A/N: What's up Bleach fans! I'm TDDolphin, and this is my first time writing a story based off an Anime. Usually I primarily write stories for one cartoon series, but I figured I'd try something new since... well, in all honesty, as a MASSIVE fan of Bleach, who has been watching the anime since at least 2011 (a little late, I know), I was extremely disappointed with the Manga's recent ending. Not only did my 2 ships NOT happen, but I have no idea what happened to some of my favorite characters like Kisuke, Yoruichi, Grimmjow, Nel and Izuru, and there were plotholes galore. I was baffled by the decisions Tite Kubo had made for those last 2 chapters, and I'm not gonna lie, I am not happy at all with Chapters 685 and 686 (Though Rukia becoming a Captain was cool). Don't get me wrong, I still have mad love for Kubo for making this series, and I enjoyed all the canon episodes of the Bleach anime, but I can't except the ending he decided to write for it.
That brings me to this story. What Bleach Volume 75 is essentially is my own ending for Bleach. Because this is my first time writing an Anime fanfic, and because I've only actually read up to Volume 67 and read summaries about the chapters after that, I'm kind of nervous. I did some research and even then I'm sure I'll get some things wrong. I know that in Japan it isn't customary to address people by their first names unless their dating or just know each other really well, but I'm used to writing the usual way when it comes to names so I'll just be doing that. I hope ya'll understand. But as a fan of Bleach, as someone who watched and enjoyed it damn near all the way through, and as someone who actually gives a shit about it's characters, I want to at least TRY to give the series the closure it deserves (I'll also be changing the canon couples up, so just warning people on that). So despite being an Anime fanfic-writing novice, I hope ya'll will give this story a chance.
All right, that's enough explanation. Here's Part 1 of 5 (or 6, I'm still not sure) of Bleach Volume 75. Hope you all enjoy it :)
Bleach 685. The End 3
Ichigo had just cut Yhwach down with Zangetsu, which had reverted back to it's original Shikai form as Renji and Uryu looked on. The Substitute Soul Reaper glared at the Father of the Quincies as the latter's eyes had bulged from being cleaved down the middle. Yhwach then fell to his knees.
Ichigo held Zangetsu at the ready just in case, but looking down at the fallen Quincy King, a part of him knew that there was nothing to worry about anymore. It's job complete, the silver arrowhead Uryu fired began to fade, as Yhwach weakly rose his head to look at the person who had defeated him.
He chuckled weakly. "To think I'd be killed by the likes of you. A human..." Yhwach then turned to Renji. "A Soul Reaper lieutenant..." Yhwach turned around to gaze at the boy who he named his successor. "...and a Gemischte Quincy..."
A silver light began to glow around Yhwach's chest as the silver arrow disappeared into mist. The Quincy King's body began to fade into silver mist next, but not before he turned back to face his son born in the darkness. "How shameful." Those were the last words Yhwach spoke before his remains dissolved into the air.
It was over. It was finally over.
Ichigo remained silent for a moment before releasing a powerful sigh of relief. Then he felt his body go numb as his feet gave out on him. Luckily Renji had rushed over to catch him before his face hit the dirt.
"Whoa! Easy there, Ichigo!" Renji said as he draped Ichigo's arm over his shoulder. "Don't go falling on your face now."
"Shut up." Ichigo whispered, but Renji could see that the strawberry head was smirking. "I can stand just fine."
"I'd let Renji carry you, Ichigo." stated Uryu, who had approached them, pushing up his glasses with his finger. "It's pretty clear that you're not strong enough to walk on your own. And falling flat on your face doesn't make for a dignified victory pose."
"Shut up! No one asked you!" Ichigo snapped halfheartedly before he, Renji and Uryu laughed together for about a minute. Relief, sweet, sweet relief washed over both the Substitute Soul Reaper and Quincy. After the laughing had died down however, Renji's expression turned hard. "Hey Ichigo, did you notice?" the lieutenant asked his rival. Ichigo and Uryu looked at their friend curiously, unsure of what he meant. "Aizen's spirit energy." Renji elaborated.
Ichigo finally understood what Renji was talking about. "You're right... it's gone." he said calmly. "It's completely gone." Ichigo, Renji and Uryu looked out over the ruined Seireitei as the sun rose ever more over the horizon. "I guess he died with Yhwach, since he was absorbed by him and everything."
Renji couldn't help but smirk. "Talk about killing two birds with one stone. Or I guess in this case, two devils with one silver arrow and Zangetsu."
Ichigo smirked. "Don't ever get in the stand-up comedy business, Renji. You'd probably be booed out of the building." The redheaded lieutenant glared daggers at the substitute.
