If I could describe the feeling of utter annoyance welling up from within me in one or two words, it would probably be a lie.

"For the last time Ulquiorra. Stop. Trying. To kill yourself." I intoned with an exasperated breath.

Far from acknowledging my presence in front of him, Ulquiorra simply proceeded on towards the sharp spines of the white tree behind me.

Briefly, I contemplated Apacci's idea of simply restraining him, but thought it best that I don't resort to such inconvenient measures. I sighed, wondering just why I would even care if Ulquiorra just killed himself. He was after all, just a random hollow who had come by just a few hours ago.

Starrk and Harribel had been the one's who got a name from him. As for Apacci, Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, and I, we were ignored.

I deliberately dragged my legs forward, and once again stood in front of him; my gaze staring at his eyes before drifting to his sleek and pale-white humanoid form with two horns sprouting from his head. The twitching of his black tail and long bat-wings served as the only indication of the perplexity gathering in his deep green eyes.

"Why do you hinder me?"

It was the first time I have ever heard Ulqiorra speak to me. Startled for but a moment, I thought deeply about the question, for I had no real answer myself. Still, I stood resolutely; my determination not once faltering.

"Is this what's called 'human emotion'?"

Human emotion? Could the answer to my strange behaviour really be that simple?

I racked my brain for any proof of such a thing, but yet again realized the futility of it all. For example, if one were to question an amnesiac about events prior to his memory loss, it most surely would not end well.

"Even if it is, what would be the point if I just let you die?" I asked, growing even more frustrated by the moment.

"There is no answer to my existence. What point is there to living?" Ulquiorra asked not with any sort of frustration, but with calm rationality. There was a slight undertone of curiosity lacing his voice, but to minuscule to even bother taking note of.

My legs would not move, my arms too tired to lift; if I were to die, then so be it.

A black haired man in a trench coat appeared before me, crying. He pulled me into a tight hug; all the while smiling a radiant smile in spite of the flames raging around him. To me who laid firmly on the ground, he seemed as if he was the happiest man in the world.

That smile, that happiness, could I, could I ever...

"...To fill a purpose." I muttered out in a trance.

A silent breeze blew past, sending a cloud of loose sand into the air between us. Ulquiorra stopped, his clawed feet digging into the sand below, his wings and tail remaining completely still.

"...Then," Uquiorra looked towards me, his gaze empty of any emotion. "Do you know of my purpose?"

"No." I admitted, watching carefully for a visible reaction, but found none. "But what I do know, is that there is no such purpose to be found stabbed to death by a white tree. If you come back with me to the others, maybe in time you will find one."

"Is that a guarantee?" Ulquiorra inquired.

"Yes." I said, no trace of uncertainty within my voice. For it's what I truly believed.

A moment of impassive staring passed, Ulquiorra's gaze on my own and mine on his. He was reading me for any traces of deception I realized, but true to my beliefs, I stood firm.

"I'll come with you." Ulquiorra finally stated, his body straightening as he tucked in his wings. "But know if this is a lie I won't hesitate in killing you for wasting my time."

I shrugged his final comment off.

I trudged forward, Ulquiorra's steps following after mine. Spires of rock formations towered around us; their shadows casting a stretching darkness that spanned to where the gnarled branches of trees stretched up towards the sky. And there, isolated from everything but protected by everything, was a small cave dug deep into the sediments of a large and rigid stone cliff-face. Standing before its entrance was the all to imposing figure of Lilynette Gingerbuck; her arms crossed and lone gaze surveying the area.

Her face split into a smile upon sighting me, but scrunched up in thought upon sighting Ulquiorra.

"You're late." Lilynette stated quizzically.

My previous frustration returned to me as I looked at the cause of my tardiness. Said cause didn't so much as flinch. Nor did he show any irritation as Lilynette began poking his face with a finger.

I sighed, picking Lilynette up by the back collar of her ragged cloak, I deposited her onto the ground.

"Enough Lilynette." I reprimanded. "You don't know of what I've just been through- and no; I will not elaborate."

Lilynette pouted, her energy depleting as I saw right through the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She tsked and brought her knees up to be enveloped around her arms.

"But it's boring." Lilynnete complained. "Starrk may be fine lounging around all day, but I'm not." She looked up to me, her lone eye uncovered by her mask fragment opened wide. "Can I come hunting with you today? I don't want to do guard duty anymore."

I mulled over her question, taking into consideration that there shouldn't be anything to dangerous nearby.

"If Starrk agrees, then fine."

Before I knew it, Lilynette disappeared near instantly, reappearing again a moment later.

"Starrk says yes."

"He probably just said 'go away' didn't he?"

"Yup."

I brought a hand to my face and slowly dragged it down in exasperation. "Wait here Lilynette, I'll be right out."

I motioned for Ulquiorra to follow me, and together we stepped into the entrance of the cave. Long shafts of stalactites hung from the ceiling accompanied by stalagmites on the ground as if Hueco Mundo had once had water. Different from regular caves, light pooled in from the entrance and reflected off of the coarse walls, illuminating the room a dim grey. I continued forward, matching my steps to the sound of water droplets hitting the ground, but always they remained unseen; no evidence to point out their existence.

Starrk sat hunched over by the ground, his head lulling from side to side in accordance to his breaths. Harribel stood across from him, shaking her head in disapproval.

"You're laziness will be the end of you." Harribel said.

"Not if your nagging kills me first." Starrk replied.

"I thought you'd understand by now Harribel, that there's no changing Starrk. If Lilynette couldn't do it, no one can." I said matter of factually.

Harribel stared at me, and conceded my point before turning her attention to Ulquiorra.

"He's staying." I said. "I'm not sure how helpful he'll be, or whether or not he'll consider leaving, but in the meantime, please inform the others to welcome him."

