In This Prophecy Fulfilled

Time To Let Rest Those Killed

This Meeting Shan't Be Our Last

In The Coming Tide of the Dark Horizon's Mast

Chapter 12

The End Is Only The Beginning

Hachigen was in a panic. He wasn't one to simply run away in a fight, but he bore no real offensive abilities to deal with the creature he was engaged with. Not only that but her own abilities surpassed his Bakudo and her speed kept him from being able to mount a sizable barrier to contain her. With the child under one arm, he was all but resigned to simply hide with Kyokko, trying his best to hide all facets of his presence and the child's. Slumped over in the darkness of an alleyway, he couldn't help but feel true terror of the being that was hunting him down. It was beyond even his Hollowfication, and he was the worst match when it came to enemies preferring close quarters engagement.

"Wherrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre arrrrrrrrrrrrrrre youuuuuuuuuuuuu?" It drawled out, grinding its gelatin-sheen blades made out of its fingers. The Hanta snarled in a guttural voice, undulating as much as her body did. The blank whites for eyes, angular and jagged, compressed into thin slits as it narrowed its gaze towards where she figured the hiding Soul Reapers' scent lied.

Raising one arm, she endeavored to slash towards the seemingly inconspicuous space-

-right before the daunting presence of Malice had ceased existing.

"Malice?!" She gasped, her face receding to its normal shape that bore more human qualities to it. Her blades for fingers sheathed back into normal appearing ones and the violet-black shapely Hanta turned to look in the direction with fear. "More Soul Reapers...no...Captains are here!"

"Soul Society has responded?" Hachigen thought with a dawning realization. "It must mean the barrier the Soul Hunters kept around Karakura Town was breached by Ichigo's battle with that one called Malice. They mobilized more quickly than I thought; does that mean they've been secretly monitoring activity without our suspicion?"

"Tch!" The liquid-bodied Hanta clicked her tongue, turning away from her quarry while issuing out a verbal warning. "Count yourself lucky that I don't want to be caught in a fight with your allies, fat man. I'll be far more prepared the next time we cross paths, and you won't be so confident then!"

In a shimmer of fast-movement, she disappeared, leaving the larger man to release hold of the Kido and the boy with relief.

"Is...is it over?" The boy finally quivered in asking to his larger savior.

"Yes, child, it is," He answered wearily, his face covered in sweat and his clothes ragged with debris and blood. He was truly at his wits end with his opponent. Now that the Gotei 13 has arrived with reinforcements, the enemies of Hell seem to be retreating, for the moment. Looking to the child, he smiled tenderly and rustled the top of his head with his big hand. "I'll take you back to your family. You'll be safer with them."

"But," He began to ask, his eyes beginning to tear up with remembrance. "What about my dad?"

"Sometimes," Hachigen answered, a sage sadness escaping his voice of someone who knew his pain all too well. "That what we lose, we can never replace. I'm sorry, child, I truly am."

Standing in the midst of a ashen wasteland, would be five individuals. What used to be a peaceful hillside, resident to beautiful emerald trees and a small temple is now cracked and cratered sporadically. In the more flattened part of the hillside, part of a perfectly carved trench created via Getsuga Tensho, is where these five Soul Reapers had gathered.

"R-Rukia?!" Ichigo choked out from disbelief. The woman who changed his life, who forever helped pave the path that he walked to this day, and the voice he heard among others in his dreams. That woman, was now standing there in front of him, among other comrades of the Soul Society.

"What's with the look, Ichigo?" Rukia asked with a chuckle, smiling back at him with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Its like you just saw a ghost, or something..."

Lowering his head, Ichigo's visage became overcast with an unreadable shadow that kept her from understanding his emotions.

After awhile, Rukia bent her head down to look up at his face, asking him curiously, "You okay, Ichig-"

"DUMBASS!" Ichigo responded, as he comically slammed his right fist down atop Rukia's head, bearing protruding veins that throbbed with wild abandon along his knuckles and forehead.

The others that were gathered seemed aghast. Toshiro twitched with irritation, but was more than reserved enough to have steeled himself for such a immature response from the Substitute. His Lieutenant, however, couldn't help herself giggle at the hilarity of the scene that continued before them.

"The Hell did you do that for?!" Rukia shouted out, holding her head that now sported a comically bulbous bump on her head.

"Yeah, what's the matter with you-?" Renji asked in addendum. He took a few steps forward to confront Ichigo, interrupted by a snap kick in the chin. This sent him comically soaring head over heels in the air, landing a good dozen meters away from the offending Strawberry.

"Both of you have a lot of nerve," Ichigo began, as he sideglanced Renji, then drew his attention back at a startled Rukia once more. "To act like nothing's changed!"

