Tessai climbs out of the pit, his glasses shattered. Jinta is stunned to see that he is okay, but Tessai disagrees, saying that his spectacles are in critical condition. Jinta tells him that no matter what, he should not take off his glasses, as Urahara has drawn his sword and the fight has begun to get interesting, and he will regret it if he misses it.
Urahara cuts through a
Ichigo begins to run, unable to believe what has happened. Urahara advances, reminding Ichigo of what Renji had told him: that his Zanpakutou was big, but had no spirit power in it. That is why it can be cut so easily. With that, Urahara cuts off the guard, leaving just the hilt. He tells Ichigo that knocking off his hat is an easy thing, and is even possible with just the hilt that remains. However, it is no longer a question of bravery or courage, for if he still wishes to fight him with that “toy”, he will kill him. Urahara begins to glow red, and Ichigo runs away. He rebukes himself for being only good for running away, as Urahara continues to chase him and attack him.
He suddenly hears a voice, asking him what he is doing, and why he runs. It is the man from earlier. The “world” closes in on Ichigo as the man tells him that he has yet to call him. “Face forward, you should be able to hear it now. That which blocks your ears is worthless fear?” Ichigo stops running. “The enemy is one, you are one, what is there to fear.” Urahara stops too and watches Ichigo. Tessai, Ururu and Jinta peek out from behind the rock, wondering what has happened. Urahara readies Benihime. “Cast off your fear. Look forward.” Ichigo puts the hilt near his obi as though drawing a sword from there, and a strong wind begins to blow. “Never stand still, retreat and you will age. Hesitate and you will die. SHOUT! My name is…”
Ichigo “draws” his brand new Zanpakutou as he shouts, “ZANGETSU!” and there is a bright blue flash as he sends a blast of flash in Urahara’s direction. Urahara dodges, his hand on his head to keep his hat on as the dust settles. Ichigo now stands with an entirely different Zanpakutou that has bandages wrapping the hilt and no guard. It looks, as Jinta says, like a giant kitchen knife.
As Ichigo stares at his sword, Urahara tells him that they will now start Lesson Three for real. Ichigo apologizes to Urahara, telling him to dodge as he probably will be unable to hold back. The remaining bandage and small knives from Tessai’s demon arts are blown off his shoulder. Urahara, shocked, and without a moment to lose, commands, “Call out, Benihime!” Ichigo swings his sword down and Urahara’s hat goes flying, one part of it cut off. Urahara stands with a smoking Benihime, thankful for his blood mist shield that saved him from losing at least an arm.
The hat lands at Urahara’s feet and he picks it up to dust it, complaining that it is totally ruined. He puts it back on his head and tells Ichigo that he had not expected so much out of just one swing from Ichigo, whom he labels a “frightening child”. But Ichigo is kneeling on the floor, asleep. Lesson Three, clear. Ichigo’s swing had caused a “canyon” to form in the ground, cutting through rocks and whatever else not in its path.
Ishida is pleased with himself, as his training is complete. He now wears a very long white glove-like thing, and he thanks his Sensei. Meanwhile, Chad has destroyed a wall at the construction site, and while Orihime congratulates him, Yoruichi yells at them to escape as they have created a scene. However, it is pleased that Chad was able to call forth his power so soon, but just then, Chad falls down the stairs, and it can help feeling but a tad exasperated.
August 1st, 6.30 PM. Ichigo has been told to go home and wait as the door to Soul
The two go to the river side, a place where the two go only during autumn. Orihime asks Tatsuki if she has told her about her brother’s ability, that she admired greatly, to attract fireflies to land on his finger. She had tried to do the same but failed. Tatsuki remembers the day when Orihime had saved her from the Hollow. She asks Orihime if she would be going to a relative’s house the following week, and when Orihime confirms so, she says that Ichigo too is going on vacation the same week. She tells Orihime that despite not obtaining 1st place, she never thought “I shouldn’t have tried”. There are things that you don’t do well in, but you only understand after trying your best. She urges Orihime not to hesitate to do whatever she has decided to do, and she will wait here.
Fireworks fill the air as Isshin, Karin and Yuzu cheer. Keigo and Mizuiro are amazed at the view, and Ichigo, standing back, smiles.
August 8th, 1.00 AM. Ichigo slides open his window as per Urahara’s orders, despite having a bad feeling about doing so. True enough, a ball suddenly flies by his face and lands on his closet, where it splats. It turns into a red message that reads: “Cometh immediately to the front of the Urahara store.” Ichigo screams in fright, cursing Urahara for making the mess in his room, which looks like “someone’s dying message at the scene of a massacre”. There is more to the message: ‘P.S.: Anyone who sees this and thinks something ordinary like “it looks like a dying message” has no talent for
Isshin suddenly jumps down from above, but Ichigo dodges and Isshin lands on his face. Isshin, his face all bloody, says that Ichigo is indeed his son since he could dodge the attack. He gives Ichigo an amulet which Masaki (Ichigo’s mum) had given him years back, full of luck and good things. Ichigo does not wish to accept the gift, and Isshin tells him that he is not giving it to Ichigo, merely lending it to him until he can come home and return it. When Ichigo does not reply, Isshin declares that if Ichigo does not return it, he will shave his beard. Ichigo grips the amulet in his hand and walks off.
As Ichigo walks to the Urahara store, he remembers the times he had shared with Rukia. He promises not to let her simply forget them. At the Urahara store, Chad is already sitting outside with Urahara. Ichigo is a little surprised at Chad’s presence, and asks why he is there. Chad says that Rukia had saved him once, so he will go and save her now; much to Ichigo’s surprise. Ishida, wearing a stylish white cloak over his Quincy clothes, comes from behind, asking Ichigo if they hadn’t told him. He will not let it end with him losing to the Shinigami, so he too will go. Orihime arrives as well, adding to Ichigo’s shock. Yoruichi comes running, saying that Ichigo is pretty slow, and asks Ichigo if he hasn’t noticed the bubbling of power within his three friends. While he had been training to regain his Shinigami powers, they had trained as well. It asks Ichigo to bow and thank them, but Ichigo is more stunned by the fact that a cat is talking, and simply blinks his eyes.
Urahara invites them to enter the store and down into the training area. Ichigo warns Orihime of the dangers that would await her, and she replies that she promised Tatsuki that she would follow him, and return home no matter what. She then runs into the store, and Ichigo follows. Orihime finds the training area very cool, like a secret base, much to Tessai’s pleasure. Urahara, after attracting everyone’s attention, snaps his fingers. A rectangular frame covered in
Urahara continues, saying that the gate is made by piling Spirit exchangers on the normal Senkai gate. The spirit exchangers are necessary for Chad, Orihime and Ishida, who are humans, to get into Soul Society, a place of souls. In other words, they need not pull out their souls to get through the gate into Soul Society.
Ichigo begins to walk toward the gate, but Urahara stops him by using his cane to poke his side hard. He finishes his speech, saying that the amount of time they can open the gate and stay connected to Soul Society is limited at 4 minutes. Normally, it is impossible to get past within 4 minutes, and if they cannot, they will be forever imprisoned in the space in between both worlds. Yoruichi encourages them, saying that heart and soul are connected, and the important thing is the state of the heart. It will be their guide, but only for those who will go forward, and if they lose, they will never be able to return.
Urahara and Tessai kneel by the gate and use some form of demon arts to open the gate, instructing the 5 to jump in simultaneously as it opens. They do so and Urahara stands, putting his hand to the gate. It seems to electrocute him, and he says that everything is up to Ichigo.
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