Prayers laid on the line

You will never be free

You will never be free

Soi Fon allotted Hollowfied Trunks no time to attack as she cut the distance between them. From above, she somersaulted and drove her heel into the crown of his head. After Trunks' face ricocheted off the chilled soil, Soi Fon delivered a swift hook to his chin. Trunks tumbled into the dirt, but propelled toward her with sprouted claws. She only allowed his swing to slice through an afterimage. Once she escaped into the clouds, the Hollow shot his head upward and leaped to attack.

Hundreds of sparks and shock waves cascaded across Devon Island as their clash intensified. Even at high altitudes, the ground tore each time their weapons collided. Trunks made every attempt to carve his blade into her, but Soi Fon guarded and answered every strike with one of her own. On occasion, she marked his body with her Homonka. Even while his speed and strength improved, she maintained her poise and continued to set the tone of the battle.

Minutes passed, and the sun crept down to hide its rays behind a hill. Ichigo watched from afar with his sword driven into the ground, warming his hands with his breath. Her dominant display impressed him, and though he didn't agree with her aggressive approach, she maintained complete control. Still, he remained attentive. The balance of powers could shift in an instant.

Tensa Zangetsu thrusted toward Soi Fon's forehead. She spun to the outside of the blade and landed a swift kick on his back. Soi Fon grabbed the screeching Hollow by his shihakusho, then hurled him over her shoulder and into the earth. She ignored the dust that arose from the impact and darted toward him, but electricity emerged from behind it. When she narrowed her eyes, Trunks' sword sliced through the air and raced toward her face. Soi Fon stopped her momentum and sidestepped, suffering a slight cut across her cheek.

Before she proceeded with her offensive, Trunks arrived and threw a punch. Soi Fon crossed her arms to block, but the force of the blow caused her to slide back several meters in the air. She scoffed at the sting on her forearms before Trunks continued his pursuit.

He shot his Hollowfied hand forward and opened it wide. Soi Fon put up her guard, but something whistled in the wind behind her. Tensa Zangetsu was returning to its master. To avoid a two-sided attack, she Flash Stepped to the ground. The sword snapped back into his hand, leading Trunks to bring his other hand forward and fire a rapid stream of energy blasts. Soi Fon used her agility to dodge each blast that rained onto the battlefield.

Once the last ball left his palm, Trunks appeared behind her for a killing stroke. Soi Fon parried his overhead slash but recoiled from the collision. Trunks swung his blade with twice as much speed and power as he did before. He gave her no space or time to counter his constant attacks.

After she endured the onslaught, she slipped past his blade to stab with Suzumebachi. A crushing fist met her liver. She bore the pain and pulled her arm back to strike again. Trunks charged an energy blast in his palm that swelled to her size. She shifted her hands to hold a yellow orb that drove her to the edge of the island. Before her shoe touched the water in the bay, Soi Fon mustered the strength to punt the blast into the sky.

Trunks closed the space between them just as she lowered her leg. With his sword on his opposite hip, he unleashed a swift diagonal slash. A chasm, formed from the pressure of the swing, stretched out of sight. While water flowed down to fill the deep divide, Trunks let out a low growl, then used his Sonido to move inland.

"Bakudo #30, Shitotsu Sansen." Three yellow triangles of energy dropped from the sky and struck both of Trunks' arms and his hip. He howled and writhed about as the Kido bound him face-down to the floor.

High in the air, Soi Fon used the moment to wipe her blood-smeared cheek. Trunks' ascension to Super Saiyan 2 turned the tide of the battle in his favor. Any attempts to outmaneuver or overwhelm him failed. Her last evasive measure almost cost her neck, and with his Hollowfication process furthering by the minute, a similar attack would dismember her. With no other options left, she played her trump card.

"Shunko." Translucent spirit energy enveloped her entire body. Pressurized Kido forced itself out of her back and arms, while a fierce current of wind wrapped around her right arm.

