Authors Note- You might want to go back and reread chapter 15. I completely changed the new power Ichigo got in that chapter. This one works better and I like it more. It's also more…uh…original.

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The two enemies stood facing each other, their spiritual pressures flaring. The spiritual energy swirling around the room was starting to make the walls crack. Akane made the first move. He jumped over Ichigo, swinging his blade while he was in the air. Ichigo ducked and rolled out of the way. He was back up in an instant. Roaring Ichigo let loose a getsuga blast. Akane swung his sword at the blast. The attack shattered. Ichigo decided to use his speed. He was in front of Akane in an instant. He swung his sword downwards. It was blocked. Not missing a beat, he spun around and delivered a side attack. It too was blocked. Ichigo ducked down and kicked out with his feet. Akane lost his footing and fell to the ground. Ichigo stood over him. He brought his sword over his head and swung down. Akane raised his hand.

"Ahhhh!" Ichigo's head exploded with pain. He grabbed his head with hands. Akane took that moment to lash out with his foot. The kick caught him in the chest and Ichigo rolled backwards. He coughed up some blood as he stood back up.

"Damn, I forgot about his psychic powers…" Ichigo cursed himself. Akane had stood up and was smirking arrogantly.

"Still think you can win, Kurosaki?" The demon taunted. Ichigo smirked back.

"It'll take more than mind games to get me to lose to a jackass like you," Akane snarled.

"Damn Soul Reaper," Akane lunged at Ichigo, "I'll teach you!" Ichigo brought Zangetsu up. Akane blade crashed into the black sword. Ichigo pushed upward. The demon jumped into the air. Ichigo flash stepped behind Akane. The demon spun around in surprise. Ichigo sliced with his sword. Their blades met as the two warriors fell. Ichigo used his free hand and grabbed the front of Akane's shirt. Akane could only growl as Ichigo plowed him into the ground. The demon broke through the brick floor and caused a crater to form. Ichigo jumped backwards. He narrowed his eyes as he looked into the crater.

He's not dead yet….

"Aag! Not bad Ichigo Kurosaki!" Akane yelled as he stood up. His face was bloody and his nose was obviously broken. The demon straightened up. Ichigo winced as a sharp crack was heard as Akane fixed his nose. Akane smirked. He held up his blade. Ichigo got back into a battle stance.

"It looks like I'm not going to be able to hold back in this fight," Akane said. Ichigo narrowed his eyes.

What's he talking about.

"Prepare yourself Ichigo Kurosaki, as this will be the last thing you'll ever see!" Akane spun his sword around in front of him. It spun in an almost hypnotic sort of way.

What is this?

"Get ready, here it is…" Akane said. His blade span faster. Suddenly Ichigo heard a large gasp behind him. He turned his head around to look at Rukia. Her face was filled with panic.

"No Ichigo! Don't turn your back! It's a…." Rukia was interrupted by a blast of Spiritual Pressure.

"Naiteki Daraku!" A vortex formed around Akane. Ichigo put a hand in front of his face to shield himself from all the debris being flung around.

What the hell!

The vortex disappeared. Akane was left standing there. Ichigo's eyes widened. What he saw couldn't be real.

"That's not possible…" Ichigo wispered hoarsely.

Akane was now wearing an exact replica of Zangetsu's robe. And in his hand…a Tensa Zangetsu…Akane smirked.

"You're power, is now mine." Ichigo stared.

No way… No way!

"What…the hell?" He whispered hoarsely. Akane laughed.

"You are so stupid! Ichigo Kurosaki! Did you not know? All demons have a Naiteki Daraku. A release similar to your Soul Reapers Bankai. And this is mine." Akane raised his Zangetsu replica.

"My nentou powers allow me to enter your mind and analyze all your abilities and powers. My Naiteki Daraku…allows me to copy it," He raised his blade.

"Let me show you," Ichigo's eyes widened.

"Getsuga Tensho!" The demon cried. A black getsuga flew from his blade. Ichigo raised his blade to block. The attack crashed into him and he was thrown back. Ichigo rolled away. Akane laughed as Ichigo stood up.

"Do you see now? Now I have you're power as well as my own. You don't even have a chance of…"

"Getsuga Tensho…" The demon jumped away as a getsuga sped past him. Akane narrowed his eyes.

"Not gonna listen eh? Fine with me," Akane, dashed toward Ichigo with the speed of his Bankai. Ichigo barely managed to bring up his sword to deflect the blow.

"Hah! I could get used to this power!" Akane taunted. Ichigo was pushed back. Akane raised his blade and sent a Getsuga flying at Ichigo. Ichigo raised Zangetsu. The blast crashed into the blade. Ichigo was thrown back with such a force that a crater formed in the wall he crashed into. Ichigo slumped to the ground.

"Are you dead yet?" Akane taunted. Ichigo raised his head and narrowed his eyes.

"Getsuga Tensho…" he whispered. Akane rolled his eyes.

"again with the…" He froze…

"Wha..?" Ichigo was now inches from his face. Growling, Ichigo swung his blade upwards. The remains of a Getsuga traveling behind it. Akane flew upwards. The demon crashed into the ceiling. There was a thud as he fell back to the floor.

The demon got back up coughing up blood.

"Damn… He kept the Getsuga in his blade!?" Akane looked up. Just in time to see another Getsuga fueled blade inched form his face.

"Just because you can copy Zangetsu's power doesn't mean you can use it like I can!" Ichigo yelled as he slashed at the demon. Using Ichigo's bankai speed. Akane brought up his blade and blocked Ichigo's attack.

