The next day, (Y/N) was sitting in his seat, waiting for homeroom to start. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to tell Ichigo what he heard of his parents during his Father's story the night before. (Y/N) knew he was only told because it was necessary for the story but it's honestly not any of his business to share.

(Y/N): *thinking* Although, apparently Ichigo should have an inner hollow like I do. Did he get approached by one of those Vizards yet? Maybe I should talk to him about it.

Just then he heard two people enter the classroom.

Shinji: Good morning, Kurosaki!

Orihime: Good morning, Ichigo!

Shinji and Orihime greeted Ichigo at the same time.

Orihime: Oh! Good morning! Umm... Hirako?

Shinji: Ah! You remembered my name!

Just then Keigo entered the classroom.

Keigo: Good morning, Orihime! Hold on a second!

Shinji: Who are you?

Keigo: Who am I?! What's with that, "I've been here longer than you" sort of attitude?! I-I've been here way, way longer! Anyway, let her go! Inoue doesn't like it!

Are you stupid? If she didn't like it she would have screamed or hit me. She hasn't done anything. That means that she doesn't mind.

Keigo and Shinji started bickering. The scene escalated more once Chizuru entered the classroom and saw Shinji's arms wrapped around Orihime.

(Y/N): How did we get to this point?

Ichigo: I don't know but I'm ending it. I need to ask Hirako something.

(Y/N): Huh? And that is?

Ichigo got up without replying and dragged Shinji out of the Classroom.

Ichigo: Come here for a second, Hirako.

Shinji: What?

Chizuru: What's wrong with Ichigo? Snapping like that...

Keigo: Since when was he the hot-blooded type?

(Y/N): Have we been friends with the same Ichigo? He's always been that way.

Tatsuki entered the classroom as Ichigo was dragging Shinji out of the classroom.

Tatsuki: What's that all about? Isn't this the part where you stop Ichigo from doing something reckless, (Y/N)?

(Y/N): If I'm being honest, I need to talk to Hirako about something too. I'll be back. Don't worry, I doubt Ichigo is going to do anything rash, especially if I'm there.

(Y/N) got up from his seat and followed the two boys. As caught up, Shinji turned to (Y/N)'s direction before giving a grin.

Shinji: Seems both of you are here. Good.

Ichigo: Hirako... Why are you still coming to this school?!

Shinji: Don't be unreasonable. It's a student's duty to go to school.

Ichigo: Didn't you come to our school to recruit me?! In that case, you don't have any business here anymore! Did you try recruiting (Y/N) too?

Shinji: Not me specifically, but yes, (Y/N) has been invited too? We're persistent... I'll hang around you two until you both say yes. It's too late... Once you become a Vizard, you can't go back. Whatever you may think, you're already on our side, Ichigo. (Y/N).

Orihime... The big guy... Four-eyes... You both think of them all as your friends, don't you? They're not... They're only your friends for now. If you two continue to be a Shinigami as you have been, sooner or later... Your inner Hollow will swallow you both up. You'll lose your sanity... It's over if that happens. Your power will destroy everything. Your friends...and your future... Everything will get pulled in and crushed. You've both already realized that, haven't you? Your inner Hollow has become so large that you can't handle it anymore.

Come with us.

I'll teach you how to maintain your sanity.

(Y/N) really thought about what Shinji was saying. It's true that he's been hearing his Hollows voice a lot more recently. (Y/N) needed more time to think about it.

(Timeskip)

As school ended, Keigo decided to invite Ichigo and (Y/N) to hang out.

Keigo: Ichigo! Want to go into town on the way home?

Ichigo: Sorry. I want to go home by myself.

Keigo: Ichigo?! What about you (Y/N)?

(Y/N): Sorry Keigo, probably next time.

Ichigo and (Y/N) left the classroom in an instant however they both went in different directions.

Ichigo went home while (Y/N) just went to a nearby arcade. In (Y/N)'s honest opinion, he felt like Shinji was probably right, but he didn't want to admit it. Right now he just wanted to take his mind off of Shinigami stuff for a day and relax.