Trunks released his dark energy and shattered Shitotsu Sansen. Before he threw himself back into the fray, Soi Fon appeared above him. She drove her fist into his spine with enough force to upheave the earth and create a colossal crater. The impact carried on and splintered the ground beneath Toshiro's feet.

"Her spiritual pressure took a massive leap, almost like she activated her Bankai," he said. "What is that technique?"

"It's a technique born from combining Hakuda and Kido," Yoruichi said. "I named it Shunko. It reinforces the legs and arms with Kido, increasing her speed and power. Soi Fon uses a wind-based Shunko, but by the looks of it, she still hasn't gotten around to mastering it."

"She hasn't mastered it, yet she's rearranged the battlefield with one blow. It's admirable that her power has increased this much in six months."

"She tortured herself daily to yield those results," Kisuke said. He kept his focus on Rukia's treatment. "There are few people in this world that can adapt to that mindset, and even fewer that return from it with their sanity."

"And the only other person I know who trains that way is fighting against her," Ichigo said. "Oh, the irony."

Soi Fon touched down in the center of the crater. However, in the fallout from her attack, she lost sight of her enemy. She remained calm, waiting for her foe to emerge.

The ground beneath rumbled. She pivoted her foot away as Tensa Zangetsu pierced through the dirt. Trunks emerged, but received a punch to the stomach. He stumbled back, then charged with his claws aimed at her face. Soi Fon fell backward and sent him into the air with a kick to the chin. She sprung to her feet, then pursued after him to capitalize.

Trunks regained his balance and shot a Cero from his fingertip. As the beam closed in, Soi Fon pressed forward with her right hand extended. The wind shot forth from her arm and dispersed the Cero across the island. Before he reacted, Soi Fon smashed her fist against his face and cracked his mask. A subsequent bombardment of strikes left Trunks with no means of defense.

The exhilaration was indescribable. Every blow she landed felt like a breath of fresh air. All of her training prepared her for this day, and it paid off more than she had imagined. The rush of battle and the exertion of dominance pumped adrenaline through her veins. She forgot what it felt like after months of drowning in mental anguish. Once she surfaced with more power than ever before, it nearly brought her dormant grin to the light. However, she stopped basking in her moment once realization struck.

What was she thinking? How could she afford to be self-indulgent on a mission like this? The aim was to buy time. Attacking a Hollow with an endless amount of stamina would come back to haunt her. Besides, even with her newfound strength, Trunks' maximum power would dwarf hers at any moment.

Soi Fon landed one last kick to his neck before separating with a Flash Step. The Hollow unleashed an insufferable roar as he healed from the damage inflicted on him. He then pointed his finger and fired a barrage of Ceros. Instead of deflecting, she elected to dodge the oncoming blasts. Trunks ceased firing and materialized before her. With minimal effort, Soi Fon evaded each of his attempts to cleave her. Soon enough, she turned what was once a heated duel into a game of cat and mouse. No matter how many times he used his Sonido, Soi Fon stayed a step ahead and a sizable distance away.

She touched down on the island, but to her surprise, Trunks didn't follow. He floated below the clouds and howled out into the wind. Soi Fon interpreted this to be an act of frustration. In the next moment, however, he silenced himself and raised his Zanpakuto. A blue glow burst from his body, accompanied by a violent golden aura. Soi Fon gasped, and the force of his next swing destroyed the ground in front of her. She shielded herself from the rush of rocks and wind, but raised her eyes to see the Hollow dive toward her.

His power was more crippling and overwhelming than it had been inside of Sokyoku Hill. Fear didn't paralyze her, but she had no strategic means of fighting. Trunks' dramatic increase in speed made escape difficult, if not impossible. With her enemy bearing down on her, she needed to do something if she wanted to live.

