*Blows dust off of motivation* Ah, there you are, it seems I had misplaced you. Sorry for the long wait guys, but my last computer died on me, and it took an almost complete chapter with it. As you can guess, it kinda hurt my motivation, having to rewrite that stuff. And as you probably noticed… I didn't. Here we are, middle of March, and I am just now getting back to this. So sorry there's not more for you to get in exchange for the delay. But enough about me. You've been waiting months on that damn cliffhanger of mine, time to get back to the action!

Ichigo and Byakuya stood atop the massive bridge, sizing up their foe. It was Ichigo who moved first, charging at the Soul Reaper. In a flash, he and Byakuya had swapped places, a murderous grin on Ichigo's face as Byakua held a hand to his side. "So, Byakuya, how's it feel to have that noble blood of yours on the outside?"

Byakuya released his hand, a dash of red across his palm. "A scratch. I did not know just how fast you were. Rest assured, I will not make the same mistake twice." His comment earned a roar from the young Exalt, charging at Byakuya once more. But this time he was prepared, bringing his sword up to block, being just slightly pushed back by Ichigo's assault. The third charge fared no better, with Byakuya now almost effortlessly letting Ichigo's blade slide across his own, leaving him completely unfazed. "Give up, boy. Lay down your sword, and except a swift death. You cannot win."

"There's no way in hell you get off that easy!" Ichigo once more descended on the noble in a hail of steel, but each blow seemed to slide right past him. "I'll show you! I'll make you pay!"

"Such insolence," he muttered under his breath. As Ichigo once more went to strike him, Byakuya took his knees out from under him with one swift sweep of his leg, sending Ichigo tumbling as he landed. "To think a mad pup like you could ever truly hurt me. You simply don't understand."

Finally giving up on his charge, Ichigo tossed Zangetsu at him, directing it with the bandages wrapped around the hilt. Byakuya deflected blow after blow, yet Ichigo seemed to be satisfied. "Then let's see how you handle this?" As Ichigo pulled back, Byakua realized his error. Ichigo had let the bandage circle his foe, and as he pulled back, it held him tight. "No way out now!" Ichigo charged at him, determined to simply pulverize the Soul Reaper.

And in a flash, the battle was over.

Ichigo looked down at the sword lodged in him stomach, but it was more than that. Blood seeped from thin cuts all over his body. "You pushed too hard in your quest for the impossible. Even you have your limits, boy. No one can fight forever." As Ichigo's vision blurred, he reached out, clutching at Byakuya's collar. The noble casually brushed him off, and everything went dark.

There was nothing but hatred.

In the prison of his own flesh he raged. They took what was his, and they would all pay. Towers of bone screamed in hate, and the twisted servants cowered. All would know his anger.

He would be made whole again, and this time, he would win.

"Well, look who's finally awake." Ichigo stirred from his twisted dreams. That hate and loss called to him, but as he woke, their grip loosened. "You were down for a whole day there. Healing really isn't my thing, but you seem to be recovering alright." The speaker made themselves shown, a dark skinned woman with purple hair. "Guess two captains was just too much for you."

Ichigo took a moment to get his bearings before focusing on the woman. "Not to be rude to someone who gave me a place to stay, but just who are you."

The woman chuckled at his question. "Right, you haven't seen me in this form. Well, cat's out of the bag. This is the real Yoruichi, kid. Well, as far as you need to be concerned."

"You're Yoruichi? But your voice-"

"Is as malleable as the rest of me," Youruichi replied in a rather disquieting baritone. "As a cat, it's just easier to use this voice, don't ask me why. Plus," she said as her voice changed back to normal, "kinda funny to see how people react."

Ichigo stared at her with a mixture of confusion and horror. "…never, ever do that again."

Yoruichi just smiled and crossed her arms. "I don't make promises, kid. Now, get yourself ready. We've got a lot to learn."

"More training?" Ichigo groaned. "I thought I covered this stuff with Hat and Clogs."

"Yeah, all due respect, but Urahara gave you a horrible education." Yoruichi sighed. "Not like he tried to give you a good one though. He figured your power would be enough, so he didn't do much for technique. That stuff you know now? That's nothing."

Ichigo stretched his aching muscles. "Nothing got me all the way to Sokuyu hill."

"It also got you stabbed," she pointed out nonchalantly.

With a sigh, Ichigo dutifully followed his apparent teacher. "Alright, so what do you want me to do?"

"Let's start with something simple," Yoruichi said, standing in the middle of the rocky hideout. "Hit me."

"Seriously?" Ichigo unsheathed Zangetsu. "That was lesson one with Hat and Clogs."

"Then it should be easy," Yoruichi countered with a chuckle, spreading her arms.

"Alright, you asked for this!" Charging forward, Ichigo made a lightning fast downward slash, embedding his sword in the ground after cleaving through his teacher…

…who was completely unharmed. "I thought you said it would be easy?"

Ichigo looked as his blade, lodged in the ground between her legs, then up at her, then back at his blade. "How…"

"My turn." Ichigo took a short leap back in response, but was caught off guard when Yoruichi's arm simply shot out to three times its length to hit him. "You're a Slayer, right? I've read a lot of the same scrolls as Urahara. Their big thing, as far as I could tell, was strength, so that's what that demon of yours has been teaching you. Those charms of yours are neat, but it's nothing you couldn't already do, you just do it better. Well that's not going to be enough." Yoruichi strolled over to Ichigo as he worked to get his breath back. "If you want to win what comes next, you can't just be an awesome human, you have to be more. Now get ready for pure hell Ichigo." Silver tattoos and purple stripes appeared on her flesh… no, that's not quite right, they were always there, but he only noticed now. "Because we don't have very long, so now it's time I really show you what it means Exalted."

Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, I still think the first draft was better, but this was all the events it covered. I hope you guys enjoy, sorry for how pitifully short it is. Hopefully I do better in the future. Anyway, please comment and review, otherwise I'll somehow be even lazier.