One hand

Ties the other

Eight contestants lined shoulder-to-shoulder before their host, each with a buzzer in their grasp. The rules seemed simple enough: Yachiru would read a question off of a cue card, and only after she finished reading could the participants press their buzzer. Whoever responded the fastest would have three seconds to answer the question before the others could try their hand.

"Contestants, are you ready?" Yachiru asked.

All of them nodded, save for Trunks. He wavered his thumb over the red button of his buzzer; his hand trembled in apprehension. Last place in any of the first five games would make elimination more likely. There'd be no way that he could answer any of the questions, at least on his own.

His eyes lit up. Maybe he didn't have to answer them alone. With his stare still fixed on the host, he sent out a telepathic message. "Goten! Please, you gotta help me out."

"You think I'm gonna know any of this?" Goten asked. "I only spent half a year here."

"I need anything I can get. Please."

"Alright, let's see what we can do-"

"Question #1," Yachiru said. "What is the name of the guardian of the Kokuryo Gate?" Trunks pushed down on the button, and a subsequent ring blared out from it. "Trunks, what is your answer?"

"Ah crap, I know this," Goten said. "It's… uh…"

Trunks's voice trembled. "I-It's… uh-"

"Time's up!" Yachiru said. Another ring sounded beside him. "Hisagi, what is your answer?"

"Danzomaru," Shuhei said.

"Correct! One point for Hisagi to jump into the lead!"

Trunks dragged his free hand down his forehead. "This is it. I'm screwed."

"I think I have a better idea," Goten said. "Toshiro! Would you mind giving Trunks a hand?"

"What?" Toshiro said. "You're asking me to help you cheat? That would be unfair to the other contestants."

"My Zanpakuto's on the line," Trunks said. "Can you put your ethics aside for a day-"

"Question #2," Yachiru said. "What town did Kenpachi Zaraki once live in?" A ring emanated once more from Trunks' buzzer. "Trunks, what is your answer?"

"Dammit, I don't know this one," Toshiro said. "Just guess!"

Trunks gritted his teeth, but threw out an answer. "Uh… Zaraki?"

"Correct! Lucky you, there's a bonus question that'll allow you to take the lead. What was the name of the previous Kenpachi?"

"Kenpachi Kiganjo!" Toshiro said.

Trunks blurted out the answer. "Uh, Kenpachi Kiga-"

"Time's up!" A ring sounded from the end of the line. "Yumichika, what is your answer?"

"Kenpachi Kiganjo," he said.

"Correct! We now have a three-way tie on our hands."

"Hey!" Trunks said. "That wasn't even three seconds!"

"Trunks loses one point for arguing with the host!"

"What?! You can't just-"

"Question #3: What is Squad Two's insignia?"

A ring struck his eardrums from the right and caused him to gasp. Who could've pressed the button faster than him?

"A pasque flower," Karasu said.

"That is correct!" Yachiru said. "And we have another bonus question! What does the insignia signify?"

"Seek nothing."

"Correct again! Karasu is now in the lead!"

The smug expression on Karasu's face made Trunks grit his teeth in frustration. For the sake of his pride, he wanted to embarrass him, but he couldn't. At the mercy of Yachiru and the twelve questions that followed, Toshiro assisted him to fifth place while Shuhei and Karasu tied for first.

After the contestants disposed of their buzzers, Yachiru turned to the crowd with glee. "Who knew a trivia contest would be so fun? If ya thought that game was intense, this one'll be a real treat. Every woman loves a man that can satisfy her sweet tooth, so we're gonna see which one of these guys can do that the best in a good, ol' fashioned bake-off!"

Through the audience's cheers, Goten's hearty laugh cut through. Trunks narrowed his gaze at him. "May I ask what you find so funny?"

With his hands grasping at his sides, Goten suppressed himself to a chuckle. "I don't know who picked these games, but they must know you too well. No offense, but you're more of a microwave cook than a stovetop chef."

"None taken. I'm gonna need your help on this one, too."

"My mom taught me how to cook, not bake. You're on your own with this one."

"Dammit… I hope I can remember an online recipe or something."

Members of the Men's Association lugged ovens, countertops, and various kitchen equipment into the ring. The ingredients provided gave him the idea for a dessert he made a few times before: a chocolate cake. With only thirty minutes allotted, he rushed to throw whatever ingredients he remembered together. Batter splattered onto his clothes and face, but he finished baking and plated his food with five seconds to spare. He was too nervous to turn and look at what his competition prepared.

Isane Kotetsu, Rangiku, and Yachiru walked to each station to judge the desserts. When they arrived at his station and took a bite of his cake, Trunks withheld his breath as he sweated through the armpits of his jacket. They described it as dry, dense, a touch too sweet, but edible. That was better than what they said about the others before him, especially since Yachiru spit them all out. The judges ranked him second behind Yumichika, which was enough to bring Trunks hope.

