They fell together.

Toshiro and Ganju held onto each other as Toshiro struggled to keep his grip on his sword. Several meters above them, Orihime and Uryu continued to clutch the zanpakuto's chain.

As the approached the ground, Orihime attempted to reach out to summon her fairies to cushion theif all, but she could not do so without letting go of either the chain or Uryu.

Instead, Ganju, who was only using one arm to hold onto Toshiro, extended his arm and moved his hand in a predetermined pattern.

"Turn to sand, Seppa!" Ganju yelled.

The ground below them swirled for a moment before dissolving into sand. Ganju and Toshiro landed first, the sand cushioning their impact. A second later, Orihime and Uryu landed on top of them.

Ganju was knocked down, but Toshiro, as the smallest of them, was practically buried in the sand when Orihime and Uryu landed.

"Oh no! Toshiro!"

They quickly pulled Toshiro up. He leaned against the edge of the sand crater they had landed in and proceeded to cough up sand.

He continued to breath hard after he was done coughing up sand.

"Are you all right?" Orihime asked.

Toshiro nodded and sat down. He looked at Ganju. "I didn't know you could do that."

Ganju grinned. "You're welcome."

"Speaking of things we didn't you could do," Uryu said, "since when does your zanpakuto have a long chain?"

"Since forever, it seems," Toshiro answered. He suddenly looked up.

Ganju, Uryu, and Orihime turned to see what Toshiro was looking at.

On the roof above them were two Shinigami, a bald one and one with long, black hair.

The bald Shinigami grinned broadly. "Boy, am I lucky. Here I was slacking off because it's a pain to get to my post, and plop comes my reward right in front of me." He and his companion leapt off of the roof onto the ground in front of them.

"Lucky. Lucky. Luuuuuccccccky!" The bald one began to chant, dancing on his tippy-toes while brandishing his still sheathed sword in its scabbard.

"I think he's got a few screws loose." Ganju whispered to Toshiro, who nodded bewilderedly.

"Their reiatsus are huge," Uryu observed. "Much bigger than Jidanbou's."

"Just great," Toshiro grunted as he climbed out of the sand pit.

"What are you doing?" Uryu yelled. "You don't really intend to fight them?"

Toshiro looked back at him. "We have no idea where we are or where we're going. Might as well make do with what we've got here."

The bald Shinigami was amused. "I admire your spunk, kid. You're either really brave or really stupid. Most people would run away."

"Four people can't run away and hide as easily as one," Toshiro answered. "On the other hand, we have you outnumbered."

"So you think you have strength in numbers?" the bald man asked. "Who do you think you're dealing with?"

"We really don't care," Uryu said, stepping up beside Toshiro.

"And a new challenger enters the ring," the bald Shinigami said. He looked at Orihime and Ganju. "What about you two? Maybe if all of you come at me at once I might break a sweat-"

He stopped as an arrow narrowly missed his face.

"That's enough of your prattle," Uryu said as he held his bow aloft.

A vein appeared near the eye of the bald Shinigami as he squinted in anger. "Why you … "

The long haired Shinigami put his hand on his comrade's shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Ikkaku. I'll teach that one some manners. You can focus on the others."

"Fair enough, Yumichika."

The two Shinigami drew their swords.

'I really wish Uryu hadn't had done that,' Toshiro thought as he drew his own zanpakuto. He was still breathing heavily and was somewhat dizzy from his time under the sand. 'If he had continued prattling I'd have had more time to recover.'

Behind them, Ganju and Orihime had climbed out onto the other side of the sand pit.

"Shouldn't we help them?" Orihime asked.

"I think we should run away," Ganju said. "But if I did that while you all stayed then my sister would kill me."

The four combatants stood at the ready, not moving a muscle.

Ikkaku noticed that Toshiro was breathing more heavily and sweating more than Uryu. He waited, and saw Toshiro quickly glance at Uryu.

Ikkaku struck. "You're just a little greenhorn!" he yelled as he sung his sword down at Toshiro, who just managed to jump out of the way.

'He dodged it?" Ikkaku wondered in surprise.

Toshiro retaliated by swinging his own sword at Ikkaku, who blocked the attack with his sheath.

'Who fights with his scabbard?" Toshiro wondered.

Uryu was caught off guard by Ikkaku's attack on Toshiro and was unable to fire his arrow at Yumichika before the latter swung his own sword at him.

Uryu was forced to back up to avoid Yumichika's strikes. His looked back in fright as his foot stepped partially over the edge of the sand pit.

"Die!" Yumichika yelled as he thrust his sword at Uryu's heart.

Uryu leapt back over the sand pit, putting some distance between himself and Yumichika. He took the opportunity to knock an arrow and fire it at his opponent.

Yumichika moved to the side to dodge the arrow, which passed so close the wind from its passing caused his hair to sway.

The Shinigami grinned at the scowling Quincy. "A bow can be an elegant weapon. But I'm afraid not in your hands."

