Enter! Hollow Ryuji!

Black…

Everything was black around him….

Ryuji floated in it without a shrink of hope near him…

'What is this feeling? So cold…', Ryuji thought to himself.

"He killed them…", A voice reached him.

"Huh?", Ryuji turned around to see a kid version of him standing next to the corpses of a man and a woman.

"He killed them… I was weak… I could not do anything…", The kid cried as said those words.

"What the?", Ryuji asked himself in shock.

"If only I was strong… If only I was strong…", The kid said crying more.

"Hey…", Ryuji approached the kid.

"If only… You were strong.", The kid's voice changed from one crying to a sinister one.

"What?", Ryuji asked, alerted by the change.

"If only you were strong…", The kid said with the same voice as he looked up at Ryuji.

"This is!", Ryuji noted in shock as he saw that the kid's sclera was pitch black, and his iris was golden with pupils black in color.

"HAHAHA!", The kid laughed as Ryuji was flashed with the memories of kid Sasuke sleeping next to Fugaku and Mikoto's graves in the rain.

"Dad… Mom… DAD! MOM! AAAAAAA!", Sasuke's cries reverberated in Ryuji's ears, shooting pain in his temple.

"ARGH!", Ryuji grunted as he held his temple, the trauma of Sasuke whirling into Ryuji's head.

People removing Fugaku and Mikoto's corpses…

People offering empty promises and sympathy…

People asking him questions about the massacre…

The Face of the one that killed his clan…

"HA!", Ryuji yelled as the pain of those memories opening hit him hard.

….

*pant**pant**pant**pant**pant**pant**pant**pant**pant**pant*

Ryuji kept on panting, reeling back from the memory reveal. His pupils were still dilated as he could not separate himself from the memory. The sight of corpses lying, the sound of blood dripping, the scent of bodies decaying, the feel of cold bodies touching, and the taste of his own blood flowing… Ryuji was caged in this memory.

Ryuji… Ryuji… Ryuji… RYUJI!

"Huh?", Ryuji asked as he regained consciousness.

"Ryuji…", A voice reached Ryuji's ears.

"Who was that?", Ryuji asked as he turned around in the direction of the voice.

"It's me… Ryuji.", Raijin Kurogetsu called out to Ryuji.

"Raijin Kurogetsu…", Ryuji noted as he looked around to find that he was in his inner world.

"How are you feeling?", Raijin Kurogetsu asked him.

"Watching my whole clan get massacred and being as if I'm alright by a man who has the same face as the one who committed the massacre makes me feel great!", Ryuji replied sarcastically.

"…", Raijin Kurogetsu stood there without a word.

"What is it?", Ryuji asked with a sigh.

"Wake up…", Raijin Kurogetsu told him.

"What?", Ryuji asked before he disappeared from the inner world.

'This is bad…', Raijin Kurogetsu thought to himself.

The Warehouse,

Ryuji opened his eyes to the fine sound of the morning. He pulled himself up and looked to his left. Yoruichi was sitting there, watching him silently. Ryuji sat up, stretched his arms, and let out a yawn.

"Slept well?", Yoruichi asked him.

"Yeah… I'm energized enough to move forward.", Ryuji replied to her, ready to fight.

"Never thought you had a thing for cats…", Yoruichi teased.

"Shut up! It's not like you didn't enjoy it.", Ryuji told her.

"Hahaha… Well, you are right about the enjoying part. The way you pat me makes me so hot inside that-", Yoruichi's explanation was cut off by Ryuji.

"Forget I even mention that… what's the situation?", Ryuji interrupted Yoruichi in the middle and asked.

"Hahaha... Information came that Ichigo had fought and defeated both Madarame Ikkaku and Abarai Renji yesterday.", Yoruichi laughed at Ryuji before informing him.

"Thought as much… How do we move forward?", Ryuji asked Yoruichi.

"Towards the Senzaikyu…", Yoruichi told him.

Meeting of the Lieutenants,

"I'm here…", Izuru said walking inside the room.

"Kira! You're alright?", Lieutenant of 9th Division Shuhei Hisagi asked him.

"Kira!", The other members noted.

