Chapter one

Utter bliss filled Namiji as she rested her head against her Ashikabi, happiness exploded out from the deepest parts of her very soul as she basked in the young man's essence. She reveled in the feeling that came with her new bond and clung tightly to the shell-shocked young man with a content smile.

Then she was gently but firmly grabbed by the shoulders and pushed a bit back away by the very man she'd just bonded herself to.

"Okay that's about enough of that I think."

And then that feeling was washed way under the force of her sudden unease.

Namiji looked genuinely confused and a bit hurt as she gazed up into the amber eyes of Ichigo.

"W-what's wrong?" she asked.

Ichigo gave a shocked stare. "What's wrong? What's wrong!?" He shook her, still holding her shoulders but it wasn't anything violent or meant to cause any kind of harm. He'd done it more of a subconscious way, as if trying to snap her out of a delusion. He glared, a dark blush marring his face.

"Don't gimme that crap! What the hell was all that kissing and glowing wings and Ashi-whatever crap about a second ago!?"

And why the hell did it feel like he had a new zanpakutou? That was the biggest question he had but he really didn't think she'd know what the fuck he was talking about. Well...perhaps not entirely. And that's not even counting the fact that he'd have to answer a million questions himself if he said it like that.

The girl suddenly looked distraught. "Are-are you regretting this already? But why? You-You agreed! You agreed to be my Ashikabi!"

Ichigo opened his mouth to respond but paused when the bond with the girl suddenly acted. And a wave of pure emotion...pleading and mounting despair along with hope and...the purest love he'd ever felt washed over him. It was on a level that shouldn't even exist.

"W-what...what the hell is this!?" he thought. He was almost overwhelmed by the Hurricane of emotion coming from the girl.

And through all of that he felt something else. It was like a resonance with his soul, her mind connecting with his for a brief moment to communicate with him on a subconscious level.

'Please accept me' she was thinking. 'don't push me away, Ashikabi-sama!' Ichigo's eyes got wider and wider. 'I'll die without you'

Well that settled that. She really was something akin to a zanpakutou then! A sentient being wanting and needing to be used...wielded and loved by a master. And with this revelation came a sudden clarity. A calm acceptance suddenly filled his being as he looked at the girl.

"Namiji," he muttered, proving that he'd been paying attention, even through the chaos of that last minute or so of the girl kissing him and glowing and chanting.

He has no idea when he'd done so, but as he snapped out of his inner dilemma to speak to the girl, his body had reacted seemingly on its own, sliding down the wall and positioning her to sit sideways in his lap. She was on the very edge of crying, still waiting for his answer as she looked up at him.

"I think I understand what's going on..if only a little." His voice. It was so gentle, so calm. A one-eighty degree change from what it was just a minute ago. A mature and confident voice, belonging to a man able to handle sudden situations with a level head. Something told her that he'd had practice with dealing with life changing dilemmas and had no choice but to grow and mature because of them.

this thought sent pleasant tingles up and down her spine.

"You'll have to tell me the rest of course," he said. "But I know enough to know that we're stuck together for the long haul. I can feel our bond."

Then he did something that shocked her. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her closely to his chest.

"I don't know what you are," he began. "And honestly I'm not really sure I want to delve too deeply into whatever it is you've gotten me into...but."

At this, he smiled. "I can deal." he said. "I said I'd be your...Ashi-whatever."

Namiji giggled, tears no longer threatening to spill from her eyes and nuzzled deeper into his embrace as she spoke. "It's Ashikabi, my master."

"Right." he said. "Anyway, I said I'd be your Ashikabi and I meant it. I'm a man of my word after all. I won't let the surprises that came afterwards keep me from being an honorable man and not keeping it."

And this time, Ichigo was flooded with the purest of happiness through the bond as Namiji broke into near hysterical tears of joy.

And that's when his phone rang...

