The Hollow Queen

Into Darkness.

 The warm inviting embrace of Ichigo's spirit energy seeps through the frozen air of Las Noches, the massive release of power from his hollowfication letting Rukia know that he's close. Sensing his presence, Rukia's anxiety over Aizen's invasion into the human world is calmed slightly. With Ichigo's calming spirit energy soothing her fears, she sits down on the floor of the stony cell folding her legs underneath herself. She tucks her left hand into her right before resting them on her lap as she begins to meditate. Slowing her breathing she concentrates on her spirit and on Ichigo's preparing herself to go into jinsen. Each breath is long and controlled, in through the nose and out through the mouth. She closes her eyes as she begins her meditation allowing herself to begin to fall into her inner world. Just as the sensation of her entering the depths of her soul washes over her, a voice echoes through her mind.

"Well hello, my queen." She immediately recognises the voice of Ichigo's zanpakuto spirit. "Been a little while since we talked hasn't it? Looks like you've gotten yourself into a little bind."

"You're the only other pleasant voice I've heard in days, it's been far too long Zangetsu." Rukia responds sighing with relief. "I was just about to see if I could enter my inner world to come talk to you."

"Well, the king has sealed me and the old man in the unreleased form of his sword so I get a little bit of freedom for the moment. I'd still prefer if he never sealed me, I want to impress people with my size and girth." Zangetsu laughs to himself, causing Rukia to sigh. "He's having a bit of a heated debate with a Privaron espada, some Spaniard named Dordoni."

"That means you're inside the outer wall." Rukia answers, "Aizen instructed the privaron espada to guard the outer walls to stall you guys so he can begin his invasion."

"That's what I kinda guessed, why don't you and I blow this popsicle stand and you come back to my place?" Zangetsu asks.

"I am Ichigo's fiance, he wouldn't be too happy if his zanpakuto made a move on me." Rukia responds prompting Zangetsu to laugh.

"Ha! I'd love to see that, but Ichigo and I are one in the same, sane with you and Empiratriz. So In short, Ichigo and I are a package deal sweetheart." Zangetsu responds.

"And what about old man zangetsu?"

"He's my other half just like Hoakita and Shirayuki are two halves of the same coin. Each of us make up the two of you, just the personification of specific traits but we're one in the same. This isn't some booty call Queen, it's just to get you out of that hole you've found yourself in and to a place where we can discuss a method in order to break you out. Plus you can talk with Ichigo while you're there." The hollow zanpakuto clarifies. "So, I'll see you shortly."

The presence of Zangetsu fades shortly after speaking to her allowing Rukia to return to her mediation. As her breathing slows, she's brought into the inviting chilly boreal forest of her inner world. Since her exposure to the Hogyoku, the sky has turned purple like sunset and a layer of snow has covered the world once more. The constant anxiety that she's been through these last few weeks has caused the weather to get worse and worse. Now the blizzard that envelops her inner world is so thick with snow and ice it's a complete white out. "Welcome back, Rukia." the voice of Empiratriz says as she appears from the blizzard's snowfall. The cero espada turns to face her zanpakuto spirit, noticing the lavender colored hair, crimson eyes and filled out frame of the empress. "Zangetsu wants to speak to us, he's still in Ichigo's inner world so we need to move. Since your union of souls, our worlds have become one in the same and since Ichigo is here in Hueco Mundo we can go there."

"Lead the way." Rukia responds as she and her zanpakuto make their way towards the city beyond the mountains.

With Ichigo and Orihime.