Thx to the people who followed it help me finish this chapter on knowing someone cared for my work. Also looking at kendo fights for inspiration kinda changed the conception that fights are this long drawn out thing for me.
Note: I don't really like having to use official characters for stuff like classmate random shinigami so if ya see a oc its a description of the charter using personality or a word put into romaji example if i want say a charter that is rude and buff i would use shitsurei dansei which means rude boy
Well favorite and follow my fragile ego needs it DO IT NOW
'thought '
"Speach"
"zanpakuto"
1995(somewhere in japan)
The sideways City
Ichigo didn't know what hit him all he felt was pain then he blacked out for what seemed like seconds. He awoke back in the weird cityscape 'why am i back here?' Most of the buildings were crumpling, the only that stood untouched was the one he was one. He looked again to the pole to see the old man "what's happening" ichigo asked " you died" the old man said in a tone that sounded like that was always the case "what… then why am i here" ichigo said feeling more scared then he ever felt "no i can't" ichigo said trembling "there is no changing it you are, and your mind and soul are slowly fading" the old man said "why" ichigo said "i don't know i only know we are dying" the old man said "what do you mean we?" "you need to pass on" the old man said, completely ignoring the last question "what do you mean we you ol-" ichigo gets cut off mid sentence by a flash of light and feeling a bump on his head.
Soul society
He awakes in the middle of the road in a neighborhood that looks like what he remembers kyoto looks like from his geography class. A man in black clothes comes up to him and says "are ya new here brat?"the strange man says "where am i mister?" ichigo says confused "ya ended up in the good place brat or more specifically one of the better districts of the soul society" "what's the soul society?" ichigo said innocently "take a walk with me and i'll explain. So when a soul dies it goes to the soul society or hell depending on actions in life. If a soul lingers too long without going to either it turns into a hollow, hollows crave souls. Shinigamis kill hollows so they don't eat more souls and become stronger. killing hollows frees their souls. The reason I know all of this is because I'm one myself " The shinigami ranted " where do shinigamis come from?" ichigo asked "powerful souls and you have a very strong one with an emphasis on very strong" the shinigami said " so can i become a shinigami ,but what about my family?"ichigo said with a bit of sombernes in his voice "one where do ya think i'm taking ya and two they will be fine. You have a bright future ahead of you." the shinigami said "wait where are we going?" ichigo said "well we're here so i was going to explain it when we got here anyways so were at the shinigami academy. This is where you learn where to become a shinigami." The shinigami said "so I learn how to become one here?" ichigo said "your not the brightest tool in the shed aren't ya"the shinigami said back "im only 9" ichigo pouted 'he's only 9 with the amount of spiritual pressure he has i thought it was just toshiro syndrome!?' the shinigami thought "you ok ?" ichigo said "im fine let's head inside '' the shinigami said. The building was giant looking like it could comfortably fit a few thousand kids inside. The inside was like a hotel with a giant open room and a receptionist at the front. The room had this feeling of grandeur superiority. It had seats on the side of the walls and several plants. "What brings you here 19th seat Firā" the receptionist said 'found a kid with good potential" Firā said with a bit of a grin " the school year started about a week ago so it might be a hard fit to get him into classes but we will try" the receptionist said being polite "brat once ya get done with schooling and get to choose a division join the 11th" Firā said with his grin growing "why?" ichigo said, confused what a division is "because the 11th is the strongest division why wouldn't you. Its tasked with killing menos class hollows" Firā said "ok i will try" ichigo mimicking Firā started smiling "well i'll leave you here kld once ya get into the 11th let's have an allout spar" Firā almost beaming at the thought of it.