"I slightly agree with Renji's analogy," Uryu added his own two cents, making Renji laugh in triumph at Ichigo. "However poorly joked." This made Ichigo grin at the dejected Renji. "Let's just take a moment to appreciate that both Aizen and Yhwach are gone for good."
Ichigo frowned. "Tch. Fine." The three men stood in silence for a moment and just watched as the sun continued to rise. Then Ichigo turned to smirk at his rival. "Thank you, Uryu." Uryu looked surprised at the Substitute Soul Reaper. "I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up with that arrow."
Uryu turned away calmly, and once again pushed his glasses up with his finger. "There's no need to thank me, Ichigo. I should be thanking you..." Uryu thought about his mother, and prayed that she could finally be at peace.
"Because of your mother?" Ichigo asked to Uryu's shock. How did he know? Ichigo explained. "My dad knows your dad, and he told me about what happened to her." Ichigo looked down as he whispered. "My mother was Masaki Kurosaki, and she was a Quincy who also died because of Yhwach."
Uryu was floored by this news. Ichigo's mother had been a Quincy? And she had died from the Auschwalen like his mother? "Really?" he found himself asking. Ichigo looked back up and nodded. Uryu just stared in disbelief for a moment before he found himself smirking. He found it interesting that his rival had had deeply hidden Quincy powers without him ever knowing about it.
Ichigo and Uryu, Soul Reaper and Quincy, natural enemies by occupation and yet still close friends, stood in silence once again with Renji, basking in the light of a brand new day of peace after having worked together to defeat their greatest foe. Masaki and Kanae had been avanged at long last, and their hope was that their mothers could finally rest in peace.
Then out of the blue, they heard a familiar voice. "Well done, Ichigo!"
Shocked, Ichigo, Uryu and Renji spun around at the sound of that familiar voice to see the gateway to the Valley of Screams open up to reveal Kisuke Uruhara and Yoruichi Shihoin. "Kisuke. Yoruichi." Ichigo said.
They looked slightly injured, and their clothing was desheveled, but they nonetheless looked alright. "You three did well." Kisuke congratulated the three heroes.
"What're you doing here?" Ichigo couldn't help but ask.
"We're here to pick you up, of course." Yoruichi answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We can move this Valley of Screams between the Royal Palace and the Soul Society, remember? Come on, we're going back to Orihime's location."
Uryu suddenly felt nervous. He wasn't sure he was ready to face Orihime just yet, especially after he remembered how hurt she had looked when she had seen him with Yhwach. It had sure hurt him to see her look like that.
"Hey, Uryu!" he heard his name. He looked up to see that Ichigo and Renji were already inside the Valley of Screams, and they were all waiting for him. "You coming or what?" Ichigo exclaimed. Uryu ran into the gateway with his friends as the Valley of Screams closed.
Ichigo looked around the modified room inside the Valley of Screams. Riruka and Yukio were standing close by one another on one side. On the other side of the room sat Grimmjow and Nel, the latter of which practically shrieked when she saw Ichigo.
"Ichigo!" Nel cried happily as she bound for him.
"Oh no." Ichigo panicked as the busty Espada tackled him to the ground once again. Nel gave Ichigo a bonecrushing hug as Riruka gasped indignantly at the green-haired Espada. Uryu and Renji just stared in confusion at this mysterious woman.
"N-Nel!" choked Ichigo as he was pretty sure Nel Had unintentionally broken his arm from the pressure of her hug. "Nel ease up, will ya'. You're killing me."
"But I'm so glad you're okay." Nel cried as she reluctantly let Ichigo go.
"Wait, that's Nel?" Renji suddenly said in shock. "That's that little kid we saved in Hueco Mundo two years ago? How did she get so big?" he then blushed. "And womanly?" Yoruichi smacked him upside the head painfully.
Kisuke approached Yukio and Riruka. "I think we're ready to go." he said to their Fullbringer drivers. "We'll go to Hueco Mundo first."
"Roger." Yukio said without much emotion. Their modified Valley of Screams started moving almost instantly.
"Hueco Mundo? This thing can go there?" asked Ichigo, getting up off the floor. Kisuke and Yoruichi nodded in response. "But I thought we were going back to the Royal Palace?"
"We are." Kisuke spun around to Ichigo. "But first we're gonna drop off Grimmjow, Nel and Harribel first."
"Harribel?" Uryu wondered. It was then that he, Ichigo and Renji looked over in another corner of the room and saw a woman sitting on the ground, looking over at them with hardened eyes. This woman had tanned skin and short blonde hair. It was the ruler of Hueco Mundo: Tier Harribel.
