Ok, so a quick note, I've decided to forgo the term Soul Reaper and have decided to use Shinigami instead because of stylistic reasons. I edited the previous chapter to reflect the change and from here on out, I will use Shinigami only, mostly because if I am using Zanpakutou, it follows to use Shinigami as well.
Now as for if Orihime is added or not… I haven't decided yet. This story is still in its early stages and good points were raised both for and against the addition of her to the harem. As it stands, I will leave things as is and see how things go.
Most of you want her, but before I decide, I really want to develop her character a bit more, my way. Honestly, in canon, she can be irritating at times, but also has very good moments as well. I will slowly start to change her a bit and maybe by the tenth or fifteenth chapter or so, I'll ask again, with Orihime made to my liking.
Additionally, Tatsuki was also mentioned by a few readers. I was going to offer her as a suggestion as well, however, then I thought to myself, I couldn't just leave Tatsuki as a human without powers, and have her be with Ichigo; it would just be too dangerous. I mean, I could always have Yammy kill her off when he shows up with Ulquiorra (seriously, that guy's name is ridiculous to write) and have her become a Shinigami, but I am reluctant to do so. Plus, it has been done before and I don't like copying others in any way.
Then of course, the alternative exists; I could give her a Zanpakutou like Orihime, but that would be a rather large undertaking. I mean, I have an idea already and might give it to her anyway… I think… but, well, I don't want to bring in a lot of original content, material wise, as, speaking as someone who is following over a thousand stories, it can be a pain to remember all of the extra stuff writers add in. So, if you can, let me know what you think about Tatsuki as well, both for the pairing and if she should gain powers.
All things considered though, I'm more interested in the other three, (Rangiku, Riruka and of course Nel, who is crucial to the story) than either Orihime or Tatsuki…
In any case, please let me know what you all think.
Also, I will update my Pokémon story next, however, I may or may not have it done by tomorrow, since I am yet to start and honestly, I have run myself ragged, putting up a new chapter pretty much every day for the past week, for a total exceeding 50 000 words altogether, is downright insane in just ten days.
Lastly, I've yet to reach the main point of divergence I'm waiting to get to, however, I'm fairly confident I will be able to reach it in two more chapters, or about another 8-10K words.
In any case, enjoy the new chapter.
SSJ3 Kyuubi Gohan.
Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Bleach anime/manga. All I own are my original characters and plot twists.
'Talking'
"Thinking"
'Hollow, Inner Hollow or Zanpakutou talking'
"Hollow, Inner Hollow or Zanpakutou thinking"
*expression*
Flashback
Chapter 2 – Trouble
"I just know this is going to be trouble." Thought Ichigo, as he looked at the odd parakeet, his friend Chad had gotten recently.
-line break-
"I bloody called it." Thought Ichigo, as the Gates of Hell appeared and the hollow that had been killing everyone, who tried to protect the parakeet Chad had received, was sucked into hell.
'Feh, he deserved it, what a pitiful excuse for a hollow.' Commented the voice from within Ichigo's head.
"I'm still trying to figure you out… honestly, what are you exactly?" Asked Ichigo mentally.
'The real question, is what are you, and what is it that you want? Figure that out and you'll know what I am.' Replied the voice unhelpfully.
'So anyway Rukia, mind telling me why you couldn't take care of this?' Asked Ichigo to his supernatural friend, after he allowed the soul of the trapped boy to pass on to Soul Society, and his friend Chad had left.
'I'm not terribly sure. It seems as though my strength is not what it should be, almost, as though it is dropping for some reason.' Said Rukia, having been surprised that her Kidou, while somewhat damaging to the hollow, hadn't been enough to destroy it.
'Well, in any case, I guess that means I need to take care of things alone, until you fix… whatever is wrong with you.' Said Ichigo.
'Hmph, nothing is wrong with me, something unexpected is going on, that's all.' Defended Rukia with a huff.
'Whatever, I'm off.' Said Ichigo with a shrug, as he headed home.
"Geez, it is one weird thing after another recently. What's next, body snatchers?" Thought Ichigo in annoyance.
-line break-
"Seriously!" Shouted Ichigo mentally, as he heard screams coming from his classroom, as he rushed back from defeating a hollow.
