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So, I lost all my files and work on this story a few years ago. But I found them recently and decided to post them. Enjoy

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Talking Normally

Talking Telipahticly

The next day Zangetsu did not manifest, in fact he was against the idea. Ichigo knew that his sword enjoyed wandering around during the day so it was quite a surprise when the spirit refused to appear. Ichigo tried to cox him out but Zangetsu did not want to leave the inner world, he claimed that he had had enough of sightseeing.

Ichigo dropped the subject and went to school, he told his friends that Zangetsu would no longer be manifesting. It saddened Orihime greatly.

"We're still going to the Soul Society on the weekend, right?" the girl asked.

"I don't see why not," Ichigo responded.

"Maybe Zangetsu could manifest there,"

"I'll ask but I would not hold my breath, he was pretty serious about not coming out again," Ichigo finished.

The bell rang and classes began.

In Ichigo's Inner world Zangetsu was deep within his master's soul and it annoyed the Hollow. The lower levels were his domain and Zangetsu had the upper floors. The sword sprit only came down here if the Hollow took over.

"So, are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Hicigo asked.

"No, you wouldn't care anyway," Zangetsu said.

"Look you've been moping since yesterday and you came down to my levels. So, the way I see it is either you want me to take over or something's wrong and we both know you'd never let me have the Kings body willingly,"

Zangetsu sighed.

"You were right…I am still a threat to Ichigo," the sword said sadly.

"Say what now?"

"Yesterday I met that ogre that appeared on Saturday…he was a Zanpakutō. He brought me too an abandoned hotel and there were others like him, they all claimed to be separate from their masters and…"

"And?

"And they fed on a live human. They claimed that since they were separate from their masters, they have been hungry for human souls…I have no desire to become like that so I will not manifest again,"

"So why are you down here and not in your own level?"

"Simple if I am already turning into one of them then you will stop me before I harm Ichigo or his friends," Zangetsu claimed.

"Pth, whatever, if you want to hang with me, you can. Just don't touch the TV,"

"We don't have a TV," Zangetsu pointed out.

"That is because the King is lazy, you'd think with all the sky scrapers there would be at least a TV in them if not a computer but noooo there all empty," Hicigo complained.

When Ichigo entered his inner world after school he was surprised that neither Zangetsu or his hollow were there to greet him.

"That's odd usually one or both are here," the human commented. Ichigo sat down and began to wait, he wasn't waiting long as Hicigo appeared, emerging from the glass buildings and stepping out of them as if they were rippling water.

"Hi King, about time you showed up," Hicigo greeted.

"Oh, it's you…where's the old man?" Ichigo asked in an annoyed tone.

"Down stairs cramping my style. I know I have to share your soul with him but he's in my space," Hicigo whined.

"Oh man, something must be seriously wrong if he's hanging out with you," Ichigo commented.

"Hey it's not my fault I'm a selfish jerk…it's technically yours," Hicigo shot back "I came from you after all,"

"Yeah yeah….do know why he's not up here?"

"Maybe I do maybe I don't," the hollow responded.

An evil smile appeared on the hollows face.

"Tell you what, you give me control and I'll send you down there so you can ask him yourself," the hollow offered.

Ichigo stared at the Hollow and sighed before he stood up.

"Fine have it your way…I'm out of here," Ichigo shrugged, he turned to leave.

"What do you mean you're out of here?" the hollow demanded.

"Well, if you know and you're not going to tell me that's fine…it just means you must be comfortable with the old man having both the upper and lower levels of my soul," Ichigo reasoned "and if I'm being completely honest, I preferred it when it was just the old man in here,"

"I AM NOT…THE LOWER LEVELS BELONG TO ME!" Hichigo shouted.

"Well, I'd help get him back up here but since I don't know what's wrong and you won't help me…I guess there is nothing that can be done until Zangetsu decides to come back on his own," Ichigo sighed "But since your clearly okay with that and you want to hang out with him go for it,"

"You've got to be kidding me? You're not going to do anything about this and just leave?"

"Like I said if I don't know what's going on then I can't do anything," Ichigo shrugged "Now I should be going…I have homework to do,"

Ichigo willed himself to leave his inner world.

"KING WAIT…GET BACK HERE!" the hollow called out as Ichigo began to fade.

