Countdown to despair.
In Soul Society, the research lab of the 12th squad had just received an unknown sign on the screen of monitoring the spiritual cycle of earth.
- Sir! We just received a sign of high spiritual level in the town of Karakura! - says a lab researcher looking at the monitor.
- That is completely uninteresting to me. - answers the captain, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, busy worrying about his own problems.
- But sir, those are two beings with the level equivalent of a captain!
Mayuri turns to the monitor and sees the data on the screen.
- Interesting...
The two deep hollows, Fisus and Granus, are flying towards the school of Karakura when they realize someone is already coming to them.
- Looks like they took the bait. - sais Granus slowing down.
- Exactly how we predicted, the kid is not with them. - states Fisus, slowing down as well.
- What do we do?
- We wait for the prey to fall into the trap of the hunter.
The two hollows go down to the ground, where they calmly wait for Ichigo and his friends.
Ichigo, Sado and Ishida - the ones who are running ahead of the others - see the two beings that stopped running and were waiting for them. They stopped running too.
- Kurosaki, it's a trap, I'm sure of it. - says Ishida.
- It's hard to tell, since we don't know who they are. They could de friendly.
- Are you stupid? Than why would they come here, showing off their powers like that? It's the same as screaming: "LOOK, I'M HERE! COME TO ME, SO I CAN SMASH YOU! "
.
- ... What the hell! If they're enemies then we just destroy them before the school break ends! – Ichigo yells frustrated. He starts running again being followed by Sado.
- Are you mad? Kurosaki! - screams Ishida, left behind, watching as Ichigo goes away.
- Ishida! - says Rukia, reaching Ishida.
- Kuchiki-san!
- Where does that idiot thinks he's going!- screams Rukia, running towards Ichigo, with Ishida by her side.
- Kuchiki-san, do you know those reiatsus?
- I've never felt them in my life, that's why I'm trying to reach that stupid boy! He will end up in a trap! - Rukia grabs her cellphone and sends a message: " I, Official Shinigami Kuchiki Rukia, responsable for the district 388/11 Karakura, demand imediate identification of two presences around sector 15; the shinigami substitute Kurosaki Ichigo is going to the location, repeat, I need immediate identification!" she looks at her cellphone, there was no signal on it. - Shit! I have no signal! What is going on?
She looks at Ichigo, worried. - I have a bad feeling about this... Let's go Ishida!
Rukia and Ishida are running frenecticaly behind Ichigo, while Inoue is trying to reach them, but, due to the fact that she wasn't much the athletic type, she was having difficulties on the run.
- Oh, no... I'm being left behind...C'mon, Orihime, hurry, you have to protect Kurosaki-kun!
In Soul Society, Kurotsuchi Mayuri was tipping something and looking at the computer screen when suddenly, the image of the computer gets misty untill there is nothing there to see but static.
- What the hell is this? You useless, get me the signal back! - The captain was screaming at his subordinates, who were running desperately up and down to fix the problem, but, before they could do that, the computer screen goes back to normal and someone very familiar shows up.
- Hello, Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri. - it was Urahara.
- Urahara Kisuke! I hope you have a good reason to interrupt my work like that! - Mayuri looks at Urahara angry, but notices that there was something different about him. - Hey, you useless subordinates! Leave the laboratory immediately! Nemu, take this rats out of here and don't let anyone in until I order it!
- Yes sir, Mayuri-sama.
Nemu does what he was ordered to and leaves the laboratory, closing the door.
- Well, well, well, I think we can get started now, can we? - says Mayuri with a cynic smile.
Urahara smiles back.
- Who are you? - asks the captain of the 12th squad.
Ichigo and Sado arrive to the center of the town where they find the two men with their backs turned to them. One of them, the slimmest one, was standing up, talking to the bigger one sitting on a stone in the middle of a park. They turn and see the visitors.
- Welcome, my friends. - Starts Fisus.
- Who are you two? - asks Ichigo, petulant.
Almost automatically, Fisus and Granus let show something very common of their species: Two holes in their chests.
-Wow, there's no need to explain a thing anymore. And that saves me a lot of work. - Says Ichigo taking Zangetsu off his back. - So, who wil be the first one?
The two hollows laugh out loud.
- He was fun since this time. - Says Granus.
- She takes after her father. - Completes Fisus.
- Hey! Will you two just stand there, talking? Then I'll go first! - Screams Ichigo, running to them, being followed by Sado, with his right arm ready for battle.
The two hollows don't move a muscle.
