A.N.: This is a request by Draxon.Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Chapter Ten

The Next Day…Seireitei

Ichigo ran down the streets of the Seireitei, having thrown off his pursuit. Behind, a small, frail looking Soul Reaper by the name of Hanataro Yamada ran with him. But the Soul Reaper wasn't following Ichigo to stop him. On the contrary, he wanted to help Ichigo in his quest to save Rukia Kuchiki.

The mission to infiltrate the Seireitei didn't go as planned. The five Ryoka were joined by Kukaku's brother, Ganju, who was there to help with their entry into the Seireitei. Though the initial launch had been successful, in the aftermath of their landing Ichigo and his friends had gotten separated. Orihime and Uryu were sent one way, Chad and Ganju were sent another and their black cat guide shot off in another direction which left Ichigo by himself.

Using his spirit energy as a buffer Ichigo survived the fall but was immediately set upon by attackers. The duo was the Third-Seat and the Fifth-Seat of Squad Eleven, Ikkaku and Yumichika.

While the two bickered over who got to kill Ichigo, the boy tried to escape to search for Rukia. Yumichika intercepted him, telling him it was such a waste to kill someone as handsome as Ichigo but wanted to get credit, much to his annoyance. Releasing his zanpakuto, the multi-bladed Fuji Kujaku, Yumichika attacked him, much to Ikkaku's annoyance.

The Fifth-Seat was overwhelmed, however, by Ichigo's strength. His multi-bladed weapon was little match for Zangetsu, Ichigo defeating him with little effort. Ichigo could sense that the man was holding back but put it out of his mind. He was able to dispatch the man before moving on to his partner. Ikkaku was a much more challenging opponent. When Ichigo got in a grazing shot near his eye, Ikkaku acknowledged that Ichigo was a legitimate threat and released his zanpakuto as well: Hozukimaru.

The man's trick weapon got the better of Ichigo, much to his chagrin. His spear turned out to be a three-piece nunchuck and managed to injure Ichigo. Remembering that he couldn't hold back. Ichigo poured all his power into Zangetsu and cut right through him, nearly ending the man's life. Yumichika, recognizing that they'd lost completely. Treating Ikkaku's grievous injuries, he told Ichigo what he wanted to know, pointing him in the direction of Rukia's location.

After stumbling on another group of Soul Reapers, Ichigo used one as a hostage to get out of it, namely Hanataro. But after learning that Hanataro had been in charge of Rukia's cell and that he wanted to save her as much as Ichigo, Ichigo let him act as his guide towards her prison, taking him through the sewers to avoid pursuit.

Ichigo poked his head out and looked around. Seeing nobody, he climbed out of the hole in the ground and helped Hanataro. He saw the white towers in the distance and scowled. "Is she in there?"

"Yeah," Hanataro said before his eyes turned to the foot of the stairs in front of them. "Ichigo, over there!"

Ichigo already sensed his presence. Standing at the foot of the stairs and barring Ichigo's path was a certain red-haired lieutenant. "You…"

Pushing up his sunglasses, the man glared at the intruding Ichigo as he approached him. "Remember me, boy?"

"Renji Abarai."

The redhead's scowl deepened. "So you remember me," he said as he stepped forward. He put a hand on his shoulder and flexed his reattached arm. "I sure remember you."

Telling Hanataro to stand back, Ichigo drew Zangetsu. He'd lost a little blood during his fight with Ikkaku but he was still good to go. "How's your arm?" he sarcastically asked.

Grinning spitefully, Renji drew his zanpakuto as well. "Good as new. Though it stings a little from time to time. No worries though," Renji's eyes glared at Ichigo with malice. "I'll be taking your head as compensation!"

Ichigo immediately charged at Renji. "Move or be moved," he told the lieutenant. "I'm saving Rukia."

"Fat chance!" Renji shouted, the anger present on his face. "You're the reason she has to die in the first place! You still have her powers!"

Renji's anger was matched by Ichigo's. As they clashed, Ichigo slashed hard at the Renji. "Don't give me that crap! You were willing to kill her just to bring her back here!"

Renji found himself getting pushed back. Ichigo was strong before but his strength had become monstrous. The redhead found himself on the defensive straight away. "Guh!" He jumped back to gain his second wind. "Don't get cocky, boy!" He pointed his zanpakuto defiantly at Ichigo. "If you think this will be like last time, think again."