Ichigo had just jumped onto his class window and saw: himself.
'Oi! What the hell are you doing in my body?' Asked Ichigo.
'Yeah, it is already crowded enough in here already!' Shouted the voice Ichigo had been hearing.
'Who said that?' Asked Ichigo's body.
'You heard that? How?' Asked Ichigo with a narrowed gaze.
Ichigo's body blinked in surprise for a second.
'Wait, am I going crazy; I swore I heard another voice?' Questioned Ichigo's body.
'Hey, quit talking to yourself, people are going to think I'm crazy! Look, people are staring at you!' Shouted Ichigo.
Ichigo's body turned to face his fellow classmates, but noticed something odd.
'Um, not all of them it seems.' Muttered Ichigo's body in surprise.
'What? Oh no, this is bad.' Said Ichigo, noticing Orihime seemed to be squinting in his direction.
"Hmm, is there another Ichigo there… I know the one who kissed Tatsuki and I wasn't the real him, but… what is that over there?" Thought Orihime, as she stared intensely at the place Ichigo was currently, faintly able to make out a human figure, with a voice just like Ichigo's.
'Rukia do something, Orihime can see me I think!' Shouted Ichigo nervously.
Rukia gaped at this and looked at Orihime who, it seemed, was staring at the real Ichigo.
'Aha, my chance.' Muttered Ichigo's body, as he dived in-between Ichigo's legs and out the window.
'Damn it!' Cursed Ichigo, as he quickly looked outside, seeing his body run off.
'Rukia do something, I… need to get my body back.' Said Ichigo in annoyance, before following his body out the window.
'I'm not letting this slide Ichigo!' Shouted a fuming Tatsuki.
'Poor Orihime, I'll comfort you.' Cried a red haired, glasses wearing girl named Chizuru, as she tried to hug Orihime.
'That wasn't Ichigo.' Said Orihime flatly, getting Tatsuki to look at her oddly.
'What do you mean Orihime? Sure, he was acting strange, but there aren't a lot of orange haired guys around here.' Said Tatsuki in surprise.
'I'm telling you, that wasn't Ichigo.' Said Orihime firmly.
"This is bad, has she become spiritually aware?' Questioned Rukia nervously, before exiting the classroom discretely.
-line break-
'Rukia, what the hell is going on?' Asked Ichigo in annoyance, once Rukia caught up with him, after Ichigo had lost sight of his body.
'Something is wrong, that isn't a normal replacement soul. It seems to be modified somehow.' Explained Rukia.
'Yeah, I kind of figured that.' Huffed Ichigo in annoyance.
'Although, what the hell was going on in the classroom? It was like Orihime could see me. I thought you changed her memories?' Asked Ichigo in confusion.
'I'm not sure, however, it is possible that she is becoming spiritually aware.' Hypothesized Rukia.
'Ok, now back to the soul.' Said Ichigo.
'Well, Soul Society had a program in the past, where modified souls were created, to be placed into dead bodies to fight hollows.' Explained Rukia.
'That's sick!' Shouted both Ichigo and the voice in his head, to which Rukia nodded.
'Yes, and that is why the project was scrapped and the souls were destroyed.' Said Rukia.
'You know, the more I hear about this Soul Society, the more I'm starting to dislike them. How can they just kill those souls off after they created them?' Asked Ichigo in anger.
'They had to, it was necessary. The laws of Soul Society are set up to protect human souls.' Defended Rukia.
'Yet they can kill off these modified souls, just like that?' Questioned Ichigo sourly.
'In any case, we need to go find your body, which is currently roaming town.' Said Rukia.
'Fine.' Agreed Ichigo with a small frown.
-line break-
After an initial clash between Ichigo and the soul that had possessed his body, and then later, the defeat of a hollow, both Ichigo's soul and body faced each other.
'You risked your life, or rather, my body to save a line of ants?' Asked Ichigo curiously.
'Yeah, so what? I won't kill anything.' Replied Ichigo's body.
'From the day I was created, I was meant to die. I wasn't supposed to exist anymore. The project for the Mod Souls was scrapped and we were all destroyed. Can you picture that? Seeing everyone around you die slowly, never knowing when it would be your turn.' Said Ichigo's body.
