Here it is, the big battle chapter that you've been waiting for. Enjoy! (Abuse of italics, ellipses, and cursing abound.)


Part I

Keigo was on a mission. To others this mission may not have meant much, but he took it with utmost seriousness.

In each hand he carried a bag of snacks. His goal: to get them safely across the three blocks they had to travel to reach his home, and more importantly his sweet perfect loving girlfriend that he had the weekend alone with.

So, yeah, he really needed to not mess this up.

(Who was he kidding, he was too chicken to try something like that without his heart pounding right out of his chest. [Hey, a man could dream, couldn't he?])

Keigo froze in place as an explosion boomed through the air, the ground at his feet trembling. Gulping, he walked ahead faster. He was better off not sticking his nose into it.

Another explosion rocked the earth, sending a jolt of adrenaline through the boy. He could see dust and debris floating in the air not too far from him. He didn't even bother to pause this time and broke into a run.

The wall across from him exploded outwards, slabs of rock skidding across the street, forcing him to half-stumble to a stop as the dust and debris blinded him.

He had an arm over his face, was coughing up a lung, but the weight in his hands prevented him from feeling too bad. The snacks were in the clear.

It took him a moment to realize that he wasn't.

The dust clearing, Keigo saw something on the sidewalk ahead of him move, a dark figure that he had mistaken for shadow picking himself up from the ground. Blood ran down the side of his bald head. A sword was gripped tightly in his hand. He must have noticed Keigo's staring because in the next moment he was staring right back sending Keigo a glare that he felt like he didn't deserve. Keigo took a cautious step back.

He was a Shinigami, Keigo figured. That much was obvious from the uniform. If he wasn't, Keigo would have been running by now.

Then Keigo saw another figure jump over the remains of the wall and land right behind the Shinigami, all in the span of a second.

"Look ou–!"

Suddenly the teenager was wheezing. He was flat on his back about eighty kilograms worth of Shinigami right on top of him. He glanced down at the sidewalk seeing groceries scattered absolutely everywhere. With a heavy sigh and a grunt he moved the groaning Shinigami off him.

"Just like that! One hit and you're out!" a man laughed. Keigo looked up, and felt a jolt of fear go through him immediately. Breath caught in his lungs he tried to move back, only for his arm to scream at him in protest. One glance and he realized he'd skinned his elbow to hell and back.

Heart pounding he brought his feet under him, hands grabbing at whatever snacks were within reach. It was time to go.

"…Kid…" the Shinigami grumbled. One half opened eye was trained on him. Keigo nearly fell over in shock.

"You're alright?!" He winced at how badly that came out.

Stop wasting time and run, he thought, though the voice sounded a whole lot like Rukia for some reason. He glanced up at the Hollow, large and muscle bound just like the one from the other day. His eyes were trained on the two in interest, an interest that looked awfully murder-y.

"Kid!" the Shinigami yelled, and right in his face, too.

Keigo let out a very manly "eep!"

"Mind if I stay with you?" the Shinigami asked suddenly.

"Uh…" Keigo moved back nervously. What the hell?! "I… Uh… I'm n-not so sure about that…"

The Shinigami seemed to ignore him completely. "I'm having some real shitty luck today," he started, "but since you're already dragged into this, I thought, 'What the hell?' I take that ape down," he pointed behind himself to said ape, "save your life and get a roof over me and my companion's heads while I'm at it. You got that?"

"Uh…" Keigo said dumbly. The man grabbed him by the collar shaking him furiously.

"Don't give me that weak shit! It's either 'yes' or 'no'!"

"Y-YES!" Keigo cried.

"That's the spirit!"

The man dropped Keigo with little ceremony standing up fully, sword back in hand. He turned to face the Hollow, a manic sort of grin on his face.

"Oi! You there!" he called to the Hollow. "I haven't heard your name."

Keigo stumbled back, gathering a few more snacks in his arms. He didn't want to involve himself anymore in this fight than he had to, and listening to whatever samurai bullshit these two monsters were going on about counted as "getting too involved" to him.

