Shinigami are the spirit protectors of the real world. They serve to balance all of the souls that are mixed together in this world.

Aizen Sousuke, who stole the Hougyoku from Soul Society, has escaped to Hueco Mundo with the assistance of the Menos Hollows...

...but there are more problems than just him and his group for the shinigami of Soul Society to deal with...

For nearly two years, there has been a peace between the human world, Soul Society, and the third non-human world, Makai, set into effect after a revolutionary tournament that unified Makai's former "Three Kings" rule under one party that was much more friendly the other worlds... Yet trouble is brewing, as it seems some demons are breaking away from the new law of Makai, and are teaming with hollows that aren't following Aizen, to attack innocent people in the human world. The attacks have been sporadic and easy for the shinigami to contain, so far. But the situation is changing for the worse...

Karakura High

The classroom was full of students busy talking to each other, laughing, and generally doing all the stuff high school students do. At least, until the teacher, Miss Misato Ochi walked in.

"Okay class! Sit down and shut up!" Miss Misato exclaimed upon entering the room. "Looks like everyone's here that's important! Well, Ayanami and Tanizaki aren't here, but they're delinquents, so oh well!! They're probobly doing fine!!"

Hmm... Never had a teacher say that before one of the students in the back of the class thought to himself.

"Anyway, I've got some exciting news! First off, I just saved money by switching my car insurance! Second off, due to an bizzare accident involving frying pans and knives, Miss Kasuga is no longer going to be your English teacher this season, and Mr Armstrong's going to be your new English teacher!" continued Miss Misato, smiling. "You may know him from all those other classes he teaches you all in! And last off, we have a new transfer student!" She then turned to introduce the new student, who stood in the doorway. It was a amethyst-eyed girl with long blue hair tied in a pony-tail.

"Hello!!" the girl cheerfully exclaimed to the class. "I'm Urameshi Botan, but please just call me Botan! Thank you!" she then said, before walking over to the empty seat that would have been occupied by Kuchiki Rukia, had she not stayed in Soul Society after being rescued by Ichigo and his friends. "I hope you don't mind me taking this seat, Ichigo," she said to the orange haired student in the seat next to her new desk, not realizing she said his name when she wasn't supposed to know his name yet.

"Anyway, I have important business to take care of, so y'all will be alone until the next class starts, so don't burn the school down!" announced Miss Misato, before walking out of the classroom.

((I'm not good at first post stuff :heh: Anyway, for fun, see how many references you can pull out of this post! Also, Urameshi isn't Botan's real last name, since none's ever been revealed. It was just the first thing she could think of, which could make when Yusuke is introduced quite hilarious...))

(( HV! W00T! )) (( EDIT: Or HVIM?? It is up to the vote, since you've already used your 50/50 and your phone call. ))

KARAKURA HIGH
"What a teacher... isn't teaching supposed to be a teacher's most important business?" mumbled the 15-year-old student sitting next to the new girl, looking resignedly at the open door the teacher had left swinging. Then he did a double-take, turning his attention to the girl who had just spoken to him.

"Ehh... I guess I don't mind..." said Kurosaki Ichigo, giving off his most indifferent scowl. The orange-haired student-slash-shinigami had just that morning--
"Huh?" said Ichigo suddenly, losing just a smidge of his previous cool as he did a triple-take, this time looking directly at the blunette . "How did you know my name.... uh...?"

Crap, she just told us her name and I've forgotten it already... thought Ichigo abashedly.

KARAKURA TOWN
"Karakura Town..." muttered a large man in a child's voice and a suit of armor, passing a sign that denoted the city limits of Karakura Town, Tokyo.

A large gray metal suit of armor seemed a bit out-of-place on the streets of such a city, and it was perhaps because of this that he ducked quickly into an alleyway.
Safely hidden in the shadows, he sighed to himself. "...I sure hope a circus is in town," he said quietly. "Moving mostly during the night is such a pain... Oh!" he said suddenly, kneeling down.

"Mrow!" screeched the cat as the 'man' picked her up. "You're lost!" proclaimed the armor, with no basis whatsoever, "Don't worry! I'll help you! My name is Aru!"
The cat seemed more interested in getting away from the armored man, but the cat was far too far off the ground once Aru had stood up.
"Tell you what, let's make a deal," said Aru, speaking to the cat, "I'll help you find what I'm looking for if you'll help me find what I'm looking for."
"Myoww!"
"Okay!" said Aru. "I'm looking for a person of legendary spirit powers... they say he runs a business here in town, and that he can do almost anything... some even say he's been to the spirit world himself! Isn't that interesting?"

Alley cat is loafing around...

"Then it's settled!" said Aru, suddenly lifting his helmet and tossing the cat inside the armor. "We'll go together... and find Don Kanonji and the Karakura Super Heroes!! Let's go!!"
Aru took off running down the alleyway, armor rattling strangely...

(( Is the cat Yoruichi? XD That's completely up to Kimi. I intended it to be a random cat but that could make things more interesting. Is "blunette" a word? It is now! Is Aru able to be sensed? Yep. Is BR going to wait for someone else to make the first move in Soul Society? Yes. :3 ))

((I'm guessing class hasn't started yet. When should Armstrong enter the picture?))

Karakura High

As was the usual morning routine, Ataru was talking with Orihime. Bad-mouthing Ichigo and trying to make himself look like the better choice... however, he stopped hitting on Orihime when Botan sat down.

Ataru quickly leaned over to Botan, a smile on his face as his chin rested in his fist and his elbow rested on Botan's desk.

"Say, a new student, eh? Welcome to Karakura High. I'm Moroboshi Ataru, the class president! I know every corner of the school, so if you need any help, or possibly a tour, I'm here to help. Of course, for maximum efficiency, I might need your address and phone number, Botan-chan!"

Ataru took out a little black book and a pencil.

"So, if I could just have that information..." he said with his eyes closed and a moronic smile on his face.

Orihime was just rather oblivious as she was reading a comic book.

((DP, if you don't like Ataru being class president, just lemme know and it'll turn out Ataru was just telling a dirty lie to impress Botan!))

KARAKURA HIGH
A vein pulsed in Ichigo's temple as he was interrupted. He stood up and grabbed Ataru by the scruff of his shirt. "Dammit, Moroboshi! Stop that, you're making Keigo look good!"

