Karakura High School, Karakura Town

"You must be kidding me!

" Kurosaki Ichigo almost whined when Kuchiki Rukia mentioned his new duties as a Shinigami.

"I can assure you that I am not kidding

" Kuchiki Rukia said in a cool tone. After she woke up she wasn't happy that she was helped by none other than Kisuke Urahara.

It took her some time to come to terms with everything. After that, she decided to attend Inchigo's school with the help of Kisuke Urahara, who provided her a gigai so she could mingle with humans.

"I refuse!

" Ichigo exclaimed, refusing the duty. Rukia was unimpressed by his refusal.

"Unfortunately, you can't refuse

" Rukia said in a condescending tone.

"I will still refuse.. I don't want to fight a Hollow, and I mean ever

" Ichigo protested vehemently.

"Then it can't be helped

" Rukia muttered while putting on some sort of strange gloves.

Ichigo gave her a confused look but he didn't get to be confused for too long as Rukia pushed out Inchigo's Soul from his using Gokon Tekkou.

"What the hell did you do to me, you crazy woman?!

" Ichigo demanded but Rukia promptly ignored Ichigo along with his downed body.

"Don't ignore me!!

" Ichigo exclaimed, obviously affronted and Rukia simply snorted.

"Follow me

" Rukia said and she started to leave without looking back.

Ichigo didn't want to follow Rukia but he didn't know how to get back into his body so he decided to follow Rukia. Both of them promptly left the school premises.

"Where are we going?

" Ichigo asked in an irritated tone and Rukia pulled out her Denreishinki (Hollow Locator). There was a plus sign on the screen.

"There is a Hollow near the park, we need to deal with it

" Rukia said and Ichigo released a defeated sigh as he continued to follow Rukia.

Only after a few minutes, Ichigo was engaged in combat while Rukia was watching the fight from some distance. As she had lost all of her powers temporarily, she had no way to combat a Hollow.

Unfortunately, if she had her powers then she would have noticed someone else in the vicinity. It was a young boy around Ichigo's age. It was a bespectacled teenager. The teenager pushed up his glasses and he kept looking at the duo with clear disdain in his eyes.

The young boy clearly despised Shinigamis and their kind. For now, he decided from afar… there was no need to confront them now. So he kept watching the duo and their escapades for the time being.

****************

Even after watching the duo for a couple of weeks, he wasn't impressed… Currently, the duo was looking for Hollow which he had destroyed a couple of hours ago.

He snorted in disdain, it was the duty of Shinigamis but here he was, doing their duty for them.

Enough was enough, he finally decided to confront them. The two of them seemed to be having an argument as they were unable to find the Hollow.

"Are you two perhaps breaking up?

" all of a sudden the boy asked. Ichigo and Rukia paused, completely shocked that someone was able to see Ichigo.

"Who are you??

" Ichigo demanded as the bespectacled boy came into their view while wearing his uniform.

"You already know me, don't you, Kurosaki Ichigo?

" the boy asked in a mocking tone.

"You are that boy from school!!

" Ichigo exclaimed when he recognized the boy. He had bumped with the boy in school today.

"I am glad that you remember me

" the boy said dryly.

"A Hollow has appeared

" the boy said while looking in another direction.

Rukia wanted to scoff at the statement but she froze when her Hollow Locator started to beep. Ichigo also noticed that.

"Where is the Hollow going to appear?

" Ichigo asked hurriedly. The bespectacled boy snorted in disdain.

"The Hollow is going to appear down that street. You should be ashamed of calling yourself a Shinigami

" the bespectacled boy said and Ichigo blustered at the comment but froze when the Hollow did appear down the street.

The bespectacled boy raised his hands and a bow made of Reishi appeared in his hands. He pulled back the string and launched an arrow at the Hollow before either Rukia or Ichigo could say anything.

The arrow pierced right through the head of the Hollow, moments later the Hollow was completely disintegrated. Rukia noticed that the Hollow Purification order from Soul Society had disappeared.

"Who the hell are you??!

" Ichigo demanded angrily. Rukia remained completely silent. She had yet to say anything, she simply wanted to witness the altercation for now.

"My name is Uryu Ishida and I am a Quincy

" the bespectacled boy introduced himself as he turned around.

"I also hate Shinigamis, especially you

" Uryu said as he disappeared. Ichigo kept standing there, contemplating the words Uryu had said before leaving.

He also failed to notice the look on Rukia's face as he was deep in his thoughts…

****************

'What was his name? It was Uryu something' Ichigo wondered as he walked through the halls of his school with a frown on his face.

He knew that Uryu was from his school and that is why he wanted to give the boy a piece of his mind as Ichigo wasn't happy that the bespectacled boy had mocked his skills.

"Now where are you, Uryu?

" Ichigo asked himself as released a sigh.

"Are you perhaps looking for Ishida-San?

" All of a sudden an orange-haired girl named Orihime Inoue appeared in front of him and asked.

Ichigo jumps back in surprise but he decides to feign ignorance.

"No… I was just talking to myself

" Ichigo said and Orihime simply tilted her head in confusion.

"Ah, you must be looking for Uryu Ishida, right?

" Orihime asked in a cheerful tone and Ichigo reluctantly nodded his head.

"Yes, I have been looking for him

" Ichigo said in an unsure tone and Orihime beamed at him.

"Don't worry, I can take you to him. He is in the Handiworks Club with me

" Orihime said in a cheerful tone as she started to lead him towards her club.

The duo soon arrived in front of the Handiworks Club as Ichigo started to stare intently towards Uryu. He saw how quickly Uryu fixed the stuffed toy. Orihime noticed how Ichigo was staring at Uryu and decided to ask him about it.

"Did something happen between you and Ishida-San?

" Orihime asked innocently and tilted her head in confusion.

