I had considered waiting for the current Fanfic Alert debacle to be over before posting the rest of the story. Then I figured it didn't matter cause I can just post an empty chapter later if need be. Author notes at the end for this one. Cheers.

Meeting as Equals

The tiniest of all Menos, the weakest of them all.

What to do without power? Mhh...

How to evolve in the Cesspool that was the cold and dark void? It would hide, it decided. Hide below and inside the bigger Menos. Wait until they showed weakness. It would advance slowly. There was no reason to hurry. It had time, all the time in the world.

Another Menos looked at the small creature hungrily, quickly it hid further down, waiting for another chance... just slightly bigger than itself, that was all it wanted. A chance.

A chance that came. A chance it used.

After feasting it would look for another slightly bigger one again. One day... it would feast on those larger ones. One day... it would have the throat of the biggest of them to feast on to it's hearts content.

But that day was not now. For now it would be smart... it would lie in wait. And bide it's time... Evolution would come with patience.

Meanwhile in Las Noches

Shiro Kurokami

Tia was having herself a nice swim in the pool. Nel had stayed behind, choosing to sleep in with me. The thing on my mind however, was neither of them. 3 days and the voice and eyes of the Adjuchas I'd met hadn't let me go. And it drove me nuts. There were ever only a handful of people that could influence me like that. My sisters, Tatsu and my two girls that were slowly but extremely steadily getting there. I couldn't even think of how Silvers task was going, I was way too distracted.

I had to see her again, to learn more about her. I waited for a while, I didn't want to leave Nel in bed alone. It would terrify and worry her sick. I squeezed her to my chest. There was a content moan as Nel circled her arms around my back and returned the show of affection. We stayed that way a bit longer. Finally she said: "Morning Shiro."

"Good Morning." I returned smiling.

"We should go down and get some breakfast. I think it's Cyans turn today." said Nel smiling and nodding before getting up with a bit of bed hair making me chuckle in amusement. We shared a quick good morning kiss and moved towards the dining room.

Cyan was the best cook of us, or at the very least had risen to be. There was always plenty to go around.

It was only a short time later that I excused myself and began making my way back towards the rock formation. The place where I knew, I would find the wolf adjuchas once more. Perhaps speaking to her, would give me more of an idea why she seemed to... resonate with me so quickly. Why she hadn't been affected by my Reiatsu or the reason for the feeling of trust towards her that had all but taken me over.

The sounds of battle filled the air, it wasn't anything new or strange. This was still Hueco Mundo and the strong still ate the weak. Although they were now supposed to only eat those without potential for growth. I looked around to try and find the ongoing fight and soon realized it was coming from not far up front.

What I saw there was impossible.

The female wolf I'd developed a fixation on was taking on 3 fresh Adjuchas, she was doing very well. She seemed fitter, more healthy over all than the last time I'd met her. She swiftly dodged most of their attacks only suffering the occasional small scratch.

But the thing that threw me off guard was the ribbons of white she seemed to be shooting from her body. Ribbons that resembled arrows... arrows I knew to be used by Quincies. I wanted to go on watching, and so I did. She was by no means a fighter, not really. There was experience there, but the wolf lacked bloodlust.

She wouldn't go for the kill unless what seemed to be her only chance.

At last the battle stopped, there was no winner... or if there was than it was her. She was still alive and had kept the small piece of land she had come to call her own. My mind blanked, surely it was truly impossible. Surely it couldn't be and I was just hallucinating. Wishing to fill the hole Tatsu had so obviously left inside my heart.

Guestroom Last Noches, Approximately 3 months ago.

"I did tell you didn't I? That we would discuss this matter soon." I said watching Kisuke closely. He pointed to the table, I obliged him knowing he could not escape from the conversation. In truth. It was long over due.

