Sorry that it took so long! My bad, I got real focused on my other stories, but I do want to get through this too!

Hope you like it!

Chapter 15: Only The Beginning

Yoruichi was pulled from her light sleep by Ichigo's grunt. Her golden eyes opened slowly, and she blinked, slowly remembering that she was back in human form. Her gaze was cast around the room they were hidden in, before she moved to Ichigo's side as the boy slowly woke up. On his other side, Shinji was sleeping, facing away from them and slightly curled into himself, snoring quietly. Ichigo groaned again, and his brown eyes slowly opened, and he managed to focus on Yoruichi.

"Ah, you're awake Ichigo," she spoke softly, and he pushed himself up, knocking off the sheet that had covered him.

"Where is this?" he groaned, before his eyes flew open as the memory of what had happened on the bridge came back to him. With an angry growl, he grabbed Yoruichi by the collar and shoved her against the wall. "Why?!" he snarled at her. "Why did you only bring me back?!" he roared. "I'm the one who was most likely to survive if left there! Now Ganju, Natsuki and Hanataro...and Kirara, they'll all be killed!" he yelled at her as she didn't show any emotion.

A hand then gripped Ichigo tightly by the wrist, and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground, winded from the blow. Struggling to force his lungs to work, he stared up at Shinji, who frowned down at him.

"Don't be so arrogant," he chided, his voice still sleepy. "Not one of you idiots would survive against that man. You were the least likely to remain alive if left there," Ichigo didn't speak. "Shiba will be treated for his injuries, Hamasaki and the kid will be left alive to answer for helping us. And Kirara will be back in her cell," Shinji told him coldly.

"Carrying one person was my maximum in order to escape Byakuya for certain," Yoruichi stood beside him as Ichigo rolled onto his front, his limbs shaky. While his injuries were healed, he was still weak from being knocked out by the powerful drug.

"Then...why not leave me, and take Kirara?" Ichigo demanded. "Or better yet, why didn't you take her?" he turned to Shinji, and something darkened in the man's eyes.

"You think you have it all figured out?" Shinji's voice was low and controlled. "You think you know better, that you can easily take a Captain who's been toying with you from the start? Maybe it would have been better just to take Kirara and leave, and let you get strung up like the damn idiot you are!" his voice rose, and Yoruichi pushed him back as Ichigo stared at him, not having expected him to finally snap.

"Hirako, enough," Yoruichi spoke quietly. "You need to calm down. Your rampage will not help matters on any front," she warned him. Shinji glared at her, before glancing to Ichigo. He scoffed, and stormed over to the far wall, sitting down and taking a deep breath.

'Ya do know one way, to get her outta there, y'know,' a warped voice spoke in the back of his mind. 'Let me out, I'll butcher them all, nobody could take me down!' the Hollow inside cackled loudly.

'Except for Yoruichi, Tessai and Kisuke, since they're the ones who took you down the first time' Shinji retorted.

'And only one of them is here, and she's as weak as a newborn! Come on, let me out to play for a bit, I'll rip that noble bastard's head from his shoulders!' the Hollow roared with laughter, and Shinji shook his head, clamping his eyes shut.

'Go to hell. I don't need your damn help,' focusing on his power, Shinji pushed his dark self back down and started paying attention again.

"Certainly, none of you there held a possibility of defeating Byakuya," Yoruichi told Ichigo as she walked away from him, her arms folded. "But you, alone, do hold that possibility. I brought you back because that is what I feel," Ichigo's eyes widened. "Not to mention, Ukitake was also there. He is a duty-bound man and a good one, at that. I know he wouldn't recklessly kill anyone who'd come to save Kirara, even if they are enemies," she commented as Ichigo finally managed to get to his feet. "So, Ichigo, do not worry. Stay here and become stronger. As you are now, you cannot defeat Byakuya, but I will train you so that you can defeat him, and once more, save everyone at once by your own hand," Yoruichi told him confidently.

"What...what are you talking about?" Ichigo asked slowly. Shinji just sighed and closed his eyes. Maybe it would have been better for him to get serious and fight Byakuya himself. But no, he had to be the type to let people settle their scores. He yawned widely, and folded his arms, deciding to get some more rest instead.

Natsuki had her arms folded and a petulant look on her face as she stood in front of Ikkaku and Yumichika.