- Are you sure you want to do this by yourself, Kurosaki Ichigo and Sado Yasutora? - Says Granus looking at them.
Ichigo and Sado stop and retreat a few steps.
- How do you know my name? - Asks Ichigo.
- Calm down, Ichigo. If I were you, I would wait for my friends. They are almost here. - Fisus looks at Ichigo and Sado, making them hypnotized with his tenebrous eyes.
- Ichigo! Sado!
- Kurosaki! Sado-kun!
Scream Rukia and Ishida, when they see Ichigo and Sado standing still, looking ahead like undead persons.
- Ichigo! - Screams Rukia, loud enough to make Ichigo hear it.
- Rukia... Those guys are different, they are hollows, but... Be careful...
- Who are YOU to tell ME to be careful, you RECKLESS BRAT! - Screams Rukia, punching Ichigo's head.
- Ouch! Why did you do that? Are you crazy?
- That's for you to learn to wait the others, you asshole!
- The asshole here is you!
- Ahn... Kuchiki-san... Kurosaki... - Says Ishida, not sure if it was a good idea to interfere in the discussion, but he carry on anyway. - I don't think this is the time and place for this, huh?
Rukia and Ichigo stop arguing and came back to reality.
Fisus and Granus were calmly smiling and watching them.
- Well, now that they are all here, I think we can start. - Says Granus looking at Fisus. - Can I start?
- Have fun.
- What? Have fun? Who do you think we are?! - Says Rukia, revolted.
- My toys. - Answers Granus, lifting his arms. With that, a black light flies out of his hole in his chest and goes upward to the sky, opening into a dome around them. - This is my playground.
- What is this? I feel an enormous reiatsu spread everywhere! - Says Ishida worried.
- This is a domain. Only hollows in the same level of my class are capable of doing it. - answers Fisus to the nervous boy.
- Domain? I've never heard about a hollow who was capable of creating such thing! What are you? Arrancars? - Asks Rukia, drawing her sword.
- No, young Rukia, we are not hollows. Those garbage monsters are light years away of power from us.
Rukia startles when they say her name. - So, what are you?
- We are "Deep Hollows". - Answers Fisus. - My name is Fisus, and this one beside me is Granus.
- Deep Hollows? I've never heard of it! Then how come Soul Society never registered anything like that? - Asks Rukia.
- Because, apparently, they are the first ones to visit us, right? - Says Ichigo, looking at Fisus and looking for answers.
- Exactly. - He answers.
- Than how did you learned about us? Who told you? - Asks Ishida, looking for answers as well.
- Someone that you haven't met yet. - Answers Fisus.
- What do you want from us? - Screams Ichigo.
- I've already told you. - Says Granus pointing at the four of them. - I just want to play. - A black energy forms in the point of his finger.
- Cero! - Screams Rukia.
An energy forms on Granus's finger and goes toward them, making an explosion.
From the middle of the smoke, Rukia, Sado, Ichigo and Ishida jump out coughing, all of them surprised by the sudden explosion.
Sado was with his arm hurt.
- Oh, I beg your pardon, I've forgotten how weak you are. - apologizes Granus cynically, looking at them.
Ichigo and Rukia put themselves in front of Sado, protectively.
- Chado! Are you all right? - asks Ichigo to his friend on his knee, holding his arm.
Sado's answer was a roar; he gets up and runs with his injured arm up and screams:
- Right arm Del Gigante! - A powerful energy in the form of a gust goes toward Granus.
Granus receives the blow with a grin. The explosion makes Ichigo and Rukia close their eyes.
From the middle of the smoke, Granus apears with not even a scratch.
- That was a good attack, I got to admit.
Sado looks surprised at him.
- Then praise that! - Screams Ishida, preparing his arch.
A bunch of arrows hit Granus who only watches the scene, obviously calm.
A bigger explosion happens at the place and this time Rukia and Ichigo have to move away from Ishida's attack. The smoke is clear again, and everybody looks ahead surprised.
- Well, I can't lie to you, your attack was good, but...
Granus vanishes.
Ishida hears a voice very close to his ear:
- To me, that was nothing but a mosquito bite.
Pain.
Ishida feels a terrible pain on his stomach. He looks down and see an arm trespassing his belly. He spits blood. The arch disappears from his hands.
- I hate mosquitoes. - Granus takes his hand of Ishida's belly and throws him against the ground.
- Ishida! Son of a bitch!- Screams Ichigo going towards Granus who is waiting for him up in the skies.
Rukia runs and holds Ishida before he hits the ground.