However, (Y/N) didn't make it 5 minutes into gaming before he felt 4 extreme spiritual pressures appear not too far away from him, and another 2 near Ichigo's location.

(Y/N): What is my luck right now? Are those the Vizards? No, I doubt it, it feels different.

(Y/N) left the arcade and made his way to the energy signal. (Y/N) changed into his shinigami form, not wasting time activating his shikai, and took off towards the closest spiritual energy signature he picked up. (Y/N) took out his phone and called Ichigo, however he didn't pick up.

(Y/N): *sign* Now's not the time to forget to take your phone with you, Ichigo...

(Y/N) continued to make his way towards the four exceptional spiritual energies. He just had to hope they weren't a threat.

(Timeskip)

(Y/N) made it to his destination, keeping his guard up. (Y/N) was face to face with 4 women.

???1: At least he's quick.

???2: Quick? He couldn't be any later!

???1: You're simply impatient, Apacci.

The girl now identified as Apacci had a scowl on her face.

Apacci: And you're just lazy Sung-Sun!

???3: Alright, you three, we didn't come here to argue, we came to complete a mission. If you're going to continue to argue, I'll complete it myself.

The two arguing girls turn to the third female, in shock.

Both: No way MIla! I can handle this myself!

(Y/N): Um... if I may. Who are you guys? And what are you doing here?

The final female of the group walked past the 3 girls and introduced herself.

???4: My name is Tier Harribel, an arrancar that works under Lord Aizen.



Harribel: And these are my 3 subordinates, Emilou Apacci, Cyan Sung-Sun, and Franceska Mila Rose. Unfortunately, I can't tell you why we're here.



(Y/N) was stunned. So that's what Aizen was up to since his departure from the Soul Society. So he's finally making his move. (Y/N) sized up the four opponents in front of him. He was confident in taking on the first three, but Harribel? She was in a league of her own. He'll need to find a reason to make her retreat, so that he wouldn't have to fight her.

(Y/N): Then you should turn right around. I'm not doing anything for Aizen!

Apacci: Don't worry Lady Harribel, I can handle this one myself!

Harribel: *Quietly* Remember, we're only here for analysis. If you attempt to fight him with the intent to kill, you may very well die.

The other 3 girls looked in surprise.

Mila Rose: Is he really that strong?

Harribel: Yes, I can feel his spiritual energy. It's powerful.

Sung-Sun: Don't be afraid to ask us for help if you lose, Apacci.

Apacci: Like hell I will!

https://youtu.be/0kfBsGJjyrs

Apacci rushed (Y/N) with a barrage of punches but were unsuccessful as (Y/N) blocked all of them with ease and retaliated with a swing of his scythe. Apacci barely dodged the scythe attack but (Y/N)'s assault wasn't finished as he delivered a strike to Apacci's stomach with his free hand. However, when (Y/N)'s punch made contact, he realized how hard Apacci's skin really was.

(Y/N): *thinking* This is what Ankou was telling me about Hollow skin during Bankai training. The ability to harden their skin. I think I may have damaged my hand from that.

Apacci didn't seem to feel (Y/N)'s punch, laughing at (Y/N)'s attempt at a counterattack.

Apacci: Is that all? This'll be easier than I thought.

(Y/N): You're getting a bit conceited.

Apacci charged back in dealing multiple swift kicks to (Y/N)'s head, which he dodged. (Y/N) swung his scythe towards Apacci's stomach, slightly piercing her but not digging deep enough for any lasting damage.

Apacci slightly backed off before firing off a multitude of spiritual energy blasts from the horned shaped skull on her head. The blast came at a high speed, taking (Y/N) off guard. Seeing (Y/N) get pelted by the attack made Apacci burst out in laughter.

Apacci: Ha! Eat dirt! See that wasn't so hard.

Sung-Sun: Have you forgotten that we didn't come here to kill him?

MIlia Rose: Such a screw up...