Always so familiar with pretty girls right after he meets them... if he'd stuck to her other name I'd know what to call her, thought Ichigo, half his mind occupied by annoyance at Ataru's interruption and the other half more interested in just figuring out how someone knew his name when they'd never even met bef--

>Oh!< thought Ichigo suddenly. I must have met her before somewhere, that's all. Still holding Ataru by the shirt, he looked down at Botan. "Have we met before? Sorry, I don't really remember..."

Karakura High

Ataru dusted the scruff of his shirt and said indignantly, "Always so violent, Kurosaki... I was just offering my hospitality to this beautiful new student we have among us."

((I won't be home till late tonight so I won't be able to do anything. I guess Ishida missed this class. XD))

Karakura Town (Yesterday Night)

Goshikku Paine, a Shinigami from Captain Kuchiki's Sixth Division, stood on the concrete roof of a tall building in Karakura Town. She held her Zanpakuto in her hand and looked on ahead of herself with absolute focus. The night was in full swing and rain fell down from the sky in sheets. Her gloved hand clenched the base of her blade tightly and her crimson eyes narrowed into a dark stare.

With a mighty roar, the giant beast in front of her stomped its foot. The monster looked like a giant spider, with eight ugly arms coming from it's round body. A white mask covered its face... this creature was a Hollow.

Paine let out a soft sigh. She swung her arm around and held her zanpakuto – Gullwing – up beside her head. Gullwing was a zanpakuto that remained in it's initial release at all times, like Zangetsu. She paused for a moment and then she dashed forward and jumped. The Hollow roared again and two of the monster's massive arms shot forward. Paine was agile enough to dodge them, causing the arms to smash into the building behind her.

Paine turned her sword down and slammed it into the hollow's back. She had been aiming for the creature's face, but it had moved and her blade struck elsewhere. The zanpakuto cut into the hollow's back, spewing up a cloud of purple gas. Paine quickly removed her sword and pushed up with her legs, jumping away from the hollow before it could grab her.

Paine hit the ground and rolled on her side. One of the hollow's legs smashed into the roof where she had been only seconds before, scattering debris into the air. Paine, on her feet once more, charged forward – only to stop short and avoid another lash of the Hollow's arm. She jumped onto the arm that had come down in front of her and ran along it, towards the monster's body. She slashed the arm and cut it away from the body, rousing a painful shriek from the Hollow.

Paine jumped onto the Hollow's back, dropped onto one knee and slammed Gullwing down into the Hollow's face. The mask cracked as the blade sliced through the monster's forehead. The Hollow roared and shook from side to side, but despite it's last few shakes the beast dropped down onto it's belly and died. Paine removed her sword and panted for a moment.

“Damn it...” Paine sighed softly. “I thought I'd finally found him, and it was just a hollow.”

Goshikku Paine was searching for someone. The man who had murdered her lover. Nooj Baralai, a fellow Shinigami whom she had cared for deeply, had been murdered by a monster.... a monster far worse than the hollow she had just slain. Ever since, Paine had started searching both the Human and Shinigami worlds to try to find the murderer.

Paine walked to the edge of the roof and stood on the stone railing. She closed her eyes and turned her head toward the sky, pausing to feel the rain fall on her skin. She had sworn to avenge her love and would stop at nothing to destroy the monster responsible for his death.

“Looking for me?”

Paine spun around on her heels and came face to face with a shorter man dressed primarily in black. His hair was blond and covered half of his face, but the monsterous look that was visible on the other half gave away his cruel intentions. Paine raised her zanpakuto and her eyes narrowed.

“You!” Paine growled and jumped forward aiming a slash at the blond man. He fell back to the right and dodged her blade; then he quickly responded by slashing his right hand forward. His hand was like a claw and it tore at her flesh, causing Paine to leap back.

“Your bleeding...” The blond man grinned sadistically.

“You want to see bleeding?” She charged at him again and tried to stab. As Gullwing neared his body, the blond reached out and punched the side of the blade, causing her stab to miss him to the side. The blond then hit the ground and rolled away into the shadows behind her.

She heard hurried footsteps but before she had a chance to react she felt a sharp pain in her back and chest. Paine's crimson eyes shot open and she gasped for air, but she got no relief. She felt a arm reach around her shoulder and she could feel the blond man behind her, pressing his head to her ear.

“You were that weakling who yelled at me after I killed Nooj, weren't you?” A man with long blond hair whispered into her ear. He heard gurgling noises as Paine tried to respond, but he laughed sadistically. “Oh... I'm sorry, it's hard to talk with my hand in your lungs, isn't it?”

((What a twist!))

The pulled his arm out of her back, causing Paine to flinch in agony. If not for the fact he was holding onto her, she would not be standing. The grip on her zanpakuto was gone and the sword tumbled from the side of the roof and fell into the darkness of an alley below. A clatter sprang up as it hit the wet ground. The blond man leaned back to her ear.

“It's a shame . . . In all the time since my return, not a single Shinigami has given me a real challenge. I hope my next target is stronger than you.”

Letting go of her body, Paine slipped from the blond man's arm and tumbled off the side of the roof, falling into the same vacant alley as her zanpakuto. He grinned to himself and turned away from the railing of the roof. He kicked the railing of the roof and knocked a large piece of brick loose. A growl erupted from his mouth and he started to kick, punch and even bite the rooftop of the building. He was consumed with rage and it was only after he broke down the door that led into the building that he finally regained his cool.

“Why? I challenge the Shinigami, but they die so easily... I need a challenge!” He stroked his chin for a moment and then he heard a sound. Whipping his head around he saw the shadow of a great bird pierce the midnight sky – and then he saw a scroll flutter down among the rain. Quickly he ran to it and unfurled it, reading the contents silently and with vigorous haste.

“Ah? . . . I see . . . so 'that' Kurosaki lives in this town . . . according to this, he defeated both Zaraki and Kuchiki of the Gotei 13. . . . What an incredible feat! This Kurosaki much have extraordinary power as a Shinigami! . . . Yes! He must be the next one! Kurosaki Ichigo, I will come for you!”

The bird who had delivered the letter let out a great 'caw'. In the silvery moonlight it became apparent that this bird was actually a gigantic hollow. The hollow bird flew into the alley and there was a flash of light. It had taken Paine's zanpakuto... as well as her heart.

---

Office of Hitsugaya Tôshirô, 10th Division Captain (Yesterday Night)

“... This can't be accurate. Are you sure about this, Hinamori?” The white-haired Captain who boasted the strongest ice zanpakuto in all of Soul Society looked up from the report on his desk with skeptic eyes.

