Karakura looked so different. Unrecognizable. The place he grew up in and loved… was now practically a waste land fill with hollows, searching for their next prey. Buildings in ruble, destroyed. Streets, none existent. Nothing but cracks of the whole cement they used to be. Taken over by the dust and nature of what was underneath it all.

From a half broken roof, sitting on the edge, Kenji observed it all. He took in the entire scenery. A part of him almost started to feel sad again. Thinking of the childhood that once was, when everything was still intact and normal…

But. Those days were gone. And he's very much gotten over it. He had too. Sometime down the line, when he was 10, he had to let every painful emotion go. Sadly, his dad hasn't learned to do that. All his father does is mope around the house or stay in his room, staring at nothing but regret probably. His mother could bring him out of his usual funk, but that would only last for so long. She keeps on anyway. Being his rock.

Kenji sighed as he laid back. He stared at the only thing that still looked familiar and peaceful to him. The blue sky. At least he still had that. He could so without the hot sun, though.

A woman in destress screamed out from below him. Kenji groaned as he sat up. Why haven't the people in the town learned yet? You go out at this time of day, close to sundown, you risk getting attacked by hollows at a higher rate. The hollows tend to multiply in large numbers and get more active in the hunt during night. Kenji looked down between his legs to see the problem.

The woman was cornered by three, big, muscular snake hollows. The woman cried out, pleaded for them not to hurt her, not to eat her. She pleaded for someone to save her.

His Zanpakuto, chain strapped around his body diagonally, he reached behind him to grip the hilt of his thin sword. Black like a dark abyss, with a single, icy white, pin stripe running from the hilt to tip of the sword. It glistened in the glare of the sun.

"Getsuga…" He said. The woman and the hollows managed to hear the faint of his voice. They gazed up. The woman let a tear fall as she smiled brokenly, hopeful. Kenji let himself fall off the edge, his sword slashing down, cutting wind in a whistling sound— "Nisshoku!"

A bright flash of white reiatsu in the shape of a half-moon struck down on the three hollows. They disintegrated into nothing under the power of the blast. Wind and dust swirled around, blowing Kenji's black trench coat and black hair, that was long to his neck one side and short on the other. His brown eyes met with the woman's. He showed her a slight smile.

She bowed to him in a fast motion. "Thank you so much!" Lifting her head, she shows him her full gratitude, tears still slipping from her eyes. She ran away the next moment.

Watching her run away father in the distance, Kenji put his Zanpakuto back in its sheath. "You're welcome." Sensing a sudden presence behind him, he turned around without quickness. He already knew who it was. Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Former captain of the once was, squad 12 of the gotei 13. In his ratted, teared up, white, captain shitagi. It was surprising he still wore it. He still held on to the pride and honor of being a captain. Most of the other captains, that were still alive, didn't bother to wear theirs anymore. They dread the remembrance and sight of what they loss. The duty they could not own up to in the end of a war. The man was smiling at him weirdly, which broke him out of his deep thought. "What took you so long?"

"Did I not tell you that I wasn't sure when I would be done working on it? Seemed like you were well occupied saving a life when I arrived anyway." He told him.

He did tell him that. But he didn't think it would take him almost the whole day. "Yeah. When you finally arrived."

Kurotsuchi waved him down. "Futile fact." He reached inside his black kosode, pulling out a wide, clear wrist band. Tapping on it, it lit up to project a screen with two separate number pads. "This device can take you to whichever universe and time you wish. This number pad," He made sure to point them out, "is for inputting the coordinates of a universe, and this one beside it, is for the time and date." Tapping it off, Kurotsuchi handed it to him.

Kenji flipped the band around, eying every detail of it. Satisfied, he put it on his left wrist. "Alright."

"You should know as well, that it has an automatic time limit on it of 2 hours. Once that time is up, it brings you back here, to this universe. Regardless if you lose it or not."

Kenji chuckled. "I'm not that reckless."

"And I'm not that reckless to risk myself dealing a bloody, painful outcome with your mother and father if something happens to you." Kenji's annoyed eyes slowly found their way to facing Kurotsuchi, who was no longer smiling of lightness, but almost frowning in seriousness. "They don't want you doing this."

