Okay, so I wanted to address the biggest issue with this fanfiction: The power discrepancies. I would have to agree that the characters in the Dragonball franchise would most certainly be stronger than the Bleach characters, but I wondered, as I often do. On one side, the strongest characters in Bleach are dead, while it's the opposite in Dragonball. I could play around with that, bridge that gap so that's what I did. I did have to up the power levels of the Bleach characters to fit the Dragonball universe but I also wanted to retain that line between life and death. If I inserted the Seireitei in the Dragonball Universe, I had to make some sort of connection between them and I think I made a good one that would make sense.

Also, I wanted a chance to describe one of my absolute favorite Bandais! (Grin) The new Bleach series did it so much justice, that my description is based on how it is portrayed in the new series. Let the hunt for Kira's Zapakutou Name Begin! (You're gonna love it! At least I hope you do! :grin:).

Disclaimer: Bleach and the Dragonball Franchise, their settings, characters, etc., belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to ME.

Chapter 24: A Shinigami's Power

As Gohan stated, Piccolo had indeed made his stand on the roof of Kahn Academy. He had been there for a while, observing the activities there. He felt the change in energy the moment it happened. The so called "students" who were running in circles below suddenly stopped their movements. They created a circle and Kira appeared, dressed for training and holding her zanpakutou. He couldn't see it but he could feel the shield enveloping the grounds as a way to protect those outside. No longer was this a school…It was a training ground.

At the behest of Gohan, Piccolo had been present for Kira's training sessions; he got as close as he could, which wasn't as close as he would like. His own training was rather brutal but the way shinigami did it…well…His looked like child's play compared to theirs. The things Rukia made Kira do were insane even for Piccolo yet he knew the importance. Shinigami were a different breed of being; the training proved such. By attending Kira's training, Piccolo surmised the shinigami were warriors of nobility. They fought when they had to, out of a sense of obligation to their mission, not for entertainment as the Sayajins often did. And when the time came for them to fight, they were brutal. What exactly did they need to fight anyway that would require such, emotionless fighting? Yes…The shinigami held no emotion as they fought. Perhaps it was because they dealt with the dead who needed no emotion. He also noticed they were constantly on edge, focused even. He knew they all felt his presence on the rooftop, probably knew every movement he made. They were hyper aware, almost like Whis and Beerus, but with a bit more intense tone.

Piccolo touched down into the courtyard. No one acknowledged him, though he supposed they didn't perceive him as a threat. He took a step to the side just as Kira went flying towards him, crashing to the dirt. Instead of whining or groaning, she picked herself up, catching the sword that had been thrown at her and went back at it again, her opponent Rukia. The two went at it for a time before Rukia held her sword in a relaxed position. Kira followed her example.

"You are determined, just like your grandfather." Rukia spoke with wisdom in her voice. "However, the spirit cannot be summoned through sheer force of will. It is a calling, one all shinigami accept and obey."

Spirit? What the hell is she talking about? Piccolo scowled.

"Your grandfather, from what I have been told by his own trainer, had heard his call in a moment of desperation…When his life was near extinction. It seems that is the only way you too shall hear the call." Her eyes befell Piccolo. "A shinigami is nothing without their Zapakutou, the other half of their very soul."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow. So the shinigami were half of a soul?

"Son Kira…Remember that." Rukia gave the girl a glare. "You are NOTHING and will be nothing, without your Zapakutou spirit. All the training in the world cannot make you stronger without the spirit to guide you, support you." Rukia held her sword before her face. "Observe the difference in power…"

Immediately the surrounding shinigami dispersed. Not wishing to take a chance, Piccolo returned to his position on the school building roof. Even he had enough sense to know when to back away. He had even took Kira with him, knowing the girl probably had no idea what was about to occur. Though Piccolo also had no idea, he knew when someone was about to power up. Immediately the temperature began to change…The surrounding area was beginning to get…colder?

