Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction (obviously..) that I wrote for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours as well. I own nothing related to Bleach (except for a nifty keychain that I got with one of the dvds), and can only claim the plot as my own.
==Chapter 2==
Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as he felt a familiar spiritual presence pass through his family's senkaimon and suddenly stop moving, as if waiting for someone. Nodding in acceptance at this show of respect by his visitor, Byakuya was already heading towards his guest when one of the Kuchiki Family's servants rushed towards him. Waving the man off, he continued on his way and shortly exited the manor proper and stepped into the courtyard and gardens that were enclosed by the manor's walls. Seeing the orange haired youth standing near the Senkai Gate and observing him looking around and taking in his surroundings, Byakuya indulged in a small private smile before composing himself and making himself known.
"Ichigo Kurosaki," Byakuya greeted as he walked into the open, surprising the youth, "what brings you to the Seireitei this time? As far as I know, Rukia is in no danger, and is in fact training as we speak."
"Why does everyone assume that I'd only come here to see Rukia?" Asked Ichigo with a sigh as he stepped towards Byakuya. "Urahara assumed the same thing when I asked him to show me how to open a senkaimon."
"Very well, then not to be rude, but just why are you here Kurosaki?" Byakuya questioned while motioning for Ichigo to walk with him. "Specifically, why did you choose to enter the Seireitei by way of the Kuchiki Family's Senkai Gate?"
"Yeah, sorry about that," apologised Ichigo as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "but I didn't know who to ask to arrange a meeting with you. And Urahara sort of left out how to direct a senkaimon, so I just sort of improvised on that part."
"Indeed?" Byakuya asked, surprised. "And how long have you been training under Kisuke Urahara that he would be willing to teach you such a technique?"
"I wouldn't exactly call it training," explained Ichigo as the two continued to slowly walk back towards the manor. "I only stopped by there this morning and asked if he would either teach me how to open a senkaimon or open one for me himself. He explained how to do it and showed me the motions to make with my Zanpakuto and that's all."
"He only explained the method to you.." Byakuya muttered under his breath as the two came to a stop outside of the door leading into the manor. "Very well Kurosaki. Since you came here and not to see Rukia, shall I assume your business is with me?"
"It is, yeah," agreed Ichigo. "I would like to ask the Head of the Kuchiki Family a favor."
Hiding his surprise yet again, Byakuya nodded, but indicated that Ichigo should stay silent and follow him inside. Leading them to his private study, a fairly simple but tastefully decorated room with walls covered by book filled shelves, he allowed his guest to seat himself before he did so as well behind a large wooden desk.
"Now," Byakuya began in a slightly more formal tone of voice, "just what sort of favor would you ask of the Kuchiki Family?"
"I would like to have the shattered remains of the Zanpakuto Muramasa," stated Ichigo, also speaking in a somewhat more formal tone. "I believe you kept the shattered remains of the blade after the incident with Koga was resolved. I have a need and a use for that particular Zanpakuto and would not lightly ask this, as I am aware of the difficulties surrounding it."
Sitting back in his seat, Byakuya was momentarily stunned by the nature of the request. As soon as Ichigo had mentioned that he needed a favor, he had begun to think of just what the human teenager could want. Nothing he had come up with could have been further from what the request actually was. Motioning for Ichigo to remain seated, Byakuya rose and went over to a painting hanging on the wall opposite the door. Carefully removing the painting and setting it aside revealed a surprisingly modern concealed wall safe. Pressing his hand to it and releasing a very small amount of spiritual energy causing the safe to open, Byakuya reached inside and withdrew a sealed black velvet bag. Returning to his seat behind the desk, he placed the bag on the desk with a metallic clink and slid it across to the side nearest Ichigo.
"Before I allow you to take the remains of that blade," Byakuya stated calmly, "I must first ask you to explain your request."
"Since you didn't outright refuse me I think that's fair," replied Ichigo, as he too settled back into his seat and took a moment to compose his thoughts.
"Zangetsu had a discussion with me last night where he explained to me the nature of my Shinigami powers," Ichigo began. "According to him even though I'm a substitute Shinigami, I am still a living human, and my soul is a human soul as well. How he explained it is that he is an outlet for my spiritual power that just happens to be in a form used by Shinigami."