"That should be fine as long as he doesn't hinder us." Harribel said. "But don't get carried away Shirou, we won't just let any hollow join us. He'll have to earn our trust first."

"The fact that he doesn't work for Barragan should be enough to consider the possibility." I replied.

"You have a point." Harribel said, her eyes narrowed soon after. "Have anymore of Barragan's followers arrived today?"

"A few of them. Saw them just near the end of the chasm by the area we first met. Based on the way their eyes kept darting around the scenery, they're still searching for this location. I took care of them, so you don't have to worry about it."

"Good work." Harribel said softly.

"Thank you."

"I will remain over here." Ulquiorra said, his position no longer behind me, but next to a wall. He looked across at Harribel, Starrk, and I, simply observing with his green eyes.

I nodded, and left him to his business; deciding to carry on with mine. I turned and left, but Starrk must have heard me leaving for he suddenly called out my name. Glancing back, I saw that Starrk had deigned it necessary to put in the effort to remain awake for a few moments.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Keep her safe." Starrk replied.

"Of course."

By the time I returned outside of the cave's entrance, Lilynette was entertaining herself by stacking rocks on top of each other.

The concentration on her face was slightly endearing, but I couldn't take it seriously due to the way she kept fumbling with the second rock in her hand. Never mind building a ten high-stack, she was having trouble with just two...

"Let's go Lilynette." I said, noticing the accomplishment that adorned her face as she succeeded in her endeavor.

Startled upon hearing my voice, she knocked down her two-high stack of rocks. She stared miserably at the second rock she had finally managed to stack; trying her best to place it back on again, but to no avail.

I felt kind of guilty when she turned her sorrowful gaze on me, the feeling stirring from deep within me. She sniffled, before nodding her head towards me, and leaving behind her pile of rocks.

Taking a hand to wipe at her eye, she stared back at me as if nothing had happened.

"Lets go!" She cheered enthusiastically.

I sweat dropped, but lead her on.

Standing atop one of Hueco Mundo's vast dunes, I surveyed the land for a suitable target. Finding one, I motioned for Lilynette to come on over.

"Do you see the hollow stuck in the sand by that odd rock formation?" I asked.

Lilynette nodded her head.

"That one's yours." I turned an eye towards her. "Do you think you can handle it?"

"Of course! You just watch me."

Lilynette shot off, kicking up a cloud of dust into the air. I coughed and rubbed the dust out of my eyes before searching for Lilynette's whereabouts.

I spotted her a kilometer away, kicking at the half-buried hollow who could do little to resist since it was stuck head first.

Ascertaining Lilynette's safety, I turned to the main target. Two wide eyes stared fiercly at me, there yellow sclera giving off a faint glow.

An octopus like hollow, it barreled towards me on its many tentacles. Knocking an arrow, I made short work of the thing, then hoisted its corpse onto my back to return to the hideout. No doubt nothing would remain of it later.

When I turned back to Lilynette, it was to the sight of her being waist deep into the ground. I didn't know how that was possible, but upon closer inspection, she did manage to defeat the hollow. I can give her that.

Walking up beside her, she stared shamefully at me, her face turning red in embarrassment.

I didn't ask her how, just noticed the way her eyes kept glaring at the limp tail of the dead hollow, and took a guess from there. Pulling her out from her arms, I did the same for the body of the dead hollow.

"Good job Lilynette." I said.

"T-Thank you." She said. "It only got me by surprise, that's all."

I quirked a smile at her. "It happens to the best of us."

Lilynette paused, a thoughtful look on her face that evolved into a radiant grin. "That mean I'm one of the best right?"

I didn't answer.

"Hey, c'mon answer me."

I didn't answer.

"Your silence tells it all." Lilynette laughed. "That stupid Apacci won't know what hit her when I tell her that you consider me one of the best!"

I sighed, turned, and left; Lilynette following closely behind.

We walked back to the hideout, Lilynette talking enthusiastically, and I conversing with her occasionally. Perhaps at that time I shouldn't have been so easy going, but then again why would I have bothered digging into the sand where the hollow had lay half-buried?

A head popped out from the sand behind us, its eyes staring at our retreating backs. Quietly so as not to be noticed, it sunk back deep beneath the sand.

Arriving back at the entrance of the cave, Lilynette shot in first; rushing to inform Starrk of her accomplishment. I followed in soon after, and laid the bodies of the day's meal next to a growing pile of them. Not to far off from said pile was Mila Rose licking her paw, and Apacci beside her, arguing something over with Sung-Sun.

"We win again Shirou." Mila Rose said. "I believe this makes it six to four."

"I believe it does, but then again it is one against three." I replied.

"But you have longer range." Mila Rose argued.

I conceded her point and turned a glance towards Apacci and Sung-Sun. A fierce battle of lightning seemed to be occuring at the point where their gazes met.

"What's that about?" I asked Mila Rose.

"There debating on who killed more hollows, but they both know I killed the most." She stated.

Apacci and Sung-Sun abruptly stopped, their gazes turning on Mila Rose simultaneously.

"My my Mila Rose, a good mannered woman would know better than to lie so openly." Sung-Sun said. "Perhaps if you defeated as much as I, that lie wouldn't seem so obvious."

"Or If you look carefully, you can see that I was the one to defeat a higher number than both of you." Apacci said haughtily.

I knew the direction this conversation was going, and promptly left. If there was one thing I knew about those three, they bicker frequently. Then again, maybe that's just what I see when they're in front of me.

Not to disturb them, I moved further into the cave where a narrow passage lead to a small pocket of space. There, I would spend my days with Starrk and Lilynette. Occasionally, Harribel, Apacci, Mila Rose and Sung-Sun would come over from the area located adjacent from ours. When those times came, it was always entertaining to say the least.

