Chap 2

Chap 2. The fight.

Ichigo waited in the circle, gazing around as he watched the whole of the Gotei 13 assemble for the fight. Only the patrols remained, and those on patrol were being punished for past offences. They would rush here to watch the fight as soon as their patrol was over, and those on the next would grumpily move to Seretei for the patrol.

Of course, he knew that those on the next patrol were half-expecting, half-hoping he wouldn't last that long. Ichigo didn't expect to fail, but he was the only one who knew of his full abilities, Hitsugaya knew of half, (as the white-haired captain had no idea of Ichigo's hollow) Ichigo's power. That meant no one else expected Ichigo to last even five seconds.

God, disappointing them would be fun.

Trumpets suddenly blared.

"What the hell?" muttered Ichigo. His eyes widened as he saw Yamamoto enter the area, surrounded by over half of the Gotei 13 who hadn't come before Ichigo, or around the time he'd come. Yamamoto smirked, he knew he looked intimidating, being surrounded by hundreds of powerful shinigami could do that. He tapped his staff as he walked, holding his head high.

Ichigo rolled his eyes, hand relaxing on the hilt of his Zangetsu, he hadn't quite realised he'd gripped it so tight. He scowled, leaning back on one leg, glaring at Yamamoto.

"Hello Kurosaki," said Yamamoto, before turning around to face the captains and vice captains, who had gathered at the edge of the circle. "Taichos, Fukutaichos. I do not believe I will release much reiatsu, and we know Ichigo isn't capable of releasing much." There were quiet smirks and chuckles. Ichigo growled, but not audibly. "There will be no need for you to retreat beyond the edge of the circle, stay in. I believe you can handle it."

"One minute," called Ichigo, striding forwards, sheathing his zanpukto. He'd noticed that his vice-captain, Hinamori, was all too clearly worried, her face was pale, and she gripped Hitsugaya's hand tightly.

"Hinamori," murmured Ichigo, reaching them. He bit his lip, knowing it was his fault she was worried. "I'm not gonna die on you, I promise I'll live. But, please, move out of the circle, I don't want you in here. It's just gonna make you more stressed, and you're already way too stressed."

"Yes, taicho," she replied. She paused, and then added, "Arigatou." Ichigo smiled, and turned to Hitsugaya.

"Go with her, make sure she doesn't blow," he said. Hitsugaya nodded, and left after his childhood friend, but not before muttering,

"You'll win." In a much louder voice, he added, "You are sucidal, Kurosaki. Why they made you captain, I'll never know." Ichigo smirked, before turning back, and walking to the middle. Yamamoto stood there, raising an eyebrow.

"Strange boy," he remarked. Ichigo shrugged, and let Zangetsu control his movements. The zanpukto knew the plan for the fight, and would be able to carry it out much better than Ichigo's, who would have fought with his usual determination and strength, not with the control he would need to pull of a convincing display of weakness.

Yamamoto drew his zanpuktou. He shunpoed forwards and flicked the blade against Ichigo's neck. Zangetsu only just managed to block the move, drawing a smirk for Yamamoto.

"I don't know why you're being so stupid," the Commander remarked. "You are clearly no match for me."

"I hope your words match your actions," replied Ichigo, shunpoing away. It was a small shunpo, one that only a recruit who had just gained ban kai could perform. It showed no sign of Ichigo's actual strength.

"You are pathetically weak," said Yamamoto. "However, you clearly want a good fight. I doubt you can survive, but why not?"

He pointed his zanpukto at Ichigo, clearly debating on whether or not to go to shikai.

"Burn all creation to ashes, Ryūjin Jakka," he said. Ichigo smirked, watching as the zanpuktou developed into a blade of fire.

The heat in the circle rose dramatically, at least, around Ichigo. The captains and vice captains were not affected, though they watched with barely disguised delight. Many felt that adding Ichigo had been pointless, especially since he had shown no improvement in reiatsu or strength.

