Well, here it is; the next installment in The Dying Sun! Just a PS, this might have some mistakes. I am uploading this at 10:50 pm on a Sunday night, so I didn't bother to look it over. It is spell-checked though!

-Bakuya IS the Captain of Squad Eight! Sorry, I posted Renji and Grimmjow in Squad Eight instead of Squad Nine, where they really belong. It should all be fixed now, though. For all of you who have questions about when, how and why you will find out later in the story. Dont worry, I wont leave you hanging!

Reveiws:

hitsugayatoushiro: Sorry about the classes, that must suck! And FF is soo addicting isn't it? You can never get enough.

MaN6AI0v3r: Lol, yeah... those 'where is Byakuya' questions confused me! I was like; "Wait... he is right there! I put him in! Oh..." Yeah, don't be confused. It was a mix up. Thank you for reveiwing!

shie0917: Thanks! It was hilarious for me to write! I was giggling the whole time.

Lalaith Quetzalli: ;P Yep, I did it to confuse you! Lol, just thought I needed to mix it up. Obviously not all of the Captains and Lieutenants would survive the war, I was just being realistic. Of course, it was also a chance to kill of the ones I didn't like... but there is meaning behind it! And about the symbols... PM me,I can't say anything here!

xXPeacebabesXx: ;P Lol, just you wait! PLease reveiw as often as you like, it will only make me love you more!

tiggerbleach: Good to know, I will try and fix that! Thanks!

Gilded wooden doors shuddered in the darkness, slowly swinging open. From the filtered light of the outside hall seven figures filed into the room and knelt stiff-backed in front of a black marble throne. Their heads were bowed to the floor.

"Rise," They did so, ascending quickly to their feet and looking blankly ahead of them, awaiting orders. "The time has come for us to step into the light. What you have been training for during the past twelve years, what you have been anticipating for so long is finally to come to realization. Tomorrow we move forwards, tomorrow we will make the first move." He smiled cruelly. "Bella."

A woman on the far side of the line stiffened, her already expressionless face going hard. Slim fingers clenched into tight fists, her fingernails digging into cinnamon skin and parting it. Golden eyes flashed coldly. "Yes, master-sama." Her voice was cold and clipped, restrained.

"You will lead this invasion. Your orders are to kill, capture or destroy any creature, human or otherwise with enough spiritual pressure to so much as sense the spiritual world. Your main targets, however…" He trailed off, cold muddy eyes glaring into her slight figure.

"Yes, master-sama."

The man gave a sharp nod. His cold eyes swept over the seven figures assembled before him once more. There were three women and four men making them up … all that was left of an originally twenty-three strong group. The elites… minus one.

"Dismissed. Get out, all of you, before I change my mind." Quickly and efficiently the figures filed out of the room. On his throne the man shifted, displacing the cloth that had previously draped over his wrists. Coiled tightly around it, glistening in the dimly lit room was a skull. It connected to a black vine-like appendage that disappeared from sight up the sleeve, presumably coiling around all of his arm and possibly his whole body.

As if unconsciously recognizing that something was out of place, the man flicked his wrist in an irritated manner and the sleeve twitched, shifting back into place over the arm and the curios adornment from sight. In the far corner of the room, placed almost perfectly behind the black marble throne the sun rose into the sky, sending the filtered morning light streaming into the dim room. Brown eyes as hard as granite and just as cold glinted in the new light. Chocolate hair shifted in the fresh breeze that filled the room.

"This time…" He glared into the marble wall, "I will be unstoppable."

"You will be staying in a Sereitei outpost in Karakura Town, where the Thirteen Court Guard Squads have appointed you to become temporary stationed cadets." Yoruichi paced back and forth in front of the anxious group of students. "You will be met on the other side of the Dangai by your hosts, and your leaders. They will control every aspect of your lives for the duration of your week long stay. You will follow every order they give you, am I clear?" Her voice rang throughout the walled courtyard, dominating the silence. As she glared around the open area Ichigo felt a new sense of respect for the woman; she could sure as hell be commanding when she wanted to!

"Hai, Shihouin-sama!"

""When you arrive you will be shown to your barracks, and the necessary materials will be handed out. You will learn how to use these. If any of you lose any of your materials you will not be granted another, and will deal with the consequences of your actions accordingly. Now, up off your lazy asses and start running! Do not stop until you reach the other side. If you want to live, that is… Oh, and while I am thinking about it, you better say your prayers that it isn't the day the cleaner has chosen for his weekly rounds."

