Chapter 3: Lean On Me, When You're Not Strong

"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Zanpakutō"
"Hollows/Vizard"

AN: This chapter's actually been done for close to a week but FF's problems kept me from uploading. Enjoy

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It had been just over two weeks since Ichigo's life had changed forever and – to his own surprise – things were starting to feel almost routine. Wake up, get an eyeful, go to school, slay a couple Hollows, perform some Konsō, go home. Rinse and repeat. Though to be honest, the fact he found fighting soul eating monsters from another world routine was possibly more disturbing than the Hollows themselves. There had to be some sort of universal law against such a thing; like dinosaurs being treated with anything other than awe (or terror for the ones that would gleefully eat you).

Still, even with his new routine, Ichigo was noticing some interesting changes. First – and perhaps most concerning – was the odd looks he'd started noticing coming from his classmates. Whenever someone thought he wasn't looking, they'd stare at Ichigo with the strangest expression. Like he was a puzzle missing the last few pieces. Sometimes, he swore they were looking at him when he moved nearby in Shinigami form. Worst of all being the day after purifying Inoue Sora when he'd been out on patrol and spotted Orihime, who waved in his direction. Despite being a spirit at the time, he'd reflexively waved back, only to feel like an idiot when he remembered she couldn't see him. Or so Ichigo thought until he realized there wasn't anyone else around that they knew. Compared to that, Uryū's increasing hostility was outright trivial. Sure, the bespectacled teen seemed to be going out of his way to not talk to him, but he'd always been kind of a dick so Ichigo wasn't really concerned.

Less concerning and more embarrassing (arousing) was that Nemu was definitely turning into a cuddler. Initially, she'd slept like a vampire, hands folded over her chest and her body completely straight. It was the kind of thing that would have been amusing if it hadn't been his bed. It was less like sharing a bed with a person and more like his bed was just narrower. Perhaps it was time spent with him or something else, but over the last two weeks, she'd started sprawling across Ichigo's body in her sleep. The last two days, Ichigo had woken up with his bedmate's leg thrown across his body and his arm very firmly hugged to her chest. But as awkward as that was, especially given how the shirts she borrowed often rode up, it was nowhere close to as bad as a few days ago. That time, Ichigo had woken up in the middle of the night to find Nemu laying directly upon him but also turned around. So, while she used his thigh as a pillow, he had gotten a very close-up look at a woman's lower body. The whole situation was so surreal that it had taken the teenager over a week to realize his father wasn't launching his wakeup attacks anymore, instead lying in wait until Ichigo came downstairs.

At the moment, Ichigo was exiting the bathroom, thankful that his house had a western style shower as well as a bath. Even if it was his soul rather than his body that got splashed with Hollow blood, he always felt dirty after a patrol. At least this time, he hadn't come back to his body to find a dog peeing on it. Ichigo headed for his room with his clothes under one arm and towel wrapped around his waist. Since his family was out shopping, he hadn't seen the need to get dressed immediately. Especially since his pants would be a little tight given that he'd perhaps spent a bit too long thinking on how much he'd seen of Nemu's lithe body.

Unfortunately for the teen, he'd been so lost in thought that he forgot he wasn't actually alone in his house. As he opened the door to his room, Nemu stepped out at the same time, causing the two to bump into each other. With his still wet feet, Ichigo lost his balance and fell to the floor, unlike Nemu who managed to stay upright. Despite being the one knocked down, Ichigo was quick to apologize, "Sorry Nemu, I forgot you were-" The strawberry cut himself off as he noticed she wasn't quite looking at his face. "What're you looking aaaaaa?!" Following her line of sight, Ichigo saw his towel had come undone when he fell, leaving him exposed and still 'at attention' as it were.

Before he could stammer an apology, Nemu cut in, "Congratulations." Was it his imagination or was there a hint of something else in her tone? Heedless of his thoughts, the violette continued, "When you're finished attending to yourself, I request that you accompany me on an errand." Her piece said, Nemu continued past Ichigo and headed downstairs. 'Congratulations? She- I- Okay, she has to be fucking with me.'

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Twenty minutes later saw Ichigo following Nemu to some shop she insisted they visit. Although he was desperately trying to ignore the awkward silence, he kinda had the feeling it was only awkward on his end. Trying to get his mind off being caught with his pants down, literally, Ichigo tried to figure out why she needed him along. It certainly wasn't to carry bags; even in her Gigai, she was still strong enough to manhandle him. As they approached an old-fashioned shop, Ichigo noticed the sign overhead: Urahara Shop. The name rang a bell, but it took him a few seconds to remember where he knew it from. "Hey, is this the same Urahara that helped you before?"

"Indeed. Despite his antics, he knows more about Shinigami and Soul Society than possibly anyone else in the living world. Urahara-san was once a Shinigami himself you see," Nemu answered, though her usually passive tone carried a tinge of distaste. Just from that, Ichigo could infer that either she had some history with this Urahara, or she just really disliked him in general.

Ichigo answered, curiosity coloring his tone, "Really? I wasn't aware Shinigami normally retired to the human world."

"They don't," Nemu flatly replied.

Any further conversation was cut off as they entered the store. The shop was remarkably ordinary for a place run by a former Shinigami; the shelves were filled with typical sweets and the whole place was properly cleaned. It took Ichigo several seconds to notice the one thing out of the ordinary: he couldn't spot a light source in the well-lit shop. Before he could ponder this further, a man in old-fashioned clothing and wooden geta greeted them enthusiastically, "Welcome to my humble shop, my dear customers! I am Urahara Kisuke, owner and proprietor of this store. What can I interest you in today?" Behind him, a trio of children were straightening up the place. A morose looking dark-haired girl swept while two boys, one redhead and one blonde, were moving boxes.