"Too bad. Something has to be done. We've discussed this." Kenji said, sighing.

"Yes. We have." Kurotsuchi responded. "Two hours, Kenji."

On his other wrist, Kenji eyed the Quincy pentacle that dangled slightly loose. He griped it. This needed to be done. "I know."

Original Bleach Universe

In the home of Ichigo and his family, his son and wife, Orihime, were having a get together. Everyone wanted to watch Chad fight on TV together, so it was decided to have the meet up at Ichigo's. On the first floor, Tatsuki, Keigo, Mizuiro, Ichigo's sisters, Rukia, Renji and their…

Ichigo had asked Rukia where her daughter was. She hadn't realized that she wasn't with them. Once she did, she smiled sheepishly back at him.

"Hrmm… She's gone." Rukia admitted.

Ichigo blew up at her, having scolding words ready to yell. "What's with that cavalier attitude?!"

She turned away from, but even so, he didn't need to see her face to tell that she was confident in knowing her daughter. "Don't worry, She's a soul reaper! With mere humans as her opponents, she's sure to come out on top!"

Ichigo didn't like the sound of that. Why would she be fighting humans? More importantly, why the heck did she disappear! "So she's some bully that enjoys picking on helpless humans? Go frickin' find her for crying out loud!"

Upstairs, Ichigo and Orihime's son, Kazui was hanging around in Yuzu's room. A black, orb full of reiatsu started to manifest near the other side of the room. Bewildered and curios, the young boy crawled towards it, reaching his hand out—

He touched it. The second he did, it dispersed to nothing. The feeling of the reiatsu it had was gone as well. Kazui was confused. He thought it was going to be something cool, but it turned out to be nothing. It was disappointing.

From behind him, another presence of reiatsu came. He looked over his shoulder to see who it was. "Who's there?"

Sitting on a desk, it was a girl that looked to be his age. She was in a soul reaper uniform, pointing her Zanpakuto at him with a smug face. "Abarai Ichika. A soul reaper apprentice!" Whoever this boy was before her, he couldn't be anything more than just a regular-human-boy-simpleton. "And you are?"

"Me?" Kazui found her to be odd. First of all, he didn't know what she meant by soul reaper apprentice. "I'm Kurosaki Kazui." He smiled an innocent look. From the looks of it, she already seemed like a full soul reaper to him. He was too. "I'm kind of a soul reaper!" Kazui manifested his soul reaper uniform and Zanpakuto on him, over his sweater.

Ichika was appalled. Her eyes went bug wide. She couldn't believe that someone like him could manage to be on her standard. No. He was above her standard. He was a… soul reaper… not an apprentice. Ichika just couldn't believe it. "WHAAA?!" There's no way. How could it be possible? Her mom told her that they were visiting the world of the living to meet human friends. Last time she was told the rules and requirements of being a soul reaper—humans—were not able to meet them.

So what exactly was the meaning for this mockery?!

"Something wrong?" Kazui asked her, seeing the frozen look on her face. He stood to his feet.

Just as he did so, she hopped off the desk and was in his face within a second. Her sword pointed down while her free hand pointed accusingly at him. She wasn't accepting it. Him. "You're lying!"

Kazui's brows creased. "What? No. Look," He shifted his body for her to get a better view of his Zanpakuto. "I even have a sword."

That made her livider. "Zanpakuto!"

There was a moment of pause. Kazui's brow raised as he tilted his head to the side, thoughtfully responding, "Aren't they the same thing?"

She shoved her finger at him more aggressively. "Listen! There's only one way to settle this." Backing up, giving him space, she folded her arms. Her confident smirk back on her face. "You and me. A hollow extermination competition. Right. Now."

That didn't sound like a good idea. He's only seen 3 hollows his entire life. Those times were only when he hung out with Yoruichi. Though, she never let him fight them. She always would take care of it. "But why? What are we settling?" Kazui didn't care about it much. He didn't know what she was so riled up for.

"To see who's the real soul reaper here!" She explained.

