it… and how to avoid being affected by it. However, the only way to do that would require for Sosuke to trust you enough to allow you near his blade before it can be drawn."

"You knew Gin and Aizen?" Ichigo asked. I smiled softly.

"Gin was like a son to me," I answered him. "He may seem evil… but I assure you he is not. He has everyone's best interests at heart. As for Sosuke… it's complicated."

Ichigo, fortunately, trusted me enough to let it go at that.

"Then allow me to set up multiple barriers of higher quality," Tessai offered, putting up over twelve of them. I sighed softly and started flicking each one… until they all dissolved.

"Not strong enough, Tessai," I stated. "Allow me to put up the barrier instead."

"Can you do that?" Yoruichi asked, surprised. "Maintain a barrier, hold back your power as to not actually harm Ichigo, and fight him while he is at full strength?"

I nodded and slammed my fist into the ground. Out of the dirt, surrounding us, rose dark red walls, webs of black lining each one. I then set up a second and third barrier, the second being green and the third being blue. Only then did I turn to Ichigo.

"Do not hold back on me," I told him, raising Durnehviir. I would not release my zanpakuto until I had no other choice.

"Bankai!" Ichigo yelled, releasing it completely. I merely watched, my eyes bored a bit.

~So… a Bankai that increases speed… how Ichigo. ~

He came at me with everything he had, but I still sensed he was holding back.

"You're still holding back, Ichigo," I stated. "Are you afraid? Afraid of that part of you that took part of the battle with Byakuya from you?"

Ichigo froze.

"Do not be afraid of it, boy," I told him. "You are not alone. There are others that struggled the same way you do. Do not fear that part of you, that powerful being inside you. Only when the two of you can start to work together can you achieve the power you require… to even cut a Halfling."

Then I attacked. Even holding back, Ichigo was struggling to keep up, struggling to block me. His reiatsu was all over the place, struggling to hold up to mine, though mine wasn't even exposed. I could see his frustration growing… until I finally threw him through the barrier, crashing into Tessai, making them both go through four cliffs before they finally came to a stop.

"Ichigo," I said, noting that he was looking at me in disbelief, just like everyone else. "That was not even a tenth of the power I command… and you think to handle my full power? Do not be a fool. At your current level, I would kill you with my finger alone."

I stopped entirely, absorbing my reiatsu again as I started walking towards my boys.

"When you are ready, I will fight you properly," I said, my voice even. "Until then, keep fighting and getting stronger. Do not fear what you are or that creature within you. In time, you will learn just how much you need him… and he needs you."

Then I took both Enra and Yukiya and left the shop entirely.

I felt the sun on my face as I slowly woke up. It was so peaceful… finally. I rubbed my head softly and glanced at the clock.

"OH SHIT!"

My yell woke the boys, causing them to start wailing. I struggled to hurry into my uniform as I also tried to soothe my boys… then just gave up completely. I groaned mentally and sat down, feeding both my boys at once.

~So much for getting to school on time… why did you boys have to keep me up all night? Why did you have to get so sick? ~

I sighed heavily.

~It's going to be lunchtime by the time I get to school now… I'd best call the school. ~

So, I dialed from my cell.

"Hello, I'm Vasilysa Kurosaki," I introduced. "I'm running a bit late."

"Boys keep you up?"

I smiled softly. Miss Ochi had always been so kind to me.

"Yes," I answered. "I'm so sorry. I'll be there as soon as I can get them ready. Please let me know how much I missed and leave any missed assignments with Ichigo for me."

"Of course," she answered. "I hope to see you around lunch, Miss Kurosaki."

"Lysa is the one calling?"

"Did the boys keep her up again?"

"Is she even coming?"

"Alright class, back to the subject at hand," Miss Ochi said, getting them back on track, hanging up. I smiled softly. It was nice to know my classmates worried about me. It warmed my heart deeply.

After another hour, I had my boys in their bassinettes and was on my way to school, my backpack swung over my shoulder, the diaper bag over the other. I hurried as fast as I could, choosing to take a huge risk and flash there. I appeared just outside the gates and quickly made my way in and up to the classroom. Predictably, as soon as I entered, my boys were taken by giggling, cooing girls and I was free to drop my bags next to Ichigo.

"Here's the assignments you missed," he told me, pushing them towards me. I smiled softly.

"Thanks, Ichi," I answered, taking it. "Did I miss anything good?"

"Not really," he replied. "Just a new student. He'll be back in a few minutes and I can introduce you."

"Sounds like—"

"V-Vasilysa…"

I froze, hearing a voice I had only reached through others… My heart started to race in my chest as I slowly turned around, my eyes meeting shocked brown ones.

"Wait a minute! How do you know the gorgeous Vasilysa?!" Keigo was yelling at Shinji, not that the man heard him at all.

"Hello, Shinji," I greeted, my voice barely a whisper. It was like the whole class was holding their breath, now having seen our exchange clearly.

"It's like he's seen a ghost…"

"They know each other?"

Slowly, his feet carried him to me, to stand right in front of me… Slowly, hesitantly, he reached his hand up to cup my face, the touch so light I wasn't sure I felt it, like he thought I would disappear. With a warm smile, I closed my eyes and leaned into his hand, placing mine over it as I looked back up at him.

"Shinji… My Shinji…"

My voice was warm and sweet… and whatever restraint he had broke in that moment. He kissed me hard, passionately, pulling me tight against him. I gasped at the sudden move, then just melted into him, holding him back, my arms quickly sliding up around his neck. When he picked me up, I felt him flash somewhere, but didn't care. Part of me knew it would have shocked our classmates and probably would have unnerved poor Ichigo… but at that moment, I couldn't care.

