A/N: Now, many of you might be asking what the hell this is, but let me tell you. I don't know either.

This is a story with no destination in mind and no ending clear. Hope you can still find it in yourself to enjoy it! This is an intro to show what has happened in the past years so that the main story can come along! I assure you, the body is less… depressing. Okay! Enough chatter! Onto the story!

#1#

"Oi~! Ku-ro-sa-ki-kun~! Where are you~?!"

"Sssshhh!"

The timid orange head ducked shamelessly as her cheeks tinted red and she flashed a sheepish smile to the nurse and co-worker that had shut her up. She murmured a quick apology, before walking out of the intensive care hall and trotting her way.

You see, Inoue Orihime had been looking for Ichigo for a good half an hour now. She had searched through every nook and cranny area of the godforsaken hospital and she still couldn't find her orange-haired friend.

It was rather ridiculous too, because for some reason, Ichigo's location was always known to anyone. His bright, orange hair was a dead giveaway –obviously- his youthful and handsome looks also didn't do him any favors in walking around unnoticed. And most of all, his god damn charismatic personality.

Now, anyone who would see the orange-haired hybrid in the street would obviously think otherwise –his perpetual scowl being something to fear and avoid like the plague. But anyone who took the time of the day to get to know him, would actually realize what a great person Ichigo really was. His need to protect everyone gave others a sense of relaxation and freedom around the man. The way he could worm himself into everyone's hearts without their permission, and even make enemies doubt their purpose. Yes indeed, Kurosaki Ichigo was a man to be feared and adored at the same time.

However, Orihime had known Ichigo since she was in high school –and wasn't that odd in its own right, they were 27 for fucks sake- and she obviously knew Ichigo on a more personal level –even though she kept on calling him Kurosaki-kun no matter how many times Ichigo has told her otherwise- so she knew pretty well that the orange head not only had the hospital to juggle, but his duties of the afterlife and many other things even she was left out on. Even then, it was strange she couldn't find her friend. Ichigo is usually easy to find, but now she's having to rely on her last resort. Yell.

"Kurosaki-kun! Ku-ro-sa-ki-kun! Where are you?!"

This time, no nurse was around to shush her, so Orihime continued her persecution. She had been given the task to find Ichigo, and she'd be damned if she didn't find him. It was important after all.

"Kurosaki-kun! If you can hear me, say something?! Mo~ where are you, Kurosaki-kun?"

"Right here."

Orihime nearly jumped a foot in the air as a smooth and even tone spoke up from behind her. She clenched her jaw and turned around fast enough to get a whiplash before her big gray eyes settled on the figure of her target.

"Kurosaki-kun! Don't scare me like that!"

Ichigo looked taken aback as he blinked curiously at his friend with some sort of surprise. He took one of his hands out of the pockets of his white doctor's coat before scratching sheepishly the back of his head.

"Sorry?" He intoned unapologetic while raising an eyebrow "I didn't mean to startle you. You did tell me to say something if I could hear you."

Orihime flushed slightly, but held her ground nothing the less "I-I guess you're right. But still, no sneaking up on me. Alright?"

Ichigo nodded as he stared her square in the eye. He honestly hadn't meant to scare her. It's just that they would both get yelled at later if she kept on making so much noise in a hospital.

"So, Orihime, Why were you looking for me?"

Orihime looked confused for a second before her expression turned pensive and she tapped her index finger on her chin. She seemed to be in deep thought as she crossed her arms under her ample chest and all Ichigo could think of, was how she could have forgotten so soon.

Suddenly, her eyes widened and she perked up. Her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she all but jumped in her spot.

"Ah! I remember!"

"And?" Ichigo inquired softly, his head tilting slightly in mild curiosity as he unconsciously scowled at a passerby that was ogling a little too much on Orihime's backside. Seriously, perverts the lot.

"Yoruichi-san came with a message for you!"

This, on the other hand, made him freeze completely. Apparently, even Orihime caught onto his stillness and her expression quickly morphed to that of apprehension. The busy corridor suddenly seemed tense and uncomfortable, making many nurses and doctors scurry away in fear of the sudden, bone-chilling expression settled onto Ichigo's cold features.

