Rukia stood out in front of Ichigo's house, staring at the building in which she had strangely come to see as her home. Tears were forming in her eyes, ready to descend at any instant. She wanted to tell Ichigo, but he would only try to stop her from going, and he wasn't strong enough to deal with the ones who had come for her. No, she had to leave so he wouldn't get hurt and hopefully, they would just leave and forgot about him altogether.
Sprinting away, tears fell from her eyes as she ran from the one place she had felt truly belonged. After all, she wasn't left with much time before the idiot would stumble upon the note she left for him, explaining her reasons for what she had to do.
Kakashi blinked as the seal flashed from red to blue, before fading from reality, His head turning to Jiraiya, who had a big idiotic grin plastered on his face.
"What the hell just happened?" Jiraiya ignored Kakashi's demanding question and focused his attention on a figure standing below.
Even from such a far distance, the Shinigami could make out the face of the soul staring up at them, 'Rukia'. The seals master extended his arm and pointed down, interrupting Kakashi before he could inquire more information. Following his friend's appendage, the lieutenant's visible eye settled on the form of one Rukia Kuchiki.
"Seems you're not as useless as I thought," Kakashi said, his facial expressions masked by the skin-tight fabric hiding half his face. Punching his superior in the upper limb, Jiraiya turned to him with a smirk before motioning towards the ground. Both began lowering to the earth, as Renji stayed kneeling in the air, his eyes fixed on his long time comrade.
He wanted to smirk at her, sought nothing more than to rub it into her face how weak she looked right now, for all the times she teased him. But as the red-head looked at her; he couldn't. In his eyes, this girl was not the same woman who had left Soul Society a few months ago, she looked so helpless, so overwhelmed that it sickened him to see her like this.
"Ahhh, Rukia-chan, good to see you're still alive." Rukia tore her gaze from her childhood friend and eyed the cyclops.
"Thank you, it's nice to see you as well Hatake-san." Said man smiled under his mask. Despite the fact, the girl wasn't the least content in seeing him.
"Well, it certainly is unfortunate for us to under such circumstances." Kakashi said, as the girl flinched slightly under is scrutinizing gaze.
"Still, I'm just happy it was you who came to collect me Hatake-san." truthfully she couldn't care who came to get her as long as it wasn't her brother. "I'm ready…" She paused while re-adjusting the straps on her shoulders, which were attached to the bag on her back. "To go."
Nodding Kakashi turned to his team. "Renji go and pick her up…" the red-head hesitated for a moment before nodding. Kakashi rolled his eyes from the tattooed vice-captain to his own fourth seat. "Jiraiya open up the passage-way to Soul Society." Jiraiya extracted his Zanpaktuo from its sheathe and stabbed it into the atmosphere, while Renji landed beside the missing Kuchiki.
"You idiot," the lieutenant of the sixth division muttered before roughly grabbing the smaller girl by the arm. Rukia lowered her head, her friends harsh words making her feel ashamed. "Do you have any idea the mess you've gotten yourself into?" The black-haired girl said nothing, as she refused to look him in the eyes. "The transfer of death god's powers to a human is a felony, ya' know." Looking down at her as if she were a common criminal he continued, "and the penalty is execution… idiot."
"Oh and Rukia, where is the boy who stole your powers?" Rukia froze as Kakashi casually stood near Jiraiya, his hands in his pocket. "Hn."
"What are you talking about!?" She blurted out. "Just because I'm in a faux body doesn't mean my powers were taken. Furthermore-"
"Well that's all very interesting, Jiraiya are you almost done?" He interrupted not really caring. His orders were to capture Rukia and kill the one who stole her powers. 'But alas, he is nowhere to be found.'
Ancient looking doors materialized out of nonentity right in front of the perverted Shinigami, after he re-sheathed his blade.
"Alright kiddies, ready to head back," Jiraiya's voice echoed through the empty street.
