Urahara
The training grounds beneath Urahara Shoten echoed with the sound of Ichigo's screams. Nearly three days had passed since the beginning of the former substitute shinigami's training and encroachment was finally consuming the very last link of his Chain of Fate.
Apparently oblivious to the cacophony, Urahara stood away from the shattered shaft, normally genial expression blank and eyes shadowed by the brim of his hat. The only indication of his inner turmoil was Kagami who was standing at the edge of the pit gazing down into the blackness. She'd had just as long as Kisuke to perfect her poker face but her tail gave her away; it lashed and twitched restlessly every time the boy yelled. There was no conflict between them; they had no doubt this was necessary. But a shinigami's duty was to preserve the Balance, guide souls, and (to a lesser extent) protect humans and despite his exile status, Urahara did his best to uphold those values. Three days ago, he'd violated every single one.
Urahara had ripped Ichigo from his body and severed his chain of fate, separating Ichigo from his dæmon in one of the most brutal ways imaginable. It didn't matter that Ichigo and Hikari had agreed to the deed…had actively insisted, in fact, so they could gain the power to rescue the Kuchiki girl…or that Ichigo's 'death' and the loss of his dæmon was (hopefully) temporary. Nor did it matter that the boy was shaping up to be a vital pawn in the upcoming war and could use all of the power he could get. What Kisuke had done was not right and he knew it.
Such musings became immediately irrelevant when Ichigo's scream began to echo over itself, expanding into a hollow's wail.
"He's hollowfying!" Kagami called, pulling away hastily as powerful, angry reiatsu exploded from the shaft. "Mask first!"
Urahara was there in an instant, shunpo placing him in front of Tessai and the children. Frantically, his eyes scanned the form that emerged from the pit. Shinigami clothes and zanpakuto, hollow mask, no hole…but where was his dæmon?
At Kagami's strangled growl, his gaze quickly fixed on…something behind Ichigo. It didn't look like Hikari, didn't really look like anything yet…just a cloud of Dust slowly re-solidifying into an animal's form.
Relief. Not a hollow. Thank God.
But Urahara's relief transformed into a different kind of worry as Ichigo's mask remained intact and Hikari began to coalesce… into something much much bigger than a leopard cat. Ichigo wasn't ready to be a vizard yet…his shinigami powers weren't developed enough to handle an inner hollow!
Before Kisuke was forced to act, Ichigo took care of it. He shattered his mask and the uncertain Dust instantly condensed into Hikari's familiar small feline form.
Kagami's restless twitching finally stilled and Urahara let out a deep breath he hadn't known he'd been holding as Ichigo and his dæmon were reunited.
Kisuke's Dæmon
Species: Tanuki/Japanese Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus)
Name: Kagami (Mirror)
Ichigo's Dæmon
Species: Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
Name: Hikari (Radiance/Light)
I'll come right out and say I don't like the way this chapter turned out and I'll probably remove it later. However, I'm moving at 8am tomorrow (400 mile drive, alone, through the 100+ degree desert. Arrrgh…) and I have no idea when I'll get internet at my new apartment, which equates to no idea when I'll be able to update next. Hopefully it will be next week and you won't even notice my absence, but I can't promise that.
