A/N Sorry this is another short chapter but it just felt right. Hopefully the next one will be much longer

Episode 13: Substitute V

Kurosaki holds Orihime in one arm whilst he points his sword with the other. "Older brothers should protect their sisters – not try to kill them!"

I agree

"Stay out of this Shinigami!" Acidwire growls.

"Hell no, I will protect my friend." He then averts his gaze towards me... "It seems I'll have to deal with you as well."

"Got him covered." The familiar voice of Rukia enters the room. She glides in the air with a red orb of energy ready to fire. "HADO 31...SHAKKAHO!"

I swat the ball of energy away, it was weak. She tenses and darts around me as I try to attack. "Are you only good for dodging?" I taunt her.

She stops in her tracks and goes the other way.

She must be trying to distract me...or stall me...but for what purpose?

Frustrated I lash out my extended claws. They embed themselves deep into the ground. In fact they are stuck. "Shit! I can't pull 'em out."

She faces me with her arms extended. "Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light divide this into six! BAKUDO 61...RIKUJOKORO!"

Several beams of light wedged into my body. I'm completely paralysed.

"Now we can deal with one hollow at a time." She now runs over to aid Ichigo who is fighting Acidwire.

"Take care of Orihime and Tatsuke." Ichigo calls to her as he blocks one of Acidwire's attacks. The hollow now uses his acid spit to blind Ichigo to which he swipes him away with his tail.

"Must...have...sister..." He sounds like a demon as he pursues his sister.

Rukia tries shielding the two girls and fires more of her Shakkahos but they are ineffective against this driven hollow. He produces an uppercut fist, sending Rukia into the ceiling. Orihime shrieks as she tries to run from her enraged hollow brother, however she trips over her chain.

With Ichigo blinded, Rukia incapacitated and I restrained, Orihime is helpless. Sora will devour his sister, filling the hole in his heart for another day. It's bittersweet, he will only continue to devour souls until he dies or is 'purified'.

His jaws are about to clamp over her idle body however Ichigo has managed to impale him from behind his head. The blade projects like a metallic tongue. Acidwire chokes as blood drools from his mouth and onto the tip of the blade.

Ichigo shanks out his sword in a rough manner, making Acidwire collapse heavily to the ground. His mask flakes away to reveal the face of a lost soul. He appears as a human for one last time.

"SORA PLEASE BE OKAY!" Orihime rushes over to her fallen brother. His long black hair can now flow freely thanks to his liberation.

Meanwhile the light prison that bund me weakens and I can free myself. However it is too late. My key to returning to Hueco Mundo has been lost in a sea of grief and sorrow as Orihime sobs over her long lost brother. To be reunited only for them to be separated once again is tragic. Ichigo places his arm on her shoulder for comfort, however her heat must feel so very empty right now.

And I am about to perform a shameful act...But I must, for I am a hollow and it is the only way I can leave this night feeling accomplished.

Before Acidwire's (or Sora) body is converted into reishi, I snatch his body and quickly consume my fellow hollow in front of a shocked Shinigami substitute and a devastated sister.

The hollow gives me sustenance for which I have craved for too long, however the hole in my heart only gets bigger by the day. I may need something bigger – more powerful. As I look upon the Shinigami substitute I ponder if devouring him will make my hole whole again?

I have become a cannibal...devouring my own kind! Will the shinigami substitute make for a good desert? Let's find out in the next chapter...