Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. All rights belong to the creator Tite Kubo.

This is an AU story with some OOC.

And with nothing else please read, enjoy and review.

Chapter 5: Ground Zero

-X-

This felt awkward for Szayel. He can't remember feeling this uncomfortable around anyone before. He tried to start a conversation with Starrk, but the man was too intimidating. Oh man, why did he say yes to come along with the brunette to get food? Oh right. Ichigo got hungry, so now it was both his and Starrk's responsibility to get food like everyone else. Everyone but Lily and Ichigo. It's been just a month since he became a part of Ichigo's weird pack. Honestly, the boy wasn't lying when he said how it has a family-like feel. As weird as that may sound, he couldn't find any other better word for it.

While Starrk was wary around him at first, through the second week, he forgot about his presence and went back to being lazy. The man still kept a sharp eye on him. He expected questions from the brunette in their travel, but Ichigo reassured him that everything was fine and Starrk was just acting overprotective. Asking why that would be the case, he got told an interesting story to say at least. Who knew a minor event like that could turn Starrk to a mother hen? Still doesn't help that he's now alone with the man, away from the kids, hunting or fishing since all they do is stay still and Starrk releases his Reiatsu. Watching how the hungry Hollows come and die sure made him glad that he could be around Starrk without dying.

If only he could say something to break the stupid, awkward silence.

"So have you figured it out yet?"

Szayel turns towards the brunette with a puzzled look. He kept staring at Starrk, hoping for the man to at least elaborate more on what he meant. Starrk only lifted one of his fingers to his face. Is there something on his face? "Ah, you're talking about the black mask?" Just getting a nod from the man, he thought about what the whole thing meant. When he thought all Ichigo did was fix his mask from the crack, he was more than surprised to learn that his mask had changed from white to black. What does a black mask even mean?

Szayel shook his head. "I wish I knew more around this point, but if I had to take a guess, I say the mask prevents me from dying around you. I can still feel your Reiatsu but the mask seems to make it less lethal for me. Another thing I learn as well is that my body seems to take in more Reishi too. Usually, Hueco Mundo has Reishi to stabilize Hollows but the amount we receive is too little compared to when we eat other Hollows but the mask seems to be absorbing more from Hueco Mundo." He tried to make it sound like he knew what he was saying, but he was more than anything trying to convince himself. Damn it, that little strawberry is giving him a headache by just trying to figure out what he did to him. However, he won't quit now. With more mysteries coming from Ichigo the moment he solves the boy, it'll be his greatest achievement.

Starrk thought about everything Szayel said. The Hollow sounded sure about how the mask's works. He himself tried to figure it out through the first two weeks of them being together by releasing more of Reiatsu around the group. He notices the way Ichigo ignores it like it's not even there, Lily being a part of him doesn't feel it, but Szayel shows that he could feel the change with how he slows down before he goes back to acting normal. Something he said stuck out though. "You said your body is taking in more Reishi, and the mask is absorbing even more from Hueco Mundo. Could it be that the mask is absorbing not just Hueco Mundo but mine as well?"

That got Szayel thinking. Absorbing his Reishi? Now that he thought about it. "Hollows need to eat to satisfy their hunger and evolve. If what you say is true, then that would explain two things. The first would be how I haven't had my hunger drive me to eat as all Hollows do. I'm eating enough Reishi already. Not just from Hueco Mundo, but yours too by being around you. However, the mask seems to only let me receive the amount to calm my hunger instead of absorbing all of yours. The second thing would be that the mask is not just helping my hunger, but perhaps pushing my evolution too. I know this for sure because when one reaches your evolution you lose your hunger as you had told me." He had asked the group if they still need to eat even to the point of evolution they seem to be. He found out that Starrk and Lily are actually hungerless but only eat so Ichigo won't feel so insecure about eating Hollows. Apparently only Ichigo has to eat. So going by that, the more one grows, the less hunger they should get; for Lily's and Starrk's case, at least.

