BLEAK

Chapter 7: Ikkaku and Yumichika

Night fell. Ganju, Ichigo, and I were running through the corridors of the Sereitei, trying to find our way to the repentence cell to save Rukia. When we sensed two spiritual pressures headed our way, and fast. 

"Ichigo, Ganju! We got two people headed our direction!" Ichigo pulled Zangetsu out, and Ganju stood ready. I pulled my zanpoktou out as well in case if anything would happen. Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika from Squad 11 showed up. They recognized me instantly.

"Madame Kusonarii.... you're alive...?!" Ikkaku blinked. "Well then, this will a really intense fight! Extend, Hozikimaru!" He and Ichigo began to clash and Ganju and Yumichika began to clash as well. Ganju, was at a disadvantage. 

"Come on you two.. You both are strong... brave through this! Kick their asses!" I thought as their battles waged on. I stood back from the fight, being careful of my surroundings in case of Captain Aizen would return once again to try and wreak havoc. However, he wasn't coming in this direction. 

It was Byakuya. He was heading in my direction, quickly. 

I need to hide! Quickly!

I concealed my spiritual pressure the best I could and hid in a nearby storage area. I was scared. Since I had gained my sealed powers back along with my memories, important people within the soul society were out to get me. I didn't understand why either. I wasn't that poi werful as they were expecting me to be. 

"Hisana... Where are you..? I know you're here somewhere..." 

How? My spiritual pressure is concealed! How does he know I'm here... 

Hisana...

My eyes went wide in shock. I felt a power surging within me. 

Hisana...let me out. Let's destroy our enemies... 

I curled up into a ball, my hands over my head. 

N-No! I can't let you take over! You'll completely take over my body if you do! I don't want to kill anyone! 

My eyes began to get dark, and my hair at the ends was changing color from crimson red to a indigo blue color. 

I'm in control now... 

"NO!" I screamed as a burst of spirt energy broke a few boxes of supplies around me. My zanpoktou was now out, and Byakuya stood before the me with a hollow mask. 

"Who are you...? What have you done with Hisana...?" 

My hollow self just drew in a breath and began to attack with a high level of speed and force. 

"What is this?!" 

My attacks kept swinging left and right, drawing Byakuya down to one knee. I was scared that my hollow self was going to kill him. He may have been cold towards me, but I still loved him and I did not want to see him hurt. 

It was an internal battle between myself and my inner hollow. I couldn't give in anymore than I already had, because if I chose to do so, Byakuya would be killed. 

As I was about to throw a potential harmful strike at Byakuya, I took control, causing my body to stop moving. "Byakuya.." I said with a hollowfied voice because of the mask. He looked up, seeing that my hair was proceeding back to red, the mask beginning to shatter as well. 

"Hisana..."

I turned my zanpoktou around, using the hilt of it to break my mask enough to tear it off. I went down to my knees, driving the sharp end of the sword into the ground, using the hilt now as a way to keep myself up. I could still sense that Ichigo and Ganju were fighting, but I wasn't sure with how far it had progressed. 

"Hisana...." Byakuya was moving towards me slowly, with imment caution. 

I looked up at him, weakly. "I-I'm sorry.." I flash stepped away to get to Ichigo's side. 

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When I had arrived back with Ichigo, Ganju had also returned to the scene. 

"Thank god! You're okay Ichigo- Hisana..? What happened?" Ganju turned to me in shock. "Yeah..." Ichigo chimed in. "You're all covered in blood....! Where did you go?" 

"There was a captain heading our way and if he would have seen the both of you, you two would have been dead.."

"Who was he? I could take him on!" Ichigo clenched his fist. 
"No.. believe me, Ichigo! You and Ganju could have died."  I drew in a sigh. "It was Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of Squad 6."

Ichigo's eyes widened. He was reminded of his experience with Captain Kuchiki when he had Rukia's powers. 

The words reverberated in his mind: "You're slow, even when you're falling..." 

"And.. Ichigo.. there's something I should probably tell you."

"And what is that?"

"I have a connection to Byakuya.. in fact, one that no one really knows about. It had to do with my noble status...let me explain.."

I sat down, using some basic healing kido to heal my wounds, and was about to tell of my tale.