Hello guys! Sorry for the late update but I knew you guys wanted an interesting fight!

I pulled out the stops on this one I really enjoy what happened here i hope you guys do too!

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_Chapter 16_

The Puppet Master

Tensa Zangetsu's black blade shimmered in the moonlight. The blade was almost as famous as the orange haired Captain that held it. Illiana Djinn could feel the anticipation of battle starting to work its way down her spine. This was supposed to be an information gathering mission. There was never supposed to be any altercation of any kind. Licking her ruby red lips she fully extended her fan-like zanpakuto. As with all shinigami her zanpakuto played to her strengths in order to give her an advantage in battle. This being said her ability encompassed her mastery of kido. The fan itself was useful in blocking attacks and it had the ability to absorb energy based attacks and throw them back at the wielder. The main disadvantage to this is that it left her open to more physical based attacks. As she stared into the eyes of the irate Captain in front of her she could tell by his stance that swordplay was second nature to this man. After all what should she expect from the man who defeated Aizen himself.

"Are you just going to stand there looking at me or are we going to get this started?" Ichigo asked as he tightened his grip on his sword.

"Actually I was just thinking about the way you hold you sword. You grip it like you expect an attack at any moment. Do I make you that nervous Ichigo Kurosaki? You can tell the truth your little vice-captain isn't here to take up for you." Illiana smiled as she watched the irritation spread on Ichigo's face.

"You leave Rukia out of this. This is between me and you. I did not come here to stand and talk with you. You have threatened my sister that makes you on the top of the list of people that I am going to mop the floor with today."

"HAHAHAHAHA so very arrogant. Do you think that I am scared just because your brought your little Bankai out to play? Hmmmmmm?"

Ichigo's eyes widened at this. Toshiro had said that this woman was definitely a former shinigami. She would know the power that is behind a Bankai, then why would she not even flinch? Unless...Realization hit Ichigo and he jumped back to a safer distance to gauge his opponents next move.

"At last you realize. Of course I am not going to attack you with a mere Shikai whilst you are in your Bankai state. I will just have to call out my Bankai and even the odds." smiling her devilish smile Illiana raised her fan to eye level.

"Bankai."

Ichigo watched as an explosion of deep red reiatsu permeated the entire area. Being a veteran of many battles already Ichigo knew that the best course of action right now is to wait and see what form Illiana's Bankai would take. As the reiatsu faded Ichigo was shocked by what he saw.

Mirrors. Countless mirrors had appeared on the battlefield. There were mirrors of all different shapes and sizes. They completely encircled both Ichigo and Illiana. Illiana"s blood red dress had been exchanged for one that was black as midnight. In her hands she held a large double bladed scythe. The weapon was unlike anything that Ichigo had ever seen before. The handle itself was at least four feet long with each end having its own blade going in opposite directions of each other. One blade was blood red, while the other was midnight black.

Smiling as she took in Ichigo's wide eyed stare she called the name of her Bankai,

"Unmei no Kagani, the mirrors of fate. Come Ichigo, gaze into my mirrors and realize your despair."

Ichigo was getting tired of the arrogant attitude of the woman in front of him.

"I will show you despair. I will show you what it is like to have no hope of winning. You will regret touching my sister."

Raising his arm Ichigo prepared his signature move. Only a few feet away Illiana still had not moved, in fact the smile was still on her face. Ichigo could see the reflection of her wicked smile in the mirrors that surrounded them.

"Getsuga Tensho!" the wave of killing energy exploded forth from his blade and hurtled towards the still unmoving opponent. Ichigo watched in shock as Illiana let the attack hit her full on.

"ARGGG!" Ichigo could feel his flesh searing down his chest. Where did this injury come from? She never moved. Angry that he allowed her to get through his defense he charged another smaller unnamed Getsuga and sent it at Illiana. Once again she did not move. Once again he felt the attack searing into his side this time. Ichigo did not know what was happening. He now had two bleeding wounds and he had not seen his opponent move once. Jumping back to collect his thoughts he studied the situation. Looking around he wanted to see if there was anything he missed. Any detail...It hit him like a stack of bricks. The mirrors. What were the mirrors doing that were currently surrounding the battle.

"I see you are not as stupid as you look." Illiana laughed.

"You finally noticed my mirrors."

"Just what do those things do? They are just sitting there." Ichigo yelled

"Exactly. That's what they do. They sit and watch. They can see everything that happens during my battles. My Bankai is the Mirrors of Fate, they sit and watch my battle completely surrounding the battlefield so that they see everything that happens."

"I can see that! But what do they do!" Ichigo roared.

"They protect me. Essentially they reflect any attack aimed at me to the person who attacked me. Do you know what that means Ichigo Kurosaki? It means that while I am in my Bankai state it is impossible to inflict damage on me."

Ichigo was struck speechless. Cannot be damaged? That's impossible. No defense is that strong.

"Cannot be damaged huh? Let's test that out."

Ripping his hand across his face to call out his hollow powers he looked into Illiana's pale blue eyes.

