And another late chapter. At the very least I can say this isn't the result of laziness. School started up again and stuff in my personal life hit the fan pretty suddenly and at the same time, so writing had to take a backseat for awhile. But everything is getting better and I'm back into a writing groove, if this chapter is any proof.

A million thanks to everyone who reviewed. I will get to your replies after this chapter is posted (I figured you'd all want the update first, then the replies anyway). Much thanks to le etoile for looking over this chapter. So without going into another long, obnoxious author's notes, I give you Chapter 26.

Chapter 26

Come with us or else

Ichigo briefly wondered if something was wrong with Shinji. Who expected anyone to be up and at their best at eight in the freaking morning? Ichigo never was, even during school, and he was less so during his vacation. Yet today he was at the warehouse at 8 AM on the dot, still trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes, all because Shinji thought that it was a perfectly normal hour to be training.

If it hadn't been for yesterday's events, Ichigo would have told Shinji where he could shove that early riser attitude and gone back to bed.

Even his usually upbeat girlfriend was yawning as they walked down the stairs towards the training grounds. "I hope this is the earliest we'll ever have to come," she said.

"If we do, I'll throttle him," Ichigo said with his usual scowl. "We're on vacation. I shouldn't have to be up before ten."

As they reached the bottom, they looked around and noticed none of the Vizards were down yet. "You're kidding me," Ichigo said. "They're not even up."

Taking it in stride, Orihime sat down, propping herself up against one of the rocks. "Maybe they're running late. Let's just wait for them down here."

"If they're going to be late, then they can at least get us some breakfast," Ichigo mumbled as he sat next to her.

Orihime giggled, pressing her hand against his cheek. "Grumpy-pants."

"I am not," he muttered. "I'm tired."

"And cranky." Despite his mild glare, she kept giggling as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "That's okay, though. I love my grumpy-pants."

Ichigo felt himself stiffening at her words. He still wasn't used to hearing that. Hell, he still had a hard time even accepting the fact that she did. He glanced down at her and saw that she had noticed his sudden discomfort. "Sorry," he said quietly. "I'm not used to it yet."

"I'm not used to even saying it," Orihime admitted. "It kind of slipped out."

"But isn't that a good thing?" Ichigo rested his head against hers. "It should come naturally, right?"

"In time," she said, both in answer and in reassurance to his struggle.

"Well…" He closed his eyes, letting them rest. "I love my unnaturally-never-grumpy-pants, so I guess we're good on that score."

He felt Orihime's body shake in suppressed laughter; he really did have a weird way of expressing himself. "We're really strange sometimes," she said.

Ichigo nodded. He agreed, but as time passed, he was beginning to realize that he liked how "strange" they were and how they functioned. I wouldn't change it, he thought to himself with a small smile.

"Oi, Ichigo!"

The voice pulled him out of sleep, but he refused to open his eyes. He was comfortable, and he didn't want to budge.

Someone's foot pushed against his leg. "Wake up!"

As his mind cleared of the fog of sleep (and as he continued to ignore the nagging voice), he realized that Orihime was sleeping against his side. He nearly smiled as he recalled the last time he had woken up at her side. She was just as warm and soft and he wanted to-

"I know you're awake, because you're nearly-smiling about something. Get up."

Now he recognized the voice as belonging to one tiny, very annoying shinigami. "Go the hell away, Rukia."

"You're supposed to be training today, remember? Or would you rather nap?"

His eyes shot open as he remembered where he had fallen asleep. "Oh hell," he muttered as he rubbed his eyes. "I guess we nodded off."

"I guess you did." Rukia shook her head as she handed him a Styrofoam cup. "It's tea."

"Thanks," he said as he took it from her, his eyes averted to his sleeping girlfriend. He nudged her with his elbow, feeling a pang of guilt as she mumbled and opened her eyes. "Wake up."

Blinking away the sleep in her eyes, Orihime sat up straight when she realized where they were. "Oh my – I didn't realize we had…"

"Don't worry. We just got here a few minutes ago." Rukia handed her the other cup she was holding. "Apparently you two were the only ones to get here on time."

