"Well, that should do it," Rukia said as she stepped back, "Now could you try to stay in one piece for more than five seconds this time?" Ichigo smirked as he stretched his newly healed arm.

"I'll try," He stood up and examined himself. He looked back at Rukia.

"I'm impressed. I'm as good as new," Rukia 'hmmfed' and looked away.

"Well what do you expect, it's not like I wasted any energy in that last fight." Her expression darkened. Ichigo's face softened.

"Rukia…" He started.

"What!?" She snapped. Ichigo's eyes widened for a second. But they soon returned to that soft gaze.

"Rukia, come on. You're not…"

"Weak? Don't lie to me Ichigo. I was of absolutely no use in that fight." She was almost shouting now.

"I had to just stand there and watch while that demon hurt you. I felt...I felt so damn useless!"

"Rukia," Ichigo said, worried about his friend. "Rukia, listen to me, you're not…"

"You know, J-just drop it Ichigo," She said as she turned away, "Let's just get back to the Seireitei," She started to walk away. Ichigo narrowed his eyes.

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Rukia had turned her back to Ichigo and started to walk away. Suddenly she saw something flash on the corner of her vision. Reacting instinctively she brought up both her arms. A foot slammed into then. She pushed it away and spun around, just in time to see Ichigo's other foot swinging down on top of her. She raised her arms again and blocked the attack.

"What the hell are you doing?!" She shouted. Ichigo ignored her. He instead spun around, about to deliver another kick to her side. Rukia jumped up and dodged the attack. Still in the air she decided she'd had enough. She lashed out with her foot. It caught Ichigo under the chin. He fell to the floor with a thud. Rukia landed on top of him. Scowling she grabbed the front of his robe.

"What the hell is with you!?" She screeched at him. Ichigo smirked.

"Only took you one kick, nice," He said with a stupid grin. Rukia's eyes widened as she realized what had happened. She stared at Ichigo as she got off him. Ichigo smirked as he got up and dusted himself off. He then turned his gaze toward her. He smiled softly as he placed a hand on her head.

"Don't belittle yourself, you idiot," He said, "Rukia… you're as strong as most captains. Don't you ever put yourself down like that." Rukia stared up at him in wonder. Ichigo patted her head.

"Just because you couldn't help in one fight doesn't make you weak," He told her, "It doesn't matter how strong you, or I am, there's always someone stronger." Rukia looked up at him,

"Oh yeah, well who's stronger than you?" She asked. Ichigo smirked as he rubbed his chin.

"Most of the time it's you," he said, "you know, that kick really hurt," Rukia couldn't help but smile. They just stared at each other for a few seconds. After about a minute Rukia looked away blushing.

"Hey…Ichigo…" Ichigo tilted his head, "….thanks…" Ichigo smirked.

"Don't mention it," He said to her, "I'll always be there for you. To give you the kick in the ass you sometimes need. Just like you always do." Rukia smiled as she remembered all the times Ichigo had needed a good kick to the ass. And she had always gladly given it. She spun around as she heard a 'shink' of metal. Ichigo was strapping the black Tensa Zangetsu to his side.

"I-Ichigo!" he looked over at her.

"Gotta go," he said simply. Rukia's mouth fell open.

"A-are you insane!? You can't go now! You may be all healed but you have to be exhausted! You need to rest!"

"Rukia, the faster we get back to the Seireitei, the better." His eyes narrowed, "I have to stop Kagai," Rukia was looking at him like he was crazy. Ichigo smirked.

"Oh come on, I'm fine. One more fight isn't going to kill me," Rukia looked down at the ground.

"You don't know that…" Ichigo smiled.

"Yeah I do…" He frowned slightly at Rukia's expression. He sighed.

"H-How about this…" he started nervously. Rukia looked up at him.

"When this is all over…we can go back home. And…take a break," Ichigo rubbed the back of his head nervously, "from all this Soul Reaper stuff, for a few weeks…J-just the two of us." Ichigo was blushing like mad now. He continued.

"I can't really hurt myself if we do that…right?" Ichigo finished. He looked over at Rukia. She was just looking at him. After a few minutes, she smiled.

"sure…I'd like that…" Ichigo grinned.

"Then that's what we'll do," Rukia looked up at him.

"You promise?" She asked. Ichigo smiled softly.

"I promise," Nothing was said for a few minutes. They were just looking at each other. Then…

Smack!

"Ow, what the…!" Ichigo shouted at Rukia.

"Fool, what are you still doing here? Don't you have to get back to the Seireitei?" She smirked. Ichigo just looked at her for a second. Then smirked as well.

"Yeah alright," He stood up. Making sure Zangetsu was secured to his waist he turned back to Rukia.

"Don't take forever getting back," He said. With that he disappeared. With the speed of his Bankai he was already far away.

Rukia looked up into the sky. The stars twinkled above her. After a few seconds she smirked.

"Heh, of all the people to fall in love with…" She smiled as started to flash step back toward the Seireitei.

Too bad I wouldn't have it any other way…

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Kagai Hitokagai was standing on one of the few remaining buildings. He gazed out over the flaming remains of the Southern Seireitei.

"Such a beautiful sight…" The demon leader said admiringly. The commander of the demon army, Takeshi appeared beside him. The commander bowed.

"Master…" He greeted in respect.

"How goes the war?" Kagai asked, still gazing over the ruined land.

