Shibō brow furrowed. The empty eye sockets glared ominously. Ichigo remained unfazed by Shibō's enormous reiatsu.

   "Do you want to know what is happening to the little Shinigami?" Shibō asked," I used one of my worst attacks. It puts its victim in a sleep similar to death. It is impossible to wake her, so she will sleep endlessly and eventually turn to dust." Shibō beamed with triumph. Ichigo's eyes widened. Endless sleep? Who could possess such a power? he thought.

   "Why didn't the attack put me to sleep as well," Ichigo shouted," You punctured her leg with you wing, just like me." Shibō shook his head.

   "The right wing causes nightmares, the left wing puts the victim in an endless sleep," Shibō explained. Ichigo was still confused.

   "Why did Rukia have nightmares as well?" Ichigo asked. Shibō's grin stretched even further than before.

   "Because," he said in a low voice," It was to give her a glimpse at what she is going to experience for the rest of her life!" Shibō cackled. Rage began to explode within Ichigo's chest. He raised Zangetsu over his head and rushed the Hollow. With an unyielding shout, he launched himself at Shibō.

   Instead of slicing downward, Ichigo waited for Shibō to perform a counterattack. Just as planned, the Hollow swung his massive right paw at Ichigo. Using shunpo, he reappeared on the right side of the Hollow which remained unguarded. I have you now! Ichigo sliced downward at Shibō's shoulder.

   Shibō, in one fluent motion, sidestepped and batted Ichigo out of the air. Ichigo crashed head first into the schoolyard. Ichigo tumbled in the dirt from the momentum, but eventually came to a stop. He coughed and his blood stained the ground. Slowly, he got back on his feet.

   "You think that is going to stop me?" Ichigo said as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "Bankai," he yelled. Ichigo readied Tenza Zangetsu. Shibō swung his tail at Ichigo, but Ichigo quickly dodged the attack.

   "Is that all you've got?" Ichigo said as he raised his free hand. He made a claw over his face and summoned his Hollow mask. Ichigo's golden eyes flashed with ferocity. The red and white Hollow mask that concealed his face gleamed. Shibō smiled.

   "Don't hold back, Kurosaki," Shibō reminded Ichigo. Trust me, Ichigo thought, I won't. I have too much to lose. Shibō struck at Ichigo using both paws. Ichigo used shunpo and reappeared directly in front of the Hollow's chest. He landed a quick blow across Shibō's middle section.

   "I'm sorry," Shibō said as he looked at the blood welling up inside of the cut. "I guess now that I know you are going all out, I should do the same!" he shouted. Flames flickered between Shibō's fangs. Ichigo was overcome by the amount of spiritual pressure Shibō was releasing.

   "Jigoku no Hi!" Shibō screamed. Flames danced along his spines and claws. Ichigo shielded his eyes from the immense heat. "This is my true form, Kurosaki! Come on, boy, fight me," Shibō said. Ichigo let his arm drop to his side.

   "Bring it on, Shibō," Ichigo said confidently. He bolted toward the Hollow and struck out at his right foreleg. Shibō tried to dodge, but was too slow. Tenza Zangetsu made a long gash across Shibō's leg. The blood inside of the wound boiled from the heat of the flames that raced across the Hollow's scaly skin.

   Ichigo yelped in pain as the flames burnt his skin. He quickly retreated farther from Shibō. He has an amazing defense on his behalf. Shibo began to form a Cero within his gaping maw. The flaming ball of energy grew until, finally, Shibō fired it. The Cero raced towards Ichigo's chest.

   Ichigo raised Tenza Zangetsu to block the attack. The Cero collided with his sword and Ichigo began to overpower it. The searing heat scorched his hands and the ends of his robe. After a few seconds, the heat became unbearable, and the Cero knocked his sword aside. The ball of energy collided with Ichigo's chest.

   The force of the blast knocked Ichigo backwards several meters. He collapsed on the ground in a smoking heap. The front half of his robe was singed off and his chest and legs were covered in burns. Ichigo had ash and dirt smeared across every inch of exposed skin.

   "Are you done, Kurosaki?" Shibō asked as he struck downward with his paw. Ichigo rolled away from his attack and popped back up to his feet. His stance was loosened and unguarded. Shibō saw this and struck out with his claws. The movement was so quick and precise, even though Ichigo tried to dodge, it opened a large gash across his stomach.