Kazui still didn't understand. "But we both are—"

"Shut it, soft eyes! Let's go." Putting her sword back in its sheath, she didn't allow him anymore protest and grabbed hold of his hoodie. Little did they know, they weren't alone in the room.

"Hey, who's making all this racket in here!" Kon's voice rung out. The small stuffed animal poked his head into view above the edge of the bed. He must've been pulling himself up to get on the top. Once he did so, he stood, arms bended to his side in a defiant stance. Kon crossed his eyebrows at the two kid soul reapers. The girl he didn't recognize. "Who are you, girlie?" Then, as if a light bulb went off, he stared at them both with a surprised, proud clarity. "Oh. I get it. Already pulling in a girlfriend, huh, Kazui? You sly kid. Nothing like your father, thank god for you."

His hand going up to his head, Kazui showed an innocent face, with a slight laugh at Kon's assumption. Ichika didn't find his words as funny, however. Her cheeks were puffed, blushing heavily and her fist were bawled. She clearly looked uncomfortable and upset with what he said. Kazui noticed this.

Finally, she blew up at Kon, "I would never be associated with this simpleton like that! You weird, talking, thing!"

One arm bending across his chest, Kon took a step back, gasping at her calling him a 'thing.' "Who you calling 'thing,' girly? I'm a fierce, stuffed, lion! Tch. Kids."

Ichika got even more frustrated with him. Everything out of his mouth sounded utterly stupid and annoying. She doesn't have time to waste on a lion thing. Kazui and her have an important matter to settle. But they couldn't leave then. Not with it witnessing them.

She had to get rid of him.

Kon didn't like the sudden, dark, serious look in her eyes. It was scaring him. She started moving for him. He moved back each step she took. "Hey. What's up with you? Stop. Get back." Ichika grabbed him, making sure to cover his mouth as he yelled out. "Ayeph! Lemp meh houh!" His pebble toy eyes looked to Kazui for help, only to find a look of apology. Kon shook aggressively. "Mmmmmmm!"

In the soul society, in squad 12's Research and Development department, Akon was looking around for the Captain. His actions didn't go unnoticed by Hiyosu, who was by the computer screens, sitting down. Hiyosu turned in his chair toward him.

"Huh? Where did the captain vanish off to?" Akon wondered aloud. Then he remembered, his hand going up to his head as if placing the memory there.

"Ummm. I hate to break it to you," Hiyosu started, "But I think he went to investigate the reconstructed sectors."

Akon wasn't informed of this. He turned around to face Hiyosu with lightning speed and the look of confusion. "What for?!"

Hiyosu gave him an at lost tone. "If you, the vice-captain, are in the dark, then how am I supposed to know?"

Well… he had a point. A point that only made him feel none important. Akon turned away. He side eyed him, kind of down hearted. "Geh… Fine. I guess I'll go call him back here myself…" Or give him a taste of his own respect. Not tell him a darn thing…. No. No. He couldn't do that. He couldn't risk not telling him a possible serious situation like this.

"Did something happen?" Hiyosu asked.

Akon could hear the underline worry in his voice. After ten years of peace and nothing stirring up to ruin it, no one breathing hoped for it to suddenly change. Akon looked at the reiatsu scanner. He couldn't help, but feel as if, something was beginning to stir. And not in their favor. "Not sure yet… We're getting very strange readings on our sensors… that look nearly identical to the ones… Yhwach's reiatsu emitted 10 years ago…"

Hiyosu stilled. Letting the words sync in. He felt as if everything was starting to feel different. The feeling of a peaceful time… slipping. "I think… you may have to inform the captain-commander."

The readings on the scanner spiked higher… Akon, with a look of sadness, faced him. "Unfortunately. I think you're right."

Akon requested a meeting with the commander. He was granted the meeting within a short amount of time. In the captain's meeting room, Akon stood in the middle of two separate line of captains.

Yamato's closely observing eyes focused passed Akon, for only a second, noticing that a certain captain was missing from the meeting. He grunted. "Where is the other captain Kuchiki?"

All the captains briefly gazed their eyes at the empty spot. Toshiro spoke up to answer. "I overheard her speaking with my lieutenant. She said she was going to the world of the living for a family occasion."

