Hey guys, preceptormyth101 here. I don't think this chapter is as creative as the others, but I still hope it is good. Well, enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer once more: Don't own Bleach or its characters. I can only dream. I only own the ones I made. Cruel world.

Chapter 09: Bankai and the Holidays

A week later, after the first training day.

Jura was awakened by Freyja once again at 7AM. They went to the spot where they had started training once more. Freyja had gotten used to the weights now—she was faster for it and could place her hits well. Jura parried a heavy mace and jumped away from the shield that almost took his head off.

"My, my, Freyja darling, you have gotten better," Jura said as he brought his sword up once more.

"Thanks to you and your training my lord," Freyja said humbly.

"Oh please, you have done all the work. I think it is time you take them off," Jura said and grinned. "I need more warriors on the field. Freyja is already getting strong enough to go toe-to-toe with one of my own Knights," he thought to himself.

"But my lord, how will I get stronger if I don't have weights on?" Freyja asked.

"Well you might as well get used to it. We won't have that much time to train with the war going on!" Jura said happily and smiled.

Freyja sweat-dropped but complied obediently. The weights fell off her arms and legs. Jura had made her add extra weights on their second day of training; they were also removed. She stretched her arms and legs. She felt amazingly light. "It is no wonder that Joan and Leto are so strong!" Freyja thought to herself with giddy elation as she tested out her speed and power. She did an overhead strike on a boulder and stopped right above it by a millimeter.

Jura clapped. "Now it is time to try to face me." He charged at Freyja before she could reply. He rolled to the right side at the last minute and attacked from the side. Her mace was ready and blocked the attack. She then brought her shield up and tried to crunch his arm. He smiled and let go of his sword and withdrew his hand. Freyja stopped her shield before it could hit the ground.

"Why did you let go of your sword my lord?" Freyja asked as she readied herself into a stance with shield in front and the mace behind it.

Jura grinned. "It is time," he said as he picked up the sword and brushed it off. "Mold, Prometheus!" He changed it into a two long swords. "It is time for the true fight to being!" Jura shouted and attacked Freyja. She parried a blow from one of the long swords but got nicked in the foot by the other. Jura rolled backwards and brought up a couple of javelins. He threw them at her. She blocked each with her shield.

"Well, well, maybe it is about time to learn about real fighting," Jura said behind her. She looked and saw he had a shield and mace. They were exactly like hers. He charged at her. She brought her mace up to attack him. He slid under her legs and crouched low behind her. She jumped away and brought her shield up to block an attack from his mace. She parried another attack from his weapon and tried to bash him with her shield.

He ducked and changed his weapons into a flail. He swung it around his hand and threw it and Freyja. She ducked and lunged at Jura. He grinned as he brought his newly made shield up and blocked her mace. He shot cross bolts through the shield. She got hit by one in the shoulder but it was dull, only causing what was soon to be a bruise. They weren't meant to pierce. She lost her balance and stepped backward slightly. He ran at her with a dagger in his mouth. She tried to hit him with the mace but he ducked and got under her guard.

She didn't notice his foot snake around hers and tripped her. She fell to the ground. She tried to bring her shield up but was pinned by his arms. He pinned her legs with his own and had a clay dagger in his mouth

"Now it is over," Jura said through the dagger and spat it out to the side. He got up and dusted himself off. "Warriors will try to take advantage of you for your body and you being female. They will try to taunt you with lewd comments and touch you in certain places that may be uncomfortable. When this happens you must attack them. You may also have to attack males or females in such places. Do you understand?" Jura explained as his green eyes bore down on her.

"Yes my lord," Freyja answered as she closed her eyes and got up. She glanced around and saw that Jura was no longer standing in front of her. He sat on the cliff facing the sun. She walked up toward him and looked out to where his gaze had settled.

"You shouldn't be doing this Freyja. This shouldn't have involved you." Jura bade her to sit down next to him and continued to speak. "You have no idea what war can do to people."

