Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. It's property of Tite Kubo.

Summary: First of all, let me thank everyone for reading these one-shots, reviewing, and putting this story in your favorites. Every time I read your reviews I get happy. Now, as for today's prompt, I love the SS Arc with all my heart, as well as the quote that served as prompt for today's fanfiction. However, I had a hard time writing something for this prompt and now I realize why. Fun story, I didn't always ship IchiRuki, outrageous, right? Anyway, I used to ship RenRuki and I was still shipping it when I read this particular chapters of Ichigo's fight against Byakuya. However, this may or may not have been the very scene which made me ship IR, but I didn't know for a while how to express it. I like to think that Ichigo's thoughts during this fight never strayed far from Rukia and his main goal of defeating Byakuya so he wouldn't get the chance to hurt Rukia. So, here's a retelling of the fight with a dose of IR, because why not? I doubt Ichigo's thoughts strayed far from what I wrote here. I hope you like it, and get as nostalgic as I got!

Until tomorrow!

The Power to Crush Destiny

Prompt: "The power in my hands was gained for her sake."

Summary: There was only one reason he had achieved so much. It was all for her.

Kuchiki Byakuya had to be the proudest Shinigami he had ever encountered. He was also the one Shinigami whose intentions Ichigo couldn't quite understand. Because who just lets their own sister be executed without doing anything? What is worse, who apprehends their sister and takers her to the place where she will be executed? It made no sense to Ichigo, who was an older brother himself. He had tried to figure out why, but he had come up empty. What's with you, Kuchiki Byakuya? The only thing he knew for sure was that, if he didn't defeat him, Kuchiki Byakuya would be the very one stopping him from saving Rukia, which at this point he couldn't afford. Hopefully, Renji would get Rukia to safety and give him enough time to defeat Byakuya.

Both men's swords clashed displaying all of their strength. "I told you! I can see your every move, Kuchiki Byakuya!" Ichigo exclaimed.

"Why…?" The older man started saying, surprising the human boy. "Why do you so persistently try to save Rukia?" He asked.

That's the question, isn't it? But even if I answered, you wouldn't be able to understand. He thought, but decided not to voice his thoughts. "I'm the one who should be asking questions! Aren't you Rukia's older brother? Why aren't you trying to help Rukia at all?" Ichigo demanded.

"What a pointless question. Even if I tell you the answer to that question, you would not be able to understand." Byakuya, unknowingly, returned Ichigo's own words back to him. "It is useless to continue this empty dialogue. Here I come."

Byakuya then attacked him, with so much force he would have had the upper hand of the battle immediately had Ichigo been just like before. But he wasn't. He had changed. He was far stronger now than he had ever been. He stood his ground, and looked at Byakuya pointedly.

"It looks like there is only one way to end this." The older Shinigami spoke. "Kurosaki Ichigo, I will kill you." He declared. "Then, with my own hands, I will carry out Rukia's execution."

Ichigo tensed. "No, that's not going to happen." He smiled. "I came here to make sure of that." There's no way I'll let you lay a single finger on her.

Byakuya didn't answer to that, and thus the fight started, with their swords clashing continuously. Kuchiki Byakuya excelled at swordsmanship, and had centuries of experience under his belt, but with each second the battle prolonged, and he was unable to cut the human in front of him, he realized Kurosaki Ichigo was a natural. He had mastered moves it took Shinigami years to learn. That annoyed him to no end. He tried to cut him down once again, but Ichigo got out of the way.

"Interesting. You were able to master shunpo as well." Byakuya spoke gravely. "However, you're really taking it easy, aren't you?"

Ichigo smirked. "You've been casually analyzing my strength… Is it really a good idea to only do that? Aren't you going to attack me?" I'm done with you underestimating me, Kuchiki Byakuya. "You haven't even been able to scratch me once. Can it be this is the best you can do?" The young human taunted. "Hurry up and use Bankai!" I'll defeat you at your strongest.

Byakuya, however, didn't even blink.

"Earlier you said that you were going to kill me, and then execute Rukia with your own hands." Ichigo spoke again.

"So?" The captain asked, not understanding why the human boy dragged the fight only to talk.

"I don't like it!" Ichigo complained. "I'm going to use everything I have to defeat you! I'll beat you until you have no strength left!" This is why I trained so much. I'm gonna make you pay! "To execute your own sister with your own two hands? What a sick joke!" He grumbled. "No matter what reasons you have, under whatever circumstances, don't ever say that in front of Rukia again." Ichigo threatened the older Shinigami with such seriousness he looked older than a teenager. "Use your Bankai! I will destroy it!" Ichigo said again. "Then I will take you to Rukia and make you cry wile apologizing to her!" What you've done to her is unforgivable. I won't let you hurt her again. Ichigo thought.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes. "What a shallow taunt, brat!" Ichigo's words had hit a nerve. "No matter what you say, I will not change my mind about Rukia's fate and yours." He'd kill them all if he had to. "You want me to use Bankai? Do not forget your place, brat. It is a thousand years too early for you to become worthy enough to die by my Bankai." Then the Shinigami grabbed his sword and released its Shikai. "Scatter, Sebonzakura."

Ichigo watched attentively as millions of sakura petals started forming a circle around his opponent. Not so long ago, he might have underestimated Byakuya and even laughed a little at his power being sakura flowers. He was much wiser now. One thing he had learned through this whole ordeal was to never take his eyes from his opponent in a battle, much less if said opponent was Kuchiki Byakuya. He waited for the impact, and then release his own attack, creating an explosion. Byakuya's eyes widened as he watched all this, clearly surprised. Blood started dripping from his arm, and a dull pain hit him. He soon realized the boy had managed to hurt him.

