Half a year later.
Ichigo, Tatsuki, and Orihime had all started high school—just like in the original story.
His best buddy, Chad (Sado Yasutora), and still-not-quite-acquaintance Ishida Uryu had ended up in the same class as them too.
Although Ichigo sensed the spiritual pressure coming off Ishida, the other boy hadn't noticed anything strange about Ichigo—thanks to his own suppressed Reiatsu.
Until that day.
After walking Tatsuki home from school, Ichigo had his usual scuffle with his dad and flopped onto his bed.
Both Zangetsu and White Ichigo had given him the day off.
Even a warrior needs rest, and Ichigo's progress in training had been stellar.
He'd earned it.
Just as he was about to message Tatsuki, a cold breeze swept in.
His window creaked open on its own.
A black butterfly fluttered inside.
Ichigo's face darkened instantly.
Outside, someone was radiating spiritual pressure. Strong—though not stronger than his.
Then… she arrived.
A girl dressed in a black kimono, a katana at her waist, dropped through the window and landed squarely on his bed.
"It's close…" she muttered, onion-style hair bobbing as she looked around.
"???"
Ichigo blinked, full of question marks.
What kind of intro is that? Did she break into the wrong house?
"What's close?" Ichigo asked, baffled.
But the girl didn't seem to see or hear him—she just jumped off the bed and walked around, muttering to herself.
Thanks to Ichigo's suppressed Reiatsu, her senses were focused elsewhere.
But the presence she was tracking had suddenly vanished.
She frowned. "How could it disappear?"
"Hey, can you hear me?" Ichigo called out.
No response.
Ichigo lost patience and kicked her out of the room.
"You broke into my house, ignored me, and now you're just wandering around like you own the place?!"
The girl hit the floor, stunned. Then slowly lifted her head.
"Wait… you can see me?"
Ichigo deadpanned. "Isn't that obvious?"
He flipped on the light and looked her up and down. "Who are you, and what the hell are you doing here?"
The girl flipped back to her feet, pointing at herself.
"Most people can't see me… I'm a Shinigami!"
Ichigo scoffed. "Who isn't these days?"
She thought he was just being sarcastic.
"Next time, use the door," Ichigo said, waving her off.
"Oh… okay," she mumbled, about to leave—then suddenly froze.
"Wait! I'm not here to chat!"
She drew her sword, startling Ichigo. Not because she was threatening—but because she did it so suddenly.
But then… she pointed the pommel, not the blade, at a corner of the room.
Where a lost spirit had been floating quietly all day.
Ichigo watched, wide-eyed, as the girl touched the spirit's forehead. A glowing mark appeared—and with a gentle voice, she whispered,
"Go now, to a world without sorrow."
The spirit was instantly lifted into the sky, wrapped in light.
Ichigo stood speechless.
So that's what a real Shinigami does?
He'd never done anything like that in his own training.
"All done," the girl sheathed her blade casually.
"Wait. Where did that soul go?" Ichigo asked quickly.
She paused, then gave him a brief (and surprisingly thorough) rundown of the Soul Society, the cycle of rebirth, and the duties of a Shinigami.
No need to repeat it here. You know the drill.
Ichigo scratched his chin. "No wonder I've never seen one of you before…"
"What?" she asked.
Ichigo pointed to her badly drawn explanation chart.
"I'm just saying… your art sucks."
"WHAT?!"
Fuming, she snapped her fingers.
"Bakudō #1: Sai!"
Yellow energy ropes flew at Ichigo—
Which he immediately batted aside.
"…That's it? That's your spell?"
The girl was stunned.
"Who are you?! You know about Kidō?!"
Her hand instinctively drifted to her blade. Ichigo noticed.
He calmly stepped forward and pressed his hand gently over hers.
"Relax. I'm not your enemy. But I really don't know what you're talking about."
She clearly didn't believe him.
Before she could speak again, Ichigo's expression suddenly shifted.
His eyes narrowed. Then—
He dashed straight out the open window and leapt down to the street below.
"Hey! Don't run!" she called, leaping after him.
Ichigo stood in the middle of the road, face tense.
"What are you up to?" the girl asked.
Ichigo glanced at her.
"It's not me. A Hollow's coming."
"…What? I didn't sense anything!"
But then—
RIIIIIP.
Space tore open in front of them.
A massive humanoid Hollow emerged, roaring as it stepped through the void.
"RAAARGH!"
The cry echoed in the spiritual plane, hitting her ears like thunder.
She didn't hesitate.
"Watch out!"
Without waiting for Ichigo to react, she shoved him aside and lunged, blade drawn.
Ichigo watched calmly.
She's got the spiritual pressure to handle this. I'll let her take it.
But the second her sword was about to strike—
The Hollow's Reiatsu spiked.
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"Oh no. That's not good…"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]