Okayyyy so then… my computer decided to do a supernova. I've been working on this chapter in the library every once in awhile. -.- I hate it when my laptops die on me. Guess I'll have to go buy another one. I do not own bleach or its sales.

Warnings: Original Character, Cussing…

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: it may take a bit longer then usual for me to put new chapters out until I can buy a new laptop. Again sorry I wasn't expecting it to fizzle and die on me either. T.T

Responses to reviews:

BonneNuit: i know right? totally sexy ichigo understands his dilemma! ^ ^

Prexistence: yeah i can't wait till the scene shiro tries to take charge again… oh and grimmjow does get tired of being nice lol that's why he spends most of his time taking out his anger on ichigo, that and the fact he enjoys arguing with out strawberry. XD

ladyaffirmed: thanks, even though it took you awhile to like this story at least you like it heh-heh. i understand your thoughts on the matter of ichigo fallin' for others too fast, i've read stories where he rips of his clothes and screams to be taken lol. i didn't like them either. i'm trying my best to make ichigo slowly like grimmjow because of jaegerjaquez's personality close to a humans. ichigo and shirosaki is more of a 'fallin' for the captor' type thing. anyways thanks for reading.

Kichi Hisaki: yes, yes that was some byaxren lol -a bit mushy too haha. -.o

TealEyedBeing: hm i'd have to say shiro-kuro's relationship is unknown at the moment. right now i'm just tearing away their morals and rebuilding them to fit one another. i want to get ichigo to the point where he wants to be molested by kuchikukan lol. (it is a bit hard though haha.)

bottlecaps: entertaining and surprising! XD

Kobato00: heh you were the only one to comment on grim's unusual dream lol. grimmjow has an unconscious attraction to ichigo so naturally the events with shiro claiming the orange-haired has him unsettled. heh i'm evil to grimmy ^^

Fundibulous te Zohan: oh yes ByaRen is coming soon, maybe not soon enough but soon lol. laters! X3

Departing...

"This is like Christmas all over again!" Kisuke Urahara chirped merrily as he shuffled strange items around in a large box. Many more were stacked around him at the front of the bar. They were what was left of the shoten, objects secretly stashed -his most prized possessions. Around him, his faithful followers helped clean the bar. All except one pitched in to help.

Ichigo juggled two stacked boxes and set them on a table where Urahara vaguely pointed. He wiped the sweat from his brows before he turned around and twitched in annoyance. "Oi," The boy went to tap the scientist on the back making his mentor look over a shoulder at him.

"Hm?"

Hooking a thumb in the air Ichigo indicated at the lax form lounging in a bored manor on the bar counter-top. "Is that bastard going to do anything?"

"Yeah..." Grimmjow drawled aloud. "I'm gonna sit here and watch ya work."

"You're such a fucking bum." He growled.

"Fuck you." The hollow seethed, taking delight in the others anger.

"Maybe later." Kurosaki retaliated. It took him a second to realize what he said and immediately he looked away, a slight blush tingeing his cheeks.

Grimmjow choked seeming disturbed at the notion. "You'd like that wouldn't cha? Sorry ta break your bubble but I don't think of you like that."

"Oh really?" The teenager spat slinging words faster then what his mind could process.

"And last night you didn't have that wet dream about me?"

The hollow nearly fell from his perch upon the bar. The dream long forgotten in the corners of his brain came back as fresh memories flooding his thoughts. For the first time both horror and embarrassment twisted onto his face.

"What's this now?" Kisuke perked. "Is neko-chan falling for my Kurosaki-kun?"

Both Blueberry and Strawberry turned to shout back their protests;

"I ain't fallin' for him!"

"Who said I was yours?!"

Urahara fanned himself. "Oh~ excuse me." He left the two flustered males as quick as he had arrived.

Crinkling his nose in annoyance Ichigo plopped down on a bar stool. "Hey, have you figured out where I should go?" The boy directed his question to the rummaging new bar-owner. "Cause if you do I should leave right away."

Kisuke nodded. "I gave a long hard thought about it. From the Vizards to the Kiba Clan in Soul Society… but I believe I have found the perfect temporary solution." He whipped around with a smile. "Catch."

