Power exploded from the hole, as Ichigo shot out. Ai shielded her eyes from the sight with her hand. There in the cloud of dust, was Ichigo. He had a bone white and blood red mask on his face, and on his back was a familiar sword. Ichigo pulled the broken sword from the scabbard...and shattered the mask. He took his first breath as a true soul reaper and his eyes landed on Ai first.
"I'm back," he said.
"Welcome back...Ichigo-kun," said Ai.
"Now while we wait for Tessai to come out, why don't you and I proceed to the third phase Ichigo-kun? There's no time limit," said Urahara grinning. Ichigo smirked and smashed the hilt of his blade into Urahara's face. Ai tried not to giggle.
While Urahara chased Ichigo around the training ground, Tessai changed his glasses and started Ai on the kido basics. She was a very quick learner. Her specialty was unsurprisingly anything that involved flames.
Every day, Ichigo and Ai trained. Ichigo learned about how to use his sword, and Ai swiftly moved from the basics to the somewhat higher level kido spells.
By the time they were to go to the Soul Society, Ai had managed to get to the spells in the upper twenties.
"She's going to the soul society of her own will! They're heading for a rescue of a soul reaper!" said the youngest voice in a near panic. They couldn't loose their master twice.
"We have to stop them!" said the woman. She was just as upset, having been turned into a youkai instead of becoming a hollow or passing on. She sometimes wondered what would have happened had she been allowed to pass on like most other souls instead of being turned.
"We have no way to the Soul Society. And even if we did, our presence would draw attention faster than anything they could do."
"What are we going to do, Wanyuudo? If we let her go there, they could kill her for what she is!" asked the woman.
"There is another solution."
As one, the three spirits, Hone-On'na, Ichimokuren, and Wanyuudo turned to the new voice. There was a presence in the house where Ai once lived. It was their meeting spot, since it had been vacated and was one of the few placed humans couldn't interrupt them. It was also safe from the Soul Society.
"Who's there?" asked Wanyuudo.
"You do not need to know who I am. Just that I can give you the chance to protect your Master," said the voice.
"In exchange for what?" asked Hone-On'na.
They could feel the smirk.
"In exchange for angering a certain spider. There is a way to save your Master from the spider's influence once and for all, but she must agree to it in her own voice. However, this will mean she will never be free of Hell's influence."
"What does it involve?" asked Ichimokuren, before the others could speak.
"Hell is one of the three Spirit Kingdoms, yet unlike Hueco Mundo or the Soul Society it does not have anyone governing it. That is why I am giving Ai a choice. She can either become Hell Girl and lose her chance at freedom, or become the Princess of Hell and insure that spirits never escape."
"What exactly does becoming Hell's Princess involve?"asked Hone -On'na.
"Hell essentially governs itself, but occasionally a soul manages to get out and cause havoc in the living realm. Most soul reapers wouldn't be able to deal with those souls with the exception of a few captain-class spirits. In order to keep the peace, Ai would essentially be acting as warden and hunter of any escaped souls. Other than dealing with the escaped ones, she is free to live as she pleases."
"She won't be forced to ferry souls to hell anymore?" asked Wanyuudo.
"A new Hell Girl will be picked. She is not the first. However Ai will retain her previous powers of her former position and have dominion over any new Hell Girl's who misuse their powers."
"How can we protect her now, when she is about to go to the Soul Society?" asked Hone-On'na.
"There is a way. You will become a part of her powers, and it will be impossible to separate you three from her again. Not even the spider will be able to undo it."
"What do you have in mind?" asked Wanyuudo.
The presence smiled.
"What do you know about Zanpakuto?"
"Ai-chan!" called Orihime. It was the festival before they were about to go to the Soul Society. Their last break before the battles to come.
Ai smiled and waved to Orihime. She was wearing a summer yukuta that Isshin had found just for her. It was black and had red spider lilies. Ai wandered around the booths with Orihime while Ichigo watched over his twin sisters for the night. Isshin had a booth out in the fair grounds where those too drunk to safely get around were laying down until a cab could take them home.
