Lex Talionis

Chapter 6

The members in attendance were now filled with excitement, and the atmosphere within the 2nd Division was full of anxiousness. Their new Captain and Lieutenant were both going to fight, and no one knew just who would come out on top of the exchange, for little was known of either combatant.

"Are you sure that's a good idea Ichigo?" Yoruichi questioned, her smirk returning.

"Are you sure speaking to me in such a familiar way is a good idea?" Ichigo quipped back, his confidence matching hers in every way.

"Well then, care to make this spar a little more interesting?" she offered, still just as laid back as she had been while Soifon lectured her in the office.

Ichigo merely quirked an eyebrow at the statement.

"When I win, I'll keep referring to you in the familiar, with no complaints," she stated, a full grin on her features now.

Ichigo couldn't help but admire her confidence, he was actually getting excited for the fight, something he hadn't felt in decades.

His smirk faded away along with him as he flash-stepped behind Yoruichi and he calmly whispered into her ear, "I don't lose."

He launched a kick to her mid-section but was thoroughly surprised when she caught it underneath her arm and proceeded to throw him across the training grounds with little effort.

Ichigo twisted his body in the air and landed gracefully on his feet, shock evident in his eyes, but his excitement overcame his surprise in finding a worthy opponent.

"It looks like I'll have to thank you, Yoruichi," Ichigo said softly.

"Why's that, Ichigo?" she smiled at the familiarity they already shared only a minute within their fight.

"It has been a long time since I've been this...content," he replied before going on the offensive once again.

She smirked before narrowing her eyes as he came from the side with a spinning kick much like the one that knocked the previous Lieutenant unconscious. She ducked the kick, only to realize it was a feint, as he flash-stepped to her other side with a spinning low kick. Moments before his foot came in contact with her legs, she leapt backwards avoiding the attack.

Ichigo gave her no room to breathe as he engaged her relentlessly, but it didn't seem to faze her, on the contrary she seemed to be enjoying herself quite thoroughly.

"It looks like I'll have to thank you as well, Ichigo," she said while trading punches and kicks with him.

Ichigo only smirked briefly before continuing his onslaught.

He aimed a spinning back kick at her head, but she brought up her own leg to block it, causing a light stinging sensation in his heel; he smiled.

"Either you're a masochist or really love to fight," Yoruichi commented as though their exchange was nothing more than a spar.

As Yoruichi aimed a kick to Ichigo's head, he caught her foot with his hand as he paused, confusion covering his face, "Masochist?"

Yoruichi laughed at Ichigo's ignorance before bringing up her other foot to break his hold, flipped backwards, and flash-stepped above him to bring down an axe kick.

Ichigo merely shook his thoughts away and continued fighting, side-stepping the kick and restraining her from behind, pausing the fight for the first time.

"Do you yield?" he whispered in her ear, his grip tightening between her arms.

"Ichigo, I didn't take you as a pervert," Yoruichi replied with a light tone.

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock before he let go of her, redness lightly covering his cheeks in embarrassment. Yoruichi, however, used this opportunity to land a side-kick directly into his stomach, causing him to get the wind knocked out of him and marking the first hit to land since their fight began.

"I didn't expect those sort of tactics from you," Ichigo wheezed slightly.

Yoruichi smirked, something he was growing to dislike, "I doubt Ōmaeda expected you to use his gold necklace, but weaknesses are meant to be exploited in battle."

Ichigo didn't know whether he should be angry or humbled at her using his own tactics against him, he chose the latter, "Touché."

"I think that was a good warm up, how about we start taking this a little more seriously," she said with a grin.

After regaining his breath, Ichigo straightened his body before returning the grin, "I couldn't agree more."

They both raised their reiatsu, enough for every member of the division to have trouble both breathing and standing.

Ichigo was the first to attack, flash-stepping directly in front of her, letting loose an innumerable amount of punches, blurring together in a beautiful display of attacks. Yoruichi was able to deftly avoid the strikes, tilting her head and twisting her body in near impossible shapes and forms, but that only made Ichigo more excited.

