Chapter 4
Blood-Red Conflict
Hanatarou peeked up from a manhole cover and looked left and right before going up, seeing it was clear.
"There is no way to go directly under the tower, so this is as close as I can take you."
Ichigo and Ganju climbed up out of the hole too and looked around.
"Look," pointed out the soul reaper "That's the Sensakyuu!"
"We're so close already," said Ganju. "Looks enormous. We'll probably have to fight our way to it from now on."
Ichigo turned and faced some nearby stairs.
"What's up Ichi-!"
"Someone's there."
Smoke cleared… and there was a man in a visor with a red spiked ponytail in a soul reaper uniform.
"What's this we have? A hollow and a regular guy?"
"Renji Abarai…" Ichigo growled.
"Waitaminute, that hair looks familiar… You're that kid who stole Rukia's powers aren't you?"
"Not bad, identifying me on hair color alone. I didn't steal them though. She gave them to me."
"I'm impressed you could remember anything after becoming a hollow, let alone make it here without being purified."
"I'm not just a hollow."
Ichigo reached back and gripped his sword.
"I'm a soul reaper too."
"That's not like any Zanpakto I've ever seen, so you're full of it, Kurosaki! I compliment you on remembering my name though."
Ganju and Hanatarou were frozen in fear
"I'm surprised; I thought you'd been killed by Captain Kuchiki's attack."
Ichigo and Renji walked towards one another.
"I don't know how you survived, but it's very impressive and worth complimenting," said Renji. "However, it's all over now."
He drew his blade.
"I've said it before; I'll kill the one who stole Rukia's power. If you're still alive, then Rukia's power cannot be restored. "
"Back then didn't you take her away because you wanted to kill her?! What's the point of saying that now?!" Ichigo growled, drawing his own blade. "I MUST KEEP GOING FORWARD!"
Ichigo charged Renji.
"That depends on if you can defeat me or not!" declared Renji. "Come on, if you have the guts! Don't you like to risk your life?"
Their blades crossed over and over before Renji spoke up.
"Ichigo, let me ask you a question: How do you plan on saving Rukia?"
"How do I…?"
"Even if you beat me there's still 11 more vice Captains, and above that 13 Captains. Unless you can defeat all of us, there's no way you can save Rukia. You sure you can do it?"
Ichigo narrowed his eyes.
"Without a doubt. How many Captains there are? How many vice-Captains there are? What does it have to do with me?! I'll fight all of them no matter what! If they dare try to stop me, I'll defeat them all!"
Ichigo managed to push Renji so his back was to a wall.
"Where does this confidence come from? With only one or two life and death battles, you think you can handle anything? Or is it that your Zanpakto is different? Is it these strange hollow-like powers? Can it be with your little improvement you've become this arrogant?"
"I'll show you li-!"
Ichigo was flung backwards by Renji.
"Roar, ZABIMARU!"
The blade changed and went right at Ichigo, who blocked with his own sword.
Ichigo tried to get footing, but even his talons couldn't keep him from being shoved back through a nearby wall.
"Seems like you thought you understood my abilities after just one fight with me. Let me tell you, when Vice-Captains and the higher Soul Reapers go to the living world, in order not to cause unnecessary disturbances to the souls in the world of the living, we try very hard to suppress our powers. Right now, my power is five times stronger than when we last met! It doesn't matter how strong you are, it's close to impossible to beat me?"
"So you're saying.. right now this is your real power…? To me your attacks are totally… Ineffective! Also…you might wanna take… your own advice… Renji…"
Ichigo raised a hand and a red sphere of energy formed.
Renji's eyes widened right before the Cero fired with a loud hum and blasted into Renji.
However, Ichigo hadn't properly focused the attack, so instead of it being a single, powerful blast it was a wider, weaker blast.
It had hurt Renji, but it didn't do as much as it could have.
"If there's 11 more guys like you, I've got absolutely nothing to worry about."
Renji brought his sword back down from blocking the Cero.
"You bastard," he said with a grin.
"Ichigo…" started Ganju.
"Ichigo, are you okay?" asked Hanatarou.
"Never better."
There was a hiss as the wound on Ichigo's head healed over and bubbled, the part of his mask that had been broken regenerating.
