AN: Hi everyone! It's been a couple of months since I updated this particular fic, but I've been focused on my newer ones. So yeah.

Chapter 7: Familiar Faces

- - SHIROU P.O.V. - -

"Lead the way, Rukia," I commanded. She nodded. As she led us through the desert of Hueco Mundo, I took a moment to observe my surroundings. It was dark, yet light. And cold. Those are the two feelings that I'd say characterize Hueco Mundo: dark and cold.

"Shirou," Saber whispered.

"Yes, Saber?" I asked.

"What's that building over there?" she asked me, pointing to my right. I saw a strange palace-like building. So Aizen built himself a palace, eh?

"Ichigo!" Rukia called.

"Eh? Rukia? Renji? And Shirou with his two lieutenants? Kenpachi? Byakuya? Captain Kurotsuchi? What are all of you guys doing here? And who's the arrancar?" Ichigo asked us.

"Ichigo, the Head Captain changed his mind. I had a hunch about your friend, and acted on it. Her friend Miss Arisawa helped clear that up. So now he's ordered us to help you," I replied. At this, he cracked up.

"Wait…you got him to talk to Tatsuki! That's hilarious! Ahahahaha!" he wheezed in between his laughs. I smile.

"I honestly didn't think I'd be able to do it Ichigo," I commented. "But after presenting my argument, along with the evidence, he had no choice but to agree. He now thinks of your friend as a healer and a strategic asset in this war."

"She's not an object, Shirou," he complained.

"Both the Head Captain and I know that. She's primarily a healer. Though he wouldn't treat her as an object, we both know Aizen just very well could. And if her power was used to prematurely awaken the Hogyoku, which would be very bad. That was what the Head Captain told me," I assured him. He sighed.

"Alright then. Climb on," he said, reaching for us to board the Hollow he was riding. We soon reached the palace.

"Senpai," Sakura called "this is Aizen's fortress, Las Noches. This is the safest entrance. It's the entrance to the living quarters of the Privaron Espada." We disembarked from our Hollow transport, and headed through a door opened by Sakura.

As we ran through the fortress, I couldn't help but shake the feeling that Sakura wasn't the only Privaron Espada with a familiar face. As if to interrupt, the hall forked into 6 paths. What the hell is up with this place?

"Captain Emiya, what do you suggest?" Captain Kuchiki asked me. Sakura should probably stay with me, and Rin and Saber will insist. How to split up everyone else?

"OK. Here's the plan. Rin, Saber, Sakura, and I will take one path. Renji, Mr. Ishida, and Captain Kurotsuchi will take a second path. Captain Kenpachi can take the third path. Ichigo and Captain Unohana will take the fourth path. Rukia and Captain Kuchiki can take the fifth path. Mr. Yasutora can take the sixth path. That sounds reasonable, right?" I explained.

"Alright then. Move out!" I yelled, running into a random path. As I was running, I heard Rin, Saber and Sakura follow behind me.

"Shirou," Rin called, "is it just me, or is the hall widening? And is that a large room over there?" she asked. I looked to where she was pointing, and she's right. Due to our speed, we reached said room in a matter of seconds.

Feeling killing intent, I turned and yelled, "who's there?" In response, I began to hear three sets of footsteps walking out of the shadows at the other end of the room. As their faces became visible, I blinked. And blinked again. My heart was frozen. No…there was no way…it couldn't be him! Please, don't let it be him!

"F-f-f-father?" Rin stammered.

"It has been a long time, Rin. And I see my second daughter Sakura is with you as well," her father greeted.

"King of Knights, I should consider it destiny that we meet again. Ah, the Faker's here too. What a nice little reunion we have here, don't we?" a familiar voice drawls. Fuck. Gilgamesh of all people.

"It's good to see you Shirou. I wish we were not enemies, but Aizen gave me a second chance at life. A chance to be a hero," Dad stated resolutely.

"Dad! Are you an idiot? Aizen's plan is to kill off an entire spiritually enriched town to become the Soul King and throw the world into chaos! That's not what a hero would do!" I yelled in anger. Dad was never like this before. I've got to snap him out of it.

"King of Heroes, you were unable to stop us once. I believe the same will happen here today," Saber retorted confidently.

"Saber," I cut in. she turned to face me, clearly confused. "I'll take care of Gilgamesh. My abilities are the only thing that can beat him. You can deal with Dad, OK? Try not to kill him if possible," I commanded. She looked at me, confusion evident, before her features snapped into understanding. As we switched places, I tried to think up a strategy. He would obviously be stronger this time. But then again, I was stronger as well.

"Very well then, King of Heroes, are you still confident that you have enough weapons to beat me?" I taunted, echoing my battle cry of our earlier battle at the conclusion of the Grail War.

"Don't get in over yourself, brat!" he yelled as he charged, Zanpakutou in hand. Heh. He didn't change at all.

LATER

Fighting Gilgamesh as told me one thing: he's been brainwashed. Someone like Gilgamesh would never willingly obey Aizen. He can't stand to be below someone else. Which means most likely these three have been brainwashed by Kyouka Suigetsu. But how to fix that? I can only do Tracing, and Rin's too distraught. I wish Illya were here. Or better yet, Zelretch. He'd know what to do. Definitely.

"I know this troubles you, Shirou. Maybe Unlimited Blade Works could get them to snap out of it. It exerts enough of a presence on the soul that it might just work. If not, I'd suggest Avalon," Senken suggested.

