A Story About Me
Sachiel set a pitcher of tea on the table along with four glasses filled with ice before taking a chair for herself. She stalled for time as she poured herself a glass.
"Ok boys," she started. "You have questions and I will try to answer to the best of my ability. Deal?"
"What are you," Ichigo asked again.
"A demon slayer."
He rolled his eyes. "Not what you do here, what are you? You're not human."
She sighed. "I was born over three hundred years ago in a world called Azeroth. I was the oldest child of Al'ana Val'Novrin and Senlan Theron. The world I lived in is not in this universe but in another. I was a knight there. I am not human, as you figured out. I am a high elf, banished from the world we knew to make our way. We are what are known as blood elves. We pride ourselves on our fighting abilities and ever seen revenge for what was done in the past to our people."
"But you look human," Ishida said.
"I was altered so that I would be able to blend in with the inhabitants of this world," she said.
"Why were you banished?"
She sighed. "All elves are born with inherent magical abilities. I was born with a defect," she explained. "I was born, not with grace like most elves, but with Fury. It's something that increases my abilities and creates a destructive force. I didn't know that I had this until I was in a battle. I saw my husband killed. In my grief, that force was released. I decimated not only our enemy, but our ally forces as well. We kept it hidden but eventually, it was found out what happened. I was executed and my soul banished. The Keepers of Time, however, made a pact with the Keepers of this world. They took my spirit and I was given my punishment. I endured the beatings that ripped the flesh from my bones. I endured it for what seemed an eternity. When they were done, I was put back in my cell where Ulquiorra would tend my injuries. Overnight, they healed. I didn't even scar. Every day, the beatings would start again. Then came the day that Ulquiorra said that we would be leaving. I had never talked to him during our imprisonment. Every day we were here in that first week, I kept waiting for a new punishment. Then, one of the Keepers appeared in my room. He explained what I was to do here. I was to earn my redemption, my atonement for what I had done."
"Why would they punish you for something you had no control over," Sado asked.
"But I did. The fury was discovered during my training. That is why the Keepers of that world took an interest in me."
"Ulquiorra told me that you were punished for having faith in someone," Ichigo said.
"Then maybe he knows something I don't," she answered. "What I've told you is what I know. My sister witnessed my execution. I didn't get to say goodbye to my daughter. And since I cannot return to that world, they are dead to me. As I am to them."
"What about all the things you know?"
"Memory of things learned usually stay. Events are not imprinted like lessons since they are a fleeting moment in time. When they gave me a body, they restored the memories of my former life and what I had learned. They also gave me few possessions."
"Sounds farfetched to me," Ichigo said.
Sachiel stood, walking around the table to Ichigo. He didn't move. She placed her palm at his forehead and let him see what she had endured, her memories of the past.
His mind swirled as he saw her execution and punishments. He didn't know how he was seeing them, but they were clear, as if he were seeing them first hand, experiencing them.
When she released him, he stared at her incredulously, his eyes wide and fearful.
"Kurosaki?"
"Ichigo?"
"He'll come around in a moment," she told them as she went back to her seat. "It takes a bit for his mind to comprehend what he saw."
"What did you do," Sado asked.
"Showed him my past," she answered.
Ichigo had felt his heart break as he saw her execution and the punishment she endured. Most shocking had been the scene where her eyes looked glazed over, lifeless…Ulquiorra's tears as he tended her wounds.
Now he understood when Ulquiorra had stated that Sachiel had been the one to change him.
"Train me," he said weakly.
Sachiel looked at him in surprise. "Train you?"
"I want…need to help you."
"Kurosaki," Ishida began.
"No, Ishida. No one should have to endure that." He stopped, surprised at the words Ulquiorra had used came from his mouth as well.
"I appreciate the offer, Ichigo. Unfortunately, I cannot just bring someone in because they 'want to help'."
"I was one of the strongest soul reapers Soul Society had ever seen and I can still fight," he said passionately. "I know I can help you."
"As you said, Ichigo…was. You no longer have those abilities and I cannot just snap my fingers and make you have them again," she said. She noted the look of resolve in his eyes, the set of his jaw. He was determined.