"Your mother was, strong, very strong. Not like your father tells you, although I will say her character was exceptional, she was a good woman. I got to know her well. But she was so much more. The strength of her soul was... not unlike Tatsuki's. The aura... as I liked to call it. That makes people take note of you. That's something you got from your mother. An accident before you were born, forced your father to give up nearly all but a spark of his Shinigami powers to save her life. It was that sacrifice that earned your father my life long respect and friendship whenever he wants it."

"Hollowfication." I just knew, somehow. "It was the one inside me wasn't it." I'd theorized ever since becoming more than a Shinigami that something wasn't quite right with the way I had supposedly gained my Hollow powers. "White." Uraharas eyes snapped towards me.

"It explains why he helped me in the end. I've learned a whole lot since my... exile. I know what Aizen got up to. I assume somehow she passed him on to me. And you pulled his power out. Always trying to have me be... the King." I laughed at the insider joke. He hadn't wanted to die, but part of me would like to think that he wanted to repent for what he'd done before. He wasn't the reason my mother was dead. But he was the reason she was less then before.

"What you may not know. Is that your mother was also a born Quincy. I have theorized that her heritage had something to do with why she was unable to take down the Hollow known as Grand Fisher, a hollow that even on her worst day should not have posed a threat to her powers."

"Quincy? But that makes Karin an..."

"No." Kisuke said with a finality that left no room for discussion. "Whatever happened, your mother kept it secret for a long time. She must have lost her powers long before your sisters were born. While they have a spark that allows them some access to the supernatural world. It's not strong enough to matter. Although, like Tatsuki if you wished. You could have them train and..." I shook my head quickly. No part of me had any intention of allowing my sisters anywhere near soul society or any of it's allies.

And if my father knew what was good for him he would keep it that way. "Still, I'm part Quincy correct?"

"Part of you is, yes. I assume with appropriate training you could have easily taken up a bow and fought as they do. If you train and study, who knows how your hollowfication might change that part of your blood. Who knows what you might discover." That prospect seemed to excite him. The promise of something possibly altogether new. As I've been saying since way before, he is at least slightly mad.

The Rock formation, present time.

She saw him coming some ways off. There was a strange aura around him this time. "You came back." There was even something some might have called a smile playing around her lips. Or whatever wolfs had for lips.

"I'd like to ask you again to come with me, to Las Noches." It wouldn't take much for me to sound like I was actually begging.

"Why?" She asked. A valid question I thought. Only not now, not when I was getting confused again.

"Because I promise you safety. I promise food." Most hollows would have gone for that one. Food is power.

"You are a strange one aren't you? I guess I could at least come visit the new Pearl of Hueco Mundo." She was much more relaxed this time. Less aggressive. Her body language showed me as much.

I still wasn't sure about my thoughts. Was it true? I couldn't compare. But the girls could. They could see for me. Compare my Reiatsu to hers. However improbable, however small of a possibility. I was sure I'd found something that could not be. Saki... the name rang in my ears. I'd never asked my father what he'd called her... was this right? Did I have the right to do what I was now planning on doing? To take this rock... this life from her. I'm not sure, all I know is that it needed to happen one way or another. It may have been the most selfish thing I'd ever considered doing. Or was it?

I fully intended to go and change her back completely. This was something the Hogyoku could do. For me, for her. For my family. My sisters. The balance of all things be damned... I would restore her. At any price.

We spoke little on our way back, she asked me questions, I can't remember what they were or even what they were about. The entire way was wiped from my memory as if it never happened. I know we spoke of Las Noches and Hueco Mundo. The Hollows and 'people' there. Saki was still unsure. Just as I was about what I was about to do, she didn't know if coming with me was a good idea.

We got there... passed into the town and up to the villa, my family looked at us with open mouths. "Why are they staring?" I sighed as she moved closer to me, afraid and unsure. I could no longer doubt my feelings. It was true. I had found her. How or why, in the end... what did it matter?

