271. Battle At Night

Ichigo looked at the behemoth that stared at him through the tear in the sky. A sweat dripped down his sideburns.

"What the hell is that?"

"A menos!"

A sweet voice answered him. Ichigo looked back and saw Rukia standing behind him.

Rukia walked to him and explained, "Menos are hollows formed by the combination of a large number of smaller hollows."

Ichigo asked, "Why the hell is it here?"

Rukia had a grim look on her face, "It must have been lured here by the bait!"

Hearing her Ichigo looked at Uryuu hatefully.

Uryuu had an ugly expression on his face. He didn't imagine a small bait could lure out such a big hollow.

"Dammit! Let's do this!"

Ichigo readied his sword. No matter what he couldn't allow that thing to step out of the tear.

As he was charging his spiritual energy Leo walked past him.

"Huh? What are you doing?"

Leo's eyes were flashing as he looked at the menos.

"You stay here. I'll take care of this."

Before Ichigo could speak Leo jumped up. He treaded through the air and reached the tear in an instant.

He could feel the medallion absorbing a kind of energy. It was very shallow, but it was still there.

Hueco mundo... soul society... mortal world...

Countless thoughts ran through his mind. The more he thought the more his eyes lit up.

He finally found a way to refill the medallion with space energy!

A fierce gleam flashed through his eyes as he stared at the menos. He stretched out his index and middle finger. A sharp aura condensed at the tip of his fingers as he slashed down.

Ichigo, Rukia and Uryuu only saw a flash of light. The huge hollow that reached the skies paused in it's steps. A crack appeared right at the center of it's mask. It extended down, all the way to it's feet.

The huge menos was split in half!

"Who the hell is he?"

Ichigo muttered.

Rukia stared at Leo in shock. The power this man just showed rivalled that of a squad captain's!

Uryuu's eyes flashed as he watched this shocking scene.

The menos broke down into countless particles and slowly disappeared into void.

The tear also stared to slowly close up.

At this moment Leo felt something. He looked in a particular direction and narrowed his eyes.

Someone's spying on me? No, it wasn't me.

He looked at the other three and shower a thoughtful look. After a while his eyes focused on one of them and smiled faintly.

...

A room filled with screens were showing what was happening at karakura town.

A couple of people shrouded in darkness watched as Leo slashed the menos in half. At the last moment they saw the man turn around and look in their direction.

The screen was cut off at that exact moment.

"Terrifying instinct."

One of the man commented.

"Indeed. Such an interesting fellow. Wonder where he popped out of."

Another man spoke faintly.

"Do we need to change our plan?"

"Hm... maybe."

...

Leo landed on the ground after taking care of the menos. He walked straight to Uryuu and smacked his head.

"Don't put people in danger for a game."

Uryuu looked at Leo incredulously. He could feel his head ringing from that smack.

"Buhahaha, served you right!"

Ichigo laughed from the side when he saw Uryuu squatting on the ground while holding his head.

Leo shook his head and walked away.

Rukia called out to him and asked, "Who are you? Really?"

Leo paused. He thought for a moment and said, "Someone far from his home."

Swish!

His figure disappeared after saying that.

...

When Leo got back Shinobu was washing the dishes. He smiled and hugged her from behind.

"You seem happy."

Shinobu turned around and said.

Leo pecked on her lips and said, "I found a way to refill the medallion."

Shinobu's eyes brightened up when she heard him, "How?"

Leo explained, "The soul society, hueco mundo and the mortal world, these three worlds form a single entity. However they are also separate existences. To reach from one world to another would require a spatial tunnel."

"A saw a huge hollow trying to enter this world. The tear it caused between hueco mundo and this world resulted in spatial fluctuations. The medallion was able to absorb this energy. Though the absorbed energy is not worth mentioning."

Shinobu thought for a moment and said, "But it's not feasible to always stay in a space tunnel."

Leo nodded, "That's right. So we need information, a lot of information. I'll contact Kisuke, he should have what we are looking for."

Shinobu wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled happily. Knowing they have found a way back home eased her worrying heart.

Leo also smiled. He felt a load off of his shoulder once he found a way back home.

The next day he contacted Kisuke, but the guy wasn't available. He was out of town for some kind of business. He told Leo to wait for a few days.

With nothing to do Leo and Shinobu called Chojo and asked if he was free.

Chojo was naturally happy to hear from them. He invited them to the hotel they stayed before for dinner.

When both of them got there they saw Hanako playing with little Shin.

Leo looked dubiously at Chojo. The latter rubbed his head embarrassedly.

"A fast player, I see."

Hearing Leo's comment Chojo rolled his eyes.

Hanako heard him and slightly blushed. She quick adjusted her face and greeted them.

Shinobu started to talk with her while playing with little Shin.

Leo and Chojo went to the bar and got themselves a drink.

"What's your status with her? Boyfriend?"

Chojo sipped on his drink and said with a faint smile, "Getting there."

"Hm."

Both of them spoke irrelevant things and had a laugh from time to time. After a while a knock came from the door.

Hanako excused herself and opened it. Several waiters walked in while pushing trolleys.

"Our dinner is here."

Chojo smiled and invited them to the table. A wide range of dishes were neatly placed on the table.

"Who is gonna eat this much?"

Leo asked.

Chojo smiled, "Consider this a celebration for your new home."

"It's been a few days since the house warming."

"Never mind the details. Let's eat!"

With delightful company the dinner was lively. They talked and laughed.

When they were finished Chojo and Hanako was full and could barely find the motivation to move.

"Holy... how can the both of you eat so much and still be so breezy?"

Leo and Shinobu chuckled. As practitioners of haki and breathing techniques it would be weird if they were bloated after so little food.

They got up and said, "It's getting late. We'll be leaving."

Chojo immediately said, "I'll have my assistant send you home."

Leo waved his hand, "No need to bother him at this hour. We can walk."

Chojo didn't ask further, "In that case, take care."

Leo smirked at him and faintly looked at Hanako, "You also... take care."

Chojo got his meaning and immediately slammed the door on him.

Haha.

Both of the laughed as they walked out of the hotel.

As they strolled through the empty streets both of them felt a bit lonely. However in this strange world atleast they had each other.

When they reached a corner both of them heard sounds from metals clashing.

Curious as to who it was they moved faster. A few seconds later they saw Ichigo fighting with a red haired man with tattoos on his neck.