Afire Love (Bleach: Ichiruki)

I

Rukia Kuchiki

Ichigo...

He suddenly disappeared from my sight. I spun around, pulling my zanpakuto out to block Ichigo's reaper shaped zanpakuto.

His strength was overwhelming.

Ichigo - no, this hollow - shoved me to the ground, wincing as I felt pain shoot through my back.

He lifted his zanpakuto to strike me dead on the ground, but I used shunpo to get behind him.

The ground crumbled at the impact of hollowfied Ichigo's zanpakuto.

"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki." I said as he rushed at me.

"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren!" Ice particles shot from the tip of my zanpakuto as hollowfied Ichigo got a few feet from me, growling.

He dismissed it simply, stopping my dance with a swing of his zanpakuto, as Getsugatensho erupted from its blade, coming at me at an impossible speed.

Panicking, I dropped my zanpakuto, lifting my hands up in front of me.

"Bakudo 73, Tozansho!" The barrier repelled hollowfied Ichigo's getsugatensho at the last second.

Once I put down the barrier, he was gone from my sight once again. I quickly picked up my zanpakuto, feeling his reiatsu behind me.

But I was too slow as I felt his zanpakuto slice through the back of my shoulder. I fell to my knees, coughing out blood. The pain was unbearable, but I had to keep going.

"Rukia!" Renji's panicked voice called out to me. I winced at the sound of fear in his voice. I'm sorry Renji. I'm sorry you have to witness this.

And I'm sorry Captain Ukitake. I'm sorry Nii-sama. I'm sorry everyone.

I used shunpo, dodging Ichigo's next swing. I was now a few feet from him as his hollowfied form turned to face me, a sneer on his face.

I took a deep breath, shutting my eyes. I visioned Nii-sama's face in my head, since he was the one who could help me control it the best.

I wasn't hoping to use this again this soon. It was dangerous, not only to everyone around me, but to myself.

Because one simple mistake could end up killing me.

"Bankai."

I felt the strength and power building up inside me. I opened my eyes, looking at the hollow that had taken over my friend in front of me.

"Hakka no Togame."

••••

Byakuya Kuchiki

Rukia.

Her shoulder was bleeding, but she was oblivious to it. If she continued to hold back against Ichigo, there's no doubt about it. She will die.

When Renji screamed her name, I had to pull him back from going to her. This was Rukia's fight. I would not let anyone interfere.

Even if it kills me inside.

But I have faith in her. It is possible that she could pull this off.

I meant what I said when I told her she had gotten stronger. I was impressed. Her reiatsu was at Captain level, and her bankai, though not fully mastered, was incredible.

I was proud of her. I am proud of her.

"Bankai." My eyes widened. As did everyone else's. Since this was their first time witnessing my dear little sister's true power.