Hell On Earth

Ichigo sat in the uninhabited woods he'd found, bitterly clenching and unclenching his hands. He longed to be out there finding whoever had the audacity to abduct his mother, but he was helpless unless he wished to doom Masaki to Hell. He sighed, bringing one knee to his chest. He hated simply sitting around when there was something important happening.

What happens if we can't find that person? Would I… would I have to stay here in Soul Society, forever unable to talk to anyone? Would I have to abandon my life as a human? No one would ever be able, or allowed to find me. Ichigo looked at the sky. A lonely existence… was this what you gave the Hōgyoku to me for, Aizen? Did you predict something like this would happen?

Sighing, Ichigo steadied his resolve. He knew that his mother would be released in a few days, and then there would be no way to tell who the culprit was. Should that happen, Ichigo knew that he would have to abide by his orders… despite his threat to Yamamoto earlier, Ichigo knew he wasn't emotionally capable of slaughtering all of Soul Society.

… Yet, the Substitute Shinigami finished with closed eyes. It was almost an echo from Cazador de la Luna… Ichigo had to be truthful if only to himself. He knew there were circumstances that would drive him to such atrocities – one had only to look at his Resurrección to know that there were no limits Ichigo would not break to protect everyone he held dear. But he hoped from the bottom of his heart that it would never come to that.

Ichigo sighed again and allowed himself to rest. His internal philosophical session had left him emotionally drained, and hopefully a little nap would help recover his reiryoku faster.

Yoruichi watched the Shinigami carefully from atop the branch she stood on. Below her was the Kidō Corps, and she was waiting for her opportunity to slip into the library to look the records. It didn't seem like much had changed from her time as Head of the Onmitsukidō, which was fortunate for her. The building itself was separate from the others – a safety precaution given how many Kidō experiments went on in the hidden complex. The top was made of glass, allowing Yoruichi a perfect look inside. She'd found out once that it was a purely aesthetic touch to the library, as a project to allow natural sunlight to illuminate the library so it would have a more natural feeling. Of course, the glass had been spelled to be nigh-unbreakable. Glancing at the sun through the boughs of the tree, she noted it was fast approaching time for dinner. Perfect.

It didn't take long before she spotted the librarian calmly walk outside and lock the door, before binding it with multiple silent Bakudō. The door glowed a multitude of colors the spells took effect, effectively protecting from anyone who could not break such a combination of high-level Bakudō.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes as the librarian left, apparently satisfied with his precautionary measures. Fool. There's more ways to enter the building than just a door. Leaping down from her tree, Yoruichi casually strolled over to one side of the building, and without a second thought broke one of the side windows with a swift kick. Quickly jumping inside, Yoruichi transformed back into her human self. She had to work quickly, and that meant she needed human dexterity.

Ignoring her nudity as was her custom, it did not take her long to locate where the records were kept – every time the Kidō Corps was called on to use their advanced knowledge to perform Kidō that were not capable of being done by anyone else, they were mandated to keep records just in case it was abused. When power is involved, accountability is everything, Yoruichi mused to herself.

Yoruichi rapidly flipped through the books, looking for the orb that Ichigo carried. Time passed, until she was sure that dinner had to be over and the librarian would be on his way back. She continued, and then her eyes paused. She'd found it. Making a quick note of the page, she swept the rest of the books into her arms and hurriedly placed them back on the bookshelves where she'd found them, making sure to put them in the correct order.

Yoruichi closed the record book that she'd found the answer on, and transformed back into a cat. Picking it up by the spine gently with her teeth, Yoruichi felt the Bakudō dissolve. She had no time left.

The librarian entered, and looked around. For a moment, he'd thought he'd felt some reiatsu, but after a few seconds, he shook his head. Must've been residual from the Bakudō ending, he reasoned. He was rather tired, after all, and hadn't done a perfect job of canceling his own work.

