Ichigo dodge another death strike from the crazy store manager.

Last week had looked so promising too, but then Rukia had been kidnapped and he almost killed.

Urahara had offered to help him 'regain his powers', and almost without thinking Ichigo jumped at the chance.

That's when his week started its even greater downward spiral.

First came that absurdly strong little girl, that had been scary but nothing he couldn't handle.

Then there was that evil pit that will forever haunt his darkest nightmares. He'd nearly lost his soul and turned into a hollow, but in the end, after the weirdest dream of a falling city, he prevailed.

Now, however, said crazy shopkeeper Urahara decides to lose his remaining sanity and chase Ichigo around with a very sharp sword he pulled from his cane.

That leads to the present where Ichigo is running for his life.

'Wait,' a sudden thought struck our young shinigami.

'He pulled that sword from his cane, so it shouldn't be able to hurt me!'

He quickly turned around to test his theory and for his efforts was rewarded with a swipe to his head, that drew a line of blood across his cheek and nearly dislodged the piece of bone mask that he had acquired in the nightmare pit.

"I bet you were thinking ' That sword cant hurt me', well I'm sorry to disappoint you but she is 100% soul slayer."

He ran a hand almost lovingly across the blade. "Sing, Benihime!"

And that's when all hell broke loose.

"If you insist on using that," he motioned to the pieces of sword in the boys hands," then I'm going to have to kill you."

Ichigo ran.

'If I just had a sword!' Ichigo thought frantically as he clutched what was left of his sword hilt.

The floor next to him exploded.

'I'm so weak, I'm going to really die!'

A fist slammed his head into the rocks below. Ichigo didn't know if he was grateful or insulted that Urahara didn't use his sword.

' Why did I run? This is so embarrassing.'

He was crawling now, body too injured to stand.

"Gee Partner, you're so weak."

Ichigo's eyes widened and he saw a white figure standing in front of him, smirking.

"You… who are you?"

The figure grinned maniacally showing black teeth. His face looked so similar to Ichigo's own; in fact they could have been twins if the other wasn't completely white with yellow eyes.

"Well, partner, who do you think I am?"

The memory of his fight with that Renji guy filled his mind.

" Are, are you my sword's spirit?"

If anything the white figure's smirk grew even more sending chills down the orange haired boy's spine.

"If that's what you think I am, then I guess I am!"

His yellow eyes looked beyond Ichigo, to where an insane hat and clogs wearing merchant was approaching, sword drawn, and narrowed almost unnoticeably.

"Well, you better cal your sword's name or you'll be dead in a minute." He frowned and looked with innocent curiosity at the ceiling so very far above them, "I wonder if you can even hear it you?"

The figure glared at Ichigo who still was on the ground.

"What are you afraid of, only the weak are afraid because the weak die. Get up and don't stop fighting. Because if you do, you're not worth my time."

Ichigo shook with fear, but stood a new blaze of something, maybe pride maybe determination, gleaming in his eye.

"Come on say your sword's name!"

Crouching as if to unsheathe a sword Ichigo felt something inside of himself change.

A strong wind from nowhere roared through him as he turned to Urahara roaring "Zangetsu!"

The dust collected by the wind dispersed revealing Ichigo's new sword.

It was huge, a cleaver meant to break through all form and subtlety.

There was no hilt, no guard, only white metal with a dark edge and a black strip of cloth at the end where the boy held it.

Strangely the piece of bone mask still sat comfortably on his orange hair, undisturbed by both the wind or the violent struggle that preceded it.

Urahara's demonic demeanor seemed to vanish instantly. He smiled.

"Now since your soul cutter's appeared, lets officially start test three!"

"Sorry," Ichigo's voice broke this overly cheery declaration," you will have to hide well, because I'm not going to hold back."

"Wha?"

"I promised someone I wouldn't stop till I beat you, or I wouldn't be worth their time."

Power spiraled round him as he lifted his sword from the ground and slashed.

The dust settled revealing a canyon like crater stretching the span of the underground base.

"Hm, if I hadn't erected this barrio in time I could have lost an arm. Even my hat's ruined."

Carefully Urahara approached the collapsed and snoozing teen propped up on his giant sword.

"Congratulations, you've passed test three!"