"Really?!" he muttered to himself. "This had too happen to me again?!"

"'Again?'" someone beside him asked. Keigo nearly pissed himself right there, dropping about half his snacks in the process. Then he noticed the black robes. With a frown he picked up the dropped snacks.

"Yeah…" he answered hesitantly, "again." He counted the items in his arms. About half of it had survived.

He stood up shakily. For a moment he considered just bolting and ignoring whatever arrangement baldy thought they had. He wasn't sure if it was exhaustion or cowardice that made him stay. God, he hoped that Shinigami had it handled.

Feeling like his nerves had just been set on fire, Keigo glanced up at the Shinigami next to him. "You're his… companion, right? Aren't you going to help him?"

"No," the man said. "That's not really our way. Besides, look at how much fun he's having."

Keigo gulped. He looked up at the fight. The Shinigami clashed with the Hollow, that crazed smile still on his face. (It was a far cry from how Paku looked during her fights, that cute brand of smugness radiating from her when she was winning. Still, it was oddly familiar.)

"Don't you want to do something?" Keigo asked. "At least a little. I mean, he could die out there!"

The man scoffed, "Of course I want to, but I wont. It would be an insult to Ikkaku."

Keigo looked hard at the man next to him and once more at the fight. "Ikkaku" didn't seem to be doing too well. Letting out a sigh he leaned against the still intact part of the wall.

Shinigami were weird.

Part II

"Undecimo, huh?" Ichigo smirked, adjusting his grip on his Shikai. Goddamn did it feel good to be holding it again. "That'd be… Eleventh, right?"

"You would be correct," Shawlong said. The Hollow stretched himself to his full height, eyes cold as he gazed down at the Shinigami. It was obviously a look meant to intimidate. It might have worked had his opponent been someone else.

"Then I'd better make this quick," he said, readjusting his grip. "I'm Ichigo Shiba, Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division. Prepare to die."

Ichigo lunged at him, striking down hard and heavy, grinning as he watched the Arrancar dodge that as well as the follow up slash that would have cut the bastard right in half. The Arrancar landed a few meters away in midair, right where Ichigo wanted him.

"Getsuga Tenshō!"

Shawlong's eyes widened briefly, blurring from sight as a dark energy came at him with lightning speed. He landed on a nearby rooftop, panic starting to seep in as he gingerly held his badly burned arm.

That had Ichigo frowning. That attack should have taken Shawlong's arm clean off.

The higher ups sure are taking their sweet time, aren't they?

"A Lieutenant," the Hollow grunted out. "How fortunate for me."

"I'm not sure if I would say that," Ichigo quipped back. I'll just have to make due for now.

He came at the Hollow again, pushing his speed. He chased the man, slashing after him and holding back a curse when he realized he was having trouble keeping up.

That was alright, though. His strength lied in other areas.

"You gonna use that sword of yours any time soon?" he asked with a crooked grin. He watched as the Hollow frowned his hand going to it. In that little pause Ichigo scored a slice right across the guy's side sending him back with a hiss. He stumbled his landing.

"I just might have to," Shawlong answered. He unsheathed it. "Snip, Tijereta."

This time Ichigo cursed out loud. The power that overtook the Hollow was blinding, an energy expanding outwards and forcing Ichigo back several meters to safety. Blinking the spots out of his eyes he tried to get a good look at his new enemy.

The first thing he noticed was that the bastard's arm and side had gotten better, which, great. The second thing he noticed were the huge knife like claws, the prehensile tail tipped by wicked looking spikes, and the armor covering the man. So, this was his true form.

In a sudden flash that form was right in front of Ichigo, claws extended. Before Ichigo really knew what happened he was sent tumbling back, fingers clawing for purchase as his chest burned. With a scraped hand he grabbed onto the edge of a roof, biting back a scream. Taking a deep breath he dragged himself up.

"Resurrección," the Arrancar said with a smirk. Standing tall he flicked the blood off his claws. "This is the power that all us Arrancar possess. I'm afraid it will be your undoing, Lieutenant."

Ichigo flashed him a bloody grin. "Then I guess it's only fair I do this… Bankai!"