"I'm alright…", Izuru replied.

"Are you even supposed to be here?", Shuhei asked him.

"I'm fine…", Izuru replied.

"Tell me! About the Ryoka you fought against-", Shuhei's question was interrupted by a scream that was heard.

"Who was that?!", The Lieutenants asked.

"That was Hinamori's voice…", Kira noted in shock.

Time-skip,

Ryuji was making his way toward the Senzaikyu. He had beaten up multiple Shinigami on the way. Also, he had come across the Shinigamis that Chad has beaten down. There was a possibility that he would run into Chad. This was positive news to Ryuji as he would have someone to watch his back. But, there was a problem… Chad's reiatsu was barely traceable.

'Could he have been defeated?', Ryuji thought to himself as he stopped in his tracks.

Upon keen tracing, he determined Chad's location to be 25 meters to his right. He also sensed two other Reiatsu there. One was as strong as a Lieutenant and the other one was stronger than Gin. Ryuji, fearing the worst, sped up with a boost and was met with a big wall. Taking a boost, he jumped over the wall and landed on the large ground. He watched Chad's unconscious on the ground with blood all over. He then looked up at the two persons responsible for this.

Ryuji noticed a tall, light-skinned male Shinigami with high cheekbones, grey eyes, and long wavy brown hair. The man's hair was tied in a long ponytail and had long bangs that framed the left side of his face. He had thin facial hair around his mouth and on his cheeks. He also had a noticeable amount of body hair on his chest, feet, and arms. He sports a Sugegasa straw hat and a pink, flowered lady's kimono, which he draped across his shoulders and over his captain's uniform. Although his haori and obi sash is cheap, his pin-wheel hairpins looked very expensive. He did not wear a tabi with his sandals.

Next to him was a slim and youthful girl with long black hair normally kept pinned back, with flat bangs that hung to the right side of her face. She also wore a standard Shinigami outfit. She had slightly light blue eyes that had a deep tint of violet and wears glasses with a slight oval shape to them.

"Oh! There is another Ryoka!", The man said in a funny tone.

"Captain Kyoraku, can you please be serious?", The girl reprimanded the man who is the Captain of Squad - 8, Kyoraku Shunsui.

"That's mean, Nanao-chan.", Shunsui told his Lieutenant, Ise Nanao.

"…", Ryuji looked at the two in disbelief.

"Ryoka-san...", Shunsui called out to Ryuji.

"What?", Ryuji asked Shunsui.

"What's your name?", Shunsui asked Ryuji.

"It's not nice to ask someone their name without introducing yourself…", Ryuji replied.

"Oh! Where are my manners… I am Kyoraku Shunsui, Captain of Squad - 8", Shunsui replied.

"Kurosaki Ryuji…", Ryuji introduced his name.

"Now, Kurosaki-san, Can you answer a question for me?", Shunsui asked him.

"…Go ahead.", Ryuji replied.

"Did you kill Captain Aizen Sosuke?", Shunsui asked with a serious face.

"The Captain of Squad - 5?", Ryuji asked Shunsui.

"Yes.", Shunsui replied.

"Nope. I didn't.", Ryuji replied to them.

"And on what basis am I supposed to believe you?", Shunsui asked Ryuji with a smile.

"Well, I don't have an answer to that. All I can say is that I have nothing to do with Aizen.", Ryuji replied to Shunsui.

"…", Shunsui looked at Ryuji without a word.

"…", Ryuji looked back at him with the same intensity.

The air between them was tenser than anything else… It would take a million Zanpakutos to cut through it…. Ryuji and Shunsui kept their eyes keen on each other…. In a flash, both made their move toward each other. Ryuji pulled back his arm and punched Shunsui. Shunsui dodged the punch and threw a punch of his own.

Ryuji caught the arm and tried to put it in an Armlock. Shunsui, anticipating his intentions, countered by catching Ryuji by the Shinhakusho and putting Ryuji down with a powerbomb. Ryuji felt his spine hurt a lot as he reeled up a little. Shunsui sped up to Ryuji in a flash. Ryuji countered Shunsui and locked him in a triangle choke. Shunsui, struggling to catch his breath, managed to choke Ryuji. Ryuji pushed Shunsui away and kipped up.