"I don't my lord, but I wouldn't be a woman if I let a man do a job that I could do as well as him!" Freyja replied hotly. "I will fight beside you and I don't care, as long as I follow you." She went to her knees beside him and bowed.

Jura turned to face her. "You are ready Freyja. These training sessions have been long and strenuous, but I believe that you are ready," he said as he brought out one of his gloves.

"What must I do my lord?" Freyja questioned as Jura got up to his feet. He brought his gloved hand to her head.

"I will help you go back to Loki, but you must defeat him in combat. He will be at full power and you must be stronger than he," Jura commanded as he focused some kido into his hands. "Good luck Freyja, my darling, good luck."

Freyja felt her body being sucked into the snowy plain where she first saw Loki. "Well it is about time you got here!" said person yelled as he jogged toward her. He was in his frost giant form. "I told you to call up sometime but you never did. That was hurtful." Loki pouted, looking as pathetically sad as an enormous giant could.

"I'm sorry Loki, but Lord Jura had training for me," Freyja explained as she listened to Loki's complaining. He suddenly stopped and his eyes got sly.

"So have you been putting the moves on Lord Jura yet?" Loki asked curiously. Freyja blushed.

"No Loki!" Freyja shouted.

"Ooh another button pressed Freyja. I wonder how many Jura could press," Loki teased as he looked up toward the sky.

"Stop it Loki! I didn't come here to talk about my feelings for Lord Jura!" Freyja said, embarrassed.

"Oh then what did you come here for?" Loki crouched down and his eyebrow rose slightly.

"I came to achieve bankai. I'll need you to tell me how," Freyja stated as she pulled out her sword.

"Well everyone has a different way of approaching bankai I guess. You're part of the ones who rush in. Try Jura's approach, he just relaxed and persuaded his," Loki suggested as he rubbed his head and took out a bug from his black hair.

"So will you help me achieve bankai or not?" Freyja asked stubbornly, knowing where he was heading with this, while she leveled her sword in his direction.

Loki threw his hands up. "There is no talking you out of this is there Freyja?" Loki asked once more hoping to change her mind.

In response Freyja raised her sword and slashed at Loki's feet. She scraped his leg. Loki sighed. "Then let's get on with it." Loki produced a mace. Freyja released her zanpakuto and had her own mace and shield. Loki chopped downward only to be met by Freyja's shield. Freyja kicked at his foot…ineffectively (this guy is a giant I mean come on!). He kicked her in the stomach causing her to fly backwards. She landed in the snow fifty feet away.

"Well that takes care of that," Loki said as he put away his mace and started to brush his hands.

Freyja unsteadily got to her feet. "I will not lose so easily Loki!" she roared and charged at him. She shunpoed to his head and bashed his shoulder.

He yelped out in pain. "Ow! Freyja, that actually hurt!" he complained as he rubbed his shoulder. She landed easily on the ground and hit him in the shin. He picked up his foot again and tried to squash her. She dodged the foot continuously—it left craters wherever it hit. She spun around to get between his legs. She then threw her mace upward and slammed the side of her shield into the back of Loki's knee.

"Is that all yo… Mommie!" Loki whimpered out painfully. The mace hit him in the place where the sun don't shine. He fell to the ground and didn't get up. She retrieved her shield and mace and proceeded over to him. She put her mace to his face.

"Yield Loki! I have won!" Freyja proclaimed grandly.

"I wouldn't be too sure Freyja," Loki said as his eyes glowed yellow. He turned into an enormous crow. He was fifteen feet wide and twelve feet long. He flew into the sky and dive-bombed at Freyja. She rolled to the side, trying to dodge the attack. Loki flew over and shot out talons from his claws. She got hit by one in the leg but blocked the others. He swooped in and tried to pick her up. Realizing this, she brought her mace up and slammed it on the claw. Loki yelped in pain and flew away.

"Caw! Caw!" Loki yelled and a mace appeared in the crow's mouth and shot out at Freyja. Freyja caught the mace in mid-air and threw it back at Loki. He did a wing-over and dive-bombed at Freyja once more.

