Look at the bottom if you want an introduction.

I will say this only in the first chapter and no more. I do not own bleach.

-Bleach-

Chapter 1

Kurosaki Ichigo was somebody who could be called normal in one or more ways. The boy was a typical teenager, stubborn , short-tempered, quick to pick a fight and spoke his mind without a care. More than often Ichigo found trouble as often as trouble found Ichigo but he never complained too much about it.

His education was rather good as Ichigo studied often at home, his excuses ranged to being bored or being forced, but if Ichigo told the truth it was because he wanted to work hard to overcome his first-impression image.

A rather ordinary teen, but as everyone does, Ichigo had some odd characteristics in him. His were just more pronounced.

The first thing anybody notices about Ichigo is his bright orange messy hair, which often gave the image of a trouble maker as most people first think Ichigo did the colouring to himself, which is not the case. Ichigo born with such bright hair quickly learned to adapt a "go screw your self" attitude when others mocked him for it.

The second thing that made Ichigo odd is the ability to see the recently deceased, 'ghosts'. As long as Ichigo could remember he could see people who others couldn't. People who walked through walls, appeared and disappeared, people who floated and had a chain protruding from there chests. When he was younger Ichigo couldn't always tell the difference between the living and the dead. This only added to his image as liar and delinquent, as he often appeared talking to himself in various areas of his hometown: Karakura.

The final and third thing that made Ichigo odd, in his eyes was his occupation: a Shinigami. To be a Shinigami, a death god means to bring the dead to the other side and battle spirits gone rogue and monstrous, 'Hollow' is the name given to these spiritual beasts. Shinigami live in the spirit world, at the heavenly Soul Society and within the Seiretei (Court of pure souls). It is a noble life style to those in the Soul society and to be a Shinigami was to be an honour.. But to Ichigo…

"BACK..OFF"

Maybe not so much.

Our hero is to be found in the basement of the shady "Urahara" shop owned by the even more shadier Kisuke Urahara, a cunning perverted business man, even if he does have the tendency to slack off at every chance. The basement is bigger than the house, much bigger, it be more accurate to say that Urahara's basement was the size of street the shop is built on. The by passers wouldn't even guess what was going on beneath there feet, just a few meters below.

-BLEACH-

"MAKE ME HOLLOW BOY!"

"Be nice Jinta, Kurosaki is a little stressed about the situation."

Jinta, a red haired boy working at the Urahara shop, was being scolded slightly by Urahara himself. Ichigo sat at the bottom of a large and narrow hole descending vertically into the ground, this hole was called, lovingly by Urahara the "Shattered shaft" .

The purpose of this hole, one may ask is to trap Ichigo at the bottom, whom currently was yelling obscenities to the shadows at the top of the shaft., with his arms strapped behind his back, Ichigo could not climb out, the hole was to high to jump out off and the walls were unnaturally smooth for a hole.

Ichigo himself was not looking his best.

With his face bruised and battered and a chain that appeared to be eating it's self sticking out of his chest, it was clear to see that Ichigo was not having a good time.

"Hey Hat an clogs?" echoed the reverberating voice of Ichigo from the hole. 'Hat an clogs' Urahara leaned over slightly with a paper fan in his hand.

"Hmm? Yes Kurosaki?" Urahara replied pleasantly sweet tone. Ichigo was sure he was doing that on purpose.

"I still don't get why I'm down here? How's cutting my chain and strapping me up like a pervert going to get my Shinigami power back?" Ichigo struggled against his restraints in effortless attempt.

"My my Kurosaki don't you trust me?" Holding the fan in front of his face, parodying a hurt expression. Ichigo just stared at him.

"Hell no! So far you've poked me outta my body, let a little girl kick my ass and now you're making me into a hollow?" Quick catch of breath "Not really."

"Patience is life skill on needs to learn to grow into a mighty oak, Kurosaki." Urahara waving his fan in a lazy circle but sounding rather serious. Jinta snorted.

"Where 'd you get that one? Another cookie?" Urahara nodded with a smile.

"Yes the little restaurant around the corner does excellent Sushi and gives free cookies.

"Really? How much-" STOP INGNORING ME!" Ichigo seemed to be trying to defy gravity to bite the two. Urahara shared a smile with Jinta behind his fan.

"So sorry Kurosaki, didn't mean to forget about you. Well if you really want to know…" Urahara stood up and paced around the edge of the hole.

"To turn into a Shinigami, a soul must hold three things. Energy, purity and a Zanpakutou ." Counting each item with his fingers and wiggling them at Ichigo.

Ichigo didn't get it.