Shunsui sped up to Ryuji with a kick. Ryuji countered it by picking Shunsui by the waist and slammed him down with a spine buster. Shunsui felt pain shoot through his spine from head to toe. Ryuji got on top of Shunsui and started to punch him. Shunsui kept blocking Ryuji's punches before kicking Ryuji off of him.

"Ha… Ha…. Ha….", Both Ryuji and Shunsui panted in unison.

"You're good… Managed to make me hurt…", Shunsui commented with a smile.

"Thanks… You're not bad yourself.", Ryuji replied with a smirk.

"But… This ends here!", Shunsui said as he retrieved his two Zanpakuto.

"Two Zanpakutos?", Ryuji asked in surprise.

"Yeah… Only Two captains in the history of Soul Society have dual Zanpakutos like these…", Shunsui told Ryuji.

"Then… I have to just slash you twice as much!", Ryuji proclaimed as he pulled out his Zanpakuto.

"Woah! That's one big Zanpakuto!", Shunsui commented in surprise.

"It's not only the Zanpakuto that's big… Even my chances of winning are!", Ryuji said with a smirk.

"Oh! Care to prove it?", Shunsui asked getting in stance.

"Absolutely!", Ryuji said with a smirk as he stood in a stance of his own.

….

Ryuji and Shunsui stood there, intensely looking at each other's eyes.

….

The grip on the hilts of their blades increased.

….

The readiness of their legs increased.

Suddenly, they both sped towards each other and clashed their swords. Ryuji's bigger Zanpakuto was held between Shunsui's dual Zanpakutos. To put more pressure, Ryuji pushed the blade with his free left hand. Shunsui's eyes widened at the strength exhibited by Ryuji. Ryuji tried to put more pressure but Shunsui broke the tie and they both backed off a bit.

Shunsui flashed from his position to Ryuji's back and slashed Ryuji. Ryuji blocked the slash by placing his blade on his back and pushing Shunsui back. Ryuji flashed next to the left of Shunsui and slashed at him. Shunsu blocked the slash to his neck with his left blade and attacked with his right one. Ryuji, anticipating the attack, switched his blade to backhand and jumped over Shunsui, dodging the stab. Ryuji landed a bit far away from Shunsui. Shunsui turned around and looked at Ryuji with a satisfied smile.

"You're good with a blade, Kurosaki-san…", Shunsui praised Ryuji.

"Thanks... I guess.", Ryuji replied with a smirk.

"Now… Time to get serious.", Shunsui said with his expression turning serious and his Reiatsu flaring up.

"Ngh!", Ryuji groaned in surprise as he felt Shunsui's Reiatsu.

"When the Flower Wind Rages, the Flower God Roars, When the Wind of Heaven Rages, the God of the Underworld Sneers… Katen Kyōkotsu!", Shunsui set the two blades against each other in a cross and then pulled them after uttering the poem-like command, exhibiting a big flash.

When the flash cleared, Katen Kyōkotsu had become a pair of huge, black, heavily curved Chinese scimitars with silver edges. The hilt and tsuba of each were still the same as they were in Katen Kyōkotsu's sealed form, but they now sported long red tassels dangling from the end.

"Those are some nice swords…", Ryuji said as he smirked more in excitement.

"I won't define them as 'nice'…", Shunsui told Ryuji.

"Since you got serious… Might as well do this.", Ryuji said before he let out his Reiatsu to flare up like crazy.

"Huh?", Shunsui's eyes widened in surprise.

"Open Your Eyes, Raijin Kurogetsu!", Ryuji held his Zanpakuto in front of him and called out, releasing the Shikai form.

The Zanpakuto turned from an enlarged Katana with a blue scabbard to an oversized Yanagiba knife with a blue cloth covering the scabbard, grey tassels hanging from it, and a red circle with a red dot in the center on the hilt.

"Oh! That's one strong Zanpakuto…", Shunsui commented with a smile containing excitement.

"It's not just strong…", Ryuji said as he activated his Sharingan, making the same appear in the red circle of his Zanpakuto.