Yoruichi caught one of his fists, and Ichigo quickly followed up with a front kick, which she caught under her arm, effectively halting him altogether.

They both stared at one another, playing a game of patience, but Ichigo merely smirked as he raised his finger at her, "Hadō #1. Shō," he all but whispered.

Yoruichi admired his use of the spell, but wasn't too surprised given his results in the Shinigami Academy.

Their battle soon took them out of the 2nd Division and Seireitei, crossing blows and attacks in the barren lands of Soul Society. This only allowed Ichigo to use more deadly spells in conjunction with his melee attacks, much to his delight.

Yoruichi aimed a side kick at Ichigo's arm.

"Bakudō # 8. Seki," Ichigo said, creating a small orb on his hand where Yoruichi's kick landed, causing her to be repelled sideways several dozen yards.

Ichigo flash-stepped towards her while casting yet another Kidō spell, "Bakudō #62. Hyapporankan," he said moments before flash-stepping above her, allowing the purple rods to bind her to the ground.

He aimed a punch infused with reiatsu towards her solar plexus, and as he came closer and closer to striking her, she flash-stepped out of the binding spell when he was but a breath away from landing his attack, causing him to create a deep crater in the ground.

As the battle waged on, Yoruichi was able to deftly avoid Ichigo's Kidō spells and melee strikes, if only barely. The scenery very much looked like a battlefield, and the reiatsu being generated was sure to raise eyebrows to everyone within the Seireitei.

Ichigo and Yoruichi were both sweating profusely at this point, their engagement exhausting quite a bit of their reiatsu, and Ichigo planned to execute a trap that ended this fight once and for all.

Ichigo pulled out his Zanpakuto, much to Yoruichi's surprise, before casting yet another spell, "Hadō #58. Tenran," creating a swirling funnel of wind directed at Yoruichi, and in her moment of shock at seeing his sword drawn was caught in the attack.

She managed to escape the whirlwind with a flash-step, but placed herself directly in the path of a spell Ichigo was casting while she was entrapped in the Tenran, "Hadō #88. Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō."

A gigantic beam of electrical and spiritual energy shot out of his outstretched palm towards the unprepared target, or so Ichigo thought.

Yoruichi flash-stepped moments before the beam overtook her and she appeared next to Ichigo with a fist engulfed in white energy aimed directly for his head.

He wasn't expecting or prepared for her attack, and thinking quickly he casted a spell moments before her fist connected to the side of his head, "Bakudō # 81. Dankū!" he yelled.

Her fist connected with the barrier, causing it to shatter on impact and landed directly on Ichigo's temple, vaulting him dozens of yards sideways bouncing along the ground with a momentum he couldn't control despite his efforts.

Yoruichi landed gracefully on the ground as the white energy dissipated from her body. Ichigo, however, struggled to get back on his feet, but succeeded nonetheless.

As Ichigo stood, he sheathed his Zanpakuto and executed a poor flash-step towards Yoruichi in a vain attempt at continuing the battle, but the strike to his temple made staying conscious a battle within itself, let alone winning a fight against the 2nd Division Captain.

Yoruichi tilted her head to avoid Ichigo's fist, and as he stood in front of her, exhaustion and unconsciousness about to take over his body, he merely smiled at her before collapsing.

She caught his body, allowing him to lean on her form, before she flash-stepped away from the battle zone.

The first thing Ichigo felt as he regained consciousness was a throbbing headache, a sore body, and simple exhaustion. He then remembered his fight with Yoruichi, and as much as he might have wanted to feel disappointed in his performance, the excitement he felt at having a worthy superior, as much as that pained him to say, overwhelmed any negative feelings he might have had about the outcome of their "spar".

"Welcome back, Ichigo," a warm voice said.

"Captain," he grunted as he tried to sit himself up on the bad he laid on.

She placed a hand behind his back trying to help him sit up, but he stiffened at her touch, obviously uncomfortable with the contact.

"You certainly had no problem touching me a couple of hours ago, Ichigo," Yoruichi half teased.