However, Yachiru set out to make his rise to the top three more difficult. An obstacle course around the Seireitei's perimeter sounded simple until she handicapped Trunks with a five-second delay and four ton weights in each hand. Still, he overcame and powered past the others that attempted to knock him off course, crossing the finish line first ahead of Karasu.

Though he never considered himself a talented actor, Trunks presumed a game of charades would be manageable. When Yachiru revealed that she'd be the one to decipher the contestants' acting, he expected to work harder than the others. Although he made his gestures grandiose and obvious, she failed to guess anything correctly. To her, his impression of a tiger was a "kitty cat", his cheerleading was "drowning and calling for help", and taking a shower was "fighting off lice". The only thing she guessed correctly was his impression of an elephant, which came in the last three seconds of his allowed minute. Not only did the poor performance aggravate him, but the stadium's jeers transitioned to boisterous laughs at how ridiculous he appeared. To make matters worse, the other competitors fared far better than Trunks, leading them to all score higher than him.

The last game of the first session placed Trunks in another uncomfortable position. To prove their ability to inject humor into a date, each contestant needed to deliver their funniest joke to the audience. Trunks found himself on pins and needles at the prospect, but Goten messaged him via telepathy to deliver a one-liner.

"You're sure this is gonna work?" Trunks asked.

"I think so," Goten said. "I couldn't stop laughing the first time I heard it."

After Yachiru selected him to present first, Trunks stepped forward to the thousands of eyes glued to him. He took a deep breath, then raised the microphone to his mouth.

"How does a man on the moon get his haircut?" Silence fell throughout the arena. "E-Eclipse it!"

Confused mutters turned into another round of heckles. Yachiru shook her head, which led Trunks to glare at his friend.

Goten lifted his hands and shrugged. "What? It was funny when Yamcha told me… when I was eight."

"Yamcha?! Eight?!" Trunks pushed his hands over his eyes and drifted back to the other competitors. With Karasu next, Trunks hoped his joke would flop. Karasu stepped forward, dropped his grin, and cleared his throat.

"I got a new pair of gloves today, but they're both lefts. On one hand, it's great, but on the other, it's just not right."

Laughter hurled out from every direction, even from the other contestants. Bewildered, Trunks' mouth gaped open at the Soul Reapers that hunched over and clutched their sides. Between the deadpanned delivery and the dry content, he couldn't comprehend why people found it funny in any aspect, but the returned smirk on Karasu's face said it all: he won, and Trunks lost.

After Yachiru announced him in fourth place, all the contestants vacated the ring while she tallied scores. With his head lowered, Trunks dragged his feet to his ringside friends.

"Rough day?" Ichigo asked while he reached his hand into a cup of popcorn.

"I think I'd rather have my head covered in sand again," Trunks said. His head drifted back enough for him to see Soi Fon, who buried her head in her haori since the first game. Yoruichi, however, shot him a wide smile and a thumbs up. His head sank downward once more. "This is the worst-case scenario, to the tenth power."

"It's obvious that there's a bias against you," Rukia said. "If it's any consolation, I thought your joke was funny."

"Thanks, but unfortunately, one laugh out of an entire stadium of boos doesn't exactly tip the scale."

"I actually caught a bit of second-hand embarrassment," Ichigo said. "I tried to laugh, but… it was bad."

"Guess I better get ready to watch Yamamoto torch my Zanpakuto. If that wasn't bad enough, Soi Fon's getting shipped on a date with one of them."

Goten tossed a dried persimmon into his mouth. "Have a little faith. We still gotta wait for the results."

Ichigo threw his arm over Trunks' neck. "Even if you lose, we're not letting anyone take anything from you."

"I'll beg him, but if he doesn't bend, we can always open the Garganta and book it," Goten said.

Trunks sighed. "Thanks for the support, but I think I'll stay and face the music. I'd rather not be at the center of another controversy."

"Attention, everyone!" Yachiru said with a paper raised overhead. "I have the results!"

The group turned their attention to her. Trunks held his breath while his heart threw repeated jabs to his ribcage.

"With a whopping thirty points, the first person to secure a spot in the final three goes to… Lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi!"

Trunks expressed no surprise, as Shuhei placed in the top four of every game. His stomach made a preemptive turn at who he assumed the next name would be.

"Close behind him with twenty-eight points is… Daichi Karasu!"

"You let that bum beat you?" Goten asked.

Trunks kept his eyes forward. "It's hard not to when a toddler for a lieutenant is rigging the game."

"That toddler holds your fate in her hands," Ichigo said. "Let's keep our fingers crossed."

"And now…" Yachiru said. She leaned in and captured the audience's attention. "The third and final spot goes to…"

Twenty-five points. If anyone scored more than his twenty-five points, he would bid farewell to Zangetsu. His heart pounded with increased fervor. He couldn't lose. Not like this.

Yachiru inhaled, then shouted into the microphone. "No one, because we have a two-way tie! With twenty-five points each, Trunks Briefs and Hanataro Yamada will face off in a tiebreaker!"

A joyous smile erupted onto Goten's face. "See?! What did I tell ya?!"

