The Bird of Hermes is my name; eat my wings to make me tame.

Welcome back one and all, sorry about the leaving you hanging, but I think it was worth the wait.

Disclaimer: All characters are property of their respective owners, of which I am not.

"Normal speech"

"Kido/Zanpakuto release"

Thoughts

"Alucard/Kurohime"

'Ichigo and Tatsuki's link'

XXX

Chapter 9: The Wrathful Protector.

The assembled captains and lieutenants looked on in shock as the wind blew what remained of the Sokyoku away, Ichigo losing interest with them turned to face Rukia still bound to the scaffold.

"You may want to shield your eyes for this next bit," Ichigo said as he stood on top of the scaffold. His features assumed their monstrous form and his hand was covered in black reiatsu as he plunged it into the scaffold. There was an ear-piercing roar and the scaffold was rent to pieces collapsing in on itself. Ichigo stood in the air with Rukia under his arm as he observed the dumbfounded expressions on everyone.

"I-Ichigo," Rukia stammered after the display of power.

"Relax Rukia, don't worry about what's going to happen to me, for once in your life worry about yourself," Ichigo said as he read her thoughts.

Hearing the sounds of battle, Ichigo turned his attention to see a battered Renji knocking out the members of the kido corps. Smirking to himself, Ichigo disappeared from view to reappear next to him, "What kept you pineapple, Rukia's not about to save herself you know." He tossed Rukia into his arms as he turned back to face the captains.

"Well it's not like this rescue was a cake walk strawberry," Renji said a tick mark on his forehead.

Grinning Ichigo said, "If you say so. Get out of here now; your job is to keep Rukia safe while I take care of matters here."

Nodding in understanding Renji turned and ran, Rukia held tight.

"Don't just stand there gawking at them like idiots," screamed Sui-Feng, "All lieutenants apprehend the prisoner now."

As the lieutenants of the first, second and fourth gave chase they were knocked unconscious from a black and red blur. As they fell to the ground it was revealed to be Tatsuki in her normal form.

"What took you so long Tats, traffic hell or something?" Ichigo said with a grin as he walked to join her.

Before Tatsuki could utter a retort, she heard the sound of steel grating against steel behind her. Looking over her shoulder she saw Ichigo's arm blocking Byakuya's zanpakuto a look of fury on his face while Byakuya remained impassive. "Big mistake Byakuya, I still haven't forgotten the last time you dared touch her." She leapt away when Ichigo closed his hand around the blade twisting and slamming Byakuya into the ground.

A scream of pain broke through Tatsuki's thoughts as she watched Sui-Feng crush the life out of Kiyone Kotetsu. Her anger rising to the surface, she summoned her gauntlets and wings charging into Sui-Feng. Unleashing a fireball from her gauntlets, Tatsuki knocked Sui-Feng over the cliff following up with an empowered axe kick sending her into the ground with a thundering crash. With one last look at Ichigo, Tatsuki charged off after her foe.

Tatsuki vs. Sui-Feng:

Landing near the crater that contained a singed Sui-Feng, Tatsuki waited for her opponent to get up. "You know, from listening to several accounts, captains are supposed to be the example to all soul reapers, yet there you stood killing an opponent so far below you in the most painful way possible. How such behaviour is allowed is beyond me," Tatsuki said as she crossed her arms.

"And what would a mere ryoka know about how a captain should act?" Sui-Feng spoke as she emerged from the crater a little worse for wear. "Mercy is for the weak and spineless."

"I see you're one of those people that follow orders without question, no matter what they may be and has given their blind loyalty to an organisation. To you there is no grey area only black and white," Tatsuki said as she narrowed her eyes, "I pity you, for the day will come when your heart and mind will war with each other and you'll be in unimaginable pain no matter what you do."

"I don't need your pity ryoka," Sui-Feng said as she charged at Tatsuki, fists at the ready. Tatsuki merely raised her right hand as she blocked the attack, watching as Sui-Feng winced as her left hand made contact with the bladed gauntlet.

"You know attacking me barehanded is the same thing as attacking someone wielding a zanpakuto barehanded, if you want to live past this encounter I suggest you take it more seriously." Tatsuki said as Sui-Feng stared at her bleeding limb.

