(A/N: So I thought I wouldn't be working on this until Bleach got a little more well developed…I lied. I've already come this far with disregarding canon…for the most part, I may as well continue)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of Symphonia

Ichigo's pov

With Emil tagging along with me the two of us went back to Luin. Emil's Uncle suddenly spotted him and started yelling at him.

"H-hey did you leave town and cause trouble? What did I tell you earlier? Someone as important as Ichigo the Great doesn't have time to spend with a snot nosed brat like you. Let go of your deluded dreams of getting back at Lloyd Irving and go home! When I get there so help me god I…"

"Now hold up a minute, Emil hasn't done anything, and what's this about getting back at Lloyd?"

Emil's uncle sighed. "My nephew keeps going on and on about how Lloyd Irving killed his parents. Ever since he came to Luin from Palmacosta he's been nothing but trouble saying how great you are and wanting to ask you to get back at Lloyd. Lloyd Irving isn't responsible for any of that. It's thanks to the both of you that Luin was saved from the Desians. A hero like that doesn't go around murdering people!" I looked at Emil who had his head hung low.

"Would you excuse us a minute?" I asked.

"Yeah go home to your room, boy no one…"

"I was talking to you," I said to Emil's uncle.

"Wh-what?" He was infuriated.

"Let Emil and me have a little chat," I insisted.

"You'd be wasting your time. He speaks nothing but nonsense," The old guy told me.

I tightened my glare. "I'll be the judge of that."

"F-fine. If you want to waste your time with a dumbass like him, who am I to stop you?" Emil's uncle said. "Did you take care of the monsters?"

"Yeah, big one out in the middle of the lakebed. Your welcome."

"Thanks, here's a little something for your trouble," Emil's uncle placed a small pouch in my hand.

Ichigo obtained 300 Gald

"I must return to my work," Emil's uncle left and the two of us were left alone.

"So what's all this about Lloyd?" I asked.

"Lloyd Irving killed my parents and no one believes me! I can't believe everyone takes the side of that murderer!" Emil shouted.

"Murderer?" I scratched my head, "Are you sure you mean Lloyd?"

Emil leaned forward, depressed, "You don't believe me either do you?"

"I didn't say I didn't believe you."

"Then you do?" Emil asked hopefully.

I put up my hand to silence him. He stood at attention. "I don't believe you, but I don't not believe you either." Emil sighed in depression. "Look, I'm headed to find Richter about that girl Marta and then I'm going to Mizuho to go and find my girlfriend. After that I'll go look for Lloyd and see if I can see what the deal is."

"Huh, that strange guy asked you to find Marta to?" Emil questioned.

"Oh you know him?" I asked.

"Ah well you see…" Emil explained to me everything that happened in front of the fountain and everything that had happened up until I found him and Marta down by the lakebed. "…and that's when you showed up."

"Well let's go together then."

"All right," Emil agreed with a nod and the two of us searched high and low for Richter. We found him at the Mayor's house.

"Oh, Emil, Ichigo. It's interesting to see you both together," Richter said.

"Yeah, big coincidence," I said, eager to change the subject, "We found that girl you were looking for. Both of us saw her."

Richter grabbed my shoulders and began shaking me, "You saw Marta? Where did you see her?"

Emil answered for me. "A-at the lakebed, d-down where it's all dried up."

Richter let me go and turned towards the Mayor, "Mayor I'd like to take Emil with me to look for Marta." Richter looked at me, "You too, if you have the time."

"Yeah, sure," I agreed.

"All right, let's head down to the lakebed then, I'll follow your lead," Richter said to us.

"Fair enough. Follow me," I said.

Lake Sinoa

Emil and I led Richter to where we saw Marta, "She was right here." I pointed.

"She's probably further in, she may have gone into the cave," Richter said.

"But there are monsters in the cave," Emil said.

"So?" Richter returned. Emil whined.

