Chapter 10: The Ring tone

Ichigo, laughed long and hard. Rukia became a little angry.

"Ichigo im dead serious, Byakuya would not lie to me, that's not who he is!" Rukia yelled. " I thought you would be happy for your good friend Renji, he became a damned captain for crying out loud!"

Ichigo stopped laughing and looked at Rukia, "Im laughing because they should have done that sooner!" He retorted.

"What do you mean?" Rukia questioned curiously.

Ichigo sighed, "well both you and I know Renji's skills, if he doesn't make it to captain status that's a damn shame, he has more fighting skill than some of the other captains."

Rukia sighed, "I suppose you are right on that one Strawberry, any way, the Inauguration is at noon on Saturday, so I need to leave Saturday morning."

"Wait, will you be back for Saturday night?" Ichigo blurted.

Rukia turned and walked into her bedroom, " I'm not sure Ichigo, why?"

Ichigo looked down as he remembered a conversation with Keigo he had yesterday.

"Hey Ichigo you know that Homecoming dance is this Saturday night right." Keigo asked.

Ichigo kicked back in his chair, "yeah yeah I know I plan on going with my Uryu, Chad and Orihime."

"ICHIGO! Your supposed to bring a date, its customary man! Your on the Homecoming court!" Keigo yelled.

Ichigo was sipping down some orange juice, but when Keigo finished, he spat out the liquid and coughed, "wait what the hell, I'M ON THE DAMN COURT!"

Keigo stood up, "well yeah Ichigo, you don't listen to the intercom announcements so its hard to know if you were selected for court, you are on there, along with me, Mizuiro, Reiichi, and Chad. As far as the ladies go, its between Orihime Inoue, Chizuru Honsho, my sister, Ryo and last but not least Rukia….."

Ichigo reared back in shock "what the hell, how did Rukia get on the ballet?"

Keigo sighed, "well they drew names yesterday, and she was here yesterday as well, so she was thrown into the mix."

"so wait we have to pick someone from that group?" Ichigo asked.

"Well we don't have to but we are voting on who is getting paired up on Thursday, and on Friday we vote for who will become king and queen, anyone could be made king and queen." Keigo replied,

Ichigo thought to himself, great now what am I going to do, I don't think I have the nerve to ask a girl out to the dance perfect.

"Ichigo…. Hey earth to Ichigo!" Rukia yelled,

Ichigo shook his head, "huh oh sorry."

"So why do you want me back for that night?" Rukia asked.

"I uh, well see theres the dance at the school that night and well…" Ichigo tried to find the words. "I wanted to ask if you would be my date?"

Rukia looked at him with big eyes, "Ichigo, I uh, I would love to."

Ichigo couldn't believe it, what the hell, she said yes, SHE SAID YES! Strangely enough this doesn't seem right, back then she would never have said yes, we weren't like that but then again I would never ask, I wonder how deep this really goes, I don't know why but I get a weird churning in my gut every time she's around me, I can only wonder if she feels the same way.

What if this is something bigger, if that is, there goes my badass reputation out the window.

Rukia went back into her room and changed, Ichigo walked into the bathroom and got in the shower, he couldn't get his mind off of her, he wanted to know how deep this goes, Ichigo likes her, but he can only wonder if she likes him the same. Rukia dropped her bath robe and walked into her closet stark naked, she picked out her underwear, put those on, and looked through a selection of white dresses, she put a finger over her mouth and her thumb on her chin, thinking which one to take.

"Ah this one will be nice." Rukia gleefully said. She dragged out a beautiful dress, white in color, with a blue wave running from the bottom diagonally up her left side ending at about her chest.

Rukia slipped the dress over her and smoothed it out as she then heard the water in the bathroom shut off. Ichigo stepped out of the shower and dried off with a towel, he then dug into his bag and grabbed his underwear, a pearl white polo and dark blue boot cut jeans with a chain coming from the pocket and attaching to a belt loop.

He got dressed and walked out into the living room, running his hands through his semi wet hair, yawning. Rukia was sitting on the couch playing with her phone. Ichigo walked up to Rukia and said, "hey we better get going. We still need to get my sisters to school."

Rukia nodded, "right, we can't be late for class."

Ichigo and Rukia left her house and sat in the American muscle car, Ichigo turned the key and drove back to his house for Karin and Yuzu.

Orihime woke up looking out the window that poured a warm light in her room. She rubbed her eyes and walked into her bathroom with all of her clothes for the day, she set them on a small table as she proceeded to undress herself, and take a bath, she sat in her bath tub and smiled, she then heard her apartment door open, she looked towards her door and wondered.

