A/N: Well, this was a very quick update compared to how often all the other ones were uploaded :P I'm quite happy with it :)

I'm thinking of writing a Naruto story, but i have to come up with a good plot or one shot of course otherwise, what would be the point?

Anyway, read, enjoy, review and check out my other stories if ya fancy it :D

Sharp pain. Blood spurting and painting the floor as time seemed to stop. Toushiro could smell the metallic tang of his own blood. But something wasn't right. How was he still alive? He had been able to feel Ichigo's intent to kill like it was coming off him in waves and the sword had been on course to split his entire body in two. He felt the blade withdraw from his right shoulder, the deep hack oozing with blood that began to run in streams down his arm. He cracked open his eyes and through his blurred vision he could see Ichigo towering above him, his head hung low with his eyes closed. Toushiro blinked a few times, succeeding in clearing his vision somewhat just as Akane spoke.

"Well Ichigo? Aren't you going to finish him?" When Ichigo remained still and quiet, she grew annoyed. "Ichigo, I gave you some free will, but don't forget that I can take it-"

"Getsuga Tensho!"

Her eyes grew wide and she flash stepped away just in time to watch black spiritual pressure destroy the very ground she had been standing on milliseconds before. She eyed Ichigo in shock, not even able to make a complete sentence. "How- what- Why!"

Realization dawned on Toushiro as Ichigo raised his head. Even though Ichigo's back was now to him, he could just imagine the look in the mans eyes, his soul dancing through them once again. He could sense Ichigo's anger and guilt clear as day. When he spoke, Toushiro could have cried with happiness.

"You made me hurt them. You made me hurt him. You think I would just sit in my own inner world and just let that happen?" His voice grew steadily louder as he spoke.

"You shouldn't just be able to force your way out of my power-"

"Well I did! You underestimated me. You underestimated my need to protect. I will do anything for my friends you bastard!"

Ignoring the other soul reapers who were continuing to fight each other, Ichigo leapt at Akane, their zanpakutos' crossing.

"Why? Why did you do this to us? To me?" Ichigo asked, fighting for dominance with his sword.

"Because without you, I couldn't take down the Soul Society!"

"Why would you want to do that?"

Akane growled in anger, side stepping her opponent and pushing him away with a vicious swing of her sword.

"Why should I tell you?"

Ichigo swung his own sword, clipping her arm as she moved out of the way. "Because anyone who would do this with no reason is pathetic! Aizen did it for power." He flash stepped behind her and slashed downwards, inflicting a fairly deep wound in her back.

She leapt away, dropping to one knee as she fought the pain. She knew her chances. Ichigo was strong, stronger than she was. He was the wall between her and her goal.

Toushiro watched the exchange, the blood loss he had suffered and the energy he had used up making him weak and unable to move properly. His head swam every time he moved it too much, but he couldn't lose consciousness. He had to make sure Ichigo was okay.

Another Getsuga Tensho forced Akane to take another leap back as Ichigo continued from his previous words. "Is your reason the same? Your zanpakutos' seem so similar, did he give you ideas?"

Akane chuckled, a grin forming on her face. She couldn't face off against Ichigo in a physical fight. That was his territory. But the mind? That was hers. She had to get past this.

"No. I am better than Aizen. So much better. His zanpakuto, it was complete hypnosis was it not? Mine, it is infallible mind control. He made you see things, mine makes you do things, you mind will go blank and you will loose all control over your body."

"Infallible my ass."

"You think because you broke free from it that it's over?" Her eyes shone with mirth, but desperation was hidden in the depths. "Once the seeds been planted, it never goes away!"

Her green iris' paled until they were white like her sclera. With the grin still on her face, it was rather ominous.

Toushiro's eyes had been fixed on Akane but his gaze snapped to Ichigo when they strawberry screamed in agony, clutching his head in his hands and dropping to his knees.

It was like an explosion of pain inside his head as he felt Akane invade his mind, forcing him down and back into his inner world. He could no longer hear the clashing of swords that he had grown used too. He knew he was screaming but he couldn't even hear that anymore.

Toushiro was terrified. He could tell something was going on inside his boyfriends head. He screamed out for him, but Ichigo couldn't seem to hear him. He had to do something. He couldn't just sit idly by and watch Ichigo suffer so blatantly in front of him. He dragged himself to his feat, his sword still clutched tightly in his hand. He began taking slow and unsteady steps towards the traitorous captain in front of him, hoping that her attention was fully focused on Ichigo. He could feel the full effects of the blood loss hitting him, making his legs shake, but his drive to help Ichigo pushed him forward, he raised his sword as he reached her, planning on slashing her and hopefully being of some help to Ichigo. Before he could bring his sword down however, a stab to his stomach stopped him in his tracks. In his hazy state, he hadn't had time to react when she finally noticed his approach and attempted attack. He coughed, blood coming out of his mouth as she withdrew her sword and swung round, kicking him in the side and effectively away from her.

The pain suddenly stopped and Ichigo was left disorientated and breathing heavily, but no worse for wear. He opened his eyes just in time to see Akane pull her sword from Toushiro's stomach and kick him away with ease. Rage swelled up in his chest as he watched as if in slow motion. Had Toushiro done that to help him? He'd pushed himself to his limits and risked his life like that to stop Akane from once again taking over Ichigo's mind? His rage grew even more than he thought was possible. He wanted to scream to the heavens to try and release some of it.

