Before the chapter begins a quick Author's note: Greetings Fanfiction! I'm ConflictedSoul and this is a little one-shot I've cooked up. My story idea revolves around Ichigo's loss of his powers and the time in between The end of the Arrancar Saga and the beginning of the Fullbring Arc. Exploring what that period of time was like for Ichigo and how his character develops. Kisuke mentions things in passing like his gradual loss of spirit energy in the canon but I felt like it was a missed opportunity for some good content. What was Ichigo experiencing his bouts of pain like? What was the destruction of what makes up a large portion of his achievements like? Etc. As for Rangiku's place in the story, she will be the other main character that becomes Ichigo's companion per say throughout this time. Since she was LITERALLY there when Ichigo initially arrived to fight Aizen and NEVER mentioned anything to do with it again. Like wtf. But yeah, tell me if you enjoy as this is just a taster of the kind of content to come. Rate and Review! 3
Chapter 1: Achievement
Hope. Determination. Desperation. All of these emotions whirled and wavered as Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki fought to be taught what could save everything and everyone. Frustration was bared by a mighty strike, sending his opponent rushing backward. Never one to let up, Ichigo surged forward. Locking swords with his trusted partner, no, adversary if he was being frank.
"Stop fucking around Zangetsu! Teach me The Final Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo's blunt exclamation was met with a cold stare, giving way to an onslaught of strikes that gave Ichigo barely enough room to defend himself. "You still don't seem to understand, Ichigo. What you desire to protect and what I desire to protect are entirely, and utterly, different." Each word spoken drove him further away from his objective. A fact that did not sit well with Ichigo.
Gritting his teeth to vent his anger further, Ichigo's thoughts were racing throughout his mind. 'Why is he being so damn stubborn!? If Aizen gets away with what he's planning, Karakura's finished! And not just Karakura, but Soul Society and Hueco Mundo too! There's no time to hesitate!'
Attempting to once again reason with his Zanpakuto spirit, Ichigo voiced these thoughts. Refusing to back down. "Don't you understand Zangetsu!? If I don't learn this technique, everyone dies! I can't just sit back and let this happen!" The face of Ichigo's melded spirits frowned, gripping his weapon tightly.
A small sense of excitement wormed its way into Ichigo. Did he finally get through to his unyielding aggressor? That excitement died an ugly death upon seeing Tensa Zangetsu's expression return to near granite. The fleeting feeling of hopelessness quickly spreading throughout Ichigo's heart.
"Your tenacity is futile, Ichigo. How can you possibly hope to attain what you desire, when our goals stretch so far and few between?" The severity of Ichigo's position crashed down upon him once again. He felt as if he was reaching his wit's end. How could he possibly achieve what he needs to when their desires are so incompatible? When their thoughts are so dissimilar?
It was then that Ichigo recalled something his Zanpakuto spirit's older self-had spoken to him. The simplicity of what he needed to do becoming painfully obvious. He spent months trying what he thought was every possible angle. Yet he knew now.
"Do you hear his blade mourning? He has never listened to that voice. If they do not trust each other when fighting side-by-side they will diminish each other's strength. For someone who believes in his own strength, it is impossible to understand. Do you trust me, Ichigo?"
He felt no pain when he was run through. In fact, a strange serenity blossomed through him. Extinguishing the intense feelings of outrage he once harbored. Looking downwards, any sense of elation upon succeeding in his mission disappeared. Surprise became etched onto Ichigo's face.
Zangetsu was in tears.
"It seems you figured it out, Ichigo. The key to unlocking The Final Getsuga Tensho was not any form of opposition or battle, but trust. Trust in your blade to remain steadfast. Trust in your resolve to never waver in the heat of battle. Trust, in yourself."
As Zangetsu spoke these words, his hands were trembling. His white blade shaking as it was buried to the hilt inside of Ichigo's chest. Momentarily forgetting his own desperation, Ichigo voiced his growing concern. Never had he seen who he considered the ultimate pillar of strength so upset. "What's wrong? Zangetsu? Why are you...crying?"
For a few seconds, Zangetsu remained silent. The ambient flow of the sea that is Ichigo's inner world accompanying him in his increasingly fearful anticipation. Then, Zangetsu finally spoke. His voice - a voice that usually held an impossibly fierce stoicism - was led with emotion. "The Final Getsuga Tensho is a path that conflicts with my desires. For what I sought to protect...was you Ichigo!"
Shock colored Ichigo's expression at this revelation. He made to speak, feeling something rapidly well within him the longer the seconds dragged by. "Zangetsu what do you-" Seemingly returning to his traditional visage; Zangetsu interrupted sharply.
"The truth of this technique shall be conveyed through my blade. I'm truly sorry...Ichigo."
As abruptly as he interrupted, he let go of what was keeping him by Ichigo's side. Plummeting downwards with an expression as equally pained as it was determined.
Everything faded to black.
'Thinking back on it now, there was never a time you didn't calm me down...didn't reassure me...didn't encourage me...nor lead me astray. You were always there to help me when I needed help most, and yet...I made our last time talking to each other so difficult. Believing you to have betrayed me. How foolish I was.'
Black and blue spirt energy dwarfed Ichigo completely. Practically gushing from him as his final act as a death god drew near. Casting his gaze forwards, a pair of almost rusty colored eyes remained steady. Continuously emitting an aura beyond comprehension.
'When I was stabbed, I couldn't make sense of why I was so calm. Such a stark contrast to what I was feeling only moments earlier. Then, when you revealed your true intentions, my body felt like it was immediately being filled with something.'
A new weapon entered Ichigo's hand. A weapon not even solid in form, but constructed purely from reiatsu. The malignant form of Sosuke Aizen ranted and raved. Proclaiming what was before his eyes could only to be an aberration.
'My first instinct was, of course, the necessary power for the Final Getsuga. How could it not be? What else could possibly be transferred, if not that? Yet now I realize, how truly strong you are, Zangetsu. It wasn't just as my instincts told me, it was something else too.'
His hand was now raised, the final vestiges of Zangetsu's, no, Ichigo's being rising into the heavens.
'In your final moments, regardless of how distressed you were at my epiphany, you instilled me with every bit of confidence you could. Combining you and me so in our final battle, we truly fought with one mind...as one warrior...and as one soul. Thank you, Zangetsu.'
Ichigo finally struck down, all sound muted as if mother nature herself was shocked into silence. A single word cut through this new silence.
"Mugetsu."