8 Chapter 8: The Rematch.

After Ichigo left Ikkaku and Yumichika battered, beaten, and bloodied he hopped across a few buildings before landing in an empty street. He then began casually walking through the street without a care in the world before he came to an intersection. He stopped in the middle and looked around trying to figure out where he should go.

'Man, I really should have made those two tell me where I could find Rukia before I beat them.' Ichigo thought to himself. He was too busy in thought that he never noticed a group of about twenty soul reapers sneaking up to him from the left. Ichigo was knocked out of his thought by one of the soul reapers.

"Hey, you!" he said getting Ichigo's attention, "Why are you just standing in the middle of the street aren't you supposed to be looking for the ryoka." said soul reaper mistaking Ichigo for a soul reaper. "Now that I think about it, I've never seen you before. What squad are you from?" he asked. Ichigo remembered that Ikkaku and Yumichika were from squad 11 so decided to go with that idea.

"I am from squad 11," he said. The other soul reapers looked at each other before looking at Ichigo with a pissed-off looked on their face.

"If you're from squad 11 then how come we've never seen you before!" he yelled at Ichigo while pointing. Ichigo mentally cursed himself for making such a stupid mistake. He then sighed and unsheathed his zanpakuto. Ichigo was about to speak to the group but then from the back of the group Ichigo and the soul reapers could hear shouting and screams. They all looked at the back to see a small scrawny looking soul reaper stumbling through the crowd. He was a short male Shinigami with blue eyes and chin-length black hair, with bangs framing the side of his face. He wore a standard shihakusho, with what appears to be a small sack of some kind on his back. When he stumbled through the crowd and landed at Ichigo's feet he looked up at Ichigo and then looked back at the crowd.

'I think I found my escape' thought Ichigo as he looked at the soul reaper with a smirk on his face.

"Why are they all looking at you like that with their zanpakuto drawn?" asked the scrawny looking soul reaper, "unless you are one of the ryoka ... everyone... is... searching for." he stuttered. Before he could Ichigo grabbed him and placed his zanpakuto to his neck and spoke.

"Okay, everyone backs off and leaves, or else your little friend is going to be missing some pieces!" Ichigo said as he looked at the group of soul reapers. The soul reaper who Ichigo took hostage started screaming and yelling about fainting at the sight of his own blood. The thing that really puzzled Ichigo was that the group of soul reapers started laughing instead of panicking and trying to save their comrade as Ichigo had planned.

"Not the reaction I expected." Ichigo said to himself. "Hey, didn't you punks hear me, I said I am going to cut your little friend up if you don't back off!" Ichigo yelled at the group. One of the soul reapers decided to speak.

"What the hell are you doing Idiot?" the soul reaper asked Ichigo.

"Uh, I took a hostage." Ichigo said sounding puzzled.

"I can see that, but does he look like one of us to you?" the soul reaper asked. Ichigo looked at the group and then looked back at the scrawny-looking soul reaper.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked the soul reaper he took hostage.

"We are all on the same side, but I am from squad 4 and they are from squad 11." said the soul reaper with a smile on his face.

"And what difference does that make?" Ichigo asked now very confused. 'Why would the squad you are in decide whether or not they should save the life of an ally.' Ichigo wondered to himself.

"Ha. I guess you really are from the outside. I should not have to explain this to you, but it is much too insulting to have you lump us together so listen up!" said the soul reaper before continuing "there are 13 guard squads assign to protect the Seireitei. We of the 11th squad is led by the strongest captain making us the strongest unit and always the first into battle." he said while the other soul reapers of his group yelled in confirmation, "Squad 4 is nothing but a relief and medical squad. It is the squad where all the losers and wimps who cannot wield a sword get assigned. So, when it comes to squad 4..."

"WE HATE THEM! SO, IF YOU WANT TO KILL THIS ONE GO AHEAD!" the entire group yelled. Ichigo narrowed his eyes before he spoke.