It was a summer tradition, running the booth. In exchange for a thousand ryo (which covered the cab fare) the drunks could relax away from the noise and lights. Those who took Isshin up on this trick also left with a card that had the clinic's name, number and address.
It was how the Kurosaki Clinic got it's first start, running these booths.
Ai had a lot of fun. But it was at the last booth that she paused in the games.
Three straw dolls, red, black and blue, all with a thin red string around their necks. They were really well made too.
"What are you looking at Ai-chan?" asked Tatsuki. She had never been sure of Ai, mostly because even though Ichigo had just met her, he had no issues remembering her name or face. That was unusual enough to warrant her interest.
After Ai helped save Orihime, Tatsuki decided to give her a chance.
"Ah! I see you've found our recreation of the Hell Girl dolls!" said the stand owner.
"Hell Girl dolls?" asked Orihime.
"The Jigoku Shoujo is said to have three straw dolls which people untie the strings from. Someone apparently made replicas because they couldn't get the sight of the dolls out of their mind," said the stand owner.
"How much for all three?" asked Ai.
"1,500 ryo. You're the first person who's been interested in any of them," said the stand owner.
Ai handed over the bills and placed the dolls in her little bag with the other prizes.
The dolls...felt so familiar. She just wished she knew what happened to those three.
"Are we sure about this?" asked Hone-On'na.
"There is no other way to protect Ojou-sama," said Wanyuudo.
"I have no problems with this. At least we know she cares about us to never betray us. Why shouldn't we show the same devotion?" asked Ichimokuren.
"Of course you wouldn't mind! You're a sword spirit for crying out loud!" said Hone-On'na irritably.
"Who do you think is going to be forming the main shape of the sword?" retorted Ren.
"He has a point," said Wanyuudo.
"Besides, it's not like we aren't used to uncomfortable forms," said Ren.
"I know, it's just that I've never heard of a soul reaper with three spirits in one sword before."
"I've heard of a lieutenant with two spirits in one sword. And there are two captain-class with twin swords."
"Still..."
"If you don't want to do it, you don't have to Hone-On'na," Wanyuudo reminded her.
"I'm in...but I wanted to get my uneasiness out now before it was too late to end this."
"Fair enough," said Ren.
"We have a lot of ground to cover if we are to insure that she doesn't leave for the Soul Society alone," said Wanyuudo.
And with that, the three vanished for Karakura.
Ai stood before the spirit converter that would allow them to enter the Soul Society without having to die first. As it was, only Ai and Ichigo could have entered normally.
Ichigo had been turned into his soul reaper form...and Ai, well she was in her favorite black outfit. The same one that she had been wearing when she first met Ichigo.
She had a small bag around her shoulder that had a first aid kit courtesy of Isshin who was well aware of his son's nighttime activities, the three straw dolls she bought at the stand, enough food to last a few days, several bottles of water, some books to read, and hair ties that Karin had helped her find because she had noted how often Ai's hair got into her face.
"Everyone ready to leave?" asked Urahara.
Not a single word was spoken. However before Ai went in, Urahara handed her something. She never had a chance to look at it before she raced down the path behind Ichigo.
The first bit of trouble didn't come because of Ichigo's brashness, but because of Ai's presence.
Someone she vaguely remembered offering to collect vengeance for recognized her and raised a stink. It was only because Ichigo threatened to cut the man's head off that they were able to leave. Yoruichi felt that it would better that they went to Shiba's place early.
"Yo, Yoruichi," said Kukaku.
"Kukaku," said the cat.
The two sat in silence for a good five minutes. No words were spoken, but you could tell that they were conversing.
"Alright, you lot can stay here. But first I need to have a word with the girlie here," said Kukaku.
"Uh, me?" said Orihime.
"I mean her," said Kukaku, pointed at Ai.
"Me? Why?"
"Just come with me," said Kukaku.
Ai followed her and when Kukaku closed the door, she turned to the girl.