"If that last part is true, and this is a big IF. Then you shouldn't start feeling the effects of evolution by only having that black mask for a month. Your body should try to regain the 2 years of not eating and I'm sure being around me hasn't pushed you that far yet since the mask only lets you receive just the amount to satisfy your hunger." Now, Starrk was more confused than ever before. Szayel is absorbing his Reiatsu and growing at the same time. That should take years to happen, not just in a month. All he got from Szayel was a shrug from his branches. He was sure that was a shrug.

"I wish I knew more, but this is new to me." This whole thing was eating Szayel away and leaving him with a few headaches. Well, at least a more comfortable silence replaced the awkward one.

"What about how Ichigo is aging? That had never happened to Lily or I so why does it happen to him?" Starrk had a guess why that was happening, but if Szayel had been spying on them for two years, hopefully, he saw something from a different view.

"That's because Ichigo-kun's powers might be growing." Looking back at the man, Szayel notices the lack of surprise on his face. "Something tells me you came with a similar conclusion?" All he got from Starrk was a simple nod. That's quite a frightening thought. It's unknown to either of them how powerful Ichigo is and to think he's still growing and getting stronger. How strong he'll end up could be anyone's guess. They went back to a comfortable silence, no longer feeling scared.

"Have you heard the name Baraggan by any chance?"

Never mind, that came back. "E-e-excuse me can-n you say that again-n?"

'Did he just stutter?' Starrk stares at Szayel with a raised eyebrow. "Baraggan. Have you heard that name before at all?" He made it sound like no big deal. If only he knew.

"Baraggan is the King of Hueco Mundo!"

That got the brunette's attention. King? They have a king in a place like this? Wait. "How do you know who Baraggan is? Had you meant him before or something?"

Szayel stares at the man like he was stupid. How had he not at least heard of that name before? Then he remembers how the only contact Starrk had was between Ichigo and Lily. Facepalming himself with a branch, the black mask Hollow releases a sigh. 'How did I forget that?' Clearing his throat, he looks back to Starrk and explains. "Everyone around here knows who Baraggan is. Believe it or not, he commands an army of Hollows. He is the king because there's no one strong enough to even stand against him. When he feels a powerful Hollow, he himself kindly asks them to join. He also asks his servants to even recruit any powerful Hollow to join him, and no, they look nothing like you. They still have a Hollow appearance, not human." Szayel notices the way Starrk shut his mouth. The brunette was probably hoping for more Hollows like them. "Word around here travels fast. Usually, Hollows that refuse Baraggan's invitation get to meet him personally and he forcefully makes them join. Hollows by nature won't let anyone force us around, so most lose their life against Baraggan."

Szayel heard about Baraggan from a group of Hollows that were looking for one of the king's loyal servants. A Lizard-like Hollow who the King tasked to investigate a powerful Reiryoku that has been coming and going. That was around a year ago. 'Oh Kami, don't tell me.' His eyes shot open with shock and looked back at Starrk. "How have you heard his name before?.."

Starrk for his part just raises one of his eyebrows. 'And now he's scared.' He scratches his head and thinks about the Hollow from a year ago. With a shrug, he went back to releasing more Reiatsu before looking back at Szayel. "Some Lizard-Hollow told me that Baraggan would not like something and he would take it as rebellious. That's all he said before dying." He closes his eyes and goes to take a nap. Missing out on how Szayel turned pale and even the mask looks like it lost color.

'What did I get myself into..'

With another 30 minutes passing by and hopefully with enough food, Starrk raises his arm and fires a Cero. They waited for the kids to show up.

"You know, I was thinking about it, Starrk-san, but how come Ichigo-kun hasn't asked Lily-chan to teach him Cero?"

They both stay quiet.

"How do we know she hasn't taught him yet?"

Before they could continue with that train of thought, Ichigo and Lily finally show up. Starrk notices the look on the redhead's face. Ichigo wanted to ask for something; he just knew it. He saw something in his eyes. He couldn't tell what it was, but it almost looks like he just remembered something or someone important. He'll just wait until he de-

"How can I visit the Human World?"

Well crap. He wasn't expecting something like that.

