First, we're starting with Souji in Squad Thirteen. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

His Name Is...

Souji followed after Captain Ukitake, wondering what would happen to his friends now. He didn't like the fact that they had been split up.

"If you're worried about your friends," Ukitake said from in front of him, "Don't be. All of them will be treated well here."

Souji's grip tightened on his zanpakuto. "It's just...I failed them in our last battle against Izanami. I need to prove to myself that I can be strong, and that they can rely on me."

Ukitake stopped and turned to look at Souji. "Be that as it may, now they have to rely on themselves and their squadmates. You no longer have to shoulder the burden of a leader alone." Ukitake started walking away again, and Souji followed.

A short while later, they came to a building marked with the symbol for thirteen. "This is the Squad Thirteen Barracks. This where you will stay. Now come on, so you can be introduced to the squad."

Ukitake opened a door, where a group of people wearing the same black robes were watching them.

As Ukitake entered, two of them, a man and a woman, ran up to him, and started chattering.

"Is everything okay, sir. We were wondering..." the man started.

The woman pushed him away. "We were wondering if anything important was happening. So who's this with you?"

The two started to fight, and Ukitake sighed. "Sentaro, Kiyone, please stop fighting in front of our new squadmate."

Ukitake walked to the center of the stage area, motioning Souji to follow him. "This is Souji Seta. He and his friends have joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and he was assigned to us here." Souji bowed to the assembled group.

Ukitake motioned to a woman with short black hair and violet eyes. "Rukia, would you please show Souji around and see that he get's changed?"

Rukia got to her feet and bowed to the captain. "Of course sir. If you'll follow me."

Souji followed Rukia out of the room. After the door closed, Rukia turned, an apology on her face. "Sorry you had to see that. The third seats tend to argue like that."

Souji tilted his head at the unfamiliar term. "Third seats?"

"Oh." Rukia's face showed surprise. "I guess you wouldn't know. Each squad has a ranking system, referred to as a seat. The first seat is the captain, the lieutenant second, and then regular officers from third on down to twentieth."

Souji nodded as he took that in. "So what seat are you?"

Rukia averted her eyes at the question. "I...don't have one."

That surprised Souji. "But, I can feel the power coming off of you. It's so much stronger than those two in there. Surely you deserve a high position."

Rukia sighed. "It's...my brother."

Souji frowned in confusion. "Your brother? What does that have to do with anything?"

Rukia turned around entirely to avoid Souji's gaze. "Captain Byakuya Kuchiki is my brother. As a captain, and head of the Kuchiki family, he's used his influence to keep me out of a seated position. In order to save me from dangerous assignments."

Then what Souji had said earlier registered with her. "Wait, you can feel my power?"

Souji shrugged. "Sure. I can feel the power coming off of everyone in here, and yours is definitely second to only to Captain Ukitake."

Rukia just shook her head, confused. "But, I'm suppressing my power. You shouldn't be able to feel it so easily."

Souji just shrugged again. "What can I say? I can feel the power of everyone in the building, you included."

"I wonder if this part of your power. We need to have a look at this. But first, we need to get you changed into a shihakusho."

Assuming that that was what the robes they were wearing were called, Souji nodded and followed after her.

As she turned away, Souji heard a familiar chime, and the world stopped.

Thou art I...And I am thou...Thou hast established a new bond.

It brings thee closer to the truth.

Thou shalt be empowered when fighting with allies of the Empress arcana.

The world started up again, and Souji walked after Rukia, thinking about what he'd just heard.

Once Souji was dressed in the familiar black robes, his zanpakuto at his side, Rukia suggested that they tell the captain about Souji's ability.

When they arrived, Ukitake told them to enter. As they sat, Rukia told Ukitake about how Souji was able to feel her reiatsu, even when it was suppressed.

Ukitake nodded in deep thought. "Perhaps this is the power of his zanpakuto. Tell me, Souji, do you know your sword's name?"

The question was so strange that Souji wasn't sure he'd heard it right. "Know my sword's name?"

Ukitake repositioned himself as he explained. "Every zanpakuto has a spirit and a name. To call upon your sword's true power, you must learn your sword's name."

Souji drew out his sword and stared deeply at it. "My sword's name?"

"Perhaps he could try Jinzen," Rukia suggested.

Ukitake nodded at the suggestion. "Excellent idea, Rukia." He looked at Souji, still staring at his sword. "Souji, place your sword on your lap."