Narrowing his eyes, Ichigo kept his guard up. "I don't care what you think. I'm going through you."

"As if. Roar: Zabimaru!" Renji's sword glowed red and transformed into the serrated blade-whip. "Let me let you in on a little secret. When Captains and their lieutenants go into the World of the Living, their powers are suppressed to prevent us from affecting the souls of the living. Right now, my strength his quintupled!"

Renji was so busy with his monologue that he barely dodged Ichigo's strike by a hair. Blood spilled from the lieutenant's forehead as he backed away, shocked by the ferocity in Ichigo's eyes. "I don't care how strong you all are. You're all going down!" Ichigo roared. "RENJIIIIII!"

The boy's charge was halted, however, when Renji's whip-blade came down on him. He stumbled onto one knee, blood spilling from his shoulder. He looked up and saw the lieutenant triumphantly standing over him, having attacked Ichigo faster than he could expect it.

"Didn't I tell you? My power, my speed and my reflexes have all increased fivefold," Renji said with a smug grin. "Now die!" He swung his sword to bring it down on Ichigo's head, only for him to grab the protrusion with his bare hand. "What?"

"Is that all?" Ichigo asked, his tone cocky as he stared up at Renji. Shaking off the pain, he stood up on both feet. Renji tried to retreat but Ichigo's grip was too strong. "Sorry about that. I forgot something that my teacher taught me: never let your anger go to your head," he said, repeating Halibel's words. "And I also remember something else…"

"Tell me," Halibel asked as they rested for a moment one particular evening. "Have you ever given thought to what would happen if you fought a human opponent?"

Drinking a water bottle he'd brought, Ichigo looked at his teacher confused. "Why would I fight a Human? I'm a Soul Reaper. I only fight Hollows," he pointed out.

The blonde nodded at the point but felt there was more to argue. "True. But the day may come when you might be cornered by a human opponent. Perhaps another Soul Reaper or an Arrancar."

Ichigo scowled. "Halibel, why would I ever fight another Soul Reaper? Aren't I supposed to be on their side?"

Halibel shrugged. "When in life is anything certain?" she countered. "The point is, what would you do if you were to fight another human being?" she asked, curious as to how Ichigo would respond.

Looking down at his oversized zanpakuto, Ichigo looked at his reflection to try to seek an answer. "I…I don't know…" he admitted. When he looked back up at Halibel she saw the boy beneath the warrior. "I don't want to kill anybody."

"Nor should you ever. But you should take this to heart, Ichigo. There might be a day when you have no choice but to kill or be killed. And when that day comes, you'll need something."

"What?"

Walking over to Ichigo, Halibel pointed at Ichigo's chest. "Resolve. I know that it is a lot to process for right now. You're just a boy after all. But when the time comes when it's either you or your enemy, you need to attack them with the same killing intent you have for Hollows."

"But I don't kill Hollows," Ichigo said, pointing out the technicality.

"But you are erasing their current existence. Whether you're sending them to the Soul Society or Hell, you are killing them in one form or another. Keep that resolve, Ichigo. So that when the time comes, you'll have what you need to win."

Ichigo raised his sword, glowing blue. "I forgot what I needed to beat you all. My resolve…to kill you!"

In an instant, the battle was won. Renji, having his sword shattered and his body slashed almost in half, tumbled to the ground. Before he lost consciousness, the man begged Ichigo to save Rukia. Having come to understand that he wasn't Renji's real enemy, Ichigo spared him the final blow. He turned to the awestruck Hanataro. "Let's go, Han-" He stumbled and his clutched his shoulder, more blood spilling from his wound.

"Ichigo!" the medic ran up to the boy. "You're too injured! I need to treat you!"

Ichigo cursed and looked up at the prison where Rukia lay. She was so close and yet so far. But he knew he'd reached his limit. He'd allowed himself to take a grievous injury and needed to heal. "Alright then…" he said.

Hanataro pointed to the sewer entrance. "We need to hurry. More guards will be here soon!" He led Ichigo back down to the sewers, leaving the wounded Renji lying on the ground in a puddle of blood…

To be continued