[Training, Acidwire, and Quinncies?!]

-1 Week Later-

Its been a week since Kriv and Rukia have been training. It was rough for the first couple days, but progress was still made. They werent going over all of the Kido spells, but he got proficient with Sai, Hainawa, and Kyokko specifically. He seemed to favor Flashstep, as well as learning to supress his large reserve of power to avoid being detected. On top of all of that, the unique way his sword layed across his lower back gave her fits.

Standing on a utility pole overlooking his hometown, Kriv smiled at these memories. He had no complaints, she was firm but fair in her training of his abilities. But he felt he had a long way to go. Slowly turning his head as if scanning the horizon, he smirked as felt a familiar presence approach him.

"Whats next, Rukia?" He asked in anticipation, feeling her land on another pole near him.

"I think we can call it quits for tonight, Kriv." She smiled at his progress. His presence felt less chaotic and was more calm. Her eyes immediately snap to looking past him. "Do you feel that?" She asked in a nervous tone.

"Hollow at... 2'o clock?" He asked in uncertainty. It was hard for him to pin down with how eratic the power fluctuated. Pointing in that general direction to give a visual of where he thinks its coming from.

"More like, 4 o'clock. But your getting better." She said as they quickly made their way towards the Hollow about to wreak havoc in a nearby marketplace.

-10 minutes later-

[CRASH]

"Ugh!" The human teen grunted as his target hit him in the stomach, forcing him to crash into a nearby stand. "Fuck, alright you bastard. Have it your way." He said as he drew his sword from its scabbard. Slashing at it with percision, he scored a hit on its neck. He may have scored the hit, but he only managed to dig half way into it.. "What?!" He narrowed his eyes. "Not gonna die easy eh? Fine by me!" Kriv changed his grip on the handle and pulled the sword free.

"Remember what I told you about conviction." Rukia said, looking over the fight. Guiding him by seeing things from the outside, which he couldnt do on his own. He seemed to lack conviction. "If you arent willing to kill..." She started, and stopped half way with a smirk.

"Im not willing to protect!" He roared as he aimed at the neck again finishing off the Hollow sending it roaring back to where it came from.

"Tsk. Not good enough." He said, as he returned the sword to its sheathe. Not at all happy that it wasnt a clean cut. "What is it that Im missing?" Kriv said looking at his hand wondering if its even enough. The raven haired teen sighed. "I still got time, I'll get it." A look of determination crossed his face.

Rukia yawned, "It getting late, you gonna come home and sleep before school?" She asked in a sleepy tone. That situation was doozy at first.

[Flashback: 4 Days ago]

-9am Saturday-

"Ichigo! Kriv! Breakfast is almost ready!" Yuzu voice rang thru the upstairs. Calling her brothers down for breakfast. Both reluctant to the warmth of their respective beds and rooms.

"Ugh, fiine." Kriv whined as he slowly got up. Shuffling like a zombie to his closet. Opennig his closet, and sleepily deciding what to wear.

'Tank top and jeans? Nah.'

'Hoodie and Cargo pants? nah.'

"Morning, Kriv" Rukia said as she stretched after waking up.

"Morning, Rukia." He said without realizing who he was talkng too. "Ah, Fuck it. Hand me my tank top and jeans, please." He said just deciding on the outfit for the day.

"Here you go." She said after gathering his requested outfit.

"Thanks, breakfast will be ready in five minutes." The teen said making his way to the bathroom.

"Ok, Thanks." She said closing the door to the closet so she could change.

"Yup." He called out from the bathroom, before he stepped into the shower. Letting the warm water wash over him, he waited for his brain to jumpstart. As if he just got hit over the head with the point, his eyes widened in shock 'Rukia!? What the fuck is she doing here?!'. Quckly finishing his shower, he rushed back into his room.

Rukia gave him a cheshire cat like grin. "Took you long enough, Kriv." She chuckled abit as he pointed as an accusitory finger at her, as if she brooke in over night. "What the fuck, are you doing here?!" He asked in shock.

"You know exactly why Im here." She responded immediately. "To train you and watch over you while you do my job until I recover." She explained as she went to leave for breakfast. "By the way, Yuzu said breakfast is done." the soul reaper said with mischevious smile.

"Tch,Fine." He said with caution as he followed her downstairs. "But if you did anything to hurt them, I'd never forgive you." He said plainly said as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

She blinked in suprise, "Note to self dont get on Krivs bad side."

"Yeah, thats about the size of it." Ichigos voice flew down from up the stairs. "He's protective of everyone in this house. Even Dad. Even IF he can take care of himself." He said as he slipped by without a care in the world. "He and are the same in that reguard. Hurt our sisters, we wont forgive you."

Suprise plastered on Rukias face. 'Why is everyone in this family so scary?' She shuddered as she entered the kitchen.

