Mad Rush

Shoving Kuro away once more from the third deadlock they had, Ichigo, once more with a renewed vigor, clashed with his Zanpakutō alongside Yoruichi and her own.

Ducking under a swipe from Kuro, Ichigo brought his Wakizashi up to strike Kuro as he blocked, followed by them both gaining a scratch from an unseen attack, sharing a scar on their left cheeks, Kuro smiled alongside Ichigo as they separated as Yoruichi was slammed into a pillar, sporting her greaves and boots, she gave her mouth a wipe of blood before grinning with her Zanpakutō.

"You're improving, ichigo, does that mean you are close to figuring out the release to you're Zanpakutō?" sliding under a swing, Ichigo stopped himself and backflipped over a backhand swing that he capitalised on by striking Kuro's sword arm. Shoving Kuro away, Ichigo spoke with his smile gone.

"I have an idea, but I want to be sure of it through you giving me a straight answer" aiming his Wakizashi at Kuro once more, the two were about to strike once more before an eruption from above made all stop and stare.

"Was wondering when he'd get here" relaxing somewhat as the sight of Abarai Renji dropped down to the floor, he stopped as Yoruichi body slammed her Zanpakuto into the ground.

Staring in wonder as Yoruichi glowed with her Zanpakuto.

Ichigo was surprised himself as she fell to her knees.

Watching as her body glowed, Ichigo shielded his eyes as an explosion of Reiatu covered the cave, with Renji closing his eyes.

Looking back, his eyes widened as Yoruichi floated in place with four demonic wings on her back, her Gauntlets and Greaves glowing like magma, she wore a corset with a pair of skintight pants that showed her perfect figure, her eyes glowed with fire as she admired her new power. Looking to her claymore, she twirled it slowly in an arc with eight ethereal red blades forming after her blade, she pointed her Claymore with all the swords shooting at a now pulverised boulder.

Falling to the ground with a crash, the Bankai dissipated with her panting with a shit eating grin on her lips as Ichigo ran to her and brought her into a hug, kissing her lips with enthusiasm, Kuro stood patiently before a throat being cleared gained their attention.

Turning to Renji he spoke with an awkward bow.

"Um, I know I don't deserve to ask this, and since we have no time at all, I'm just gonna train for my Bankai over there" frowning at his words, ichigo spoke.

"What do you mean no time at all?" seeing his awkward look fade away to one of seriousness, Renji spoke.

"Rukia's execution date has been moved" seeing alarm on their faces, Yoruichi spoke.

"When?"

"Noon Tomorrow" staring as Renji moved to train, Ichigo stood frozen in place before he turned to Kuro who had his own look of alarm, turning to Ichigo they were replaced by determination as they vanished and reappeared with a shockwave.

Startling Yoruichi at the sudden fighting, she went to stop them before she stopped at noticing large gashs appearing on the ground from each strike.

Moving away as another strike echoed in the cavern. She watched in awe as a perfect circle was being carved from each strike.

"Did he figure it out?" feeling another shockwave send her falling onto her ass. Yoruichi noticed it circle getting bigger, enticing her to move. She was sent flying as another strike echoed.

Getting up from the strike. She noticed the area over the circle darken before streams of white shot everywhere before it exploded.

"Just what kind of Zanpakuto was it supposed to be?" was all Yoruichi could say as the sounds of Renji's fight broke the silence. Followed by more clashes from ichigo and his Zanpakuto.

Feeling the area where Ichigo was fighting, Yoruichi moved to check on them after a minute of silence. What she saw startled her.

Standing above his Zanpakuto, Ichigo panted heavily as he sported a gash over his right eye, a split lip from a punch no doubt.

His arms holding the Wakisashi to his chest, Yoruichi stared in alarm as Kuro had his own wounds as he sat on the floor in defeat, his own Wakizashi in pieces.

"Are you Certain, that this is how you're reforged!?" growling at his Zanpakuto, Kuro nodded in defeat.

"Yes Ichigo. In order for me to be reborn, is through sacrificing myself by returning to you're soul"


The next day


Seeing those gathered around her as her neck was tethered by four strands, Kuchiki Rukia had a look of depression, it had been a mere two hours since she last sensed Renji's reiatsu fade, that and the revelation that Ichigo was here, and the black haired man from before stating he loved her… life just seemed to be cruel to her didn't it?

