Harry James Potter had always felt as if he didn't belong, ever since he was young, as if where he was not wasn't right and as if.. as if he didn't fit inside his own body and that was the saddest part of all, even surrounded by friends and without a family but content as long as he and the Dursleys stayed well away from each other. Harry knew that something was being hid from him and he knew that he had a partner of some sort somewhere, he had always heard a voice in his head. It was faint and indistinct but it was there, a soothing presence like cool water on a raging flame, it helped ease his pain when something that he had once thought was Voldemort - but now understood that it was something else entirely- tore into his thoughts. From its distance, it could do no more than that but every now and again, in that place between sleep and awake, he made out a pure white dragon, not the bulky western kind but a thin and sleek eastern dragon with a tall white haired red eyed man next to it, the two looked alike, white with red eyes and a scar resting lightly where their hearts were

His dream has changed, dreaming of a red world strewn with corpses and sitting on top of the corpses was a mirror of him, gleaming white teeth shown as a wicked grin lit his features as he played with a glistening handful of red blood that he poured over the thousands of white skulls, splattering prettily across the white bone. When the dream ended, he shot up, trembling with fear and anguish but only that voice calmed him down, soothed his heart.

He heard the soft knock of a fist against the frame of the front door of the Dursleys home, he pushed off of the sink and headed downstairs, fully aware that the Dursleys would not move even if the door knocked. Harry gently opened the door, peering into the face of a tall blonde man wearing a white and green striped hat with a group of other men behind him. He tilted his head and smiled. "Hello, how can I help you?"

The hat wearing blonde grinned and nodded. "Yes, yes you can." A fist came flying towards him and he flew backwards, something in front of him falling, noticing that he was suddenly taller all of a sudden and that in front of him his body was crumbled. Flying towards him came a sheathed sword that he caught out of reflex, curling his hands around the familiar hilt and shaking as images prayed across his brain. The white haired man appeared, a smile curling his lips as he knelt down to his master.

"Kisuke! That was a bit dramatic!" The other blonde rumbled irritably, although he laughed. Next to him, a black haired man was near scowling but his eyes were soft and happy.

"I have waiting a long time, master." Shiroi murmured, turning towards the now familiar faces and smiling as his red eyes gleamed. "I appreciate this, Kisuke Urahara but this rescue is not yet over." Urahara looked confused and Shiroi lifted his hand and pointed over everyone's shoulder to the group outside, a group of self proclaimed light wizards stood with fierce expressions.

"You will not take him from here! Harry needs to save us!" Dumbledore called despairingly, his hand holding steady on his wand. Takeshi struggled up, using the sword as leverage as he rolled his shoulders, being in a gigai for so long hurt, especially one smaller than his original body. Takeshi didn't take a second to dwell on anything, instead he leapt forwards, drawing his sword and tilting the blade slightly, murmuring the phrase of release and the white dragon crawled up his face, resting next to his fringe and his eyes darkening to a deep black. He turned to the group behind him and shook his head as they prepared for battle.

"This is something I must do alone." He said quietly and with his old skills coming back to him, the battle began.

**

Hueco Mundo

Morning

Green eyes slid open, pale hands pushing the covers from his body as he stood up, yawning lightly as he smoothed down his black hair. Ulquiorra awoke easily, pulling of the simple white night clothes and changing into his normal outfit. He turned his head as he felt Aizen's reiatsu rear, Aizen's way of summoning them. It irritated Ulquiorra that Aizen treated them like dogs but Ulquiorra knew that, to Aizen, his opinion didn't matter all that much but then, his sense of loyalty was the only thing keeping him in this place. He had to repay Aizen for all he had done. Good and bad.

**

Kisuke Urahara's shop

12 hours after finding Takeshi.

The sun had set in the sky, everyone but Kisuke and his guests sleeping. Byakuya had disappeared but Shinji had briefly gone home but was content to perch lightly on the edge of the bed where Takeshi slept off the long day, his hand tight around the swords hilt, not releasing it for a second. After a century in prison and then a further 10 years of pain he stirred at the slightest sound and only when Shinji was near did he calm down at least a little bit. In the living room with Urahara the entirety of the Vizard's save Shinji sat nearly silently, listening as Urahara explained to them. Nobody noticed Ichigo standing silently in the doorway, watching them all with sad eyes.

Ichigo exited the house, sliding the door shut and resting lightly against the door, looking at the stars. His orange hair shifted lightly in the breeze and, with a soft, unheard goodbye, he jumped away into the distance, going from roof to roof as he flash stepped to the place where he found comfort, the river's edge. He sat on the edge, fingers drifting through the icy water as he slid deep into though, unawares that inside him, it was raining.

Ichigo's inner world

Zangetsu grumbled softly, looking upwards at the stormy sky, swinging around a version of himself in anger at his masters plight. He felt the sword halt and heard a loud clang as the sword was parried by Ichigo's hollow, know as Shiro by Ichigo and him, hummed softly.

"He's upset, huh?" Shiro murmured, gently pushing the sword away from him and walking to the edge of a building.

"Indeed, would you talk to him?" Zangetsu muttered lowly, wiping some rain from his forehead.

".. I guess." Shiro huffed, conversing mentally with Ichigo. 'King? What's wrong, what happened?'

'Why do you care?' Ichigo snarled back at him, appearing in front of them. Shiro raised his eyebrow silently and Ichigo glanced down. '…I'm lonely, that's all.' Shiro and Zangetsu shared a confused look but took it in their stride.

'Lonely, king? Why would you be lonely?' Shiro asked somewhat gently.

'.. I guess its because I'm never normal. Not Shinigami, not human, not hollow and not even a Vizard. The Vizards are close and they have a history but I.. I'm just an extra and I guess I feel left out by everyone.' Ichigo seemed to get uncomfortable because he laughed a fake laugh and quickly made up for his cracked defence. 'I-ignore me, I'm just being stupid.'

Shiro and Zangetsu went soft, Shiro's eyes shining with sincerity. 'There is no need to be embarrassed besides, we are always with you.'

Zangetsu agreed. 'Yes Ichigo, we will not leave you.' The bond between zanpakuto and master and hollow and master strengthened and the rain stopped as a smile, a rare thing for Ichigo Kurosaki, lifted Ichigo's lips. Unbeknownst to all, this was only the beginning of gaining a greater power.

**

Hueco Mundo

Aizen smiled as Ulquiorra returned, the espada all listened to the report. Orihime Inoue was on her way to being under his control. This was the beginning of the end and soon the royals would get their comeuppance.

***

Authors note:

A chapter a long time coming, sorry for the delay! I'm going to try to work on my neglected stories so after this perhaps a chappeh of blood moon!