"Ichigo!" Isshin shouted, arriving in time to see the clearing dust. Isshin felt a touch of pride upon seeing Ichigo's Bankai once again. Although terrified that Ichigo had chosen the path of fighting, Isshin was also proud that his son wasn't afraid to do the right thing.

Isshin kept out of Ichigo's way as he fought. Being in the wrong place could've spelled disaster for the both of them. No, Isshin didn't dare interfere, that is, until Jinsei released his Bankai.

Jinsei's Shikai came in the form of two thick swords, each with green feathers tied at the end. To release his Bankai, first he put both swords together at the feathered ends, then they melded together. The new blade bent into an 'S' shape and was about the side of Jinsei's body.

Ichigo braced himself for an attack. Before it came, his father appeared in front of him, his side impaled by the hook of Jinsei's blade.

"Dad!"

"I'm fine, this is nothing!"

With worry wrinkling Ichigo's features, he swooped in to catch his father as he fell.

"Ichigo! His Shikai can bend reality but his Bankai can bend your reality. You have to get out of here."

"I'm not leaving you behind!" Ichigo glared at Jinsei and raised his hand to his face. He stopped and glanced down at Isshin.

"Don't be ashamed, Ichigo," Isshin said. "It's a part of you. Being a Hollow doesn't change anything, especially not how proud I am of you. . . and you'll have to Hollowify to fight him."

Ichigo raised his hand again. He gathered his reiatsu and felt it harden across his face. Something was different as he summoned his mask this time. It seemed to go on smoother.

"What changed, King?"

Not even his Hollow's voice fazed him.

"You've always rejected me, used that mask to supress and control me. . . but this time you're allowing me into your soul."

'I don't know,' Ichigo replied mentally.

"Ichigo," the Hollow almost sounded as if he was crying. "Thank you. You've. . . finally accepted me as a part of you."

Ichigo's grip tightened on his Zanpakuto as Jinsei lunged at him. He blocked the blade, catching the other off-guard with his increased speed.

"So, you're hiding behind a mask now, huh!?" Jinsei taunted.

Ichigo snorted, "Hardly!" His voice came out marbled and echoic.

Jinsei tensed. "No, you can't be. . . a Hollow!?"

Ichigo ignored him and flashed to his side. He released a quick Getsuga, just to get Jinsei airborne. Then he pressed his blade against the other's and shouted, "Getsuga Tenshou!"

Jinsei grit his teeth. His hands shook against the force of the blow. Once he realized he couldn't block it, he jumped back as far as he could before he ran to the side. Ichigo's attack grazed his right leg and sent him spiraling downward. Jinsei spat out a curse, his leg bleeding.

Ichigo marched towards him, sword raised.

"What a fucking disgrace to the name of Getsuga Tenshou!"

Ichigo narrowed his eyes, his arm lowering. "What are you talking about?"

Jinsei took this opportunity to move. He got to his feet and jumped a few meters away from Ichigo, leaving a comfortable distance. "You! How dare you, a filthy Hollow, infect Getsuga Tenshou, the Shiba Clan's technique!?"

"It's a Shiba technique?"

Laughter made Ichigo stop in his tracks.

Jinsei revelled in denying Ichigo answers. He opted to change the subject. With a grin, he said, "Tell me, Ichigo, are you certain your sisters are safe!? Are you absolutely sure that I'm working alone?"

Ichigo's grip tightened on his Tensa Zangetsu. His knuckles turned white.

Jinsei grinned, "That's what I thought."

"Bastard! If you do anything to them, I swear-"

"I'm not going to do anything!" Jinsei chuckled. "Someone else will."

Isshin could see Ichigo shaking, even from across the pavement. He could tell that his son was losing to his anger. Isshin's next action was going to hurt. It was probably going to kill him. He brought his sword forward. It lit up in a brilliant blue flame. Then Isshin shouted, "Bankai!"

Ichigo and Jinsei shielded their eyes against the sudden heat. Flames surrounded Isshin for a few seconds before compressing into a humanoid shape. Ichigo felt panic grip him when all he could see was fire. Then Isshin's Spiritual Pressure eased his worry, reassuring Ichigo that he was okay.

The flames vanished and Ichigo fell into an awe-filled silence. Isshin's skin had turned to coal. His features, like his mouth and eyes, turned to glowing purple magma. Isshin's wounds erupted with red-hot flames, singeing the coals. The flames ate away at his coal-skin, which was why he disliked using this form when he had serious injuries.

"Amazing. . ." Ichigo murmured.

The purple of Isshin's lips flattened into a smirk. Ichigo didn't doubt that it was tough to speak in that form.

Jinsei chuckled lowly. "How long can you hold that form, brother? Your wounds will get worse by the minute and your flames will consume you!"

Ichigo shot a quick Getsuga in Jinsei's direction. "Don't listen to him Dad! I'll help you finish this quickly!"