"She came," he murmured quietly, more to himself than anyone else as his eyes narrowed and they flashed momentarily to unreadable amber "as in she physically came here, looking for me on her own free will?"

The perplexed nurse nodded nervously as she affirmed Ichigo's words. Orihime was starting to catch onto what was going on and couldn't help but bite on her lower lip anxiously as she tried to form words.

"Is she… is Yoruichi-san still in denial?" She asked –tentatively at best.

Ichigo didn't seem very inclined to answer and only nodded, his gaze focusing on anything but the orange head standing right in front of him. It almost seemed like if he wasn't physically there. As if his mind was wandering elsewhere with no destination in mind, and no ending clear.

Orihime actually hated it when Ichigo got like this. Sure, it was only temporal. And the next second the orange head would go back to normal like if it had never happened before. But it wasn't a product of her imagination. Ichigo did dwell on stuff too much from time to time.

Like Yoruichi and her refusal to leave the abandoned Urahara Shoten, She thought anxiously.

And the worst of it all, was how she could do nothing to avoid it, or fix it. She wasn't Rukia that could get Ichigo out of his funk by a simple whack in the head. She wasn't Renji that could beat the gloominess out of the orange head with a single spar. Nor was she Urahara Kisuke, genius scientist that could trick Ichigo into forgetting solemn stuff and think about the good things –or at least less depressing stuff. There were many people that could beat some sense into her orange-haired friend; but none of them where here. More accurately, none of them were able to.

This was one of the things Inoue Orihime regretted fiercely every day. No one was left to keep Ichigo in check. If only she had been stronger, she thought. If only she had been faster, she would yearn. If only they hadn't been forced into a war. But ifs only brought you so far, so she threw it to the past. Concentrate on the here and now. Love that which is still present and take a step towards the future.

That was her goal.

She was pretty sure that was every survivor's goal.

Ne, Orihime."

She blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden voice as she pushed back gloomy thoughts "Yes?"

"What was her message?"

"She-…she said… 'I have something you should see for yourself, something he left behind.' Direct quote. She basically wanted you to go as soon as you can."

Ichigo sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a full minute. When he opened them again, his expression had gone back to normalcy. Bright chocolate eyes that women went crazy over, soft scowl that was part of his sex-appeal –surprisingly enough- slight frown that still managed to look at ease and –dare she say- happy. It was odd how fast he could compose his rampant emotions when before it would have taken them more than a sitting down to fix. She knew that her dear friend had taken the worst out of the whole war. Ichigo had been affected by it more than anyone else but he was still striving forward. He had studied medicine, gotten a stable and respectable job, won the war, earned respect from mostly everyone, but most of all, he was still living.

He hadn't stayed in the past.

Funny thing to say. Seeing as she was still struggling to go back to normalcy with a little bit more trouble than needed. Yet Ichigo was strong. He was thriving forward. He was unwavering.

But he's not indestructible. And this is something everyone knows.

All of a sudden, movement in her perceptual vision catches her attention and she finally notices that she's been staring far too long and Ichigo has started to move. He stepped forward, stalking taking him right next to her as he clamps a warm and firm hand on her shoulder to stir her away from prying eyes.

Orihime absently winces as she finally notices the amount of attention they have gained. She can't believe she was so immersed in her thoughts, she completely forgot her surroundings. At the very least, Ichigo was paying attention; so she could only silently thank the orange head that was starting to take them towards the lounge room.

All of a sudden, Orihime blinks as she remembers how Ichigo had been untraceable until five minutes ago and glances to look at her friend. She stares, the gesture attracting his attention as he raises an eyebrow in silent question.

"Ne, Kurosaki-kun, where were you? I was looking everywhere for you!"

He looks taken aback for a second. And if it weren't for the fact that she has known Ichigo for more than a decade, she wouldn't have batted an eye at his sudden stiffening that would have gone unnoticed by anyone else. She knows Ichigo is a master at hiding his true expression from others -It's an ability he picked up by spending so much time with masters in that particular art- but even she can tell from time to time when he's really lying.

