Author's Note: Typing this on 6/6/13… If I don't thank you for your review, I'm very sorry!

"Still, I never thought to use the sewer system…" Ganju muttered appreciatively behind me while I followed Hanataro. "You're amazing, Kurosaki!" He said, patting me on the shoulder.

Smiling back at him modestly, I spoke. "Ah shucks, it's nothing! I just knew that the only Squad down here would be Squad four, and there easy to take out because they're so weak. But there's probably no one down here right now because everyone's looking for us above ground. And I knew that Hanataro would have extensive knowledge of the sewer system because Squad four, as previously stated, comes down here to clean." I explained before feeling a little guilty at being long winded. Catching his amazed gaze, I quickly faced front and stared at Hanataro's back.

"So you must know a lot, eh?" He asked innocently.

"Yes." I responded politely, not liking how I was throwing around the knowledge that I had extensive smarts in my brain about this universe. We fell silent thankfully, and I silently rejoiced. It seems that ever sense we landed here I haven't been in complete silence.

…..

I listened to Hanataro's story of how he first met Rukia and listened to her; I thought it was helpful, to say the least. If my knowledge allowed something like Hanataro to be forgotten, then who knows what else I let slip? No one has a perfect memory, after all.

Watching as the water rushed by, I listened to the final words of his story as we sat in a little alcove. "And whenever she mentioned this, she was very sad…" He murmured, the motion splayed out across his face.

"She's a strange Soul Reaper, that one…" Ganju muttered behind me as I felt my heart throb in time with its aching.

"She's strange; different from those here. And that's precisely why we're going to save her." I told them boldly, abruptly standing up and storming in the direction we had been. "Not that being friends has anything to do with it, as well~!" I called back merrily. And then grimly on the inside; not that Aizen doesn't have anything to do with it, either…

With my friends calls echoing not only on my back but on the stone around us, I began to jog faster, spurred on by Rukia's sad words gripping my throat tightly.

….

"That over there is the Senzaikyu!" Hanataro pointed as I jumped up the ladder and out into the open, breathing a thankful large gulp of air. Looking towards where he pointed, I felt relief come over me. We're coming, Rukia!

"We're closer, but it still looks like a rough road ahead." Ganju muttered. "And look at its size!"

"The closer we get the farther it feels." I told them simply, walking away with an almost uncontainable flurry of anxiousness fluttering inside my gut.

Both watching and feeling as the protective mist started to clear, my memory decided to surface images of Ichigo and Renji fighting here now that it recognized the scenery more. Quickly turning back to my comrades, I spoke quietly and quickly. "Find a safe place to hide. A damn good fight is about to happen and I don't want either of you two to ruin it." I told them, mainly looking at Ganju's now agitated face.

"Why look at me?!" He whispered angrily, to which I sighed and looked at Hanataro.

"Hanataro, I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm very sorry. Thank you for all you've done." I told him before turning on a dime and heading toward the barely visible red hair. Eyes narrowing as my friends scampered off to somewhere safe, the mist quickly disappeared quite conveniently.

Walking closer, I stopped a good distance from Renji. "Yo! So you decided to show your face again, you sorry loser?!" He yelled, and I got the feeling he was still upset by me running earlier.

Smirking, I responded. "Yeah! Now that you have your sword I can evenly fight you, too; this time I won't have to run to save you. I can just cut you down..." I hissed the last part, laying a hand on my Zanpakuto's hilt. "Abarai Renji!" I growled his name, unsheathing my sword a little.

"That's a surprise…! You even remembered my name, too." He sure didn't sound too surprised. Starting to walk down the steps, I patiently waited until he reached the bottom like a good girl. He spoke as he continued to walk closer. "I really am surprise, though. I thought for sure you would be dead after Captain Kuchiki's attack." He told me.

I smiled a treacherous grin and gave a witty comeback. "Oh? That's some confidence you have in your Captain. Does he save you often?" I asked, making his eyes narrow as he frowned.

"This is as far as you go!" He boasted, drawing his sword and walking faster.

Drawing my golden blade, I matched his pace perfectly. "I wouldn't be so sure!" I yelled, starting to run.

