SailorStar9: This is Chapter 16 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: Yamato-sensei must have doted a lot on you, Hasu.

Hasu: That's not the case.

Hanatarō: (Wakes up from nap)

Ganju: Hana, what's wrong?

Hanatarō: No, I think I must have a nightmare.

Ganju: Eh? What kind?

Hanatarō: That is... hm? What is it already? (Wails) I'm unable to recall it because it's too frightening!

Ganju: Hey!

Chapter 16: The Immortal Man


Zangetsu stood before Ichigo and questioned his wielder's resolve, asking if he wanted to fight.

Ichigo announced that he wanted to win, citing the meaninglessness of simply fighting and of surviving.

In response, Zangetsu pulled Ichigo into his heart again, noting that though the battle still raged outside, the inner world was sturdy and unchanged and tossed Ichigo a sword used by Shinigami not yet accepted into the Gotei 13.

Ichigo protested, saying that Zangetsu is his sword.

However, Zangetsu refused Ichigo his sword, and Hollow Ichigo appeared, taking the real Zangetsu instead. Hollow Ichigo then told his human self to steal the Zanpakutō away from himself to earn the right to wield him again.

The battle started and Ichigo blocked off the Hollow's attack, noting Zangetsu's excellence as a Zanpakutō and feeling his current sword's inferiority.

Hollow Ichigo then resorted to throwing the Zanpakutō at Ichigo to keep him at bay and mocking his human self, telling Ichigo that he was unworthy of Zangetsu.

Ichigo remarked that he never did try to commune with his Zanpakutō, and recalled Zaraki being the same way. Ichigo tried to attack, blocking the thrown sword, but was thrown off balance.

Hollow Ichigo declared that it was time to end this, and counter-attacked.

Ichigo raised his sword confidently, asking Zangetsu to help him more, asking for forgiveness, and suddenly, Ichigo and Hollow Ichigo's swords switched place; Ichigo now wielding Zangetsu and Hollow Ichigo the normal sword.


Back in reality, Zaraki sensed a sudden disturbance and turned back.


Hollow Ichigo then asked Zangetsu if Ichigo could be trusted, before declaring that Ichigo's power will someday be his and he vanished.

Zangetsu then looked up and informed his wielder that when Ichigo was sad, it would rain in his heart and requested Ichigo not to be sad anymore so it would not rain in his inner world, before volunteering his help to stop the downpours no matter what.


Back in reality, Ichigo was standing in a storm of Spirit Pressure, Zangetsu whole again, his bleeding stopped. Ichigo then attacked with unreal speed, cutting Zaraki's shoulders badly and pushing him back.

Zaraki was finally winded.

Ichigo wanted to end the fight soon, but Zaraki seemed determined to fight and lunged forwards, Ichigo cutting his face.

Zaraki tripped him back, as the more cuts he received, the more insane with bloodlust he became.

"Sorry, but I can't waste time here." Ichigo remarked. "I'm gonna finish this right away."

"Finish it right away?" Zaraki chuckled. "I can't have that. It's gotten so damn fun! I love it! How'd you come back to life? How'd you suddenly get so strong? There's a mountain of things I'm wondering about, but for now, that don't matter. Right now, let's enjoy this fight!"

"Something's wrong with you." Ichigo stated. "You're crazy. You love fighting that much? Ain't you scared of getting cut or dying?"

"I'm crazy?" Zaraki grinned. "You're the crazy one! How can you be that strong and not like fighting? Have fun. Death and pain are just the cost of fun. This is the best!" he laughed, seeming to enjoy the bloody mess. "An even fight. No, it's slightly different, but you're definitely higher. How long's it been since I had such an uplifting feeling? With you, I think I can fight at full power." at that, he suddenly ripped his eye-patch off, resulting a shockwave and a surge of Spirit Pressure that reached the clouds.


On the rooftop, Yachiru was joined by the Onmitsukidō message carrier and she threatened the man not to bother her no matter how urgent the message was while Zaraki was fighting, releasing a storm of her own Spirit Pressure , in the form of a pink cat figure, and frightening the messenger.


"That's dirty." Ichigo snorted. "We come this far and you still have an ace-in-the-hole. What'd you got hidden in that right eye?

"Hidden?" Zaraki echoed. "In my right eye? Who'd use such a pansy-ass cheap trick? This is something I had the Research and Development Bureau make, a monster that endlessly consumes Spirit Power. All the Spirit Power I've been feeding to this thing..." now at his full power, he cut a nearby building in half with one slash. "I'm gonna pour it all into beating you. That's all this means."

Can you hear it, Ichigo? Zangetsu asked, placing a hand on his wielder's shoulder. The screaming of his sword.

"Yeah." Ichigo replied.

He cannot hear it. Zangetsu announced. When two who do not trust each other fight together, they only damage each other's power. One who believes in nothing but his own power cannot understand this. Ichigo, can you trust me?

"Of course." Ichigo replied. "I'm putting all my power in your hands. Use it as you wish. And give my strength!"

Yes. Zangetsu agreed and Ichigo, too, exploded with Spirit Pressure.

"We've come this far and your Spirit Power still goes up." Zaraki was pleased and amazed. "Nice. Borrowing your Zanpakutō's power and fighting together with it, that's bullshit. Zanpakutō are tools fir fighting. 'Fighting together with your Zanpakutō' is a line for a sickly loser bitch who can't fight with his own damn skills. It ain't a line for you and I, Ichigo."

Here it comes, Ichigo. Zangetsu warned, both fighters' Spirit Pressures calling out to each other in bloodlust. And the blood of your wound is near the limit of what I can stop. We will decide this with one blow.

With an unison war cry, the two attacked and in one fatal, deciding blow, an explosion occurred, leveling all nearby structures.

Yachiru, herself, was barely saved.

Blood; a tense standoff between Ichigo and Zaraki, with Ichigo impaled and the younger Shinigami collapsed as Zaraki stood, staring down at his fallen opponent.


SailorStar9: Stay tuned to find out. In the next chapter, Zaraki falls down beside Ichigo in defeat, and Yachiru takes him away for medical treatment. Yoruichi also retrieves Ichigo. Ganju and Hanatarō arrive at Rukia's cell, but Ganju becomes infuriated because he believes Rukia was the killer of his brother, Shiba Kaien. Byakuya arrives, and Ganju decides to fight him. Now that's done, read and review.