Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or the references to Zombie Powder.

'Text' - Normal Speaking

'Text' – Inner talk

'Text' – Flashback

Between Hollows and Hairpins

Chapter One: Hollows

Kurosaki Ichigo had just awoken from his deep sleep. His alarm was ringing at the designated time of 7:00 AM. He rolled over in his bed facing the ceiling. He turned again, this time to face his desk. On his desk lay the two tickets that Mizuiro had given him. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes again.

"Inoue..."

Ichigo lay there deep in thought until a cry was heard and Ichigo felt a small body land on him.

"Ichigo!" called the little figure. Ichigo flipped his sheets off to see the small arrancar Nel, who was cleverly hidden in a special gigai made by Urahara. "Ichigo, ith time to wake up!"

"Nel, let me sleep! I get enough of this from my dad on normal days." Ichigo brought the covers over himself again.

Nel sighed. "Ichigo, I think it's great you have such a relationship with Isshin-san." Her speech was more refined, dropping the act she was suppose to keep up. As a child she could hide with Ichigo but, much to Kon's dismay, her adult form would pose some questions.

Ichigo groaned. He sat up and looked at the small arrancar. Nel was giving him an odd look. He didn't understand why she couldn't stay at Urahara's with her brothers. Then she wouldn't have to hide in this gigai. The small arrancar insisted on coming after she defeated Nnoitra. Urahara agreed it may be helpful when he came to help them escape after getting Orihime.

"Why do you call him Isshin-san?" Ichigo frowned at Nel.

"N-no, reason!" cried Nel who dropped from the bed. "I'm getting some breakfast. At least a small child like myself is welcome by Yuzu-chan. All you do is yell Ichigo. If you're going to have kids in the future you should be practicing on me. It would be a shame if you were inexperienced and Orihime-chan had to do all the work."

Ichigo was red and was about to respond but Nel had already left the room. He fell back on his mattress and sighed again. He should be happy, he saved Inoue and everything was alright. He quickly got up at the thought of Orihime. He hadn't checked on her since they got back yesterday. He quickly got dressed and opened his door. He was instantly met with his father's foot.

"ICHIGOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" cried the man. "Did you yell at Nel-chan this morning!"

Ichigo frowned and flipped his dad over. "It's too early for this! Besides, I didn't do anything! She's probably lying to get Yuzu to feel sorry for her."

"Ichigo, that is no way to talk to a young lady like Nel!" Isshin got up from the hold and smirked at his son. "Nel-chan is now a member of this family, think of her as your adopted daughter!"

"D-daughter?!" Ichigo stammered. If only his dad knew what Nel was really like, she could hardly be his daughter.

"Yes, Ichigo! Treat he as you would the child you and the love of your life will have one day! For now, Nel-chan is my first granddaughter!" Isshin had a glow in his eyes.

Ichigo sighed and retreated into his room shoving the two tickets into his pocket and walked past his father. He descended the stairs with his father close behind. He ventured to the door and opened it. After calling out a goodbye he left. Isshin sighed and turned to Nel who was behind him. She had a piece of toast in her mouth. She bit off a piece and swallowed.

"Ichigo ith gone Ithhin-than?"

Isshin grinned. "Now my daughters have gone to school as well it is just us!" His grin changed to a smirk. "You don't have to pretend around me, Neliel."

"Of course, Isshin-san." Nel's speech returned to normal. "It's been a while Isshin-san"

"Sure has." He sat on a kitchen chair. "How's the gigai life treating you?"

"Fine, just fine."

Ichigo turned in the gateway of Orihime's apartment. He patted the pocket that held the two tickets. He was going to ask Inoue, just like that. Aizen sure had bad timing. He had just asked Mizuiro to get tickets and then Aizen goes and kidnaps the person he was going to ask to go with him. Aizen may have been a crazy, evil man, but he was also a date ruiner.

Ichigo approached the door and knocked twice. After a few seconds the door swung open to reveal Orihime dressed for a day at Karakura High. She eyed Ichigo carefully.

"K-Kurosaki-kun?" she seemed surprised.

"Hey, Inoue." His greeting was done. He reached for the tickets and stopped.

"What are you doing here Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime asked innocently.

