Sorry, I've been lazy and putting off writing the story.

"Talking."

"Thinking."

"Demon Talking."

"Demon Thinking."

I don't own these shows, at all.

Secrets of the Blade

Chapter 10

The names for the first match were drawn. Both Lily and Renji were worries for their friend. "Ichigo shouldn't be fighting. This is what Orochimaru wants." Thought Lily. "Ichigo…" she quietly says.

"Don't worry I'll be fine." Said Ichigo. "Just relax."

"Easier said then done." Mumbled Lily.

"What?" asked Ichigo.

"Nothing."

"Alright." Said Hayate. "I need everyone else to the areas on ether side of you." He said pointing to the stage areas.

Lily and Renji walked up to where Team 5 was standing. Which was where the sand team and Kabuto's team were as well. The rookie nine, minus Sasuke, and Team Gai were on the other side of the battle area.

The only ones in the battle area were Ichigo, Sasuke, and Hayate. "Alright." Started Hayate. "Are to two ready?"

"Wait a sec." Said Ichigo while taking off his zanpakuto.

"Hey Lily!" shouted Ichigo.

Lily snapped out of her thoughts, only to see Ichigo's zanpakuto coming right at. "What the-" her small scream cut her sentence off. She bent backwards placing her hand behind her, just seconds before the zanpakuto hit. "What the fuck is your problem?!" Lily yells.

"Can you hold on to that for me?" asked Ichigo.

"I don't need any favours." Said Sasuke.

"This isn't a favour." Said Ichigo. "My zanpakuto is too strong, just to use for an exam."

"Cocky, aren't we?" Sasuke said with a smirk.

"But," started Ichigo ignoring Sasuke's comment. "Don't think that because your Lily's friend I'll go easy on you."

"Hey! Don't drag me into this!" Lily shouted at the moment her name was said.

"Two ready?" asked Hayate. They both nodded. "Begin."

Both Ichigo and Sasuke ran towards each other. Sasuke threw a punch at Ichigo's head, but he dodged it. Sasuke threw his knee towards Ichigo's stomach. Ichigo moved both of his arms to block Sasuke's attack. One forearm was on top of Sasuke's knee and the other forearm was in front of his shin. Ichigo pushed Sasuke back.

"Is that all you can do?" asked Sasuke. "You're just blocking all of my attacks."

"You ain't seen nothin' yet." Smirked Ichigo.

The battle was really in tense. It didn't matter what Sasuke threw at Ichigo. Ichigo would just block it.

"What's with that Ichigo guy? He's not attacking?" asked the sand team's sensei.

"That's the idea." Said Renji, everyone looked into his direction. "Ichigo slowly is making Sasuke lose his energy. So when the time comes, it'll be easier for Ichigo to beat him."

"I get it." Said Lily. "Smart."

It became clearer that Renji was right. Sasuke's moves were starting to slow down. Ichigo noticed to and started to attack. Ichigo went to punch Sasuke in the stomach but Sasuke grabbed his fist. But Ichigo just smirked. With one swing of his leg Sasuke was on the ground, Ichigo was standing over him. He leaned down closer to Sasuke.

"Had enough fun yet?" asked Ichigo.

"Not really." Replied Sasuke. Using one foot, he kicked Ichigo in the chin, sending him into the air.

"Kuso, I let my guard down." Thought Ichigo. His back was facing the ground. Through the corner of Ichigo's eye he saw Sasuke come up right to his side.

"Here something I'm sure you'll enjoy." Said Sasuke. Ichigo's eyes widen with shock. Sasuke swing his leg, round a house style, towards Ichigo's stomach. "Lion Barrage!"

The ground shook as Ichigo landed. Sasuke landed on his feet about 3 feet away from where Ichigo hit the ground. There was smoke around where Ichigo was supposed to be.

"That's it." Said Sasuke. Everyone look over to him. "A hit like that would have knocked him out."

The smoke started to clear. Lily could see a shadow of a person standing. "Now that kind of hurt." Said a voice coming from the smoke cloud.

"Impossible." Mumbled Sasuke. Walking out from the smoke was Ichigo. There was blood running down from his orange hair, in front of his right eye.

