-Volume II: Strawberry and the Avenger-

Arc 1, Chapter 3: Roadblock

Two Days Later...

It was quite difficult, Ichigo had discovered, to keep track of time during battle. Easy to let himself slip into a violence infused daze, and lose grip on his own technique. Especially when constant defeat drove him to the edge of his temper, time and time again. However, during the pain, and the blood, and sweat, he had begun to find small ways of keeping himself focused.

The first of which, had been counting each second of combat. This was not easy, nor was it enjoyable in any regard, but it did succeed in keeping his mind more focused on the present. It made sure he never lost himself to the fight. And, because of that, he found himself improving rapidly, noticing his own weaknesses and taking steps to correct them in real time without having to pause and think too deeply.

Within a couple of days, he'd managed to completely re-create his Zanjutsu style from the ground up. From his opening stance, to advanced swordplay that his mentor had picked apart and rebuilt to the extreme.

Needless to say, he hadn't slept at all.

He wasn't alone, thankfully. Uryu was being broken down and rebuilt in equal measure, his old rapid-fire fighting style thrown out and replaced by a more conserved, evasive method of battle. They'd made progress in nearly equal strides, and Ichigo wasn't exactly sure who was stronger anymore.

On one hand, Uryu had gotten fast, enough so to reliably dodge Sasuke's attacks and counter in most cases, only failing to do so when the Shinigami would decide to turn up the heat. Ichigo couldn't say in confidence that he'd be able to do the same.

On the other, he had improved on his swordsmanship in very particular ways, built around tanking hits and outlasting his opponent until the opportunity to either counter or escape arose. By now he could comfortably deflect up to ten strikes per second, so long as his foe didn't get too creative. And, in turn, he knew that Uryu was nothing if not clever.

His body shook slightly, a flare of pain spreading across his body as his wounds healed completely, even scar tissue being restored to it's original state. The orange hue which surrounded him dissipated, the face of Inoue greeting him with a wide smile.

"All done, Ichi!" He had to admit, he wasn't the biggest fan of nicknames. Well, aside from Yuzu and Karin, but they were different. Not that he disliked Orihime, he simply didn't understand why she was this persistent in coming along. She barely knew Rukia. In fact, she barely really knew him.

"Alright, thanks, Orihime." He replied, his focus immediately shifting as he shoved himself to his feet. His eye flicked over to Uryu and Sasuke, quickly noticing that the Quincy was almost completely exhausted. His movements were sluggish, his use of Reishi too clumsy. And, for each mistake, Sasuke would punish him with unyielding brutality. Just as the Shinigami's geta slammed into Uryu's jaw, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a sense of pity dawn on him.

Not wasting another second, Ichigo began to sprint towards his mentor, funneling Reiatsu into his legs to amplify his speed. Within a few seconds he was on Sasuke, his Zanpakuto rising at a diagonal angle in an attempt to catch him off guard. Of course, the Shinigami took notice, swinging his body at an extreme angle, slinging his leg in a concise arc to meet the slash perfectly. He held the two of them in place for a moment, a hand gripping Ishida in a painful armlock, while never letting up on the pressure his leg applied to Ichigo's blade. He was able to notice Sasuke smirk slightly, before his world sudden became a blur of motion before slamming into the dirt roughly. He lay there a moment, catching his breath, before jumping to his feet.

Uryu was in a similar state, though he could tell that the Quincy was extremely close to collapsing.

"Heed this well, you two," Sasuke's words echoed through his mind. "No matter how bleak things seem, no matter how exhausted and battered you become, never submit. Until the very flesh is stripped from your bones, victory is possible when escape is not." Right.

"Ishida!" He shouted, the boy's attention snapping to him.

"Can you keep going?" There was no pause.

"Yes, Kurosaki. Now focus on yourself!" Ichigo was barely able to raise his guard in time to block a violent left hook, before deftly shifting his blade in a practiced sequence to deflect the series of strikes that followed, never allowing his arms to overextend. His wrists spun like windmills, and while he managed to save himself from taking any hits, the constant pressure was beginning to force him back, taking small steps to keep Sasuke outside of his range.

All the while, he noticed that Uryu was using the Quincy high-speed movement technique to circle the two of them like a vulture, firing intense bolts of Reishi at every opportunity, which Sasuke would somehow predict and either dodge or outright catch each time. Ichigo knew that this wouldn't last long, and his prediction was proven true when his mentor's speed suddenly intensified, quickly devouring what little space he had left before batting his Zanpakuto to the side, tearing into Ichigo's torso with a calculated barrage of punches.

The assault only halted when Uryu fired another shot, causing Sasuke to throw himself into a brief spin to kick the arrow aside. Ichigo sensed an opportunity, and reaffirmed his grip on his Zanpakuto, rushing forward and shoving the Shinigami off-balance with his shoulder before thrusting his blade in a controlled stab.

For the first time, he managed to make contact with Sasuke's body. Sparks flew as his blade scraped against the Shinigami's iron skin, and he was just able to retract from the attack in time to deflect Sasuke's counter, but before he could react he felt the cold sting of a blade resting against his throat.

