Chapter VI

Hello all, hopefully you all enjoyed the last chapter. And I hope that what all was revealed last time didn't lose too many of you. Now, I'd like to once again thank my coauthor Bakuto Masaki for his contributions to the story. And to the Last Nanaya, who isn't a coauthor but has helped me with a lot of understanding pertaining to the Nasuverse. As before, not too many reviews but at least I got some this time, so I'd like to go into them for the reviewer responses this time around.

Jose19: No, not really. Not everyone will get the limelight naturally, but that's true of all stories, fanfiction or otherwise.

It will go in all directions. The plot of Sekirei, Bleach, Highschool DxD, and a few others will be divided up into chunks and arcs spread throughout the story. For example, the current section of the story is going over the Agent of the Soul Reapers Arc from Bleach. I know that they do, and I plan to integrate all of those personalities and goals into this one story, naturally some characters will end up mildly different but not too awfully much.

Unfortunately I can't tell you the long term goals of the main character, as that will reveal the future of the story. But for now, his primary goal is to just figure out what the hell's going on. Oh don't worry, Ichigo will have his moment, I guarantee it. I plan to use most of them.

TheLastNanaya: Yeah, to make things work with the mythos created in Legends of Chaos some of the rules of the different involved series had to be changed, and that included a lot of the rules for the Holy Grail War. As I've mentioned before, I never could get a grip on that Throne of Heroes stuff and it doesn't work with how the afterlife and whatnot functions in LOC so it'll unfortunately need to be excised.

Now that I didn't actually know, I've still not finished the entirety of the Fate anime so there are still a few things I don't understand, and at the time I wrote that section of that chapter, that was one of those things.

I did? Well...shit. And here I thought I was right with that. Why do I have so much trouble keeping them straight? Grr, well, just the names really.

Well, that seems to wrap up the reviewer responses, unfortunately, but it is what it is. Guess if that's all, it's time for the story proper.

"WHAT!?" Erza shouted in shock and anger as Kazuma informed her of the day's events.

Kazuma looked at her worriedly and answered lamely, "Er, well…Ichigo won't be…coming in tomorrow…?"

"And you expect me to just let such a violation of the rules slide?!"

Kazuma blinked curiously and asked, "Why does it…matter…?"

Erza clenched her fist righteously and explained, "I am a class representative! So it is my duty to ensure the attendance of the students."

Medea looked at her somewhat impressed by her conviction.

Kazuma raised a hand and rebutted, "You're the representative for your own class, not mine. Tatsuki has that role."

Erza felt a sharp pain in her back. "Th-that's not the point! I may only be the representative of my own class but I am also a third year! I must look after my little juniors!"

"That only applies in romance anime."

Kazuma was then lying on the floor with a pan on his head as Medea lightly poked him curiously.

"That! Is! Irrelevant!" Erza argued indignantly. "It's settled. Tomorrow we will be going and finding Ichigo and demanding an explanation to his absence!"

Kazuma lifted himself up uneasily, blood dripping from his forehead, and argued, "I already know why so that's no good reason!"

Erza looked at him curiously with her hands on her hips. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Kazuma scratched the back of his head, now cleared of blood thanks to Medea, and answered, "Tomorrow is the anniversary of his mother's death."

Erza raised an eyebrow in thought. "His mother's…death?"

Kazuma nodded in affirmation. "Yeah, a few years before I was freed from the Tower of Amala Ichigo's mother was killed in an accident. So every year he skips school while his family takes a trip to her grave to have a picnic. They even shut down the clinic for the day."

Erza put a hand on her chin in thought. "I see. I had no idea. Then that settles it!"

Kazuma sweat-dropped. "Oh no…what now…?"

Pointing off in the distance, Erza announced, "We shall accompany them so they don't feel lonely!"

Kazuma and the others face-faulted before Kazuma shouted, "That's not the point! It's supposed to be a family picnic! We aren't supposed to be involved! We're! Not! Their! Family!"

Erza slapped a hand over Kazuma's mouth with a dark grin. "We're going to their picnic. That's final, understood?"

Kazuma nodded in terrified agreement.

The next day, Kazuma awoke, surprisingly enough, with only Medea next to him. He wondered where the others were when he noticed a small magical barrier on his doorway. He looked at the peacefully sleeping form of the Servant next to him and chuckled to himself in amusement. He then twitched an eyebrow when he remembered how insanely powerful Medea's barriers were and simultaneously realized he couldn't break the barrier as he was at that moment. Seeing no other option he lightly shook the violet-haired beauty's shoulders to wake her.

No response.

Groaning slightly he tried again as he spoke. "Hey, Medea, come on, wake up. I need to get going."

Still nothing.

He then raised an eyebrow and decided on a more common method he used when he was in Greece, leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.

The woman smiled happily and opened her eyes slightly. "Now, was that so hard?"

Kazuma chuckled in amusement. "You always were particular."

Medea nodded and cuddled closer to him.

"Nuh-uh, I have to get up."

Medea frowned sadly. "Can't you just use a Thought Projection? That's what you always did whenever Iphicles took you out for training."

"That's different, this is eight continuous hours or more, a Thought Projection can't last that long. Besides, I have other things to do today."

Medea sighed in disappointment and sat up, snapping her finger, allowing the barrier to disappear and the door to open, causing Kazehana and Kuroka to tumble into the room.

Kazuma and Medea looked at them puzzled as they sprung to their feet.

"What are you doing?" Kazuma asked incredulously.

The two women looked around frantically, somehow hoping an answer would present itself.

Kuroka sighed and then answered weakly, "Well…we were wondering if you were…nya…"

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. "And if we were?"

The two women looked at him surprised while Medea merely giggled in amusement.

"Uhm…if you were…?" Kazehana trailed off.

"It's none of your business," Kazuma answered pointedly, causing the women to feel sharp pains in their back before Kazuma got up and sighed. "Well, guess I better get ready for school."

"Don't bother. Did you forget? We're not going to the school today?" Erza announced as she walked over to Kazuma's room. "We're going to the pic-er, I mean the graveyard, to check on Ichigo."

Kazuma looked at her in disbelief and sighed. "Whatever." He then turned to Medea. "Think you can hold down the fort again today?"

Medea nodded in agreement as Kazuma walked out of the room. She then frowned in disappointment.

In a strange place resembling feudal Japan, a man in Soul Reaper garb stood at a table with many children scattered around as he and the children played with spinning tops.

After a few moments his own top was knocked off the table and he sighs at his loss. "Well, might as well play again, but this time, I'll be the winner."

At that moment, however, another Soul Reaper with a sheet covering his face walked up to the man.

The first Soul Reaper frowned in annoyance and then turned to the children with a smile. "Well, sorry kids but looks like I'm done for a little while."

"Aaawww…" the children moaned.

"Don't worry, I'll be back."

He walked off to a corner with the other Soul Reaper and asked, "So, what is it?"

The sheet-faced Soul Reaper answered, "I have come regarding Number Zero, Erza Scarlet."

The man blinked curiously as he heard the name. "Oh boy, so what has the deceased captain's wife done now?"

"She has exceeded the time limit for staying in the human world. There must also be more under the surface for you to investigate. You are to depart immediately."

"Oh boy…"

In the rocky world where Shrieker had originated, multiple dark forms appeared from the ground and landed on tall rocky ledges. After a few moments one raised its head and remarked gleefully, "I shall go."

Kazuma and Erza are making their way to the Shinto Teito graveyard, with Kazuma noticing Erza was far too happy for their destination.

