What is going on, my Date A Live/Bleach fans?! The 3rd dragneel, coming back with another chapter of this unique crossover.
Well… at least unique to me since I haven't written a Date A Live fanfic XD
Still, I'm glad people wanna read this since I really think this is something fun. But, I know people want something different. I'm only one person, so bare with me.
Also, I can't freaking WAIT for season five of Date A live, especially with how season four ended. Give me more episodes and more Kurumi spin offs!
Okay… my simp energy is leaking. Let's answer some reviews while I power down.
I'mNotAWeeb64101: Awww, thanks pal!
Guest: *Reads your comment* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Honestly, I would so expect Kisuke to put condoms in Ichigo's suitcase XD
Guest 03: I fully understand where you're coming from and I do apologize. But rest assured I am working hard to try and make this story enjoyable and different.
To recap: One week after he arrived in Tengu City, Ichigo's daily routine was interrupted when a Spatial Quake occurred. Worried about Kotori, Shido and Ichigo recklessly rushed to the city, only to be blown away. Upon waking up, the two encountered a beautiful Spirit, who seemed wary of humans before she was attacked by the AST, led by Origami Tobiichi. The fight ended with a powerful shockwave that knocked out Ichigo and Shido. Soon, the two awoke inside the flying fortress called Ratatoskr, where it was revealed Kotori was a commander.
How will Shido and Ichigo deal with Princess? Let's find out…
'Itsuka Residence, night'
Ichigo laid on his bed, looking up at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression. He had just teleported (wow, that is a really weird thing to say so casually) back to the Itsuka residence where he decided to crash onto his bed. Shido mentioned he would make dinner, so it gave Ichigo the time to finally think about what had happened today.
A Spatial Quake occurred.
He and Shido encountered that Spirit, codenamed Princess.
Origami was revealed to be a part of the AST.
And above all else… Kotori, little annoying KOTORI, was the commander of Ratatoskr and was now having Shido be the one to tame the Spirits.
'Just when I thought things were gonna be normal… then again, Kisuke warned me about Spirits, so I can't blame him.' Ichigo thought while running a hand through his face, a tired sigh escaping his lips. 'Still, Kotori of all people? I swear someone must've been drunk or something to make HER the commander.'
His mind then went back to Princess and the sad look in her eyes. For some reason, it made Ichigo curious about who the Spirit really was. Sure, she did technically attack him and Shido when they met, but she sounded like she was tired of fighting.
'Not to mention now I know Origami's a part of the AST.' Another sigh escaped Ichigo's face. 'Why does my life have to be so damn complicated?'
"MISTER STRAWBERRY!" As if the universe hated him, Kotori called out for Ichigo, using the nickname he hated. Feeling his brow twitch, Ichigo got off his bed and left his room, making his way towards the living room. He frowned as he saw Kotori watching TV, now in her casual clothes.
"What?" Ichigo asked, wanting to get to the point.
"Can you get me some water? Pretty please?" Kotori asked while pointing to the kitchen, not taking her eyes off the TV. Ichigo felt his brow twitch, but regardless, he gave Kotori a glass of water. "Thanks."
"Okay. I have to ask." Ichigo spoke up, deciding to just take the bull by the horns. "Who the hell chooses a fourteen-year-old with a sugar addiction as a commander? There has to be at least a dozen people more qualified? And do your parents even know about this?"
"Jeez, what's with the second degree, Strawberry?" Kotori asked with an annoyed tone as she pulled her head back so she would be looking at Ichigo. "Let's just say out of everyone, my leadership skills are top tier. Plus, you don't see Kannazuki and the others complaining."
'Probably cause that pervert likes having you in charge.' Ichigo thought before shaking his head. "I just don't think it's right. You're a kid. You shouldn't be dealing with this kind of stuff."
"Awww. Who knew you had a soft spot?" Kotori teasingly remarked while pointing her lollipop at Ichigo. "Well, you don't need to worry, Strawberry. I can handle it. Besides, you still gotta go to school tomorrow~"
"Just… if you need anyone to talk to, I'm here. Alright?" Ichigo concluded, his normal scowl having a hint of concern. Kotori might annoy him from time to time, but she was still a decent kid. Besides, looking at her reminded him of his sisters. "By the way, where's Shido?"
"In his room, going through some training." Kotori simply told him, making Ichigo raise a brow. Deciding to check on his roommate, Ichigo went back upstairs and reached Shido's door.
"Shido? You okay?" Ichigo knocked on the door to try and get Shido's attention, only for said door to slowly open a little. "Hey, are you-"
"YES! OH MY GOD, YES! I WOULD LOVE TO GO ON A DATE!" Ichigo suddenly began to regret his decision as he caught a peek of Shido, inside his dark room, playing what could only be a dating simulator. One that Ichigo instantly realized was the same one Tonomachi kept bragging about. The craziest thing about the game was the fact that A.I looked a LOT like Kotori!
"Okay… where to go?" Shido muttered to himself as he looked at the options.
A. A movie theater.
B. The zoo.
C. Home.
"I guess if it's a first date… A would be the best choice. How does Tonomachi do this?" Shido asked while scratching the back of his head. He soon noticed the light bleeding out from his slightly opened door as he turned around, only to catch Ichigo staring at him.
The two said nothing, with only the idle music from the simulator playing in the background.
"..." Shido had a cold sweat run down his head, looking like a kid whose parents caught him reading a hentai manga.
"... Why?" Ichigo had to ask in order to avoid being scarred for life.
"Kotori said I needed training in order to help Princess, so… she told me to play this." Shido explained, hoping Ichigo would believe him. After all, as much as he liked being friends with Tonomachi, he did NOT wanna be seen as a dating sim otaku! "But, now I'm starting to think she's just trolling me."
"Rrriiigggghhhtttt… I'll cook dinner tonight. Just… head down when you're… done." With that, Ichigo closed the door, pressing his head against it while sighing. 'Please tell me tomorrow will get better. Please tell me tomorrow will get better.'
'The next day'
"Okay… what the hell is this?" Ichigo asked with clear irritation as he was now standing inside an office with Shido, Kotori and the newest teacher's assistant in Raizen High.
Reine Murasame.
As soon as they started class earlier, Miss Tamae revealed that Reine would be joining the faculty in order to keep an eye on him and Shido, much to his chagrin.
