Disclaimer – These characters are the property of Tite Kubo. Except for Nishio Sho, Shibari Yohi, Inari Shi, Minazuki Naori who I did create for the purpose of this story

Wisp of clouds surrounded the bright sun, spreading thinner and thinner as they drifted father away into the blue sky. Sandy dunes and mountains spread across the land reaching as far as the horizon, creating a jagged edge that connected the world below to the one above. The wind blew around each mountain, gathering the sand that twinkled and dazzled in the bright sunlight before settling back down on the barren land. The breezed continued its path, whispering around the handful of figures who had remained in the training room that was created by Kisuke Urahara, now beneath Kurosaki Ichigo's room. A bespectacled black haired young man adorned in the white and blue uniform of Quincies launched glowing blue arrows from the web-like bow that sprang from his hands against a small girl dressed in a white t-shirt with a pink skirt. Each arrow failed to meet its mark, regardless of how it was shot – the girl was just too evasive. Whether the arrow was launched from the air or from behind her regardless of where Ishida came from Ururu evaded them all. Every time before the arrow could meet its mark, she dodged slightly and retaliated with her clothed rocket launcher, her Senren Bakusatu Taiho. To any spectators this battle appeared to be a match between equals – with neither side hitting their opponent –but to the experienced fighters who watched the battle between two snipers, Ururu was clearly in command. Despite the onslaught of glowing arrows that flew through the air each one aimed to strike her down, she had barely moved from her spot – a slight step in a different direction or a leap into the air had brought her to safety. While Ishida under the barrage of Ururu's projectiles moved frequently in different locations and directions – even though he managed to avoid any harm, exhaustion ruled with the small girl hunting him down. Catching on, the black haired youth attempted the same tactic however Ururu easily blew apart his arrows with her own rockets, preventing any chances of making her scatter. Unable to make her flee Ishida attempted to copy her tactic – however where she succeeded he failed, when she increased the firing rate of her weapon. The purpose of this exercise was to provide more experience to the Quincy, if he were to face Kaname Tōsen – he would at least be able to prepare himself against his shikai's special ability Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikō. That special ability would launch a shower of blades on its unsuspecting enemy. Should his opponent be Ichimaru Gin, this practice would help adjust his speed to match those of his enemy's shikai. Ultimately this exercise would help him become more efficient in his arrow production and allow him to become faster at firing them.

A distance from the pair, two other fights bloomed nearby. A brown haired man with red and white armored arms launched fists of condensed energy at a red haired boy who batted them away, sending them in different directions. Occasionally his own power El Directo was sent back to him, forcing him to withdraw and attack again. With each fist missing his intended target, Sado leapt forward trying to attack Jinta in close combat. Each hit, fist, punch, and strike was met with the hard impact of metal as Jinta matched each one. Much like Ururu and Ishida, it was clear who was in control of the fight – Jinta ruled over Sado unlike his older adversary the red haired youth didn't need to gather the spirit particles in his weapon before striking. This not only allowed him to launch quicker strikes against his opponent but to also prevent Sado from sending successive attacks. Even though their approach was different and there was a different set of requirements – this exercise was much like the one for Ishida, it was to train Sado to not only pull spirit particles on to his fist faster but also to strengthen his control over them to unleash a stronger attack.

Off to the side away from both fights, another battle was taking place. Three figures were battling against two others – Orihime and Rukia were facing against three familiar shapes. They were the three Bount detectors in their gigai: Kurōdo, a black and yellow haired middle aged man with round spectacles and a thin moustache, wearing an abstract Western suit with a matching top hat; Noba, a young man adorning a blue-black coat with a fur lined collar completed with a matching belt and zippered hood that concealed his face – leaving only red hair and light blue eyes to be seen; Ririn, a blond haired child wearing a pink dress with a black crow like poncho draping her shoulders. The three of them squared off against the Shun Shun Rikka user and the 13th Division shinigami. Using their special skills, Noba redirected the Kidō spell from Rukia back towards them. Orihime and Rukia dodged the attack, resulting in the spell hitting the ground, spreading a layer of sand everywhere. Using her ability with illusions, Ririn multiplied the effect of the sand to create a sandstorm that allowed both her and Kurōdo to move in. When the sand dispersed, there were two Rukias and two Orihimes.

Four figures sat atop a mountain overlooking the nine fighters – Urahara, Tessai, Matsumoto, and Rukia's gigai. The 10th Division lieutenant had followed the two girls and had almost caught up to them when she was pulled upwards atop the mountain by unseen hands. Landing there she saw Tessai and Rukia's gigai, and it was there she learned that that the Urahara shop worker was keeping a training process. When asked if she would partake, Matsumoto refused – after all she was still on vacation. Time passed by and the tall man adorning a store apron stood up, raised his hands to his mouth, and shouted, "Time!"