Yamamoto shunpoed forwards again, and swung the blade at Ichigo, slightly scorching the clothes Ichigo wore. Ichigo grimaced at the heat, but somehow blocked the deadly stroke that would have otherwise taken off his right arm. He lunged forwards awkwardly, but the blade was deflected aside. Yamamoto quickly swung his zanpuktou at Ichigo's unprotected left side, but the teenager swung away, avoiding injury.

"You can't dodge forever," said Yamamoto, after a few more blows had been delivered by both sides. Both avoided serious injury, though Yamamoto had a slight cut to his right shoulder. Ichigo had dodged all the blows Yamamoto had delivered by swaying, or shunpoing away, or by some 'cowardly way that only a weak bastard could' as Kenpachi termed it.

Ichigo shrugged, unbothered. He had no injury, no bruises, or cuts, or anything. He was, therefore happy. Now, he swung his zanpuktou at Yamamoto, but was blocked easily. Ichigo quickly backtracked as Yamamoto delivered a rain of blows, all of which Ichigo dodged or blocked, while appearing awkward and uncoordinated.

Hinamori watched from the sidelines as her captain backtracked to the side of the circle. Her eyes widened as he took a cut to the shoulder, the skin around it burnt slightly. She gripped Hitsugaya's hand tightly as Ichigo winced but dodged another blow to the same left shoulder. Hitsugaya glanced at her, worried. He knew Ichigo could deal with Yamamoto easily, but he didn't look like it, right now.

But, the reiatsu he'd encountered in the office a week ago, a week ago right now he noted, had sung of power, power far greater than Yamamoto's.

The reiatsu reminded him of that of the Vizard. As much as the Shinigami had hated the Vizard, they had proven incredibly helpful in the Winter War, all of them having come perilously close to dying several times over. They had earned a respect among the whole of the Gotei 13, a respect only bolstered by their status as the Eleventh Division's Official Favorite Sparring Partners.

Ichigo noticed Hinamori's paled face, and groaned inwardly. Hinamori had been one of the first who had tried to convince him not to fight. The others had been his father, who had been serious until the end (when he'd cried, 'My son is suicidal, Masaki! Was it something I said? Something I did? Oh, Masaki! Offer me guidance!"); Rukia, who had been positively livid, he could still feel her punch; Orihime and Tatsuki, Orihime teary, and Tatsuki furious; and Ukitake, who had come with candy that Hitsugaya had bluntly refused.

He would have to get a move on with this fight if he wanted to avoid seeing teary faces like that of Hinamori's. Pausing slightly, he glanced at Yamamoto, and released his shikai.

"Ichigo, your zanpuktou cannot be released, it is not a sealed one," said Yamamoto.

"I learnt to seal it, Yamamoto," smirked Ichigo. "There is no difference between the size of my sealed and unsealed shikai, but the reiatsu levels are obviously different," said Ichigo. He grinned at Yamamoto's surprised look.

Ichigo motioned for Shirosaki to release slightly more reiatsu, enough to match most of the captains. Yamamoto raised an eyebrow.

"How much training have you done?"

Ichigo didn't answered, smirking as he shunpoed forwards and slammed his zanpuktou up, aiming for the top of Yamamoto's head. His opponent blocked the move, frowning.

Ichigo was quite a bit stronger. How much training had he done in that one week?

Ukitake watched the fight, frowning. Ichigo, the boy was smug. Clearly, he had something up his sleeve. And, if the expectant look in Hitsugaya's eyes was anything to go by, the child prodigy knew what it was. Ukitake moved out of the circle, and made his way to the child prodigy.

"You know what Ichigo is up to," muttered Ukitake to Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya looked at Ukitake, and smiled slightly.

"Perhaps," he said.

"Ichigo is in complete control of this fight, ne?"

"Hai. Yama doesn't even realize it. What a baka."

"Treacherous words, Hitsugaya."

