When they arrived in Soul Society, it was not what they expected. They found themselves in an environment overrun by poverty, famine, and people of all ages afraid and hiding from them, the intruders; it was hardly one might imagine from a heaven.
As Urahara explained during his briefing, this was the area known as Rukongai, where all spirits go after their death. Spirits who were skilled enough to become shinigami were invited into Sereitei, a cosmopolitan society located in the centre. Rukia would be somewhere in there, even though she originated from Rukongai.
The only way for them to enter Sereitei would be through one of the gates, but each one was guarded by a powerful guardian. The closest gate to Urahara's portal was the west gate, guarded by Jidanbou.
It seemed Urahara had done a poor job of preparing them for both the horrors of Rukongai and Jidanbou. The guardian was huge, larger than anything on earth.
"It seems that you're new to this area," he bellowed, though he seemed more someone that enjoyed his vocation rather than an enemy standing in their way. "Let me explain: I will choose one of you to fight with me one-on-one. Only if you defeat me will I allow you to enter, but I must warn you that I have never let anyone pass me before!"
"I understand," Tatsuki shouted bravely. "I'll fight you."
"You don't understand. I said I choose the opponent, and I don't like fighting weak girls."
"WHAT? I'll show you-"
"Calm down," Ichigo said, though he said it more because he was scared of her losing control. "Don't worry. I can beat him."
"That's good," Jidanbou laughed playfully. "That's how a man should act. What is your name?"
"Ichigo."
"Well, I can't expect someone with a girl's name to be strong, but a job's a job."
"It's not a girl's name! It means to protect one thing, so that's why I know I won't lose to you."
An axe came crashing down, and Ichigo barely had enough time to get out of the way. He hid behind a boulder, and began to breathe heavily once he realized he almost died against his first opponent.
"Ichigo, are you okay?" Tatsuki asked, joining behind the boulder. "Let me help. I've been training with Urahara all week and I've completely mastered my zanpakuto; you just got Zangetsu yesterday."
"Be quiet; he doesn't know that. It's okay. I have a plan."
"These large ears can hear many things, you know," Jidanbou roared, as he split the boulder with a fatal blow from his axe. "A plan? I won't let you do such a thing. I won't let you dishonour the sacred match of Sereitei entry. This is between you and me. If you're a warrior, then you won't mind fighting with a zanpakuto you can't even use!"
The axe came crashing down again, but Ichigo blocked it with Zangetsu, to Jidanbou's surprise.
"How's that?"
"I'll admit that you're stronger than what I first assumed, but I haven't revealed my true strength. I'll remind you, not one has ever passed through this gate!"
"That's about to change now. Tatsuki!"
"If you break the rules you'll pay!"
"Who said I was going to fight?" Tatsuki snickered. "Nice plan, Ichigo!" She first jumped on Zangetsu's hilt, then ran up the length of Jidanbou's axe and arm until she arrived at his shoulder, allowing her to reach the top of the gate with a long leap.
The guardian was in shock, having let someone pass him. "You're not allowed to pass! I'm undefeated!"
"Once Ichigo beats you, you won't be able to say that anymore. I'll be going ahead of you. Be sure to catch up with me later, not that I'll need your help saving Rukia. Ja ne!"
After she jumped from the gate and landed inside the barrier, it seemed the realization that he failed finally sunk in. He began to sweat, unsure of himself, being in an unfamiliar situation. His hand began to tremble and his grip on his axe weakened, allowing Ichigo to counterattack and cause him to tumble and fall for the first time.
He picked himself up uncertainly, and then began attacking Ichigo again, but everything had already fallen apart. He just didn't seem to be able to concentrate anymore, having been fazed by earlier. Ichigo dodged every attack and managed to knock the axe completely from his opponent's grip.
He waited, but Jidanbou didn't pick it up. He made no move to do so, but only remained stationary, with a repetitive shiver and short breath.
"What are you waiting for?" Ichigo asked, annoyed. "The fight isn't over yet. I have to beat you so I can get inside. Here." He picked up the fallen axe himself, and hurled it at him. He nearly dropped it, as it was a surprisingly strong throw.
"Why?" he said crookedly. "You could have won."
"I'm still going to win anyway. Anyway, the rules say I have to win a fair one-on-one bout. It's not honourable to attack an opponent without a weapon."
"You are a true warrior, Ichigo! Don't expect me to go easy on you! Now, let me see your true strength!"
He revealed a second axe, and sent both of them crashing down. Ichigo crouched, then spun, breaking both axes with a smooth stroke. Again, the guardian seemed in shock, as he stared at his broken weapons, but he soon recovered, as it wasn't unimagineable, for a boy like him.
"You are the winner!" he admitted proudly. "I will allow you to pass!"
He lifted the monster of a gate, and beckoned Ichigo to walk through, but he stopped, as there was someone standing in their way.
"Do you remember me?" a grinning man asked.
"Abarai Renji," Ichigo snarled.
"Why did you come here? This is Rukia's home! She doesn't want you to save her!"
"There are people in Karakura waiting for her. As long as they continue remembering her, then she has a home there."
"They remembered? That's impossible! I won't let you enter!"
"You don't understand," Jidanbou explained. "He defeated me. He has been permitted entry."
"I don't care."
"Do you want to break the rules?"
"I've broken the rules already. Howl, Zabimaru!"
His zanpakuto suddenly transformed into its snake form, then lengthened to attack Ichigo like a spear. He wasn't ready, and barely managed to lift zangetsu to block. The pressure of the attack lifted him off his feet and blasted him crashing into Jidanbou, sending them both on the other side of the gate, which closed promptly. The guardian immediately tried to reopen it, but it was to no avail.
"He must have sealed it! Surely he will place guards and traps to prevent you from scaling the wall."
"Then what should I do?" Ichigo asked with frustration. "I have to save Rukia within a week no matter what."
"Saving a friend is something I would expect from an honourable warrior such as yourself. I will help you. Hikonyuutou of the south is the weakest of the four guardians. With your strength, you will have no trouble defeating him. On foot, it would take you more than a week, but if I take you, it will only take three or four days."
"Isn't that against the rules?"
"The rules don't seem to be holding anymore. The rules are supposed to remind us of what is most important, but that doesn't appear to be the case anymore. Let's hurry."