Souji looked confused by this request, but complied.

"Now, breathe deeply, and feel your connection to your zanpakuto."

Souji breathed deeply through his nose, and felt something in his mind. It was the place where the connection to his persona used to be.

"Now, release your connection to this world, and go inside your soul. Speak to your spirit, and learn its name."

Souji focused on that connection in his mind, and suddenly felt like he was falling. He screamed into the darkness, until he landed with a thud.

Rukia looked at Souji's relaxed form. "Did he do it, Captain Ukitake?"

Ukitake was on his knees in front of Souji, his hand on Souji's head. "I believe he did. Incredible. To think that a recently arrived soul can already reach into himself. He most certainly is special."

Souji rubbed his head as he finally came to. As he opened his eyes, he looked around in shock at his surroundings.

The area around him was a patchwork of the areas around Inaba. He could see the school connected to the Samegawa River, which was across from the Junes food court. He looked behind him, and saw the hospital where he used to clean, next to a bedroom and the Central Shopping District.

"So many places. So many connections."

Souji whirled to his feet, and saw his persona standing, leaning against a wall. He tried to greet it, but stopped as he realized he didn't know what to call it.

Disappointment showed in his persona's eyes. "I see you have forgotten my name. Sad, really. We had such a connection. Now that the power of the Wild Card has left you, I am all you have to fight with."

"What did I call you?"

"Don't you remember yet? My name is *******."

Souji shook his head as he tried to hear the spirit's name, but it came out as nonsense.

The spirit sighed. "Perhaps it's too late to recall who I am. Have you forgotten all you have done for the last year? The battles we fought?"

Souji put his head in his hands trying to remember his persona. As he looked around, he remembered the connections he made during his time in Inaba. Then he remembered all of his battles in the TV world.

He saw a familiar card appear in his hand. The persona, his persona.

"Remember it. Hear it. And call my name!"

A smile spread as Souji suddenly remembered. The name of his initial persona. The core of his soul. His name was...

Rukia and Ukitake jumped back as Souji got to his feet and held out his zanpakuto.

"Awaken, Izanagi!"

The energy around Souji flared and his zanpakuto glowed. Souji swung it, and the sword transformed into what looked like a large knife, with a jagged blade and cloth wrapped around the lower handle. Souji stared at his weapon in awe.

"That's called your shikai."

Souji looked over at Ukitake, whose face barely controlled his look of shock. "Shikai?"

"The initial release of the zanpakuto. Now, do you feel its power?"

Souji looked over his weapon, and felt its power radiating. Then, he lowered it and looked at Rukia and Ukitake. To his shock, he could see the energy glowing around them, like an internal light source.

The power around Rukia was crisp, like frigid winter air. Ukitake, on the other hand, had a dual flowing energy that swirled around him.

"I can see your power, like an aura around both of you."

Ukitake rubbed his chin as he thought. "So, your zanpakuto allows you to see the reiatsu of a shinigami. Is there more than that?"

Souji could feel something else, but decided to go outside to test it, followed by Ukitake and Rukia.

Once out on the grass, Souji eyed a tree. Raising Izanagi, he heard its spirit whispering words into his head. Swinging down, Souji shouted the words.

"Tenraisabaki Tenteidoki!"

The energy surged from Izanagi and struck the tree directly. The tree seemed to warp and shift for a moment, before it was ripped apart and reduced to kindling and ash.

"Incredible," Ukitake said, awed at the display.

Izanagi suddenly returned to its sealed state, and Souji swayed a bit. As he was about to collapse, Ukitake caught him, and put Souji's arm over his shoulders. "Perhaps that was overdoing it a bit on the first day. You need to get some rest."

Souji didn't have the energy to argue as he was helped to the barracks. That attack had taken a lot out of him.

Ukitake laid him on a bed, and his mind began to drift.

"A fine display, Souji. You will need the power for the battles to come."

With the cryptic sound of Izanagi in his mind, Souji fell asleep.

"Tenraisabaki Tenteidoki!""Divine Judgment Wrath of the Creator!"

I decided for Souji to give him the power of energy, similar to Ichigo, but different in his ability to see reiatsu. This, and the power of his attack, will be explained more later.

If my description wasn't clear, Souji's shikai looks like Izanagi's weapon in Persona 4.

Please read and review. I want to know how this new story sounds so far.