Chapter Two: Shifted Identity

Hunting hollows became a great deal of fun.

Ichigo found he'd rapidly gained back the knack once he figured out how to use a smaller sword. Ikkaku, meanwhile, was very, very good at fighting human opponents. Both of them learned from each other. They spent day after day hunting the creatures wherever they walked. They never waited in any one place for long.

Ikkaku improved rapidly, and soon they began to coordinate. At the same time, Ikkaku helped Ichigo with his swordplay. He seemed to know many tricks that Ichigo quickly picked up on. Now and then, they'd be asked to hunt down ruthless brigands and so freed towns and villages. Nobody thanked them or bowed and scraped, but Ichigo didn't care what people thought.

It wasn't like he needed thanks for helping people.

And so it was that Ichigo found himself leading a flock of hollows through the trees. He'd learned to raise his spiritual pressure to lure any hollows out. It had been an excellent way of wiping them out. They must have killed at least twice as many as he and Uryu had killed in Karakura Town when he broke the hollow bait.

Yet Ichigo did not hear any word about Uryu at all.

But now it was Ikkaku's turn.

Descending from the trees, spear spinning, Ikkaku hacked through the hollows. Finally, he made a three-point landing and smiled. "Gotcha!"

And they began to walk back. They kept walking along a dusk road, with long grass on either side, getting paid like usual. In the distance, Ichigo could just make out a vast city surrounded by a great wall. It was massive.

"It was too easy," said Ichigo.

"I agree," said Ikkaku. "This tactics stuff isn't how a warrior should fight."

"What do you want from me, Ikkaku?" asked Ichigo. "Hollows are dangerous, and if we get nipped nobody is gonna heal us. And if we let them grow too many, they'll start eating people."

"I hear that the Soul Reapers want it that way," said Ikkaku. "They've initiated purges of towns when the number of hollows dropped."

"Look, if we're gonna kill them, we oughtta do it so we can paid," said Ichigo, who had been managing finances.

"What's the big focus on efficiency. We're all going to die anyway. Why not have fun doing it?" asked Ikkaku.

"You maybe," said Ichigo. "I've got plans other than a death in battle."

"Oh yeah, and what are those? We haven't seen a trace of this Uryu friend of yours," said Ikkaku.

"I think he might have survived," said Ichigo.

"Really?" asked Ikkaku.

"Yeah," said Ichigo. "He wasn't cut as badly as I was, and he might have stitched himself up during the fighting. No way would he get rubbed out that easy; he's smarter than me and nearly as strong."

"So what are your plans, then?" asked Ikkaku.

"Well, for a start, I want to hunt hollows," said Ichigo. "These things have been clustering, and somebody has to get rid of them."

"We've already done that," said Ikkaku. "And that'll attract the attention of the Soul Reapers, won't it?"

"What if it does?" asked Ichigo. "I can get news from them. I'm doing their job for them."

"They might kill you for that," noted Ikkaku.

"What are you basing that on?" asked Ichigo, who hadn't seen anything to justify that opinion. Then again, he hadn't seen any Soul Reapers at all.

"People who attract the attention of the Soul Society don't tend to live very long," said Ikkaku.

"What are you complaining about, then?" asked Ichigo. "You want to die in battle."

Ikkaku laughed. "Nothing, I guess."

Ichigo paused. "Hey, Ikkaku, what say we be friends?"

"Ain't gonna happen, kid," said Ikkaku. "You and me are gonna fight someday. And that's not gonna be a lucky day for you, I can tell you."

"Fair enough," said Ichigo.

Presently, they scaled to the top of a hill, and on that hill was a great tree. Running from its roots was a stream down the hill. There was a man, standing with his back to the tree as though resting. But he was looking out over the fields ahead toward the city. His hair was very well combed and well kept. His robes were stitched with expert precision, and there was a strand of hair coming from his brow.

"I was wondering when you two would arrive," said the man.

"Yumichika, I'd heard you were around here. What have you been up to?" asked Ikkaku.

"Very little," admitted Yumichika, turning to reveal a handsome man with elegant features. "I just haven't been able to find any beautiful people."

"Why are you looking for them?" asked Ichigo, getting weird vibes.

"The pursuit of beauty is the only true form of achievement," said Yumichika. "All else is but crass substitutes.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki; I'm looking for a friend," said Ichigo.

"Well, whoever he is, he is likely dead," said Yumichika. "Most people who come to the Rukongai die, and of those that don't, many simply waste away. You see, most people don't have to eat. Yet there are no diversions or entertainments here."

"Why don't they make some?" asked Ichigo.

"Most people lack much individual will," said Yumichika. "They are driven to gain it by the knowledge they will starve or break down. But here in the afterlife, you cannot starve or thirst to death. Unless you are very, very lucky, there are no duties or responsibilities laid on you.