'Those eyes… It increased his Reiatsu level from a Lieutenant to a Captain… Just who is this kid?', Shunsui thought to himself as he noticed Ryuji's Reiatsu level.

"Are you ready?", Ryuji asked Shunsui.

"Yes… Bushōgoma!", Shunsui said as he rotated with both blades facing in opposite directions, creating large wind blades that fired towards Ryuji from Katen Kyōkotsu.

The wind blades joined together, forming a spinning circle of wind that, upon contact with Ryuji, enveloped him with tornado-like intensity. The attack was not only dangerous, but disoriented Ryuji trapped within it.

"Grr!", Ryuji grunted as he slashed the tornado off.

"You survived that? As much as I expected…", Shunsui commented as he noticed Ryuji escape the attack.

"Sorry… You have to try better than that…", Ryuji said, tilting his head a little.

"Guessed as much… Kageoni!", Shunsui commented before activating the second part of his Zanpakuto's Shikai.

"Hmm.", Ryuji stood on high alert.

Shunsui disappeared and appeared near the wall right to Ryuji. Ryuji, noticing his movement, focused his attention on Shunsui's movements. Shunsui stood in the shadow of the wall, where Ryuji stood. Ryuji noticed Shunsui slash the Shadow and he jumped off. Shunsui's blade came out of the shadow near him and slashed his shoulder.

"Argh!", Ryuji grunted as he felt the pain across his shoulder.

"Smart of you to jump away and disconnect your shadow from the one I'm standing on… But!", Shunsui commended Ryuji before stabbing his sword into the shadow.

"GRR!", Ryuji grunted as he blocked the blade and emerged out of his own shadow, trying to stab him from behind.

"It seems you've got me…", Shunsui commented before disappearing inside the shadow.

"If you want to play it like this… Fine!", Ryuji grunted before jumping to the air.

"Ah… He got away…", Shunsui said in a funny tone as he appeared from the shadows.

"Hado #31 Shakkaho!", Ryuji generated and fired a massive orb of crimson-red energy towards the ground.

"Danger!", Shunsui noted as he disappeared into the shadows, avoiding the attack.

….

"Woah… He made quite a mess…", Shunsui stated as he looked at the destruction around him before blocking a slash from Ryuji.

"Grr!", Ryuji growled as he put more pressure on his blade.

"You are skilled, No doubt. But….", Shunsui pushed Ryuji off with his Zanpakuto and disappeared.

"Guh!", Ryuji staggered back a little before noticing Shunsui reappear before him.

"Irooni… Pink!", Shunsui said before slashing Ryuji across the chest, placing massive damage on Ryuji.

"GRAAAH!", Ryuji growled out loudly in pain as he felt a large slash on his chest and his Zanpakuto broken in half.

"You must be wondering… Why could you not use your Shikai like me?", Shunsui asked Ryuji as Ryuji fell to the ground on his bleeding from his broken Zanpakuto.

"…", Ryuji looked at Shunsui while trying so hard to get up.

"Well… Try to get the answer before I get you to the medical corps…", Shunsui told Ryuji with a smile.

"I-I…I…I'll….", Ryuji extended his hand towards Shunsui as his vision started fading.

"Sleep tight…", Shunsui told Ryuji as Ryuji closed his eyes.

'Is this all I can do? Is this extent of my power? The extent of my training?', Ryuji thought to himself as he remembered fighting with Urahara for days without a break.

"Do you want to survive?", A voice reached Ryuji's ears.

"What?", Ryuji asked as he looked up to find everything around him frozen and Raijin Kurogetsu standing before him.

"Do you want to survive? Or do you want to battle? Or do you want to triumph?", Raijin Kurogetsu asked Ryuji while sending daggers through his eyes.

"Win! I want to win!", Ryuji replied while shooting daggers back at his Zanpakuto spirit.

"I can't hear you.", Raijin Kurogetsu replied.

"There's no meaning in surviving like a coward… There is no meaning in a battle without a will to win… I want to win! I want to beat him and take my victory!", Ryuji explained as he struggled to stand up and proclaimed.