"I hope you are ready Illiana."

"I told you what ever you do is useless. Bring it on."

Vanishing with a flash of shunpo Ichigo used his heightened speed to appear in four directions around Illiana simultaneously. All four Ichigo clones raised there arms and charged a Getsuga at the same time.

"Getsuga Tenshou!"

Bringing their arms down the blast of force came at Illiana from all directions at once. Smiling she looked right at Ichigo and raised her arms essentially making her completely defenseless for the attack that was ripping towards her.

It hit Ichigo like a lightning bolt. The force of four fully charged Getsuga Tenshou hit with an indescribable force. Standing in the middle of the battleground Ichigo fell to his knees. There was damage all over him. Singed and burnt skin and profusely bleeding wounds. He had never felt the power of his own attacks before. Now he knew why his Getsuga was so feared. If he had not had the added protection of his hierro the last attack could have completely taken him out of the fight.

"I will not lose to you." Ichigo said through gritted teeth.

Sparing a second he looked over and saw his friends cutting large swaths against onslaught of hollows that was still pouring out of the gargantua. They were all engaged in their own battles. Looking at Rukia he thought to himself what would she do? She would analyze the situation. Looking around he noticed that one of the mirrors had a small crack in it. How did that happen? Was it the force of the energy discharged from his blade? An idea started to form in Ichigo's head. Standing up he smiled at Illiana. He had to be right. Raising a hand towards her he began to charge a cero.

"Ha! You don't learn do you Ichigo? You can't hurt me!" Illiana laughed.

"We will see about that. Cero."

The blast charged out from Ichigo's hand and hurtled straight towards Illiana. Smiling she straightened prepared for the attack to hit.

It never hit. Seconds before impact the cero abruptly changed direction and speed towards the mirror with the crack in it.

"NO! What are you doing?!" Illiana screamed.

"Calling your bluff Illiana." Ichigo smiled.

The cero tore through the mirror and it exploded into a million little pieces. Ichigo watched as Illiana was thrown backwards. When she was able to pick herself up there was a large smoking hole near her shoulder. The cero had not went all the way through but it had caused a lot of damage. She looked at Ichigo with a shocked expression on her face.

"How did you? That should have been impossible."

"It was easy. There is no such thing as a completely impenetrable defense. After I took a moment to evaluate the situation I figured that your mirrors were probably both your biggest strength and your biggest weakness. You will not be able to hit me again. As a matter of fact I am about to take your mirrors out of the equation."

Illiana heard the resolve in Ichigo's voice and felt a small flicker of fear travel down her spine.

"What are you talking about? You cannot take my mirrors out of the equation Kurosaki. They are a part of my Bankai. Are you trying to say that you are going to crush my Bankai?"

Ichigo looked straight into Illiana's eyes.

"That is exactly what I am saying."

Illiana watched in horror as black reiatsu started to form around the body of the young captain. More and more condensed around him until you could not see him through the reiatsu he was calling forth. Thrusting his arm upwards and beginning to spin his sword by the chain the reiatsu shaped itself into a shell that completely surrounded Ichigo. The shell crackling with streaks of black and white reiatsu hardened until its surface was almost solid. Illiana watched not able to break her eyes away from what she was seeing. Even at Captain level how was this man calling forward this much reiatsu?

"What are you doing!?" Illiana screamed in fear.

"Getsuga Kame Dangan!"

The reiatsu that had completely enveloped Ichigo shot out in all directions at once. The mirrors surrounding the battleground didn't stand a chance. They were all completely obliterated at the same time.

Ichigo stood and watched the smoke dissipate after the attack. After a few seconds a very broken and bruised Illiana stepped out.

"How did you do that you bastard! It should not be possible to crush another's bankai!" Iliiana screamed with tears in her eyes.

She had failed her mission. She had nothing left she could not go back to Shinjaku as a failure. Raising her head she could barely see Ichigo through the blood that was running down her face.

"You bastard...You do not understand what we have been through."

As Illiana began she started to twirl the double bladed scythe in her hand like a baton.

"The suffering we went through after we were exiled. The shame. I only joined him because I was in awe of his power. I thought that he was right. We were being oppressed everything that we said or did was regulated by the soul society."

Ichigo could see tears running down her face mixing with the blood from her wounds.

"I was a Captain too Kurosaki. Illiana Djinn former Captain of Squad 3. I gave up everything because I thought we had a noble cause. Only now do I realize that we were wrong. We were trying to change things for the better and just made things worse for all of us."

The scythe began to emanate a deep red reiatsu as she spun it in her hands. Ichigo spared a glance down to were Karin was bound on the roof of the house. Toshiro had made it back and broken the kido that was holding her. They were both looking up and watching what was happening above them.

"You should have known that going against the Soul Society would turn out bad for you. You are a traitor to everything that we believe in." Rukia had appeared behind him the hollow threat had been completely eliminated by her and the others.