Pulling Rukia along, Renji approached his team-mates, his eyes shifting to the side before snapping back and momentarily widening. He threw his head back just as a beam of light in the form of an arrow passed by, flying down the street before tearing through a nearby brick house, before finally dissipating.
Looking in the direction where the projectile had come, Reji could make out a silhouette through the darkness that was steadily drawing closer. Squinting his eyes, the figure stepped out of the shadows and into a nearby street light. In the glow, the person was clearly visible: a black haired, bespectacled teenager of average height. He wore a school uniform along with a tie while holding a plastic grocery bag in his hand.
"Three men with armed weapons assaulting an unarmed girl…" The teen said with a solid frown on his visage, "not a very pleasant thing to see." Stopping just a few feet in front of the two, he stared at the Shinigami still holding onto the girl. "I don't really like that sort of thing."
Renji gazed curiously at the newcomer. "You can see us… who the hell are you?
Smirking, the glasses wearing teen used his index and middle finger to straighten his slightly crooked bifocals.
"Just a classmate."
"Classmate?" Renji said, narrowing his eyes.
Ishida looked from all three of the Shinigami, "one that hates death gods, that is."
Jiraiya and Kakashi were quick to appear beside the red-head using shun-po. Even with all three figures glaring at him, Ishida kept his superiority complex, not concerned in the slightest about being outnumbered.
"Ishida? Why are you here?" Rukia finally spoke with a slight bit of anger in her tone.
Said teen casually turned to the girl to answer her question. "Just a coincidence. It's nothing for you to worry about," seeing the look on her face he chose to elaborate, "If you must know…" He held up the plastic bag in his hand. "I suddenly wanted to go to this twenty-four-hours-a-day semester shop chain, Sunflower sewing… and was simply walking around this neighborhood in the middle of the night."
Rukia looked skeptically at Quincy. "It's not like I took off because I was concerned when I sense death god energy and brought this bag-"
"Renji," Kakashi interrupted while massaging his forehead. "Deal with him. He's giving me a headache."
Smirking, the red-head slashed at the teen, cutting the bag in half and leaving a small scratch on the teen's bandaged wrist. "You should know never to get on a death god's bad side." His eyes glinted dangerously, as he rested his sword on his shoulder, "it's not good for your health." The male finished by pointing his blade directly at the sewing fanatic.
Rukia grabbed onto Renji's arm. "Wait, Renji he's not a part of th-"
"What are you talking about?!" Ishida cut in. "Shinigamis don't have a good side!"
"Why you cheeky little bas-"
"RENJI!" Kakashi said a perilous edge to his voice. Causing him to pause and look back at him. Seeing the look on his squad leader's face he decided not to push his luck any further.
His eyes then focused back on the nerd, a sadistic grin spread across his face. "Looks like your times run out."
Ishida moved before the Shinigami had a chance to, he fired, using his speed to send two quick arrows into the Death God's shoulders. Unfortunately Renji was faster than he anticipated and easily side stepped both strikes while keeping his firm hold on the girl.
"Too slow," The male muttered before vanishing from sight.
Ishida glanced back and forth not seeing the slightest sign of his opponent. The wind shifted behind him, spinning around he sent a leg sweep at the Shinigami. Instead of dodging, Renji stomped on the teen's leg, smirking as he felt the bone snap beneath his sandaled foot. Ishida's scream died on his lips as he felt a blade digging into his left side.
"Pathetic," Renji muttered, bringing his leg up as he spun, smashing his foot into Rukia's classmate's face.
Ishida went flying back from the blow, skidding off the ground before slamming into a stop sign.
But the boy rose from his kneeling position, blood and sweat covering his face and left side. Standing up on shaky legs, the Quincy knew if he took another blow, he would more than likely bleed to death.
His eyes followed his opponent's every move, right down to the pace of his breathing. Ishida flinched as his assailant vanished. Before he could even move his body went numb. Renji stood behind him, his blade at his side with blood dripping from the tip. Darkness was consuming Ishida's vision, without even realizing he was falling forward, the dark-haired fell to the ground unconscious.
