Bleach: Familiar Stranger

Chapter 2

Eito could tell this was a stubborn man – his years of dealing with people made his intuition very reliable. It seems Ichigo wouldn't take no for an answer. He sighed.

'You can enroll in Shin'o Academy.' He finally offered, reserving the knowledge that not just any average Joe could pass the entrance exam. This guy would eventually give up when he faces his limits.

Before Ichigo left, he was told by Eito to return the next day when a Shinigami would be present to allow him to enter Shin'o Academy.

'Oi, I heard you were bullying my brother?' Ichigo heard a voice call out as he was walking along the street. Looking at the people around him going about their usual business, Ichigo decided the voice was most likely addressing him. He turned around.

The voice belonged to a tall and lanky Shinigami with the annoying kid who jumped at him hiding behind the Shinigami's shihakushou. Predicting what the Shinigami had called him for, Ichigo was hoping he was wrong. Please, please let them not have come asking for a fight. Ichigo was dressed in a plain brown yukata that was provided by the kind caretaker, and he had no sword – not even a wooden practice blade. Sure, he could probably take out this Shinigami without one, and if the situation became dire, he could manifest Zangetsu or Shiro as he wishes, but that's an extreme measure that shouldn't be used around regular citizens. He also didn't want to attract too much attention right when he just arrived.

'Well, I was-' Ichigo began to explain before he was cut off when the Shinigami attacked him without notice.

Fortunately, they kept to hand-to-hand combat and Ichigo could see that the Shinigami would be in trouble as well if he misused his Zanpakutou. A few punches and blocks later, it became obvious that neither of them were getting the upper hand.

'You're good.' The Shinigami commented as both fighters backed off.

Ichigo would have liked to return the compliment if he wasn't so desperately trying to lower his combat ability to that of his opponent, and Shiro wasn't so painfully resisting. Zangetsu, just standing still spectating, was being no help at all.

Whack- The Shinigami was hit on the head with a flying slipper. Ichigo was surprised. It gave him pause – he was hardly ever surprised in battle anymore after learning that a hollow could open a Garganta and attack his blind side. There was a nasty scar the first time that had happened during the war.

'You imbecile! How old must you be before you start thinking before you hit?' The owner of the slipper came forward with another slipper in her hand looming so threateningly above her head.

'Ahh haa... Obaa-san...' The Shinigami began sheepishly, pointing at Ichigo, 'he was fighting too...'

Ichigo scoffed. What a coward.

However, seeing the old lady's expression, Ichigo had to concede that women were scary when mad – heck, they're even scary when not. Ichigo was bracing himself for the same treatment when, on the contrary, the old lady said, 'I'm so sorry for these two kids. They've brought you a lot of trouble,' gesturing to the now subdued Shinigami and kid. Ichigo figured this old lady must be related to them somehow.

Feeling a tiny bit sorry for the duo, Ichigo decided they hadn't meant much harm and let them off the hook. 'It's nothing, I'm completely fine.'

'My grandkids are always causing me trouble, but they're essentially good kids. I hope you don't hold anything against them, sir.' The old lady regarded Ichigo before saying.

'It's really okay. I'll be on my way then.' Ichigo wanted to hurry out of there now as more and more people were crowding around for gossip content. Seeing a Shinigami stop to talk to someone was already a big enough deal, much less fight that person. Ichigo also had to head back to the shelter he came from to see if he could spend the night.