The Goddess of Shunpo flickered away expertly, carrying the book. She had a ways to travel to reach Ichigo again, assuming he hadn't moved far. Upon arriving almost twenty minutes later, she discovered him on the ground, leaning against a tree in a light doze. Sighing, Yoruichi decided to let him sleep – she had no idea how much reiatsu it was taking for him to be manifesting Zangetsu for so long, and he had seemed entirely too stressed lately. With good reason, she reminded herself. Setting the book down next to Ichigo's hand, she jumped into the tree and kept lookout.

Zangetsu observed calmly as Byakuya expertly found the appropriate tome from the Daireishokairō and flipped to the end. "Well?"

"Mm. It seems that there are three noble families who have ordered a sufficiently sizable amount of Sekkiseki from the Pokire family within the last year, which is the earliest any nobles could have possibly learned of Kurosaki Ichigo's existence," Byakuya stated coolly. "The records state that the Kasumiōji are experimenting on a new weapons forging technique, the Shiba are making their home more difficult to locate, and the Berean are expanding and securing their library."

Zangetsu's found himself frowning much like his wielder did so frequently. "What is the Berean family known for?"

Byakuya gave no reaction to the question for several seconds as he gathered his thoughts. "They are not known. The Berean family is rarely seen or heard from, and while they do appear at social gatherings, I do not recall anything concerning their duties as a noble household."

"Duties?"

Byakuya closed the book of records and set it on the appropriate shelf as he clarified for the Zanpakutō. "The noble families are called such as the Spirit King entrusted them with responsibilities. For example, the Kuchiki family chronicles the history of Soul Society, and should we ever be called on, it is our duty to provide it to our government."

"I see. What of the Kasumiōji, and the Shiba?"

"The Kasumiōji family was tasked with being masters of weapon forging. While the Shinigami rely almost solely on Zanpakutō and Kidō, there are occasions where specialized weapons are required. The Shiba were tasked with relations to the Rukongai, and they began to specialize in fireworks. However, their status as noble house has degraded significantly since Kaien Shiba died."

Zangetsu's expression remained unchanged, but he found himself wishing he was back with Ichigo – I hate politics.Nevertheless, he would not abandon Ichigo. "I propose we separate and individually investigate the Kasumiōji and the Berean until your servants can locate the Shiba."

Byakuya nodded acknowledgment. "I concur with your plan. I will speak to the Head of the Kasumiōji; I will assign another servant to take you to the Berean mansion." Without waiting for response, the Kuchiki Head turned on his heel and left the Daireishokairō. Zangetsu followed without a word.

Meanwhile, back at the 1st Division HQ, Yamamoto was in a three-way conversation with two of the most dangerously intelligent Shinigami he'd ever known. "Urahara, describe the Togabito that you fought."

"The Togabito was formerly the Hollow known as Shrieker," Urahara briefed the leader of the Gotei 13. "He wore a full-body black covering and a plain white mask. Nevertheless, when Shrieker spoke it was without the Hollow double-tone effect. I believe that the covering was somehow important to his escape, but without further knowledge of the workings of Hell, I cannot be sure."

Mayuri's grin could barely be contained on his face, it was so wide. "Ah, but unlike you, I have been studying Hell." His fingers flew across the keyboard as it pulled up the called-upon data. "Reports from those who have seen Hell's Gates indicate that an entity pulls the Togabito inside, and this matches the readings in Karakura on the occasion that a Hollow is damned there. It is likely the guardian of the gates, if you will, as the reiatsu that emits from the last several times Hell's Gates have opened has been near-identical."

Urahara looked pensively through his viewing monitor at his Soul Society counterpart, looking at the data he'd acquired with a thoughtful hum. "I see where you're going, Mayuri-kun, and I have to agree. Assuming that there's only one way out, Shrieker would have had to get past the guardian. His outfit may have cloaked his presence and prevented the guardian from reopening the Gates and pulling him back through afterwards…"

"We won't know for certain until one is captured and detained without the ability to retreat back to Hell," Mayuri pointed out.