Yamato didn't like what he heard. He already knew who this 'family' was. "Let me guess. The Kurosaki's?"

"I believe so. Yes, sir." Toshiro answered.

Yamato would have to have a private talk with her when she gets back. She could not just visit the world of the living anytime she wanted to without informing him of such. He sighed, bringing his attention back to the main concern at hand. Akon and what he had to say. "What is it that we must know, Akon?"

Those eyes bore into his soul. He really wished to break contact, but that would be a coward thing to do. He couldn't look as such in front of the commander. Even the captains. "Commander. There's been a sudden high spike of reiatsu in the world of the living."

The commander didn't seem to see anything wrong or grave with his statement. His expression staying calm all the same. It possibly could be one of the humans that helped them in the war. To be exact. The Kurosaki boy. Leaving Ichigo to stay in the world of the living was a decision of trust. He really hoped his judgement to do so was not wrong. "And what about this is so drastic to request a captain's meeting?"

Get ready for this one. Because even Akon still wasn't. "Well… the high reiatsu, is similar to that of Yhwach's." Every captain in the room became dreadfully alert. A grave reaction was brought out from Yamato. His eyes scanned each captain. Making sure they heard the same words as him. "It… could be just nothing."

"Nothing?" Yamato began to counter. "Nothing, you say. With hope, I assume. This. Certainly cannot just be nothing, Lieutenant." Akon's head lowered a bit at those words. "Where exactly was the reiatsu detected?"

Akon raised his head. Almost hesitant to say. "Near the Kurosaki household."

"I will go," Byakuya, in a calm, firm tone, strongly outburst. He stepped forward as well, turned towards the commander. His eyes told him that he wouldn't take no well. But if those words were to reach his ears, he'd stand down. There was great tension in the room. All of the captains felt it.

Yamato closed his eyes for a moment. Sighing again. Once he opened them, they focused only on Byakuya. "Very well then. Find out what or who it is. However, if it is Yhwach… do not engage him."

Not engaging depended entirely on the situation. Byakuya would follow orders, that is, only until the moment the situation turned towards a more necessary action. If it comes to it. Byakuya hoped not. He hoped Rukia was nowhere near a situation as grave as that. "Yes, commander."

Kazui and Ichika had successfully snuck out the house. They were quickly moving around the city, searching for any hollows. It seemed as if there wasn't much going on in activity that day.

Which upset Ichika. They came to stop, midair. "Where are all the hollows?!"

Kazui shrugged. "I've been told that there haven't been many lately after the great war."

Ichika heard what he said, but didn't at the same time. She wouldn't accept that this competition would have to come to an end. It didn't even start! Frowning, she turned to him, "I guess—"

"I know." Kazui had an idea. He really didn't understand why this was so important to her. Whatever the reason, he wanted to help her settle it. And so she could finally calm down. Way down. He pointed his index finger up in a matter of fact way, "If we use some of our reiatsu at a constant pace, it should attract some hollows."

She was listening. "How do you suggest we do that?"

Kazui smiled at her. "We race. In super speed. You know, that flash step technique."

Her face falling in sadness, her brows raised in a surprise. "…You can Shunpo?"

His hand raised to his head again, "Well yeah. Can't you?"

Her fist was bawling, but she relaxed them. Her head went low. No. She couldn't Shunpo. She would have to master Hoho first, and she's far from learning that. How did this kid master Hoho and Shunpo? There should be no reason that he has already.

But she had to accept it.

"I lose." She spoke finally. Her voice not trying to hide her sadness in the slightest.

The sun was setting above them. An orange glow cascaded them. Kazui loss his smile once he realized her change in mood. His brows creased in concern over his soft eyes that focused only on her. She looked as if she had something important taken away from her. There was also the sound of a sob. "Are you crying?"

Her head snapped up at him, angered, "No! It's just the dusty wind in my eyes!" She strongly denied. Even though there was no wind. Even though they were high in the air, with no dust around them whatsoever… "Anyway, let's get out of here and head back—"

"Ohh. Why leaving so soon?" A dark, sinister voice said.

