Chapter 20

I own nothing

Ichigo and the rest of the group were standing on top a building out of sight while Heller tried to infiltrate the meeting. So far, the meeting had been postponed due to infected attacking the green zone. Ichigo and his friends wanted to help, but they knew that showing themselves might cause the meeting to be canceled entirely in case of attack from them. So they had to wait for Heller to help clean up the mess. He had been reporting back to the base so it should start in a few minutes. Heller had connected their phones beforehand so when the meeting began, they could listen in without them knowing. They all jumped as they heard their phone begin to talk with rielys voice.

"My name is Lieutenant Clint riley, call sign castle. I work for colonel Douglass rooks, call sign checkmate, and if you're watching this, you also work for rooks. We've intercepted a transmission that's shown that several POIs are moving their operations to the green zone. All of them are cleared for a kill on sight should you see them. The first is Sergeant James Heller, a escaped test subject infected with the mercer virus and having the powers of mercer himself and wanted in the disappearance of Genteck scientist Anton Koenig. The second is Father Luis Guerra a known civilian agitator, vigilante, and terrorist. We believe he may be aiding Heller and the rest of his group. We have no solid information on them except that they are extremely strong and dangerous, having powers not seen with the mercer virus. If you see them engage with lethal force. We believe that they are working their way up Genteck's power structure and that their next target with be Genteck VP of operations, Sabrina Galloway. Rattler 3 one you are on security detail. Dismissed."

And with that, their phone fell silent and then they turned to watch the base. They looked carefully until they saw a unarmed guard go walking between buildings, before getting out of sight and flash stepping to them, shifting back to Heller. He looked a little grim as he said "well that makes things tougher. If they know we're here, then their going to be beefing up security around the VIPs. I think I better let father know." Heller speed dialed and put it on speaker as it rang. Father appeared on the screen and said "James. I was just about to call you. You won't believe it, but Blackwatch is about to release a cure for the mercer virus called 'whitelight'. A commander Gallagher is in charge of the operation of transferring it to a secure facility."

Everyone looked around as Heller said "I'll check it out. Thanks for the heads up father."

They waited while Heller sent out a pulse and got the basic trail. Then they began running with Ichigo and Heller in the lead. Heller thought how to best approach the subject on his mind. Finally he decided he just had to ask.

"So Ichigo, how you hanging up?"

He was silent for a few moments while Heller continued to lead then said in a confused voice "I don't know. I should be terrified and furious. What we've seen here, what we've seen Blackwatch and mercer do. Yet I feel…content for some reason."

Heller chuckled as he said "sure it has nothing to do with Orihime?"

Ichigo blushed as he looked away. Heller chuckled again as he said "you have no reason to be embarrassed Ichigo. I can tell you love her and she loves you. You're a good kid and I'm sure you'll make her very happy. To be honest it reminds me of when I met my wife. Both of us young and in love. We got married and had a child. I'm sure it'll work out in the end."

Ichigo seemed to be put at ease at Heller's words but said "maybe but we still have to finish this. And we still have to finish mercer before we move on. And he's no light weight if his presence is anything to judge by."

Heller grimaced a little. He still wanted to avenge his family, but no that the rage had cleared a little; he knew that it would require some planning and more power than he had at the moment. And the subject had reminded of something he had wanted to ask Ichigo.

"Ichigo you said that your mask is used to undergo something called hollowfication to increase your powers by adding a hollows powers to your own. But how do you have a hollows power if you're a Shinigami?"

Ichigo sighed as he said "back when Rukia was taken by soul society, I had lost my powers and had to undergo training to recover them, but the training method had a side effect. I regained my Shinigami powers as I was turning into a hollow, making it so I had a hollow born in my conscious. When I beat him down, I could access his power in order to increase my own."

While an interesting story and history, it still didn't add up. "But how did a hollow get born in your mind. And what do you mean beat him down?"

Ichigo said "I'll tell you the full story when we get back to the apartment. Are we close to Gallagher?"

Heller sent out another pulse and it rebounded between two apartments. He pointed to a roof top that would give them a clear view while also hiding them. They looked down and saw a few guards and a bald man wearing the commander uniform, standing next to a viral detector. Heller pointed him out and said "I'll use flash step and consume him. Be right back."

