Don't own Bleach

Their swords came together fiercely. The intensity of the collision caused sparks to fly as they soared through the Squad 5 area, through walls and groups of loitering Shinigami. Utsumi was propelling Tsukino through the walls. His belief that he is doing the right thing for everyone, driving him on and making him fight harder than in the last battle. In the last battle he was still conflicted. He didn't know he was doing the right thing or whether he just abandoned his Squad and the Soul Society, however, after living with Urahara, Tessai and Yoruichi for the last few months he had got to know them well. While they weren't perfect, they were not the criminals that Central 46 portrayed them to be.

Tsukino knew he was in trouble. He had underestimated Utsumi's strength. He hadn't imagined he would have improved this much since their last battle. His strength, speed, power everything has improved to such a degree he couldn't explain it. It was if he was possessed. He thought back to their first battle and how it went. Tsukino was on top for most of the battle. He would have won if he had hit the killing blow. He's cursed himself everyday since his defeat for missing that blow. Tsukino should be dead, he knows it. The battle was escalating as they flew apart and came together clashing blades. Tsukino was growing tired of crossing swords and was preparing to release his Shikai. He disengaged, "You've gotten stronger since the last time, how is it that you have improved this much?" he asked

Utsumi, looking at him impassively, "You wouldn't understand." he said charging at his opponent at lightening speed. He slashed and stabbed at Tsukino. He was attacking with an intensity that couldn't be recognized from the man that was nearly beaten by Tsukino those months ago. He may have trained with Urahara, but it's his belief in his Zanpakuto to keep him alive.

Tsukino bristled as he defended himself again against an onslaught of attacks from Utsumi. The attacks may not be cutting him but they are taking their toll. He leaped back, calling his Shikai, "Takaku tobu, Fukushū Fenikkusu!" his Zanpakuto morphed into a faded orange blade with fiery gold hue. His wings began take shape.

The impassiveness of Utsumi's face never wavered ashe released his Zanpakuto, ""Fusei o arainagasu ti seigi o mamoru, Seigi no Torento!" the curved blue blade appeared to be glowing brighter than usual as he leaped forward attacking Tsukino. Utusmi let him live last time and if he could, he'd do it again now, However he hoped that Tsukino would give up before killing him becomes and option.

Tsukino defenses were being breached and he was suffering slashes and cuts to his torso and arms. He smirked, he's forgotten my Zanpakuto's ability he thought cockily to himself as he defected Utsumi's hit and grabbed him. He flew up in the air laughing as he goes, "You seem to have forgotten my Zanpakuto's ability. I guess I'll remind you." He said as he continued to fly with Shinigami looking on. "Sukai Bakudan!" he yelled as his wings began to ignite however Utsumi's face never changed.

Utsumi looked at Tsukino in the eyes as the heat from his wings increased. His Zanpakuto began to glow blue. The glow increased and Utsumi said calmly, "Kaiyō nami." A pillar of water came crashing down from the sky. Surrounding them, it doused Tsukino's wings and brought them both down to the ground. As they were falling they were sharing blows, cutting each other all over. They hit they the floor causing a crater in the middle of the squad 5 barracks.

He won't be beaten that easily. He won't just lie down and die. Tsukino pushed himself up, grabbing his Zanpakuto. He looked around to find Utsumi standing outside of the crater standing in attack stance. Tsukino shunpoed at him and causing the stuggle. "Why can't you just die?" Tsukino grunted.

Utsumi just stared blankly at him, "I can't die," He said, stabbing Tsukino through the chest. "I can't die because I believe that what I'm doing is the right thing to do."

He fell into the crater. Staring up at the man who had defeated him twice. He fights for something he believes in that's why he beat me. He thought to himself. That's what gives Utsumi the power. His belief that he's doing something right. He's devotion to do the right thing gave him the will to go against the entire Soul Society for what? A chance to try and confront something that wasn't anything to do with him. He's stupid, he's going to get himself killed. he thought to himself.

Utsumi looked down at the Tsukino. He put his hand to his side and felt the warm liquid run down. He looked at it and it was crimson. He could feel Tsukino's Reiatsu. It was faint but it was still there. Good, he doesn't deserve to die he thought. Utsumi couldn't bring himself to kill him. He just hoped he doesn't end up regretting it. He thought about what to do next, he's going to need to regroup. Not because he's tired or injured, because he needs to come up with another plan.

Hoping that the man is in a talkative mood, Utsumi shunpoed down to Tsukino. He crouched by his body, "You need to tell my why you were in the world of the living. Who sent you?" He interrogated the injured man. Desperate for information, he yelled, "Who sent you?" The anger seeping into his voice. He could sense high levels or Reiatsu approaching. "Tell me, who sent you!?"

Fading in and out, Tsukino just about heard what Utsumi was asking. He knew he was bested, defeated. All things considered, he should be dead. No matter what he does now he could die by either Aizen's hand or Utsumi's. He weighed up his options before responding, "It was..." he said before everything went black and Ustumi shunpoed away.

Yoruichi looked down at Utsumi, she saw the emotion cross his face. She was thankful after the look in his eyes in the last two battles. They looked unforgiving, but that's not the Utsumi she knew. It scared her for moment, but she realized after his battle with Tsukino that it was his focus, his belief that possessed him and he drew resolve from his belief and it allowed him to fight. He wouldn't give up as long as he had something to believe in, to fight for. That was what she loved most about Utsumi, his willingness to fight for whatever he believes in.

Utsumi sighed, sheathed his Zanpakuto on his back. What do I do now? he wondered. He has no way to prove his friends innocence. He has no way to help his friends. He needs a way to prove that Aizen was guilty. He was in mid thought when Yoruichi jumped on his shoulder.

Yoruichi looked at Utsumi, "What should we do now, with no evidence, we got nothing." she began, "I think we should go to Sokyoku Hill. Kisuke has a training ground there, we can regroup, assess the situation and where to go from here." she said calmly.

Utsumi knew where he wanted to go, straight to Aizen and bring him down but he knew that was foolish. He needed a plan. He knew Yoruichi could come up with a plan, she was smarter than he was. "Let's go but I want this to be over soon." he said hoping it didn't sound as cold to her as it did to him.

Yoruichi bobbed her head, "I understand." she said as he shunpoed his way to the Hill.