The ringing in my ears drove out all thoughts of being sensible.

Weak? I'm weak? I'll show the bastard whose weak! "You want to see real power?" I screeched angrily, drawing my arms wide.

All I could hear drumming in my ears was the laughter from the rest of the squad. I snarled, raising my spiritual pressure, before bringing my hands together in front of me, sword pointed at Kenpachi.

The ground shook and black spiritual pressure flared from under my feet, tendrils wrapping themselves around me legs.

"Akuma no Kurayami!" I cried and the black spiritual pressure wrapped around my body quickly, like a tornado.

When it disappeared, I stood in a crater of crushed concrete and dirt, dressed in my shikai. I still wore my usual soul reaper uniform, but I now had black gauntlets and black boots to top it off. My zanpakuto had changed; now it looked like a rapier, minus the fancy guard around the hilt. Bells jangled as I tightened my grip on it and I was grateful that the mask hadn't appeared. Yet.

"You're resorting to Shikai," he questioned, an eyebrow raised, while in the crowd, Ikkaku was shouting.

"Hey! What's with the shikai? It looks like it could shatter at any moment!" He laughed at the end.

"Contrary to what you see, this zanpakuto increases my speed and strength and has an immense amount of durability within it," I said, not removing my eyes from Kenpachi. "It cannot be broken."

Unless I'm killed, I said in my head but pushed that from my mind. I needed to focus. "Besides, Captain, this is a battle," I stated, lunging forward. "I can fight however the hell I want!" I shouted.

Our swords met in the middle in another clash of sparks, only this time I wasn't the first to draw back. Kenpachi grunted, defending my blows as I advanced, pushing him slowly backwards. When he was a few metres from a wall, I flash- stepped away, appearing with my feet against the very same wall, a hand on the gutter, before dropping silently to the ground.

Kenpachi hadn't noticed yet, until I let the small chuckle escape my lips. He turned but not fast enough.

Slashing from shoulder to hip, I immobilized his left arm and now he was forced to fight me with his sword in his right hand. He retreated backwards and I used this to my advantage. Using the wall, I pushed off of it, leaving a large crater in my wake, heading straight for him.

He was ready this time, his sword already drawn into a defence position, as I planted my feet on the ground a little to the right of him. Inertia pushed me past him as I landed a fleeting blow on my skid, a ploy, as now I was behind him. Grinding my right foot into the ground, I spun round and delivered a blow to his back quickly.

The look of surprised on his face was priceless, his sword blocking my devastating attack to his rib cage just in time. It glanced off though, still managing to pierce his abdomen.

"What's wrong, Zaraki? Is this too much for you? Am I too weak?" I roared, using my shadow jump in the lengthening shadows. His sword came down to where my foot was when I appeared and I was forced to jump again. He's memorized my move! His sword flashed before me and so began the deadly dance again.

The sun had completely set by now and we were still fighting, both of us too stubborn to give up. A large crowd, composed of not just Squad 11 but some other soul reapers from other squads, watched us with bated breath.

I was now covered in lacerations all up my arms and the sides of my neck, while a wound dealt by Kenpachi just a few minutes before kept me bent over while I wheezed for air. Kenpachi didn't look much better; his left arm was limp at his side and blood soaked the ground around him.

But he was still smiling. "Now this is fun!" he cried, lunging forward.

I blocked him, sliding backwards from the impact. Our swords locked, my arms shook violently from the pressure and exhaustion, as his face twisted into a sadistic snarl. My own face, to my surprise, curled into a smirk.

Slipping away to the side, more so to reduce the strain on my arms, I let Kenpachi's momentum take him down. He didn't have time to draw his sword back when I hacked at his undefended side. The most he could do was roll away, which prevented me from dealing the heavy blow I hoped would end the fight.

My zanpakuto's tip only just nicked him. The air changed, a heaviness entering it and I gave myself a good ten metres when I realised my mistake. An eyepatch fluttered to the floor, Kenpachi's eye now revealed.

"I was hoping that wouldn't happen," he murmured.

