Ichigo watched in astonishment as the ice continued to grow.

What the hell?

Suddenly the ice stopped growing. Ichigo blinked.

Uhh…?

Suddenly the ice exploded

"Ahaha!" Ichigo yelped as he ducked to dodge a particularly large piece of rock that was flying at his head. The rock smashed into the wall behind him, showering him with ice. He sweat dropped as he looked at the large indent in the wall that the rock had made.

What the…

He heard a rustling coming from behind him. He spun around. There was a huge hole in the wall now, and Rukia Kuchiki stepped out of that hole. Ichigos eyes widened in surprise.

What the hell is she doing here...

"Rukia …" Ichigo called softly.

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Rukias head whipped around in the direction she heard her name being called. She nearly gasped. There was Ichigo… and he looked horrible. Her eyes trailed over him. His pants were covered in blood, no doubt his own, his shirt was torn everywhere, and she could see the cuts beneath the tears, his face was all cut up and parts of his orange hair were dyed red.

"Ichigo…" She whispered softly.

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Ichigo, who hadn't quite gotten over the fact that his best friend had just stepped into his cell through a hole In the wall, was still gaping at Rukia. Finally, shaking his head, he looked at her.

"Rukia! What are do doin…"He stopped and his eyes widened in astonishment. She was hugging him!

Wha!?

He looked down at her. Rukia Kuckiki, who's favorite past time was beating the crap out of him, was hugging him!

"I-Ichigo…" She sobbed into his chest, "You're… You're…"She stopped and nearly gasped when Ichigo hugged her back. He didn't quite know what was going on, but he knew that his friend had been extremely worried…. about him.

"I'm all right Rukia," He whispered softly, "Really… I'm okay…" Rukia snorted through her tears, she pulled away from him.

"Yeah right…" She said as she wiped her face, "look at yourself, you're a mess," Now it was Ichigo's turn to snort.

"Heh… I've been in worse shape that this before," he reminded her, "It's no big deal"

"Idiot, what did I tell you about ignoring your injuries."

"You're the idiot,"

They were both smiling at each other.

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"Come on," Rukia finally said, breaking the silence, "let's get you fixed up," she reached into her sack for the bandages she had packed. As she was rummaging around in her pack, Ichigo noticed her wounds.

"Rukia!" He said, worry in his voice, "Your arms!"

"They're fine," She assured him, "Besides, they're nothing compared to your injuries," She reached toward him with the bandages but Ichigo grabbed her hands.

"You first," he told her, looking into her eyes.

"Ichigo, now's not the time to be stupid. You need…"

"You first…"he said again, looking determined. Rukia sighed. Only Ichigo Kurosaki could go through days of physical and mental torture and still be this maddingly stubborn.

"Fine," she said. Ichigo nodded and she started to treat her arms, using as little of the bandages as possible. When she had finished she moved on to Ichigo. She stood up and went around to examine his back. It was just as bad as the rest of his body. Using her healing Kido, she started to treat him. As she did, she began to think about what had just happened.

Oh my god… I feakin hugged him! What the hells wrong with me?

She finished with her Kido and began to wrap Ichigos back in the bandages.

As soon as I saw him, I just lost it. Ugh… What's wrong with me? Why did I hug Ichigo?

Ichigo…

Ichigo had fallen unusually silent. Rukia looked at him.

Is he mad at me?

Rukai thought back to when she had been imprisoned. When she had been about to be executed, she had been saved by Ichigo. She had been happy, sure… but she had also been mad at the idiot who wouldn't seem to stop until he got himself killed.

"Ichigo," She called him. He titled his head to the side to signal that he was listening, "are you angry with me for coming?" He sighed deeply.

"You entered Hueco Mundo, the land of the hollows…. Alone…. You broke into the castle not knowing a thing about your enemy. You got yourself hurt…" Rukia winced.

Well when you say it all like that….

"What you did was stupid, irrational and just plain suicidal…" he paused, "but," he continued as he turned to face her, "Right now, I'm just glad you're here," He smiled, so did she.

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"Uh… anyway…" Ichigo started, blushing. He raised his shackled hands, "Do you think you could help me out of these?" Rukai smirked.

"What, The big, strong Ichigo can't break a few chains?"

"Just shut up and get these things off me,"

Geeze, Akanes physic attacks are less of a headache than she is.

"Here I'll freeze them," She said as she drew her Zanpakuto. Akane and Katashi suddenly appeared right behind her. Ichigos eyes widened.

What…

Both demons grabbed Rukai. She dropped her Zanpakuto.

"What the… let go of me you bastards!" She cried. She struggled to get free, but it was no use. The two demons were much stronger than she was. Ichigo pulled on his chains.

"Let her go now!" He yelled at the two demons. They both just smiled at him. A cold voice suddenly reached him.

"We will… when you break the seal," Ichigo turned. Kagai stood there, smirking evilly.

"Kagai…" Ichigo growled.

"As I said before, Ichigo Kurosaki, You have two choices, make one." The demons tightened their grip on Rukia, their claw dug into her flesh, She cried out in pain.

"Fine I'll do it, just let her go!" Ichigo pleaded.

"No Ichigo! You can't!" Rukia cried. Kagai turned on her.

"Silence her," He told Katashi, he nodded and punched Rukia in the stomach. Ichigo watched in horror.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

You will break the seal now," Kagai told him,

"Ichi…go… no…" Rukia said to him weakly.

Ichigo gritted his teeth.

Shit! I have to…

Are you just going to sit there…. Ichigo?

Ichigos eyes widened. Everything had stopped. Nobody was moving. It was if time itself had stopped, and the world had gone gray. Suddenly a man stepped into existence. He walked toward Ichigo. The man looked middle-aged, he had long black hair. He was wearing sunglasses and a robe that flowed like fire itself. The man stopped in front of Ichigo.

"Old-man… Zangetsu…" Ichigo whispered. Zangetsu looked at him.

"You now have an enemy of the likes you have never faced before, Ichigo," his sword said. "Your enemy uses fear, to control and hurt their enemies. Fear… is a deadly weapon."

"So what do I do?" Ichigo asked.

"You must turn that fear… against them…" Ichigo narrowed his eyes and tightened his fists.

"Show me…" Zangetsu nodded.

"Very well," He said as he knelt before Ichigo, "We shall go," Ichigo watched as the ends of Zangetsus robe engulfed him.