Now it was on me to explain... but how? Taking a deep breath... I would just come out with it. There was no point in talking around it. "Your human name... was Masaki Kurosaki. They are staring at you. Because that makes you my mother." She looked up wide eyed as my open palm lowered over her face. I didn't wait, or even consider waiting. I blasted her with every bit of energy I had to spare. It would take her a while, she first needed to become complete, she needed to find her emotions again. Before I could ask the Hogyoku to reverse her. The end game... would be to return her to the human world. Give my sisters their mother back at whatever cost.

My eyes hardened. Perhaps for balance I would have to switch. But I could. There's never been a sacrifice I wouldn't make for them, my sisters. For them I would burn the world and more. I watched the wolf change from an animal to a woman. A knockout 25 year old with light brown hair. I would need to make things clear. I couldn't reinsert her looking as she did in her prime. Not when my father had aged 10 years. There was a lot to do now. I didn't like it... the prospect of leaving my sisters forever turned my stomach inside out. But without Tatsuki, they needed their mother, they needed the advise of a woman... more than they needed their brother who didn't have the time to be around 24/7 anyway.

Forest of Menos

The great big Menos Grande... the current largest of it's kind had just started to lie down. A rest was in order, it had eaten, although not too much. Just like the others often did it wanted to gather it's strength for a bit. It didn't have any defensive abilities to keep them from coming. And granted it's Reiatsu alone wasn't that scary. But it was the biggest. None of them would come and challenge it. The thought was laughable.

Satisfied with the past 3 days of work, with the feasting it had done, the Menos closed it's eyes.

Not more than a nano second could have passed when it realized something wasn't quite right. It tried to open it's eyes back up, but something was blocking it.

Yes... the idea of a Menos attacking it was laughable. The notion that anything but the Adjuchas would come into the forest to feast, was near insane. And yet, there it was happening despite the insanity of it. The smallest of them dared to reach so far, why? To get ahead of course. The only reason it had not been eaten, was it's size. There were bigger fish to eat. It had just not been appetizing enough.

The small Gillian had wrapped it's body tightly around the bigger one's throat and even up to it's head. While the big one was writhing in deathly agony from suffocation the smaller one congratulated itself on a plan executed to perfection. It pried the mouth of it's enemy open before entering and forcefully sucking out it's amassed spiritual energy. The body soon went limb and the small Menos entered the downed creature to feast on it inside out.

When it came back out, it was satisfied and it's belly well filled, but the opportunity was too great to pass up, especially here in the Forest of Menos where nothing ever escaped the sheer number of them. But most were sleeping now, most weren't looking and therefore defenseless.

Could the creature have smiled it surely would have as it rose into the air. Gathering large quantities of energy in front of it's mask. The silvery ball materialised glowing of a dark black aura preparing to wreak havoc amongst those that were asleep. For a moment the creature enjoyed the thought that in this instance... it could decide on life and death. But it did not want to gloat... time was precious. The massive Cero was soon shot down catching many unsuspecting Hollows in a massive destructive blast killing, cutting and mauling many of them.

It smiled at it's work. And thus began it's killing spree.

The creature had all the time in the world... but when presented a gift basket such as this, one couldn't just say no thank you. Soon it grew small horns on it's head, and arms out of it's Torso. By the time the Menos looked around to find their enemy. The smallest creature was well hidden under the corpses and remains of the Hollows it had slaughtered. Waiting and biding it's time for it's next meal. It just had to have some more patience.

Arriving at the Soul Kings Palast, 2 months later

They were terrified, I couldn't blame them... never in all it's existence had a Hollow set foot on the stair case leading to the great Palace on top. I was surrounded by soldiers clad in black within moments. And faced with all 5 of the Royal Guards. "Now this a greeting." I said putting my arms up in surrender, I had not come to fight them. Not this time, the future... theirs and mine. Depended completely on what would happen over the next few minutes.