Ichigo frowned heavily as he looked past Rukia. He saw the Vizards and his friends gathered in a loose circle not far from them. "Oi!" he shouted to them. "What's the deal?"

"Well hell, someone's awake," Shinji said with his usual grin. "Have a nice nap?"

"Shove it. Where were you?"

"These bozos are late," he said, jabbing a finger at Ichigo's friends. His comment was met with considerable protest and grumbles. "We, on the other hand, were held up."

"Being held up is the same thing as being late," Ichigo retorted dryly.

"It was that Neliel chick," Shinji said. "She popped through a Garganta and talked to us."

"Nel-san was here?" Orihime said in surprise.

"Yeah. Came by to let us know she'd start helping out with training once the shinigami left." Shinji shrugged. "She didn't want to push her luck. Plus, she said something about not wanting to leave Grimmjow alone with the other Hollows for long." He chuckled at the thought. "I guess they're trying to establish a colony with the survivors from Las Noches, and let's face it: Grimmjow isn't the best peacekeeper."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "She's got to have her hands full with that."

"It's her call," Hiyori said. "If we're done chit-chatting, can we get on with this?"

Ishida sent her a sharp look. "I prefer if we were all at least caffeinated before we did," he said. "Ten minutes is not going to make a difference."

"I'm not starting until I drink my tea," Ichigo said before Hiyori could argue. "So just shut up and wait a few minutes."

He almost dropped his tea as Hiyori's sandal smacked his forehead.

Once everyone had had their tea and was considerably more awake (and Ichigo nursing a small lump on his forehead), Shinji tossed his cap on a nearby rock and said loudly, "All right. Let's get this party started. Now-"

"Um…" Orihime raised her hand meekly. "Shinji-kun? Can we do something before we really get into training?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Well, Shun-o wanted me to try something." She took a step forward. "Yesterday when we were talking, she said that if we were right about the powers crossing, then my powers should be able to influence all of Ichigo-kun's." She laughed nervously as she rubbed the back of her head. "I mean, if I can influence Shirosaki-kun like I've been able to, it should work with Zangetsu as well."

Hachi nodded in agreement. "It is worth trying," he said to Shinji. "Besides, it's a rather curious idea."

"So how do we test it?" Love asked.

Renji, still drinking his tea, shrugged one shoulder as he suggested, "Ichigo should throw a Getsuga Tenshou. Inoue can try to see if she can weaken it. That's the only thing I can think of."

"Works for me," Shinji said. "Okay Ichigo. You heard him. Swing a Tenshou out and make sure to put some oomph into it."

I always put oomph into them, Ichigo thought with a scowl as he drew out Zangetsu. Who the hell says oomph anyway?

Orihime smiled as she touched her hairpins. "Stop thinking grumpy thoughts," she lightly chided.

"I am not grumpy," he muttered. He glanced at his girlfriend before aiming his gaze at his target: a hapless large rock in the distance. "You ready?" he said to her.

"Go for it!"

Ichigo swung his arm back, his fingers tightening around Zangetsu's hilt. "Getsuga…"

Meanwhile, Orihime was focusing on her powers, channeling her will and energy into the Shun Shun Rikka. "Come on guys," she said as her hairpins glowed.

"Tenshou!" Ichigo yelled as he let loose his attack.

Orihime closed her eyes and willed her Rikka to weaken the attack. You can do it, she encouraged them as her pins continued to glow.

The Getsuga Tenshou swung out from Zangetsu. As Ichigo stepped to counter-balance the momentum, he suddenly stumbled. "What the...?"

The Tenshou flew through the air, but when it hit the intended target, it made much less of a mess than expected. The rock was still demolished, but with less of the explosion and noise than Ichigo - or anyone - had expected.

"What happened?" Rukia asked, glancing at Ichigo.

He shook his head, trying to register what he felt. He knew he had put as much of his strength into it as he could (at least in his shikai form) but the result was not anything like it should have been. "That was weird. It's like at the last second my power just diminished."

Shinji grinned when he looked over at Orihime. "I think it's safe to say who the culprit is. Good work, Orihime-chan. Yer little fairies were right."

