Orihime was not having a good day.

In retrospect, "not having a good day" was an incredible understatement of how horrific her trip to the Seireitei has been. Even excluding the battle with Mayuri, which was already by far the worst experience of her life, between Rukia's death sentence, being shot out of a cannon, and nearly getting her throat cut open, she was just about sick of the Seireitei.

And if the black man in a captain's haori walking toward them was any indication, things were about to get even worse.

"Cry, Suzumushi."

As soon as the man said the words, a wave of vertigo slammed into her and Uryū through the shield, nearly knocking them both out on the spot.

"Wha.." Orihime gasped, drawing on her reiatsu to stay on her feet. Black trickled back into her eyes as she stood back up.

Tōsen frowned as he felt Orihime's reiatsu darken in a familiar. "What is this? I thought Ichigo would be the one wielding hollow powers. Aizen stated so." He shook his head. "No matter. She still can't beat me."

A casual flick of his sword deflected an arrow from Uryū. "Please do not struggle. I have no intention of causing you more pain than necessary."

Uryū swore, barely believing their luck. "To run into a captain just after we beat another! I have to use Letz Stil again." Swallowing a second surge of guilt, he reached for his glove, ready to pull off the spikes.

"I'm afraid not." Tōsen frowned as he activated his sword's ability again. "Fall."

Uryū and Orihime dropped to the ground, the sound waves of Suzumebachi knocking both out.

"Forgive me Ryoka." Tōsen stated evenly. "But your struggle will soon be over."

"Ugh..." Ichigo groaned as he found himself laying on a mat. "What happened?"

"A captain happened." A familiar voice stated. Ichigo rolled his head to his side to see Chad. "Yoruichi found you and a captain unconscious in the 11th division."

"Before you ask, yes, I tried to use stealth." Ichigo frowned. "Unfortunately, one of the pricks that nabbed Rukia in the first place caught me, and the ensuing fight drew Kenpachi."

"It's fortunate that I found you when I did." Ichigo turned his head to the other side to see Yoruichi, a small mask on the floor beside him, white with tribal-like markings originating from the eyehole. "You were bleeding out pretty badly. It's only because of this that you even survived your trip here."

Ichigo stilled as saw the hollow mask, remembering his zanpakto's apparent hollowness. He quickly started to call out in his head. "Zangetsu! You there!?"

A calm voice replied, much to Ichigo's relief.. "We are here."

"Urgh...Our head's killing me." Zangetsu replied, more to Ichigo's relief.

"Glad to see you're all still around." Ichigo thought, before cutting to the chase. "So Zangetsu. When where you going to tell me that I was part hollow?"

"Ah. Right." Ichigo could feel the sword spirit laugh sheepishly and scratch his head. "Planned to tell you, but you showed your opinion on them."

"Because most of them I've seen have tried to eat me, my friends, or my family." Ichigo argued.

"It matters not." The Quincy spirit interrupted. "You are now aware, and more important issues, at least to you, are now apparent."

Ichigo paled. "Right, Rukia!" He quickly snapped out of his daze and looked at Yoruichi. "Yoruichi! How long till Rukia's execution?!"

"Roughly a week." Yoruichi answered, to Ichigo's alarm.

"What?!" Ichigo gaped as he leapt up, only to fall down in pain. "Fuck!"

"I'm sorry, Ichigo, but there was no time to wait for you to heal completely." Yoruichi explained slowly. "We barely have enough time to get you to Byakuya's level in a week."

"Damn," Ichigo growled. "I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I thought we were prepared for this."

"Kisuke and I prepared you guys to fight lieutenants and those below them. And then get strong enough to hold the captains off while you escaped. " Yoruichi explained. "You weren't supposed to seriously fight the captains at all. But you blasting apart the Seki-Seki barrier tipped everyone off that you weren't normal ryoka."

"That reminds me." Ichigo paled. "Where's everyone else?"

Yoruichi swallowed. She hoped that Ichigo didn't charge out when he heard this. "Chad's downstairs training. Ganju and Hanataro are heading towards the tower. As for Orihime and Uryuu, I don't know."

Ichigo's eyes widened in fear. "You don't know?!"

"We were split up." Yoruichi argued. "And I had to make sure that Chad and I didn't get caught immediately."

"Crap." Ichigo groaned as he processed the information. "We have to find Ganju and Hanataro."

"I'll find those two." Yoruichi argued. "You'll never survive a second encounter with a captain as you are now. You need to get better, and quickly."

"Wait, how am I supposed get as strong as Byakuya in a week?" Ichigo frowned.

"...Something you really shouldn't get this quickly," Yoruichi admits. "It is called a bankai. The second release of the zanpakuto."

"Zangetsu." Ichigo thought. "Is this true?"

"Yep." Zangetsu stated. "It's basically a built-in upgrade of your normal abilities in shikai."

"Why didn't Urahara get me this?" Ichigo growled. "Or even mention it?"

"Because gaining a Bankai usually takes years of communicating and understanding the Zanpakuto." Yoruichi explained. "Urahara found a way around that, but it's extremely dangerous, and we'd rather not risk killing you a second time after the 'find the shinigami powers or hollowfy' thing. You've been lucky, but it be really stupid to push your luck and kill you before we got to Seireitei."

Ichigo sighed. "No point bitching about it now." He thought before speaking. "OK. What is this super dangerous training?"

"We'll get to that in due time." Yoruichi stated. "We really need to fix you up first. It will take my true form to accomplish this."

"True form?" Ichigo thought before steam started rising from the cat's body. Ichigo's jaw then drops as the cat transforms into a dark-skinned, very voluptuous, very naked woman.

"Wh-what the fuck?!" Ichigo gaped, covering his eyes in shock and embarrassment.

"What?" Yoruichi smirked, stretching her body out. "You don't like what you see?"

"You..." Ichigo spluttered. "YOU PUT SOME CLOTHES ON RIGHT NOW!"

"Really? You don't want to see a hot young girl like me-

"NOW!"

"Party pooper." Yoruichi pouted, leaving the room to do just that.

"Yeah, seriously. What a killjoy." Zangetsu groaned, causing Ichigo's eye to twitch.

"This is not the time for joking around." The Quincy spirit admonished. "We have important matters to get to."

A while later...

Ichigo gave a confused look at the vaguely Human-shaped, man-sized doll Yoruichi is holding. They were currently in a sealed mountain range far off from the normal barracks. Chad was currently trying to push his armored arm to its limits in a fool proof plan. Use it until you run out of reaitsu, wait till you get it back, rinse and repeat until deadline.

"So this is the bankai device?" Ichigo asked Yoruichi. "How does it work?"