"I thought I'd walk with you." Ichigo cursed himself for not bringing up the tickets.

"Okay, Kurosaki-kun, give me a moment." Orihime vanished into her house and seconds later came out with her bag and shoes. "Let's go Kurosaki-kun."

The two began to walk in the direction of Karakura High. Orihime began to babble on about fighter robots and how she beat Stark in a game of 'Go Fish' at Hueco Mundo, not that he knew who Stark was. Ichigo nodded occasionally and laughed at times. The two rounded the corner and the school was in sight.

"Um, Kurosaki-kun?"

"Yeah, Inoue?"

"Do you think it will be weird when we get to school?"

Ichigo looked at Orihime curiously. "Why would it be Inoue?"

Orihime looked up at him. "Well, we left for no reason and we suddenly came back. Tatsuki-chan and everyone else would be worried."

Ichigo grinned at her. "Inoue, it will be fine. Just say you were visiting someone."

"And Ishida-kun, Sado-kun, and you came?" She ask skeptically. "I'm sure that wouldn't go well."

Ichigo laughed. "Yeah, I'm sure it wouldn't." He looked around to see no one around. This was his chance. "Uh, Inoue?"

"Yes, Kurosaki-kun?"

He shuffled through his pocket. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to-"

Ring! Ring! Ichigo froze in his spot hearing the bell ring from the school. Orihime gasped and started toward the school with Ichigo close behind. In record time Ichigo and Orihime reached their classroom, however, both were late.

"Kurosaki, and Inoue too?" asked Ochi-sensei. "Both of you are late and for that matter appear after a few days absence. So what's your excuse."

"Sorry..." began Orihime weakly. "You see, I had to visit...Kurosaki-kun's grandmother with him!"

Ichigo shot a surprised look at Orihime. "Inoue!" he whispered. He turned behind him to see Ishida and Chad laughing slightly.

"Is this true Kurosaki?" asked Ochi-sensei.

"Y-yes, Ochi-sensei." replied Ichigo softly

"Well, I hope you slept in separate beds," said Ochi-sensei with a small grin. She started to wave her hand. "Well, back to your seats."

A red Ichigo and Orihime returned to their seats. Orihime looked down at her notebook that she had retrieved from her bag. Ichigo looked away at the door to the room and noticed the door knob wiggle slightly. Ochi-sensei noticed this too and it looked as if something dawned on her.

"Oh, yes." she cried. "I forgot, we are having a new student with us today."

Ochi-sensei opened the classroom door and in walked a boy with teal hair. He also seemed to have tints of green make-up at the sides of his eyes. He had his hands in his pockets and had an 'I-hate-the-world' look on his face.

"His name is...uh?"

"Gamma Akutabi," answered the teal haired boy.

He looked at the class and grinned. The four spiritually endowed teens looked at the boy with surprise and disbelief. Of course Gamma Akutabi was a fake name and the four would know him as Grimmjow.

"This is over Neliel!" shouted Nnoitra.

He positioned the remains of his sword to strike the small arrancar. He swung and Nel closed her eyes in fear. The was no pain, no connection. Nel opened her eyes Neither Ichigo nor Orihime had moved. However, a sword stood between Nel and Nnoitra's sword.

"What is this?" asked Nnoitra looking to the sword. "Grimmjow..."

The weakened arrancar stood up barely holding Nnoitra's strike in place. He stumbled a little and to everyone's surprised held himself up.

"What the fuck Nnoitra?" asked Grimmjow with little breath. "They're my fucking prey. Go get your own!"

Grimmjow pushed Nnoitra back and grabbed Nel from his hands. He slid back to Ichigo and Inoue. Grimmjow turned and fired off a cero striking an off guard Tesla, killing him instantly. Grimmjow dropped Nel and fell to the ground himself.

"Grimmjow?" asked Ichigo.

"J-just you wait," he gasped. "W-when this is over, when Aizen is dead, we will fight and I will kill you!" Everyone was quiet. "But for now, we work together."

Nnoitra gave an evil smirk. "Look, we have a shinigami, a traitor and..." he turned to Orihime. "a no good bitch!"

