INTRODUCTION

Welcome back to the Blade of the Shinigami. As always I like to begin by stating that I do not own Bleach.


THANK YOU

A special thanks to those who reviewed my previous chapter: ALLS96


RESPONCES

ALLS96 - Hmm, I'm not sure if your review is a positive or negative one. Oh well. :D


MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR:

Thank you for reading. And sorry for missing last weeks scheduled release. PC trouble kept me from getting that done. Please leave a little review when done. Thanks.


"A Shinigami's path is no easy one. Those blessed to take this role are destined to live a life in the shadows. To walk a path drenched in blood, loss and sorrow. For we fight a war that may be endless where our only recognition is a comrades' smile and our only reward is death."

- From the Holy Book of Origin

Blade of the Shinigami

Season One

Episode Four: The Path of the Shinigami

~~~~~~Club Underworld – Early Afternoon~~~~~~~

Ichigo collapsed on the bed and stared up at the ceiling as he allowed himself to be enveloped by the silence all around him. Despite everything, Ichigo knew that the mysterious woman had made a valid point. Ichigo couldn't accept being told no. Not this time. He had to do something. But what? Getting help from Renji or Rukia was not an option. And he had no way of finding the Order himself. It was then the obvious answer dawned on him.

Ichigo leapt to his feet and quickly ran to the bathroom where he found a new toothbrush and toothpaste sitting on the counter. He quickly washed up and threw on his clothes and raced out of the room and down the hallway. Ichigo got turned around a couple times and he realized just how large Kisuke's home was. Finally he heard the sound of talk and laughter coming from down one of the hallways and he ran towards it until he breathlessly came to a large dining room where he found Kisuke sitting at a large ornate table surrounded by Ururu, Tessai, the large bouncer from last night and the foul mouthed red headed boy from last night.

"Ah, Kurosaki-kun, I'm glad to see you've finally awakened," Kisuke said with a wide smile. Jesturing towards the large table with food he said, "Come, Ururu has prepared feast fit for a king. I think she outdid herself for your benefit! Sit! Eat!"

"I'm sorry Kisuke, but I'm not really interested in food right now," Ichigo said. "Actually I need your help. I wanted to know if you could do me a pretty large favor."

~~~~~~Meanwhile – In an unknown location~~~~~~

Rukia was deep asleep as she heard the doorbell ring. Groggy, she sat up in her bed and immediately looked at her phone which she kept on her nightstand right next to her as she had been trained to do. No messages, she thought as the doorbell rang again. Rukia looked at the time on her Bose Iphone dock and nearly cursed when she saw that it was barely 11am. She had only slept for about three hours. She dropped back on the bed and covered her face with a pillow as the doorbell rang once more.

Rukia groaned as she got out of her bed and put on her robe. I just finished a twelve hour shift, she thought. This had better be good. Rukia padded through her one bedroom apartment. It was located on the top floor of a full service, fifteen story penthouse complex. Everything around her was top end renovations that screamed wealth. If she had her way she'd prefer the low end lifestyle of her comrades but that wasn't an option. Not when you're from her family and certainly not when you have a brother such as hers.

Again the doorbell rang as Rukia reached her living room. "All right," she yelled angrily. Who the hell could it be and how come the concierge didn't let me know someone was coming up, she thought. Again the bell rang. "Coming," she said as she reached the door. "I know one thing. If this is some salesman someone down there is going to get…"

Rukia opened the door and her mouth hung open as she saw Renji standing at the door. "Fired," she whispered as she looked at him. His clothes were disheveled and he had a five o'clock shadow. He had dark rings under his eyes indicating he'd gone too long without sleep and his eyes were also red and puffy. He'd been crying. His shoulders were slumped and he held a manila file loosely in his hand. Without a word Rukia opened her arms and Renji walked into her embrace.

For a long while the two remained in each others arms until Rukia slowly pulled away and led him inside, closing the door behind them.

