A/n: Thanks for the reading, reviews, follows and favourites. I'm thinking about what I should do for 100 reviews. It's getting close and since this is my most popular story, I feel like I should do something to thank you. Maybe post up a mini side story for someone? Perhaps a request? I don't know - if you lovelies have any ideas for the 100 review bonus then feel free to share. We still got a little while until the review count gets there unless I get spammed up with reviews all of a sudden xD but that won't happen this is my luck we're talking abou

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its plot. The only ones I own are the badass Kobayashi Suki, the spunky Mizushima Kei and Ukeire Atsushi for number 1 jerk :D

I will warn that there may be errors, don't let that you stop from reading the chapter

Chapter 34

Kei's eyes were hard as she stared at the two fighters above her. Standing in the sky with a small distance between them was a blonde haired male that Kei recognised as an arrancar due to his white uniform and Renji, who glowered at his opponent with determination.

Kei couldn't believe on the speed of the arrancar. The duo was still waiting for Urahara and his crew to return when they sensed the single arrancar charged towards them. They both jumped out of their gigai in order to fight the opponent as shinigami. Now she stood on the roof, watching wordlessly as the first battle began between the shinigami and the arrancar.

She had promised Renji not to get herself in a fight since she wasn't so good at it. But could Kei really be the kind of girl to watch helplessly while her friend fought? Back in Soul Society, Kei fought her own brother to not only confront him, but to give Suki and Renji a chance to rescue Rukia. Renji didn't protest, instead he trusted her and managed to convince Suki to go with him

He reminded her that she was the healer – the one that had to stay alive no matter how much she wanted to fight for his safety. The only reason why she was willing to sit back and watch was because Renji was a fukutaicho. It was hard to defeat someone as strong as a fukutaicho.

That was what she thought, until Renji began his assault against the enemy.

Renji let out a cry to release his zanpakuto and aimed to hack the arrancar in half. The blonde male lifted a hand and easily deflected the attack like swatting a fly.

Kei's eyes went wide, "No way!" Her eyes couldn't follow the arrancar's movements; he disappeared in an instant, only to reappear right next to Renji to send the fukutaicho flying through the air. "Renji!" Just as she was about to assist, Kei ordered herself to stop moving. I can't fight... no matter what... Imagine what Unohana Taicho would say...

Her previous taicho would've explained to her that it was her job to stop the blood flow, not cause more of it. But every second she remained in her position, was wasting their time and causing far more blood flow than Kei wanted. Even if she was weaker than Renji, Kei hated the fact that she wasn't able to do anything but watch. But she wasn't sure if it took true strength to hold back, knowing that she would be in the way.

She was forced to stay down, no matter how much she wanted to help. Kei squeezed her eyes shut and tried to distract herself from the fight, but even distracting herself made her feel worse. Suki's reiatsu was in the distance, attempting to keep up with the overwhelming reiatsu from one side. Rukia was with Ichigo, holding out on her own while everyone else weren't going so well.

I can't do anything... Kei thought, shaking her head in denial. "I have to stay strong... no matter what – I need to trust Renji to stay strong..."

Luckily for her, Renji shot back into the sky with a scowl forming in his features. Gratitude formed in her features as Renji attempted to fight back against the arrancar. However the arrancar was toying with Renji, lightly dancing around Renji.

How... How is the arrancar this strong? Kei asked herself, wincing when she heard Renji's curses of agony. This opponent was so powerful that even Renji was struggling to keep up and it wasn't only him – even Hitsugaya Taicho... A taicho had yet to overcome his opponent. These arrancar weren't the pushovers but Kei thought that this was impossible.

There were always cases about the menos. They were powerful, but a taicho could always take them out. But Aizen not only gave them the abilities of a shinigami, but that broke the limit that often held them back, which exceeded shinigami and hollows alone.

It was obvious that these opponents were a true challenge.

Her heart shattered as Renji collapsed on one knee, trying to regain his composure. She had enough of watching him fall; Kei was going to step in the fight to support him even if it killed her. The caramel haired female grabbed her zanpakuto from the hilt, about to jump from her spot when she heard a shout from Renji.

"No Mizushima!" The fukutaicho yelled down at her, making Kei's eyes go wide. "I order you... to not join in this fight." He had known that Kei wanted to help him and Kei felt like she was ready to crack. So he was willing to order her to not fight. An order... did he really want her to stay out of this fight for her own safety?