However, Ichigo realized that his Spirit Energy had waned a bit; apparently that regeneration took a good deal of his Spiritual Energy to work.
"That's insane…" said Hanatarou.
'Damn… I hope I still have enough Spiritual Energy to beat him.'
"I can feel your Spiritual Pressure dropped; what was that, high speed regeneration? Only high level hollows can do that, but you don't feel all that strong."
Renji stood in a combat stance.
"Is it really okay to talk big in the beginning considering your state now?"
Renji leapt at Ichigo, blade extended.
"It's over!"
There was a low buzzing noise as Ichigo vanished into Sonido.
However, his shoulder still got clipped; the drop in his Spiritual Pressure had cost him some of his speed.
'Dammit!'
He broke into a sprint, running from the Vice-Captain before turning and attempting to fight.
Ichigo couldn't risk healing any wounds; if he did he'd just get slower and weaker, and then he's just get killed.
"Crap!"
Ichigo blocked a strike and collapsed to one knee, wounded and panting and resting on his blade.
"You really are stupid. Do you want to save Rukia that badly?"
"Idiot… I didn't say 'I want to save her'. I said 'I have to save her'."
"Don't make me laugh!"
Ichigo's other shoulder got cut.
"It's your fault that Rukia lost her power! That's why her sentence is so heavy! Don't you get it?! It's because of you that Rukia is going to die! What right do you have to say you want to save her!? Quit joking around!"
"I know it's my fault she's going to die. SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE TO SAVE HER!"
Ichigo brought his blade up and shoved Renji's back.
"Damn you!"
'I can see it! At most 3 times…' Ichigo recalled Urahara's teachings. 'After 3 attacks, he returns Zabimaru to its normal form!'
Ichigo dodged the next strike.
'One…'
The second.
'Two…'
He caught the third on his blade.
'Three!'
Ichigo charged as the blade retracted.
"It's over, Renji!"
Renji dodged the strike.
"Like I said, you can't win. Period."
Renji slashed Ichigo over his chest from his left shoulder down diagonally.
'Shit…!'
He noticed, however, the blow wasn't as deep as it should have been. Yes, it hurt like hell, but it should have been much worse.
'How…Did he dodge that?!'
"It seems you're puzzled about how I dodged your attack. That was a good idea you had, attacking me when I was in between attacks, but why couldn't you hit me? The answer is simple: you're too slow! You're wounded and your spiritual pressure is almost gone! We're on completely different levels Ichigo! The answer is that simple. Do you understand now? You can't rescue Rukia, because I'm going to kill you right here!"
Renji raised his blade… and Ichigo narrowed his eyes.
"Like hell you are."
He opened his mouth ad a red orb appeared in front of it.
Renji's eyes widened and he was engulfed in the blast at point blank range.
Ichigo managed to raise his blade, Renji now standing some distance away.
"Sorry… To have kept you waiting…"
Ichigo noticed his power was low; he had one good shot at this. That Cero had burned up a lot of power, so he had to make this next attack count. It had to hurt. It had to bring Renji down.
"I will now put all of my will… Into defeating you!"
Ichigo raised his blade to its full height, above his head, blade facing Renji.
Renji brought his blade up to defend… but failed.
His sword was shattered and a large cut ran the length of his torso from upper left to lower right as a blast of red and white energy shot forth from Zangetsu.
'Damn… I'm totally out… and he's still standing…'
Renji was bleeding profusely but managed to shuffle over to Ichigo.
"Now that I think about it.. I was probably just scared… because I… Damn… I really am a tramp down to my bones. I hate myself. I bark at the star but don't have the courage to jump and grab it."
Renji grabbed the collar of Ichigo's uniform.
"I never won once against Captain Kuchiki. Ever since Rukia left… I trained everyday but I still failed.. He's too strong. Fighting to get Rukia back… is nothing but an impossible dream to me. Kurosaki… I'm probably shameless for doing this, but I have to ask you… Please! You have to save Rukia!"
"Yeah…"
Renji collapsed… shortly followed by Ichigo.
Ichigo woke up in the world of skyscrapers.
"Hey partner. You sure got roughed up out there."
"I did. I thought I was supposed to be stronger, capable of taking down a captain? Why couldn't I beat a Vice-Captain without almost dying myself?!"
