Disclaimer: I only own Jonouchi Uchiki and his Zanpakuto O'kamitoku. Any other Bleach related item I do not.

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Chapter 7: Menos

Jonouchi slowly turned, seeing the face of his savior. There, dressed in black Shinigami robes, stood Ichigo Kurosaki. Slung over his shoulder was the largest Zanpakuto Jonouchi had ever seen. Next to him stood 2 others. A tall nerdy looking kid, and the raven haired girl, Rukia. "You look like you could use some help." Ichigo said, smirking.

"Y... Your a... Shinigami!?" Jonouchi exclaimed.

"Yeah, but I'm just as surprised as you are. I never expected someone from the Soul Society to be working here." Ichigo said. "Hey, Rukia, you know this guy?" he called to her.

"Yes... I do..." she said, looking very depressed.

"Hey, what's wrong, Rukia?" Ichigo asked, confused.

"You're here for me... Aren't you?" Rukia asked Jonouchi.

"What?" he replied, kinda surprised.

"The Soul Society... They sent you here to arrest me..." she replied, a look of surprise on her face.

"No. I was sent to figure out why all of the Hollows disappear as fast as they come." he answered, giving her a puzzled look. "What could you have done to have the Soul Society after you?"

"No time for that. Look up there." the nerdy looking kid said. He had black hair, and glasses.

"The Hollow are re-grouping." Rukia said. "Ichigo, we've got to move to a safer place, there's no way we can take them all." she informed him, but it was already too late. Ichigo was already charging, full speed at the Hollows.

Jonouchi turned to follow. "Hey, Glasses." he said, pointing.

"My NAME is Uryu Ishida." he replied, very insulted and angry.

"Sorry." he replied, kind of embarassed. "You stay here and keep the girl safe. I'll go help Ichigo." Jonouchi

"But what can you do!?" he replied, obviously pissed at the fact that he wasn't needed.

"I am the 3rd Squad Captain." he replied. "I think I can handle a few puny Hollows." he laughed.

"Yeah, that's why we had to help you befor-" Ishida started, but was cut off by Rukia.

"You're a Captain!?" she gasped. Jonouchi nodded. "But... But what happened to Ichimaru!?"

"I was forced to fight him if I wanted to become the Captain of Squad 3. I did. And I killed him." he said, although it was kind of upsetting to him. Rukia looked terrified, unable to stand.

"Ishida, keep her safe." Jonouchi said, Flash Stepping to Ichigo's side.

"I'm here." Jonouchi reassured Ichigo.

"Nice to know. Just pay attention this time. I can't save your ass this time. My hands are full." he replied with a smirk.

"Aw, he just took me by surprise is all." Jonouchi smirked as well. "You haven't seen what I can do." Jonouchi laughed, vanishing.

"Where the hell did that kid run off to?" Ichigo scowled, searching the area. Just then there was a loud howl from a Hollow in the middle of the bunch and they all turned to face it. By the time they turned around it was gone, and Jonouchi stood in its place.

"Come on Ichigo, you think you can keep up?" he laughed, vanishing once again. Hollow roared one after another as Jonouchi Flash Stepped ,slashing their masks and killing them with one hit. Before Ichigo even had time to respond, the group was gone. Jonouchi had killed each one. "That technique is known as Endless Winter." Jonouchi smirked, slinging his Zanpakuto over his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah... Show off." Ichigo scowled. Jonouchi quickly swung at him.

"Arctic Mist!" he shouted, sending a freezing wind his way. Ichigo moved just in time to dodge the attack.

"What the hell was that for!?" he cried. He froze, hearing a roar from behind him. A Hollow had been struck and was beginning to vaporize.

"I guess you can call us even?" he laughed.

"ICHIGO!" Ishida called. He and Rukia were running to catch up to them.

"Look! Up in the sky!" Rukia pointed. Jonouchi looked up, and was smiled.

"What... What is that thing!?" Ichigo screamed. There was a huge rip in the sky, and from that rip came the most enormous Hollow Ichigo had ever seen.

"Menos Grande." Jonouchi laughed.

"And that is?" Ishida asked, pretty confused.

