King and the Hollow have started their fight. The two wail through each other with their weapons, delivering massive punches and kicks. King gave a downward slash to the Hollow, but the Hollow then lifted his left foot. The pod launches three rods that try to pierce King's armor, but the rod cannot pierce such strong armor. The Hollow was confused about why his weapons did not penetrate his enemy.

"You needed a lot of stronger material to pierce me." King mocked the Hollow. King blitzed through to the Hollow with miraculous speed. Hollow tried to extend his sting from his left arm but was quickly cut by one of King's swords. King delivers a high kick to the jaw, sending the monster flying into the air and finishing it with a straight face.

King's fist was strong, even cracking the left eye of the Hollow. The force threw the Hollow to the nearby pond at the park. King stuck his landing to the ground as Joseph and Leon arrived at the scene to see the armored knight. Joseph was mesmerized by the silver armor that King had. It commanded such power and strength that he might as well be a superhero.

Leon smirked, seeing such a sight. Kazuhira finally returned as King, The Wind Knight. King then gazed towards the two, but he quickly jumped into the air. The wind storms through towards the vicinity, it left the people there covering their gaze by the combination of wind and dust raging towards and through them.

"Is that Kazuhira-san? What is that armor?" Joseph was filled with many questions in his mind now.

"You saw the slight glimpse of the armor when he fought the Hollow chasing you. You must have remembered, right?" Leon remembered, which Joseph quickly interpreted. It was the armor that he used to save him from the Hollow before.

"So you are saying that Kazuhira has that armor. Are these Cavalieri's unique traits?" Joseph questioned, and Leon nodded in response. Joseph was still gazing at the armor as he had a sight of admiration of such a thing. The two followed behind King, who was now going to the pond where the Hollow was last seen.

King arrives in the pond and looks for the Hollow's whereabouts. He knows that he strikes the Hollow to the pond. He continues to observe and search for the Hollow. A small bubble burst from the pond, but it was only a frog. King was a little disheartened when he found out, but something appeared behind him.

Unbeknownst to him, the bee hollow was ready to strike from behind. The monster pulled out his stinger from his right hand and attempted to jab it to King. King looks to the back and slices off the right hand in response. The Hollow shrieks in pain, the loose right hand then grabbed by King, who immediately crushes it.

"Some cookie-cutter trick ain't going to fool me, asswipe." King pulled out his sword. The Hollow then seemingly regenerated both of his arms. King sees this with awe on his face.

"So you can regenerate too, huh? Makes it a little interesting." King twirls his swords, trying to seize up the Hollow, and follows the movement of his prey closely.

"I see you already took a bath inside our lucrative park. Cool and refreshing, right?" King throws another banter at the Hollow, who replies with a roar, creating a massive amount of spiritual energy.

"Now that you are refreshed, do you still remember how many lives and spirits you hang on your places as if it was a museum? If not, I'll try to pull out your brain and make you remember."

Both blitzed towards each other and clashed, creating a powerful shockwave across the park.

XXX

(Wonder Cafe)

"Ara…Kazu-chan is going on a rampage this time. Glad seeing him fighting again." Hanabi prepared some snacks for both her and her husband. They sensed that Kazuhira had begun fighting.

"That kid. He is sometimes lazy or brawls out with some punk who wants to make a name for himself. That kid has some target on his back that I could not even fathom." Nomura took a sip of a tea that was on the table. Hanabi smiles at her husband's words.

"Would it be much safer for us to tell Kazu-chan that he and Leon need to find the nest first and then kill that bee?" Hanabi told her husband, but her husband shook his head.

"That's true. I told him to fight against the bee while the others are doing it for the nest." Nomura grabs a bite of the cookie that was on the plate. His wife then took a sip of tea while she listened to Nomura.

"The others, huh? If Kazu-chan has already begun fighting, I hope the others have found the nest."

"I hope so."

