Thank you for the R&Rs. Sorry for the long delay in updating this chapter, I had to deal with some pretty serious emotional drama and lacked focus when I was trying to write. Updates will come quicker in the future. To answer a question, no Ichigo isn't a vaizard...yet. Will he become one in the future? Maaaaaaaaaaybe. How does everyone think Ichi is going to respond to his sudden popularity among the ladies?
I don't own Bleach or any of the Bleach characters, Tite Kubo does. Any characters I do create however belong to me.
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Saturday morning came uneventfully for almost all shinigami. Unfortunately for Ichigo he would not be among them. As the sunlight appeared on the horizon, a certain young girl decided it would be fun to burst into his room and jump on his back.
"Good morning Ichi! Its time to wake up! Ken-chan says we're gonna have lots of fun today!"
Ichigo groaned and pulled his pillow over his head. He'd been too exhausted to even have a nightmare after he spent the entire evening running around the division with Kenpachi. By the time they'd finished up and he was shown to his room he had been so tired he fell face first onto his bed and passed out. Now after barely six hours of sleep his pink haired fukutaicho was jumping up and down on him like he was a trampoline. He suddenly had the mental image of his father laughing like a madman, knowing his son was being kept on his toes.
Muttering to himself about his predicament Ichigo rolled over to climb out of bed as Yachiru jumped off of him and onto the floor. It took only a minute for him to don the traditional black shinigami clothing and grab Zangetsu.
"Lets go get some breakfast! Boobies brings back this stuff called cereal for me from the living world and its so good!" Yachiru said with her usual children's enthusiasm as she climbed onto his shoulder like she did with Kenpachi.
Hey that's cute King, you already picked up a pet.
Oh knock it off its too early to start with this. She probably does this with other shinigami as well.
As they entered the 11th's mess hall many of the unranked men and officers gave questioning stares at the sight of their fukutaicho perched on his back before greeting them, stares he had not received the night before when Kenpachi had introduced a majority of them to him.
Based on the looks you're getting I'd say that answers the question.
Yachiru jumped off of his shoulder and pointed out a large table at the end of the room stocked with breakfast food. Ichigo noted that they were all very traditional dishes and smelled delicious. Grabbing a bowl of steamed rice and another of miso soup he sat down at an empty table. Yachiru pulled up a chair beside him with a large bowl of colorful cereal that looked to be mostly sugar.
"Hey is that Lucky Charms you're eating? Thats what Rangiku brings that back for you?"
"Uh huh. She told me it was magically delicious and when Mayuri heard us he took a box to study it. He came back later and yelled about how it contained no spirit particles and was made of oats and sugar."
Ichigo nearly choked on his rice at the thought of Kurotsuchi in a commercial for the cereal. He could only imagine how many millions of children would be scarred for life as they watched the enigmatic shinigami chase down the leprechaun to use as a research subject.
"So what are doing today Yachiru? You think Kenpachi is going to want to fight me?"
"We're going on patrol today Ichi! Hollows have been appearing in Rukongai and Ken-chan always gets excited at the possibility of a fight. I bet with Baldy and Yumi in the living world you're going to lead one of the patrols."
"Oh great, trial by fire. I guess it could be worse, I could be spending the day hiding from you and Kenpachi."
"Don't be silly Ichi. Ken-chan won't chase you anymore, he'll just wait at the gates to our division until you have to come back to sleep."
"Well that just makes me feel so much better, especially when you sound so happy about it" muttered Ichigo as he continued to work on his meal.
As the men of the 11th finished up their breakfast Kenpachi strode into the mess hall, his commanding presence and intimidating reiatsu making all heads in the room turn towards the eyepatched man.
"Listen up cause I'm only gonna say this once. We're going on patrol today to some of the outer districts of Rukongai where hollows have been attacking. Some of them have been strong so I hope you're wide awake and itching for a fight like I am. Everyone needs to be at the western gate in an hour. There will be three groups, one led by me, one led Ichigo, and another group comprised of members of the 13th Division. I told the old man that we didn't need those paper pushing bastards but he told me we didn't have a choice in the matter."
Many of the men laughed at that statement and made some crude jokes about the fighting abilities of the average shinigami of the 13th Division. To them anyone outside of the 11th was considered sub par until proven otherwise. Ichigo was glad Rukia was not present, she would prove many of them wrong by words or by force.