Over the following months, it didn't take long for Ulquiorra to get into confrontation with Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, Apacci, and Lilynette for he ignored them whenever they talked to him, or gave curt responses to end the conversation. I don't know why, but he doesn't interact with those he doesn't find interesting. His personality has much to be desired, but somehow over the course of the following months, he opened up to Lilynette- even if it was just idle conversation born from persistence. Perhaps it was due to his close proximity to her, Starrk, and I that drove him to question us of a certain matter, on a regular day.

"This feeling of lightness in my chest," Ulquiorra looked on towards us. "I don't understand it."

Starrk raised an eye as he pushed up from the rock he was leaning on. Off to the side, Lilynette stopped dragging a moderate sized boulder which I knew she was probably going to drop on Starrk to get him off his ass.

"What do you mean?" I asked slightly confused.

"Over the past few days I have had this sense of appeasement flowing through me. I having done nothing to warrant it."

"Isn't that just cause your happy?" Lilynette said as she sat criss-cross on top of the boulder she was dragging.

"Happiness?" Ulquiorra said, face remaining impassive. "Impossible."

"Then how would you explain the feeling within your chest?" Starrk asked, eyes trained lazily on Ulquiorra.

Ulquiorra remained silent

"Perhaps the answer will come in time." I said helpfully. "But for now, I have to go hunting for more food. It wouldn't do to not do our part after all." Left unsaid was the fact that Apacci would probably hold it over my head that I was a good for nothing.

Lilynette glared at Starrk, her eyes promising violence.

Starrk waved Lilynette off, before all the same surprising even me with his next actions. He stood up, a hand to cover his yawn as his other motioned for Lilynette to come over. She happily complied, loosing her glare in the process.

"What a pain." Starrk complained, but received another glare from Lilynette. He sighed and began walking towards the entrance of the cave, Lilynette following closely behind him.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Hunting." Starrk replied languidly. "You can stay for once."

Before I could voice my opinion, Starrk and Lilynette disappeared in a buzz of speed. Leaving me and Ulquiorra in the alone in the hideout since Harribel was out doing her own hunting for she could not allow herself to do nothing all day like Starrk. Similarly, Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sung-Sun were also hunting.

I felt Ulquiorra's gaze on me, and turned around. He stood there, watching my every move like I would give some sort of answer to fulfill his deepest desires. Sadly I had none, and found myself sweating at the intensity of his gaze. I sighed before taking in a deep breath and moving towards Ulquiorra.

"We can at least make ourselves useful." I said, leading him towards the back end of the cave where it abruptly cuts off into a wall of mineral rock. "Where gonna blast hole into the wall to make another room."

"Another room?" Ulquiorra inquired.

"Yup, yours." I charged a cero, and shot it at the wall; creating a crater that let off a trail of smoke.

Ulquiorra nodded his head and began to help out.

Numerous hours passed before we had finished making the room sizable enough for Ulquiorra. Numerous hours passed and no one had yet to return, but considering how far Harribel's hunting ground is, it wasn't too unexpected.

For Starrk, I could guess as to the reason, Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sung-Sun on the other hand I could not. I should have known better, now that I think about it; that they not returning would be the first sign of danger. Then again, I only took action when I felt a burst of Apacci, Sung-Sun, and Mila Rose's spiritual pressure sky rocket then quickly die down.

They were near me, but far from both Harribel and Starrk's locations. I would be a fool if I said I didn't feel the spiritual pressure of various other hollows near them, but I didn't care at the time.

Walking to the entrance of the cave, I was stopped by Ulquiorra.

"You're being illogical. Based on the amount of hollows I'm detecting- a few even Adjuchas level, this is obviously a trap." He stated rather callously.

"Even so, I must go."

"You'll die."

I walked passed Ulquiorra, the sounds of my steps echoing throughout the chamber of the cave.

"Even so, I will still go because they are my friends."

"Friends?" Ulquiorra said as he seemed to be mulling the statement in his head, but revealed no reaction other than the sound of his breath. "I don't understand. Why would you risk your life for a friend?"

"Sometimes Ulquiorra, actions are not meant to be understood, however unreasonable they may be. After all, if the tables were turned and you were in danger, no matter the situation, I would come to save you. For you too are my friend."

I left without turning back, my spirit indomitable, my goal ahead of me.

If the raging wind around me was the symbol of my growing apprehension, then the torrent of spiritual pressure I was leaking out was my determination. The sand cratered beneath my steps as boulders were violently pushed away, or forced deeper into the ground.

One might call me brave, while others might call me an idiot, but then again, I was trying to divert all attention onto myself. Even now as I continued my charge, I felt the fluctuations of spiritual pressure in the area ahead. I had to hurry, had to arrive in time.

In a burst of speed, I cleared the top of the tallest dune of sand, and rocketed into the air; my hands drawing back and firing a multitude of arrows in front of me.

Like a rain of death, arrow upon arrow of spiritual energy descended from above and onto the group of diverse hollows ahead; barring a circle around the injured bodies of Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Apacci. Any hollow that tried to approach was quickly dealt with by a literal wall of veritable eradication.

At the apex of my leap, I rocketed down at the center of my attack in the eye of the storm. Landing with a tremor, I glared at the hollows around me, my eyes fierce and penetrating.

Glancing back at Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun, anger welled within me like a crimson inferno. They were covered in their own blood, various lacerations on their bodies that even I could not simply shrug off.

Teeming with righteous fury, my spiritual energy skyrocketed once again; blowing away the dust from the impact of my arrows and landing. Tinges of dark-red, lined my hues of blue, my eyes radiating an ominous yellow.

