Disclaimer- I don't own Bleach

Chapter 12

Breaking Down

'What are you going to do?' Fuyukaze asked as Sayomi ran.

'There are several of them and the Soul Reapers stationed here are already on the move to fight them. I'm not interested in those. The strongest in the group is headed towards Ichigo. In his current state he may not be able to defend himself well. The reiatsu are all different from the ones a few days before, I wonder what they want, they aren't here just for Ichigo. They wouldn't have split up if they were.'

'There's a Soul Reaper near him, she's fighting.'

'I know. It's the girl, Byakuya's...sister. Her opponent isn't very skilled. She'll be through soon.'

'She's finished,' Fuyukaze said a few seconds later.

'Told you,' Sayomi replied before growling angrily. 'Dammit. The strongest has just reached Ichigo and the girl's spirit energy just dived.'

She growled again before speeding up and racing through the empty streets of Karakura Town towards the flaring reiatsu of Ichigo and his opponent.

"Don't do anything stupid, Ichigo," Sayomi said aloud as she ran.

She arrived to a scene covered in dust and smoke. As the smoke cleared she saw that Ichigo was standing in the middle of the street. Standing suspended in the air a few yards from him was an Arrancar with light blue hair and eyes a few shades darker than her own. There were teal markings under his eyes that made him look feline and the remaining part of his hollow mask was a partial jaw with sharp razor like teeth that sat on the right side of his face.

Ichigo raised his zanpakuto before him and placed his left hand over his right arm as if to brace it.

"Ban-kai," he said.

Sayomi sighed. "Well, this might just get interesting. I might be able to use this to my advantage."

She watched, hidden in the shadows, occasionally moving her position in order to see the destructive fight that was taking place between Ichigo and the Arrancar now known as Espada number six, Grimmjow. He seemed quite proud of his placement as he introduced himself to Ichigo who was frowning up at him.

The Arrancar was strong, and in Ichigo's current condition he was much stronger than the orange haired substitute Shinigami. Ichigo was trying to be careful. Trying not to use too much strength and energy. He was scared.

Sayomi shook her head as she watched the Arrancar land a heavy blow to Ichigo's chest, sending him flying through the air. He landed with a loud crash in a nearby intersection, there was a depression around him from the force with which he had collided with the ground.

"Getsuga Tenshou," she heard Ichigo shout. Condensed black spiritual energy flew through the dust that had been stirred up and headed straight for the blue haired man standing in the sky.

There was a booming noise as the attack connected with its target and a flash of light that made it hard to see what had happened.

She knew the Arrancar had survived, but her eyes were focused on Ichigo as he held a hand over his left eye and bent forward slightly.

'He's losing control,' Fuyukaze observed.

'Yes, he is.'

She saw Ichigo raise his sword to strike again and saw the Arrancar prepare to finally draw his.

She darted off the rooftop she had been on and ran on the air to a spot between the two. "Enough," she ordered.

"S-Sayomi," Ichigo stuttered out.

"You're the one from Ulquiorra's vision. What the hell do you want?" The Espada growled.

"What I want is none of your concern, but you should know that right now Tousen is on his way here. I'm guessing you came without orders, and Aizen-sama isn't pleased. Especially since all of your friends are dead," Sayomi replied.

Grimmjow's blue eyes widened as he took full notice of the fact that what she said was true, the five others he had brought with him to the living world, were dead. He didn't sense Tousen though and his eyes narrowed as he stared at Sayomi who was watching him coolly, her tail flitting lazily behind her.

"Tousen ain't here, now get the hell out of the way and let me finish off the brat."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. I'm only trying to help you, I assure you. If Aizen-sama wanted him dead, he would be," Sayomi said.

"Bitch, get out-"

"Grimmjow, put your blade back in its rightful place."

As he had been speaking and drawing his sword a man had appeared silently behind him. He was slim with long dark hair and tanned skin. He wore a pair of oddly shaped sunglasses over his eyes that Sayomi knew were blind. One of his hands was grasping the hilt of the sword that the blue haired man had attempted to draw moments before.

"Tousen," Grimmjow growled. "Why are you here?"

"Why? You don't get it? You came to the living world without permission and brought five others with you. They are all dead. You should understand that Aizen-sama is livid that you disobeyed orders," Tousen said calmly.