Suspicious indeed.

"I had to go out for a while." He answers evenly, almost as if he weren't really nervous like he was in the inside.

Orihime all but frowns as she furrows her eyebrows together. She doesn't believe his mask even for a second but leaves it be. "That's irresponsible of your part, Kurosaki-kun. You're still on duty."

Ichigo gives a half-smile as he glances her way and unconsciously opens the door to the lounge for her "Uryuu covered up for me. And I wasn't gone that long anyways."

"Uryuu-kun said he didn't know where you were!" She exclaims exasperated "That doesn't make any sense!"

"Of course it does!" Ichigo argues back, all convection and no nerves as he finally meets her startled, gray eyes "I didn't tell him where I was going. Only that I needed to run some errands."

"And he agreed to cover for you with just that answer?" The orange head points out incredulously.

The hybrid just huffs an exasperated breath and crosses his arms over his chest "Yes. I cover for him without a question. So it's only fair he does the same."

Orihime seems to pout as she crosses her arms over her ample chest in a way that mirrored completely the orange-haired doctor. Honestly, the two could have passed off as siblings.

"It's unfair how you two support each other to cover your mystery activities. And to think that back in high school you couldn't stand each other. Now both of you act like the cousins you really are."

Ichigo seems pleased as he quirks a smile her way "We did fight a lot back then. But time made us grow up and tolerate each other until we depended on each other like we should have in the beginning. It's the same for all of us… We grew to rely on others."

She grows quiet as she processes his words. She knows what Ichigo is talking about. They matured so much compared to the group of human teenagers that went head first into soul society. Chad, Uryuu, Ichigo and she have changed a lot actually. She's only glad they all made it out of the war alive. She honestly doesn't know what would have happened if she had lost the only family she has left.

"You went to soul society, right?" It's more a statement than anything, but Ichigo doesn't point it out anyways. He can only frown at her as his eyes convey worry.

"You did, didn't you?"

"… Yeah, I did."

"Is there something I should know?" And she needs to ask. It's an itch she has every time someone comes or goes from soul society. She can't help it. Ryūken –their de-facto therapist by forced means- says it's unhealthy and that she should leave it be; but she honestly can't.

"Not really." And there's that feeling of uncertainty in Ichigo's words, something that makes her doubt him not for the first time.

"Ukitake-san?" She tries to enquire.

"Still in a coma." Ichigo answers solemnly.

"Then, Abarai-san?"

"Still moping around with no end clear." And he can't help but notice how his voice quavers.

"Byakuya-san?"

"Still hiding behind his mask and denying Rukia's death." It's getting worse, no doubt.

"How about-"

"Orihime," Someone mutters from behind her "I think you should stop interrogating Ichigo." And she thinks –sadly- that she has never seen Ichigo so glad to see Uryuu before. The orange head flashes the raven head a grateful smile before turning back to Orihime, eyes full of understanding with turmoil hidden well beneath.

"I know you're worried Orihime. But I assure you nothing has changed. I had to talk with Shunsui about some issues and took advantage of the opportunity to check on my division, nothing else."

The orange-haired nurse looks disappointed for a second before she drops her gaze downwards, her bangs obscuring her eyes as she tries to compose her raging heart.

"Yeah, you're right." She looks up to give Uryuu a sad smile "Uryuu-kun is totally right. I shouldn't interrogate Kurosaki-kun so much. And I know Ryūken-san is also right. It's bad to be so obsessed by everything. But I'm not strong like Uryuu-kun, Kurosaki-kun and Sado-kun, that found their path in life. I just decided to continue doing the only thing I feel I have ever done right."

She pauses, so close to tears Ichigo has to literally nail himself to the ground to avoid moving forward to console her –he knows the raven head has it covered when he places a hand on her shaking shoulder.

"That's not true, Orihime. We've all had hardships, and we have come close to overcoming them. It's just that it's taking more time for you to heal. The battlefield was never meant for you in the first place."