"That's a good question partner." The white "him" with the mask crossed an arm and cupped his chin in his hand. "Wait a minute. You ain't just a hollow partner. Yer' a Soul Reaper too. Yer Hollow half's gotten stronger but yer soul reaper half ain't as much, so it's probably causin' some sort of imbalance!"
"How do I make my soul reaper powers stronger then, Zangetsu? Can you teach me?"
The white being grinned, sliding his mask to the side of his head.
"Sure partner, but it ain't gonna be easy. Oi, old man! Come out! You're needed!"
The man appeared from bits of black that flew out of the White Ichigo.
"What is it I am required for?"
"Ichigo needs training with his Soul reaper powers. I figure since I've been trainin' his hollow powers you can try yer hand at trainin' his soul reaper ones. I'll leave it up to you, Old man."
The white Ichigo lied on a nearby building on his side, resting his head in his hand with his elbow on a building.
The old man looked to Ichigo.
"I believe the first thing you must learn is the ability to enter your inner world at will Ichigo; the technique is called Jinzen. It is a very simple technique; you make yourself comfortable and then focus on your sword and inner world, allowing yourself to enter at will. Seeing as we cannot practice this now, I will allow you to do so at a later time. For now, we shall focus on you getting to know your sword better."
The old man steppd down from his pole.
"I am displeased with this place, Ichigo. There are no trees, only buildings. I would like if you were to add more nature to this place."
Ichigo frowned.
"Okay, what about you?" Ichigo asked, looking to the white mirror of himself.
"Eh, me? I don't really care, nothing to really complain about. As long as you keep getting stronger I don't care what this place looks like, although you coming in here in your free time to spar would be nice; I like fights, and since I don't feel like you'd be willing to let me have any out there, fighting you now and again would be fun; it would also help train you and we could use it to help you learn techniques. Speaking of which…"
The white Ichigo stood up and stretched.
"I think it's time you learned yer' Shikai's special ability. That fight woulda gone a lot better if you knew it. It burns less Spirit Energy than Cero and y' don't need to charge it."
The old man nodded.
"A technique is much more powerful when you know its name, Ichigo. You have performed the attack on accident many times now because you lack good control over your spiritual pressure. That is something we intend to teach you properly while you are here as well. Time here is longer than time outside; we will have what would be days outside in the course of one night while the body is healed. Hopefully after this you will be more capable in combat."
Ichigo nodded.
"Alright then, let's get started."
The white Ichigo nodded for the Old Man to move to Ichigo's other side and drew his sword.
"Getsuga Tensho."
He brought the sword down and a wave of red and white energy shot out.
"You try Ichigo; simply focus your power into the sword and imagine a wave shooting out as soon as you've brought the blade down completely from a stroke. That's how you use the Getsuga Tensho. Remember, if you call its name it'll be even stronger!"
Ichigo nodded and raised his own blade.
"Getsuga Tensho!"
The wave was enormous but dissipated quickly.
"As you can see Ichigo, that attack was unfocused and thus lost power and momentum and eventually faded away at a short distance; if you can learn to condense your power and focus it you will be able to strike targets further away and with more power. This brings us to our next lesson; controlling your power."
"As I've tried to teach you before, you gotta learn to do this to use not just Getsuga Tensho but all of yer hollow powers too; Cero is like Kido like y' said to th' cat. Yer' high speed regeneration requires ya t' focus yer power in one place. Y' noticed how that attack Renji hit ya with didn't go as deep as it shoulda, right? That's yer Hierro, or Iron Skin. T'use that you need to be able to condense yer spiritual pressure around yer body like armor. Th more condensed it is, th' stronger it is and th' safer ya are, partner."
"Once this is all over it is possible you could learn Kido, provided you can master this basic skill. It would give you another edge in battle; the ability to restrain enemies or launch attacks whilst locking blades would be a most useful advantage indeed."
"So how do I do it?"
"It's simple partner…"
Ichigo groaned and slowly opened his eyes.
"Ichigo, you're awake!"
"Hanatarou… where are we?"
"Please stay still; your wounds are not healed yet."
"Right…I was fighting Renji….!"
Ichigo sat up.
"Ichigo!?'
