The Day I Became Shinigami!
In a barren location filled with white sand and craggy spires of blue rock, the shadows grow long over the desert, and two blobs of darkness rise from the shade into the air before bursting out of the clouds in the nighttime sky over Karakura Town. The two blobs reveal themselves to be invisible monsters that land on a riverbank running beneath a bridge below.
Elsewhere, a Jigokuchō flies toward a full moon while Rukia Kuchiki stands on top of a telephone poll nearby. Noting she senses a powerful Reiatsu, Rukia jumps to another telephone pole before leaping toward the town below.
The following evening, at twilight, Ichigo Kurosaki stands in front of five skateboarding teenagers with one of them lying on the ground, unconscious.
" What are you doing? Kicking Yama down like that without an explanation. What the hell do you want? ", a belligerent Toshi-Bro confronts Ichigo over kicking down Yama-Bro, who lies unconscious nearby.
" ehhhh…", Ichigo replied with an uninterested groan.
" That's all you got to say? You- ", Toshi-Bro scowled at Ichigo's reaction and went forward to punch him only for Ichigo to kick him in the face, knocking him down. Ichigo then proceeded to stomp on Toshi-Bro's back, instilling fear in the other three.
" Look! ", One of them pointed while shivering.
" Oh my god! ", Another one said in fear.
" Isn't he crazy? ", The other asked in fear
" It hurts.. ", Toshi-Bro shouted out in pain only for Ichigo to shut him up by stomping him through the road.
" Shut up. Listen up pond scum! ", Ichigo ordered pointing at the vase of flowers on the sidewalk behind him, which had been knocked over. " First question, what do you think that is? You, in the middle, answer me. ", Ichigo asked Mit-Bro, who stood in the middle of the three.
" I guess somebody left those flowers for some kid who died. ", Mit-Bro answered him.
" Correct. ", Ichigo confirmed as he kicked Mit-Bro in the face.
" Mit-Bro! ", The other two screamed in fear.
" Now the next question, why's that vase broken? ", Ichigo asked the other two.
" I guess one of us knocked it over when we were skateboarding through here. We didn't mean it- ", One of the remaining two answered him but was interrupted by Ichigo kicking them.
" Dare try again…the next time the flowers will be for you! ", Ichigo threatened with fire in the background.
" Sorry! ", The three ran away screaming their apologies.
" That ought to keep those punks…from showing their ugly faces around here. ", Ichigo commented and turned around towards the vase. " Sorry about all that. I'll bring you some fresh flowers tomorrow. ", Ichigo told the dead girl who appeared near the vase.
" Thank you for coming to my defense. I think I'll finally be able to rest peacefully now. ", The girl thanked Ichigo with a smile.
" No problem. After all, you deserve to rest in peace. ", Ichigo told her as he corrected the vase's position and walked away with a wave as the girl disappeared.
" Hey Ichigo! ", Someone called out to him from behind with wheels running.
" Did they come for more?! ", Ichigo asked himself as he turned around to find a boy with black eyes and spiky black hair with a blue tint which is long and had hung the boy's face as bangs.
" Make sure to dodge it! ", The boy said with a smirk as he jumped from the board, making it take a 45-degree elevation to Ichigo's face.
" What?! AH! ", Ichigo screamed as the skateboard hit him in the face and knocked him down.
" Nice dodge, Ichigo! ", The boy commented sarcastically.
" Ryuji, Teme! Are you trying to kill me? ", Ichigo screamed in the aftershock of that hit.
" Sorry, thought you'd dodge it considering your skills. ", Ryuji Kurosaki, Ichigo's twin, apologized.
" Well, why are you here? ", Ichigo asked calming down.
" Just a reminder that it's 6:30 now. ", Ryuji said as walked to his fallen skateboard.
" What?! Then- ", Ichigo's question was interrupted by Ryuji.
" Better start running! ", Ryuji told Ichigo with a smirk as he sped off on his skateboard.
