Another Deathberry: Chapter 1

I know I've told you before: Arrogance destroys the footholds of victory.

In your current state, you will not have a second chance to take me down.

Yeah, this power of mine might be a miracle. But y'know somethin'?

There are so many things I have burned in my memory. More than I can count.

As long as I remember them, I can keep fighting, however many times I have to.

There's no way I can lose here!

Why, hello there, Ichigo! It's been a while. How're you feeling?

There's nothing super off... Kisuke, you helped a ton back there, didn't you? Thank you.

Oh, come off it. I didn't do anything. It's Rukia and your family you should be thanking.

So, whaddya want? I don't see any Hollows about, so why're you calling me? Something happen?

Well, I have a little proposal for you, Ichigo. You might be a Substitute Soul Reaper again, but it's only been a few days.

So I was thinking this might be a good opportunity for you to train and recover.

In fact, I kind of thought this might happen sooner or later, so I developed a pretty sweet device here.

What do you say to helping me test it out?

Oh, this is perfect. I was really hoping to get my body moving again. Thanks for this, Kisuke.

It's been a while since I've been here, but man, it never changes, does it?

Not just after a year or so.

We just had someone here, so it might be a bit messy. Pay it no mind.

You did? Was it Chad again?

Customer confidentiality policy. And I'm not about to break it.

Customer confidentiality, huh? You sure are a bundle of secrets.

You wound me, Ichigo.

All right. Go on and get warmed up with this while I get things prepared.

Rooooooargh...

A Hollow?

A fake one, but yeah.

I didn't make it super strong, but you're probably going to have a bad time if you underestimate it.

Well, thanks for the advice.

Let's do this!

............

I'm done, Kisuke.

I knew you could do it. I'm done with my prep work too.

Hey, I think I recognize that. I used it when I was training with Yoruichi.

Yep, it's a new and improved Tenshintai. We'll just keep calling it a Tenshintai.

Being able to manifest one's Zanpakuto and communicate with it is a base level Soul Reaper skill.

Why don't we have you face your Zanpakuto again? It's been a while.

Yeah. I guess it has been.

Then let's get started.

Where am I?

Look who it is. What brings you here?

You... Why are you...?