"If you're afraid to fight monsters then you can wait here," Richter said and then turned towards me, "Although I doubt you're worried about a few measly monsters."

"Um…about that," I said unfastening my bag, "You both know, I'm assuming, about my kind and how we function."

"Yeah come to think of it you're not wearing a Shihakusho or carrying your usual weapon," Richter noticed.

"Yeah well I didn't come here thinking I was going to have to fight, but I came prepared just in case," I unzipped my bag and Kon popped out.

"Hey it's that kid from before," He noticed Emil.

"What's that thing?" Emil asked.

"His name is Kon. He's a mod soul used for keeping my body safe when I transfer into my soul form." I took out my badge, slammed it into Kon's forehead and swallowed the pill. I emerged into Soul Form. "Like so."

"Huh, how interesting," Richter commented.

I turned around to look at Kon, who was now possessing my body, "Get to a safe location and watch out for monsters. DO NOT go into town."

"Man you never let me do anything fun," he complained.

"Hey if normal people knew there were two of me around their heads would spin. Not to mention you don't act anything like me," I scolded him.

"Well maybe you oughta loosen up a little," Kon argued.

"Damn it Kon this is not up for debate. Ugh you know what…" I took out my cell phone and dialed.

"What's that thing?" Emil asked.

"It's called a cell phone," I said, "People in my world use it to connect to others over long distances."

"Sounds like something practitioners of magitechnology would want to work with to create," Richter commented.

I nodded silently as the dial tone rang.

"Who are you calling anyway?" Emil asked.

"Someone to watch this idiot so my reputation doesn't go into the dirt," I answered.

"O-oh," Emil answered.

"Ichigo, what's the matter, date not going well?" Urahara joked when he picked up.

"Quiet you, I need you watch Kon. How fast can you or Yoruichi get over here to pick him up and keep an eye on him," I asked.

"We're in Izoold right now. Send him our way and we'll look after him," Urahara told me.

"Right Izoold, got it," I answered and hung up. I looked at Kon, "You're going to Izoold and you're staying with Urahara and Yoruichi until I come get you. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, yeah I hear ya. Man you are just no fun at all Ichigo," Kon said and left.

"You and your mod soul don't get along?" Emil questioned tilting his head to the side.

"It's not so much that we don't get along as the fact that he's just a pain in the ass," I answered rubbing the back of my neck, "Anyway let's head into the cave."

"Sounds good to me," Richter said taking the initiative to lead the way.

At the entrance to the cave Emil's uncle and the rest of the watch were all gathered around. His uncle took one look at Emil and blew a gasket.

"You came back again? What's wrong with you, you demonic little brat?" Alba shouted. The moment Emil shirked back like a frightened rabbit I could automatically tell the direction this was headed in.

I stepped in front of him, "I-Ichigo?"

"Look," I said to Emil's Uncle, "Emil and I were asked to accompany Richter to check out the dried out lakebed and subsequently the cave for someone. Leave your family matters at home." As bad as my dad was, at least he knew to keep our physical squabbles inside the house. Sure he still acted like a demented nutcase even in public, but any time he and I crossed fists it was always in the privacy of our own home. Emil's Uncle was silent. "I knew it, you don't have the stomach to talk back to me, do you?"

"Ichigo we're not here to pick a fight, let's get going," Richter told me.

"Right, sorry," I backed off and said softly enough only Emil's Uncle could hear it, "You're lucky." I turned towards Emil and jerked my head towards the cave, "Let's go Emil."

"Wait! There are monsters in there!" Emil's Uncle interjected suddenly.

"Your point?" I asked.

"Well I mean…I don't think you'd have any trouble Ichigo, but leave Emil here with us," Emil's Uncle said.

"Didn't you just call him a demonic little brat?" I asked. "If your concerned about his safety why not just come out and say it? Either way it's not your decision what he does. Emil was asked to accompany us so whether he comes inside the cave or not is his own choice." I looked at Emil, "Are you in or are you out?" Emil seemed in inner turmoil. "Come on. With every moment we waste here Richter's getting ahead of us."