"How did you get up here?" The black haired woman asked. I knew them... or most of them by reputation and just a bit of research. If I wasn't mistaken then this was Senjumaru. I smirked and answered:

"Healthy legs and a dream?" I waited. "No?" I asked seeing none of them laugh. "Tough crowd." A sound behind me brought my attention around. A blade had been drawn on me... "I suggest re-sheathing your sword. I'm not here for a fight." Naturally I would defend myself if they attacked. Just because I was willing to strike a deal, didn't mean I'd just lie down to die.

"Who are you?" The man with the sun glasses asked.

"Shiro Kurokami of Hueco Mundo. It is my supreme pleasure to meet all of you." I explained taking a bit of a bow towards the rest in front of me. The royal guard was famous. Granted, none of them fought Hollows anymore. Which if you ask me is a bit stupid.

"Do not... under any circumstance let him summon that sword." I turned to the man that sounded much more serious than he looked.

"Oetsu Namaiya. The Sword Smith. Perhaps you would like to take it to lighten the mood?" He moved closer slowly. "I'll have to take off the sheath myself, otherwise it won't come off, so stay relaxed." I reached for it, watching them tense.

"We know of you, self proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo." I smiled, it was true. "That sort of just happened." I admitted. Namaiya held out his hand curiously. Something about it was calling to him.

"Careful, it's heavy. Easy now Luna." I dropped it into both of his hands and watched as the weight nearly dragged him into the ground.

"Told you." I said looking around. "The sword carries my will and Reiatsu."

"And part of your soul." He said knowingly.

"Perhaps." I just said having no intention of enlightening him about what exactly the sword carried with it.

"Now to get to why I'm here. I have an audience with your Soul King."

"Nonsense." The black haired woman crossed her arms in front of her chest. Sure she could stop me from taking even a single step further. And while I would have liked nothing more than to see if she could. It was really better to keep this peaceful.

"And you must be Senjumaru." I told the stunningly beautiful woman. Much like with Yoruichi and Soi Feng her traditional clothes and appearance were deceiving. She would make for a formidable opponent in a battle.

The 5 Shinigami present had risen far above normal levels of power. They would be the ones to beat by the so called Lords of Hueco mundo if it ever came to all out war. "You are as stunning as they say. Which of course, goes for both of you. Kirio." I said bowing to her as well.

She looked at me questioningly anyone else would see an extremely fat woman the size of a small mountain. Illusion to put people off their guard. Much like Omaeda from Soi Feng's Assassination unit. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

"It's not flattery when it's true." The gate behind them opened making me crack a smirk. "As I was saying. Would you like to escort me?" I crossed my arms behind my back and began walking. All this under the watchful eyes of the Soul Kings bodyguards. I understood why they were so careful. It was always about balance. It was why I was there as well.

They tried to enter with me, but a sudden burst of Reiatsu made them slide backwards.

"I shall see you when I leave." The door began to close as they looked at me not believing what had just happened. How was I, a lowly Hollow. Allowed into the Soul Kings Sanctum? I smiled lightly turning towards them. "One last thing." I reached out my hand. "Luna." The sword turned into orange energy before shooting off towards me leaving Oetsu in shock. "I never go anywhere without my sword. Thank you for holding on to it for me Oetsu." They all jumped at the door trying to pry it back open and get me out. No doubt worried about what I would do to their so called King. Then again, he is more like a god really.

I sighed, looked at the barrier before sitting down on a pillow and a low table that appeared before me. "Are you coming?" I asked, I had no more patience to give. Momentarily the man appeared. Slicked black hair, oval eyes and strange irises. His arms were long and he stood about a good head taller than me. His body was covered in a Black Kimono, similar to what the Shinigami wore.

"Welcome." He said opening his arms wide. "May I just say. Your story is... magnificent. It was all very entertaining." I pulled to glasses and placed them on the table before doing the same with a bottle.

"I hope you enjoy wine, it's from the first harvest in Hueco Mundo." He took the glass looking to the strange blue liquid before tasting it carefully. Soon he was coughing. "Bit strong?" I asked grinning.

"It's very good." He said having a bit of trouble breathing from the burning in his throat.