"A few more of those, and you might break one of my bones." Ichigo vanished right in front of everyone, and reappeared right behind Sasuke. "Hi there." He said. Before Sasuke could turn around Ichigo knocked him out with karate chop to the back of the neck.

Sasuke fell to the ground. Everyone in the room was quiet. They were still shocked. "He… lost…?" was the only thought running throw people's minds.

"All right Ichigo!" cheered Orihime and Lily, breaking the silence.

Ichigo turned his head a little to his friends. He let out a sudden gasp, and fell to the ground. Ichigo's eyes were shut tightly; his hand was grabbing his curse mark. "Kuso." Was all he said.

"Ichigo!" yelled Lily.

Lily jumped over the railing and landed right next to Ichigo. Everyone else was confused. Lily quickly ran over to Ichigo's side. Renji and the rest ran down the stairs to check on Ichigo as well. Medic-nin came running over to Sasuke, but Kakashi said he want take care of him. "Ichigo?" asked Orihime softly.

"Kuso," mumbled Ichigo. "It hurts like hell."

"Are you alright Kurosaki-san(1)?" asked one of the medic-nins.

"Ichigo," said Lily softly. "Move your hand." She demanded more than asked.

Ichigo didn't question her. He slowly moved his away from his curse mark. Lily placed her hand were the curse mark was. "This should ease the pain." Lily said quietly. She started to from a series of hand signs only using one hand. Her blue charka was coming out of her hand. Ichigo's body started to relax. "Better?" asked Lily, after she finished from the hand signs.

"Hai." Replied Ichigo. "And Gomen."

"Impossible." Said Kakashi, who wanted to know what was happening and hadn't left. He was looking right at Ichigo's cursed mark. "Where did you get that burse on your neck?"

"Burse?" thought all the jonins and Hokage-sama.

"In the Forest of Death." Replied Ichigo at Kakashi's question.

"How?" asked Lord Hokage, who showed right then Kakashi asked about the burse.

Ichigo was standing straight up now rubbing his curse mark. "Not really sure?" he replied. "But, I remember some guy." Everyone's attention was on Ichigo. "I'm not really sure, but I think he bit me."

"What did he look like?" Lord Hokage demanded, not asked.

"He was… pale, long black hair. And he's eyes,"

"What about them?" asked Anko, who showed up when Lord Hokage did.

"They are yellow, like a snake."

Every jonin gasped in shock. "He got him too?"

"Do you remember his name?" asked Kakashi, sounding a lot more worried.

"I think it was Oreo-something, I don't know."

"I think you mean Orochimaru." Said Renji, with a sweat drop. "Same old Ichigo."

Lord Hokage's eyes narrowed. "Maybe Kakashi should have a look at you too." Suggest Lord Hokage. Kakashi gave a small nod in agreement.

Kakashi pick up Sasuke. "I think you better follow me Ichigo."

"Why?" asked Ichigo. Kakashi looked in his direction. "I'm fine, the burse on my neck doesn't hurt."

"What was the jutsu you used on him Lily?" asked Kakashi.

"It doesn't have a name. I learned it when I about 8." Answered Lily. "It won't bother him any time soon."

"Are you sure?" asked Kakashi. Lily nodded. With that Kakashi left with Sasuke.

"Hey Orihime?" asked Ichigo.

"Hai?"

"Would you mind healing my wounds?" asked Ichigo.

"Hai." Answered Orihime. She walked closer to Ichigo. Orihime moved her to make a small triangle with them. "Soten Kisshun." She said quietly. A yellow ¾ orb like object appeared where Ichigo was bleed to the head. The blood stop and disappeared, left everyone else in aw.

After Ichigo's curse mark was discover the next match was about to begin. Ichigo was standing with teammates and friends waiting to see who'll fight. The second was Shino and some guy who was from Kabuto's team. Shino won his battle with his bugs.

The next was going to good though. With those two names on the screen.

Renji Abarai

Vs.

Kankuro

Words

(1) Kurosaki-san or with anyone's last name means Mr., Ms., or Mrs.