Renji's frowned as he stared down at the teen, sheathing his blade he scoffed before planting his boot into Ishida's injured side. "Stupid brat, that's what you get for being an idiot." He spat while walking back to his shocked friend. Once again his hands firmly grasped Rukia's arm and he began dragging her towards where the other two Shinigami were patiently waiting.
Kakashi's eye widened, he leapt to the side just as a crescent shaped beam of Reiatsu tore through the spirit door. Confused and annoyed Kakashi was quickly back to his feet and saw a orange haired teen standing in front of the Quincy, a giant black steeled Zanpaktuo hefted over his shoulder.
Jiraiya was not far away from his lieutenant frowning at the new arrival.
Ichigo was smirking, quite pleased with himself for almost hitting one. "Oh sorry, am I interrupting something?"
Renji lifted an eyebrow. "Another one… just who the hell do you think you are buddy?"
"Your executioner!" He responded as he charged at the shinigami holding onto Rukia. Renji pushed the girl away and leapt back as the huge blade tore through the air before him.
As his feet touched the solid concrete the lieutenant drew his blade and leaped forward before the stranger had a chance to attack again. He slammed his blade into the smirking teen's. Renji never stopped to ask or wonder why he was smirking; to him it really didn't matter. Ichigo pushed harder against the red-head until he could feel his opponent's knees beginning to give out. He was going to give his all to make sure they didn't capture Rukia.
"What's your name?" Renji muttered through gritted teeth.
"Ichigo," He answered before throwing a knee into his gut.
Renji gasped, feeling the hard blow. Saliva flew out of his mouth as he stumbled back, placing one hand on his abdomen.
The tattooed man dropped to one knee, it felt as if a giant sledgehammer had just smashed his ribs into tiny fragments. Renji bent over coughing into his sleeve. As he pulled away, blood dripped from his lips, covering the cloth in the crimson substance.
"Not bad…. you got one hell of a hard knee," he said still holding his injured side.
Ichigo cast his gaze to the other two shinigami carefully watching him. "So who's next?" Jiraiya began to draw his blade and move forward, when Renji rose on wobbly legs with his blade out in front.
"I'm not done just yet, you bastard." Ichigo spared him a glance before returning his attention to the white-haired male. "Come on old man you're up," He said, completely disregarding the red-head.
"Hey strawberry, your fight's with me." Renji smirked as a vein began to show over Ichigo's right eyebrow. The orange headed teen slowly turned, fire dancing in his eyes as he glared at the name caller.
"What did you just call me?" his smirk widened by a fraction.
"You heard me… STRAWBERRY!"
Ichigo released more reiatsu in his childish fit; Renji actually felt his legs buckle as the spiritual pressure weighed down upon him. 'Just what the hell is this guy, is this really the human Rukia gave her powers to.' The red-headed Shinigami thought with both eyebrows in his hairline, as Ichigo's power continued rising.
Just as he thought there was no end to the amount of energy within the fake shinigami his power leveled off, just a little below a vice-captains. "Damn Kakashi were going to need are limiters removed, or else this guys going to cream us." Renji yelled out not even bothering to look back at the squad leader, in fear of taking his eyes of the power house smirking at him.
"Shit!" Jiraiya's voice echoed through the night air.
"What?" Renji didn't know why but he had a bad feeling about this entire ordeal.
"Soul Phones are down, Renji were falling back… now!" Kakashi ordered sternly, leaving no room for argument. With a quick shun-po the red-head appeared beside Kakashi. Renji stared straight into Ichigo's eyes. "Next time we meet you won't be so lucky Strawberry." Turning around he reached for the soul door that Jiraiya had opened once again, only to meet a boot smacking him in the face.
Ichigo smirked and used his superior speed to reach Renji before he could re-orient himself. He flew straight at him and flipped just as he reached him and brought down his heel into the downed man's gut. Renji gasped as the breath was forced out of his body, saliva and blood escaping from his mouth. Rolling back Ichigo used his hands to catapult himself away.
