I stumbled as I ran out the front door, and my mother steadied me. When I looked up, I saw a small horde of men walking towards us. There was only four footsoldiers and one leader. They had to be about one hundred meters from where I stood, but they were advancing fast.

   "So those are the FinalBringers?" I whispered to my mother, my sword-hand trembling slightly. Each of the men wore a set of shining grey armor and a standard katana. Their leader, however, was wearing electric blue  and silver armor and carried a large european-styled sword.

   "Precisely," my mother replied," The four footsoldiers are minor FinalBringers, so they should be easier to take down. The FinalBringer General is another matter altogether..." When she trailed off, I figured that she was referencing to the large gap in their two skill levels. If that was true, then we didn't stand a chance against this small brigade. My mother tightened her grip on her own katana, which was much thicker and longer than a standard katana.

   "Dammit! What the hell're we gonna do about the General?" I cursed under my breath. I felt warm breath on my neck, and an evil laugh came from behind me.

   "We're gonna kill him of course," Hichigo whispered into my ear.

   "We are getting ahead of ourselves," my mother cut in. She sounded almost nervous, and I wondered who this General really was. Hichigo snorted and took a step forward.

   He had his Zanpakuto slung over his shoulder, and he wore a hungry expression. From what I can tell, Hichigo is one for battle and bloodlust. His golden eyes were trained on the enemy brigade as it drew closer by the second. Ichigo and Rukia stood to Hichigo's side, and their Zanpakutos were drawn as well.

   When the brigade was within fifty meters of where we stood, I got a good look at the General. His armor was extremely elaborate, and elegantly designed. He wore a large helmet that hid is face and reminded me of ancient war helmets that I had seen in a book about the Roman Empire. In the General's right hand, he held a large sword that was as long as I was, and in his left, he held a blue shield. A blue cape fluttered behind him.

   Just being this close to him feels like I am about to explode from the thickness of his presence. That presence was known as spiritual pressure, as my mother had told me. In fact, if I reach out my awareness, I can feel everybody's spiritual pressure surrounding me.

   "What is your purpose of being here?" Ichigo called out to the FinalBringers who were now only fifteen meters away from us. Ichigo's voice never wavered, and he wore his famous scowl. He was very brave, and I remembered that he is a seasoned veteran in battle, even though he is only twenty four years old.

   "To eradicate you, Shinigami," the General sounded back, equally as bold. His voice boomed and vibrated in my chest. I found it funny that his words were slightly slurred, as if he had just had a shot of strong sake. And I would know, out of all people.

   "On my mark. Hichigo, take out the farthest left. Rukia, engage the middle left, beside Hichigo. Hoshi, take out the middle right, and Hikari, take out the farthest right. I shall hold off the General and buy you enough time to defeat the footsoldiers, and then we shall switch out accordingly," Ichigo hissed.

   "Got it."

   "Whatever you say, King."

   "Okay, just be careful."

   "Yes sir."

   Once we had all locked our sights on our targets, we rushed in towards them, Zanpakutos and katanas raised in the air. Fear pulsed through every part of my body, but I ignored it.

   I clashed my katana against the soldier's katana and we battled for dominance, pushing against each other's blade fiercely. I slowly gained the upperhand and thrust him back a few feet. While his stance was unguarded, I struck out at his stomach only for him to parry the attack with a flick of his wrist.

   He aimed a swift strike to my head, and I failed to dodge completely. I received a large gash on my ear that bled terribly. Mt stance had become unguarded and I cursed myself when I received a gash on my left thigh. A cry of pain escaped my lips. I need to win.

   "No," the same comforting voice called out," You don't need to win. You will win. Have faith in your blade as well as your own power. I will lend you my power, but in turn you must trust me."

   For once, I saw the woman that was talking to me. She wore a brown battle skirt and a silver chestplate, and a pair of leather sandals. In her hand, she held a silver sword as tall as she was. Her long black hair was tied in a ponytail, and her green eyes sparkled with ferocity.

   "I trust you," I whispered, and I felt her power flowing into me.

   I readied myself to strike again, and ribbons of energy twisted around my blade. With a war cry, I swung the katana down on the soldier's helmet which cleaved from my strike. The man cried out and collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from his helmet and coating his bearded face.

   I flicked the blood from my katana and observed the battle. It seems as though everybody had defeated their assigned soldier, and the only one left fighting was Ichigo. Though he was unscathed, he seemed tired from battling with the general. As he blocked another blow, he lifted his head and yelled orders.

   "Hoshi! Switch!" Ichigo as he darted away from the General. As he did so, my mother jumped in immediately and took his place in battling the General.

   She struck at the General, but he blocked the attack and thrust his sword towards her head. My mother ducked and delivered a blow towards the General's stomach which he blocked with his shield. Each strike was so fast that I could hardly see what was going on, and my head spun.

   "Foolish woman," the General snarled. Through the slot on his helmet, I could see dull blue eyes that reminded me of somebody, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. "Give up you efforts, woman. You cannot beat me with sword skills such as that."

   "I could back in the day," my mother snapped," Sparring partners, remember?"

   "Past is past," the General bellowed," Do not speak of those damned times! I regret every second I spent with a traitor like you." Does my mother know the General? Is that why she had been hesitant before the battle? Damn it, it makes no sense whatsoever.

   The General dodged another one of my mother's attacks, and before she could retaliate, he knocked the katana from her hand. I felt my stomach turn when the General delivered a bone-shattering kick to the stomach. She sprawled on the ground in pain, and my mouth betrayed me.

   "Hoshi! Switch!" I shouted and lunged toward the General," Die, you damned bastard!"