Nemu promptly answered, her tone flatter than Ichigo had heard since their first training session, "We need Soul Candy for Ichigo. One that can reasonably mimic his sullen personality."

Heedless of her tone, the shopkeeper waved a paper fan in front of his face and laughed disarmingly. "Of course, of course! I have just the thing! Just wait here while I go fetch it from the back." Without waiting for a reply, Urahara promptly turned on his heel and walked through a sliding shoji door on the far wall.

As soon as the door closed, the blonde boy put down the box he was moving and launched himself at Nemu with a shouted, "Onee-san!" Nemu seemed to barely acknowledge him as she stepped to the side and held out one hand, catching the boy by his face before slamming him to the ground. Ichigo was momentarily shocked by the casual violence against a kid, until the boy spoke up again, showing no regard for the damage he should have taken, "So cold onee-san. I just want to cuddle between your heavenly pillows!" At this, Ichigo decided the brat deserved whatever he got. While he had it on good authority just how amazing Nemu's body was, the blonde was definitely over the line.

"Ara ara. Try not to damage my employees too much Kurotsuchi-san~" Urahara's voice came as he stepped back into the main store, a pez dispenser of all things in his hand. "Here you are; one Gikongan dispenser. Alfred was the closest match I had. If nothing else, he's good at following directions." Nemu promptly paid the shopkeeper without a word and gestured for her companion to follow her as she left the store.

After a few minutes of walking in silence, Nemu handed Ichigo the candy dispenser. "Keep this on you at all times. If you need to leave your body when I'm not available, take one. The Gikon within will expel you from your body and take control until you return."

Distracted from his thoughts on the bizarre candy store and its inhabitants, Ichigo replied, "Gikon? You guys can make souls?"

"Of course," the violette explained, "Until approximately one hundred and fifty years ago, Shinigami had to use devices such as my glove to expel themselves from their Gigai. However, in doing so, they left their Gigai unattended. To most human methods of observation, an uninhabited Gigai is little different from a fresh corpse, which resulted in countless Gigai being misplaced or destroyed. Hikifune Kirio developed the Gikon to watch over a Shinigami's Gigai and the Gikongan or Soul Candy to act as an easy and efficient delivery system. The souls themselves are intelligent enough to follow orders and possess the basics of a personality, but little more."

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A few days later, Ichigo was having lunch on the roof with Keigo and Mizuiro, only vaguely listening to Keigo asking if he was into cosplay as he ate. Ichigo was pulled out of his thoughts when Sado joined them. He was swathed in bandages and carrying a bird cage of all things. A small parakeet inside sat inside. While Sado was a much gentler soul than his massive muscular appearance would suggest, he had never seemed like an animal person. So, he asked, "Oi Chad, what happened to you? And what's with the bird?"

Sado carefully set the cage down then seated himself before replying, "I got hit by a motorcycle on the way to school this morning. The rider seemed pretty roughed up, so I carried him to the hospital. The bird I got from a friend."

"Ok, the motorcycle accident, I get. You're tough; I know that, everyone does. But someone just gave you a bird?" Ichigo pressed. Internally, he couldn't help but reflect, 'Where did I go wrong in life that getting flashed by a ghost lady is normal, but birds are weird?'

Rather than Sado answering, the parakeet spoke, "Hello, my name is Shibata Yūichi. What's your name?"

That simple statement, less than ten words, instantly turned Ichigo's curiosity into horror. He hadn't been paying enough attention to notice beforehand, but there was definitely a child's soul inside that bird. There was no way such a thing just happened naturally. While Keigo and Mizuiro fussed over the parakeet, Ichigo interrogated Sado, "Chad, where exactly did you get that bird?"

Not knowing why Ichigo seemed so agitated, but understanding it was important somehow, Sado explained, "An acquaintance of mine gave him to me. He said the bird is cursed; that everyone who owns it is gruesomely killed shortly after." At this, Ichigo's eyes widened further and he suddenly sprinted off without a word, leaving behind a confused giant.

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"Nemu!" Ichigo called as he burst into the teacher's lounge. Thankfully it was empty of anyone but the Shinigami woman he sought. Startled from the book she was reading, the young woman looked up at the almost alarmingly frazzled teenager. Before she could ask what had him so out-of-sorts, Ichigo grabbed her by the shoulders and started rapidly demanding, "Nemu! Tell me, is it possible to put someone's soul in another body?! Not like that Soul Candy you bought, but an actual soul!"

Remaining calm as was her wont , Nemu replied, "Certainly. Although under most circumstances, it requires more effort than it's worth, particularly as the soul will eventually be ejected from the new body. Why are you asking?" Knowing Ichigo, it wasn't an academic question but something relevant to the immediate situation. He wasn't unintelligent but the substitute had a clear preference for practical knowledge. In a way, it made sense, particularly in regard to Shinigami. He certainly had no use for knowing the five (now four) noble houses of Soul Society nor the requirements to become captain of a division. His focus was on information that would help him perform his duties rather than superfluous and frankly irrelevant knowledge.

Taking a breath to steady himself, Ichigo explained, "Chad's parakeet. It has a child's soul in it. I don't know how or why but it can't be good. I need to exorcise it right away."

