Ichigo was no stranger to weird events happening around him. For as long as he could remember he was capable of seeing ghosts. His mother died a mysterious death when he was just a child. When he was fifteen he met a soul reaper, Rukia and was nearly killed by a monstrous being known as a hollow. Rukia, in a last ditch effort to save Ichigo and his families life, transfered her power over to Ichigo. This event sent Ichigo's life spiralling far out of reach of the term 'normal', not that his life was all that normal to begin with.
From fighting hollows to engaging quincies to invading the literal afterlife, Ichigo's life was truly abnormal, but all of this changed on one faithful day. This was the day Ichigo sacrificed all the power he had gained in order to stop a madman, Aizen. Aizen was hell bent on achieving godhood and outsing the Soul King from it's throne. He had to be stopped, but in the end the only way Ichigo felt that could be possible was by using the final getsuga tensho. This ability gave him ultimate power, but came at a price as power usually does.
Ichigo had to give up everything that he had gained and everything that he already had. He lost his ability to communicate with the dead along with all his soul reaper abilities. He could no longer engage in battles with his friends, nor could he talk to his soul reaper friends or even see them. for the first time in Ichigo's sixteen years of life, he was normal.
Over the last sixteen months Ichigo's life had reached a true sense of normalcy. He had a job, no longer helped wayward spirits, and most off all no longer raced off to battle hollows. He was just Ichigo with the only thing abnormal about him being his hair color and his reflexes. He told himself that this was fine, that he could fully accept the price of beating Aizen, but a small part of himself couldn't help but regret his decision. A part that was steadily growing. Still this was the fate he accepted for himself and he fully expected to live the rest of his life without anything else supernatural happening to him.
So why the hell was he in some strange ass living room that clearly didn't belong to any of his friends!? Whatever the reason he was sure hat and clogs had something to do with it.
The room was large, at least three times as large as the typical living room with several couches and chairs all arranged in a large U. All of the couches were pointed at a wall with a large movie projector style sheet hanging down. The room itself was a stark white that, honestly speaking, hurt Ichigo's eyes to look at. There was also a coffee table in the middle of the U that had a large book placed on top of it, both were of course white. If Ichigo was paying a bit more attention, he would of noticed a small sheet of paper placed next to the book.
Ichigo himself was also dressed in a white short sleeved jacket and white jeans along with white tennis shoes. Clearly whoever brought him here was obsessed with the color white.
"Okay what the hell is going on here?" Ichigo muttered to himself, clearly more than slightly suddenly appeared in this strange room, his confusion was quite fair. "Hey! Is anyone there!?" Ichigo yelled, trying to see if anyone was paying attention. "Damn it! What the hell is going on?"
"Hey-"
Just when Ichigo was about to call out again a, bright flash cut him off. Glancing over just as the light down, Ichigo saw the person standing there.
"Uryu!?"
"Kurosaki? What's going on?" Uryu asked with a confused expression on his face. Uryu, just like Ichigo, had his clothes changed to an all white attire. He wore a white button down shirt, white slacks, and white loafers. All in all it wasn't anything out of the norm for Uryu.
"I have no clue. One minute I was playing Tekken, the next here I was."
"How strange, have tried looking around for an exit?"
"What you see is what you get, Uryu" Ichigo said while sweeping his arms around.
"Well that's unfortunate. What about this book?" Uryu said while pointing a finger that the rather large book stationed atop the white coffee table.
"Huh guess I just ignored that" Ichigo said while looking at the book. Just then, he noticed the note sitting next to the book. "Huh? What's this?" Ichigo questioned while reaching out to the note, but just as he was about to reach several bright flashes appeared.
Both Ichigo and Uryu turned to see what was going on, only to see several new figure standing there. THe first person standing was Orihime standing there in a white dress and white sweater with white sandals. The next person they noticed was Chad, standing in a white tank top, white jeans, and white shoes. Turning their head they noticed the last person standing there.
"Rukia!?" Sure enough, standing there in a white sundress and sandals was Rukia Kuchiki, sister of Byakuya Kuchiki and soul reaper of the Soul Society. The most shocking part of her being there was not her presence, but just who reacted.
"Ichigo!? But.. How!?" Rukia yelled shocked to not only be in a strange getup in an even stranger room, but for Ichigo of all people to see her.
"Ichigo?" Orihime nervously said while glancing in between Rukia and Ichigo.
"Where are we?" Chad, being stoic as always, stated, but Ichigo ignored both him and Orihime, still shocked by Rukia's presence and his sudden ability to see her.
