Breath of the Moon

Ch 2: Ichigo means to Protect.

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Guest: Thank you.

So, I wrote four chapters for this entire story between now and when I posted the first chapter. Had this really big burst of motivation that I'm still not sure where it came from. But I'll likely release chapters on the first of each month if I can keep up my motivation.

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

"Blood Demon Art"

Kenji blinked. He closed his eyes, breathing out a sigh, before cracking his neck. Surprised, Ichigo did flinch from the audible noise but remained determined. Kenji walked a few steps before dropping into an armchair with little fanfare.

He looked at Ichigo once more, who had followed behind. "Okay, why do you want me to train you?"

"Uh, well, yesterday…" Ichigo began.

"Go on." Kenji encouraged. He needed to remember young children often had difficulty articulating. He was nearly a millennium old, so relating was a bit difficult.

"Yesterday was the one year, uh, what's the word? Date? Of my mother's death." Ichigo said.

"The word is Anniversary. But why is that fact leading you to conclude learning from me?" Kenji questioned, although he did have a good idea why. He just needed the child to say it.

"Well, the reason my mother died was because of me. I… saw this girl about to fall in the river when I ran to grab her. The next thing I knew, Mom was lying on top of me, dead. She had this big hole in her body. Could a demon have killed Mom?" The ten-year-old asked. During the explanation, Isshin moved to just out of sight for Ichigo so he could better hear.

Kenji shrugged. "It's entirely possible. But I would need to know a few more details. Demons burn in the sun, so when did this take place?"

"Uh, it was raining, but close to sunset?"

Kenji grimaced. "Okay, that's pretty compelling. And it's entirely possible that the girl was an apparition or an illusion resulting from a blood demon art."

"Blood… demon… art? What's that?" Ichigo asked curiously. Isshin thought the same, as that hadn't yet come up.

Kenji hummed in thought. "How to explain..? Oh, well, a blood demon art is a supernatural ability that appears in demons when they reach a threshold in power. I think the average demon needs to eat anywhere between ten and fifty people to gain a blood demon art, and the more people they consume, the more powerful their blood demon art becomes. And a blood demon art can be anything. One demon I fought awhile back could control people with strings and had thousands of them." That was an understatement, as Kenji recalled. The late Uppermoon 3 from just over two centuries ago could not only do that but also had the mental capacity to effectively utilize so many in combat. Many Hashira lost their lives to that demon. It was Kenji who came across the demon one day and killed it, as he could just use a burst of Reiryoku to disrupt the invisible control strings.

"R-really? So a demon could have killed Mom?" Ichigo asked.

Kenji sighed again. He did that a lot when he was dead tired. "Yes, it's an extremely likely possibility. The demon probably ran off after sensing a nearby demon slayer, unable to consume you or your mother."

"So that demon could still be out there?" Ichigo questioned, his eyes sharp.

But Kenji waved his hand in dismissal, causing Ichigo to deflate. "Very unlikely, as the demon probably is dead now. Only a Kizuki or the Demon King would survive having a Demonslayer or many on their tail."

"Kizuki?" Ichigo asked.

Kenji was too tired for this. "Kizuki are a group of demons that their demon king has formally recognized. They often live for centuries, serving as the elite of demonkind. Nobody short of a Hashira could stand up to them, which makes me believe a Kizuki didn't kill your mother. Only a Hashira could make a Kizuki runoff, and a Hashira is almost always followed by a small group of Kakushi, which would've attended to you and your mother."

"What are those? Hashira and Kakushi."

"Hashira are the strongest demon slayers in the entire organization. As the most powerful, they are often the ace in the hole against particularly strong demons. To become a Hashira, you must first be the highest rank under Hashira before decapitating 50 demons or killing a Kizuki singlehandedly. Kakushi assist the demon slayer corps with clean up, medical attention, scouting, and transporting goods and people to locations not publicly known. They're the backbone of the Demon Slayer Corps, and their membership consists of many people. Demon slayers who were forced to retire due to injury. Family members of demon slayers wishing to help. Civilians whom demon slayers had previously saved. But they won't tell you who they are. Kakushi must wear garments that hide their faces so demons don't track down their civilian personas. Most kakushi don't have the necessary ability to fight off demons after all," Kenji explained in detail. It is best to explain as much as possible so that he can get some sleep sooner.

He sighed again. "Because a Kakushi was not present attending to you, the demon likely wasn't a Kizuki fleeing a Hashira. Does that help?"

Something crossed Ichigo's face, a look Kenji immediately recognized whenever he looked in a mirror during his time as Captain of Squad 11—the look of thinly veiled and disappointed anger. He felt like he couldn't truly be the Captain of Squad 11, not when Unohana still lived. But she didn't ever give him the honor of at least sparring. After encountering that kid in the Zaraki district, she didn't give anybody the time. It made him angry with her and himself because he wasn't strong enough to get her attention. To meet her in a battle to the death. Well, Ichigo will eventually find an outlet, just like Kenji did. He hoped it wasn't as self-destructive.