"As you already know, we have control over the Sothern Seireitei. We have almost won in the west, but the north is proving to be quite difficult."

"Casualties?" Kagai asked. The commander suddenly seemed very nervous.

"Tell me, whatever they are, it will not change our victory."

"Uh, yes sir….Um… Sir, General Hebi, and General Konchuu have both been destroyed. And…" Takeshi trailed off.

"Yes…"

"Master, Katashi… has been killed…" Kagai narrowed his eyes.

"I see…" Takashi looked up at his master.

"Master…?"

"It's a pity…nothing more,"

"Yes master,"

"Now tell me, Takeshi," The demon leader continued, seemingly unaffected by the loss of two generals and his second in command.

"How were my generals defeated?"

"Uh… Apparently, a Soul Reaper called Renji Abarai single handedly killed Konchuu and The Ryoka that remained in the Seireitei are responsible for the death of Hebi." Kagai sighed.

"I told them that the ryoka were not to be underestimated," Takeshi bowed again.

"Yes master, you did,"

"If we continue to place fools that them in places of command then…" There was a black flash on the corner of Kagai's vision.

BAM!!!

The thing rammed into Kagai before he could react. He felt something grab the front of his cloak. Before Kagai could do anything he was thrown into ground. A whole twenty stories from where he had been standing.

The crater that formed around his caused smoke to fly everywhere. Kagai stood up slowly. With a smirk he cracked his neck, making it seem like he had only tripped. The smoke started to clear. Kagai smiled as he saw who had attacked him.

"Ah…Ichigo Kurosaki, you've finally joined us," The smoke cleared away, revealing Ichigo, robe flowing and Tensa Zangetsu in hand.

"I see Akane proved to be no challenge for you, A pity, he was a good warrior," Ichigo narrowed his eyes.

"You're one hell of a bastard, aren't you?" Ichigo said coldly, "you'd sacrifice your subordinates just like that?"

"I would, if it would help further my goals."

"Like I said, one hell of a bastard," For a minute the two said nothing. They just glared at each other. Finally Kagai smiled.

"So, this is it huh? You're going to try and stop me aren't you," Ichigo glared.

"I will stop you,"

"Will you now? It'd be foolish of you to think so. Then again I'm sure Sosuke Aizen probably thought the same thing. Heh, poor man, trying to become a god. A rather pathetic attempt to find purpose in one's life, don't you agree?" Ichigo said nothing.

"I see we are beyond words then," Kagai drew his sword. He smiled coldly at Ichigo.

"Then let's go…Ichigo, Kurosaki…l see what happens, when an unstoppable force, meets and immovable object." At once both their spiritual pressures exploded. The remaining buildings started to crumble at the immense power circling the area.

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At once, both fighters disappeared. The reappeared in a clash twenty feet in the air. Ichigo pushed his sword forward. Kagai smirked.

"Well, gotten stronger have we? I'm impressed." Kagai whipped his tail around. Ichigo jumped away to avoid the attack. He fell in the air.

"Getsuga Tensho!" He shouted. The moonfang flew towards Kagai. With a smirk, Kagai swung his sword. The getsuga shattered. Ichigo landed on the ground. Kagai fell above him. There was a clash as their sword met. Ichigo was being pushed into the ground.

"Is this all you have?" Kagai taunted. Growling Ichigo pushed upward. Kagai jumped back. Ichigo flash stepped after him. He reappeared in front of the demon leader. Kagai smirked.

"A flash step is useless against me!"

SHHLLLLK

Kagai's eyes widened. Ichigo was now behind him. His Zanpakuto was biting into the demons shoulder. Ichigo smirked.

"Did you think that a flash step was the extent of my speed?" Kagai snarled. He grabbed Zangetsu with his bare hands. Ichigo's eyes widened as he was thrown to the ground. After landing Ichigo looked up. Kagai was falling toward him, blade pointed at his chest. Ichigo quickly dodged.

"Did you think that was the extent of mine?" Ichigo's eyes widened. He spun around. An instant later Kagai's sword slid across his side.

"Urg!!!" Ichigo jumped back, clutching his side. Kagai frowned.

"It's not possible for you to have beaten Akane using the level of power you're using now," Akane said coldly.

"Are you…actually holding back on me?" Ichigo smirked.

"You mean like you are on me?" He answered. Kagai frowned.

"Come on, I know about the demons Naiteki Daraku.Why don't you show yours. Or do you think I'm not worth it?" Kagai frowned again.

"I…do not have a Naiteki Daraku release." He said simply. Ichigo got a surprised look on his face. But he quickly replaced it with a smirk.

"Is that so…Well then I guess that means you really aren't holding back." Kagai glared at him.

"You..are fool, Ichigo Kurosaki," Ichigo frowned.

"Wha…"

"Did you not ask yourself. How, of all the Demons in the universe. Could I, the one that does not possess a Naiteki Daraku release, could have become the Leader of the Demons." Ichigo was staring at the Demon leader. A bad feeling was washing over him.

"You want me to stop holding back, very well, Ichigo Kurosaki, I shall honor your request. Just know, by doing this, you have sealed your fate." Kagai placed a hand on the side of his blade near the hilt. Ichigo watched as the Demon leader ran his hand along the side of his blade. His eyes widened as the blade suddenly glowed white.

"Bring an end to all things…" Kagai Hitokagai said softly, "Harumagedon…" Ichigo watched wide eyes as the sword stared to transform.