The hollows around me strained against the overbearing pressure on their shoulders, their eyes frantically turning to one direction. Three hollows stood amongst the rest, their gazes unperturbed with the power ambient in the air- definitely Adjuchas. The one on the left looked menacing, a sleek grey body that resembled a twelve foot wolf in humanoid form; a diagonal scar running across its abdomen. As for the one in the right- he looked like a weasel, period. The last however, was far bigger than both the other two combined, its body bulky and containing a small likeliness to a hippo with the arms of a man.

I turned towards them, muscles tensed for sudden action.

"Leave." I said sternly, my voice laced with a hidden undertone of animosity. "Before I kill you."

The three Adjuchas laughed, their voices carrying across the distance.

"Do you think we fear you, little bowman?" They laughed again. "No, we fear lord Barragan, and failure means certain death. That we tell you, is true fear."

I relaxed my muscles, training my eyes on the three who stood before me, and readied a massive cero at the end of my finger tips. The world dyed itself in blue laced with red tinges, an orb of condensed power at my beck and call.

"Cero." Time seemed to freeze as an almighty death beam of destructive power, barreled its way through scores of hollows in its path toward the three Adjuchas.

"Shirou...T-The one i-in the...C-Center...He's..." Apacci raised her voice, she and the others struggling to stand up.

The deafening noise of my attack cut her off, a giant shroom of debris flying high into the air. The hollows caught within the general blast radius were reduced to cinders, but through it all, when the dust cleared up, not a scratch could be found on the three hollows; the one in the middle- the hippo, having intercepted my cero with his own body; protecting the other two from the blunt force of the damage.

What? Impossible, to not have taken a single bit of damage. Quickly, I knocked another arrow, but my previous attack had set off the beginning of the battle.

In spear-head formation they charged at me; the veins visible from beneath their skin, pulsating with blood. I released the arrow in my hand, the motion producing a swift swishing noise that continued on until the arrow met its mark.

I lost sight of the three Adjuchas through the dust cloud created.

A large figure barreled past the smoke, two others behind him. Once again, my attack had been rendered null, the Adjuchas giving off vicious war cries into the air. I glanced back at my friends behind me.

Realizing that I couldn't leave my position, I had to find a different approach, or at least a method to draw the Adjuchas away.

Flashing into the air, I fired a test arrow at the Adjuchas charging in from the right.

Almost instantly, the three Adjuchas stopped, the hippo-like Adjuchas once again finding its way into the path of my arrow.

My eyes knitted closer together, thoughts and theories running rampant in my mind. I flashed to the left, and shot another arrow. Same result. Dubiously, I shot simultaneously from both the left and right to confirm the growing suspicion I began harbouring.

Like twin sparrows descending from the sky, two radiant beams of light arched down onto the two Adjuchas; straying a path away from the hippo-like Adjuchas.

Haunting screams echoed out from the throats of the hollows caught in the shock wave of the explosion produced; their bodies sent flying over Hueco Mundo's dunes.

The ground trembled beneath me; the form of the hippo-like Adjuchas laying flat on the ground having much to do with it.

I landed in front of Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun, my expression grim.

Two large arms pressed against the ground and lifted up the body attached to them.

The hippo-like Adjuchas appeared dazed as it got up; revealing the form of its two companions beneath him. Not a scratch could be seen.

I sprang into action, the balls of my feet leaving contact with the ground. In a split-second I had pulled back my arm and clenched my fist, I threw it forward with a force that knocked the fat hollow backwards when it connected. The dull thud and gasp of breath confirmed to me that I'd winded him- or did I?

Choked gasps soon became boisterous laughter that penetrated into my ears, resounding in them and enhancing the horrible tune. Unaffected, I struck relentlessly, my fists deforming the roundness of the Adjuchas's belly. Unexpectedly, the Adjuchas blocked my punch with a bulky arm and countered with an uppercut to my mid-body. It connected- barely.

Far from damaged due to the arm I held to my chest at the last second, I distanced myself from the three Adjuchas, but was pounded to the side by an unforeseen force. I bounced off the ground a couple times, creating a dragged impression on the sand.

Swiftly, I rolled, barely managing to maneuver out of the way of a strike aimed at my back. The scarred one stood over me, his gaze blood thirsty, his hands charging red ceros.

I retaliated, grabbing the end of my bow and using it to brush off my opponent's hands; deflecting the powered ceros over the nearest dune where an eruption of power sent a shroom cloud into the air.

I hooked my foot behind his ankle, and used it as leverage to power the kick I sent to shatter his knee.

The scarred hollow toppled, a pained grunt escaping from his mouth. My hands moved quickly, sending up sand into the air, and thrusting violently at the scarred hollow's unguarded neck.

The sound of scorching air filled my ears, a red cero directly in front of me by a mere meter. Pain registered throughout my systems, stemming all the way to my feet, and forcing the air out from my lungs.

Flying. I was flying across the battlefield, my eyes taking notice of a blurred figure descending on me like a bullet. Instinctively my arms went up, trying to grasp for something that was not there. Luckily, the motion was enough to snag a branch of a quarts coloured tree growing from the Forest of Menos.

Vision returning to me, I tracked the path of descent of the once blurred form of the scarred hollow. He stood before me, a crater beneath him at the area where I would have been had I continued in my trajectory.

The hollow stared at me before disappearing in burst of speed.

I dodged the blow aimed at my chest, an area I would not risk getting hit at; for it was there that I received the most injury- the area of detonation. Burns traveled up my body, my arms tinged with small flecks of black from the damage of the cero.

Numerous times I dodged, numerous times the scarred hollow hit. Always, I kept a constant eye towards the other two in case they made a move. They didn't appear to be at the moment, and as such I fought back.