Ichigo frowned at this.
'I was lucky enough to escape, mixed up with medicine and escaped the warehouse, but, I wasn't safe. I lived in fear the whole time. Who decided that I should die? Why was my life constantly decided by others? Living and dying is the choice of the individual, so why did I not get this choice? Am I not a person, allowed to choose their own life?' Questioned the modified soul.
Rukia stood nearby and listened to all of this with a frown, but was snapped out of it when she saw Ichigo's body drop to the ground, the Mod Soul ejected from it.
A strange man had appeared and used a cane to knock the small pill out of Ichigo's body.
'Well, mission complete. Let's go home guys!' Said the man in satisfaction.
'Wait, what are you going to do with him?' Asked Ichigo firmly.
'Dispose of it. Why?' Replied the man.
Ichigo took a moment to examine the man.
"This guy isn't normal." Thought Ichigo.
'Obviously genius.' Drawled the voice in Ichigo's head sarcastically.
Rukia quickly snatched the Soul Candy from the man.
The man spluttered in surprise.
'What, Urahara? Does your store take items you've sold to a customer without compensation?' Questioned Rukia coolly.
'Oh… well then, I'll pay.' Said the man named Urahara.
Ichigo examined the man, as Rukia mentioned he was working outside the law.
"Just who is this guy?" Thought Ichigo.
'Well, you could always… test him a little.' Suggested the voice.
Ichigo gripped his blade tightly, before he quickly lashed out with a strike, and was surprised, when the man blocked his sword with his cane.
'You're not normal, are you?' Asked Ichigo, as he pulled his weapon back, with the man doing the same with his cane.
'Who me? I'm just a humble shop keeper by the name of Kisuke Urahara.' Commented the man jokingly.
'Sure you are.' Said Ichigo, in a tone that made it obvious he didn't believe Kisuke.
'Well in any case, I guess we are done here.' Said Kisuke, before leaving with his group.
Rukia glanced at Ichigo, ready to chew him out, when she noticed his contemplative gaze.
'What is it, Ichigo?' Asked Rukia curiously.
'That guy… he is hiding something, something big.' Said Ichigo.
'How do you figure?' Questioned Rukia.
'His whole demeanour… he looks like he knows something he shouldn't. Some big secret or something.' Said Ichigo.
'I think you're reading into things too much.' Said Rukia.
'Hmm, maybe… also, thanks, for not throwing him away.' Said Ichigo.
'There's no need. I've already been thanked.' Said Rukia, much to Ichigo's confusion.
-line break-
"*sigh* It's that day again." Thought Ichigo, as he looked at his watch.
The date, was the sixteenth of June.
The voice in Ichigo's head audibly hummed at this.
'You're still dwelling on the past, you know? Don't you realise it won't change anything anymore? Move on.' Said the voice harshly.
'Tch, shut up you, you won't even show yourself to me, cowardly spirit.' Scoffed Ichigo aloud.
'Ichigo, why are you talking to yourself?' Asked a lion plushie.
'You remember that voice you heard at the window?' Asked Ichigo.
'Yeah, but I didn't hear it just then.' Replied the plushie.
'Seriously Kon? I thought that you being a Mod Soul would give you powers or something.' Said Ichigo sounding disappointed.
The lion plushie was in fact the Mod Soul which had run rampant in Ichigo's body yesterday and had been named Kon by Ichigo.
'Hey, what's that supposed to mean?' Shouted Kon indignantly.
'Never mind, I'm going to school.' Said Ichigo, as he left Kon behind.
Rukia frowned from within the closet at this, exiting it, she then proceeded to jump out Ichigo's window and head to school.
"What is this voice Ichigo is apparently hearing… that Kon heard inside Ichigo's body as well… could it be… his Zanpakutou Spirit?" Thought Rukia.
-line break-
'Morning Ichigo!' Shouted Orihime happily, as Ichigo entered the classroom.
'Oh, morning Orihime.' Said Ichigo with a small smile.
'Wow it looks like Ichigo is in a really good mood.' Commented Michiru Ogawa, a short-haired brunette, who was very shy and somewhat afraid of Ichigo.
'Hmm, something is wrong with Ichigo. He looks very tense.' Said Orihime.
