Hello everyone, I am here with another Bleach story (when I really shouldn't be and have five other stories to update)! This story came about through a conversation with a friend on the site Zaraki who mentioned a lack of good Quincy-Ichigo fics. While I wouldn't say this story fits in that category it will venture into that realm. For now the story is very much a work in progress and will likely have an infrequent update schedule.

I hope you all enjoy!

Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo

X= Used to indicate change in perspective or timing/scenery

X

Juha Bach regarded the child in his mind a shock of orange hair visible against the grey weather of a tempestuous day, the Quincy King idly studied the boy and his mother. one of his own an Echt Quincy with powers so pure and unseen of her bloodline. They crawled along the banks of a swollen river the child babbling happily with earnest amber eyes lit up with joy. The mother smiled in kind and Bach could almost taste the love kindled between the parent and child.

Slumber plagued his mind and the King valiantly tried to turn his mind away from the weary of his soul, eternity was a long time to rest but soon he would wake in earnest and bring his wrath upon Soul Society. Watching over his children (those that survived) brought a small measure of peace to the endless waves of rest that draped him like a man beneath the Earth.

Turning his attention from the vibrant child with orange hair the Quincy king released a heavy sigh it was time to call all Quincy loyal to him, all who denied his call would be stripped of their powers in Aushwalen. It grieved him to strip such life and power from his kin but the time was soon dawning and it now demanded this of him. Drastic measures would be taken to ensure his revenge and the revenge of his kin.

It was activated slowly spanning years that felt like seconds over the mortal realm drawing the power of the Quincy who refused his call into his soul. His attention snapped suddenly as the vibrant life of one child so bright in the flow of life was tainted with sorrow, the reaitsu of kin to this child was flickering like a candle fleetingly struggling not to gutter into darkness. Standing up flinging aside the heavy mantle of slumber that swathed him in folds of ebony he stepped from his throne and threw aside the drapery of powers that shone iridescently throughout the vast throne room in tangled gossamer threads.

Haschwalth rose to his feet in a flurry of white long golden strands swaying violently with the sudden movement. He looked to his king eyes showing only a fraction as was custom of the usually apathetic man though his worry slipped through when he spoke in rushed tones, "Heika?"

Juha turned to face his second hand with eyes of deep icy blue churning with thought and the power flickering in his soul. Haschwalth nodded in understanding of his king's wishes. He glided to walk behind Bach the king's shadow in the realm they would soon enter. Striding forward Juha wrapped his reaitsu around himself a cloak of living night, that bright power flickered against the edge of his senses drawing him in and guiding him towards the young soul. With the subtle coils of reaitsu around him Bach disappeared from the ornate yet bare throne room.

X

The young orangette was on the ground curled upon his knees eyes staring vacantly and uncomprehending into the distance. Looking at his own form Juha frowned this form was one of power and command with harsh features and no hint of kindness, with a mere thought and flick of his reaitsu he was younger in appearance. Icy blue eyes hidden behind yellow specters shaped a more angled face, the once harsh lines of his age had faded to a more noble bearing.

The boy looked to the side eyes straining to see Juha behind the veil of reaitsu he had cast over himself, it wouldn't do to have the Shinigami aware of his presence so early. It was amazing that the boy's senses were already so developed as to sense Bach's presence tamed and hidden as it was behind the cloak of his thick reaitsu. He could sense Haschwalth's own surprise from beside him where the silent man watched on with wide blue eyes.

Eyes hidden behind yellow frames looked past the trembling boy and alighted on the still form of a woman pressed into the damp Earth, the boy's mother. The acidic tang of blood was suddenly vibrant on the currents of damp air and looking closer he could see the same life blood painting the orange hair so like her son's yet faded sprawled around her head like a halo, her soft features suited to warm smiles were pale and cold the breath of life gone from them. Stalking forward the Quincy King crouched beside her, his hand reached out tentatively to rest against her pulse point but no beat reached his fingers and the warmth of her soul was fast fading.