'Unlimited Blade Works, huh? Might as well try it!' I shouted mentally, letting my arm fall to my side.

"Ken de sekai wo hoju suru, Senken," I muttered. "Bankai, Mugen no Ken," I continued, as the bladeless hilts of my Shikai faded into dust.

"What are you doing, Faker?" Gilgamesh asked me. I grinned, and then began the words I was sure he knew all too well.

"I am the bone of my sword…" I chanted. At this, he paled.

"Oh no. Not this. I won't let you!" he yelled, charging at me. But in his anger, his strikes were dodged easily.

"Steel is my body, fire is my blood…"

"I have created over a thousand blades…"

"I am steel, and steel is me…"

"Yet I have no regrets, this is the only path…"

"My soul is…Unlimited Blade Works…" I concluded, sweeping my arm down as a ring of fire surrounded the 6 of us.

"Why you!" Gilgamesh yelled as we were consumed by the rapidly expanding border of my soul. As the whiteness cleared, the 6 of us gazed upon the sight. A barren terrain, as far as the eyes can see, filled with swords. The sky was at a perpetual dawn, yet, the sky held strange, incomprehensible, giant gears that turned like clockwork with no clear purpose.

Off in the corner, I noticed something new. What was it? I saw a small grove of trees. Reinforcing my eyes, I saw a pair of statues made of pure white marble. One was of a woman wearing a simple top with a short skirt and stockings, with her hair tied up in pigtails. The other was simpler, depicting an armored woman holding a European broadsword. Saber and Rin, huh?

"Shirou…" Dad muttered, "what…is this place?"

"It is me. The manifestation of my existence. My very soul. This, Dad, is my Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works," I answered.

"Shirou, what are statues of us doing in here?" Saber asked, pointing. Rin and Sakura turned to observe. Rin's jaw dropped, and her face grew as red as her usual outfit.

"Shirou, w-w-w-w-w-wha?" she stuttered. I walked over to them, and drew the three of them into a hug.

"I think it's because I love the two of you so much that my soul reflects it, and since this place is a manifestation of my soul, hence the statues. As for you, Sakura, I didn't know that you were still alive. Even so, I can't love you like I love Rin and Saber. I simply can't love you romantically, but you're still important to me. The three of you, until now, were the only family I had left. See, now there's a statue of Sakura there too," I explained, noticing the new addition. Rin's father chose this moment to tactlessly interrupt the moment, ruining the atmosphere.

"Fascinating. To think that the adoptive son of the Magus Killer is distorted enough to have a Reality Marble. Truly fascinating," Rin's dad mused. Seeing Gilgamesh in Unlimited Blade Works suddenly made me remember something. Something that could snap Dad out of his weird funk.

"Dad," I called, "the last time I called this up was against Gilgamesh in the Fifth Holy Grail War."

"Yes, I know. He told me," Dad answered. This is a risky gamble, but I'll have to take it.

"But did he tell you that before our battle, he killed the Grail Vessel and her Servant Berserker?" I continued.

"Yes. So, what's your point?" Dad asked me, slightly annoyed. OK. Here goes.

"Did you know that the Grail Vessel for that war was Illya?" I asked him, my eyes brimming with anger at Gilgamesh's actions.

"Ill…ya? The Grail Vessel…Ill…ya?" Dad stuttered. I nodded. He shook with anger.

"You killed…my beloved little girl. You've just crossed the line, King of Heroes…I'm going to destroy you," Dad vowed darkly.

"Um, Dad? That's probably a bad idea. I'd be a better opponent for Gilgamesh, seeing as I've already beaten him once before," I recommended. Walking over to where Sakura stood, he nodded in my direction. I prepared to obliterate Gilgamesh for a second time.

"Saber, help Rin!" I commanded.

"Yes sir!" she replied, turning to face Rin's father. I turn my focus back to Gilgamesh. Currently, I'm bombarding him with far more swords than he can muster. I have a feeling he'll release though, so I'd better be careful. Speaking of which, what happened to Ea. Or Enkidu?

"Mezame sase, sekai wo kae te iku, Shinjitsu no Hoshi!" he yelled, releasing his Zanpakutou. The blade was surrounded by slowly rotating currents of wind. His clothes were blasted off; his pants replaced by the bottom half of his trademark golden armor. His upper body was covered in red tribal tattoos, glowing with power. His left arm was unaltered, but his right arm was covered in Hollow armor. In addition, said right arm no longer contained a hand, instead showing ornate designs attached to a familiar-looking drill. Oh shit. So this is where Ea ended up. I looked a little closer. The chains of Enkidu were wrapped around his left arm in something looking like a chain launcher. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.

"Kagayake, Seishin no Hoseki!" I heard Rin's father yell. Oh crap. Not him too. When the red light around him cleared, he looks noticeably different. Instead of Aizen's standard uniform, he was covered in Hollow armor. He also had two red wings made of pure energy protruding from his back. In addition, his legs were gone, instead replaced with artificial legs made of pure ruby. We had two Resurrecion to contend with. We were probably screwed.

Saber decided to act. "Kishi ou no kikan wo furekomu, Ou no Ken!"

AN: So this is Chapter 7 of Bleach Stay Night. Yes, Kiritsugu defects. But I always saw Kiritsugu as a smart guy. I hope I wrote these characters to your liking. Review and rate. No flames please.

See you guys later!

Oh, by the way, here's the previews for next time:

"ENUMA ELISH!"

"EXCALIBUR!"

"Yami no nakani ochiro, Kage no Jo"