'The pieces of the game acquired…'

Kurotsuki's eyes traveled down the line of victims he had collected. Because of Ichimaru, he had been forced to improvise as the redheaded Shinigami was out of his grasp, so he had settled for the short black haired female Shinigami he had seen with Ichigo in the World of the Living. Grabbing Toshiro had been all too easy, finding the Captain walking the streets of the Sereitei with some unknown female Shinigami. He had taken her too, just because she had made a fuss.

'The stage is set…'

Ironically, Aizen had told him that Sokyoku Hill was the execution ground for criminals and traitors to the Soul Society. He couldn't think of any other place that would fit such an event as the one about to unfold. His attention was grabbed as one of his captives moaned in discomfort. "Ah, Captain Hitsugaya, welcome sleeping beauty." He greeted as he jumped over to stand in front of the tied figure.

Teal eyes snapped open and he growled, trying to movie his arms but finding that his body was completely immobile as he was tied to a thick post at least forty feet off the ground, the black beast standing on air before him, grinning. "Bastard." Toshiro spat at it.

Kurotsuki's eyes narrowed as he wiped the spit from his cheek. "Careful Captain, you are at my mercy."

"What do you want with me?"

"Believe it or not, it's not all about you…"

"Kurosaki?"

"Ah, now he's got it."

Toshiro smirked. "Then you're out of luck."

"Oh, I think I can persuade our little carrot top to come." The hollow pointed to either side of the Captain. "I think I've got enough bait, don't you?"

'Rukia…' He noticed to the right of him. There was now no doubt in his mind that Ichigo would come. He would do anything for her. 'No!' Toshiro turned to look the other way, his eyes widening in horror. "Hinamori?!" Why? "She has nothing to do with this—"

"Well I couldn't just let her live when she saw me, now could I?" Kurotsuki snorted. "That goes against all 'bad guy' morals." He turned around and walked a few paces away, keeping watch on the city below the hill as he spoke in reason. "Not only will I get Kurosaki to come for you, that redhead with the smart mouth will come for the other one, Aizen-sama confirmed it."

'I've got to get us out of here…' Toshiro struggled against his bonds, keeping an eye on the hollow but glancing to the sides as he watched both women carefully. He occasionally responded to Kurotsuki, as the hollow faced forward and he continued to break free. A sudden tightening pressure and the rope around his body fell freely to the ground, a clawed hand grasping his wrist in order to help him keep upright. 'Grimmjow!' He blinked in surprise before the bluette nodded. Toshiro pointed to Hinamori, sending the Espada the silent message to free her as he moved to work on Rukia.

'Jesus this idiot talks too much…' Grimmjow frowned as he untied Hinamori's bonds, her unconscious form falling into his arms and he carried her to the ground.

Kurotsuki turned around. "I was wondering when you'd decide to show yourself again, Grimmjow…" He grabbed a sword from his back, sending a wave of bright green energy the Espada's way, tsking as Grimmjow dodged effortlessly. He'd have to step it up a bit with the bluette.

"I'm blue you moron." Grimmjow smirked as he pointed to his hair, Hinamori dangling underneath his arm. "Bulls are supposed to attack red."

"If you would stand still, I'll make you bleed. That would turn you red now wouldn't it?" Kurotsuki brought his blade close to his mouth, his long tongue sticking out and licking along the metal before he pointed it towards the Captain. "Think you can break my attack before it reaches you?" He challenged, green flames flaming from his nostrils, his mouth opening and a yellow ball of energy forming in his mouth before it shot forward.

'If only I had my zanpakuto!' Toshiro's mind screamed, not just for the blade of his soul but for a wish to see Ichigo. His hands desperately pulled at the bonds that held Rukia to her post and he realized in all his efforts, he had woken her up only for her eyes to widen as she saw death roaring down on them. 'Shit.' He realized that he didn't have any time to try and get Rukia out but maybe if he let loose all of his reiatsu at once, he could at least parry the brunt of Kurotsuki's attack. He stepped around in front of the raven, his body shielding hers and he heard her cries of protest.