Only as Heller appeared and grabbed the commander, the commander grabbed his arm and threw Heller over his shoulder, which forced him to roll and come up kneeling as the commander's arms shifted to ax blades.

"come on Heller, you should know better than to try crap like that on family."

Heller shifted his arms to claws as he snarled "figured I'd run into one of you sooner or later. Now are yo going to tell me what I want to know or do I need to beat the crap out of you."

"What do you think?" that was all that was said as Gallagher ran off at speeds that put a cheetah to shame. Heller used his low level flash step to keep up as they went running and jumping across roof tops. As he ran Ichigo and his friends appeared and began to try and slash Gallagher but he simply dodged or regenerated when they scored a hit. As they ran after him, they heard the news spread that they were chasing Gallagher and how he was infected. As they ran across a roof top, a helicopter rose over the edge sideways with the door open. Gallagher leapt right in, slit the throats of the pilot and copilot then took over and swung to face the group as they stopped to face him.

He announced over the speaker system "let's see what you're made of!" then began to fire the machine guns. Everyone scattered, Ichigo's group flash stepping to a different roof top while Heller leapt onto on of the wings of the helicopter and ripped of one of the missile pods, falling to the ground while clutching it. Then he pointed and fired several times until the helicopter came down in flames. Gallagher leapt out with a flip and landed with his arms spread out as the copter blew without a scratch on him. He looked up with a smirk as he looked over the group.

"So you're the famous kids who have been giving Blackwatch so much trouble. I'll look forward to carving up your corpses."

Ichigo growled as he said "not likely jackass. BANKAI!"

Ichigo turned into his Bankai mode as Renji and Rukia released their swords and Heller got his weapons ready. Gallagher simply laughed before attacking. He went after Rukia first, exchanging a few blows before he jumped up and kicked her in the head, sending her crashing into a nearby wall. Renji tried to use Zibmaru's whip attack but it was blocked as Gallagher used the speed to gain some distance. He went skidding and looked up as Heller used flash step to appear above and slice down ward with his claws, forcing Gallagher to leap back. Ichigo appeared behind him and said "Hadō #58. Tenran." To conjure a mini tornado to send Gallagher flying. Ichigo then fired a Getsuga Tensho, which Gallagher managed to dodge as he got out of the blast of air.

"Now I see why Blackwatch had such trouble with you brats. You have some decent skills but nothing special."

Renji narrowed his eyes as he helped Rukia to his feet. This guy was strong, easily dodging their attacks and yet dealing some strong hits. He stood as he got ready and said "maybe. But then, not all of us can fight at a high level right of the bat. BANKAI!"

And with that he released his Bankai, the snake coiling around him while Gallagher looked on, seeming bored as he said "oh please, you think you can scare me. I've just been playing with you. Now it's time to get serious."

And with that, he vanished only to appear above Rukia as he slashed down ward. She barely managed to dodge as they traded blows again, this time Rukia getting some distance and yelling "Hadō #31. Shakkahō!" as she fired a medium sized ball of red light at Gallagher. He dodged as it exploded, only to be hit by Reni's Bankai as it flew at him with its mouth open, forcing him to hold the mouth open with his arms as it dove into the ground. When the resulting cloud of dust cleared, Gallagher was standing as he smirked and slashed his arm to cleave the snake in half, forcing Renji to disconnect the joints just in time. As the pieces fell to the ground, Ichigo appeared flying through them and then used his high-speed attacks to fight on par with Gallagher, their arms nothing but blurs as they fought at amazing speeds. As they did, Heller slashed him across his back, forcing him to hiss in pain and disengage. He stood panting slightly as he looked at the group. Rukia stood ready while Renji reassemble his Bankai and Ichigo and Heller seemed to have a one look conversation.

"Not bad. But you still can't beat me."

"You sure about that?" Ichigo said as he stepped forward, raising his arm in preparation for a little ploy. He then began to chant as he said ""Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness. Shooting hands unable to reflect the blue sky."

