Orihime continuously was releasing much spiritual energy that her sword became its shikai even without command. Masara didn't know what to say or do. She just stood there and watch like she was staring at an angel and couldn't look away.

"Here I come." Orihime said. That snapped Masara out of her trance as Orihime jumped towards her. Masara blocked her with her sword, but the force was too much as they were both shot through a wall and both of them flew through the sky. Ichigo spotted them as they flew like a rocket.

"Orihime!" Ichigo shouted. Ichigo wasn't the only one who spotted them. Makin and Girusei spotted them as well. Orihime and Makin flew into the side of Sōgyoku Hill and crashed into it. Masara jumped through the dust cloud and landed on the trail. Orihime stepped out herself and she wasn't backing down.

"You really intend to fight me?" Masara said.

"You have to be stopped and I'm the one that will stop you." Orihime said. Her flower started to spin around. "Hana no Supin! (flower spin)" She launched an orange energy disk. Masara brought up her sword and managed to block it.

"You've learned some new tricks. Let's see how well you do personally." Masara said and the two of them started fighting as they worked their way up.

…

Ichigo

Ichigo made it to the bottom of the staircase since he could Orihime and Masara at the top.

"Ichigo!" He saw Renji, Uryu, Chad, Karin, and Yuzu run up behind him. Then Rukia appeared right next to him.

"I guess we're all here for the same reason." Renji said.

"You should have seen it. I've never seen Orihime like this." Rukia said.

"We better get up there." Ichigo said and they started to race up the stairs to reach her. 'Wait for us, wait for me, Orihime. We'll be there soon.' He thought.

….

Orihime

Masara slid back as she continued to hold off against Orihime. The two of them made it to the top of the hill, close to the edge.

"At least we have a nice view." Masara said.

"Yeah. This place seems nice and I hold strong memories of this place." Orihime said as she thought back to when Ichigo fought Byakura and Kariya. This time, it was her who was going to fight. "Ichigo fought important battles here and now it's my turn."

"Hold it right there." Girusei appeared between them.

"Girusei, I knew you were still alive." Masara said.

"What are you doing here? Did you come to help Masara?" Orihime asked. Girusei didn't answer. He used the flash step and held up his zanpakutō behind Masara with her head in the gap of his blade.

"What is the meaning of this? Are you betraying me?" Masara said.

"Masara, this has gone on long enough." Girusei said. "The others except Makin are dead, but it's only a matter of time until they get him too. The three of us are all that's left."

"So? What's your point?" Masara said.

"Did you really just ask me that?" Girusei said. "They were our comrades and they're gone now. We need to leave while we can because we're no match for the power they have." As he kept talking, Masara was gripping harder on her weapon. "We're your friends, you saved us all. There are more important things than getting revenge." That wasn't the right thing to say. Masara turned and slashed him across the chest and surprised Orihime. He fell to the ground in pain and bewilderment. "What are you doing?"

"You were never my friends. You and the others were nothing more than pawns." Masara said.

"You witch. How could you do this to us?" Girusei said.

"There is nothing more important to me than destroying all soul reapers. Now, you're about to join the others in death." Masara said as she rose her sword to deal a killing blow.

"Bankai!" Orihime shouted as she released her bankai and formed the shield over Girusei and blocked her attack.

"You amaze me. Even though he's an enemy, you protect him." Masara said.

"What are you doing Masara?" Orihime said. "How could you do that to him? It sounded like he did everything you said, but you still attempted to kill him."

"I just said that I never considered him or the others my comrades." Masara said. "He also should have kept his mouth shut because he knew what I wanted was more important than anything."

"Even their lives." Orihime said.

"Even that. Now, I will show you the power of my zanpakutō. Its name suits me perfectly." Masara said. "Seek vengeance, Fukushū. (revenge)" Her blade curved a little and changed into a maroon color with the tip becoming a right triangle and a black sash on the hilt. "My desire for revenge gives my zanpakutō strength. If you don't turn away now, Orihime, you'll be one of its victims."

"I'm not going anywhere." Orihime said as she stood her ground.

…

Ichigo

Ichigo and the others continued to run up the stairs. They felt the change in the spirit pressure up at the top.

"Do you feel that?" Karin said.

"Yeah, Orihime must have released her bankai." Ichigo said.

"Bankai? When did Orihime learn bankai?" Uryu said.

"I'll tell you later." Ichigo said.

"Wait a minute." Chad said as they came to a stop. Before they questioned him, they saw Makin ahead of them as he was trying to cut off their path.