"I tried to warn you," Sayomi remarked blandly. "You wouldn't listen."

"Shut the he-"

"Quiet, Grimmjow, your punishment will be decided in Hueco Muendo," Tousen cut in.

"It's been a long time, Tousen," Sayomi said.

"It has, a very long time. Much has changed and Aizen-sama wishes to see you again," Tousen replied.

"Tell him I look forward to seeing him again as well," Sayomi answered.

Tousen nodded. "Come, Grimmjow, Aizen-sama is waiting for you."

"Hey, where the hell are you going? You come down here, start a fight and then just decide to leave," Ichigo yelled after Grimmjow who was following Tousen into a rip in the sky. "The winner hasn't been decided yet, get back here!"

"The winner hasn't been decided yet, you say," Grimmjow said as he turned to face Ichigo. "That move you just used hurts you, even I can see that. You could use it maybe two or three more times, but then you'd be done. Those things wouldn't even scratch me in my released state. So don't go tellin' me the winner ain't decided yet because the one who is escaping with barely his life... Is you."

"Bastard," Ichigo snapped.

"Remember my name because the next time you hear it... will be the last," Grimmjow taunted as he and Tousen disappeared.

Sayomi glanced over her shoulder at Ichigo who was looking at her oddly. He had heard the majority of the conversation between her and Tousen and he was curious as to the meaning of it.

"I'd love to stick around and yell at you for being reckless, but if I do I'll be the reckless one. We'll discuss this some other time. You know what you need to do, Ichigo," she said before disappearing.

"Hey wait!" he yelled.

"What the hell are you yelling about, Kurosaki?" A tall man with bright red hair that was tied into a ponytail asked as he approached the orange haired Ichigo.

"None of your damn business, Renji," he snapped.

"Did you win?"

Ichigo frowned and looked away. "I lost."

He bowed his head and thought over what Sayomi had said. She was right, he knew what he needed to do, but how did she know that? Did she know about the hollow in his soul, was she trying to protect him when she stepped in? Did she know he was losing control of his sanity?

"She says she looks forward to your meeting," Tousen said to Aizen who was lounging in his large throne.

"Is that so?" He mused. "In that case maybe we should invite her over for a visit. What do you think, Gin?"

"I think that would be interesting," the grinning man replied.

"Then I think we should make some preparations for her arrival," Aizen said with a smile.

Sayomi took her time in walking back to the warehouse. She wasn't in the mood to face everyone now. Ichigo was losing control very quickly and if he didn't come to them soon he would face insanity, and worse. On top of that, she hadn't expected Tousen to show up to stop the fight, however his presence was certainly not unwelcome. Her plan had just moved forward several steps. Now all she had to do was wait. Wait and try to keep Ichigo whole.

She walked back into the warehouse to find the main area empty at first glance, but upon closer inspection she saw Kensei asleep on the sofa. She thought of going to wake him to tell him what had happened. How Ichigo was so quickly losing control and how Tousen had showed up to stop the Espada from fighting any further.

For a long moment she stared at him. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, so relaxed. It had been a long time since she had seen him looking so vulnerable and it caused a pang of guilt to stab into her heart. She still loved him, she truly did, but things between them had changed and they would never again be as close as they were. They were still friends, yes, but the level of trust the once shared had diminished over the years since she had walked out on him and everyone else.

Knowing that she was only going to be further betraying and hurting him she decided not to wake him and quietly made her way to her room.

Sayomi sat on the edge of the second story's broken floor, her legs dangling over the edge as she yawned with boredom before casting a glance to her right. Kensei sat not far from her with one leg pulled up and the other stretched out on the ground as he leaned into one of the crumbling pillars. The rest of the Vizard were spread around the building, waiting.

"He's here," Sayomi said blankly as she picked a piece of lint off of her light colored jeans.

No one seemed to hear her or if they did, they didn't care. Seconds later a shadow appeared in the large doorway and Ichigo walked in to the warehouse. He was dressed casually in jeans and a light t-shirt with a light weight black jacket over it. All eyes were now on him as his amber eyes flicked from person to person before landing on Sayomi and staring at her in surprise.

"Finally found us, huh?" Shinji said as he stared down at the orange haired teen. He was on the floor below Sayomi who was tempted to kick off her silver shoe and let it hit the blonde in the head.