She sighed. "Alright. I'll have to discuss it with the Keepers…and Ulquiorra," she said. "If they agree, I will bring your abilities back and we'll start immediately afterward. But be warned, Ichigo."
The man looked at her.
"I will break you, I will make you hurt…I'll make you cry," she said with a wicked grin.
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The rest of the week passed fairly uneventful. Ishida, Ichigo and Sado settling in to help the archaeologists. For their first week, they mostly helped with the cataloguing of items.
Ulquiorra had been resistant to the idea of Ichigo helping them with the demons, stating he was an outsider. Sachiel had spent the week between the dig site, work and the house, talking to the three men whenever she could, helping them when something stumped them. She also noticed that Ichigo scowled less and less when she was around, something she did not notice until Ishida and Sado pointed it out to her.
By the time Friday rolled around, she still had not spoken to her brothers about bringing them in. Ichigo had asked and she had told him she hadn't. That afternoon, sitting by the pond while she dangled her toes in it, Michael appeared next to her.
"What troubles you, little sister?"
She looked sadly at her brother, unsure of how to proceed. From the look he gave her, he already knew what she needed to ask.
"Should I train him? Should I restore his abilities and train him to be a demon slayer? He wants to help but…," she stopped.
"Do you want to train him? Do you care enough about him to restore his abilities to him?"
She nodded. "I knew from that first day, brother. Leaving him out now may cause more hurt than help. Especially now that he knows about my past, my punishments."
"So you did tell him everything," he said.
"No! Just of my former life. I've not told them of what I really am. Just a displaced soul from another dimension."
"You told them you're an elf," he asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Unfortunately, they witnessed a few things they probably shouldn't have."
"What else have you told them?"
"That I'm a demon slayer, Ulquiorra is my guardian and we are both trying to earn our redemption," she answered.
"Not completely untrue. What else? You're keeping something back."
"That orange haired one didn't fully believe me. So I shared my memories with him."
"You did what," he almost shouted at her. She winced.
"I didn't think it would work," she defended. "But it did. Now he wants to help."
"So he's been chosen," Michael mused.
"Chosen?"
"He will be your path to redemption. Just as the girl is for Ulquiorra," he said.
"So there's no choice?"
"Not really. But the training it up to you. Despite being an angel, you do have free will in some aspects of your life here."
She bowed her head, looking at the ripping water intently. "I won't go easy on him," she said after a few moments.
Michael laughed. "I don't expect you will."
"Ulquiorra won't like it."
"He has no real say in the matter. The bargain was for him to help you find your redemption," Michael said. "If another outside force is in the cards for you, he has to accept it. Just as he did with Jo and her family."
"I have to pick them up shortly," she said. "I will tell him. By the by, the site is still secure."
"I knew it would be," her brother smiled at her.
Ulquiorra stood at the back door, listening. He knew that the angel would allow the training. He had discussed it with Jo who had said it couldn't hurt to have another slayer with the increasing numbers. That Ichigo was powerful was just an added bonus in her book.
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Ishida watched as Ichigo hurried to get his things packed, wondering at his eagerness. He had noted that the young man seemed to 'come alive' when Sachiel was around. During the past week, he hadn't spoken much of their friends and family back home in Japan…or Orihime.
He wondered for a moment if he should tell him that he was the one who had begun dating Orihime. He was jarred from his thoughts by the shadow that fell over him. Turning, he saw Sado looking at him intently.
Before Ishida could speak, Sado said, "Do you think she would be interested in me?"
Ishida looked confused. "Who?"
"Sachiel."
Ishida's eyes widened. He had no idea that the big man even liked their host.
"It…It's hard to say," he said to him. "We don't know much about her."
"About who?"
They both turned to see Ichigo, packed and ready to go.
"I asked Ishida if Sachiel would be interested in me," Sado said again.
"Why not," Ichigo said a little defensively. "You're a good looking guy, she's attractive. Talk to her."
"Aren't you interested in her as well, Ichigo," Ishida asked.
"Not really. Yes, she's attractive but getting a girlfriend is the last thing on my mind," he said. "I'm more interested in what she does."