“Yes. I'm positive.” Hinamori Momo's eyes seemed to be focused on the report rather than he childhood friend's face; a fact that did not escape the exceptionally intuitive Tôshirô.

“I see...” Hitsugaya dropped his gaze for a moment, and then looked back to Hinamori. “... and why did you come to me rather than your new Captain?” In all honesty, Hitsugaya was asking a question he already knew the answer to. His only reason for doing so was to see if Hinamori would be honest with him – and herself.

“Ah... You have been a Captain for a longer time... if you go to The General, he might take you more seriously...” Hinamori replied but her voice trailed off when Tôshirô turned his eyes away from her. Momo thought for a second, trying to find the exact words to express her distaste for the entire situation. Though the truth lingered in the back of her head, just behind her eyes; she denied it. Anytime the idea started to creep into her consciousness she would push it back! She clung to the notion that if she did not admit it, there was still hope for Aizen...

As Hinamori opened her mouth to speak, Tôshirô stood up and offered her a quick smile. “I see. I'll be sure to bring it up at the next Captain's Meeting.” Hitsugaya paused for a moment and then, in a quieter voice, he said: “Are you okay?”

Momo knew what he meant, of course. Just a few weeks ago she had been knocking on death's door after Aizen had stabbed her. Her recovery was much slower than Tôshirô's, but she had been doing better. “I'm fine.”

Her short, to the point answer made Hitsugaya flinch. Clearly the lies of Ichimaru Gin and the truth about Sosuke Aizen had taken a toll on their relationship; but Hitsugaya knew their friendship could survive this... just as they had survived, despite serious injuries.

“Thank you for the report, Vice-Captain Hinamori. I'll discuss this with the Captains.”

Hinamori was caught a bit off-guard but she mustered up a quick, albeit weak, smile in return before she spun on her heels and hurried from Hitsugaya's office. Tôshirô was left alone where he sighed and dropped back to the floor, sitting Indian-style with his head resting on the knuckles of his fist. His exasperation was because of the report more than anything.

“Seventeen Shinigami, all vanishing without any trace over the last few weeks... is this Aizen's doing... or someone else?”

OFFICE OF THE FIFTH DIVISION
"Where should I put this a paperwork?" said a short shinigami with glasses, entering the empty japanese-style office that had once belonged to Aizen Sosuke with a large pile of papers. spirit papers
The man he was speaking to, who was sitting at Aizen's old desk inspecting it, shrugged. "Ah, just toss it somewhere, Fuery."

"Where should I put this footstool?" asked a chubby shinigami, coming in with a plush ottoman.
"Hey, be careful with that, Breda!" said the Captain suddenly, standing up from the desk. "Set it down over there gently by the chair and the reading lamp!"

Fuery sweatdropped as Breda hurried past him, followed by a couple of others bearing similar office-related objects. "Captain Arakawa, sir... shouldn't you at least try to work a little harder this time around? I mean, you are the first shinigami in a long time to become a Captain without being a Vice-Captain first... and at such a young age too... the other Captains won't respect you if you're lazy about it..."

The Captain crossed his arms. "First of all, Fuery, don't make me tell you again that it's 'Mustang' or 'Captain Mustang', or else you may wake up on fire one of these days. Secondly, don't worry about a thing! I've got everything under control!" Mustang looked around. "Hey, Falman!"

A skinny, white-haired shinigami popped up out of nowhere and saluted. "Here, sir!"
"Did you find my Vice-Captain yet?"
The shinigami shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir. I only found out that she is close friends with the 10th division Captain, sir!"
Mustang sighed. "...Well, if she's this late in coming, she's probably not going to be strict. That's a releif, anyway."

He walked out of the office. Fuery sighed. "I think Captain Kyoraku was a bad influence on him..."

*five minutes later*

OFFICE OF THE TENTH DIVISION
Mustang opened the door of the Tenth Division Office and peered in. "Say, has anyone seen my Vice-Captain around here...?"

KARAKURA HIGH
On a rooftop across the street from Karakura High, a hollow peered over at the high school.

((Wow, GS... that's... that's quite a post... :blink:))

Karakura High

After everyone seemed to get settled in, the teacher of this classroom walked into the room. He was tall... VERY tall. He was also very athletically built! Were he not bald, blonde and mustachioed, one would think him to be Superman! His towered over everyone, especially here among 15-year-olds. Yet, there was a gentleness that could be seen within his eyes.

Although at first he seemed deadly serious, as soon as he reached his desk, he became overenthusiastic as he shouted, "Greetings, class! I am Prof. Alex Louise Armstrong! Oh, what a beautiful day it is today to learn and fill our minds with knowledge! The spirit of youth is strong and determined! Never let your candle's fire burn out, for as long as the human spirit perseveres..."

Ataru just thought to himself, "Great... so now we have this muscle-bound oaf in this class, too... here he goes again on one of his stupid little emotional outbursts..."

Armstrong's little speech was going on for quite a while before he finally got to the point, "...gets the worm! *ahem* Anyway, some of you look familiar to me, while others are new faces. I'm sure we'll all get along fine this semester, as we strive to learn that beautiful language known as English!"

((For all intents and purposes, the characters are actually speaking Japanese right now. :p))

After Armstrong finished his speech, Orihime began clapping.

"That... that was so beautiful! Armstrong-san's words are so moving!"

Ataru, with a half-opened eye expression, looked over at Orihime and asked, "You mean you actually understood most of what he was talking about?"

Orihime answered, "Hmmm... well, not really... but he was so into it, I couldn't help but be moved!"

Outside Karakura High

A beautiful green-haired demon girl was flying around, somewhat bored. She loved observing humans, though! Which is what she was trying to do right now... as she was heading towards Karakura High.

Karakura High

"Oh... Uhh.. Maybe it was just a lucky guess??" Botan nervously answered Ichigo, "With the hair and everything!" she quickly added, reffering to his supposedly strawberry-like hair ((which I never understood, but it's referenced a few times within Bleach, I believe)).

She then sighed in relief of having to avoid talking more about that mistake when Ataru changed the subject to himself. "Thank you, Ataru, but I don't even know that stuff yet, because I just got into town this morning!" she then answered to Ataru's questions about where she lived, as honestly, she didn't know what she was doing for all of that.

And then the new teacher came in, giving his opening speech, during which you could almost see sparkles shining around Mr. Armstrong as he spoke. After which, the orange-haired girl stood and saluted. So that must be Orihime... Botan thought to herself, paying no attention at all to whatever Ataru did next in reaction to her previous answer.