~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~

"A favor," Kisuke asked. "My, my, aren't you full of requests. Am I not already doing you a favor by allowing you stay in my home despite only meeting you yesterday? Plus the fact that I'm not charging you for the destruction of my room and precious art is not favor enough?"

"Of course Kisuke," Ichigo said as he walked further into the room and stood by the table. "But right now I need…."

Kisuke raised his hand to cut Ichigo off and said, "What you need to do is sit down and relax." Kisuke then gestured towards the empty plate and the food on the table. "Come now Kurosaki-san, Ururu here slaved over a hot stove to make this meal especially for our guest. Come sit and enjoy before it gets cold."

Ichigo resisted, he was in no mood to sit and enjoy a meal. Now was a time for action. After a moment the smile slowly faded from Kisuke's face and his eyes narrowed and grew steely. Ichigo suddenly felt a cold shiver run down his spine as he looked at him. "Kurosaki-san," Kisuke said, "It's rude to refuse a meal offered to you when you are a guest in someone's home."

Ichigo nodded and quickly sat down to his meal. He looked around at the large table hat was filled with different dishes. He could see a large bowl of steamed rice, Miso soup, Nori, omelets and broiled fish and much more. As the delicious smells reached Ichigo he suddenly felt his stomach growl loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. Kisuke laughed and said, "It seams you stomach betrays you Kursaki-kun." Ichigo couldn't help but smile and share a large plate for himself. "Itadakimasu," he said respectfully and took his first bite. As the flavor of the food washed over him he was amazed how delicious it was. How does a kid that young cook so damned well, he wondered. To everyone's amazement and Kisuke's amusement they watched as Ichigo began to inhale the food at an unbelievable pace.

After a few minutes of eating in silence Kisuke said, "So Kurosaki-kun, what favor do you need from me?"

Ichigo placed his fork on the floor and looked at Kisuke. "I need you to help me find the Order of the Shinigami. I want to go there myself and show them what I can do. You said it yourself; if they see me they'll want me to join them." Everyone around the table instantly stopped eating and looked at Ichigo and then they looked to Kisuke, who sat looking at Ichigo and seemed apparently unfazed by the request.

Kisuke smiled at Ichigo and then responded, "I knew you'd come to me and ask me eventually. I gotta say I'm surprised it took you so long."

Ichigo smiled, "So then I take it you'll help me find them?"

"Why of course not," Kisuke responded. He was still smiling brightly as though he had given Ichigo great news.

"What," Ichigo screamed, "But you said that you knew I'd ask you! Why the hell wouldn't you want to help me?"

"It's not that I won't help you," Kisuke said, "It's that I can't. The Order and I, don't really mesh all that well. We have certain, philosophical differences that prevent us from finding a proper accord, if you get me. If I were to bring you to them you would be rejected merely for being in my presence."

"Were you a member of the Order," Ichigo asked.

Kisuke stared at Ichigo in silence for a moment before saying, "I was comrade who shared certain…common goals…yes."

Ichigo leapt to his feet and yelled, "Then why the hell didn't you say so before! I don't need to go to the Order! You can teach me to become a Shinigami!"

It was then that the small red headed boy sitting at the table laughed contemptuously and said, "Fucking idiot."

Ichigo turned to him and snapped at him. "What was that? I don't think I heard you."

"Oh you head me alright," the boy responded, "You're a fucking idiot!"

"Jinta," Kisuke said in a reprimanding tone without directly looking at him.

"I'm sorry Urahara-dono but this guy is pissing me off," Jinta responded "I mean here he is sitting here just mooching off of us and he has the nerve to go demanding to learn something he no comprehension of. He's treating learning to become a Shinigami like learning to drive. He has no fucking respect." Suddenly Tessai got up and hit Jinta on the head.

"Ouch," Jinta screamed as he grabbed his head. "Tessai what was that for?"

Tessai stood over Jinta and stared at him harshly. "No cursing," he said. Jinta folded his arms and looked away from Tessai and scowled.

