Mira Town Arc

The Mira town Arc is a story arc set in the Bleach universe. This Arc is a solo story arc created by TehAngryGoombah.

Prologue
Set twenty years after the fall of Yhwach, as detailed during the events of Bleach, peace has returned to both the Spiritual and Living worlds. However, following the chaos of the Wandenreich’s failed attempt at destroying the Soul Society, unrest began to grip the Spiritual World. A splinter group, dubbed the Revolutionary Families, sought to wrest control from the Seireitei and Central 46 to grant it to the Noble houses. With the Captain-Commander, Shunsui Kyoraku, adamant in his opposition of the group but forced to play appeasement for the sake of peace, it seemed like a civil war could engulf the Soul Society at any moment.

Synopsis
Twenty years after the fall of Yhwach, Kona Soragami is seen attending the Mira Town Technical College, taking down notes during a lecture on the history of the Modernization of Japan. While he is trying to concentrate on the lecture, he starts to grow frustrated due to the ghost of a young girl insisting that he come play tag with her. After a while of her nagging, he finally is unable to endure and has an outburst of frustration. His teacher instructs him to go outside and play with the ghost, pointing out as a person able to see spirits it should be his duty to help them pass on. Though apparently reluctant Kona is quietly overjoyed that he got to get out of the room, noting that had become stuffy.

While playing a game of Hide-and-seek with the girl, Kona is asked by the head cheerleader if the ghost of her late brother is following her. Kona notices that the ghost of an overweight pervert is following her, not her brother, and points out as such. However, both Kona and the pervert ghost hear a monstrous howl. This causes the little girl to come out of hiding, running to Kona and holding him close. As the howling fades away, Kona comforts the girl who then responds by calling Kona her “Onii-chan”. The cheerleader notes she doesn’t know what was happening but that Kona seemed like a nice guy before demanding to know how to deal with the pervert; Kona bluntly suggests going to a strip club.

Later that day, Kona and the ghost girl visit the site where the girl died in a car crash. She says this is where she lost her Onii-chan. Kona guesses that if he reunited the two they might be able to pass on, but says that there isn’t much left he can do on a school night. The two then returns to Kona’s home, which is owned by a woman called Mariko Chosokabe. She chides Kona on still having that Ghost Girl with him, revealing the fact that Mariko is spiritually aware. When the girl asks about Mariko, Kona replies that she’s just always been around the family. However the two are disrupted again by howling like earlier and Mariko notes that Kona might be a little overprotective of the “stray”.

After dinner, Kona and girl go looking for her actual brother again, with Mariko warning them to be careful. However, the source of the howling is revealed; A hollow that had been tracking them. Telling the girl to hide, Kona lures the hollow to the local park before grabbing a branch to fight the Hollow. However, Kona is quickly overpowered and his soul is forced from his body. The Hollow manages to bite Kona’s leg before he manages to kick it away. The Hollow then shatters Kona’s chain of fate, with Kona recalling that the ghost girl had a broken chain attached to her chest and thus realising he was now dead. As Kona begins to resign himself to his fate, he is surprised to see a woman in a black Shihakusho. After dispatching the hollow, the woman identifies herself as the Shinigami Kiyomi Amane. She looks at Kona as his chain of fate begins to rapidly deteriorate due to his previous injury and notes that even with Kido, she can’t save him from becoming a Hollow as well. However, she offers another solution; she could grant him half her powers and thus, temporarily, transform him into a Shinigami. Kona agrees, just as the Ghost Girl arrives. Kona smiles, comforting her that he won’t leave her. Kona is then transformed into a Shinigami.

The next day, Kona is awakened by the Ghost Girl as he sets off for school. As Kona leaves, Mariko warns him not to draw too much attention to himself. Kona finds this comment strange but is forced out of the house before he can question Mariko further. As Kona heads into class, he is stopped by the cheerleader from the day before who asks Kona if the Pervert ghost is still following her, to which Kona confirms he is not. Before she can thank Kona for his advice, Kona is instead confront by Shirohime Aikami, a rich, orphaned Heiress that attends some of the same classes as him. She notes Kona seems different today in a suspicious tone, before joking that it’s probably because his ghost-seeing talent seems to have wowed some groupie over to him. The ghost girl then asks who the cheerleader is and Kona then responds that she is Kasumi Sanada, the head cheerleader.