I parried a strike to my liver and delivered a precise elbow to the lower jaw.

Thick saliva fell in droplets towards the ground, the scarred hollow's mandible slightly unhinged. Without a breath to spare, I continued my onslaught, pressing my gained ground.

As if to put an end to my confidence, the scarred hollow grabbed my leg, and threw me away.

Using a burst of spiritual energy, I stabilized myself mid-flight, and almost instantly, we were back at it again.

It finally stopped when I was once again in front of Apacci, Sung-Sun, and Mila Rose. My breaths coming out in uneven pants, my body screaming in exhaustion. On the other hand, the scarred hollow looked just as, if not even more tired than I from his position by the the other two Adjuchas who had not deemed it necessary to move.

"Michelo, did not mention that this one was faster than me." The wolf like hollow with a scar said astutely.

"I agree I agree!" The weasel like hollow said excitedly.

"That doesn't matter Corbel, Bynan." The hippo-like Adjuchas said as he walked leisurely towards me, so sure of his victory. "Michelo was accurate about me being right for the job."

"Your the strongest Reiland!" The weasel like hollow said in praise as they followed.

I braced myself as I tried to contemplate a method to win, but my mind kept drawing circles. Yet I still had to find a way.

Motivation came to me in the forms of Apacci, Sung-Sun, and Mila Rose behind me, their lives at stake being more than enough to draw upon the power within me. I released all the power that I could utilize, causing the weaker hollows around the battle field to flee in fear.

As the blue aura of power wrapping itself around me disappeared, and the hippo-like Adjuchas known as Reiland took another step, all hell broke loose. I felt a muscle in my right arm tear, my tendons in my wrist straining to lock my hand into a fist as I all but went berserker on Reiland- my main priority.

Power flowed through my arm, my fist making contact with Reiland's body and burying him to his waist in the sand. Ruthlessly, Reiland lashed out at me, a hand making to grab my form. He failed, a cero meeting his hand and blowing it back due to sheer force. I too was blown back by the force, but then again, that was what I had in mind.

I flew back, my back lightly touching the fine sand under me as I used my gained momentum to rocket towards the scarred hollow called Corbel.

I struck out a hand, digging it into the dirt and using it to pivot my center of gravity forward while I delivered a stunning axe-kick to Corbel's face. The downward force from my kick was enough to force me back into the air where I twirled and dive bombed from the sky right atop Reiland's form.

My right leg positioned in front of me, I shot a cero behind me to increase the speed of my decent; the wind picking up around me.

Like a missile falling from the sky similar to those depicted in famous Hollywood movies, I brought my leg back and released a battle cry. My foot made contact with Reiland's face; the impact produced burying him down to his neck in sand. A deafening sound of a crunch resounded for all to hear; the shock wave that blew Corbel and Bynan back, making the situation all the more real.

Apacci, Sung-Sun, and Mila Rose could do little to mask their amazement as I stood atop Reiland's face, my gaze turning on Corbel and the other hollow named Bynan. Faint vibrations traveled up my leg, Reiland's head shaking in anger and from his futile attempts at resurfacing.

A small chip was evidently present on Reiland's mask, small, but there nonetheless.

Quickly, I flashed in front of Corbel and reduced him to ashes with a cero while I still held the advantage. For I knew that for all the effort I had just displayed, I had only been able to crack Reiland's mask. That, and the fast depletion of my spiritual energy was enough motivation to flash in front of Bynan, another cero in hand.

Catching Corbel off guard and ending him had been a stroke of good fortune, I felt nothing in ending him. Bynan however...He cowered before me, begging for his life to be spared. A rush of something made its way towards my mind, but I raised the cero to Bynan's face anyway, radiant blue energy waiting to be released.

"I can't stray from my path for those I've left behind."

I flinched, the blue light dimmed, and the cero in my had harmlessly imploding on itself and dissipating.

"Go, and never return." I said harshly, not in the mood to deal with whatever turmoil was brewing from within me.

Far from moving, Bynan stood rooted to his spot, his gaze frantically looking around, but never at me.

"S-Shirou...What are you doing!" Apacci and Mila Rose yelled, forcing their voices out from their throats as they continued the struggle to stand. "Finish him!"

I hesitated, and that was all it took. Bynan's gaze met with Reiland's and he stood petrified in shock, his body going rigid. Before I knew it, he tackled me, his body turning searing hot and morphing into a white slush that encircled me. The heat was mildy uncomfortable, but being unable to move my limbs was far more; the white slush hardening over them.

I struggled, trying to brake the hold Bynan had on my arms and legs, but only managing to gain slight movement of the latter. Stumbling, I could do nothing as a hollow emerged from the sand; digging up Reiland along with it.

"I didn't need your help Michelo." Reiland said.

"Really? By the looks of things, it would have taken you a considerable amount of time to escape, unless you used a cero. But then again, Lord Barragan wants one of them alive for questioning; you shouldn't very well kill them all by mistake." Michelo said as his form began retreating back under the sand. "I'll be reporting to Lord Barragan of your success, after all, Bynan has one captured. You can decide what to do with the rest."

"Coward." Reiland sneered. "Running away before a fight is unsightly, be that as it may, I cannot call this a fight no longer. You, your name is Shirou?"

I didn't reply.

Reiland walked in front of me, grabbed me by the head, and tossed me to the side. I rolled against the coarse ground, my back groaning in protest.

"I suppose it doesn't matter, but I commend your perception, and consequent tactics. It's not everyday that one finds and exploits one of my weaknesses."

