A Reaper's Rebirth Into a Larger Mythology

by FallenDispair

After the loss of his powers Ichigo Kurosaki earns a scholarship to Kouh Academy where he tried to move on as an ordinary human. Until he his reborn as a devil and is exposed to the other myths and factions that exist in the world. This is based heavily off fanboys913's Bleach Rebirth of the Guardian. Added characters and lore of Rosario Vampire manga. Better sum inside.

5. Chapter 5

A Reaper's Rebirth Into a Larger Mythology

Sorry about the long wait, I had some personal issues going on and by time things settled I wasn't in the right mind-space to write. Then once I did, I had a bunch of new ideas that I just had to put down. The 1st chapters of those ideas are mostly written, but I'll keep them on the backburner for later.

I don't anything. Tite Kubo, Ichiei Ishibumi, Akihisa Ikeda and fanboy913 own/inspired most of the story.

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Chapter Five: Day in The Life of a Devil

The next school day had gone rather normally for Ichigo, though there was some chatter about an unground gas main exploding in the nearby park. The black pillar that most saw was smoke from the fire, some questioned it but any and all footage of the incident had magically disappeared. It wasn't until the school day ended and he was faced with the usual council work that things changed.

Saji had brought up an idea of about Ichigo's induction to the peerage, "Shouldn't one of us test him out? You know so we can see what kind of training he will need, I know he says that he has some experience as a soul fighter or whatever, but being a devil is different. We should take his measure like how you fed me to Tsubasa when I started."

"It was not that bad," Tsubasa rolled her eyes, "I just gave you a few bruises."

"You kicked me in the dick," Saji refuted.

"You groped my ass," Tsubasa shot back.

"That was an accident," he replied as he flinched away from her.

"Children," Sona sighed and they stopped. "Saji is correct. I was planning on one of you testing Ichigo-san's strength. Since you brought it up, would you like to be the one, Saji-san?"

A grin split his face, pushing aside his melancholy as he answered with glee, "Yes, Kaichou!"

Ichigo got the sense the boy wanted to... not injure him but beat him. Well, he wouldn't be the first person to want that, hell, one of his friends and cousin of sorts was one such person. Then with Saji's crush on Sona and her own apparent infatuation with him, he could guess why Saji wanted to prove himself better than Ichigo.

Sona moved to the center of the room with everyone moving to join her, standing around her, and Ichigo took a spot near her after a moment's pause. Blue light flared under him in a circle, and he blinked as one moment they were in the student council room, and the next they stood in Sona's backyard. She raised a hand into the air and a familiar wave of energy washed over him, almost causing him to rejoice that he could feel it now as dark energy fell over a wide area in a dome.

"So-tan!" a voice beamed.

They all turned to see Serafall lying on the ground, her naked back exposed to where the sun had been, her butt only covered by a rather small bikini bottom not at all suited for covering her lovely posterior. Ichigo turned away after the briefest moment, glancing at Saji who had his eyes covered by Kurumu, and Gin who had a notepad smashed into his face. Saji was asking what was going on while Gin simply stayed quiet, not wanting to anger the small, silent San he'd started dating.

A wise choice.

"Ichigo-kun!" Serafall called out in equal exuberance.

"Onee-sama, you don't have a top on!" Sona snapped as he heard footsteps.

"Oh... right," there was a flare of power, "Better?"

"Yes, but what are you doing here?" her sister asked.

Ichigo felt that it was safe to turn back as Serafall walked up, dressed in her magical girl outfit.

"I told you I took a few days off" Serafall answered, "I mean, given that the fallen have done something that could break the treaty we have, I feel that I am doing my duty by sticking around here for a few days to make sure they don't anything else." She let a groan, "And what a pleasant duty it is. I even brought you a gift, Stephan!" she called out.

In response a man with grey hair and an older countenance exited the house with a box and walked through the barrier like it wasn't there.

"This is Beli-chan's undersecretary," Serafall explained. "I just hired him a few days ago."

"Thank you for that Mistress," he said in a pleasant English accent and a bow.

She stuck out her tongue at the man, "Boo, you always get it wrong." She turned to Ichigo, "Call me by my name, please! No one else will."

"Good to see you, Levi-tan," Ichigo greeted her as Stephan flinched.

Serafall let out a pleased sigh, "Thank you Ichigo-kun," she took the box from Stephan and offered it to Sona. "You might not want to open it now, so when you are by yourself, you should look at it," Sona had a dubious expression on her face upon taking the offered gift.

"What are you doing here?" Serafall then asked, eyeing the gathered group.

"We were going to give my newest Rook some firsthand experience with the various pieces and what they can do, as well as have Saji-san test out his combat experience."

"That poor boy," Serafall muttered quietly.

"What was that, Onee-Sama?" Sona asked, having not heard her sister's mutterings.

"I said that will be a good experience for him!" Serafall stated loud enough for everybody to hear.

Ichigo got the impression she was talking about Saji, though no one else seemed to think so, which lightly irked him. He'd told them about his near two years as an active combatant as a Soul Reaper and the powerful fights he'd been in. Sure, he hadn't gone into much detail, but Serafall had confirmed that they were the ruling Pantheon of Japan and had heavy hitters like herself.

"Indeed," Sona nodded. "Give them some space!" she ordered her peerage.

Tsubasa grinned at Ichigo, "Don't hold back, Ichigo-kun, because he won't."

Saji for his part looked excited, and a little ashamed of how excited he was, so an odd mix. "Just to let you know, you shouldn't underestimate anyone," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Just beacuse you're a Rook and I'm a Pawn doesn't mean I can't put you on your... butt," he said with a slight pause of consideration.

Ichigo nodded, taking a few moments to stretch, grateful it had been a gym day, and he was in clothing that worked with exercises such as fighting. He wasn't sure what'd happen to his clothes after he entered his Soul Reaper form and if it was protected or not from any damage he took while in it. He wasn't used to being able to use his powers while still in his human body. Even now, when he changed, shrouding himself in dark power tinted blue-white and was in his shihakusho with his sealed Zanpakuto on his back, his chest was partially exposed displaying his pecks and the crossing black marks. The shirt he'd been wearing had covered that area, so did it change into his shihakusho or simply disappear?

"When I say for you to stop," Sona ordered, "you will both stop. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Kaichou," they both said in unison.

Saji took a breath, opened his eyes and didn't hesitate to charge him. Ichigo knew that as a devil, Saji's speed would be greater than human, however, with his powers returned and no longer being suppressed by his Quincy powers, the young man seemed to move as if in slow motion. The opening punch Saji threw was decent, a swift jab that spoke of some training, but it lacked real speed, power and experience. Ichigo's hand came up, the back of it stopping the punch cold, failing to budge him at all.

Saji's eyes went wide, but to his credit, he didn't let it trip him up as he immediately went into a side kick, hoping to add his weight to the force of the blow. Ichigo could also feel the devil power in the boy flowing into the kick.

Ichigo took a step forward and to the side, effortlessly dodging the blow and lightly kicking the leg out from under him. Saji managed to catch himself from hitting the dirt with both hands and flipped up and away from Ichigo, who was just standing as if he could wait there all day, unbothered in the least.

"Guess you have some experience in hand-to-hand too," Saji blustered out with a sigh, "I'll have to get serious."

What came next was a combination of controlled punching in a manner similar to boxing, but not as defined. Probably a self-taught style built around combat instead of the sport. Saji started off composed and measured, holding back as he slowly built-up momentum, but that quickly gave way as Ichigo negligently dodged, blocked or diverted every punch, elbow and surprise kick he unleashed.

Seemingly frustrated, there was a sudden stirring of power around Saji's right hand, forming an odd-looking black lizard with purple eyes and yellow lines tracing along its back. Long legs seemed wrapped around the hand it sat upon and there was an energy to it that wasn't really Saji's power. It had a surprising depth to it, but it also felt fragmented and incomplete.

Ichigo lightly hopped back, creating distance and avoiding the creature as Saji attempted to hit him with it. A wide smile spilt the blonde's face as the lizard opened its mouth and a blue line shot towards him. Ichigo reacted instantly, instinctively using Shunpo to dodge in a blur of motion. The line of blue passing through the space where he had been a moment earlier, which drew gasps from the onlookers and a whoop from Serafall.

Saji read the situation with commendable speed and whirled to find his opponent had somehow managed to move behind him and thirty feet away. "I thought you said he was a rook!" he shouted indignantly.

"He is," Sona replied, just as shocked.

Ichigo shook his head, "I have my Soul Reaper powers back, remember, and I did say I could move as fast as lightning... and that might have been an understatement."

Ichigo blurred away again, avoiding another blue line shot at him as he kept explaining, "Soul reapers have an entire fighting style surrounding this movement technique, called Shunpo. I was taught the basics of it by the Flash Master herself, the most proficient user of Shunpo in all the Soul Society, Yoruichi."

