Author's acknowledgement to the unknown reviewers:

To AfroThunda-san

Ok, I don't know who lied to you, but I DID and still DO think your name is pretty damn cool, and whenever I say it out loud, it brings a smirk to my face (perhaps my odd humor taking effect). I do admit, I am a little jealous that I didn't think of something like that, oh well can't be helped.

Now for the actual review, I'm glad you find them humorous and hope you continue to enjoy then as YMMV. And hopefully you continue like the twists and turns, as I hopefully keep cracking them out.

To f (hey gotta be fair to everyone regardless)

Well…Ichigo got his ass kicked by a captain who was in her element…so it was inevitable [though you should know this already]. As for being my own self insert? no. If anything I'd probably be more like ahh…Hanataro or something not Ichigo. I also don't get it with people agreeing with other reviewers, do they read the reviews first and then review themselves (doesn't that spoil a story?). As for Subaru well honestly, Subaru's gender is never truly revealed (yeah you could google search it later), since in the Japanese they use –san which mean Mr/s. and Subaru talks in third person (not lying), so s/he doesn't use 'I' which would specify. So it's left up to interpretation. But anyway it what matters on the inside not the outside. And if you disagree, then we have a token gay couple in the fic. Again to each his own since, we're all looking for happiness.

To fg (probably same person but hey duty is duty)

As I told AfroThunda-san, your mileage may vary (YMMV) besides I'm not above making myself or just about anyone else for that matter look like an idiot for a good laugh/chuckle. As for my 'precious Sakura wars character' well…they're not mine so if you did hit the review button (which you did) you would have seen that so…forgive me for saying but your kind of an idiot. As for bringing nothing to the plot, well…you only read chapter 1 maybe 2…plot really didn't start yet so…

Any way they're more important later on in the story. As for filled with better people. My question is who exactly? An actual OC? since nobody else even know the first thing about Soifon, and those that do can't help at the moment IE Yoruichi, Kisuke, ect.

To LOLLO

Well…I hope that you're already laughing going by your name, but if not then I suggest laugh, as it is my job to entertain you. If you're crying well…it's kind self inflicted (sorry to sound like an ass). I mean since my work is abysmal and you choose to read it, that makes me infer that you couldn't afford a book from Barnes and Nobles or something and you had to resort to something free, which last I checked this is, meaning it's (the fic) probably 'average' at best and maybe 'subpar' borderline 'so-so' on the constant/worst. But hey I choose to believe the best in people so, I'm going with your enjoying yourself with a good chuckle (which was one of the intentions). And if you do choose to review again maybe you could recommend me to one of your stories, since you've got a sharp eye and I'm willing to learn.

Damn I sound like an asshole. I'm just speaking regularly here oh well. Unto the prefic banter I guess.


Ichigo: Greetings, I'm Ichigo Kurosaki and on behalf of all Soul Society, I'd like to thank-you for showing an interest in your afterlife. You see here at Soul Society we need hard working individuals like you to protect everyone!

Omeada: (snore) zzz…whewww…(snore)

Ichigo: There are great benefits like meeting friendly people.

Kenpachi: Your strong huh? Let's test it out…in a fight to the death. Hyyaah!

Ichigo: Flexible working hours.

Soifon: You have two hours to finish your training regiment or you'll be telling your excuses for failing to Suzumebachi personally!

Ichigo: Feeling welcome in the community.

Mayuri: I am Taicho of twelve Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and as of today you are all my research subjects, if there are any protests please step forward and be eliminated.

Ichigo: Tons of promotion advancements.

Renji: So to become a captain, I have to kill the Taicho in front of 200 hundred people huh?

Ichigo: No, discrimination from where you're from or previous history?

Yamamoto: So you're a thief from Rukongai, that broke into Soul Society and have been working with us ever since?

Subaru: Correct Yamamoto-Sou-Taicho.

Yamamoto:…Guards!

Ichigo: You also get to travel and see all over the world

(meanwhile Saraha desert)

Shinjiro: ahh…where the hell am I exactly?

(back on stage)

Ichigo: So come one come all, and remember we need YOU!

Senna: Can I..quit now?

Ichigo: No. So Blackout when do I get paid?

Blackout2010: It's a volunteer service announcement so…you don't.

Ichigo:…worst commercial ever…

Aizen: The Soul society training DVD is now available for $2.99 each buy now before they sell out


Ch. 14 Pride before a fall: the ghost of you

(Human world: Ichigo)

The light from the rising sun penetrated the room that Ichigo was staying in via window, his eyes slowly opening to greet the new day in their still despondent situation. Pulling the blankets off of him, he lowered his feet to the ground and got up from the bed so he could stretch his muscles. As he moved his arm in a circular motion to help relax himself he heard the shower from the bathroom cut off meaning the girls were done using it, and it was ok for him to enter. Grabbing his hakama, and Zanpaktou out of habit, he walked by the towel clad girl his own towel in hand and entered into the restroom to ready himself for their trip to the cemetery, so he could pay his respects.

(Senna and Rukia)

The girls walked back into Senna's room to change cloths as Ichigo entered to use the shower for himself. Once the door had closed the women dropped their towels and walked over to Senna's drawer to pick up their clothes for the outing.

"Hey Rukia-chan." Asked the nude for of Senna, as she pulled up the drawer for her panties that she had to share with the female Shinigami "You and Ichigo are supposed to be partners right?" tossing a pair 'chappy' panties to the girl

"Yeah what about it?" asked Rukia grabbing the pair from mid-air and started to dress herself as, a smaller training bra was also tossed her way from the land lady, since she was a C cup while Rukia was a A bordering B.

