Ok. Fast post. Long chapter. Lets cut to the chase. Enjoy

"Captain! Where are you going?"

Back in Soul Society, Rangiku Matsumoto was trying to catch up with Toshiro Hitsugaya as he quickly walked out of Squad 10 Barracks. "What does it matter?"

"You're going to find her, aren't you?"

"I don't need to find her if I already know where she is."

"I thought you weren't going to do this since you thought she'd be happier."

"She probably is, but that doesn't mean I still can't talk to her."

"What if she doesn't allow you too?"

Toshiro scoffed. "This is Yura we're talking about. Of course she won't let me."

The two of them approached the giant Senkaimon gate and stood in front of it. It slowly opened, revealing a bright white light. Two hell butterflies came to guide the captain and lieutenant. The two of them stepped through with the gate closing behind them.

"Are you sure about this? What if she attacks?" Matsumoto complained.

Toshiro was getting frustrated, regretting letting her come along. "Why would she?"

"Well, she wouldn't attack me. It's you I'm worried about, Captain. You two fight like real enemies."

"I'll just have to get through to her."

Matsumoto bent down to his level. "Aw. You really love her, don't you?"

"Who said anything about love?" He yelled in her face, but she only ignored him.

"Captain, it's so cute! You should get her a gift as an apology." Toshiro finally blocked her out, only thinking about what he was going to do when he came face to face with Yura.

The two finally approached the end, entering into the brightness of the World of the Living. "She could be anywhere…" Matsumoto said.

"Not necessarily. She doesn't like to be in a crowded environment. Just look around some of the secluded areas, or other places she'd be."

"She's probably staying at Kurosaki's house, don't you think? Shouldn't we check there?"

Toshiro knew better, but nodded. "You can check there. I'll look elsewhere. Check Urahara's Shop, too." Matsumoto nodded and left. With a sigh, Toshiro Hitsugaya took off as well, beginning his search.

"You should just face him already."

Yura scoffed and glared at Ichigo. "And for what reason, exactly?"

"To get this stupid fight over with."

"Yeah, well, not everyone solves their problems the same way you do." The two of them were walking side by side in the woods. Yura was on edge, looking around, making sure she didn't miss a single spot.

"Will you stop being so paranoid. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're afraid to see him again." Yura's arm reacted by itself, moving fast and suddenly Ichigo was on the ground holding his nose. "What'd you do that for?"

"For saying I'm afraid!"

"What else am I supposed to say? You're afraid to face the truth! That's all there is to it."

Yura looked away. He was right. She was afraid to face the truth. She was trying to hide from it when she should deal with it head on. This was so unlike her. This was the girl she saw in the river and the mirror. She didn't have a clue as to who she was anymore. She looked up to the sky and took a deep breath. Her hand balled into a fist and she shut her eyes. "Are you usually right? Because if you are, it's annoying."

Ichigo stared at her then smiled. "So?"

She opened her eyes and looked down at him. "So what?"

"Are you gonna face him or what?"

She sighed. "I guess I don't have-" She was interrupted by a distant, but loud roar.

The two of them snapped their heads up. "Is that…"

Yura nodded. "Hollow. We should probably go," She put her hands on her hips and glared down at Ichigo. "I'm guessing you don't have a mod soul with you."

"…no."

Yura rolled her eyes and took a soul candy out of her pocket. "That's just great. Fine. Go home. Use the mod soul. Come back."

"You'll probably beat it by then!"

"Just make sure you come back!" She popped the soul candy into her mouth. When she swallowed it, she jumped out of her gigai. "God, I hate being in that thing. Don't forget to come back. Even if I've already defeated the thing."

"Yeah, whatever." Ichigo stood up and Yura left.

Yura was slightly distracted on her way to the location of the hollow. Toshiro Hitsugaya was in the World of the Living. There was a high chance that he could be looking for her. Or there's something else. But she doubted it. She mentally slapped herself to snap out of it. There was something more important at the moment. Yura's eyes widened and she jumped out of the way just before she was hit by something. She looked all around her, but saw nothing except for the town below. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword. She heard another loud roar. Then she was hit in her side and went flying. She held back her scream as blood poured down her side. She took out her sword just in time to deflect another object.

There was another roar. Yura looked all around and still saw nothing. "What is going on?"

"You're wide open."

Yura gasped. She turned around and swung her sword, but the hollow was gone. She tightly grasped the hilt and readied herself.

Behind you!

Yura turned around and blocked more flying objects. Her eyes widened. "Are those blades?"

There was a laugh. "Yes, indeed they are."

Yura glared. "Why do I always have to deal with hollows that have blades?" She looked all around but still saw nothing. "Show yourself!"