Meanwhile, Toshiro and Ikkaku continued to exchange blows. The bald Shinigami had the advantage in height, weight, and reach, but was unable to land a blow on his small opponent.

However, Toshiro was not fairing any better. Thanks to the use of his sheath, Ikkaku could block and attack at the same time, giving Toshiro few opportunities to go on the offensive.

Toshiro leapt away from the confrontation, giving himself time to rethink his strategy.

"Not bad, greenhorn," Ikkaku said. "But you'll never beat me like that."

Toshiro looked at where Uryu, Yumichika, Orihime, and Ganju were.

'I can't do it. They're too close,' he thought.

"Don't get distracted!" Ikkaku yelled, slashing at Toshiro again.

This time, Toshiro blocked the blow. His knees buckled slightly under the impact, but he held his ground.

Gritting his teeth, Toshiro pushed back. Now in a better position, he raised one leg and kicked Ikkaku's scabbard out of his other hand.

For once, Ikkaku's eyes left his opponent as he watched the sheath fly away. Toshiro took advantage of his momentary distraction with a slash to his head, which he still mostly avoided.

Ikkaku then backed away from Toshiro. He was bleeding above his right eye.

"So, first blood to the greenhorn," he observed as he picked up his scabbard. "Who'd have thought it?"

'My head seems to be clearing, at least' Toshiro thought. His breathing was slower than it had been when the fight had started, and his light-headedness had disappeared.

"Tell me, greenhorn, what's your name?"

"Toshiro Hisugaya."

"Another Shiro with white hair, huh? Well, I'm Ikkaku Madarame, the third seat of Squad 11."

Uyru leapt away from the next attack.

'This is bad,' he thought. 'This area is too narrow for me to fight properly. I need more room.'

Yumichika came in close in his next attack, forcing Uryu to blocked with his bow.

"Hmph, I'm surprised your bow didn't shatter," Yumichika said

"Don't underestimate me!" Uryu yelled. He forced the bow forward, the tip of it scratching Yumichika;s cheek.

Yumichika backed off and put his hand to his cheek.

"What?"

He looked at his hand, which held droplets of blood.

Yumichika glared at Uryu. "You-you maimed my face! My beautiful face! You'll die for that!"

He held out his zanpakuto, which began to glow.

"Bloom, Fuji Kukaku!"

Ikkaku removed a cap from the tip of his scabbard and stuck his finger in it. He ran his finger over the wound above his eye, rubbing an ointment that stopped the bleeding.

"Shoot," Toshiro muttered.

"What was that?" Ikkaku asked.

Toshiro looked at him seriously. "If you've got an ointment that stops your bleeding, I can't afford to hold back."

"Hold back?" Ikkaku grinned. "You act like an amateur, but…"

Clang!

Toshiro barely blocked the blow. Ikkaku followed up with three thrusts that forced Toshiro back.

"You have excellent reflexes!"

Ikkaku let up his barrage for a second and Toshiro immediately responded with an overhanded attack of his own. Ikkaku was able to block it, but it the impact still drove him to one knee.

"And fierce attacks!"

They traded blows, neither gaining any headway.

"As for agility…"

Ikkauku swiped at Toshiro's feet. He leapt over the attack and over Ikkauku's head.

"I don't mind saying that you're close to me!"

Toshiro took another battle stance. Ikkaku's smile broadened.

"No, Toshiro. You're much too good to be written off as an amateur with good instincts." Ikkaku's smile faded, and he asked "Tell me, who was your master?"

Toshiro's eyes narrowed again, and he replied "I only learned with him for ten days, so I don't know if he could be called my master, but there is a man who taught me how to fight."

"Who?" Ikkauku demanded.

"Kisuke … Urahara …"

Ikkaku's eyes widened.

"So he's your master." Ikkauku said gravely. "In that case, it would be rude to fight you without giving it my all."

Ikkauku put his Zanpakuto and scabbard together in front of him.

"Extend, Hozukimaru!"

Toshiro shielded his eyes from a momentary flash of light. When it faded, Ikkauku's sword and scabbard were gone, replaced by-

'A spear?!' Toshiro wondered.

Ikkaku brandished his new weapon. "Here I come, Toshiro! Don't misjudge!"

"Yeah right." Toshiro muttered, backing up as Ikkaku resumed his attack. The spear was long and heavy, but it did not slow Ikkaku down at all.

'His reach is longer now.' Toshiro thought, 'but if I get in close the advantage is all mine.'

Ikkaku stopped momentarily, then charged straight at Toshiro.

'That's my opening!'

Toshiro ran at Ikkaku as well, holding his Zanpakuto up at his side to deflect the spear. He passed the blade at the edge and continued toward his opponent.

'His weapon's useless now!'

Ikkaku grinned wildly. "Split apart, Hozukimaru!"

Toshiro's eyes widened in fear as he turned his head to see the spear split into three sections, each connected by a chain. The first section swung around Toshiro, it's blade aimed straight at his head.

Yumichika was easily deflecting Uryu's shots with his released zanpakuto.

"Is that all you've got?" Yumichika asked.