"Ichigo." The kid perked up. "Your name, I mean, what does it mean by definition?"

Ichigo looked away in the direction of his sister's rooms. He looked back. "Mom said it means to protect."

"Hmm." Kenji nodded. "Listen, very few demon slayers become demon slayers for revenge. I personally did it for two reasons; the first was to become stronger, to refine my swordsmanship. Others did it as a sense of duty to the general public, who are kept in the dark about demons. And some did it to protect their loved ones. But be careful; demon slayers who became one for the sake of revenge are often one of the first to die, as they have nothing to truly live for. Whether by a demon's hand or by their own." Kenji got up and walked to the sofa before plopping down. He took off his glasses, placing them on the coffee table.

"Heh. If you're serious about being a demon slayer, find your reason and get back to me. And if it's good enough, I'll *yawn* teach you. But be warned; the average demon slayer takes two years to become strong enough to behead demons. Only a talented few can learn it in a year or less. That means training will be hell, so you must cancel all your after-school activities. Because you'll be training even when you sleep."

Ichigo's head tilted. "Wait, how can I do that?"

Kenji waved him off as he shifted on the couch in a lying position. "You'll soon find out if you're willing. Now go away; I need sleep." Kenji closed his eyes and felt exhaustion seeping in. He was soon asleep.

Isshin had to drop off his kids at the school. It was a public sector school that served the entire neighborhood, but the way it was set up kept all the age levels separate. It was reasonably well funded and was researched ahead of enrollment so that Isshin and Masaki were happy enough not to private school their kids despite Isshin's high salary as a doctor.

Isshin walked down the street, contemplating pulling his kids out early that day so that they could properly discuss the attack they went through the night prior. The girls were probably traumatized to a great degree despite how calm they seemingly were. Although, they would be disappointed in missing their afterschool activities. Yuzu had been taking cooking lessons, a bit advanced for a six-year-old, but she understood and enjoyed them. Karin was enamored with sports and taking a real shine to football. However, Ichigo didn't have anything.

Before his mother's death, Ichigo used to do martial arts with a friend his age, Tatsuki. But after Masaki's death, he dropped it and became a social loner. The once crybaby had become quiet and reserved. A part of Isshin wished that Ichigo could come back when he freely expressed himself rather than keep all that self-loathing bottled up. However, that did work out for Ichigo, who almost certainly was going to start training as a demon slayer. No after-school activities meant a lot of free time.

But Isshin wasn't going to let Ichigo start down this path without making sure Kenji hadn't kept anything secret. Which meant he needed to pay a visit to a certain shopkeeper and his pet cat. Hopefully, the alleycat hadn't scurried off chasing colorful birds. And it was alright to come in anyway. Isshin's place of work wasn't set to open until a couple of hours from now, as they were a clinic first and foremost, not an emergency room.

He walked into a large, empty, and barren field, where in the center lay a small wooden hut. Isshin would question how Urahara managed to acquire and maintain all this land without major developers trying to bust down his door, but he didn't want some roundabout answer the scientist would give. The obnoxious and blatant words of 'Urahara Shoten' were on the front. If it weren't for the fact the captain-general still viewed him as useful, he would have told Central 46 where Urahara was just to arrest and try him.

"Oi, Kisuke, you in here?" Isshin called out as he slid the door open.

Inside the store, a dark shadow snored in the middle of the shop. It snorted a bit, turned over, and went back to snoring. It didn't even sleep on a futon, only the hardwood. Isshin felt his patience dissolve quickly. He cracked his neck before kicking the shadow. "WAKE UP!"

Kisuke Uraraha was sent flying into one of his candy displays, groaning as he waved a hand in surrender. "I'm sorry, I'll come in quietly." He then looked up at Isshin. "Wait, you're not the Onmitsuikidō, here to drag me off to execution."

He pushed himself off the now broken display. "Now, Kurosaki-san, what can I, a simple and unimportant shopkeeper, do for you?"

Isshin narrowed his eyes. "Is Yoruichi here? I need to talk with both of you about something pressing."

"Yeah, yeah." Urahara waved off while dusting himself. "She should be downstairs relaxing a bit. She's been working for 48 hours without rest. Maybe decided to get a catnap. Heh."

"Well, tell her to get into her Gigai so I can speak to both of you," Isshin told him.

"My, how forceful." Urahara's fan flipped open, covering the lower part of his face. "So what's the emergency? Ichigo suddenly developed his powers or something?"

Isshin shook his head. "Not that, it's something different. Something I need Yoruichi to look into specifically."

"Oh, well, now my interest is peaked." Urahara's fan closed as his demeanor shifted into a playful one. "I'll go get her. You know where the tea set is, right?"