"The fighting, I assume," Ishida asked.
"Yeah, what else would I mean? I want to see how these demons are different than hollows. Are they like a Vasto Lordes? Why would she tell me that I wasn't good enough?"
"Because until I get done with you, you won't be," they heard behind them.
They all turned to see Sachiel standing over them, hands on her hips. The look in her eyes was hard to read but she didn't look happy.
"Got your stuff ready?"
All three men nodded to her.
"Good. Load up," she ordered. "It's getting late and I have six months of training to pack into two days."
"I'm guessing they approved your training, Ichigo," Ishida remarked.
"And she doesn't look happy about it," Sado added.
Ichigo swallowed hard, suddenly wondering at what was in store for him.
Once they got into the jeep, Sachiel said the words that Ichigo was dreading. "I got approved to train you…and to restore your abilities," she said.
"You don't look happy about it."
"Well, I had to scale back my schedule at the store, inform Ulquiorra he'll be on solo patrol this weekend, asked Jo's dad if I can keep her indefinitely, made a ton of potions and elixirs, made new armor for you…I've had a busy two hours."
All three gaped at her.
"Relax, I moved time back once so I had extra time," she said.
"You…moved time," Ishida asked.
"We discussed this," she said, looking slightly annoyed.
"I know I've seen some things in my time but…," he started.
Sachiel gripped the steering wheel in annoyance. "Home," she whispered. A bright pinpoint of light formed in the middle of the vehicle before it suddenly exploded outward. They didn't even have time to react. When the light receded, they found themselves sitting out outside Sachiel's house.
"Any more doubts," she asked.
Ishida, Ichigo and Sado all stared wide eyed, their heads shaking slightly to indicate they did not.
"That was a group spell. The individual one is a different color as it's a portal spell," she said, hopping out of the vehicle and making her way to the house.
"Did we…," Ichigo started.
"I think so," Sado answered.
"This just gets weirder and weirder," Ichigo said. "Do us all a favor, Ishida. Stop pissing her off."
Sado and Ishida nodded to him.
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Sachiel walked into the house, her hackles up. She didn't like to be doubted. Being around Ulquiorra and Jo's family had spoiled her as they knew and trusted her abilities. Having these boys…and she did mean boys…doubt her abilities just angered her.
She made her way up to her room, brushing past Ulquiorra as he appeared on the stairs, sensing her mood. He followed her, stopping at her doorway.
"What's wrong," he asked. "Isn't Kurosaki happy that you'll be training him?"
"It's not that," she said as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"Then what is it?"
"I'm not used to being doubted," she pouted.
"And?"
"And I got angry and teleported us here."
"It's not like you to get angry," he said.
"I know. I just…"
"Michael stopped by while you were gone," he interrupted.
"He did?"
Ulquiorra nodded. "It would seem that you left out something when you told me I would have to solo patrol this weekend," he said.
"I did?"
"Don't act so surprised," he said. "I will not interfere. You helped me to accept Jo and her family. I will return the courtesy while you train an additional slayer."
"You don't mind then?"
"Does it matter? I know he has the potential to be of great help to you. Or did you forget that I battled him before?"
"I didn't. He told me he destroyed you."
"His inner hollow took over and destroyed me. After I killed him."
"You did what," she exclaimed.
"I won't repeat myself but I will show you," he said, walking toward her. He put two fingers to her forehead, transferring the images of their fight to her mind. Sachiel watched, eyes wide as the destructive battle played out. As she saw the final scene of Ulquiorra reaching for a red haired girl, tears were freely running down her face.
He broke the connection, searching her face as a mix of emotions raced across it.
"Thank you for showing me, brother," she said, wiping away her tears. "He can be trained. And I'm glad you're not that same man."
"Not unless I have to be."
"Let us hope that day if far off," she said.
He smiled at her. "He waits for you." He turned away.
"I'll be down shortly. Did you make dinner?"
"Yes. I thought they would like some ramen."
"Noodles?"
"And other stuff," he said as he started down the stairs.
"Ok…"
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Ulquiorra made his way to the room the trio were staying in. He knocked on the doorframe, causing all three to turn around.
"Kurosaki. Can I have a word?"