She hit ground with her mace, causing a huge amount of snow to fly up into the air.

"Caw?!" Loki cried in surprise as he plunged right into the snow. He hit the ground and slid and hit a rock. Bang! His head started to spin and he raised his head weakly, looking for Freyja. Freyja's shield bashed his head.

"OW! My ears are ringing now!" Loki complained as he reverted to his old man form. He covered his ears and tried to stop his head from ringing more.

"Now do you give up Loki?" Freyja said while she panted heavily.

"Not yet," was his response as he threw a snowball at her. He kept throwing snowballs at her while she blocked them with her shield.

"Loki this is pathetic!" Freyja complained as she looked over her shield. Loki wasn't there anymore.

Loki had his mace and slammed it into Freyja's stomach. She bent over and started to cough up blood. She whirled around and kicked his legs from under him. He fell to the ground. She got back up with her shield and mace ready. She was about to hit him with the mace when he threw another snowball at her face. "Once more Loki that was pathetic," Freyja said witheringly as she wiped the snowball and blood away from her face.

"Didn't Jura tell you not to underestimate your opponent?" Loki taunted behind her as he grabbed her neck. He brought his other hand down and felt her leg.

"Wow, I did a good job with your body Freyja. I know I changed it but not this lovely!" Loki grinned lewdly. He rubbed her leg with his hand. He slowly went to her stomach.

"Well, might as well share the fruits that I gave you Freyja." He began to pull her closer towards him.

"Now I got you!" Freyja yelled as she slammed her foot into his groin again (man I feel sorry for Loki) and crouched down to send an uppercut into his chin. He fell to the floor and moaned.

"Shit Freyja! That was one hell of a punch!" Loki said as he rubbed his chin. Freyja walked up to him. She hit him on the head with the shield again.

"Ow, what was that for!" Loki whined as he tried to soothe the pain.

"That was for touching me! I'm no man's property and I will not suffer such an injustice from any man that I do not choose," Freyja said as she hit him with her shield once more for good measure.

Loki got hit many more times by the shield, before he finally gave in, bringing his hands up. "Alright, alright. You win Freyja! I'm sorry for doing that." He got up and bowed.

"So that means I can use bankai?" Freyja asked ecstatic.

"Yeah, yeah just don't hit me anymore," Loki said, rubbing his head and back.

"So I won right?" Freyja inquired, hoping the fight would be over.

"Yeah, now please leave me along. I need to recover," he whined grumpily as he changed into his giant form and walked back into the plain.

"Wait a minute! You didn't tell me its name!" Freyja yelled at him.

"It'll come to you when the moment is right. Good hunting!" Loki yelled back. She felt her body being pulled back into reality. She woke up to find herself sleeping on Jura's bed. Jura stood at the table with the chess pieces on it, a serious look on his face. A tea set was next to him along with some food on the tea table that stood across from the table he stood in front of. Regular pleasantries such as sashimi (for readers who don't know, sashimi is raw fish or seafood that has been cut up) and sushi. His two zanpakutos were on the wall next to Jura.

"Oy, oy! You're awake!" Jura said, surprised at the fact she came back so soon.

"Yes Lord Jura. If I may ask what time is it?" Freyja asked as she looked for the sun.

"It still midday Freyja. You only have been away for one day and four hours." His words were casual as he sipped some tea.

"That's not s… ONE DAY!" Freyja shrieked with surprise. She got up and tried to leave the tent. Jura stood at the entrance, ready to stop her.

"Don't panic, don't panic! I already took care of all the appointments. No one is going to bother you about missing a day," Jura said as he took her by the shoulders and steered her away from the door.

"But my training and promises!" Freyja protested frantically.

"Has been done already. Nemu and Thoth had finished everything you needed to do," Jura said, making her sit on the cushion next to the tea table. "Now let's get you some nice hot tea."