"Seriously what the hell is going on here!?" Ichigo yelled being more confused than he could remember being in recent memory.
"That's what'd I'd like to know! Where the hell are we and more importantly why the hell can you see me!?" Rukia replied, just as heatedly as Ichigo.
"Would you both just calm down. I'm sure there's a perfectly logical reason for all this. Let's just read this sheet of paper to see if there's any answers." Uryu, ever the calm one, stated. He was holding the piece of paper from earlier and waving it around to attract everyone's attention.
"Okay, but that thing better have some answers or else-"
"-Or else what Ichigo? You're going to huff and puff and angrily sit down?" Rukia said with a smirk
"Don't start with me, midget" Ichigo stated, also with a smirk. Though they were both confused as to what was happening, they were both glad to be with each other and showed each other in the only way they could.
"If you're both done I'll read from the note." Uryu said, with an amused smirk on his face.
"Fine, fine get on with it, Uryu." Ichigo said.
"Okay let's see what's going on.."
To my loyal subjects
You would have all noticed by now the room you are in the book placed before you. You will of course wonder where you are and what's going on. The answer is simple this room and that book are my gift to you.
"Wait, the hell does he mean gift!? And why the hell is he calling us 'subjects'?" Ichigo interrupted.
"I'm sure he'll explain in do time, if you'd let me finish" Uryu replied while pushing his glasses up.
"Sorry, Uryu, I'm just out of my element at the moment." Ichigo sheepishly replied with Rukia snickering in the background.
"It's quite alright, Ichigo. Just try and let me finish okay?"
Now that Ichigo's interruption is out of the way let me finish explaining myself. I am the Soul King.
"WHAT!?" This time everyone yelled with a shocked expression. Even the normally stoic Chad was wide eyed and slack jawed at the revelation.
"There's no way this man could be serious!" Rukia yelled. Having grown up in the afterlife she had been raised on tales of the Soul King. The number of people who had ever been able to claim to have seen the Soul King was exceedingly small, let alone the number of people who could claim to have communicated with the soul king. There was no way this person could be the Soul King!
Orihime was suddenly having flashbacks of Aizen and all his delusions of grandeur. Where they dealing with another person with immense abilities with a god complex?
Uryu was the first to regain his composure, but he was still in a state of shock
Ichigo was pissed. He definitely got a good enough taste of what someone with a god complex could do, and he was in no mood to go back down that road. He was just about to loudly protest when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Glancing over, he saw Chad shake his head. Clearly indicating that he should calm down. While still pissed, Ichigo simply nodded his head and looked back at Uryu.
Uryu seeing that he had everyone's attention on himself continued to read
If everyone's quite done I'd like to continue on. Yes, no matter what you think I am the real Soul King. Not some fool thinking himself bigger than he actually onto my reason for bringing you all here. Like I said before, the room, and the book are my gifts to you for saving me from a great evil. And no I am not referring to that imbecile Aizen. What I'm talking about is a much greater threat that has yet to appear. That book before you contains all the important details of the future war to come. Use it to evode the future deaths to come. Be warned, if you do not take advantage of this opportunity I'm giving you the people you care for will die.
The group of friends stared nervously at each other. If what the paper said was true not only where they just in communication with the Soul King, but he he was also giving them a chance to prevent a major war, or at least lowering the death toll.
"If what he's saying is true, Then what the hell am I doing here!?" Ichigo yelled all of his pent up frustration from the last sixteen months spilling. "What the hell is a powerless human supposed to do!?" For despite his newfound ability to see and hear Rukia, he could still feel that his spiritual energy was at an all time low, as low as it's been since he used mugetsu.
Rukia stared sadly Ichigo, wondering if she should tell him about the blade Urahara was working on.
Orihime also stared sadly Ichigo. She had wanted to keep everything supernatural away from Ichigo. In fear that he'd get like this, but it seems he ended up feeling useless anyway.
"Ichigo, how about we just read the first chapter? That might answer your question." Uryu said
"..."
"Fine.." Ichigo said before walking over to the middle couch and sitting down while crossing his arms, a troubled look in his eyes. Rukia took up the position on his left while Orihime took his right, both glancing nervously at Ichigo. Uryu picked up the book and sat on a white chair positioned to the right off Ichigo's couch while Chad took a similar position in a chair opposite of uryu.
"I'll begin Chapter One: The Thousand Year Blood War" as Uryu began reading images appeared on the projector like screen that looked similar to a manga. As he spoke, words appeared along the images
An image of the 12th Division Research and Development department appeared on screen.