"Jinta may have chosen a poor way to say it but he does have a point Ichigo," Kisuke said. "I don't think you fully comprehend what becoming a Shinigami would mean for you. The path of a Shinigami is paved with pain, loss and death. You must be fully willing to sacrifice every part of yourself; mind, body and soul towards the protection of mankind. If you become a Shinigami seeking only vengeance you will reap only death. It can be rewarding. But by and large it is a lonely existence."

Ichigo sat back and considered Kisuke's words for a moment. "Kisuke," he said, "Last night I lost all of my friends, my family, and my life. I already live a lonely existence. I have nothing left but the desire to find out why and to make those who did this pay. I need this. It's all I have at this point."

Kisuke leaned forward in his seat and crossed his arms on the table. For a while he looked down at his empty plate and merely thought. After a brief moment he looked up and said with a smile, "Well I've got to say Kurosaki-kun that you're one of the most depressing guests I've ever had." Kisuke took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "You think you have what it takes huh? Well, let's just see about that."

Kisuke slowly got to his feet and reached for his walking stick before looking harshly at Ichigo. "Come to my office in two hours Kurosaki," he said. "Today we'll see just what type of man you really are."

~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~

Renji sat in silence on Rukia's plush white leather couch. He could feel the thick Oriental rug between his toes as he stared at the manila folder sitting on the glass coffee table. Rukia walked back into the room holding two cups of tea and she handed him one as she curled up beside him.

Renji took a sip and he could taste the liquor in the tea. Just how I like it, he thought. The warmth of the tea and alcohol calmed Renji's nerves a bit as he took a deep breath. Rukia leaned next to him but remained silent. She knew Renji well enough to know that he'd talk when he was ready.

As if almost on queue, Renji said, "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize," she replied.

"I thought I could deal with this on my own," Renji said. "It's not like these are the first mutilated corpses I've seen. But…"

"But these were of your family," Rukia said. "I know. I understand."

Renji took another drink. "Those fucking things," he said. "Those sons of bitches really went to town on them." Renji shook his head and stared at his warm drink. "For years I told myself that what I was doing was protecting them. That all of the sacrifices were worth it. Now my parents and sisters are dead and my little brother blames me for it."

"It's not you're fault Renji," Rukia said as she sat up and looked at him.

"And now I can't help but think if there was something I missed," Renji said. "Something I could have done differently."

"It's not your fault Renji," Rukia said with a hint of anger.

"Was there some mistake I made and allowed this to happen," Renji asked to himself.

"Renji," Rukia yelled as she smacked him across the face. Renji looked at Rukia but remained silent. "It wasn't your fucking fault," Rukia said as she put her hands on both side of his face.

Renji took a deep breath and stared at Rukia and nodded. Rukia kissed him gently and the two continued to look into each others eyes before they kissed again. Rukia took Renji's tea and put both cups on the coffee table. Then climbed onto Renji's lap as they began to melt into each other. She reached down and hurriedly pealed his shirt off his body as Renji slowly undid the tie to her robe revealing her black and pink laced bra and panties.

Renji and Rukia stopped kissing as they were both gasping for air. Renji unclasped Rukia's bra and threw it to the ground as the two began to kiss feverishly again and after a few moments Rukia began to lightly nibble on Renji's neck and earlobe. She moaned in pleasure as Renji took her left breast in his hand and firmly yet gently began to tease her nipple. "Please," Rukia whispered causing Renji to grunt hungrily before scooping Rukia into his arms as he stood up and began to carry her towards her bedroom.