Isshin nodded. He would gladly set up tea. However, he did wonder where Tessai was. "If you're wondering where Tessai is, he's with the Vizards, helping Hachi with a new Kido barrier. Supposedly, this one will completely erase their presence rather than simply dim them to the levels of regular souls. They've been having too many close calls with patrolling Shinigami." Isshin hated how good at reading people Urahara was. But when fighting against the likes of Aizen and Yhwach, that ability was crucial.

Isshin nodded again as Urahara disappeared, likely to grab the gigai from storage. Isshin flicked the electric kettle on, starting the process of boiling the water. A few minutes later, the water was boiling, so he pulled out a tea set and some choice tea leaves and added hot water. He then pulled out three cups for them to use during the discussion.

Urahara and Yoruichi walked into the room. Despite her best efforts, Isshin could tell how exhausted she was. Probably not as exhausted as Kenji is, but still. They sat down, grabbed the pitcher, and poured themselves a drink before handing it back to Isshin. He nodded, pouring himself one. He took a small sip.

"I'll get straight to the point. Do either of you know what a demon is?" The two weren't expecting that if the looks of surprise and confusion were any indication.

"You mean the metaphorical kind or the legend but nonexistent kind?" Yoruichi asked.

Isshin shook his head. "I mean the flesh and blood kind. The ones that are real."

"Have you lost your mind, Isshin?" The werecat asked, "Demons aren't real."

Isshin sighed. "Actually, I can say with certainty that they are. My family was attacked by one last night."

"What?" Yoruichi's voice was quiet. But Urahara, he had this gleam of interest in his eyes.

"Describe this demon for me, Kurosaki-san." The scientist asked.

Isshin nodded. "He looked human for the most part, but his eyes were red, and he had horns sticking out from his head. When the demon was killed, its body turned to dust, leaving only a necklace."

"Nobody? That's a shame. But, if your family was attacked, who saved you?" Urahara questioned.

"…Kenji Shiba." The name didn't ring any bells for Urahara, but the former leader of the Shihoin clan certainly recognized it.

"WHAT!?" She screamed out. "That's impossible! He's locked up in the Muken. Was it somebody who looked like him?"

Isshin shook his head. "No. I confronted him later that night, and he confirmed that he was, in fact, Kenji Shiba."

"Uhhh, question?" Urahara raised his hand timidly as the other looked at him. "Who's Kenji Shiba? Like, I know he's part of the Shiba family, that's obvious, but I'm still in the dark here."

"You seriously don't know about him?" Yoruichi asked her long-time friend. Urahara merely shrugged. "You should. He was thrown in the Muken for gaining hollow powers and killing four captains while resisting arrest. The only reason he wasn't outright executed was because he was the then head of the Shiba family."

"Wait, hollow powers?" Urahara inquired, his demeanor shifting. "Interesting."

"That's an understatement." The werecat said. "He's incredibly powerful, having served as the former captain of squad 11. But how exactly did he get out?"

"You ready for this?" Isshin asked sarcastically. "Well, apparently, he's part of Kenji's power made manifest, kind of like a Zanpakto spirit but not quite the same."

"Hmm, that's interesting. I'll have to look into him." Urahara said. "But tell me more about these demons. That has my greater interest."

"Okay, so I learned this from Kenji Shiba, so I'm not certain how accurate it is, but over one millennium ago, a being came into existence. The way he appeared is unknown, but he had a hunger for human flesh and could not go into the sunlight, for it burned his body. He could regenerate lost limbs, was ageless, and immune to disease. The demon's name was Muzan Kibutsuji." Isshin started.

Yourichi snorted. "That's a little on the nose. The first name, Muzan, means cruelty, and the last name means demon. Either this guy has a touch of ego, or his parents really didn't love him."

Isshin nodded halfheartedly, "Yes, well, as odd as it is, he's a serious threat. He, as the first of his kind, took on the title of Demon King, fitting as his blood could transform humans into more demons."

Both Yoruichi and Urahara looked at Isshin in shock. That sounded a lot like hollows, which could partially consume human souls, only for the souls to transform into more hollows. "How dangerous are these demons?" Urahara asked.

Isshin hummed. "It depends on two factors: how many humans have been devoured by the demon and how much of the Demon King's blood flows through their veins. But, the basic abilities of the average demon are regeneration, enhanced strength, speed and agility, and immunity to age or disease. But they are susceptible to two things: one, the sun as it burns them alive, and two, a specially forged katana called a Nichirin blade. It's a type of steal that absorbs sunlight at a rate far faster than any ordinary steel. And the demon's weak point is their neck. Any other weapons would be useless, save perhaps a Zanpakto. Although, that has yet to be tested."

