Chapter 4 is here. Hope you enjoy. If you have any suggestions or ideas, feel free to point them out.
If they fit into the story, I might just write them in.
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Ichigo slashed Zangetsu down diagonally to where Ulquiorra was only nanoseconds before, only to hit the ground. Ulquiorra appeared behind him and stabbed Ichigo with his zanpaktou through his abdomen. Pain shot through Ichigo, forcing him to let out an unvoluntary scream of agony. He gripped the tip of Ulquiorra's zanpaktou and tried to backhand him with his other hand.
Ulquiorra grabbed that hand, pulled his zanpaktou out tightening his grip around Ichigo's arm at the same time and sent Ichigo flying with a well-aimed kick to the orange-haired espada's back. The boy swung Zangetsu down hitting the floor to halt his momentum, taking a moment to regain his footing and then brought his right hand up. Streaks of black and red reiatsu filled the room, as a ball of bright red reiatsu began to form in his hand. Ichigo flash-stepped behind Ulquiorra and released the orb of spirit force, grinning, as the training hall was engulfed in blinding red.
Expecting to find the cuatro espada injured and panting on the floor, he was shocked when the said espada appeared beside the orange-haired espada, sending him flying with a slap. The ex-shinigami flew into a wall and the impact shook the room violently. He fell to his knees, coughing blood.
"You're slow. Why are you using that inferior shinigami technique, Shunpo?" Ulquiorra straightened his uniform and sheathed his zanpaktou.
The former shinigami representative managed to get on his feet and attached Zangetsu to his back. The bandages around the hilt lenghtened instantly, wrapping up the cleaver-shaped weapon neatly. "I don't know, Ulquiorra. I guess its instict. Shunpo just feels more natural." Ichigo took a moment to assess the condition of his new arrancar uniform. It was similar to his bankai clothing, but white. It was ankle-length and tattered, identical to Zangetsu's coat.
Ulquiorra regarded the orange-haired espada for a moment. "Ichimaru Gin-sama must have taught you to control your reiryoku by now. Seal that ridicilous looking butcher knife."
Ichigo glared the espada for a moment before complying. In a flash of black and red reiatsu, Zangetsu returned to its sealed form, in which it looked like an ordinary zanpaktou. The hiltguard had ornate markings and a tassel was attached to the end of the hilt. He ran his hand over the blade for a moment before sheathing it. A sharp jab of pain reminded him of the stabwound in his abdomen. he focused his reiatsu into the wound and bone-white liquid began to gather into it until the wound was gone competely.
"I see you have are able to use instant regeneration without first assuming your released form. Impressive." Footsteps echoed in the large hall as the Cuatro Espada left the room.
Ichigo moved to leave the room as well, when he felt an incoming reiatsu. "Grimmjow. What do you want?" He turned around to look at the other espada.
Grimmjow glared the ex-shinigami. "Tsch. Training, huh?" Grimmjow chuckled as he drew his zanpaktou, dissappearing in sonido and reappearing before the orange-haired espada who had also drawn his zanpaktou to block the attack.
"Good reaction, Shinigami!" The zanpaktous were locked, both combatants trying to force the other to back down. The swords were parted from each other for a split second as both espadas jumped back and charged back in. Ichigo launched a flurry of slashes and stabs, forcing Grimmjow back. "Shinigami? Why do you keep calling me that? I'm your superior as Espada."
Grimmjow's face broke into a feral grin. "Whatever, shut up and fight, Shinigami!" The sixth espada began attacking relentlessly, battering Ichigo's defense. He slashed at the other's feet, but Ichigo had already jumped into the air landing behind Grimmjow. The sixth espada turned around barely fast enough to block the furious swing that followed. "Why don't you release your bankai, Shinigami. You're not doing shit to me with your zanpaktou unreleased." Grimmjow parried the next two swings and launched a barrage of jabs. Ichigo blocked and dodged them all, but was caught off-balance for a moment. Grimmjow laughed as he slashed his zanpaktou down in a wide arc, certain his zanpaktou would make contact, when he felt his zanpaktou wrenched from his grip.
Ichigo held Grimmjow's zanpaktou in addition his own. "Looking for this, Grimmjow?" Ichigo's face broken into a grin as he snapped the zanpaktou in two.
"Wh-what the hell!?" Grimmjow snarled, enraged at having lost his zanpaktou so easily. "What the hell did you do!?"
"Don't forget, Grimmjow. I'm the #0 espada. You were foolish to challenge me." Ichigo muttered in a condescending tone. He threw the hilt of 6th espada at it's owner, and turned to leave the room, exposing his back to the teal-haired espada.
"The hell d'you think you're goin', Shinigami trash!?" Grimmjow stood up and brought up his hand, where a red glow was beginning to form. "Cero!" The wave of reiatsu was released at Ichigo, who brought up his right hand and absorbed the cero into it. He quickly sheathed his zanpaktou. "bakudou 61: Rukujyoukourou" six bars of light appeared out of nowhere capturing Grimmjow, who let out a groan. "Bastard!"
Ichigo left the room, leaving the 6th espada alone, struggling against his bindings. "Tsch, that fool Grimmjow. And to think that fool could stand against my Bankai. Dumbass." Ichigo's musings were interrupted as he sensed the reiatsu of Tousen Kaname approaching.
"Kaname. What do you want?" Tousen flinched as he detected the arrogant tone in the former shinigami representative's voice. "Espada, Aizen-sama wishes to meet you. A mission has come up."
(TBC in Chapter 5. Read and review!)