Ichigo cleaned up his dishes and ventured into the courtyard to do some exercises in preparation for the patrol. With his first assignment was less then an hour away, he had a sudden desire to impress the men he would soon be leading.
--
A short time later members of the Shinigami Women's Association were already plotting after receiving news that their target Ichigo Kurosaki would be leading a patrol into Rukongai. Only the members of the SWA knew just how clever a schemer Nanao really was.
"Kiyone you've been assigned to lead the patrol for the 13th Division" Nanao paused to push her glasses up onto her nose in her trademark fashion before continuing. "You will be in close proximity to Ichigo during this mission. I shouldn't have to reiterate how important this calendar and story are to the funding of both the SWA and our trip. If it doesn't sell well, we may have to cancel our reservations for next season."
"I understand vice president Ise. I will do my best to get information and pictures for us to use."
Nanao produced a small camera from the folds of her robe and handed it to the short haired woman in front of her.
"This is a new model Nemu has obtained for us from the Research and Development Department. It has a high magnification lens which means you should be able to get some clear and crisp pictures without much effort. Out in the field you should find many opportunities. Good luck Kiyone the SWA is counting on you."
"Consider it done! This years trip to the onsen will be the best one ever!"
Nanao smiled deviously as Kiyone ran towards the western gate with the new camera in hand.
--
When the designated time arrived, shinigami from the 11th and 13th congregated at the western gate. Some milled about talking amongst themselves, others stood silently awaiting orders. When a smiling Kenpachi arrived with Yachiru hanging onto his shoulder in her customary place, the men were quickly divided into two groups. Wasting no time the 11th's taicho approached Ichigo to assign him his mission.
"Ichigo we'll be patrolling some of the outer districts. You'll be taking districts seventy four through seventy seven. The men know how to get there. I'm giving you the sixth seat to help you since this is your first time. Its straight forward, go and kill any hollows. Get your ass moving."
Ichigo nodded in acceptance to his taicho and walked to the group of shingami that had been assigned to him. There were two dozen men in total. Some were short, some were tall, and all of them had outlandish hairstyles that the 11th was noted for. One man in particular stood at the front of the group, tall and muscular with his hair shaved into a short black mohawk. As Ichigo closed in they ceased their talk and turned to him, battle hardened eyes sizing him up.
"So you're the new guy that everyone's been talking about huh?" the shinigami with the mohawk said, his tone deep and rough. "I'm the sixth seat. The names Madoka."
With the distance closed between them Ichigo took note of several other features about the man. He had numerous gold hoops in both ears, one through his left nostril, and a labret below his lip. Combined with the lightning bolt tattoos on his neck and right hand, as well as several small but visible scars he looked like your above average 11th division badass, complete with that air of danger and experience permeating the air around him.
"That name doesn't seem to suit your look Madoka" Ichigo said bluntly, more of a statement then an actual assessment.
"Trust me, I've heard that a million times before." Madoka gave a genuine laugh. "I know you're the superior officer in this group, and that Zaraki taicho has spoken highly of your skills with a blade. He asked me to watch your back and insure you find your way around Rukongai."
"Alright then. Go to Rukongai. Kill any hollows. Sounds easy enough. Kenpachi is moving out, lets not get left behind."
As they followed the first group the men passed glances to each other. Did this new fourth seat not know what he was getting into, or was he just so confident in his abilities that he was unconcerned? The men of the 11th couldn't tell.
--
The men walked in silence for the first hour, passing by the well maintained low numbered districts. Children played outside in the golden sunshine, laughing and yelling without a care in the world. Men and women attended to gardens and household chores in the yards of fabulous homes decorated with lavish furniture, sculptures, and paintings. High class bars and restaurants could be found with outdoor tables where couples shared drinks and food. Even Ichigo let go of his usual scowl at the sights and sounds of the happy community.
As time continued passing and they walked ever forward, the luxuries of the upper class districts gave way to those numbered in the twenties and thirties. Ichigo noticed people still had the amenities of an enjoyable life, but not as much so as the earlier disticts. Homes were well maintained but lacked the touches or sheer beauty that they had before. People were more cautious of the shingami as they passed by, closing windows and moving far way from their path. Thinks only looked bleaker as the trudged on.
When they passed the fiftieth district and they started to take a real turn for the worse, Madoka pulled Ichigo off to the side to talk to him.
