Chapter Eighteen

Karin was usually a light sleeper, but she didn't even wake up when Alice came back into the room, and started doing her written homework. By the time she woke up, it was getting on in the afternoon. She looked at the clock, gasping at how late it was. It was almost 4:00. She had been sleeping for 3½ hours. She looked at Alice, who smiled politely.

"Hello, sleepyhead. Glad you're awake. You were having quite a dream. I'm not sure what it was about, but it seemed quite energetic. You were gasping and moaning. I'm not sure I want to hazard a guess as to what your dream was about." Alice said politely. Karin blushed deeply, remembering that she was dreaming about sleeping with Ichigo. She was about to get out of bed, but felt that her panties were soaked.

Ew. Even I didn't think I was that perverted. Damnit. I can't get out of bed looking like this. I can't let Alice see me like this.

"Don't worry, Karin… I know about the state of your panties. I can smell it, you know. I was what they called a supersmeller in the human world… Or so I suspect. Funny enough I can't really remember my human life. Is that typical?"

"It's almost unheard of for spirits to remember their human lives. A one in a ten billion chance of having even remote memories, really."

"But then, how do you remember?" Alice asked. Karin sighed.

"Well… I'm not exactly a typical soul. I… Wasn't dead when I first came to Soul Society. My brother was a Shinigami Substitute in a sense, and recently, he was told that his talents were needed in Seireitei. I decided to follow him, and fortunately, he didn't turn me away. So, now I'm in training to be a Shinigami, while he is a Shinigami captain."

"So, does that mean that you both have your memories from the human world? What's it like?" Alice asked, not insisting that Karin got up, respecting her privacy.

"Well… I'm not so sure about the entire world. But Karakura Town is almost always busy, at least during the day. It's not as busy at night. I used to enjoy walking around at night when it was quiet.

"Everything is covered in concrete in Karakura, but there are parks and cemetaries where there's grass. Kids go to school five days a week where they learn what they'll need to get by in the real world. There's a game called Soccer."

"Soccer? Why do they call it that?"

"I'm not sure. Most countries call it football, actually, but Americans call it Soccer because they have a game they call Football where the players don't kick the ball. They carry it."

"I'm not sure I understand. You're American?"

"No. Japanese."

"Then why do you call it Soccer?"

"I guess I had an American friend when I was younger who called it Soccer. So I always called it Soccer." Karin said. Alice nodded.

"Well, I won't disturb you any further."

"You can stay if you want, but I'm still exhausted." Karin replied. Alice nodded.

Meanwhile, Ichigo was walking once more into the 12th Division barracks. He couldn't stand Kurotsuchi, but he had made something once that intrigued Ichigo. That eyepatch that Kenpachi wore that ate the majority of his Reiryoku. This enhanced his spiritual power over time, and not that Ichigo needed it, but one could never have too much Reiryoku. As he turned into the Research and Development barracks, he saw Rin and the rest of the researchers typing away at their computers.

"Hey, can I talk to Kurotsuchi?"

"Of course, Captain Kurosaki!" Rin said hurriedly, running into the back and talking to his captain. After a few minutes, Kurotsuchi stormed out angrily.

"What do you want? I'm in the middle of an experiment!"

"Sorry… I just wondered if you have any wristband versions of Zaraki's eyepatch."

"Ahh! You know, I may have just the thing. They do say that there's no such thing as too much Reishi. If you take it off, you may need some time to adjust to the sudden increase in power. I advise meditation and reiatsu training to sharpen and solidify your reiatsu. But if you really want to continue enhancing your reiatsu, here…" Kurotsuchi said, disappearing for a moment and returning with a pair of wristbands.

They had the same symbol as the Substitute Soul Reaper badge that Ukitake gave Ichigo had. He took it and put it on, immediately feeling the drain on his Reiryoku. Kurotsuchi snickered.

"I see you're already feeling the drain. Between the two of them, they cut off about 50% of your Reiryoku, and together, they weigh approximately 50 pounds to start with and will become progressively heavier as you become stronger. They act on both your arms and your legs.

"Remember that to lift your arms with the extra weight requires not only physical strength, but reiryoku as well. This forces you to use both at the same time, enhancing both in a commensurate amount. Kenpachi Zaraki has never had what I would call great control of his reiatsu. However, his physical strength is great enough that even with the extra 1,250 pounds on each arm and foot, he's able to lift it with just his physical strength.

"That monster will never die. You do want to be careful, and remove the wristbands if you ever feel dizzy due to loss or reiryoku. For you, it will probably take a long time, I've never seen a person so naturally gifted with reishi. However, even you, even Zaraki can become drained. If that happens, though, remove them. This will return your full Reiryoku to you so that you are not in danger of dying.

"I have never seen a situation where Kenpachi Zaraki was weak enough that he could have been killed by this, mainly because, if he meets such a worthy opponent, he takes it off. When you take it off, it… Regurgitates the Reishi that it has eaten back into you, and you will see the full effects of the enhanced power, including your enhanced strength. He attained Bankai back during the Quincy invasion. He so rarely has to use it that it's almost unnecessary. But now that he has it, he's a positive force of nature."

"He was a force of nature to begin with. Thanks for the wristbands. Do I owe you anything?"

"Oh, of course not. The band is imbued with a Reiryoku monitor. It will send data to me so that I can remain apprised of your growth. It will be very informative for me to see what your growth is like now that I can observe you in action. In retrospect, I should have given you one of these when I first met you three years ago when you first came to Seireitei to rescue Miss Kuchiki."