Once Trunks transformed, Ichigo grabbed his sword and rocketed into the air. He flew with utmost urgency, but it wouldn't be enough to reach Trunks in time. Activating Bankai or launching a Getsuga Tensho would take too long. He extended his free hand and charged an energy ball. At the very least, he could offer a distraction.

"Haaa!" A blue wave of energy passed Ichigo's face and rammed into Trunks. It carried him down into the bay, then exploded into a tall eruption of water. Once Ichigo spun around, his eyes expanded. Next to Urahara, Goten panted with his hands thrusted outward. He already transformed into Pseudo Blue.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Ichigo screamed.

"What does it look like I'm doing?!" Goten said. "I got worried, so I came to help. There's no way you can fight him alone now."

"But you know you can't-"

"Ichigo!" Toshiro yelled. "Focus on the enemy. Let me handle this."

Ichigo nearly rebutted, but closed his lips before a word escaped. He turned and continued to travel toward Soi Fon.

"Why aren't we going with him?" Goten asked. "Trunks is too strong for them now."

"I've trained with Ichigo for the last six months. Let him have ten minutes to stall him. After that, we'll assist him."

"Ten minutes?! Toshiro, he'll die if we don't do something."

Yoruichi stepped in front of him. "Then give him two minutes. That'll allow you enough time to study your opponent and learn his habits."

"I suppose, but… what's the point of waiting? I can figure out his habits while I fight."

"It's also a matter of energy conservation," Toshiro said. "Trunks has fought for thirty minutes and shows no signs of waning. However, you're still catching your breath after one Kamehameha. Are you sure you're ready for this battle?"

Goten turned to Hitsugaya with a solemn gaze. "There's no doubt in my mind. I've slacked on my training, but I have to help any way that I can."

After he stared back into his eyes, Toshiro responded. "I understand."

"Let me fill you in before you join them," Yoruichi said. Goten nodded, then turned to listen to her explain the events before his arrival.

"He can use Ki attacks, too?!" Goten asked.

"Yes, and he's shown that he can fire multiple Ceros every second, none of which you should take lightly."

"What about his other techniques? Has he used a Galick Gun or even a Getsuga Tensho?"

"Not yet, but I don't doubt that he'll-"

Yoruichi struck his solar plexus with an elbow. He collapsed to his knees and clutched onto his chest, hyperventilating for a breath his larynx refused to intake. Goten struggled to raise his head, but wheezed out, "What… the… hell-"

Toshiro's clasped hands struck him in the back of the neck. Goten crashed face first into the dirt; his hair reverted to its original color. Kisuke finished healing Rukia, then bound his body with Bakudo #99.

"This should keep him contained until we're finished," Urahara said.

Toshiro fixed his sunken eyes on Goten. "He should at least get the message that we're aware of his condition. Even if we told him we knew, he'd resist us to the bitter end." He lifted his gaze. "In any case, he's right. None of us can't fight him on our own. It's going to take our joint efforts to survive now."

Kisuke and Yoruichi nodded. Hitsugaya turned to Rukia, who already raised herself to one knee. "What about you, Kuchiki? Will you be joining us?"

"Yes, Captain." She stood to her feet. "I'm ready to fight."

"Glad to hear it."

"You two go ahead," Yoruichi said. "Kisuke and I need to move their bodies to a safe location."

Once Toshiro disappeared with Rukia, Kisuke grinned and readjusted his hat. "I thought they were already in a safe enough place."

"There's a strong possibility that we won't be able to hold Trunks for much longer. What's your plan?"

The edges of his mouth sank. "You always ask the tough questions." He exhaled before giving an answer. "There's no surefire way for me to seal a being with as much power as he possesses. Therefore, I sent a firmware update to the bug I planted under his scalp. On my command, it'll burrow down and send an electric shock, acting as a kill switch to his brain. I fear that anything less than that won't suffice."

Yoruichi averted her stare and crossed her arms. "How long will you give him?"

"The hope is that we can stall for another thirty minutes, but I underestimated the time it would take before he overpowered us."

