“What the hell?” Rukia hissed at Ichigo as he shattered her bonds and hefted her under his free arm. “Where the hell did you find a dragon?!”

“Beats me, frankly,” Ichigo admitted as he darted away from the execution stand. He squinted up at the great blue dragon circling overhead and frowned deeper, sheathing his sword and using his hand to shade his eyes. “We didn’t come here with one. Know any Shinigami able to do something like that?”

“No!”

There was someone riding the dragon, Ichigo was certain. It had been hard to see during the struggle, but the splash of white against the dragon’s black mane stood out.

And the only one he knew who wore white amongst their group was Ishida.

(Surely Ishida would have mentioned if he had some sort of ability to summon a dragon? Or used it when his damn competition went south and Karakura was invaded by Hollows?)

Ichigo swept his gaze down to the Captains below them, trying to get a read on how they were taking the dragon’s appearance or if they recognized it.

The two Captains who had destroyed the phoenix had expected the dragon’s aid, Ichigo decided, especially the white-haired one. He wasn’t paying any attention to the sky, where even his companion was glancing upwards whenever the dragon’s shadow crossed him. Instead, he was moving forward to confront the eldest Captain, who was alternating between glaring at the dragon overhead and the white-haired Captain approaching him.

“Bad blood there?” Ichigo asked, gesturing down at the confrontation.

Rukia hesitated, then shook her head. “I… don’t think so? Ukitake-taicho and Kyoraku-taicho were students of the Soutaicho…”

“So jii-san’s probably angry that his students went against him like that,” Ichigo concluded. It didn’t explain the antipathy towards the dragon overhead — or the way most of the Captains kept twitching whenever its shadow covered them — but it explained enough. “Well, I appre—”

The dragon roared in fury.

Wind whistled past Ichigo’s ears as the gigantic creature sliced through the air bare feet in front of him, sending the Captains and other Shinigami scattering to the edges of the hill. Its wings snapped open and it rose, body spiraling around until it resumed its circling pattern with Ichigo at the center.

Rukia yelped and shielded her eyes against the sudden wind while Ichigo held still, tracking the dragon’s movements whenever he could see it. It was… larger than he had thought — how high up had it been? — and at these distances it was easy to confirm that Ishida was seated right behind the dragon’s head.

“A dragon, Ishida?” Ichigo shouted when the dragon curved back around. “Holding out on me?” Ishida’s startled, almost panicked look made Ichigo’s heart sink; he’d stumbled across something Ishida didn’t feel comfortable with him knowing.

(Or his words implied he’d stumbled across something.)

(What the hell was he missing?)

“You must be Kurosaki, then,” the dragon rumbled, voice so deep Ichigo could feel it. Its — his — head tilted so that one great, poison-green eye could remain fixed on him as he circled. “Greetings. I am glad you are well.”

“Uh, yeah. Kurosaki Ichigo, nice to meet you.”

The dragon chuckled and twisted through the air, looping closer before relaxing his pattern and drawing away. “You may call me Rerugen.” His eyes narrowed then, head whipping around and lips curling back from sharp, sharp teeth as the air rippled golden around them. “And you can back off!” he snarled.

A Captain staggered back, dazed by the unexpected impact. She shook her head in an attempt to clear it and narrowed her eyes at Rerugen and Ichigo. “For impeding justice, you will be—ah!”

Rerugen’s tail lashed out in a blur of motion, slamming into the Captain’s side without warning and sending her flying. He snorted when someone intercepted the Captain in midair, both figures tumbling straight over the edge of the hill and out of sight. “Would anyone else like to try their luck?” he asked archly, glowering down at the Captains below them.

Ichigo frowned and scanned the hilltop and then the sky around them. There were fewer Captains and Lieutenants present; he’d almost expected it out of the Soutaicho and his two students, but they weren’t the only ones missing. The other female Captain was gone along with her Lieutenant, and Byakuya was… going after Renji?

“What’s his damn problem,” Ichigo grumbled and hefted Rukia in his arm, holding her away from his body and ignoring her struggles. “Hey, Rerugen! Could you watch her for me? I need to teach someone a lesson.”

“Wh— Ichigo! You can’t just— nii-sama already hurt you once!” Rukia protested, jabbing him in the side and glaring up at him. “Don’t do something so reckless!”

Rerugen’s laughter rumbled from deep in his chest and one great paw stretched out, snatching Rukia from Ichigo’s grasp with surprising delicacy. His forelimb tucked up against his chest, cradling Rukia in place. “Go then, and take care. I will guard your companions until you return.”

“Thanks.” Ichigo drew his blade and prepared to intercept Byakuya before the man could rile Renji into another fight.

“I’m sending Rerugen-san after your reckless ass if you don’t come back quickly!” Ishida shouted at him.

Ichigo snorted and waved a hand dismissively at Ishida. “Good luck with that! He promised to watch over you two and he seems the sort to keep his promises.”

“Why, then I suppose I’ll simply have to bring both of them along,” Rerugen answered guilelessly. “We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

“Tch, fine, I get it, I get it. You don’t need to worry about me,” Ichigo said with a grimace. “I’ll wrap this up quickly and return.”

“You better,” Ishida growled.

Rerugen huffed in amusement and backwinged, flight slowing and body lowering to the ground until he landed with a light thump. “Go, Kurosaki. We will be here when you return.”

He didn’t wait. Rerugen’s words reassured him and he had a brother to teach a lesson to.

Ichigo bolted.

Byakuya started. Blocked Ichigo’s blade. Narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips, gaze darting to the crowded hilltop then back to Ichigo.

In silent agreement, they left.

(This battle was between them alone. No one else.)

(They would settle it their way.)