A/N: Alright so the masses have voted, if you don't like the outcome, well you should've voted. Retsu will be worked into the harem somehow, someway. As for this chapter being incredibly short and later, I apologize. I've had several things come up this weekend and I just can't write more this week. That being said, I hope you like what there is and I urge you to be patient for the next update.

I don't own Bleach

1 day in the Living World = 7 in Soul Society

L.W-Living World

S.S-Soul Society

H.M-Hueco Mundo

"speak"

'Thoughts'

"Zanpoktou"

"Hollows"

Chapter 7

Tia Halibel sat at the edge of the Shattered Shaft waiting for Tatsuki Arisawa to find her way out through becoming a Shinigami. Halibel's own experience with her zanpaktou had been less than pleasing; she had spent nearly an hour trying to control her emotions. During this time she had actually discovered she no longer had her mask to cover her face.

"Tia-chan, I know how hard that was. Hell, it took everything I had to keep from lashing out at her. However I do understand what she meant. Something like that shouldn't be used lightly."

"I do apologize for putting both of you through that pain but once again I needed you to understand my power."

'Aquarius, I just have one question for you. Have you ever used your power on yourself?'

For several minutes there was no response as Aquarius thought about her answer.

"I am…ashamed to say I haven't. I haven't experienced yours or Tiburon's loss. I do not understand the joys of life nor the despair of death. I hope one day to experience and understand such things."

"So you have the gall to say we need to understand your power when you don't even understand yourself?!"

'Tiburon, please stop. I understand what she means, she's a lot like you and I; we only understand so much about life ourselves. She just has less experience than us. Give her some slack, one day, she will experience and understand the world around her, just as we are doing.'

Both Aquarius and Tiburon remained silent, as the discussion had left them with much to ponder. While they did so, Tia thought what she was going to say Ichigo's girlfriend about her own feelings towards him.

'I wonder how she'll react…'

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Tatsuki slowly opened her eyes to find herself surrounded in darkness with a bright light shining directly into her eyes.

"So that's what Ichigo was talking about, no wonder he said he didn't get along with Hichigo."

"HEY! I can hear you, you know."

'Ask me if I care! Now shut up while I figure out how to get out of this fucking hole.'

Apparently yelling at your hollow was a pretty good way to earn their cooperation.

"If I may interrupt, even without practice I think you can Shunpo to the surface."

'As encouraging as that is, I still don't know how to do that.'

She received a sense of annoyance from her hollow at her lack of knowledge on a simple task.

"It's quite simple honestly, try to focus your raitsu on your feet and imagine yourself standing on the ground above the hole."

After several attempts at performing Shunpo and numerous small adjustments to her practices, the new Shinigami found herself standing in front of a sitting Halibel.

"Umm…Where's Ichigo?"

"The shop keeper said he went to S.S to things going there and to see about us joining his squad. He should be back soon apparently. In the mean time, I wish to speak to you."

"Sure, we can talk." Tatsuki replied as she took a seat beside the sitting blonde. "So what did you wanna talk about Halibel-san?"

"Well first, do you mind if I call you Tatsuki? I'll let you call me Tia if you wish."

"I don't mind at all, Tia."

"Thank you Tatsuki. Now, I wanted to talk to you about Ichigo."

Arisawa's eyebrows arched up a bit in puzzlement as she tilted her head to the side. "What about him?"

"You see, I've come to the conclusion that I may have feelings for him. I don't understand how I feel about him; I've never had this emotion before. Every time he touches me my body heats up and…"

"Stop, just stop. I know where this is going. It's pretty obvious to a third party that to some extent you love him." Tatsuki interrupted.

"I understand that much, but what I don't understand is how much I love him. I need your help."

"I'll tell you what, let's have a good fight. I've always found that it'll clear your head and make things clearer. After that we can come back to this."

"Fair enough and thank you." Tia said with a bowed head.

"Don't mention it. One rule for this fight though, no blades."

"You're a martial artist though aren't you? That gives you the advantage."

"True but you're also far stronger than I am, most likely faster as well." Countered Tatsuki.

"Fine, we'll do it your way." Halibel said with a smile.

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"Captain Kurosaki, this is a serious matter. We all know that Arrancar only have a sword that contains their original Hollow powers. The idea that they can obtain an actual Zanpaktou is…"

"Excuse me Head-Captain, but that kind of narrow-minded thinking has gotten you guys in trouble before hasn't it?" Ichigo interrupted Yamamoto.

A few saw the truth to the new Captain's words but many simply seethed with anger and disbelief that he would interrupt the Head-Captain.

"I've had enough of you Kurosaki!" Shoalin roared as she flashed towards Ichigo with her shikai. Ukitake made a move to stop her but was too slow.

Ichigo stood still with his eyes closed, like he was pretending to be asleep, while the enraged Captain kept repeatedly… trying to stab him. All eyes except for theirs were wide with shock as they watched Shoalin hit him in the same spot over and over with no effect.

"Haven't you had enough today?" He asked with an unimpressed tone. His voice caused his would-be attacker to stop and register that her target was alive and unscathed. "Let me tell you something Captain Soi-Fon, it's an old saying but you'll find it enlightening. 'A wounded man shall say to his assailant 'If I live, I will kill you. If I die, you are forgiven.' Such is the rule of honor."

Many in the room moved their hands to their swords to intervene at this point but the Head-Captain waved for them not to.

"You bastard! You think that you, a lowly human, can just take a Shinigami's powers, storm our home, defeat and insult several of our best Captains, walk in here like you belong here and interrupt the Head-Captain and make a mockery of me?!"

Ichigo opened his eyes once she finished speaking and stared at her with cold and emotionless orbs. "Is that a challenge, Captain? I will gladly show you the difference in our power if that's the only way you'll understand."

Captains Komura, Kurotsuchi and Hitsuguya flashed to stand behind Shoalin, while Unohana, Ukitake, Kyoraku and Kuchiki flashed to stand behind Ichigo.

The Head-Captain began to question where he had started thinking like a close-minded fool. When did I stop thinking that anything was possible? Now because of our stubbornness and stagnation we stand divided.

A/N: Again, I apologize for how short this really is. Next chapter I will be bringing back many peoples' favorite character and we'll see where this confrontation is going.