Orihime merely nods as she shifts a little closer than necessary in Uryuu's direction. The raven head answers accordingly and merely envelops her into a one-armed hug as he turns back to stare at the silent orange head.

"I just came out of the ER, by the way. It's already shocking they haven't called out for you."

Ichigo rolls his eyes as he sighs in plain resignation. It's obvious he's used to this. "Don't jinx it. I was planning on going back to the ER anyway."

Uryuu scoffs, but anyone can see as plain as day that it's a mere formality as he can't completely suppress his smile.

"Then get back to work. I'm tired of covering for your sorry ass."

Ichigo mirrors the scoff as he walks forward with his hands back in his coat. He stops, a few feet away before turning back to look at the duo with a cocky smile plastered in place.

"You should stop slaking too. Go do your work and then you can go and spend some quality time with each other. God knows you two need it." His smile grows when Orihime all but bursts into red "See ya."

And with those last words, he completely walks away towards the emergency room with a relaxed pace. And the funny part of it all, is that not a second later, Ichigo is called back to the ER, the intercom not dying completely before the orange head starts to curse the raven head to the depths of hell.

Ah~ such relaxing life compared to their past. Uryuu only wonders why he feels it's not going to continue that way in the near future.

#1#

Ichigo has to endure another three hours in the ER and an operation he had programed for an elderly women before he can finally leave the hospital. It's already past eleven when he comes out through the hospital doors and finds himself underneath the starry sky.

He stops for a second. His doctor's coat draped over a shoulder as he loses his blue tie and unbuttons the top of his black, long sleeved shirt. He sighs, gaze lifting to stare at the night sky as he closes his eyes momentarily and scans the area with his senses.

It's a peaceful autumn night. The parking lot lacks a single living being. And everyone inside is too busy to notice an orange-haired doctor standing in the cold. There aren't any hollows around. And the last shinigami stationed here hasn't come in more than seven years. He's alone in the night, not a soul in sight, and not a sound heard. His reiatsu is a suppressed presence deep down, not a single hint to the enemy, friend or foe. He's untraceable. The way he was trained to be in the war.

Ichigo opens his eyes once more, chocolate colored eyes shining under the dim lights as he takes a deep breath and turns forward. Not a second later, he disappears as if he was never there.

He appears miles away, standing in front of an abandoned shack that humans are scared of approaching. There's a steady presence coming from inside, and Ichigo merely walks forward. His footsteps are unwavering. His movements unheard. Not a single hint to show he exists.

All of a sudden, the door slides open. And a singular person stands at the doorway, golden eyes vacant and hair disheveled. Like always, she has a green and white striped hat in her hand.

Yoruichi stares at Ichigo. And Ichigo stares back. His eyes unwavering as he assesses her current self and gives a small smile when she never retreats.

"I can see you're better today." He speaks up, voice moving along with him as he walks forth "I'm glad to hear you came out of the Shoten. Has anything happened?"

She doesn't say a single thing, and for a second, Ichigo believes she won't speak today. But all of a sudden, a blonde colored cat comes out from the shack and starts to rub itself affectionately on her leg. He stops, clearly taken aback by the intrusion as he stares at the purple-haired women to see her reaction.

Honest to god, he feels he's going to have a heart attack when she quirks a smile and crouches to pat the kitty.

"You came to say hi to our guest, Kisuke?" Ichigo can't help but flinch "I'm sure Ichigo would love to meet you. Right?"

"O-of course" he answers. And honestly, he doesn't know what to say when Yoruichi sits on the engawa and pats the empty space between herself and the cat. Ichigo can only do as he's told and sits down to caress the loving cat.

"I bet you're surprised." She mutters out of nowhere.

"I think that's an understatement."

Yoruichi glances back momentarily, her gaze tracing back to stare at the star filled sky as she gives a small, yet sad smile.

"Yeah, I guess it is." She stops, her expression turning serious as she absently pats the blonde cat "I found this little guy rummaging through some boxes in the back. I don't even know how he got in."

"He looks rather attached to you."

"Like a certain someone." She states fondly.