"I'm sorry. Run that again with me, Ichigo. I was sure I heard you say something about visiting the Human World." Starrk was hoping he was joking. That this was some prank. He looks over at Lily, expecting to see her laughing at his shocked face, but all he saw was a worried look. What is Lily worried about? He looks back at the redhead and notices his upsetting face.

"I remember where I came from."

Starrk barely heard him, but understood now. Ichigo has only remembered a little about his old life. The redhead remembers his sisters, dad, and mom. Besides that, he couldn't remember much, but now Ichigo finally remembered his previous home. Starrk notices the atmosphere becoming tense with desperation. The kid was hoping for him to know. Kami, this would be painful for him. "Look, Ichigo, I'm sorry to say this but I don't know how we can even reach the Human World." He saw the way Ichigo's eyes show pain. How badly did the boy want to go?

"But there has to be a way for all Hollows born in the Human World to come here!"

"Yeah well, we aren't like them."

"But he is!" Ichigo said that part while pointing a finger at Szayel.

The black mask Hollow looks from Starrk to Ichigo. 'Do they not know about Garganta?.. They don't. Starrk probably never needed to use it and Ichigo just remembers where he came from.' He should have known that. The man used a Cero to reach the Forest of Menos instead of just using a quick Garganta to reach it. 'Kami, they're still staring at me.' Feeling awkward under both their eyes, he shrugs before saying. "Just use a Garganta."

"A what?" Reply both the brunette and redhead, confused about the new word.

'Damn it, they really don't know.' Releasing a sigh, he went into that little teaching tone of his. "Garganta is a pathway that all Hollows can use to travel between worlds or distances. I remember during my time as a Gillian, witnessing an Adjuchas ordering other Gillians around and before I knew it, the Adjuchas said something to the Gillians and they opened a Garganta and they all went through it. To where? I don't know, but the method behind it is probably thinking about the place you're trying to reach and then tap the air."

That got Ichigo's hopes up. He remembers where he's from! So all he has to do is think about it and then tap the air in front of him? That doesn't sound so hard. Ready to give it a shot, he stops at the sound of his stomach. 'Okay food first then Garganta later.'

The atmosphere while eating was weird. Szayel and Ichigo were both excited about finally seeing the Human World again, while Starrk and Lily seemed worried about something. The group didn't even eat a lot and before they knew it the redhead was already trying to open a Garganta. He was far from the group, thinking about the one place he remembered. An old home from his once normal life. Ichigo let out a frustrating sigh. There was something blocking him. He knew where he wanted to go, but why though? Why does he want to go back to a place he's no longer a part of? He turns back and looks at his friends that made Hueco Mundo feel like a home to him.

Thinking about his old home brought mixed feelings. Why, though?

They stayed in the white desert for two years with nothing ever happening and that place felt like home. Then when they went into Menos Park and stayed there for a week, that place still felt like home. The feeling of home was never about who he knew. 'Home is where you make it.' With that in mind, he tries again. No longer thinking about Karakura Town with mixed feelings because for him it was just an empty world if he didn't have the friends to make it feel like a home, he thought about an old dojo that he used to go to as a kid. He remembers it now. With a tap, a Garganta formed.

Ichigo stares inside the Garganta. The thing looks wicked. It almost looks like a mouth. He took a peek inside and noticed how everything was dark. He could see a light on the other side, but something told him that he's supposed to do something first before walking through the black void. Turning around to ask what should be next, Ichigo heard the sad tone of Lily's voice.

"So what now?"

The redhead turns around towards the pink-eye girl with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?" To his response, Lily glared at him in a way she has never looked at him before. 'Why is she mad?' He turns to Starrk and notices the sad look in his eyes. 'Okay, what's going on now.'

"Don't act dumb, Ichigo! Is this goodbye or what? You just remember your home, damn it! There is nothing holding you to this place anymore! You can just go back and never even look back at us..." Lily started out sounding strong and mad, but she finished up sounding weak and sad. She was worried ever since Ichigo told her how he remembered his home. Was she going to lose him already and never see him again? Just like that? She even told Starrk when he asked what was wrong with her. He got the same look once she told him. Now... here they are. Only a few minutes away from returning to their solitude. All over again. Szayel would probably just go with Ichigo. Damn it, was she feeling tears in her eye?