Emil clenched his fist and shouted at his uncle, "I'm going!" and then ran off into the cave.

"Emil wait!" his uncle charged after him. I stopped him by blocking the entrance with Zangetsu.

"This is a decision Emil made for himself, respect it," I told Emil's Uncle and then walked inside the cave myself putting Zangetsu back along my back. By the time I caught up with Richter and Emil it looked like they had just pummeled a monster together.

"Is it typical of you to fall behind?" Richter asked.

"Funny," I said. "Shall we keep moving?" Emil and Richter nodded and we kept moving forward until we reached a door with strange patterning on it.

"Master Richter!" A cry came out of nowhere.

"What was that?" Emil asked, panicked.

"Probably just a monster's howl," Richter said, "Don't worry about it."

"Of course I'm going to worry," Emil said.

"Then you can wait here," I told him.

"Actually perhaps its best if you stay here. Somebody's gotta make sure the kid doesn't become a monster's next meal," Richter told me.

"Sure, go on ahead," I said to Richter. The guy went inside. I looked at Emil. Maybe this will give me a chance to ask more about Lloyd.

"Say Emil about—"

"Aaah!" Before I could finish I heard someone scream.

"Was that Marta?" Emil asked.

"Sure sounded like it," I said. "You ready to play hero?"

"U-umm…b-but…"

"Look if you want to stand around let her become lunch go ahead," I drew out my sword, "I've got other plans."

Emil drew out the short sword I had seen him use earlier, "No! I'll fight with you! I can't just ignore this."

"Works for me," I said and pushed open the stone door. Inside Marta and Richter were facing off against each other in what looked like a battle to the death. No one had been injured…yet. "What's going on here?" I shouted.

"This is why you were looking for her? So you could kill her?" Emil asked.

"That's right," Richter said.

"Why would you do such a thing?" I raged.

"Because she is trying to awaken Ratatosk the Demon Lord," Richter said.

"Demon Lord? What are you talking about?" Emil asked.

"I agree it's quite a foolish name, but 'demon lord' is the most appropriate term to describe what he is. If Ratatosk awakens, the world will be destroyed," Richter stated.

Marta shook her head. "No, you're wrong! Ratatosk is not a demon! He's the lord of all monsters. He won't destroy the world!"

"I'm not interested in semantics," Richter said. I didn't know what I had just gotten myself into, but I knew one thing for certain, someone was in the right and someone was in the wrong and until I found out what was what, things were not going to play out like they were. I raised Zangetsu into the air and swung down with a mid powered Getsuga Tensho, separating Marta and Richter by firing it in between them. "Marta, run!" I shouted.

She heard my voice and ran off. "Ichigo do you realize what you've done?" Richter asked angrily.

"Whatever this Ratatosk person is, what does killing Marta have to do with it? Why does it always have to come down to violence?" I stood in front of him with my sword ready.

"I do not have time for this," Richter said ticked off, "Aqua! Show yourself!" Richter shouted. A weird looking creature that looked like a Mermaid crossed with a cat appeared.

"You called Master Richter," she said.

"Take care of Ichigo and Emil so they can't pursue, but don't overdo it," Richter said and ran off.

"Hey! Get back here!" I ran after Richter, but Aqua barred my path. "Move!"

"I cannot do that, Master Richter has asked me to remove you two from his presence. And that's what I'm going to do. Go my minion! Attack!" Two creatures appeared, one was a giant water elemental, and the other was an overgrown turtle.

"Perfect, I can beat these things up and have turtle soup," I said. I charged only to be blasted with water outside the door. The high pressurized blast knocked my straight into a cave wall and past the door. Emil fled in terror after me. The door shut behind us locking with a magic emblem. Drenched I ran at the door and tried to cut it with Zangetsu, but a force field repelled it. "Damn it Aqua! Open this door now!" I shouted.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Emil asked.