"I wonder something though," Hachi mused as Orihime beamed from the praise. She looked up at him curiously when he added, "Could it work the other way around?"

"We already know Ichigo can influence her powers a bit," Riza said, assuming that's what Hachi had meant. "It happened during the Vasto Lorde battle, remember?"

"Oh I know," Hachi said with a smile. "Who doesn't remember? But I meant that if she can weaken his powers, then surely she can strengthen them?"

"I'd like to try that!" Orihime said enthusiastically. "It'd be fun!"

Technically it should work, Ichigo thought as he stared at the ground. But it's safer to weaken powers than it is to amplify them. What if something happens?

"Stop worrying," Rukia said, lightly smacking Ichigo on the arm. "The worst that can happen is you make a big mess. That's what training grounds are for."

Orihime took Ichigo's hand in hers when he hesitated. "It'll be okay," she said in reassurance. "I won't strengthen it too much, or I'll try not to anyway."

Though he still was wary at the thought of packing onto his already considerable power, Ichigo relented for Orihime's sake. "Okay. We can try."

Smiling in excitement, Orihime took a step back and motioned for Ichigo to start. "Ready when you are."

Here goes nothing, Ichigo thought as he drew his arm back again. "Okay. Getsuga..."

Repeating her motions from earlier, Orihime put her willpower into her Rikka, waiting for Ichigo to make his move.

"Tenshou!" Ichigo swung, though he put much less - in Shinji's words - oomph into it this time.

"Make it strong," Orihime murmured to her Rikka. "You can do it."

Her hairpins glowed, and as the Tenshou arched out, Ichigo's eyes widened as he felt its power suddenly spike. "Whoa!" he shouted as the Tenshou roared through the air and slammed into a bunch of rocks on the other side of the room. The resulting explosion was immense, rocking the room as the rocks were obliterated.

When the show was over, Shinji let out a low whistle of appreciation. "Damn," he said. "That worked well."

Orihime chuckled nervously. "Oh boy. I guess it was a bit too amped up. Sorry, Ichigo-kun."

"Don't worry about it," he said quietly as he stabbed Zangetsu into the ground. "Still... wow." Slightly surprised still, he sat down on the ground, tuning out the chatter of the others. It was there, on the ground, lost in his thoughts that an idea wiggled its way in.

After long minutes of contemplation and a growing sense of uneasiness from his Hollow that Ichigo came to a decision. He suddenly jumped to his feet and said, "I want to try bringing out the Hollow form."

He received a few surprised blinks and blank stares in answer. "Diving right in?" Rose asked. "That's not quite your style."

"I have an idea," Ichigo said. Moving quickly to act before he changed his mind, he held his hand out to Orihime. "You with me?"

Although she had no idea what he was planning, Orihime grasped his hand in hers, accepting his offer based on faith alone. "Yeah. What are you thinking of doing?"

"If you can influence my powers, then you should be able to influence that Hollow form, right?"

"I guess. The Rikka said I do that, though, not them. That's why we can't figure this whole thing out."

It was a roadblock in his plan, but not a big one and Ichigo was determined. "Okay. So maybe it's a different sort of influence. Either way, since you seem to have some kind of grip over it, you should be able to help me bring it out."

From a safe distance behind the shinigami and Vizards, Tatsuki raised her brow. "You think you can do it, Ichigo?" she said.

"Are you sure you even want to?" Keigo asked, notably concerned about Ichigo's plan.

Ichigo made an indelicate snorting sound at Keigo's question. "Not really, but the whole reason we're down here is to figure that form out. It's no use just sitting here and talking. All I can do is try to bring it out and see what happens."

"Sounds good to me," Shinji said, bringing out Sakanade. "Just give us word when yer ready so we're ready," he added. "If that thing comes out, I'd rather be prepared."

Everyone down in that basement was versed in this, so Rukia motioned for Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro to stay back while weapons were drawn.

Playing it safe, though he knew it wouldn't make that much of a difference, Ichigo took several steps back and away from his friends. He glanced at Orihime and gave her an encouraging smirk. "Don't worry. We're only gonna pull it out, or try to. The moment I do you can just make me revert back, okay?"

"S-Sure," Orihime said, clutching her hands together tightly.