" Hey! Wait for me! ", Ichigo shouted in surprise and ran after Ryuji
Kurosaki Household, 7:05 PM,
Ryuji and Ichigo walked in silence with their school bags as they thought about their life up until that point. Being 15-year-old high school students of a family that runs a clinic and being able to see ghosts is not what's considered normal. As they walked past the 'Kurosaki Clinic' board, they passed the gate next to the clinic and went to the front door of their home.
" I'm home… ", Both Ichigo and Ryuji announced in unison as they walked in.
" So late. ", A kick was thrown at them which Ryuji dodged but Ichigo didn't. " You bad boys. According to the family rules, our family has dinner at 7'o clock every day. ", The one kicked Ichigo, and Isshin Kurosaki, the father of the 4 kids reprimanded them.
" Dad is that any way welcome your own son when he risked his life to help a spirit find peace?! ", Ichigo spit back that question to his Isshin in anger.
" Silence! Whatever the reason, anyone who destroys our family reunion will be punished, okay? ", Isshin replied with the same intensity. " Or you mean that you are the boss just because you are able to see ghosts and talk to them and I don't. Know that it doesn't make you the boss of this household! ", Isshin continued as he and Ichigo started to spar.
" It's not my fault ", Ichigo stated as he continued fighting.
" Hey, stop the fighting you two! Come over here and eat your dinner! ", Yuzu told the two sparring men.
" Let them fight. More rice for me. ", Karin told Yuzu and asked for more rice.
" That's not very nice, Karin. ", Yuzu told Karin.
" I agree with her, Yuzu. No matter what you say, they won't stop until one falls down. ", Ryuji stated while eating rice calmly.
" How did you manage to slip past dad, Ryu-nii? ", Karin asked Ryuji.
" That's by…", Ryuji started making Karin and Yuzu tune in to listen. "..luck ", Ryuji finished making the two put their head down in disbelief.
" Anyway Dad, for any normal and healthy high school kid, a 7'o clock curfew is totally uncool! ", Ichigo stated with a scowl after kicking Isshin in the face to the wall.
" Ichi-nii, you have a new one. ", Yuzu stated as she felt another spirit appearing near Ichigo.
" How long have you been here? Geez, how do you get rid of these things? Damn…", Ichigo ranted as he tried and failed to catch the spirit.
" I'm done. ", Karin said as she finished her dinner.
" More, Yuzu ", Ryuji asked for more rice.
" Get away! ", Ichigo shouted at the spirit.
" Poor Ichi-nii and Ryu-nii…Dad or ghosts, it's always something. ", Karin commented with sympathy.
" I think they're kind of lucky to be able to see ghosts! I sort of sense their presence but that's about it. ", Yuzu told her with admiration.
" I tell you, I don't know what the big deal is with ghosts…I don't even believe their existence. ", Karin informed Yuzu.
" I don't get how you could say that. You had the power to see spirits too! At home, only dad has no feeling at all. ", Yuzu told Yuzu.
" I'm in permanent denial…just seeing them doesn't make me believe in them. ", Karin said flatly, giving cold vibes to Yuzu and the spirit. Ryuji could only sigh at Karin's statement.
" I'm done ", Ryuji said as he finished his dinner and went up to his room, leaving the others to their own devices.
Ryuji placed his bag on the study and sat on the bed, recalling what happened before he met up with Ichigo.
Flashback:
Ryuji had been skating through the road, singing his favorite song 'Hero's Comeback'. On the way, he would see people walking while in silence, talking, or dating. But, Ryuji ended up noticing a crying boy of 5 years. The reason Ryuji halted to see the kid is that the kid just came out of a wall, screaming for help while weeping. The phenomenon told him that the boy was a spirit. Ryuji took off to the kid at once.
" Someone! Please help! ", The boy screamed at the people who walked by but fared no response.
" Hey…", Ryuji called out to the boy as he stopped in front of him.
" Eh? ", The boy turned his attention to Ryuji in surprise.
" What's wrong, kid? Why are you weeping in this corner? ", Ryuji asked the kid.