"You people disgust me." he said in a deadly tone as he tossed the little soul reaper aside and began walking towards the group, "condemning someone to their death just because they have different responsibilities. I was trying to spill the least amount of blood as possible, but you all are making it so hard." with that said Ichigo disappeared from view of all the soul reapers before reappearing in front of the little soul reaper from squad 4 two seconds later with his back towards the group of soul reapers who were frozen in place. Ichigo began sheathing his zanpakuto slowly then suddenly as the guard of his zanpakuto connected to the sheath,

*CLICK* echoed throughout the street and blood gushed from the backs of all twenty soul reapers before they all collapsed. Ichigo then looked towards the other soul reaper and asked,

"What's your name?"

"I-I am Hanatarō Yamada." he stuttered as he answered Ichigo.

"Tell me Hanatarō. Where is Rukia Kuchiki being held?" Ichigo asked. Hanatarō eyes went wide before answering.

"So, you are here to rescue the younger sister of the squad 6 captain. She was moved to the Repentance Cell yesterday. If you will trust me, I can take you there, I know a way to get there that will allow us to avoid soul reapers." he said as he stood up and looked at Ichigo. Ichigo who was unsure whether or not to trust him decided to follow him for now.

"Okay lead the way." he said, and they took off down the street.

*Meanwhile at the Captain's meeting*

A captain meeting was called thirty minutes ago by the captain commander of the Gotei 13. Inside a large room, there were two lines of captains standing opposite each other. At the head of both lines standing in the center was the captain commander himself, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. He has the appearance of an old man with red eyes, an exceptionally long white beard, and long eyebrows. He has a pair of long, perpendicular scars above his right eye. He wears the standard soul reaper uniform, but its size is greatly exaggerated. He drapes his haori over his back instead of actually wearing it.

Standing behind each captain is their lieutenants with their lieutenant's badge tied around their bicep. The only captain who was not present was the captain of squad 13 Jūshirō Ukitake, because of his illness. In his place were his two 3rd seats, Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu. The entire room was tense no one said a word, they all just stood there with a serious look on their face while some looking at the person opposite them, or some just stood there with their eyes closed. Suddenly there was a loud booming sound that echoed throughout the room all of the lieutenants turned to look at the captain commander while all of the captains simply stay as they were.

"This ryoka invasion is making the thirteen court guard squads look like fools." said the captain commander, "The fourth division is running over with injured soul reapers from all squads who are severely injured. So, it leaves with no other choice. As of-" the captain commander was interrupted by a strange soul reaper who seem to appear out of nowhere. This soul reaper was a member of the stealth force, the Inner Court Troop to be specific. He was dressed in a black and red shihakusho with a purple pack on his back and a weird hat that looked like an open book was resting on his head. All captains immediately look at the soul reaper with wide eyes before looking at the second division captain who was as baffled as the rest of the captains. The odd thing about this encounter was that instead of the soul reaper kneeling in front of the captain commander or the second division captain, he was kneeling in front of the eleventh division captain, Kenpachi Zaraki.

"Captain Zaraki, I have bad news," said the soul reaper.

"Well then let's hear it." said Kenpachi lazily. The other captains and lieutenants were intrigued by the news.

"3rd seat Madarame and 5th seat Ayasegawa have been defeated in battle and are currently in surgery at the fourth division." said the soul reaper in an emotionless tone. All of the other captains and lieutenants were wide-eyed. The thought of both a 3rd and 5th seat losing in battle told them that their enemy is very skilled.

"So, what Ikkaku and Yumichika were probably outnumbered and didn't have time to release their Shikai." said Kenpachi

"Actually sir, both of them were found with their Shikai released and.." the soul reaper paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "...from what we have gathered sir, there was only one enemy." The soul reaper said. This caused every captain and lieutenant to have a look of pure disbelief on their face. Before anyone could say anything another one of those same soul reapers appeared in the room in front of Kenpachi again.

"Captain Zaraki, I have bad news." said the soul reaper kneeling in front of Kenpachi. "More than 50% of the eleventh division has been put out of commission by a single ryoka. From the reports we have gathered from those who were conscious, says that a single ryoka in a standard soul reaper shihakusho with orange hair and sunglasses defeated them." the soul reaper finished.

"Impossible!" shouted Renji

"The eleventh division is one of the strongest divisions, there is no way!" shouted the lieutenant of the fourth division Isane Kotetsu.

"How could a handful of these ryoka do this!" yelled the lieutenant of the third squad Izuru Kira.