"Yeah," Ichigo quirks a chuckle "Like a certain geta-wearing blonde."

Yoruichi also laughs along "Yup, just like him. Except… he's not here anymore."

The orange head looks mildly surprised but isn't caught as Yoruichi refuses to meet his gaze.

"Yoruichi, you-"

"I know!" She angrily interrupts "I know. It's just-" She's more close to tears than he has ever seen her "-it's just… how am I supposed to live now?"

"Everyone has doubts." He assures her "Each of us are striving forward." He stares directly into her tear filled eyes as he gives her a sad smile "The war ended a long time ago, Yoruichi." Ichigo is sure his eyes are starting to water as well "Kisuke died a long time ago. So did Jinta, Ururu, Tessai-san-" He notices Yoruichi choke up besides him "-Rose, Love, Hiyori, Mashiro, Hachi, Izuru, Unohana-san, Komamura-san, Toushiro, Yama-ji-" the tears are pouring without permission and she grips his sleeve searching for comfort "-Yuzu, K-Karin a-and O-Oyaji; they're all gone." She throws herself onto his lap and openly cries into his shirt. He only cries silently, droplet after droplet cascading down his cheeks and falling into her hair a he hugs her softly to assure her she's not alone.

"W-why did everyone have to die!? W-why were we left behind?! Tell me why, god damn it! We were going to get married, have kids, and live a normal life! Why did he have to die?!"

Ichigo merely rubs her back soothingly as he tries to ease her raging heart. He doesn't speak. The answer is unknown to him as well. His only regret is not being able to do anything more. And when she finally calms down, she's only hiccupping silently into his tear stained shirt.

"Why are all of you guys still by my side?"

"Idiot." He mutters softly "Why wouldn't we be? Everyone is still worried about you. Soi-fon can barely sit still, and Kukaku is still making a fuss about being denied permission to smack some sense into you." He chuckles softly as he remembers the racket his cousin made even as she simultaneously put Yoruichi in his care "We're still here because we're worried."

She scoffs, sound soft and happier than anything as she grips his shirt tighter.

"I think I'll go back to SS."

He can't help but smile "Is that so. Then I guess my baby-sitting job will be revoked."

Yoruichi looks annoyed but doesn't say anything. She merely grunts and buries herself deeper into his chest.

How can you be so strong? She can't help but wonder. Why is it, that you can still smile and live when you have gone through so much hardships? She knows there's no answer. Can I ever become as strong as you? She sure hopes so.

"Ne, Ichigo?" She can feel his chest hum in question, almost like a purr that makes her smile contentedly. "Kisuke left a letter… a part is directed to you, though I couldn't understand what it said."

He looks expectantly at her, his brown eyes filled with curiosity in a way that makes her laugh.

"Something about a last piece. Alternis Universo, was the title. The rest was written in another language."

Ichigo widens in eyes as he quickly turns down to look at her bright eyes. He hasn't seen her eyes so sparkly in a long time, but has little time to dwell on it as his thoughts are elsewhere. Mainly, that letter she's talking about.

"Can I see it?" He asks expectantly.

She all but chuckles, slowly retracting herself from her giant teddy bear as she takes a folded piece of paper from within her pockets.

"That whole page was for you. The rest are little nothingness. Too much sorrow to share freely if you catch my drift."

Ichigo merely nods as he grasps the sheet like if it were gold. He stretches, bones cracking in place as Yoruichi stands and extends a hand towards her once-upon-a-time pupil.

"You should be going. There's a job you need to do, right?"

"Yeah, I gotta go and prove Kisuke right. That's his last wish after all."

The purple-haired women can't help but laugh as she stares at the serious expression on the orange head's face.

"You've been working on it for some time now, haven't you?" It's all the answer she needs when he looks shocked "I thought so. Just remember, don't do anything crazy."

He huffs an exasperated breath, no annoyance as his lips turn upwards against his will "I just want to conclude his work. I promise not to do anything life threatening."

Yoruichi goes forth to debate, but stops when she sees it's no use. Instead, she ducks to grab the blonde kitty and turns back to give a resigned sigh and a small smile.

