Kampfer: Bonds of a Soul Ribbon

by Shippuuryu

The Gotei 13 discovered a strange power emanating from within a school in Tokyo. They sent their newest captain, 22 year old Kurosaki Ichigo along with his most trusted comrade, Kuchiki Rukia, to investigate. The two are forced to attend the high school to determine the source of the strange power. They never expected to be forced into a proxy war in the process. Eventual Ichi/Ruki

Yare Yare. We've come full circle almost. How long has it been since I've spoken to you, my faithful readers. In case you haven't yet realized, this is a full rewrite of my first chapter. Compared to my first, you will notice a dramatic improvement of my writing style. As well, in this story I have altered it to both coincide with the current canon of Bleach and my own delusions (Ha! You thought my sense of humor had left). Although the main pairing is still Ichi/Ruki, I've changed the setup. They are no longer married, or even in a relationship at this point. This, altogether, makes it more fun and enjoyable for me to write. However you didn't come for my asinine ramblings. The fun of FanFiction comes from reading it yourself.

XxXxXxXxXx

I stood imposingly atop a random mountain top. My clothes framed my body majestically and my haori fluttered magnificently. "Ichigo!" I cried. "Announce the disclaimer!"

Ichigo stood beside me, his twin zanpakutō safely strapped to his person. His face was set in a perpetual scowl. "In what insane world do I follow your orders?"

He dare question me?

"You dare question me?"

Dammit, I spoke my thoughts.

He raised an eyebrow. "Obviously." He replied sarcastically.

He has brought forth my ire. "You ungrateful cur, I have sprung you from your two dimensional confines to make you a being of the fourth dimension such as I! You should be grateful for this chance! To break the 'Fourth Wall' is an opportunity not many can possess!"

Ichigo had clearly tired of my antics. "If it'll shut your trap then I'll do it."

I raised my fist in victory. "Excellent! Go forth, my assistant!"

I heard him grumble but didn't give a rebuttal. He recognizes his place at least.

Ichigo scratched his head. "Yeah, yeah." He looked at the reader. "The 'Oh-so-gracious' Shippuuryu doesn't own Bleach nor does he own Kampfer. Why'd anyone let him own anything is beyond me."

I laugh at his comment. "That is where I must rebuke you 'Christina'!"

He glared at me. "Oi, oi! What the fuck is wrong with you? Who the hell is Christina?"

I ignored him. "I am a Mad Scientist! As such the property of your soul is MINE! Hyouhohohoho!" I laughed maniacally.

It appears "Steins;Gate" has had detrimental effects on my psyche…as if I cared!

Ichigo's scowl returned full force. He crossed his arms and glared. "I don't remember signing my soul to you, you bastard."

"But you see, my dear assistant, it was right there all along. You only needed to read the terms and conditions. Hyouhohoho!"

Ichigo pulled out his contract from his kosode. He perused it for a moment.

I laughed again. "Yes, do you see!? Article 1, subsection B, line 12, in bold font, italicized AND underlined! It reads 'I, Kurosaki Ichigo, hereby sell my soul to Shippuuryu-sama'. Hyouhohoho!"

Ichigo's scowl darkened. He grabbed his twin zanpakutō. "Getsuga Jujish-!"

Before Ichigo could cut me down, everything faded to black…all according to plan.

XxXxXxXxXx

Kampfer: Bonds of a Soul Ribbon

Chapter One: The Mission

(The Arrival of Berry-chan)

Flashback: The Day Before

Kyouraku Shunsui, Sotaicho of the Gotei 13, called in his next appointment.

Kurosaki Ichigo strolled forward, trailed by the petite figure of Kuchiki Rukia. He wore his usual shihakushō, along with the armor given to him by the Royal Guard to keep his dual zanpakutō secured as well as the cloak tied around his waist, and a sleeveless white haori on top of that. The back of the haori had the character of "Five" stitched into it.

Rukia wore the standard shihakushō, however her left sleeve was cropped short with the badge that signified her as the fuku-taicho of the Thirteenth Division on top of it. She wore a pair of fingerless white tekkō which extended past her elbows.

"You called, Kyouraku-san?" Ichigo asked, ignoring the foot that kicked his calf. No doubt for his lack of respect.

Shunsui smiled amicably. "Ah yes, Ichigo-kun. I have a mission for you." He took a sip of sake.

Ichigo sighed in relief. "It's about damn time. All this paperwork and stuck in that stuffy office all day has been grating on my nerves."

Rukia huffed. "For a giant, you still have thin skin if something like that annoys you. Poor Momo, stuck with an obnoxious brute of a captain."

Ichigo's eyebrow twitched. He looked at Shunsui again. "Why's the midge-I mean, what's Rukia doing here?" He didn't feel the need to get elbowed in the stomach at the moment.

The Sotaicho smiled. "Why, Kuchiki-chan is your backup of for this mission of course."

Ichigo took that knowledge in stride and nodded. "What is the mission?"

Shunsui frowned, he put down his sake saucer. "I'm afraid, this mission will require you to be gone for quite some time."

Ichigo mirrored his expression.

"Recently, our scouts have discovered a very…unusual energy source that is located within one of the districts of Tokyo, and we've managed to narrow it down to a single school."

Ichigo tensed. "Unusual…could it be a Quincy?"

The Sotaicho shrugged. "We don't know. The incident with Ywach has showed us that there are a lot thing about Quincy's that we don't know. Despite Kurotsuchi-taicho's progress, there are still many mysteries surrounding the Quincy's."

Ichigo nodded. "Then you're giving me this mission because of my heritage? Just in case?"

The brunet captain smiled. "Partially. The other reason is that despite your years of service as a Shinigami, you still only look like a teenager to humans."

Ichigo scowled once more. "You make it sound as if I've been a captain for decades, stop exaggerating Kyouraku-san. I'm only twenty-two."

Yet, contrary to his words, he indeed still retained his teenage appearance. He stood at an imposing 5'11" with an athletic build. His spiky orange hair remained the same, including the sideburns he grew when he was sixteen. His hazel colored irises still flashed in annoyance every once in a while. Except for the small patch of orange fuzz on his chin, he'd would look like a delinquent seventeen year old.

"Anyways, if what you're saying is true…" Ichigo sighed. "Shit your sending me to a high school aren't you?"

"Aha. Right in one, Ichigo-kun."

He sighed again, he had been doing that a lot recently. "Fine, fine. If it'll get me out the office."

Rukia, who had remained silent out of respect for Shunsui, glared at him.

"Don't look at me like that midget! I never said I'd skip out on paperwork. Damn."

"Hmph, at least you know better than to make me ask it."

"Oi! Rukia, you didn't really think I'd be like that?"

She remained silent and turned her head rudely.

"Oi!"

Shunsui chuckled good-naturedly, he took another sip of sake. "Can we continue, Ichigo-kun?"

Ichigo blinked. "Ah, yeah sure." He coughed into his hand. "Is that everything, Kyouraku-san?"

"Almost. In regards to your identity, I don't believe you'll need to change that, Tokyo is quite a ways off from Karakura. However, I had Kisuke to make sure everything goes smoothly." Shunsui smiled. "You should stop by there before you go to Tokyo."

Ichigo nodded. "I gotta pick up something from Oyaji anyways."

Shunsui smiled knowingly. "You're going to pick up that? Is there a purpose to it? You could just use a senkaimon."

Ichigo smirked. "I like the rush of wind."

Rukia huffed and mumbled to herself. The word "Death-trap" escaped her lips.

The Sotaicho chuckled. "Very well then. I'll review the mission details. You are to infiltrate the suspected high school and observe any abnormalities. Should you discover something, you are to analyze and assess the threat and eliminate as necessary." Shunsui lowered his gaze. "Let us hope it doesn't come to that. As Shinigami we shouldn't execute humans, and enough lives were lost during Ywach's attack."

There was a moment of silence between the three of them.

Shunsui cleared his throat. "Anyways, you can leave now Ichigo-kun. I would suggest spending the night in Karakura before leaving."

Ichigo nodded. "I might just do that, thanks Kyouraku-san." He turned and left without another word.

Rukia bowed to Shunsui and departed as well. She quickly ran to catch up. "Oi! Baka-berry! Wait up. Not everyone has freakishly long legs like you!"

Ichigo stopped and turned to look at Rukia. "What're you talking about? My legs aren't freakishly long, you're just ridiculously short, midget."

"Why you!" She elbowed his stomach.

"Oof!"

"That's what you get! Now excuse me, but I'm going to pack! I'll meet you at the gate."

Ichigo regained his bearings. "That's all she wanted to tell me? Damn that midget." He sighed. "Whatever, she's got a point. I better tell Hinamori and pack."

As he walked towards his barracks he frowned as an uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach. "Either Rukia hit me harder than usual, or my guts telling me something." He furrowed his brow. "Something tells me this mission ain't so cut and dry." His scowl deepened. "I'll have to keep my guard up."

Present Day

"Good morning Ichigoooooo!" A loud boisterous voice shouted.

Ichigo's eyes snapped open and he kicked the intrusive figure squarely in the face on reflex. "Still up to your old habits, Oyaji?" He sighed and rose from his bed. Ignoring the twitching figure of his father, he exited his room and entered the bathroom.

After completing his usual morning routine, he dressed himself in a pair of jeans and a long sleeve grey shirt. He descended the stairs to a nostalgic, yet unfamiliar sight.

His sisters, Yuzu and Karin, sat at the table in Karakura High's uniform along with Rukia.

When they had arrived the previous night, his sisters had already been asleep.

Yuzu passed Rukia a plate. She had grown into a beautiful woman. Her hair had grown considerably since the last time Ichigo saw her, now reaching her shoulder and kept back with a ponytail. She was the spitting image of their mother. She turned towards him and smiled brightly.

"Onii-chan! Good morning! Come, breakfast is ready!"

He smiled and nodded. "Mornin', Yuzu." He sat at the table.

His other sister Karin looked at him. "Ichi-nii, welcome back." She greeted.

He nodded and took in her appearance. She had grown similar to himself. She was rather tall for a girl, with an athletic body. She was no doubt pretty in her own way. Ichigo would guess Keigo would even call her "Tomboyishly cute" before being close-lined by Ichigo himself. Her hair was cut shorter than he remembered and resembled Rukia's bob-cut slightly.

He nodded. "Good to be back." He grabbed a plate from Yuzu. "Itadakimasu." He spoke flatly.

"My wonderful Third Daughter! So great to see you again!" As if scripted, Isshin appeared and embraced Rukia.

"A-Ah! It's good to see you again Tou-san." Rukia struggled against Isshin's firm grip.

Ichigo took a bite of food. "You're suffocating her." He commented.

Isshin recoiled as if struck. He released her and looked at Ichigo incredulously. "You think I would harm my precious Third Daughter?" He wailed to himself in front an obnoxiously large poster of Ichigo's mother. "Oh Masaki! Our ungrateful son doubts my love as a father!"

Rukia took in large gulps of breath. "I forgot how… affectionate he could be."

Ichigo nodded and took another bite. "It's your own fault."

She shrugged and went back to finishing her breakfast.

Yuzu smiled at Ichigo. "Onii-chan, will you be staying for dinner?"

Ichigo shook his head. "I have a mission in Tokyo. I stopped by to pick up my bike and to see you guys."

Karin ate her breakfast stoically. "So they're running you ragged?"

Ichigo looked at her. "No. Not really. This is the first mission I've had in a while."

She nodded in understanding, though Ichigo wondered how much she really understood.

Yuzu pouted. "It's been so long since you stayed for dinner."

Ichigo smiled in apology. "Sorry Yuzu. When I finish this mission, I'll come by for dinner."

The sandy blonde haired girl nodded happily. "Okay!"

Rukia flipped open her phone. "It's almost time to head over to Urahara's Ichigo."

He nodded. He looked at his father who had remained next to the poster. "You still got my bike, Oyaji?"

Isshin suddenly sprang from his position. He gave his son a thumbs up and smiled wide, complete with an odd sparkle in them that Ichigo swore he stole from an anime.

"Of course! I'm a reliable Papa!" He made an exaggerated gesture towards the backyard. "I kept it safe in the shed."

Ichigo nodded. He quickly finished his breakfast and put his dishes in the sink. "Thanks for the food." He recited.

He walked outside, vaguely aware that Rukia had followed him. Now that he bothered to look, he noticed that she had worn something uncharacteristic of her.

"Are you wearing…jeans?"

