A/N: So I am technically on a hiatus until June 5. I should've told you all, but I just kept putting it off, so I decided to binge write this chapter (it's boring, in my opinion, but oh well). This way, you all get a chapter, and I feel a little less guilty. I did write this chapter on my phone, so please excuse me for my mistakes as I've been computer-less and will continue to be without access to a computer until the aforementioned date. Sorry about that. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

In a span of a few, wordless, seconds, a blade clashes against sword. A cero is negated by a Getsuga Tenshō. Resurrección is met with Bankai.

I jump back.

"So easily manipulated," he laughs out as he rushes toward me again.

I glare at him as I Shunpo behind him, raising Zangetsu to slash him.

He aims his elbow at me, shooting five of those bombs at me.

I jump up, dodging them, but with his other hand, he aims another cero at me.

"Is that all you got, Kurosaki?"

I evade his attack while sending one of my own.

"Even that woman put up more of a fight!"

In a span of a few, thoughtless, seconds, my mind blanks. A scream rips through my throat. My reiatsu wraps around me in unrestricted, irrational fury. Urahara-san's warning before he sent me here is forgotten, ignored as my body moves. I reacted, and now his arm is severed.

"Tsk. Maybe I shouldn't have killed her. Who else is going to he—"

Who takes over, I don't know. Maybe it's me. Maybe it's the hollow. Maybe it's something even more inhuman that that. But whatever it is, it's merciless. It's primitive and vicious and mindless. A complete beast.

Zangetsu is lodged in his stomach. And my mouth is already forming the first syllable that will release the killing blow when I hear a voice in the distance.

"Kurosaki-kun! Kurosaki-kun!"

I pull the blade out of him and zoom to where she is. And it is because she is running towards me, too, that she slams into my chest. It is because of this that I allow myself to hug her. Because if I don't, she would bounce off me and fall. Because if I don't hold her, I'll fall.

She's here. She's alive and safe. She's with me again.

"Kurosaki-kun?"

I pull back a little to look over her. She looks fine. No scratches. No bruises. She's perfectly okay, but maybe she's injured in some kind of way that I can't see.

"You're not hurt, are you?" I ask.

She shakes her head, and I notice that she's blushing.

"What about you? Do I need to -"

"Woman, come heal me."

I let her go completely so I can move in front of her.

"Don't come any closer, Grimmjow!"

He laughs as he holds his bleeding stomach.

"No wonder Urahara brought her here," he remarks.

My eyes widen, and I glance back at her.

"He did?"

She nods.

"He asked me to come to his shop, and he told me I was needed here tonight…so I should probably heal him, right?"

Even though it's a question, her Sōten Kisshun is already surrounding him.

"Once she's done, we are going to continue, Kurosaki."

I scowl. I'm not fighting him again. Once she's done, I'm taking her home.

"That mad man made me a deal for my cooperation. We fight until we settle our score."

"If that's true, it's already over. I won."

"Says who, you bastard? We're just getting started!"

He tries to rush forward, but Inoue's Shun Shun Rikka repels him back.

I snicker at his confused expression.

"Let me out, woman!"

I scowl at his disrespectfulness, and I'm tempted to beat his ass again for that alone, but I stop short when something collides with me.

"Ichigooo!"

I let out a grunt as small arms wrap around my head in a death grip.

"Nel! Your finger is digging into my eye!"

She laughs.

"Damn brat! Didn't I tell you to keep her away?" Grimmjow growls at her.

"I was! But she was 'it!'"

"You and your stupid game of tag!"

"It's not stupid!"

"Umm…Nel-chan," I hear Inoue whisper. "Your finger is still in Kurosaki-kun's eye."

I reach up, lift Nel, and set her on the ground before she blinds me.

"Well, it's been good seeing you two, but we should be going, right, Inoue?"

"Mmhmm!"

"You're not going anywhere." I look over to see Yoruichi-san in her cat form. "Kisuke told me to make sure that the two of you fight until I see fit."

"What's going on? Why are you here?"

"You'll know eventually. Inoue's job is to heal the both of you until then."

"Eh?"

"You heard the cat. Come on, Kurosaki!"

