AN: Here is the second chapter of this story. I hope you like it. If you have any comments or suggestions for the story feel free to leave a review or message me about it. Also for those wondering about the pairing that I chose. I think I make it a bit obvious for what I am going for in this chapter. So read the story and find out.

Thank you.

The next morning Ichigo woke up and found his roommate sitting on the edge of her bed facing Ichigo's. She was looking at the ground by her feet like she was contemplating something important.

"Good morning." She jumped at the sound of her roommate's voice breaking her out of her trance.

"Morning." Ichigo could only think about how this could be the first time he has woke up in the morning and not been attacked by his father or sexually assaulted by a purple haired mentor in a decade.

"What's wrong? You look like something is on your mind." She looked at him almost fearfully. She took a deep breath and went back to looking at the ground.

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" Now he was confused.

"About yesterday. Those guys were bullying me and you got involved. Now you are going to stuck here to because of me. So if you don't want to be friends with me I will understand." She seemed genuinely upset by this. It must have happened to her in the past while she had been held back. Ichigo couldn't help but start laughing.

"I wouldn't be too worried about that. We are friends and friends stick up for each other right. I never worry about the consequences. Just pay attention to the problem in front of you." Ayumi just deadpanned.

"You do know you are an idiot right?"

"That's the thanks I get for helping you out?!" He gave a comical pout before he walked out of the room to their first class with Ayumi running after him.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing." She gave the boy a wink and they continued on to class.

Their first class was Kido. Ichigo was dreading this after how much of a breeze Zanjutsu was.

"Everyone pair off and work on Bakudo #1 Sai. This is a binding spell and should be easy and relatively safe." Masato sensei, the Kido teacher explained how to do the spell and let everyone pair off.

Ichigo and Ayumi paired off so she could help him with his Kido. "I will help you since I have already done this and Sai is pretty easy."

That was probably the biggest lie that Ichigo heard his whole life. He spent the whole class period with Ayumi trying to learn this incantation and managed to blow himself up 5 times. That should have been impossible with such an easy binding spell but yet Ichigo accomplished it.

"You really are terrible at Kido." Ayumi wanted to be concerned about her new roommate but his failure was so hilarious and over the top she couldn't keep her laughter in.

After class he had to go to the nurse's office to get healed but the healing was taking too long. Ichigo pushed himself a little too far in trying the spells. When they got there the nurse told them they had to call squad 4 to send someone since it was too much for her.

Ayumi and Ichigo waited in the office until another student entered with a cut on his arm. Ichigo was able to recognize him right away. "Weren't you one of those guys that was with Omaeda?" The student looked up. He had short blonde hair and blue eyes. He was on the shorter side being only as tall as Ayumi.

"Yeah, sorry about that. You know how it is dealing with nobles." He gestured to the cut on his arm. "Omaeda wanted to try his Zanjutsu skills out on me but I wasn't allowed to fight back. Us commoners have to do whatever the nobles say. By the way my name is Saburo." He held out his non-bleeding arm. Ichigo took it.

"Shiro Shiba."

The man blink a few times in shock. "Did you say Shiba? And here I am running off my mouth about how nobles are terrible in front of a Shiba."

Ichigo smirked. Was this going to be everyone's reaction to him being a Shiba. "I wouldn't worry about it. Shibas hate nobles too. We are much more laid back and relaxed."

The man hesitantly nodded. "Well my experience with nobles is limited to Omaeda's but considering during that fight you decided to use your own strength rather than tossing your name around I will believe you." The nurse came into the room and took Saburo away to get his cut healed up before he left.

"I wonder who they will send from the 4th squad." That got Ichigo out of his day dream. He hadn't thought of that. He knew a few people from there and many more could probably recognize him considering the amount of time he spent unconscious in their barracks. It had been 5 years though so they probably wouldn't recognize him.

Before he had time to retort the worst person possible entered the room. "Onii-chan!" Ayumi ran over and hugged the newly arrived Hanataro.

"Ayumi? Are you the one that got hurt? Are you ok? Please tell me you are ok!" He was definitely the overprotective brother. He hadn't seen Ichigo yet but Ichigo was frozen in fear. He didn't want to get found out like this.