"I don't expect Yamamoto to win. Besides, I speak the truth." Ukitake did not reply.

Ichigo knew about the conversation, Shirosaki had heard (with that unusually sharp hearing of his) and told Ichigo, who smiled, thankful Hitsugaya had not spoiled the surprise. Nevertheless, he appreciated the support.

"How about we stop?" suggested Yamamoto. Ichigo frowned, shunpoed a safe distance away, and stopped. "Now, a game of truth or dare," everyone raised an eyebrow, or had their mouths drop, "between our zanpuktous. A fight too, afterwards."

"Between our inner beings?" asked Ichigo. Yamamoto nodded. "Fine."

Both the contestants' zanpuktos materialized, Ichigo and Zangetsu decided to keep Shirosaki back, Shiro agreeing.

"Hello, Zangetsu," said Ryūjin Jakka. Zangetsu nodded his head in greeting. Smirking, Jakka added, 'Truth, or dare?"

"Truth," shrugged Zangetsu.

"When was the last time you argued with Ichigo?" asked Jakka, smirking. Zanpuktous arguing with their Shinigami was a true sign of weakness on the Shinigami's side. A strong Shinigami would not argue as much, the longer you went without arguing the stronger you were. Everyone expected a recent argument between Zangetsu or Ichigo, but neither remembered the last time they had bickered, and Zangestsu could feel a kido spell that would prevent him from lying.

"I can't remember," replied Zangetsu. "It's been a while, probably since the War, or even before that, perhaps." There was a shocked silence.

"You lie!" screamed Jakka. "You lie! Ichigo and you have fought recently! I know it! What about this fight?" Zangetsu shook his head. "The War?" Again, a no. "Liar!"

Jakka outstretched his hand, and sent a flame to Zangetsu. It caught his clothes, and burnt through the top, to Zangetsu's chest. Zangetsu yelled as the fire reached his skin, screamed as he was burnt.

"Tell the truth!" yelled Jakka. Zangetsu groaned.

"I told the truth!"

"You did no such thing! Ichigo is weak! You must have argued with him!" Ichigo wondered whether Jakka's mental state was an indication of Yama's. Nevertheless, he watched on in fear, for if Zangetsu died, Ichigo had, technically, no Shinigami powers, or might even die. On top of that, he would lose a friend.

"Ya still got me," muttered Shirosaki, but his voice belied his fear. Yes, thought Ichigo. Time to come out, Shiro.

"Score."

"Yama-jii," called Ichigo. "Clearly, you do not want to control your Zanpuktou. But, this is a fight of our inner selves, ne?"

"Hai."

"I have not upheld the terms then," said Ichigo. There was a collective gasp. "Come out Shirosaki."

Shirosaki came out. His white form bristled at the sight of Zangetsu laying on the floor, writhing from the pain from the flames. He marched over to Jakka, and drew his zanpuktou, and pointed it at Jakka.

"Put the flames out, now, baka."

"Who are you?"

"Put the flames out, now, baka."

"Tell me who you are!"

"Put the flames out, NOW, BAKA!"

"Fine," muttered Jakka, seeing Shirosaki's stubbornness. He withdrew the flames from Zangetsu, who fainted. Shirosaki, upon seeing his friend faint from the strength of the pain, rushed over to Zangetsu.

"Zan-chan! Stay awake!" he yelled. Outstretching his hand, Shirosaki centred his reiatsu around his hand, and healed Zangetsu's burns.

"Oi, Shiro," said Ichigo, seeing his hollow heal Zangetsu, whose mind Shiro most certainly was not in. "Since when have you been able to heal people like that?"

"For a while – no, just then!" said Shiro, grinning.

"Uh huh, you could've told me. God knows how many bouts we went through, and you never healed me like that," pouted Ichigo, crossing his arms across his face. His grumpy tone was belied by his amused face. Shiro grinned at Ichigo before turning his attention to the wakening Zangetsu.

"You 'kay, Zanny?"