"As we don't know how it's done, we have to assume they're like Hollows in that they can open a way to Hueco Mundo from anywhere, as long as they have the power needed," Urahara mused. "Which would make sense, considering that Shrieker was a Hollow before being sent to Hell. Some high-level Bakudō appears to be in order. I will see what I can do, and call you again when I have more details."

"Very well," Yamamoto deemed before disconnecting the call, which disconnected Mayuri as well.

Urahara sighed. He'd gathered some new data, thanks to his former student, but it was fairly evident that Mayuri had been stymied by Yamamoto's refusal to release classified information. And as a result, they were in the dark about how the Togabito had managed to escape. The need for security had once again trumped the ever-present desire for knowledge that all scientists had, and now it had backfired. Story of every free thinker associated with a larger organization, I would surmise. Looks like I'll need Tessai's help again. And maybe some of the Vizard to help out – but I don't know how to contact them without Ichigo, and he's off in Soul Society.

Urahara made his way back up the steps unhappily, dreading going back out and having to slay more Hollows – there was research to be done! But he paused right before reaching the door and sighed. "You do realize I was once an assassin? You know you can't hide from me in my own shop… Soifon."

From the shadows of his shop, Soifon emerged. Still facing Urahara's back, she swallowed hard. "Urahara…san. I need some assistance, and I don't know who else to turn to."

"Oh? And why would I assist you, Soifon, when it was reported to me by Soul Society that you were the one who abducted young Kurosaki Ichigo's mother? I daresay Ichigo-kun is coming for your head, and I have half a mind to give him a ring – I would really rather not be on his bad side," Urahara commented lightly. He had no such intentions – the mere fact that Soifon had come to him was a pretty good indicator that Soifon was being framed, and was, in fact, coming to him for help clearing her name while staying under the radar for the time being.

"That wasn't me or my men!" Soifon hissed in protest. "I was framed and you know it, Urahara! I would never accept someone stupid enough to leave a note that all but proved my guilt, let alone in my handwriting! If I truly were to abduct Kurosaki Masaki to blackmail her son, I would do it in someone else's hand to throw people off my trail. You should know that Urahara, since as you so rightly pointed out, you were once an assassin too!"

"Yare, yare…" Urahara stalled for time as he bowed his head, smirking to himself in the shadows of his hat. I love it when I'm right. "So, I take it you need shelter and some aid clearing your name? I imagine Yamamoto would be more likely to interrogate you just in case."

"…Hai," Soifon admitted grudgingly.

"Well, as it happens, I am in need of some help myself!" Urahara said brightly. "You see, it turns out that the Hell dimension has gotten closer lately, and somehow or other some its residents, the Togabito, found a way to escape to the living world. We don't know how or why, and that's where you come in. You capture one, bring it to me, and I do my thing. In return, I provide food and shelter, and lie to Soul Society if they ask if I know where you are. I'll also let Yoruichi know what's going on so she can search on your behalf. Does that sound reasonable to you, Soifon?"

"I hardly have a choice, now do I?" Soifon muttered bitterly. But she knew it could have been far worse – all Urahara was asking was for something she'd have gladly done on an official mission from Yamamoto-sōtaicho, or if Yoruichi has asked her. The Hell dimension was not something anyone wanted a part of. "Fine. How do I identify these… Togabito?"

"Only one has appeared so far, but it can be assumed the rest will have similar characteristics. They will be humanoid, with reiatsu very similar to that of Hollows but distinctly off, and will be wearing an all-concealing black cloak, with a white mask."

Soifon looked at her benefactor disbelievingly. "That's an extremely vague description."

Urahara looked up with a faux surprised expression. "Is it not enough information, dear Soifon? I thought you were a better assassin than I…"

"Shut up! It's more than enough information for me to do this job where you cannot," the Onmitsukidō commander spat, striding past the door and flickering away.

