For the tenth time today Ichigo ran out of his classroom, claiming to need to use the restroom. For the tenth time today Ichigo's badge screamed out "Hollow!" For the tenth time today he raced across town shunpoing to where the hollow was located. The tenth time that day he drew Zangetsu.

The hollow was rather small for the hollows that had appeared today. It was small and roughly had the mask that resembled a mouse, and a body that was closer to that of a horse with claws. Ichigo planned on taking it out in one blow, but For the first time that day a Garganta opened up, as it opened Ichigo could see the black sandals and the white cloth pants of the person standing behind it.

Ichigo thought back to the event two days ago, where two arrancar had invaded the park, he was unable to protect Orihime then, and that had sent him into a state of depression. However yesterday Rukia had taken him out to have some sense beaten into him. He hardened his resolve, this time he would not fail.

Before the Garganta was fully opened he released his bankai for the fight to come shouting , "Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu!" he then leaped at the Garganta as it fully opened.

A blade stopped his attack just before he could hit. The blade was a daito that had no grip or guard, but the entire length of the sword was wrapped in a dark purple wrap, covering the blade. The person holding the blade had a mask that covered the top half of his face. at this range Ichigo could see that the mask was severely cracked and looked like a slight hit could be enough to shatter it completely. Ichigo could see his eyes, they had a dark grey iris. The man that those eyes belonged to pushed Ichigo back causing him to slide several yards before stopping.

Now that he was far enough away Ichigo noticed that the man's coat was ripped open and there were large gashes covering his torso, blood was pouring out of them rather quickly. Ichigo went to finish the fight knowing that with those wounds the man could not fight for much longer. the man blocked again and this time locked blades with Ichigo.

With his free left hand the man grabbed onto the blade of Zangetsu and said, almost in a whisper, simply, "Stop this, Tensa Zangetsu." Then he released the blade as it reverted to its shikai form. Ichigo was stunned and was forced back easily by the man. Ichigo got back into a defensive stance knowing that he was at a huge disadvantage, wounded or not, if the man could seal away his bankai. The man looked disinterested and turned away from Ichigo heading towards the hollow who was pinned by Ichigo's reitsu. Ichigo suddenly realized that he could not feel any reitsu from this man at all. As if to perplex Ichigo more the man put his hand on the hollows head and watched as the hollow collapsed into a sleeping young boy plus.

"Sleep peacefully little one, " the man said as he touched the boy's forehead with his thumb and the light of a konso shone and the boy disappeared. Then the man looked back at Ichigo disappeared and reappeared in front of Ichigo with his hand on the back of Zangetsu. He closed his eyes for a moment.

In an attempt to get him off of his sword Ichigo punched him in the face with all his might, feeling the mask crack underneath the force. The man flew back from the blow, landed on his back, and began to cough up some blood. Ichigo walked over to the man prepared to finish him off when he noticed that the mask was broken completely and he was knocked out. For the first time that day, Ichigo put his sword away without purifying a Hollow.