"I don't get it."

Urahara sighed and tried to think of a way to dumb down the explation when Tessai coughed from behind Ichigo.

"If you allow me Urahara-dono?" Receiving permission in a lazy wave, Tessai sat back against the Shaft's wall and focused on Ichigo.

"The three things you need to become a Shinigami is energy which we call Reiryoku, the power behind most Shinigami abilities." Ichigo looked confused.

"But I thought it was called Reiatsu?" Ichigo countered. Tessai chuckled,

"Small beginners mistake I'm afraid Kurosaki-dono, the difference is small yet fundamental." Tessai took this time to stoke his beard as he further explained.

"Reiryoku is the energy stored within the body, the spiritual power that flows through all Shinigami. Reiatsu is the pressure released by reiryoku." Tessai explained to the enraptured Ichigo.

"So it's like a light bulb and the light given off?" Ichigo seemed to be getting comfortable around Tessai rather quickly.

"Indeed a adequate example for now Kurosaki-dono. The electricity in the bulb and the light given off due to the energy. A Shinigami can control reiatsu to a extent, flaring it to frighten opponents or concealing to hide from those trying to sense your reiatsu."

Tessai seemed to be repeating a speech said a thousand times Ichigo thought.

"Were you a teacher or something Tessai?" Tessai smile a bit nostalgic

"Or something." Tessai agreed. Ichigo grinned.

"Hey, what about a 'pure' soul? How can you get a pure soul, do you pray a lot or something?" Ichigo could picture himself shaving his head and praying everyday for the rest of his life, not exciting. Tessai let loose that chuckle again.

"Indeed not Kurosaki-dono. A pure soul refers to a spiritual being who has no chain of fate." Tessai finished simply. Ichigo wished he could rub his own confused head.

"How can someone lose their chain and not become a hollow?" he pondered.

Tessai pushed his glasses up his nose and said "If you remember Kuchiki-san had no chain of fate for herself?" Ichigo flinched, the only things he could think about Rukia now was her parting words as she was taken back to the Soul Society by her brother.

Ichigo argued with himself, telling him this was why he was here, to get strong and rescue her.

"Yeah, so does it just drop off? Ichigo trying to act as if he hadn't just zoned out.

Tessai only smiled this time. "No Kurosaki-dono. As you know the chain is what connects a person, having a out of body experience to their living body yes?" Ichigo nodded fast eager to learn anything that could help. Tessai continued.

"As you know pluses who are earth-bound also have a chain of fate as opposed to some pluses that don't?" Tessai questioned Ichigo, who nodded and replied in earnest.

"Yeah those with chains have something holding them down, unfinished business an stuff and the chain is wrapped around the thing holding them down." Tessai gave a tilt of his head.

"Indeed well said Kurosaki-dono. Yes, that is correct. However if that spirit become unstable or something happens to it's chain the results unpleasant as I'm sure you have found out." Tessai looking pointedly at Ichigo's chain. Ichigo frowned at the ever shortening chain.

"You haven't got a muzzle for this thing laying around at the back of the shop have you , Tessai? Tessai shook his head slowly.

"I cannot look for such item as the point of this exercise is to escape the shaft before the Encroachment is complete." Tessai replied apologetically but continued where he left off.

"A broken chain of fate means the start of a process called Hollowfication , the process of becoming a hollow, much faster than the Encroachment you yourself are facing. Almost instantaneous is the change that a pluses with a broke chain turn into a hollow, you might remember the event with Don Kanonji-san?" Tessai offered.

Ichigo grimaced, he remembered all to well that man and his actions. Breaking chains, believing that it put the spirit to rest. Never noticing the hollows he left in his wake. But the Don proved his usefulness in the end…as a human shield.

But that raised some questions in Ichigo's mind.

"What's the difference? I mean what's different about Hollowfication and Encroachment? Besides the speed." Ichigo asked moving a cramped leg around. Tessai looked…happy at the question, maybe the guy missed whatever he did thought Ichigo off hand.

"The difference Kurosaki-dono is that Hollowfication is a process that causes a instant change into a hollow, this only happens to spirits who are left unsent and begin to gather negative feelings. These feelings cause a imbalance in their reiryoku, which begins to erode their chain of fate. If a pluse with strong negative feelings has their chain of fate cut, their change is almost instantly. The negative feelings act as a catalyst to the transformation." Tessai stopped at that point to see if Ichigo was keeping up with his lesson. Ichigo let out a sound of understanding.

"So basically a pissed of spirit more likely to turn into a hollow, yeah?" Ichigo answered uncertainly. Tessai nodded happily. Ichigo turned semi-serious at this point.

