So here is the next chapter! I hope you like this one! R&R!

Courage

I watched Ichigo try out the full extension of his zanpakuto's power on some nearby boulders. I sat looking at my hands, trying to summon two different powers at once, in different hands.
I had fire in one hand but summoning ice in the other hand was just resulting into very few pools of water.
I shook out my drenched hand and tried again.
"How's it coming?" Ichigo asked from behind me.
I flushed hard and the flames from my hand shot high in the air as well as a few ice shards from my other hand. He chuckled as he sat next to me.
"Still can't believe I make you blush like that."
"Sorry," I quickly apologized.
"It's nothing to be sorry for! I think it's actually quite cute," he said, which made me blush even harder. I turned away so he couldn't see how red my face actually was.
"I see you summoned what you wanted," he said, chucking again.
"It always happens like that when you're around," I said, still blushing.
"Is it easier to do it the second time around?" He asked as he reached and held one of my hands. My heart skipped a beat as I felt the warm pressure of his hand on mine. I could only nod in response; I was at the moment, speechless.
"Well, the others will be here soon to train, would you like to walk with me to go meet up with them?" he asked and stood up, pulling me with him.

I stumbled after him but he caught me. I smiled apologetically up at him and straightened up.
"You have to show Rukia what you accomplished," he said with a wide, intoxicating smile.
"I'm sure you're going to show off to Renji too," I said, teasing slightly.
He laughed and led me to the long ladder attached to the side of the wall. The whole way to the ladder, he never let go of my hand.
"Ladies first," he said and motioned for me to go up the ladder. I hesitantly withdrew my hand and began to climb up the ladder with Ichigo close behind.
As soon as we both had left Mr. Urahara's shop, a rather harsh shudder rippled through the ground. I stumbled and grabbed a shaky Ichigo for balance.
"Good thing I didn't get back into my body," he said with a tight smile. I looked up at him and noted how he wasn't fearful at all, he was just determined. I tried to be as courageous as him but I knew it wasn't working.
"Come on," he said and grabbed my hand. I ran close behind him as we found the source of the shudders, a hollow.
Ichigo immediately readied his sword and caught the attention of the hollow.
"Hey ugly! Why don't you fight me?" Ichigo shouted to the humongous thing standing before us.
"Why it's a little soul reaper! How quaint!" it hissed gaily. I froze in fear and shock, this one could talk?!
The hollow turned towards Ichigo and smiled a very toothy smile. I cringed at the sight of his teeth, yellow and sharp. Ichigo was the first to attack, and the creature just roared with pain every time Ichigo got a hit.
Suddenly, the creature hit Ichigo's sword away from him, making Ichigo stumble and fall to the ground. I saw him panting with exertion and looking grim at the situation.
"I'll have fun eating you!" It hissed happily and reached for him.
I found courage just in time.
"You won't touch him!" I screamed at it and summoned a massive wall of white hot fire. It scorched the Hollow's hand so much it blackened it.
"You little wrench!" It hissed angrily and lunged at me.
I had used a massive amount of power and my movements were slow but I managed to dodge the creature just in time and send lighting shock after shock through the creature. It howled but pushed through my lightning and pushed me aside.
I landed roughly and felt liquid ooze from various places on my body. I coughed and looked up ate the creature looming over us.
"I'm going to deal with the soul reaper first!" It hissed and turned back to Ichigo who was looking at me, stunned. I watched in horror as the creature went to pound Ichigo to the ground.
I literally heard my heart pump in my ears as I scrambled to my feet and raced towards Ichigo. I dragged him out of the way of the fist and rubble flew in all directions around us.
"Get your sword Ichigo!" I told him, sweating and shaking profusely.
He nodded and ran off to get his sword. I raised my arms for defense and waited for the monster o attack again. It chuckled.

"You look very comical little girl, very comical indeed. Too bad I will have to eat you!"
I used ice shards to irritate the blackened hand and shot balls of fire in its face. It growled and swatted me aside.
My vision blackened from the force of the blow and from the use of so much energy. I could faintly hear the cries of someone calling my name before I was swatted away again and remembered nothing more of the fight.

I felt as if I was drifting in a void of blackness. I couldn't do anything but hope that Ichigo would be okay.