"Well it's just that." Senna started as she threw her bra on "why would, could you help me with this real quick?" she asked of the girl and gave a quick thanks when Rukia hooked the back part together "Why would Ichigo want to go visit a cemetery of all things. I mean I know he almost never smiles but I never figured him to be a depressive kind of guy. So what's the deal?"

"I really don't know Senna." answered Rukia as she pulled up the light blue skirt up "I've never actually meet Ichigo before this mission, so I don't know why he would personally want to go to the cemetery of all things." Her mind drifting back to her deceased mentor and friend Kaien for a moment "Perhaps, he wants to honor someone. That would be my guess."

The somberness in Rukia's voice stood out to Senna who had just finished pulling her white Hollister shirt over her shoulder which stretched the length of her body and fell down to her waist complementing her knee waist skirt. "Is something wrong Rukia?"

"N-no." she nodded her head, as a small forced smile crept onto her face "I was just thinking about an old friend of mine." She then put on her shirt and once it was over her head continued speaking "Anyway, we'd best not take too long as a hollow could still show up in Karakura while we are away."

"Oh don't worry about that, you see it's only about an hour away by bus. I would have just let us go as Shinigami but I'm not entire sure the way to get there because I don't really visit places like that, anyway I think we could use the rest especially after that brutal night at the hospital. (Yawn) In fact I'm still a little tired." said Senna, wiping the sleepies out of her eyes with her hand, before turning to exit the room

Watching Senna leave Rukia looked back at the mirror and stared at herself in the mirror bitterly, her bringing up of her friend and the constant look alike being around her taking it's toll on her nerves. 'No' she harshly shook her head 'It is not my fault. Kaien said he didn't blame me.' She repeated to herself to try and work the positive mental attitude her friend had constantly tried to drill into her head

"Hey Rukia, you want some cereal?" asked Senna from what Rukia assumed was the kitchen, dragging the woman out of her mental bout within herself.

"Yes, please." She shouted back, while she glanced back at the mirror again and nodded her head in determination, before turning away from the mirror and exiting the room, closing the door behind her persons.

"Morning Rukia." called Ichigo from the table to his partner, fully dressed and already eating his food which consisted of bacon and eggs, a far welcome break from his usual apple and toast that was only available in the wee hours of the early morning back in squad two.

"Good morning, Ichigo." She replied back half-heartedly, as she sat down her mind still thinking about Kaien since she was sitting in front of the palette swapped doppelganger, unknowingly ignoring the bowl of lucky charms that Senna had placed in front of her.

The small meal passed by in silence, no one making much small talk either from being too tired from having been up so late the night before or stewing in their own thoughts either of the situation the team as a whole had been in or what they would be doing later. When the last scrap of food was finished Senna, took the plates and put it in the dishwasher for it to clean since no one really knew when they would be back at the house.

Grabbing their gear for their outing, the team left the house and wandered through the somewhat crowded streets of Karakura like normal people, though Ichigo was jumping from street lamp to street lamp since his circumstances allowed him too. As the continued their stroll through town, Senna led them to a giant building with an open area and many benches lining it.

"Alright we're here at the bus station." announced the Shinigami's tour guide, as they approached the counter to buy three tickets

"Why is it called a bus station?" questioned Rukia, taking this very rare moment to indulge her curiosity of the human world

"Well, you see Rukia. It's called a bus station because Buses, the vehicle were about to take, come and stop here when they are not on duty, which is their resting station, and so they we call it the bus station." explained Senna, as she started to search through her purse for some money to pay, as she approached the counter. "Hi miss. Can we get three tickets for 82 bus?"

The man behind the counter looked at the woman, before his eyes scanned around and not seeing a third person "Excuse me ma'am but don't you mean two?" he asked since he didn't want to over-charge.

"Oh, ahh right." The woman 'corrected' with a dumb smile having remembered that not everyone could see Ichigo as well as she could "then ahh two tickets please."

"of course ma'am, that'll be 250 yen." The man ringed up, and handed over the tickets when the girl payed. As the ribbon wearing girl, handed the ticket to Rukia, the Shinigami whispered quietly into her ear "Your slipping Senna."

"I know, I know." She whispered back as she turned around to face the third member of their group, who was staring off down the terminal watching some of the people board the bus. His scowl seemed to grow when he saw a woman holding the hand of a small kid board unto the bus, the boy's balloon hitting the ceiling before dragging inside.

"Hey, you ok?" asked Senna, as she waved her hand in front of his face to get his attention back on her.

"Huh?" he uttered, his trance broken by the girl, who sighed from his serious lapse in attention

"We've got to get on the bus, Ichigo." Rukia informed to her dazed commander "Unfortunately, you're going to have to ride on the roof top since it's going to be a full ride. And your Zanpaktou, Zangetsu we'll be too much in the way."

"Fine. Whatever." He said uncaringly, as he turned around and jumped on top of the bus they had to take.

'Sheesh, what's eating him.' The girls' thought as they boarded the bus on route to the destination, the moody man wanted to go to. The girls walked to the back of the bus and took a seat, as people began to fill up the inside trying to find a seat or just standing holding unto the hand railing. Soon the public transportation driver, enter the bus and turned it on and left to take the passenger's to the north part of town.

After an hour of sitting on the bus, the announcer called up the Team's stop, to which Senna said aloud that 'they were sure glad to be able to pay their respect to their dearly departed grandmother', letting Ichigo who was lying down on his back know that they were getting off. As the bus pulled to a stop, the girl's got off while Ichigo dropped down from his rooftop perch.