Humming in thought, Nemu considered his words, "A human soul inside a bird? I believe I remember a report about such an incident recently. Details were sparse, due to both a Hollow consuming the Shinigami involved and fath- Mayuri-sama finding such information uninteresting. 'The parlor trick of a petty charlatan' he called it. Regardless, if you're correct, we should perform a Konsō immediately. You have Alfred with you, I presume?" At Ichigo's confirmation, she continued, "Then once you're in your Shinigami form, we'll perform the Konsō and- what is it?" For Ichigo's expression had suddenly changed from attentive yet anxious to alarmed.

"Chad's gone! I can't sense him anywhere in the area!" Ichigo exclaimed. His perpetual scowl deepened as the teenager concentrated. "C'mon. C'mon! Where are you?" Even as he spoke, white ribbons formed in the air around him, trailing away in every direction. After several seconds, Ichigo grabbed one in particular and triumphantly declared, "There you are!" Acting quickly, Ichigo took out his Soul Candy dispenser and popped one of the candies. As his Shinigami form was ejected from his body, his body's scowl relaxed into a more placid expression. While he did, Nemu watched on, surprised and impressed at Ichigo's progress. Manifesting spirit ribbons was more advanced than most techniques she'd shown him so far. She hadn't even thought to show him the technique, honestly. Unaware of his trainer's thoughts, Ichigo quickly ordered the soul inhabiting his body, "Alfred! Just do the usual; attend class and don't talk to anyone unless you have to!"

Without waiting for confirmation, both Ichigo and Nemu rushed out the door, leaving behind the Gikon to snark, "Of course, sir. Shall I draw you a bath as well?" Nonetheless, Alfred followed his instructions and headed towards class as he heard the bell signaling the end of lunch.

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Sado Yasutora was not having a good day. Even without the motorcycle accident and the girder incident – which admittedly was a bit unusual even for him, and he regularly got attacked by street toughs – he was being hunted by some mostly invisible monster. A monster that apparently wanted his parakeet. …It made less sense every time he thought it. Regardless, he had been at lunch when Yūichi said the monster was coming and begged him to run. Now here he was, doing his best to stay a few steps ahead, but it wasn't easy. Not helping matters was that the monster could apparently fly, at least from what he could hear and the distorted shape he sometimes caught a glimpse of. Still, Sado knew that whatever it was, he could hurt it if he got lucky. He'd swung wildly earlier and felt his fist collide with something solid. Unfortunately, his attempts accomplished little beyond angering the creature. Even without the shouts of rage he was starting to hear, the hulking teenager saw more shapes now. They were smaller ones that leapt about and tried to swarm him, rather than the one big mirage-like distortion. At this rate, it was only a question of whether his stamina or his luck would run out first.

The big one crashed down nearly on top of Sado once more. Concentrating on what he could see, the muscular teenager launched a right hook at the rough direction of the monster's face. He was rewarded with a punishing blow to his ribs, sending him flying into a telephone and knocking Yūichi's cage out of his other hand. The furious monster roared in pain, "Son of a bitch! Right in my fucking eye, you insect!"

As Sado shakily rose to his feet, Yūichi called out, "Look out mister! He's flying now!" Sure enough, he could make out the telltale haze in the air above him, although several of the smaller ones were on the fences lining the street. Turning and wrapping his arms around the pole, the teenager broke it off its base to wield it like a giant club. Swinging it around himself, he demolished the fences and smacked away the smaller creatures at the same time before, with a tremendous heave of effort, he slammed the entire telephone pole down on the invisible sadist.

This was the scene Ichigo and Nemu arrived at. Incredulously, Ichigo turned to his companion and asked, "Does he even need our help?" In response, Nemu moved her hand in a "so-so" gesture, a rather deadpan look on her face even for her.

With a shout that was equal parts pain and fury, the Hollow yelled, "No! I will not be killed by some brat again! That little fuck may have killed me after I gutted his bitch of a mother like a fish, but no one is gonna stop me from having my revenge! I was an infamous serial killer before that little shit pushed me off that balcony! Now I'm going to spend my afterlife making him suffer! Him and anyone stupid enough to help him!" With that, the smaller, frog-like creature suddenly started spraying leeches everywhere. Unable to properly see them, Sado found himself covered in the things. "Ha! Now that you're covered in my leeches, this will be over in moments! Once I use my tongue to send out a special sound, they'll detonate, blowing you to pieces!"

However, as the Hollow stuck out his tongue, Ichigo flashed forward, his Zanpakutō coming down to slice off the spirit's tongue. Sado's eyes widened in shock upon seeing the hazy form of his friend in a black robe. While the person's form was still transparent and blurred around the edges, he was certain it was Ichigo. "So, you like picking on those weaker than yourself, do you? Well, let's see how you handle someone who can fight back properly!" In a panic, the Hollow attempted to fly away. Taking his left hand off his Zanpakutō, Ichigo pointed it at the fleeing Hollow and chanted, "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and tear out your own throat!" From his hand shot a glowing rope of energy launched out to bind his target, pinning his arms and legs together. With a heave, Ichigo slammed the murderous spirit into the pavement blow, shattering both the street and the Hollow's bones. Prepared to purify the Hollow that threatened one of his friends, Ichigo approached his downed form and raised his blade high.

"Hold," An unknown voice came from seemingly nowhere; it sounded vaguely feminine. As Ichigo looked around in confusion, neither Nemu nor Sado reacted to the new voice. Almost willing to dismiss it as his imagination, the strawberry heard the voice again, "His death does not belong to you, but to the child he murdered. Give your blade to your tall companion; as the child's guardian, he shall carry out this execution in his stead."