"You know, you could at least pretend we're going here for a not so happy reason," he chided.

Erza turned to him annoyed. "What are you talking about? My reaction is perfectly fine."

"You're grinning like an idiot."

"Eh!?" Erza responded in surprise. "N-no I'm not!" she argued weakly.

"Whatever you say Captain Smile."

Erza hung her head in embarrassment.

Eventually their chatter was interrupted by the sound of laughter and shouting.

Erza and Kazuma looked at each other puzzled as they made their way up the hill and both paled at what they saw.

Isshin Kurosaki was doing a handstand at the top of the hill as Karin, Yuzu, and Ichigo walked up the hill below him.

As they walked up, Karin turned to Yuzu and said, "Just ignore him. The more attention you give him the more he'll bug you."

Isshin then got a glint in his eye. "Oh how naïve! I will bug you no matter what!" He then began running over to them on his hands before slipping and falling on his face as he slid towards them on his back. "Ahahah! Face the Deadly Dad Slider!"

"Get outta here!" Karin shouted as she kicked Isshin in the face and sent him flying away, right into the rock wall next to where Kazuma and Erza were standing. Karin noticed them and blinked curiously. "Hang on a sec…don't I know you…?"

Ichigo walked up past Karin and Yuzu and asked Kazuma, "So what are you two doing here?"

Kazuma scratched his cheek as he tried to come up with an excuse, however Erza merely blurted out, "We were worried about you so we came to check on you."

Kazuma face-faulted in reaction.

Ichigo looked at them curiously and then sighed in annoyance. "That wasn't necessary, as you can see I'm just fine."

Erza blinked curiously and then looked at Kazuma. "But you said he skips school every year at this same time. I assumed he became ill on a regular schedule."

"Illness doesn't work like that!" Ichigo argued.

Erza ignored him as she turned to Kazuma. "Then for what purpose would he skip school?"

Kazuma shrugged and answered, "That's his story to tell, not mine."

"You answer with that quite often."

"It's because things like that about people are things you should ask them about if you want to know."

Erza sighed and then turned to Ichigo.

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow and then turned to his family. "Hey, I need to go talk to these two alone."

Isshin, who was still lying against the wall upside down, nodded in understanding, answering far too earnestly for his situation, "Very well, I shall wait here."

Taking Kazuma and Erza off to the grove of trees nearby, Ichigo demanded, "Okay, why are you two really here?"

Erza tilted her head in confusion. "What I told you was the truth. Kazuma told me that at this time every year you skip school. So, being your concerned senior decided to investigate."

Ichigo looked at her in disbelief and then turned to Kazuma. "Is she for real?"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Don't ask me. Though I think the real reason is she wanted to have a picnic with you guys."

Erza slumped her shoulders as her face lit up bright red.

Kazuma put a hand on his waist and nodded to himself. "There it is."

Ichigo folded his arms in thought. "So you did this because you wanted to join us on our picnic?"

Erza sighed heavily and then nodded. "Yes. I have never had the chance to experience one in my previous li-"

Kazuma interrupted her by slapping a hand over her mouth.

Ichigo sweat-dropped in response. "Previous…what…?"

"Living situation," Kazuma finished flatly.

"I…see…"

Erza then looked at Ichigo and asked, "Well since Kazuma won't tell me, would you mind explaining why you skipped today?"

Ichigo scratched his head as he looked off to the side and then sighed. "Well, today is June seventeenth. Six years ago today…my mother died."

Erza frowned sadly and apologized. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Ichigo stopped her. "Don't apologize, if I didn't want to tell you I wouldn't have."

As Ichigo and Erza spoke, Kazuma narrowed his eyes and activated his Sharingan to see Ichigo's chakra. 'I see. It's grown substantially in the past six months. At this rate it could burst out in the next few months. Unless it's given a push. And based on this heaviness I'm feeling in the air, he just may get the push he needs.' Kazuma then turned to Erza and added, "Not sure how or why, but Ichigo here's always been able to see ghosts too."

Ichigo lightly groaned in annoyance.

Erza looked at him puzzled and then asked, "Is this true?"

Ichigo nodded in annoyed agreement. "Yeah, I've been able to see ghosts since I was little. What about it?"

"He could even see Mavis," Kazuma added.

Ichigo snarled at Kazuma.

"That's quite surprising. Only a select few should be able to see her," Erza remarked in surprise.

"Screw this!" Ichigo growled as he walked away.

Erza blinked curiously. "What got him riled up?"

Kazuma shrugged with a small smirk. "Who can say?"

Nearby a figure stood in the trees observing them and listening to their conversation.

After a few seconds, Erza raised an eyebrow and then pondered, "Kazuma, I'd like to pose an idea to you."

Kazuma shrugged. "Hit me."

Erza looked at him confused.

"Hahhh, it means tell me."

Erza nodded in understanding. "You said Ichigo has always been able to see the souls of the dead, correct?"

"Yup."

"Does he remember exactly what happened to his mother?"

Kazuma folded his arms in thought. "Normally I'd tell you to go ask him but he seems a little pissed so I guess I'll fill in on this one."

"I would appreciate that."

"Based on what he's told me before, he doesn't remember the specifics, all he remembers is walking with his mother on a rainy day when he noticed a young girl standing by the river. Worried the girl would get hurt Ichigo ran down to help her. Next thing he knew he was lying on the ground with his deceased mother embracing him."

Erza looked at him surprised as her mind raced in thought. "Kazuma…I noticed you examining Ichigo with your Sharingan a moment ago."

"Y-you could tell…?"

Erza nodded. "Yes. Tell me, does he have more mana than most people?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "What's that got to…yes, yes he does."

"Then do you think it's possible…that his mother was killed by a Hollow that was going after him?"

The eavesdropper, a Soul Reaper in a straw hat gasped lightly at the notion.

Kazuma narrowed his eyes in thought. "It's a wild idea…but then again I'm a substitute Soul Reaper that was once an ex-half-devil turned human so what do I know?"

Erza nodded in agreement. "Yes, we should ask Ichigo."

Kazuma grabbed her by the collar. "Whoa there, no way. Ichigo can sometimes see ghosts, but he's never seen a Hollow before."

Erza blinked in confusion and asked, "How can you be sure? Have you ever seen them before recently?"

"Yes, I have. I just figured they were Stray Devils however. Besides, even if he has seen them, he wouldn't know what you meant if you asked." Kazuma then sighed and added, "That aside, even if none of that was factored in, there's only one person he blames for her death, and you'd have a hell of a time convincing him otherwise."

Erza raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who…?"

"…Himself…"

Back in Shinto Teito proper, Orihime and Tatsuki are sitting in Tatsuki's room at her house eating and talking when Orihime asked, "Hey Tatsuki, what do you know about the old Ichigo?"

Tatsuki blinked curiously. "What?"

"You know, how he was when he was little. You two grew up together, didn't you? If you did, then you could tell me if I'm right."

"Right? About what?"

"About Ichigo's secret."

"His…secret? What the heck kind of secret could he have?"

"I think…he's a hero protecting the Earth."

Tatsuki blinked curiously and asked her, "Why on earth do you think that?"

"Because he has weird hair and he always disappears at the same time every year. I think it's to go back to his home planet."

Tatsuki twitched an eyebrow and then answered, "That's pretty unlikely. Besides, I'd say Kazuma's weirder than Ichigo."

"Really? I don't think so. Kazuma seems pretty normal to me."