"Did you plan to relay this news to the others?"

"It'll serve as a distraction more than anything. Now, I'd hate to cut the conversation short, but I think it's time we regrouped with our allies."

Urahara Flash Stepped away, leaving Yoruichi to sigh before she joined him next to Hitsugaya. The Soul Reapers stood with their weapons drawn, yet Trunks had not surfaced from the freezing waters.

Ichigo turned to Soi Fon next to him. "Sorry to step in on your fight like this, but it looks like we're all gonna have to band together on this one."

"I suppose it can't be helped," she said. Her eyes remained locked on the water. "Your friend won't be joining us, Hitsugaya?"

"No, he'd only be a detriment if he came," Toshiro said. "Is there any important information we should know? Did you pick up on any of his tendencies?"

"He has no tendencies. His fighting style is unpredictable, a reason I maintained an offensive for so long. No two moves look alike. He wields his blade with both hands, each attacking with the same power, speed, and control."

Ichigo grinned. "Well, we knew it wouldn't be easy. That's why we trained our asses off."

"I don't think it's wise to downplay the situation," Toshiro said. "We need to stay focused if we want to-"

Trunks rose out of the water and high into the air. His muscle mass gained a significant increase, and he now sported a thick white tail. Long, blonde hair flowed along his back. The robe torn off of his upper half revealed a gaping hole in the center of his chest. All Homonka markings on his body had vanished.

Ichigo tightened the grip on his Zanpakuto as Trunks' amber eyes peered into his own. The Hollow's silence made him uneasy. Something was coming, and he needed to be ready. Raising an open palm to the sky, Trunks formed an enormous red sphere of energy, encircled by a pulsating black ring.

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Ichigo yelled.

"Dammit," Toshiro said through gnashed teeth. "How can he generate that much energy in no time at all?"

Soi Fon trembled with a widened gaze. "Please tell me we can repel that."

"I think so," Ichigo said. "But this is probably the tip of the iceberg for him. It's times like these where I wish I could enter his inner world and beat some sense into him."

"Kurosaki, this might be the only time I will ever agree with you."

A Getsuga Tensho from his Hollow self smashed Trunks through two buildings before his head smacked into the pavement. He'd fought an uphill battle since he arrived, but his opponent matched his every move and struck him with more force than Trunks possessed. The continuous damage he suffered exhausted him; he had no options but to withstand it.

The Hollow landed onto the street and strolled toward him. He twirled his Bankai by the chain. "What a sorry excuse for a Saiyan. I guess Aizen was right about you."

Trunks stumbled to his feet, attempting to catch his breath. He thrusted his sword into the ground and slammed his palms together. "Final Flash!"

The attack shot out from his hands, but the Hollow upheld his casual demeanor. He caught the hilt of his sword, then swatted the blast to the side. Using Sonido to arrive in Trunks' face, the Hollow grabbed him by his tattered robe, hoisted him up, and crushed him onto his back. Trunks laid in agony while his enemy stood with a devilish smile.

"Did you even try on that last one?" the Hollow asked. "Of course not; you've already given up. Do you ever wonder how ashamed your father would be if he saw you now?"

Trunks leaped up with a fist pulled back, but his doppelgänger already extended a hand in his face. A blast propelled him across the street, then detonated. Drained and defeated, he laid in a fetal position. His lavender hair fell to his face and concealed his slivered eyes.

The Hollow drew the black sword from the earth. "It's disgusting. You lay there like a man that resigned himself to death. Trunks, do you know what separates a King from his horse? I'm not speaking on the biological aspects, but what decides which one leads into battle and which one follows? It comes down to their form, ability, and power. But if those three attributes are equal between the two, then what is the deciding factor?"

Through labored breaths, Trunks answered, "I… I don't know."

