Wow the 10th chapter of Love Never Ending. Everything is boiling down now. This chapter Ichigo v. Kyoraku and beginning of Toshiro vs. Rukia! Enjoy!

Recap:

"I'm here…to stop anyone who tries to hurt Rukia." I couldn't stop the anger in my voice. His smile faded from his face.

"That's pretty unfortunate. I'm here to execute Rukia and stop anyone who tried to interfere. But you already know this." I nodded. "Well let me just say that I don't really want to hurt Rukia and if possible I would like to avoid fighting you." The smile returned. "I wouldn't suppose you'd be willing to give up?"

"Not a chance. This is my wife I'm protecting." The secret was out. No one in the Soul Society knew about me and Rukia's relationship.

"Your wife!" His smile grew even wider. "Congratulations. Well this is kinda awkward. Here we are trying to kill your wife. But, if you refuse to step down…then I have no choice but to stop you."

Ichigo

Shunsui's words had no effect on me. I already knew what needed to happen.

"I'm sorry Shunsui, but I have no intention of running away." I drew Zangetsu and held him firm in front of me.

"Well then I guess I have no choice but to fight you." I grew tense as he grabbed one of his two swords. He came at me and slightly pushed his sword against mine. Shunsui continued to attack me only pushing me back inches at a time. Was this some sort of joke?

"What the hell are you doing?" He jumped a few feet back and smiled at me. Why was he so happy?

"What do you mean, Ichigo?" I looked at him with confusion.

"I mean why aren't you attacking me with your full strength?" He let out a sigh.

"The orders from Old Man Yama were to execute Rukia Kuchiki and stop anyone from interfering…he never said anything about us having to use our full strength." Shunsui released an enormous amount of spiritual pressure and charged at me. "Was this what you wanted?" He left me on the defensive. "C'mon. You could help me out here Ichigo."

"Huh?" Help him out?

"Release your Bankai." Was he finally getting serious? I wasn't taking any chances.

"BAN-KAI!" I allowed the wind to engulf me and emerged with my Bankai. Our blades continued to cross when I managed to cut him across his stomach.

"Well what do you know, you managed to cut me! Guess that means I have to take it up a notch." He reached for his other sword. He was one of the three members in the Soul Society that used 2 katanas in battle; the other two being Jushiro and Shuhei. "Flower wind rage and flower god roar! Heavenly wind rage and heavenly demon sneer! Katen Kyokatsu!" He crossed the blades and the two small swords became large and curved swords with red tassels on the ends. This time when he attacked me there was much more force behind it. I performed a counter attack throwing him into a near-by building. He came out bloodier than I expected. I didn't hit him that hard.

"Getsuga Tensho!" I sent it straight for him but he only dodged it.

"Bushogoma." Shunsui placed both swords in opposite directions and rotated them sending an intense wind at me that circled around me. I looked up to see him coming down on me. Lucky for me I was fast enough to dodge his attacks. The wind died down and Shunsui only stood a few feet ahead of me. I sent another Getsuga Tensho at him only to have him take it head on with no Zanpakuto. The blast severely injured his right arm. I watched as he tried his best not to whine in pain. After a pause he smiled at me once again and began to walk over to me.

"Hey what are you doing? Why did you call back your Zanpakuto?" This wasn't making any sense anymore.

"The fight is over Ichigo." He said continuing to walk towards me.

"But I thought…your orders—"

"My orders were to fight you, which I doing but I can't fight you with my arm injured so technically I've lost." In reality the fight was just starting. He rested his left hand on my shoulder. "Go save your wife." I laughed a little. Now I get it. He let me win so I could go save Rukia. He never had the intention of killing anyone.

"Thanks Shunsui." I started speeding off to where Rukia was when I stopped in my tracks. "But wait what about you?" I didn't want him to get in trouble for helping me.

"Don't worry about me. I can take a lecture from the old man." He waved me off. That's when it hit me. I could feel Renji's spiritual pressure dropping and judging from hers', Rukia was in trouble. Renji must have lost to Jushiro. Dammit. I was going to have to get there quick.

"Hold on Rukia. Just a little longer until I get there."

Rukia

The look on Captain Hitsugaya's face the moment I saw him was absolutely priceless. Probably because he was here to kill me and I was headed right for him. That doesn't matter right now. My heart is overflowing with determination. He now stood less than 20 feet away from me just staring at me.

"Thank you, Rukia?" He said calmly. He's thanking me?

"What for?"

"By coming to me, you've saved me the trouble of hunting you down." These words were cold. I knew he had the strongest ice type Zanpakuto but I had never known him to be so stern. I didn't know who was worse him or my brother. The white haired captain drew his Zanpakuto. In response I drew mine as well. I wasn't going to go down without a fight. "I assume you know why I'm here." His turquoise eyes dug a hole through my soul, as if he wished he didn't have to waste energy killing me.

"Yes." I held on to Sode no Shirayuki tightly. I kept my eyes glued on Captain Hitsugaya. One wrong move and I was dead.

"Then what use is drawing your sword. You would do better to just beg for your life. Not that it would help." I shot him a glare. 10 years and now he thinks he's all high and mighty. I was at least at lieutenants' level. I grew hot with anger.

"I haven't come to beg for my life. I've come to protect myself and end this execution, Toshiro."

"You should really learn to respect your superiors." He smirked. He tightened his grip on Hyorinmaru and held him above his head. "Here I come."

Sorry for such a short chapter. I've been kinda busy. Next chapter will be longer. Promise. ^^ Until next chapter.