"If you say so. As for Ichigo, I met the 'hero' when I was about four, we both attended the same dojo. At the time, he was, to me, a boy with unbelievably bright hair, an unbelievably wide smile, and an unbelievably beautiful mom. At the time he also looked skinny, goofy, and weak."

"Tatsuki, that's not very nice to say," Orihime scolded.

Tatsuki chuckled in amusement. "Yeah, probably not. But it was true, he was. I easily defeated him in our first match, which had the unfortunate effect of making me the first person to make him cry. But then, the moment he saw his mother, who had come to pick him up, that big bright smile returned. At first I hated that, since it seemed weird for a boy to lose and then be happy. However…his mom died shortly after that."

"Oh…" Orihime responded lowly.

"The following day he didn't show up to school so I went looking for him. I found him down by the river bank where his mother had died. He just stood there, and whenever he got tired he squatted down for a bit and then stood back up. Every day, from morning to night, he would stand there. It was…almost as if he was searching for his mother." Tatsuki sighed and then remarked lowly, "I couldn't stand watching him back then."

Erza looked at Kazuma confused. "Ichigo blames…himself…why?"

Erza's bag began to rustle as Kon popped out. "Phew…it's hot in there…"

Kazuma folded his arms in annoyance. "Kon, you should stay in the bag."

"Aaah, shaddup. It's hot in that thing. Besides, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. Spiky probably blames himself because he wandered down to help that girl."

Kazuma nodded in acknowledgment. "That about sums it up."

Erza was about to ask another question when Kazuma raised a hand and looked off to the side in thought.

"Hold that thought." Looking towards the forest he ordered, "I know you're there! Come out."

After a few seconds two figures walked out from behind a tree.

The first was a relatively tall man with short black hair and black irises with a straw hat that had a string hanging down who wore the standard Soul Reaper garb.

The other was a short and petite young woman with light skin, short, black hair with several strands hanging between her violet eyes, who also wore a Soul Reaper uniform. The girl's expression was at first stern and calm, that is, until she saw Erza. At that moment her eyes began to sparkle as she poorly hid her grin.

The man looked at the girl and asked, "Er, Rukia, you okay?"

The girl, Rukia, ignored him as she muttered breathlessly, "Wow…it's actually her…Erza Scarlet…head captain of the Zero Division…"

Kazuma blinked in thought and then turned to Erza. "Erm, Erza, who's that?"

"Hey! Watch your mouth! You have no right to address her so casually!"

Kazuma blinked again and then sighed. "Why are short people always so annoying?"

Rukia twitched an eyebrow and challenged, "Do you want me to cut you into pieces?"

The man put a hand on Rukia's shoulder. "Okay, I think that's enough for now. I know how much you…admire Miss Scarlet, but that's not the reason we're here, don't forget."

Rukia looked up at the man in annoyance and sighed. "Very well, Eikichiro."

Eikichiro then looked at Kazuma. "You know, it was pretty rude to shout at us like that."

Kazuma folded his arms in annoyance. "It's just as rude to spy on people. Mr. Soul Reaper."

"The name's Eikichiro Saido, kid."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. 'I bet this little jerk's less than three hundred years old, and he's calling me a kid?'

'You really don't want to get entangled in that right now, do you?' Ddraig warned.

Kazuma ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Whatever, anyway, what exactly is it you want?"

"I want to talk to the pretty lady."

Kazuma motioned a hand at Erza. "Go ahead."

"Ahem, without you around."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes. "Not happening."

Erza looked at Kazuma with worry. "Kazuma, not right now. This man is stronger than the average Hollow."

Kazuma smirked and responded, "I'll be fine. Besides, even if I'm not, Celsius and Volt are always here."

To accentuate his veiled threat, Celsius and Volt revealed themselves to Rukia and Eikichiro, who tensed upon their appearance.

Kazuma raised a hand towards his two Great Spirits, who back away some, and then looked back at the Soul Reapers. "Now, if you want to try taking down all three of us feel free. Otherwise I'm staying right here."

Eikichiro narrowed his eyes in thought and then sighed, motioning to Rukia to calm down.

Rukia hissed in annoyance but complied.

Erza looked at the two other Soul Reapers and then noticed a small wooden plaque on a white band around Rukia's left arm. She looked between them and asked, "Why was a lieutenant sent with you, Eikichiro?"

Nodding, he answered, "Well, partially to give li'l Rukia here some real world experience," Rukia puffed her cheeks in annoyance, "but mostly as backup, since our observers, while they haven't been able to observe you guys directly, they can feel the disturbance this Substitute Soul Reaper is causing. So they figured a lieutenant would provide some extra insurance."

Kazuma looked at Rukia thoughtfully. "Well maybe they should've sent one bigger than a bean sprout."

Erza and Eikichiro twitched their lips in suppressed laughter as Rukia turned bright red and was holding herself back from slicing the presumptuous "mortal" in half. "I'll have you know, I may not be at your standards of height, but I am more than capable of holding my own in combat and am quite skilled in Kido."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow in feigned curiousity. "Is that so? Look, this banter is nice and all, but the two of you being here is ruining a little plan of mine, since unless you two scram spiky's not going to wake up."

Erza and the others looked at him confused.

"Kazuma, what are you talking about?" Erza asked.

Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin, meanwhile, were at their mother's grave praying.

Karin was merely asking her mother how she was doing as she prayed, however she turned and saw Yuzu sobbing. Sighing, Karin turned to Yuzu and kindly chided, "Yuzu, you can't cry every year we do this. Especially because we turn eleven this year."

Isshin, seeing his daughters' somber state, walks up behind them and begins imitating a monkey in an attempt to amuse and cheer them up. He then stopped and shouted in not-so-sudden surprise, "Oh my gosh! Kurosaki family members-only gravestone domino tournament! The goal is to see how many gravestones we can devilishly demolish in two and a half hours!"

Karin stood up and spun in the air, kicking him in the face and shouting, "How about you press the rest button on your life?!" She then turned back to Yuzu and crouched down with a sigh. "Geez, beard-o's so healthy it's aggravating."

Isshin ran back up to the girls but Karin growled and jumped up to kick him again before running off with him chasing after her.

Kazuma and Erza stood at the edge of the forest, still with Eikichiro and Rukia opposite them, as the three Soul Reapers looked at the substitute friend curiously.

"Kazuma, what do you mean, plan?"

Kazuma scratched his head in aggravation. "Shit…I shouldn't've said that. Well, now that I have and it's obvious you three aren't going to let it go, Ichigo's got some sort of energy inside him that's abnormal compared to most humans. I was hoping that our soul eating friend who is skulking around here would give me a chance to help Ichigo awaken those powers."

Erza widened her eyes in shock and confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Eikichiro narrowed his eyes. "You mean…a Hollow?"

Kazuma nodded with a shrug. "Yeah, he showed up a little while ago. Surprising you guys haven't detected him yet. Though that works better for me really."

Rukia glared at Kazuma and argued, "Are you stupid? A regular human could never defeat a Hollow. And you want to risk something like that for a stupid plan?"

Kazuma sneered at her. "Ichigo's far from a regular human, you'd do well not to judge him. Besides, I've no intention of letting him die, if he got in over his head I'd kill the thing for him. But I'm interested in seeing whatever he's got inside of him waking up."

Erza widened her eyes and then frowned at Kazuma. "You would endanger his life just for your own curiosity?"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "I don't see the issue. If I'm right he'll awaken brand new powers and kill the damn thing, and if I'm wrong he'll receive a few grievous injuries before I step in and kill it. Oh, and one more thing, I won't have the three of you getting in the way either. So when that thing does decide to pounce, stay out of the way."