Rukia stared up at Ichigo, her violet eyes glaring into his hazel orbs with sudden indignation, "H-How dare you?! If you haven't forgotten, the Soul Society was in a complete mess since Aizen's coup attempt!"

"And we've been attacked by things out of a bad horror film!" Ichigo rebutted, leaning down with a raised fist. "I know your people have a very bad read on how to actually protect people here, but the least you could have done was at least keep an eye on things! I'm surprised, really, how you can waltz in and act so smug about how you protected something I had under control-!"

"By where I'm standing," Renji added, gesturing to the obliterated landscape of the once rural hillside within the vista of Karakura Town. "You kind've let everything get utterly wrecked."

"Not the time, jackass!" Ichigo jeered out with an angry point of his hand.

"I'm sorry," Rukia genuinely apologized, her brows releasing the crease of her frown, her lavenders staring up at his hazel orbs; enough that it made his own angered expression fade. "We've been stretched thin ever since Aizen was defeated. I would've insisted on keeping you and your family under more surveillance, more protection, given your previous state. I had to take care of not only managing the 13th Division through new promotion, but I also had to go on a rescue operation-"

"Promoted?" Ichigo momentarily interrupted, his eyes blinking with confusion.

Rolling her eyes, Rukia gestured her left arm towards Ichigo, showing off her Lieutenant badge, "I got promoted to the rank of Lieutenant for the 13th Division. Captain Ukitake insisted that I take the position, as he needed all the help he could get in managing the new recruits and current members of the Division's staff."

"Huh, well, way to go," He briefly applauded with a smile. Then, his brow arched with query at the latter most mention prior to his interruption. "And a rescue operation? For who?"

"There were people we had to leave behind in Hueco Mundo, some of which we managed to help out while you were in the coma," Rukia explained, side-glancing sheepishly away from his piercing gaze. "We managed to allocate Nel, and give her medical treatment. It was the least we could do. Luckily, she managed to stabilize her body's true form and has been recuperating since. Hanataro was also brought back for immediate medical attention. Other than that, Captain Kurotsuchi took any dead or partially living Arrancars he could find and has been studying on them since-"

"Rukia, I could care less what you did while I was unconscious!" Ichigo spouted off impatiently, throwing a hand to the side. "What rescue mission?!"

"Geez, you're as thick-headed as always!" Rukia pouted her lips at him, sighing afterwards with a huff as she crossed her arms over her chest, explaining. "If you remember our time in the Menos Forest, there was a Soul Reaper whom had been trapped in constant guerrilla combat with the native Hollows that spawned there. His name is Ashido Kano."

"The Hollow Shield guy?" Ichigo inquired briefly. "He was still alive after what happened down there?"

"Someone who fought Gillian and Adjuchas for the past few centuries is someone not to be underestimated," Rukia spoke briefly with a wry smile, as she recalled the red-haired survivor of the Hueco Mundo incursion. "It took awhile to find him, and to find our way back, but he's doing fine. After needing very much rest and recuperation, myself and Renji proposed that he be tested for the Captains' Examination. It didn't take long before he passed with flying colors, gaining the position of 9th Division Captain."

"Good for him," Ichigo said sincerely, remembering what a valiant and memorable ally he was when they were in dire need in Hueco Mundo. So many years ago, he could almost remember the desperate team they made in trying to get to Orihime and stop Aizen.

However, those memories were banished from his mind, as Ichigo regained the primary source of his agitation and indignation.

Looking down at her, he inhaled deeply, before asking her plainly, "Why didn't you come back sooner? I can understand how some of the stuff that happened took up your time. But seriously, nearly two years and not a single peep? Hell, at least my friends kept me in the loop when it came to Hollow problems or stuff that I used to be a part of. Why couldn't you do the same?"

Rukia looked to the side, grabbing a hold of her left forearm, "I..."

"As much as I'd like to see you two play catch-up, there is a reason for us coming here," Toshiro interrupted with a belated sigh, earning a cross between a scowl and an attentive stare from Ichigo.

Unfolding his arms, Toshiro continued, "Due to recently unfolded events, the Head Captain wished you to come to the Seireitei and stay in protective custody. We don't know the full extent of the forces that are at work, but due to the tentative nature of these...enemies...he wishes that you were to be kept out of sight and detection from these agents that have run amok the Material World, looking for you."

"Well, at least Kisuke or somebody decided to clue you in," Ichigo muttered out with understanding, raising his right hand up to scratch the back of his head.

Turning on his heel, Toshiro motioned Rangiku to get in position, continuing without meeting his eyes, "We'll leave immediately. Rangiku will open the Senkaimon and we'll debrief the others-"

"Not happening," Ichigo spoke plainly.