After class, Kona and the ghost girl are stopped by Mariko at the gates, before roughly grabbing Kona and demanding to know if anyone had acted differently. Kona responded that Kasumi was grateful that he’d help her get rid of the ghost of a pervert and that Shirohime, with Kona respectfully referring to her as Aikami, joked about how he seemed different. Mariko then drags Kona to a secluded, graffiti covered, basket ball court before pushing his soul out of his body, revealing that he was still a Shinigami. Mariko reveals that she had tailed Kona the previous night and knew that he had become a Shinigami to avoid becoming a Hollow. Mariko then grabs Kona’s empty body and tells him to follow her. He then leads Kona back to the park from the previous night where Kona sees another Hollow attacking the ghost of a teenager, which the ghost girl reveals is her deceased brother. Kona immediately steps in to fight the hollow, but is stopped by Mariko who asks him why. Mariko goes on to explain that Kona already possessed a Spiritual power well beyond normal humans and now that he’d become a Shinigami, even temporarily, he’d just painted an even bigger, more delicious smelling, target upon himself. Kona dismisses this, saying he doesn’t care what danger awaits him and that he’ll save whoever he can while he can. He then effortlessly defeats the hollow before performing Konso on both the teenager and the ghost girl, who reveals her name is Yuki Shimazu.

A few nights later, Kona is “on patrol” before encountering Kiyomi again. The two talk about the nature of the Shinigami when Kona hears the howling of a Hollow, in the direction of Aikaimi’s estate. Wasting no time, Kona and Kiyomi arrive just outside the estate to see the Hollow climbing over the wall to get into the grounds only to be killed when a Heilig Pfeil shoots through it. Kona is left dumbfounded while Kiyomi stares in horror. Kiyomi then tells Kona she has to report something to her superiors before leaving him to investigate. Kona then jumps over the wall and notices Aikami sitting peacefully on a chair in her garden. As Kona turns to leave, he fails to notice Aikami’s eyes tracking his movements, a smile slowly spread across her lips.

Before leaving for school the following morning, Mariko reveals that most spiritually aware humans may be able to see and hear ghosts but they usually cannot sense actual Spiritual Energy. She then reveals the Reiryoku ribbons of Kona and several other spirits in Mira Town. Kona notices a red ribbon among them and Mariko confirms its belongs to the other Shinigami and that all Shinigami, Kona included, have red ribbons as opposed to the typical white ones. During his lunch, Kona is seen trying to sense the spiritual energy of Kiyomi from a distance, managing to get a rough feel of where she is. However he is interrupted by the arrival of Aikami, who asks if he’s looking for someone. Kona responds he isn’t, he was just deep in thought. He is then surprised when Aikami invites him over to her estate for some tea. Kona acts flattered, despite truthfully being so, but refuses only for her to retort that he welcomed himself in the previous night. She then continues on to say that SHE killed the hollow that was trying to enter her estate and that watched quietly as Kona both arrived and left before revealing that she knows that Kona is a Shinigami and that she had known since his initial transformation. Kona quickly asks if it was because his Reiryoku ribbon was red, Aikami is left stunned for a moment before quickly remarking that Kona ruined her reveal. She then goes on to insist that Kona join her at the estate…or else.