At once all three fights ended simultaneously. The reason for this was that the Kidō spell which amplified the strengths and powers of Ururu, Jinta, and the Bount detectors needed to be renewed. Although the five were formidable by themselves, with the spell in place they provided stronger opponents for Ishida, Sado, Orihime, and Rukia. This spell was a unique creation that could only work for one hour and forty-eight minutes and could only be applied on the five Urahara shop inhabitants. Despite Tessai's prodigious skill in Kidō, this spell needed to be properly attuned to the people it is to be cast on. For the attunement to be complete, a span of 263 days was required.

Through the use of Noba's portal abilities each fighter was teleported one by one through the red-pink doorway that the red haired Bount detector was in charge of, to where the four watchers were. With all four members that made up Ichigo's team gathered and their wounds healed by Orihime's Sōten Kisshun, Urahara snapped his white fan shut, creating a loud thwack that called their attention.

"With the four of you here, and the intrusion dealt with." Glancing briefly at the orange haired lieutenant before turning towards the four he continued, "I can explain why we are here. The seven of us are here on the request of Unohana-taichou. Matsumoto-san, I trust that you know why." Looking directly at the orange haired lieutenant, his grey eyes flashed from underneath the shadow of his hat.

"I don't know what you're talking about," replied the shinigami who was blissfully enjoying her vacation, fanning her hands in front of her face to brush off the assumption. She trusted Urahara but unless he revealed the truth about Ichigo's whereabouts himself, she wouldn't be the one to reveal to the truth. She had been under strict orders by Hitsugaya not to tell anyone about their comrade's impending promotion except for the four members who fought alongside him.

To this, Urahara smiled. "Good job, it's always wise to be cautious about sharing information especially during this time. Since Matsumoto-san will not be disobeying her orders, I will tell you where Kurosaki Ichigo is."

The four who heard this statement all raised their head attentively, the exhaustion from their battle disappearing instantly. Their ears and eyes now completely focused on the Urahara and every single of his words.

"At present time, Kurosaki Ichigo is in Seireitei training to become a captain within the Gotei 13."


Retsu Unohana, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Ichigo Kurosaki stood together facing the other captains of the Gotei 13. The three of them had arrived in the long corridor that was housed within the 1st Division. When they arrived in the bright hallway that was normally used for meetings between captains, they were surrounded by the other division leaders. Standing to the sides, each captain was placed in numerical order with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamato at the back of the room, facing the three of them head on. Instead of the usual warm smiles from Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku, on their faces loomed a look of sadness as well as anger. It was not only them who held this visage. Even with years of practice in controlling their emotions the remaining captains who lined the walls each adorn the same mask of anger, disappointment, and sadness. They knew that they had indirectly fallen for one of Aizen's schemes. Under their own power, they would've done everything they could to keep Ichigo within Seireitei and trained him to become a full-fledged captain. However Central 46 had other ideas and against the wishes of the Gotei 13 a decision was made.

"It has been decided that for the time being, Kurosaki Ichigo will not be allowed within Seireitei. Kurosaki Ichigo, should you try to pass the Senkaimon, you will have to bypass the Dangai Precipice World. Once you have entered this world, you will be treated again as a Ryoka and should you be caught, you will be executed on Sōkyoku Hill , a death sentence will be enacted by the end of today – this is the will of Central 46."

In lieu of a spoken statement, the orange haired substitute shinigami nodded his head in understanding.

"What will you do now?"

Ichigo snapped his head upwards in surprise. He had not anticipated that question especially in light of the heavy sentence that was just laid out. The sight that lay before him were small smiles that bloomed on the lips of every captain – except Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Byakuya Kuchiki, they all found the sudden question and his response to be amusing. Unable to answer still paralyzed by shock, Hitsugaya took the helm and answered in his place.

"Until the war or when Central 46 has decided to remove their sentence, Kurosaki Ichigo will stay in the Living World with a group of shinigamis that I have personally selected to ensure his safety. I will lead that group and continue Ichigo's training in Kidō." His teal eyes unblinking he faced the other captains daring them to ask the crucial question of the moment – despite being unready for it for he had not been expecting one of Aizen's ploys to manipulate Central 46

"What of your division?" asked Byakuya.