"What's the sutra scale?"
"It's currently at category four. Grave."
"I wonder what's going on?" Orihime questioned
"I'm sure it'll be explained in time, Orihime" Rukia nervously replied. she was worried about what was going on in the future, but didn't want to let it show.
"Well, aren't you in a leisurely stance?"
"I'm sorry. There were so many trifling situations before this, that only minor adjustments were necessary to deal with them"
"102 hollows destroyed in 902-0201 as well!"
"51 destroyed in 6603-8983!"
"Adjusting the barrier invasion rate to 0.24!"
"Notify correction squad!'
"None of that sounds even slightly good, the hollow destruction numbers are way too high..." Rukia mumbled to herself, with only Ichigo picking up on, but he chose to ignore it for now.
"3rd seat Akon! The Hollows just keep disappearing! At this rate. in a few days the barrier in between the world of the living and here will-"
"-I already reported that! If you don't have any other intel, then step down!" Akon yelled at an underling
"How did things get so bad this quickly?" Ichigo muttered, momentarily forgetting about his own problems
"I have no clue, hopefully the book will provide clear answers" Uryu stated seemingly calm, but a cold sweat cold be seen traveling down his face could it be? No there's no way
"I,, I'm sorry!" The underling nervously replied. A pair of slender, pale fingers could be seen typing on a keyboard
"Captain... This is the work of-"
"A certain party, obviously. The only ones capable of removing hollows from existence itself..."
"What!" Ichigo and Rukia's combined voices called, both automatically understanding what Mayuri meant. Orihime glanced in between wondering why they both screamed out before the pieces fell into place into her mind. The only group of supernatural beings capable of completely destroying a hollows existence. Turning her quickly she looked straight Uryu, who was know obviously nervous and appeared to be having a panic attack.
His face was starting to be covered in a copious amount of sweat his hands wouldn't stop shaking and he kept muttering under his breath. But how? Is he awakening already? Or.. Is he already awoke!?
"Uryu.. do you know anything about this?" Ichigo asked. Uryu glanced up from the book to see everyone looking at him. Quickly regaining his composure, he pushed up his glasses and replied
"No, Let's just continue reading. Alright?"
"Okay, Uryu" Ichigo responded with a disbelieving look on his face
"Are them and them alone!" Mayuri Kurotsuchi, now sporting a new look, finished
"Man, I swear he gets creepier every time I see him" Ichigo said
"Ki.. Yuki Ryuunosuke!" A voice called out. A half asleep face could be seen struggling not to doze off
"Y...Yes, I wasn't listening!" The now identified Yuki replied.
"I know that! you were completely asleep." An afroed soul reaper replied. "How can you be asleep on the first day of a new mission that your senior is trying to explain so that you could take over for him!?" he continued
"So Karakura Town is getting a new guardian Soul Reaper aye? Hope he does a better job than the last one" Ichigo said with a blank expression
"C'mon Ichigo. Don't be that way. He tried his best" Orihime energetically replied.
"Tried his best to fail miserably you mean. What was his name again?" Ichigo boredly questioned
"I have no clue" Rukia responded
"Your guess is as good as mine, Ichigo" Chad responded
Orihime just nervously rubbed her head while chuckling
"I'm sorry. I was so nervous last night that I didn't get much sleep, So I can't help it." Yuki replied with drool going down his face.
"What do you mean you can't help it!? You make it seem like you had no choice but to stay up!" The soul reaper yelled. "Besides, I already heard that excuse once when you were late! See! I listen to everything you say!"
"I..I expected no less from you, Kuromandi!" Yuki said
"Why do I feel like I'm just going to forget his name again?"
"Probably because you have a short attention span, Ichigo"
"Quiet midget"
"Shuddap! Just open those damn eyes of yours!"
Several soul reapers could be seen going about their business.
"You sure know how to make people mad, as usual." A voice called to Yuki. Stratled he turned to see...
SLAP
"Over here idiot" a short haired, brunette girl said. She also had a strange flower like hat on her head.
"Please don't slap me like that, Shino!" Yuki whined while holding his head.
"I have to, or you won't notice me!" Shino angrily retorted.
"So Rukia, you ever meet these two bozos?" Ichigo questioned
"No, no I haven't why?"
"I'd rather have someone you trust guarding Karakura"
"Aww isn't that sweet"
"Q...quiet midget. I take back what I just said."
"Don't be like that, Ichigo."
"Can I please get back to the story?" Uryu cut in. Seeing that their banter might go on for a while
"Sure"
"Knock yourself out."
