Disclaimer: I do not own the anime Bleach or anything affiliated with it. Anything not from Bleach, rights go to the designated owners. As I've said, I only own the Black Hollow, it's 'abilities' and the OC.

I got the idea when I was walking to school a while back, but I've finally formed a story about it. Hope you enjoy!

Brief: Karakura's had some strange things happen to it before now, but nothing on this scale. How will Ichigo and Rukia defeat the menace when their very allies could be against them?

Warning(s): Swearing and cursing throughout, unsure how frequently.

Additional: Thanks for all the support everyone has given me during this, it's only because of you that I've continued this and made a sequel, so thank you all so much.

Remember, at the end of this chapter, there will be a look ahead to what's to come in my After the Winter War Fanfic, or rather the next story line.

15: Now What?

Rukia awoke finally to find Ichigo's face staring down on her, his brow furled with anxiety. As her eyes eased open, the worried look gave way to a relieved smile.

"Hey, Rukia." he said, relief obvious in his voice. The small Soul Reaper sat up awkwardly and looked around.

"What am I doing in your bed, Ichigo?" she asked first, causing a frown to press over Ichigo's face.

"You can't be serious. You were badly hurt, I couldn't let you sleep in my freaking closet, and I'm not letting you take the floor, so my bed was the only alternative."

Rukia rubbed her head tiredly.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Well, we beat that hollow, finally, and separated, but then you blacked out from the injuries we had. I'm surprised at how long you held on, considering how much blood you lost. Urahara reckons it was the adrenaline in your system, but I'm not so sure."

Rukia looked at Ichigo and he stared into her eyes for a while. Rukia quickly noticed Ichigo's own injuries had healed quite well, as had her own.

"How long was I out?" she asked cautiously.

"Not too long, about 30 hours or something." he replied.

"30 hours?"

"Yes, you've been asleep for over a day, big deal. You've had and seen worse scenarios."

Rukia smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Ichigo." she said softly, gently hugging her friend due to her own injuries.

"It was nothing. Do you need anything?" he replied.

"Yes; you."

The raven-haired girl hugged the orange-haired teenager and the two kissed, albeit briefly, but you can't expect more when in the Kurosaki household.

"YES, MY SON!" came a yell as the two parted and Isshin burst in. "YOU'VE FINALLY BECOME A MAN! NOW MAKE ME SOME GRAND-BABIES!"

By now, Ichigo had had enough and proceeded to attack his father with the first item to hand; a trainer.

"God dammit! What the hell, you pervert!" he yelled, another strike hitting the older man in the face. "You say that every freaking day! And what in hell's name are you shouting something like that WHEN RUKIA IS RIGHT THERE?"

Needless to say, everything was finally back to normal.

River Path

The calm of the sunset over the river made Orihime smile lightly, her head bandaged from her encounter with the evil Ichigo clone. As she walked, she heard someone talking and hid in a bush to look closer.

"Look, I've made my decision, and that's that." the voice said. It was somewhat familiar. "I know that... No, you're not... Would you stop..." A sigh passed the teenager's lips, then; "Shut up for five damned seconds, would you. Jeez, alright, I get it, he's not dead though... I bloody well did tell you! Huh? No, listen to me, I'm not coming back, I've got things to do... Private things... I'm allowed to have a private life, thank you very much... You know what? Forget it, fuck the lot of you!" The sound of a splash filled the air. Another sighed, then; "I know you're there, Orihime, there's no need to hide."

The girl rubbed the back of her head as she appeared again. Kai stood there, hands in his pockets, a number of bandages and scars covering his forearms and head, but she suspected that his injuries extended further than those visible. The splash had come from a small phone which he had thrown into the river.

"Sorry, I didn't want to intrude." she said lamely. Kai shook his head.

"It's no problem." he said. Silence fell over them, then Orihime broke it finally.

"Who was that?" she asked, receiving a puzzled look.

"Who?"

"On the phone."

"Oh..." Kai hesitated and looked away. "No one, it's nothing, really."

"It didn't sound like nothing." Orihime pressed a bit too hard for Kai's liking and he flipped.

