AN: Here is the newest chapter. I don't really have much to say about it or any announcements to make. I guess I will just say I hope you enjoy this chapter and to please review and let me know what you think of it. Although I will say that if this story feels like it is lacking in the action department it is because this is not really meant as an action story. Also I suck at writing action so it may seem fast paced and short in fighting scenes.
"First part of your training is to activate your Shikai. And the best way to do that is use Kisuke's method." Ichigo thought back to Kisuke's method and remembered it just in time to dodge Yoruichi's attack.
'The cat just wants to beat me up.' Thought Ichigo as he observed the grin plastered on her face. She chased him around the training area toying with him and landing several punches and kicks.
"Ichigo…" He heard the voice in his head.
'Old man?'
"You know our name…" A more sadistic voice also made itself known.
'Hollow?'
'What did he mean by our name?' Then Ichigo remembered their encounters. How could have been so blind. He has two spirits. His hollow and the old man and both are named Zangetsu. Why did he never see this before?
"Pierce the sky! Zangetsu."
A rush of spiritual energy formed around Ichigo and when it disappeared Yoruichi saw Ichigo holding not one but two blades. One of the blades was a large blade the size of his old blade with a section in the middle missing from it while he held a smaller blade in his left hand which was the length of his arm. This blade had a guard around the hilt. He could feel both Zangetsu's presence.
"Ichigo? Why do you have two Zanpakutou? I thought it would be the same as before?" Yoruichi was definitely confused. While a situation like this had never happened since there was never a human Shinigami who died and became a Shinigami again. It seemed weird for a Zanpakutou to change.
Ichigo smiled at her. "What do you mean? There has always been two Zangetsu's"
"The hollow?"
"Yes. He was born as a part of my soul as much as the old man was. When I first achieved Shikai I was unaware of his presence so it was always incomplete. Now he is here and all three of us are working together." Ichigo smiled finally feeling complete for the first time since the fight with Aizen.
Yoruichi just shrugged and went with it. "Now for the important task. You need to seal the blade because walking around like that will be way too obvious."
"How do I do that?" Ichigo had never known how to seal a blade before.
"That is simple. You need to do the opposite of what you do to release it. To release a blade you channel your reitsu into the blade. To seal it you need to pull it back out of the blade into yourself. Imagine your hand is a straw that is placed inside a cup of water. You need to suck the water back up into your arm."
He held the blades together and pulled the spiritual energy that was flowing through his blade back into his body and slowly the blades formed back into a single katana. The katana had changed though when it reformed. The handle was wrapped in red and black cloth with a square hilt decorated with the phases of the moon wrapped around the blade. The blade itself was different too. It almost looked like his old bankai since the blade was completely black and tapered off at the edge.
"Well it may be sealed but that is still going to draw attention." Yoruichi was chuckling at the sight of his new sealed blade. "This is all the training we can get done today since you have curfew in 10 minutes."
"What!" Ichigo took off and left the training area using Shunpo.
"Remember to come same time tomorrow!" She yelled at his retreating form.
Yoruichi left on a mission of her own. These developments changed everything. She wasn't the one that could teach Ichigo. She hoped across the roof tops avoiding all the Shinigami with her superior stealth to sneak into the building she arrived at. She opened the door to find the person she was looking for sitting at a desk.
"Shunsui. I have an interesting student that I will need your help with."
The captain wearing the pink floral kimono looked up to the purple haired goddess. This interested him since he wasn't one to train students and Yoruichi wasn't one to ask for help. This must be an interesting case. "I am listening."
"I don't want to give too much away but this student unlocked Shikai today and he has dual blades. One is short and the other is longer. It is a similar style to yours. I was hoping you would help with Zanjutsu training."
His eyes widened. There had only been 2 dual wielders in the history of Shinigami and only his were mismatched blades. It made sense why the cat would go to him. But something was nagging at him. "That is quite surprising. But there is something else special about this case too." It wasn't a question.
She only smiled. "The student's identity needs to be kept secret. And you can find out who it is tomorrow when you meet him. I will stop by at 7:30 and take you to the training grounds to meet him." She left before he could say anything leaving him alone in his office.
"Well, I have been getting bored with nothing going on." He smiled and grabbed a bottle of sake looking forward to the mysteries of tomorrow.
Ichigo made it back to his room with a minute to spare.