"Just having fast regeneration makes demons pretty dangerous. Most hollows don't have high-speed regeneration; that's an ability reserved for Adjuchas and higher." Urahara stated, writing down some notes in a notebook he pulled from his clothes. "How would Kenji Shiba rank demons against, let's say, hollows?" He asked.

"Well, an average demon would be on par with the average hollow, maybe to the level of a newborn Gillian. It's the Kizuki that are a problem." Isshin said, prompting Urahara to stop writing for a moment.

"Kizuki?"

He nodded. "Originally called the 12 Kizuki, later named 8 Kizuki, these demons are considered the most powerful, next to Kibuzuji. Kenji hadn't had an opportunity to encounter one of the eight Kizuki yet, but he has encountered many of the 12. A lower moon, one of the weaker six of the original 12, was capable of destroying entire blocks in single attacks."

Urahara hummed. "That's about as powerful as a Gillian rampaging. It's not a major threat to anybody fifth seat or higher. And the upper moons, if that's the correct term, what about them?"

Isshin nodded again. "It is, but where there is little difference in power between lower moons, there's a clear difference between Uppermoons. According to Kenji, Uppermoons Six and Five were powerful enough to destroy small towns in a single attack. Uppermoons Four and Three could probably take on an Adjuchas and perhaps even win with a bit of luck. And the final two Uppermoons, they're on par with some of the weaker Vasto Lorde."

Urahara looked down. "That's certainly not good. Being on par with a weaker Vasto Lorde means you're on par with a Shinigami who just unlocked Bankai. It's not quite captain-level, but close. Which means Muzan Kibuzuji would be on par with some of the weaker captains."

Isshin tilted his head in thought. "Yes. Maybe even on par with the likes of Captain Komamura. Not a threat to anyone stronger than Soi Fon, but not somebody to overlook."

Yoruichi stood up. "All right, I'm going to go investigate this."

"Sit down, Yoruichi." Isshin began, "I'm not done explaining. And it would be pointless; demons only move during the night. No, what I want you to look into are the people who've been fighting off demons all this time."

Urahara smirked as he waved his fan. "I knew it. There's no way demons would be running around unopposed."

Isshin smirked. "Caught on already, huh? Well, for over nearly as long since the appearance of Muzan, an organization not officially recognized by any of the Japanese governments in its entire existence, stood against demonkind. The Demon Slayer Corps and their financial backers, the Ubayashiki family. This organization never exceeded three hundred people at a time, and they had difficulty holding back demons despite their membership being composed of swordsmen who spent years training. That changed 600 years ago with the birth of a man by the name of Yoriichi Tsugikuni."

"Huh, twinsies." The werecat smirked, having sat back down and poured herself a second cup.

"Yeah, well, he would probably be your exact opposite if Kenji's account of him is correct. And considering he had a chance to meet this swordsman while he was alive, I'm inclined to believe him. He was a quiet individual who was a natural-born talent with the sword. And when I say natural-born talent, I mean it. He was born into a family of Samurai, the younger of twins. The first time he ever picked up a blade, he defeated and knocked out his older brother's sword instructor in just a few hits."

Urahara whistled. "That is talented. I've never heard of anybody taking to swordsmanship like that. If he was a Shinigami, I have no doubt he would have become captain-level quickly. But, aside from his talents, what else?"

"Well, he apparently had this birthmark on his forehead that allowed him visual access to this place called the transparent world. It's some pseudo-realm where you not only can see through your opponent finding their weak spots, but you can also predict their movements."

Uarahra and Yoruichi blinked. "What?" They asked in unison.

"Yeah, I was surprised too," Isshin confirmed. "But, what was more remarkable was a new form of combat that he introduced to the Demon Slayer Corps when he later joined—the use of Breathing Techniques."

"Breathing Techniques?" Urahara questioned, promoting Isshin to bob his head.

"Yes, by intaking oxygen in certain ways, you can boost the physical prowess of a human body beyond what is ordinarily capable for said body. By utilizing a technique called Total Concentration Breathing, you can push your body to these heights, and by using Breathing Styles, a type of combat form of Total Concentration Breathing, you can match demons in physical strength and speed. This form of combat allows ordinary demon slayers with no spiritual powers to take on and decapitate a demon single-handedly. And Yourichii Tusgikuni had the most powerful of all the Breathing Styles, Breath of the Sun. Everything about this breathing style was powerful. So powerful that those who were cut by it actually felt the sensation of burning, despite there being no flames."

"My, my." Urahara waved his fan. "Does that mean all these demon slayers can use such a technique?"

Isshin shook his head in the negative. "No, apparently, only a very small percentage of people have the necessary physical characteristics to utilize Breath of the Sun, and effectively at that. So, Tsugikuni did something else: he took his breathing technique and broke it down into simpler forms, five of them, based on his students' bodies: Stone, Wind, Flame, Water, and Thunder. Each form has something unique to them and them alone. Stone is to be an immovable mountain, unbreaking and strong. The wind is to be unpredictable in battle, being too hectic for people to read accurately. Flame is to be the precise and controlled personification of tamed fire. Water is to be flexible, being the easiest breathing style to learn but the hardest to master. And Thunder is to be quick and precise in a single attack, like a strike of lightning. That's how Kenji explained it to me, at least."

