(A\N) Hey guys, sorry about the long wait, finals were crazy and I've been helping my dad remodel the kitchen plus the thousand other little projects that follow. I've barely touched a computer for two weeks! Anyways, you didn't come here to listen to me complain, and the long absence has given me time to think about what I want for this story. I have most of the ending figured out, and I know what I want to do for the last few chapters, it's the middle leading up to the finale that has me stumped, but I'm sure that once I start writing, it'll come to me.
With the free time I did have, I caught up with some bleach episodes, to get a better feel for the characters, and I hope it can help me portray their personalities better, though I don't promise perfection. Also, like I may have said before, I want to deviate as far from canon as I can, because I for one hate it when a fic turns out to be a remake of canon with only a few changes. Sometimes, authors barely even change the dialogue! I don't know how many times I've seen an author worry about sticking to the canon plotline, as if it is critical to their story's success. This is FanFiction, that means you're supposed to use your imagination, it's okay to step outside of the box...even a little bit is good. That said, I don't want to see any "That's not how it happened" or "It doesn't work that way" comments, if you don't like the way I see things, at least tell me why and I won't blame you if you stop reading.
Sorry about the rant, I'm not done yet but maybe I'll continue on my profile later.
Thanks again to all the wonderful reviews, keep the feedback coming and I'll do my best to improve my writing. I've gone over my last three chapters and I couldn't help but feel like I could've done better. If anyone is interested in becoming a Beta for my story, please send me a pm, I'd love to have someone to bounce ideas off of before I release each chapter.
Enjoy chapter 4!
For what felt like the millionth time, Ichigo raised his arms toward the dummy that was put up about twenty feet away. Trying to control the spiritual energy welling up within him as he yelled out.
"Bakudo #1: Sai!"
As he released the energy, he desperately pictured the dummies arms shooting behind its back, just like his had done all those months ago when Rukia did this exact spell on him. He had been trying to perform this simple Bakudo spell for the better part of two hours, since he had 'encouraged' Momo to stand up for herself. As the energy left his body however, the spell simply fizzled out and the dummy was left untouched, its arms spread out perpendicular to its body, its nonexistent face becoming a mocking grin as Ichigo let out a growl of frustration.
Momo was standing silently several feet away, watching Ichigo closely. She had been expecting him to quickly grasp this spell like most academy students and then move on to more advanced techniques. She was never expecting this supposedly extremely gifted shinigami to have trouble with such a simple spell.
Even then, she had seen many students have difficulty when first learning Kido, Lieutenant Abarai for example, but this was simply out of the ordinary. When he had failed the first couple of times, he had looked at her and shrugged, asking for help, however she only motioned for him to keep on trying. He had simply set his face into that cute scowl of his and doggedly returned to...wait... did she just call him cute?
A blush threatened to keep up her face before she shook her head to clear her thoughts, she had more important things to worry about. Looking on as Ichigo tried to perform the technique yet again, she noted how his shoulders tensed up as he built up the energy required, and how his hands shook as if holding back a torrent. reaching out with her reiatsu to sense his, she was not surprised at the immense amount of spirit energy being channeled into the spell. Once it had fizzled out, she walked up to him and touched his shoulder before he could try again.
Ichigo was brought out of his concentration by a light touch on his shoulder, turning his head, he saw Momo standing next to him with a pensive look on her face. Seeing her show even this tiny bit of emotion, was better than the blank mask she had been wearing every time he saw her. But even that tiny display of emotion paled in comparison to the small smile she had given him when he had put his arm on her shoulder after she had blasted him into a tree. That small gesture had swelled his heart with a feeling he had never felt before, and he was eager to feel it again, he had silently vowed to make her smile more.
He didn't know why he cared so much, he didn't worry this much for even his long time friend Orihime, but he couldn't help himself. He decided it was just the memory of her hopelessness that morning when she tried to take her life that influenced him. After informing Momo about her role as his teacher, they had walked together to a private training ground in the squad five barracks, where she began to instruct him on the basics of Kido.
"You are putting way to much energy into the spell Kurosaki-san, it doesn't need that much, and its simply overloading." she said softly.
"Are you kidding me, that's as low as it'll go!" he replied.
Momo scowled at this, could he really have so little control over his reiatsu, how could he have defeated so many if he couldn't?
Seeing her scowl, Ichigo added with sincerity.
"But that doesn't mean I'm giving up, I'll stay here all night if I have to."
At that, Momo let out a small smile.
