"Level 2 Binding!," screamed Tessi as Ichigo's mask started to complete. "I can't hold him for much longer Urahara. It's almost complete!"

A massive tower of Reishi exploded out of the shaft as they all quickly jumped out of the way. Urahara subtly readied to release his blade as the smoke of the explosion started to clear.

When the smoke cleared he saw Ichigo standing their in a shinigami's robes and sighed just a little bit as he flipped up his fan to cover his face.

"I knew he could do it the whole time," Urahara said flippently as he chuckled nervously.

"Did not," said the kid next to him as he ruffled the little ones hair.

"Now, now, we don't tell lies little one. Take your sister and go clean up the shop."

The kids grumbled something about him looking worried too and tromped over to the ladder. As they left the newly powered up Ichigo turned to look at him. The mask cracked and fell from his face as Urahara saw the scowl he hoped would return. As the eyes slowly opened he gasped at the deep purple rings replacing the amber orbs.

--

Ichigo slowly came back to his senses after escaping the shaft on pure instinct. His eyes burned fiercely for a few seconds and he forced them closed as his head threatened to split in two...he had trouble with his mind threatening to unravel. He could feel as it calmed that he suddenly could focus so much better like he was thinking through honey before. His mind took stock of its situation as he held steady for a minute. He could feel the return of his robes and the weight of the sword on his back. Although he could also feel the piercings in his ears that his sword had as well.

He almost sighed as he also felt the piercings in his nose and coming out the space under his bottom lip as well. He could feel his dad going on a long stupid speech about his boy going goth already.

Having taken stock of his body he focused on his reitsu and found it still and calm for the first time. It seemed to flow so much easier through his body and came to his call quickly as he tested its reach. He also could suddenly sense that Urahara was behind him and exactly where he was. He even could feel Tessi resting inside the shaft...

Finally turning around he faced toward Urahara as he felt and heard something fall from his face and crumble. Opening his eyes he gasped as he saw the controlled maelstrom that was Urahara. His bound reitsu was flowing but kept closely within his body.

"Level 3 starts now Ichigo. And this one has no time limit. All you have to do is knock off my hat," Urahara said slowly and with clear amusement, "Come with the intent to kill or you will not succeed."

Ichigo watched as he slowly drew a blade out of his cane and pointed it at Ichigo. What intrigued Ichigo was the reitsu flowing through the blade. He could see how it sharpened the edge and made it almost solid reishi...

Slowly looking and drawing his own blade he looked at the dull stub of a sword and felt the wrongness pervading it. This was not his sword. It was a remnant of Rukia...frowning at the thought he started streaming his reishi into the hilt and focusing on his...he suddenly knew as the whispers of knowledge filled his mind.

"Call my name Ichigo. Show all..."

"SHOW THEM...," he screamed as he started glowing blue with his reishi, "PAIN"

Everything flashed as the remaining fragment of blade disintegrated and the pitch black rod with a sharp tip grew out of the hilt with no guard. He glared at Urahara as he started pushing more and more reishi into HIS Zanpakuto.

Suddenly looking more serious for the first time Urahara looked fiercely at the new sword. Could it even be called a sword?

"Quite an interesting sword you have their Ichigo...do you know what it does?"

Calling on his sword he got a simple idea of its ability...but with a vague concept of coming to talk to it after to get more information.

"Kido...and...more...," Ichigo thought outloud as he pointed his sword at Urahara. Pumping his reishi into the tip of the hilt he continued. "Fair warning, never tried to do this before..."

Urahara quickly brought his sword up and prepared screaming, "Let's go, Benihime," as the whole rod launched out of the hilt of Ichigo's sword immediately replaced by more. The rod slammed into Urahara's sword right in front of his face as the wind blew his hat right off his head...

"Trying to kill me already Ichigo...," as the rod stopped fully after pushing him back quite a ways. Ichigo simply laughed as he collapsed to the ground.

"Almost had you too..."