XXX

(Mozu Park)

The shockwaves roar across the sky under the park. King and the Hollow were duking it out while Joseph and Leon observed the fight. The blood started pouring down from King's side, and the Hollow's body was saturated with cuts. King blitzed forward to the monster; the monster then launched another barrage of rods which landed on King's body.

"Kuh!" King grunted.

"Kazuhira-san!" a shout from the boy

"Fresa (Cutter)." Leon moved his right index and middle finger to swipe horizontally. Another barrage of rods is coming towards the armored warrior. Suddenly, the rod was cut by a pressure wind current, cutting the rods. King looks back to the ground to see that Leon was the one that did it.

"I'll support you. Go in and don't hold back." Leon shouted. King only nodded to the response as he quickly began to fight again. The Hollow begins to move unusually and blitz through some of the attacks quickly. The Hollow is merely testing the King's power and holding back.

"You….Dead." The Hollow spoke for the first time. The three were shocked seeing what they heard. The Hollow suddenly says in front of them. This is not an ordinary hollow; it is Gillain-type Hollow. It seems that their suspicions hold true. The Hollow then travels with such fantastic speed as was presented to them.

The Hollow then comes towards Leon and Joseph, who are on the ground. Leon tries to do an incantation once more, but he has no time, so he decides to use himself as a shield to protect Joseph, but he is quickly thrown away by the force of the Hollow's strength. Joseph was mind boggled and scared to death to see that Hollow.

The mask started to peel off from his face, revealing a humanoid structure after the mask was broken. Joseph was even stunned that the person in front of him had the structure of a normal human being, but it was different. It still emits such energy that is sinister, that of a monster.

King went towards the Hollow, who was about to grab Joseph. Still, the Hollow's wings suddenly grew more prominent, and he flapped his wings towards his enemy. The King guarded through the wind current that was heading towards him. The King bravely passed through it all and tried to slash the Hollow, but he disappeared.

"What?" King was flabbergasted as he was hitting nothing. King then looked to his surroundings, but the Hollow was nowhere to be found, as well as Joseph. The Hollow slipped away along with Joseph on his back. King sighed and looked for Leon, who was knocked out.

XXX

Pale or Grey: Bleach Another Story

Chapter 3

Where the Bee Hides 3.00

XXX

(Joseph POV)

During the scuffle, the wind knocked me out. I was blacked out, and the darkness endowed my entire being. All of my surroundings were dark as far as the eye could see. The only sound that I make is the sound of my feet touching the ground. I walked and walked, but there was no end in sight until I came across 4 people walking past me.

I look back to see they were a loving family, a boy with a dolphin toy and a girl with a piano book. This is no mere coincidence. It was me and my sister with my parents. I tried to reach for my parents, and then they were run over by a car. I couldn't even scream at them.

Then I saw my sister and I crying at their funeral. We were orphans and were taken in by an orphanage. I then felt something that hit my back. I turned around to see a hollow that was trying to eat me. I ran, but then it felt like I never ran away. The Hollow kept turning up each time I ran. It appeared again.

I then fall down from my feet and the hollow leap, looking forward to feat my soul away.

"Argh."

My vision returned to me, and I was being planted in some hive as many of the souls were waiting for them to be let go. I looked at my surroundings to see other people were also being grown. The wails of many souls were here by me.

Let me out.

Get out.

What the hell is going on?

All types of pleas run around inside a dome-like hive that traps many souls. Looking around to my left, I saw a hollow wailing before me. His movement was frantic and wild; the move quickly freed him from his cocoon, and he fell to the ground.

My heart falls down as the hope of getting out is impossible. Leon was knocked out while Kazuhira was probably searching for him. I was still thinking about what I saw before I woke up. The memories of my old life. Mom, Dad, and a sister that she left behind. His sister is still alive.

"Back then, what the hell am I doing? I suddenly just wanted to die, not knowing what my sister was doing. What her face is now, what her school life is, and what she's doing now."