Saji whirled and looked up to see Ichigo standing on seemingly empty air about forty feet above him. The top of Ichigo's hair touching the roof of the barrier. Wings erupted from Saji's back and he took off in a high-speed rush, the dark fibers flapping to give him lift as he screamed.

Ichigo danced around the attack using his Spirit Walk to gain footholds where he needed them, pushing off the air itself to propel him out of the way. It meant that he could turn on a dime, change direction in an instant that wing powered flight couldn't match. Saji was still trying to catch him in that blue line, which only made it more of a priority for Ichigo to avoid. He felt kind of guilty for playing with Saji, but he needed to know what kind of powers devils had. For example, did he have his own wings?

As if in answer to his question they manifested from his back as if excited to be called forth. He glanced at them and noted that they looked like Tensa Zangetsu's new wings but instead of four energy feathers he had three. Both his and Zangetsu's wings were very different from the black bat like wings Saji had.

In the moment that Ichigo had turned away to inspect his new wings, Saji was on him. The blue line shot across the distance between them and encircled Ichigo, but before he could be ensnared Ichigo shot forward with a kick, not even thinking about what to do with the new appendages that were glowing brightly. In a blue-white blur he'd slammed into Saji, sending the young devil smashing down into the ground below with a thundering crash.

Dirt and dust flew out in all directions from the force of the blow, intense air currents slamming into everyone, lifting skirts, blinding eyes and lighting up the barrier that prevented it from spreading.

Ichigo was stunned, staring back at the wings that'd speed him up to a degree with his banki, ah... now shikia's shunpo speed. Yet, he'd just used his leg strength in a simple dash, no added burst of speed from a shunpo. Apparently, the new wings didn't just allow him to fly but increased his speed to ridiculous levels. Immediately he wondered if he could use them in conjunction with his shunpo... that'd be amazing but probably tricky, involving the use of the spirit walk maybe or...

"Saji-kun!" Kurumu's voice screeched out in horror, drawing Ichigo's attention back down to the large crater that now made up the majority of the back yard.

And in the center of that crater was a bloodied and broken Saji, wheezing for breath and choking on blood. The light blue haired, large chested girl had leapt down and was cradling the broken young man who winced in pain from her contact. Ichigo had hit harder than he'd meant to, surprised by his own speed and caused more damage than he expected. The only reason everyone else was unharmed by flying debris and the impact force was because Serafall had raised a barrier to protect them in time.

Ichigo dismissed the energy wings and landed softly to the ground near the downed boy in Kurumu's arms and opened his mouth to apologize.

Only to be stopped dead by the girl's tear-filled, enraged glare, "Stay back! Look at what you did to Saji-kun... you... you-"

"Enough!" Sona shouted out a command, reinforced with the King's authority to prevent Kurumu from finishing her rant. "This was exactly why we did this, to ascertain Ichigo-san's abilities and pinpoint any weaknesses he may have. Such as the substantial speed boost his... wings gave him. He'll need time and training to master them."

"But," Kurumu choked out in a tearful gasp, "he... this..."

Sona landed beside the dying young man and Kurumu, a vial radiating a powerful restorative energy, "I know," she said soothingly, popping open the vial and poured out a single drop of liquid onto Saji's forehead. "No one here expected such a blow to come from Ichigo-san, otherwise I'd have tested him myself instead of allowing Saji-san to."

In an instant, Saji's bones mended, bruises faded away and his breathing returned to normal. That one drop had completely healed the young man, as if he'd never been injured in the first place.

"Kaichou," Reya spoke up, "what were those wings Kurosaki-san had? They aren't devil wings or even angel wings."

Sona shook her head and looked questioningly at Ichigo, who held his hands up, "I don't know, they're new to me."

"I think they might be a unique mutation," Serafall added, having moved next to Ichigo's side. "The light was different from angels, but the light induced speed boost is common amongst higher ranking members of their ilk."

"You're thinking it's due to the mutated pieces he has," Tsubaki replied.

"Maybe," Serafall shrugged, "Ajuka-kun would have a better explanation and would drool at the prospect at studding Ichigo-kun here, but it could also be due to some unique combination of the Soul Reaper Pantheon he's a part of. None of their kind, not the reapers themselves, their hollow counter parts or the human powered ones... umm.."

"Quincy," Ichigo supplied.

"Yeah, those humans," Serafall said. "None of them have ever been turned successfully before. That could be what made his wings so awesome. Can't wait to shove it into little miss twelve wings' face. Angels aren't the fastest flyers anymore." She'd chuckled darkly to herself and rubbed her hands together eagerly.

Saji suddenly shot up out of Kurumu's arms and quickly started looking around in confusion, "W-what happened? Where are we?"

"We're in Kaichou's backyard and you just got pummeled into the ground like a meteor by Kurosaki-san," Gin helpfully informed the blond. "Kaichou had to use a drop of a phoenix's tear to heal you and from what I could tell, Ichigo-san wasn't even trying. I mean he didn't even draw his hmmf-"

Gin was cutoff by San covering his mouth with her hands, getting the handsome young playboy to see the glare on Kurumu's face and the shocked anger on Saji's.

"Wow," Mizore breathed out, breaking the awkward silence and stares leveled Ichigo's way. "How strong are you?"

Ichigo scratched the back of his head as his eyes wandered over to Serafall, who smiled at him knowingly. He knew, and apparently so did Levi-tan that he could match her if he released his shikai and once he recovered his bankai... well he wasn't sure how strong he'd be. Maybe as powerful as he'd been when he defeated Aizen.

The others didn't miss the eye movement and several gasped in shocked disbelief while Saji just opened and closed his mouth. The blond boy was staring off into space, shaking his head slowly, unable to accept the fact.

"No," he whispered, "you're not. You're not that strong." Saji's voice grew louder as he repeated that until he was standing straight into Ichigo's face, "You're not! You only caught me by surprise! You might be High-Class level but there's no way you are as powerful as a Maou! Come on, fight me, for real this time!" He was practically snarling at the end.

"Saji!" Sona snapped, "Stand down, now!" her gaze was hard and unyielding. "You're both peerage members, my peerage, my family. I will not allow this to continue. We're here to support and help one another, not chomp at the bit to rip each other's throats out." Her own, cool oceanic power swelled, shutting down Saji completely.

The young man properly chastised slumped his shoulders and walked away from Ichigo, who still looked unconcerned at the threat Saji posed, though apologetic for hurting him and causing the friction.

"I hate to contradict you Kaichou," Tsubaki chimed in, "but we do need to know everyone's capabilities. Though Saji isn't in the right frame of mind to do it, someone should push Kurosaki-san into showing us what he can really do. I recommend San-chan or myself be the ones to test him."

Sona paused in thought, thinking the matter over, weighing the pros and cons. As King of the peerage, she needed to know every piece's capability to properly utilize them, but Ichigo had accidently destroyed her backyard and nearly killed Saji with an unexpected fast charge. Would the barrier even hold if he unleashed a full powered blow?

"Nee-san," Sona looked at her sister, "can you reinforce the barrier for me and prevent..." she gestured at the crater "...that from happening again."

Serafall placed a finger to her lip and thought, "Hmm... I came here to rest and relax, not be put to work," she mock pouted. "But I'd be willing to do that for you So-tan if you and Ichigo-kun would take me out to dinner tonight."

Sona, blushed red as Ichigo shrugged out a response, "Sure, I guess that'd be fine."

"N-nee-san," Sona muttered in embarrassment.

"Relax So-tan," Serafall tried to relieve her little sister's discomfort, "it'll just be a nice dinner where we can talk and learn a bit more about Ichigo-kun's past. You should get to know your newest peerage member better."

Sona straightened and smoothed out her appearance before she replied, "Yes, I should go along to better know my newest Rook and keep you from doing anything too indecent."

"That's the spirit," her older sister cheered. "Tonight, after Ichigo-kun finishes his hunt with Rias-chan. I have to leave tomorrow, so that's about the only time I have."

"Sure, I know a few places that are open late," Ichigo agreed, then took a step back as he noticed two sets of very angry eyes on him, "Uhh..."

Mizore and Tsubasa were both glaring at him and Sona with equal intensity, reminding Ichigo about his revelations on their romantic interests in him. And he'd just accepted what could be considered a date with not one but two beautiful women. He'd never gone on a date before, unless the ice cream with Levi-tan counted.

"I'll pick out me and So-tan's outfits," Serafall happily declared with a wide predatory grin.

"Yes, that... wait, what?" Sona said, blinking rapidly at her sister.

"Good, I'll hire limo," Serafall turned away from her stuttering sister and pulled out her phone.

