It's a short chapter this week folks, I want to give you guys a breather after that crapload of exposition last chapter. I just want to address what Concerned Reader said: I'm sorry if it seemed a little random, but I was reading other Bleach fanfic when I realized that a lot of it just retells the story in the anime. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just wanted to do something a little more different, a little mind-blowing.

Well, that's enough of me talking, enjoy! :)

Orochimaru snorted. "What's with the history lesson?"

Ichigo smiled. "You can act as condescending as you want, but even you know that if I stab you with these two legendary swords...you will die."

Orochimaru shook.

"Hmph. Even the best of the ninja in this world are still capable of feeling fear. It's ok now, though," Ichigo quietly said, "I'm willing to forget about your attempted murder of me if you give up now."

Ichigo stuck one of his swords in the ground in a show of peace.

Orochimaru couldn't hold himself any longer and snickered, then dissolved into snakes.

A clone! Ichigo turned around, barely blocking Orochimaru as the shinobi dove out of the tree and struck with Kusanagi.

The guard of the shorter blade, Joyeuse, shuddered with the force being applied upon it.

It gave, and Orochimaru stabbed Ichigo in his lower bicep. Ichigo yelled in pain, before pulling the blade out forcibly, flipping it around, blade whistling through the air, and severing Orochimaru's upper body from his torso.

Two hands ejected themselves out of Orochimaru's mouth mid-fall, pushing open and tearing skin. They went and went until it gaped widely.

First the skull popped out, then the rest of the body followed. Orochimaru, covered head to toe with slime residue and saliva, dropped to the ground and sent an uppercut.

Ichigo crashed against the wall, hard.

His entire back ached, muscles clenched and tense.

His sword was still buried in the dirt twenty feet away.

Ichigo got to his feet and approached.

A hiss.

Fangs nipped his ear, drawing blood as he ran. The snakes slithered on the ground after him, dozens and dozens more flopping to the ground out of Orochimaru's sleeves.

He reached Goujian, and yanked it out, adopting a defensive stance.

The snakes were on him in an instant, crawling up his legs. He delicately carved with his zanpakuto, shaving them in pieces. Two reptilian beasts burst out of the pack and wrapped around his arms, constricting until the blood flow stopped. Ichigo grimaced. His heart was working overtime in an attempt to make up for the loss of circulation. Reiatsu spilled out uncontrollably, lightly shaking the ground.

Orochimaru seized the opportunity, launching himself at the helpless Shinigami. Ichigo saw him coming and released his hold on Joyeuse.

A single finger pointed. The nails on Ichigo's hand reflected the bright red glow.

"Cero."

The energy coalesced into a solid form and shot forward in an instant. Orochimaru dodged it by leaping back, chakra enveloping his feet. That would have ended my life had it hit, Orochimaru thought frantically. Need to-

Ichigo's loud, booming voice interrupted his thoughts. "Seinaru Akuma Yajirushi Supaiku (Holy Demon Arrow Spikes)."

Light filled Ichigo's vision. When the glare cleared, his gaze was met with an injured, dying Orochimaru, pierced in the back with a spike around the size of a small house. It was shaped like a cross.

Ichigo frowned. I didn't want him to almost die...just for him to be immobile. These Quincy powers are pretty hard to get the hang of. I don't want the death of someone I don't even know to be on my conscience.

"Hey, you alright?"

IIIIIIIIII

Orochimaru huddled in a small enclosure one hundred feet or so away, peering through a mere slit around ten inches wide and three inches long.

He was 'alright.'

He could see Ichigo walk over to his cleaver. Or...zanpakuto. It was indeed prudent to send such a large amount of shadow clones. It appears my benefactor's warning that he might kill me was entirely accurate. Orochimaru paused. This changes nothing though. The end result will still be the same - this man's death.

IIIIIIIIII

Orochimaru threw three kunai. Then he circled around, outpacing them and arriving behind Ichigo before they reached the reaper of souls.

Orochimaru lunged. Ichigo intercepted Kusanagi with both zanpakuto, pushing Orochimaru away, then dropping both in order to catch the kunai.

The air grew cold.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

A poof of smoke momentarily blinded Ichigo, searing his retina with dust and sudden movement. It streamed past him, revealing a gigantic, clearly man-eating snake with a tail thick enough to wrap around and crush a tree, looming over him, its shadow shielding Ichigo from the sun.

Ichigo had been about to pick up his weapons, but upon seeing the summoning Orochimaru had cast, fell to his knees. I have to...fight that? That monster is larger than a Menos Grande hollow.

Orochimaru cackled, the purple rope at his waist shivering with his laughter.

Ichigo felt a droplet of sweat sink down his face. I'm...nervous. No, what is this feeling? He could feel goosebumps cover his skin as his temperature dropped.

"The tables have turned, eh? Kurosaki Ichigo..." Orochimaru stalked around Ichigo, the latter of whom understood that if he moved, his life would be finished. "Before you asked me if I was scared...now it's my turn. How do the feelings you are experiencing: anxiety, fear, cowardice - how do they feel? I wonder. I've never felt them myself, because- "

"Shut up."

Orochimaru leaned forward, hand cupping his ear. "Sorry, what was that? It sounded like you were begging for forgiveness but I'm not sure- "

"This feeling?" Ichigo interrupted. "This feeling is called anticipation. I haven't fought anything so strong and intimidating since him!"

The ground shook.

Sounds of breaking glass could be heard far off, possibly windows, maybe a vase or two. An ear-splitting crack resounded. A tree on the field toppled, the impact loud, startling Orochimaru.

Ichigo, without moving from his kneeling position, began to rise. The air currents gathered around him and lifted him slowly but surely, propelling him above his opponent. It got to the point where Orochimaru had to crane his neck. The pressure filling the atmosphere rose. Orochimaru's ear drums popped from the sheer amount of reiatsu being unleashed by Ichigo.

"You cannot frighten me boy! I personally tamed Manda after defeating him...I fear nothing!"

Ichigo's orange hair burned bright against the suddenly dark sky.

"Why is Kusanagi trembling then?"

Orochimaru convulsed in anger, then ordered, "Manda, attack!"

End of Chapter 7