Trunks let out a silent exhale. His lips curled upward for a moment before they dropped again. "There's gotta be a catch. There's definitely a catch."

Yachiru pulled a small box from behind her and lifted it to the crowd. "To decide who will go forth, each competitor will step in the ring and battle against whoever I pick from this box. Anyone who touches the outside of the ring, forfeits, or can't stand after a ten second count, loses. The contestants may also win if the fight reaches five minutes. If both fighters knock each other out or step out of the ring at the same time, then the match is a draw, and a new opponent will be picked."

"Huh, so it's a little different from the World Martial Arts Tournament," Goten said. "At least there's a survival condition."

"But she didn't say anything about the no killing clause," Trunks said. "Looks like weapons are allowed, too."

"Well, a Zanpakuto is a Soul Reaper's bread and butter."

"Both contestants will fight in one match per round," Yachiru said. "At the end of the round, if one contestant wins and the other loses, the tiebreaker is over, and the winner advances. But if both contestants lose or win their matches, we'll have to go to another round until one person wins." She rubbed her cheek with an open hand. "Now, how are we gonna decide who goes first? Hm… We'll just go by alphabetical order, which means Hanataro Yamada will be the first up!"

As Yachiru fumbled her arm through the box, Ichigo turned to Trunks with a smile. "This'll be a cakewalk for you. Hanataro's no fighter, so as long as you win your match, you can keep your Zanpakuto."

Yachiru pulled out a piece of paper and waved it high in the air. "Hanataro's opponent will be…" She lowered it and squinted her eyes to read the name. "Zennosuke… K-Kuru… madani."

"Huh?" Trunks drew his head backward. "Isn't that the guy with the afro that guards Karakura Town?" He narrowed his brows and looked at Ichigo. "Isn't he there right now?"

"Uh, yeah," Ichigo said. "I passed him on my way to you."

Yachiru swiveled her head from back and forth. "Zennooosuke? Are ya here?"

Trunks cupped his hands and yelled out through them. "He's in Karakura Town!"

"Aw, that's too bad." She released the paper into the wind. "Well, since he's not here… Hanataro wins by disqualification!"

"What?! Why don't you just pick another one?!"

"Now, Trunks must survive elimination. Who will his opponent be?" After she shuffled her hand around the box for ten seconds, she pulled out another piece of paper. A smile widened into her cheeks. "Kenny, Kenny! I picked you!"

"Alright!" A hulking man plummeted into the center of the ring. He stood tall as the wind brushed his white haori and long dark hair, then gazed down at Yachiru with his uncovered eye. "Thanks. I've been itching for a good fight for too long." He drew a worn blade from his waist and pointed its tip and his demonic grin at Trunks. "Get in here and let's see what you're made of. Come on, don't keep me waiting."

"Ah, man," Goten said while he scratched his head. "This is just not your day."

Trunks balled his fists. "This is everything but my day. All things considered, though, this isn't the worst thing that's happened so far."

"I wouldn't speak too soon-"

"Huh?" Yachiru flipped the paper to its opposite side. "Oh no, Kenny. I accidentally pulled two." She separated the two pieces of paper and stared at the one she missed. "This one says Byaki's name on it. I guess you'll have to fight together."

Trunks' eyes shot open. "B-Byaki? As in Byakuya Kuchiki?" He spun to Rukia. "As in your brother?!"

Rukia's mouth fell open. "No… That can't be right."

"This can't be allowed. That's against the rules!"

"Technically, she said you had to fight whoever she picked," Goten said. "Seems like she worded it so that something like this could happen."

Byakuya appeared next to Kenpachi with his eyes turned away. Zaraki grunted and lowered his Zanpakuto. "Hey, Byakuya. You wouldn't mind leaving this guy to me, would ya?"

"Hmph, absolutely not," he replied. "You're bound to drag the battle on until the time limit and let him steal victory. After I handle this efficiently, you may do with him as you like."

Trunks grated his teeth, then turned back to Ichigo. "Do you mind giving a quick scouting report before they maul me?"

"Kenpachi has no Kido, Shikai, or Bankai, just strength, especially when he takes off his eyepatch," Ichigo said. "Byakuya's fast, and his Zanpakuto produces a thousand fragments of his blades. In Bankai, he can control them with his mind and maneuver them faster."

"Great." Trunks sighed before he shrugged off his blue jacket and handed it to Ichigo. "Would you mind? I'd rather not bother Orihime if it gets torn. It wouldn't matter anyway if I end up skewered."

Ichigo nodded and threw the jacket over his shoulder. With his fingers wrapped around the hilt of his sword, Trunks took two steps forward before Goten called out to him.

"Hang on," he said. "All jokes aside, you only have to hang in there for five minutes. Stick and move."

"That's the goal." Trunks leaped into the ring, and once his feet touched the floor, Kenpachi and Byakuya fixed their attention on him. Between Zaraki's violent anticipation and Kuchiki's judgmental stare, he couldn't determine which one he should express more caution toward.