"W-w-wait," Sona's cheeks were very pink, along with the rest of her when she noticed him watching her. She sputtered and tried to stop her sister running off with her plans, shouting her name in half-panic, desperately trying to corral her sister's tendencies. A hopeless endeavor if there ever was one. Tsubaki was softy giggling and muttering about how she would have to give Serafall-Sama tips on what outfits Sona filled out the best.

A literal frost started to spread at Mizore's displeasure while Ichigo could feel the heated glare of Tsubasa drilling through him. But worse was the twisted, snarling face of Saji as he speared Ichigo with eyes of death. The young blond man was struggling not to throw himself at Ichigo, wanting to prove his worth to Sona, the girl he wants so bad. That was a mentality Ichigo couldn't understand as he doubted that if Saji by some miracle defeated him, would suddenly shift Sona's affections onto him. She was not a shallow young woman that'd let something as trivial as strength sway her attraction to someone.

"So..." Ichigo let out, returning his attention to Tsubasa that was nearly growling, "basketball tomorrow, just the two of us... until someone interrupts." Clearly that wasn't what she wanted, but it was enough to soften her glare into scowl.

The sudden increase in frigid temperature caused him to turn back to the ice maidan, who was frost covered and her hands became claws of solid ice.

"Umm..." Ichigo drawled out uncertainly, "we could... uh... get some coffee and study up on the upcoming pop quiz in our math class."

The frost receded and her hands returned to normal as a blush formed with a soft-spoken reply, "It's a date."

Ichigo was about to correct her, seeing the glare coming back on Tusbasa's face but decided to just shut his trap. There was no winning in the current situation and decided to walk away before he was buried too deep to get out of. Thankfully Serafall had stopped her call, apparently having finished up the details of the limo service and raised her hand, the barrier glowing brighter with runes and intricate spell circles lining the walls, ceiling and ground.

All but San had moved off to the side, behind an ice bunker with viewing slits that radiated with power. Ichigo was hesitant at first, looking at the diminutive girl with the polka-dot ribbon tying back her blue hair and holding up her notepad that read 'Ready yourself, I won't hold back.' With her cheery smile on top of that, he was hard pressed to even raise a hand to the gentle girl, but then her power swelled to match a Soul Reaper Captain with their shika released.

Ichigo was so caught off-guard that he only managed to cross his arms in front of himself before being launched back by a sonic screech released from the small girl's powerful throat. His skin lit up with the blue lines of his Blut, his ears rang, and his back screamed out as he slammed into the reinforced barrier opposite San.

He was dazed but, on his feet, thus he was able to shunpo away from the follow up sonic attack that caused the barrier behind him to ripple. Ichigo pulled his Zanpakuto from his back, the cloth unwinding and readied himself for a real fight. San had risen into the air, her black feathered wings wide as she started singing a lovely melody that made his mind dull, his eyes waver and even the grip on his blade weakened.

His spiritual power flared suddenly, Blut focused on his ears, and he lost all sense of sound along with the weakness. Ichigo understood that San's power was centered around her voice and even figured that was why she didn't like speaking; it was too powerful. He could also sense that Tensa Zangetsu had figured out what her voice was doing to him and acted to prevent its more subtle effects.

Focusing his reiryoku along the edge of his Zanpakuto, Ichigo swung it with his full force. A blue-white crescent energy blade tinted purple-black rushed towards San. San's melody changed slightly, unnoticed by Ichigo, and she countered his slash with a sonic screech. The force of the sonic attack collided with the slash, exploding and canceling each other out.

At the very instant after launching his attack, Ichigo used a shunpo to get behind San and slash at her horizontally, with the intent to cut her in two as he'd stopped holding back... at least in his base state.

Astonishingly his blade slowed and stopped, hitting a protective wave of sonic energy. San had changed her song from affecting his mind to protecting her, but with a considerable effort he powered through. San herself was fast, able to move faster than sound, so she was able to fly away with the aid of her protection.

Seeing the cute, small girl with the kind smile flap away to gain some distance, never once stopping her singing, Ichigo grinned. He'd at first figured, and still believed, that moving in close was the best way to beat her, but she'd compensated with sonic defenses and swift movement. Saji had potential but lacked ability and experience while San had more than enough power to push him.

And on top of that, she was still holding back her full strength too.

From their collisions Ichigo got the sense that at her best she'd match a standard soul reaper captain's bankai, excluding a few hold outs that he wasn't sure of. Also, he could feel the pain around using her voice, her power as it'd made her lonely yet, she also held pride in it. Pride around being able to use that power to protect those she cared for and eased her loneliness.

Cranking up his spiritual pressure, trying to throw off the rhythm of her continuous melody. Then he moved repeatedly with shunpo, releasing a compressed sword slash of his Reiryoku at San from all sides.

San countered with an enhanced sphere of sonic energy, laced with the dark purple hue of devil power. His slashes were stopped cold, breaking apart and washing around the sphere like water around a boulder.

The flying siren retaliated with a spell circle larger than her body forming behind her, glowing brightly in tandem with her wings. Then with a powerful flap, the glowing wings released a barrage of razor-sharp feather shaped wind arrows.

Ichigo cut several down, blurring away with deliberate use of the shunpo. The arrows that missed or were dodged slammed into the ground with explosive force, like artillery rounds. San panned her body, keeping her wings aimed on Ichigo and unleashing a seemingly endless stream of feather arrows.

Ichigo was being hard pressed to not release his shikai as San was proving to be a difficult opponent. She had a series of fast, long-range attacks and a continuous defensive spell of sonic energy she could empower when needed. It was like fighting a mobile battle fortress, but he was content with the fact that he'd outlast her. Her power was falling faster than his was, even though they both surely had deeper, hidden reservoirs of power to draw on, she'd faulter first.

He was wondering what she was planning by continuing to unleash the barrage that couldn't catch him. It was draining her even faster and he wasn't even taking any damage-

Suddenly he slipped as aches and pain wracked his body all over and just narrowly avoided one of the wind arrows. It had clipped his arm that now sported a fresh gash, lessened by the Blut running along his arm. Now that he noticed it, his entire body was lit up with the blue lines as he weakened physically, his spiritual power dropping congruently with his increase in pain.

'Sorry, I didn't notice it sooner,' Tensa Zangetsu's voice spoke into his mind. 'She's been attacking your body on a cellular level since the very beginning. It's very subtle, taking me quite some time to figure out myself.'

Ichigo was desperately cutting down more arrows and dodging as he slowed with every passing second, thus he didn't respond. But he did focus his spiritual sense, guided by Tensa Zangetsu. He could feel a more powerful energy subtly hidden underneath the one powering her defensive song but focused on him. It was attacking his body directly, slowly destroying the cells of his muscles and bones. Some of it was bleeding to his organs, but she was masterfully adjusting the attack to avoid damaging them.

San wasn't just strong but exceptionally skilled and cunning. Ichigo was shocked at how badly he'd underestimated the kind, gentle girl. It also made more sense as to why Gin and Haji feared her so much. Her power wasn't something simple fists could counter easily.

Even now, her subsonic attack was breaking down his body, putting Ichigo on a time limit. He was certain if not for his Quincy power reinforcing his body and his Hollow power rapidly regenerating the damaged tissue, he'd have already lost the strength to keep fighting. That was why she was burning through her power so quickly and keeping him engaged while maintaining her distance from him. All San had to do was run out the clock until Ichigo could no longer muster enough strength to put up a fight, let alone stand.

Ichigo was sure that if he released his shikai he could power through her defense and move fast enough that she couldn't escape his attack, finishing her almost instantly. But he wanted to push himself a bit more before relying on his shikai yet. So, he poured all the Reiryoku he had in his base form into his blade, which he'd started spinning in front of him by the cloth to block and deflect the arrow feathers firing at him.

The blur of his spinning blade, resembling a black and silver circular shield that started to glow brightly, radiating blue-white energy tinged purplish-black. Then just as his energy wings sprung forth and he stopped the blade's spinning to grip the hilt with both hands, he used the fastest shunpo he could to move directly towards San. With all the power he could muster in his current state and with all the speed aided by his new wings he burst forward into a thrust.

The movement was a blur of light as he shot into San like a bolt of lightning, piercing her sonic defense like it was wet paper. The barrage of arrows broke from the sheer force of his movement and spiritual pressure, unable to slow Ichigo in the slightest.

The air screamed as air currents exploded outward from the point of contact, the epicenter being San. The ice bunker below shook, the ground cracked, and the barrier trembled, but all held under Serafall's protection.

The onlookers, having already being shocked by both individuals' display were slacked jawed at the finishing scene. The tip of Ichigo's blade was lightly cutting into the skin of San's chest, right where her heart was. Her song had ceased, the spell circle behind her back broken into essence, and her hand gripping tightly to Ichigo's large Zanpakuto, bleeding and trembling in the process.

San's eyes were focused and sharp as her equally sharpened wings rested against the sides of Ichigo's neck, stopped cold by lines of blue energy underneath his skin.

