*dodges rotten vegetables* I'M SORRY! I know it's been forever. I don't have a decent excuse, other than laziness and the start of school. Can you ever forgive me? ; ;

So I just took a look at the review count: 211. You people freaking rock my socks, you know that? I would give you all a hug and a plateful of cookies if I could. But instead, all I can offer is my sincere gratitude and awe. Thanks to Rachel, WestAnimeBrigade, shadowanime1, Hime4life, war90, Lyhime, zodious, FlowerPearl, BleachFanJL, himelove22, MrsMoshae, white moonsun, TeddieSama, casey, JammersFlood, p17oyDONju9n (with extra thanks to you for pointing out the paragraph break problem. I'll get on that after uploading this chapter), Demonbloodfeeder, Aline, Revolation, haley, nypsy, and Napris for the reviews! And thanks to everyone who favorited or alerted this story! I don't give you guys enough love either, so thanks again!

Just as a heads up though, this chapter isn't beta-read. My beta-reader I think got really, really busy because I haven't heard from her in a few weeks (a small part of the reason why this took so long too). I'll reupload this when I get her beta-read version back. I've read over this a few times, but I apologize for any errors I might have missed.

I'll shut up in a sec, I promise. This chapter (and the next one) does have a legitimate warning: it's going to get kind of gruesome and graphic. I don't think it's any super serious, but if you get squeamish very easily, be warned. It's certainly not going to be all sunshine and roses, I can tell you that much.

Shutting up now and letting you read.

Chapter 14

The sleeping beast awakens

"This is Hitsugaya-taichou!" The young captain had his communicator to his ear as he darted through the streets of Karakura, his shinigami robes flapping behind him as he made his way towards the enemy. "I need all seals lifted on the Karakura team immediately. We are under attack! I repeat, I need all seals on myself, Abarai-fukutaichou, Matsumoto-fukutaichou, and Hinamori-fukutaichou lifted immediately!"

"Your command has been acknowledged. Lifting the seals right now."

Hitsugaya used a nearby car as a springboard to propel himself up into the air. Behind him, he could sense the three vice-captains and Rukia trailing him. As he soared into the air, he saw from the corner of his eye Ichigo running towards the invasion with Orihime on his back. He frowned at the sight, although he wasn't concerned with Ichigo's method of transporting Orihime. Is he going to be able to fight? he wondered as he hurried after them. An unpredictable temper is going to be a liability, but we need his strength.

"Hitsugaya-taichou, your seals have been lifted."

"Thank you," he said. He glanced down his shihakusho, and saw the distinct seal of the tenth division fade away. He glanced behind at the others, and pointed to his chest, signifying they should check their seals. When he received three nods, he sighed in relief and hung up his communicator. It doesn't matter if we're ready or not. We all have to fight.

From down below, he spotted Ishida and Sado hot-footing it through the streets, still wearing their school uniforms. Hitsugaya felt a twinge of guilt for having their lives once again disrupted, but like during the Winter War, it wasn't a matter of choice.

They converged just yards away from the Ichimaru and Tousen's front lines. Orihime hopped off of Ichigo's back as Ishida and Sado leapt up alongside of them, spirit bow and giant's arm appearing. The shinigami unsheathed their swords, and turned to face their opponents.

"Ara ara." Ichimaru took a step towards them, his hands hidden beneath his sleeves. "Pretty small force we got here. Kinda disappointin'."

In a flash, the Vizards appeared in front of Hitsugaya's group, their zanpakutou drawn. "Well, wouldn't want to disappoint ya now would we?" Shinji said, grinning from beneath his cap.

Tousen rested his hand on his sword. Though he was blind, his eyes seemed to scrutinize the combatants in front of him. "Yes. This is far more balanced. Justice can be served with honor this way."

"Justice?" Kensei glowered at his former squad member, resting Tachikaze on his left shoulder. "You're here to obliterate a town and kick our asses in revenge for some power-hungry wanna-be with a God complex? And you call that justice?"

"Remember who we're dealing with, Kensei," Shinji reminded him. "But if they want justice, let 'em try. 'Bout time they showed the hell up anyway."

Before anyone on the invading side could verbally retaliate, Ichigo took a step forward, and leaned close to Shinji. "Hey, where's the Vasto Lorde?" he whispered.

The elder Vizard shrugged. "Was wonderin' the same thing myself. Maybe he ditched 'em. All the better for us." He turned around, and poked Ichigo in the head. "Vasto Lorde or not, no suicide charges out of ya. I don't give a shit what I said."

"But-"

"Shuddap." Shinji elbowed him in the stomach. "Now listen. Work with Orihime-chan, okay? Good practice for ya both, and with your tendency to get the shit beaten out of ya, you'll need her."

"It'll be okay, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime helped him straighten up after having bended over from the elbow to the gut. "We can do it."