"But that defeats the purpose of this game."

"What game?"

"This game."

More blades shot out of thin air. Yura blocked three of them, but a fourth hit her left shoulder. She yelled and pulled out the blade, only resulting in more blood. She held her shoulder, putting as much pressure on it as possible. "You little…"

The hollow chuckled, the laugh echoing all around her. "You're really in for it. This isn't even the start of the game! It might as well be a warm up."

More roars echoed throughout the entire town and tons of hollows appeared. Yura's eyes widened. "What?"

"Are you ready to die?"

Yura glared. "What? Are you targeting me? Or is it that I just happened to pass by?"

The hollow chuckled. "Oh, I'm targeting you."

Five hollows suddenly surrounded Yura. She narrowed her eyes. "Tensou." Her left shoulder tingled as the pain subsided. She let go of her shoulder and tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. Her gaze shifted back and forth between the five hollows, each one different in physical appearance but all had the same goal and blood lust. The first hollow attacked, baring its sharp teeth and reaching out with long tentacles. Yura cut off one tentacle before it touched her, but another grabbed her leg. She tried to cut it off, but a third tentacle grabbed her arm, making her let go of her sword and watching it fall.

She gritted her teeth and struggled to be let go. Another hollow lunged forward. Yura held out her hand so her palm was facing the hollow. Her hand sparked and a blue light formed at the center of her palm, growing larger until it shot out and hit the hollow. A third hollow with four eyes opened its mouth as wide as it could go and its tongue shot out, grabbing Yura's other arm.

"Gross." She muttered.

She shut her eyes tight and concentrated on her spirit energy, summoning as much power as she could. When she tried to send and electric current through the two hollows holding her captive, nothing worked. She suddenly felt weaker and tired. That's we she noticed the slight glow around the hollow that held her by its tongue. It was draining her of her spirit energy.

She gritted her teeth. "What the-"

The last two hollow decided to join in and lunged forward. Yura reacted as best she could. Her right leg kicked out toward a bug-like hollow and it was struck by lightning. It was stunned at the least, giving Yura enough time to kick the other oncoming hollow in the face. It went flying down below. Yura was just about to use her own strength against the two hollow holding her when she froze.

She could feel the sixth hollow behind her. The one that taunted her from the start. She could also feel a blade piercing her back as it plunged through skin and muscle, entering her body. Blood poured out of the open wound, making Yura's vision blur. The inside of her body burned as the outside grew cold.

"The game is over."

Yura's eyes shut as she fell toward the ground. How could she let this happen? Dying at the hands of low level hollows? She was disappointed in herself. She thought she could handle them, but underestimated them. Why was she targeted in the first place? Who would want her dead? She had no true enemies. So why was this happening?

Instead of a hard impact with the ground, Yura found herself in a pair of arms yet again. She was slowly and carefully being lowered to the hard, cold ground. She closed her eyes again.

"Yura? Hey! Talk to me!" She groaned and turned her head so her hair covered her face and her forehead touched the ground. "Yura?"

"Ichigo?" Ichigo stared at her. "You're so annoying." He sighed in relief.

"Her back is wounded." Rukia stated.

"We need to remove that blade." Yura's eyes slightly opened at the sound of another woman's voice.

"It seems to be in there pretty deep. If we remove it…" She completely opened her eyes. Another familiar voice.

"Just take it out," Yura said, obviously annoyed. "I'll be fine."

"If we take it out you'll lose blood fast."

Yura moved her head to the point where she could stare into turquoise eyes. "Leaving it in isn't a good idea either. Just hurry." She turned her head and spit out blood. "God….Just hurry up and pull it out already. It burns." She could tell when someone put their hand on the blade as it slightly moved. She cringed at the feeling.

"Who did this to you?" Matsumoto asked.

"Just a stupid hollow. I didn't see him, but he let loose a ton of other hollows just to kill me."

"He must be powerful enough to summon other hollow." Rukia said.

"What? Do you know why?" Ichigo asked.

"No. He just said he was targeting me. I don't have a single clue as to why, though." Suddenly, the blade was pulled out of Yura's back. She yelled in pain.

A cold hand pressed against the open wound, putting pressure on it and sending electricity through her body. "We need to keep pressure on it, otherwise she'll bleed to death. But we have to deal with those hollows."

"No." All eyes turned to Yura.

"What do you mean 'No'? You're in no condition to fight."

Yura scoffed. "I'm not gonna lay here knowing that a low level hollow nearly killed me."

"You need to heal! I won't let you fight out there no matter how weak those hollow are." She didn't respond. "Well?"

She looked at Toshiro again. "I'll stay here. But I'm still going to fight."