"Are you saying that your Zanpakuto is not really a Zanpakuto?" Byakuya asked, eyes widening slightly in surprise and sudden understanding.
"Yeah, that's about it," continued Ichigo. "But Zangetsu is still a Zanpakuto. Only instead of manifesting from my blade and us bonding as is normal for a Shinigami and Zanpakuto, he manifested from my soul, and gave my soul an outlet with which to use its power."
"Did Zangetsu suggest that you take up this blade, or is it something you desire to do on your own?" questioned Byakuya, as he now stared intently at the young man seated across from him. "And if he did, how will you fix the blade and revive the spirit of Muramasa?"
"He did suggest it," Ichigo agreed with a small nod, "and he also suggested that I ask Urahara about repairing the blade."
"In that case Ichigo Kurosaki, you may take the remains of that Zanpakuto that I willingly give to you," replied Byakuya as he motioned for Ichigo to take the bag. "I also offer a place to train and learn if it is needed. Should such a thing be required, return by the same way you arrived today, and I will make it known to this household that you are welcomed here."
"Really?!" Ichigo blurted out before quickly returning his expression to one of thankfulness. "That is a lot more than I had hoped for. Thank you, Byakuya Kuchiki. I am grateful."
Nodding in recognition and in response, Byakuya opened a drawer on his side of the desk and withdrew a folded red scarf and placed it on the desk beside the bag containing the broken blade. Indicating that Ichigo should take both with him, he again stood, but this time waited for Ichigo to follow him.
"You may recognise that as similar to the one I wear, and more so to the one that Koga wore," explained Byakuya as the pair walked back out of the manor towards the Senkai Gate, "and it is. That symbolizes that the wearer has a connection to the Kuchiki Family and should help you smooth out any problems that may arise if you are successful, as well as show that you have my permission to both possess that blade and be present unattended on these grounds."
Making a sound of agreement, Ichigo unfolded the red scarf as they walked and examined it briefly before draping it over his shoulders in a manner similar to how he remembered seeing Koga wear his. Adjusting the fit as they neared the Senkai Gate, Ichigo missed the wide violet eyes staring at the pair walking side by side past the training grounds.
Rukia had been training hard with her kido on the Kuchiki Family's training grounds when she though she noticed a familiar spiritual presence. Ignoring it as wishful thinking on her part, she continued with her training until she actually saw the person who she had only thought she had sensed. His being in the Seireitei was surprising enough, but to see him calmly walking beside her older brother and wearing something that indicated he had a close connection the Kuchiki Family, that really made her curious. Abandoning her practice for the moment, she silently followed the pair trusting that Ichigo wouldn't sense her presence.
Watching from a distance, Rukia witnessed Ichigo and Byakuya briefly talk for a bit more, before her brother opened the Kuchiki's Senkai Gate and allowed Ichigo to leave through it. Making her way towards her brother, Rukia wasn't surprised to see that he was aware of her presence. Falling in beside him at his direction, the two Kuchikis made their way back inside the manor.
Returning to Urahara's Store through the senkaimon was as exhilarating as it was when travelling to the Seireitei. He could move fast enough on his own to stay well ahead of the cleaner, so it didn't take him long to arrive at his destination. Stepping easily out of the open senkaimon back in the underground training area, Ichigo was surprised to find not just Urahara waiting for him, but Yourichi and Tessai as well. The three were lounging about and appeared to just be waiting for his return.
"Ahh, Ichigo, that did not take long at all," exclaimed Urahara as he motioned the teen over to where the three of them were waiting. "I take it your business was concluded successfully?" he asked with a raised eyebrow at Ichigo's newly added red scarf.
"It was," Ichigo answered as he made his way over to them. "And I'm sure you're curious as to just what that business was, eh?"
"Well you did promise to explain everything upon your return, did you not Ichigo?" joked Urahara as Ichigo joined them in sitting. "And seeing you wearing that just makes my curiosity even greater."
"Please tell me you didn't just go and visit Byakuya for fashion advice?" Yourichi quipped as she also took in his new appearance.