"At first, Ichigo made me believe the answer was instinct. He tried to fight every battle with reason and logic, but that's not the case with you. Royal Saiyan blood demands you to wage battles and conquer your opponents. Your fight against Nnoitra Gilga proves it lies within you. But once Aizen dismantled your ego, that killer instinct disappeared. Soi Fon - a Soul Reaper that can't hold a candle to your power - reduced you to a firework, all because you latched onto fear. So, let's return to the question. If two people have equal form, ability, power, and the same instinct to skewer their enemies, which one leads, and which one follows?"

Though every part of his body throbbed with sharp pain, Trunks followed the Hollow's words. He first presumed the answer to be instinct, but he came to a new conclusion.

The Hollow stood over him with both swords rested on his neck. "Have you had enough time to think it over, or should I spell it out for you?"

"It's will. They're separated… by their will."

"Well, I guess you're not as dumb as I thought. When there's little to no hope in a situation, it's will that allows an individual to press forward and win by any means possible. Even after tasting defeat, a person with a strong will does anything to wash that bitter flavor from their mouth. Only a person who abandoned their resolve would understand the answer to that question. You have no pride, no drive to improve, or even make something out of your life. Yet you entered this world and expected me to follow your lead?"

The Hollow lowered the swords to his sides with a firm grip. A mighty yell caused his aura to explode; vicious bio-electricity shot outward. "I'd rather cut my throat open than obey a weakling! This Saiyan blood is so invigorating! Civilizations could fall at the snap of my fingers. I have the unlimited potential to grow exponentially stronger. With my will alone, I could dismantle any foe that stood in my path!"

He clenched his teeth and seethed with fury. "And that is why it tears at every fiber of my being to watch you squander a perfectly good body. That's why I wouldn't stop telling you to end your life. Your endless despair caused this entire world to rain until it flooded. You're a waste!"

The Hollow planted his foot in Trunks' ribs to turn him upright. He then flipped the black sword in the air and caught it by the blade. "The old man gave you this ripened blade, and in your hands, it rotted. You've disrespected him, as well as Ichigo. You don't deserve to wield the power of Bankai."

With a squeeze of his hand, the Hollow disintegrated the black Tensa Zangetsu into nothingness, leaving Trunks to watch with a quivering jaw. His doppelgänger lifted him by the roots of his hair. In one swift motion, the white sword impaled Trunks' stomach, causing him to yelp out.

"Now, you won't have to worry about being a faux Soul Reaper or a disappointing Saiyan. You won't even have to blend in with the humans. Allow me to welcome you to your ultimate state of bliss: oblivion."

Dribbles of blood fell from the pale blade and splattered onto the road. Trunks slumped forward with faintness and blurred vision. If he didn't act, he'd lose the battle for his soul. But would that be such a bad thing? He'd no longer suffer through life's tribulations, and he could no longer harm anyone else. The world rested in the capable hands of his father, Gohan, and Goku. No one needed his protection.

His knees buckled inward. With his end in sight, he couldn't figure out why he hadn't rolled over and accepted his fate yet. Even at his lowest, even when he went through the motions for months and wished to end it all, he didn't. Time after time, he'd been dragged through hell. What kept him standing?

Is this what I want? Do I want to die here?

Yoruichi laid face-down and unconscious in the frozen tundra. Folded over a pile of rubble, Rukia found herself in the same condition. Fatigue, coupled with a broken arm, made it burdensome for a tired Urahara to climb to his knees. Soi Fon limped to her feet and grasped her shoulder. Shunko depleted her energy reserves, but she stumbled into a fighting stance, ready to give her best effort.

Next to her, Ichigo hunched over and clutched tender ribs. He struggled to hold Tensa Zangetsu with a vertical gash along his arm. A slash across his chest oozed blood into the rest of his clothes.

In his matured Bankai form, Toshiro held off Trunks in the sky. With an eye blinded by blood and a stab wound in his thigh, he narrowly evaded the Hollow to allow the others to recover.

