Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Refer to Chapter 1 for information about why this story is being moved, etc.
Chapter 1: Waiting in Lines Is Annoying & Useless
March 29th, 2082. Living World. Karakura Town
"This is problematic," Ichigo muttered, staring down at his (very old) body.
His substitute shinigami badge had cried out its now-familiar cry of 'Hollow~!' as usual. Sure, it was already ten at night, but it wasn't as if he was going to sleep yet. Ichigo had gone out to defeat the hollow. Then, he came back and attempted to get back into his body.
Key word: attempt.
"What's the matter, Ichigo?" Kon asked, leaning against a small lamp on Ichigo's bedside table.
"I can't get into my body!" Ichigo complained, flopping on the bed.
"What?" Kon said incredulously. "Still, why would you want to get into a body like that?"
"I don't have a choice," Ichigo snapped. It was true that his body was now very old, covered with wrinkles and gray hair. He spent as much time as possible outside it. Luckily, his shinigami form still looked like a teenager.
Kon jumped down from the bedside table and examined Ichigo's living body. He frowned.
"Hey, do you think you died?" Kon suggested.
Ichigo shrugged in defeat. "Maybe. It would be about time, anyhow. What the heck am I supposed to do, then?"
Kon shrugged.
"You're useful," Ichigo said, sarcasm evident in his voice. "I guess I'll go ask Hat-and-Clogs."
Ichigo walked through the streets. He could have just shunpo'ed towards the Urahara Store, but he was in no hurry to go visit Urahara. Besides, it wasn't as if anyone could see him.
"Ichigo-niisan!"
Ichigo mentally took back his statement as he reluctantly turned around.
"Hi, 'Ame." Ichigo sighed. "Do your parents know that you're out here?"
Ishida Yoshiame was the grandson of Ishida and Orihime. Ishida had taught his son Quincy powers, and his son in turn planned to teach Yoshiame as well, eventually.
However, he was still five.
"Nope!" Yoshiame grinned. "I snuck out when I saw you, Ichigo-onisan!"
Ichigo scowled.
"What?" Yoshiame said defensively, crossing his arms.
Ichigo grabbed Yoshiame's hand. "I'm taking you back to your house... I'm sure your parents are worried."
"I don't think they noticed!" Yoshiame objected, struggling against Ichigo's grip. "They think I'm asleep!"
"Yes, whatever you say," Ichigo muttered, dragging Yoshiame back towards his house.
After returning Yoshiame to his father, Ichigo finally reached the Urahara Store.
A sign declared the store's rather unimaginative title in large black letters.
Ichigo spared a moment to regard the traditional Japanese-style building. More modern-style buildings surrounded the store on three sides, creating a harsh contrast.
Seriously, while pratically everywhere else in Karakura Town has changed, how did this shop staythe same?
Pushing the sliding door to the side, he entered the store.
"Hello?" Ichigo said hesitantly. "Anyone here?"
He looked around the store, searching for Urahara.
"Why, hello, Kurosaki-san!" Urahara suddenly appeared from behind a pile of candy. Covering his face with his fan, he looked at Ichigo. "What brings you here?"
"I can't get into my body. Any idea why?" Ichigo said brusquely, not fazed at Urahara's sudden appearance.
"Hm. I had expected this eventually, but not this quickly," Urahara murmured. Slamming his fan shut, he regarded Ichigo with a serious expression. "Kurosaki-san, I'm afraid you're dead."
"Damn. Just... damn," Ichigo muttered.
"That's the only reason you wouldn't be able to get back into your body," Urahara added. "Soul Society has been waiting for this for decades, you know."
Ichigo looked wary at those words. Looking as though he very much didn't want to say his next words, he nevertheless asked Urahara his question.
"What am I supposed to do now, then?"
"Why, you go to Soul Society, of course. And go to the Shinigami Academy to become a proper shinigami!" Urahara said cheerfully.
"Oh, I see- as if I'd say that!" Ichigo snapped, crossing his arms. "You can't be serious!"