He gave her a grateful smile, and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we can. All right." He held Zangetsu out at arm's length, and stared down the enemy. "Let's do this."

"Wait." Renji had Zabimaru drawn and ready, but he seemed perplexed as he looked around. "Where's Urahara?" he asked.

"Lazy ass is probably hanging back," Hiyori muttered. "He'll come if we land in hot water, though."

"If we can't handle two traitors and a bunch of Arrancar, then that's pretty sad." Riza pulled on her Hollow mask, with the other Vizards following suit. "Let's wrap this up quickly."

Tousen gestured to several of the Arrancar with his finger, and wordlessly ordered them to charge. Twenty of the Arrancar attacked, with their commanders hanging back with the few Numero who were not chosen to go. Ichigo nodded to Orihime, and together with the others, they hurled themselves at the approaching Hollows.

Metal clanged against metal as zanpakutou met and ground against each other. Arrows were fired off, breaking apart some of the fighters and giving the Karakura team an advantage in which they pressed. Hitsugaya unleashed Hyourinmaru and flung its long chain at two of the Arrancar, driving them back from the others.

"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!" Rukia leapt back, keeping a tight grip on Shirayuki. The blade's long white ribbon fluttered about Rukia's head, but the shinigami paid no attention to it as she drew the blade back, balancing it over her shoulder with both hands. "Next dance, hakuren!" A ripple of ice shot out, knocking a few Arrancar back and helping to further disperse their group.

Hinamori exchanged blows with a tall woman Arrancar as they slowly backed away from the others. The Arrancar was able to knock Momo back when she caught an opening, though the shinigami was quickly up on her feet. The Arrancar pushed back her short pink hair, and smirked condescendingly. "Kinda short for a shinigami."

Momo ignored the comment, and instead drew back her sword and shouted, "Snap, Tobiume!" She swung Tobiume forward, unleashing a fire ball at the pink-haired Arrancar. Her enemy managed to dodge it, still wearing her smirk as she charged a Cero at Momo.

"Eat this!" she screeched as the Cero was fired.

Despite the oncoming attack, Momo remained calmed as she held out her hand and said, "Bakudou number 39: Enkosen!" The kidou spell put up a shield in front of her, blocking the Cero's deadly power. Wasting no time, Momo leapt back, and produced another spell. "Bakudou number four: Hainawa!"

She aimed it at her opponent, entangling her in spirit energy ropes. The Arrancar cursed and spluttered as she tried to break free. "Kidou? You-"

"Snap!" Momo unleashed another fire ball from Tobiume. This time, the Arrancar, still trapped in her bindings, was unable to escape. The fire ball crashed head-on into her. Momo's expression remained calm with only faint lines of determination as she went back after her opponent, who was in the midst of recovering from that last attack.

"Damn," Shinji muttered as he watched Momo fight her opponent. "She wouldn't be a bad candidate for the Kidou Corps." Shrugging it off, he turned around, and glanced at the Arrancar standing before him, swords drawn. "Right. What do we have here?"

One of the Arrancar, a chunkier one with matted black hair, pointed to Shinji's Hollow mask. "How do you have one?"

"Same reason you have a zanpakutou." Shinji drew out his own sword, and let it rest at his side. "Luckily, mine's a hell of a lot cooler than yours."

"How ridiculous!" the fat Arrancar shouted as he slammed his sword against Shinji's.

"Touchy." Shinji craned his head back so he could see Ichimaru and Tousen. "Did Aizen give them hormone injections too or something?" he shouted at them.

As expected, he was met with silence. Rolling his eyes, he was about to look away when he spotted a cloaked figure standing behind Gin. The hell?

Suddenly, another Arrancar attacked him from behind. "Opportunity!" the Hollow shouted gleefully.

Shinji turned to block his attack with his sword, but before he could, a figure came between the two, and stopped the attack instead. Shinji blinked, and glanced up at the tall figure in front of him. "Huh. Thanks, Sado."

The tall youth nodded, giving him the thumbs-up before turning on his heel. He pulled his arm back, and shouted, "El Directo!"

The blast was aimed at the opportunistic Arrancar. Because he was such a scrawny creature, the force of the blast knocked him back a great distance. "Opportunity lost!" he cried as he tumbled away.

"Not the sharpest tool in the shed," Shinji commented with a raised brow.

"He's an idiot," the fat Arrancar agreed, "so don't think that just because he was blown away so easily that you have a chance of winning."

Shinji glanced at the chubby Arrancar before turning to Sado. "Wanna handle this dude?"

Chad nodded, and switched places with Shinji. The Vizard took off after the "opportunistic" Arrancar while Sado faced down the larger Arrancar.

