Minako and Orihime were made to change in white garments similar to what everyone else was wearing. They were silent, but they knew what was going on. There were battles going around, spiritual pressures spiking or weakening. That was when the door burst open, jolting them from speculations of the battles in Las Noches. Two female Arrancar entered and Minako's instinct blared. She moved in front of Orihime, her right arm stretched protectively to shield her friend.

"Nice room you two have here." The female with dark hair in pigtails commented as though the four girls have been chatting it up since Orihime and Minako arrived in Las Noches. The girl continued idly, speaking now to Orihime. "Aizen-sama must like you because he's so interested in you. And then, you have your friends coming to rescue their princess." Her expression then went cold, cruel, speaking as her companion stayed back. "You must think you're hot shit, don't you?"

"No," Orihime replied from behind Minako. "That's not true at all."

The rage in the girl's eyes grew and Minako planted herself firmly in front of Orihime. "I don't know what your problem is with Orihime, but you two need to get out and get out right now," she said.

"What's this? The unimportant girl has something to say? She wants to stand up to us?" The girl's pink irises were lighting up with a violent fire as she approached Minako and Orihime. "You're not worth anything, girl! Aizen-sama doesn't even care about you!"

Minako tried to brace herself, but the girl's fist connected with her face viciously. Orihime cried out when the blow forced Minako to stumble and fall on the floor. Minako winced at the pain, unsure if her jaw was broken. She spit onto the floor and saw droplets of blood before raising her eyes to glare at the Arrancar. She tried to push, tried to find some way to rip her soul right open before she advanced onto Orihime, but the pain was too great—and her attempt didn't go unnoticed.

"Trying to protect the little princess, aren't you?!" she spat before raising her leg and stomping down hard on Minako's side. Minako felt the crack before the pain flowed through her body and she let out a strangled scream, burying her face into the floor, her fingers digging into the floor as well.

"Minako-chan!" Orihime cried before Minako heard her let out a cry of pain and felt her fall to the floor near her. Her head shot up to see the two Arrancars kicking Orihime's face. Minako growled, forcing herself to use her power, forcing herself into the souls of the Arrancars with whatever strength she had. She dug deep into their souls, latching on before giving a harsh rip. When they let out simultaneous cries of pain, Minako let up her assault and screamed, "Orihime, run!"

Orihime scrambled to her feet and made an attempt to the door before the dark-haired Arrancar raised a hand and a powerful orb of light blew the door off. "I was just getting it for you," she mocked before Orihime turned to look at the Arrancars, her face showing that she wanted to say something. "What? Got something to say? Then say it!" The Arrancar spat.

"You have no business with Minako-chan and I. You should go," Orihime said calmly.

"You're getting high and mighty, princess. Who do you think you are?"

Orihime said nothing and Minako could even see that was a mistake.

The dark-haired Arrancar smirked before turning to her companion. "Do it, Menoly."

The once called Menoly had a ball of light more powerful than the one that took out the door. The dark-haired girl began to speak to Orihime again. "Menoly's Cero fires off randomly sometimes. You and that little servant of yours could be killed at any moment. Are you scared?"

Orihime gave no answer, and the dark-haired Arrancar let out an ugly sound of anger, grabbing Orihime by her neck and lifting her. "Let her go!" Minako cried out before the second Arrancar stomped onto her ankle, shattering it. Minako barely suppressed a scream of pain, tears loading in her eyes. Orihime fought the other Arrancar and a sharp sound of flesh hitting flesh pierced the air before Orihime was grabbed by her hair.

"Loly," Menoly began. "Maybe we should stop. We're going to get in trouble."

"Shut up!" Loly snapped. "If you're going to chicken out, then leave!"

As soon as those words left, an explosion took out another entrance to the room. The male Arrancar Orihime healed—Grimmjow—entered, hands in his pockets. "Well, well, well. You two snuck in here while Ulquiorra was gone, huh?" he commented.

"What are you doing here, Grimmjow?" Loly demanded. Grimmjow kicked Loly in her stomach, away from him. Menoly yelled out, charging at Grimmjow with her Cero, but Grimmjow, stronger and faster, grabbed Menoly's Cero and, adding his own, blew her torso clean off like he had done with Luppi. Orihime crawled over to Minako, who was watching Grimmjow brutalize Loly. She forced herself up in spite of her pain, wrapping her arms around Orihime to shield what Grimmjow had done to Loly next—he had gripped her leg and tore it off without batting an eye.