"To achieve a bankai, one must establish a connection with the sword and materialize the spirit in order to force it into submission." Yoruichi explained. "The Tenshintai forces the Zanpakuto spirit into the real world stabbed. The shinigami can then force it into submission like normal."

"Makes sense so far." Ichigo said. "But you already said there was a catch. What is it?"

"First of all, the artifact only works for three days at a time, so you'll have only 2 chances to get it, 3 if we're lucky." Yoruichi stated. "Second, most bankai requires 10 years of training to master, so you'll probably have trouble wielding it at first. Third and finally, the Zanpakuto can and will kill you if you let it."

"Wait, what?!" Ichigo roared in shock. "Why?!"

"Danger to life causes your reaitsu to spike. "This makes it easier to get to a level required for Bankai."

Ichigo sighed in irritation. "Is it just me, or is everything trying to kill me?"

Yoruichi shrugged. "Rescue missions in enemy territory tend to have that situation. I speak from experience. Now, go get your bankai. I'll get your friends." And with that she dissapeared.

Ichigo proceeded to run the doll through with Zangetsu. "I need your help guys."

With a surge of power and black flash, two figures emerged from the Tenshintai. Zangetsu and the Quincy spirit.

"You guys heard everything?" Ichigo asked.

"Yep." Zangetsu stated with a smirk, tapping his foot and making an array of a swords pop out of the ground.

"Prepare yourself, Kurosaki Ichigo." The Quincy spirit stated. "In this array of blades, resides the true Zangetsu, the rest are mere fakes."

"To force us into submission, you'll have to find 'me' and cut us both down with it." Zangetsu added. "Think you can pull that off king?"

"Not much of a choice." Ichigo stated. "Rukia needs me. Uryuu and Orihime need me. Ganju and Hanataro need me. And I won't let any of them down."

"Well said." The Quincy spirit said, picking a sword out of the ground. "Shall we begin?"

"Oooh." Zangetsu grinned. "I'm gonna enjoy this."

And with that, the two spirits touched, and began to merge. The Shinigami looked at the merging critically, trying to figure out which personality would emerge triumphant over the other. But when the resulting spirit walked out, Ichigo could not help but gasp.

The spirit had Zangetsu's general appearance, giant cleaver, and amber eyes, but the Quincy spirit had had his own influence on the form as well. He had the spirit's dark cloak, glasses, and black hair.

"Come at me, Ichigo!"

Meanwhile...

The 4th division had been overrun as of late. Almost all the 11th division members had been flooding the barracks, Kenpachi included. The sheer amount of unconscious shinigami swamped the medical station. However, a certain 3rd seat was currently irritated by an entirely different issue.

"Can someone tell me..." Yasochika Iemura growled in his head, making various reports on the many people layed out on hospital beds, two of which being his ultimate aggravation. "Why are we treating the Ryoka? Especially after what they've done?"

"Captain Tousen did." A random nurse stated. "Captain Ukitake did as well. You're thinking out loud again."

"...I know that Tousen dislikes killing," Yasochika argued. "But he should know that Aizen's death makes this invasion something that must be stopped."

"We need to know why they came here." The other man added. "And how they destroyed the barrier. And about the hollow that came with them."

Yasochika sighed. "This has been a clusterfuck of epic proportions. Aizen's dead. Mayuri was nearly killed as well. A Captain level hollow is still skulking around the seireitei. This can't possibly get worse."

Hinamori finds herself running around with supplies of medical equipment to the various rooms that need them.

Ever since Aizen's death, Momo's day had been absolute chaos. Toshiro and the other captains were assigned to a meeting tonight about the Ryoka invasion, and she, along with the rest of the 5th division, had been assigned to help the 4th division with the massive amount of defeated shinigami flooding the barracks.

"Thank you, lieutenant Hinamori." A nurse said as Momo handed her some gauze for a patient, before growing concerned about her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." She said simply, although her appearance said otherwise. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were still swollen from crying, and she merely looked miserable and beat down. She didn't seem to notice how horrible she looked considering her hard working, but the nurse felt she needed to do something.

"I think you coul use a rest." The nurse pressed. "You look terrible."

"Th-Thank you, but I'm fine." Hinamori objects and before the nurse could say anything else, she walked out.

It wasn't very long after before tears came streaming back down Hinamori's eyes as she slumped against the wall of one of the few empty hallways. The visage of her captain's mutilated body danced across her vision even now as she sobbed in her arms.

"Hinamori?"

The lieutenant stilled as a voice called out to her. Rubbing her eyes she saw Gin looking at her with a uncharacteristically grim look on his face.

"Captain Ichimaru?" Hinamori asked, before trying to apologize. "I'm sorry for looking like this captain. I just-"

"It's about Aizen isn't it?" Gin stated.

A choked sob came out of Momo's as she nodded.

"It's okay." Gin said solemnly. "I was his lieutenant before you, so I know what the Soul Society lost when the man died just as much as you do."

"I-It's alright." Hinamori smiled at the man that used to give her the creeps like nothing else. "At the very least Kenpachi avenged him."

"...About that." Gin stated. "We think the Hollow's still alive."

Momo felt her stomach drop to the ground. "What?"

"Kenpachi wasn't awake for long when the scouts found him, but it was clear that any damage he gave the beast wasn't fatal. The hollow didn't get away unscathed, but it isn't dead either."

A look of horrified outrage swelled in Hinamori at this statement. "It's still-Why aren't any of you doing anything?!"

"This thing took out Aizen, fought Kenpachi to a standstill, and managed to stay under the radar despite the fact that everyone's looking for it." Gin explained. "I don't think we can just go snooping around the Seireitei to find this thing without a shitload more casualties."

"This...This can't be happening!" Momo cried out, rage clear in her features. "I have to do something!"

"Well the ryoka that let that thing loose in here is heading for the Palace of Penitence." Gin suggested. "Byakuya's planning to head there himself but more help would be rather appreciated as of now."

Now with a outlet to channel her grief, Momo quickly rubbed her face and dashed off, a glare on her face.

Back in the hallway, Gin dispelled the kido on the hallway, revealing it to the world again. "Like a goddamn fiddle." Gin thought as his grin came back in full force. "I still got it."

Renji groaned as consciousness drifted back into him. It took a moment to realize he was in the 4th division. "What the hell happened?" Then a pain radiated from from his arms and chest and he remembered. "Oh." He thought, memories of an orange haired punk with a talking sword came to him. "That's why."

"Nobody will die on my watch! I'll stand and beat any opponent that tries to hurt my friends!"

Renji scowled as Ichigo's voice echoed in his head.

"Why would you care after you all sentenced her to death?!"

"Because I never wanted her dead in the first place." Renji thought. "When...When did we drift apart so much?"

For the life of him, he could no longer truly remember.

And that scared him like nothing's ever scared him before.

His fear then morphed into cold resolve.

