I was very inspired by Juha Bach's words to Ichigo in chapters 541 and 542 when I wrote this.

The events occur during Juda Bach and Ichigo's final battle, when Ichigo stabs Juda with his sword right into his heart.

Ichigo's POV

When Zangetsu entered inside his soul, I felt so much power flowing inside me. I didn't know why but I was also so happy and proud. Was it because I finally defeated the one who turned Soul Society into ashes, who hurt my friends and the one who killed my mother and made Karin, Yuzu, dad and myself suffer so much ? As much as it may sound illogic and cruel, I don't think it was that reason. I think it's the effect of Juda Bach's power on me since he is able to give power to anyone who touches his soul. But then when I got out Zangetsu from his body, I felt so much pain flowing into me. I felt the pain of all those persons who dedicated their lives for him so he can give them the power that that they desired. The instant this man will die, all their powers will vanish and they will be replaced by a feeling of emptiness, pain and humility. But isn't it a good thing since the deeds of those people proves their dishonesty and their laziness since they acquired power that they didn't even train and worked hard to reach. They should have known that the blade which could crush their destiny of powerlessness could turn against them. However am I of any difference? Most of the shingamis that I have met all those years could release their shikai and bankai only after several years of training and the other ones who could reach them in a short time period had the talent. For both cases, shinigamis get stronger by working hard after hundreds of years. But for my case, each time I train and push myself to its limits, I don't get stronger I just discovers some hidden powers in myself. But is it of any difference? Getting stronger does mean discovering our inner powers, doesn't it?

I looked at the eyes of Juha Bach and I could see that he knows me more than anybody else. He could feel all my confused emotions.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, do you regret defeating me?"

"Of course not. I don't have any reason to pity you."

He looked inside my soul and said: "I see".

This fight reminded me somehow of Aizen. He was the one who created Zangetsu and the one who awakened my power by sending Rukia. Despite all that, he was unaware that when I fought him I was only using the part of my power that Juha Bach couldn't suppress. He didn't even know the immensity of the power flowing inside my soul. But Juha Bach knows it well from the day I was born. Unlike when I defeated Byakuya, I felt proud or when I won against Aizen, I felt nostalgic ,by killing Juha Bach , I felt like a half of my soul has faded away.

Ichigo's POV

I closed my eyes. I wanted to sink inside my sorrows, when I heard a voice like an echo calling my name. I didn't want to open my eyes. Darkness was beautifully sad. I wanted to remain there forever.

-"Ichigo, Ichigo wake up, stand up Ichigo. "

I could feel a hand grabbing my left shoulder.

I slowly opened my eyes when suddenly my heart started hurting me, I couldn't make any movement even moving my eyelids. I closed my eyes again then I slightly looked I was in my inner world

Zangetsu was standing in front of me and the rain was pouring on me and he said with his usual teasing voice:

-"so the king doesn't want to fight and to live anymore. It sounds good to me".

And he grinned. I knew right there that there is no room for allowing myself to my confusing emotions. I still have friends that I have to check and to be sure they are alive and fine , Zangetsu was also counting on me ( well I understood only lately the wicked way he expresses it ) and even though the battle was over, I still think that there is something to fight for something that need to be protected but I couldn't pinpoint it.

-"Naaah .. I think I will pass it".

-"What a displeasing news " , he said still grinning but I knew what he meant . The more I knew about my self and my own powers , the more I acknowledge that Zangetsu hates the rains that pours inside my soul when I am depressed as much as Juha Bach and if not more. I think he loathes it that's why he has never given me any room when I was not resolved to fight.

As I was opening my eyes, I found sad relieved violet eyes looking upon me, teardrops threatening to fall.

Even though I still couldn't find out that thing that has to be protected, I thought that the one thing I have to fight against right now are those teardrops.

She responded to my tired smile by that rare gentle smile of her while her eyes were gleaming and I realised that seeing that smile again was maybe the reason why there was still hope in this darkening destiny.

The truth is I wrote this along time ago but I submitted it only now. We all know that the ending was forced. It saddens me greately that this arc has to end awfully when it has so many potentials. And I am pretty sure that the most hardcore bleach fan (who knows there is no way bleach could have been intended to end like this )is not even as depressed and frustrated as Kubo sensei is right now. That's so depressing for such a great artist to end his story like that after shonen jump has exploited his talents for over so many years.

However, he had left as so many hints of how he intended to end Bleach .The most obvious one is that he gave that shinigami Yuki of the 13th division 2 chapter covers (and one of them is in color) with Ichigo when we knew so little about him. That's very telling that Ichigo was to be his mentor but how can you be a mentor a shinigami when you are living a peaceful human life ? Of course, Kubo sensei intended for Ichigo to stay in the soul society like Shunsui has predicted and he would train Yuki the shinigami who is in charge of protecting his home town. But unfortunately ... you know what ... scr** shonen jump and scr** this system we live in. Capitalism can only kill arts that's all i got to say.