Main POV

"Uh, hey, listen, do you have a minute?"

Ikkaku looked back at me. I'd grabbed a hold of his sleeve, gripping the fabric tightly but refusing to look at him in the eye. I didn't know why I was so nervous. I knew I was asking one of the manga characters I admired most but I was acting as if I hadn't been friends with him for the past several months.

"Uotani," Renji said from beside him. "What's wrong?"

"I uh.." I started. I could feel Yumichika's thoughtful, analysing gaze on me. I bit my lip and looked at them all.

"Is something bothering you?" Ikkaku asked genuinely.

"Yes," I confirmed. "I need you help. I'm useless and I'd like to be less so."

"What?" Renji scoffed.

"You guys are the best fighters I know," I explained. "And before I met you I couldn't even throw a punch. I can't defend myself, and I'd like to. I don't need to be the best, or the strongest, but I'd like to stop having to depend on everyone else for everything. I want to stop being a burden. Ichigo, he'd never admit it, but it's killing him. He worries so much in case he can't be there, in case he's not strong enough. And you're strong and skilled and the best people I know of to do this. So please, if you can, please teach me how to defend myself, how to fight. I have to get stronger. I need to get stronger."

I was bowing in front of them. None of them had said anything, they stared at me in a semi state of shock. Yumichika cleared his throat. Ikkaku and Renji cleared their throat.

"You know Ichigo is strong and skilled too right, I'm sure he'd understand how you're feeling," Renji said.

"Yeah, Ichigo would be happy to teach you, he's not that kind of guy," Ikkaku agreed.

"I know that," I shook my head. "I already talked to him about what I asked you. I'm asking you because no matter the circumstances, Ichigo will never hurt me."

"And you're worried that you won't learn anything if we hold back too much," Yumichika nodded. "I see, you want someone to hit you, and hard."

"Without any real threat, I won't learn, not enough," I explained.

"If Urahara is your friend, why not ask him or Yoruichi to help you?" Ikkaku asked. "Why us?"

"You're the first people I thought of," I shrugged. "I mean, you're from Squad 11. Renji, you used to be the 6th seat, Yumichika-san, Ikkaku, you're still there. And even when Ichigo was the enemy, I mean you were giving him fighting tips when you battled him. You care about fighting. You see the art in it. I want someone who's serious, and I want help from, well listen, you're right Urahara is my friend but he's not.."

"I understand," Ikkaku nodded. "I didn't realise Ichigo had told you so much. He must really love you."

"It doesn't matter to me if he does, the fact is I love him, and I can't be a burden to him," I replied. "So please, I'll get on my knees if I have to, teach me."

"That's not necessary," Yumichika put his hand up to stop me.

"We'll help you," Renji told me.

"We'd have no right to call ourselves men if we didn't," Ikakku replied and I nodded. He squatted on the ground and started stretching out his muscles, bouncing from side to side. "Alright," he said. "I'll show you one of my lucky dances and we'll get started."

"Wait, really?" I recoiled. I was going to get to see one of his goofy lucky dances in person, this was awesome. "You're gonna show me your lucky dance?"

"One of," he replied. "Why, is that a problem?"

"No," I shook my head. I couldn't tell if I was nervous or excited. Sure one of the best fighters in all of the seireitei was about to train me but I was serious when I said I really admired him. He was a good man, and he didn't kill Ichigo when he had the chance to all those years ago. We all know he could have. He was skilled and he sought to pass on those skills, even to Ichigo, who was his enemy at the time. Kenpachi, Renji they all did the same when they fought him.

"Alright," Ikkaku said. "Prepare yourself."

Ichigo POV

"She's really been down there all day, with them?" Rangiku asked. I shrugged.

"I was at school so I don't know if she spent every second, but she went there when I left and I haven't seen her come up since I got back," I told her.

"Gee, I hope they're not too tired to take over their patrol," Rangiku said.

"I doubt it," I said. "Uo's stronger than the average human but for two lieutenants and a 3rd seat, she'd be no real match. Especially these guys."

"Thanks Ichigo," Uo popped up from the hole in the floor. She had dirt all over her and some dried in blood on the side of her head. Overall though, she didn't look to beat up.

"Not what I meant," I sighed and she laughed.

"I know," she pulled herself up the rest of the way. "Any luck on the smelly, big bad?"

"Nope," I replied. "Rangiku?"

"Radio silence," she told us. I sighed.

"So we're holled up here for no reason," I said. "But we can't leave because that is exactly when they'll strike."

"What do you mean we," Uo glared at me. "You can leave whenever you like. It's just me stuck here because I'm useless."

"You're not useless," I told her. I wondered if training hadn't gone so well.

"Okay yeah I'm good at math and getting what I want from people. Big whoop. How helpful is that in a war, which is what this is turning into. I need to either sink or swim and I need to swim fast or even if I do learn I'll get washed away by the tide."

"I know how you feel," I sighed. "When Rukia first got taken, when Renji and Byakuya first showed up, I felt pretty useless too. You'll get stronger, and with all of us helping you hopefully you won't have to repeatedly almost die to do it."

"I can't even tell what they want. I can't even be the guy in the chair, I can't even give you that. I thought at least if I could tell you where they were, what they wanted I'd have a purpose, it wouldn't matter that I can't even open a jar without assistance. But here I am," she told me.

"I don't know what I can say, besides what I've already been saying Uo, but it will get better, you will get stronger and we will figure it out," I assured her. "We just need to take your mind off it for a while."

"No way you guys," Ikkaku called as he climbed into the room. "I know exactly what you guys do when you try to take her mind off of things."

Uo's cheeks went scarlette. I could help but feel a little bit proud. Rangiku burst out laughing, she'd no doubt heard the story.

"So when are we getting the Hitsugaya replacements?" Uo asked.

"They should actually be here already, I wonder what's keeping them," Rangiku told us.

"Damn them," I muttered. "Can never trust those guys to show up when you need 'em."

Izuru POV

"Yo, when were we supposed to go meet Captain Hitsugaya in the world of the living?" Shuhei asked me. I paled. Shit.