"You ready?" Ichigo said to her.

She barely managed a nod.

Don't be scared, he thought, almost wishing it was her who could read his thoughts instead of the other way around. He didn't know how well this would work, and even if he did, he was confident she would be able to stop him - again - if it came down to it. "All right. Let's do this."

The tricky part was always in remembering what he did to bring out that Hollow form. Though he could clearly remember that training session when he almost succeeded, it was the process itself that was hazy in his mind. Focus on that emptiness, he thought to himself, recalling how his chest would feel hollow before the transformation took over.

He pushed and pushed inside, drawing on his Hollow powers while trying to bring back that emptiness he felt. It wasn't pleasant, especially since he didn't know what he was exactly doing, but he had to try.

Meanwhile, Orihime concentrated on her thoughts and inside, waiting for any changes. She closed her eyes, and after a long minute, she began to feel something different. It almost felt like her chest was expanding, getting fuller. Okay, she thought, now I have to see if I can... will it. She felt a strange influx of emotions. They were similar to hers, but yet different. It was like going from having one emotional pipeline inside her to having two. They both did the same thing, but it was obvious there were two at work. Odd...

During the battle with the Vasto Lorde, she remembered that she had tapped into those emotions to stop Ichigo. Now all I have to do is the opposite, like with his Tenshou. Biting her lip in anticipation, Orihime gingerly reached into those emotions. I want that form to come out, she thought over and over; it was the only thing she could think of doing.

Then, she felt something change.

That expansive emptiness Ichigo was reaching for suddenly came, and he saw his vision darken. He was losing his sanity again, and as much as it scared him, he knew it was a sign that it was working. With his last dreg of control, he put his hand over his chest, and he felt the hole opening up.

He gave it a final push, and his vision went completely black.

The Vizards saw the transformation starting, and immediately grips on zanpakutou handles tightened. Ishida drew out his bow, and Chad placed himself directly in front of Tatsuki and the boys.

The Hollow mask was forming over his face. The horns began to grow, and the fur patches on Ichigo's wrists and ankles sprouted. His skin began to whiten as the mask enclosed his face, and his fingernails lengthened and sharpened.

Orihime looked up, and she gasped as she saw how much he had transformed. "Ichigo-kun?"

He looked up, the mask almost complete when suddenly, his eyes widened. The mask broke, and the hole in his chest closed up as Ichigo reverted back to his human form. He tumbled to the ground.

"Ichigo-kun!" Orihime called out as she ran over towards him.

She went to his side as the others hurried over, forming a circle around him. Shinji knelt next to him, his face forcefully composed as he shook him. "Oi, Ichigo!"

Blinking, Ichigo lifted up his head. "Damn it," he said, his fist clenching in the dirt. "I almost had it."

"What happened?" Mashiro asked.

"My Hollow. I was drawing on its power, and I almost had it when it pulled back. It stopped the transformation."

Shinji's eyes narrowed. "Piece of shit. It can do that?"

"Apparently." Ichigo got up on his hands and knees. "I don't think I can do this without the Hollow's cooperation."

Orihime frowned, her fingers brushing over Ichigo's shoulders. "Then we need to convince Shirosaki-kun to work with you, instead of against you."

"It won't listen to me," Ichigo said.

Smiling in knowing, Orihime pulled Ichigo until he toppled over and fell into her lap. "You'll pass out soon," she said, recalling the past couple incidents. "So get some rest, and don't worry about Shirosaki-kun."

Ichigo looked up at her in confusion, his expression matched by everyone else in the room. "What do you mean 'don't worry'?"

"I've got a plan, remember?" she said, her smile mysterious. "Just get some rest."

As she predicted, Ichigo could already feel exhaustion encroaching. His eyelids were drifting shut, and he barely managed, "Someone talk to her," before falling asleep.

In the four hours he'd been asleep, Ichigo missed the following:

One, the several attempts made by almost everyone to persuade Orihime to reveal her plan,

Two, all those attempts failing miserably, and

Three, orders for lunch.

Granted, the last one wasn't especially important, but he did miss out on choosing between a home-cooked meal and takeout Thai food.