"I don't know, I would just want to leave and go about my business, but I can't just ignore this trouble going on right in front of me," I said. "I could try fighting, but I don't think I could fight both those creatures without my full power, and doing so would cause the whole cave to collapse."

"Then what do we do?" Emil whined.

"You must forge a pact, came a voice," Suddenly a black, dog looking thing, with a long tail, the tip shaped like a peacock plume's tip, along with it having strange purplish markings on its body, appeared, floating in midair.

"A t-talking monster?" Emil gasped.

"I am not a monster, like Aqua I am a centurion, Centurion Tenebrae," the creature said.

"Centurion Tenebrae?" Emil tilted his head.

Tenebrae spoke right to Emil, "You could never defeat the monster on the other side of this door as you are now. Forge a pact to become a Knight of Ratatosk. Then you will be able to accept Lord Ratatosk's power in battle."

"What do you mean?" Emil asked.

"There's no time to explain. Lady Marta is in danger," Tenebrae said.

"There's always time for explanations," I said. "Talking is a free action."

"What are you talking about?" Tenebrae asked.

"Never mind," I said.

Tenebrae looked back at Emil, "Will you become a Knight of Ratatosk?"

"But…you're just a monster—a Centurion, I mean—and I...I don't know if—"

"Aroooooooooooooooooo!"

Emil recognized the long high-pitched howl Tenebrae just made, "That howl. Were you the one calling me?"

Tenebrae was quick to explain, "Lady Marta was looking for you. You saved her life and she has chosen you to be a knight."

"M-Me?" Emil stuttered.

"Yes. Now forge the pact," Tenebrae pretty much demanded.

"Hold on," I said, "You can't just show up out of no where and force things on a kid like this. What about what he wants?"

"What I…want?" Emil questioned to himself.

I just realized that Tenebrae's meeting with Emil just now was awfully similar to my first meeting with Rukia. If Emil decided to form this pact... "Emil," I said, much more calmly, "If you undergo this pact. There's a chance your entire destiny could be changed. Do you really want to do that?"

"My destiny…will be changed?" Emil tilted his head.

"You sound like you talk from experience," Tenebrae stated.

"I do," I said, "Emil what will you do? Are you happy with the way your life is right now or…"

He cut me off, "If I forge this pact, could I get strong enough to defeat Lloyd Irving?" he asked.

"It's possible if you make a hard enough endeavor," Tenebrae said.

"I'll do it then," Emil said, "I'll forge the pact!"

3rd Person pov

As Aqua stood guarding the area Richter had asked her too with her two minions. The door she had sealed up suddenly came bursting open. The first individual she noticed was Tenebrae, "Spiteful Tenebrae! What are you doing here?" Aqua sounded peeved.

"Let's go," the Centurion said nonchalantly as Ichigo stood next to him.

"What? You wanna fight? You're going to regret this," Aqua said getting pent up.

"The only one who's going to regret this is you!"

"That sounded rather intimidating Ichigo," Tenebrae looked up at the adolescent Soul Reaper.

"I didn't say anything. That was…" Ichigo looked back to see Emil walk into the room. Everything about him had changed, from his stance to his outfit. "Emil?"

The blonde's eyes flung open. They were a fiery, dark crimson. The symbol of Ratatosk was etched on the irises of his eyes. He reached behind his back and pulled out a sword. It was not his usual makeshift sword, but rather one with real craftsmanship. It looked like a standard long sword. Emil held it out in front of him, taking a stance. His knees were bent and right leg led forward. His right arm, which was his sword arm, was extended out over his right leg. He looked completely battle ready. "Now, come on!"

To be continued…

(A/N: Emil awakens as a Knight of Ratatosk. And yes, before people start questioning I am going to be poking jokes from here on out about Emil and Ichigo sounding the same. They have the same voice actor [Johnny Yong Bosch] and they sound exactly the same in English. Anyway I am done for now. I will see you all later.)