"See ya, let me know when you're ready to be more helpful…oh wait you can't," Ichigo said and gave him a wave as he disappeared.

"I F**** HATE YOU KING! The hollow screamed.

"That will teach him," Ichigo said once he got back to the real world.

Still, it bothered him that Zangetsu was ignoring him, he didn't think he had done anything to warrant the block coming back and the sword spirt had been enjoying his time exploring Kakura town. Ichigo wondered if something happened while Zangetsu was out but the human reaper could not think of what could have happened.

After all it was not like any of the local hollows would be a match for the old man and with the Soul Society in quarantine the only reapers around was Yoruichi, Hitsugia and Urahara; Hitsugia had not mentioned seeing Zangetsu and the old man had not been to Urahara's shop since he had first appeared.

Also, since most humans in the town could not see or interact with him Ichigo doubted that it was a human that affected him. This left the question as to what would make Zangetsu retreat to the deepest levels of Ichigo's soul and refuse to return to the upper levels.

Zangetsu only went down there when the hollow took over and he always came back when Ichigo regained control. Zangetsu had never spoken to his reaper about what happened to him while the hollow was out other than they switched places.

Ichigo was so lost in thought that he did not notice Kon jump up and kicked him in the face causing him to lose his balance and fall on the bed.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Ichigo yelled angrily as he grabbed the toy.

"Me? What were you doing?" Kon demanded "I called your name several times and you didn't respond,"

"So, you kick me in the face?!"

"I tried pulling on your clothes and even jumping on your head…you didn't respond at all," Kon said.

Ichigo stared at the toy and let out a sigh before dropping him.

"Sorry…I was just thinking," Ichigo claimed.

"Ichigo…is everything alright?" Kon asked, sensing that something was wrong.

"Zangetsu…and my hollow's being a jerk again," Ichigo claimed.

"He's not coming out, is he?" the toy asked.

"Nah, he's not in any state or position to at the moment," Ichigo assured "Plus he has more important things to worry about,"

"Really…like what?" the toy asked.

Ichigo didn't respond, he pulled out his homework and sat down at his desk to do it.

Back in the inner world

Hollow Ichigo was furious, not only was Zangetsu invading his personal space and refusing to leave, now the King was being a smartass about it too. The hollow went back down to the lower levels of the soul to try and get Zangetsu back to his own area.

"Hey are you done mopping?" the hollow demanded.

Zangetsu didn't respond.

"Look I normally don't care what you do but go mope in your own space,"

Again, he got no response.

"Man…you're worse than those squatters that appear on the news every now and then…the ones who take over someone's house and never leave," the hollow sighed.

He turned his back on Zangetsu and tried to think of a way to get the sword out of his part of Ichigo's soul.

"If only you weren't so hung up on those other Zanpakutō eating humans," the hollow grumbled.

Suddenly the hollow got an Idea and very scary grin formed on his face. He turned back to Zangetsu.

"You know Zangetsu after what you saw I'm surprised you even came back in here...back into the king's soul I mean," the hollow said.

The old man didn't respond but he eventually turned and looked at the hollow spirt.

"What do you mean?" Zangetsu finally asked.

"I mean you saw what happened to those other Zanpakutō who were separate from there masters right?" the hollow said "and you know how much spiritual power the king and his friends have and you still came back,"

"It is because I did not wish to be like them," the sword spirt replied.

"Yeah but…you've been separate from the king for a several days now. You've been using that parasites power so when you think about it, it's really only a matter of time before you turn out like that ogre and the other sword spirts you met," the hollow claimed.

"I know that…that's why I'm down here. You won't let me hurt Ichigo because you need him,"

"Ture…but have you thought about what would happen if you became like that ogre while you were in the king's soul?"

Zangetsu didn't respond.

"Think about it, if out in the real world there are Zanpakutō devouring humans like hollows then wouldn't it be possible for you to devour the King from the inside?" the hollow goaded "

"No…I would never…."