Grimmjow stood outside on the balcony, wearing a white polo with an up turned collar, and white dress pants held up with a black leather belt, and also wore black dress shoes. Grimmjow leaned over the balcony with a scowl on his face looking over Karakura Town. "You know, even though I really don't belong here… this really beats the hell out of the sand dunes in Hueco Mundo." He said to himself. He watched as the warmth of the sun showered everything.

The scowl left his face as he let the warmth come over him, " Even when I came here those couple times, I never stopped to take this all in, but I imagine you take this all for granted do you… Inoue." Grimmjow spoke as he turned around seeing Orihime in a pink bathrobe. Orihime stood motionless in front of Grimmjow, His face was expressionless, but his eyes were narrowed. He spoke, "I wonder how, how can you and the others welcome me with open arms like this, especially since in the past I almost killed two of your friends, and yet they accept me here, I expected them to kill me right on the spot."

Orihime looked up at him, "its because we have the strength to forgive…"

Grimmjow turned around facing the balcony, Orihime continued, "you may have never asked for it, but actions speak louder than words, Jack…. The fact you are willing to wash away your past by trying to protect us, maybe Ulquiorra was right, Espada can have a heart after all."

Grimmjow scowled, "tch, what makes that so damn important."

Orihima walked up to Grimmjow, she was serious, "Jack, do you know why Ichigo beat you! Do you want to know how!"

Grimmjow turned around, " he was stronger than I was, plain and simple, I let my guard down and he beat me. That's all there was to it."

Orihime shook her head, " he didn't beat you because of his power, it was because of his resolve, that's something us humans are good at, when Ichigo is dead set on doing something, he makes sure that he will not fail, that's how he saved Rukia from death, even against impossible odds against the captains of the soul society, that's how he defeated every enemy, including you, he had a heart, a heart with an unbreakable will to protect me, Rukia, everyone he cares about! He doesn't fight for himself, he fights for what he cares most about, and that's why he makes sure he never fails, he takes all of his emotions and uses them as his power, his resolve makes him stronger than anyone can imagine even now!"

Grimmjow stared forward with his eyes opened, he turned and walked toward Orihime, " Its worth a try, but what if your wrong Orihime?"

Orihime stared into his cold blue eyes and said, "I know I am right, you need to find something worth fighting for."

Orihime walked back into her room, Grimmjow stood motionless, speechless, thinking on her words, he clenched his fists, a scowl across his face, he grabbed his coat and walked off to school.

Orihime watched from her bedroom window Grimmjow leaving down the road, she turned around and sighed heavily, she undid the pink velvety belt that tied up her bathrobe and dropped her pink robe to the floor, she got dressed in a hurry, pulling on a white button up shirt over a black tank top, her famed hairpins and a white skirt, she slipped on her shoes and was about to leave her house when she felt a strange presence.

"My my, what do we have here, looks like your hero has left you all alone." A feminine voice said to Orihime.

Orihime turned around and saw a tall thin woman sitting on her couch, the woman wore a tight black skirt, with a spandex top, a short sword hung from her side. She stood up and walked toward Orihime.

She bit down on a shiny red apple and said, "oh what lovely hair pins, they look beautiful on you. Mind if I take a closer look."

Orihime noticed the necklace she was wearing, a strange jawbone dangled over her breasts.

Orihime threw her hands up and used her Santen Kesshun, the woman stood back and looked in curiosity, a smirk across her face. "well well well, those aren't no ordinary hair pins are they, im impressed." The woman said.

She used a sonido to move behind and capture Orihime, the woman grined wildly, "now about those hairpins."

Grimmjow got to an intersection and waited for the light to change so he can walk, the words Orihime said to him never left his mind. He tensed up, something isn't right to him, he turned around looking back at the apartment complex, "Shit! Orihime!" Grimmjow yelled.

Grimmjow left his body at the intersection, donning his new soul reaper style out fit. He blazed back to the apartment for Orihime.

Orihime shook in her place, looking back at a wicked smile writhed across the woman's face. The woman raised her right hand and plucked off one of her hairpins. Suddenly, the door blew wide open and Grimmjow stood in the doorway, his zanpakuto drawn. "Ollivante! Let the woman go bitch!" Grimmjow roared.

The woman looked over at Grimmjow, a snarl went across her face looking at him, "Grimmjow! You survived the Soul Society, im impressed." Ollivante snickered. "Its funny I find you here, it seems fitting for you, an ex Espada, now turned Soul Reaper living amongst humans, pathetic."

Grimmjow blew a gasket, "Ill show you who's pathetic you conniving bitch! GRIND!"