"No matter how strong you are, you're still technically a substitute shinigami," Urahara pointed out. "You need to go to the Shinigami Academy to be officially recognized as a shinigami. Not to mention that you know no kidou, your reiatsu control is atrocious, and you can't even seal your zanpankutou-"
"- I can seal my zanpakutou- Dad showed me," Ichigo cut in.
Urahara ignored him. "- Since it just happens to be the sign-up time for the Shinigami Academy-"
"'Just happens'? You didn't have anything to do with my 'death', did you?" Ichigo demanded.
"Of course not!" Urahara exclaimed in faux cheer. "Anyways, come here tomorrow morning and I'll send you off to Soul Society with a map. Think up an alias."
Ichigo scowled fiercely. "Why do I have to think up a fake name?"
"You'll pretty famous in Soul Society. It'll cause an uproar if Kurosaki Ichigo was found in the Academy," Urahara explained. "Go away, now."
Ichigo groaned. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"No," Urahara answered.
March 30th, 2082. Soul Society. East Rukongai District 1.
Ichigo was scowling as he jumped out of the Senkai-Mon. His familiar black shihakushou was gone, replaced by a threadbare brown hakama that was covered in holes.
"That Hat-and-Clogs might've given me a bit of warning!" Ichigo muttered irritably. Urahara had pushed him straight in the Senkai-Mon.
Anyhow, Urahara said that it would be easy to find the line up for the tests, but I don't see-
As Ichigo turned around, he cut off his thoughts. The field in front of him was positively stuffed with hopeful shinigami-to-bes. He sighed and got into the long line-up. At least it moved quickly. Most of the people here didn't have an ounce of reiatsu.
"Hey! Hey, you!"
Ichigo looked up. "Oh, hi." There was a black-haired boy looking at him.
"Hi, deaf-ears. I'm Sakata Shuuichi. You may call me Shuu," the boy said haughtily. Seconds later, he burst out laughing, the haughty expression disappearing. "Sorry, I can't keep that up for long. Funny, though, right?"
"...Nice to meet you, Shuu," Ichigo said, pointedly ignoring Shuu's statement. "I'm Ku-kurogi Ichirou."
"Nice to meet you too, Ichirou," Shuu replied with a grin.
Ichigo blinked, looking at him with interest. This kid had some reiatsu, unlike most of the people in the field.
"Do you think you'll get in!" Shuu asked.
"Yeah, definitely. I think you'll get in too." Ichigo predicted.
"You think?" Shuu asked doubtfully.
"Yeah," Ichigo nodded.
"Next!" a shinigami shouted.
Ichigo moved forwards into one of the many doors leading into the building.
He entered a small room with a shinigami sitting behind a desk in front of him. There was nothing but some papers and a strange device on the desk.
"What's your name?" a brunette asked, not bothering to look up. Ichigo recognized her as the 13th squad's 3rd seat, Kiyone.
"Kurosaki Ichigo," Ichigo answered, a smirk forming on his face.
"No, reall-" Kiyone finally looked up. "Kurosaki-san, it really is you! Did you finally die? And what's with your hair?"
"What's with the empathis on finally?" Ichigo complained. "And I don't see anything different with my-"
Then he noticed his black hair.
"Urahara-san, that b-" Ichigo started to swear.
"- now, let's see. There really isn't point in a test- "
"When did he dye it, anyways?" Ichigo muttered.
"- I'll just fill out this paperwork. What's your alias going to be?" Kiyone asked. "You do have one, right?"
"Kurogi Ichirou," Ichigo answered.
"Kurogi Ichirou," Kiyone repeated. Under her breath, she muttered something else.
"Hope I got the characters right..."
Opening a drawer in the desk, she placed a key, a map, and a booklet of some sort on the desk.
"Here you go. You'll receive your uniform sometime this week," Kiyone explained. "You can leave by that door. Head towards your room, I circled it on the map."
She waved towards a door.
Ichigo nodded and headed out.
Done. 'Yayz'.