"Calm down Onii-chan. It is my roommate who got hurt. He is terrible at Kido and kept blowing up Sai." Ichigo deadpanned at this. Is everyone going to know how terrible he is at Kido? "Let me introduce you." She pulled Hanataro over to Ichigo who made eye contact with him. Hanataro's eyes went wide with shock. "This is my roommate Shiro Shiba."

She looked over at her brother who hadn't moved with a questioning look. Does he know Shiro?

Ichigo took the initiative hoping that Hanataro would go along with it. He put his hand out to shake it "Nice to meet you Hanataro-san. Your sister has told me so much about you." He held a look that said don't say anything or else you will die.

Hanataro being used to these looks working under captain Unohana understood right away. "Of course Shiba-san. Please take care of sister." Hanataro gave back an equally menacing look that said I will keep your secret but if something happens to my sister I will kill you.

Ichigo of course understood this having sisters. "Ayumi you should go. You don't want to be late for Hakuda training."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I will be fine. You said it yourself. Your brother is an amazing healer." She begrudgingly left the nurses office leaving Hanataro and Ichigo alone.

Immediately Hanataro turned to Ichigo. "Ichigo, what is going on? Why are you here? Is something dangerous going on?"

"Oh come on! You act like trouble follows me everywhere I go."

Hanataro deadpanned. "It does."

"…. Thanks for the confidence. As for why I am here that is simple. I died and I am going to school to become a Shinigami. I didn't want to use my real name because I didn't want to draw a bunch of attention to myself. Everyone here seems to be obsessed with talking about Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Of course. You are the mysterious war hero who showed up with power equal to the head captain and then won the war and disappeared. But when you do eventually get wrapped up in some crazy scheme or conspiracy make sure my sister is alright." Ichigo just nodded.

When the healing was done Hanataro left and went back to his squad. Ichigo left the nurses office to go to Hakuda practice when he ran into Rukia.

"Shiba-san!" She was using her fake nice voice. "Just the student I was looking for. Can I see you in my office?"

Well I am in trouble. Was all Ichigo could think when he followed his old friend down the hall.

They entered her office and she closed the office door. She immediately spun around and kicked him in the shin.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR MIDGET?!" All she could do was smile at Ichigo clutching his ankle in pain.

"Just making sure you are really here. Fool."

He smiled at her while still clutching his injured shin. "It's good to see you too."

Then the smile faded off her face and what came over her face was something he had seen before. It was her Kuchiki face. "That isn't the only reason I asked you here though."

Instead of becoming serious Ichigo broke out in laughter. She looked on confused. He continued on for almost a minute before he stopped.

"Ichigo, what was that for? I didn't say anything funny."

Wiping away a stray tear from laughing too hard Ichigo answered. "It's not that. It's just that I just was in the nurse's office getting healed by Hanataro who told me that I attract trouble and to make sure his sister stays out of it. Then not even 5 minutes later you give me a look that says something crazy is going on."

She couldn't help but smirk at the boy that always found his way into other people's trouble. She still blamed herself for that, but he made it quite clear in the past that it wasn't her fault. And now here she was about to do it again.

"Fine I will just get the point idiot. Basically I have been assigned to the school to be undercover because of a recent string of thefts. Many Asauchi's have been going missing recently. It is worried there is a hidden group moving to go against the Gotei 13 and that they are being supplied with Zanpakutou to do it. We don't know what the reasoning or motivation is behind it."

"Let me guess. You want me to help and talk to the students and figure out anything I can. Am I right?" He was pretty sure where this was going. Ichigo was prime recruiting material for them since his identity was unknown. A new powerful student would be a target for a group like this.

"Yes. And if possible it would be good if you could infiltrate the organization if possible."

He just sighed. "This is what I get for thinking I could go to school and be a normal student. But I know nothing about espionage plus I don't even know what my power is at right now. I haven't even released my Zanpakutou yet." He was worried about this. He had tried to contact his inner world since dying and got nothing. Also he was a little worried since he didn't know how to seal his blade and walking around with his old Zanpakutou strapped to his back would give away his identity.

Rukia opened her mouth to say something. "I think that is where I come in." The two of them looked over toward Rukia's desk on the other side of the room where a certain purple haired goddess clad in her black tights and bright orange shirt, sat smiling at the two of them. "If you want to learn about your power and learn espionage tactics there is no one better to teach you than me. Plus it turns out my only student died this week so I have free time."

"What! Who died? Was it Soi Fon?" Ichigo was panicking but getting glares from both women.