Ichigo looked at her, before staring down into his lap, deep in thought before he said softly, "I..." and paused, trying to gather the words, "I'm a different person when fighting."

Yoruichi didn't really understand what he meant, but decided to respect his boundaries nonetheless.

"What did you hit me with, I've never seen an attack quite like that before," Ichigo commented as he stretched his stiff body.

Yoruichi smirked, "It's something new I've been working on. If you hadn't cast that barrier you would've been out for more than a couple hours."

"So I was correct in presuming it to be some form of Kidō, but its power is that of a level 90 spell if it broke through Dankū so easily," Ichigo rationalized.

Yoruichi was about to comment until a voice interrupted their conversation, "Our patient has woken up it seems," a woman said while approaching his cot.

Ichigo glanced up and was momentarily shocked, eyes wide with despair, before he quickly composed himself.

"Are you okay, Fushou-san?" the woman asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Sorry, thought you were someone else," he replied quietly.

"Ichigo, this is Unohana Retsu, Captain of the 4th Division," Yoruichi said, trying to change the topic.

"4th Division," he said aloud, "given where I'm at, I assume this is the healing division then?" Ichigo questioned.

"You are correct, Fushou-san," Unohana replied before sitting down on Ichigo's cot and running a diagnostic Kidō over his body.

"Your reiatsu is fully restored, other than some soreness you should be fine," she stated.

"Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience Captain Unohana," Yoruichi apologized before standing up.

"I understand this was your first day in the Gotei 13. I certainly hope this isn't a hint at things to come, Fushou-san," Unohana said with an eerie smile.

A bead of sweat trickled down Yoruichi's forehead as Unohana's smile unnerved her to no end, but it didn't seem to phase Ichigo in the slightest, much to Unohana's surprise.

Ichigo merely stood up from his cot and walked away, but not before saying, "I can't make any promises, Captain Unohana," and walked out of the ward.

Yoruichi gave a reassuring smile before quickly following Ichigo out of the division.

He was waiting for her, his strong posture and passive face returning, and any signs that he had been in a grueling fight were certainly not discernible. As she approached him, she reached within her Captain's robe and pulled out an arm-band.

She tossed him the arm-band which he easily caught, "Congratulations, Lieutenant Fushou."

He simply nodded in acknowledgment before strapping the band around his left arm.

"I'm curious though," she said while he adjusted the band, "why didn't you use your Zanpakuto?"

Ichigo paused in his adjustment, and slowly looked up at his Captain, "If I couldn't defeat you without my Zanpakuto, using it wouldn't have made much of a difference since you too have a Zanpakuto," he stated simply.

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow at his reasoning, "Well, that's a habit we're going to have to fix," she said before walking away.

Ichigo had a faraway look on his face and replied softly, "It's the way I was trained..."

* Flashback *

"You're hesitating Ichigo"

A young Ichigo wiped the sweat off his brow, "I don't want to hurt you!" he reasoned.

The woman smiled softly before appearing behind Ichigo with her sword coming at him as to cut him in half at the waist, "You're fighting against fear," she said with a deathly quality.

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock as he quickly brought his sword up to parry the attack, shutting his eyes as their blades made contact with one another.

She pressed down upon his blade, "Open your eyes Ichigo."

Ichigo slowly opened his eyes, scared of what he saw in the woman's face.

She quickly brought up a foot and kicked Ichigo's blade from his outstretched hands, launching his sword off into the distance.

"Do not fight fear, Ichigo. Do not tremble in fear's presence. Do not keep fear at arm's length," she said warmly.

Ichigo stood there, rooted in place, his breathing erratic, but mesmerized by the woman's eyes and the sound of her voice.

"Welcome fear into your heart, Ichigo. Fight alongside it. Embrace it. Wrap it around your soul," she continued as they stared deeply into each others eyes.

Ichigo began to relax is muscles, his legs feeling a little more loose than before. He steadied his breathing, and slowly but surely he began to understand fear while gazing into the woman's soul.