"Well, first, you held my interest; now you have my attention," Urahara said.

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow at Urahara before she turned to Isshin. "I assume you want me to find these demon slayers? I need more details, like how do I identify them?"

"Fair enough, a demon slayer wears a black uniform and carries some kind of colored sword—a Nichirin blade, which I mentioned earlier. There are eleven ranks, and the first ten wear silver buttons. The eleventh rank, sort of like what a Captain is to the Gotei, wears gold buttons. They are called Hashira." Isshin paused, "Although, I might have a way you can better track a Hashira down."

The werecat grinned. "Spit it out already; I'm dying over here."

Isshin matched her grin. "Technically, you're not even alive." She gave him a flat look. "Alright, alright. There's a family who's served as demon slayers since the era of the first Breath Users. The Rengoku family is a family of Flame Breath users, having pumped out Hashira after Hashira over the centuries. If you can find a Rengoku, you can find a Hashira."

Yoruichi smirked. "That's what I like to hear; makes it easy for me. Any defining characteristics? Maybe a family crest of something?"

Isshin shook his head. "Not a crest, but an appearance. Apparently, the Rengoku family has really strong genes, as all their members born from that family have owl-like orange eyes and flame-colored hair. Oh, and they are all big eaters."

She grinned. "Excellent, that's all I need. I do recall seeing somebody matching that description a few years ago but thought nothing of it at the time." She got up and walked to the door. "Put my cup away for me, Kisuke; I have a Hashira to track down. Oh, and I'm borrowing one of your practice blades. I'm curious to see how powerful this Breathing Technique is." She then left the room.

Isshin turned back to Urahara. "Before I go, I need your scientific opinion on something."

"Oh?" Urahara asked, a shadow from his hat descending over his eyes.

"What would happen if Kibuzuji managed to get his blood into a Hollow? Or if Aizen managed to Hollowfy a demon?" Isshin asked.

Urahara froze, dropping his trusty fan. He had never considered that possibility. While Aizen would never see a partnership with somebody so weak as necessary, the hypnotist certainly wouldn't have issues with boosting his side by using demons as pawns or as experiments. And if this Kibuzuji did manage to infect a Hollow, he could quickly climb up the ranks of dangerous people who are a threat to the balance as a whole.

But… "The idea of a hybrid of demon and hollow? That's horrifying. I'll need some samples of a demon to make any solid conclusion, but such a being would probably possess more innate potential than either species would have separately."

Isshin took that as his excuse to leave. "I need to get to work."

"Isshin," Urahara's voice stopped him, "What exactly is happening with Ichigo right now?"

"You could tell that much, huh?" Isshin rhetorically asked. "Ichigo has expressed interest in becoming a Demon Slayer. And frankly, I'm not all that opposed to it. Having advanced swordsmanship training could be an edge people like Aizen won't expect." He said as he walked out the door. "Thank you for your time." The door slid closed.

Urahara sat alone, thinking to himself. 'I never expected that bombshell. Although, I can't say I don't get a thrill from an unexpected variable.' He smirked. 'Time to get to work.'

Yoruichi started out by dropping off her body. Weird sentence, but perfectly normal for the former head of a ninja family who happens to be a spirit that can turn into a cat. Nope, still weird. Anyway, it was best for her if she wasn't in a gigai. For one thing, the Gigai wasn't designed to transform into a cat. The second is that she can sneak much easier if people can't see her. She'll get back in it when it is time to… spar with the current Flame Hashira.

She first delved into her memories, where she saw someone with the visual description of a Rengoku. From what she could recall, it was about twenty years prior when she passed by a flame-haired man with a uniform buttoned gold. Some people were whispering about the man in question at the time. One would question a memory from decades prior, but Yourichi had immaculate memory, a side effect of training for the Onmitsukidō.

It was in a city about a day's travel north of Karakura if she took her leisurely time. Back then, there weren't many trains available to the town, but Japan had come a long way. Now, she could just simply hitch a ride on a train and get there within a couple of hours. She hopped on the first train north and kept an eye out.

She was bored, but that was fine. She's been on much more boring missions. At least she could watch the scenery from on top of the train. 'Maybe I should get some sleep.' She thought to herself. Urahara did give her a soul pager that could double as a timer. An hour wouldn't hurt.

She laid down in her feline form, about to take a nap, when the roar of a hollow snapped her eyes open. Man, it wasn't even a moderately powerful one. A quick Shakkoho spell and the hollow in the distance was dissolving. When you were a captain, simply channeling your reiryoku was deadly for most. Well, the Shinigami who's supposed to be on duty will be surprised when they can't find their target. She closed her eyes and drifted off into her catnap.