As Ichigo chanted, 10 red bolts of energy began to form around him as Rukia and Renji realized what Ichigo was doing and used flash step to put some distance between them and the soon to be crater

The road that basks in light, the wind that ignited the embers, time that gathers when both are together, there is no need to be hesitant, obey my orders. Light bullets, eight bodies, nine items, book of heaven, diseased treasure, great wheel, grey fortress tower."

As the bolts began to grow bigger and more sleek, Heller began to gather as much bio mass as he could to his legs and Gallagher seemed to finally realize that he really wanted to run.

"Aim far away, scatter brightly and cleanly when fired"

NOW!

As Ichigo finished the chant he said "Hadō #91. Senjū Kōten Taihō," sending the bolts of energy flying after Gallagher as he leapt into the air, the bolts following like tracker missiles, racing after him and finally hitting him 40 stories up as a massive explosion sent a burst of blood red light through the green zone along with a massive shock wave of sound and wind.

Gallagher or what was left of him fell missing a arm and being severally burned from the explosion. He opened his eyes and looked up to see Heller above him with his claws out as he began to fall along with Gallagher. Heller stabbed Gallagher in the chest and then increased his biomass arrangement to increase the speed they fell with to as fast as 50 mph, hitting the ground with a deep and loud thud as they made a crater. Heller consumed Gallagher and then clenched his head as he saw his memories.

Gallagher was talking to a scientist as he said "so what, you're saying the white light can…mutate?"

The scientist seemed impatient as he said "no, you're not getting it, what I'm saying is it's highly mutable. It can't change on its own but we can change it. Have it take on additional properties, do things in addition to what it was designed to do."

Gallagher still sounded confused as he said "so you're saying it can take on new…side effects?"

The scientist sighed, seeming disappointed that his explanation had been so dumbed down but nodded and said "yes, yes that's exactly what I'm saying."

Heller shook his head as he climb out of the crater. Everyone appeared before him and he talked before they could ask "he was asking a scientist about the whitelight, something about how it can change and be given new side effects. I'm not sure what it means yet but…"

Heller was cut short as several shots sounded; causing them to turn and see that a whole blockade of Blackwatch was set up. Heller turned and got ready to unleash his claws when he felt his biomass shift into something different. As he watched his right arm along with everyone else, it shifted into a single edged blade that stretched at least four feet from the tip to the end the was set near his elbow, perfectly shaped and placed to stab a opponent behind him. The blade shined like steel as he looked at the flat edge that was lined with red veins and the shining razor edge. He smiled evilly as he swung it around a little and said "now let's do some real damage."

And with that Heller charged the line of Blackwatch along with Ichigo and his group. Ichigo decided he would use a little something Yoruichi taught him and began to do some very fancy foot work. He used his Bankai's speed and began to make several speed clones that looked completely real and confused the row of gunners when they didn't go down despite direct hits to the body or head, while Renji and Rukia simply dodged or blocked the bullets, looking slow to their years of experience and reflexes while Heller simply took them and regenerated as they passed through.

Heller hit first, charging biomass to his new sword arm and then spun like a top, slicing through several of the gunners and their guns with little effort while moving through the line. Ichigo's clones hit and began to deal death blows right and left, always dodging or simply not being effected by any shots or punches that they happened to get with. Renji used his Bankai to knock away and crush several of them while Rukia simply sliced them, using her style of speed and grace to deal them blows while performing a dance of death.

It took very little time and in just a few minutes all of them were dead, everyone spattered with blood, though none of it their own except for Heller. He grinned as he shifted his arms back to normal, feeling as he evolved again and gained more speed and power. He felt like nothing Blackwatch threw at him could stop him. He motioned to the group to follow him as he used his new speed to use a faster flash step while he called up father.

"Hello?"

"Father it's me. That commander, it turns out he was one of mercer's evolved."

"Evolved? What would they want with a cure for the virus?"

"Don't know. The one thing that can take down mercer and his army, and he's protecting it. Doesn't add up. We're heading back; we should be there in 5 minutes."

"Alright, I'll let Orihime know, she's been worried for a little while now."

Heller chuckled as he said "sounds like she's more concerned about Ichigo then anyone else."

Father laughed as he said "probably, though she's worried about the rest of you as well. See you in 5."

