Bleach: Derailed

[] Just beat him down and be done with it.

Jirobo is waiting for you in the ring, almost leaping down into it. There were only the two of you left in the competitors' stands. It wasn't hard to guess who you'd be fighting.

Unlike the other man you don't hurry to the arena. You walk down the steps one at a time.

"It is traditional to introduce yourself, so I am Jirobo Ikkanzaka! He booms. "Be proud, for today you are the runner up to me. There is no dishonor in your defeat, not when you fight... my shikai!"

The crowd in the stands kicks into an uproar. Were none of them watching earlier? Were they watching, and just really feeling the mood because of this guy's monologuing? It feels kind of corny to you.

"You want to know who I am? I'm Ichigo Kurosaki-Shiba, and I don't have time to deal with you. So either get out of my way or get run down. This is your only chance." You say. The heat you feel, burning you alive, doesn't show in your voice. "I don't want to do this to you. I'm not a revenge kind of guy, but if you keep standing in front of me..."

It looks as though Jirobo might actually back down, for a moment. Just for a moment. "Ha! You have spirit." Jirobo draws his zanpakuto.

You put your hand on Zangetsu's hild, over your shoulder, but your answer is drowned out by Jirobo's cry.

"Flap away, Tsunzakigarasu!"

A dozen shuriken-like blades flash out toward you. You see them coming and sweep them aside with your released zanpakuto's- flat? Instead of the giant two meter blade, Zangetsu sits in your hand as a foot-long knife that wouldn't be out of place in a kitchen. Everything about it is shrunken, even the hilt only fits one hand now instead of the two-plus it normally accommodates.

"What the hell, Zangetsu?!" You scream as you duck under your enemy's shikai. Its many blades quickly turn to face you again, so you sprint sideways for distance, barely keeping away. You shake your hand and slap your sword. "Stop playing games!"

"Oh-hoohoohoo! I suppose that achieving even such a diminished shikai is an accomplishment for a rookie!" Jirobo guffaws. "Still, allow me to give you the honor of a quick defeat at the hands of my zanpakuto's aerial power!"

You keep running.

"I said-"

The arena is a circle. You started opposite from your opponent, and you ran to your right. There's only so much space to run in, chased by a cloud of angrily spinning blades.

"DON'T TREAT THIS TOURNAMENT LIKE A GAME!" He screams, finally losing his cool.

If you run around a circle, where do you go? Around the circle.

He realizes what's going to happen too late, but you're between him and his sword. All he has is a hilt and his arms to defend himself, while you're already in the air. The sole of your sandal hits his wide face with a doubled slap echoed by the dull thud of seven-plus feet of soul reaper trainee hitting the ground like a fallen tree, felled by sudden concussive impact.

You step off of the man while his shikai clatters to the ground, and only stick around long enough for the captain with the helmet to announce you the winner before you leave to find the medical area, under part of the stands. Takako's there, nearly covered in bandages.

"Are you going to be okay?" You ask.

The gawky woman nods. Her face is set into an intense frown, her eyes furrowed. "I'll be fine. I'm just... I'm fine."

You tighten your own lips into a thin line. Reassurances aren't something you're good at. You settle on, "You'll be even better when you win the next one."

And both of you leave it at that.

---

Someone slides a letter under your door, inviting you to dinner with Komamura-taicho, captain of the seventh division. There's a post-script that says he's not in a rush, and that any time in the next month is acceptable.

Kukaku also lets you know that she doesn't have 'the thing' ready before she leaves, but that you should stop by regardless to meet someone you should get to know, but they won't be around forever.

Zangetsu refuses to return to his proper size while in shikai, but from what little he says when you try to meditate, the problem is simple. You just have to stop trying to restrain him, and then give him some time.

Four weeks remain to have Komamura's requested meeting in. Kukaku's guest will be leaving in the next four weeks.

[] Meet with Komamura
[] See what's up with Kukaku
[] Appease Zangetsu