Urahara waited a few beats to make sure she was gone before chuckling to himself. Ah, Soifon is as easy to rile up as ever. He turned around to go back to his lab – he needed to go invent a device capable of keeping a Hollow from using Garganta. Theoretically, considering that both were forced rips from one dimension to another, it would work on the Togabito to keep them from retreating to Hell. He'd never bothered to invent such a thing before as up to that point, it was simply more efficient to purify the Hollow before it could escape that way. But Shrieker had opened one easily, and had been in Hell for a relatively short time. If he can do it that quickly, then any others that come through should be far more difficult to pin down.

The natural light coming in was fading fast, indicating that the sun was beginning to set. As though that were a cue, Urahara's phone rang. "Hai?"

"Urahara-dono, we are coming back inside – Hollows have ceased to appear for several minutes, and Soifon-taicho has just arrived stating that she will take over the Hollow duties for the moment."

"Very good. Thank you, Tessai. Let Soifon know that the forecast for tonight is heavy rain, so if she needs to dry off and get warm she is welcome to come back inside."

"Hai, Urahara-dono." The phone clicked as Tessai disconnected, and Urahara absently put it back in his pocket as his thoughts once more turned towards his work.

Soifon watched the sun set dispassionately, replaying the events that had led to her current situation.

**Flashback**

"Soifon-taicho!"

The Onmitsukidō commander looked up from her unending paperwork, only to see her rotund fukutaicho looking considerably panicked, with ridiculous amounts of sweat seeping from his forehead. "What is it, Omaeda?" she asked wearily.

"It's bad, taicho!" he babbled. "They're coming for you!"

Soifon repressed a shiver from the cold that suddenly crept up her spine. "They?" she asked critically. "Be precise, Omaeda."

"Hai! Taicho, Kurosaki Masaki has been kidnapped from the supervision of one of the Kuchiki attendants, and a note was left in your handwriting incriminating you!"

This time, Soifon could not keep her eyes from widening in surprise and a hint of fear.

"I swear I will come at you with all of my power!"

Kurosaki is coming for me, just like he said he would. The thought chilled her bones. "Omaeda, I am sending you on a priority mission. You are to hide from the Gotei 13 until Kurosaki Ichigo or Shihoin Yoruichi-sama comes to you. He will interrogate you for my whereabouts. Tell him the truth – that you don't know. At that point, you are to explain what you do know concerning the investigation. My life depends on you reaching him before he reaches me. Make yourself clear that I had nothing to do with this. Do whatever you must to make that happen. Am I understood?"

Omaeda had paled considerably, but nodded slowly. "Hai, taicho."

Soifon promptly vanished at speeds that she knew that Omaeda had no chance of following. She knew her best chance lay in following in Yoruichi-sama's footsteps – escaping Soul Society and hiding in the living world.

**End Flashback**

Soifon never thought she'd have to depend on her portly fukutaicho, but he was her best and only hope to prevent Kurosaki from slaying her in a righteous rage. I wonder how he's doing…? She snorted aloud. Probably cowering in fear somewhere. I should've approached one of my teams of Onmitsukidō… But she knew she couldn't – they had no idea of Kurosaki's power, and would probably get themselves killed trying to subdue him. Omaeda's fear for once would work in his favor.

Then something undeniably wrong stabbed at her senses, and Soifon involuntarily turned around and began to Shunpo towards the source. It's like a Hollow… but not. Despite herself, she had to admit there truly was no good way to describe it, and that Urahara Kisuke had done his best. Then another popped up a distance away from the first, and Soifon made a sudden realization.

They're coming in force! Shit! Sure enough, a third joined the first two, this one halfway across the city. Damn it, this was well planned. I need reinforcements. The last one appeared in another location further away from the rest, and they began to spread out. They're searching for something.

Soifon diverted her course to attack the one closest to her. As Urahara had said, the Togabito was rather nondescript, wearing a black cloak and a white mask but otherwise humanoid. However, this one was rather gigantic, even larger than Komamura's impressive 9'5" tall stature, and possibly twice as broad, though his gargantuan hands were almost as tall as Soifon herself and had chains attached to his wrists that rattled every time he moved. Perfect: a large target.