The senkai gate opened with an echoing boom, but the students stood in place glaring fearfully at it. Nobody moved a muscle. Ichigo sighed.

"What the hell are you guys all doing, just standing here! Come on, we have a schedule here!" Ichigo launched himself off of the wall he was leaning against and towards the gate, landing lightly on his feet in front of it. "Are you going to let a little speech scare you? It was engineered just for this purpose. It is a test!" He stressed the last sentence heavily, his gaze weighing down each person it touched. "If you fail this, you will never become a shinigami. Shinigami overcome their fear in order to do their duty. If you are scared for yourself, you have failed. Being a shinigami means living, breathing, to protect and to defend others; most of the time you won't even know who you are fighting for, but that shouldn't stop you. Are you so scared that you are going to sit here cowering like dogs, or are you going to go out there and protect what is yours? You are these souls only hope. Without you they would all be eaten by Hollows, or dragged to hell. What would become of the world then? Every one of you," He paused, meeting the scared eyes that were currently focused on him. His voice softened. "Every single one of you is worth something, not only to yourself but to the pluses you are going to save. What are you fighting for? Why are you scared of the biggest step in your career?" He looked on as a few of the more mature looked up and met his eyes. Determination became the atmosphere, overpowering the fear that still existed. Backs straightened. Some of the more respectful boys, or at least the ones who didn't despise him, nodded firmly at Ichigo with set jaws. Ichigo nodded back.

"Hey," Ichigo turned his head to meet Shizuka's eyes. "That was one hell of a speech, Kaien. Where did you get it from?"

Ichigo smiled. "Oh, nowhere; it is just a little something I have learned. You know how many friends I have in the squads."

She gave him a stern look. "You know I don't like liars, Kaien, and you have been lying to me for a while." Ichigo stayed silent. "You know, I can tell you didn't grow up in Rukongai." She added. "You have a rugged look, sure, and yeah, you have scars enough to claim it, but you don't act like someone who grew up there would. I should know… I did."

Ichigo's eyes widened. In all the four months he had been here, Shizuka had never offered any information of her past. Really, he didn't know much about her other than what she showed, and he knew that appearances could be deceiving. Take Rukia for example. She wasn't nearly as cold as she seemed when she talked.

Shizuka took a deep breath. "I grew up in the sixty-seventh district. It was called Ongaku… music. We practically lived off of it. Any money we made, that was how. There were a fair amount of venders, and we had to steal to survive. For the others, it was just a game but… I had to steal; I had to eat to survive. When I left I took the name as my surname, because I didn't have one. It reminds me of where I came from, what I was. It keeps me going. I know what it is like to be the lowest of the low, and… I never wish that on anyone. Everything I do I do with that in mind. I molded me." She lifted her head to gaze at his apprehensively. "One of the skills I got during that life was the ability to lie, and to detect lies. You are hiding something, something big. I always thought that you were a little too good, knew a little too much…"

Ichigo cut in, his voice cold and an undertone of warning coloring the normally playful lilt. "Shizuka…"

She cut him off. "No, I am not going to force you into anything. I just thought that you deserved to know that I knew. If you are hiding something, then you must have a reason. I just want you to know that, whatever it is, I won't judge you." Her eyes ran along his figure. "You have been through a lot. I can tell by the way you move, like any second something is going to spring out of nowhere and attack you. You are pretty good at hiding it, though, especially that immense reiatsu of yours." She said that like it was some kind of trivial fact, like there was no meaning at all in the conversation. "I am willing to bet my place in this school that it has something to do with all your shinigami friends. It really is amazing what you get away with, you know. No one else could just walk away after talking to Shihouin-sama the way you do. Then there is Kuchiki-fukutaichou… it makes me wonder how many other higher ups you know." She grinned at him. "I heard that you snuck up on Rangiku-fukutaichou during school signups, and that you walked away unscathed. Hell, I heard you talked to her, and that you made her laugh!"

Ichigo smiled slightly at that. "I did," He admitted. "My watcher sort of left me there without warning, and I saw her without her precious sake for once. Actually, I am willing to bet the only reason she was there is because her taichou was punishing her…" He trailed off, grinning thoughtfully up at the sky. "Actually, I retract my last statement. She was being punished, there is no doubt."

Shizuka raised an eyebrow at him, staring thoughtfully. "You act like you know him."

Ichigo grinned at her. "What makes you think I don't?"