Karakura Town

A young man was walking down a street of Karakura Town, after being dropped off the bus that brought him from his hometown to here. "Why did I get dragged into this stuff again..." he said to himself, pissed off, as he walked towards the school he was told by Botan to head to...

((Ataru as class pres. is OK with me. I don't remember any being mentioned in Bleach before, anyway.))

KARAKURA HIGH
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. Ehh? But she knew my last name, not my first name! Who is this...?

Luckily for her, he didn't devote much more thought to it become something else caught his eye outside the window. A flying person!

He was surprised, but instantly calmed down and sighed. I guess I should catch it and perform konso on that spirit before it becomes a hollow, thought Ichigo. Incorrectly correcting his original impression of the flying human-shaped thing, Ichigo believed it to be a wandering spirit.
It's not that important, I'll do it later.

Suddenly he blinked and looked back out the window sharply. He thought he had sensed something... a high reiatsu or some kind, but just a breif flash, as though someone or something had been surpressing their spirit energy but then slipped up just for an instant. Whatever it was, it was worth checking out, or at least more so than staying and listening to Mr. Armstrong.

Ichigo put up his hand, standing up part way and leaning on his desk as he did so. "Mr. Armstrong! I have to go to the bathroom!"

(( EDIT: ... ><; Sry, hadn't seen your post yet... ))

Karakura High

Armstrong raised an eyebrow for a moment. Not that he was skeptical or anything... just that he was surprised at how urgently Ichigo seemed to want to go to the bathroom.

"Very well, Kurosaki-kun. You may go."

Armstrong then went to the chalkboard and began writing some English phrases.

"However, we're about to begin taking notes. Be sure to try and get caught up when you return, Kurosaki-kun."

Ataru yawned and thought to himself, "Notes, huh? I'm sure Orihime will let me copy hers laters... for now, I have to feed my stomach rather than my intellect."

Ataru opened up his English book and held it up on his desk... then used it to cover up what he was doing. He took out his lunch and started eating.

Orihime looked at Ataru worryingly and whispered, "Ataru-kun, if you eat your lunch now, you won't have anything during lunchtime."

KARAKURA HIGH
Without another word, Ichigo bolted out the door and down the stairs. He ran out into the school's courtyard and stopped, looking into the air for the flying human shape.

Suddenly Ichigo's eyes widened. Suddenly whatever had been suppressing its spirit energy stopped, and he looked up and turned around, looking at the roof of the school. At the top was a hollow.

It was large, with long arms and a thick body with small legs. At the end of those arms were not hands but instead huge meat-cleaver-like knives. Its head was in the shape of a human skull with two small horns.

"How skinny!" cackled the hollow, peering down at Ichigo. "You don't look fun to chop at all!"

The hollow leapt down as Ichigo grabbed a small badge-like device he kept on him at all times. In a second, his body was lying nearby as a black-robed shinigami held a large sword before the hollow.
But the hollow wasn't advancing toward Ichigo. It was climbing up the wall!

"Hey! Get back here!" said Ichigo, starting toward the thing. But then he hestated, turned back, and went to his body. He reached into his backpack and grabbed out a stuffed animal. It started to say something, and then he shoved its mouth up against that of its body's, and then quickly turned to go after the quickly ascending hollow as it approached Armstrong's classroom...

Karakura High

Ataru responded to Orihime, "Don't worry, I got it covered... I have another lunch."

Ataru was referring to how he stole Ichigo's lunch earlier... though it was probably only a matter of time before Ichigo would notice.

Orihime said, "Oh... I see. I guess that's a pretty smart thing to do is pack two lunches! Though you don't have to do that, I'd gladly share my lunch with you."

At that very moment Ataru started choking on a piece of sashimi! He started hitting his chest trying to get the food dislodged from his throat. As several students began to panic, Orihime seemed to completely ignore the situation.

"I wonder what's taking Kurosaki-kun so long...?"

Mr. Armstrong had his back turned so he didn't really know what was going on just yet... though the murmuring of the students began to slowly grow louder.

Ataru couldn't speak, and was trying to get Orihime's attention.

Orihime snapped out of her daydreaming and asked, "Oh... what is it, Ataru-kun? Do you want my notes? Hmmm? Oh... is this some sort of game? I don't know if we can play during class... hmmm..."

Ataru managed to cough up what was stuck in his throat and then said, "I'm..... choking......"

Armstrong then said, "And in English, the word back is... Moroboshi-kun?"

Ataru finished his sentence with a yell, "MORON!!!!"

Armstrong said, "Very good, Moroboshi-kun."

((Note: If they are speaking Japanese right now, "moron" is said as "baka"))

Armstrong then joyously said, "Oh... the enthusiasm with which you answered, Moroboshi-kun... could it be that you really do care about your studies afterall...?"

Ataru wasn't paying attention to Armstrong, as he was still getting over his predicament earlier... however... all of a sudden Armstrong was right behind Ataru.

"Oh, how it fills me with joy to see a student take his studies with such eagerness!"

Armstrong picked Ataru up with a bear hug... once again Ataru was gasping for air! Armstrong began to shed tears of joy as he accidentally squeezed the life out of his pupil.

"Oh, Moroboshi-kun! I knew you weren't a slacker like all the other teachers said! You want to learn just like any other upstanding youth! Oooh! How great it is to be young and ambitious! Hold on to your pride, Moroboshi! Don't let anyone deter you from a life of a good education!"

Orihime just smiled, unaware of Ataru's silent cries for help.

The green haired demon girl was sitting at the end of the room, watching everything in the classroom... unseen by anyone. The girl, named Lum, wore a tiger-striped outfit. ((Just so ya know, it's the one she had on in the pic in the sign-ups, not her usual one.))

"My, humans are such interesting creatures to observe! This world is a lot more interesting than Makai, if you ask me!"

Karakura High

The teachers here definitely seem a lot nicer than the ones from Sarayashiki... Botan thought to herself, not overly concerned, either, with Armstrong's near strangulation of Ataru. She was a little more concerned with the Hollow whose presense she felt, but Ichigo went after the Hollow, and the rest of his friends didn't go out to help him, so that Hollow was probobly nothing for her to worry about right now...

The demon that had just entered the classroom was a little more concerning to Botan however, and she turned around to see what it was once she heard it. Though upon seeing the green haired demon, she became less concerned, as that wasn't one of the ones on the list she had of demons to watch for...