He also missed an exchange between Rukia and Orihime. While he was resting, and everyone else was placing orders for lunch, Rukia had walked over to Orihime, who was contemplating something as she stared at Ichigo's sleeping form.

Rukia glanced over her shoulder, making sure no one was watching – or listening – as she bent down to Orihime. "Are you sure about this?" she murmured.

Orihime glanced up, her brow puckered in confusion. "About what?"

"This plan of yours."

"Oh." Orihime shrugged one of her shoulders. "I haven't gotten it all figured out yet. I need to talk to the Shun Shun Rikka before I do, but I plan on carrying it out."

Rukia nodded. "All right. Be cautious with his Hollow. It's a rather unpredictable being, from what I've heard."

"How did you know?" Orihime asked. "I mean, about my plan."

"I have a good guess as to what it involves. It's okay. I think you can do it," Rukia said with her confident smile. "Not long ago I even told Ichigo that you might be the only one who could stop his Hollow. It might not listen to Ichigo, but it seems to listen to you."

Orihime almost couldn't believe that Rukia was agreeing with her – and even encouraging her. Not that the short shinigami didn't have her back, but it was nice to hear someone who believed in her instead of just being worried. "I thought so, too. It's a worth a try anyway." She paused, and smiled softly. "Thank you, Rukia-chan."

"For…?"

"Believing in me. You and Tatsuki-chan and Hachi-san, too. I noticed you guys didn't say anything when everyone was trying to get me to talk about my plan."

"Well, like I said, I had an idea of what you were doing. I think Arisawa knows better than any of us how strong you are, and I think Hachi is the same, though I don't know him very well." Rukia glanced over at the others, oblivious to their conversation. "You'll be fine. I think everyone is just worried because of the Hollow, not because they don't believe in you."

"Shirosaki-kun is planning something," Orihime began, her tone quiet. "I plan on figuring out what it is and talking him out of it. Maybe I can learn more from him, too. He's the only one who knows what's going on."

"When do you plan on doing this?"

"After I talk to the Rikka and figure out a strategy. I'll need their help to do this."

"I'm not sure how you plan on talking to it, but it seems like you know."

Orihime merely smiled. "It's a two-way path. Anyway, are they still taking orders for lunch?"

"Yeah. We're getting Thai." Rukia looked down at Ichigo, her smirk amused. "Did you want anything for yourself and the snoring one?"

"Ichigo-kun snores?"

"Sleep in his closet for a week and you'll hear it. It's terrible."

Unable to help herself, Orihime giggled. "I never thought him to be a snorer. Well, I'll take fried rice with shrimp, and I guess make two orders of that. I'm sure he'll be hungry when he gets up."

Rukia got to her feet. "Right. I'll let them know."

As she walked away, Orihime looked down at Ichigo and smiled. "So you snore?" she said, tracing his jaw with her fingertips. There was something endearing about that fact. It was small and new and normal, something they had been lacking recently. Plus, it was something she didn't know about him before, and she always loved learning something new about Ichigo.

He scowls, he fights, he protects, and he snores. She had to fight another bout of giggles. That's my Ichigo-kun.

Shortly after Riza and Rose came back with lunch, Ichigo woke up.

"Eat up," Shinji said, tossing the bag with Orihime's and his food. "We eat, then we try again."

And they did. Then they tried another time. And then another. Unfortunately, they made less progress each time. By the time it was evening, everyone was at their wit's end and exhausted.

"Your Hollow is a royal pain in the ass," Hiyori said to Ichigo, her arms crossed.

"I can't help it," Ichigo argued, his eyes narrowed as he panted from the exertion of several failed re-attempts. "It won't let me do it."

"On the bright side," Shinji said with a thoughtful smile, "that must mean we're getting close. Too close for its comfort. But I'm wiped and so is everyone else. We better call it a day."

"Finally," Ichigo said, stretching out his back. He turned his gaze towards Orihime. However, instead of her gathering her things or chatting with Tatsuki, she was carefully watching Rukia. Perplexed, Ichigo followed her stare, and saw his mentor talking on her communicator. That wasn't anything new, and he was about to ask what was going on when he noticed Rukia's brow pucker in worry, even as her tone remained even on the phone.