(-)

Sekirei number six Homura eyed the newly bonded Sekirei and Ashikabi pair with a small smile as they got their debriefing from Minaka via phone, relieved that he wouldn't have to interfere after all. Because for a second it looked like Namiji's new Ashikabi was going to reject her completely, after winging her no less and that just would not do. Namiji would never have been able to recover, she'd have broken her very soul trying to win the man over and she'd fall prey to any number of predators skulking about this city while doing so.

So it was a huge relief that this young man proved to be mature beyond his years and accepted the girl with a soft smile and a hug. He watched them a for few more minutes, raising an eyebrow when the guy said he'd kinda knew what was going on and that he could feel their bond. That suggested that he was able to get a basic and very accurate idea about what his new Sekirei was and make his decision from that info. That was the work of a very intelligent and able mind. But it was odd that he apparently was able to feel the bond so well. It was...downright foreboding.

Because it suggested there was more to this guy than meets the eye.

Come to think of it, Namiji's sudden and very intense reaction to the guy was unheard of too. Sure it wasn't uncommon for a Sekirei to have a strong and sudden reaction to an Ashikabi, but Namiji's in particular was...too intense.

"Just what kind of Ashikabi did you find, little sister?" he muttered. Oh well, he'd leave well enough alone for now. He was just happy for her.

"WHAT!? SCREW YOU! I DONT HAVE TIME TO BE PLAYING IN THIS SO-CALLED GAME! LEAVE US THE FUCK OUT OF IT TEME!"

Homura almost fell from his perch in his shock at the boy's sudden screaming at his phone.

"What the hell?"

Homura looked back down at the boy, curious at his intense reaction.

'Interesting' he thought...

But then something that utterly shocked him occurred not even a few seconds later.

(-)

Ichigo's intense response to Minaka's debriefing shocked the white haired man and startled Namiji who was still sitting in his lap when he started yelling, making her jump and fall out of said lap and hit the ground, rubbing her ringing ears.

Minaka just grinned, recovering from his surprise at Ichigo's yelling. "Ah, then perhaps you should have thought about that before winging number seventy-three there, now shouldn't ya have?"

Ichigo growled. "Shut up. It's not my fault you suck at giving out info or proper warning for this shit. Don't expect me to dance to your tune. Like I said I don't have time nor any desire to get caught up in something like this. Just because one of your Sekirei bonded to me doesn't mean I have to go around fighting in your tournament."`

"Oh but that's exactly what that means my dear boy. You really have no choice in the matter truthfully. I have several...convincing reasons as to why you might as well enjoy yourself in this game, especially if it's the only way to guarantee the safety of you and those you love riiight?"

Something in Minaka's eyes flashed then, and Ichigo instantly transformed before Namiji's eyes because of it, shocking and scaring her a bit. Because Ichigo suddenly transformed from a slightly down on his luck tourist and potential college student with a hopeful outlook on his future, into a battle hardened warrior who somehow projected so much strength in his posture alone that she wondered just what the hell he used to do. Her bond with him flooded her, filling her with an intense feeling of absolute rage and grim determination, just a hair's breadth from exploding out in all directions. Minaka only had to say the right combination of words to set him off...and Namiji knew...right then that her Ashikabi would bring hell down upon him if he did. He'd do that to anyone who made him feel legitimately threatened.

And Minaka Hirato was just millimeters away from making him feel that way.

"Say that again?" he said, his voice barely above that of a whisper. There was no emotion whatsoever in that sentence.

But the feeling was there...the words.

"I dare you," echoed through the confines of the soul of the Sekirei over her bond. But even outside, the message was clear. Minaka understood immediately and even though logic dictated that this boy was no threat to him, he still found adrenalin rushing through his veins, his heartbeat suddenly go into overtime and his very instincts scream at him to run away from this...predator. But he steeled his resolve, gave a big goofy grin and waved.

"I stand by my words Mr. Kurosaki! Oh and be sure to keep this whole game a secret for now. Ta." Then he hung up.

Ichigo stared at the phone for what felt like an eternity, numerous intense emotions flashing through his eyes. His eyes were so intense, memories assaulting his mind as he remembered the last time such a threat had been issued to him. It threatened to consume him, turning him into the soldier he was.

but then the sudden short gasp snapped him out of it, causing him to relax and turn to Namiji who was gaping at him with a light blush on her cheeks.