"I see that now young vice-captain. I hope that one day you tell your Captain how you really feel. I never got the chance to tell the one I truly care about the truth. Maybe it was just not meant to be."

Taken aback by Illiana's words Rukia smiled.

"He knows exactly how I feel, and I know he feels the same."

A small smile shown on Illiana's lips.

"That's good at least."

When she looked at Ichigo he could see the resolve in her eyes.

"Captain Kurosaki, you destroyed my mirrors and it has me on the verge of the end. All I have strength for is one last attack. I want to die with honor. Can you grant me this last request?"

Ichigo slowly brought Zangetsu up and started to focus all his reiatsu into his blade.

"I can do that Illiana. Honor in the end."

"Thank you. I am not alone Ichigo. This is just the beginning more will come Shinjaku will not give up until he has won or everyone is dead."

Isshin had been silent behind Ichigo watching the events unfold. Upon hearing that man's name he had almost fainted. So he has came back Ryu Shinjaku. He would have to tell the others just what is in store for them.

"Who is this Shinjaku?" Ichigo asked.

"I am sure that if you ask your Commander you will get all the information you need young Captain. Enough talk Ichigo I am about to fall over lets finish this."

The reiatsu surrounding her blade shimmered as she brought he blades high in the air and started to charge towards Ichigo. Answering her charge Ichigo shot towards her with his blade high in the air as well. The explosion when they contacted each other was a massive mix of black and red reiatsu. All present stood transfixed to their spot waiting to see the outcome that they already knew would happen. The smoke finally cleared and all eyes widened to see Illiana slumped against Ichigo's shoulder with Zangetsu protruding through her back.

"Thank you Ichigo." Illiana whispered.

"I am sorry I scared your sister."

Illiana slumped down on Ichigo's shoulder. He could not feel her breathing anymore. Slowly lowering her to the ground Ichigo shouted to the sky.

"Just what the hell is going on!"

From the shadows a figure appeared behind Ichigo.

"ICHIGO WATCH OUT!" Rukia, Toshiro and Isshin all screamed at the same time seeing the man behind Ichigo.

Spinning around Ichigo came face to face with the enemy.

"Just who the hell are you!" Ichigo shouted.

"I am Ryu Shinjaku, Ichigo Kurosaki you have my subordinate there I have come to take her to give her a proper burial."

Raising his sword Ichigo was not sure if the man before him was a threat just yet.

"Do not raise your blade to me Kurosaki our time has not come yet. I have just came to collect my fallen comrade. Will you not allow me this?"

The man know as Ryu Shinjaku spoke with a voice that was smooth as silk. There was absolutely no apprehension in his voice even though he was surrounded by three Captains and a Vice- Captain. Ichigo approached him wearily.

"I will allow you to gather your comrade but first tell me this. Why are you doing this? Why me? Why my sister?"

Ryu frowned as he picked up the lifeless body of Illiana.

"I am doing this because my comrades and I were dishonored and we seek justice. I sent Illiana to your sister because I wanted to know if you had a weakness that I could use."

Ichigo stood dumbstruck at the honesty he was receiving from this man.

"After watching your battle with Illiana I have all the information that I need. Next time we meet Kurosaki I will break you and all of your friends."

Before Ichigo could retort the man vanished with Illiana's body. Appearing beside Ichigo, Isshin had a unusually serious look on his face.

"Of all the people in the three worlds it had to be him."

"Dad what are you talking about do you know that man?"

"Ichigo gather the others at Urahara's. Kisuke and I will have to tell you about the man they once called " The Mimic". He and his conspirators once tried to bring down Soul Society. This is not good at all Ichigo. Nearly all of Shinjaku's conspirator's were at least a lieutenant level shinigami and that was over 150 years ago. No telling the power that they have now. We are in for a real battle. And here I thought that the hard stuff was over once Aizen was dealt with."

Ichigo had never seen the look in his Dad's eyes that he had right now. Looking to Toshiro and Rukia he saw they both had perplexed looks on there faces as he sure he had as well.

"Okay guys. Toshiro grab Karin and Yuzu and bring them with us we need to get back to Urahara's. Old man when we get there I want you to explain everything."

"I will Ichigo, I will"

HOW DID YOU LIKE THE FIGHT! please comment this is the first time I have had to completely do a Bankai from scratch how do you guys think i did.

I am sure you noticed that I have not included a good description of Ryu Shinjaku yet the reason is I am not completely sure what he loks like yet but I do know what his shikai and bankai abilities are going to be its going to interesting very interesting.

Next chapter is most likely going to be a flashback followed with one or two soul society breaks before more action

Next update will be sometime next week

Getsuga kame Dangan- Black moon tortoise shell

in this fight Ichigo realized he could use this defensive manvuer offensively

Illiana's Bankai- Unmei no Kageni - Mirror of fate

Illiana is called the Puppet Master because of her Shikai ability. This ability we only saw slightly from the waves of hollows that attacked Isshin, Rukia and Toshiro. As Ichigo and Illiana fought in Bankai we were mainly only able to see her Bankai in action.