"The white flower fields." whispered Senna, reading the name of the place off the sign just a few feet from the stone path leading up the hill to the cemetery grounds. "Looks like we're here." She turned back around and saw that Ichigo was gone.

When Senna started looking around in search of someone, Rukia finally took notice of the absence of their team mate. After not spotting him in the nearby crowd of people, Rukia made the conclusion he obviously went ahead of them, so they shouldn't waste their time looking.

The girl's started to walk up the long spiraling stone path up the hill, having a small conversation about Ichigo's odd behavior this entire trip. As they reached the top of the hill, their eyes saw an unabridged sight of a sea of white stoned graves, with a small shrine at the far end, and the person they saw kneeling down in front of it was the very man who vanished from them earlier.

Rukia bit her lip, seeing the devoutly praying form of Ichigo at the shrine, knowing that perhaps he had come to offer or receive penance which would explain his moody nature. 'Today must have been the day someone important died…' she seemingly answered the unasked question of their being here, her eyes turning away from the man reminded of Kaien "Senna could you excuse me for a moment. I…I wish to be alone."

The red ribboned girl turned to her friend and gave a short, quiet 'ok' at seeing the sorrowful look the woman had, who turned to the right and started walking down another path into the woods. Once she disappeared the girl looked back over at Ichigo, and started trudging down the hill to go speak with him.

(Ichigo)

"Hey, mom. It's me, Ichigo." The solemn man spoke up from his silent reflecting, his eyes still on the shrine as he hoped maybe his words might reach her where ever she might be, once the soul passes on even after the afterlife. "It's been a while since we last spoke." A bitter smile slowly emerged unto his face, while his eyes glazed over with deep seated emotion "almost a year actually. I've been doing well for myself, I still have that dumb habit of bringing my clothes with me into the bathroom when I'm taking a shower." He tried to joke then a steady pause of silence fell over him as he tried to think of what else to say, though he knew he would never get a reply back

"Shaolin, misses you. Oh, right you probably didn't know her name, but Soifon's real name is really Shaolin. We've…we've been dating for close to a year now, and…" his voice trailed off as he worked up his courage "I think, I'm really in love with her mom. I actually went out and bought a ring, when I asked Subaru to leave me alone for a bit. I wanted to tell you that for first time in a really long time, I'm actually happy for the way things are going with my life, and that I really miss you." He dropped his head back down, as his tears started to flow from his eyes "I know I probably never got to say this enough but I love you mom. You were…you were my hero, I…I wanted to be just like you. I…hope you are at peace with yourself, and that I can be son worth being proud of." He finished as he dropped his head back down in penance, while tears flowed from his eyes unhindered, the son of the recently departed mother made no attempts to inform her of his ideas of destroying her murderer as he felt ashamed. Ashamed at letting his mother possibly see his hunger for vengeance, the one thing she abhorred over all else, since she always instructed for him to forgive others and let the past remain as such.

Hearing approaching footsteps, Ichigo lazily turned his head around not bothering to try and hide his sadness to the arriving person. His eyes locked unto the form of Senna Kurosaki, who had a look extreme concern since she had not once heard of a Shinigami being able to cry, or having once thought of the pillar of strength that Ichigo passed himself off as breaking down in tears over something.

"Are you alright?" she asked gingerly, not wanting to make the situation any worse than it needed to be.

The man turned around fully, as he rose up from his knees wiping away his tears with his Hakama "I was just…talking to someone very important to me, Senna-san." He said hoarsely, a pained frown on his face

"…" the girl bit her lip. Then immediately took a step forward and grabbed his hand comfortingly "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, believing maybe if he shared it might not be as hard to bear

The orange haired Soul reaper looked into the eyes of the girl briefly before letting go of her hand. He started to mull the idea over, and nodded his head when he came to a conclusion, since if he tried to keep this inside than both Zangetsu's would start to complain about the gathering clouds and oncoming storm. He walked over and leaned against a big tombstone and started to tell Senna about who he was praying to, and a little bit about himself, going over some of his early childhood memories with Unohana-san, outings with his mother Masaki, mentioning some of his friends in Squad two his recent division, a brief mentioning of his girlfriend Shaolin, and the death of his mother. The human girl remained surprisingly quiet the whole time, Ichigo figured out of modest courtesy but also a genuine interest and concern for his well being.

"That's so sad." said Senna feeling slightly abashed about saying something so cliché about such an event, though she did feel at least a little bit closer to her friend. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll make it home and make this Masaki-san proud. You're a great guy, a little moody and don't smile too much." She joked, getting an amused 'hmph' from the man who crossed his arms "But a good guy all the same."

"Thanks Senna." He mumbled back, as his eyes looked down the dirt path leading back up to the hill, his eyes spying Rukia who was making her way towards them. "I guess we better head back." Said the man, as he tilted his head upward to the heaven, mentally noting that it looked like it was going to rain, since the sun had gotten covered by the dingy gray clouds over head

"I guess…"

"Are you done Ichigo?" asked Rukia who had just finished making some peace of her own

Ichigo nodded his head "Yeah lets-" he abruptly stopped as he sensed something. Ichigo turned around his eyes scanning the field and nearby forest, for the being he had sensed

"What's wrong-" Rukia asked, but the blaring of her hollow alert cut her off as her hand dived into her pocket and pulled out the device. Flipping it open she looked over the data "We have a hollow, here nearby. It's 500 yds to the west going into the forest."