Ishida's Room

Uryu sat at his desk, not doing much in the way of work. Yes, school had already started. Ishida knew that, he simply did not care. He did not care about sustaining his rank as top of the class nor did he care about what the teacher's would think. Right now, Ishida had more serious problems than his school work.

'I don't regret what I did. If I hadn't, I would have died, and that madman shinigami would have taken Inoue-san... still, my life as a Quincy is over.'

Ishida turned his gaze to the clock on the wall. Class had started long ago; he was very late to get into the game. Sitting and brooding about his lost powers would do nothing. Uryu stood up and grabbed his back pack.

'... It doesn't matter. Powers or no, I am a Quincy. I'll find another way to destroy the Hollow.'

---

Tenth Division HQ

Hitsugaya looked up as his door opened. It was the new Fifth Division Captain. The white-haired Shinigami Captain stood up. Of course, he was nowhere near as tall as Mustang.

"Yes, your Vice-Captain was here." Hitsugaya walked out from behind his table and over to Mustang. "I apologize, I had things to discuss with Hinamori. I hope I did not keep her from anything important."

Hitsugaya was treating the new Captain with every bit of respect as he would any of his fellow Captains. Still, the Ice-Master had become even more suspicious than before... after all, Mustang's predecessor had almost taken Hitsugaya's life.

"If I see her I'll send her your way."

KARAKURA HIGH
The hollow poked its head up into the window of the classroom. It was large, several times larger at least than a human head, but of course it was invisible and unhearable to everyone[/i] [s]most of the people a few people in the classroom.

"Ahh," growled the Hollow, looking from Orihime to Chizuru to Botan to Orihime to Tatsuki and back to Orihime. He was, at least for the time being, choosing a meaty target.

Meanwhile, down below, Ichigo started swinging his large zanpakuto Zangetsu in a circle above his head, preparing to toss it up above to skewer the hollow. But would he make it in time?

OFFICE OF THE TENTH DIVISION
Despite the fact that he had no real reason to do so, Mustang stepped fully into the office. "Ah, thank you," he said, "No, I was just intending to meet her. I'm moving into my position today and I haven't even met my Vice-Captain yet," he said with a smile. He extended his hand. "I'm 3rd Seat Arakawa Roi of the 8th-- eh, haha!" he chuckled, "I am Captain Arakawa Roi of the the 5th Division, but please call me Mustang," he finished amicably.

He already knew, of course, of Captain Hitsugaya; but to meet him and introduce himself had been his entire reason for showing up here.

Office of the Tenth Division

"Captain Mustang." Hitsugaya shook Mustang's hand. "I am Hitsugaya Tôshirô, Captain of the Tenth." He paused for a moment. He had to get a feel for Arakawa before he could really make any impressions. He did, however, have one matter to discuss with Roi.

"Your new Vice-Captain, Momo Hinamori... if she seems to be a bit distant, I hope you won't hold it against her." Hitsugaya was concerned about his friend, but moreso about what her new boss might think.

Karakura High

Walking through the hallway of the school was an invisible man with blond hair and half a mask. He was Utsuro Edo, the Arrancar who had killed Goshikku Paine the night before. He knew that Kurosaki was somewhere in this school.

"Where are you, Kurosaki? I have to find you..."

KARAKURA HIGH
~Classroom~
(( ...Sorry guys, but if anything's an icebreaker it's a hollow attack! ^^; ))

Crashhhh! The glass shattered as a huge brown arm with a meat cleaver on the end broke through and swung wildly, finally slashing Orihime's desk into pieces.

"Come out, little meatbag," cooed the hollow to Orihime, who he had decided had the largest, er, amount of meat to chop. "It's not going to be fun trying to chop you up if you're hiding in there!"

~Courtyard/Playground-Type Place~
Only seconds having passed since the last time we checked on him and wanting to be sure of his aim, Ichigo is still swinging Zangetsu, preparing to launch it on a bandage-leash at the hollow above!

OFFICE OF THE TENTH DIVISION
Mustang smiled. "No, of course not," he said, "After all, we will be expected to work closely even though we've only just met."

He stopped smiling and looked at Captain Hitsugaya seriously. "...Unless you're trying to tell me... that I should watch out for something?"

((Heh... and I was so much hoping to avoid a confrontation using a character who I don't know a lot about, attack-wise... ^_^;))

Karakura High

When the hollow was slowly making his way to the classroom, there was shaking.

Then the hollow appeared! Armstrong sort of sensed it... he let go of Ataru and turned back. He could see something... but only barely. Like a mist or a haze... for some time now, Armstrong had been slowly being able to see supernatural beings, however not entirely clearly yet.

Ataru, however, could see them just fine.

"Is that one of those... those... what'chamacallits?!"

Orihime answered seriously, "It's... a hollow!"

((I'm assuming she knows what a hollow is and really hoping I don't screw anything up... x_X))

Just then, the hollow chose Orihime as his target, it seemed. After having smashed her desk to pieces, Orihime took a few steps back.

Ataru was afraid of this thing... but he didn't want it to hurt Orihime, either.

Lum sighed, "A hollow? Come on, isn't that what Soul Society is supposed to be taking care of? This is really annoying..."

Ataru looked back and asked, "Hey, just who are you, anyway? I've seen you come in here spying on us all the damn time!"

"Oh, so you CAN see me, eh? That's interesting... and it explains why you can see this hollow." said Lum.

Ataru angrily yelled, "Nevermind that! You're the same as this thing, right? Tell it to go away!"

Lum flew over to Ataru and said, "I'm not like that thing at all. That's a hollow, I'm an oni. I come from a realm known as Makai, while he is actually the lost soul of a human being!"

Orihime thought to herself, "Kurosaki-kun... where are you... I can't take this thing on... I'm not a Shinigami like you... I need you..."

((Again... I really hope I'm still staying true to the character... like I said, I haven't gotten far enough to see what Orihime is like with her powers... or even if she can battle hollows or any of that... :hs:))

((Orihime went to Soul Society with everyone else, so she knows all about Hollows, Shinigami, Zanpakuto, all that stuff. Just not Arrancar, since none of them know about those yet. ^^))

Karakura High

Ishida had arrived, and he did not like what he saw.

"Kurosaki!" Ishida quickly ran over to the Shinigami who stood, twirling his sword and waiting for a shot. "What are you wasting time for? That thing is attacking our classroom!"

Ishida looked up at the Hollow. Without his Quincy Bow, defeating it would be a challenge. Still, he had several containers that he filled with his powers before he went to Soul Society and could use them as weapons.