Grimmjow turned on the two girls and approached them. Minako held onto Orihime tighter, her eyes burning into the Espada's icy orbs. Orihime wordlessly pulled Minako's arms off of her, trying to smile through her damaged face. "It's okay," she whispered before she looked to Grimmjow. "Why are you…"

"For my arm," Grimmjow said shortly. Orihime's eyes widened slightly but she then turned to Minako. "Minako-chan, are you…?" she began.

"They smashed my rib and ankle," Minako whispered. "Don't worry about me, Orihime. You should heal your face before the others come and see you hurt."

"But you-"

"The girl's right," Grimmjow interjected. "I repaid my debt to you. Now you will do something for me. First thing you can do is fix up your face."

"But-" Orihime began but he cut her off coldly. "If you're going to hang with me, you can't look like that. Fix it—now."

Minako glared at him for how callous he was, exhausted seeping into her bones from her shattered bones and the use of her powers. She could feel herself fading into oblivion; Orihime, though, turned and ran to the wounded Arrancar and proceeded to heal Loly's leg. Minako could vaguely hear Loly object strongly, striking Orihime again—

Everything went black.

There was something else, something unfamiliar. Minako found a Soul Reaper in her mind, a sinister red aura ringing around him, flowing outward as though connecting to her. "It's great to finally see you after all this time," he said. "But then again, you didn't know I had watched over you before moving on."

"Who are you?" she breathed.

"I shouldn't be surprised no one's talked about me," he said, slowly. "But it's a little upsetting that my own little sister doesn't remember my face when she saw it in mom's memory."

"…S-Shinobu...?" Minako whispered. "You became a Soul Reaper?"

"I was a Soul Reaper, Minako," Shinobu replied. "Like you, dear little sister, I had the Tamashī no Tankyū-Sha. It was inexorably linked with my zanpakuto."

"What happened to you, brother?" Minako whispered.

"I lost my mind. I killed people—my comrades, innocents. The Central 46 ordered my execution." Shinobu looked sad at this. "I was also the only one left with that power—or so they thought."

"What do you mean?" Minako asked, fear locking her in a vise.

"No one's told you anything…"

"Brother, tell me what's going on."

Shinobu sighed, approaching Minako with a sad smile gracing his lips as he reached to stroke her hair. "Our family," he began," made a deal with a devil. Our powers weren't always stemmed from birth naturally. Someone had created the ability and planted it in our ancestors. However, it was a curse, Minako; only siblings were to have the power and every time it is used, it evolves. It evolves until it overtakes the mind, spiraling you down into insanity. Our power has a mind of its own, like it's a monster, almost…like a Hollow."

"Is that why…?" Minako whispered, heart clenching.

"Your power has been evolving every time you protect that Inoue girl, hasn't it?"

"I have to, Shinobu! They'll kill her if I don't protect her!"

I know you have to stay strong for your friend, sister, but if you keep using your power-"

"The one who's supposed to be protecting Orihime Inoue is out there fighting!" Minako cried. "I'm doing his job until he gets here."

Shinobu sighed. "Minako, you can only handle so much. I'm afraid sooner or later the Soul Society will catch wind that you are my sister, that we have the same power—and they will order your death."

"They'll…can they just do that?! Without even hearing my side, disregarding the fact that I did what I had to-to keep Orihime and myself alive?!" she cried. "They'll just ignore all of that and kill me!?"

"They have no choice, Minako. Our power is too strong, too…monstrous. There's no way to control it, even if we could over time."

Within the dream, Minako felt it. A high level of different spiritual pressures spiking higher and higher…

"The battles are starting," Shinobu whispered before he pressed his head against hers. "Be careful, sister."

"She won't need to be careful. She's got me."

Minako started, turning from her brother. She felt Shinobu pull her behind him. "A Hollow!"

"Shinobu, wait!" Minako exclaimed, grabbed her brother's arm. "White's on our side."

White narrowed his eyes at the contact. "You know him, princess?" he asked.

"He's my brother," Minako breathed before walking to him. "What's going on, White? Shouldn't you be in Ichigo's head?"

"The King is fighting one of those Espada. They brought the girl with the hairpins—but not you."

Shinobu was behind Minako. "Your spiritual pressure…you've been protecting my sister?"

White let out a harsh laugh. "Your sister is mine. If anyone other than me touches her, they'll pay a hefty price."

Shinobu shook his head. He then hugged Minako. "Take care, Minako."