Indeed she was, along with a plain yellow tee and blue sneakers.

She huffed. "Yes, because riding with you on that death-trap while wearing a dress is cumbersome."

He made a noise of acknowledgement. Personally, what she wore was her own business, but he couldn't deny that she managed to look good in jeans.

He blinked. 'Did I…?' He thought to himself. He shook his head. 'Paperwork must be getting to me.'

He reached the shed and slid open the door to find his pride and joy awaiting him.

After he had gotten his license at the age of eighteen, he saved up money from his odd jobs for over half a year. With a little bit of help from his father, he bought himself a motorcycle. He had also paid for the best custom work he could afford at the time. Which wasn't much, but he was proud of it.

He could now relate to men who put a large amount of time and money into their vehicles. Although he knew he could match speed with his bike by using shunpo, there was a certain…freedom to it. He couldn't explain it. When he spoke of his thoughts to Rukia she gave him the most incredulous look.

"Freedom? On that? It looks more like death on wheels to me." She had said when she first saw it.

Ichigo realized she was being sarcastic when she said it, however it seemed like she was determined to stick with the title "Death-trap".

He guessed his feelings stemmed from being raised in this era.

He grabbed the handles and led the bike out of the shed. He walked it to the street and marveled at it. It was sleek and streamlined. Black as night and easily customizable.

"I honestly never thought I'd ever be into cycles, but this called to me." He mumbled.

"You're talking to yourself again."

Ichigo gave her a look. "Sorry if over 300 km/h speed doesn't excite you midget."

Rukia crossed her arms and scowled. "Death. On. Wheels." She articulated.

"Yeah, yeah. I got it the first time." He stood and walked back inside. "I'm heading to Urahara's. I'll be back in about two hours." He paused. "Oyaji, don't do anything stupid."

"Bah! My ungrateful son doesn't believe in me!" avarice

Ichigo ignored his father as he grabbed his keys and once again departed from the house. He mounted his bike and started his bike with a satisfying roar. He looked at Rukia. "C'mon, get on."

She hesitated. "Do I have to?" She looked the bike over. "I'd rather not destroy this gigai."

He deadpanned. "Unless you've figured out how to shunpo in your gigai, then this is the fastest way."

She sighed but complied nonetheless. She wrapped her arms around Ichigo's abdomen as she mounted the bike. "Just get this over with."

Ichigo noted her thin arms with a faint interest. "Why does this scare you? I thought you were a Shinigami who had lived 'ten of my lifetimes' and achieved Bankai."

Rukia glared at his back. "Who's scared baka? I just rather go places on my own two feet."

Ichigo shrugged. He kicked the stand up and shifted into first gear. "Yeah, I know. Doesn't mean I can't pick you apart for it." He glanced behind him and smirked before speeding down the street.

"Is there a reason we're neglecting the helmets, you damn berry!?" Rukia shouted over the wind.

"Nope. Just shut up and enjoy the ride." He replied as he shifted into third gear.

XxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo pulled to a stop in front of the entrance of the Urahara Shoten. He kicked the stand and shut off the engine.

Rukia leaped off the motorcycle. "Ah! Solid ground!" She tapped her foot on the ground.

Ichigo got off the bike. "You're being melodramatic." He deadpanned.

She huffed. "You're driving was needlessly reckless."

Ichigo didn't rebuke her. He would never admit that he drove recklessly to entice a reaction from her. Her arms would tense around his stomach and she'd scream energetically. It made him smirk triumphantly.

He schooled his features before he turned to her. "Let's get this over with." He rubbed his neck. "I'll be honest, I don't know how you did it. Going through school once was a task in itself, especially while hunting hollows." He scowled as per his usual expression. "It'll be like taking remedial lessons."

Rukia scoffed. "As a Shinigami Captain you must learn how to adapt to any situation." She said it with a superior tone.

Ichigo twitched his eyebrow. "Why you-"

"Ah Kurosaki-san, Rukia-san. How unexpected!" A voice called out to them.

Ichigo looked at the speaker. "Geta-Boshi, you don't fool anyone with a statement like that."

"Aha. Can't get anything past you, Kurosaki-san." Kisuke, garbed in his usual green yukata, opened his fan wide and hid his face. "Although meeting old acquaintances always leave me feeling vulnerable."

Ichigo ignored Kisuke's antics. "Do you have our stuff?"

"Ah yes. Kyouraku-Sotaicho gave me a basic list of your needs." Kisuke turned around. "Come in, come in! Tessai just finished another batch of tea."

Ichigo and Rukia exchanged looks before following the eccentric scientist.

"Ah! Doesn't a good cup of tea clear your head!?" Kisuke exclaimed. The three of them sat at his table while the large dark-skinned Tessai served tea.

Ichigo sighed. 'He's hiding something.' He took a sip from his cup.

"The tea is delicious as always Tessai-san." Rukia complimented.

Tessai nodded at the praise before stepping out into the hall.

Kisuke turned to the door which was conspicuously open. "Ururu, can you bring me the box labeled 'Kurosaki'?"

The door shook. "A-ah. Hai! Urahara-san." A young voice responded, afterwards the shuffling of feet could be heard.

"So what's with the pussyfooting Geta-Boshi?"

Kisuke smiled. "So you noticed? Very well. There is something you should know."

"What?"

"The academy you were asked to infiltrate, Seitatsu Gakuen, is a rather…interesting school." Kisuke chuckled to himself.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "What's different about it? It's co-ed isn't it?"

"In a sense." Kisuke raised the fan to his face. "In truth, although it is co-ed, the male and female students are divided by classes and guarded with an electric fence."

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow. "What the hell's the point then?"

Rukia nodded. "It does seem to contradict the entire 'Co-ed' theme."

Kisuke laughed loudly. "I knew you would ask! The answer is…" He paused for a moment. Ichigo and Rukia waited with bated breath. "I don't know!" Kisuke finished.

Ichigo face-faulted while Rukia smacked her forehead.

"Why was I expecting elsewise?" She mumbled.

"It is the truth though, the construction of the academy is fairly recent so the school should not have a history for being restricted to one gender. According to public records, it is done for the sake of maximizing student productivity. However I feel like something is amiss. The fact that this mysterious power originates from the school concerns me." He snapped his fan shut. "However that is neither here nor there. You're not here for my ramblings are you?" He turned to the door again. "Please come in Ururu."

The small petite girl walked in carrying a large box.

Ichigo smiled at the girl. "Thanks Ururu."

She placed the box down and nodded shyly at him. She retreated behind the door again.

Urahara moved the box towards Ichigo. "For miss Rukia-san, I have supplied you with three months' worth of soul candy." He looked at Ichigo. "While we're on the topic, how is your body holding up?"

Ichigo stretched his arm. "Kon's been keeping me in shape at least. I hear he even had a job when he inhabited my body." He dug into his pocket and retrieved a tiny green pellet. "Though, I don't think it would be wise to bring him in his plush body for this mission." He shoved the pellet back into his pocket. "I'll take it just in case."

Kisuke nodded. "Excellent. Now for you Kurosaki-san, I have that item you special ordered." He reached into his kosode and pulled out a small cube. "I have to admit, working on an attachment for an automobile such as yours is a definite first of me, but I think it'll be to your liking." He tossed it to Ichigo.

The young Shinigami caught it easily. "Thanks Geta-Boshi."

"Fufu. You are one of my best customers."

Rukia looked at the cube curiously. "What is it Ichigo?"

"You'll find out in a bit."

Rukia huffed. "Fine, keep your secrets."

Ichigo smirked. "As if I needed your permission." He placed the cube on the coffee table.

She scowled. "Baka-berry." She reached over to snatch the cube but was interrupted.

"Ah another thing." Kisuke spoke up. He tossed a set of keys at the duo. "I managed to get a modest place for you two. It's already furnished and your uniforms were delivered there." He grinned weirdly at the two. "Don't have too much fun kids."

Ichigo deadpanned. "You screwed us over somehow."

It wasn't a question. Ichigo knew the childish nature that Kisuke possessed.

"Aiya! Kurosaki-san! You hurt me with your words." Kisuke feigned innocence.

Ichigo gave him a look. He sighed but let the matter drop. He felt his phone vibrate and withdrew it from his pocket. He was getting a call from Ishida Uryu. He swiped the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

"Ishida?"

-Kurosaki, I heard you were in town.-

Ichigo raised an eyebrow, Uryu sounded tired. "Yeah. I gotta head to Tokyo later on today."

-Come by. I need to tell you something.-

Ichigo grumbled for a moment. "Fine. We'll head over now."

-Good.- Uryu cut the call.

Ichigo shoved the phone is his pocket with a sigh. He looked at Kisuke. "Are we done, Geta-Boshi?"

Kisuke passed over a folder. "These are your transfer papers and your student ID's."

Ichigo grabbed the folder and nodded. "That's it?"

Kisuke waved his fan in front of his face. "For now." He tapped his ear. "If anything shows up, I'll let you know." He smiled widely. "Of course, if you discover something, feel free to call! I'll come over right away!"

Ichigo rose from his position and nodded. He glanced at Rukia. "C'mon Rukia. We gotta go." He grabbed his cube.

Rukia stood and nodded. "Alright." She gave Kisuke a look. "Thanks for the supplies."

"Fuya! It wasn't much! My best customers come first, no?"

The duo left the shop leaving Kisuke by himself, fanning his face lazily.

"Do you think this'll bring 'em together?" A voice called from behind him.

"Ah! Isshin-san! You startled me." Kisuke said.

Isshin laughed. "As if you could be easily startled."

"True." Kisuke admitted. "To answer your question though, I couldn't say. Our young Kurosaki-san has left me guessing on numerous occasions."

Isshin smirked. "He gets that from me!"

"Yet he hasn't had a relationship last more than a day." Kisuke rebutted.

Isshin deflated. "Point. He never seemed interested in romance."

"Fufu. You've taken an unnatural interest in your son's love life."

"Wrong!" Isshin shouted. "I just want my ungrateful son to fall in love with my wonderful third daughter!"

Kisuke chuckled. "If you announce it so boisterously, I can't help but contribute."

"So you got the apartment I specified?"

"It wasn't a walk in the park, considering you only told me last night, but yes I did."

"Nice! Good job!" Isshin gave a thumbs up.

Kisuke smiled. "Although this 'excursion' of theirs leaves me wondering."

"Hmm?"

"I have a feeling things are going to become much more interesting."

XxXxXxXxXx

"Kurosaki. Kuchiki." Uryu nodded in greeting. He stood at 5'9" and hadn't changed much over the years. His normal blue hair was only inches longer and was paling in color at the root. He also seemed to have switched to contacts. He invited Ichigo and Rukia inside his apartment.

"Ishida." Ichigo nodded. He walked inside and took note of the various medical textbooks strewed on the coffee table. "How's med-school?"

Uryu grabbed a cup of coffee. "Tiresome. I have three term papers due by the end of the month." He offered the two Shinigami a cup which they politely refused. He drank his quickly.

Ichigo nodded. He had noticed the small bags under Uryu's eyes. "I'll get straight to the point then. What did you want?"

Uryu moved to a set of boxes by the back. "Several months ago, Ryuuken gave me a box filled with my mother's old items." He dug around for a minute. "Everything's a mess." He mumbled.

Ichigo stayed silent. He didn't know much, but he knew that Uryu's mother died in childbirth.

Rukia looked between the two men and sighed to herself.

"There it is." Uryu retrieved a small elegant box. He walked back towards Ichigo. "As you know, my mother was once a servant to the Ishida family." He said tonelessly.

Ichigo nodded. His mother was once engaged to Uryu's father before she saved Isshin's life.

"And while Kurosaki Masaki-san was betrothed to Ryuuken, her and my mother were relatively close." Uryu ignored Rukia's reaction.

Now that Ichigo thought about it, he never told Rukia that story.

"When Masaki-san was cast out by my grandmother, she left something with my mother." Uryu reached inside and pulled out a simple cross. "This was her first Quincy cross."

Ichigo's eye's widened. Isshin had told him that his mother was buried with her normal cross.

Uryu tossed it to Ichigo. "I don't need items from someone else's mother. Take it. Maybe you'll figure out how to use one now."

Ichigo caught it easily. He fingered it softly. "Ah, thanks Ishida."

He nodded before he yawned. "Now please leave. I need to sleep." He walked towards what appeared to be his room. "You can see yourself out." He disappeared behind the door, leaving the two Shinigami alone.

