Chapter 10

"C'mon, Byakuya" Kyoraku said "Let's not do this" Byakuya said nothing but drew his sword. Just then, a leg came from the other side of the senkaimon and landed a powerful kick to Kyoraku's side.

"You're late." Said Byakuya.

Senna looked up in awe and said "Yoruichi?"

Yoruichi ignored Byakuya's comment and said "Hey, princess."

"Let's go." Said Byakuya, as the captains had just reached the senkaimon and began to engage Renji.

As Yoruichi, Byakuya, and Senna made their way through the precipice world, an eerie silence fell upon them, no one saying anything. Senna was puzzled at first, but then it came to her that the precipice world is where she left them. "Byakuya," she began "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to leave you like that."

Byakuya said nothing and kept his usual scowl set. Finally he replied "A member of the Kuchiki clan should not have been defeated by such a lowly hollow as the one that defeated you." Senna was taken aback and opened her mouth to reply when Yoruichi put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. It was quiet the rest of the way.

Ichigo got up from the screen and took out his combat pass. "Ichigo where are you going?" asked Inoue

"I'm going to go help Byakuya." He replied

"We're coming with you." Said Ishida as he began to stand up.

"No, you aren't" Ichigo said coldly "it's too dangerous. All the captains will be there, they will have no problem killing those who get in their way. Especially a Quincy."

"I'm fine with that." said Uryuu

"You coming too, Chad?" asked Ichigo

"Hmm" he replied as he nodded his head.

"Then let's go." Said Ichigo, and they all headed out, including Urahara.

Byakuya, Senna and Yoruichi all stepped out of the senkaimon and were met by Ichigo and his friends.

"Ichigo!" exclaimed Senna and ran to Ichigo and gave him a big hug. Ichigo smiled slightly and then said to Byakuya,

"Thank you."

Byakuya replied "I would not do something like this for a mere substitute Shinigami; I did it to protect the Kuchiki clans' honor."

Ichigo's expression hardened then he asked "What do we do now?"

Byakuya drew his sword and said, "We wait…then we fight. Soul Society will not be deterred unless by force."

Everyone else prepared for battle too, Ichigo unwrapping his sword, Senna taking hers out of its sheath, Uryuu taking out his bow, Chad's right arm became surrounded by its armor. Finally, the captains stepped out of the senkaimon. They encircled the team and Kenpachi threw an unconscious Renji at them. Ichigo caught his body and set it down on the ground "Heal him." He said to Orihime

"Heh, he was barely a warm-up." Zaraki said. Soi Fon made a move, using shunpo, at Senna with her sword drawn. Yoruichi stopped her and said to Senna,

"On your toes, princess."

Senna hardened her look and attacked Hitsugaya; she began to do battle with him. Unohana and Komamura made a move towards them but were met by Chad. Kurotsuchi, Kyoraku, and Ukitake all attacked and were met by Ishida and Urahara.

"Kurosaki!" yelled Kenpachi "let's have some fun. Whaddya say?"

Kenpachi then brought his sword down but Ichigo stopped it. The vizard captains all tried to join in but Kenpachi swung his sword at them "This is my fight" he said "Go somewhere else." They then saw that Senna was fighting one-on-one and made their way over to her, but were stopped by Byakuya.

Senna was being pushed back by the strikes of Hitsugaya. Suddenly, she parried and began a barrage of her own. Although both were holding back, Senna's attacks were much more powerful. She again was using her usual flowing, graceful style, combining strikes with her sword along with kicks and flips to dodge. Hitsugaya made a stab at Senna, but she jumped up in the air and seemed to float there, her head directly above his.

"You're done." Said Toshiro. He swung his sword over his head, but Senna had already disappeared using shunpo. She reappeared to his left, her body was horizontal to the ground and she was spinning. Hitsugaya moved to block, but he was too late, Senna landed a powerful kick to his face that sent him flying off. Senna gracefully landed on her feet.

As Hitsugaya got up, he said "I thought I told you that you're finished." Senna looked slightly confused then made a move. But she couldn't, she was stuck. She looked down and saw that her feet were being held in place by ice, and that the ice was creeping up her leg. Toshiro shunpo'd right in front of Senna as she was struggling with the ice. "I'm sorry." He said.

"Bring them to the twilight, Mi—" but it was too late, Hitsugaya's sword had already made its way through her chest. As Senna stood dumbfounded, her eyes met with Ichigo's, both wearing the same shocked expression.

"Senna!" screamed Ichigo. "Getsuga Tensho!" the large blue mass of Ichigo's attack connected with Hitsugaya. The attack was powerful enough that it was obvious Hitsugaya would be out of the battle indefinitely. Ichigo shunpo'd over to Senna, breathing heavily. "Are you okay?" he asked as he broke the ice holding her down.

"I'm okay," Senna replied "I can handle it." Ichigo noticed something strange about Senna's wound What's this? He thought it's not bleeding? But he himself was not in good condition Damn, I should've used bankai. That last attack drained most of my spiritual pressure.

A sword came down but Ichigo stopped it. "C'mon Ichigo, we're not done yet." Said Kenpachi. The situation was dire, Ichigo had used up a lot of his energy for the time being and the others weren't doing so well either. Chad was having trouble dealing with Komamura's massive zanpakuto, and Unohana's expert kido usage. Ukitake could easily deal with Uryuu's arrows and Urahara was wounded. Byakuya was also wounded, but continued to fight, now in his bankai. Shit, thought Ichigo we can't hold out much longer. Something's gotta give.

A senkaimon opened and Yamamoto stepped out. Ichigo saw and his eyes grew wide. "Bankai!" he said. Senna looked up in awe, like a child during Christmas morning. But he seemed unconcerned with Ichigo or with any other fights for that matter; he seemed to be waiting for something. And then it came, two large doors, decorated with skeletons holding the doors open and shut at the same time; for they are the doors of hell—and they will always be open to contain the evils of mankind—sprouted from the ground and two figures stepped out. As they stepped farther out into the light, their identities became apparent.

Ichigo stood, his face showing mixed emotions of fear, terror, and confusion (Flashback) I…I will…I will protect you!

What is your name?...I asked you a question, what is your name?

Ichigo let out the hollow scream, a scream filled with pain and longing.

You cannot understand me…

A large cero began charging up, showing no remorse in its desperate high-pitched groan for power.

You won't show any mercy? How very hollow-like of you…Do it.

"I…I killed you." Ichigo said, without any pride in his voice.

A head of thick black hair and pale white skin could be seen, green eyes of despair, looking into seemingly nothing. "It seems that even death is empty in its vain efforts to provide a means to an end." Said…Ulquiorra.

Next, a head of pink hair could be seen in a long, white espada uniform. "Little girl, we've come for you." Said a menacing Szayel Aporro Granz. Senna looked up in terror at Ichigo, who was frozen by his past.

To be continued