"Right. I understand." She hung up and then immediately dialed another number. She put it back to her ear, but jerked it back after a few seconds. "Odd."

"What's up?" Renji asked as Orihime and Ichigo continued to watch from a distance.

"That was Hitsugaya-taichou earlier. We can't get a hold of Soul Society." She glanced up at Renji, her expression still worried. "I just tried and I can't get through either."

Renji bowed his head forward in consideration. "Sometimes we get disruptions in the signal or the 12th squad does maintenance on the lines."

"I know, but usually we're notified of those. And why are our communicators working at all if the signal is disrupted?" Rukia shook her head, mystified by this. "It makes no sense."

Orihime finally worked up the nerve to walk over, her smile hesitant as she said, "Ah, is everything okay?"

That worried pucker in Rukia's brow disappeared instantly, replaced with a forced smile. "Yes. Just some issues with the communicators."

"I'm going to go over to the Shouten to see if Urahara might know what's going on," Renji added. "It's probably nothing, though. Some rookie in the 12th division might have just hit a cable or something."

"I'll go with you," Rukia said, completing ignoring the urge to add that Kurotsuchi-taichou very rarely let rookies near the big equipment, lest they screw up and he was compelled to make test subjects of them. Pushing aside the disturbing imagery, Rukia peered around Orihime to look at Ichigo. "See you at the clinic."

"Right. Come on, Orihime," he said, extending his hand to her. "I'll walk you back."

Orihime waved to Rukia before hurrying over to Ichigo, taking his hand with a smile as they headed for the stairs.

As the others began to clear out as well, Rukia's earlier expression returned. Renji instantly saw it and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you okay? You've been worried ever since the captain called."

"I know it's probably just nothing," she began, chewing on her thumbnail. "But it's just that… the last time we couldn't contact Soul Society was the same night Orihime was kidnapped."

A considering pause filled the air for a moment as Renji chewed over her words. "I forgot about that," he muttered. "But, what are the chances? Besides, everyone is here in one place. We won't go back if we can't get a hold of Soul Society, so we'll all be okay, right?"

It should have been enough to console her, and Rukia loved – er, appreciated Renji trying to cheer her up with honest words. Yet… it wasn't enough. "I don't know why, Renji, but I just can't shake this bad feeling I have."

Dusk had almost settled in when Ichigo and Orihime reached her apartment. Standing outside her door, the two teenagers stared at each other for a long, suspenseful moment. Normally they'd talk a bit more before kissing good-bye, but something was holding them both back tonight.

"Ichigo-kun," Orihime finally said, "do you trust me?"

He blinked, surprised at her words, especially with how bluntly she put it. "Of course I do," he said, trying not to be a little bit hurt.

"I know you do for the most part," she said, taking his hand in hers. "But I meant even with the dangerous stuff."

"Like my Hollow," Ichigo said, his scowl deepening. He knew where she was going with this. "I don't like the thought of it going near you. I also get the feeling you plan on going near it in the near future."

She stroked the back of his hand soothingly, as if her touch alone wasn't calming. "I'll be fine. This has to end, and Rukia-chan was right; I have to be the one to do it. I'll be okay," she repeated when worry lines creased his forehead. "He won't hurt me. You won't hurt me."

He was never great with words, but Ichigo had an especially hard time articulating what he was feeling. He shook his head slightly, exasperated with his own thoughts. "I wish I could trust it like you did," he managed. "I don't know how you do it."

"I told you before…" She reached up and stroked his cheek. "He's you, and I trust you. I love you, so I love him. It's that simple."

She never ceased to amaze him. He found himself in awe of her as he pulled her into an embrace, showing instead of saying how he felt. Even before they began dating, she always amazed him. He wondered if that would ever stop. He hoped not.

"I'm still going to be worried," he said, practically conceding to her plan.

He felt her smile against his chest. "I know. I would, too, if it was the other way around. I can't tell you not to be worried. Just trust me. I'm going to settle this soon, for the both of us."

Silence filled the air around them, but they were fine with it. He was happy to just stand there and hold her, and she was content to be held without saying anything. However, the wind began to pick up as it grew darker, and they had to let go.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Ichigo said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Mmhmm. See you then."