"Haaa!" He yelled, running as well. Our blades smashed together, sparks flying as his hate-filled eyes and my battle lust filled brown connected between the blades. "I'll kill the one who stole Rukia's powers!" He growled in my face, bringing his blade up and bringing it down while I blocked. "As long as you're alive she won't be able to get her powers back!" He told me, sounding sure of himself.

"And as long as I'm dead, she'll die with me!" I hissed, swinging my blade around to try to hack in between his ribs before he blocked. He threw my blade back and I slid back a foot before attempting to skewer him with my Zanpakuto. "So I'll be going to save Rukia now!"

-x-x-x-x-x

Leering around the corner that the Soul Reapers had run past, I quickly ducked into the alley with Ishida. "Brianna, securities tightening. It'll be harder to move around now." He told me and I nodded.

"I agree. I suggest we find a way to blend in… Why not find some Soul Reaper clothing?" I asked, looking around as if a spare one would be lying around. He frowned at this and we stared at each other.

"Fine…" He muttered as I slowly began to walk. Noticing he had frozen, I quickly went back to his side before feeling the same thing.

"That's Sydney and one of Rukia's abductors!" I realized, shocked she would dare to take one of them on. But we're stronger now… So it should be okay… I think. Looking back at Ishida, our eyes connected grimly.

"Let's go!" He said suddenly, spinning on a dime and taking off running at a fast pace.

"Hey!" I called after him, trying to catch up.

-x-x-x-x-x

Our blades clashed once again before we both jumped back and paused, a wind whipping around and causing my short brown hair to sway in the breeze with his red hair. Our eyes were narrowed at each other; there was no way I wasn't getting out of here without a fight.

My power continued to escalate as our blades connected and we attempted to push each other back. Pushing him back with a yell, I quickly tried to bring my sword down over his shoulder, but he blocked and took a step back before forcing me to take a step back.

Growling as I lost ground, I flexed my spiritual pressure a little more before our blades connected, his eyes widening in surprise as I pushed him back, running him into the rocks that circled around the base of the small 'city'.

Renji suddenly spoke, making my ears go on alert. "How do you plan to save Rukia?" He asked, gritting his teeth as I continued to push him into the rock.

"How?" I asked skeptically, not sure why it wasn't obvious.

"After me there's still 11 Lieutenants left. All of them are as strong as me. Then there's 13 Captains after that, who are unimaginably strong." He explained, but my face held no surprise. "So, how do you expect to save her? Even if you defeat me… There'll still be someone in your way!" He yelled, throwing me back a few paces.

"I don't care about any of that!" I yelled at him. "I just gotta grab her and go, right?! No big deal!" I told him, trying to blow it off. I shouldn't meet any Captains besides Kenpachi, anyways.

"Why're you so confident?!" He yelled, bringing his blade down heavily on mine. Gritting my teeth, I reflected his blows as he continued to speak. "Don't think that just because you got your powers back you can do anything!" He told me, making me frown. "Don't get cocky!" He yelled, throwing me back again. "Howl, Zabimaru!" He yelled, running his hand along his blade.

Taking his example, I released mine. "Scream out, Miru Koto Garasu!" I screamed, my blade shifting into the form of a scythe. His eyes narrowed as he saw how different it looked to the original, but how similar at the same time. Shrugging it off, he attacked with a yell.

The end of his blade hit mine and I started to fly back, but slowed when it ran out of elasticity to push me back. Suddenly expending between the blades themselves, I flew back again with wide eyes. Why didn't I see that coming?! I screamed at myself as I was thrown into a conveniently empty building behind us.

Recovering quickly, I used the dust from the rubble to hide myself as he suddenly spoke. "You seem to think you know all about my powers just from fighting me once… But let me tell you something. When Lieutenants and above are sent outside…"

"Their powers are severely limited with a seal given to them by the Twelfth Division. Otherwise you might affect the Human World in some bad way…right?" I asked, thinking I knew what he was going to say. Stepping out of the rubble, my calm and collected brown eyes met with his surprised eyes. "I believe it's about a five times difference… Which means you'd be stronger here." I told him, and he raised his blade to defend as I raised my scythe. "But I'm also stronger here because of the reishi!" I screamed, charging him as we dealt blows on the other, deflecting and blocking them alike.