Uryu smiled. "To tell you the truth, I was saving my strength for a more worthy opponent."

"Worthy?" Yumichika's brow furled in anger. "How dare you. I am the fifth seat of – "

He barely moved out of the way as an arrow far larger than the previous ones had been. The arrow took some of his hair with it.

Yumichika ran his hand through his hair.

"Impossible …" he said in fear.

He stared as Uryu knocked another arrow.

"Toshiro!" Orihime cried out.

Uryu and Yumichika turned to look at the fight taking place on the other side of the sand pit.

Toshiro was leaning forward, surrounded by the three-part-poll. A large amount of blood was at his feet.

But his head was still attached to his body for the chain and sickle had appeared again at the end of Toshiro's Zanpakuto. It had wrapped itself around the end of Ikkaku's spear, allowing Toshiro to pull his enemy's weapon away from his head just in time. The spear had slashed open a large gash above Toshiro's eye.

"Your sword changed shape without you calling out its name." Ikkaku said in wonder. "How did you-"

"This isn't my sword's release." Toshiro said, barely able to keep his eye open.

"What?"

'Not its release?' Ikkaku wondered. 'How can that be? What power is he still holding back?'

Ikkaku pulled on his spear to free it from Toshiro's chain and bring it back into position, but Toshiro gritted his teeth and pulled on the chain as well.

"Give it up." Toshiro said. "Your weapon can't cut me anymore."

"Do you think this is a game?" Ikkaku growled. "This is a battle! It doesn't end until one of us is dead!"

He charged at Toshiro again, screaming like a madman.

"That's enough!" Toshiro yelled, swinging his sword in an uppercut. He sliced open Ikkaku's side, stomach, and chest with a single a single attack.

Ikkaku stopped in his tracks, his mouth hanging open.

"Damn it." He muttered. "You're strong. I guess I've got bad luck after all."

Ikkaku collapsed in a heap as Toshiro looked at him dejectedly.

"It didn't have to go down like this," he said softly.

Ikkaku laughed despite himself. "You really are a greenhorn."

"Ikkaku!" Yumichika yelled as he watched his friend go down.

"Worry about yourself," Uryu warned before firing four arrows at each of Yumichika's limbs. The arrows struck his clothes, pinning him to the nearby wall.

"Damn it!" Yumichi screamed as he struggled to free himself.

Uryu raised his bow one more time. "This is it, Shnigami."

"No!" Toshiro yelled, grabbing the end of the bow.

"What are you doing?" Uryu demanded.

"They're beaten! There's no need to kill them!"

"They can identify us," Uryu pointed out. "If we let them live they'll tell others exactly what to look for."

"They've already identified us," Toshiro countered. "That captain the other day. He saw us too."

"And besides, we need them to tell us where to go."

"I'll never tell you anything!" Yumichika snarled at them.

A weak voice caused him to stop his struggling.

"It's all right …. Yumichika … "

"Ikkaku … "

"Hey … kid …" Ikkaku called.

Toshiro walked back over to him.

"What is it … you want to know?"

"Rukia Kuchiki," Toshiro said. "Where is she?"

"The death row prisoner? Why do you want to know about her?"

"We're here to save her."

Ikkaku's eyes widened. "This is a rescue mission? How many of you are there?"

"I'm the one asking the questions!" Toshiro said angrily. He could not tell the Shinigami about Chad and Yoruichi.

Ikkaku strained to look at the others with Toshiro. "There had better be far more of you than that, or you won't stand a chance of succeeding. It's suicide."

"It might be," Toshiro admitted, "but that's a risk we're all willing to take."

Ikkaku sighed. "Go directly south from here."

Toshiro leaned down to hear him better.

"You'll come to the stations for the 13 Court Guard Squads. Off by itself, at the far west end of all the squad stations you'll see a tall white tower. That's where the prisoner's being held."

Toshiro stood up. "Orihime!" he called.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Can you heal him?"

"What is wrong with you?" Ganju yelled. "Not killing them is one thing, but healing them so they can come after us?"

"I agree," Uryu said. "We cannot linger here."

"We don't need to bring him back to full health, just to make sure he doesn't bleed to death. We owe him that much for the information," Toshiro explained. He turned to Orihime. "Can you do it?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Orihime summoned her fairies and created a forcefield around Ikkaku.

As she worked, Uryu walked over to Toshiro. "You are going to get us all killed," he said angrily.

Toshiro ignored him. "As soon as you're sure he'll survive, we're leaving."

"Wait," Ikkaku said, calling Toshiro closer. "I have … a question I must ask you."

"I told you I was the one asking the questions."

Ikkaku ignored him and asked anyway. "Would you say that you are the strongest in your group?"

That made Toshiro pause. "Maybe."

The Shinigami smiled. "Then watch out for our captain, Zaraki Kenpachi. He's not interested in weaklings. If you are the strongest, he'll be coming for you."

"Is he powerful?" Toshiro asked.

"When you meet him, you'll see, if you can survive long enough for your brain to comprehend his strength."