"A-are you...Okay, Ashikabi-Sama?"

Ichigo blushed.

"Enough with that already!"

Namiji giggled, relief flooding her as she tackled him in a hug.

"Gah!"

(-)

Homura gaped.

"Holy shit," he said.

What he just saw down there defied all logic. Even he from upon his perch high above the pair, felt that's guy's killing intent. It was unreal. Not even Miya projected such a terrifying aura. Just who the hell was this guy!? His mind warred with himself. What the hell was he to do with this sudden knowledge?

That such a dangerous individual had just entered the game? because there was no denying it. This man, as young and innocent as he appeared was anything but that. He was exactly what he was trying to hide. A very dangerous individual. He saw the warrior's gleam in those eyes. Eyes that spoke of experience that far outstripped anyone he'd ever seen, except the original members of the disciplinary squad. He sw the way the guy's body moved, fluid and without flaw...unnatural.

Hardened.

He saw the soldier...the deadly warrior beneath the facade of a boy.

And he just gained a super powered alien woman as his willing tool.

But as he looked down at the pair, watching the boy as Namiji affectionately showed her approval of his display of strength, sputter and blush like a shy schoolboy, he relaxed.

The boy was only as dangerous as you made him.

He'd make his own appearance eventually.

He concluded this as he teleported away in whirl of flames.

Miya would learn about him on her own. No need to hasten the meeting.

(-)

'Hmm?"

As Namiji nuzzled his neck, Ichigo thought he caught a glimpse of something glowing and orange from somewhere above him. But as he looked up, all he saw was the night sky. "Weird,"

"Is there something wrong?" asked his Sekirei, looking genuinely concerned. Ichigo turned his attention back to the girl in his arms and gave a sigh. "Only the obvious," he said with a wry grin, making her pout cutely. Then he began to rise, gently easing Namiji up off of him. "But seriously. We still have much to talk about."

Namiji was almost tempted to stubbornly remain in her extremely comfortable resting place, but the serious look in her Ashikabi's eyes made her sigh and reluctantly rise to her feet.

"I-I suppose so." She held her right forearm nervously, unkowingly doing a wonderful job of pressing her impressive bust outwards, making Ichigo blush just a bit. "What else did you want to talk about?" Between Minaka's half assed explanation and the feelings from the bond, Ichigo was still pretty in the dark about what this whole thing actually entailed. So actual information was due.

On top of that, there was his own past to delve into. He figured that might be coming up some time down the road.

"Well" he began, an awkward laugh escaping his lips. "First, I should properly introduce myself, seeing as how that seems to have never happened."

She giggled.

"My name is Kurosaki Ichigo. And before you say anything, no it doesn't mean strawberry."

Namiji for the most part withheld her affectionate and amused giggle. Ichigo sighed and hefted his duffel bag over shoulder before bending down to pick up the halberd. "Here," he said, handing it to her without much thought at all, missing her widening eyes as the fact that he did it with one hand. The thing should be too heavy for a human to just be able to sling around like that. There should have been even a little bit of strain.

"Let's find a hotel first. Then we can talk." He began to walk off, already knowing the girl would follow him. There was a brief flash of a pair of familiar faces within his mind. 'And to make a phone call' he muttered, suddenly connecting some dots.

Namiji got over her shock quickly. Her mind dismissed the apparent strength of her new ashikabi.

Ashikabi...

Every time she uttered that word in her mind, ripples of pleasant happiness wracked her body with shudders.

And she was going to bask in this feeling.

Every day.

AN: ugh sorry for takin so long. I get these sudden bursts of creative a motivated writing...then it just...fades. I'm tellin ya when i first started writing fics a few years ago i could pump out a 16 page chapter everyday! but life gets more stressful the older ya get haha. not as much free time and way more for the mind to focus and stress out on.

Next chapter soon. I'll even get it started right now to keep the creative juices flowing.