304AN: IT LIVES!
I deeply, deeply, apologize for how long this took to get up. There is no excuse for taking almost a year to update. Lack of inspiration killed my muse, which then revived in other fandoms and for other stories. I don't even know if this chapter would have come about...if I hadn't discovered the TVTropes page. That got the motivation flowing again...
And here we are, with the long-delayed chapter. I hope I still have at least some readers who stuck around. Though I would totally understand- be saddened, but understand -if most have flown away to greener pastures.
In any case, let's get going!
(also, you'll note I changed styles. My runaway success of a RWBY/Bleach crossover Soul Hunter has been doing absurdly well with this narrowed-focus style. So I'm experimenting with it here. Hopefully it worked!)
Ichigo Kurosaki
If there was any one place Ichigo wanted to be at the moment, it was most certainly not where he was. Being in the middle of the Soul Society as a runaway with a prisoner was bad enough. Hell, it had been bad enough when he was a guest. To say he didn't trust more than a handful of the Shinigami was an understatement, after all. But for all that it had sucked being a 'guest' trying to get Rukia out legally, it was still infinitely better than his current situation. He hadn't had friends fighting through the Seireitei- he didn't know who exactly was here, but figured that Kisuke would probably have conned Uryu at the least -and wasn't running from Shinigami himself. And running from them could only have worked for so long...he was horrible at hiding his power, or even controlling it despite Shirayuki's aid, and everyone that was anyone knew his signature by now.
Hence, the mountain of scarred muscle currently grinning crazily at him. Captain Zaraki, according to Rukia. This man was one of the few Captains that Ichigo had yet to meet in person, and he could suddenly understand why now that he saw the man. That bloodthirsty grin was worse than any he had seen on Zangetsu's face- and wasn't that saying something -and the way he lazily held his utterly massive chipped blade over his shoulder spoke to great experience, and a desire to use it. Ichigo wasn't one to run from a fight, but with the killing intent coming off this man...well, it wold have been more surprising if he had wanted to fight him.
"Don't be a pansy King."
"That is hardly the case here. Captain Zaraki is perhaps the worst option of any for Ichigo to fight, outside the Head Captain."
"...why?"
"Because..."
"So, you're Ichigo Kurosaki," Zaraki broke in, with an almost bored tone to his voice.
"...yes," Ichigo replied, hand drifting towards Shirayuki's hilt on instinct, 'A little help here Rukia?'
The much shorter woman next to him stiffened, still unused to the strange mental link they shared. Though, to be totally fair, Ichigo was still way more than a little creeped out by it himself. It was one thing having his own Zanpakutō in his head. Hell, it was one thing having her Zanpakutō in his head...Sode no Shirayuki was someone Ichigo was comfortable with by now, even if she technically didn't belong in there. Having Rukia poking around in there was a different story...not that he didn't trust her, it was just...
Creepy.
'Captain Zaraki is one of the strongest Captains Ichigo,' she recovered quickly though, 'He became one without Shikai or Bankai, just raw power and fighting ability. Renji mentioned serving with him when you were away from my cell. He's never lost a fight...ever. And he always goes looking for the strongest fighters!'
'So he's stronger than Byakuya...?'
'I...don't know. Nii-sama has never let me see his full power.'
Ichigo sighed. Even if this monster of a shinigami was stronger than Byakuya, he couldn't just run away. Running would be pointless in that case actually, since someone stronger was someone faster. He'd have to fight...
"Are you really that terrified?" the bored tone had left Zaraki's voice, to be replaced with an annoyed tone, "I've wanted to fight you since I found out you could use Kuchiki's blade. If you're just a coward, I wasted my time...and I'll have to kill you."
"I'm no coward," Ichigo shot back, drawing Shirayuki's blade. He wanted to keep Zangetsu in reserve...as long as possible. Better that people registered him using Shirayuki instead...that would get them expecting Rukia's power, not his own. He wasn't that dumb that he couldn't think of a strategy like that.
"You better use me the moment you need to King."
Sending a mental nod at Zangetsu, the teen stood with both hands on the hilt of his friend's sword, as said friend backed out of the way...well-aware she wasn't fully back to one-hundred percent yet. Zaraki just snorted, looking for all the world like he didn't expect a good fight.
"I'd release that blade if I was you," he said, "You aren't cutting me if you don't."
'Shirayuki?'
The female Zanpakutō nodded, even if he couldn't see it, "He's telling the truth Ichigo. The stronger a Shinigami- or Hollow for that matter -the harder they are to cut. If they're too strong..."