Yoruichi moved her gaze to Rukia. "Was he always this dense?" They laughed.

Rukia looked at Ichigo. "She was talking about you. Fool." He slammed his palm up to his forehead.

"So Ichigo. Meet me at our secret place tonight at 8 and we will work out a schedule and get started. It's not like that school has anything real to teach you."

Ichigo gave in. "I guess I am getting wrapped up in this again."

He got up and left to see if he could make it to the end of Hakuda class. He did not. He got there in time to see everyone leaving.

"Shiba-san. I presume." Ichigo turned around to see a man who could basically be described as an Uryu look alike. He was a tall and thin man. He had a business like feel about him which was amplified by his glasses and well-kept hair. "I am Takeda, the Hakuda instructor. I heard from your roommate that you were in the nurse's office due to a kido accident."

"Yes. I apologize for missing the class."

"It is quite alright. I suggest you get notes from your roommate and make sure you make it to class next time." The teacher left the room leaving Ichigo by himself.

"Well that went better than he thought." He left to go back to his room.

When he got back Ayumi was waiting for him. "Here are the notes you missed."

"Thank you." He took the notes from her.

She still couldn't help but feel there was something off about her roommate. His Zanjutsu was way too advanced for a first year and she couldn't help but think her brother was acting odd when they were together. He must know something. The good thing for her was if her brother knew something about her roommate and he hadn't tried to do anything about it meant that he wasn't a bad guy. That just made her more confused and curious. She would figure it out sometime.

"Since we still don't have any homework for tonight can you teach me some Zanjutsu?"

Ichigo looked up to the clock and saw it was still 3 in the afternoon. "Sure I have time." That made her suspicious. She didn't push it though.

"Let's go to the gym."

After 20 minutes of training with the girl Ichigo was bored. There was no risk. Is this why it took Shinigami so long to go through school? They were never pushed to the edge.

Once they were alone in the gym he decided to push her a little. He brought his sword down on her and stopped it right above her shoulder. She froze and looked at him wide eyed. That blow would have cut her in half if he hadn't stopped just in time.

"What the hell was that?" She went off on him.

"You have no killing intent in your blade." He said this so seriously she was almost scared of the enigma that was her roommate now. He was all business and there was no hint of his playful side in his eyes. "Do you really want to get stronger?"

"Of course I do!" She spat back at him.

"Then you need to take this seriously. You need to push yourself." He smiled inwardly at himself for what he was about to do.

He will not let me live this down if he finds out I did this.

"Your sword exhibits only fear. When you counter, it's because you fear being killed. When you attack, you fear killing. And when you protect someone, you fear you could let them die. At this point, the only thing your sword speaks is senseless fright, and that's not good. What you don't need in battle is fear. Nothing will come of it. When you counter, you don't let them cut you. When you protect someone, you don't let them die. And when you attack, you kill." He remembered everything Urhara said that did a spilled it back to this girl.

"But I don't want to hurt you." She was worried about the drastic change in her friend. He was usually quiet and mysterious but now he was in her face and pushing her. She really knew nothing about him. Who is this guy?

"You won't. I am better than the Zanjutsu teacher. If you want to learn than listen to me. Now I want you to try to hurt me. Put your intent in your blade and attack."

"Fine. But you asked for this." With her will renewed she attacked. She would become stronger to make her brother proud. She put all of her force in the swipes to attack him. Her speed and power increased higher than she had ever pushed herself yet she couldn't make him budge. He hadn't even moved anywhere on the mat and that pissed her off.

"I want you to try. Fight me for real!" All he did was smirk at her behavior.

"Make me." Those two words made her angrier than anything. She screamed and launched another round of attacks. She was getting visibly frustrated by the lack of damage that her attacks were doing. Was getting exhausted and decided to go for one final attack.

She ran up for a frontal attacked an yelled again except this time something came out of her mouth besides a scream. She yelled "Rip! Azami!" Out of her Zanpakutou came vines covered in thorns. There were four of them that acted almost as sentient whips with a range similar to that of Renji's. It attacked Ichigo from all sides and he had to quickly jump out of the way before they all met him at once. He did receive a gash a long his right arm.

They both stopped fighting and looked at each other. There was silence for thirty seconds before they started laughing.

"That was my Shikai! I just got a Shikai! How did you do that?" Ichigo just laughed and smiled at her.