" Eh? Big brother can see me? ", The boy asked him in surprise.
" Yes. Now, tell me, what's wrong? ", Ryuji asked him.
" M-mama…My mama! Ahhhh! ", The kid said as he started to weep again.
" Hey, it's alright. Please stop crying, kid. Tell me, what's wrong with mama? ", Ryuji asked as he consoled the boy.
" T-they're beating her! They want to hurt my mama! Big brother, please save my mama! ", The kid begged with tears as he pointed to the building he come out of.
" The thing's locked! ", Ryuji said in anger as the door was locked when he tried to open it.
" They're having her on the second floor! ", The kid told him.
" No choice then! ", Ryuji stated to the kid before jumping and catching the ledge above him.
" Heh? ", The kid kept looking at Ryuji as Ryuji climbed up to the second floor in seconds.
On the second floor of the building,
A woman in her late thirties walked and ran inside the room to lock herself in. But, her efforts were in vain as she was overpowered and thrown to the ground. Three large men, her assaulters, walked in with dirty smiles on their faces.
" Hah! Told you we'd get you! ", One of them (Man 1) stated.
" Made us follow you all from the other end of town. ", Another one of them (Man 2 )said in frustration.
" Now, let's not waste time talking. ", The last man, who looked bigger, stronger, and is the leader, spoke to them.
" L-let me go! ", The woman begged in fear.
" You haven't paid us the money, madam. ", Man 1 told her.
" N-no, I d-did! ", The woman replied in fear.
" Yes, but you didn't pay the interest. ", Man 2 stated.
" T-there was no interest! ", She stated.
" There is now. ", The leader said.
" B-but, I have no money! ", She stated.
" Then, you pay us with your body! ", The leader said with a lewd expression.
" N-no! ", The woman screamed as the other two held her in place.
" Now, let us see what you're hiding! ", The leader as he went on to undress her.
" Help me! Someone help me! ", She called out for help.
" No one can help you! The door is locked and the sound from this room won't go out. ", Man 2 stated.
" So, moan out all you want. ", Man 1 said as he licked her neck.
" Don't! NOOO! ", The woman screamed as the leader took off her shirt.
" She's got such an erotic body! ", The leader commented as he licked his lips.
" You're a bunch of cowards…", A voice was heard.
" Huh? ", The three men looked up to find Ryuji near the window.
" How did you get in?! ", The leader asked Ryuji.
"…", Ryuji said nothing.
" Get out if you don't want to get hurt! ", The leader warned him.
"…", Ryuji walked towards them without a word.
" Then, don't blame us for being rough! ", Man 2 shouted as he charged at Ryuji with a punch.
In just a flash, the man fell to the ground with a short groan of pain with blood coming out of his mouth. Ryuji had his hand made into a fist and it had the man's blood on it. The woman had passed out in the trauma of nearly getting molested.
" W-what did you do to him? ", Man 1 asked Ryuji.
"…", Ryuji gave no response to his words as well.
" T-this little brat! ", He shouted out as he charged at Ryuji.
Ryuji dodged his punch and hooked his arm between his left underarm. Ryuji then proceeded to punch the man in the chest.
The first one brought out some saliva.
The second one made him bend.
The third one made him spit out blood.
The fourth and final broke his ribs.
The man fell to the ground just like the other one and passed out.
" Did you have anything to do with her child's death? ", Ryuji asked the leader.
" As if I'd answer to puny punk like you! ", The leader scowled as he charged at Ryuji with a punch.
"…slow. ", Ryuji said as he dodged the punch and countered into an arm lock.
" ARGH! Let me go! ", The leader screamed in pain.
" Let me ask you again, did you have anything to do with her child's death? ", Ryuji asked him again.
" You have to try a li- ARGH! ", The leader told Ryuji arrogantly but was cut off when Ryuji began to twist his arm.
" Answer me! ", Ryuji said as he twisted more.