"If you have spiritual pressure, you must eat, of course, and you may apply in the Soul Society. But only a fraction of them ever get there. And the land is filled with bloodthirsty souls looking for victims."

"Without any outside pressures, most souls lie around," said Ikkaku.

"There are some real towns further in who have made an economy and have a community. However, there are all near the Seretei," said Ikkaku.

"It's all very sad," said Yumichika. "So many people with so much potential. Yet they cannot realize it because they are never given the shock to get them to become what they were meant to be."

"How far is it to the Seretei?" asked Ichigo, thoughtfully. He'd noticed a lot of people lying about in many towns. In some, he had walked by without a single one looking up.

"Do you see the gates over that way?" asked Yumichika.

"No," said Ichigo.

"Fine, do you see a shining light," said Yumichika.

"No," said Ichigo.

"Look, just head for the huge city and walk along the wall until you come to a gate," said Yumichika.

"Why not just say to begin with?" asked Ichigo.

"There is something to be said for eloquence," said Yumichika.

"You're not seriously planning to go out there, are you?" asked Ikkaku.

"Not much else to do, is there?" asked Ichigo. "I haven't found Uryu, and if he is here, he's probably headed somewhere else. He hates Soul Reapers, so maybe he'll head there to settle the score.

"You want to come with me?"

"I think I'd rather keep hunting hollows out here. I've gotten a taste for it," said Ikkaku with a smirk.

"Courting death, are you Ikkaku?" asked Yumichika.

"You know it," said Ikkaku. "I think it might be fun to do some big game hunting."

"Being devoured by hollows would be so ugly a death," said Yumichika. "But, I suppose death is not the same thing as what happens to your body after it. Very well then, Ikkaku, lead on, and I shall follow."

"Well then, I guess I'll head out there," said Ichigo. "Actually, this may sound weird, but do you know where I can find some hair dye?" Yumichika seemed the guy to ask.

"What for?" asked Yumichika, pausing.

"My orange hair tends to attract attention I'm not looking for," said Ichigo. "Back where I come from, I was only too happy to pick a fight about it.

"But, these days, I'd prefer to avoid it. See, I nearly got butchered by a Soul Reaper, and if I go in there like myself, I might get butchered again.

"So I figure I ought to take an alias and hide my hair color."

Although, Ichigo's hair had been growing out in all this time. It was quite a bit longer than before, falling to either side of him.

"Why are you going to such trouble?" asked Yumichika.

"I'm not really sure," said Ichigo. "But I'm not getting what I'm looking for out here. And there's an old friend in the Seretei. I hope. Plus, if I'm going to get home, I'll need to know how they do it."

"Who was this friend?" asked Yumichika.

"A girl, named Rukia Kuchiki," said Ichigo.

"Is she beautiful?" asked Yumichika.

"I guess, but that's not why I'm trying to find her," said Ichigo. "I owe her a debt, and I'm afraid she's in trouble for helping me. If I can help her, I have to."

"That seems a very beautiful story," said Yumichika thoughtfully. "To die in pursuit of such a goal would indeed be a good death. I have some brown hair dye as well, which you might use. I recommend putting your hair own before your face as well. A different hairstyle may do much to disguise your true self.

"And take a comb as well, best to look presentable. I shall carve myself another."

Ichigo took both and blinked in surprise. "Thank you," said Ichigo. "So, how would one get into the Seretei?"

"Traditionally?" asked Yumichika. "You knock on the front door. In practice, you've got to go to someone in power. I believe the House of Kukkaku Shiba is over that way if you truly desire it. Take the left road and head until you find it. Ask someone on the way, and sooner or later, you will find it.

"Mind you; this dye does not wash out. It only grows out."

"Thanks," said Ichigo. "I guess I'll see you again sometime."

"Well, considering the fact that you're going to train as a Soul Reaper. The only reason we'd ever meet is if we were to have a fight," said Yumichika. "Probably where I would be unceremoniously curb-stomped to show how much you'd advanced.

"So I hope you don't take it personally when I say I sincerely hope we never meet again."

Ichigo laughed. "Good luck to both of you!"

And they parted ways.

Ichigo used the comb at the next serene pool he could find his reflection in. Within he, he saw the moon above and the stars out. He'd been walking all this way, and now he saw himself. Ichigo thought that he looked somewhat like a monkey. He had grown out his hair and gotten something of a beard.

The moon was clearly reflected beneath him, so he almost thought he could touch it. Reaching forward, Ichigo almost did but thought it would be pointless. So he drew back his hand.

Not liking the looking at all, he shaved as best he could with a knife he'd picked up along the way. It was a rough cut, and he nicked himself, but it looked a lot better than before. Once done, he cut his hair, making it shoulder length. Ichigo thought about cutting it completely short but thought better of it.