Byakuya drew his katana and held it upward. "You dare disgrace a captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads and return to the Seireitei? One thing is for sure, not only do you share Ichigo Kurosaki's Zanpakuto, but you also share the same bravado."

"I hope you're as strong as your friend over there," Kenpachi said. "It'll be sad if you bleed out before we have any fun."

The crowd cried out to support the two captains. Ikkaku's voice carried out the loudest as he cheered for Zaraki to cut Trunks limb from limb. Rather than shudder at the challenge before their combined might, Trunks stepped back and drew his Zanpakuto. To combat the spiritual pressure that weighed on his bones, he burst into a Super Saiyan.

Yachiru ogled at Trunks' glow. "Oooh, shiny." She scurried to the outside of the ring and addressed the crowd. "To help officiate this fight, please welcome Captain Unohana."

A round of cheers welcomed Unohana as she strolled to the opposite edge. She lifted her hand and raised her voice to those in the ring. "Are you ready?"

Five minutes could seem like an eternity, especially when he hadn't fought in months, but it was a much better win condition than the alternatives. Though he hadn't seen the full extent of their abilities, something within Trunks felt confident that he could withstand their onslaught. He had no other choice.

Unohana swung her hand downward. "Begin!"

As he predicted, Zaraki lunged in first. With a firm grasp on his sword, Trunks swung in defense. While he recoiled from the clash, Byakuya Flash Stepped beside him. Trunks countered a stab to his chest, then spun to parry another toward his spine. He then sidestepped to circumvent Kenpachi's blade, which heaved down with enough force to smash the tiles.

Between Byakuya's surgical precision and Kenpachi's rugged aggression, Trunks found himself in a situation he planned to avoid. Blade after blade sought to carve out his flesh, which left Trunks to block and dodge each of their attacks. He couldn't sustain the effort. Eventually, he'd make a mistake that would cost him in blood. The only reliable option was the initial game plan: stick and move.

From opposite sides, two swords rushed at his neck. Trunks ducked underneath, then sped backward to the side of the ring. Once the Zanpakuto collided, the two captains shot daggers at one another.

"You're getting in my way," Kenpachi said.

"You must be mistaken." Byakuya turned away and darted for Trunks. However, the moment of reprieve allowed Trunks to charge energy into his Zanpakuto.

"Getsuga, Tensho!" He slung the blue energy slash toward Byakuya, forcing him to summon Danku to guard himself. Byakuya reached his destination, but Trunks moved to another side of the ring.

Zaraki lunged in with a powerful swing, but Trunks somersaulted overhead to land behind Kenpachi. Before he seized the opportunity to knock his opponent outside of the ring, Trunks spun into a kick from Zaraki, which caused him to tumble to the center.

Byakuya extended a finger toward him. "Hado #4, Byakurai."

Trunks rolled away to evade the beam of spiritual energy. He leaped to his feet, only to find Zaraki charging toward him. With no time to maneuver away, Trunks swung Zangetsu to clash with Kenpachi's nameless blade. Locked in a stalemate, Trunks' strained expression met bared teeth and widened eyes. However, he couldn't ignore his other foe.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura." The sound of slicing wind from behind neared his ears. Trunks pushed off of Kenpachi and darted into the air. Once he turned to the ground, he witnessed what Ichigo warned of: one thousand amassed blades masked as cherry blossom petals, all racing toward him.

He extended his free hand and fired two blasts to slow down Senbonzakura. Once the blasts detonated on their target, Trunks fired another down to Byakuya, who retracted Senbonzakura to shield him from any damage.

Kenpachi jumped in pursuit of Trunks, who raced downward and slammed a fist into his cheek. However, Trunks gasped when Zaraki forced his smile forward.

"Really?" Kenpachi asked. "That's all?"

Kenpachi grabbed Trunks' arm and threw him to the ground. He skid across the tile, only for a pink wave to tower over him from behind. Instinct led him to clutch his shoulder and heave his sword forward.

"Ban-kai!" An explosion of dust forced the petals of Senbonzakura away. Head first, Kenpachi dove from the sky and cut through the smoke with his serrated blade. Trunks sidestepped the slash, then hurled his knuckles into Kenpachi's stomach. While he folded over, Trunks grabbed his haori and hurled him away. Kenpachi rolled to Byakuya's feet, and with the thousand petals scattered, Trunks launched an energy blast at the duo.

The blast's detonation shrouded his vision. He hit them, but did he inflict damage? At the very least, they could've stepped outside the ring.

Chuckles from Zaraki rang out as the vision restored itself. "Not too shabby. I'm getting excited." Beside an uninjured Byakuya, Kenpachi stood with only a couple of scratches across his face. "Now that we're all warmed up, how about we turn things up a notch?"

Kenpachi tore off his eyepatch and tossed it to the wayside. A vicious yellow aura towered over his body, forcing Trunks to brace for its pressure. He couldn't hold back any longer. With his muscles tensed, he shouted out into his Super Saiyan 2 form.