Kona arrives at the gates and is greeted by Ayame Kobayakawa, Aikami’s maid, who then escorts Kona into the building. She then uses a strange glove to push Kona’s soul out of his body. Ayame then, after attending to Kona’s body, informs the Substitute Shinigami that Aikami is waiting for him in the basement, to which Kona immediately jokes about Aikami being into Spiritual BDSM, to which Ayame quickly adds that her mistress might even enjoy being the submissive party in that scenario. Kona then descends into the basement revealing a massive chamber made of Spirit-infused stone and glass, dominated by a large, cube-shaped structure. Aikami greets Kona, standing just to his right clad in her Quincy attire. Kona questions her as to how she knows about the Shinigami. She then explains that she is a Quincy and how the Quincy and Shinigami have been enemies for over 1000 years. Kona then asks why she called him out like she had, prompting her to respond it was to decide which party was superior; Quincy or Shinigami. When Kona initially proposes they use some bait to lure in Hollows for a Hollow-killing contest, Aikami immediately refuses; there would be too much danger of innocents getting hurt due to their contest. Aikami then replies that they’re going to duel before explaining what the structure is; a labyrinth. Both would enter the Labyrinth from one of the four entrances and within the Labyrinth they would hunt each other down and fight for supremacy.

Kona enters the labyrinth and is quickly shocked; the labyrinth was a three-dimensional one with twists, turns and corners both vertical and horizontal. Dodging Aikami’s first attack, from above, Kona quickly deduces that she has the advantage due to her preference for ranged combat and presumed familiarity with the labyrinths layout. During their “duel” Kona, can’t help but wonder why Aikami was so insistent on proving Quincy supremacy over Shinigami, despite the history of the two groups. She had never struck Kona as the type to be filled with national, or even racial, pride to such an extent she’d go this far. When Kona demands to know the truth as to why she challenged Kona, she begins to cry before screaming that he should know why; both her parents were Quincies and they had died in the War and subsequent purges that was fought twenty years ago, at the hands of Shinigami. During the closing moments of their duel, with Kona having gained the clear upper hand due to his greater stamina, Aikami loses her footing and falls over an edge, unable to focus enough in her increasingly hysterical state to push off the air and back up to safety, only for Kona to catch her and pull her back to safety. He then claims that instead of repeating the mistakes of the past, they should learn from them and create a better future. Kona departs after reclaiming his body, asking Ayame to take care of Aikami. Ayame notes that just before Kona re-entered his body, his Shihakusho had begun to flicker, almost like a flame.

A few nights later, Kona and Mariko head to a local fireworks festival. Once there, Kona is immediately greeted by Kasumi, clad in Yukata, who is together with her little sister Akemi Sanada. The group stick together for a time, until Ayame arrives and manages to distract Kasumi and Akemi long enough for Aikami to drag Kona away. When Kona appears on guard, Aikami quickly reveals that she has no intentions of fighting him again. She then reveals that she had thought on Kona had told her and she had decided that while she still hated Shinigami...she didn't hate Kona. Kona is lost in thought for a moment, as Aikami struggles to ask Kona if he'd like to come back to her home later. However the moment is interuppted by the arrival of Naoto Kurokami, the leader of a dance troupe that is slated to perform around Mira Town. Naoto notes that both Kona and Aikami seem like the type that are keeping big secrets before flirting with both of them, complimenting Aikami on her appearance while drawing great emphasis on Kona's eyes. After being quickly rejected by both Kona and Aikami, Naoto starts to leave but before he departs he warns both of them that higher powers have begun to move and that both of them will need to be on their guard in the near future. Before they can question Naoto further, Kasumi and Akemi find Kona and Aikami together and Kasumi starts to argue with Aikami while Kona agrees to take Akemi to the dance performance.

The next day, Akemi starts to feel unwell at her Junior High school as she hears the howling of a Hollow. Looking out the window in the direction of the howling, Akemi sees the figure of a young man in a black Shihakusho, though her teacher disbelieves her claims. A couple of hours later, Akemi is certain that the figure she saw was Kona and she sets out to prove it. That night, Akemi sneaks out from her house after hearing another Hollow, preceeded by a feeling of dread, and runs in the direction of the howling. She arrives in time to find the Hollow chasing the ghost of a Businessman, however the Hollow quickly stops and instead sniffs the air before turning its attention to her, commenting that her soul smelled much more satisfying. As Akemi is frozen in fear, Kona arrives and fights the Hollow. However, Kona finds himself tiring quickly during the encounter as his Shihakusho begins to flicker again, even leaving some areas exposed. The hollow, overconfident, lunges at Akemi, only for Kona to quickly move to protect the girl before Kiyomi arrives and finishes off the hollow. Kona comforts the crying Akemi, while Kiyomi takes note of Kona's state. After returning the girl safely home, Kona questions Kiyomi why he feels so much weaker now. Kiyomi answers that it is because his Shinigami powers are, and always were, a temporary measure and now they've begun to fade. Soon he would return to being as he was, just a spiritually aware human. Leaving Kona with these thoughts, Kiyomi quietly admits to herself that his powers should have faded weeks ago and that something was clearly different about him, even considering his spiritual awareness.

