Bonding Over Big Swords

Written by Shaun Garin

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo. Mahou Sensei Negima is owned by Ken Akamatsu.


Sword 03


Sayo noticed the hollow from her classroom window. While she had free range of the area around the school, she often liked to remain in the former 3-A classroom, even though they had all gone to college with the exception of Evangeline and Chachamaru. The pair typically dropped out by the time Junior High finished for the current class, only to re-emerge from their home when the next set of kids came around. Neither the Headmaster nor Negi had found a way to counteract the Infernal Scholasticus yet which lent problems in itself at times.

Watching it from her seat and trying to ignore the chatter of the busy new 2-A class, the hollow was nearly to the edge of the school grounds when a figure in black literally tackled the hollow and followed it up with an overhead sword swing that cleaved the hollow from top to bottom. There was a spurt of blood and it dissolved into mist.

"A Shinigami?" she mused to herself. Then she noticed a second figure running up. "Asuna-san!"

Floating up and out through the window, she flew down to where the Shinigami and Asuna were arguing. Behind them, a very annoyed looking group consisting of Misa, Madoka and Sakurako were hauling what Sayo presumed was the Shinigami's body. "Hello everyone," Sayo chirped cheerfully.

"Oh Sayo-chan!" said Asuna cheerfully, breaking off her argument with the Shinigami. "Did you see us outside?"

"Aaaah, yes Asuna-chan. Your sword is still out."

Asuna blushed and put away her sword and the Shinigami put his own away before eying Sayo. "Hey," he said. "Where's your Chain of Fate?"

"Hmm?" asked Sayo curiously and patted her chest. "You mean that thing that fell off several years ago?"

The Shinigami blinked rapidly and Asuna echoed, "Chain?"

"Boy, this is a first," said the Shinigami. "Oh, I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. And you are?"

"Aisawa Sayo, nice to meet you," said Sayo politely and bowing low.

"Aisawa Sayo," echoed Ichigo. "Never heard of you. In any case, you've got to have a lot of resistance since your Chain fell off several years ago was it?"

"Yes, it was, oh maybe thirty years before I met Asuna-chan and everyone else," said Sayo. "Is there a problem?"

Ichigo's eyebrow twitched rapidly. "T-Thirty years! How is it that you haven't become a hollow yet!"

"Um, I didn't?" said Sayo uncertainly. "I don't even remember how I died let alone knowing that I could turn into a hollow. Was I supposed to?"

Ichigo fell over in shock. "Man, this world just keeps defying the laws of nature with an upright finger." Then, righting himself, he put Zangetsu away before he did himself an injury with it. "Tell you what; I'll give Rukia a call and see if she can tell me if you're in any danger of suddenly wigging out. Okay?"

"Sure I guess that's okay," said Sayo.

"Hey, Ichigo!" called out Misa as the girls struggled with his body's weight. "Can you PLEASE get back in here? You're not very light you know."

Ichigo went over and grabbed his body. In a flash of blue, he stood up and patted himself down to make sure nothing had fallen out of his pockets during the mad rush towards the hollow. Then turning to Sayo he added, "I'll also ask Rukia if there's a Shinigami stationed here. I haven't seen many hollows since I got here in September anyhow but it never hurts to know if there's someone that might try to perform the burial ceremony on you."

Sayo nodded as she turned to her former classmates. "Are you all off college today?"

"Class at five," replied Misora. "At least for myself and Sakurako. Misa?"

"I'm done for the day," said Misa. "But I was planning on taking a walk this afternoon since it's nice out."

"I'll join you," said Asuna. "I'm done for the day and Ichigo, wanna come along?"

Ichigo scratched his head. "Well I'm new here so sure. Hey Sayo, are you bound to the land in any way?"

"A little, but the Academy Town is good for me to move around in," said Sayo. "My range has been getting better since the 3-A days."

"All right! Lets go for a walk and show Ichigo around!" cheered Misa and the other girls cheered loudly.

"… Why do I get the feeling this won't end well?" deadpanned Ichigo and Asuna sweated in embarrassment.