"I did and I will," Ichigo agreed, totally ignoring Yourichi's comment, as he removed the black velvet bag from where he had been keeping it inside of his shihakusho.
All eyes were on the sealed black bag as with a metallic clink, Ichigo set it down on a rock that they were conveniently sitting around. Unsealing the bag, he reached in and began to remove pieces of a broken sword blade finally ending with the hilt and guard. Urahara and Tessai were staring at the broken blade intently and whispering things quietly and rapidly back and forth between each other while Yourichi, after taking one look at the hilt and guard, immediately understood just what she was seeing.
"That," began Yourichi pointedly, gazing directly at Ichigo, "is the shattered Zanpakuto of the former Kuchiki named Koga. Why do you have it?"
"The broken Zanpakuto of a dead Shinigami?" Urahara asked, intrigued yet again by the orange haired human. "Now just why do you have that?"
"Would you be upset if I answered both of your questions with a question of my own?" inquired Ichigo, drawing grins from Tessai and Yourichi who turned to see how Urahara would respond.
"Very well Ichigo," agreed Urahara with an indulgent grin. "I trust the explanation will be worked into all of this somewhere?"
"It will be, yeah," Ichigo replied calmly. "Now, is it possible to fix a broken Zanpakuto?"
"Normally a Zanpakuto will reform over time as long as it's wielder is alive," Urahara answered as he gazed intently at the broken sword. "Since that one has not reformed, the Shinigami who wielded it is no longer alive. It may be possible to reforge the blade, but that is something that I have never done before. Also, I do not know what reforging a dead Shinigami's blade would do to it or to the spirit of the Zanpakuto, assuming that the blade's spirit can be returned."
"Can we try Urahara?" asked Ichigo.
"We can," Urahara replied, "but first, may I inquire as to why you have that broken Zanpakuto?"
"This is the Zanpakuto Muramasa," explained Ichigo. "It's wielder Koga was sealed away a long time ago and was recently killed after his release by this blade's spirit. I'm sure you've heard the details, and if not, it's obvious Yourichi knows. I'm sure she can fill you in on any of the history I miss."
"That still doesn't answer why you have the broken sword. I would have thought that Byakuya would have taken it with him after he defeated Koga?" Urahara asked, still puzzled.
"He did," replied Ichigo, "That's why I asked you to show me how to open a senkaimon earlier this morning. I wanted to see him and ask if he'd let me have the broken blade."
"Surprising," Urahara muttered. "But why, Ichigo? Why do you want to reforge that Zanpakuto?"
"I fought Muramasa at the end and we came to understand each other," replied Ichigo slowly. "Old man Zangetsu suggested I collect the pieces of the sword and bring them here to you."
"Your Zanpakuto suggested that you collect the pieces of another Zanpakuto and fix it?" Urahara asked, sounding surprised. "In that case, I will indeed attempt to help you repair the blade."
"Thank you, Urahara," said Ichigo sincerely. "But why 'in that case'?"
"Some Shinigami have mistakenly attempted to increase their powers by taking up the Zanpakuto of fallen foes, or outright killing innocent Shinigami and taking their swords," Urahara explained. "Records of those attempts show than none of the Shinigami succeeded. Research and experiments also show that it should be impossible for any Shinigami to gain power in that way. The taken swords can of course be used as normal blades, but the spirit within them and the power they contain has never been used by anyone other than the original wielder. They will still cleanse Hollows though, since they are Zanpakuto."
"That makes sense," agreed Ichigo. "But, from what you just said, none of the Shinigami who attempted such actions did so on the encouragement of their own Zanpakuto?"
"In all of the experiments where taking up a second Zanpakuto was attempted, never did the Shinigami's own Zanpakuto tell them to attempt it," Urahara continued his explanation. "The fact that your Zangetsu suggested it to you just might make all the difference. Do you know why he suggested it? Did he explain? Or did something out of the ordinary happen when you fought Muramasa?"
"Yes, he did explain to me why he suggested it," Ichigo replied, "and I guess you could also say something out of the ordinary did happen when he and I fought."
"Can you elaborate, Ichigo?" asked Urahara.
