Godzilla327: Well you guys voted the name, I always think of plot over smut. Surprising considering all my requests and ideas… but if you really look at (most) of them, you'll see some plot.

WildCard555: Well Hiro has really just been dragging this arc on with big reveal after cool fight start up to asspull finisher.

FanFictionHunter: Like you don't know… wait I didn't discuss this one with you. But yeah I did this.

Should I use the Japanese words if I come back here? I mean I won't do honorifics or taicho/sou-taicho. But I figured I should keep Reishi, Reiatsu, stuff like that.

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Death.

It was funny, she was a being meant to help those that departed and now she was going to pass on herself. Though not nearly as peaceful as even the most mangled of cases she'd seen in her extensive career.

Death by phoenix.

Well, Sōkyoku, but either way it was a giant flaming bird.

Her eyes looked straight ahead as she exhaled, she would die, she accepted her fate and stared at the magnificent figure in front of her. As she was engulfed in the blinding lights she felt at peace…

Huh, figured she'd feel something as her soul would be destroyed in it's all cleansing fire.

Her eyes cleared of black spots and she received sight of something she couldn't believe.

"I-ichigo!" Tears stung her eyes, if anyone asked, they were dry so they started tearing from the inferno just behind her savior's back.

"Yo." It was like he didn't just break into the execution being overseen by all the available Captains in the Soul Society.

All they could do was stare at each other.

"YOU IDIOT, I TOLD YOU TO RUN AWAY!" And the peace that was created in the insane scenario was shattered as Rukia voiced her anger.

"Woah, calm down Ruki-"

"'Calm down'? How the hell can I do that if you're gonna die from trying to save me!" Her teeth grit in her self anger. She couldn't believe how he held no fear in the threat of death to save her. And that stupid look on his face just made her want to punch him.

"You think I haven't gotten better since you last saw me?" He had a cocky grin on his face."I got a couple tricks up my sleeve that will make you eat those words."

The giant phoenix cawed as it pushed itself into Ichigo.

"Agh." Ichigo's bad boy look instantly evaporated as he was pushed forward a few feet by the peck it gave him. "And here's one of them." In a Flash Step, Ichigo appeared on top of the execution podium. His sword placed in front of him with his left arm as a brace, the cloth on the hilt started to spin around his arm. Ichigo's spiritual pressure started to rise to insane proportions, and as he spoke no one could believe his word. "BANKAI!"

The eruption of power created gale force winds and a blinding light. When sight was restored to all those present, they could only feel shock.

As Ichigo stood there with a slick black coat, his tan cape had blown into the wind, and simple black blade. Everyone's attention was on something else.

"Damn, how'd you get so big?" It was focused on the man standing on the face of the Sōkyoku.

"How can he withstand touching its flames?" Kiyone asked to her Captain.

"I do not know, by all reasoning he should be being burned to a crisp." Unohana answered equally confused.

The caw of the Phoenix was heard throughout the Seireitei.

"Oh, seriously, I thought it was because you ate to much." The figure said.

"You know, I'm happy for your reunion and all, but I kinda need to get Rukia out of these stocks."

"Yeah, sure thing Ichigo." With that, the figure grabbed a flaming feather off the bird and jumped onto the execution platform, allowing the onlookers to see the pink hair that was no longer blocked by the fire.

As he placed the feather on the platform he told Ichigo to hit it.

Once more the crowd was blinded. Seriously, people are gonna need glasses if this keeps happening. When it cleared, the stocks were burning and Rukia was in Ichigo's arms.

"You could have warned me that it'd be that big of an explosion." Ichigo complained, coughing out residual smoke in his lungs.

"I already told you, I'm as strong as you. So it shouldn't be surprising what a combo of us could do." His pink haired compatriot said.

"Ichigo, now that we apparently have the Sōkyoku on our side, MIND EXPLAINING WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AND WHO YOUR NEW FRIEND IS."

"Well" Ichigo started "Long story short, Natsu here is the guy who's rooting on me becoming the next Soul King."

"Wha-"

"Hey Renji, catch." She was so lost by everything that was happening to her that she didn't even notice that Renji appeared. At least not until she was chucked half the distance towards him.

"Dumbass, why did you toss her like that. She could have died!" Renji shouted, he didn't come all the way here with life threatening injuries just to have the girl he was trying to save die because of her rescuer.

"Only if you didn't catch her. Now get moving, your job is to guard Rukia with your life. So go." In a Flash Step the duo appeared on the floor behind the retreating duo.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, catch them before I execute you in her stead." Soi-Fon coldly commanded her Lieutenant.

"Y-yes Captain." With that, her scared, fat, second-in-command rushed after the escapees.

When he was intercepted by the vibrant haired duo. He had been accompanied by two other Lieutenants.

'This'll be easy. That guy can't really have a Bankai. Plus the Captain is the leader of the Stealth Force and even her's is nearly ten times bigger this guy's body. So with this back-up it'll be-'

Ōmaeda's train of thought was derailed as the orange haired man stabbed his sword in the ground and hit each Lieutenant with enough strength to render them unconscious.

As the Captain-Commander saw the trouble these two posed. He readied himself to enter the fray before two of his students appeared before him, blades drawn.

"What is the meaning of this betrayal?"

"Sorry Old-Man, but we were gonna preoccupy you to let those kids escape anyways." The man in the pink floral kimono said.

"But it seems like the Sōkyoku is no longer something we need to destroy. So this isn't really necessary." The white haired man said as he dropped a shield looking device that was created to destroy the Sōkyoku.

"You know the outcome of your betrayal and still wish to fight me?"

"Well, Nanao always says i'm a stubborn old fool."

"Yes, but that's about your drinking habit."

"Potato, potahto."

Having enough of their banter, Yamamoto released his sword from his cane, but didn't draw it as the two captains vanished in an instant. Moving the battle to somewhere else would be favorable to all three of them. So he followed directly behind.

With one Captain gone and two moving in to fight. Ichigo grabbed his black sword and blocked the blade aimed for his back. And Natsu intercepted the woman who went after Ukitake's underlings.

"You know, when someone is running to help their family. You shouldn't be an ass and stop them." Natsu said, holding the fist that nearly incapacitated the man who was warning his friend of the imminent danger.

Ignoring the woman, he turned his head to the squad thirteen members. "Go grab your friends then get out. It's not safe for anyone here." They could only dumbly nod and do what he said as they were processing that the 'enemy' saved their skin.

"Now, how about I know the name of the girl I'm about to-" His cocky remark was interrupted as an orange and purple blur swept his opponent out of his hands and down into the forests below.

"Wait… NOW WHO THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO FIGHT!?"

XxXxXxXx

In all honesty this should not have taken so long. I just have had some difficulty in school lately. But I was able to move past that rough patch and make this. Hope you enjoy it. Never tried to do Bleach before, but I figured giving that teaser about Ichigo being a Soul King candidate was nice.

Well, hope you have an awesome day. N.I.A.