Reflection on such thoughts quickly arose in my mind. I felt my body getting hotter and something slipping into nothingness. Chains of mine slowly rotted away as my life was nothing after the whole chains were finally empty. A tear came to my eyes as I realized I lived with contempt and just wanted to end all of this while others were trying to help me find peace.

My sister. I want to see her again.

XXX

(Internet Cafe)

(Next day)

Leon woke up from his slumber. He thought he was still in the forest, knocked out by the Hollow. He looked around and was in a tight room with some computers and a bed that he was sleeping in. He was confused about where he was and opened the door near him. Opening the door, he wondered by looking left to right. He saw many people picking up cup noodles and snacks from the vending machine while some sat on a massage table near the entrance.

"An internet cafe?" Leon said.

"Sup dude. You finally awake." Kazuhira brought a lot of chips and some cup noodles for them. Kazuhira must have bought them for him. He also noticed some foods were purchased at 7/11 and some soda for him.

"I got knocked out before I could transform? Damn, I got sloppy." Leon's voice is that of a disappointed kid with low grades in class. "Take it easy, man. These things happen all the time. Next time, I'm sure you can do it." Kazuhira tried to lighten the mood and gave Leon an onigiri, who took it with a kind gesture.

"I know. It's just that it has been a while since you were motivated on shit, so it reminds me of our days" Those words spoken by Leon surprised Kazuhira. Is it that bad? How is he always a bit out of touch on anything?

"Hey, I also spoke with Nika-chan about our situation. She said that some of the Cavalieri are also having the same trouble as we are in their territories. Nika asks about your condition, and you know how worried it is when it comes to us, especially you." Kazuhira smug as if it was trying to get a reaction out of Leon which succeeded the intention.

"Ah, come on, man. Nika is just a friend to me. You are always with this agenda since she always clings to me the most." Leon blushed at that notion, but Kazuhira just smiled at his reaction.

"Leon-kun. Is that how you felt about Nika?" a voice caught them both, and they saw a girl with short white hair come over to them. She wore a grey hoodie and black pants and seemed interested even though her face did not show such an expression.

"Nika-chan. What are you doing here?" Leon blushes a little when she comes out of nowhere.

"She told me more about this bastard. She said she had been hunting for this thing for a while. Nika will provide intel on the Hollow since it turns into an Arrancar now." Kazuhira munches on a fried chicken that he bought at 7 eleven.

"Nika will do her best. Nika is with her best friends, so Nika will not be a burden to both of them." With a stoic tone, Nika said as she looked at the phone. It seems she was looking into something else. Leon was a little worried about Joseph's well-being. Both Nika and Kazuhira look at their friend with a bit of worry.

"Why are you hunting this one, Nika? Did the master order you to hunt the Hollow, or did the master ask you to assist us?" Leon asked.

"Nika heard that Kazu and Leon are in trouble, so Nika requested Master to back you up." Nika looks to her phone for any sightings of the Hollow.

"We also have a rescue op as well. A kid named Joseph may have been taken by the Hollow as well. A bee always comes back to its hives after extracting honey. We'll have to find the hive before anything comes around, or else that hollow will continuously eat more people than the soul reapers come, and that's bad news for us." Kazuhira retorted. The words "Soul Reaper" quickly took a revelation in Nika and Leon, who is even more worried now if Soul Reapers are now involved.

"From our teachings, it seems that Soul Reapers are more dangerous, yet we never encounter such beings before or lack thereof. Maybe the past Cavalieri's have a chance of encountering them, but I don't know how. I heard their swords can transform into something different than our weapons." Leon quickly took an interest in what Kazuhira said about the Soul Reapers. What would they do if they found a Cavalieri? Will they hunt them down?

"Soul Reapers ... .Interested in meeting one. Nika will be on guard if they attack." although no expression is no-visible. Nika smiles a little; encountering new people may broaden her outlook on specific life issues.

