"Talking"
'Thinking'
Stuff happening outside of movie
"Zanpakuto"
"Hollow"
'Talking in Flashback
Flashback
"Talking in movie"
'Thinking in movie'
Stuff happening in movie
I'd like to thank all of those who reviewed and I'd also like to apologise for taking so long with the update.
Shock was written all over Kenpachi's face as Ichigo continued to brutally attack him with onslaughts of slashes, thrusts and jabs. As Kenpachi struggled to gain the upper hand, his thoughts raced.
'Am I being overpowered?!' He thought as Ichigo's Zanpakuto got closer and closer to him, slowly breaking down his defence.
Most of the girls in the room couldn't contain their gasps as Ichigo ruthlessly cut into Kenpachi, his attack powerful enough to throw the Captain off his feet. While the others such as Orihime, Chad and Uryu continued to watch this with not much interest in the brutal way Ichigo was fighting, the rest still tried to grasp the fact that their close friend, someone who wouldn't hesitate to protect the weak, his friends and family would go as far as to critically injure someone else. Even when fighting bullies he never went this far.
Kenpachi stood there, motionless with his Zanpakuto imbedded into the wall beside him. His breathing rough and haggard.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have much time. I've got to finish this quick."
To those in the room that were still trying to grasp the sudden brutality of Ichigo's attacks were once again reeled back by the sudden change. Uryu, noticing their mixed expressions decided to give them an explanation.
"Do remember that if Ichigo hadn't of maned up and fought properly, he'd be dead a long time ago. While the other Captains most likely wouldn't kill him, Kenpachi wouldn't hesitate to fight Ichigo till either one drops." His explanation wasn't much, but it's hard to explain to someone why you should fight someone to near death when they've never experienced such things. By the looks of things though, his explanation has gotten through most of them. Good. Last thing he needs is them distancing themselves from Kurosaki, because he has a feeling that Kurosaki will need all the support he can get when he wakes up.
"Finish it quick? That won't do. THIS IS JUST GETTING GOOD!" Both Ichigo and those watching reeled back in shock at the twisted form of happiness that stretched itself upon Kenpachi's face. "LET'S MAKE IT LAST AS LONG AS WE CAN!"
Ichigo jumped back to try and put as much distance between him and the fight-crazed man. In an act of instinct, Ichigo thrust Zangetsu forward in the hopes to slow the Captain down. But to the horror of both Ichigo and all of those watching, Kenpachi merely kept going, allowing the sharp edge of Zangetsu to slice deep below his left eye, his crazed smile never leaving his face.
"Oh my God." Murmured Chizuru as her hands covered her mouth to stifle a gasp as she continued to watch the scene play out, Yuzu following her movements. Everyone was horrified at the man's bloodlust yet no one can tear their eyes away from the screen as they continued to watch their friend and brother fight for his life.
"What?" Ichigo jumped back again at the close proximity, only to dodge as Kenpachi's Zanpakuto sliced his cheek.
"HAHA! I love how you revived yourself! There's so much I want to know, but none of it matters now! For now let's just enjoy the fight!" Shouted Kenpachi with glee as he charged at Ichigo.
'Geez! I'm kicking his butt! I'm cutting him more and inflicting a lot more damage! It's all going my way! But I cut him and cut him and he won't go down!'
"Jesus, I thought he was crazy to begin with but now... The word 'Monster' comes to mind." Commented Keigo with slight fear.
"Crazy to begin with? What do you mean? What happened before we came here?" Asked Karin as she looked back at the shaken teen.
"Never mind, you don't want to know." Interrupted Tatsuki before Keigo could respond. She doubted that telling Ichigo's two younger sisters that he nearly died would end well. Karin huffed but accepted the answer and turned back to watch her brothers memories.
"What's wrong with you?! You're crazy! Do you like fighting that much?! Aren't you afraid of getting cut up, or getting killed?!" Shouted Ichigo in bewilderment.
"What's wrong with me? THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU! HOW CAN YOU BE SO STRONG AND NOT LOVE FIGHTING?! REVEL IN IT, THE DEATH AND PAIN! THOSE ARE THE REWARDS OF BATTLE!"
"You're right, I don't need to know." Quickly replied Karin without looking at Tatsuki. But she could see in her mind's eye the look of shock and fear on her face at what her brother has to face.
Ichigo and Kenpachi continued to exchange blows. Ichigo remained unharmed but managed to score a few hits. After a couple of minutes of fighting, Kenpachi stopped and looked up towards the sky, his grin never faltering.
"This is superb! We're so evenly matched! No, it's close, but you're definitely stronger than I am!"
'What the… Why is he so confident?' Questioned Ichigo, as he watched the Captain slowly take off his eyepatch, which only puzzled him more.