"It can't be helped, huh? I guess that's the best I'll get." She stops, her smile growing as she quirks a thumb behind her "Think you can open up a door for me?"

"Alright."

Ichigo searches in his pockets for his badge before pressing it on his body. All of a sudden, his soul form is separated from his material body and he lazily unsheathes his blade strapped at his waist. He thrusts the nodachi in thin air, the tip disappearing as he twists it counter clock wise and a clicking noise resounds and a gate is opened. Out comes a solitary, black hell butterfly which lands on his shoulder to brush a soft wing on his cheek in greeting before taking off towards Yoruichi.

"I trust you can make it there on your own?"

"Of course I can!" She answers angrily "You said it yourself, my babysitter has been revoked."

"I guess you're right." He pauses, gaze lingering downwards as he stares at his waraji clad feet "Than I guess I'll see you later."

The breeze ruffles his shoulder length orange hair as his white haori follows behind. The folds of his shihakusho bristles as well and he can only quirk a smile when he imagines how Soi-fon will react to Yoruichi's messier hair and tear-stained face. His hands twitch slightly as he fiddles with his fingerless black tekkō –a gift from the Kuchiki family in mirror to their own white gloves. Now that Yoruichi is actually leaving, he can't help but feel nervous.

"I'll be alright, Ichigo." He turns up, momentarily surprised as Yoruichi gives him a cocky smile that resembles so much her past-self that his hands twitch even more –only this time, it's in look for a camera to freeze the moment forever. "I'll make sure to send you a hell butterfly when I get to Soi-fon's if that'll put you at ease."

"Yeah," he agrees, his own lips turning into a smirk as his eyes start to sparkle in anticipation, humor and happiness "that'd be great."

"Then I better get going! My regards to everyone!" And with those last words, she turns and all but runs into the white light, the shoji doors sliding shut right behind her.

"Itte rasshai" He whispers into the night wind. His form being caressed by the breeze in his lone presence as he stays still and waits a few seconds before grabbing his body and rushing away in a fleet of shunpo.

He has other things to do. And catching cold is not in his agenda.

#1#

Once Ichigo arrives at the once-upon-a-time Kurosaki clinic, he all but throws his empty body on the floor before trotting towards the storage room. In the narrow place, he crouches down before lifting the floorboards to find a latter heading downwards. He jumps down, forgoing the means of descent as he silently lands in a giant patch that highly resembles the training grounds under Urahara's shop. Ichigo straightens himself, his feet absently taking him towards a steel door on the only visible wall as he enters a laboratory.

Inside, is the complete definition of chaos. But Ichigo maneuvers himself expertly as he goes to the corner that is the most organized and finds himself staring at a portal like machine that has been collecting dust until then. The device is one of the only things he was able to rescue from Kisuke's own lab. And he's been keeping it on the sides all this time in hoping to build a successful one up until that very day. That particular machine was built in between the both of them –with the little time they had free between fighting a war, at least two people had to be involved to get somewhere. It has more of an emotional value than anything. But if Kisuke's letter is right. It was almost complete and they had never noticed it.

However, it didn't turn out to be a machine for their purpose.

Just like Kisuke said:

My dear friend, it's a little odd to be writing for someone I just spoke to. We've been spending a lot of time together lately. I guess that's what happens when we decide to work on a machine like this one.

I know we've both been working really hard to build a time-travel mechanism. I know we both held hope we could change it all. But what I just discovered, the last piece we were searching for, is a total disappointment. I can't even stand to tell you personally.

I can't even imagine how heartbroken you'd be once you discover the truth. I don't want to keep your hopes up, but I don't want to give you anymore sorrow. But I know you'll find this very answer one day. You're a genius as well, even if people tend to think otherwise. You absorb everything I teach you like a sponge, you understand what I tell you, or tend to, with only a little explaining. You're a prodigy in your own right.

But I think my ending is drawing near. How weird, right? I can't even stop to feel scared. I hope you understand why I didn't tell you.