'What do you mean; I've never seen him smile like that before?' Asked Michiru
'Oh, Michiru, what's the date today?' Asked Tatsuki.
'The sixteenth of June.' Answered Michiru.
'Wow Orihime, that's amazing; it took me years to figure it out. Although, Ichigo won't be coming to school tomorrow, so if you want anything from him, ask him today.' Commented Tatsuki.
"Hmm, yesterday… no, I was probably seeing things." Thought Orihime, but even she didn't believe herself.
-line break-
Ichigo was in bed, trying to sleep, but was being plagued by images of the past.
'Get over it already! You screwed up, but move on already!' Shouted the voice in Ichigo's head.
"Shut up! You don't understand anything!" Thought Ichigo furiously.
'Tch, everything you know, I know too, so just accept it already! You aren't helping anyone by being such a wimp.' Said the voice with a scoff.
"I can't… I just can't." Thought Ichigo weakly.
-line break-
'Grand Fisher. That's his code name.' Explained Rukia as she walked next to Ichigo who was currently staring down a grotesque looking hollow.
Ichigo's mind blanked at that moment, feeling a nudge from the voice in his head.
'Did you figure it out yet or not?' Asked the voice seriously.
"T-this thing… was there… that day." Thought Ichigo, as he gripped his sword tighter.
'Keep going.' Encouraged the voice.
Ichigo's blood pounded in his head, hearing Grand Fisher's irritating laugh.
'Rukia, don't interfere.' Said Ichigo, as he walked towards the hollow.
'Don't talk nonsense! He's strong! For more than fifty years he's eluded Shiniga…' Shouted Rukia, before Ichigo cut her off.
'Shut up! Just… please… don't interfere.' Said Ichigo, barely restraining himself.
'This is… my fight.' Said Ichigo quietly, but still audible.
'Just don't die.' Said Rukia, before turning around and heading off to Yuzu and Karin.
'Heh, you know now, don't you?' Asked the voice in Ichigo's head.
"Yeah… this is the reason… mother died.' Said Ichigo, as a white hot rage gripped his heart.
Ichigo charged the giant hamster looking hollow, with malice behind his blade.
Ichigo raised his blade from his right side in an upwards slash, which Grand Fisher, leaping with the aid of its bird-like hands and feet, evaded, as its tentacle-like limb swayed from its forehead.
'Ha! You're too slow, boy.' Taunted Grand Fisher.
Ichigo grimaced in annoyance at Grand Fisher evading him.
'You are not going to catch him fighting like that, to give, you've got to get.' Said the voice in Ichigo's head.
Ichigo growled, as Grand Fisher continued to taunt him.
"Fine, have it your way." Thought Ichigo irritably.
'Don't worry, you'll be fine.' Said the voice in Ichigo's head, as Ichigo and Grand Fisher charged at each other.
Ichigo raised his sword, blade down to block a strike from Grand Fisher.
'Ha, there's that carelessness again!' Shouted Grand Fisher, before claws burst from the ends of his fingertips and stabbed into Ichigo.
Ichigo grimaced, as the claws dug into the skin of his chest and shoulders, but felt them stopped before they could sink in deeply.
'NOW!' Shouted the voice in Ichigo's head.
'RRAGH!' Shouted Ichigo, as he powered through the pain and slashed Grand Fisher's other hand off, causing him to shout in pain and retract his clawed hand from Ichigo's body, before jumping back.
'Hehehe, you're better than I thought, although now, I doubt you will be able to fight against me anymore, isn't that right?' Said Grand Fisher, as the fleshy appendage on his head turned into a beautiful woman with long, light, wavy brown hair.
'Ichigo.' Said the woman, made in the visage of Ichigo's deceased mother, Masaki Kurosaki.
Ichigo charged at Grand Fisher in rage, raising his blade over his head, preparing to deliver a downwards slash.
'Don't Ichigo. Sheathe that sword.' Said the copy of Masaki.
'DO IT!' Shouted the voice in Ichigo's head.
Ichigo grimaced looking into the visage of his mother, before swinging his blade down on it shocking Grand Fisher.
'Impossible!' Shouted Grand Fisher in shock, before he was slashed deeply on his left side, severing his arm.
