Rukia stared into the swarming mass of darkness that stood before her. Ichigo was somewhere in that darkness. He and Akane had disappeared. She couldn't see them, she couldn't hear them. She couldn't even feel Ichigo's spiritual pressure.

"Ichigo…" she whispered.

What the hell is going on?

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Ichigo stared, wide-eyed at the three demons before him.

"What…the hell?" Ichigo whispered hoarsely. The three Akane's laughed menacingly.

"What's the matter Ichigo Kurosaki?" Are you frightened?" The three Akane's raised their blades.

"Getsuga Tensho!" Three getsuga blasts were launched at Ichigo. Ichigo jumped into the air, narrowly dodging the attacks. He landed on the other side of the Demons.

What the hell!? There's three of them?!

"Akane! What the hell is this!?" Ichigo shouted. The demon's smirked.

"This is the full extent of my power Ichigo Kurosaki," The demons rushed at Ichigo. Two of them jumped into the air. They brought their swords down upon Ichigo's Zangetsu. Growling, Ichigo pushed them back. He then heard a whistling behind him. Ichigo spun around just in time to see the third Akane slice at him. Ichigo ducked. Narrowing his eye's, Ichigo cried out…

"Getsuga Tensho!" The blast spit the Akane in half. Ichigo jumped back and smirked.

"Looks like three head's aren't better than one," Ichigo's eyes widened.

"Wha…" The Akane he had spit slowly dissolved. Ichigo stared at the spot the demon had been only moments before.

"It…was just a..."

"an illusion, yes," Ichigo spun around. The remaining two Akane's stood a dozen feet away.

"My nentou powers allow me to corrupt your mind. They allow me to influence what you see and what you hear." Ichigo narrowed his eye's. Akane smirked.

"So yes, Ichigo, There is only one real me. But the question is…" Two more Akane's appeared beside the original two, "…can you tell which one is the real me?" The four demons lunged at Ichigo. Ichigo jumped back.

"Getsuaga Tensho!" He launched a massive getsuga, intending to take them all out at once.

"Oh no you don't!" the Akane's shouted. They each launched their own getsuga at Ichigo's the attacks collided and canceled each other out. Ichigo landed a few dozen feet away from the demons. The Akane's smiled, bloodlust radiating off of them.

"What now, Ichigo Kurosaki," Ichigo stopped and stood up. He positioned his blade out in front of him. The Akane's laughed.

"What now? Another getsuga?" Ichigo smirked, Suddenly there was a brilliant flash of light. The real Akane was thrown backwards as the illusions faded. Akane rolled backwards.

"Wha…?" Akane mumbled as he stood up. The demon looked down at himself. There was a large gash across his chest.

"H-he cut me!?"

"I cut all of you," Akane looked up. Ichigo was standing there, fresh blood dripping from Zangetsu.

"No way! I didn't see anything! You can't be that fast!" Akane shouted. Ichigo smirked. He raised Zangetsu and disappeared. Akane's eyes widened. Using Ichigo's Bankai speed he jumped into the air. Not a millisecond later Zangetsu crashed into the earth where Akane had been standing not moments ago.

"Such speed…" Akane whispered. Suddenly the demon felt a presence behind him. Akane spun around in the air.

"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo cried. The substitute Soul Reaper swung the Getsuga fueled blade at Akane. Akane raised his own blade in defense. The blades collided and Akane was sent crashing into the ground. Ichigo landed on the ground a few feet away. He watched as Akane struggled to his feet.

"AAAGHHH! Damn you Ichigo Kurosaki!!!" Akane let loose a getsuga at Ichigo.

"Aigo Shirogetsuei!" The white moon shield appeared in front of Ichigo. The getsuga crashed into it and was sent flying back at Akane. The attack collided with the demon and Akane flew backwards into the wall.

"DAAAAMMMMN!" Akane shouted. Another gash had appeared on his chest.

"Just die already!" Akane cried. Five Akane's appeared out of nowhere. They rushed at Ichigo. The each launched getsuga blasts at Ichigo. Ichigo jumped into the air. One of the Akanes jumped at him. Ichigo twisted over him and sliced at his head. Zangetsu went through the Akane. But just as the first disappeared another jumped at Ichigo. Ichigo launched a getsuga at the Akane.

Damn! There's too many!"