"Rukia, reaperfy Senna, I'll lure the creature to us. So we can ambush it." commanded Ichigo, the pressure seemingly familiar to him. When Rukia started to pull out her glove Ichigo, flash stepped into the forest in pursuit of the hollow.

Hitting the dirt of the forest floor, Ichigo started sprinting in the direction he sensed the hollow, pulling Zangetsu from it's cloth to avoid being taken by surprise from the creature up ahead. Continuing through the forest he came upon a giant clearing, and saw the creature huddled over another hollow eating it. Ichigo's eyes widened in recognition of the creature, the shaggy brown fur, the strange antenna appendage sticking from it's head, the clawed feet, and when it turned it's head to face him, the evil grinning face of the only hollow that ever infuriated him.

"Grand Fisher!" roared Ichigo, his blood boiling over from encountering him on these hallowed grounds

The hamster looking hollow stopped eating, and turned around fully. Tilting it's head in curiosity, as it examined Ichigo "Haven't I met you before?" the creature taunted as it saw the orange hair of the man and was instantly reminded of that woman, that very very tasty woman he had consumed a loooong time ago. "Oh wait I remember you, you must be the son of that bitch, my creators told me about."

In an instant Ichigo disappeared and reappeaered above the creature Zangetsu, coming down from on high ready to cleave this demon in half. The gerbil-like hollow whipped it's head around it's angler tail swinging and colliding into the blade knocking the man back from his jumping strike.

The creature than started to charge forward as the man came kneeling back down to the ground, ready to devour him with it's powerful jaws. Seeing it race forward at him, Ichigo quick brought himself into a standing position and charged forward to collide with the monster again, his adrenaline pumping through his veins at a million miles a minutes. The erupting noise of metal grinding against hardened teeth exploded as the two combatants pressed against each other, Ichigo Zanpaktou caught inside the teeth of Grand fisher. "What do you mean by your creators!" he demanded of the creature in their dead lock, hoping to also uncover anyone else that was directly involved with the death of his mother, and bring down his anger upon them.

Grand Fisher jerked it's head to the side forcing Ichigo along with him before violently throwing his head back around slamming Ichigo into one of the nearby trees, stunning the man, while the creature pointed it's antenna like appendage at the man, who was getting back up.

A red unholy light started to build around the once flailing extension, but now it grew more concentrated more focused on the man like the stinger of a scorpion ready to impale it's prey. Ichigo's eyes widened at the move the creature was about to perform 'Impossible only a menos can do that!'

Impossible it wasn't however, as the creature let out a thunderous roar as it launched the cero at the Shinigami, who narrowly dodged it by flash stepping away. The red ball of energy smashed into the tree line and kept going scorching everything in it's path before stopping, all it's reishi expended.

"Damn, I wanted my Shinigami soul fried, but your still raw." The hollow bellowed out to it's nemesis, who raised his sword again ready to fight.

Ichigo deftly moved his Zanpaktou away so it looked like a strike, but let his left hand leave the handle and pointed it at the hollow "Hadou 31: Sokkatsui!" he yelled releasing his spell at point blank range, burning the creatures face and hairy body, as it raised itself off the ground to try and suppress the pain pulsating inside of it.

Ichigo's eyes slowly started to fill with a faint blue light from his spiritual pressure maxing out under the tense battle, he swung his Zanpaktou slashing the creature's side and sending it skidding across the dirt trail, he was about to run up to and follow up the slash but the creature jumped as it reached the end of it's skid and headed off into the forest back to where Senna and Rukia were.

'Oh no you don't!' the man shouted instinctively in his mind, as his body chased after the creature through the wood, his eyes keep trace of the monster as he jumped from the tree branches keeping the advantage of elevation. Once Ichigo felt he was close enough he started launching Kido spell at the retreating creature to further damage it, after the third Shakkaho spell, the hollow creature started slamming into some of the trees knocking them over and making Ichigo fall down to the ground with a roll, as his next landing spot had been taken out.

The murderous hollow, quickly grabbed a fallen tree with it's angle pole and launched it at the reaper, who instinctively ducked down but left himself wide open to the creatures clawed feet. The claws scratched the chest of the man, ripping of a part of his Hakama and drawing blood from his pierced torso.

Suppressing the pain that was shooting through him, Ichigo concentrated his reiatsu into his fist and launched it straight into grand fisher's mask, causing the creature to falter backwards from the sheer force behind the attack, while he used the brief reprieve to pull himself into a better more stable stance. "Answer my question hollow!" the man demanded again, his spiritual pressure flaring again

"Why your fellow Soul Reaper friends…" the creature sneered, wanting to piss the man off more and have him get thrown off his game, so he could devour his succulent soul even quicker.

"Ichigo!" yelled Senna arriving on the scene with Rukia, the pair growing worried over how long it was taking the fourth seat to return back to them, having followed the noise of combat to this location "We're here to help!"

"Stay back!" the man yelled out angrily "This is my fight! Don't interfere!"

"W-what!" the stunned Senna uttered not believing that he was telling her not to get involved. Rukia looked at Ichigo intently the image of her friend Kaien flashing in her mind and his calls of no interfering and the words of her captain Ukitake informing her about a battle of pride instead a battle of survival. Seeing Senna move to give her assistance, Rukia threw herself in front of the human-shinigami her arms extended out to prevent her from going around

"Senna, stop." She commanded

"Have you lost your mind! We need to help him!"