"Where have you been? I was worried you weren't going to be back in time." Ayumi had been pacing around the room. She jumped when he entered and went right into lecturing him. "You can't be out past curfew or you will be kicked out!" That was when she noticed the cuts. "Why are you injured?!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the bed. "Now sit down so I can heal you."
"Yes mom." He made the sarcastic remark before his face darkened.
Yet another mystery thought Ayumi.
She started healing him with the green glow around his body. "So what were you doing to get injured like this?"
"I was training." Ayumi didn't think that was weird considering how weird her roommate already was. He had no problem in the classes or sparing with her meaning he needed a higher form of training than this school offered. The only real mystery was why he was in this school at all. If he wanted Kido lessons he could have gone to Kukaku Shiba since it is well known she is a master of Kido. Then he could test out of the school like many nobles do.
"Who were you training with?"
"My teacher." He looked to his roommate who was sitting adjacent to him healing his arm at the moment. "Why are you so curious?"
"My roommate was out late and comes back with cuts all over his body. A roommate I know is proficient in combat. Why wouldn't I be curious?"
He thought for a moment. "Fair point."
"Is this going to be a nightly occurrence?"
"Most likely. I have another training session at the same time tomorrow." She couldn't help but smile. Most of the nobles or skilled people in the academy go around and flaunt it and barely try. This guy already has the skill of a 6th year and he plans on going off to train every night to get stronger. She admired him but also wondered what he was training for.
She finished up healing him enough so that the only thing he will be feeling tomorrow is some soreness. "Well, at least I will get a lot of practice for my healing Kido." Then she gained a stern expression. She pointed her finger in Ichigo's face. "But do not think for one second I will be covering for you. If you are late then you are late." She turned around and crawled into her bed.
"Thanks for healing me." He copied her and crawled under his covers and called it a night too.
The next morning they arrived at the only class that they had not been at yet for the year. Hoho. Possibly the only class that could be more boring for Ichigo than Zanjutsu. After all the brutal training from the Flash Goddess, the basics of flash step was mind numbing. The teacher in charge of this class took notice to how bored he was and smiled. It was the same teacher who he talked to the day before. Ichigo had forgotten his name but was able to remember the face since he looked like Uryu. Since Hakuda and Hoho are both complimentary it is not surprising that the same teacher teaches both.
"Shiro. Since you seem to not care about this class, I assume you have completely mastered flash step? If so could we have a demonstration?" The teacher obviously had been smiling because he wanted to humiliate the cocky student in front of his peers. But it back fired when Ichigo got up in front of the class and disappeared so quickly that the teacher didn't see anything. He showed up a second later with a handful of cherry blossoms from the tree in the courtyard which was a good distance away. He handed them the teacher and went back to spacing out for the rest of the class.
After class he met up with Ayumi for lunch. They both sat down on a bench in the courtyard. (Under the same tree with the cherry blossoms which only made Ichigo think of Byakuya.)
"The teacher's face when you handed him the cherry blossoms was priceless!" She was cackling like a crazy person. She had found the events of early quite interesting.
Saburo walked up during her laughing fit and sat down with them. "I heard about what happened in Hoho class. Did you really do a perfect flash step and brush it off like it was nothing?"
"He sure did!" Ayumi answered for Ichigo. "Shiro was amazing. He flaunted it in front of the teacher and went on ignoring him. I don't even know why you are going to this school. You are more skilled than a seated officer." Giving Ichigo a questioning gaze.
"Seriously. I had some training form Kukaku and Ganju, my siblings. I understand some of the stuff pretty well but I don't really get Kido. I also know almost nothing about history and government."
This made her more curious. Kido is a Shiba specialty, and history and government are a necessity for any noble clan member to know. Also based on looks Shiro had to be at least 100 years old. But since she was sure Shiro was a good guy she didn't care and finding the answers was more like a curious hobby.
"Well, I came over here to tell you that a few friends of mine are getting together after classes today to have a beginning of the year party. If you would like, you two could join." He then leaned in and whispered the last part. "This is sort of an informal party that is kept secret from the noble students so don't go around telling everyone alright."
A party? Maybe this could help get a little closer to the group that Rukia mentioned.
"I will be there." Ichigo wanted to get this going. He didn't want to get too much attention so the quicker this was done the better. But putting Ayumi in danger was not what he wanted.
"I will go too." Ayumi had no idea what Ichigo was trying to do. This was just a party to get people involved.
"Good! I will see you there later!"
After lunch Ichigo went to Kido class. (The classes are organized in 3 day intervals. One class in the morning and one in the afternoon. History and government, Zanjutsu, Kido, Hakuda, Hoho, and then on the 3rd day for the afternoon you are able to pick one of the previous topics to attend for more practice.)