"Become fear itself, Ichigo, and only then will you understand the will of others," she said before abruptly bringing down her blade towards his shoulder. Ichigo continued to stare into her eyes, almost in a trance, and even when the blade dug into his skin and opened his flesh, his gaze remained unflinching and a smile graced his face.

"Fear will bring you the truth in both life and death, my dear Ichigo," she said with a smile.

As she removed her blade, he stood there unmoving until they were interrupted.

"The prototype is ready Äs," a man stated.

The woman continued smiling down at Ichigo before softly whispering in his ear, "Go get your Zanpakuto while I speak with Haschwald."

Ichigo slowly walked to where his Zanpakuto landed while Äs approached the man, "I don't like it Haschwald."

The man's expression softened, "It was the condition his majesty made for you to keep the boy."

"I wouldn't want to go upsetting 'his majesty' now would I," she said sardonically before taking the item from the man's hand.

"Just place it around the boy's neck, over time it will become attuned to his reiatsu and we can make adjustments later," Haschwald stated before walking away, just as Ichigo returned with Zanpakuto in hand.

Äs eyed the fleeting form of Haschwald before she looked back at Ichigo, her expression softening at the sight of him.

As she healed his shoulder wound, she quietly said, "From now on I want you to wear this medallion around your neck, but we won't be fighting with our swords anymore, do you understand?"

Ichigo smiled up at the woman and lightly nodded his head.

Äs returned the smile, doing her best to restrain tears from coming down her face.

* End Flashback *

"Ichigo?"

Ichigo shook his head, trying to ignore the thoughts intruding into the forefront of his mind.

He looked expectantly at Yoruichi.

"Come on, we've got a meeting to attend," she said before walking away, with Ichigo soon following.

They walked in silence for some time before Ichigo asked, "Do you know what this meeting is about?"

Yoruichi glanced back before looking forward, "I recommended our 3rd seat for a Captain's position, and this is a ceremony to commemorate his promotion."

Ichigo recalled the conversation she and Soifon had earlier today concerning the 3rd seat, even he had to admit he was slightly curious as to who this person was given all the commotion surrounding him.

They made their way for the 1st Division, and after several corridors and hallways soon joined another Captain heading for the meeting.

"Captain Kuchiki," Yoruichi acknowledged with a respectful tone.

"Captain Shihōin. Congratulations on your recent promotion," he said, and glanced towards Ichigo, "to the both of you, it seems."

The man had an elderly appearance, wrinkles adorning his features and long white hair draping on his shoulders, but wisdom and strength bore true beneath his eyes.

"Captain Kuchiki, this is my new Lieutenant, Fushou Ichigo. Ichigo, this is Captain of the 6th Division and Head of the Kuchiki Noble Family," Yoruichi introduced.

Ichigo, bowed ever so slightly despite his dislike for nobility, while the Captain gave a slight nod.

The three of them walked towards the meeting room in comfortable silence until they came across a group of Shinigami blocking the hall, much to chagrin of Captain Kuchiki.

"What's all this! Can I get through, please?" he said with authority.

The Shinigami quickly made room for the Captain and Ichigo immediately recognized one of the voices, "Our apologies!"

"Aizen Sōsuke," Ichigo thought as they walked past the Shinigami. Ichigo paid them no attention and kept his gaze in front of him, careful to not draw unnecessary attention to himself with so many eyes in the vicinity.

He could feel their eyes as he walked past them, but he remained unaffected as his eyes were closed and his posture remained relaxed, an aura of tranquility he maintained throughout his days as an academy student.

"Congratulations," Captain Unohana stated.

Yoruichi looked back at the 4th Division Captain and merely replied, "If you're going to congratulate someone, shouldn't it be the person in question, Captain Unohana?" she nodded before walking away.

"What's up?" a Captain with long blonde hair said as Yoruichi walked past him, "Some newbie's the 2nd Division's..." he said until Ichigo walked past him, which caused him to pause as the Captain seemed to look past Ichigo's stoicism.

"He has the same symbol that Aizen has, that must be his Captain," Ichigo observed while he walked behind Yoruichi.

They all soon found themselves inside the meeting room and lined up, awaiting the newest Captain.

