Shadow Lifted

Beta:DazLex

A/N: Sorry guys I was having a rough time and also I was trying to think up a good training session.

Chapter Nine

Ichigo awoke the next morning early to get ready to head off to Urahara's shop. He got out of bed and looks through his closet. After a few minutes he decides on a black tee with dark blue jeans. He leaves the clothes on his bed and heads into the shower. Half an hour later he emerges. He gets dressed before heading down stairs. He heads for the kitchen. Ichigo sees Isshin sitting at the table. "Good morning goatface." Isshin looked up at his son. "Oh how my son has become so rude he can't even offer me a proper good morning." Ichigo and Isshin looked at each other before laughing. "I see you're starting to be back to your old self again if you're calling me goatface. So what are you up so early for?" Ichigo sat down at the table. "I'm going to Kisuke's to get some training in. I may be powerless but I can't let my skills with hakuda and zanjutsu get rusty." Isshin nodded in understanding. "Just don't over do

It. " Ichigo gives a smile. "I won't dad have a little faith in me. It's not like I have near unlimited stamina anymore my body gets tired." Ichigo and Isshin sit in a comfortable silence while they waited for the twins. Five minutes passed before the twins came down both surprised to see Ichigo up before them. " Good morning Ichigo, what are you doing up so early?" Yuzu asked inquisitively. Ichigo greeted them. "I'm going to visit someone today." Karin looked at her brother. Are you going to see Tatsuki?" Ichigo shook his head. "I'm going to see an old friend. I'll be home late so don't wait up for me." The girls nodded before Yuzu went into the kitchen to start breakfast and Karin picked up part of a newspaper.

Ten minutes later

Yuzu walks back into the dining room with a large stack of pancakes. She sets them in the middle of the table. Everyone grabs a couple and starts to eat. After several minutes Ichigo stands and puts his dish in the sink saying goodbye to his sister's before he leaves Ichigo walks up to his father and right as Isshin stands up Ichigo punches Isshin in the stomach. "Yes Dad I'm really starting to feel like my old self." Isshin groans and looks towards the twins. They both laugh at their father's misfortune. Ichigo leaves the house heading in the direction of Kisuke's candy shop.

(Line Break)

When Ichigo arrives at Urahara's shop he knocks a few times and waits. After a minute Tessai opens the door. "Good morning Ichigo I take it you're here for today's lessons." Ichigo nods and Tessai ushers him in. He then disappears into the back. A few moments later Yoruichi enters the front of the shop. "Well good morning Ichigo I'm assuming you are ready to begin." Ichigo nods before following her to the trap door. Right before she opens the door she reaches over to the table next to them. She tosses him a black bag when Ichigo looks inside his breath nearly catches in his throat. In the bag was a full set of shinigami clothing identical to what he used to wear. Ichigo gives her a quick hug before running to the bathroom to put it on. After a few minutes Ichigo returns. Yoruichi looks him over. " Wow Ichigo I missed seeing you in this attire." Ichigo gives a slight grin. "Thanks Yoruichi I missed this feeling nothing made me feel safer than my shihakusho." Yoruichi nods before opening the hatch. They descend the long ladder. When they reach the bottom Ichigo looks to yoruichi. "What are we going to cover today?" She gives little thought as she decides to see how his reflexes are. "We're going to focus on your reflexes today."

Ichigo goes to ask what she means but is then punched in the face. "You're rusty Ichigo, you should've been able to dodge that." She gives him a cheeky grin. He scoffs " Please that was a sucker punch and you know it." they look into each other's eyes and move away from each other. Yoruichi runs forward jumping onto a rock. She jumps off towards Ichigo. She tries to deliver a kick to his face. He dodges with a side step. She follows up with a flurry of punches. Ichigo dodges most of them but is taken off guard when a knee gets him in the stomach causing him to double over.