"You'll hurt yourself," Zangetsu finished, "pretty damn annoying, but it's how this works."
Breathing out a frustrated sigh, Ichigo shook his head. Every damn time he learned something new...
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki."
When the familiar white blade was in his hand once more, Ichigo saw Zaraki actually grinning again. That set him on edge...if the bored look was gone, that couldn't be a good thing.
"Nice...you have some power after all!" the Captain sounded...eager, "Good! Tell you what, I'll let you have one free shot. I want to see if you can even cut me with that pretty sword of yours."
With that said, Zaraki opened the front of his robe further, exposing a chest so heavily muscled that Ichigo would probably have broken his fist if he tried punching it. Even with his newfound knowledge though, the idea that Zaraki would just let him have a free shot like that...it rubbed him the wrong way. For two reasons really. Ichigo wasn't the type to attack someone who couldn't- or wouldn't -defend themselves. It felt dirty to even think about. And secondly...it showed just how confident the man was in his own power. Izuru had that cheap trick, but he hadn't been any stronger than Ichigo himself when it really came down to it. Was this man really that much stronger than a Lieutenant?
Well, only one way to find out.
"You can do this King," Zangetsu sounded just as eager as Zaraki, "Teach that asshole what it means to fight you!"
Steeling himself, Ichigo did just that.
"Hah!" the teenage Substitute leapt forward, Shirayuki's white blade coming down in a sharp slice across Zaraki's chest...
...only for Ichigo to stumble at sudden resistance where there should have been none. Even knowing it was coming didn't prepare him for the power rolling off Zaraki, blunting his strike. Pushing everything he had into it with a grunt, Ichigo cut with as strong a grip as he could. When the resistance finally gave, he spun away, a small bit of red decorating the pure-white of Rukia's Shikai.
Looking from that to Zaraki, a small smirk crossed Ichigo's face. A long cut crossed the man's chest, blood seeping out and dripping to the ground. Zaraki looked down, frowning slightly...before an absolutely bloodthirsty grin crossed his face.
"Good!" the man repeated, "You might actually be some fun after all! Now then...time to fight!"
And with no more warning than that, Zaraki jumped at Ichigo, blade that was even longer than his Shirayuki coming down on his head. The teen brought the blade in his hands up, catching Zaraki's chipped weapon. The crazed grin never left the Captain's face, as he pushed against Ichigo's block, knocking the teen back with nothing but physical strength.
Damn it! He's stronger than he looks! And he already looked like a monster!
'Ichigo!' Rukia's worried voice called out, as the orangehead skidded to a halt, only for Zaraki to be on top of him, sword swinging from the side.
Bringing Shirayuki around to catch the blow, Ichigo grimaced as he redirected the blow to his side. Swinging his blade down again, Ichigo was rewarded by a cut across Zaraki's exposed arm. Instead of making the man wince or drop his blade, all it got was a wild bark of laughter, as he brought his own sword back around, forcing Ichigo to duck or lose his head.
'I'm fine Rukia!' the teen 'shouted' back, ducking underneath another swing, 'Totally fin...e!'
Zaraki's next swing caught Shirayuki's blade at the tip, pushing it down and Ichigo up with the force of it. The Substitute went flying into the air, world spinning around him. Even with that, Ichigo managed to keep track of Zaraki, and caught another swing from the man's chipped blade. That blow knocked the teen hard into a building, forcing a grunt of pain out from him. Shaking stars from his head, he jumped out of the rubble, a bit of blood dripping from a new gash on his head. Ichigo scowled at Zaraki, who was still grinning at him. Time to get serious then...
"Tell me a little knock on the head wasn't enough to make you quit!"
Ignoring Zaraki, the Substitute took a deep breath, and lowered Shirayuki's blade toward the ground. The Captain across from him frowned, clearly confused as to what he was doing. That meant he wasn't familiar with Rukia's powers...something that might help here. Ichigo stabbed the ground in front of him four times, each time leading snow to come out of the stab point, floating in front of him as the temperature dropped notably. When the final blow was made, he held the long blade in front of him, tip pointed right at Zaraki, who just raised an eyebrow.
"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren."
A truly massive blast of snow and ice shot from Ichigo's 'secondary' blade, the blinding white mass obscuring the Captain...and most of the alley. Rippling snow coated everything in its path, as the ice froze on contact with anything it could touch. Most caught in its path would have instantly perished from the combination of cold and power. It even pushed buildings aside, freezing everything from the tip of the blade to the end of the pathway. Even Ichigo blinked at the sight, cursing softly under his breath. That was more powerful than he expected...why?
