Ichigo tapped his pen on the desk he sat at as he stared out the window. The teacher continued rambling in the background although unheard by Ichigo, having broken away from the topic she was discussing to talk to another student leaving the others to continue with their schoolwork.
Rain pelted at the window drowning out the noise of the background as it dribbled through cracks and left a small pool of water at the base of the cream coloured window sill, the condensation didn't help either as the water finally broke the water tension and began flowing over the edge and down the wall into a drain that had been placed there for that particular purpose. No matter how many times the window was looked at it "couldn't" be fixed and so it stayed like that allowing the cool outside environment to wash inside causing all but one to wear a jumper inside the classroom.
Ichigo sighed as he looked away from the window he was seated next to and to his right where the person of his concern sat working diligently at the school work placed in front of them even though they were somewhat equally troubled even though it was for a different reason. Their short orange hair reached just above their shoulders and swayed slightly with every movement made. Looking back to the window Ichigo dully noted that it had been raining back then as well.
FLASH BACK
"Your fullbring is mine!" Ginjou roared with glee, a face splitting grin on his face as he stabbed forwards with his blade towards the frozen Ichigo who couldn't believe what he had done.
"I, I can't believe I trusted him. But he did switch the way he called me for that one time just then…Is it possible…that Ginjou was under Tsukishima's influence this whole time and now he has been released. That they were on the same side all along?" Ichigo thought as the blade he saw closing in at a painstakingly slow pace as time appeared to slow down around him, his senses coming to a high as so did his anger.
Ichigo reached out with his left arm and stopped the blade with a single hand on the tip much to the shock of Ginjou and Tsukishima as their plans were now foiled somewhat. It would be a lot harder to obtain Ichigo's power now since he had come back to his senses in that split moment of shock. Possibly much harder by gauging the look on his face.
Uryuu smirked where he lay on the rooftop in some of his own blood while healing himself with a basic reishi manipulation technique to stop the blood flow. "That's right, here we go Ichigo. Back to your old self finally. Bring down anything that dares hurt those close to you."
"Tch." Ginjou grunted as he jumped back and prepared himself. He could have sworn he saw blue markings on Ichigo's neck. Only Quincy's possessed an ability that brought out that appearance, a trick of the light, that's all it was. Lunging forwards again Ginjou was unprepared for when Ichigo stuck forwards with inhuman strength, green trickles of light dancing on the white fullbring armour Ichigo wore.
"Ahhhh!" Ichigo roared as he swung forwards launching Ginjou into the sky and followed shortly afterwards. "It was you!" Ichigo yelled, his face contorted with anger. "Getsuga," he cried as the machete blade he held was raised over head and glowed with black reiryoku, much different from the first strike of this technique that he used on Tsukishima that was white, "Tenshou!" Ichigo finished slashing downwards, smirking when he saw Ginjou's widening eyes as a torrent of energy crashed down on his blade along with Ichigo's own blade.
Ginjou however didn't budge due to his own status as a shinigami and the level of strength he had acquired over that time slaying hollows and taking others fullbring. Instead he grinned, his whole body glowing green. With a mighty push Ginjou managed to momentarily shove off Ichigo giving him enough time to reach down for the chain that hung off of his leather jacket and into the pocket where it ended. Yanking the chain out of his pocket it revealed the item that was on the other end, a substitute shinigami badge.
"You won't win now Kurosaki! Haha!" Ginjou cackled. Ginjou placed the badge on the cross guard off his fullbring blade and released a mighty torrent of reiatsu as a coating of a dark purple reiryoku shrouded his appearance.
Ichigo flashed with a green spark of 'soul energy' and seemingly appeared all around Ginjou while unconsciously making sure the pendant his mother gave him when he was little was still where it was around his neck when he began wearing it again not long after he lost his shinigami powers. Ichigo's speed was far too great for the normal human eye to keep track of however Ginjou could see his movements as plain as daylight would be during the day. Ichigo's speed however was far faster than the average full bringer though, he would give him that for sure. His strength as well, amplified by that of his shinigami heritage to be beyond that of a mildly powered punch from Yasutora Sado, however still below the point where it would be considered dangerous in his current form.
