I do not own Persona 4 and Bleach

Chapter 5

War and Peace

As Kanji walked out of the room wearing a shihakusho, he instantly felt uncomfortable. Taking off the black kosode, Kanji swung it over his shoulders. "Ah, that's better."

As he walked into the main barracks, two people got in front of him. One of them was bald with red markings on his eyes. The other had shiny black hair and red and yellow arrows on his right eye.

"You must be the new guy," the bald one said.

Something about this guy ticked Kanji off. "What's it to you, baldy?" The other one put his hand to his face. "That was unwise."

A vein pulsed in the bald one's forehead. He grabbed Kanji's shirt and pulled him close. "You, me, outside, now." He released Kanji, and walked out to a training yard.

The other one watched him go. "I hope you won't regret that choice. Ikkaku is not a man to be trifled with."

Kanji gripped his zanpakuto. "I'm not worried. I've fought tougher."

As he walked out, he heard the other one behind him. "I sincerely doubt that."

Ikkaku stood waiting, his zanpakuto drawn. "So, what's your name?"

Kanji drew his, and adjusted his grip on the unfamiliar weapon. "Kanji Tatsumi. Why?"

A wicked smile appeared on Ikkaku's face. Because I like to know the names of the people I fight." He moved to strike. "I am Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame. Now, prepare to die!"

Ikkaku suddenly struck, and Kanji barely got his zanpakuto up to block. Ikkaku was relentless with his attacks, and Kanji was barely able to keep up with his strikes.

"Not bad for someone untrained, but you can't stop me!"

Kanji went for a strike, and Ikkaku easily blocked with his sheath. "Too slow!"

Ikkaku slashed, and cut into Kanji forehead. The shock of seeing his blood going over his eyes made Kanji pause, and something broke inside him.

Wiping it away slowly, Kanji charged in, surprising Ikkaku with the force of his attack. Their swords crossed, Ikkaku smiled. "So, you do have some fight. I'm impressed."

With a push, Ikkaku forced him back, and slammed his sword's hilt into his sheath. "Extend, Hozukimaru!"

Ikkaku's sword changed into a wooden-staffed spear with a red tassel on the end. "Now, show me what you've got, Kanji Tatsumi."

After several minutes of dodging Ikkaku's strikes, Kanji was getting tired. No matter what he tried, he couldn't get around that spearhead.

Kanji went for a stab, and Ikkaku responded by ducking and sweeping Kanji off of his feet.

Kanji looked up to see Ikkaku pointing his spear at his throat. "Now we come to the end. Goodbye, Kanji Tastumi." Then he stabbed down.

With a flash, Kanji was off of the ground, and in a new place. As he whirled, he saw that he was in a hallway, so long it came to a horizon.

The strange hallway was divided in half. On one side was a wall of needles and thread, with animals on the walls. The other was rougher, and covered in skulls.

"Divided, yet harmonious."

Kanji looked to see his persona walking up the hallway. "Your fight is perilous, Kanji. You will need my strength to stand a chance."

"How do I use it?"

"Simple. All you need is call my name. You do remember my name, right?"

Images flashed through Kanji's mind. He saw his mother's textile shop, his bathhouse dungeon in the tv world.

But it was one image he saw before the others. He saw Naoto's face. He never had the chance to tell her, but he cared for her. Hell, I might actually love her.

Taking that thought, he turned it into a card, and saw the image of his persona. "I remember."

Energy poured from Kanji, making Ikkaku stop. Kanji got to his feet, and gripped his zanpakuto reversed, the blade running along his forearm.

"Impact, Rokuten Maou!"

His sword expanded to cover his whole arm, forming a large circle.

As the light dimmed, it was revealed to be a large shield, with the face of his persona on it.

At first stunned, Ikkaku's smile widened. "Now, that makes it interesting. Let's see what you can do with that."

Ikkaku went for a stab, but Kanji blocked it, and pushed it to the side. Then he swung his shield around, smashing it into Ikkaku's chest.

Ikkaku stumbled, and Kanji braced himself behind the shield, and charged foreword, pushing Ikkaku back.

Ikkaku stabbed Hozukimaru into the ground, forcing them both to stop. Then, he jumped back, making Kanji loose his balance.

Kicking the shield to the side, Ikkaku brought up his spear, pointing it right at Kanji's throat.

Smiling, Ikkaku pulled back, and returned his spear to a sword. "You impressed me, Kanji Tatsumi, and I'm not easily impressed." Sheathing his sword, Ikkaku turned away. "I can't wait to see how strong you get. Let's do this again, when you're ready."

There was a chime, and the world froze.

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 Tower arcana.

"Is there a problem, Ms. Amagi?" Captain Unohana asked.

Yukiko shook her head to clear it. "I'm sorry, Captain. I was just...thinking."

Unohana smiled as if she knew about what. "Jushiro is a wonderful captain. Souji will be fine. Now," Unohana motioned to a dummy body, "let's see what you can do with this. Try and heal it."

Yukiko went over to it, and placed her hands on the chest. Focusing on Unohana's instructions, Yukiko let her energy flow into the dummy.

Unohana nodded at what she saw. "Very good. You understand the principals very easily.

Yukiko wiped her forehead. "I was the main healer of our team when we went into combat. I guess that helps me understand it."

There was a knock at the door, and in walked Lieutenant Kotetsu. "I'm sorry to bother you, Captain, but there's someone here to see you."

She opened the door wider, and to Yukiko's shock, in walked Teddie. "Hey, Yuki!"

"Teddie? What are you doing here?"

"Apparently Captain Kurotsuchi has decided he no longer wants Teddie in his squad," Kotetsu said, reading the message Teddie came with.

"He said something about me not being worth the trouble of dissecting," Teddie explained.

Unohana took the message and read it.

I have no use for this fool in my squad. In the first hour, he destroyed several important experiments, and his incessant questions are driving me insane. My initial scans displayed some healing potential, so I have officially transferred him to Squad Four. He is your problem now.

Squad Twelve Captain

Mayuri Kurotsuchi

Unohana closed the message. "Well, Teddie. Welcome to Squad Four. I'm sure we can find a place for you here."

His eyes shining, he bowed to Captain Unohana. "Thank you, Captain Unohana."

"For now, please find a place in the barracks, and I will talk with you later."

With another bow, Teddie left the room.

As Teddie walked through the grounds, he bumped into another person who was carrying a huge pile of sheets.

"I'm so sorry," Teddie said as he helped the person up.

The person was small, with a drooping face and long hair. "It's alright," he said in his high voice."

"My name's Teddie, what's yours?"

"Hanataro Yamada, Seventh Seat of Squad Four."

Teddie smiled as he shook Hanataro's hand. "Nice to meet you, Hanataro."

The world chimed, and froze around Teddie.

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 Sun arcana.

The world restarted, but Teddie didn't react to the sight. "Do you need a hand?"

Hanataro smiled weakly. "Sure, thanks."

As much as I don't like Teddie as a character(he was so annoying the first time I played Persona 4) I wasn't going to subject him to the horrors of Kurotsuchi's experiments. I figured having him with Hanataro would make for great possible comedy.

Kanji's shikai looks like a Spartan Hoplite shield, with Rokuten Maou's face on the face of it.