A week later, Kiyomi is seen watching over Kona as he contemplates life after his stint as a Shinigami when she is approached from behind by an unknown figure. She turns and identifies them as Sakimori Matsudaira, who claims he is there to check up on her on behalf of her noble family. Kiyomi replies she is fine, but Sakimori continues and reveals that he is aware that Kiyomi had shared half her Shinigami powers with a human and that he had also been sent to assess the human. Kiyomi states that Kona's temporary powers were fading slower than she expected, with Sakimori reacting with surprise when Kiyomi reveals his family name to be Soragami. When pressed for information as to his concern, Sakimori leaves while saying he'd inform her family that she was well and there was no cause for alarm. Once he had returned to the Soul Society, however, Sakimori begins laughing to himself, thinking about how much "fun" he's going to have very soon.

Two nights later, Kona finds himself standing on the roof of his school, watching as his shihakusho continues to flicker. He tenses the muscles in his hands before his contemplation is interrupted by the distinct sound of a Hollow roaring. Despite knowing how much his power had diminished, Kona hurries to the Hollow's location, only to find its head bifurcated with a flaming wound. Kona looks to see the source of the attack, hearing the distinct clinking of chains from a nearby alley. Before Kona can investigate, he is stopped by Kiyomi who immediately presses him for answers.

The following day, as Kona thinks back the the previous evening, he finds Kasumi being harrased by a number of thugs with motorcycles. Kona steps in to help her, but finds himself overwhelmed, until a stranger from a rival gang shows up. After his warnings to back off are ignored, the stranger helps Kona in driving off the bikers. Kasumi asks if Kona is alright before thanking the stranger, who then introduces himself as Samu Merasaki. Kona recognizes the name, noting Samu had dropped out of college after he'd come back from the United States. Kona thanks Samu for his aid, before noting the level of Reiatsu he's exuding being beyond that of a normal human. That night, Kona follows the reiatsu to Samu's gang's headquarters and finds it surrounded by the bikers from earlier. While he's watching, a hollow identical to the one from the previous night sneaks up on Kona and attacks him. The fight attracts Samu's attention, who is shocked to see Kona as a Shinigami. Samu manages to use a violent explosion from the battle to tell his gang that a violent poltergeist is nearby, causing them to flee while he "takes care of it". Samu then transforms the chain-linked necklace he wears into his signature Fullbring; Chain of Oaths. Samu manages to attract the Hollow's attention, allowing Kona to dispatch it. The two then talk, Samu revealing that he knows of the existence of Shinigami and comments on the fact that Kona's Shihakusho has diminished almost to little more than a sleeve and his Zanpakuto. The two part ways, Samu reassuring Kona that they will meet again. The next morning, Kona is surprised to see Samu applying for a security job at the college, with Kasumi mistakenly thinking that Samu might have fallen in love with her.

Four nights later, Kiyomi is seen watching over Kona as the substitute Shinigami enjoys a relaxing night with Mariko at home. However, she is shocked to see a Spirit Butterfly fly past to her shoulder before hearing a familiar voice greeting her; Rukia Kuchiki, captain of the 13th division. Rukia inquires as to Kiyomi’s health before confirming with her that Kona is the substitute Shinigami she had informed the Soul Society about. Rukia then states that she has not been sent to deal with the substitute, but rather to address another report; the existence of a Quincy in the form of Shirohime Aikami. After Kiyomi tries to defend Shirohime’s innocence of any crimes, Kiyomi is interrupted by Sakimori Matsudaira, who presses Kiyomi to admit that one of Shironhime’s first actions after the revelations of her Quincy status was to fight Kona. Rukia orders Sakimori to restrain himself before telling Kiyomi that Rukia’s orders were to take Shirohime alive if possible. Kiyomi thanks Rukia, but is shocked as Sakimori whispers that while Rukia was ordered to capture Aikami, he has orders from Kiyomi’s aunt to execute the Quincy. Kiyomi tries to stop them, but is too slow to prevent Rukia and Sakimori from heading towards Aikami’s Residence.