Kenpachi's eyes stretched open. "That's what I like to see!" He turned his neck to Byakuya. "Come on, let me just get a minute with him. I'll make it worth your while."

"What a foolish request," Byakuya said. His petals returned and formed into his blade. "Did you expect my answer to change just because you're ready to fight at full strength?"

"All I'm asking for is a minute. Is that really too much for you to spare? I'll treat ya to some barbeque, or buy whatever expensive gift ya like."

"Allow me to put this as simply as I can: no. I'm not interested in whatever food your filthy hands would prepare, and I doubt whatever gift you thought of purchasing would be tasteful."

"There you go again, insulting me. I've had enough of the stuck up attitude of yours, Kuchiki, and I'm sick of you intruding like you did with that damn Espada!"

"That Espada would've died sooner if you listened to what I told you and left it to me."

"What was that?!"

"Must I slow down my speech for you to comprehend?"

"I can hear you just fine, jackass! How about I…"

Trunks stood in place while his two opponents bickered, ignoring the crowd shouting for them to continue. It was a strange development, but one he didn't mind. If he kept his mouth shut and stood in place, they would burn time for his benefit.

"Nevermind our squabble," Byakuya said. He fixed his eyes back on Trunks. "While we're busy arguing, our enemy stands there without a care in the world."

"That's an easy enough problem to fix," Kenpachi said. "I don't care anymore. Do what you want."

Byakuya inverted the grip on his blade and released it. "I intend to. Since you failed to heed my warnings, I won't hesitate to strike you both if need be." His Zanpakuto phased into the floor. Tiles rippled outward as if his blade fell into a pool of water.

"Ban-kai."

A row of large blades erected on each side of Trunks, prompting him to tighten the hold on his sword.

"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." The blades shattered into the same petals he saw before. Surrounded and with Zaraki ready to pounce, Trunks fired one last tactic before combat resumed.

"Wait, Kenpachi!" he said. "You're really gonna let him hit you with his Bankai? Aren't you guys on the same team? And didn't he call you filthy? Personally, I wouldn't take that kind of disrespect-"

Kenpachi dashed inward, while the thousand blade fragments collapsed onto him. Trunks crossed his arms, then shot them outward to unleash an omnidirectional push of air. It worked to disorient the Byakuya's attack, but it only slowed Zaraki down. Once Kenpachi drew close, Trunks clashed blades with him several times. However, Byakuya circled them with his Bankai and forced them both to evade.

The two sped across the ring, and with each powerful collision and recoil of their Zanpakuto, they swatted away Senbonzakura before they escaped to another part of the ring. With time, Kenpachi's strength and agility grew, which made it easier for Byakuya's blades to swipe across Trunks' skin. However, he didn't falter. That infectious grin on Kenpachi's face caused one to spread on his, too.

He was tired of running. Against an audience that prayed for his downfall, he had to prove he wasn't a coward, especially not with Soi Fon watching. Though his Zanpakuto was at stake, he allowed his ego to burn away logic. Trunks no longer settled for survival; he wanted to win.

After repelling another strike, Trunks launched slash after slash to put Zaraki on the defensive. Even when he received a gash across his chest, Kenpachi's smile never faded. Instead, he lifted his arm and heaved down a strike aimed at Trunks' shoulder. Trunks caught his wrist, pulled him in, and sent him airborne with a kick to the chin.

The mass of fragmented blades raced behind him. With a blade sheathed in black energy, Trunks spun and split the sea of cherry blossom blades in half. The opening created a narrow path straight to Byakuya — a path wide enough for Trunks to fire an energy wave through. Once his attack exploded on impact, he shifted his head to the sky, where Kenpachi sped down with his blade pulled back and spiritual pressure aglow.

Tightly gripping Tensa Zangetsu's chain, Trunks raised his arm and twirled his Bankai. Once it reached peak speed, he channeled more of his energy into it. "Getsuga, Tensho!"

A whirlwind of black and red energy shot into the sky and struck Kenpachi. Trunks clenched his teeth and spun the chain to push his foe higher into the air. However, yellow spiritual pressure exuded throughout the sky before Kenpachi sliced through the Getsuga Tensho, causing Trunks to teeter off balance. Before Zaraki could slam into him, a backflip landed him at the edge of the ring in front of Unohana.

From the smoke, Byakuya sent Senbonzakura toward Trunks, while Kenpachi rushed beside it for another strike. There was nowhere to escape. He'd have to blast his way back into the center.

Trunks widened his stance and brought his inverted hands beside his head. His back foot hung halfway off the edge. "Galick, Gun-"

"Stop!" Unohana shouted.

Trunks gasped and paused halfway before his arms outstretched completely. Senbonzakura halted to an inch in front of his face.

Kenpachi grunted and passed Trunks as he slid to a halt outside the ring. He turned to Unohana with a calmed expression. "Hey, what's the deal? Why'd you stop us?"

Unohana faced him with her usual smile. "Five minutes have passed, which means the match is over and Trunks is the victor."

