AN: Hi everyone! Sorry about the long wait, but real life sucks. I had a lot of chapters planned out, but I never got the chance to put those plans on paper.


Chapter 6: Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance


MIZUKI P.O.V.

As Toshiro-san releases his Shikai, I feel the temperature drop rapidly. My breath becomes visible, and snow begins to fall. So this is the so-called strongest Ice-type Zanpakutou? Not bad.

We both charge, rapidly clashing blades quickly. Jumping high into the air, I flip my right blade to a reverse grip, as I begin to rapidly spin my body. (AN: Like Levi from Attack on Titan) As my blades clash with his, the extra force of my spinning form sends him rocketing backwards. I grin.

"Sorry about this, Toshiro-san, but you have officially tipped the scales in my favor," I explain, placing the tips of both blades into the wet, cold ground. He looks at me, one eyebrow raised.

"Some no mai, Nemureru tsuki ryuu," I intone calmly. A cold mist begins to fill the area, further reducing his visibility. I see him close his eyes, no doubt trying to find me by sensing my reiatsu.

"That isn't going to work you know, trying to find me by my reiatsu. When I use Nemureru tsuki ryuu, you have to find me the hard way," I explain. He dashes towards me, his speed taking me by surprise. I quickly bring up my left blade to block.

"I found you. Now I won't let you out of my sight," he replies as our blades grind against each other with a flurry of sparks. I grin.

"I didn't say I was done, Toshiro-san. Tsugi no mai, Yuki no Senpu," I say quickly. Snow begins to gather around both blades, forming two swirling tornadoes of snow. As he jumps back, I settle into a relaxing stance, preparing for my final attack.

"Hyourinmaru!" he yells in desperation, swinging his sword to send a multitude of ice dragons in my general direction. As his attack approaches, I places my blades in a cross formation. Charging up reiatsu on both blades, I prepare to attack.

"Getsuga…JUUJISHOU!" I yell, swinging both blades towards my opponent. The snow tornadoes, with the raw reiatsu hidden within, charge towards Toshiro-san. Demolishing his ice dragons, they collide with him in a brilliant flash and a large explosion. As the snow clears, and the temperature returns to normal, I see Toshiro-san on the ground unconscious.


ICHIGO P.O.V.

I smirk, sensing that Mizuki made short work of Toshiro without actually killing him. Of course, at his current level, the only way he'd have any chance would be to use his Bankai, which he probably didn't, knowing him.

"Something funny, Ichigo-kun?" I hear Ukitake-san ask.

"Not really. It's just that my sister just defeated Toshiro," I reply.

"Oh? Then I believe I might have underestimated you, Ichigo-kun. HADO NO ROKUJUSAN, RAIKOHO!" he yells, shooting a large bolt of yellow lightning at me. Dodging to the left, I hastily duck as another bolt of lightning flies over my head.

As I continued to parry and dodge his attacks, I ponder various methods of attack I could use. I've never seen Ukitake-san's Shikai, so I don't know what it does. Now that he's seen Getsuga Tenshou, my best bet is to catch him off guard while I prepare a high-level Kido. Jumping back, I point my left blade towards him, and yell, "HADO NO SANJUSAN, SOKATSUI!" A large ball of reiatsu, similar to a light blue Cero, rockets out the tip of the blade. Ukitake-san raises an eyebrow.

"Oh? I didn't think you'd know Kido, Ichigo-kun. But no matter," he muses, pointing his right blade towards the Kido. To my surprise, my Sokatsui is absorbed by his right blade, only for a blast of the same size to rocket out of the left one right back at me. I dodge, cursing. So he can redirect Kido, which probably means he should be able to redirect Getsuga Tenshou, Cero, and Bala as well. Shit. But there should be some Kido that are more area-of-effect type. Maybe a Bakudo?