Rukia could feel her heart beating like mad as she felt the warmth of Renji bare chest against her own and she knew that for now this was the best she could do to help the man she loved. To give him, if only brief, a moment where he could forget his troubles and be lost in her passionate embrace..

~~~~~~Meanwhile – In an Unknown Location~~~~~~

In a dark hallway, lit only by a few torches a lone man slowly walked. His footsteps echoed on the granite floors with every step he took. There is a light chill in the air that he notices but it doesn't bother him. Nothing ever does really. Dressed in a pair of slim fitting, black slacks and a white slim fitting dress shirt, he is unconcerned by temperature. Neither the deep cold of winter nor the heat of a warm summer's day affects him in any way; He is as cold and lifeless as the very granite he walks on. He sees himself as a tool.

Every time he comes to this place he always sees the irony in his existence. He hates this place. At least he thinks he would, if he believed himself capable of such an emotion. He walks down one of the many desolate hallways of this place that has been made to look like the large medieval castles of Scotland and Europe with its gothic statues and imposing high vaulted ceiling. Ridiculous, the man thought as he walked on.

Finally he comes to the end of the hallway and before him stands a large set of iron double doors colored bronze. They stood fifteen feet tall and over two feet thick. No normal man could possibly hope to open or close these doors. Yet he does so with one hand and enters into a large marble room the length of a football field. He finds everything here so un-necessarily opulent. From the ornate fixtures, to the ancient sculptures scream 'I'm better than you.' And for the life of him he can't understand why someone would feel compelled to live in such a way. What satisfaction could come from such a thing?

The large bed he passes by is a perfect example of this. The bed is three times the size of a king sized bed, with bedposts ten feet high, made of a rich colored wood from a tree that has been extinct for centuries. The bedding is Persian, made of the finest silk. Why would someone, a creature that doesn't sleep require such a thing, he thinks as he passes by.

Finally, the man reaches the far end of the room where several men stand around a large throne made of bones and elevated by three pedestals.

Standing around the pedestals were five men of various sizes. They were dressed in tight black leather of different styles that reminded him of human rock bands from the 80's. As he approached he saw a man sitting on the throne. He wore black leather pants and boots and a white leather, waist long jacket that was open, revealing his bare chest. His hair was blue and his eyes green.

The man was splayed out across the seat with his legs dangling over the side. In his mouth was a toothpick that he chewed on. "Well, well, well," the man said. "If it ain't Ulquiorra! I haven't seen you in about eighty five years!" The man looked at Ulquiorra and had a sadistic smile on his face.

Sitting up in the chair the man sat forward. "So," he said, "Just what the fuck are you doing here anyway? Are you still the old man's lap dog?"

Ulquiorra stared at the man blankly and replied, "I do not answer to you Grimmjow. And if I were you I would get up before he sees you."

Grimmjow sat back in the chair and rubbed his hands over the handles of the thrown which were made of two human skulls. "What the fuck do I care if I piss off the old man," he said, "What's he gonna do? Send me to my room? Ya know Ulquiorra, that's your problem. You need to let yourself go. If you did maybe you'd have a smile on that stone face of yours for once."

"I'm sorry Grimmjow," Ulquiorra said, "but if letting myself go means becoming like you then I'll pass. One idiot in our ranks is enough."

Grimmjow quickly got to his feet. "Why you son of a bitch," he said, "I'm so sick of your damned high and mighty act. You treat me like I'm some weak puppy but if you had the stones to fight me I would kill your ass!"

Suddenly they all heard a voice coming from a door off to the side. "What's this ruckus," came the voice. The entire ground trembled as the voice echoed throughout the room. Ulqiuorra and Grimmjow were unfazed by the display as the others around them seemed nervous. Slowly, another door off to the side opened and six men entered the room. They walked in two rows of three like a group of soldiers and once they entered the room they turned to face each other.

Still standing at the entrance stood a white haired old man with a thick mustache. The man's face had a large scar that ran down over his right eye and another over his left chin. He wore a regal white leather coat and black fur lining at the neck. He had gold wrist bands on both wrists and golden rings, each with a different jewel on each finger. He had a large golden belt around his waist and despite his obvious advanced age he was very muscular and tall.

Looking at his clothes and the white, five pointed crown on his head, Ulquiorra again found it all so pointless. Why flaunt your power in such a way, he thought.

The old man walked between the six men who now stood ridged as statues. As the old man arrived at his throne the five other men who stood at the throne around Grimmjow quickly scattered as jackals would in the presence of a lion. Grimmjow himself however, hadn't moved.

"Grimmjow," said the man, "I will not tolerate your insolence for too much longer. How dare you enter my hall and sit on this throne. Stand aside."

Grimmjow stared at the old man for a moment and spun his toothpick in his mouth. "Fine," he said as he stepped down and began to make his way out. "We'll talk later old man." Grimmjow then motioned to his men who quickly followed. Just as Grimmjow passed Ulquiorra he whispered, "This ain't over stone face."

The old man turned and looked on as Grimmjow and his gang left and then he sat in his throne. It was then, once he was seated, that his assistants broke their formation and stood around the throne. One of the assistants produced a chalice with red wine and handed it to the old man who took the cup and swirled it for a moment before sipping.

In a booming voice that seemed to shake the very walls he addressed him. "So Ulquiorra," the old man said, "Was it completed?"

"Yes," Ulquiorra said, "Everything was done except for one thing." The old man grumbled under his breath and sat up in his throne. "Kurosaki's second son," Ulquiorra said, "Ichigo escaped the demons sent after him. His present location is unknown."

The old man suddenly squeezed the chalice until it shattered in his hand. "What," he yelled ad he slammed his fist on the arm of the throne, cracking the skull under his fist. "This is unacceptable! It is not like you Ulquiorra to fail at a task!"

"After dealing with Isshin I followed the demons to Ichigo's last known location," Ulquiorra said, "But when I arrived he was gone. The demons I sent were gone as well, most likely destroyed and there were remnants of Riatsu in the area. I believe a Shinigami may have come to his aid."

"If a Shinigami has found him that could prove problematic," the old man said as he was handed another golden chalice by one of his assistants. "I want you to send out the word to all of the demons within the city to be on the look out for Kurosaki Ichigo. Also send out some additional demons to scour the city. He must be found and dealt with!"

"As you wish Barragan," Ulquiorra said as he turned and walked away.

Barragan sat silently and watched as Ulquiorra left his chambers. Once he was gone, Barragan was handed a new chalice filled with wine. He looked at it and swirled it further before taking a deep drink.