Rukia reached out and grabbed Ichigo. "Let's go Ichigo." Rukia pulled at his arm roughly.

"I got it, I got it. Relax midget." Ichigo complained as he was dragged to the door.

The two of them left Ishida's apartment and boarded Ichigo's bike.

As Ichigo started the engine Rukia muffled something into his back.

"What was that Rukia?"

She moved her head. "I said, 'Is that true?'"

"Is what true midget? I can't read your mind."

"What Ishida said. About your mom and his father?"

Ichigo shrugged. He pressed on the gas. "Yeah. But that was in the past, a lot of things happened."

"This has something to do with you being part Quincy?"

Ichigo nodded but stayed silent.

"Ah."

Ichigo scowled. "You're worrying about it for nothin' midget." He grunted when a small fist punched his back.

"Who's worried? You freak of nature giant! I'm concerned that it might affect your abilities in combat."

Ichigo smirked. "Sure you are midget." He sped up. "Sure you are."

XxXxXxXxXx

"Do you have everything Ichigo?" Isshin asked as Ichigo packed up his bike.

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah I got it."

Isshin laughed. "I never thought I would see my son off to another high school after he already graduated! Hohoho!"

Ichigo sighed. "I have to live it, Oyaji. I just don't want to stand out again and I want to get this mission over with." He stood and cracked his neck. "As much as I like getting away from the office, going back to school isn't appealing to me."

Isshin chuckled. "To see my son become a captain after only 7 years of being a Shinigami, I have something to be proud of!"

"Yeah, yeah." Ichigo mumbled mechanically.

Isshin fell to his knees in despair. "M-Masaki! Our ungrateful son doesn't care for his Papa anymore!"

Rukia walked outside with a small duffle bag. "I can't believe you kept all of my old clothes Tou-san."

Isshin sprang up. "Of course I did! You're a member of the family! You're always welcome back here!"

She smiled and nodded.

Ichigo reached into his pocket and retrieved the cube Kisuke gave him. He turned it around in his hand. "Now how the hell do you-!" He pressed a button on the side and was blinded by a bright light. "Sonuva…"

Rukia covered her face with her hand until the light faded.

Ichigo scowled. "He can never make anything simple." He blinked away the spots in his vision.

"Ichigo. What's that?" Rukia pointed at the object near him.

He looked down and nodded in satisfaction. "This is a side-car."

"Side-car? What's that?"

"A couple a month's back I asked Kisuke to make this for me. It goes on my bike. It meant for passengers to ride in." He explained calmly.

"I thought they just rode behind you."

"That's the way it's supposed to be ridden, but I drive fast and this is safer." He moved to hook it to his bike. "The only thing is, they don't make side-cars for this model. So I had Geta-Boshi make one for me."

"I see."

Ichigo smirked. "I got it so you can stop complaining."

Rukia flushed. "I was not complaining, Baka-berry. I just don't like that death-trap."

Ichigo finished the hook up and reached inside the car. He grabbed something and tossed it at Rukia.

She grabbed it in mid-air and looked at it. "A helmet?" It was a helmet. It was a white sport's bike helmet with a visor

"Turn it around."

She did as Ichigo said and blinked. "A snow-flake. Is it supposed to be symbolic?"

Ichigo clicked his tongue. "It was. It's yours."

"Mine?"

He nodded. "I can't always give you mine, especially if I'm making long distance trips, the side-car, and your helmet, solves that problem."

She nodded. "I see. Thanks."

He nodded. He turned to see his father smiling brightly. He raised an eyebrow. "What's with the dumb face Oyaji?"

"Oh, nothing! Nothing at all!" His father laughed.

Ichigo deadpanned. "Right." He shook his head. "Anyways. Tell Yuzu and Karin that when I finish this mission I'll stay for a week. I'll need a vacation anyways."

He gave his son a thumbs up. "You got it!"

He got on his bike and motioned for Rukia to get in the side-car. He grabbed his helmet, a simple black sports helmet, and slipped it on. He lifted the visor and looked at his father. He felt the bike shake as Rukia entered the side-car.

"I'll call you when we get there." He told Isshin. He started the engine.

Isshin smirked. "Who wants you to call? Go on, get out of here."

Ichigo nodded. He closed his visor and made sure Rukia was secured. "Get ready midget. I'm gonna go fast." He revved the engine and shot down the street.

"ICHIGOOOO!"

XxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo pulled into the driveway of the address Kisuke had given him. Kisuke wasn't joking when he called it modest. With only one floor to its name, it couldn't be more than 1,100 sq. ft. The surrounding building were about the same.

Ichigo shut off the engine. He took off his helmet and let his eyes adjust. The drive had taken a large portion of the day, having had to stop twice for bathroom breaks and food.

"This is it?" He heard Rukia ask.

Ichigo double checked the address he was given. "Yep."

"It's small."

Ichigo scoffed. "Could you realistically expect two 'teenagers' to afford a big apartment." He asked her.

She scowled. "No need to insult my intelligence Ichigo. I was simply making an observation."

Ichigo grimaced. He had been rather…scathing with that last comment. "Sorry, it's been a long drive." He apologized.

Rukia sighed. "It's fine. Let's get in. I'm exhausted."

Ichigo nodded. He got off of the bike and stretched. "I am too." He yawned. When he noticed Rukia had gotten off he reached into his pocket and retrieved the cube Urahara had given him.

"This should work." He murmured. He pressed the button on the side and nodded in satisfaction when the side-car disappeared into the cube. "As crazy as that scientist is, the tech he makes is amazing."

Rukia yawned and nodded noncommittally. She shouldered her bag and walked to the door. She fitted the key Kisuke gave her and unlocked the door. After which, she walked inside and no doubt headed towards the bedroom.

Ichigo walked his motorcycle in closer to the apartment. After securing it beneath the awning, he grabbed his things and walked inside as well. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He took note of how the apartment was set up. He saw the kitchen and dining room combined into one as he walked in. To the left of the kitchen he saw a room with the light on.

"Rukia's in there." He mumbled. He noticed that the bathroom was adjacent to that room.

He glanced to the right to see a small den with a couch meant for two people. Further inside, he noticed a 22' flat-screen television. He shrugged at it though, he wasn't much for T.V.

He walked towards the room with a light. "This looks more like a dorm than an apartment. Right Ruki…a?" He looked inside to see Rukia asleep on one of the twin sized beds in the room.

Ichigo sighed. "Already knocked out." He glanced at the room. "When Geta-boshi said modest he didn't mention it was this modest." He grumbled. Deciding that he was too tired to care, he shut off the light and collapsed on the bed opposite Rukia's.

"This is gonna be a long mission. I can already tell." He mumbled into his pillow.

XxXxXxXxXx

When Ichigo awoke the next morning he noticed that Rukia was already in the bathroom, judging by the sound of running water. He sat up and stretched. He took out his phone and checked the time.

"5:26…" He stood from the bed and scanned the room. Despite the two beds in it, it was quite spacious. Easily enough room for the two of them to move around in. It even had two closets on each side. Next to each bed was a small desk to work on.

He scratched his head. "This really does look like a dorm."

He heard the water stop running and sighed. He turned to the closet on his side and opened it. Inside was a handful of hanger with a female uniform on them. He clicked his tongue and moved to the other closet and slid the door open. He saw several male uniforms and grabbed one. He hung it over his shoulder and walked out of the room to the kitchen. He sat on a stool and waited.

Rukia exited the bathroom soon after, garbed in Seitatsu Gakuen's uniform. It was a standard short-sleeve white seifuku uniform with a black handkerchief and a blue ribbon. She wore a black turtleneck underneath that. The skirt was plain and black. Rukia opted for knee-length socks over black loafers.

Ichigo gave her a look over unconsciously.

She noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, it's just been awhile since you were in a school uniform. So it looked odd for a moment."

She crossed her arms. "Are you saying it doesn't suit me?"

Ichigo shrugged. "I don't know." He stood and walked past her to enter the bathroom. He ducked under the kick aimed at his head.

"Got to do better than th-oof!" He didn't predict the punch directed at his back.

Rukia smirked victoriously and left Ichigo cradling his back as she walked to the kitchen.

He clicked his tongue. "Dammit Rukia. Tch, at this rate I'll wind up with back trouble by the time I'm thirty." He grumbled. He straightened and entered the bath.

He showered quickly himself. When he exited the shower he glanced at his reflection in the mirror.

"Tch. I guess I better shave." He brushed his hand across his chin and sighed. He would never admit it out loud, but he was proud of the hair on his chin. With a heavy heart, he lathered his face and stripped his skin of the hair on it with a razor. When he finished he dried himself and got dressed into his own uniform. A plain black shirt underneath a white uniform top and black slacks.

He walked out of the bathroom to see Rukia shuffling through the cupboards of the kitchen.

"Ichigo." She said while looking through a cabinet. "Urahara didn't supply food." She turned and scowled.

Ichigo sighed. Rukia was not a very happy person before breakfast. "Fine. We'll leave early and get some bento. After school we'll get groceries." He told her. "I doubt we'll find anything out the first day."

Rukia sighed before she nodded. "Fine. Let's go. I'm starving." She grabbed her bag and walked out the door. "Hurry up! You're buying!" She called.

Ichigo scowled. "Every time." He followed Rukia and closed the door. "Oi! Midget, if I'm paying you're not going overboard this time!" He walked quickly and caught up with her.

"I'll get you the next time." She responded noncommittally.

Ichigo deadpanned. "Yeah, you said that last time."

"Well I'll get for two more times."

He sighed. "Never mind." He thanked whatever higher being there was that his job paid well. He looked at Rukia. "Do you even know where the convenience store is?"

Rukia paused. "Um…yes?"

Ichigo ignored her and brought out his phone. He did a quick search on his web browser. "If we keep going down this street, we'll reach one in about five minutes."

"Hmph. So my instincts were right after all."

Ichigo scoffed but didn't respond.

Five minutes passed in a comfortable silence until finally the two of them entered the store.

"Welcome!" The cashier said cheerfully. She was an older women with brown hair.

Ichigo waved in greeting and they headed to the prepared meals section.

"Ooh, beef!" Rukia grabbed the nearest bento.

"Look at the price." Ichigo commented as he browsed the flavors.

"Stingy!"

"Besides, there are other things besides beef."

"What, like natto?"

Ichigo shrugged. "Grab what you want, I was just reminding you that there are other options."

"You're saying that because the beef is ¥520."

"Just because we're not broke doesn't mean we should needlessly waste money." Ichigo responded calmly. He grabbed a set of onigiri for ¥340.

"No way!" Rukia suddenly exclaimed.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Chappy~~!" Rukia rushed to the small plush figure.

Ichigo sighed. "I thought that damn rabbit was discontinued." He looked over to see Rukia browsing through the various forms of her favorite plush character.

"Ah! Welcome back, Senou-san." The cashier said.

"A-Ah. Good morning, Tsubaki-san." A feminine voice responded.

Ichigo turned and saw a young man with blue hair and blue eyes. He was almost as tall as Ichigo at 5'10". He was thin and had a somewhat feminine face. The young man walked past Ichigo and looked at the bento.

"Hoo. Beef is ¥520 today?" He complained. The boy blinked before he turned towards Ichigo. "Oh I'm sorry. I'm blocking your way aren't I?"

Ichigo shook his head. "No, I got mine. I'm just waiting for the midget to pick out hers." He gestured towards the bouncing form of Rukia.

"Ah." The boy looked at Ichigo's uniform. "Oh. You go to Seitatsu Gakuen?"

Ichigo nodded. "I'm transferring in today."

The boy smiled. "My name is Senou Natsuru. I go to Seitatsu as well."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. 'Usually people ignore me because of my hair.' He glanced at Natsuru's hair. 'That might explain it.' He nodded at the boy. "Kurosaki Ichigo. Nice to meet you."

"Ichigo! Look! Chappy!" Rukia bounded to Ichigo with a small Chappy phone-strap.

Ichigo sighed. "Why are you telling me?"

"Buy it for me."

He scowled. "No."

"But-."

"No." He glanced at Natsuru. "This is Kuchiki Rukia." He introduced.

Rukia looked at Natsuru. She cleared her throat. "Sorry." She bowed. "I'm Kuchiki Rukia. Nice to meet you."

The blue haired youth smiled. "Nice to meet both of you, Kurosaki-san and Kuchiki-san."

"Nice to meet you too, Senou-san." Rukia smiled. She then turned to Ichigo and glared. "Buy it."