Shizuka threw her hands up in the air. "Just how many officers do you know?"

"Well, I would say… most of the seated ones. Actually, know most, if not all, of the Captains and Lieutenants. Well, the current ones anyway."

Shizuka shook her head. "You aren't going to tell me, are you?" She sounded a little disappointed at the realization, but not surprised. She knew he wasn't a very open person.

"No, I'm sorry Zuka, but I can't. What I am… who I am, telling you would do nothing but harm to you. That is the last thing I want. You are too young to be involved."

She looked downcast, but accepted his explanation. "What should I call you then? I am assuming Kaien in just a cover name?"

Ichigo nodded. "Your cunning, you know that? Yes, it is a cover name. Apparently I look like this guy one of my closest friends used to know, so I took his name as a cover while I was here. I would prefer for you to continue calling me that."

Shizuka nodded her acceptance and turned, walking off towards the slowly closing gate. Ichigo noticed with bemusement that everyone was gone, apparently having left during their conversation. He shot a look back into the shadows, where he sensed his friend lurking in her cat form.

Yoruichi leapt out of the darkened ground and stared up at Ichigo for a moment, something dancing in those golden feline eyes that he couldn't divine. Yoruichi dipped her head and set a little green pill on the ground at his feet, shot him a long glance, and disappeared. Ichigo snatched up the pill turned just in time to slip into the gate and make his way across the Dangai to Karakura.

Ichigo was proud to see that every single member of the thirty-six students that left on this trip had arrived safely to their destination. It gave him hope, just a sliver of hope, that maybe these children were not so doomed after all.

Ichigo was standing in the front of the group, next to Shizuka. The two were acting as leaders of sorts, being the strongest and most capable of their class. Shizuka kept shooting looks at him, though; furtive looks, but looks all the same. Ichigo felt that she was curious about him and his past, however strongly she denied it. He couldn't blame her, though; one of her friends was going to a school he clearly had no need to go to, and under a cover name. Ichigo had to admit, he would be curious too.

"Well, looks like you all have made it safely." The rumbling voice of Tessai overruled the murmurings of the crowd of teens, silencing them immediately. All thirty-six seemed to shrink in place when they looked at the giant man. Ichigo had to repress a snicker.

"Yes sir, all thirty-six of us. What would you have us do?" Tessai turned his eyes to Ichigo, somehow managing to look impassive when their eyes met.

"You are… Kaien, correct? Yoruichi told me you would be the leader in this group. That means that this young lady must be Shizuka Ongaku." Tessai bowed lightly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ongaku. Yoruichi has done nothing but praise you."Shizuka's eyes widened and she blushed, stuttering slightly. Ichigo shook his head in amusement.

"Yo, Tessai, for Kami's sake don't give the girl an aneurism! I need her this week." Ichigo whispered furtively. Jinta, who was standing rather proudly next to his Uncle, shot him a poisonous smirk.

"Don't let Rukia hear you say that, strawberry. I don't think she would be all too happy about it." Ichigo narrowed his eyes.

"Shut it, pipsqueak. I am still taller than you. Need I remind you that you are currently engaged to my sister? I would be a little more respectful." He paused for a moment before adding; "Besides you know it isn't like that."

"Between who? You and this chick," He jerked a thumb to where Shizuka was standing, the blush fading as she watched the pair argue. "Or with Rukia? Because you were pretty torn up for a while, excuse me, until you died after you lost those powers of yours."

Shizuka was blushing anew now that the implications of their argument were realized.

"Both of them! And how do you know I was cut up over Rukia?" Ichigo was yelling now.

"Well, it was either that or because you couldn't see all your little Hollow friends anymore. I didn't know you were that close to those monsters. Was killing them an addiction for you, or something?" Jinta smirked. He knew he was winning this argument.

"Well, I- no I wasn't addicted to-whatever made you think that-I couldn't protect them anymore I- Oh, screw this. I don't need to explain myself to you, kid." Ichigo stalked away after the class, who Tessai had led away as soon as it became apparent that the supposed 'leaders' were not going to stop arguing for a while. Jinta followed after the fuming man, laughing in glee and satisfaction.

"-called Artificial Souls, or Soul Candy for short. They are standard equipment for all Shinigami on a visit to the Real World. They are used as an anchor for you gigai, taking over the body when you are not in it. That way you don't suddenly collapse in the middle of a street when you go after a Hollow. Now that you know the basics let me tell you this, you are not to exit these gigais unless we give you express permission. Ah- Kaien. Yours is sitting right over there. I trust you know how to get in it? Have you your Soul Candy?"

