AN: The first of three chapters that I promised you. ^-^ I deleted that author's note, so that's why this is the same chapter number as the previous. Also, the long-awaiting action is about to begin…even if it is only sparing, lol. Enjoy!

As before, "Italics" means a language foreign to the current country, and "Regular" is the native tongue.

As always, I do not own SG1 or Bleach.

Feels Like Home

"Are you two certain of this?"

Jack sighed. This was the second—or was it really the third?—time that the General had asked this particular question. After rubbing his face, he set his right hand down on the table. "Sir, as I have said before, I cannot see the same things that Daniel can, but the kid basically proved our suspicions correct. Not only that, but my instincts have been screaming at me that the kid and his teacher are bad news…and my instincts are usually correct. Daniel is so earnest about what he has seen that I don't see any reason to doubt, and not only that but Doc Frasier has reported that the kid has more scars than a human could survive. Like, for instance, the hole that was carved directly above his collarbone, and a puncture through his heat that had no evidence of suturing." Again, he sighed. "Look, I'm not asking that you kick them off the base. At least, not until we figure out the rock. Just watch them."

The General also sighed. He really didn't want to insult the Japanese government by not showing trust towards their representatives…it was way too far above his pay grade to deal with this nonsense. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "I will take it under consideration. Tell your team that we have a briefing at 1900 hours on the new coordinates in briefing room three. You are dismissed until then."

Jack snapped a salute as he stood. "Yessir. If, for some reason you need to find me, I will be enjoying some jello in the mess hall." He produced a cheeky grin as he left the office.

The General let out a chuckle as soon as he was certain O'Neill was out of earshot. That was so like the commander of SG-1. If only the man would do his paperwork with the same single-mindedness that he saught out his favorite food, then the entire base would be perfect.

When the phone rang in his office, he glanced at the clock. Right on time. As he lifted the receiver, he knew what they were going to say before they even identified themselves on the other end of the line.

The Tok'ra had arrived.

PB

"Maa, Ichi-kun, look at this! This text mentions spirit beings, and talks about the lives of the Spirit King's people! Isn't that just amazing! These Ancients were really something!" Urahara was wiggling in his chair as he took a magnifying glass to one of the physical copies of the pictures that were taken at the site.

Ichigo sighed. "Then why are you so excited. Doesn't that mean that we have to eliminate that photo from their archives? You know, to erase the existence of our kind from their records."

Urahara smiled. "Actually, no. This is very vague, and I only know that it is talking about the Royal Family for the fact that I have talked to the caretakers of that realm before and heard their stories. This one matches up with one of the more famous stories of how the Royal Family came to be, and how they took command of the many Soul Societies across the dimensions. Honestly, it could be confused with their story of ascension, from the little information that Jackson-sensei gave to me on the subject."

The "little information" was actually an 800-page journal written by Daniel about what all he had discovered and the few memories he had from being ascended. Urahara had, somehow in the last week that they had been at the mountain complex, read the entire thing. Twice.

It had been an interesting week so far. After their first day, a few more of the regular scientists came back which relieved Daniel and Sam from keeping watch on the two. Or, as the American's called it, "helping them out." The two Shinigami were under no illusions as to their true purpose, however. During that time, they had gotten to know a few of the other researchers on the project, most of whom were very happy to have help deciphering the text and understanding the few actual artifacts that had come back.

Urahara had refused to look at the chunk of stone yet that they were brought in to catalog and understand. He said that he first wanted to understand the environment that it had come from so he had a proper base knowledge on which to base his findings. "It wouldn't do for me to look at it and say, 'I have no clue what this is,' if the other clues of the settlement point to what it may be. You never know, it may be a compound like concrete and not a natural element of the area. Heavens, it could've come from another planet!"