Zentaro had a sizeable weight on his shoulders. Not that it was a problem for the Flame Hashira. And how dare anyone insinuate his ten-year-old daughter was fat. He'll fight them, he will. Many people in the once village, now a minor city, greeted him cheerfully. And if it weren't for all the Wisteria talisman, demons would be flocking like crazy. He, his younger brother, his three sisters, and his niblings all couldn't stay in one place for too long, as most of them were at Hashira level, even if there could only be one official flame Hashira.

Zentaro's father, Senjuro, may he rest in peace, was insistent on having at least four children so that the Flame Hashira couldn't be vacant again, like when his older brother Kyojuro died, and Senjuro couldn't take on the position. But Zentaro and his siblings wouldn't be retiring from demon slaying quite yet. A discussion was made, and Zentaro decided to remain as the Flame Hashira, even in his late fifties, until his eldest child, Yumeko, who happened to be sitting on his shoulders, was ready to take on the mantel of Hashira in her father's place. All his siblings agreed to let her take it.

In fact, nearly a third of Yumeko's cousins took to other breathing styles quite well, so it worked out in the end. There was a decent amount of Flame Breathers of Rengoku decent, but not so many that there'll be arguments about who could become the Flame Hashira, which did lead to what Zentaro and his daughter were doing.

One of Zentaro's sisters, unfortunately, suffered a permanent injury out working and was forced to retire in her mid-forties. They were visiting her while she recovered at the local hospital. She was sad to know her time as a demon slayer was up but not too distraught, as her own two children were following in her footsteps. However, calling them children was a bit misleading. Unlike Zentaro, who waited to have children, she had children in her late twenties, so her two sons were already in the final years of teenagehood.

A shadow passed by him in his peripheral vision, one he nearly missed. Zentaro narrowed his eyes. A Demon? Not likely. It was cloudy, but not cloudy enough for a demon to risk going outside. That, and the average demon would avoid the wisteria talisman like it was the sun itself. On practically every street corner, there was some kind of talisman with at least a few petals of dried wisteria. Only a Kizuki would be able to ignore all the poison.

Unknown to him, a cat watched from behind an alley. 'He could sense me? Maybe even see me?' That was a surprise to Yoruichi. She should be undetectable to ordinary humans. Maybe there was something special to this Breathing Technique. Whatever, she followed from a distance once the Hashira resumed his walk. She needed to find this man's place of residence, and quickly. All this wisteria was giving her a headache. So much so that she wished she had just come in the Gigai so she wouldn't have to sense so much of it.

She followed from a distance as the Hashira periodically stopped and looked around before resuming. The girl on his shoulders kept asking him what he was doing, and he kept telling her that there was something on his senses. Despite her young age, the werecat could see the flat but determined look on her face. That was the face of a talented warrior. Yoruichi wondered if she could somehow train the girl, as she looked like she had a decent amount of Reiryoku, although dormant. A reasonable burst to her system should grant her supernatural abilities, but no. The werecat wasn't going to force fate. If it was her destiny to help Soul Society at a later date, then that was up to her whenever fate chooses.

Soon, after the Hashira repeated his movements a few more times, he approached a mansion. It was an older style wooden one dated decades or perhaps centuries ago. It looked to be retrofitted for electricity and water. The Hashira put down his daughter, waving her off to go train. When she left the range of an ordinary human's sense of hearing, he looked around again. "You can come out now."

Yourichi blinked from where she was. "Come on, don't keep me waiting spirit." She quickly transformed and dawned her clothes in the blink of an eye. Thank you, Urahara, for making a condensed portable storage device for her clothes.

She dropped in front of him, holding one of Kisuke's practice swords on her hip. Benihime hated being used for simple practice, so the Zanpakto demanded Urahara use a practice sword whenever he wasn't fighting someone. Yourichi often wondered what was wrong with Urahara's Zanpakto, but considering its partner, she shouldn't be so surprised.

"I'm shocked you can see me." She noted.

"Barely. You're hazier than you are solid. But you don't have a chain." The Hashira noted. "Are you perhaps one of those spirits that take care of the Demon-like monsters very few like me can see?"

The werecat nodded. "Sort-of. I'm actually retired from the position, but I can still take on any Hollows."

"Are those what they are called? Perhaps you can shine some light on what exactly they are. Myself and a couple of acquaintances who can also see spirits noticed them, but our Nichirin blades aren't quite effective." He proposed. "Got really told off by my swordsmith when I chipped my blade just killing one of those beasts."

"I'll tell you if you spar me. I've heard about your breathing style, and I'm curious how it holds up to a Shinigami's Zanjutsu. It ain't my specialty, but I'm more than adept at it." Yoruichi offered. "I'm Yoruichi Shihohin, former head of the Shihoin clan and former captain of the second squad of the Gotei 13."