"Zabimaru." He called.

A white baboon with a snake tail manifested ontop of him.

"What do you want?" The baboon demanded.

"When I'm healed, I'm going to take your challenge." Renji stated.

"About damn time, you lazy bastard." The snake grinned savagely. "Although, you do know you'll have all of seireitei gunning for you if you do what you're planning."

"Yes."

The baboon grinned as well.

"When you are ready,"

"Summon us again, Renji Abarai."

Renji closed his eyes and drifted back into sleep. "I'm going to do what I should've done from the beginning. I'm kicking Byakuya's ass, and I'm saving Rukia's."

"Uggh." Orihime moaned as she came to. The first thing she noticed is that she was in her spirit world, the doors of the castle right in front of her. "Oh good. I'm not dead. I think."

The second thing was her world seemed noticeably darker, as if the sun was being blotted out somewhat. Looking up, she saw that nothing was blotting out the sun. It merely looked darker.

She quickly got up, trying to look around for her spirits. "Baigon? Ayame? Tsubaki? Anyone?"

"They can't hear you." A cold, but familiar voice rung out behind her, causing her to freeze. Turning around, she saw a bleached white form of Orihime glaring a hole through her face with amber eyes. It looked particularly intimidating on Orihime's face, as until a few hours ago, she never looked angry at all.

"It's...It's you." Orihime said timidly, fear choking her voice somewhat. She could tell this was her other self, Shun Shun Rikka. She had been told by her spirits that her other self had intentions of taking over her body if she didn't meet her standards, and she could tell by the glare the bleached her was giving her that she most certainly did not. "Where are the others?

"In the castle." The Shun Shun Rikka stated, pointing up at the castle. "And they're going to stay in the castle until this little matter is done." Donning a cold smirk, she took a step forward, causing Orihime to pale.

"Wait." Orihime asked as she backed into the door, hoping to reason with the other her. "Can we talk about this?"

"What is there to talk about?" Shun Shun Rikka replied, walking up to Orihime and grabbing her by the shoulders. "You're not strong enough to help Ichigo, so I'm putting you in time out."

Orihime paled further as black reaitsu seethed through Shun Shun Rikka's hands, digging into her flesh. "Weak?" She wailed in panic and indignation. "I've been training to fight by Kurosaki-kun's side since Rukia was kidnapped!"

"And how much have you done?" Shun Shun Rikka rebutted, causing Orihime to freeze. "You got separated from Ichigo before you even got here. And then you nearly got killed twice over by that giant fool."

Orihime felt a stab of embarrassment at remembering that little incident.

"First you nearly got crushed to a pulp by him before you even noticed he was there." Shun Shun Rikka scoffs. "And after you and Uryuu get him on the ropes you heal him and nearly get your throat torn out."

Orihime felt her stomach drop.

"Then you bump into Captain Psycho-Doctor and you really started fucking up." Shun Shun Rikka sneered.

"What?" Orihime growled. "I helped Uryuu fight that monster!"

"Yeah," Shun Shun Rikka retorted. "You also got knocked out while using my power, dropped by a single chop to the neck."

That quickly shut Orihime up.

"And by the time you get back up, with my help by the way, you and Uryuu were about to die from poison." Shun Shun Rikka mocked. "And literally right after that, you get knocked out by a second captain without so much as a whimper. You say that you want to help Ichigo, but so far, you've only proven that I need to be in charge!"

Tears stream down Orihime's face as her feet started disappearing into the ether. She understood why the fairies didn't want the two to meet too soon. "W-Wait." Orihime made one last attempt to stop her powers from taking her over. "I didn't do that bad! I save Uryuu twice in that fight."

"He had to sacrifice his powers to save yours." Shun Shun Rikka retorted, although interested in Orihime showing backbone. "He had no idea that you could even bring them back!"

"I know!" Orihime yelled, her disintegration spreading to her legs. "But I did! If it weren't for me, Uryuu would've never gotten his powers back! I may not be strong enough to beat these guys, but I don't need to be! We came here to save Rukia as a team! That's how we'll do it!"

"Is that so?" Shun Shun Rikka asked. "Why do you want to save her so much? Is it because Ichigo wants to?"

Orihime stilled, her disintegration having come all the way up to her abdomen area. "...I won't deny that's part of the reason. But I have others! Rukia was my friend too! I didn't know her as I should, but she and Ichigo helped me with my brother! They saved my life! And Rukia doesn't deserve to be punished for saving Ichigo's!" Her eyes narrowed, getting in her bleached mirror's face. "And if you want to him, help me stand with him!"

"Hmm." Shun Shun Rikka smiled, taking her hands off Orihime. "Guess I'll try. But the second you become to much of a nuisance I'm taking over!"

Orihime sighed in relief as body quickly came back. "Thank you for the second chance! I won't waste it! Now, can we see the others?"

"Yes." Shun Shun Rikka agreed, opening the doors and walking in, Orihime right behind her.

Rukia looked out the window of her cell, pondering her predicament.

She should have known that Ichigo would come to help her no matter what, but even so, she never could have predicted the chaos he and his friends would make. Destroying the Seki-Seki barrier in the arrival alone ruffled a few feathers on its own no doubt. And while she couldn't know for sure, she felt enough surges of reaitsu to think at least 1 captain had been defeated.

"Damnit Ichigo," Rukia thought as she grabbed her throbbing chest, a chest that was beating particularly hard as of late. "I didn't want you to save me! I came here to my death to keep you out of trouble!"

A fleeting memory of her sword stained in a close friend's blood screamed in her vision, his body mangled by the machinations of the sickest hollow she had the displeasure of slaying.

She shook the painful memory out of my head, her heart throbbing more painfully than ever. "Kaien, why does everyone I grow close to face such dangers? Why do they all die for me?"

"Hey Rukia!" A voice called out, shocking her out of her thoughts. "We're here to help bust you out!"

"They actually got to me!?" She thought in utter shock. A thrill of hope went soaring through her that she immediately stamped down on. "They'll never leave alive." She quickly turned, intending to try and talk some sense into them and get them to leave and save themselves.

She then proceeds to freeze at the sight and who managed to get to him. Hantaro, the 4th division member that she talked to a while ago...and a man with the Shiba symbol on his arm.

"Ooohh..." Rukia thought, her repressed hope dashed near instantly. "Oh nooo..."

"Rukia!" Hanataro called out. "It's me, Hanataro! You remember me, right?"

"Of course." Rukia said quickly, trying very hard to still the rising panic in her chest. "What are you...doing here?"

"We came to rescue you!" Hanataro said, running over and holding Rukia's hands. "Come on Ganju, let's...get...going?" Hanataro paused, seeing shock and horror in Ganju's face. "Ganju, are you alright?"