Isshin shook his head and turned his head to look over his shoulder. Captains were arriving, as well as Rukia. "Ichigo!" she shouted. "We've detected a large, unknown presence near your house! We've gotta get back there!"

Ichigo nodded and said to his father, "I'll keep them safe. You focus on here." Upon seeing Isshin nod, Ichigo took off with Rukia.

Jinsei chuckled and brought his Zanpakuto forward. Jushiro and Shunsui covered Ichigo and Rukia's exit while Soi Fon and Byakuya clashed with Jinsei. Their attacks were blocked easily. Jinsei pushed both captains back. Isshin appeared behind Jinsei, grasping the back of his head with a burning grip. Jinsei screamed and spun around, cutting across Isshin's chest.

Unohana stepped towards the fallen Isshin while Komamura forced Jinsei back.

"Relax," Unohana said, a small yet eerie smile on her face. "He's retreating, look."

Isshin glanced at Jinsei as he fled the scene. Soi Fon followed suit.

"Captain Soi Fon will follow him to make certain he doesn't harm your son. Please revert your Zanpakuto back to its sealed form and allow me to treat your injuries."

Isshin released his Bankai with a sigh. The coals turned to ash that blew away in the wind. His sealed Zanpakuto clattered beside him. Blood pooled from his wounds.

"Unhand my sister!" Ichigo snapped.

Her red lips curled into a grin. She didn't even budge at Ichigo's outburst. Black nails curled around Karin's throat, threatening to scratch or choke.

"And if I don't?" she probed, testing Ichigo's patience.

Ichigo narrowed his eyes. Behind the woman was a blue flash.

"If you don't. . ." Uryu released his arrow. "Then you'll have to face all of us."

The woman released Karin just as Uryu's arrow reached the woman's ponytail. It sliced clean through her elastic, letting her blonde hair flow freely in the wind.

Ichigo caught Karin then took her inside the house. He placed her down on the couch next to Yuzu and Yuzu wrapped her sister in a blanket.

Ichigo opened his mouth to speak but Yuzu cut him off. "Go get her, Ichi-nii!"

Ichigo smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll stop her."

"And be safe!" Yuzu called as Ichigo ran back outside.

The woman roared with anger as another one of Uryu's arrows pierced her shoulder. Ichigo pointed his blade at her and tensed for her retaliation strike.

"How dare you!?" she growled. "You nearly took off my arm!"

"Consider yourself lucky," Uryu replied, "that I missed."

She vanished from view. A moment later, Rukia screamed, the sound gargled.

Ichigo turned and saw red. Blood spilled from Rukia's shoulder and splattered onto the ground. Her wound pulsed purple from the woman's attack.

"An eye for an eye," the woman chuckled, her eyes locked on Rukia's limp form. "Or, in this case, an arm for an-"

Ichigo roared and lunged forward at the woman. He grabbed her and threw her in the air only to pin her down at the edge of a rooftop. Her head stuck over the side and Uryu aimed for it from the streets below.

"Admit defeat!" Ichigo snapped, his sword inches away from the woman's throat. "You can't beat the both of us!"

She narrowed her eyes. "I don't need to defeat you right now. That wasn't the plan!" Her hand began to glow. Ichigo recognized it as Kido and backed off before her attack reached him.

She stood tall and marched towards Ichigo, reaitsu coming off her blade in purple wisps. She ran at Ichigo all while more reiatsu gathered onto her sword. She swung with all her might. Ichigo blocked the attack, knees bending to brace himself from the blow. She turned her attention to behind her, where Uryu was climbing up onto the roof. Uryu's arrow raced by, missing her by a second.

She snarled and appeared behind Ichigo. "You know you want it!"

Ichigo turned on his heels, a scowl on his lips. "Want what!?"

The woman smirked. "You want freedom from the weight you carry on your shoulders. I can help you with that."

Ichigo's grip tightened on his Zanpakuto. "You're wrong about me. Protecting my friends is never a burden!"

"We shall see…"

Brown eyes widened as the woman moved faster than he could see. He felt her sword rip through his entire being, nearly slicing him in half. Uryu noticed that the woman's blade had stopped glowing, and left the strange reiatsu behind, clinging to Ichigo's wound. Ichigo coughed up blood as he collapsed to his knees. The metallic taste made him want to throw up.

"We'll see each other again. That is, if you survive that wound." The woman grabbed Ichigo by the back of his Shihakusho and threw him into Uryu. The two of them fell off the roof.

Ichigo groaned and pushed himself to his feet. "We have to go after her!"

Rukia crawled towards the two boys. Uryu caught her before she collapsed. "No," he said. "First we need to treat your injuries."

"There's no time-"

"Ichigo," Uryu said sternly, "we'll get another chance to fight. Right now, you're hurt."

Ichigo opened his mouth to protest, but the worry in Uryu's eyes and the pain in Rukia's made him fall silent. The ground began to sway beneath his feet. Ichigo glanced at the sky. His world grew dark before he hit the ground.

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