"Hmph. A human?" He sighed in annoyance. "Am I to be thus insulted? Well, fine." He held up his zanpakutou. "I'll just finish you quickly so I can deal with that infernal mask-wearing man. Now," he inhaled, and then shouted, "Stretch, Cangrejo!"

As the Resurrecion's power took over, the fat Arrancar turned into a large, white crab, just as his Resureccion's name implied. The only parts of him that hadn't changed were his torso and head. Even his arms had been replaced with large pincers, as bone white as the rest of him.

Sado took a step back, assessing the situation as he held his right arm in front of him. His enemy stepped towards him, his six legs moving rapidly in sync as he slowly opened one of his deadly pincers. "What do you think, human?" the Arrancar asked, giving him a mocking smile.

Of course, Sado's usual response was silence. The gentle Mexican was hardly one to unnecessarily comment on something or take an enemy's bait.

However, the Arrancar took his silence as impudence. His expression morphed from smugness to rage as he closed the distance between him and Sado with his powerful legs. "Let's see if you can maintain your silence after this!"

Sado hardly had time to bring up his arm to defend himself from the Arrancar's razor sharp pincer. He tried to step back and away from the pincer, but before he could escape, the Arrancar seized his right arm. The pincer squeezed his arm tightly, and Sado grit his teeth as he tried to wrench it free.

"Still silent," the Arrancar murmured. "But by the end of this I'll make you squeal-"

"El Directo!" Sado aimed the blast as much as he could at the pincer that had his arm trapped. The force of the blast was enough to force the pincer open, and Sado was able to pry his arm free.

"Hmph. Not bad, human." The Arrancar glanced curiously at his now damaged pincer, scrunching his nose disdainfully at the residual smoke that was leftover from the blast. "That arm of yours is strong if it can withstand my crushing pincer."

Sado rolled his right shoulder, relieved to find that his arm was still all right after the near-breaking squeeze. He met the Arrancar's gaze and, despite not being able to understand his opponent's need for conversation, said, "It's primarily for defense. That's why."

"So you do speak." The Arrancar smirked as he lowered his head. "But your defense there seems to have some offensive abilities. However, I have no time to dawdle and discover what they are." He opened his pincer again, and let it hang over Chad's head like a guillotine ready to fall. "I'll just crush your entire body and then-"

"Blow it away, Tachikaze!"

Sado instinctively ducked as Tachikaze's air blades swirled around him and his enemy. The Arrancar watched them intently, waiting to see what they would do.

In the blink of an eye, they slashed through his arms, severing his deadly pincers. He roared in pain as his powerful weapons crashed to the ground far below them. Sado managed to leap out of the way in time before the pincer that had been looming over him could crush him.

"Oi, kid!" Kensei's voice rang out from someplace that Sado couldn't determine. "Take him down now!"

Ignoring his question of Kensei's location, Sado immediately complied as he held out his left arm and murmured, "Brazo Izquierda del Diablo." His arm became covered in the distinctive white, red-striped armor that he first saw weeks ago in Hueco Mundo.

He ran straight at the Arrancar, and pulled his fist back as he neared. He skidded to a halt when he was only a few feet away, and extended his fingers out as little discs of spiritual energy began to form on their tips.

"La Muerte."

The power behind the attack was great enough to shatter the Arrancar's hard crab-like body instantly. His eyes only widened as his armor disintegrated all around him. Sado stepped back, and watched silently as his defeated opponent collapsed and fell to the city streets below.

"Not bad." Kensei walked up to Sado, twirling Tachikaze between his fingers. "But there are still a lot left. Let's get to it."

Sado nodded. He craned his head to the left and then to the right, wondering where to go next. He then heard yelling behind him, and found that Rangiku was struggling with two Arrancar who had teamed up on her. He pulled his right arm back, and aimed a blast at the closest Arrancar as he began to run over to aid in the battle.

Down below in Karakura, right beneath where the numerous battles raged, Keigo shrieked as Sado's opponent crashed just feet away from where he, Tatsuki and Mizuiro where watching.

"Damn it!" Keigo cursed as the Arrancar's body dissolved, "Could he have picked a worse place to land?"

Tatsuki slapped her hand against her forehead. "Why were you standing right below where they were battling?"

"That's a rather good question."

The three humans spun around as Urahara and Yoruichi walked up from behind them. "For that matter," the shopkeeper added with a stern glance, "Why are any of you standing here? It's rather dangerous."

At a loss for a decent answer, the three friends glanced back and forth between each other, hoping one of them had some reasonable explanation. Eventually, Tatsuki clenched her fists, and explained, "We know it's stupid, but we couldn't just stay at school while our friends are fighting and in danger."

Yoruichi sighed, though her eyes softened in sympathy. "I understand it's difficult, but there isn't anything you can do."

