Targets 11

At first he didn't feel it.

Then he looked down and a wave pain briefly but sharply flashed through his body before numbing unconsciousness wriggled its way into his head.

"Ichigo!" Rukia tried to get to him, but Ripclaw's claws that were curled around her began to dig into her side.

Peatra grinned as the orange-haired substitute soul reaper fell to the ground face down, rain pummeling his back.

"Ichigo, get up! Please!" The tortured, shocked cries of the little soul reaper cut through the storm. Her indigo eyes ignored her mental orders to look away, but instead remained glued to his broken body.

A cold, cackling laugh made Rukia fall silent. She glared as Peatra's face lit up with her crazy giggled, red eyes filled with sickening amusement.

"Crying his name in the pouring rain? Deja vu, anyone? Let's see... Dye Ichigo's hair black, and change his name to Kaien?"

Peatra grinned at Rukia. "Is this breaking your little white heart? Ripclaw, let her go."

The second his claws unwrapped, Rukia bolted towards Ichigo.

But, again, the Arrancar's speed was amazing.

Rukia didn't even see her touch- no, even reach for the sword the ripped open the midget's side. She stumbled and fell, coughing, blood sprinkling onto the grass. "Don't try to run."

Peatra crouched down. "Rukia, do you want to know why I targeted you?"

The other woman looked up, not saying anything but silent curiosity filling her pained gaze.

"You soul reaper a simply given so much; rights, power, uniqueness. Hollows are all the same. Everything we have is won through brutal battles, and even when we reach the top there is still so much we are lacking. Well, I'm sick of it." Peatra reached forward and drew one cold finger across Rukia's cheek. "You know how it feels to be dissatisfied with yourself, don't you? But you have some one no other soul reaper or hollow has," she paused, letting her blood-red gaze slip down to Rukia's zanpakuto. "Sode no Shirayuki."

Rukia was shocked. Immediately she fell back and began to crawl backwards away. Peatra slowly followed, continuing her speech.

"My power does not have a zanpakuto; this sword has no spiritual power at all. You see, I have to ability to attain every type of power I am jealous of. Kido, Hado, Cero, flash-step... I've gotten almost everything, but a zanpakuto. Now I need one, so I can achieve my goal! No longer will I be jealous, people will be jealous of me!" The Arrancar's voice was filled with aching to painful to hide.

But Rukia was more concerned with her and Ichigo's mortality than a hollow's desires. She scrambled to her feet and tried once more to reach the orange-haired soul reaper's side.

Just as her fingers brushed his limp arm, a glinting steel blade went through her chest.

"I thought," Peatra hissed, twisting her sword painfully, "I told you not to run!" She flung Rukia away from Ichigo, the blade slipping out like a knife in butter.

As she approached once more, she continued in a low, taunt voice. "Sit up, Rukia Kuchiki."

Rukia struggled instinctively to a kneeling position, her breath uneven with pain, and Peatra knelt in front of her, beginning to reach for Sode no Shirayuki. "I missed your heart and lungs, so you should be fine for a few minutes."

"It's a shame you won't," a voice said coldly from behind the Arrancar.

The next moment her left arm was gone.

"Wha-" Peatra was on her feet and turned around in a second. "You should be dead!"

Ichigo laughed humorlessly. "I was faking. Knew you'd explain your self, but I lost it when you stabbed Rukia. Sorry 'bout the arm."

"You... Ripclaw, why didn't you do anything!" Peatra's head swung around, her flaming gaze burning with fury and rage.

"I- I didn't even see him-" Ripclaw's yellow eyes were wide in shock.

"Hey, it's me your fighting, Peatra," Ichigo growled. He launched forward, swinging Zangetsu like crazy.

The Arrancar only lasted 15 seconds. In those moments, she ascended her invisible staircase, trying to dodge while backing away. Then, very quickly, she found that her abdomen was attached to her lower half by only her spine.

It seemed to be in slow motion. She fell back, falling through empty air, blood hanging above her as it flowed easily out. No thoughts were in her mind as she plummeted to earth.

"My Lady!" Ripclaw lurched towards her, his arms extended to catch her.

Peatra's body was already cold as it hit the loyal hollow's hands. Her eyes were blank, glazed, and sightless as they matched Ripclaw's gaze.

There were no tragic last words. Peatra Aion-Vera was already dead.

Even as her body began to disintegrate into red ash, though, Ripclaw vainly howled her name in childish desperation.

"My lady! Answer me! My lady!"

Ichigo watched silently. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the grief-stricken hollow. He very quickly, and without any warning, flash-stepped forward and executed the beast. Ripclaw dissolved into nothing.

Then the orange-haired soul reaper turned and scooped up Rukia, who had faded to unconsciousness, racing to the Urahara shop.

The only sign that there was a fight was the blood-red ashes that sprinkled the ground.