Ichigo crossed his arms. "I'm not feeding your Chappy addiction. You want it, you buy it. You have money. Now I said I'd buy your bento, so hurry up and pick."

Rukia narrowed her eyes. "Fine. Be an ass." She huffed but picked out the beef bento.

Natsuru smiled. "You guys seem like such close friends."

Ichigo and Rukia looked at each other then back at Natsuru and shrugged simultaneously.

The blue haired boy laughed. "You guys are new here right?"

Rukia nodded.

"Well, if you don't mind, I can show you some of the basic stores around here. There's a good place around here to buy groceries."

Ichigo nodded. "I would appreciate it, thanks Senou."

Natsuru smiled. "I'm happy to help." He looked between them. "By the way, do you know what classes you're in?"

Ichigo looked at Rukia. "Did it say it in our transfer papers?"

She shook her head. "I didn't see it."

"What grade are you in?" Natsuru asked.

"2nd year." Ichigo answered. Kisuke had registered them as second years to infiltrate the school. If they entered as first years it would bring in unnecessary attention and being a third year would make them seem unapproachable.

The bluenet smiled. "That makes it easy. Seitatsu is a relatively small school, I think it has close to 400 students. The majority of the students are female too, so there's only two classes for second year males. You're in the same grade as me. I'm in class 2-1 on the male side." He put a hand to his chin. "If I remember correctly, class 2-2 was filled out this year." He looked at Ichigo and nodded. "So you'll probably be in my class, Kurosaki-san."

Ichigo nodded. "I see." He furrowed his brow. 'The school has a rather large campus yet only has two second year male classes? If the energy is from a student, it'll probably be from a girl. The ratio between the genders makes it highly unlikely that a guy caused it.'

He glanced at the blue haired boy. 'But this guy… I know my sensing isn't the best, but he doesn't feel like a normal human. He doesn't have a Fullbring and he doesn't feel like a Quincy. I can't get a good read on him. Is this what Kyouraku-san was talking about? I'll have to keep an eye on him.'

Natsuru bowed a little towards Rukia. "I'm sorry Kuchiki-san, I don't know much about the female side."

Rukia smiled. "It's fine Senou-san. I'll stop by the faculty office before class begins"

Ichigo checked his phone. "We'll have to get going if we want to make it to school on time."

Senou blinked. "Ah! The bus! We have to hurry!" He grabbed a random bento. "Tsubaki-san!"

"Take it Senou-san. I'll cover for you this time." The kindly woman told him.

"I'll pay you back!" Natsuru ran out of the store.

Ichigo and Rukia exchanged a glance. Ichigo tossed a thousand yen bill on the counter. "Keep the change!" He and Rukia rushed after the surprisingly quick blue haired boy.

"Thank you for your patronage!"

Ichigo glanced at Rukia. "You noticed too right?"

She nodded. "I doubt the energy source is from him, it's not strong enough. However, he surrounds himself with it somehow." She looked at Ichigo. "It might be similar to how Sado and Orihime activated their powers."

Ichigo watched as Natsuru came into their field of vision. "So you're thinking there's a catalyst?"

She nodded. "Yes, the only question is who or what is that catalyst."

Ichigo nodded. He pulled up next to Natsuru. "Oi, Senou. You're pretty fast."

The blue-haired boy blinked. "Ah, Kurosaki-san, Kuchiki-san. Sorry about that. I want to make it to the bus and meet with Sakura-san."

The trio kept their pace until a sudden honk broke their stride.

"Ah! Oh no. The bus." Natsuru hung his head as the large vehicle drove past them. "I was finally gonna ask Sakura-san if she wanted to ride the bus with me today."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Natsuru's love life wasn't his business. He glanced at Rukia.

She shrugged but flicked her eyes at the blue-haired boy.

Ichigo sighed but nodded. 'I'm not cut out for espionage. If only Toshiro hadn't had that growth spurt, he'd be here instead of me.' He started walking. "Come on, we can grab the next one."

XxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo stood next to the homeroom teacher with a scowl.

"Class, this is our new transfer student." He gestured to Ichigo. "Please introduce yourself."

Ichigo turned and wrote his name on the chalkboard. When he finished he turned back around. "Kurosaki Ichigo, nice to meet you." He greeted flatly. The student's reaction was just as uninterested.

The teacher gestured toward an empty seat two seats left to the figure Ichigo recognized as Natsuru.

Ichigo sat down and pulled out a notebook.

"Now class…"

Lunch period started not long after and a student with spiky brown haired approached Ichigo with a small camera.

"Yo, transfer student." He greeted.

Ichigo glanced up from his notebook. "What?"

The student snapped a quick picture. "I'm the president of the Bishojo Research Club and a part-time photographer."

Ichigo scowled. "I'm not interested in your club."

The boy shook his head. "I'm not asking about that. My name is Higashida Kanji. No, no. I'm more concerned with why you were walking with that cutie of a girl this morning."

Ichigo's scowl deepened. "Why do you care?"

"Can you imagine all the glares the boys will send you if they find out you're with a girl, and a cute one at that?" The boy smirked. "I'm just after the truth."

Natsuru came up and tapped Higashida's shoulder. "Come on, do you think bugging him is the best thing to do on his first day, Higashida?" He smiled weakly.

Higashida sighed. "Senou, you're cutting into my investigation."

"But this is fine isn't it?" Natsuru rubbed his neck. "Besides, I think Kurosaki-san and Kuchiki-san wouldn't want people prying."

"But two new transfer students and a boy and a girl? Something's gotta be between them." Higashida pressed.

"Oi, I'm sitting right here." Ichigo's eye twitched

Higashida turned towards him. "So is there anything between the two of you?"

Ichigo packed his notebook and retrieved his pack of onigiri. "We're old friends, that's all."

"So she's available?"

"If you want to die, sure."

"Oh, are you the jealous type?"

Natsuru smiled meekly. "H-Higashida."

Ichigo finished one of his onigiri calmly. "She doesn't need me to protect her, she'd just kick anybody's ass for trying."

Higashida smiled. "So a tomboy?"

"I wouldn't let her hear you say that if I were you." Ichigo commented.

Higashida hung his head miserably. "Unfortunately, I doubt I could get her to hear it even if I wanted to. Boy's are forbidden on the girl's side."

Ichigo paused. "Forbidden? No contact whatsoever?"

"The only contact is the school festival and even that's limited." Higashida smirked. "But there is a way to sneak into the girls side, if you're interested." He whispered.

Natsuru gasped. "You can't mean..?"

The brown haired youth nodded. "Yes." He looked at Ichigo. "What do you say."

"I refuse." Ichigo finished his onigiri.

Higashida face-faulted. "Just like that!"

Ichigo looked at the photographer. "I'm not interested in peaking at the girls. I was just curious of this school's policy."

Higashida groaned. "Please don't tell us you're gay."

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow. "Are you an idiot?"

The brown haired boy smiled. "Great!"

Ichigo stood. "Whatever." He looked at Natsuru. "Hey Senou."

Natsuru blinked. "Eh? What is it, Kurosaki-san?"

Ichigo rubbed his neck. "Where's the toilet?"

Natsuru smiled awkwardly. "It's to left of the classroom, it should be on the right."

Ichigo nodded his thanks and left the classroom.

Higashida looked at Natsuru. "He's a weird one isn't he Senou?"

Natsuru shrugged. "I don't see it."

Ichigo walked into the bathroom and double checked that he was alone. After confirming it he walked into a stall.

He frowned. "Let's see if this works. I've never created a Hell Butterfly in my body before." He held out a hand. He shut his eyes and concentrated. Soon enough he could feel his reiatsu forming a solid figure in his hand.

So far I've had no progress. The only student I can sense anything from is Senou. How are things on your end midget?

He encrypted the message to the butterfly and released it. He didn't need to worry about the secrecy of the message, only spiritually aware entities could see Hell Butterflies and only Shinigami knew what to do with them.

He flushed the toilet and walked back to the classroom. He sat back down at his desk and pulled out his notebook to review.

'My memory is a little hazy when it comes to second year material.' He thought to himself.

Five minutes later a black butterfly rested itself on his shoulder and fluttered it's wings.

Ichigo's eyes flickered to the butterfly and nodded.

The butterfly, having received the okay to deliver its message, shined ever so slightly.

I'll ignore the 'midget' comment for now. I have news. I felt a fluctuation of energy on the girls side. There are none in my class, however when lunch period started I passed a girl around seventeen with brown hair and glasses, I felt something from her. It was similar to Senou's energy but only marginally stronger. She's not our culprit, but I'll keep an eye out just in case.

With its purpose complete, the Hell Butterfly shattered into reiryoku.

Ichigo scowled. 'Looks like I was wrong about this being an uneventful day. But things aren't making any sense.' His eyes flashed to Natsuru and narrowed. 'If you're not into something…what are you going to get into, Senou?'

The bell rang signifying lunch's end, however Ichigo's mind remained cluttered.

XxXxXxXxXx

School had ended hours ago. Ichigo and Natsuru had met up with Rukia outside the gate and the blue haired boy led them to the grocer. He left soon after with an apology. He had to cook his own dinner, he explained.

Ichigo and Rukia walked down the street carrying a numerous amount of bags.

Ichigo sighed. "I can't believe you almost bought a pack of Chappy shaped ice-pops."

"But they were so cute!" Rukia countered.

"They were almost ¥900."

"So?"

"They were ridiculously overpriced!"

"I don't care!"

"But I do. I have to manage out the finances."

"We have separate finances!"

"If I let you have your way we'd be knee deep in debt because of your Chappy addiction."

Rukia glared childishly. "What's wrong with Chappy?"

Ichigo scowled. He turned his head to Rukia. "Because it's a stupid loo-" He was cut off as he bumped into a small figure.

"Hah!" Rukia smirked.

Ichigo ignored her and looked at the figure he had collided with. The impact had barely registered to him, but it sent the other figure tumbling to the ground.

He figured it was a girl. She had long chestnut brown hair. She seemed to be around sixteen years old with an impressive figure. He noticed that she had with her a small brown bag with its contents strewed about the ground.

Upon closer inspection he realized they were stuffed animals. He noted four of them; however he raised an eyebrow when he saw how disturbing the plush dolls were. Each one of them seemed to be in the process of death in some form. One of them was a lemur missing an arm and "bleeding out", another's head seemed to be hanging by a thread (a wolf, if Ichigo saw correctly). The third seemed like it was run over by a car, judging by the tread marks on the bear's face.

The final one caught his eye and almost made him chuckle, almost being the key word. The doll in question had fallen near his foot. It was a plush lion, similar to Kon's preferred stuffed animal, however the main difference lied with its stomach. The plush doll the girl had was missing that portion, as if its guts had been removed.

No doubt Kon would take offense to it. Despite his obvious bravado, Kon was actually one of the bravest people Ichigo knew. When push came to shove, Kon would protect Ichigo's family with his life, as they had become his as well.

The girl shook her head and noticed the duo of Shinigami and stood hastily. She bowed. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking. I had just bought another set of stuffed Zoumotsu Animals and was distracted."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes at the girls head. 'I don't feel anything from her. It's as if she doesn't exist.'

Rukia tapped his side.

He glanced at her and saw her shake her head.

Now's not the time.

Ichigo got the message loud and clear. He cleared his throat. "It's not a problem. You didn't hurt me."

The girl raised her head with a relieved smile. "Thank goodness. I'm Sakura Kaede."

Ichigo nodded. "Kurosaki Ichigo."

Rukia bowed politely. "Kuchiki Rukia."

Kaede smiled. She glanced down and noticed her dolls laying on the ground. "Kya!" She exclaimed and squatted to recover her disturbing animals.

Ichigo exchanged glances with Rukia and sighed. He picked up the bastardized version of Kon and offered it to the girl.

Kaede put all of her dolls back in her bag and smiled at Ichigo. "Thank you, Kurosaki-san, but please take it."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I want to offer it up as an apology to you and as a gift to you both. Let's be friends." Her smile brightened.

Ichigo sighed. "Alright."

Rukia smiled, though Ichigo could tell it wasn't real. "Okay!"

Kaede clapped her hands happily. "Thank you, Kurosaki-kun, Kuchiki-chan." She looked at the sun. "Oh, I have to get going." She bowed to the two of them. "Until tomorrow, bye then. Take care of Honenuki Shishi for me please!"

"See you later." Rukia exclaimed.

Ichigo nodded.

Sakura Kaede waved goodbye and ran off.