"Sure," he answered, walking toward him.
"Outside," Ulquiorra said as he turned away.
Ichigo followed as Ulquiorra led him outside, taking him to the river's edge. Ichigo came to stand beside him, waiting as the arrancar stared across the water.
"What did you want to talk about," he asked after a moment.
"I shared our last battle with Sachiel. She is aware now of the power you possessed then. From the feel of your reiatsu now, it's nowhere near what it once was. If you regain the power you had when you defeated Aizen, can you control it?"
"I made Zangetsu submit to me. I had full control over him. I can do so again," Ichigo answered.
"How is Orihime," he asked.
"After the battle, she restored all that could be."
Ulquiorra looked at him from the corner of his eyes, waiting for more.
"She had to go through counseling but she overcame all that happened to her in Hueco Mundo. We dated for a while," Ichigo added.
"But no more?"
"No. She's…happier now I guess. I haven't really talked to her. Ishida told me that she's seeing someone new."
"And what do you think of Sachiel?"
"She seems nice, very lively."
"Attractive?"
"Why does everyone ask me that?"
"Did you feel anything unusual the first time she touched you?"
"When I handed her the water bottle the day we met. Our fingers touched. I felt like…"
"Like someone shocked you," Ulquiorra asked.
"Yes."
"It's good that you gained control over your hollow and your sword," Ulquiorra said, changing the subject. "That means you can do it again if your abilities are revived."
"This is a good thing?"
"Yes. Sachiel is ruthless when it comes to training. She will push you to your limits and far beyond. She has set up a temporal displacement so that you will learn all that you need to within the short time that she has. She will break you and then, she will reshape you into a tool. She did the same to me, the same that was done to her."
Ichigo swallowed hard. "Why are you telling me this?"
"So you're not surprised," Sachiel said behind them.
Ulquiorra turned to her. "He's all yours, sister," he said as he walked away.
"Would you like dinner first or get started right away?"
"Which would you prefer," Ichigo asked in return.
"Good answer," she said as she took his hand.
Ichigo felt a sense of disorientation and displacement as his surroundings spun, blended together and then right themselves.
He blinked as his vision began to clear. The area looked no different than before, save for the lack of house and modern touches.
"Your doing?"
"Yes. Here, there's nothing but you, me and a whole lot of nothing," she answered, holding her arms out.
"So, we train here? I thought you would have equipment or something."
"Oh, I don't need equipment yet. Camp is just over there. Don't worry, nothing will crawl in your bag with you."
"Ok," Ichigo said, walking toward the tent and small fire that appeared by the waterfall.
He sat down by the fire, his mouth watering as he smelled something familiar in the pot over the fire.
"Ramen," he asked.
"Chashu. Ulquiorra shared the recipe with me," she answered, sitting across from him before picking up a ladle and bowl, serving him. She produced a pair of chopsticks for him before serving herself, eating with a fork.
Ichigo inhaled the fragrant aroma before digging in, actually moaning from the taste.
"Miss home cooking?"
"Yes. I don't usually get fed this good when someone trains me. When Urahara trained me, I didn't eat for three days. Shinji and the other vaizards fed me but they didn't cook this good. Well, Hachi did," he answered, shoveling more noodles into his mouth.
"Does your mother cook for you like this?"
Ichigo swallowed, shaking his head. "My mother was killed by a hollow when I was nie. When I was sixteen, I defeated him. I didn't kill him but I did win that fight."
"Oh. I apologize. I didn't know about your mother."
"No, you didn't so there's no need to apologize. My little sister, Yuzu, usually cooks now. My dad is a doctor, so he doesn't really have time to cook for us. We run a clinic out of our house."
"Yeah?"
He nodded, chewing on a bit of sliced meat.
"Can I ask a question," she asked.
"I don't see why not."
She blushed a bit, trying to formulate her question. "Why it is so important for you to learn this? Do you crave power that much?"
"That's two questions."
She rolled her eyes. "Just answer."
He looked at her for a moment before staring at his bowl. "My father once said that my name means to protect one thing. Most people call me Berry because Ichigo traditionally means strawberry," he said.