"I will, brother." Minako hugged back before she felt him fade from her mind. She then felt White hold her from behind, his grip tight.

"Come out, princess."

Minako jolted awake, finding herself alone in the room shared with Orihime. She could feel the spiritual pressures, more pronounced than when she was unconscious. She moved to stand up, surprised to find herself no longer in pain. Orihime…

Jaw set, Minako fled the room, running with all her might, feeling herself going higher and higher in the tower. The spiritual pressures were overwhelming, suffocating, but she had to keep running, to keep going. When she arrived in the place where Aizen usually sat, she found a gaping hole in the wall, exposing the outside. She rushed to the hole, to loom out over the battles.

It was dark and she could see Orihime and Ishida if she squinted her eyes. Her eyes swept the area, sensing the energy of a familiar Espada—finding a figure with large, black wings.

That would mean…

"Ichigo! Help, please!" Orihime cried out over Ichigo's unconscious form. Minako's heart clenched, her blood chilled. Ulquiorra, the Espada that had taken her and Orihime—had he taken Ichigo down? Was Ichigo dead?

Everything changed in that moment—and it happened so fast. Minako's eyes couldn't follow the fight fast enough, seeing how quickly it had escalated. She felt the floor beneath her tremble violently as though something had broken the tower, causing it to splinter and fall. Minako gasped, as she felt herself falling along with the tower and she let out a scream. Her eyes clamped shut, bracing herself for the impact of the ground far below her, bracing for the impact of the tower crushing what would be left of her body…

She felt something catch her, holding her body protectively, but the impact of ground never came.

Slowly, Minako's eyes opened and she gasped.

It was a Hollow unlike anything she's ever seen. Horned, the mask streaked with black, and hands holding her tight. She saw the shock of long, orange hair. "I-Ichigo…" she whispered in shock.

He looked down at her, his eyes not brown, but black and gold. It was then she knew, she knew deep in her heart, which was really holding her. "Is that you…White?"

The assent that came from him was a low, distorted sound as he set her down. Minako backed away until she was beside Orihime and Uryu before he launched at Ulquiorra with relentless speed. "Is that really Ichigo?" Orihime whispered.

Minako shook her head. "No…no, that's White…I can feel it," she replied, her eyes on the battling Hollows.

"Kazuya-san," Uryu's voice made her eyes tear away from the battle. "How can you tell that isn't Ichigo?"

"I haven't seen Ichigo battle as a Soul Reaper. But I can separate him from White. I can see who's in control."

"You're sure that it's…not Ichigo controlling his Hollow?"

"I can see Ichigo's influence, but no…White is the one I see."

In that moment, Ulquiorra was pinned by White and a ball of red light hovering over him. "Go ahead. Kill me," Ulquiorra said. "You won. Kill me."

"White, don't," Minako whispered softly. "You won. Just leave him be…"

"Kazuya-san?" Uryu and Orihime looked at her. The Cero was inching closer to Ulquiorra's face. Minako's eyes widened, filling with tears, before the Cero made contact, the shockwave strong. They saw him holding what was left of Ulquiorra before throwing him. Ulquiorra's corpse landed with a thud. White landed over the remains of Ulquiorra, holding his sword over him. Before he could lower it, Uryu grabbed his arm to stop him. "That's enough, Ichigo. The battle's over. I know he was our enemy but you don't need to carve up his corpse. I said enough, Ichigo," he said as Minako and Orihime could see White struggling to free himself. "Can you hear me, Ichigo? It's time to stop! Do it and you really no longer be human! Don't, Ichigo!"

White freed his arm and threw the sword into Uryu's stomach, sending him flying back. Minako jumped and her tears broke free right as Orihime screamed, "Uryu!"

White froze. "Will…save…" The words were forced, repeated over and over. "I will save you."

Minako's eyes widened at the words. Ichigo's fighting back…

A blinding, red Cero appeared from the horns, aimed for Uryu. "Stop, Ichigo!" Orihime screamed. "Stop it!"

He wasn't paying heed and the energy was so strong, Minako felt her soul being pulled in, mixing, painful, twisted. She flinched, hot tears coursing down her face as the pain intensified. She wanted it to stop, she wanted it to go away…

Her scream ripped out of her throat before she even realized it. "White, stop it!"

Ulquiorra's corpse appeared behind White and with one swing, he took out the horn. Minako, Orihime, and Uryu watched as Ichigo's mask broke, a disoriented look on his face as he fell. "Ichigo!" Orihime ran toward Ichigo's unconscious body as Ulquiorra's body regenerated and he stood there, contemplating.