"Ichigo, you've never been far out here have you?"
"Only twice when we were fighting the bounts, but I really didn't have any time to look around or take note of anything."
"I'm gonna give you a heads up then. Those low number districts we passed? They may as well be a different planet then the place we're headed to. Everyone watches each others backs out here. Don't trust anyone you meet."
"Is it really that bad? Certainly there's some sort of police force or something out there right?"
Madoka shot him an incredulous look that said everything. It took several moments to look over the new fourth seat before he could talk again.
"Ichigo, you're gonna learn that the afterlife is far from the ideal place most people think its gonna be."
Contemplating the older man's words, the two continued on.
--
It was mid afternoon by the time they reached their destination, the districts of the mid seventies. If Ichigo thought that the sixties were bad, he was completely unprepared for what he saw in the seventy fourth despite the warnings of the sixth seat. As he walked with the men under his command through the filthy streets, he saw a side of Soul Society he did not know existed. Groups of people congregated together near fire pits, wearing what amounted to rags. Living quarters could not even be classified as a home as most of them were little more then huts made up from whatever was lying around. People fought with each other, either with fists, daggers, or the occasional zanpakuto. One man chased another down the street with a meat cleaver. There was a corpse in an alleyway, the man laying face down from the impact of having his back slashed open. Several times he had to stop and stare at his surroundings, the shock threatening to overtake him.
What bothered Ichigo the most was the looks people gave him. Dead, empty eyes devoid of life, such an utter sense of hopelessness written across their faces. Emaciated bodies that moved like robots, shuffling past each other towards whatever tasks aided in their survival. Beyond even that there was the sickening smell. It was hard for him to describe, but the whole place smelled like feces, unwashed bodies, and burning trash.
It bothers you doesn't it King? I bet you're wondering how Soul Society can let these people live like this. A hollow would never subject themself to this. Look how pathetic they are, fighting over whatever scraps they can find, turning on each other when opportunity presents itself. You can be afraid of me all you want, but the fact is at least my kind is honest about who and what we are. Soul Society can preach all it wants about protecting the living world from hollows but what good does that do when they let the dead live like this? They're no better then the hollows they judge so harshly. Hell, these people would be better off as hollows, at least then they'd have a fighting chance at a decent existance. Don't worry too much, I'll kill ya and become the king before something like this could happen to you.
Ichigo had no answer for that other half of him, as his view of Soul Society and the afterlife had been shattered. The seventy fourth district was a disgusting place of anarchy where one could lose their life in an instant. He thought horrifically about his friends or even his family coming to such a place in the afterlife. The idea of innocent Yuzu being reincarnated here sent a shudder down his spine. Luckily for him Madoka could see he was suffering from sensory overload.
"Ya know, a lot of guys in the 11th come from the high number districts. Its bad out here, and only the tough survive. Zaraki taicho, Kusajishi fukutaicho, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and myself all hail from these parts. You've officially had your Rukongai cherry popped. You won't believe me now, but you actually numb up and get used to it."
At the moment Ichigo chose not to believe him.
--
By the time dusk had fallen on the groups, they had patrolled a large portion of their given target.
"Ichigo, are you starting to feel more comfortable yet" Madoka asked.
"In all honesty, no." Ichigo's voice lacked its usual tone, his customary scowl gone, replaced by a more guarded and neutral look.
"You'll get there. We've all been there."
Before they could continue further, a hell butterfly floated to them. Madoka reached out and let it land on his finger to listen to the message.
"A large group of hollows has appeared in the seventy third district. Requesting immediate support action from group two."
"Damn, thats where the 13th Division guys are patrolling. Not a one of em looked tough, so lets hurry. Maybe we can even get there before them and steal the fight."
The shinigami of the 11th looked to Ichigo who suddenly cracked a slight smile.
"You heard him, lets get moving and take down those hollows."
The men cheered and together they raced towards the seventy third district. Ichigo thought that a fight may be just the thing he needed to take his mind off what he had seen that day. He only hoped that the patrol from the 13th was not in any danger.
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Since you're wondering, Madoka is a Japanese name that means "tranquil." Ill fitting for your typical 11th Division shinigami.
This story is still going to have plenty humor, but there will be some dark parts. I wanted to show the darker side of Soul Society since it is FAR from perfect, and I find it interesting.