"Thanks Hanatarou, I'm okay."
"What are you talking about?! You can't get up yet!"
"I have to.."
Ichigo got up and stumbled forward…before being knocked out again.
Upon leaving the sewers again much, much later, Ichigo and Ganju chatted for a bit before they felt an immense Spiritual pressure.
"What…. Is that?!"
"Whose spiritual pressure is this…?!" growled Ganju.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes and turned.
"Run! Someone really strong is nearby! We should run before they find us!"
The three bolted.
After a while Ichigo growled; the pressure was still there.
'We've been running so long, but I still feel so close to the source. There's so much of it and I'm still not perfect at sensing it, so I can't tell exactly where the owner is… It's like there's a sword at my throat!'
Suddenly Hanatarou collapsed.
Ganju turned and ran over to him.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm out of energy.."
Ganju threw the soul reaper over his shoulder and continued running.
Then the saw him; a soul reaper with a white coat standing on a high up rooftop.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked Ichigo. "Don't just stand there and stare."
Suddenly he felt a sword go through his torso… but there was none.
'Just from his killing intent!?'
"Are you Ichigo Kurosaki?"
The voice came from behind Ichigo.
"How do you know my name?! Who are you?!"
"Oh? Ikkaku didn't tell you about me?"
Ichigo remembered what Ikkaku had said.
"I am the captain of the 11th Division, Zakarai Kenpachi! I have come here to kill you."
Ichigo Sonido'd away and turned to face him.
'No wonder his power is so strong, he feels completely different from anyone I've met…'
"So? I told you that I'm here to kill you. You haven't said anything in response. Does that mean you're ready to start now?"
Ichigo felt Hanatarou's spiritual pressure drop and turned.
"Hanatarou! Ganju!"
"We're fine… don't be an idiot… worry about that guy or you'll just get killed."
"Oh~ He's drooling!" exclaimed a high pitched voice.
Ichigo turned around and saw a little girl on Kenpachi's shoulder with pink hair.
"Huh?"
The girl leapt onto Ichigo's shoulder.
"Kenny really scared him, poor thing!"
"…!"
Ichigo shrugged her off.
"He got angry," she pouted.
"Idiot," Kenpachi said. "It's your fault."
Ichigo brandished his blade.
"Ganju! Take Hanatarou and get out of here! I'll try to stop this guy! Go save Rukia!"
"But…by yourself…!"
"Shut up and go!"
"Alright then," agreed Ganju, taking the boy and running.
"What a surprise," Ichigo said. "Neither of you are chasing them. Isn't your objective to stop us?"
"For the last damn time, I'm here to fight you. They can die anywhere they want for all I care."
Ichigo was barely holding up.
"Not bad. So what are you eh? Some sort of hollow?"
Ichigo was about to answer but got interrupted.
"Never mind, as long as you're strong it doesn't matter to me. Your stance looks good by the way. Lots of openings but it's high in Spiritual pressure. No wonder Ikkaku lost. Our Vice Captains would be no match for you."
"Thanks."
"You're still far weaker than me though. How about this? I'll give you a chance."
He opened the top of his uniform some.
"Cut me anywhere you want and don't hold back."
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm not going to attack someone unarmed. Do you think I'm stupid?"
"Nah, this is a handicap. A charity. It's nice of you, not wanting to attack an unarmed person but you should save your sympathy for someone else. Don't be so stuck-up; just enjoy this! Killing and being killed are just a way to pass time! C'mon! Neck, stomach, eye, anywhere! It'll be even better if you kill me in one blow!"
Ichigo narrowed his eyes.
"WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?! C'MON!"
"You asked for it, don't regret it later!"
Ichigo brought his blade down… and was in shock as his hands were bleeding.
"Not bad, you managed to break a little skin. Still, I'm disappointed. I expected more from you. Now… It's my turn. Please don't die too quickly."
The man drew his sword and Ichigo sonido'd back.
'He pushed Zangetsu back with a bare arm… what a monster!'
"It's like Hierro… Ichigo! Remember our training! You're going to need to be quick if you want to beat this guy."
'Right.'
"it's useless Ichi," said a voice near him. "Ichi's sword won't do anything to Kenny because a sword like that is the same as a bladeless sword to Kenny!"