"Who the hell are you?" Ichigo asked rather rudely.
"Tier Harribel." The Arrancar stated calmly, while still glaring at the Substitue Soul Reaper. "Former Number Three Espada under Aizen, until he betrayed me that is."
"So you're the ruler of Hueco Mundo that Nel was talking about?" Uryu stated.
"That's right, human. I was recently locked within the Silbern as Yhwach's prisoner until these people broke me out."
"Wait a minute! When did Kisuke find time to break you out of jail?" Ichigo asked spinning around to face the former Squad Twelve Captain.
"After the Vandenreich's second invasion of the Soul Society." answered Kisuke. "The Silbern was virtually left unguarded since all of the quincies were attacking the Seireitei, and after Yhwach left for Reiokyu, I had Grimmjow and Nelliel sneak inside to free Harribel while no one was paying attention."
"It was a boring job." said Grimmjow rather bitterly, making everyone turn to face him. The Sexta Espada stood up and approached Ichigo. "And now that that Quincy King bastard is dead, I see no reason as to why we can't settle the score from our last fight."
Ichigo frowned and gripped Zangetsu tightly as Grimmjow's expression became a look of bloodlust. However, Nel walked over and grabbed Grimmjow painfully by his blue locks. "Argh! What the hell do you think you're doing, you tramp!" snapped Grimmjow.
Nel paid no mind to the insult. "Down boy, now's not the time." Nel said calmly as she lectured Grimmjow like a mother lectured a misbehaving child. "Let Ichigo enjoy his victory, you can settle your score another time."
Grimmjow growled "Damn you..."
"Yeah, don't fight inside my dollhouse or I'll get mad and throw you out!" Riruka suddenly called over from her side of the room. "Besides, we've arrived at Hueco Mundo."
Everybody looked over at the Fullbringers just in time to see a gateway open up. Ichigo saw the white sands of Hueco Mundo, and the still damaged castle of Las Noches in the distance through the opening.
"All departing passengers may now remove their seatbelts." exclaimed Kisuke humorously, holding his fan up in front of his face. "We have arrived at Hueco Mundo."
Yoruichi rolled her eyes. "You're such a geek." she said with an amused grin.
Harribel got up from the floor and approached the gateway to her domain before turning around to face Ichigo, Renji and Kisuke. "Until the next time we meet Soul Reapers." was all that she said before she left the Valley of Screams.
Nel walked over to Kisuke and bowed. "Thank you for everything, Mr. Urahara."
Kisuke smiled "Now now, there's no need for thanks." he started cheerfully. "I was glad to get you back to your original form. I may I just say, you turned out to be a beautiful woman."
Yoruichi pounded her perverted friend in the head for his remarks. Nel however, paid no mind as she walked over to bid her other friends goodbye. "I hope we can see each other again soon, Ichigo." she said cheerfully as she gave him another crushing hug.
Renji snickered at the pained look on Ichigo's face. "Me too, Nel!" Ichigo gasped painfully.
The Number Three Espada finally let go of Ichigo, who began gasping for air, to say goodbye to Renji, Uryu and Yoruichi, before she headed for the exit to Hueco Mundo, where Grimmjow stood waiting. Nel turned around to wave one last time before she left.
The only one left now was Grimmjow. The Espada glared at Ichigo one final time before he turned to walk out of the Valley of Screams. It was then that the Substitute Soul Reaper called out to his rival. "Hey Grimmjow!"
Grimmjow Jaegerjacques had got one foot out the gateway before he stopped at hearing his name. He turned around and gazed hard at Ichigo, who was smirking.
"Let me know when you want a rematch." said Ichigo with determination. "I'll come fight you anytime you want."
Grimmjow was a little shocked by that statement. He didn't say anything for a moment, but then he too smirked. "You're on, Kurosaki." he said wickedly before he jumped out of the Valley of Screams. Renji, Uryu, Kisuke and Yoruichi grinned at Ichigo as the gateway to Hueco Mundo closed.
Meanwhile, back in the Seireitei, a lone Soul Reaper lieutenant had just taken a seat on the roof of one of the buildings close to Squad Four's barracks. In his hand he held a Zanpakto in the shape of a hook. He breathed a sigh as he looked over to see the sun breach past the horizon at last.
"What a beautiful morning." sighed Izuru Kira with a smile on his face.
Below him, littered across the ground were all of the bodies of the clones of that Sternritter who he had seen fall out of the sky. He wasn't sure how, but Izuru had managed to kill every single one. None of Lille Barro's clones had survived the night.