So, Ichigo was asked to help dig through the pictures of the area and tell Urahara if he saw any of the script that was used in Soul Society. It was one of the many lessons that Urahara had been conveying to Ichigo since the fall of Xcution and the return of Ichigo's monstrous spiritual powers…and, to say the least, the entire thing was very tedious. Many of the symbols were from the older Japanese written language, meaning that it was very similar to the modern symbols of the language. However, it was the old Chinese thrown in like good spices that Ichigo had to learn. And Urahara was a merciless taskmaster, especially with Yoruichi hounding both their steps so he could be the best Soul Reaper that he could manage.

Urahara saw it as a perfect opportunity for his student to practice what he had learned so far. Ichigo was very irritated by this, but then Urahara pointed out that there was nothing much else that he could help with. "You are here to assist me, as well as be a representative of the Shinigami to the Living, even if they don't know what we both are. That being said, you know next to nothing about archeology OR geology, so leave the heavy work for me and you work on translating." Ichigo had nothing to argue after that.

Which was also the reason the poor Substitute was about to go stir-crazy. He hadn't even had time to run laps or anything since their arrival on base. As a person who was going out nightly to eliminate Hollows and jumping from rooftop to rooftop, this forced inaction was about to drive him insane.

After looking at a few more pictures for a half hour and writing down the translations, he threw his hands up in the air with a growl of frustration. "I can't do this anymore! Urahara, you're on your own for a bit, I need to do something other than this stuff that even Toshiro would find annoying and tiring."

At this, one of the other scientists in the room looked up. "If it's physical activity that you are looking for, there are a couple of training rooms on base. There is a machine room, where there are treadmills, ellipticals and the like, then there is a weight room, and the sparring room. Usually there is a soldier or three in any of the rooms, especially if Teal'c is training. Then there is usually a crowd in the sparring room. He is a force of nature to watch." The scientist grinned as Ichigo thanked him. "Oh, you won't thank me if you end up fighting Teal'c, if that's your thing. Just ask anyone around the base and they can direct you to the correct room."

So, Ichigo left to get dressed in something that was more condusive to sparring. As he entered his room, he noticed the lean black cat draped across his pillow. "Really, Yoruichi? This is my bed, not your place to catnap."

The feline opened one eye and glared at Ichigo. Hard. "I will sleep where ever I want to. Are you going to try to make me stop?" She unsheathed her claws, which glinted in the low light.

"Er…no. Never mind." He started to sweat a little, remembering how accurate Yoruichi was with those claws of hers. "Hey, do you know if my father happened to slip a gi or a shihaku'sho in my luggage? He was getting on me before I left about keeping up my training, and I wouldn't put it past him to have slipped something in here," he said as he started to dig through his two duffel bags.

Yawning, Yoruichi mumbled. "Shihaku'sho. Bigger bag, side pocket. Urahara made it extra-dimensional, so it also has a boken and light armor in it, though when you were going to practice Aikido I don't know…you and Urahara have been so busy that I am getting grey hairs from waiting." With that, Yoruichi stood up, turned in a circle, and plopped back down, falling promptly back asleep.

And the cat was right. There was a full black Shihaku'sho with the embellishments that his own Shinigami uniform had on it. He smiled a little, acknowledging the effort his father put into it. It would be a lot more comfortable fighting in an outfit that was, literally, a part of his soul. There was even the plated red chain that attached to Zangetsu when he was in spirit form. As Ichigo pulled on the chain he had to chuckle. It was completely useless now, but the "charm" his father had given him on the trip to Soul Society (and later sewn onto his school uniform) was attached to the lowest point. And his father claimed that he wasn't sentimental.

Glancing at Yoruichi, he decided that he would put the uniform on in the bathroom. It would be just like her to embarrass him if he thought she was asleep and she commented on how he looked without any clothing on.