"Yeah, and don't call me that."

"Zanny," chuckled Shiro, hugging the materialized zanpukto. Zangetsu rolled his eyes, and, grumpily, hugged the hollow back. Ichigo grinned at them.

"Zangetsu, you're hugging Shiro. Sure you're okay?"

"Oh shut up, Ichi," grumbled Zangetsu, lips twitching. He let go of Shiro, and glared at Ichigo, almost smiling. Ichigo smiled at him, before turning his attention to the gaping Yamamoto.

"Got a problem, Yama?"

"Kurosaki – what on earth – hollow…" stuttered Yamamoto. He frowned at Shirosaki, now standing, arms crossed, then at Zangetsu, who was standing as well, though pale, and finally at Ichigo, who raised an eyebrow.

"Japanese, please, preferably understandable Japanese."

"Since when did you have a hollow?" asked Hitsugaya, stepping into the circle. No wonder Ichigo's normal reiatsu reminded the child prodigy of a Vizard. "When, where did you train? Was it with the Vizard? Do you, can you, use the hollow's powers? What are the hollow's powers?"

"First off, I got a name, kid – sorry, Toushiro – and it's Shirosaki. Shiro, for short, though some may confuse that with your own nick name."

"Those who use my nick name shouldn't. Let them be confused," replied Hitsugaya drily. "The other questions? Care for me to repeat them?"

"No," said Ichigo. "He came when I trained to retrieve my own shinigami powers after Renji took what Rukia had given me, thanks to a training accident. Thanks to Urahara, too. I trained with the Vizard for a month after I returned to the human world. As for abilities, perhaps Yamamoto and I should fight, this time at my full power. That should give you a clear indication."

"Full power?" snorted Yamamoto. "You have been fighting at your full power. Hollow or not, you're still weak."

Six angry eyes turned to Yamamoto.

"Baka," muttered Ichigo, voice carrying to the whole of the amazed, shocked, Gotei 13. "Do you – Have you – Are you all such large idiots that you didn't even think, or didn't realize, or didn't notice, or – whatever – that I masked my reiatsu? That most of it was hidden? That you only felt about 5 percent of my actual reiatsu levels?!" his voice had grown louder, and continued to do so. "Even those who knew me the most didn't realize that I hid my reiatsu away! Idiots! No wonder Aizen left!

"Let's fight," he said finally, glaring at Yamamoto. He drew his zanpuktou as Zangetsu and Shirosaki dematerialized. So did Ryūjin Jakka.

Ichigo smiled. Everything was, almost going to plan. The … incident with Zangetsu being burnt by Jakka was unplanned, but, as he checked with Zangetsu, his zanpuktou was fully healed, and fine.

"Weak," said Yamamoto. "Where's your reiatsu, then, if it's so strong." Ichigo glared at Yamamoto, while telling Shirosaki to release the reiatsu.

All the captains, save for Hitsugaya and Ukitake, were still in the circle. All the vice captains were as well, except for Hinamori. All of the shinigami still in the circle, and even a few standing just outside the circle, felt the full blast of Ichigo's reiatsu as its limits were lowered. They felt the typical full blast, where all the reiatsu swelled up, releasing itself. Then, they felt it settle into a more comfortable level, but that level was enough to reduce most of the captains to their knees. Even Byakuya and Soi Fon, both of whom used as much of their reiatsu as possible to stop themselves from being affected were reduced to coughing, unable to breathe properly. Kenpachi, breathing as heavily as possible to stop himself from fainting, as had happened to Mayuri, rushed out of the circle, eyes widening. All the captains and vice captains, some of whom had to be carried out, hurried out, grateful they weren't Yamamoto.

"Well," muttered Shunsui, as soon as he had recovered, "this puts a new spin on it, ne, Nanao-chan?"

Scowling at him, Nanao answered, "Don't call me that. And yes… Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Ichigo won… as threachourous as it sounds."