-Flashback End-

"Yeah, Im ready." The substitute shinigami smiled as he caught up to his temporary teacher. They walked back to the clinic in a somewhat comfortable silence.

They have been friends for only a week and they made some strides in bridging the gap, and getting Rukia comfortable in the human world until she was able to return home to the Soul Scoiety.

Upon reaching Kurosaki Clinic the duo jumped up to the window of Krivs room. Vaulting over the windowsill, they got ready for bed.

"Do you want the bed tonight?" He said as he jumped back into his body. "Or do you want the cabinet?" He asked as he gathered his things for a quick shower.

If anything he considerate. "I'll take the bed tonight. Go enjoy your shower. Thank you." Rukia said as she flopped on the bed, almost instantly fell asleep.

-Couple days later-

-Rooftop Karakura High-

Ichigo found it weird his brother was taking a nap, on the roof of the school, during lunchtime. Not weird enough to worry per se, but it was unsual none the less. "What happened, Kriv didnt get enough sleep last night?" He chuckled in his brothers direction expecting an answer.

"Hm? Yeah, that might be it." Kriv said as he got up to stretch. "The nap was so good my spines realigned." The raven haired brother chuckled out. As he took a step, the pain from the most recent fight shot up his body. "Ouch." was all that heard before he froze in place, that was until his body flopped over and hit the ground again. "Owie. Hey Ichigo. Can you go get the nurse please?" Kriv said in his trademark worried tone.

"What the hell? How did a nap screw you up so badly?" Ichigo yelled in suprise.

"Thats the downside of being 2 months older." Kriv laughed but it immediately gave way to the pain. "Owie."

"Fucking dumbass dont try to crack a joke when everything hurts!" Ichigo yelled as he stomped on hs brothers possibly broken body.

Kriv continued to yelled in pain as his brother continued to stomp on him for being stupid.

-Kurosaki Clinic-

-4pm-

"So let me get this straight." Ichigo said as he processes what Kriv and Rukia told him. "You." pointing to Rukia. "Came here to patrol the town, because of reports of a Hollow. A human soul corrupted by regret, sorrow, and like." He said slowly and concise as make sure he didnt miss anything.

"Correct." Rukia confirmed.

"Its an oversimplification but yes." Kriv confirmed.

"Then said Hollow. Gave you enough trouble that you crash into my brother during his night walk. and you." He wrapped it up to point at his brother. "Agreed to this because of the possibility of us being in danger?" He finished with a sigh.

"Just keeping you guys safe is all im doing. You wouldve done the same thing in my position." He said in a knowing tone.

"Not the point." Ichigo said purposefully ignoring that statment from his brother. "So now you need me to take over until your arm heals?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yep two nights and thats it. No more no less. Rukia will teach you the basics. and then we act like it never happened." The raven haired teen said nonchalantly.

"We know this is a big ask but your the only one we could ask." Rukia said just as a nonchalant manner.

"Fine, ok so how do it turn into a sub to a sub?" he asked as he contemplated and not paying attention to Rukia putting on a glove.

"Gotcha!" was heard as Ichigo felt his soul be separated from his body.

"Karin! can you come here? Ichigo fainted and I cant really pick him up on my own." Kriv called down to his baby sister.

"Dammit Ichigo!" said sister yelled in frustration. "You could at least be considerate to your injured brother." She said, as she dragged her brothers body out the room.

Everyone winced as Ichigos head hit the door frame on the way out. "I'll leave some Tylenol out for you." Kriv said to his brother.

Everything was gonna be was gonna be fine. Right?

-Karakura Town Park-

-Two days later-

Everything wasnt fine, his arm weirdly hasnt healed yet.

Ichigo revealed himself to Tatsuki and Orihime in his shinigami form while dealing with a Hollow that was Orihimes brother, but turn back into her brother and then he was sent to the soul society. Its complicated and he'll ask Rukia later.

Then a Hollow was chasing a little boys soul that was stuffed into a birds body, and in exchange for terroizing innocent people the Hollow would free the boys mother. To top it all off their friend Chad defeated the Hollow with Rukias help.

That hit both of the brothers pretty hard. Losing your mom fucks you up more than you realize.

He just sitting on the park bench and was watching the clouds slowly fly by. Hearing footsteps, Kriv turned and gave the person walking to him a smile. "Well well, I havent seen you in two years, Asuna."

"Its good to see ya again, Kriv." The now named Asuna smiled at him. "I go by Bambi now." She said with a genuine warmth to her voice. "And boy do I got a story for you." Bambi said as she sat down next to him, and chatted until the sun went down.


'May The Flames Cleanse You' Chapter 2 done. Its a short one, I know. But the right headspace to write it wasnt available. Next chpater will be in rotation by the week of September 7th. Next Chapter may cover, the Hollow slaying competition, Krivs conversation with Bambi, and why Ichigo wont be able to go with his brother to protect someone.

Ja Ne

DemonsFlame