A/N: I'm glad that people like my writing style. This chapter might be a bit confusing, due to a flashback being retold in two different perspectives.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Bleach.
It was a rather fine day, Ichigo judged, until he reached the fourth division barracks.
When he arrived, Hanatarou Yamada greeted him and said that captain Unohana was busy, and now wasn't exactly the best time to drop by. Before he could react, Kenpachi Zaraki walked out of the barracks, with a sealed Zanpakuto and no eye patch. Upon seeing Ichigo, his eyes lit up with the sadistic fire that makes him infamous throughout the Gotei 13. He quickly made his way over to the young captain, eager to show off.
Curiosity got the better of the orange-haired man, and he asked the rather burly one if he had control of his reiatsu, after noticing that everyone within a kilometer wasn't on their knees forcibly. The response he got was the most famous grin in Soul Society and an unsheathed blade. To Ichigo's horror, the captain of the eleventh division had called out his Zanpakuto by name, and everyone, save himself and a pink-haired blob behind him, no longer possessed the strength to stand.
"Yay! Go Kenny! You look so happy now you get to play with Ichi!" The pink-haired blob spoke, which was identified as Yachiru Kusajishi, lieutenant of the eleventh division and her captain's adoptive daughter. Clearly, "Kenny" was enjoying the moment at least as much as he looked, but fortunately for "Ichi," Retsu Unohana stepped out of the barracks.
"Now, captain Zaraki, I wouldn't want a scuffle on the fourth division grounds, especially with captain Kurosaki. I wouldn't want either of you to be wounded." Unohana stated to the self-proclaimed strongest captain in the Gotei 13, who, unlike most of his division, wasn't fazed at her words.
"Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait for the tournament to pick this up. I hope you've been drilling your division Ichigo: I want my boys to at least get some enjoyment out of it." Those were the last words that came from his mouth before Kenpachi Zaraki sealed his Zanpakuto and walked off.
"T-t-tournament? What did he mean by that?" Ichigo was afraid: he was never informed about condoned carnage within the Gotei 13, especially when it was Shinigami against Shinigami in sanctioned combat.
"Every 10 years, the 13 captains organize a tournament amongst their ranks. There has never been much combat, because the first, eighth, and thirteenth divisions choose not to participate, the fourth and twelfth divisions aren't cut-out for real combat, and the rest are terrified of the eleventh. The next one is scheduled for next week." Unohana had explained. "Nobody will think of you differently should you choose not to fight."
"I'm going to participate in this carnage, if only to prove to that sadist, and the rest of the Seireitei, that I mean business, and that the third division isn't weak in the slightest." The orange-haired captain resolved to bring respect to his subordinates, and hoped it would get that maniac off his back for a while.
"If you don't mind, please follow me so we can begin your training session." Both captains entered the barracks, while Hanatarou tended to the wounded.
Before they knew it, both the third and fourth division captains were inside the latter's office. It appeared to be spacious and neat, which was good because the first lesson would take place in that very room.
"If you would please unsheathe your Zanpakuto and place it down next to you, we can begin your Kido training." Ichigo placed Zangetsu down beside him, and sat across from Unohana on the floor.
"I know you are anxious to meet the Kido requirement, but in order to do that, just like captain Zaraki, you must learn to seal your Zanpakuto and call it out by name. Should you learn to do that, your reiryoku will be under control, enough for you to learn Kido." She had explained it as if it was so simple, but Ichigo wasn't convinced.
"How long will this take me?" It wasn't that he detested the elegant woman in front of him: it was that, for some reason he wasn't able to explain, even to himself, that he wanted to be back in his office doing paperwork.
"Normally, it would take several weeks for the brightest Shinigami to control their reiryoku effectively, but," she held out a red orb. It reminded him of his invasion of the Seireitei. "Thanks to the genius of Kisuke Urahara, we have what he called a 'reiryoku sphere:' an orb that subconsciously sends coded messages into the brain of the one who holds it. This one is programmed to make your reiryoku control second-nature. He also told me that the idea came from something called the 'microwave.'"
Eager as always, the young captain received the orb. He saw it glow, but he didn't note any immediate effects. "How long does it take for this thing to work?"
"It should take a while. When it stops glowing, its purpose should be fulfilled. Is there anything that you want to do to pass the time?" She asked with a smile.
"No, nothing comes to mind." Unohana saw the depressed look on his face, and decided to try and help.
"Why the long face? Does it concern lieutenant Soi Fong? From what my division tells me, you two have a 'peculiar' relationship."
"I hope you aren't offended, but I don't see the reasoning behind opening up to you."
"Well, I remember reading something from the world of the living that stated that having another person listen to what troubles you can be of much help. If you tell me about how lieutenant Soi Fong came to know you, and your interactions with her, I could figure out what troubles her, and possibly offer a solution to your problem."