Since most people do not like practicing Kido for fun most of the students chose to work on Zanjutsu or Hakuda since those are the combat based classes and the students find those more interesting. Ichigo and 3 others had the Kido practice field all to themselves.
After blowing up his third spell a girl around 5 feet tall dressed in the white uniform of academy students approached him. She had the look of a noble. And if he had a guess he could tell which clan. She had the long black hair that was so clean it looked glossy and trailed halfway down her back. "I tried to ignore your stupidity but when you keep blowing yourself up it is very distracting. What kind of idiot blows up a Sai?"
Ichigo was taken aback by her attitude. "You know you should at least give your name before berating someone like that."
"I am a Kuchiki. I do not need to introduce myself to someone like you." She said haughtily
"Well Ms. Kuchiki, it is nice to meet you. I am Shiro Shiba." He smiled and held out his hand.
"A Shiba? Well I am Mayumi Kuchiki." She looked at him skeptically.
"If you are going to attack my Kido skills, which are non-existent, you could at least tell me what I am doing wrong." Ichigo was frustrated that he could not get down the first spell. He had done it right a few times but not consistently.
"First off you are using way to much spiritual energy. It is like trying to fill up a water jug with twice the water that can go in it. It will break apart from the pressure. You need to pull it back."
Ichigo tried using only twenty percent of the power he had been using. The practice dummy's arms got bound behind its back. There was no recoil or explosion.
"Thanks Mayumi!" Ichigo was happy he could get it done quickly.
"Why would you address me so casually?! Aren't you afraid of the Kuchiki's? You should not be so casual with us." She was flustered. No one had every dared to address her in such a casual manner. Who did he think he was?
"We are both students aren't we? Trying to address people with titles is annoying. Same goes for you. Just call me Shiro." He laughed and walked away excited about the fact he had learned why Kido was such a problem for him. He left a dumbfounded Kuchiki at the practice range.
Ichigo arrived at the hall where the party was since he had finished his practice for the day. He found Saburo with a group of people and went up to talk to him since he didn't really know any of the other students.
"Hey Shiro! I am glad you could make it!" Ichigo was then brought around the room and introduced to more than 30 people which he would never remember because of his problems with names and faces. One thing that always seemed to come up in conversation though was him being a Shiba and the way everyone hated the nobles. The four noble clans in particular. (Shiba being the fifth and fallen clan.)
"This seems more like a noble hating club than a party." Ichigo mentioned this to Saburo once they were alone sitting on a bench in the corner of the room.
"Most people here are from the Rukongai. They are not fans of the nobles. You are alright though." He smiled. The way that smile resembled Gin's made Ichigo a little worried. He may have jumped into this party a little too quickly.
"Shiro!" Ichigo turned around to see his roommate enter the room.
"Hey Ayumi." He smiled at her. He was hoping she didn't come but there was no reason he could tell her not too.
"Sorry I am late. I was practicing with my Shikai. I wanted to get the abilities down." She was standing in front of the two.
"You have your Shikai?!" Saburo was surprised that she had it.
"Of course! Shiro helped me!" She smiled proudly
Saburo turned to Shiro. "Does that mean you have Shikai too?" He looked to Ichigo like he was appraising him.
"Yes." Ichigo didn't want to give too much away, but also didn't want to seem suspicious by lying. He didn't need to tell them he had bankai or hollow powers…probably.
"That's impressive for a first year. I have mine but I only just got it as a third year. Be careful or else you will be the next Hitsugaya. That guy finished the academy in a year."
"The less time I spend here the better. I want to get out of here and into a squad quick so I can help." This got Saburo's attention.
"What do you want to do when you get into a squad?"
"Well for one thing I want to bring the Shiba clan back into nobility. They have done so much to be cast aside so I need to become a Lieutenant. Other than that, I just want to make sure Soul Society really is a safe place for souls to go."
"The nobles don't like change. They may fight you or pull strings to make sure you don't get high enough to give the Shiba's power."
Again with the nobles. It's like a broken record here.
"Well they can shove it. I never bothered with them before. Don't need to now." Saburo grinned
"That's the right attitude. I wish I could stand up like that to the Omaeda's but I just hide at parties like these then lie about where I have been."
Ichigo stayed mostly with Ayumi after that. There was definitely something up with Saburo and this party.
