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Hey, guys! Let's do our best to reach 400 reviews! This is an…odd chapter to say this, but I'm really glad for all the readers of this story and I hope you'll read my other stories as well! I work really hard over the summer, ya know! *wink* Well, here's Chapter 20! The big two zero! XD

Chapter 20: Shattering release

Rukia's POV

Present…

To see Ichigo clinging to Shiro was odd, but expected. He'd been doing that since he woke up. We all decided to sit in the room where he was now because we weren't sure if he could or should be moving yet, but he was awake and deserved to be in the conversations. Renji didn't like it… but at the moment, who seriously gave a shit what Renji liked? I sure didn't. "Shiro…"

"It's ok Ichigo." He said quietly, trying to calm Ichigo down. Dion sighed as he looked at him.

"why is he like this? This isn't…like him at all." I said. Dion looked at me and nodded.

"You're right, Rukia Kuchiki; to be blunt, this isn't the Ichigo you know at all. This is only half of him." Well that wasn't an odd comment.

"Huh? I don't get it." Renji said. "Whaddya mean?"

"W-well…it's…slightly complicated…" Shiro murmured. Renji glared at him, but didn't say anything. "Y-you see…we're separate now. I'm no longer connected to him."

"Get to the point…" Renji mumbled. Ichigo shot him a glare but didn't say anything and I almost laughed. It was a sign that the Ichigo we knew was there…but why wasn't he showing himself?

"Well…I used to be apart of his soul…of who he was. When I was separated…I became, I guess you could say, a whole being. My own soul, my own body." He looked at Ichigo and laced his fingers in his dull orange hair. "But Ichigo…wasn't so lucky…"

XxxxxX

Normal POV

4 days ago…

Dion watched the streets as Shiro rested. He glanced at the two and sighed. Shiro was leaned against a tree, Ichigo resting against him. He felt worry surge through him at the sight of the orange headed Soul Reaper. He was now wrapped up in Shiro's cape, his clothes nothing but shreds. The cape didn't cover his whole body, revealing his maimed legs. He could just barely make out a huge scar on his chest that he had received from his time in the Kurai Heya. This isn't good…he thought. We need to hurry…but they're so tired…what can I do though… "Shiro…we need to move." He said, shaking the hollow awake. Shiro yawned and opened his eyes blearily.

"Ok…" he sighed as he stretched and lifted Ichigo into his arms again. Dion looked at them with concern. Shiro's eyes had dark circles under them, and Ichigo was almost completely unresponsive. Sometimes he'd scream or cry out as if he was trapped in a bad nightmare, but Shiro always helped him wake up from it.

But now…Shiro needs all the rest he can get…Dion thought. I have no idea how long he'll last like this… "Do you…want me to carry Ichigo?" he asked and Shiro shook his head. Still doesn't trust me…and I can't blame him. "Ok then…let's keep moving." They continued to run through the stinging rain, unaware of what was about to happen…

XxxxxX

Grimmjow growled angrily and blew another hole in the wall with a bala. That damned hollow! He thought angrily. He dare mock me like this! I'll fucking kill him!

"Are we still upset over his escape?" He fired a bala at the direction of the voice, but it was easily knocked away. Ulquiorra walked in with his usual monotone look.

"Ulquiorra, promise me that I can kill him!" He hissed. Ulquiorra simply walked over and kissed the 6th Espada fiercely. When he broke the kiss, he was smiling.

"Ah, there are things far worse than death, you know." Ulquiorra reached into his pocket and pulled out the Hogyoku. The square casing was gone, now revealing a pulsing black orb. "Like losing the one you cherish most…" Grimmjow grinned wickedly.

"So it's time eh?" he asked. Ulquiorra nodded. He then took the small vial filled with Ichigo's blood and poured it on the Hogyoku.

"Release the monster within this boy." He whispered to it. It began to shiver and grow slightly; turning red and revealing the sleeping face of Ichigo as they three ran towards Karakura. "Make the monster one…make him obey us…his name…is Shiro." The Hogyoku shivered violently and then exploded in a blood red light. "Now…we wait."

XxxxxX

Dion's POV

As we were running, Shiro stopped suddenly. I turned around to see him on his knees, clutching his arms tightly, Ichigo at his feet. "Shiro? Shiro, what's wrong?" I don't think he heard me. He was facing the ground, his entire body shaking violently. I walked up slowly to him, trying to see if he was ok. That's when he looked at me and I couldn't help but fall backwards. His eyes weren't golden anymore; they had turned blood red. And they were filled with pain. It was then I knew exactly what was happening. They had activated the Hogyoku.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He let out an ear shattering scream and I backed away from him some more. He wasn't alone either; Ichigo was doing the same thing. You see, Ichigo and Shiro are both connected by their souls. So, if one dies, so does the other. But it's more complicated than that. They are also a part of each other; Ichigo is part of Shiro and vise versa. If they're split apart, then they're only half of who they are. The Espada's true goal was to separate Shiro, make him a 'whole' being, and control him using the Hogyoku. That's why they needed his name; it would help them control him and use his powers. But…in order to do that, the Hogyoku had to completely separate his soul, piece by agonizing piece.