"What was that flash of light? Was that the ability of your zampakutou?" He asked the boy, trying to remain as impassive as ever.

"Yeah." Ichigo answered, narrowing his eyes. He then proceeded to explain his ability, never taking his eyes off of Byakuya, knowing full well the older man was already calculating an approach to defeat him. "That is Zangetsu's special power. I've never been able to do an aimed shot before. Until today, I didn't even know how I made this happen." He got serious again. "Urahara-san once said to me 'the only thing I can teach you is preparation.' I didn't know what he meant until I trained with Zangetsu." Ichigo recalled meeting his zampakutou and being able to train with him. It had been difficult, but he hadn't cared. He was much worried about something else. He had begged to learn an attack that could help him defeat Kuchiki Byakuya and anyone who got in his way. He couldn't afford to lose when there was more at stake than his life. "The name of my attack is Getsuga Tenshou." He informed his opponent. "I'll say it again, Kuchiki Byakuya. Fight me with your Bankai! I will definitely defeat you!" Getsuga Tenshou isn't the only thing Zangetsu taught me. I'll defeat you when you least expect it!

"What an arrogant name." Byakuya muttered. "So be it. Since you so strongly desire to see my Bankai, witness it with your eyes and remember it well…" He kept saying, dropping his sword, which remained floating.

Ichigo did not feel so cocky. He let go of the sword? He wondered, both parts amazed and frightened.

"Do not worry. You will not regret it." Byakuya kept speaking. "Before you can do that, you will most certainly be rendered into dust before of me." He proclaimed suddenly as thousands of blades appeared around him. "Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." Then, the blades transformed into petals, which rushed towards Ichigo. The boy quickly used his own sword to deflect the attack, while Byakuya observed. Ichigo jumped, trying to get away from the attack, but it was useless for the petals followed him. "Naïve." Byakuya commented, his eyes never straying from his adversary. Soon, the petals surrounded Ichigo and covered him completely. "The strength of Senbonzakura lies in its ability to attack with its countless many blades from all directions. The strength of your zampakutou is great, however it is impossible to doge Senbonzakura's attack using such a slow technique." He explained as the petals dispersed, and he could see Ichigo again, lying in a pool of his own blood.

"Hah, damn… I thought I had it…" Ichigo said between gulps of breath. "But I guess not. It's only logical that by using Shikai it's impossible to beat Bankai. I totally underestimated you."

"Be careful in your choice of words, brat. You sound as if you have acquired Bankai."

"Yeah, that's exactly what I was implying, Kuchiki Byakuya!" Ichigo exclaimed. I've got you where I wanted!

"What did you say?" Byakuya asked astonished.

"You respond with a question? You know you heard me. You don't believe me, do you? So it doesn't matter if I say it a second or third time. If you refuse to believe my words, what about your own two eyes, Kuchiki Byakuya?!" Ichigo exclaimed as Byakuya stared at him with a mix of shock, anger and disgust. "Watch carefully. This is my Bankai!" Ichigo said, swinging his sword back in preparation. He stood his ground and concentrated all of his energy into the sword. He thought about everything he had done to accomplish this. All the battles he had fought and lost, and the ones he had won. His training with Urahara, his training with Yoruichi and his training with Zangetsu. He let all of his spiritual energy surround him as a shield. Next, he swung his sword forward, holding it in front of him. A single image appeared in his mind. He would not yield. He was going to win. "Bankai! A gust of wind enveloped him, and when it cleared it revealed Ichigo wearing a modified version of his robes as well as a black and sleek sword. "Tensa Zangetsu!"

"What is that thing?" Byakuya questioned, flabbergasted. "That small objects is his Bankai?" He wondered. "Isn't that just the normal sealed form of your zampakutou?" The captain pondered for a moment. "I see… with the execution. With the Bankai." He put two and two together and was displeased. "It seems that you really enjoy stepping on our pride. Then I shall carve on your body the penalty for violating our pride!"

Pride? It always comes down to your pride. Ichigo thought angrily, and flash stepped until he was in front of Byakuya, the tip of Zangetsu just below Byakuya's throat. "Does that 'pride' thing have anything to do with Rukia's execution?" He asked dangerously. "If so, then I'll step on it just as you said." He then straightened up and pointed his sword towards Byakuya. "For the power in my hands was gained for her sake!" He yelled.

His mind flashed him images of Rukia. Of the first time they met, of Rukia suddenly appearing at his school as his new classmate, of Rukia teaching him how to defeat hollows and how to perform konso, Rukia getting angry at him, Rukia smiling, Rukia hitting Kon, Rukia being there for him when he went against Grand Fisher, Rukia crying while telling him to stop his mindless fight with Byakuya. Lastly, Rukia at the Sokyoku, waiting for her death. His heart beat to the rhythm of a single name. Rukia Rukia Rukia. There was no way he'd let her die, least of all at the hands of her own brother. No, he was going to win. Everything he had done and achieved was all for her. He'd win, and then he'd take Rukia back with him and they'd resume their days together. You'll live Rukia. Live and smile. With this thought in mind, he charged. He had nothing to fear. He had gained power enough to crush Rukia's destiny with his bare hands.

A/N: Ichigo looked hella hot in these chapters.