Day after the Ichigo gains his Shinigami powers from Rukia.
"ICHIGOOOOO!" *WHAM*
"THE HELL YOU CRAZY OLD MAN" Ichigo having finished beating his father was raising from his dad looking at his dad whom was hanging dangerously from the open window. " A perfect counter my son." Isshin stated proudly.
"If it was so good then stop attacking me" Ichigos anger seeped into his voice.
"And allow you to grow complacent! Never." At this Isshins grip slipped, "AAAHHH." Having caught himself again Isshin turned to his son.
"Ichigo," Ichigo turn at the sound of his father's serious tone and was shocked at his equally serious face, "at lunch I want you to come home . I'll write a note for you because I really need you here when no one else is around." At that Isshins eyes drifted to the closet and stayed there. " No one else!" A grin returned to his face and his juvenile tone as well. "After all, can't have any one walking in when we have 'the talk' now can we."
"Damn it old man, stop saying stupid things like that." Ichigo sighed, his eyes closed. Ichigo looked at his father once more. "I'll be here." Ichigo started to slide the window closed.
"HUH, NO WAIT WAAAIIITTT." at this Isshin fell from the window leaving Ichigo to get changed.
After he had finished getting ready Rukia decided to speak. "What do you think he wants to talk about?"
Ichigo stood still for a moment before responding. "I don't know."
Kurosaki residence, lunch time
"I bet your wondering why I called you back." Isshin was surprised even if he didn't show it. He expected Ichigo to bring Rukia on her soul form.
"Yeah, you've been acting weird today." After a moment of thought Ichigo added, "well, more than usual."
"I can see spirits!"
"...what?" Ichigo stood unsure of what he heard and should do next.
"I said I can see spirits." Isshin was once again wearing his serious face.
*sigh* "I know this can be a shock for you..." Before Ichigo could continue Isshin interjected.
"I've been able to see spirits since before you were born."
"I.. But.. What?" Ichigo was shocked.
Isshin started to explain. "I think you should sit down. You see I was a Shinigami, a captain and I know about last night with you and Rukia."
"Wait, if you knew and you're a Shinigami why didn't you stop the Hollow?" Ichigo grew furious his father could have stopped Yuzu and Karin from ever getting hurt.
"Because I lost my Shinigami powers." That threw Ichigo through a loop. "To understand how I lost my powers you need to know more about Zanpakto, you see, Zanpakto have one sealed state and two released states although not everyone can unlock them. The first release or Shikai is simple to obtain as you only need to learn your Zanpaktos name." explained Isshin.
"Name?" Ichigo grew confused.
"Yes, you see each Zanpakto is part of its wielders soul and as such a part of you. A Zanpakto will try to contact the wielder and the wielder just needs to hear the Zanpaktos name to release Shikai. But, be warned not everyone can hear their Zanpaktos name. With Shikai the Zanpakto changes form and gains a new power to held its wielder, for example turning into boxing gloves for those who favor fist fights or allows for the Shinigami to launch elemental attacks. Next, the final release or Bankai takes years to achieve as the shinigami needs to gain permission from their Zanpakto and them complete the task set by their Zanpakto before they are able to perform Bankai. Bankai usually allow the Zanpakto spirit into the real world to help its wielder. My Zanpakto allowed me, in Shikai to use a move called Getsuga Tensho which is a condensed Reishi attack. The reason I lost my powers is because I used, in Bankai, a move called 'The Final Getsuga Tensho' which means I become Getsuga Tensho meaning I lost my powers. I am, however, regaining them. This means when they return I may be able to help with your shinigami training but for now I will send you to learn from some friends of mine. They will teach you about all aspects of a Shinigamis training, I trust Rukia explained them to you?" This interrupted Ichigos rapt attention.
"Yeah, Kido, Hoho, Hakudo and Zanjutsu."
"Good, now I won't have to explain."
"Why did you stay?" The question confused Isshin. "In the human world I mean." Isshin sighed and simply responded,
"your mother. You see I never went back because I couldn't take your mother even if I wanted to, it would have caused war."
"War?" the word confused Ichigo out of the whole of his father's explanation.
"Yes, war." Isshin took a moment to think before continuing. "Your mother was the equivalent of a princess of the Quincys."
Another load of questions took residence in Ichigos head, "Quincys?"
"Humans who gain the power to use their soul. Quincys are like Shinigamis in that they see soul, kill Hollows and make a weapon out of Reishi but that's it. Shinigamis have been at war with the Quincys for some time now and the reason is very simple. You see, Ichigo, Quincys kill Hollows."
One question answered and yet more took its place. "But wouldn't that help the Shinigami?"
"You miss understand Ichigo, a Shinigami uses a Zanpakto and purifies the Hollow allowing the tortured spirit an all those it has eaten into the Soul Society or Hell if they are bad souls. Quincys, on the other hand, kill Hollows meaning that the tortured soul is destroyed forever." Shock flooded Ichigo. "The Reishi bow that Quincys use us made of, well, Reishi unlike Zanpakto which are made from their wielders soul." At the end of his father's explanation Ichigo fell quiet. "I will try to look for a teacher for you to learn your Quincy powers from but their numbers have fallen. I have a friend who may teach you but we will have to see. This is a lot to take in so go to bed, if Rukia needs you I will tell her to wake you but other than that you need to rest after all of this."
"Thank you." The two words were whispered softly out of Ichigos mouth. He then dragged his feet up the stairs his mind swirling with this new information. His door shut quietly but to Isshin it was as loud as an angered slam. Sighing once more Isshin stood whilst grabbing his keys, leaving the home and locking it before making his way to a small little shop with a crazy owner who wore a striped bucket hat and a pair of clogs.
Karakura high
At school Rukia was worried she had no power, no substitute and, worst of all, no Chappy. Luckily no Hollows attack but she couldn't help worrying about Ichigo, it's not like she cared for him or anything, oh no, it's just that he didn't have a way out of his body without her, yeah that was it wasn't that she cared. With a firm nod to herself Rukia once more paid attention to the teacher now that she had reassured herself that she didn't care for Ichigo. She hoped.