Chapter 2 : Arrival and change

As Ichigo sank deeper and deeper down into the underworld, he was mesmerized by the glittering lights surrounding him. Deeper and deeper he sank. Eventually he came upon a sandy place.

He began to wonder around and around lost in time wondering where he would end up. Dead or alive… Suddenly, he felts eyes fall upon him. Someone knew of his existence here.

"Hey what you doing around here, in my private property?" "Yours?" "Yeah, Soul Society gave me this place as a gift. And who are you I might add." "Me? I am Kurosaki Ichigo, a shinigami."

"A shinigami? You make me laugh.. nice try but the gig is up. Who are you really." "Seriously, I am a shinigami. I'll show you. Reaching into his pocket, he grasped where the seal showed have been, but it was gone.

"So you're the shinigami that lost his family and his life to a little Hollow Slave Keeper, how sad. And to think, Soul Society was interested in you existence, the last human shinigami. Your kind he weakened, turned into cowards that rely on machines. Pufff, you are just going to get in the way in Soul Society… Unless. Unless I train you to become another shinigami.

I risk a lot on you. You jeopardized the entire Soul Society by dropping your seal," he said with a keen look. "Oh well, it was all inevitable, like life."

"Who the heck are you?" Ichigo interrogated. "Me? Why I am Urhaho."

"So, you want the deal or not? I train you, you become shinigami, one day after a while, you go to the hollow world save your family and slay the Hollow King, and you get your family back. So, want to or not."

"What's the catch?" "Catch? No catch but, do u want to or not." "Fine I'll do it." "Now, as your first assignment, catch a dessert sand shark." "A dessert sand shark?" "Yes what chickening out already? I thought you wanted to save your family." "Whatever, so how do I catch one?" "Now that I can't tell you, but I'll tell you this, they are a rub on their tummy and there out for the night. Your time limit is one week. Now go." "Yes sir," Ichigo replied in a neurotic way.

Surrounded by nothing but sand, Ichigo found a spot and sat down. Agitated, he sat there and waited. And waited…. In seconds Ichigo could tell without even thinking, that a day had gone by.

Six day remaining Ichigo thought to himself. After a while Ichigo fell asleep.

"YO! Ichigo. Move your fat butt!" "Waa? Fine." Ichigo sat up and stared at the rest of his room. It was a mess. Thinking he would to clean his room later, he got dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast.

Quickly he sat up and stared back down at the sand and this time, starting to pant a little more each second. "Hmmmm. Sleeping on the job now are we?" Urhaho said very leniently. "Well you better hurry up." "Uhhh, why?"

"You mean you haven't noticed?" "Noticed what?" Shocked, Urhaho just stood there and then released a kindhearted smile."This place is special. You know why? Well it's because this place sucks all of your energy." But as he still seems unfazed, he must still have some of his remaining shinigami powers.

Feeling a strange feeling Ichigo placed a naïve look on his face along with a large question mark that no one could miss, even the blind.

Suddenly an ominous feeling fell upon Ichigo and Urhaho."Well seems that your friend has arrived," said optimistically.

Curious what he meant Ichigo sat there and started to listen. He heard loud noises but saw nothing. Then it came to him, in the midst of his thinking. He was completely surrounded the entire time, but to his own ignorance he ignored them. That's why they are called a DESSERT Sand Shark.

Noting that the animal had noticed his prey learning something, he began his onslaught.

Ichigo's menace came charging at him with a loathe for Ichigo. But Ichigo just continued to sit there. In the untamed animal's eyes Ichigo was being impudent.

Coming now as fast as he could at Ichigo, he became enrage that he started to leave tracks behind him.

Ichigo still very confident in himself just sat there waiting and waiting till he could make his move.

As each second pasted the animal became more and more enraged at Ichigo. Ready to attack, the animal popped out of the ground read to bite off Ichigo's head. When Ichigo stood up and took one step forward. Reached up. And rubbed the animal's tummy. The shark suddenly just plopped down onto the ground. Ichigo seeming as nothing had happened pick up the shark and walked back to where he met Urhaho.

"Nice work. By my jurisdiction, I here by announce you to reclaim your title as a shinigami."

Ichigo became excited and began to jump up and down. "Yes nice work, but there is an obligation that states you must first go to a shinigami academy. Today you have learned that you your self mybe you worst enemy, so keep your cool. Also, resting and listening to nature may help you seek what you need. Now handing Ichigo a new seal, he smiled at Ichigo and looked into his eyes.

They look like my eyes he said to himself. Excitement, determination, and hope all mixed together.

"There is your door," he said pointing at a door. Ignoring all that Urhaho had done for him, Ichigo charged through the door and entered Soul Society.