Chapter 38 - Strawberry (2/2)

”What is your purpose for coming here?” Itachi asked the mysterious shinigami.

”I'm here to rescue Rukia! And if you're going to stand in my way too, I'll have to beat you too, just like Ikkaku!” The orange hair young man resolutely responded.

Itachi furrows his brow. 'So he beat Ikkaku. He doesn't seem all that injured either and I don't feel any malicious intentions from him…'

”Why do you care so much about her? She's merely a traitor to soul society now.” Itachi questioned further, trying to test Ichigo. ”Who is Kuchiki to you?” Itachi continued, curious to know a bit more about him.

”She is someone who changed my life and I'm going to return the favor. I won't let her die, no matter what!” The man said firmly as he charged in at Itachi. A small smile appeared on Itachi's face as he said this.

Itachi stood still as the young man raised his giant sword in the air and cut through his body, only for it to dissipate into a flock of crows. The crows began to fly around Ichigo again and Ichigo stood in the middle, trying to find where Itachi went as the sky around him turned into a bright red as all other colors changed into an inverted grayscale.

”I only want to talk.” Itachi's voice echoed around Ichigo as his body became to reform partially from the crows, showing his face and upper body.

”You want to rescue Kuchiki right? If that didn't go the way you wanted it to, what would you do?” Itachi questioned as his body continued forming from the crows.

”That doesn't matter to me! I'll do whatever it takes!” The orange hair shinigami exclaimed.

”What if Kuchiki didn't want to return. She submitted herself to Soul Society in order to keep you from getting killed. Are you going to throw your life away against her last wishes? Even if you managed to somehow rescue her and she did decide to go with you, you will be facing the entirety of the Gotei 13.”

”Like I said, that doesn't matter to me! I'm gonna save her even if I have to fight each and everyone one of you!” The shinigami replied.

”You are still a child. Everything you've said is just wishful thinking. You came here with other people. Are they prepared to throw their lives away for her?” Itachi replied.

”It's not just me, but everyone else who came with me! We all made a promise to save Rukia and none of us are going to go back on our word!” The orange haired shinigami yelled as he looked into Itachi's eyes. The image of a blond haired knuckle headed ninja appeared to Itachi for an instant.

”You're just like him…” Itachi said quietly to himself. The orange haired shinigami looked at Itachi confused as the area returned back to normal and the crows disappeared.

”What the hell are you doing?! You were going to fight me weren't you?” The shinigami questioned, raising his zanpakuto up in front of him.

”No I'll be going now. There's something else I need to take care of.” Itachi said as he turned away. He takes a few steps then stops and turns his head to look at him one more time.

”What is your name?” Itachi asked.

”Kurosaki, Ichigo.”