"It's not fair Renji! You can't do that!" Kei protested in determination, looking back at him with a hard gaze. She knew that Renji had every right to order her, but it still hurt. He wasn't meant to order her around like a subordinate – it just wasn't his style. And now Renji was using his rank to keep her out of the fight. Kei wasn't sure if she was angry at him for ordering her or hurt because he wouldn't heed her warning, "Please Renji! I can't handle you fighting alone!"

"I know," Renji replied with his back to her so Kei couldn't read his expression. She could only show her concern towards him with a frown, "But if I have to order you to stand down then I will do it. You will most likely be in the way rather than help me anyways," Kei couldn't respond but she found herself silently agreeing. His reiatsu grew steadily as his blade glowed, "Bankai!"

As Renji's reiatsu exploded with power, Kei felt her brows draw together. This would be her first time she witnessed his bankai and for Renji to do it meant that this arrancar was far more superior then Kei imagined. If Renji was struggling to fight the arrancar, then it was obvious that Kei had no chance. She silently watched with pain in her eyes; Renji ordered her to stay out of the fight because he knew that she would be in the way.

Renji... Kei's concern for him only swelled when Renji commanded his snake-like bankai to charge into battle.

-:-

Before she knew it, Suki's face was searing with a new pain and felt her body fly into the roads of Karakura. Her bat was long dropped, so the only chance that she had to fight back was using the hand to hand combat that Yoruichi taught her. But lack of her abilities only made her situation worse. Was it possible to fight this guy without her power?

"Damn it," Suki cursed as she pushed herself up to her feet with a grimace. Her amber eyes narrowed in demise. "I can't do anything like this – shit-!" The silver haired female rolled out of the way, barely dodging Grimmjow's astounding speed as his fist met the spot where Suki once stood in. There really was no time to consider on how strong this guy was.

"Come on you damn bitch," Grimmjow snarled and clenched his fist towards Suki. "Didn't you say that I better not waste your time?" He quickly appeared before her and Suki felt that her reflexes were too slow. "Little fucking hypocrite."

As he swung his fist towards her, Suki immediately blocked the blow with her forearm. It felt like it bruised her arm due to the force, but Suki didn't dwell on the pain with the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She met his gaze with a dark look and used her free fist to hit his face in return. In return, Grimmjow went flying through the air much like Suki had done earlier.

While the enemy was recovering, Suki deactivated the power from her fist and felt a sharp pain from her hand. Naturally, Suki winced and grabbed the fist that she used to punch Grimmjow. It had shown no glow when she used her ability on her bones, but it was clear that it was a big risk, even if it had only been for a second.

"Just know that modifying an item is the only way to stop it from losing it to a sacrifice. The rest of your abilities are a lot more dangerous from there."

Had her bones been silently breaking while she used the power? Atsuko had mentioned that anything that Suki would put her power in would end up breaking, unless it was modified. It felt like she had just punched a block made of steel. Just how long would she have if she kept using her own bones until they cracked?

Grimmjow sneered in delight when he flipped through the air, "Now that's more like it!" He dashed towards the silver haired female. "I may have underestimated you!" As soon as he got close enough, the man kicked out a leg to kick her ribs but Suki once again dodged his brutal attack. The less she had to use the power was probably the only chance she had.

Suki's eyes noticed a familiar shape, half buried within the rubble. Well maybe lady luck was finally smiling down on her for a change. Once again, Suki dodged his swings and activated her power from her fist to hit him. She attempted to punch him directly in his face, but Grimmjow immediately grabbed her fist and held her with a sneer.

Alarm hit her like a truck as she saw Grimmjow eyeing her fist when she deactivated the power. Had he noticed that she was using her power on her own fist? The pain sharpened when his grip tightened its hold on her.

"So all of that reiatsu is coming from your fist huh?" The blue haired man leaned closer to the fist like it was some zoo exhibit. "But what happens when you can't use that hand anymore?"

A yelp of pain escaped Suki's lips when his grip only tightened. But it was only for a moment, before she narrowed her eyes in annoyance, "Screw you!" She forced her ability in her knee cap, before she lifted her knee to connect with his abdomen. The hit was a success, making the man kneel over to leave Suki to her own devices.

"Damn bitch," Grimmjow snarled in pain, "I'm gonna enjoy ripping you apart." Suki's knee had a familiar pain but she ignored it and cradled her injured fist as she rushed over to her bat. Luckily her fist only felt like a sprain, so she could use it after a few moments of recovery. Besides, the only way she could stop giving herself so many damn injuries was to fight using her bat.