The crowd expressed their disapproval, along with Yachiru, who pouted into the microphone. "Aw, man. I really thought Kenny and Byaki would chop him into a billion pieces. I guess we gotta go to round two."

"Hmph." Byakuya disengaged his Bankai and sheathed his Zanpakuto. A Flash Step set him next to Trunks, but faced away. "Count this as a blessing, but be warned. Regardless of what you've done for the Soul Society, the next time you are involved in any incident, you will incur the full extent of my power. As an outsider, I advise you to tread carefully from now on."

Trunks' hair flattened to his head. With the fight over, he needed to humble himself once more. "Y-Yes, Captain Kuchiki. I'm sorry."

Byakuya vanished, and Kenpachi approached the ring. "Hey, we're not done here, got it? We're gonna need another fight to settle things."

"Of course." Trunks hopped down from the ring, then extended his hand. "Next time, it'll be just us with a bigger space."

"I like the way you think." Kenpachi gripped Trunks' hand and squeezed his fingers. "Don't hold back, or I'll have to kill you." After Trunks nodded, Kenpachi looked at his lieutenant. "Yachiru! I'm gonna go take a nap."

Yachiru waved at him as he walked toward the exit. "Okay, Kenny! I'll see ya later! Thanks for coming!"

"Would you like me to heal your injuries?" Unohana asked Trunks.

"Oh no, it's fine," he said. "I only have a few scrapes here and there, but nothing major."

"And what about your energy? I'm sure you'd like to be at full strength for your next bout."

"Luckily, I didn't burn through that much energy, so I think a few minutes of rest should be fine." A quiet exhale left his nose. "I'm sorry for how I acted in your medical ward. I was out of control, and that's putting it lightly."

"You have a kind heart. It wouldn't be fair if I judged you for how you acted in such a confusing situation. I could see that it was hard for you, but I'm glad to hear you're doing better."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it."

"You should rest while you can. I'll make sure that your next fight is with only one person."

Trunks nodded, then strolled back toward his friends. "So, how'd I look?"

"Pretty rough around the edges, but hey, you made it," Ichigo said. "That Getsuga tornado looked sick."

"Why'd you hold back?" Goten asked. "Those two were about to turn you into ground meat, let alone push you out of the ring."

Trunks stabbed his Bankai into the ground, then sighed. "I wanted to, but it's weird. I can't feel my god Ki."

"That doesn't sound good. Let's hope you didn't destroy your Soul Sleep like I did."

"I don't think so. It just feels… empty. My inner Hollow must've burned through all of it yesterday. Maybe it'll come back tomorrow."

"Maybe. On the upside, it looks like Kenpachi and Unohana like you."

"Yeah, it feels good for someone else to be on my side. It still doesn't offset everyone else that hates me, though."

"Hate seems like an understatement," Ichigo said. "It feels like they all wanna line up and take turns punching you."

"Someone above us kept telling my brother to 'go for the jugular'," Rukia said. "It might've been Renji."

Goten propped his forearm onto Trunks' shoulder. "That's all in the past now. Let's focus on the positives." He drew closer to Trunks' ear and lowered his voice. "Since you're cool with Captain Unohana now, would you mind putting in a good word for me?"

Appalled, Trunks moved his head away and stared at Goten with eyebrows furrowed. "Are you insane? How many times did Gohan drop you on your head as a baby?"

"None… I think. It's not for her, it's for her lieutenant."

"Oh… Wait, what? Isane?"

"Yup. We talked a little when in the medical ward, but she's sitting on the other side, and we've been exchanging glances here and there. I mean, if she's interested, then why not shoot my shot-"

Yachiru rushed to the ring with the box of names in one hand and her microphone in front of her mouth. "It's time for Round two! Let's decide who Hanataro will face." She stirred her hand inside the box, then lifted a single slip to her face. "Son Goten!"

Trunks pumped his fist. "Yes! Let's go!"

"Huh, that's interesting." Goten placed his hands on his hips. "Well, let's hope I don't waste too much energy."

"Please go easy on him," Rukia said. "Hanataro's sweet and passive… and-"

"Pillow soft," Ichigo said. "He'll have a heart attack if you stare at him too hard."

Goten bobbed his head, then vaulted into the ring. Hanataro climbed onto the tiles, then scurried to his feet. From afar, Goten noticed his quivering and nervous expression.

Once Yachiru left the ring, Unohana raised her hand. "Are you both ready?" Hanataro jolted, while Goten assumed his fighting stance. She waved her downward. "Begin!"

Goten straightened up and smiled. "Hey, I never got to thank you for healing my brother. I appreciate it."

Hanataro continued to tremble in fear. However, the crowd grew louder and chanted his name, which soon caused his tremors to stop. He balled his fist, then pulled it back as he charged forward. Once he neared striking range, he shut his eyes and let out a loud cry to strike Goten's stomach with all his might.

Goten stood in place as the knuckles grazed him. Confused, he dipped his head to the side. They said Hanataro was soft, but he didn't expect that. Kon probably punched harder.