Shunpo-ing right behind the giant, she launched a powerful aerial roundhouse kick right at his head, hoping to knock him out, bind him, and deliver him later. Her leg connected perfectly, but the Togabito was only knocked to the side a few feet. Turning to face her, he visibly readied himself for battle.

Too slow. Soifon had already launched herself directly in front of him, braced herself, and snapped off a split kick that buried itself into the giant's diaphragm. It also undid several of the square buttons on his cloak.

The Togabito leapt back with a high-speed technique that was unlike either Shunpo or Sonido, and his giant hands frantically fumbled to redo his buttons. The cloaks are important, Soifon realized. Now she had a target. Not letting her opponent have the time to fix the cloak, Soifon lunged forward with her sword drawn, intending to slice the cloak straight off.

But the still-silent Togabito once more evaded, and finally managed to finish buttoning up. "Now I'm warmed up, Shinigami," he announced in a deep and threatening tone. "Time for you to die." With that, he threw a right cross with his gloved hand, and suddenly his arm from the elbow down launched at high speed at Soifon, connected by a chain to the rest of his body.

Soifon dodged easily. "You're all muscle," she criticized derisively. "Not nearly fast enough to catch me."

"No?" The Togabito yanked back with his shoulder, arcing the remainder of his arm upwards.

Sensing danger right behind her, Soifon Shunpo-ed out of the way, just in time to see the Hell-bound soul's massive hand clench in midair right where she'd been a second before. "Still too slow."

"Perhaps," said a new voice, and Soifon spun around in midair to see another of the Togabito higher up than she was. "But so are you. You will never stop us from finding what we are searching for tonight."

"And what are you searching for?"

"You will see soon enough." The newcomer vanished, and before Soifon could turn around, she felt a hard chop to her neck, and everything went dark.

Shuren dropped Soifon on the ground carelessly. "Continue searching, Garogai," he ordered. The giant nodded and vanished.

Urahara's head snapped around as one of his special computers beeped loudly at him in alarm. "What? Soifon's reiatsu has just dropped, and enemies are still in the area?" She must have been defeated. Snatching Benihime from where she lay against the wall next to the door, the ex-assassin leapt out into the rain.

From what he could tell, the reiatsu signatures were spread throughout the city. They were searching for something. But I have no clue what that something could be! Urahara Shunpo-ed towards Soifon, hoping to get to her and fix her wounds enough for some assistance.

He was almost there when suddenly a fifth signature appeared next to one of them, and their signatures rose as if… as if they're fighting! Urahara redirected his course, seeing a potential ally in the works.

However, he apparently was not the only one who had noticed the strangeness, as the other three Togabito began making their way to help their comrade. It was then that Urahara recognized where they were converging. Ichigo-kun's home! Damn it, Isshin is at the hospital helping them deal with the aftermath of transferring Karakura to Soul Society and back, and he can't get away! Yuzu and Karin are in danger!

Urahara's eyes narrowed, rain soaking his clothes but he didn't care as he drew his beloved Zanpakutō and put on another burst of speed. "Awaken, Benihime."

Karin stared at the newcomer as he struggled to hold back his opponent. She and Yuzu had been carried outside by some freak wearing a cloak with two tentacles for arms, but the new guy had appeared out of nowhere and cut off part of the freak's tentacles, which allowed her and Yuzu to drop.

The new guy was dressed in a ragged thin white robe, with a black sash tying it closed and a black garment that covered his neck and collar. Below the garment dangled two broken ends of red chains, which was emo enough in Karin's opinion, but he also wore skintight black gloves that reached midway up his forearm and a manacle on his left wrist, which also bore another few links of a broken chain. The stranger's hair was sheer white, like that Hitsugaya Tōshiro person who she had seen a few times, but was largely covered by yet another pitch black strip of cloth that had been mostly wrapped around his head, even covering his right eye and cheek.