Nnoitra froze and his grin turned to a frown. He looked down feeling pain spread through his body slowly. In his chest piercing to the other side was Tensa Zangetsu. Nnoitra gave a short breath and coughed up blood.

"Y-you" he managed to say.

"You..." said Ichigo softly. "Never have the right to speak to Inoue, NEVER!"

Ichigo pulled Zangetsu out of Nnoitra and let him fall freely to the ground, dead. Ichigo turned and smiled at Orihime and Nel. Orihime smiled back.

"Inoue..." he said with his smile. "Let's go get Chad, Ishida, Renji and Rukia and let's get out of here."

"Y-yeah, Kurosaki-kun."

With that an opening appeared in the sky. Slightly above the survivors. Urahara Kisuke popped out of the portal to see the four.

"Kurosaki-kun!" He waved his fan. "It seems you have Inoue. And two extra pieces of baggage."

Orihime picked Nel up and held her. Ichigo supported Grimmjow. "Urahara-san, we need to get everyone-"

"Already taken care of," said Urahara. "As for those two, I'm sure I'll figure something out to make sure Aizen doesn't find them."

Ichigo recalled the entire moment. He figured he'd just keep Grimmjow at his place. He never expected to give him the same type of gigai as Nel.

"Okay, then Gamma. How about the seat next to Kurosaki." Ochi-sensei pointed at Ichigo and the smirking 'Gamma Akutabi' made his way to his desk.

"Hey, King?"

"What do you want?"

"Why are we siding with that arrancar? We don't need him"

"He does know Aizen's plans and he could be helpful."

"Yeah, yeah. Well he isn't important with the conflict at hand."

"Conflict at hand?"

"Yeah. You and that pretty, little woman over there. Little being an understatement with that body."

"S-shut up! Remember what I did to Nnoitra!"

"I suppose. But still, you really need ask her to that sneak preview, it is December 3rd and isn't it on December 5th?"

"It is..."

"So ask her right now! Unless you want to take Grimmy over there, that is if you swing that way King. Which better as hell not as long as we share a body!"

"Bastard and besides we still have have classes!"

Ichigo was interrupted from his conversation by a voice.

"Hey, Shinigami!" whispered Grimmjow.

"What?" asked Ichigo back in a soft tone.

"Why are you looking at that woman?" Grimmjow smirked. "Ha, no wonder you got pissed whenever someone touched her or said anything about her."

"Shut up Grimmjow!" scowled Ichigo.

"That's Gamma Akutabi to you, Shinigami!"

The class went on without any more problems. There were a few arguments between Ichigo and Grimmjow but it was only natural to Orihime, Ishida and Chad. Ichigo did notice that Tatsuki, Mizuiro and Keigo did seem a little nervous around Grimmjow. Finally lunch arrived.

Orihime had went with her friends while Ichigo and his took their seats on the roof with the added presence of Grimmjow.

"So Gamma-san where are you from?" asked Mizuiro polietly.

"The desert," said Grimmjow.

"The desert!" exclaimed Keigo.

"Yes" said Grimmjow taking a bite of an apple. He saw Ichigo looking down at the group of girls eating under the trees below. He smirked at his chance to torture his rival. "What are you looking at Kurosaki?"

"Nothing," answered Ichigo quietly.

Grimmjow wasn't convinced, neither were the other group members. Ishida and Chad had a pretty good idea. Seeing Ichigo before, during and after the Hueco Mundo incident. They were personally surprised Ichigo wasn't monitoring Orihime every second of everyday.

"Bullshit," muttered Grimmjow.

Keigo looked in the direction Ichigo's gaze was and he smiled. "Ichigo! Could it be you are looking at the group of ladies down below?"

"N-no of course not! I was..." he paused. "Looking for something I thought I dropped!"

"That something being that woman?" Grimmjow smirked at himself.

He was being quite clever. Knowing full well Ichigo had been looking at Orihime. Hell, he could even tell Ichigo's feelings for the woman. If you get this power boost just from a lady yelling not to die, you sure as hell love her.

"You should ask her out." said Grimmjow. Of course being an arrancar he didn't fully understand the dating process humans went through. He was only able to pick up little knowledge from over hearing Urahara and his cat friend.