Ichigo nodded as he approached. "Yes sir, to both questions. Please, give me a moment. I will be right with you." Ichigo quickly made his way over to the gigai and stepped inside.

Just like getting into my body after going on a hunting trip. He noticed.

I swear, King, if you start getting all sentimental I am going to take over this body and you will not see the light of day for the next week, when you all return to Soul Society.

Oh, shut up Tatakai. Did I call for you?

Ichigo shoved the hollow counterpart out of his conscious mind and focused on Tessai, the rumbling sound of his voice acting a beacon for him as he accustomed to the functions that came with being back in a body.

"-candies. Just pop them in your mouth and swallow. We will be getting some temporary bodies for them shortly, as they can prove to be good lookouts and sidekicks in battle."

Ichigo, realizing what they were doing, groped the ground for his pill. He found it a few feet away from him and plucked it off of the dirt floor of the training arena before flicking it into his mouth and swallowing. Immediately the detached, floating sensation he had become accustomed to long ago took over his body once more, and before he knew it he was standing in front of his gigai, staring back at a very surprised and very upset Kon.

"What the fucking hell is going on here? One second I am talking to Nozomi, hanging out, the next I am being forced out of the gigai I used in the Soul Society and being fucking carried around the damned city. What the hell?" Kon looked frantically around the room with wide, angry eyes. He totally missed Ichigo, much to the shinigami's amusement.

Ichigo feigned depression as he spoke, "Well, what a reception I get. Is that how you treat an old friend, Kon?" The mod soul's head snapped around so fast that his neck cracked. Ichigo winced; he was going to have to deal with that one.

"Ichigo? Is that you? Well, that explains everything. What the hell have you gotten us into this time? Aizen? More hollows? Come on, tell me and let's get it over with. I want to go back home."

Ichigo deadpanned, his eye twitches as he glared venomously at the mod peering at him. "Why do I have to have started something for you to be called, huh? Maybe I am simply on a school trip to the real world and I would rather not start over with a brand new gikogan? Huh, why can't that be true?"

Kon scoffed. "Because, there is no way in…hell… that…they…would…" Kon's eyes widened as he gazed around him, taking in the students that were, thankfully, struggling with their gikogan. "Ichigo! Why are you back in school? Haven't you done enough to skip this aspect of the shinigami processes?"

Ichigo scowled and kicked the dirt floor with his sandaled foot. "Yeah, that's what I said."

The two were silent for a long time before Kon got over his shock and began to laugh. At first it was only a giggle, but it soon grew to a chuckle, and then a laugh, and before long he was, literally, rolling on the ground in mirth. Frustrated, Ichigo kicked the hysterical Kon sharply in the side once, twice, three times before he stopped laughing and rolled, wincing, to his feet.

"Well hell that hurts Ichigo. You didn't have to kick me, you know. A simple stop would have sufficed."

"Would you have listened?" Ichigo asked pointedly. Kon looked at the ground.

"Probably not…" He conceded. "Actually, I most definitely wouldn't."

"My point exactly."

"You do realize that you are going to have to deal with this later, right?"

"No I won't," Ichigo stated, "What do you think I am, ten? I don't have to listen to them."

"But they said-"

"Kon, my reiatsu is almost twice theirs, and that is when I am in my normal state. Think about it, when I enter Hollow state, they would be shredded to pieces before they could as much as move." Ichigo spoke slowly, deliberately, as if talking to a baby. Kon scowled, frustrated at the turn of the argument.

"Whatever you say, Ichigo. Say, where is nee-san? You never go anywhere without her."

"Correction, I never used to go anywhere without her, at least not willingly. But we were separated for thirteen years; I think I can get along just fine alone."

Kon scoffed, chocking on a laugh of incredulity. "Yeah, but you had no reiatsu at all for those thirteen years. Admit it; you cannot survive in the Soul Society without Rukia watching your back."

"Hey, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself!" Ichigo threw his arms up in exasperation.

"Sure you are…"

"You know what- no, no. Why am I even having this conversation with you? You're a Mod, a fucking Mod, you aren't even real-"

"Hurtful! I am just as real as you, strawberry-head."

"-and I don't need to put up with this crap!" Ichigo shot Kon a dirty glance and stalked off, his head bowed to the floor as he muttered obscenities under his breath.

