A.N: Good to be back once again folks. As always school is as busy as hell, have barely had time to work on this chapter or review other people's story's even though I've promised I would and give feedback. But now that I've managed to get this out, I hope you all enjoy it. This is one of the last few chapters in Terror of Los Retazos.

Chapter 21: Jealousy is Truly Deadly

Ichigo took a deep breath as he arrived in Karakura Town, which was still in the Soul Society due to the Fake Karakura being active. He then looked at his chest and saw the symbol for Squad 9, a reminder that he had Gentei Relln placed on him upon entry. He quickly scanned the area for Renji's spiritual pressure. He quickly made a note to thank Rukia for helping him sense spiritual pressure better when he got back. Dammit Renji, he thought. Just what the hell are you doing.

Ichigo quickly flash stepped through the town, towards the spot where he had sensed Renji's spiritual pressure. He soon spotted the familiar red hair and froze. Renji glared at him with murderous intent. "You're right on time, Ichigo." He said lowly.

Ichigo nodded. Renji drew his Zanpakutō. "And now that you're here, I can defeat you...and make Rukia mine."

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock. "That's what this is all about?"

"You don't deserve her Ichigo," Renji said in an angry tone. "You didn't suffer through years of the Rukon District with her."

Ichigo looked at him. "Maybe you're right," he said. "Maybe I didn't suffer in Rukon with her like you did."

Renji nodded. "So then you agree with my statements?"

Ichigo shook his head. "This isn't a question of who deserves Rukia. Hell, I don't think any man deserves someone as amazing as Rukia."

Ichigo drew Zangetsu. "It's a question of who Rukia chooses. You can't force her to fall in love with you. It's her choice on who she loves."

Ichigo glared at Renji before he continued. "And I'm willing to defend her decisions to my grave. Good or bad."

Renji's eyes narrowed in anger. "If you wanna be that stubborn, than that's find. But I will win Rukia, even if I have to kill you."

Ichigo scowled. "You've obviously lost it. I don't know what the hell happened to make you like this, but I'm obviously going to have to beat some serious sense into you, Renji."

Akio rubbed his eyes tiredly as light shone into his room. "Norio, what is it?" He asked.

Akio's servant spoke quietly so he did not disturb Soifon. "Sir, a Lady Rukia Kuchiki is asking for a moment of your time." He reported.

"Gah, what time is it?" He muttered.

"Three in the morning sir." Said Norio.

Akio paled. "What the hell? Why would Rukia come at this hour?"

"She said it was urgent sir," said Norio. "She wanted to see your father but I informed her that he wasn't to be disturbed, so she asked for you instead."

Akio groaned. "Geez," he muttered. "All right, give me a minute to change into something and I'll meet her outside."

Norio nodded and closed the door. Akio stretched and got out of bed. "Mmm, Aki' what's wrong?" Asked Soifon, waking up slightly.

Akio quickly pulled on his hakama. "Rukia's here for some reason, I would've thought she'd be snuggled up to her new 'Teddy Bear.' He said, lightly joking.

Soifon shrugged. Akio went back to the bed and kissed Soifon. "Just stay here my Honey Bee and wait patiently for me. I'll soon return to our little hive."

Soifon smiled. "If I didn't love you so much I'd hate you for those nicknames."

Akio smiled. "You'll come to love those nicknames as we venture further into this relationship, my dear Shaolin."

Soifon kissed him. "Don't take too long."

Akio went outside and quickly went out to the front of the house to find Rukia in her hakama. "What's going on Rukia? Something must be going on if you're waking me up at 3 in the morning you know."

Rukia nodded. "I'm sorry Akio, I'm sure you must be angry that I disturbed yours and Captain Soifon's...nightly activities."

Akio blushed. "Nothing's happening...I mean yes, she's in my bed but we weren't doing...that. We were just sleeping together, that's perfectly normal for a couple to sleep together!"

Akio quickly regained his composure. "So what's happening, and why isn't Ichigo with you?You're usually hanging off of his arm these days."

Rukia nodded, her expression suddenly turning worried. "Ichigo's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

Akio raised an eyebrow. Rukia explained what had happened earlier with Ichigo. "I'm worried Akio, something bad could be happening in Karakura."

Rukia gave him a pleading look. "Akio, please, I need to speak with your father."

Akio grimaced. He had been a Yamamoto long enough to know that there were two things he should never do to his father. The first is to never slack off on his lessons, the second was a big one: Never, ever, ever wake his father when he's sleeping. Akio had once heard that a major 'stereotype,' as humans called it, for old people, was that they needed a lot of sleep. Akio had learned the hard way that that was one stereotype that was very much real. He still had the scars from where the old man's Kidō had hit him. That was one thing he did not want to go through again.