Yes indeed. Through trial and error I had discovered that my spiritual and physical based attacks would not aide me. It was not that they didn't work, but more along the lines of too ineffective. For instance, if you threw a droplet of water at a thick wall of the most absorbent tissue, though it might dampen and in turn weaken, it would do relatively nothing to break it. Similarly, if you punched a ball of condensed foam, the general strength of one's punch would be mitigated to a smaller level. And that was exactly what was happening, whether it be from my ranged attacks which got absorbed to minimize damage, or my punches that sunk into Reiland's fat hide and got rebounded.

"Be happy that you're the one who gets to live," Reiland turned his attention on Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sun-Sun. "As for them...they will die."

My eyes widened. No! I will can't let them die!

I clenched my fists, I tore at my restraints to the point that it pained me to continue, and yet I persisted. When I found that my efforts did nothing, I resolved myself to what was to come. I stood shakily on my feet, and using what little mobility I had gained beforehand, I threw myself at Reiland.

Initially, he staggered, but he quickly corrected himself and batted me to the side, continuing on. But I was relentless, not letting him take a single step further and barring his path with my body.

"I do suppose a little retribution is in order, after all I owe you for chipping my mask." Reiland said.

For every hit that I endured, for every injury I attained, it was all meaningless to me. My body grew numb, the sound of my bones fracturing evident for all to hear. Whenever I felt a shout build up from within my mouth, I clamped down on it, whenever I even thought about fainting, I snuffed it out. There was nothing that could break my will, but still, I pondered the reason why I thought so little of my life. Perhaps it was because of that man who found me in the fire, or perhaps it was just because of a selfish reason. It didn't matter, all that did was what happened hear and now!

"AHHH!" I yelled, pushing my body back on its feet to once again impede Reiland's progress.

The amusement that was evident on Reiland's face began to distort into clear annoyance.

"Get out of my way!"

"...Never," Blood spurted out of my mouth, my eyes still full of resistance. "...I won't let you hurt them!"

Reiland's eyes turned cold, the mirth fading away to blankness.

"Then die."

A fist smashed against my face, pounding me into the ground before a foot stomped down on my chest. Another blow to my face had me seeing stars, but the pressure exuded on my chest was far worse.

"If only you had kept to the side, but I suppose it's a good thing I have more than you to choose from."

Reiland's gaze locked onto mine as a smile crept its way onto his face. Bringing a hand up, he aimed for my neck.

"Any last words?"

I spoke nothing.

"Pity."

The hand descended on me, its speed unrelenting. My eyes opened and face set in determination I waited for death's embrace. When a burnt orange light filled my vision, I had assumed that it was the transition stage to a better place, but a familiar shout all but destroyed that notion.

"Get the fuck off of him!"

Emilou Apacci. Her form above me, she had rammed her antlers into Reiland's side after Mila Rose had shot off a cero to distract him. Thankfully, it was enough to knock him off of me so that Sung-Sun was free to pull me towards her with her tail.

"...Look at you," She said as she inspected my body with a worried gaze. "I can't understand why you would do this for us, but I can worry about that later. For now, I'm just going to apologize in advance." A pink cero formed at the front of her face, showering me in its light. "This will hurt a bit."

I couldn't help but groan as pain flooded through my already damaged body once again. Yet it wasn't me who screamed the loudest.

"AHH!" Bynan screamed, his form writhing on the ground before being pulverized under Mila Rose's clawed paws.

"What a sorry excuse of an Adjuchas." Mila Rose scoffed before her eyes narrowed. Not a moment later she disappeared to minimize the damage Apacci would have received from Reiland who threw her at are direction. Cushioning her fall, Mila Rose appeared beside me and Sun-Sun; Apacci carried on a paw.

"Bastard." Apacci said before turning her gaze on Mila Rose. "Let go of me."

Mila Rose let go, and Apacci fell towards the ground, landing on her feet, but her stance was wobbly. She swayed from side to side as did the rest; their injuries impeding their mobility.

My body ached all over, but I stood up once again.

"...Thank you." I managed to get out.

Acknowledging me, they nodded their head in my direction.

"Do you really think that your resistance would make any difference?" Reiland asked.

"Do you really think that I could take you seriously with a body like that- yuck." Sung-Sun said. "I mean, look at that flab."

Reiland smiled eerily.

"You die first."

My eyes widened, my body moved on its own. Arms out in front of me in a cross shape, I was blown back by the impact of Reiland's fist that was aimed at Sung-Sun.

Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun's eyes widened, but they did not stand idly by. As I mitigated my momentum by distributing the excess force into the ground through my feet, they pounced on Reiland. Mila Rose's jaws bit down hard on Reiland's forearm, puncturing it with the sharpness of her teeth. Apacci likewise, punctured her antlers into Reiland's side, spilling blood. Sung-Sun coiled her body around Reiland and began to constrict him, using her snake-like form to her advantage.

Stopping, I too charged in, aiming a strike towards Reiland's unguarded face. Connecting, I followed up with a spin kick in the same spot.

"Enough!" Reiland yelled.

Grabbing Sung-Sun by the neck, he ripped her off of his body and threw her to the side. She lay on the ground unmoving.

"Sung-Sun!" I yelled out, but couldn't reach her as I was forced to maneuver past a blow to my chest.

"You bastard!" Apacci yelled, a red cero charging in the middle of her antlers. With a heave of her head, Apacci released her cero. Reiland was dyed in a brilliant shade of red, the smoke produced covering the area.

"It's useless."

A hand shot through the smoke and grabbed onto Apacci's leg. A sickening snap resounded for all to hear, even the hollows who were fleeing stopped and turned to witness the scene. Apacci fell screaming, her leg broken, the white bone peaking out.

"Apacci!" Mila Rose yelled.

I charged in, rearing my arm back to deliver a blow. Twisting, I struck Reiland's temple with my elbow, staggering him back a few steps as I pulled Apacci and Sung-Sun to safety. They were breathing, Apacci still conscious enough to curse at her lack of strength. But at what cost?

