Ichigo nearly collapsed on the table when he finally made it back to Karakura. He had asked for a leave of absence for three weeks, since he had gotten an apprenticeship and the woman wasn't about to let him leave until she could be assured he wouldn't slack off when he went to school.

It was a semi-true excuse, and the other teachers were crowing at the fact Ichigo was gone along with Yusuke.

Chad hadn't been pleased, until he got a similar invitation and a way to increase his spirit sense. Once she got him on to a level close to Yusuke's (who was NOT happy about being tricked into an apprenticeship) Chad started to work on his own and kept an eye on Keiko for the teen.

"Ichigo-nii! You're home!" cried Yuzu. Ichigo had been gone an entire month, without so much as a call when he made a point to come by at least once a week.

"Hey...Yuzu..." said Ichigo, trying not to crash. Genkai was a total hard ass, but at least she made things interesting.

She also decided against the spirit cuffs, since his power level was far too high at the moment and he needed to learn how to keep it under control himself. Yusuke wasn't so lucky, since after pissing her off one too many times she slammed a pair on him and Ichigo refused to give him the safe word to unlock it.

Yusuke needed the power boost if he didn't want to get his ass kicked after a few shots.

"Ichigo. Where have you been?" asked Isshin. His son looked like hell.

Ichigo glared at his father.

"I don't need a lecture from you of all people," he growled. Something in his tone told Isshin that Ichigo knew about his power.

"Ehehehe...why don't you take a nap and we'll talk later?" said Isshin. His son looked barely coherent.

"Nap...sounds like heaven..." muttered Ichigo, and he went up to his old room and crashed. He wasn't seen till dinner, and he had come in at breakfast.

Karin was pretty happy to see her brother again too.

"I know you have a lot of questions..." said Isshin.

"Why didn't you tell me about the spirit cuffs when I started complaining about my ability to see ghosts getting stronger?"

"I had forgotten all about them," he admitted.

"So was what Genkai-sensei said true? Are you a soul reaper?"

"Former. I lost my power a long time ago and my reitsu is only now starting to come back."

"Reitsu? I thought it was called reiki?"

"Reitsu is what we called it. Reiki is what the Reapers call it."

"So how the hell do I summon my sword? I keep bringing out this massive cleaver thing every time I use my focus, but if I lost the stupid piece of wood I would have trouble fighting."

"Oh? Let's see it," said Isshin.

Ichigo reached into his pocket and pulled out a broken piece of wood that looked like it originally came from a bokken. He concentrated and channeled his energy into it, and a cleaver type sword appeared. Originally it had been rough and undefined, but not you could clearly see the edges and it wasn't fazing in and out all the time.

A few weeks with Genkai with the cuffs fully removed had done wonders for his control. Apparently the entire problem was that his spirit energy was fighting against the restraints and that was what caused the leaking.

"Well, at least now we know what your shikai looks like," said Isshin.

"Shikai?"

And so Isshin divulged quite a bit about standard soul reapers. He wasn't very good at Kido, but he did know someone who could teach him when he wasn't training with Genkai. Swordsmanship he could learn from his sword, once he figured how to get into his inner world.

According to Isshin his spirit levels qualified him for Bankai training (apparently you need a High +C ranking at least to even start it) but since he didn't know how to even bring out his sword he would start on shikai.

And unlike the ReiKai, Isshin did know how to bring out the zanpakuto without getting into trouble. The only problem was that it really stressed the human body, and most gigai couldn't handle it.

However, because of the fact Ichigo had been wearing spirit cuffs for seven years, his body was well used to such a strain. It had to be, because he never once noticed the fact that his spirit energy was being forced at 100 percent for all those years.

Thought to be fair, Isshin never expected that side effect to sealing his son's energy until he was old enough to handle it.

Ichigo went up into the mountains of Genkai's estate. She certainly didn't care if he meditated up there.

He could feel himself falling, falling until he couldn't see the top. And he woke up to find himself in a world where everything was sideways.

"What...the...hell?" he said. To be honest the sideways building was freaking him out because all common sense said that he should be falling now.

Ichigo...

The teen looked around for the voice, and finally his eyes landed on an old man on a pole.

Ichigo twitched. His zanpakuto was an old emo on a pole.

"Who are you?"

My name is...

Ichigo didn't hear a thing, as a wall of static blocked it. The old man seemed to realize this because he sighed.