"Hey, Ichigo," Sayomi greeted happily as she leaned forward and smiled down at him.

"Sayomi? What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked.

"Well, you see, when I said I wasn't a Soul Reaper, I meant it. I'm not. Anymore."

"Anymore?" he inquired.

"He doesn't need to know," Kensei said bluntly.

"Right," Sayomi continued, ignoring Kensei's grunt of disapproval and a glare from Hiyori. "You see, it wasn't our choice to become Vizards. It was forced upon us. I'll give you a single guess as to the traitor who did it."

"Aizen," Ichigo said in surprise.

Sayomi nodded. "Yes, Aizen. He wasn't the only one. There were two others as well, the same who left Soul Society with him and the Hogyoku."

"You know about-"

"Of course we do," Sayomi cut in. "We were all high ranking officials in the Gotei Thirteen, Ichigo, we have our ways."

"Enough of your blabberin'," Shinji drawled. "You came here to join us, right?"

Ichigo smirked as he looked at Shinji. "Hell no!"

"Ehhh," Shinji screeched as he lifted the golf cap on his head slightly.

Sayomi smirked at Ichigo who grinned back before continuing.

"I'm not going to be one of your flunkies. Please. The only reason I'm here... is to use you, not join you."

"What waz'at?" Shinji asked as he narrowed his eyes at Ichigo.

"I won't join up with you, but I'm sure you can teach me how to quiet the hollow inside me down," Ichigo explained.

"And just who do you think's gonna teach ya? Sayomi? I'll tell ya now, she can't do it on her own and she knows it," Shinji said.

"Then I'll just have to force it out of you," Ichigo said as he stared calmly up at Shinji.

"And how do ya plan on doin' that?"

Ichigo smirked defiantly.

Kensei stood up and took a step towards the edge of the broken concrete floor. Sayomi held out a hand and Kensei stopped his advance and turned his now angrily narrowed eyes to the top of Sayomi's head.

"Enough," she said authoritatively. "Ichigo?"

Ichigo's eyes flickered up to hers.

"I think they'd like a little demonstration," she said as she gracefully slid from her spot on the floor above him, she landed beside him with a smile. "Don't hold back," she ordered seriously as she snatched Ichigo's substitute badge with her left hand and held her right hand out to her side. "Breathe, Fuyukaze."

Ichigo took a step back in his surprise as the bracelet on her wrist shattered into millions of silver and blue snowflakes. They swirled around her wrist and gathered in her outstretched palm. It had only been a few seconds as Ichigo watched in awe as Sayomi's sheathed zanpakuto formed in her hand, what happened after that surprised him even more. She slammed the badge into his chest and dropped it to the ground, before it could land, her zanpakuto was unsheathed and arcing towards his throat.

He grunted, but pulled his own much larger weapon from his back, blocking Sayomi's swing with the flat of it.

"What are you doing?" Ichigo asked as he shoved Sayomi away.

Sayomi's face was blank as she looked back at him. "Trying to kill you," she answered seriously as she flashed from her spot a few feet in front of him to his right side. "You're holding back," she stated as he barely managed to block her pure silver blade from connecting with is chest.

"I don't want to fight you."

"Then you will die."

Ichigo scowled at her but the angered look vanished the second Sayomi vanished from his side.

"Dammit," he cursed as he was forced to block another of her attacks. Gripping his zanpakuto with both hands, Ichigo charged towards Sayomi.

"You're holding back," she repeated as she sliced Ichigo's cheek open with the tip of her sword.

Ichigo was panting as he eyed Sayomi who was standing in front of him, her eyes showing no hint of emotion.

"I didn't come here to fight you," Ichigo replied as he wiped some of the blood from his face.

"No," she asked with a raised brow.

"I want to fight Shinji."

Sayomi turned towards Shinji who was standing with the eight others on the ground below them. She shrugged and sheathed her zanpakuto. "Have at it at then."

"What?" Ichigo asked as he blinked in confusion at Sayomi's sudden change in attitude.

"Go, fight the dumb blond," she said as she waved her hand at him like she was shooing a dog.

"Uhhh..Ok," Ichigo replied before flying towards Shinji who only smirked as he kicked his zanpakuto up from the floor beneath him and leapt in the air to meet his attack.

'Maybe now he'll actually put up a fight,' Sayomi thought as she watched the swords of the two men connect.