Hanataro opened his eyes. "Oh, wow. I actually hit him."

"Uh, yeah… Something like that." Goten positioned an open palm near Hanataro's chest. "How bout we go for a little ride?"

Before Hanataro responded, a gentle push of air lifted him off his feet. Frantic, he flailed his arms and legs about as he made a slow journey backward. Goten rushed behind and caught him when he reached the outside of the ring.

"Don't worry, I gotcha," he said. He lowered Hanataro down beside his captain before he stepped onto the ground.

"Ring out!" Unohana said. "Goten is the winner!"

With a sigh, Hanataro lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Captain. I failed."

Unohana patted him on the back. "You did your best, and that's all that matters."

Goten floated back toward his seat, where Trunks greeted him with a soft applause. "Pretty good showing, if I do say so myself."

"I don't think you had to embarrass him, though," Ichigo said.

"It was either that or drag it out and pretend like he was doing damage, but I didn't think anyone wanted to see that," Goten said before he turned to Trunks. "I threw you the alley-oop, now go finish it."

Trunks grinned. "Yeah, thanks for the assist."

Eager to start his match, Trunks drew Tensa Zangetsu from the earth and jogged into the ring. Yachiru entered and stood in front of him.

"If you win, you get to keep your Zanpakuto and compete for a chance at first place," she said. "The pressure is on; can you do it? Let's see if your next opponent can make things more exciting." Her hand dove and lapped around the inner perimeter.

There were only a handful of people Trunks prayed she wouldn't draw. If the box contained every seated officer from each squad with a few additional names, the chances of him being paired against the few on his shortlist were slim. Even if the selection held twenty names, the odds should've been in his favor. However, his previous match proved that the odds didn't matter. Everything that could go wrong would go wrong.

She whipped a paper out of the box, and her eyes expanded once they met the written name. "Ooh, this is gonna be just as good as Kenny's and Byaki's fight."

Trunks furrowed his brow. "What? It's just one person?"

"Mhm." She flipped the paper around for him to see. "Head Captain Yamamoto!"

A gasp separated his mouth and left it open. A wave of shock flooded the stadium. 360 degrees of silence accompanied Trunks' own disbelief. Of the few people he didn't wish to fight, Yamamoto ranked second. Would this really happen in such a confined space with thousands of bystanders? Surely, the Head Captain would decide against it.

The eyes that pierced down on him before returned with more intensity. Once Trunks turned his head and lifted his gaze to the bleachers, a streamlined wave of spiritual pressure struck his body and broke the tile beneath his feet. His knees buckled under its gravity as he strained to stand straight.

Captain Yamamoto stood on a tier with his father and Goku. Even at full strength, he'd be no match, yet a grin slid across his face. Trunks' hair swept upward, and his eyes shifted to a green hue. No longer would he cower under the might of a powerful foe. He stood upright, and with his hand raised, he motioned Yamamoto to meet him in the ring.

"What the hell is he thinking?!" Ichigo asked. "He can't even use Pseudo Blue. He'll get killed!"

Ichigo spun to the Head Captain, but Goten shot an arm in front of his chest. "Stop. Just cool it."

"Cool it?! How can you be so calm?!"

"I dunno. I don't like getting riled up anymore; it keeps me from thinking straight." He lowered his hand, then lifted himself a few inches above the ground. "I'll go talk to him."

"With that bloodlust, you really think that'll work?"

"Yeah, Master Genryusai doesn't fight too often, so he's a little excited."

Goten floated to the top row of the stadium. Once he reached the Head Captain, the pressure that pressed onto Trunks disappeared. Yamamoto's expression lightened as Goten projected his cheerful and untroubled nature. Though he couldn't interpret the conversation between them, Trunks eased up his own energy, but his muscles tensed on the occasion when Yamamoto would sneak a glance at him.

"Oh, Captain Yamaaa," Yachiru said into the microphone in a sing-song manner. "Don't ya wanna come down and fight? Is everything alright up there?"

After a slight nod from Yamamoto, Goten returned a wave, then glided down to the ring beside Yachiru. "Would you mind if I borrow the mic really quick?"

Yachiru rushed the microphone behind her back. "Huh? You can't just take it. It's special and belongs to the host."

"Pretty please. I have an important announcement from Captain Yamamoto."

"Mmm…" Yachiru scrunched her face, but swung the microphone forward with reluctance. "Fine."

Goten thanked her, and before he addressed the audience, he directed a smile toward Trunks. "Been a while since you've been that bold."

Trunks shrugged. "Saiyan pride, I guess."

"You definitely got that from the prince. I'm glad to see that you're as cocky as ever, but I'm not gonna watch you get incinerated."

"So what happens now?"

"About that, I uh…" An exhale left Goten's mouth and eroded his smile, inducing uneasiness within Trunks. "I had to pick another opponent for you, someone that would be too enticing for him to pass on."

Trunks' gaze drifted aside; his voice dropped to a mutter. "Right."

