Hey, guys, this took a while because my beta-readers were going back and forth but chapter 10 is done. And holy shit I can't this is 10 chapters. Originally this chapter was supposed longer but I cut it down to being to you guys. Hopefully, chapter 11 will be out soon. Like this year.

Also Captain Imaginat I don't really the voices and the music because this is really writing the platform. You can use your imagination for that.

Karakura Town, Streets, Night

Ichigo shunpo(1) above the street to the where he felt the Hollow's spirit pressure was coming from. The pressure increased the closer he got to where the Hollow's location. If regular humans were here they will find hard to move due to the Hollow's spiritual energy.

He spotted the Hollows down below him. There were three of them, all of which were all the size of the houses and have a fish-like mask. Ichigo driving down so fast that it seems he disappeared to the naked eye.

Whoosh!

Ichigo brought down his huge sword on the back of the neck of the first Hollows, chopped it off and landed on the streets. The head bounced a couple of times before disappeared Before the other two Hollows can make a move Ichigo strike first. He slashes the second from the hip and quickly dragged the sword to the shoulder slice the Hollow in half. Ichigo turned his attention to the last one. The third one tried to grab him but Ichigo jumped away from Hollow's attack ran up and dart at the neck of the Hollow. He was so fast that he looks like a blur and there was no way for the Hollow to stop him. Before Ichigo can slice off the head and something push him aside and he landed on his side.

"The hell?" Ichigo grumbled and quickly got back his feet to face his opponent. What caught his attention was that the creature's skin was pure black. It was a tall, skinny, humanoid shape with an hourglass-shaped helmet, armored boots, breastplate, and gauntlets are all orange. The top of the helmet sports a short, curled, orange antenna on it. Its weapon was a lance is black with a silver, riveted base. Its handle is black and has a spiked ring around its center. The base of the lance sports two curled, silver protrusions that resemble ears or horns. (2)

"You are not a Hollow but if you get in my way then I won't hesitate to cut you down.." Ichigo growled at the creature. Which it didn't react but raise it lance to stab him. Ichigo knocks it away with his sword and punches the creature. It took a couple of steps back but didn't fall over. Ichigo ran forward but dark portal opened around which gave him pause. More creature like the one that he fighting came out of it but there were a couple of different ones too.

A couple looks a resembles a small, blue dog with a massive head and an equally massive, toothed maw. Its ears are long, stand on end, and curl at the tips. It has a crooked, blue tail and four short legs with no discernible digits on its paws. Its long, pink tongue is often seen hanging out of its mouth. They have large, yellow eyes each sport a black spiral pattern. It also wears a large, red collar with several conical, silver spikes on it, though it is worn around its stomach instead of its neck. (3) They growled and shoot fireballs from their mouth at Ichigo!

Ichigo jumped over the flame and brought down his sword on top of the dog. Which just disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

That's when spotted something spinning towards him out of the corner of his eye. He quickly turned and block the attack with the flat side of his sword. With a push that made the thing landed a few feet in front of him.

When he got a good look at the creature he thought this look kind of like a zombie. Unlike the other, its skin wasn't pitch black but blue. It has a spherical head with a jagged mouth and glowing, yellow eyes with black rings around them with its arms are always held stiffly out in front of its body. It dresses in high-collared, purple robes with hand blue and yellow lining on the loose, furisode-esque sleeves. The front of these robes is magenta with yellow lining. (4)

"What are these things?" Ichigo said to himself, his eyes never left the creatures. One of the creatures that have a lancer changed forward only to stop by a battle cry.

"CCCHHHAAA!" The creature looked up and saw a pink-haired jumped toward them from a nearby house. Sakura punches one of the dog creatures killed it and the ground explored from the impact of her attack... Ichigo's jaw drops from the damage that Sakura cause.

"That felt so good!" Sakura exclaimed happily, cracked her knuckles. Ichigo ran up to her to guard her side to protect her from the creature. Which she was surprised at and even looked annoyed about it but didn't comment about that.

"Sakura? I thought your leg was broken? What the hell are you doing here?!" Ichigo questioned her as he slices at one of the creatures in half.

"I heal it a while ago!" Sakura answered him before she darts forward and clobbers one the creature that holds a lance. Force it to fly into the crowd of those creatures that were going to attack them. One of zombie-like creature flew toward Sakura's unprotect side but Ichigo stops by slice it in half with his sword.

"What these things?" He asked Sakura before dodge another fireball.