"And how do you expect to do that?"

She thought about it and her eye caught something in the distance. Denakuma. She lifted her arm and pointed. "Dena…I can fight with her. Trust me."

Concern filled the young captain's eyes. "You really want to keep fighting?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Of course."

Toshiro stared down at her. The memory of finding her injured and half dead in a forest returned to his thoughts. The peaceful, angelic look on her face. The blood. So much blood. He looked down at her back as blood still poured out drenching her clothing and his hand. It was happening again. And he would be the one to save her from this suffering death.

"Matsumoto."

"Captain."

"Get her zanpakuto." Matsumoto took off.

"Rukia, can you…" Ichigo started.

"There's nothing we can do except keep pressure on it like Captain Hitsugaya says."

Yura took a shaky breath. "I know this feeling…the cold surrounding me…"

"Don't talk like that. Open your eyes." Toshiro said. Yura tried opening her eyes, but her vision blurred.

Don't do this, Yura. Stay strong. Stay. Strong! Yura's eyes snapped open and saw
Denakuma standing in front of her. Yura sat up, feeling no pain whatsoever. She was in her inner world where she felt safe. Where she felt home.

"Dena…"

"You can't die. You're too strong for that. You've hard far worse injuries. This should be nothing!"

"But-"

"No. I won't let this happen to us. To you. You're parents wouldn't want this for you." That got Yura's attention. Lightning struck near her, but she didn't even flinch. "They know you're strong. And they know that you will stand and fight. So don't give in to death. Stand up and fight for what you believe in!"

Yura's eyes snapped open, revealing an electric blue color instead of its usual purple. Toshiro pulled away when he noticed she wasn't bleeding. He stood up as did Ichigo and Rukia and they watched Yura. She took her zanpakuto from Matsumoto and held it out to the sky. The sky began to darken as dark clouds covered up the sun and every patch of blue. Yura smiled as she stared at the hundreds of hollows still in the sky, waiting for her death that was not to come. With all the power she was using already, it took the rest of her will to speak. "Bankai. Gekido Denakuma." Lightning flashed in the sky and Yura took a deep breath and smiled. She stood up, not able to feel the pain in her back as power swirled inside her.

"Yura."

Yura turned around and looked at her three friends. She smiled. "I will need your help. If you're up for it." They all nodded. Yura looked up to the sky. She squinted her eyes as she focused on one individual hollow. The hollow that wants her dead. She could already see the disappointment in him. "Let's go."

The five of them took off into battle. Yura aimed her sword and lightning struck down five hollow. Each of them fought a group of hollow, easily surrounded and outnumbered. But the hollow were outnumbered power wise. Half the hollow were already gone, but more kept coming. The five Soul Reapers ended up surrounded again, back to back.

Yura glared at the hollow. "This is ridiculous."

"There's no way we can fight them all off." Matsumoto said.

"We'll have to keep trying. We can't give up now." Ichigo stated.

"But they only keep coming." Rukia said.

Toshiro turned around and looked at Yura's back. It was starting to bleed again. "Yura-"

"I know. It's fine. Just focus on the hollow. We need to find that other one. He's controlling the hollow. It's the only way to stop them from coming through."

"Yeah, but how do we find him?" Ichigo asked.

Yura hadn't thought about that. She was set on killing him for he killed her, but that wouldn't work if she couldn't find him. "I don't know. Just keep going, though." Suddenly Yura yelled and doubled over.

"Yura!"

She gasped as pain filled her entire body. The inside of her body felt like it was on fire. Her stomach twisted in a knot. Her heart felt like it was slowing down and her vision became blurry. She started to fall, but was caught.

"Yura! Come on. Hey!"

"What's happening?" Yura could barely hear anything. But she definitely heard the malicious laugh echoing all around them.

"It's finally going into effect!"

"What are you talking about?" Ichigo yelled.

"She's been poisoned."

Toshiro gritted his teeth. "How?"

"The poison is stored at the tip of my blades. Seeing as she was stabbed twice, it took effect faster than planned."

Yura looked to the sky. She was still alive because of her Bankai. But how much longer could she stay awake? Her eyes started closing. "Yura! Stay awake!"

"She can't stay strong much longer." Rukia said.

Toshiro's hands turned into fists as he glared at all of the hollow surrounding them. "I won't lose her. I can't. Not like this."

Despite it becoming weak due to the poison, Yura's heart fluttered. "He's hiding." Yura whispered.

Toshiro looked at her. She was getting paler. "What?"

"He's hiding…somewhere," Yura opened her eyes and looked around. With Denakuma's eyes she had at the moment, her vision was more than they already are enhanced. Her gaze stopped when she saw a small ripple in the sky. "There."

