STOP ME WHEN YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH

Nope, No Way

Keigo and Mizuiro stand before a raging Hollow. The masked spirit is large, and it almost reminds Ichigo of the Minotaur. It's tail whips and weaves in agitation at the puny humans before him, and his hot breath smokes out of his nostril holes. His hand scraps at the desert floor as he prepares to charge. Keigo and Mizuiro take note of this as they debate what to do. Mizuiro acts first, but Keigo is much faster. They jump out of the Hollow's range, and roll back to their feet.

Ichigo's group have the Hollow and two humans in a kill circle of sorts. It's mostly to be sure the Hollow doesn't run off, and for someone to intervene quickly as need be. Rukia stays by Ichigo, and the Arrancar siblings stay close together. Tatsuki is only a few meters away from Inoue in case the former girl's power gets out of hand.

Rukia suddenly leans on Ichigo, tearing the ginger's attention away from the battle. She seems more peaceful than usual. Was it Ichigo's declaration of war against Aizen that did it? Who knows? At least she's in a better mood than before.

"What are you going to do about Szayel?" She abruptly asks.

Ichigo realizes he was staring at her. "What?"

"Szayel. He helped Nnoitra kick a kid out of the safest place in this entire realm. What are you going to do about it?"

"Maybe scare him a little? I don't know if I need to do more than that. I can't kill him. I promised I wouldn't, and even then, he's important."

Ichigo wonders if it was Szayel that beat Rukia. He certainly doesn't have a problem against acts of conspiracy. Another part of Ichigo thinks it wasn't him. There wasn't anything from Rukia that hinted it was him. So it's Grimmjow? He doesn't really know Grimmjow that much. He's never actually spoken to the guy, yet he doubts it was Grimmjow.

"I agree. I need that new uniform," she jokes.

Ichigo drinks in the warmth of her vibrancy. She's so cute. And beautiful. Her uniform is all in all the same as her shihakusho; this one is just white. Well, there is something missing. Sode no Shirayuki isn't on Rukia's hip where she belongs. Ichigo needs to talk to Aizen about that.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

Ichigo's neck burns when he realizes he still staring. "Uh no. No, I was just thinking about how to get your zanpakuto back."

She gives him a sad smile. "Aizen told me I can only get her back if I prove my loyalty to him."

"And you can't?"

"He wants me to kill someone I feel emotion for."

"Who?" Ichigo blinks. "Like a lover or something?"

"No, idiot!" She snaps. "It could be my brother, you, Renji, any one person from my division - it doesn't matter who as long as Aizen knows of the connection."

"I'm sorry, I don't get it. Why just anyone from your division? Don't tell me you know everyone."

"You don't understand the bond Shinigami form with their division. It's like a family. They can be as distant as cousins get, but they're still you're family. You'd feel something if they died. That's why."

"Oh," is all he offers.

"Yeah," she sighs.

"And you don't want to kill."

"No."

Ichigo goes to say something else, but there's a certain commotion that catches his attention. Keigo is kneeling behind Mizuiro with a gash going across his chest. Blood slips through the brunet's fingers, but it's not pouring out at an alarming rate. Uryū is in the process of drawing an arrow, yet the Hollow moves quickly in striking down Mizuiro.