I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.
Retrieval
Kurai leaned against the wall and waited. After a moment, the lieutenant of Squad Six, Renji Abarai, walked around the corner and sighed, seeing him.
"You do know what you'll be dragging her away from, right?" Kurai questioned.
"I don't like it any more than you," Renji stated. "It's not my call. I'm going with Captain Kuchiki."
"I see," Kurai nodded. "There's something I have to do. I'll see you in a bit."
Renji raised an eyebrow but Kurai sprinted away, racing to find his own captain. When he did, he slid to a stop already in a kneeling position.
"You seem to be in a hurry," Captain Zaraki noted. "What's the matter?"
"I would like your permission to accompany Captain Kuchiki and Lieutenant Abarai on their mission to the World of the Living," Kurai requested.
"Hmm," Captain Zaraki thought aloud. "What do you think Yachiru?"
"I think we should let Flowers go," Yachiru spoke up, popping up from her usual place on the captain's shoulder. "Flowers really wants to go."
Kurai smirked but kept his head bowed.
"Very well," Captain Zaraki sighed. "Go."
"Thank you Captain," Kurai smiled bowing even lower before standing and sprinting back out the door and back to Renji arriving at the same time as Renji's captain.
"Now what?" Renji groaned.
"I'm coming with you," Kurai stated. "If you don't mind Captain."
"Do not get in the way," Captain Kuchiki warned.
"I won't Sir," Kurai promised.
"Then we should get moving," Captain Kuchiki stated.
Kurai nodded and they walked to the gate to the World of the Living, three Hell Butterflies flying over to them and leading them through the gate. They arrived in the air over a random street in Karakura Town where Rukia had been staying as she waited to get her powers back from Ichigo, at night all looking around to see if they could see her. Kurai was the first, seeing her standing below them. Renji saw next and pulled his visor down over his eyes so the identification system could make a positive ID just as she turned and began to run down the street slowly, less trying to get away than trying to get moving.
"Found her," Renji stated. "Shall we?"
"I want to talk to her before you drag her back," Kurai stated.
"What makes you think I could do that?" Renji questioned.
"I was in the academy with you, remember?" Kurai questioned. "Anyway, I want to talk to her."
"Fine," Renji sighed.
They followed and after a bit, Kurai landed in front of her and she skidded to a stop, staring at him in shock as he sighed.
"So you're telling me you had three hunters from the Soul Society lurking right behind you, but you were so lost in thought that you didn't even notice huh?" Renji sneered landing behind her. "I'll grant you that you've spent the last two months inside that gigai but still, don't you think you've grown just a little too lax?"
"Renji," Kurai growled. "Did you forget already?"
"Talk," Renji sighed. "Just make it quick."
"What are you doing here?" Rukia demanded wheeling around on Kurai. "You said you weren't going to force me to go back."
"I thought that you and him were together Rukia," Kurai pointed out, ignoring her question. "And now you're just walking out on him?"
"You don't..." Rukia began but stopped. "It's not what you think."
"I'm sorry Rukia," Kurai sighed as Renji drew his zanpakuto. "You'll have to come back with us now."
Rukia spun toward Renji who grinned, zanpakuto resting on his shoulder.
"Where's the human who stole all your powers?" Renji questioned.
"What are you talking about?" Rukia demanded. "Just because I'm inside a gigai right now, it doesn't mean I've lost any of my power. And anyway, why would you even think it was a human who took that power?"
"It was a human," Renji snarled. "It's obvious. Just look at you. Otherwise you wouldn't have that stupid human expression on your face."
"What is it with the Soul Society and looking down on Humans?" Kurai growled and Renji turned his eyes to him, glaring but falling silent.
"In any event," Renji finally continued. "It's time to go, right? Captain Kuchiki?"
The Captain stepped up beside Kurai and Rukia slowly turned to look, seeing him as her eyes widened.
"Byakuya," Rukia breathed. "It's you brother."
Renji stepped forward, Byakuya placing a hand on Kurai's shoulder to keep him from reacting as Renji slashed at Rukia who leapt out of the way, sliding several feet and getting away with only a scratch on the right cheek.
"Passing your Soul Reaper powers to a human is a grave sin," Renji stated holding his sword up to her throat. "Be thankful the higher ups were compassionate, and let us handle this, instead of the execution squad."