"A Menos Grande." Rukia started. "They're composed of thousands of Hollows, piling on top one another, crushing together to form THAT thing." she gave a disgusted look its way. "One of the most powerful Hollows... We're done for..." She looked quite pale.

"...You're kidding, right?" Jonouchi laughed. "That's only a Gillian class Menos. They're the slowest and dumbest of them all..." he pointed. This things no different from all those other small fry... Well, except for the fact that their Cero pretty devastating. And they're pretty tall too..." Jonouchi said, measuring between his thumb and pointer fingers.

"Pretty Tall!? IT'S HUGE!" Ichigo screamed, pointing at it.
It turned and looked to them. It opened it's mouth, a dark light beginning to glow.

"The thing about our little Gillian friend here is that all Gillian look the same." Jonouchi laughed.

"Ichigo, it's going to fire a Cero!" Rukia screamed. "This isn't good!"

"Calm down. I told you, these things are WEAK!" he laughed.

"Quit playin around, damn it!" he said, grabbing the collar of Jonouchi's black Shinigami robes. Jonouchi just smacked Ichigo's hand away.

"He really isn't lying..." Rukia thought to herself. "He's totally calm. He might actually know what he's doing."

The Gillian opened wide, and fired the Cero in their direction. Jonouchi readied his Zanpakuto and pointed towards the Cero.

"Don't just stand there you ass!" Ichigo shouted, jumping in the way. The Cero hit his Zanpakuto and he was pushed to his knees. He fought with the blast, Jonouchi stood there, dumbfounded.

"Ichigo!" Rukia shouted, trying to run to his side, but Ishida held her back. Ichigo grunted as he struggled with the Cero. Jonouchi suddenly became full of fear. It was extremely difficult for him to move again, and his breathing was worse then ever. The kids reiatsu was surging. He had just realized that Ichigo was the problem for these experiences. His Spirit Pressure was so high that it was scary. Jonouchi regained his composure,adjusting his reiatsu to Ichigo's level, and joined forces with Ichigo's Zanpakuto. With one wave of his Zanpakuto, Jonouchi was able to re-direct the Cero back at the Gillian. The re-directed Cero hit the Gillian right in the middle of it's mask. It looked stunned, and began to back off. As it backed behind the rip in the sky, it began to slowly close.

"Well, isn't that nice." Ishida said, pushing his glasses back up onto his nose.

"Ichigo! Are you ok!?" Rukia called as Jonouchi caught him by the collar of his shirt as he fell face forward.

"He's fine..." Jonouchi laughed as he held him up. Ichigo just hung there by his collar, snoring away. Jonouchi tossed him to Rukia and smiled. "Sorry for leaving so soon, guys, but I have a report to make." Jonouchi smiled, sheathing his Zanpakuto after the sky cleared.

"I should just come with you now." Rukia said, getting to her feet.

"What do you mean?" Jonouchi asked.

"I've been here way too long. I haven't returned to the Soul Society in months..." she said lowering her head. "I came here for the same reason you did. And In the midst of battle I met Ichigo, who'se love for his friends and family had me give up my Shinigami powers to him." Jonouchi froze.

"You're a Shinigami...?" he asked.

"Yes. 13th Squad, Rukia Kuchiki." she replied.

"I knew I recognized you. You're friends with Kalinda Yochi, correct?"

"Yes." she replied. "Now, Ishida, take Ichigo home. And do not follow me." she said. Jonouchi threw Ichigo to her, and she fell backward with him on top of her.

"What do you mean?" he said, smirking. "Nothing happened here. I don't know any of you. I'm just a Shinigami who was sent to find why the Hollows disappear as fast as they get here. And it looks like I didn't find it." he turned his back to the group. Jonouchi thrust out his Zanpakuto and turned it like a key. A gate appeared and he began to walk forward through it. "Shinigami my ass." he laughed, walking through the gate to Soul Society. As Jonouchi left, Rukia's eyes filled with tears.

"Thank you..." she sobbed into Ichigo's shoulder, as the last remains of the gate finally vanished.

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Chapter 7 done! If you liked it please review. If you do I'll have new chapters sooner! Thanks to whoever reads, and double thanks to those who review!