Ginjou struck out clashing blades with Ichigo instantly, whose highly toned reflexes and body kept him from suffering a near fatal blow across his chest as he placed his blade vertically to his right side where Ginjou struck and winced behind the force as he was sent careening through the air. Ginjou followed up and struck again mercilessly although being careful to avoid any fatal blows to his target as to keep the new power intact.
As soon as Ginjou reappeared above Ichigo he prepared for the worst as the giant two hilted blade came crashing down upon him sending him towards the ground. Ichigo managed to flip himself around the right way in the short space of time and landed with both feet on the ground, his legs bending and acting as shock absorbers as the ground cracked and cratered slightly under the force.
Taking off in a sprint Ichigo anchored himself to the ground at the same time as using it as a spring board to propel himself along the ground before jumping and vaulting off of the house roof for a kick to Ginjou's face. It didn't connect as Ginjou held up the flat side of his blade just in time and grunted slightly at having the full weight of Ichigo's body slamming into him at high speeds.
Casting Ichigo to the side with a swing of his blade Ginjou looked on blankly raising his blade overhead making it glow the same green it did the time he battled Tsukishima atop the apartment complexes and swung forwards with a mighty swing, at the same time noting the shoji doors fading into existence behind Ichigo. "Hopefully that'll take care of some of you." Ginjou muttered in disappointment watching the massive explosion as the great beam of 'soul energy' connected with Ichigo who didn't have time to evade the massive attack. "Tsukishima," Ginjou called out while taking the substitute badge off of his sword, "we were to slow, let's leave."
Turning on his heel Tsukishima gave a disappointed sigh dully noting how he would have to find replacements for the now dead Xcution members that Ginjou had ordered him to kill. Riruka had been having a change of mind and it was beginning to affect the others after all. If one part of the group didn't work it would affect their overall performance after all.
Ichigo grunted and yelled as the green energy burnt the skin on his face, the armour supposedly protecting the rest of his body from the searing energy. He wasn't strong enough however and was quickly accelerated backwards into the still closed shoji doors which splintered upon contact and then broke away launching Ichigo into the white expanse, unable to see the wide eye looks of many captains and lieutenants as another black portal opened and sucked Ichigo within due to the absence of a Jigokuchō, and into the dangai.
Ichigo cried out as he was propelled through the darkness, the wind rushing past his ears when suddenly some light came into existence allowing Ichigo to see the purple rocky ground below but not before he could react. Ichigo heaved and closed his eyes as the pain came a mere few moments later when he landed on his side, a crack making itself audible within the apparently narrow tunnel he was within.
Ichigo's ears perked slightly as he heard the sound of crashing sand from all around him. Opening his eyes he couldn't help but notice that the shadow that his body cast in front of him was getting shorter and shorter as either his savior or impending doom approached. Ichigo looked up and around seemingly unfamiliar with the environment he was now in until he looked a bit more closely at the flowing walls of purple sand that seemed to disappear underneath the ground and appear through cracks in the sealing.
Suddenly a roar assaulted Ichigo's ears and he ran. "Shit, how did I get here?" Ichigo screamed within his mind until he remembered vaguely seeing a spot of red hair tied up in a ponytail. Ichigo's eyes narrowed slightly as realisation came to him. "Renji." Ichigo thought zoning out a little. "So you weren't that far behind from helping me after all. I wonder if Rukia was there as well."
Coming back to the current situation Ichigo knew he couldn't keep going for much longer, even with bringer light. Who knew where this tunnel ended after all? It was possible that he could end up in Heuco Mundo, possibly even Soul society. Unfortunately though as far as Ichigo's understanding came, he might never leave and so maybe it was best he just gave up now instead of exhausting himself. "No!" Ichigo shook his head as his vision began to blur trying to bring himself out of the hopeless thoughts. The injuries and blood loss through Ginjou's last attack were beginning to affect him.