Grimmjow placed a hand on his Zanpakuto and slid it from the bottom to the tip of the blade, "PANTERA!"

Grimmjows sword glowed bright blue, as it changed the handle became slightly thinner, contouring to the fingers of his hand, the blade hooking at the beginning, changed into a dark blue hue down the length of the blade, as the end became thicker than the rest of the sword, the Flange resembled that of feline claws and finger holes reached down the handle with Claws extruding from between each finger slot, when its transformation was complete the blade hissed with smoke rising from it.

Orihime struggled out of Ollivante's grasp, as Grimmjow charged at Ollivante, only to be barely blocked, the blades hissed and screeched as they tried to cut into each other, Grimmjow sneered and laughed as his blade started to make Ollivante's sword break.

Ollivante backed off and snickered, "well you surprise me yet again Grimmjow, you're getting the hang of being a Soul Reaper, but unfortunately time is running short, my masters rebirth is at hand."

She opened her hand exposing Orihime's hairpins, as she opened a Garganta and escaped.

Grimmjow cursed and looked over at Orihime, who was shaken up, and said, "Hey you alright?"

Grimmjow offered her a hand, and she grasped his hand and stood up, Orihime became worried, "yes but she got my hair pins."

Grimmjow thought for a moment, that's true, but I doubt they will give Nightmare a perfect rebirth, those hair pins have more power when the original user is controlling them….

Grimmjow looked at her, "well lets get to school, we need to run this by Ichigo and the others."

Orihime nodded as they left together, Grimmjow rejoined his gigai and the both walked together to school.

Ichigo and Rukia were enjoying breakfast with the family, Rukia laughed as Ichigo and Isshin fought, Karin rolled her eyes and Yuzu continued to eat her breakfast. The fight subsided, and Isshin grew smug, " Well Ichigo, how was your night over at Rukia's house, did you get cozy?"

The next thing Isshin knew was a fist flying at his face, Ichigo droped Isshin like a fly. "why cant you be normal like you were when you were a S-" Ichigo couldn't say the next two words because Isshin jumped back up and put a hand on his mouth.

"Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu don't know yet, don't yap your mouth ok." Isshin whispered.

Ichigo abided by his fathers wish. He knew it would be too much, Ichigo promised he wouldn't tell anyone of Isshin's abilities.

Rukia looked at both of them with unsure eyes, then she went back to finishing her breakfast.

"Ichigo, your private life is none of my business, you know that, im just blowing smoke up your butt, now I believe if you don't get going soon, you will be late." Isshin stated.

Ichigo nodded and looked at Rukia, Yuzu and Karin. " Shall we get going then?" Ichigo spoke.

The group nodded and went outside with their school bags, each one getting into the vehicle. When Ichigo stepped inside the vehicle and started the car, everyone heard a singing voice.

The good life is what I need Too many people stepping over me The only thing that's been on my mind Is the one thing I need before I die All I want is a little of the good life All I need is to have a good time, oh, the good life All I want is a little of the good life All I need is to have a good time, ohwoahaaaaohhh, the good life (The good life)

The song came from Ichigos cell phone, he clicked it open and said, "Kurosaki."

"Ichigo! Guess what I got this morning?" It was Keigo Asano. Ichigo chuckled. "Is it ADHD pills?"

"verry funny Ichigo." Keigo retorted. "I just went and picked up that new game called Halo: Reach, Its SOOOO COOOOOOLLL!"

"Isn't Halo that game where you are some super human killing aliens?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah, its a lot of fun Ichigo you should come over after school and play man you would love it." Keigo answered.

Ichigo thought for a moment. "uhhhhmmmm, I'm not so sure about that Keigo, I was planning on hanging out with Rukia and the family tonight."

Keigo laughed, "well just bring Rukia along dummy, if I can get my sister to play as well, we will have a full team to play this cool game called firefight."

Ichigo palmed his face and dragged his hand down in frustration, "Oh alright fine Keigo, tonight your place, but you better have that damn X-Box hooked up on the big screen, I am not going to play on that midget ass TV of yours in your room."

"Done deal then, see you at school Ichigo." Keigo said as he hung up the phone.

Ichigo hung up as soon as they got to the middle school, Karin and Yuzu jumped out of the car and Rukia climbed back in to the car after moving the seat back to its original place. Rukia was curious about his phone.

"Ichigo, when your phone went off, what as that." Rukia asked.

Ichigo looked over, "what do you mean?"

"That voice came from your phone what is that?" Rukia asked again.

"Oh right, that, midget, is a ring tone they are sounds we use to let us know we got a call, its better than the beeping and what not, for instance, my ringtone is the song "The good life" by the band three days grace." Ichigo explained.

