A/N: Alright, well I rearranged my schedule and decided to get my face out of the books. That means one of two possible things; the chapters will be much longer, or there will be more frequent updates…..or possibly a bit of both.
Review responses: Thank you guys for the enthusiastic responses. As far as where I'm gonna take this story, all I'm gonna say is, "I cannot confirm or deny any ideas you may or not have read."
One last thing, I will be taking submissions for zanpaktous for Tatsuki. I have my own but I wanna give you guys a chance to participate.
I don't own Bleach
1 day in the Living World = 7 in Soul Society
L.W-Living World
S.S-Soul Society
H.M-Hueco Mundo
"speak"
'Thoughts'
"Zanpoktou"
"Hollows"
Chapter 3
After Ichigo had left the triage tent the group of spiritually aware teens, after being cleared to leave, went to go get in some training at the shoten.
Urya had wanted to see how much Chad had progressed during their tenor in H.M so upon arriving in the desert training grounds they split away from Tatsuki and Orihime.
After the boys left, Tatsuki walked over to Orihime who had taken a seat on top of a rock to watch the two males spar. "Orihime, what happened to you guys? You've all changed so much since you all disappeared for a couple days a year or so ago."
The auburn haired healer only responded with a quizzical look. "I mean…you haven't changed in a bad way, far from it actually. You've all grown more independent but closer as a group."
"Oh! You mean when we left for S.S to save Rukia! Well for a couple days before that Uryu, Chad and I trained with our powers. Ichigo trained for ten days straight though before we left. During our rescue, we all got caught up in our fights. That was when we started changing. We learned be strong when we had to and to rely on each other when we could." Orihime had a light smile on her face when she finished.
Tatsuki looks towards the fight when she sees a large flash of blue and hears a rock explode. She then looks back at Orihime with shocked expression on her face. "Sado-kun took his training particularly serious when he realized how far Ichigo had progressed. He said 'I need to get stronger. I told him I'd always have his back. I have no intentions on going back on that promise.' Every day he's train with Urahara-san until he couldn't stand up." They both look back at the fight as it continues.
"To think that Chad can actually keep up Ishida…..All I see are blurs and blue arrows. Can you all move that fast?!"
Tatsuki hears laughter beside her from her closest friend. "No….oh no, me and Chad don't have the ability to use Harenyaku, Shunpo or Sonido. While Uryu might be fast, he's slow compared to Kurosaki-kun and Yourichi-sensei."
"Orihime….."
"Mmmm?"
"Do you think some day I might develop powers like you three? Or maybe even become a shinigami like Ichigo?"
"There is good chance of it Arisawa-san." The girls turn their heads to see Hat n' Clogs hiding his face behind his fan as he approaches them. "In fact, I'd even be willing to bet money, based upon your raitsu, that you'll eventually become a shinigami. Perhaps you just might try asking Captain 'Kenpachi' to help you out."
Orihime's eyes widen in horror at the shoten owner's suggestion. "Urahara-san, you can't possibly suggest she go see him for advice! He only lives to fight those that are strong; he's just as likely to kill her as he is to just ignore her!"
"Who are you two talking about?" Tatsuki asks from the sidelines.
"Why, the Captain of Squad eleven of course. He's strong, he's fast, and has plenty of knowledge when it comes to certain areas." Kisuke replies with a smile as he closes his fan.
Orihime looks at him skeptically. "Are you sure we're talking about the same person? I imagine the only 'knowledge' Captain Zaraki possesses is how to kill someone in the fastest way possible while still dragging out a fight, drinking and getting lost!"
"Are you crazy?! You want me to go to a person like that to learn how to be a soul reaper?!" Tatsuki yells as she gets up and punches Urahara in the face, sending him flying into another rock.
After groaning and finally manages to walk back over the girl he says, "You haven't heard then yet. Capatain Zaraki is no more. He died during his visit to Las Noches. He has since been replaced by our very own resident shinigami, Ichigo 'Kenpachi' Kurosaki."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After shaking hands, the blond former Espada and the strawberry Captain look back at the corpses around them. "Were they your fraccion?" Ichigo asks with a hint of sympathy in his voice.
Trying to keep the anger and sadness from reaching her voice, Tia responds with a just barely audible whisper. "Yes, they were also my only friends. I don't want to return to H.M without them…but I can't really risk staying here. You don't suppose that girl we took could….."
"No."
"It seems we don't have anyone here we can count on. We should leave before he changes his mind and tries to kill us." Tiburon says to Halibel.
"I see…I should go then."
Before she can even fully turn around, she feels a firm hand holding her arm, Only there wasn't any real strength behind the grip, and the warmth of the power leaking from him betrayed the crushed the notion she had that he was going to kill her then. "Let me.."
"I said 'no', not because I won't let you near her, but rather because her power can't bring the dead back to life. The fact that Ulquiorra is dead is proof enough to that." He interrupted with his eyes hidden behind his hair as he bows his head in shame.
"What do you mean by that?"
Looking back up at Tia's face, she can see the quilt in his eyes before he quickly tries to cover it up with his usual scowl. "Nothing, I'll tell ya later. Come on, let's get you out of here before someone finds your friends. Don't worry, I've made sure that all bodies are cremated before Mayori can get his filthy hands on them."
Slightly confused as to what he was talking about she decides to trust him and simply nods her head in understanding. "Come on, let's go see about getting you a gigai." Ichigo grabs her hand and flashes away towards the shoten.
'Why is he helping me? He has no reason to…Unless he's just planning on using me like Aizen did.'
"Did it ever cross your mind that maybe that's just who he is? I mean, even I can tell he isn't the type of person to leave someone behind when they're in need."
