Chapter 2: Discovery
'Why is it so warm...?' Ichigo thought as he slowly opens his eyes only to be greeted by a world filled with skyscrapers. That wasn't all though, as flames burst from the skyscrapers setting everything into flames.
"My Inner World?" Ichigo was shocked as he stared at his inner world that burst into his flames.
[How interesting. A host with a powerful soul and was able to reach me in the dreamscape at the age of 7. I can say you're one of my youngest hosts yet. Although your a reincarnation.] A voice boomed throughout the Inner World, as a Big Red Dragon with Emerald Eyes made its appearance.
"Who are you?! Why am I back in my Inner World?! Where's the old man and Zangetsu!" Ichigo demanded answers from the Dragon, who only blinked a few times before he flapped his wings.
[I have no idea what you're talking about, although I guess what you call your Inner World is your mindscape, and these two beings are known as the "Old Man" and "Zangetsu" resided in here before? Interesting, very interesting indeed partner.] The Red Dragon said, looking at Ichigo with interest and a hint of surprise.
"You never answered my question, who are you?" Ichigo asked somewhat cautiously, his hands subconsciously raising up to his face as hints of black spiritual pressure appeared in his fingertips much to the Red Dragons surprise.
[Calm down partner, I am simply a being residing in your soul. Let me introduce myself, I am known by many names, The Welsh Dragon, The Two Heavenly Dragons, The Red Dragon of Domination, and The Red Dragon Emperor. I am Ddraig, your partner and sacred gear.] The Dragon now known as Ddraig introduced himself, making Ichigo lower his guard around the dragon.
"How..." Ichigo whispered, looking into the eyes of the dragon.
"Why am I now seeing my Inner World when I couldn't enter it before, and why couldn't I feel my spiritual energy until..." Ichigo looked at his hands, seeing the tiny black wisp of spiritual energy dancing around his fingertips before disappearing.
[I have an answer for that.] Ddraig caught Ichigo's attention, who narrowed his eyes demanding an explanation.
[You see, you couldn't enter your mindscape or your Inner World as you called it, due to not experiencing an outside force that forced out your powers. From what I can tell, your soul is very powerful, to the point, it can actually be used to fight against Ultimate Devil Class or Cadre Class beings.] Ddraig explained to Ichigo who was in deep thought.
'Outside force? But what could...'ve...' Ichigo's thoughts trailed off to what Irina told him about his sword.
"The holy sword..." Ichigo whispered, making Ddraig nod his head.
[Yes, from what I saw in your memories, it was the holy sword that brought out your sealed powers. Although, just a tiny bit of it due to your body not having any training and being that of a child.] Ddraig said staring at Ichigo who's feet was slowly fading.
[You're almost out of time. I can only answer two questions before you wake up.] Ddraig continued, looking at Ichigo in his eyes now.
"I... I have one question. You said ultimate Devil Class or Cadre Class beings. What's that?" Ichigo asked the Welsh Dragon, who just nodded his head and began explaining the supernatural world.
The shock given to Ichigo was a lot, hearing that beings such as Gods, Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels, and mythical beasts actually existing. Not to mention legends such as Gilgamesh, King Arthur, and many others actually being true. Not to mention humans being born with Gods gift, that being Sacred Gears and along with them the thirteen Longinus which has the ability to slay even Gods.
If he didn't encounter Rukia and been through all of those crazy life and death battles, he would've surely passed out or crap his pants just from looking at Ddraig and hearing his explanation.
"This..." Ichigo sat down, processing the information given to him as his legs started disappearing.
"I got one more question. Ddraig, you're my partner, right? How exactly do I tap into your power?" Ichigo asked Ddraig who just hummed seeing Ichigo's torso slowly disappearing.
[My form is a gauntlet, the Boosted Gear. To activate it, just simply think of the most powerful part of your body. Although be warned that once you do, you'll attract a lot of beings. The fact you're able to speak to me right now means you already achieved the Boosted Gear Second Liberation. Once the boosted gear is activated, all powers from around the world will begin there search after feeling the small burst of my Aura of Domination in your body. If your sacred gear was still locked to the point it seemed just like a twice critical, maybe you could've avoid this. But you have no other options now.] Ddraig warned as he saw Ichigo nod and slowly disappear.
"It was nice speaking to you, Ddraig." Ichigo said finally disappearing leaving the Dragon alone in his Inner world.
[It was nice speaking to you as well, Partner.] Ddraig spoked as he flapped his wings, soaring in the sky and began exploring the sight of this new world, one vastly different than his usual scenery in the boosted gear.
-Reality-
Ichigo let a groan escaped his lips, feeling his whole body in exhaustion considering the fact he was up the whole night with Irina watching tv.
Opening his eyes, he removed the blanket that laid on his body and slowly got up before looking at the Holy Sword that laid on the wall.
"It's all real, huh." Ichigo let out a mumble, as sparks of black spiritual energy appeared around his hands and a tiny bit of blue ones making his eyebrows raise.
"To summon the boosted gear, I would need to think about the most powerful part of my body. Yet, if I do summon it, it'll attract a bunch of unnessacary attention that would probably involve my whole family." Ichigo mumbled, looking at his hands before clenching it. Sighing, he went over and grabbed the Psuedo Tensa Zangetsu and left his room, intending to head towards the backyard. When he stepped into the living room, he saw Touji and Irina there, sleeping on the couch peacefully with a blissful smile on their face.
'Is the couch really that comfortable?' Ichigo wondered thinking of how Irina liked to sleep on the couch whenever they visit instead of in his room or their guest room. Nonetheless, he shook his head, a smile came across his face as he walked in the backyard.
Closing his eyes, he slowly began to unsheath Tensa Zangetsu from his sheath, letting the sunshine on the blade and the chains on the hilt to move.