"Rukia…" Ichigo started when he confirmed Kaede had left.

"I know, Ichigo. But for now we can't do anything without evidence." Rukia scowled. "I don't like it either, but our hands are tied."

Ichigo looked at the doll in his hand and scowled. "How can someone literally feel like nothing?"

Rukia sighed. "I don't know. For now, let's go home and put away our groceries."

Ichigo nodded silently and began walking, the doll clenched tightly in his hand.

XxXxXxXxXx

-Kurosaki-taicho! How are you?- A bubbly voice sounded from his phone's receiver.

Ichigo stood outside his apartment with the phone against his ear. "Hinamori, I'm good. How's the squad?"

-They're doing fine. Everyone is carrying out their duties normally.-

Ichigo nodded. "Listen, Hinamori."

-Yes, taicho?-

"You can send me the top priority paperwork every Sunday until the mission is over."

-Hai, taicho!-

"Good. Also, if you need me for something urgent, just call. I'll try to get clearance to open a senkaimon. If not, I'll just use Urahara's."

-Roger, taicho.-

Ichigo smiled. He liked Hinamori. She was an honest and hardworking girl. It was thanks to her that he managed to fill the position of the Fifth Division's captain after Shinji retired two years ago.

Speaking of, Shinji's retirement was unexpected to everyone and without a solid reason as well.

Ichigo had just been accepted into Tokyo University when he received the notice from Shunsui that he was being tested for captaincy. To say he was shocked would be an understatement, although it did save him the tuition fee.

"Take care, Hinamori. Tell Toushiro I said hello."

-I will. Good luck taicho!- Hinamori hung up with a cheery tone.

Ichigo chuckled. Even he couldn't keep a scowl when Hinamori was bubbly. It seemed like Aizen's influence had completely vanished. Without having to have an anchor to latch on, she became a much more confident person.

"Toushiro is lucky he has her as a friend." He smirked.

"What did Momo say?" Rukia asked from the doorway, two apples in her hand. She tossed the other one at Ichigo.

He caught it easily. "Nothing important, everything's the same." He took a bite.

She nodded. "Hey, come in here for a sec."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "What?"

She brought out a DVD from behind her back. "Put this on for me."

Ichigo sighed. He walked forward and grabbed the DVD. "Chappy's Great Adventure?"

Rukia nodded happily. "Yep! I bought it while you weren't looking."

Ichigo scowled. "I thought I asked you not to buy any Chappy related things anymore."

Rukia smirked. "Obviously I ignored you."

Ichigo walked in while rubbing his forehead. "What am I gonna do with you?" He asked himself. Despite his words, he proceeded to the den and inserted the DVD into the player.

Rukia smiled. "Please, what could you do without me?" She sat down at the sofa and relaxed. She looked at him with a cheery grin. "Watch it with me." She requested.

Ichigo ignored her and walked to the bedroom. "That's where I draw the line. I'm going to finish up the homework."

"Stingy!"

"Whatever." Ichigo walked into the room and shut the door.

An hour passed before Ichigo found himself on the last question of his chemistry homework.

He tapped the pencil to his chin. "So if I take the spectator ions out of this reaction, the net ionic equation will become this." He wrote down the reaction formula. "Yeah, that looks right." He nodded to himself. He got up from his desk and stretched. "Finally." He walked out of the room to check up on Rukia.

He found her sleeping on the couch with the T.V. still on. He poked her. "Rukia."

No response.

Another poke. "Oi, midget."

No response.

Ichigo sighed. He walked back to the room and retrieved the blanket and pillow from her bed. Carefully, he positioned them so that Rukia would be comfortable.

"If you sleep like that you'll wind up sore in the morning." He mumbled.

He took a quick shower and laid on his bed. He scowled. "Things are moving slowly. Waiting isn't my strong suit but this time I don't have a choice." He closed his eyes. "Let's see what we can discover tomorrow." He had soon drifted to sleep.

While unconscious, he couldn't feel the weight of a metal object weigh down his right wrist.

XxXxXxXxXx

(WARNING! The following part may be too graphic for readers under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18 I STRONGLY suggest skipping over this part, you'll know when to continue reading when you see the X's. I have warned you, if you choose to ignore my warning I will claim no responsibility.)

"Ugh…" Ichigo slowly opened his eyes to a never ending void. "Where am I?" He asked aloud. He attempted to move only to find himself unable to, not even his head. "What's going on?"

He struggled against his invisible bonds. "What…the…hell!?" He grit his teeth and tried to summon his reiatsu to destroy whatever was holding him.

Except…he couldn't mold any.

Ichigo's eyes widened. "M-My reiatsu. It isn't working." He clenched his eyes shut. 'Zangetsu! Ossan! Are you there?' He tried to contact his Zanpakutō spirit and his Quincy abilities, but to no avail.

"What's going on?" Ichigo began to panic.

His power…The power he had worked himself so hard to achieve was gone…again.

"Having difficulties, Kurosaki Ichigo?" A voice said from above him.

Ichigo froze. The voice was distinctive. He had heard it before, years ago. "Impossible…" He opened his eyes to see Sousuke Aizen, towering over him, his short brown hair slicked back.

"Aizen! How? You're imprisoned in the Maggot's Nest!"

"Am I?"

Ichigo glared.

"Can you confirm that anything you have seen is the truth…" Aizen smirked. "and not a fabrication brought upon by my Kyoka Suigetsu?"

Ichigo scowled. "I wasn't hit by your shikai. Stop playing games."

"Were you? How can you be sure of anything? Are you even Kurosaki Ichigo?"

"What are you talking about? Of course I'm myself." He grit his teeth. He didn't appreciate his intelligence being insulted.

"Are you?" Aizen moved from his position over Ichigo's head. "From where I'm standing you don't look like him." He snapped his fingers.

Ichigo suddenly felt his head released by its invisible binds. "What are you talking about?" Ichigo moved his head. "Obviously I'm…him…" The words were lost to Ichigo as he realized something.

He wasn't a he anymore.

He was staring at what was undoubtedly a set of female breasts underneath his shirt.

Aizen chuckled. "Since when did you fall into the illusion…"

Ichigo felt something touch him where he knew his male appendage should be. His eyes widened when he realized it was Aizen's hand.

"That you were ever Kurosaki Ichigo?"

Ichigo gasped as he felt Aizen's hand brush up against his lower lips. "W-What are you-!?"

Aizen chuckled. "I am merely showing you the truth. I have orchestrated every moment of your life, leading up to this. I will show you that you are not Kurosaki Ichigo." He smirked. "For instance, how could you be him when what I am touching clearly belongs to a woman?"

Ichigo felt the fabric of his…no, this wasn't him…it was her pants, this weak girl whose body he had somehow inhabited. Her pants ripped. "N-No!" She struggled against her bonds harder, but she couldn't do anything. Her body wouldn't move. "Stop!"

Aizen ignored her and rubbed Ichigo's bud through her panty clad pelvis. "The image of you being Kurosaki Ichigo is a lie I have fabricated since your birth. Your memories, your family, your friends, your identity were all fictitious. You were never him." He trailed his fingers over Ichigo's womanhood. "It only makes sense that you would wear what he wouldn't."

Ichigo breathing staggered. "Stop it, please!" She begged. Neither he nor she wanted this. Why would they want this? Why was this happening?

Aizen pressed his finger against Ichigo's entrance.

Ichigo struggled once more but Aizen wasn't bothered.

"As expected, your body responds exactly like a woman's" He lifted his hand to reveal moist fingertips.

Ichigo glared. "I'll kill you." She growled through gritted teeth.

Aizen smirked. "I'm sure you will."

Ichigo felt the last thing standing between her naked sex and Aizen tear off her. She felt Aizen place his finger at her entrance again.

"Don't!"

"Your words mean nothing to me. If you want me to stop, then stop me." Aizen taunted. He pressed into Ichigo's virgin hole quickly and mercilessly.

Tears welled in Ichigo's eyes as she felt Aizen's finger pierce her deep inside. "No way…I-I can't be…" She was violated. She felt dirty.

Why did she feel dirty? Wasn't she a man? This wasn't who he was- no, who he is.

It had to be a lie. This couldn't be happening. How could it? Ichigo was a man, a captain.

"It's a lie…no…no…"

Aizen smirked and thrust his hand again. "Does this feel like a lie?"

Kurosaki Ichigo does not give up easily. "You bastard!" Ichigo glared at Aizen and attempted to free herself again. "This isn't real. I refuse to believe it."

She ignored the feeling within her womanhood. This was a dream. A frightening and mentally scarring nightmare, but still a dream. Ichigo refused to yield, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction, because nothing he had shown her was real. She is Kurosaki Ichigo and she is a man. She steeled her gaze at Aizen.

Aizen's eyes gleamed sadistically. "The truth lies between your flesh and my fingers."

She scowled. "This isn't the truth and you know it. You aren't real." She spat at him. "This is a nightmare, and I won't believe this farce!" She reached deep inside and grasped what she recognized as her reiatsu and erupted with power as her invisible shackles broke. Her blazing hazel irises reflected her unyielding resolve with a brilliant azure as she glared at Aizen.

"You won't, BREAK ME!"

XxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo shot up in a cold sweat.

He held his face and breathed deeply. "A nightmare…A goddamn nightmare." Ichigo whispered to himself. He grabbed his phone. "1:20 AM…It's late."

Ichigo's eye's widened. "My voice…it sounds different." He blinked when he realized his hair fell down below his eyes. "My hair…" He glanced down hesitantly. "It…it can't be."

Ichigo patted his chest, only…it wasn't his chest. It was her chest. A pair of breasts protruded proudly where his once defined muscles once were.

She scowled. "Another nightmare?"

"Aiya, it's no nightmare." A voice commented from above her.

Ichigo glanced at the noise. "It's you." She glared.

The tiny form of Honenuki Shishi waved at her from the shelf where Ichigo had previously put it.

Ichigo reached up and grabbed it by the throat. "What did you do to me?" She demanded. Her emotions were raging

"Sh-Shishi didn't do anything! Honest!"

Ichigo stalked to the bathroom as quietly as her anger would allow. When she entered she pointed at the mirror.

"That, isn't me. What. Happened?" Never before had Ichigo been so humiliated.

"W-Why are you so upset? Shishi thinks you make a pretty girl!" The plush doll complimented.

Ichigo took a good long look at her reflection. Her height had decreased from 5'11" to 5'8". Her hair had grown to a length similar to when she completed her training in the Dangai, but it spiked itself in a feminine way. It retained its bright orange color as well. Her eyes, despite being narrowed in anger, were large and expressive. Her face was soft and heart shaped with full and attractive cheeks. Her lips were a soft pink and looked very delicate. She glanced downward and noticed a rather modest bust, accompanied by a thin waist and curvy hips that were covered by her blue shirt, stylized with the number 15 on it, and basketball shorts. From out of the shorts, her toned and hairless legs extended downward to a set of petite feet. All of this further infuriated her.

She threw the plushie on the floor. "Don't think I enjoy looking like this!"

"I-I-I-ICHIGO!" She heard Rukia scream.

Suddenly Rukia burst into the bathroom. "Ichi…go?"

Rukia and Ichigo stared at each other.

Rukia looked different from usual, much different. To begin with, her hair had changed. It was longer than her usual bob cut and was stark white. Her eyes had changed from a deep violet to an icy blue and her complexion paled by several tones. She almost looked as if she had activated her bankai.

"Rukia?"

"Ichigo, is that you?"

Ichigo looked away and nodded.

"What the hell's happening?"

"Ahem, you two have become Kampfer!" The lion inputted.

The two of them eyed the lion with murderous intent.

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow. "Explain."

Rukia scowled. "Now."

"Ehe…" The doll cleared its throat. "That bracelet is proof of the contract. It's called the Contract Bracelet. Now that you've been chosen by the moderators, you must fight no matter what. You've become a Kampfer, an elite born to fight."

Ichigo and Rukia glanced to their wrist to see a pair of matching blue metal bracelets.

Ichigo scowled. "Who are the moderators?"

"Aha, Shishi doesn't know." It laughed nervously.

Rukia twitched an eyebrow. She grabbed it and stomped it into the ground. "You damn Nana Mizuki sounding trash!"

Ichigo narrowed her eyes. Her posture stiffened and her presence intensified. "Rukia, restrain the damn thing and throw it in a sack. Make sure that it can't see anything. We don't know if these 'moderators' can see through them." Ichigo walked outside the bathroom. "I've got a call to make."