"We'll see about that," The demon hissed.

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SHINK!!! SHINK!!! SHINK!!!

SKINK!!! SHINK!!! SHINK!!!

Rukia watched, amazed, as the two battled. Their movements were so fast Rukia almost couldn't keep up.

"Ichigo…" She whispered. It was subtle. But Rukia could tell… Ichigo was losing. He may have had experience with Zangetsu. But Akane's power added with Ichigo's own put Ichigo at a disadvantage.

"Ichigo…" She whispered again. She wanted to help. She wanted to fight along side him. But…She knew…She knew she would just get in the way. She had no assumptions about her own power. She knew that Ichigo's power far surpassed her own. She knew she would just get In the way. But still…

"I scared…" Ichigo had come so close to death on so many different occasions. She hated those times. She hated them. There were no words for the fear experienced at those times. The fear…of losing him. She was worried. That maybe this time, Ichigo would go to deaths doorstep…and not come back.

"Agh!" Her eyes snapped open. Ichigo had just been cut on the shoulder. It took all her strength to not jump in and try to help. She grimaced.

"look at me, I'm pathetic…" She said with a mocking smirk on her face, "A Soul Reaper should not be acting this way. What would that idiot say if he saw me now?" A memory flashed through her mind. A memory of something that happened not too long ago…

Rukia watched as Ichigo strapped Zangetsu to his back. They were back at the Kuchiki mansion preparing to go. To tell the truth she was a little scared, not for herself, but for Ichigo. When things got rough he always had to protect her, and he always had to get hurt. The last time, these demons had almost killed him. She was scared. Rukia tilted her head when Ichigo yawned lazily.

He seems pretty calm.

When she voiced this opinion aloud, Ichigo grinned.

"Sure, we're just doing what we always do, right? Ya know, kill the unstoppable bad guy, save the world, you know, the usual stuff." Rukia frowned.

"You shouldn't be too cocky Ichigo," She warned. Ichigo smirked. "You're brother said the same thing before our fight, remember how that turned out?" Rukia took a step forward, she wasn't smiling.

"I'm serious Ichigo, you shouldn't…" She stopped when Ichigo put a hand on her head. She looked up at him. His arrogant smirk was replaced by a soft smile.

"Don't worry. It may not seem like it, but I do know the limits of my own strength." Rukia stared at him.

"What the point of knowing your limits if you never pay attention to them?" She wispered. He grinned at this and patted her head.

"Good point," He turned and picked up Sode no Shirayuki, "But would it kill you to have a little faith in me?"

"I…just…don't want to see you hurt…" She said not looking at him. Ichigo looked at her for a second, then smiled,

"This is coming from the girl that likes to beat me up on a daily basis?" He held out her Zanpakuto. She grabbed it, but he didn't let go, She looked up at him.

"I don't plan on dying yet, Rukia." He smiled and let go of her Zapakuto. She smiled too.

"I'll hold you to that, you know" She said.

"Of course you will…" He said and grinned.

...Thats right…

"Would it kill you to have a little faith in me?"

He said…

"I don't plan on dying yet, Rukia."

He said that he wouldn't die. He promised.

Rukai smiled.

And when Ichigo Kurosaki makes a promise… he keeps it…

"Win Ichigo," She whispered as she watched the two exchange blows. "And don't you dare die, because…" She paused. After a second she sighed.

It's time to admit the truth…

"Because I need you…"

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"Getsuga Tensho!" Akane shouted. A black wave flew toward Ichigo. He answered with a getsuga of his own. The two attacks crashed and canceled each other. Ichigo growled.

This isn't turning out well. Heh, good thing I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.

"Stay focused Ichigo!" A voice behind him said. Ichigo spun around. A tail crashed into his chest. Ichigo flew backwards into the wall. He fell to the ground.

"Ack!" Ichigo spat out blood. His eyes widened. Akane was standing not a dozen feet away, his sword raised.

"Lets finish this!" he swung his sword down. "Getsuga Tensho!" The black attack flew forward and crashed into Ichigo. Smoke flew everywhere.

"ICHIGO!" Rukia cried. Akane smirked.

"It's over," Suddenly a black getsuga flew out of the smoke. It traveled with such a speed that Akane couldn't dodge. Akane was thrown backwards. He rolled a bit.

"Ugh…" Akane wiped blood off his mouth as he stood up, "what the hell?" the smoke cleared. Ichigo was standing there. A pure white circle was next to his right hand.

"Aigo Shirogetsuei" Akane growled.

"Damn!" Akane sent another Getsuga blast at Ichigo. It was easily sent back with his shield. Akane rolled away, dodging the attack.

"Copy this…" Ichigo smirked. Akane growled… then smiled.

"Well, It appears that we have reached a stale mate. I can't beat you, and you can't beat me." Ichigo narrowed his eyes. Akane sighed, still smiling.

"Congratulations Ichigo Kurosaki, for having to make me use this." Ichigo looked at the demon quizzically.

"This," Akane started. "Is my true power," Ichigo's eyes widened as darkness seemed to erupt from the spot Akane was standing on. It quickly circled around and covered everything. Ichigo shut his eyes tight.

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Silence… that's all there was. How long had he been like this… a few seconds, minutes, hours? Ichigo opened his eyes. He could see nothing.

"What the hell is this?" Ichigo said aloud.

"This…" A voice behind him said, "Is a nentou's true power," Ichigo spun around…and found himself face to face with three Akanes.