Ichigo spun around in the air as he felt someone behind him. One of the Akanes launched a getsuga blast at him. Ichigo rolled away to dodge. The attack missed him by inched. Ichigo landed on the ground, breathing heavily.

Damn it! How can I fight all these…illusions…? Wait…

Ichigo recalled something that had happened earlier during the fight.

"Getsuaga Tensho!" He launched a massive getsuga, intending to take them all out at once.

"Oh no you don't!" the Akane's shouted. They each launched their own getsuga at Ichigo's the attacks collided and canceled each other out.

…the attacks cancelled each other out… yet it was five getsugas against my one. It was just the real Akanes the managed to hit my attack. That means the illusions getsugas can't hurt me.

One of the illusion Akane's lunged at Ichigo. Ichigo, however, just stood there, smirking. The Akane raised his sword.

SSSLLLK!!!

Ichigo's eyes widened. He looked down. The Akane's blade had pierced his chest. The Akane smirked as it disappeared.

"Uhg!" Ichigo fell to his knees, coughing up blood.

B-but how?

A cold laughter came from the group of Akane's standing off to the side. The real Akane stepped forward.

"I'll bet you're wondering how my illusion managed to cut you," Ichigo didn't answer. He was too busy coughing up blood. Akane smirked.

"Well, it didn't" Ichigo's eyes widened. He raised his head.

"What…" He whispered hoarsely. Akane smiled coldly.

"look at yourself again," he told Ichigo, Ichigo did. His eyes widened. There was no wound. He had been stabbed but there was no wound. Akane laughed.

"You were right when you thought that my illusions couldn't physically harm you," Akane smiled.

"But that doesn't mean I can't make you feel the pain of such an injury." Ichigo narrowed his eyes.

"you bastard" Akane smirked.

"Is that all you can do now, Ichigo Kurosaki, insult me? You're pathetic." Akanes illusions disappeared. He continued.

"I'll show you, I'll defeat you using nothing but your own power!" Akane raised his Tensa Zangetsu and charged at Ichigo. Ichigo struggled to his feet. Akane smirked as he swung his blade upward. Ichigo blocked, but the force of the attack sent in into the air. Akane appeared behind him. Akane spun in a circle, having his tail crashing into Ichigo. Ichigo crashed back into the ground. Akane landed gracefully a few feet away.

"How does it feel to have your own speed used against you?" Akane taunted. Ichigo struggled to his feet. He glared at the demon. Growling, Ichigo flash stepped. He appeared behind Akane. He swung his Zanpakuto. His blade crashed into Akane's. Ichigo's eyes widened. Akane smiled hungrily.

"did you forget already? I'm just as fast as you! And far more powerful!" Akane grabbed Ichigo's hand and swung him around. Ichigo was thrown into the ground. Akane raised his sword. Ichigo rolled away as the blade missed him by inches. Ichigo jumped up and flash stepped at the demon. Charging up a Getsuga in his blade he swung at the demon. Just as the blade was about to hit the demon, Akane disappeared.

"Such a powerful attack! Let me try!" Akane appeared behind Ichigo. The demon swung a getsuga fueled blade at Ichigo. Ichigo raised Zangetsu. The blades met. However, Ichigo was sent rolling backwards.

"ugh…" Ichigo moaned as he rolled to a stop. Akane laughed.

"Don't you see Ichigo. I have all you're powers! You cannot hope to defeat me." The demon taunted Ichigo. The demon smirked at Ichigo, who kneeling and breathing heavily.

"What's the matter, Kurosaki, don't have anything smart to say now," Ichigo didn't look up. He kept looking at the ground. Finally he spoke.

"huh…looks like I don't have a choice…" Ichigo whispered. Akane cocked his head.

"Wha…?"

"You said you had all my powers," Ichigo looking up at Akane, "you're wrong." His eyes glowed with determination and anger. Akane almost took a step back, There was something in Ichigo's voice. Something that Akane didn't like.

"What are you talking about? You dumbass. I have all your Soul Reaper power!" Akane shouted. Ichigo smirked as he looked back toward the ground.

"Heh, who said I was talking about Soul Reaper power's…" Ichigo's head shot up. Akane's eyes widened. Ichigo's eyes had turned black. And his pupils were glowing an eerie yellow.