"But-"

Mizuiro suddenly seemed alarmed. He put his hand on Tatsuki's shoulder to silence her as his gaze became riveted on something behind Urahara and Yoruichi. "B – Behind you…"

"Hm?" Urahara turned around, and then chuckled as Nel, Dondochakka and Pesshe nervously peered around the corner. "Oh, don't worry. They're friendly. In fact, they're only here because they came to warn us about the attack."

Tatsuki bent down until she was eye to eye with Neliel. "That little Arrancar… didn't Ichigo say something about a little Arrancar that helped him in Hueco Mundo?"

This caught Neliel's attention. Her head perked up, and she blinked as she took a few steps towards Tatsuki. "Do yoo know Itsygo?" she asked. Perhaps they were some of his human friends? They seemed to know him, and the girl who was staring at her referred to him in the familiar…

Tatsuki nodded. "Yeah. You're the one who traveled with him, weren't you?"

"Yeah! Nel did!" For a moment, she was excited to meet more of Ichigo's friends, since they seemed to be very nice. She smiled widely, and began walking over towards them.

A blast of spiritual energy from the battle above shook the air, and Nel's eyes widened when she realized just how much danger they were all in. "Yoo shouldn't be here!" she shrieked. "Itsygo's fwiends should go home where ith thafe!"

One of Ichigo's friends, the one that had screamed earlier, glanced up at the sky behind her. "Is that another friendly one?"

Nel followed his stare. Up in the sky, just a few blocks back, was Grimmjow, watching the fight intently. What is he doing here? Nel thought. Grimmjow had refused to come with them when they had decided to warn Ichigo about the attack. Instead, he said he had "business to take care of" or something like that.

But what business could Grimmjow possibly-

Then she remembered his deal with Urahara. Information for a fight with Ichigo: those had been the conditions.

She felt a surge of anger as she shrieked, "Gwimmjow!" Without warning, she took off towards Grimmjow, ignoring Dondochakka and Pesshe's protests.

Her short legs were slow, but Nel was determined to get to Grimmjow. As she ran, she kept yelling for him until he finally noticed her.

"Nel?" Even though she was far below him, she could him curse loudly as he leapt down the ground below. She came to a stop, and tried to catch her breath as Grimmjow landed in front of her. "The fuck are you-"

"Yoo came to fight Itsygo! That was your business!" Though she might have been small and weak, she wasn't going to let Grimmjow get away with this. Her brow furrowed as she crossed her arms. "Yoo thupid thug! Itsygo's our fwiend!"

"He's your friend, not mine," Grimmjow clarified with a snarl.

"There's no point to your fight!" She waved her arms in emphasis. "Yoo had your final clash! Wet it rest!"

Grimmjow's hand lashed out and grabbed the back of her shirt. Despite being brought face to face with him, Nel refused to let her resolve waver as she glared back at him. Calling on the adult that resided deep inside of her, she said in the most authoritative tone she could muster, "Dwop it."

Sometimes she wondered if Grimmjow suspected her, or if at least he questioned her age. She could see the confusion in his eyes, the same kind that was present whenever the adult inside of her broke through. Calmly, she watched as his lips twitched in irritation as he struggled to determine his next move.

A sudden spike in reiatsu pulled them both away from their argument. Nel turned around to see whose reiatsu it was.

"They're fucked," Grimmjow said as his eyes widened.

"What do yoo mean?" Nel asked as she looked between all the fighters up above them. She couldn't tell whose reiatsu it was, but it definitely wasn't human or shinigami. In fact, she was sure it was a Hollow's, though it didn't seem to be that of an Arrancar's. But who else would Gin and Tousen bring-

Nel's mouth dropped as the reiatsu's owner shed his cloak, revealing him for what he was.

A Vasto Lorde.

"Oh no…" Nel whispered in horror.

Ichigo almost dropped Tensa Zangetsu in surprise. He instinctively stepped in front of Orihime as the Vasto Lorde let his cloak get carried away by the wind.

This was not good. The phrase kept replaying over and over in his mind as his grip on Zangetsu tightened. He hadn't been able to bring out that Hollow form from the dome, and that had been the only plan of attack they had. At least, that had been his only plan of attack.

"Kurosaki-kun…"

He could hear the fear in her voice. Despite his own worries, he ignored the terror threatening to rise up inside of him. With great effort, he kept his tone calm as he turned around to assure her. "Don't worry. Just stay behind me, all right?"

From the corner of his eye, he saw Hitsugaya quickly strike down his opponent, taking advantage of his lapse in attention. It might have been considered a cheap shot by some, but Ichigo understood completely why Hitsugaya did it anyway: this was not the time to be worrying about rules of conduct on the battlefield. Pride and honor were not at stake here.

No, if anything, this was turning out to be a battle for survival.

The Vasto Lorde slowly turned his head towards Ichigo. The substitute shinigami braced himself, and continued to suppress the fear he felt inside.