After he was dressed and headed towards the sparring room (after having gotten directions from an off-duty soldier,) he started on his way towards to room. The soft swish of his hakama and the gentile padding sound of his sandaled feet was, strangely, comforting. He had been stuck in his human body for too long when his powers drifted away like the wind after his defeat of Aizen that he never really realized how comforting the uniform of a Shinigami was until it was gone, and then brought back. The only thing that was wrong with this picture was the missing Zangetsu, though he had been taught by Hiori (with several sandals to the face) how to materialize his partner while still in his human body.

He rounded a corner of the base that was near the infirmary, and nearly ran into an older gentleman in strange clothing. Sucking in a breath, he realized that this man felt…wrong. His eyes were too old, and there seemed to be a black auora in the general area of his head, neck, and the junction of his neck and shoulders. He bowed and gave a hasty apology before he noticed that the entirety of SG-1 was standing behind the man, looking at Ichigo with some shock on their faces. The older man, however, was staring at Ichigo, a puzzled frown on his face.

"Er…hi, guys." Ichigo reached around to scratch the back of his head a little sheepishly, and looked at the stranger before bowing again, deeper than the time before. "I'm sorry, I did not realize that you were friends with SG-1, or I would not have been so hasty in my apology before." He straightened up, and the man's expression had gone from confused and wary to unreadable.

Ichigo didn't take it as a good sign.

Noticing the tension in the air, and determined to do something about it, Daniel stepped in. "Jacob, this is one of the foreign scientists, Ichigo Kurosaki, brought in to look at the artifacts from Monument." At Ichigo's raised eyebrow, he elaborated. "The planet that the stone came from. Ichigo, I would like you to meet Jacob Carter, a liaison from the Tok'ra, the race that you met when you first viewed the Stargate." The two shook hands, but the tension never really left the hall. Jack cleared his throat, and looked between the two, wondering what was going on.

"Ichigo, I must ask…why are you dressed like that?" Daniel asked, looking the Substitute up and down. "I mean, you look like you are in the clothing of the dead, only…this appears more like a uniform than anything."

Ichigo nodded. "It…kind of is. Urahara usually trains me in swordplay while we are wearing this. We do call it a "Shihakusho," thought, so…it is kind of death clothes." Crap! Think of a reason why it would be called that! Oh, the Sword schools! Taking a deep breath, Ichigo continued. "The sword school that Urahara and I practice believes that you should be dressed for death, for it may come at any time while in battle. Wear that which is simple, so…as to show you are humble; wear black for the mourning of your comrades, and, so that you may appear like a ghost in the night. All of us who fight in this school usually add some kind of modifications to it in order to make the uniform our own. Urahara wears his hat and clogs, mine is in the chain sash, the collar and the greaves." Here, he shifted his weight a bit in his impatience. "I was actually on my way to see if any in the sparring room had knowledge of the staff or blade. I have not gotten any exercise in the last week and a half, and I'm going stir-crazy in the lab looking at picture after picture."

"It would be an honor to spar with you, Ichigo Kurosaki, if you wish to fight someone with a staff or blade." Everyone looked back in surprise at Teal'c, who had offered his services.

"Well, if you do not mind, now that I know Simoń is alright, I would like to watch this spar," Jacob said, pulling himself upright and grabbing his wrists.

"Hell, so would I," Jack stated, a smirk forming on his face.

Sam just looked between the flummoxed Japanese, Jacob, and Teal'c, shaking her head. "I would, too, but I have some things to get to in my lab." She looked at Jacob. "Will you join me for dinner, dad? I haven't seen you in so long that it would be good to catch up." At his affirmative, she left.

After Daniel agreed to watch the fight, and knowing that there wasn't anything left for them to do until SG-1's briefing at 7 that night, they all went to the sparring room, a slightly dazed Ichigo walking behind them. Hadn't he been warned about Teal'c fighting prowess?

With a nervous gulp, he followed them down the hall and into the locker rooms for Teal'c to grab the practice weapons.

What had he gotten himself into?

AN2: Next up: The spar, more dirty looks from Jacob and a suggestion from Selmac. Stay tuned. ^-^