Not waiting for the Shinigami, Ishida grabbed a bomb from his bag and ran towards the school. Of course, the normal students could see him...

Karakura High

As the Hollow crashed in through the windows Botan jumped back with the rest of the class, to try and avoid the Hollow's arm, though the rest of the class just jumped back to avoid some random explosion. "Oh darn... I was hoping not to have to introduce myself like this..." she said, pulling out what looked like a Pez dispenser, with a cat's head as the special character on it.

However, just as she was about to eat one of the "candies" from the dispenser, a blue ball of energy seemed to appear, heading at the hollow.

Outside Karakura High

Standing down at the entrance to the school grounds was the same black-haired young man who had been dropped off by the bus earlier, pointing at where the hollow was attached to the school with his finger held like a gun. Then, another blue blast of energy shot at the hollow, having been fired from that young man's finger.

Karakura High

"Oh dear... I hope Urahara has enough Kioku-Chikans..." Botan sighed to herself, seeing that Yusuke was firing spirit gun blasts from out in the open, and Ishida was now trying to attack the hollow as well.

((Translator's Note: Kioku-Chikan - (literally Memory Replacer); it's a device that has a chicken's head on top of it, that springs out with a POOF. It replaces memories of people who've seen stuff they shouldn't have with other random occurances. Works better on people who have less spiritual power. Also, note the similarity between "Chikan" and what the head that springs up is of :LOL: ))

KARAKURA HIGH
Finally, Ichigo let the blade fly and just as the hollow was about to slice at Orihime, and it-- missed! Instead a pair of blue blasts smacked into the beast and sent it falling down to the ground in front of Ichigo, Ishida, Kon and a person who got off a bus.

Ichigo yanked Zangetsu back from the wall where it had lodged itself and back into his hand, and weilded it as the monster, bleeding from the back, flipped right-side-up and faced Ichigo, Ishida, and the new guy. It looked at them both, then cackled softly. "This is boring! I can't tell which is skinnier, and you all look full of gristle, I'd bet," he murmured. "Oh well! Might as well give it a go!" He swung one of his huge knife-arms at Ishida and the new kid with a wide, sweeping attack!

Ichigo started to go to his aid, but suddenly he was leapt on from behind!

"Dammit, get off of me, Kon!" Ichigo, tossing his own body off his back like a sack of potatoes. His body's mouth frowned pathetically. "So... this is how I am treated... you don't even tell me you're going to switch anymore, you just shove me down your throat!"

Ichigo was not paying attention to Kon or to the hollow; he'd just spotted something in an alley behind Kon.
"Are you listening, Ichigo? I will definitely wear a dress next time if you don't-- hey!" Ichigo had turned around and ran to help Ishida, deciding neither Kon nor the thing he'd thought he'd seen in the alley were as important as defeating a hollow.

Meanwhile, in the alley, the person who had made brief eye contact with the shinigami paused.
"...Well, kitty," said Aru, "It looks like... more shinigami..."

Karakura High

Ishida was charging at the hollow and when he got within throwing distance of the beast he hurled a bottle filled with his spiritual energy at it. Hopefully the attack would be enough to stun the monster, and hopefully Kurosaki could defeat it while it was down.

((Short post. X_x Me sleepy))

TENTH DIVISION OFFICE
Hitsugaya had remained silent. Mustang closed his eyes and nodded. "...Of course," he said, "If I were you I wouldn't trust me either at this point." He made eye contact with Hitsugaya. "Captain Hitsugaya, so long as your friend is under my care, I will protect her... even if that means protecting her from herself, and any lingering loyalties she may have. I assure you, she is safe with me."

By warning him that Hinamori might be distant, Mustang perceived that Hitsugaya was hinting, however distantly, of Hinamori's loyalty to Aizen, and testing to see whether Mustang would be the type to turn against if she were ever to do anything brash.

KARAKURA HIGH
Boom! The spirit energy exploded in the hollow's face and sent it lurching backwards. Ichigo struck with Zangetsu, but the hollow blocked it with his own huge blades.

"This isn't any fun at all!" cackled the hollow.
Ichigo drew back, leaping backwards and allowing the hollow to get back on his feet. His next strike wouldn't be blocked.

Karakura High

"You won't ever have fun again." Ishida said calmly as he approached the Hollow. he was walking right up to the monster, apparently unconcerned that he did not have his bow and was making himself a prime target. What could he be thinking!?

'While Ichigo plays around, this thing could hurt Inoue-san or our other classmates... Powers or not, I'll have to destroy this beast.'

Ishida suddenly jumped to the side, throwing another canister of spiritual energy!

Tenth Division Office
((Sorry! I was so sleepy I forgot about this. ^_^; ))

Hitsugaya had been looking down, with his eyes half-closed. He was apparently in deep thought. During the silence, Mustang had proved his wits -- he had read between the lines and saw what Hitsugaya was truly saying.

"... Well alright then!" Hitsugaya looked up, his eyes were now open and he offered a friendly look on his face. "I believe you, Captain. I have no doubt that you'll make a fine addition to the 13. As for Hinamori..." Hitsugaya's expression became serious once more. "I know she'll be safe."

Perhaps Hitsugaya was telling Mustang that he believed in his abilities... or more likely it was a warning that he would continue to keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe.

KARAKURA HIGH
Boom again! In another bright explosion the monster was sent hurtling to the side... but it wasn't enough to kill him!

TENTH DIVISION OFFICE
(( Don't worry, it worked out really well! :D ))
Mustang understood. He bowed. "Thank you, Captain Hitsugaya. I'll see you at the Captain's meeting later."

Mustang left. He started heading back to the Fifth Division Office, guessing and hoping that Hinamori would have headed there after visiting her friend.

Outside Karakura High

Yusuke smiled, once the hollow mentioned not having any fun. He, himself, was definitely having fun, as since the Makai Tournament, he hadn't really anyone to beat up. Though, it usually was more fun when there weren't people without powers getting into the middle of his fights...

"Get out of the d*** way, dumba**!!" yelled Yusuke out at Ishida, as he charged the Hollow with his fist glowing with blue spirit energy.

The building next to the school

A young looking girl stood on the rooftop of a nearby building, sucking on a giant swirly lolli-pop. In her other hand was a pinkish umbrella with a pumpkin head on top of it. "Heheheh... This is really interesting... Though I hope Edo-kun finds Ichi soon! I'm getting bored hiding his entire reiatsu..." she said, before taking another lick of the lolli-pop...