"No… no, it's nothing like that

" Ichigo was taken aback by the sudden question but he was able to squeak out an answer.

Orihime narrowed her eyes and kept staring at Ichigo who started to sweat but after a few moments, Orihime shrugged and decided to accept his answer. She knew that Ichigo was hiding something from her but she didn't press the matter...

****************

Uryu suddenly froze on his way to the roof when he noticed Kurosaki Ichigo's Spiritual Pressure approaching him. Uryu snorted and started to climb another set of stairs. He noticed that Ichigo was following him now.

"Are you going to follow me all the way back home?

" Uryu asked as he stopped.

Ichigo came into view.

"When did you notice?

" Ichigo asked and Uryu simply sneered.

"Since you and Orihime-San had arrived outside our club's door

" Uryu's sneer intensified.

"Congratulations!!

" Ichigo congratulated him in a mocking tone.

"You are constantly leaking Reiatsu, even a mockery will be able to notice you

" Uryu said in a cold tone as he pushed up his glasses. Ichigo looked like someone had kicked his puppy.

"I can't understand how someone can be so atrocious with basic skills. You failed to notice me even though I have high Reiatsu

" Uryu pointed out in a condescending tone. Ichigo had the decency to look embarrassed.

"It is hard for me to remember faces

" Ichigo tried to make an excuse to hide his inability but Uryu simply scoffed.

"Hah… I am not talking about that. You have an unusually high amount of Reiatsu even before you became a Shinigami, which happened somewhere in the middle of the last month. I even knew that Kuchiki Rukia was a Shinigami

" Uryu said, shocking Ichigo.

All of a sudden several blue ribbons appeared around Ichigo and Uryu. Ichigo was taken aback by the sight but before he could do anything… Uryu appeared in front of Ichigo using Hirenkyaku (Flying Screen Step), Ichigo instinctively back stepped.

Uryu grabbed a red ribbon in front of Ichigo and pulled the ribbon in front of Ichigo.

"This is your Reiraku (Spirit Ribbons), the Reiraku of Shinigamis are different from the others

" Uryu said and let go of the ribbon and it fades away.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, how about a challenge? A duel between the two of us? I want to demonstrate the difference between our strength and it will also show you why Shinigamis are unnecessary in this world

" Uryu proposed and Ichigo stood where he was with a dumb look on his face.

Ichigo found himself unable to answer for a few seconds until a dismissive look appeared on his face.

"I refuse

" Ichigo declared and Uryu was surprised that Ichigo decided to refuse his proposal.

Uryu tilted his head in confusion and Ichigo noticed that.

"Why would I have to do such a stupid thing? It is pointless

" Ichigo said and once again shrugged dismissively.

"Whatever grudge you hold against Shinigamis has nothing to do with me

" Ichigo pointed out and decided to leave.

"Are you perhaps afraid?

" Uryu asked slowly and Ichigo burst out laughing. Uryu's eyebrow twitched as his cheap shot didn't work.

Ichigo continues to walk away and Uryu decides to give it a last try…

"Ah, I understand. You are just a Substitute Shinigami, you cannot lift your finger without Kuchiki Rukia's permission

" Uryu said and Ichigo stopped. Uryu had to stop himself from grinning as his plan worked.

Ichigo turned around and looked straight into Uryu's eyes.

"Fine. I accept your challenge

" Ichigo said and he pulled Kon from his bag. Only after a few moments, Ichigo was in his Shinigami form while his body was being housed by the faux Soul.

Both decided to leave the school as they couldn't have the duel inside the school. Both of them arrived in an empty alley.

"So, how are we going to do this?

" Ichigo asked with a confused look on his face.

Uryu pulls out some sort of coin from his shirt pocket.

"This is a Hollow Bait, we will be using this. This thing attracts Hollows

" Uryu says and promptly crushes the Hollow Bait.

"How can you put so many innocent lives at risk??

" Ichigo demanded angrily when Uryu crushes the Bait and Uryu simply shrugged.

"Whoever kills more Hollows in the next 24 hours will be the winner of the duel and I will kill all of them

" Uryu said coldly and killed an emerging Hollow with his Reishi Bow.

Ichigo grabs Uryu's collar and slams him on the wall.

"Undo whatever you have done. Stop calling all these Hollows!!

" Ichigo demanded angrily and Uryu simply smirked.

"The die has been cast… soon Karakura Town will be swarming with Hollows, are you sure that you don't have anything better to do?

" Uryu asked and several Hollow roars were heard throughout the town.

Ichigo lets him go and Uryu dusts off his shirt.

"Hollows tend to attack people with high amounts of Reiatsu

" Uryu reminded Ichigo as Ichigo promptly started to rush towards his house.

All of a sudden Uryu froze when he sensed a monumental amount of Spiritual Pressure. After a few moments, he shrugged it off as the Spiritual Pressure disappeared like it was never there.

Uryu shook his head. 'My mind must be playing games on me' Uryu mused. No one could or should have such a high amount of Spiritual Pressure. Once again a Reishi Bow formed in his hands and he started to kill the Hollows.

All of a sudden someone grabbed Uryu and pulled him back. Uryu frowned but before he could see his assailant, a sword passed by his head. He was horrified when he noticed that he would have been beheaded if he was in his initial position.

Uryu finally got a look at the person who had saved him and the person who had tried to kill him.

The person who had saved him was a man wearing a green shihakusho without an undershirt, he also had a hat on top of his head and the person who had tried to kill him was a tall woman dressed in a black and green skin-tight armor.

The woman licked her lips as released her Spiritual Pressure. This was the same Spiritual Pressure he had felt a couple of minutes ago.

"It's nice to meet you, Hela-San

" the man in green shihakusho said with a small bow and the woman started to cackle in mad glee…