After having Roselia joining the group, and Orihime deciding to take the path of a pokemon showman, our heroes head arrive in Mitsuki City. This is where Ichigo is planning on earning his third gym badge.

"We've finally arrived in Mitsuki City!" Rukia said.

"Ichigo, are you excited? You have a chance to get your third gym badge." Orihime said.

"You better believe it. Absol, are you ready for a win?" Ichigo said.

"Absol!" Absol looked pumped for a battle.

"Out of the way! Move it!" All of them turned around and saw a guy with dark red hair in a spikey ponytail and black tribal tattoos. He wore jeans with a white vest and a yellow, green, and red stripped shirt with a white bandage around his head. He was carrying a few pokeballs and kept running. He didn't stop, not even when he ran into Ichigo and shoved him to the ground.

"Hey!" Ichigo called out, but the guy kept running. "What's that guy's problem?"

I wanna be the very best

Like no one ever was

To catch them is my real test

To train them is my cause

Pokemon

Gotta catch'em all, it's you and me

Pokemon

I know it's my destiny

Pokemon

Yeah, you're my best friend

In a world we must defend

Pokemon

Gotta catch'em all

Gotta catch'em all

Gotta catch'em all

Pokemon

(Ichigo's voice) The Doctor and Feistier

After the rude encounter with whoever ran into Ichigo, they all headed straight for the gym, but it seemed to resemble more of a hospital.

"This place is the gym?" Orihime said.

"Doesn't look like one." Chad said. Rukia brought out a digital map and doubled check.

"Yeah. This is the place." Rukia said. All of them saw a woman walk right out the door.

"Excuse me, I came here to have a gym battle." Ichigo said.

"Another challenger?" The woman questioned. "I'm sorry, but the gym leader isn't here at the moment. She just got done with another challenge and her pokemon are resting at the moment."

"Oh man." Ichigo groaned.

"Might as well head over to the pokemon center." Rukia suggested since none of them had anything else to do at the moment.

…..

The Pokemon Center

"Please take care of them."

"Just leave it all to me." Nurse Joy said. That was when Ichigo and all the others walked in and they spotted the same guy that ran into Ichigo earlier.

"Hey!" Ichigo shouted. He was still mad and marched over to the guy. The guy got his attention caught and Ichigo grabbed him by the collar.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"You're the same guy that ran into me earlier. What the heck was that about?" Ichigo said.

"Sorry. My pokemon were in bad shape and they needed Nurse Joy. Besides, it's your fault for not moving out of the way."

"What did you say?" Ichigo said as he was ready to rumble.

"Enough you two." Nurse Joy said as she clapped her hands. "No fighting in here."

"Who are you anyway?" Rukia asked.

"The name's Renji. I just got done with a gym battle and I lost. I had to get my pokemon over here."

"Sounds like you were the challenger that came before me." Ichigo said as he let go of Renji.

"You're going to challenge the Mitsuki Gym?" Renji said. "Good luck. The gym leader might seem like a nice lady, but she's a tough one. She specializes in normal-types, but her pokemon used attacks I wasn't expecting."

"Normal types aren't limited by the elements like other pokemon so you don't know what attack they'll use." All of them looked to the front desk and saw a lady in a classy blue dress with black hair in a braid in the front.

"Hello, Miss Unohana." Nurse Joy said.

"Hello. I heard you were booked today. So I thought I come by and lend a hand again." Unohana said.

"Again?" Rukia questioned.

"Miss Unohana comes by every now and then to assist me in my work like Audino does." Nurse Joy said.

"Boys, keep in mind that a pokemon center is still a hospital. Please do your best to keep the noise down." Unohana said with an innocent smile.

"This guy started it." Ichigo said.

"I did not, but if you're looking for a fight, you got one." Renji said as they were both ready to rumble.

"Boys. I told you to please keep it quiet." Unohana said and still had that smile, but the feeling effect was different and it scared both of them.

"Okay." Both of them said as they were nervous. Unohana stepped inside to help Nurse Joy. When she was gone, both of them released a deep breath.

"Oh man. That lady seems nice, but she gave off this scary feeling." Ichigo said. While Renji was waiting for his pokemon to heal up, they all were getting to know him better.

"We didn't get the chance to introduce ourselves. My name is Rukia."

"I'm Orihime."

"You can call me Chad."

"And the brute with the stupid colored hair is Ichigo and his Absol." Rukia said.

"Hey!" Ichigo said.

"So you're going for gym battles as well, Renji?" Orihime asked.

"That's right, but I'm just starting out. I only got one badge." Renji said.

"Only one? I've already got two badges." Ichigo said and Renji got irritated.

"The number of badges doesn't mean anything." Renji said. "I'm bet I'm stronger than you in any way possible."

