Deep Blue turned away from his most loyal servant and drew from his cloak a long, diamond encrusted sword. He held it pointed in front of him and shut his eyes, summoning his power from within. Then he raised his sword sharply to the sky, and a static blue electricity spark shot from the blade. Lightning appeared to be channelling from the sharp tip of Deep Blue's weapon, and soon after, the ground began to shake.

Ichigo began to fall, but Kisshu caught her and the two of them balanced against each other for the duration of the quakes. They did not last very long, but when they had stopped, Deep Blue waved his sword in a circle above his head, causing more blue electricity to fire from the end, and with one almighty crash, the roof of Mint's house was ripped off!

Above them was a huge, floating fortress, with three sharp legs protruding form the sides, ad white floating panels circling it. Deep Blue smiled evilly and turned top face Kisshu, who was fearfully eyeing up the floating building.

"Wh-what's happening?"

Mint had stirred, and was now looking about her frantically for Masaya.

"Where is Masaya?" She cried desperately.

"He's not here, he umm…" Ichigo tried to explain.

"It was you!" She cried, pointing at Kisshu, "You killed him!"

Then she leapt on the alien, who, taken by surprise, was knocked to the floor. Ichigo hurriedly pulled a screaming Mint off Kisshu, and he stood up and brushed himself off.

"Stop it!" Ichigo cried, "He's not dead! That is Aoyama-kun!" she whirled around and pointed dramatically at Deep Blue, who remained as emotionless as stone. Mint stopped struggling, shocked.

"It- it can't be… Aoyama… kun?" she approached Deep Blue slowly, taking small, staggered steps.
Deep Blue didn't even acknowledge her presence until she was about a foot away from him, and even when he did it as only to peer down on her like one would peer at a slimy insect.

She fell to hers knees at his feet and sobbed.
"What is this?" He asked, disgusted at the sight of the distraught Mint.
"Aoyama-kun!" She wailed, "It's me, Aizawa Mint!"

He narrowed his eyes. Then resumed his emotionless expression and straightened. Before anyone could register what was about to happen, Deep Blue raised his sword and shot Mint with a cobalt-blue energy blast, that killed her instantly. She fell, limp to the rubble-covered floor, but even as she was dead at his feet, Deep Blue did not show even the smallest trace of emotion.

Kisshu and Ichigo could only stare, mouths gaping, at the sight before them. It was disturbing to say the least, to watch someone die in such a violent and sudden way, especially someone who hadn't the faintest clue what was happening, and was certainly not involved in the situation.

The evil lord strode over her body, concealing it from view with his long blue cloak, and looked to Kisshu as if nothing had happened.

"Now it is your chance to decide Kisshu. Me," Here he paused to add more effect, "Or the girl." This was spoken with bitterness, as if the taste of the words was defiling Deep Blue's mouth.

Kisshu glanced repeatedly between his master and the girl he loved, but in the end there was no competition.
"Ichigo." He stated plainly.

Deep Blue flinched slightly at his decision, but other than that did not react.
"Fine." He shrugged, "You've made your choice. But you must pay for it."

Then he disappeared into the air. Kisshu breathed out a sigh of relief at the departure of his evil master, but as he went to smile at Ichigo, he saw, to his horror, that she was not stood beside him. At that moment, Pai pushed his way through the broken down doors, followed closely by Pai.

"Why Kisshu?" He asked his younger brother, although they both already knew the answer.

"It seemed the right thing to do." Kisshu replied ashamedly. "Pai, he's got her! He's taken Ichigo because I betrayed him. I'm scared Pai! What do I do?"

Pai looked shocked, "That didn't happen last… Oh no…"

Kisshu looked at him, panicked, "What Pai?! What is it?" He practically shouted.

"It didn't happen last time because… because mew Ichigo went looking for him! All this time, things have happened similarly to what they did before but now… he still had to go there… but how can this…" he paused, then looked up at Kisshu, confused as to why he was still stood there.

"Well aren't you going?!" Pai yelled at him. Kisshu suddenly snapped up and nodded to Pai. "You won't be able to teleport," Pai informed him quickly, "You'll have to fly up manually."

Kisshu nodded once more and began the long journey upwards…

Meanwhile, up in Deep Blue's fortress, Ichigo was slouched, panting, in the corner of the huge, circular room. It had been tiring teleporting here; something about the transition had been different to how Kisshu teleported. The evil Cyniclon was now stood a few feet in front of her looking down on her curiously.

"Why would Kisshu…? Never mind that. He has disappointed me, and now he shall pay. When I am done, he will not defy me again."

"You wrong!" Ichigo screamed defiantly, "If you kill me he will defy you! He wont ever follow you again! Don't you understand that?"

Deep Blue cocked his head to a side questioningly.
"And you think you know girl? Well if he will not follow me, I'll just have to kill him as well. Now stop delaying…"

Kisshu's POV: Please be okay Ichigo. Please be alright. Please be alive… I'm sorry! I would never hurt you! I realise now how much you mean to me! Just please, please, please be alright…

I reached the fortress, and luckily I had flown to the right point to enter. Once inside, I ran down the corridor to confront Deep Blue and save my love's life…

Ichigo's POV: Kisshu wasn't coming to save me… he was too late… No matter what, I love you Kisshu! I mentally told him. No matter what happens, it wasn't your fault… I love you! Deep Blue raised his blade and…

"NO!"

Kisshu ran into the room just in time to see Deep Blue raise his sword above Ichigo's head ready to strike her with his electricity blast.
"NO!" He cried, his limbs turning to jelly and his brain to cotton wool.

Deep Blue smiled at the sight of his old servant entering the room.
"Even better." He said, just loud enough for Kisshu to hear.

Then he brought the sword down and killed Ichigo.

...