"Why?" I asked but the answer presented itself when yellow spiritual pressure erupted from the ground at his feet.

I was astounded at the power; how the hell was he still standing from its force? Gritting my teeth, I clasped both hands onto the hilt of my zanpakuto. I was going to have a lot more trouble now in beating him.

But I wasn't going to give up, no matter how powerful he seemed.

"Kera." The blunt way the Captain said my name grabbed my full attention. He stared at me intently, no sign of that smirk anymore. "I know you've been dampening your powers. Let's finish this with one final attack, no holding back. I want to see how strong you truly are."

"If you wish, Captain," I replied gloomily. I was nervous that if I exerted anymore spiritual pressure that the mask would form and I didn't know how I was supposed to explain that to my squad.

Thinking quickly, but coming up with no possible plan, I pressed the end of the hilt tightly against my cheek, feeling its soothing effects. Kenpachi stared on intently and I widened my stance, eyes closed.

Digging into the pool of spiritual pressure within me, I drew it out and it sounded like a hissing sound in my ears as it rose to maximum capacity. When I opened my eyes, I could barely see Kenpachi past the black spiritual pressure dancing around me.

A tingling spread along the left side of my cheek and I banged my zanpakuto hilt against it, trying to coax as much of its powers into my cheek.

"What are you doing?" Kenpachi asked, his voice barely audible over the howling of spiritual pressure.

"What you asked of me," I answered, before letting my arm and sword hang at my side. "Are you ready, Kenpachi?"

My spiritual pressure rose behind me like a wave, the heat of it scorching my back. It lapped at my skin, not hot but cool like water. It clung to my clothes, my hair, swirling around me. Pulsing with power, it formed into a pair of wings, much like that of a bat's.

Zaraki's spiritual pressure grew taller, forming the face of a smiling skull, mouth opening in silent laughter.

"Ready?" I asked, more of a whisper to myself and my sword than to the Captain.

Bending my knees, I clutched my zanpakuto with both hands again, before drawing it to the side, held up with the tip pointed at Kenpachi. Spiritual pressure settled like fire on my zanpakuto.

Zaraki brought his own sword to the side, his spiritual pressure now cackling silently. The ground beneath our feet began to shake, but I was steady amidst of it all, my breathing slow and calm.

I won't lose, I thought as Kenpachi and I both leapt towards each other, synchronised in our movements. I was roaring as we leapt, everything feeling like it was moving in slow motion.

Our spiritual pressure lashed out at each other, colliding in a brilliant light that made my vision white. But I could still hear the destruction it wrought. When the dust settled, we were both panting, standing right before each other. Kenpachi was close enough that I could see the dried blood and dirt staining his face, neck and the collar of his clothes. I was guessing my own face would portray the same image.

Standing there, I realised something; an immense pain was building in my chest and when I glanced down, the urge to cough made me gag, spit and something else running out of my mouth and nose. My hand shook, heavy and burning, as I wiped at my face, blood collecting on my fingers.

That's when I noticed Kenpachi's sword embedded in my chest, the guard pressed against me, which meant it had gone straight through, a clean pierce, through the centre of my breastbone. When I glanced at my own hand, the one holding my zanpakuto, I wondered what damage had I brought him. It was inside his chest, a little below his right side rib cage, but not deep enough to kill.

A spasm ran through me, an aching pain forming in my chest and back. Couching, I sprayed blood onto his captain's cloak. With a hand on my shoulder, he gently pulled his sword free; but I still felt it brush against the bone, the jagged edges of his sword grinding and vibrating through the bone.

With the sword free, I staggered backwards, my arms and legs numb. Pain overwhelming me, my body shut down and I faintly realised I had gone to my knees. I didn't feel the rest of me hitting the floor or my eyelids closing. My heart was in my head, beating the sound of death, and my body was on fire. I could hear Yachiru calling out my name, but as I drew further within myself, everything ceased to be a problem. I felt numb, a sense of relief seeping into my veins. I didn't have to worry any more.

Thanks for the great fight.