"I'm glad you've been entertained." I told him. "But it's time you repaid some debts."

"Speak your offer." The Soul King said, in a deep baritone voice.

He, just like me. Doesn't like to talk circles around things. "You know I've found my mother. She's... settling in well. And it's getting harder to keep her from going to the human realm. She wants to see my sisters. I know how your balance works, I've been the one keeping it in Hueco Mundo. So this is my offer." I sighed steeling my voice. "Erase me." His eyes grew wide. I raised my eyebrow at him, curious as to what that reaction meant. "Was that honest surprise? I thought you could see the future?"

"Not yours, not anymore. I see the future of others, and I see you appearing in them. Nothing more." I gave a nod sipping my wine. I wondered why, but I could see it in his eyes, he had no intention of enlightening me on the topic. Perhaps that matter could be revisited later.

"It's one life, against another. You can reinsert my mother into their life, only I never existed. They can have other children."

"You realize that by doing this, you may never come near them again?" I did, and I had thought it through. I sobbed and cried when my mother said my name the first time. But it wasn't me that needed her advice. Not me that needed her love. Not when I was surrounded by two women who would burn all of existence for me.

"But there is something else I ask... no, that I require in return." The soul King sobered slightly as he noted the expression in my eyes.

"Oh?" He asked, eager to hear more of my proposal.

"Protection. I can't control the Hollows on Earth." He smiled. "Together, we can protect them. For this deal of balance, I need you to break your balance for 1 family. I know it's unfair, I know it's selfish. But that's the prize." He smirked clearly giving it some though.

"Their safety... for peace." He deduced.

"100 years." I told him harshly, it was all I could stomach. All I would allow myself to stomach. Soul Society would fuck up again, and break the deal themselves. I wouldn't have to do a thing. "The Shinigami get to carry on for 100 more years. And my part of the deal ends if they attack me or my people. There will be no mercy then." The Soul King grunted drinking more wine. Was that disappointment I saw flickering across his face? "So, do you agree?" I asked.

"I thought this was going to go quite different. Your strong connection to the Hogyoku makes you powerful and unpredictable. I feared we would have to fight. But your offer is reasonable and well thought through. I see no reason why I should not grant your request." A boulder fell from my heart, it had been weighing on me. "Two things. 1: I will allow you to speak to your family. Explain it to everyone. See if they wish for it. 2: A warning... from one keeper of balance to another, danger is coming to Hueco Mundo. My advice is this: Deal with it quickly. Do not wait and see."

I smiled standing up. Patting him on the back. "Don't worry." My Reiatsu started blasting through the entire building, I knew he'd be fine. He is after all the Soul King. "I have no mercy or pity to spare for any idiot coming to my world looking for trouble."

"I look forward to meeting again in the future, my friend." While I was surprised I understood. Certainly I was one of the few who could stand direct contact with his Reiatsu.

"Keep the wine, it's a gift." I said waving my hand and opening the gate.

The Royal Guard was waiting and quickly fell to their knees when they felt the Soul Kings energy coming out. "Senjumaru, a return gift." The King commanded as the gate closed making her pale.

"As you wish." She bowed her upper body. "At least I shall take my time." She stated defiantly, clearly unhappy that she had to do anything for me at all.

"Please." I said sitting down, motioning for her to begin whatever it was she was about to do.

"So... your sword?" Oetsu asked curiously. From then on he would often sent messages... he wanted to know...

"My sword carries much, my own blood among many things. It's how an Espada and his sword bond. I will not say more on the matter." And so I sat down, waiting for Senjumaru to finish.

I left with new robes for myself, made by the beautiful Senjumaru. Some very good clothes indeed. I believe the Shinigami call them Oken.

There was no time to admire them of course. Instead it was time for a family meeting.

Meanwhile, With the Gillian

It was simply amazing how well it's plan had worked, it truly didn't want to evolve any more just yet. The other Gillian were stupid and none of them had any idea who was attacking them at night. Every night the smallest one was on a slaughtering spree the likes of which had only been rumoured where they were, the only comparison? The rocket like ascendancy of the new Lords and Ladies of Hueco Mundo.

