Ichigo looked up at the ceiling as light flooded through his window, numb. It had been a long year and barely anything had improved.

Shiro? Are you there?

He sighed when he didn't get a response. He hadn't been expecting one of course, but hope hadn't left yet. Get up you idiot, He told himself, his voice mentally sounding like the hollow. The saffron-haired teen chuckled, forcing himself up and out of bed.

"Ichi-Nii! Good morning!"

"Ah, good morning Yuzu." he planted a kiss on his sister's head as he grabbed a piece of toast. "Is Karin at practice?"

"Mmhm!" she smiled sweetly, "you know Ichi-Nii, you should really visit Getaboushi-san! He misses you and so does Yoruichi-san!"

"So ka…" I miss them too.. It had been a long time since the teen visited the shop. He was too hurt, and exposure to anything that had to do with the soul society was too painful. Truthfully, he missed his mentors far more than he was willing to admit. Kisuke and Yoruichi had quickly become not just his sensei, but parental figures as well. The goddess of flash's teasing, the mad scientist's risky but dependable methods. The way they both always knew how to say the right thing. He even missed Benihime. Once he had realized how to recognize her reishi, he could always feel the red lady's presence.

"Oh...gomene. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No! Its okay Yuzu! Is Goat face working?"

"Hai. if you want to help out, you know he'll always appreciate your presence."

"I know. I'm heading out okay? Make sure to stay safe, and tell Kisuke I say hi."

"Okay! Have fun Ichi-Nii!"

Ichigo sighed. Again. He'd been doing that a lot, but then again, being powerless for over a year tended to do that to a person.

The teen ran down the streets of Karakura, eventually climbing up the side of an old building and sitting atop it in Jinzen. He rested his hands together, relaxing as the wind ruffled through his long hair. He liked it long, a reminder of the parts of his soul which he couldn't feel.

Hands clutching at his hair, tearing, tears down his face, frantic screaming, clawing at his face in hope that a mask would appear, grabbing above his shoulder, jumping through windows just to feel something . But nobody had noticed. And why would they? Chad, Uryu, Orihime, everyone! They stopped talking the second he would step into the room, determining that it would hurt him less if he wasn't involved at all. But it hurt more. So much more.

Heights helped. Heights and fights and bruises and that satisfaction when he won. He knew part of it was Shiro, Zangetsu, him. Because he was still Ichigo. Still himself. Even if he'd been stripped of everything that made him him. It hurt, it always hurt, to search and search and search and not be able to feel his zanpakuto. He missed the old man more than he thought he would; he and Shiro knew him better than anyone else and he could confide in them. Even when the snarky bastard was trying to take control, he still understood. The wind fluttered around him, caressing the aching former substitute Shinigami.

Why am I like this…

Warm arms pulled him into a hug. "Oh Ichigo.."

A dark green Haori was settled upon his shoulders as it's owner picked the teen up, cradling him in his arms.

"Geta-Boushi..?" he mumbled, clutching at the fabric desperately.

"Hai." The scientist regarded him with unusually serious eyes. He had seen the toll the last year had put on the teen. The loss of his powers, while unintentional on the part of his friends, had alienated him and left him alone. Walking by the river, he'd spotted the teen and knew he had to intervene. There had been far too many instances of the behavior. "I'm bringing you to the shouten, Kurosaki-san. Is that alright?"

"Even if it wasn't, you'd still take me, ya crafty bastard." He muttered.

Benihime.. Kisuke reached out to his zanpakuto, what do we do?

Kisuke, lust for fighting, the need for adventure, it's as prominent in him as it is in us. You just got that notification, did you not? Knock him back on his feet. Give him a job, a reason to live again. Perhaps you'll finish your project in the meantime. You must take advantage of it. opportunities are like sakura blossoms, they only last so long before they fall to the ground.

Kisuke nodded, understanding completely. He blew a mental kiss to his red lady before flash stepping to the Shouten.

"We're here, Kurosaki-san."

Ichigo nodded, feeling discombobulated. He always did, entering the shop without being able to feel the energy pulsing through it. He had been terrible at sensing reiatsu, but it had always been there. Now, he felt nothing.

Ururu went up to him and gave him a hug. "Kurosaki-San? Tessai-San and I brought you some tea. Sumimasen."

"Hey, what're you apologizing for?" He ruffled the young girl's hair, "thank you Ururu."

She smiled a little before bowing and going to the other room.

"Now," Urahara sat down across from Ichigo, "I had been hoping to talk to you, but these don't happen to be the most opportune circumstances." Yoruichi - in cat form- leapt onto the boy's lap, hoping to comfort him. The odd gigai Kisuke had made ensured that Ichigo would be able to see her. He pet her absentmindedly, holding her close as she purred. "Breathe, Ichigo."

He nodded, "I'm working on it." He took a deep breath, thoroughly comforted by the familiarity of the Shouten. In, out. 3 seconds in, 5 seconds out. "So, GetaBoushi, you had something you wanted to tell me about?"

"That I do. You see, there are other powers in the world besides shinigami, kami, hollows, etc. among them are wizards." At ichigo's spluttering he grinned, hiding his face with his fan, "yare yare, don't get your panties in a twist Kurosaki-San, it's not so implausible. This wizards, as they call themselves, are but humans who are more sensitive to reiatsu. Similarly to Shinigami and Quincies, they are able to channel it, though on a much weaker level. They call it magic. Ichigo, you don't need to be more than human to access these, and while you do not have access to your powers, they still exist within you."

Ichigo stared at his mentor in shock, "are you saying..?"

"Yes."

Hope poured through Ichigo. He had been so terrified of his inability to protect others, perhaps this magic would allow him to again.

"I bring this up because I was sent a letter from the headmaster of a rather prestigious magical school. It has an absolutely ridiculous name, and I do hope it'll make you laugh at some point. The headmaster requested me to send someone with 'expertise in defense' to look out for one of his students." Urahara signed, "the boy is credited with defeating a dark wizard as a baby and said wizard is apparently back. I have interest in the matter because I want to know how he's been avoiding death. But back to the matter at hand. I decided you'd be a good choice. Well, Benihime actually decided and she's proven to be very wise over the centuries. Because Kurosaki-San, even without powers you are incredibly strong and… You need a break. You need time to be a teen. Perhaps the exposure to magic will even help bring back your powers. I am working on something, but I'm not sure when it'll be done. Hopefully soon. I've spent some time in the wizarding world over the last century, so the headmaster thinks I'm a wizard. He knows nothing of Shinigami."

Ichigo blinked at him for a little, taking in all the information. "I'll do it."

"That's the spirit Kurosaki-Kun!" Kisuke sung cheerfully.

"Dammit you shady asshole! I'll kick your ass for being so familiar!"

The shopkeeper smiled at the expression on the boy's face. Already, he seemed livelier. "I look forward to it, Kurosaki-san!" he waggled his fingers, "The room downstairs is open any time! I'll set everything up with Headmaster Dumbledore-san. You take care of yourself and I'll let you know when the preparations are complete."

Ichigo seemed to sag in relief. "Thank you, GetaBoushi."

"Hey," the shopkeeper placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'll send Youichi to keep an eye on you."

"As long as she stops stripping in front of me!" Ichigo sighed gratefully. He knew that it was Kisuke's own way of saying he cared. "Thank you."

"Ma, ma! I haven't done anything. That's all you, Kurosaki-san."