Kona opens his window and calls to Kiyomi, confirming he sensed some insanely powerful figures, Kiyomi admitting that two captain-class Shinigami have come for Shirohime Aikami and that she can’t stop them. Kona then demands that Kiyomi force his soul from his body so he can stop them, but Kiyomi refuses; she knows that Kona is no match for either Rukia or Sakimori. However, both are surprised by the sudden arrival of Naoto, who remarks about their situation being grim before offering Kona a special pill, akin to a Konpaku. Naoto explains that the pill is a modified Konpaku pill that will allow Kona to leave his physical body to fight as a Shinigami, but rather than install a dummy soul in his place, it will instead recharge his diminished Reiatsu for a time. Kiyomi tries to stop Kona from taking the pill, but is once again too slow to prevent it. Kona emerges from his body with his Shihakusho fully intact and stable. Kona thanks Naoto before taking off towards the Aikami Residence. Kiyomi remarks that Naoto has killed Kona, but Naoto replies that Kona won’t die tonight; a rather terrifying woman wouldn’t allow it.

As Rukia and Sakimori approach the Aikami residence, they are joined by a third Shinigami, Raiko Surik, who states that Rukia shouldn’t have to steep so low as to bother with someone so weak. Rukia wonders if he really thinks that before the trio quickly evade a large ring blade flying though the air. Raiko looks around for the origin of the attack and identifies the source as Ayame Kobayakawa, who catches the blade before ordering the trio of Shinigami to disperse. Raiko grins before drawing his Zanpakuto, only to be shocked when he is struck in the shoulder by a Heilig Pfiel. Aikami is then seen standing on the Residences roof, bow ready to fire again, before informing the Shinigami that was a warning shot. Rukia implores Aikami to stand down, but Sakimori politely asks Rukia to stand aside since it’s clear Aikami has no intentions of coming quietly. He then draws his Zanpakuto from his sleeve before grinning and remarking that tonight is already so much fun.

A short while later, Kona arrives at the Aikami residence, finding Ayame lying barely conscious on the ground outside the residence. Kona checks on her, the maid confirming that she’ll be alright and that Aikami retreated to the labyrinth before imploring Kona to save Aikami. Kona then proceeds to Aikami’s basement and find Raiko Surik waiting for him. Raiko indentifies himself before telling Kona that he’s the lieutenant of the 13th division. Kona notes the blood on Raiko’s Zanpakuto before asking if Raiko was the one fighting Ayame. Raiko states that he was before being left stunned as Kona’s Reiatsu suddenly skyrockets. Raiko, dumbfounded, states that this shouldn’t be possible; Kona’s Reiatsu should have been all but expended by this point and now he was suddenly not only in peak condition, but had surpassed Kiyomi in raw power despite the fact that as a substitute he should only be half as strong as her at most. Kona then rushes Raiko, Zanpakuto in hand, forcing the lieutenant onto the defensive. After exchanging blows for a while, Raiko finds himself forced against the wall of the labyrinth before Kona cuts him deeply from the left shoulder down to his midriff. Before Kona can finish Raiko off, however, Aikami is suddenly sent flying through the labyrinths wall. Kona leaps up to catch her, noting that she was badly injured and barely conscious. Looking towards Raiko, Kona sees that Sakimori is now standing in front of the wounded Lieutenant. Sakimori tells Raiko to remain where he is and that Sakimori would “avenge” him. Kona notes a black, serpent-headed chain circling around Sakimori as well as a pair of knives in his hand before laying Aikami down behind him. Kona states that he won’t let Sakimori touch her again, causing Sakimori to grin. Sakimori then flash steps in front of Kona, before stating that an amateur like Kona can’t stop anything.

