Ichimaru Gin went on the roof of the mafia's palace. It had been converted into a pool area with a bar and many different tropical plants in the artificial environment. Tousen was sitting at a table, next to his assistant Shuhei Hisagi, who was reading out and scribing reports and orders for Tousen. Both Ichimaru Gin and Kaname Tousen were considered to be The Boss' right-hand men. The Boss, Aizen Sousuke, was resting on a deck chair besides the pool and talking with a petite girl. Other then these four people, the area was empty at this early hour.
"Boss, may I have a word with you?" Ichimaru asked as he tilted his head slightly towards Hinamori.
"Would you prepare me a drink, dear?" Aizen asked sweetly, "The usual cocktail please."
Ichimaru grinned as he waited for the girl to distance herself. "Grimmjaw left during the night without your orders. I believe he went south to search for Rukia. Should I dispose of him?"
Aizen shook his head as he reflected on the situation. "Let us see how things will develop." And with those words he lay back and signalled Hinamori to return with his drink.
Ichimaru looked over at Tousen who had overheard and who seemed annoyed at his Boss' leniency. He packed up his things and followed Ichimaru out of the pool area. They rode quietly in the lift as they headed to their office, with Hisagi tagging silently behind them.
"Boss sure is nice to his underlings." Ichimaru taunted his partner who grunted in response.
"Grimmjaw is too reckless and acts too independently. It can only mean trouble in an organisation like ours. Whatever does he think of achieving? We are already tagging the bounty hunter who has apprehended Rukia. All we need to do is waiting till he brings her."
"Well well… at least we'll have some suspense till he returns. Where are you going now?"
"To check on the progress of the Hougyoku Project with Szayel Aporro."
"Ehh… my my- I should get to work as well then." Ichimaru stated as he picked up the phone.
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Ichigo and Rukia arrived in the lonely village, through which Ichigo had passed before going on to Hueco Mundo, after a quiet ride. Ichigo stopped the bike in the desolate square.
"We'll rest here for a bit. We'll eat something, get some water and fuel. Then we'll leave. You have any needs?" Ichigo asked as he got off the bike and stretched his legs. Rukia muttered something as their attention was attracted by two approaching figures. Ichigo's hands flew to his guns immediately as he laid his eyes on the nearing bounty hunters. There were two of them but one of them didn't look like he was carrying any weapon. He was a slim guy and looked rather out of place with his clean clothes and polished shoes. He also seemed uninterested in either Ichigo or Rukia as he stayed behind the other bounty hunter with his arms crossed at his chest. The other man looked dangerous to Ichigo. He was tall and bald, with two long barrelled guns slung at his hips and a shot gun, with a sawed off barrel, at his back. He had a wild look in his eyes and a bottle of tequila in one hand as he grinned maniacally at Ichigo.
"I have two options for you, dear friend. Option 1: you give the bounty head over to me and leave alive. Option 2: which I hope you choose, we have a duel and who wins keeps the Chica for himself. So which one will you choose?"
Ichigo grinned as he chose the second option. The other hunter nodded in satisfaction and looked at the big clock in the square, "we shoot on the hour. Thus we have half an hour to spare. By the way I'm Ikakku and that's my partner Yumichika."
"Kurosagi Ichigo"
Ikakku set on a doorstep in the shade as he continued drinking and offered some to Ichigo, who declined. Ichigo removed the handcuff from his wrist and tied Rukia to his bike. He then wiped his sunglasses from the dust and went to search for some food and water. He wasn't worried about leaving her with the other hunters because he knew that Ikakku was craving for a fight. He returned with some tacos and cold water and gave them to Rukia.
"You're an idiot," Rukia whispered to Ichigo, "you should have left or shot him whilst his guard is low. Why are you risking your life like this?"
"Because he's an honourable hunter and he threw me a proper challenge. I have a reputation to preserve."
"You're both idiots" Rukia stated as she munched on her food. But Ichigo could see that she was worried about him.
"Don't worry about me, I'll survive." Ichigo smiled charmingly at the girl who sniggered at him.
"It's just that I would have more of a chance to escape from you since you're alone then with those two." Rukia replied as she looked at the clock and felt a lump of dread blocking her throat. It was time. A handful of old people had gathered in the square as the two men walked towards its centre. They both looked calm and confident. And to everyone's surprise, Ikakku was sober.
They stopped a short distance from each other, facing each other and flexing their fingers. Ichigo pulled back his cape to reveal his holstered guns. His guns also had a long barrel and they were made of black steel. There was an interminable silence as the clock's hands crawled slowly as if in apprehension. Then the clock struck the hour and the two gunshots broke the silence instantly. One was fired a second later. Ichigo hit Ikakku in his shoulder, to his left. Since he had drawn with his left hand, the bullet's impact with his body modified his own bullet's trajectory which only brazed Ichigo's arm, drawing some blood. Ikakku fell to his knees as he laughed at his opponent, who had been faster than him.
"You should have killed me!" Ikakku smiled at Ichigo who just shrugged as he walked back to his bike. He mounted his bike and he waited for Rukia to mount behind him and they drove off, stopping only once to refuel and then they left for the next village.
Yumichika walked over to his friend and helped him up and walked him to their room where he treated his wound. Thankfully the bullet didn't do much damage.
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Ichigo and Rukia arrived in the next village after two long days of driving and they checked-in at a motel. Upon entering the room, Ichigo collapsed on the bed as he groaned from the pain in his arm. He hadn't wanted to stop to treat it and now the wound was infected and festering. He could barely move his arm and he was also feeling dizzy. He looked worriedly at Rukia, who was feeling his hot forehead and stated that he was running a fever. Rukia walked into the bathroom to get a wet cloth and then helped Ichigo to take off his shirt. Pus and blood were oozing out of his wound which was deeper than a graze as they had both thought. Ichigo stared at Rukia, whose breathing had become irregular as she stared at his wound. Her pupils were dilating and she looked distant. Suddenly Ichigo felt a cold and tingling sensation around his wound and he looked in disbelief as he saw the wound clearing up and healing till it left no trace. Ichigo gawked at Rukia who simply fainted unto his lap.