She was fast, but I was faster.
My hand swung for her neck, it swinging in a strangely distorted manner. The wall behind her crumbled from the furious reiatsu I had begun to release. As a result I threw her to the ground.
I landed a few meters away from her, glaring furiously once she stood. Reacting on hatred filled instinct, I rushed towards her.
Her hand took hold of her Zanpakuto's hilt much before I had started running, but my hand caught the blade before she even grasped the idea that I was there. I swung my arm on an angle then jumped back to my previous position as her blood poured out, crimson staining the cement below.
I was forced to freeze before I could give the finishing blow. An orange light had blinded me, familiar reiatsu also filling the air. The effects only lasted a few seconds and when it was gone the Head Captain's wounds had healed. Standing noticeably to my right was Orihime and to the far left were the Captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13.
"This is as far as you go," Soi Fon declared. I smirked, as if I'd let them defeat me. "Your rampage ends here, Ichigo Kurosaki!"
I hated the way she said my name, though it wasn't much of a surprise. Soi Fon had always treated me like garbage and now even more so. I ignored the chance of Orihime attacking me, but kept myself ready in case she did. I also turned to face Soi Fon. It gave me glee just picturing her death.
"Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi," Soi Fon called, announcing her attack.
She appeared at my side in a matter of seconds, but it didn't matter. She was still too slow. I jumped back, easily avoiding her obvious attack. My Zanpakuto blocked the one Soi Fon gave from above then shoved her across the pavement. Then I appeared behind her, swung downwards and shattered her pathetic weapon.
"Suzemba-"
I cut off Soi Fon's yell with a hand to her mouth. My fingernails, claws if you must, penetrated her skin in order to find a better grip. Once I had the best hold I could, I threw Soi Fon through the First Division's walls. It was an attack that wouldn't kill her, but she wouldn't be moving anytime soon either.
I felt the other's shock without even having to turn around. There was also a low mutter of "Damn it!" from Toshiro, and a loud cry of "Captain!" from Soi Fon's lieutenant, but that was all the reaction I got until the same lieutenant started whimpering in fear.
"Raise your head, Wabisuke." Izuru attacked from above.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki." Rukia, damn her, she was attacking slightly behind Izuru and also further to the right.
"Roar, Zabimaru!" Then Renji, he was attacking to the opposite of Rukia also slightly behind her just as she was slightly behind Izuru.
This must've been a basic combat technique, one that was easy to figure out. The only way to counter their movements was to block Izuru's attack, but in return my Zanpakuto would double in weight. It was the perfect plan, if they had attacked someone else. Both Rukia and Renji grunted in surprise and halted their movements. If they attacked they would have killed Izuru for sure for I had blocked his attack.
"Are you a fool Kurosaki," Izuru calmly questioned. "You know what my Zanpakuto's power is, correct?"
"He's aware, yes."
Izuru's eyes opened wide in shock. He was hesitant in turning but spun around nonetheless. Over his shoulder is where Shiro stood, hidden in a building's thick shadow.
"Reveal yourself!" Rukia shouted, the usual panic returning to her voice.
"Ya're in no position tah be makin' demands, Miss Kuchiki," Shiro sneered.
"Never mind that," Izuru intervened, "What did you say? He's aware? What do you mean by that statement?"
Shiro slowly made his way out of the darkness; it was just like him to make such a dramatic entrance. The moonlight slowly crept up his leg revealing how white his shihakusho was. It made its way further up towards his head, his appearance being revealed faster as his pace quickened. Taking a final step towards his audience, the moonlight just about to touch his snow white hair, he disappeared.
His hand felt heavenly against my back, his fingers tracing random patterns across it. Laughter filled the air just as a few of the Shinigami that had gathered begun to notice where Shiro had moved to. It grew sadistic and gleeful once Izuru's fear revealed that he had noticed Shiro's new position. He had moved almost right beside him, except he was beside me.
"Yer very observant lieutenant, I'll give ya tha'. An' tah answer yer question, well, puttin' it lightly an' in a way ya'll understand…" His golden gaze finally met Izuru's; petrifying the Shinigami instantly also sending noticeable shivers down Rukia's back. "Ichigo's mine."
My heart beat faster; which wasn't saying much considering how slow its rhythm had become when the hole was placed in my chest. That too represented something. By simply wearing this mask, it meant that I accepted him, but this form, it meant… Well, it meant exactly what Shiro had just said. I had gone too far, took the wrong road, the one that lead somewhere I didn't want to be. Or I least, I thought I didn't want to be there. I honestly wasn't sure anymore. His hand felt felt heavenly against my back, or maybe I was just enjoying it too much? All these thoughts clouded my mind. It was impossible to tell who I really was!
All the voices, the thoughts, the fear, the panic… they all went away when his hand curled around my chin. "It's okay, yah can be angry, Ichigo," he whispered softly.
'I can…' I repeated to myself. The two words seemed to echo through my mind and with every repeat my irritation grew.
Rukia looked absolutely puzzled. Her eyes were filled with worry, her lips quivering with fear and overall her body was highly tensed.
Though it was Renji who spoke, "What is this?"
"It's not polite to refer to someone as this." Was that my voice? What that really me speaking?
Shiro laughed and the thoughts disappeared once again. His hands found themselves on my shoulders. I shifted backwards, self-consciously shoving myself into Shiro's chest.
I reached with my hand, my pale hand, to take hold of the mask around my face. I went to pull it off, but to my surprise it shattered. Simply shrugging it off I continued to say, "You idiot!"
Shiro vanished first, reappearing behind Renji. Renji turned around and had managed to block his assault, but mine came quickly after. Renji, just like Soi Fon, was knocked down cold but not dead.
I turned on my foot to face Izuru, Tensa Zangetsu extended and being pointed threateningly towards him. "Weight, speed, power, time and strength… That is what Tensa Zangetsu can manipulate. By being weightless, our speed increases. By our speed, time freezes. By our power, we receive our strength. And by those rules, even if the enemy can double weight, Tensa Zangetsu is-"
"Immune," Izuru finished. His eyes lay blank in thought. His face stuck dawned in truth.
"Tsugi no Mai," Rukia yelled from behind.
"Getsuga," Shiro shouted at the same time. Both fought to be the louder volume.
"Hakuren!"
"Tenshou!"
The dark shadow of snow clashed with the bright red Getsuga. Rukia's gulp was heard clearly through the open pavement field, the night had gone silent only broken by the crackling of Shiro's attack.
"Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." Shiro's attack was blocked by pink petals, tainted purple in the dark light.
"Fuck it, Byakuya!" I angrily cursed. With Tensa Zangetsu at the ready I dove straight for his heart.
Before anything was even remotely accomplished, a strong gust of wind came from my right. Being caught in the air I was also caught in the draft. The world blurred as I was flung through the air, all coming to an abrupt halt when I landed in something soft.
My curiosity as to what it was immediately became resolved as a hand ran through my hair.
"That was close," he muttered only loud enough for me to hear.
"Shi- Shiro-"
"Shh," he hushed, putting a finger on my lips. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of my body against his and loving the way his voice hissed in my ear. "Relax Ichigo, drop yer fear an' get ready. Tha' head captain jus' released 'er Shikai. The real battle starts now."