"Not bad, Kurosaki. I'm surprised you were able to capitalize on that opening so well." It was the first thing Sasuke had said to him that could be considered actual praise. And, honestly, Ichigo was rather proud of it.

"Thanks, but Uryu gave me the opening in the first place. If anything he should get the credit for that." He noticed an odd look cross the Quincy's face, but he didn't speak up. Sasuke took a couple of steps back, sheathing his Zanpakuto faster than Ichigo could actually see, and turned to face both of them.

"That was an excellent display of teamwork between you, but it's time to change priorities. You've each managed to rebuild your respective combat styles to ideal levels, and in my opinion you should at least be able to survive a Captain-class encounter. " He sounded rather certain, and again, Ichigo felt a well of pride bubble up within him.

"That being said, you should have plenty of time to focus purely on becoming more powerful. For example, Kurosaki, from this point forward we'll be dedicating your time to meditative Jinzen training, in hopes that you might unlock Shikai." The feeling in Ichigo's chest flipped in on itself, shock and excitement bursting through his veins at the prospect of becoming even stronger.

"And you," Sasuke pointed toward Ishida, who gave the man a curious look. "Will start looking into more advanced Quincy techniques. If there is some form of progression in Quincy strength, I do not know it. If you wish to spar and hone your skills, simply ask. Other than that, your training is your own from this point forward, understood?" Uryu looked as if he were taken aback, but soon swallowed that response in favor of a stiff nod. "Understood." He grumbled.

"Good, then I suggest you get to work. Those who fail to keep up will be left behind." With that, Uryu walked off toward where Yoruichi was busy training Inoue and Chad. He felt slightly sorry for the Quincy, being left to his own devices and all, but Sasuke was right. He'd learned just about everything that Sasuke could actually teach him.

"Kurosaki, focus. You still have much more to learn here." His mentor's words jerked Ichigo's focus back to himself, but before he could take a combat stance, Sasuke held out a palm.

"This will not be live training. You're going to learn how to tap into your Inner World. I want you to lay your blade across your lap, first." The revelation caught him off guard, and he hesitated a moment before sinking down into a seated position. With practiced ease he slid his massive Zanpakuto through his hands, the cold metal chilling skin as he laid it across his legs. He took a brief moment to look the blade over contemplatively.

This is my Zanpakuto. The instrument with which I protect. If not for this sword, I'd still just be a helpless teenager. If not for her...

"Focus, Kurosaki. Right now the phsyical vessel your sword exists in shouldn't be what you focus on. I want you to envision yourself floating on the surface of an ocean. You should feel as though all emotion has drained away and has left only a sea of apathy. Now, allow yourself to sink into the world behind you. Immerse yourself into it, and accept it's embrace." The Shinigami's eyes flicked open, and just as he'd hoped, the boy had already fallen into a deep meditation.

Now, let us hope you come out strong enough for it to matter.

"Have faith, Sasuke. The boy will not accept anything short of success."

It isn't him, specifically. Aizen supposedly caused a set of circumstances that led to Kurosaki becoming a natural hybrid. That means that he did so with a purpose. That purpose is troubling me.

Meanwhile, with Ichigo..."and accept it's embrace."

In that instant, Ichigo felt himself begin to fall. Not the sinking sensation that his mentor had described, but a vice that trapped his voice and dragged him into the blackness. His feet hit solid ground, and immediately he scanned his surroundings.

At first, the landscape around him had seemed... impossible. But the more he looked, the more real it became. They were skyscrapers. Enormous building that stretched on forever in both directions. Some even branched and turned out at odd angles that only furthered his confusion.

And, to cap it all off, he was standing on the side of one.

"Ichigo."

A voice he didn't recognize, deep and commanding. He turned to check his back, only for a blade twice the size of his own to rest against his throat. A strange, off-pitch giggle turned his hairs on end. He looked up from the sword, and for a moment he thought he was looking into some kind of fucked up mirror.

His attacker was, literally, a monochrome version of himself, with piercing golden eyes narrowed in a furious stare, one that revealed black teeth and a blue tongue as its lips parted. It only took another second for him to notice the circular hole that peeked from beneath his white shihakusho.

"I appreciate the eagerness, kid, but there's shit for you to take care of before you can come here. Now, leave."

Without another moment wasted, his inverted double raised a pale hand, a wave of nausea overcoming him before he suddenly snapped back to reality.

Hello again! Sorry for the delay, but this chapter has been fighting me a lot. That RWBY story should be up by the end of the week.

So, I know some people are going to be very confused as to how both Ichigo and Uryu managed to get so much done within two day, but do remember that Sasuke is basically drilling them into the ground, having Inoue heal them, and then having them apply what they learned in the next fight, and repeating that until they work out something that works. Ichigo was too focused on offence, and Uryu was too preoccupied trying to increase his shots per second instead of picking moments to unleash potentially deadly arrows.

And about the ending, I wonder if any of you can guess where that's going?

That's all for now, Buh-Bye!!!!