"That description matches the same one that was given by Captain Ichimaru." said the captain of the eighth division, Shunsui Kyōraku.

"Let me ask you a question." Captain Ichimaru said to the soul reaper, "Did this soul reaper have a strange looking sword strapped to his side?" he asked

"Yes sir, reports say it is a black blade with a red, bloodstain-like design." answered the soul reaper.

"It's him alright," said Gin. Everyone started bickering amongst themselves until they once again heard footsteps running away. When turned to see who it is, once again they saw a grinning Kenpachi running away with his lieutenant. Before anyone could ask him where he was going or before everyone started bickering again the captain commander slammed his cane down on the ground making everyone go silent.

"From now on only high-ranking officers are allowed to engage these ryoka. Understood?" he asked to which everyone nodded, "Very well, dismissed!" he said before slamming his cane on the ground once more. All of the captains then began exiting the room along with their lieutenants. The captain of squad 6 had an unreadable look on his face, but his lieutenant, however, looked like he was about to commit murder. Instead of leaving with his captain, Renji left before his captain. Utilizing the flash step, Renji disappeared from view of the rest of the captains and lieutenants. His captain simply narrowed his eyes and was about to leave before the captain of squad 8 spoke to him.

"Captain Kuchiki your lieutenant looks really upset. Hope he doesn't do anything crazy." said Shunsui standing behind Byakuya with his hand on his straw hat. Byakuya did not reply he simply flash stepped away.

*With Ichigo*

Hanatarō led Ichigo into the sewer system of the Seireitei. It was a genius idea on his part because this way they avoided all of the soul reapers and any other confrontation that may arise. Ichigo for his part was a bit suspicious of Hanatarō, he could not help but shake the feeling that he was being led into a trap. Finally having enough, he decided to voice his thoughts.

"Why are you helping me Hanatarō? I mean I am your enemy so why?" Ichigo asked. Hanatarō stopped walking turned and looked at Ichigo with a sad look on his face before he began to talk.

"I know more about you than you think, from listening to Rukia. She talked a lot about Ichigo Kurosaki." He said which caused a surprising look to form on Ichigo's face. Ichigo was about to ask what else did Rukia say, but before he could begin Hanatarō spoke first. "Please save her. You got to. Please rescue Ms. Rukia." he begged Ichigo.

"Where and when did you speak to Rukia?" Ichigo asked

"Before she was transferred to the Repentance Cell, she was held in a cell within the squad 6 barracks. At the time I was assigned to cleaning duty there. So, I saw when she was brought in. At first, I was scared of her. I mean she is nobility after all, but when I spoke to her, she was kinder than I had expected her to be. From that day on my cleaning chores at the barracks stopped being something I dreaded. Instead, it became something I look forward to and little by little Rukia started to tell me all kinds of things about the human world. All of the stories she told me had one thing in common...you Ichigo." Hanatarō said. Ichigo stood up took his glasses off to wipe them on his shihakusho while at the same time giving Hanatarō a look at his eyes for the first time. It scared Hanatarō a bit but his fears were put aside when Ichigo spoke.

"Come on Hanatarō, let's go save Rukia," said Ichigo as he walked past Hanatarō. After walking for a while Hanatarō stopped Ichigo by a latter leading up to the ceiling of the sewer. Ichigo looked at him and was about to ask why he stopped him, but Hanatarō spoke first.

"This is where we need to get out in order to reach the Repentance Cell." he said pointing to the ladder. Ichigo nodded and began climbing up. When he removed the stone covering the exit, he saw that they were in an open courtyard of some sort. There was a thick fog covering the entire place, so it was extremely hard to see. When Hanatarō came up he pointed out a white tower in a distance behind some larger buildings. That was the Repentance Cell.

"The mist is starting to clear up. Time to move" said Ichigo. Both of them started walking before Ichigo stopped all of a sudden.

"What's wrong Ichigo?" asked Hanataro.

"There is someone up ahead, by the stairs." Ichigo said as he narrowed his eyes at the person standing there. Both of them stopped and stared at the person as the mist cleared. After a few seconds, the mist became clear enough for them to see who it is. When Ichigo saw who it was he smirked.