Rukia's stomach proceeded to drop even further as the name instantly set off alarms in her head. "Ganju..." She rasped, barely daring to breathe, seeing her past come to haunt her full force. "Kaien's brother?"

Hanataro swallowed his breath, seeing that things had gotten tense out of nowhere. "Wait...do you two know each other?"

"Yes, I know her." Ganju stated, his face going from shock and horror to a murderous grin.

Visions of Sode no Shirayuki coated in Kaien's blood danced back into Rukia's thoughts, suddenly more vivid than ever. Ganju clenches his fists, the same visions going through his head. "How could I forget... the face of the Shinigami that killed my brother!"

"What?" Hanataro gaped, the accusation coming completely out of left field. "You must be mistaken, Ganju. Rukia would never murder someone without reason."

"His wounds were given by a sword." Ganju growled. "His throat was cut open and his chest was as well. Those wounds weren't that of a hollow!" His voice rose to a roar. "She even confessed. She said she killed him, right to my face!"

"That's...That's impossible!" Hanataro yelled in protest.

"It's alright, Hanataro." Rukia said, putting a hand on Hanataro's shoulder. "He speaks the truth."

Hanataro turned back to Rukia, shock clear on her face. "But-How?"

Rukia took a step forward, very aware of what the man wanted. If she was going to die, she should at least die for killing Kaien than for saving Ichigo's life, she thought. "I...I am the one that killed Kaien Shiba."

Ganju quickly rushed over and grabbed Rukia by the neck, murder in his mind. "Go ahead. If you want to kill me, I have no right to object."

"Agreed!" Ganju snapped, tightening his grasp.

"Wait, no!" Hanataro gasped, trying to stop the early execution. "Ganju, please stop! We're here to save Rukia, remember?!"

"I DON'T CAR-" Ganju's enraged retort quickly cuts itself off as two reaitsu's slammed into everyone's senses. One was completely overpowering, and terrifying familiar for Rukia. The other was not nearly as strong, but what it lacked in talent it made up for in rage, a feeling of dread and barely restrained violence crept up everyone's spines as they felt it.

"Oh crap." Went through the minds of the three there.

"Brother..." Rukia gasped, horror thrashing through her anew.

"Brother..." Hanataro paled. "Byakuya Kuchiki?"

"The captain of the 6th division and head of one of the 4 noble clans, the Kuchiki clan to be precise." Ganju paled as well. "Not the strongest captain, but arguably the most popular. He's way more powerful than all us combined. But whose that behind him?"

It was at this point everyone noticed a young lady with black hair in a bun, and brown eyes in a monstrous glare was walking behind him.

"Momo?" Hanataro gasped.

"Who?" Ganju growled as the two shinigami drew closer.

"She's the lieutenant of the 5th division." Hanataro said. "She seems really mad about something though."

"Well shit." Ganju grimaced. "A captain alone would slaughter us with ease, let alone with a lieutenant by his side. Maybe we should just get on our knees and beg for forgiveness right now."

"Wait what!? No!" Hanataro objected. "We can't give up yet! Rukia needs us! We could just run!"

"Run!" Ganju roared. "Where the hell could we possibly go?! The only exit is the bridge! And why the hell should I risk my life anymore for that bitch?!" He pointed at Rukia accusingly, who looked down in shame. "For the woman that murdered my brother!?"

"...I understand." Hanataro said, somewhat surprising Ganju. "Ichigo said that you wanted to come to see why he and Rukia were different from other shinigami, and if there are any, neither you nor I have found them. It would be asking too much to stay here against such odds for someone you don't like. But at the very least, take Rukia with you when you go."

"...What are you talking about Hanataro?" Rukia asked.

"I-I'll stay and h-hold them off here." Hanataro said, hands shaking like leaves.

"...Are you insane?!" Ganju stated. "You can't fight those two! Do you feel that power?!"

"Y-Yes! I do! But I c-came all the way u-up here to s-save R-Rukia's life. How c-could I give on h-her now?!" Hanataro argued before giving a huge gulp and walking out. "W-Wish me g-good luck!"

"Hanataro no!" Rukia cried out. "You! Stop him!"

"That idiot!" Ganju thought, glaring at the shaking boy walking out the door. "He's practically walking to his death! And he's terrified!" Ganju started running out. "Who does he think he is, acting so tough?!"

"Ganju!" Hanataro blinked in confusion, before squeaking as he grabbed him. "What are you-?!"

"Sorry about this!" Ganju yelled out, before chucking the kid back into the shrine.

Momo, who had seen the action, assumed Hanataro was being held hostage, and immediately sprung into action. "Snap! TOBIUME!"

Ganju barely had time to put up a wall of sand before a fireball nearly knocked him to his feet. "Damn. Sorry Kaien." Ganju thought, knowing exactly how screwed he was. "Avenging your death has probably been postponed indefinitely. If you want someone to blame, blame sis for not raising me to be a coward who would run out on his friends."

"It's your lucky day bitches!" Ganju proclaimed. "I'm the one you're going to be fighting now!"

Hinamori glared daggers at the man. "Who are you?!"

"Ganju Shiba!" Ganju declared, breathing heavily. "Damn." He thought. "The captain hasn't even done anything, and I'm still having trouble standing up."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "The Shiba clan has been meddling in affairs too great for their fallen status for a while now, but this is unprecedented. Do you think you can interfere with the prisoner's execution with your level of power?"

Rukia scowled, starting to run towards the bridge. "Screw this. I'm already responsible for Kaien's death! I'm not letting his brother die for me!"

"Rukia, wait!" Hanataro called out, rushing toward her. He needed not bother however, as Rukia suddenly collapsed.

"What?" Rukia rasped. "Why can't I-" She suddenly remembered that she spent almost a month in a prison made of Seki-Seki. "Oh right. Fuck."

Ganju charged, reaching into his pocket. "Taste my tears of blood-"

"Carriage of thunder! Divide into twelve! Rikujōkōrō!" Momo cut him off

Ganju barely had the time to breathe before twelve light beams slammed into his midsection and stopped him in his tracks. Suddenly he couldn't move at all. Even breathing took a serious effort. "Fuck!" He snapped, trying to move to no avail. "Twelve light beams? I thought there were only 6?" He thought, although his thoughts were quickly derailed, as with a blink, Byakuya flickers right in front of Ganju, looking at his face with contempt. "Well shit," Ganju chuckled sheepishly. "Gonna kill me?"

"My blade is not for cutting down insects." Byakuya stated, his tone flat and emotionless. "If you by some miracle defeat Hinamori, I might raise my blade against you."

Before Ganju could make a retort, Hinamori proceeded to slip Tobiume in between his ribs. "Gah!"

"Where is it?" Hinamori growled.

"Where's what?" Ganju asked in confusion.

