4: Substitute Shinigami


Dreamscape, Tobi's POV

Stop me if you heard this one. You find yourself sitting at a small table in a white void, all while having some tea with an unknown stranger, who is giving you some advice in life.

Tobi: So, what you're saying is that...there's more to me than meets the eye...?

???: That's right, Tobi. You may not know it yet, but when the time comes, you'll know.

I nod my head and get up to leave. But before I do that, I'd just remembered something.

Tobi: Hey, I'd just remembered something... Why do they call you "The Booty Warrior"...?

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The Booty Warrior: Because...I'm looking for man's butt...

Tobi: ...Okay...

End of dream, No POV

Once Tobi woke up from that BIZARRE dream, all Tobi could say is...

Tobi: ...Why do I feel like taking a shower...?

(Cue opening)

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After washing up a bit, Tobi heads to his mother's room to check on Rukia, but she wasn't there anymore.

Tobi: Hm, she must've left.

Tobi notices a letter on the table next to the bed. He picks it up and reads it.

Tobi,

Thank you for allowing me to stay at your house for the night.
But right now, I have to leave. So don't worry about me.

Sincerely, Rukia

He then downstairs and makes himself breakfast; eggs and bacon with toast. Once he's finished, he watches his dishes, puts them away, grabs his bag and heads to the door. But he stops when he notices...his skateboard.

Tobi: ...I'm not gonna take it...

He grabs the skateboard.

Tobi: I'm not gonna take it outside...

He opens the door and goes outside with it.

Tobi: And I most definitely not gonna--

Tobi jumps on his skateboard and starts riding to school.

Karakura High School

Tobi: Good morning, Ichigo!

Tobi now stands in front of the entrance of the school, greeting himself to Ichigo...while covered in dirt.

Ichigo: Um...what happened to you...? 🤨

Tobi: *being casual* Oh, nothing much... Just crashed into a bush while skateboarding here.

Ichigo: Wait, when did you have a skateboard?

Tobi: For a year now. I sometimes go to the park and practice. Here, let me show you this cool trick!

Tobi then proceeds to kick off his skateboard and makes it flip in the air before catching it.

Tobi: Ta-da!!

Ichigo: Whoa, that was impressive.

Tobi: By the way, is your family okay? Are they at the hospital, right now?

Ichigo: Well... This morning...

Earlier

Isshin: GOOD MORNING, ICHIGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

*CRASH*

Ichigo: GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

It cuts to Ichigo, who is now grabbing his father by his face and holding him down.

Ichigo: *annoyed* You bastard... You got a lot of guts to attack your son as he sleeps in...! 😠

Isshin: Guaa...! Not bad, my son...! I...have nothing left to teach you...!!

But Ichigo realized something was different about his dad, as his injuries were completely gone.

Ichigo: You... What about your injuries?

Isshin: Injuries? What are you talking about? When did I get hurt?

Ichigo: *confused* What?

It then cuts to outside, where the hole from last night was now covered.

Isshin: *confident* I don't know how, but it sure is a miracle! For a truck to crash into the house and for nobody to get injured!

Yuzu: Though it's even more miraculous that nobody woke up! Oh, Brother! Breakfast is ready!

Karin: (-_-) Yeah, right. Thanks to that, the criminal got away. *thoughts* What's with this family?

Isshin: Don't worry! He'll come back to apologize some day!

Karin: NO HE WON'T!

Yuzu: *to Ichigo* If you don't eat soon, you'll be late.

Ichigo's thoughts: ...What's going on...? Everyone's wounds have been healed... And they think the damage to the house was an accident... This is Shinigami-style damage control?

He then thinks about Rukia.

Ichigo's thoughts: Did that person...go back to that Soul Society place...

End of flashback

Ichigo: And that's how it happened.

Tobi: Oh, so that was she meant when she said they won't "remember a thing" when they woke up.

Ichigo: *curious* Hm? What do you mean...?

Tobi: Well, after you passed out after you kicked that Hollow's ass, Rukia used this weird-looking device to knock them out. She said that she replaced their memories of last night. After that, she healed them up and I helped bring them to their rooms. After that, I let her stay over at my house, but when I woke up, she was already gone. And I was gonna ask her if she wanted pancakes.

Ichigo: ...I see...

Class 1-3

Keigo: Hey, Ichigo, I heard that a truck crashed into your house last night.

Ichigo: Yeah, that's what happened.

Mizuiro: You're gonna clean it up?