Ichigo straightened up and turned his head to Soi Fon with a smile. Confused, she returned a scowl. "What the hell is the matter with you? You're happy at a time like this?"

"I think it's only been ten minutes," he said. "It feels like it's been hours since we started." Ichigo shook his head. "And he's… he's really kicking the shit out of us. We've thrown everything at him, and he's barely even scratched. It'd be so much easier to throw in the towel."

"I never imagined the Soul Society's savior would suggest something so cowardly."

"It was an observation, not a suggestion. I'm staying in this battle until the old Trunks comes back. That's what I owe him. He never gave up on me, so I won't give up on him. But… you shouldn't push yourself this hard. You don't have to-"

"Save it. I have a mission to carry out. I'll rest once it's completed. If I can't complete it, then I'll die trying."

"Of course. Whatever happens, I wanted to thank you for coming. You saved Rukia, and you helped us in a big way. It means a lot, and I know Trunks will appreciate it more than I can put into-"

"Speak another syllable of nonsense and you'll have another enemy to worry about. Your sentimental downpour will be the death of Captain Hitsugaya."

"Sorry, I got carried away." He set his sights overhead. "Shall we?"

"After you."

Toshiro pushed himself to block the strikes hurled in his direction, but he failed to keep up with Trunks' endless reserves of stamina. A strong parry opened Toshiro's body for a fatal blow. Before Hollow's sword rushed toward his neck, Ichigo intercepted the attack, blocking with his own Bankai. He pushed the sword away, allowing for Soi Fon to Flash Step to his back. As she lunged forward with Suzumebachi, Ichigo grasped his sword with both hands and swung with all his might.

Trunks dropped his Zanpakuto and caught Ichigo's blade. With his other hand, he reached out and snatched Soi Fon's face. He flung her headfirst into a charging Toshiro, sending them both plunging into the ground. Wasting no time, the Hollow yanked Ichigo and head-butted his forehead. As Ichigo recoiled in agony, Trunks struck the top of his head with a fist. Ichigo tumbled toward the earth, but halted his momentum in time to sidestep an aerial kick. Once Trunks landed on the island, he spun around and pointed a Cero in Ichigo's direction.

The immense pressure of the attack bore on his shoulders, yet Ichigo released Tensa Zangetsu into the wind and brought his inverted hands behind his head. Toshiro Flash Stepped beside him with cupped hands next to his waist. The red Cero launched from the ground, while the combined Kamehameha and Galick Gun hailed from above. The attacks clashed at a midpoint, but the single beam pressed upward toward the duo.

Veins bulged from Ichigo's neck. "God… Dammit!" He strained for more power. "Push harder!"

Hitsugaya snapped back through clenched teeth. "You push harder!"

"There's gotta be a way… to beat this-"

A tortured wail echoed throughout the island, followed by a sudden drop of pressure. The two beams overcame the Cero and raced to the ground.

"What the hell's happening?!" Toshiro asked.

Ichigo gasped and separated his hands. "Is that Trunks? Shit!"

No, he wasn't ready to die, not yet at least. Trunks had none of the answers he needed, but if he wanted to survive, he had to do something.

"This is… my Bankai," he whispered.

The Hollow chortled. "What was that? Are you finally waving the white flag?"

Trunks grasped onto the blade, his glaring eyes flickering into a greenish-blue. "Get your hand off my sword. This is my Bankai. Now give it back!"

The sword in his stomach blackened, which prompted the Hollow to relinquish his hold and leap away. Trunks winced as he pulled the sword from his body. He gripped the hilt, then flicked it outward to remove the blood.

"I… I used to listen to everything you said, and I believed every word. But now I realized that… I wanna be there for my mom, and wanna watch my sister grow up. I wanna graduate and do something important with my degree. I have to apologize to Soi Fon for the mess you made. And I made a promise to Goten that I would stay by his side. People are putting their lives on the line for me; I can't let them down!"