"If you didn't exist… If she didn't meet you… Rukia wouldn't have to go through all this!" He screamed at me suddenly, throwing me back and bringing his blade down heavily on my shoulder. Crying out and spitting up blood, I kept a desperate hold on my scythe as I wobbled, forcing myself to stay on my feet while he ripped his blade out of me.

Forcing my body to react, I jumped up onto the roof of the partially ruined building as he brought his blade down to where I had been. "You won't get away!" He screamed, jumping up after me. Our blades met heavily and I jumped backwards, his Zanpakuto smashing into the building and creating a rubble cloud while I attempted to hide in the thickest parts. Can't go on the ground because the person with the high point has advantage… If I hide in the clear areas, he'll see me in and attack… This'll have to do!

Bringing my blade up to deflect an incoming blow, I surprised him by side stepping and landing a harsh kick in the middle of his back, making his descent to the ground faster. Jumping down after him, he side stepped me this time and planted a kick in my side before my feet even touched the ground. Flying away, I dug my scythe into the ground to catch me as I caught my feet. Quickly charging him with another yell, our blades met in another frenzy as we slowly destroyed everything around us.

Panting lightly as we both paused, I shoved the end of my scythe into the ground easily and leaned on it, ready to prance away at a moments noticed while Renji and I glared at each other. "Why do you think you can save Rukia?" He asked me, seething.

"I don't think, I know!" I responded. Growling, he brought his extended blade down as I pranced away, ripping my scythe out of the ground.

"Her crimes became even more serious when you stole her powers!" He yelled at me, demolishing every place I happened to breathe on while I jumped around to avoid his blade. "Why don't you understand?! It's your fault! It's your fault that Rukia's going to be killed!" He yelled at me, and I hissed when his blade nicked my arm.

"It is my fault!" I screamed back at him, admitting my mistake. "If I hadn't jumped in front of that damn, hollow, this would've never happened!" But it had to happen… Otherwise you all are going to die. I had to be stupid. "And that's why I'm going to save her!" Because if I don't, you all are going to die from Aizen's wrath!

Noticing as his blade reconnected and formed into a normal blade, something clicked in me as I suddenly remembered one of Kisuke's lessons. 'Now Remember: For everything that is able to be called an attack, the stronger the attack, the more limitations will be placed upon the number of attacks.'

'Like a six-bullet gun?' I had asked curiously.

'Precisely. Like how a missile can only be fired once. Repetitive attacks are always limited to certain numbers,' he explained. 'But it doesn't have to be the same number each time, either.' He told me.

'It's the maximum that's crucial.' I pinpointed what he was getting at.

He nodded. 'When a fight is intense, the enemy will almost always use the maximum number of attacks.'

My eyes sharpening, I abruptly charged him with a yell. Side stepping the first blow, dodging the second and doing a daring roll to duck under the third. He has four! I somewhat remembered as mental Kisuke continued to lecture me.

'The most important thing is the last of his repeated attacks. The moment before the repetitive attacks starts again.'

Screaming as I attempted to bring my blade down on him, my eyes went impossible wide as he side stepped me, bringing his blade down in my already-sliced open shoulder. Gritting my teeth, he spoke.

"I told you, you can't defeat me!" He boasted confidently while I growled, grabbing the dull end of his blade in anger as I brought my scythe around and slashed a deep gash into his abdomen before he managed to jump away. Coughing up more blood, I watched him with slightly infuriated narrowed brown eyes.

"Because I was slower, you were able to counter me…!" I realized, growling lightly in my throat. He continued to frown. "But I got you back, so I was faster then… Is my speed fluctuating?" I growled to myself as Renji suddenly laughed.

"Finally realizing your own inconsistency? It's about time! Thinking someone as inconsistent as you could save Rukia…it's a fool's hope!" Renji growled at me, raising his blade. My eyes suddenly connected with his as I was swamped with my own words.

I'm going to rescue Rukia Kuchiki!

I'm going to be a hero!

When you counter,

You don't let them cut you.

If you protect someone,

you don't let them die.

When you attack…

You kill.

"Time to get started, Renji." I told him in a low, dangerous voice. "I've officially got it… The resolve to kill you." I warned him, exerting my Spiritual Pressure in a calm steady flow around me. I felt my body pick up, my wounds become not as painful. Renji's eyes widened, realizing that this was more controlled than before.