The fight that followed made Sayomi roll her eyes and make her way towards the others. Ichigo and Shinji were merely taking turns attacking and defending.

"That Ichigo must think highly of himself if he would choose to fight Shinji," Rose said as she approached the group who was watching the fighting from the ground level of the warehouse.

"Fool. Shinji's not even taking this seriously," Lisa replied.

"If you look again even Ichigo isn't fighting to his full abilities either," Hachi said.

"He's scared. Whatever way you look at it," Love sighed.

"Of what?" Mashiro asked.

"The hollow," Kensei answered as he watched the fight angrily, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "To think Shinji wanted to recruit him, at this level-"

"At this level what, Kensei?" Sayomi asked as she turned her cold eyes to him. "He's holding back. Just like Shinji, he's not taking this fight seriously. I thought by letting him fight Shinji he would actually fight, not be a scared little boy like he is. He's stronger than you think, do not underestimate him."

"Where ya goin', Hiyorin?" Mashiro chirped as Hiyori turned away from the group and began to walk away.

"Hey, Hachi, buff the shield up five levels," Hiyori said, ignoring Mashiro's questioning.

"Yes, ma'am," Hachi replied.

"Hey, Shinji," she then yelled. "Outta my way! It's my turn!"

With that she slapped Shinji with a sandal and sent him spinning through the air and out the warehouse window.

"I thought I said to up the shield," she said as she turned to Hachi.

"I didn't have the time," Hachi replied.

"Ah well. Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah...You're going about this all wrong, Ichigo. We were considering letting you join our ranks, but that doesn't mean that it's ever been up to you. It's our decision. I don't give a shit if you want to join us or not. We saw you had power and wanted to see for ourselves if you were good enough. If you have the power to become one of us then we'll teach to you control the hollow. If not then take a hike and go die a dog's death as a hollow." After her speech, Hiyori turned away from Ichigo who was staring after her in a mix of shock and confusion.

"If ya get it then turn into a hollow and lets see what ya got," Hiyori said.

"No," Ichigo answered.

"You still don't get it? The decision ain't yours," she replied as she turned towards him as her white rhino like hollow mask began to appear around her face.

Sayomi watched, her face blank and impassive as Hiyori continued to taunt Ichigo. She would have intervened but she knew that Ichigo needed to be pushed to the brink in order to finally see that this wasn't just some walk in the park. They needed to see just what they were up against, and Hiyori might actually get enough of a rise out of him for them to figure it out.

"Oi, Hiyori!"

"Hey hold on, Hiyori!"

"Hiyorin!"

Love, Rose and Mashiro all shouted over each other as Hiyori's mask fully formed, partially hiding her face. Only Hachi, Lisa, Kensei and herself seemed to be unaffected by Hiyori's display. They stared up at the two and watched in silence as the blond girl continued to taunt Ichigo.

"You don't get to be one of us just by having a mask. The least you can do is transform for us. Are ya still scared?" she asked.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed as his grip tightened around his zanpakuto, but he didn't speak.

Sayomi looked over at Kensei to see that he seemed to be paying more attention now. He looked over at her from the corner of his eyes briefly before turning back to the two above them.

"I ain't as nice as Shinji. You can transform, or...I'll kill you," she said as she pulled her mask over her face.

There was a dramatic shift in her spirit pressure as she did, it surprised Ichigo whose eyes widened as he stared at Hiyori in disbelief.

Sayomi watched with a frown, in his surprise, Ichigo's guard had dropped and Hiyori had taken the opportunity to attack him. She slammed her palm into his stomach sending him flying into the concrete wall several yards behind him. He recovered immediately and was able to dodge the next fist she threw at him, but he couldn't evade the kick she sent at him right after. This time he collided with the floor just in front of Shinji, who was dusting himself off and muttering under his breath as he reentered the warehouse. He squealed in surprise and reeled backwards, falling unceremoniously on his butt in the process.

No one paid the blond any mind however, as Hiyori flew at Ichigo again. Their fight was rough, Ichigo was getting tossed around like a useless sack and Hiyori had yet to even draw her zanpakuto.