"Tsuzuri Raiden!"

"GAAAH!" Ganju roared in pain, lightning lancing through his body.

"The hollow." Hinamori said coldly. "Where. Is it?"

"I don't know-GAAARGH!" Ganju roared as more electricity surged through him. "I seriously don't know what you're talking about, dammit!"

"Liar!" Hinamori snapped, pouring more reaitsu into the kido. "There's no way you didn't sense what we did!"

Ganju closed his eyes, bracing himself for a another violent shock to come his way, only to hear a surprised gasp instead. Opening them back up, he gaped seeing Kaien's captain, Jūshirō Ukitake holding the blade, somehow stopping the kido with his bare hands.

"That was way too close for comfort," Ukitake sighed before frowning at Momo and Byakuya. "Can you two please explain to me why Momo's released her Zanpakuto right in front of the Shrine of Penitence? Or the impromptu interrogation?"

"Captain!" Rukia breathed in mixed shock and relief.

Ukitake's sudden appearance managed to snap Hinamori out of her rage, although she still wasn't backing down. "This guy kidnapped one of the 4th division members and dragged him up here to bust out Rukia!"

"And besides," Byakuya added. "Zanpakuto use is more than allowed in Wartime exemption."

Ukitake's face was tense. "Wartime exemption? Have things gotten this bad?"

"I apologize. Things weren't meant to be nearly as chaotic as it is now."

A person swooped across the bridge like swift invisible wind, grabbing Ganju and flying off with the technique of a bird of prey. It took Momo a good three seconds to register Ganju not being impaled on her sword. "What the..."

A familiar reaitsu caught Byakuya and Ukitake's senses and they turned in a seemingly random direction. Doing the same, everyone saw the dark skinned woman carrying the injured Shiba clan member, who was currently unconscious, under her arm.

"Long time no see Byakuya boy." Yoruichi gloated. "And Ukitake as well."

"...Yoruichi." Ukitake stated, stone-faced. "Former captain of the 2nd division. It was you that brung the hollow that killed Aizen here?"

"Technically, Urahara did." Yoruichi stated, deliberately not wanting to give Ichigo away. "And as for Aizen, I highly doubt he's dead yet."

Hinamori felt a small surge of hope which was quickly overshadowed by rage and denial. "Liar!" Hinamori snapped. "I saw the body with my own eyes! And even then, Tousen's report explicitly stated the Quincy and his adversary tried to kill Mayuri! Why wouldn't Aizen be the same?"

"I'm not going to answer that." Yoruichi stated, rushing off with Shunpo. "None of you would believe the answer, not without proof anyway way."

"Enough." Byakuya stated, shunpoing to the spot Yoruichi was. "Whatever your reasons are, neither you nor any of your associates will leave here alive."

"Really?" A smirk slipped onto Yoruichi's face at the statement. "If I remember, you've never caught me once in all our games of catch."

"Shall we give it another try then?"

With that statement, the chase was on. The two captains blurred across the bridge, their Shunpo and natural speed allowing them to rush around the area as too fast for Hanataro, and Hinamori to see. However, Ukitake, and to a lesser extent Rukia was able to see that Yoruichi was winning. Everytime Byakuya was catching up Yoruichi used a burst of speed to slip out of his grasp. And the few hits he did get were merely on afterimages.

Eventually, Yoruichi decided to go, smiling cheekily and waving. "You have 3-6 days until Ichigo returns stronger than you, Byakuya-boy. Prepare for then!" And with that she dissapeared. "Bye!"

Enraged, Byakuya threw out his senses as to find the infuriating woman, only to see nothing.

"This is urgent." Byakuya stated to Ukitake, before walking off in frustration. "We've had enough problems with merely the ryoka themselves, and now they have help from the former captains of 2 and 11. The other captains must be briefed on this."

"Indeed." Ukitake stated, albeit confused by Yoruichi's statement. "Why would she doubt Aizen's dead? Could she have lied to get them a lesser sentence? If she did, why didn't she deny Mayuri's murder attempt as well?"

"Rukia!" His attention was then drawn to Rukia and Hanataro, the former of which had fallen to the ground in a heap. "All the tension must have left her body after Byakuya left." He thought. Deciding to put his thoughts on the back burner for now, he called out for his squad members. "Kiyone! Sentaro!"

That night.

Uryuu murmured as he got up, his head killing him.

"You're awake!" A familiar voice called.

"Orihime?" Uryuu looked around, seeing Orihime. "Were are we-"

His heart sunk as he noticed the moon shining through a window, revealing that they were in a small room with bars. "We got captured, didn't we?"

"Yep." Orihime smiled sadly. "I woke up here too. At least we're alive."

Uryuu frowned. "Wait, why are we alive?" He looked over his body, and noticed the bandages and wrappings on himself. "Why would they want to keep us alive, let alone treat our injuries? We intruders and the enemy aren't we?"

"...They think we murdered someone." Orihime replied.

"What?"

"I overheard a conversation with the guards." Orihime explained. "Apparently, a captain was killed by a hollow within the Seireitei. Since we're intruders here, that would obviously make us prime suspects."

"We've been kept alive for investigation." Uryuu frowned, clearly not happy with the situation.

"Fortunately, that means we're alive." Orihime added, holding up her hands and showing off the cuffs. "Once we take these reaitsu sealing handcuffs off, we'll be able to get out and hopefully find Ichigo and the others."

"How?" Uryuu thought. "We don't know the layout of this place."

"It took 2 captains fighting us back to back to get caught and if the rumors are right, all of them are heading for a meeting right now." Orihime replied. "If we have any chance of leaving, it's right now." She then gestured. "Do you have a sewing needle or a hairpin on you?"

"What?" Uryuu blinked, caught off guard by the out of nowhere question. "Why?"

"In a movie Tatsuki and I saw," Orihime explained. "A burglar pickpockets a lock with just a hairpin. I'm going to try that."

"...Orihime." Uryuu said sternly. "You are aware that the movie was most likely fiction right?"

"Considering we're in a jail cell in samurai heaven and we have superpowers ripped straight out of anime, and I recently used my powers to bring yours back after you used a dangerous forbidden technique of your people, also ripped straight out of anime, to beat up also a mad scientist who is also an abusive father on the side that wiped out almost all of them in a manner that would make Adolf Hitler wet himself," Orihime deadpanned. "I think pickpocketing a handcuff would be the least crazy thing we've done yet in our time here."

Unable to form a counter to that statement, Uryuu dug through his pockets, eventually finding a sewing needle in his back pocket and giving it to Orihime.

"Let's see if this works!" Orihime stated, pushing the tip of the needle into the keyhole.

Despite Orihime's assurance, Uryuu wasn't very confident that the plan would work. "After all," Uryuu thought. "These are handcuffs made to seal shinigami no doubt. It would be a huge flaw if someone could break out of those things with just a-"

Click!