"Bring it!" Suki demanded fiercely, and used her uninjured hand to hold the bat, letting it show off its distinctive glow. The blue haired male charged towards her with a sneer of satisfaction. Just as she prepared to defend herself, he suddenly disappeared from her vision. It felt like time had slowed down in that instant. Suki's eyes tried to follow the movements, even cast out her senses to locate the man that called himself an arrancar but it was no use.

Her back slammed into the ground, with a hand tightened around her throat. Suki desperately tried to break out of the terrifyingly strong grip but her fear froze her movements the second that she saw Grimmjow's free hand glow red. It reminded Suki of the shinigami's kido, but she honestly had no idea on what it was.

All she knew was that she was about to be blasted into ash.

"Kobayashi!"

Suki's eyes widened as soon as she recognised the voice and she spoke up with instinct, "Kurosaki back off-!" She choked when Grimmjow lifted her up, his hand still around her throat and looked dully towards the familiar pair.

"You two better be stronger than this little bitch," Grimmjow taunted with a smile. Suki squinted her eyes and turned towards Ichigo who was watching with... Rukia?

"Let her go!" Ichigo snapped, drawing out his zanpakuto with a vicious gaze. Rukia's eyes hardened as she watched Grimmjow with an observant gaze.

"Ichigo..." Rukia looked back and forth between the groups, "This arrancar's reiatsu is worlds apart from the one I just fought! We can't fight this arrancar!"

"I don't care," Ichigo replied with a stern voice. "I'm not letting him hurt anymore of my friends!"

"Ichigo..."

"So you're the little bitch that killed D-Roy huh?" Grimmjow scoffed quietly and Suki desperately struggled to fight back. He spared his own glance towards Suki before showing off a menacing grin filled with bloodlust. "I plan on letting this bitch go alright... Just as I turn her into ash!" With astounding strength, Grimmjow hurled Suki into the air and she found herself unable to move due to the force.

It may have been lame choice of words, but he could hurl her with ease!

What the hell was going on? Suki tightened her hold on the bat and she suddenly felt something dart in her direction. But Suki already knew what it was. She heard Ichigo scream in rage as the red blast raced towards her figure.

There was no way she was going to die now! With struggling, Suki managed to move her body to face the blast and lifted her single hand to her face to protect herself.

If she could do it once, Suki could do it again.

"Come on!" Suki ordered herself, remembering the moment that she used it with Kei. Her eyes filled with determination, "Come on! My life depends on this damn gamble! I already know that I won't die today damn it!"

The blast met with her hand, and gratitude flooded in her as the strange blast disappeared in her hand with a burning sensation flooding through her body. She smirked lightly as her body refused to move, but she didn't care. It only lasted a moment, since the silver haired female let the blast go off from her hand and into the sky. As Suki crashed into the ground - several hundred metres away from Ichigo and Grimmjow - Suki felt her body weaken and she collapsed. There was no moving for a little while and Suki knew that from experience.

Whatever the power was – it saved her damn life... maybe she was grateful this time, but she seriously needed to figure out how it worked.

-:-

"Renji!" Kei scolded the redhead as she turned to see that he was covered in cuts and scratches that made him look like he had been in a pit full of hollows for a month. She took a closer look at his injuries with an observant look, before she sighed gently and proceeded to get the bandages. "You should tell that Third Seat of yours that there would be no point in training you if you keep ending up like this!"

Renji scratched the back of his head awkwardly, wincing as Kei began to work on his arms. "That's how Ikkaku-san trains me – if I don't know how to fight back then I'll die."

Fear captured Kei's heart as she heard his fearless confession. Her minty coloured eyes narrowed darkly and she immediately poked his chest, "I don't want you to die! I really don't like how the eleventh division is treating you."

"You worry too much Mizushima," Renji returned with a raised eyebrow. "I won't die, not until I defeat Kuchiki Taicho."

"It must be good to have a dream," Kei admitted as she let her mind wander to her brother. He had distanced himself throughout the years, and Kei felt useless because she didn't know why. "I envy your efforts... I'm not nearly as strong as I wish to be."

"Don't say that," Renji scolded back and poked her forehead. Kei's eyes widened with alarm as his brown eyes narrowed, "You're strong Mizushima... and you're smart too – smarter than most of the guys back in my division. After all, who else can reach a fifth seat within a few years?"

Kei showed a soft smile, "Thanks Renji... but to answer your question, I can name of few prodigies that managed to become a high seated officer before I even spoke to my zanpakuto."

At Kei's response, Renji sighed and once again poked Kei's forehead. "It was a rhetorical question you little idiot," Even though he insulted her, Kei never really took offence to it. She often knew that she was a bit ditzy, and when her friend lightly teased her about it, she laughed along with them.