" ARGH! ARGH! YES! YES! I PUSHED THAT LITTLE BRAT DOWN THE STAIRS AND KILLED HIM! ", The leader confessed in pain that was shooting through his arm.
" Alright then. ", Ryuji said as he let his arm go.
" Can you let me go now? ", The leader asked as he held his arm.
" Let you go? Did you let the lady go when she begged you? ", Ryuji asked with a death glare.
" H-have mercy! ", The leader said in fear.
" Sorry, all out of mercy! ", Ryuji said with a sadistic smirk as he walked towards him.
" No! NOOOOO! ", The leader screamed out before his world went dark.
An hour later,
The woman slowly opened her eyes. She took a look around to find herself in a forest. She noticed a raven-haired boy seated near the tree opposite her.
" You're awake? ", Ryuji asked her.
" W-who are you? ", The woman asked him.
" Did you lose your memory? ", Ryuji asked her as he got up.
" W-wait, you're that kid who- ", The woman began.
" -saved you from those punks. Now, let's get going. I want to get you home before 5. ", Ryuji said as he walked into the forest.
" H-hey, wait for me! I have some questions. ", The woman said as she got up to follow him.
" Shoot! ", Ryuji told her.
" W-what happened to those three? ", she asked referring to the three men.
" They're dead. ", Ryuji stated without giving a damn.
" EHHH? Don't tell me you- ", The woman began in shock.
" I didn't kill them. I only made them unconscious and got you out. The gas in that building caught fire and they died in that blast. You can check on the news if you want. ", Ryuji clarified to her.
" Thank kami! ", The woman said as she laid her hand on her heart.
A couple of minutes later, the woman's home,
" Will you come in? ", The woman asked him.
" I don't want to impose… ", Ryuji told her.
" Please, you are my savior. Of course, you should come in and let me repay you with at least some tea. ", The woman told him as she pulled him inside.
" Are you okay with me being here? ", Ryuji asked her as he sat on the chair while the woman made tea in the kitchen.
" It's totally fine. It's not like you're going to make a move on good old me.", The woman stated as she made tea with a fake smile.
"As much as I love older women and MILFs, I'm not the type of guy who makes his move on a grieving mother. ", Ryuji told her with his eyes piercing into her soul.
"…", The woman stayed silent.
" Madam? ", Ryuji asked as he got up.
*drop**drop*- The sound of tears falling onto the ground reached Ryuji's ears. *hic**hic*- The woman tried so hard to hold back her cries.
" Ma'am, I don't know if you'll believe me but, Junichi is glad that you're safe and…", Ryuji paraphrased the boy's words to the woman.
" And? ", The woman asked him, holding back her tears.
" He loves you. ", Ryuji said as he gulped his saliva.
" Aaaaaa! ", The floodgates of the woman opened up and she cried out for her son.
" Thank you, Big Brother. Now, I can rest in peace. ", The boy said as he disappeared with a smile.
*flashback ends*
Ryuji turned around in his bed, pushing the incident to the back of his head.
'I really hated those punks, assaulting a single mother and killing her child. People like them must be burnt in hell. If only I- Whatever, I'm going to sleep. ', Ryuji thought to himself as he closed his eyes and fell into the world of dreams.
The Next Morning,
Ryuji woke up just as his alarm clock went off. He turned it off, got out of bed, and stretched himself. He turned to take a look at the time.
' 4:00 AM sharp. Let's go… ', He thought to himself.
Ryuji walked into his bathroom and started to brush his teeth. He came back to his room and put on sports shorts and a sleeveless shirt. He stretched his every muscle before putting on shoes and heading outside for a jog. He jogged through the roads of Karakura Town, enjoying the fresh breeze of the early morning. He could see the mailman riding his bicycle to deliver letters to the recipients.
" Hey! Did you see that? Isn't he hot? ", A girl who was jogging with her friend commented while looking at Ryuji.
" Yes! Super Hot! ", Her friend replied back doing the same.
' Thanks for the compliment, I guess. ', Ryuji thought to himself as gave them a short smile.