The Shinigami shook her head in disapproval, noting the irony of the situation "Look at him Senna." The woman instructed to the younger girl. Senna moved her gaze from Rukia over to the battle between Ichigo and the hollow, watching the man narrowly dodge another vicious strike, while retaliating with another sweep of Zangetsu a faint white light starting to rise around the blade. "You might be too young to understand Senna, but Ichigo isn't fighting to stay alive or do his job like his normal behavior" said Rukia turning to face the battle as well, the determination of finishing this fight exuding off his person in waves "I don't know why but this battle, this hollow means so much more to him. He's taking blows that he normally wouldn't just for the chance to counter attack. He wants to end this hollow. Let him have his request, as this seems to be something personal."

The ribbon wearing girl opened her mouth to speak up, but after seeing Rukia give her a hard look she closed it, and lowered her sword back against the ground. Not entirely putting it away as she would interfere only if things were dire, though she couldn't entire understand the reasoning of the shinigami's

'What good is pride if he's dead?' she thought turning her gaze back to the battle

(Ichigo and Grand Fisher)

'Come on die damn it!' the man thought snidely as he pushed Grand Fisher with enough force to send him through a large boulder nearby. The man was looking worse for wear his upper part of his Hakama was all but torn away, revealing the blood going down his face and chest from the numerous cuts he had received; his breathing had become much heavier. 'Stupid limiter won't respond either. Damn it why does all this shit have to happen now!' his eyes darting back at the limiter he had tried to remover earlier in the fight, but to no avail.

Figuring the hollow couldn't possibly take much more punishment, Ichigo started charging forward to try and finish the hollow who was only now pushing itself back up off the ground when a strange word echoed in his mind 'sho…' He heard but paid it no mind, too focused on trying to destroy his mother's murderer to allow any kind of distraction slow him down now that he was winning.

Or so he hoped.

Grand fisher, seeing the youth charge at him again with a white light slowly covering his blade decided to employ one last desperate gambit. He launched his antenna in front of the man to obscure his path, but as it slowly flung over the red ball shape at the end started to change and transform into something else.

Ichigo stopped his charge and lifted his guard up wary of whatever trick the creature was about to perform. His eyes soon started to widen in shock and horror, when the ball slowly expanded into a more humanoid shape, the strange being soon grew long orange hair, two mounds of flesh started to extend outwards on the chest, four limbs emerged two up top that sepeated at the end into five small digits, while the bottom two did the same though much shorter in distance. A white cloak came from behind and draped around the creature, which hung it's head down it's face obscured by the mess of long hair.

"What the fuck…?" Ichigo muttered having never seen a move like that before in his entire career as a Shinigami. Rukia was also looking on in disbelief that this creature had some kind of cloning ability, while Senna's sword arm had started shaking while her other hand was over her open mouth a gasped at the grotesque display.

Grand Fisher smirked seeing that his nemesis was distracted like so many other victims who had fallen prey to that, and was busy working up his energy to open a small rift for him to retreat back to Hueco Mundo, since the youth was too strong for him at the moment 'Just a little more, a few more seconds…hehe'

The strange human thing, jerked it's head up suddenly and stared into the face of Ichigo, who unknowingly dropped his guard, Zangetsu's bladed edge lowering down and touching the earth. "M-mother! H-how…?" he questioned in a hushed whisper, that was just loud enough for Senna and Rukia to overhear from where they were standing, a total of ten feet away from the whole conflict. His body taking a slow shaky step back in disbelief

'Mother? Does this mean? Has that hollow…'

'No way. That's Ichigo's mom, the one he told me about, Masaki-san! But I thought she was dead!'

The woman, tilted her head to the side a sweet smile on her face as she stepped forward her arms at her side to embrace her son "Ichigo, it's been so long. How have you been?" she asked in her usual tender voice wanting to know how her baby boy was doing since the last time she saw him. The woman stopped her advance a few feet away from him, and eyed him curiously "Have you gotten a bit taller?" she then laughed jokingly, at already figuring out what the problem was in her mind "Maybe it's because I'm getting shorter, oh well at least I'll still be taller than Soifon-san, speaking of which when are you going to invite her over again, as I still need to beat her in a game of poker." Then a sly smile broke on her face, at remembering her son's affections for the girl "Maybe I can make her bet her hand in marriage with you. ahaha…"

"No, you're dead. This can't be real." The man shook his head in denial over what he was seeing. He knew she was dead, her heard the grief in the voices of so many close family and friends that logic deemed to conclude her demise true, but here she was again with her playful smile and innocent nature.

Masaki's smile dropped at his words and she puffed her cheeks up in annoyance "Well that's not a nice thing to say about your mother." She crossed her arms childishly over her D cup chest "And to think I came all this way to tell you something."

Ichigo's stunned demeanor changed to a bemused smile at seeing her antics, the way she always was when she never got her way. 'She hasn't changed one bit.'

"And what did you want to tell me?" he asked, his body and mind getting caught in the presence of his beloved mother once again.

Masaki walked over and grabbed her son's hand and looked him straight into the eye "Simple." She leaned close to his ear, so as not to be overheard and whisper "that your such a fool for falling for this trick." And quickly shoved him backward into a tree with enough force to break the trunk of the foliage and cause it to collapse on top of him.

"Ichigo!" yelled Senna as she flash stepped over to help her comrade, thoroughly enraged that it would use his own mother of all things to fight.

"Sorry to run out after such a tender moment, but I'll catch you later." Grand Fisher roared as it entered the rift it created behind him, and jerked it's head dragging the laughing face of Masaki with him before disappearing. The downed man, having now only gotten up from his knock down with Senna's help cried out in protest. "Get back here you son of a bitch! We're not done here!" he yelled as the rift closed behind leaving the team alone again.