"Not a chance!" Ichigo said as the two of them were getting in each other's faces.

"You two seem a lot alike." Orihime said.

"You're both spirited and you're both aggressive." Chad said.

"I'm not anything like him!" Both of them shouted in denial.

"Cool it you two. Do you want me to get the scary lady?" Rukia said and that caused the both of them to settle down.

"You know what, I know how to settle this." Renji said. "Let's have a battle. Just a one-on-one. That will show who's stronger."

"No way. I need to keep my pokemon in top form for my gym battle." Ichigo said.

"I get it. You're scared." Renji said and that pulled the trigger.

"You're on!" Ichigo said. Both of them went out on the battlefield and were ready to start this battle.

"Here's my choice! Let's go Slakoth!" Renji said.

"Slakoth!" His Slakoth kept swaying.

"You're using that? Your Slakoth looks like it's ready for bed. Absol, put that Slakoth to bed." Ichigo said.

"Absol." Absol stepped out and as ready to battle.

"This will be over quickly. Absol use Razor Wind."

"Absol!" Absol charged up the attack and shot it out, but Renji wasn't worried. The attack looked like it was going to attack, but Slakoth leaned away from the attack.

"It dodged?!" Ichigo said as he found that hard to believe.

"I didn't think a Slakoth could move like that." Rukia said.

"You'll find it hard to land an attack against my Slakoth." Renji said.

"Let's try this again. Absol use Night Slash." Ichigo said and Absol went to attack.

"Slakoth use Counter." Renji said. Slakoth was covered in orange energy. When Slakoth got hit by Night Slash, Slakoth released a force that pushed Absol back and did some damage. "Now use Slack Off." Slakoth yawned and healed itself.

"Smart." Rukia said.

"What is?" Orihime asked.

"Counter is a move that deals double the damage the user takes when hit with a physical attack." Rukia said. "Absol took a lot of damage with that being a fighting-type move. By using Slack Off, Renji's Slakoth regained some energy."

"Can you keep battling?" Ichigo asked and Absol was able to stand back up. "Absol use Dark Pulse." Absol shot out the dark attack, but Slakoth leaned away from the attack.

"Slakoth use Shadow Ball." Renji said. Slakoth formed a dark orb and shot it out towards Absol.

"Absol, dodge and use Swords Dance." Ichigo said. Absol jumped out of the way and formed the swords to gain power. "Now use Night Slash." Absol went to attack, but Slakoth leaned away again. "I'm starting to get annoyed."

"Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?" Renji asked.

"Absol, back away and use Swords Dance." Ichigo said. Absol jumped away and formed the swords again and gained even more power.

"Slakoth, Shadow Ball." Renji said. Slakoth formed the orb again and shot it out. Absol braced himself and endured the attack.

"I've got to figure out how to beat that Slakoth, but the way it's moving is a problem." Ichigo said as he tried to think of a solution and one came to him. "Absol, jump and use Dark Pulse near where Slakoth is standing."

"Absol!" Absol jumped up and used the attack like Ichigo said. The impact from the added power of Swords Dance sent Slakoth flying into the air.

"Oh no!" Renji said.

"Absol use Razor Wind." Ichigo said. "Slakoth can't avoid it in midair." Absol launched the attack and was able to blast Slakoth. "Finish it with Night Slash." Absol charged at Slakoth's landing position and was able to hit Slakoth with his horn. Slakoth was sent flying and was taken out.

"It looks like that's it for Slakoth." Rukia said.

"It would appear so." All of them saw Unohana came out and she walked over to Slakoth. "Here. Eat some of this." She held out some food for Slakoth. "This holds a combo of oran berries and sitrus berries. It will help get your strength back." Slakoth took a piece and it tasted great. Slakoth got some strength back and got to eating.

"Wow! That Unohana really knows ow to treat pokemon." Ichigo said.

"Not really surprising when you think about it. She is the gym leader of this town." Renji said.

"Hold on! She's the gym leader?!" Ichigo said as he was surprised to hear that.

"You came all this way and didn't know it? You dope." Renji mocked. Ichigo just ignored that and went to speak to Unohana.

"Excuse me, Miss Unohana." Ichigo said.

"Yes?" Unohana asked.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki and I came to challenge your gym to get my third badge." Ichigo said.

"I see." Unohana said. "Very well. As a gym leader, I'll take your challenge. Let's have it tomorrow. I'm sure you would want your pokemon in top form."

"Right. Renji, you can watch if you want." Ichigo said.

"Watch you lose to her? Count me in." Renji said.

Not only has Ichigo been given a new rival, he'll have his chance to earn his third badge. What kind of battle will see out of this one? We'll just have to stay tune to find out.

To Be Continued…