BLEAK

Chapter 9: Hanataro, The Timid Healer with a Big Heart

As we trekked further to the Repentance Cell, we were faced with a large group of soul reapers headed our way. "Oh no!" Ganju pulled Ichigo and I to the side, trying to stay hidden. As they passed, we heard a small voice behind them. 

"Wait up for me guys!" A small, yet frail soul reaper with short black hair passed by the alleyway where we were hidden. 

Ichigo stepped out and pulled the soul reaper back. "A-Ah! Help!" He tried to cry out, but no one heard. "Wait, we aren't going to hurt you or anything. We need help."

"But you're the ryoka.. why should I help-.. Lady Kusonarii?"

The soul reaper turned to me, shocked. "You're Lady Hisana Kusonarii..." 

"I am, but my status means nothing. " I drew in a breath. "We want to save Rukia Kuchiki."

The soul reaper's eyes lit up. "Oh! I know her! Miss Rukia! I used to bring her food and clean her cell when she was in the Squad 6 detention cell. I'll help you guys get to her without detection."

The soul reaper lifted a manhole that lead underground. "Follow me." 

We followed the soul reaper underground and we began walking down a corridor. "So my name's Hanataro, I'm part of squad 4. What's your names?" 

"I'm Ganju Shiba of the Shiba clan!"

"Name's Ichigo Kurosaki."

"You already know me somehow." 

Hanataro looked back at me. "Of course everyone knows you! Your family was rather important in the soul society. You've been looked for years. "

"Looked for?"

"Captain Kuchiki had been looking for you, sure that you weren't dead." 

"How does this kid know about my family... unless...no.. that was Aizen." 

We walked farther down and came out in front of a long starwell leading to other inner corridors. We all sensed a spiritual pressure that was making Ganju sickened. 

"Who is that..?" Hanataro was also feeling weak,shaking In his tracks. 

"That's Captain Zaraki of Squad 11!"

"Which one of you here is the strongest?" 

He jumped down from high above and stood before Ichigo and I. A pink- haired girl was on his back. "Yachiru, you need to back off for a while, okay?" 

"Alright Kenny!" She hopped off and flash stepped away. 

Ichigo, be careful!

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I stood back with Ganju and Hanataro, watching Ichigo battle Kenpachi. I was rather worried that he'd kill Ichigo. His strength seemed to be rather heightened. But then. .

My assumptions were correct. 

Kenpachi struck Ichigo right in the gut and he began to bleed. "You're just as weak as the rest of them. Go ahead and die." Kenpachi turned his back and began to walk away. 

"Ichigo!" I was about ready to jump in to help him, but Ichigo's spiritual pressure increased ten-fold. "Ichi..go..?" 

I heard Ichigo's zanpoktou speak out; "STAND UP AND FIGHT ICHIGO!"

"ZANGETSU!" Ichigo stood up, a large blue wave of spiritual energy enveloping him as Ichigo then raised Zangetsu. "Getsuga.. Tensho!" It stuck Kenpachi and then they began to clash. Kenpachi release all of his spiritual energy by taking off his eyepatch. It was a marvel to watch for out of all the captains, Kenpachi was the only one who did not have a shikai or bankai. He killed the former captain of Squad 11. 

The battle ended at a stalemate, with Ichigo and Kenpachi both collapsing. Hanataro, Ganju, and I took Ichigo back into the underground tunnels so he could be healed and rested up before we trekked forward.