I had hoped with the restraints removed you would be able to hear me. Especially since you have started to use a fraction of my power already.

"You mean the thing with the broken piece of that bokken? I can barely manage that, and even then Genkai said unless I can unleash the whole thing it would be less than useless."

Yes, but you're already ahead of other shinigami at this stage because you at least know what I look like when I'm released, even without my name. That is more than most soul reapers manage. Perhaps, when you can finally hear me, you can unleash the whole thing.

"In the meantime...do you know how to play Rummy?"

The man blinked twice, before grinned. The two quickly settled down to play cards, never pausing except for the occasionally exclamation of cheating, which was as playful as the time he played against Yusuke and Genkai in a game of poker. That had been fun, because the old hag's rules on cheating was if you got caught, you got kicked in the head out off the cliff and had to climb back up.

Needless to say the boys had quite a bit of fun with that game. Occasionally Genkai let them catch her cheat just so she could bring back snacks.

She seemed to enjoy the game as well, though that might have been because Yusuke kept trying to cheat and got caught every time, and he had to climb up with a giant boulder on his back.

Ichigo's routine became simple. Get up, got to class, sleep through most of it to piss off the idiots who thought he was a delinquent worse than the ones he usually beat up with Yusuke and Chad, then level enough reitsu on the bastard that he wet himself.

The old man on the pole thought it was rather funny too, since Ichigo spent most of his classes training with him, only to pause long enough to make the teacher wet himself.

Since he was learning how to handle the sword straight from the zanpakuto himself, Ichigo slowly learned about the sword spirit. Even if he couldn't learn his name (he mostly called him Old Man) he could still learn more about him.

That attitude pleased the sword greatly, because it meant Ichigo wouldn't take him for granted.

Once class was over, Ichigo would look for Hiei, who was rather pleased that Ichigo had a sword to spar with. The little fire demon quickly raised Ichigo's speed, and he seemed happy to have someone to fight against who wouldn't complain or get killed. Kurama ended up coming over more often than not to help Chad study while the two wore each other out fighting.

Chad didn't mind the fox demon, and was grateful for the help. It didn't hurt that he shared an apartment with Ichigo to save on rent.

All of this eventually lead to the point when Yusuke returned, to a relieved Keiko.

Ichigo swatted another batch of bugs with his sword. Hiei looked just as annoyed as the teen did.

"How about we call it quits until these...pests...are taken out?" he suggested.

"Why, can't handle a few bugs?" said Hiei, still in a fighting mood.

"No, but I know I can't be the only one tired of getting bug in my eye because of the large number," said Ichigo flatly.

"Hn. Good point. You any closer to hearing his name?"

"I'm starting to hear bits and pieces, which is an improvement. I couldn't hear a damn thing last week," said Ichigo.

Hiei sheathed his sword. It was the one Ichigo had originally, since the cleaver he had broken Hiei's last one. Koenma didn't need to know the fire demon had it.

Though he did want to know why the hell he kept hearing a voice in his head ever since he got it.

Ichigo ran into Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"Yo. Is it just me or have these bugs gotten really, really annoying lately?" he asked.

"It's not you," Yusuke deadpanned.

Once they beat up a few punks with knives, Botan showed up to inform them of the new mission. Apparently some demons who were cranky about being locked up for quite a while decided to make their bid for freedom.

The second Ichigo heard they were responsible for the bug problem, he summoned his spirit sword and growled "Show me where they are and I'll have their head on a platter. These damn things are cutting into my sparring practice!"

"Who the hell can you spar with out here?" asked Yusuke curious.

"Hiei. Since he's stuck between here and Karakura, he fights with me to keep his skills sharp. Thanks to him I'm almost ready to hear my sword's name."

"Dude, you almost know it? I can't wait to see what that thing really looks like!" said Yusuke.

Genkai had explained exactly what the sword was and what learning the name would do.

Botan lead them to a small opening that would lead them to Maze castle. Ichigo went down first, followed by Yusuke and surprisingly enough, Kuwabara. He had the communication mirror on him and he fully planned to ask Botan what it cost to buy them so he could always stay in touch with his sisters.

As it was, Isshin had taken the girls out of school for a bit and took them to see an old friend of his until the insects went away. The hollows in the town were more active with the demons around. There wasn't a chance in hell that they would break through to Urahara's underground training ground.

Karin, the quick thinker, realized that Tessai knew how to use the same weird energy the siblings had and got him to show her how to use it.