"Yeah, I have to agree with Ichigo. This seems like a bit much." Shido added with a small yawn as he stared at the rather large computer set up in the room. It looked like something straight out of a Sci-Fi manga. Seeing as they were going to get an answer, Shido sighed. "Please, miss Murasame."
"Just call me Reine. Okay, Shin? Ichi?" Reine told the duo while leaning back on her chair, only for them to give her a confused look.
"It's not Ichi or Shin. We're Ichigo and Shido." Ichigo replied back, though Reine didn't seem unaffected.
"Oh. Sorry, Ichi. Shin."
"You didn't even try to get it right! At least try!" Shido shouted with a hint of irritation.
"It's more convenient to keep an eye on both of you if I'm a member of the school's teaching staff." Reine pointed out while lazily wagging her finger.
"And you should've known something like this would happen. I expect my brother not to get it, but I'm really disappointed in you, Ichigo." Kotori rudely told the two teens.
"And why the hell are you here? Don't you have class too?" Ichigo asked Kotori with a scowl, making her smirk.
"I got permission to come here today, so there's no need to worry." Kotori lifted her foot, showing the visitor armband that was wrapped around her ankle for some reason. "How was your training so far, Shido?"
"Honestly… it wasn't that good. Those dating sims are just for people who are desperate for any kind of relationship." Shido confessed while scratching the back of his head. "But why was that game part of my training?"
"It'll make a lot more sense when you start the training software." Kotori gestured to Reine, who nodded before typing on the computer. Ichigo and Shido watched in curiosity, wondering what kind of training involved a dating sim.
… Until the screen changed into the title of ANOTHER Dating Sim, one that made the two males sweatdrop.
"Another one? Kotori, what the hell?" Shido asked while giving his sister a look.
"Read the title." Kotori told them with an amused grin.
"Fall in Love: My Little… SHIDO?!" Ichigo blurted out after reading the title of the game. "What kind of joke is this?!"
"It isn't a joke, Ichi." Reine reassured him, putting her hands together. "Spirits are dangerous, but there is a way to stop them from hurting people. And that is through their heart."
"She's right. You need to win over their hearts and since you have literally NO experience with women, this game will help you." Kotori explained while chewing her lollipop. "It's designed specifically for you, so you better not fail. And if you need help, just ask me and Reine."
"Kotori, there's no way in hell this works. You're just messing with us." Ichigo was having none of what Kotori was selling. Though, no one could blame him given how mischievous the youngest of the Kotori siblings was.
"Oh? If you have a better idea, go ahead and say it, Mister Strawberry." Kotori shot back with an annoyed glare, something Ichigo mirrored. "We're being serious, okay? The emotional state of a Spirit is important and if they go on a temper tantrum, the entire city will be destroyed. Winning over their hearts is the only way to save everyone without killing the Spirit. Otherwise, don't you think we'd be helping the AST?"
For how annoying Kotori was, Ichigo had to admit she had a point. Not that he was a certified genius when it came to Spirits. And without a Zanpakuto or any kind of weapon on him, Ichigo would have to put his trust in Ratatoskr.
"Okay. I'll… I'll do it." Shido finally spoke up with a serious tone. "If this can help her, then I'll do whatever it takes."
"Good to hear that, bro! You should get started now!" Kotori urged Shido, who took a seat at the desk and began the game. As the rather annoying opening credits rolled, Ichigo decided to do one quick thing before heading home.
"I'll see you guys at home. I have to take care of something." Ichigo gave them a wave goodbye before exiting the room. The Itsuka siblings and Reine looked at each other in confusion before shrugging off Ichigo's departure and continued their work. As he walked through the halls of Raizen High, Ichigo kept looking for a certain white haired girl. 'She's gotta be here still. Just need to keep-'
Just as Ichigo turned the corner, he caught sight of Origami exiting the library, a few books under her arm. Sighing through his nose, Ichigo quickly went over to Origami, who noticed his approach. "Ichigo Kurosaki." Origami greeted in her usual monotone voice.
"We need to talk." Ichigo told her with no room for arguing. Origami didn't seem to mind as she nodded before the two went towards the roof.
However, that didn't stop the students still in the building from gossiping.
"Holy crap. Did you see that?"
"Kurosaki and Tobiichi are leaving together? You don't think they're together-together, right?
"Dammit! I missed my shot!"
It didn't take long for the two to reach the roof, which was surprisingly unlocked. The wind blew softly as Ichigo and Origami stared at one another.
"Is there something you need?" Origami questioned.
"... You were there." Ichigo started while giving her a serious look. "Yesterday, you were in the city when the Spatial Quake hit. And you were with the AST."
"I am." It caught Ichigo by surprise to hear Origami just confess outright. "So were you and Shido. You shouldn't have been there."
"Yeah, well I could say the same about you. I mean what the hell, Origami? Why join them?" Ichigo asked, hoping to get more info on the AST.
"Spirits are dangerous. You've seen their destructive power first hand." Origami pointed out as memories of what happened yesterday flashed through Ichigo's mind.
"Okay, you aren't wrong. But maybe there's, I don't know, more to it than you think." Ichigo tried to reason. "She didn't seem evil when Shido and I-"
"Don't do that again. It's best if you two forget her." Origami quickly cut him off with a hint of hostility in her voice. Something that caught Ichigo's attention.
"But why do you think Spirits are so evil? I know a lot of people who are just as bad." Ichigo shot back, though he made sure not to tell her about Aizen and the Hollows.
"The Spirits killed my parents." Origami revealed, making Ichigo widen his eyes. "My parents were good, and the Spirits burned them alive."
"Origami… I-"
"They're cruel monsters that must be destroyed." Origami's tone turned to outright hatred as she narrowed her eyes. "I will kill them all." With that, Origami left the roof, leaving Ichigo to his thoughts.
He had to admit this wasn't what he wanted to hear from Origami. The whole reason she joined the AST and tried to kill Princess was because she lost her own parents. Honestly, he couldn't help but sympathize with Origami since his own mom was killed by Grand Fisher and that fueled his hatred of Hollows.
But… Ichigo still recalled how sad Princess was when she asked if he and Shido were going to attack her. How sad and tired she seemed. Hell, if she was half as evil as Origami claimed she was, she would've killed him and Shido the instant she laid eyes on them.
So, were Spirits truly evil or was there more to them?
"Dammit… I guess there's only one thing to do." Ichigo was genuinely going to regret what he was about to do. But if this would help him understand Spirits more, then he would have to do it.