"I get it, he's just really stubborn."
Seeing her smile, Ichigo gave an inward whoop of joy, and broke out into a small smile himself. Yes, he really wanted her to smile more often.
"All right Kurosaki-san, how much do you know about controlling your reiatsu?"
Scratching the back of his head, a gesture that she was quickly realizing meant either mischievousness or embarrassment.
"Uhhh... almost nothing really..."
"You mean no one ever taught you anything?" she asked, truly shocked.
"Well, Mr. HatnClogs helped me unleash my shinigami powers, and he taught me how to use my shikai. Then Yoruichi taught me shunpo and helped me achieve Bankai, but that's about it."
Momo face palmed and shook her head slightly.
"I guess we'll just have to start from the beginning then... let's see if I can teach you how to sense your own reiatsu, then we'll move on from there."
Nodding, Ichigo followed Momo's lead as she slid into a lotus position on the grassy training field. Ichigo tried to emulate her posture as she explained some basics to him.
"Now, try and relax Kurosaki-san, there is no secret technique or way to all of this, you just have to clear your mind and open yourself up to what's around you. Try and hear the breeze, the birds chirping, all the little background noises and fall into the flow of it all."
As he listened to Momo's soft voice, Ichigo felt his shoulders relax and slide down as his muscles unclenched and loosened. For most if his life, he had always spent it coiled like a spring, ready for the slightest threatening gesture. It had been instilled in him throughout his adolescence by a combination of his father's rather unusual training techniques, and all the bullying he was subjected to for his fiery hair and rebellious attitude.
He had never felt this way outside of the few moments before the kind of deep sleep brought on by exhaustion. There was something about her very presence that calmed him and carried him away deep within himself. Soon, he began to pick up the slightest rustle in the leaves and eventually, that left as well. Everything was gone except himself and even Momo's calming presence seemed miles away.
He realized that he was in his inner mindscape, and he slowly opened his eyes. There, standing on his thin pole, was the manifested spirit of his zanpakto, Zangetsu.
"Woah"
"Congratulations Ichigo, you managed to enter this place without having to be forced into it by someone else."
"Thanks...I guess" He replied, shrugging.
"Get up, we have much to discuss."
"Alright Zangetsu-ossan (A\N: that is the right honorific for 'old-man zangetsu' right?), what's up? I did promise that we're in this together, I'm all ears."
Nodding, the spirit looked upon its wielder proudly.
"Good, I have much to teach you, but first do you have any questions you would like to ask?"
Resting his elbow on his left palm in a 'thinking' pose, Ichigo replied.
"I don't know... I'm just kinda frustrated with myself. I mean, I learned Bankai in three days, why is this so hard!"
"Hmm... It seems that the techniques these shinigami are applying to your training simply aren't compatible with you. You won't be able to perform Kido, not now, not ever."
"What do you mean?"
"By now, you may have noticed that each zanpakto has its own unique properties, separate from anyone else's. Even so, each zanpakto belongs to one category or another. For example, The sotaicho's and your new friend Momo's zanpakto are fire types. The young Captain Toshiro and your friend Rukia have water-types. The list goes on."
"So each zanpakto has its own elemental affinity?"
"Not necessarily, it does not have to be an element of nature. Captain Kuchiki's zanpakto could be considered a projectile type. His lieutenant has a unique flexible whip-like zanpakto , which can also be considered a ranged weapon."
"In that case... I'm not sure what type you are Zangetsu-ossan. There's our Getsuga Tensho which is a ranged attack I guess, but not in the way you described it."
Zangetsu's composed features slowly slid into a knowing fatherly smile.
"Ichigo... I cannot rightly fit into any existing category... I am the first and last of my kind among the zanpakto, and I have waited an eternity for the one worthy enough to wield me. A long time ago, I gave my knowledge freely and it only lead to untold death, man was not ready to hold such power."
"So what makes me so special?"
"I first noticed you when you activated your shinigami powers for the first time that fateful night you met Rukia. I watched you and how you dedicated yourself to protecting others, when I saw you fight, it was always in the defense of someone else or for what you believed in. Such a mindset is essential for what I'm about to teach you."
"I... don't know what to say...I'm honored you think of me that way Zangetsu-ossan."
"Very well, it's time I begin to teach you how to use your gift. All of my power, in short, has only one purpose, to kill your opponent. It is not so much a collection of individual attacks or skills, but a single mindset, a total release of your very soul into combat. In short, you become a weapon, guided by your own righteousness and purpose. In this state, there is no room for incantations or spells, the real weapon is here." he said, tapping a single finger against his temple.