White's energy faded, the physical manifestation leaving Ichigo before healing the hole that was on his body. Cautiously, Minako walked forward, her expression frozen with shock save her tears. She stood beside the kneeling Orihime. "Is he…?" she whispered.

"Ichigo?" Orihime whispered right as Ichigo jolted up. Shock was on his face as he placed a hand to his chest. "Didn't I…have a hole in my chest?" he asked. He raised his head to see Minako and Orihime looking at him. "Are you two okay?" he asked.

"Yes," Orihime replied, but Minako was silent. Ichigo noticed the tears still running down her numbed expression, and concern grew in his eyes. "Minako, are you okay? Why are you crying?"

I'm scared…The thought whispered through her. I'm scared of him…I'm scared…She wanted to say it, she wanted to be honest. But she couldn't. The fear that rose up inside of her wound its stalks through her veins, numbing her. She could feel White's energy reaching, pushing to link with hers, but this time, she fought back, pushing him away.

"Minako?" Ichigo's voice was barely a whisper, but Minako looked away and brushed her tears away. "I'm fine," she mumbled, her voice cracking on the last syllable. A blatant lie…could she be any more pathetic?

Ulquiorra had taken Ichigo's sword from Uryu's stomach and threw it at Ichigo's feet. "Let's finish this," he said. Ichigo shook his head. "No. I'd have to cut my leg and arm off for it to be fair, since my Hollow interfered," he said.

Ulquiorra raised his sword to do that favor to Ichigo, but then he began to dissolve into ashes. There was a realization in his eyes before he spoke again. "Kill me, Kurosaki."

"No." Ichigo replied, not moving. Ulquiorra let out a breath. "You never do what you want, Kurosaki…" He looked to Orihime. "Woman, are you scared?" he asked her, reaching toward her.

Orihime's expression was sad when she answered, her own hand reaching toward Ulquiorra. "I'm not scared," she whispered. "I'm not scared."

Before their fingers met, Ulquiorra's hand dissolved, as did the rest of his body, into ashes that was swept into the air. With no hesitation, Orihime went to Uryu to heal him. Ichigo looked away, a frown crossing his features, before Uryu spoke. "Ichigo. You go first, I'll be fine," he said. "Everyone must be waiting for you at the bottom. Go for now."

"But…" Ichigo hesitated.

"Ichigo! If you got something to say, I'll hear you out in full once this is over!" Uryu exclaimed. "Haven't you got something else to be doing right now?"

Ichigo didn't speak for a moment before he nodded. "Got it." He looked to Orihime. "Orihime, take care of Uryu."

"No problem," Orihime said with a nod before she noticed Minako making a move to go beside her and Uryu. "Ichigo, can you take Minako-chan with you?"

Minako's eyes widened. "O-Orihime, I'll just get in the way."

"You were never supposed to be here, Minako-chan." Orihime smiled gently. "You protected me with everything you had, and overexerted yourself."

"She's right," Ichigo said before Minako could protest. "You weren't supposed to be in danger like that."

"What do you know?!" Minako snapped, rounding on Ichigo. "I had a bad feeling something was going to happen and I went with Orihime! What was I supposed to do, just leave her there?! I was doing what you were supposed to!"

Ichigo's eyes widened at Minako's outburst, at the tears that were loading in her eyes again. He made a move to reach out and try to soothe her, but he felt Minako's energy lock onto his, stopping him, her dark blue eyes blazing with frustration. "The next time you're not there to keep anyone safe, I'll perforate your soul like a damn pincushion, Ichigo," she vowed, though Ichigo heard the half-hearted attempt at being firm. He felt her energy pull back, shaky and unstable, he assumed, due to her emotional state. He could see it—the one emotion that spoke louder than any of the others.

His Hollow stirred in frustration. "My princess is scared. Scared of you, me…"

Scared of us, Ichigo thought in response. "Minako." He kept his voice steady. After being brought to Hueco Mundo, not knowing anything about everything, he could imagine how traumatized she could be. "We're gonna go to the world of the living. I can leave you with my sisters."

Minako didn't speak for a moment, but she gave the barest inclination of her head. Ichigo took that as a sign of assent and grabbed Minako's wrist. "Keep her safe, Ichigo!" Orihime called to him. Ichigo looked back at her and nodded. "I will."