"...damn King, that was...something."
"I...have never felt so much power run through me," for her part, the female Zanpakutō sounded like she had been hit over the head...her voice slow and off kilter.
'Do we think that got him?'
"Doubt it. That guy's a monster, and that's comin' from me. Then again, this fight is going to be great!"
Electing to not comment on his Zanpakutō's blood-lust, Ichigo warily watched the fog from his attack clear. It revealed what in any other situation might be beautiful...ice coated buildings, shining in the sunlight. Right now though, that hardly got the orangehead's attention. That was focused entirely on the block of ice standing in the middle of the ally...Captain Zaraki, frozen solid with the crazed grin and blade over his shoulder he had first appeared with. Letting out a breath, Ichigo turned to look at Rukia. Her mouth was currently hanging open, clearly not expecting such an attack from her weapon.
"Well, that was easier than I thought eh?" he told her.
"I...I..." Rukia spoke, before shaking her head, "Ichigo! That isn't going to hold him long fool!"
"Eh?"
Blinking again, Ichigo turned around at the ominous sound of cracking. His amber eyes went wide, as yellow light began to leak through cracks in the ice encasing Zaraki. Along with a sound of mad laughter, the sound sending a chill down his spine that even Zangetsu's crazed laugh couldn't match.
Well...damn.
The yellow light grew to blinding proportions, before the ice shattered, flying away from Zaraki. Who calmly stepped out, grin welded to his face as he looked with his one eye at Ichigo. The teen scowled back, holding Shirayuki in a ready position to continue fighting.
"Cold," the Captain shrugged a piece of ice off his shoulder, "and cheap. Kido-type attacks have no place in a fight!"
"If it works it works!"
Zaraki barked out another laugh, "It won't work!"
And he emphasized that point, jumping at Ichigo without even a slight slowdown from his deep-freeze. Even as blood flew from cuts the ice left on his skin, the mad Captain didn't even notice it. All he did was swing his blade at Ichigo faster than the teen could follow, everything he had going into blocking the blows as best he could. Every time he blinked, white blade was scraping against chipped one, as Zaraki's mad grin grew wider and wider with each blocked blow. If it hadn't been clear he enjoyed a fight before, it was abundantly so now. Ichigo couldn't understand that, even as he managed a lucky cut to Zaraki's chest. Blood was flowing from his body, and it had to be painful. But he didn't seem to care in the slightest. Renji, Izuru...neither of them had acted like this. What was wrong with the man?!
"He's like me Kingy!" Zangetsu broke in, nearly getting Ichigo decapitated with the sudden shout, "You ain't beating him until he can't move to fight!"
'This helps me how?'
Ducking under a blow and reversing his grip on Shirayuki to allow an underhand cut through Zaraki's side, Ichigo grunted wearily. This fight wasn't long, but it was wearing him down...the man was a monster.
"You'll have to beat him down Ichigo!" the situation was serious when Zangetsu used his name, "Use me damnit! Even if you have to use both at the same time. Hell, that might work better!"
In this case, Ichigo found it very hard to argue with his Zanpakutō. Fighting Zaraki with just Shirayuki was getting nowhere fast. The man brushed off any cuts Ichigo could make, and he couldn't dodge return attacks forever. Case in point, the mad Captain's chipped blade cutting into his shoulder, nearly making Ichigo drop Shirayuki's blade out of the shock of it. Jumping back to gain some space, the teenager grimaced at the wound. Turning his attention to Zaraki, who maintained his excited expression despite bleeding from multiple cuts, Ichigo did something that would have made him wince in any other situation.
Attempt Kido.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens," it was a miracle he even remembered this crap, as blue light grew on Ichigo's arm, "Hado 73, Sōren Sōkatsui!"
Brilliant blue energy flew from Ichigo's palm, far surpassing anything all but a high-level Lieutenant could manage with Kido. The teenager was absolutely, irredeemably, bad with low level spells. But high level ones where destructive force was far more important...well, that he could do. Zaraki though...instead of looking wide-eyed at the wave coming for him, scowled like Ichigo, before raising his blade and cutting the Kido in two, he blue energy crashing through ice and walls alike. The man wasn't even scorched as he looked disapprovingly at the teenager in front of him. If his comment on Shirayuki had been any indication, Ichigo knew why too. Zaraki was odd...he loved fighting, but consider perfectly valid Kido as beneath him.
Probably why he had so many scars, including the ones Ichigo had undoubtedly given him in this very fight.
"Kurosaki, that was beneath you!" and speak of the devil's opinion...