Ichika and Kazui's eyes widened. They both heard that voice, making them shiver inside. However, they could not see who the voice belonged to. Ichika didn't need to see it, though. She didn't need her eyes to tell her what she could feel. It was a strong hollow… that found them.

Ichika reached for the hilt of her sword, "Kazui, it's a hollow—" Before she could pull out her sword, something invisible grabbed it quick from its sheath before her. Ichika's Zanpakuto was then tossed away. Her eyes following the sword in horror until it was out of view.

Her face then received a striking blow by something that felt vine like, sending her flying back a short way. On her side, still managing to keep herself in the air, she glared hatefully at where she felt the hollow was. Right to the side of her.

"Now, now. Kids shouldn't be playing with sharp objects like that, don't you know? Especially a pretty girl like you. You could hurt yourself with it." The hollow chuckled deep, scornful.

"Get away from her!" Kazui yelled. He held his Zanpakuto firmly within his small hands. His eyes were not soft anymore, but hardened as he glared at the none seeable hollow. Kazui charged for him, relying on the feeling of its reiatsu to guide him. Slicing his sword, wild and quick, and constantly hitting nothing but air, Kazui heared the hollow laugh at him. Ichika could only watch. She was useless.

Kazui slashed down again, this time with more force out of frustration, but his sword was gripped by something. It raised his sword up along with his hands that still held on, trying to pull the sword away. The hollow laughed again, loudly. "Whoa, there. You know, if any of those swings, manage to hit me somehow, you just might have scratched me." A strong jab at Kazui's stomach sent him flying back without his sword. The hollow tossed his away. "This is great! I just love kids. And you kids, are really looking like the best to me. And that's saying a lot, since, you know, I've killed a lot of 'em. Never killed two soul reaper kids, though!" His voice ground out darker. "Never experienced the taste."

Kazui got on his knees. He was really starting to hate the sound of that hollow's voice. His fist bawled tight. Looking up to Ichika, he sees her struggling against some type of invisible restraints. His brows creased heavily.

You're so weak.

Another voice said from within him. Kazui stilled… He feared the thought of there being another hollow he couldn't see.

And stupid. How can you not tell who this voice belongs to? Just guess who.

Ichika continued to fight against the restraints. Her heart rate was sped up. She was scared. She didn't want to, and hated the fact that she did, but her eyes desperately shot to Kazui.

"Oh, don't look to orange kid over there for help little missy. He can't—" The hollow stopped his words, when he realized that something felt different about Kazui. He was standing up, and his eyes were staring at him as if he was looking directly at him. His eyes. Even more unsettling, there was an underline darkness taking over Kazui's eyes. The hollow was finally brought to seriousness then. "What the hell…"

Ichika saw it as well. The change in his eyes. The change in his reiatsu. It was starting to feel like… a hollow?

In a flash, a blur of a person sped by Kazui, hitting him on the neck to knock him out. His body went limp and was hauled over the shoulder of no other than Yoruichi. She went down to a roof and laid him there. His bangs wild on his face, she brushed them aside gently. Eyeing the boy sadly. "Sorry I wasn't here sooner."

Ichika was looking down at the sight, surprised. She didn't know who the lady was, but she seemed to know Kazui. The hollow ground out an upset groan the second Yoruichi Shunpo'd back by them. "Who the hell are you, lady?!" The hollow seethed at her. "These are my kids."

Yoruichi showed a raised brow, with a smirk. "Ah, pretty sure they're not." Before the hollow could yell in anger anymore, she sent a punch straight for his face. Ichika winced at the sound of the hard blow and blast of air the followed after it.

From wherever the hollow was—

No. Ichika could see him. He was made of vines, and few muscles that made up his lower body. Vines in the form of a hand held his face, now dripping of blood. His hollow mask had many differed out lines of cracks. he sounded to be hurting bad and looked just as so. "Damn it. Damn it. What the hell man!?"

"You see," Yoruichi started, ignoring his annoying cries, "these kids belong to dear friends of mine. You were going to kill them, right?"