"Guess I shouldn't have told so many spirits to piss off and stop annoying me. Might explain why so many hollows attack me." Ichigo grumbled.

Tessai decided to move the conversation along at this point.

"The process of encroachment is different because the amount of time taken and the type of soul that is facing the process." "Type?" Ichigo questioned once Tessai stopped to take a breath.

"Yes Kurosaki-dono, type as in what kind of spirit. The upset and unsettled type are usually the earthbound spirits, but a few normal spirits can get this way too. The other type is those who are ready." Tessai finished. Ichigo was starting to get annoyed how confused he was getting today.

"Ready?"

"To move on to the soul society, these souls harbour no negative feelings and no unfinished business. They simple wait till a Shinigami performs their duty. If someone cuts their chain of fate they do not change into a hollow instantly but their chain begins to eat it self till they too will turn into a hollow. A peaceful soul is more likely to last longer before turning into a hollow. Like yourself, Kurosaki-dono."

Tessai motioned towards the chain, which Ichigo was sure it wasn't that short a minute ago.

"When a Shinigami performs Konso(soul burial) the spirit is sent to the soul society, free of any injury or chain of fate. After there they can integrate with the people and have the potential to become Shinigami." Tessai finished with a wave of his hand. But now looked thoughtful.

"The last item on the list to become a Shinigami is a Zanpakutou and the hardest to understand." Tessai spoke softly now. Ichigo was frowning again

"But it's just a sword, right?" Ichigo wonder puzzled. Tessai raised an eyebrow at Ichigo, who felt like he had just said something rather stupid. Tessai looked up at Urahara, who just waved lazily at him.

"A Zanpakutou isn't just a sword, a wise man once said that a Shinigami makes the Zanpakutou in the beginning but it's the Zanpakutou that makes the Shinigami in the end." Tessai said sagely.

"Each Zanpakutou is unique as is each Shinigami. Do you know the process of making a Zanpakutou Kurosaki-dono?" Tessai leaned towards Ichigo. Ichigo shook his head.

"Rukia…never taught me more than how to kill hollows and a few bits of info about the Shinigami." Ichigo frowned at Rukia's name. Tessai, stroking his beard again, thought how to begin on the complicated subject.

"When a spirit has enough reiryoku after they reach the soul society they may give birth to the soul of their Zanpakutou. " Tessai began, in which Ichigo quickly interrupted.

"Soul of the Zanpakutou? They're alive!" Ichigo squawked. Tessai shook his head.

"Bear with me Kurosaki-dono it is a difficult subject to explain in the beginning. What I meant about the soul of a Zanpakutou is the power and mind of the Zanpakutou. When a Shinigami is born, His or hers Zanpakutou soul is created at the same time, deep within the Shinigami's heart, a presence, a self-aware presence will begin it's life. When a Shinigami gains enough awareness of their spirit they may try and contact the spirit, often it is the Zanpakutou that makes first contact, mostly in the Shinigami's dreams or unconscious thought and is mostly one-sided as often the Shinigami will have trouble understanding their Zanpakutou. However in time of great danger the Zanpakutou can summon their welder within there mind, their 'inner world' to be precise."

Tessai sat back to catch his breath after this speech. Ichigo's mind was spinning with confusion and questions.

"But I already had a Zanpakutou but it broke when I fought the other Shinigami and the way you make it sound these things can't be replaced." Ichigo was getting worried now. Tessai waved his hands in a relaxed manner.

"No Kurosaki-dono that Zanpakutou was not your own." Tessai said simply.

"What? No you're wrong Tessai when I became a Shinigami I got that sword and slayed my first hollow with it." Ichigo argued. Tessai shook his head in a negative motion.

"Tell me how did you get that power at the time Kurosaki-dono?" Tessai said gently.

"Rukia stabbed me with her sword and I kicked that hollow's ass. Why does that mean something?" Ichigo said worried. Tessai stroked his beard again.

"What Kuchiki-san did was channel some of her focused reiryoku into you're your body and temporary transformed your entire body into a Shinigami. Unfortunately Your body took more than she expected leaving her as a normal spirit, as you remember?

Ichigo did remember that eventful night that changed everything. But now that he thought about it, he recalled Rukia's black Shinigami garb transforming into a simple white robe. That was his fault?

"I didn't mean to, what I mean is that I only wanted to protect my family you know? I didn't want her powers, not all of them." Ichigo hardly ever babbled, he left that to Orohime, a master of the art. Tessai waved soothingly at Ichigo.