To Uryuu's pleasant surprise, the needle indeed worked. The handcuff came off with a pop, and Orihime quickly got to the other one with much more fervor.

"Wow!" Orihime exclaimed, jiggling with the second cuff. "I wasn't all that sure this was gonna work!"

"Wait, you weren't sure?" Uryuu frowned. "Why bring it up then?"

"It was worth a shot." Orihime replied. "We came here to save Rukia, and we can't do that here. Ichigo would probably save us if we need him to, but we really should be able to save ourselves. And besides, these guys need us to an extent, so they probably wouldn't kill us for one escape attempt."

Eventually, the second cuff came off, and Orihime quickly put her hands to her hairpins. "Tsubaki!"

The fairy materialized from her hairpin and quickly cut through the cuffs binding Uryuu.

"Good." Uryuu stated. "Let's go."

"On it!" Orihime grinned, trying out the full-power version. "Tsubaki, Koten Zanshun! I reject!"

Tsubaki manifested into a small buzzsaw that cut through the bars with ease. He then repeated the process until a man sized hole was cut in the bars.

Uryuu pulled out the cut up parts of the bars, placing them slowly on the floor to not alert that maybe near. He then stepped out of the room, gesturing that Orihime do the same.

"Okay!" She whispered, trying not to wake the guards. "Where's-"

"So the ryoka are here?" A voice from down the corridor asked.

"Oh shit." Uryuu paled.

"Tsubaki!" Orihime quickly called out. "Koten Zanshun!"

Tsubaki quickly shot out at the one who spoke, nearly taking his head off.

"Woah!" Ikkaku yelped as he narrowly ducked under the attack. "Split-"

"Ikkaku, wait!" Yumichika called out, recognizing the situation. "The ryoka already got out on their own!"

"Oh." Ikkaku blinked. "That makes things a little easier."

"Easier?" Uryuu frowned, ready to fire a bow at a moment's notice. "Are they going to take us into questioning?"

"Wrong, Ryoka!" Ikkaku exclaimed. "We are here to bust you out!"

"...Come again?" Orihime tilted her head in confusion. "Why?"

"Our captain engaged in a riveting battle with a man by the name of Ichigo." Yumichika stated, grabbing the ryoka's attention. "And he would like to have another chance at him. He deemed that you guys would lead us straight to him, so here we are!"

"Really?!" Orihime replied. She wasn't entirely down with the thought of a captain deliberately gunning for Ichigo, but this was practically a free ride out of here and back to him with help on the way!

Uryuu, however, was much more suspicious. "How am I supposed to know this isn't a trick or something?"

"A trick?" Ikkaku exclaimed, sounding visibly insulted. "We're squad 11! We don't do tricks!"

"Besides," Yumichika added. "If we really are planning to drag you into questioning, wouldn't we have just said so considering you just got out of your prison cell and there are dozens, if not hundreds of shinigami in these barracks?"

"...Good point." Uryuu admitted. "But why on earth would your captain break rank like this?"

"Captain Kenpachi is the epitome of battle!" Yumichika explained. "He desires honorable fights with strong opponents over all else! Ichigo gave him the best fight he's had in decades, so he desires to battle with again to feel the thrill again, and possibly become stronger himself."

"I can still hear the captain's exhilaration as he gave us this mission." Ikkaku stated before speaking Kenpachi's words. "'I'm certain he's alive!' He said! 'Ichigo's alive and he's getting stronger even as we speak! I get the feeling that if we bust them out, I'll get to fight Ichigo again!"

Orihime frowned. As a pacifist, the thought of fighting people for fun seemed rather strange to her. But she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially with so much at stake.

"Okay." Uryuu stated. "If you really want to help, lead the way."

"Yah!" Ichigo roared as his blade met Zangetsu's, only for the sword to shatter, and Ichigo himself to get knocked back and nearly onto his feet. "Fuck" He yelped.

"King!" Zangetsu roared. "Is this the best performance you can muster?! Do you expect a captain to fall to such a weak swing!?"

"Of course not!" Ichigo roared back, grabbing another blade from the ground. "But I bet this could!"

Shinigami and Zanpakuto clashed in a manner all but one of the captains were intimately familiar with. A combination of instinct and experience guided the combatants as they dueled flickering across the battlefield as the duel waged on.

Ichigo had been getting used to his blades shattering every few seconds, being fast and agile enough to grab them before Zangetsu could capitalize on the times he was unarmed.

Although the trash talking was getting rather irritating.

"These swords represent all of your flaws, King!" Zangetsu taunted, throwing his hand around and showcasing all the blades surrounding the area. "Just look at how much you suck!"

"Hey! You came from me, remember?" Ichigo shot back. "If these blades all represent my flaws, what does that make you?"

"Point to you!" Zangetsu laughed. "But don't misjudge me. I was forged from the best parts of you, by you! You can't bear me with flawed blades, no matter how many of them you use!"

Ichigo scowled, knowing the spirit was right. The blades he was using weren't enough to do more than stall the raging Hollow Quincy Zanpakuto fusion gunning for him. And he couldn't waste anymore of his already limited time.

"But how do I find the real one?" Ichigo thought, frantically black Zangetsu's various attacks. "What would give me a- Oh wait!"

Ichigo's mind flickered back to when he got Zangetsu at the first place, when he found the by the color of the spirit ribbon. "No reason for that to work now!" He thought, leaping over a Getsuga Tensho. With no other plan in mind, Ichigo threw out his senses, checking each ribbon of every blade he for him, he quickly had to focus on Zangetsu's attacks before the ribbons.

"King!" Zangetsu snarled, charging Ichigo with his blade stretched out as if to impale hkm6.

"Damn." Ichigo thought as he narrowly dodged the blade. "How do I get some distance with this guy? Let's try this!"

"Getsuga Tensho!" He roared, swinging his sword and blasting Zangetsu point blank.

Boom!

Ichigo leapt out of the smoke cloud with a cough, his clothes singed from the explosion. "Hope that stopped him for long enough."

With time to spare, Ichigo took a deep breath and threw his senses out. With a sigh of effort, the spirit ribbons of the world became clear to him. He looked around and saw the ribbons of the blades around him. Most were short and clear, showing no power. But some were long and red, other were black, and still others had blue.

"Crap!" Ichigo scowled, looking other the many different colors. He knew shinigami were red, could confer that hollows were black, and with the process of elimination could infer quinces were blue. "Which one was the true one? "

"Getsuga Tensho!" A voice roared out as a black sword beam soared out.

"Shit! Outta time!" Ichigo growled, throwing caution to the wind and grabbing a sword with a red ribbon. And not a second too soon, as Zangetsu was right on him as he turned.