"Oh," The hollow gargled out, "aren't you just damn smart. What else was I going to do? The soul of kids is what I live for, lady. And I'm still going to kill those kids. Eat their souls. And laugh at the devastated look on your face before I kill you."

Yoruichi shook her head once. "That's," She flashed in front the hollow, her left leg raised high, ready to kick the hell out of him, "Not going to happen."

The hollow had no time to brace himself before the kick struck his hollow mask, shattering it and his entire being. There was the faint yell of his anger just before he completely came to an end.

Ichika couldn't believe what she just witnessed. It was amazing. She wore a look of admiration on her face, but it was quickly changed too guilty and sheepish once Yoruichi's scolding eyes focused on her.

After finding their Zanpakutos, Yoruichi had brought the two kids back to the house. Kazui had been startled awake by the loud, angered yell of his father. Both kids had gotten an earful of scolding by their parents after Yoruichi had told them what happened. Ichika admitted to what they were trying to do outside the house. Kazui cut her short before she admitted that it was all her idea to have the competition. He showed her a smile, and for the first time, she returned it. In that moment, Ichika had to let herself acknowledge that…

He wasn't so bad.

The sun almost fully set, all of Ichigo's friends had said their goodbyes and gone, except for Rukia, Renji and Ichika. Ichigo, Orihime and Kazui stood outside with them, talking.

Unknown to them, Kenji stood upon a building, watching them say their goodbyes to each other. He then looked towards Rukia, who hugged Ichigo for a brief moment. Kenji sighed. "To think that one variable changes everything." He then spots the smaller orange head and smiles. "Huh… to think we are half-brothers. Even though, I'm not from this realm."

He then sensed another presence next to him…

And of course a sword to his neck. Kenji exhaled. Couldn't his mission go a little smoother than this? All he needed to do was hand Ichigo the Quincy pentacle. It sounded simple enough to him in his head. But even then, when he really thought about it, convincing Ichigo that: 'Hey, I'm your son from another realm, and by the way, Yhwach took over and turned everything to shit, all 'cause you married Rukia. Also I need you to take this Quincy pentacle.'

Yeah… no, not that simple.

"Who are you?" Asked a stoic man. Kenji recognized him to be Byakuya. Well he seemed pretty much the same in personality in that realm.

Kenji closed his eyes a brief moment, annoyed with the situation. "There is no need to kill me Uncle—" Maybe he shouldn't have let that slip… He could see the confusion cross Byakuya's untrusting eyes. Kenji looked over to Ichigo while showing the Quincy pentacle on his wrist. "—because I am only here to hand this to him."

Skeptical of it, Byakuya eyed it. "Hand it over. I shall give it to him."

Kenji wasn't sure if he could trust Byakuya to actually pass it on to Ichigo. But he knew if didn't, the blade at his throat might find its way to slicing him. "Fine. Here." He took the pentacle off his wrist, handing it over to him. He really hoped the pentacle would find its way to him. Sadly, he knew his Uncle would show the pentacle around to other eyes before round circling it back to Ichigo. That's if those other eyes allow him. This really wasn't how this was supposed to pan out. Kenji tapped the band on his other wrist. The action didn't go unnoticed by Byakuya, who then adjusted the sword at a more threatening angle. Talk about paranoid… "And now I'm going, so…" Kenji began to say.

However, Byakuya's eyes told him that he was nowhere near finished investigating him. "Wait, you called me uncle. I do not even know you. Who are you truly?"

"As I have said, you are my uncle. Just… not under the circumstances of this universe. There are the constants and the variables, and I am a product of one variable." Yeah. Let that jumble in your brain for a while, Kenji thought. He smirked. He doubted that it would make sense to him anytime soon. "Figure the rest out." He then disappeared through a gargantuan like portal.

Greatly at a lost to what just happened, Byakuya put his Zanpakuto back in its sheath. The Quincy pentacle still in his hand, he raised it for a better look. Kenji's words echoed in his mind. 'Figure the rest out.'

In a bathroom in the house, behind the toilet, Kon was there, taped to the back of it, slightly touching the floor. He struggled wildly to break free, tears streaming down his face. He cried out in his thoughts, Why does stuff like this always have to happen to meeeee!?