The threaded bag was caught easily. Ichigo opened it to peer down at the bottom. Pulling out a mobile phone the teenager raised an eyebrow. "This…" The side of his lip twitched, he wasn't sure if he was happy to have some kind of communication or fashionably scared for his life. "-is absolutely ridiculous!" The huge clunky phone looked to him as if it was prehistoric. Military green and as large as his own head, he cringed at the device.

"Don't make that sort of face Kurosaki-kun!"

Grimmjow snorted to announce his distaste as well. Mumbling something about the late Octava Espada being able to create a more reasonable gadget. Kisuke only frowned at the way he was being put down.

"I'll have you know not a scanner or tower can pick up on the frequencies my 77 works on."

"77?" Ichigo blinked.

"Yes! Item Number 77!" Urahara said happily. "All of my two digit items are top-secret and foreclosed from Seireitei!"

"So basically Soul Society doesn't know anything about the things you've made numbered in the two digits?"

"Yep! Item Number 77 works like this…" He picked the monster mobile from Ichigo's hand and flipped a switch on the side. It hissed static to life. "Now… all you'll hear is static if you don't point it in the right direction." Turning the hissing subsided slowly to a steady pulse like sound. "The beeping means you are pointing in the direction my receiving mechanism is located."

"Um… What the hell is it fueled by?"

"I'm getting to that. I created this as an emergency medical transmitter, EMT if you prefer. It works using your own spiritual particles and riding on the spiritual wave you send out by pressing this button." Pressing the only button on the flat panel the phone became quiet. "TESTING, TESTING, 1-2-3~!"

Across the room where Urahara was pointing his ingenious 77 a box came to life.

-TESTING, TESTING, 1-2-3~!-

"GAH!" Jinta ruffled like a frightened cat nearby. Startled by a talking box he scurried away and once he figured out the reason for the box's sudden ability to produce words he growled and slung offending phrases to the man.

Kisuke didn't seem to notice. He spun around with a smirk. "The pulse like sound you hear is your own pulse. My receiver can pick up on that signature pulse and let me know of your physical condition where ever you are! Whether you're in the Human Realm, Soul Society or any other dimension! Pretty cool huh?!"

"Feh. Pretty dorky." Snatching back the item Ichigo stuffed it back into the bag. "Wait, how do I use it if I don't have any reiatsu?"

The scientist gave him a look as if to say the boy was clearly as dumb as a pile of bricks.

Grimmjow let out a barking laugh in amusement from behind.

"Kurosaki-kun, it's not that you don't have reiatsu. Quite the opposite, the Hõgyoku is composed of reiatsu; sucking, absorbing, producing. It's just the fact that we can't sense your reiatsu."

His eyebrow ticked. "Okay then why can't you?"

The man shrugged. "The only thing I can think of is that the Hõgyoku is protecting itself. Now that it knows its weakness it wants to make sure that its container can't be destroyed again."

"Ah…" Ichigo glanced around feeling weird at the calculating looks he received from the others in the room. "Is there uh… anything else I should take with me?"

"Well… you may need this."

In went a large cloak, then a big tarp followed by an empty canteen with the number 70 on its side. A few more things and Ichigo slung the full pack onto his back. The elder laid an arm over his pupil and led him outside at the back of the bar. The lane was in an even less appealing state as the front.

"All my items Numbered in the 70's are survival gear so you should be just fine. When you get to your destination give me a call. If you figure out you need anything else just let me know and I'll get it to you or vise-versa."

"Uh… wait a minute." Grinding in his heels Ichigo turned narrowed eyes on the man. Suspicion rising. "You still haven't answered my question. Where am I going?"

Grimmjow stepped outside with them, a bored expression on his face as he glanced around the narrow passage.

Kisuke only laughed. Waving his fan around trying to ignore the unavoidable. "And this…" He placed a hand on Grimmjow's shoulder. "-is the last portion to your survival kit!"

"Excuse me?!" The orange-haired boys face twisted in confusion.

"Jaegerjaquez is accompanying you as your own personal bodyguard!"

Ichigo's mouth fell open. "W-what?" He choked out.