The two swords clashed with a louder clang than any before. The sword Ichigo wielded pulsed with power in tune with Zangetsu's.

"Wow, King! Looks like you found one of the stronger blades!" Zangetsu complimented.

Ichigo would've made a snappy comeback had the synapses not fired in his brain. "One of? Oh shi-"

"Too bad it still isn't me." Zangetsu grinned as tore through that blade as well, albeit with more effort.

"Time!" Yoruichi stated, turning Zangetsu back into the Tenshintai. "Good progress, but not there yet. Lay down your sword. Day 1 is over."

"Oh." Ichigo frowned. "Dang."

"Don't be discouraged." Yoruichi relieved. "You made a terrifying amount of progress in one day. You'll likely pull it off tomorrow if the time is right."

"I'll have to." Ichigo thought. "I need to get to Byakuya's level ASAP." He then laid down his sword on the floor. "Sooo...what now?"

Standing in the Captain Assembly Hall, all of the captains, with the exception of Mayuri, began coming in and lining up in their customary in lines facing each other. Momo Hinamori, vice captain of the 5th division, stood her captain's place, as did Nanao Kuritsuchi and Yachiru for their respective captains.

"I call this meeting to order." Yamamoto declared. "Captain Unohana, report."

"Over 50% of squad 11 has been injured and sent to the barracks." Unohana explained. "However, most of the injuries are minimal and will take a day or two for full recovery at most."

"Captains Kenpachi and Mayuri?"

"Captain Kenpachi has suffered several grievous from his fight with the unspecified hollow. His chest and lower body are covered in scars, and various actual puncture wounds." Unohana stated. "His reaitsu and blood were both low, but nothing Kenpachi hasn't survived before. That said, this fight was easily in the top 5."

"Mayuri had been soundly defeated." Nemu piped in. "He was forced to resort to his self dissolving ability to avoid death. His bankai was split clean in half along with a good portion of his torso."

These descriptions somewhat unsettled the other captains in the room. Kenpachi and Mayuri were some of the most dangerous captains in history, if not the most well liked. Kenpachi only cared about fighting and will throw away a well thought out routine for a challenge. Mayuri on the other hand, was incredibly intelligent and prepared for nigh-on any possibility. The problem with him is that he holds no morals or self-restraint. But that didn't discount either of their power. For both of them to fall demonstrated a serious threat.

However, Byakuya had decided to add more fuel to the fire. "There's more. Barely a few hours ago, I encountered a Shiba clan member trying to free Rukia. And he was aided by Yoruichi, the flash goddess."

"...What?" Soifon asked, her voice a mix of outrage and excitement.

"She came in and saved the Shiba clan member." Ukitake added. "And admitted to the hollow running around the place. What's worse, she also admits that Urahara Kisuke is the mastermind of this little endeavor."

Yamamoto scowled as the situation grew even more out of proportion than he thought. The ryoka had been abnormally big issues already, let alone with two defecting captains assisting them.

"Wasn't Urahara experimenting with hollows when he was sentenced to death?" Soifon immediately jumped in, trying to get a full on man hunt on the man. "The hollow may be one of the ryoka invading. That may be how it has slipped past our notice for so long."

"It is very likely." Nemu chimed in. "The female ryoka had shown notable signs of hollowfication in the latter part of the battle with her and the Quincy."

"And you let them live?!" Hinamori snapped at Tousen.

"Forgive me," Tousen apologized. "I didn't sense any form of hollow reaitsu from either of the ryoka I encountered."

"Enough." Yamamoto declared. "Where are the ryoka now?"

"The Quincy and hollow girl are in captivity, waiting for interrogation." Gin chimed in. "As for everyone else? 'Fraid I have no idea."

"Aaah..." Ichigo sighed in relief, wounds healing in the hot spring. "This is the life."

"You said it." Ganju agreed, Chad giving a curt nod as well.

"Hey boys." A sultry voice echoed through the steam, jolting everyone upright. "Room for one more?"

The 3 teens looked at each other, anticipation and nervousness of different amounts in a eyes.

"I'm taking that as a yes." Yoruichi continued to everyone's alarm. "Here I come."

Alarmed and embarrassed squawks rang out from Ichigo, Ganju, and even the normally stoic Chad as a figure walked in. The squawks became louder as the figure came closer, revealing...Yoruichi in her cat form.

A silence rang out as the 3 ryoka stared at Yoruichi.

"Be honest." Yoruichi gave a trolling smirk very similar to Urahara's. "You're disappointed, aren't you?"

"...A little."

"The bastards could be anywhere right now." Gin shrugged.

"Soooo..." Yachiru drawled, clearly bored out of her skull if her playing with her hair and Zanpakuto was any indication. "What do we do about it?"

"What you can do about it," Soifon stated. "Is pull out your troops and go on standby. They seemed to have decided non lethal actions at first, but after Mayuri, Kenpachi, and Aizen, it's clear that sentiment has gone out the window."

"Kenpachi isn't going to like that." Yachiru warned, a frown on her face.

"Too bad." Soifon argued. She was not going to budge from this. "Kenpachi shouldn't have to satisfy his murder boner every damn day."

"Soifon is correct. Kenpachi's bloodlust cannot be allowed to override everyone else's common sense." Yamamoto stated, causing Yachiru to deflate with a pout. "That said, this plan only results in less casualties, it doesn't get anything done either. We will grill the ryoka for as much info on the other ryoka before putting them down before anyone has a chance of freeing them."

"Move up Rukia's execution as well." Byakuya suddenly chimed in.

"Byakuya?" Komamura asked.

"The mission of the ryoka is to stop Rukia's execution." Byakuya explained. "Multiple members have said so themselves. In addition, Yoruichi stated that they planned to train for a little under a week to stop us. However, if the execution was moved to the day after tomorrow, the ryoka would be forced to attack less prepared, making it easier to kill them."

Tousen frowned at the ruthless play. Such action would make it significantly harder for Ichigo to emerge victorious against Byakuya. And by extension, Aizen to obtain the Hōgyoku without suspicion. However, he couldn't think of a way to argue against it.

Ukitake was similarly distraught, albeit for different reasons. He was aware that the death of Byakuya's wife changed him for the worse, but was he so dead set on Rukia's death that he'd have it sped up for the sake of bait?

"Agreed." Yamamoto declared. "The execution will occur the day after tomorrow. All of you, stay vigilant and report all sightings of the ryoka. Meeting adjourned."

That morning.

"What do you mean the ryoka are gone?" A raging Yasochika roared at a random nurse.

"I said they managed to get out of captivity." The nurse stated, her panic notably more subdued. "They were ther last night, and in the morning all we found were a cut open gate with the handcuffs inside."