"Don't you guys wanna come with me?"

Ichigo's words seem to break the depressing atmosphere around Lily and Starrk. They both look at his yellow eyes; confusion seen in them. Did they hear right?

"You want us to go with you?" That was Starrk's curious voice. Was Ichigo not going to leave them alone? Would Ichigo really ask them to come with him?

"I mean. I may have remembered my old home and everything, but what made it feel like home were the people who live there. My family and friends can't see the dead, so there's really no point in going there myself and staying if they can't see me. And right now I already have the people that make it everywhere I go feel like a home." He sounded corny, but it just felt like he needed them to be sure he lost his old family but got a new one now. Now that Ichigo thought about it. He never told Starrk how this little 'pack' of theirs started feeling like a family.

Ichigo's words brought a smile to Lily's face. The pink-eye girl almost forgot about it. Maybe she was just too worried about nothing.

Starrk kept staring at Ichigo. He only introduced the boy into both his and Lily's world in hoping that those lonely days became a distant memory. He would never have imagined Ichigo making it feel like a home, maybe even a family. The little strawberry just kept smiling towards him. 'He really means it...' He walked towards Ichigo while still keeping eye contact and then made a stop. There was only a few feet of distance between them. "Are we family to you, Ichigo?" Starrk needed to know that for sure. He waited for the redhead to say something. All Ichigo did for his part was close their distance with a hug.

"You're all family to me."

Well, that sure did it. A lone tear drops from Starrk before he hugs back the redhead. Lily by this point had a few tears going down her face and went up to the hugging pair too.

Szayel looked away. He felt awkward... again. Like he was staring at a private moment. Is this any way for Hollows to act like? They're supposed to be monsters that eat souls. Just looking at them made his chest hurt. It was almost too painful to watch them. Was it because he wanted to be a part of that? It may feel like a family, but he wasn't a part of it.

"What are you doing over there?"

Szayel turns back to look at Starrk. The group was looking at him with... open arms. "You're a part of this as well now you know."

"I have only been here for a month and you think I'm already a part of this... weird family?" He didn't want to sound mean, but this looks like a moment for them only. All he got was a shrug from Starrk and smiles from Lily and Ichigo.

"Why not? Are you gonna get over here or not?" Starrk didn't ask twice before Szayel went into the group hug.

They stay like that for a moment before letting go. Staring at the Garganta he made. Ichigo looks at the weird gate before he tells them how there seems to be no way to walk across it. "That's because to move through it, you must create footholds using Reishi." That was the reply he got from Szayel. Ichigo was glad that Szayel was a part of them now. Before trying to make a pathway, Starrk stops him and brings back the common problem.

"If I'm there, I might hurt people you know." While not having problems around Hollows now, normal people will still die and that might bring problems to them.

"Not quite Starrk-san. Almost all people can't see and for most, can't feel Reishi around them so there shouldn't be a problem with you killing them unless you sucked in their souls. But besides that, there's no other way to hurt them. Only highly spiritually aware people could see and feel us. However, those are rare to find, and even if there's someone like that, having Ichigo-kun around we might not even come across one thanks to his cloaking ability." Szayel reassures the man. Just getting a nod from the brunette, he slithers in front of the Garganta and turns back to the redhead. "Let me do this part Ichigo-kun, while you have no experience with your Reishi control and Starrk-san might just get lazy halfway through." "Oi!" "I have a good amount of control for us to get at the end of the Garganta." Getting a nod from the group, Szayel gathers Reishi around him and creates a foothold for the group. Walking in first, Szayel led the group, followed up by Ichigo and Lily.

Starrk was ready to follow when he stopped and turned around. There was a sense of Déjà vu. A sense of being watched but not spotting anything, he shrugs his shoulders and walks in. Garganta closed behind him.

If he looked up at the sky instead of around him, Starrk would have noticed a pair of green eyes above him.