When they got there Ichigo hugged Orihime as she threw herself in his arms and gave her a kiss while telling her they were all fine. Rukia had some cracked ribs and a minor concussion but Orihime managed it in no time. Everyone settled down and ate dinner which Ichigo made, feeling generous, though he debated undercooking Rukia and Reni's chicken when they kept poking fun at him cooking and how he and Orihime were now a couple. The thought still brought a smile to his face and helped him feel content as he cooked. After dinner he asked Heller to meet him on the roof, he could explain his questions there.

Heller had asked about his hollowfication and he had given a through explanation, on how he had gotten his mask, how he hadn't been able to control this power until he had gotten training from Shinji and the visored to gain control. And how he had used his power to defeat Azien and many other opponents.

Heller simply stood there looking at the sky as he digested what he had learned. Ichigo had great power in him, but it came with a heavy price if what he had described was accurate. Then another question hit him and he asked "hey, what's your hollow like? Personality wise I mean."

Ichigo felt the attention of Zangetsu and his hollow turn very sharp all of a sudden while his hollow began to emit a very pissed aura as a warning. Ichigo smirked and began to describe his hollow in the least generous way he could.

"Personality wise, he's a stuck up, egotistical bastard who believes that most people are scum, enjoys swearing at every possible turn and trying to beat me down so he can take control."

His hollow had started swearing like a drunken sailor at this description but Ichigo wasn't anywhere near finished.

"as for looks, he looks exactly like me, except he's all white since he decided to be cheap and not get any proper color, with black eyes and gold iris that could make mercer piss his pants."

His hollow had fallen silent in anger while Zangetsu was trying not to laugh and Heller was laughing his ass off at Ichigo's description. Gasping he said "I wouldn't mind meeting him actually; he sounds like a fun guy to screw with."

Ichigo was silent as he considered the possibility. Then he said slowly "you might be able to actually."

Heller stopped laughing as he looked at Ichigo

"I can go to my inner world when I want, but I may be able to let you in so you can meet him if you like. Zangetsu too."

"Zangetsu? Isn't that the name of your sword?"

"Ichigo nodded as he said "all Zanpakutō have spirits that can communicate with their wielders if they can resonate in harmony. That's how you learn Shikai and Bankai, by resonating with you sword."

Heller thought about that then Ichigo's proposal. He didn't know how this would work, but it might be interesting and he wouldn't mind knowing Ichigo's 'residents.'

"Sure, I wouldn't mind. So how do we do this?"

Ichigo asked Zangetsu the same question and he said "you need to go into your inner world first while Heller had his hand on your shoulder, and then once you're here, make a connection between your mind and let him come to you."

Ichigo told Heller and had him place his hand on his shoulder as Ichigo crossed his legs with Zangetsu flat across his knees. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing as he began to enter his inner world.

Ichigo's inner world

Ichigo woke up on the side of the sky scraper like usual and stood up while looking around. He spotted Zangestu walking towards him, but his hollow was nowhere in sight.

"Where is he?"

"I'm holding him back while you let in your friend."

Ichigo nodded then closed his eyes as he focused on feeling for Heller's mind. He found it and then imagined a door from Heller's mind to his. He opened his eyes and say a plain white door appeared in the air in front of him. The door then opened to admit Heller to his inner world. Heller looked around and whistled as he did.

"Nice place you got here." Then he noticed Zangetsu standing next to him as he held out his hand and said "and you must be Zangetsu, am I right?"

Zangetsu smiled as he took and shook Heller's hand saying "I am. It's nice to finally meet you."

Then they heard "AND I DON'T HAVE A NAME! JOKES ON YOU ASS HOLE!" as Ichigo's hollow came flying out of Zangestu's cloak and delivered a powerful blow to Ichigo's crotch, causing him to scream in surprisingly high notes before collapsing and rolling in pain while swearing under his breath. His hollow grinned in his maniacally way as he said "that was for' stuck up egotistical who couldn't afford proper color' you bastard."

Heller looked over Ichigo's hollow. Ichigo was right in terms of appearance, he looked exactly like Ichigo except everything about him was white except his eyes, which were just as Ichigo described and his sword which looked like a photo negative of Ichigo's Zangetsu. But Heller found himself tensing up as the hollow turned his eyes to him.