Kona quickly takes note that the chain has disappeared, before looking behind him to see it flying downwards towards Aikami. Kona barely reaches her in time to deflect it, but is then cut across the back by Sakimori’s knives. The chain then quickly circles back and grazes Kona’s right shoulder while Sakimori lands several more cuts upon the Substitute. Kona grabs Aikami before leaping back as the chain resumes circling Sakimori. Realising that he can’t beat Sakimori, Kona starts to run, Sakimori taunting him that all Aikami could do was run as well. Kona doesn’t get far from the Aikami residence before Sakimori suddenly flash steps in front of him. Sakimori mockingly states that Kona did his best but it just wasn’t enough. He then strikes Kona with a Doruken from his Zanpakuto, causing Kona to fall to the ground along with Aikami. As Kona lies there, starting to bleed out, Sakimori casually approaches, whistling as he twirls one of his knives. Kona tries to move, but finds his strength fading fast…and his Shihakusho and Zanpakuto along with it. Sakimori then confirms that Kona’s Subsitute Shinigami powers have finally been spent and that now he is even more helpless than the barely conscious girl. As Sakimori readies his knife to finish Kona off, to Rukia’s protests, a hand suddenly grabs Sakimori before a voice Kona struggles to recognise tells Sakimori that if he advances even one inch further, he will die. Sakimori looks over his shoulder and sees Mariko, now clad in white attire and with fragments of a hollow mask along her jawline and bust, a Zanpakuto resting at her waist. Aikami flinches as an immense amount of Reiatsu starts to radiate from Mariko before she throws Sakimori into the air. When Mariko chases Sakimori, Rukia flash steps down to Kona before offering to heal his wounds. Kona is initially distrustful, but relents when Rukia sets her Zanpakuto aside.

Meanwhile, Sakimori is quickly put onto the defensive after receiving a barrage of Hierro-enhanced punches from Mariko before she effortlessly catches his black chain, remarking that his Zanpakuto isn’t that far detached from another Shinigami she knows. She then proceeds to snap it, forcing Sakimori to seal it and return it to his sleeve. Mariko then unsheathes her Zanpakuto, causing Sakimori to question why she cares so much about some Substitute Shinigami and a Quincy only for Mariko to respond that the Substitute Shinigami is under her care and if anything happened to him, she’d never be able to face his father again. She then causes her blade to vibrate quickly before discharging a Sonic Boom-like projectile at Sakimori. As the ensuing smoke cloud dissipates, Sakimori is revealed to be alive, if injured. He then calls Mariko a bitch before stating that as soon as his spirit seal is removed that she is dead. However, Sakimori is interrupted by Rukia, who has flash stepped behind him while carrying the unconscious Raiko Surik, Rukia stating that they’d never get the approval from Kyoraku to escalate this battle further when retreat was always an option for now. Mariko questions why Rukia thinks she’d let them retreat, only for Rukia to reply that Kona is her primary concern. Mariko accepts this, sheathing her weapon, before telling Rukia that if they’re going to leave then now is as good a time as any. Rukia thanks her for understanding before opening a gate to the Soul Society. Sakimori insists on staying, but Rukia then coldly states that even Fusa wouldn’t allow Sakimori to remain. Sakimori then reluctantly follows Rukia back to the Soul Society, while Mariko goes to check on Kona, confirming that Rukia did indeed heal his injuries…but his Shinigami powers have remained lost. Aikami rises to her feet, her injuries also healed, before studying Mariko. She thanks Mariko for saving them, before turning to leave. The next morning, Kona is awoken by Mariko, once more in her human guise before commenting that he was helpless. Mariko asks him when, Kona responding the previous night but even more so now. He knows that the Soul Society will come for Aikami again, and next time he won’t be able to do anything at all. Mariko asks if he hates that fact, Kona responds that he does. Mariko closes her eyes and sighs before violently dragging Kona by the ear. As they leave the house, they pass by Kasumi and Akemi, with both sisters wondering what’s going on this time. Meanwhile, within Aikami’s labyrinth, Shirohime and Ayame are seen sparring via pseudo-combat within the labyrinth, Aikami violently ordering Ayame to come at her with her full strength. Ayame responds that she is already doing so only for Aikami to screech in frustration. Ayame then politely tells Shirohime that the reason the Quincy isn’t getting stronger training with her is simply because Shirohime has far surpassed anything Ayame is capable of and thus isn’t testing, reaching or breaking through her limits.