   Ichigo's Hollow mask threatened to crumble as his strength ebbed away. I've lost to much blood...

   "I cannot let you leave here, especially since you have seen my true form. But first, I want to let you in on a little secret," Shibō dropped his voice to a soft whisper," Do you know why I used that attack on the little Shinigami? It it because she was nothing more than a pest." A smile broke across the Hollow's face. The light of the flames gave him a nightmarish appearance.

   "She was just an insect. I merely brushed her aside because she lacked the strength she needed to defeat me. I realize," Shibō's tongue flicked between his front teeth," that you are no different than her. Just an obstacle to be trampled!" A fire awakened in Ichigo's heart. My resolve! Shibō lowered his head and charged like a bull.

   Ichigo raised Tenza Zangetsu and charged at Shibō. If I swing, I will cut you! I will protect Rukia! Shibō was so surprised when Ichigo charged him, that he faltered for a fraction of a second. Within that miniscule time span, Ichigo preformed an uppercut and sliced into Shibō's jaw.

   Ichigo's field of reiatsu shielded him from the heat of the flames. Shibō howled in pain. Ichigo used shunpo and appeared on the other side of the Hollow. He severed Shibō's left hind leg with a single slice. Shibō stumbled and fell to the ground.

   "Where do you get your power, Kurosaki" Shibō asked. Ichigo walked towards the Hollow. He stood over the Hollow's head and looked down at him. For the first time, Shibō felt fear. It was not the fear of his inevitable death, no, it was the fear of Ichigo's cold eyes. They gleamed with power and had shifted to an icy gray color. The ferocity in Ichigo's eyes was maddening for Shibō.

   "Let me ask you Shibō, what is your resolve?" Ichigo asked. Shibō made no reply. "That is the difference in strength between us. In our first fight, you were stronger than me in this way. But, just because your opponent is stronger than you, does that provide you with a reason to give up?" Ichigo looked down at the Hollow sympathetically.

   "You are a wise man, Kurosaki," Shibō sighed. There was a moment of silence. Only the crackling of flames could be heard. "Who is this little Shinigami that you would risk your life for her?" Shibō asked as he took a shaky breath.

   "The power in my hand, I gained," Ichigo said," for her sake. She was the one who changed my world." Ichigo lifted Tenza Zangetsu over his head. "Don't worry, Shibō, you will find no sorrow in Soul Society. Rest peacefully," Ichigo said as he swung his Zanpakuto down upon the Hollow's neck. As Shibō began to disappear, a grateful smile spread across his face.

   "Thank you, Ichigo," Shibō said so softly, it was barely a whisper," Rifuto." His voice faded out and he was no more. Ichigo slumped as fatigue washed over him. I have to get back to Rukia. He ran back into the school building. Rubble covered the ground. Ichigo jumped over fallen chunks of concrete and crunched over broken glass.

   It really is a mess... Ichigo made his way to the stairs and jogged up towards the third floor. He gasped for breath when he reached the top of the stairs. Every part of his body ached and burned. He found his body still lying in the middle of the hallway and returned to it. Once he was back in his body, he brushed the dust and gravel from his ragged clothes.

   I have to get back to Rukia. There has to be a way to wake her up! Ichigo barreled down the stairs and out into the school yard. He sprinted all the way home, even though blood had begun to well up in his formerly closed wounds. Blood soaked through his pants and his shirt, but he refused to stop until he arrived at his house.

   Ichigo flung open the front door and ran inside. He slammed the door shut and stumbled up the stairs. Blood began to trickle down his arms and legs and dripped onto the floor. Ichigo opened his bedroom door and he saw Rukia still in his bed. He reached out and felt for her life force. It was dim and threatened to flicker out of existence.

   Ichigo limped over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He shook her.

   "Hey, Rukia wake up," Ichigo said. He continued to shake her shoulders. His hope began to disappear every time he shook her. "Rukia, wake up," Ichigo's voice cracked," Please, Rukia, please wake up." Tears began to well up in his eyes and spilled over. He sat on the bed beside her and held her.

   "Wake up... please," begged as tears streamed down his face. He buried his face into her shoulder and wept. "I just wanted to hold you... one more time," Ichigo said as another sob racked his body," Just... just one more time..." Ichigo pulled Rukia a little closer, gripped her a little tighter.

   Rukia took a deep breath and began to stir in his arms.

   The worst battles in this world are not the physical ones, but are the ones that are fought deep within the heart and soul...