"Well, it started a few years ago…"
Flashback:
It was a lovely summer day. Having been the first summer since the aftermath of the Battle for Fake Karakura Town, Shinigami everywhere were rejoicing. Ichigo chose to spend his summer in Soul Society, reveling along with his good friends. With Aizen and the bulk of his Arrancar army defeated, he could finally relax, but a certain shape shifter had other ideas in mind.
"Hey, Ichigo, I want you to follow me to a certain place." She spoke up.
"What for, Yoruichi? It's not like we have to prepare for another war." He couldn't discern the reason behind his mentor's sudden behavior.
"We can't let ourselves get complacent, or we'll be vulnerable once again." Both of them took off to a forest below Sokyoku Hill. They found Soi Fong waiting for them.
Ever since she had her armed restored by Orihime Inoue, the captain of the second division had been training profusely, seeing as her battle with the Segunda Espada was an "embarrassment" in her own words. After watching Ichigo's battle with Aizen, she wanted to prove that she was Yoruichi's "best pupil."
"Lady Yoruichi, I hope you realize now how terribly overestimated Ichigo Kurosaki is."
"You can call me Ichigo, Soi Fong."
"Why, are you annoyed, Kurosaki?" Judging that was as close as she was willing to go, he sighed. Yoruichi noticed this, and appeared to remember something.
"Hey Ichigo, I think I forgot something on top of Sokyoku Hill, could you retrieve it?"
"Why can't you get your own things? What do I look like, your personal servant?"
"Oh well, it's not like I needed a change of clothes anyway. I'm much more agile without them, now that I think of it…" Before she could say anymore, the substitute Shinigami was off. After reaching the top, he looked for whatever she was talking about. After a minute of searching, he found a purple parcel. Believing he had retrieved what he came for, Ichigo flash stepped back to the former and current commanders of the Onmitsukido.
Being tossed her parcel, the purple-haired woman gave him a smug look, but he didn't know why. He also saw that her protégée was giving him a scornful look. The former chose to speak up. "Well, Ichigo, since you have the idea that you don't need to get any better, and that my little bee here is gun-ho about improving, you two will be sparring partners for the time being."
"Why should I train with her? I mean," but before he could finish, Soi Fong cut him off, grabbing his Shihakusho with one hand and pointing Suzumebachi at him with the other.
"Remember this fact: I can kill you whenever I please, so don't underestimate me, ever. You may be the 'celebrated hero of Soul Society,' but you aren't immortal. Got that, Kurosaki?"
A gulp and a nod was his reply. He promptly left the two crazy women alone, having his perspective changed, and hoping to see the light of day after tomorrow.
End Flashback
"I assume that there is more to the story than that, captain Kurosaki." Unohana was perceptive of many things most people didn't even consider her to pick up, and she knew Soi Fong long enough to know that it took more than one meeting for her to truly hate someone, if Kisuke Urahara was an example.
"Actually, there is more. I just didn't want to bore you with the details." Ichigo admitted.
"Well, if you don't mind, whenever you come over to practice Kido, would you be kind enough to explain your experiences with lieutenant Soi Fong? Perhaps the problem is rooted in your training sessions." Looking down at the orb, she smiled. "Well done, captain Kurosaki. The orb has accomplished its task."
With a look of surprise, he looked down and noticed that the orb stopped glowing. 'Does this mean…' Figuring that there was only one way to find out, he reached for Zangetsu. He was shocked to find that it had reverted back to its sealed state: the large cleaver was replaced with a long double-edged blade in a leather guard, with a leather strap. 'Just looking at it brings back memories.'
He wasn't the only one who was shocked. Unohana was startled at seeing the sealed form. "In all my years, I've never seen a Zanpakuto quite like that one. Did it just… evolve?"
"No, before I knew the name of my Zanpakuto, Zangetsu was always like this. Now, you said I should be able to call it out by name." The captain across from him nodded. "Give me a moment to think, I don't think I ever used a release command for it." After a minute of thinking he stood up. "I think I have it."
Ichigo pointed Zangetsu to the wall on his left, took a deep breath, and put his theory to the test. "Protect, Zangetsu!"
Suddenly, the cleaver he knew so well replaced the brittle double-edged sword, complete with the rosary strap over his shoulder. Seeing as today's work was done, the orange-haired captain resealed Zangetsu, thanked captain Unohana for her help, and walked back to his barracks.
"So, do you still have a crush on him?" The cat asked in a sly tone.
"Lady Yoruichi, I do not know what you are getting at. I never once held any form of affection for him." Soi Fong said in a slightly upset tone.