Yuzu had some, but she wasn't able to see ghosts as well as Karin. It later turned out that she was under the same spirit cuffs as Ichigo had been, but hers had yet to break apart. Karin's was starting to fall on their own.

Isshin did what he could to protect his children, and to make them strong enough for the trials ahead. He knew that they wouldn't be able to remain hidden forever, which was why he put them under the spirit training without their knowing. Genkai didn't like it, but even she agreed it was the best option. At least with spirit cuffs their body would get used to being at full power and wouldn't break. Plus it made them stronger.

Ichigo was having fun cutting the weaker demons in half. He was putting his hard-earned skills sparring with Hiei to good use. Yusuke and Kuwabara let him play with the demons, since they weren't nearly strong enough to take out that many and not get killed.

It wasn't until Kurama and Hiei finally showed up that they made any headway.

"Have fun Berry Boy?" asked Hiei.

"You better believe it. Those guys aren't nearly as annoying as you are."

Hiei chuckled. There was a reason why he liked Ichigo.

The smaller demons weren't stupid enough to try to attack Hiei and Kurama, and they knew something was up with the human. He was too strong to be normal!

"So Ichigo, have you made any headway into hearing his name?" asked Kurama.

"Bits and pieces. He said that maybe all I need is a swift kick in the ass or a really tough opponent before I'll be able to bring him out properly."

Hiei snorted.

"You'll probably get the tough opponent bit first."

"Which reminds me. Why the hell are you even here Kuwabara? You have no discernible skill in the spirit arts, aside from a rather impressive sensory ability," asked Ichigo.

Kuwabara held up his hand, like a fist and displayed his new technique. It was a sword, apparently, though the thing looked really half assed.

"I can make it grow or become small," he said proudly.

"And?" prompted Ichigo.

"Er...that's about it. Took me weeks to figure out how to bring it out with that piece of wood I found in that dark room at Genkai's."

"You mean the place where I first unlocked spirit energy? I wondered where the other piece of wood went. I thought the guy simply took it with him."

"Nah, I picked it up. Figured if you could unlock yours with the first piece I should try my luck at mine."

Ichigo stared at him blankly.

"That is likely the smartest thing you have ever come up with. Congratulations, you have been upgraded from civilian to cannon fodder," said Ichigo.

Hiei wasn't the only one laughing.

The only thing that went through his mind while he tried to keep the gate from crushing him was 'Of all the times Chad isn't around! He could have broken this damn thing already!'

His zanpakuto agreed.

Eventually Hiei managed to get the lever that released the gate.

Finally, they were inside Maze castle. And their first opponent was Genbu, which according to legend was called the Earth Turtle. Kurama opted to face him, since he recently managed to bring out his favorite weapon, the Rose Whip.

"You alright Kurama?" asked Yusuke. Ichigo had brought out the rudimentary kit had with him, since he was the son of a doctor. By the time he was done bandaging the wound, Kurama didn't even feel pain anymore.

Though that could have been because of the extra strength pain relievers he had on him. He would pay to find out where Ichigo had found those.

"I'll be fine. You're a better doctor than I would have expected Ichigo," said Kurama.

"My dad may be an Ex-Soul reaper, but his current position is a doctor. I know enough to handle the basics, but whenever there's a real problem at the clinic I just stay out-of-the-way. My sisters are better at this than I am," he admitted.

"Hn. I thought Shinketsu were killed at birth?" asked Hiei.

"According to Genkai their human bodies can't handle the strain from only one shinigami parent. She mentioned something about my mother but I wasn't paying attention at the time. It doesn't help that my dad had her put spirit cuffs on me a month before she died," said Ichigo.

"From what I heard, if the soul reapers hear about a child they either kill them or kidnap them. Something about hollows becoming to much of a problem," said Kurama.

"Hollows?"

"Spirits who have lost their heart. They eat other souls. They also tend to eat demons when they can get them, but only the weakest ones can be killed by one," said Kurama.

"So...who gets the next one?" asked Yusuke.

"Dibs!" said Ichigo before Kuwabara had a chance to.

"Damn."

"If he survives after dealing with me you get to go after him. You could use some battle experience with your sword before I throw you in Hiei's direction."

Hiei glared at him before Ichigo whispered something to him that only Kurama caught. The fox seemed to be having trouble not laughing.

After that his demeanor was decidedly more cheerful!