Chapter 10: Ganju
One of Rukongai's settlers offered their home for Ichigo and company to stay in for the night. Sakura sat a foot away from the doorway with her back propped against the wall. Somebody suddenly sat beside her which took her attention, it was Ichigo. He smiled and ruffled her hair which gave him a frown in return. This lightened Sakura a bit.
After dinner, they all assembled in the hearth room, Yoruichi was discussing how they could go into soul society without having to use the first method once again. Just as the discussion was getting more serious, they heard the stomping of hoofs outside of the house. Then, so suddenly, a man broke apart the wooden panel door and was tumbling into the hearth room. He clutched his head as he moaned in pain. No sooner a big boar with strangely a ribbon was tied onto its mane, the boar held a scowl upon its face. The man then stood up and dusted himself, "Oh my, Bonnie-chan threw off again." After dusting himself, he did a salute and spoke, "Yo! Long time no see, Old Dude." The chief of Rokungai only replied, "Ganju! What are you doing here?! Go away!" Sakura looked from the old man to gatecrasher to whom he addressed as Ganju. The man continued to blab before his eyes met Ichigo. He immediately took off his shades to give him a clearer view of Ichigo. Sakura studied Ganju's now that the shades that had obscured his face was now removed. His big black eyes were narrow and scrutinizing Ichigo and Sakura. "What are shinigami-samas doing here?" Ganju cried. He approached Ichigo and was mocking ever word Ichigo said. "Answer me you dandelion-head-" Ganju was cut off by Ichigo's punch wich threw him at the entrance of the house. Ganju held his bruised cheek and the two began to quarrel. Sakura let out an exasperated sigh, 'Men.' The Old man began to sip tea as if Ichigo and Ganju's fighting was any daily activity. "Who is that guy?" Ishida asked the old man. Ganju, overhearing what Ishida asked, "You don' know me?" All of the group except Yoruichi replied with 'I don't know you.' The boar rider took a pose as he was to introduced himself with self-proclaimed titles. Ichigo just let out a hmph and Sakura looked from Ichigo to Ganju. 'Shinigami hater? What could have happened in the past that made him hate shinigamis?' Sakura thought. The two goofballs began a glaring contest before Ganju tackled Ichigo out of the house. Sakura immediately ran after the two which was shortly followed by the group. As Sakura and the other were about to help Ichigo, they were barricaded by Ganju's goons. They were perplexed not by the goons appearances but because they too were riding on boars. Yoruichi tried to stop Ichigo from figting but Ichigo was determind to show that he could fight. Ganju drew a broad sword out of the scabbard that was situated on his lower back. The old man went out of his house to stop Ganju but both men were destined to fight each other. Ichigo was weaponless and it would get pretty dirty if he'd stay like that. So suddenly Chad appeared and threw the zanpakuto to its rightful owner. Just as Ichigo brandished his sword to fight, Ganju pushed it down to the ground by which was now quicksand. Ganju was using some sort of magic but they continued to fight despite the loss of weaponry. Just as Ganju was about to throw in a punch on Ichigo, the clock strapped on the back of one of the goons rang when it struck nine o' clock. Ganju immediately fumbled and he looked at his goons. They were spouting about in trouble because it was already nine. Ganju whistled and a boar hopped over Ichigo which hit Ganju a few meters from where he stood. No sooner he was rammed to the air only to arrive at his boar's back and he continued to spat at Ichigo. Ichigo who by now was aggravated at Ganju was about to spat venom was being ran over by Ganju's goons. Sakura walked to Ichigo's side as soon as the dust dispersed. Nothing was left of Ganju's company except a scratched and bruised fuming- with-anger-at-person-who-told-him-not-to-fly-away-but-was-the-one-who-flew-away Ichigo.