This earned Toshiro's ire, as he turned on his heels again to glare towards the taller and much more younger Substitute, "This isn't about pride or honor, Kurosaki! If you stay here, who knows how much more you'll put in jeopardy than Karakura Town! Insisting on staying is the epitome of stupidity and suicide!"

"You think I don't know how risky this is?!" Ichigo growled in a barely restrained tone, lowering his arms down, allowing his hands to ball up to fists, "They're the ones who picked a fight with me. They're hunting me like an animal, and for what? Sport? Food? Power? If I go to the Soul Society, they'll keep harassing my friends and family, and I won't be here to meet that threat head on! I'd rather die on my feet than be dragged away to a cozy prison cell so I can be tested and interrogated meaninglessly!"

What kept the argument from getting more escalated, would be a simple gesture. An outstretched hand would grasp Ichigo's wrist, earning the orange-haired man's attention, causing his whole demeanor to soften. A serious and quivering visage was projected from the heir to the Kuchiki House, as she looked up at him silently, working up the nerve to speak.

"Do you think anyone of us here...wants to see you die?!" Rukia asked incredulously, her voice reaching a volume that shakes Ichigo to his core, "we came here not just because we were ordered to. We came because we're your friends, Ichigo. We came here cause you've done things for us that we would never repay."

Looking down, Rukia whispered quietly, "So...please, at least think for a moment, of how your friends feel instead of how you believe they feel. Do you think they'd be able to live with themselves, knowing that you could be hurt or worse by these things?"

Ichigo swallowed hard, as he digested everything that occurred before him. He honestly felt like a tug of war, held by over a dozen directions, was pulling at his heart with a bundle of mixed emotions. He didn't know how to react, given from what Rukia said, or how to proceed from this point. He just wanted to go home and just keep doing as he always had done.

Looking away from Rukia, he gently grasped her hand, pulling her back towards Karakura Town as he spoke aloud with finality, "I'm not going to decide anything until I know everyone's alright. C'mon, we can discuss this back at my house."

Silently, Toshiro admitted this decision as a form of compromise, knowing they'd at least get somewhere. He hoped that he could get someone that could talk sense into the stubborn and thick-headed Substitute.

Rangiku, having been respectfully quiet for the most part for her Captain's sake, was just glad to see the handsome warrior who fought in Gin's stead against Aizen. Seeing him now, regained in confidence and power, almost made her believe that it would be better just to let him take care of himself, as opposed to simply keeping him in the Soul Society.

Renji on the other hand was a mixed bag of pleased and pissed. He was glad to see that Ichigo had regained a good portion of his old powers, despite the change in makeup, so he could challenge him sometime as a equal. He was pissed that Ichigo had adamantly remained, upon the surface, unchanged in his immature and thick-headed ways.

For Rukia, she didn't know what to think. She could only let him pull her by the hand, before they would use Flash Step, to whisk themselves towards the infamous site of tragedy, war, and outbreaks of many kinds. It was during that time, that she could feel a partially suppressed blush form on her pale cheeks. It occurred to her, that Ichigo had never grasped her hand, even in a casual way. Did it mean something, or was she just imagining things?

Gathered within the backyard of the Kurosaki residence, was the majority of those who attended as "party-goers".

The Visoreds looked relatively intact, despite injuries ranging from scuffs to grievous. Hachigen looked shaken and exhausted, his wounds he handled himself through mending that Orihime insisted on helping. Kensei looked as if he was in a furnace with burns ranging up his arms to the shoulders that were being attended to last. Shinji, Rose and Love all were sparingly injured, but looked more or less embarrassed; more or less due to the cyan haired Arrancar standing quite stoically next to them, oblivious to their discomfort as she looked towards the sky torn vista.

Isshin, having just arrived but a few minutes ago had spattered blood over his Shikhakusho, but not much of it actually belonged to himself.

Chad and Tatsuki currently squatted within the golden transparent dome-shaped barrier of Orihime's design, recovering from their excursion against the Hanta. While Tatsuki only sported minor injuries, she felt an incredible drain from overusing her new powers. It hadn't even subsided, other than a dimly lit aura around her, since the battle she fought not too long ago.

In another barrier across them squatted the mysterious partner of Senna, Ryo. Just like the battle he had with Uryu, most of his upper torso and arms were burnt to a near crisp black. The damage he took from the Inquisitor made the 2nd and 3rd degree burns across his body, more or less, a morbid reminder of how tolerant to pain he really is.

Uryu and Senna looked onwards from a nearby fence. The two of them had applied minimal first aid treatment upon each other before getting Orihime's "healing". For the most part, it seemed they were calmly assessing what was going on outside of the small suburban scarred neighborhood and the currently bustling backyard of the Kurosaki residence.