==Flashback #1==
Muramasa stood, one hand holding the wound in his side, and looked to Koga expectantly.
"Koga, use me," Muramasa said as he started walking towards Koga. "My power is always with you..."
With a sneer, Koga turned slightly to face Muramasa and raised his Zanpakuto, holding it out at arm's length. With a quick strike, Koga shattered the blade with his free hand and watched as Muramasa fell to his knees.
"No... way," gasped Muramasa.
"You'll just get in my way," Koga said. "I don't have to use an unstable sword like you. I can handle this on my own."
"Damn you!" Yelled Ichigo. "Don't you understand what your Zanpakuto is?!"
"A Zanpakuto is merely a tool," Koga stated calmly. "I can always find a replacement."
Upon hearing those words, Muramasa started to shake and clutched his neck as if to strangle himself.
==Flashback #2==
"I bet you knew he never even gave a damn about you!" Ichigo exclaimed as he faced off against Muramasa within the Zanpakuto's version of Koga's crumbling inner world. "And in spite of that, you still fought to release Koga from that seal. All because somewhere deep down, you still wanted to communicate with Koga!
"Muramasa, I believe that I am always with Zangetsu," said Ichigo. "And I'm not alone. My friends and the Captains... Everyone believes that the Shinigami and their Zanpakuto have an unshakable bond. You know that better than anyone, so why did you make such a mockery of it?!"
"I don't have to take this from you!" Cried Muramasa. "This is just what my powers are!"
"Zanpakuto can be used for things other than destroying enemies, right?" Ichigo asked, drawing a shocked look from Muramasa. "You don't have to go along with everything your Shinigami says!"
"Muramasa!" the distant voice of Ichigo cries. "Muramasa! Muramasa!"
"How ironic," thought Muramasa as he sank deeper into the water. "Your voice was able to reach my soul."
"Is this what it means for our souls to understand each other?" Muramasa asked as he lay on the grass holding onto Ichigo's hand.
"Yeah," replied Ichigo.
"I led Koga astray..." Muramasa continued before coughing up blood.
"We all make mistakes," Ichigo told him. "You just have to accept what happened, and fix what you can.
"Someday... I will..." gasped Muramasa before vanishing.
==End Flashbacks==
"After Muramasa broke the seal holding Koga, he was expecting to be wielded once again," explained Ichigo sadly. "Instead, Koga rejected him and broke the blade of his Zanpakuto, telling him he was just a tool and that he could find another to use. Then, as we fought in Muramasa's inner world, I came to understand him, and at the end, he understood me. I was with him at the end when his spirit vanished."
"Oh my," Urahara said quietly, as he gazed at Ichigo, "you certainly do keep surprising me."
"Indeed," agreed Tessai in amazement as he listened to the tale Ichigo was telling them.
Yourichi nodded as well while she was examining the new red scarf Ichigo now wore.
"I guess I should tell you just exactly why old man Zangetsu suggested such an action," continued Ichigo, and proceeded to recount in detail the visit and discussion he had with Zangetsu the previous night.
A/N: This fic is based mostly on the anime (with all of its fillers) rather than the manga. It's basically my attempt to explain how I see Ichigo's powers along with my attempt to show how he could go about increasing or adding to what he already has. Now, for those unfamiliar with the anime/manga, I'll attempt to explain some of the terms/words that I used. I tried to stay true to canon, but with my own little twist on things.
Spiritual Power - also called Reiryoku in the anime/manga, I see this as a sort of reservoir that contains energy/power that the being can use for various purposes. Each being has a certain amount that they can use, and once it's all used up, they're pretty much out of the fight as they don't have anything left to fight with.
Spiritual Pressure - also called Reiatsu in the anime/manga. If we think of spiritual power like water, then spiritual pressure is what others feel when a being releases some of their power. The more power they have available to them, the more it presses down on others when released - just like being very deep under water. This feeling that others experience can be controlled by those who are skilled enough.
Senkaimon - an opening to the passage between the real world and Soul Society that can be called into being almost anywhere in the real world. These openings are at fixed locations in Soul Society and are tied to physical structures called Senkai Gates.