New Beginning

Chapter 20

Ichigo once again found himself back at the arena the next day with his partner Keith. He hadn't gone home to the castle the night before choosing instead to camp out at the knight barracks with Keith. He wanted to get to know the one who would be watching his back and having Keith get to know though they could only make small guesses on how they would react to each other's fighting style once they were fighting together.

The teen figure this was another way for the Generals to test those who that were going to the front lines to see if they could fight and adapt to the ever changing field as well as how they fight with others that they haven't fought with before and give them a chance get use to them. Ichigo had no problem with that but he never had fought with those that he hadn't already known their style. So this was going to be a new experience for him and he was excited. All too soon he and Keith were called up and made their way to the field. Ichigo was temporary blinded by the sun coming out of the dark tunnel but he's vision cleared as the roar of the crowd filled his ears.

"Well here we go," he said.

"Yep, this is going to be fun," Keith beamed before sending a one finger salute to one of the Generals in the stands. "Oh, just letting my older brother know that I'm here," he said when Ichigo gave him a funny look.

"I thought those two were your brothers?"

"They are but I have brother who is a General. I am the youngest out of four," he said proudly.

Ichigo wanted to say more but the whistle blew and they soon engage Ricky and Damon both being stronger then the others that Ichigo had fought during the tournament. The two were trying to divide and conquer but Ichigo stuck close to Keith fighting back to back and switching opponents every now and then.

But it only work for a short while and Ichigo soon found himself away from Keith and facing Damon. The older man had a mix match of red and blond in his hair cut very short that it was just a spikey as Ichigo's own locks. The orangette tried to get back to Keith who was starting to struggle but was being out maneuvered at each turn. Damon even got a hit on him a small cut on Ichigo's cheek that the teen had tried to avoided at the last second.

They stood their panting each out of breath from the dance they were performing but Ichigo knew that he needed to end it soon. Keith wasn't faring much better and looked worst off then Ichigo so against his better judgement the teen used a small burst of shunpo to get away from Damon before he knew that Ichigo was gone. The teen appeared next to Keith just as Ricky went for the finishing blow that Ichigo block at the last second.

"Man you have no idea how glad I am to see you," Keith said with a worn out smile.

"Well it seems you were having a little bit of trouble," Ichigo said.

Keith laughed before shakenly getting to his feet as Ichigo pushed Ricky off him. now that he was closer Ichigo could see that Keith had really taken a beating and while he could get away without worrying about small cuts Keith will have one that will scar on his face going from the hair line to the corner of his eye.

"Your brother didn't go easy on you huh?"

"Nah its fine. It wouldn't be fair if he had gone easy on me now would it," Keith said.

"I guess; can you continue or do you think you can help finish them off?" Ichigo asks.

"Yeah no problem," Keith smirked before charging Ricky then faking towards Damon catching them off guard of only a few seconds.

But it was enough for Ichigo to summon the shorter of his zanpakuto tie it with a long piece of fabric that was once a flag. When Ricky put his attention back on Ichigo he had to dodge as a sword came flying at his head.