"Okay, now each of you will be choosing one of these dolls as a temporary body for your gikogan. They will stay in this whenever they are not in your body, as a protection of sorts." As Jinta paused as a younger student, a fifth year Ichigo believed raised his hand into the air.

"Excuse me sir, but why do they need to be protected? We could just carry them in our pockets."

Jinta rolled his eyes at the amazingly horrifying lack of knowledge in this group. "Because gikogan pills can be crushed. If they are crushed, then you are screwed. Got that, pipsqueak?" The girl squeaked in response.

"Now go, you have fifteen minutes. After that we have a patrol to go through." He stopped and glared at the pack of students. "All of us. I have been elected to teach you just what patrolling means, and to make sure you aren't killed. I would pray about the last part, though, because I could care less if you imbeciles died."

Jinta rolled his eyes at the obvious terror in the air, his eyes searching out Ichigo and smirking at the man. Ichigo had his perpetual scowl in place, but a slight upturn of his lips betrayed his amusement. Ichigo rolled his eyes at the triumphant Jinta and scanned the row of dolls dully, looking bored by the lack of action. His eyes caught on a lion doll, and almost exact replica of Kon's old form. A devious smile contorted his face as he approached the doll and snatched it off of the table.

Ichigo grappled in his pocket for the pill, pulling it out after a few moments and stuffing it in the dolls mouth. Kon came alive for the second time that day, surprisingly not cursing. Well, not cursing yet.

"Yo, Kaien how you been? Gotten into any situations while I was out? Seen Rukes yet?" Ichigo scowled menacingly and set the doll spinning through the air, flying at impossible speeds toward Jinta's head on the opposite side of the room. The red-haired man ducked idly, dodging the projectile and stepping to the side as Kon slid down the wall, groaning in pain.

"Ku-so…" Kon slid into a motionless heap on the floor. Ichigo laughed. The other students stared at the man as if he had gone mad.

"Now who needs Rukia, you perverted bastard! Hahaha…" Ichigo doubled over clutching his stomach, laughing so hard it hurt him.

===PoV====

On the far side of the room Shizuka watched the scene unfold with raised eyebrows.

"Wonder what his problem is…" She wondered, giving him one more curious glance before turning back to the table. Her eyes caught on a bird doll. Shizuka shrugged in acceptance and reached out for it, only to be stopped by an enraged yell from… the doll?

"What are you doing? Going to grab me, were you! Don't touch me you pervert!" The doll rose to her feet, her bead eyes somehow glinting with rage. Shizuka's eyes widened in surprise."Touching a lady without her permission! Honestly, what is wrong with you people? At least ask first! Don't make me trap you! I will!"

Shizuka raised an eyebrow at the ranting figure, so engrossed in the spectacle that she didn't notice Kaien approach behind her. She jumped in surprise as the man brushed right past her and picked the doll up by her tail feathers, dangling her in the air in a very…disgraceful position.

"Put me down! Put me down you…!" The doll trailed off when she caught sight of her attackers face, and she squealed in delight. Shizuka watched in utter confusion as the doll twisted in Kaien's grip and scrambled up his arm unto his shoulders, where she hugged his neck.

"!" The doll squealed, jumping up and down on Kaien's broad shoulders. Kaien laughed at the things enthusiasm.

"It's good to see you too, Ririn."He spoke

"Ichi-chan! Why didn't you tell me you were here?" Kaien chuckled at her; a deep, warm sound that seemed to make the room grow brighter.

"I just got here." He smiled at her. "Don't you know what we are doing right now? We are choosing bodies for our gikogan, stuffed bodies if you catch my drift. Go and get Kuroudo and Noba, change into your gigais. Hide your dolls, too, while you are at it." The doll, apparently Ririn, nodded and scurried off of Kaien's shoulder, jumping down to the floor and quickly making her way over to the ledge where Shizuka found her.

Shizuka watched with interest as she pulled two other dolls from their places and dragged them out of the room, despite their protests and heated questions. As soon as they left the room she turned to Kaien and raised an eyebrow, silently asking him what just happened. He shrugged ad pointed back at the door, making Shizuka turn to look in the direction he was indicating. Her eyes widened.

A girl about twenty, maybe a little younger walked in with two men at her side. Her hair was about shoulder-length, curly at the edges. She was wearing a black cloak, dark grey jeans and a pink tube top. Her eyes were a light blue, the color of the sky on a clear day, and sparkled with happiness as she ran over to Kaien and threw her arms around him, giggling. Kaien returned the gesture, wrapping his arms around her in return.