She calmed down and got a tea cup. Jura poured some tea for both of them and took a long swig. A long silence followed. "So did you achieve bankai, or was it unsuccessful?" Jura asked bluntly, unable to contain himself anymore.

Freyja smiled in her tea. "Yes my lord I have achieved it. Loki will now accept that I am ready." She put down the tea with a disgusted look on her face. "How can he drink this slop?"

"Well then," Jura said and got up, "it is time." Jura walked over to the wall where Hephaestus hung.

"Time for what my lord?" Freyja questioned as Jura came back with his sword in hand.

"You have saved my life once; that alone would have sent you into the Renegade Knights ranks. You have achieved bankai. No one can doubt you now, even if you are young. Do you accept the responsibilities as your father did?" Jura asked solemnly.

"As I have said once before: with my life." She bowed lowly with reverence.

Jura stamped the top part of the hilt onto Freyja's hand. The mark of the hammer and anvil appeared. "Then rise Freyja. You are the 7th Renegade Knight. The Renegades welcome you," Jura completed as he put away his sword.

Freyja looked at her hand. "Thank you my lord…thank you," she said and bowed once more.

"Well, well," Jura said as he jokingly complained, "things are starting to get tight around here anyway. Now that we have a reason to celebrate, why don't we?" Jura showed a toothy grin.

"What do you mean my lord?" Freyja asked curious to know what her lord had in mind.

"Well, in the old days, we always had a celebration for the new Renegade Knights. But we didn't do it for last two of them," Jura complained as he let out a sigh, "Bad manners I must say."

"So, my lord, the point being?" Freyja inquired impatiently.

"Well we have to celebrate. So—actually hold on," Jura said abruptly and put up his hand. He went outside to the tent and signaled messengers. "Alright tell all the Knights to get here, pronto," Jura whispered. The messengers saluted him by banging their right hands to the left side of their chests and shunpoed off. The salute originated by the alliance to ensure that all renegades knew they were comrades.

Eight minutes later, while Jura finished his meal, the Renegade Knights arrived. They had all shunpoed into the tent at the same time. Each one bowed and saluted. "Welcome, welcome one and all!" Jura proclaimed grandly. "Today we have a special guest with us!" He moved to the side and Freyja appeared from behind where he had stood. "The 7th Knight, Freyja!" Jura applauded.

The Knights applauded loudly and slapped Freyja on the back a couple of times. There was much talking about how Freyja was going to fit in because of the war. Jura clapped his hands together for silence. "We have gathered here today to celebrate not one Knight but another one that we have forgotten! Yoruichi and Freyja, welcome to the ranks of the Renegade Knights."

The surrounding knights clapped for those two who were now the center of attention. After a moment though, everyone began to converse among each other. Kronos stiffly walked up to Jura. "My lord, Freyja is now a Renegade Knight, I must take my leave."

Jura shot a surprised look at Kronos. "Don't you want to stay with us Kronos? I mean you are our friend."

"You said I was just a substitute till Freyja got her knighthood," Kronos said, a hint of his sadness shining through his words.

"Eh! I only said that so I wouldn't have to make you feel like you were forced into this. A knight is a knight Kronos. You're still one of us."

"But, my lord…" Kronos tried to say but got interrupted.

"No buts Kronos. You are one of us whether you like it or not," Jura said, serious this time.

Kronos almost cried. "Thank you my lord," he said gratefully and bowed. "I will not fail you." Kronos got up and headed toward the talking Knights.

Jura motioned his hands for silence. "Usually we have celebrations for these knights, but that can wait another time. It is time for something new."

"What is that boss-man?" Theseus asked as he grinned, hoping for a fighting contest.

"We get a holiday!" Jura said as he looked at the stunned faces of his knights.

"Hey Joan," Leto whispered to Joan.

"What is it?" Joan asked.

"What is a holiday?" Leto inquired. She was baffled by the concept, having not had one in such a long time.

"It's something we aren't getting enough of," Theseus butted in.

"Alright, alright, I know you are all confused," Jura said over the whispering.