"Malice's Spiritual Pressure just vanished," Uryu finally spoke, breaching the veil of silence between them.

"It would seem Ichigo managed to overpower him, in the end," Senna sighed, her eyes casting a forlorn gaze to the side.

Pressing his left ring finger up upon his glasses, Uryu asked with curiosity, "Personal avowed nemesis of yours?"

"More like a nightmare," Senna shuddered, her hands holding her arms with palms rubbing the coat sleeves as if a chill swept her whole body. "Hanta are normally Sinners, though we often mistakenly label them as demons they are rarely anything to sneeze at. Their sins are the reason they are sent there in the first place but there is power in embracing their carnal nature. The ones that embody their crime the most are given a brand -a title, more or less- to signify their strength among their peers.

"And that's what Malice is. He is spite incarnate, and his hatred makes him nearly unkillable. There is merit in his claim that no one has ever beaten him in a fight, and his powers are a threat to anyone who wields spirit energy," She finished with a turn of her head to look frigidly at the Quincy. "Worse still, killing a Hanta never truly destroys the soul presiding in it. It just slaughters the host body that keeps them from being drawn back to Hell. A ruined vessel can't hold its passenger, and in the end, its just a sacrifice to be used at the demon's discretion."

"So that's who -what- they are," Uryu stated, his gaze shifting from Senna's to rest on Tatsuki's bristling figure hidden behind Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka barrier of transparent gold glow. "Tatsuki said they were possessed humans, but for the most part, all of them used powers we've seen before. Zanpakuto, both Arrancar and Soul Reapers. Yet Malice seemed wholly different."

"It isn't definitive, but Hanta is more of a job than a species," Senna answered readily, pausing for a moment as she turned her head to gaze into Uryu's. "Anyone condemned can be anything from Humans, to Hollows, to Arrancars and the like. The imprisoned rarely can do anything of their volition given the Warden and its kin watch them constantly, if not outright torture them; Demons are the only natural inhabitants of that domain, which gives them a certain sense of entitlement to those of the condemned what they wish.

"Those who are of the more...prestigious...of the hierarchy within Hell have the stronger to-be subordinates to pick," She continued to express her disgust, her lips curling into a snarl as she uttered aloud. "Malice's superior, the one who's been sending all these Hanta after Ichigo, is one of those such Demons."

These revelations caused Uryu's eyes to widen. Several thoughts conflicted within his mind. One part of him thought this seemed too far fetched to even be real, as if this was all an elaborate hoax to lure Ichigo into a trap of sorts. Another claimed that there was a rational sense to how all the pieces began to fit from what he had witnessed within the last few days.

"They must seem to value Ichigo highly if they are sending this level of subordinates to do their bidding. The fact they pulled out completely is another matter," Uryu suspected, his eyes presiding over the now calm horizon, though still laden with twisted clouds that thundered ominously overhead. "It probably has something to do with the Gotei 13 sending reinforcements."

Senna mulled over this thought with a sigh. Pushing off the fence, she put her arms behind her head, her face forming a frown. Any options she would have to consider would probably be necessary to contact her superiors.

"Whether they'd approve of a decision invoked by Karakura's self proclaimed guardians, however, I don't have the faintest idea," Senna thought as she turned to look over at the sweat-beaded visage of Uryu. "Not that they'd be stopped, given how much they support Ichigo's best interests over any third party, regardless if I'm a part of it..."

However, she wouldn't have much time to consider her thoughts.

Appearing within an instant Ichigo and company landed gracefully upon the center of the backyard via Flash Step. All eyes turned to regard Ichigo's arrival with relief and good cheer, only to be taken aback with surprise at the people standing next to him.

Toshiro looked around with familiarity, remaining stoic as he took in the state everyone was in. He did release a sigh of thankfulness that none of Ichigo's present family, friends, and allies looked worse for wear. Given Ichigo's current status the young prodigy thought it would be best they were in the best disposition; if not to further encourage Ichigo's move out of Karakura Town, for however long it would be.

Rangiku immediately latched onto a particular individual she hadn't seen in so long.

"ORIHIME!~" Rangiku shouted with glee, as she leaped through the air comically, tackling the young orange haired girl to the ground.

"R-Rangiku?!" Orihime gasped with surprised, a brief blush coming up to her face, as the breath left her lungs.

"Its so good to see you!" Rangiku giggled, rubbing her cheek against Orihime's, eliciting a surprise squeal and giggle from the teenager. Pushing herself off her to kneel in front of her. "You've certainly grown into a beautiful woman since I've last saw you. I bet you're making all the men fall at your feet, right?"