Not amused with the situation Grimmjow side-stepped from the two and checked the thin space he had to conduct his hollow skill…

"I have already brought neko-chan up-to-date. He has been briefed and accepted his role in helping you out."

"Wait, hold on!" Ichigo jerked his head over to the hollow. "You accepted?!"

Grimmjow frowned. "Be grateful." He lifted a finger and pointed seemingly at Ichigo and Kisuke. A lopsided smirk pulled his features to a feral tightness.

Kurosaki didn't register the ex-Espada's gesture as he snapped his head back glaring at the bar-owner. "Where. The. Hell. Am I going?!"

Just opposite the blue-haired hollow came a ripping sound and the two looked to see a monstrous mouth open into a dark tunnel. It stayed open and Ichigo visibly paled.

"I AM NOT GOING TO HUECO MUNDO!" Ichigo dropped his bag and grabbed the front of Urahara's shirt. "Have you gone mad you old fool?!!"

"Ah-ha-ha~! Come now Kurosaki-kun I think it's brilliant! No one would ever think you'd be right under our enemy's nose! Not even Aizen himself would believe it."

"I don't care! I'm not going!"

"You ain't gotta choice." Were the snarled words of the hollow as he started walking towards them. In one fluid motion he bent, scooped Ichigo onto a shoulder and snatched the bag before walking into the gargantua.

"PUT ME DOWN! DAMN YOU GRIMMJOW! I WILL KILL YOU! KILLLLL YOUUU!"

Kisuke waved the two farewell with his fan. "Have fun! Don't get in too much trouble you two!" Ichigo was still yelling and flailing on Grimmjow's back when the gargantua closed up.

* Soul Society *

Third division barracks were still celebrating having their new captain Renji. All except Koishi Iwaya who sat quietly in his room. He held his brothers katana in his hands, blood dried on its hilt and scabbard. Tightening his fists around it he leaned forward biting down on his lower lip.

Memories came flashing back in his minds eye. The day of their human death and arrival to Soul Society. They were so lucky to be together unlike other families who were torn apart. Growing up in the better districts and becoming close friends to the young Miya boy, their dreams had been steadily coming to realization until now.

Now he had lost his only true family.

They were supposed to have spent centuries together.

He wasn't supposed to die so soon!

A knock echoed through the dark room. Koishi huffed hiding the sword under his mattress before wiping the tears from his cheeks. He coughed once, twice; clearing his throat. "Come in."

The door was pushed to the side as three figures filled the doorway.

Koishi blinked in disbelief. "A-Ame?"

The Miya Leader nodded and entered followed by his vassal, Kabin Hanazono on one side. Then came in their female companion Kiyûki Kawagishi with her large spiraled blonde hair, and paper crane resting at the part on the side of her head. Her weapon was a priestess staff she carried in one hand, her shinigami uniform donned with the thirteenth division badge.

Once the door was closed Ame flopped unceremoniously onto the bed. "So…" His gaze fell on each of the others one by one. "-this is the rest of our gang huh?"

Kabin crossed his arms and lent against the wall. "Who would have thought it'd be down to four so soon?"

A relatively unpleasant feeling settled upon them and Koishi looked away.

Ame stared down in his lap for a moment before reaching to his badge and ripped it off. The action brought the others attention onto him. "I sent in a request. A week off duty to mourn Ganseki's death." With grey-blue eyes Ame gazed at his close friends he had grown up and graduated the Shinigami Academy with. "But I've already mourned." His brows furrowed. "What I need now… is some sort of release." Glancing at Koishi he nodded. "Some sort of vengance." He let the small patch of fabric with the number nine drop to the floor.

"Vengance?" Koishi's face twisted. Green orbs shimmering on the badge resting lifeless on his bedroom floor before jerking his head up. "You… you're going-"

"After the hollow that killed Ganseki." Kabin finished the sentence.

Koishi frowned.

"No." Ame stood. "We are going after the hollow." He extended his hand out to the shorter male. "Come with me Koishi, you have more right then I to go."

Both fists clenched and the white haired boy ground his teeth together in thought.

"If not for your brother… then for yourself." Ame's eyes became like angry storm clouds. "For some kind of closure!"