-Karakura Town-

Coming out from the Garganta, everyone shields their eyes from the sun.

'THE SUN.' Completely ignoring the light, Ichigo tries to force his eyes to open.

When his eyes finally adjusted to the light, he saw his old dojo in front of him. He was staring at his old dojo. The one where he came to when he was alive. He started looking around him and noticed the people walking by and ignoring him. 'Like I'm not even here.' While it hurts, he completely ignored it. He saw it coming anyway, so he prepared himself. Turning around, he saw the bewildered look on Starrk and Lily's faces. With his arms spread apart, he screams from the top of his lungs. "WELCOME TO KARAKURA TOWN!"

Getting Lily and Szayel's attention away from their new surroundings, they both went back to staring at the boy. Starrk still kept looking around him. This was all way too new to him. Getting one last look from his surroundings, he addresses the redhead. "Well, we're here now. What do you wanna do, Ichigo?" Honestly, was this really where the boy came from? Everything looks so lively. Nothing compared to the emptiness of Hueco Mundo.

Ichigo thought about it. There was so much for them to see. Feeling wind down his ankles, the redhead remembers the one thing that has been bugging him for some time now. "Clothes. We're gonna go get clothes." Everyone stares at him like he was stupid.

"Ichigo-kun I don't think that's a great idea. The people might freak out when they see floating clothes around them." While people can't see or feel them, they can still see clothes floating among them.

"What if we cover up the clothes with Reiatsu?"

'People can't see Reishi and by that logic should not be able to see clothes that get covered by our Reiatsu.' That's genius! "That might just work Ichigo-kun. Do you have any memory of a place to get clothes at?"

Getting a nod from the redhead, the group follows Ichigo to what the boy hoped was still the shopping district of the town.

Unaware of the only set of eyes from the sea of people who could see them.

"I-Ichigo?..."

- Shopping District -

The group was inside one of the many stores found in the shopping district. The guys were on their side of the store trying to find clothes while Lily went to her side. Finishing getting clothes, both men sneak into the men's changing room. Finally getting there, they put on their new clothes. Before coming out, though, they both cover the clothes with a blanket of Reishi. Hoping for Ichigo's little theory to be right.

Finishing first, Starrk came out wearing a black leather bomber jacket with a fur trim collar and a v-neck white shirt, black jean pants with three interconnecting white belts, a black sash worn in a manner similar to a matador and to finish the touch, black shoes, and gloves.

Ichigo came out trying to look cool as Starrk. He was wearing a black jacket with the zipper open, a grey t-shirt with the number 15 on his right chest, blue jeans and black hi-top shoes. While he didn't find a cool looking black sash, he did, however, found a cool grey scarf and black snowing goggles. Sure he wouldn't use those goggles but damn it they made him feel, and hopefully, look cool like Starrk.

The brunette stares down at the boy's weird fashion taste. Was it cold? He didn't feel cold air. He felt the wind, but nothing that told him if it was chilly or not. He shrugged off the redhead's weird taste. "You already pump some Reiatsu into your clothes?"

"Yeah, I just spread it around like how I spread it around my feet to use Sonido." Getting a nod from the man, Ichigo looks around, trying to find the only Hollow in their group. "Hey, where did Szayel go?"

"He went over to Lily since she asked him for some opinions on her clothes." With that being said, both of them started walking towards the voice of Szayel, which only they seemed to hear. Even the people already here seem to ignore it. They even ignored them; clothes included.

Starrk ruffles Ichigo's hair. "It looks like your idea works. Good call kid."

Not hearing Szayel anymore, they hurry to the woman's side of the changing room. Finally getting there, they found Lily and Szayel already walking out. Lily was wearing a light-pink blouse; something that was big enough to fit through her helmet mask, it's also ripped just above her stomach where her Hollow hole was at, a white high collar vest, white arm-warmers, some blue shorts that reach mid-thigh and some black high boots. With her hand on her hips, she looks over at Starrk and Ichigo. "So how do I look?"

"So that's where your hole is at!" Ichigo innocently asked her. He actually had never seen it before, so this was a first for him.