Before Hitsugaya could open his mouth, Unohana stepped forward with her head raise high and answered in place of the 10th Division captain. "The seated members of the 10th Division will continue to watch over their division. I will also drop in on the 10th Division on a daily basis to ensure that everything is as Hitsugaya would've led it. Should there be any discrepancies, we can discuss them through the use of Hell Butterflies. As the senior member who was in support of Kurosaki Ichigo becoming a captain of the Gotei 13, it is my responsibility to see this proposal to its end while upholding all loose ends." Although the 4th Division captain wore a gentle smile on her face, everyone in the hallway could hear the iron resolve hidden within in her voice. It was this resolve that shook Ichigo, as he became aware of how much both Unohana and Hitsugaya were risking so that he would be inducted into their society. They were not only personally training him, they were also placing their own reputations and standing against not only any naysayers in all of Soul Society but also against the government that ruled over them. This resolve also reached Hitsugaya who realized the confidence and respect that Unohana had bestowed on him.

"Then this will be left to the pair of you," replied Yamamato.

Hearing those words, the three who stood on trial bowed deeply before walking away. The door behind the three of them closed silently, leaving the other captains alone.

"Sui-feng! Byakuya! I want you both to dispatch units in the Living World who you trust would be strong enough to watch over Kurosaki Ichigo. Kurotsuchi! Analyze the information that was required from the Living World, prevent any future intrusions from Aizen and his cohorts," ordered the Captain-Commander. With this, the meeting was truly over.


When those words dropped from Urahara's lips, nothing followed it. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of air rushing by as it blew around the many sand dunes and mountains that lay around the group. On the face of each of the four that made up Ichigo's group, there was an identical look of surprise and shock.

Brown eyes wide, Orihime asked hesitantly in a quiet voice, "If Kurosaki-kun is going to become a captain, does that mean he will be living in Soul Society from now on?" Hearing her comment, the other two Karakura High School students cast their eyes downwards, unwilling to accept that fact that Ichigo would be leaving them.

"No I don't think that will be the case but it is a possibility. Kurosaki is still alive, unless he dies and his soul moves on to Soul Society, Seireitei can lay no claim to him. Following Central 46, a living person cannot live permanently in Soul Society and with the strict rules and laws in place I don't think anyone would kill Kurosaki just to take him away from the Living World." Waving his white paper fan beneath his face, the former captain smiled softly at the three of them.

"They're doing this because of Aizen aren't they?" asked Ishida.

"That is the main reason. There are other reasons such as finding replacement for the three former captains. I have no doubts that when the time comes for Kurosaki and you three to enter Seireitei permanently, the three of you will be accepted into the Gotei 13 with him, which is why they're training him now."

"That is true," murmured Matsumoto off to the side. "Souls who show high spiritual prowess often become shinigamis. If they don't and if they're deemed as threats to Seireitei, they will be imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots. I really shouldn't say if, when is a better word to use – when a potential shinigami refuse to follow their set path, they will be labeled as a 'Dangerous Element' and placed in confinement. Souls of Hollows and the Living often do not become shinigamis but souls of Quincies, Bounts, and Humans with high spiritual awareness occasionally do join the Gotei 13. But I have a question, why did Unohana-taichou request your presence here?"

"Unohana-taichou believed that the Kurosaki family will be in danger before the war, we are here at her request to protect them. Along with them we are also protecting Ichigo's body from any potential attack. To protect them they have been placed into a deep sleep, this will prevent them from being captured and used as hostages against Ichigo," replied the former 12th Division captain.

"But then why did you use that Ichigo gigai outside?" asked Orihime.

"It was to prevent Aizen from knowing that Ichigo was in Seireitei. It wasn't a well thought idea," replied Ririn. "But it would've been enough to convince the Arrancars. Because Urahara-san created it to imitate Ichigo, he was able to replicate most of Ichigo's characteristics. To many who didn't know Ichigo well, they would've fallen for the gigai."

"Unfortunately," continued Urahara. "When the gigai broke, I'm sure that anyone with any noticeable spiritual abilities would've seen that that 'Ichigo' was a fake. It is likely that Aizen knows now that Kurosaki Ichigo has not been in the Living World for a time if he hadn't already known."

"I'm sorry about that Urahara-san," quickly stated Orihime with her head slightly bowed down.

To her dismay, Urahara started laughing. "It's okay Orihime-chan, this would've happened eventually. Actually Ishida-kun almost destroyed the gigai before when he and Sado-kun both came looking for Ichigo. The two of them –"

A cell phone rang loudly.

"Sorry sorry." Matsumoto dug through her bags until she could find her pink cell phone. On the display flashed a certain name 'Hitsugaya Tōshirō.'