3 months later
"Today in class you will receive your zanpakuto or as it will be called at the moment asauchi. The asauchi is a blank slate for your soul or in other words your shinigami powers to imprint on. Almost all asauchi are the same except for the handle and guard. In rare cases some asauchi will be bigger, this could be bad or good. Perfect timing on this table is an amount of asauchi so that each one of you may have one. Do not rush, choose the one that calls out to you, sense it, do not rush if you pick a blade that isn't sorry for my slang vibing with you. it will not work with you making your entire career a living nightmare." mrs kyoshi said there was murmuring from the students then one student went and grabbed one. The sword slightly changed its size. The guard on it was bit larger than a regular guard ,the pommel having a fur band on it. "Hmm nice" the student with the new asauchi said. Soon most students had picked their asauchis. Ichigo being lazy went at the end even though he knew which one was calling to him. The blade split in half, both blades being very large ,the left one having a square guard and the other having a circle guard. The murmuring stopped then picked up more loud this time "it seems kurosaki has a dual blade. Meet me after class kurosaki. Well class there will be a 3 day break for you all to get accustomed to your new zanpakuto." the mr kyoshi said
After class
"kurosaki this is captain ukitake, he is one of the only shinigami with a dual zanpakuto. you're lucky he's taking interest in you."the teacher said "thank you for introducing me care for a walk to the local park kurosaki or do you prefer to be called something else?" ukitake said in a voice that was casual yet formal. "I prefer ichigo " ichigo said wondering why a captain would take out time for him "so ichigo do you like tea by any chance" ukitake said trying to break the ice " i don't know never had it yet" ichigo said "there is a first time for everything isn't there ?" a few minutes later ichigo slightly choking "why the hell is this so god dam bitter" ichigo gaspes out before going into a coughing fit "language" ukitake says before realizing "i forgot to put in sweetener im very sorry about that didnt mean to forget." once ichigo is done with his coughing fit he says "why are you exactly taking interest in me?" there was a silence that was broken when ukitake said "three reasons one i find it ironic your given name and the 13th task, two i feel the need to teach the new generation, third its better not to have another captain with a drinking habit if shunsui teaches you." wait what do you mean by another captain" asked confused at the captain's remarks on him " have you not realized being one of the top students with the same amount of soul pressure as a seated officer isn't something normal. there's a high chance of you becoming a captain one day" the sickly captain said "thank you" ichigo said happy that someone believes in him. "Well let's do what we came here to do practice. As you know you have a zanpakuto with two blades, both can be used for offense but that's not recommended unless you're zaraki." ukitake said trying to explain 'lord have mercy if he ends up zaraki' ukitake thought compounding on why he thinks he should teach the boy "are you left or right handed? Ukitake said " I'm right handed" ichigo said complexed on the meaning of the statement "changing that is the first part of your training" the forever sick man says then pulls out 3 rubber balls closes his eyes and starts juggling them perfectly"you should be able to this with your eyes closed like this before you can even think about using your zanpakutos with a single drop of finesse." The captain said while still juggling. Captain ukitake threw one of the balls to ichigo and said " throw it from one hand to the other" ichigo looked confused holding the ball "okk.." the preteen said ichigo throws the ball between his hands. After a few seconds he slips and throws the ball to his left and tries to catch with his right. "Well I leave you to that I must leave and take care of my division. All the work is left to me because we lost our lieutenant a bit ago to a hollow." Ukitake said with an expression that is best described as somber but hopeful "when will I see you again captain ukitake? " The orange haired student said. "When you're able to juggle 3 balls, come to the 13th and I will give you your next lesson." The man premature white hair said
2 days later
"Tsu please go away i'm trying to practice." ichigo said trying to pratice with juggling "sheesh if you weren't so stuck up on work you would be a lot more popular" tsumaranai said "why would i care about popularity?" ichigo said confused on why people would care "why would you care? Isn't your birthday coming up soon? Do you want anyone to join you then?" tsu said even more confused than his roommate, "I never thought of it that way tsu. Well if i still aint got any by then is still have you" the orange haired child said while not realizing that he was perfectly juggling 2 balls at the same time "are you spacing out mid conversation ya god damned strawberry!" Tsu said, annoyed out of his mind, scaring the living shit out of ichigo "I'm just going to bed." Ichigo said tired "night" tsu said still staying up