"Ah, that's right! I never showed you my hole before, huh?" Innocently reply Lily.

Szayel got a look of amusement in his eyes. "Why Lily-chan, what other hole are you going to show Ichigo-kun?" The Hollow let out a perverted laugh. Ichigo and Lily were completely confused by his remark, while Starrk didn't find it funny. The brunette sent a dark glare towards Szayel. Clearing his throat, he says the first thing in his mind to get out of this awkward situation he put himself in. "So what now Ichigo-kun?"

Before the boy could reply, Lily grabbed his hand and started dragging him out, asking him to show her everything he could about Karakura Town. Starrk and Szayel just follow behind them, trying to not get out from Ichigo's cloaking radius.

All of them were unaware of a pair of feline eyes following them.

The group has been walking around for two hours now. The sun seems to be at its peak, so it was sometime around the afternoon. Mostly, the group stayed around the shopping district of Karakura Town. Getting dragged around by Lily, Ichigo was unaware that they were holding hands the entire time. However, before Lily could pull Ichigo again, the boy seems to get rooted to the ground.

"Ichigo, c'mon let's go to that weird shop with the animals!" Turning around to see what was wrong, she noticed how Ichigo's eyes focused on a river.

Letting go of her hand, Ichigo started walking towards the river. "This is where it happened. This is where I die."

Shocked by his words the group didn't move and because of that, Starrk and Szayel noticed a sizable amount of Hollows' Reiatsu when they got out from Ichigo's radius. One felt familiar to the brunette. There was also another weird Reiatsu in the air that he had never felt before.

"Shinigami."

Starrk turns towards Szayel and notices a dark look in the Hollow's eyes. Like pure hate. He couldn't blame him. The last Shinigami he ever saw was the one Ichigo could have almost died while protecting the Guar—'Wait, that one familiar Hollow's Reiatsu is from the Guardian! What the hell is he doing here?'

Shaking his head, Starrk and Szayel started walking towards Ichigo, Lily already by his side. "Ichigo, we need to go. I think the Guardian is here and mi—" He stopped when he noticed the way the water on the river seemed to move towards the boy.

Ichigo kept staring at the river, unaware of how the water was coming towards him. This is where it all happened. He saw the girl by the river on that stormy day. He remembers trying to help and then came the pain. Why was there pain again… 'That's because I die…' He kept staring at the river before someone brought him out from his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw the concerned look on Starrk's face.

"You okay, Ichigo?"

The redhead turns back to the river. It was painful to be here at this very spot and letting the memories of that day come to him, but he had to let go of it. There was nothing for him to do now. Turning back to Starrk, he gave the man a simple nod, not trusting his voice at the moment.

Watching how the water stopped moving towards the boy was a relief for the man. That little stunt performance ended up gathering a crowd of people. "Hey Ichigo listen up, I just felt the Guardian from Menos Park here. I don't know why, but he might be in trouble because there's Shinigami here."

That brought the boy back. "WHAT?! Why is he here of all places?" Honestly, those things never happen. He's supposed to be at Menos Park protecting the Hollow there from Shinig—"Wait, you said there's Shinigami here?"

"That's right Ichigo-kun and by how I sense things, they seem to be a squad. Three feel a lot stronger than the rest." Szayel was still looking in the direction where he could sense them. Probably somewhere south.

No one said anything. They were already expecting to go by how Ichigo kept looking in the same direction as Szayel. The redhead turns and looks back at Starrk. He couldn't do anything, but he could.

Starrk releases a sigh once he notices the look on Ichigo. "Fine, but listen to me first, Ichigo. This will be very dangerous. Last time there was only one, and I had no restraint on how much damage I could do. However, being here in your hometown I need to limit myself, okay? Szayel and I will distract them while you tell the Guardian to leave. Got it?" He didn't want to bring them into danger, but Ichigo will also be a quick getaway from the Shinigami once they save the Hollow.

Getting a nod from everyone, Starrk got a hold of them and Sonido towards the Guardian.