As he went down the stairs, Ichigo opened his phone and began to download a certain game.
God, he better not regret this…
'Several days later'
"I don't know… I mean I studied for this. But… that means we might not see each other." A virtual schoolgirl said while swaying left and right, a suitcase next to her. "Can we… stay together? Even when I'm studying abroad?"
What will you say?
I will always wait for you.
Honestly, I don't know…
THEN I'LL GO WITH YOU!
A computer mouse scrolled up before clicking on the first option, causing the schoolgirl to gasp.
"OH! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I promise when I come back, we'll get married!" The schoolgirl went to hug her boyfriend tightly, tears running down her eyes.
Soon, several in-game credits began to scroll up the screen, with multiple images of different girls flashing on the screen.
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!
"It's done… I finished it…" A tired and slightly red-eyed Ichigo muttered as he put his phone down, not even bothering to turn off the game. After spending so many hours playing, Ichigo was finally able to finish that stupid dating sim Tonomachi played. Despite having no experience playing a dating sim, Ichigo was able to finish it rather quickly. "The worst part? I actually liked that game."
Ichigo ran a hand along his face, rubbing his eyes in order to keep himself awake. As much as it pained him to play this stupid game, at least it gave him SOME insight into dating, which would prove useful for helping Princess… hopefully.
"ICHIGO! SHIDO! YOU'RE GONNA BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!" Kotori's annoying voice called out. Ichigo's eyes widened as he brought his phone up to look at the time.
"Crap!" Getting back on his feet, Ichigo grabbed a towel and ran out of his room to use the shower.
However, it turned out he wasn't the only one rushing it as Shido also ran out of his room. The two stared at one another as they both noticed the exhausted look in each other's eyes.
"... Were you playing that dumb game Kotori gave you?" Ichigo couldn't help but ask.
"Yeah… what about you?" Shido questioned as Ichigo showed him the dating sim. "Oh…"
"Yeah…" The two said nothing as they went back to getting ready for school, a wordless agreement between them.
Never talk about the choices they made in the game.
'Raizen High, later'
"Shin…" Reine whispered in an oddly alluring way as she began to caress Shido's face. Said person felt himself tense up, wondering what she would do to him. Seeing her lean in, Shido took it as a sign and closed his eyes, ready for the impending kiss.
"Shido… she isn't going to kiss you." Ichigo's words broke through as Shido opened his eyes, seeing Reine move away.
"Huh? What?" Shido felt something off and began poking at his right ear, only to feel some kind of earpiece in it.
"It's a communicator that will allow us to talk to you. And don't worry, it's invisible." Reine explained as Kotori entered the room.
"Now that you finished your training, it's time for phase two." Kotori told them, much to their curiosity.
"So what? Is he going to try and ask out Princess? Cause I don't think we know where she is." Ichigo questioned as Kotori smirked.
"Of course not, Strawberry. There's no way we can just summon a Spirit here. Let alone control the Spatial Quake that'd follow." Kotori remarked as Ichigo glared at her. "To help Shido prepare, we're gonna need him to do a trial run."
"Trial run?" For some reason, Shido felt nervous about this.
Soon, Shido found himself standing in front of his 'trial run.'
Said trial run being his homeroom teacher, Tamae Okamine.
"Oh, Shido. Is there something you need?" Tamae asked with a friendly smile, though this caused Shido to sweatdrop.
'How is THIS a trial run? I swear Kotori's just pranking me.' Shido thought as he cleared his throat. "Ummm… no. I'm okay, thanks."
"What was that, Shido?" Kotori asked through the earpiece. "She's right there. Just make her fall in love with you."
"You seriously think it's that easy?" Ichigo questioned the commander and although he couldn't see it, Shido could imagine Ichigo giving his sister a blank look. "Also, why the hell would you choose Miss Okamine of all people?"
"Cause if he can make an adult fall for him, it'll make his meeting with Princess easier. Duh." Kotori explained. "As you probably know, seducing a Spirit is easier said than done. Practicing on a human will help you when the time comes. But if you can't even do that, then you're screwed."
"Gee. Thanks, sis." Shido whispered with a sigh. It almost sounded like Kotori didn't even care if he'd live or not. "But I'm no prince charming. I'm just a normal guy."
"Of course we know! Just try flirting with her. Maybe a compliment or two to get started!" Kotori shouted as Shido flinched a bit. "If she responds well, then we'll give you some backup."
"Look, just remember how the dating sim was." Ichigo, deciding to be the voice of reason, spoke up. "Try to think of the best thing to say to her." Shido mentally thanked the Strawberry as he finally focused on his teacher, who waited for him to speak up.
"Ummm… miss Okamine. That's a… really cute outfit you have on!" Shido blurted out as the teacher's eyes widened at the compliment.
"Oh my! Do you think so?" Tamae asked in genuine surprise before she cupped her cheek. "Why thank you, Shido."
"Y-Yeah. It looks r-really, really good on you." Shido chuckled nervously while trying to wrack his brain. "So does your hair and… your sexy… glasses."
"You did not just call her glasses sexy." Ichigo replied, not believing Shido would compliment something so dumb.
"But your shoes and stockings are also great! They fit your outfit perfectly! And don't think I didn't notice that perfect attendance book!" Shido finalized while facepalming mentally. 'Why did I compliment her freaking book?! Come on, Shido!'
"Shido, is everything alright? You don't seem like yourself." Tamae frowned in concern as she saw the sweat run down her student's face.
"You went way too far! Stop acting so creepy!" Kotori scolded him as she and the others saw how creepy Shido was acting. At this rate, Tamae might force him to the nurse's office.
"Shin, listen closely. I'm going to guide you through this." Reine spoke up as she took command of the trial run. Shido listened to what Reine whispered before sighing.
'Here goes nothing.' Mentally preparing himself, Shido gave Tamae a serious look. "The truth is I love homeroom." Shido started, much to Tamae's confusion. "I look forward to going every day because I know you'll be there. You're the reason I come to school." Tamae gasped as Shido continued. "I can't help it. I think I've fallen in love with you."
"S-Shido. You shouldn't say such things." Tamae tried to laugh it off. "Besides, a teacher and a student can't fall in love."
"No. Don't say that." Shido cut her off. "I'm serious. I wanna marry you someday!"