Rukia nodded quietly.

She had only heard of this Ichigo. Ichigo was never the leader type in the "Winter War" nor in the "Thousand Year War", however when he was made captain he took to it like a moth to a flame. This was not the Kurosaki Ichigo that faced Aizen nor the Quincy army, this was Kurosaki-taicho of the Fifth Division.

Ichigo pulled out her phone. She quickly dialed Urahara's number.

-Moshi moshi. Kurosaki-san?-

"Urahara-san. We've got a problem. I need you over here, now."

-Ichigo, are you okay? You sound different.- Kisuke only referred to Ichigo by his name when he was serious.

"I don't know. I can't explain it over the phone. Come quickly."

-I understand. I'll open a senkaimon to your address. Stand by.-

"Thanks Urahara-san." Ichigo hung up the phone. She turned to the bathroom. "Is it secured, Rukia?"

"Yeah! I got it."

"H-Hey! Why are you stuffing Shishi in a bag?"

Ichigo sighed. "Could you muffle the damn thing?"

Rukia walked out of the bathroom. "It doesn't have a mouth to stuff, and we don't have tape. Did you contact Urahara?"

Ichigo nodded. "He'll set up a senkaimon and be here as quick as he can. But it'll take at least a half-hour."

Rukia sighed. She looked Ichigo over with a raised eyebrow. "This confuses me. Why did you turn into a girl?"

"Kampfer can only be girls, so that's why he turned into a girl." The lion said from inside the sack. "More importantly, who are you guys?"

Ichigo sighed. "Might as well settle on the couch." She grabbed the bag from Rukia. She sat on the couch and loosened the bag.

Shishi popped its head from the opening to see Ichigo's serious expression.

"Now I'm going to ask a series of simple questions and you will respond with a yes or a no, do you understand?"

"A-Ah, Shishi understands."

"Can the moderators see through you?"

"No."

Ichigo nodded. "Good. Are you in contact with them?"

"No, they only send us down to guide the new Kampfer's."

Ichigo sighed. "Do you know who the moderators are?"

"No."

Ichigo relaxed somewhat and nodded. "Fine." She took out the plush doll. "This will get us nowhere like this."

Rukia nodded and stood behind the orangette.

Ichigo looked at the lion plush with a scowl. "Tell us everything you know about Kampfer."

The doll nodded. "That was Shishi's job to begin with." It walked away from the duo and hopped on the coffee table. Rukia took this chance to sit down.

Shishi turned around and put its hands on its hips. "There are three types of weapons that Kampfer use." It started. "The magic users are called 'Zauber' types! The firearm wielding Kampfers are called 'Gewehr' types and the sword wielders are known as the 'Schwert' types!"

Ichigo furrowed her brow. "I see. Is there a reason the names are in German? Are they related to something known as a Quincy?"

"What are Quincy's?" Shishi questioned. "Shishi guesses that the names are German because it sounds cool."

Ichigo sighed in relief. "I guess we can cross Quincy off the list."

Rukia nodded. "Yes, that is a relief."

Ichigo put a hand to her chin. "I wonder what types we are then."

Rukia nodded. "You would probably be a sword type. I could either be a magic or sword type."

Ichigo shrugged. She didn't really care, she had said it to pass the time.

She sensed someone watching her and glanced sideways to see Rukia staring intently at her. "What is it?"

"Hmm."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Something on my face?"

"I can't get over it."

"Get over what? In case you hadn't notice, we're in a bit of a situation here."

"I understand that, I just can't get over the fact that you're originally a guy yet you're so…"

"So what?"

"Cute." Rukia grinned in amusement.

Ichigo blushed involuntarily. "W-What the hell midget!?"

Rukia smirked. "I mean, look at you. You've got a great body!"

Ichigo scowled, face still flushed. "You're rubbing it in."

"Hee…just a little."

Ichigo slowly lost the red in her cheeks and sighed. "Can you sense anything?" She asked.

Rukia nodded. "Yes, I can sense the same energy from you and I as I did from that girl and Senou."

Ichigo frowned. "I guess it's safe to say we found the energy. Now we got to find the source."

Rukia furrowed her brow. "It can't be a coincidence for us to become…Kampfers after obtaining that ugly plushie from Kaede."

"I noticed that too. Again, I felt absolutely nothing from her. Even normal humans have a little bit of reiryoku. It's like she doesn't even exist."

"Or, she's hiding her presence." Rukia whispered out loud. "Think about it. What if Kaede knows how to hide her reiatsu?"

Ichigo frowned. "She'd be hiding in plain sight. I could see her, but not feel her. But to completely snuff it out? She's got to have some sort of training. The only people I know who can do that are Uryu, the royal guard, most of the captains, Urahara, Yoruichi-san and the Omnitsukido, all of which are high level combatants, or trained assassins."

Rukia nodded. "It is disconcerting." She scowled. "Whatever the case, Sakura Kaede is someone to keep an eye on."

Ichigo nodded in agreement.

Rukia sighed. "How long has it been?"

"Twenty minutes."

"Good, I want to return to normal as quickly as possible."

Ichigo glared at her. "I think I take priority."

"Ah, yes…perhaps you do…Berry-chan."

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow. She raised her fingers in a pinching motion. "This close, midget. This close."

The last few minutes were spent in a tense silence. Then a large wooden door appeared in their den accompanied by a blinding light.

Kisuke filed out quickly, his expression tense. He glanced at the two kampfers and frowned.

"Kurosaki-san, Rukia-san?"

They nodded.

"Aiya, who is this?" The plush lion asked.

Urahara glanced at it. He looked back at the other two. "Let's start from the beginning."

XxXxXxXxXx

She had to run. There was no other option.

A bullet whizzed by her ear.

She tilted forward and ran faster. She looked forward.

An escape route? Over the bike and off the bridge. A bullet pierced her skirt as she flipped over it. She dropped onto a passing car.

Bullets penetrated the car, having just missed her. She turned towards the shooter.

A girl with red hair fell from the bridge with an excited smirk.

She leaped off the car into the neighboring foliage.

The girl with red haired followed after her closely.

She darted through the trees as quickly as she could, but it was no use.

The other girl had caught up to her.

She looked at the girl's gun. It was pointed at her.

She raised her hand in defense and managed to block the bullet with the metal bracelet located on her wrist. She was hurled backwards. Her back crashed against the trunk of a tree with a gasp.

The red haired girl settled on a branch and took aim.

She rolled out of the way and ran as fast as she could. She burst out of the trees and ran towards a closed off building. She hopped over the barrier and darted into the building. She saw a set of stairs and began to scale them. She didn't stop running until she reached the roof. She looked around to see nothing of help.

Trapped. No way out.

She heard the door open and turned around to see her red haired pursuer with her gun pointed at her and a cocky grin on her face.

She backtracked slowly, hoping for a miracle. She felt her feet hit the ledge and she glanced down at the terrifying drop.

The other girl grinned wider.

No choice. The only way out is to jump.

The redhead slowly pulled the trigger.

Now!

She fell backwards off the building as soon as she heard the shot be fired. She turned and faced the ground.

"Iiiiyaa!"

Everything faded to black.

XxXxXxXxXx

Kisuke furrowed his brow at the computer monitor he had set up in the den. "This is very interesting." He turned to the two girls. "Both of you have been changed on the genetic level."

Ichigo scowled. "Meaning?"

Kisuke looked at her. "In your case, your chromosome set has been altered. On a normal male, the 23rd set of chromosomes will be both an X and a Y chromosome, an XY chromosome. On a female, the 23rd set of chromosomes will be two X's, or simply an XX chromosome. I have a sample of your DNA when you were a male and I compared it to the sample I just took."

He turned back towards the computer. "Look here." He pressed a key and an image two double helix DNA strands appeared on the screen. They were identical except for one instance. Kisuke pointed at it. "This is the set that identifies gender. On the left is Male Ichigo, the right is Female Ichigo. If we were to believe the one on the right, then you are and always have been a girl." He glanced at her. "However we all know that isn't the case." He looked at Rukia.

"Now concerning Rukia-san, since her transformation isn't as drastic as yours, it was slightly more difficult discovering how her DNA was different. I went with the obvious hair color change first and came up short. So I did an analysis on her reiatsu before and after." He looked at Ichigo and smirked. "As you know, Kurosaki-san, reiryoku can have a noticeable effect on a person's appearance, as with your Mugetsu technique."

Ichigo nodded.

"The bracelet on Rukia-san has amplified the effect her reiatsu has on her gigai, I assume it's to compensate the lack of a real body. Since the color of her reiatsu is white it's caused her hair to reflect that."

Kisuke shrugged. "For some unknown reason, reiryoku has an odd effect that can lengthen hair. Several minor cases have appeared in the past of people who wake up and their hair length has changed radically. There's no clear reason why it does that, and it's not a major problem so not much research was done concerning it. We've come to call situations like this the 'Kubo Effect', named after the first recorded incident. But that's not important right now." He waved the topic off.

Ichigo scowled. 'That explains a lot.'

"I have also concluded that her reiatsu has changed both her skin tone and her eye color for similar reasons. As opposed to a simple hair color change, the actual effect of her reiatsu has changed her gigai accordingly. Rukia-san wields a zanpakutō of ice whose ability is the power to freeze things to absolute zero. I've concluded that the freezing temperature caused her skin to pale drastically."

Rukia frowned. Her ability also came with a hefty price. The chance that she could kill herself was still high. "Will that be a problem? I still don't have complete control of my bankai."

Kisuke tilted his hat down. "Unfortunately I don't have the answer, yet. However I believe you should be safe, other than feeling cold to the touch I've yet to find an adverse effect to your body."

She nodded. "And my eyes?"

"Ah yes. Kurosaki-san isn't the only person to have their eyes flash with reiryoku. Although rare, eye color changing isn't unheard of in shinigami's with denser reiatsu. What is different is the effect the bracelet has, which has made Rukia-san's eyes slightly more…permanent."

Ichigo attempted to cross her arms but couldn't figure out how to do so with her newly acquired bust and resorted to her usual scowl. "Which is?"

Kisuke smirked. "Well, to explain that I'll have to explain my findings first." At Ichigo's nod he continued. "When I look at the evidence from both of your analyses I've come to this conclusion." He tipped his bucket hat up. "Becoming these 'Kampfer' doesn't alter your DNA like I first thought; it completely rewrites it to maximize battle efficiency."

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow. "And me becoming a woman?"

Kisuke nodded. "In many different cultures it is believed that woman make better warriors for various reasons. Whoever made these bracelets must have believed that a person's true potential could be achieved as a woman."

"Perfect." Ichigo's sarcastic response made Rukia chuckle.

Kisuke sighed. "I have one last test to administer."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Suddenly she was smacked in the forehead by the bottom of Kisuke's cane. She felt a sudden disorientation before she glared at him. "What the hell Geta-boshi? Warn someone before you do that!"

Kisuke's eyes widened. "Huoa! This is interesting. It seems the change has even affected your Shinigami form!"

Ichigo blinked. "What?" She looked down and indeed, she was in her usual shihakushō, as well as her captain's haori. She could feel the familiar weight of her twin Zangetsu against her back and hip. She felt a weight on her wrist and frowned when she realized the bracelet remained. Her lifeless body had collapsed on the floor beside her.

Kisuke furrowed his brow. "This has exceeded the limit of current technology, even amongst Shinigami. DNA is one thing, a soul is another." He looked at Rukia. "Rukia-san, if I may."

She nodded and he pressed his cane against her forehead and separated her soul from her gigai.

She, like Ichigo, remained in her altered state when her Shinigami form detached itself from her gigai. She ran a hand through her hair and frowned. "Sode no Shirayuki approves…" She mumbled.

Kisuke nodded expectantly. "I assumed as much. I'll have to do some more experiments back at the shop." He paused. "Aiya I almost forgot, I also analyzed the plush doll you received from this Sakura Kaede-san and the results were…inconclusive."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Inconclusive? What do you mean?"

"I first approached it under the assumption that it was similar to a mod soul, an artificial soul placed inside a body. However I discovered nothing of the sort. The scans returned and it's just a plain doll. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary. I'm afraid I can't tell you what it is."

Ichigo scowled. "So in the end, we've got nothing to go on?"

"I didn't say that Kurosaki-san. Going back to what I was saying about battle efficiency and the effect the bracelet's had on Rukia-san's body, I analyzed the energy signatures of your bracelets and found something interesting."