" Kyah! He is so Hot! ", The girls giggled in Unison as they received that smile.
Two hours later,
Ryuji was finally done with his jogging and was having a bottle of clean water he bought from the convenience store. Out of nowhere, a presence was felt by him. The amount of reiatsu coming from that presence was out of the world. Ryuji finished his bottle, threw it away, and walked into the alley where the reiatsu came from.
" It has been some while, Senjumaru. ", Ryuji greeted the figure that emitted an insane amount of reiatsu.
" Yes, it has, Ryuji-Kun. ", said the slender and very youthful woman with fair skin and long, black hair that is adorned at the back by a large golden ornament in the shape of a crescent moon with numerous small lines radiating outwards.
" What has brought you here? I thought you told me that last time was goodbye for us. ", Ryuji asked her.
" Things have changed, Ryuji-kun. I have decided on your proposal if you still wish for it. ", Senjumaru told him.
" I do ", Ryuji replied with conviction.
" Well done, let me see if you pass this trial. ", Senjumaru said as she summoned a Zanpakuto.
An hour later,
Ryuji arrives home after a long 2-hour run and 1 hour-long meeting with Senjumaru. He walked inside the house and went up to his room. Taking off his sweaty clothes, he went to take a bath. After nearly 30 minutes, he came outside and got ready for school. The sound of a reporter on television relaying the news that the ground shook and the walls of many buildings were damaged one block away from the main street outside of Karakura Station at 7:30 am this morning was heard by him. He walked downstairs to meet up with Ichigo.
" Good Morning, Ryuji. ", Ichigo wished him.
" Good Morning. ", Ryuji wished back as they walked into the dining hall together
" Good Morning, Onii-chan ", Yuzu wished the two.
" Morning, where's dad? ", Ichigo replied before asking and taking a toasted bread out of the oven.
" Early meeting. Said he'd be late tonight. ", Karin replied to Ichigo.
" Really? ", Ichigo asked Karin before directing his attention to the news.
" Morning ", Ryuji wished Yuzu as took the other toasted bread and listened to the reporter stating that investigators are working to determine what happened.
" What's wrong? ", Yuzu asked Ichigo and Ryuji.
" It's quite near, isn't it? ", Ichigo asked Ryuji.
" Yes, it is. ", Ryuji replied with a sense of seriousness in his eyes.
Time-skip to After school's end,
Ryuji walked out of the school gate and took a turn toward his house's direction. He had his skateboard brought to school with him and kept in his locker. With a small boost, he hopped onto his skateboard and rode through the roads, feeling josh. But, no matter what he couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happen. As the stairs came, he hopped on the rails with his skateboard and slid down. As he reached the end of it, he felt a sharp slash coming toward him. Ryuji jumped off the rails, dodging the slash, while his skateboard did not. As Ryuji made his landing, he noticed his assailant.
' A Hollow?! ', Ryuji thought to himself as he noticed the white and skull-like masked, Wolf-like hollow.
" RAAAR! ", The hollow growled before slashing Ryuji with his wolf claws.
" Tch..", Ryuji spit out as he dodged that attack too.
" AHH! What is happening?! ", The people on the road screamed out as they could only see buildings being destroyed and not the hollow destroying them.
' Got to get it away from here… ', Ryuji thought to himself as he started running away, prompting the hollow to follow him while damaging buildings.
After dragging the Hollow to an abandoned construction site,
' Now it's safe… ', Ryuji thought to himself as he stopped before the building.
" Where is it? ", Ryuji asked himself as he looked around.
" Rrrrrr….", The hollow left a small growl as it leaped on him from the top of the building.
" Above?! ", Ryuji exclaimed in surprise as he noticed the hollow pounce on him and jumped off that place.
"Ryuji-Kun! ", Senjumaru called out as she caught him.
" Senjumaru. ", Ryuji called out as he noticed her.
" Time to start your trial. ", Senjumaru told him as she pushed his Shinigami self out of his body.