"Seclusive policy adopted from so many years ago made us unaware of the world outside. Those oldies said that it is to protect us from an outside force. It has been that long. Do you think those forces may have died out or are under new management? Have you guys ever thought of that?" Kazuhira presented a question to them, but they were silent about the affair. Will they be able to predict an outcome to an unknown force they are unaware of?

This topic made Kazuhira let out a sigh. "Forget it. We should not discuss this topic while a kid is kidnapped. We need to find Joseph before he turns to a hollow."

"How about the woods? It seems that wildlife always resided in those areas. Also, news regarding missing people in the woods has been ramping up for a week. It is obvious to go there and search." Leon gave a little thought regarding the possible location.

"Nika also heard that some hollows have emerged in other parts of the city. Other Cavalieri's told me they found some nests near some alleys across the city. It is as if the city has become a nest."

Nika followed up with the sudden truth that was revealed. What was the point of laying down those places like a nest, and why? Is it for something later, or is it something similar to Hollow's old personality that started to emerge? Whatever it is, the three need to stop the Hollow at once.

"You guys, locate the surrounding nest with the others. Who knows what will happen if we don't do something about those nests that popped up." Leon and Nika were bewildered by the statement of their friend. His friends wanted to do things alone.

Leon sighs. "You want to fight that hollow alone again? You gotta be kidding me! This is why sometimes I can't stand it with you." Leon was a little angry from his tone but kept his composure from blasting at his friend. Kazuhira notices his frustration but is still adamant about his statement.

"Ever since that bus crash, you have been sidelining us and giving us easier jobs. Nika and I comply, and yet you never change for these years. The two of us wanted the confident man who used to always hang around with us. Being isolated like this isn't make us understand you and hurts your mind." Leon was angered with confused by these words. He still wanted to reason with Kazuhira, but his friend insisted on doing this crap to Nika and him.

"Am I? I didn't notice it." Kazuhira denies these allegations. Deep down, he knew that he was doing both of his friends wrong with this, but he did not want his friends to get hurt.

"Nika noticed the changes in Kazu's spiritual pressure too. Nika used to see you so bright and happy, but ever since that incident, Kazu's spiritual pressure has always distorted." The notion of these facts quickly made Kazuhira a little defensive, but he didn't want to say it. He likes to keep things hidden, not wanting to open up.

"You are always perspective, Nika. I better keep an eye for you." impressed by Nika's intuition, he smiled at her. They then saw Hanabi carrying some lunch boxes towards them with a huge smile.

"Hello. It seems that you two got knocked down pretty bad. Kazu-chan, I'm sure you can take on a hollow. why are you so down?" Hanabi playfully asked. When he saw there was no Joseph with them, she understood why. Leon then let out his voice.

"Joseph got taken. It was my fault; I was…"

"It was my fault. Miss Hanabi."

A sudden voice comes from Kazuhira, who is ready for the punishment. Leon and Nika look disappointed again. Kazuhira is always diverting the fault to himself, so Leon and Nika are always off the hook. They thought that they and Kazu were on the same level, but Kazu always protected and sheltered them, making both stagnant.

They also understood why he always liked this. He was different back then; he let people carry their own weight and were more trusting of others for their abilities to work themselves. After the bus incident, it changed him.

"That's not good, Kazu-chan. Not good at all," Hanabi sadly responded towards Kazuhira.

"I know, I got sloppy at the end there and I…"

"Not that, Kazu-chan. Diverting yourself to be the problem while the ones that do feel guilty. That is your problem."

Hanabi managed to crack his flaw faster than the person himself ever could. This charade of his needs to end sooner or later. Kazuhira must reflect on such behavior, or he will be sunk deeper into regret and solitude.

"I commanded you three on the investigation on the mountains. Other caviar have been dispatched and are looking for any disturbance around the city. We also have spread "dust", making the sensory arrays of a soul reaper useless regarding our existence. The three of you should manage to beat that Hollow within the required time." Hanabi reassures the party that they can freely move without worrying too much.