"What?!"
"Lemme tell you why your sword can't even scratch me. It's pretty simple really; when two spiritual beings collide, the side with the weaker spiritual pressure will get hurt, that's all there is too it. In other words, my spiritual pressure is much stronger than yours. Simple, ain't it? Can't believe I camped all night for this. So sad it's not even funny. At the very least, deny this sword just a tiny little bit. Please, trespasser."
The man raised his blade and Ichigo moved to block.
Chad fired another blast of power, sending Soul Reapers flying.
'At first I'd get exhausted after firing 2 times, but now I don't even break a sweat after 5. I'll have to thank Yoruichi when I see him again.'
Chad started running.
'Yoruichi… Orihime… Uryuu… Ichigo… Is everyone safe? What about Ganju and Nelliel? I hope no one got hurt.'
Chad saw a man in a pink kimono in front of him and stopped.
"This is the end of the line for you, foolish trespasser!"
Nel suddenly turned.
"Chad's in danger. He stands no chance against this person; this person's power is much stronger than Chad's."
She looked to Orihime and Uryuu.
"Stay somewhere safe; I'm going to help Chad. I'm the only one of us fast enough to get there in time."
The other two reluctantly nodded and Nel vanished in a blur.
"…Captain of the 8th division…"
"Yup, Nice to meet you."
Flower petals continued to fly.
The man looked up.
"Hey Nanao, you can stop throwing petals now!"
She just threw more.
"U-uh, can ya hear me Nanao? You can stop now Nanao! Nanao?"
AH!"
The whole basket was dumped on him, burying him.
"… I'm sorry, I don't have time for games. Please move aside."
"Don't say that! What's wrong with staying with me? You people sure are stoic."
"I'm in a hurry, so please move. You don't look like a bad guy, so if it's possible I don't want to fight you."
"How problematic! Neither of us wants to fight. However, I cannot let you pass. Would you please turn back?"
"I can't do that."
"Oh? It can't be helped…"
The man produced an urn and two clay cups, which he placed on the ground after sitting up properly.
"Drink, my friend!"
"…Huh?"
"Since you won't turn back, at least stay here for a while. Just a little while. All the other Captains have made their moves by now. This battle should be over soon. Until then, please stay here and drink to your heart's content!"
"The other Captains…? Ichigo and the others are also being attacked by Captains?"
"Darn, it seems that I've said too much."
"The situation has changed. Please move aside immediately Captain Kyouraku."
The man sipped his sake.
"What if I refuse?"
"You won't get a chance to!"
Chad fired El Directo at the man.
'It's starting,' thought Nel with a frown. 'Hang in there.'
Nel picked up her pace.
"Missed."
Chad was trying his hardest to hit the man but kept missing.
"Missed again."
'How is he dodging them?'
"I suggest you give up. Y'know you're pretty good. Fast and strong, you're extremely good for a human. However, you can't hit me so none of that matters. The result is obvious if we keep this up. I suggest you give up and turn back now."
"I can't do that-!"
There was a low hum and Nel appeared between the two facing Shunsui.
"Chad, stand down. You can't beat him."
Nel glared at the captain.
"But I can."
"Oh? And who might you be miss?"
"Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck."
The man adjusted his hat.
"And you say you can beat me?"
She nodded.
"I don't like fighting, but if I have to I will. I can't let you stop us, I'm sorry."
"You don't seem like a human, but you aren't a soul reaper either. What are ya?"
"A Vasto Lorde."
Shunsui's eyes widened for a moment.
"Then maybe you can beat me. Or not. Why don't we see?"
"I'm sorry, I can't let this drag on. We have to go; I can sense another of my friends is in trouble to."
She pulled her sword out of its sheath and held it in front of her.
"Chad, go back the way I came and meet up with Orihime and Uryuu. Find me again, and we'll regroup with Ichigo."
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Yes."
Chad ran off, blasting through a nearby wall.
"I'm sorry Captain, but I'm going to end this quickly." She closed her eyes. "Declare, Gamuza."
The words came to her without any rhyme or reason; they felt natural as they rolled off her tongue.
A burst of pink spiritual energy shot out around her, surrounding and obscuring her.
"What's this then? I ain't never heard of a hollow with a Shikai."