Im 'pulchellus certus ut vos iam nunc hoc tempore non potest. I'm pretty sure that by now you already know that time travel is impossible. At verò aliud. But i have discovered something else. Puto, si quid audisti Kōryū tibi in ruinam, te possit missus in aliud tempus. I imagine you've heard what happens if you get trapped in the Kōryū, you can get thrown into another time. Coepi itaque certius invenit amet tempus ut ne vagari, sed mundi saliens. So I started to investigate more and found the interesting result that it might not be time-travel, but universe jumping. Agrum alternis haec universi possit intra eundem attrahens -a botrus ad eandem point- mundo vel extra lineas ducere servivit regi diversa. This alternate universe can be inside the same attractor field –a cluster of world lines that lead to the same point- or outside of it –where they lead to different points. Et venit ad conclusionem quod operatur intra dangai eodem modo et causat mitis attrahens ager alterationes cum eodem loci puncto. I came to the conclusion that the dangai works inside the same attractor field and only causes mild alterations with the same point.

This is the answer we were looking for. This is the theory that destroys all our hopes. Now, I'm certain you're thinking about how much of a nag it is to read this letter because part of it is in another language. But I assure you, I couldn't just leave this information lying around. And sure, with the information we have now and days, I bet it wouldn't be an obstacle at all. But let me just say… I also did it to partially annoy you~!

But anyhow… strive forward, Ichigo. Don't stay in the past. The answer is not there.

It's actually stupidly obvious. Ichigo actually feels like whacking himself a few times. But now he has the answers to end his stupid obsession –as Ryuken would name it, that bastard. He could finally finish their project, turn it on to see if it works and bury it underneath the loads of stuff he had in the laboratory.

Turn it into a forgotten piece of the past.

So that was his objective. What he did the entire night, well into the morning lights –not that he could see them, he was underground after all- and way past breakfast. He didn't sleep, he merely concentrated on his meager work, and finished the unfinished.

He completed Kisuke's last project.

Once he was done, he couldn't help but contemplate his job well done. The portal-like thing is vacant of dust, and now looks more prone to work. There are many places that look unstable, or barely holding together, but Ichigo thinks nothing of it as he knows it will only be tested before being forgotten.

He smiles to himself, his oil stained Shihakusho being in shambles and his face no better. His haori was long discarded in fear of getting it stained so he currently looks like a normal shinigami –besides his gloves. In the end he decided to take a quick bath and grab a piece of bread to settle his stomach before going back to prepare the test. He's still not wearing his haori, but decided to put it on later.

Ichigo takes a deep breath. His heart pounding mercilessly in his chest as he prepares to power the machines with his unlimited reiatsu. All of sudden, the mirror started to glow and quiver under the many noises it made before finally materializing into something stable.

The orange head held his breath, the swirling colors the portal projected forming into something material-like until it projected a battlefield. There were explosions left and right, and Ichigo vaguely recognized the place as Rukongai before something caught his attention making his eyes widen the size of saucers.

In the midst of it all, a small shinigami boy scurried off in attempt to avoid the bunch of rubble and attacks. On his back, was a recognizable zanpaktou. And his head was adorned with a familiar shade of orange hair. Honestly, the kid could have passed off as a mini Ichigo.

All of a sudden, the machine started to malfunction and Ichigo started to believe it was the end to his test and was vaguely satisfied. However, the retched device had other plans and started to shake even more, the movements brusque and forced until the mirror started to extend itself forward. Ichigo widened in eyes as the machine seemed to have a mind of its own and he was encased in the goo-like thing which made up the mirror.

He cursed, his hand absently reaching towards his zanpaktou at his waist before his movements were restricted and he was left fighting tooth and nail to free himself from the damned machine. However, in a blink of an eye, the mirror reached inwards and sucked the orange-haired doctor inside, the portal-like machine exploding completely not a second after.

In the midst of it all, not a single clue was left to show Ichigo had once upon a time been there.

To be continued…?

Preview:

"Who're you?"

"Me? I'm Shiba Ichigo. It's a pleasure to meet you, oni-chan."

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