'He and his friends did invade H.M just to rescue their friend. I think Aizen even mentioned something about how he was too kind to be of use to him….'
"Alright, so he's caring, strong…really strong, loyal….and really good looking."
'Tiburon….While I do concede that he won't harm us, I must ask that you keep your comments about his body to yourself.'
Tiburon persists by giving Tia detailed images of her and the new Captain in rather provocative positions. Noticing that her antics had the desired effects and gave Tia a noticeable blush, she continues replies.
"I think you really just need to loosen up. You clearly find him attractive. That much you can't hide from me. If we're gonna be stuck here for some time, you just might try getting into bed with him. I for one wouldn't complain."
Tia gives up on arguing and just simply ignores Tiburon. However she was completely oblivious to slight blush also on Ichigo's face as he was having a similar conversation with his zanpaktou spirits.
'How am I gonna explain why I have an Espada with me?'
"Ichi, you worry too much! You don't know how he'll react. Just focus on the beautiful tanned woman holding your hand."
"She is right Ichigo, until you get there you won't know whether or not he'll ask about her. Chances are he'll actually know exactly who she is and will only tease you about caring for her as a woman." Hama explained.
Sneaking a look back at the Espada following him, he realizes she is actually is really beautiful. From her messy blond hair to her aquamarine colored eyes and to her near perfect tan, he admits to his zanpaktou that he wouldn't mind knowing her better.
"Now all we need to do is get him to fully realize how Ski-chan feels about him. What do you think Hama? Think he, Tatsuki and Halibel-san could work out a relationship? Oh the steamy ideas flowing through my mind…." Shirudo fades off as she focuses more on the images in her mind.
'Great, she's almost like having Rangiku and yourichi in my head….I'm doomed.'
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After dropping the bomb on the teens still downstairs and leaving them dumbfounded that their friend had become a Captain, Kisuke went back up to the shop and sat down in peace. Fortunately, that peace wasn't meant to last.
The former Captain opens his eyes as he feels two people outside his shop. He hides smirk behind his hat as notices the signatures; an above-captain class shinigami and weak Espada. He's proven correct as the door slides open to reveal his former pupil in front of a tall blond with a shark-like bone mask and a two-piece white outfit.
"My my, Kurosaki-san, you work fast. You start the day off right with destroying our local demi-god, becoming a Captain and now holding hands with a lovely blond…." The eccentric shop-keeper wasn't given the chance to say more as a fist hit his already bruised face.
"And you're still annoying as fuck, but you do good work. Speaking of which…" Ichigo sticks a finger towards the former Espada in-tow. "she needs a gigai. Preferably with anything you can come up with to keep her raitsu from being detected."
"Oh…I don't know Ichigo, you sure you wanna pay for all the rush order fees I'll charge.." He replies with a grin.
Now it's Ichigo's turn to grin. "I'll let you take a sample of my raitsu for examination now that I've bonded with the Hoguyoku and I have a different zanpaktou…."
The founder of the R&D of S.S widens his eyes in surprise and interest at the offer. "Deal. I'll get started right away. Why don't you use the spare room to relax and take a break? I should be done in about 3 hours."
Nodding his head, Ichigo leads Tia to the spare room as suggested. He opens the door to find two futons and a desk. Halibel makes way towards one of the mats and lies down. "Don't worry about them finding you here. Hat n' Clogs keeps the place sealed from outside detection. So get some rest let your body finish healing." Ichigo says as he sits on the other mat.
"Thank you….Captain Kurosaki, for everything."
"Ichigo."
"Huh?"
"Just Ichigo, no titles, no honorifics, just Ichigo please. And you're welcome." He watches silently until he sees the steady rise and fall of her chest saying that she's asleep.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Inside the throne room of the castle in his inner world, Ichigo stand before Hama and Shirudo. "You said that you have different individual names but a single spirit name. I'd like for you to teach me your name so that I may obtain shikai,"
Hama smirks as he leans forward in his throne and rests his chin on his fists. "We have to test you first. For whatever reason, there is a law stating that once you have achieved bankai, you will forever have it. This means that once we teach you our name, you will have immediate access to both shikai and bankai."
"So, we get to throw you right into our bankai test! Hama, you wanna do it or should I?" Shirudo asks.
Waving his hand in a dismissive gesture he replies. "Go right ahead."
"Yay!" Shirudo yells as she leaps from her seat towards her surprised wielder. In a flash of black and purple raitsu, she lands on her knees and one hand while the other is held to her chest.
Ichigo stares at her in slight fear. Standing before him is a being covered head to toe in black platemail with one side splattered with wet blood. On each of her arm bracers, as well as her leg greaves are a single blade the length of her lower arm plus six inches. Her gauntlets both have spiked knuckles. "Behold our power Ichigo. Jigoku no Chikara."
Behind her, smaller versions of the Gates of Hell appear. As the gates open, two souls walk out with chains around their wrists and ankles. Ichigo looks at the three standing before him, unable to move a muscle.
"H-how is…tha…that possible? I know you two are dead…"
Behind Shirudo stand a grinning blue-haired man and an expressionless black-haired man.
"This is our power Ichigo in bankai we can summon the souls sent to hell to fight beside us until the Kushanada pull them back to their pits." Hama explains from his throne.
"Ready for a rematch, Kurosaki?" Asks a grinning Grimmjow as he cracks his knuckles.
"I will destroy your body so you don't lose control again." States a stoic Ulquiorra.
A/N: Hahahahaha what does this mean folks? I wonder…..
As always, reviews and questions welcome. Next chapter I will be leaving details on Ichigo's zanpaktou.