- Tsubakidai Park -

The Guardian was not having a good day. First was the fact that some random Adjuchas attacked the Human World! Why attack the Human World of all places? There's nothing for them here. Not even a good amount of Reishi to eat. The only good thing about the attack was that they located it in an isolated park. Yeah, no. That doesn't happen. Something told him this was all a setup.

Then came the Shinigami. A full squad of them, actually. 'For fuck sakes!' There were eight of them. 8 powerful Adjuchas class Hollow and now they are down to 3. They had the winning side for a while but then he noticed three captain class Shinigami, easily noticeable with their white haori, and when they showed up, everything went downhill for them.

He would try to open a Garganta to leave if only he stops getting interrupted. Every time he goes to open one, the crazy captain with an eye patch keeps going at him, screaming at him if he was the strongest then he should fight him. 'Fuck that! I only came to stop the idiots from getting themselves killed!'

Looking around, he notices how they were already down another one. Only he and the Hollow who attacked this place are the only two still alive. 'Damn it. How I wish a miracle happened right about now.' He thought back to when Ichigo saved his life. What are the chances of that EVER happening again? He made a quick dodge to his left, saving him from having his arm cut off.

"The only thing you are good at is dodging!" The man in front of the Hollow was huge, even by Shinigami standards he was bigger than the other two. He styled his hair into stiff strands, giving it a spiky look and had small bells attached to the tips. The man was wild and aggressive when attacking too. Like he was some beast.

"You should just finish this off already, Captain Zaraki."

The man turns back and scowls at the small, white-haired boy. "Shut it. I came here because the old man said these Hollows were too strong for the squad that got sent here. So I'm gonna take my time to get the fight I want."

The boy that Zaraki addressed to was Captain Hitsugaya of the 10th Division. He has turquoise eyes and short, spiked white hair. He wears a standard sleeveless captain's haori with a green sash around his shoulders, held together by a round, star-like clip. He uses the sash, found wrapped around his chest, for holding his Zanpakutō's sheath. Ready to tell the man to hurry when someone with a cold and calm voice spoke from behind him.

"Just leave that beast alone, Captain Hitsugaya. We're done here, anyway." The white-haired boy turns around to see Captain Kuchiki of the 6th Division. He has slate-gray eyes and long black hair, which he keeps up in an intricate white headpiece. Besides the standard captain uniform, he wears a white scarf and fingerless white tekkō, which only covers the back of his hands.

"I'm surprised you even came, Captain Kuchiki. Free time on your hands or just came to make sure Rukia was safe?" Captain Hitsugaya asked, and the man said nothing.

When the Captain-Commander got a message from the 12th Division about how the Hollows that appeared were too powerful for the squad to handle, he deployed Captain Hitsugaya and Zaraki. They ended up finding Captain Kuchiki and with the way Zaraki said there was a "fun fest" in Karakura Town, the man came with them. But thinking about it now, Captain Hitsugaya remembers how a certain member of the 13th Division patrols Karakura Town, and that member is Rukia Kuchiki. The man's adopted sister.

Trying to get the Hollow to fight back and failing, Captain Zaraki was on his last nerves. "Tch, I'm done here! If you don't want to fight, I'm just going to cut you in half!" He moves in with incredible brute speed, no Shunpo involved.

The Guardian, taken by surprise at the quick change of speed, didn't find the time to dodge the blade that was only inches away. A vow made to a redhead came to his mind. 'Sorry. I fail you, Ichigo-sama.' Ready to take the blow, he closes his eyes. Because of that, he didn't notice the small and quick blue Cero that hit the Shinigami's left side. Blowing Captain Zaraki away while leaving him inside the smoke.

Captain Kuchiki and Hitsugaya were both taken by surprise. They didn't even feel that attack coming and before they knew it; they felt a powerful Reiatsu on them. They turned towards the direction from where the blue Cero came at and saw a man standing there.

"Sup." Was all Starrk said before he fired a blue Cero from his chest.

While Starrk was distracting the 2 captains, Lily and Ichigo went over to where the cloud of smoke was and waited for it to clear before trying to pull the Guarding out.

