NOTAKING
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Ble@ch: Chapter 85
🕑 Added 2025-06-10 20:22:08 +0000 UTCBefore school ended…
Ichigo stared at the ticking clock on the wall, its hands dragging painfully slow. A pressure pulsed in the back of his mind—Zangetsu’s voice echoing like a storm caught between steel and smoke.
He’d had enough.
As soon as the bell rang, he slipped quietly into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. With a slow breath, he let his consciousness slip inward, falling into the familiar fractured world of his soul.
The moment his feet landed on the floating glass panes, the wind howled like a beast unchained. Skyscrapers tilted in the gray sky, and rain threatened on the horizon. Standing atop one of the floating structures was him—the real Zangetsu, his white-clad hollow side, smirking with crossed arms.
“Well, look who finally decided to show up,” Zangetsu said. “I’ve been calling your name all day, partner.”
Ichigo frowned, walking forward, his tone dry. “Would you shut up for a second? You’ve been yelling non-stop.”
Zangetsu chuckled, his golden eyes glinting. “What? I can’t reach out to my other half anymore? I’ve been meaning to talk.”
Ichigo raised a brow. “Yeah? About what?”
“About you accepting me,” Zangetsu said simply. “You know that guy with the coat and the calm voice? That’s not really Zangetsu. I am. I’m your real power.”
Ichigo sighed, folding his arms. “Yeah, I know. I’ve known for a while now.”
Zangetsu tilted his head. “Then what are you waiting for?”
Ichigo shrugged. “Look… if I accepted you right now, I’d get too strong. Then life would be boring, and honestly? I like a good challenge.”
Zangetsu’s face went blank. “Seriously? That’s your excuse? ‘I don’t want to get bored’?” He dragged a hand down his face. “Unbelievable.”
Ichigo cracked a smirk. “Well, it’s not like I hate you. Just… ease up with the yelling. We’re cool, alright? I’m not trying to make you submit or whatever. Let’s just… be allies. Partners.”
Zangetsu blinked. “You serious?”
Ichigo extended his hand. “Yeah. For real.”
After a moment of stunned silence, Zangetsu grinned and gripped Ichigo’s hand firmly. “That’s all I ever wanted.”
Ichigo nodded. “I’ll deal with the old man later. When I’m ready to bring out his powers. For now, I’m sticking with Soul Reaper level—and that means you’re my go-to.”
Zangetsu’s smile widened as he thought, ‘He just called me his Soul Reaper power… Hah. I’m starting to like this guy more and more.’
“I’ll see you around, bro,” Ichigo said as the world began to fade.
---
Back in reality…
Ichigo blinked as the fluorescent bathroom lights came back into focus. He splashed water on his face and sighed.
‘Finally made peace with him. Alright… let’s go meet Shinji.’
---
Later, after school…
Ichigo returned home just in time to feel the familiar buzz of his Substitute Soul Reaper badge ringing out.
He groaned. “Again? Seriously?”
He closed his bedroom door behind him and popped his soul out, leaving Kon in charge of his Gigai. As the green pill glowed, Kon stretched in Ichigo’s body, rolling his shoulders dramatically.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Ichigo warned as he turned to leave through the window.
Kon grinned darkly. ‘Oh, I will have my revenge, Ichigo. One way or another…’
Ichigo vanished in a flash of shunpō, completely unaware of the chaotic glint now gleaming in his own eyes.
On the rooftops…
Ichigo soared above the streets in his Soul Reaper form, moving so fast the wind barely caught his coat. The badge’s vibration had grown stronger, and now he could feel it—a Hollow, just ahead, near an apartment complex.
He landed silently on a rooftop, eyes narrowing as he spotted the creature: a low-level Hollow, screeching and clawing at the air, looking for prey.
“Not even worth the time,” Ichigo muttered, already gripping the hilt of his blade.
Without activating Shikai, he blurred forward using shunpō, dragging Zangetsu in a wide arc.
SLASH!
The Hollow didn’t even have time to react before it split down the middle, vanishing into the black mist of purification.
Ichigo exhaled lightly. ‘These small fry are getting dull. That afro guy better show up soon…’
Just as he turned to leave, he paused mid-step.
Ichigo remained standing on the rooftop, staring at the card in his hand, when a loud thud sounded behind him.
"Who are you!! Why are you dressed like a Soul Reaper?! What's your game?!" a loud voice barked.
Ichigo turned around slowly, raising an eyebrow at the sight of a short man with a ridiculous afro, his oversized sword sheathed across his back and a self-important look on his face.
“…Who the heck are you?” Ichigo asked, unimpressed.
The man puffed out his chest proudly. “Huh?! Me?! I'm Zennosuke Kurumadani!! The elite Soul Reaper now assigned to this district, in place of Rukia Kuchiki—who was thrown in jail for some crime. Shaking yet?!”
Ichigo blinked.
‘Damn, they never updated bro. Then again, he was probably deployed after we left for the Soul Society.’ He gave a half-smirk.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Kurosaki Ichigo. And I’m happy to meet my new running dog.”
“Running dog?! What do you me—"
CLINK!!
A sudden explosion of spiritual pressure cut him off. Behind Ichigo, Shinji had appeared again, his blade clashing with Ichigo’s mid-air. The force of the shockwave sent Zennosuke tumbling back in a clumsy spiral.
Ichigo didn’t flinch. Their swords pressed together as he met Shinji’s gaze.
“Shinji. What are you doing?” he asked flatly.
Shinji grinned, flipping back and landing gracefully a few meters away. “Wow… That much power, and you’re not even in Shikai. I’m impressed, Ichigo Kurosaki.”
Ichigo narrowed his eyes, but his senses suddenly flared.
‘There it is… a bunch of new spiritual signatures. Hollows? No… no, wait. That feels like… Arrancar.’
He looked off into the distance but didn’t move. “You sensed that too, huh? Don’t worry. The Soul Society will probably handle it. Not my problem today.”
Shinji smiled. “So you can already tell the difference in their reiatsu. You’re sharper than I thought. Which means you know—your time’s running out.”
He took a few steps closer, slipping his hand over his face.
“Let me show you something. I’m sure you’ve seen this before.”
With a snap, a white, bone-like mask slid down over his face—sharp teeth grinning beneath hollow eyes.
“Recognize this?” he asked, his voice slightly distorted.
Ichigo studied the mask for a second, brow furrowed. “…Not really. But I can tell—it’s Hollow. You’re part Hollow, part Soul Reaper?”
Shinji’s eyes widened slightly. “That’s… exactly right. Didn’t expect you to get it so fast.”
Ichigo gave a shrug. “So I’m also one of you. Cool, but I won’t join you. Thanks for the invite, though.”
He turned around.
Shinji’s smirk faded. “Wait. You should think this through—”
Before he finished, he moved in a flash—blurring into view behind Ichigo, sword raised to intercept, no killing intent in his swing.
Ichigo sidestepped him easily and spun, planting a solid kick into Shinji’s back.
WHAM!
The blond Visored flew backward, crashing into a water tank before regaining balance mid-air.
Ichigo dusted off his shoulder. “You’re annoying.”
With a sigh, he looked up at the sky. ‘Time to go back home… oh shit—Kon’s still in my body.’
TO BE CONTINUED