Everyone had strayed from the line they had been in on the first floor as the fight progressed. Lisa was now on the third floor leaning against a pillar, with her usual naughty magazine in hand. Shinji, Rose and Love were on the second floor watching the fight. Hachi was sitting on the floor on the first level trying his best to keep the barriers steady. Mashiro wasn't too far in front of him also watching the fight. Her and Kensei where on the first floor still, Sayomi leaning against Kensei as she craned her neck to watch the fight above her.

"You ok, Hacchan," Mashiro asked as the older, large man made a small noise when Ichigo was sent harshly into yet another wall.

"Definitely not ok," he replied as sweat rolled down his forehead.

Sayomi glanced over at the man and sighed, she straightened up and walked over to him. She sat beside him, setting her zanpakuto beside her, and began chanting under her breath before slamming her hands onto the ground. She heard Hachi sigh in relief as she added two of her own barriers so that Hachi wouldn't have to expend so much energy. Just as she finished strengthening her own barriers she realized that Hiyori was in the process of unsheathing her sword.

She scowled, but kept the barriers she had worked on steady. She watched carefully as Hiyori renewed her assault on Ichigo. Ichigo was a bloody mess, his kimono was torn to pieces and there were cuts and bruises on almost every inch of him. He was out of breath and barely able to block and dodge Hiyori's attacks. By watching him, she could tell he was trying to figure out how it was that Hiyori was able to stay in her hollow form without going insane.

Sayomi growled as Hiyori landed a rather brutal hit to Ichigo's left side, blood spurted from his wounded shoulder and he cried out in pain. She looked over to Kensei who upon sensing her, turned to look at her, when he saw the look she wore he nodded and returned his attention to the fight, his body tensing.

"Sorry, Hachi," Sayomi said as she released the barriers she had put up. At least the man was no longer sweating or as distressed as he had been. Picking up Fuyukaze and standing, she made her way to stand next to Kensei, her right hand firmly grasping the hilt of her sword as her left held the intricate sheath.

She was the first to move into action when Ichigo's spirit energy suddenly shifted and the white of a hollow mask began to coalesce over the left side of his face. Everyone else was too stunned by the sheer strength being emitted by the orange haired boy as he flew at Hiyori that they didn't move. Ichigo's hand clasped around Hiyori's throat as a harsh, crazy laugh escaped his throat. He slammed her into a wall and it was then that Kensei seemed to realize Sayomi had already moved. He flew after her and the others quickly followed suit.

Sayomi drew her zanpakuto letting the sheath fall to the ground as she flashed towards Ichigo. She had her zanpakuto at his throat a second after he pinned Hiyori to the wall. Yanking him away from the girl whose eyes were beginning to roll into the back of her head, Sayomi threw him towards the floor. She landed beside him just as everyone else surrounded them. Eight zanpakuto were aimed to kill if he so much as twitched.

Sayomi was knelt beside Kensei, who had also pinned Ichigo's hand to the ground with one of his booted feet. Fuyukaze was held in her right hand, angled across her body, her left hand between her chest and the silver blade, the tip of which was stuck in the white mask on Ichigo's face. Without hesitation she pulled her sword from the mask. As she did, the the mask shattered and crumbled to the ground. Her, Kensei and Shinji stayed in their positions, but the others withdrew their swords and stepped back. Sayomi turned and nodded to Kensei who withdrew his blade as well, and took his weight off of Ichigo's hand. He straightened himself up and stepped back as well.

She remained crouched beside Ichigo as Shinji stood up and began to walk away from them.

"You should get it now, Ichigo. That hollow in ya, isn't gonna be pushed down by your mind or body." Shinji said.

"Unfortunately, it's not that easy," Sayomi said as she pulled her zanpakuto away from Ichigo's face and stood up.

"What do you think, Hiyori?" Shinji said as he turned to her, she was panting and looking at Ichigo in shock.

She didn't say anything as she wiped at her face with the red sleeve of her jogging sweater.

"We'll teach ya how to suppress the hollow," Shinji said before turning and walking from the group.

Ichigo blinked after Shinji before turning his eyes up to Sayomi's.

"I'm glad you came. You were beginning to grow too unstable, I would have had to kill you soon," she said to him.

He didn't reply to her statement only continued to stare at her.

"Come on, you're a mess. We need to get you patched up."

"Tell me again why this is necessary. I already told you he would be able to do this for days," Sayomi said as she tilted her head back to look at Kensei.