"I can't believe you'd be so stupid as to help those Ryoka," Ikkaku rolled his eyes.

"I can," Yumichika flicked his hair from his face, eyes narrow at the woman opposite him. "You're just lucky the Captain let you off lightly," he commented, glancing to the man sitting nearby. His massive frame was wrapped in bandages as he recovered from his fight with Ichigo.

All of them had some form of injury, with Natsuki's own covered in bandages after a brief trip to Squad 4. Hanataro had been pulled away to face his own Captain, and she had a suspicion that he would not get off as easy as she did. Guilt twisted at her stomach. She should never have let him go with the ryoka to save Kirara.

"Are you done with your lecture?" she finally asked impatiently. "The Captain's clearly lost interest in this," Natsuki gestured to him. Kenpachi snored lightly, having fallen asleep sitting up. Natsuki then sighed and took a seat, pulling her legs in close.

"Why would you do it? Go against the Captain?" Yumichika asked her in a quieter voice.

"She's my best friend, Yumi," Natsuki met his gaze evenly. "I want to help her," she told him, her voice completely certain. He watched her for a moment, before sighing heavily. He shook his head, not speaking, and something uncomfortable stirred in Natsuki's stomach at his silence.

"I just can't believe you went up against Captain Kuchiki," Ikkaku snorted.

"Yeah, me neither," Natuski admitted softly, looking at him. Despite everything, a grin started across her face. "He's really strong. I'd love to have had a proper fight with him," she confessed. Ikkaku grinned back. If there was one thing they got on about, it was a good fight. "And what about Ichigo? I'm guessing you had fun with your fight?" Natsuki asked as she sat down. Ikkaku's grin widened.

"More fun than Yumichika with his opponent," he snorted. The man in question rolled his eyes as Natsuki giggled.

"I can't believe you got beat by Ganju too, you really did hold back," she teased him. Yumichika narrowed his eyes at her.

"He played dirty, those damn bombs of his...I'll get him next time," Yumichika vowed. Natsuki's giggles faded, and she looked away.

"If there is a next time...Captain Kuchiki really tore him up," she spoke softly, feeling guilty. She'd let the Shiba go up against someone he had no hope of beating. And for nothing. Kirara was still imprisoned, and Ichigo had vanished with Yoruichi and Shinji.

"Whatcha think is gonna happen next?" Ikkaku asked before an uncomfortable silence could fall.

"Good question," Natsuki hummed, looking to the Captain. "Lady Shihoin said she'd make Ichigo even stronger than Captain Kuchiki, in three days. I wonder if that'll be enough," she mused, glancing to the pair. Ikkaku's eyes gleamed.

"Even stronger, huh? That'll be interesting," he grinned.

"The Captain will never stop hunting him down if he gets any stronger," Yumichika commented as Kenpachi snored. Natsuki's smile returned and she laughed quietly. He had a good point.

Stepping through the forest of her Inner World, Kirara took in a deep breath and touched one of the trees that surrounded her. She gave a small smile at the warmth she felt from it, as it pulsed lightly.

"At least I have something nice to look at in here," she commented to herself, and took a step back.

'It is not for much longer, just be patient, Kirara,' the voice of Kokoro no Kage spoke behind her. Kirara glanced around to the cloaked spirit, whose golden eyes cut through the darkness of the Inner World. Above, stars shimmered, providing most of the light. She glanced up, tilting her head as she surveyed the stars. 'Your hope remains. It has even grown brighter since yesterday,' he commented.

"I suppose so," Kirara shook her head. "I shouldn't get my hopes up. Ichigo was nowhere near strong enough to take out Kuchiki. Yoruichi said something about making him stronger in three days but..." she sighed. "I don't see how that can happen," she shrugged.

'Just be patient. We shall find out soon enough,' Kokoro no Kage told her.

"Right," Kirara chuckled, turning her attention back to the tree her hand was still on.

'Be that as it may, there is another reason for the brightness of your resolve, of your hope,' amusment laced the deep voice of the man behind her, and Kirara stiffened.

"We aren't discussing that," she told him sharply, her cheeks going red. The pulse under her hand quickened.

'Oh? But I thought you'd finally come to terms with your feelings, the ones that you'd buried for a century,' Kokoro no Kage vanished behind the tree he stood by. Kirara closed her eyes, feeling her face growing steadily warmer.

