CHAPTER 4 : THE FIGHT WITH ICHIMARU

Jonouchi stood at the closed arena entrance. Two days ago he recieved a message to meet the thirteen Captains here. He knew today would probably be his last. Somebody would die today, either he or his Captain. He felt sick. He felt really sick.

"How are ya doin' Jou?" he heard someone say. He looked over to find Zaraki Kenpachi, as well as Hitsugaya Toushiro, 10th Squad Captain. "We just thought we'd stop by to talk before your match. "

Jonouchi smiled. He'd never met Hitsugaya in person before. From what he heard Hitsugaya's zanpakuto Hyorinmaru, was the strongest ice type in all of Soul Society. He looked really serious as well.

"Nice to meet you, Captain Hitsugaya." Jonouchi smiled.

"Likewise..." Hitsugaya replied, all the while keeping his serious attitude. "You've got to watch yourself. Ichimaru may look incapable, but he'll make a formidable opponent."

"He can't be stronger than Captain Zaraki." Jonouchi questioned.

I don't think we should tell you... But I was wearing a spirit restraint, as well as the one over my eye. My strength was a forth of what it should have been." Zaraki said, frowning.

Jonouchi could feel his stomach churn. How was he supposed to beat a Capatain at full power? "Whether he is your Captain or not, you can't hold back. If you do you'll be slaughtered." Hitsugaya said. "Anyway, we best enter... Everyone's waiting."

Zaraki opened the door, and they entered. Jonouchi felt like he was going to faint. All Shinigami had assembled... Crowds of them from every Squad. This must be one of the biggest events. There was a huge battlefield, with a raised platform along the outside for the spectators. In the middle of the battle field stood Ichimaru Gin, current Captain of the 3rd Squad. He smirked as he saw Jonouchi approach. Captains Hitsugaya and Zaraki escorted Jonouchi to the center.

"Well, if it ain't Jonouchi... I'm lookin forward to our match." Ichimaru smirked. Jonouchi managed a small smile and nodded.

"Good luck, Jou." Zaraki said as he and Hitsugaya Flash Stepped onto the raised platform.

"Ya guys make it sound like ya want me dead!" Ichimaru laughed. The crowd grew silent as Yamamoto Flashed onto the field.

"As you all well know..." he began in a booming voice. "...we are here to witness an interesting battle. More importantly, to decide who is more fit to be the Captain of Squad 3..." Shouts echoed through the crowd as the 3rd Squad Shinigami cheered. "...the current Captain, Ichimaru Gin, or the current Vice - Captain Jonouchi Uchiki." The rules of this match are simple. Do whatever you can to defeat the opponent. You must kill your opponent to win. Do either combatants have anything to say before their match begins?"

"Just one." Ichimaru said, sounding serious for the first time since Jonouchi had known him. "I'm really lookin forward to facin' ya in battle. Be sure to give it your all. No Vice - Captain o' mine would hold back, and I ain't givin' up dis here rank to someone who don't fight seriously." he said. "Thas' all I have to say." he smirked.

Jonouchi smiled and reached his hand out ot Ichimaru's. "If I manage to win this, I promise to do my best and give my best to the people of our Squad and all of Soul Society, just as you have."

Ichimaru shook Jonouchi's hand and smiled. "So, are you both ready?" Yamamoto asked. Both nodded and Flashed to their starting points. Yamamoto raised one hand. "Ichimaru Gin versus Jonouchi Uchiki. This match will decide the Captain of Squad 3... Ready... BEGIN!" he shouted, flashing out of the way.

As Yamamoto moved, Ichimaru drew his sword and charged Jonouchi. Jonouchi defended with his, and Ichimaru began viloently stabbing at him. Jonouchi Flash Stepped behind Ichimaru and slashed at him. Ichimaru quickly countered and stabbed Jonouchi in the shoulder. He winced in pain, and Ichimaru kicked him in the stomach and he smashed into the wall. Jonouchi stood up and noticed Ichimaru pulling back on his sword. He made a stabbing motion and shouted "Shoot to Kill, Shinsou!" The blade quickly extended in length at the speed of a bullet, Jonouchi barely dodging. Of all the times he had seen his Captain fight, not once had he seen that technique. The blade easily extended 30 feet!