Juha released a somber sigh dwelling on the passing of his kin, before anger replaced the emotion as the bitter taint of hollow reaitsu made itself apparent. Blue eyes old in their fury scoured the land passing over the swollen river lapping at the shades of emerald grass misted by the heavy sky somber with clouds of silver and darkness. The creature was gone having left after attacking and killing his kin. Bach felt disgust and anger fade as his head turned to face the young boy, whose mother had died to save him.

Releasing himself from the crouch Bach stalked towards the young boy, the thick shield of his reaitsu that imposed all from seeing him peeling away so that the orange haired child could see him. Haschwalth followed a step behind quiet as the wind rustling the blades of grass. Soulful chocolate coloured eyes widened as Bach walked towards the boy but he did not shuffle away merely stared unafraid into Juha's eyes. Bach felt his breath catch in his throat at the vibrant power radiating from those eyes alone, he wondered at the make of this child for such power came not only from his mother but some other reaitsu surrounded his form. Tender still in his youth but bursting from his soul in the emotional upheaval the boy was experiencing from the loss of his mother, likely the center of his world.

Kneeling beside the young boy ignoring the squelch of grass and the feel of liquid pressing against his knee Bach reached up a hand infinitely gentle and brushed against the boy's cheek to catch the shimmering tears trailing down his cool flesh. The child blinked staring in confusion at Bach yet the boy showed no sign of alarm or hostility, tentatively reaitsu curled out from the boy's figure faintly twining with Juha's own.

The Quincy King regarded the boy thoughtfully before his reaitsu surged outwards enveloping the boy entwining with his soul. Juha felt surprise resound through him as he stumbled upon the beings in the boy's soul becoming apparent where they resided in his inner world. Closing his eyes to the world outside of the two Bach considered the child's soul seeing what his powers felt blossoming into a storm.

Dormant Quincy powers resided in his own form a mirror of his image, reaitsu of such a pure blue that Bach was astounded by the power of a boy conceived of a half blood and a… the second spirit was cloaked in black and white with hair of the same tousled colour with sparks of indigo peaking from within the black. The male figure had a face hidden behind a mask shaped like the helmets knights of the medieval age wore in combat. Silver glinted around the face and a sharp nose peaked out along with eyes glinting a deep crimson. Armour shone underneath the figure's cloak a miasma of crosses lined in black and white. The child was the son of a powerful Shinigami and a Quincy of purity unseen for ages.

The third being's taint registered on the edge of his senses stirring hateful instincts; a hollow. It prowled into view, all unnatural white with crimson staining it's figure it was not the common mindless beast one saw prowling the streets of the mortal realm. This creature stood on two feet intelligent golden eyes in a sclera of deep sable staring at him curiously, the familiar hole rested in the center of it's chest where sable lines spread outwards accented by red fur. The mask was inordinately terrifying with sharp teeth and two horns peaking from the side of it's head, behind the mask orange locks flowed down the figure's back resting contrastingly against the white leggings that cloaked its lower half from sight resembling of the Shinigami shihakusho.

Pushing forward at the impression lingering faintly hidden behind many layers Bach noted the appearance of the child's inner world. Seas swarmed beneath him tremulous and ferocious, great skyscrapers rose from the sea tall and foreboding. Bach cocked his head at the peaks of emerald shining from the buildings in sparse clusters, drawing close Bach could see trees shining trough the opulent glass their great boughs reaching out through the clear panes to curl around the building providing life in an otherwise cold and grey world. The sky was cloaked in clouds reflecting the weather outside and only then did Bach note the quiet rain pounding against the buildings and disappearing into the water below.

Focusing his attention once more on the faint reaitsu Juha pushed forward, coming to a stop he stared ahead of him in confusion. A swirling cocoon of water hidden behind many of the skyscrapers resting near the water. A shadowy figure resided in the sphere of water barely visible in the rush and swirl of liquid in a constant motion, drifting closer Juha could see that the figure was that of a woman. A traditional style yukata floated around her form ethereally and long hair, sea blue in colour, floated upon the eddies of the water she rested in, her reaitsu was that of a Shinigami Zanpaktou spirit and Bach puzzled over the mystery the young child had presented him with.