"Get yourself in gear! You and I leaving for the mission point this afternoon!" Shino said with a hand on her hips
"I know that... But aren't you scared?" Yuki nervously replied.
"Why would you be scared if you're with me?"
"Aww. They make a cute couple." Orihime happily stated.
"Orihime.. I don't think they're a couple." Ichigo replied
"Really? Well they should be."
"I don't think that's your place to decide, Orihime" Ichigo deadpanned.
"No, it has nothing to do with that... I just heard the hollow appearance rate in Karakura is high." Yuki explained. "So I just wondered if it's okay for someone like me to go there." Yuki continued. "Besides, I heard that there's already a strong soul reaper representative stationed there... If that's the case then why do I need to go?"
"A strong representative? Must be talking about hat and clogs" Ichigo muttered.
"Why are you being such a sissy!" Shino yelled. "They assigned two people to that town just that they wouldn't have to keep asking the representative for help, but then they were relocated and you were chosen as the #1 replacement! In other words, someone acknowledges your abilities! Why aren't you sticking out your chest proudly!?" Shino ranted.
"I understand how the old geezer must feel. I wouldn't want to keep asking hat and clogs for help either"
"That's all you took out of that long speech, Ichigo?"
"None of the other stuff really matter to me, Rukia"
"No, wait! Even if they don't acknowledge you yet this is the perfect opportunity for you to prove..?" Shino trailed off. Distracted by the now laughing Yuuki. "...What are you laughing for?" Shino questioned.
"No.. It's just "Sticking out your chest"... Shino doesn't even have a chest to-"
Before he could finish a fist crashed into his face.
"Hmph. Serves him right"
"What? Feeling a sense of kinship with the girl?"
"Don't start Ichigo"
"You know.. I had felt like there was something similiar between you two"
"Ichigo!"
"Was it the hair? No, maybe the height?"
"I'm warning you!"
"Maybe it's the chest siz-"
Rukia quickly interrupted Ichigo... WIth her foot.
"Aww! Damnit midget what the hell." Ichigo complained from the floor
"Hmph." A crossed armed Rukia replied.
An image of the crescent moon could be seen hanging in the sky. A mysterious figure was standing roof before pulling away.
"I wonder who that was" Chad said
"Alright we're here!" The afroed soul reaper said. "Incidentally... What happened to your face, Yuki?"
"Ehh!? Is something wrong with my face?" Yuki said with a swollen face. "I'm pretty sure I was born this way!"
"...Really..? Well, if that's the story you're going with, I'll believe believe you but..." He said skeptically
He's agreeing with me... what a guy
"I've done my part then! Work hard at destroying hollows! And don't fight each other!" He said as the senkaimon doors started to close. "Got it? No more fighting you hear?! And I'm not trying to use reverse psychology on you or anything like that!" He finished as the doors closed on Shino and Yuki disbelieving faces.
"Man that guy's weird" Ichigo, having returned to his position on the couch, deadpanned.
"Don't be a meanie, Ichigo." Orihime responded. With a disapproving wag of her fingers.
"Okay, okay. Just looking at me like that." Ichigo responded, referring to the, admittedly cute, pout on her face.
"Alright. Let's begin the rounds. I'll go north, so you go south." Shino said
"Ehh? we aren't making the rounds together?!"
"Are you nuts? That'd be such a waste of time. There'd be no point in there being two of us!" Shino responded. "Wait. Don't tell me your scared. Be honest with me, dammit!"
"Y...Yeah! I'm scared!"
"Don't get all serious on me!" Shino yelled. I'm outta here go out on your own and try to straighten yourself out!"
"How mean.." Orihime pouted.
"Yeah, but she's not wrong" Rukia replied.
"It's still mean!"
"Ehhh?! But I was just being honest like you said" Yuki replied as Shino started to leave
*CLANG*
"Clang?"
Turning his head to see what made that the noise. Yuki eyes widened in shock as a large bi-pedaled hollow appeared
"Wow, that one looks slightly intimidating. Or at least it would if I was still a newbie." Ichigo said with an unimpressed expression on his face.
"Which these two are, Ichigo" Uryu replied
"Why don't either of you two looked worried for them?" Orihime questioned.
"Because I assume that I am nearby. Or at least on my way" Uryu said.
"Oohh! Well I guess that makes since" Orihime responded
"WAHHHHHH!" Yuki screamed as he ran from the hollow. "I found one! I found one! I found one!" Yuki yelled. "I found one, Shino!"