Confused but understanding the logic, Ichigo called out to Sado, "Chad, catch!" With a casual toss, his Zanpakutō flew through the air. Despite the surrealness of the situation, the massive brunette still managed to catch the sword with one hand, only to nearly topple over at its surprising weight. While it was an inordinately large blade – only somewhat shorter than Ichigo himself – the strawberry casually carried it onehanded while Sado himself needed both hands to maneuver it. As he steadied himself, he heard Ichigo continue, "He's all yours. Just give him one good slash down the center of his head." Trusting in his friend, he did just that, arms straining as he swung the oversized katana down on the monster that tormented him and Yūichi.

To the shock of one of the teens, the hollow did not disperse harmlessly into particles the moment the sword passed through the Hollow's skull. Instead, to the shock of both of them, a massive gate arose from the ground. It was huge, easily six meters tall, with a skeletal torso sticking out of each side of it. After a moment, the two skeletons each pulled on their half of the gate, slowly forcing the metal doors open. As the door opened, an empty void appeared beyond it, multiple ropes covered in charms keeping the gate from opening entirely. Out of the void, a colossal arm covered in tattoos and wielding a tanto larger than any of them sprung forth and impaled the fatally injured Hollow. Above the arm, further within the void, an eye opened and peered down at them, its gaze was as malevolent as it was ancient. "Kehehehe." A sinister chuckle issued forth from the arms owner, loud and deep enough to rattle their bones and so malicious that it felt like it chilled their souls. After another moment, the arm withdrew with its prize, allowing the gates to close once more. It dispersed, taking with it the ominous atmosphere .

More rattled than he'd been since facing his first Hollow, Ichigo muttered, "Wha- what the hell was that?" The moment that eye looked at him, he'd felt like a child standing before the Yamata no Orochi as it decided which head would be allowed to devour him.

"Exactly that," Nemu's voice came. For once, she sounded just as shaken as Ichigo himself, "Hell. That Hollow claimed to have been a serial killer in life. A Zanpakutō can only cleanse a Hollow of sins it committed after death, so he was dragged to Hell as punishment for his crimes. As for that creature, I don't know. No one does. All we know is that it is responsible for taking souls to Hell and that it seems unable to truly leave." With visible effort, the violette changed the subject, "But enough about that. It's time to perform the Konsō." She kneeled before the bird cage and addressed the parakeet within, her tone and expression both gentler than Ichigo could ever recall, "Hello Shibata Yūichi. My name is Kurotsuchi Nemu. My partner here is going to send you to Soul Society, where you can live peacefully and without fear."

Hesitantly, the boy asked her, "W-will I see my mom again? In Soul Society?"

Gentle smile still in place, she answered, "Of course you will. The two of you will be reunited again and you'll never lack for food or comfort either." At her gesture, Ichigo approached, the hilt of his Zanpakutō already softly glowing with power (he'd improved significantly from his first disastrous Konsō). With a gentle tap, young Yūichi's soul was ejected from the parakeet. As he faded away, the boy smiled happily and waved at Sado.

As Sado was distracted, Nemu used her Kikanshinki to promptly erase his memories. Taking her cue, Ichigo quickly followed the woman as the two fled the scene. Once they were a fair distance away, Ichigo couldn't help but ask, "Was all that true? What you told Yūichi about Soul Society?"

In response, Nemu sighed almost inaudibly. She knew Ichigo wouldn't appreciate hearing the truth about Soul Society. "That would depend on your interpretation," Nemu replied, "While he could potentially reunite with his mother, there are a total of 320 districts in Soul Society and where a soul arrives is completely random. Not to mention a soul's memories of their past life fade with time; eventually, he will completely forget about his mother. As for a peaceful life? If he arrives in or finds his way to one of the lower numbered districts, he'll be fine. Should Yūichi arrive in the likes of Kusajishi or Zaraki, he is unfortunately in for an extremely violent and bloody afterlife. Though it is true, he'll never lack for food. Any soul without sufficient Reiryoku doesn't require any food at all."

Shocked by her blunt assessment, Ichigo grabbed Nemu's shoulder and spun her around. "Then why did you lie to him about all that?!" He demanded, "Why tell him how great Soul Society is if parts of it are even worse than anywhere on Earth?!"

As usual, Nemu's reply was as blunt as it was factual, "Because the truth would have made your job more difficult. There is nothing to be gained from informing a child he could be on his way to a warzone." She paused a moment before continuing, her tone softer, "Besides, Soul Society isn't perfect, but it's all we have."

Not satisfied with her response, Ichigo insisted, "Then I'll change it. I'll fight until Soul Society truly is the heaven you told him it was."

With one of her mysterious smiles, Nemu simply said, "I'll hold you to that, Ichigo-san."

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Just shy of three weeks later, and over a month since Nemu functionally moved into his room, Ichigo awoke slowly and contentedly. While it had taken some adjustment, he no longer minded sharing his bed with the Shinigami woman. Indeed, he felt more rested these days, even when you factored in the time spent purifying Hollows and performing Konsō. It certainly helped that Ichigo had finally figured out how to keep the violette from wandering too much in her sleep. By keeping an arm around her waist, he insured Nemu didn't move much more than throwing a leg over his body. If he sometimes woke up to find his palm overflowing with one of her plump cheeks, well he certainly wasn't complaining, nor did Nemu ever remark upon it.

Sadly, his contentment was shattered as the significance of today dawned upon him. Tomorrow was the anniversary of the worst day of his life; the day he got his mother killed. A quiet voice cut through Ichigo's self-recrimination, "What is troubling you, Ichigo-san?" A glance downward showed Nemu gazing up at him through eyes far more alert than his own. One thing that hadn't changed in the previous weeks, Nemu was always awake instantly and fully. He didn't think she knew the meaning of the word 'drowsy.'