Kurai winced at that but kept silent.
"Now, tell us where this human is Rukia," Renji ordered. "It's over. We're taking you in. And then we're going to find the human who stole your powers, and kill him. Don't even try to protect him. You know what just happened. The only reason you dodged my attack is because I let you dodge it. The next move I make with this blade, will be fatal."
He began to advance toward her, his blade raised, and Rukia began to back away. Kurai gripped his own zanpakuto tightly, praying Renji would remember their mission wasn't to kill Rukia. Renji moved the blade to the other side, readying himself then darted forward, slashing at her but she leapt over him, rolling away before standing and jumping backward as he crashed down where she had been. She rolled several feet, finally pushing herself to her feet and stopping as Renji stopped, watching her emotionlessly. Rukia sank to her knees, holding her injured shoulder as Renji started forward again.
"This is it," Renji growled.
He stopped, raising his sword again but a light on the tip caught his eye. He glanced at it, then where the reflection was coming from and instantly leaned out of the way of an arrow made entirely out of Spirit Energy.
"Three armed men attacking a defenseless young girl," the stranger that had fired the arrow noted as he walked toward them. "I have to tell you, it's not a pretty sight. I don't know it just isn't my style."
He was wearing a bluish shirt with a lighter cross on it, dark blue pants, black shoes, and had a shopping bag filled with what looked like sewing supplies. He wore glasses and both hands were bandaged.
"Know what I mean?" the boy questioned.
"Alright Kid, you can see us," Renji noted. "So tell me, who the hell are you?"
"Just a classmate," the boy stated pushing his glasses up his nose. "One who hates Soul Reapers."
"Uryu?" Rukia questioned standing, the boy now at her side. "Ishida, what are you doing here?"
"Just passing by," Ishida stated. "Nothing for you to worry about. But if you must know, I had a sudden urge to go to Sunflower Seams, this all-night thread shop I frequent, so I happened to be put for a stroll this evening and came across your little party. I mean come on, it's not like I sensed the presence of Soul Reapers in the city and then ran off into the night carrying a bag of needles and thread with me to use as an excuse when I finally caught up with you."
Is this guy for real? Kurai thought, noticing Renji thinking something similar.
"Although, I understand if you're skeptical," Ishida continued.
Before he could say anything else, Renji slashed the bag that Ishida now held up to use that hand to push his glasses up.
"Hey!" Renji snapped. "I just asked you a question. I said, who the hell are ya kid?"
Ishida growled in annoyance and Renji rolled his eyes.
"Hey, that's fine," Renji shrugged pointing his sword at Ishida. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. We can just skip ahead to the part where I kill you."
"Wait a minute Renji," Rukia pleaded stepping between them. "He's got nothing to do with it."
"Just what are you talking about?" Ishida questioned interrupting Rukia. "I already gave you an answer. As I already told you, I'm a classmate of Rukia's, and I hate Soul Reapers."
"Well I don't care much for your answer so why don't you try again?" Renji growled.
"He's a Quincy," Kurai spoke up. "One of the last. It's an honor to meet you Uryu Ishida."
"Thank you," Ishida nodded. "It's good to know that he'll at least know the name of the one who's about to kill him."
"That settles it," Renji grinned shaking with rage and excitement. "I'm going to cut you in half."
Ishida dropped the remains of his shopping bag, raising his right arm, an ethereal bow forming before raising his left hand to it and forming an arrow, pulling it back to extend it and draw the bow then releasing. The shot was aimed perfectly, but Renji had already moved out of the way, slashing Ishida across the abdomen and dropping him. Rukia looked between the two in shock as Kurai sighed.
"Well, well," Renji gloated. "Looks like you were nothing but talk."
Ishida coughed a couple times, trying to regain the ability to breathe. Renji stepped forward, raising his zanpakuto.
"Now then, let's finish this off shall we?" Renji sneered. "Remember this as you depart this world: Renji Abarai, is the name of the man who killed you."
"Hold on!" Rukia called.
"Pleasure knowing ya!" Renji shouted as he slashed.
Before he could kill Ishida, a much larger zanpakuto crashed into the ground, fracturing it and forcing Renji to jump back.
"So who in Hell's name are you?" Renji demanded.