Since the Vasto Lorde was not an Arrancar, his face was still entirely masked. Just as Hitsugaya had described when he first came to Karakura, the Vasto Lorde's shape was definitely very humanoid. Ichigo couldn't see any other appendages or parts, just arms and legs. Still, there was no mistaking the empty yellow eyes that stared back at him, or the overwhelming reiatsu that threatened to send them all to their knees.

"Ara ara." Ichimaru grinned that infamous fox-like smile of his. "I imagine you all know who this is, dontcha?"

"How nice of you to introduce him," Shinji remarked dryly.

Leave it to Shinji to be sarcastic in any situation, Ichigo thought drolly. In this rare case, though, Shinji's words gave him some comfort. He had his friends around him who could fight too. If they can at least hold off the Arrancar, I can go for the Vasto Lorde.

It was a flimsy plan at best, but it was one Ichigo was willing to work with, since it was far better than not having any plan at all.

His eyes never left the Vasto Lorde's, and for what felt like an eternity, his never left Ichigo's. The young Vizard waited for him to make his move, but the Hollow felt content to just stare at him.

Suddenly, the Lorde's gaze averted to someone behind Ichigo.

Orihime gasped softly, and Ichigo felt a flood of rage as he realized the Vasto Lorde might be considering Orihime as his first target.

His anger flooded him, overtaking his senses until he felt consumed by it. This extreme torrent of emotion was all too familiar, and it was the same thing that he had been battling for the past two days.

NO! he screamed at his Hollow. Not now! He struggled to calm himself, even as his hands shook in fury and his whole body felt like it was going to explode.

For whatever reason, his Hollow was putting up much more of a fight than usual, even with Orihime standing just behind him. Ichigo tried to sense her reiatsu, knowing her presence was the only thing that would get him to calm down.

"I'll rip your throat out if you touch her," Ichigo snarled at the Vasto Lorde. He wasn't entirely sure who was saying it, though: him or his Hollow. He could hear his Hollow in his own voice, and he could imagine that his reiatsu was beginning to become more similar to that of a Hollow's at this point.

The Vasto Lorde disappeared, and Ichigo barely had time to lift his sword as he came charging at him.

Ichigo pushed back as hard as he could, not wanting to be pushed back into Orihime. "Get away!" he yelled, hoping she would understand it was aimed at her.

Instead, she threw up her shield in front of Ichigo and pushed it at the Vasto Lorde. It was enough to knock him back, and Ichigo debated in the few brief seconds he was given whether to attack straight away or get Orihime out of harm's way first.

In an instant, the Vasto Lorde disappeared and reappeared behind Orihime. She screamed as he grabbed her arm. Instinctively, she called back her shield and reformed it in front of her, hoping to push him back again.

Ichigo leapt at him, and swung Zangetsu down as hard as he could. It tore through the Vasto Lorde's arm, forcing him to let go of Orihime. Ichigo quickly slammed his body against the Hollow, sending them both tumbling. It was rather ridiculous, and possibly compromising, but it would get him away from Orihime at the very least.

As he got to his feet, he heard Orihime and the others shout for him. He briefly glanced up to see a few Arrancar step in front of Orihime, blocking her from him. He tried to hurry towards her to fight off the Arrancar, but the Vasto Lorde attacked him, sending a bone-crushing blow to his side.

Ichigo winced as the Hollow's fist connected, and he went tumbling again. Despite the pain in his side, Ichigo wasted no time in getting to his feet again.

To his left, Rukia and several of his friends attempted to break through the Arrancars' defenses in order to help him. It was the same story for the Vizards and the shinigami. Deep down, Ichigo knew that despite their attempts, he would be fighting alone.

Mustering up his shaken resolve, Ichigo swung Zangetsu back and yelled, "Getsuga Tenshou!"

The arc of spiritual energy was aimed straight at the Vasto Lorde's head; Ichigo was determined to wrap this fight up as quickly as possible. However, to his horror, the Vasto Lorde simply lifted up his hand and deflected the blast with his open palm.

Before Ichigo could even react, his opponent went streaking towards him. Ichigo raised his sword to block, but the kick the Lorde delivered was too powerful. It broke straight through Ichigo's defense, and for the third time, Ichigo found himself sent flying.

In one swift sonido, the Vasto Lorde was behind Ichigo, and raised his palm. He didn't even let Ichigo land as he fired off a Cero just feet from where Ichigo was.

Realizing what the Lorde planned to do, Ichigo quickly pulled on his Hollow mask. Pooling all of his strength, he swung as hard as he could as the Cero fired. Fortunately, it was barely enough to dissipate the blast.

He landed ungracefully on his feet. He ignored the cracks that were already forming in his mask as he dashed towards the Vasto Lorde. The last thing he had wanted to do was call on his Hollow's power, but he was left with no choice now. He could deal with it later, once this Vasto Lorde was dead.