"Bankai, Hakka no Togame." Rukia's voice rang towards the sky. A pillar of mist surrounded Rukia. It burst into the surrounding area and anything the mist touched, became crystallized ice. The ground below looked like a frozen waste land…In the center of all stood was a woman whose beauty would be fatal to all that glanced her way.

Everything about Rukia had gone pale down to the skin on her bones. Her clothes resembled a long iridescent dress that sparkled like a frozen lake in the sun. Swirls of ribbon danced along her back and a frozen barrette adorned her left side. Her sword appeared translucent and was held in her now delicate hands. She appeared a bit taller, more regal in form. Against the frozen surroundings, she seemed like that snow spirit some mortal myths spoke of. Though she held no ki that he could feel (Piccolo discovered quickly no shinigami had ki as they were, in fact, dead to being with), he could feel the chill of power. It made him want to try his luck with the powered up shinigami, to see how he could stand against death itself.

"I would not do it if I were you." Hitsugaya Toushirou spoke up behind him.

"Why so much power for a being that deals with death?" Piccolo asked him.

"A stupid question for someone with a powerful soul." Toushirou countered. "We are as powerful as the mortals. It is as simple as that. We are your counterparts after all."

Piccolo reared his head at Toushirou, shocked by his words. "What?"

"Death and life are siblings…" Toushirou explained. "The more powerful mortals become, so too does death become." He raised an eyebrow at Piccolo. "I would have assumed you knew that."

The cold dispersed once Rukia returned to her normal state. Toushirou put his hands in his pockets.

"Take Kira home." He said before disappearing.

Gohan hadn't picked up Kira that day, instead he went straight home. Something happened at school that changed everything, he was sure of it, especially since a shinigami, he assumed the person was one, came to him and told him Kira would be home when he returned. When he ventured home there was Kira helping Videl in the kitchen and little Pan in her high chair.

"Kira?" Gohan called and the girl looked over her shoulder. "Is everything…Okay? Someone told me you'd be home."

"Yeah…" She spoke. "Piccolo's out back, said he wanted to talk to you."

Nodding Gohan ventured outside to see his mentor in deep concentration.

"What happened?" He asked Piccolo.

"Kira has decided to stop her so called 'art schooling' and go straight into training." Piccolo revealed. "She is determined to find this spirit thing that all Shinigami have. Without it she's pretty much useless save for that black wave."

"Spirit? Oh…" Gohan blinked. "I heard Rukia tell her about that some months ago…Something about it tied to Shinigami power."

"Apparently it's similar to a Sayajin power up." Piccolo retorted. "I saw one complete the transformation." He eyed Gohan. "I could not feel the power but I could see it with my own eyes." He folded his arms. "There is something else…one of them told me something."

Gohan's eyes went wide as Piccolo rehashed information. "Well…That makes sense I guess…If there are powerful living beings then…"

"There are powerful Shinigami." Piccolo said. "I can only assume it is because of a cosmic balance or something."

Gohan frowned. "Then…Do you think there are Shinigami as powerful as dad? Or Whis or Beerus-sama?"

"As powerful as Goku? Definitely." Piccolo nodded. "But for angels or kamis, that I don't know. Who really knows at this point. All I am concerned about is Kira…She has a lot of power, Gohan. You know it, Goku knows, and I know it. When she receives this…Spirit thing…I cannot even begin to think about it."

"Well…I guess it's a good thing that Shinigami don't attack the living." Gohan reasoned. He sighed. "This was her choice…" He chuckled nervously. "I hope her granddad doesn't blame any of us for this…"

"I think he just wants her to be safe." Piccolo suggested. "And as far away from Shinigami as possible…You and I know that isn't going to happen, and I believe he knows that as well. He just wanted to delay this for as long as possible." He rolled his eyes. "You all and your offspring…I will never truly understand this protective nature you all have."

Gohan actually laughed at that. He grinned at his mentor. "Now who's calling the kettle black?" Piccolo raised an eyebrow at him. "Nothing, come on and come to dinner, I'm sure Pan wants to see her Uncle Piccolo."

Next Time: Whispers