I look back at Inoue, and she is just as confused as I am. But her shield incases me, and the minor wounds I had are healed quickly. She then nods at me, and it's clear what she's saying: she's telling me to listen to Yoruichi-san. There must be a reason why Urahara-san sent us here, so I might as well listen to his instructions as best as I can.

So I fight with Grimmjow. I don't try to mortally wound him like last time. There's no reason to. His statements earlier had goaded me into losing control, but now that I can see Inoue's alright, more than alright as she's running away from Dondochakka while laughing, I fight him like we are just practicing.

He doesn't have the same sentiment. He's coming at me with the intent to kill, but he's no match for me anymore.

But I do as I'm told. I fight, and Inoue heals. And it must be an hour or more before Yoruichi interrupts us.

"Okay. That's good enough."

"So we are finally going home, right?"

She grimaces.

"Not yet. We have one more stop." She transforms out of her cat form. "Grimmjow, would you mind opening up a Garganta to Soul Society?"

"Fine. But don't think this is over, Kurosaki."

"Sure," I dismiss as he opens up the portal.

I look over to Inoue. Her cheeks her flushed, and she's lightly panting. During all this time, she's been playing tag with Nel and her brothers.

"You've had fun?"

She grins. "Yup!" Her smile dims a little as she looks down. "Although my legs are a little tired."

"Can you make it to Soul Society? Want me to carry you?"

She stutters out a no, and I chuckle at her flustered expression.

"Come on, you two. You can flirt all you want later, but for now, we've got to go," Yoruichi says as she heads into the Garganta.

I'm sure we both blush at her teasing words before following her.

"So are you going to tell us what's really happening?"

"Unfortunately, I can't. I don't really know much," she confesses while we run. "Kisuke just gave me specific directions."

"Which were?"

She ignores my question.

"We're almost there. Be ready to jump."

We nod, and when the time comes, we jump. I'm tempted to wrap my arm around Inoue's waist to save her the trouble of using her powers, but her Santen Kesshun is already formed.

When we land on the ground, I look around. Everything almost still looks the same from when we left here a month ago. Buildings are still destroyed. Rubble upon rubble still covers the ground. The air even seems a shade darker from all the dust that stirs up with each passing wind.

The only difference is that the bodies which laid on the ground and destruction are all gone.

"I know it doesn't look like it, but we've been making good progress," Yoruichi-san states as she walks. "Although it'll take years to get everything as it was," she admits a second later. "But it's nothing we can't fix."

"So you're planning to stay?" Inoue asks.

"For the time beginning. Yuushirou has begged me to stay at the manor, claiming I owed him." How she manages to sound irritated and affectionate is beyond me.

"He must love that you're back," Inoue claims with a giggle. "He's got quite a sister-complex. It's cute."

Yoruichi looks over her shoulder.

"There's a fine line between cute and annoying."

"Yuushirou-kun is too cute to be annoying," Inoue defends lightly.

Yoruichi smirks while I raise an eyebrow.

"Are you hitting on my brother right in front of Ichigo? You sure got guts."

"Eeehhh?!" Inoue blushes and panics. "NO! Of course not!"

"I don't know," I continue in a dubious tone, already settling into my teasing mode. "That's not what it sounds like."

Her eyes widen, and she is about to protest again when multiple spiritual pressures approach where we are.

"I thought I sensed you, my first love! You look beautiful as always!"

I send a glare at Hirako as he rushes toward Inoue with his arms wide upon. I grab him by his haori before he can hug her.

He gives me a bored, haughty look. The same infuriating look he gave me years ago when I pulled him off her when he had the nerve to latch onto on her.

"Oh, it's you."

I click my tongue.

"Keep your hands to yourself, pervert."

"What? Orihime-chan doesn't mind, right?"

He directs his question to her, but she's not even there. She's being suffocated by Rangiku-san.

I let Hirako go to run a hand through my hair.

First I had to block a pervert. Now I have to stop a murder.

"Oi, you have to let her breathe before she…"

I lose my train of thought as a blade comes down on me, and I groan as I notice who the owner to the blade is.

How is this fair? Inoue is showered with warm welcomes and opened arms, and I keep getting crazed maniacs.

"You're looking well, Kenpachi," I grunt out as I push Zangetsu against his blade.

He grins widely.

"You're looking weaker." He insults as he swings his sword down again.

I side-step his attack, but he comes at me again.

This time I don't have to dodge. Inoue shields me.