He unleashed another Getsuga Tenshou at the Vasto Lorde, and noticed that his enemy had a harder time stopping the blast. Wasting no time, Ichigo flash-stepped towards him and jabbed his sword, trying to take advantage of the Lorde's opening.

The Vasto Lorde grabbed onto Zangetsu, stopping Ichigo's jab just inches away from his stomach. Ichigo yelled in frustration as he tried to yank his sword out of the Hollow's grip.

Suddenly, in one swift movement, the Lorde was behind Ichigo. With Zangetsu still in his grasp, he wrenched Ichigo's arm back and with enough force to dislocate Ichigo's shoulder.

Ichigo tried to suppress a pained yell, but he couldn't stop the scream when the Vasto Lorde proceeded to grab his arm and break it. He felt his wrist snap too, and the break forced him to let go of Zangetsu as the pain seared up and down his arm.

"Kurosaki-kun!"

I can't fail her. Despite his injuries, Ichigo steeled himself and kept on struggling. He aimed a kick at the Vasto Lorde's knee. His enemy buckled, and Ichigo was able to pull free. He spun around, and freed Zangetsu from the Lorde's grip with his good hand.

"I am not going to lose," Ichigo said as he panted. The pain was terrible, but he had dealt with worse. He held his injured arm close to his side, and pointed Zangetsu at the Vasto Lorde with the other. "Like hell I'd let you have the chance to hurt Inoue!"

From beneath his mask, he heard the Vasto Lorde growl at him. Like many of the enemies Ichigo faced before him, he was rather frustrated with his persistence and unwillingness to surrender.

In a flash, the Hollow was at his side. Ichigo blocked the Vasto Lorde's next blow, despite using his non-dominant hand. He even managed to land a hit on the Lorde's midriff, and almost grinned in satisfaction when he saw blood fly out.

He skidded back, and prepared to make another charge when the Vasto Lorde lifted up his arm. Ichigo watched closely as nothing happened at first. He shifted his stance, wondering what on earth the Vasto Lorde was trying to do.

Something from his enemy's sleeve glinted in the sunlight. Ichigo squinted, trying to determine what it was he saw. Protruding from his arm was a long, slim blade. It looked more like an oversized needle than any actual sword blade, though Ichigo didn't doubt it was any less deadly.

Still, he preferred a blade over any of the Lorde's kicks and punches. At least he, too, had a blade that could block any swings from that needle blade.

Or so he thought.

Before Ichigo even saw him move, the Vasto Lorde swung his arm. The blade detached and soared through the air. Ichigo lifted Zangetsu and swung back to deflect the oncoming trajectory. To his surprise, the blade was wedged into Zangetsu. "The hell?" Ichigo murmured as he tried to remove the smaller blade from his sword.

His eyes widened when his hand suddenly began to burn. He dropped his sword, which was searing hot to the touch. The hell did that needle do? He glanced down at his hand, and almost winced to see the severe burns that covered his palm.

He felt the Vasto Lorde come closer. His head snapped up, and he raised his left arm to block whatever attack was coming.

A new pain tore through his abdomen as another one of the needle blades went through his arm and into his stomach. He bit back another scream as he tried to flash-step away from the Vasto Lorde. Instead, he was met with another needle blade, this time inserted through his left shoulder.

"Damn it!" Ichigo hissed as he tried to elbow his opponent. With his sword gone, he was forced to rely on hand to hand.

He instantly regretted his move as he felt the Lorde grab his elbow and snap it forward in a direction it was not meant to go. The scream Ichigo had been trying to hold back tore out of him as his insides began to feel like they were on fire thanks to the blades that were still stuck in him.

For the first time since he had revealed himself, the Vasto Lorde spoke. "You're finished."

Ichigo's eyes widened as he felt a third blade tear through him, starting from his other shoulder and coming out from his previously wounded side. What was left of his Hollow mask broke, fully revealing the shock on his face.

Inoue…

It was his last thought before his vision went black.

Nel felt like her blood had run cold as Orihime's scream tore through the air. She watched with wide eyes as the Vasto Lorde let Ichigo fall and crash onto a rooftop. She could even feel Grimmjow stiffen as the bloody scene came to an end.

"Itsy… go..." Tears formed in the corner of her eyes as she watched Orihime struggle to get to Ichigo, and listened to his friends both on the ground and in the air scream and yell for him. "He – He…"

She couldn't say it out loud. She didn't want to, she didn't even want to believe that this could happen. That he could be –

No! She shook her head stubbornly. He'll get up! He'll find a way – he always does. It was easier to believe that then accept the apparent truth, even though she was trying to lie to herself.