"If you don't want to tell me the truth, that's fine, but you shouldn't be afraid to admit it." Yoruichi said, she was being serious this time.
Not wanting to answer her, the petite Shinigami turned away in embarrassment. 'Ah, she's confused. She just needs a bit of coaxing. Luckily, Ichigo, the fast learner that he is, will still need at least a week to meet his obligations. That should be enough time.' With her Cheshire grin, the current head of the Onmitsukido spoke again to her biggest fan. "Remember that day, back when I made the two of you sparring partners? I can remember it as if it were yesterday…"
Flashback:
It was just before sunrise, and not a single man, woman, or child had stirred, except for a certain captain of the second division. Soi Fong was training profusely with Flash Cry to better master it, and she was slowly making progress. Eventually she was stopped by her former mentor, who was sizing up her progress. "Not bad, but you aren't going to get very far on you own."
The petite woman was stunned. "Lady Yoruichi, do you mean that you will be my sparring partner?"
Said woman shook her head. "No, but I have someone else in mind. He was a student of mine, and I'm sure that you remember him."
After a second of thought, Soi Fong immediately caught on. "But Lady Yoruichi! I can't spar with him! He's," but she was cut off.
"He's faster, stronger, and overall better than you are. Plus, you couldn't kill him even if he was handed to you on a silver platter." Yoruichi knew her little bee better than anyone, and that said something, considering that she was gone for 100 years.
Giving into the taunt, she finally snapped. "I'm positive that you're wrong, Lady Yoruichi. You give him too much credit, and I will prove it."
After their conversation, Yoruichi fulfilled her end of the bargain by bringing along Ichigo Kurosaki.
The goddess of flash noted that Soi Fong froze. It was incredibly brief, but she saw it happen with her own golden eyes. Slowly she came to realization, and praised herself for thinking in advance.
"Lady Yoruichi, I hope you realize now how terribly overestimated Ichigo Kurosaki is."
"You can call me Ichigo, Soi Fong." The orange-haired teenager in front of her responded. His scowl reminded her of the one she was known for.
"Why, are you annoyed, Kurosaki?" Having seen enough, Yoruichi decided it was time to have a private chat with her little bee.
"Hey Ichigo, I think I forgot something on top of Sokyoku Hill, could you retrieve it?"
"Why can't you get your own things? What do I look like, your personal servant?"
"Oh well, it's not like I needed a change of clothes anyway. I'm much more agile without them, now that I think of it…" Before she could say anymore, the substitute Shinigami was off. The goddess then turned to her successor. "I didn't think it was possible, but you've already taken a liking to a man so quickly."
Soi Fong was stunned. "Lady Yoruichi, I have no interest in that arrogant substitute."
Yoruichi didn't buy her response. "It's okay if you do, there's no shame for falling in love." Before they knew it, Ichigo was back with a purple parcel in tow. After being tossed her belongings, she went straight to the point. "Well, Ichigo, since you have the idea that you don't need to get any better, and that my little bee here is gun-ho about improving, you two will be sparring partners for the time being."
"Why should I train with her? I mean," but before he could finish, Soi Fong cut him off, grabbing his Shihakusho with one hand and pointing Suzumebachi at him with the other.
"Remember this fact: I can kill you whenever I please, so don't underestimate me, ever. You may be the 'celebrated hero of Soul Society,' but you aren't immortal. Got that, Kurosaki?"
After a gulp and a nod, Ichigo left the former and current commanders of the Onmitsukido. Once he was out of sight, Soi Fong continued their conversation. "Even if I did somehow harbor some form of 'affection' for that arrogant brat, I wouldn't have a chance anyways."
Noting her sudden change in tone, the goddess of flash attempted to reassure her. "Please, what nobody realizes is that Ichigo Kurosaki wouldn't know love if it slashed him in the face. I doubt he's even considered seeing another woman. Don't be afraid to love out of fear of a broken heart. He isn't out of your league yet." Having said all she wanted to say, Yoruichi took off.
End Flashback
"You should have seen the look on your face when I said that, the way you went red was so adorable!" The cat was literally on her back, laughing out loud. Her companion wasn't enjoying being jabbed at, and continued doing her paperwork like a skilled secretary.
"Anyway, how good did Ichigo feel when you slept with him?" Soi Fong was a woman that never showed her softer side to anyone but her idol. It was no surprise to her when she stopped what she was doing and avoided eye-contact.
"Lady Yoruichi, I-I-I don't… it was cold… and neither of us wanted the other to freeze… he was so warm…" She had no desire to lie to the goddess again, but found it incredibly hard to accept the fact that, in a literal sense, Yoruichi was right. She looked down in shame, hoping the punishment for her actions would come swiftly.
