Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach in any way, shape or form. The rightful owner is still Tite Kubo.
Last time:
Ghost-girl hums in thought, "I suppose we need to find a place to stay."
I grimace in agreement, "Alright, then how about my place?"
Rukia gapes, stunned, "is that a good idea?"
I shrug, "it's just a temporary solution. We're heading off to Soul society in two weeks anyway."
A deep sigh of frustration, "Fine, it should be okay since it's only for a little while."
I took the lead when my short shadow queried, "Ichigo?"
When I peeked back at her, I was met with an accusing finger.
Rukia blatantly stated, "I refuse to stay in any rinky-dinky closet!"
"I never said you had too!" I hollered aggravated.
"Here," I open a door, "does this meet your highness's expectations?"
Rukia inspects the offered bedroom, announcing arrogantly, "such a dirty little room."
I growl in annoyance. She spins around with a big smile on her face, "I was joking! This is fine, really!"
"Yeah yeah, just don't make a mess," I grumble.
"Yes sir!" she throws a mock salute then shoves against my chest, "now out! Out, out...OUT!
"I'm out! I'm out!" The door slams in my face, "You're still a bossy midget!"
"I heard that..." came the muffled shout in reply.
"You were supposed to," I snort then murmur, "but I guess it's okay if some things never change."
Sharp claws abruptly strike a scruffy face.
Urahara rolls on the ground clutching his injury, blood and tears pouring, "Ah! My face! Why Yoruichi? Why?"
As the shopkeeper writhed in pain, a masculine voice berated the shop keeper, "Idiot! Kurosaki is probably the last person we need hanging around Kuchiki right now."
"Erm...why?" blood dribbles from fresh wounds, tears trickle from watery eyes.
"Kuchiki Rukia was adopted into a prominent noble household against convention."
"Erm..." blank stare, "O~kay..."
"This is probably her first mission and now she'll be running around Karakura with an unknown and unclassified reiatsu."
~Blink blink~, "Erm..."
"Imagine the surveillance that will result when Kurosaki's spiritual force is detected."
Comprehension begins to dawn.
"Seireitei will soon investigate the unidentified reiatsu and discover that Kuchiki is using a gigai crafted by a wanted fugitive."
Urahara suddenly blanches, "...oh crap!"
'Where is this?' I floated through a city sideways...or a sideways city...I couldn't be sure.
"Ichigo..." a deep voice resounds from the surrounding buildings.
I spin around, "Hello? Who's there?"
"You can hear me now..."
"Show yourself," my fist clenches.
A shadow appears just ahead, "that means you have finally awakened your shinigami power."
"Who are you?"
An old man wearing sunglasses and wrapped in a black flickering cloak answers, "Who am I? I am ********."
I stared at him for a moment, "Who?"
Suddenly a shout, "Wake up, Oldtimer!" and I'm pulled out of the strange dream.
"Wake up, Oldtimer!" Rukia barges into the room, "there's a Hollow!"
Abruptly awake, I yelp, "What?! Where?!"
She glances at a cell phone, "a park not far from here."
"Let's go," I sling her on my back, the difference between our heights becoming even more apparent.
Rukia protests, "I can walk you know!"
I hum in thought as I race outside, "True, but with your short legs it'd take forever to get anywhere."
The angry shinigami hits my skull and I wobble sideways, "Ow! That hurt ghost-girl!"
Her fist thumps against the top of my head, again, "stop being an idiot."
I awkwardly clutch the throbbing wound, "Gah! Knock it off Rukia! You're gonna give me brain damage."
"I can't break something that's already broken."
"Har har," I reply sarcastically, "you are so funny."
She huffs, "you're lucky it's the middle of the night, otherwise we'd have a bunch of people wondering about the 'mysterious floating girl'."
'I forgot about the whole 'invisible' thing,' I sweat dropped.
"You forgot that not everyone can see spirits, didn't you?" (Apparently her accusing stare can pierce my brain.)
"What? Of course not!" I deny, "I just figured this was the fastest way to take care of that hollow."
"Uh huh," she mutters, pointing, "there's the place of the coordinates."
I slow down glancing around, "I don't see anything."
Rukia flips open her phone, "the time is plus/minus 20 minutes."
I set her down and draw out the asauchi, "I thought Soul society sensors couldn't detect hollows unless they are already in the human world?"
A sigh, "I'm not the expert on the technology involved. All I can do is prevent any unnecessary casualties by following issued orders."
From the phone came a warning beeping alarm, "It's here," Rukia commented as the shadows rippled, creating a tear in the dusky twilight. Punctuating this obvious activity was the echoing roar that clearly announced the hollow's arrival.
"Guess that means it's my turn," I charge at the bug-spider-hollow, asauchi leading.
"Remember to aim for the mask!" The short shinigami yells.
"What?!" A dark limb swings at me, I duck under it, "You can't seriously expect me to remember something I didn't know in the first place!"
"Stop complaining and focus on your enemy!"
"Then stop yelling at me and I'll be able to!" I swung the asauchi, the dull blade thunking uselessly against shadowed armor.
The hollow bellowed, one of its many legs slammed into me, "Ichigo," I heard Rukia yell as I tumbled end over end across the park, "put reiatsu into the asauchi!"
Rolling to a stop, I scramble to grab the sword hilt as the bug-monster barrels toward me, "You are not helping!" I inform her while dodging the stampeding insect-beast. Swinging the blade again, the edge catches in a joint creating a slight wound. The hollow leaps away and growls in challenge as I watch it warily.