Soon afterwards, Mariko casually tosses Kona in front of Naoto at his troupe’s camp on the outskirts of Mira Town. Mariko bluntly states that she knows that Naoto was able to recharge the powers Kona received from Kiyomi and that he should therefore be able to restore them completely. However, Naoto responds that even if he could it would make no difference as Kona would simply have temporary powers that aren’t truly his. But Naoto could do something better; he could awaken the dormant powers within Kona for his permanent, and far more effective, use. Kona, when asked for an explanation, is told that the powers he received from Kiyomi were temporary and normally would have only lasted two-three days at most with the most minimal of use. However, Kona wasn’t normal and rather than simply dissipate, Kiyomi’s loaned powers had instead begun to awaken Kona’s own powers, allowing him to sustain the power loaned to him by Kiyomi until they could supplant them entirely. However, the events of the previous night had managed to prevent this due to Kona receiving injuries that drained Kiyomi’s powers from Kona entirely. Kona pressed Naoto further, the troupe leader then stating that if Kona really wanted access to his own Shinigami powers then Naoto would help him…but it would be dangerous and there is a chance Kona would die…or worse. Still, Kona insisted that Naoto help him.

Later, Kona and Naoto are standing outside a tent, Naoto holding something hidden underneath a cloth in his hand. Naoto then informs Kona that the key to making him a Shinigami for real was first to separate his physical and spiritual bodies. He then throws the cloth aside, revealing some novelty gun with a boxing glove attached to the loaded shot. Kona wonders if Naoto is serious, only for Naoto to fire at him, the glove colliding with Kona and pushing his soul out of his body. Kona remarks that the shot hurt before looking at the chain of fate connecting his soul to body and remembering it from the night he was attacked by a hollow. Naoto indentifies it again as his Chain of Fate and notes that as long as it was attached to his body, then he was alive and safe from becoming a hollow. Naoto then calmly states that this won’t do, before firing a second shot at Kona aimed right at the connecting point upon his chest only this shot was tipped with a large, cartoonish skull which bit into Kona’s chain of fate before shattering it. With barely a few inches of chain between the new end of it and his chest, Kona starts to panic, though Naoto calmly informs him that in a few moments, his soul would be in flux and that this was the perfect time to awaken his powers. No sooner had Naoto finished saying this than the remainder of Kona’s chain turned into mouths that quickly ate through itself before leaving a gaping hole in his chest. As Kona screamed in agony, a white mask began to form over Kona’s face before he lost consciousness.

Kona blinks his eyes a few times as he looks at a night time sky, empty of everything except a crescent moon. Kona slowly pulls himself upright to find himself lying in a field by a dried up lake, a temple built as if it would sit upon the water of the lake. Kona hears the sound of music emanating from the temple and walks in. Once inside the main antechamber, he finds a woman kneeling down, playing a string instrument. The woman is pale-skinned with raven hair and piercing silver eyes, clad from her nose down to her toes in jet black bandages, with a rough black cloak draped over her shoulders. The woman states that it is good that Kona has come, since their time is so short. Kona asks her for her name, but hears nothing in reply before she remarks that perhaps now is not the time for formal introductions and that all Kona needs to know is that she wants to help him. The woman then sets aside her instrument before standing up. Kona quickly remarks that a dried-up lake is strange place for a temple, only for the woman to respond that the lake only dried up last night…after it had been fuller than it had ever been. Kona is left stunned as the ground starts to shake violently, the woman then stating that they have time left to waste. She then snaps her fingers, causing four torches in the corners of the room to sudden burst alight with black flames, fully illuminating the room and revealing four vases, one in each corner. The woman informs Kona that this world will soon collapse, and Kona will become a Hollow…unless he can locate his Shinigami powers in one of these vases…and he only has time to check one. Kona is left stunned as he feels the ground shudder, pondering how to locate his powers. As he almost gives in, much to the woman’s dismay, he remembers all the people he met as a Shinigami and everything he fought for…until he remembers when Aikami revealed she knew about his powers. Suddenly, Kona causes four ribbons to appear, one from each vase, with one of the four being red. Kona quickly rushes to that vase and finds the handle of a Zanpakuto. The woman, now behind Kona, congratulates him before hoping that next time they meet, he will hear her name. Kona is stunned until she presses him to pull out the sword.