"The name is Ichigo," Ichigo stated. "I'm the one who's going to beat your ass. How's it goin'?"
"Wearing a Shihakusho?" Renji thought aloud. "I don't know you, what squad are you from? Hah! Check out that overgrown zanpakuto."
"Oh yeah?" Ichigo grinned. "So you're sayin' I got a big one huh?"
Kurai snorted accidentally making Ichigo stop before he could continue with whatever he had been about to say. Renji blinked thinking about the conversation before growling.
"Get your mind back to a somewhat normal level would ya!?" Renji raged. "Jeez! You're so fucked up! Anyway, if the size of a Zanpakuto reflects a Soul Reaper's Spirit Energy, how did a snot-nosed little brat get a sword that size? Is he for real? Oh, I get it. You're the lowly human that stole Rukia's powers aren't you, Carrot Top?"
After a moment of silence, Renji leapt into the air, falling toward Ichigo and slashing at him. Ichigo blocked it, barely holding Renji back as Renji slashed again and again, forcing Ichigo backward.
"Come on, come on, come on!" Renji shouted, slashing with each one. "Is that big sword just for show? Huh? Huh?"
Finally Ichigo shoved his sword away, slashing at him but Renji leapt over the slash before falling at Ichigo from above and slashing at him. The attack carved through Ichigo's right shoulder, not a very serious injury but definitely a painful one.
"Ichigo!" Rukia shouted starting to run forward but stopping when Ishida caught her foot.
"Don't go," Ishida pleaded weakly.
"Uryu," Rukia breathed before turning back to Ichigo.
"It's over," Renji stated standing behind Ichigo. "Very soon you'll be dead, and Rukia will get her powers back. And then, Rukia will go back to the Soul Society to die. Man, you are as dumb as they come. Rukia came out here on her own, just so you wouldn't have to get involved. You should have stayed put at home, but you had to come out and play the hero. Just what did you think you could accomplish here? You're not a Reaper, you're a fake! There's no way you could hurt a real Soul Reaper. You couldn't even leave a scratch one one of-"
He was cut off by Ichigo's sword flashing down in front of him, slicing a scratch into his chin, just deep enough to bleed slightly.
"Sorry about that," Ichigo apologized, standing as Kurai grinned internally and Renji seethed. "I know you were in the middle of saying something, but you left yourself so wide open there I just couldn't help myself. I apologize, why don't you continue. Were you saying something about a scratch?"
"You let your guard down Renji," Byakuya spoke up, making them all look to him.
"Captain Kuchiki-"
"This young man here," Byakuya continued, cutting Renji off. "Ichigo Kurosaki, I believe I've seen him before. There was a report from the secret remote squad. He dealt a Menos Grande quite a serious blow, and forced it back to Hueco Mundo as well."
Renji broke into a fit of laughter and Ichigo stared at him in confusion.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Renji snorted. "Man the Secret Remote Squad must really be slipping these days. This kid wounded a Menos Grande? Who in their right mind would believe that load of crap!? I mean look at him Captain! And that zanpakuto! It's nothing but an overgrown piece of junk. He obviously can't control his Spirit Energy. So tell me, what's the name of that monstrosity?"
"Huh?" Ichigo blinked. "What's its name?"
"You didn't even ask did you!?" Renji scoffed.
"What you mean Rukia?" Ichigo questioned. "Wait, are you telling me you guys all name your swords?"
"I knew it," Renji snorted. "You're not even able to ask your zanpakuto its name. And you really think, you can fight me as an equal? Come back in two thousand years!"
He held his sword up, holding his other hand over the blade by the tsuba. Then, he swiped his hand along it, the blade changing, growing larger with several large spikes extending along the edge with the largest on the very end.
"Roar Zabimaru!" Renji grinned wickedly as he swiped his hand. "Now open your eyes, see what lies before you and fall upon your prey!"
He leapt into the air, slashing at Ichigo. He blocked it but within a second, his sword was forced down and Renji's blades tore into his shoulder. Ichigo's zanpakuto fell to the ground as Renji grinned. His sword had extended, each segment having one of the spikes and connected by dozens of razor sharp cords. Then, it began to retract, each segment tearing its way through his shoulder until finally the final segment with the biggest spike tore free and Renji raised the hilt, the blade flying back toward him.