- Inoue! Help me here! - Screams Rukia, looking behind.
Inoue wasn't there.
- Ugh!
Rukia lies Ishida carefully on the ground and she starts making the first aids herself.
Hisana feels Ishida's reiatsu slowly disappearing. She looks at her clock. Only ten minutes have passed. That makes her clench her fist.
- Damn! There's still 20 minutes left! - She presses the button of her communicator. - Urahara! Will you still take too long? - No answer - Urahara! Damn it!
She looks back at the place her friends are fighting.
- 20 minutes! Please, resist it just for 20 minutes!
Inoue sees a black dome at the distant covering a big area.
- But what is that? - She feels Ishida's reiatsu slowly disappearing.
- Ishida-kun! No! - That gives her more strength to run faster.
Ichigo flies like a roaring at Granus, who prevents Ichigo's blow with one hand and looks at Ichigo's eyes, saying:
- You are capable of more than this. Show me that hollow mask that everyone says to increases your power so much.
Ichigo is surprised when Granus says to know Ichigo's hollow mask. - So you want to play with fire, huh? BANKAI! - Ichigo makes a move with his left hand on his face and a mask with tribal pictures covers his face.
Granus smiles and with a "sound" ( like a shinigami's shunpo) runs away from Ichigo.
- You asked for it! - Screams Ichigo with a stuffy metallic voice. - Getsuga Tenshou!
A blow similar to a black half moon is shot toward Granus. He looks surprised at the blast; he holds his sword and with a single move, bounces back Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshou directly to Sado.
- Sado! Move! - Screams Rukia, desperate.
But it was too late. Sado tried but the blow hits his left arm, severing it.
- AAAAAAAARRRRGGGHH! - Screams Sado, feeling the worst pain of his life, lying in the ground and trying to stantch the flow of blood. His severed arm flies a few meters away.
Ichigo looks at his friend, agonizing and turns to Granus: - You wretch! I will kill you! Getsuga Tensh... - Granus vanishes.
Ichigo can't see where he was.
- Who do you wish to hurt now? - It was Granus a few meters behind Ichigo. - Do you wish to decapitate the head of Kuchiki Rukia?
Rukia is taking care of Ishida, with a cold sweat, paying attention to the enemy's eventually unexpected attacks. She picks her cellphone and sees that there is no signal.
- It's hopeless, Kuchiki Rukia; once inside a domain, you lose total notion of the outside world. Just like everyone who's inside don't know what's going on outside, the people who are outside can't know what's going on inside, only the master of the domain have control of the souls between the two dimensions. So, give it up, you will never get reinforcement from Soul Society. - Says Fisus looking at Rukia. Rukia looks worriedly at Ichigo.
"How is it possible that he can bounce back my Getsuga Tenshou with my hollow mask?" Ichigo thinks as he holds firmly his sword hilt. "I need to do something or..."
- Mister Ichigo, please, don't look at me like you're giving up, my fun haven't even started yet!
That made Ichigo angry, Granus saying that he was having fun with making his friends hurt. It was the last straw. And it was exactly what Granus was waiting for.
- Getsuga Tenshou!
The Getsuga Tenshou flies toward Granus, who was close to the ground. He gives Ichigo a cynical smile and simply dodges the blow.
Behind him, someone walks into the dome.
Inoue arrives at the giant black dome. She touches it's surface of spiritual density.
- What is this? I've never seen anything like it before. But I can feel the reiatsu of Kurosaki-kun and the others, Sado-kun and Ishida-kun need help!
Inoue concentrates in the dome, and, little by little, she feels that she's entering into it. When she finnaly gets to the other side of it, she is surprised by an energy in the form of a black half-moon coming at her at full speed.
- Inoue! - Screams Ichigo panicking.
A big explosion occurs.
Inoue close her eyes. When she opens them, she feels drops of blood dripping on her face.
- Kuchiki-san!
Rukia had saved Inoue by a close shave and was injured badly for doing so. A part of her kimono that was protecting her arm was destroyed - result of her injured arm - and half of her face was tinted red of blood.
- Rukia! Inoue! - Ichigo screams coming to them.
Granus could hardly breath because of his laughter.
- Kuchiki-san, your arm, your face!
- I'm fine, Inoue! - Rukia lies - Sado needs your help quickly! He lost an arm, he's losing too much blood, hurry Inoue!
- But what about you Kuchiki-san?
- I said I'll be fine, go help Sado!
Yet reluctant, Inoue looks first at Ishida, laid unconscious but stable thanks to Rukia's treatment. Rukia couldn't improve much Sado's situation, for she couldn't make miracles, but that part becomes Inoue's responsibility.