"Makin, so you're still around." Ichigo said.

"Yes, and this is as hard as you people will go. I cannot let you interfere in this battle." Makin said. "Trick, Mirāraito." His sword changed into the scythe and pointed it towards them.

"You're not getting in our way." Ichigo said and pointed his blade. "Bankai!" Ichigo changed into his bankai form and went straight at Makin. Makin was able to block his attack and Ichigo jumped back in the air. "Mage Sekai!" He tapped the ground and the whole world started to bend and morph.

"Everyone, try not to move. You could walk right off the side of the cliff." Uryu warned. Makin flew up and was at the same level as Ichigo.

"You really think you can take me on?" Ichigo said.

"I know of your bankai Ichigo, but it doesn't matter if you won't be able to hit me." Makin said and disappeared.

"Where did he go?" Ichigo said as he looked around for him, but he ended up getting cut in the back. Ichigo swung his sword as he turned, but he hit nothing.

"I warned you." Makin said as his voice echoed and Ichigo got cut in the shoulder. "You can't beat if you can't see me or hit me."

"This is nuts. I can't even tell which way is up anymore." Renji said.

"His zanpakutō allows him to create illusions. We need to find a way to break this illusion." Rukia said.

"Come out and fight. Don't hide like a coward." Ichigo said.

"Try and figure out where I am." Makin said.

'How am I suppose to beat him if I can't see straight?' Ichigo thought. He pondered on how he was going to fight, but then a thought came to him.

"Ready to accept defeat?" Makin said.

"Not quite." Ichigo said as he pointed out his sword and gripped it with both hands. He started to yell as he was releasing black spirit energy.

"What's he doing? What is that black stuff?" Yuzu said.

"That's just his spirit energy, but why is he releasing it like this?" Chad said.

"What are you trying to do?" Makin said. Ichigo continued to release more of his spirit energy. He released even more that spread out through the area and it broke the illusion. Makin's eyes widen as he just stood in the air.

"What exactly were you saying?" Ichigo said.

'I don't believe it. He just released tremendous amounts of spirit pressure and broke the illusion.' Makin thought. 'How did he do that? There must be more to him than what meets the eye.'

"Now, get out of our way!" Ichigo roared as he flew straight at him, but Makin stopped him. "You're not going to stop us from reaching Orihime."

"What can you do?" Makin said. "Masara is her sister, you can't change that. I doubt she'll have the stomach to finish her. She will either join us or be killed. Masara is a powerful swordswoman. Your friend doesn't have a chance her and could meet her end."

"No way. I won't let that happen to Orihime!" Ichigo said as he pushed him back and then he released his hollow mask.

'What? A mask that looks like a hollow?! Where did that come from?' Makin thought as he was completely surprised. Ichigo flew up and pushed him down as he swung his sword down. Makin could feel Ichigo's power increase and could feel the hollow side of his powers.

"I'll protect Orihime with my life. I won't anything hurt her. Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo shouted. He released his special attack as the black energy pushed Makin down and broke his scythe in two. Makin crashed down to the ground and into a newly formed crater. The others looked down and could see that he was dead with a deep gash across his chest.

"Nice work!" Renji praised as Ichigo landed on the steps and his mask faded away, but he didn't look like he was happy about his victory.

"Ichigo, are you okay?" Yuzu said.

"Let's just keep moving." Ichigo said and continued to run up the stairs with the others following.

…..

Orihime

Masara jumped into the air. Orihime launched all six of the Shun Shun Rikka, but Masara was able to deflect each one of them. She landed down and pointed her sword towards her.

"Your bankai is powerful, but it won't be enough to defeat me." Masara said.

"We'll see about that. I won't stop fighting until you're stopped." Orihime said.

"I won't go down as easily as the others." Masara said. "I was the one who formed this group, helped them find their own zanpakutō, and how to use the flash step. I was able to figure it out by watching soul reapers and studying them. By practicing myself, I was able to use them and I'll use what the soul reapers develop to end their lives."

"I see, you must have worked hard to get where you are now." Orihime said. "That still isn't enough and I'll show you why. I'll show you my true bankai's form."

"You're true bankai's form?" Masara said.

"Now!" Orihime said as she raised her sword's hilt. All six of them flew up to the sky and came down. One connected to the hilt and they started to stick together on top of each other as they formed a new sword blade. "Megami Hogohana: Kogane no Taiyō. (golden sun)" All of the Shun Shun Rikka turned into a bright yellow in color and shined like the radiance of a golden sun.

To Be Continued…