Bleach Manga Thread [spoilers]

After the battle with Äs Nödt, where both Byakuya and Renji were defeated, both of them as well as Rukia are sent up to the Royal Palace to be healed in the hot springs. Rukia and Renji recover first, as Byakuya's wounds are much more severe. They get outfitted in new clothes, and begin their training with Ichibei.

Renji and Rukia then head out to Soul Society, and Renji confronts "The Superstar" while Rukia searches for other shinigami. While considering if she should join back up with Renji to attack the enemy castle together with him, she is discovered by Äs Nödt, who lurks in the shadows asking her where "Senbonzakura" is, the spirit of Byakuya's Zanpakutō. He asks her where her brother is, and after she refuses he asks if he'll come if he kills her, to which she agrees and he attacks her with his thorns.

Rukia defends, freezing the thorns attacking her, however he tells her that won't stop fear, and tells her that she is now frozen with fear. She however stands up, able to move, and Äs Nödt is confused as to why she isn't affected. She asks him if he fears someone that he can't defeat with fear. He of course finds that to be ridiculous, and fires more thorns at her. She catches them, freezing on contact, and Rukia tells him that his fear can't effect her because she isn't technically alive.

She then explains how Sode no Shirayuki's powers work, allowing her to drop her temperature below freezing. The more Äs Nödt doesn't believe her, the more she drops her temperature, multiple times, until reaching absolute zero (−459.67°F) freezing Äs Nödt frozen solid.

She slowly increases the temperature, slowly recovering. However, once she returns back to normal, so does Äs Nödt, to which he uses his Quincy: Vollständig. She tries to freeze him, but as he moves behind her Rukia notices that she can't move, and is frozen with fear. He then reveals that his fear now works with sight instead of contact. As he torments her, creating more eyes around her telling her there is no escape, Byakuya cuts through the eyes saving her.

Äs Nödt begins mocking him for his previous defeat, and attacks him. Byakuya repels each of his attack to which Äs Nödt claims that he is blocking them with his newly recovered Bankai. Byakuya corrects him, saying that he is simply using his Shikai, and thanks the Quincy for separating him from his Bankai, as gained a deeper understanding of his Zanpakutō in the process.

Äs Nödt becomes infuriated at the insult, and begins to transform. Byakuya turns to face Rukia, applauding her for growing so strong. Insisting that fear is only a choice, he helps Rukia overcome her fear and tells her to finish off Äs Nödt herself.

Rukia unleashes her Bankai, Hakka no Togame, and freezes the transformed Äs Nödt to death. Byakuya warns her to slowly melt out of her Bankai state so that she does not damage herself. He then comments on how splendid her Bankai is, saying, "Rukia... You've become formidable", but also warning her of the dangers of using it.

wuahahahaha things might get amusing now, and let that runt fight some.