"YES!" everyone replied except Yoruichi who put her hand on her head.

"Since the other four Warlords are setting up their camps, we have time to take a break." Jura grinned. "So we can enjoy ourselves for a few days."

"What about guarding the base?" Kronos asked, worried for his daughter's safety.

"The other Warlords' warriors are doing that right now. They are creating a perimeter with mercenaries they hired," Jura said reassuringly.

"What about our warriors? They just can't see us slacking off," Leto pointed out.

"We all are on holiday so the whole camp can go back home or whatever they want," Theseus pointed out and grinned at the prospect of doing nothing.

"Note to self: Theseus is a maniac of a fighter and a lazy bum," Jura thought as he sweat-dropped Theseus.

"So when are these holidays going to take place?" Yoruichi finally asked from the sidelines, getting sick of hearing all of the questions about what a holiday is.

"Tomorrow, people! I hope you bring bathing suits and human clothing!" Jura said gleefully as he pushed them all out. "It will last for at most a month or so."

"Bathing suits?! HEY…!" Freyja yelled as she was pushed out.

All the knights were thinking the same thing. "Why in the world do we need to have bathing suits?"

End… Just kidding.


In the Human World. Ichigo's hometown.

"Icchhiiiggoo!" a teenager yelled as he ran up to Ichigo.

Ichigo put out his first. "Hey Keigo," he said as his fist connected with Keigo's face. Keigo fell to the ground from the punch.

"Hello Kurosaki." Another teenager walked up to Ichigo and questioned politely, "How was your vacation?"

"Hey Mizuiro. It was alright," Ichigo said with a shrug. Keigo got up from the floor.

"Ichigo! Why didn't you invite me?" Keigo whined.

"Because there was no need to." Two other teenagers, one with glasses and the other with dark skin, appeared. Keigo screamed.

"Ishida, Chad, don't do that!" Keigo complained as he tried to slow his heart rate.

"Come on Keigo, be a man!" a girl with spiked black hair said behind him as she slapped him on the back.

"Now Tatsuki, don't be so tough on him," an orange haired girl said behind her before directing her attention to Ichigo, "And how was your vacation Ichigo?"

"It was fine Orihime," Ichigo said. "How was yours?"

"It was fun," She nodded her head dumbly, "but hey there are some new students coming to this class."

"Really? I hope it is someone who doesn't has high grades. Traitors," Keigo said as he glared at the four other males.

"I heard there is supposed to be some cute girls there," Orihime said thoughtfully.

"I wonder if they are older than me," Mizuiro murmured to himself. He looked around to see the other males' looks at him. "What?" he asked innocently.

"Alright, alright enough talking people!" the teacher said as she came in. The whole class got into their seats quickly. "We have five new students today," she said as she pointed at Ichigo, "so be good to them Ichigo."

"Hai, teacher!" Ichigo said as he looked out of the window. "Probably some weirdoes. I wish I was with Rukia right now, but she is still in Soul Society making her report about the Renegades," he mused. He didn't notice the five people who came into the classroom.

"Hiyo! Ooh look, there is lil' Ichigo!" a familiar voice hollered. "It can't be!" Ichigo thought and turned his head toward the five new students. From left to right were Freyja, Joan, Jura, Leto, and Theseus. They all had gigais that made them appear as regular highschool students. Freyja's uniform fitted quite well on her. She let her hair out and also wore red sunglasses. She wore a skirt instead of jeans that was thigh high. Joan's uniform seemed very tight but she was comfortable. She had her hair up in a ponytail. She then had a necklace with a valkyrie on it. Her jacket was unbuttoned while her shirt was tucked in and she wore skintight jeans.