Pulling back the Quincy King surveyed the child's world once more noting the boy's dormant power that would soon flow from him like the water of a river unstoppable and powerful, for now it was dormant; all though his Shinigami powers were awakening in response to the child's emotional distraught. Regarding the Quincy portions of the child's power Bach drifted forward to rest a hand against the brow of the mirror image of his current form.

Blue eyes widened in surprise at the touch of the bearer of his powers, the Quincy portion of the orangette's powers shuddered at the influx of knowledge poured into the spirit's form. The history of the Quincy and all that would soon come were bequeathed to the young spirit by the Quincy King. Juha stared into those eyes seemingly wise and yet young he spoke, "I have woken the boy's Quincy powers do not allow him to go forward heedless of this inheritance."

The spirit nodded obeying the instructions resounding commandingly throughout his being. Bach nodded and left the boy's inner world blinking harshly at the feel of air on his skin accompanied by the pitter patter of rain. Staring into caramel eyes vacant and uncomprehending in their sorrow Bach leant forward to place a kiss on the boy's brow blessing him with his power and wishing the child luck in life.

For with such power born into his body the boy would be dragged into the affairs of the spiritual world. He would not be able to run from it no matter how much his father tried to shield him from it. He had no doubt the man planned ignorance for his child but it would not be so.

Just so Juha acknowledged that he would either face the child in battle or find him within his ranks. For with the balance of powers within the child's soul he would be drawn in to the war that brimmed upon the horizon.

Standing up cloak billowing in tempestuous winds Yhwach regarded the child in silence before he said, "I will visit again. Know that your mother's death was not your fault child of shadows. May I ask your name kin of my soul?"

The child slowly tilted his head up orange locks shifting with the movement he stared for a moment distanced before he replied in a hushed whisper, "Kurosaki Ichigo."

Bach nodded a soft smile of fondness curled onto his lips he turned away reaitsu billowing around him as he left Ichigo behind. Haschwalth lowered towards the ground immaculate white robes sweeping the damp soil he stared into amber orbs seemingly coming to an understanding before he swept away following Bach's footsteps.

Entering the Winter Palace Juha felt the tense cast to his shoulders that the effort of hiding monstrous reaitsu had put upon him fade instead contemplation rested on noble features. Haschwalth regarded Bach keenly a conversation playing in his eyes even as he voiced nothing. With a nod, he drifted to stand beside the throne eternally blue eyes gazed out unseeing of the world before him but perceiving far more.

Bach slumped in the grand throne the weight of sleep pushing on his mind again he turned as fog seemed to descend over his eyes, he thought of the young child the key to Soul Society's downfall or his own. For one can plan and manipulate beyond measure but the determination and will of a soul was another thing entirely. The boy would be powerful beyond measure. Letting the wearisome sleep descend on him once more Bach closed his eyes icy cool presence flaring out before settling.

X

Fate had other plans for Ichigo Kurosaki. even as Kisuke Urahara watched from a nearby roof heart somber at the death of a close friend he was planning for the future knowing that Aizen would soon claim power and only the young Kurosaki would be able to defeat the megalomaniac. Even as Aizen watched through the lens of a bug and considered the powerful child one conceived partially of his own craft a child to rival him in power.

None could contemplate the power the child would wield, nor the balance he would bring as the three realms tilted on the brink of a war that would destroy all living, a child born of four races. Fate rested on his young shoulders even as he grieved the loss of the center of his world resolve sparked in his soul and the spirits residing inside headed the call of their wielder.

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I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter (though it was more of a prologue and I consider it such). Reviews/comments are always appreciated and I would love to hear your thoughts on this new piece. Till next time!