Recap:
Renji kept himself from falling, and breathed through the pain of the head wound he had just suffered; he tried to assess the situation to figure out how exactly the boy had gotten such a power up so quickly. But then the image of Izumi declaring a 'release' popped into his mind making his eyes widen. Not only did he realize, but so did Byakuya as he observed the scene in front of him; Renji would surely lose if he allowed the battle to continue.
"What's wrong!? Your movements became really slow!! And so suddenly too!" Ichigo mocked while a wide smile took hold of his lips. Renji gritted his teeth as he listened to the boy laugh, he scanned his eyes over to Izumi who was on the sidelines of the match; he saw regret and sadness in her eyes before he refocused on his opponent. He knew that she had unlocked his increasing power, and he realized just how strong he was. He could feel Ichigo's spiritual power just by him talking and he couldn't believe just how heavy it was.
"Let's end this! I'm gonna be the winner! Izumi stay out of this!" Ichigo declared while raising his sword preparing to strike Renji down once more, only this time, would be the last time. Izumi's heart was heavy as he demanded that she stay put, and she closed her eyes not wanting to see her best friend take another person's life. If it was by her hand she wouldn't be so humbled, but Ichigo was pure, he was clean. Sure Ichigo had gotten a big head about having so much power so quickly, but she still didn't feel that he had needed to declare she was not to interfere with his battle; she hated how he acted with his power sometimes. What she hadn't counted for was before he could hit his mark, and before she even realized it, Ichigo's Zanpaktou was suddenly cut in two making the boy stop.
With Izumi's eyes closed, she hadn't realized something was wrong until the sound of metal clanking to the ground; by the time she had opened them all she saw was Byakuya standing behind Ichigo. Rage and fear filled her body as she looked from one male to the other; right as her eyes focused on Ichigo, blood gushed from his chest making her heart stop. Right before her eyes he was falling again; only this time, she didn't know if he would get back up.
Her friend had been stabbed straight through at the chest, and while he was attacked, she was standing there with her eyes closed. She had gotten soft; and now Ichigo Kurosaki may die before her eyes.
....
Instead of shock, red hot rage took hold of Izumi's heart while she stared at her falling friend, then at the man who had caused his pain.
"Even when falling you're slow." Byakuya said while glaring at Ichigo from the side of his eyes; this comment alone was enough to push our girl over the edge. Without another thought Izumi allowed her spiritual pressure to run wild; power exploded from around the girl making dust fly around her crazily. Everyone stared at her in shock even Byakuya who was known for being stoic faced. They weren't prepared for such an outburst from the mystery girl.
Power surged around her, her pupils were no longer visible as the wildness of her full power was now flowing freely from her body; it was enough to almost take away her consciousness. After her banishment, she had gone through years of torturous training to control every single ounce of her power so she wouldn't be detected by anyone; after taking on Ichigo's power as well, her control was arguably the best the world had ever seen. However, without the seal on Ichigo, and without the years of restraint; her power was spilling out her body for the first time since she could act freely. Just a glimpse of not even half of this power was enough to keep companions from Urahara' s shop on their knees without even a chance to step back to their feet. She was known for her monstrous spiritual pressure even in the soul society where she was believed to be the next in line for the position of Captain Commander.
....
Everyone in Karakura town that was able to sense spiritual pressure had either been awakened, or interrupted by her sudden power surge. Those that were close with her knew exactly what was happening, while others were simply terrified that someone that powerful could ever exist in their world.
....
Within the Soul Society, the Captain Commander -- Izumi's Grandfather -- sat with his eyes closed while his loyal second in command sat a little ways away from his holy chair. He was waiting patiently for the Captain of the Sixth Division to return with their fugitive. He had deemed Byakuya fit to find Rukia Kuchiki, and to bring her back to receive her punishment. Genryusai was rather disappointed that someone from the house of Kuchiki would be so disgraceful and run off for so long. He had thought that the Gotei Thirteen was more disciplined and knew better than to run off to the human world for so long.
Thinking of the said world caused flashes of light purple hair, and beautiful brown eyes similar to his own to filter through his mind. A child's laughter floated through his ears as images of a young Izumi played through his mind. Pain rested in his heart making him rub his bald head slowly; he had banished his granddaughter many years ago. However, these memories still plagued his mind anytime the human world was in question. His Izumi was long gone by now, and if she were alive, he knew that she would never return to him; she couldn't.
Moments passed in complete silence as he thought about her, the pain in his chest felt as if it would never dissipate until a spiritual pressure that was strong enough to be felt the whole way from the Human World dampened the air even within their bases. His lieutenant looked up at the older man in shock while others around the different bases looked towards the sky in shock as well; some were startled with the vast amount of power they were feeling, while others were feeling something familiar; something they hadn't felt in a very, very long time.
