"This whole Fucking mess is your fault Hat n' Clogs!" Ichigo roars as he chases the hat sporting ex-captain around his own candy shop. The others merely watch as he chases him around with an overly large sword over his head trying to cut the shop owner in half.

"I-Ichigo..." Rukia flinches as he smashes the sword into some rocks cutting them in half and sending dust flying. "We kind of need his help with our... problem." Rukia tries to get his attention but she feels Yoruichi's hand on her shoulder.

"Just let him have this. Kisuke deserves some of this. Besides, I don't think Ichigo is capable of killing him. He's the former captain of the 12th division and is just as slippery of a bastard as Mayuri." The mocha skinned goddess merely sighs watching the antics of Ichigo and Kisuke. "Give him five minutes, he'll either get Kisuke and beat on him like he does with Isshin or he'll tire himself out."

"Well. While they're doing that. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT BACK THERE!" Uryu says, turning and shouting as the events finally rationalize in his mind. "WE GO ALL THAT WAY TO SAVE YOU, ONLY TO THEN GET BETRAYED BY THREE CAPTAINS NO LESS AND THEN YOU HOLLOWFY, WITH MORE POWER THAN I'VE EVER SEEN IN ANY HOLLOW MY ENTIRE LIFE AND SINGLE HANDEDLY ALMOST KILL A CAPTAIN WHO NEARLY KILLED ICHIGO AND RENJI BUT WHO ALSO ONESHOT ANOTHER CAPTAIN!"

"Hey! I don't know what happened! I don't remember anything after being stabbed through the chest by Aizen's entire arm. That doesn't feel good." Rukia protests, throwing her arms out exasperatedly. "If you want to talk Hollows, Talk to Ichigo! He turned as well and almost killed Nii-sama. His was so strong, Renji had a hard time even running due to how much spiritual pressure he was putting off."

"Ok. So neither of you have any idea what happened oh and before I forget the absolute cherry on top of this madness. YOU USED A BANKAI THAT WASN'T YOURS!?" This shout from Uryu stops the antics of Ichigo and Kisuke who turn and look over at what is going on.

"Well well. This is an interesting development wouldn't you think?" Kisuke smiles, hiding his face behind his fan. "So little Miss Kuchiki Princess is both hollow and able to use Ichigo's bankai. Fascinating. I've never heard of this happening before. Oh! Ichigo! Care to show me your Bankai? I'd love to see it."

"I'm not going to use Bankai just because you want to see it! I want answers too, you know. First things first. This is your fault and because it's your fault you're going to tell me where this Shiji guy is." Ichigo demands folding his arms and scowling at the older man who then promptly ignores him and backtracks to what Ishida had said.

"His name is Shinji Ichigo not Shiji. However while we're still on the topic of Rukia utilizing your bankai. The best hypothesis that I can come up with as to why she can use your bankai perhaps has something to do with how you got your powers from her. She gave you her powers manifesting yours and birthing your Zanpakuto spirit. This created a link between you and her, a soul bond if you will. This allowed her to use your sword and it's abilities against the traitor captain, and I apologize for not warning you of him, I had believed that you wouldn't encounter him. As for why she and you can hollowfy, I have a theory why She can but you know why you can hollowfy now." Kisuke explains studying the petite shinigami and moving her head up to face him with his fan. "Aizen created many hollows in his experiments. One of these that I know of had the ability to corrupt the soul and cause them to hollowfy. It's likely that the hollow that bit you the day you gave your powers to Ichigo created that hollow within you."

"That doesn't explain why it's so freaking strong. It caught Aizen's sword, fired a Cero on a level of power I can't even imagine and injured Aizen." Ichigo retorts, the bindings around his blade's tang wrapping around the sword itself as he sheathes it on his back.

"What was Aizen after?" Kisuke answers his question with another question.

"The Hogyoku?" Rukia questions getting Kisuke to nod.

"Your hollow was feeding off the power of the Hogyoku, it was made from millions of blank souls in the Dangai and from Hueco Mundo. The power of the Hogyoku was meant to destroy the barrier between Hollow and Shinigami creating a perfect soul. Your hollow was eating the power that the Hogyoku put off despite it being sealed and was doing so at every moment since her manifestation to when it was taken from your body. Its likely that when the hollow was born within you, it damaged the seal that I had over my version of the Hogyoku and this newborn hollow fed on its power for over three months."

"THREE MONTHS!?" They all shout in unison before turning to look at Rukia who is holding the sides of her head with her hands and staring wide eyed at the floor.

"It was an incomplete Hogyoku. Had it been a completed one, Rukia would have an inner hollow stronger than any Vasto Lorde to ever exist or ever will exist." Kisuke explains causing Rukia to visibly shrink when she hears him say this.
"We need to find someone who can help us with this. The captains mentioned that the former captain Hirako Shinji may be able to help but they assume he's dead." Ichigo explains, "If he's dead we're screwed."

"Oh he's very much alive, in fact you're talking to the man who stopped his hollowfication, well at least temporarily. However he chooses to show himself at his. I can tell you that his group is known as The Vizards, Hollow afflicted Shinigami who have embraced and conquered their inner hollow to use that power as their own. When he learns of you two, he will appear. For now, It is best that you head home, I'm sure your sisters miss you." With that, Kisuke ushers the two from his store, using his fan to flap air in their direction until they leave.

