A soft breeze sent dust eddying across the arena floor as the two swordsmen faced each other. Ikkaku grinned nervously. "Never thought I'd be up against you, Captain," he said, "No hard feelings, huh?"
Kenpachi's mouth spread wide in his usual bloodthirsty grimace. "I'm not gonna go easy on you just because you're in my division," he said, turning to the platform, "Hey, ref! Start the fight, already!"
"My thoughts exactly," Ikkaku said, his grin widening to match Kenpachi's.
The arena announcer raised his arm. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face, betraying his apprehension of the battle to come. "Contestants, ready yourselves!" he shouted, "At the sound of the gong, you are free to engage in battle! Ready….Begin!"
The mallet had barely touched the gong before the two men shot forward. Ikkaku leapt high over Kenpachi's head and shouted, "Extend!" freeing Hozukimaru's first release. As their blades clashed together, Kenpachi laughed, "Looks like you're serious! First release already? You can't even scratch me!"
Ikkaku's grin just grew wider, and he whipped the other end of his sansetsukon towards Kenpachi's unguarded chest. As they sprang apart in a bright shower of sparks, he bent forward in a feral stance and growled, "Just trying not to get myself killed by my own captain. Now quit blabbing and fight me!"
Kenpachi's eyes glinted, and he charged towards Ikkaku, laughing maniacally. On top of the ceremonial platform, the princess and her attendant sat listening to the fierce battle below them. Unable to see outside the walls of her covered sedan, Princess Umeko clenched her hands in her lap. "Suki," she whispered, "Who is fighting? He…he sounds like a demon!" Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Are all the men here like this? I don't want to marry a monster! I'm scared!"
Suki produced a finely embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the tears from the princess' face. "Don't fear, your highness," she said reassuringly, "Captain Yamamoto will not allow any harm to come to you. You are safe here." Suki smiled. "And besides, your highness," she whispered, "If you cry any more, your eyes will puff up!" Umeko giggled, holding the handkerchief politely over her mouth. "Thank you, Suki," she said. The princess leaned back on her cushions and tried to ignore the sounds coming from the ring.
On the arena floor below, Ikkaku spun frantically, trying to avoid the merciless blows from Kenpachi's zanpakuto. His right arm hung useless by his side, the shoulder bleeding heavily from a deep slash wound. His robes were in tatters, soaked with blood and sticky with sweat. Kenpachi was just as he threatened, without a single tear to mar his bloodstained haori. With a powerful one handed swing, he sent Hozukimaru flying and pressed his blade to Ikkaku's throat. "Game over," he said triumphantly.
The arena announcer brought his arm down in a sharp motion. "Winner of the first match, Captain of the Eleventh Division, Kenpachi Zaraki!" he yelled. Ikkaku slumped to his knees, panting heavily. He glared up at the looming figure standing over him and huffed, "Well, sorry Captain, but even though I lost, I won't admit defeat. Even to you. That's what you taught me."
Kenpachi grinned widely. "Now that's what I like to hear. You've gotten stronger since the last time we fought, Ikkaku." He turned and walked to the area reserved for first-round winners. A medic ran towards him. "Captain Zaraki," she called, "Please wait, sir! We haven't yet treated your wounds!" He turned and hissed, "Wounds? This isn't my blood, woman." The medic trembled violently, overwhelmed by his spiritual pressure. "Y-yes sir," she quaked, and ran shakily back to where Ikkaku lay sprawled unconscious in a puddle of crimson mud. A proud smile was still fixed on his face.
Kenpachi sat, arms crossed, to watch the rest of the first round. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the fighting dragged on as one or both participants of each duel were carted from the ring by the medical team. At long last, the arena announcer stood to his feet to call the last fight. "Winner, Captain Shunsui Kyoraku of the Eighth Division! This concludes the first round of the Contest of Strength! All contestants who have advanced to the second round are to duel again at noon tomorrow!" The gong rang a second time, waking Kenpachi; who had fallen asleep.
"Huh? Over already?" he muttered, "Well, better go get these stains out of my uniform. Come on, Yachiru." Grinning like a monkey, Yachiru jumped onto Kenpachi's shoulder as they left the arena. The sun set, streaks of red and gold illuminating the western part of the Seireitei as the first day of the Contest of Strength came to an end.