Jura wore his shirt unbuttoned at the top of his chest, where a necklace of a hammer and anvil laid. He wore two white gloves with his uniform jacket slung over his shoulders, making it very clear that his shirt was not tucked in. To finish off the look, he had the goofy smile on his face. Leto's uniform was extremely tight. She unbuttoned the top button of her shirt and had her jacket wrapped around her waist. Underneath the jacket was a skirt that went down to knee-height. Her black hair fell down her shoulders. Theseus—he wore casual. Can't blame him because nothing could fit him—he was way too tall. He had a plain white T-shirt and black jeans. He had his hair in a mullet, complimented by three bands: one on each leg and one around his neck.

"It's you!" Ichigo yelled as he jumped from his desk. He went for his sword but realized a moment later that he wasn't in his shinigami form.

"Ichigo! Get back in your desk. I don't know what is your relationship with him but I will not tolerate any type of violence in my classroom!" the teacher scolded him.

"Hai sensei!" Ichigo said as he got back to his desk. His friends gave him worried looks after his odd behavior. Ishida and Chad wondered what could have made Ichigo so ticked off at the new students.

"Hello," Leto said stiffly. "My name is Leto, from your left to right is Freyja, Joan, Lord Jura, myself, and Theseus." She pointed each in turn.

"Where are you guys from?" Tatsuki asked, trying to figure out why Ichigo snapped at Jura.

"Nowhere that is very well known," Leto replied politely in the vaguest way possible.

"Are you related to Matsumoto?" Keigo inquired from the back hoping to find out if one of the new girls were available.

"No, though my lord does know her quite well," Leto answered sternly.

"Why do you call the man in the middle lord?" Orihime questioned as she pointed Jura's way. The Knights sniffed and put their hands on their hidden swords. Leto was about to reply when Jura stopped her.

"I'll answer this one Leto," Jura told her as he walked over to Orihime's desk. He sat on her desk right in front of her.

"Orihime if I'm not mistaken?" Jura said nonchalantly.

"Yes."

"They call me lord because they are you could say…retainers to my family. They have served a long time," Jura said. "Would you like to become one as well?" Jura put his hand under her chin. Tatsuki was about to hit him but stopped when she saw Ichigo shooting daggers through his eyes at him.

"Thanks but no thanks," Orihime replied, pulling her face away from his hand. Jura smiled and shrugged his shoulders. He then got off her desk and took his place among his Knights.

"Does that mean you're royalty?" Keigo asked with a glitter of hope in his eyes.

"Well you could put it that way I suppose." He scratched the side of his head and nodded to Leto. She nodded in turn.

People asked many more questions. "Are you available?" "Hold old are you?" "Do have a boyfriend?" "Are those real?" "What stuff do you like?"

"All questions are now over," the teacher said, wanting to get on with class. There were a few groans of disappointment because the class wanted to know more. "Lord Jura, you may sit wherever you like."

Jura walked to the desk in-between Orihime and Ichigo. The Knights sat around him. The teacher continued with the lesson.

Three hours later. The bell rang. "Alright lunchtime people," the teacher announced, laying down the chalk she had been writing with. Ichigo and his friends headed up to the roof to eat. They sat around in a circle.

"So Ichigo…why did you keep sending glares at Jura?" Tatsuki asked as she ate from her bento box.

"W-wh-a-t are you talking about Tatsuki?" Ichigo stammered.

"Don't play dumb Ichigo," Keigo said as he pointed his chopsticks at Ichigo's face. "We all saw how you yelled at him. Do you two have some history or something?"

"Um, um," Ichigo muttered as he tried to think of a good way to evade the conversation. Fortunately Orihime saved him.

"Hey Tatsuki and Keigo. Why don't you two help Jura and his friends tour the school and get us some soda after you're done?" Orihime asked.

"But, but!" they both protested but Orihime pushed them out.

"Make sure not to be mean!" Orihime yelled down the hallway as she watched to make sure that the two left. Mizuiro was coming back with the soda cans but Keigo stopped him and made him help them. She closed the door to the rooftop. "So Ichigo, there are no more prying ears. Who are these people?"

"Yes Kurosaki, do tell us. What is your relationship with Jura?" Ishida asked as he adjusted his glasses. He was curious to find out how Jura's presence caused Ichigo to react the way that he had. Chad nodded his head.