"Onii-san?" a whisper of sound behind me.
Surprised I shoot a quick glance at the speaker. A child's ghost hovered by the swing set.
"A Plus?" Rukia incredulity is plain.
Another shriek from the hungry creature, my gaze swings back to the bug-spider-hollow as it rears up, its legs poised to skewer. I surge upward sinking my blade into the exposed underbelly. Heaving with momentum I push the wraith up and away. It crashes backwards, legs clawing the night air.
"Fool! Only by piercing through the mask can a hollow be defeated," Rukia advised.
"Don't you think you should share information like that beforehand?"
Her arms cross, "I told you to aim for the mask," Rukia huffs, "before you started fighting like a gorilla swinging a stick."
"I MEANT BEFORE MY FIRST BATTLE!"
She blinks her violet eyes startled, innocently adding, "Whoops?"
I can only stare at her in disbelief.
"Onii-san," the ghost boy interjects, "I think that thing is mad."
The hollow had regained its feet, glowing yellow eyes narrow, the mask-mouth opens and a scream slices the air. Turning back, I rest the asauchi on my shoulder.
"I'm tired of your ugly face," I pop my neck, "let's finish this."
Dark muscles bunch and the hollow rushes toward me. Remembering Urahara's advice, 'When you're attacking, think,' I breathe in and aim for the bone-mask, 'I will cut you.'
Rukia was startled when Ichigo's rough reiatsu surged, his spiritual pressure becoming heavier and the asauchi's blade was suddenly more solid, broader, as it sliced through the hollow. With the unfortunate soul purified to continue to the afterlife, the diminutive shinigami ran to the side of the bright-haired rookie. Concerned she ran a healing kido over his unconscious form. A moment later sitting back on her heels, Rukia sighed in relief, 'Just reiatsu exhaustion.'
"Nee-san?" The plus wandered to her side.
She smiled reassuringly at the child, "he's fine."
A grin in reply, "that's good. Onii-san was brave to face that monster."
Rukia laughed slightly, "I think it's more like 'reckless'."
Finding myself back in the weird slanted city, I scanned the gleaming glass for the old man.
"Ichigo," he appeared on a vertical flagpole, "When you learn my name you can begin to refine your skills."
I scowl, "then tell me your name already."
"You still don't know me?" The edge of his cloak ripples with a non-existent breeze, "I've told you. I am ********."
I scratch my cheek, muttering, "You are a strange guy, Uncle."
A long moment passed as he stared at me clearly unimpressed, "Why do you continue to seek my name?"
Frustrated I grumble, "Look jii-san, you're the one insisting I learn what your name is."
"I thought that perhaps you would know me better than anyone else," The scruffy old man calmly replies.
Before I can say anything in reply, I am thrust from the dream-city again.
"Ichigo?" someone is shaking me, I groan, "come on lazy, get up."
I crack open one eye, a face swims into focus, "Rukia?"
She frowns, "geez, I didn't realize you needed a nap Oldtimer."
"Shut it," I grouch, gingerly sitting upright, "Where's the hollow?"
A dark brow raises, "you managed to beat it."
I slowly stood on wobbly legs, "that's good then. Let's head home."
"Baka," she reprimands, "You need to perform a konso for this boy here."
"Konso?" I think about it, coming to a realization after a moment, "I don't know how to do that."
"Yes, I know that," Her eyes roll in exasperation, "Therefore I will attempt to teach you."
"Shut up!" I reply to her mocking tone.
Rukia abruptly grabs my hand, "pay attention. A zanpakto's blade will cut a hollow mask," she turns my hand presenting the asauchi's hilt, "however, the hilt will guide the soul toward Soul society," a warmth seeps from her palm to my hand, a faint light glows on the base of the hilt, "with konso, shinigami permit passage to the afterlife," She releases me then gestures impatiently, "Now you do it."
Imagining the pale characters I had seen, 'LifeDeath,' soon a blue-ish gleam reappeared.
"That's it. I've already explained Heaven so just release his spirit with the seal," puzzled I shoot a glance at Rukia who taps her forehead.
Hesitantly I press the asauchi's handle against the soul's brow, withdrawing a moment later revealed the shining kanji had transferred upon contact.
"Thanks, nee-san, onii-san," his voice faded as the light engulfed his figure. A midnight black swallowtail butterfly and a ball of bright energy soared into the starry sky.
"Not too bad for a beginner," Rukia nods, "ready to head back?"
"Yeah," I reply and we start for home, "Is there anything else I should know about this whole 'shinigami' business?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," Rukia arrogantly continues, "since I am your teacher, you must address me as Kuchiki-sensei!"
"What?! No way!"
And the duo fell into bickering banter. Eventually forgetting the reason for the argument but too stubborn to admit defeat, their 'conversation' degraded to flinging insults all the way to the temporarily shared house. Banging through the door, Rukia ran smack into an unexpected obstacle. Orange caught her gaze, 'how did Ichigo...' reassessing the wavy length, the wide innocent eyes, the gently confused frown, '...oh it's...'
"Orihime?" was the query from the spiky-haired man, "what are you doing here?"
"Hello Miss...? Can I help you? Are you lost or something?"
Two gazes connected, violet against brown, the sentiment shared with clarity, '...oh crap...'
AN: I believe the seal of konso reads 'LifeDeath' but if I am incorrect, please inform me. Some bits and pieces from both manga and anime incorporated in this chapter. I maintain that I do not claim to own any recognized material. All hail Kubo-sama!