"Enough being gloomy and negative. I brought lots of food for you, little troublemakers. Better eat up before it gets cold. My food will regenerate your stamina fully." she excitedly gave out some food containers to the three.

"I think we better eat the food inside the room. I'll go to the booth and extend our time for another hour." Kazuhira suggested as he went to the booth to ask for an extension. Leon and Nika looked at his friend, who was still distraught, and Hanabi noticed and felt the same as they were.

"He is quite a handful, is he not?" Hanabi smiled, looking at Kazuhira, who was talking to the person in the booth. Both of them smiled a little at her remark about their friend.

"I guess that's how he is. Hanabi-san. We don't complain much about him being like that. We understood why, but he should be more uplifted. He always puts on a brave face for us, yet his exterior is always a facade to show people." Leon was every bit worried for his friend.

"Nika also wants to lighten Kazu's burden too." Nika shows concern in her voice, even if it's only nonchalantly.

"Give him time. Kazuhira is the type of person that doesn't let out his feelings very well." Hanabi smiles, reassuring the two that Kazuhira can evaluate himself independently. Hanabi trusts Kazuhira can overcome his guilt one way or another.

XXX

The three of them took a road up to the mountains to find if the nest of the hollow was in the area. Kazuhira looked at both of his friends and smiled a little. Seeing them again reassured him that everything would turn out okay. His smile fades as they are within the vicinity of the forest.

"Looks like this is the area. Nika, can you sense anything?" Leon asks as Nika closes her eyes, trying to detect anomalies near or within the forest. Nika found no sign of anything that is not normal in the woods, but since this is the enemy's home ground, who knows what the enemy is cooking up.

"Nika found nothing for now. Nika suggests we should be vigilant on this one." Nika gave the crew a heads-up. Kazu walks past the two and looks at the forest where the enemy awaits the three.

"Both of you…I.." before he could say anything, Leon and Nika put their hands toward Kazuhira's face, making him stop his words. Kazuhira felt guilty that they needed him to stop like this.

"We both know confessions ain't your style, so just shut up, man." Leon smiled.

"Nika would rather be with Kazu, who smiles and doesn't care much about the world, than Kazu, who is miserable," Nika added. Kazuhira scoffs at both remarks to him and gazes forward, smiling.

"Let's go, you lot. Don't drag me down." Kazuhira's confident aura resonated towards the two, and both smiled. Kazuhira moves, and the two follow him to the forest, knowing the risk of entering, but it doesn't matter to them.

XXX

Venturing the forest in the mountains, the three looked for their target. The density of the forest continues to unravel. They heard a rattle near some bushes and saw a small number of hollows eating a family hiking nearby. Those people do not deserve such a fate; they don't even know that monsters are harboring these places.

"These bastards now multiplied or something. If the hollow grows this fast, the nest must be nearby." Leon theorized.

"At least we're on the right track on pinning the target's location. How about the situation in the city?" Kazuhira asked the two compatriots.

"No activities yet as of now. I heard the other Cavalieri's are tracking more of the sites of souls that the Hollow has been gathering." Leon looked at his phone while explaining the situation in the city. Kazuhira looks around for any clues on the whereabouts of their target.

Screeching noises were heard as multiple hollows suddenly jumped behind them. They quickly evaded the attacks, and they stood their ground. Several Hollows started to appear more. Kazuhira summons his weapons and stands guard. Kazuhira saw a hollow attacking him, stabbing it in the abdomen and flung the Hollow to the other Hollows using his sword. He threw a

Leon, who wanted to redeem himself, summoned his weapon as well. A broad cutlass with engravings. The handle of the sword is red. Leon slashed one of the hollows, trying to leap towards him, and then Kazuhira followed up by destroying some of the hollows. 10 hollows jumped towards the group but were brushed away by a giant swing of a long scythe. Both of them looked back to see the person who wielded such a weapon was Nika.