Finally, realizing what just happened, the Hollow turned towards Ichigo and his companion. Even with what he's wearing, the Guardian could still recognize the orange hair, pale skin, and Hollow-like eyes. "Ichigo-sama!" Honestly, he wasn't expecting such a miracle like this to even happen.

"No time to chat, you need to get out of here right now!"

"But there's another Hollow here as w—!"

"The Shinigami squad took him down! Szayel went to help him, but now he's having trouble fighting so many Shinigami! You need to open a Garganta right now and get out!"

"But what about you, Ichigo-sama?! Your friend can't possibly handle three captains by himself!"

"Don't worry about it. We have a plan. So go!"

Just giving the boy a simple nod, he opens up a Garganta and walks in. Before closing it, he took one last look at Ichigo. "Come find me again in Menos Park when you get out of here, Ichigo-sama." With that last comment, the Guardian closed the gateway.

Ichigo and Lily let out a sigh of relief before they noticed that Starrk was now distracting all three captains. Shooting fast and weak Ceros while completely keeping his distance. This was all but a distraction to have all the Shinigami's attention on him and ignore them while they got the Hollow out from here. Thanks to Ichigo's cloaking ability, the Shinigami couldn't even sense them.

However, Captain Kuchiki, while not sensing them, saw them. He notices how they were heading towards the black mask Hollow. Not even hesitating, he lifts one of his fingers and aims it at the boy's back. If the man in front of him didn't have a Hollow hole and mask fragments, he would have arrested them. But seeing how they're nothing but Hollows with human features, he didn't think twice before firing a strong Kidō. "Hadō #4. Byakurai!" A concentrated bolt of lighting came from his finger.

Starrk saw the Kidō spell aim and fired at the kids. Before he could use Sonido towards them, the biggest of the three captains intercepted him. "You're not going anywhere!" The eye patch captain brought his sword down with so much speed that Starrk had to move back to not get cut. He saw the Kidō spell only a few feet behind them.

"LOOK OUT!"

Both kids turned around and saw the approaching spell soaring towards them. Lily, seeing where it was heading, made her freeze. 'No! Not Ichigo!' Not even thinking about it, she subconsciously uses Sonido and shields Ichigo from the attack, taking the Kidō full force on her stomach, barely missing her Hollow hole by a few inches.

All Ichigo saw for his part was Lily's back, the way the spell went through her, and how she dropped like a puppet with its strings cut. He stops paying attention to his surroundings and falls to his knees in front of Lily, just staring at her back. He didn't listen to how Starrk started calling him out again. This time telling him about the small captain was now in front of him. He completely ignored that. All he could focus on was all the blood pooling around Lily. He turns her around, hoping she was at least alive, and to his hope, she was.

"Hey-y..." She tried to send him a smirk but her body really hurt. 'O-oh the pain s-starting to feel numb-b now.' She saw the way Ichigo was about to cry. Why, though? They should be celebrating. "Hey, I use Sonido."

"Yeah... you-u did." Ichigo saw the way her body seemed to lose color. She was still trying to smile, but he saw the way it hurt her. "Why?" She didn't need to get hit. She could have pushed him away.

"It-t was too close..." She couldn't even finish at this point. Her eyes felt heavy.

"That's not what I meant."

"Because we're family." She gave him her best smile before passing out from blood loss.

Captain Hitsugaya shook his head. They're acting as if they were human, but with the mask and hole, they were the farthest thing from being human. He raised his Zanpakutō, ready to take out the boy. "Don't worry, everything will be over soon."

Ichigo didn't even listen to the Shinigami. He still kept looking at Lily. He kept telling himself the same thing repeatedly. 'This wasn't supposed to happen! ThiS WAsn't SUPpoSed To HAPPen! THiS WASn'T SuPpoSeD TO HAPPEN! THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!'

Ichigo exploded in a storm of white, black, blue, and red Reishi.

Everyone stops.

From Starrk fighting off Zaraki and Kuchiki; Szayel not killing the last of the Shinigami and Hitsugaya, who got a distance away from the explosion.

- X -