"How long has it been since I felt such joy!? Against you, I can finally fight all out!" Exclaimed Kenpachi as he took off his eyepatch. In an instant, bright yellow Reiatsu engulfed Kenpachi, forcing Ichigo to raise Zangetsu to block the onslaught of Reiatsu.
'What?! His Reiatsu increased when he took off his eyepatch!'
"No way, how strong is this guy?" Whimpered Keigo, the others not far from being in a similar state to him. Even Orihime, Chad and Uryu shared looks of surprise and shock at this new piece of information. Before he took off the eyepatch, the chances of Ichigo winning looked to be in his favour, but now?
'Ichigo, how on Earth did you defeat him?'
"Heh, no fair. You can't bring out something new this late in the game! What've you got hidden in that eye of yours?" Questioned Ichigo in a poor attempt to make light of hee situation he's gotten himself stuck in.
"Hidden eye? Ha! You think I'd cheat?" Kenpachi help up his eyepatch for ichigo to get a clear look at, the smile on his face no longer visible. Inside the eyepatch were small mouths that continued to bite at nothing in an attempt to grab hold of something. "I had the Research and Development Department make this for me. These little monsters gobble up Reiatsu. And now, I can use all the power they consume-"
Kenpachi let go of the eyepatch and grabbed the hilt of his Zanpakuto, swinging it diagonally to his right. For a second there was nothing, then the building to Kenpachi's right split open, sliding off its lower half from Kenpachi's swing. "-To kill you. It's that simple."
"Jesus, there's no way Ichigo can defeat him!" Shouted Chizuru while other continued to watch with mixed expressions of comprehension and fear.
"Nii-san…" Muttered Yuzu as she continued to watch with tear filled eyes.
Ichigo looked towards his enemy only to slowly close his eyes, as if concentrating.
"Can you hear it, Ichigo?" Asked a deep, soothing male voice. A hand rested on Ichigo's shoulder as the form of Zangestu appeared behind him. "The sound of his Zanpakuto's screaming?"
"Yeah."
"Who is that?" Questioned Yuzu with amazement. She didn't know who he was or what his connection to her brother is but she could tell just by looking at him that he's wise and judging by the look of things, the man knew how to calm Ichigo and get through to him.
"That's Zangetsu, Ichigo's Zanpakuto." Replied Orihime.
"That old man is nii-san's Zanpakuto?" Asked Karin, but if one were to look closer you could see the look of amazement hidden behind her eyes.
Orihime, not paying attention to the rudeness seemingly directed to the wise Zanpakuto nodded in agreement.
"He can't hear it. When those who don't trust each other fight together, the strength in each is diminished. Those who trust only in their own strength can't comprehend that. Ichigo, can you trust me?"
"Of course. All of my strength is yours. Use it however you want. And lend me your strength."
"How awful, having your wielder ignore you." Said Yuzu with tears building up in her eyes while Karin huffed slightly beside her at her over emotional state.
"All right." Came Zangetsu's monotone reply as his hands reached down to grasp the hilt. Just as his hands made contact, Ichigo's Reiatsu intensified. Much so that his and Kenpachi's seemed equal.
"Eh! Your Reiatsu is increasing again! Good!"
"Of course it did. I'm borrowing Zangetsu's power. We fight as a team. I'm not losing to somebody like you who fights all alone."
"Zangetsu? Is that the name of your Zanpakuto? And you're borrowing the power of your Zanpakuto and fighting as a unit? Nonsense. A Zanpakuto is a weapon, teaming up with a Zanpakuto is the way of a loser who can no longer fight on his own. For warriors like us it's unworthy, Ichigo!" The Reiatsu surrounding Kenpachi took form of a skull, it's mouthing open in what looked like a permanent scream.
"Here he comes! I can't stop the bleeding for much longer!"
'We have only one shot!' Ichigo's Reiatsu too began to take shape and tunred into a stripped mask with an eerie grim which resembled too much like a hollow mask.
"Is that… a hollow mask? Why is that? Why is his Rei-whatever taking shape to a hollow mask?" Questioned Keigo as he looked towards Uryu, Orihime and Chad, looking for answers. Karin and the rest of the group looked towards the three for answers as well. What Keigo missed though was the very subtle flinch at the appearance of the hollow mask.
But what he did notice was the way the three looked at each other, a silent message pass between them. "It's better if you see it than us explain." Was the only answer they got before the three took no time in returning their attention back on the screen.
The two rushed at each other. Kenpachi's grin was plastered back on his face while Ichigo held a determined look. Then the two clashed with a mighty boom, the buildings around them crumbling under their Reiatsu charged attack.