A moment of silence passed as the two stared each other down before San let out a sigh and smiled, her wings pulling back as she let go of Ichigo's sword. Ichigo returned her smile with a soft grin and a respectful nod of his head, pulling his blade back and dismissing the wings.

"Your win, Kurosaki-san," San spoke to him for the first time.

Ichigo was stunned at hearing her soft, melodious voice for the first time but shook it off to respond, "It was close and if you'd used that subsonic attack on my organs, it could very well have been your victory. You'd actually spent significant effort on preventing it."

San shook her head, "I don't like hurting people and that attack is especially harmful. We're peerage members, family, I could never allow such harm to befall any of my family." Her smile was genuine, her tone lacking any deceit or smugness. "Besides, Kurosaki-san, we both know you could have beaten me handily if you'd given it your all."

Ichigo looked away and scratched at the back of his head as he retorted, "Well, you weren't going all out yourself, Otonashi-san."

The pair had slowly floated back down to the ground as the others left the protection of the Maou's ice bunker. Some of them were having quiet conversations amongst themselves, surprised that the strongest member of their peerage was defeated.

"You said Kurosaki-san won," Reya spoke up in confusion, "but it looked like you both could have landed a finishing blow at the same time. So, doesn't that make it a draw?"

"Actually," Gin answered her, "Ichigo-san had flapped his wings forward to slow his momentum and pulled back on his thrust at the last second. If he hadn't, he'd have skewered San-chan." He was eyeing Ichigo warily, assessing the danger he posed but relaxed at know and sensing he'd not direct any hostility on them.

"That and San's wings wouldn't have cut deeply enough into Ichigo-kun's neck to be a fatal blow," Serafall added. "Though you both were really amazing for how young you are, many High-Class devils wouldn't be able to compete with either of you. I'm overjoyed that my precious So-tan has such strong peerage members to protect her." Serafall was practically swooning at the fact.

"Yes," Sona agreed with a proud smile on her face, "I couldn't be prouder in my peerage."

"Oh!" Serafall snapped her finger, "San-chan, your voice was so beautiful, you have to sing my next season's opening credits. Or you could even guest star as my new magical-girl friend who defeats evil with the power of her song!"

San had returned to using her notepad, apologizing about not having time while Sona tried to desperately dissuade her sister. Pleading that San had too many duties and that her Bishop was too shy. Hurricane Serafall though was already walking off, planning a whole story arc involving San. Gin was fighting back a chuckle that died as San gave him a cute pout and what should have been a heated glare, but she was too kind for it to really have any actual heat to it. Gin proceeded to look over and kneed her wounded hands, pulling out gauze from somewhere to wrap them.

Tsubasa had punched Ichigo in the arm and was declaring that he not hold back during their next basketball match.

Saji was a silently stewing mass that was wandering off in a daze of fury and reluctance. Ichigo was much, much, much stronger than he was. He still didn't believe half of what the new rook claimed but he was crushed by the reality of how powerful Ichigo was. How could he get Sona's attention when he couldn't outperform the orange haired thug that had somehow gained her affections. It wasn't fair, Saji was there first, loved her first, why was Ichigo getting what he wanted most without even trying. He had to reveal the lies Ichigo was telling, to prove he was not that great and that Saji was superior.

Then Sona would love him instead.

---

"So," Ichigo said as they appeared in front of what looked like an abandoned observatory in a flash of red, "anyone going to tell me what we are doing?"

No sooner had he stepped into the Occult club's main office then Rias had teleported them to this place. He'd at least had the foresight to enter his Soul Reaper form, but kept his blade sheathed on his back.

Tsukune looked just as lost as he replied, "I have no idea."

"That's okay, you're as new as I am at this," Ichigo stated and fixed his gaze on the redhead, "Bouchou?" he thought that was her preferred title.

She nodded at them, making a movement with her fingers. Kiba stepped behind her, his front to the broken double doors of the old building, his body set for combat. Koneko was standing off to the side watching Ichigo with a sort of lazy grace a cat might use while watching a swinging toy. Haiji was in a karate gi, what he tended to wear when out of the school uniform, cracking his knuckles on the opposite side as Koneko. Moka was still in her school uniform, her rosario back round her neck, returning her to her pink haired self, and standing by Tsukune's side, slightly worried. Akeno was dressed in a Miko outfit and stood beside her King, most of her attention on the building, hand half raised and slightly glowing.

"This is part of our world that most of us do not like to discuss," Rais explained, "and one of the main assignments that appear for most peerages that live in the mortal world. For us, though it is mostly an uncommon thing, but given that one has moved right to our doorstep, we cannot ignore it."

"Ignore what?" Tsukune asked tentatively, Moka wincing at the question, fearing how the young man would take it.

"A stray," Rais elaborated, her voice tinged with what seemed like pity. "There are times when a reincarnated devil will either run away from or kill their master for one reason or another. If it was abuse, the Maou have set up a system where the events will be investigated, and devil will be taken care of. On the other hand, there are some like the one we are hunting who went stray due to certain bloodthirsty tendencies that her King wouldn't sanction. From what I know, she'd gotten so bad that he was about to command her to not act on those tendencies. What is worse is that she committed the ultimate taboo, beyond becoming a stray or any other act, she began to devour humans."

Tsukune gulped, his eyes alight in sudden fear where Ichigo was just clenching his jaw. Ichigo had dealt with many such beings before, the most traumatic being Grand Fisher for devouring his mother's soul. Though, most Hollows were creatures of pure, never ending hunger due to corrosion of the soul, this stray did so by choice. Making it worse than most Hollows, the exception of the one that'd been a serial killer in life and put a boy's soul inside a bird to torment the child.

Rias kept going, "Doing so is not just wrong, but it also effects devils on the physiological and psychological level. It makes one's instincts, no matter what they happen to be, the driving force of their actions. It also corrupts their power, growing it in some ways, but mutating them into abominations that need to be put down."

Their King glanced back at the observatory, "Which is what we are doing here, we're to put down this rabid stray. We didn't know it was here until two people went missing where signs of devil power around the site were present." She looked over the two new initiates, fixing her gaze on them, "This is something that must be done, but have no fear, you two will not take part in disposing of the stray, I merely want both of you to observe, nothing more."

"Y-yes Bouchou," Tsukune replied.

She looked at Ichigo, at his expression, his resolved eyes and amended, "If you feel like you can add to the situation, you can of course do so. After all, Sona dear informed me how you defeated her mighty Bishop; San-chan. She was worth six points, more than her Queen, so this stray shouldn't threaten you."

"What?!" Haiji exclaimed. "You beat San!" he looked disbelieving at Ichigo.

Ichigo shrugged, "Yeah, but she'd been holding back in our spar."

Haiji frowned, shook his head before nodding and giving Ichigo a fierce grin, "Then we should fight later, after this little extermination."

"I wouldn't mind," Ichigo replied, "but I have a prior engagement tonight, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"Fine," Haiji responded with a harder grin, "better than fine. I don't want you making any excuses for when you lose."

Ichigo matched the karate junkie's grin, "I'll remind of that after I beat you, Haiji."

"Enough," Rais lazily waved them off, "we have work to do."

They nodded to their King and the group proceeded to walk into the building, Rais explained the meaning and powers of the pieces. Ichigo sensed the creature hiding in the room the moment he got near the door. They walked in and his senses tracked it as it skittered in the darkness above them. He noticed that Haiji was also tracking it, his body shifting into a well-practiced and experienced form.

The room was broken and dusty, but still held the trappings of a business that no one had bothered coming back for. What captured Ichigo's focus were the two spirits standing before two skeletons picked clean of their flesh with some of the bones broken open and the marrow sucked out. They were that of an older couple; a man and a woman well into their sixties, both dressed alike in well maintained clothing that spoke of happier times.

"Oh, no," the woman lamented, and Ichigo noted that no one but him seemed to hear her. "Those poor dears."

The man made a sobbing sound, their hands intertwined, and Ichigo also noticed that their chains of fate were untarnished, They weren't in any risk of turning into hollows anytime soon. He moved over to them, getting them to pause as they realized he was looking at them.

"This will be avenged," Ichigo promised, putting a hand on the man's shoulder, shocking the plus's. Grey eyes looked at him in awe, then flinched as a voice rang out.

"What could that foul smell be, does it taste sweet or bitter?" the words were spoken with such malice that they seemed to chill the air itself.

Ichigo looked up at the creature who had moved from the shadows. It was an ugly thing, the upper half from the crotch up was that of a pretty woman with dark hair but its lower half was that of a horrific chimera of clawed back legs, human arms for the front legs, and a snake for a tail. A bizarre mismatch of a body that made no sense, that had no rhyme or reason to it.

