I felt the power surge that signals my sword had released. A pair of swords rest in my hands, the blades where long and one was bright gold while the other was dark silver that gleamed in the lighting. The swords thrummed with energy as I pointed them at the hollows. I ran forward and began in a way to dance. It was dancing except that I was taking hollows out at the same time. I had taken my dancing lessons and combining them with a pair of blades that enhanced my own speed and flexibility so that I was an even better fighter. It only took moments for me to take out the hollows then I followed the pressure of the others till I found them in a large open chambers. "Miss me" I ask smiling.

No response is given aside from the stares. Looking down thinking that I must have been missing a part of my haori or something I see nothing out of the ordinary. "We need to get moving" Ichigo says looking up at the opening to the surface.

I see Ganju nod "I'll go round up everyone and send them in your direction. I assume you're taking Kagome."

He nods turning to me "ready?"

"Yep" I say grinning.

Once Ichigo and I reach the surface I feel a pang of worry that I'll be faced with Kyoraku before this is all over. Shaking my head to clear it I focus on the task at hand getting Ichigo to Rukia who was on the other side of the district. They got pretty far by themselves I thought they probably would have made it eventually. With Hanataro helping them they wouldn't have had to many problems. We have gotten a fair distance before we're spotted. With a curse Ichigo picks me up and starts running along the walls trying to get distance between us and them. I remain still in his arms letting my senses spread out. I sense oncoming squad members only a little ways in front of us. "Ichigo there's about fifteen men in front of us. I suggest we turn right or we'll have to fight them."

Taking my advice he turns managing to avoid the conflict. He runs for a little longer to make sure that we are no longer being followed. He sets me to my feet and we continue walking with me giving directions. We are soon in the eighth squad's territory which is right in front of the place we're going. I become rather tense and unease since all it would take is one person to see me to raise the alarm and the last thing I want is Kyoraku to come chasing after us. Something isn't right where is everyone I think glancing around nervously. Spreading my awareness I barley have time to warn Ichigo of the attack when it comes. A familiar form appears in front of me between Ichigo and me. Oh shit now we're in trouble. He turns to look at me worry in his eyes "Kagome are you alright?"

I nod mutely noting that Ichigo has regained his feet. Kyoraku turns to face Ichigo and I can see the tension in his shoulders "Kyoraku" I say placing a hand on his arm "don't attack him" I say desperately.

Slowly his head turns back to me and I am unable to meet his gaze. "I'm helping him of my own free will" I say softly.

"Your betraying the soul society" he said flatly anger in his voice.

I meet his eyes "yes" I say firmly "I am in this case they are wrong. No matter what the rules say they did the wrong thing this time."

Kyoraku looks me hard in the eye and I am able to see that he doesn't believe me. Narrowing my eyes I move around him and stand between the two men. "I will not allow you to attack him nor slow his progress. Ichigo if you continue heading in that direction you'll reach the tower" I say pointing never looking away from Kyoraku.

I feel him leave as I draw my sword "don't Kagome please listen to me."

"No" I say hefting my blade.

"You leave me no choice than" he says wielding his own double blades unreleased. "You Kagome Higurashi have been branded as a traitor. All traitors are to be subdued and brought to the council to be tried for their crimes. You are no longer part of the Grotto thirteen or of squad eight."

"Done with your little ceremony" I ask "good. Here I come."

He tenses as I hold my blade perpendicular with the ground "we've got no choice Tadakazu!"

The blade releases leaving me with my two blades which I hold out to Kyoraku. He looks surprised "you never told me you knew your blades name."

I smile sadly "I never got the chance" was my answer before I attacked.

Kyoraku was use to my attacks and quite honestly if I didn't know his as well I would have been a goner in the first swing. My enhanced abilities allowed me to fight on more equal footing with him but I held no illusions that I could beat him. My only hope was to hold him off from pursuing Ichigo as long as I could. "Stop this now Kagome you can still take it back."

I shake my head "I never take back anything surely you know that by now Kyo. Or you should" I say using the nickname I had given him because I got tired of saying his full name which I viewed as to long.

Pain crossed his features at the use of the nickname or the barbed comment whichever. He pulled back from the fight leaving me gasping and barely able to keep my feet. The only reason I've lasted this long is because of Tadakazu I think gripping the blade a little tighter. It's time I thought straightening. I have no reason to hold back any longer after this I think holding my blade out towards the man I loved but would never they will never take back and neither will he. I take a deep breath "banki" I say softly as a stunned expression settles on Kyoraku's face. Light envelopes me blocking out everything else. The transformation is done soon and I can't stop myself from looking towards him one last time "Tadakazu himitsu no."