Gripping it somewhat familiarly, he felt how heavy the blade truly was.
'Although I'm pretty sure the weight is the same, considering how old my physical body is and the fact I never trained, it's going to be a while till I can get used to it.' Ichigo concluded as he swung the blade a few times. After doing that, he began to take basic maneuvers, putting some of his energy into his feet, he attempted to achieve the Flash Step but with little to no success.
'It's so tiring...' Ichigo breathed heavily, feeling the spiritual energy he used disappeared in an instant. Why did this happen, he was sure that he had quite a lot of spiritual energy in his soul. Not to mention that Ddraig...
Ddraig...
'Right, this all leads up to me because I didn't train and due to the fact my body is still that of a child.' Ichigo clenched his fist as he remembered his conversation with Ddraig. It was kind of the same as his own world, while he could use his powers in his old body, it was because of the strain it could handle.
'But what if I direct it outside, so my body won't have to contain it?' Ichigo wondered, thinking about that possibility before he closed his eyes letting a tiny bit of spiritual energy in his soul to leak out from his body slowly but surely.
'Now shape it.' Ichigo thought as sweat appeared on his forehead. Reiatsu manipulation wasn't his specialty at all. In fact, he sucked ass at it. Nonetheless, he never did felt his shinigami powers as it must've been extracted as a price to pay for his reincarnation and most of his Quincy powers going along with it as well.
Still, he tried, he began moving the reiatsu that was now outside of his body slowly, letting it cover his sword which seemed to buzz a bit, but still accepted the reiatsu.
'Now maintain.' Ichigo thought, thinking about how he would mix Getsuga Tensho with Zangetsu allowing it for a much stronger attacking power. Although, it was a bit wasteful since he kept overflowing it nonstop instead of manipulating it to stay and maintain its form around Zangetsu.
Opening his eyes, he saw his black reiatsu attempting to stay wrapped around the blade like a snake. It wasn't until after a few seconds he felt the control of his reiatsu slipping away as if he was wrestling against his own powers. Although, he still wanted to try one thing before the reiatsu dispersed. The one attack that the old man gave him before him and Zangetsu disappeared never to be seen again in front of him.
"Getsuga..." Ichigo instinctively called out as he raised the heavy sword in the air, his arms wobbling due to the weight.
"Tensh-"
"Ichigo?" instantly, the reiatsu that was about to be released from his sword disappeared. His head immediately turning towards the direction of the voice, greeted by the wide-eyed Irina who just woke up.
"Hey Irina...?" Ichigo greeted somewhat nervously.
"You're planning on training with your sword right now?" Ichigo thought she would've asked about the reiatsu that wrapped around his sword before he realized one thing.
'Right, she's not too deep into the supernatural yet. Reiatsu could only be seen by people who had a gift with it, in this worlds case, it would probably be magic power or demonic power from what I've learned from Ddraig. Right now, Irina is just a normal girl, not affected by the supernatural whatsoever.' Ichigo let out a sigh of relief as he thought about this. If Irina found out, god knows what might've happened.
"Yeah, I am. It is a gift you got for me after all." Ichigo gave a childish smile as Irina walked over towards him.
"Hmm... Why not ask my dad?" Irina suggested making the young Ichigo blink a few times.
"Why?" Ichigo asked, of course, he had no idea why Irina would puff her chest up with pride once again.
"Well, my dad is an exorcist you know? He could easily help you with your training no problem! I'm about to start my training as well as soon as I...move..." Irina let out a quiet whisper at the end.
"Hmm? What was that?" Ichigo asked as he couldn't hear what Irina said. Concern was written all over his face as he saw that the once cheerful Irina was now sad.
"Nothing! Anyways, he's an exorcist so he should be able to help you out!" Irina wanted to change the subject, which Ichigo understood and respected his friends privacy.
"No thanks. I think I'm good. I just need to some self-training and I should be good." Ichigo smiled at her, much to her disappointment but nonetheless smiled as well.
"Alright then! Hey Ichigo, do you want to go out to the park again where we first met? You know, the one with the fountain?" Irina asked Ichigo who thought about it before nodding.
"Sure, what time are we going though? We need to tell our parents after all." Ichigo said, not wanting to worry his parents if he left without telling them.
"I don't know, 6?" Irina said as she pointed her finger on her chin in thought.
"6 it is then. It'll be nice going back there." Ichigo smiled as he sheathed his holy sword back in its sheath.
"Oh yeah Ichigo!" Irina yelled as if she remembered something. Although, it did hurt his ear a bit considering she was standing next to him.
"What is it?" Ichigo asked, holding his right ear.
"What did you name your sword?" Irina asked, much to Ichigo's confusion.
"Why?"
"You know, holy swords have a name. For example, Excalibur, Durandal, Caliburn, Ascalon, and even other weapons." Irina explained although it didn't made sense since there were also holy swords out there with no names.
Still, a name huh?
"Tensa Zangetsu." Ichigo smiled as he looked at his sword.
"Ah, you're going with the Winter Heroes sword name?" Irina jumped up and down excitedly as she remembered the story of the Winter Hero. The story that he told only two people his whole life.
"Yeah, anyways lets get going. We need to tell our parents after all." Ichigo ruffled Irina's hair before walking back in the house.
"Wait up!" Irina tried to fix her hair before giving up and chasing Ichigo.
Ichigo never realized that after today, will be his last day seeing Irina before she leaves for Europe.
Chapter two done. Chapter 3 will be out maybe in a few days since I have to start working on the God of Shinobi's 2nd chapter now and then write the other version of this story.
Ichigo Harem: Edelweiss, Irina, Rossweisse. Same thing as usual, still not sure if I should add more. Right now I'm thinking about adding Gabriel and that's it. Don't think I need a 5th unless you guys got any suggestions.