"There is no reason for you guys to get involved with our fight," Ichigo said as he tried to reassure them.

"Cut the crap Ichigo," Ishida said, "we know something is up. Besides we've been with you through the fighting. How bad can it be?"

Ichigo found no way to avoid the prying of his friends. He told them everything about the war with the Renegades and how Jura was their leader.

"Oh god!" Orihime exclaimed as she covered her mouth. "So that is why you don't like him."

"He doesn't seem like the type of guy to be the leader of a warring faction," Ishida commented as he shook his head.

"He seemed so kind to me after class though," Orihime said thoughtfully as she remembered how Jura helped her pick up her books.

"Yes it does seem odd how a leader of the Renegades appeared at our school," a voice said behind them. They turned around and saw Tatsuki with a bottle of soda in her hand, having managed to unlock the door.

"Uh…hi?" Ichigo managed to say.

"This could go badly," Ishida whispered to Chad. Chad nodded his head in agreement.

"So Jura is a leader or a faction that is called the Renegades and they are sort of like the yakuza or the mafia?" Tatsuki inquired as she crushed the can in her hand.

"Well, well, the little girl finally figured it out lil' Ichigo!" a cheery voice called. The classmates looked around, but they couldn't find where the voice came from.

"Down here people!" They all looked down at Tatsuki's feet. He sat there with a steaming, green tea cup. He sipped loudly. "That is some good tea!" Jura commented as he got up from under her.

"Get away yakuza scum!" Tatsuki yelled. She sent a roundhouse kick to his head. Theseus suddenly appeared and grabbed her leg, stopping the kick. "What the hell?" Tatsuki shouted before being thrown down. Jura took away the tea from his mouth.

"No one touches the boss-man," Theseus told Tatsuki ominously as he walked over to her. He brought his fist up.

"Theseus, that is enough!" Jura snapped at him. Theseus stopped and walked back to his boss. He bowed.

"I'm sorry, Lord Jura, for going that far," Theseus said.

Jura put his hand on his forehead. "It is alright Theseus," he said as he helped Theseus up from his bow. "You did worry for my well-being. How can I blame you?"

"Thank you lord," Theseus replied solemnly. "I will not fail you."

Jura walked over to Tatsuki who had sat down to check her leg for injuries. "Looks like it was cracked slightly," Jura said as he put a hand out to help her. She spat at his hand.

"I don't need yakuza to help me out!" she snapped and tried to get up. She fell back to her butt.

"Doesn't matter whether you need me or not," Jura told her as he picked her up bridal-style. Tatsuki blushed and tried to get out of the hold. "Ichigo."

"Yeah?" Ichigo asked tersely as he readied for an attack.

"These are my days off. I don't need fighting now," Jura said, sending a wave over his shoulder as he headed back down the stairs. Theseus followed him. The people on the roof could hear Tatsuki cursing him out to put her down.

"He doesn't seem to do a lot of fighting himself Ichigo," Ishida said doubtfully. "Are you sure he is a leader of warriors who spent all their lives fighting?"

"Well actually I'm not sure—" Ichigo began.

"Not sure of what Ichigo?" another familiar voice questioned behind him. He winced and prayed inwardly that it wasn't her. He reluctantly looked around to see not only her but two others. Renji and Masumoto stood with Rukia. All of them had gigais and they stood on the fence. "So Ichigo not sure of what?" Rukia asked again.

"Well, I… well," Ichigo tried to say but was saved by the door swinging open again. Jura stepped out.

"Hello Rukia, Masumoto, Renji. How are you guys today?" Jura queried nonchalantly as he picked up his tea cup that was lying on the ground. "Sorry, I forgot that I left it here." He scratched his head with embarrassment. He then turned around and left the rooftop before anyone could say anything.

"That is what," Ichigo answered as he looked at an enraged Rukia.