"What do you mean? You are the one that did it." She then saw his arm.

"You are hurt!"

He just laughed "Good. It seems my lesson worked. You got your shikai and you attacked to cut me. Good work."

"Let me heal you." She ran over to his arm.

"Don't worry about it. This is nothing." She didn't listen to him though, she just rolled up his sleeve and exposed the wound. A green glow came from her hand and started healing the cut.

"I am the one who made the wound and since my brother taught me healing Kido I should at least help. Plus it's not like you could heal yourself." She finally bantered back to the boy. "I have only known you for two days and already you have nobles after you, burnt your hands, got cut, and you helped me get my shikai. Most academy students don't get it before they graduate and I am still a first year. This basically guarantees me a seated spot once I graduate. I am in your debt so anything I can do just let me know." She continued healing him and he just smiled.

"It's not that big of a deal. I just did what my teacher did when I learned mine."

"You have one? What is it?" She seemed shocked and a little excited. She shouldn't have though with how expertly he dealt with being attacked by hers. This just piled up on the mysteries that he had. She wanted to know more about him.

He gave her an Urahara level smirk. "I am allowed a few secrets aren't I?" The truth was Ichigo didn't even know if he still had a shikai or if it is the same.

After he was healed they still had some time left in the gym which Ayumi insisted on using to train Kido since he helped so much with her Zanjutsu.

It went slightly better than before since after an hour he was able to successfully fire off one spell.

After that they went to the cafeteria to get dinner. They were talking about her new Shikai and how interesting it was. Ichigo pointed out a few ways she could possibly use it and some techniques based off what he had seen of Renji's style.

That was when the 4 guys from yesterday walked up to their table. The Omaeda boy was in front. "You are sitting at our table." He looked down on the two commoners in front of him in contempt. It wasn't their normal table but he just wanted them to finally give him the respect his name deserved.

That was when the boy from the nurse's office, Saburo stepped forward. "Just so you know the boy is a part of the Shiba clan."

Omaeda paled for a second before laughing. "Oh you are a Shiba. One of those pretend nobles that live no better than the rest of the commoners. You were kicked out of nobility for a reason. Rude. Obnoxious. Crude. Who ever thought the Shiba's could be nobility. Especially with someone like that bitch Kukaku." Of course Ichigo could take any insult thrown at him. But Kukaku was family. And Ichigo definetly had the Shiba tendency for violence.

Omaeda was unconscious so fast that no one was really sure how it happened. Ichigo was standing where Omaeda had just been earlier and no one saw him get up. He looked at the other 3 standing there. "When he wakes up make sure he knows that he can insult me all he wants. When it comes to family though I have a very low tolerance."

Ichigo and Ayumi got up from the table since they were done any way. They got back to their room and Ichigo started packing up a few things and grabbed his Zanpakutou. He was about to leave before she stopped him.

"Where are you going?" She was confused since they had no classes and just got back from training.

"I was going to meet up with a friend. I will be back later."

She grabbed his hand to stop him. He turned and looked into her eyes. They were such a deep blue he felt like he was staring into the depths of the sea. He saw fear in them. "You should stop antagonizing the nobles. Like I said before Shiba clan doesn't have any power. They can make sure you get held back."

Again he laughed. "Don't worry about it. You have Shikai and are extremely skilled at Kido so there is no way the teachers can justify holding you back anymore. On top of that you probably will be able to skip through and graduate early now. And don't worry about me. I am friends with people that can stop anything that brat can do."

He just laughed it off and left.

Ayumi was all alone in the room. "I wonder where he is going now." She couldn't help but smile. She had to admit to herself that she found herself drawn to Shiro. He was handsome and strong yet unlike others he was also kind. The air of mystery around him made him very interesting too. What kind of girl isn't attracted to the bad boy type?

Across the Sereitei.

Ichigo arrived in the secret training area. Yoruichi was waiting for him.

"There you are. Let's get started."

AN: For those wondering about Ayumi's Shikai I imagine it works similar to Yumichika's in the way it is controlled but it is strictly an attack Shikai. The blade of the Zanpakutou turns into four vines that shoot out and have a range of about 10 meters. The vines have a diameter of 8 centimeters. Since it takes the form of a plant if the vines are cut they can regrow.

That is all I have on her abilities so far. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.