Everyone had stopped and were staring equally wide eyed at Ichigo as he stood there, his face not giving anything away. Byakuya seemingly the first to recover asked, "Your heart?" Ichigo only nodded. Pesche decided to step forward and say, "a heart doesn't have much use in Hueco Mundo, but Ichigo-sama was able to make it work." Renji looking appalled asked, "How?" Looking at Renji truly for the first time since he joined their side, Ichigo was able to see that Renji still was uneasy around him and jealousy was still in his eyes, albeit it was more tamed than he would've guessed. "Back when I first hollowfied, I had apparently released a creature from my chest where my hollow hole resides. I didn't find out about this until after it happened a second time where my hollow had informed myself. It didn't take me long to figure out what the creature could of been. That and Hichigo seemed to shout it to the heavens hysterically." Uryu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Hichigo?" Giving him a sideways look, Ichigo replied with a sad nostalgic look, "Yes. I named my hollow Hichigo. But names aside, when I took up residence in Hueco Mundo and fully fused with my hollow, I had realized that I could still choose between being a Shinigami with hollow powers and a Hollow with Shinigami powers. Not that I had wanted to revert back to being a Vaizard with everyone dead, but it was through this that I had a thought. What if I could recreate that beast that was my heart. Maybe, just maybe, I could train it and make it stronger than ever before."

Rukia took her chance and asked, "But why? Why go through the pain of having your heart ripped out of you time after time?" Looking down at Rukia, Ichigo gave her a sad smile and replied, "It gave me a comrade out there in the deserts. As sad as that sounds, I was still lonely, but I just couldn't handle being back in the world of the living or Soul Society after what Aizen had done. And I could not ask Kisuke to come live in Hueco Mundo with me. As strong as he is, he would not of survived." Nodding his head, Ichigo looked at everyone and stopped at Nel. She smiled, "Well you were lonely until we found you. Our King." Nel finished as she walked up to him and offered him a hug.

"But how does that work?" Renji asked, "How does your heart keep reforming?" Ichigo thought for a second before answering him, "I suppose I can heal my heart because Hollows are able to regenerate non-major organs when they are destroyed easily. Hollows don't have hearts normally so they are most likely considered a non-major organ. But I never really thought much about it, so its more of a theory." Although he and the other non-hollows were still confused, Renji decided to drop the subject. Byakuya decided to start walking again and said without looking back, "It would be best to head back now. We need to come up with a plan if we are to survive. Soul Society won't stay still with your rescue mission's success."

Silently agreeing, they started to follow Byakuya back, that is until Nel stopped Ichigo. Looking at her questioningly, Ichigo tried to comprehend what she needed, "what is it?", "It's something I noticed when I first arrived here.", Nel whispered, "Its about Hueco Mundo." Raising an eyebrow, Ichigo asked, " What happened? Why didn't you mention anything before?" Looking away with an embarrassed blush she answered, "Well I got caught up with your human life and it didn't seem like a big thing at the time. It started when Pesche, Dondochakka and I first entered our body's; it was around the same time that the entirety of Hueco Mundo shook with what felt like your power for a few moments before it stopped. I just put the thought aside believing that it was just leftover power you radiated flowing off us due to the time travel, but even now... don't you feel it?" Thinking over Nel's words, Ichigo looked around slightly before closing his eyes. Sending out his senses he was able to feel the energy of his home for the past 50 years.

At first it didn't feel any different, but then it hit him. "It feels exactly the same as it did in the future. As if-" Looking him in the eyes Nel finished, "Hueco Mundo came back in time with us. There was a belief shared by most hollows that Hueco Mundo is alive." Ichigo though slightly surprised by the news didn't show it. In all honesty it wasn't that unimaginable. When he became king of Hueco Mundo, the sands fed off of his Reiatsu and then seemed to spread it out over the dimension. Which would also explain how the hollows knew who and where their king was anytime a new king was made.

Ichigo turned and continued walking, the others walking slower and looking back to make sure he was still there. Looking back towards Nel he said, "We'll deal with it in a little bit. Until then we will wait for something to happen." As they caught up with him, Dondochakka asked, "Are you expecting something to happen Ichigo-sama?" Smiling to himself Ichigo replied, "If Hueco Mundo is like how I believe it is, then the Espada and Aizen are in for a real treat." Looking between themselves, Nel, Dondochakka, and Pesche hurried up and matched the others stride.

*Meanwhile in Hueco Mundo*

"What the hell Granz! Why are the defenses attacking us?!", yelled one Grimmjow Jeagerjaques dodging another laser. Ducking under a saw blade swinging out of a wall, Szayel replied, "if I knew do you think I would be running here next to you!" "You two need to stop fighting and continue until we escape.", Tia Halibel said hopping over an opening that appeared in the floor, her fraccion following behind not fighting for once. Shutting themselves up, the six of them continued on until they reached the outside sands where they were locked out.

"Once again, What the hell!", yelled Grimmjow. "*yawn* I see you guys made it." answered the one and only Coyote Starrk. "Yes we have. I can see the others have as well." replied Halibel. Sure enough, the remaining Espada and a few close fraccion were there outside of Las Noches. Aaroniero Arruruerie stepped forward and asked the question that was on everyone's mind, "Does anyone actually know what happened? This is the first time a situation like this has occurred."