"Then, let us go", Raijin Kurogetsu told Ryuji as he sucked Ryuji off somewhere.

Ryuji's Inner World,

"What are we doing in my inner world?", Ryuji asked his Zanpakuto.

"Catch it…", Raijin Kurogetsu said as it threw a Katana at Ryuji and started walking away with his back turned to Ryuji.

"Do not throw unsheathed Katanas at people like it was a stick you picked up from the ground.", Ryuji mocked.

"That is your sword…", Raijin Kurogetsu told Ryuji.

"Are you kidding me? What the hell is this?", Ryuji asked his Zanpakuto.

"Asauchi… A nameless Zanpakuto wielded by low-ranking Shinigamis, who were unable to join the squads of Gotei-13.", Raijin Kurogetsu told Ryuji.

"My Zanpakuto is you, Raijin Kurogetsu.", Ryuji stated.

"Raijin Kurogetsu… The one that was broken by your opponent earlier? Are you talking about this?", Raijin Kurogetsu asked Ryuji before making the Zanpakuto appear in his hands.

"Huh?", Ryuji looked surprised at this.

"I cannot give this to you!", Raijin Kurogetsu said before throwing off the blade.

"Stop Kidding!", Ryuji said as he was about to flash to the blade.

"Move Away!", The voice of the man in white reached Ryuji's ears as he saw the man flash next to Raijin Kurogetsu and take it.

"Who are you?!", Ryuji asked in shock as he saw a man hold Raijin Kurogetsu.

"You know me… Partner.", The man replied.

The man was a carbon copy of Ryuji. The only differences were that the colors of the Shihakusho were reversed and he was completely white in skin. His eyes contained black sclera, yellow irises, and black pupils. His lips were black and his tongue was blue. His eyes gleamed with sadism and brute strength. It was a hollow version of Ryuji.

"From now on, we're going to test if you're really worthy of wielding me. If you wish to hold me again, then take me by your own hands! Your enemy is yourself.", Raijin Kurogetsu told Ryuji.

"Grr!", Ryuji growled in anger at this.

"Huh? Take it away? It sounds good. That is… if you can!", The hollow noted before attacking Ryuji.

"Grrr!", Ryuji growled as he intercepted the blade.

'What the! The power I feel from the blade is this massive!', Ryuji thought to himself as he staggered back.

"Heh-Heh", The hollow laughed as it released Reiatsu so powerful that it melted the atmosphere.

'It melted the atmosphere… I never knew Raijin Kurogetsu is such a blade. Compared to that… This Asauchi is a thin wooden stick.', Ryuji thought to himself as he looked at the Asauchi.

"Where are you looking? If you're not careful, you'll die.", The hollow said as it started rotating the blade faster than ever.

"What?!", Ryuji asked as he the hollow let the sword float in the air.

"Take this!", The hollow yelled, pointing to Ryuji, sending the floating sword to attack Ryuji.

'Danger!', Ryuji thought to himself as he dodged it.

"Damn! I missed!", The hollow pulled back the blade to himself telekinetically.

'He can control the Zanpakuto with his mind… I've never even tried it.', Ryuji thought to himself.

"Heh… You're pathetic? You had a great sword like this and you still got bloody? I can't understand it.", The hollow asked, pissing Ryuji off.

"Shut up!", Ryuji spit out in anger.

"Can you make partners with someone who you know, while not trusting them?", The hollow asked Ryuji.

"What?", Ryuji asked in surprise.

"Because that's what you're doing! You fight with Raijin Kurogetsu but refuse to draw out its power or understand it! You believe as long as you train yourself, you'll get stronger!", The hollow pointed to Ryuji.

"Tch.", Ryuji's lips twitched with frustration.

"Heh.", The hollow telekinetically controlled Raijin Kurogetsu and attacked Ryuji.

"Hep!", Ryuji dodged the attack and landed a bit far.

'He's right! I blatantly decided not to use Raijin Kurogetsu in distrust without trying to get to know him.', Ryuji thought to himself.

"Hah!", The hollow attacked Ryuji again.

'The reason Shunsui Kyoraku could beat me was that he knows and trained his Zanpakuto. He did not think that Zanpakutos were tools. They have a name… They're alive.', Ryuji realized as he dodged the attack.