"It's been a while. I wonder if you still remember my face" spoke the person in front of the stairs. Ichigo chuckled and before speaking.

"With an ugly mug like that it hard to forget it..." Ichigo then paused and dropped his smile before beginning again, "...Renji Abarai." Hanataro gasp when he heard the name.

"Th-That's Renji Abarai, the lieutenant of Squad 6!" Hanataro said in a scared voice. Ichigo looked at him and spoke.

"Go stand over there Hanataro." he said while pointing to the entrance of the courtyard behind him, "this one is going to get messy." Hanataro did as told and ran to the entrance and stayed there. Ichigo turned his attention back to Renji who was walking towards him so Ichigo decided to do the same.

"I am quite surprised to see you. I thought you would have been dead after that attack from Captain Kuchiki." said Renji as he continues to walk towards Ichigo.

"Funny I recall he had to step in to save his lieutenant from being killed." Ichigo said with a smirk on his face as he heard Renji growled.

"You seem to think because you fought me once before that you know my true power. Well, let me enlighten you amateur, whenever lieutenants or captain class soul reapers are sent outside the Soul Society severe limiters are placed on their powers, so they will not adversely affect the world of the living. My strength right now is five times what it was the day we met. So, no matter how confident you are or how strong you've become there is still no way you can defeat me." Renji spoke as he unsheathed his zanpakuto and placed his guard up. Ichigo simply stopped walking and chuckled.

"Oh my, I didn't know a lieutenant of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads needed his Shikai and his limiter to be released how him to defeat a mare human," Ichigo said while he unsheathed his zanpakuto as well, "If anything you are a disgrace to call yourself a lieutenant." Ichigo finished

"Why you!" Renji yelled as he lunged forward and swung his sword to cleave Ichigo in half. Ichigo simply stood there and held his zanpakuto up in one hand effectively blocking the strike. As the two blades made contact the ground that they were standing on cracked and the shockwave it created caused a dust cloud to blow in all directions around them.

"What do you honestly hope you would accomplish by come here to face me Renji?" Ichigo asked with a bored look on his face, "Did you not hear about what I did to Ikkaku and Yumichika, and the rest of them from that squad?"

"I don't care!" Renji yelled, "I am going to kill you and then Rukia will finally get her powers back!" He then pulled his zanpakuto back and swung again in an attempt to hit Ichigo, but Ichigo simply sidestepped it before launching a counterattack effectively cutting Renji's arm. Renji jumped back and was about to charge at Ichigo again but stopped when Ichigo spoke.

"If that is the reason then you are truly an idiot." Ichigo said. Renji growled at that before yelling.

"What are you talking about!?"

"You are an idiot because of two reasons. One, you think killing me is going to get Rukia back her powers." Ichigo said while adjusting his sunglasses, "and two, you think that if she gets her powers back that all this is going to go away, and they won't execute her. If you honestly believe that then you are not only an Idiot, but you are also naive." Renji growled before placing his palm on the flat side of his zanpakuto before he slid it down and yell,

"Howl, Zabimaru!" and his sword transformed into an even longer 6-part segmented blade; each segment is wider than the one preceding it from the hilt, with 2 pick-like protrusions on the front and back of each segment, with the ones on the front much longer than the ones on the back. Renji then swiped his blade in a whip-like motion which caused the segments to grow in number almost without limit it seems. The sword raced towards Ichigo ready to hit him right in the chest. Ichigo moved to the side and allowed the blade to go past him. Renji then pulled back on the blade and turned it sideways causing the blade to retract while at the same time aiming to take Ichigo's head off. When the blade was one foot away from Ichigo's head Ichigo disappeared and reappeared to Renji's right with his zanpakuto in the air ready to strike. Renji's eyes were wide as he quickly flash-stepped away.

"Careful now Renji or might just die." said Ichigo mockingly. Renji growled and launched another attack at Ichigo who simply dodge. Ichigo then began focusing spirit energy into his blade as he raised it into the air. In one swift motion, Ichigo brought his blade down and simultaneously releasing the spirit energy that was built up in the blade causing a blood red wave of energy to race towards Renji who quickly got out of the way and watch as the wave crash into the wall and cutting it into two.

