Chapter 2

Rumble in the Jungle

Ichigo follows the mysterious force which has captured Kazui. The enemy is moving at such a high speed, it's tough for even Ichigo to keep up, but he stays on its tail.

"The spiritual pressure I sense is of an Arrancar," Ichigo remarks. "But which one?"

The enemy flies out of Rio de Janeiro altogether, all the way into the jungle. After making it thousands of miles into the heart of the Amazon, the enemy finally comes to a rest. Ichigo approaches the enemy cautiously.

"Just who are you, and what do you want with my son?"

The enemy lets out a cackle. It then throws off the cloak covering it, and the first thing Ichigo sees are two black pigtails.

"Who the heck?"

"Yes, that's right," the enemy says, holding onto Kazui with one arm. "I am none other than Loly Aivirrne!"

"Loly?" Kazui asks. "Who's Loly?"

"Loly was an Arrancar - a pitiful one at that!" Ichigo yells. "This is impossible. How in the world are you this powerful and fast?"

Loly laughs. "It's quite simple, actually. 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 kilometer run, everyday."

"Enough with the jokes," Ichigo replies. "Tell the real reason."

Her spiritual pressure… Ichigo thinks to himself. It's enormous. But there's no way… she was just a Numero… nothing special. What has changed?

Loly chuckles. "Okay, I'll tell you my secret, if you promise one thing."

"I'm not making any promises to someone who captures my son!"

"Just promise me you won't try to rescue and heal me if I overexert myself again."

"Shut up and hand over my son."

"Ah, but I thought you wanted to know how I got so strong!" Loly puts her finger to her lips. "After all, right now I could destroy both you and your son in one fell swoop!"

"Hand me back Kazui, and then we can fight."

"No way!" Loly chuckles again.

"Loly, what's the meaning of this?"

"Sorry, only one question to be answered at a time!"

"Enough games," Ichigo says, pulling his zanpakuto. "I don't care about any of that crap, just let me have my son back!"

Ichigo prepares to attack Loly, but he realizes that Loly is using Kazui as a shield. He also realizes that Kazui cannot fight back against Loly, because Loly's spiritual pressure is through the roof.

"So, you've come to accept the fact that I'm more powerful than you," Loly smirks. "Now I'll let you in on my secret."

"Hurry up and get on with it."

"Before Aizen left Hueco Mundo, he left behind a key," Loly explains. "That key was entrusted only to me. I like to think that he loved me. But even if he didn't, he gave it to me, and nobody else. This key was to be used only after the war was over. After going way out in the desert of Hueco Mundo, I found the place he told me about. I then opened the door with a key, and found this zanpakuto."

She shows off the blade to Ichigo.

"This zanpakuto contains all of Aizen's powers, all saved up in here. As it turns out, Aizen wanted me to inherit his powers if he'd ever be defeated. And that's what has happened. But guess what?"

Loly licks her lips.

"I've trained and become even more powerful than Aizen ever was! So guess what your hopes are of defeating me? Zero!"

"We'll soon see about that!" Ichigo screams.

He is about to slash at Loly, but the Arrancar again holds Kazui out as a shield.

"This is my hostage here," Loly states. "He is mine."

"What do you want with him?!" Ichigo yells. "He never did anything to you!"

"His mother did!"

Ichigo's eyes glow in rage. "Orihime saved your life on multiple occasions! She told me all about her time with you! You tormented her and beat her up, and then she saved your life and the life of your friend Menoly! How dare you hold anything against her!"

"She's a monster!" Loly shouts. "I hate her!"

Ichigo begins to get even angrier, but Loly continues.

"She's a slut! A whore! And she put on a whole lot of pounds, didn't she? She's useless!"

At this point, Ichigo has nearly lost it. He is just about to go all out in attack, when Kazui cries out.

"Papa, what do 'slut' and 'whore' mean?"

Ichigo gets hold of himself for a moment.

"Kazui, your captor hates your mother," Ichigo explains. "She doesn't see in Orihime what I see in her. I see a survivor, a fighter, a true woman. Loly hates her because Orihime has a power she can't understand. But Orihime never hurt her once! She only tried to save her life, on multiple occasions!"

Loly smirks. "You can't attack me, because the instant you do, your son will die. And I don't really care if you hurt me, even though I'll survive easily with Aizen's power. If I eliminate that monster's offspring, I've accomplished my goal."

"Let's negotiate, then," Ichigo states. "You let Kazui go."

"And what do I get in return?" Loly asks.

Ichigo sighs. "You get me. You can do with me as you please."

Loly chuckles at the thought. "Oh, sure, like I'm going to trust the guy who survived Yhwach and even my precious Aizen. You'll just pull some move out and escape."

Feeling frustrated, Ichigo clenches his zanpakuto, ready to attack, until he thinks of another option.

"Why don't we settle this a different way?" Ichigo suggests.

"How so?"

"We're here in Brazil for the Olympic Games," Ichigo states. "My friend Chad is competing as a boxer. We'll make a bet. If Chad doesn't win a medal, you get to kill me without any hesitation. If he wins a bronze medal, we fight to the death. If he wins a silver medal, you let Kazui go, and I let you go. But if he wins a gold medal, you let Kazui go, and I will kill you on the spot."

Loly stares at Ichigo for a moment, then suddenly bursts out laughing. She becomes absolutely hysterical, unable to stop the laughter.

"Fine, you win!" she exclaims. "We'll put the fate of your life on the result of a game. Doesn't bother me!"

She continues laughing, then lets go of Kazui, who goes running to his father, and the two embrace. Ichigo feels the spiritual pressure emanating from his son. He begins to wonder how powerful his son could possibly become.

"Thank you, Papa," Kazui says. "But I think I could take her on myself."

"Not yet," Ichigo replies. "Maybe in a few years, though."

Loly puts her hands on her hips. "I'm impatient! I want to see these fights now! I have no confidence in your friend! He's gonna lose! Let's go watch him get knocked out!"

Ichigo grins. "Suit yourself," he says.

He grabs Kazui and takes off with his flashstep to zoom back to Rio de Janeiro. Loly follows suit, using the powers she obtained from Aizen.

This should be fun! Loly thinks to herself. I can't wait to see the reaction from that whore when I murder her son and her husband, regardless of the outcome of the fight. It will be sweet, sweet revenge for my precious Aizen!

To Be Continued...