"Indeed not Kurosaki-dono. Taking her power was an unforeseen event, however considering the act itself you two youngsters were lucky that was all that happened." Ichigo had to look at Tessai to convey his disbelief.

"Lucky? How? Rukia lost all her power and the other Shinigami took her away to be punished for it, how could it get any worse?" Ichigo demanded.

"You could of both died." Tessai responded gravely.

"What Kuchiki-san did had a extremely high mortality rate and the rate which you drained her could of taken her along with you." Tessai said quietly. Ichigo mouth dropped.

"Why didn't Rukia tell me that?" Ichigo muttered, but Tessai heard anyway.

"Most likely to spare you the guilt, that you rightly don't deserve. What Kuchiki-san did was a last gamble to save you and your family. She bet all of your life's including hers, on you." Ichigo looked lost and a bit happy at the revelation but Ichigo often noticed he had a one-track mind.

"Yeah so how did that mean I don't have Zanpakutou?" Ichigo in a 'back on the topic, change the topic' movement. Tessai obeyed Ichigo's hidden wish.

"The Zanpakutou you received in that battle was a manifestation of Kuchiki-sans own Zanpakutou. Didn't you notice that Kuchiki-sans Zanpakutou disappeared?" Ichigo shook his head

"A Zanpakutou has it's own reiryoku so even if you drained Kuchiki-san dry her Zanpakutou would of remained with her. Instead you took so much of Kuchiki-sans reiryoku that it began to change your own large amount of reiryoku, like paint in water. The Zanpakutou, confused went to the largest source of it's master, which was now you, a blend of Kuchiki-sans reiryoku and your own." Lectured Tessai.

"When a Zanpakutou is broken or destroyed, it can repair or regenerate to perfect condition if it's master also recovers. However when your chain was shattered in Shinigami form you lost of the energy you acquired through Kuchiki-san and so it no longer look to you as it's master and will not appear for you again, so now it will wait patiently for Kuchiki-san to recover and to summon it again." Tessai finished.

Ichigo was a little impressed.

"You must have been a awesome something! I totally understood that and you didn't need to use any crappy drawings." Ichigo sniggered at the memory of Rukia's drawings.

Tessai just raised an eyebrow.

"To answer your original question Kurosaki-dono, the purpose of this exercise is to do one thing which will cause another thing in result will cause one more thing." Tessai grinned. Ichigo frowned.

"What's that?"

"This will cause your chain to erode away causing you to become dead in a form, releasing your large amount of reiryoku from your body and thus allowing you to summon your Zanpakutou. Making you Shinigami in three easy steps."

Ichigo mouth went round with surprise.

"That sound simple"

"It does doesn't it?"

-BLEACH-

"It's nice to see Tessai-san so happy again, he's missed teaching, it's easy to see." Urahara said with humour. Jinta and Ururu looked at Urahara with a little shock.

"Him? What can he possibly teach besides how to sweep the floor?" Jinta's sarcastic reply came from the near the edge of the hole. Ururu looked shyly at Urahara nodding sharing Jinta's disbelief, Tessai was so nice, what could he know about the art of Shinigami?

"Well it's because of Tessai that I know seventy percent of forbidden kido I know today." Was the answer to that.

"Oh…"

"Oh indeed."

"If Tessai has taken the education of Kurosaki, then he's going to the soul society with more than a sword and a good beating to back him up." Urahara waved his fan before snapping it shut. A glint of maniacal glee appeared in his eyes scaring Jinta and Ururu.

" It is going to be fun to see how much Kurosaki learns while trying to stay alive."

-BLEACH-

In another part of Karakura, a girl, a boy and a cat enter a empty warehouse.

-BLEACH-

I have to admit, I love bleach. It's loony characters and awesome plot made a fan boy outta me. But when I look at the fan fiction on this site, I have to use a shovel to find any real gems, most of them are hidden beneath the piles and piles of ROMANCE.

I don't mind romance, at all but when I have go through five pages and all there is romance, and most of them not even written good enough…

I put my foot down, yes there is feelings between the characters (hey most of them have been alive for ages, a little spice every now then) and these feelings and connections give characters strength and depth. but that's not what Bleach is just about.

Shinigami, Hollows, Zanpakutou , Arrancar, Kido, clash of wills and dreams and so much more. People have left this goldmine untouched and few people have dared to try something more with it and I enjoy their attempts at creating a story which centres around something other than bleach's love crisis and bishies.

Now I shall take a crack at it, be warned my spelling is crap, my grammar is horrible and my ability to input more thought than words often blocks me. But I will try. Isn't that more than some do?