Kona suddenly shoots awake and finds himself standing up, clad in a Shihakusho, his Zanpakuto in hand…and Aikami with her bow firmly trained upon him. He hears what sounds like ceramics shattering on the ground around him, revealing fragments of hollow skin falling from his body. Aikami dismisses her bow before running up to Kona and hugging him firmly, crying while insisting that she’s glad he’s alright. Kona asks what happened, prompting Naoto to explain that Kona had begun turning into a Hollow and while his mind was in his Inner Spirit World, his body was violently rampaging around. Aikami had come looking for him and had assisted Naoto in non-fatally restraining Kona. Naoto then quickly tries flattering Aikami, only for Aikami to bluntly blow him off. Naoto, humming, quickly dashes to a nearby chest before withdrawing what appeared to be a Zanpakuto. Kona asks if that is Naoto’s Zanpakuto, Naoto replies it isn’t; the long cloth he keeps draped around his body is his Zanpakuto. Naoto proceeds to explain that Zanpakuto generally come in two forms; the sealed form like the one Kona is holding, or the released form like Naoto’s cloth. Naoto also explains that the black chain that Sakimori had was also his Zanpakuto, Kage no Hebi, and that the knives he was using were like the blade Naoto was holding, artificial weapons without spirits designed to be effective against Spiritual Entities, closer in nature to a Quincie’s Spirit Weapons. He then identifies the sword he’s holding as a Soul Saber and that it will suffice for Kona’s training. Aikami suddenly buts in, demanding to know when they’re going to start her training. Naoto coldly replies that he lied about that since he wants to focus only on his “darling” Kona, with whom she was not worthy to train.

Enraged, Aikami immediately conjures her bow and fires at Naoto, though none of her Heilig Pfiel are able to make contact. Naoto warns her to stop, or else he might be forced to kill her. Naoto then blocks an attack from Kona, who reminds Naoto that he's still here and he won't let Naoto hurt Aikami. Naoto is intrigued, agreeing to fight the two of them at once but focuses his efforts upon Kona. Aikami notices this, pushing herself to fire more arrows faster than she had ever attempted, but even this effort proves useless. Naoto quickly forces her to the ground, reminding her of the difference between her and himself and stating that if she can't land a decent hit upon him then she'll remain helpless against the likes of Sakimori. Aikami rebuts that she's trying her hardest and is firing more arrows than she'd ever pushed herself to before. Naoto notes she's not lying, her hands are bleeding from the strain, before sighing and flash stepping back to his trunk and pulling out some kind of glove, which he throws at her feet. Aikami identifies it as a Sanrei Glove and asks how Naoto has one. Naoto points out that is irrelevant but states that mastering the usage of that glove is the key to advancing her skills as a Quincy. Aikami accepts the glove, donning it but noting it's loose. Naoto states that if she can maintain a continuous fire of arrows, then the glove should come to fit quite well and her ability to gather and manipulate Reishi will improve immensely. Aikami accepts this and dashes off to begin her new training as Naoto returns his attention to Kona. Kona mentions that Naoto spoke about Zanpakuto having multiple forms and thus his Zanpakuto had to have another form as well. Naoto confirms this and says that is the next stage of his training; to learn the name of his Zanpakuto and awaken his Shikai. To be continued...