When the party came to a close one of the teachers came out. It was the one that looked like Uryu that he couldn't remember. "Hello everyone. I am Takeda-sensei. I am glad you could all make it to this party and I hope you enjoyed it. Make sure you don't party to hard and focus on your studies and become upstanding Shinigami. With that we will be ending this get together and clear out for the night so you can get to sleep."
Everyone funneled out and left the party while Ichigo snuck off to his lesson.
Mayumi entered Rukia's office. "What do I owe this visit cousin?" Mayumi was one of the few other Kuchiki's that Rukia liked. She seemed normal enough.
"I met a student today that was rude and informal with me, but the thing was it didn't bother me. It wasn't like he was looking down on me. More like he saw me as a person instead of a noble. Does that make sense?"
"May I ask who this student was?" Rukia had an idea since she went through the same thing right after she met Ichigo.
"Shiro Shiba. He is still part of the nobility but didn't act like it or care. It was sort of refreshing."
"I know Shiro Shiba. He is a good student and a kind person. He may be rough around the edges but I suggest you make friends with him. It could be good for you." Rukia knew that look. She had a bit of a crush on Ichigo when she first met him too. Now she had Renji though. With Ichigo being a part of the Shiba clan now it would not be out of the question for him to be with a Kuchiki.
The two of them talked for a little while longer before Mayumi left.
He arrived in the training area early and practiced his Kido. With the advice he got from Mayumi he was able to use Hado and Bakudo 1-10. That was when Yoruichi came in.
"Wow. You are able to do Kido now. Took you long enough."
"Hey! All it took was a few pointers and I have been getting better at controlling my reitsu." Yoruichi walked up to Ichigo a bit closer than he liked. Then she purred.
"That is because you had a great teacher."
He smirked. "You are right. Mayumi Kuchiki was helpful."
She gave him an angry look and pouted.
"Yare Yare. This is a surprise Yoruichi. To think the student you mentioned was Ichigo." Ichigo spun around and saw the 8th squad captain.
"What is he doing here?" He looked back to Yoruichi.
"What? Did you think I could teach you how to use a dual Zanpakutou?" She smiled.
"I guess." Then he remembered the party. "About the other thing we discussed with Rukia." He looked over to Kyoraku.
"You do realize that Kyoraku already knows about Rukia's mission. You can speak in front of him."
"Do you not trust me Ichigo? I didn't know you were aware of the situation." He sent a more serious look to Yoruichi.
"I a student at the academy. Everyone thinks my name is Shiro Shiba. Rukia asked me to help her uncover information since it is likely they will try to recruit me, and I think she is right." Neither of the other two spoke so he continued on. "I was at a party today that seemed to be for specific people. Those who hate nobility. I don't think it is weird that many from the Rukongai hate nobility but the get together seemed a bit suspicious. It was like everyone there brought up their hate of nobility. It sort of felt like they were feeling me and my roommate out."
"That is interesting. This wouldn't be the first time something like this happened. If these people have access to Zanpakutou and are creating an army out of the Rukongai to over throw the nobility then it could be a problem. If they have inside men in the Gotei it would be really bad. I will make sure to keep this information among the Captains." Kyoraku thought through all the information the kid was giving him. This could cause a problem. "In the meantime let's have a see at your Shikai." His casual smile came back.
Kyoraku drew his blades and charged.
"Pierce the sky, Zangetsu!"
The two of them fought and trained for the rest of the time while Yoruichi watched.
"Time to go Ichigo! You don't want to be late do you?"
Ichigo thought about Ayumi pacing in their room and remembered one more thing he wanted to talk about. "Yoruichi I have a favor to ask."
"What is it Ichigo?" Yoruichi of course would do anything for her precious student.
"My roommate Ayumi Yamada seems to have been targeted by a boy from the Omaeda clan. She has been held back for two years now and she has a Shikai. I was hoping you could get them to stop interfering. I don't want you to abuse your power but I just don't want someone to hinder her."
"Of course Ichigo. I hate it when others people do that. I will make sure the Omaeda clan backs off."
"Thank you." With that he took off back to his dorm.
Across the Sereitei in a dark room.
"What do we think about the boy?" Said the person at the head of the table.
"He seems to want to get power back to the Shiba's. If we offer that when we take over he may be in. I think he is much more powerful than we thought. He already has a Shikai and can complete a flash step better than the Hoho instructor."
"Good work Saburo. With the Shiba clan's help we will succeed." The blond boy who gave the report smiled and left the room.