"Stop teasing me, Rangiku," Orihime smiled bashfully, turning her blushing face away from the buxom blonde as she covered her face. "I'm not that beautiful-"

"Bullshit!" Rangiku spoke in a rather unabashed and blunt manner, still smiling as she poked Orihime's shoulder. "You're a damned gorgeous gal, and you should be more proud of that!"

"Lieutenant! Stop goofing off!" Toshiro growled comically at her, earning a belated sigh from his subordinate.

"I'm just saying hi, Captain," Rangiku pouted her lips up at him. "You don't need to be so mean!"

"This isn't a house call for pleasantries, so stop acting like a child!" Captain Hitsugaya barked at her with widened eyes of incredulous frustration.

Rangiku couldn't help but quip as she glanced away from him, "Says the boy pretending to be a man-OW!"

"No sassing, Matsumoto!" Toshiro responded with a shout, having his small fist down onto her orange crested head. This resulted in her holding her bruised scalp up with tears in her eyes.

"Fine, Captain!" Rangiku groaned, as she stood to her feet not before catching a thankful smile from Orihime's direction.

Meanwhile, Renji squatted down near the golden dome that housed Tatsuki and Chad, staring at the two of them blankly, "How's it going you two? Getting acquainted?"

"Not funny, pineapple head!" Tatsuki growled at Renji.

"We had to beat some guys up. The last guy didn't agree with our fists," Chad quipped lowly.

"I can see why you're in the barrier, then," Renji smirked in response, only looking towards Tatsuki with curious eyes. Tapping the barrier's surface in emphasis, he asked Tatsuki. "Did you always glow or are you that hot tempered?"

"For your information, smart-ass, I got fire powers," Tatsuki responded bluntly, holding her fist up in a threateningly manner. "Want to have a go at it and see how cocky you are against me in the ring-"

Within a few moments, however, Tatsuki's aura finally faded. She looked perplexed as it had been remaining constant this whole time, "What just happened?"

"Yeah. Real firepower, I can see that," Renji snickered, causing Tatsuki to grimace with shame at any lack of strength to pummel him into the ground.

Through all the reunions, dialogue ensuing, however, there were several people that rushed to Ichigo.

As Ichigo had finished returning to his normal self, sealing his Zanpakuto within a makeshift sheathe of chains attached to the pommel, he opened his eyes wide to see a lavender haired Arrancar and a violet haired girl leap simultaneously for his front. Raising his arms ineptly, he felt himself clapped to the ground in a heap, much to his dismay and their ignorant bliss. Once he was in their entwined grip did they realize their proximity to each other; causing them both to frown at each other.

"What do you think you're doing?" Senna asked with a barely controlled temper.

"I'm just greeting my Ichi!" Nelliel answered, pressing her face against him in a smothering rub, her grip causing him to wheeze out. "Are you jealous of my affection?!"

"Well I've been scared for his safety!" The red ribboned Soul Hunter proclaimed, squeezing just as tightly back, her own cheek pressed against the opposite one while staring intently into the Arrancar's eyes. Ichigo squealed even more, ignored largely by her with her sneer aimed at her opposition. "Where did you come from?!"

"I came to visit, and the man with the funny hat told me there was trouble!" Nelliel answered indignantly, wiggling her rump in the air in addendum while pouting her lips. "I hurried as fast as I could, so I helped some of Ichi's friends quickly so I could wait for him when he returned!~"

"Hey! You weren't here earlier, so did you come to help late?!" Senna griped aloud, her own hips swaying in her arched posture over Ichigo's strained person. "Not only are you tardy, you are highly suspect! I won't stand for some late help pining for my-!"

"Ok," Uryu sighed, grabbing both girls by their scruffs and hauled them upwards with Ichigo's upper body limply held inert in their entwined arms. "The bastard's almost out cold from that. Can you give him some space to breathe?"

"A-Ah!" Senna released Ichigo, her face heating up just as Nelliel did the same with concern.

"I...just...need...air," The Strawberry heaved with labored breaths, slowly regaining the complexion over his features. Shaking his head, he'd eventually greet them properly -under proper watch from Uryu, much to his relief- to the pair.

"Nice of you to drop in, Nel," He started with the Arrancar with a weary smile. "Your timing is impeccable, though."

"Had I known of your plight, I would've hastened in my arrival," Nelliel replied, her mannerisms seemed to shift drastically as she retained her old life's elegant professionalism. Raising a hand to swish through her thick bluish-green locks, she flipped her tresses aside with a tilt of her head as she smiled with confidence. "If I was present, I'm sure the damage to your home wouldn't have been as grave; nor everyone's injuries as severe."

