Ichigo

After the most painful, grueling training session of his life, Ichigo was finally ready to mount a rescue expedition. He'd thought he was prepared before, but Urahara quickly proved the substitute shinigami was not as strong or as skilled as he'd believed. But NOW he was! With everything he'd learned, he was positive no shinigami could defeat him. Not even Byakuya Kuchiki would stand a chance!

He tried not to think about how he'd gained such power. The pain and horror of being without his dæmon. The feeling of her very essence slipping away as his chain of fate vanished. The horrible isolation of being truly ALONE for the first time in his life. And the panic as a hollow hole began to form, making their separation permanent. It was his desperation to keep Hikari that drove him to find his zanpakuto and regain his shinigami powers.

Hikari refused to talk about what she'd endured during their time apart but she'd been surprisingly quiet and clingy ever since. Not that Ichigo minded…when they weren't in physical contact, he found himself searching frantically for his dæmon, terrified she would vanish again. The confidence he'd had that she would always be there had taken a hit and he knew she felt the same way.

He didn't blame Urahara; they'd asked for this after all; but he wasn't prepared to deal with the traumatic consequences of his decision yet. No, for now he needed to focus on Rukia and devote his full attention and dedication to freeing her from the shinigami.

And his companions (Surprise! His friends were coming!) might be useful. At the moment he wasn't sure whether their presence would help or hinder him. They claimed they'd been training but he hadn't seen any proof of it yet. Chad was a given- his size and strength let him win most fights and Sonia was the largest dæmon in their group. Uryu…maybe. He was good with that bow of his, but Ichigo couldn't see him putting up much of a defense against a sword. Mitzi was smart and nervy, but she was just so small… However, It was Orihime who really worried him. Her reiatsu skills were negligible and Nobu…well, he MIGHT be able to help. He was still shifting and could take large forms if necessary but Ichigo couldn't imagine him fighting.

And he had NO IDEA what to think about the cats. Yoruichi and Ryo were creepily identical and even though Ichigo knew nothing about their skills (Or species. Seriously, talking cats? Not dæmons but actual CATS? How was that possible?!), he had a feeling they could handle themselves.

But there was no help for it – they were coming, whether he liked it or not.

With his friends at his back and his dæmon at his side, Ichigo advanced into Urahara's Senkaimon.

Look out Soul Society, Ichigo Kurosaki is on his way.


Ichigo's Dæmon
Species: Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
Name: Hikari (Radiance/Light)

Chad's Dæmon
Species: Coyote (Canis latrans)
Name: Sonia (Wisdom)

Uryu's Dæmon
Species: Rock Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus rupicolus)
Name: Mitzi (Rebelliousness/Obstinacy)

Orihime's Dæmon
Species: Unsettled
Name: Nobu (Faith/To Extend or Prolong)

Yoruichi's Dæmon
Species: Black Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
Name: Ryo (Exceed/Survive/Excel)