Ichigo slammed his Zangetsu into the ground with enough force to leave a sizable crater into the ground. "GRAND FISHER!" he screamed, his reiatsu flaring at having failed to avenge his mother's death, and even worse was insulted and man handled by grand fisher.

Ichigo dropped down to one knee his head touching against the blunt end of Zangetsu, as the clouds over head slowly started to rain upon the group thoroughly soaking them. Silence fell on the group as no one knew what to say, on the one hand the threat of the hollow was neutralized but the whole thing left a bad taste in the soul reaper's mouths.

'Why can't I do anything right?' Ichigo thought bitterly, as the water from the rain washed down his cheeks and soaked his hair. The water rolled down his chest and started to wash away some of the blood off of him, while Senna had kneeled down and used a very basic healing spell to tend to his injuries.

The sound of footsteps caused Ichigo to look over at Rukia, who had a visible frown on her face. "Ichigo, I don't know entirely what all that was about though I could hazard a guess, and while you didn't beat him, you fought bravely." The girl commented knowing his pride must have been severely hurt especially after such a personal encounter. She closed her eyes when the man she saw before her flashed into the image of Kaien "Next time Ichigo, you'll get him."

Ichigo stared at Rukia for a moment longer and nodded his head, nearly swearing to himself that he saw the after image of Soifon standing next to his powerless partner.

"Come on, let's get my body and we can get out of here." Said Senna as she put Ichigo's arm over her shoulder which made a wet plop sound on her soaked Hakama, while her free hand pulled the chest part of her hakama out so it wouldn't hug against her C cup chest so tightly.

The team picked up Senna's unconscious body, and returned to the bus stop and boarded the bus, using the small hour allotted them to rest. After the bus arrived back in Karakura, evening had started to roll in and the team slowly made their way back to home base a.k.a. Senna's home. As they were walking on the side walk, Ichigo suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong Ichigo?" asked Rukia to the man who was now on his alert

"I sense something. Rukia pull out Senna!" he commanded as whatever he was sensing was coming closer, and it felt Shinigami like in nature, though with his previous run in with Kisuke he didn't want to run the risk of being caught unawares of it being a false alarm or worse.

After reaperfying Senna and placing her body against the alleyway beside them the exhausted but ready team turned around weapons drawn for whatever came. Suddenly a man with flaming red hair, tribal tattoo's on his face that seemed to extend downward to perhaps his body, with a strange steel looking visor over his eyes came out of a flash step in front of them.

The man pulled off his visor and looked at all three of the individuals and saw that the second woman who he didn't know, had what appeared to be her body next to them a few feet away. The man sighed in both frustration and resignation, hating what he had to do next, especially to his friend Rukia, the man pulled out a device and spoke into it "Sir, I've located them, and the intel is indeed true, what are your orders." He asked having confirmed the rumors to indeed be true, which got confused looks from the group since they had expected the guy to say 'There you guys are where have you been!' not seem so calm and busy with a mission

The device in the man's hand crackled on and a calm but cold voice echoed from it, one that Rukia recognized as her brother Byakuya "Proceed. I am on my way." A brief pause was heard before the voice added much quieter "We will need one of them to take back for trial fuka-taicho Abarai, let it be Rukia Kuchiki."

"…yes sir" Abarai acknowledged begrudgingly, as he put the device away.

"Renji you idiot, what took you so long!" Rukia asked a playful smirk on her face, though it slowly faded when the man started to draw his Zanpaktou from it's sheath "What are you doing renji?"

"Fourth Seats of second and thirteenth division, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki. You have been found guilty of treason and the conspiracy of over throwing the spirit king, for that your punishment is death!" the man yelled out to the criminals before him

'My creators, why your fellow Soul Reapers of course' the words of Grand Fisher echoed in Ichigo's head, soon the events of all the things that had been occurring as of late, the different departure times, the loss of equipment, being stranded with no help, his limiter not responding, it all slowly made sense to him now 'We're being set up, but who?'

"It must have been that prick with the silver hair, all this shit started happening after running into his ass. He must be the one behind this!" Hollow Zangetsu roared to Ichigo. Suddenly an epiphany hit the white doppelganger "In fact that guy might be that bitch's master, so he's probably the one who killed you mom!"

Ichigo bared his teeth in anger 'I knew he felt creepy, but I didn't expect that from a Taicho!' Ichigo then took a step forward despite his bodies protest since his wounds were healed but his spiritual energy wasn't replenished and he would be fighting at about 30% strength. "I don't know who you're calling a traitor but I won't submit to someone like you!"

The man smirked, before disappearing and reappearing above Ichigo coming down with his unsheathed sword about to cut him up from on high "That's fine by mean, you can die here!" he exclaimed

The banging of steel echoed through the empty street and into the night, Renji's eye narrowed when the ex-human girl blocked his blow with her own "Nnghh. Ichigo get Rukia out of here, I'll handle him!" the dark purple haired girl grunted out as she strained against the physically stronger male

Seeing that in his weakened state he wouldn't be much help for her, Ichigo reluctantly grabbed Rukia before he flash stepped away he yelled out to his comrade "I'll hurry back be careful though!" and disappeared further down the road to find a safe spot for Rukia

"Of course take your time!" she yelled back, a smirk dancing across her face as she stepped back enough to jump away to the side allowing a better more even fight between the two of them.