It was possible he'd run into Renji or Byakuya somewhere along the way. And he might have been put into some sort of record. He didn't want to have a similar hairstyle or hair color. Ichigo also decided that his casual mode of address wouldn't work either. It was fine in the World of the Living, but it could get him killed here.

So he decided to try and use an address more like Uryu's with more confidence. In fact, he'd better not speak at all until he was done.

Speaking of which, what was his goal?

Okay, he didn't know what was going on back home or with Rukia. So, he'd find Rukia, figure out what was going on, and figure it out from there. Until that happened, though, he had to be unrecognizable. He'd need a name, what to do?

Well, for a start, he combed his hair to be a bit neater; it would be better with some glasses. That would disguise him further, but he had to make do with what he had.

Once he had combed, he stripped and began to bathe in the pool. The sky above was filled with stars and surprisingly bright. He applied the dye to his washed hair, and little by little, orange was turned to dark brown. Ichigo thought he looked like a different person, but the scowl was still there.

Closing his eyes, he forced himself to stop scowling a bit and looked up.

At he did, he thought for a moment that Tatsuki was riding a horse along the road above. As she looked up, however, Ichigo realized that could not be the case. For one thing, Tatsuki had never had a huge rack or worn outfits that were revealing. Red and such. For a moment, she halted her horse and seemed to know him.

Then she urged her horse on.

That woman was... hot. No one he knew, though, but the resemblance was weird.

Not his business anyway. So, Ichigo dressed and came up with a name. Moving along the road for some time, he practiced his manners on those he met. Little by little, he managed to stop scowling; it helped that he'd put the stuff with his Mother behind him. However, he'd love to kill Grand Fisher sometime.

It would be on his to-do list.

Little by little, he grew into his role and approached people with a smile and said little as he did so. He did his best to buy some better clothes, nothing too fancy, just enough to appear respectable.

Still, the image of the Tatsuki lookalike with her long dark hair stuck with him. She was... really hot. Maybe it was all the travel, but he was thinking more about these things.

At last, Ichigo Kurosaki came to a house, and on either side of it were two great clenched fists. A banner was between them declaring it the Shiba residence. Two huge giants were at the front, arms clenched.

"Hold where you are, traveler," said one. "You are standing in front of the House of the Great Kukkaku Shiba, a noble of great lineage."

"Yes, I guessed that," said Ichigo, keeping his tone respectful. "I must thank you for telling me; however, I got a bit turned around on my way in here.

"I was hoping I could talk to her."

"And what is your business?" asked the giant.

"I was hoping to enter the Soul Reaper Academy in the Seretei," said Ichigo. "And I was told nobles could recommend people."

"That is true; however, what makes you worthy of doing as such?" asked the giant.

"Well, I've killed a lot of hollows on my way here with no training," said Ichigo. "And I was able to motivate a number of thugs to help me do it; perhaps you've heard of me?" Let the hopeful acceptance be there.

"Little news comes from the far-away districts," said the giant. "But I take you to be a man of action. I shall send you in to make your request, but you will leave your sword here."

"As you wish," said Ichigo, and drawing the blade, he set it on the ground.

Going from beaten and practical to something more elegant, it had changed, a blank slate with a dark tinge. Ichigo wondered about that but moved on anyway. He was led down a set of stairs through several empty rooms. No one else seemed about.

"Does anyone else live here?" asked Ichigo.

"Master Kaien Shiba sometimes visits and is technically the head of the clan," said the giant. "However, Kukkaku handles most of their holdings out here. Transportation to the Seretei is a complicated process.

"So most noble families usually have administered."

Ichigo considered bringing up the Kuchiki's. But he had no good reason for doing so without explaining who he was. He should wait until there was a more opportune moment.

At last, Ichigo was brought into a room. Across at the far end was the Tatsuki-look alike from before. She had a fan before her and was observing him. "So, Mr. Handsome bather wants private meeting, does he?"

"I'm afraid I was caught trying to make myself presentable. I'm sorry if I disturbed you," said Ichigo, kneeling.

"Oh, I'm not complaining," said Kukkaku. "I liked the view. So, you want to enter the Soul Reaper academy, and you want my help to do it?"

"Well, you are of a distinguished and illustrious noble line," said Ichigo. "And I'm told that one does not usually go in unannounced."

"Oh, flattery now? You're good at this," said Kukkaku.

"Well, I am the master of insincere compassion," mused Ichigo ruefully.

"Well, I wouldn't normally do this," noted Kukkaku. "But, you have a lot of Spiritual Pressure. Bags and bags of it, which means you must have been attacked a lot by hollows."

"I made preemptive strikes," said Ichigo.

Kukkaku smiled. "Alright then.

"I suppose we can fill out a form. But for that, I'll need a name from you. What do I call you?"

Ichigo smiled as he remembered his name. "I am Sosuke Aizen."