~~~~~~Club Underworld – Later that day~~~~~~

Ichigo washed his face and looked at himself in the mirror. He noticed how tired he looked; and how stressed. Why wouldn't he be, he thought. His life had just been turned upside down and now he was about to enter a world it seemed everyone believed he should stay away from.

Ichigo wiped his face with the nearby hand towel and left the bathroom and walked back into the guest bedroom where he saw a pair of grey sweat pants and a black sleeveless shirt and white tennis shoes neatly placed on the bed.

Ichigo looked around to see if everyone was around and wasn't surprised to see he was alone. It seemed to him everyone from, Kisuke down to Ururu was trained in coming and going without making a sound so he wasn't surprised that someone was able to come in and leave without making a sound.

Ichigo quickly changed and then left, making his way back to Kisuke's office. As he arrived he saw Ururu standing in the middle of the room with her hands folded behind her. She was staring at the door as if merely waiting for him and nothing else.

"Hey," Ichigo said with a smile. Ururu nodded slightly and waived for him to follow her. What a creepy girl, he thought. She never smiles, barely ever talks and for someone who looks like she isn't even ten, I never see her playing or anything.

Ichigo followed Ururu as she led him to a door in the back of the room. When she opened it he saw steps that descended down into darkness. Ururu immediately began to head down as Ichigo followed. As he entered the stairway the door closed behind him on its own and the last of the light was snuffed out.

"Hey Ururu," Ichigo said, "Is it too much to ask to get some light? I really don't want to break my neck here you know."

In the distance Ichigo heard her reply, "There's no need for light. We're walking in one direction. Just place one foot in front of the other and you'll be fine."

Ichigo stood for a moment in disbelief. Just put one foot in front of the other huh, he thought. Damn, is everyone who lives here a smart ass?

Ichigo began to carefully walk down the stairs. Five minutes later Ichigo found that he was still walking with no signs of this ending.