But instead, he rushed to his feet and took off running, using his rage to fuel his attacks, not even giving her time to defend as his blade pierced her shoulder. She leapt back but he didn't stop. He swung and swung at her while she attempted to deflect his sword. He felt her spiritual pressure dip and took his chance.

"Getsuga Tensho!"

His sword struck her own as his attack was released. There was an enormous blast that blew past everyone and everything on the cliff top, kicking up dust and debris that had people coughing from the lack of clean air. The captains jobs were finished for them, the strength of Ichigo's spiritual pressure knocking out the remaining 3rd division members merely through exposure.

When the dust cleared, Toushiro dragged himself to his knees, nursing his stomach and shoulder as he coughed and spat out blood onto the ground in front of him. He looked to Ichigo who was hovering in mid-air, looking down into the sizeable crater below him. Toushiro literally dragged himself to its edge, attempting to see what Ichigo could see.

In the center lay Akane, her breathing labored as blood seeped from a deep wound across her chest. Her zanpakuto lay discarded and cut in two several feet away from her, Ichigo's attack having sliced right through the blade.

Ichigo lowered himself to the ground beside Akane, towering over her with a hard look on his face.

"Why did you do this? Tell me!"

"Because it's what they deserve!" She coughed, drops of blood spraying from her mouth. Her time was up, she knew this. She wanted them to know why she had appeared amongst them and betrayed them. It was her last chance. At least they would know what they had done.

This comment actually caused Ichigo to falter somewhat. "What do you mean?" He asked, his voice cautious.

"I watched Soul Reaper's patrol the Rukongai from a young age and I saw nothing but disgusting and cruel acts. They took our things without paying or asking, even from the poor who depended on selling their wares to live. I watched them beat up innocent people who had done nothing but look at them or bump into them by accident. They would hurt them to the point where they would be permanently effected!"

Ichigo was speechless. He had never heard of that sort of behavior from a Soul Reaper before. But if that shocked him, it was nothing compared to what he heard next.

"Eventually, the district became tired of not doing anything about it and a group lead by my father and mother took a stand against these despicable people. That was the day I watched my mother, father and friends get murdered right in front of me."

That statement rang out across the cliff, reaching everyone's ears to create a tense and stunned silence.

Akane continued. "I had never met a Soul Reaper that showed any respect or courtesy to someone other than a comrade. And I swore I would get revenge for my family. And I almost did too." She laughed, her teeth stained red with her blood.

The Head Captain approached the crater, his booming voice ringing out. "You could have came to the Seireitei, you could have informed us of these incidents and we could have helped you."

"Like hell old man. Your all the same. Heartless. Not caring about those of us who suffer in the Rukongai."

"That's not true," Ukitake interjected. "We bring you here to save you from hollows and we have patrols to keep you safe. Not all of us are like what you have seen."

"Regardless, you never did anything to make sure it wasn't happening did you. You all assumed that all Soul Reapers were good people and that nothing like that would never happen. But look at the entirety of the 11th Division! They're all bloodthirsty monsters lead by a psychotic Captain. They pick on the 4th Division all of the time but nothings ever been done that deters them from doing it."

This comment made Ukitake pause, unable to answer the question with a yes.

"I thought not," she said before violently coughing. She tried to catch her breathe, but the action caused her to cough even more.

"Lieutenant Kotetsu, please tend to Miss Katenashi. She is to be healed and then detained, ready for trial at the Central 46. Captain Kuchiki, take Lieutenant Matsumoto and Rukia Kuchiki and make sure that things are under control at the foot of the cliff. Captain Unohana, Captain Hitsugaya is in need of urgent care. Captain Ukitake, make a call to the World of the Living, Miss Inoue's abilities would be of great us at present." Yamamoto commanded, stopping the conversation in it's tracks and giving those available their respective tasks.

Rangiku shot her captain a worried glance before following Byakuya, but Toushiro was too busy staring at Ichigo, trying to catch his eye. The strawberry's gaze was fastened to Akane, as if he refused to look in Toushiro's direction. The tenth division captain was hurt, but didn't have much time to think about it as he was engulfed by Minazuki.

Ichigo watched as Isane and Akane were also engulfed by Minazuki, Isane being there to make sure Akane didn't make any attempts at escape. He couldn't face looking Toushiro in the eye yet. He didn't even want to touch him after what he had done to him. He didn't deserve the love that Toushiro offered after he had been able to injure him so badly.

"Ichigo Kurosaki," the Head Captain spoke, bringing the strawberry's attention to him. "I am fully aware that your actions were not your own and that we are even more in your debt. I suggest you pay a visit to the fourth division and get some rest."

Ichigo nodded, somewhat relieved. He hadn't been sure if he would be let off scott free, what with the destruction he had caused, even if it was unwillingly. He flash stepped away from the cliff face, bypassing his recommended trip to the medical center and making his way straight to his barracks. Sleep was what he needed. He needed to get out of his own head and get his bearings. He collapsed onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, as a tear he had been trying to fight rolled down his face.

"I'm so sorry Toushiro," he whispered, as if he could hear him. As much as he wished they did, saying the words made him feel no better. They were meaningless when said to an empty room. Eventually though, exhaustion finally became too much and, around about dawn, Ichigo fell into a agitated sleep, plagued by guilt and sadness.

MisaxMisa: You didn't mean too Ichi 3:
Ichigo: I know that, it's just a story.
MisaxMisa: Don't blame yourself Ichi!
Ichigo:...Okay
MisaxMisa: It's Akane's fault, don't let it get to you!
Ichigo: *walks away*
MisaxMisa: No, you don't have to leave! We all still love you!