Apacci: H-Huh? It's not my fault he was so weak.

(Y/N): Hardening Skin and a rapid fire energy blast. That last attack felt like a weaker Cero, but the speed and the amount of times it can be used in succession makes up for the lack of firepower. Any other ability I should know about?

(Y/N) walked out of the explosion with nearly a scratch on him, this took the 3 girls by surprise.

Apacci: Huh? I thought you'd be dead?

(Y/N): Really? I thought you were just sizing me up with that attack?

Apacci: I'm starting to understand why Aizen has his eyes on you.

Apacci then started to charge a Cero. As she charged, (Y/N) observed her intensely.



Apacci then fired the Cero which (Y/N) blocked head on. (Y/N) took some damage in the process, but successfully absorbed the attack.

Apacci: Huh? How?

(Y/N): So that's how you use a Cero, huh? Concentrating a certain amount of spiritual energy into a single point. I always thought you had to continuously add spiritual energy to the attack, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Apacci: Huh? What are you yapping about?

(Y/N): Sorry, I just realized how much I'm learning from you about Hollows. I've been interested in them lately, you see. I wanted to learn their abilities.

(Y/N) held his hand up, pointing at Apacci as he charged spiritual energy through his finger. (Y/N) started to replicate the Cero that Apacci used on him previously.



Apacci: Hey, that's not what I think it is, is it?

Mila Rose: No way... Is he actually-

Sung-Sun: -using a Cero.

(Y/N) released the concentrated spiritual energy, letting off a devastating Cero in Apacci's direction.

Apacci attempted to block the attack before realizing at the last second that the attack was too powerful for her to block head on. The energy blast devoured Apacci, knocking her out.

(End Song)

(Y/N): Sorry if I was a bit rough, but unfortunately I no longer have the time to study you guys. I need to help out my friends, you see.

Harribel then stepped in front of her subordinates, seeing now that (Y/N) was ready to take the fight seriously.

Harribel: Sung-Sun, Mila, make sure Apacci is alright. I'll take it from here.

Mila Rose: But, we can still take him on. We know what he's capable of now. If me and Sung-Sun take him on together I'm sure we can-

Harribel: No. He was able to take out Apacci without using Bankai. I'm sure he's ready to use it now that he's getting serious.

Mila Rose and Sung-Sun wanted to rebuttal, but couldn't. They decided to keep their distance, letting their leader take the fight like she commanded.

As the two underlings helped their ally, Sung-Sun spoke up.

Sung-Sun: So that's one of the rumored Shinigamis that had the powers of a Hollow.

MIla Rose: That would make sense, if he was able to use a Cero.

Sung-Sun: Yes, which is why Miss Harribel took it upon herself to fight him herself.

Back with (Y/N) and Harribel, (Y/N) was still trying to think of some way to get her to leave. It didn't seem like she was here to kill him. If that was the case, she would've sent all three of her underlings after him.

(Y/N): If you don't mind me asking, what are your reasons for helping Aizen? Aizen hasn't shown himself to be loyal to anyone but himself.

Harribel: He's given me- no. He's giving us hope.

(Y/N): Hope of what exactly? He has done nothing but manipulated and used the Shinigami of Soul Society. I don't doubt he'd do the same to the Hollows.

Harribel: You don't know the Aizen I know.

(Y/N): The feelings are mutual.

Sure, (Y/N) hasn't known Aizen for long but his actions in oil Society and finding out what he did to his mother for his own gain spoke a lot of his character. If Aizen had people as strong as Harribel under his command, (Y/N) feared what would happen to both the World of the Living and the Soul Society.

Harribel: Prepare yourself.

(Y/N): I guess I couldn't convince you, a shame...

Bankai...

(Y/N) attire changed into his hoodie cloak and bright blue scythe. (Y/N)'s power skyrocketed. Sung-Sun and Mila Rose were taken aback at the display of strength.

Mila Rose: Were we really this outmatch?