"They're heartless!" Ichigo raises an eyebrow and Sakura continued, "Beings that lost their heart and are now looking to steal hearts." Sakura explained to him before she dodges as one dog heartless tried to rush her. She drove her fist into its skull, killing it swiftly. Ichigo swings his sword cutting all three of the zombie heartless in half. Sakura grabs one of the dog ones and threw it at the last group of Heartless, the impact killed them all.

Sakura looked around to make sure that there was no heartless around. When she saw that the threat was gone she turned and smiled at Ichigo. Ichigo felt the corner of his mouth rose too as the danger was gone. The feeling was short-lived, however, like a huge hand of a Hollow grab Sakura.

"Let her go!" He challenged the Hollow as he leaps at it. But then the Hollow hold Sakura in front as a shield. Ichigo luckily stops in time only the Hollow to punch him out of the sky.

"Damn it!" Ichigo cursed, wiped some of the blood from his lips. He narrowed his eyes at Hollow, moving slowly to its side. The Hollow did the same but moved away from Ichigo. It kept Sakura in front of it to make sure he wasn't going to do anything funny.

Sakura herself struggled against the Hollow but her arm was pinned down by it. She almost got her free but after a strong squeeze from the Hollow left her breathless. She greedily took air as her lung struggled for air. She glared at the Hollow, her face twisted in rage.

"GET OFF OF ME!" Sakura yelled at the Hollow. Arc white of lighting spends from Sakura's body and to the Hollow. Which caused the monster to yelped in pain and let go of her. Ichigo saw this as his chance and so that he cut off the Hollow's head.

Ichigo ran up to Sakura to help her up, "Are you ok?" He asked her. Sakura took a deep breath looking down her hand as if there was something wrong with it.

"I'm fine," She acknowledged his question with a sharp voice. Ichigo narrows his eyes but chooses to not.

"Where did these," Ichigo pause for a moment trying to remember what Sakura called them, "Heartless come from?" He questioned her. These Heartless never appear before Karakura before Sakura and Edward arrive got here. So forgive him for being a for thinking they were involved in this. But then again those Heartless could come from Soul Reaper turned rogue, Aizen. That bastard was quiet for a while now.

"They brought here from Conner." She told him when she saw the confused look Ichigo had she explained, "The guy we after."

"Great another asshole to deal with," Ichigo in a sarcastic glee, "Do you know what he wants?" He asked Sakura.

Sakura shook her head, "No, but whatever it is it can't be good." Her eyes narrowed in determined, "But we will figure it out."

Ichigo raises an eyebrow at her, "You want me to help you guys?"

"Well you know this world better then we do and good fighter from what I saw," Sakura told him.

Ichigo huffed and started to walk to his house, "Of course I'm am. Who else is going to keep this town safe." Just then a bunch of people sneezes from both the human world and Soul Society at the same time for some reason.

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Hope so. Theses Heartless are no laughing matter. They destroy my homeworld." She told him her voice breaking a bit.

Ichigo stops dead in his tracks, "What?"

"They destroyed my world Ichigo...the Heartless. At first, we thought they were nothing more than an annoyance, but they just keep coming and coming. Destroying our homes and people were disappears left and right, It was almost like they were looking for something. But we never find out. Only after my world was gone I know they looking for the Keyhole," Sakura told him.

"The Keyhole?" Ichigo asked, tilting his head to the side a bit.

"I didn't know too much about it but every world has one, and if it was taken by the darkness then everything in that world will fall into the darkness." Ichigo's blood felt cold, "No one knew about this until it was too late." She told him in a brittle tone of voice, starting to tear up.

Ichigo moves to her side and tries his comfort by patting her on the back, "Umm...There...there?" He told her awkwardly.

Sakura let out laughed but still crying, "You are so bad at this!"

Ichigo felt a little annoyed at that, "I'm just not used to this ok?!" He huffed which made Sakura laugh loud and she wipe away her tears. Ichigo's went red but he took a deep breath and calm down. At less Sakura sounds better now.

A question cross Ichigo's mind when thought about Sakura's story, "But if your world is gone how are you still here?" Ichigo asked her which stop Sakura's laughed.

"I don't know how so people fell into darkness while others don't but they say that people with strong hearts can escape and found themselves other worlds." Sakura rubbed the back of her hand, "I know it sounds fake but that's how I and Edward met and then others came along with the same story." She shrugged.

Ichigo thought about this for a few minutes. Sure it sounds fake but he saw the heartless and what she hopes to get by telling a fake story? Plus if she was lying then it's best to keep her and her friend in arms reach, "Ok so how are we going to stop him?" Sakura was taken aback by this.