Jonouchi ran his fingers along the blade of his Zanpakuto. "Bare your Fangs...' he shouted "... O'kamitoku!" An icy atmosphere loomed over the battlefield.

"It's getting quite cold." Ichimaru smirked. "Shoot to Kill, Shinsou!" he shouted yet again, the blade extending towards Jonouchi. He jumped up straight into the air and landed on the blade as it passed beneath him. He ran along the top of the sword and slashed at Ichimaru's face. Ichimaru threw his head back, only having a few tiny hairs cut. As the blade withdrew, he slashed at Jonouchi, who quickly defended. Ice grew around Ichimaru's blade as it made contact with O'kamitoku.

"Arctic Mist!" Jonouchi shouted, sending a wave of ice in Ichimaru's direction, who easily dodged the attack. Jonouchi Flash Stepped into the air and cut into the air. A thick mist appeared, and Jonouchi quickly stabbed into it several hundered times. "Thousand Icicle Shower!" he shouted, and hundreds of ice needles rained downward.

"Ya gonna have ta do better than that!" Ichimaru smirked and easily knocked each ice needle away. "Shoot to Kill, Shinsou!" the blade again extended and shot at Jonouchi. He dodged, but Ichimaru turned the blade while extended and cut right into Jonouchi's side. Jonouchi fell to his knees. He could feel the blood run out of his wound.

"He shouldn't be able to swing his Zanpakuto while it's extended like that!" he thought to himself. He wasn't going to lose here. He COULDN'T lose here. Everything is riding on this fight. He had to give it his all. If he didn't he'd die... Not only that, but he'd be disrespecting his Captain. Jonouchi's reiatsu surged throughout the arena, surprising many of the on-lookers. His reiatsu could clearly be seen. He Flash Stepped in front of Ichimaru and kicked him into the air, just as he had done to Captain Zaraki. Ichimaru had no time to react. Jonouchi Flash Stepped above him, delivering an axe kick into Ichimaru's face and blasting him downwards. Jonouchi again slashed into the air, leaving a thick fog. He stabbed into it, sending even more ice needles downward.

The other Captains watched in astonishment at the rookies attacks. Ichimaru was surely finished. Aizen Sousuke was the only one who didn't seem the least bit surprised. He placed a hand on his Zanpakuto and silently whispered "Break... Kyoka Suigetsu..."

As the ice needles decended, Ichimaru flashed away, but failed and reappeared in the exact spot he tried to escape from. Each needle hit it's mark, plowing Ichimaru into the ground. Jonouchi stood there, waiting for the dust to clear. There lay Ichimaru, in a bloody heap on the ground.

Yamamoto Flash Stepped out onto the field and check Ichimaru. He turned around to face his viewers and spoke. "Ichimaru Gin..." he started. "...is dead... We have a new 3rd Squad Captain. Jonouchi Uchiki!" he shouted, the crowd beginning to cheer. Jonouchi stared at the maimed body of his former Captain. Tears fell to the ground as he collapsed to his knees. Some unknown fear overwhelmed him. He didn't know what he felt, just that it made hims sick. "Get to your feet. You can not let this effect you." Yamamoto said. "Come, we have much to discuss." he said, leading Jonouchi to the other Captains.

Jonouchi stood and followed. He looked into the crowdand noticed something. There stood Kalinda Yochi, with a huge smile on her face. He smiled as he remembered the day he met her, and how much confidence she seemed to have in him. Just then, he heard a bunch of yelling. He turned to notice a fight had broken out in the crowd. One of his Squad members, who would now be his Vice - Captain, was trying to get out of the crowd. He succeeded and rushed at Jonouchi, Zanpakuto drawn. Yamamoto defended the startled Jonouchi with his cane, and the man attacked him. "Arrest him!" 2nd Squad Captain Soi Fong shouted, as two shinigami dressed in a ninjas wardrobe apprehended him.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Yamamoto said in an angry voice. "This is not like you, Kira Izuru..."

"He killed him!" Kira shouted. "He killed my Captain!"

"It was a fair fight. Yamamoto replied.

"Kira..." Jonouchi whispered as the three struggled. He felt an enormous pain in his head, and again passed out.