A sore victory.

"he's fast and strong". Megumi pointed out and I nodded.

"I can't move freely with on my back". I said and looked at her as he stepped in closer.

"understood. I'll leave now! She said and jumped off my back. She ran off a bit then paused and looked at me.

"Don't die Ichigo. I want to sleep on the beach with you again". She said and smiled as she ran off into the woods.

"I won't". I muttered my myself and pulled my Kagune out as well.

"I'll make sure to end that promise". The ghoul said and stepped forward.

"who are you exactly? I asked, still keeping my composure.

"I'm Ayota, leader of the six nine. I have come for my pound of flesh".

"Pound of flesh. I didn't do anything to you". I snapped in confusion.

"You murdered my father and took his Kagune. I'll ripe that smile off your blood face". Ayota snapped and rushed at me.

I dodged his first two attacks but had to block the next. He moved fast like a lightning bolt and his strength level was definitely a 10 out of 10. I got smashed to the tress and back to the ground as his Kagune gripped my leg.

"I will kill you and end your pathetic reign of terror". He muttered and stepped even closer.

I gnashed my teeth and used my Phoenix dive to slow down his advancement. He shielded himself with his Rashumon Kagune and the moment he opened up, I was closer to his face than ever. I threw my fist at him and he vanished in thin air. Reappearing in mid air and crashing to the ground.

He stood above my chest, I gripped his collar and drew him closer for a nudge. He pushed himself above me and stripped his Kagune to my feet again, slamming me to the ground. I gurgled and coughed out blood.

"It's a shame my father lost to a loser like you". He scoffed and vansihed again. He appeared behind me and swinging his fist which was weaved aside. I countered with a swing of my foot as though I wished to kick him with my right leg. He pushed backward and I swinged my left instead, to his ribs. He cough but got a resounding punch that pushes him back into the trees.

"I didn't kill anyone. I am nothing more than an experiment! I snapped but he walked out with an even more serious face. Wiping the blood off his chin and nose.

"Fool! You think that a liar like you can deceive me".

He snapped and we both had the same idea, clashing our kagune's into each other. The ground erupted and the shockwave was immersive. Blowing off trees and warding off potential helpers. We both screamed and sent our fist flying at each other. I even used my Kagune to lash to a tree and wipe him off my face. He did the same thing, we both slashed each other and kept regenerating.

I coughed out blood at every fist that met my stomach and he did the same. Eventually, we jumped backward to each other and took a short breather.

"I'll kill you, one eyed ghoul". He muttered as he tried to stand.

"I can assure you, I didn't kill your father. Besides who told you that". I demanded and he smirked.

"your wife!

"Huh? I gasped as the news was followed with a quick punch that had me crashed into the woods again. My back pierced into a tree branch and I screamed in pain.

"forget about struggling your death is certain. You murdered my father and took his Kagune for yourself. Now, you think you can beat me with it". Ayota muttered as he stepped closer.

"Look! I don't remember a fight with a…." I paused as my mind raced back to the very beginning. It was all making sense now, Ayota was mourning the lose of his father and thought I was the one that killed him. But it was Yumeko who fought with him that night and then attacked me afterwards.

She killed him and ripped his body parts, fixed it into mine and that's how I have two Kagunes. The Rashumon was Ayota's father's and not mine. I struggled to pull my body off the tree but received a punch from Ayota, he kept hitting me until I broke past the tree.

"Now! You'll suffer just like he did". Ayota muttered and threw him Kagune out.

"You are wrong". I snapped and he paused in his attack.

"Your father was killed by Yumeko and not me. She lies to you, just so that you can kill me. I was there when it happened, I was injured because Yumeko attacked me too. She turned me into this ghoulish monster and I plan to repay her for this evil". I snapped out quickly and Ayota rubbed his chin.

"I don't believe that crap". He snapped back.

"I don't need you to believe, I need you to think! I snapped and launched at him.

We both lashed at each other and slash ourselves open. Blood spilled on the floor as we appeared at opposite sides. I gripped my injured abdomen and groaned in pain. I looked back at Ayota, who was barely standing. He was bleeding like me but even more intense and kept gurgling.

"I recognize the move you used there. It was my father's". Ayota muttered lowly and turned to look at me.

"I…believe you. You are indeed a strong lad, so stand proud". He gasped and fell over on his back. I gasped and continued breathing heavily. I took a few steps forward and stopped to groan, tightening my grip on my stomach.

Ayota was still alive but laid perfectly still. I on the other hand, needed a place to rest but where? Every where was practically a war zone. I pushed forward even further into the deep woods and stood over a short cliff. Staring cautiously into the waters, I heard a footstep emerge behind me. I thought it would be Ayota, perhaps to talk or maybe for a round two but instead, it was Rin.

Rin stood there watching me as I struggled for air. He stepped further away from the trees, eyes wide open at me. It was cold and calculating, while I tried to keep my distance.

"Rin? I muttered in a low tone.

"Looks like you know the whole story now, don't you? He asked and looked around.

"Yumeko made the mistake of letting me go. I'll kill her myself". I snapped and he chuckled softly.

"She is wiser than that, Ichigo. It's a shame, cause I was starting to like you". He said and pulled out his Kagune

"Guess I should have listened to Jester. I was another puppet but I will be that last. Certainly I can assure you of that". I snapped and tried to pace at him.

He saw through the move before I even started it and dodged it easily. He let his Kagune down my stomach and bust out my back, knocking me over the cliff. I held onto a rock by the mountain side but it wasn't strong enough and I was losing blood fast. As I hanged on, I looked up to see Rin staring down on me. I watched his Kagune reach out to a rock and heard him snarl.

"Told you, it will take a thousand years to defeat me". He reminded me again and smashed me clean off the cliff with the rock into the waters. As I sank deep, the water changed color to red and my vision of Rin in distance got even more and more blurry.