This time Shawlong was the one sent stumbling back as power enveloped Ichigo, the Old Man's presence coming to the forefront. (He was going to get a lecture for this one, he could already tell.)

For now, he let that familiar feeling of the form fitting robe, of Zangetsu's heavy weight in his palm wash over him, if only for a moment.

Shawlong didn't waste time coming at Ichigo again, expression unreadable. He slashed at the Shinigami, once, twice, frustration growing as Ichigo danced out of the way, him barely catching the ragged edge of his robe.

The Arrancar's tail came in for the third looping around for a stab only for Ichigo to dodge left and with a slice lop it right off. His opponent let out a stifled yelp, lashing out a hand lightning fast. It sent Ichigo flying into the opposite wall.

Yeah, he was definitely getting a lecture later. That was goddamn embarrassing.

With a grunt Ichigo tore himself from the wall landing below on shaky feet. He could feel the gashes along his face, neck, and shoulder. He ignored them.

"What a disappointment," Shawlong said. "I'd expect more from the Bankai of a Lieutenant."

Ichigo was about to snap back, tell him exactly where he could shove that disappointment, but his Lieutenant's badge chose then to buzz on his arm.

"Request for Limit release: Approved!"

Ichigo grinned as he felt the seal on his chest fade away. Shawlong did not.

"Wh-what does that me–?!"

"Getsuga Jūjishō!"

The attack sliced through the air, a cross lighting over Shawlong's chest, his eyes wide in shock. He fell to the ground in singed pieces.

Ichigo sheathed his Zanpakuto, feeling his Bankai dissipate. He stumbled to his feet.

"You spent the whole fight gloating, and for what?" Ichigo sighed out.

The Hollow didn't answer. He just dissolved, as all Hollows do.

Ichigo turned away, finally allowing himself to feel the burn of his wounds. He said he would meet up with Rukia, but it struck him that as he was now, he'd just end up being a burden.

(His vision was turning blurry. Blood saturated the black fabric of his uniform much more than he'd like.)

He wasn't one to break promises. All he had to do was find Orihime and then find Rukia. (Hopefully her fight had gone a lot better than his.)

Part III

Tōshiro looked disdainfully at the Hollow blood currently frozen to his Shikai. If he'd ever have to name the number one drawback of having an ice-based Zanpakuto…

It would be his weakness to heat, but that was why he had Lieutenant Arisawa. This was a close second, though.

It didn't help that the Arrancar hadn't even been worth the effort. Di Roy Rinker, the Dieciséis Arrancar. What a joke. Tōshiro was beginning to think he'd overestimated Aizen. Then again, it seemed plenty of others were still dealing with their own fights. He'd better help where he could.

He turned his senses outward. Lieutenant Matsumoto seemed close by, seemed to be having some trouble, even. He'd lend her a hand, then.

Part IV

The first thing that had Renji thinking something had gone seriously wrong were the giant spikes of Reiatsu throughout the city, so obvious that, well, even he could sense them loud and clear.

The second was the laughter that had him stopping in his tracks.

It was low, gleeful, and annoying as hell. When a slender blonde man (Hollow) descended from the trees he came to a Renji that wasn't nearly as surprised or fearful as the freak probably wanted him to be. Still, he unsheathed his blade, a grin on his face.

"You're so serious for a human," he said. "Then again, you aren't a normal human, are you?"

Renji activated his spikes. "I'm not." The Hollow whistled appreciatively.

"Good," he said happily, "That's going to make this a whole lot more interesting. Yylfordt Granz, Quince Arrancar."

Renji cocked an eyebrow. He'd heard of this particular quirk from Rukia a few times. "Renji Abarai… Fullbringer." Yylfordt's grin widened.

The Arrancar wasted no time attacking him, sword coming down fast on Renji, forcing him into an awkward block. For such a wiry guy, the Hollow seemed to have a lot of strength, much more than Renji was expecting. It was all he could do to deflect the blow and try to punch past the fumble.