"You… You… You want to marry me?!" Tamae suddenly began to glow a pink aura for some reason. Something that made Shido step back. Her eyes suddenly turned to swirls as a big blush appeared on her face. "Is it true? I mean once you're old enough, I'll be in my thirties. Is that okay? You'll need to meet my parents! Daddy gets so protective, but I think he'll like you! HEmightevengiveusthehouseifweask! Butonlyifyougraduateandgetadecentjob!" It seemed like Tamae was going into overdrive as she began to speak at high speed, making Shido step back in fear.
"Ummm… I… maybe we should…" Shido tried to reason with her, but Tamae was in too deep.
"Hey, Shido!" The blue-haired teen felt himself breathe as Ichigo ran over to him. "Weren't we going to do that thing?"
"The thing?" Shido asked as Ichigo gave him a look. "Oh! The thing! Right, right. Sorry, miss Okamine. But I have to go."
"Wait! But what about our future?!" Tamae asked, only for Ichigo to finally pull Shido away as the two males ran off. The teacher deflated as she turned her heel. "Oh well… back to the single life…"
"Holy crap. Thanks for that, man." Shido and Ichigo finally stopped to catch their breath. "I could've sworn she was suggesting baby names."
"No problem. I saw what was going on, so I came to help." Ichigo told him with a nod before pressing on his left ear, which had an invisible earpiece in it. "Kotori, what the hell?"
"Don't look at me. I didn't know she would go crazy about marriage." Kotori retorted with an annoyed tone.
"We clearly underestimated the enthusiasm of 29-year-old single women. Sorry, Shin." Reine had the decency to apologize.
"It would've gone well if Kotori bothered to lead better." Ichigo called out. "Seriously, why do you think it's easy to make someone fall in love? You've never been in a relationship."
"What about YOU, Ichigo? Have you ever been on a date?" Kotori shot back as Ichigo visibly flinched.
"Ummm… no?"
"Was that a question?" Shido asked with a raised brow, noticing Ichigo's look.
"Maybe… I did… go on a date one time." Ichigo confessed, much to their surprise. "Well, it wasn't a date-date. It was with a friend of mine, Tatsuki. When we were kids, my mom thought I should be better friends with her and she thought we should go on a playdate."
"And how did THAT go?" Kotori questioned in a cheeky tone, wanting to know how badly it went.
"Bad." Was all Ichigo admitted as he leaned against the wall. "She ended up punching me in the face. Hurt like hell for a week." He could hear Kotori laughing on the other end while Shido gave him a sympathetic look. "Still, even I know the stuff you told Shido to say was crap."
"Oh? So you think you can do better, I-CHI-GO?" Kotori questioned, making sure to put emphasis on his name. "Then why don't you show us how it's done? Look behind you."
Confused, Ichigo turned around and saw a certain trio of girls not too far from where they were, talking about something.
"... No way in hell." Ichigo shot down. "Not them."
"Aww, look at that. Big bad Ichigo's scared of some girls." Kotori teasingly remarked, making Ichigo growl. "Look, we could always use a second opinion. And since you're so gung-ho on helping us with Princess, this could be good practice. Just go over and try to get ONE phone number."
"We'll be here if you need anything, Ichi." Reine chimed in. As embarrassing as this might be, Ichigo did promise to help in any way he could. And if it meant showing Shido how to get someone to fall in love with him… okay, what the hell is he doing anymore?
"Good luck…" Shido had the decency to wish Ichigo good luck, though this might not amount to much. Taking a deep breath, Ichigo began to make his way towards the trio, who noticed him.
"Hey, check it out. It's Ichigo Kurosaki." Ai pointed out.
"Wonder why he's coming here." Mai added on in curiosity.
"That is so lame." Mii chimed in.
"Ummm, hey. How's it going?" Ichigo greeted them in a slightly forced friendly tone.
"Wow. How original." Kotori commented, though Ichigo ignored her.
"Something you need?" Ai asked with a raised brow.
"W-Well… you see… I…" It was almost comical to see the usually stoic Ichigo Kurosaki stumble on his words. But no one could blame him, all things considered. Composing himself, Ichigo spoke up again. "We never… hung out before. And… I think the three of you are… cute." This caused the three to look at him oddly. "Sorry. I'm not good with this."
"Are you okay? You're acting kinda weird." Mai pointed out.
"Okay, I'm just going to say it." Ichigo decided to rip the bandage off. "I… wanna ask you out on a date."
Shido, Kotori and even Reine were surprised by how outright honest Ichigo was. He didn't even get advice on asking them.
As for the trio, they were understandably surprised as well. Not only were they ALL being asked out, but they were being asked out by the same transfer student who usually hung out with Shido and Tonomachi. Though… they couldn't say they WEREN'T curious about Ichigo.
"I don't mean going out with all three of you at the same time. But… I think you three are… cool. And I've felt this way for a while." Ichigo explained as honestly as he could, though he was mentally cringing at how creepy he was acting. "Sorry. I don't usually ask someone out. It's… hard."
"This isn't for some prank, right?" Ai questioned as Ichigo looked at her.
"Yeah. Shido and Tonomachi aren't making you do this, are they?" Mai asked next.
"That is so lame." Mii finished with a disgusted tone.
"No. No. They aren't making me do this. I just… look, sorry for bothering you." Ichigo apologized genuinely. "I'll leave you alone." With that, he began to walk back towards Shido, who frowned sadly at him. It seemed like Ichigo was genuinely struggling with asking them out. As much as he appreciated Ichigo for trying to help him, he never wanted him to do something so embarr-
"Hang on." Ichigo stopped in his tracks and turned out to see Ai standing behind him, arms crossed.
"Something wrong?" Ichigo asked in a confused tone, wondering why Ai would talk to him after what he did. Ai didn't say anything, though it did seem like she was in deep thought.
"You need to work on that." Ai finally told Ichigo. "Any girl who sees you flirting like that will think you're some kind of creep."
"I bet. Thanks." Ichigo replied, though Ai still stood there."Anything else?"
"..." Ai reached into her pocket and took out a piece of paper, as well as a pen. Writing on the paper, Ai handed it to Ichigo. "Here." Ichigo blinked a bit at the gesture. "Come on. Take it." Curious, Ichigo took the paper as Ai began to walk back to her friends.
"Is that what I think it is?" Shido asked as Ichigo looked at the paper. Both teens widened their eyes at what it contained.
It had a phone number on it, completely with a small heart on the corner.
