I bet no one was expecting this chapter, though you will have expected how short it is. *wiggles eyebrows* Well, the internet was down most of today, so I ended up actually writing instead of doing anything else I usually do. And so, I wrote. And guys, uh, I hate to alarm but... It looks like we may be nearing the end of the story. Yeah. I know, I'm really sad, too. But I just wrote this chapter, and doing so made me realize that I actually don't have much left to write. It's about to be the end. So, um, just get prepared. And, I'm sorry. If you have anything you want to happen before things get rolling into the end, speak up now. I will get in all requests before this battle, and then... well, from there my actual plot comes into play.

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Hitsugia approached the gate into the other world, the whole time thinking that he and his counterpart were both unfit for the job they had both been ordered. For one thing, the two of them had never even set foot in Hueco Mundo. So how where they supposed to know where they were even going? For another thing, Momo was still probably somewhat unrecovered from her devotion to Aisen. Stepping foot anywhere near his domain might be good for her. Another thing was that Hueco Mundo was all desert- and Histugia used the water in the air to aid him. In a desert, what good was that ability? Plus, Hitsugia had to add to himself, the two of them shouldn't be going on a mission by themselves. He would be awfully distracted if anything happened to Momo, and he wasn't sure if he would send her off on her own like he would any other Soul Reaper. He didn't say anything, though, because it wasn't his place.

The shikimon opened up in between his world and the world of sand, and Hitsugia paused for a moment. He didn't know why, but he did. He watched with slightly wide eyes as Momo happily ran right past him, zipping out into the endless white sands.

"Come on lil' Shiro!" She called from the other side. "Don't be such a slow-poke."

He narrowed his eyes. "Momo…" He warned, stomping forward. He passed through the gates to the other world, and watched as they suddenly closed behind him. He turned back to the girl responsible for the sudden happening, and then frowned. "Bed wetter."

She just giggled, looking alive for the first time in a long, long time. "Come on!" She cheered, skipping over to grab his hand. "Let's go!"

He wanted to know where she got all her energy. Wasn't he supposed to be the young one? But there she was, pouncing around like an exited puppy, her eyes wide and curios and loving.

She was adorable.

Did I just think that? He thought in slight alarm. Momo is not adorable! She's annoying! Adorable isn't even a part of my vocabulary.

He groaned. He really wished that he were somewhere else.

Momo was just too cute to not get distracted by.

Great. Now I'm thinking cute.

He really didn't need that word added to his thought's dictionary.

~)o0o(~

Rukia was a little confused. She was glancing around the room seeing nothing but... chaos. First off, Ichigo was bristling and growling like an agitated house cat. And it was annoying the hell out of her. She didn't know if it was because of something someone said that he was so pissed off, or if maybe he had seen Orihime and Ulquiorra come in holding hands. That, too was confusing. She had spotted it earlier, but she had thought she was the only one. And how in the world did Orihime get Ulquiorra to hold her hand!? The man was an ice pop covered in a layer of extremely dangerous and easily agitated. How did that work?! She couldn't get Ichigo to hold her hand in public! She would have to talk to Orihime and learn her ways.

There was another thing bothering her- being the fact that the woman in charge of the palace had quite obviously just had sex. it made Rukia a little agitated, especially since the tresse espada acted like nothing was amiss. She had a hickey on the inside of her wrist, though, and despite her fantastic covering job with the coat, whenever she gestured it was really obvious. How was she so… calm about it? On top of that, Rukia was really curious as to who the hickey-giver was. Just how many of the espada were still alive?

Then there was the added complication- Soi Fon and Grimmjow. The captain of the second squad was wearing the angry blue haired espada's coat/shirt open over her own clothing like some sort of badge of honor. It made Rukia shudder, seeing someone get so familiar with the man who possessed enough brute strength to shove their bare hand through another individual's torso. Of course, she did have to admit that Soi Fon liked a challenge in any man she had ever dated, and never found it, as was clear the days said men came back to their barracks crying for their mothers' and covered in bruising. Grimmjow, it seemed, was a welcome challenge she had never found in any other person… and on top of that, the guy did seem sort of cat-ish. And Rukia had been lead to believe that the woman had a soft spot for cats, as was clear form her interactions with Yoruichi Shihoin.

But what was the woman doing there, and just how had she ended up in such a weird relationship with someone who technically could have been labeled the enemy? Wasn't she one of those very-strictly loyal to Soul Society people?

THEN there was the sudden spiritual pressure announcing the arrival of captain Hitsugia and lieutenant Hinumori, as THEY both burst in through the front doors after Ulquiorra's tactful comment to Orihime about her friends.

A fight had broken out as things were (tried to be) sorted out. Nothing really did get sorted out, Rukia noticed, watching as Grimmjow and Ichigo got into a minor skirmish that Soi Fon got pissed about which in turn made Momo concerned which caused Hitsugia to care and that got Halibel to notice Hitsugia, and then her agitation was noted by a man who came in through the back door all of the sudden and then that agitation was noted by the little girl with him which was promptly noted by Nel, whom also entered the room beside the little girl.

Ulquiorra and Orihime were standing off to the side, the former looking bored and borderline agitated, while Orihime just looked confused.

Rukia was right there with her.

Then things got REALLY complicated when Poof! Suddenly Nel wasn't a kid anymore and she was calling for clothing, right as the spiritual pressure in the room escalated to a point that was clearly labeled as 'Los Noches is under attack by outside forces'.

It was just one big mess.

One thing was clear, as everyone stopped.

"Momo, send a message using your Kido." Hitsugia said. "Los Noches is being attacked, and it is in the best interest of Soul Society for us to defend."

"Hai!"

It was time for battle.

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Again. Getting close to end. I love you guys. If you want something done, now is the time. And I know this chapter was short and was pretty much, like, two seconds picking up from where we left of last time. And... um, well... I really do love those reviews, guys, it's not healthy I know. Just think about what I'm going to be like when this is all over... 0.0
Thanks again!