Drawing her zanpakuto with her right hand Sui-Feng whispered, "Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi," and disappeared from view, attempting to stab Tatsuki in her right shoulder. She was surprised when Tatsuki grabbed the stinger with her right hand inches from her skin.

"I know all about your zanpakuto's abilities Sui-Feng, if you land two attacks in the same spot its game-over for me," Tatsuki said as she tightened her grip on the stinger. The next thing Sui-Feng felt was extreme pain as Tatsuki dealt her a vicious head-butt breaking her nose. Recovering Sui-Feng responded with a palm strike to Tatsuki's midsection to give her some space. "You're surprisingly well informed for a ryoka," she said as she wiped some blood from her broken nose, "gutsy too. You would've made a fine addition to the Special Forces."

"I'll pass," Tatsuki said as she resumed her stance.

Sui-Feng smirked as she shed her haori and ripped off the sleeves of her shihakusho. Her body was enveloped in a faint glow and dust swirled around her with increasing speed. "You should feel honoured ryoka; I just managed to complete this technique the other day. It's a combination of kido and hakuda that I created and you will be the first person it's used on in battle. I haven't even given it a name yet."

Tatsuki looked on dispassionately as she spoke, "You're wrong, it does have a name and you are most certainly not the one who created it."

"What did you say," Sui-Feng said as her eyes narrowed.

"It's called shunko and from what I can see your version is still incomplete compared to the real thing," Tatsuki continued, "it enhances your arms and legs in battle and allows you to fire the kido as well."

"Who told you this, in fact who told you about my abilities?" Sui-Feng said as her arms began to shake.

"You should know her, she was your mentor after all," Tatsuki said with a smirk.

Realisation flashed across Sui-Feng's faced but was quickly replaced with rage. "That damn women, how dare you mention her in my presence. I swore that I would be the one to defeat and apprehend her. I'll enjoy beating you and afterwards you will tell me where I can find her." Sui-Feng charged at Tatsuki the ground gouging itself in her wake. Fist met gauntlet and the shockwave uprooted trees around them, to the untrained eye they were just red lightning clashing with white mist. Each blow was blocked by arm or leg, neither gaining advantage over the other. As they disengaged from one another Sui-Feng unleashed a kido blast from her palm that raced toward Tatsuki. As it was about to hit her, Tatsuki met it with a flame enhanced greave dissipating the blast and sending her own back to Sui-Feng, who crossed her arms to withstand the blow. A catastrophic explosion engulfed the area as the fireball hit, reducing the surrounding trees to charred husks. Sui-Feng was revealed with her shihakusho burnt and her skin flushed. As they re-engaged, the battle became increasingly fast paced with the pair in a stalemate. The momentum shifted though as Tatsuki slipped into a trance, reacting more on instinct and her blows becoming increasingly stronger. A minute later and she caught Sui-Feng's speeding fist and held it tight.

Looking into her opponents face, Sui-Feng was shocked to see her crimson eyes ablaze. Next thing she knew was she was sent flying back from a straight kick, Tatsuki speeding after her to deliver a side kick to her lower back causing her spine to bend dangerously as she was launched into several trees, her body splintering them. Staggering as she regained her footing she coughed out a copious amount of blood before feeling her face grabbed and smashed repeatedly into the hard ground. Her shunko dissipated as her body went limp; a fact Tatsuki observed and proceeded to lifted her by her throat. She charged a flaming fist, but as she tried to deliver the blow, she was stopped by a hand gripping her gauntlet.

Looking back she was met with Yoruichi, her shunko arcing around her like lightning, her hand unharmed from the heat. "That's enough Tatsuki, I'll take her now."

Tatsuki offered no resistance as Yoruichi took a passed out Sui-Feng from her. Suddenly they felt Ichigo's reiatsu plummet and almost disappear. Without a backward glance Tatsuki flew off in the direction of the execution grounds.

XXX

Ichigo vs. Byakuya.

Ichigo watched as Tatsuki charged off after Sui-Feng, knowing she was in no trouble since Yoruichi had briefed them on what she knew of the captain's abilities. Looking over Byakuya's shoulder he noticed that Ukitake, Kyoraku, Nanao and Yamamoto had disappeared leaving only the knocked out lieutenants, third seats and kido corps members and the Fourth Division captain Retsu Unohana, who was currently directing a green manta-ray like beast to swallow them. She then proceeded to fly off on its back.