"Wow… you actually got a number!" Kotori blurted out in genuine surprise.
"It seems like you have a certain charm. Congrats, Ichi." Reine complimented Ichigo.
"... I can't believe that actually worked." Ichigo confessed out loud before pocketing the number.
"Honestly, I don't know if that'll work." Shido confessed with a sigh as he began to walk back to the office. "You saw how bad it was with miss Okamine. How am I going to make a Spirit-"
*Thud*
Before he could finish, Shido ended up bumping into the one person he didn't expect.
Origami.
"Crap. Sorry about that." Shido apologized as he and Origami regained their footing.
"I'm alright." Origami told him in her usual blank tone. Ichigo, on the other hand, was giving the white haired girl a suspicious look. It was clear he still didn't trust her.
"Perfect! Shido, why don't you try and get her to fall in love with you?" Kotori suggested as Shido widened his eyes. "She is around the same age as you two. Plus, if Ichigo could get a girl's number, so can you."
"I heard that, you brat." Ichigo growled quietly, though he kept his eyes on Origami. "But that's a bad move. Origami's obsessed with killing Spirits. And she even told me to forget what I saw."
"We can't be picky, Ichi. Otherwise, Shido won't be able to seal Princess." Reine reasoned.
"I know you're worried. But I should at least try… right?" Shido composed himself before fully turning towards Origami. "Hey, Tobiichi. Your clothes look really nice. W-Where'd you get them?"
"Really?" Ichigo shot Shido a blank look, wondering why he would focus on her school uniform above everything else.
"It's a uniform." Origami answered simply.
"Stop focusing on her clothes, bro. Try it again with more feeling!" Kotori shouted, though Shido still didn't seem too confident.
"Shido, follow my lead. I'll guide you through this." Reine cut in while giving Shido some advice.
"To be honest, I've known all about you for a long time." Shido told her in a confident tone.
"I'm aware." Origami simply remarked.
"I'm also glad we got to be in the same class this semester. In fact, I watch you all the time when you're studying."
"Same."
"Wait, what?" Ichigo was starting to consider that Origami may or may not be a stalker given how casual she was being.
"Oh. What a coincidence." Shido sweatdrop while smiling nervously at what Reine told him to say next. "I also like sneaking into your locker after school to sniff your clothes."
"Likewise." At this rate, it seemed like Origami was all but confessing to her obsession with Shido. Something that made Ichigo VERY uncomfortable.
"Ummm… wow. Okay. I never knew we had so much in common." Shido confessed while giving Ichigo a pleading look, practically begging for his help. Ichigo simply gestured for him to keep going. "Anyways, would you like to go on a date with me?" Origami didn't say anything, making Shido feel awkward. 'Great. Looks like it didn't-'
"I don't mind." Origami finally told him, much to his surprise.
'Well, I guess it wasn't hard considering. But now I'm kinda worried about Shido.' Ichigo thought, wondering what Origami was planning for the date.
'Okay. So… what now? Come on, Reine. Give me something.' Shido thought, feeling uncomfortable with Origami's stare.
Origami stepped up and handed Shido something, much to his confusion.
"What's this?" Shido looked at what she handed him, which turned out to be a picture of Origami in her school uniform. Complete with her signature… for some reason.
"For you, because you liked my uniform." Origami told him like it was obvious, making him sweatdrop.
"You just carry a signed photo of yourself wherever you go?" Ichigo couldn't help but ask with his own sweatdrop.
Before they could continue with their conversation, an alarm suddenly began to ring through the air, making them all tense up.
"Crap. Now?" Ichigo muttered with a frown.
"Something came up. I have to go." With that, Origami bolted out, most likely heading to suit up.
"A Spatial Quake's about to happen. Both of you, head back to the Fraxinus." Kotori ordered in a serious tone. "It's Princess, and she'll be appearing exactly where you are."
Not needing any more information, Ichigo and Shido quickly rushed out to prepare for Princess' arrival.
The real test was about to begin.
'Several hours later'
To say Raizen High looked like a mess would be an understatement.
Multiple windows were completely shattered, large parts of the buildings were collapsed and there was a VERY sizable crater that was several stories deep.
Overall, it looked like something straight out of a disaster movie.
"Damn…" Ichigo whispered as he stared at the destruction of Raizen High. Even though he had only been there a few weeks, he still liked the school. Mostly because there weren't any idiots who bullied him for having orange hair. He was at least grateful that no one was hurt or worse thanks to the sirens.
"Even after what happened before, it's still crazy to see how much damage a Spatial Quake can cause." Shido added with a deep frown.
"And that's what we're here for." Kotori spoke up from her chair, now donning her commander attire as the screen changed to show several AST members huddled up near the forest, seemingly scoping out the area for the Spirit. "You're in luck. The AST's CR-units are deadly, but they weren't built for indoor combat."
"Okay, so what now? Do you give Shido a suit or something to protect himself?" Ichigo questioned curiously.
"Nope." Kotori answered swiftly. "If Shido is seen with a weapon or any kind of device, then Princess might attack. The best thing to do is to approach her with nothing."
"Okay, but… what if she ends up trying to kill me even without anything?" Shido couldn't help but ask.
"Then we'll safely teleport you back into the Fraxinus." Kannazuki reassured him. "However, we must ensure Princess' powers are sealed."
"Hope you're ready, bro. Cause this is where the real test begins." Kotori told her older brother with a grin. "You wanna save her, don't you?"
"Hang on." Ichigo cut in, turning towards Kotori. "You can't just send Shido in by himself. Let me help."
"This isn't a game, Ichigo. You don't get extra lives or chances." Kotori told him with a serious tone. "Besides, you're just a civilian. If we send you in and you get killed, that's on us."
"And sending your brother by himself isn't? Look, I played that stupid dating sim too so I can help. Plus, if it doesn't end up working with Shido, maybe… I can try."
"Ichigo, maybe you shouldn't." Shido cut in. He was happy to hear how concerned Ichigo was, but he couldn't bear the thought of him being hurt.
"Commander, if I may, perhaps mister Kurosaki is right." Kannazuki surprisingly chimed in, getting Kotori's attention. "While Shido has prepared for this, we cannot guarantee that Princess will be easily swayed. With two potential candidates, we may have a better chance at success."
'He's making it sound like we're on one of those bachelor reality shows.' Shido thought while sweatdropping.