He kissed me like he had been dying in a desert and I was fresh water, like I was more sacred than all the temples combined.

"Vasilysa…"

His voice and his lips trembled as he pulled back from me, looking down into my eyes.

"Please tell me this isn't a dream…"

I smiled softly and kissed him tenderly, barely registering that he was using a shaking hand to try and push a key into a lock. With a soft giggle, I placed my hand over his and steadied him, helping him unlock the door and open it. I wasn't given much time to think after that as his kiss overwhelmed me, sent all my senses to their highest level. He picked me up once more, kicking the door shut behind us, like he was terrified to let me go. I felt him kick off his shoes and kicked my own shoes aside.

Once inside what I knew to be his bedroom, he set me down once more and just looked at me.

"S—"

He pressed a finger to my lips to silence me, his eyes pleading with me just to let him have this. So, I fell silent and just let him look at me, let his eyes re-memorize every inch of my form. His chest started to nearly heave with every breath, his eyes filling with unshed tears, making me ignore his request and pull him to me, into a soft kiss.

"I have missed you so," he whispered, leaning his head against mine. I smiled softly.

"I know," I admitted softly. "Thus the reason I reached out to you two weeks ago… or at least, my hollow blood did."

He froze.

"I borrowed the voice of your Sakanade to hide my own… but I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit by and watch you get drunk for some pointless reason, Shinji Hirako, least of all on my account."

"How long?" he asked quietly.

"I've been here for about a year," I answered softly. "I'll gladly explain all that to you, nothing held back anymore… but please, not this second…"

I lightly tangled my hand in his hair.

"I just… need you."

And his restraint broke once more, lying fifty feet behind us as he came against me hard, devouring my sanity, my being, with every powerful kiss, with every touch of his hands. His lips left mine to kiss all over my face, my eyes, my nose, my cheeks… like he wanted to learn me all over again. I was struggling to be patient, struggling against my hollow blood, against the instincts I knew I could no longer fight.

"Shinji… I'm sorry," I told him softly, urgently. "But you'll have to take your time later."

And my hollow blood rose up, shoving him back forcefully, throwing him from me onto his bed. His eyes widened in shock, though it didn't last as I leapt over, straddling him quickly, kissing him hungrily, passionately. My own restraint was long gone as my hands grabbed fistfuls of his shirt… and tore it away, throwing it aside. I heard him gasp as his eyes darkened in arousal. I saw the hollow swimming in his eyes as he fought against it.

"Stop fighting him," I growled, my voice low, possessive. "I want all of you, both sides of you."

And he gave in. The change was immediate as he flipped us, his hands holding my hips bruisingly tight. He bit down on my lip, making me moan and arch into him, my hungry nails raking down his back. He growled lowly, the sound feral and dark… and causing a shiver of pure arousal to rip through me as I kissed him hard. My own shirt was quickly torn as he tossed the remnants aside, his hips gyrating against mine, making me gasp and moan, making my hips answer every sinful thrust, every teasing movement.

His mouth left mine to descend down my neck, biting ravenously at the base, making me cry out in pleasure, arching hard against him.

"Gods, yes!"

His hands soon tore my skirt away as well, throwing it aside with rapid haste. I was wildly thrusting my hips against his, desperately needing him, making him hiss and curse my name in a low, feral growl.

"Shinji, please!" I begged. He didn't even bother unfastening his own pants, tossing the shreds aside as he returned to me. As I tore away his boxers, he hungrily shredded my silken panties. Feeling that stiff rod against my heated, soaked flesh, was driving me crazy. With a low growl of impatience, I rolled us, taking command of this encounter once more, thrusting that length deep inside me in seconds. We both moaned at the sensation, him throwing his head back, baring his neck for my hungry mouth. Every bite, every lick… it only seemed to increase his pleasure… as if the near-frantic thrusts of my sex on his cock weren't.

Abruptly, he rolled me and took charge, his thrusts rough and fast. The grip he had on my hips was definitely leaving bruises, but I didn't care, answering his every thrust with one of my own.

"F-fuck…"

His voice was deep, a chorus of two… and I knew I had him, my blood knew I had him!

"Shinji…" I growled lowly, then met his animalistic gaze with my own. "Mine!"

And I sank my teeth into the juncture between his shoulder and his neck, making him roar out, the sound entirely inhuman as he came hard, pumping me full of his seed. As his blood spilled into my mouth, I swallowed it all, licking his wound, sucking on it. After a few minutes, he grabbed a handful of my hair and jerked my head back, exposing my own neck to him.

"Mine," he hissed and sank his teeth in. I screamed his name to the heavens, my vision going white as my orgasm ripped through me. When I finally came out of the ecstasy-induced euphoria, I was trembling, shaking in his arms. I could still feel the orgasm as if it was still coursing through me. He wasn't even attempting to hold himself up right now, letting himself lay on me, breathing hard.

"What… the hell… was that?" he asked breathlessly. I chuckled softly and ran my fingers through his shortened hair soothingly.

"That was my alpha claiming his beta," I answered softly. "I've been fighting my instincts around you for far too long… and I knew your hollow would only fight you harder the further we progressed intimately. A hollow will always be driven to claim what belongs to them."

"While I take a breather… tell me everything," he said softly and I chuckled, enjoying the fact that he was worn out.

"Let me show you instead," I answered.