"I don't know, it's confusing," she admitted quietly, not opening her eyes. "We've been fighting for so long, I guess I forgot about what almost happened before, and it's hard to tell what I feel," Kirara groaned, putting her head to the tree.

'The line between hatred and love is not so broad,' Kirara's eyes shot open and she whirled around.

"W-w-what?!" she spluttered. Her ears were burning by this point as the heat spread even further. "I-I don't love Hirako!" Kirara denied. Kokoro no Kage gave a low, rumbling chuckle.

'Then what would you call it?' he challenged. Kirara stomach gave an uncomfortable tug, and she didn't answer. Her heart slammed against her chest. 'Well?' he pressed.

"I don't know!" Kirara shouted back, putting her hands to her head. "I don't know what I feel!" she sank to the ground. "It isn't fair, I've prepared myself that I'm not getting out of this mess, and he had to do that," tears stung at her eyes. "That dammed...stupid asshole...why?" Kirara's voice quietened to a whisper again. After a moment, she sighed, and fell back in the grass, looking up at the sky. She then let out a soft laugh. "Because nobody else would put up with our shit, right?" she murmured, and put an arm over her eyes. "Because he's impossible, too laid-back for his own good, and damn, I can't help but care about him," she sighed. "I really hate you, you know that, Kokoro no Kage?" she complained.

'I doubt that,' he replied, sounding smug as he moved back behind the tree. Kirara sighed, and shook her head.

Shinji stared at Yoruichi, trying to process what she had said. He still wasn't sure he'd heard her right.

"You're going to teach the kid...Bankai. In three days," Shinji repeated, just to be sure that he had heard what she had really said.

"That's right," Yoruichi nodded, not looking at him. Her golden eyes were on the two figures below, who were fighting viciously. Shinji took a seat beside her, watching as Ichigo fought what seemed to be an old man, with long brown hair and flowing black robes.

"Okay...how?" Shinji turned his head slightly to stare at Yoruichi again.

"Kisuke's invention forces the Zanpakuto spirit to materialise, and gives Ichigo three days to force him into submission," Yoruichi explained softly. Below, Ichigo was shoved back by Zangetsu, who showed no mercy as he attacked Ichigo with clear intent to kill. Shinji turned his full attention back to the fight.

"Three days..." Shinji repeatedly, still hardly able to believe it. He knew Kisuke Urahara was a genius. He could agree with that, after all, the was the only reason that he, and the others were still alive. But to have invented something that would allow for a Shinigami to gain their fully powered Bankai in three days, instead of the standard ten years, was hard to wrap his head around.

He thought back to his own training, when he'd focused on mastering his own Bankai. It had been a bloody fight and it had taken a very long time to adjust to its power. Sakanade had been patient, as always, allowing him the time he needed to gain total mastery. Shinji's eyes narrowed as he thought back to those days, of a time before Sakanade had been corrupted. Three days seemed impossible in his mind.

But, Kisuke Urahara was a much smarter man. He had to have faith that Ichigo would succeed and gain a much greater power. Without, their mission might not go so smoothly. This thought brought out a small sigh. Like the mission had been going smoothly anyway.

A loud explosion rocked the grounds of the secret training area, and Ichigo was tossed through the air. He hit the ground, bouncing back up and along before finally rolling to a stop.

"Stand up, Ichigo," Yoruichi called to him as he lay motionless for a moment. "Three days! Ichigo, you don't have time to dawdle!" she shouted, and he moved, grunting as he tried to get up. "I'll say it once more. Stand up, Ichigo!" Yoruichi ordered. He choked, spitting up blood. "Stop stalling! Are you going to waste time?!" she shouted when he coughed violently. Blood ran down his forehead, and Shinji watched as his work healing the boy before was undone.

"Never mind!" Zangetsu approached. "If he cannot stand on his own...then I'll drag him to his feet!" Ichigo looked up, scowling at the Spirit of his Zanpakuto. Yoruichi rolled her eyes, her arms folded.

"I'm beginning to see why Kirara is such a pain when it comes to training," Shinji muttered as the fighting continued.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Yoruichi told him. Shinji resisted a scoff.

"That's what she says too," he muttered.

Natsuki rubbed her eyes, grumbling a little as she returned back to the Captain's quarters in the Squad 11 barracks.

