65 Ignored (2/2)
A figure suddenly flashed from beneath the bridge and into the air. All the people on the bridge, apart from Ganju, looked at the figure holding a device strapped to his right arm. Itsuki recognised that device as it allowed one to fly and Yoruichi used it to escape with Ichigo after his battle with Zaraki.
Ichigo then landed in front of Hanataro to check up on him.
”You okay, Hanataro? Sorry, it seems that I've put you through some scary situations
After checking up, he ran in between Itsuki and Rukia's cell and unsheathed his sword,
”Let Rukia GO!!”
”I-Ichi…”
Seeing the energetic individual with the bandages in front of him Itsuki wasn't fanboying like usual.
He just replied calmly by pointing at Rukia with his eyes.
Rukia was currently tightly grasping Itsuki's clothes and looking at Ichigo with a shocked expression. Seeing the opposite party look towards her she also looked towards her hands. Realising what she was doing, she suddenly blushed looking away but the hands never moved
Ichigo didn't know how to respond as it was his first time encountering such a situation. He put all these thoughts aside as he looked at once more at Rukia. Rukia was done blushing and had water in her eyes, she seemed to be moved by Ichigo showing up to rescue her,
”What's with that look? I'm here to save you, act happier?”
Itsuki was stumped by how Ichigo acted.
”I told you not to come…That…I won't forgive you if you came…you're all torn up…You fool!”
Rukia looked at Ichigo's bandages as she was on the verge of tears. She genuinely considered him a friend and was quite hurt seeing his state.
”Got that right…So…I'll let you scold me how much you want…when I save you.”
Rukia seemed moved once more hearing this,
”Ichigo…”
”What? You're not going to tell me to back down after coming this far, aren't you?”
”But…”
Ichigo just interrupted her and continued,
”I'm not backing down! I'm not kidding. I came this far to save you. It doesn't matter if you say you want to face this death penalty…”
Holding his sword with one hand he pointed with the other,
”From now on, all your opinions are rejected, got that, dumbass?”
Rukia was shocked as her rights were snatched,
”What the hell is that? You are ignoring the rescuee' opinions?”
Rukia seemed to have forgotten that she was being held by Itsuki as she shouted,
”What kind of tyrannical way is that to save someone?!”
”Shut up! The one being rescued doesn't get to complain!”
The two continued quarrelling before they stopped and calmed down,
”But before we could continue…”
Itsuki seemed to be all but forgotten during this exchange, it did hurt him a little. Seeing Ichigo get ready to attack, Itsuki just waited for him to move. Ichigo then charged towards him while Itsuki moved back a little and shunpoed behind him. To vent his slight grievances, he kicked Ichigo and pushed him towards Byakuya and disappeared into the cell.
Ichigo fell down and quickly recovered from the kick.
”You…!”
Ukitake was shocked seeing the kid in front, he looked really similar to Kaien.
”Byakuya…who is that?”
”No relation…at least, not to the man that just flashed through your head. He is no one at all, just another Ryoka. I will erase him. Then it will be over…”
Byakuya then shunpoed in front of Ichigo. Ichigo got into a stance as he started speaking,
”You're taking it quite easy, not attacking me when that pretty boy kicked me onto the floor…”
Hearing how Ichigo addressed him, Itsuki stumbled a bit before looking back at the exchange that was going to happen. Rukia was quite worried but found herself unable to speak.
”Who do you think you are speaking to? Are you telling me to exploit an opening for the likes of you? Do not speak out of your league, kid”
A tremendous amount of reiatsu was unleashed from Byakuya as Hanataro was brought to his knees. Ichigo also felt the pressure but was still able to remain standing.
”Oh, completely unaffected by this much reiatsu, it seems you have improved quite a bit. I don't know how you are alive, but it would have been better for you to remain in the living world.”
Byakuya then shunpoed behind Ichigo. It seemed Byakuya had also become less talkative than the anime while staying in the presence of Itsuki. Ichigo had surprisingly blocked Byakuya's strike shocking Byakuya.
”I can now see you, Kuchiki Byakuya”
Itsuki was surprised as well but regained composure, this wasn't out of his calculations. If Ichigo wasn't stronger then he would be disappointed. After that it all went just like canon with Itsuki just watching it all happen. Yoruichi was inwardly surprised by Byakuya's improvements but he still ended up short against her. Before she left, she gave one glance in Itsuki's direction before leaving.
After Byakuya had left, Kaien showed up next to his brother before Ukitake ordered his arrest. Ukitake knew that they were siblings but the capture of the Ryoka took priority, a captain had died. Although reluctant, Kaien then took his brother to where they were keeping the Ryoka after bowing towards Itsuki who had just left Rukia's cell.
Nodding back, Itsuki left the area. On his way he made a surprising discovery, two sources of reiatsu had just entered the area covered by his jurisdiction.