Rather than answer, Ichigo evaded her question, "Could- could I have tomorrow off? There's something important I have to do."

Taking a moment to consider his request, Nemu responded, "You have been unquestionably diligent for the last 37 days. One day off shouldn't cause significant problems, provided you are extra thorough the day before and after." Even as Ichigo opened his mouth to thank her, Nemu moved quick as a flash, now straddling Ichigo and pinning his hands on either side of his head. "However, you didn't answer my question." Try as he might, Ichigo couldn't dislodge the woman atop him, her strength still superior to his even in her Gigai. Gently, Nemu pried, "Is it about your mother's death?"

Ichigo stopped his struggling in shock, stammering out, "How do you know about that?"

"It wasn't hard Ichigo-san. A mother that's never mentioned but has a two-meter poster downstairs? Also, just like how I found your school, I learned about it when I looked up your records," she matter-of-factly explained. In a softer tone, she continued, "I know about your mother's gruesome death nine years ago and that you had to witness it. It's alright, Ichigo-san."

"It's not alright!" The teenager shouted, almost snarling, "It's my fault! I'm the reason mom is dead!" His eyes widened even as his mouth clicked shut, clearly not having to meant to say so much. After several long seconds of silence, Ichigo reluctantly continued, "I've always been able to see ghosts. Or at least, I can't remember ever not being able to see them. But when I was younger, I had a harder time telling them apart from normal people. One day, mom and I were walking home from the dojo. It was pouring rain that day; the river was close to overflowing. On the walk home, I saw a little girl. She was standing right on the edge of the river embankment. I just… I didn't want her to fall in, so I ran towards her, trying to help. Mom screamed something and then I blacked out. When I woke up, mom was… she was…" As Ichigo trailed off, Nemu took her hands off his wrists and lifted him up to a sitting position. Wrapping her arms around him, she held the teen against her chest as he sobbed. His arms came up to wrap around her as well. Without looking towards the violette's face, Ichigo continued, struggling but clearly needing to finish, "Mom was lying on top of me. There was blood everywhere! She died because of me! It's all my fault!"

Running her hand through his hair, Nemu gently disagreed, "No, Ichigo-san; it wasn't. You were just a small child back then. Weren't you the one who told me that family protects each other? That parents protect their children? From what I've heard from your family, your mother loved all of you more than words can say. Whether she was aware of whatever danger took her life, I'm sure she'd have gladly given her life for you. For her child." After a few more minutes, Ichigo's shaking subsided and Nemu was certain she had gotten through to him. "Now come, you're not going into school today as you are, but some training might help you work through your emotions better," At this, Nemu paused before continuing in a much lighter tone, "Though, given how hard you're poking me, perhaps you need some alone time first?"

Pulling back from her bust, Ichigo squawked in embarrassment and indignation even as she dismounted. Once she had dressed and left through the window, Nemu frowned in thoughtful concern. 'If Ichigo-san really did have enough Reiryoku to see spirits at such a young age, it was likely a Hollow that killed his mother in an attempt to consume him. Still, it's best I keep such hypotheses to myself for now. Ichigo-san already blames himself enough.'

-]|[-

Having reached a level Nemu deemed acceptable in his Bakudō skills, Ichigo was instead drilled on high speed movement and proper sword technique. For speed, Nemu explained the basics of shunpo, though she clarified that even managing a rudimentary version would be implausible in the short term. Regardless, by learning how to channel Reiryoku through his feet, the strawberry managed to increase his speed significantly. The harder part was actually maneuvering at such speeds, something Nemu drilled into him by making Ichigo weave around concrete dividers in the Sukari building's parking lot while she threw rocks at him.

When it came time to learn how to fight properly, Nemu unveiled wooden replicas of their Zanpakutō. However, Ichigo couldn't help but notice something off about his. "Hey Nemu, why's mine so small? My Zanpakutō is bigger than this!"

Glancing over, Nemu corrected him, "It used to be. Hold them side by side." Following her instructions, Ichigo was surprised to see she was right; his Zanpakutō was not only several centimeters shorter than he remembered, it had also lost about a third of its width. Not to mention, the tsuba had changed as well. Gone was the plain rectangular tsuba that had decorated his blade. In its place was a circular guard with six stylized waves decorating it. Sensing his confusion, Nemu explained, "A Shinigami's Zanpakutō is formed from their soul. While initially, they appear as generic katana, over time a Zanpakutō evolves in its form. This signals both that a Shinigami is coming into their powers and that their Zanpakutō spirit has formed, making it possible for them to begin training to learn Shikai."

"Shikai? Zanpakutō spirits? The hell are you talking about?" Ichigo's confusion was palpable as Nemu brought up these new concepts for the first time. Honestly, he couldn't figure out why she hadn't mentioned them before if they were apparently so important.

"Your Zanpakutō is more than a sword. It is a fragment of your soul, Ichigo-san. As such, each Zanpakutō has its own name, heart, and personality," Once more, Nemu had slipped into Lecture Mode as Ichigo dubbed it. At times like this, it was hard not to picture her in a blouse and pencil skirt with glasses perched on her nose. Mentally shaking his head, he listened as she spoke, "Learning your Zanpakutō's name allows you to activate its Shikai, altering its form and enhancing its abilities. For some, that is the extent of the change. For example, Madarame Ikkaku's Zanpakutō turns into a three sectioned staff that can masquerade as a spear. Others gain a special ability of some sort, such as increasing the weight of whatever they strike or granting control over a particular element. Regardless, achieving Shikai is a significant milestone for a Shinigami and required if one wishes to ascend the ranks."