" Argh! Could have given a second. ", Ryuji said as he took a short breath in shock at leaving his body.
" Raaaar! ", The hollow attacked them and they jumped away.
*flashback* (Near that alleyway where Ryuji met Senjumaru first)
" Trial? ", Ryuji asked as he stood in a defensive stance.
" Do not fret, Ryuji-kun. The trial is not for you to fight me. But rather to do what you wanted to do for many years, fight hollows as a Shinigami. ", Senjumaru stated.
" Understood! Should I take it that I should get used to that Zanpakuto and defeat a certain number of hollows? ", Ryuji asked her, looking at the Zanpakuto.
" Yes, but not quite. You see, for me to evaluate whether you deserve to be Shinigami or not is by seeing how you fare as a substitute Shinigami. So, are you ready? ", Senjumaru asked him as she explained to him.
" Yes! ", Ryuji said as he took in the Zanpakuto.
*flashback ends*
" I'll take care of your body. Defeat that hollow and prove to me that you're capable! ", Senjumaru said as she took off with Ryuji's body.
" You underestimate me, Senjumaru. ", Ryuji said as he took out his Zanpakuto.
' That Zanpakuto…It's large….As expected of the chosen one. ', Senjumaru thought to herself as she noticed the Zanpakuto. It was a broadsword that was as large as Ryuji himself. The only different feature about it was the hilt of it. Instead of a red base with gold decorations, it was a blue base with gold decorations.
" Raaaar..", The hollow growled as it pounced on Ryuji yet again.
" Slow…", Ryuji commented as he sidestepped it and slashed off its arm.
" ARGH! ", The hollow screamed out in pain.
" I'm not done! ", Ryuji stated as he flashed near the other arm and slashed it off.
" RRRRaaawwwwwrrrrr! ", The hollow screamed out in more pain and rage.
' Seems I pissed it off a little too much. ', Ryuji thought to himself with a shrug.
" RRRaaawwwwrrrr! ", The hollow attacked him with its mouth.
" HEP! ", Ryuji let out a breath as he leaped up and raised his Zanpakuto. " It's over! ", Ryuji shouted as he drove it through the Hollow's head, making it disintegrate into nothingness.
*clap**clap**clap**clap*
" You defeated it with just a basic training of sword and Taijutsu. Congratulations on passing the first stage of your trial. ", Senjumaru congratulated him as she laid his body down. Ryuji hopped back into his body and kipped up.
" Well, what is the second stage? ", Ryuji asked her.
" To defeat a hundred hollows. ", She stated.
" Aren't there any conditions? ", Ryuji asked skeptically.
" There are two: 1) Your Shinigami status must be revealed to no one, not even your family. 2) Your progress with Hollow hunting must impress me. ", She answered him.
" Sounds like a challenge I'd love to beat! ", Ryuji told her with a smirk.
" We'll see. ", Senjumaru answered with a smile of her own.
An hour later, the Kurosaki household neighborhood,
Ryuji comes back with his broken skateboard in his arm. When he noticed the aura that was around the neighborhood, he understood what happened. A hollow was near this area. Upon inspection with his senses, he could feel it right outside his house.
' Ichigo, Yuzu and Karin! Damn It! I need to make it there faster ', Ryuji thought to himself as he took off to his house.
While running through the road, he felt a presence. Other than that of the hollow and Ichigo.
' A Shinigami?! ', Ryuji had a realization.
He also felt the power of the Shinigami falling and Ichigo's rising.
' Don't tell me Ichigo- ', Ryuji thought to himself as he hid behind a wall and watched the fight a Shinigami Ichigo and the hollow.
" You will pay the price for hurting my family! ", Ichigo said before launching himself into the air and driving a blade through the hollow's head.
As the hollow disintegrated into nothingness, Ichigo stood tall as a newly created substitute Shinigami.
' Things are going to be more challenging for me now. ', Ryuji thought to himself as he observed Ichigo sheathe his sword.
End of Chapter – 1.