Ichigo could feel him approaching the meeting room at a hurried pace, soon to be followed by his rather loud footsteps.

He opened his eyes to see the door open, where stood a man clearly uncomfortable with being late, "Uh oh! Don't tell me I'm the last one to get here?" he said with uncertainty.

Aizen's Captain already had an opinion on the newcomer, "It looks like a real flake's joined us," he stated.

The Captain standing beside him however had quite the rebuttal, "You're one to talk."

"Um...Mind if I come in?" the man said awkwardly.

"Quit screwing around! You're a Captain now! Come in with a little dignity, Kisuke," Yoruichi scolded.

"S-sure..." the man replied.

All Ichigo could do was mentally shake his head in disappointment, he now understood why Soifon was so adamantly opposed to the man. However, Yoruichi was the one who recommended this Kisuke in the first place, so there had to be more to this person than mere stage fright.

His musings were interrupted when he heard another voice, "That's right! Hurry up and get in!"

A man with an age resembling Captain Kuchiki, hit Kisuke in the back with a wooden cane and walked into the meeting room.

After pounding the floor with his cane, he said, "We shall now begin with welcoming ceremony for our newest member!"

As the elderly man, who Ichigo could only assume was the Captain-Commander, took his place at the head of the meeting, he could only think of one thing: power.

"This certainly makes things a little more difficult," Ichigo pondered while he tried to get a read on the Captain-Commander.

"I believe that some of you have already heard about this, but seven days ago Captain Hikifune Kirio from the 12th Division was ordered to relinquish her post here so that she could be promoted. As such, the same day she was promoted we began searching for a new Captain, and sent out notifications to each of you relaying as much. The following day, Captain Shihōin Yoruichi from the 2nd Division nominated her 3rd Seat for the position, and I had him brought to me. Yesterday I, Yamamoto Genryuusai, along with three other Captains, held the Captain Qualification Exam to see if he was worthy of this position. We determined that both his knowledge and personality were acceptable. As such former 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, Urahara Kisuke, is now the new Captain for the 12th Division," the Captain-Commander said with authority.

Not long after, everyone gave their congratulations to the newest Captain, Yoruichi and himself included.

"Don't worry Kisuke, it'll be fun," Yoruichi said with reassurance.

The man laughed nervously while scratching the back of his head, but soon noticed Ichigo and his nervousness was soon replaced with curiosity, "Who's this Yoruichi-san? What happened to Ōmaeda-san?"

Yoruichi glanced back at Ichigo before replying, "Meet my new Lieutenant, Fushou Ichigo."

Urahara smiled, "Congratulations Fushou-san."

Ichigo merely nodded in thanks.

This caught the attention of one of the other Captains, "Fushou?"

The three of them looked over at a Captain with black sunglasses and an afro type of hairstyle.

"Captain Aikawa?" Yoruichi said.

"My Lieutenant was forced to retire because of a scuffle he had at the Shinigami entrance exams with someone sharing that name," the Captain stated.

If Ichigo was nervous he certainly didn't show it, "My apologies Captain Aikawa. He was rather upset at being embarrassed," Ichigo replied calmly.

"Eh, he was always bit of a hothead. It's just a pain in the ass trying to find a new Lieutenant," the Captain said offhandedly.

Internally he was relieved, and Yoruichi took this opportunity to point out all the Captains to him.

The one called Hirako Shinji happily introduced himself however, his Lieutenant was in tow.

"So, ya made work of Love's Lieutenant while you were enrollin' in the Shinigami Academy, eh? That's pretty impressive kid," he said with a friendly tone and wide grin.

"This is my Lieutenant..." he said before Ichigo finished for him, "Aizen Sōsuke. We've been introduced," Ichigo said calmly, staring at Aizen with a passive face.

Aizen merely smiled, "Fushou-san made quite the impression at the Kidō Training Grounds during my visit to the Shinigami Academy."

They stared at one another, both wearing masks, and both with ulterior motives.

Shinji, however, was keen on noticing that something was amiss between the two people in front of him.