Growling quietly in warning, I suddenly jumped into the air, ready to bring my scythe down. His eyes widened as he tried to attack me, but I let it bounce off my scythe, throwing me to the side as well as not getting injured. Blocking his Zanpakuto as it grated against mine, I brought my scythe down on it, causing it to fly out to the side randomly. Bringing my scythe up, he tried to block and I cleanly smashed through his blade.

Bringing my scythe up to my top right, energy swirled upon it as my eyes glowed. "The resolve… to kill!" I whispered venomously at him. I brought it down diagonally across his chest in a true reaping motion as he coughed up blood (1). Energy spilled forth from my blade, creating a little Getsuga Tensho that caused him to fly backwards and out of the new debris cloud. Hearing the distant 'thunk!' as he flew into a boulder, I felt slightly proud. Just like the anime, I reassured myself. Just how it's supposed to be.

Watching and panting as the debris cloud cleared, I saw him choke up even more blood as his body shook. Feeling slightly guilty, I started to walk closer. "Dammit…!" He suddenly screamed loudly, throwing his head up, his wild red hair going everywhere. His knees suddenly gave out and I instantly dropped my scythe, disregarding my own safety completely as I caught him before he face planted.

Coughing up even more blood on me while my arms gripped the sides of his uniform like I sister would, he shakily reached up and grabbed my shoulder. I saw the feelings rushing by in his eyes; confusion, sadness… "Dammit! I'm a stray dog down to my bones!" He suddenly said, smiling. Confusion shined in my eyes as he seemed to come back to reality, his memories finally loosening their hold on him. "I'm sick of it…!" He said, pushing against my shoulders as he forced himself to shakily stand. "I only bark at the starts…" He was standing now, glaring at me once again. Realizing how open I was, I quickly stood up and backed away a few paces. "I don't have the guts to jump!" He told himself.

Suddenly walking forward, he lifted my small form by grabbing the front of my Shihakusho. "It's your fault Rukia was imprisoned!" He told me, my brown eyes staring into him with a slightly fearful curiosity. "Every time I thought about it, my blood boiled! But that wasn't it…! It's because I didn't stop Rukia…! That time… I didn't tell her to go to the Kuchiki Family so she'd end up condemned as a criminal!" He told me, gritting out his words with his eyes squeezed shut.

Opening his eyes, he continued. "I told her to do it so that she'd find happiness…! I truly believed that!" My eyes were wide now; I had known they were close, but seeing this sadness… It seemed to have latched onto me as well. "I wanted to surpass Captain Kuchiki… From that day, ever sense… I've pursued him! Every day I trained like mad! But I still haven't been able to beat him, not once…!" He told me, his face facing the ground while he continued to hold me in the air, shaking lightly.

"He's too strong! Getting Rukia back with strength…was something I couldn't do!" He realized, making my eyes reflect his pain somewhat. "Kurosaki…!" He suddenly addressed me, looking up boldly and grabbing my Shihakusho with his other hand as well. "I'm swallowing my shame and asking you! Save… Save Rukia!" He pleaded my wide, sad eyes as he shook me lightly. His desperate eyes stared into my shocked, yet sad brown ones.

Nodding, I replied. "Yes. I will." I told him, hearing the emotions swirling within my own voice. We stared at each other for a few seconds, each of us conveying our emotions before he suddenly fell over. My feet hit the ground and I stumbled backwards slightly, his hands slipping out of my Shihakusho as he completely fell. I stared, panting, for a few seconds.

The world seemed to be crashing into me; everything with ultra-vivid as it suddenly swirled, making me stumble as well. Barely noticing as I hit my knees, I was thankful when my vision cut and I blacked out.

-x-x-x-x-x

Sighing as I continued to blatantly walk around, my almost black hair swayed in a gentle breeze as I resisted the temptation to casually lay my hand on my Zanpakuto while I walked. Gotta appear casual, after all. Meh! I haven't been chased at all sense we got here~ Well, they call me Sloth for a reason, I decided. Looking around, I found a small lit up building I was headed towards.