The Hashira smirked. 'Shinigami?' "Deal. I'm Zentaro Rengoku, the current Flame Hashira after the position went unfilled for ten years due to the death of my older sister, Yumeko Rengoku. I've been a Hashira since I was sixteen." He grasped his Nichirin sword.

The two stood apart from each other, grasping their blades, when Zentaro made the first move. He was suddenly in Yoruichi's personal space; the sword turned upwards. "Flame Breathing Second form: Rising Scorching Sun!" Zentaro's blade arced upwards as Yoruichi moved back. She could swear she felt flames come off the sword despite not seeing any.

'Is he subconsciously channeling his Reiryoku to cause me hallucinations?' She licked her lips. 'Intestersting.' She pulled out the practice sword and held it in the basic form. "You're fast. Very much so. But still," She said, now in Zentaro's space with him barely keeping track, "I'm much faster." She struck at him.

"Flame Breathing Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!" He called out, blocking her strikes before retaliating from above. "Flame Breathing Third Form: Blazing Universe." The slash forced Yoruichi to duck her head lest she get decapitated. But with the werecat caught off guard, Zentaro took the initiative. "Flame Breathing Sixth Form: Infernal Cosmic Barrage!"

Yoruichi was hit with so many fast attacks that she was forced to jump back. A slight stinging on her arm drew her attention, and a small cut could be noticed on her forearm. 'He managed to cut me? Now that's impressive. I'm beginning to realize my arrogance in having a zanjutsu-only match. That, and I've clearly let my sword skills rust to an unacceptable degree. I'm almost six times his age for crying out loud.'

As they fought, Yoruichi would listen for his breathing, noting the quick and controlled sighs. This man knew how to pace himself, and his combat was especially impressive for his advanced physical age. If he were in his physical prime, he'd probably be considered Captain Class in Zanjutsu, even if he didn't have the Reiryoku for such a position.

"Flame Breathing Eighth Form: Burning Tempest!" The Hashira yelled as he managed to land another cut with a slightly erratic but controlled set of sword swings. This one was different because a burn formed around the cut.

Yoruichi's eyes widened in shock. 'Did his Reiatsu actually burn me? With a real burn? Holy crap, if he had a zanpakto's shikai, he'd probably match me!' She grinned as she dropped her sword to the ground and raised her hands in surrender. "I've seen enough."

Zentaro narrowed his eyes, not shifting from his form. "A trick?" He muttered to himself, but Yoruichi's keen ears picked up on it.

"No trick." She said in a playful tone, "It's just I don't want to keep this up for an hour straight."

Zentaro frowned, some of the ge lines on his face showing. "That's a lie. You're more than powerful enough to end it whenever you want to. So why didn't you?"

The werecat blinked in surprise. "You could tell even that?"

"A true swordsman can tell when they're unmatched. I might have you in talent, but you far outclass me in power and experience." He sighed, sheathing his Nichirin blade. "And besides, I'm an old man who should have retired by now."

"So why don't you?" She asked, curious.

Zentaro sighed again. "I had a talk with my younger siblings, and they agreed to let me pass on the mantel to my eldest daughter. If she's anything like me, she'll be a Hashira by the time she's sixteen as well."

Yourichi nodded. "Right. So, I initially came here to discuss demons in general but was not prepared for the possibility of you actually being able to see me."

Zentaro audibly huffed. "Would you like to come in?"

Yoruichi's face twisted in a grimace. "If your place is covered in wisteria, it's probably best if I go and get my Gigai first. I can be back here in about six hours, give or take."

Zentaro's head tilted in confusion. "Wisteria? Is that having an effect on you?" He asked the purple-haired beauty.

Yoruichi waved her hand in a half motion. "It's…more of a mild irritant to spirits than anything truly harmful. All I'm feeling is a headache. My Gigai, a fake body, will give me better resistance to it. Plus, you don't want your family thinking you're talking to air now."

"Huh." Zentaro began, "That would explain why I've never seen a chained spirit within this city with all the wisteria around. And yes, best not to give my family any reasons to force me to retire six years ahead of schedule."

"Cool, see you then." With that, Yoruichi vanished from sight.

Zentaro blinked before smirking. "I knew it; you could've ended it in the first strike." He muttered to himself.

"What is my reason?" Ichigo asked himself. He'd been asking that a lot while ignoring the world. So much so that Tatsuki gave up on pestering him after twenty minutes, a new record as she could usually go an entire hour before giving up.

He mindlessly went about his school day and was surprised when he was called to the front office, running into his sisters. Apparently, their father made the decision to pull them out early that day to have a family meeting of sorts.

As they walked back to the house, Ichigo spoke up. "Don't you have a lot of patients to look at?"

