Ikkaku moved to strike but the orange-haired Soul Reaper skidded out of the way. The mystery Soul Reaper and swung his sword. Ikkaku blocked with Hozukimaru's sheath. When he went to use Hozukimaru, the Soul Reaper jumped up.
The two attacked each other a few more times before they jumped back from each other. Both of them had cuts above their eyes.
"At least...tell me your name."
"Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Heh. Thats a good name."
"You think so? No one's ever told me that before."
"Yeah. Guys whose names start with 'I' are good-looking and talented."
Ikkaku remembered Kiku saying that to him. Her face slightly embarrassed and laughing.
"I'm 3rd Seat, Assistant Adjutant of Squad 11. Ikkaku Madarame. What do ya say? Let's be friends."
Ichigo smirked.
"Ain't gonna happen."
Ichigo's hand let go of his Zanpakuto to wipe the cut over his eyes.
"I don't get it. Sure, there's some distance between us but only a novice would allow his hand to leave his sword in battle."
"Why don't you just shut your trap? I got blood in my eyes so I just wanted to wipe it away!"
Ikkaku took off the bottom of Hozukimaru.
Thank you, Kiku.
"Even shallow wounds above the eyes bleed profusely."
The wound above Ichigo's eye started bleeding again.
"Therefore, you have to stop the bleeding."
Ikkaku coated the wound with Kiku's styptic.
"Hey! Thats not fair! You have a special ointment!"
Ikkaku snapped, angry he would insult Kiku's ointment.
"It is fair! Its called 'being prepared,' you idiot! Instead of complaining, you should be applauding my professionalism!"
"Nah..." Ichigo said bored.
Ikkaku laughed.
"You're certainly a strange one, Green Horn. And you don't look like much of a fighter."
Ikkaku ran and swung his sheath and sword at Ichigo. In between strikes, he said.
"You have excellent reflexes!"
Ichigo lifted his Zanpakuto but Ikkaku blocked it.
They fought for a short time before jumping apart.
"Tell me. Who is your Master?"
"I only trained with him for ten days so I don't really know if I would call him my Master. Kisuke Urahara."
Ikkaku shuddered at the name.
Him?
"In that case, it would be rude to kill you without giving it my all."
Ikkaku slammed together his Zanpakuto and its sheath.
"Extend, Hozukimaru!"
It changed into its Shikai form, a three-part staff.
----------------------
Kiku nervously looked up at the sky from the relief station.
I know Ikkaku and Yumichika have done something by now. Those two are always the first to start something.
She held her shaking hands together.
"Please be okay, you two."
A small blush crossed her face.
"That goes double for you, Ikku-kun."
-----------------------
Ikkaku was stunned when his blood fell to the ground. Ichigo had taken control over the fight and created a massive gash from his left shoulder to his stomach. It even cut through Hozukimaru.
He glared.
This can't be.
Ikkaku struggled for breath. For some stupid reason, his mind kept running through images of Kiku.
He threw the now useless part of Hozukimaru away.
"I guess you think its over. But you're dead wrong! It won't be over as long as I can hold my sword!"
Ichigo didn't flinch as Ikkaku charged at him.
His mind was failing him.
I promised Kiku...I wouldn't be beaten by some lousy Ryoka!
"You're too slow!"
Ichigo sliced into Ikkaku's right arm.
He staggered back.
"You are strong...I'll give you that."
Ikkaku fell to his knees.
"Forgive me...Kiku."
---------------------------
When Ikkaku started to open his eyes, he thought he could hear Kiku's voice.
"Ki...ku?"
The thought of death made him come to his senses.
"How come...I'm still alive?"
"I see you're finally awake."
Ikkaku looked over and saw Ichigo.
"Ichigo? What are you doing? Why are you still here?"
"Well...I learned something," in his hand was Hozukimaru. "I learned that a Zanpakuto goes right back to normal as soon as its owner passes out."
"My Hozukimaru," he gasped. "Give it back to me!"
"Relax. I'm not gonna take it from you. I only used its ointment to stop the bleeding. But between both our injuries, I had to use it all up."
Ikkaku glanced down and saw the wound on his front was covered in Kiku's special ointment.
"I gotta admit, thats some pretty amazing ointment you have."
Ikkaku saw the would over Ichigo's eye had the styptic.
"You had no right!"
Kiku made that for me! Not you!
"Calm down. Sure, its all gone now but it saved your life."
"Thats...thats the point! You denied me the glory of death after a painful defeat! How could I go on?"
Ikkaku almost yelled at Ichigo for using Kiku's styptic. But why?
"Damn it, Ichigo! I could beat you to a bloody pulp!"
"Your girlfriend's probably happy I did so shut up!"
"Huh?"
Ichigo stood up.
"You kept muttering her name when I was applying that stuff on you. I thought you would try and kiss me or something!"
He pulled out a picture.
"She's cute."
"Don't touch that!!"
Ikkaku was furious. That was one of the few pictures he had of Kiku.
It was during a party meerly a few months ago. In it was Kiku, himself, Yumichika, and a few other members of Squad 11.
"Hey, its not like I was gonna take it. I just thought your girlfriend was cute. The way you have your arm around her-"
"How dare you say Kiku is my girlfriend?! You know nothing about her! Don't you dare speak as if you could even begin to understand her!"
Ichigo sighed and got up.
"I get it. I only stayed because I needed some answers, not to question your relationships."
Ikkaku sighed.
"I'm so unlucky. What do you want?"
"I want Rukia Kuchiki."
Ikkaku looked up at him.
"The capital offender? I know of her. Why do you want someone like that?"
"We're here to save her."
"What? A rescue? How many of you are there? Ten?"
"Five. And an animal."
Ikkaku stared in disbelief before he burst out laughing.
"You'll never pull off a suicide mission like that! Are all of you Ryoka stupid?!"
He groaned but kept laughing.
"Damn it! I was laughing so hard my wound opened up!"
Ikkaku calmed down and told Ichigo where to go.
"You better hurry. Other Soul Reapers will be on their way."
"Right. Thanks, Ikkaku. I owe you."
Ichigo set the picture in Ikkaku's hand.
"Who's the strongest of you Ryoka?"
"Probably me."
"Then you'll be the one most likely to meet my Captain. That is, if you stay alive long enough to meet him. He will hunt you down."
Ichigo nodded.
"And Ikkaku."
Ikkaku twisted his head to see a smirk on Ichigo's face.
"If you don't think that picture shows how you really feel about her, you're not only unlucky but stupid."
Before Ikkaku could say anything, Ichigo was running.