At the top of the Wahrwelt Palace. A small Soul Reaper lieutenant watched as the five cities that surrounded the former Reio Greater Palace began to change back to their original forms. The bridges that connected the Squad Zero Ridens to Wahrwelt cracked and fell in pieces down the seemingly endless sky below, and the ice surrounding the buildings began to melt.
A small smile spread across Rukia Kuchiki's face. "Ichigo, you did it." she whispered.
Rukia just knew that Ichigo had done it. The Wahrelt slowly converting back to the Reiokyu didn't need to tell her that Ichigo and Renji had won. The Lieutenant of Squad Thirteen turned around to see Orihime, Chad and Ganju behind her watch the last bits of Yhwach's empire vanish from the Royal Realm.
"What's going on?" Ganju asked aloud.
"The palace is changing back to normal." said Chad quietly.
"It's Ichigo." whispered a smiling Orihime, making Chad and Ganju look at her. "It has to be... He must've won!"
Rukia grinned at her friends. She was so focused on them in fact that she failed to hear the sound of a gateway opening up behind her until it was too late.
Ichigo had his head down as he stepped out of the Valley of Screams. He raised his head up at the same time that Rukia spun around to see what had startled her. When they finally noticed each other, their faces were only inches apart. They stood frozen for about thirty seconds, blushing like crazy, before the tiny Soul Reaper shrieked in shock, alerting a surprised Orihime, Chad and Ganju. Rukia fell on her butt, then looked up to look at the startled Ichigo. Their faces were still red.
"Oh, hey Rukia." Ichigo greeted casually. "Why'd you fall down?"
Rukia gazed at the strawberry head sternly as she got up quickly. "Why'd I fall down?! Idiot you snuck up on me and almost gave me a heart attack!"
Ichigo stepped out of the gateway as he retorted. "Idiot? You're the idiot. Why were you standing so close to the door?"
"Why did you make the door appear so close to me?!" Rukia snapped back.
"I didn't! Kisuke did!" Ichigo replied shortly as Uryu, Renji, Kisuke, Yoruichi, Riruka and Yukio all Stepped out of the Valley of Screams.
"Well, actually, it was Yukio who opened the gateway in that spot." Kisuke added humorously, holding his fan up to his face again. "I'm innocent here."
Yukio looked unemotional as he replied. "Whatever, guilty as charged. Sorry about that."
Rukia held her tongue as she continued frowning at the newcomers. Her face was still red as she thought back to how close her and Ichigo's faces had been to each other. Another three inches and they might've kissed accidently. Rukia's face turned even more red at that last thought.
Little did she know that Ichigo had been thinking the exact same thing.
Ichigo then looked up to see Orihime, Chad and Ganju staring right at them. Ganju smirked, Chad grinned and Orihime looked like she was about to cry.
"Ichigo..." Orihime choked as tears came to her eyes. She dashed over and wrapped her arms around the neck of the man she loved. "You're o-okay. I'm s-so glad."
"Hey, take it easy Orihime." Ichigo said gently, rather startled about why Orihime was hugging him. "I'm alright, you don't need to cry."
Everyone stood by and watched the sweet redheaded girl hug Ichigo with different reactions. Riruka rolled her eyes in annoyance, Yukio once again remained stoic, and Kisuke and Yoruichi just smiled at each other. Rukia, Renji, Chad and Ganju also grinned. Uryu however tilted his head down, looking downtrodden.
Orihime finally pulled away with a glowing red face and looking embarrassed. "Gaah! I can't believe I just did that!" she shrieked mentally before snapping out of it and addressing Ichigo aloud. "Oh, you and Renji are hurt! Here, let me heel you!"
Ichigo waved her offer off coolly. "Nah, I'm fine, really." Suddenly though, he felt the wind get knocked out of him as someone heavy crashed into him. Everyone stood flabberghasted as Ganju grinned manically and put Ichigo into a headlock.
"Ichigo, you bastard!" cried Ganju, ignoring the struggling Ichigo in his grip. "You beautiful bastard! You actually did it! Look around you! Killing that guy is making this place go back to normal!" Ichigo finally found the strength to reverse Ganju into his own headlock.
"What the hell, Ganju! You almost suffocated me! Is that your idea of a congratulations?"
Ganju grabbed Ichigo by his orange locks, making him growl in pain. "Aww, lighten up. You just saved the Soul Society, you deserve a pat on the back."