The Captain of the first division took to his feet immediately while his eyes were opened wide. He couldn't believe what he was feeling. A power strong enough to be felt the whole way from the human world was unheard of. However, only one name came to mind as he thought over the familiar spiritual pressure. There was only one who could unleash such monstrous strength and before he could even register his own thoughts, one name slipped from his lips as he held his cane.
"Izumi."
....
Shock was still evident on the onlooker's faces as Izumi began to walk towards her fallen friend; Byakuya jumped back away from the boy as she got closer. His hand gripped his Zanpaktou tightly. He had felt power similar to hers before, power that he could only find from his Captain Commander in the Soul Society.
"I-Izumi!" Rukia called her name completely startled at the raging power flowing from the girl. She had felt her power before on the day of Ichigo's mother's grave visit; it was only for a moment, and if had felt nothing like what she was feeling now, but it was enough to make her want to drop to her knees. The only thing keeping her from doing so was the street pole she had been leaning against.
All precaution had left the older girl's mind, she was no longer hiding; she wasn't hiding from the Soul Society, from the Hollows, from the hunters out to get her, from herself anymore. Her reason for smiling everyday was laying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, and Izumi was past any points of calming down.
"Our situation doesn't involve you; stand down." Byakuya declared loudly attempting to keep his cool while staring at the woman who still hadn't made any noise. At his voice, Izumi's pupils slowly came back into view and her power slowed down from rapidly increasing to consitantly increasing; everyone's lungs were burning as the girl stared on with a emotionless face.
"You cut my Ichi down; you're not fit to survive this world." she said simply while looking on with a blank look. Her voice alone was enough to make Renji step back a few steps. Izumi halted her walk and stood beside Ichigo's body for a few moments while staring down at him; no emotion was visible while she watched the blood continue to ooze from his back. "Soul Reaper or not, Captain or not; I'll kill you." she looked back up towards them and was about to take a step forward until Ichigo grabbed hold of her ankle stopping her in her tracks.
Even with his touch, no emotion came to her face while she looked down at him. Ichigo sucked in a few breaths before he gave her a tight smile.
"Don't go." he said while looking up at her. Those two words fell on deaf ears as she stared down at him with no emotion. "Please Zumi, don't be consumed." he said again this time clenching her ankle even harder. She was sure it would bruise later.
Ichigo realized now what Urahara had meant when he had asked him for this favor. If she let it, her power could consume her; if that happened, she would likely never be the same. She wouldn't be able to control herself and would most likely do something she would regret. So now here he was, hoping and praying that he wasn't too late in calling for her to fully come back. He hoped she would come back to him, and they would make it out of this alive. In a blink of an eye, Izumi's power had vanished causing the others to stare on in disbelief. The air was no longer heavy, but terror was clear in Rukia and Renji's faces.
Tears flooded Izumi's eyes as she stared down at Ichigo's body before dropping down to her knees beside him; Ichigo gave her another smile before he let his head fall into the ground. Izumi covered her mouth as tears continued to fall and she desperately pushed at Ichigo's back trying to get him to reawaken. Heavy breaths left her lips as he was unresponsive.
"Ichigo!" Rukia screamed from behind the two men and the short black haired girl began rushing forward to see him. She didn't care if Izumi was out of control or not; she seemed to be grieving now. But, before she could get close however, Renji flashed infront of her and slammed her into the street pole beside them. "Let go Renji! Ichigo is!"
Before she could finish her statment, the red head shoved her back into the pole hard and shushed her. There was a horrible pain that flashed through her back from the rough wood, but she could bare it if it was for Ichigo.
"What the hell is wrong with you!? Look! He's dead! There's no point getting into more trouble over a dead guy! Get it? If you go near him, another twenty years will be added to your sentence!" Renji tried to reason while pointing to where Ichigo and Izumi were. Izumi looked up at the two of them through her tears and locked eyes with Rukia who was looking on with nothing but desperation. A chocked cry came from Izumi's lips as she shook her head and went back to Ichigo before laying her head down on his back listening for a heart beat; she heard one, but it was faint. It was enough to give her hope.
"So what!? I was the one who dragged him into this! It's my fault he died! Since it's my fault he died! Is it so wrong to go to him!?" Rukia screamed stunning Renji who couldn't believe that his childhood friend would care so much for some random human.
"In other words, even if your punishment worsens you still want to be by the side of this boy?" Byakuya questioned while now standing just in front of Ichigo's head. Izumi leaned over his body as much as she could while pulling out her own Zanpaktou that rested on her left hip. She pointed the sword at the man's stomach daring him to come a step closer.