Most shook there heads in a negative response though most were surprised when it was Yammy Llargo seemed to know the answer. "It's because Aizen was too weak and a new king arrived." Before the blink of an eye Yammy was cut across the cheek and on the floor by Zommari Leroux. "Aizen-sama would never lose to anyone. They are all insects compared to our leader." But sure enough, another Espada swore and raised his voice. "I did not follow Aizen just for the throne to be taken away before I could reclaim it from him. Who is it WHO IS THE DAMNED BASTARD THAT I HAVE TO ERASE!", yelled one irate Barragan Luisenbarn. Zommari released his hold on Yammy and followed suit as the other Espada did and used there more primal senses to feel that there was indeed a new Reiatsu signature in the sands of Hueco Mundo.

First cracking a smile and then outright laughing, Grimmjow said, "Couldn't even keep the title that long. Bastard acts all high and mighty just to lose it so quickly." Ulquiorra Cifer muttered "trash" before turning to Las Noches and asking aloud, "then who has risen to the top and become king. To give Aizen-sama the title of trash?" Hearing his question, Las Noches responded with a large statue shooting out of the ground until it reached just above it's dome in size. Many of the Espada leaped out of the way as to not be hit and just as the rumbling stopped everyone turned and stared at their apparent king. Before them was a statue of a being that could have only risen from hell and demanded all who come across him to obey.

A glowing red orb floated between the Hollow Ichigo Statue's horns and started swirling slowly gathering energy. Gazing up at the statue, Ulquiorra suddenly received a chill, something that has never occurred before. Whoever this man, no beast was, he would need to watch out for him or he could end up dead. That was what his instincts were telling him.

The other Espada continued to gaze up in awe as the new monument gathered energy. In truth very few of them actually cared who ruled Las Noches as long as they were strong. Some followed Aizen because he was strong and others because they felt they owed him something, but strong or not, most of them did not like the idea of serving a shinigami, let alone one that was planning on a war. It was then decided amongst themselves that they would wait and see. If this new power came to be stronger than Aizen, then they would follow him. He was already obviously not a shinigami so it could only add to his favor. Though Zommari didn't plan on follow this new power and if anything planned on taking his life for Aizen's sake.

The energy gathered by the statue released with a sudden boom and made a long narrow line through the air and ended a 40 feet away at the entrance of a garganta that just formed. From the garganta more of the same energy could be felt flowing out. Starrk stared at the garganta for a minute before walking towards it. "Where are you going Starrk?" Lilynette Gingerback asked running to his side. Looking to his side, he said, "To see the new management. Nothing left to do here." Waiting a few more seconds, the other Espada started following except for Zommari, Szayel, Ulquiorra and Yammy.

Zommari turned to the others and said, "At least there are some of us still loyal to Aizen's cause." Szayel looked at Zommari and said, "Right. I'm actually here to study the changes Las Noches seemes to be rapidly going through and I need to get back into my lab." Szayel started walking away towards Las Noches just as a few lasers were fired at him. Turning to Ulquiorra and Yammy Zommari looked at them questioningly. Yammy just said, "I'm just following him. I could care less about the shinigami." Glaring at Yammy, "How dare you refer to Aizen without the proper-" Zommari was interupted when Ulquiorra suddenly started walking toward the garganta saying, "I need to know who this beast is. Someone who can incite such a response needs to be investigated further." Yammy immediately followed behind leaving a steamed Zommari.

Zommari turned towards Las Noches and saw Szayel still trying to get in and saw more arrancars escaping from Las Noches. Most of them started to head towards him and when all asked what was wrong, he could only reply, "traitors, they all abandoned our leader."

*Meanwhile at the Urahara shop*

Urahara was in his basement waiting for his friends to return. Yoruichi was in her human form and the others were waiting around a closed portal leading to Soul Society. Jinta looked around before focusing on Urahara and asking, "Aren't they suppose to be back by now?" Yoruichi was the one to answer Jinta as Urahara kept his eyes on the portal, "They did enter Soul Society illegally, so it wouldn't be strange if they got held up by the captains and their respectful squads."

"Nothing we couldn't handle." a voice suddenly called out. Everyone turned their attention away from the portal as a Garganta opened up the right of them revealing Byakuya and Ichigo followed by the others. Urahara looked up the Ichigo with a knowing look. Ichigo nodded and responded, "Hit him with a cero, but I don't believe he's been done in." "I see", Urahara replied before smiling at Ichigo, "But it seems you still rescued your princess. Good work Ichigo." Smiling to himself, Ichigo nodded as Nel said, "with the help from his other princess and knight." "Since when am I Kurosaki's Knight?", Uryu asked with a tic mark. This allowed a small chuckle and calmer atmosphere within the group as Ichigo and Tessai went about healing Nel and Uryu.

Been a long long time everyone. Between college taking up my days and work taking my nights I rarely get a chance to type, but I'm still moving. I'm happy to see that it keeps making more and more people happy though and while updates may be here and there I will never abandon.