"What the hell are we supposed to do? Wait around for him to just show up with an invitation to some stupid masquerade party?!" Rukia yells.

"Yes." She hears Urahara say, now fuming mad, Rukia punches through the rice paper and Ichigo hears another comment from Urahara. " I expected better from a noble, performing such a rude gesture is unbecoming of a Kuchiki."

"You're lucky that's the only gesture I'm giving you! I'd much rather shove a lightning bolt up your ass!" Rukia yells back before scowling at the door. "Hado number four. Byakurai." She chants and a loud thundercrack roars from her fingertips as she fires a bolt of lightning at Kisuke.

"Ya missed." Kisuke replies before Rukia storms off, stamping her feet hard on the ground as she walks away. "Take care Ichigo, and calm her down before you return."

"Whatever." Ichigo grumbles before walking to catch up with Rukia who is grumbling under her breath as to what had happened.

"Good for nothing candy shop owner. We have no idea how long it'll take that guy to show up and what happens if he doesn't show up? How are we supposed to handle this?" She asks herself with Ichigo catching up to her.

"Well, we just have to wait. It may take one of us hollowfying again to draw them out but let's hope it doesn't come to that." He encourages, "Come on Midget, let's go see what Yuzu is cooking up. I think we deserve a nice meal after everything we've been through these past weeks."

"Stop calling me that, but you are right these past few weeks have been miserable. I was almost executed and you fought your way through the entire soul society just to save little ol' me. I'm flattered, Ichigo, I didn't think you cared that much." She teases but Ichigo turns his head away from her as a slight blush appears across his face.

"Y-yeah w-well It was the least I could do since you saved my family and me." He responds slightly stuttering. "We're even now."

"If you call fighting Yumichika, Ikkaku, hundreds of unseated officers, Freaking Kenpachi, the strongest soul reaper aside from the head captain. Renji, Omayada, Isane and Ise, all three of which you defeated without your sword, then Nii-sama. And you stopped a sword with the power of over a million zanpakuto with a single hand. I hardly think that is the least Ichigo." She lists off, "And you achieved Bankai in 3 days. It took Nii-sama 50 years to do that... just what are you?"

"I don't know." He responds before turning to face her. "Let's just go home, c'mon I'm sure Kon misses you." Rukia scoffs when he mentions that stupid lion plush mod soul.

"I'd like him more if he was in a Chappy plushy." Ichigo laughs when he hears this as the two make their way back to the Kurosaki clinic.

"Come on queen, that was the perfect moment for some more teasing. Think about it, he went through all that just to save us and then blushed when you brought it up." The twisted voice of her hollow echoes within her mind causing her to stop.

"Rukia?" Ichigo asks in a concerned tone, "Rukia hey, if you're nervous about heading back to the clinic we can go hangout at the park or something."

"She's talking to me." Rukia responds, alarming the orange haired soul reaper.

"Is she?! What's she saying?" Ichigo asks quickly, grabbing Rukia by her shoulders and locking eyes with her. What he sees is her eyes staring back at him, but they were empty as if she was in the middle of a thousand yard stare.

"A mere friend wouldn't show this level of concern would they? Risking his life time and time and time again, even when the odds of his success were close to nothing. Go on, tell him what I've said... I want to see his response." Her Hollow eggs her on. "All that raw power, yours to command, laying waste to those who wronged us. You'd finally have the respect we deserve, the respect from Captain Ukitake, the respect from Renji and the respect from Byakuya but most importantly we'll have Aizen's head on a spike."

"Rukia. Snap out of it. Ignore her." Ichigo presses trying to get Rukia to stay with him.

"All I ask is for your cooperation. I fed more than enough on the Hogyoku when it was within our body so I don't need to consume your soul or others for that matter. I want revenge, Revenge on Aizen for stealing my food, Revenge for sending us to be killed, Revenge for what he did to my Ichigo, and Revenge for what he did to us." Her hollow continues.

"How do I know I can trust a single word you're saying." Rukia responds to her hollow's taunting. "You have no name and have invaded my soul."

"Oh I've chosen a name for myself, and I never asked to be born. I exist without my consent and I can assure you that we both wish for the same thing. Aizen's head." Her hollow responds and Ichigo watches in fear as her left eye begins to turn black and her beautiful lavender purple iris turns to a sickly disgusting yellow. "I am Hoakita Kareki, the dark side of the white moon. If you want assurance that you can trust me, then prove your strength and I will follow. I will be your chariot that you ride into battle, should you be strong enough to earn my aid. If not you will be that which carries me into battle... and to you my sweet Ichigo~ We truly are flattered that you saved us, it is a pleasure to get to lay eyes on my king. Rest assured, I have no desire to devour her should she lose, but if she does. You will be Mine." The manic giggling from her hollowfied voice soon turns to insane echoing laughter as it disappears back into the recesses of Rukia's mind. The darkness of her left eye soon fades revealing its normal color as tears of fear and horror manifest from her eyes and stream down her face.

"Rukia." Ichigo says softly before embracing her in a tight hug, one of reassurance. "We'll get through this. Together. I promise. I will protect you."

"Of course we will Ichigo. After all, What is a King... Without a Queen?"