"Look, he isn't the only one that wants to protect Princess." Ichigo stepped up, glaring at Kotori. "I saw how tired and sad she was. Origami thinks they're nothing but monsters. One even killed her parents." This made Shido widen his eyes in shock. "But I can tell she isn't dangerous. You have to let me help her."
Kotori rolled the lollipop in her mouth as she stared at Ichigo. He was being so damn loud and annoying, but it sounded like he really did want to help them. Plus, as much as she hated to admit it, Kannazuki had a point about Princess. Shido wasn't ugly and he was definitely somewhat of a charmer, but maybe that's not what Princess wanted.
"... Ugh, alright." Kotori finally relented while biting her lollipop. "But if there's any sign of trouble, we're pulling BOTH of you out. Got it?"
"Got it." Ichigo nodded, happy to hear Kotori was allowing him to help Shido.
Soon, the two teens were teleported down to the front of Raizen High.
"Well… this is it." Shido muttered, suddenly feeling a wave of anxiety in his chest.
"I'm right here, Shido. You aren't doing this alone." Ichigo put a hand on Shido's shoulder, giving him a small smile. "Besides, we're going to save her, right?"
"Yeah… you're right." Shido felt a bit better as he recalled the look in Princess' eyes. "I don't wanna see that sad look on her face again."
"Same here." Patting Shido's shoulder, Ichigo pressed on his earpiece. "Kotori, are we clear?"
"Yup. Just go in and be careful, alright? Remember your training. You two are representing a more intimate way of dealing with Spirits." Kotori reminded them as the two teens give each other nods. Soon, they began to walk inside the damaged building, looking for the classroom Princess was in.
Eventually, they found the room Princess was staying at, with said Spirit staring at the large hole she created to enter the classroom. Ichigo gestured Shido to move inside slowly, making the blue haired teen nod as they stepped in the classroom. Princess seemed to have heard them as she turned around, the same stoic expression on her face.
'I never got a good look at her before… but wow.' Ichigo thought, completely caught off guard by how beautiful Princess looked. Say what you will about how dense he was, but Ichigo knew a beautiful woman when he saw one(you could thank bombshells like Yoruichi and Rangiku for that). Shido seemed to be on the same boat as he stared at the Spirit in awe.
However, Princess wasn't as swayed as she pulled her left arm back before swinging it. A burst of energy was suddenly shot at the two teens.
"LOOK OUT!" Ichigo quickly grabbed Shido and pulled him to the side as Princess' attack destroyed a large part of the wall. The two teens stood up, with Shido holding his hands up.
"Wait! Please listen to us!" Shido begged in hopes of de-escalating the situation.
"See? We don't have any weapons. We're just here to talk." Ichigo added while following Shido's example.
"Who are you? And why do you follow me?" Princess demanded as she pulled her arm back, preparing to strike again.
"Don't answer yet!" Kotori quickly said before Shido and Ichigo could speak. "We have the choices ready."
"Choices?" Shido asked, feeling something was wrong. Ichigo, on the other hand, wasn't waiting.
"My name's Ichigo Kurosaki and this is Shido. We aren't here to hurt you." Ichigo told Princess, who narrowed her eyes a bit.
"Yes… I remember you two." Princess admitted as her frown deepened. "We've crossed paths before."
"That's right. And we didn't hurt you then." Shido added as he cautiously stepped forward, making Princess glare at him.
"You said something odd to me before." Princess confessed. "You said you weren't there to kill me." She turned towards Ichigo and stepped forward. "And you are not like anyone I've seen. There's something inside you that… confuses me."
'Is she able to sense Reishi? But I don't have any left.' Ichigo thought before speaking up. "Look, I don't know what you see, but I'm just a human." To his surprise, Princess grabbed his collar, despite being a few inches shorter than him.
"You said you wouldn't kill me, yet I feel that is a lie. Why else would the two of you be here?" Princess demanded, wanting to learn the truth.
"Hang on! We are telling the truth!" Shido shouted, hoping to de-escalate everything. However, he noticed that despite the warning she was giving them, Princess' eyes looked rather sad. "Why do you look so sad?"
This seemed to catch Princess off guard as she released Ichigo's collar. "We didn't bring any weapons with us. All we want to do is talk, okay?" Ichigo explained in a calm tone. "If you really did want to kill us, you would've done it by now."
Princess got over her shock and glared at them. "Stop lying! I know you're trying to make me drop my guard! Every human is out to kill me! I haven't done anything, yet they still want my blood!"
"I swear that's not true. Please, just trust us." Shido practically begged. Princess stared at Shido's expression before stepping back.
"There's something I must know." Princess started. "You both say you are here to talk and that you don't intend on killing me. But I do not believe you. So, tell me the truth. And no more lies."
"Okay, studs. This time, wait for us to give you a response." Kotori practically ordered as her team began to figure out what to say to the Spirit. "Okay, Shido. You say…"
"I-it's because I wanted to meet you." Shido answered rigidly as he looked at Ichigo. "He also wanted to come."
"To meet me? Why would you want that?" Princess asked with mild curiosity.
"Okay, Shido. Now say this." Kotori gave Shido new instructions.
"Because I'm… interested in you." This answer caused Princess to slash what remained of the wall, making Shido jump in fear.
"I'm in no mood for jokes." Princess warned with an annoyed tone.
"Alright, alright." Ichigo quickly got between them. "He's being serious. I wanted to see you too."
"More lies. Is that all you humans know?" Princess questioned as Ichigo saw more sadness in her eyes.
"Okay, you want the truth?" Ichigo said, wanting to get through to her. "We came here to talk to you. It doesn't matter what the hell it's about. But we aren't like the people who attacked you."
"Ichigo, wait! You might make things worse!" Kotori called out, though Ichigo ignored her.
"Let me protect you!" Ichigo shouted, much to Princess' surprise. "My name means 'he who protects.' It means I protect everyone that's close to me. My family." He looked over to Shido. "My friends." Then, he looked at her. "And even you."
"Even… me?" Princess didn't know whether to call Ichigo a liar or believe him. So, she just remained quiet.
"I've seen bad people hurt others just because they got in the way. But you aren't like them. You aren't evil." Ichigo took a step forward, though unlike before, Princess didn't try to retaliate. "I can tell you're hurt and I want to tell you that I'm here. So is Shido."
"He's right. No matter what other people might do, we'll stand with you." Shido added, giving her a determined face. "We won't let you down!"
