Disclaimer: this is a fanfiction that borrows characters from the Bleach manga and anime... I don't own anything that is copyrighted/trademarked.

Warnings: standard, established level of violence, this chapter has the same timeframe as chapter seven.

Last time on My Death God: after our heroes dealt with hellfire and conveniently-replaced-memories, they were rewarded with yet another crisis:

*beep-beep-beep* the soul phone sounded out an alert.

"Now what?" I groan, exhausted beyond thought.

"These coordinates…" Rukia scanned the new message, "aren't these the cemetery?"

"My family!" A jolt of adrenaline and a burst of fear fuels my full-out sprint.

'Earlier it felt like Grandpa was near. It happened when I first meet Kuchiki-san and again when she arrived at the funeral,' contemplative, Orihime glanced around for her guest. Spotting a short, dark-haired figure lingering under shadowy trees, she was startled when the other suddenly flitted away. Without a second thought, the girl plunged into the forest chasing the cloaked woman. The fleet-footed form darted ahead, luring ever onward.

"Orihime!"

Surprised, she pauses in her pursuit, glancing back to see her aunt.

"Come away from there!"

Confused, the orangette hesitates.

"Hurry, this way," Aunt Karin urgently beckons.

A strange voice emanates from the woods, "You saw…"

Officially freaked out, Orihime rushes to her aunt's side.

"Time to go," the elder bustles her forward.

Uneasy, the girl can only nod.

"You can hear..."

Orihime shivers, "Auntie?"

"Don't stop," Aunt Karin insists, "and don't look back."

"That means you will be tasty. Very, very tasty."

Movement among the trees become glowing eyes and a bone-white mask smiling with malicious joy. Horrified, Orihime freezes as terror skitters down her spine.

Aunt Karin shoves her, yelling, "run!"

She pitches forward with the sudden momentum, stumbling, falling.

The monster pounces, Aunt Karin is pinned, bleeding, hurt.

Orihime reaches for her, frightened, concerned, "Auntie?!"

"Stop! Don't-" the elder woman shouts, "don't come any closer!"

"This one will be the appetizer."

Aunt Karin was in trouble! She had to save her! A sharp sound, like shattering crystal, and tiny fairies circle around her, "Orihime, your desire to protect has called us forth."

"Wah! Tiny fairies!"

"We are not fairies," the blond-haired leader clarifies, "we are your powers-"

"You talk too much Shun'ō!" a dark-haired male interrupts, "Girl! You called us, we came. What do you want?"

"What do I want..." she brightens with a sudden idea, "fairies grant wishes, right? I wish that my aunt was free from that thing!"

"We are not fairies," Shun'ō scolds, "we are the Shun-Shun Rikka..."

Emboldened, Orihime regains her feet, "let's go fairies! We have to help Auntie Karin!"

Shun'ō sighs, "fine, for now we'll be fairies. First, call out our name and the kotodama."

"Kotodama?"

"Don't worry about the details!" the fierce, dark-haired male yelled, "I'm Tsubaki and I'll cut that thing's arm off."

Determination steeled her heart, "yes."

"Good, it's that intent that will pierce through your enemies, now call my name!"

Shun'ō perches on her shoulder, "repeat after me: Tsubaki, Koten Zanshun, I reject!"

"Tsubaki, Koten Zanshun, I reject!"

The cutting-fairy becomes a blaze of gold that shots out, slicing fur and flesh. The creature reels back, releasing Aunt Karin who quickly scrambles to Orihime's side.

"Now: Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily, Santen Kesshun, I reject!" Shun'ō shouts.

"Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily, Santen Kesshun, I reject!" a yellow triangle flared bright, shielding the women from the monster's lashing claws.

"I can go again!" Tsubaki whizzes by.

"Tsubaki, Koten Zanshun, I reject!"

He arrows toward the mask only to be swatted away.

"That won't work again!" the beast looms over the duo, "time for some payback."

A moment later the monster is leaping away from a crashing sword.

A tall stranger is guarding them, glaring at the creature, "that's my line."

Orihime blinks at the sudden turn of events.

Disbelieving, Karin calls out, "Ichi-nii?"

"Yo," the easy greeting, the trademark scowl and that bright Kurosaki-orange hair.

"Aunt Karin's...brother," the younger orangette points, incredulous, "...Grandpa?"

"Orihime, can you see me?" at her nod, he grins, "it's too bad Karin doesn't believe in ghosts. Better not let her know-"

Aunt Karin unexpectedly punches his shoulder, "idiot!"

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You died!"

He shrugs, sheepish, "it was my time?"

Aunt Karin huffs, "idiot."

"You two need to leave now," he grimaces, "that thing...it's dangerous."

"No way, I'm staying right here," Auntie crosses her arms, glaring.

Orihime raises her hand, "me too."

"Promise?"

They nod in unison.

That oh-so-familiar crooked grin, even as he watches the monster…no, he had never stopped watching to begin with.

"I'll be counting on you," without further ado, he plunges into battle.

My Death God now featuring Orihime's Fairy Force! (Shun'ō facepalms: "for the last time, we are not fairies.") Let me know if anything is wonky with commas or grammar, the doc manager was being weird.

Karin: "Yay! I got to punch my stupid older brother for being a jerk and a ghost!" Ichigo: "You know that I can hear you, right?" Karin: "Yep." **Author's opinion: I always thought she could be a shinigami if she wanted to.**

Thanks to everyone for the continued support!

Next time: Ichigo is gonna fight that one seriously creepy girl and totally lose and sorta-kinda die again. (Ichigo: "wait...what?") ~MantaRae: OKAY BYE!

Manga chapter referenced: 19, 43.