"Viser," Rias stated with firm authority, "you betrayed your master, you killed humans and have abandoned yourself entirely to your urges. For your sins you deserve the torment of a thousand hells, this is the judgement I pronounce upon you."

"Oh, shut your mouth, you jealous little slut. You're just weak, unwilling to be a true devil and do what's needed to acquire real power," Viser sneered at Rias.

Rias, for her part didn't respond to her taunt, as if she'd heard it all before and no longer cared to argue the point. Ichigo wondered why she hadn't told them that she knew who they were hunting personally. Not that it mattered in the slightest as Viser was suddenly slammed backwards by a focused blast of compressed air, crashing into the wall with enough force to make the entire building shake.

Ichigo had already glanced at Haiji the moment his power flare up there with a top tier Lieutenant in their shika release state. He'd thrown a punch from which the vacuum of air came from, his form and movement a perfect example of a karate punch.

"Only weaklings think that's how to get stronger," Haiji let out gruffly, veins visible on his face with a fierce but excited grin.

Viser rose unsteadily, her entire torso was caved in and she was vomiting copious amount of blood. In a blink of the eye Haiji had closed, a spinning knife-hand enhanced with swirling wind pierced through her chest, obliterating her heart and smashing out her back as his arm went elbow deep. Gore was splattered all over the wall behind her.

The dead stray was already dissolving into green light as the karate master removed his arm from its chest and with a negligent flick the blood sped off his arms onto the floor. Silence reigned for several long moments before Rias sighed, "Well, I was going to have Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno show you two what the various pieces do, but that works too... Though, I'd prefer that you'd have waited for my order or at least asked for permission, Haiji-san."

"Thank you," the old man plus said.

"Please thank the young man for us," the old woman plus added.

"I will," Ichigo replied and drew his Zanpakuto, tilting it to press the hilt onto each of their foreheads. "May you find each other again in the next life," he prayed as they began to vanish into blue particles.

"What are you doing?" Koneko asked and he blinked, not having heard her move to his side.

"Helping the two spirits move on," Ichigo answered honestly, "It's one of the powers and responsibilities of a Soul Reaper."

"Oh," she replied with a head tilt, "that's... nice."

Meanwhile, the martial artist was too busy to respond to Rias, trying to get Koneko's opinion on his magnificent crushing of the stray. But became despondent when she had simply moved to Ichigo's side to ask who he was talking to. The depression rapidly turned to anger but that was doused when Ichigo turned and gave him a bow.

"The two human spirits wanted me to pass on their thanks for avenging them and allowing them to rest in peace," Ichigo respectfully informed Haiji.

The gruff young man rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, "Uuh... it was nothing."

Ichigo turned to Rias and asked, "What are we going to do with these bones, Bouchou? It'd be wrong just to leave them."

"Hm? Oh! That's exactly what we are going to do," Rias raised a hand to forestall Ichigo's retort. "I've arranged for a few police contacts to find their remains and file the report as an accident. Something along the lines of an heart attack or stroke while out on a remote walk and the remains being heavily scavenged by animals. That way they can get a proper burial by their family and not leave an open missing persons' report in the area."

"Oh, okay," Ichigo let the matter drop before he pulled out his phone, "Are you done with me for the night?"

"Yes," Rias answered. "Why?"

"Levi-tan," Ichigo started, Rias sputtered at his casual use of a Maou's pet name, "wanted to get a bite to eat and talk a little. She even dragged Sona along, so I told them I would meet them tonight."

The rest of the peerage stiffened and looked down at Ichigo's side, and he realized his mistake then. Slowly, he looked down at the white haired devil who was glaring at him in the cutest way he had ever seen; her cheeks were puffed out, her eyes trying to go for killing intent, but failing.

"That's not fair," she muttered. "Bringing her sister into it, I can't do that."

"Uhh..." he replied lamely.

"15-30," she muttered more deeply. "Well played."

Ichigo took a brief second to think about his next words very carefully, but was saved from having to come up with a response as Rias over road him.

"Koneko-san, you're to take Ichigo-san on a mission in Naha, within a weeks time to complete." Rias informed the girl. "There's a small local destination spot call 'Witch's Knoll'. It's a beautiful sunflower field that various tourists have gone missing from. A local political figure made a deal to have a Gremory peerage handle it, and we happen to be the closest peerage under my family's banner. I, as this peerage's King, chose you two to handle it, though, if you need help don't hesitate to call for back up."

That perked up Koneko, as the thought of going to a tourist destination with Ichigo alone appealed to her. Thankfully that defused the tiny bomb by his side, but she was also taking the order seriously as she asked, "What are the details?"

Rias shrugged, "Not much I'm afraid. Just the location and the number of disappearances."

"So," the diminutive girl calmly replied, "We're going in blind, need to decern what's behind the disappearances and destroy it."

Rias just gave Koneko a nod of her head as an answer. One that Koneko accepted simply.

---

"Karin, dinner!" Yuzu called up the stairs.

Karin Kurosaki lifted her head up from the desk, blinking blearily at her half-finished homework. She let out a sigh, feeling the slight stab of a headache before she pushed back and got to her feet.

"Coming!" she called back, knowing better than to argue with Yuzu, her sister had very set beliefs about the importance of meals.

She left her room turning to head to the bathroom when she paused, head swiveling to Ichigo's closed door. It had been left open ever since he transferred and as far as she knew, no one should have been in there. She sighed and walked over, pushing open the door to reveal Ichigo's room; absolutely clean and his badge lying on his bed stand... with Rukia Kuchiki standing over it. The woman looked up at her, face half frozen in embarrassment.

"Sup," Karin greeted lazily, leaning against the door with a blank expression on her face.

"Uhh..." the woman replied.

"Looking for Ichi-nii?"

Rukia sighed, "Yes, I..." she coughed, "I wanted to check on him. I don't get many chances to patrol anymore."

Karin noticed there was a difference in the woman from when she had last seen her. Her hair had been cut into a bob to hang around her face and the band with the badge around her arm was new.

"Well, you won't find him here," she informed the soul reaper.

She froze, "What?"

"He got an opportunity to transfer to another school, one very highly rated and expensive, but they offered him a full ride."

"Oh," she replied, trying to hide her disappointment, but her facial expression gave it away. Karin wondered if she realized her hand had moved to gently brush the badge Ichigo had left on the stand.

"I see," Rukia muttered softly.

"It's only about a hundred miles that way," Karin pointed. "A place called Kuoh."

The woman let out a sigh and banished the despondence from her face, "Seeing as that is the case, I am sorry to have bothered you. I will take my leave." She turned away to leave.

"You know, Yuzu could set out another plate," Karin offered. "Even if she can't see you, she wouldn't mind feeding someone else."

"I... I really shouldn't," Rukia lamented. "This isn't my home, it'd be even more impolite than what I have already done."

"If Ichi-nii had asked, would that have made a difference?" Karin asked her, the flinch from Rukia confirmed her thought. "He missed you, ya know."

"What?"

"He never said anything about it, obviously, you know how hardheaded he can be," she didn't laugh like Karin had hoped but she was never that good with people. "We could just tell though; he missed you most of all... I think so anyways."

The woman turned away and let out what sounded like a ragged breath, "I see."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind you checking up on him where he is or using his room if you needed it."

Rukia traced her fingers across the badge again, "That part of the country isn't under my division's jurisdiction," she sounded regretful. "It would be a break of decorum if I went into another division's territory uninvited."

Karin shrugged out, "Suit yourself. He should be back around his birthday, so if you check in then you should find him."

"Thank you, Karin."

"You're welcome," she replied simply and turned to shut the door.

"Did you sense anything in the past few days?" Rukia suddenly asked.

Karin paused for a moment before replying, "What do you mean?"

"Like... like he was looking at you somehow," Rukia clarified.

Karin hesitated, but only for a second, "I had gone to bed early and..." she frowned, "It was like I felt something move over me, rapidly, too fast to even know if it had been something real."

Rukia drummed her fingers along the badge as she muttered, "Odd."

"Tell me about it," Karin agreed.

"Karin, get down here!" Yuzu yelled up impatiently. "Your food is getting cold and dad is whining at mom's poster again!"

"Coming!" Karin yelled back, glancing back to see Rukia was nowhere in sight. She shook her head and just hurried off before Yuzu got really mad and her idiot man-child of a father went into full blown crying hysterics.

---

"Well, well, well," Tsubaki commented as she entered Ichigo's room without so much as a knock. He slipped on his vest and made a sound of annoyance.

"What?" Ichigo let out.

"Well, considering the place I booked for you three, I thought I would have to magic you up some proper clothing. I was afraid that you'd try getting away with the school uniform or street clothes."

