A/N: My fellow readers, 

I am so VERY SORRY I haven't updated in almost two months! *cries* I'm so sorry! It has taken me forever to write this chapter and the chapter after this and at first, I couldn't figure out why it was taking me so long. It was supposed to be a relatively easy chapter compared to what has been going on lately. 

But no, sadly my brain was not having that. After the stress from uni exams and cramming so much information into my brain, I think it's dead. Well, the writing part of the brain (one of the hemispheres if I remember correctly) that is. 

I. Had. Writer's. Block. 

>.< 

Of all the things to happen! You think after all the exams my brain would be happy to be creative and continue writing. But it wasn't having it; I think the gloomy ending to that last exam made my brain feel ashamed of itself and as a result has retreated into the depths of my skull to live like a hermit and spit out occasional brilliant ideas every six months. 

*sigh* what am I going to do with you buddy? 

And after that long winded explanation, to put it simply - Writer's Block of Mega Proportions and a Hermit Brain.

*Rubs hands together* Now, back to the story at hand - hope you enjoy it, hit the little star in the top corner if you feel the need and (here comes shameless promoting) spread the word about this book to all your friends - inside and out of wattpad if you like - who love Bleach. 

Also don't hesitate to leave a comment of sorts, even if it is to point out I forgot a capital letter somewhere or words stuck together (yes, I still have that problem since i'm not using microsoft word). I love constructive criticism and comments just as much as I love seeing that star turn yellow in the corner - it really makes my day when I see a sort of proof that people are really enjoying my story ^_^ 

Now, read onwards!!! 

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When I came to, I was lying on my back staring at the artificial ceiling above me. My limbs tingled, feeling returning to them, as my chest heaved up and down with each laboured breath. Then I rolled over and promptly threw up.

Relief flooded through me after I finished, wiping my mouth. I wasn't bringing up white liquid anymore, but actual bile. I held my aching head with a hand as I sat up, blinking in the harsh light.

Urahara stood before me, wiping at a splotch of blood on his cane. My gaze wandered away from him and around the area which looked as if a mini tornado had ripped through it. Broken shrubbery and splintered stones littered the ground, the sand a scuffed mess with innumerable footsteps in all directions. A small crack marred the flat earth, as if some object had punctured the earth with great force.

"What happened?" I croaked, coughing violently. "Did I beat back the Hollow?"

"Youdon't remember?" Urahara handed me a bottle of water.

"No,"I answered, brow furrowed. "There's a gap in my memories. I remember the hollowfication process, of drowning in white liquid,then nothing. But something obviously happened," I threw my gaze around again, "because this place is a mess and I feel like I've been sat on by a Hollow." I gulped down the lukewarm water, then crushed the plastic in a fist.

"Kera," Urahara said softly, folding his legs beneath him and sitting opposite me.

"Why do I feel like I'm not going to like this?" I groaned, rubbing my face. Then I noticed the colour of my sleeve. "Hey! I'm back in my uniform!" I cried happily. "It worked!"

"Not quite." Urahara's words crushed my elation about as quickly as it took me to crumple that water bottle in my hand.

Then,he told me everything and each statement weighed on me like a stone and filled me with dread. Ever so slowly, fragments of my memory returned, bringing with it shame, hate and despair. The life I thought I lived, the life I thought I had chosen for myself; it was a lie.

All of it.

Then,under all the despair and sadness, guilt and shame shadowing me, rose the hate. It blotted out everything as pieces of the conversation between Urahara and the blue dragon became audible in my head.

"You knew?" I seethed, glaring at him. "You knew all along that she was inside of me and you didn't say a thing!" I was shouting by the end, on my feet. "Why the hell did you keep this from me? I had the right to know that I had a fricking Hollow living inside of me!"

Urahara sat there quietly as I paced before him, ranting and raving. He tapped his cane on the ground several times, then said, "Of course you had the right to know, but what would you have done if you knew the truth? Would you have killed yourself or let the creature fester inside of you?" His words stilled me. "I knew of the Hollow but I couldn't understand why it had decided to use your body as a host. Now I know that you weren't supposed to exist."

His blunt words cut me. "Then how come I am here? Why am I sharing my body with a Hollow?" I snapped.