"Why wasn't anyone guarding the door?!"

"Most of the people in the hospital were either injured or healing the injured." The nurse stated. "There simply wasn't enough people to guard everyone."

"This is a travesty." Yasochika groaned. "Not even a hour into the day, and it already can't possibly get worse."

"What can't get worse?"

Both 4th squad members froze at the voice, heads slowly turning to Byakuya in horror.

Byakuya's eyes twitched in irritation, already having an idea of what happened. "These ryoka are increasingly becoming the biggest aggravation of my life."

Ichigo had quickly resumed his training in the morning, clashing with the merged Zangetsu spirit for dominance. Chad weren't doing nearly as extreme training. Chad was trying to fire more blasts of reaitsu from his armored arm. Ganju was merely making more trick stuff for the fight.

"KNOCK KNOCK, BITCHES!"

A large explosion rang out from the entrance of the grounds the ryoka were in, causing them to whip around to see it, weapons already at the ready. That is, until Ichigo recognized the voice.

"Renji?" Ichigo asked.

"Got it in one." The redhead shinigami smirked as he walked out of the smoke. "I needed a place to train my bankai."

"Anywhere." Ganju growled. "You could've gone anywhere. And you risked leading people here?!"

"Oi." Renji pouted. "This was the best places one no one knew about. Not my fault you were already here."

"Ichigo!" Another, far more familiar voice comes out from the smoke before running out herself.

"Orihime!" Ichigo called out in relief. "You're okay!"

"Also," Uryuu added as he walked out with Yumichika and Ikkaku.

"Who are they?" Chad asked, looking at the two shinigami by Uryuu's side.

"Hey," Ichigo's eyes widen in realization. "I fought these guys."

"You remember us." Ikkaku smirked. "That makes things easier."

"How did you all meet up?" Ganju asked.

"Ikkaku and Yumichika busted us out of prison on Kenpachi's orders." Orihime explained. "He apparently had a blast fighting you, and wanted to do it again."

"As for Renji," Uryuu added. "He busted out on his own soon after us wanting to save Rukia, and we bumped into each other mid breakout."

"Uryuu actually thought that he was going to bring them to the execution block with Rukia," Ikkaku exclaimed. "And we nearly had an epic fight."

"It's a good thing we didn't, as crazy as that sounds coming from us." Yumichika finished. "It might have attracted some attention if three seated members got into a brawl in the middle of the 4th division."

Ichigo processed the information with grin. "Sounds great! With all of us together, stopping Rukia's execution in a week will be too easy."

"About that," A baboon with a snake tail suddenly appeared behind Renji, presumably Zabimaru. "If you wanted to train for a week, I'm afraid Byakuya put a stop to that. "

"Manifestation." Yoruichi thought. "So he's getting close to bankai as Ichigo." Yoruichi then frowned. "Wait, did Byakuya do?"

"He had Yamamoto change the date of Rukia's execution." Orihime replied. "To noon tomorrow."

Yoruichi's went pale as she heard that information. "Noon tomorrow?! Ichigo can't learn Bankai that fast!"

Renji blinked. "Ichigo's learning bankai? But he hasn't had...what am I talking about? The guy fought Kenpachi and put him in the hospital. Of course he's powerful enough to learn bankai. Fat lot of good learning it now will do now."

"What kind of talk is that?!" Ichigo roared, hurling his sword at Renji, who easily dodged it. He then turned to Yoruichi. "Yoruichi! You aren't going to give up on me are you?! You're the one that suggested this training! You can't quit on it now!"

"Ichigo, no!" Yoruichi tried to talk some reason into the teen. "What if tomorrow comes and you can't do bankai?!"

"Well then I'll just have to achieve bankai." Ichigo rebutted, picking up another sword and charging Zangetsu with it. "We've come too far to lose now! Getsuga Tensho!"

A large explosion rocked the chamber as Zangetsu cut apart the blast. "Well said, King! Let's see you make good on those words."

The battle continued in earnest, as everyone looked on in awe and respect.

"Damn, we sure know how to pick em, do we?" Shun Shun Rikka chuckled. Orihime merely nodded with a blush.

"Wow," Yumichika gaped. "I know that the whole reason they moved up the date was to make Ichigo didn't get too strong before the execution, but I think that ship's already sailed."

"No kidding." Ikkaku blinked, before donning a savage grin. "You think we'll have enough time to fight it out before the execution starts?"

Uryuu rolled his eyes. "Shinigami."

Rukia layed on her bed, all but waiting for when her life would end.

"So tomorrow, I die." She thought. "...I wonder if before the execution, it would be worth begging for Ichigo and everyone to be left to the world of the living. I am a Kuchiki after all. Brother hasn't taken the clan name away from me yet, at least I think. They could allow it."

A throb in her chest registered to her. "That's been happening for a while now." She frowned. Whenever she had felt particularly extreme emotions as of late, which had been most of the time admittedly, her chest started to throb. Not as if it had been in pain, but as if her heartbeat was rising more than it should. No one noticed it in her checkup, and the sensation had been negligible and easy to ignore at first, so she merely thought it was her imagination or something.

But after Ichigo and his friends came crashing down it had dredged up in spades, and it was only getting stronger.

Unbeknownst to the young girl, the throbbing in her chest was the Hōgyoku, planted in a reaitsu draining gigai and given to Rukia, with the intention of draining her of her power along with the sphere.

A plan that might've worked had Rukia's burgeoning feeling for Ichigo not gotten in this way. The Hōgyoku was made to breakdown the barrier between shinigami and hollows. But a prerequisite of this would be to tune into one's wishes. Something all users of reaitsu had, Shinigami, Hollow, or Quincy was that their psyche influenced them powers. Desire and resolve played a part in a shinigami's growth almost as much as Zanjustu. After all, wielding a Zanpakuto properly required knowing the blade, and by extension yourself incredibly intimately.

At first, Rukia's subconscious connection of Ichigo to Kaien and subsequent desire to keep him safe had only been enough to stall the reaitsu draining gigai, but the Seki-Seki made Shrine of Penitence had stopped even that. Until Ichigo and his friends fell from the sky with a blast of hollow reaitsu that shook all of Seireitei. For the briefest of moments, the whole of Seireitei, even the reiatsu proof Seki-Seki, was tainted with Ichigo's reiatsu. It dispersed into nothing rather quickly, in everywhere but Rukia's cell. The Hōgyoku felt the power and latched on to it, it and Rukia's recognizing it with Ichigo.

And with a boost offered by Rukia's reluctant hope, it had built up strength. It had continued to grow. And similar to a muscle, constantly exercised in a slow and steady manner day and night without cease. And soon, like how Rukia's power had given Ichigo his first taste of shinigami power, Ichigo's had given Rukia a pick me up she never knew she needed.