Yet he was still thinking it over. How was he gonna get away with saying no to his best friends girlfriend? And especially in such a dire situation. "I'll go get him." Akio decided.

Rukia's face brightened. "Thank you." She said happily.

Akio turned away. "Just, one little thing," he said. "If you here me screaming in absolute pain...run like hell."

Akio walked away, leaving Rukia confused at his words.

"Begin!" Renji shouted.

Wanting to end the match quickly, Ichigo charged at Renji with Zangetsu raised and ready to strike. "Roar, Zabimaru!" Renji shouted.

Ichigo ducked as the whip-like blade swung at him. He quickly knocked it out of the way with a swing of Zangetsu, hoping to prevent Renji from counterattacking. When he was 10 feet away from Renji, the redhead grinned. "Come back, Zabimaru!"

Ichigo's eyes widened as Zabimaru started to return to Renji, and he was right in the path of Zabimaru's blades. Reacting quickly, Ichigo flash stepped out of the way. Ichigo reappeared behind him, but Renji reacted quickly as well and launched Zabimaru at Ichigo, who blocked it with Zangetsu. Knocking it away, Ichigo raised Zangetsu. "Getsuga..." Ichigo began.

Renji's eyes widened. "...Tenshō!"

Renji barely had time to react as the blast of blue spirit energy was fired at him. He managed to flash step out of the way, but when he reappeared, he was clutching a bloodied arm. "Damn you..." He said through gritted teeth.

Ichigo raised Zangetsu threateningly. "Just stop this Renji!" He demanded. "This fight is meaningless and you know it!"

Renji grinned menacingly. "See that's just it Ichigo, we're in way to deep to stop this fight."

Renji raised Zabimaru once again. "Roar!"

Ichigo groaned and blocked Zabimaru once again. Adding a little more strength, Ichigo managed to knock Zabimaru away once more. Ichigo flash stepped close to Renji. "Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo shouted.

Renji gasped as he was knocked back by a point blank Getsuga. At that moment, he was glad that Zangetsu was only in its Shikai. Also he was much stronger than he was the last time Ichigo hit him with a point blank Getsuga. Now that his power was at Captain-level, he was only burned and left with a long but shallow cut across his body. "Damn you." He repeated, coughing a bit of blood up.

Zabimaru returned to Renji. "I will not lose." Renji insisted. "I will prove to Rukia that my love is stronger!"

Ichigo rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Bankai!" Renji shouted.

Ichigo's eyes widened. "Crap, he's really taking this fight to the next level." Ichigo muttered.

Akio approached the sleeping form of his father nervously, his sheathed Zanpakutō raised. "Sir," whispered the voice of Norio. "Just what are you doing?"

Akio gulped. "I just don't want to be close to him when he wakes up. Otherwise, he's gonna make me regret this more than I already do."

With that, Akio started poking his father lightly with his sheathed Zanpakutō hoping to wake him up, and hoping, no praying, that when he did wake up, he would use Kidō to punish him again and not Ryūjin Jakka this time. The thought of it made Akio quiver, who saw, much to his horror, that he had not woken up. That meant he had to poke the old man harder, which in turn increased his chances of being sent to the Squad 4 Barracks for the rest of the night. Although, considering the situation, Akio had no choice. Taking a deep breath he started poking Yamamoto with the sheathed sword harder. "Oh God, please let me survive this, please let me survive this." Akio pleaded repeatedly.

The elder Soul Reaper started to stir awake. Akio started to take a few steps back. The young Yamamoto heir raised his hand, preparing to use Bakudō to defend himself in case the worst happened. Yamamoto awoke and looked at Akio. "What is the meaning of this?" Yamamoto said in a dangerous tone.

"I know that this is a rather unreasonable hour father," Akio stammered. "But Lt. Kuchiki has just given me some news that you may wish to hear."

"Hikotsu Taihō!" Renji shouted.

"Crap." Ichigo muttered as the blast of red spiritual energy came at him.

Ichigo flash stepped out of the way and grimaced at his major dilemma. While it was obvious that he was stronger than Renji, Renji was in his Bankai, which gave him a major advantage over Ichigo in this fight. There was just one major problem, Ichigo did not want to just go Bankai and kick Renji's ass. Crazy or not, Renji was still a friend in the end, and using Tensa Zangetsu would cause far greater injury to Renji then he wants to.

But how long can I keep this up? Ichigo asked himself, defending himself from the jaws of Hihiō Zabimaru.

"Release your Bankai, Ichigo!" Renji shouted. "I want to defeat you at full power!"

"No." Ichigo said simply.

"Then Rukia will know you to be a coward!" Renji shouted, trying to provoke him.