((Translator's note: Reiatsu - (Spiritual/Spirit Pressure); well, it's what Bleach people's call spirit power ))

Karakura High

'Without my powers I can't destroy it... da--' Ishida's thoughts were interrupted by Yusuke, who came running by at that moment. Ishida fixed his glasses and looked at the black haired teenager. What was he?

'He has no Zanpakuto, so he's not a Shinigami... but those aren't Quincy powers... so who is that man?' Ishida wondered who Yusuke could be.



Suddenly the wall exploded! Edo jumped outside and looked around, sniffing the air. He looked from side to side and finally he spotted his quarry -- "KUROSAKI!"

Edo jumped to the ground and looked at Ichigo. "You are Kurosaki! Yes, yes! I can tell from your reiatsu! Fight me Kurosaki!"

The blond-haired Arrancar paused for a moment. He looked over his shoulder at the Hollow. Was that why Ichigo was here? Edo scoffed and jumped onto the building next to the Hollow.

"You are useless and in my way!" Edo clapped his hands and his right hand became like a claw -- just as it had been when he killed Paine. "I'll destroy you and keep you away from my quarry!"

He jumped at the Hollow, trying to smash it right in the face!

KARAKURA HIGH
"Owww!!" screeched the hollow as the blast tore into him. "That really hurt... yah!" Suddenly the new entry was slashing at his face!

*slash*

The creature was, once again, sent tumbling backwards, this time towards Ishida and Yusuke. His mask was cracked and his body cut and burned, but he stood up nonetheless. Luckily for him, Ichigo stepped in front of him, facing the new guy.

Dammit, thought Ichigo, holding Zangetsu in front of him, Why couldn't I feel this reiatsu before...? Who is this guy?! And what's with his face, and that arm?!

"I don't know who or what you are," barked Ichigo, "But running around shouting my name is already getting on my nerves!"

The hollow, meanwhile, sweatdropped. "...I think I'll stay away from those two," it said, "They look bony anyway." It turned around. It slashed one of its gigantic meat cleaver arms at Yusuke!

Karakura High

"Kurosaki!" Edo growled, a feverish glee in his voice. Drool seemed to fall from his face and he had a expression of happiness on his face. Surely this child was the same Kurosaki! He was the perfect quarry... Edo was excited.

"I have come for you, Kurosaki! I want to see your strength... I want to see how strong you are! You defeated Zaraki, didn't you? And Kuchiki... you have power, now show it to me!" Utsuro seemed to know what was going on in Soul Society.

He did not care about the Hollow. He just wanted to attack Ichigo.

'What is that thing?' Ishida was shocked and surprised. He had no idea what Edo was... but for now, he had to worry about the Hollow, so he threw another canister at it!

KARAKURA HIGH
Ichigo stood silently for moment. This guy... he feels like that 'other me' that tried to take me over in the fight against Byakuya... He knows at least some things about shinigami, but he's got part of a hollow's mask on his face and can somehow transform his own hand...

But maybe... if I can figure out what he is, I can figure out what that thing was inside of me... and how to deal with it...

Then Ichigo decided what he wanted to do. "You're doing a lot of talking for someone who says he wants to fight! I'm gonna kick your @$$ and then make you tell me what the heck you are!"

Ichigo leapt forward and slashed!

Meanwhile, the hollow sidestepped Ishida's attack.

"Hah! Idiot!" it cackled, "You almost hit me! But almost only counts in horseshoes and hand--"

boom

"Yaahhh!" the hollow screamed, as the capsule exploded. His left arm, already hurt from Yusuke's blue blasts, was torn apart.
"...Ahh!" it grimaced. "My flesh is... a little too tense... Ah, in any case, you'll pay for this!" He leapt up into the air and brought down his remaining cleaver-arm into the ground, sending up a barrage of broken pavement!

Karakura High

Ishida dodged to the side but as the pavement pieces flew some of them hit him. They cut into his clothes and his skin, causing him to clench his eyes. However, he didn't slow down. He jumped to the side and tossed another canister... but he was running out and this was only his first battle after losing his powers!

'There's no way I can keep up with this...'



In the meanwhile, Edo watched Ichigo coming at him. As soon as the slash fell down, Edo threw himself to the side and landed on the ground. He jumped up and hissed at Ichigo. He was a Arrancar, but he was not like the others. Not that it mattered to Ichigo, who had no idea what he was.

"You have some skills after all... this could be fun!" Edo ran at Ichigo again, slashing wildly at him. His hand was like a claw and he was prepared to cut the strawberry-headed Shinigami down.

KARAKURA HIGH
Ichigo moved his sword around like a windmill in a solid movement, catching the man's claw with his sword on his downswing and moving it out of the way, then bringing his sword up the other side with a slash!

Meanwhile, the suit of armor watched from the alleyway. He placed the cat down on the ground, and it ran away. "..."

Outside Karakura High

"I thought I told you to get out of the way!!" yelled Yusuke, grabbing a hold of Ishida, and shoving him back quite a ways. Yusuke then quickly approached the Hollow, with his right hand glowing blue. "Shotgun!!" he then yelled firing a blast of small energy "bullets" at point blank in what would generally be considered the creature's stomach area.

Inside Karakura High

Botan walked over to the new opening in the classroom's wall, looking down at what was happening. "Why can't I sense any of the energy from that new guy..." she said to herself, about Edo. "I can barely even sense the other Hollow, either..." she continued.

Just as she said that, a tall giant of a man walked over to the opening, and jumped down, forming a strange black and red armor seemed to form around his right arm, and firing a small shot of energy to brace his fall.

((well, if no one's going to take Chad, I might as well... Anyways, tis storming here now, so I might not have much for a little bit))

Karakura High

Ishida was thrown out of the danger zone and wound up resting against the wall of his school. His injuries weren't very serious, but his white shirt was colored deep red from his blood and made it look like he was badly wounded. He could have used first aid.

((Orihime?))



Slash!

Edo was hit with a powerful slice, cutting deep into his skin. He roared and pulled his arm away. He was injured and bleeding, but instead of being mad or doubling over in pain he smirked.

"Oh... you have skills! Out of all seventeen shinigami I have killed, none ever landed a hit on me. You DO have skills... I finally have to draw this..."

Edo reached onto his back and pulled out a short sword. It did not look as daunting as Ichigo's, but it was very clearly a zanpakuto.

"Heh... heheheh... hahahahahahah! Finally!" Edo was pumped.