"Don't feel ashamed, my little bee. Once you admit to yourself that he holds a certain place in your heart, go pursue the fool. Nothing ventured, nothing gained." The cat spoke sagely, enticing her listener with every word.
"I don't know, I still need to think this over." Soi Fong's reply was filled with confusion that hinted at her inner turmoil. 'I learned my lesson the last time. I can't afford to get close to Ichigo, no matter how much I want to.'
"Just don't wait too long, he may grow a brain and realize what he's been missing out on." After a chuckle from both women, the cat paused to make her closing statement. "One more thing…"
As Kiyomi walked by, she found a rather large crowd to the side of the barracks. Upon further inspection, there was a semi-prominent man preaching to his comrades. Curious as to what garnered their attention; she slowly made her way into the crowd and listened.
"Yes, shocking, but true! There appears to be an ulterior motive on the placement of our new lieutenant! What's also amazing was our captain: he is indeed the stuff of legend! Lo and behold!" The man unveiled a large poster that displayed Ichigo in a long flowing garb, holding what appeared to be Soi Fong clutching onto him, in a position that contradicted her character. Below it was a particularly controversial statement: "Soul Society Beware! Captain Kurosaki turns Lesbian Straight! Seireitei's new Power Couple!"
The third seat's eyes widened. "What are you talking about? How did you get this preposterous notion about our superiors?"
The man let out a sigh. "Ah, Kiyomi, you are as slow as ever. Where were you last night?"
"Last night? What do you mean?"
"I guess I'll have to repeat it for you…"
Flashback:
It was tradition for the third division to pull a prank on their new captain the night of his promotion. When they realized that he had brought along a new lieutenant, who was also a captain, albeit a detained one, the hooligans got the idea of upping the ante.
With a mob about a dozen strong, they made their way to captain Kurosaki's quarters. Just as they were about to open his door, they heard something that shocked them.
"Ichigo… Ichigo!... ICHIGO!" That was all they heard before they jumped back in surprise. Although none of them knew why their lieutenant was screaming their captain's name, with the two of them sleeping in the same room, most of them had dirty thoughts as to what exactly they were doing.
One in the group, however, was unconvinced. "It could be just a coincidence. I mean what are the odds? Let's listen for more before we jump the shark." The rest of them, figuring that he had a point, leaned their ears to the door in order to listen better.
They almost had a heart attack when they thought they heard their lieutenant panting. Believing they had all the proof they needed, the group chose not to prank their captain, but rather to glorify him for his accomplishment.
End Flashback
"That is the most absurd rumor I've ever heard! The story is even worse! There could have been a million different things going on that night!" Kiyomi exclaimed with a hint of anger.
"Oh, really? Care to explain what happened last night on captain Kurosaki's behalf, hmm?" The man was sure that he was right, but his blood froze immediately after.
"What the hell do you want to know about my social life?" None other than the object of their conversation himself walked through the crowd. "I'm sorry that I wasn't here for a while, I was over with captain Unohana learning to control my reiryoku."
Ichigo quickly took note of everyone gawking at Zangetsu. Chuckling slightly, he answered what was on their minds. "Oh, I guess you never seen my Zanpakuto in its sealed state. Now, who was the one talking about last night?"
The entire third division was terrified. They didn't sense him coming, and from the look on his face, he meant business. Slowly, the crowd moved to the side, revealing the man holding a poster. Faster than anyone could notice, said man was being held up by his Skihakusho.
"What's that poster you have tucked under your arm? Surely if you were showing it off to my division, I should see it too." If the propagator hadn't soiled his pants, he did now. After handing over the propaganda, and seeing his captain's eyes widen, he felt a reiatsu strong enough to break his back. "How many more of these did you make?"
"I-I-I made o-o-one other, b-b-but I handed it over to l-l-lieutenant Matsumoto…" Ichigo saw that he had passed out, and he calmed down.
"As for everyone else here, if you find anything or see anyone who speaks of this rumor, it is your responsibility to personally remove it or clarify anyone who takes it seriously. Also, if you see lieutenant Matsumoto, or any of her friends helping it along, I fully expect you to confront them. In addition, I want the entire division to meet in the recreation center for a mandatory meeting, and bring your Zanpakuto. Understood?"
"Yes, captain." After the crowd had dispersed, the orange-haired captain laid a hand on Riyomi's shoulder.
"I could tell that you weren't involved, and I want to thank you." He spoke sincerely, which seemed to make her reassured.
"It was an honor, captain Kurosaki." She wore a large smile, which was good enough for Ichigo. As he walked off, she prepared for the session.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. This chapter was a bit longer than usual. I appreciate your reviews. I hope to squeeze a good amount of chapters out of this story, and making each chapter a bit longer.