"I can see your reasoning for doing it though, out there the King has me to defend him if things get out of hand…but in here…well it's not like I can stop you're the one keeping me at bay and If you started to chow down in here, I would not have the power to stop you. Let alone protect the King,"

"I…I hadn't thought of that," the old man said softly "it never crossed my mind that I could turn on Ichigo in his soul,"

"But…you did before, remember when Muramasa was in here?" the hollow asked "You were in here too and you turned on the King before you manifested and fought him…and then when all three of us were in here you still sided with him and fought the King,"

"That was different," Zangetsu claimed "I was not myself,"

"He made you turn against the King once, those other Zanpakutō you met are using the same power as you and they now feed on humans like hollows do. If that happened to them then it will happen to you and the only difference between you and them is that you have a very powerful soul nearby to snack on," the hollow claimed.

"Then…if I'm just going to turn out like one of those other swords spirits…what should I do?" Zangetsu asked "I do not wish to hurt Ichigo,"

The hollow grinned.

"Leave," he said simply.

"What?"

"You herd me, manifest and take off,"

"Why would I do that?"

"To protect the king of course,"

"How is leaving Ichigo protecting him?"

"Well, if you turn in here you will eat the king from the inside out…however if you're out in the human world…well you have a lot bigger menu," the hollow reasoned "plus if you're out there you can stay away from the King that way you won't be tempted to take a bite out of him,"

Zangetsu looked down, what the hollow was saying made sense, but he did not want to leave Ichigo…but at the same time if he was going to turn into what that other sword spirts had become it would be better to distance himself from his Shinigami while he still had some control so as not to hurt Ichigo or his friends and family.

"Your right…I will leave," Zangetsu sighed.

The next morning when Ichigo woke up he was very surprised Zangetsu contact him over breakfast.

"Ichigo," Zangetsu said.

"Old man….is everything alright?" Ichigo asked back concerned.

"…yes everything is fine now," Zangetsu said.

"Oh good, since you were hanging out with my hollow, I was starting to get a little worried," Ichigo joked.

"I apologise, I did not wish to worry you. Ichigo…if it's alright with you I would like to manifest again today,"

"It's fine with me…but you were pretty adamant about not doing it again,"

"I have changed my mind," Zangetsu said.

"Okay, just wait till I leave the house," Ichigo advised.

Zangetsu agreed and went silent, leaving the teen to finish his breakfast and get ready for school. Once Ichigo was ready and had left the house he walked a couple of streets before contacting Zangetsu and telling the old man it was safe to come out.

They walked to Ichigo's school in silence, the walk was shorter than the sword spirt would have liked. Once they got to the park near Ichigo's school the teen reminded Zangetsu of the rules he had and Zangetsu in turn reminded Ichigo to pay attention in class while he was out.

Once Ichigo had left him alone in the park near Zangetsu took one last long look at the teen and once he was out of sight he floated up into the air and flew off in the opposite direction as fast as he could.

'Ichigo…I'm sorry, but this is for the best,' Zangetsu thought 'If I get far enough away before I turn then Ichigo will be safe,'

Heading to the outskirts of Kakrua town at high speeds was no challenge for the Zanpakutō, as he flew, he spotted what looked like Tōshirō Hitsugaya in combat with some Hollow. The hollows had very little spiritual power and would be no match for the captain. As he passed over head, Tōshirō glanced up and his turquoise eyes narrowed at Zangetsu.

However, the Hollows were the current problem and continued on his way. As he approached the edge of town a pillar of Ice suddenly grew out of the towns border and blocked Zangetsus way. Zangetsu barely stopped in time, he looked over his shoulder to see that a and imposing man Hyōrinmaru takes with long teal-coloured hair and an icy scar covering his face floating behind him.

"Hyorinmaru," Zangatsu noted. Ichigos swords spirt glanced around, there was no sign of Hitsugaya. He doubted the young captin would have been slain by those hollows.

"Where's your Shinigami?" Zangetsu asked.

"Fighting Hollows, where is yours?" Hyōrinmaru responded.

Zangetsu didn't respond. If he told Hyōrinmaru that Ichigo was in school then Hyōrinmaru would no doubt inform Captain Hitsugaya and that in turn would lead to a very awkward conversation with Ichigo later on. A conversation Zangetsu had no desire to have.

Fortunately for Zangetsu, Hyōrinmaru took his silence as confirmation that Zangetsus master was dead.