The hollow at this point has managed to catch up to Yuki and swung its sword-like appendage at him. Barely managing to dodge, Yuki quickly ducked his head to avoid another swing
"Owahh! Hey, Shino!" Yuki once again called out as he continued to run away from the beast. "C'mon I need you! make fun of me say something like "You sound like you're advertising a new product" OR SOMETHING!" Yuki frustratingly called out as turned a corner of building.
Yuki's eyes widened at what he sees as turns the corner. Four adjucha class hollows with one fat one holding onto shino.
"Dammit! Where the hell are you, Uryu!?" Ichigo yelled, not that the others noticed still shocked at what they were seeing.
"Why...? Why are the so many adjuchas outside of Hueco Mundo?" Uryu said, face pale as snow.
"Oh no...!" Orihime muttered, probably the most worried about the fate of the two soul reapers
"Have thing really gotten this bad...?" Rukia said with a shocked expression.
Chad's wide eyed stare spoke volumes.
"Shino..!" Yuki, distracted by the sight of his captured friend, didn't notice the bladed hollows presence had caught up too him. Grabbing his zanpakto he prepared to strike, but his hands wouldn't stop shaking. Still unaware of the Hollows presence, he didn't the blade until it was too late
Orihime placed her hands over her face. She couldn't bear to see such a brutal fate the two.
Ichigo was gritting his teeth. Once again cursing his powerlessness.
Uryu was confused. With this many high level hollows present he future self should already be on the scene
The blade toured into Yuki shoulder sending him careening. Blood was already starting to pool around him.
Laying in the pool of his own blood, Yuki's mind started to wander. Eh? her hand isn't moving. Neither is her body. No way. why... How could one hit do that.
The hollow was slowly closing in. Blade raised primed to strike.
Tears were now openly leaving Orihime's face. To see two young soul reaper die in such a brutal way without being able to put up fight was to much.
Rukia eyes were trying to leave her head. If this is just the beginning of this war.. Then just how bad was it going to get!?
Ichigo was genuinely pissed. At the hollow, at this room , at the Soul King, but mostly at himself. Damn it! If I just had my powers... I
Am I going to die in one hit too..,? So... Much Blood... No! I don't want to die! I haven't even saved Shino...
It was then that Yuki's vision faded to black.
"Damn it!" Ichigo yelled while slamming his hands on the coffee table.
After that there was no noise, besides Orihime's soft sobs. Uryu had stopped reading his eyes couldn't be seen behind his foggy glasses. Chad's hands were balled into a fist, his expression unreadable. Rukia was staring at her hands, far too lost in thought. The screen was was left on the image of blood overtaking Yuki's body.
Biting his bottom lip, Uryu took of his and used his shirt to clean them. Once that was finished he calmly picked the book and continued reading
*SLASH*
2 hollows were bisected from hip to shoulder.
Eyes snapping open, Yuki could hear voices speaking
"Are you the one the one who's taking over for Afro?" A shihakusho wearing figure said. "You better get your act in gear. You need to be more help than him, else you're useless" The figure with spiky orange said.
No one moved. Uryu stopped reading. Orihime was no longer, Rukia's eyes were now glued. Chad felt like he could no longer be called "Stoick" with how slack his jaw was
And Ichigo...
N..no way! No freaking way! How!? I.. I gave it all up!
A realization came to Rukia's mind. There was only two possible solutions. He was dead and this future was a lot further into the future than originally implied. Or..
D..Did Kisuke finish it!?
"Wh.. Who are.. You?"
What he saw was was a man no, a teen ager with a lean body and shockingly orange hair. He wore the standard shihakusho with a few additions. He has four black vertical lines on his forearms and black, tattoo-like bands crossing over his chest, wrists, and ankles. Similar bands, but with white ends, lie around his neck as collars.
"What the hell ! How do I have my powers back!" Ichigo yelled. He had so many questions. What, how, when, where, why!?
Orihime was blushing. She had to admit, Ichigo's new appearances was quite... appealing.
Rukia was extremely confused. Kisuke's sword wouldn't change Ichigo's appearances.. would it?
"Ichigo Kurosaki. Soul Reaper Representative."
"So that's the first chapter. What do you say Ichigo?" Uryu asked.
Ichigo just stood there and thought. All eyes were on him wondering what he was going to do next.
"I still have questions and at this point I don't see how this can be faked. I don't we any other but to continue forward." Ichigo replied, secretly excited to see how he got his powers back.
"Right. Here take the book you're the most excited to see what happens next."
"Okay. let's go Chapter 2: The Tearing.