The punch barely grazed the man, Renji letting out a growl as he followed through with a kick that had the Yylfordt jumping wholly out of range. That only lasted a moment, though.

In the next, Renji was being rushed with a speed he hadn't thought possible. He dropped down to avoid a stab, not even having time to react when the blade instead caved a decent slice off the top of his shoulder.

He clamped a hand to his wound, tried to rush the bastard in return–

And he was on his back, street cracking from the impact, his spine screaming at him. He slapped down a hand to lever himself up, trying to push it to the back of his mind, and suddenly there was a hand at his shirt-collar, dragging him up.

He was centimeters away from the business end of a sword.

He felt… dazed, in more ways than one. That was it, huh? That was really all it took.

The Arrancar grinned down at him, a crazed sort of glee in his eyes. His sword came down.

Part V

When Orihime felt the Arrancar come she had been in the middle of drying her hair, trying to enjoy a peaceful summer night in the back of the Shiba Shop.

Then came the Reiatsu, and in seconds she was ditching the Gigai, making a beeline for the one several blocks away that didn't seem to be with a Shinigami yet. That didn't mean it was alone, however.

One look at the scene and she was summoning her Shikai. "Blossom, Shun Shun Rikka!"

The shields couldn't have come quickly enough, enveloping a worn down Renji, halting the bleeding of his shoulder. The Hollow's blade clanged harmlessly against it. She trained her hands on the enemy, watching as he flashed her a smirk.

"A Shinigami… How interesting."

"Are you okay?" she asked Renji quickly.

"Fine," he hissed out. He had a hand clamped to his wounded shoulder. One of his spikes seemed to be broken off. He didn't look "fine." Still, he scrambled up next to her, a determined look on his face.

"Go to the shop," she ordered. "I'll take care of this one."

"No way," he said firmly. "Yylfordt here pissed me off." His spikes flared out wider with his anger. She didn't have the time to argue with him right now.

"Yylfordt Granz," the Hollow corrected. "Quince Arrancar."

Summoning the rest of her butterflies she boxed the Arrancar in, a hand aimed his way.

With a pleasant smile she answered back, "Orhime Inoue, Third Seat, Fourth Division. Hadō Number Fifty-Four, Haien."

The Hollow dodged the only way he could, up, jumping into the air, his shoes getting caught in the crossfire. He kicked them off in a hurry, the sandals turning to cinders as he darted away to avoid more of her butterflies. He was fast, but not Tatsuki fast.

"That a promotion I hear?" Renji asked.

She nodded back, pleased. "At first I felt bad taking Hanatarō's place, but he was very nice about it."

He flashed her a grin before going in at the Hollow again. Renji's speed couldn't even compare, but it forced the Hollow to slow down just enough for her to…

Granz broke away from Renji, turning to Orihime and forcing her butterflies to come to her aid just in time to block his blow.

"Hadō Number Four, Byakurai!" she called.

He dodged back in an instant, feinting to the side, the spell catching him in the face. He stumbled back, and Orihime couldn't tell if she'd really hurt him or just made him angry.

"You… BITCH!" he screamed. It was then that she got a good look at his face, the heavily damaged eye all but sealed shut, the melted skin. Both, then, she thought. Too bad it wasn't enough to take him down.

Renji came at Granz, kicking him away and forcing him to blur back.

"I've had enough of this," Granz muttered. "I'm ending this, now. I'm gonna fucking kill the both of you!"

"Right back at you, buddy!" Renji yelled. At that, the Hollow gave them a disturbed smile.

"Skewer, Del Toro."

Orihime's eyes widened. That sounded a whole lot like a release command. She prepared a spell, one with just a little more kick to it, and bringing her hands up she–

She was jerked up into the air, Reiryoku from her hands dissipating as she choked on nothing. Well, no, not nothing.

Looking down she saw the transformed Hollow. He was not the skinny man from before. He looked more like a bull, hunched over, steam rising from his nostrils, and covered to the waist in a Hollow's armor. On the top of his skull were two horns, each as long as a katana. One was currently buried in her stomach.

"ORIHIME!" she heard Renji yell. She could barely breath, much less respond.