Eikichiro sighed and pulled down his hat in thought. "Wonderful, out of all the possible humans to get turned into a Substitute Soul Reaper it's someone like you. Though you seem to be a little more well-versed in the world of the 'paranormal' than most humans. What exactly are you if you don't mind?"

Erza sighed and then turned to Eikichiro. "Enough of this drivel, while I don't like whatever it is Kazuma has in mind, I'm more curious what the two of you are doing here. You're from the Secret Mobile Unit, aren't you?"

Eikichiro smirked and pulled a string on his hat, causing a portion to flip up with the word "correct" written on it. "That's right."

Rukia, Erza, and Kazuma looked at him in disbelief.

"That…was horrible…" Rukia scolded.

"Aww, come on little Princess, don't be so cruel," Eikichiro begged.

"Would you stop calling me that? I don't even know who you are."

Eikichiro slumped his shoulders sadly. "You're so cruel…"

Erza narrowed her eyes as she remembered Kisuke's words from before.

"You can't keep pretending forever."

Erza sighed as she realized what he meant.

Eikichiro looked at Erza and reminded, "Back in the Soul Society, everyone's getting rather annoyed. They're all wondering when you'll come back."

Erza folded her arms and retorted, "Hollows show up and are reported, then we go and hunt them down. Unless you can figure out a way to stop that then I will not be returning."

Eikichiro looked at Erza and asked, "Is that so? Then why are you dressed in that outfit?"

Erza unconsciously hugged her arms around her body, and was about to respond when Kazuma shot back, "I don't think how she dresses has anything to do with this, does it?"

Eikichiro groaned and snapped, "Why don't you stay out of this one, human?"

Kazuma narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"I suppose though, it could be said that your current body is 'at that stage' and being with this rather assertive guy. Maybe you're looking for sympathy, or simpler pleasures while you're here."

Erza's face turned red both from embarrassment and anger as she retorted, "Your innuendos are rather excessive."

Kazuma responded, with a far more even-toned voice than before, "You'd better take that back you piece of dirt."

Eikichiro looked at Kazuma surprised. "Ohh…what'd you call me?"

"Erza's a friend of mine, you piece of dirt. I'm not going to stand by and watch you treat her like that, bastard."

Erza's eyes widened before a small smile crossed her face.

Eikichiro sighed and continued, "While I do think being open is good, getting all hot and heavy with a human boy is-!" Eikichiro's sentence was cut short as something small and sharp flew past his face and embedded itself in a tree behind him. Turning his head he saw the kunai deeply entrenched in a tree and then touched a hand to his face, getting blood from his cut. He then looked at Kazuma whose eyes were alight with his Mangekyo Sharingan. "My, my, aren't we feeling confident? Honestly, I was surprised enough that you could see me, but hurt me? In addition to that being insulting, it's enough to get you killed."

Kazuma reached into Erza's backpack and pulled out Kon.

"Hey! Whoa, what's going-blurgh!?" Kon attempted to ask as Kazuma reached down the stuffed doll's throat and pulled out the Gikongan and ingested it, Kon taking over his body as his soul was removed with his Soul Reaper garb and Zanpakuto ready.

Eikichiro narrowed his eyes and sighed as he shook his head. "Honestly, I thought it was a good excuse, and if you had just agreed to what I said, Rukia and I would've been out of here and given our superiors that answer. But, since you vehemently deny it, and now I see this, I've got no choice but to bring you back with force, Erza Scarlet. And you may be a captain, but you're not really able to use your full power right now. Plus, this kid's aided you in committing a felony."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes and grabbed his Zanpakuto's handle.

Eikichiro smirked and asked, "Oh? Want to challenge a real Soul Reaper, huh?" Fine by me. Eikichiro then unsheathed his blade.

Kazuma raised his sword up as he raised it out of his sheath and pointed it at Eikichiro.

Eikichiro began to take a step forward as Kazuma suddenly vanished in a burst of wind. Eikichiro's eyes widened in shock. 'That technique…it's even faster than the Flash Step!' He began turning to find Kazuma but froze as he suddenly felt a very intense pain in a very tender spot as Eikichiro fell down from Kazuma kicking him between the legs.

Kazuma smirked as he held his Zanpakuto over his shoulder. "Well, well, real Soul Reapers do have balls."

Eikichiro writhed on the ground but was able to maintain coherent thought long enough to ask, "How did you…move…so fast…?"

Kazuma smirked in response. "It's called the Quick-Step. I learned it from a friend."

Eikichiro then passed out, leaving Erza and Rukia gaping.

"Uhm…Miss Erza…did that Substitute Soul Reaper just…?" Rukia asked in disbelief.

Erza sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Yes…yes he did." She then turned to Kazuma and asked, "Happy now?"

Kazuma nodded with a grin. "Yup. Now we can-"

The conversation was interrupted by a familiar sound.

The howl of a Hollow.

Back at Masaki's grave, Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu, and Isshin were standing around the grave when Ichigo felt a strange sensation in the pit of his stomach before the ground nearby exploded with force, scattering everyone around.

Ichigo grunted in pain as he sat up and his eyes widened as he saw a shimmering, invisible creature pinning Karin to the ground. Standing up, Ichigo shouted, "Hey! Let her go you bastard!"

The Hollow looked at him curiously. "Hmm…you're able to see me, are you?"

Ichigo clenched his fists and grabbed a loose boulder beside him and ran at the invisible beast. "Bastaard!"

"Heh, pathetic human."

Ichigo dropped the rock as he felt something wrap around his neck and lift him into the air. "Damn…it…"

Kazuma, Erza, Kon, and Rukia approached the area when they saw the Hollow, a beast that resembled a giant hamster with avian hands and feet, with a distinctive tendril hanging off the top of his head with a strange shape to it.

"Damn!" Rukia cursed as she began running down to engage the Hollow. However, as she ran, Kazuma grabbed the back of her Shihakusho and pulled her back. "Wh-what?! Let me go!"

Kazuma shook his head. "No, stay here. I want to see how this plays out. If Ichigo's in any more danger than I deem acceptable I'll intervene. Until then, stay here."

Rukia's eyes widened as she writhed before breaking free.

Kazuma sighed and aimed his hand at Rukia. "Celsius!"

Celsius appeared in front of Rukia, surprising the Soul Reaper. Celsius then raised a hand and ice began appearing at Rukia's feet, encasing her up to her neck.

"This…what is this!?" Rukia demanded.

"A temporary binding," Kazuma answered plainly as he put his hands in his pockets. "Once this is all over I'll let you go. I can't have you stopping this fight just yet."

Erza's eyes widened and then narrowed. "And what if Ichigo dies because of this?"

Kazuma answered succinctly, "He won't. I won't let him."

Erza looked at Kazuma surprised, and angered, before looking back at Ichigo and the Hollow. She momentarily contemplated going after the Hollow when Kazuma snapped his fingers.

"In case you're thinking of interfering…"

Volt then appeared in front of Erza, with electricity sparking on his hands.

Erza clenched her fists angrily.

The Hollow then threw Ichigo aside, slamming him into a wall. "Gah!" Ichigo shouted in pain.

The Hollow looked at Ichigo thoughtfully. "Hmm…you seem familiar human…have I eaten you already…?"

Ichigo stood up and wiped the blood from his chin and spitting. "I don't even know who…or what, the hell you are."