"I see…then I have no choice," Hyōrinmaru said. The Heavenly Dragon closed his eyes raised his Ice-covered clawed arm "Sit upon the frozen Heavens,"

An ice dragon shot out of Hyōrinmarus clawed hand and flew towards Zangetsu. Zangetsu was about to call his released form to his side, he could fight the dragon here and now. But hesitated, if he did Ichigo would sense it and come running. So instead, he lowered his head in submission and smiled just as Ice washed over him. Creating a Frozen ice prison in the air.

Hyōrinmaru snapped his fingers and the ice shattered, the dragon moved to catch a small thin object that fell. He looked at it in confusion.

"Hmmm…it's just a handle…there is no hilt or blade," Hyōrinmaru said as he looked at what Zangetsu had turned into. He was expecting a broken Katana, as that was what normal sword fiends turned into; not a handle that barley had any room for holding.

Hyōrinmaru turned and flew off back towards the city centre, as he approached, he spined a white-haired boy expertly slay a hollow. The ice dragon spirt landed behind the boy, he kneeled down and lowered his head.

"Master I found a Sword fiend and defeated it…but it tuned into this," Hyōrinmaru claimed and held out the handle.

Hitsugaya took it and looked at the sword handle in his hand.

"Odd…where is the rest of it?" he asked.

"This is all that remained, there was no blade, no hilt…nothing but a broken handle," Hyōrinmaru claimed "would I be correct in this not being a normal Zanpakutō,"

"Hmm…there is barely enough room to hold it in one hand," Hitsugaya responded. He twisted the handle to get a better look and found that the top held a smooth dull edge that showed signs of it been cut buy something very sharp "it looks like it has been cut down to this size by something,"

"The Zampaktou did not appear to be injured," Hyōrinmaru claimed "On the country, it looked sad,"

"Sad?"

"Yes, it didn't fight me at all and smiled right before letting me strike it,"

"Interesting, why would a sword fiend just let you defeat it?" Hitsugaya wondered.

"I do not know, but if a Zanpakutō is broken, dose it not recover and reform as its Shinigami master dose?" Hyōrinmaru asked.

"It should yes and I've never heard of a Zanpakutō being nothing but a handle before," Hitsugaya stated "they've always come with a hilt and blade…no matter what shape or size they are…I wonder who's Zanpakutō this was?" Hitsugaya asked.

"I am curious as to how it got like this,"

"Me too," Hitsugaya agreed. He focused on the blade as if it would reveal its secrets too him. Something just wasn't adding up, no other Zampakto had let just given up, during the rebellion the Shinigami had to defeat their swords to regain their loyalty. Those swards who had killed there partners or the Sword fiends who belonged to now deceased Shinigami had gone mad and violently

Even those that did none of them had just let themselves be defeated.

"Did you recognise the spirit?" Hitsugaya asked glancing down at his own manifested sword sprit.

"I did not, he was not part of those who served directly under Muramasa," Hyōrinmaru answered.

"So it doesn't belong to a Captain or a seated officer then," Hitsugaya reasoned "Could it belong to a low ranked or recently graduated Shinigami,"

"That would not explain the damage to the blade though," Hyōrinmaru pointed out.

"The most likely cause is that the sword was damaged during Muramasa's attack and sprit cut the blade it's Shinigami had…that would explain why it changed back into such a damaged state," Hitsugia reasoned.

"Then we can assume that this Zanpakutōs Shinigami is dead too," Hyōrinmaru added "without the master It would not recover its sealed form,"

"Agreed. Whoever it was most likely they failed to subdue their sword and died either by the sword spirts hand or during sometime during the rebellion…there were a lot of rampaging sword spirits after all,"

"Indeed," Hyōrinmaru agreed.

"Come on, let's get back to the soul society and hand these sprits off to squad 12," Hitsugaya said "when it reforms, we'll ask it how it was damaged and who its master was,"

Back at School, Ichigo was focusing on his work book when he suddenly felt a disturbance. It was only thanks to experience that he did not jump out of his seat.

He raised his head and looked around for a brief moment. However nothing seemed out of place, Ichigo shot a quick glance over to Uryū, however the Quincy was focusing on his work and did not look alarmed. That was enough confirmation that there was no Hollow around or some immediate danger.

Even if a Hollow did attack, Tōshirō was in town on official Shinigami business and he would take care of it. Ichigo shook his head and went back to focusing on his work. He was thinking too much.