Reiland didn't come after me, no; he went after Mila Rose who stood across from him instead. Caught off guard, Mila Rose could do nothing but watch as Reiland punched a hole into her side.

Blood showered into the air, Mila Rose fell to the ground, her breaths heavily laboured. Nonetheless, she pushed on. Placing her palms beneath her, she pushed up and released a roar of defiance, even as she staggered on her feet.

I appeared in front of her just as Reiland began to approach her once again, and moved her beside Apacci and Sung-Sun; she fell unconscious immediately after.

Damn it! Why am I so useless? I stared down at my fists, frustrated that they weren't sharp spears that I could use to penetrate Reiland's portly hide.

Reiland dashed towards us, a deep laugh being produced from his vocal cords.

I tensed my muscles, flooding them with spiritual energy in a process I've labelled as 'reinforcement.' Strength flooded through me, my vitality growing along with it.

Reiland was close enough to throw a punch. I watched closely, time seeming to last an eternity.

I need a weapon! A weapon that will let me fight. A powerful weapon. An image of a man siting atop a hill of swords flashed before my eyes, his back was towards me, but for a moment he had turned in my direction. His white hair blew in the wind, his eyes downcast as if in solemn prayer. In his hands was pair of swords...

"Trace on!"

Teal coloured lightning arched from my hands, the tendrils of electricity frying the ground.

"Aaahhh!" I clasped my hands, a blaze of black and gold tinged with red elongating and taking form.

In a clash of sparks, Reiland's fist was blocked along with his subsequent attacks; the impact of my counter strikes pushing him back.

Reiland stood across from me, stunned by the new predicament. A wound opened up on his side, cut so cleanly that the pink of his skin could be seen beneath.

I stared coldly at Reiland's form, fading from sight in the next moment and delivering another wound to his kidney area. Thereafter, I struck numerous times, in various places. Blood soon littered the sand, streaks of black and white fading in and out of view like a dance of sparrows.

"Damn it. Fight like a man!" Reiland yelled, his arms thrashing about wildly in hopes of catching me.

Unexpectedly, Reiland connected with an un-timely flail of his left arm. The wind was knocked out of me, my lungs feeling as if they were about to catch fire. I had no choice but to stop and catch my breath.

For a moment, all stood still. Whether it be Apacci who was speechless at the spectacle before her, Reiland who was re-orientating himself, or even myself, none made the slightest movement. That all changed when Reiland yelled out in fury, charging at me like a blind animal.

Brandishing the twin blades in my hands, one of the darkest black and the other of the purest white, I struck with precision. A blade aimed for Reiland's jugular while another aimed for his torso.

Blade met flesh at dazzling speeds, the sound of metal grinding filtering into my ears. It was then that I realized that something was wrong. A pair of two hands cuffed my ankles and held me in place as a fist found its way towards my sturnum.

Crack.

Bone shattered, fragments falling towards the ground to be swallowed by the sand. Blood rushed through my throat, forcing its way out of my mouth to produce a dreadful shower of red.

"HAHAHA!" Reiland laughed in triumph. "How useful Michelo."

"You shouldn't have needed my help." Michelo said, his head peaking from beneath the sand. "You owe me for coming back, you know how impatient Lord Baraggan gets."

"I owe nothing to a coward."

"Then don't expect my help again. Ever."

Reiland grumbled to himself as Michelo left, regretting his previous outburst.

I fell to my knees, unable to breath properly. My insides burned as if every movement I made was rubbing off against sand paper. I gritted my teeth and peered up just in time to get kicked in the face.

My body grew numb as I tumbled nealy half a kilometer away, particles of sand and dust sticking to my wounds and igniting the pain once more.

Damn it! I have to get up, I can't let it end here! My grip around the swords in my hands tightened, my fingers leaving gauges into the ground. LIke a warrior returning alive, I shakily got on my feet, despite the rapid protest of my body. In the end however, my body gave out on me, my knees buckling and forcing me back onto the ground.

Reiland appeared in front of me...

"Shirou!" Apacii yelled. She blasted cero after cero at Reiland's back, each cero weaker than the last as exhaustion began to take her over. Reiland ignored them, his attention so focused on me.

"And now you die."

Lifting a foot, Reiland stomped down with all the force he could muster.

A shadow descended over me, a shocked grunt coming out of Reiland's mouth.

Wings of sleek black stretched themselves outwards, revealing dark leather like flaps that beat wind against my body. There appeared a form as white as snow, a gaze as apathetic as an animal walking on morning grass, and an extended hand clutching at the sole of Reiland's foot. With a flick of a wrist, Reiland was thrown back at neck breaking speeds.

"Human emotion, I cannot comprehend it."

Verdant green eyes glanced unperturbed at Reiland's direction, untamed black locks of hair swaying from side to side.

"Logic does not dictate it, life does not require it."

A hand was gently raised, index finger pointed out.

"It cannot be seen, it cannot be felt."

A vortex of green light gathered to a single point, a sphere coming into creation. Turbulent streams of spiritual energy blew back all in their way, a crater forming at an area where once there was nothing but fine sand.

"As such...I find this situation to be the fault of your own callousness. But,"

A beam of green light traveled the distance to Reiland in an instant, enveloping him in its intense power.

"It wouldn't be in my best interests to let you die now." Verdant eyes turned their gaze on me, standing in stark contrast to the subsequent shock wave and shroom cloud in the distance. "After all, y-"

"-Fool! As if a cero would work on me!" Reiland yelled, body exiting the dust cloud. Burns traveled up his body, the wounds I had inflicted cauterized and smoking. "It's my ability you see. Spiritual energy is absorbed through my skin which I can then use to fuel my power or harmlessly distribute it to the ground. You have no chance of winning."