Sung-Sun: I'm afraid so. Thankfully Lady Harribel is here. Without her, I'm afraid our own hope of winning would be Quimera Parca. And even then, it's a 50/50.

Meanwhile (Y/N) and Harribel stared each other down. (Y/N) knew he couldn't win and unfortunately couldn't find a win condition. He just had to pray for the best possible outcome.

Harribel drew her sword from the sheath. The blade wasn't long but it was wide and it had a hollow hole in the middle of it. It was an unusual sword to say the least. (Y/N) didn't take Harribel lightly despite that fact.

https://youtu.be/IGi84X4HEG0

In an instant, Harribel closed the gap between the two delivering a clean slash across, (Y/N)'s shoulder. However, the attack didn't end there as Harribel's sword glowed yellow as instantly charged and released a Cero through her sword, completing her two stage attack.

(Y/N) was sent flying, crashing through various trees. (Y/N) manage to negate some of the damage by absorbing some of the energy from the Cero, but the attack was devastating nonetheless.

(Y/N) healed the gash he got with Kaido before charging back in delivering a series of quick slashes at Harribel. Harribel parried and dodged each attack and went for another attack, attempting to stab (Y/N) in the stomach. (Y/N) reacted at the last second.

(Y/N): *thinking* Alright (Y/N), here goes nothing.

(Y/N) theorized that if he can focus a lot of spiritual energy around his body, he could probably pull off Hierro, The technique that Apacci used to harden her skin. Now was a better time than any to try out his theory since he was currently in Bankai. Even if the stab killed him, he would essentially just bring himself back to life and redo the entire situation. He had to be careful not to get reckless and run out Spiritual Energy.

Thankfully, (Y/N)'s theory worked on its first try, as Harribel's sword bounced right off of (Y/N)'s skin.

Harribel was caught off guard for a second but continued her onslaught of attacks. (Y/N) parried the attacks before finally landing an attack of his own, returning a slash to the shoulder of his own. (Y/N) didn't let up as he summoned the arrancar that he defeated the night before to deliver a follow up attack.

Mila Rose: Hey isn't that-

Sung-Sun: An arrancar, yes.

Mila Rose: He's a strange Shinigami indeed. Seems like the rumors were true. A Shinigami that can summon any hollow he defeats.

Sung-Sun: It makes me wonder, why didn't he kill Apacci? He would have a great ally at his disposal.

Mila Rose: I'm confused as well.

Back to the fight at hand, (Y/N) and Harribel were trading blows, however (Y/N) knew Harribel was holding back. (Y/N) was pulling out any tricks he could possibly think of at a moment's notice to keep up.

(Y/N) and Harribel clashed blades and the impact pushed both of them away. Harribel then started charge spiritual energy in her blade again before letting out a different technique

Harribel: Ola Azul!

Harribel thrusted her blade in (Y/N)'s direction and an energy blade was launched. (Y/N) got hit directly. As the smoke from the explosion cleared, (Y/N) was seen panting heavily.

(Y/N): *thinking* I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up in this fight.

Then swap with me genius! I can take her on!

No way! Even if I did, you'd get destroyed!

Then you clearly don't know how much power WE possess. As always, you're ignorant!

The conversation distracted (Y/N) and Harribel used the opportunity to use another Ola Azul, getting another successful hit on (Y/N).

The only thing (Y/N) could hear in his head was-

Swap with me!

We can take her on! We can take anyone on!

We can "kill" her!

JUST STOP TALKING AND LET ME CONCENTRATE-

*Slash*

Another attack from Harribel made contact nearly reaching (Y/N)'s heart. (Y/N) started to cough up blood.

Harribel: Please stay focused. Whatever is distracting you is preventing me from completing my task.

This is your chance! We can Kill her!

Stay out of it!

(Y/N) got up on his feet and prepared to fight again, but before he could charge back into the fight, he heard a voice.

(End Song)

???: Alright, that's enough. Your head isn't in the game for this fight. I'll tag in for now.

(Y/N) knew that voice all too well.

(Y/N): Dad?