The man looked over the woman, and sighed since they were going to be doing things the hard way, instead of just surrendering "I don't like fighting women, but orders are orders." He raised his guard up to engage the girl who clearly didn't know what she was getting into

The man then charged across the street his sword coming from the side to cut her down, which the woman ducked under using her natural agility to counter against his strength advantage. Once the blade had passed over head Senna swept her blade in an upward arc to counter attack.

The man moved his weight to the side to narrowly dodge the sneak attack and swung his blade back around and struck the woman across her right shoulder, hampering her fighting ability so he could finish her in one blow. Despite the pain in her arm, the female Kurosaki jumped back, with her sword swinging at her opponent to get out of the close quarters that she'd lose in.

The asauchi cut the man's cheek, causing him to wince but otherwise remain fine. His hand reflexively touched the spot he was cut and wiped the blood of it, as his eyes turned back to the woman. Slowly filling with anger. "Don't get cocky brat!" Renji yelled at the tense girl, who was side stepping to the right slowly, her eyes firmly planted on the man.

Senna's eyes widened when the man disappeared in an instant. She quickly darted her head around checking her surroundings for the man, knowing the man had used the flash step to vanish. The sound of something scraping behind her, caused Senna to whirl around and slash with her blade.

It connected…with nothing but air.

"Got ya!" the man yelled reappearing behind her and attacking her unbalanced and unprotected flank.

The girl screamed out from the heavy cut inflicted on her, pushing past the burst of pain the girl quickly stepped forward enough to spin around and launch a kido "Hado 1! Sho!" she yelled

A small burst of magic shot out of her hand, though when it hit the fiery Shinigami in front of her it did little more than annoy him.

"Is that it?" he asked calmly brushing away the dust that had landed upon his hakama unnerving her more as she swallowed the fear that had started to build inside her. While he did admire the girl for being able to use a kido and fight better than any human with only two weeks of training under their belt, she ultimately was beaten. "Kid, let me show you a real Kido! Hadou 33!" he yelled out a red light forming in his hand that kept expanding bigger and bigger till it was the size of a bloated basketball "Soukatsui!"

As the energy exploded forward towards Senna, she raised her Zanpaktou in front of her "Bakudo 8: Kaze Kabe!" bracing herself against the wind wall to endure the Shinigami's fire. The attack slammed into the wall of winds, at it tried to scorch Senna with it's intense heat, soon though the weak barrier gave way to the more powerful spell and broke blasting Senna backwards down the street in a series of painful rolls.

"ugghh…" the woman groaned out in pain, as she started to push herself from the tar and readjust to her surroundings, which was inhibited with the constant spinning in her head.

The approaching sound of footsteps caused Senna to look up to see the red haired Shinigami about to slice her head off. She reflexively closed her eyes awaiting the end, when a cold sensation blew through her body, causing her to shiver. When she opened her eyes she saw that her body was staring at a brick wall, and that she was lying against another wall.

"Where…?" she groaned out and turned her head to see the street she was just fighting in a moment ago. Pushing herself up she walked out into the street and saw the red haired Shinigami looking around confusedly.

'What the where'd she go?' Renji wondered since he was just about to kill her when she vanished. He soon picked up a very faint spiritual pressure behind him, and when he carted around he was looking at the woman he was fighting earlier clutching her body from pain, but in different clothes that he had never seen before.

As he walked over to finish the job the purple haired girl fell to her knees and started breathing extremely hard, Renji figured because she was so close to him. As his footsteps grew closer to her a man came running from behind him.

The man looked to be in about his thirties with spiky dark black hair that struck out from his head, with dark brown eyes, and a very rugged beard and goat tee on his chin, and on his cheek was what looked like a possible birth mark that looked like a small black o. He was wearing a full white business suit with a yellow tie and had a white earring in his left ear what looked like a brief case in his hand.

"Senna!" the older, panicking looking man yelled to the girl casting his brief case to the side to get a better look at the girl to see if she was hurt

"D-dad…?" she said weakly, trying to stay conscious but having a really hard time in doing so at the moment. Unable to take the pain inflicted on her spiritual body, she dropped her head back down in her father's arms.

"Senna!" he yelled and started to shake her "Senna!" he turned back around towards the street "Help! Somebody, ANYBODY, call 9-1-1!"

Another person arrived on the scene, with blonde hair a green shirt and pants with a red ruby necklace around his neck "Sir, come with me to my place. I think I can get her some help." The newly arrived man informed, as he helped pick up the unconscious girl.

Renji looked on from his spot, before sheathing his sword. He couldn't do anything more at this point since it was their job to protect souls not kill them, and he figured that since the woman's spiritual body disappeared, all the power she absorbed most have ran out, meaning she had done no wrong and since those two couldn't see him, nobody would believe her story.

Turning away from the alley he located his captain's spiritual pressure, and flash stepped to his location.

(mean while: Ichigo and Rukia)

After getting a reasonable distance away from their murderous comrade, Ichigo dropped Rukia back down unto the street. As Ichigo turned back around to go assist Senna, he and Rukia felt a powerful weight press against him.

'This pressure…' the pair thought sensing both the strength but also the nature of it. The spiritual signature of a Shinigami.

"So it is I, who have located you." A voice called out from above them.

The team looked up and saw a tall pale man, with long hair in a spike pattern that went down the back and a white ornament in his hair that gave a regal look. The man was wearing a Haori signifying his captainship, his hand was grasping the hilt of his Zanpaktou as he descended back down unto the ground.

"Brother…" whispered Rukia, feeling mixed in his sudden appearance, the otherwise usual happiness with being rescued by her brother gone and replaced with an ominous feeling of anxiety as he looked ready to fight not save them.