KARAKURA HIGH
The hollow wailed in pain as a second hole was rent in his torso. "Yaaagh! That hurt...! I should have stuck to my mission! Now everything hurts and I didn't even get to do any chopping!"
The hollow got to its two feet and one knife-arm and started to try to escape!

Ichigo wasn't very impressed. "Are you kidding me? That short little sword? I haven't even started fighting yet! You're way out of your league!"

He blinked. "Wait, you killed shinigami? Who are you?"

Aru stepped out of the alleyway, walking towards the scene. He wasn't sure, but...?

Karakura High

Edo's fingers squeezed tight over his zanpakuto's handle. He seemed to be shaking, as if something Ichigo had said was really bothering him. He growled and looked up at Ichigo.

"Strawberry head... right now all of Soul Society is in a muck looking for missing Shinigami... I don't know how many bodies they've found, but I doubt they found them all. They keep blaming it on some punk named Aizen. I don't know who that is, but... I don't mind him takin' the credit. As long as Soul Society doesn't know about me, I'm in the clear."

Edo smirked and held up his blade. "I am Utsuro Edo... I used to be a Shinigami, like you. Then... I found real power. I'm way out of your league, Kurosaki. I'd explain it to you... but like I said, I like keeping Soul Society ignorent of me... and that means you have to die!"

Utsuro jumped forward and slashed his zanpakuto. His jump was nowhere near long enough to hit Ichigo, instead hitting the ground... however, as it did, the grass turned into ice beneath Ichigo's feet. As soon as it did, Edo launched at him and tried to stab him in the head.

... But...

A long chain-like sword slammed into Edo's short blade and knocked the half-masked enemy back. Edo hit the ground and looked up, surprised.

"Hey Ichigo, what's the deal? You spend a couple of weeks in your world and suddenly you've lost all your skills?"

Abarai Renji was standing a few hundred feet behind Ichigo. He had a smirk on his face and a brand new pair of sunglasses on his forehead.

"... I can handle two..." Edo smirked. Then he quickly whipped around and blocked a zanpakuto that had been aimed at his back. A short girl with raven colored hair stood behind him.

Rukia's attack had been stopped. Despite Ichigo and Renji diverting his attention, Edo had heard her footsteps.

"... Three's a bit much, though." Edo shrugged and suddenly took off, running past Rukia and towards the alleyway. He ran right by the armored soul, but as he did his eyes widened for a moment. He stopped at the end of the alleyway and started to turn around to stare at the soul attachted to the armor, but he saw the redheaded shinigami running in his direction and quickly resumed his freedom flight.

"He's getting away!" Renji complained. He spotted the armor -- and the soul. "A soul that needs to be sent..."

"Forget that one, leave him for Ichigo!" Rukia replied as she followed Renji down the alleyway and after Edo. Near the same point where Edo had stopped to look at the armor, Rukia looked over her shoulder... at Ichigo. For a moment she looked like she wanted to say something.

"Come on, we're losing him!" Renji called back. Rukia turned away and followed Renji into the alleyway.

((WOOT! ^^ I won't be on much tomorrow until night time, so I'm getting my peeps outta here. Ishida needs medical help, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait till tomorrow night for my evil plans to continue... but they will continue and I PROMISE TO SHOCK YOU!))

Outside Karakura High

The first Hollow was still trying to escape, so Yusuke lined up his pointed finger with the hollow. But before he could fire his spirit gun, Chad unleashed a giant blast of energy at the escaping hollow, causing Yusuke to pause for a second. "I think I like this guy already..." Yusuke said to himself, seeing the similarity in attack style between him and the giant guy who had just attacked the escaping hollow. Plus he was a lot more useful than that dummy jumping in against the hollow without any spiritual energy.

Meanwhile, Botan took the short route out of the classroom, and jumped out of the new hole in the wall, down to the ground where Yusuke, Ichigo, and Ichigo's friends were...

((I wonder what'll break Renji's new sunglasses :LOL: ))

Karakura High

((Hey, whadd'ya know? I got something to do... finally...))

Orihime ran up to Uryū, while Ataru, Lum, and Armstrong weren't too far behind.

Armstrong commented, "This is sheer madness... and strangely, I think I'm beginning to see these 'hollows' more clearly with every passing moment. Quickly, we must take Ishida-kun to the nurse's office!"

Orihime said, "I don't think we need to do that, Armstrong-san. I can help Ishida-kun myself!"

Armstrong raised an eyebrow.

Orhime shouted, "Ayame! Shun'ō! Sōten Kisshun! I reject!"

Two small fairy like creatures exited Orihime's body and began placing a barrier over Uryū's wounds, healing him in the process.

Armstrong could only barely see the fairies, but Ataru and Lum could see them just fine. Of course, Ataru already knew about Orihime's powers, but Armstrong did not. He has only recently been able to almost see supernatural like stuff.

Lum could see it because she was of supernatural nature, to begin with.

Ataru mused, "Well... at least we got out of class, right? Nyahahaha!"

Armstrong sternly said, "Moroboshi! This is no laughing matter, and certainly school should never be at the receiving end of a joke... a student's education is a very serious matter!"

Ataru sweatdropped and said, "Hey, lighten up, teach... laughter's the best medicine, right? Heh... er..."

Ataru decided to keep his mouth shut... Armstrong, afterall, was quite an intimidating individual.

Orihime asked Uryū, "Are you okay, Ishida-kun?"

((Re: Glassesbreaker. That will be revealed when Renji and Rukia officially start doing things to advance the plot rather than just explain my characters away! :p))

Karakura High

Ishida looked up to see Orihime. She had used her powers to heal him, and as usual he was impressed. He had seen a lot of zanpakuto and bankai, and he knew of the Quincy powers... but Orihime's abilities were something very different than anything he had ever known.

"Thank you, Inoue-san." Ishida said, looking up at the redhead and offering her his thanks. "I... must go. Armstrong-san, please excuse me from class."

Although his wounds were healed, Ishida would not be returning to school. There was something more important that he had to learn. He had done nothing but get in the way and get himself hurt. His preformance today had not been anywhere close to enough. Without his bow, without his powers...

... he had to find a new way to hunt the hollow.

"Inoue-san, that hollow came after you. Please keep yourself safe... I will be unable to do that for a time." Ishida had protected Orihime in Soul Society from many Shinigami, least of all Mayuri the mad scientist. Now, however... with his current powers, Ishida could hardly protect himself.

Without waiting for Armstrong or Orihime, and without paying attention to Ataru or Lum, he quickly headed away from school. His options were getting less and less.