Seeing he was alone with Byakuya now, he cracked a grin exposing his fanged teeth, "No one to interfere with us now," he said as he pushed Byakuya back.

Byakuya remained impassive as he stared at Ichigo. "I don't know how you managed to gain whatever powers these are that you're using now, but it will not be enough to defeat me. I will cut you down and execute Rukia myself," he spoke in a dispassionate voice.

"And there you go and running your mouth off again, what part of 'I will not allow her to be executed' did you not get? Ichigo said as he folded his arms. "Seems you won't get the message until I beat you into a bloody pulp, go on and bring out your bankai. I'm growing bored of this talk."

"Watch what you say brat, you're a thousand years too early to even think that I need my bankai to defeat you," Byakuya said as he narrowed his eyes. Holding his zanpakuto in front of him he spoke, "Scatter, Senbonzakura." His zanpakuto separated into a thousand tiny blades.

Sighing to himself, Ichigo drew the Jackal with his left hand and fired a single shot, a blast the size of a Soren Sokatsui erupted from the muzzle blasting straight through the charging blades and going on to burn the right side of Byakuya's body. "The next one won't just give you a burn," Ichigo said as he lowered his arm.

Byakuya's eyes were wide as saucers after the blast. That attack just now, what was that? It looked like kido, but felt nothing like it. "Very well boy, if you want me to use my bankai so badly, watch then as it carves itself into your very flesh." As he spoke he dropped his zanpakuto in front of him, point down. Ichigo watched as the blade seemed to disappear into the ground sending ripples outwards. Sprouting behind Byakuya a thousand giant blades rose up in two rows. "Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." The blades proceeded to separate into countless fragments swirling around him.

Ichigo's grin widened as he drew both pistols, "Oh you might just make this fun after all." As the petals charged into Ichigo he calmly began to fire as he danced around the attacking blades, the Casull proving excellent as it knocked smaller concentrations of petals away, while the Jackal focused on the larger groups. Despite the fact that he was keeping them in bay, he noticed they were beginning to shepherd him to a spot behind him. "Come on Byakuya, surely this isn't all you have, otherwise I really will end this soon," Ichigo taunted as he loosed a blast towards Byakuya that was met by a wall of blades as they defended their master.

"It's time I wiped that smile of your face Ichigo Kurosaki," Byakuya spoke as Ichigo took a final step back. Out of the ground erupted a barrage of blades that went on to surround Ichigo. Smirking Ichigo attempted to blast his way out but found that the blades kept replacing themselves no matter how many fell. "This ends here boy," came Byakuya's voice from outside the sphere, "Gokei, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

At his command all the blades poured into the sphere and a destructive shockwave spread out, ripping up boulder size pieces of earth. As the dust cloud cleared, it revealed Ichigo bleeding profusely from numerous cuts to his body, his clothing torn to shreds. Then the strangest sound to Byakuya Kuchiki was heard, laughter.

"Oh that was just great, I was wondering what you were planning and that was simply exquisite, it seems that against you I really do need to go all out now," Ichigo said as he staggered to his feet.

Byakuya watched in shock as his cuts sealed and his clothing reformed, "Just what are you boy, no human could hold this much power."

"Human?" Ichigo said with a look of amusement on his face, "I don't recall ever saying I was human Byakuya Kuchiki." His grin turned frightening as he started to crack the joints in his neck and arms. "Just stand there and watch and you might figure it out." Black reiatsu began swirling around him like a tempest reaching to the sky above impacting on the dome formed by the sekkiseki stone to spread and cover the entire Seireitei, soul reapers everywhere felt a chill run down their spine as the malevolent energy passed over them. Byakuya watched on in disbelief as Ichigo's body was shrouded from view, his red irises the only thing revealing his presence. "Bankai, the Merciless Bird of Hermes." As he finished the force of his reiatsu doubled causing the air to shudder and the ground to turn to dust from his presence.

Byakuya watched the tempest as it continued to gather strength, his bankai forming a protective shield around him. What is with this boy, using Rukia's powers he managed to become a soul reaper. Now though I don't even know what to call him and here he stands saying he has a bankai, the ultimate technique of a zanpakuto. What are you Ichigo Kurosaki? "JUST WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU?" he screamed the last bit. He felt a sword pierce his shoulder and jerked away from it on reflex. Looking at the direction of the attack his eyes widened as Ichigo came into view.