Having made it into some squad's barracks earlier, I hadn't had the guts to use the entrance I had walked in earlier (as it was now guarded), and I had yet to find another area to escape out of… Luckily no one has recognized me or thought that I was suspicious yet, eh?

Making my way closer to the small building, my eyes narrowed as I attempted to conceal my power so that I appeared to be a normal, weak Soul Reaper. Turning my head and glancing in at it from the corner of my eye, I instantly tensed when I saw the unmistakable red hair of Rukia's abductor lying inside. Was that Sydney that took him down earlier, then?! I realized, wishing I had paid more attention as I wondered around.

Suddenly realizing that he wasn't the only person in the room, I slowly crept closer as my eyes narrowed, trying to see what the others were doing. There appeared to be a girl of at least Lieutenant strength, who hadn't noticed me yet. She was facing me, but looking at the smaller male in the room. He had white hair, but I was more startled by his Captain's haori. Dammit! I realized suddenly, taking a quick step back.

Creeeeeek!

The boards groaned under my feet and instantly my heart was in my throat and my eyes were wide with shock. The Captain turned his head immediately, his ice blue eyes locking onto my now petrified emerald ones. "Oh? What do we have here?" He asked suspiciously, stalking closer to me while placing a hand on his Zanpakuto. I gulped and took a step back, ready to flee. "A Squad member out even when they're all supposed to be in bed?" He growled.

My breaths had become light and erratic as I slowly backed away, not realizing I had actually been caught. "I take it you're a Ryoka, yes?" He asked as I started to shake. Not giving him an answer, I continued to back away slowly. "I'll let you know that not answering me," He unsheathed his sword a little bit as his eyes narrowed. My hand went to my Zanpakuto as well. "Could be dangerous." He told me as my mind seemed to suddenly kick back in without warning.

Dropping the hand that was lying on my Zanpakuto, I instantly put up a calm façade as I attempted to trick them. Now slowly walking closer, his eyes narrowed even more. "I take it you're a Captain?" I asked, forcing my voice not to shake.

"What of it?" He asked dangerously, and I instantly knew I was going out on a limb.

"I-I heard you, barely. You said that the Captain of Squad Three is dangerous, right?" I asked, stepping inside the small building as he put a hand out, shielding the girl from me.

"And you would know something about that?" He growled, to which I gave a 'careless' shrug.

"I don't know~" I toyed with them, looking out the open doorway opposite me.

Immediately I found myself pinned in one of the corners of the room, his sword going across my neck and shoulder. I forced myself not to swallow nervously as my eyes became slightly crazed at this new position. "I suggest you speak up." He told me lowly, making my eyes narrow.

"Fine." I forced out, mind scraping at anything that might help me. "You said that only the Captain of Squad Three was dangerous…" I left off as he continued to glare at me. "But it's unlikely one Captain would try to take on 13 others of equal or greater strength. So, obviously, he's not alone." I reasoned off as he hissed.

"Who's working with him!" He interrogated me, pressing his blade deeper as I attempted to shift to become more comfortable.

"How should I know!" I responded, shocked he would think I knew such a thing. "I got here just a few hours ago or so! I don't know much of what goes on here, but what I see is definitely corrupt. Take that Captain of yours, for example." I told them, knowing I made more sense than my mind computed. I didn't know the Captain or anything, after all.

He stared at me, as if testing me. "Why did you Ryoka come here?" He asked as my will to fight suddenly flamed up inside my eyes.

"To save Rukia Kuchiki. This execution is wrong, Captain. And you know it." I threatened him. We glared at each other for a seemingly elongated period of time before he suddenly sheathed his sword.

Stepping up close to me, he spoke. "You'd better not try anything." He said, eyeing my Zanpakuto.

"Wouldn't think of it." I replied honestly, knowing he was likely to be out of my league.

"We're going back to the Tenth Division Barracks. If I don't contact you in twenty minutes, go tell the Head Captain." He told the female in the room before giving me one last look and leaving. Glancing at the wide-eyed shocked girl, my eyes trailed across the red-haired man's face before I followed the nameless Captain to his office.

Author's Notes:

Soul Reapers, Shinigami, all of them that have scythes use this attack to reap souls.

Also, I will officially update again on Tuesday at the latest due to being outrageously busy until then. So, avoir! If I have that right *sweat drops* please review! :D