His sense of duty seemed to shatter and tension melted away. Koishi could only stare for a few seconds realizing that he himself really didn't care if he went or not. He lifted a hand. What did matter was the fact that when worst comes to worst the person that he'd be there for wasn't his brother -he had come to that conclusion when he had in fact been to late to save Ganseki. The person he'd do anything for, much like the others who were drawn like insects to a flame was the young noble. "Ame…" Gripping the others hand tightly, he lifted himself up. And what the male wanted he would provide. "…lets go."

With a half grin that was unknowingly infectious Miya turned and headed out the door.

The three supposed friends only glanced to one other understanding that if Ame led, they'd inevitably follow…

"To hell and back!" Ame Miya shouted victoriously not fully aware that's just were they were heading.

* Human World *

The bright afternoon brought six figures walking slowly into a small community graveyard.

Finding their place at the far end of the back path they stopped to view the small gravestone of Ichigo Kurosaki;

-Strawberry Protector-

Young Yuzu and Karin turned away from the grey stone hiding their wet faces in Isshin's jacket. The man looked tired and beaten sighing in helplessness as the twins sniffled into his clothing. He gave the kids at his side a nod and they started moving.

Inoue unraveled a cloth for them all to sit upon. Sado placed down the small picnic baskets and undid the tops placing drinks and sandwiches in the right places. Ishida sat chewing on his lip as the others found a seat. Karin and Yuzu closer to the grave.

"Here Ichi-nii…" Yuzu sniffled offering a bite of her sandwich. "You've always liked peanut butter sandwiches." Tears slipped down her face and she began crying again. Karin rubbed her back to ease the inner pain.

Cool hands enveloped Yuzu's and she looked up into Orihime's kind eyes. "Here… lets make Ichigo-kun a plate too." Knowing the same pain the girl helped the two sister in making a small offering and setting it onto the grave.

Ishida looked away from the others. His eyes traveling along the swaying trees. Sunlight trickled down onto them and he thought sorely of how beautiful it was. It was incredibly sad that the world kept turning, kept maintaining its brilliance with the loss of someone so important to them. How unfair… it should be raining, should be storming and showing how torn up they all were on the inside. But no… birds chirped happily, squirrels pranced about, the wind played by and grass was still soft to the touch. "How eerie…"

"Is something wrong Ishida?" Sado glanced at him and the Quincy shook his head.

The six resumed eating their meal letting the memories of their friend, brother, and son slip through their minds. Nothing would be the same without Ichigo around…

* Hueco Mundo *

Ichigo was deposited to the sand with a loud thump followed by his pack. Grumbling more to himself then the hollow ignoring him, Kurosaki pulled out the rather weather-beaten cloak and tied it around his jeans and shirt. He shuffled items around in the bag.

"Ha~!"

The sound made him look up. Grimmjow's back to him he took note of the muscles being stretched under the black tank as the hollow extended arms out to the sides. The nest of unruly blue hair swayed as the others head fell back a bit.

"Look at it!"

The small waning moon in the dark sky coated the world in white light. But it wasn't that which had caught Ichigo's attention. It was Grimmjow's enthusiasm. It seemed like the hollow had thrown his arms open to hug a long lost lover. Kurosaki smirked. There was something about Jaegerjaquez that made him forget the ex-Espada was a hollow and Hueco Mundo was still in fact the blue-haired demons homeland. His grin fell off. His homeland now… Ichigo shrugged off the thought keeping the idea from making him remember his family and friends he left behind. This was a new chapter in his life, to survive he must accept what he can and find new meanings to exist.

The sands shifted, the air drifted around them caused by the hollows movements from far off in the distance. A large grin curved Grimmjow's lips.

Throwing the pack over his back Ichigo stood stepping up beside Grimmjow watching that satisfied smile turn his way. "So… what now?"

"Now? Now we go an' search for a good landscape."

Ichigo's eyebrow lifted. There were different kinds of landscapes in Hueco Mundo? He fell in step as the hollow began to move in a semi-brisk pace, hands in his pockets leaning back enjoying the feeling that defined this dimension.

"Then we get to fight off the fucking locals and claim it as our own!"