"Hah!", The hollow attacked again.

'I've been a fool!', Ryuji criticized himself.

"Let's end this now… Let me show what it means to wield Raijin Kurogetsu… To you, who died failing to do it!", The hollow yelled out as it boosted towards Ryuji with the Zanpakuto ready to deliver the killer blow.

'Will you show me, Rajin Kurogetsu?', Ryuji asked Raijin Kurogetsu through his thoughts while readying his blade to intercept the hollow's attack.

"Haaaah!", The hollow yelled as it raised the blade.

'Just let me know a bit about you…', Ryuji continued.

"Haaaaah!", The hollow brought the blade down.

'And let me fight beside you!', Ryuji finished as he blocked the attack.

….

….

….

Pieces of the Asauchi flew away as it was broken. But, the one wielding Raijin Kurogetsu was Ryuji. The hollow's eyes widened as it found that it was holding the Asauchi, which was broken in half due to impact. The both of them turned around and looked at Raijin Kurogetsu, observing Ryuji and the hollow.

'You're giving me another chance? Thank you…', Ryuji conversed through his thoughts with Raijin Kurogetsu before disappearing from the inner world.

Seireitei, Ground near Squad – 1 Barracks,

Shunsui, who was walking from the injured Ryuji felt a sudden spike in his Reiatsu. He turned around to find the shock of the year namely, Ryuji standing on his feet with his wounds healed. Shunsui could feel the confidence and the dominance that Ryuji exhibited.

'I damaged him a lot… There's no way he could stand up after that.', Shunsui thought to himself.

"Hey…", Ryuji called Shunsui, grabbing his attention.

"You showed me your Zanpakuto's abilities. Now let me show you mine!", Ryuji told Shunsui as he opened his eyes to show a three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Huh?", Shunsui was surprised and raised his swords for attacking instinctively.

'Do you hear me, Raijin?', Ryuji spoke through his mind.

'Yes… I am here.', Raijin Kurogetsu replied, standing behind Ryuji.

'It's time…', Ryuji told his Zanpakuto through his mind.

'I know… Ryuji, can you feel it? The trust between him and his Zanpakuto.', Raijin Kurogetsu asked Ryuji pointing to Shunsui and his Zanpakuto.

'I do feel it!', Ryuji replied.

'Only when two people trust each other, will they be able to defeat their enemy! If they do not, they will end up destroying each other! Do you trust me?', Raijin Kurogetsu asked him.

Memories of Itachi flashed before Ryuji… How Itachi massacred all of the Uchiha clan… How he left him to die… All of it was making Ryuji's decision to trust him waver… But, unlike the first time, Ryuji was firm in his mind.

'I do! You are my power! If there is anyone my power with, It is you. Use it as you want! And let me battle with you!', Ryuji replied with determination.

'Then, let us do this!', Raijin Kurogetsu replied, holding the Zanpakuto with Ryuji.

"Haaaaa", Ryuji raised his Zanpakuto with Raijin Kurogetsu, pointing to the sky with the tomoe in his Sharingan circling with power.

Lightning accumulated around his body and on the Zanpakuto. His eyes were gleaming red while Raijin Kurogetsu fastened his hold on the Zanpakuto. The Reiatsu that blasted out of Ryuji was monstrous, making Shunsui go in shock before going on offense.

"Irooni… Pink!", Shunsui yelled as he let out a powerful slash in reflex.

"HAAAAAAAH!", Ryuji yelled out loud as he brought down his Zanpakuto for a large slash, creating a massive wave of lightning that traversed through Shunsui.

….

….

….

When the fight was over, both Ryuji and Shunsui were on the ground, passed out. All Ryuji remembered was that a small creature came here to check up on him and took him somewhere. Ryuji passed out soon after that while Shunsui sat on the broken wall, thinking about Ryuji's power.

'Woah… He managed to hurt me this well… Let's meet again…', Shunsui thought to himself as he noticed the large wound on his chest and passed out before noticing a small animal sitting next to Ryuji's unconscious body.

End of Chapter - 12