After the three other students finished heir breakfast Shin'ichi took them to the cavern that Yoruichi had taken him to in order for him to attain his Bankai in order to fight Kuchiki Byakuya on an even footing. Akane demanded, "How the Hueco Mundo did you find this place?"

"Luck," Shin'ichi said, "I saw the entrance when I was on my way back from that errand that I told you about this morning."

"I...see..." Akane said, still not completely satisfied with his excuse.

"At any rate, what do you think? Good enough?"

"Yeah, you bet it is," Arata said, getting annoyed at his sister's continued questioning of Shin'ichi's actions, which were clearly designed solely for their assistance, more than his own.

"Okay then," I would offer to start your training today Akane, but we don't really have any swords to practice with so..."

"Yeah, that's fine," Akane said.

Kiyoko said, "We should be receiving our Asauchi soon enough."

"Really?" Shin'ichi asked.

"Yeah. It was in the Shinōreijutsuin rulebook."

"The rulebook?"

"Yeah, it should have been on the top of the chest at the end of your bed."

"It might have been, it was kinda late when I got back last night, and it was dark when I first left today."

"An errand?"

"Yeah, I had to take a sword to a blacksmith I know," Ichigo explained, not really lying so much as stretching the truth.

"How'd you meet him?"

"I don't really know. I just ran into her this one time while I was going home one day. And she offered to make me this here baby," Shin'ichi said, his hand moving to his swords hilt.

"Hey Shin'ichi, what happened to that sword that that Kuchiki prick was using last night?" Akane asked.

"Oh, that was the errand that I told you about. I took it to that blacksmith. She offered to wipe the reiatsu from the sword so that I can use it as my own Asauchi."

"Wipe the reiatsu from it?"

"Something like that. I don't really get it myself."

"Apparently Asauchi take on the reiatsu of their wielder and gain a true form based upon their training and experiences...well...according to the rulebook," Kiyoko supplied.

"Well...okay," Ichigo said, thinking back on when he materialised Zangetsu for the first time, and how he had only ever used his sword in combat beforehand. "Anyway, we've got a whole day ahead of us, what do you want to do?" Ichigo asked, not really caring who answered.

Akane and Kiyoko looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Shopping!" and then dragged the two males around the market district of Seireitei, much to their horror.

XXXXX

The second day started much like the first. Ichigo got up at six, had a shower and got ready for the day ahead, wearing the Shihakushō of the academy. This time leaving his sword in his room. This was because, according to the academy rulebook, the possession of weapons for student up to fifth year outside the classroom could lead to potentially serious injuries should two or more students get into a 'disagreement' over something, or even injure themselves by doing something that those more experienced would know better than to do. He had the same pseudo-burger for breakfast, this time thinking of it as a burger rather than traditional Eggs Benedict, and found that it was actually kind of alright.

As he was finishing Akane, Kiyoko and Arata entered the cafeteria, Akane wearing the green ribbon that she had bought the previous day, holding her hair up in a high ponytail. Kiyoko wearing two blue ones, her hair mimicking Hinamori Momo's when she was in the academy. Ichigo headed off to find the room that his timetable told him that he should head to, to take his first class. When he finally found it there were only five minutes remaining till the class started, so he entered the room, there being no lock on the door, and found that there were already people in the room, having spent time the previous day finding out where their classes were being held rather than goofing around, or, that's how Ichigo thought of it. Fifteen minutes later the class started, some of the students missing, however Akane, Arata and Kiyoko were not amongst them, having gotten there just in time.

The lecturer said, "Alright, first things first, since this is your first year none of you should know me, so I'll introduce myself. I'm Ōnabara Gengorō, your teacher for the history of Soul Society, and your year co-ordinator."

One student raised his hand. After being allowed to speak, he said, "So, which one is your main capacity?"

"That depends. When you are here in this classroom, my main function is that of your teacher. If you are having any problems with the curriculum, or another student or teacher come to me outside of class, does that answer your question?"

"Yes sir," The student said.

"Ah! And I will not respond to 'Sir', 'Teacher', or in the case of someone last year 'Teach'. As I said, my name is Ōnabara Gengorō. You can refer to me as such. If there are still problems with that, then you can refer to me as Gen-san. Understand?"

There was a chorus of 'yes Gen-san', but one person said, "Yes sir."

Gengorō looked sharply up at the person that said that and said, "Aosaki!"

"Yes sir?" Ichigo continued to say.