He was sitting on one of the chairs wrapping his hands in white athletic tape. She was sitting on the couch, a book in her lap.

"Shut up," he grunted.

She stuck her tongue out at him childishly and turned to watching Ichigo huff and puff on the walker that Hiyori had stuck him on. Three days ago. She was actually surprised that Ichigo hadn't flipped out and demanded that they hurry up and show him how to keep the Hollow inside him at bay.

"This is boring," Hiyori complained.

"This was your idea," Kensei grunted.

Hiyori shrugged. "Doesn't mean it's fun to watch the stupid Soul Reaper."

"Then don't watch him," Shinji grumbled.

"Besides, I thought Lisa was supposed to be watching him," Kensei added, glancing over at the black haired girl who was absorbed in a swimsuit magazine.

"Shut up," Lisa retorted distractedly. "I am watching him."

"Your nose is buried in your magazine," Kensei pointed out roughly. "You haven't even looked at the Soul Reaper brat."

"His name is Ichigo," Sayomi interjected in annoyance.

"I don't give a shit what his name is. Lisa should be watching him and coaching him," Kensei snapped.

Lisa sighed, but didn't take her attention from her magazine. "Fine. I'll coach the idiot. One, two. One, two. One, two."

Rolling her eyes, Sayomi was standing up to go to her room where it was quiet when Ichigo finally had had enough. Having expected him to snap, she didn't stick around to see the outcome, she just sighed and set her book on the couch. Listening to Ichigo rant and rave with the others she made her way to the trap door that would lead to the underground training room.

Moments later Love walked through the door as well, Ichigo slung over his shoulder limply. Everyone followed after him as they made their way down the long flight of stairs. Once at the bottom, Love sat Ichigo down on the dirt and they all circled him.

"Hachi, throw up another barrier here too," Shinji said.

"Ehhh..."

"Don't 'ehhhh' me, it's not cute for an old guy to say eh," Shinji replied. "Also, I want you to seal all of his limbs."

"I'll take care of that part. Just take care of the barrier," Sayomi said as she lowered herself onto her knees a few yards in front of Ichigo.

"Yes, ma'am," Hachi replied.

Sayomi clasped her hands before her and began to chant. "Walls of iron sand, a priestly pagoda, glowing iron clad fireflies. Standing upright, silent to the end." As she chanted, little balls of light slipped from between her entwined fingers, they collected above her hands and formed five balls of bright light, "Bakudo seventy five; Gochuu Tekkan!" And with that she slammed her clasped hands into the dirt. Five large iron pillars formed above Ichigo before slamming down onto his body. One on each arm and leg and the last one at his neck.

She stood up again and walked over to Shinji just as Ichigo's body began to shake and tremble. The iron pillars holding him down began to shake as well. She actually had to shield her eyes a moment later when his spiritual pressure increased so dramatically a wind was stirred up around his body. Using his arms Ichigo began to lift his upper body as his white and red bird like mask formed over his face.

"How are we going to do this?" Sayomi asked Shinji.

"Open up the wall over here, Hachi. It was my day on watch so I'll start," Lisa called answering her question.

"Just don't kill him," Shinji replied.

"That's assuming he doesn't kill me first," Lisa stated as she walked through the opening in the barrier around Ichigo. The pillars had all broken now and Ichigo stood up, grabbing the zanpakuto beside him and flying at her.

Sayomi walked over to Kensei who was sitting in the dirt a few yards away. The rest of the group was scattered around either sitting in the dirt or on one of the many boulders in the large room.

"Ten minutes?" Sayomi asked.

"Yeah," Kensei answered, not bothering to look up at her. "I'll go after Lisa."

"I'll go last," Sayomi said.

Kensei finally looked over at her, wondering just what she was up to now, but said nothing. She was looking straight ahead of her, her attention focused on Ichigo as he fought Lisa.

There was a flare in Ichigo's reiatsu as the orange haired boy came to a sudden halt. Lisa watched him cautiously, her zanpakuto held out before her.

"Has it finally begun?" Shinji asked.

'Don't lose, Ichigo. I don't want to have to kill you,' Sayomi thought. 'Don't lose.'

No one responded, but Kensei looked over to Sayomi again. Her eyes had narrowed slightly and if he hadn't known better he would have thought she was bored by the look on her face. He did know her better though, and the look on her face, though blank, showed her concern for the orange haired boy.