"I'll use whatever I want!"
"Kido is not how real men fight," Zaraki countered, dragging his absurdly large blade across the ground, "Real men fight blade to blade. We revel in the contest of combat. Enjoy the feel of blood pumping and splattering against us. If you can't enjoy that, there isn't any point to fighting. And this will be a boring fight...I hate boring fights."
"...I'm fairly certain it's my Hollow side, but I kinda agree with the bastard."
"Now is not the time Zangetsu."
"Point. Kingy, break out my Shikai already!"
Ichigo didn't need to be told twice. Transferring Shirayuki to his left hand, he reached behind his head with his right. Zaraki raised an eyebrow, as Ichigo's hand came away with the simpler- in comparison to Rukia's appropriated blade -daito that was Zangetsu's sealed state.
"Cast off your fear and cleave the heavens," white energy began to swirl around him, as the teenager held his blade towards Zaraki, "Zangetsu!"
A pillar of white energy, even larger than the one Shirayuki released, shot into the air around the teen. He could feel Rukia's awe over whatever-the-hell their bond was, and couldn't blame her. This was the first time he had actually released Zangetsu at the same time as he was holding Shirayuki. And the combination of the two blades was giving him a power rush the likes of which he had never felt before. But even as the light faded and smoke cleared, the rush faded to confusion. As instead of looking shocked at the fact Ichigo had two Zanpakutō to bring to a fight, Zaraki was laughing even louder than before. The joyous sound, sent an involuntary shiver down Ichigo's spine.
'Renji told me Captain Zaraki loved a strong fighter,' Rukia spoke softly, 'but to want to fight someone with two Zanpakutō...'
"Oh, now this is interesting!" the madman shouted, "You have your own Zanpakutō? And can use both at the same time? This might just be a fight I can enjoy!"
All Ichigo could do in response, was jump into action with Zangetsu leading. The massive cleaver should have thrown him off balance with the equal-in-length Shirayuki in his off-hand. But it did not, even if he half-expected that to be the case. If anything it felt natural to use both blades. Like it belonged that way, even with the impossibility of the situation. Even with how odd that felt though, he didn't let it slow him down.
Figure out what the hell was going on with him after beating the crazy madman with the eyepatch and bells.
"Yah!"
Swinging Zangetsu down, Ichigo scowled as Zaraki caught the wicked looking blade easily. Shirayuki on the other hand, came around and cut into the Captain's side, forcing him to drop Zangetsu to block the white-counterpart blade. Ichigo took advantage of that fact, swinging both his blades as fast as he could possibly manage. Zaraki never once lost his grin, even as Ichigo pushed him back. Even as he cut into his body, blood flying from both blades in crimson arcs. Ichigo cut through his shoulder with Zangetsu's massive blade, and it did nothing more than make Zaraki flinch for a split-second, his body's natural reaction more than any pain on his part. The madman didn't even react when Shirayuki cut through his cheek, leaving a frozen trail behind.
What is he?!
"This is so much fun!" Zaraki shouted, as he knocked Ichigo back with a kick, "In fact, I haven't had this much fun in decades! You, Ichigo Kurosaki, just might be my equal!"
"Well, Queenie did say he doesn't have a Shikai..."
'Oi, what's that supposed to mean?'
Rukia's voice broke in, 'He means that if Captain Zaraki had a Bankai, this would not be going this way. And I have to agree with him.'
"In fact, against you...I think I can fight without holding back!"
A chill ran down Ichigo's spine, as Zaraki reached up to his face and tugged his eyepatch off. A pillar of brilliant yellow energy shot into the sky, dwarfing even what Zangetsu had done. The power was suffocating, dark and foreboding...filled with bloodlust. Zaraki's eyes glowed yellow, as he looked at Ichigo with that mad grin. If this was the man having fun and not holding back...it made one wonder how he was still a Captain. And how the hell Ichigo was going to beat him...because that power was overwhelming, in its raw intensity. The incongruity of the raw power rolling off Zaraki and the multitude of heavily bleeding wounds on his body just made the image all the more worse.
This man was a monster, plain and simple. And what in the hell was that eyepatch? A weapon?
"What was that?!" Ichigo shouted that question.
Zaraki just looked at him lazily, "Oh, this? I had the Research Department cook this up for me."
As he said that, the man added to his 'creepy' factor. He held up the reverse end of the eyepatch, showing a range of tiny mouth, chewing at the air with toothy grins. What in the hell?