Ichigo looked down at himself and saw that almost none of his armour remained despite what he thought when Ginjou attacked. Blood was leaving the wounds at an incredible pace and left bright red footprints behind him that were swallowed by the Kōtotsu almost as soon as his foot left the ground. "Damn…it's so…close now." Ichigo thought struggling to go onward as his vision blackened before finally leaving him allowing the Kōtotsu to crash into him and swallow him completely.
Not long after that, or at least in Ichigo's perspective, he awoke on a grassy slope to the rain that dribbled onto his body soaking what remained of his clothing, draining away the still wet blood revealing small scabs and scars that remained from his battle with Ginjou. How he healed he didn't know but he didn't care either he was just thankful for it.
Sitting up it took a moment for Ichigo to realise where he was. The river below him continued to evade his mind for a moment before he looked around and noticed a few somewhat vaguely familiar landmarks. They almost seemed younger somehow yet older at the same time, the architecture style being slightly older, although almost unnoticeable than to what he was accustomed to. Ichigo shrugged it off as paranoia believing that he simply ended up here after his battle with Ginjou and went back to looking at the river below him.
After a moment Ichigo stood and felt the soreness of his muscles from the places where they had been injured the worst in the fight. Flexing the muscles in his body a little to relax them he allowed small sparks off green to come out of his finger tips and make contact with his thumb, managing to stop a handful of raindrops before they hit the ground.
Releasing the water it splashed to the ground with a wet mush as the mud below the grass didn't have the capacity to support so much water intake from the approaching storm.
Ichigo walked up to the pathway that ran along the top of the river bank. There was currently no one on it to see him in such a pitiful state, without a shirt revealing the five pointed cross that hung on a silver chain from his neck and a pair of torn jeans. Facing the direction of home Ichigo just hoped that his friends had been recovered from their induced 'hypnosis' however unlikely it was, his family included. Turning right onto the pathway Ichigo began his slow walk before looking to his right where he saw a couple of people he didn't recognise with umbrella's over their heads walking in the opposite direction on the opposite side of the river as a car drove past them splashing water onto them causing a few to squeal with surprise and anger.
Looking straight again Ichigo took off with a burst of reiryoku vanishing from sight towards where home was supposed to be.
(Across the river)
Meanwhile a teenage girl with orange hair across the river, blinked for a moment before turning around and seeing nothing. "There was something there a moment ago. I'm sure of it." she thought with narrowed eyes trying to see if someone was hiding on the other side of the river.
"Hey Masaki!" another girl cried out through the increasing power of the rain, "You don't want to get your feet soaked do you? Come on, we've all gotta get home before the rain gets too heavy." The girl cried out again her face displaying her obvious emotions of wanting to hurry home before the rain became too heavy.
"Y-yeah, ok, I'm coming." Masaki replied before having one last look in the direction where she felt the other energy before turning around and bolting off with her friend to get out of the rain as quickly as possible.
Ichigo landed on the ground and began walking forwards to what was supposed to be his house when he noticed one difference; there was no clinic sign. "That's strange." Ichigo thought, "There's supposed to be a sign right there." Ichigo looked down at the door, which was supposed to be a glass panel with a front desk and waiting chairs on the other side, "The door is different as well."
"Haha that's a good one Toga, haha." A shout of laughter was heard from within the house as light projected multiple shadows onto the curtain covered window just around the side of the house.
"Dad doesn't know anyone by that name, plus that voice was totally different." Ichigo said to himself becoming extremely confused. Ichigo began walking forwards to see things for himself when he suddenly remembered what Urahara had told him about the Dangai and stopped.