How fucking long are these stairs, he thought. "Hey Ururu," he yelled out, "How much further do we have to go? Are we headed to the center of the earth or something?" Ichigo waited to hear a response but heard nothing. "Ururu," he yelled, but still he heard nothing. "Great," he said, "Just great."

Ichigo continued walking and after another ten minutes he saw light just below him. Quickly he picked up his pace until he came to an open door. At first the light was blinding as he had spent so long in complete darkness. When his vision finally adapted, he saw that he was standing in what looked like a large grassy field under blue skies.

Ichigo slowly walked forward as he looked about with his mouth open. "What," Ichigo said, "What is this place? Where am I?"

"You're in my basement," Kisuke said as he stood a few feet away. "I so love the expression people have on their faces when they see this place for the first time."

"This…this is not a basement," Ichigo said. "Since when does a basement have a sky and clouds and a damned sun?" Ichigo could feel the breeze on his skin and bent down and brushed his hand across the grass. "This is real grass and dirt! I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face! Where are we?"

"Like I said Kurosaki-kun," Kisuke responded, "We are under my club. I created this place specifically for training purposes."

"You…created this place," Ichigo said, astonished, "How?"

"I could spend the next two hours explaining to the subtleties of space/time manipulation," Kisuke asked. "Or we can get down to seeing if you have the ability to become a Shinigami."

"Right," Ichigo said as he seemed to grow extremely serious. "Now," Kisuke said, "The reason I've brought you down here is to test you to see if you have what it takes to be a Shinigami. A Shinigami must have the iron clad will to press on against all odds. To be able to fight on despite any challenges he may face. You may talk about how badly you want this but its different when you have to actually have to put your life on the line for it. So to test your will I shall have you fight an opponent."

Ichigo balled his fists and put them up ready to fight when Kisuke waived him off. "No Ichigo," He said. "You're not going to fight me. I have someone else in mind for you."

Ichigo turned as he heard foot steps behind him. Standing there was Tessai who was also wearing sweat pants and a sleeveless t-shirt. Ichigo immediately noticed just how tall and muscular Tessai truly was and for a moment he seemed nervous. "Alright," Ichigo said. "Let's do this thing."

"Oh no Ichigo," Kisuke said, "You're not ready to face Tessai either. He's just here to help me oversee things."

"Then who in the hell am I fighting," Ichigo asked.

It was then Ichigo heard a voice come from behind Tessai. "You're fighting me dumbass!"

Ichigo was in shock as he saw Jinta step from behind Tessai. "Man am I gonna enjoy kicking your ass," Jinta said with a smile.

Ichigo screamed and pointed at Jinta frantically. "You," he screamed, "Are you out of your mind Kisuke, I'm not fighting some twelve year old kid!"

"Why," Jinta screamed back, "You scared you'll get your skinny ass kicked by a twelve year old? You don't want to fight me huh? Well….why should I want to fight some weak ass idiot!"

"What did you call me," Ichigo screamed as he shook his fist at Jinta.

"You heard me," Jinta screamed, "I called you an idiot!"

"Why you little brat," Ichigo yelled as Tessai held them apart.

"Boys, boys," Kisuke said. "Save it for the match."

"I don't think you heard what I said Kisuke," Ichigo said. "I'm not going to fight a kid, man. I'm not sure what you're trying to pull here but I'm not fighting him no matter how much this snot nosed punk deserves a black eye."

Kisuke then looked at Jinta and nodded slightly and before Ichigo could react, Jinta leapt up and kicked Ichigo squarely in the jaw with such force that he was thrown back several yards and landed hard on the ground.

"Aaahh" Ichigo screamed as he grabbed his face and rolled around on the floor.

"I would suggest you take this seriously Kurosaki-kun," Kisuke said as Ichigo looked up at him. "This match has officially begun and if you don't give it your all, Jinta may very well kill you."

~~~~~~End of Episode Four~~~~~~

Next Time On Blade of the Shinigami: Ichigo's training finally begins!

Blade of the Shinigami: Episode Five

"A Warriors' Heart and Will"