AN: Several times have I come back to this story since my last update, I hadn't forgotten about fanfic, don't worry. Unfortunately a number of combined circumstances meant this large delay, and though I would like to say future updates will be more regular, I can't guarantee it, and if anything, this entire coming year will be quite difficult for me to find time to continue at a good pace, but do not fear, this story shall progress. Another thing that is off putting is the continuation of the manga, which has now thrown, in an unexpected contradiction, which I will try and rectify in this chapter. To anyone who is not up to date with the manga, this story will contain some spoilers, however they will not reveal the plot, but enough said. I was going to cut this chapter short at 800 words, but I felt I owed it to you to write a more substantial amount. Now then, I hope this satisfies you, enjoy!
A cluster of bruised storm clouds swirl enigmatically around the sleeping figure of Ichigo Kurosaki. Sleep gave Ichigo a peaceful, calm look. Shame it was about to be broken.
"Gah!" Ichigo exclaimed, having been given the pleasure of smacking down onto the hard glass from several metres high.
"Get up Ichigo!" cackled Shirosaki, swinging his pure white blade in a savage arc.
Ichigo struggled to parry and regain footing before quickly releasing his bankai. The exchanging of blows continued at a tremendous rate, reaching speeds so high, thousands of flickering after images filled the sky.
"So you can remember longer than 3 seconds, I'm impressed you've retained yesterday's training."
"Shut up, Hichigo"
"For that, you will die by my blade"
Unbelievably, the speed of the skirmish increased further, until only a blur of white and black accompanied the clash of steel upon steel. The battle halted. The point of each Tensa Zangetsu was suspended against his opponent's chest.
"It seems you're learning partner, but that was simple swordplay. Why don't we introduce the Getsuga Tensho?"
"Fine by me"
The battle was renewed with equal fervor, but with a difference. No more was Hichigo's swordplay calculated and cold, but mindless, berserker style. Swinging his sword wildly with no apparent care for self-defence, he flung Getsuga's at dangerously close ranges, before flying right behind them with his signature manic grin. Faced with this onslaught, Ichigo was forced onto the defensive, firing his own getsugas, which were lamely swallowed up by his counterpart's swift compact ones. Soon the sky was filled with giant black arcs, the majority swiftly converging on Ichigo. Ichigo began to panic at the fast approaching crescents, and urging himself mentally, he desperately tried to flee in order to avoid, the speeding projectiles. Traveling exceedingly fast, he managed to escape the ring of converging scythes. But the battle was taking its toll on the vizard. It was painfully obvious to him that his movements were slowing and his Getsugas were all but useless in the face of Hichigo's massive arcs. Sweat dripped down Ichigo's face caught in the light of the sunless sky. Ichigo closed his eyes and opened their spiritual counterparts. He quickly found the Hichigo's Getsuga Tenshos, all heading rapidly for him. He gave a quick intake of breath as he saw their structure, an intricate network of swirling black currents. They each sliced through the air, absorbing reishi as they flew, building power and speed. And from each, a thin strand of Hichigo's spiritual power connected them to the tip of his pure white sword.
"So that's how he does it!"
Replicating the formulae in his mind, he drew back his sword to swing, but before he did he had a thought. Amassing his spiritual power he poured more into the Getsuga than Hichigo's compacter ones, until he felt there was a sizable amount of energy within his blade. So much power was contained within his daito that it vibrated with the sheer force, jarring his arms slightly.
"Yaaaaaaaahhh!" Ichigo yelled and swung his obsidian blade towards Hichigo. As if creating a rent in the very fabric of his world, so ploughed the giant Getsuga through buildings and swallowing the other Getsuga's into its incredible bulk. Ichigo strained and sweated in keeping the Getsuga under control, as it twisted and turned to its target. It felt like he was trying to rein a wild stallion, only a hundred times lager.
For the first time that day Hichigo's face fell, and he gulped at the prospect of tackling such raw energy. However wasting no time he leaped to face it, sword held in two hands. Leaping high off the building he focused his mind and cleaved the Getsuga in two, but instead of the two halves passing by him, they bent inwards as if forced by gravity and rapidly flowed into the tip of his sword. Hichigo sweated and grit his teeth at the seemingly endless stream of darkness. But at last, he had taken the entire Getsuga into his katana. Loosening his grip he half fell to his knees as an intense wave of exhaustion passed over him. Ichigo meanwhile, felt depleted from the effort and swayed, his sword tip lowered. " That's enough for now." A young man's voice rang out.