"Oh," Mizuiro realized. "Ichigo, was that why you had me get two tickets? One for you and the other for Inoue-san?"

"Shut up Mizuiro!" cried Ichigo. His face was red.

"Y-you and Orihime?" asked Keigo. "Here I thought you'd take me with you! I thought being the good friend I am you'd let me see the sneak preview!"

"Be quiet Asano-san," said Mizuiro. "We should be happy for Ichigo! This being his first girlfriend."

"Me and Inoue aren't going out!" Ichigo stood up and left the roof. Sure he had said that but it wasn't what he really wanted.

Orihime took a bite into her home made lunch and savored every bite. The food she got in Hueco Mundo was nasty and tasted a lot like mud. Orihime was glad to be back to her regular diet. The girl took another bite and turned toward the only silent one in the group, Tatsuki.

"Tatsuki-chan, what's wrong?" asked Orihime innocently.

Tatsuki looked up. "Nothing Orihime, just thinking that's all."

"About what?" inquired the girl.

"Nothing important." Tatsuki dismissed her attitude. "So how was visiting Ichigo's grandmother?"

Orihime gave her a confused look and quickly remembered her lie. "Oh yeah! It was interesting..."

"How so?"

"Well," Orihime thought for a moment. "Kurosaki-kun has a lot of cousins! Some are big and some are small. But there were kind of ten of them that lead the others. Kurosaki-kun didn't get along with them. He fought a few of the."

Tatsuki couldn't help but grin at her best friends lie. She knew by cousins she meant those strange guys with the masks. Fighting them meant and all out brawl and she knew that the new kid was definitely one of them.

"How...nice."

"I guess," Orihime frowned a little. She hated to lie to Tatsuki. "There was this guy though. He had some emotional problems. I think he should have seen a therapist."

Tatsuki chuckled. "Orihime, just eat your lunch." She was truly happy to have her friend back, but more interested as to why Ichigo was looking down at Orihime from his lunch spot. "Orihime, did anything happen between you and Ichigo?"

Orihime turned red. "N-no, what do you mean?"

"Come on Orihime, between the two of us." she was whispering so no one could hear. "As your best friend it is pretty obvious you love Ichigo."

That did it. The poor girl seemed as if she was going to pass out. It was out in the open. Poor, shy Orihime's feeling were known to more than herself and Rangiku. Tatsuki quickly supported her shocked best friend.

"Orihime, Orihime!" Tatsuki shook her a little. "It's okay, relax! No one else knows, just me."

"O-okay," said Orihime quietly.

"You know, he was looking down here earlier."

"W-what?" asked Orihime shocked again.

"Yeah," said Tatsuki happily. She got up. "Come on Orihime. Let's go see Ichigo!"

Orihime's eyes widened. "What?!" She knew this was a bad idea.

"As your best friend I guess I have to do something. You, being to shy to function, and Ichigo, being the clueless boy that he is. There is no way this will work without my help!"

"Tatsuki-chan?"

"Let's go Inoue."

Tatsuki led Orihime out of the field and back into the school. It had been an interesting lunch for Orihime.

Ichigo leaned against the wall of the boy's bathroom. More in thought than anything else.

"King, you sure are slow."

"Shut up! She left before I could ask her."

"I should take over, then you'd have the date in no time."

"Like, I'd fall for that. Besides, what's with your interest in Inoue? I thought you just wanted to take over."

"You are too naïve king. I am part of you and thus I have to share your feelings. If it was my way we'd be going after that good looking espada, the one watching us fight Grimmy. Not only did she rival Orihime's chest, but she is a hybrid like us."

"Stop, you aren't helping. Inoue, well, she's special."

"King..."

"I'll do it, but you can't interfere."

"Fine, but only because I want to get that sexy-"

"Ahem..."

"Uh, never mind."

Ichigo left the bathroom and walked down the same hall he had his talk with Tatsuki. He smiled as he passed the broken window. It had all been for Orihime. Into Hueco Mundo and back, he had done it for that woman, the woman he loved.

"Ichigo!" called Tatsuki.

Ichigo turned. His other confrontation like this didn't end so greatly. Tatsuki ran up to him with Orihime following close behind. She smiled at Ichigo and he smiled back. Tatsuki looked between the two and smiled.

