The Chase

Ichigo and Michiko continued cautiously walking through the crushed barracks. It was night now; the sky was dark, forbidding and the immense spiritual pressure lied heavily on their shoulders. After their introductions they kept their mouths sealed shut; not one dared to speak, especially Ichigo.

"So what squad are you in?" she asked finally, shattering the silence.

"Oh, I'm not in a squad." He replied. Michiko looked at him with a question mark written plainly on her face.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I'm just a substitute soul reaper stationed in the human world." He expounded. Her confused look still stayed.

"Huh, a substitute soul reaper in the human world; that's so strange; usually they don't have soul reapers stay in the human world unless they have to perform a konso."

"I'm not just stationed in the human world, I was born there." He said. She looked at him with wide surprised eyes.

"Really; so you're a human?" she inquired. He nodded. "And you have soul reaper powers?" she questioned. Again he nodded

"Yeah, to be completely honest Rukia was the one who gave me these powers." He said. She grinned at him.

"I see that I'm not the only one who's broken a few rules; you and Rukia seemed to have had some trouble." She retorted. Ichigo smiled back at her.

"Yeah the only difference is that she and I aren't the ones being chased." He responded. Her grin became meager.

"Uh huh I guess." She said in a dismal tone. "Hey do you know Captain Hitsugaya?" she asked.

"Yeah I know him; you and he have must have quite a history." He said. Her eyes widened with surprise again, but with some sort of hopeful gleam.

"So he's talked about me?"

"Not really; he didn't want to talk about you." He answered half-heartedly.

"Oh, I see' I should've known." She said in a doleful tone. Ichigo saw the shimmer in her eyes soon fade away.

"But he did say one thing about you." He tried to cheer. She stood straight up and the twinkle returned. "He said that you were the most beautiful person he had ever met and I can see why." He replied with a grin. She smiled widely and her cheeks flushed a tint of rose.

"You might wanna take a few steps back Ichi-kun." She said abruptly, then stepping behind him. Ichigo looked at her with confusion. He then felt her grab the sleeves of his kimono and pull him forward. He soon saw why she did. With no warning daggers zoomed by, nearly hitting them if it wasn't for Michiko. They were suddenly surrounded by the black cladded fighters of squad two.

"I see that you all came back for a rematch." She said, pulling down the hood of her cloak. Ichigo grabbed his sword and raised it.

"I don't know exactly what's going on but I'm not letting you hurt Michiko." He said firmly.

"Stay out of this Ichigo." They heard Ikakku suddenly say. He and Yumichika appeared on one of the rooftops, their weapons in hand.

"Just simply surrender Michiko-san, I don't want to harm such a pretty thing." Yumichika said. She grinned up at them and withdrew her blade.

"Did you just think I would simply give myself up?" she countered. "Captain Zaraki told me many times before that you and the rest of your squad love to fight so…" she suddenly vanished then reappeared on the railing of a balcony.

"Let's make a game of this shall we." She said with glee as she started to sprint on the railing. One of the squad two fighters fired a simple Hado spell that shattered the floor of the balcony she was on. She disappeared again and came back on a rooftop, still running. Ichigo started scurrying after her.

"Hey wait damn it!" he shouted.

###

Michiko sprinted relentlessly, giving her pursuers a difficult time. A few from squad two through quickly knives at her, hoping to pin her down but she was much faster than them and dodged them flawlessly. She vanished and was suddenly behind them. Her spiritual energy was extremely intense; she dashed right between the infantry. They were all paralyzed with fear and one she passed, they simply collapsed onto the ground like dominos.

"Not bad Michiko-san; your fighting skills are still sharp." She suddenly heard Renji say. She looked up and saw him standing there between the unconscious men; his shikai blade in hand. She grinned up at him.

"Oh, hi Renji; I see you've regained your Zanpakutō. That's an amazing feat, I knew you were strong." She complimented.

"Thank you for noticing Michiko-san; I'll warn you once you have to get out of here." He forewarned. She was still smiling.

"And why should I?" she asked obliviously. He frowned.

"Because if you don't Captain Soi Fon and squad two is going to kill you don't you get it!" he said in frustration. Her joking grin faded and suddenly her stare was like daggers; a stare so severe that it made Renji flinch.

"I know what I'm facing; did you honestly think I'd come here so recklessly? I have my reasons for returning Renji Abarai." She said in a dull and austere tone. He walked towards her and stared down at her; her bangs covered and shadowed her face, making her look so dark; something Renji had never really seen in her.

"I think I know what's your motive." He began in a soft sympathetic voice. "It's because of Captain Hitsugaya isn't it?" he enquired. She gave no reply; no nod no speech.

"Alright I'll let you go just this once but make yourself scarce quickly."

She looked up at him with gratitude. "Thank you Renji." She obliged with a bow.

"Hey don't sweat it; but remember not to mess with squad two, there's a lot of them, they can easily surround you…"

"I know." She interrupted curtly. She abruptly evanesce and reappeared on the rooftop; the illuminated moon shining down on her. "Go, I don't want to get you into trouble." She said, then readjusting her light green scarf over her mouth.

"Keep yourself safe, alright!" he called out.

"I will!" she replied back, throwing on her hood.