The Hollow widened an eye slightly and then chuckled. "Is that so? And yet you're willing to so valiantly stand up to me? You don't even know what you're fighting and you're willing to go so far? You humans really are stupid."

Ichigo snarled at the beast. "No, it's called family. And you're supposed to protect it with your life."

The Hollow narrowed its eyes and then chuckled as Ichigo ran at him again, this time brandishing a sharp piece of metal that had been broken during the Hollow's entrance.

The monster chuckled as it flipped the tendril on its head upside down, allowing a strange hanging mass to cover it.

When Ichigo saw what it was he stopped dead and his eyes widened. "Th-that…can't be…"

What he saw, was the tendril on the Hollow's head looked just like the girl he had attempted to save when his mother died.

"I see…heh, heh," the Hollow snickered in amusement. "I remember you now, boy. You were that boy who was attracted to my lure…and allowed me to eat the scrumptious soul of that woman you were with. Ooh, let me guess…that…was your mother…?"

Ichigo's eyes widened before he shouted angrily. "You bastard! You…you killed her…didn't you?!"

The Hollow snickered in amusement. "Ahhh, so I hold a cornerstone in your memory? How amusing. If you wish to give a name to the Hollow that killed you and your family, you can call me…Grand Fisher."

"I don't care what you're called! I'll kill you no matter what!" Ichigo bellowed as he charged at Grand Fisher, swinging the bent piece of metal at him.

The Hollow was too fast as Fisher easily jumped over the attack and landed behind Ichigo, kicking him with its back foot and slamming him against the opposite wall.

Erza and Rukia watched in horror as Ichigo was beaten upon by the monster.

"Let me go dammit!" Rukia shouted.

"Kazuma, this isn't a game! If we don't do something Ichigo will die!" Erza argued, attempting to get past Volt but he merely matched her movements exactly.

Kazuma, who was sitting down calmly watching the fight narrowed his eyes. He tightened a fist as he responded, "No…it isn't a game. However this is important. So just wait."

Ichigo got up slowly, blood dripping from his forehead as he stared down Grand Fisher. "You…son of a…bitch. I'll make you…pay…for what you did…"

Grand Fisher merely chuckled in amusement as it observed Ichigo. "I'm so afraid. Heh, heh, you can barely stand right now. You'll never beat me, boy."

Ichigo howled angrily and charged at Grand Fisher again, this time ready to jab at him.

Fisher narrowed its eyes as it flipped the lure on its head again.

This time, Ichigo's blood ran cold.

Kazuma winced as he realized what Fisher was doing.

The lure had changed to look like Ichigo's mother, Masaki.

"Ichigo," "Masaki" pleaded, "don't hurt me, please."

Ichigo's mind went blank, one thing filling his mind: rage. The pendant hanging around Ichigo's neck, the same pendant his mother had worn, began to glow and release a bright white light. Acting as if on instinct, Ichigo grabbed the pendant in his fist after dropping his makeshift weapon, and stuck his hand out to the side. The bright white light darkened and slowly to a thick black color before turning into solid energy and pulsing out in all directions. It then reached a certain width and began to spin, the energy then taking on the form of a four-pointed shuriken, with the ends branching out further to the sides and forming a pinwheel shape as the shuriken made of energy began spinning faster and faster until it appeared to be just a solid spinning disc of energy.

"Wh-what is that!?" Fisher asked in mild surprise.

Ichigo, with his injuries gone or ignored and a strength he hadn't had before, jumped up into the air and spun midair, using his new weapon to slice off Fisher's right hand and free Karin, catching her as he landed.

Fisher took a moment to turn to Ichigo and then looked down at its severed right hand and howled. "Gggrrraaaggghhh! You pest! How dare you! Hmph, that matters not, it was merely a lucky shot!"

Ichigo whirled around with his disc behind him, ready to throw.

Fisher widened its eyes and changed the lure to Masaki again.

Ichigo winced, then steeled himself and shouted, "Screw…you!" He then threw the spinning disc of energy forward, slicing the lure in half and then careening through the Hollow, starting from the head and coming out the opposite side, whirling around and then slicing it in half in the perpendicular direction before Ichigo caught it in his hand and lowered his arm. "Go back to hell. You monster."

Fisher gasped in shock. "N-no…I was beaten by…a mere…mortal…?" The Hollow's body then began to slowly dissolve and dissipate.

The disc of energy disappeared from around Ichigo's pendant as the exhaustion from the battle washed over him and he passed out.

On the hill nearby, Kazuma smirked in pride while Rukia and Erza, as well as Kon, gaped in awe.

"Th-that was…amazing…" Erza gasped.

Kazuma nodded and then added, "See? I said he wouldn't die. I didn't expect his defeat of Grand Fisher to be quite that epic, but I had little doubt he would deal with the monster. And he did."

Rukia widened her eyes and then looked from Kazuma to Ichigo.

"So…you were able to see…the power he held inside himself before he even awakened it?"

Kazuma shrugged and snapped his fingers, causing both of his Great Spirits to vanish and Rukia to be freed from the ice prison. "Something like that. I saw a dormant source of power inside his body." He then activated his Sharingan and looked at Ichigo and smirked. "But now, it's active and flaring."

Rukia ran down to the group but was again stopped by Celsius.

"I'm not going to have her freeze you again. But don't wipe their memories. At least not Ichigo's, I'll want to talk to him personally."

Rukia narrowed her eyes suspiciously and then turned to Erza, who nodded in agreement with Kazuma.

Erza then suggested, "Why don't you go take care of your partner and we'll handle this?"

Rukia looked side to side unsurely and then sighed and took off.

Kazuma stood up and walked down the hill to where Ichigo and the others were. As he walked he spoke to Erza. "Wipe the memories of Ichigo's family, I'll deal with him myself."

Erza frowned in thought and nodded.

As Kazuma watched her leave he raised an eyebrow and looked up.

Above the battleground he saw a vaguely human-like creature that looked like a female hollow with long white hair.

Kazuma narrowed his eyes at the creature before it faded away.

Ichigo slowly woke up as he cracked his eyes open. His battle with Grand Fisher then entered his mind and he sat up swiftly in shock. "Wh-what happened!?" Ichigo looked around and then saw Kazuma standing against a tree next to him. "K-…Kazuma…?"

Kazuma waved lightly and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Confused. What happened to…that thing…?"

"That thing was a Hollow. It's a monster that eats souls. It was trying to eat your and your family's."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. "This is so…hard to believe." He then looked down at his arm and noticed it was wrapped in bandages. "Did you handle my wounds?"

Kazuma nodded in acknowledgment. "I did. I was hoping it would help you realize what happened was real."

Ichigo nodded and asked, "So…what the hell happened? I mean…to me…?"

Kazuma shrugged somewhat. "I don't know the exact identification but to put it simple you awakened dormant magical powers."

"Magical powers?" Ichigo asked incredulously. "That's ridiculous. You really expect me to believe that?"

"You did it? Didn't you? You turned your mother's pendant into a giant shuriken and sliced that Hollow in half."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes in disbelief and then hissed. "Fine, I suppose there's more evidence for it than against it. I can't say I don't know anything about the paranormal. So, then what about that monster?"

Kazuma nodded and explained. "They're called Hollows. They're monsters that eat human souls for nourishment. That one, Grand Fisher, isn't the only one out there, they're an entire race of beings."

Ichigo listened and sighed. "So then…who stops them?"

"Soul Reapers."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow curiously. "You mean…like grim reapers?"

Kazuma chuckled. "Not exactly. Their job is to hunt Hollows. In fact, I am a Soul Reaper. Unofficially of course."