Ichigo: Are you kidding? That'll take forever.

Chad: Need a hand...?

Ichigo: *smiles nervously* U-um, no thanks...

Tobi: Does anyone know what class we have next?

Mizuiro: Language.

Tobi: Polish.

???: ...Excuse me... Are you Tobi and Kurosaki-kun?

Tobi and Ichigo looks to see who's asking for them, and to their surprise...it was Rukia, who is wearing the Karakura High School girl's uniform and holding a book.

Rukia: *smiles innocently* Nice to meet you!

Tobi: Oh, nice to meet you, too!

Mizuiro: Oh, this is Rukia Kuchiki. She transferred in today. It's a weird time, but her family was in a situation where they had to move suddenly.

Ichigo: Y... You... Why...

Mizuiro: Hm? What's wrong?

Tobi: Well, last night--

Rukia: Oh, excuse me, Tobi, but i don't have a textbook yet. May I...look at yours?

Tobi: Oh, sure. Just let me--

But as soon as Tobi was about to hand Rukia his textbook, he gets a glimpse of writing on Rukia's palm that reads "If you say a word, I'll kill you both" on it. Ichigo also sees it and it too freaks out.

Tobi: ...(0_0)...

Rukia: 😏

Later

The three are now in an area where there's no witnesses.

Rukia: *feigning innocence* Leading me to such and empty place, what does thou intend of me?

Ichigo: *annoyed* Stop with the weird way of talking!

Rukia: Weird? How rude, is it not good for someone who learned in one day?

Tobi: I thought it was cool.

Rukia: Thank you.

Ichigo: Shut up! Just explain what's going on!

Rukia: Explain?

Ichigo: Yeah! Isn't your job over!? Why are you in my class? Didn't you go back to that Soul Society place!?

Rukia: *being serious* You fool. Only Shinigami can return to Soul Society. Right now, I am not able to return there.

Ichigo: *confused* Huh? What do you...

Rukia: Because... I lost my Shinigami powers!

Ichigo: *⁉️* ...Wha... B... But I'm no longer a Shinigami (no kimono)!! Where did these "Shinigami powers" go?

Rukia:"Inside" of you. It's not your "body", but your "soul" that became a Shinigami.

Ichigo: ..............

Rukia: Anyway! Last night, I had almost all of my powers taken by you! I have but barley any abilities left... I'm even forced to be in this "Gigai"!

Ichigo: Gigai? 🤨

Rukia: It is the Shinigami's other body to be used in emergency situations. A weakened Shinigami enters it to wait for their powers to recover.

Tobi: *nods his heads* Mm-hmm... 🤔

Rukia: *looks at Tobi* I see you understand, now?

Tobi: ...Nope, I don't understand...!

Rukia: *sighs* Of course... Okay, in other words, it allows normal humans to see us Shinigami whenever we're in the World of the Living.

Tobi: Ohhh...

Rukia: *blunt* You still don't understand, do you?

Tobi: No, I do not! 😋

Rukia simply sighs and turns back to Ichigo.

Rukia: Ichigo Kurosaki... Until my powers return, you will take over my Shinigami duties!

Ichigo: Ah!?

Rukia: Of course you're the one that has the Shinigami powers now. I will assist you of course. Also, you have no right to refuse, since you were...

Ichigo: I refuse!

Rukia: ......What?

Ichigo: I said I refuse! I'm not fighting those monsters ever again.

Rukia: W... Wait! You... Yesterday!

Ichigo: Yesterday I was only able to fight...because my family was in danger. I ain't fighting monsters like that for total strangers! I'm not that nice of a person!!

Tobi: But you helped Keigo, and he was kind of a stranger.

Ichigo: *looks at Tobi* You stay out of this.

Tobi: Okay.

Ichigo: *back to Rukia* Anyway, sorry if I disappointed you!

Rukia: ...I see...

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Rukia: Then I have no choice!

Ichigo: *⁉️* What are...

Before Ichigo could finish his question, Rukia uses the strange glove... And pushes Ichigo's soul out.

Tobi: ...

Ichigo: *⁉️* WAAA!? WHAT'S THIS!? MY SOUL HAS BEEN REMOVED!! *looks at his body* HEY, BODY! SNAP OUT OF IT!!

Rukia: Hey, follow me!

Ichigo: Hmm?

Tobi: Can I come, too?

Rukia looks at Tobi for a bit.

Rukia: *sighs* All right, fine. But you better not get in the way.

