Chapter 4

Ichigo had been in squad 12 for three weeks now. She had become good friends with Hiyori and they worked together and also had an occasional spar. Ichigo was a quick learner when it came to learning on the job. She was finishing up a report when she heard Hiyori groan in boredom. Ichigo looked over, pausing for a second.

"What's wrong, Hiyori?" she asked.

"Just bored," Hiyori said. "We haven't sparred in a week."

Ichigo rolled her eyes. She finished her report.

"Well, I'm done with my report now. Let's go," she said, grabbing her zanpakuto.

Hiyori perked up and grabbed her own zanpakuto. They took off the lab coats and walked into the courtyard.

"You never told me what your shikai is," Hiyori said.

"I would show you, but we're not allowed to release our zanpakuto unless there is an emergency," Ichigo said. "You'll have to settle for a spar."

"I know that," Hiyori grumbled, taking out her zanpakuto.

Ichigo pulled out her own zanpakuto, the small and thin chain tinkling softly. Hiyori let out a battle cry and lunged forward. Ichigo blocked easily. She shoved Hiyori away and attacked next. Hiyori grunted as she blocked and parried.

"Damn, have you gotten stronger?" she exclaimed.

"Have I? I didn't notice," Ichigo said as she blocked a jab at her side.

"Your spiritual pressure is somehow stronger," Hiyori said. "Were you restraining it before, Ichigo?"

"I've been told that I have an abnormal amount of spiritual pressure," Ichigo said, ducking under a swing.

Hiyori leaned back to avoid getting cut and kicked Ichigo in the gut. Ichigo grunted as she leapt back.

"That was a dirty move!" she exclaimed.

Hiyori smirked.

"There's no such thing as a fair fight," she said. "And besides, you've got more spiritual pressure than me, so I would say this is fair enough."

"Fine, if that's how you want it," Ichigo said.

She tossed her blade into the air and caught it by the small chain with her index finger. She spun it around quickly.

"What's that supposed to do?" Hiyori asked.

"Just something I've seen my zanpakuto spirit do. He's right about it being fun," Ichigo said.

Hiyori snorted.

"Yeah, as long as you don't accidentally let go and impale someone on it," she said.

Ichigo grabbed the hilt of her zanpakuto and lunged forward, a crazed grin on her face. Hiyori's eyes widened as she just barely managed to block the quick attack; it was much faster than any of Ichigo's previous attacks. Hiyori glanced down at her friend's zanpakuto. She could suddenly feel a bloodthirsty energy from it.

"Ichigo, wait!" she exclaimed.

She blocked and parried. Ichigo continued to attack, her spiritual pressure rising slowly, but it was beginning to get to the point where Hiyori could feel the crushing effects.

Hiyori was kicked back and Ichigo leapt forward. Hiyori tensed. Suddenly, there was a flash of white. Ichigo's blade flew out of her hand and landed to the side, hilt up, stabbed into the ground.

"I think that's enough for today," Kisuke said, sheathing his zanpakuto. "You okay, Hiyori?"

"Y-yeah," Hiyori said, standing up.

Ichigo blinked and looked at her hand before looking at her zanpakuto.

"Ichigo? Are you all right?" Kisuke asked. "Your spiritual pressure increased and darkened without any warning. It had a lot of effect on some of the other members."

"I'm fine. I don't know what came over me," Ichigo said. "I'm sorry, Captain Urahara, Hiyori."

"Your increase in spiritual pressure and speed just caught me off guard for a second," Hiyori said. "But your zanpakuto; I could feel bloodlust coming from it."

"That would be my zanpakuto spirit," Ichigo said. "He's a manifestation of my violent side, which I had suppressed before I entered the academy."

"I see," Kisuke said. "Ichigo, your spiritual pressure is on par with a lieutenant's. But something tells me you were still holding back."

"Seriously?" Hiyori asked. "Geez Ichigo, you're kinda scary."

"You guys," Kisuke shook his head. "Aren't you supposed to be using wooden swords to train?"

"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" Hiyori snorted. "Besides, we didn't release our zanpakuto, so technically, we didn't do anything wrong. Not to mention, it's more practical to use real swords."