Though certainly interested overall, one bit stuck out in particular for Ichigo and that was what he questioned, "Shikai? The name implies there's more than one release. Also, I just remembered; when Chad fought that Hollow the other week, I heard a woman's voice I didn't recognize. She told me to let Chad purify the Hollow."

Her eyes wide in shock, Nemu remarked, "Indeed? That was likely your Zanpakutō spirit. That you can hear it already is very unusual, though not entirely unheard of. It is, however, another sign that you are progressing towards learning your Zanpakutō's name. And to answer your first question, there is indeed another release – known as Bankai – which releases the full power of a Zanpakutō. However, Bankai requires a several years of specialized training to obtain then several more to master. On average, Bankai training requires a full decade and it is rarely obtained within less than fifty years after becoming a Shinigami. To be frank, it is not something you need to concern yourself with." With this, Nemu raised her wooden wakizashi and took up a fighting stance, "For now, concern yourself with surviving."

And thus, their spar began. While Ichigo's wilder and more instinctive style had served adequately against the Hollows he'd faced, Nemu insisted that smarter and more skilled opponents would take advantage of any openings he left. As they fought, she easily proved her point by striking with her offhand, legs, or even her head whenever Ichigo tried to get into a blade lock with her. Though his weapon had superior reach, Nemu had been a lieutenant before his mother was born. Her skill allowed her to avoid his blade with ease, forcing Ichigo to control his strikes better and tighten his guard.

After nearly an hour, Nemu apparently decided his progress was sufficient for the day. That or she simply got bored of holding back. With a sharp strike to his wrist, she easily disarmed Ichigo before performing a handspring to kick him in the chest with both feet, sending the teen flying. Finally, the violette launched herself at the substitute as he fell towards the ground. The pair landed, Ichigo on his back and Nemu atop him, her knees on either side of his head and her wooden blade resting against his heart. But for Ichigo, the stick poking his chest and the aches and pains of his body were all secondary to one thing: the fact his nose was pressed rather firmly against Nemu's panties. "Well done indeed, Ichigo-san," Nemu panted, clearly out of breath despite appearing completely at ease, "After your patrol, we'll head back for dinner. …Also, do get your breathing under control if you could. It tickles."

-]|[-

The next day, the Kurosaki family headed for the graveyard where Masaki's ashes were buried. Nemu had made herself scarce, not even staying long enough to grab breakfast. When asked, Nemu merely told Ichigo to keep Alfred on hand and that she'd be nearby but out of the way, just in case. Indeed, looking around, Ichigo didn't see anyone else at the graveyard besides someone in a formal mourning kimono but they were too far for him to make out any details. Putting them out of his mind, Ichigo turned his attention back to his family. His father was being more obnoxious than usual, something that drove Ichigo mad in previous years, but which he now realized was just the man trying to keep their spirits up. Karin was quickly growing annoyed by Isshin's antics, but Yuzu seemed to be enjoying them.

Sometimes, Ichigo wondered if his sisters had it easier when it came to their mother's death. They had been so young at the time that they barely remembered the woman. On the other hand, it also meant they didn't have the happier memories to draw on that Ichigo had. It had been especially rough those first few months after Masaki's death. Isshin had tried his best to be strong for his children, but it was obvious the man was falling apart. Ichigo himself hadn't been any better, spending hours or even days at a time walking along that stretch of the river, hoping to see his mother's ghost. For a time, the Kurosaki family had relied heavily on the charity of Ishida Ryūken, Masaki's cousin. While they hadn't needed any financial help, Ryūken lending them the services of his maid, one Shinozaki Sayako, had kept them functional long enough for the two Kurosaki men to pull themselves together. Ichigo stopped trying to find Masaki's spirit and started taking care of his little sisters while Isshin threw himself into providing for his children with renewed vigor.

So lost in his memories was he, that Ichigo barely realized how far they'd walked until they passed by the mourner he'd spotted earlier. Up close, he could tell they were a woman in her early 20s or so, but it wasn't until she turned her head, that Ichigo realized the woman in question was Nemu. Despite having seen her in her Shinigami robes before, somehow she seemed unrecognizable with her hair tied up in an intricate bun and held in place with ornate hair clips. True to her word, Nemu didn't approach, merely nodding her head as they passed before turning back to the grave in front of her. Curious, Ichigo tried to read the names on the headstone as he walked by, but the names were too faded to read in passing.

-]|[-

It was now late afternoon and the sky threatened rain, so the Kurosaki family were getting ready to head home. However, as Isshin looked around, he noticed one of their number was missing. Worse, he could sense a foul presence in the air. 'Damn it. I still can't access my powers yet. It couldn't have waited just a couple more months?!' Without showing his distress, the Kurosaki patriarch called out to his son, "Ichigo! I think Karin's still further up the hill; why don't you go get her? Yuzu and I will meet you down by the entrance." Even as he spoke, Isshin gathered up his other daughter and headed downhill, away from the Hollow he could sense. 'I don't like it, but I can at least keep one of my children safe. Besides, Ichigo's grown a lot stronger since Kurotsuchi-chan first empowered him; he should be up to it. And if it's who I think it is… Yeah, Ichigo needs the closure. If things start going badly, Kisuke owes me more than a few favors; he can get here in a few minutes.'

Annoyed by his father volunteering him like that, Ichigo nonetheless started moving towards the forest at the top of the hill, grumbling only slightly as he went. His father could be so irresponsible sometimes, just making one of his kids look after another. The strawberry was almost halfway there when he felt it: a malevolence that could only belong to a Hollow. And it was coming from the same direction he could sense Karin in! Ichigo's lackadaisical stroll immediately turned into a frantic sprint as he raced towards his little sister's location. 'No! Nonono! Not again! Never again!'