'Ichigo was right he could make mercer piss himself.'

"So you're the guy who befriended this weakling and his little group of friends. I have to hand it to you; you're not half bad when it comes to fighting."

"Thank you." Heller said cautiously as he looked at the hollow. He felt something coming and knew that he had better be ready to dodge.

"Let's see how well you handle me!" the hollow shouted as he grabbed his sword and threw it while holding onto the sash. Heller quickly used flash step to dodge but found the hollow behind him as he threw a punch at Heller's back. Heller flipped backwards and shifted his arm to sword from and tried to slash the hollow. He dodged using his own flash step and pulled Zangetsu back to him. He was grinning like a maniac as he charged up a familiar attack and yelled "GETSUGA TENSHO!" sending a crescent of black energy at Heller, leaving him no time to dodge.

Heller's P.O.V

I looked up as I saw the bastard charge up and fire a Getsuga Tensho with no time for me to dodge. I instinctively brought up my sword arm and took the attack, but it just kept pushing me back and I thought 'damn it he's strong. I can't keep this up!"

Then I felt something in my arm shift. I felt some sort of power begin to build up in the edge of the blade and begin to glow with a bright blood red light. I suddenly slashed my arm and cut through the Getsuga Tensho attack, shocking the hollow and everyone else present. But I wasn't done as I felt something take over and I performed a blade tornado attack while yelling "GETSUGA TENSHO!"

And fired my own blast of energy, But something was different. As it carved its way through the building towards the hollow, it moved faster and along the edges of the cut, ice began to form with rapid speed. And it flew much faster towards the hollow, which was forced to take the attack, causing a small explosion. As the dust cleared, it showed the hollow having his arm burned and slightly cut, with ice forming on his arm as he stood panting slightly looking at me with interested eyes.

General P.O.V

Ichigo was the first to speak as he said "Heller how on earth did you do that?"

"I don't know. I was being hit by his attack then I just…reacted."

"I think I know."

Everyone turned to look at Zangetsu as he looked at Heller in interest.

"It has to do when you consumed that phase 2 Orion solider. Remember how Koenig had said that Rukia and Ichigo's power were used in making him? If that's the case then when you consumed it you…"

"…you gained the powers of Ichigo's Shikai and Rukia's as well. You now have some soul reaper powers in you, along with that of the Blacklight virus." Ichigo's hollow finished as he used medical kido to heal himself and get rid of the ice and looking over Heller with interest as well as something else.

Heller looked at his arm as it shifted back to normal. He didn't know what to say but then asked "what does that mean for what happening to me then?"

"I'm not sure, but it could mean that as you cotinine to grow stronger, you may increase you Shinigami powers as well. You may even gain your own Zanpakutō and Shikai if you evolve enough." Zangetsu said while tapping his chin, deep in thought.

Heller looked at his hands in awe. His own Zanpakutō? But then he felt like something was whispering in the back of his head, trying to tell him something. He tried to focus on it, but it slipped away before he could. He shook his head and said "well that's interesting and all, but I think it might be time for me to go. I think this is enough for one night."

Ichigo nodded as Heller opened the door and crossed back over to his own mind, and then pulled away, causing the door to vanish. Ichigo was about to leave as well before he felt Zangetsu hand on his shoulder as he turned around. Zangetsu looked at him and said "Ichigo I didn't tell Heller this, but there may be more to his evolution then he thinks."

Ichigo was confused as he said "what do you mean?"

"I mean that when that phase 2 was made with your powers, then they wouldn't be able to separate the two powers in you. Both of them would have gone into the phase 2 and that might have added something to Heller's make up when the phase 2 was consumed."

Ichigo was still confused and was about to say so before it finally hit him. The phase 2 had been made with his and Rukia's powers. But if Blackwatch had used all of his powers, then there wouldn't just be the power of a Shinigami in him, but also the power of…

"A hollow."

Zangestu nodded as he said "don't tell Heller of this yet he may not be ready for this revelation, and his emotions may become more unstable if he learns before he's ready. We don't need to put down your friend before his time."

Ichigo nodded as the implications began to hit him. If Heller had a hollow in his mind, then if his emotions were made of enough rage and hatred, then that may prompt the hollow to take over if it was developed enough. They would have to be careful when they told him.