When the smoke cleared a centaur-like being with armored shoulders and arms holding a large lance appeared.
"This isn't a Shikai. This is my 'true' power. This is your last warning, Soul Reaper: run or be defeated absolutely."
The man lowered his hat.
"Sorry, I can't do that."
Nel closed her eyes then shot them open.
In a blur she was next to the man and struck him with her lance, launching him across the area they were in.
She lifted her lance and it glowed green.
"Lanzador Verde."
She threw it and it drilled right into the Captain's chest before exploding in a burst of energy.
She turned to the man's Vice-Captain.
"Tend to your Captain. He is wounded."
Nel sealed her blade and vanished, heading for Ichigo.
X
Ichigo was still trading blows with the mad Captain and just barely holding his own.
"Shit…!"
Ichigo jumped back to avoid another swing.
"RUNNING AWAY AGAIN?!"
'Calm down… Calm down…! Dammit, I can't do it! He's invincible!'
Ichigo managed to get a good distance away and stop.
Calling upon the techniques he'd been taught in the sewers by Zangetsu, he focused on the wound on his hand and the skin bubbled and healed.
'Still… I hit him and he didn't even get hurt! Is the difference between us that great?!'
Suddenly the wall next to Ichigo burst open and Kenpachi appeared next to him.
"Stop running around. I don't like playing hide and seek with weaklings."
The man leaped into the air, ready to strike.
'Calm down! Calm down now! I'm scared by his Spiritual Pressure right now. That's all. If I calm down and focus there's no reason I can't hurt him."
"It's just like Zangetsu said; throw away my fear and never stop moving forward. If I retreat I age, if I fear I die!"
'I can beat him! I can win!'
Ichigo found the man again and stood tall, facing him.
"You've finally decided to come out. Ready to die? OR are you surrendering?"
"None of the above!"
Ichigo charged and steel met steel.
However, Ichigo powered through… and cut Kenpachi across the chest.
"Sorry, I can't stay held up here. If I do then everything I hold dear will be destroyed!"
'I can cut him! Not just that, I can WIN!'
Kenpachi's face turned to a huge grin.
"So you can cut me after all… You better not relax yet. The fun is just beginning, isn't it Ichigo Kurosaki!?"
The two clashed blades several more times before Kenpachi grabbed Ichigo's sword and tried to throw him away.
Ichigo barely dodged being impaled on Kenpachi's sword, kicked the man's hand, and flipped, blocking a second strike.
Ichigo yet again barely blocked a strike to his back, hearing a sound behind him that alerted him.
"Good, very good! You can finally hear my bells! The bells, the eye patch, they're all tools to make the battle more enjoyable! If you don't' take advantage of them it'll be boring!"
"You're still underestimating me aren't you? Is that why you haven't released your Zanpakto? Are you nuts? My sword's already cut you. If you keep holding back I'll beat you for sure."
"My sword has no name," Kenpachi informed.
"What?"
"This is the only form of my sword. I didn't put any seal on it. This is the true form of my Zanpakto."
"Good to know, means your sword can't get any stronger. So-!"
Ichigo blocked a strike with the flat of his blade.
"So what? So you'll win if you just try a little bit harder? You're the one underestimating me! The reason there's no seal is because my spiritual pressure is so strong that even the strongest seal won't do any good; my sword's constantly released. So when I fight, I just hold back on how hard I swing. Do you get it now? If I don't hold back, my enemy will become so weak that I can't enjoy it at all."
Ichigo heard his blade crack and knew what was coming.
He poured as much power as he could to where the blade would hit his torso and sure enough it penetrated his butcher's knife of a blade… but stopped when it hit his skin.
"Huh?"
Kenpachi's look of confusing turned to a wild grin.
"Damn, that's something! Seems like you were holding back too! Still, your sword's useless."
Ichigo watched the top half of his sword fall to the ground.
'Shit…'
"Sure you could cut me, sure you could hear my bell but in the end none of it matters cause your sword couldn't hold up. I dunno what trick you pulled there but it isn't going to help you win."
'What should I do? I can't just fight him without a sword.'
"Gimme time partner, I can repair my blade. You're gonna have to fight him as a hollow until then, got it? If you focus your Cero enough I bet you could go right through his spiritual pressure."