Ichigo glanced at his mirror, he was wearing the best outfit he had, something his father had taken him shopping for. He wore black dress shoes, which he kept polished to a shine just like his old man had shown him, neatly pressed black slacks held up by a belt of dark leather with a silver buckle. His dress shirt was pure white which stood in contrast with the black vest he'd just put on and his matching tie. Though, it was interesting, not traditional in any sense as the two ends crossed in an X, both allowing the middle of neck buttons to slip through two tiny slits in the fabric. Once that was done, he slipped them into the vest, buttoning it in place with interior buttons on the vest.

"You clean up very nicely," Tsubaki stated. "You almost look as good as Kiba-kun."

Ichigo made a noncommittal grunt, "That almost sounded like a compliment."

"You can't have everything," she replied. "Kiba is a masterpiece carved out of marble by a master sculptor," she looked at him, "and you're masterly done work by the less capable apprentice."

Ichigo raised a brow at Tsubaki, thinking if he should be insulted or not but decided it didn't matter and just shrugged it off, "Fair."

"Good, you can't have all the girls around you in your harem," she said far too seriously for his liking, "it's not healthy."

"I don't have a harem," he grumbled, scowling heavily. "Having more than one person interested in a relationship isn't a harem."

"Give it time, devil society as a whole is pretty accepting of polygamy," she shrugged. "And given one of our base instincts is to gather and closely bond to a group of people for protection and advancement of goals, it's not as rare as one might expect."

Ichigo turned to face her completely, feeling that she was saying something very important, "What do you mean?"

"Do you think peerages are new, something only created when the evil pieces were invented?" she shook her head. "Where do you think Lord Ajuka got the idea for such a formation? Oh, sure, he codified it and limited its size to a set number of individuals, but before that a peerage was nothing rare. Wherever powerful devils waked they attracted others of their kind to them. It's part of our greedy nature to gather power to ourselves so that we might shape the world around us."

"Greedy? Wouldn't that make something like a harem impossible?" Ichigo asked, trying to argue the point.

"Think of it like a pack, or a pride type of thing," Tsubaki started to explain, "greed is only part of it. Groups like that support each other, accept each other, bonds form and what happens, happens. Then add in that we are thinking, rational beings who, by our very nature, are driven to form groups. Now that group could be a peerage like we are in, or it could be a relationship with multiple people."

She smiled before continuing, "For example, I like Kiba Yuuto a lot. I would like to be in a relationship with him and I'm not the only one of course. My friend Reya has similar desires to be with him, and I am perfectly willing to work with her if I think that both of us together have a better chance at nabbing Kiba. I don't feel any sexual urges towards her, we are friends and that's all we'll ever be if things remain as they are. Now, if I and Reya got into a sexual relationship with Yuuto those feelings would change. My nature, her nature would make us more open to the idea that we are also in a new relationship."

It was an effort on his part to remain focused on what she was saying and not let his traitorous mind spin up the imagery her words brought up.

"This is not to say that everyone does this, but it can happen and for our kind it can work. I think you should know that going in, just to make sure that you are fully informed as to what is going on in the background. Though, I caution you, do not assume this basic instinct existing means that it is being used in this case. It's simply part of who we are, you included."

Ichigo wondered if his nature had changed him with being part devil now. If similar emotions could build in him. Perhaps the fact that he hadn't rejected the thought out of hand was sign that it was already happening.

"Thank you for the insight," Ichigo replied while leaning over to tie his shoes. "I will think on that."

"Don't try to force it, but if it starts to happen naturally, don't be surprised," she pointedly reminded him. "The ride for the three of you will be here shortly."

"Levi-tan and Sona are sisters," Ichigo pointed out. "How does that work?"

"Just because they might both fall for you, be physically intimate with you, even at the same time," Ichigo nearly choked as Tsubaki smirked, "doesn't mean they'll be so with each other. Just because we can grow that way, doesn't mean it always will, they are siblings, not simply friends like Reya and myself."

Ichigo let out a sigh, "That's a relief."

"Good day," she turned to leave but stopped to give Ichigo a hard, cold glare, "Oh, if you break Sona's heart, I'll rip your balls off and stuff them down your throat." Tsubaki snapped back to normal, as if she hadn't just threatened him and closed the door as she walked out a little too merrily for his liking.

Ichigo forced down his shudder, swearing not to do anything to that could hurt Sona and moved on with his date. Originally, it had been his plan to take them to a small place in town, dressed casually, but Tsubaki had informed him that as Sona's friend she felt better qualified to make the arrangements. Ichigo had almost objected but managed to keep his mouth shut... that may have had something to do with the Naginata that'd appeared in her hand upon his lips parting.

He entered the main parlor and was about to take his seat when there was a flurry of steps. His breath caught in his throat as Serafall jumped the last ten or so steps of the stairs and landed perfectly on her high heeled shoes. It seemed she'd chosen to dress Chinese for their date as she wore a Cheongsam of red silk with a pattern of flowers on branches in what he thought was actual gold, not gold colored thread but actual gold made into thread. The dress fell about halfway above her knees, which gave it at least four more inches of coverage than Kuoh Academy regulation uniform.

Granted, Serafall's dress had slits on the sides that went all the way up to her thigh, giving her body a full range of movement and allowing for the display of enticing flesh when moving. Someone, he suspected Tsubaki, had even done up her hair in a tasteful bun that rested gently against her neck. It was gorgeous on her, though if he had one complaint/complement it would have been that her chest was straining against the tightness of the dress. If the dress had been attended for her, which he thought most certainly had as it fit her perfectly everywhere else, then she or the maker must have wanted her chest emphasized. Perhaps both.

Ichigo had to pull his eyes up after they strayed down for a moment.

"Ichi-kun!" Serafall waved at him, a very dangerous smile spreading over her face as she looked him up and down. "Very nice," she then paused and tilted her head. "Ichi-kun doesn't work very well, does it?"

Ichigo blinked as he kept his face up and eyes on hers, not allowing them to drift below chin-level, "Not really..."

"Hmm, well, I will come up with something better," she spun around on the tip of her shoe, and he noticed that her backside had been emphasized too upon getting a good view of it. "What do you think?"

He had to gulp and wet his mouth a as sudden flare of nerves hit hard enough to rob him of speech. He'd never been on a date before and here he was, going on a date with two girls.

"You are breath takingly gorgeous," he uttered out.

It took a moment before he realized what'd left his mouth and his face turned red as a beet. He turned his head to cough while trying to clear his thoughts. He almost missed seeing Serafall's hands clasp together, and her cheeks darken. Her face had taken on a much younger expression of joy and relief that belonged there just as much as her adult expressions and wicked sensual smile.

Another pair of footsteps sounded down the stairs and these were slower, more hesitant. It seemed Sona had chosen dark shoes with smaller heels than the ones her sister wore. She leaned over and peeked down at them, hesitation written across her face, jerking back as she noticed both were watching her. Ichigo and Serafall glanced at each other as they waited.

After a few seconds in which he was sure he heard Tsubaki offering words of encouragement some of which involved, "It's not against your morals as the Student Council President to go on a date," similar things such as that.

Only after those words did Sona make her way into view.

Ichigo found himself relieved and struck dumb at the same time. She'd gone with a modest pale blue dress that showed a little of her modest chest, but otherwise it would have not been out of place at any high society party. What struck him was that she didn't need to flaunt anything to be beautiful. Well, neither did Serafall, he suspected she was doing it because she found it fun and liked messing with him a bit. The more conservative look worked on Sona with how she walked, the color perfectly contrasting her pale skin. She shivered as she glanced at him as if his eyes alone could touch her everything.

"Well," Serafall commented with a grin, "I wanted to go with something that had a lot more of an exposed back. But I think Tsubaki chose well."

"That she did," Ichigo coughed out. "You look lovely, Kaichou."

The girl lightly blushed at the compliment, "Sona for tonight, please," she whispered.

It was Ichigo's turn to blush as he replied, "Of, course... Sona."

Despite asking for it, she reddened even more as warmth flooded her.

"Your ride is here," Tsubaki informed.

Ichigo glanced out the window and winced as a limo pulled into view, mumbling out, "I'm so far out of my league."

"Hey," Serafall slapped him on the back hard enough for him to notice, "I get to decide who is and isn't in my league, you have no input." She hooked her arm around his and her other around Sona and dragged them out the door.

---

By the time they sat down around a table Ichigo had no real idea where they were anymore. They hadn't been in the limo that long, but the speed at which they had been passing other cars it was a miracle that they hadn't been stopped or crashed. He'd assumed magic of some sort had been involved and left it at that.

They were now at a very fancy restaurant, though Serafall stuck out like a sore thumb with her dress. Ichigo had made a painstaking effort not to study how it fit her and failed miserably. Sona was easier to look at, but she would become skittish if he stared too long. He had finally realized what was wrong and it had almost made him laugh. She, Sona Sitri, was just as nervous as he was, which eased his nerves immensely.

"So," Serafall leaned back and broke the ice, "how about you give us that whole story now?"