"So you do the tough guy thing and fight?"
"No. For the longest time, I thought that one thing was my family. Then, to protect my friends. But as I grew older, I realized that what I was fighting to protect was my sense of honor. I don't care for people who do wrong but if they are in danger, I will fight for them because my honor tells me to."
Sachiel stared at him, her eyes never leaving his, not moving, not daring to breath.
"Will you allow me to do something," she asked.
"What," he asked, looking nervous suddenly.
"It won't hurt. I promise. If it makes you uncomfortable, I won't do it and won't ask again."
"I trust you," he said. "Go ahead."
She immediately set her bowl down, coming around to kneel in front of him. She locked her eyes on his, her right hand came forward, her palm resting on his chest over his heart.
Ichigo sucked in a breath. He could feel the heat of her touch through his shirt. As he stared into her vibrant green eyes, he felt as if he were drowning in an endless sea. He suddenly felt warmth spread through him, his muscles relaxing.
"What…what are you doing," he asked softly.
"I was reading what is in your heart," she answered.
"I feel so warm."
She smiled at his words, taking her hand away. Ichigo felt the warmth slowing draining away.
"You have a very strong heart and a beautiful soul," she said.
Ichigo smiled at her. "I guess we get started after dinner?"
"We can. We have the next six months, though."
She smiled at his shocked face. "I can make out time here seem like forty eight hours to the outside world even though we'll be here for six months learning," she explained. "I just have one request."
"What's that?"
"Don't hold back," she answered. "Your powers are in your spirit form, so I too, will be in spirit form. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Good. Now let's finish dinner. And don't worry about hurting me," she said as she went back to her seat. "I'm a lot tougher than I look."
Ichigo stared, taking in her slight and petite frame, noticing for the first time that despite her height, she was a small woman. She reached just short of his shoulders, her legs were long and lean, well shaped. Her arms were muscled but not overly so and the fire gave her skin a warm glow.
He could feel himself blushing as he studied her. He felt confused for a moment; he had never felt this with either Rukia or Orihime. It was then that he realized that what he had been feeling, what he had been trying to deny to everyone around him. Watching her for the past week, talking and teasing with her, he was sure not. He was falling for her. His dad had stated that he was smitten with Ichigo's mother from the first moment he saw her.
"Hello?"
Ichigo snapped himself out of his thoughts, focusing on the woman in front of him. "Sorry, I was thinking."
"It's ok. I was asking if you were done."
"Yeah. Did you want to get started?"
"Eager are we? Alright, let's see about getting those powers of yours back first. Then, we can see what you got in your abilities."
"Ok. I used to fight a lot when I was younger," he said. "I still spar to keep in shape."
"Good, then you won't be too rusty," Sachiel said, bringing him to a cleared area where a large circle was drawn, large, different colored crystals set at different points.
"What's this?"
"It's a ritual circle," she said. "I hope I got the runes right, otherwise I might just banish you to another plane."
Ichigo turned to her, his eyes wide, "What?"
"Just kidding," she giggled.
"That's not funny dammit," he yelled at her.
"Oh lighten up. And don't curse at me or I really will send you to another plane," she admonished.
Ichigo grumped, crossing his arms.
"Go stand in the middle, Grumpy," she said.
Ichigo did as she said, standing in the middle.
"Good. Now clear your mind and think of yourself as you were before you lost your powers," she said. "I've seen you meditate, so I know you can clear your mind. Focus on the center of your strength you had before."
"Alright." He closed his eyes, clearing it completely. An image of Zangetsu appeared in his mind as he was during the last time when he had learned the final form. He concentrated on the image.
Sachiel looked at him, noting the change in his stance. She smiled to herself, spreading her arms out, her hands splayed, turned toward the circle. She closed her eyes, concentrating her energy and powers into the runes that appeared in the circle.
The light from the runes turned bright red before receding into orange, the circle beginning to move in a counter clockwise direction.
Sachiel opened her eyes, her green eyes blazing brightly as she reached the peak of her power.
"Power of the Oracles, Power of Ancients," she began. "Power that guides the Universe, hear my call and come forth. Wheel of Time, reverse thy course." The circle began to grow brighter, the wheel of spinning faster.