"Shiro! Ichigo!" I could call to them all I'd like, but in reality, there was nothing I could do. I watched as they both writhed in agony, how much I have no clue. Both of their souls seemed to ripple for some reason, probably a result of the separation. This is bad…if they manage to separate them…That's when I had an idea. But…I had to get through to Shiro first.

XxxxxX

Shiro's POV

Everything…my body…my mind…my heart and soul…it was all in agony. To say what this felt like, the only way I can describe it…it's like having every atom…every thread that makes up my soul was being torn apart slowly and forcefully. It was so painful...and yet, a voice was making its way into my mind, but it grated like nails on a chalkboard.

Obey me...Shiro obey... I couldn't recognize the voice. I didnt know who...or what it was...but it hurt. God it hurt. But at the same time...i could feel it drawing me in. It was like every single piece of me detatching from Ichigo...was forming and combining wih that voice. I was on the edge...i wasn't going to be able toresist that...that pull for much longer until another, more frightened voice reached to me next.

"Shiro! You gotta...outta this!"

D...Dion? my thoughts were slightly scattered.

"Shiro! Change...name..." I could just barely pick his voice up through the thick haze that was agony, but his message...it was clear.

Change...my name?

"Yes! Do it! If you...name...no control..." His voice was still scattered.

My name...but it's Shiro...he calls me Shiro...

"You dumb...change...! You...accept...ne..." His voice was fading as I could feel something wrap around my chest...no, my heart.

Obey me...you belong to me Shiro...your heart is mine... That made me snap.

No...my heart is my own to give! I tired to struggle desperatly, but its hold was too tight. Damn! Gotta...think! Dion told me to change my name...but to what? Then i remembered what he had said about his own name.

"They'll never fully control me. I combined my name and his name for me to create my full name." he had said.

What could my true name be? I kept struggling to think, but my mind could only process what Dion used to call me, as well as my actual name. Wait...

You will never be free Shiro...you are mine! The voice cackled. Even through my pain, I smiled.

You're wrong...Shiro is not my name. I accepted that to myself. It is only a nickname. For some odd reason, the grip on my heart faded away, and my world, mercifully, faded away.

XxxxxX

When I came to, Dion was hovering over me, a frightened look on his face. "Oh god, you're ok." he sihed with relief. I struggled to sit up and he pushed me back down. "You lost quite a bit of blood. Stay still will ya?"

"I...how did I lose blood?" I asked.

"You...you were tearing yourself up pretty badly. You were in a lot of pain from what I coud see and hear." he explained. I moved my head slowly to see Ichigo laying next to me, but something was wrong. I could barely feel his spirit energy, and his face...it looked like Death himself had paid him a visit.

"Ichigo!"

"Calm down! He's...he's in a coma I think." Dion said, trying to finidh dressing my wounds. To hell with those!

"What do you fucking mean?" I snapped. "I can't feel his spiritual pressure!" I grabbed Zangetsu and...wait. I looked down and indeed see Zangetsu...my Zangetsu...in my hand. Wait a second... "What's going on Dion?" He leaned back and sighed.

"Did you change your name like I said?" he asked. "Better still, did you even hear me?" I nodded.

"My new name...it's Hichigo Shirosaki." I told him and he laughed.

"Same cliche trick, huh? Well...you prevented yourself from being controlled by the Hogyoku..." He looked at the Zangetsu in my hand and then back at my Ichigo. "But you couldn't prevent your seperation." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Me and Ichigo were...sperated? Did he mean...

"You mean...i'm no longer bound to his soul?" i asked, my voice shaky. No, this couldn't happen...it just can't! He nodded and I began to freak out. "No! No no no no! If we're not connected...oh my god...no! He'll...he'll..."

"He'll what? Shiro, calm down!" Dion grabbed my shoulders and shook me slightly. "What'll happen to Ichigo?" My entire body shaking, I muttered a truth I never wanted to tell.

"He'll die..."

XxxxxX

Chapter 20 end

Mwahahahahaha! I am an evil, cruel bitch! Well, if ya click the magical button, it shall tell you how to find Waldo and Carman Sandiego! See ya later~!