Isshin shrugged. "Sort of, but Director Ishida of Karakura General Hospital owed me a couple of favors, so I was able to push the appointments there for the late afternoon. It's only three appointments anyway."

Ichigo hummed. "Why'd you pull us out early, Goat Chin?" The ten-year-old asked.

Isshin frowned at the nickname but didn't mention it. "Well, we were attacked by a monster last night. I wanted to know how you three were holding up."

Yuzu and Karin immediately stiffened at the mention of the demon. It was the most terrifying experience they had ever felt in their young lives. Ichigo, however, was more indifferent to it than scared. Finding your mother's corpse lying on top of you would do that.

When they arrived home, they immediately noted the light snoring coming from Kenji on the couch. He was laid out, drooling a bit. Ichigo felt his eye twitch.

"I know he's a demon slayer who goes days without sleep, but could he be a little less of a slob?" The ten-year-old asked.

Isshin had to bite his tongue. Despite Kenji's reputation within the family, he was still a Shiba, and Shiba's weren't known for their orderliness. Isshin's just glad his children take a bit more after Masaki than they did him. He wouldn't know what to do with three full-blooded Shibas.

"Well, if you want, you can help me clear out some of the attic space," Isshin told Ichigo. "That way, we can get our couch back."

"Why are we clearing out the attic for him?" Ichigo asked.

Isshin had a flat look. "Because I asked something of him, and he asked for room and board in exchange."

"Whatever." Ichigo shook his head. The kid began walking up the stairs. "Let me put my things away. Meet you in the attic."

As Ichigo dropped his school things, he continued to think about Kenji's words from that morning. At first, he wanted to hunt down the demon who killed his mother, but learning that said demon was all but certainly dead left him a bit empty. So what should he focus on? He knew he would never see his mother again, but some part of him wanted revenge, revenge that would never come.

"Ohmff," Yuzu said, bumping into Ichigo as he stepped into the hallway. "Sorry, Ichigo."

"It's all right." He said to his younger sister. And then he looked closer. She was so young and had such an open future for her. Not just her, but Karin as well. The idea of keeping his sisters safe prompted Ichigo to look at all the people important to him.

And then, he had a thought. Was that what Kenji was pointing towards when he asked Ichigo about his name? Protecting? Now that he thought about it, his mother said his job as the older brother was to protect his sisters so that they could be happy and healthy, while it was her job and Goat Chin's job to protect him and his sisters.

But it wasn't just them. Tatsuki was also somebody who he wanted to protect. And Goat Chin, even if he was overbearing. That was his reason. To protect. He was now certain.

Kenji groaned. 'What time is it?' He glanced at the wall clock. '5:45? Just under 11 hours of sleep. What woke me early?'

Suddenly, he was bombarded with the smell of delicious food wafting in from the dining room. He sat up and grabbed his glasses from the coffee table. His stomach growled for a full meal. He hopped off the couch and rushed to the dining room. Ichigo stood in front of him.

"Hold your horses. The food isn't ready yet. Give it fifteen minutes." He said, holding his hand out in a stop motion.

Kenji groaned. "Come on, just one bite?"

"No. Food is served when it's all done." Ichigo was steadfast. "But I want to talk to you."

Kenji blinked before smirking. "Lead the way."

Ichigo went out the front door while Kenji followed behind. The kid scaled a nearby wall and sat on top of it while Kenji leaned next to him.

Kenji was the one to break the silence. "So, what's your answer?"

Ichigo took a moment to look upwards, where the sky was orange. "To protect. That's my reason."

Kenji hummed. "Well, that's as good a reason as any. Far better than my own."

Ichigo looked at the man(?). "What's your reason for becoming a demon slayer?"

Kenji tilted his head. "Two reasons. The first is I wanted to become stronger by improving my basic swordsmanship. The Art of Breathing Techniques has changed my way of fighting considerably. The second was to indulge my bloodlust in a healthier outlet on demons."

"Bloodlust?" Ichigo asked incredulously.

Kenji grimaced. "When you've done what I have, it fundamentally changes you. Don't ask me to go into detail, as you'll have nightmares for weeks."

Ichigo looked at Kenji for a solid minute. Isshin suddenly pulled up. "Dinner's ready."

Kenji smiled as he straightened out. "Great. And after dinner, both of you meet me outside in your yard to begin training."

Ichigo looked at his father. "Wait, you're doing this too, old man?"

Isshin twitched, fighting the urge to complain about that title when Kenji was so much older. "I'm not becoming a demon slayer if that's what you mean, Ichigo. I'm simply learning enough so that if I ever encounter a demon while out with your sisters, I can fight it off. It'll be up to you to try and keep demons away if you're serious about being a demon slayer."

Ichigo nodded.

Isshin and Ichigo stood outside in the yard. In their hands were wooden practice swords. Kenji stood in front of them, holding one of his own.

"There are no demons nearby, so let's begin."