In short, to Karin, if it weren't for the wicked obsidian sword he wielded with obvious skill, she would have thought him a disfigured, colorblind, emo beggar.

"Run, you fools!" the stranger yelled at her and her twin.

"There's nowhere for them to go," the tentacle freak replied calmly, whipping at his opponent. "Shuren will find them no matter where they are. You can't protect them forever, Kokutō."

"Heh, I don't have to!" the newly-identified Kokutō replied with a smirk, deflecting the attacks skillfully. "Someone else is coming to help out!"

"I think not. He'll be kept a bit busy with my colleagues."

Just then, another Togabito, the giant, appeared and snatched up both girls with his enormous hands. "No!" Kokutō cried out in defiance. "No, you can't take them!" Leaping away from the strange tentacles that reached to grab him, Kokutō lunged at the giant and swung mightily with his blade, only to be blocked by the chains that the giant bore on the wrist that wasn't holding the girls hostage.

"You cannot cut the chains of Hell with that level of power," the tentacle-wielding Togabito criticized. "We'll be leaving now; we have what we came for."

Karin's eyes widened, and she met Yuzu's terrified gaze with a matching one, which was just enough for Yuzu to begin crying.

"Ichi-nii!" the more emotional of the sisters cried out. "Save us!"

"Ichigo will come and save us," Karin threatened.

"That's what we're counting on," Shuren's voice agreed as he appeared nearby, walking towards them calmly. "Hush, now, it's time to go to Hell."

Hell? Both twins' mouths opened together in horror, and called out for the one they knew would always save them. "ICHIGO!" they screamed together.

ICHIGO!

Ichigo snapped awake in an instant, up on his feet almost before Yoruichi registered that he'd awoken. "Ichigo, what…?"

"Not now, Yoruichi." He could still hear the echoes of Yuzu's and Karin's scream for him, and he knew that they were in deep trouble. He didn't know how he knew, but there was no time to theorize on the matter. "Yuzu and Karin are in trouble." A moment later, Ichigo ripped a Garganta into being without even summoning his mask, and without a second thought jumped through.

Yoruichi followed less than a second after, transforming back into a human and Shunpo-ing to keep up with Ichigo's own high speed. Only seconds later, the two of them broke through to the living world, and Yoruichi's eyes widened for a moment – if she remembered Urahara's theories about Garganta, then the distance one had to travel in the void between dimensions had two factors: the relative distance between the dimensions, and the power used to bridge the dimensions together. If the dimensions were close, then the trip would be short. But if they were far away – as was the case with Soul Society, as they had the Dangai between the living world and Soul Society – then sheer power could shorten the trip considerably. The sheer power Ichigo pushed into this trip… it's more than I could produce normally.

It was raining as Ichigo stepped out of the Garganta with a fearsome scowl on his. And then he saw the Togabito that held his sisters in its gargantuan hand. The whites of his eyes faded to black as a burning rage took him. The Adjuchas mask materialized without being called, and Ichigo summoned his white Shikai blade.

Ichigo's Hollow eyes glowed with power as he lunged towards the bastards who had dared to attack his family. A bright blue Getsuga seethed around the whole blade as everyone turned around in shock. Not daring to unleash the Getsuga where his sisters could be hurt, Ichigo brought down Zangetsu on the arm of the giant who held them.

The cleaver cut right through the cloak and arm as if it were made of butter, such was Ichigo's focused rage. Yoruichi appeared a moment later and quickly retrieved Ichigo's sisters, retreating to on top of the roof.

"Ichi-nii, the guy in white is on our side!" Yuzu cried out in warning.

"His name is Kokutō, and he was delaying them from taking us!" Karin added.

It was a good thing that his sisters warned him, because otherwise Ichigo would have slashed out at Kokutō as he approached. "They are Togabito, residents of Hell. Be careful, it's supposed to be impossible to cut through the chains that bind them to Hell, so they'll use it as a defense."