Clamoring from up the street caught her attention. Tatsuki and company were desperately trying to run over towards where Ichigo had landed, but Yoruichi was blocking them. Nel could hear her say over and over again, "You can't help him!"

Urahara was gone. Nel spotted him hurrying up towards the battle, flash-stepping the entire way up. For a brief moment, she held onto the hope that he could make it to where Ichigo was. If he could get Ichigo on his feet, she thought, he would be okay.

Suddenly, as Urahara was about halfway there, an Arrancar flew down and attacked him. Nel cried out in despair as Urahara was forced to fight the tenacious Arrancar, who was doing everything in her power to make sure Kisuke couldn't get past her.

Through her despair, she heard the adult inside of her demand that she do something. Crying would get her nowhere. She had to help.

Nel sniffled, wiping away her tears as she turned towards Grimmjow. "We have to help them. Itsygo will die if we don't! Owahime can heal him if she can get twough the Awancar."

She grabbed the front of his shirt when he said nothing in response to her pleas. "He'll die! If he dies…" Ichigo wasn't his friend. She knew that and, as much as she hated it, knew she had to accept it. However, she had to make him help somehow. For a moment, she struggled to think of something that would spur him to action.

"If … If he dies… IF HE DIES YOO CAN'T FIGHT HIM!" She waved her arms, trying to sound convincing as she realized that his "unfinished business" with Ichigo was the only thing that was going to convince him to help. "Yoo'll spend the west of your days wegwetting that yoo never got to finish your fight!"

Grimmjow wasn't stupid either, and Nel knew this too. However, she could see the resigned determination in his eyes. Though he was well aware that she was only saying that to get him to help Ichigo, there was no arguing with her logic.

"Right." He dropped her on his shoulder. "Hang on."

Nel clutched his shirt tightly as he flash-stepped towards the battlefield.

Orihime had been in a lot of panic-stricken situations. She had seen Ichigo fall before. She had screamed and cried too. However, she had always been able to reach him. When the fight was over, she could run to his side and heal him.

But these Arrancar surrounding her wouldn't let her pass. Panic and fear were fogging her mind, but she refused to let it cloud her judgment. She had to break through somehow. Ichigo needed her.

She threw up Santen Kesshun, and in a rare display of aggressiveness, used it to push through the Arrancar. When one tried to grab her, she spun on her heel and landed a kick to his side.

The Arrancar doubled over, and Orihime quickly began back-pedaling away from the group. Almost out of their reach…

She caught a glimpse of bright red. Before she even had time to realize what it was, a Cero was fired at her from one of the Arrancar she had pushed aside. Her eyes closed on instinct as she braced herself for the impact.

A rush of air passed in front of her. Orihime waited, but the Cero never came. Confused, she hesitantly opened one eye, and gawked at the people in front of her.

"Owahime!" Nel was obviously relieved to see her unarmed. "We're here to help!"

"Nel-chan." Orihime glanced up at the little Arrancar's companion. "Grimmjow. You're…"

Grimmjow unsheathed Pantera. "Stop staring and go help Kurosaki. We have a fight to finish, and I'm not letting him get off that easily. I'll hold these guys off."

The Arrancar all drew out their zanpakutou. The five of them chuckled as they stared down Grimmjow. "Look how the mighty have fallen," one particularly tall Arrancar mocked.

Grimmjow snorted in contempt. "Funny. I was thinking the same thing."

"You two." The tall Arrancar, who seemed to be the appointed leader, gestured to two of the Arrancar on his left. "Handle her. The rest of us, take down our former Espada here."

With nods of acknowledgment, the two Arrancar took off after Orihime as the other three attacked Grimmjow.

Orihime threw Santen Kesshun back up, repelling all sword swings that were aimed at her. I have to fight them. She hated it, having to fight and do physical harm. Kurosaki-kun needs me. I have to get through them. There's no choice!

Biting her lip, she took a step back, and shouted, "Zanten Kisshun!"

Tsubaki flew away from her hairpin, and flew towards one of the Arrancar.

Keep your will strong, keep it strong. I – I want to hurt him.

She winced as Tsubaki sliced through his target's side, sending the Arrancar to his knees.

"Good job, Owahime!"

With her shield still in front of her, Orihime spared a glance over at Nel, who was giving her the thumbs up. She offered the little Arrancar a small, shaky smile in return.

An Arrancar flash-stepped towards Nel and Grimmjow. Orihime's eyes widened as she yelled at Nel in warning, "Watch out!"

With rather surprising accuracy, Nel spit at the Arrancar coming towards her, and the loogey landed in his eye.

"The hell?" the unfortunate Arrancar screamed as he slapped a hand over his eye. "You little shit-"

Grimmjow swung Pantera out in an arc, cutting down the Arrancar. "Shut your damn trap. I'm the only one allowed to call her that."

He glanced over his shoulder. He smirked, and said to Orihime, "Get down."