"Your sword, as well as Getsuga Tensho are merely extensions of your will, tools. Out of necessity, I showed you how to release your shikai and bankai without teaching you how to seal them, or how to fully control them. It was the equivalent of giving a man a sword and telling him to go fight before teaching him how to use the weapon properly."
"Gee... thanks for the compliment old man, I for one think I did pretty good."
"While it is true that you improvised quite well and got the job done, you lacked...finesse."
Ichigo's scowl darkened.
"Now, I have already shown you how to release your Shikai, which is the first stage. The release command is already known to you, I have told you countless times, and you have already opened yourself to the knowledge I speak of once before. The name of this technique is something you alone can find out foryourself. As for your Bankai, you have only begun to scratch the surface, you have unlocked the physical manifestation but not the mentality required to master it, that I also cannot teach you."
"Then what can you teach me?" Ichigo all but growled out, he was getting annoyed by Zangetsu's roundabout way of explaining things.
"I can guide you Ichigo, lend you my strength, support you in any way. But some things are learned only through ones experiences. When you fully grasp your shikai, I will also loan you my knowledge of zanjutsu among other things."
"All your giving me is riddles old man, how am I supposed to use any of this for the test next week? And you never taught me how to seal my shikai."
"You already have, besides you have worked under much tighter circumstances, do what you must."
"Hey-"
But it was no use, the real world came rushing back, and he was suddenly aware of all that was around him.
Momo was just finishing explaining to Ichigo how to reach for his own spirit ribbon when she noticed he wasn't responding. Slightly miffed, she had screamed his name and waved her hand in front of his eyes. Seeing that calling his name wouldn't work she had sat back and waited patiently for him to snap out of whatever he was in. As the time passed by however, her curiosity became too much for her and she was currently poking his cheek inquisitively, her face barely inches from his.
It was at that moment that his eyes decided to snap open.
"AHHH!" they both screamed simultaneously, Ichigo falling backwards and his legs shooting forward to try and scoot away, causing Momo, who was crouching in front of him, to lose balance and fall forward.
The result was a flustered Ichigo laid out flat on his back with Momo sprawled over his chest, her legs straddling his waist unconsciously for support, faces so close together they could feel each other's breath on their lips and the heat radiating from their rapidly reddening faces.
Shocked, both of them stood still, eyes wide and unblinking. Not surprisingly, it was Ichigo who broke the silence.
"So... comfortable?"
If it was possible, Momo's face became even redder and Ichigo's turned into a smirk. Momo quickly got back to her feet, and Ichigo got up after her.
"Sumimasen Kurosaki-san, it's my fault for getting so close to you-"
"Speak nothing of it, it's neither are faults."
After a bit of an awkward silence, Momo noticed something.
"Hey, what happened to your zanpakto."
Ichigo looked over his shoulder and noticed it was gone. Looking about frantically, he finally spotted it lying on the grass next to where he had been meditating. Zangetsu had shrunk down to a still rather large nodachi, with a black wrapped handle, but like in its shikai state, it had no guard. The sheath was completely black and sported a simple black strap that would allow it to hang from his back. He picked it up and slowly drew the blade, revealing a completely silver-white blade. Looking closely, he noticed some characters etched into the blade near the handle, in flowing calligraphy, it read.
"Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitate."
Flipping the blade he saw there were more words on the other side in the same script.
"Look into your heart. Find your purpose. Let it be your only sovereign. With it guiding your blade, you will always deserve victory"
Ichigo stared at those words for a few moments.
"What is my purpose?" he thought
"It's beautiful Ic-Kurosaki-san" she whispered.
Ichigo smiled softly, and in one smooth motion, sheathed the sword and slung it over his back.
"Ya 'know, you smell really nice Momo, like plum blossoms." he said rather nervously, scratching the back of his head.
Momo's blush deepened further as she stuttered out.
"A-arigatou...you smell n-nice to Ichigo-kun."
(A/N) And there you have it, kinda short but I want to give you guys something after the long absence.
I hope I didn't confuse you guys or contradict myself when I explained Zangetsu's powers, but this Idea came to as I wrote this, tell me what you guys think. I also hope I didn't come off like a jackass after my rant earlier, and I didn't mean to put down any authors work, god knows mine isn't perfect either.
I eagerly await any reviews.
Quintus