SailorStar9: This is Chapter 5 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.

Ichigo: (In hot springs, sinks into water and pops out of water before drowning) Huh?

Chapter 5: Formation! The Worst Tag


Hasu quickly summoned her Command Staff, the crystal lotus on the top forming a protective bubble to encase her and Sado before they crash-landed.


"Hold on, Ishida." Orihime activated her power. "Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily! Sacred Tri-Link Shield! I reject!"


"Turn to sand!" Ganju fired his Kidō to cushion their fall. "Stone Wave!"

"Yahoo!" Ikkaku grinned appearing alongside Yumichika on the roof and cutting off Ichigo and Ganju's verbal fight. "Man, am I lucky. I was slacking in a corner cuz it's a hassle to get to my post, then right before my eyes, down plops my reward. And you got bad luck." he pointed to Ichigo after he and Yumichika jumped down.


"That's a close call." Hasu remarked, the pair having hidden in a tree to avoid the guards.

"Well then, what do we do now?" Sado looked at the shorter girl.


"So I ended up alone." Yoruichi noted, having dodged Kira Izuru's Squad. "But that may actually be more convenient." and she headed off.


"No, Kurosaki." Orihime sleep-talked. "That's not Pooh, it's Peter."

"Inoue?" Ishida peered down.

"Kurosaki!" Orihime woke up, bumping her head into Ishida's chin. "Ow!" she cried out at her shoulder injury. "Huh?" she looked back. "Oh, it's Ishida."

"I'm alright, Inoue." Ishida assured. "It seems we were lucky enough to fall somewhere with no one around. But let's move quickly. We made quite a sound and people should be coming soon."

"Yeah." Orihime agreed and the pair took off.


"What the hell're you doing?" Ikkaku exploded, seeing the deathpan expressions on Ichigo and Ganju's faces once his 'Tsuki-Tsuki dance' was over. "Here I am dancing the 'Luck-Luck Dance', waiting for you bastards to crawl outta there. What the hell're you standing there, stupefied for?"

"What's with him?" Ichigo blinked.

"Hey, we're gonna take our chance and run." Ganju whispered.

"Hey, what're you belly-aching about?" Ikkaku snapped.

"They're probably so afraid of us that they can't stand." Yumichika snorted. "But if they take too long, others will notice and steal your reward out from under you."

"Now that you mention it, that's true." Ikkaku admitted. "Alright, then I'll set a time limit. Huh?" he blinked when Ganju fled the scene. "What? You two break up?"

"Something like that." Ichigo muttered.

"Tsk." Ikkaku scoffed. "Don't make me waste my time. Yumichika."

"I know." Yumichika took off after Ganju.

"Yo, let me ask you," Ikkaku voiced after Ichigo leapt out of the pit. "Why didn't you run? That guy ran cuz saw that our Spirit Power was more than his, right? That's the right decision, if you ask me."

"If your power is more than mine, running would be meaningless." Ichigo reasoned. "Cuz you'd catch up for sure. But if your power is lower than mine, then I just have to beat you and move on. That's all I was thinking."

"I see." Ikkaku smirked. "Apparently, you're not stupid." that said, he drew his Zanpakutō, bringing it down on Ichigo with amazing speed.

Jumping up to dodge the attack, Ichigo grabbed his sword and charges at his opponent.

He handles himself well. Ikkaku grinned as both Shinigamis clashed, Ikkaku blocking the blade with his scabbard. Using his other hand that holds his Zanpakutō, Ikkaku tried to attack Ichigo, but Ichigo dodged. The two fight, simultaneously injuring each other's foreheads.

"Let me ask your name, just in case." Ikkaku voiced.

"Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo answered.

"11th Squad Third Seat." Ikkaku declared. "I'm Madarame Ikkaku."


Elsewhere...

"Look ahead." Yumichika cautioned the fleeing Ganju.

"Turn to sand! Stone Wave!" Ganju broke through the wall.

"Hm, strange technique he uses." Yumichika mused. "But he should be careful." that said, he continued the chase. "Past there is..." he smirked as Ganju broke through the next wall.

"What's the hell's this?" Ganju exclaimed, barely managing to stop himself from falling into the pit before him.

"This is the remains of the old execution ground." Yumichika supplied. "Only those who fall in can never climb back out. Now then, that should be enough chasing and talking for you. It's time." he drew his Zanpakutō. "I'll let you choose, die here by my blade or die like a dog down there."


Meanwhile...

"I don't get it." Ikkaku noted. "There might be a bug distance between us, but taking one hand off your sword during a face-off is amateur behavior. You're one seriously strange dude. You act almost completely like an amateur, but..." he charged at Ichigo. "Your reaction time is first-class. Who's your master, Ichigo?"

"I only learnt from him for ten days, so I don't know if he can be called my 'master'." Ichigo replied. "But he did teach me fighting. Urahara Kisuke."

"So, that's it." Ikkaku grinned. "He's your master. Then killing you without going all out would be seriously rude. Grow, Houzukimaru!" he summoned his Shikai. "No time to be shocked, Ichigo. Here I come! Don't misjudge!"

"Who would?" Ichigo snapped as Ikkaku launched his attacks, and he blocking each attack. "I know a spear's range is longer." he snorted. "As if I'd misjudge that."

"That's not it." Ikkaku corrected.

Ichigo took the opening and charged.

"Split, Houzukimaru!" Ikkaku roared, the spear breaking up into three parts and the blade closed in on Ichigo.


Elsewhere...

"How foolish." Yumichika snorted, once Ganju slipped into the pit.

"Just kidding." Ganju grinned, floating out of the pit, having activated the second Spirit Orb he stashed away. "Glad I brought an extra."

"My, on my, you do underestimate me." Yumichika remarked. "I, too, am a 5th ranked member of the 11th Squad, which holds the title of stronger squad. Bloom, Fujikujaku!" he summoned his Shikai. "I'll smash that spirit barrier with a single attack."

"Whoa, there." Ganju grinned when Yumichika's weapon got stuck in the orb. "I forgot to tell you, but about this cannonball, as soon as you disturb the concentration of Spirit Power..." the explosion shot Ganju across the pit. "Damn, that was a good plan. But still..." he got back up. "You're damn persistent!"

"There's no way I could be defeated by that." Yumichika dusted himself off.

"I can't hear you." Ganju joked. "Stone Wave!" he broke through the next wall. "Kiss my ass!" the taunted and jumped through the hole.


Meanwhile...

"This is what I meant by 'don't misjudge'." Ikkaku remarked, withdrawing his Zanpakutō, the blade having injured Ichigo's arm. "My Houzukimaru ain't a spear. It's a tri-section staff. Does it hurt? You probably can't hold your sword right with that hand anymore. I'm a kind-hearted man. Usually, I'd capture you alive at this point. Sorry, but they say I won't get a reward if I don't kill you. Alright. The hell're you doing?" he blinked as Ichigo bandaged his arm.

"Let's go." Ichigo readied to battle. "Don't talk like this is over." he remarked, having destroyed the wall after Ikkaku dodged the attack. "I still haven't shown you my real skills. This is just the beginning, Ikkaku."

"Well, ain't you talking big." Ikkaku grinned. "You little brat."


SailorStar9: In the next chapter, Ichigo eventually overpowers Ikkaku, although he is injured in the process. Ganju and Yumichika continue their fight, with Yumichika pursuing Ganju throughout Soul Society. The 11th division captain, Zaraki Kenpachi continues to search for Ichigo, but is lost, thanks to the poor directions of his lieutenant, Kusajishi Yachiru. Now that's done, read and review.