-]|[-

Moments prior, Karin was aimlessly wandering through the trees, partially to get away from her father's antics but mostly just to have some alone time. Though she mourned her mother just as much as the rest of her family did, she wasn't comfortable doing so in public. She preferred to be alone when she cried for the mother she barely remembered. A flash of color in the corner of her eye caught Karin's attention. Turning her head, the preteen saw a young girl around her age a little ways off. Despite refusing to acknowledge spirits, Karin still knew one when she saw one. Casually approaching, Karin called out to the young ghost, "Hey! If you need help with some spiritual stuff, the local priest lives at the bottom of the hill." As she spoke, Karin gestured with her thumb back towards the graveyard.

The girl turned to look at her in apparent surprise, "Oh? You can see me?" Her voice sounded a little unusual, but Karin wasn't one to judge. For all she knew, the girl had a cold before she died. She could still remember Ichigo complaining about a ghost who insisted a rash he had in life still itched even after he died.

Sighing slightly, Karin confirmed the spirit's thoughts as she moved closer, "Yeah, I can. Just don't tell anyone, would ya? My brother gets enough hassle from ghost as-" Karin trailed off as she stared transfixed at a new shape behind the girl. While it was too hazy to see properly, the brunette could nonetheless make out something like a giant skull leering down at her. "Wh-what the fuck is that behind you?"

The young ghost's expression shifted from surprise to something far more predatory. When she answered, her voice echoed like someone else was speaking at the same time, "Oh my, you can even see that, can you? I bet you're going to be delicious." Before she could even turn to flee, something invisible wrapped around Karin's ankle and dragged her closer to the monster. Once she was close enough, she was lifted into the air to dangle upside down before the two spirits. As rain finally started falling from the sky, the thing pretending to be a little girl grabbed her future meal by her hair before licking her cheek. "Oh yes, very delicious indeed. I think I'll take my time eating you; I want to savor every. Last. Bite." With that, Karin was raised higher still. She could more easily see the second spirit now, most of its body was covered in thick green fur except for a massive bone white mask. Unfortunately, being able to see her killer was little comfort as she dangled her over its open mouth.

"Get the fuck away from her!" With a roar, Ichigo crashed into the clearing, already in his Shinigami form. His Zanpakutō lanced out twice, slicing the rope of fur binding Karin and gouging a line in the Hollow's mask. Grabbing his little sister in one hand, Ichigo threw her to Alfred as the Gikon arrived in his body. "Take Karin back to my family! Protect them with your life!" For the first time since Ichigo had met him, Alfred didn't offer an ounce of sass and merely sprinted back towards the graveyard with Karin in his arms.

"Shinigami scum! You'll pay for stealing my meal," The Hollow growled though both mouths, "I've been devouring your kind for over half a century, boy! You don't have a prayer."

As Ichigo finally registered the appearance of his opponents, he froze in shock. "You?! You're the girl from the river all those years ago!" How could she be here? Why was she working with a Hollow? A billion questions raced through Ichigo's mind. Thankfully, training under Nemu had paid dividends, allowing him to block the Hollow's claws even while distracted.

"Hm? Have we met before, boy? You don't look familiar, but maybe I should take a closer look!" On that last word, the Hollow's claws suddenly extended drastically, seeking to impale Ichigo. The substitute quickly jumped backwards as he deflected the attack.

Squaring his stance, Ichigo roared back, "You were the one who killed my mother, weren't you, you bastard?!"

Of all the responses he could've received, the one Ichigo got was perhaps the least expected. The Hollow laughed. It started as a quiet chuckle, but quickly grew into a full-blown howl of amusement. "Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down? I am the Grand Fisher. I've eaten countless women over the years. You? You're nothing special." With a roar of fury, Ichigo charged Grand Fisher, seeking to end the one who slaughtered his mother. The monster who destroyed his family. Yet, although his rage gave power to his attacks, they also made him sloppy. Grand Fisher parried each strike again and again. With a great leap, the Hollow soared above Ichigo before extending its fur outward, quickly enclosing Ichigo. The teen furiously hacked away at the tendrils of fur as they approached, but they were like steel cables. Eventually, one of his legs was ensnared. Even as Ichigo cut through the hair binding his leg, more bound his remaining limbs, allowing Grand Fisher to draw him closer to its open, slavering maw. Though he struggled to break free, Ichigo felt this was going to be his end, devoured by the same Hollow that killed his mother.

Suddenly, Grand Fisher released his body with a howl of agony, "You goddamn bitch! You dare!?" As Ichigo quickly brought himself to his feet, he saw Nemu sitting atop Grand Fisher's neck, soaking wet from the pouring rain. Her kimono was torn off at her thighs and her face was contorted with hatred as she drove her hair pins deeper into the Hollow's eyes. The monstrosity thrashed wildly as it tried to throw her off, but she managed to hold on with just her legs. Unfortunately, even as Ichigo rushed to capitalize on his opponent's weakness, a tendril of fur finally grabbed the violette and flung her into a nearby tree, before one of its claws managed to pierce Ichigo's shoulder.

