From the last chapter: The sun was in the sky, releasing a heat so hot that you could feel your skin burning even if you had only stand under the sun for about a minute. Two men stood there, staring at each other.

Chapter 8

"Gathered you guts? Hi-tsu-ga-ya Taichou." questioned the narrowed eyed Ryuumaru.

There was no comment from Hitaugaya as he stared into space, from Ryuumaru's point of view. In fact, Hitsugaya was discussing with his soul-cutter, Hyourinmaru, what kind of attacks to use to defeat Ryuumaru.What Ryuumaru did not know is that attacks with ice can be put into many uses.

"Are you ready?" asked Hitsugaya as he finished his discussion with Hyourinmaru.

"Anytime, taichou" repiled Ryuumaru as he smirked.

They stood in a defensive stance, waiting for the other party to attack them.

Ryuumaru saw his chance and started to attack Hitaugaya first, but Hitsugaya dodge it in a nick of time before Ryuumaru could do any serious damage to him

Ryuumaru bellowed a war cry and started charging towards Hitsugaya again.Hitsugaya did not do any offensive attacks, only defending himself as he jumped backwards and at the same time, sticking some amulets on the ground as he jumped about.

Ryuumaru wasn't so unobservant. He quickly noticed the amulets that Hitsugaya was sticking on the ground.But, he couldn't have thought what would happen to him next.

'Hyourinmaru, everything's is in place.Get ready.' ordered Hitsugaya to his soul cutter beast.

"Yes, master.' repiled his beast.

"Demon arts number 104! Stun attack!" yelled Hitsugaya as he strike Ryuumaru.

Ryuumaru was taken aback, as he didn't expect Hitsugaya to attack him so suddenly. Then, to his horror he realized that he was in the centre of the formation if the amulets.

The amulets was forming a star shape and Ryuumaru is in the centre of the shape.

Hitsugaya begin chattering some strange word.Nothing happen in the next minute.

Then spirals of dark clouds started to form above them leading to light drizzle and heavy rain the next second. Suddenly, a light flashed upon them. Then sounds of thunder was heard, as if giving a warning. Then, thunder striked Ryuumaru. But, Ryuumaru anitcipated it and dodge it by using another demon arts to protect himself.

"Oh,shit!" cursed Hitsugaya openly.

The thunder was supposed to burn Ryuumaru, but due to the last minute self-defend Ryuumaru did.The damage done to Ryuumaru was less than a quarter, but damage was still damage.

Ryuumaru was electrocuted, badly.The black clothing from the Shinigami's uniform was burned to the extent that the white cloth inside could be seen.

'It's lucky that I've got quick reflexes' thought Ryuumaur as he reflected back on the thunder attack by Histsugaya. He stared at his damaged uniform and said to Hitsugaya," Too bad.That, would have been able to killed me instantly."

Hitsugaya remained slient for a few minutes before saying,"Yes, of course. This attack, cannot be copied also."

Ryuumaru stood acutely surprised for a few moments before saying, "Ah...of course. The talented captain did not elude the possibility that I could have copied the attack.How smart. I should have bought some amulets too."

They exchanged angry stares before Ryuumaru said, "I would attack..now"

Instantly the wind become much more violent, the skies seem to roar and the clouds became grayish in colour, which had a instant effect overall on the weather as lighning flashed across the vast sky with thunder sounding loudly, which could make normal humans' ears deaf without fail.

"Are you scared?" asked Ryuumaru with a slight mocking tone.

"Oh, does it seem obvious? Please make it gentler so that I could reflect your attack in a blow and kill you once and for all." answered Hitsugaya as he made fun of Ryuumaru.

Then, Ryuumaru disappeared.

'He must be doing that copy cat bankai attack again.But, why should he disappear if he plans to do that?' thought Hitsuagaya to himself 'No, it must be something else. If a attacker disappear, it's to give the opponent a surprise attack from the side or back.'

It started raining heavily, strangly, a layer of mist is formed.

A few nervous minutes past without any sign of Ryuumaru being nearby.

"I am here." whispered Ryuumaru into HItsugaya's ear.

"What the!" a shocked Hitsugaya quickly turned around and found no one there. But he felt that his legs turn soft and turned his attention to it.

His eyes widen as he saw his own legs melting.Then he realised that his back hurts and reach out to find to his horror, a object protruding from his back and warm blood flowing out. But, Hitsugaya came to his senses that this cannot be true as he cant feel pain.

"Demon arts 40.Awaken." whispered Hitsugaya, as he struggled to keep his mind on the battle.

Hitsugaya found himself under the sun again, hot and scorching as he stood up to find Ryuumaru standing across the court.

"How was it?" asked Ryuumaru.

"Bad illusions..." replied Hitsugaya, panting.

"The injuries caused there has equal effect in reality too, for your information." said Ryuumaru as he observed the heavily injured Hitsugaya struggling to stay upright by leaning upon his sword.

"What..is..that?" asked Hitsugaya

"It's my bankai."

Hitsugaya looked confused by that news and asked,"I thought that your bankai is the under-handed means of copying other shinigami's bankai."

"My bankai consist a few different skills like copying other shinigami's bankai, but that does not means that my bankai ends there. I started to modify the bankai as soon as I have mastered how to use it." said Ryuumaru.It was filled with slience for a few minutes before Ryuumaru added,"I am a talent, much more talented then you are."

Hitsugaya was unable to reply because of the loss of large amount of blood, but he stood there, emmiting an invisable green flame as his eyes turned narrower as he scrutinized Ryuumaru.Hitsugaya's face turned paler and he started to take deeper breaths, the loss of blood casued his mind to be 'spinning', unable to think with a straight mind.

"Oh...come on, is this all you've got? I am getting bored.Should I go find your Hinamori?" asked Ryuumaru mockingly.

"Don't...you...dare...touch..her!"

"Why can't I?"

"Because I am not dead yet." repiled Hitsugaya, as he stood up with strength again, ignoring the pain.

Dear readers, I am so sorry about the long wait.Because I am at a loss...can any kind soul understand my situation? Thank you for all your patience! Each review give me the strength to go on, I am truly grateful to those who have read and give me their reviews.The next chapter is the last chapter: Talent VS Talent