Trunks exploded into his Pseudo Blue state, prompting the Hollow to express bewilderment. "You were ready to keel over! How?! Why?!"

"Depression made me forget my purpose, but now I can see it as clear as day. I'm not like my dad, but he taught me that as long as I draw breath, I can still fight. No matter who I face, I'll win for my pride's sake, and because I have to protect as many people as I can."

Trunks flashed to his enemy. Before his Hollow self batted an eye, Trunks plunged Tensa Zangetsu through his sternum. "I've let you stand in my way for too long. That stops here. It ends with me."

The Hollow smirked as his clothes faded to black. "Damn. So you found your will after all. I wonder, how long will this newfound confidence last? Will you fold when the next enemy batters you to a bloody pulp?"

"Never. When the time comes, I'll surpass any threat that comes my way. That's my responsibility: to put my power to good use."

"I see. Then congratulations, you've bested me. I have no choice but to acknowledge you as the king now." The Hollow gradually dissipated into the water. "That doesn't mean you can get comfortable. If your resolve falters at any point, I won't hesitate to strip you of your crown. I assure you we'll meet again, but until then, I'd recommend you not to get yourself killed."

"We won't ever meet again. I'll keep you buried in the depths of my soul, right where you belong."

"You poor fool. Whether you like it or not, I will always be a part of you. We're two sides of the same coin. Once you accept that, you'll be at peace."

"You're wrong. You may be attached to my soul, but you will never be me."

Soi Fon lifted herself from a mound of dirt. Almost a hundred meters away, Hollow Trunks hugged a massive blue and purple-swirled blast. He screeched as his cracking exoskeleton spurted out blood. The attack forced his ankles into the ground before it buried him entirely.

He couldn't survive the blast's detonation. Soi Fon willed her aching body forward and sprinted to prevent his imminent death. At her injured pace, it was unlikely that she'd reach him.

A surge of spiritual pressure emerged before her. Soi Fon halted and observed a figure rise with the ball of energy in their outstretched arms. The energy signal belonged to him; his body had returned to its usual shape, yet she gasped at the sight of Trunks' bare arms pushing upward.

Exhaustion forced her to her knees. "Of course he waits until the last second to show up." For a moment, she overlooked her injuries and permitted a broad grin to raise her cheeks. "Jackass."

Trunks yelled out, then forced the sphere away with a push of energy. After speeding past Ichigo's and Toshiro's nose, it exited the atmosphere and twinkled in the sky. Trunks stood tall, gasping for air through his new skull mask. Two thick, black stripes ran vertically on each half of the white canvas, only to be interrupted by the eyeholes and the teeth. Black sclera and pupils surrounded yellow irises.

Gravity dragged his arms to his sides. The encompassed aura faded; his spiked hair sagged down to his head. The mask shattered off of his face and restored his eyes to their bright blue hue.

"Oh, shit." He couldn't stop himself from crashing onto his back. Never in his life had he felt so drained, but he took in all the sensations the moment offered. A gentle breeze raised goosebumps along his arms and brushed his nose with the scent of sea salt. A flock of interspersed birds soared in the fire-colored sky. What he noted most was the endured silence in his mind. He waited with bated breath, but nothing disturbed the overhead chirps. A sigh of relief fled his lips.

Ichigo glided down next to him with a luminant smile. "So, how do you feel?"

"Like my head got run over by an eighteen-wheeler… eighteen times," Trunks rasped. "I thought I'd feel better, but… all I feel is copious amounts… of mind-numbing pain."

Ichigo chuckled. "I think you can blame some of that on S- " He twisted around, but no one was behind him. "She leaves without saying a word. Why am I not surprised?"

Trunks raised his brows. "What are you talking about?"

"Soi Fon was here, but I guess she didn't wanna hang around and talk."

Ichigo's words jolted Trunks like an electric shock to his nervous system, shooting his eyes and mouth wide open. "There's no way. Don't… don't you dare fuck with me."