The sideways City
"Welcome back" the old man said 'fun I'm back here. Old man care to finally tell me who you are. Actually (ichigo pulls out his right zanpakutos doesn't find the left)" ichigo said then looks at the old man "looking for this ichigo" the old man brandishes the left sword "where did you get t-" ichigo said before getting cut off "if you wish to have the complete set again you must make me yield" the old man said with with enough intent for ichigo to get he was serious "if you get your ass beat don't go crying to me" ichigo said. Ichigo enters a basic kendo stance and charges the old man. the old man moves his sword to his right, holding in reverse grip waiting for ichigo to make his move. Ichigo goes for an over head swing, the old man quickly changes his grip and parries the attack with a quick follow up of kicking ichigo in the side of the gut sending him flying back "you got me good ya old fart" said nursing his sizzling wound "you use your sword as if it's a tool." The old man said causing something to click in ichigo "I'm in my mind aren't I" ichigo finally realized "it seems you aren't as dim as I thought" the old man said surprised "that still leaves the question who are you" ichigo as inquisitively"you know the answer " the old man said trying to hammer in what he's saying "wait your me aren't you" ichigo said as he realized it "you are full of surprises i thought i had to beat you once more for it to sink in. Maybe soon you will be worthy of my name" the old man ranted
Mourning
Ichigo wakes in a cold sweat like he's been sleeping in an oven then dropped in a frozen lake. "You doin ok ichigo?" Tsu said knocking on ichigo's door "im fine just had a weird dream" ichigo said walking out into the front room to get breakfast "what was your dream about?" tsu said innocently "some old fart beat the shit out of me telling me some eye opening stuff" ichigo said kinda embarrassed that he got beat up even if it was a dream " i had a dream like that but less grandpa got moves and more deer telling me to accept myself. Tsu said "weird, the said old man was sorta like that" ichigo said in deep thought " well people say that all dreams have meani.. shit were 30 minutes late to zanjutsu." tsu said him and ichigo running out the door still chewing food
Zanjutsu class
"O there you two are where have you been" mrs kyoshi said " sorry we had both slept in i woke ichigo up then we hurried to class" tsu said still breathing heavy from running " good i thought you two had skipped to goof off somewhere. we are doing dueling practice today. Everyone is paired up so you have to deal with each other today. Practice swords are where they always are." They sat next to the wall with everyone waiting for who would be picked for the next match. "gakusei your group is up." The two students move into the middle of the room brandishing their weapons like two predators ready to strike. The both enter a stance where their sword is pointing down to the side to where the can in one movement do an upwards slash. The gakusei slowly starts to move in on his partner shosha ,then he goes for a side slash shosha parries moving in for a forwards thrust into gakusei chest. gakusei recovers fast and goes after the shosha causing him to jump back and resume his starting stance. Shosha moves back in to go for an overhead slash and gakusei tries to block but can't in time leaving gakusei to have a loose and a bump. They bow and return to the wall to wait for the next pair to go up "ichigo your group is up" mrs kyoshi said ichigo and tsu move up to the middle of the room. They both enter stances ichigo in a staggered stance tsu in the normal stance arms straight sword pointing slightly upwards. ichigo points both of his practice swords that he is now known across the entire school for at tsu and starts circling trying to find flaws with tsu defense. Tsu charges bringing up his sword to deliver a downwards strike but ichigo dodges getting to the side of tsu charging at . ichigo brings his swords together at where tsu used to be. Tsu seeing a chance brings down his sword on ichigo once more but is parried then hit in the side by ichigo's other sword after a few seconds mrs kyoshi says "ichigo is the winner" the both bow to each other and sit back down "well that's all the duels you all may take the time to rest until next class like usual dismissed
Ichigos and tsu's dorm
"I got ya pretty good dit ya" ichigo prideful over his victory "hit ya good dude i'm going to be shiting blood all day." tsu said annoyed "sorry" ichigo said somberly "that was a complement ya idiot" tsu said "well we have to leave for kido in a bit so ima lay down for a bit" ichigo said "same" tsu said
End of chapter 2 afterlife