"You see, I have so much power that not even I can control it, even if I use all my might. So I have to wear this to control it, or all my fights would end too fast and I wouldn't have any fun. When I find someone who deserves fighting without it though..." the crazed grin returned, "I can truly let loose with everything I have!"
At that, the man dropped his patch, and held his blade towards Ichigo. Who, for his part, quickly realized something.
Fighting head-to-head was not going to end well. Shirayuki had gotten through his thick skull that fighting someone this strong would only end with him beat up badly, even if he won. And right now, Rukia needed him in one piece. If Ichigo got too beat up fighting Zaraki, with no way to heal himself, they'd be vulnerable to whoever came around next. Sure, Rukia could fight...probably as well as he could with her own copy of Zangetsu. But she wasn't fully recovered yet, and he didn't want her to have to fight if it could be avoided. So he'd have to beat Zaraki quickly...not matter what it took.
"That's the way to look at it Ichigo. Now, show him what we've got! I'll lend you my own power, just this once."
"As will I."
'I'll try and do something myself.'
Smiling ever so slightly at the show of support, Ichigo felt silver and white energy flaring up around his body...Shirayuki and Zangetsu, united in their aid towards his fight. Both his blades glowed with energy, as Zaraki's grin grew wider.
"I see you've still got more power! Good, let's see what you can do with it!"
"Sorry, but I have to end this with this blow," Ichigo shot back, holding Zangetsu over his head.
"End it?" Zaraki laughed, "Oh no, not when I'm having so much fun!"
In response, Ichigo scowled...and brought the brightly shining Zangetsu down, "Getsuga Tensho!"
A truly massive crescent of white-red energy shot forth, crashing into Zaraki's blade. The Captain grit his teeth, pushing back with his own considerable strength and reiatsu, attempting to block the attack. Only for realization to come through his eyes...as he couldn't block it. The energy slammed him through a building, debris crashing around the man. Ichigo sighed, and slumped slightly. He had used more energy than he wanted in that attack, and it left him weaker than he would have liked. At least it seemed to have knocked Zaraki out of the game...they just had to get out of here before his Lieutenant or someone else showed up to fight. He didn't think he could handle that, not so soon after fighting a Captain down. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't even that simple.
"HA HA HA HA!"
Turning his head slowly, a horrified look crossing it at that laugh, Ichigo saw Zaraki impossibly pulling himself out of the ruins. The man's upper torso was bare, burns covering it in addition to a huge gash joining the smaller cuts across his chest. But the grin hadn't left his face, if anything growing so wide it should split it. Madness was in his eyes, as a yellow skull of reiatsu formed behind him.
"Cheap or not, I'll admit that was impressive!" the madman said, "But you aren't beating me with cheap tricks!"
Before Ichigo could do more than blink, Zaraki was charging right at him, yellow energy bleeding off him into the skull. Acting entirely on instinct, Ichigo tapped into his own power and ran forward himself. He had to win. He had to win.
He had to win!
"AH!"
The two men collided with a massive spray of white and yellow energy, wind and smoke blowing buildings and debris aside, as two great powers clashed against the other, doing everything they could to overpower the other. Blinded by the light, Ichigo felt the sharp sting of Zaraki's blade cut into his side, even as he felt both Shirayuki and Zangetsu cut into the other man. Forcing his mind through the pain, the teen pushed everything he had into cutting deeper into Zaraki...even as the smoke cleared.
Revealing him, bloody uniform clinging to his side where Zaraki's Zanpakutō had cut him. But that was nothing on Zaraki himself...who had Shirayuki's blade buried in his gut, and Zangetsu sticking out his shoulder.
"Heh...looks like I lost."
The Captain slumped forward, falling to the ground with a mighty crash. Ichigo looked down at him, before the world swayed around him.
"King?!"
"Ichigo?"
Darkness encroached on his vision, the combination of spiritual exhaustion and Zaraki's final blow overwhelming him.
"Ichigo!"
Rukia's voice echoed in the teen's ears, as he fell to the ground.
AN: And we are done! I cannot believe I just wrote 4k words for just a single battle. That's...insane, compared to the fact that chapters in here were typically 2.5k or so (on that note, 4k is my set length for any story now BTW...including this). I realize this ended fairly similar to the canon one, but it seemed fitting in a way, that I reversed it somewhat with Kenpachi falling first.
As for why Rukia didn't help, that'll be explained next chapter. Along with a jump back to the RR(I)T. Which should be fun in its own way.
Hopefully it should be up soon. I hope. And hopefully I still have readers willing to review! I hardly expect the likes of what Soul Hunter gets...but I would like to see some support so I know this still has a fanbase after all this time.
