The blade disappeared, morphing into flying knives with wing-like blades that floated around him, covering his back and both sides of his arms. The zanpakutou was now a weapon that could attack in every direction without him moving an inch.
"Now, regret it! I am Jirobo Ikkazaka, the 7th Division 4th seat, also known as Kamaitachi Jirobo! No one but me has seen these blades-"
Before he finished speaking, something passed by his neck. Jirobo looked stupefied before feeling pain on his neck, followed by warm blood flowing out like a fountain.
When he looked back, he saw a sword pierced through the tiles.
"Gargh! Wh-when did-"
His eyes widened in surprise. He turned around and saw five swords hovering Shirou, his haori fluttering from the wind. These nameless Noble Phantasm were ready to be thrown.
Compared to his knives, these swords looked far more dangerous. They had larger blades and longer handles, and their sharpness was on a different level than his Tsunzakigarasu. It could be clearly seen with the sword that had stabbed him in the neck.
"Did you say something?"
With a flick of his wrist, Shirou fired these swords. They easily destroyed all Jirobo's knives with ease and flew toward the man, piercing him.
Jirobo's scream resounded through the air, telling everyone who heard it of his pain and despair. His large figure dropped to the ground like a doll with a loud thud, and blood pooled around his body, turning the ground dark crimson.
'My bad, but I am in a hurry.'
Shirou dismissed all his creations and turned away, using Hirenkyaku to disappear into the darkness of the night. The other Shinigami would definitely find that man and heal him.
***
While Shirou landed alone and fought Jirobo, Ichigo also landed with Ganju in another part of Rukongai, more accurately in an alley between the houses.
He crashed to the ground with a loud bang, sending a wave of dust around.
"Ow! Damn it! That hurt!" He cursed, groaning from the pain in his ass. "Hey Ganju! Where are you?"
"Fuck, get off me!"
The voice came from under him, and he looked down, finding the guy he was looking for.
"Ah, so that's why my butt hurts." Ichigo realized, and he stood up, giving him some room to breathe. He then turned around to face Ganju, a frown on his face, "Don't blame me! I didn't know that I would land on your body!"
"Shut up! This is why I hate Shinigami, always so violent!"
Ichigo sighed, his brows furrowed in frustration. "Whatever. Where are the others? I hope they're fine."
Naturally, Ichigo wouldn't worry about Shirou. His brother handed his ass easily enough to make him not worry at all, and he was a bit proud to be related to someone like him. He thought that his twin was cool, though he wouldn't say it out loud to him.
What he worried about was Sado and Orihime. He didn't know how they would fight or what kind of power they had. So they became his first priority. That and Shirou had told him to take care of Orihime if they got separated.
"I hope so. But now that we're separated, the best thing we can do is find them." Ganju stood up and brushed off the dirt on his robe, his eyes looking around, "Let's get out of here and hide."
"Hey hey hey! Lucky me to find the intruders."
A loud voice boomed from above their heads, making Ichigo to turn around and grab the hilt of his sword in an instant.
'How can someone appear that suddenly? I didn't sense him at all!'
His eyes narrowed, and he realized it was one of them, a Shinigami.
Standing on the roof, two men were looking down at Ichigo and Ganju. Both wore black kimono and hakama and white sash. One of them had sharp eyes and bald head, while the other was handsome and had strange eye lashes.
The former looked down at them, and grinned.
"We were hiding because we didn't want to be deployed, but the intruders fell onto our laps! Haha!" He laughed out loud. His grin was so big that he looked like he just found his greatest treasure, "Lucky!"
Ichigo's eyes were glued to the two Shinigami in front of him. They hadn't moved at all, yet his instinct screamed at him that these people were dangerous.
"Who are you?" He hissed in a low voice, his grip on Zangetsu's hilt tightened.
The man with strange eye lashes raised his brow. His voice was filled with disdain as he said, "I'm 11rd Division 5th Seat Ayasegawa Yumichika. The one beside me is the same rank in 11th Division, Madarame Ikkaku."
"I am the 3rd seat! And who are you, intruder?"
"I am not giving my name! I am outta here!"
Ganju ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. Ichigo stared at him for a few seconds, before realizing he was ditched.
"That guy! He ditched me again!" He cursed and followed Ganju. He didn't want to fight against two people at the same time.
"Hmph! That one's fleeing, Yumichika."
"I know."
Answering Ikkaku, Yumichika pursued Ganju at once. Following that, the baldy jumped down and stood before Ichigo, sword resting on his shoulder.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes in annoyance.
'So this guy is going to block my way.' He clicked his tongue.
"Move aside. I am in a hurry."
"Hurry to where? There's no escape, and we won't let you go anyway." Ikkaku grinned. He raised his sword and pointed the blade at him.
"Is that so? I will beat you in a second."
"Hah! So you're just a fool!"
In an instant, Ikkaku unsheathed his sword and disappeared. He re-appeared in front of Ichigo and swung his hard down, hard enough to create an air pressure that would blow Ichigo's head off if he was a second late.
Ichigo pulled Zangetsu out from his back and deflected Ikkaku's sword. Sparks exploded between them and the sound of clanging metal resounded in the alley. With a kick, the orange haired boy sent him flying backward, putting some distance between them.
"We were interrupted earlier, so I will ask once again. What's your name?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo answered, his grip tightened on his sword.
"Hmph. That's a good name. Men whose names begin with 'I' usually are good-looking and talented. That includes me." He said, pointing at himself with his thumb, "Madarame Ikkaku. But I'm not a 3rd seat of 11th Division for nothing."
"..." Ichigo stared at him, thinking that he was stupid, "... You're just a show off."
"Say that again!" Ikkaku roared in anger, his veins popped out and his expression turned into rage. His expression became calm a second later, like a seasoned warrior. "Say, Ichigo. You look like a rookie but your movements are first rate. Who is your master?"
Master?
There were a few candidates in Ichigo's mind, but he had only one master in swordsmanship, the man who taught him sword. The only man who taught him everything, from how to fight, to how to kill.
"My twin brother, Shirou. He taught me how to use a sword, how to kill. I owe him a lot, he's the best mentor I have ever met. Also, the one who helped me before was a shady shopkeeper, Urahara Kisuke."
Upon hearing Kisuke's name, Ikkaku's expression hardened. His grin widened and his eyes glinted in malicious light, "Oh? So that's the one, eh? You were taught by Urahara Kisuke?"
"What? What's the matter?" Ichigo's brow furrowed.
'This Shinigami's attitude has changed completely.' He sensed the change in his enemy and lowered his stance.
"Hahaha!" Ikkaku laughed out loud. He swung his zanpakutō to the front, putting the hilt together with his sheath. "I see! Then I shall get serious."
Reiatsu poured out of the sword in the form of smoke and lightning. Ichigo's instinct screamed at him, warning him to be careful.
"Extend! Houzukimaru!"
Ikkaku swung the hilt in the front and his sword transformed into a spear. Red cloth fluttered at the end, attached to the spear.
"Now, Ichigo. Let's fight and see which one of us is the best."
CH END***
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