"Don't Captain Hitsugaya! Get out of the way!" Rukia told him.

Grimmjow's white body appeared between him and the raven, one arm wrapping around his waist. Toshiro beat against the Espada's chest, there was no way he was just going to leave Rukia there to die. A flash of bright light had him turning his head around. "Let go—"

"Getsuga Tensho!"

"Man, took your time didn't ya." Grimmjow growled his comment as the carrot top stood between them and Kurotsuki.

"Sorry, I had to put my makeup on." Ichigo's eyes never left Kurotsuki's, making sure to keep the hollow in sight at all times. "Grimm—"

"Yeah I'm going." The bluette said as he turned around, flexing his claws before he shredded thru Rukia's bonds before he grabbed her wrist to take her away.

"Wait!" She said, tearing her arm from Grimmjow's grip and moved to stand beside the carrot top, her hand clenching on his sleeve. "You can't fight him alone, Ichigo."

"I'm not alone." Ichigo's eyes shifted to his friend for only an instant before Kurotsuki launched another cero attack. "Rukia!" The carrot top said, jumping forward and wrapping his arms around her body as he made them fall towards the ground to avoid the attack. After reaching the ground, he leapt backwards, putting a huge distance between the edge of the hill. "Stay here. I'm going to finish this." He instructed before he left her alone.

Toshiro was pulled back by Grimmjow, the bluette's arm still wrapped around his waist. As he was being dragged further backwards, they were passed by the carrot top, but something felt off. Not with Ichigo but with the hollow. As Grimmjow set him down on the ground next to Rukia, he reached into a pocket to fished out a cigarette. A flash of black out of the corner of his eye and he instantly lashed out, grasping Rukia's arm to prevent her from running back towards Ichigo. "Don't…" He said. "Let them take care of this."

"But—" She started to argue.

"Captain Hitsugaya!"

Toshiro shook his head as somebody called out their names. "Hisagi, Izuru…Abarai, how are you feeling?"

"I owe that bastard some wounds." Renji commented, Zabimaru slung over his shoulder before he saluted and leapt off.

"It's an insult for a Lieutenant to not fight and protect his Captain." Hisagi responded and nodded before he handed Toshiro his zanpakuto. "I thought you might need this."

"Thanks."

"I didn't know if they'd need extra backup." Kira said shyly.

"Don't go anywhere you two." Toshiro said, noting their shocked expressions. "You know as well as anybody we'd just get in his way…" He trailed off as he turned around. The range of Kurotsuki's Cero could probably reach them, but the four of them were all fast enough to dodge if it were to become a problem. His fists clenched at his sides and he bit his tongue to keep himself in check rather than rushing out. This battle would be ugly.

=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=

"You got lucky there, Ichigo." Kurotsuki said. "But don't think you'll be able to block this one."

As the hollow blasted another Cero at them Ichigo appeared between them, already in Bankai as he sliced through the attack with an upward stroke. "Kidnapping. What a low blow." He growled.

"What can you going to do about it?"

"Sky's the limit." Ichigo responded before he shot forward, attacking with a downward stroke.

Kurotsuki blocked it with his own sword, sparks shooting in all sorts of directions as they pushed back away from each other. The hollow noticed how blank faced the carrot top was and it sort of bothered him. Where was that fiery passion? "Something's off about you. You're determination and control is better."

"I already told you," Ichigo sent a Getsuga Tensho the hollows way, knowing he hadn't put enough power in order to do any real damage. "You pissed me off."

Kurotsuki countered his attack with a cero. "What was that? It's like you weren't even trying!"

'As long as they're safe…' Ichigo's mouth suddenly curved into a smirk. "Of course not."

"What?" The hollow paused for a moment, his head cocking to the side before he realized what the carrot top was doing. "You're…mocking me?!" He roared out in anger, his body encased in a sudden green light. The mask on his face shattered then reformed to only cover his eyes, his golden bull ring melting as it outlined the bone on his face. The bones on his arms shifted, completely encasing his body save for the hollow hole in his chest. "You dare insult me?!"