"Unohana-taichou! Hitsugaya-taichou! Kurosaki-san!" greeted Isane from where she stood with Hisagi. The two lieutenants had been waiting patiently for their return after they had dispersed. In that time, Hisagi had been given reports about the attack by Sho through the use of a Hell Butterfly. In his hands was a sheet of paper that was filled with a multitude of lines. Hisagi's eyes widened in dismay as they looked over the information that was revealed by those fragmented lines:

'Living World Barrier held; HISTORY 09:33.0.7 Access requested by Shibari Yohi (Class 3 Senior) Inari Shi (Class 3 Senior) Minazuki Naori (Supervising Assistant) Access granted. 09:35.24.0 Transit in place – 31 Bodies in motions. 10:07.3.0 Access requested by Kaname Tōsen (Exiled Captain) 10:07.3.1 Access denied 10:07.3.2 Override key [1.992] activated Access granted. 10:07.3.3 Living World Barrier down. 10:07.3.4 Transit in place – Hollow emergences. 10:07.3.5 Living World Barrier: LOCKDOWN MODE. Access denied…awaiting Captain-level request/Captain-level authorization… 10:09.4.6 Reverse gateway access requested by Shibari Yohi (Class 3 Senior) Inari Shi (Class 3 Senior) Minazuki Naori (Supervising Assistant) 10:09.4.7 Access denied.'

Shinō Academy often have students go on excursions into the Living World to further their experience when on duty – naturally they select and maintain training areas, allowing real Hollows to be used for training. Within each maintained area, bait is used to draw Hollows in – depending on the concentration of the bait, a varying number of Hollows can be forced to emerge within that location. Along with the bait a barrier is placed to prevent any Humans from knowing the existence of this plane, for the areas are mirrors of selected cities in the Living World. As part of Soul Society, the protection of Shinō Academy and its students were governed by the 9th Division. From this information Hisagi could see that not only was this attack premeditated but was also hugely successful because of his traitorous captain who knew how to bypass the security measures Hisagi had put in personally. Eyes cast down to the ground, he wasn't even aware when Isane had addressed their comrades. Underneath his black bangs, his grey eyes were dimmed with uncertainty and clouded with fatigue. It wasn't so much as the attack taking its toll on him but the confirmation that his captain, his former closest friend was now against him in every way, even using what he known about him to help Aizen attack Seireitei.

"Hisagi, are you okay?"

The 9th Division lieutenants steel grey eyes flashed upwards when the voice broke him through his thoughts of his former captain. What stood in front of him was Kurosaki Ichigo with chocolate brown eyes that gazed on him with concern.

"I'm okay. It's nothing."

"If you need someone to talk to, I'm here," replied the living shinigami. The two continued to look at one another until they were interrupted by Hitsugaya.

"Kurosaki! Hisagi! The three of us are to report to the Living World." Nodding to Unohana and Isane he led the three of them towards the Senkaimon that stood open before them.

"I will watch over the 9th Division as well as the 10th Division in your absence, Hisagi. I will also contact the other members of your group Hitsugaya in light of recent events." Unohana and her lieutenant both saw them off.


Hitsugaya and Hisagi stood together in front of the road that led to the Kurosaki Clinic. The two of them had separated themselves from Ichigo who unlike them did not require a gigai when existing in the Living World. The two shinigamis had adorned their bodies shortly before passing through the Senkaimon allowing Ichigo to pass through on to his world first. The two young men walked down the streets unaware of the stares and glances that surrounded them. Hitsugaya was wearing a black short-sleeved collar t-shirt with brown shorts that covered beyond his knees. Hisagi was wearing a puffy zippered down orange vest over a form fitting white top with navy jeans. Their clothes however weren't the main reason for the attention that they were given. Hitsugaya's hair colour and eye colour were not only strange and rare for someone of his size but they were also appealing and exotic to the people who passed them on the streets. For Hisagi, his tattoos drew their eyes – the strangeness and simplicity of his tattoos only added to his mystique, it was odd to not see an actual tattooed image but rather simple lines and two numbers. The people on the road kept their distance from them, it was odd to see the two of them walking down the road while people scrambled to get out of their way as though being pushed away by a circle. There wasn't anything spiritual about it, the Humans feared that they were part of a gang if not rebels – but this didn't deter their curiousity, charmed by their appearances, people strived to catch a glimpse of them as they walked down the street. This continued on until the crowd at long last thinned out, oddly enough as they got closer to the Kurosaki Clinic there were less and less people on the streets. The road barren, Hitsugaya took out his cell phone and punched in the numbers that would connect him to his lieutenant.

"Ring…ring…ring," went the dial tone as the connection was made.


Ichigo reawakened inside of his body within his room. His body had been where he had left it, resting comfortably on his bed. Getting up he headed towards the hallway, opening the doorway he was unprepared for what happened next. He fell straight through into a tunnel of darkness. He was unaware of the blue haired figure that watched him from afar. Clothed in white, the young man's teal eyes saw Ichigo from across town while a wicked toothy grin flashed across his face.

Author's Note: Any comments, reviews, or constructive criticism will be appreciated.