Renji pushed himself off the ground, his face twisted as he tried to ignore the pain racking his body. "I won't let you take her," he had barely heard what the teen said, his voice only as loud as a whisper resounded through the dead silent night. "She saved me... it's time I repaid the favor."
"Kid listen to me, you don't have a choice in the matter. Even if you defeat all three of us, all you're doing is digging your own grave." The white haired Shinigami said as he came up beside the red-head with his hands held up in a placating manner. "Think about it. If we don't return what do you think will happen?" Taking Ichigo's silence as a request to continue Jiraiya stepped in front of Renji his hands down by his side, close enough to draw his blade if the situation changed. "You'll have the rest of Soul Society coming down on your ass and trust me that's the last thing you want."
Ichigo scoffed, "I'll deal with them when the time comes, but for now, I'll stop you!"
Jiraiya moved at the same time Ichigo did, both charged at each other blades at the ready. The old pervert swung his blade at the teen, but the boy side stepped and appeared in the man's guard, standing face to face with the man, Ichigo smashed an uppercut to his chin.
As Jiraiya was sent flying back, Renji took his place swinging his blade wildly, Ichigo parried every strike from the Shinigami. Flinging the red-heads thrust aside as he plunged his blade for the man's chest. Renji managed to duck in time and then rolled to the side avoiding the leg that flew by his head.
Renji stared up in horror as the giant cleaver was descended upon him in a flash of steel, not even allowing him room to retaliate. But, as the blade pierced his skin, Kakashi appeared leg already flying. His foot smashed into Ichigo's face, sending him stumbling back.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!" Renji chanted while pointing his open palm at Ichigo. "Hado thirty-one: Shakkaho." A ball of scorchin crimson light began enlarging in the red-head's hand. When the orb of flame was about the size of a soccer ball, Renji hurled the projectile towards his opponent.
Ichigo heard a faint whistling, as if something was whizzing through the air at break-neck speeds. Cracking an eye open, he gasped before a sphere of red spiritual energy crashed into him, creating an explosion that covered the vicinity in dust and debris.
Suddenly, laughter echoed all around as the dust settled revealing the laughing teen with barely any scratches and a few singed hair. "To think the king was actually worried about facing you three, AHAHAHAHAH!" Ichigo's cruel laughter began morphing into a sinister tone as white particles began gathering from the atmosphere, forming colorless shards over the boy's visage.
"I'm going to have fun tearing you all to pieces!"
Then a malevolent energy blanketed the street as full hollow mask shaped on the boy's features.
Kakashi was really worried now, things were not going according to the plan the three of them had set up. Kakashi blinked as the boy pushed his spiritual pressure outwards, blasting up a thick wall of dirt. When he opened his eyes, the thing was right in his face. Ichigo flashed a malicious smile before grabbing him by his face and smashing it down against the concrete. Tears stung at the lieutenant's eyes as overwhelming pain seared through his veins. Ichigo slowly strode to the weakened Shinigami, just as he planned to end the man's life, another sphere of energy smashed into his side, forcing him back a few steps.
Tearing his eyes from the Shinigami at his feet, his attention was consumed by the other two Shinigami; who both had their palms extended out towards him. A devilish smirk stretched across his face, as he charged head on against the two. He reached Jiraiya first, heaving a fist into his gut, before executing a roundhouse kick at the Shinigami. It was so fast Jiraiya didn't have time to defend himself, his eyes snapping shut as he was violently blasted through a wall.
.
"Howl: Zabima-" Ichigo stood in front of the sixth squad's vice captain, his fingers burrowing into his sword arm.
"No Zanpaktuos allowed," Renji yelped as Ichigo wrenched his elbow. As a shuddering snap was heard as the bone broke out of his flesh. Renji stood in shock, choking on a scream as he looked over the horrendous damage inflicted upon his arm.
"Ichigo stop!" he turned and earned a gasp, while staring at the small girl the king had come to protect.
"Sorry Ichigo's not here at the moment princess, would you like to leave a message?"