Yoruichi goes to deliver a scissor kick but Ichigo rolls out of the way just in time. He has enough time to center himself before she is on the attack again. She throws some punches then a few kicks and knees. Ichigo dodges some and blocks others but a few still make it past his defences they continue this for the next couple hours non stop before Ichigo collapses from exhaustion and the many bruises that litter his upper body. Yoruichi walks up to him and offers her hand. " You did great Ichigo I didn't expect you to dodge or block as many of my attacks as you did. You still need some work done we've only gone at it two hours and you collapse." Ichigo gives her a faint smile. "What can I say I'm only human, also I am out of practice so give me a break." He grabs her hand and is lifted up he then walks towards the hot springs. He strips off his attire and sinks into the soothing water closing his eyes. A few minutes pass before Ichigo opens his eyes only to see Yoruichi join him in the water. " Why are you joining me in the hot springs Yoruichi." She looks at him and gives a cat like grin. "Come now Ichigo I worked up a sweat during the training as well and besides it's been so long I'm sure you missed the sight of my mature body." Ichigo's cheeks turn a shade of red before mumbling something about a seductive hellcat. He then takes a deep breath. "Is there a reason you came into the hot springs or did you just come to tease me." Yoruichi's face turned serious. "Yes actually there is what has happened to you recently. Last Sunday there was no improvement to your state of well being but a week later you seem like a totally different person I'm just curious about what has made you change so much in so little time." Ichigo looks away. " I had some help in finding who I used to be." Yoruichi looks confused before she gives him another cat like grin. "Did this help come in the form of a girl." Yoruichi giggled as Ichigo turned away nodding. "Does this girl also happen to be your girlfriend." Ichigo blushed and nodded. " Oh my God my little Ichigo has a girlfriend. Is it someone I know?" Ichigo nods "You've seen and talked to her briefly her name is Tatsuki Arisawa."

Yoruichi giggled some more. "You have to formally introduce me and Kisuke to her." Ichigo's eyes bulged slightly. "I don't think that's a good idea. I don't need you and Kisuke acting like overbearing parents and interrogating her." He starts laughing when her face starts to show disappointment. "It was a joke Yoruichi. I'd like nothing more than the two of you to meet the woman who helped me live again and continues to be their for me." She gives him a genuine smile. "Thank you Ichigo. I think next weekend will be fine Kisuke wanted me to tell you it will take more than one week to complete your blades so we can set up a friendly dinner here at the shop to do proper introductions and maybe a little interrogation by me to make sure she's the right one for my little Ichigo." He shook his head while smirking. "If it was anybody else saying that I'd probably be annoyed but when you call me your little Ichigo it feels nice. Maybe it's because you use such a motherly tone or maybe because of everything we've been through I see you as my motherly figure. I don't know which it is but I don't mind either way. I'm glad we could talk Yoruichi it means allot to me." She gives him another smile. " No problem Ichigo I'm always gonna be here for you. If you ever have a problem my doors open no matter the time." He gives her a childlike smile "Thank you Yoruichi you have no clue how much this means to me." She puts her hand on his head and rubs it. "Your welcome Ichigo I'm just glad you decided to come back." They share a moment of silence. " We should probably get out before we start to wrinkle." Ichigo nods. They both get out of the water and dry themselves before throwing their clothes back on. They head for the ladder Ichigo going first and Yoruichi trailing him when they make it back into the shop Ichigo heads to the bathroom emerging a few minutes later back in his normal clothes. They walk to the front door and see Kisuke their waiting. "Leaving already Ichigo?" He nods. "Yeah Kisuke I wish I could stay longer but I have to get home to the girls I'll see you next weekend maybe earlier if I just want to come visit." Kisuke smiles while tilting his hat to cover his eyes. "It was good to see you Ichigo. I'd be fine with that you know where to find me if you want to talk." Ichigo gives him a smile and nods he then turns to yoruichi. "Goodbye for now it was nice to talk with you and thanks again for the training I'll see you soon." He wraps his arms around Yoruichi and Kisuke dragging them into a group hug. "We will be family forever." The two nod and recite the same thing Ichigo just said after a minute of hugging. Ichigo let's them go and runs out the door. He turns just long enough to wave goodbye then continues on his way towards home.