Steel rang, blood painted the stone and a symphony of kiai and ragged breathing filled the air. Toshiya, recently patched up, marveled at the combatants.

"At it again, are they?"

It was Yachiru-fukutaicho perched on his shoulder…how he hadn't noticed her there was slightly disturbing.

"Ken-chan's always so insistent, even though he doesn't really have a clue how strong Shin-chan is."

"What do you mean, Yachiru-fukutaicho?"

"Ken-chan's got the spiritual awareness of a goldfish and Shin-chan has been super busy training lately…wonder why? He seems pretty set on beating Ken-chan."

"It goes back to when we first entered Soul Society. Shinya challenged Zaraki-taicho and isn't one to lose once he's issued that challenge. They haven't had a clear winner yet so they keep at it until one emerges as the definitive victor."

Yachiru yawned comically,

"That's nice. Now shut up I'm missing the fight."

Toshiya shook his head and continued to watch as the two battled on.

"What do you mean you've lost contact with her?!"

Shinya grabbed Ukitake by the front of his shihakusho.

"I mean just that Hatakane-san. We haven't been able to contact her for several days."

"Can you locate her at least?"

"I'm sorry, Hatakane, but no, we cannot."

"Then why haven't you sent someone to find her?"

"You know it's not that easy, Hatakane. I have to go through…"

Ukiatake broke into a coughing fit for several moments before he was able to regain his composure.

"Forgive me, Shinya but you know as well as I do that if I were to go through the proper channels to send a unit into another shinigami's jurisdiction it could take weeks."

"At least tell me when and where she was last seen."

"About eight days ago, in a residential area near a local medical clinic."

"Thank you, Ukitake-taicho. And if it's all the same to you, I would prefer that this conversation didn't happen."

"What conversation would that be, Shinya?"

Shinya grinned a little at the mischievous captain. A sudden but slight breeze kicked up; blowing out of the way the shock of hair over Shinya's right eye. He didn't try to cover it, everyone knew what lay beneath.

"How has it been for you Shinya-san?"

Ukitake motioned to his own eye.

"Not so bad as you might think. He raises a lot of Hell but nothing ever comes of it."

"That is good to hear. Well then, have a nice day, Hatakane-san."

"Always a pleasure, Ukitake-taicho."

As Ukitake turned to walk away Shinya quickly opened and stepped through a senkaimon to Karakura. He was wary as soon as he set foot within the Dangai Precipice. There was always the unpredictable threat of the Cleaner. Thankfully it had already made its rounds, or so it seemed. As soon as he stepped into the living world, though, his senses were stricken by two powerful spiritual presences…neither of which was Rukia's. Shunpo carried Shinya like a lightning strike toward the source. One reiatsu signature was without question a hollow, one of considerable strength at that; the other, though was harder to make out…like there was a filter in front of his senses. Within moments he arrived at a public park where the hollow, and a spiky orange-haired shinigami he'd never seen before were struggling.

Judging by the shinigami's reiatsu alone he should have finished the hollow off before Shinya even arrived but here he was fighting for his life. However, observing his technique for a few moments made Shinya want to vomit. It was horrid! Quite possibly the most uncoordinated and unpracticed spectacle he had ever seen. Shinya rocketed forward, again propelled by shun-po, to put an end to the hideous sight. He leapt high above the hollow; a single sweeping crescent severed the monster's left arm, the next strike flowed into the first like light dancing across water. This blow removed its right leg, and as the beast over balanced the third strike sang through the air, a splendid ringing requiem of Death. The scream of Shibotsuki's blade was masked only by the wretched piercing howl of the hollow as the wickedness of its soul was purged in an instant. Shinya stood amidst the dissipating form, never once losing the zen-like calm that had guided his liquid strikes to their mark with frightening speed and vicious efficiency. The orange haired shinigami stood jaw agape at the swiftness with which Shinya had dispatched a creature that he had struggled life and limb just to stave off. Before he knew it the new arrival was in his face with the glinting edge of the scythe resting on the back of his neck. There's no way he could move that fast.

"Who the Hell are you…?"

Shinya's tone was still deathly calm, still more than hinting at his ability to kill the shinigami if he so much as blinked.

"Kurosaki. Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Kurosaki Ichigo…"

There was venom in Shinya's voice, a murderous quality that hadn't existed a moment ago; as if knowing Ichigo's name had somehow made it easier for Shinya to destroy him.

"Where is Rukia?"

"Who's asking?!"

Ichigo replied with a bit more vigor than he had intended. A wrecking ball cut short any further attempt at a retort as Shinya's left fist struck like lightning and buried itself in Ichigo's ribs. He collapsed like a house of cards, his legs giving way as all of the air was crushed out his lungs with a fine spray of spit and blood.

"Where is she?!"

"That's enough Shinya! He's just looking out for me."

"Who is this clown, anyway?"

Shinya asked, motioning distastefully at Ichigo; still coughing and spluttering on the ground. Shinya had no doubt that he'd broken bones, and didn't honestly care. Rukia moved past Shinya, squeezing his hand briefly as she passed, and helped Ichigo to his feet.

"He's my substitute while I regain my powers. Believe it or not I actually owe him my life."

Shinya looked from Rukia to Ichigo and back; a mixture of concern and confusion on his face.

"Power Transfer?"

He asked her, almost in disbelief that she would do something so rash. She nodded, averting her eyes slightly.

"It was a death sentence either way."

She said, though, quietly enough that neither Ichigo nor Shinya could hear her.

"So you're training him? The way he was fighting earlier…either you're a terrible teacher or he's incredibly dense."

The two opposing shouts drowned into a garbled mess instantly. Shinya held up both hands defensively.

"Alright, alright…yeesh! Kurosaki, can you actually wield that ridiculous thing?"

He asked, pointing to Ichigo's zanpaku-to.

"Of course I can!"

He retorted; obviously defensive.

"Show me."

Ichigo looked apprehensive; vividly remembering how swift and deadly accurate Shinya's strikes were.

"What's the matter? With your reiatsu as it is now you should have no trouble keeping up with me. Besides, that huge zanpaku-to should take me out pretty easily when you hit me."

"Shinya…"

"Don't worry,"

An evil venomous grin crossed his lips.

"I'm not gonna kill 'im."

He started to spin Shibotsuki in wide looping figure eights, widening the arc until he was whirling her edge all about his body, catching the shaft and turning it on his wrists and elbows. Behind his back the blade flashed in a spiraling dance. For several moments this when on; Shinya's face was placid as an undisturbed pool; his movements as fluid and graceful as dappled moonlight through the trees.

"Come at me with all you've got, Kurosaki. Don't hold back, even for a second!"