Rukia crossed her arms. "What's that?"

"We all came to the assumptions that this bracelet acted as a sort of leash, correct? Put on by these so called 'Moderators' to force you to fight."

When they nodded, Urahara continued. "That is actually the complete opposite of what they are. They are, in short, amplifiers."

Ichigo furrowed her brow. "Amplifiers?"

"Simply put yes. I managed to discover that these bracelets, when active, take a person's natural talent and 'weaponize' it. To be clear, a natural talent does not need to be a disposition to a specific weapon. It can be influenced by culture, upbringing, personality, emotions, etc. The bracelets emphasizes these when active and reverts these changes when inactive."

Ichigo straightened. "Can you figure out what class we are?"

Kisuke chuckled. "That was easy, Kurosaki-san. For starters, Rukia-san would be classed as a 'Zauber' type. The class that wields magic expertly, suiting for a master of many high-level kido spells."

Rukia nodded. She had deduced that earlier.

"Funnily enough, Kurosaki-san was, as usual, very difficult to classify. As a natural born hybrid, theoretically you could fit into two of the three classes. We'll cross out 'Gewehr' because you showed no disposition towards it. To start with, you obviously have a high affinity to sword-play, so at first 'Schwert' seemed rather obvious. However being half Quincy gives you a natural affinity to 'magical arts', so to speak." Kisuke smiled and waved his fan. "It's more complicated than that, but I'll keep this simple. In the end, you were assigned to the 'Schwert' class, however I have a good feeling that it also affected your potential Quincy abilities."

Ichigo sighed and nodded. "I'm amazed that you were able to discover all of that."

"Yes, after analyzing the bracelets I realized that there was an encoding etched into it on a scale smaller then microscopic, 'nanoscopic' we'll call it. The encoding is similar to that of a computer file. When I noticed that, I had a program decrypt the coding. It was all in German but a quick translation cleared that up." Kisuke smiled innocently. "I doubt a normal scientist could have realized it but a humble shop owner such as I spotted it and decoded it."

Ichigo looked at her breasts annoyingly. "These aren't permanent, right Geta-boshi?"

Kisuke chuckled. "Your transformation? No, you'll turn back given enough time. However your status as 'Kampfer' is unpredictable. So I cannot say." Kisuke began to pack up his equipment. "However, I would suggest that you adapt and use this to your advantage, Kurosaki-san."

Ichigo scowled. "What do you mean?"

Kisuke smiled. "Kurosaki-san, think about it. Who else knows the identity of your 'alter ego' so to speak? If you'd like, I'm sure I can come up with identification papers for you."

Ichigo furrowed her brow. "I see your point. As much as I hate looking like this, since I'm stuck like this for now I might as well take advantage of it."

"And you Rukia-san?"

She nodded as well.

"Excellent!" Kisuke finished packing up and turned to the two of them. "If you'd like a specific name, please tell me."

Ichigo shrugged. "I'll stay with Ichigo, you can figure out a family name." She knew that if her name was written a certain way it could mean strawberry, and she was terrible with names as it was, so coming up with a new name would just complicate things.

Rukia brightened. "How abo-"

"No." Ichigo cut her off.

Rukia turned to her. "You don't even know what I was going to say!"

Ichigo deadpanned. "Was it, 'Usagi'?"

Rukia crossed her arms. "N-No!"

"Rukia, be serious about it. Can you really see yourself being called 'Usagi'?"

Rukia opened her mouth to retort but nothing came out. After a moment she sighed and shook her head. "Dammit, you're right." She turned to Kisuke. "Since there's already a girl named Rukia I doubt I could keep that, it's not a common name."

Kisuke opened his fan and grinned. "I doubt so as well."

Rukia furrowed her brow. "How about…Shirayuki Hisana?"

Ichigo smirked good-naturedly. "A combination of Sode no Shirayuki's and Hisana-san's name? It's somehow appropriate."

Kisuke nodded. "Very well." He looked at Ichigo with an amused smile. "Would you like your zanpakutō name in there as well?"

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "You're reading into things too much. 'Zangetsu Ichigo'? It makes no sense."

Kisuke chuckled. "Perhaps you're right."

He turned around. "Luckily, I kept the senkaimon on standby." He retrieved his sword from his cane and stabbed it into the air and turned. The familiar sight of the senkaimon appeared in their den.

"I'll keep these coordinates locked in." He turned and smirked at the two girls. "I bid you ladies a good night." He walked into the senkaimon and vanished.

Ichigo grit her teeth. "Oi! Geta-boshi! That was uncalled for and you know it!" She yelled.

Rukia chuckled. "You'll have to get used to it Ichigo. As long as you look like that the world will address you as a girl." She knelt down and melded into her gigai.

Ichigo scowled but didn't rebuke her. She slid into her own body and stood. "Where's Kyouraku when you need him? I could use a drink right about now." She murmured as she walked to the bedroom.

Rukia walked behind her and grinned in amusement.

When they entered the bedroom they became aware of the plush lion back on its shelf.

"Aiya! That crazy scientist isn't back to take Shishi away again is he?" It cried. It used its small arms to shield its face.

It went ignored as the two of them settled onto their respective beds.

Ichigo checked her phone. "It's almost four." She sighed.

Rukia nodded. "We should get a couple hours rest."

Ichigo frowned. "If we're not back to normal by the morning, we'll have to skip school." She sighed again, she had been doing that a lot recently. "At least as Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia."

Rukia laid down. "We'll worry about that in the morning."

Ichigo nodded and placed her head to her pillow. "Ah! Damn I forgot to ask Geta-boshi."

Rukia turned her head towards Ichigo. "What?"

She glared at the ceiling. "Why the hell did my underwear change too!?"

XxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo groaned as she hit the snooze button to the alarm on her phone. She shuffled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. She splashed water on her face to wake herself up. She looked at her reflection in the mirror for a moment and stared.

Something had changed since last night. What was it?

Suddenly her mind cleared from its hazy state and she grinned a grin so unlike Ichigo.

He was back. His steely expression, coupled with his toned muscles, visible through his shirt and his masculine features. He patted himself in several places to double check if it was true.

He nearly ran back to the bedroom and shook Rukia awake. He wasn't the excitable type but this was a special occasion. His manhood had returned after all.

With a nod of satisfaction he noticed that Rukia had reverted back to her normal self.

She groaned in her sleep. "What is it you damn berry?"

Ichigo ignored the insult. "Oi, midget. Wake up. We're back."

Rukia nodded sleepily. "That's nice…"

Ichigo took a step back, his face still split in a grin.

Suddenly she shot up from the bed. "What!?" She looked at the male form of Ichigo. "Am I?"

"Yep."

Rukia rushed to the bathroom and Ichigo could hear her sigh in relief.

Ichigo took a moment to compose himself and soon enough he regained control of his facial muscles.

Rukia walked back into the room with a relieved smile. "As much as my zanpakutō may approve, white hair doesn't suit me. I think I'd look too much like Ukitake-taicho."

Ichigo nodded. "I'm glad I'm back to normal too. I'm not too pleased with the whole 'girl' thing." He glanced at his phone. "You go ahead and shower first, but make it quick or we won't make it to school."

Rukia grinned. "How gentlemanly."

Ichigo ignored her and went to the kitchen. "I'm making breakfast, what do you want?"

Rukia grabbed a uniform from the closet. "Whatever Yuzu usually makes."

Ichigo grumbled. "Yeah, that's helpful. Listen midget, I don't know how to make that."

Rukia walked into the bathroom. "Then just make eggs or something." She shut the door and preceded to shower.

Ichigo nodded to himself. He made breakfast for the two of them in silence; eggs and bacon with a side of rice. Soon enough, Rukia exited the bathroom clean and dressed for the day.

Ichigo passed her a plate and the two of them ate quickly without conversation.

Ichigo finished his breakfast and put his dishes in the sink. 'Surprisingly, this is nice.' He thought to himself. 'A normal breakfast with Rukia and without any unnecessary distractions.'

He moved to the bedroom and retrieved his own uniform. 'No paperwork, no crazy father, no sudden surprises.' He entered the bathroom. 'I think I could get use to this.'

He showered and dressed himself. He walked out of the bathroom to see Rukia standing at the sink about to start washing the dishes.

"Ichigo, where's the soap?"

"Underneath the sink." Ichigo walked into the bedroom again. He heard the water begin to run from the kitchen.

"Ichigo-san." Honenuki Shishi called out from the shelf.

Ichigo looked at it. "What?"

Without the raging turmoil of emotions that he felt the previous night, he felt indifferent towards the plush doll.

"There's another thing Shishi has to tell you."

Ichigo sighed. He grabbed his bag and pocketed his phone. "What is it?"

"When your bracelet glows you better hide!" It bounced on its feet. "You'll turn into a Kampfer not long after it starts glowing!"

Ichigo looked at it for a moment before he nodded. "Alright, thanks for the heads up."

"Aha. Shishi is just doing his job!"

Ichigo nodded again and walked out of the room. "Alright Rukia, we better get going."

Rukia glanced from the kitchen. "I'm almost done."

"Well hurry up then."

"Don't rush me, Baka-berry."

"If I don't we'll be here all morning midget." He caught the plate she tossed at him. "Don't break the dishes." He caught the pan she threw at him. "Oi, watch it! You'll hurt someone, namely me." He walked forward and placed them in the tray, which inadvertently placed him right behind Rukia.

Rukia turned around quickly. "Ichig-oh!" She bumped into the Shinigami captain. "Ichigo! Why are you so close?"

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "I'm putting the dishes away and not throwing them at people."

She narrowed her eyes. "I wasn't throwing them at people, I was throwing them at you."

"I don't count as a person?"

"Nope."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, midget." He glanced at the last few dishes. "I'll help, it'll get done faster."

She huffed. "I don't need your help." She turned back around. "But if you want to help, you do the drying."

XxXxXxXxXx

In the end it took the two of them only a couple minutes to finish up the few remaining dishes. The duo walked side-by-side on the road as they travelled to the bus stop.

Suddenly Ichigo palmed his forehead. "I can't believe I forgot."

Rukia raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"If what we sensed yesterday from Senou and that girl was the same as ours when we transformed, then what are they?" Ichigo glanced at the blue metal bracelet on his wrist. "I didn't see one of these on Senou yesterday, did you see one on that girl?"

Rukia shook her head. "She wore a long-sleeve shirt, so I couldn't see her wrists."

Ichigo nodded. "Well that's som-" He paused and narrowed his eyes. "Do you feel that?"

Rukia frowned. "I do. Killing intent."

Ichigo crossed his arms. "We'll check it out, but we shouldn't get involved if we can help it."

Rukia nodded. Despite her actions towards him on a casual basis, she trusted his judgment. "Should we go as Shinigami?"

Ichigo shook his head. "We don't know much about Kampfer abilities and we don't know if they can see spirits. We shouldn't blow our cover."

Rukia smiled cheekily. "Glad to see you're using your head."

Ichigo smirked. "Not everything can be solved by rushing in bullheaded to save the trapped princess."

Rukia scowled. "You had to bring that up."

"Had to bring you down a notch."

"I already said I wouldn't thank you for that." She huffed. "Whatever, let's go. We don't want to lose them."

Ichigo tensed and nodded. The two of them ran towards the presence as quickly as they could. Suddenly the sound of gunfire caused them to pause.

"You heard that Ichigo?"

"Yeah, let's go!"

The approached an intersection and saw a blue haired young girl atop a traffic light. They

"Hey doesn't that look like Senou-san?"

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah."

"Not bad." Another voice complimented the bluenette.

Ichigo glanced to the right and saw a redheaded girl holding a pistol.

Something about the girl made Ichigo want to fight, as if his basic instincts were pressuring him to draw his sword. It annoyed him to no end. "I don't know why, but she makes me want to fight." He scowled. "Is this a side effect of being a Kampfer?"

Rukia looked down and frowned. "I don't know, but we have another problem Ichigo. Things are about to get brighter."

Ichigo glanced down to see his Kampfer bracelet shining brightly. "This is not my day." He groaned.

They scanned the surroundings for a place to take cover behind but the intersection was devoid of anything of considerable size. Lacking in options, the two of them hid as best they could behind a telephone pole.

The redhead seemed to notice the impending transformation but was unable to see Ichigo or Rukia from behind the pole.

Ichigo scowled as he was blinded by a bright light. Almost immediately he felt a change in his body. He could feel himself shrink several inches and certain parts his anatomy change within a short amount of time. It was a surreal experience. He also noted with dismay that the familiar feeling of pants had vanished.

