129 – Inner Conflict

129 – Inner Conflict

=Earth, Karakura Town, Ichigo=

Ichigo had been going back and forth with Kariya. Neither side seemed to have the upper hand. To his surprise Kariya seemed to be able to be able to resist his Zanpakuto with his bare hands drawing the battle out far longer than he had expected.

He had been on guard the whole time as against his expectation Kariya had yet to summon his doll. Not knowing what to expect was slowly getting to him and he was surprised to find Kariya seemed to be able to keep up with him even without his doll.

"Why not meld your soul with mine?" Kariya asked.

Ichigo swung his blade sending a wave of energe flying towards Kariya, but Kariya managed to dodge it.

"If you do you will enjoy everlasting glory," Kariya continued.

Kariya dashed towards Ichigo and swung his fist. Ichigo barely managed to block it with his Zanpakuto, but it still sent him sliding backwards from the force.

"How about it? Won't your entrust yourself to me?" He asked.

"I told you! I refuse!" Ichigo shouted.

Kariya sighed. "I see... that's too bad," he said.

Kariya dashed towards Ichigo again.

Ichigo drew back his Zanpakuto and spirit power started filling it. Just before Kariya managed to reach him he swung his blade.

"Getsuga Tenshō!" He shouted.

A large slash of energy flew towards Kariya.

He managed to raise his arms at the last moment to block the slash.

During the clash the ornate silver cigar tin Kariya was holding was knocked out of his hand though and landed in the dirt not too far away away from them.

Before either of them could respond a hand picked up the crest. A bronze and black snake was wrapped around the arm.

The hand belonged to Ryō, the middle-aged male Bount.

He wore a light smirk while examining the ornate crest for a moment and brushed off some of the dirt. He looked up at Ichigo and Kariya.

Kariya glared at him. "Don't make me say it again. So what?" He asked again.

Suddenly a Shinigami with short black hair wearing a sleeveless robe appeared in front of Ryō.

His Zanpakuto was already unsheathed. He swung it around like the arm of a clock and the blade left behind after images as it did while spreading a radiant rainbow glow until he raised it straight up over his head.

The after images slowly disappeared, but after the last one disappeared so did the Shinigami.

Barely a second later the Shinigami reappeared beside Ryō, but the Zanpakuto was still missing.

Ryō looked over in surprise. Before he could do anything he fell to his knees with blood spraying from various parts of his body.

"W-What? Im-impossible..." He muttered.

"It's over," the Shinigami said. Finally the Zanpakuto appeared back in his hand.

Ryō collapsed and didn't seem to be breathing anymore.

"Who?" Ichigo asked.

The Shinigami turned to Kariya. "Master Kariya, I'm glad you're safe," he said.

"It's fine," Kariya said.

Ichigo frowned. "Hey! What the hell is a Shinigami doing here?!" He asked.

"It seems you beat Kenpachi Zaraki..." the Shinigami said.

"What?" Ichigo asked.

The Shinigami raised his Zanpakuto towards Ichigo threateningly "I'm Ex-Eleventh Squad, Maki Ichinose," he said.

"Then why are you helping the Bount?!" Ichigo asked.

"There's no need for you to know," the Shinigami said.

Kariya shook his head. "Things seem less than favourable. We're retreating," he said.

The Shinigami lowered his Zanpakuto with a sigh. "Understood," he said.