My eyes bolted open to the sound of voices. I peaked out from behind my crate and saw some shinigami searching around the warehouse. Damn it I slept too long. Carefully I crept around, trying to head for the door. " There's one!" shouted as soon as I had opened the door.

" Shit," I hissed and sprinted out the door.

I heard shouts and a ringing of a bell, some kind of alarm. I turned a corner and cried out as a blade swiped at me, slashing me across the chest. " I suggest you come in with me," the cold voice said.

With a hand on my chest I turned and saw a child of all things. " Like hell I will," I hissed.

" Captain-"

" Rangiku go get captain Shunsui I believe he is the closest right now," the boy said.

The woman beside him nodded and then jumped off. " Where is Rukia?" I asked.

" None of your business Ryoka. I know your abilities and I will not hesitate to annihilate you."

I got in an attack position as the boy drew his sword. " I won't go easy on you just because you're a kid."

He scoffed. " I have been alive much longer than you Ryoka. And the name is Toshiro Hitsugaya, captain of squad ten."

Of course I'd be fighting another captain. I drew my pistol and took a few shots, Toshiro doing that super fast jump away. And so we played this game, me attempting to shoot him with my fire bullets and him simply dodging. Finally he made his move, trying to strike me from behind. Unfortunately I raised my gun to try to block and his sword actually cut through the gun. I jumped back and threw my gun to the side angrily then lit my body on fire. This only made Toshiro smirk. " What?" I asked making my fire whip.

He simply held his blade up, " Set upon the frozen heavens: Hyorinmaru," he called out.

Suddenly an ice dragon formed around him and headed straight for me. I see so this would be a battle of fire and ice then, a battle of strengths and weaknesses. The dragon let out a roar as Toshiro pointed his blade towards me, the dragon flying forward. I whipped at the creature and some of the scales shattered off his body and disintegrated. Then I was able to dodge at the last second as the battle progressed. No matter how much I hit it the dragon would not retain any damage, the ice regenerating.

Finally I turned my fire whip off and stood their panting. I was getting tired after activating my heat for so long. " Give up ryoka? You can still come in peacefully," Toshiro said.

I ran at him and the dragon for a final assault. The flames on me grew as I leapt into the air and straight into the dragon's mouth to Toshiro's surprise. I've never been cold, not even in a blizzard, in my entire life but right now, in the belly of the beast, I was frozen. My flames were dying and my entire body was shaking. But no I had to do this I had to find Ichigo! I focused and clenched my fists and the dying fire from earlier sprung back to life. I had to go harder, had to do more. With one final burst of energy the dragon exploded from the inside and I fell out at Toshiro's feet.

I stood panting as Toshiro stared in shock. " Where is Rukia?" I asked darkly.

" Like I would tell you."

Before he could react I flicked his zanpakuto away and grabbed his neck with my other hand. " Where is Rukia!" I shouted.

" Captain!" Someone behind me shouted.

I turned and saw a large group of soul reapers heading for me. Angrily I tossed the young captain aside and ran. Again I was completely drained as I tried to escape my attackers. That's the most fire I've used since my first experience with it. Tiredly I turned a corner and leaned against a wall panting more but the voices were getting closer. I looked around and saw I could climb the wall, immediately latching onto the stone and hooping over. Though I fell over onto the other side the voices passed me and I sighed in relief.

Once I felt safe I was about to stand when I groaned in pain. Looking down I saw the cut Toshiro made earlier horizontally across my chest. It began to bleed again and I hissed in annoyance. Painfully I sat up and leaned against the wall I had just jumped over. I was in someone's backyard it seems given the small pond and scattered trees. Carefully I crawled to the pond and used some of the water to wash off the blood. " Oh my are you injured?"

My head flew up and on the porch I saw a pale man with white hair looking down on me. I stood and made a small fireball in my hand. " Leave me alone," I hissed.

He held up his arms defensively. " I don't wish to hurt you."

" Well you'd be the first person here to say that," I said not backing down.

" Please just come inside and-" he begun but started to cough. And he didn't stop coughing which worried me. I deactivated my flame and stepped over to the man just as he fell to his knees coughing. He made a motion inside and I ran in, finding pills by his bedside. I ran back out and cradled the man's head as he swallowed the meds.

" Are you alright?" I asked after he stopped coughing.

" It's fine I've been sick for a long time," he said while sitting up. And then I saw the jacket on his back.

" You're a captain?" I asked scooting back again.

" Yes but I don't believe Rukia deserves this punishment. I am her captain and I plan to help her not watch her die."

I stared deeply at him as he looked back at me. With a sigh I relaxed and stood. " They're going to kill her?" I asked helping him up.

" Yes with an object called the sokyoku. The problem is that I don't know how to stop it."

" Well what is it exactly?"

I followed the man inside. " I have never seen it in use actually so I had to do some reading. The object itself looks like a large halberd standing vertically. However the weapon actually turns into the Kikkoo, a phoenix like bird that once it strikes its victim vaporizes its soul."

" Wow you guys sure do get creative with death," I muttered.

" The problem now is that I have found no way to contain it."

I looked at the picture on the scroll he displayed. A fire bird eh? " Perhaps I could absorb the flames?" I asked.

He looked at me shocked. " That's madness! No impossible it-"

" Well as of right now we don't have any other ideas right?" I asked.

" I simply can not let a human sacrifice their soul for another."

" Why does everyone think I am so weak?" I shouted. The man stopped. " I am not weak. I can do this," I said sternly.

The man sighed sadly. " Very well. I will take you to Rukia tomorrow and we will try to stop the execution. Tonight you should rest though. You are safe here this is my family home no one will think to come here."

I nodded and stretched. " Oh yes I'm Hotaru by the way," I said.

" Jushiro Ukitake, captain of the 13th division," he said with a small bow. " Come, I'll show to your room and find you a meal."

I followed him down the hall and was led in to a nice room. " You may shower and change here if you like."

" Um yes thank you," I replied as he left. I would take him up on the shower and some pajamas I found in a drawer. About 20 minutes later I left the shower the find a plate of food on my bed. As soon as I had finished eating, scarffing it down really, Jushiro came back in.

" How is everything?" he asked closing the door.

" Everything is great thank you," I replied.

" Is there anything you need for tomorrow?"

" Well just for you to stay out." He blinked in surprise. " Sorry I'm not trying to be rude! I'm going to drain some of the fire from my body. Don't be surprised if you walk into a steam room tomorrow morning."

" Ah alright then. I'll come get you when it's time."

I nodded and he left. Once I was lying down in bed I took a deep breath and sighed, feeling the room begin to heat up. Obviously I can't just expel my fire in flame given that I'm indoors. So instead I send it out in heat waves. It's slower and less draining on me. Plus once I start I have to turn it off myself, meaning it will still happen even once I'm asleep, like a faucet I have to turn it off myself. I've done it a few times when I thought I could actually be rid of my power. Obviously it didn't work. Don't worry Rukia, Ichigo I'll stop this execution no matter what.