Then, she was being bucked off, and in a moment her butterflies came to her, forming a perimeter around her stomach, boxing away the wound and easing the pain before it had a chance to hit.

Impalement injury. Upper diaphragm. Seal off with proper Kidō spell. Send orders to prepare–

Orihime cut off her harried thoughts. She breathed through it all, bringing herself onto her feet. She'd be fine. As long as she had her Shikai she'd be fine.

Before her, Granz was letting out a distorted snarl. She looked back down seeing all six of her butterflies doing their best to keep her alive. This just got a lot harder.

They were still waiting on Limit Release, weren't they? If she could only buy them time until then…

Renji rushed to her side, eyes wide, hands hovering as he looked completely and utterly lost. "Shit, are you okay? Wait, stupid question. No, you're not fucking okay–!"

"I'm fine," she stressed, "and I think I know how to defeat him. I just need some time."

"I… I can get you time," he answered with a nod. She flashed him a smile.

This smile fell when she saw him run right in front of Granz, hands waving wildly in the air.

"HEY, YOU BIG STUPID!" he yelled. He then turned to dart out of the way of Granz's charging attack, rolling on the ground as the Arrancar impacted with a light post.

Graz's new form wasn't as fast, it seemed. This might actually work.

"Hadō Number Sixty-Three, Raikōhō!" she yelled at his back. Lightning crackled along her palm, striking out at the Hollow. He turned just in time, veering out of the way and impacting with a nearby wall. The spell struck the ground leaving a small crater in its wake. It wasn't her best work, she'd admit.

Orihime kept the spells coming, chasing after as she tried to keep the Hollow just distracted enough to prevent him from skewering Renji. The fight moved erratically throughout the town, eventually leading them to the tree line of the park.

She watched as Renji got just distracted enough, just tired enough to run headfirst into one of the older trees along the edge. It was enough to make her heart stop. Then, scrapes and all, he tore himself away, diving left as Granz collided with it, horns burying deep into the wood.

"Request for Limit Release: Approved!"

It couldn't have come at a better time.

The Hollow reared back, tearing the tree from its roots and snapping it like a mere twig in the process.

"Bakudō Number Sixty-Two, Hyapporankan!"

A spear of light manifested in Orihime's hand, and with a single throw, dozens impacted with the Hollow, burrowing into his armor and pinning him to the wreckage of the old tree like… well, a butterfly.

(Excuse her giddiness. After about thirty failed spells, this was a breath of fresh air.)

"What the fuck was that?!"

"Limit Release," Orihime said calmly. "Us ranking Shinigami can't just use our full power in the World of the Living whenever we'd like, not without consequences. Approval was requested for it the moment you invaded. We have just received it."

Beside her Renji slumped to the ground, chest heaving. "I've never run that fast in my entire goddamn life."

"Let me go!" Granz roared. "Let me go you bastards!"

"I don't think so," Orihime said back. She brought her hands up in front of her, and used the one spell she could think of that could end this cleanly and quickly.

Captain Unohana had taught her this one herself. This would be her first time using it, like this anyway.

Reiryoku gathered along her fingertips she snapped eight times, sparks darting around Granz's head, forming a cubed barrier around it, a light harmless blue. She brought her hands together in a resounding clap.

"Standing Ovation."

The barrier turned red, and through his mask Orihime could see Granz's eye widen, just for a moment. In the next moment his head was sliding from his body as it dissolved from existence.

Orihime let out a breath, sending up a silent prayer. Then, her feet gave out from under her.

Strong arms caught her before she could fall, and just as she was about to give Renji a quiet thanks she looked up and saw Ichigo, a frown on his face. His condition didn't look much better, to her eye. The familiarity of it all had her smiling.

"Thanks," she said, separating herself from him. She was pretty sure she could stand on her own, for now, at least.

He shrugged. "I'm glad to see your guys' fight went alright… sorta," he said awkwardly.

"Are all these bastards this tough?" Renji groaned.

"It could have been a lot worse," Ichigo said simply. "I think most are done fighting by now, all except… Rukia."

