AN: Ok, after a pleasing response from you guys, I'm starting the next chapter :)

The black figure of Zangetsu stood at the very edge of the tallest skyscraper, crouched next to him, the deathly white hollow starkly contrasted against the billowing ragged edges of Zangetsu's coat.

'Do you think he can do it?'

'I have confidence in my wielder'

'That's more than me then...'

The conversation lapsed as the two watched the clouds roll down.

'I wish there was more green...'

again silence.

'You're awful quiet y'know? Nothing like our loud mouthed King'

'You are one to make such a statement...Hichigo Shirosaki'

'Don't you call me by that stupid nickname! And I am nothing like that bumbling fool!'

'Take heed of my words, you two have your fates inextricably bound. It would not do to antagonize each other.'

'Whatever...where is he anyway? You'd think you'd spot that ginger hair anywhere...'

I have put him in a state of rest, for even if the body does not tire here, the mind will.'

'Neat...'

The two passed the rest of the night in silence, the only thing distinguishing it from the day being the subtle weakening of light.

'Where am I?' Ichigo wondered. A rolling mass of storm colored clouds held him suspended in the center of a cocoon.

'Do not fear Ichigo, I have merely taken you to a place of healing and rest for the mind and soul.'

'Zangetsu-san?'

'You may leave simply by willing yourself to your inner world'

Slowly the clouds parted and Ichigo was faced by the looming figure of Zangetsu.

'What was that?'

'Do not concern yourself with that. Only know that you may return to rest in much the same way you arrived here just now'

'Ok... Where is he?'

'Hichigo Shirosaki is-'

'OI I SAID DO NOT CALL ME THAT!'

'Wha-? Hahahahahahahaha!'

'Listen you little punk, if you ever call me that, I'll smash your lights out!'

'And if you ever harm my master I shall discipline you most firmly'

'Wowow calm down there, I wasn't serious!' sweat dropped Shirosaki.

'Hey guys, can we get a move on?'

'Don't tell me what to do partner!'

'I'm king ain't I?'

'I'm gonna save your sorry ass!'

'Not without my help you ain't!'

'And who's training you?'

'In whose inner world?'

'SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!'

'Yes Zangetsu-san' the doubles chimed.

'Stupid hollow, as if a copy of me could be better than the real thing' Ichigo muttered.

'Just who is copying who, -Getsuga-bankai?'

'Enough, you're both above this! We don't have the time to waste... for all we know it maybe too late to save Inoue and Ishida, so quit messing around!'

'So when does training start?'

'It starts now partner!'

They stood facing each other from across a gap between buildings, the air heavy with reiatsu.

'First, we're gonna work on how you control your spiritual energy. You don't realize what a tremendous resource you have there. You've learned to use it to stabilize and reinforce your zanpakuto. But aside from that, its doing nothing. You need to learn to use it to boost your attacks, speed and defense, cause you are fighting at about half the level you should be. And can I ask, if your bankai is mainly speed, WHY THE HELL IS EVERYONE JUST AS FAST? Seriously Ichigo, a bankai is usually the last defense of a shinigami, you're lucky to have me.'

A mixture of shock and admittance flitted across Ichigo's face.

'So what do I need to do?'

'Close your eyes and find the source of your power within you.'

After several minutes Ichigo said, 'I got nothing.'

'That's cause you already are within you, you dumb git.'

'Oh yeah' Ichigo blushed. Once again, Ichigo withdrew from the world and after a moment he became conscious of his surroundings in a different way. Once he had opened his mind on another level, he was astounded by the sheer activity that was going on around him. The long skyscrapers they stood were literally pillars of light. Swirling gusts of sparkling dust navigated unknown currents, billowing and weaving in an intricate design. And spread throughout it all, a black lighting with a red aura crackled and sparked, shooting out jolts of raw power. It was unlike anything Ichigo had ever seen.

'You see those sparks? Each one is equivalent to the amount of spiritual pressure you emit throughout a day. And you see those paths that once in a while, one shoots off to? That is the path to emitting it. Of course nothing is coming out of your body at the moment, I'm absorbing all that power and it's helping me keep you alive. Now, what you need to do is consciously control that power, you'll never be able to use it all at once or you'll die, but you should be able to manage at least half of that power. Don't worry it will recharge within a few days. So to start, go into bankai.'

Ichigo focused his mind and drew on the power to enter bankai. Around him, the lightening flared and once again Ichigo was dressed in the familiar attire of Bankai.

'Good, now onto phase 2, GETSUGA TENSHO!' Immediately Shirosaki, who had entered bankai without Ichigo noticing, started firing a flurry of small getsugas.

'They're a lot more powerful than they look, so don't try and parry. They're much more powerful than your bankai getsugas, they're faster, and of course, they home in. Better start dodging!'

The getsugas had all nearly crossed the gap between buildings and had begun to converge on Ichigo.

'Better start moving.'

But as Ichigo, used his speed to rapidly, the getsugas had swiftly changed course to come at him and were gaining swiftly.

'Aw crap!'

Again and again Ichigo tried to flee but he was starting to slip and he begun to find himself trapped in the middle of a swarm of miniature getsugas.

Suddenly the voice of Zangetsu echoed in his mind, 'Ichigo, you must draw more power. Focus this energy at your feet and then experiment with your speed.'

'Whatever you say old man.'

Once again Ichigo found the power and willed several of the sparks towards him. He opened his eyes and found himself infused with energy. Suddenly, the getsugas appeared to be moving slower, so he carefully sped around each one and landed in front of Hichigo and released the power.

'So you did pay attention to me earlier. Very well, now we're gonna practice for the rest of today, until you can do it instinctively.

The rest of the day was spent training exhaustively, and by the end a thick sheen of sweat covered the two drained rivals.

'You... did well..' panted Shirosaki

'...thanks' replied a surprised Ichigo, he looked again at Shirosaki as if to check if he missed something.

'...what are you staring at partner?'

'Nothing' Ichigo quickly replied.

Hichigo looked at him quizzically before dismissing any notions he had.

The two headed back to the central building that was the unspoken headquarters where they met Zangetsu.

'I think I'll be going for the night guys'

'very well'

'see ya partner'

Gradually, after Ichigo faded from view, the two ambled to their usual spot where they spent the night.

When night had gained a firm hold over the realm Zangetsu inquired,

'How did you find the session?'

'It went better than I expected I suppose'

'Do you believe now he will make it in time before your...'

'Yes I suppose, funnily enough, I have faith now...'.

'This pleases me'

'Me too old man'

And the two watched the swirling galaxies of the sparkling dust blow out across the sky, creating a northern light effect over the world, till morning came.

AN: There we are folks chap 2 ;)! This was fairly difficult to write at first but I'm glad it began to flow after I started. I decided to call Ichigo's inner hollow that simply cause it wasn't gonna work if I kept calling him the dark Ichigo. I'm fairly pleased with this ;) R&R guys! Any questions feel free to ask.