Ichigo stumbled forward and blinked her eyes open to see the barrel of the redheaded girl's gun pointed at her from a distance, the girl smirking behind it. Ichigo looked to the right and saw Rukia had also transformed. She glanced down and took in her changed apparel. She now wore the Seitatsu uniform for girls, black knee-length socks and black loafers. She could also tell that her underwear had changed…again, but chose not to dwell on it.

The redheaded girl "Looks like we got some new players in the game. Sorry about this newbies."

She pulled the trigger but Ichigo was prepared. She moved slightly to the left and watched as the bullet whizzed by her face. "Goddamn it." She grumbled. "This is really not my day."

The girl whistled. "Hoa, not bad. Not many can pull off a move like that right after transforming. You and the bitch with the fat ass aren't that bad. What's your names?"

The girl atop the traffic sight seemed impressed by Ichigo's maneuver. She stood and looked at the red-haired girl.

"Senou Natsuru."

Ichigo nearly face-palmed. 'He gave his real name.'

Rukia, on the other hand, did face palm. "He gave his real name?" Ichigo heard her whisper.

The girl nodded and gestured at Ichigo and Rukia. "How about you two?"

Ichigo scowled. Despite knowing it was a bad idea, her sense of honor compelled her to reveal her name. "…Ichigo"

Natsuru widened her eyes. "I-Ichigo…?"

Rukia frowned. "K-Shirayuki Hisana." She nearly said her real name.

The girl grinned. "I'm Mishima Akane." She readied her gun. "Let them know who sent you when ya get to hell."

Ichigo tensed. She never planned to get involved, but she would defend herself if she needed to.

"Now don't move so I can shoot you, you washboard bitch!"

Ichigo knew that was meant to be an insult, but as she was originally a man, she didn't feel the sting Akane meant.

"Natsuru-san!"

Ichigo's eyes widened. 'Why's she here?'

Sakura Kaede ran into view with a concerned expression. She saw Akane with her gun pointed at Ichigo and gasped.

Akane's eyes widened before she narrowed them and aimed her firearm at Kaede. "Outta the way, you stupid bitch!"

Natsuru prepared to jump. "Sakura-san!"

Ichigo rushed Akane and gripped her wrist tightly with her left hand.

"Uwah! You got a tight grip, washboard!"

Ichigo sighed. "It's one thing to shoot another combatant, but to aim your gun at someone who doesn't belong here is dishonorable." She almost gagged. 'I sounded like Byakuya.'

Akane grit her teeth. "Don't stop me!" She managed to shake off Ichigo and aimed at Kaede. "Die bitch!"

Natsuru jumped into the air. "Leave her alone!" She aimed her hand at Akane, and by extension Ichigo. Her bracelet shone and flames sparked from her hand until a large fireball rocketed from her palm.

Ichigo scowled. She quickly grabbed Akane and moved out of the way of the fireball before it exploded on the ground, fracturing the adjacent light pole.

After making sure Akane was okay, Ichigo leapt away. 'So that's a Zauber…' She glanced at Natsuru to see her standing in front of Kaede, staring at her bracelet in apparent shock.

Akane recovered and gave Ichigo a brief glare. She turned her attention back towards Natsuru. "I see, you're a Zauber type."

"Zauber?" Natsuru asked.

Without warning, an oppressive feeling settled over Ichigo and Rukia. 'Oh you've got to be shitting me.' She scowled. 'A hollow? Now of all times!?' She exchanged looks with Rukia and nodded. She noticed Akane was distracted by Natsuru so Ichigo took the chance to make a silent getaway. In her haste she missed the sudden twitch of Sakura Kaede.

Ichigo and Rukia darted away towards the oppressive presence. She took out the small green pill form of Kon and popped it in her mouth. She felt her soul disconnect from her body. She turned and glared at the mod soul.

"I will explain later, don't do anything, and I mean anything. Today's not a good day."

Kon, inside of Ichigo's body, blinked in surprise. "Eh? Ichigo?" She asked. She looked down. "What the hell!?"

"Stay there, and keep out of sight!" Ichigo turned back around and used shunpo to flash to the hollow.

Within a moment she had flashed in front of the hollow.

It was bestial in nature, large and burly with razor sharp claws and a large white mask for a face. All in all, an average looking hollow.

"Ah, a Shinigami. Perfect." The hollow began to cackle.

Ichigo sighed. She'd heard this phrase dozens of times by now.

"Ichigo." He heard Rukia flash next to him. "You're too fast sometimes."

"Two Shinigami! And girls to boot! Today's my lucky day! This will bring my total up to 6!"

Ichigo scowled. "You've already killed four Shinigami?" She drew her dual zanpakutō.

"Yes! And I doubt you'll stand much of a chance." The hollow taunted. "I am Flesh Render! I rip apart my prey by their skin!"

Rukia frowned. "I've heard of him. He's taken out unseated members of the 3rd, 7th and 9th Divisions, but he's not even Gillian class."

Ichigo nodded. "I got some steam to blow. Do you mind?"

Rukia shook her head. "He'll get no mercy from me."

Ichigo grinned. "Good."

Flesh Render seemed to grin. "Come at me little girl. I'll show you how weak you are."

Rukia sighed. "He probably shouldn't have called Ichigo that. He's already upset about it." She said to herself.

She was right. Ichigo glared at the hollow with a burning fury. Obviously this hollow didn't recognize her white haori and it would pay the price. She raised her short sword and slashed the air. With one phrase, she ripped the sky asunder.

"Getsuga…Tenshou!"

XxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo stood alone just outside the gate of Seitatsu Academy as people poured in, back in his male form. Right after he purified the hollow, he returned to being a man. According to Kon, at around the same time his body reverted as well. With a promise to explain things later, Ichigo returned to his body.

He watched people pass him with a calm and impassive expression. He saw a couple of girls look at him but he ignored them. They weren't who he was looking for.

Rukia had gone ahead after learning the reason behind why he was waiting at the gate.

Ichigo scanned the crowd for a specific person. As far as he knew, there was only one male with bright blue hair. Several minutes passed with no luck until he glanced towards the opposite end of the gate. He spotted said person walking inside with a dejected look on his face.

"Senou!" Ichigo called to him.

Natsuru turned to Ichigo with widened eyes. He quickly walked up to him.

"K-Kurosaki-san?"

Ichigo flashed his Kampfer bracelet irritatingly. "I want to talk to you."

Natsuru gaped. "E-Eh! So it was you?"

Ichigo glared at the boy. "Yes, now shut up and follow me. We need to talk."

Natsuru shut his mouth swiftly and nodded.

Ichigo turned and began to walk towards an apparent empty area. The walk was tense and quiet as the two reached their destination.

Ichigo stopped and looked at Natsuru, his expression serious. "I'll be frank, do you know anything about the moderators or Kampfers?"

Natsuru blinked in surprise. He shook his head quickly. "N-No. I only just became one last night. I only know what Harakiri Tora told me."

Ichigo frowned. 'He's a dead-end then, but he might be evidence that Sakura is involved. He said Harakiri Tora…' He glanced at Natsuru's bracelet. "What happened to Gunslinger Girl?"

"G-Gunslinger Girl?"

"The redhead."

"Ah." Natsuru rubbed the nape of his neck. "I uh, saved her from a falling telephone pole, then she left."

Ichigo nodded. "Alright then." Personally, he didn't care much. It was their fight to begin with and no one was hurt.

"Ano, Ichigo-san. Can I call you Ichigo-san?"

Ichigo shrugged. "I don't care." And really, he didn't. He's been called a lot of things over the years and he stopped caring what he was called long ago. Now if someone insulted him…

"Ichigo-san, how did you become a Kampfer?"

Ichigo scowled. "I'll be honest, I don't know, and I don't like it." He sighed. "But for now, we're stuck with it." He began to walk towards the building and Natsuru fell into step.

"The only lead we have is that girl."

"Mishima Akane-san?"

Ichigo nodded. "We should be careful. We don't know if she'll make another appearance."

He didn't really know why he was telling Natsuru about this. Sympathy? As fellow men forced to become women? He couldn't be sure.

What he did know was that the blue-haired boy would be at the center of this mess alongside the other Kampfers. As far as Ichigo knew, all Kampfer were supposed to fight against each other. Honenuki Shishi didn't elaborate much on that topic. Natsuru was really the only Kampfer he knew well enough to trust not to stab him in the back.

The duo walked into the building amongst the dozens of other students.

Ichigo scowled. 'We're running around in circles. For every question we answer, two dozen more replace it.' He sighed. 'I hate espionage.'

XxXxXxXxXx

Lunch period just started and Ichigo sat at his desk with his arms crossed, his eyes closed and a deep scowl situated on his face.

"Dammit. All that trouble this morning, I forgot to buy a bento. I don't have any money on me either." He said to himself.

He cracked open an eye to see Natsuru with his face planted firmly on his desk. He closed it again. "Not my business." He murmured.

"Oi!"

Ichigo opened his eyes to see Higashida Kanji walk towards the blue haired Kampfer.

"Senou!"

"What is it Higashida?" Natsuru's response was muffled by the desk.

"Someone's asking for you and the new guy."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes. 'What do they want with me?'

Natsuru didn't seem to care. "If it's sensei, tell him I'm dead."

Higashida smirked. "Hah, funny. No, it's a girl all the way from the girls side."

Ichigo face-palmed. 'A girl…from the girl's side. He is an idiot.'

Suddenly Natsuru was filled with energy and he shot up with a bright smile. "Sakura-san!?"

Kanji deadpanned. "Don't be an idiot. As if the school idol Sakura Kaede would visit you."

Natsuru deflated.

"Besides I said they were here for you and the new guy." He glanced at Ichigo. "Honestly if any of the two school idols came for you two I'd lead a revolt for your heads." Higashida grinned. "Now if the Student Council President came for me…" He lost himself in his imagination.

Ichigo sighed and stood up. He exchanged looks with Natsuru and shrugged. "Let's go meet this mystery girl."

Natsuru nodded weakly. "A-Ah, you're probably right." He pushed himself out of his chair and followed Ichigo towards the door.

Ichigo could hear whistling from outside.

"Oi, Senou! Better hurry! She looks like she's about to cry!" He heard someone say.

Natsuru opened the door and rushed forward, nearly colliding with the poor girl.

"S-Sorry. Were you waiting long?" Natsuru stammered.

The girl fidgeted in place. "N-No, I wasn't waiting long, but I need to talk with you two. Senou-san, Kurosaki-san."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

She looked at his scowling face and flinched. "S-Sorry, I um, should introduce myself. My name is Akane…" She paused. "M-Mishima Akane." She looked away from the two males.

Ichigo furrowed his brow. 'Gunslinger Girl?'

Natsuru smiled. "Ah, Aka-" He blinked. "M-Mishima A-Akane!?"

The girl nodded shyly.

"Heeehh!" Natsuru cried out loud.

Ichigo frowned.

The next piece had already been set into motion. Now, nothing will be the same.

XxXxXxXxXx

A/n

After years of this story being inactive I regret to say that I was complacent with this story. It deserved much more than what I had given it the first time, hopefully over 18,000 words is a start. Hopefully with this rewrite I can atone for my previous mistakes. I cannot promise much; only that this story has become an interest of mine again. While updates might now be as common as with my Path to Peace story, they will come.

Omake: Boy trouble

Ichigo walked down the street alone for a change. She had been stuck in her Kampfer form for the last few days and her mood reflected that. Her face was set in a permanent scowl and her body language screamed "Annoyed".

Little did she realize, things were about to change for the worse.

Ichigo stuffed her left hand into the pocket of her school uniform, her right held her bag. "Rukia had to go report to Ukitake-san and she left me alone like this." She glared at her body.

"S-Senpai!" A voice called from behind her.

She turned and looked at the voice. It was an average looking boy that wore the Seitatsu uniform for boys.

She put a hand her hip and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" She recognized him as a first year from the male side, but did she know him?

The boy fidgeted. "Ano…My name is Fijiwara Takeshi, and um…"

Ichigo raised her bag over her shoulder. "What is it? Spit it out."

"Y-Yes! Will you please go out with me!?" Takeshi bowed low.

Ichigo dropped her bag. "E-Eeehh!?"

End Omake

I hope you enjoyed this small spin-off omake. Let me know if you want me to continue these.

Until next time, this is Shippuuryu, signing off.