"Hear my call. By chance and by need, greet thy Guardian and place back what was lost to he who needs." She continued to concentrate, feeling the spell reach its zenith.
Ichigo felt himself falling through darkness, images of his battles floating around him, finally bringing him to the inner world where he had first met Zangetsu.
"Ichigo."
He turned, looking for the source of the voice. As before, he found Zangetsu standing before him in his younger version.
"Why have you come back, Ichigo?"
"I need your strength once more, old friend," he said.
"For her?"
"For myself more. I want to protect her but I feel the need to protect myself even more."
"Yourself?"
"Yes. My life is on a much different course than I imagined."
"She is a part of that life now, isn't she?"
"I believe she will be."
"Your cause is much more noble this time than the last time."
"Will you lend it to me again?"
"She summoned me out of the void where I went after you used the Mugetsu, Ichigo. She is very strong. She would make a more than suitable mate for you."
Ichigo blushed. "I think we're jumping a little ahead. But for now, she will be a part of my life."
"Then I will come to your aid, friend. Take up Zangetsu once more and protect yourself well."
Ichigo looked down, seeing the familiar form of his sword. He felt nostalgic for a moment, tightening his grip on the handle. He looked up, seeing Zangetsu begin to fade.
"Thank you, friend," he whispered.
Sachiel held the connection to the spell, slowly releasing it as she saw Ichigo open his eyes, a smile on his face. She smiled back at him, nodding as she released the rest of the spell, the glow fading back to nothing.
"I take it, it worked," she said.
"Yeah. I have him again."
"Good. Now we can get to your training," she said.
"Like I was saying, I used to spar…"
He didn't get to finish as he felt Sachiel fist connect with his ribs, another hitting his jaw as he bent over in pain. He soon found himself on his knees.
"What the hell? I wasn't ready," he shouted at her.
"Always be ready. For anything," she said, offering him a hand. She chuckled when he didn't take it. "I wasn't going to do anything.
He got up, immediately on his guard. He looked confused when she didn't move to attack him again, instead, holding her hand out to him. Hesitantly, he took it; and found himself in his shinigami uniform with Getsuga strapped to his back. Everything was as he remembered it, save for his sword strap. Instead of the red rosary of before, it was a gold braided strap.
Sachiel was dressed as she had been the first night she had gone on patrol. He turned around to put his body by the camp but didn't find one.
"Um…," he started, looking around.
"Forces work differently here. You're still in your body but reversed," she explained. "I merely brought your soul outward, your physical body is inside."
"Inside?"
"Swapped places," she said.
He looked both afraid and shocked at the same time. Horrified was a better word.
"This alternate universe is my creation, Ichigo," she explained. "It bends to my will. And for now, your spiritual body is going to be your actual body. You'll change back. Don't worry." She gave him a smile; his heart melted.
"Now, show me what you got, Ichigo," she said. "Bring out your best."
"What do you want to see?"
"Well we'll start with hand to hand."
"Alright," he said, getting into a defensive stance. In spite of his enhanced speed in his shinigami form, he was still unable to land a hit on the woman.
She trained him for several weeks, Ichigo growing more comfortable with her. He had been shocked the first time she had undressed in front of him, joining him in the hot spring by their campsite. He'd never bathed with a woman before. Yoruichi didn't count since she changed back to cat form before getting into the spring with him when she was training him. After each training session, Sachiel would either go with him to the hot spring or swim in the river.
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Ichigo could feel his proficiency in hand to hand combat increasing; Sachiel's speed had been untouchable to him before but here in their third week, he had done it.
As her leg had come in high for a follow up kick to her punch, Ichigo reached out, catching her ankle. So amazed at stopped her whirlwind attack, he stood there, holding her in the air. Sachiel had been amazed, too. Dangling for a moment before she landed a punch to the inside of his knee. She turned as he dropped her, landing on her feet before jumping away.
"That was good," she complimented, panting a little. "Now, if you can do that all the time, we can move to weapons."
"I have a weapon," he said. "And I know how to use it."
"Yup, but I will teach you how to imbue your weapon," she said.
