I'm back after nearly half a year away from this story! How time flies when you're not writing fanfiction. *sigh* But I digress, here is chapter 8!

Disclaimer: As if you didn't know.

Warnings: Just random plot development in this chapter and a character death (sort of), sorry!

Ichigo knew before he opened his eyes that he was in his inner world. He knew that he would wake to the lopsided buildings and clouds that went above him. Yet, Ichigo knew something wasn't right, that something was amiss. When he opened his eyes, he knew something would be terribly wrong. Deciding that lying down with his eyes closed was not going to get him anywhere, and the fact he was curious about what was wrong, the teen slowly opened his chocolate brown orbs. It didn't take a genius to see what was wrong with his world.

It was as if his world was going through a black hole. Everything seemed slow and disorientated; as if he had glasses on that weren't made for his eyes. The sky was different as well. Instead of being blue, it was now black with red clouds. For a moment it reminded Ichigo of an anime Orihime liked, something to do with an orange ninja, but he quickly discarded that thought. Thinking of his friend made him think of the betrayal he had witnessed. A part of Ichigo still wanted to hope it wasn't true.

"What you saw was real Ichigo."

Brought out of his painful memories, Ichigo turned and saw Zangetsu standing on his ever present flag pole. No matter how many times he visited his inner world, seeing his zanpakto balancing on the thin pole always amazed him. Ichigos' theory on how he stayed up there was something to do with spiritual energy; not very original but it kept Ichigo happy. Knowing that his sword never lied, and that deep down he had already known that Aizen hadn't lied, Ichigo answered with his own question.

"Where's Shiro?"

The black glad zanpakto gave no verbal answer. Instead, he gracefully dropped off his pole to revel the landscape behind him. What was there shocked Ichigo to his very core.

Lying on the windows was his hollow; unconscious. But the scary thing was that he appeared to be sinking onto the building beneath him; it was like he was stuck in quick sand; the building absorbing him slowly. Knowing that his sort-of-brother was in danger, Ichigo ran to his hollows' side, in the hopes that he could pull his 'twin' out. But when he made to grab Shiros' arms, his hand passed through the white cloth. And when he shouted his hollow's name, he received no response. He yelled for minutes. His horse voice echoing through the vast world. All the while Zangetsu stood and watched; his masters' panic and confusion filled him with sorrow.

When Ichigo walked towards him, obviously wanting answers, the sword spirit knew that it would be tough to explain everything. Despite their first differences, the two look-a-likes had grown close in the last few months. The loss of one would strike the other hard.

When Ichigo was only a few feet away from Zangetsu, he stopped and asked "What's happening to him; to this place?"

Zangetsu stared at his master before explaining what Ichigo wanted to know in that all- knowing voice that he naturally had.

"It is your arrancar transformation. Unlike normal hollows, which just gain power by removing their mask, you are a shinigami with hollow powers; a vizzard. Because of this, Aizen had to alter the process slightly. He and his pink haired scientist made it so that the Hogyoku would meld Shiro completely with your mind. You still have your powers, but he no longer exists. The new black and red in the sky simply mimics the colours of the mask you two shared."

Whilst the concept sounded simple, Ichigo couldn't digest the information. He was going to lose Shiro, a being that had been part of him for over a year. They had only just started to get along. He didn't even say goodbye. That though filled the death berry with rage. After all of the fights and crap that they had gone through, the white bastard couldn't even manage a tiny goodbye? Suddenly Ichigo felt like punching something. But yet again, Zangetsu amazed him with his ability to know what Ichigo was thinking.

"He knew it would hurt you more if you had to say goodbye. You know he would have right."

Ichigo didn't say anything, just shook his head, trying to keep the tears from falling. He knelt by his deteriorating twin and whispered softly in his ear "See you Shiro."

It was as if the hollow had been holding on to hear those words. For as soon as they were said, he disappeared completely; sucked into the building. Ichigo stared at where his hollow had been and finally allowed some tears to fall silently. He could feel Zangetsu's presence behind him, but only turned around when he felt a hand on his shoulder. His Zanpakuto had always been a second father to him.

"There isn't much time. Now that he is gone, melded with your mind, you will wake up soon transformed. There will be pain when you wake up, you will see the world in a different way. But be careful. Shinigami have 'rescued' you, they may try to turn you back; it will kill you."

Before Ichigo could register what had been said, he could feel himself disappearing; waking up. He quickly asked "Will you still be hear" to which his only replay was a slight nod. White flashed around him and Ichigo mentally prepared fro what was to come.

When he opened his eyes, he was blinded by the light. Before he could take in his surroundings, the pain hit and Ichigo left out a blood curdling scream. "AAAHHHHHHH!"

Again, sorry for the short chapter and all the spelling mistakes. I just wanted to get something out to you guys. Please review. If you do, you can have a cyber cookie!