"Okay, so what's so important that you had to wake-" she stopped abruptly as she walked into the room. Yachiru was laughing at a greasy-looking Shinigami with a feeble moustache, who was looking outraged at the Lieutenant, but Natsuki wasn't paying attention to Aramaki. The 6th seat blustered a lot, and she rarely had time for the man unless he was giving a good fight.

"Um...hello," the orange-haired girl, wearing Shinigami robes, bowed nervously to Natsuki. When the 4th seat didn't respond, the girl swallowed, looking more and more nervous with each passing second. The new arrival, whose blonde hair was cut short and curled out as if it were used to being much longer, stared at her with amber eyes that seemed to blaze like a gentle fire.

Finally, after what seemed like a solid hour, Natsuki sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"And you guys were lecturing me not even 24 hours ago for helping Ryoka," she complained.

"Y-you know I'm not a Shinigami?" the girl gasped. Natsuki arched an eyebrow.

"You kidding? You stink of human, just like Ichigo," Natsuki huffed, falling into a seat. The girl with long orange hair cast her gaze to the ground, her cheeks reddening.

"You'll have to forgive Natsuki, Orihime. She's a little rude when she doesn't sleep," Yumichika commented casually. Natsuki shot him a glare, the fire in her eyes blazing hotter.

"I will break your nose, Yumi. Ruin that pretty face of yours," Natsuki hissed, very aware of her own sleep deprivation. She'd barely slept since the Ryoka had entered the Seireitei, and even after returning to her own quarters, she'd not slept well, having been woken with a summons back.

"So, what's happening, Orihime?" Ikkaku asked, still covered in bandages, just like the Captain. "Is Ichigo still alive?" he questioned, aware that Natsuki's own knowledge only went as far as when Ichigo was dragged away by the former Captain of Squad 2.

"I want him to be alive," Orihime turned her grey eyes back to the wooden floor. "No, I'm sure he's alive!" she said in a much more determined voice. Natsuki watched her, a little surprised by the intensity in her voice, and in her expression. She seemed meek and timid, the complete opposite of Natsuki and all those in Squad 11.

"Orihime..." Ikkaku blinked, just as surprised. Hearing a chuckle, they looked around as Kenpachi smirked, looking as blood-thirsty as ever, despite being covered in bandages as he recovered from his last brutal fight with the boy Ryoka.

"He's alive," he said, and Orihime's bright eyes widened, hope obvious. Natsuki resisted rolling her eyes. The girl wore her emotions on her sleeve for all to see. "He's alive and he's trying to get stronger still. Interesting! I'll lend you a hand, woman," the others looked as surprised as Orihime. "If I stick with you, I get the feeling I'll see Ichigo again!"

"Yeah!" both Yumichika and Ikkaku rose to their feet.

"Aye, aye, sir!" Yachiru giggled. Aramaki stared blankly, not understanding.

"So, are you here for Ichigo? Or are you here to save Kirara too?" Natsuki hadn't stood, watching Orihime with her intense expression.

"You know Kirara?" Orihime gasped in surprise.

"This idiot helped Ichigo and some others try and spring her from the White Tower yesterday," Ikkaku indicated, earning a glare.

"She's my best friend, I don't care if you disagree," Natsuki spat at him. "How do you know Kirara? All I've gotten is that she gave Ichigo Shinigami powers," she said, folding her arms. She wanted to know why others would risk their necks to help Kirara.

"Shouldn't you just be grateful that she came to help?" Ikkaku rolled his eyes.

"Kirara's my friend. I want to help her because I know she'd do the same for me," Orihime told her. "She was my classmate, I guess she was there to keep an eye on Ichigo, since his Reiatsu is..." she trailed off, and they all knew the answer. His Reiatsu was crazy high and uncontrolled now, they couldn't imagine what it was like before. "She saved my life too..." Orihime looked away, a sadness in her eyes that hit Natsuki, recognising the loss and heartache in them. "But even before then, Kirara was my friend. There was always such a sadness in her eyes when she didn't think anyone looked. A loneliness, even if she tried to avoid Tatsuki and I at first, and I want to be there for her," she admitted quietly.

"Well then," Natsuki leaned back in her seat, folding her arms. She then gave a wide smirk. "Let's get her out of there," Orihime brightened again, and nodded.

"Right!" she smiled.

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