Ichigo smiled sheepishly at Kisuke. She then went over to her zanpakuto and sighed. She grabbed the hilt and pulled it out of the earth. A cackle went through her mind.

Good fight, Ichigo! Come in here and fight me sometime, all right?

Ichigo rolled her eyes at Zangetsu's antics. She sheathed the blade and turned back to Hiyori and Kisuke.

"You two seem to getting along very well. I'm glad to see that," Kisuke said before turning to his lieutenant. "Hiyori, you're needed inside."

"What for?" Hiyori asked.

"Mayuri will tell you," Kisuke said.

Hiyori grumbled as she went inside. Kisuke looked back at Ichigo and smiled.

"Ichigo, may I speak to you for a moment?"

Ichigo watched Kisuke with a wary look in her chocolate brown eyes.

"Don't worry, you're not in trouble," Kisuke said. "I just want to talk. I'm sorry I haven't been available recently, but the head captain has asked me to look into a series of strange Hollows that have been appearing recently. It's kept me quite busy. Anyways, please come with me."

Ichigo followed Kisuke out of the barracks.

"What I'm about to show you, only Yoruichi and I know of its existence," Kisuke said. "I'm showing it to you because I want to see something from you."

"What do you want to see?" Ichigo asked.

"Your zanpakuto's shikai," Kisuke said. "Call it a curiosity. However, something tells me it is more powerful than the average shikai. Everyone in the Seireitei would know if you released your zanpakuto."

Kisuke led her to an underground passage. Ichigo looked around, awed that a place so huge managed to fit down here without anyone knowing about it.

"Yoruichi already gave me the thumbs up to show you this place," Kisuke said. "She's taken a liking to you. We're hidden down here, so go on and release your shikai. Nobody will know except me."

Ichigo nodded and unsheathed her zanpakuto.

"Kill, Zangetsu," she said.

The blade exploded in a bright white light. When it faded, Ichigo stood with her shikai. The black blade gleamed in the light and the black wrappings flapped in the wind, curling around her arm slightly.

"How fascinating," Kisuke said, peering at the black blade closer. "It isn't like any other shikai I've ever seen. I can sense the bloodlust from the blade even clearer now."

Kisuke took out his own zanpakuto.

"Let's have a duel, Ichigo," he said. "I wish to see your abilities firsthand."

Ichigo nodded and leapt forward. Kisuke leapt back and pointed his zanpakuto at her as it transformed into its released state.

"Scream, Benihime," he exclaimed.

Ichigo leapt out of the way of the destructive crimson beam. They locked swords. Kisuke looked calm; his expression hadn't changed the whole time. Ichigo scowled slightly at that.

"Why the scowl?" Kisuke asked. "You look better without it."

That only made Ichigo scowl deeper. She shoved Kisuke away and held out a hand.

"Hado #31: Shakkaho," she said.

Kisuke dodged the red orb as he sent another crimson beam towards her. Ichigo cut through the beam with her zanpakuto.

Behind you!

Ichigo whirled around just in time to see another crimson beam coming at her; she didn't have time to lift up her large shikai.

Use the smaller blade!

Ichigo frowned, but her hand seemed to move on its own. She touched her zanpakuto, right where the small hole was. A second, smaller blade came out and she used it to cut the crimson beam in half.

Ichigo lowered both blades before looking down to study the smaller blade.

"Dual blades?" Kisuke asked, walking closer.

"I didn't know," Ichigo said. "Zangetsu didn't think to inform me about it until now."

"Your zanpakuto is a very interesting one. I look forward to seeing your progress," Kisuke said.

Kisuke yawned and stretched.

"Well, it's getting quite late. I think we should call it a day," he said. "Maybe we can duel again in the future?"

Ichigo nodded.

"I'd like that," she said.

"By the way, good job on the kido spell," Kisuke said. "It could use a little work, but you're proficient at it."

They climbed out of the underground training grounds.

"Ichigo, I trust you won't tell anyone about this place," Kisuke said.

"I won't," Ichigo said. "But if you would allow it, I would like to use it to train."

"Go ahead," Kisuke said, his smile widening.