Renji stiffened. Then, he let out a sigh. "Of course. Who else could it be?"

Ichigo sent him a pointed glance before turning back to Orihime. "Patch me up. I'm gonna try and help her out."

"Ichigo," she sighed, "you're severely injured," he opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off, "and you can't keep yourself together with your own Zanpakuto. I'll go."

"Or," Renji interrupted, "I could go, you know, as the least injured person here."

Ichigo sent him a hard stare. "Would you even be able to find her? I'm pretty sure tracking isn't your thing."

"Hey! I've gotten a little better! Besides, even I could find a fight."

Orihime looked between the two of them exasperatedly, hoping that either of them would use their heads, here.

Ichigo frowned, considering. "Well, I guess we'll all have to go." Renji shrugged, relenting.

She wasn't sure what she was thinking. With a sigh she readied a spell for Ichigo. He wasn't going anywhere before she stopped the bleeding.

Part VI

"There you are."

Rukia skidded to a stop. She was maybe one block away from Renji's house. Why did someone have to stop her now of all times?

The heavy thud of someone landing right behind her sounded, and with a sigh she unsheathed her Zanpakuto.

The person facing her was an odd one. With his bright blue hair combed back like some biker punk's she might have thought him just that, a biker punk. What gave him away was the jawbone stuck to his face and the hole in his stomach.

"Sexta Espada, Grimmjow Jagerjaquez," he said with a grin. "Remember that, Substitute."

It struck her immediately that he was much different from the last one she had faced. It was something in the way he held himself, in the swagger of his step. She'd have to be careful.

"Then again," he scoffed, "someone as weak as you probably won't have long to."

She attacked him then, lashing out and striking at his core. With a hand he grabbed her blade mid-swing. He sneered down at her.

A thousand warning bells went off in Rukia's head and before she could even think about it she was jumping back and out of reach. He simply rolled his eyes, shaking the chill from his hand.

"What the fuck was that?" he asked in a bored tone. "You really should pull out your mask, already, Substitute, cause…"

Suddenly he was right in front of her, clawed hand coming down. She had barely a moment to dodge back.

"If you don't, I'm gonna kill ya."

Pulse pounding, Rukia brought up a hand, only to force it down. No, she had to time it just right.

"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!" she yelled. He smirked.

"Now we're talking!" he roared. She answered him by sending a Next Dance his way, forcing hm back. She kept them coming.

To her dismay, he not only dodged them, he made it look easy, almost seeming to float out of the way. Still, some good came out of it. She watched as with a smirk he hopped over the back fence and into the cemetery garden. She chased after, sending him further in, far away from all those sleeping soundly in their apartments.

"I know you can do more than that, Substitute!" Jaegerjaquez yelled. "The mask, now!"

She scowled, halting her attack. Here goes nothing. "Bankai!"

His eyes widened as a burst of cold went out, the air around her quickly dropping in temperature as her Zanpakuto's form changed, her changing along with it.

Then, heart pounding, she pulled her mask over her face.

Her next attack was a bit more effective. She swung at the Arrancar, forcing him away as several trees in her path were frozen solid, them cracking apart soon after. It was only then that he unsheathed his sword, his blade meeting hers and driving her back into a deadlock.

"That wasn't on Ulquiorra's report," he growled out. That incessant grin was still on his face.

She pushed him back, hiding a wince as the movement cracked open a healed scar along her elbow. She put a hand over it, freezing the wound over. Jaegerjaquez took notice.

"And no wonder," he commented with a smirk. She attacked him for it, destroying two more trees and missing him. Already she could feel her mask cracking. Did she have so little time in Bankai?

One thing was certain. She needed to strike now, and she needed to strike hard, assuming she wanted to survive.

She came at Jaegerjaquez with all of her speed, Reiryoku charged in her blade as she slashed him across the chest, frost forming in the wound immediately. With that, several chunks of the mask fell away, exposing her mouth.

He disappeared suddenly, sending her into high alert, but unable to react fast enough. His hand felt scorchingly hot at the back of her neck, and with great force he threw her forward, sending her tumbling on the ground, frost in her wake.