"It's all over you little runt, you lost to Renji Abarai and will die where you stand!" Renji yelled.
Renji swung his arm back then forward, his zanpakuto blade, whipping around and around as Renji spun it over his head.
"Sorry it's ending this way kid," Renji laughed. "But that's what's known as a difference in strength."
He retracted his sword blade, grinning.
"That's because the zanpakuto can change its size and shape in response to the wielder's Spirit Energy," Renji continued. "How do ya like my spirit energy? Well that's it kid. It's time for me to head out. I don't like the way the air smells here."
He held his zanpakuto with the edge pointed down and the tip aimed at Ichigo who had fallen to his knees.
It's over, Kurai thought. Ichigo's going to die.
"Ready?" Renji sneered, pulling his arm back slightly. "No answer eh?"
Just as Renji sprinted forward and slashed at Ichigo, Rukia sprinted forward, catching his arm and spinning around behind him, holding his arm back.
"Run Ichigo, move!" Rukia shouted.
"What are you doing Rukia?" Renji demanded as she put her feet on his back, using her legs to hold his arm back. "Let go of me! Are you trying to make things worse for yourself, you fool?"
"Ichigo get out of here!" Rukia shouted. "Hurry! You've got to! Go! Get moving!"
Both stopped struggling when Ichigo reached down and gripped his zanpakuto.
"This can't be!" Renji gaped throwing Rukia off. "You shouldn't have the strength left to move! This'll work out just fine. I been thinking it'd be a shame to finish off someone who couldn't move anymore."
Ichigo stood, swaying unsteadily for a moment, before taking a step forward.
"I guess the only thing left for you to do is fight hard and die," Renji smirked.
"Run, I'm begging you," Rukia pleaded. "Save yourself! Run!"
"What's wrong?" Renji grinned raising his sword. "If you won't attack, I will!"
Ichigo began to radiate Spirit Energy, the string on the end of his zanpakuto exploding and a massive wind shooting off of him, making Renji stagger back a step. Ichigo looked up at Renji and before Renji could react, Ichigo had sprinted forward then jumped, slashing Renji on the way up. He landed on his feet and spun, sprinting forward as Renji wheeled around to face him. Then, Renji leapt backward as Ichigo slashed upward at him. The tailwind from the slash threw Renji off balance and he barely caught himself on the hand rail below himself, sliding along it before landing on his feet, falling to one knee. There was a cut on his forehead where Ichigo had cut through his visor, which fell away in two pieces as blood ran down Renji's face.
What gives? Kurai thought seeing Renji's thoughts follow the same train of thought. He's ready to die then suddenly he's stronger than Renji?
"I'll tell you exactly what's wrong," Ichigo smirked seeming to read both Soul Reapers' minds. "It's just your moves have somehow suddenly become a lot slower! I don't understand what's happening to me but I like it. I feel no pain from my wounds. In fact I feel totally invincible."
"Why you..." Renji growled standing and swinging his sword, the blade extending and whipping around at Ichigo. "Zabimaru, time for you to roar!"
Ichigo turned sideways as the blade flashed past and grinned wickedly.
"Captain," Kurai spoke up turning to Byakuya. "Renji won't win this. Permission to aid him?"
"Granted," Byakuya nodded as Kurai turned back to the fight just as Renji leapt aside from a leaping slash from Ichigo, landing hard and falling to his knees.
"You're pretty good at dodging my attacks," Ichigo sneered as he stood. "But all that's about to end."
Ichigo leapt into the air, slashing at Renji. As he neared him, Kurai stepped between them, blocking the slash before shoving Ichigo away holding his zanpakuto vertically with the blade toward the ground.
"Ichigo, I'm not as weak as Renji," Kurai warned. "Don't make the mistake of thinking you can defeat me."
"You want to go too huh?" Ichigo smirked. "Fine. Let's go."
Ichigo sprinted forward and Kurai blocked the first slash in reverse grip then kicked Ichigo away and moved his zanpakuto back into place, releasing it as Ichigo slowed to a stop about fifty feet away.
"Grow, Haruko," Kurai said, his zanpakuto passing into the ground and the circle of light shooting out from the point of impact and under Ichigo.
The light faded, and was replaced by grass and flowers. Ichigo looked around before stepping forward. Instantly, grass shot up and wrapped around his feet, binding him in started to fall but regained his balance and glared at Kurai.