'What do you think, Fuyukaze?' Sayomi thought. 'At the moment he's still not at full power, he will be when we go in though. If we go last I don't intended to let anyone else fight him again. Obviously why I said I would go last. I meant it.'

'He's getting stronger rapidly, but we should be fine. If need be though you may have to change yourself,' Fuyukaze replied.

'I will, but only as a last resort. I don't want to kill him.'

'You may have to though, if he can't-'

'He will.'

'Of course he will.'

"Two...One... Ten minutes. Hey, Hachi, open it up," Kensei shouted as he stood up from the ground.

"Kensei," Sayomi called as he walked forward, he turned back to look at her but her eyes were still focused on Ichigo. "Don't kill him."

Kensei scoffed, but otherwise ignored her. He flew through the opening in the barrier just as Ichigo was about to attack Lisa head on. Kensei flashed in front of the wounded girl and his elbow collided with Ichigo's stomach. The force sent Ichigo back a few feet in the dirt.

"Time's up," Kensei said to the out of breath Lisa. "Switch places."

"Hey, Shinji, how are we dividing the breaks," Lisa asked as she exited the barrier.

Shinji opened his mouth to speak, but Sayomi cut him off.

"Including myself, there are eight of us. Eight, ten minute intervals. We can't count Hachi since he's concentrating on the barrier. That also means that it's likely one or two of us might not get a turn."

Sayomi went back to watching the fight, scowling when Kensei introduced himself and told Ichigo he was going to kill him. She watched as Kensei slashed through Ichigo's left shoulder, blood spurted from the wound for a few seconds before a white substance ballooned from it, healing it. Her brows drew together at this new information. Super accelerated regeneration wasn't unusual for a hollow, but he wasn't even fully transformed yet.

"I say not to kill him, so what does he do?" Sayomi grumbled to herself as Kensei sent a blast of energy at Ichigo. "Blows his limbs off instead." Not that she was surprised, Kensei's fighting style was rather straight forward and brutal. He liked blowing stuff up and ending his fights quickly.

"Hey, hey," Love started to say worriedly as Kensei attacked yet again.

Sayomi was off the ground an instant later her lips drawn in a thin line and her eyes narrowed slightly. The arm that Kensei had just blown off had begun to regenerate, but instead of an arm, a large mouth formed out of the white substance and attacked Kensei.

"What the hell," Kensei cursed as the thing came at him. He raised his combat knife like zanpakuto and blocked the mouth from being able to bite his head off. Grunting, Kensei sent another energy bast through the mouth, splattering it over the area.

Ichigo's face was now completely masked and his left side and arm where also now covered in the white armor like skin of a hollow.

"Well, that was a pretty quick transformation," Kensei said with a smirk.

'Don't get cocky now, you fool,' Sayomi thought, 'He'll kill you. I told you not to underestimate him, do you see why now?'

"When my turn comes around again, I'll be sure to end this," Lisa spoke up.

Sayomi's light blue eyes trailed over to the bruised and scratched girl. "You won't be taking another turn," she said.

Lisa looked over at her in surprise, but Sayomi's eyes were already back on the fight.

"I'll take care of this myself, if it comes to that. No one else but me will be killing him," Sayomi said, although everyone knew it was an order. Her face had hardened and her eyes were now distant as she contemplated her options.

She thought of all the others and how long the transformations had taken for the rest of them. The longest had been her. Barely, Hiyori had been only a few seconds behind. It had taken almost seventy minutes for her to beat the hollow inside of her. By that time she was almost a full hollow and she was very close to being killed by Kensei, who had insisted on fighting her out of turn.

She hadn't known it then, but he was in love with her. He had apparently loved her for years, he had just never said anything. After all, she was engaged to a nobleman who was a captain and the head of his clan. All he felt he had to offer was himself, which since she was already spoken for he didn't feel would mean anything.

When she had found out that he had loved her she had been surprised. They had worked together for years before she had been promoted to his lieutenant and then to captain of the Tenth squad after her father's death. In that time though he had never once said anything to make her believe they were anything but friends. Their friendship was a bit twisted. They fought constantly and both felt they were always right. They would spar a lot which was good for both of them, it helped Sayomi learn to control her short temper and become a better and more skilled fighter. Kensei on the other hand just liked the time he got to spend with her, she challenged him and would actually stand up to him. If he wasn't in the mood though, she would back down immediately, she may like to fight, but she wasn't an idiot. Fighting him when he was seriously pissed off was not a good idea.