"I'm sorry. I couldn't go back and forth with him, and there's only one person I knew he'd accept. I hope you can understand."

"It's fine. You did what you had to."

Goten faced the stands with the microphone lifted to his lips. "Hi, everyone. Sorry about the delay and the confusion. While I'm sure we'd all like to see Captain Yamamoto in action, most of us can agree that it's way too dangerous for him to fight in an area this small. So, unfortunately, he won't take part in these matches."

He allowed the crowd a few seconds to express their disappointment. "I know, I know. It sucks… but I think the Head Captain and I thought of the perfect replacement. Without a doubt, this next match will be something you'll never forget." Goten lifted his head to meet the eyes of Yamamoto's substitute. "So, how about it? Do you want another crack at him, Soi Fon?"

Every pair of eyes besides Trunks shot toward her. Soi Fon, however, stared down at the ring as her lips parted.

"What?" she said. "Is he… Is he serious?"

Yoruichi swayed forward with intrigue. "What a twist of fate. Now you won't have to be so anxious about who he faces."

In the ring, elation led Yachiru to leap upward and snatch the microphone from Goten's grasp. "Ladies and gentleman, you heard that correctly. The Head Captain has chosen Captain Soi Fon, the lady of honor in this tournament, as his stand-in. Will she accept?"

Soi Fon relinquished the apprehension across her face, then pulled her haori off in one swift motion. She folded it, then turned to Yoruichi. "Forgive me for asking, but would you mind holding this?"

Yoruichi smiled. "Not at all. It looks like you won't be pulling any punches."

"I'll take that as a yes!" Yachiru said. "Trunks will take on Soi Fon in the next match! Are you guys excited-" The crowd's roar drowned out the rest of Yachiru's sentence.

Before he left the ring, Goten tilted his head to Trunks. "Look alive. I know it's not ideal, but it's something. Good luck."

Trunks responded with a small bob of the head, which prompted Goten to turn and exit.

"Wait!" Once Goten spun around, Trunks swung his black blade backward, then tossed it. "Hang on to this for a bit."

The hilt landed in his hand, but a bewildered Goten lifted his widened eyes to Trunks. "Huh? But… You need this."

With his hand extended, Trunks shifted his focus to the lieutenant. "Yachiru, can I see the mic?"

Her brows furrowed. "You guys just think you can take it whenever you wanna-"

"Please, it'll only be for a second." She continued to pout, but threw the microphone at him. Trunks snatched it from the air, then looked at his opponent. "Soi Fon, you're skilled, but I know Zanjutsu isn't your inclination. Let's settle this in a way that's natural to both of us: hand-to-hand combat."

"Hey!" Yachiru said. "You can't just change the rules like that. I'm the one in charge."

"It's an agreement between fighters. It'll only be valid if she accepts."

Trunks shifted back to Soi Fon's stone-faced expression, awaiting her response. After a few seconds, she reached behind to the katana restrained across her lower back. She pulled it and the scabbard from her white sash, then handed it to her friend, all while maintaining eye contact.

Yoruichi accepted the Zanpakuto into her care. "Have fun in there."

A Flash Step placed Soi Fon ten meters behind Trunks, where she slid back into her fighting stance. Trunks handed the microphone back to Yachiru, then about-faced. A golden aura poured out as he softly reactivated Super Saiyan 2.

With their battle nearing its start, both Yachiru and Goten exited the ring. However, Ichigo and Rukia expressed their concern once Goten returned.

"It's good that he won't fight the Head Captain, but was this the best alternative?" Rukia asked.

"It was the only alternative," Goten said. He crossed his arms and locked his gaze to the pending match. "But I think I made a big mistake."

"Maybe you should've argued for Shunsui or Jushiro," Ichigo said. "I can see his fingers twitching from here."

"I know. It's like he fears her, or at least he's scared of fighting her. Do you see her stance?"

"Yeah, there's no opening. She's good, and she looks ready to go."

"Good would be an understatement. The only person I know that has a stance that tight is my dad. If you couple that in with the energy I sensed from her yesterday, then consider that Trunks can't use Pseudo Blue right now…" Goten huffed through his nose.

"At least he won't have to deal with her Zanpakuto, right?"

"Whatever her ability is, I'm sure it's just icing on top of the cake."

"What are you saying, then?" Rukia asked. "He's in trouble?"

Goten shook his head. "Trouble? No, no, he's not in trouble. He's fucked."

A/N: Happy Saturday, everyone. Sorry for the absence, yet again. In between a busy schedule, I've been gradually chipping away at this one. I had it finished last week, but took another week to edit. I thought this one would be on the shorter side, but I hope you all enjoyed the content.

There are certain chapters that I build to and feel a sense of excitement for. This next one will be one of them. It's been a long time coming, and I'm hoping I can deliver.

Have a great day, all, and I'll see you on the next one.

Spotify Link: openDOTspotifyDOTcom/playlist/0e6yrYTwXtU7tjBAYZTQco (As always, replace the DOT with a period)