Tobi: No promises. 😁

Yumizawa Children's Park

Tobi: Sooo... What are we doing now?

Rukia: We continue to wait.

Ichigo: *annoyed* Wait for what!? We've been here for 20 min...

Rukia: *interrupts Ichigo* Does a spirit appear near this park?

Ichigo: Ah. Yeah, one does.

Rukia: What kind?

Ichigo: A 5 year old kid. He usually plays here around 12.

Rukia: Your friend?

Ichigo: What the!? I've just seen him 3 to 4 times. Never spoke to him...

Rukia pulls out what looks like a cellphone and hands it over to Ichigo, who sees a message on it.

Ichigo: What's this? 🤨

Rukia: An order. From Soul Society. It means that within 15 minutes of 12, 20 meter vicinity of Yumizawa Children's Park, a Hollow will appear. Most likely...that child will be attacked.

Tobi: Wait wha--

???: UWAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

The three turns around to see the spirit of a lot boy, who's being chased by a Hollow.

Kid: WAAAAHH!!

Ichigo sees that the boy is in danger and is about to help him, but...

Rukia: WAIT!!

Ichigo: *looks at Rukia* Huh?

Rukia: You're going to help him? Isn't he a "stranger"?

Tobi: What?!

Ichigo: *to Rukia* What are you talking about!? How could I not help someone that's right in front of me...?

Rukia: Whether it's in front of you or far away! It doesn't change the fact that he's being attacked!

Ichigo remains still until he sees the boy fall down. Ichigo sees this.

Rukia: DON'T HELP HIM!

Tobi: What!?

Rukia: Even if you save that kid here, nothing will matter of you don't become a Shinigami! Saving him, because he's right in front of you!? Don't be naive. A Shinigami has to treat all spirits equally! You cannot just conveniently save those you can see, those you can reach! Don't save that kid with such half-heartedness! If you want to save him... Accept that you must safe all spirits! To go anywhere for them... To even give you life to save them, make that kind of commitment!

Ichigo's thoughts: Give you life...

Ichigo then has a flashback about that Rukia saving him, last night.

Ichigo's thoughts: ...Yeah...  I am...

Before the Hollow could devour the boy, Ichigo steps forth.

Hollow: ...Who are you?

Without any hesitation...

*SLASH*

Ichigo slices off the Hollow's appendage.

Hollow: AWW!!  *screaming in pain* UGYAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Rukia: Ichigo...  You've...accepted...? Ichigo then stabs his sword to the ground near the spirit, who freaks out.

Kid: (O_O) EEK!

Ichigo: SHUT UP!!  I don't accept jack!  I saved him because I WANTED to save him!  Is that wrong!?

Rukia: What...!?

Ichigo: *points at Rukia* Are you any different!?  You sacrificed yourself to save me that time!!  At that time, you thinking about complicated stuff like "this is my Shinigami duty"!?

Rukia: .........!!

Ichigo: That's not what sacrificing yourself is!!

While Ichigo was taking, the Hollow slowly gets back up.n

Ichigo: At the very least...

The Hollow then charge towards Ichigo, but...

*KICK*

Tobi steps in and kicks the Hollow up in the air.

Tobi: *to Hollow* Don't interrupt their conversation!

The Hollow falls back down, as Ichigo pulls out his sword before pointing up, and impales the Hollow.

Ichigo: I'M DIFFERENT!!  I haven't accepted any commitment...  If things get bad, I might run away...  Since I'm not a good enough person to be able to sacrifice my life to total strangers... 

Rukia: ...

But...  *turns around* Unfortunately, I'm also not trash that can...live happy without paying back his debts!  *holds out his hand* I'm going to help you!!  To do this Shinigami job thing!  Even if I don't want to!

Rukia: ...Yeah, thanks...

Tobi: So...who's hungry...?

To be continued

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Tobi: Hey, guys!  This is Tobi!  Back in my first "Trivia Special", I asked what Ichigo's original hair color supposed to be...

A. White

B. Green

C. Black

D. Red

Tobi: And the answer is...C

Tobi: Earlier concept of Ichigo depicts with sporting black hair.  Not only that, but he was going to wear glasses like a--

Tobi: Of course, like any other form of media, Tite Kubo changed Ichigo's hair color to orange, remove the glasses, and introduced us to the Ichigo we all know and love.  And that's the end of the first Special.  Stay tuned for our second installment of...

Audience: "TOBI'S...TRIVIA...SPECIAL"!!!

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