Nika slashes a couple more hollows as the scythe quickly scatters the forest around them. The numbers of the hollow continue to move in, surrounding the group like a quicksand, overwhelming them. Leon saw a vast amount of hollows and slashed a couple of them, but they were still coming for them.

"Kazu, you go and save Joseph. Me and Nika would hold this horde off." Leon shouted while clearing some of the hollows. Kazuhira heard Leon's words but hesitated to leave his friend to handle such a horde. Kazu needs to take down the originator of this mess.

Nika and Leon assure him they will be okay; Kazu scoffs as he looks at the two and leaves them to find the target. The two smile and Kazuhiro trusts them with his affairs again. Nika and Leon look at the horde of enemies in front of them.

"Nikka, you ready?" Leon asked her, to which she nodded as she readied her scythe while Leon ready his own. They charged towards the enemy, letting out their battle cry and slashing the first Hollow they saw.

Kazuhira ran through many hollows, which means he is approaching the source of the hollow infestation. Kazuhira entered a cavern that saw so many hollows coming out and blitzed through the other hollows coming from the cavern. The hollows were taken down as he did so. He then arrives at the lair of the target.

It looks like the lair was filled with so many hollows, all surrounding the Kazuhira. Kazuhira looks at his surroundings and examines the entire cave full of monsters. Kazuhira spotted Joseph as the only one who had yet to be turned into hollows. Kazuhira then goes up towards Joseph, who wakes up from his slumber.

"Kazu…hira…san."

"..."

Kazuhira pulled Joseph out from the entrapment, but then a huge rod tried piercing the both of them; luckily, Kazuhira dodged the attack and spotted the bee hollow that he previously encountered. The Hollow's mask broke down in front of him, and the final evolution of the Hollow is complete. He has become an Arrancar.

The Arrancar's appearance also changes a bit. The broken mask of the hollow left out the face with the red eyes open for Kazuhira to see. The feet still resembled a bee but gained a little resemblance to human traits. The spiritual pressure energy is rising immensely. Even the hollows are backing down.

"Crap."

"Arghhhhhhh" The Arrancar shouts while emitting intense wind pressure. Kazuhira smiles, gazing at the arranger's spiritual pressure. Joseph is laid down by Kazuhiro and tries to get up. "So what do you want to do now, kid?"

"Huh?"

"Do you want us to perish here, or do you want to meet your sister?"

Kazuhira's words shocked Joseph. Did he find out something about his sister? How did he find her? He was curious and looked at Kazuhira, who gave the boy the thumbs up. Kazuhira wanted Joseph to pass on without any regrets in his heart. Joseph only met this stranger by accident, and yet he's the person that is willing to go this far for an unknown spirit like him.

"Yes, big bro. I want to see my sister again! I don't want to leave this world without any regret! I don't want to die a meaningless death!"

Joseph cried in tears. He forgot the things that still lingered in his heart, and he wanted the memories of his sister and his parents back. Kazuhira smiled towards the response as he readied his dual Khopesh, ready for combat against the newly-awakened Arrancar.

"Alright, I'll make sure none get you. Better be grateful that you are in my presence; you feel me?"

"Yes, big bro."

Kazuhira's spiritual pressures overwhelm the room so that even Joseph could feel it. The Arrancar was also quaked in disbelief at how much the person behind him hid such enormous power. Kazuhira's aura started to take form in blue color, but that was lined up with silver.

His friend, fighting outside, could even feel the energy coming from the cave. It shocked them and even the surrounding hollows. Hanabi and Nomura also felt his presence, and they are cooking and eating together in the cafe. The mix of the colors enveloped more and more, and Kazuhiro smiled as the aura dissipated; he uttered one word that he was prepared to fight against these "odds" that were now in front of him. The words of courage.

"Henshin"

XXX

"Memories of attachment pass me like a wind. Even if I remember so, will I be the same person that you yearn for?"

Next Chapter

Chapter 4

Yearning Call

XXX