"Captain Kuchiki, Lieutenant Abarai," Kurai spoke up. "Now that I have him bound, please take Rukia back to the Soul Society while I finish up here. Also, please don't tell Captain Zaraki that I didn't finish this in a direct fight."
"What is it with you guys?" Ichigo demanded. "Why do you all want Rukia to die? Why do either of us have to die? What did we do?"
"Rukia committed the crime of giving her Soul Reaper Powers to a human," Kurai stated. "And you committed the crime of stealing her powers."
"I did no such thing!" Ichigo shouted.
"Do you remember what Rukia told Saido had happened?" Kurai questioned.
"Yeah, she said she meant to give me half but accidentally gave me almost all of them," Ichigo stated.
"That was half true," Kurai stated. "In truth, she meant to give you half, but you took almost all of the rest. You didn't mean to, or even realize that you had, but the fact remains, you stole nearly all of Rukia's power. Whatever was left inside of her wasn't enough to take what you had back, leaving her in the condition she's in now. Only your death will return her powers to her."
"Is...Is that true?" Ichigo questioned looking to Rukia who hung her head. "Rukia?"
"It's true," Rukia finally muttered. "I'm sorry Ichigo. I messed up."
Ichigo stared at her in shock before his head also fell.
"Let's go Captain," Renji suggested. "Kurai has this handled."
"Very well," Byakuya nodded.
Renji held his zanpakuto out, pushing it forward as it faded, as if entering an alternate space. Then, he twisted it clockwise.
"Now open!" Renji commanded and a swirl of color appeared around it before a large gate made of two sliding doors appeared and opened.
Blinding light spilled through and Renji and Byakuya stepped through, Rukia looking back, tears streaming down her face as she saw the hurt on his. Then, the gate closed and faded.
"Impale him Haruko," Kurai instructed and two sword blades sprouted from the tops of his feet, blood splattering over the ground. "Bullshit. Then...I see."
"See what?" Ichigo growled as the blades retracted along with the grass, letting him fall to his hands and knees before grass bound his hands.
"Haruko has taken a liking to you," Kurai stated. "She will not kill you herself. I meant for her to kill you but instead, she simply wounded you bad enough that you could not flee."
"Yay me," Ichigo growled.
"You should feel honored," Kurai stated. "Besides you, there is a list of only four other people in all of existence that Haruko will not kill. Among them are Rukia and Renji, two of my oldest friends."
"Some friends," Ichigo spat. "One tried to kill the other and you want to do the same."
"No," Kurai smirked shaking his head. "You see, Haruko has the ability to bring someone back from up to one second past the point of death. I was going to kill you then heal you so that Rukia had her powers back. I don't want Rukia to die. Seeing Renji try to kill her, it hurts. Me and Haruko both. I can't have Haruko kill you so instead, I'll have to. If you'll trust me, I can save you and give her your powers. But it will hurt."
"If it means I can save Rukia, absolutely," Ichigo agreed.
"I don't know if you can, you'll have to defeat Byakuya and probably several other captains," Kurai stated. "However, that's only after you train. And no one can know I saved you. Or that we had this conversation. They must believe I dealt you what should have been a fatal blow and then left. I would stick to the story of you don't know how you survived."
"Deal," Ichigo nodded. "Can we get this over with now?"
"Very well," Kurai nodded as he held both hands out, a pair of swords growing from the ground as grass wrapped around Ichigo's torso, leaving only two circles on the back and two on the front uncovered. "Be ready Haruko."
He raised both swords and Ichigo closed his eyes. Then, Kurai drove the blades down through Ichigo, breaking his Soul Chain and Soul Sleeve at once before pulling the swords out, Ichigo's heart stopping for a moment before Haruko healed him, restarting his heart and saving his life. Kurai healed Ichigo's life-threatening injuries then retracted the grass, resealing his zanpakuto just as someone arrived.
"Take care of him," Kurai instructed. "And train him."
"You got it," the person nodded. "Take care of things back there."
"Of course," Kurai nodded. "Goodbye."
The person nodded and Kurai opened his own gate, releasing a Hell Butterfly to lead him through. Then, the gate closed, and he was gone.
Read and review. Any specific pairings you want, feel free to ask for them.