"Are you disregarding my orders?"

"No sir," Ichigo said, causing the rest of the class to snigger. "I am merely following the rules outlined in the rulebook that was placed on the chest in my room," causing the rest of the student body to talk amongst themselves, regarding the rulebook, and this 'Aosaki's' ingenious way of going against the lecturer in such a way that there was no possible recourse.

Gengorō muttered, "That stupid rulebook, I thought that ridiculous rule had been changed."

"Very well Aosaki, you can call me whatever you like."

"How about Rose?"

"Ro..." Gengorō started to say, his face reddening. "Outside Aosaki! And I'll see you after class!"

"Yes sir," Ichigo said, exiting the classroom.

"The rest of you, don't get any funny ideas. You won't be getting out of class the same way."

XXXXX

After Ichigo left the room he used Shunpo to get back to his room and sat in the seiza position, using the Aikido form, on the floor, his sealed Zanpakutō on his lap. Almost immediately he was in his inner world. He said, "Hey, Zangetsu. How's it goin'?"

"..."

"Dammit! Now he's got me doing it!"

"Literary errors aside, 'it' is doing fine...Why have you come here?"

"You should know why."

"I can guess."

"What do I do with a second Zanpakutō?"

"This is unknown territory here, but you could put 'Shiro' into it," Zangetsu suggested.

"I don't know...If he's a part of you then it would only make sense that I would only be able to use his powers through you."

"Very well. Then in that case you can only wait to see what comes of it."

"I guess," Ichigo sighed. "Can you call him out, I've got some time to kill, and I would like to make it productive...at least somewhat."

"Very well. In that case I shall control your bodies Reiatsu output."

"It's output?"

"Yes. Whilst it is currently exceedingly low, all things considered, It will sky-rocket if the pair of you go all out in here."

Ichigo said, "Very well," and watched as Zangetsu faded from existence and 'Shiro' faded into existence.

"So, King, I hear that you've been asking about me? Miss me or something?"

"Believe me, I'd sooner do without, but unfortunately I don't really have much of a choice anymore now, do I?"

"No choice?"

"Yeah, I can't let my skills dull while I kick around in this academy."

"Oh...I see...so you've finally admitted your love of battle then?"

"No. Just the need to be prepared for it."

"Eh, same diff," Shiro scoffed, charging at Ichigo as he drew Zangetsu.

XXXXX

Their fight continued on for the forty-five minutes that Ichigo needed to while away, giving him enough time to get back to stand outside the classroom before the class ended. Five minutes after he arrived, the class filed out of the room, for a break. Gengorō called out, "Aosaki, come in."

"Yes, sir," Ichigo replied before entering the half-empty room.

After Ichigo was standing in front of him, Gengorō said, "I don't like jokes Aosaki. You were unaware so this time I'll let you off with a warning, but keep in mind that you are clearly yet to read the section of the rulebook that deals with meting out punishments. Up to and including expulsion."

"Can't I just rejoin next year?"

"No. If you get expelled there is a five year waiting period before you can attempt to join again, if we accept you that is. Keep in mind that you are merely student with the potential to be a Shinigami, not a Shinigami. The ways that that can happen are severely limited."

"Yes sir!" Ichigo said, realising that there would be some serious problems, both for The Shinigami Academy, and for himself, if he was expelled.

"Good, now, back to your seat," Gengorō said as the students started to file in.

Once Ichigo had returned to his seat he looked to Akane and asked, "So, what happened while I was outside?"

"Gengorō-san went over the curriculum for the semester."

"Okay, so what's happening?"

"The first week of the semester is devoted to the original form of the Gotei 13. Next week is the current form and function of the individual squads . Then we have a general test on the squads in the first class of the third week."

"What then?" Ichigo asked, writing what his friend was telling him in his style of shorthand.

"Well, he didn't say. But the students around us were hypothesising that it might be about Kurosaki-sama and how he affected Soul Society as a whole."

Ichigo thought, 'Dear God, I hope not,' not at all wanting to listen to some third party, who probably wasn't even there, waffle on about why he did, or did not, do something a certain way. He said, "Well, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"

"Yeah, although I kind of hope that it won't be," Akane commented.

"Why's that?" Ichigo asked, kind of disappointed despite himself.

"Well, it's just that even in our class there are some people who've died their hair orange already," Akane said to Ichigo as she pointed towards a certain group near the front.

"Who knows," Ichigo commented, seeing that Gengorō was about to resume the lecture.