'Do you really think a fake would stop me?' Shouted Ichigo in anger.
Grand Fisher lay on the floor wheezing in pain.
'I-impossible. How could you cut your mother?' Questioned Grand Fisher weakly.
'Simple. My instincts tell me what my eyes don't, or rather, choose not to. That, that thing, is not my mother, my mother, is right here, with me.' Said Ichigo, thumping his chest.
'Guahahahaha! You are more interesting than I thought, boy. However, I'm not dying here.' Said Grand Fisher, before a new lure regrew from his head and attached to his old one, which had been severed in half, the image of Ichigo's mother along with it.
'I'll get you back for this!' Shouted Grand Fisher, before leaping into the air.
'You won't be able to catch me from here!' Taunted Grand Fisher.
"No, he is getting away.' Thought Ichigo in anger, as he gripped his blade so tightly, that his knuckles turned white.
'Then don't let him, trust your instincts.' Said the voice in Ichigo's head.
Ichigo roared in anger and his previously bulky, but unimpressive blade, suddenly warped as Ichigo swung it, and released a wave of black energy in the shape of a crescent, at the currently airborne hollow.
Grand Fisher roared in agony, as his left leg and another chunk of his body, was severed. Ichigo dropped to his knees at this and Grand Fisher barely managed to escape.
"Damn it, he still got away!" Shouted Ichigo in anger.
'Well, that might be the case, although, at least you benefited from it somehow.' Said the voice in Ichigo's head.
"What are you talking about?" Asked Ichigo in annoyance.
'Just look at what you are holding.' Said the voice.
Ichigo glanced at his blade and noticed for the first time, its changed form. No longer was it a bulky, yet plain looking sword. It had changed, now becoming a large, oversized Khyber knife, with the grip at the base of the blade and a handle extending back from this, roughly the width and length of Ichigo's forearm. Along the back edge of the blade, from the base to the middle of the blade, there was a thin, hollowed-out portion.
'What is this?' Muttered Ichigo.
'Its name, is the same as mine. This is your true Shinigami power, the blade, Zangetsu.' Said the voice in Ichigo's head, new revealed to be the spirit of his blade, Zangetsu.
'So, it seems you did do it after all. All on your own too.' Said Rukia, as she walked over to Ichigo.
'No, he got away, next time… I'll finish him.' Declared Ichigo.
'At least you weren't harmed too badly.' Said Rukia, gesturing to the shallow cuts on Ichigo's chest and shoulders.
'Yeah.' Said Ichigo, as he glanced at his blade appreciatively.
'Y-your sword.' Stammered Rukia in shock.
'What about it?' Asked Ichigo curiously.
'It changed… how did you do that?' Asked Rukia.
'Huh, not too sure, although, it is definitely an improvement over the old one.' Said Ichigo, as he hefted the large blade onto his shoulders.
'Do you know its name?' Asked Rukia curiously.
'Hmm, does your sword have a name as well?' Asked Ichigo curiously.
'All Shinigami who unlock the first stage of their Zanpakutou, which is termed Shikai, have a name. It is also accompanied with a release command, for the blade to enter its Shikai state, from the nondescript blade you were using before.' Explained Rukia.
'Hmm, well I don't know about any release command, but its name, is Zangetsu.' Said Ichigo.
'Hey! I'm not an it, I'm a he!' Shouted Zangetsu irritably.
'Erm, his name is Zangetsu.' Corrected Ichigo, causing Rukia's eyes to widen.
'Wait, did it just tell you that?' Asked Rukia in surprise.
'Yes, he did.' Said Ichigo, stressing the masculine pronoun, as the voice inside his head growled in anger.
'I see.' Said Rukia, before adopting a pensive expression.
'Anyway, let's go back. I want to check on Yuzu and Karin.' Said Ichigo, before walking off, with Rukia following.
A man wearing a striped-dark green and white bucket hat stepped out from behind a tree.
"Zangetsu huh, seems those Kurosaki's like their moons. However, to withstand the claws of Grand Fisher to such an extent… that was no Shinigami ability." Thought Kisuke, as he looked at the path Ichigo and Rukia has just left by.
"Perhaps… I should alert the others early of Ichigo's new powers." Thought Kisuke.