Hastily dodging another Sokatsui, I begin to think of all the Hado I know. Sokatsui? Didn't work, so Soren Sokatsui is out too. Shakkaho? Same issue. Tenran? Maybe, but I don't want to risk it. Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho? Definitely not. What other Kido do I know…oh…yeah, that should definitely work, as long as I can make time to get the entire incantation off without him knowing. I should at least be able to prevent him from stopping me. But first…

"HADO NO GOJUHACHI, TENRAN!" I yell, as a torrent of wind blasts out of Zangetsu's short blade. As Ukitake-san flies backwards from the hit, I continue with, "BAKUDO NO ROKUJUICHI, RIKUJOKORO!" Six rods fly out of my blade, pinning his arms in place. But just for good measure…

"BAKUDO NO ROKUJUSAN, SAJO SABAKU!" I yell, a long, glowing rope binding him in place.

"Well done, Ichigo-kun. You've got me. So what do you plan to do now?" Ukitake-san asks.

"Sorry Ukitake-san, but I've got to make this believable. I don't think this'll hurt too much, otherwise the midget would kick my shins for hurting her captain," I muse. He smiles.

"Nijimidasu kondaku no monsho. Fusonnaru kyoki no utsuwa! Wakiagari hiteishi! Shibire matataki! Nemuri wo samatageru! Hakosuru tetsu no ojo! Taezu jikaisuru doro no ningyo! Ketsugoseyo! Hanpatsuseyo! Chi ni michi onore no muryoku wo shire! HADO NO KYUJU, KUROHITSUGI!" I yell, as a large black box engulfs Ukitake-san's bound form.

"Hey you two, Kiyone and Sentarou, right?" I ask, turning to the two familiar division members. The two nod fearfully. "Take care of him, alright? This shouldn't kill him, but make sure you two patch him up good. I'm not really here to kill anyone, only to rescue Rukia, so yeah," I explain. I hear a series of simultaneous slashes as the Kurohitsugi finishes. Seeing Ukitake-san collapse, I nod once to his two division members, and then I Shunpo away.


After running into Mizuki soon after, I led her towards the white tower where Rukia was kept last time around. I congratulated her on her victory over Toshiro, and instructed her to not use her Bankai, mask, or Quincy abilities yet, and that she should only use it on Byakuya after we stop the execution on Sokyoku Hill. The mask will come later, after Aizen's depature, when I actually explain shit to people.

Along the way, we pick up Hanataro and Ganju like before, who follow us to the tall set of stairs that lead up to the white tower. I spot Renji there, obviously waiting for us.

"Mizuki," I call.

"What, Onii-chan?" she asks.

"When we confront Renji, I want you to distract him long enough so that I can get past. Kenpachi is waiting at the top," I reply.

"OK, but why?" she inquires.

"Since coming back, I haven't really had a fight where I've gotten to cut loose a little bit, except for when I'm training in my inner world with Zangetsu. For me, there are really only two opponents that I can somewhat cut loose against, Kenpachi being one of them," I explain, as we reach the stairs.


MIZUKI P.O.V.

"Stop right there Kurosaki Ichigo, Kurosaki Mizuki! In the name of the Gotei 13, you're under arrest for trespassing into the Seireitei as ryoka!" Renji yells pompously. He must've gotten our names from Byakuya-nii-san.

"He's all yours Mizuki," Onii-chan says. Drawing the sealed form of Getsuryu, I assume my stance.

"Oy! Pineapple Head! Did you lose a few brain cells when I handed your ass to you last time? Because you must've fucking lost it if you think you could possibly defeat Onii-chan," I taunt.

"What did you say? I'll kill you for that insult! Hoero, Zabimaru!" he yells, his blade transforming into a long serrated blade with 6 segments.

"Wait…it wasn't me that did it…I know! It must've been Rukia-neechan! All those times she brained you for being a fucking idiot must've paid off! Now you're even more of a fucking idiot!" I taunt. Looking over, I see Onii-chan biting his fist to keep from laughing.

"Why you! Graah!" Abarai-san yells, swinging Zabimaru to reveal the wires connecting the various segments, extending the blade in length. Man, this guy's an idiot.


RUKIA P.O.V.

As I sit in my cell in the White Tower, I hear the sound of fighting near the base of the Tower. Looking out the small opening providing light to my cell, I see a Renji fighting a girl with orange hair.

Wait.

Orange hair.

WHAT THE FUCK IS MIZUKI DOING HERE?

I look again. I see Hanataro, a man wearing a green vest, and Ichigo.

ICHIGO TOO?

GOD, I TOLD THEM TO STAY THERE!