Verdant eyes stared indifferently at Reiland, a hand once again lifting up.

Comforted with his ability, Reiland charged in once again, fist pumped back to maximize power.

A fist descended down, a hand went up. Reiland's hand was blocked, thereafter a finger was pointed at his face.

"Cero."

The only word that would come to mind after witnessing such a scene was annihilation. A cero as violent as a raging rapid shot out into the horizon, vaporizing Reiland where he stood.

I could do nothing but gawk at the overwhelming display of power. Gathering my wits, I pushed myself onto my back, the fatigue building up within me. I just wanted to close my eyes and let myself fall into blissful unconsciousness, but I turned my dreary gaze at the one who had arrived and helped.

"Thanks...Ulquiorra."

He didn't respond, just nodded his head.

As all was silent, a violent spiritual pressure descended on the area. Agitation, anger, and concern was evident for all to feel. Harribel had arrived; Starrk and Lilynette appearing soon after.

Starrk was over me in an instant, his normally relaxed face broken due to the seriousness of his eyes. A pair of hands tapped me by the arm, and then by my leg after I winced in pain. Lilynette did not seem to know what to do; hesitant to touch me where it would hurt. Her hands lingered over my chest before finding their way to grasp at my hands.

"W-What do I do S-Starrk." Lilynette fumbled with her words, her gaze glancing constantly at me and Starrk.

Starrk had no definite answer, a frown forming on his face.

My eyes grew weary, my eyelids closing over them. Slowly I began to drift into unconsciousness, Lilynette's insistent pleading for me to stay awake, doing little to stop the process.

When next I opened my eyes, it was to the sight of a vibrant orange sky, and the feeling of dirt under me. Getting up on my feet, I looked around at the world of blades around me that stretched on for an eternity.

Where am I?

A strong gust of wind blew, and I involuntarily shut my eyes. Opening them, I found myself at the bottom of a hill of swords, my gaze drifting towards the top. There sat a man, his broad shouldered back being all the more pronounced as he carefully pushed off his knees and stood up.

"C** *** h*** *e." The man's lips were moving, but I could not make out what he was saying.

The man sighed, and motioned to me with a hand. Warily, I made my way towards him, my steps echoing off the ground.

The closer I came, the more defined the man's features became. White hair stood up on end, solemn black eyes piercing into me, and a red overcoat blocking my view of another two individuals who sat behind him. A hand was placed gently on my head.

"They are calling you." The man said.

Startled that I could suddenly understand him, I didn't realize that my body had begun rapidly fading away until I had vanished completely.

The man who sat alone atop a hill of swords turned towards the two behind him, a hint of curiosity entering his eyes. Holding up a blade of the darkest black, and a blade of the purest white, he examined them carefully before setting them aside.

"Who are you?" The man asked.

The two other individuals nodded their heads to each other, a smile adorning their faces.

"We are the ones who's names reached the imperial Vila, who's strength ripped the mountains and split the water. We are the ones who could not hold the heavens together..."

"I am Kanshou-"

"-And I am Bakuya."

I awoke with a startle, jumping to my feet; the sudden movement eliciting a groan to escape my mouth. More than anything however, it alerted those who were beside me that I had awakened.

Starrk stared directly at me, a relieved expression playing out on his face.

"It's been two weeks Shirou." Starrk said. "You would not believe how much effort I had put in to keep Lilynette away from you to let you recover."

"Has it really been that long?" I asked.

"More than you know." Harribel answered.

Harribel walked up to me and bowed her head.

"Thank you. For saving Apacci, Sung-Sun, and Mila Rose." Harribel lifted her head, her eyes seeming to see me in a new light. "They have been quite agitated as of late, asking numerous times for your condition."

"And they couldn't have just visited?"

"Not with Ulquiorra guarding the entrance to this area stating that it was impractical to allow nuisances in."

Starrk yawned and made his way out of the room that I was recovering in, probably on his way to inform Lilynette of my recovery.

"Shirou, there is something I have to tell you." Harribel said.

"Yes?"

"We've agreed to meet up with Baraggan. We can't risk something like this happening again."

And here ends this installment.

For those curious about Kanshou and Bakuya, you'll have to wait for it to be explained in an update.

As for Ulquiorra who I've introduced this chapter, I feel as if the beginning in which he chooses to stay with Shirou and Co, is a bit far fetched, but for the sake of the story, please just go with it. As for why it may seem as if Ulquiorra is suicidal at the beginning, I based it off on the official Wikipedia since he's lamenting the existence of his life. Well I'll repeat it again, please just go with it.

At the battle scene, Shirou didn't get beaten because he was weak. He got beaten because he was taken by surprise at the end and was left too damaged to fight back properly.

Reiland the hippo-like Adjuchas: Blunt attacks do not work since his body is able to rebound the damage. Spiritual based attacks are able to be absorbed and used to fuel his power to an extent, otherwise he distributes the rest elsewhere. If he is unable to, he will get damaged, like how he died at the hands of Ulquiorra. Piercing attacks and sharp objects work since they can tear/pierce through skin.

Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun, aside from freeing Shirou, weren't of much help in the fight this chapter since they were already damaged before hand.

For those waiting for updates on other stories, you may have to wait awhile since my brain just keeps producing thoughts on bleach. Whenever I'm writing bits and pieces of the other stories, my mind drifts and my concentration dwindles. As such I'm waiting for a time when I feel like writing an update for those stories so that I can write to the best of my ability, not halfheartedly. I'm sorry if this will upset a few of you, but I'd rather write something I feel is good then half-baked.

Thanks for reading.

-Parcasious