We look at her as she nears us.

"Hello, Zaraki-san," she greets him with a smile.

"Ojou-san."

"May I say hello?" She asks quietly.

He wordlessly gives her his sword, and she carefully takes it from his hands. She smiles gratefully.

"Yachiru-chan? It's me, booby-chan," she whispers.

I frown. Not just at the nickname Yachiru used to call Inoue but also at the whole scene. It reminded me too much of the past.

It was, to say the least, rough seeing how Inoue responded to the news. When Inoue heard that Yachiru was gone, she had just looked down and walked away to help those who could still be helped. She worked the whole day in solitude. She only answered when spoken to, only offering a small smile to be polite.

But the worst part of it all? It was when Yumichika told me the following day that Inoue spent the night trying to get Yachiru back.

Yes, that was the worst.

It seems like she's doing better, though. She's smiling and saying something about bringing candy next time, and she's hugging the sword like it's normal. But with the strange hush that settles around us, I think maybe people find this anything but. And maybe they are judging Inoue for her kind, eccentric tendencies, but when I look around, there's a softness in everyone's expression. Except for Kenpachi. But there is a quiet respect Kenpachi gives her as she hands the zanpakuto back to him.

It's weird how she has that effect on people.

Yourichi-san walks over to Inoue and wraps an arm around her waist. She looks back at me.

"Ichigo, you are to report to the Captain-Commander immediately."

I scowl.

"Inoue and I will be at the S.R.D.I."

I glare.

"Don't worry. I'll be with her."

That's all she says as she disappears with Inoue. Like those parting words will do anything for me. Like it would soothe me.

They don't. Not enough, anyways. The 12th division is the least possible place I want Inoue. Kurotsuchi has this sick fascination with her. Like he's ready to dissect her if anyone would give him the chance. Like she's a mystery he needs to solve through any means.

I hear a yawn behind me.

"I'll go, too. Make sure no one harms my princess," Hirako announces. I don't even bother to rebuke him for calling her his. He's gone, and I must say, I'm relieved. Although Hirako could be an idiot, he wouldn't let anything happen to Inoue. That I know. I could trust him and Yoruichi-san to keep Inoue safe.

I release a sigh.

"I'm surprised you haven't attacked me again," I direct to Kenpachi.

He grins as he raises his arm as if to make me regret my words.

"Captain Zaraki, Ichigo needs to go. If Nanao hears we kept him from reporting, she'll scold us," Rangiku-san steps in.

Kenpachi pauses before letting his arm down.

"Next time, we fight."

He leaves as I sigh. I should just introduce him with Grimmjow. Let the two crazies go at it, so they can leave me out of it.

"Thanks, Rangiku-san."

She waves me off.

"If you're really grateful, tell me all about you and Orihime."

My eyes widen.

"How'd you know?"

She laughs.

"She has a certain glow, and it can only be from you two getting together or from you two getting together," she finishes with waggling eyebrows.

I feel my face heat up at her suggestive tone, but before she can embarrass me any further with her innuendos—I'm sure she has more—I rush off, heading to the First Division like Yoruichi-san instructed me.

Once I'm there, I'm met by Kyoraku-san.

He smiles.

"Ichigo-kun. It's nice to see you."

I nod back, a little wary of him. Something about him reminds me of Urahara-san; they're both laid-back, but behind their easy-going personalities, they are sly. They are cunning, and it's dangerous.

Something right now is telling me that I should be careful.

"It's been a month, right? How have you been faring without your powers?"

I shrug.

"Fine."

"I heard about last week. What a shame that poor Orihime-chan suffered such injuries."

Although he sounds apologetic, my eyes narrow in suspicion.

"She's okay now," I reply, a little tersely.

He smiles.

"That's good. I can't say the same for some of our men. Some got severely hurt with the unusual hollow activity."

I can feel a tension in me building. Again, it's like my body knows something before my brain does.

He continues speaking as if he can't sense my uneasiness.

"Since the loss of Captain Unohana, the 4th division has been struggling with dealing with all the injured." My heart skips a beat uncomfortably. "You know, Orihime-chan's ability can easily replace the massive loss Soul Society suffered." My fist clenches around Zangetsu. "She would be a great asset to us." His eyes meet mine. "Don't you agree, Ichigo-kun?"