Ichigo fixed the assailants with his most ferocious glare. "Then I will make you WISH for Hell when I'm through with you!" he roared, flaring his reiatsu right before he Shunpo-ed at the congregation of them. Ichigo released his grip on the white Zangetsu before snatching at the white cloth swinging in a wide Getsuga-covered arc at the Togabito.

They scatter, most of them jumping up and over the blade of seething power. But they did not anticipate Urahara appearing right above them, Zanpakutō released and shining red and black. "Shibari, Benihime!"

A long black and red energy net emerged as Urahara swung his sword, and it caught the four Togabito in mid-jump, slamming them back down to earth painfully. Urahara landed easily a moment later. "And that should be that. Now then…"

But then the four Togabito bellowed in unison, their reiatsu flaring and forcing part of the net to dissipate under the pressure of their reiatsu. "Garogai, take the woman! Taikon, keep the new guy occupied! Gonjō, retreat for now, get reinforcements!"

"Hai." The one with tentacle arms vanished in a high-speed technique that Ichigo did not recognize, but seemed similar to Sonido.

"Now then," the one who had been speaking said with a smirk audible in his voice, looking at the Hollowified Ichigo and Kokutō easily. "Shall we?"

"You have no idea what you're up against," Ichigo breathed harshly.

"Is that right? I know exactly what I'm up against, Kurosaki Ichigo, Vizard, slayer of Aizen. I know all about your Resurrección and your Bankai, I know your Getsuga Tenshō. I think you're the one who has no idea who you're facing. Allow me to enlighten you." The abominably smug Togabito bowed lightly. "I am Shuren, a Togabito, one who will be free of Hell forever!"

"You know my Resurrección?" Ichigo demanded uneasily. "Then allow me to prove to you that you know NOTHING! Blacken the…!"

"Don't!" Kokutō warned, grabbing Ichigo's arm and halting his attempt at Resurrección before he could complete it. "That's just what he wants, Ichigo! You transcended Shinigami and Hollow when you fought Aizen, right? He thinks that you may have transcended the powers of Hell too! If you attack him with your full strength, you might break through the chains that bind him to Hell, and then he'll get even stronger!"

Shuren stared at Kokutō, and while his expression was hidden behind his mask, his voice betrayed being disconcerted. "You're well informed," he finally said. "Now, Gonjō!"

Suddenly, Ichigo felt something very familiar materialize nearby. Spinning around quickly, Ichigo gasped when he saw a red portal materialize right behind his sisters. "Move!"he screamed desperately as he Shunpo-ed towards his family, but it was too late. He did not have the godlike speed of Bankai to be boosted by his Hollow power. He was forced to watch as two tentacles snaked out and grabbed Karin and Yuzu around the waist, making them scream in fright before pulling them through. The portal closed an instant before Ichigo reached it.

"Retreat! We have what we came for!" Shuren yelled, opening another portal directly underneath him. The other Togabito joined him less than a second later with their high-speed techniques.

"Don't let them get away!" Ichigo screamed in white-hot fury, Shunpo-ing down towards Shuren even as he channeled even more reiatsu into the white Zangetsu. "Getsuga Tenshō!"

"Shunkō!" Yoruichi called out, her nude form now crackling with white energy as she blended Kidō with Hakuda, Shunpo-ing towards the enemies with the speed that earned her the title Goddess of Shunpo.

Urahara materialized right behind the three Togabito less than a moment later, tag-teaming with Yoruichi to attack on two fronts. "Sing, Benihime!"

Even Kokutō leapt into action, attacking from one of the sides with his obsidian blade.

An explosion of reiatsu occurred as all four attacks connected, but when the smoke faded, only no one had suffered any damage. Every one of the Togabito had used their chains to block the attacks. Shuren looked almost disappointed as the chains showed no signs of damage. "You should be far more powerful than that, Kurosaki Ichigo."

And then before Ichigo could respond, the three Togabito fell into the portal and it closed behind them.