"Well, maybe," The Substitute shrugged with an uncertain, sloppy grin. "These new enemies are ridiculous. I'm just glad you're alright-"

"Awwww," Nelliel leaned forward with waving arms, barely held back by Uryu's grip. "Ichi-gooooooooooooo!~"

"Now, Sen-" The man turned to address the other girl in waiting, this time receiving a neck encircled hug and an affectionate hug far less of a vice grip than it was before.

"Don't worry me like that again," She whispered, already feeling her closed eyes moisten enough for them to slide down warmly across her cheeks over his own.

"Sorry," He apologized gently, wrapping his own arms around her waist, trying to return the gesture without embarrassing them both in front of everyone he knew. "I'll try."

"You're supposed to promise me you won't, idiot," She laughed dryly, her hands rustling the back of his scalp idly.

Gently pulling away, he shook his head, his smile fading as he responded honestly, "I can't make promises I don't think I can keep."

"Figured you'd say that," The Soul Hunter sighed, though her own smile didn't disappear completely. She was content just to look him in the eyes, knowing he came out victorious and had lived to see all of his friends and family safely sound.

"Ahem!" Rukia cleared her voice, attracting the attention of the four. Crossing her arms, she sighed as a pout formed upon her visage that puzzled Ichigo much to the small woman's chagrin. "Has everyone forgotten me so soon? I know its been a little bit of time, but honestly, you shouldn't have forgotten-"

"RUKIAAAAAAAAA!~" Kon shouted, as he leaped towards her chest unabashedly. The atmosphere filled with rainbows and sunflowers in his mind, as he found his first true dame, the one girl for him, has finally found his way back to his embra-

"Nice seeing you, Kon," Rukia responded with a swift roundhouse kick, halting the Mod Soul in the air, causing him to wince on her foot.

"Such...beauty...denied...again," Kon moaned, his plush body slipping off her foot and flopping onto his back.

Uryu's scalp produced a comically proportionate bead of sweat, as he responded bluntly to her, "I see your reflexes haven't been dampened by your newfound responsibilities, Rukia."

"As sharp as always, Uryu," Rukia responded with a huff, turning to smile at him, crossing her arms as she regarded him. "Glad to see you've taken care of yourself while I've been away."

"You obviously don't know me very well then," Uryu confidently smiled back. "Cause there should be no doubt that I should be able to hold my own. The Last of the Quincies should always be more resourceful than those who are in plentiful amount; like you Soul Reapers."

"Fair enough," Rukia huffed, closing her eyes.

"So," Senna finally spoke up, earning the confused look of the Lieutenant in her direction. When her eyes dawned upon recognition, she opened her mouth for confirmation only for the Soul Hunter to snarl audibly at her. "Took your time showing up now of all times, huh, Soul Reaper?"

Rukia's eyes were knitted into a furious glare that sent daggers towards her, "You've got some nerve talking to me that way, Shinenju!"

"My name is Senna, Rukia Kuchiki! I'm no longer bound by the Valley of Screams," Senna answered readily, clenching her teeth audibly with apparent resentment.

"You disappeared, and your presence should have ceased along with all memory of your existence," Rukia reacted with an icy venom that made her colleagues and Ichigo flinch at; only Toshiro and the elders of the group seem to be remarkably removed from the current spat. Crossing her arms over her smoothly shaped chest, the Kuchiki Reaper cocked her head a few inches upwards with a sneer appropriately twisted across her lips. "Forgive me if I find your current appearance and siding to Ichigo seem...suspect."

"Big talk for an absentee of Ichigo's life," Senna snarked back.

Ichigo tried to step in between Senna and Rukia, putting his hands out at both of them, "Guys, calm down! We don't have-"

"Yes! We do, Ichigo!" Senna pushed his arm away as she walked around him, stepping in front of Rukia herself, "I need to hear her reason why!"

Rukia gritted her teeth at the abrasiveness this girl, this supposedly non-existent one that, would challenge her as to her absence from her friends. Right now, of all times. She knew that Captain Hitsugaya didn't appreciate being kept waiting, and yet he was still allowing Ichigo to mingle with the rest of his family and friends before he made a decision.

Due to the lack of immediate response from any of the three, including Renji, she knew that she was on her own to face this girl's accusations.

"You want to know why I haven't come back? Not a single time to Karakura Town?" Rukia asked rhetorically before continuing on with a hand over her chest, emphasizing her point. "Well, here it is. The war was not without cost, not that you would know about it in the greatest of details. We have we lost three Captains through treason and death. Not only that, but I went on a long expedition into Hueco Mundo to save a friend that I promised that I would. Almost immediately upon my return, I was given a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, a position I dreaded taking away from my late mentor and friend. I have been trying to juggle duties of both paramount and dull around as my Captain is often left bedridden. It wasn't but hours ago that I even knew something was amiss here in the World of the Living. Especially in this spot, Karakura Town. I had the utmost confidence in my friends, to not only to protect their home but also each other, and that goes doubly for Ichigo!"