"It's not an insult if it's the truth." Ichigo commented.

Still enveloped in his green light, the carrot top rose up his power level as well, the white light completely consuming Ichigo's body. It was only a moment before both of them jumped towards each other, swords swinging and steel clashing. To the spectators, they only seemed like little flashes and explosions that impaled the ground, creating small craters all over the hill.

They had paused, distance between each other as they gathered their breaths. Ichigo was covered in blood, cuts and soon-to-be bruises. If he didn't know any better, he'd say that at least two of his ribs had been fractured in that last hit from the hollow. 'Not yet…' The carrot top positioned his hand in front of his face, his own hollow mask appearing.

"Ho?" Kurotsuki laughed. "What's this? Another change?"

"You'll find out." Ichigo's distorted voice chided as he shot forward, snorting in laughter as the hollow's eyes couldn't follow his sudden speed. His blade sliced all around Kurotsuki's body, blood spraying everywhere as the hollow tried to retaliate. The carrot top's power momentarily fluctuated, and he faltered as the hollow's blade neared his body. He was suddenly dragged backwards and he frowned. "Renji? What are you doing here?"

"Kicking some ass."

"Go back to bed."

"As if I'm going to let you have all the fun, idiot."

"I'm telling you I can handle it!" Ichigo sighed, running a bloody hand thru his hair and smearing some of the blood from his cuts. "If you wanna help, go check on Rukia." He nodded his head in the directions of the others on the ground. "Kurotsuki took her and I don't know if he did anything to her—"

"Will you shut up already?" Renji growled. "She's a big girl and can take care of herself idiot."

Ichigo grinned, expecting nothing less from the redhead, and asked Kurotsuki a question. "Did I tell you that I figured out your weakness?"

The hollow huffed. "Oh? Would that be thanks to Ichimaru?"

"Nah," The carrot top shook his head. "I figured it all out on my own."

"Then do share what information you've found…"

"You may present a pretty intimidating appearance, however," Ichigo pointed the end of Zangetsu at the hollow. "But with every attack you release you use up your reiatsu…just like any other normal guy. You're nothing special. Your body shrinks the more reiatsu you use in Ceros and the more you heal your body of wounds."

Kurotsuki growled. "So you're trying to wear me out?"

Ichigo grinned. "Something like that, yeah."

The hollow grew angrier the more he was forced to look at the carrot top. Aizen had told him that Kurosaki Ichigo was a nuisance to be discarded of. And that's exactly what he had planned to do. The end of Kurotsuki's sword pointed at Ichigo, a yellow ball of light forming as another ball of green light formed in his mouth. He launched them at the same time, the two cero attacks combining into a corkscrew.

Ichigo and Renji attacked together a blast black and bright red reiatsu effectively countered Kurotsuki's attack and even managed to hit the hollow. "See?" Ichigo pointed to Kurotsuki. "Your body is less than half the size it once was."

"Che…you don't know anything!" He boasted. "I haven't shown you my true power yet."

The carrot top went to move forward but stopped as a pink sakura petal drifting between him and Renji. "Jeez," He turned his head and frowned. "Way to show up late, Byakuya…"

The head of the Kuchiki house didn't reply as he strode up to them in his usual manor, Sasakibe, Ichimaru, Isane, Unohana and Yamamoto behind him. The old man stepped forward, his cane the last thing that knocked on the ground, the sound echoing in the empty space.

"Y-you!" Kurotsuki exclaimed. "You're alive?"

"I usually don't like to resort to trickery…" Yamamoto announced. "But I felt it was necessary in order to draw you out."

"But Ichimaru—you bastard!" The hollow growled as he saw the fox face man standing to the left of the old man. "How dare you double cross Aizen-sama! I'll kill you!" He roared, speeding towards the group of newcomers.