FLASH BACK WITHIN FLASH BACK
"The Dangai is a passage between both soul society and the human world." Urahara began. "Inside time constantly shifts at two thousand times the rate of both soul society and the human world because it's separate to both the world of the living and afterlife. Usually a Shinigami is given a Jigokuchō to guide them, as an alternate route to go through the Dangai so getting caught in either the Kōryū or Kōtotsu doesn't happen, which, if it did, would force said person through the time line to an alternate place in time. Well at least theoretically that is. No one has ever been known to survive getting caught and swallowed by either, as the body presumably, breaks down and disintegrates unable to stay together because of the rapid flow of time. Of course there is no evidence though other than the theory. No one has shown up to present themselves as a living example or possibly been placed within the right timeline."
FLASH BACK WITHIN FLASH BACK END
Ichigo clenched his fist making his knuckles turn white and his nails draw blood from his palms as he turned around and began to walk away. What happened now, he didn't know. The question at the moment was, had he gone forwards or backwards in time? Looking at his surroundings again, they did remind him a little of when he was younger so the most likely option to choose would be back.
Ichigo took three steps forward before he had an idea. Hat'n'clogs might know what to do. He shouldn't reveal too much at first though. Maybe swipe some food and clothes along the way even though it wasn't really his style to steal from other people.
Ichigo now stood outside the Urahara Shoten fully clothed in a plain purple T-shirt and new brown shorts. His hunger had been answered with a loaf of bread that he had swept from a bakery and his thirst…well the rain did the trick even though a little energy consuming for him to slow down the rain for it to pool in his hands so he could drink the water. He'd rather he didn't steal more than he already had.
Moving forwards Ichigo saw a black cat with golden eyes look up to him strangely as he passed it and opened the doors to the shop before stepping in.
"Ah, a customer, welcome, however I'm afraid you must be quick, we're about to close for the day." A man at the back of the store said jovially tipping his hat towards Ichigo. He was dressed in a black coat with green clothing underneath, a walking Cane at his side and a Bucket shaped hat with green and white stripes on his head covering the sandy blonde hair and over shadowing his eyes slightly giving him a slightly mysterious look to those unaccustomed to his appearance.
"I was wondering what you know about the Dangai." Ichigo began, casually noting the narrowing of Urahara's eyes as his hand shifted slightly towards the cane at his side as well as the shift of reiryoku outside the front door. "You see I was watching these people dressed in black jumping around slaying these masked monsters and they mentioned something about the Dangai to what appeared to be, a new person to their job. These people were assuming I couldn't see or hear them and so they left without much of a fuss."
"Why would you ask such a preposterous thing? There are no people dressed in black that roam this town." Urahara replied faking his knowledge on the subject. It was almost obvious that the person that stood in front of him knew who he was, but why come here?
"Well you see, I've become somewhat able to sense the energy that these people and monsters give off so I was able to find this place." Ichigo said not realising what he just said. Big mistake. There was almost no reiryoku being released by either Yoruichi or Urahara. To be able to sense them means he must have had training.
"Who are you?" Urahara said standing up while picking up the cane slowly, ready for battle in case it became needed. "You obviously know who I am…as well as the cat that was just outside a moment ago."
"Whoa there, put down the cane." Ichigo waved his arms in front of himself worried for his own physical and spiritual being. "I just had a run in with the Kōtotsu and I kinda don't know what time I'm in…tell me, is Isshin still a captain in soul society by any chance."
"Uuuuh, yes." Urahara answered while somewhat confused at the question. "Run in with the…Kōtotsu? Impossible!" Urahara thought as he watched the teenage boy in front of him apparently gain anger for the fact that Isshin Shiba was still in the soul society.
"Fuck!" Ichigo yelled slamming his head into the wooden beam next to him causing one of the stands holding the sweets to rock precariously back and forth before coming to a standstill allowing Urahara to breath a sigh of relief. His father was still a Shinigami. "That means I haven't been born yet and…Aizen…Aizen is still out and about doing his little experiments."