An audible silence set upon the whole backyard. If anyone had been talking in the background, those conversations were immediately halted by the verbatim

"So, you're claiming you knew nothing of the situation," Senna stated the facts, ending with a balking question. "Nothing at all?"

"That's correct," Rukia replied.

"Then you probably didn't know, how close to death Ichigo and his friends have been in?" Senna asked bluntly, causing Rukia's eyes to widen with disbelief. "And that if I hadn't been here, its quite possible that these forces of damnation would've taken them all by surprise and unaware. Ichigo's life was about to be stolen by a heinous kind of creature, and you were blissfully ignorant to both his plight and his pain!"

"N-No way!" Rukia's eyes widened with realization. The pieces began to fit in her mind: An elongated period of peace births a new threat, Senna returns, Ichigo's powers reawakened, Hell literally unleashes upon Karakura Town. "Why wasn't the Soul Society informed about this sooner? Why weren't any patrolling Soul Reapers taking notice of this?!"

"They were too busy minding their own business to notice a barrier placed over the entire landscape," Senna bitterly surmised, shrugging her shoulders with emphasis. "This only proves how inefficient your organization has become, but also how you didn't even bother checking up on your friends. Don't say you have faith in them unless you know they're one hundred percent prepared for ANY kind of danger that may befall them!"

But then, she also remembered Senna's last words, causing her to glare back at Senna's bristling visage. Her right fist balled up as she asked the reformed Soul Reaper incredulously, "What do you mean by Ichigo's pain?!"

"ENOUGH!" Ichigo yelled aloud with vented frustration. As this earned the two spiteful glaring girls' attention, he waved his right hand out. "I don't have a clue why you two are pissed at each other. But I do know when someone is talking about me like I'm not here. I'd appreciate if you cut this crap out now!"

Silence ensued once again. Rukia bowed her head, clearly ashamed that she allowed herself to be carried away. Senna showed shame as well, grasping her left arm as she glanced to the side with unease.

Only Senna let loose one last response to Rukia's question, "Ask Orihime, and you'll know what I mean."

Rukia's eyes raised up, widened and with surprised. Rukia noticed she didn't even cast a glance in her direction. The sincere sadness from her voice and the look in her eyes told her volumes her personal compassion. She turned to see Orihime's own ashamed visage, looking quite uncomfortable that she had been brought up in their squabble at all.

She knew when things settled down, they would have to talk about what exactly has been going on in Karakura Town during her absence.

It was then, that Toshiro decided to softly tread over to their midst. With Rangiku and Renji in tow, he raised his eyes up towards the group to speak with authority, "Now that we got greetings and some feelings off our chests, I think its time we talked about why we're here."

"Yeah," Ichigo nodded with agreement. Walking back to stand next to his earth-planted Zanpakuto, he placed his hand on its pommel. A deep breath inhaled and exhaled from Ichigo, as he finally made his decision. "I'm going to leave to the Soul Society for a little while."

Many people responded at once.

"Y-You're leaving?" Orihime asked with shock.

"So soon after I just got here?!" Nelliel replied in addition with open-jawed dismay.

"Seems like it," Ichigo answered with a belated sigh. "It won't be forever. Just until we figure out what's going on and find a better way to counter this new threat. For all I know, it won't be more than a few days at best."

"Oh," Orihime bowed her head down, solemnly taking everything in. Before Ichigo could respond, she raised her face back up to sport a supportive smile, "Then, I'll look forward to your return, Ichigo!"

"Yeah," Ichigo smiled with relief towards Orihime. He was honestly glad one of his friends supported this decision that he himself didn't want to make. It was one of the true things that he valued about Orihime's friendship. Faithful and loyal without a doubt in her heart.

"I'll stay, for the time being, then," Nelliel added with renewed maturity, surprising Ichigo how quickly she bounced back. Smiling calmly, her eyes twinkled with a serenity that made his heart skip a few beats, reminding him how gentle she looked when she held him several years ago. "I'm patient, Ichigo. I can stand to wait for a little while longer."

"Thanks for understanding," He nodded with an equally grateful grin adorned on his face. "I'll make sure not to be gone too long, I swear."

"The Hell you are leaving!" Senna shouted, her eyes filled more with fear than anger, "I'm not going to let the Soul Society lock you up in some feudal kingdom and keep you from me-"

"I'm taking you with me," Ichigo interrupted readily.