Ichigo thanked his sword for telling him and then exited his inner world.

Real world

Ichigo and Heller took a deep breath as they opened their eyes. Heller helped Ichigo up as he said "you weren't kidding about your hollow. He was a stuck up bastard."

Ichigo laughed while his hollow started swearing again. "yeah, but I never thought you would have the powers of a Shinigami from consuming that phase 2. How do you feel anyways?"

Heller thought for a minute before saying "curious on where this power will take me. And how it might help to finally kill mercer."

Ichigo stayed quite about how that power might be hard to master and said "well we should probably go in. the other's might be worried."

"I doubt it. They know we can handle ourselves."

As they began to walked back in, a Senkaimon appeared in the air and began to open in front of them. Heller tensed out of reflex and got ready to fight while Ichigo blinked when he saw the gate appear. Though when he saw who was coming through, he turned pale and began thinking a single word over and over.

'Shit!'

Coming through were a few familiar faces, among them Yoruichi in her usual clothes of black skin tight leggings, and a black undershirt under a orange coat, Kisuke with his usual attire, and the last 2 being people Ichigo had hoped he wouldn't see here. One was a mountain of a man, over 6 feet tall and having a eye patch over right eye with a scar running down the left side of his face, carrying a jagged two handed sword over his shoulder and grinning like a maniac. His spiky hair hadn't changed as he walked through along with the other bane of Ichigo's existence. He was a young man with slate gray eyes and black hair that fell to his shoulders and was held back from his face with a comb like holder on the top of his head, while he walked through with his face being a mask of calm and indifferent while he looked at Ichigo and Heller with cold blue eyes.

The two that had come through were looking at Ichigo, the mountain of a man grinning and said "Ichigo, good to see you. I hope you've gotten stronger or this will be no fun at all."

Heller quickly saw this guy was a combat junkie and got ready while saying "who are you people?"

Ichigo gulped as Yoruichi got a look in her eyes. he opened his mouth to give a warning but Yoruichi disappeared and then reappeared and hugged Ichigo from behind, 'accidently' making it so his head pushed against her chest. Ichigo immediately turned bright red and flash stepped away from her, saying "do you have to do that every time we meet?"

She laughed and said "ah still a prude aren't you Ichigo? It's a wonder how you will get a girlfriend at this rate."

Heller felt like they were getting off track as he said again "who are you people?"

Kisuke turned to look at Heller, his eyes giving Heller the feeling that this man was very intelligent and not to be messed with. Kisuke walked forward with his grin and said while holding out his hand "you must be James Heller. My name is Kisuke Urahara; I'm a friend of Ichigo's."

Heller looked over the man as he shook his hand. "Ichigo told me about you, but I always imagined you…different."

Kisuke looked like he was about to respond when Heller felt something soft be pressed against the back of his head and heard a deep purr as Yoruichi said "my names Yoruichi Shihion. It's a pleasure to finally meet the attractive man Ichigo befriended."

Heller could tell this one would be a problem and flash stepped away from her, surprising the group except Ichigo, and causing the larger man to laugh and say "so you can use flash step. That'll make out battles more enjoyable."

"Enough Kenpachi." The younger man said while he looked over Heller and said "my name is Byakuya Kuchiki. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Heller remembered how Ichigo had told him about Byakuya and that knowledge, combined with how he was looking at Heller with slight disgust, instantly made Heller think 'pampered jackass.'

Then Heller looked at Kenpachi and said "so you're Kenpachi. Ichigo's told me about you."

Kenpachi never stopped grinning as he said "and I've seen footage of your fights. I look forward to seeing how you handle against me. I don't get a lot of fun out of battles with weaklings."

Heller narrowed his eyes as Ichigo said "what are you all doing here?"

Kisuke eyes turned serious as he said "the number of souls coming from the world of the living has been on the rise and begun upsetting the balance of the two. The commander sent us here as reinforcements."

Heller looked over the group. He had a combat junkie, an attractive and fast flirt, an intelligent yet laidback goof, and a pampered stuck up asshole who had tried to kill his own sister.

"This is going to be interesting."