"Did you say that you came into contact with the Kōtotsu and are still alive?" Urahara said now in a more relaxed stance and gained a more interested look as he began inspecting Ichigo from a distance not getting any closer because of precautions he decided to take. Even though the boy's reiatsu output was relatively high he would probably have no problem matching his maximum in his current state.
"Yes Hat'n'clogs, I'm still alive…" Ichigo paused and turned to look at Urahara, no longer having his head against the wooden beam, to look at Urahara for a moment causing him to blink and take a step back from his inspection.
"What?" Urahara said shrugging his shoulders. "Wait, did you just call me Hat'n'clogs?"
"Stop staring at me like that. It reminds me of Kurotsuchi." Ichigo whined slightly causing Urahara to raise his eyebrows somewhat. "Yeah I called you Hat'n'clogs. You and I, we're somewhat acquainted from the time period I come from." Ichigo stated causing Urahara's interest to pique some more. All I know about from then is that you got falsely accused of some stuff Aizen did, you made a candy store and now you're living out your sad life here trying to hide your oh so precious Hogyoku from Aizen."
"Is that all?" Urahara questioned not denying the fact that his life was sad although on the contrary he thought it was quite hilarious sometimes Urahara remembered all those inexperienced Shinigami trying to jump and leap around were sometimes so funny to watch, all while trying to pry more information out of the teen before him.
"Ah, the Visoreds are hiding out somewhere here and Yoruichi was just outside a moment ago, lost track of her though." Ichigo listed off telling Urahara that he knew about the Visoreds. "You were a captain and so was Yoruichi."
"Well, all this knowledge you just told me about makes me wonder. How did you survive the transportation through the time line?" Urahara said becoming curious again only to receive a shrug of the shoulders and what seemed to be an 'I don't know' look. "Well what's your name then?"
"Ichigo Kurosaki."
"That's interesting. There is a young Quincy girl that lives nearby in the Ishida mansion by the name of Masaki Kurosaki. Would you in anyway be related to her…by future," Urahara waved his hands a bit making almost absolutely no sense when he did this, "type…circumstances."
"I don't know. What's Isshin's last name at the moment?" Ichigo asked. If he got the answer he thought he might, that would mean that he is also part Quincy, that would be really interesting. His father did look somewhat like the Shiba family so it was a possibility.
"Ahh, so I see…mmm." Urahara nodded to himself before breaking into one of the largest smiles ever and asking possibly the most awkward question he could at the moment. "You wouldn't mind me taking a looky see inside you now would you? You know, being the first Quincy/Shinigami hybrid and all. Gotta have all the inner workings and anatomy sorted out."
"No." Was Ichigo's flat reply causing Urahara's mood to somewhat deflate. He was also part hollow, but that could be left alone for now to prevent Urahara's spirits from getting too high. "My insides are the same as a normal persons so leave me alone."
Sighing Urahara let up. "So is there anything else you want to know other than where Isshin is?"
"Yeah, actually there is, is there any way to get into a school. I didn't quite finish my last year." Ichigo said instantly going into business with Urahara. He'd set him up with a small apartment somewhere nearby and Ichigo would pay off what he owed by getting a job. Simple, well that was the thought anyway.
FLASH BACK END
So here Ichigo was now, set back a couple of years, courtesy of Urahara Keisuke in Karakura high. He knew most of the stuff he needed to know in the current year he was in and would probably be accelerated into the next grade if he kept up with how he was going putting him closer to the age group he should be with. Being stuck with students two years younger than yourself wasn't all that great.
Ichigo stood when the bell rang and picked up his books for the end of the day and walked out the exit uncaring of the gaze that was sent his way from Masaki with a questioning look. A few other female students looked his way as well although with a look of lust and envy for the hot muscled orange haired 'punk' rather than the same way Masaki looked at him.
Masaki stood as well and began packing her books away before heading out the door after the orange haired boy ignoring the calls of her friends and opting for a quick goodbye instead. Masaki caught sight of Ichigo as he turned a corner not too far away from where Masaki was and chased after Ichigo. Turning the corner though Ichigo was already gone, the open window showing he had taken a shortcut.