The others looked up. "Where?" Yura held up her finger and pointed. Lightning struck the exact spot, making the ripple more visible. "That's where he's hiding?" Yura closed her eyes and nodded. "Kuchiki. Take care of her."

Yura opened her eyes again. "You're crazy if you think you're fighting without me."

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to let you fight in the condition you're in."

Without another word, Rukia took Yura. "Just be careful."

With that, Rukia and Yura left. Rukia set Yura down on the ground and leaned her against a tree. "How are you feeling?"

Yura closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. "Cold and hot at the same time."

Rukia didn't know what to do but let the girl rest. "I'm sorry I can't do anything to help."

"Don't be. It's my own fault for underestimating those hollows."

"Hm. Just rest."

Yura didn't need to be told twice. She was already half asleep when three lightning bolts struck near. Rukia jumped up, sword in hand. Yura sat up as well. "Don't worry, it won't hurt you." Yura looked up at the dark sky and her eyes widened at what she saw. "Ichigo!" Ichigo was hurtling toward the Earth at top speed.

Yura started to get up, but Rukia stopped her. "No, you're in no shape to-"

But Yura didn't listen. She stood up and began running, ignoring the pain as much as possible. She used Flash Step and caught Ichigo. Pain coursed throughout her body as she carefully let Ichigo down. Her eyes widened when she noticed the blade sticking out of his side. "No…" She pulled the blade out and Ichigo yelled. "Crap. I'm sorry." Blood poured out of his wound.

Toshiro, Matsumoto and Rukia appeared next to the two. Yura noticed Matsumoto had cuts on her face and a gash in her right leg. Toshiro was holding his right arm as blood trickled down his arm and it his hand. "Don't worry, I wasn't hit with any of the blades. But Kurosaki…"

Yura gritted her teeth and shut her eyes closed as tears fell down her face. "This can't happen. You shouldn't have to die for me." Yura's hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Yura…"

Yura shook her head. "No. Now, it's personal."

"What are you doing?" Yura looked at Toshiro before using Flash Step and leaving. "Yura!"

Yura appeared in the middle of the hundreds of hollow. A laugh echoed around her. "So, you're still alive."

"Just show yourself already so I can kill you."

The hollow laughed again. "You really think you can fight me? Ok then." A tear in the dimension opened up and a hollow pulled through.

Yura's eyes widened. "You."

"HA! So you do remember me!"

Yura glared at the hollow. "How could I forget? You were the first hollow I fought as a Soul Reaper. You haven't changed at all." Yura studied the hollow. The hollow's body was huge as it led down to a long tail. It had wings on its back, but never used them for flying. The head was that of a dragon's, its claws sharp and strong enough to tear through metal. And piercing red eyes.

"Are you ready to settle this once and for all, Soul Reaper?" Yura took out her sword, still in extreme pain. But she would fight for her friends. She took a deep breath. She took off at incredible speed toward the hollow. The hollow laughed and lifted its wings, blades shooting out of them and at her. Yura used Flash Step to dodge them. "You've become faster since the last time."

"I've become stronger, too."

Yura held out her hand and a lightning bolt shot out. It struck the hollow in one of its wings, making it twitch uncontrollably. The hollow yelled. Yura spun around and lifted her leg, ready to kick the hollow in its face. But she stopped midway of the kick when she noticed movement at the corner of her eye. She saw the tail lashing out at her, but didn't have enough time to react. It hit her in her stomach, sending her flying back. She slowed down into a stop and coughed up blood from the poison still coursing through her blood stream. No. I won't give up now, she thought. She looked up. Clouds still hung above them from her Bankai. She concentrated on the hollow. The hollow was coming at her, but she didn't panic. Suddenly, four lightning bolts struck the hollow at the same time. The hollow yelled again. Yura didn't hesitate in going for it. She used Flash Step, already in front of the hollow in less than a second.

She raised her sword high above her head. She swung down, cutting the hollow in half. "No…this isn't how the game is supposed to end. I'm not supposed to die."

"Not everyone gets their way."

The hollow dissolved into ash and blew away in the wind. The other hundred hollows disappeared, leaving Yura alone. Then pain shot through her chest and she screamed. She began to free fall from high above. Her fall picked up speed, making the impact with the trees and ground that much harder. She lay there in a crater she created from falling. Her vision was blurry and she couldn't hear a thing, not even the whispering wind. She could feel her heart beat as it continued to slow down. Her body went numb and her eyes closed.

A/N: Well? What'd you think? Average? Good? Great? Awesome? FANTASTIC? INCREDIBLE? ...too carried away? Just let me know what you thought. Please? Thanks. ^^