"I wouldn't fuck with you about this. She was here, and she fought like hell."

Trunks stared in disbelief. However, he choked out a gasp, his expression shifting from one of perplexity to one of concern.

"Please tell me… I didn't hurt her… again. Dammit!" Trunks groaned in pain as he rolled onto his stomach.

Ichigo dropped to a knee beside him. "Hey, just take it easy! She's fine."

"No." Trunks balled his fists. "I have to… find her." Tension across his muscles relaxed, and his eyelids drooped. "I have to… to tell her…"

He let out a silent exhale. With his eyes shut, his cheek embraced the soil. Ichigo sighed, then threw his body over a shoulder. "Maybe later. For now, let's get you in a bed."

"You can bring him to the shop," Yoruichi said beside him. She wrapped her arm around Urahara's neck and leaned on him for support. "I have some things to discuss with him."

"Well, when you two finish your chat, I've got plenty of work piled up for him," Kisuke said. "He's gonna have to make up for all of that vacation time he used."

"Really? Is that all you can think about right now?"

Kisuke grinned. "Of course not. I'm grateful, actually. I was a couple of seconds away from doing something I'd never forgive myself for. But let's not focus on trivial matters. Ichigo, it seems Yoruichi and I are a bit too weak to Flash Step ourselves home. Would you mind giving us a ride? Oh, and Rukia is still incapacitated, so you'll have to carry her, too."

Ichigo sucked his teeth. "Alright, I can manage once I hop back in my body."

"No, I wouldn't do that. Your muscles are bound to be frozen stiff by now. It'd be best if you carry it, too."

"But… What am I supposed to do, then? I'm too tired to lift five people at once. And I still have to find my Zanpakuto and take it with me."

"Well, it looks like you'll have to get creative."

"Creative?! Okay, I have a creative idea. I'll fly everyone else to Karakura Town, but you can swim back. You're wearing a heated coat, right?"

While Ichigo tended to Trunks, Toshiro powered down from his Bankai and arrived in front of Ichigo's glowing human body. Beside it, Goten kneeled with a hand over Ichigo's chest.

He lifted his dejected eyes. "I was just putting energy into his body to keep it warm. It's the least I can do."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate that," Toshiro said.

Goten lowered his gaze and gripped his pants. "Listen, I know I shouldn't have, but I had to come. I couldn't just-"

"Let's have this conversation at the barracks." Toshiro turned away, opening the Senkaimon with a thrust and a turn of his Zanpakuto. "I'm sure Rangiku will be happy to see you again."

He nodded his head, then followed Toshiro toward the gate. Before he stepped in, he turned and stared into the distance. Trunks looked to be unconscious, and the wind obscured every sound other than Ichigo and Urahara bickering. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

"Welcome back, Trunks. We missed you." After a translucent aura radiated from his being, Goten flew into the Senkaimon to catch up to his friend.

A/N: Hello everyone! Happy Saturday, and allow me to apologize for my tardiness. This one took a bit of work to get through, but I'm absolutely pleased with it. As much as I loved the arc of despair and depression, the triumph of this ending felt cathartic. I hope you all enjoyed reading as much as I did writing.

By the end of the next chapter, we're gonna have some fun. It might come across as a bit random, but it'll be a nice change of pace. For now, let's call it "Come Back to Earth".

Random fact: I saw this on Google News, but Tite Kubo has theme songs for his characters. Soi Fon's happens to be She Wolf by Megadeth, which is cool because I selected Tornado of Souls as the soundtrack for her fight before I found that out. It's a dumb thing to note but I thought it was cool.

As always, thank you all so much. Having an audience and receiving feedback makes this more satisfying than it already is. Have a great week, and I'll see you on the next one.

Spotify link: openDOTspotifyDOTcom/playlist/0KGzBFFQSvqXhWdyTnJkCH