Orihime ducked, covering her head with her hands. Her body went tense as she waited for Grimmjow to do whatever it was he was planning. Then the air above her shook as a Cero fired right over her. The heat was strong, and Orihime wondered for a minute if her hair was going to be fried.

Her trivial worry quickly passed as she stood up and turned, only to find the other Arrancar that had been sent after her was down for the count, thanks to the Cero.

She quickly took advantage of her freedom. Dashing towards the building where Ichigo had fallen on top of, Orihime concentrated on keeping in the air and maintaining her reiatsu so she didn't fall.

I'm almost there. I'm almost there, Kurosaki-kun.

She had been so caught up in her thoughts, she almost didn't see the attack coming from the side.

Luckily, her instinct had been to throw up her shield, and the Vasto Lorde's attack was rejected. Pushing aside the initial panic and fear that was welling up from the sight of the Hollow before her, she took a defensive stance as she kept her eyes glued on him.

"He was rather weak," the Lorde commented as he carefully balanced the needle blade protruding from his arm. "Still, I defeated him. I have no reason to let you revive him."

She clenched her fist in anger, not only for barring her path but for insulting Ichigo so blatantly. "M – Move," she said in a low voice.

Orihime gasped as the needle blade crashed against Santen Kesshun again. Fortunately, the shield held up, though Orihime could feel it begin to weaken.

Then what would she do? She couldn't fight him; she would die within seconds. Tsubaki would do little good, even if she could manage to work up the will to kill him. Her Soten Kesshun was useless here as well.

What do I do? she thought as she riveted her gaze on the needle blade. What can I do? I…

I have to save him. I have to do something. But what do I do?

Another strike was aimed at her. This one broke her shield, though the blade was repelled before the shield shattered. Her last line of defense was gone. One strike, and she was most likely dead.

Orihime stepped back, her mind racing to think of some way to escape or protect herself, even when logic said that she was done for.

Kurosaki-kun, I… I'm sorry.

"No other tricks?" the Vasto Lorde asked her.

Orihime answered with silence. She prepared herself for the worst.

I'm so sorry. I want to save you. I want to help you. I just… I can't.

The Vasto Lorde pulled back his arm, the blade poised to strike. "That's rather disappointing."

She wanted to close her eyes but refused out of pride. She was not going to die with her eyes closed like a coward. Ichigo fought unflinchingly with his eyes open; the least she could do for him was the same.

Maybe we'll get things right in the next lifetime, she thought sadly before the Vasto Lorde swung.

Kurosaki-kun, I … I'm sorry.

Sprawled out on top of a building, Ichigo stirred ever so slightly. I – Inoue?

I'm so sorry. I want… you. I… help you…

The thoughts that weren't his own, the ones that sounded so much like Orihime's, floated in and out of his consciousness. Ichigo could only pick up fragments just barely there, but he could hear her.

…I can't…

His hand twitched. Though his energy seemed diminished and his strength gone, Ichigo tried to stand back up. Inoue… Inoue… I need to get up.

Deep down inside, he felt like a part of himself was fading. Strangely, he didn't feel alarmed. He felt at peace as something inside disappeared. It was there, in a sense, but just no longer a part of him.

It also felt strangely familiar. His hand clenched into a fist as a deep darkness consumed his mind and blackened his already darkened vision. Get up, he told himself. Get up.

"King."

There was his Hollow, standing prominently within the darkness. This time, however, Ichigo was glad to see him. Together, they could save Orihime. Yeah, I know.

He didn't think to ask his Hollow what was going on. He could barely think at all. Coherent thought was disappearing as instinct began to take over. As the darkness swirled inside of him, rationality and fear disappeared inside the vortex.

But amidst the raging chaos and deep darkness, Orihime's image never faded from his mind.

Maybe we'll get it right in the next lifetime.

Ichigo would have shaken his head, if he could. No, we'll get it right in this one. I'll get it right for you.

It was the last rational thought he had before his powers combined with his Hollow's.

His reiatsu spiked to astronomically high levels, catching the attention of every spiritually aware person in the area.

Ichigo slammed his hands on the ground, and lifted himself up off the rooftop. Immediately sensing Orihime's reiatsu, he turned his head towards where she stood. Beneath the horned mask that covered his entire face, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he saw the Vasto Lorde's blade poised just above her.

Her eyes met his, and he immediately saw the fear. But the fear wasn't because of him; he could feel it, he knew. No, it was the Vasto Lorde that was making her afraid, and he wasn't going to have that.

He threw his head back, and let out an ear-piercing roar.

A/N: I put in shiny paragraph breaks. If they poof, I'm gonna be pissed. Leave a review (no flames though. You send me a flame I'mma kick your butt) and let me know what you think (besides yelling at me for updating so late, though feel free to; I deserve it).