They had worked well together despite their many quarrels, they were serious when they needed to be and could easily join together to accomplish any task they were given. She knew that it would have been hard for him to see her killed by anyone else's hand, so he wanted to be the one to deal the finishing blow, if it came to that.

Luckily for her, it didn't. Barely, a few more seconds and she would have been blown to pieces by Kensei's zanpakuto, Tachikaze. She didn't remember much of that day, she didn't care to. It had started out like the majority of those days did for her. Her waking up alone and with no one to go to, no fiance, no family and no home. She had been betrayed by her own family, her own flesh and blood that she hadn't seen in years and she would never forget that night. The night changed her life. In some ways it was better, she had had Kensei and she had been happy for a little while. Now though she knew it was all coming to an end, she no longer cared about living. She cared about her revenge. She didn't care about the other two traitors, she only wanted to get her hands on the one. The one she called her brother.

And she would do anything to get to him. She had formed her resolve and she was going to kill the man that had smiled at her as she lay in a pool of her own blood after having attacked her brother as the newly awakened hollow in her tried to overtake her. He had cut her down himself and would have killed her had Kisuke not come along with Tessai.

Remaining upright, Sayomi watched as Kensei was replaced by Mashiro, Hiyori, Rose, and then Shinji. After Shinji, Love was going to take his turn. By then sixty minutes would have passed, if by seventy minutes Ichigo hadn't won his fight he would need to be eliminated, it was almost certain that by then he would be a full hollow. As it was now at almost sixty minutes he was almost entirely transformed.

Love stood up after a nod from Kensei, Sayomi gritted her teeth but said nothing as the tall man entered the barrier and Shinji exited. With a quick glance back at Kensei who wasn't really paying her any attention, Sayomi walked closer to where Hachi sat on the ground as he kept watch over the barrier.

"When I tell you to, open a door for me. Do not let anyone else in after that, understood?" Sayomi asked.

Hachi started slightly at her command and tried to stutter out a refusal, but after looking up to see her face he nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"Good," she replied.

Kensei looked over to Sayomi who was talking quietly to Hachi, he saw the surprise and fear on Hachi's face as she said something to him that he apparently didn't like. The large man then tried to stutter something out but a single look from Sayomi was enough to get him to nod in approval. He stood from his spot on a ledge in a boulder and made his way towards Sayomi.

Sayomi saw Kensei walking towards her and growled. "Open it," she hissed.

Hachi did as he was told and a door opened in the barrier a few feet in front of them.

Kensei started shouting at her as she flashed to the door, Hiyori stood up and shouted as well. As a matter of fact, the only one not shouting, besides Hachi of course, was Shinji. He sat on the top of a nearby rock watching calmly as Sayomi flew towards Love, her hand going to the hilt of her zanpakuto that was now hung over her back on a silver chain, the hilt over her right shoulder. She drew the sword in a fluid move as she appeared before a surprised Love. The sunglass wearing man started to protest as Sayomi knelt to block a blow from Ichigo's sword.

"Sorry, Love," she said as she kicked Ichigo away and turned to shove the stunned man out the open door. "Close it!" She shouted.

The second Love stepped out of the barrier the door shut and a very pissed off Kensei was glaring at her from just beyond where it had been. He turned back to Hachi and ordered him to open the door back up.

"Leave it," Shinji called calmly. "She's just going in a little early. Besides she ordered him not open it again."

"I don't give a shit," Kensei shouted. "She's coming out of there when her turn's over."

"I'm sorry," Hachi said. "But I won't be opening the door."

Kensei opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted when Sayomi suddenly spoke. Her voice was low and cold.

"If anyone steps in this barrier before I say so, believe me when I say that I will kill them myself. I will take care of this from here," Sayomi stated authoritatively.

"Are you going to let her do this, Shinji?" Hiyori shouted.

"We don't have a choice. Even if she didn't kill us for stepping in that barrier, he would," he answered as he nodded in Ichigo's direction.

~A/N~

I swear there will be new content in the rewrite, soon. Promise.

Feed the review monster if you please. :)