- Rukia! - says Ichigo - I'm sorry, I didn't meant to ...
Ichigo gets closer to Rukia.
- YOU IDIOT! - Scream Rukia, punching the part of Ichigo's head not covered with the mask. - How many times do I have to hit you so you can understand not to fall for the enemy's trap!
- ... Sorry. - Ichigo was reasonless and strengthless to argue, after all, because of himself, a great friend lost his arm and two friends almost lost their lives.
- If you keep looking at me with this blank expression, I swear I will hit you until your mask is upside down! Now pay attention to your enemy, Ichigo!
Ichigo does what he's told.
Rukia raises up.
- We are just two now, Ichigo. We have to think of something, because this enemy seems to know us very well. Furthermore, if he wanted to kill us, he would have already done that.
- What do you mean? That they're waiting someone?
- Probably.
- Your insight is fantastic, miss Kuchiki. - says Granus clapping his hands. - You're just wrong in the part of " wanted to kill us", when in truth I will kill you, not just because I want to but because it's an order, but on the meanwhile, I decided to have some fun with you.
- And who are you waiting for?
- Someone... Interesting. - Answers Granus.
- Are you telling me that we're lures? - Asks Rukia.
- You're insight is really surprising.
- Bastard! I will not let you hurt anybody else! - Says Ichigo, convinced.
- Oh really? And how do you intend to do that, Kurosaki-san?
Ichigo starts to reunite a lot of energy on his body.
- Ichigo, wait! - Says Rukia.
- Do you know the difference between a lion and an ant?
Ichigo still concentrating all the energy that he can. Rukia liberates her zanpakutou: - Mae! Sode no Shiriayuki! - Her katana turns into a bright white sword. She keeps looking at the enemy, but this time, ready to whatever is coming. Granus continues:
- A lion is considered the king of the jungle because of his very large body, his strenght and his predator instincts. - He stretches his right hand and a little grey sphere appears. - The ant however do not possess strength, size, nor the predator instincts feared by so many creatures. - The sphere compress and divides itself in many other smaller spheres of the same color. - And that's where everybody is mistaken. - The minor spheres spin around Granus frantically. - Alone, an ant does not stand a chance. - He stretches his left hand, producing the same energy sphere. - But, when they're together, even a lion would not dare to face an army of them. Do you know why?
Rukia and Ichigo tight the grip on their swords and they barely blink. They wait for the enemy attack.
- It's because he fears not to see the ant that will give him the final attack. - When he finishes, Granus clenches his fists and the spheres turn into ants with wings.
- How lucky you are, Rukia-san and Kurosaki-san. - Says Fisus. - Today you will know why Granus is known among the deep hollows as " one man army ".
Rukia and Ichigo hear what Fisus said, but they turn their attention back to Granus.
- Go, my minors, delight yourself on the banquet I give you! - Says Granus snapping his fingers.
The flying ants disappear within a blink.
Ichigo feels a breeze passing close to his ear. He jumps backward, fearing the worst.
- What was that? - Ichigo says, looking around. He realizes something moving quickly around him and Rukia, like a swarm of insects.
- Rukia! Don't move!
Too late. Rukia looks at Ichigo and all she sees is a flash exploding on her chest.
- AARRGGGHHH! - Screams Rukia painfully and falling to the ground.
- Rukia! - Ichigo screams going to her and dodging a few of the little insects, but when he is almost reaching her, two of them explode on his feet.
- AARRGGHH! - Ichigo feels a terrible pain on his feet. He falls to the ground.
- Hahahahaha, no matter what you do, those ants will follow you until you die. Like I said before, you won't know what will give you the final attack.
Ichigo raises jumping backward and escaping from some of the ants, but he's hit again on the arms and belly, falling down.
" Damn! How is it possible that I can't see them? They're not normal... Will I die here?" Ichigo thinks with blurry view.
- Each one of this insects, as they touch his victims, they explode; each explosion is equivalent to twelve dynamites. I must admit, I'm surprised to see you still alive.
With Ichigo on the ground, the insects come to finish him.
- It's a shame you won't live for too long.
- Hinagiku, Lily, Baigon! Santen Kesshun! - Orihime screams and three creatures jump out towards Ichigo, making a shield and protecting him from the explosion. - Ayame, Shun'o! Soten Kisshun! - Another shield forms around Rukia and starts to regenerate her. Inoue looks at Granus. - Please, answer me, why are you doing this to us? Why do you want to kill Kurosaki-kun?