I hear Renji yelling for Ichigo and Mizuki to halt in a pompous tone. Giggling, I muse that Renji is definitely not supposed to sound like a pompous ass. I see Mizuki draw her sword. Her next statement though, takes me by surprise.

"Oy! Pineapple Head! Did you lose a few brain cells when I handed your ass to you last time? Because you must've fucking lost it if you think you could possibly defeat Onii-chan," I hear her taunt. Almost overcome by laughter, I almost miss Renji's response, which, predictably, was to release Zabimaru.

"Wait…it wasn't me that did it…I know! It must've been Rukia-neechan! All those times she brained you for being a fucking idiot must've paid off! Now you're even more of a fucking idiot!" I hear Mizuki yell back. At this, I can't help but break into a fit of mad giggling. Those two…they really do cheer up everyone around them. For the first time since my return to the Soul Society, a new feeling bubbles inside me.


ICHIGO P.O.V.

As the fight begins, I quickly signal to Hanataro and Ganju to stay put. Then, I Shunpo past Renji onto the middle of the stairs, where I begin walking up to where Kenpachi awaits. Reaching out with my senses, I feel that Yachiru is with him. As predicted.

As I walk, I think on the current state of things, and plans for the future. So Mizuki will fight Renji, and after getting healed, she'll join me at the top of the stairs. Then, we'll confront Byakuya in front of Rukia's cell, where…wait, should we confront Byakuya there? Maybe keeping Yoruichi a secret is a better idea. So no confronting Byakuya there. Instead, we'll regroup with Yoruichi after my fight with Kenpachi. Then we wait till the day of Rukia's execution, where I'll block the Sokyoku like before. Or should Mizuki freeze the thing? No, I doubt Getsuryu is strong enough to freeze the Sokyoku, which is even stronger than the Yamamoto-jii-san's Ryujin Jakka. I also have to talk to Gin at some point…huh. But Toshiro won't go and get Aizen out of the Central 46 building…wait, after we save Rukia, he'll make us loop back so that he can pick up the Sokyoku…but Rukia doesn't have the Sokyoku. But we made him think she does, which will force him out into the open. So many possibilities, so many options…what to do?

As I reach the top of the hill, sure enough, I see Kenpachi waiting for me. "Hey kid," he says, "the name's Kenpachi Zaraki. I came looking for you, 'cause you look strong."

"The name, Kenpachi, is Kurosaki Ichigo. Remember that. Sure, I'll take you on. Prepare yourself," I reply, drawing my swords.


NO P.O.V.

Two fights, going on simultaneously. One above, one below. At once, Ichigo and Mizuki both raise their blades.

"Barabara ni ten o hikisaku, Zangetsu!" Ichigo cries out, his twin swords morphing into their familiar Shikai state of a large Khyber knife and a small trench knife. Simultaneously,

"Mezamero, yozora no shihai-sha o, Getsuryu!" Mizuki yells, her sealed blade copying itself into a second blade, both blades elongating and gaining dragon head shape guards.

Both siblings release their Shikai. Both siblings raise their right sword into the air. Their words are mirrored by each other.

"Prepare yourself. GETSUGA TENSHOU!"

Let the blade dance begin.


AN: Whoo! What a chapter! I know it's shorter than usual, but it's been a while, so I wrote a slightly shorter one to get back into the feel of things. After this, well…I don't know. My update schedule will be highly irregular, as things don't always work out the way I want. Senior year of college and all. As for the promised crossovers, well, I'll get to them. They're planned and all…but I can't seem to find time to write them, and a lot of you guys would rather have new chapters of my current fics.

Also, I'll soon be putting up a new poll on my profile. I'm very tempted to do a fic where canon characters in a series are reading/watching a fanfic. Something like Engineer4Ever and Bonesboy15's Reading fics. Let me know whether you guys would want me to do something like that, and if so, which one of my fics should I have them read? Or, you guys could also make suggestions! It doesn't have to be one of my fics that are read! If you guys want characters to read someone else's fanfic, vote 'Other' and then PM me with your suggestion, and if a suggestion has enough votes, and I personally like the fic after reading it, then I'll ask the author.

Anyway, check out my fic 'Plot Bunnies and Omakes' for an omake related to this chapter!

Until next time!