"I don't know."

I sat down with a thump, then unconsciously my fingers hovered over my throat. Tenderly, I touched the skin... and found the Hollow hole still present. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Now what was I supposed to do?

"Am I a danger to the world?" I asked softly. "Will I kill someone?"

"I don't know," he repeated.

"Damn you, Urahara! Why won't you give me a straight answer?! I'm sick of you avoiding the questions, of giving me answers that do nothing to help me. Will I or will I not kill the ones I love and destroy the soul society?!" I thundered angrily.

My spiritual pressure rose and it shocked me for two reasons: one, it seemed I still had my spiritual powers, and two, it rose quickly and in such a huge increment that it rivalled the amount of pressure I needed to generate for shikai. My neck twitched and my senses dimmed.

Urahara pressed something on my forehead and my spiritual pressure dropped away.

"If your spiritual energy increases too much, I'm afraid you will lose control and the Hollow will take over again. At the moment, I think it's your will to do the right thing and protect the ones you love that's keeping her at bay. She can't fight your soul.

"Now,as to whether you will be the downfall of the soul society: I don't think so. Even as skilled as the blue dragon is, she won't be able to defeat all the lieutenants and captains by herself." It seemed his words were not directed straight at me, but to the blue dragon.

Because she was still inside of me, locked deep within. Her anger and frustration seemed to seep through the cracks in her prison and linger within me.

I breathed deeply several times. "Now what? What am I supposed to do?I want to return back home and help Ichigo with his quest, but how am I supposed to do that when I must watch my spiritual pressure at all hours of the day and hide the hole in my throat from my friends?"

He stroked his chin, thoughtful. "I believe you still can. If you can keep your emotions and spiritual pressure in check, there's nothing stopping you from helping Ichigo. But, returning to the soul society is another problem."

"Even if I'm not banished, I still won't be accepted now," I finished glumly. I squeezed my eyes shut then squared my shoulders. No matter how much it hurt me, I couldn't let my emotions cloud me now. There would be time for the screaming and crying later. "Okay then. I can't say I'm pleased," I forced a chuckle, "but I think I'm still in shock, so I hope you have sound-proof walls up in your shop and some earmuffs for yourselves."

Urahara allowed a small grin, before Ururu appeared at his side. "I brought it," she said simply, handing Urahara something wrapped in cloth.

When he unfolded it, the collar gleamed in the light, an ugly grey. "And what's that for?" I scowled. "Please don't tell me you plan on doing something kinky. If so, I'm letting the blue dragon back out so she can rip you to pieces."

"It's to control your spiritual pressure; the lining of the metal is fabric and contains creatures that, let's say, 'eat' spiritual pressure."

I raised an eyebrow at the collar as he held it out to me. "Are they going to nibble on me?"

"Only a bit," Urahara's eyes twinkled in delight.

"Oh you just love causing pain, don't you?" I resigned and grabbed the collar, putting it on. "Like someone else I know," I muttered,voice changing through the words from the uncomfortable pressure of the metal.

Already,I felt in control. My spiritual pressure quietly simmered below the normal threshold.

"Good.Now your spiritual pressure is barely detectable."

"If I'm in the soul society, will soul reapers know I've got a Hollow inside of me?" I questioned, hand to the hole. The collar sat just above it.

"Your spiritual pressure will only betray you if it rises too high. As for the hole, all you have to do is change your outfit.

I looked at my uniform. Guess I wasn't much of a soul reaper now,especially since I still didn't have a zanpakuto. I'll have to find a substitute.

"Thank you," I uttered. Urahara merely looked at me. His gaze unnerved me.I changed the topic. "So how long did we fight for and how long have I been out for?"

"We fought for a few hours but you've been passed out for a couple of days." The blood drained from my head. "Thought it best if you slept for a bit."

"Has Ichigo escaped?" But I think I already knew the answer. Pushing past Urahara, I ran to the side of the hole, where Ururu had retreated to and Jinta was climbing the side of.

An eerie air fell over the shaft, then gut wrenching, blood chilling screaming echoed around me.

"ICHIGO!"I screamed into the shattered shaft, unable to believe my eyes, my ears.

He was turning into a Hollow.