"Damn," she said with a fake tone. "I have to go. I told Sensei I'd come by before lunch ended. See you two later."

Tatsuki left leaving the two teenagers. Orihime blushed a little knowing Tatsuki's intentions. The two started to walk. Orihime kept glancing over at Ichigo.

"Uh, Kurosaki-kun?"

"Yes, Inoue?"

"Grimmjow, he's a surprise."

"Yeah, he was." Ichigo smiled. "He should be fine. At least I hope he doesn't cause any trouble."

Orihime laughed. "Yeah, I suppose."

Ichigo stopped and Orihime stopped as well. "Hey, Inoue..."

"What is it Kurosaki-kun?"

"Have you heard of BadShield 2?"

Orihime thought to herself for a moment. "Yes, it's the sequel to the first one correct?"

Ichigo rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah it is...anyway, Mizuiro got me two tickets to the sneak preview this Saturday."

"Uh huh," Orihime said casually. She figured he was asking for advise on how to ask Rukia.

"And well, since I have two...would you like to, well...go with me?"

Orihime thought the world had stopped. Ichigo had asked her to go, not Rukia. She stood in a state of shock. Kurosaki Ichigo, the guy she loves had just asked her out and he was blushing. Orihime didn't notice that she was too.

"W-what was that Kurosaki-kun?" She knew full well what he said.

"W-will you go with me, like a-a date?" Ichigo stammered.

Both of them were quiet. Orihime was still trying to process the Ichigo was trying to stay calm with the silence.

"She's going to say no! Damn it, I'm such an idiot!"

"Stay calm King, I'm sure she's just shocked."

"No, no. I'm an idiot. How could I think that she wanted to go out with me?"

"Yes."

"I'm such a- Wait what was that?"

"I think she just said yes, hurry, pay attention."

"What Inoue?" asked Ichigo hopefully.

"I said yes, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime smiled. "I-I'd love to."

Ichigo was doing back flips in his mind and he could tell his hollow was ginning in victory, not the same evil smile he always had. Ichigo smiled widely. His true smile, the one he only gave to Orihime.

"T-that's great Inoue!" Ichigo cried. "I'll pick you up at 7:00 on Saturday!"

"Okay, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime smiled widely. She couldn't help but show her happiness.

"I'll see you then Inoue!" called Ichigo as he practically pranced away.

"Kurosaki-kun, we still have school tomorrow."

She didn't think he heard her. She didn't really care. Ichigo had asked her out and she was going to get an entire night alone with him. She spun in her place and started towards her class. She was sure Ichigo hadn't even remembered today's classes still remained.

The rest of the day passed quickly for Ichigo. He didn't pay attention in class. He didn't hear Grimmjow's constant threats. He just would occasionally look at Orihime and smile to himself. He did love her after all.

The bell rang and Ichigo was just about ready to burst out, but was stopped by Grimmjow.

"Shinigami," he said quietly. "I need a place to stay."

"What? I thought you were at Urahara's?" asked Ichigo with disbelief.

"Why do you think I'm here?" Grimmjow asked plainly. "I got kicked out when I shot a cero through his training ground. So I came here hoping you would let me stay with you."

"My house is crowded enough!" cried Ichigo. "I have my dad, two sisters, Nel and now you? Nel is enough trouble."

"Isn't she in that baby form?" asked Grimmjow now walking with Ichigo.

"You could, but you'd have to go trough my dad." Ichigo trailed on. "He usually says yes to girls, but I don't know about you."

The two hybrids made their way to the Kurosaki house hold. Ichigo had almost let the happiness of Orihime's positive answer slip because of his frustration with Grimmjow. He opened the door and was met by his father and Nel.

"Ichigo!" both of them cried.

"Ichigo?" asked Isshin. "Who is this?"

"This is Grimm- Uh, I mean Gamma Akutabi. He's from out of town and he needs a place to stay."

"Hmm," Isshin thought. "I guess it's okay. I would prefer someone like Rukia-chan, but if he needs a place to stay...how could I say no?"

Ichigo nodded and started up to his room with Grimmjow following and Nel slowly behind.