"Why in the world is one of the Five Warlords here? Did you slack off on your duty again Ichigo?!" Rukia yelled at him. She was furious. Masumoto and Renji had to restrain her from going into the building and killing Jura.

"Well he kind of just came in," Ichigo said as he tried to calm Rukia.

"I don't care! After school we will finish the score," Rukia told Ichigo angrily as she calmed down. Masumoto and Renji finally let go of her. "So he will have probably an entourage of fighters. We just need to know who they are."

"We know already four of them," Ishida replied as he readjusted his glasses. "All we need to do is to beat them and then go for him."

"But how are we going to get him to fight us?" Chad asked. His voice startled everyone because they had forgotten he was there.

"We could always send him some of Orihime's cooking and a letter: 'Fight with us or we will make you eat this!'," Ichigo supplied with a grin. That started off laughter from everyone except for Masumoto and Orihime who were both confused.

"Jura seems to be an old-fashion guy," Renji said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "So let's just tell him to meet us with his warriors." Everyone agreed to the simple plan. They discussed the details but didn't notice a black cat watching them from the doorway.


After school, Jura looked in his shoebox. He found a letter and a black cat in there. "Hey Yoruichi what's up?" he asked as he lifted her out of the box and rubbed her head.

"Your shoes smell awful is what," Yoruichi said disapprovingly in her deep voice. "The enemy has sent you a leader of challenge."

"I was wondering when they were going to do that," Jura said as he scratched his head. "So who are the participants?"

"The group that you saw on the rooftop when you went to pick up your cup," Yoruichi replied as she was scratched by Jura.

"Do you want to join us in this fight Yoruichi?" Jura questioned as he walked to the entrance of the school, carrying her in his arms. The other Knights surrounded him.

"I'll just lead the way. I'll let you guys fight," Yoruichi yawned (if that is possible for a cat) and stretched herself out.

"So who are the players?" Leto asked from behind Jura.

"Two rooks, one bishop, three knights, and one king. Though the king isn't very smart." Yoruichi supplied the answer.

"So a bunch of weaklings then," Theseus said derisively as he stretched his arms.

"Not so Theseus, Yoruichi tell them the rest," Jura commanded.

"Two rooks: you have fought one of them before and both can use bankai, the three knights consist of a Quincy, a man with one strong arm or two, and a woman with five different powers. The bishop is someone you already fought. She has potential though to become much stronger. The king is the strongest. You fought him before, Theseus and lost on purpose. He might not seem very smart but when his comrades are in danger watch out." Yoruichi began to groom herself.

"So a frontal leader—this will be interesting," Kronos said guarding Jura from the front. They turned a corner.

"What about reinforcements?" Joan asked from the left of Jura.

"No reinforcements… but there might be some outside help, but that is a low probability," Yoruichi said as she curled up in a ball and went to sleep.

"When we see the enemy, you all know your roles. No killing, but you have to win," Jura said as they reached their destination. It was an empty parking a lot. Their opponents stood in the middle of it; the shinigami were out of their gigais and the rest were in their normal battle wear. Jura used the hilt of his sword and pushed himself out of the gigai. He plopped a rec. soul in the gigai's mouth. Rec. Souls or Recreated Souls are souls created by the loyalty of the warriors who had died for their lord. They are completely obedient and can act like their users if the situation demands it. Though they sometimes malfunction and do some crazy things with the body. The others followed his example.

Their gigais got out of the way. Jura raised his hand and slowly dropped it as a signal. His warriors shunpoed and surrounded their enemies in a circle formation. "The board has been set. The troops assembled. The king once more is in check. How will you manage it this time?" Jura whispered as he walked up and took his place among the circle. He put out his hand and said, "19.3 Heaven's Strike!" The game began.

Wahoo! Cliffhanger my readers—I wondered whether or not I should have left it like that. I wonder who will win? I guess we'll just see in the next chapter. Well this is preceptormyth101 signing out once more. R&R.

Also thanks to my beta reader Ookami-Shoujo who has been betaing my fanfiction for awhile now.