"She'd understand," said Ichigo. "She knows which of us is stronger, and she knows who's Bankai would do more damage to the other. Face it, you should be thanking me that I'm not using it."

Renji growled in anger. "Shut up!"

Renji launched Hihiō Zabimaru at Ichigo, who attempted to flash step out of the way. Only to have his leg caught by the giant Bankai's fangs. Ichigo cried out as he was sent into the floor by the force of the attack. Renji grinned. "See?" He said. "You're gonna lose if you don't use your Bankai. So stop messing around and use it!"

Ichigo got to his feet with some difficulty. "Your wish Renji," he said, placing both hands on Zangetsu' hilt. "Bankai!"

"...In conclusion, we do not know of the nature of Captain Ichigo Kurosaki's decision to venture into Karakura Town." Said Yamamoto.

Rukia couldn't help but frown, the way Yamamoto was putting it was making it sound like Ichigo was betraying the Soul Society. However, she knew that even if other people got this feeling, none of them would believe it, which reassured her that much. "Our only option is to hold our positions until Squad 12 brings us their analysis of Karakura's spiritual state. Which at this rate, shall be very soon."

Rukia heard Kenpachi Zaraki groan. "You woke me up to tell me to wait for those pansies?"

Rukia could understand his annoyance (albeit, she understood the situation better than he did), and she could tell he wasn't the only one. Shunsui Kyōraku and Tōshirō Hitsugaya looked asleep on their feet. Although Tōshirō was trying his best to stay awake, Rukia could tell that that was a losing fight due to Rangiku making him stay up late to do her paperwork. Byakuya also looked a little tired, probably spent a lot of his free time trying to seal off Yachiru's tunnels and secret bases. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She thought.

At that moment Squad 12 3rd Seat Akon came rushing in. "Head Captain, we have the reports on Karakura's current state."

"Thank you Deputy Director Akon," said Yamamoto. "Please, speak."

Akon took a deep breath. "We have reports that two Captain-level Soul Reapers are currently fighting in Karakura Town. Luckily, both have Gentei Relln due to entering a place that is technically still the human world."

Akon lowered his head before continuing. "We also believe that the two Captain-level Soul Reapers are Squad 9 Captain Ichigo Kurosaki and Squad 3 Captain Renji Abarai."

At this, Rukia and Byakuya's eyes widened. Yamamoto even opened one of his eyes at the news that two of his own captain's were fighting in such a delicate area. "Father...this has to be some mistake." Akio said, not wanting to believe that his friend would do something as stupid as fighting another captain.

"There is no mistake." Yamamoto said solemnly.

"Then what do we do?" Asked Akio.

Yamamoto looked down. "We may have no choice but to stop them."

Renji frantically launched Hihiō Zabimaru in an attempt to catch increasingly fast Ichigo. "Dammit, stop running around!" Renji shouted in annoyance.

Ichigo eventually reappeared to the side. "Getsuga Tenshō!"

Renji quickly defended with his giant Bankai, but was shocked when it shattered from Ichigo's enhanced Getsuga. Ichigo quickly moved in to incapacitate Renji, but the red headed captain still had one last trick up his sleeve. Higa Zekkō!" Renji shouted.

Ichigo knew this technique, he had seen it used on Aizen and he knew that it would be much more powerful in its Bankai state. Just as he had expected, the segments came flying at him. Ichigo quickly dodged each and every one of the segments. The attack was powerful, but it was no match for the speed he gained from Tensa Zangetsu.

With Hihiō Zabimaru reconstructing itself, Ichigo moved in to finish the fight, Renji's eyes widened and prepared to flash step out of the way. However, a slash across the gut knocked Renji off his feet. The redhead cried out as he fell backwards. Ichigo sighed in relief. It was over. "Dammit." Renji croaked. "Just kill me already."

Ichigo looked at him incredulously. "Dumb ass, I'm not gonna kill you. I'm gonna take you back to the Seireitei, take you to Squad 4, then take you to Rukia so we can sort this whole thing out."

Ichigo moved to Renji's heaving and bleeding body, but was suddenly stopped by a very powerful and very heavy spiritual pressure. "Thank you very much, Captain Abarai," came a familiar and chilling voice. "I think I can take it from here."

Benito Muerta drew his sword. "Now then, Ichigo Kurosaki, prepare to have your very existence wiped from the face of the earth."

A.N: Anyways, if anyone's been reading some of Bleach' latest chapters, we've finally met the Royal Guard (a bunch of arrogant a-holes eh?). As much as I enjoy reading Kubo's work, his plot is starting to become like the plot for Lost or Homeland, with all the twists and turns (like Tsukishima, Ginjō and Giriko coming back, give me a freaking break!). Regardless, I hope Kubo ties it together in the end. This is getting crazier by the chapter.