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the wristbands. I'll see you later…" Ichigo said, privately hoping that it would be a long time. As he was walking, he was accosted rather noisily by the new Third Seat of 11th Division. Ever since he had recruited Ikkaku for his lieutenant. Noa Washimine… Ichigo had only met her once before. She was easily powerful enough to be a lieutenant. But she seemed to have no ambition for such a seat. She had a fierce gaze with sharp orange eyes and deep blue hair.

She looked like she had chipped a tooth at one point, too, since she had a sharpened tooth in the corner of her mouth that led her to speak with a pronounced lisp. Ichigo kind of got the feeling she didn't like him much, but she was always happy to spar with him. She had proven that she could block a sword strike with her bare arm, hardening her reiryoku to the point that it was almost impossible to cut her.

She was much less demonstrably muscular than Kenpachi, but physically powerful like him. She had a very direct manner of speaking, also, often pointing or using other hand gestures to indicate someone. But Kami help anyone who called her unfeminine. She preferred to keep her hair long, finding it more feminine than short hair, but she kept it in a ponytail so that it didn't get in her way.

"Hey!" She shouted, pointing at Ichigo with her still sheathed sword.

"Oh, hello, Washimine-san. How are you today?"

"I di'nt call you out so we could chat! I challenge you! Spar with me!"

"Oh, sure… Right now?"

"Ain't no other time!" She shouted, seeming to have no indoor voice. There was only loud and louder for her. Ichigo sighed, and followed her to the 11th Division dojo, taking out two bokken, holding them up, ready to spar.

"You can use those sticks if you like. I'm just using my fists!" She shouted. Ichigo had seen her shikai. Her sword turned into spiked steel gloves. She was a pugilist first and last.

She put her fists up, ready to fight at any time. Ichigo shrugged and threw his bokken back into the box, putting his fists up as well, moving in cautiously, and striking. He had never gotten the feeling that she liked him very much. But she enjoyed fighting him. He was blocked by her left arm and countered by a heavy kick, which he blocked, and flipped backwards to mitigate the damage. He had been taking some acrobatics lessons from Mashiro, and had a much more fluid style of fighting, now.

Ichigo cartwheeled back, feeling a little stupid, but knowing it was necessary to be ready for anything, and leapt up, flipping in the air, and pushing off the ceiling, rolling from the floor into a standing position, doing a tornado kick as soon as he was within range, immediately punching her and sending her flying into the wall. As she stood up, Ichigo could see that she was laughing.

"See? This is why I like you… You never fail to surprise me!" She laughed, closing in for another strike, hitting Ichigo's arm, sending a shockwave up it, leaving it completely numb. Ichigo's hand twisted and he grabbed Noa's wrist, locking it to her side, and punching her hard in the face, sending her to the ground with a broken nose.

"Oh, you bastard! But that wash a good fight!" She said, shaking Ichigo's hand vigorously, squeezing tighter than she really needed to. Ichigo grimaced at how strong her grip was.

"You should consider sparring with me more often, friend!"

"You know, I always assumed you hated me."

"Well, y'know what they say about assumptions! Makes an ass outta you an' me! Anyway, why'd you assume I hate ya? That's not very nice!"

"Oh, well… Um…"

"Asides… Yer kinda cute. Maybe we could make a date of this next time."

"I'm dating Rukia… You know that."

"Lieutenant Kuchiki? She's a cutie, too. Lucky guy. Well, ya' wanna take a walk, then?"

"I guess so. So, do you use anything other than your fists? I've seen you punch a Menos' face in, but are you skilled with any other weapons?"

"Yes. My whole body is a weapon. I have very little skill with a sword.

"In Zaraki, we had to fight for everything. I learned to use just about anything as a weapon, but my fists and feet were better than trying to find a metal rod or a rock to fight with. So, I taught myself. When I made it into the Shin'o Academy, I began training in multiple martial arts. Mainly Capoeira, Taekwondo and Hapkido. They trained me in swordsmanship, and I sort of took to it, but I was always better with my bare hands." Washimine said. Ichigo nodded.

"I see… So, you learned to specialize in barehanded fighting to protect yourself and your friends."

"Friends? I had no friends. It's nice that I have friends, now, but I didn't have the luxury back then. I had some people that I charged to defend them. I was essentially the local bodyguard for those who could afford me or who could do something for me in exchange. But friends were a leisure I couldn't afford."

"Hmm… I have to get going, though."

"Wait! What are those wristbands?" Washimine asked. Ichigo turned around.

"They drain my Reiryoku and weigh me down to strengthen me both physically and spiritually. It's like Kenpachi's eyepatch, but in wristband form."

"You mean Ken's always carrying extra weight?"

"Yeah, about 5,000 pounds on altogether."

"Holy shit! You mean he carries upwards of 5,000 pounds on top of his own weight? How does he not get crushed?" Noa exclaimed. Kenpachi seemed to hear that.

"I'm carrying 5,000 pounds? I never realized. How is that happening?"

"Your damn eyepatch! It adds 5,000 pounds to your body… Or 1,250 pounds on each arm and leg! You really never noticed all that weight!?"

"Nope…" Kenpachi said simply with a wide, wild smirk. "Why would I? It's not that much weight." Kenpachi grinned wildly. Ichigo groaned.

"E-excuse me, Captain Kurosaki? Ah! Captain Zaraki, Third Seat Washimine!" a woman said, bowing politely to the three of them.

"Yes… Um… Akiyama, right?"

"Yes, sir… A young human lady with sandy brown hair is in the Division Eight Barracks. She says she's your sister, but she doesn't look very much like you… Sir…"

"Thank you, Akiyama… I have to go, Kenpachi, Washimine…" Ichigo said, hurrying off.