But it was time now, the creature had done as much as it could to not evolve and retain it's small frame. Today would be the last time before it left the great Forest of Menos. Then it was time to evolve at last. It felt great energies to the west. Perhaps it would go there. For now the creature didn't need more mass, it hadn't for a while now. It didn't want to be huge. It wanted to be compressed, powerful.

The silver orb of energy with it's black Aura sizzled away on the palm of it's hands. It held them out to opposite sides of it's body and without waiting shot the Cero's at all Menos around before opening it's mouth to begin sucking up the energies in the air.

The body of the creature soon began to change. It shrank down to the size of a large Tiger. It's lower body grew hooves and a white furry coat with black stripes giving her backside the appearance of a Zebra. While it's upper body broadened, reinforcing the image of the tiger. It's eyes sharpened taking on a chocolate brown colour.

While it's forehead retained the cat like features including the ears, it sprouted Ram like horns from it's forehead. Growing to replace the smaller horns it had before.

The evolved Adjuchas looked at it's reflection in a small body of water it found close by. Finding their appearance rather pleasant it nodded to itself before moving towards the gathering of powerful Reiatsu. It noted a larger than normal amount of reiatsu not far, at the end of the so called forest. The other adjuchas yelled for it to: "Hold!"

It did not appreciate being told what to do. In a flash it was gone and appeared behind the strong looking enemy. It's paw swiped from left to right, taking the head clean off leaving a trail of goo on the crowd. It smirked opening it's mask. More to feed on, more energy to grow on. If it wanted to continue evolving, there was a long road ahead. It had started so very small... so much time lost. It sighed. It's path was beginning now.

Shiro

Shiro went to see his family. He didn't give them a choice. Not really. He would pay this prize. Any time... for them. It was for the best.

"And when all is said and done. We will see each other again... at the end." He told them as his father squeezed the hand of the woman he had thought dead.

"Can't we... do anything else?" His father plead as Shiro smiled.

"I love you, and always will but right now, they need her more than they ever needed me." Shiro simply told them again. It hurt. But it was the right thing to do. They would never note the difference. The moment was fleeting and would pass momentarily. As the Soul King with help from the Hogyoku rewrote reality in that moment.

The scene in their living room changed. Masaki and her husband seated and cuddling in front of the tv. Karin was playing with her phone and Yuzu was rushing from the kitchen with a large smile and a plate of cookies.

Life for the Kurosaki family was good. And if... during the course of the evening, someone felt as though anything was missing, it was quickly ignored as they all rose from the couch, switched off the tv and proceeded with their game night.

For them? All... was well.

So here we are. 'The Chapter'. If you're not interested in a sort of... back story for this fic, then you can just close the chapter and wait for the last 2 chapters in 1 or 2 weeks.

For the people who felt that the last part of this chapter was lacking, then I agree. While this was always the plan. The price Shiro/Ichigo had to pay for his second chance. The loss of everything that was.

It was all supposed to be much bigger than it is. The finding and then loosing of his mother all over, the loss of Tatsuki and finally his entire human family. Shiro was supposed to hit rock bottom before being pulled back. Some of you can probably put two and two together about the who from the new Gillian in the story.

I couldn't write it though. Something happened in my private life that caused this part of the story to quite literally break me every time I sat down to write it. This part is basically the reason why the story went on a break for a few years. If I was a better writer or perhaps less of an emotional little bitch about things maybe it would have turned out better. As it is. This is what you're getting.

We have 2 more chapters now:

Chapter 13 is titled: Where there is one German? There are many!

Chapter 14, the last chapter. Will be titled: Closing out

Lastly since I'm back to writing I'm going to shamelessly advertise my new Petr.o.n account. You can find it under the same username as here. Souen112. In case you wanna tip or someting.

Cheers and thanks for reading.