Byakuya stepped out in front, zanpakuto in front of his body. "Scatter. Senbonzakura." The pink sakura petals moved from their solid blade form to wrap around the approaching hollow, stopping the attack. Or so he thought. Kurotsuki's blade had pierced the wall of pink and reached forward, slicing a line down Byakuya's arm.

"Haven't you got it yet?" Ichimaru said. "There's no way a thing like you can defeat the Soul Society."

"It's also unlike Captain Kuchiki to cooperate with comrades in such a way." Isane commented.

"It's not like you can defeat me either. The spiritual energy here in Soul Society feeds me, replenishes me to full strength." Kurotsuki boasted as the small cuts from Senbonzakura healed over until they were completely gone.

'It's true, it's not going to be easy.' Ichigo contemplated. 'All of our attacks, a full strength only scratch the guy. None of them are having any real effect…damn,' Why couldn't he wrap his mind around this? 'He's got to have some kind of weakness.'

"If you can't win from the outside, strike from the inside."

Ichigo's eyes widened and he turned around. He could've sworn he had just heard Toshiro's voice as if the short Captain was standing right next to him. That was it! Now all he had to do was get Byakuya to work together with him long enough to find an opening where he could obliterate Kurotsuki from the inside out. He looked around, putting together a plan. But using his friends as bait wasn't something he'd be alright doing.

=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=x=

"Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyoraku!" Hisagi greeted as the two elder Captains joined their ever growing group.

Ukitake stepped forward, his hand resting on Toshiro's shoulder. "Did you know about this? About Kurosaki going behind our backs to deal with Ichimaru?"

Toshiro shrugged off the hand. "Why would I know?"

"Mah," Kyoraku sighed. "This day just gets more interesting doesn't it?"

Rukia watched with worried eyes. Not only was her brother fighting but her two best friends were also. But what had her most confused was the figure in the distance appearing. 'Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto?' What on earth was going on here? The old man had been so injured he passed down his title to her brother. Someone had so major explaining to do after this was all over!

"Trust them." Even though Rukia whispered, everyone was able to hear her. "That's all we can do for them."

"Or we can step in if things start to look bad, give them a break—"

"If ya try to butt in, I'll break yer legs." Grimmjow growled threatingly. "Ichi's orders."

"Guess that settles that then." Hisagi responded.

"Captain-Commander?!" Toshiro exclaimed as he immediately flashed himself forward. He didn't bother to worry about the others as he came to a stop. "What's going on?" He demanded, eyes shifting from Yamamoto, Unohana and to Ichimaru.

Unohana smiled. "An illusion, Captain Hitsugaya."

"You've all planned this from the beginning?!" He was outraged. As a Captain of the Soul Society he had a right to know when an event so important was happening. "Just when were you going to inform me?"

"I think now's a good time." Ichimaru grinned.

'You haven't changed a bit.' Toshiro glared as the others from his group joined them. Godforbid if Kira had a breakdown. That was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now.

Yamamoto spoke, his voice as strong as it ever was. "I owe you an explanation. I will fully inform everyone in a Captain's meeting after Kurotsuki is destroyed."

Toshiro turned his attention back to the battle progressing in front of them. It seemed like no matter how many times Ichigo attacked, the end result gave the hollow nothing more than a small paper cut. Not only was Kurotsuki using up his energy to heal himself, Ichigo was losing his reiatsu by continually attacking at near full strength.

A sudden memory of when Captain Soifon was battling against Aizen's number two Espada flashed in his mind. He hadn't been able to witness the battle first had, but he remembered the little details of how the Second Division Captain had to strike Baraggan Louisenbairn from the inside because of his ability to omit time from ever harming him. 'If you can't win from the outside, strike from the inside.'

His breathed hitched in his throat as Kurosaki's body whipped around, brown eyes wide and starring straight at him. 'Did he hear me?' Toshiro wondered at that intense gaze that stared him down. As Ichigo blinked and realization dawned on his face, he found himself taking an involuntary step forward. He had seen that look before; it was a look he never liked. 'What are you going to do, Kurosaki?'