"So, that's your Shikai ability is it sends concentrated waved of spirit energy out of the blade." Renji said sounding a bit pleased with himself for figuring that out. Ichigo looked at Renji and chuckled before started walking towards him.

"Renji you made the same mistake Ikkaku and Yumichika made when they face me." Ichigo said with a smile on his face.

"Yea, and what mistake is that?" asked Renji angrily. The smile on Ichigo's face was now gone as he spoke in a tone that sent chills up Renji's spine.

"You assumed that this is my Shikai." Renji's eyes went wide. Ichigo then took his zanpakuto and slit his thumb, he then let a few drops of blood fall on the flat side of the blade. Instead of the blood staying on top of the blade Renji saw it got absorbed into the blade. The second the last drop of blood on the blade got absorbed the spiritual pressure in the courtyard increased. Around Ichigo in a circle, black and red spirit energy is starting to move in a circular motion all around him. Ichigo then flipped his zanpakuto and held it in a reverse grip in his right hand in front of his face and in a cold emotionless voice, Ichigo yelled.

"Feast on their fear, Alucard!" as the words left his mouth, Ichigo was encased in a circular tower of black and red spirit energy. When the tower disappeared standing there was Ichigo with The Casull and The Jackle in his hands while wearing a long black hooded trench coat with blood-red trimming the edges and a red stripe that went right down the middle from the bottom all the way up to the hood. On his hands were a pair of black gloves with a red five-point star on the back of it. Ichigo then looked up at Renji who was breathing heavily because of the spiritual pressure that was present, Ichigo looked over at Hanataro to make sure he is okay only to see him fine as though the spiritual pressure was not as bad from where he was standing.

"This is the end Renji." Renji did not wait for Ichigo to attack him, instead, he launched his zanpakuto at Ichigo in hopes of hitting him before he could attack. Ichigo simply stared at the blade coming as he raised Jackle and aimed it right down the middle of Renji's blade and pulled the trigger.

*BANG*

Echoed throughout the Seireitei. Every Soul reaper and every one of Ichigo's friends stopped what they were doing and looked around trying to figure out what made that sound.

"Captain what was that?" asked the lieutenant of squad 8.

"Sounded like a gunshot to me." replied Shunsui from his position on the floor.

*Back with Ichigo*

When the shot left The Jackle it raced through the air faster than the eye could see and hit Renji's zanpakuto right in the center of the blade. Instead of simply bouncing off the blade or knocking it away the bullet of raw spirit energy tore right through the center of the blade and made its way to Renji. Renji sensing danger tried to flash step away but he was not quick enough. The bullet tore through his zanpakuto then continue its path ripping through Renji's arm. Renji's eyes were wide as he felt the bullet tore through his arm and exit at his shoulder before slamming into the wall behind him. He was frozen in place all he could do was look down at his now broken zanpakuto then looking at his now bloody and mangled arm that was bleeding heavily. He felt as though he was about to pass out from the amount of blood he already lost, but before that, he looked behind him. What he saw caused him to gulp and shake in fear. In the wall was a small hole 4 inches wide that was created by the bullet after it exited his shoulder. Renji looked at Ichigo before he collapsed from blood loss. Before he passed out, he spoke to Ichigo.

"Please save her." he said before passing out. Ichigo who had already sealed his Shikai looked in the distance to see a group of soul reapers headed their way. He looked at Hanataro and yelled.

"Come on Hanataro we need to get out of here." With that, the two of them ran to the entrance of the sewers that they came out from and went back down into the sewers. "We are going to lay low here until things calm down up there, okay?" to which Hanataro nodded.

While the two of them were laying low the lieutenant of Squad 3 arrived with a group of soul reapers to Renji's location. When Izuru saw Renji's state he immediately began trying to heal the wounds with healing kido until the fourth division could get there.

"Hang in there Renji." he said

*Meanwhile elsewhere in the Seireitei*

"Kenny why are we just sitting here?" asked a little pink hair girl sitting next to Kenpachi.

"We are waiting here for that ryoka that beat Ikkaku and Yumichika" Kenpachi replied with a grin on his face.

*CHAPTER END*

NEXT CHAPTER ICHIGO VS KENPACHI