"I said it was nothing, dammit!" he barked, scaring the auburn-haired teen, before regaining his composure. "I'm sorry. It's just better if you didn't know about it." He paused, then said; "I've been thinking, you want to come over for a drink or something?"

Orihime blinked, a little taken aback by this.

"Huh?" she said bluntly.

"Well, I just thought, since my house is closer than yours, and I've been over yours, maybe you'd like to... come over?" His meek look of slight indecision and inability to ask fully made Orihime smile.

"I'd like that." she said. Kai looked up in surprise.

"Sorry?"

"I said, I'd like that."

"Cool." Kai smiled and extended a hand to Orihime, who took it gingerly and allowed herself to be lead to an apartment block near the Hell Hole and into apartment 15a. Kai closed the door behind them and threw his keys on the side as Orihime gazed around the apartment.

"Sorry about the mess." he said, moving papers and all kinds of art equipment aside to make space for Orihime to sit down. "Can I get you a drink?"

"I don't mind, really." she replied, looking intently at a painting on an easel, the paint still damp. She frowned. "Who's this?"

"Huh?"

"This girl, who is it, she looks familiar but can't think who it is."

Kai came over and his face turned bright red.

The painting was of a pretty girl with long auburn hair, a cheery smile and big brown eyes in front of a sunset. The girl had her back to the painter, body facing a sunset, while her face turned towards the painter. Kai cleared his throat, the pink tinge still clear.

"It's a, um... Well, it's a close friend." he said.

"Who though? Do I know her?" Orihime asked, still confused.

"Uh, pretty well I'd say."

"How close is she?"

"About 3 feet away."

Orihime looked at Kai and realised what he meant, her cheeks turning pink as well and her mouth opening slightly.

"It's... me?" Kai nodded. "When did you do this?"

"Well, there was a brilliant sunset one night, and it's beauty reminded me of you, so I just did it from memory."

Orihime hugged Kai tightly, not caring that the drink in his hand had been spilt over her shirt, nor did he mind one bit. She kissed him on the cheek.

"It's wonderful, Kai." she said, releasing him from the constrictor grip. "What are you going to do now? Stay with us?"

"Yeah, the Winter War's supposed to be the biggest risk right now, and I'll be damned if I let Ichigo only know the Overdrive yet not use it." he replied, before adding with a wink; "Besides, where would I find such a brilliant girl as you?"

She kissed him again and the two watched the sunset, hand in hand, the world peaceful for a change.

And it all felt so right.

The End

After the Winter War; The Next Line

Resurreccion

Kai, Ichigo, Rukia and the gang walked over the white sands of Hueco Mundo towards the throne where the King sat. He sat there, his red eyes glaring down upon them. The mask of the hollow was topped with a silver and red crown, bones from the kills the hollow had achieved jutting out of the top, and a purple fur poured down from this crown to the floor, hiding the true shape of the King. The group came to a halt and bowed in respect.

"I take it that you are the King of Hueco Mundo, yes?" Kai growled in a slightly respectful tone. The masked being nodded. "We have come from the Soul Society to request an alliance. It cannot have escaped your attention that there are numerous Arrancars disobeying your wishes and attack all the dimensions. Together, we can remove these defilers."

Silence, then the King spoke.

"Ichigo Kurosaki." he purred in a familiar voice. "It's been a long time."

"Do I know you?" Ichigo asked.

The King stood and reached up to his mask, wrenching it off to reveal himself. He was human-like, muscular and wore a tattered Espada's uniform. There was a large scar across his chest and the blue hair that had once been fairly short and controlled was now more like a mane behind him. Ichigo looked wide-eyed at him.

"No way..." he said, the being stood before the throne grinning widely.

"To the rest of you," he said. "The name's Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, previous Sexta Espada, current King of Hueco Mundo. And you are in my domain now."

This really is the end of Black Hollow now.

Don't give me that look, I'm not dying... At least, not yet.

If you want to go onwards, read the After the Winter War Fanfic.

Thank you everyone who has given me the strength to continue and the support by reading this.

Happy New Year and I'll write again soon, I promise.

Bye and thanks for reading!