"Just promise me one thing Renji," As the redhead spared a glance towards Kei, she felt herself lightly smile. "Just promise me, that you won't die..."

"Then promise me that you won't call yourself weak in front of me," Renji retorted and with that, a promise was made between the two friends.

Even with bankai, Renji was just making himself look like a child compared to the arrancar. With Zabimaru's large size, Kei would've suspected that it would've been too slow but she was surprised to see that it was rather fast. Unfortunately, the arrancar was still too fast for Renji.

"Renji..." Kei's voice was nothing but a whisper as she stared back at the fukutaicho. "Please... keep your promise."

"What the heck is going on? Why the hell is that idiot losing?"

Kei let out a yelp of shock when she saw a redhead kid crouched on the roof beside her. She quickly recognised the boy as Jinta, one of the kids that worked with Urahara.

"Hey! When did you get here?" Kei wondered, sparing a glance towards the redhead before he snorted to himself. If Urahara was here now, then they could've at least helped out with the arrancar. They were struggling as it was.

"We've been here this whole time, you're just too stupid to realise it," Jinta explained proudly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Wait a minute..." Kei muttered to herself, realising that if they were here this whole time. There was only one thing that she could think about and she was so annoyed that they hadn't announced their presence soon. "You heard everything I said?!"

"Not really," Jinta replied lazily as he shoved a pinkie in his ear, "I've barely been listening to your pointless chatter." Another presence interrupted them and Kei turned around to see Ururu stare at the sky with a distant look in her eyes.

"Ururu-chan?" Kei tilted her head as Jinta pushed himself to his feet and glowered at the pigtailed girl.

"Didn't I tell you to go to sleep Ururu?"

Without another word, the small girl pushed herself from the roof to dart towards the arrancar. Both Kei and Jinta let out yelps of shock, before he jumped down into the store.

"Crap! This arrancar reiatsu's making her react like this!" The redhead cursed, before he spared a glance towards the shinigami. She never thought that she would see fear and panic in his eyes, "Get Ururu out of there Minty!"

"Jinta-kun! What are you doing?!" Kei scolded the boy but he was already gone. She looked back at the arrancar and immediately leaped after Ururu. Her feet automatically stopped when the sweet little girl suddenly booted the arrancar into the air. "Wha? She kicks better than I do!"

No, there was no time to think about that. Kei rushed forward with a determined gaze, standing a short distance away from behind the arrancar. The only chance she had was by distracting the arrancar long enough to get Ururu out of the danger zone.

Her hand glowed as the arrancar attempted to attack Ururu but the pigtailed girl easily jumped back to avoid the zanpakuto, "Hado thirty-three, Sokatsui!"

It took the arrancar a moment before he noticed the kido head in his direction. He reacted by lifting an arm to protect his face from the blast. As the blast made contact, there was a small explosion and smoke covered the opponent for a moment. Renji's eyes widened with alarm when Kei suddenly took out her blade and darted forward to cut the arrancar.

"Mizushima?! What are you doing?!"

Her blade made contact with the arrancar's arm, but it didn't even cut into the skin. Now that she thought about it, the most her kido did was offer a burn on his skin. "I'm sorry Renji," Kei spared a glance towards the redhead; his eyes slowly widening at the turn of events. "I can't go through with my orders – or my promise... I must be a terrible friend."

Renji found himself loss for words, "Kei..."

It was obvious the arrancar wasn't happy about being interrupted. "You little bitches! I'll kill you all!"

Kei's eyes hardened when she raised the zanpakuto in front of her. "I'll show you Renji..." The blade glowed a bluish tinge as she raised her reiatsu. Kei tightened her hold on the blade and kept her determined stare at her opponent, "That your influence can make me strong!"

A/n: I'm suspecting that you guys predicted that Suki wasn't strong enough? While she's tough, she still needs to train then be at least up to their level. I won't be saying anything much bout spoilers, but I will tell you this - in the distant future, Suki will encounter Grimmjow again. I won't say when, but it will happen *Cackles evilly before dodging rotten tomatoes*

But on a more serious note. For those who read Chapter 619, you probably knew how my reaction was. Clutching my hair and growling out in frustration that this is going to be a tough nut to crack. Luckily I haven't reached there but I'm getting pretty close. Let's just hope Kubo gives us the ending that we (I) need. Damn you Kubo!

13-03-2015* Woohoo! Nothing at all!

Ciao!

Please review.