'Alright then, I'll try.'
"Don't you dare die, partner!"
"I don't' need a sword to beat you."
"Alright then! Let's do this!"
Kenpachi charged at Ichigo, but Ichigo vanished in a blur of Sonido and appeared behind Kenpachi, kicking him in the back and launching him forward.
Ichigo sonido'd over to the bits of Zangetsu and the bandages wrapped around them, securing them in a mostly solid shape before Ichigo returned the blade to his back.
"Impressive! You managed to hit me in the back. However…"
Kenpachi was on him.
"let's see if you can do that thing you did a minute ago twice."
Kenpachi brought his blade down and Ichigo blocked it with his forearm.
There was a 'clang' as the metal hit something hard; Ichigo's Hierro.
Ichigo grabbed the man's sword, making sure to keep his Hierro up around his hand, and pulled the blade and thus Kenpachi towards him.
"Let's see you survive this you crazy bastard."
Ichigo charged a cero in his free hand and put it right at Kenpachi's stomach before firing a beam just about as big as his fist into Kenpachi.
"Well…Shit… Not bad…"
Kenpachi coughed up blood, the wound having ripped apart Kenpachi's stomach area to reveal raw muscle that had been torn up by the blast, and then grinned, grabbing Ichigo and tossing him away.
"That wasn't too bad Ichigo, I didn't expect that at all! You're fighting for real now!"
Ichigo felt his pulse quicken. This was actually starting to feel good.
"Yeah, I guess I am!"
Ichigo leapt from the crater he'd left and rammed Kenpachi, plowing through several walls before brandishing his claws and swiping across Kenpachi's chest several times, making sure to grip the wound he'd already made and make it bigger with each slash.
Kenpachi managed to kick him off after a short time however, and had the biggest, most insane grin Ichigo had ever seen on his face.
"Sorry, but I have to get going. I can't drag this out any longer. I have to save Rukia."
"What are you saying?! This is just getting' good!"
Kenpachi charged Ichigo, who barely dodged a strike and then caught a second with his forearm.
"I don't get it, when did you get this strong? Is it because you stopped using your sword? It doesn't matter though! Right now we should just enjoy ourselves!"
Ichigo opened his mask and fired another Cero.
It burned Kenpachi but the man shrugged it off like it was nothing.
"You're out of your damn mind! Do you really like fighting this much?! You aren't afraid of dying?"
"I'm crazy?! You're the one who's crazy! You're so damn strong, why don't you like to fight! Enjoy it! The carnage, the pain! They're a small price to pay for enjoying a battle!"
Ichigo backed off.
"Ding! Your sword is ready to go! Finish that bastard off! No, wait, let him live! We should fight him again sometime! I like im'!"
'Thanks.'
Ichigo drew his blade again and Kenpachi frowned.
"Don't tell me you're gonna go back to being weak."
"No, I'm going to end this."
"Not before I get a chance to go all out on you!"
Kenpachi ripped off his eye patch… and a burst of power erupted from him.
"Ichigo… can you hear his blade crying?"
'Yeah…'
"He has never listened to that voice. If they do not trust one another when fighting side by side they will diminish each other's strength. For someone who believes only in his own strength it is impossible to understand that."
"Do you trust us, partner?"
'Obviously. I'll give you all my power. Use it how you want. In return, please lend me yours.'
"Gladly."
Ichigo held his blade in front of him, channeling power into it. For a split second he saw his hands be replaced by those of his counterpart in his head.
Red and white energy erupted from Ichigo, forming a shape that vaguely resembled the mask on his face.
"Hah! You can get stronger even now? Interesting!"
"Of course I can. I'm borrowing Zangetsu's power and fighting alongside Zangetsu. I will never lose to someone who fights alone!"
"Zangetsu? Is that the name of your Zanpakto? Borrowing the power of your sword, fighting alongside your sword…? That's Bullshit. Zanpakto are just tools of war! 'Fighting alongside a Zanpakto' is just the whining of those who are too spineless to fight by themselves. It's not something like…"
A massive gold skull erupted from Kenpachi's aura.
"YOU AND ME SHOULD SAY, ICHIGO!"