He released Minako's wrist and wound an arm around her tightly, before flash-stepping to the edge of the roof and flying down. Minako didn't scream, like he expected, but she did hold on to him tightly. He felt her tense. "I can sense him—another Espada."

"I know. Shut your eyes," Ichigo warned, seeing Rukia falling and Yammy advancing in his release mode. Ichigo stopped in front of Rukia, glaring at Yammy, before setting Minako down.

"Quit darting around like that, dammit!" roared Yammy, advancing furiously at Ichigo, Rukia, and Minako. Ichigo narrowed his eyes, fighting off Yammy as Rukia grabbed Minako and moved her out of the way. Rukia noticed Minako looking around wildly. "Kazuya-san?"

"Something's coming," Minako whispered right as a voice said, "Hado 33: Sokatsui."

A blast of blue light hit Yammy and Ichigo was thrown into the air. Two Soul Reapers were by Ichigo, unfamiliar, but Rukia recognized them. "Brother. Captain Zaraki," she murmured.

"Fall back, Ichigo Kurosaki," Byakuya ordered.

"Get your ass out of the way," Kenpachi said, raising his blade and lowering it on Ichigo. Ichigo panicked, trying to reason with Kenpachi, but Yammy's fist hit the brutal captain. Kenpachi threw a rock at Yammy, distracting the Espada.

"Fall back, Ichigo Kurosaki. You're needed elsewhere," Byakuya said.

"I can't go yet. I gotta take Minako back to the world of the living," Ichigo said.

"Minako…? As in Minako Kazuya?" Byakuya asked softly.

"That's who I am." Minako's voice was behind them and both males turned. Rukia stood little ways behind Minako, who stepped forward, her eyes stoic.

Ichigo wasn't sure what was happening, but the next thing he noticed was Byakuya aiming his blade to Minako's neck and Minako standing there, brazen, unafraid. "H-Hey! What the hell are you doing, Byakuya?!"

"We have been ordered to execute Minako Kazuya. Her power is a threat to all of us," Byakuya explained smoothly.

"What?!" Ichigo yelled, moving to stand between them. "You can't just kill her!"

"It's fine, Ichigo," Minako whispered, meeting Byakuya's steely eyes. "The Soul Society just doesn't want history to repeat itself with what happened to Shinobu Kazuya. Isn't that right?"

"Kazuya?" Rukia breathed. "As in-"

"As in the Soul Society killed my brother because he used our power and lost his mind, killing indiscriminately," Minako said, not making contact with Byakuya, but able to see his memories like a movie reel. "The Soul Society caught wind that his younger sister has the power and ordered my execution."

"That doesn't give them the right!" Ichigo roared, before he knocked Byakuya's arm away from Minako. "You'll have to go over my dead body because I won't let you put a hand on Minako!"

"Ichigo, stop it," Minako said firmly, putting a hand on his arm but he clenched the hilt of his zanpakuto. "Stop taking things like it's okay, Minako!" he snapped. "Aren't you pissed that they're just ordering your execution!?"

"No," Minako whispered. "I'm not. It feels like I've been preparing for something for a long time. If it's my execution that I'm supposed to prepare for then-"

"NO!"

The roar rang out not from anyone's mouth of the outside, but the voice of the Hollow who'd claim her inside. She was thrust into her own mind, the contact of cold skin on her own wrist. She could see his golden irises burning into her own eyes, could feel the rage inside of him. His hold was bruising, almost splintering her bones. "No one is going to take you from me, princess. I will kill those Soul Reapers before their blades can carve into your skin!"

The intensity was burning, as though her body was on fire. She was dimly aware of her throat aching painfully as though it would tear. Her power was fused so completely with White's energy, and she could feel him trying to pull her into the darkness, almost desperately. He was going to devour her, like he vowed, before everything changed.

She heard her name being called, from a voice so far away. But she didn't want to go. She wanted to be swallowed by the darkness, protected by the beast that was stowed away inside another soul. She belonged to no one but him. Her soul was his, chained forever…

She could feel familiar warmth around her, trying to resuscitate her, but she couldn't move now. She could hear the voice that called her name ringing, dulled, but also familiar. But this was it now. Her power was at home in Hueco Mundo, evolving even when she wasn't using it. Now, it splintered, causing her to spiral. She wasn't scared, wasn't terrified; she could feel the familiar, possessive hold on her soul, pulling her inside a black heart that was beating loudly in her head.

She lost control. She lost her fight. I'm sorry, everyone…I couldn't change anything…