The blades are still the same silver and gold but that is the only thing that is where similarities stop. My clothing is the major changing factor along with a couple other things. For one my hair normally only to the middle of my back now hits the ground and is in a long braid. My eyes normally a dark blue are now bright green and my pupils look like a cats. Dark grey strips adorn each cheek coupled with a light blue diamond on my forehead. My shirt is now pretty much gone in its place is a leather halter top that's a dark black with gold flames, it falls to just above my belly button. I now wear a skirt that falls to the ground; it is silver with white snowflakes falling across it. I am also barefoot and one rock is annoyingly trying to penetrate my foot. I shift relieving myself of said rock as the last of my changes become apparent my wings which are black and white. I look to see Kyoraku staring and for a moment I can't help the pride in knocking this man off balance. Quickly pushing that emotion to the side I attack and manage to knock him flying into a building. Without hesitating I took to the air leaving him behind and chasing after Ichigo.

I find him on the bridge leading to the cell holding Rukia. He is being held up by Captain Byakuya who I remember is Renji's captain. I see the captain drawing his sword and I swoop down forming a barrier around Ichigo and myself. A quiet gasp tells me my presence has been noted. I ignore the man in favorer of focusing on the man trying to kill us or close to it. The moment his attack lets up a dark form grabs Ichigo and I follow close behind.

We collapse in a cave and I try to catch my breath but it keeps running away. "Wha- pant-t the hell-pant- happened-pant-to you?"

I glance over at Ichigo not understanding. "Hu?"

He gestures to my chest unable or unwilling to say anything. I look down and for the first time notice the mark on my side. Poking it causes a lot of pain. "Looks like I got a parting gift from Kyoraku" I murmur before passing out from loss of blood.

When I wake I'm in a large cavern and the sound of a sword fight can be heard nearby. I slowly sit up wincing at the pulling in my side. Pressing my hand to my side I let my healing powers slide into the wound removing the pain and patching up the wound enough for movement. I haul myself up and head towards the sounds of fighting to see Ichigo fighting an unfamiliar man whom I can tell isn't human. His sword I thought he's trying to get his banki. The man catches sight of me but I make no move to interfere. "That is enough for today Ichigo" the man says.

His voice was deep and smooth like red wine. Ichigo just kneels panting as the man heads towards me. He keeps coming till he stands before me. "You have a lot of power for one so young. Tell me what is the name of your sword?"

"Shouldn't you already know that" I ask "after all you are a sword too. Can't you communicate or something between yourselves?"

The man gives me an amused smile "yes we can but I never thought to ask their name while I was fighting them."

That makes sense I thought "there name is Tadakazu and Himitsu no" I said gesturing to the blades.

"I see" the man says looking the blades over. They were in their released form since I couldn't get them to go back any more.

Abruptly the man vanished leaving just Ichigo and myself alone in the cavern. When I look over I find that he is watching me. "Zangetsu never talks to anyone but me. I wonder why he spoke to you."

I shrugged "he said I had a lot of power but I doubt that it really matters. After all I've been officially marked a traitor. Really though I'm surprised I managed to get away from Captain Kyoraku with so minor wounds."

"You call those wounds minor" Ichigo shouts.

I wince at the sudden volume change. "Oww no but I wasn't expecting to leave the fight with him with my life. We may have known each other but that amounts to nothing now I guess." I rub the back of my head and sigh. I get up intending to find somewhere to bathe maybe even something to eat when a woman appears. I look at her curiously but otherwise I don't react I recognize her aura as one I have felt before. "Hello my name is Kagome" I say extending my hand to the woman.

She grins before clasping my forearm "Yoruichi" she says squeezing my arm.

I immediately like this woman "is there somewhere where I can clean up by chance.

Yoruichi nods pointing in the right direction "I'll make sure the pervert doesn't follow you." I thank her as Ichigo yells about how he isn't a pervert and that a stupid cat lady shouldn't lie to people.

The bath was wonderful and when I returned to the cave that we are staying in I was reunited with Renji. I grin at the male "good to know someone else has a good head on their shoulders" I say after Renji puts me down.

"Does Captain Kyoraku know that you're here?"

I flinch slightly at the mention of his name before forcing a smile "yes he knows I defected. In fact he is the one who named me a traitor which means" I continued turning to the others "that very soon the entire Grotto Thirteen will be looking for Renji and me. Being traitors is serious here we had best not be seen till we have to."

Yoruichi nodded in agreement "yes until Ichigo is ready I don't think any of us should move. I only wish that the others were here with us but they will have to take care of themselves for now."