Ichigo stood up and brushed himself off and asked, "So you mean…you've been hunting these things? For how long?"

"A couple weeks. You know, you're taking this very well."

Ichigo scratched the back of his head and responded, "Well, I've got more reasons to believe it than not. That and…well a few things make sense with this information." He then winced in pain and asked, "So that one…Grand Fisher…it's the one who…?"

"Yes. Near as I can tell it's the one that killed your mother. Considering your rather large amounts of mana it was probably gunning for you but got her instead. So it isn't your fault what happened."

Ichigo took in a breath and then sighed out. "I see…so there are invisible monsters called Hollows that eat human souls, living or dead, and there are people called Soul Reapers who hunt these Hollows, and you're one of them…right?"

Kazuma nodded with a light shrug. "Yeah…well that essentially sums it up. But you can't forget your part in this."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow and looked at him curiously.

"Those powers of yours. You awakened them when you killed Grand Fisher. I can't say how you have those powers or what they are, but you have them and they allow you to kill Hollows."

Ichigo looked at him curiously and then frowned. "What, so you're saying I should start hunting these things now?"

Kazuma shook his head. "Not at all. I'm just saying that you have the ability. That you can't deny. At any rate, you need to keep this from your sisters."

Ichigo huffed in response. "How? They were attacked by that thing too."

"True, but Erza wiped their memories of the event so they won't remember it. At least not the way it happened."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "She can do that?"

Kazuma nodded. "She's a Soul Reaper too. A regular one unlike me." Kazuma then stepped away from the tree and said, "Just think about what I've told you here. And also know that you've avenged your mother."

Ichigo stood with only his thought as Kazuma left.

Kazuma made his way back to where Erza was and saw both Rukia and Eikichiro there as well.

"So, you two are still here as well, huh?" he asked.

Eikichiro nodded and frowned at Kazuma. "That move really wasn't necessary."

Kazuma huffed in derision. "It was. You treated Erza like a dick, I wasn't going to let that stand."

Erza looked at him in disbelief. "This coming from the self-proclaimed pervert?"

Kazuma chuckled in amusement. "True. I am a pervert, but I'd never violate a girl's sensibilities or pride to do it."

Eikichiro raised an eyebrow and then laughed loudly. "That's one interesting thought pattern." He then adjusted his hat before turning around. "Anyway, I'll give you this, you seem to have a little skill behind you, some of which I'm sure you didn't inherit from Erza's power. I didn't get to personally witness you in battle but you've definitely got a keen mind. Hahhh…guess I'm left with no choice but to just make something up about why I didn't bring you back, Erza. I hope you understand the pain in the ass this'll be."

Erza smiled happily and nodded. "Thank you, Eikichiro."

"Aww, don't get all mushy. You're makin' me blush." Eikichiro waved as he and Rukia vanished.

Ichigo arrived back at his mother's grave and noticed that the damage to the area had been undone. He walked over to the grave and said quietly with a small smirk, "I did it, Mom. I was able to avenge you."

Isshin stood behind him and smirked slightly before lighting a cigarette.

Ichigo looked up at his father and asked, "I thought you quit smoking."

Isshin nodded and answered, "One of Masaki's first and last compliments to me was, 'Your hand looks cool when you're smoking.' So because of that, once a year, I smoke a cigarette on our trips to her grave."

Ichigo frowned and then asked. "How come no one blames me for her death?"

Isshin raised an eyebrow and then answered plainly, "Because if we did my dear wife would be angry."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes as Isshin continued.

"Besides that, it was no one's fault. She was a noble woman who was willing to die for her kids."

Ichigo thought about his father's words until Isshin hit him upside the head and began walking away, spitting out words of advice as he walked away, leaving Ichigo lying on the ground with a growing welt and a twitching eyebrow.

Kazuma and Erza returned to their apartment and found someone unexpected inside.

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow and asked in annoyance, "What are you doing here?"

"I was told to stay behind as an extra observer," Rukia Kuchiki responded as she sat at Kazuma's dining room table.

Kazuma sighed and remarked, "Fair enough, but why are you here?"

"It's the easiest way to keep an eye on you."

Erza finally walked up and stood across from Rukia.

Rukia looked at Erza and her eyes lit up again. "Since we didn't get to speak properly before, may I say how good it is to see you in person?!"

Erza frowned and responded sharply, "Get out."

Rukia crumpled over to the floor. "Wh-why…?"

Erza answered plainly, "This apartment is full. There are no rooms for you to sleep in."

Rukia shook her head in response. "That is fine, I don't mind sharing."

"No!" Erza responded angrily. "You cannot stay here! Find somewhere else."

Rukia frowned and then turned to Kazuma.

"Don't look at me," he responded plainly.

Rukia then slumped out the door.

"Do you think that was too rough?" Kazehana asked. She then turned to Erza and smirked. "You lied about the rooms."

Erza nodded with a sigh. "But she seems too…unstable, to stay here."

Kazuma just shrugged and added, "Works for me. I wasn't interested in having another houseguest if we can avoid it."

Erza nodded in emphatic agreement. "Yes! Yes! That's why I pushed her out as well."

Kazehana, Medea, and Kuroka looked at her suspiciously.

Kazuma just sighed and made his way to bed.

The next day, Kazuma arrived at school and saw Ichigo collapsed on his desk.

He walked over to Ichigo and shook his shoulder. "You okay?"

Ichigo sat up with an annoyed expression and weakly grabbed Kazuma's shirt. "I don't know why she's at my house but I'm going to kill you."

Kazuma blinked curiously. "Er…come again?"

"That black-haired Soul Reaper, Rukia. Why is she at my house?"

Kazuma sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "For crap's sake. She went to your house? This is insane."

"Tell me about it. Wait, you mean you saw her before that?"

Kazuma sighed and rested his head on his hand. "Yeah, she tried to stay at my house to keep an eye on me but both Erza and I told her to get lost."

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow. "So she came to my house? Great, what a pain in the ass."

"Don't blame me. She seems to have the social skills of a newt."

"You do realize I can hear you, right?"

Both Kazuma and Ichigo stood up in shock.

Rukia smiled at them. "Hello."

Ichigo and Kazuma sighed in annoyance.

"So how did you end up here?" Kazuma asked with poorly-hidden annoyance.

Rukia responded simply, "Well, I am to stay here and watch over you to make sure you don't cause too much trouble. And attending the same school as you is the best way."

Ichigo asked angrily, "So then why are you staying at my house?"

"Because, you are a Fullbringer, and I'll need to keep an eye on you as well."

Ichigo and Kazuma looked at each other then back to Rukia and asked in unison, "Fullbringer?"

Rukia looked at them curiously and then huffed in annoyance.

Out in the hallway next to the classroom, Rukia looked at Ichigo and Kazuma and asked, "So you don't really know what a Fullbringer is?"

Kazuma and Ichigo shook their heads in response.

Rukia sighed and explained, "Well my captain only told me about them recently so I suppose it's possible you've never heard of them."

"So then what are they?" Ichigo demanded.

Rukia nodded and answered, "They are humans whose mothers survived a Hollow attack while they were pregnant. This results in the Hollow's spiritual energy flowing through the mother's body and, as a result, into the child's body. The Fullbringer is then able to utilize that spiritual energy by concentrating on an object of importance to them and drawing out its spirit."

Ichigo blinked and then asked, "Uhm, how do objects have souls?"