Ichigo recovered quickly and hacked off the offending limb, reveling in the Hollow's pained cry. But any enjoyment he had was quickly obliterated by Grand Fisher's next move. Its eyes regenerated and with its remaining hand, the Hollow grabbed the little girl even as some sort of tentacle sprouted from its head and connected with the top of hers. When its hand came away, the girl was replaced with the spitting image of Ichigo's mother, Kurosaki Masaki. "This is how I've eaten so many Shinigami, whelp. Everyone has someone they could never harm. I use my claws to search their memories for that person and have my lure assume their form." As terrible as the idea of fighting his mother was, it became so much worse when she spoke, sounding just like he remembered, "Well Ichi-kun? Are you really going to kill your own mother again?"

Those words cut right through him; far deeper than any physical injury he'd suffered before, sapping him of all will to fight. She was right. He'd killed his mother before; he couldn't bear to do so a second time. Ichigo found himself frozen even as the facsimile of his mother drew closer. His Zanpakutō lowered towards the ground, allowing her to wrap him up in a hug. He couldn't move even as a voice in his head screamed in desperation, "Move, you fool! Kill the enemy!" Ichigo remained unmoving, right up until Grand Fisher impaled him and Masaki both on its arm. As the bloodied limb was removed, Ichigo fall flat on his face, blood pooling around his form and mixing with the excess rainwater on the ground.

"Hehehe. Foolish sentimental brat. You really never had a chance. Thanks to searching your memories, I do remember you now. I should thank you, really. Your mother was positively mouth-watering, so succulent and ripe," Grand Fisher leered, reminiscing on one of the most delicious meals it had ever enjoyed, "In fact, once I've devoured you, I think I'll pay your sisters a visit as well. I'm sure they'll both be delicious."

The threat to his still living family managed to stir Ichigo, but he was still weak, still critically injured. But then he heard a woman's voice calling to him, "Don't give up, Ichigo! You're better than this! You're better than that monster!" Renewed vigor filled him and Ichigo forced himself to his feet. Even as his opponent reared back in surprise, Ichigo swung his blade down with a loud cry. Though Grand Fisher managed to partially dodge, it still had both of its limbs severed on its left side. Not giving the monster a moment to breathe, Ichigo pressed the assault, hacking and slicing at every piece of the Hollow he could reach, ignoring his own wounds in his fury.

Grand Fisher snarled, "Bastard! You think you've won?! This isn't over, not by a long shot!" Suddenly, the Hollow's injured body flowed into the fake Masaki, causing her body to strain and bulge. Once the two bodies had become one, the Hollow sneered victoriously with Masaki's face, "You fool! Both my lure and my body are my real body! And now that I've taken the form of your precious whore of a mother, you won't be able to raise a hand against me again!"

Rather than freeze again, Ichigo instead raged, "You bastard! You dare defile my mother's image like that! Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudō #61, Rikujōkōrō!" Six beams of light slammed into the deformed caricature of Kurosaki Masaki, freezing Grand Fisher in place no matter how it struggled. Ichigo strode forward, coming to a stop before the demented abomination masquerading in his mother's form, prepared to end it once and for all. With a loud roar of anguish and hatred, he swung his Zanpakutō straight through Grand Fisher, bisecting the Hollow with a spray of nasty blood. He panted as he felt the euphoria of finally avenging his mother.

His vengeance complete, Ichigo started pitching forward, only to be caught in another's arms. He swore he could smell her scent as his mother's voice spoke, "It wasn't your fault; it was never your fault. I'm so proud of you, my darling baby boy. Look after your sisters for me, Ichi-kun. And please, don't join me on the other side for a long time." In his mother's arms, Ichigo finally received the absolution he needed to truly heal from her passing.

Just before he passed out, Ichigo swore he heard another voice, one he didn't quite recognize, "Thank you, Shinigami. And… I'm sorry."

-]|[-

As Ichigo lost consciousness, Nemu rushed forward to help him. She quickly reached his unconscious form but without her powers, she had no way to heal him. Just as panic began to set in, a new voice spoke up, "Oh my my. Perhaps I can be of some assistance?" In a flash, Nemu grabbed Ichigo's Zanpakutō as she looked towards the newcomer. "Now, now. No need for that." Before her stood Urahara Kisuke, fan held in front of his face to hide his obnoxious smile. His smile quickly dropped as the shopkeeper took in Ichigo's critically injured form, "Isshin sent for me when he sensed Ichigo-san's Reiryoku dropping. I might have been too late to help, but I can patch him up just fine." Hesitantly, Nemu nodded and lowered the borrowed Zanpakutō. Even as he got to work, Urahara let out a low whistle, "That boy sure had a number done on him. He'll be feeling this in the morning."

After several tense minutes of work, Urahara declared Ichigo stable enough to return to his body, stating that he would be just fine so long as he didn't get into any fights for a couple days. Shortly after he left, Ichigo briefly regained consciousness. The sight that greeted him was Nemu's face staring down at him, her loose hair forming a damp curtain around them as she gazed upon him with such monumental relief it made his heart ache. With great effort, Ichigo got out, "Sorry for worrying you, Nemu."

Should anyone else ask, Nemu would insist the water on her face was from the rain. And if her voice sounded ragged, it was just internal damage from hitting her back against a tree. Regardless, she held Ichigo's head in her lap as she replied, "Let's go home, Ichigo-san."

-]|[-

AN: The Kikanshinki is that little device Rukia uses in canon to erase memories. Like a Neuralyzer from Men In Black, but less reliable.

The reason Ichigo was able to strike Grand Fisher even after it used Migration to inhabit its lure, which was still in Masaki's form, is because doing so greatly distorts the lure's appearance (look it up on the wiki), which lets Ichigo see past the illusion.

And yes, Ichigo's Zanpakutō having a feminine voice does mean he's not getting Zangetsu. Sorry, not sorry. I like Zangetsu, but I felt it too good an opportunity to give Ichigo something new.