With a small smile he bent down to give her a proper kiss, short but potent. He could always tell how much it affected Orihime by how much she was blushing, and she was quite pink when they broke apart. His smile turned into a grin, and he gave her another kiss on the head before turning around and taking the stairs two at a time.

Being a substitute shinigami and well-trained in the martial arts, Ichigo never really feared walking home alone in the dark, not since he was small. The shadows were not an object of fear, for he could sense movement even in the deepest black. It was a non-issue for him.

Tonight was a little different.

Something had his hairs standing on end. For reasons he couldn't explain, he kept glancing at every corner, every shadow and hiding spot for a threat he couldn't name. He was paranoid about certain things – his loved ones' and their safety – but not about the imaginary boogeyman waiting in the dark. This wasn't like him, and he kept telling himself that.

Yet he couldn't ignore the sudden dread and anxiety. A large part of him wanted to turn back around and run to Orihime's home. She was always made him feel better, even in his worst moods.

He was halfway home, though, and he thought he would be a total idiot for turning back. There's no one here, he thought, glancing around. Still his senses were tingling, and even his Hollow seemed uneasy.

Ichigo began to walk past a small community park, the same one he always went by on the way back from Orihime's. Something made him pause in his tracks, and his eyes narrowed as he watched the trees and shadows. Reason and logic couldn't sway his instincts; there was something – or someone – there.

Suddenly, from his right, a figure stepped out from behind a large monument in the park. Ichigo immediately went into a defensive stance, his hand itching for his shinigami badge. "Who's there?" he demanded.

"Impressive. Very impressive," the figure said, slowly walking towards Ichigo. "I hid my reiatsu and yet you still sensed me."

"Who are you?" Ichigo said, gritting his teeth.

The figure stopped walking when it was under the illumination of a lamplight. He smiled slyly and answered, "My apologies. I am Commander Kurou of the Royal Guard."

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock. What the hell is he doing here? he thought. "Aren't you supposed to be protecting that Reiou guy?"

"Yes, that is my principal duty. I'm a bit surprised you know about that," he said, his expression almost pensive looking. He shrugged elegantly. "No matter. The Reiou and his family are still guarded. We wouldn't leave them defenseless, of course, even in this important acquisition."

"We?"

On cue, Ryou, Nori and a small portion of other Guard members loyal to them stepped into view, previously hidden in shadow. "My friends. Everyone, this is Kurosaki Ichigo."

"We meet at last," Nori said, chuckling under his breath.

In the back of Ichigo's mind, Shirosaki was growing restless and uneasy, and Ichigo felt the same. These people knew his name, and that was never a good thing. This is an ambush. "What do you want?" he said, his hand reaching into his back pocket for his badge. "I don't know anything about your Reiou."

Kurou waved off his words. "An understandable conclusion, but we're not here because of him. We're here because of you."

Ichigo's anxiety was turning into fear, churning around in his gut. "Why?"

"You see, we've been interested in you and your abilities for some time, namely that Hollow form of yours." Kurou smiled sardonically. "Like I said, we're here for an acquisition."

Ichigo's fear was now border lining panic. "Acquiring what?"

"Simple. You."

And that panic began to spread. This wasn't just an ambush; it was outright kidnapping. Having long learned not to let panic take over, Ichigo fortified his will and pulled out his badge. "Like hell you'll-"

Ryou rolled his eyes. "Told you he wasn't going to come easy."

Kurou shook his head. "I was afraid so. Ichigo-san, let me rephrase what I said. We want your powers." His smile vanished into a cruel frown as he drew out his sword. "If you're expecting a fight, you're quite wrong. It's no good to us if you're beaten and bloody. Your friends, and particularly that sweetheart of yours is a different story."

Ichigo nearly dropped his badge in shock, his limbs freezing as he registered Kurou's threat. "You…"

"Yes. Either you come with us or else your loved ones die, one by one." Kurou pointed his sword in the direction of Orihime's home. "It's your choice, boy."

Don't you love 'em cliffhangers? 'Til next time, kiddies.