Gone were the hat, shades, boots, suit and overcoat and in its place was an Ichigo clad in plate armour black as the midnight sky, a war-torn black cloak with blood red lining and a long-sword in his hand. His hair had grown to mid-back and gained streaks of black in it. His gloves and greaves bore sharpened points along the knuckles and tips. "I am the monster that keeps all the other monsters in check Byakuya Kuchiki," Ichigo said in a whisper just loud enough to be heard. He charged into Byakuya sword raised, aiming to decapitate the captain.

As Senbonzakura responded to the threat, Byakuya was shocked as the clump of petals was forced back by Ichigo's strength. Directing the petals to attack Ichigo from behind, his eyes widened when Ichigo seemed to disappear into the darkness that lingered around them. Out of the corner of his eye he spied the glint of a blade as it sped to impale him. With a mere thought, his bankai was there to block the blow and then proceeded to cut down the silhouette that stood behind it. As the clone dissolved into shadow, Byakuya found himself surrounded by even more clones, his eyes unable to discern the original.

"Don't even try and figure out which one I am Byakuya, within this darkness I am everywhere and nowhere. Consider it your own personal hell," Ichigo's voice was even as he spoke.

Splitting the blades into smaller groups Byakuya directed them with his hands to clear out the surrounding area. He was forced to dodge though as a pack of hounds came charging out of the darkness intent on devouring him. Slicing the hounds apart, he felt the blade once more and was less lucky this time as it cut him across his ribs, his hand deflecting it just enough to spare himself serious injury. "Just what is your bankai boy, is it the darkness we find ourselves in, the shadows you control and the minions at your beck and call?" Byakuya said as his wounds began to strain him slightly from the pain.

"It's quite simple really," Ichigo said as he reappeared, his face inches from Byakuya's own, "It amplifies my shikai's abilities and grants me new ones, such as this one." Ichigo gave a low whistle and a rumbling growl was heard. Emerging from the darkness was a new hound, the size of the medium sized home. Its teeth each two feet long at least, eight eyes along its face, blood red in colour. It stood behind Ichigo blood dripping from its mouth. "Meet my favourite pet, Baskerville. He has the nasty habit of playing with his food, so please do try and stay in one piece," Ichigo said as he faded back into the darkness. Letting loose an ear-splitting howl, Baskerville charged at Byakuya.

Sending his bankai to intercept the enormous hound, Byakuya was struck dumb as it failed to give the beast more than superficial cuts. Bracing himself behind a wall of blades as the hound closed the distance; Byakuya was sent flying from the impact. Holding his hands out he called, "Hado no. 33, Sokatsui," and a massive blue fireball issued forth, exploding as it struck the beast. Landing on the ground, he waited for the smoke to clear. As the beast emerged once more it revealed half its muzzle sheared off giving it an even more frightening appearance. It disappeared from view, to appear in front of Byakuya, swiping at him with its paw pounding him into the ground.

Byakuya could feel his bones teeter on the brink of breaking and growled, "You just don't know when to die do you? Enough of this then, Bakudo no. 61 Rikujokoro," he intoned as he pointed his finger at the hound. It was then impaled by six rods of light that pinned it in place. "Hado no. 73, Soren Sokatsui." A fireball twice the size of Sokatsui went on to strike Baskerville, burning its head clean off its shoulders.

"Such a pity that you sent him away, now I'll have to go through the trouble of finding him wherever he's ended up now," spoke Ichigo as he emerged from the shadows once more. "I suppose it's time the real fight starts; honestly I was starting to get bored with how long you took to get to this point."

"Your bankai seems designed to wear down your opponent through deceit and sacrifice, I suppose it fits your cowardly style," Byakuya said as he stood up, his impassive mask in place again.

Ichigo's face contorted in anger, "Make no mistake about it Byakuya Kuchiki, my bankai acts as a test to see whether you really are worth my time to deal with. Had you failed at any of the previous tasks, you would not be able to stand before me once I started to get serious." As his reiatsu pulsed from him it went on to clear the darkness, but still leave the land shrouded in twilight. "If you have any last tricks to use I suggest you bring them out now," Ichigo said as he readied his sword, "because you're going to need everything you have now."