Senna stopped in mid-sentence, trying to process what he said. Her eyes flickered from fear to genuine surprise, and almost disbelief. She swallowed hard, as tears began to form in her eyes with a hopeful smile spreading across her face. "R-Really?"

"Why would I leave you behind?" Ichigo asked back, sporting a blank expression upon his face. "You didn't honestly think I was going to just leave one of the best things to happen to me in two years because some upstuck people said I should?"

Sniffling, Senna used her arm to wipe away her tears as she kept smiling, "You'd be a dumbass if you did."

Smiling back, he was glad to see that he managed to get Senna to agree with his decision. Strangely enough he didn't hear any other retorts come out of his friends. Collectively, they all looked on with understanding and approval. It felt to him as if they knew he'd make a decision like this; though a slight look of disapproval was sensed in how Nelliel and Rukia stared at him, but he couldn't peg exactly why that was?

Looking over to Uryu, Ichigo curiously blink in his direction, "Aren't you going to tell me I should do something smarter or less rashly?"

"Quite the opposite," Uryu answered smoothly, pushing his glasses up to make them refract a vivid glare of light. "I think this is one of the rare instances you decided not to use your instincts and relied upon your mind to make a decision. I'd applaud you, but I'm sure you're going to find something else to charge recklessly into."

"Gee thanks," Ichigo twitched irritably at the Quincy.

An audible clapping was heard, as Kisuke walked towards them, leaving the Visoreds and Isshin near the other half of the backyard, "Glad to see you're taking steps to ensure everyone's safety."

Ichigo dryly retorted, "You're making it sound like this was my idea all along..."

"No, I'm just glad you're listening for a change," Kisuke responded with a smile.

Turning towards him fully, he grasped the hilt of his Zanpakuto fully as he regarded the man in front of him, "There's no guarantee these bastards are going to stop, when they figure out I'm not here anymore. Can I trust you to protect my friends and family, while I'm gone?"

"Don't worry about a thing! Your friends always have room to improve and you have strong allies that you never had before. Besides," Kisuke chuckled thoughtfully, pulling the rim of his hat down as he smiled with a dark promise. "I don't plan on holding back against such enemies."

"Thanks," Ichigo nodded with thankfulness, lifting his chain-wrapped sword up to rest on his shoulder.

With a satisfied smile, Toshiro turned to Rangiku and nodded to her.

Understanding what he meant, she walked to the side and unsheathed her blade from its sheathe. With a swift thrust into the air, she turned it clockwise, causing a wide wooden doorway to manifest within the backyard. The mighty thrum would be heard as the doors slid apart, opening a white entry for them to enter, with a handful of Hell butterflies exiting its space to flutter near the Senkaimon.

"Then I shall accompany you as well," Ryo insisted with a stalwart step forward, now adorned in his cloak and fresh from the barrier that was released from his person.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Ryo," Senna remarked gratefully to the stoic companion of hers as he joined the wary looking Reapers' midst.

"Guess I have some guys to spar with," Tatsuki spoke with thoughtfulness, before turning her gaze up to Ichigo. "Make sure you don't take long, hero!"

"No promises," Ichigo spoke with a wry smile, allowing his free arm to wrap around Senna's midsection in a half embrace.

With no more words spoken, the four Soul Reapers, the Substitute, and the Soul Hunter walked into the Senkaimon entrance. As the Hell Butterflies fluttered back inside, the doors closed behind them with an ominous thrum, disappearing in the middle of space.

A loud clap later, and Kisuke turned to the collective group of allies and friends. "Alright! With enemies bound upon the horizon and Ichigo gone, we got our work cut out for ourselves. Shall we get things turned up a notch around here?"

A/N: It took a little over a year, but I finally managed to finish the Redux. Took time, effort, and a lot of bodies but the end is mine. ALL MINE!

Ahem.

Obviously I toned down the drama a bit and made it sound a bit better in some instances, keeping what dialogue I could salvage. I know I shoehorned Nelliel into the story only a chapter or so ago in this Redux but I desperately wanted to fit in her in some extent. In any case, I hope her inclusion was nice and people enjoyed it. As much as I laid off Ichigo's romantic subtext with Senna in this version, I did still want him to insist on Senna coming along since she did play a big role in helping get his life back in order and doing a lot of favors for him in risking so much on his behalf. This also sows the seed of jealousy for all the other potential romantic interests he's ignorant of so...let that stew for a bit.

And now, with everyone staying as they should (seriously, the only reason Humans can enter Soul Society safely was Kisuke's specially crafted Matter-to-Reishi converting Senkaimon. Why did I think it was a good idea to shove them into the first chapter of Dark Horizon?! WHY?!) everything is now consistent again. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

So, without further ado, let the actual PLOT progress forward!