"I'll say it once more," Yoruichi looks down at her fallen pupil, "Stand up, Ichigo."

Ichigo struggles to get up, but he can barely manage to brace himself on his elbows.

"What's wrong! Quit stalling!" Yoruichi hollers at him. "Trying to waste time, huh!"

"...No matter," a third person walks up to the duo. "If he can't stand on his own... I will just drag him back up," the black-suited Zangetsu stands over Ichigo. In his right hand, he grips a sword that is similar to the Zangetsu Blade - but with a more stylistic design.

Despite the bloody gash on the side of his head, Ichigo turns his gaze to Zangetsu and glares up at him, "...Mister...!"

(Intro Page- Curled up on a soft couch, Orihime takes an afternoon nap. Things float around the room in mid-air: a cup, a spilling vase, a book, a clock, a TV... Weird, yes?)

28 Minutes Ago

Yoruichi props up a flat statue in front of Ichigo. The statue is the height of an average man and it has two 'arms', two 'legs' and one 'head'... but all similarities end there, since its design is rather strange and alien.

Day 1 of the "3 Days for Bankai"

Ichigo lazily props his elbow on the hilt of his sword and stares at the white statue in bafflement, "...Wha... What's with that weird doll...?"

11:33AM

"It's a 'Tenshintai.'(1) It's the most valuable specialized spiritual tool of the secret mobile troops," Yoruichi says. "It can forcibly transfer and embody the true form of a soul-cutting sword."

"Hm?" he gives her a questioning look. "...I don't really get it. Is it required for Bankai training?"

"Of course it is," she explains, "A 'dialogue' and a 'synchronicity' with the soul-cutting blade is what is necessary for the 'First Release.'(2) For the 'Ban Release', the 'materialization' and 'submission' of the soul-cutting blade is necessary."

This brings up the earlier conversation that Renji had with his own sword-spirit, Zabimaru. It was apparent that Zabimaru has not completely 'submitted' to Renji, which may be why he has not yet reached the level of Captain.

"By 'materialization'," Yoruichi continues, "I do not mean going to the soul-cutting blade's side of the world. I'm referring to the summoning of the blade into our world. Ordinarily, it takes more than 10 years of discipline until it makes its way here."

"However," she adds, "you banded together and fought Zaraki Kenpachi as one. I see you're already potentially reaching the level of 'materialization.'"

"...Ah," Ichigo recalls the time Zangetsu appeared in front of him when he was nearly defeated by Zaraki.

Yoruichi's satisfied grin is as feline as ever, "...It seems you remember."

She places her hand back on the human-sized statue, "If you stab this with Zangetsu, it can be forced into carrying that state of 'materialization.' But with this method, the 'materialization' can only be done once! The time limit is 3 days!" She warns him solemnly, "During that time, you must defeat the embodiment of Zangetsu and put him in the state of 'submission' at all costs! If you can't do that, then -"

THUNK

Yoruichi looks down at the chest of the human-sized doll - where Ichigo's blade has stabbed through it deeply.

"...I won't listen to what happens if I can't do it," Ichigo looks over at her. "If this is the only way... I've got no choice!"

The statue stretches and warps as the blade - Zangetsu - shatters.

Not even a instant passes before the human shape of Zangetsu appears - towering right behind Ichigo.

"...It seems that you've recovered considerably ...Ichigo," Zangetsu says.

Ichigo swivels his head to look up at him, "...Mister...!"

"...Did you hear what was said?" Yoruichi asks Zangetsu.

"Of course," he replies.

"I'll leave the method of battle to you," she looks away. "Will you be able to start soon?"

"...Yes," Zangetsu kneels and places his hand on the ground. There is a rumble in the earth as he concentrates his energy and then -

- dozens of soul-cutting swords push out from the ground.(3) Large, obsidian blades of every shape and contour imaginable appear in the wasteland around the trio - which now seems to be a wide cavern from the way some swords push out of ground that slopes overhead.

The blades show a basic similarity to the original Zangetsu - but some are jagged or crooked where others are curved or straight. Not one design is the same as any other.(4)

"...Wha... what are these...!?" Ichigo asks in surprise.

"Among all of these..." Zangetsu indicates the blades that are lodged into the ground surrounding them, "there is only one which is my true self... That is the only blade which can defeat me. If you want to put me in the state of 'submission', you have to locate it before I kill you! Then -" as if by a silent signal, both Shinigami and Sword-spirit quickly leap away from each other, reaching for the nearest weapon, Let's see you defeat me!

Ichigo yanks a double-bladed sword out of the earth as Zangetsu pulls out a thin, crooked one from the ground. As Yoruichi watches silently, the two men charge at each other and clash blades.