Ichigo raised his head in confusion, not recognising the voice he heard.
"Well, I didn't expect this for sure!" Exclaimed Hichigo landing on Ichigo's building.
"Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?"
The young man simply stood there, his dark, raggedy cloak and hair blowing out in a very similar manner. "Answer me!"
The young man taking slow steps towards Ichigo replied,
"My name is Tensa Zangetsu and I am your Zanpackto."
"No way, that can't be. You said your true form was in Bankai as my daito." Ichigo protested.
"Incorrect, the daito is my true form in your world. But the thing is, you've never come down here properly in bankai. When you did yesterday, I manipulated my energies to disguise my form to you so as not to distract you from your goals, but it has become difficult, and somewhat unnecessary now. From now on, as long as you are in bankai, this is how I shall appear to you."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Ichigo, you impress me. You took the initiative and analysed the structures of my getsugas. Not only that you built upon it and made yours powerful enough to successfully take out all of mine, and you forced me to take it out myself. My final verdict? NEVER DO IT AGAIN! You left yourself completely open! If you had let that thing out of your control, not only would it wipe out anything within a one hundred meter radius, it left you completely exhausted and so open to attack from anything. The only reason, I didn't just slice you up, was because I happen to live in this here world, so I would like to have something to stand on."
"What? How can you say that! I wasn't completely open! I had everything under control! And if someone had come after me I would just fire another getsuga at them!" Hichigo merely shook his head and sniggered at the ginger's brash statement.
"The second you fired another getsuga, your first would break out of control, destroying everything in them vicinity, not to mention that you would be too exhausted to get away. No you still need more training with your bankai."
"So when do we start"
"NOW!" Yelled Hichigo and Tensa Zangetsu unanimously.
Endless hours blurred into days of the same routine. Get up, fight, sleep. It was a draining existence to Ichigo, and it was taking a toll on his stamina and determination. His body was constantly on overdrive reacting to his two opponents moves in split second instances. He could barely turn without having to fight back an avalanche of blows. But despite the injuries and mental fatigue, he could tell he was improving. No longer was he battling just to fend off attacks, but he had improved his strategy, upped his speed, and drastically improved his firepower. After one particular training session he asked Tensa Zangetsu,
"Is it just me or are these buildings getting bigger? I also can't seem to see where we fought yesterday, its like it never happened."
"It's because," replied Tensa solemnly," You're improving Ichigo, just as you should be."
And the training went on.
It was one day suddenly, when Ichigo prepared to fight, but the other two did not draw their blades.
"Well come on, attack me!"
"Ichigo," Zangetsu replied, "We have trained you as much as we can for now"
"Yeah, its time to get that mask."
"Well that's great!" Ichigo smiled, perhaps for the first time since arriving.
"But not today." They both chimed.
"What? How come? I'm ready, aren't I? You have to let me do this, we're on a time limit remember?"
"Ichigo," Zangetsu sighed," Look at yourself. You are covered in bandages, and you are exhausted to such a point that one night of sleep won't give you a full recovery. No take today and tonight to heal and rest. Besides, you won't be getting anywhere without our guidance, so just accept it."
"No I can't accept that. How can I sit and do nothing while my friends could be killed because I'm not there to protect them? How am I supposed to rest easy knowing that they could die at any second? That's why I have to start now, I've got no choice!"
"Ichigo!" Hichigo yelled "I may be just a hollow, but even I can see that you'll be no use to anyone, not least your friends, in your current condition! Did you want to throw away our last hope by rushing in, already half beaten? So shut the hell up, and get some rest!"
Shock and confusion marked Ichigo's face, his mouth hanging slightly open.
"That was… impossible. How can a hollow show that much emotion? There's no way he cares about what happens to my friends. He's probably just trying to convince me to rest. Yeah, nothing but self interest and personal gain… that's why he wants me to rest." But looking out across the open blue sky, Ichigo knew firmly in his heart, that that was what he would do.
AN: Wow, this chapter is finally done! I feel like I've reached the point where the real journey begins. I hope everyone is happy the way things turned out. I want to ask, does everyone feel the characterisation is accurate? If there's anything you think I should improve please let me know. Now please spare the time to review guys :)