"That's what Hitsugaya's been saying to me," said Ukitake, gesturing to the captain. "He was thinking from the beginning that Ichigo would win."

"He's still being suicidal," said Hitsugaya absently, still watching the fight. "Has anyone actually seen Yamamoto at full power?"

"The Aizen fight?" pointed out Soi Fon. "He was at full power then."

"I find it difficult to believe that Ichigo is this strong, but still fell to Aizen," said Byakuya suddenly. Everyone turned to him, recognizing the point of the statement.

"If Ichigo fell to Aizen, even if he was only a little weaker then this," said Nanao slowly, "But Yamamoto beat Aizen, how powerful would Yamamoto have to be?" There was silence as this was processed.

"Eh, Ichigo, ya heard that?" asked Shirosaki, mentally.

"Yep," said ichigo. "Show 'em the footage?"

"Why not?"

"Yama," said Ichigo. "Do you believe you beat Aizen?" Everyone turned to watch the circle, and the newest development.

"Of course I did!" snapped Yamamoto. Ichigo smirked.

"One of the abilities of Shiro," everyone turned to Hitsugaya, before remembering about Shirosaki, "is that he can see through Aizen's illusions, though that wasn't a skill we developed until the middle of the Winter War. And another thing, he can record what he sees through either his eyes, or mine, and display them later. Let me show you our version of the Aizen fight."

And so, Shirosaki materialized once more, and showed the footage.

Ichigo watched as Aizen disposed of Yamamoto easily, blade slicing through the man's stomach. '

"Ichigo?" asked Aizen, smiling lazily. "Why aren't you duped by my illusion?"

"Bastard," said Ichigo icily. "Shiro gets rid of them for me."


"Is that so?" smiled Aizen, raising his zanpuktou. "Well then, shall we fight?"

Ichigo smiled grimly, and raised his own zanpuktou, blocking Aizen's first move. They sized each other, both recognizing strength and power in the other. Ichigo flicked his blade up and over Aizen's head, aiming first for the neck, and then the stomach. Both moves were blocked.

And so they fought, each blocking the other, each trying to pride open gaps in the other's defenses. Both were unable to do so, however, and they fought on. They both were on shikai, but moved to ban kai, and finally, they both brought out their hollow masks, ignoring their wounds.

It was a cero that finally finished Aizen. He had gotten a lucky shot, managing to stab Ichigo through the stomach. Ichigo fell to his knees, the blood loss taking its toll. Aizen laughed maniacally, crowing about taking over the world. Summoning what was left of his reiatsu, Ichigo pulled together a cero quietly, and fired it at Aizen's head. Caught off guard, Aizen's eyes widened as he fell to the ground. Ichigo raised his zanpuktou, glaring at Aizen.

"We Shinigami exist, to make sure maniacs like you don't," he said, as he drove his zanpuktou into Aizen's chest, aiming for the heart. He struck his aim.

Completely spent, hollow mask disintegrating, Ichigo finally collapsed, allowing the fourth division healers to rush forwards. For some reason his almost shut down brain couldn't quite comprehend, they went to Yamamoto first -- wasn't he the one who defeated Aizen? – but he was grateful for the help that finally arrived. The last thing muttered into his ear, however, sent shivers down his spine.

"Yamamoto defeated Aizen, Ichigo!" cried Hanatorou. It was the final stab into his emotional heart that Aizen fired, and it stung more than any other.

"What!" exclaimed Yamamoto, eyes widening. "No! It's all some trick, it can't be!" he glared at Ichigo. "That's lie! Your Shiro—Shirosaki lies, it's not true. Everyone saw me defeat Aizen, it most certainly was not you!" Yamamoto breathed deeply, trying to calm down. It would not do good to appear to be flying into a rage over a clearly fictional video. Suddenly, he smiled, evilly, and smirked at Ichigo.

"How about we fight, Kurosaki? The winner will be the strongest, and be declared Aizen's defeater."