"Captain!" called Ichigo not hearing the quiet voice of Rukia "You have to help us there's a rogue Shinigami who attacked us back over there and he-" the man suddenly went deathly quiet at remembering that before the red headed Shinigami attacked he radioed in someone, which meant "No…shit!" he immediately flash stepped in front of Rukia, his Zanpaktou drawn out for the inevitable fight

The man's feet touched the ground, as he eyed the traitors in front of him "Prepare yourself." Pulling out his sword and raising his spiritual pressure to about 15% percent

"Wait, Lord Brother!" the man's sister yelled as she stepped between the two of them, not wanting to lose her brother or her friend "Please, tell us what's going on!"

The man's gaze turned to the smaller girl then closed his eyes as his hand reached into his jacket and pulled out the recording device, ready to show the traitors their revealed crimes.

'What the hell is that tape recorder for?' the fourth seat questioned, his arms still firmly gripping his Zanpaktou. When the man hit the play button.

A crackling sounds screeched from the device before silence enveloped the tense atmosphere, soon a voice broke the perpetual silence. A voice that seemed oddly familiar to Ichigo.

"Greetings. It has been far too long Kurosaki-san. It is with this message that I would like to thoroughly congratulate you for surviving so long, despite so many attempts to get rid of you. However, that time is at an end, but know before you pass into oblivion that you assisted in making my steps towards god hood possible. So thank you and good bye Kurosaki-san."

The captain who was also Rukia's brother hit the button to stop the tap, and put the device back into his jacket pocket. When it was put away he turned a impassive gaze back at the pair, ready to destroy the traitor and bring Rukia in for the trial and punishment for assisting the traitors.

Ichigo having heard the bizarre message left on the device turned to Rukia who looked absolutely horrified as if hearing something completely wrong or something that shouldn't be. "Lord Brother, what that message held it cannot be true! Ichigo would never-

"Silence!" the man barked out coldly, his eyes hardening for knowing he would be pushing the outer limits of his promise "Rukia you have disgraced me, the Kuchiki name and your sister's, my late wife's name with your unsavory and dishonorable behavior. I regret that you would so callously throw away your sister's wishes like yesterdays trash, so close your mouth and save what honor you have left, and prepare for your judgment."

The effect the man's words had on her was immediate; Rukia fell down upon her knees her head bowed in penance. Her heart aching from the sharp harsh words of the man, she would always look up to, knowing she was once again damning those around her to death

"Rukia!" yelled Ichigo concerned over her bodies' shutdown

"Worry more for yourself" the captain retorted before disappearing and reappearing in front of the man. While his sword remained sheathed he was actually preparing for his flash blossom attack.

When Ichigo saw the man's sword, his body immediately turned slightly to lessen the damage that would soon be fall him, the training against Shinjiro's unavoidable slash kicking in and influencing his body.

Pain erupted from his lower abdomen, as his eyes briefly saw Rukia's brother's Zanpaktou sticking through him and being pulled out, and felt the blade strike him a second time this time the blade's edge was sticking from his chest. Ichigo's eyes widened from shock and the realization of where he was striking.

The blade was retracted from his body violently, causing his body to fall forward from having his soul chain and heart pierced and severed.

"Kaien…!" yelled Rukia, as she looked back at her comrade mistaking the scenario, and the man himself for her deceased friend. The constant haunting image of her friend slumping over in death pulsating fiercely in her mind

The fourth seat's body collided with the ground, as blood started to flow freely from his wounds, causing the flood to pool around his body until he would bleed out. Ichigo weakly turned his head to the side and glanced back at Rukia with what little strength he had left. His team mate's image flickering and slowly fading away and being replaced by the woman he loved: Shaolin.

'Will I…never…make it…home…?' the man pondered before darkness took over him.

The Taicho seeing the man no longer moving and his sensing his spiritual pressure fall closer to the levels of death, turned and with a quick strike to the neck knocked out his sister, and slung her over his shoulder. As he did this his Fuka-Taicho arrived at his location.

"Report." Byakuya stated solemnly, as he opened a Senkaimon back home

"I've dealt with the other one, and it appears she lost all of her spiritual energy. Since spiritual body disappeared and was replaced with her human body. We won't have to deal with her any more, Taicho."

"Very well, now let us return to back. It seems we'll need to inform Soul Society that threat has been dealt with."

"Yes…Taicho." The man acknowledged his gaze looking at his friend's body, as his captain stepped through the gate. His mind in turmoil, as he knew Rukia would never do such a thing intentionally, but was going to be punished for her association with the two traitors.

As the powerful Shinigami departed, the gate closing behind them, the rain once again picked up and started drizzling upon the bloody body of the innocent Shinigami left on the street.


Blackout2010: That's the end of that!

Byakuya: It's about time we brought some grace to this production, now if I may make an announcement.

Blackout2010: ahhh…sure I guess.

Byakuya: Thank-you. Now people out there buy the Shinigami training DVD! But if you don't know that I am watching you and I know where you are, as I am in your closet. And for the ladies out there…I'm not wearing a shirt.

Blackout2010: Right…

Byakuya: I have my eyes on you…(seductive) and only you.

Blackout2010: ummm…

Byakuya: for the men we have Masaki-san…and grand fisher.

Ichigo: Dude that's my mom!

Masaki: Soifon-san would you like to play that game of poker now? I got an interesting bet for you…

Shaolin: T-till next time. Hey leave me alone Masaki-sama!