After he defeated Grimmjow, Ichigo and his friends ran down the dark tunnel that Grimmjow claimed it would take them to Las Noches, Aizen's lair and where he is holding Orihime.

"Ichigo, are you sure about this? We could be walking right into one of Aien's traps." Uryu said.

"I get that, but if this means we can rescue Orihime, it's worth the risk." Ichigo said.

"Heads up, we're coming to the end of the tunnel." Renji said as they saw light at the end of the tunnel. Once they made it through, they landed in sand and Aizen's palace was just ahead of them.

"Looks like this is it." Rukia said.

"Orihime is somewhere inside. We're going to get her out." Ichigo said and made a charge for the palace.

"Wait for us!" Rukia said and the others went after him.

…

Aizen

Aizen already became aware that Ichigo and his friends arrived in his home. He was watching them on a monitor as we speak.

"Well, we haven't seen those kids in a long time." Gin and Kaname entered Aizen's domain and saw Ichigo and his friends were heading towards their base.

"It's obvious that they came to retrieve Orihime Inoue." Aizen said.

"How did they even get here?" Kaname said.

"I suppose we could blame Kisuke Urahara or the Soul Society, but the real culprit is Grimmjow." Aizen said. "He made a bet and lost."

"Figures." Gin said.

"What are we going to do? The preparations for departure have been made." Kaname said.

"There is no need to be concerned. Everything is going just as I thought it would." Aizen said. "Let them try. It's only a matter of time until they reach the inevitable. I only need three of our followers. Alert the remaining two about our guess and make sure that they entertain them."

…

Orihime

Orihime hardly ever moved in her room. She couldn't do much of anything, but sit in there and behave like a good prisoner. She heard her door open and Ulquiorra came in.

"Is something wrong?" Orihime said.

"It would appear that your friends have come to rescue you." Ulquiorra said.

"What? Ichigo and the others are here?" Orihime said.

"Yes, but it does them no good." Ulquiorra said. "I already defeated Ichigo once and I let him go because I did not find him worthy of being destroyed. This time will be different." He went over and grabbed Orihime's wrist.

"What are you doing?" Orihime said as he dragged her along.

"You are still under my care until Lord Aizen says otherwise." Ulquiorra said. "If it is you that they have come for, I have to keep you protected. It will also give Ichigo Kurosaki another reason to duel me and that is where I will finish him off."

…..

Yammy

The giant, Yammy, was feasting upon some meat. Ever since he lost to Ichigo, he's been trying his best to get stronger. He heard someone come in his room and saw it was Gin.

"What do you want?" Yammy said.

"We have some intruders. Lord Aizen needs you to take care of them while the rest of us head to Karakura Town." Gin said. "Of course, you'll have Ulquiorra and that Orihime to keep you company."

"You want me on pest control?" Yammy said.

"Would you have a change of attitude if I told you that one of them is Ichigo Kurosaki?" Gin said.

"Ichigo Kurosaki? That punk that crushed me? That does give me a change of attitude." Yammy said. He got up and headed out to face them.

…

Ichigo

Ichigo and his friends arrived to the palace and they were looking for a way inside.

"Why isn't there a gate or something?" Ichigo said.

"If the only entrance is all the way on the other side, I think I'm going sue someone." Renji said.

"Should we climb in through a window?" Chad said.

"I don't see any windows and we don't have any climbing gear for a wall like this." Uryu said. Rukia walked to the top of a sand dune to get a better look of the place. She looked around on the wall and saw a hole in it.

"Guys, there's an opening right over there." Rukia said. All of them got up to where she was and saw it.

"Good eye, Rukia." Ichigo said. All five of them went down to try and get inside, but Uryu saw something move in the sand.

"Wait!" Uryu said.

"What's the matter? Orihime is inside. Let's get in there, find her, and get out before Aizen can do anything about it." Ichigo said.

"I think it's too late for that." Uryu said. Bursts of sand came from all around them and monsters were coming out of the sand.

"What are those things?" Renji said.

"Duel monster spirits. These must have been the ones that Aizen conquered and threw into slavery." Rukia said. "He must have brought them to guard the palace."

"What do we do?" Renji said.

"We fight." Ichigo said as all of them activated their duel disks. "Come out, Zangetsu."

"Rise, Zabimaru."

"I summon you, Quincy Quattro."

"Go, Brazo Gigante Diablo."

"Let's do this, Sode no Shirayuki." All five of them summoned their best monsters to fight off against all the monsters.

"You think you guys can hold them off? I'm going in for Orihime." Ichigo said.

"You'll never be able to find her by yourself in that huge place?" Uryu said.

"I've got to try." Ichigo said as he made for a run at the hole in the wall, but some of the spirits got in her way. "Move it! Zangetsu, get them out of the way with Piercing Heaven." Zangetsu slashed at the monsters and destroyed them and was almost inside.

"Hold it!" Ichigo looked up and saw Yammy dive down and crashed into the ground with him standing in his way.

"Not you again." Ichigo said.

"I'm surprise you remember me since it's been so long." Yammy said.

"I don't have time for you. Get out of my way or else." Ichigo said.

"Or else what? I'm twice your size." Yammy said. "If you want to get in there, the only way is through me." Ichigo didn't see any other way around. He was about to accept that challenge, but hesitated because explosions out of nowhere were taking down the duel monster spirits.

"What's going on?" Ichigo said.

"What's the big idea, Ichigo?"

"Why did you leave without consulting us?" The dust cleared up and Kenpachi and Byakuya were standing on both of his sides.

"Brother?" Rukia said.

"It looks like we finally caught up to you." The rest of them saw that Unohana and Mayuri were with them as well.

"What are the four of you doing here?" Renji said.

"You kids grew impatient. I finally finished my machine and tracked down Aizen that got us here." Mayuri said.

"You guys left before we did so we dived in after you." Kenpachi said.

"What possessed you to come here without us?" Byakuya said.

"We saw an opportunity and went for it to get Orihime back." Ichigo said.

"Who are you people?" Yammy said.

"That is simple. We are your enemy." Byakuya said.

"Get in line. I get him first." Kenpachi said.

"Why? I got here before you did?" Byakuya said.

"Please boys, you shouldn't be fighting each other." Unohana said.

"Now's my chance to get in." Ichigo said. He was able to sneak past Yammy and get inside Las Noches.

"Where are you going?" Yammy said as he was about to go after him.

"Big guy, you're fight is over here." Kenpachi said.

"It is with me." Byakuya said.

"Ha! How about I save both of you the trouble and take both of you on." Yammy said.

"Oh boy. We might as well find place to keep cover or else we're going to get caught in the destructive power." Mayuri said. All three of them turned their duel disks on and got themselves ready for the duel.

"Duel!" All three said.

….

Aizen

The time he has been waiting has finally arrived. Himself with Gin and Kaname were ready to step inside the black tunnel and Karakura Town is on the other side.

"Everything is set." Kaname said.

"Excellent." Aizen said as he stepped inside. He casually walked through until the end came and he was in the city. He had company that he was already expecting. The other members of the Soul Society were standing right in front of them.

"We've been waiting for you, Aizen." Yamamoto said.

"I knew you would be here." Aizen said. "All is just how I knew it would be. All that is left for me to do is defeat you and form the portal to the duel monster spirit world." The time of dueling for fun or challenges are over. Now, the duels hold the fate of everything.