Kazuma answered, "Not soul, spirit. There are invisible beings called Spirits that are involved with every aspect of life, even if those who use them don't realize it. Normally the relationship is simply that the human's body produces mana and feeds it to the Spirits, with a certain set of Spirits then doing things for that person. But Spirits also inhabit objects, and based on our petite friend is saying it sounds like Fullbringers feed their mana directly to the Spirit inside an object, allowing the Spirit to act in ways they normally don't."

Rukia and Ichigo looked at Kazuma surprised.

Kazuma looked back at them confused. "What? I've studied this stuff before."

Rukia looked from him to Ichigo and nodded slowly. "While I've never heard it explained quite like that, essentially that's how a Fullbringer works."

Ichigo nodded and then asked, "So, can I use anything as a weapon?"

Kazuma tapped his chin in thought and then shrugged. "Possibly. But my guess is that a Fullbringer forms a connection with the Spirit inside a specific object, which probably means whatever you used last time is what will be your weapon."

Ichigo nodded in thought and then pulled out his mother's pendant that he kept tucked in his shirt.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and nodded. "I can tell from here that the Spirit in there is a lot stronger than the average one, so my guess is that you will have to use that to fight."

Ichigo sneered. "Who said I plan on fighting those things, huh?"

"No one did. But the way I see it, I can't stand by and do nothing, when I know I have the power to do something." Kazuma then walked back to the classroom.

Ichigo watched him leave for a few seconds before snarling and kicking the nearby trashcan and going back to the classroom with Rukia.

Kazuma resumed his seat in class and was soon assaulted by two familiar voices.

"Yo, Kazuma!"

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow and looked to see Motohama and Matsuda standing next to him. "Need something?"

"Just seein' how you're doin'!" Matsuda answered energetically.

Kazuma looked at them curiously and then asked with a knowing smirk, "Finished the books did we?"

The two knelt and pleaded, "Please give us volume two!"

Kazuma looked out the window in thought. "Tomorrow. You need time to properly digest the information."

The two sat in their seats defeated. "Yes sir…" they answered in unified sorrow.

Kazuma could only chuckle. 'Heh, heh. This reminds me of how I use to jerk Ivar around. Though then again comparing those two to Ivar is like comparing a couple of pet dragonflies to a giant hornet. With acid. And a megaphone.'

'You still hate Ivar?' Ddraig asked in amusement.

'How can I not? I was rolling on the ground when Brutaur mowed him down. Too bad the poor bastard was practically immortal.' Kazuma returned his attention to the classroom around him as the other students began entering the room. Kazuma looked around and noticed Sakura sitting in her same seat and decided to check on whatever those strange chakra signatures were. Placing a hand over his eye he peered through his fingers with his Sharingan and noticed that the number of signatures had decreased, but one of them had grown considerably larger. Narrowing his eyes he thought, 'Are they parasites? But that would mean they're…eating each other…' Sighing Kazuma decided he couldn't make sense of it and turned his attention to Ms. Fujimura as she began the day.

Kazuma was relieved when the midday bell finally rang and he was able to head out to grab a meal. Though it also meant he wouldn't be sitting in the same position as always for a little bit.

However, on his way to the roof he came across a familiar face, Akeno, who subtly waved at him.

Following her into a hallway, Kazuma asked, "So, I assumed you wanted to talk to me?"

Akeno nodded in response. "Yes, I do. Would you like to go another date tomorrow?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Works for me. Though why are you suddenly asking me out? Isn't that a little unorthodox?"

Akeno nodded and answered, "There's something special I want to do tomorrow."

Kazuma smirked and asked intrigued, "So it'll be fun I assume?"

Akeno giggled in amusement and answered with a wink, "You'll have to wait for that. But no, I want to go see Don Kanonji." She then did something very bizarre. She cupped her hands in a grasping motion, crossed them over her generous bosom, and then laughed maniacally, "Bwahahahah!"

Kazuma looked at her in disbelief and asked, "What the hell was that?"

Akeno put a hand to her cheek and asked disappointed, "My, my, that wasn't funny? Aww…but that's Don Kanonji's catchphrase."

Kazuma sighed and responded, "Even coming from a girl as beautiful as you that's the dumbest thing I've ever seen. Who, or what, is this Don Cat-on-gin guy anyway?"

"Ka-no-n-ji. Kanonji. He's a fake exorcist."

Kazuma blinked and asked, "A what now?"

"He's a popular spirit medium on television whose main purpose is to find and destroy evil spirits. Though for the most part he doesn't seem to have any idea what he's doing."

Kazuma sighed and then asked, "So then why are you interested in this guy's show?"

"Because he's funny. And I sometimes enjoy watching humans pretend like they know what they're doing."

Kazuma caught the oddity in her sentence and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Akeno blinked and then put a hand over her mouth. "My, my, look at the time. You'll go with me, right?"

Kazuma sighed heavily and just gave a thumbs up as she walked away. "Geez…what I'll do for a nice pair of boobs."

Kazuma finally made his way to the roof where everyone else was and noticed Rukia had joined their group. Raising an eyebrow, Kazuma asked Ichigo, "What's she doing here?"

Ichigo sighed and responded annoyed, "She insisted on joining us."

Rukia coughed and interjected, "I'm right here you know."

Kazuma and Ichigo deadpanned, "We know."

Rukia twitched an eyebrow in irritation.

Kazuma sat down and began to eat his lunch when Orihime asked, "Have you heard about what's going on tomorrow?"

Kazuma looked at her and just waited for her to continue.

As if on cue, Orihime stood up, crossed her arms over her chest and then Sado, Tatsuki, and Kiba assumed the same position as they all laughed maniacally, "Bwahahahah!"

Kazuma and Ichigo face-faulted in response.

Kazuma rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "This cannot be happening…"

Ichigo asked him, "Any idea what that's all about?

Kazuma nodded in frustration. "Yeah…and it's the same place Akeno asked me to take her on our next date."

Ichigo blinked and responded, "So then that means…?"

Kazuma flopped his head against the concrete. "If I agree they'll see me and if I don't she'll be pissed…this sucks…"

Ichigo patted his back lightly. "Too bad."

Kazuma looked at Ichigo incredulously. "Go to hell."

It was at that moment that the door to the roof opened and Genshirou Saji walked up to the group proudly.

Kazuma and the others looked at him confused.

Kazuma waved weakly and asked, "Where were you the other day?"

Saji put a hand under his chin and chuckled darkly. "Well, in a very secret meeting. Can you guess who is now a member of Kuoh Academy's student council…?"

Kazuma, Ichigo, Erza, and Tatsuki answered, "The frog down the street/Kiba/what's that/Aika?"

Saji face-faulted and then shouted, "No! Me! I'm in the student council!" He then clapped his hands together and added dreamily, "Alongside the beautiful and wonderful Sona Shitori…"

The rest looked at him curiously.

"Why aren't you reacting?!"

"Because we don't care," Kazuma answered plainly.

Saji gave a pained moan before collapsing onto the ground.

The remainder of the day passed without incident until Kazuma made to leave the school. As he walked out of the school parking lot, something rushed past him at high speed and dragged him around the corner.

Koneko, who saw this and was puzzled, decided to investigate.

Kazuma panted as he managed to catch his breath and looked up at his captor annoyed. "Aoko! What the hell's your problem!?"

Aoko, a beautiful young woman with fair skin, long red hair that reached down to her ankles, and bright blue eyes who wore a simple white t-shirt, ankle-length jeans, and black shoes, grinned at Kazuma. "C'mon, you can't tell me you're not excited to see me."