That got Sona's attention and he realized that Serafall would have preferred to start with some small talk, perhaps some flirting, but given her sister's discomfort had moved the conversation to the topic that had brought them there. It was something Sona could better handle than the usual topics that occurred on a date.

"I guess I should start at the beginning," Ichigo started. "It all started when a short, raven-haired Shinigami popped into my room..."

Ichigo proceeded to explain everything that had happened to him since meeting Rukia and becoming a Shinigami himself. Defeating Hollows that appeared in his hometown, fighting Orihime's brother that'd turned into a Hollow -which turned into a winding story of his friendship with Tatsuki, how her brother died and that freshly turned hollows tend to target loved ones first to try and regain their lost hearts. Then the mess with Kon, the mod-soul that'd run rampant in his boy, which intrigued Sona on the ability to make artificial souls, that he in no way could explain.

They'd made their orders when the waiter arrived, and he picked back up with his story. Chad, his best friend, picking up a parakeet that had a child's soul attached to it. The child being hunted by a serial killer turned hollow that'd killed the boy's mother and put his soul in the bird. Lying about bringing the child's mother back to life if he could evade him as a part of a sick game.

Ichigo still gritted his teeth in anger at what that monster did, using a boy's love for his mother to torment him. It hit too close to home for him.

Discovering that Grand Fisher, who'd targeted his sisters while visiting their mother's grave, was the one that killed her all those years ago. The rage at facing his mother's killer, the agony when he'd used his ability find out the person most dear to his heart and mimic them on his lure, who'd unsurprisingly been Masaki Kurosaki.

How the filth of a soul had escaped by fusing with his lure, that was actually a second body, and still looked and sounded like his mother. The two sisters had placed comforting hands on his balled-up fists, getting him to calm down and proceed.

The rivalry with Uryu Ishida that turned into a massive hollow hunt after the four-eyed pain in the rear broke bait to lure them in. All apart of proving how much better Quincys were than Soul Reapers. That ended up luring in a Menos Grande, which he had to explain as a being the size of a skyscraper made from hundreds, if not thousands of hollows eating each other. Barely sending it back with slash that deflected its Cero and Uryu having to stabilize his power afterwards while tearing his arm apart in the process.

They went through the appetizers and main course as he went through the invasion of the Soul Society, rescue of Rukia, Aizen's betrayal, Orihime's capture and subsequent journey to Hueco Mundo to rescue her. The dessert course ended with his final battle against the brilliant powerhouse that cost him his powers.

"That's a lot for... what, two years?" Sona commented.

"Little more than a year," Ichigo corrected.

"I'm more surprised by the fact that five people could successfully invade the capital city and military stronghold of Japan's Pantheon," Serafall added with a confused tilt to her head. "You were running around for several days, destroying their troops and even took down a few of their key fighters. Are they stupid or just that cooky?"

Ichigo shrugged as Sona chimed in her opinion, "Aizen had masterminded the whole thing, probably ensuring they made as much chaos as possible... and they seemed overconfident."

Serafall scoffed, "Most beings of power and authority are. The majority of my troubles are dealing with the pompous, arrogant families of the 72 Pillars. They all see themselves as superior to everyone and are constantly scheming to overthrow the others." The Maou deflated as weariness overtook her just from thinking about it.

She then perked back up and returned to the date as Sona moved the topic back towards Ichigo, "Still, that's a lot of responsibility to put on a young man's shoulders. Are you okay Ichigo?"

"It was stressful at the time," Ichigo admitted but shrugged, "but after being powerless I realized that I preferred the life and death battles than helplessly sitting on the sidelines. There's nothing worse than having to watch those you love rush off to battle and knowing you can't do anything to help them. I guess I'm the type of person that'd rather struggle from one life threatening battle to the next than just sitting there as others are hurt."

Sona was speechless but had an adoringly proud look on her face as Serafall had a look of understanding. A look filled with old pain that spoke of harsh battles and friends lost. Her fists curled up tightly as she muttered out softly, "It's always easier facing your own death than the death of those closest to your heart. I-It also makes its hard to... to... let others in."

Her beloved little So-tan had gently placed her hand on one of her fists, pouring all the love and comfort into her. Sona could always sense when her Nee-sama was falling into one her moods and knew that just being there, loving her, was all she could do. What surprised Serafall was the second source of warmth and comfort on her other clenched fist. Her eyes snapped from her sweet little sister to the handsome, somewhat rough face of Ichigo that held a kindness and warmth that melted her heart. One that'd been encased in ice since the previous Leviathan, her former love had betrayed and used her.

Killing him had cemented her place amongst the Maou but had left her devoid of love and untrusting of relationships. Her So-tan and Queen had brought back love and friendship to her life, but it wasn't until now, with Ichigo that she felt like she could love a person like she had her last true love. To see anyone as a potential lover, boyfriend and husband again. Yet, she could see a chance of that with him, the young man that has warmed her heart and captured So-tan's affections.

A genuine smile spread across her face, light shown from her eyes as she released her grip on her fists, reversed them and grasped their hands. No words were needed as they just stayed that way for an untold amount, basking in the warmth and love of each other.

Eventually, they broke apart so that Sona and Serafall could then proceeded to go into detail about their family life. Apparently, their father, the current Lord Sitiri had a dozen concubines one of which became the second Lady Sitiri after the first -Serafall's mother- died two centuries ago. So, technically, Sona was her half-sister. Not that it mattered to either of them, as they were sisters, and the details didn't matter. Though, it did help explain the vast age difference between the two as it could be extraordinarily difficult for devils beyond a certain age -roughly after their first century- to have children. Even then, most other species had a harder time reproducing than humans, the most prolific breeders on the planet. It was actually why most reincarnated devils were humans as their greater level of fertility was helping to restore the diminished devil populations.

Sona had turned red in face as Serafall explained how it was common practice for Lords to have harems to increase their odds of having heirs. Though, only pure devils were accepted as wives while other races, reincarnated or not, could only be concubines and their children would be last in the line of succession.

"Wait, do you have more siblings from your father's concubines?" Ichigo asked.

Sona shook her head, "No. Old, powerful lords like our father have... mmm... a hard time impregnating women." Her face had turned crimson by the end.

"What my dear So-tan is trying to say, is that the old houses that make up the 72 Pillars are so inbred from their pureblood supremist views, that their reproductive ability is almost nonexistent. Despite the harems and crossbreeding with other races, old traditions demands that the Lord of any house be one from 'pure' blood couplings. So, only the most genetically degraded tend to inherit their family's Lordship."

"Which includes your father," Ichigo added.

"Yup!" Serafall beamed.

Seeing Ichigo's odd expression and accurately guessing what the issue was, Sona informed, "My sister and I aren't so degraded. Our father was among the first generation to start breaking the old traditions and challenging the old laws. Our mothers, despite being full-blooded devils, were carefully selected to ensure a healthy amount of genetic separation from the Sitiri family and fertility."

"That's good..." Ichigo lamely stated.

"Afraid that me and So-tan couldn't pop out your little offspring?" Serafall teased with a salutary/teasing grin.

Ichigo sputter nervously, nearly choking on his drink as Sona turned beat red but managed to seethe out in a hiss, "NEE-SAMA!"

Which only made the older sister burst out into a fix of giggles and the occasional snort, "Oh! The look on your faces! Ha hah ha hah!"

---

Tsukune was looking at the stars behind the Occult Research Club house, thinking about all the radical changes he'd undergone. He'd nearly died at the hands of a fallen angle and was revived into a devil by Bouchou -one the most beautiful girls in school. He had even seen what could happen to him if left his new peerage and let his devil instincts run rampant. He was even having to come to terms with how energized he was as night came along.

He honestly had to fight back the urge not to vomit at the memories of the horrors he has already experienced. Las night Tsukune woke up in a cold sweat, holding his stomach where he'd been run-through by a spear of light.

He started shivering as he remembered the cruel, sadistic look on the fallen angle's face as she took pleasure in hurting him. He'd been helpless and afraid. If not for Ichigo and Moka's intervention he'd have died right, then and there.

"Tsukune, are you alright?" Moka's beautiful voice cut through his fear induced remembrance.

"Uh?" Tsukune startled out. "Oh, it's you Moka," he relaxed upon seeing her.

Moka's face shifted to a concerned frown, "I'm sorry I startled you, but I'm worried about you. A lot has happened, and I'm concerned that..." the pink haired vampire-devil nervously wrung her hands as she trailed off into silence. She was afraid that Tsukune was frightened by her true self and with all the added horrors he'd have to face as a devil would make him resent her. She'd been largely responsible for what happened to him. It never ends well when one of her kind befriends a human, and true to form, his life has been irreparably changed.

Tsukune had been having similar such thoughts, but not once did he consider Moka a negative in the frightening changes to his life. So, he was confused and concerned when she started tearing up when looking at him.