Princess didn't know why, but hearing how determined the two humans in front of her were made her feel something in her chest. Like something was trying to burst out of it?
Was this… happiness?
No. No, that can't be it. These humans were just trying to get close so they could strike! There's no way they could be trusted!
And yet despite all that, she felt they were being honest.
Frustrated by this, Princess suddenly turned around, her back facing the humans. "You said your names were Ichigo and Shido, right? And when you said you were interested in me, were you being serious?"
Ichigo and Shido looked at one another before the latter spoke up. "Yes."
"But like, serious serious?" Princess turned around and looked at them.
"Serious serious." Ichigo replied with a serious look.
"One hundred percent serious serious?" Princess asked again, this time sounding a bit nervous.
"One THOUSAND percent serious serious!" Shido finalized, hoping they could stop this ridiculous back and forth. Princess looked at them for a few seconds before turning around, scratching her head in frustration.
"Idiots! Saying such things like that. Do you think anyone would seriously fall for such amateur tricks?" Princess retorted while crossing her arms. "Stupid dummies."
"Are you serious right now?" Shido asked with a sweatdrop.
"She kinda acts like Tatsuki." Ichigo chimed in, seeing a bit of his friend's tomboyish nature in the Spirit. Who would have thought Princess would be such a tsundere?
"But this is different." Princess confessed, smiling a little. "I still don't know what your true intentions are, but the two of you are the first humans I've ever had a normal conversation with."
"That's what we're saying. We just want to talk to you like a normal person." Shido explained, relaxing his body.
"Hmmm, yes. You know this world well, which could be useful to me." Nodding to herself, Princess dropped her arms before pointing a finger at them. "It's settled! You two will help me learn more about this world!"
"Sure, if that's what you want." Ichigo sweatdropped a bit at her behavior, though at least this was a step in the right direction. However, a thought soon occurred. "By the way, what's your name? I doubt it's just Princess."
"Name?" Princess stared at them in confusion. She then frowned sadly. "I've never had one of those before. Though, if I am going to stay in this world, I may need one." An idea crossed her mind as Princess smiled at them. "Alright then. Why don't you give me one?"
"Give us a sec, guys. We're coming up with suggestions right now." Kotori informed the teens as they themselves began to think of a name.
"Would… Itsuki work?" Ichigo suggested, only for Princess to glare at him. "Right. Sorry."
"Hmmm… what about Tome? Tome sounds neat." Shido added on. This caused Princess to launch a barrage of energy balls, though miraculously, they only struck an outline of both males. "Right… sorry."
"Don't assume I can't tell when a human is mocking me." Princess told them in a serious tone.
"To… To…" Ichigo muttered under his breath before a thought occurred. "Hey, what about Tohka?"
"Yeah. Tohka sounds nice." Shido agreed with a smile as Princess pondered in thought.
"Tohka… how do you spell it?" Princess asked in genuine curiosity. Noticing a single stick of chalk, Ichigo grabbed it and began to spell out 'Tohka.' Once he was finished, he offered the chalk to the Spirit.
"Wanna try spelling it yourself?" Taking the chalk, Princess copied Ichigo's writing before stepping back, taking in the new name.
"Hmmm… Tohka…" A sincere smile grew on the newly dubbed 'Tohka's' face as she turned to the humans. "I like it. Now, I have a name. Thank you."
"No problem. No one should go without a name." Shido told her, finding himself smiling at her joy. Even Ichigo couldn't help but smile a little. At least now, she wasn't sad. That was a good first step.
"GET DOWN AND TAKE COVER!" Kotori suddenly warned as Ichigo and Shido widened their eyes.
A sudden barrage of bullets were fired at the classroom, though Tohka reacted quickly and created a barrier to protect them. Soon, the firing stopped, allowing the smoke to clear up.
"Is everyone okay?" Ichigo asked as he and Shido got back up. They saw Tohka staring at the AST soldiers with a frown.
"You two should leave while you can." Tohka suggested as she smiled at them. "I'd love to talk more, but I'm afraid they won't let me."
"No." Ichigo shut down with a frown. "I'm not going anywhere. Not after I promised to protect you."
"Same here." Shido joined in before he suddenly sat on the floor. "We can keep talking, just like I told you. Just pretend they aren't here."
Tohka blinked in surprise at the bold action before she nodded. "Okay. Let's continue." She and Ichigo both sat with Shido as the AST opened fire once again, only for the barrier to protect them.
'Never thought I'd be having a conversation with a Spirit while there were girls shooting at us. At this point, I shouldn't be surprised.' Ichigo thought while mentally chuckling at how insane his life was.
"I have to ask. I know you aren't human, so what are you?" Shido asked in curiosity.
"I'm not sure." Tohka admitted with a sigh. "I don't remember how long it has been since I appeared out of nowhere. That's all I can recall. All my old memories are fuzzy and distorted. Honestly, I'm not even sure what I am."
"That sounds rough." Ichigo gave her a look of sympathy. No one deserved to forget their life, no matter how bad it could be.
"I suppose it is. My birth was so sudden and unexpected, then the Mecha Mecha Squad attacked me when I awoke." Tohka explained, making Shido blink.
"Ummm, the what squad?" Shido asked as Tohka pointed towards the AST. "Ohhh. Them. I get it."
Suddenly, Shido and Ichigo heard the sound of a trumpet playing a victory tune in their earpieces.
"Now's your chance, bro! Her happiness meter is over seventy!" Kotori informed them.
"Okay, what? What the hell's a happiness meter and why is that good?" Ichigo questioned, making Tohka stare at him in confusion.
"When a Spirit's happiness meter is over seventy percent, that means it's a good time to make a move."
"Make a move? You don't mean…" Shido seemed to connect the dots, which made him a bit nervous.
"I think she means ask her out on a date." Ichigo whispered, though he himself realized it was easier said than done.
"Is something wrong?" Tohka asked with a frown, not liking the faces they were making. "You've been muttering under your breath for a while." She narrowed her eyes as she pointed a finger, a magic ball appearing on the tip. "Are you not telling me everything?"
"Hold on. It's nothing like that." Ichigo reassured her as he glanced at Shido. The blue haired teen gave him a pleading look, making him sigh. "It's… Shido wanted to know if you wanted to go on a date with him."
"Date?" Tohka deactivated her attack as she tilted her head. "What is a date?"