With a groan she stumbled up to her hands and knees, mask falling away.

"Fuck!" Jaegerjaquez hissed. The frost on his hand didn't just shake away, this time. It stuck, enveloping his hand and starting a slow spread up his wrist. "Well, I'll tell you this," he growled. "You've finally made it worth my time to kill you."

Bringing a foot under her it struck Rukia that this was her chance, while he was incapacitated. Even without the mask, if she could get in just one good attack… She brought up her sword and–

Her heart stopped as someone appeared behind Jaegerjaquez, hand on the Hollow's Zanpakuto.

It wasn't an Arrancar, and it certainly wasn't one of her friends. It was a Captain, one of those that had run off with Aizen back on Sōgyoku Hill.

Outwardly, Rukia was still. Inwardly, she was panicking. Could she beat Jaegerjaquez? Maybe. Jaegerjaquez and a Captain? Doubtful.

"Sheath your sword, Grimmjow," he said.

"Tōsen," Jaegerjaquez bit out, "why the hell are you here?!"

"Why…" The man sighed. "Do you really not understand?"

The glare that Jaegerjaquez sent him said it all. Tōsen turned away, stepping into the air towards the portal opened above them.

The Shinigami continued, anger bubbling just under the surface, "Invading the World of the Living. Mobilizing five Arrancar without permission. Attacking Shinigami… Lord Aizen is absolutely furious."

Jaegerjaquez's good fist clenched so hard that it shook.

"We're leaving," Tōsen said firmly. "Your punishment will be decided in Hueco Mundo."

"Shit," the Hollow hissed. Still, he stepped up with the Captain. "…Alright."

Rukia was left on the ground.

"Y…You're leaving?!" she yelled. "Is that all you Arrancar can do, run away?!"

She was being given an out. She should have just taken it and been grateful, yet…

"Shut up!" he yelled back. "If it weren't for Tōsen, here, I'd have splattered you all over these trees with my released form!"

Rukia's breath caught in her throat. She'd suspected they might have something like that, but…

"Don't worry, though, Substitute," he continued behind the closing portal. "You'll see me again, and when you do… you'll meet your end."

The portal closed, the sky becoming whole once again. Rukia's Bankai disappeared leaving her with nothing but a sealed sword and a bleeding arm.

"Rukia!" she heard suddenly. Ichigo, she thought. Crunching leaves, snapping branches, and the loud bickering of her friends broke the silence of the garden.

Despite everything, when her three friends stumbled onto the scene, she just felt tired. The fact that they all looked so bad didn't help.

"Rukia!" Orihime cried. "Are… are you alright?"

Without too much trouble Rukia stood up, hand on her injured arm.

"I'm alright," she said quietly.

Orihime let out a long sigh. "At least one of us is. Come on, let's hurry over to the Shiba Shop. I doubt I can handle all these injuries on my own."

With a patient hand on her shoulder, Orihime steered Rukia back towards the fence. She was the first the jump it, flashing Rukia a sympathetic smile.

Ichigo was second. He walked over, stopped by Rukia, and saying nothing, placed a hand on her head, messing her hair. She didn't have it in her to glare at him for it. He jumped.

Renji was last, lingering for a few seconds, unsure, looking at her for something. She decided to give him something.

"I lost."

He flinched at first, bringing a hand up to the back of his neck, uncomfortable.

"You're… you're alive," he eventually said. "That's what matters."

Rukia brought up a hand, wiping away the tear that she didn't realize was there. She sniffed loudly, nodded and jumped over the fence. Renji came right after.

She lost, but she was alive. All she had to do was make sure that next time she won. With that in her mind, she walked slowly with the others to the shop.


I played a little fast and loose with some powers and abilities. Things like giving Ichigo a late manga ability that only appeared because his Bankai was split in half, or having Orihime use a spell specifically signature to Hachigen. I believe it was all in good fun and that the coolness factor outweighed the possible headscratcher. If you disagree you can always fight wit me in the comments. (They do give me life, after all…)