"You believe me?" Ichigo just shrugged.

"Well yeah, I saw those heartless you were talking about and I have seen weirder stuff," Ichigo told her and started walking to his house.

"Hey wait up!" Sakura ran to catch up to him, "What do you mean by weirder stuff?" She asked Ichigo.

"Now that is a long story. Maybe in the morning. But right now I need some sleep."

Dream Link, Late Night

Edward was so tried after today and just wanted a good night rest. So when he felt someone was shaking him awake he growled in annoyed.

"You better have a good reason to wake me up or you're dead," He warned whoever shook him.

"If you don't wake up Stranger will probably beat us if we are not ready for training" Haelth answered him, which got Edward to wake and find themselves in a black void again.

"I'm up. I'm up," Edward murmured, as he slowly goes up. It was weird to stand in the middle of a void but it feels solids and as any floor. The spirit explains to them that void is linked to their head so they only fall if they believe that they will or some other magic nonsense. Which took Edward a while to get the hang of but he thinks that he will never get used to magic. He then noticed Sora stand behind Haelth. Edward's mouth was open in shocked and Sora just smiles and waved his hand at Edward dumbfounded expression.

"Hey, Edward!" Edward shook his head and narrowed his eyes at Sora.

"Sora? How the hell you get here?" He asked Sora.

"I just wanted to check up on you guys." He answered him, " I was worry what happens to you and Sakura when the crash happens so I ask the spirit for some help."

"That's good and everything but you shouldn't worry about us. We can hand this ourselves," Edward wanted to add that he doesn't trust the spirit yet and was keeping arm's length of them. He didn't want Sora to get involved because what he saw the boy was nice and really doesn't deserved to get in his mess.

You guys are my friends and always look out for my friends." Sora said to them which caused both Haelth and Edward looked surprised at Sora for calling them a friend. Haelth returned the smile and Edward felt the corner of his lips turning upward, but just a little bit.

"Where is Sakura?" Sora asked as he didn't spot the pink-hair ninja. Edward almost wants to slap himself in the face, he forgot about her when he just woke up and saw Sora.

"Did something happened to her?" Haelth asked, worried about Sakuras safely.

"She was fine last time I saw her. Maybe something keeping her from sleep." Edward told them. He was worry about her but they were safe so there was no reason to worry yet.

Just old saying if you speak the devil's name he appears, "Hey guys!" A familiar voice called out to them. The group turned to see that Sakura and the spirit were walking to them(or in the spirit case flow to them).

Edward noticed the spirit was smiling a bit as they got closer while just looked confused, "What are you doing here?" She asked Sora, who sighed.

"I just came here to check on you guys," He told her.

Sakura shook her head, "Well thank you for concern, but you're the ones in danger, not us." Both Haelth and Sora looked at each other then looked back at Sakura.

"What do you mean?" Haelth asked, tilting her head to the side.

Edward decides to answer her question, "We find out that you in Hueco Mundo. Which we find out are the where these monsters called Hollows live. They like monsters that eat souls." Haelth let out an 'oh!' sound but she didn't look so surprised at that story

"We know," Both Haelth and Sora told Sakura and Edward at the same time. Being that they were nonchalant about the whole that it almost made Edward fall over in shock.

"You knew?!"

"Well, we did meet a couple of those Hollows." Haelth told him, "It was scary but a guy name Ashido help us and teaching us how to survive out here as we look for a new home." Haelth explained to Edward. He sighed, 'Of course they run into the Hollows! Our luck is so bad'

"Can this Ashido can be trusted?" She asked Sora and Haelth.

"Well he did help us when we were being an attack by those Hollows so I say he can be trusted," Sora answered her and Haelth nodded in agreement.

Edward frown, "You should still look out in case he just using you."

This time is Sora turned to frown, "I know. I'm not a little kid." Wanting to change the subject Sora asked Edward, " So how we going to get back together?" Edward then explains to him and Haelth about Urahara's portal that he, Sakura, and his brother are working on.

Haelth nodded, "That's great we have a plan!" She jumps up and down.

Sakura turned to her, "It still going to take time. So just stay you three."

"Don't worry I look out for them," Sora told her.

Sakura rolled her eyes, but smiled none the less, "And that's what I'm afraid of."

"Hey." Haelth laughed at Sora exclaimed while Edward did feel his mouth curling upwards.

