Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any Bleach characters or logos. That is Tite Kubo. Go and praise him.

Writer's Note: There is no honorifics in this story. It will be written as though it were said in the English dubbed. Now quit whining about it!

It's dark. Everything around him is completely out of reach. All his hopes and dreams seem to be so far away. He feels his hollow mask begin to form. Ichigo feels himself being pulled back as his inner hollow tries to dominate him.

"Where do you think you're going, King?"the hollow yells in that insane-sounding voice of his before pinning down Ichigo and letting out a disturbing laugh.

Ichigo wakes up immediately and sits upright. As he does, he feels half of the hollow mask on his face slide down and land on his lap, dissolving instantly. After that, he spends a moment breathing deeply, thinking to himself, trying to convince himself that it was all just a dream. Giving up on the futile attempt, he decides to go to Kisuke for advice, since the mad genius typically knows what to do.

…...

Upon arriving at Urahara Shop, he tells Kisuke about the dream.

"Well, the Vizards probably know more about this than I do," the shopkeeper says, to which Ichigo grimaces.

"Do I have to go there?" he whines, as though it might kill him.

"Unless you aren't worried about your hollow taking over and causing mayhem and destruction! In that case, feel free to kick back and relax with me and Tessai back in the shop!" Kisuke says in a singsong voice, as he always does in replacement of sarcasm. Ichigo decides that he may as well go, but not before Yoruichi walks in and decides that she doesn't like her cat form at that moment. Right in front of Ichigo.

…...

Upon arriving at the old warehouse that he remembers to be the Vizards hideout, he calls out to them.

"Hey! Shinji! Open the hell up!" Ichigo yells, and in response, the barrier surrounding the place disappears. As Ichigo walks into the warehouse, he see's Hachi hard at work putting up the barrier again, Shinji standing up in welcome, Love and Rose sitting at the table, reading their manga, Mashiro holding on to Kensei's arm, as if she were previously begging for him to play with her, and Lisa in the corner, reading her dirty magazines. However, he can't seem to spot...

*SMACK*

"What the hell was that for!?" Ichigo yells as he grabs at his face, the sandal having left a stinging red mark.

"Always be aware of your surroundings, dumbass!" Hiyori yells back, putting her flip flop back on.

"Oh yeah? Well I wouldn't have to be as aware if you would stop hitting me with your damned shoe! And stop calling me dumbass, snaggletooth!"

"If I stop hitting you, then you'll never learn, dumbass!"

"Enough! Stop fighting you two!" Kensei yells at them, and they both turn away from each other, rolling their eyes as they obey him.

"Now Ichigo, what is this all about?" Shinji asks as he nods appreciatively at Kensei.

"It's about my hollow," Ichigo says, remembering his dream, and why he came here. "Last night, I had a dream that he was taking over, and when I woke up, my half mask fell off."

"Hmm... well, it seems like you haven't fully mastered him yet, which means you will need more training. Hiyori," he looks at the girl in a 'don't-misbehave' look, "will be your partner once again."