Granus looked at Inoue trying to protect her friends. Considering her useless effort to protect them, he answers:
- It's not just Kurosaki who will be killed tonight, young Orihime. All of you will be dead. - He points a finger at Inoue. - The reason why I'm killing you is simply because one day you will become the most disturbing obstacle to the conclusion of our goals!
- Will we? How do you know that? We never saw you! So how can you affirm that?
- Simply because we've...
- Granus! - Says Fisus loudly. - You talk too much. Just finish them.
- I'm sorry, sir. - He looks at Inoue, concentrated in curing Rukia and protecting Ichigo. - It's useless what you're doing, young lady. - He snaps his fingers and a few bombs destroy the two shields created by Inoue and then, an insect hits her back and throws her at distance.
- AAHHH! - screams Inoue, before becoming unconscious.
- INOUE! - Ichigo and Rukia scream together as they try to get up.
- Shit! Ichigo, go help her!
- And who's going to take care of you?
- I will! Now go!
- Damn! - Screams Ichigo running to Inoue and dodging the bombs trying to catch him.
- Take care of herself ? That's a good one Kuchiki-san; now tell me one thing: how do you intend to repel my attacks?
- Mae, Sode no Shirayuki! Some no Mae, Tsukishiro! - When Rukia said that, a white and shining circle appears on the ground, creating a wall of ice.
- It's useless, I told you, I know all your techniques, Kuchiki Rukia. - Says Granus jumping off the circle. - No matter wha...
- Bakudou number four! Hainawa! A line like a beam of light appears at Rukia's fingers and holds Granus, like ropes tying his body.
- How dare you...
- Tsugi no Mae, Haruken!
The only thing Granus sees is a snow storm hitting him. His body gets covered by snow.
- Incredible! Rukia, you did it! - Says Ichigo destroying a few insects near Inoue.
- Idiot. I told you I could take care of myself.
Fisus smiles. Ichigo recognizes that type of smile. He looks at Rukia and sees that behind her, a figure breaks through the Haruken snow storm and jumps at her with a sword pointed to her heart.
Everything happens really fast. First, Rukia sees Ichigo in front of her and suddenly, he disappears. Seconds latter, she feels his reiatsu decreasing behind her. She looks at him, and her heart stops.
- ICHIGO!
Ichigo was trespassed by Granus's blade. His eyes were red of rage.
- You wretches! Nobody, nobody hurts the great Granus and walks out alive!
Granus tries to cut Ichigo in half, but Rukia holds his hands in order not to let the worst happen. Ichigo spits blood.
- S...tupid... Take this chance and get out of here...
- NEVER! I will never leave you here!
- If you don't... We're all going to die Ru…kia...
- THEN I'LL DIE HERE WITH YOU!
When Ichigo hears that, he feels something different in his heart. It beats stronger...
- How great, so die together!
Granus demands his insects to attack Rukia and Ichigo, but still Rukia keeps her hand holding the sword. Both of them scream in pain and bleed. Granus takes out his sword and kicks Ichigo, throwing him far away as Rukia falls to the ground.
Hisana looks at her clock. Time was passing and Urahara wouldn't contact her, she was getting really nervous. Suddenly, she feels Inoue's reiatsu decreasing and a few minutes latter, Ichigo's and Rukia's.
- Oh no! No! No! No!
Beep, beep, beep...
Granus was turning away from Rukia while speaking:
- You two managed to make me angry. It was a long time ago when someone irritated me that much. And, what a coincidence, that someone were you. - He creates new explosives insects. - But this will be the last time you two stand in our way.
Rukia was trying hard to get up, but she had no strength. She couldn't even see because the blood dripping on her eyes, she could barely hear because of the loud explosions that made her temporally deaf. The only thing Rukia could hear was Ichigo's voice calling desperately for her.
- Ichigo... I can hear you... Where... Where are you...? - Rukia begins to search for her dearest friend, screaming worriedly for her; and so, she sees him, lying on the floor, badly hurt. - Ichi... go...- She, with much difficulty, stretched out her hand, trying to reach him. - I'm sorry... - Rukia cries, her tears mixing with the blood. - I'm so... So... Sorry... - Rukia loses consciousness before she could see the insects flying to her, ready to kill her.
Granus laughs like a lunatic, having the time of his life.
A gigantic explosion happens.
- RUUUUUKKIIIIAAA! - Screams Ichigo in horror with tears running down with the blood on his face.
He lost everything that moment.
To be continued...