"While this all good news. Sakura herself had something to show you," The spirit announcement. Everyone turned to Sakura who in turned hold out her hand in the opposite direction they were standing. Then sparks(yes sparks) danced around on her hand that then evolves into a freaking lightning bolt that shot out of her hand. They jump back in surprise but not the spirit.

"W-what," Edward dumbfounded said, Sora just looked at this with excitement at this, but Haelth one the other hand looked like she saw a ghost.

"That's cool! I can never do that with my Thunder. Holding it in the palm of my hands. How did you d-" Sora was cut off by Haelth of all people.

"That was my lightning," Haelth was clearly in disbelief, "How did you..?"

"Like I said kid," The spirit spoke, "You can use each other powers if your bonds are stronger enough and you learn each other skills. This is happening a lot quicker then I expect but that it's a good thing." The spirit commented.

"But why would Sakura get my powers instead of Edward's? She does know him longer than I." Haelth questioned.

"Because alchemy is something that has learned. Not everyone can use it. You have a study break down and recreated something from the stuff you already have on you." Edward explained to Haelth.

"So then why not teach how to use alchemy Edward?" The spirit asked him which Edward agreed to. He didn't see anything wrong with teaching the others about it. Plus this can work in his favor in the long run. The more likely they get out of this world alive with all the help they can get from each other.

"To start off alchemy is the science of understanding the structure of matter, breaking it down, then reconstructing it as something else. To create, something of equal value must be lost. This is the principle of Equivalent Exchange." He started explained to them. Sakura and Haelth listen to every word understanding it. But Sora was having problems following along.

"So with alchemy, you can take anything and remake it into any you can think of?" Sora asked Edward. Who just huffed in annoyance at him.

"It's not that simple. You need to what elements or chemical are and the items you have around you." He told Sora. That didn't seem to help as Sora fold his eyebrows in confusion, "You have no idea what the periodic table is? Are you serious?"

Sora flinched, "Looked was away from school because I save the worlds. I think have good enough excuse!" Sora huffed. Edward glared at him. He could hardly believe that this guy has been traveling the world and fighting darkness longer then he did and he's an idiot.

"Let's just get this over with," Edward said and sat down. He waves his hand to tell the others to sit down next to him and they did. Even the spirit hovers above them.

"I can make a training ground just ask me." The spirit offered him. Edward thought of it for a moment then spoke up with his answer.

"Just use the house me and Sakura were staying in Traverse Town," Edward answered them. In a flash, the void changed into the big living room where Sakura and Edward live in. The detail was the same. From the clean wood floor to the nightly air that was from an open window. It almost like he was back in the room.

The group looked around the place awe until Edward who holds up a bunch of chalk he had in his hand. (Spirit made this from his memories.)

"Let's get started."

Dream Link, Late Night

The group fan out in the living room. Drawing alchemy circle on the ground. At first, they started to fixed different thing like a toy that broke apart and put them back together. They did this for a little while and then Edward had them started them to turn sand into stone and shaping them into what they wanted to be.

(Art source: https://www.deviantart.com/rockwell-light/art/2nd-Place-Raffle-Prize-810623074)

Sora had a lot of energy and even bigger imagination but even know much-putting elements apart and putting back together to make something new. Sakura while not having the imagination or the endless energy as Sora, Sakura makes up for control over how much energy to put in her alchemy to keep on working. While Haelth because while she has big imagination she spend way too much energy and had to stop. So the Edward decides to help her first.

The reasons vary from person to person. Haelth was the best one at fixing things while Sakura making a sculpture of mountains and trees. Sora, on the other hand, couldn't fix anything but he got the hang of turning sand into sculpture. Which is mostly cartoon looking sculpture. Haelth while pretty good fixing things with her alchemy but turning sand into stone was hard for her. So Edward decides to help her first.

"Try not to use too much energy at once. Pace yourself as if you were in a race. Just to make something small." Edward lectured her. Haelth sight but tried again. This time she to actually made a cat! ....Well it sort of looks like a cat. The muzzle was too long and the eyes too far apart. Overall it was misshaped. Edward tried to hide his frown while looking so proud.

"Good work," He said to her. But Haelth sad his focus smile and frown, "So much on being nice." Edward muttered to himself before turning to Haelth and told her, "Just keep it up and you get sooner or later you better ok?" Haelth nodded and went back to work.

The spirit wasn't really paying any attention to those two but was the focus at Sora. They felt something was...off about the boy. They first notice it as soon as they make a pact with him. It felt like he had different souls living with him.