"CUT HIM DOWN ICHIGO! CRUSH HIM IN ONE STRIKE!"
"GETSUGA…."
The two charged at one another.
"TENSHO!"
Ichigo brought his blade to meet Kenpachi's, and unleashed the attack at the same time.
Nel stopped as she felt two huge powers clash and one overtake the other. As buildings crumbled she hurried to them.
'Please don't let me be too late.'
Ichigo stood with a blade going through his torso… but with his cutting deep into Kenpachi's.
'Damn… didn't focus enough on my Hierro…'
The two locked eyes.
"You've lost," whispered Ichigo.
Kenpachi's eyes widened as he fell over, sword split in two.
Then Ichigo passed out.
Yoruichi arrived, looking down at Ichigo and frowning.
"I suppose I'd best get you somewhere safe."
Ichigo opened his eyes.
"Where am I…? I'm not dead?"
"Looks like you're awake."
"Yoruichi… you're okay. That's a relief."
"I'm better off than you," the cat replied.
"Did you rescue me? Thanks."
"You should thank your stubbornness as well; I'm surprised you made it."
"Injuries… oh yeah, I did get hit a lot… That's right!"
Ichigo shot up and gripped his torso.
"Ow…."
"You can't get up yet! Don't you know how bad your injuries are?!"
"I'll be fine, I can just…"
Ichigo tried to heal the wound; his flesh bubbled, hissed… and only partially healed.
"Damn… guess I don't have enough power left after that to heal myself just yet."
"At this rate it's going to take forever for your power to restore itself! It's like trying to drive a car that's running on fumes," Yoruichi scolded.
"But the others might be in danger…"
"Calm down," Yoruichi commanded, pouncing on Ichigo and knocking him back onto his back. "They're fine."
"Eh?"
"Your other friend, the hollow, has gone to gather them and ensure their safety since she's probably the best chance they have at beating a captain. Stay in the barrier and rest; you won't be able to save anyone until your Spirit Energy is restored and your injuries healed. Don't waste power with High Speed Regeneration either; you need your power to fight."
"You sure are strong by the way."
"What exactly do you mean, Ichigo?"
"Running around without getting hurt at all, then carrying me here with such a small body…"
"Oh. There's no problem once I return to my original form."
"I see, your original… Wait what?!"
"AH yes, I've never shown any of you before. No point in hiding it; I'll show you my true form."
There was a poof of smoke… and a nude, dark skinned woman stood before Ichigo.
"W…wha…?!"
She crossed her arms.
"Heh, you sure look surprised. I understand why. You probably thought I was a guy cause of how I sound as a cat. I really love turning back into my true form, always surprises everyone. Now…"
Yoruichi sat down next to Ichigo.
"I'll tell you how I carried you here. First I used this…" she held up a rod with a rope on it.
"PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!" Ichigo yelled.
"Ah sorry, sorry. I haven't worn clothes for so long I forgot."
She started putting on a turtleneck sweater of some sort.
"Though, surprisingly, you're quite innocent. Was that your first time seeing a girl naked? Hm?"
Ichigo was turned around and had his arms crossed.
"Shut up…"
He was beet red under his mask.
"Are you sure you don't wanna look? You probably won't see such a delicate body of a woman ever again!"
"I SAID SHUT UP! DON'T WORRY ABOUT MY FUTURE AND GET DRESSED!"
"You have no sense of humor. Do people often tell you that you're a boring man?"
"NOT EVEN ONCE! IT"S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS EVEN IF THEY DO! AND WHY AREN'T YOU WEARING ANYTHING ON YOUR LOWER BODY? DON'T PEOPLE NORMALLY START DRESSING FROM THE BOTOM?!"
Yoruichi sighed and finished dressing, holding the artifact in her toes.
"Anyways, I used this artifact to transport you here. By the way…"
"Is the wound on your stomach okay? Normally screaming that loud would cause the wound to open up."
Ichigo looked at the wound and scowled under the mask.
'That dumbass!'
"So with this," Ichigo nodded to the item. "you just put spiritual energy into it and fly?"
"Yeah! It's a very unique little artifact in soul society. You should feel honored."
"Why would it end up in your hands though? You shape shift, you cure wounds, and you have something like this. Who are you, Yoruichi?"