Ichigo retorted by kicking Ganju away. "Then just pat me on the back!" The Substitute Soul Reaper grinned wickedly before cracking his knuckles. "Allow me to return your congratulations in my own way."
Chad walked over and put his large hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Ichigo, go easy on him will you?" muttered the giant calmly.
Ichigo grinned evilly. "Hah, not a chance, he brought this on himself." He dashed over as Ganju smirked, then the two began their bout of celebratory roughhousing.
"Shouldn't we stop them?" Riruka exclaimed nervously. She was worried about that muscle-bound thug damaging Ichigo's beautiful face.
"Nah, this is actually kinda fun." Yoruichi answered, watching the fight in amusement.
"Renji, are you alright?" Rukia asked her childhood friend in concern. "You should ask Orihime to heal you."
"Later, I wanna watch this." was Renji's reply as he too watched Ichigo and Ganju's dustcloud fight with a grin.
The only person who didn't appear amused by the scrap was Uryu. Now that Yhwach was dead everything was over and done with, guilt was starting to fill the Quincy's mind. While he may of had the best intentions for joining the Vandenreich, he still hadn't told his friends about it. What if he died in the process? It's possible that he could've died with his friends thinking he had betrayed them. That thought made his guilt increase.
He was brought out of his thoughts by the sounds of sniffling. Curious, he looked next to him, and what he saw frightened him. Orihime was standing there gazing at him, with tears pouring down her face.
"O-Orihime?" stuttered a baffled Uryu. "Why're you-?" He didn't get to finish because the redhead had thrown her arms around his neck. The Quincy's eyes widened, his face blushed crimson, and his heart started beating fast.
"T-Thank goodness you're safe!" choked Orihime as she pulled him closer to her. "I'm sorry, b-but after we left you I didn't k-know if I'd ever see you again. I... I'm so glad you came back, Uryu. I knew you hadn't betrayed us."
Uryu just stood there in shock, letting Orihime's words wash over him. She had been worried about him? She had known the whole time? Relief washed over the Quincy as he slowly wrapped his arms around Orihime's back. Ichigo and Ganju had finally stopped their roughhousing and happily watched the reunion of their friends with everyone else.
It was as they separated that Uryu and Orihime noticed Rukia approaching them with a frown. She stepped up to Uryu, and to the shock of everybody present, smacked him upside the head. "What the hell, Rukia?" snapped Uryu, holding the side of his head. "What was that for?"
"For you not telling us about what you were planning." Rukia replied harshly, stunning Uryu. "Chad brought us up to speed about why you joined the Vandenreich. But that was still irresponsible on your part not telling your friends sooner!"
"Rukia..." muttered Uryu as the tiny Soul Reaper continued.
"Orihime may have known that you were still on our side, but Renji and I sure didn't! We're your friends, Uryu. Don't go scaring us like that again!"
"Rukia..." Orihime whispered in surprise.
"Yeah, that's a good point..." Ichigo suddenly proclaimed. Before rushing over to bash the Quincy on the head himself. "You do kinda deserve that, don't ya? For also not telling us!"
Orihime just stood there in disbelief. "I-Ichigo!" she whined.
But it wasn't over for Uryu yet. "Tag me in?" Renji spoke with his hand out. Ichigo tagged the Squad Six lieutenant so he could deliver a third blow to the skull. Uryu could see stars in his eyes by this point.
"Poor Uryu." Chad said quietly to himself, feeling sorry for his friend.
"Okay, alright, I'm sorry for not telling you all what I was doing." grunted Uryu, holding his throbbing head.
"It's fine now." Renji proclaimed. "Just don't go doing anything stupid like that again, alright?"
Kisuke and Yoruichi just looked at each other in amusement as they watched their young friends give the Quincy a hard time. Chad placed his large hand on Uryu's shoulder. "It's good to have you back, man." said the giant.
Orihime giggled as she hugged Uryu again, making him blush shyly but also grin. Ichigo and Rukia looked at each other and smiled. With Yhwach, the Vandenreich, and Aizen now gone, it looked like things would finally be going back to normal.
So? What did you all think for my first time writing a brand new genre? Let me know by leaving a review. And yes, this will be a Ichiruki and Ishihime story, because I still think they're the best Bleach pairings. And like I said earlier, I was extremely put off about not knowing what happened to other characters I love from Bleach, so I actually showed them here, and had Tier Harribel show up because... well, did she ever get rescued? Like I said, ending was plotholes galore. Sorry if that part seemed a tad rushed though.
Next chapter will be focusing more on the Soul Reapers, and the reconstruction of the Seireitei. Hope ya'll are ready for it. Until then, see ya next time :)