(F/N): Yo. Now that I think about it, this is the first time I've seen you in your shinigami uniform.

(Y/N): What are you doing here?

(F/N): Decided to take my lunch break early when I felt the spiritual pressure of those six arrancars touch down. Urahara and Yoruichi must be assisting Ichigo by now.

Harribel: I see, you're (F/N) (L/N). Aizen has told us to stay away from you.

(F/N): Huh? Why's that?

Harribel: I cannot say. I believe this is where me and my fraccion will take our leave.

Without a word, Harribel turned around with her fraccion following suit. A black tear in the sky opened up as they walked through it, closing up the moment they entered.

(Y/N) healed himself the moment they left. (Y/N) looked at his dad, disappointed at himself for his poor display. (F/N) took notice of his facial expression and immediately comforted him.

(F/N): Alright, no more frowning. You got shown up, it happens to the best of us, alright. You've got a lot more opportunities to get stronger.

(Y/N): ... It's not that...

(F/N): Hm?

(Y/N): Um, it's nothing, I'll see you at home.

(Y/N) started to take off, but (F/N) stopped him before he could leave.

(F/N): (Y/N), be frank with me. Does your attitude have anything to do with your inner Hollow?

(Y/N) was taken off guard.

(Y/N): ...

(F/N): Sit down with me and talk for a bit. I haven't made much time for you and your sister recently. You must have a lot to talk about, don't you?

(Y/N): ...Say dad, have you ever felt the fear of not being in control of yourself?

(F/N): Can't say that I do...

(Y/N): Well, lately. I've been feeling as though if I lost control of my power, that I'd destroy everything around me. If I'm being honest, it feels as though my power is an entirely different entity than me.

(F/N): So you feel like this entity is stronger than you and has the potential to take over. I have to say that's a unique problem. However it's not impossible to conquer.

(Y/N): Huh? What do you mean?

(F/N): By no means will it be easy but I think you have two ways to attack the problem. Either you become stronger than this entity, or you learn how to live with this entity. Tell me, (Y/N), what exactly makes you scared of this entity?

(Y/N): Well, I guess you can call it a manifestation of my Hollow powers. It quite literally talks to me. It usually says things like "I'm you" or "Let me take over, I'm strong enough to kill our opponent". And when at my lowest point, it forcefully takes over. It happened when I was in the Soul Society, and I'm scared it could happen again.

(F/N): I see. Have you ever tried reasoning with it?

(Y/N): Of course I have! I've tried to convince on multiple occasions why we shouldn't go around killing people.

(F/N): But have you ever asked yourself whether he was right or if you were wrong?

(Y/N): Huh?

(F/N): Sounds to me that this Hollow of yours is trying to protect you.

(Y/N): But why should we kill someone to do that?

(F/N): Not every opponent can be reasoned with (Y/N). If your Hollow knows that, then you should too. You two are one and the same. You may just be in denial. Is it because you feel like you may lose the battle of morality if you kill someone?

(Y/N): Huh?

(F/N): Let me tell you, (Y/N). Sometimes, when you want to protect someone, whether it be yourself or someone else, you have to take huge risks. If you want to become stronger, you have to do things you don't like to do. In order to beat your fears, you have to face your fears.

Remember (Y/N), being brave doesn't mean you're fearless. It means being able to face your problems head on despite being in fear. Never let fear consume you. If you do, then you'll take a step back instead of a step forward.

(Y/N) had sat there for a few minutes thinking deeply about what his father had just said. If he wanted to face the fear of his inner Hollow, he had to face him head to head.

(Y/N): Thanks dad. I really needed this talk.

(F/N): No problem, now get going.

(Y/N): Right!

And with that, (Y/N) took off, with his resolve and motivation at an all time high.

To be continued

Surprise! (Y/N) got to fight Harribel and her fraccion (or at the very least, one person from her fraccion).

Fun fact, I originally was going to make the love interest of the story Harribel, but I like Soi-Fon just as much and there wasn't many stories with her so I changed Love Interests.