The teenager rolled his eyes. To him Grimmjow sounded like a yakuza punk. "And what do we do after that?"

"Uh well dumb fuck whadya think? Make brownies and sip tea together?"

"Pfft. Yeah that actually sounds nice for the fact I know you can't cook worth shit."

"Are ya challengin' me brat? Coz ya should know right now I'll take ya on here and now."

"Over a cooking challenge? You're fucking ridiculous!"

"I'm extremely serious Kurosaki-kun!"

"Well maybe you should lighten up neko-chan. Eat a bit of cat-nip!"

"I don't take orders from anyone!"

The two males had stopped walking and faced one another. In their heated argument they barely noticed a group of prowling hollows creeping up onto them. Until of course the large creatures towered over them both.

"Ooooh what a yummy snack we foooound!"

"I could devour them in one bite."

"Don't sense nothing from this one, lets tear the other apart."

Yet the three tall hollows were utterly ignored as if on purpose.

"It wasn't an order asshole. It was a suggestion."

"Well it was a shitty one since I don't even know what cat nipe is."

"Cat-nip."

"Whatever!"

A terrible howl of rage erupted from the second hollow. It shook the sands in its fury of being overlooked by its own lunch. But that was the only howl the creature produced as a sudden slash ripped up its form cutting it in half. The hollow dissipated in seconds as if it had never even existed. The two demons took a step back looking back down to the smaller bodies.

Grimmjow grinned, his right hand outstretched with fingernails elongated and shinning dangerously against the black arm-warmers. It hadn't even caused him a sweat, just a kitty swipe and the thing was no more. "I hate it when I'm inneriptad."

"It's interrupted." Ichigo corrected earning him a sneer from Jaegerjaquez.

The hollows reiatsu crackled around him as he turned his attention back on the shivering forms. Blue eyes narrowed in annoyance. "What-EVER!"

Shaking his head Kurosaki watched offhandedly as his bodyguard dispatched the other two hollows. The last standing hollow was thrown and he side stepped it as it rolled by. "I still can't believe I'm stuck with your dumb ass out here in the middle of nowhere."

Grimmjow appeared at his side from a shumpo glaring a few inches from him. "Get used to it." And he darted by.

A shriek was the final cord to the things demise and once again Ichigo was alone with Grimmjow. He turned and walked in a bored stride to and past Jaegerjaquez.

"So what's cat nipe anyway?" Grimmjow wiped his hands clean on the dark jean pants he wore.

"You don't need any."

* Urahara's Bar *

An ugly frown graced his features. Urahara glanced from his hand holding a list and back down into the small box. "Tessai!"

The large kido master appeared. "Yes?"

Kisuke turned around. "Is this right?" He handed the paper over and Tessai stepped up beside him to check over the box.

"Ah yes… it has been like this sense… last week I believe."

"Last week?"

Tessai pointed to the sheet of items. All of Urahara's two digit items were weekly checked to make sure they were still in perfect condition. Surely enough along the lines of checkmarks there was a small circle accounting for the past Friday.

Urahara snatched it back. "How come you didn't inform me immediately?"

"You were too absorbed in your new connections with Seireitei and Ichigo-san. The item had never been finished so I did not think past the thought that you'd check the papers once you got around to it."

Face falling into a empty stare. Kisuke could only blame himself. He did always check his projects and he had been too occupied to noticed. Plus it really wasn't Tessai's fault… he had never released the importance of this such item. "Shit."

"Kisuke-san…"

The man looked up.

"I believe you-know-who might have gotten a hold of it when you weren't looking last week. I never did trust that one."

"Him?"

"Think about it. At our last trade with Soul Society I heard that he has gone missing right after his appearance here."

Eyebrows knitting together Kisuke frowned again, troubled with the situation. He tossed the sheet of paper into the little box. "This is not good." He crossed his arms, eyes darkening he looked at the red circle on the pad of paper. "Item Number 69 is missing…"

What's item number 69? And why is Kisuke deeply troubled that our mysterious thief has taken it? -shrugs- you may not know until later chapters. Next up, Ichigo and Grimmjow grow closer together and Kuchikukan doesn't much like it… as well as a strange appearance from a hooded creature watching them. Until next time!