Kazuma sighed and brushed off his pantleg and responded, "True. At least as long as you're around I know I'll never have a chance to catch a breather."

Aoko grinned, seemingly ignoring Kazuma's veiled insult, and replied, "But I didn't nab you from school for small talk. I've got us a new project. We've been hired to make a special, mana absorbing katana and the client is willing to pay nicely."

Kazuma nodded in understanding and asked, "So then what do you need my help for?"

"Just finishing it up. I was able to use your Gram as the basis for the design, I simply need your help perfecting it."

Kazuma nodded and the two walked away to presumably go to where Aoko was keeping the blade.

Koneko narrowed her eyes and turned to head back into the school.

Aoko took Kazuma to her shop, a small building on the far north side of Shinto Teito that was surrounded by other small, personally owned shops, rather than the chain stores in the rest of the city.

Kazuma looked around as he walked inside and noticed the variety of weapons and magical equipment in her shop. "Heh, heh, it's been a long time since I've been in here."

"Yup," Aoko chirped as she ducked behind the desk, "about four months I think." After a little digging she pulled out a long, rectangular box, and then opened it, allowing Kazuma to see the katana she was talking about.

It was an average length katana with a straight blade, the handle was silver in color with black fabric wrapping around it, though the bottom third of the handle had a long, ornate cap on it, holding the fabric in place with a single jewel hanging on a string at the end, the hand guard was a black ring with multiple tomoe at specific intervals on the ring, with two extending further inward than the rest to attach the ring to the handle itself. Picking it up out of the case, Aoko unsheathed the sword and showed that the blade was jet black in color.

Kazuma held the blade in his hand and examined it curiously. "So…why exactly is my help needed?"

"Well that blade is actually just regular steel," Aoko explained, "I was hoping you could use that as a base to Trace some Taphus Ore for me."

Kazuma blinked and then frowned. "I could but…but any materials made with Trace are relatively brittle and will degrade quickly."

Aoko grinned sneakily and responded, "Magic Blue can handle that."

Kazuma blinked in confusion. "What does your magic have to do with anything?"

Aoko smirked and answered, "I can stop the material's time and prevent it from degrading."

Kazuma stood silently and then asked, "Would that make it more resilient too?"

Aoko nodded in response, though she was curious where he was headed with his questions.

Kazuma sighed in relief. 'That means I may not have to pay Murakami's insane prices as often…' Kazuma then shook his head and then asked, "So what are the dimensions you want for the blade?"

Aoko pointed to the blade of the sword and replied, "Pretty much that but sharper."

Kazuma nodded and then pressed his hand against the blade for a few moments and then nodded to himself. He then stuck out his hand as a small green light emanated from the center of his hand and a long, flat object began to form from light before the light faded and revealed a long, onyx blade with multiple holes near the end and no handle.

Acting instantly, Aoko stuck out her hands and a momentary pulse of blue light shot from her hand into the blade.

After waiting a few seconds they both sighed in relief.

Aoko held the blade and smirked proudly. "See? Now the blade won't degrade."

Kazuma nodded in surprised understanding as Aoko prepared to take the sword to switch out the blades. He then asked, "Hey, if you don't mind, who asked you to make that sword?"

Aoko put a finger on her chin and thought for a few seconds. "I…don't know. Some foreign woman. She didn't say why she just agreed to pay me a whole bunch of money for it."

Kazuma nodded and then offered, "If you want, I can switch out those blades while you handle the store."

Aoko looked at him in thought for a moment and then nodded. "Sounds good."

Roughly handing him the sword and box, Kazuma grunting as he attempted to balance everything without the sword stabbing him in the chest, Aoko returned to the register as Kazuma sighed and went into the back of the store.

After manning the store for a short time while Kazuma worked in the back, Aoko looked up and noticed a customer walk in. She smiled in amusement as she noticed who it was.

Kazuma was busily working with the sword to replace all of the parts where they needed to go when Aoko walked into the room. Kazuma looked up and asked, "What do you need now?"

Aoko smirked and motioned to the front of the store. "Your best customer is here again."

Kazuma sighed and stood up before making his way to the storefront.

As he walked out, he saw who Aoko was talking about, a teenage girl with light skin and long, wavy black hair tied in twintails with black ribbons along with some hanging loose, and dark blue eyes wearing a red turtleneck with a cross-shaped design on the front, a black skirt, brown shoes, and long, thigh-high black socks.

Kazuma gave a light wave and said casually, "Hey, Rin."

The girl, Rin, looked at Kazuma slightly annoyed. "You took your sweet time getting out here."

Kazuma shrugged in response. "I didn't have much of a reason to come."

"Tch, jerk."

The two then looked at each other with matching smirks before Kazuma asked casually, "So, come for more repairs on those jewels of yours?"

Rin nodded and reached into her turtleneck and pulled out a small red jewel attached to a chain with an ornate mounting. She then handed it to Kazuma. "The power in the jewel is running out again."

Kazuma nodded in understanding and motioned to the back of the store. "Just come with me."

Rin nodded in agreement and followed him.

Kazuma sat down and looked at the jewel for a moment and then placed his right hand over it.

When he did, Rin tensed some, releasing a minute gasp in surprise.

Kazuma noticed this and looked at Rin puzzled. "Something wrong?"

Rin unconsciously put her left hand over her right, though Kazuma could still see the complex mark that branded her hand.

Kazuma sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "You've gotta be kidding me."

Rin looked off to the side and then at him obstinately. "So, what're you waiting for?"

Kazuma looked at her puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"It's obvious you're a Master as well. Aren't you going to make it easy and take me out of the game?"

Kazuma shook his head. "No. I've got no interest in this farce. My only goal is to dismantle this damn War."

Rin stood up in shock. "Y-you what?!"

Kazuma looked at her sternly. "You heard me. This war is idiotic. All over a Sacred Gear that's about as cursed as they come."

Rin scowled at Kazuma and then sat back down with a sigh. "Unbelievable. Do you even realize what you're saying? The Grail chose you as a Master, you can't just run away from that."

Kazuma put up a hand. "If you don't mind, Aoko's in the next room. I'd rather not get her involved in all this."

Rin blushed lightly at her own thoughtlessness, having forgotten an outsider was just beyond the door. "W-well then what do you suggest, huh?!"

"We meet somewhere else and talk about this."

Rin nodded in understanding. "I should take you to see the man who oversees all of this then, he can explain to you how much of an idiot you're being."

Kazuma sighed in exhaustion. "Not tonight though. I've got a late night with something important to take care of tomorrow. So how about the day after?"

Rin looked at him slightly annoyed but acquiesced. "So be it. At least tell me which Servant you have, mine is Archer."

Kazuma nodded and answered, "Caster."

Rin frowned slightly. "Really…? I would've loved to have had Caster, it'd at least be better than Archer."

Kazuma sighed and then handed her back the red amulet. "Here, I've recharged the mana inside that stone for you."

Rin nodded and put the stone back around her neck and tucked it in. "I assume you know that no one else is to become involved in this?"

Kazuma shrugged. "Shouldn't be too difficult. It's not like the Servant you've got is anybody I'll know."

Rin blinked curiously. "…What's that supposed to mean…?"

"I'm just babbling."

Rin looked at him suspiciously and then walked out of the shop.

Kazuma sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "This is insane…"

Well, that should just about do it for this chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed it, leave a review if you did, though don't worry about leaving a few criticisms as long as you're not just bashing the story over the head with a stick. Suppose I'll see you next time then.