"Take a look, Akane…" Ichigo placed a hand in front of his face. "And let's see you copy this!" Ichigo dragged his hand across his face. A hollow mask formed. In that second his spiritual pressure exploded. The black aura flew everywhere. Akane took a step back. Ichigo tilted his head back.

"AAAARRRRRRRROOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Akane gasped.

"T-that's a hollow's cry….W-what are you!" Ichigo's eyes narrowed.

"I am what I am," Ichigo replied, his voice corrupted. Ichigo raised his blade. And flash stepped. The next thing Akane knew. There was a huge gash across his chest. Akane doubled over.

"Uhg…"

"What are you looking at the ground for?" Akane's head snapped up. Zangetsu was a mere inches from his face. Akane jumped back, but the blade still managed to graze his face. Ichigo rested Zangetsu on his shoulder.

"What's the matter Akane, don't tell me your giving up. Where's the fun in that?" Akane narrowed his eyes.

"Hollow, or Soul Reaper…" Akane raised his blade, "I will kill you!" Akane jumped at Ichigo. Sparks flew as the blades met. Ichigo pushed back Akane. A second later he grabbed the front of the demon's robe and flung him into the ground. Ichigo raised a getsuga fueled blade. Akane's eyes widened. The demon swung his blade upward, catching Ichigo across the chest. Ichigo stumbled back. Akane flash stepped away.

"Running away?" Akane's eyes widened, "Who's pathetic now?" Akane ducked as Zangetsu passed over his head.

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

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

The two warriors continued to battle. Ichigo was gaining the upper hand.

Akane jumped backwards. Blood was dripping all around him.

"How…can he be human?" he demon whispered. A Gestuga flew at him. Akane rolled away. He got back up slowly. Ichigo was standing a few dozen feet away. Akane narrowed his eyes.

"How can you have such power?" Ichigo tilted his head slightly.

"I don't have to tell you anything." He replied. Akane narrowed his eyes. What was with this guy.

"Why do you fight. Ichigo Kurosaki?"

"Again, I don't have to tell you anything,"

"Just think. Even if you do defeat me, You cannot defeat my master. Even with this strange power of yours" Ichigo's expression was unreadable behind his mask. After a minute he said…

"Maybe not…" His eyes narrowed behind his hollow mask, "But at least I'll have defeated you," Ichigo raised his sword. Akane sighed.

"It's time to end this then, huh?" He didn't have much strength left. And from the look of it, neither did Ichigo.

"Very well," Akane said, "I have no choice, but to kill you with this." Akane's spiritual pressure started to build up.

"So all I have…" Akane raised his sword, "…is this one final attack." Akane's spiritual pressure exploded. Ichigo got into a battle stance. A second latter his own spiritual pressure exploded.

"I will not lose, Ichigo Kurosaki" Akane said, determined.

"We'll see about that," Both raised their own blades. Their spiritual pressures were at maximum. With one last glare, the two charged at each other.

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Rukia was staring into the dark void when.

BOOM!!!

Rukia was thrown backwards.

"ugh… What the hell!?" She said as she got up. Her eyes widened. The darkness had disappeared. But there was too much smoke. She couldn't see the two fighters. However, There was one thing she could see. The cracks in the walls. The Temple was collapsing.

CRACK!

The ceiling started to cave in. Rukia dodged around as pieced of rock threatened to land on her.

Damn! I've got to get out of here!

She looked up. Part of the ceiling had collapsed, and she could see stars on the other side.

Outside

She flash stepped.

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Rukia landed a hundred feet away from the temple. She watched as the walls gave in. In a matter of seconds, the temple was just a big pile of rocks. She stared at the ruble.

"Ichigo…" she whispered.

Idiot…you'd better be okay.

Her eyes widened as she caught the silhouette of a person amongst the ruble. She didn't move.

Is it Ichigo…or the demon?

She watched as the person rested his blade on his shoulder. The person raised his head. He turned in the direction Rukia was standing in. The person started to walk towards her. Rukia grabbed the handle of her Zanpakuto. She wasn't taking any chances. The figure got closer. Suddenly, Rukia caught a flash of orange. She let out a breath she didn't even knew she was holding.

"Ichigo!" She cried happily. Her smile only got bigger as Ichigo emerged from the smoke. Ichigo smirked.

"What? You didn't think I would lose did you?" Rukia smiled.

"Idiot, of course not,"