Her drive to fight for her life gone with despair from Gin's provocation before not helping.

Not even caring of those attending her execution, Rukia barely heard the Headcaptain speak.

"Let the execution.. begin" looking to those attending the arrival of Byakuya didn't even phase her anymore, her friend was most likely dead, the man that supposedly loved her nowhere either, she didn't even feel her heart beating from all the stress and pain she was put under.

Kuchiki Rukia… Have you any last words?" looking to the Headcaptain with near dead eyes, Rukia spoke softly.

"Yes… I wish for those that had come to rescue me, to be returned to the land of the living"

Seeing the Headcaptain give a nod, Rukia would have smiled if she weren't so bitter inside.

"Very well. In keeping with your wishes after the execution… the Ryoka will be safely returned home" seeing Rukia lower her head in doubt, Isane spoke from her position beside her captain, Unohana Retsu.

"That's just cruel. He doesn't intend to let them live" lowering her own head, she perked up as her Captain spoke softly.

"It isn't cruel, Isane" looking to her captain

"He was being Compassionate. At least she'll die with some peace of mind. At least she won't worry" sighing as her Captains words were spoken, Isane looked to the ground, before she frowned at seeing a shadow moving across from her… the shadow of a falcon.

Moving to look up, the voice of the head captain spoke.

"Let the Sokyoku… fall!"

Watching the threads holding the blade upright come undone, Isane took a glance upward in search for Griffin.

Stopping herself in favour of watching in alarm as the Helbard moved, it caught aflame. Taking the shape of a bird made of fire.

"The Sokyoku has taken its true form. It will impale the condemned, thereby ending the execution" turning to the head captain as he stood pateintly.

Staring death in the face and feeling nothing, probably should be a bad thing, but if it's your execution, who was she to correct her current mind.

Thinking back to her life's many ups, she let a lone tear fall from her eyes as she thought of Ichigo, and his supposed love for her.

Closing her eyes as she accepted death with bitterness in her heart, Rukia spoke more to herself than anyone else.

"Goodbye… Ichigo" listening to the raging fire that made up the bird before her, Rukia blocked out the raging inferno to at least give her mind silence… until.

SNAP!

opening her eyes in confusion, alongside those below, she looked around for said cause of the snap before she felt the urge to look upward at hearing the sounds of high winds.

Looking up after a thought, those watching were shocked suddenly as a large mass crashed down onto the bird with it's arms wrapping around it's neck. Thankfully at the angle whatever was falling from was sloped, the captains were spared from the sudden impact as a dust cloud erupted from the landing sight.

And hearing struggling from within, those watching eyes widened at seeing an enlarged Nightmare holding the Sokyoku down with one arm while raising the only, with Shunsui staring at it in shock and awe.

The other captains minus Retsu, did not share his awe as the sludge demon that had caused untold damage brought it's free arm down onto the Sokyoku, forcing it into a Helbard with one… mere… PUNCH!.

Staring at the sight of a demon thing effortlessly taking down the execution blade, Rukia's mind was in disarray. Until she felt a hand lightly tap her right shoulder.

Turning suddenly, her eyes widened as a smile greeted her.

"Hey, long time no see. Sorry to keep you waiting" watching the teen standing behind her with a smile.

Rukia couldn't help but cry in joy at seeing him alive"

"You, You foolishly brave boy" getting a chuckle from Ichigo as he held a Cane up, he pointed it at one of the cubes holding her up.

Confusing her until a Panther shot out of the Cane.

Hold up?

A cat shot out of a Cane.

"When did-?" feeling herself freed Ichigo snatched her from the air in order to hug her.

"I'll explain later, but in short, we have you're brother to thank for this" looking up to his smile, Rukia reached up to him suddenly and before Ichigo could question her she brought him into a kiss of passion.

Alarming Ichigo at the depraved nature of the kiss he returned it himself before they separated.

"You idiot, making me all flustered at a time like this?" shrugging with a smile. Ichigo spoke.

"Hey, took me a while to find a sex drive"