Masaki huffed a little and kicked the frame of the wall causing the window to shake in it's place a little before she grabbed hold of it and slammed it shut and stomped off and out the school entrance before heading home on foot unlike Ichigo had. He'd obviously left with that same mysterious technique he continued to use. Damn, she was so close to getting to talk to him too.
(Some time later)
Masaki sat at the dining table eating quietly as her Aunt sat further up the table with a small frown on her face. She had seen Masaki get distracted by something for the past few days now and it hadn't gone unnoticed by everyone. Ryuuken and Katagiri knew there was something up as well even though they weren't sure what it was. It could be the slight reiatsu fluctuations that could now be felt. What from? Who knew?
"Masaki." The woman with black hair said as she looked at Masaki placing down her utensils and folding her arms to show her seriousness in the matter.
"Yes aunt." Masaki replied her head turning towards her aunt with a cheerful smile on her face even though most would determine it as fake. She herself though, instead of placing down her utensils kept them in hand waiting to get back to what was left of the meal on the plate in front of her.
"What troubles you?" The woman asked wanting to get to the bottom of Masaki's recent behavior. It was better than before but it was slightly more distracting as the problem wasn't known and it continued to gnaw at the back of the woman's mind.
"Oh, nothing much." Masaki said with a cheery voice. Assuming that was all Masaki went to take another bite of the food on her plate but was spoken to again causing a groan to come forth in the back of the girls mind.
"Don't give me that! It's that recent reiatsu fluctuation isn't it?" Masaki's aunt demanded to which Masaki nodded sheepishly. With a sigh she older woman closed her eyes glad that she'd finally found out about what was troubling Masaki. The next question though, "Why? Is it the source that it belongs to? You shouldn't get involved, it's probably Shinigami business." The woman fired off a series of questions not waiting for answers before resolving to herself that it was simply Shinigami business without any further insight.
"It's not Shinigami business Aunt." Masaki said catching her Aunt's attention, "There's this boy that recently entered the school as a transfer, he gives off the stuff like he's always full. He doesn't get tired from it either. It's strange." Masaki said drifting off again trying to think of possibly how a human could give off so much all the time and not get tired. There was that necklace he had though…the necklace!
"A normal human giving off that much? Please Masaki, no normal human can do that." The elder woman said letting out a troubled sigh. If it was just a normal human then how much potential did they have.
"Wait! I remember now! He had a necklace on that looked like it had a Quincy pendant on it." Masaki said as though she'd just solved the mystery.
"He couldn't be a Quincy though." Replied Masaki's aunt. "A Quincy has far better control than that. He probably knew someone that died recently and kept it as a memento for that person. A Gemischt most likely. That person probably gained some reiryoku through spending an extended amount of time around that person and what they did."
"But he always disappeared and appeared out of thin air like when Ryuu-chan uses his Hirenkyaku." Masaki said causing her Aunt to raise an eyebrow seriously considering Masaki to get her eyes checked. Yes there was a powerful spiritual presence within Karakura town at the moment but the amount of control this person displayed would make most of the spiritually aware community think that this person had no spiritual abilities other than seeing ghosts.
"I think you're beginning to see things Masaki. This boy as you say, has no control over his reiryoku which leads to the obvious conclusion that he can't be much stronger than a regular human." The elder woman said going back to eating her meal.
It did make some sense; the soul would need to get stronger to be able to stand around such strong beings of the spiritual world. Masaki thought about it for a moment before finally agreeing with her Aunt 'solving' that mysterious case of reiryoku output. The being would've become so accustomed to releasing it that their endurance would have built up allowing them to sustain the output at a continuous rate. Unfortunately though that meant he would become hollow bait and he would be eaten.
NOTE: Pairing may or may not happen. But in the chance that it does ideas are appreciated.
NOTE2: Tell me what you think. I know it's another fic but I've had the idea in my head for a while now so I thought why not?
please review