~*~*~

WHACK

Nose bleeding profusely, a sentry collapses against the floorboards - unconscious.

With a look of grim annoyance, Abarai Renji rests his sealed soul-cutting blade over his shoulder and steps through the broken prison bars, "Let's go, Zabimaru!"(5)

~*~*~

Elsewhere, a young Shinigami woman sits quietly in the center of her prison cell. With great care, she stores a letter inside the folds of her black haori jacket and rests her hands on her lap.

Vice-Captain of the 5th, Hinamori Momo, lifts her head and stares forward in self-assured determination.

Come what may - she is ready for anything.

~*~*~

The sound of harsh breathing echoes across the prison cell. The walls are scratched and spotted with blood. A chair near the middle of the room lies on its side; the seat torn and the wood shattered.

"...Agh," Curled up in a corner of the cell with cloth restraints secured around his arms like a straightjacket, Vice-Captain Kira Itzuru mutters to himself miserably. "...I... I raised my blade against Hinamori-san... such a terrible thing... how horrible... horrible..." His face is cut and bruised, seemingly caused from self-inflicted wounds before he was put in restraints. His eyes are wide and staring, "I am... so horrible...!"

The sound of an opening door frightens Itzuru, causing him to scoot back in panic. "Wh... who's there!!" he shouts.

A man in a white captain's jacket strides up to the wooden prison bars. "Hyaahh," the visitor sighs in a breath of mild surprise. "Awful, ain't it? Look at this mess."

Itzuru looks up at the man in startled recognition, "...C... Captain... Ichi...maru...!"

Indeed, it seems that Ichimaru Gin, Captain of the 3rd, has decided to pay his unfortunate Vice-Captain a little visit. His facial expression remains as slyly amused as always.

"You're haggard," Gin observes Itzuru through the bars and his grin widens, "How pitiful."

Itzuru eyes are wide and helpless as Gin's shadow is cast over him.

"...You wanna be saved?" Gin's slim hand folds around one of the wooden bars.

Itzuru stares up at him with sweat dripping down his face.

"Come with me," Gin's Cheshire grin takes on a dangerous aura, "...Itzuru."


(1)A transference god's-body. Basically, a shintai (god's body) is a sacred object, such as a mirror, which is placed in a Shinto shrine to house the kami spirit. In other words, it's a symbol for the god-spirit itself.... but I digress. ^^;

(2)It's been a while since Yoruichi first mentioned this stuff, so I'll reiterate that the soul-cutting swords have 2 stages of release: 'First Release'(Shikai) and 'Ban Release' (Bankai). Skilled Shinigami who know the name of their swords can perform the Shikai, but only Captains are able to perform the Bankai because it takes at least 10 yrs of preparation to do so.

(3)The swords could have appeared out of thin air and crashed into the earth... but the drawing doesn't show any falling blades, so I'll just as easily assume that they came out of the ground... transmuted... heehee... 'Zangetsu, the Sword Alchemist'. ^_~

(4)I've heard about this: About 6 months ago, KT held a Zangetsu Design Drawing Contest in Shonen Jump. I think it mentioned that winners would have their sword featured in the manga... Why that crafty, fan-pleasing KT... ^_~

(5)Now, why would Renji need to beat up an ugly sentry to get out of prison? Didn't they say that he would return to work the next day anyhow? If Ichigo is no longer his enemy, then will Renji become an enemy of Soul Society? (*crosses fingers & hopes he stomps the Mayuri-puddle*) Maybe I'm looking too far into it - maybe he just felt like punching a random person in the nose and breaking through prison bars... but despite being as short-tempered as he is, it doesn't seem like something he would do just because he's in a bad mood...

Notes:
-Smells like major plot development on the way. Fun, fun, fun! Not only does Zangetsu hop back into the storyline and not only do we get to see the start of an interesting little training arc, but we also get cameo appearances from - not one, but THREE - of our troubled Vice-Captains! Kubo-sensei, my ♥ for you knows no bounds! XD

-So the "First Release" requires "dialogue" and "synchronicity", but the "Ban Release" requires "materialization" and "submission"... so first you become its friend, but then you become its master? Huh...

-Itzuru seems... utterly nutters. :S Wow, I didn't know that battling Hinamori would leave such deep emotional scars in him. (or maybe he just forgot to take his medication? o_0) Gin is surely going to use Itzuru's vulnerability to his advantage... damn it all...T_T

-Believe it or not, I think this is the first time I've ever had the privilege of translating Gin's dialogue. This leaves me wondering what I should do about translating his thick southwestern accent. Should I find a handy English equivalent or should I leave it be?

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