"Imbue?"
"Make it a weapon that can destroy demons."
Ichigo smirked. "Maybe I should show you what my sword is capable of."
"Ok," she said, sitting on a nearby rock. "Show me."
He stood there, his mouth slightly open.
"You're gonna catch flies," she said, making biting noises, working her jaw like she was biting something.
Ichigo shook himself from his daze, unsheathing his zanpakutou. He held his sword horizontally, calling forth his bankai.
As the dust and wind settled, he found Sachiel coughing and sputtering, fanning the dust from her face as she spat some out.
"Choking your opponents with dust is definitely one I haven't tried," she coughed out, gently pounding her chest.
Ichigo looked at her sheepishly. "Sorry. Doesn't usually bother most people," he said.
"Yeah? Well maybe we can work on that," she said, walking to him. She began looking him over, pulling on his leggings and looking down, seeing bare leg beyond the white. "Oh! I'm sorry!"
Ichigo looked to see what she saw, blushing. "I thought you had white pants under there," she said, patting the legging of his suit.
"I guess the way we dress is different than you're used to," he said.
"Got that part right. Most here wear a full robe with actual pants under it and other clothing," she explained. "Off topic! Ok show me!" she finished, throwing her hands out.
Ichigo stared at her for a moment, seeing her expectation and for a moment, almost feeling the same enthusiasm. He summoned his Getsuga tenshou, firing it against the butte on the other side of the river. It stopped just before impact. Ichigo stared as it hovered, not knowing why it didn't impact. Then he saw the reason.
Sachiel hovered before it, holding it back with her hand, examining the strike. She ran her hands along it, as if measuring the feel and power behind it. Then she did something unexpected. She hugged it.
"Hey! What are you doing," Ichigo yelled to her.
She jerked up, looking around before she dissipated the attack. She flew back to him, smiling.
"What were you doing? You could have gotten hurt," he yelled at her. Noting his closeness, Sachiel looked at him blankly before she brought her hand up, flicking him in the nose.
"Personal space," she said, walking away as he clutched his nose in pain. "And no yelling." She stopped several yards from him.
She summoned a sword, similar to his but whereas his was black, hers was silver with a greenish tint. Energy crackled around it, lightning flashing along its length.
"I want you to try that again," she said. "I want to test something."
"Test what," he asked.
She smiled at him. "I believe our powers are similar," she said. "If they are, they will meld."
"They can do that," he asked in disbelief. In the back of his mind, he heard a chuckle.
"Please?"
Ichigo looked at her, smirking before pulling his sword back, his energy gathering at the tip. He didn't notice Sachiel pulling hers back in similar fashion or her flaring greenish silver energy coalescing around her, a ball of lightning forming around her sword's blade.
They let loose simultaneously. As his getsuga tenshou raced across the open desert, her attack caught it, wrapping itself around before merging with it. The usual red aura of his attack turned silver, the resulting explosion when it hit the butte reduced it to dust.
Sachiel whooped next to him, jumping in the air. "It worked!"
Ichigo turned to her, amazement written on his face. "How…"
"Your zanpakutou accepted my energy," she explained. "Merged together, the powers amplify tenfold. It can't happen all the time, though. Only when two swords have almost the same resonance or when the wielders agree to merge."
Again, he heard chuckling. "How do you have a zanpakutou?"
Sachiel looked at her sword. "It's not," she said. "I'm not like you. This sword is charged with my energy. If it weren't, it would just be another sword. Would you rather I use a different weapon?"
"Besides a sword?"
She nodded, sheathing her sword to her side. "I'm a weapon master," she said. "There is no weapon to come into my hands that I don't know how to use with deadly proficiency."
"Really?"
She nodded again. "I'm also ambidextrous. I can use weapons in both hands equally."
"Will these demons use different weapons," he asked.
"Not usually, but you never can be sure."
"Can you train me against these different weapons?"
"Why not? I have to teach you the shields as well to keep their magic attacks from hitting you as well. Since you're so interested in weapons, we'll move to weapon training. Your speed is already on par with mine. Almost," she teased as she walked away. "I'm tired. Let's start again tomorrow."
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