Byakuya straightened as his blood continued to fall to the ground from the wound to his side. "Senkei, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." Ichigo watched as they were both surrounded by a wall of pink petals that shone brightly before disappearing to reveal a midnight blue dome filled with rows of swords spinning in opposite directions to one another. "Behold Ichigo Kurosaki, the true form of Senbonzakura. In this form, I abandon all pretence of defence, concentrating on a deadly offence. I reserve this form for those who I have sworn to kill with my own hands, of which you are the second to see it."

Ichigo grinned at that piece of information, "I'm honoured; now enough talk Byakuya. You said you've sworn to kill me, well get on with it. I stand before you in open defiance of everything you stand for. I know why it is you fight Byakuya and I will show you that you were a fool to even make the choices you have made." Ichigo charged in sword held in both hands.

Summoning a blade to his hand Byakuya charged in to meet him, their blades met with an explosion of power as they fought back and forth. The ground cracked and splintered from the force of the blows, the wind becoming a tornado as they struggled against one another. Both combatant's gave and received wounds, neither flinching as their flesh was cut to pieces. The momentum began to shift though as Ichigo made use of his regeneration to heal the wounds just enough to stop the bleeding. Grinning like a maniac, he empowered his blade with even more reiatsu causing the silver blade to acquire a black glow. As he went in with a two handed slice, Byakuya brought his blade up to block and was shocked when Ichigo's sword shattered it into a numerous fragments, the blade not slowing as it sliced deep into his torso from left shoulder to right hip.

"That's just a little payback from what you did to Tatsuki, now stay down. Even if you bring up another blade now I will shatter it to pieces," Ichigo said as he stood towering over Byakuya.

"How about just one more sword," came Byakuya's voice as he stood once again. Holding his hand, he summoned another blade. As Ichigo watched the remaining blades dissolved into reiatsu and poured into the blade in Byakuya's hand. "Shukei: Hakuteiken. Prepare yourself Ichigo Kurosaki, this ends with the next blow," he said as he was surrounded by a bright white halo that stemmed from the blade.

Ichigo smirked, "Figures you'd keep an ace like this up your sleeves, very well let this be the end." Ichigo began to charge his remaining reiatsu into his sword the excess reiatsu going on to form Baskerville's head behind Ichigo. It loosed a terrifying roar as both Ichigo and Byakuya charged at each other once more, swords raised. As the blades connected there was a blinding flash of light and a shockwave of energy that tore apart the trees around the execution grounds and went on to cause part of the grounds to fall into the forest below. As the light died down it revealed them both standing, backs facing each other. As time wore on another cut was revealed on Byakuya's torso mirroring the previous one, he fell to his knees before collapsing face down.

Ichigo turned, sheathing his blade as he approached Byakuya. "No doubt you are wondering why I continue to fight for Rukia. Let me start by saying this, you are a fool Byakuya Kuchiki. You are a brother first and foremost and a captain second. No matter what, when it comes down to it family comes first. If you had bothered to learn about your sister you would know that she would never commit a crime without good reason. The transfer of her powers is an example of that. And why should she justify her actions when she did it to save lives? I came here to save her, to repay her for my life and the lives of my family."

Ichigo crouched down next to him as he continued, "You have known her for so many years and yet she has never felt anything other than coldness from you. Yet even now she still wonders what she can do to make you proud of her. Older siblings exist to perform the hardest job out there, to make sure their brothers and sisters are safe. You live right now, because she would be saddened greatly by your death. Take this chance to start anew Byakuya, for when you lie on your deathbed, it is not the loneliness of the dark you want, but to be surrounded by those who love you."

As Ichigo stood, they heard a voice from behind him say, "How touching," before watching as Ichigo was impaled multiple times by a sword. As Ichigo jumped away from his attacker Byakuya's eyes widened as he saw the deceased Sosuke Aizen, his sword dripping with blood, Gin Ichimaru behind him.

As Ichigo charged at Aizen, he was stunned as Aizen spoke from behind him, "Hado no. 90, Kurohitsugi."

Byakuya watched as the black box trapped Ichigo within, moments later the spears impaled the box. As it dissipated Ichigo's armour was revealed to be cracked and broken as his body collapsed.

"My thanks to you Captain Kuchiki for wearing him down, for if you had not I might've needed to take him seriously," Aizen spoke with a smile that lacked any kind of warmth. "Ah I do believe Kaname has arrived."