"I-I'm..." she gasped out, afraid that her first real friend would agree, "s-so sorry! If not for me, you'd have never... n-never... your life wouldn't be..."

She found it harder to voice her fears with every passing second, to the point that she'd squeezed her eyes shut, unable to look at him. To see the anger or fear. But if she'd looked at him, she'd have seen concern and confusion.

"What are you talking about Moka-chan?" he asked genuinely.

She trembled and had to force it out, "I ruined your life, Tsukune! You nearly died and now you're no longer human! I-I'm so sorry! If you'd have never met me, you wouldn't have suffered-"

Moka was interrupted by being suddenly jostled when Tsukune grasped her by the shoulder, rougher than he meant to as he was adjusting to his newfound strength as a devil. It'd also forced her to open her eyes to see the angry, yet, concerned and determined look on Tsukune's face.

"Meeting you, being here with you is the only reason I haven't broken down yet," he firmly declared. "Yes, so much has changed and I'm afraid of the challenges, like that stray that I will be forced to face, but all that is irrelevant if it means I get to be with you, Moka." His face softened, but the determination grew.

"B-but you almost died," she tried to argue.

A look of self-deprecation overtook his face as he replied, "Yeah, I almost did. All because I was so scared that I froze up. I couldn't even run. I was helpless..."

"You were just a powerless human then," Moka fired back, trying to pull him out of the depression threatening to pull him under, "targeted by a fallen angle. It's understandable that you froze, that you couldn't fight back."

"Ichigo did and he was just as powerless as I was," Tsukune pointed out, shivering. His own eyes slammed shut as water edged around his lids. "Y-you could have been hurt because of me."

Moka was stunned, he was worried for her. He wasn't afraid of her or angry at being turned into a devil against his will, but of his own lack of ability. Her expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips as she gently placed a hand on one of his trembling arms that still weakly held her by the shoulders.

"Tsukune-kun, I'm fine. I wasn't even hurt, thanks to you."

His eyes snapped open to look at her incredulously, an argument on the tip of his tongue.

"It's true," she spoke up before the words could leave his mouth. "No one has been able to remove my seal," she placed her other hand on the Rosario around her neck. "I can't, my father, sisters or even Bouchou can't remove it. But you did, Tsukune-kun."

She looked deeply into his eyes, trying to show all the gratitude she could as she continued, "I don't know much about this seal my mother put on me. Just that it suppresses an enormous amount of my power along with my inner personality."

"Inner personality?" he repeated in confusion, having released her, but not backing away enough to lose her touch on him.

"Yes, my true self, that you glimpsed was freed when you removed the Rosario. I'm not sure of all the details but I'm another personality born when my power was sealed away. I don't know why, but I have full control of our body, while my original self can only experience life through me."

"That sounds... umm..." Tsukune wasn't sure if it'd be rude to say what he thought about it.

"Terrible," Moka offered with a kind smile. "I know, my inner self hates being locked away, unable to directly interact with the world. She often complains about how soft I am, letting others walk all over me. She wants me to be the strong vampire warrior she is, but I really don't like violence." Moka was sheepishly rubbing the back of her head, sticking her tongue out. "I'm not strong like she is."

Her face fell, "That's probably why you got hurt. I couldn't fight like she did when she saved you."

"Moka... I-"

She cut him off by waving, "No, it's true. If I was as strong and confident as she was, I'd have forced Bouchou to turn you into a devil sooner and you'd have not been attacked. I'm sorry."

"No, you did the best you could and from that point of view, Rias is much more responsible for my near-death experience than you. She could have had me reincarnated as a devil days ago but chose to wait. So don't go blaming yourself. I should have fought like Ichigo-san did, but I'm not as brave as him."

Moka adamantly shook her head, "That's not true or fair. Ichigo wasn't entirely human like you, Tsukune."

The young man looked at her incredulously.

"I'm serious. Koneko told me how he used to be a shinigami with spiritual powers. Are really powerful one until he lost his powers in a fight. So, even though Ichigo-san was human when it happened, he was used to being in those kinds of fights. The only difference I see between you two is experience."

"R-really? You think I could be like him?"

She smiled brightly at him, "Yes. You're worth eight points, just like him and Bouchou said you have a powerful sacred gear. You just need to learn how to use it."

Tsukune shakily returned her smile, not entirely believing it, but was gratefully all the same, "Thanks, Moka."

They stayed silent, just looking at one another in warmth for the others concern and care. That was until Moka blushed and became nervous again.

"What is it Moka? Something wrong?"

"No, maybe..." she took a deep breath and asked, "What do think of my true self?"

"Uh..." Tsukune didn't know what she meant t first, but then he remembered the silver-haired version of her before he lost consciousness. "Oh! She's great! She did save my life and stop that fallen angel. And she was just as breath-takingly beautiful as you are and..."

He was stumbling over his words, not wanting to upset the other personality so, he ended up being more honest than he meant to be. Thus, it took a red faced Moka and a few quiet moments for him to register that he'd just called Moka, both Mokas, beautiful.

He coughed into his hand and tried to move the conversation away from that embarrassing reveal, "Thank you, inner Moka, for saving me." Tsukune formally bowed to her, angled deliberately towards the Rosario around the vampire's neck.

Moka waved frantically in response, trying to get passed her own embarrassment at being call beautiful by Tsukune, "It was nothing! Really! You don't have to thank us." She froze for a second as a telepathic conversation passed between the Mokas. "Though my inner self is glad that you showed her the gratitude rightfully due for her efforts."

"No problem, she deserved it, after all," he chuckled back. If Tsukune had looked closer he'd have seen a trembling Rosario that tinted red around the scarlet eye, resembling a blush.

The spent the next few minutes just chatting about their day, schoolwork and what they'd done since they last talked. Back before the whole being tricked by Raynare and impelled. Moving past the awkward moment before Tsukune decided he had to head home.

"Um, Tsukune-kun?" Moka asked as she poked her pointer fingers together nervously.

"Yeah?"

"Would you mind if... you know... I had a quick sip of your blood?" she asked hopefully, having missed his wonderful taste.

Tsukune missed a step and nearly tripped but recovered quickly and agreed, "Sure, it's the least I can do."

Moka didn't hesitate to latch on to his neck, fangs penetrating his flesh and gulping down her favorite drink. There was a new after taste from his new devil status, though different, it was still very delicious. Tsukune winced from the sharp pain of the bite, which faded almost immediately, and fell into a comfortable embrace. Holding Moka to him was worth the pain and slight wooziness from blood loss that companied feeding her.

And who knew, maybe, just maybe, one day their embrace would have to do with their lips than his blood. At least, that was what the young man hoped for as the gorgeous lady in his arms drank merrily from him.

---

The limo ride was slower on the way back, though Serafall mentioned that she would not be joining them back in the house as she'd taken all the time off from her duties as she could for their date. They were quiet on the way back, all in the back seat, letting the evening settle. Ichigo found himself placed in the middle of the two sisters and they had taken to leaning against him, like he was a comfortable cushion. He was embarrassed and resigned to the fact that his body became excited from the touch and proximity of the two lovely women.

He'd allowed himself to wrap his arms around their shoulders, that they accepted easily enough, but he wasn't risking any more than that. He might be new to dating, but groping on the first date was a definite no-no. Honestly, it was probably best to wait until the girl was getting handsy first before even testing those waters. Ichigo would bet everything he had that Serafall would be the first amongst the trio to start such things.

He smiled softly as he closed his eyes, enjoying the moment and letting his spiritual sense roam. The areas they drove through brought back nothing of note. No hollows, plus's or spiritually strong people of any kind. It seemed that Serafall was correct in that this entire area was under devil control, with a few spots that had church and fallen influence. As those were the only signatures that stood out to him.

It wasn't long before the limo had arrived back at Sona's manner, the owner exiting the vehicle first, though reluctant to detach herself from his side. It was a feeling he'd shared as Serafall would be heading off. Perhaps it'd been the night, or his courage was higher after the cuddling, but before he could even think about what he was doing, he leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. Serafall had looked almost surprised, most likely due to the innocent nature of the action. Whatever the case, her glowing smile as the door closed would remain a good memory for a long time to come.

He had turned to Sona and his self-preservation instincts practically screamed at him to do the same for his King. Her reaction to his peck on the cheek had changed her slight annoyance from kissing her sister to a luminescent blush. She had sputtered out a few words of thanks and fled to her room, confirming that his instincts had been right.

Thankfully, he'd managed to avoid Tsubaki, who'd joined Sona in her room to most likely gossip about their first date. Even so, he had a quick shower and rushed off to his own bed, not wanting to chance being teased by the Queen. He'd probably be getting enough of that and other types of fallout from the date over the next couple of days.

Despite those possibly unpleasant future events awaiting him, Ichigo slept with a gentle smile on his face.