Rukia smirked a little, " I see, so if I call you, then that song will come back up?"

Ichigo chuckled, "not necessarily Rukia, I have a few Ringtones for different people."

Before he knew it, it was too late she dialed his number and a different song came up.

They both were silent as it played.

Just trying to find your way anywhere, But you've come to find you're alooooone, Its getting dark and you've lost your waaaaay, I haven't let you goooooo as long as you know that.. I'm losing what's left of my dignityyyyy But ill fight till the end for her heaaaarrrrrrt, Ill never give up for what's possiblyyyyyy for better for worse this love must be cursed…..

Ichigo flipped open his phone and closed it right away, he looked straightforward. "That song is called holding on."

Rukia looked at him, she could see a mix of embarrassment and slight sorrow. She looked down and said, "Ichigo, that song is beautiful."

He looked over at her, "thanks, I made that my ring tone for your number for a reason." Ichigo stated. "It just reminds me of you and what we went through."

Rukia just stared blankly at him, she shut her eyes with a smile. "fool." She said under her breath.

They made it to school and were quickly approached by Uryu, Sado and Orihime. Ichigo noticed something odff with Orihime, she seemed very down, but that isn't all of it. He thought.

Ichigo looked at her hair and noticed different hairpins in them. "Hey Orihime, you aren't wearing your usual hairpins, whats up?"

Orihime shuddred, "They were stolen….."

Ichigo and Rukia went bug eyed in shock, as they both said, "stolen! What do you mean stolen."

Grimmjow approached the group and filled them in on the situation. "An arrancar named Ollivante came and attacked her, before I could stop Ollivante, she made away with the hairpins."

Rukia looked at Ichigo, he was thinking, Damn it all, "so whats going to happen now, is your old friend coming back Grimmjow?"

"I believe so, we have to be pre paired, Nightmare will go to any length for victory, I know it first hand."

Then the group heard a few girls scream, "AAAAAH! ITS JACK! THE HOT TRANSFER STUDENT!"

Grimmjows eyes widened completely, "Shit gotta run!"

Grimmjow was on a full bore sprint as Ichigo Rukia and the others watched a large group of young teen age women try to chase him down.

Ichigo and Uryu laughed, Ichigo spoke up. "You know that will never cease to amuse me hahaha."

The bell rang signaling everyone to head off to class, Ichigo and Rukia walked into class together and Keigo looked at them both slightly skeptical. This is becoming really strange, Ichigo has been spending a lot of time with Rukia, and I know Ichigo, he usually doesn't spend any time with girls, that's my job, ever since she came back, hes been a totally different person, what gives…..

The class started everyone paid attention to the teacher, minus Grimmjow, who could give a shit about it. Keigo kept looking back at Rukia and Ichigo, passing notes in class, thinking, now its passing notes, what the hell Ichigo, what are you up to,

Rukia received the note from Ichigo it read.

Rukia, before we go to Keigo's I need to go to the mall to pick up something.

Rukia thought of a question and wrote it on the note and gave it back to the orange haired boy sitting next to her.

What do you need to get there berry?

He replied you will find out soon enough.

As Rukia read the note, her phone vibrated, she looked at it and it was reporting a Hollow in the vicinity. Ichigo then punched Rukia in the shoulder and Rukia whispered, "what the hell was that for you idiot."

Ichigo pointed out the window to something that caused Rukia gasp.

A snake like Hollow was coiled completely around a tall building near the down town area, the hollow let loose a screeching roar as Rukia looked over to see Uryu, Sado, and Orihime bolting out the door. Rukia turned back to Ichigo, "Ichigo we have to help them."

Ichigo nodded and got out of his seat and left with Rukia. Both Tatsuki and Keigo wondered why are they leaving but as they looked out the window, their answers were right in front of them, both of them thinking Oh shit, they are going off to fight that thing! Your kidding me.

…

In Hueco Mundo

Ollivante grabbed the hair pins out of her special box and moved over to a covered body on the table she set the hairpins down next to the body and pressed her hands on top of them. A shimmering figure was hovering next to Ollivante and it spoke.

"hurry up Ollivante, the longer I wait the longer I yearn for this body to be mine!" it said in a deep dark voice.

Ollivante continued the ritual, she chanted, "Darkness rise, darkness fall, the power stored in these, arise and hear my call!"

The shimmering object entered the body as a Sōten Kisshun appeared over it

It took a little time but the shield faded and the body sat up, the only thing visible was its glowing red spiky hair, and glowing red eyes. "So how does the body feel?" Ollivante asked, "master Nightmare."

Nightmare smirked and said, "I have never felt more alive Ollivante, never."