But that's almost impossible for someone like Sora to use. It was necromancy magic and it was one of the dangerous magic to use. If not used correctly it causes the death of the user, and that's only if you're lucky. Some people have their soul cease to exist and other's souls were twisted beyond repair. Only someone who studied necromancy for a lot of years should use it.

Sora doesn't seem like the type of person that would even want to study necromancy. So either he hiding something or he's just a poor host to a bunch of souls. The spirit needs some answers in case he was a threat to them and their host.

"Excuse me Sora," Sora stop what he was doing(which was making gummi ship like statues) and looked up at the spirit, "But can I ask you a question?"

Sora smiled, "Sure! What's up Stranger?"

They were never ones to beat around the brush so they tell him, "Do you know that there are three spirits living within you?" The spirit questioned, the bewildered expression tell them the answer. 'He knows alright.' They thought to themselves

"Wait for what? How do you know?" Sora nearly jumping back.

"When you vow to protect Haelth and sign the contract your soul became a link to me and the others," The spirit begins, "I check up the health of my host and ones who connect to them to make sure they're alright. But not only I check up on your physical health but mental and spirit as well. And I notice those souls in you right away but I wanted to talk to you alone about it." They finished explained.

Sora rubbed the back of his head, "I don't know about the other two but I think I know one of them," The spirit tilted their head, " When I lost my heart to save my friend's life. I was almost lost to the darkness, but that friend saves my life." The spirit heard about these type of thing happening before but there were rare. So their option Sora was lucky, "When my heart was set free my body created a being called a Nobody." Seeing that the spirit's eyebrow raise Sora asked them, "Do you know what they are?"

"I heard of them, but never met one," The spirit answered.

"Well if someone falls into darkness their hearts get into Heartless and the body becomes a Nobody. Some look like a monster but those with strong hearts have human bodies."

That's when the spirit's mind piece together what Sora about to say next, "You have a Nobody." They statement and Sora nodded.

"Yeah, his name was Roxas. I only met him twice and it wasn't happy kind meeting," The spirit raise tilted their head and Sora explained, "The first I don't really know about him because I was asleep for like two years and I still was asleep when he finds me."

The spirit's jaw dropped, "What? But how-"

"Like I said a long story," Sora rubbed his temples before continued his story, "Only heard about Roxas until his best friend save my life and blame me for it," Sora's eyes looked down in shame, "We were fighting because I got his best friend killed and afterward he forgive him because through him he actually feel thing."

The spirit looked at him strangely, "He can feel through you? That sounds so wrong." Sora blushed and wave his hands.

"That not what I meant!" Sora huffed as the spirit laughed. Of course, they were just teasing him.

"I know, I know," The spirit wipe of their tears, "Nobodies can't feel emotion. I heard that they can once they gain a heart or they manage to get back with their somebodies." Sora shook his head.

"I don't believe that Nobody can't feel," Sora stated, which made the spirit raise an eyebrow confused at that statement.

"You don't believe that? Why?" They asked him.

"Because the Nobodies I met show too many emotions to be faking it," Sora answered, "At less Roxas and Axel did."

The spirit let out a 'hmm' sound as they think about what Sora said, "They have an emotion or not. Have you tried talking to them?" The spirit asked Sora.

He shook his head, "No, we were enemies and weren't really in the mood to talk to one and another. As they hurting others to gain a heart and I have to stop them," Sora answered.

"You could ask Roxas." The spirit put a finger on their chin in thought.

"I can?" He asked more to himself then the spirit. Which cause the spirit to almost fall over(which is really something because they can float).

But straighten themselves off before explained to him, "You have to travel to the center of your mind and in order, to that, you must have the complete acknowledgment of who you are and who is Roxas." The spirit answered.

"Center of mind? What do y-" Sora was cut off by Edward.

"Hey what you guy doing there?! Get back to work!" The spirit took this moment to flow away letting Sora face the angry little blond man.

"I talk to later about it Sora. Just focus on the training for now."

"No! Don't leave me!"

"I said get back to work!"

To be continued...

1. Or Flash step(as the English dub would say) is a skill for most Shinigami, which incorporates speed and agility.

2. These heartless are called Lance Soldiers

3. Rabid Dog

4. And lastly Nightwalker

Have fanart for this chapter rockwell-light /art / 2nd-Place-Raffle-Prize-810623074

We still looking for so if interesting hit me up in PMS. New beta-readers get free request and get into my private discord server. (I may make public one but that's more for fans)

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Hit that review if have anything to say and I hope you guys are having an awesome day!

Ok, that's a wrap.