"I really wouldn't have recommended coming here girlie. The Soul Society really hates the Hell Girls, even if the people who use their service are bound for hell eventually. If they find out you used to be one, you'll be in serious danger."
"I barely have any memories of my time as Hell Girl. When I refused to send an innocent to hell, I was released from service. Ichigo saved me."
"So that's why you follow Berry-boy?"
"He was also about the only thing I remember before I had my memories stolen. His family welcomed me with open arms and didn't find me creepy."
"I'll give you that much, he at least shows more honor than most of these lame-ass nobles. I suppose I can at least give you some help. What's your element, if you have any?"
"Fire. So far all it manifests as black flames, which Urahara-san said belongs specifically to high-level Hellmaster spirits."
"Hell Girls rank high enough to use that. Though very few have if I remember correctly. Usually they only use it to deal with adjuchas or high-level soul reapers who mistake them for human spirits."
"I've been having trouble controlling it," admitted Ai.
"Since you're no longer a Hell Girl, it makes sense that it's going to be heavily limited. Fortunately I happen to be a fire-type user myself. Not to mention I have tons of tricks up my sleeve."
Ai nodded, and Kukaku taught her a few tricks she could use as well as loaded her up with some of her special fireworks. She also included a small book on how to use them properly and three incantations.
She wasn't going to give Ai a lot, but it was more than most would get.
When Yoruichi brought it up with her friend, she got a not-so-surprising answer.
Apparently Kukaku knew how much the nobles of the Soul Society hated Hell Girls, so by helping Ai she was royally pissing them off. And Kukaku really hated the Soul Society nobility after they snubbed her one too many times, despite being a noble herself.
Ai certainly didn't have any issue with it.
"So what's your opinion of the girlie?" asked Kukaku, drinking her sake.
"She's very...devoted...to Ichigo. I very much doubt that she would let anything stand in her way if it meant helping him. From what I heard from Isshin, Ichigo literally raced to her side the moment he felt she was in danger and rescued her. And afterwords he was the only one she remembered from her previous life as a Hell Girl."
"Bet that Kuchiki brat wasn't too happy about it," snorted Kukaku. She had it in for Rukia Kuchiki after what happened to her brother Kaein.
"She didn't know what Ai was, only that for some reason Ichigo needed to be by her side. I think those two have a Soul Bond," said Yoruichi.
"A Soul Bond? Those are a myth to tell the nobles," said Kukaku.
"Ichigo lived three miles away from where he rescued her, and he was still in his human body when he raced to her side. Even with his absurd strength, the only possible way he could have made it in time was if his spirit energy was linked up to hers enough that he could warp space," said Yoruichi flatly.
Yoruichi had gone to investigate it herself. Even with Flash Step, it had taken three hours to reach that spot from the Kurosaki Clinic. And that was without stopping. Yet Ichigo had reached the Lovely Hills community in forty-five minutes flat, according to his watch, when it took Isshin four hours to drive there to pick up the group.
However, if the two had Soul Bonded to a high enough level and their spiritual pressure had synced up, then the chances that his absurd amount of spiritual pressure could have warped space around him enough to actually get there in time to save Ai from the mob. That would also explain why he had enough energy to beat the mob back. A normal human riding that hard on open road would barely have the strength to do anything unless something was boosting their energy.
"I don't know. A Soul Bond is extremely rare, and the level of trust that is required is nearly impossible to find."
"I think the only issue of trust comes from Ichigo's end. He knew he needed to save Ai, but he doesn't know why. If I have to, I will explain things clearly to him so he realizes that in order to stop this he will have to rely on her to back him up when he needs it most."
"Yeah, Berry-boy doesn't look like the type to realize he needs help," said Kukaku.
"I think Byakuya will convince him of it when they cross swords properly," said Yoruichi dryly. She took a sip of her sake as the sounds of explosion was heard beneath them.
It wasn't a problem until Ichigo figured it out and shook the entire house because he had no control over his own powers...