"You don't know what a date is?" Shido asked in surprise, though he did recall Tohka mentioning that she was still new to this world.
"LOOK OUT!" Kotori shouted as a blur rushed in, shattering Tohka's barrier. Ichigo and Shido were shocked to find Origami standing in front of them, an energy sword drawn at the Spirit.
"Origami/Tobiichi!" The two males exclaimed in unison.
"Stand back!" Origami shouted as she glared at Tohka.
"It's you again. The one who attacked me." Tohka narrowed her eyes at Origami.
"Using them as shields. You scum!" Origami accused, only angering Tohka more.
"Hold on! She isn't a threat!" Ichigo tried to explain, only to be ignored.
"Sandalphon!" Tohka's throne rose up before she drew out her sword, pointing it at the AST soldier.
"Get out of there. The Fraxinus will come to retrieve you." Kotori informed Ichigo and Shido, though they didn't seem too thrilled with the idea of leaving Tohka.
"We can't go. Not without Tohka." Shido told his sister as Tohka swung her sword, sending a shockwave that pushed Origami back.
"TOHKA! WE'LL COME BACK FOR YOU!" Ichigo shouted as a light covered him and Shido.
*Boom*
Tohka's attack caused an explosion, destroying more of the school building.
'The Fraxinus'
*Thud*
"Owww!" Ichigo and Shido crashed on the solid metal floor of the Fraxinus, accidentally bumping heads against each other.
"Sorry…" Shido apologized while rubbing the side of his temple.
"It's fine. Not your fault." Shido groaned as he and Shido stood up.
"That was close. Are you two alright?" Reine questioned as she went to examine the two. Fortunately, they didn't seem to have any major injuries.
"Yeah. Thanks for getting us out." Shido confessed sincerely, though a thought came to him. "Tobiichi! Is she okay?"
"Don't worry. She'll live." Kotori informed them, much to her brother's relief. "Still, I have to give you two props. Princess' happiness meter was going high."
"Tohka. Her name's Tohka." Ichigo reminded her with a deep frown. "We shouldn't have left her. It doesn't feel right."
"Take this as a win, Ichi. You were able to talk to a Spirit without dying for the second time. That's progress." Reine told him.
"That'll be all for today. You two should head back home and rest. We'll let you know if Tohka shows up again." Kotori told the two as they nodded.
"Hang on, sis. I have a question." Shido spoke up, getting Kotori's attention. "What exactly was that sword Tohka was using? The one that came out of the throne.
"Oh. We haven't told you." Kotori realized as she took out a lollipop. "It's called an Angel. They're basically the sword and shield of a Spirit. Manifesting from miracles, an Angel is used to protect a Spirit, along with their Astral Dress." Typing on the console, Kotori brought up an image of Tohka standing next to her throne. "Tohka's Angel is called Sandelphon and it takes the form of a sword. From what we've gathered, each Angel can take different forms depending on the Spirit."
'Kinda like a Zanpakuto.' Ichigo thought as he stared at the image of Tohka. The way she used the sword reminded him a lot of how he used Zangetsu.
"Wow. That's crazy." Shido confessed in awe. "Now I'm glad she didn't get us."
"Anyways, get going. You did good today." With that, the two males were teleported out of the Fraxinus, leaving Kotori to her thoughts.
"Is there something wrong, commander?" Kannazuki couldn't help but ask as he saw the serious look on Kotori's face.
"No. Nothing so far." Kotori muttered, though it was clear there was something on her mind.
'Later that night'
Nightfall had come on Tengu City, though Ichigo wasn't tired. Given what happened to Raizen High, he and Shido were on extended vacation, which gave him time to think.
Despite what everyone, including the AST thought of Spirits, Tohka just didn't seem all that dangerous.
Did she have a short temper? About the same level as Rukia.
Was she as evil as Origami thought she was? He didn't think so.
He and Shido were able to get through to her, so now what? Go on a date and seal her powers with a kiss?
"That sounds like a crappy anime plot." Ichigo thought out loud while rubbing his face. He needed to get a second opinion from someone who didn't work for Ratatoskr or the AST.
Grabbing his phone, Ichigo looked through his contacts before finding the one he wanted. Clicking the call button, he pressed it against his ear until the caller on the other end answered.
"Ichigo, my boy! How are you?" Kisuke's voice called out in a cheery tone. "It's been weeks!"
"Right. Sorry about that. Though, you could have told me who your friend on the inside was." Ichigo told the shopkeeper.
"What? You don't like Kyouhei? He's a great guy." Kisuke defended Kotori's second-in-command. "Plus, like me, he's a genius! You can't imagine how long our conversations went on."
"Kisuke, I have to ask you something." Ichigo suddenly cut him off, catching Kisuke's attention.
"Is something wrong? You sound serious." Kisuke inquired.
"Do… you think all Spirits are evil?" Ichigo asked with a frown. "I met a Spirit last week. Then, I met her again today. But she didn't seem all that bad. Paranoid, yeah. But… she also looked sad. Like she was confused about why humans were attacking her." He looked at his hand before clenching it. "It just doesn't seem right."
"Wow. Sounds like this is personal to you." Kisuke confessed with a surprised tone. "But, I can also tell you seem to care about this Spirit. If you really think she isn't as evil as everyone thinks, then show them. I'm still on the fence about all this."
"I bet. Thanks, Kisuke. I just needed someone else's opinion." Ichigo replied in gratitude. At least for now, he felt the weight of this dilemma being lifted off his shoulders. "I gotta go to bed. See you later."
"Be careful, Ichigo. And don't forget to use THAT in case something happens." Kisuke reminded him with a serious tone. Ichigo gave a quick 'okay' before hanging up, lying on his bed.
The next time he or Shido saw Tohka, they would do their damndest to protect her.
Finally. After two weeks of freaking writing, I was able to finally finish this chapter. Man, setting up the actual date thing is a bigger pain in the ass than I thought, but here we are. Hopefully, before the end of this year, I can write the next chapter so we can finish the Tohka arc.
Yes, I know a lot of this chapter was the same as canon, but I tried my best to add a few new scenes to make it more interesting. I know a certain number of people who might complain to me, but this is my story and I will do what I can.
As you can see, Tohka might have an interest in both our boys, which could either be a good or bad thing. Either way, it is gonna be HILARIOUS.
Follow, Fav, Review and PM.
Next time: A triple date?