Following Aizen's gaze Byakuya was shocked to find his lieutenant with Rukia in his arms. He was dumbfounded as Aizen told Renji to leave Rukia and go, stating that he didn't want to waste his time on killing such weaklings. He listened in shock with everyone else, as Isane Kotetsu told everyone what she and her captain had discovered. He watched on helplessly as Renji was easily outclassed by Aizen while he attempted to protect Rukia. His heart lifted slightly when Tatsuki arrived on the scene and after taking one look at Ichigo's prone form, went into a berserker rage.

Uttering a scream she charged at Aizen who proceeded to block her bladed gauntlet with the back of his hand, before nearly bisecting her with ease.

"Ah I see Kurosaki's little pet dragon has finally made her way here. After all the more the merrier of course," Aizen said with a smirk.

Byakuya's anger grew at the look of horror on Rukia's face as Aizen admitted to being the cause for his sister's misfortune and became a roaring inferno as Aizen impaled her form to retrieve the object within. As Aizen ordered Gin to kill her, he felt new life stir within him as he saw the fear in her eyes. He surged to his feet despite the pain taking the blow meant for her and passing out hearing the sounds of her screaming.

As Aizen approached her to finish the job, he looked up to see Kukaku appear with Jidanbo. She attacked him with kido forcing him back across the grounds, where he found himself restrained by Yoruichi and a heavily bandaged Sui-Feng. Looking around he found that Gin and Kaname were likewise restrained. He smirked as Yoruichi told him he was trapped. "I'm afraid it's time I leave you now."

Shouting a warning to Sui-Feng, they both jumped back as a yellow light pierced the sky to shield Aizen. As similar lights shielded Gin and Kaname, a horde of Gillian-class menos grande broke through a crack in the sky. As Aizen gloated to the assembled soul reapers, everyone failed to notice the faint stirrings coming from Ichigo. As Aizen exited the negacion into the waiting arms of the Gillian, he turned one last time to bid farewell to the soul reapers. A gunshot broke through everyone's thoughts as a black reiatsu bullet found its mark, shearing past the right side of Aizen's face destroying several teeth, his cheek and going on to tear off his ear. As everyone looked for the source they were shocked to see Ichigo still on the ground but arm raised, Jackal in hand its muzzle smoking, black reiatsu flowing around him.

"You seek immortality Aizen, to be seen as a God among men," Ichigo said as he stood his right arm hanging limply by his side, hanging by a thread at his elbow. "Then let me tell you now, abandon all hope of achieving that," he continued as he staggered on legs that looked as if the muscle was cut away, "for you have brought war down upon yourself. And no one will save you when I come for you, of that you can be sure of," he finished as he looked up, his chest was caved in slightly the ribs protruding from his skin and his face was a mess of cuts exposing the inside of his mouth and the bone below. The soul reapers around him cringed at his wounds, while those with lesser constitutions felt their stomachs purge themselves.

Holding his still bleeding face, Aizen looked down at Ichigo, hatred in his eyes before turning heel and letting the Gillian take them away, the rift sealing behind them. Ichigo staggered over to Tatsuki, kneeling next to her as he gently smoothed the hair out of her face so that he could see her clearer, afraid to move her lest he complicate her injuries. He sensed their friend's surround him and Orihime's shield encompass them as she began to heal their wounds, but he paid them no heed as he continued to stroke her face. War is coming and all who can wield a weapon will be called to defend their homes and families from a tyrant. Monsters on both sides will be let loose and with them the rivers will run red with the blood of the fallen, corpses will be piled high till they eclipse the sun and the screams of the dead will fill the nightmares of living. But no matter what, I will be there at the end and put a stop to this madness, no matter the cost.

XXX

And that's the end of chapter 9. Took me a lot longer on count of everything that had to be done, so hope it was worth the wait.

As for the fight between Ichigo and Byakuya, the direction my thoughts are following at the minute is sort of a rivalry between the two rather than between Renji and Ichigo. Same thing will be done for Tatsuki and Sui-Feng to some degree, gotta love the brutality though. Also I wanted Byakuya there to witness the look on Rukia's face in response to Aizen's schemes.

So like, love or hate it, let me know.

Also next chapter will be the resolution to this arc, let me know what you would like to see through your reviews and I might just see if they can be fitted in.