"Ichi-chan! I haven't seen you in forever! Where have you been?" She pulled away to look at him, smiling delightedly.

"You know… Sereitei, school, here and there. Sorry, I didn't have the time to come visit. How have you and Ururu been?"

"Pretty good… but it's gotten kind of boring here without you around. At least you started attracting hollows at the end that sure gave us something to do. You have crazy reiatsu, you know that?" Kaien laughed and nodded his agreement.

"That I do, Ririn that I do. Urahara and Yoruichi send their regards."

The two men stepped forwards then. One, a tall guy with hair that changed colors, black and blonde she thought… but maybe it was green… Shizuka couldn't tell. He was wearing a black suit, a top hat and black glossed shoes. Glasses rested on his nose. Really, she thought he was gay. She just got the gay vibe off of him.

Kaien shook the man's hand and nodded at the other, who had remained distant and silent. She noticed that he seemed to like black because he was wearing black jeans, a black hoodie and some kind of shimmery silver fabric over the rest of his face. Only his green eyes were visible. The man nodded back.

"It is good to see you as well Noba, Kuroudo." He nodded at each one in turn.

"Hey, hey, HEY! Shut up!" Jinta's scream silenced the class immediately, making everyone's attention flip over to him. "Good. Now come here, all of you, we have a patrol to do."

Jinta lead them out of the shop and into the streets of Karakura Town, most of them with walking, jabbering gikogan at their sides. Ichigo trotted along in the front of the group with Shizuka, running alongside Jinta as they moved through the city. Jinta led them along the outskirts, through the darker parts of the town. When they found no signs of anything moderately spiritual Jinta decided to take them farther into the city, into the more populated areas, claiming that the students needed to learn how to move around humans.

They weaved through the crowds, somehow managing to get through without being noticed (even though, technically, they couldn't touch the people. Karakura is one place where you never know…). Ichigo was annoyed by the slow progress, of course, but mostly about the fact that it was a super slow, boring night and he couldn't even shunpo or sky walk to take the edge away. It was driving him mad being so close to home, so close to his family, and not being able to see them, or even acknowledge their existence if he did. He was bored, he was annoyed, and he was desperate.

Ichigo grunted in annoyance as they passed yet another soul, glaring at Jinta as he move forward and used some kind of object to Konso it. His glare grew even more venomous as Jinta smirked at him, knowing perfectly well how annoyed Ichigo was becoming. Ichigo took a deep breath and turned away from him, walking forwards slowly with the rest of the group as they continued their patrol. He searched out his friends reiatsu's to pass the time, picking their soul strings and keeping hold of them, watching over their emotions.

They had been patrolling for three hours, and the sun was starting to set. Most of the students were exhausted from the constant movement, they never moved below a jog for the entire patrol and none of them were used to such physical exertion. Only Ichigo was still moving, panting slightly but otherwise unharmed by the perpetual running. Jinta was breathing hard, but he refused to stop, apparently believing that he and Ichigo were in some sort of competition to see who could last the longest. It was obvious that Ichigo would win.

Darkness had just shadowed the city when Ichigo lurched to a stop, his eyes wide with horror. The other didn't even know what hit them. A huge burst of power sent the students surrounding him airborne, knocking them away with such force that they were knocked out by the impact. Jinta was thrown into a brick wall. His vision flickered and he lost consciousness for a moment, only to regain it a second later. Terror coursed through him at what he saw.

Ichigo was doubled over, his hands clutching at his head as he screamed. Black whips of pure reiatsu danced around him, their golden tips vaporizing whatever they touched. Deep scours were visible in the cement around him, as well as in the collapsing buildings that surrounded him.

Students were scattered at various intervals around Ichigo, all seemingly unharmed from their flight. From Jinta's vantage point they were all unconscious. Suddenly Ichigo screamed again, but this time a word. A single word.

"Karin!"

Jinta's blood ran cold.

Hehehe... I feel so evil! Cliffhanger, everyone!

Hmm? How was it? Awesome, good, horrible, worst I have ever written? Come on, I want to know! :)

We se a bit of character growth in Shizuka here. Do you think I did that right? That was a little hard for me to write at first. Oh, and her name translations are true as far as I know, I googled it. And how did you like the discovery of Ichigo's falsery? She doesn't know exactly who he is yet, but she has her suspicions! God, I am talking like she is real, aren't I? The curse of being an author...